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Rectal lump; Piles; Lump in the rectum; Rectal bleeding - hemorrhoids; Blood in the stool - hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus or lower part of the rectum.
Hemorrhoids are very common. They result from increased pressure on the anus. This can occur during pregnancy or childbirth, and due to constipation. The pressure causes the normal anal veins and tissue to swell. This tissue can bleed, often during bowel movements.
Hemorrhoids may be caused by:
- Straining during bowel movements
- Sitting for long periods of time, especially on the toilet
- Certain diseases, such as cirrhosis
Hemorrhoids may be inside or outside the body.
- Internal hemorrhoids occur just inside the anus, at the beginning of the rectum. When they are large, they may fall outside (prolapse). The most common problem with internal hemorrhoids is bleeding during bowel movements.
- External hemorrhoids occur outside the anus. They can result in difficulty cleaning the area after a bowel movement. If a blood clot forms in an external hemorrhoid, it can be very painful (thrombosed external hemorrhoid).
Hemorrhoids are most often not painful, but if a blood clot forms, they can be very painful.
Common symptoms include:
- Painless bright red blood from the rectum
- Anal itching
- Anal ache or pain, especially while sitting
- Pain during bowel movements
- One or more hard or tender lumps near the anus
Exams and Tests
Treatments for hemorrhoids include:
- Over-the-counter corticosteroid (for example, hydrocortisone) creams to help reduce pain and swelling
- Hemorrhoid creams with lidocaine or other anesthetic to help reduce pain
- Stool softeners to help reduce straining and constipation
Things you can do to reduce itching include:
- Apply witch hazel to the area with a cotton swab.
- Wear cotton underwear.
- Avoid toilet tissue with perfumes or colors. Use baby wipes instead.
- Try not to scratch the area.
Sitz baths can help you to feel better. Sit in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes.
If your hemorrhoids do not get better with home treatments, you may need some type of office treatment to shrink the hemorrhoids.
If office treatment is not enough, some type of surgery may be necessary, such as removal of the hemorrhoids (hemorrhoidectomy). These procedures are generally used for people with severe bleeding or prolapse who have not responded to other therapy.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if:
- Hemorrhoid symptoms do not improve with home treatment.
- You have rectal bleeding. Your provider may want to check for other, more serious causes of the bleeding.
Get medical help right away if:
- You lose a lot of blood
- You are bleeding and feel dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
Constipation, straining during bowel movements, and sitting on the toilet too long raise your risk for hemorrhoids. To prevent constipation and hemorrhoids, you should:
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Eat a high-fiber diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Consider using fiber supplements.
- Use stool softeners to prevent straining.
Bass LM, Wershil BK. Anatomy, histology, embryology, and developmental anomalies of the small and large intestine. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 98.
Cameron J. Anorectal. In: Cameron J, ed. Current Surgical Therapy. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 5.
Zainea GG, Pfenninger JL. Office treatment of hemorrhoids. In: Fowler GC, ed. Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 87.
Last reviewed on: 9/9/2023
Reviewed by: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery Practice Specializing in Breast Cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

domain: medical


Egyptian telecoms group Orascom Telecom has reportedly halted negotiations with South Africa’s MTN Group related to the latter’s possible acquisition of part, or all, of Orascom, according to itp.net. In a statement confirming that no further talks would take place between the two companies, Orascom said that the decision had been made ‘to terminate discussions in connection with the sale of certain of its operations as a result of the failure to reach a deal.’
In April 2010 the Egyptian group’s parent company, Weather Investments, revealed it had entered into discussions with MTN over a possible sale of Orascom and its subsidiaries. One potential barrier to any deal however swiftly threatened to derail the talks, with the Algerian government saying it would block any attempts by Orascom to sell local subsidiary Djezzy; with MTN actively seeking to expand its presence in North Africa it was believed that Orascom’s Algerian unit was crucial to any potential deal. As reported by CommsUpdate last month however, it was rumoured that Orascom was preparing to open negotiations with the Algerian government that could lead to the nationalisation of Djezzy. The development followed the news that the state had invoked pre-emption rights over the ‘entire capital’ of Djezzy in line with legislation that gives it the right of first refusal when a foreign owner wants to sell assets in the country.


