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Editor's note: "Jaime's China" is a weekly column about Chinese society and politics. Jaime FlorCruz has lived and worked in China since 1971. He studied Chinese history at Peking University (1977-81) and served as TIME Magazine's Beijing correspondent and bureau chief (1982-2000).
Beijing, China (CNN) -- When hundreds of truckers went on a slowdown strike in Shanghai several days ago, the impact was immediately palpable: The movement of goods in one of China's largest container ports was virtually paralyzed. China watchers wondered how authorities would react. Will they send in the anti-riot troops? How soon will the heavy hand of the state come down?
The crackdown did not happen. Instead, the Shanghai authorities agreed to reduce the fees imposed on the truckers, thus placating the strikers who complained that the fees were onerous, given the high inflation and fuel prices. The authorities blinked.
The Shanghai strike, experts say, is not an exceptional case. In recent years, local officials in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have given in to public pressure -- street demonstrations, silent "strolls" and online campaigns -- on controversial issues. In some cases, government planners had to abandon plans to build chemical plants and waste incinerators when residents expressed concerns over environmental and health hazards.
The gentle handling of these potentially explosive mass actions contrasts starkly to the harsh crackdown on political dissent. Over the past several weeks, Chinese police have rounded up scores of political activists, lawyers and bloggers, including Ai Weiwei, a prominent artist and political activist.
"Stability trumps everything," a Communist Party official told me. (He declined to be identified because he is not authorized to speak on the matter.) "We cannot be wishy-washy and just leave matters to chance."
So what is behind the kid's-glove approach to such mass actions like the Shanghai truckers' strike?
"They are challenges to specific issues rather than ideologically driven, cross-regional organized events," said David Zweig, political science professor at the University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong. "They are citizens' protests, not political actions aimed at changing the regime or forcing political reform on the regime."
Political activists like Ai Weiwei, experts say, are viewed differently. "These activists have challenged (the regime) for a long time and would not compromise," says Li Fan, a political scientist. "That's why they are treated severely. They are like scapegoats, as we say -- 'kill the chicken to scare the monkey,' because the government will not allow the emergence of leaders of the opposition."
That China should experience a spike in popular protests is hardly surprising. It is going through wrenching socioeconomic changes. Problems loom, among them unemployment, high inflation, corruption, onerous taxes, the rising cost of education, health and housing. "There has been dissatisfaction over rising prices but no action until now," Li said. "Officials feared what happened in Shanghai might lead to a nationwide movement. That's why it was handled swiftly."
China's officialdom is coming to grips with the increasing uneasiness of millions of citizens who are no longer content to meekly follow everything it decrees.
In Nanjing, for example, citizens last March tied green ribbons around wutong trees along a major road after they learned that city leaders were planning to uproot them. The trees, some of which have lined the streets since the 1930s, were to be removed to make way for a subway construction project.
Residents protested. "The Wutong trees are not your private property," wrote one microblogger on Sina.com. "We citizens have the right to know what's happening to them ... And if you asked us, the answer is 'no.' Why don't you understand that history is vital to a city and that trees have feelings?"
Netizens initiated an online campaign involving tens of thousands of microblog users. Days later, the city government suspended the plan to move the trees.
Despite the official censorship on China's cyberspace, observers credit the New Media for playing a unique role in galvanizing public opinion. The Chinese call this "weiguan" (surrounding attention, or kibitzing)--the use of the Internet and social networking sites by Chinese netizens to influence agendas by tweeting and retweeting opinion and focusing attention on issues and news events. Many times, "weiguan" has changed government policies and behavior.
"The traditional one-way flow of information -- from official media to the audience -- is being altered by the multi-way flow of information online because of social media," says Bu Zhong, assistant professor at Penn State University. "The compromises that we've seen lately show how officials are learning to handle crises in the age of social media -- suppression does not always work anymore. What's happening today was not conceivable in China 10 or 20 years ago."
Still, experts say, recent outbreaks of social unrest highlight the scarcity of legal avenues for people in China to participate in state affairs. "The need for social participation is growing but there is no channel or system for the society to participate," says Li Fan. "The result is political instability."


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Primi Piatti
2½ stars
47 Green St. in St-Lambert
Website: primipiatti.ca
Phone: 450-671-0080
Open: Weekdays noon to 10 p.m.; Sat. and Sun. 5 to 11 p.m.
Wheelchair access: Yes
Reservations: Essential
Parking: On the street
Vegetarian friendly: Yes
Licensed: Yes
Cards: Major cards
Price range: Antipasti $6-$22; pizza $15-$20; pasta $19-$29; meats and fish $27-$47; desserts $6-$13. Three-course table d'hôte $36-$49.
Have you ever been to St-Lambert? Boy, it's nice. Yes, the houses have personality (and I'm told they sell for a pretty penny), but what I like most about St-Lambert is the dynamic city centre this town has going for it. There's Taylors department store, and the fabulous cheese shop L'Échoppe des fromages, as well as cafés, restaurants and so much more.
I always like discovering new restaurants off the beaten Montreal track, and yet the South Shore has even less of a restaurant buzz than Laval or the West Island. (It wouldn't be a stretch to say Hochelaga-Maisonneuve has more foodie cred these days than any of those areas.) Yet after considering a few promising spots in Vieux Longueuil, I set my South Shore sights on St-Lambert, or more specifically an Italian restaurant called Primi Piatti.
Bit of background: I first heard about Primi Piatti from great chef John Ledwell, who was the chef at the superb and, shall we say extremely topical, dining room at private club Le 357c until he passed away at the tender age of 45 in 2007. He also hired several young and talented chefs who went on to make names for themselves, including Darren Bergeron of Decca 77, Mario Navarrete of Raza, Marc-André Royal of Le St-Urbain and Antonio Park of Park.
Ledwell was a regular at Primi Piatti and over the years had sent a few kids there to work as well. He mentioned to me often what a great neighbourhood restaurant this was. Now, some five years after his passing, I was finally headed over the Victoria Bridge to try it out.
Located on a side street off St-Lambert's main drag, Victoria Ave., Primi Piatti looks dark on the outside and candlelit on the inside. Standing in the entranceway, I glanced around the space and saw a pizza oven, a bar, the requisite glassed-in wine cellar and two dining rooms, both pretty much packed with bilingual patrons. The mood was very loungey/supper clubby with those generic groovy background tunes that scream '90s sushi restaurant on The Main to me, but whatever. My neighbourhood sure can't boast a cool looking restaurant like this.
Primi Piatti's menu is long, and reading through it I was surprised there wasn't one dish listed that doesn't tempt me. My God, I wanted it all! The wine list is equally fetching with a majority of private imports (starting at $40 and up, up, up) and five offerings of both red and white wines by the glass. It's not cheap, but it is well-balanced with a mainly Italian selection and interesting bottles from elsewhere. Menu prices are also steep, but there's a three-course table d'hôte for those watching the bottom line.
As pizza is a draw here (and who among us doesn't relish a good pizza?), we began with a classic margherita to get the Primi Piatti ball rolling. Though more cracker-like than I prefer, the crust was thin and chewy on the sides. What irked me more was the close-to-tasteless fresh mozzarella, the acidic canned tomatoes and the excess of dried herbs, especially oregano. This pizza has potential, but they're going to have to up the quality of the toppings to make it memorable.
Happily, the antipasti fared better. First up was a salad that featured endive, arugula, duck prosciutto and pomegranate seeds. Dressed up with a slightly sweet vinaigrette, this pretty little salad was simply swell. The buffalo mozzarella and beet salad was also a winner. Not that there was much to it beyond those three ingredients, but the cheese had that pronounced buffalo milk flavour and the golden beets were velvety, with a sweet flavour that contrasted well with the tangy cheese and peppery greens. And finally, I lapped up the arancini with arrabiatta sauce. These three deep-fried balls were made with a mixture of rice, braised meat and peas. All delicious, but what really kicked it up a notch was the sauce, which was just so spicy and vibrant. Good stuff.
I was feeling warm and tingly about dinner thus far, but I cannot deny I was irked by the way our waiter kept refilling our glasses. I dislike when waiters do this because it always feels like a pushy way to get customers to drink most of the bottle before the main courses are served, and thus be forced to order a second bottle. When the main courses arrived, my enthusiasm waned even more.
My dish, veal tortellini with fried spicy sausage doused in a tomato cream sauce, sounded so promising. But the tortellini I was served looked like the standard commercial variety, and the sausage bits were scarce. For $20, was I wrong to expect something more refined than what I'd get at any run-of-the-mill pasta place? Or worse yet, from a supermarket?
The next dish, a squash-enhanced risotto with dabs of pesto and a stuffed grilled quail, didn't look promising either as the rice appeared lifeless — as in congealed. One bite confirmed my suspicions. Not only did it lack unctuousness, it was overcooked, thus obliterating the requisite al dente texture that differentiates risotto from, say, a bowl of oatmeal. The quail was excellent, though, all succulent and well-seasoned, and I liked the flavour combination, too. But that rice ... ugh.
The best dish of the three featured braised short ribs in a rich brown sauce paired with celery root purée, asparagus spears and caramelized turnips. The meat was melting and delicious, the purée was perfect and the sauce was delectable. But where were the promised onion rings? And why was the cut of meat described on the menu as a côte de boeuf (rib steak), when in reality what we were served were côtes courts (short ribs)? Big difference.
Desserts are given their due at Primi Piatti, and the three we enjoyed were a definite step up from what you find in most Italian restaurants. First was a bread pudding that was served in a small Mason jar and topped with a quenelle of Bailey's ice cream. Alongside was a pot of caramel that we poured on top. As delicious as it was, the pudding itself was more sugary pieces of bread than a cohesive, pudding-like mass. Better yet was a chocolate pot de cream topped with marscapone cream served with an intense dark chocolate sorbet and a red fruit compote. Nice! And last but not least, from the table d'hôte menu, a raspberry-topped verrine containing a fine panna cotta. Not the best I've tasted, but still very good.
As a neighbourhood restaurant, Primi Piatti is highly recommendable. Why face the bridge for a pizza or bowl of pasta when you have a restaurant like this in the vicinity? Yet the ultimate question with a restaurant outside of the city core is whether it is, as they state so well in the famous Michelin Guide, "worth the detour." No, I would not place it in that category, but if this restaurant were in my neighbourhood, I would visit often.
So not only do those lucky St-Lambertans get to boast about skyrocketing property values, but a good Italian restaurant as well. No wonder Chef Ledwell was so enthusiastic.
For more food and wine talk, tune in to Dinner Rush with Lesley Chesterman on Saturdays from 3 to 4 p.m. on News Talk Radio CJAD 800.

