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The bite of The Pitbulls may now be permanantly silenced, following the release of Kid Kash from WWE.
Kash, real name David Cash, was let go from the Fed today, as announced on WWE.com
"WWE has come to terms on the release of David Cash (Kid Kash) as of today, September 27. We wish David the best in all future endeavors," the company said in a release on its website.
Kash had most recently been appearing in the tag team The Pitbulls with Jamie Noble. His last WWE match took place last night at Smackdown tapings, in which the duo were defeated by K.C. James and Idol Stevens in a number one contender's match. At this point it is not known if that match will air or not.
Kash first became known to fans through Extreme Championship Wrestling, where he showed a penchant for dazzling aerial tactics. His work in the ring earned him the TV Title near the end of ECW's run.
Kash signed with WWE in mid-2005 and began appearing on WWE Velocity. It wasn't until later in the year, however, that he would finally break into the Smackdown ranks, targetting The Mexicools. He would earn his only WWE title, the Cruiserweight Championship, on December 18, 2005, defeating Juventud Guerrera at Armageddon.
Kash's run would only last a month, as he dropped the title in an Invitational match at the Royal Rumble. He would be involved in other Cruiserweight matches before entering the tag scene with Noble shortly thereafter, and remained there for the duration of his WWE career.
Prior to arriving in WWE, Kash had been a part of TNA, debuting with the company in 2002. There, he would hold the X-Division Title and the NWA World Tag-Team Titles (with partner Dallas) on two occasions. He had memorable matches with the likes of AJ Styles during this period.
-- with files from Jon Waldman


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Grocery workers in California see wages shrink
Study cites trend of major chains in state to return cash to investors
A new look at California's $98 billion grocery industry shows it is a microcosm of the state's wealth inequality gap.
While a private-equity firm is buying Safeway for $9 billion, 1 in 3 grocery workers is on some form of public assistance. While grocery chains are cash machines for investors, nearly 1 in 5 workers has cut back on meals because he or she couldn't afford to buy food.
Those are some of the results from one of the largest surveys of California's 383,900-member grocery workforce, scheduled to be released Monday. Conducted by the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley and UC Davis Professor Chris Benner, the study, based on interviews with 925 grocery workers statewide, shows how much has changed in an industry that long promised stable, middle-class jobs.
These days, the 124-page report found, "workers who sell food in California are almost twice as likely as the general population to not be able to afford to eat the food they sell." This new generation of low-wage grocery workers uses $662 million worth of public assistance benefits annually, according to the report.
"A generation ago, these were entry-level jobs where you could work your way up," said Jim Araby, executive director of the United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council in Oakland, which has 160,000 members in California and commissioned the study. "But these days, people's ability to do that is shrinking."
Now, Araby said, he is seeing more grocery workers like Joanna Lopez. She is a 26-year-old single mother of two who has worked for three years at Walmart, which has roughly 3 percent of California's grocery business.
Food stamps
Though the Hayward resident has worked in the grocery section for a year, she receives food stamps. At least once a month, she goes to a food bank because she can't cover expenses with her wages of $9.20 an hour.
"I try not to cut back on food for my kids," Lopez said. "If I have to, I let the phone get cut off. Or I don't put gas in my car."
Sometimes, to save gas money, she asks her dad, a retired truck driver, or her mom, who works in a nearby sugar warehouse, for a ride to work. Lopez couldn't survive if she didn't live with her parents, who care for her children while she works. She said her children's father is not in the picture.
With the help of a federal education grant, she is taking animation classes at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She said she dreams of someday "working at Pixar or Disney."
Perhaps in an earlier era, Lopez could have envisioned a lifelong career path in the grocery business. But now, because of increasing competition from big-box stores like Target and Walmart and nonunion ethnic markets like El Super, wages have fallen and the average worker remains at his current job for 1 3/4 years, according to the study.
From 2000 to 2012, the study found that the median wage at a union grocery store decreased from $19.38 to $15.17 an hour. Roughly 1 in 4 of California's grocery workers belongs to a union.
Often, union leader Araby said, during contract negotiations, retailers will point to market pressure from big-box stores, which can sell food at lower prices because they don't pay as well. But Saru Jayaraman, director of the Food Labor Research Center at UC Berkeley and a primary author of the report, said that pressure is overblown.
Walmart and Target have just slivers of California's grocery market, "but other companies look at that (low-cost) model and use it as an excuse in bargaining to drive down wages," Jayaraman said.
Meanwhile, the report lauds Costco, which has captured the largest share (13.3 percent) of California's grocery business while paying workers above the norm.
"What it says to me is that they have discovered that it is possible to compete - and treat your workers well," said Benner, a professor of community and regional development at UC Davis. "The ability to have a low-turnover, higher-skilled workforce actually works in the labor market. The argument that says you have to compete on low wages is wrong."
Chains chided
The report chides California's larger grocery chains - particularly Safeway and Albertsons/Supervalu - for directing a majority of cash back to investors rather than back to the workforce.
Industry analysts say that shouldn't be surprising.
"The investors don't want them to start passing out money like it's a charity," said David Livingston, a Wisconsin grocery industry analyst who has monitored the business for 32 years. "This is not a co-op. These are not nonprofit businesses. They're here to make money."
Livingston says the looming specter of private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which owns Albertsons/Supervalu, purchasing Safeway for $9.4 billion doesn't bode well for workers or shoppers.
"They're looking to milk the cash flow," said Livingston, who was not involved in the study. "They're not buying them to make Safeway a better grocery experience. It's just the opposite. Their obligation is to their investors - and that's to milk the cash flow and cut the expenses. So life is going to be a little more uncomfortable for employees and customers."
Safeway spokeswoman Teena Massingill said the Cerberus deal would benefit those on both sides of the checkout counter at Safeway and Albertsons.
"The merger creates a considerably larger network of stores and distribution centers that, through cost savings and operational efficiencies, will improve our ability to compete by providing customers with lower prices, a better product assortment and an improved shopping experience," she said.
Joe Garofoli is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @joegarofoli