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HMGB1 enhances the protumoral activities of M2 macrophages by a RAGE-dependent mechanism
The monocyte-macrophage lineage shows a high degree of diversity and plasticity. Once they infiltrate tissues,they may acquire two main functional phenotypes, being known as the classically activated type 1 macrophages (M1) and the alternative activated type 2 macrophages (M2). The M1 phenotype can be induced by bacterial products and interferon-γ and exerts a cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. Conversely, the alternatively activated M2 phenotype is induced by Il-4/IL13 and promotes tumor cell growth and vascularization. Although receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) engagement in M1 macrophages has been reported by several groups to promote inflammation, nothing is known about the functionality of RAGE in M2 macrophages. In the current study, we demonstrate that RAGE is equally expressed in both macrophage phenotypes and that RAGE activation by high-mobility group protein box1 (HMGB1) promotes protumoral activities of M2 macrophages. MKN45 cells co-cultured with M2 macrophages treated with HMGB1 at different times displayed higher invasive abilities. Additionally, conditioned medium from HMGB1-treated M2 macrophages promotes angiogenesis in vitro. RAGE-targeting knockdown abrogates these activities. Overall, the present findings suggest that HMGB1 may contribute, by a RAGE-dependent mechanism, to the protumoral activities of the M2 phenotype.

domain: literature


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Ecological and Economic
The small re-shaped developer and fixer tanks reduce oxidation of large quantities of chemicals. This helps to save money and is good for the environment. In addition the replenishment rate is automatically adjusted to the actual processed film quantity in an optimal way. When no film is being processed the FI-45™ will be resting in stand-by mode.
All You Need
The FI-45™ comes complete with all accessories and the processing parameters are preset in the factory. The processor functions like anti-crystallisation, anti-oxidation and the permanent circulation of the chemistry are included. The FI-45™ stays operational and produces consistently good image quality even after being in stand-by mode for a long period of time.


The lastest update on the services that have been relocated following the fire at Weybridge Community Hospital
We would really appreciate your help in cascading the following information wherever relevant following the Weybridge fire:
A helpline has been set up: 0203 297 7252
Following the recent fire at Weybridge Hospital, patients from Church Street and Rowan Tree GP practices contingencies have been put in place to ensure continued patient care.
Through the CCG, local GPs have the lead role in planning the future of healthcare services in your local area.
Our Governing Body meets at least six times a year in public. Our meeting papers are published three days in advance.
Putting patients and carers at the heart of our plans is very important to us. Find out what consultations are open and how you can have your say.


text:
Although no new cases of tetanus have been reported here since 1958, a review is presented of the 18 cases treated at Henry Ford Hospital in a 50-year period. This updated report also presents some current concepts on use of toxoids and the duration of immunity.
Johnston, J. Peter
"Tetanus: Current Concepts and Review of 18 Cases,"
Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal
: Vol. 15
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/hfhmedjournal/vol15/iss3/3

domain: health


Aitken Spence PLC, the second largest leisure industry operator in Sri Lanka, called for the industry to stop competing with regional competitors and to focus on attracting high-end tourists to the country, while asking the authorities to enforce regulations stringently.
“It is important that we increase demand for destination Sri Lanka and avoid competing on price per se vis-a-vis other regional players who benefit from economies of scale and lower input costs,” Aitken Spence Chairman Harry Jayawardena said.
He noted that it is crucial for the industry to work together to harness the untapped potential of the country.
Some hotels are undercutting prices, at times even below the regulated minimum price, to compete with the informal sector and hotels will lower star classifications.
Nearly 50 percent of tourists coming to Sri Lanka stay in informal accommodation. A number of these tourists prefer to spend more on authentic experiences which give a direct economic benefit to the public, instead of staying at big hotels where the trickle-down effect is much less.
Jayawardena noted that Sri Lanka should aspire to attract high-end tourists and immediately position the country according to its unique selling proposition.
“It is essential that such a destination marketing campaign is a strategic and cohesive integrated communications campaign spearheaded at a national level rather than left to individual stakeholders,” he said.
However, the government has yet to launch any strategic promotional campaign, and no studies have been published depicting the effectiveness of the government’s past campaigns and routine promotional activities.
Many in the industry are worried that the government is continuing its 8 Experiences strategy instead of following advice given by both local and international experts to the contrary, but the government recently launched a 50 Experiences programme as well.
Meanwhile, Jayawardena said that the authorities should introduce new regulations, and enforce the current regulations strictly as well.
“Moreover, effective regulation and better implementation of existing regulations are important to ensure a more level playing field for the legitimate players who are compelled to compete with the informal sector,” he said.
He added that the star classification programme should be revised to reflect evolving trends, especially in connection to sustainability.