subset: commoncrawl


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Watch Harry Styles Hilariously Pull Down Piers Morgan's Pants [VIDEO]
Oh, Harry Styles. What are we going to do with you?
The curly-haired One Direction cutie recently surprised former CNN host (and 'Britain's Got Talent' judge) Piers Morgan at a soccer charity match, pulling down his pants in a hilarious moment that was delightfully captured on Vine.
In the vid, you can see Harry quietly sneak up on Morgan, as 1D fans everywhere inwardly freak out over his adorable soccer (or football, as they call it in England) uniform, hair done up in a tiny, half-up "man bun." Harry then goes in for the kill, pantsing Morgan, who quickly attempts to pull his shorts back up. But the best part of the video is what comes next, when Harry gleefully runs away, enormous smile on his face and fist in the air as he pulls off the successful prank.
Of course, Harry's little trick comes just a few weeks after he famously unzipped his own pants on stage to reveal a new tattoo, much to the delight of the 1D fans in the audience. However, Morgan soon extracted his own revenge on the singer, with his team beating Niall Horan's (which included his bandmate, Harry) at the tournament, which helped to raise money for Irish Autism Auction.
Watch the hilarious Vine of Harry Styles pantsing Piers Morgan below!
Yikes! See More Celebrity Wardrobe Malfunctions


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TomTom Touch Black Large
TomTom Touch - Charging cable
User Guide
' TomTom Touch winner of ISPO AWARD 2017 in the health & fitness segment '
Body composition analysis on your wrist: measure your percentage of body fat and muscle mass with the touch of a button.
Built-in heart rate monitor to track your heart rate throughout the day. Find out your resting heart rate, which is a great indicator of your fitness level.
Track your activity 24/7: Capture steps, active time, calories burned, distance walked, and sleep time. Make every minute count.
Mix up your workouts. Sports mode allows you to log your workouts and track your stats. You'll see how the intensity of this morning's walk compares to yesterday's run and last week's boot camp.
Choose from a range of colorful, high-quality straps to match your style, whatever the occasion.
Incoming call and text notifications sent right to your wrist when your phone is near. So you can decide to stay connected or stay in the moment without having to reach out for your phone.
Bright and easy-to-navigate touchscreen display.
Go for up to five days of tracking before you need to recharge.
Wear your tracker day and night. Sweat, rain, and splash proof so you can keep it on when you do the dishes, wash your hands, and work out. Don't wear while swimming and don't immerse in water.
Ultra-slim, elegant design with a sleek touchscreen and stylish bands: Wear your band all day, every day, whatever the occasion.
Regular software updates to improve your experience with the latest updates and innovations.
Track and analyze your sleep to find out if you're getting the sleep you need.
Challenge yourself to a daily or weekly goal. Set your fitness, activity, and body goals and track your progress.
Keep it simple and easy, no cable needed: sync your stats wirelessly to the TomTom Sports app via Bluetooth and upload to our partner sports and fitness platforms.
Select large or small straps to get the perfect fit for your wrist. Designed for an optimal fit with little strap overlap, the band will fit you just right.
Battery life
Up to 5 days of tracking
Activity Tracking
Steps, active minutes, distance walked, calories burned and sleep time
Display size
5.58 x 22.38 mm
IPX7 (splash-proof, shower-proof, do not swim)
Wrist size (large)
140–206 mm
Quickly jump to
Activity Tracking
Activity TrackingSteps, active minutes, distance walked, calories burned and sleep time
GoalsSports goals, activity goals, body goals
Weight and Dimensions
Display resolution128 x 32 pixels
Display size5.58 x 22.38 mm
Storage4 MB
Thickness.45 in
Weight (module only)10 g
Wrist size (large)140–206 mm
SensorsMotion sensor (accelerometer + gyro), optical heart rate monitor*
Start/Stop activityHeart rate, active time, calories burned, clock time
Water-resistantIPX7 (splash-proof, shower-proof, do not swim)
Battery lifeUp to 5 days of tracking
No matter what phone you have, you will be able to create a TomTom Sports App account and dive into your stats, set goals and view your progress on your computer.
If your phone is compatible, you can also download and use the TomTom Sports App on your phone, sync your data using Bluetooth, dive into your stats, set goals and view your progress on your phone.
List of compatible phones:
If your phone is not on the list we cannot guarantee that your phone is compatible with our TomTom Sports App. It is possible that it works but there is a chance you may not be able to pair the device with your phone and use the app.
Either way, you can always create a TomTom Sports account and get a great experience with the TomTom Sports Website on your computer or tablet, just visiting sports.tomtom.com.


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…Violent abuses are MINUSTAH's (the UN Haiti Mission's) basic modi operandi for protecting US & other Western economic interests by targeting poor Haitians…
–Council on Hemispheric Affairs
A UN Security Council delegation is currently in Haiti to "review its mandate" and "evaluate" its efforts in the country. At the conclusion of this 4-day trip, the delegation will report on its findings. Given that the UN formally denies responsibility for the cholera outbreak ravaging the country, it won't tally the 7,000 cholera deaths as part of its impact.
In light of this, it's tempting to review yet again the "mountain of evidence" proving the UN's fault for the outbreak. But there's no need. The only remaining question about UN culpability is not whether they're to blame for introducing cholera to Haiti, but whether the tools of international law will work on behalf of justice or on behalf of the powerful.
Instead, this post provides historical context for evaluating MINUSTAH's public statements about the ongoing cholera crisis. Specifically, we compare similar public statements about a previous scandal to internal documents that only came to light years after the fact.
For those who aren't familiar with the UN Mission's history in Haiti, this post will show that MINUSTAH has used public denials not just to deflect responsibility, but to provide cover for continuing its "violent abuses."


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- Price: $4000-$10000
- Posted: 08 November 19
- Expire: Recurring
- Age & Sex: F 18+
At Egg Donor America, we have the utmost admiration and respect for young ladies who decide to help others by donating their eggs. Becoming an egg donor may feel complex and overwhelming. It is our job to guide the egg donor through the process, alleviate concerns, and make this a pleasant and fulfilling experience.
Without egg donors like you, couples who are struggling to start a family would have little hope. Egg donation has been described as one of the most powerful and rewarding decisions a woman can make, and we hope you choose to become an egg donor. Learn more about the egg donation process, egg donor compensation and the egg donor requirements for applicants (below).
Donor Requirements:
Please review the following minimum qualifications to become an egg donor.
- Between the ages of 18 and 34
- Physically healthy
- Have a BMI 19-29 [BMI Calculator]
- Non-Smoker
- Have regular, monthly menstrual periods
- Not using contraceptive implants or Depo-Provera injections as a form of birth control
- Have both ovaries
- Psychologically healthy
- No current use of psychoactive drugs
- No history of substance abuse
- No family history of inheritable genetic disorders
- Willing to take injections
- Dependable, mature, and able to keep appointments
If the above minimum donor egg requirements are met, please complete and submit the online application.
Egg Donor America strictly adheres to compensation guidelines set forth by The Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). The guidelines are as follows: "Although there is not consensus on the precise payment that oocyte donors should receive, at this time sums of $5,000 or more require justification and sums above $10,000 go beyond what is appropriate."
As an egg donor, your prospective parent is responsible for all egg donor costs and expenses incurred as a result of an egg donation cycle. All egg donor expenses are paid, including:
- Medical Expenses
- Egg Donor Insurance
- Egg Donor Compensation
- Attorney Fees
- Travel Expenses
For egg donors who have to travel, compensation is also provided for these expenses:
- Airfare for the egg donor and a traveling companion
- Hotel accommodations (shared room for egg donor and companion)
- Ground transportation compensation
- Up to $100 per diem
Many egg donors come to Egg Donor America through word of mouth referrals from our current egg donors. Refer a friend and get paid a $100.00 referral fee, which is paid upon the completion of her first egg donation cycle. To learn more about the compensation paid to egg donors, contact Egg Donor America.