subset: commoncrawl


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China probes alleged price fixing by foreign infant formula makers
BEIJING – China has launched an investigation into alleged price fixing by some foreign makers of infant formula, including Danone and Nestle SA, the country's top economic planning agency confirmed Wednesday.
The state-run People's Daily reported Tuesday that companies also including U.S.-based Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., and Dutch-based FrieslandCampina are under investigation for allegedly violating anti-monopoly laws by charging high prices and limiting competition.
A spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, which is the body investigating, confirmed the report and said the probe was continuing. He refused to give his name, as is common with Chinese officials.
Chinese demand for foreign milk formula has risen in the wake of scandals that have left many parents wary about domestically produced infant formula. In 2004, fake Chinese milk powder left caused malnutrition deaths in at least a dozen babies. That was followed by a melamine-tainted milk scandal in 2008 that killed at least six babies and sickened nearly 300,000 others.
Nestle spokeswoman Melanie Kohli said that the company's Wyeth Nutrition unit has been actively cooperating with the commission's review of the industry, but that it wasn't appropriate for the company to comment on the details of the review at this stage of the process.
Mead Johnson said in a statement that it is committed to providing high-quality, safe products to its consumers, and that it is fully cooperating with the review.
Abbott spokeswoman Kelly Morrison said that the company is aware of the inquiry and is cooperating with the commission.
Other targeted companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In May, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a meeting of Cabinet officials that the quality of infant formula should be tested with the same standards used for medicines and that each step of the production process must be monitored.


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Updated 2016
Goa became popular with backpackers seeking natural (and unnatural) enlightenment in the 1970s and has remained that way since. The state remains a hot spot for beachgoers and trance-lovers and looks like it will remain part of the backpacker itineraries in the future.
Looking for some travel inspiration to include Goa in your plans? Read:
- My Favourite Beaches of Goa: "The beaches of Goa are like the curves of a woman's body – warm, inviting, sensuous…"
- Is the Party Over?
- Goa'ing the Distance


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WASHINGTON (CNN) — You could read the entire 1,582-page, $1 trillion omnibus spending plan announced in Congress Monday night. Or you can check out our handy cheat sheet of some of the key winners and losers in the plan.
Little kids: Big winners. Funding for the Head Start and early Head Start programs would jump by $1 billion. That's $1 billion more than last year's low point after budget cuts.
The mentally ill: Social-worker-turned-Senate-Appropriations-Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, has long pushed for mental health programs. This year she got them an additional $173 million dollars more than their funding level with last year's budget cuts.
Disabled veterans and surviving families: No longer would a planned cut in pensions hit "medically" discharged military retirees or military spouses or children who depend on military pensions.
Federal workers and active military: A 1% pay raise would come to both groups of furlough- and sequester survivors.
G-men: The FBI stands to gain $700 million+ over the funding it got following last year's budget cuts.
Social Security Administration: The agency gets a hefty $651 million increase to help it make up for budget cuts in the past.
Seated handshakes: The photo of Mikulski and House Appropriations Committee chairman Hal Rogers, R-Kentucky, sealing the deal is a double win: a more natural-looking, lawmakers-at-work shot than the traditional standing handshake. And it masks the significant height difference between the two powerful lawmakers.
Obamacare: (And see below.) No gain in funds, but no loss of funds, either. Given the razor-sharp opposition to the health care law, a spending bill that doesn't get snagged in the Obamacare debate (and vice versa) could be considered a win.
Appropriations committees: Think of it as a reality game show that no one would enjoy. The chairmen and staffs of the House and Senate appropriations committees had less than a month to agree on 12 detailed spending bills and fold them into one 1,582-page document that both parties could sign.
EPA: The deal restores some of the funds cut by sequester to the Environmental Protection Agency, but not all. In a summary of the measure, Republicans boasted that with this bill, they have cut the EPA's funding by 20% since 2010.
IRS: The tax agency's funding has been cut to 2009 levels, according to the Republican House Appropriations Committee. And just to send a more direct message, this appropriations bill states that the agency cannot use its funds to target citizens or groups based on their ideology.
TSA: You have millions of passengers to screen everyday and now Congress has capped the number of employees you can hire. If passed, the deal would set a limit of 46,000 TSA screeners and require the TSA to find a way to make half of the traveling public eligible for "expedited" screening by the end of this year.
Russia: Two reasons. 1. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Illinois, told CNN the deal fully funds a U.S. missile defense system in Romania, which the Russians do not like. 2. The measure makes it harder for the United States to buy weapons from Russia, including some controversial helicopters. To get around the ban, the omnibus requires the Pentagon to reveal the number of anti-aircraft missiles the Russian weapons agency has sold to Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
Obamacare: (And see above.) If the Obama administration needs more funds to implement the health care law, it isn't going to get them from Congress. The bill doesn't add any funding and also blocks the administration from dipping into a prevention fund as a backup pool of money.
Generals and admirals: Flag and general officers in the military would see a cut in their staff expense budgets under this plan.
The president of Afghanistan: The bill specifically prohibits any of its funds from going to "the direct personal benefit of the president of Afghanistan."
Portrait artists: The bill bans government officials from spending money to have a portrait made.
Jerry Brown: No funds for you. The California governor hoped to get some federal funds for his dream of a $60 billion high-speed rail line between L.A. and San Francisco. But Republicans successfully blocked the idea in this deal.