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Taking responsibility for a better world
One day, I walked through the UNESCO Garden of Peace in Paris, where I gazed upon an impressive monument, which had the following quote engraved in it:
“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.”
This was my moment. When these truthful words lit a spark in my heart, I began to wonder what today’s situation on world peace is. Today, the Cold War is over, but new conflicts have risen all over the globe. As a child, when a star crossed the sky, I would wish for world peace. For all of humankind to be happy and safe. Who hasn’t? Yet, today, all I see on the television is news about war and conflict, bloodshed and human misery. It seems as if world peace is a heavenly concept far away from reality.
I reject such pessimism. It is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed. A change of mind is necessary and essential to generate a peace movement. And that change starts in the head and the heart of the young generation. We, the young global citizens of today, are the most influential and interconnected generation the world has ever seen. Even though we might not be UN officials seated in the Security Council, we can make a change and we can be part of a global shift in peace. ‘World peace’ is not a heavenly concept far away from reality. It is a way of living and a way of understanding. Most of all, it is a movement in which youth cannot be missed.
I feel limitless. As young and ambitious global citizens, we look at peace and see opportunities for resolution and transformation. Conflicts rise from differences in views and values: such is why everyday interactions between people in conflict must be transformed from destructive to constructive. In the era of globalization, such interactions are more interconnected than ever. That is why we must approach each other and our differences with respect and why we must use creativity to find common ground that people can aspire to and are willing to work towards. Because in the end, despite our differences, we all bleed the same red. In all of this, young people play a necessary role. Our generation comes together, online and offline, mobilized and united with thousands, if not millions of voices, determined to build peace together – limitlessly.
I can make a change. Realizing peace comes first of all with awareness. At 17 years old, I founded the Youth Embassy of Peace in my hometown. The Embassy is a place where young people can learn about peace to become aware of global affairs, so they can realize they also have a responsibility to stand up and do something. Our workshop on ‘Peace Activism 2.0’ has been nationally awarded with the Lucifer Prize for the Most Innovative Peace Week activity. It taught young people how to use social media for a new way of peace activism. Moreover, we helped to build a school in Syria, so young children in conflict can still enjoy their human right to education.
Secondly, peace comes with action. When aware of what is happening in the world and what one can do about it, the next step is to simply transform thought into action. Our generation is one that speaks up at the sight of injustice. In the era of globalization, we are able to connect with millions of other youth and are able to use our united power to demand to be heard. At 18 years old, I became a Founding member and Policy Coordinator for the Youth Taskforce on Child abuse. Peace in a child’s home is world peace in their eyes. Through this work, I helped to raise the voice of youth in the political agenda of child abuse prevention, a voice which needed to be heard.
Finally, peace comes with time. Peace is a movement in which patience is a virtue. It is an ongoing process that continually should be worked on for it to bear its fruits in the future. As the Dutch Youth Representative of Youth for Human Rights International, I taught human rights to youth, for them to become valuable leaders for tolerance and peace. We are the leaders of tomorrow, but we are also the leaders of today. In order to invest in a more peaceful world, we must cultivate a culture of tolerance for tomorrow, while taking action today.
I am one of many. I realize that many aspiring and inspiring young peace activists stand together with me. Even though we have different roofs under our head, different religious or political beliefs and speak different languages.. We are one. Because all of us once wished for world peace when a star crossed our sky. And in our minds, is where the defenses of tomorrow’s peace are constructed.
The defenses of peace must be constructed in the minds of the young generation. We can build peace through awareness, action and time. We may be young, but that’s our power – we are strong, influential and interconnected.