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Suet Yi Shirley Ko-Improbable Journey Womenswear Collection
At Design Interviews
(Excerpt) Interview with Suet Yi Shirley Ko : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : Always think in Improbable ways is my principle for design while I believe in the improbability between cultures and arts,so journeys in my life will be my inspiration for my collection. Life is a moving on journey,every dots comes together to form a line, an infinite line to complete my design journey.By transferring the conceptual ideas through exploring the contrast of past and present, presenting the designs in constructional silhouette to achieve the unlimited boundaries of improbable design. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : Focusing on the mixture of architectural structure and textile development to emphasis the idea of urban cultures of a metropolitan. From the collection, a flourishing city can be projected through the interesting colors and textile development, beside of that, urban arts and street fashion silhouette has been applied on the design to bring out the diversity of the city's cultures. There is a positive message from the collection " Every small stories from a big city create the shiniest moment, Good or bad , Poor or rich, new or old, there are no boundaries in that, live as precious as we can and be improbable to find yourself in a metropolitan." .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : "Improbable Journey" is where my dream start, so I am going to extend the journey into an infinity idea. Launching a label with the idea of improbability to share my journeys with more dreamers in the world is my next plan. "You may say I'm a Dreamer, But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one." This is the lyrics from "Imagine"-John Lennon and it embraced what I would like to pursue in the future for my label. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : The designs takes more than half year for concept development and four months for producing the actual outfit design.Since I have did some researches through several ways while I was staying in New York City, analyzing the habits and lifestyle of the people is one of the interesting progress for designing this collection. After that, proceeding to the hand-made details of the outfits like interlacing the fabrics and transforming photography into textile prints is another challenge with exciting experience. .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : I design the collection to pursuit an inspiration about my journey in New York City. Every parts of the metropolitan have dreamers and people who never stop fighting for their dreams in many ways to balance living and dreams. Emphasizing every particular stories I have interviewed with or experienced with in the city to give a soul to the designs, I always believe in "Getting experience is the best way for creating designs", Through understanding the people around, the cultures around to bring a positive thinking to the audiences. .Frank Scott: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : I didn't plan to sell this collection, as "Improbable Journey" cannot be sell or cannot be counted with a price in my point of view. But I do intent to produce more works for my label to sustain the idea of improbability and hoping to inspire more people to chase for their dreams and believe in the improbable thinking. .Frank Scott: What made you design this particular type of work?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : Abstracting the shapes of architectures and transforming cultural concepts is my view of seeing characters for every inspiration in my life's journey. Based on this vision's principle, I developed designs with my deepest experiences and feelings, my designs grows old with me together, experiences what I see and listen on my journey. .Frank Scott: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : Since I was born in the 80s-90s, idea of my designs often influenced by 80s-90s, one of the most incredible periods for art,music and cultural. .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : Passionate Dreamers. .Frank Scott: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : The design's inspiration comes from my own journey,and everything are unique as the prints of the fabrics are developed from my photography, the design details on the outfits are handmade by myself and the silhouette are innovated through my particular views on architectural shapes. So I don't see any similar concepts apart from my collection at this moment. I am hoping my collection will inspire more dreamers to develop their dreams through designs and arts. .Frank Scott: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : The name of the collection "Improbable Journey" comes from my thinking principle "Always think in Improbable ways".With the Improbable concept of my life , I also believes in "A Journey is the best way to learn and create". That is how "Improbable Journey" born. .Frank Scott: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : Pencil and papers always the simplest way to create idea. I used Pencil and Papers to sketch out my design ideas and using camera to capture the scenes in the city to transform in my designs. Music is one of the important elements help drive my design moods to a better stage while designing at any places anywhere. .Frank Scott: What is the most unique aspect of your design?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : The unique aspect of my design is the journey I have experienced which brings me a vision on seeing the different of the city, in order to transform the idea into the architectural silhouette and artistic textiles with my unique technique on textile designs and cultural concept projection. .Frank Scott: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : I worked with a Digital printing workshop for the textile printing development progress. .Frank Scott: What is the role of technology in this particular design?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : The role of technology in this design collection is to demonstrate the scenery I have seen through the journey, and brings the vision to the audiences, so that they are able to understand what I have experience for oneself. .Frank Scott: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?. Suet Yi Shirley Ko : The design collections been through several researches on books and interviews with different peop.[ End of Excerpt: Read complete interview with Suet Yi Shirley Ko on Improbable Journey Womenswear Collection at design-interviews.com ]
Suet Yi Shirley Ko-Improbable Journey Womenswear Collection Images:
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Many Boston charter schools that have opened additional campuses frequently scored higher than state averages on last spring's MCAS, a sign that high performance can be sustained as more students enroll, according to a Globe review of data released Friday.
In one of the strongest showings, the two new campuses of the Brooke Charter School network outscored the state at every grade level tested in English, math, and science, sometimes by more than 20 or 30 points.
Similarly, students at the Excel Academy Charter School network's year-old campus in East Boston exceeded state averages in all subjects, much like its students at its original school, which is also located in East Boston.
Charter school leaders chalked up the results to top-notch teaching, high expectations, and other measures, such as strict discipline or intensive tutoring.
Jon Clark, co-director at Brooke Charter School, said his schools place a high premium on teaching.
"We revere teaching," Clark said. "It's the hardest job in the world."
This year's MCAS results provide the most extensive examination of the state's effort to expand charter schools since a 2010 state law allowed for the doubling of charter school seats in districts with the lowest MCAS scores, such as Boston.
Currently, six of the new campuses have grade levels that must take part in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, which tests students in grades 3-8 and grade 10. In many cases, the schools have results for only one or two grade levels because they start their schools small, opening with one or two grades and then adding others as students move up.
Overall, each of the six new charter schools in Boston exceeded state averages on at least one section of the test, and almost always scored higher than the average for the Boston school system.
Other schools that opened additional schools are Match, which launched Match Community Day, and Roxbury Prep, which opened two campuses.
KIPP, a national charter chain, also opened its first school in Boston.
Created originally under the 1993 Education Reform Act, charter schools were envisioned to be laboratories of educational innovations and were expected to be a boon for families seeking alternatives to traditional school systems, particularly low-performing ones. In most cases, charter schools are run independently of local school districts and rarely employ unionized teachers, providing flexibility to make quick changes.
Boston currently has more than 20 charter schools and the city has once again hit the limit on the number that can operate — prompting charter school advocates to push for raising the cap again, a hot issue in this year's mayoral race.
Richard Stutman, president of the Boston Teachers Union, which opposes more charter schools, downplayed the results of the charter schools, arguing they serve a different population of students than Boston's school system. He also accused charter schools of pushing out academically weak students before the MCAS exams are taken each spring — an assertion charter leaders have long disputed.
"Charter schools don't educate nearly their share of English language learners or special education students so their scores don't mean much," Stutman said. "I will commend them for doing well but their results are skewed by their demographics and teaching philosophy — teaching to the test."
While charter schools have been immensely popular among low-income, black, or Latino students, most charters have enrolled small rates of students with disabilities or those lacking English fluency. The 2010 expansion law has forced charter schools to step up recruitment of these students, with mixed results.
One charter school in particular has responded aggressively. Two years ago, Match Community Day Charter Public School in Jamaica Plain opened specifically to serve high concentrations of students lacking fluency in English, and 86 percent of its enrollment is comprised of these students.
This past spring, 90 percent of the school's third graders — the first to take the MCAS — scored proficient or higher, 24 percentage points higher than the state average. The students performed well in reading too, with 53 percent scoring proficient or higher. While that's four percentage points lower than the state average, it's more than 20 percentage points higher than the Boston School Department's average for third graders.
"We are immensely gratified," said Kate Carpenter Bernier, the school's principal. "It took a lot of work, on our part, our scholars' part, and the part of our families."
James Vaznis can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @globevaznis.