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Table of Contents | Previous | Next
Lesson Three: Learning From Other Businesses
By connecting to business organizations, such as the U.S. Chamber's Center for Workforce Preparation (CWP), the U.S. Business Leadership Network, the Society for Human Resource Management and your local chamber, your company can learn from other employers about the best strategies for finding, accommodating and retaining employees with disabilities. Local business executives who understand your bottom-line priorities and who have direct employment experience with people with disabilities are often the best sources for real-world answers to all your hiring questions.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Center for Workforce Preparation
In 1990, the Chamber of Commerce created the Center for Workforce Preparation to help build workforce development leadership in local chambers. CWP helps chambers across the country to develop innovative and effective workforce development initiatives that assist their member companies in recruiting diverse and underutilized labor sources such as people with disabilities. A major part of CWP's effort is the dissemination of best practices and the formulation of strategic peer networks to support workforce development activities among state and local chambers. By connecting to CWP, you can learn how to partner with your local chamber to help improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities and to satisfy your company's workforce needs.
U.S. Business Leadership Network
The U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) is the only national employer-led organization that provides a corporate perspective to businesses regarding hiring people with disabilities and marketing to customers with disabilities. With chapters in 31 states and the District of Columbia, the USBLN is the nationally recognized disability voice for the business community because it makes the inclusion of people with disabilities a business imperative. A nonprofit trade association, the USBLN provides best practices strategies, specific industry perspectives, took kits and resources to employers and its 43 BLN chapters seeking to diversify their workforces by including people with disabilities.
The Society for Human Resource Management
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world's largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 200,000 individual members, the society's mission is to serve the needs of human resource professionals by providing the most essential and comprehensive resources available, including surveys of members on disability-related topics. As an influential voice, the society's mission is also to advance the human resource profession to ensure that human resources is recognized as an essential partner in developing and executing organizational strategy. Founded in 1948, SHRM has more than 550 affiliated chapters and members in more than 100 countries.
Lesson Three: Strategies
Strategy 1:
Become a member of a USBLN chapter to network with other disability-friendly employers who are actively engaged in outreach, employment, retention and marketing efforts to individuals with disabilities. To learn more, visit www.usbln.org and connect with the regional board member responsible for your area.
Strategy 2:
Connect with your local chamber for information and resources about
- job skill requirements and industry trends;
- quality of training and job placement services provided by your local Vocational Rehabilitation program and other service providers;
- local economic development indicators; and
- links to other members that have partners with local disability organizations.
Visit the U.S. Chamber Web site at www.uschamber.com for a listing of Federation chamber members by state and region.
Strategy 3:
Access information and linkages about workforce development at CWP's Web site by visiting www.uschamber.com/cwp.
Strategy 4:
Learn about available training that will help staff with the recruiting, hiring and advancement of people with disabilities. One source of information is SHRM's Web site at www.shrm.org.


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V1.0 Initial version
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It was the moment an estimated 2 billion people around the world were waiting for.
At 1:25 pm the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge emerged on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The crowd chanted, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss," and in an instant, it was over.
Photographer Joachim Ladefoged, on assignment for TIME, had been waiting as well. Working in 2 feet of space on level 3 in spot 44 on bleachers far across a sea of well-wishers, Ladefoged trained his camera on the newlyweds and captured the historic moment.
Ladefoged said it was the longest he had waited for a single picture. Once in position, the photographers on the risers were not allowed to leave. "You're stuck up there, you can't move around," said Ladefoged, who arrived at 7 a.m. "So I brought a book, sweets and a lot of clothes." The book was a biography of soccer sensation Lionel Messi. "I finished it," he added.
There was much discussion among the dozens of photographers waiting for the kiss. Which lens? Tight or loose? Include the family or not? Ladefoged, a member of the VII Photo Agency, compared it to sports photography.
But then something unexpected happened. As the couple disappeared into Buckingham Palace, Kate Middleton gave the crowd a parting glance. "For that kind of picture, what she does there—that's perfect." Ladefoged said.
Joachim Ladefoged was most recently on assignment to photograph Justin Bieber in concert for the TIME 100.


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Not very surprisingly, the '63 Jaguar XK-E emerged victorious from Dead Man's Curve in yesterday's Jan & Dean-themed Choose Your Eternity poll. If it hadn't been for the unifying theme, I'd never have set a Chevy up against a car whose soul is possessed by the Prince of Darkness. But no matter- today we're going to look at a pair of cars that present somewhat more of dilemma. One is a hacked-up Japanese factory hot rod, while the other is an even more hacked-up Japanese unhot rod.
It's hard to get excited over the Mazda 323, even when it's in the form of a forgotten Mercury. But there's one very important exception to the 323=snoresville equation: the GTX! You want all-wheel-drive turbocharged hoonage without all the careful engineering of your Evos and your WRXs? Just a cheap tin can spraying gravel and chunks of burning rubber in all directions? Have you got twenty Benjamins handy? If you answered "Yes" to all three questions, take a look at this '88 GTX (go here if the ad disappears). This is clearly a seller who's ready to deal- why, it says "Price Lowered" right in the headline! The seller has "Invested too much, sold as is!" in his or her own words, and now it's your chance to cash in. Take a look at the long list of costly- and perhaps even correctly installed- aftermarket goodies: Reich ECU, thudding Migraine-o-Matic speakers, big intercooler, and- perhaps best of all- a fuel cell taking up the entire cargo area. You can count on one thing with this car, and that's that the gas pedal has only known two positions during the car's entire life: "Off" and "Full." We'd probably get all the trim off a grandma-issue 323 and make this thing into a truly soporific sleeper, but you could also go the full nutso-rally route. There's sure to be a plethora of fun surprises in store, either way!
The GTX would be lots of fun, and it belongs on any short list of Jalopnik-approved Hoonmobiles, fer sher. But true hoonage requires a car that's just plain wrong, a car that hurts one's brain to even contemplate. This turbocharged Geo Metro is such a car (go here if the ad disappears). The seller doesn't seem to think it's important to state the year of the car (the photos seem to indicate an early-90s car), nor the number of cylinders (sure looks like the 3-banger). But that stuff doesn't matter- what matters is that it has "a wrx turbo setup,custom transmission,roll cage,lots of custom work." Hmmm... a WRX turbo setup? That sounds, like, not-so-appropriate for a 1.0-liter Suzuki three-cylinder engine... and just what is meant by a "custom" transmission, anyway? Ah, the mysteries you'll be unraveling! The word "GEO" Rustoleumed across the intercooler is a nice touch, as is the casts-doubt-upon-paperwork statement "selling for a friend that will be here in a month or two." Just imagine what this thing would be like to drive if you could actually get it registered and working properly; Super Sleeper Potential!