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Many of us hope our child will be popular with their peers, and worry when they are not. After all, popular kids seem to be happier, self-confident, constantly in demand for play-dates, and are looked up to and deferred to as leaders.
Let me define what I mean by "popularity" for the purposes of this article. In elementary through high school, there is a hierarchy of social groups or cliques. About 30% – the popular kids – are in the dominant “in group” at the top. Next come the “wannabes” (10% of kids) who desperately want to be accepted into the popular group and hang around its fringes, hoping for social breadcrumbs. About 50% of students are somewhere in the middle where they may establish a smaller friendship group. Kids in the middle tend to be envious of and dislike the popular kids and also make efforts to distinguish themselves from the “losers” at the bottom of the hierarchy. At the bottom are the remaining 10% of students who are socially isolated and don’t belong to any friendship group.
So, is being popular really an advantage? Or not? Let’s weigh the pros and cons.
Top 5 Advantages of Being Popular:
- Better grades: Teachers appear to like popular and physically attractive kids better than others, giving them more attention, more praise, and higher grades. It’s terribly unfair, but often true. It’s the teachers who are perceived as “cool” by students who are most prone to this, so their biases have impact and give adult credibility to the social sorting the children do themselves.
- Never lonely: Popular children don’t have to worry about finding a friend to come over, who to play with at recess, where to sit in the lunch room, being invited to parties, or getting a girlfriend or boyfriend. However, these may not always be “true” friends, and the popular child may feel lonely inside while on the outside appear to be surrounded by friends.
- Increased self-esteem: Being popular boosts self-esteem, with popular adolescents displaying higher levels of ego development.
- Health boost: Popularity lowers blood pressure and protects against being overweight. Feeling socially rejected increases stress hormones which can have a negative effect on the heart. These mechanisms may explain the long-term health benefits of having been popular in middle school found in this Swedish study. This one surprised me.
- Leadership skills: By definition, popular kids are leaders. They set the trends and others follow. Popular kids learn how to get others to do what they want. The leadership skills they practice in school may help them later in life. Many popular schoolchildren do, in fact, go on to become CEO’s.
Top 5 Disadvantages of Being Popular:
- Requires conformity: Having the qualities that make one popular may come naturally to some, but most children must put on an act and attempt to hide their true self to keep it up. This is not healthy, and it can be especially hard for gifted children. Miraca Gross wrote in Exceptionally Gifted Children that 80% of extremely gifted children feel they have to continuously monitor their social behavior to conform to expectations of their peer group. Sally Reiss described in The Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Children how bright girls often “play dumb” to increase social acceptance.
- Dangerous and unhealthy behaviors: Popular kids are more likely to get into trouble with mild deviant behavior, including shoplifting, drinking, smoking, sex, and shoplifting. As adults, former “cool kids” have a 45% higher rate of problems with alcohol and drugs and a 22% greater rate of criminal behavior.
- Inflated ego: Being popular can lead to becoming vain, egotistical, materialistic, and shallow.
- Being mean. Popularity is a competition. To stay in the popular clique may require some nasty political maneuvering and even bullying to maintain or enhance social status. This is the “mean girls” phenomenon, but it isn’t limited to girls.
- Time consuming: It can require considerable effort, taking time away from other more valuable pursuits, to do what it takes to maintain one’s status in the popular group. For some (especially girls) this may involve hours devoted to social media, hair, make-up, and clothes. For others (especially boys) it may involve hours spent at the gym trying to develop a “built” body and playing sports.
What’s a parent to do?
I feel the disadvantages of being popular outweigh the advantages – especially for gifted kids. I’ve worked with too many who aspire to popularity and damp down their intelligence and individuality in an effort to achieve it. Imagine what they could accomplish if all that mental energy and time were devoted to something that makes them happy of greater long-term value?
I do feel that parents should step in if needed to help their child learn how to make a small group of true friends. Your child might be most likely to find this among the 50% of children in the middle of the social hierarchy. Having high‐quality close friendships is associated with better psychological health, psychosocial adjustment, and higher rates of overall happiness. True friends are more likely to allow your child to be their genuine self.
If you find your child is in the bottom 10% of the social hierarchy you might try to get them out of the situation – if it troubles them. Some children may truly not notice or care (though you should watch for bullying). However if your child is socially isolated and does care, I suggest taking steps to change their environment by moving them to a different school or consider home schooling. It's near impossible to start over socially once one is at the bottom, and an opportunity to start over may be just what your child needs.