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Timeless Season 2
After barely escaping an explosion at Mason Industries, Wyatt (Matt Lanter) and Rufus (Malcolm Barrett) chase the Mothership back to a French battlefront during World War 1 to rescue Lucy (Abigail Spencer) from Rittenhouse. There, they discover that Lucy has recruited Marie Curie, the famous French scientist and the only person ever to win two Nobel Prizes, to help save the life of a wounded American soldier, only to learn that the soldier is Lucy's own great-grandfather who Rittenhouse is bringing to the present to be their leader.
Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Actor: Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter, Malcolm Barrett, Paterson Joseph, Sakina Jaffrey, Claudia Doumit, Goran Visnjic, Annie Wersching, Michael Rady, Melissa Farman, Kim Bubbs, Susanna Thompson, Jonathan Stanley, André Fortin, Alexander Neher
Director: Greg Beeman
Country: USA


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Solgar Vitamin D3 600 iu 60 Vegetable Capsules
Solgar Vitamin D3 600 iu 60 Vegetable Capsules
£7.25 | €8.20
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FREE OF: Yeast, Wheat, Soy, Gluten and Dairy Products and are formulated without the use of Artificial Preservatives, Favours or Colours
Vitamin D3 has lots of benefits. It's suitable for adults, babies and infants, osteoporosis and bone health, teeth, skin rashes, immune system, rickets, depression, hormones gums, and further medical uses.
What is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is also known as the sunshine vitamin as the human body can manufacture it when exposed to sunlight. Well known for its role in regulating calcium levels, Vitamin D is now attracting attention for its other roles and benefits to the body. These include regeneration of the immune system, brain function, cellular health, cardiovascular health, muscle function and an anti-inflammatory action.
Vitamin D deficiency is common in the UK because of our distance from the equator and dietary intake is often low, with oily fish and eggs being the main sources. Researchers now believe that higher levels of Vitamin D3 are required as a daily intake to receive optimal benefits and to maintain an adequate blood level. What this level is depends on personal lifestyle and health needs but general all round use for adults tends to be around 1000 iu with many people however believing still higher levels are needed to maintain a proper balance. Always consult a health practitioner if you are unwell, or on any medication. Vitamin D also contributes to normal absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus and the maintenance of normal levels of calcium in the blood.
As a food supplement for adults, one (1) vegetable capsule daily, preferably at mealtime, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. Do not exceed directions for use.
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition, please consult your healthcare practitioner before taking this product.
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Serving Size: 60 and 120 Vegetable Capsules
|Each vegetable capsule provides:
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|Vegetable Capsule Shell: hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose
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silicon dioxide
|Vitamin D3 (600 IU, as cholecalciferol)
|15 �g
*EC RDA = EC Recommended Daily Allowance
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There are two big things you need to know to understand Adam Eckerle. First, he went to Space Camp as a kid (twice.) Second, he says his job at VMware in Technical Marketing is better than being an astronaut.
In addition to his affection for NASA and all things space-related, Adam also loves all forms of racing, from triathlon to everything motor sports-based. Before marriage and kids, he traveled around the country racing motorcycles on different race tracks.
We sat down with Adam to learn more about him, his career path and why he loves helping customers upgrade to vSphere 6.5 every day.
Scott Lowe was probably one of the first bloggers that I regularly read. Frank Denneman, who is on the same team as me now, is amazing, and also his Dutch counterpart, Duncan Epping. Those guys are the OG bloggers, but the vCommunity has grown to include so many more.
The VMware user community is one of the most prolific and amazing communities I've ever been a part of. It's all these smart people who are willing to spend their time writing blogs or working on social media just to say, "Hey, look. Here's a mistake I made and here's how you can learn from it." That attitude was totally contrary to everything else I'd been a part of. Most of the time, when people learn something, they want to make sure that they're valued for it, so they keep it to themselves. The VMware community is the complete opposite. People help each other because it's the right thing to do. They don't worry that sharing their learning will set them back.
It took a while! I went to Indiana's Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and studied computer engineering. Out of school, I designed video capture cards for casinos and banks, then wrote software to do test and validation of car media systems. If you've driven a Volkswagen in the last 10 years, there are probably still bits of my code being used to ensure those media systems are working properly before they are installed on the manufacturing line.
Then I went to a manufacturing company, then into IT consulting—and that's when I discovered VMware. It sounds cliché to say, but vMotion made me a believer. Then after working as a solutions architect for a VMware partner, I got a call from the mothership. The rest is history.
With vSphere 6.5, we added some new native high-availability features that customers have been asking for. We've basically given them an "easy button" to make the core piece of vSphere, vCenter Server, more resilient. Also, there's a paradigm shift in moving vCenter Server to the appliance model. We've had an appliance model for vCenter Server for a few releases now, but 6.5 is where we've drawn a line in the sand to say, "This is the direction we're going and here's a migration tool to get you there." The migration tool is an easy way to help customers get from a vCenter on Windows to a vCenter Server Appliance, wrapped in all these new features to make it easier to manage, easier to upgrade and patch.
There are new APIs and all kinds of fun stuff that are attractive to customers. The performance is head and shoulders above its Windows-based counterpart, and they're saving good money. One customer saved over $100,000 in licensing by moving over to the appliance because there's no operating system or database licensing required.
The thing that's magical in my mind is the idea that you can take whatever workload you have today, and if you're running vSphere 6.5 plus VMware Cloud on AWS, you now have a seamless experience to move workloads both to the public cloud or back on-premises. Before this technology existed, it was hard to come back or move to a different public cloud.
Because we've got vSphere running on-premises as well as vSphere running on AWS, it's very easy to move workloads around as the customer sees fit. The sky is the limit, because they can also tie right into Amazon's native suite of offerings. When you talk to customers and you mention VMware Cloud on AWS, you see light bulbs go on.
You know, there are a lot of people who talk about the hypervisor being commoditized, people who say data center infrastructure is boring. I couldn't disagree more. If you look at the different hypervisors that are out there, vSphere continually has far more features and more stability, and we're only going to add to that. The roadmap is very exciting.
vSphere continues to be the heart and soul of VMware. Not only does much of the VMware portfolio depend on vSphere, but the vSphere ecosystem continues to be one of the largest in the industry. This is going to be important going forward as legacy workloads continue to stick around even with the shift to the cloud. And customers don't want to continue with the status quo for those workloads. They want features that are being built for the cloud to be available in their on-premises infrastructure.
We're in a unique position. As a hypervisor and a management plane, we can be in that middle ground, be that gatekeeper between workloads and the physical hardware. As hardware vendors continue to work together with VMware and bring more security features and bake that into the hardware, we can be among the first to take advantage of those features. We can then apply policies to these workloads and do things like micro-segmentation, where we can secure network traffic between individual VMs, and do it in a policy-based way so it doesn't become a nightmare to manage.
We can also do things like take advantage of new TPM chips and new processor extensions. And because we're the hypervisor, the abstraction layer between the workload and the hardware, we're in a perfect position to provide those services to the VMs without having workload-specific agents and intrusive software.
There has been a plethora of ways to manage vSphere infrastructure over the years. As the shift to the appliance model completes, automation and security will continue to become top of mind for customers. With that in mind, VMware is looking to simplify management while maintaining flexibility. So, we could see a consolidation of the different management interfaces and a streamlining in many workflows.
The HTML5-based vSphere Client will be used most of the time by vSphere administrators and we'll continually reduce the need to interact with ESXi and vCenter Server directly via command line interfaces. And, as we continue to build out the RESTful APIs, we'll realize our vision of interacting with vSphere through a UI or an API, thus simplifying life for both vSphere administrators and developers.
I can give back, every day. I love talking to customers and I love the feeling when a customer says, "Man, that was the best hour I've spent in a long time," or when they thank you for reaching out on Twitter. When I'm up late at night working on something and I see somebody tweet, "Hey, I'm having this problem," I can respond and say, "try this." That feeling that you're making a difference for a customer or some random person out there on the interwebs, that's a truly great feeling.
Get more details about vSphere 6.5
Visit the vSphere Upgrade Center
Like this article? Follow Adam on Twitter @eck79