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Braised chicken & beans
Nutrition and extra info
- Freezable
- Easily doubled / halved
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal457
- fat12g
- saturates3g
- carbs30g
- sugars11g
- fibre6g
- protein48g
- salt1.11g
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Olive oilol-iv oyl
Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's…
- 4 skinless boneless chicken thighs
- 1 onion, chopped
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 1 tsp dried thyme
This popular herb grows in Europe, especially the Mediterranean, and is a member of the mint…
- 300ml white wine
- 400g can flageolet bean, rinsed and drained
- handful parsley leaves
One of the most ubiquitous herbs in British cookery, parsley is also popular in European and…
Heat the oil in a wide pan with a lid, add the chicken, then quickly cook to brown it all over.
Tip in the onion, garlic and thyme, then fry for a further 2 mins. Pour in the wine, 150ml water and a little salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 20 mins, covering halfway through the cooking time, until the chicken is tender.
Stir the beans into the pan and briefly warm through. Roughly chop the parsley, then scatter over to serve.
Recipe Tip
Healthy benefitsChicken thighs supply twice the levels of iron and zinc of breast meat and are rich in tryptophan, which helps to lift your mood and promotes restful sleep. Flageolet beans are packed with B vitamins.


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Community makeover designed to prevent crime
Liberty City residents await improvements, crime reduction in Liberty Square apartment complex
MIAMI – Big changes are in the pipeline for a Miami community plagued with violence.
Liberty Square, a 753-unit housing project in Liberty City, will soon undergo a major makeover complete with cameras, guard houses and decorative planters.
"I think it's about time," said Selina Preston, a resident at Liberty Square.
Preston was among 50 people who showed up to a community meeting on Thursday to address the area's safety and quality of life issues. It was a small turnout considering notices went out to each of the 753 units.
One resident who lives across the street from where the meeting took place told Local 10's Terrell Forney that he prefers to keep to himself.
"I pray. I wanna go over but I avoid trouble," said resident Buford Redding, Jr.
One woman inside of the meeting rallied people to get their neighbors involved.
"Let your neighbors know, you can't have it both ways. Either you want to help or you don't want to help," she said.
At a city commission meeting earlier in the day, commissioners were briefed on the progress in Liberty Square.
More than 100 broken street lights have been fixed, which previously left neighborhoods darkened and prone to crime.
Decorative planters will align several side streets around Liberty Square and four guard houses will go up. Security will be able to record license plates and keep a better tab of who goes in and out of Liberty Square.
"That way we'll have limited access to cars in Liberty Square. Between the lighting, it'll be a safer neighborhood," said Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa.
Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, whose district includes Liberty City, also wants stepped up police patrols.
"If it's about safety, let's just get it done," said Spence-Jones.
However, the city says it's 200 officers short of its ideal staffing number.
"We are completely and utterly understaffed," said Commissioner Marc Sarnoff.
"We need a future in this community. We need a change in this community. It needs to start somewhere," said Preston.
Copyright 2013 by Local10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Westport fire crews extricate two from overturned car on I-95
Westport firefighters extricated two people from a car that tumbled off Interstate 95 after a multi-vehicle accident early Monday, overturning down an embankment and trapping the occupants inside.
Firefighters were dispatched about 5:50 a.m. Monday to the scene of the crash between I-95's southbound Exits 18 and 17.
One of the vehicles involved in the accident had left the road, and overturned on its roof at the bottom of an embankment.
The first arriving engine deployed a protective hose line for potential fire suppression, and assessed the patients.
A fire rescue team then used the "Jaws of Life" tool to free the occupants, who were transported by Westport EMS to a hospital for additional treatment.
The last fire unit cleared the scene just before 7:30 a.m., but the incident caused a large traffic backup during the Monday morning rush.


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- Cedar Ridge Elementary
- Homepage
Waco ISD Celebrates Dramatic Transformation
In state academic accountability ratings for 2018, Waco ISD received a "C," and all but one of Waco ISD's schools were rated "Met Standard." Last year, six Waco ISD schools were rated "Improvement Required."
This is the first time that districts were rated on an A through F scale. Campuses received ratings of met standard or improvement required. Barring legislative changes, campuses will also be rated on an A through F scale starting next year.
At the start of the last school year, Waco ISD leaders received a letter from the Texas Education Agency warning that five schools, which had failed to meet state accountability ratings for five or more years in a row, could face closure if they failed again. Those campuses were Alta Vista Elementary, Brook Avenue Elementary, J.H. Hines Elementary, G.W. Carver Middle and Indian Spring Middle. In addition, Crestview Elementary was rated Improvement Required for the second consecutive year in 2017.
One year later, Alta Vista Elementary, Crestview Elementary, J.H. Hines Elementary, G.W. Carver Middle and Indian Spring Middle have made it off of the Improvement Required list.
"This is evidence that we're on the right track," superintendent Marcus Nelson said. "In one year, Waco ISD has gone from the state classifying one-quarter of our schools as underperforming to just one campus in that situation. We're going to celebrate this progress, but we're not about to be satisfied with it. I won't rest until every campus meets state standards and every student in every neighborhood in our city receives a world-class education."
Waco ISD schools also earned 21 distinctions up from 12 in 2017. A total of ten campuses received at least one distinction with five campuses earning multiple distinctions. That includes Tennyson Middle, which received six of seven available distinctions: academic achievement in English Language Arts/reading, academic achievement in math, academic achievement in science, post-secondary readiness, top 25 percent in their comparison group for academic growth and top 25 percent in their comparison group for closing performance gaps.
Nelson just completed his first year in Waco ISD. He previously was the superintendent in Laredo ISD where he led a similar transformation taking the district from nine under-performing schools to none. The Texas Association of School Boards named Nelson the 2014 Superintendent of the Year.
"Turning around underperforming campuses is a team effort," board president Pat Atkins said. "Classroom teachers, principals, instructional specialists all have important roles to play, but leadership matters. After one year in Waco, our community can see why Dr. Nelson is recognized as one of the best instructional leaders in our state. Our work is far from done, but we already have so much to celebrate."
Nelson said, "This is deeply personal for me. As a kid growing up in a poor neighborhood on the northeast side of San Antonio, public education made all the difference in my life. As we move forward, we are focusing relentlessly on student learning and demanding excellence from every Waco ISD employee all day, every day. Our kids deserve nothing less."