domain: psychology


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Beautiful Bella is a sweet 7 year old Dalmatian. Although nervous of the big wide world, once settled, Bella is a laid back lovable lady and enjoys short walks. Bella is looking for a quiet home where she can be given lots of love and TLC. She has arthritis in her spine but is on medication which makes her comfortable. Bella wouldn’t mind living with a small quiet dog and older children, but would rather not live with cats.
If you can offer Bella or any of the pets looking for a second chance home, please contact Wood Green, The Animals Charity on 0300 303 9333 or visit woodgreen.org.uk
Bella featured in Pete’s column on Sunday 4th February 2018

domain: pet


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- 4 BEDROOMS
- 4 BATHROOMS
- 2,800 SQ. FT.
- 0.45 ACRES
- BUILT IN 1974
- $125 /SQ. FT.
- Single Family Home
NEW pictures of remodels to be uploaded soon.
This single family home is approximately 3000 sq ft.
It has 4 bedrooms and 4 full baths.
The backyard is surrounded by a large 6ft white vinyl privacy fence with two gates on each end of the house.
The back yard has a large storage shed with electricity.
It also has a large concrete pad with a covered pergola.
The entire property is covered with a automated, in-ground, rainbird sprinkler system that is run off a new well (April 2021).
There is a large open oversized two car garage attached to the home.
A mud room/ laundry room with tile floors, a hall-tree, a utility sink, an LED lit ceiling fan and plenty of wall outlets with usb ports was added in April 2021.
The kitchen has a brand new stainless steel refrigerator (2020) and a brand new, large stainless steel Kitchen-Aid above the stove microwave (Sept 2020).
The kitchen also has brand new granite counter tops placed in April 2021.
The den has a large built-in along the back wall with a wet bar.
It has a beautiful parquet floor with french doors to the back yard.
The house has hard wood floors throughout and the mother in law suite has berber carpet.
All of the bedroom are large with large closets.
The master bedroom is a large room with his and her walk in closets.
It has a stand up shower that was recently remodeled with tile shower and marble countertops in April 2021.
There is also a luxurious grand bathroom with a vintage kohler claw foot tub.
All of which was remodeled in April 2021.
It also has a large vanity with granite counter tops, tile floors and walls, and large cabinets that were all replaced in April 2021.
The mother in law suite, at the other end of the house, is a large room itself with a full bath.
The suite has extra thick padding under the berber carpet.
The mother in law suite has its own mini split ductless AC unit with a remote that was installed in 2019.
There are 2 more bedrooms with another full bath with granite counter tops.
Recently added, (2020) a mud room/ laundry room with porcelain plank tile floors with utility sink, custom-made hall-tree and LED ceiling fan.
This room has plenty of wall outlets also with USB ports.
This house in on a cul de sac with a lot of privacy.
It has a large front porch to sit and watch the people come and go in the cul-de-sac.
Call (803) 316-2189
Details & Amenities
Auxiliary SQ FT: 300
629 Periwinkle Ct, Sumter, SC 29150, USA

domain: design


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Babic -- Martin
Sun | Your Life
Elizabeth Babic and Corey Martin plan to be married in February in Seattle.
The bride-to-be is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Babic of Port Orchard. She is a 1993 graduate of South Kitsap High School, a 1997 graduate of the University of Washington and a 2001 graduate of Seattle Pacific University. She is associate director at Detlef Schrempf Foundation in Seattle.
Her future husband is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Martin of Vancouver. He is a 1994 graduate of Edmond Memorial High School in Oklahoma City, Okla., and a 1998 graduate of the University of Washington. He is a senior account executive for AT&T in Bellevue.

domain: news


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The Institute of Economic Affairs *(IEA) *has dismissed George Osborne's idea of a new high-speed rail network for the North, calling it a "costly vanity project".
“The relatively short distances between northern cities mean high-speed rail is an expensive and inefficient way of linking them. Because northern conurbations are spread out geographically and include numerous different towns, high-speed trains between the largest city centres would make little difference to door-to-door journey times for a high proportion of travellers.
“The Chancellor should focus on smaller-scale schemes that deliver high returns for the taxpayer or, better still, that can be financed privately, rather than concocting a headline-grabbing vanity project to attract votes.
“Not content with wasting tens of billions on the loss-making HS2 scheme, George Osborne is now threatening to compound the error by forcing taxpayers to fund HS3.”
More top news
A look ahead at the forecast for the Tyne Tees region.
Gale force winds and spells of rain to start the weekend. The Met Office have now issued a warning
Paul Brand meets more parliamentary candidates in our last political programme before the General Election. Watch it here:

domain: politics


A powerful $2.5 billion military support package includes the most needed weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked US leader Joe Biden for allocating another powerful package of defense support of 2.5 billion dollars. The head of state tweeted this on January 20.
“Stryker armored fighting vehicles, additional Bradley APCs, and Avenger air defense systems are important help in our fight against the aggressor. Grateful to the American people for their unwavering leadership support,” he stressed.
Recall that on January 19, the Pentagon announced a new major military aid package to Ukraine, which included, among others, 59 Bradley BMPs, 90 Stryker armored vehicles, Avenge air defense systems and ammunition for NASAMS complexes.


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Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
How many times have we enjoyed a certain book or film or tv series and said afterwards, "Yeah, I really enjoyed that . . . but what if they did it this way, or in this type of genre, or with vampires?" For me, The Barclay Heath Mystery Series (which now includes The Hotel Galileo and The Vanished Race) was borne of a love of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot mysteries and an underlying desire to do something different with the genre. I loved the traditional 'Britishness' of Christie's tales, the gallery of suspects, and the genius plots; but at the same time, I also love science fiction - aliens, faraway planets, mystical objects, and everything that goes along with it. It took me several attempts (and a lot of sleepless nights) before I struck on the formula which is the basis for the Barclay Heath series: that of a 1920's-set mystery series set in an alternate universe. What if, I pondered, mankind had ventured out into the stars at the end of the nineteenth century? And what if Twenties values and attitudes had remained unchanged? Imagine a traditional British gentleman detective hopping around the galaxy solving all manner of mysteries. Wouldn't that be so much fun to write?
The answer, I can tell you, is yes it was.
Of all the works I've written so far, the two Barclay Heath mysteries have been the most enjoyable to write. And the third adventure is well under way. Writing should be fun. Otherwise, why bother doing it?
I grew up in Torquay, the birthplace of Agatha Christie, so her influence has been all around me for as long as I can remember. Her legacy is exceptional. I believe she is still one of the best-selling authors of all time. I loved the recent episode of Doctor Who, 'The Unicorn and the Wasp', in which he meets Agatha Christie on the night she went missing; and I particularly love the end of that episode when the Doctor pulls out an old trunk in the Tardis and finds a copy of one of Christie's classic paperbacks, Death in the Clouds. The Doctor remarks how, even in the far-flung future, Agatha Christie is still the best-selling authors of all time.
And rightly so.
The Barclay Heath Mysteries:
The Hotel Galileo
The Vanished Race
Thursday, July 14, 2011
In tough times I've always turned to one of King's books. Non-fiction works are just as good as novels. On Writing always helps relight the fires. As does Danse Macabre. But anything from the opening passages of Carrie to the epic conclusion of The Dark Tower is usually enough to drag me from the pit of despairing writers and hoist me, breathless, onto safe ground. This latest bout of fear and self-loathing has been a pretty protracted affair (months rather than weeks or days), and even the surefire King cure-alls failed to work. But in the end, I found the pill I needed. (All right, enough with the medicinal metaphors!) The book I needed was Cujo.
I know, not hailed as one of his classics, but when you’re a fan of King, all his works have a place in your heart. Cujo is one of those books I bought back in my early teens when I just couldn't get enough of SK's work. I had fond memories of that paperback. It was the Futura edition released shortly after the movie came out with the kid recoiling in horror as the 'BADDOG' lunges in for the kill. I know I read it way back then, but I couldn't remember anything apart from just a few key moments early on. So it was nice to get hold of a reasonably good copy of this little gem off Ebay (sadly not quite the same Futura edition) and to sit down and soak up King at his creative height. And as I was reading I felt the old creative juices beginning to flow again, and within the first fifty pages I had already decided to tackle the difficult second half of my own stalled novel and to complete the unfinished short stories in my 'To Do' list. Once again, Doctor King has worked his voodoo magic.
What would I do without him? Honest answer: Without King, I probably wouldn't be a writer. 'Nuff said.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
So yeah, I’m a slow learner. My buddy Ken made a blog post recently about discipline, how he wished he had more of it. That’s one thing I’ve always had, luckily. Whether I was imagining, training, writing songs, or whatever, I was committed and they were a priority—those things occupied space in the forefront of my mind even when I was doing something else. I’d work out the images, the motifs, the substance and structure constantly and consistently.
Something I read a long time ago that I think has a lot of benefits if put into practice, especially if you’re a slow learner, is Visualization. The big V. Powerful stuff. Ground shaking creators use it, Olympic athletes, and so many others who are at the top of their game. I don’t care for Donald Trump but I think I read that he used it frequently.
But numeral uno for a slow learner is discipline. Everything else stems from that.
Discipline spawns consistency, which in turn bears the fruits of results and knowledge.