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Visit the Bargate, a medieval gatehouse, the Central Parks and the Tudor house. Watch a football match at the St Marys Stadium and take a ride on board the Hythe Ferry. If you are an art lover, visit the city art gallery to see over 3000 works of art spanning over six centuries.
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Luckily we have developers on staff ready to fix this problem. Did we mention our support staff is based just outside of Chicago and speak fluent English? Seriously though, the page you are looking for has either been removed or updated. It shouldn't be too hard to find the information you are looking for on our brand new website.
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Lesson 13: The Just God
From previous lessons we have read and learned that:
1) Creation and its marvellous harmony is a veritable evidence of the existence of an Omnipotent and Omniscient God.
2) We cannot encompass without finite minds and wisdom the Omnipotence and Omniscience of God, because what we understand. From the unique power and knowledge of God in the world of creation is only a small part of the great and magnificent totality of His creations, each one of which is evidence for His unlimited Power and infinite Wisdom.
3) Unlike the continual need of all creation, God is the Absolutely Needless, and He stands in need of nothing.
4) Because God has boundless love, He is continually bestowing His favours on his servants.
Allah is He Who made the earth a resting place for you and the heaven a canopy, and He formed you, then made goodly your form and He provided you with goodly things; that is Allah, your Lord, blessed then is Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. (40:64).
One may ask if 'it is possible for God, Who bestows all these favours on his servants, to be unjust? We know that injustice stems from ignorance, weakness arrogance or similar causes, none of which can exist in His Pure Existence. If we seek to find the cause for injustice, we may find the following reasons.
1. Fear of failure
When the director of a factory sees that the establishment of another factory threatens his profits, and he fears possible bankruptcy, he will do anything against his rival, unless he is a man of active conscience and strong faith.
2. Privation of rights
Sometimes, when after much struggling someone cannot get what are his rights from an unjust person, he is led to extremes, and begins to act with all kinds of injurious acts to bring down that person. The reaction to being deprived of ones rights becomes a pretext for violence and crime in some people. When they find themselves powerful after their position of subjugation, they do what they want, and derive pleasure from killing and burning weak and helpless people. The groans of these people are Use music to their ears, but a cause of sadness for us.
3. Ignorance
Laws, which are drawn up by human minds sometimes, cause much oppression and injustice, because man's knowledge is flint and limited and mixed with ignorance and misconceptions. So-me of the great injustice against black people can be attributed to this cause. Some people, convinced of their own superiority, and thinking that virtue and greatness depend on the colour of one's skin, ignored the rights of the black people. However, we know that the criterion for superiority and virtuousness is knowledge and humanitarianism, and in this matter black and white are the same.
These and similar results of weakness and ignorance are impossible for God, because He has unlimited knowledge and Power and is in need of nothing whose loss could cause Him to be afraid. So He is incapable of any injustice.
This is a very clear and obvious matter. Those who doubt this have not considered what we have explained; or else they do not understand what justice is.
What is Justice?
Justice is that everybody's rights should be respected that no distinction should be made between people for any reason. For example, in a school examination, all those who have a certain mark can move up to the next grades. Thus, the headmaster cannot make any distinction among the students and allow some of them to proceed to the next class while depriving others of this right while their marks are the same. Because creating such a distinction among students who have the same right of entry into the higher class constitutes an injustice.
But in a situation where the question of rights does not arise, and only for the goodness of the act is something given to someone, discrimination between individuals cannot he counted as injustice. For instance, if someone wishes to invite some deprived persons to a meal, and chooses only some of these unfortunates, or makes a distinction between them in inviting them. His action does not constitute injustice, because here there are no rights, which are being violated. What is given to them is only given in Order to help them and out of a sense of doing good.
The observance of equality anti justice is necessary when all have the same right, but where no lights exist, there can be no discussion of equality and justice, and discrimination between two individuals cannot be called injustice.
Thus those who fined difficulty in understanding the creation of things, and ask why God has not created all people equal and without distinction. And why He does not behave towards every one with equal measure, and imagine that God's Justice has been proved to non-existent and completely imaginary have not understood the real meaning of Justice. For the beings of the world have no right to claim of God that His distinguishing constitutes injustice. If Cod does not create anyone at all, or if He distinguishes between beings, nobody's rights have been violated so that we can say that there is injustice.
However, since God is Knowing and Wise, and does nothing without a good purpose, we can ask what the reason for these distinctions among created things is. Are they unnecessary in the order of things? These questions will be answered in the following lessons.
Do not handle the property of the orphans except with a good reason until they become mature and strong. Maintain equality in your dealings by the means of measurement and balance. No soul is responsible for what is beyond its ability. Be just in your words, even if the party involved is one of your relatives and keep your promise with God. Thus does your Lord guide you so that you may take heed? (6:152)
Thus, (Muhammad), preach (My revelation) to the people and be steadfast (in your faith) as you have been commanded. Do not follow their desires but say, "I believe in the Book, which God has sent down, and I have been commanded to exercise justice among you. God is our Lord and your Lord. Each of us will be responsible for his own deeds. Let there be no disputes among us. God will bring us all together and to Him we shall all return." (42:15).
1. What is a proof of the existence of God according to item # 1?
2. Why can we not fully comprehend the power and knowledge of God?
3. Who is always needy and who is not needy at all times and why?
4. What does verse 64 ch. 40 say?
5. Why does injustice take place?
6. Do any of the reasons for injustice mentioned in the text applies to God and why not?
7. In what way may ignorance become the cause off injustice?
8. In what way may fear become the cause for injustice?
9. How may deprivation become the cause for injustice?
10. How can injustice take place in a school system?
11. Why has the headmaster to treat everyone by the same standard?
12. Why should everyone in school receive different degree of markings?
13. Is there any example to prove that no rights are involved therein?
14. Do we have any difficulty to understand the world and why?
15. What does verse 152 ch. 6 say?
16. What does verse 15 ch. 42 say?
17. What does the phrase, "no soul is responsible for what is beyond its ability", prove?
18. Is keeping one's promise an example of maintaining justice?
19. What does the Phrase, "even if the party involved is one of your relatives", prove?
20. What does the phrase, "each of us will be responsible for his own deeds", prove?