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Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak at the HR Ohana Meeting to about 100 human resources professionals from all campuses of the University of Hawaii, which included the Manoa campus, as well as all neighbor island campuses and community colleges.
The meeting took place at Windward Community College, and man, I had no idea that WCC had such a beautiful campus. On one side of the campus, you have a majestic view of the Koolau mountain range. On the other side, you have a magnificent view of the ocean. It was incredible, to say the least:
I was asked to speak about current hot topics in labor and employment law, so I included the following four topics in my presentation: (1) 2014 legislative update; (2) social media and the workplace; (3) the possible unionization of Northwestern University football players and (4) employment law rights of same-sex couples in Hawaii following the Windsor court decision and legalization of same-sex marriage in Hawaii.
One of the speakers who presented before me talked about the "HR Tsunami" and how the duties of HR professionals in the workplace are becoming more significant as they take on more active roles in the strategic planning and management of corporations. In other words, HR professionals are not just performing administrative functions. I felt that this particular topic was a great segue into my presentation, because it gave me an opportunity to discuss the importance of being proactive in employment-related decisions and reinforce my motto that "the best defense is a good offense." It was also good to see that so many people chose to attend the meeting; considering that it was voluntary, having 100 attendees is fantastic because it shows that these HR professionals are doing their own part to be more proactive about their job functions.


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Feb 13, 2014
The Long Goodbye
First let me take a step back to tell you that we nearly lost her back on February 13th of last year. In the middle of the night, we rushed her to Tufts after she collapsed and couldn't breathe. She was diagnosed with Chronic Valvular Disease & Congestive Heart Failure. Her cardiology team couldn't tell us how long she would live, but we were given the vague expectation that it could be anywhere from one to six months depending on how well we could control her symptoms with heart medications.
Ever since last February, we've been living on borrowed time with Minnie. It's been a long year of increasingly sleepless nights and constant worry. Living with a dog who has CHF means listening to persistent coughing, monitoring breaths per minute, maintaining a low-sodium diet and keeping up with ever-changing heart medications.
It's been a delicate dance to keep her as happy and healthy as possible this past year. She continued to enjoy her long walks with Spencer and still eagerly ran to the kitchen every time she heard the refrigerator door open or the turn of the electric can opener. She enjoyed Winter one last time rolling in freshly fallen snow and taking long lazy naps in all her favorite spots of our house. She was happy and content despite her failing heart. We helped her have a good quality of life this past year. We never gave up on her.
But recently she began fainting as a result of her coughing and seeing her wake-up after a fainting spell struggling to breathe and not knowing if she would recover was unimaginably painful and we just couldn't put her through it anymore. We loved her too much and knew it was time to say good-bye.
We let her go yesterday - nearly a year to the day when we first discovered her condition - our most loved 11-year old girl.
We were with her till the last beat of her broken heart.
at 2/13/2014
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- Imported


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Columbia Women Setting Records In Multiple Sports
COLUMBIA- It's just like any other weekend for Pat Okker. She does her long run, but this time a little bit shorter.
That's because two weeks ago, at age 53, she ran her first marathon, and qualified to run the Boston marathon next year.
"I do it because it's fun," Okker said. "I would do it if it were bad for me. I would do it if it were like smoking. It would be my guilty pleasure"
But that's not all--Okker also power lifts.
She holds four American records in powerlifting and is going to attend the World Championship in Antwerp, Belgium this year.
Okker started doing both sports when she joined the club older women on weights.
"She started lifting heavy, working really hard, lost 40 pounds and kind of started running at that same period of time," said Okker's fellow duathlete, Shelly Frazier. "This is a year ago. One year."
But none of Okker's records, achievements, or medals may be possible without Shelly Frazier as her mentor.
"I know there were times in which she would do things that were better for my training schedule than hers because she really wanted to help me succeed," Okker said.
"I was recovering from an ankle surgery i just had," Frazier said. "I had slowed down a bit and Pat had started to speed up and at some point, our paces overlapped and we started running together. I said, 'Pat, you really need to run the New Orleans marathon and qualify for Boston.... I knew she could do it."
"She really inspired me to do it," Okker said. "I'm convinced I wouldn't have had the idea of running a marathon without Shelly."
Although Okker has almost a decade on her, Frazier is a veteran.
Frazier has American powerlifting records and world powerlifting records.
She's completed the Boston marathon and is going to run Boston this year, but this time for the roses.
"My knees are finally at a place where it's more painful than it is fun," Frazier said. "It's pretty painful to run now."
As Frazier takes a step back from competitive running, it gives Okker a chance to step forward into the spotlight.
But Frazier will still be around if her friend ever needs a lift.