But like any exercise (steps toward higher ground), just going through the motions isn’t enough. From my experience the best way to hone any skill is to focus on one thing at a time.
With boxing you can have a ten minute session of nothing but combinations, another segment for footwork, another for defensive skills like bobbing and weaving; with guitar, running scales over chords or learning how the modes fit in key, finding the right notes, learning to read music, learning by ear, learning new rhythms. And in writing: having a day to study structure (or experiment with it), or focusing on finding every area where the description in a WIP is so run-of-the-mill you want to knock your teeth out, and instead take those areas, highlight them and be creative (all the while training yourself to put more of yourself into it instead of just hoping someone will get something out of it; learning how you see the world, whether drab or beautiful or both instead of just bland. Actually, I’m convinced that writers whose stories are flat stems from their view of the world as flat and one dimensional, each little thing a chore instead of an opportunity. The only cure I know for that is to adjust your perspective, not an easy feat, but doable.)
I think a lot of my characters are slow learners. It’s what I know and live. It’s painful, but once a lesson is hard-won and you bear the scars of those dark moments you don’t forget them. Those kinds of memories are vivid, a blast of cold air on sunny days, a blaze in the dead of winter.
I think that we train ourselves to fail, to give up too easily, to believe the lies we tell ourselves. We make things harder than they really are. We over-think instead of following our instincts and intuition. I’m not you and you’re not me, but we’ve got patterns that work for us just like we do stumbling blocks we throw ahead of us because we’re frightened; things that move us; things we hate and adore; experiences we can draw from and use to make our writing powerful, immediate and unique. Let’s do that. Not everyone will get it. But we have to do our best and settle for nothing less. Stop thinking your competition begins and ends with everyone else. It doesn’t. It begins inside.
Search out ways to discipline yourself, to be honest with yourself, to dig deeper than you ever have before and ever thought you could.
Never quit searching, asking questions, or striving.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
It takes a monumental feat of perseverance and self-belief to achieve the goal of being published, usually over a long (sometimes considerably long) amount of time with no promise of success at the end of it, save of course for the personal satisfaction of having written and, hopefully, having been read. Whilst pursuing this crazy dream, the writer must also juggle the usual demands of a modern life: family, work, studies, and many other responsibilities; so finding the dedication to apply themselves in whatever limited free time they have to sit down in a room and write takes incredible self-discipline, especially when deep down we would really rather be relaxing, enjoying a Babycham or two, or, just for once, sleeping. But for those bitten with the writing bug the dream, and the will to succeed, is so strong that despite the madness of it all, we just have to do it. As Samuel Lover said, "When once the itch of literature comes over a man, nothing can cure it but the scratching of a pen". It's an oft-quoted maxim that a writer must write at least a million words before they reach a publishable standard (no shortcuts here, Mister!), and I think that over the course of that long, long period there is a real danger of the writing losing focus, that they may end up living to write, not writing to live, which is how it should be. And is it any wonder? To spend so much of your time and energy fighting for those few precious hours, to sacrifice sleep and relaxation and 'downtime' to put pen to paper, when everyone and everything around you is screaming at you to do this, that or the other. How much pummeling will your self-belief take before you throw your hands in the air and say, 'Okay, I give up. No one cares about what I'm doing here anyway. This is all just a pipe dream, so forget it.'
But we don't. Somehow we find a way to carry on doing it, and then, one day, out of the blue, those gloomy old clouds break, and you find someone who really likes your work and who wants to publish you, and then, before long, you are published and you're frantically working on the next book and starting to make plans and although you still don't have that much free time it all just seems to be easier, the writing seems to be flowing these days, and - oh wow, just got some feedback from someone who has read your book and they're saying how much they loved it and can't wait for your next book and the one after that. And God bless them. Things like that make the whole crazy journey worth it for a while. And then, with any luck, you're able to achieve the real dream - writing to live. That is, being successful enough to start enjoying life, maybe even giving up the crappy day job and just being paid to write. My, that's a great dream right there, isn't it?
Anyone who comes to writing and thinks it's an easy ride to fame and fortune is either naive, seriously ill-informed or simply deluded. Maybe even all three. And now, of course, with the advent of self-publishing platforms such as Kindle and Smashwords it has become much easier to get published, but the maxim must not be forgotten: no matter how good a writer thinks they are, they must still write at least a million words before their work is ready for the world. In that respect, there are no shortcuts. An apprenticeship must still be served.
Yes, being a writer is not a sane life-choice. But for those willing to put in the work and the dedication (and if they're lucky - luck is always a major factor) the rewards can be great.
Keep writing. And keep dreaming.