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[First published April 26, 2005] May Day is coming up, which used to be a day of celebration in the Soviet Union with an impressive show of weapons and infinitely long parade of soldiers. Perhaps, then, it would be appropriate to pay special attention on this day to the human cost of communism in this symbolic home of Marxism, and worldwide. This blog is on Stalin and the Soviet Union. I will post one on the overall cost of communism next week.
By far, the consensus figure for those that Joseph Stalin murdered when he ruled the Soviet Union is 20,000,000. You probably have come across this many times. Just to see how numerous this total is, look up "Stalin" and "20 million" in Google, and you will get 38,800 links. Not all settle just on the 20,000,000. Some links will make this the upper and some the lower limit in a range. Yet, virtually no one who uses this estimate has gone to the source, for if they did and knew something about Soviet history, they would realize that the 20,000,000 is a gross under estimate of what is likely the true human toll.
The figure comes from the book by Robert Conquest, The Great Terror: Stalin's Purge of the Thirties (Macmillan 1968). In his appendix on casualty figures, he reviews a number of estimates of those that were killed under Stalin, and calculates that the number of executions 1936 to 1938 was probably about 1,000,000; that from 1936 to 1950 about 12,000,000 died in the camps; and 3,500,000 died in the 1930-1936 collectivization. Overall, he concludes:
Thus we get a figure of 20 million dead, which is almost certainly too low and might require an increase of 50 percent or so, as the debit balance of the Stalin regime for twenty-three years.
In all the times I've seen Conquest's 20,000,000 reported, not once do I recall seeing his qualification attached to it.
Considering that Stalin died in 1953, note what Conquest did not include — camp deaths after 1950, and before 1936; executions 1939-53; the vast deportation of the people of captive nations into the camps, and their deaths 1939-1953; the massive deportation within the Soviet Union of minorities 1941-1944; and their deaths; and those the Soviet Red Army and secret police executed throughout Eastern Europe after their conquest during 1944-1945 is omitted. Moreover, omitted is the deadly Ukrainian famine Stalin purposely imposed on the region and that killed 5 million in 1932-1934. So, Conquest's estimates are spotty and incomplete.
I did a comprehensive overview of available estimates, including those by Conquest, and wrote a book, Lethal Politics, on Soviet democide to provide understanding and context for my figures. I calculate that the Communist regime, 1917-1987, murdered about 62,000,000 people, around 55,000,000 of them citizens (see Table 1.1 for a periodization of the deaths).
As for Stalin, when the holes in Conquest's estimates are filled in, I calculate that Stalin murdered about 43,000,000 citizens and foreigners, over twice Conquest's total. Therefore, the usual estimate of 20 million killed in Soviet democide is far off for the Soviet Union per se, and even less than half of the total Stalin alone murdered.
But, these are all statistics and hard to grasp. Compare my total of 62,000,000 for the Soviet Union and 43,000,000 for Stalin to the death from slavery of 37,000,000 during the 16th to the 19th century; or to the death of from 25,000,000 to 75,000,000 in the Black Death (bubonic plague), 1347-1351, that depopulated Europe.
Another way of looking at this is that the annual risk of a person under Soviet control being murdered by the regime was 1 out of 222. But, compare — the annual risk of anyone in the world dying from war was 1 out of 5,556, from smoking a pack of cigarettes a day was 1 out of 278, from any cancer was 1 out of 357, or for an American to die in an auto accident was 1 out of 4,167.
Now, I must ask, with perhaps an unconscious touch of outrage in my voice, why is this death by Marxism, so incredible and significant in its magnitude, unknown or unappreciated compared to the importance given slavery, cancer deaths, auto accident deaths, and so on. Especially, especially I must add again, when unlike cancer, auto accidents, and smoking, those deaths under Marxism in the Soviet Union were intentionally caused? They were murdered.
Anyway, when you see again the figure of 20,000,000 deaths for Stalin or the Soviet Union, double or triple them in your mind.
Link of Note
"How Russia went from a workers' state to state capitalism–Why did Stalin rise to power?" (9/1/2003)
By Alan MaassSo, how do communists – Marxists — now view Stalin's mortacracy? By redefinition, a standard communist trick (e.g., "democratic people's republic"). I quote from the article:
So-called "socialism" in Stalin's Russia–and other countries, like China and Cuba, that modeled their systems on the USSR–is diametrically opposed to the basic principles we stand for. The rulers of the former USSR under Stalin used the rhetoric of socialism and Marxism to justify a different reality–an exploitative system, run by a minority, using forms of authority not that very different to capitalism in the West.
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Nelson – a charming base to tour paradise
I've been thinking for some time about this but I can't quite put my finger on it. What gives a place its character, the essence of its appeal, its 'je ne sais quoi'. Just a small town by world standards, TripAdvisors standards voted Nelson the 3rd most charming town in the world in 2009. And charming it is, snuggly nestling amongst and beneath surrounding hills, dipping its toes in the long swaths of waterfront with shallow sandy beaches. Ambling tree lined shopping streets with myriad pavement coffee shops, you won't be overwhelmed by bustling crowds even in summer, and whilst Nelson might not have everything you might want, it offers everything you'll need. Interesting cafes and restaurants, vineyards, restaurants in vineyards, (no vineyards in restaurants I know of….yet), myriad small craft breweries, boutique shops, a restored theatre, a vibrant creative arts scene with regular music and arts festivals, including one of my personal summer favourates, outdoor movies. The large eclectic Saturday market is often cited as one of the best in New Zealand, and there you'll meet so much of what gives Nelson it's charm and 'joie de vivre' – the friendliness of its eclectic people. And a climate that sees a superior amount of sunshine from September right through to May, balmy but not oppressive, undoubtedly adds a huge amount of appeal. Why would you want to be cooped up in a bland tin box when you could be enjoying that from the cool leather armchairs of RentAClassics suave and effortless Saab 93 convertible? Cruising along the Rocks Road waterfront top down in a summers day sunset, your own digital music playing through our BYO Soundtracks system, is truly a delight for all the senses.
And then within just 20 minutes drive, you could be taking in high sea views, picnicing by a woodland beach, sampling local wines, and admiring the green rolling hills, (they do that even without the wine tasting). Indeed our RentAClassic video was shot on coastal road within this very driving distance of Nelson. Drive for an hour or so and you're by vast lakes, into some serious mountain tramps by churning rivers, (or if you prefer, gentle woodland ambles by trickling streams). Your drive could take you exploring near the edge of the world by the Marlborough Sounds or to the threshold of the clear blue waters of the unspoilt Abel Tasman National Park. An enticing eaterie or comfortable pillow for the night is never too far away though, and RentAClassic can give you plenty of personal recommendations to get the most out of your road trip. There's plenty of active stuff to do too – kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, quad biking, boating, swimming with seals or dolphins, tramping, cycling….but biased though we are, we'd recommend RentAClassic as your prime transport of delight. Instead of souless expressways and vast concrete expanses, the uncrowded roads framed by natural beauty make for an idyllic touring environment……and doesn't that merit something rather special to see it all from? Yes you could certainly find cheaper hire cars, but we doubt you'll find anything as fun or as characterful as RentAClassics 1972 MG BGT – you'll be charmed, we're sure!
Sir Gandalf himself, who could be said to have fair counsel on matters pertaining to these islands, probably put his finger, (or maybe staff?) on it. He declared himself amazed at the perfect paradise Nelsonians get to wake up in every day. And even if you're only awaking with us for just a few of those days, why not enjoy touring all the more by driving cars (almost) as memorable as the area itself? Direct internal flights from the international airports of Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington only take 75, 60 or 35 minutes respectively, so why not skip the crowds and long hauls and get straight to the heart of New Zealand, by making Nelson your self drive touring base? Whatever paradise is, the Nelson region feels like it might have an unfair share of it. Why not view the Nelson Tourism video to get a taste of what we're fortunate enough to live and work in. RentAClassic would love to help share the experience with you, and in some small way, contribute further to making that taste of paradise.


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There is a jawdropping expose in the Miami Herald today. Why has the full truth about Saudi Arabia and the 9/11 attacks not yet been told? And why is the FBI working so furiously to make sure the true story never makes the light of day?
Thanks to the dogged pursuit by Broward Bulldog.org of these documents under the Freedom of Information act, the release shows "information contained in the documents flatly contradicts prior statements by FBI agents in Miami and Tampa who have said the investigation found no evidence connecting the al-Hijjis to the hijackers or the 9/11 plot."
Read April 16, 2002 report linking family to 9/11 terrorists
Read FBI documents released to BrowardBulldog.org
Read more here.
Who are they working for, anyway? Read the entire article — it's astounding and deeply disturbing.
"FBI report: Florida family had ties to people linked to 9/11 attacks" Miami Herald (thanks to Dr. Andrew Bostom)
A Saudi family who "fled" their Sarasota area home weeks before 9/11 had "many connections" to "individuals associated with the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001,"
according to newly released FBI records.
One partially declassified document, marked "secret," lists three of those individuals and ties them to the Venice, Fla., flight school where suicide hijackers Mohamed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi trained. Accomplice
Ziad Jarrah took flying lessons at another school a block away.
Atta and al-Shehhi were at the controls of the jetliners that slammed into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center, killing nearly 3,000 people. Jarrah was the hijacker-pilot of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania.
The names, addresses and dates of birth of the three individuals tied to the flight school were blanked out before the records were released to BrowardBulldog.org amid ongoing Freedom of Information Act litigation.
The information in the documents runs counter to previous FBI statements. It also adds to concerns raised by official investigations but never
fully explored, that the full truth about Saudi Arabia and the 9/11 attacks has not yet been told.
National security and other reasons are cited for numerous additional deletions scattered across the 31 released pages. Four more pages were withheld in their entirety.
The records cast new light on one of the remaining unresolved mysteries regarding Florida's many connections to the 9/11 attacks: What went on
before the attacks at 4224 Escondito Cir., the home of Abdulaziz al-Hijji and his family?
The documents are the first released by the FBI about its once-secret probe in Sarasota. Information contained in the documents flatly contradicts prior statements by FBI agents in Miami and Tampa who have said the investigation found no evidence connecting the al-Hijjis to the hijackers or the 9/11 plot.
Details about the al-Hijji family and the Sarasota investigation first came to light in a story published simultaneously by BrowardBulldog.org and The Miami Herald on Sept. 8, 2011.
The story told how concerned residents in the gated community of Prestancia tipped the FBI, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, to the al-Hijjis' sudden departure in late August 2001. The family left behind three cars, clothes, furniture, diapers, toys, food and other items.
The story also reported that a counterterrorism officer and Prestancia's former administrator, Larry Berberich, both said an analysis of gatehouse security records — log books and snapshots of license tags — had determined that vehicles either driven by or carrying several of the future hijackers had visited the al-Hijji home.
Phone records revealed similar, though indirect, ties to the hijackers, said the counterterrorism officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The FBI records as released do not identify al-Hijji or anyone else by name, citing various exemptions that protect persons' names in law enforcement records. The names are apparent, however, because the documents describe unique, known events and were released in specific response to a request for information about the investigation at the al-Hijji residence.
An April 16, 2002, FBI report says "repeated citizen calls" led to an inspection of the home by agents of the Southwest Florida Domestic Security Task Force.
"It was discovered that the [family name deleted] left their residence quickly and suddenly. They left behind valuable items, clothing, jewelry and food in a manner that indicated they fled unexpectedly without prior preparation or knowledge,"
the report says. "Further investigation of the [name deleted] family revealed many connections between the [name deleted] and individuals associated with the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001."
The report lists three of those individuals. While
their identities remain secret, the first person on the list was described as "a [name deleted] family member."
That person and a second individual were said to be flight students at Huffman Aviation — the flight school at the Venice Municipal Airport attended by hijackers Atta and al-Shehhi.
The third person on the list "lived with flight students at Huffman Aviation" and was "arrested numerous times by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office," the report says.
The next paragraph, which ends the report, is blanked out entirely.
A notice on the document indicates the censored information regarding the three individuals associated with the terrorist attacks is scheduled to remain classified for another 25 years — until March 14, 2038.
The FBI released the records as a Freedom of Information lawsuit filed by BrowardBulldog.org inches toward trial this summer in federal court in
Fort Lauderdale. The suit was filed in September after the FBI rejected both a request for its investigative records and an appeal of that request.
Thomas Julin, the news site's attorney, called the FBI's release of records that it had previously determined to be exempt from disclosure "highly unusual."
"The government initially took the position that it had no documents. It hasn't explained why things changed," said Julin, of the Miami law firm Hunton & Williams.
Miami Assistant U.S. Attorney Carole Fernandez, who represents the FBI, declined comment.
The released FBI records are in two tiers: reports and other material written in 2001-2002, and memos, letters and email that followed publication of the first story about the matter in September 2011.
A number of pages recount information provided to the FBI by mail carriers and others, including a Sept. 18, 2001, observation that the al-Hijji family appeared to have "left in a hurry."
A Sept. 25, 2001, report talks of bank records that agents had obtained. The report was referred to the counterterrorism division's Usama Bin Laden Unit/Radical Fundamentalist Unit.
One of the reports written in September 2011, after the existence of the Sarasota investigation was revealed, discusses briefly the unnamed "family member" who took flight lessons at Huffman Aviation.
The family member "was interviewed multiple times after 9/11 and identified Atta and al-Shehhi as individuals [phrase deleted] flight training at Huffman. However, investigation did not reveal any other connection between [name deleted] and the hijackers and the 9/11 plot," the report says.
FBI reports about those interviews were not made public.
Al-Hijji, who following 9/11 worked for the Saudi oil company Aramco in England, could not be reached by phone or email last week. Aramco staff said
there was no longer anyone by that name in the London office.
Last year, al-Hijji told a reporter his family did not depart their Sarasota home in haste but left so he could take a job with Aramco in Saudi Arabia. He denied involvement in the 9/11 plot, which he called "a crime against the USA and all humankind."
The FBI documents also disclose that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., queried Attorney General Eric Holder and FBI Director Robert Mueller about the Sarasota investigation six days after its existence was disclosed in Broward Bulldog/Miami Herald story. Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich wrote Leahy that the FBI's response to the 9/11 attacks "comprehensive and unprecedented," and assured him that agents found no evidence of contact between the hijackers and the al-Hijjis.
Similarly, Weich denied an assertion by then Sen. Bob Graham of Florida that the FBI had not turned over its Sarasota records to Congress. The bureau, he stated, made all of its records available and suggested they may have been overlooked by investigators.
The documents the FBI has released do not mention other known aspects of the Sarasota investigation, including information provided to the FBI by al-Hijji's
former friend, Wissam Hammoud.
Hammoud, 47, is a federal prisoner classified by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons as an "International Terrorist Associate." He is serving a 21-year sentence for weapons violations and attempting to kill a federal agent and a witness in a previous case against him.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement documents
obtained by BrowardBulldog.org state that shortly after his 2004 arrest, Hammoud told agents that al-Hijji considered Osama bin Laden a "hero," may have known some of the hijackers, and once introduced Hammoud to fugitive al-Qaeda leader and ex-Miramar resident Adnan Shukrijumah.
When reached last year, al-Hijji acknowledged having known Hammoud well. He did not, however, respond to a question about Hammoud's allegations and said Shukrijumah's name did not "ring a bell."
What the FBI did about Hammoud's allegations is not known.
Other FBI documents about Sarasota are known to exist, but were not released, including a report Graham says he read last year but can't discuss because it is classified.
The Bulldog's FOIA lawsuit asks U.S. District Judge William Zloch to order the FBI to produce all records of its Sarasota investigation, including the records seen by Graham.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/16/v-fullstory/3345954/fbi-report-florida-family-had.html#storylink=cpy
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The subacromial bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions and
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rotator cuff is a group of tendons known as the supraspinatus, infraspinatus,
subscapularis, and teres minor. These tendons help keep the upper arm bone
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shoulder to move in various directions.
The subacromial bursa is located between the upper tendon of the
rotator cuff (supraspinatus tendon) and the outer corner of the shoulder blade
Last Revised:
November 30, 2011
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Timothy Bhattacharyya, MD
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You can: Contact the court to reschedule your appearance, please call (406) 657-8490. You can appear on a different open-court session. Open-court is held 3 weeks a month on every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 am.