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Quince Mag Photo Thank You Card
Quinceañera Thank You Cards
Quince Mag Photo Thank You Card, Item# TYQIPH9998
Note: Sparkles are simulated and will not light up.
Quince Mag Photo Thank You Card, Item# TYQIPH9998
Note: Sparkles are simulated and will not light up.
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Quince Mag Photo
"Quince Mag Photo" Foldover Quinceanera Notecard features the birthday girl's photo highlighted by "thank you" and her name. Choose from several color options to match your personal style.
A custom message can be printed with flat printing inside the foldover card (for an additional $0.50), to acknowledge that special gift.
*Matching items available upon request.*
You will be able to select the typestyle and ink colors to use for your personalized text during the design process. Start by clicking on the green 'Personalize and Continue' button. We recommend using the default typestyle and ink colors.
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20% Off Photo Products If You Schedule In July!
Download Order Forms For Senior Baby Ads Flier Click Here
Studio 94 Is Proud To Be Your Official Yearbook and Senior Portrait Photographer
We are honored to be here at this point in your life to document this transition into independence. We gratefully bring creativity, technology and passion to this project of recording your graduation success. We are committed to providing a fun professional photography experience that will make you look GREAT!
You must be photographed by Studio 94 in order to be in the formal senior section of your yearbook. We have several sitting options that are detailed below. We will photograph you on a specific yearbook background that is different from all of the underclass at your school. That way you stand out as seniors in your yearbook.
We will be taking your yearbook and senior pictures between July and October in our studio in Temecula. Our deadline for yearbook pictures will be October 31st. We must photograph you by then in order to place your picture in the senior section of your yearbook. We will provide one on-campus day for yearbook pictures in October. Please read below to find out the details.
Senior pictures are so important. In fact they may be the last professional pictures you take until your wedding day. Studio 94 photographers have a great deal of experience. Our photographers have been trained, tested and have taken hundreds of individual sittings. Experience is so important because you are a unique individual and the more experience a photographer has, the more able they are to make you look fantastic. Our studio has been honored to have photographed over 150,000 individuals in our years of service. There is no rival to the experience that the staff at Studio 94 has. The senior portrait is an investment that you will never regret. We have made the investment easy with a layaway program detailed below. We are pleased to be chosen as the studio to honor that investment. Thank you for choosing Studio 94 Photography, we guarantee that you will love your pictures.
e have outdoor or on location sittings available. See the sitting options below for the details. "Sitting Option #4" is our On Location sitting that includes your yearbook picture.
Here is What You Can Expect Now:
We will start taking portraits for your graduating class on July 1st. Those scheduling their appointment in July will receive 20% off any products purchased at your sitting. This is a huge discount on portraits of this quality. We want to encourage you to come in as soon as possible. As we approach the deadline the studio will get very busy. Many people choose to wait until the last minute. Obviously, being rushed is not good for a portrait but we need to get everyone in by the deadline. Please schedule early to avoid a rushed situation at the studio. If you are waiting until the last minute we cannot guarantee you the excellent experience that we are known for as we are trying to accommodate all customers. Thank you for the consideration and pre-planning. If you cannot get in until near the deadline, try our "Sitting Option #5" below. With the "Professional Standard SPLIT sitting", your photographs will be split into two appointments. The first sitting will be for your yearbook photo prior to the deadline. The second sitting, scheduled later in the school year, will be for the rest of your senior photos. This will shorten your time in the studio prior to the deadline and allows us to give you a more personalized session for your senior photos later.
Please read through the entire page below as it pertains to your yearbook and senior portrait sitting options. All of the information you need is here and if you have questions please click HERE or call our office.
Sitting Option #1 NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Professional Standard Sitting $30
5 Yearbook Outfit Poses in Tux or Drape
20 Other Poses (Outfit Of Your Choice + Official Cap & Gown)
Yearbook Picture Retouched for FREE
You choose your yearbook image
This is the starting point to all the great photography here at Studio 94. This is an in-studio sitting. This sitting has the best opportunity for you to get exactly what you want and then some. We take a lot of pictures of you to make sure you love them. We also retouch your yearbook picture for FREE because everyone wants to look good in their high school yearbook. Some other sittings do not have that option.
You will receive 25 poses in 3 Outfits (One is yearbook required) and on 2 additional different backgrounds. (1 outfit per background)
One outfit will be for your yearbook picture on the yearbook background. Your yearbook outfit is required by your school to be in a tux for the guys and a drape for the girls. We will provide both of these outfits. We will take 5 poses in this outfit and have you choose 1 pose for the yearbook. We will also take 20 poses in 2 additional outfits of your choice. We will provide official cap & gown as a second outfit option. Another option could be a letterman's jacket, uniform, or casual clothes. Typical "in-studio" time may vary from 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes with the photo shoot, viewing and ordering. Images are made available for viewing and ordering a few minutes after the photo shoot. Ordering at your sitting automatically qualifies you for a discount so prepare to save money. Look for other discounts, like our Early Bird July or split sitting discount which allows 20% off your order if placed at your sitting. The Professional Standard Sitting is requested by 98% of the seniors we work with. It has it all and guarantees that you will look GREAT in your yearbook picture.
To schedule any other sitting please call our office at 1-877-363-9690
Choose the "Customer Service" option #4 at the voice prompt.
Sitting Option #2 NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Yearbook Only Sitting $15
5 Yearbook Poses Only
Yearbook Picture is NOT Retouched
You choose your yearbook image
This sitting is for those who want a yearbook picture only with no adjustments to the image but who want to be in the main senior section of the yearbook. This is an in studio sitting. You will be photographed on the yearbook background only and we can not take any upgrades to this sitting at the time of your appointment. We will take 5 images of you to choose 1 for the yearbook. We DO NOT retouch your yearbook image. You can pay to have a standard retouch done to your yearbook image without ordering a package for $15 more. So this sitting is just the bare bones to have our professional photographers, editors, and equipment take your picture for the yearbook. If retouching is important then we recommend the Professional Standard Sitting instead because you get a lot more professional services for the same amount.
Sitting Option #3 NO LONGER AVAILABLE
The free yearbook sitting
Do I have to pay to be in the yearbook? No you do not.
1 Yearbook Pose just like your ID card shot
Yearbook picture is NOT retouched
You DO NOT get choose your yearbook image it is chosen for you
We have an on-campus Free Yearbook Sitting that is different from our in-studio $15 yearbook only sitting. We will do this on your school campus on October 24th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. There are a limited number of spaces available for these sittings and they are on a first come, first served, basis. You will not make an appointment for these sittings, but instead you will just show up during the sitting time frame. You will need to wait in line and at our scheduled end time we will stop, regardless of whether we have a line or not. We will photograph you on the same background as we do for all senior yearbook sittings; however there are no professional services for free with this sitting, which includes no pre-scheduled appointments. There is no guarantee of quality with this image. Only one picture will be taken at the discretion of the photographer. There will be no opportunity for the student to choose his or her image. There will be NO retouching option for this image. It will be placed forever in the yearbook looking just as the student did when they sat with us. Your yearbook picture is very important and it will stand forever to represent you. We do not recommend this sitting due to that importance. Our other sittings are very affordable and will provide you with a great professional image for your yearbook that you will get to choose.
Sitting Option #4 NO LONGER AVAILABLE
On Location Sitting $50
40 Poses in 2 Different Outfits on Location