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BATON ROUGE— Gov. Bobby Jindal says he'll veto any cigarette tax increase that wins passage from lawmakers, unless it's coupled with a corresponding cut in taxes somewhere else.
Jindal reiterated today that he will oppose anything he considers a net increase in state tax revenue.
A few weeks ago, the Republican governor was pushing for a $1.05-per pack increase in Louisiana's 36-cent cigarette tax — but he proposed the idea as part of a list of tax hikes that he wanted to offset the cost of repealing the state income tax.
The tax repeal appears dead for the session, and Jindal has abandoned his complex tax swap plan.
However, lawmakers are still considering a series of tobacco tax hikes. The House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to review proposals Monday.
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Summary of The Workforce of the Future
EIU © 2015. Sponsored by AT&T
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Digitization is changing the way businesses operate, but without technologically knowledgeable workers, economies worldwide will stagnate. While high- and medium-income countries have the technology infrastructure, the talent pool, and the necessary policies and regulations, low-income countries are struggling. In this exhaustive report, The Economist Intelligence Unit pinpoints the problems countries face when trying to develop tech-savvy workforces. getAbstract recommends this timely analysis to anyone interested in understanding the factors affecting the development of the "workforce of the future."
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Angels, Weaver talking extension
Angels owner Arte Moreno, meeting with reporters on Wednesday during Vernon Wells' introduction to media and fans, said that contract extensions talks have begun with Jered Weaver's camp, headed by Scott Boras.
Weaver, an All-Star for the first time in 2010 while leading the Majors in strikeouts, has requested $8.8 million in salary arbitration, with the Angels offering $7.3 million. If they can't come to an agreement, it goes to arbitration for a settlement.
Weaver won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2012 season. – Lyle Spencer
6 Comments
What happened during the Teixeira negotiations that Arte won't talk to Scott Boras? Tex didn't want to stay in So Cal. What can you do other than boo him every time he comes to bat in Anaheim? It worked out in the end. The Angels are not burdened with Tex's contract. Kendry Morales was a very capable replacement and younger. I don't know if the exact draft pick compensated from the Yankees for signing Tex allowed them to select Trout, but if it did, there's another plus.
Why would a smart business man who earned millions by making smart, calculated, non-emotional decision take a player or agent's business decision so personally? Is it worth losing Weaver and Morales? If it is, what is it? If not, let it go. I don't like Boras either, but if that's the person players want representing them, what can you do?
Please extend him so he can be a lifetime Angel.
i agree 99, however tex used Moreno to drive up his pay amount from the Yanks. He never wanted to play on the West Coast. I'll still boo him just the same. of course i won't boo napoli.
The Angels need a franchise player, and who better. Would love to see Weaver end his career with the Angels. Need to leave some money for Morales in a couple of years.
Resign Weaver now ! give him what he wants resign weaver now ! I don't care what it is just get the deal done ! Please resign weaver !


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Class is in session.
Yes, you read that right, Professor Aguilera has arrived.
You don't have to know much about music to know that Christina Aguilera's long list of credentials make her an undisputed expert in the music world. The six-time Grammy winner is now making it possible for just about anyone to learn her techniques.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
That is, if they're willing to shell out 90 bucks (talent not included).
Aguilera announced Tuesday via Twitter that she has joined MasterClass, an online education platform that has signed on coaches and singers such as Kevin Spacey, Usher, and Serena Williams, and given them the opportunity to divulge their secrets for success to any of us common folk who hope to make it as a singer, actor, or even tennis player.
"It's official! Call me Professor Aguilera," the platinum-selling star and coach on "The Voice" tweeted.
In a short trailer for the class, Christina promises potential students that "any student can learn from this course how to better trust yourself" through 20 lessons and more than 3.5 hours of voice lessons.
Aguilera also provides some much-needed inspiration, reminding students, "Technique is only a quarter of it...passion and drive, is like, 100%"
The website explains that Aguilera will be teaching how to "expand your range, find your voice, and master the techniques that have earned her 6 Grammy awards," through exercises such as breath control and vibrato. If you're interested, you can even try out one of the vocal exercises from the class on the MasterClass website.
Aguilera returns to the big red chair and season 10 of "The Voice" on Monday, Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. on NBC.
(E! Online and NBC are both members of the NBCUniversal family.)
PHOTOS: Check out Christina Aguilera's best looks