We will schedule this sitting for you on a Tuesday or Wednesday at a beautiful location in the vineyards. You will meet us on location at a facility. When you call regarding an outdoor sitting we will discuss the location and all of the great attributes it offers. Click HERE to see our location work. This does not include the cap and gown. If you would like to add the cap and gown to your sitting it will be an additional $20. The cap & gown sitting will take place in the studio and not on location.
Sitting Option #5 NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Professional Standard SPLIT Sitting Second Sitting
20 poses in 2 different outfits and on 2 different backgrounds
You must have purchased the Professional Standard SPLIT Sitting prior to the yearbook deadline. This sitting is the second part of that split.
We will offer a 20% discount on package purchases if you purchase photo products at your second sitting.
Schedule a Professional Standard $30 SPLIT Sitting only by clicking here.
For alternate sittings follow Add-ons to my sitting click HERE!
How to Make a Sitting Appointment: When considering your appointment, make sure you can spend at least 1 hour with us to complete viewing and ordering. Make sure that a parent can come with you so you can order at the discounted rate by ordering on the spot. We know this is very important to you, and we will make the experience as pleasant and rewarding as possible. Look at your calendar and consider a couple of different times and days that you can come in. Call our office at 951-696-2002 to make your appointment. When you make your appointment you will be required to pay for it at that time, so you will need a credit card or a payment plan ready. You will be emailed appointment confirmation and a receipt for your purchase. You will be emailed an appointment reminder 2 days before your sitting. Please see below for rules on Appointment Changes or Appointment Cancellations.
What Should I Wear?
We recommend professional attire for the girls and at least a shirt and tie for the boys. Dark solid colors are best as patterns tend to distract. Dark skin with light clothes creates too much contrast and doesn't look good. Have your clothing clean and wrinkle free before arriving for your appointment. Keep in mind that riding in a car will wrinkle your clothes. You may want to carry them instead. We have dressing rooms.
For my additional outfit: You are welcome to bring any outfit for your second outfit. The studio will provide you the official school cap and gown as a second outfit option. If you are planning on wearing the cap and gown, we recommend boys to wear a shirt and tie underneath, and girls to wear either a t-shirt, tank top or a collared shirt. Please plan for your entire outfit to show. Consider accessories, fingernails, and shoes when preparing for your photo shoot. Dark solid colors are best as patterns tend to distract. Light colored outfits on dark skin create too much contrast and the image will not look good. Make sure your clothing is clean and wrinkle free. You may want to carry it to the studio. Consider uniforms, letterman jackets, and formal attire also as a second outfit option. You may also bring your own props or be photographed with a vehicle. If you cannot decide we can extend your sitting to include more outfits, but please inform us of that at your time of scheduling. See add-ons to my sitting click HERE!
Where Are The Photos Taken: All studio appointments will be held in our Temecula studio located at 41743 Enterprise Circle North Unit # 101, Temecula, CA. 92590. If you have questions regarding the location of your photo shoot, please contact a representative at 951-696-2002 prior to the date of your appointment or check the map online at FIND US.
The Picture and Product Packages: We have combined our most ordered products into packages that will help your pictures actually pay for themselves. For any of our MP packages, you will receive Slim Line Grad Cards for FREE that you can send as announcements or invitations with your pictures on them. The link Print Package and Product Prices below will show you our products and our prices but remember you can take 10% off if you order at your sitting. 20% if you are doing the second part of a SPLIT sitting.
Our Layaway Program: We are the only studio that we know of that allows you to layaway your picture order so you can make low easy payments. There is a minimum order but you can set how many payments you want to make and how much each payment will be. This makes purchasing professional pictures easy on the pocket book. At your photo shoot ask your customer service representative about our Layaway program.
How Long Does It Take To Get Your Photos
Normal print product turn around time is 3 weeks. Your order will be mailed to the address you give us when you sign up. Please DO NOT give us a P.O. box because we cannot ship to that.
RUSH your pictures and have them in 9 days. We charge a $30 price increase to do a 9 day rush. Tell your customer service rep at your sitting that you want a 9 day rush and they will make that happen for you. Your order will be mailed to the address you give us when you sign up. Please DO NOT give us a P.O. box because we cannot ship to that.
Print Package and Product Prices
We Guarantee That You Will Love Your Pictures: As you may have already noticed we have photographed 10's of thousands of high school grads and we are very good at it. Because of our confidence that you will love your pictures we will guarantee all of our work 100% so you will have no risk here, just a great experience.
Terms and Conditions
All images taken by Studio 94 Photography Inc. are copyright protected. It is against the law to reproduce our images in any way without our written consent. Even scanning proofs or photographing images with a cell phone or camera is against the law. Copied images will result in a fine and possible imprisonment. We work very hard to produce a great portrait for you, please honor that hard work by purchasing pictures without risking prosecution.
Your sitting must be Pre-Paid: This photo sitting is in high demand and there are a limited amount of sittings available before deadlines. Therefore to accommodate those trying to meet the deadlines we take pre payment of the sitting fee. This ensures that your sitting time is reserved for you only. In the past when we have not taken a payment for the sitting up front, we had a 20% No Show rate everyday. That means we needed to overbook and people would have to wait for a long time for their sitting. When we changed and took a 72 hour non-refundable sitting payment up front our no show rate dropped to 1% and all sittings were on time and not rushed and subjects had a much more enjoyable photography experience. That translated to pictures that you love more. Our goal is to give you a great experience and this is a policy that helps to make that happen for you.
Appointment Changes or Appointment Cancellations: Appointments are on a first paid first served basis. Payment is the only method of guarantee for your photo shoot. If you cannot make the appointment you have paid for, please contact our office at 1-877-363-9690, at least 72 hours prior to your scheduled appointment and we will make arrangements for a new sitting time. Calls to change or cancel appointments received after hours will be noted. A message MUST BE left in order for us to determine sitting fee refund qualifications. Calls for change within the 72 hour period will forfeit the sitting fee, and another appointment will need to be made and the fee will be paid again. See Frequently Asked Questions for clarification on our appointment policy.
The sitting fees are the charges for time, skill, equipment, & preparation for your photo shoot. The sitting fee is also a fundraiser for the organization sponsoring the event, like your school for instance. A portion of your sitting fee will be returned to your school and future students will benefit from it just as you have benefited from those grads that have preceded you. We only make money if you order pictures so that drives us to do a great job for you. We will provide a source to view the images taken just following your sitting. To acquire pictures for personal private use, the subject must purchase a photo package or the Digital Image Files. The sitting fee is not a deposit or down payment for any printed photo package. It is the charge only to be photographed.
Order Changes or Order Cancellations: All orders are entered into production 24 hours following order placement. Our goal is to return your photo package as soon as possible. However, any orders canceled in production will be subject to a 20% cancellation charge. Changes in orders while in production will result in a $25 charge in addition to any package change cost differences. All returned checks are subject to a $25 charge in addition to any previous balance due. Layaway cancellations will incur a charge of 25% of the money's already paid.
We look forward to photographing you!
Book a Session
To book your session now,
give us a call at;
When the voice answers press 1
Contact Us
Refer to "Where To Find Us" for a map and directions
41743 Enterprise Circle North
Suite #101
Temecula, CA 92590
Winter Office hours: 10am to 4pm
Monday - Friday
When the voice answers
Press 1 for appointments
Press 4 for customer service
Temecula Studio
41743 Enterprise Circle North
Suite #101
Temecula, CA. 92590
hours: by appointment only
Anaheim Studio
3456 East Orangethorpe Ave.
Anaheim, CA. 92806
hours: by appointment only
Vista Studio
1930 Watson Way
Unit I
Vista, CA. 92081
hours: by appointment only