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New Album out in 2015! >>GROWING PAINS<<
This article (in Norwegian) says that Karpe Diem (Norwegian hip hop duo) is the only newcomer on the Norwegian single charts this week: vg.no/rampelys/musikk/norsk-mu…ed-tre-sanger/a/23560917/ It says "they're the only one in the top 20 this week". The Norwegian charts is a top 20 + 20 more kind of charts now, after first being top 20 only. Guess we'll have to see during this weekend if they'll actually update the charts.
I'm hoping to see Maria's single in the charts next week (i.e. Friday 20th).
Germans can watch the video here, too:
... This too shall pass ...
I've been looking around at the catalogue of ASCAP (the catalogue where many artists register their songs to state information about songwriting credits). ASCAP's catalogue is here: ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx
"I Don't Wanna See You with Her" has Maria and Mats Lie Skåre listed as writers. If it's the same kind of collaboration as on Weapon in Mind, I think Maria wrote the melody and Mats worked on composing the melody and producing the song. The song "Not Sober" is also listed in the catalogue, with Maria and Mats having songwriting credits.
I'm trying to dig around in the catalogue a little more at the moment, but I think we will se more songwriting credits being published.
On Swedish iTunes "I Don't Wanna See You with Her" has been within the top 30 of the most bought tracks since yesterday. I hope it continues to stay there.
Post was edited 1 time, last by "frkeske" ().
All of Maria's children - her CDs, including her new album, collected in a picture: instagram.com/p/-QdowrReK1/?taken-by=mariamena_official
The Instagram picture that Maria posted today says "Had so much Fun at work today ! #tomwood #holzweiler@tomwood_____ @hzw_agency" and the location says "NRK" (instagram.com/p/-TdzqDxeFw/?taken-by=mariamena_official). NRK is the Norwegian national broadcaster (with TV and radio broadcasting). I checked the radio portal at NRK's website to see if there were any new programs featuring an interview, but there's nothing new. Now I'm suspecting she might have taped something that's comping up, but I might be wrong. Or it might be something photography related, using NRK as a location.
Post was edited 1 time, last by "frkeske" ().
Maria tweeted: ""The strength it took for me to break down my walls, is the same strenght i'll use to put them back up."" (Source: twitter.com/mariamena_no/status/667775141951225856). This looks like it might be a part of a new lyric?
Carina wrote:Since Sam Smith postet the last picture I am so much seeking just for a prelistening...some seconds from every song. But well, only two weeks to go
For Melissa Horn's new album that will be released on November 27th (Melissa is a Swedish artist who's a friend of Maria), Sony Music Norway (and Sony Music Sweden as well, I think) released a song yesterday. On iTunes it says that the song is a single, but it's becoming more and more common for record companies to release promotional singles from the album just before the album release. We'll see what happens
The music video for "I Don't Wanna See You with Her" has also been uploaded to Vimeo.com by someone in the crew who worked at the video shoot: vimeo.com/145733330.
Does this link work for other people in other countries? If it does, then please share it with those who comment on Maria's Instagram posts that they cannot see the Youtube video!
The video that is at VGTV's site didn't work for one of the US fans commenting on Facebook. I don't remember where I read it but another person in the USA wrote that "Looks gorgeous! I can't wait to see it! Also, does anyone know when the music video will be available in the US? I can watch it with a VPN, but not using regular US Internet." Anyway - the more places to watch the video, the better the chances are that more people will be able to watch it
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Dear All,
I hope you have had a nice long weekend. I managed to salvage a few hours of the weekend to put together a new window on Iran for you. Let us get to Window 38 without further ado.
Musical Opening
Due to constant threat of a pending military strike on Iran, the Iranian American community is in deep stress. No one knows what is going to happen if the most powerful military force on the face of the earth really decides to strike. The example of Iraq is not reassuring. Lots of poems and songs about Iran and what it means to the Iranian American community get circulated everyday. Here is a one minute and twenty second slide show. Its name tells all "Iran: the Eternal Land of the Persians." The melody in the background is asong called "Elahe-ye naz," a big hit in the 60s and 70s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ0zx8XTEN8 (circulated by Daniel Pourkesali)
Haleh Esfandiari Leaves Iran
Here is a piece of important – and good – news which ought to help
cooling things down. However, I have not seen it in our popular media
yet. Iranian newspapers report that Haleh Esfandiari, who had been
freed from jail, has left the country last night. Great to know that
she will be reunited with her family soon.
The U.S. Official Reaction to Iran/IAEA Agreement
Last week, the International atomic energy agency ( IAEA) and Iran
reached an agreement about answering some crucial questions concerning
the Iranian nuclear program. The IAEA called it a breakthrough. This
agreement is particularly important not just because it gives the IAEA
access to certain documents that it has wanted to see but because a
timetable is set so the negotiations are not going to last
indefinitely. The U.S. government, which has used even a negative hint
form IAEA about Iran to push for more sanctions, dismissed this
agreement. In other words, if the agency reports anything negative, it
is evidence of Iran's non-compliance. If it makes progress, they have
been fooled by Iran which is seeking time to make a bomb.
The Possible Attack on Iran
* None of the recent developments have brought a sense of relief to
those who follow the news of a possible attack on Iran. If anything,
this weekend papers have been particularly alarming. Matt Miller has
shared the UK Sunday times piece titled Pentagon "Three-Day Blitz"
Plan for Iran: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/090207A.shtml. The
supposed plan would involve hitting 1200 targets inside Iran with the
casualty figures (not often discussed by proponents of the idea) in
the millions. Here is an article that Paul Appell has shared. I do
hope that its findings do not reflect the reality of what the U.S.
government is up to. However, it has been written in a spirit of
activism for peace. It is in that spirit that I share it with you.
After all, this is the time to say that there are better ways to deal
with the Iran question that killing a couple of million Iranians and
sending the whole region up in flames. Here is the reference to the
article that Paul has kindly forwarded:
* If you talk to individuals who have been alarmed by the "threat" that
Iran is posing to the world, remember:
1. Iran's cooperation with the U.S. was crucial in overthrowing the
Taliban in Afghanistan
2. We have plenty of evidence to believe that the roadside bombs that
kill American soldiers are manufactured in Iraq. Starting as early as
a year and half ago, American troops have found many shops and
factories that make such bombs inside Iraq. Here is a U.S. Marine
Corps press release on the subject:
3. The only countries in the region in which al-Qa'ideh does not have
freedom to operate are Iran and Turkey.
4. As President Karzai pointed out only a few weeks ago, Iran continues
to be a help and a support to Afghanistan in its efforts to stand up
to the Taliban (who are getting closer to power by the day).
5. President Ahmadinejad is an elected president who, as polls in Iran
show, stands zero chance of re-election. He is not a life-time
dictator who needs to be removed by military force.
6. Iran's enrichment of uranium for its nuclear industry is not a breach
of the international law. What is important is to keep it under
control by IAEA. This is possible only if Iran stays in NPT (the Non
Proliferation Treaty) and its facilities get inspected regularly.
What did the Young Iranian Cyclist Say to Senator Lieberman?
Leslie Angeline 50, mother of two, member of CodePink spent two weeks in Iran this summer. She loved the country which she found warm and friendly. When Leslie returned to the U.S. to advocate for diplomacy with Iran, Senator Lieberman was suggesting to bomb Iran. Leslie went on hunger strike, lost ten pounds and fainted but did not give up her goal of getting her message to the Senator. You can read about her here: http://www.newhavenadvocate.com/blogs/home.cfm?aid=1602
When, finally, she got 15 minutes the senator, she took Ali the young Iranian bicyclist for peace with him. I think I should let you read the rest, in Leslie's words:
He then allowed Ali, one of the Iranian Miles for Peace bicyclists, to join us. Ali spoke from his experience as a young man in Tehran's student movement. He said, "There is a growing student and feminist movement in Iran. 70% of the population is under the age of thirty. Every time Bush refers to us as the Axis of Evil, or a politician such as you threatens war or sanctions, our government uses this as an excuse to clamp down. 90% of the Iranian people want a different form of government. The Iranian people like Americans. Lieberman responded to this by saying he's heard that "the two countries in the Middle East that like Americans are Israel and Iran!" Ali continued, "The U.S. has been a democracy for three hundred years and you still have problems. Iran's democracy is new and fragile; please give us some time and we'll take care of our own problems."
The Biggest Non-governmental Charity in Iran
From here in the U.S., it is hard to imagine that Iranians think about
things other than politics and conflict, that they are ordinary human
beings with the same problems and aspirations as anyone living
anywhere in the world. I thought it'll be nice to read about the
Kahrizak Foundation which supports disabled elderly who lack financial
resources: http://www.payvand.com/news/07/jun/1240.html (Thanks to my
friend Parinaz Massumzadeh for circulating the information).
Iranian Women Athletes
Let us close this window with some beautiful images of Iranian women in sports:
* Iranian women drivers are back in the car race scene this September: http://www.shirzanan.com/spip.php?article490.
* In fencing, women are working to improve the training conditions so they can compete internationally: http://www.shirzanan.com/spip.php?article495.
* In soccer they have been training hard and have achieved success in Asia: http://www.shirzanan.com/spip.php?article496.
Let us hope that the peace is holding, and the news is good, when I
send you the next window.
Have a great week.
Fatemeh Keshavarz, Professor and Chair
Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures
Washington University in St. Louis
Tel: (314) 935-5156
Fax: (314) 935-4399


text:
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