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Young eyeing NL stolen base crown
NEW YORK -- Most of the intrigue of this year's National League stolen base race revolves around Brewers rookie shortstop Jean Segura, who has not played since Sept. 18 due to injury. After the Mets' 4-2 loss to the Brewers on Friday, Segura is tied atop the leaderboard with Mets outfielder Eric Young, Jr.
Young swiped two bags in Thursday's 4-2 loss to Milwaukee to tie Segura with a career-high 44 steals -- despite the fact that he did not become an everyday player until the Mets acquired him from Colorado in June.
"He had a two-and-a-half-month lead on me," Young said of Segura.
In the three months since, Young has rapidly caught up in terms of both plate appearances and stolen bases. Batting leadoff more often than not, including Friday, Young leads the NL in plate appearances since the trade. He also leads in stolen bases, with 36 in 89 games.
Compare that to Segura, who has stolen at least seven bases, but no more than nine, in each of the first five months of the season, and six in September. If Segura returns to the lineup this weekend, as Brewers manager Ron Roenicke indicated he would, it will set up an intriguing subplot between him and Young on the season's final days.
"It's going to be fun," Young said, admitting that he's had his eye on the leaderboard since becoming an everyday player. "Regardless of the results, it's been fun the whole way, this whole season."


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June 24, 2019
Ten Qualities to Look For in Your Real Estate Agent
Posted in General by Meaghan McGlynn
Buying a home is one of the most significant financial and emotional purchases of a person's life. That's why it is so important to find an agent that can not only help you navigate the home search process but one who can also answer your questions and represent your needs from start to finish.
Read More >
May 28, 2018
Understanding the Modern Home
Posted in General by John Trupin
Sleek design, open floor plans, and great natural lighting are all appealing characteristics of modern architecture. Over the years, modern design concepts in home building have become more popular, as is the resurgence of interest in modern real estate. More companies, like 360 modern, are specializing in modern properties. Modern homes vary greatly in style; however, they have...
Read More >
December 07, 2012
Tips For Emergency Preparedness
Posted in General by Tara Sharp
Over the last few weeks, we have been sharing valuable information about preventative home maintenance and preparing your home for winter storms. The start of the New Year is a great time to take stock of your emergency kit. It's a good idea to do this every year in order to replenish and adjust the contents to your families changing needs.
Read More >
August 18, 2010
A Humbling Experience
Posted in General, Community, and Windermere by Geoff Wood
It's a humbling experience to sit down with a man like Ralph Jenkins. He's seen more than most people. He's done more, and given more. And he knows more. So when I have a chance to talk with Ralph, I ask a lot of questions and listen carefully.
Read More >
July 28, 2010
Will videos surpass photos when it comes to marketing a home online?
Posted in General, Buying, and Selling by Michael Fanning
I recently read a real estate video report from Sept 6, 2009 stating that to market a home today the use of video is becoming more popular.
Read More >


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A quick note; my exams, along with several other Brits on this site, are happening right now. That means that, understandably, a number of UK based 'lopers may not be able to participate for a while. This does include myself; although my real exams finish on the 8th of June. I should be able to join you all then, along with hopefully a few other true-blooded Englishmen.
"A state of disharmony between incompatible or antithetical persons, ideas, or interests; a clash."
So why confliction?
I had an idea running around in my head about opposing elements or themes; it was mentioned several times in the Suggestions thread. Rather than do a single one I thought "bugger it, I'll condense them all into one overarching idea"
You could do elements, ideaologies, humourous "wtf" moments - anything based around disagreement or direct battle. If you can't do better than a battle sequence, so be it. But it better be good.
Remember; the themes are vague so you create something based on your initial idea on reading the theme. Fire and Ice comes into my mind; equally it could be Man vs Machine. Go nuts.
As always, one month exactly. That's the 12th June, 22:00 GMT
Feel free to contact me or comment with any problems. Enjoy!