domain: artistic


Tanzhaus Zürich was founded in 1996 and is supported by the City of Zurich. It develops and produces contemporary dance forms and gives visitors an insight into the artistic creation processes. Tanzhaus Zürich provides professional training, workshops and residency programs. It has five studios, used annually by about 25 companies and 75 individual artists. It is a venue for the annual festival for contemporary dance: Zurich moves!


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The Troy City Council goes into its final budget hearing Thursday night with a request from Council President-elect Carmella Mantello, a Republican, to postpone voting on a 2016 budget until Dec. 1 — the maximum time limit set by the City Charter.
Manetello made her request in a letter released Thursday. The council is scheduled to vote on the proposed $68.6 million budget on Nov. 19.
The council holds hearings on the capital program at 7 p.m. followed by the general budget at 7:30 p.m. Both hearings are at City Hall.
The council has recommended cuts of about $600,000 to the spending plan put forth by Mayor Lou Rosamilia, a Democrat. The mayor’s proposed budget carries a 9.3 percent increase, while the council’s recommendations would trim it to about 6 percent. In either case, a local law is needed to override the state’s 2 percent tax cap. The city faces potential layoffs if it doesn’t override the tax cap under the pending budget proposals.
The State Comptroller’s Office issued a dire warning Tuesday that the city could face a $2.4 million shortfall that would trigger the return of state oversight of city spending and budgeting.
Here’s Mantello’s letter:
Council President Rodney Wiltshire
Troy City Hall
Troy, NY 12180
Dear President Wiltshire & City Council:
I am requesting that the Troy City Council postpone the final vote on the proposed 2016 city budget from November 19, 2015 to December 1, 2015. The Troy City Charter requires that the city council adopt the budget on or before December 1st of each fiscal year.
This request is based upon a November 10, 2015 review of the proposed 2016 budget by the Office of the NYS Comptroller. The comptroller’s review points out very serious deficiencies with the mayor’s proposed 2016 budget. In particular, it criticized the city for overestimating certain revenues and underestimating retirement expenses. According to the state comptroller this may cause a $2.4 million deficit if the mayor’s budget is adopted as proposed. The budget also includes a 9.3 percent property tax increase for 2016.
I believe the extra time in adopting the 2016 proposed budget would allow the mayor, council, and any other affected parties to address the shortfall as outlined by the NYS Comptroller. In fact, the comptroller requires prior to adoption (see comptroller’s report), “The council, no later than five days prior to the adoption of the budget, must review all recommendations made by the State Comptroller and may make adjustments to its proposed budget consistent with those recommendations contained in this report. All recommendations that the Council rejects must be explained in writing to our Office.”
Also, in order for the city to exceed the tax cap by $1,591,000 based upon a 9.3 percent property tax increase, the council must adopt a local law that authorizes the city to exceed the tax cap. This local law must be passed with a 60 percent vote of the Troy City Council. A local law must follow the requirements of state law in terms of public notice and subsequent hearings.
If the 9.3 percent property tax hike goes into effect without such a local law then the $1,591,000 must be put into a reserve account and cannot be allocated until 2017.
I appreciate your consideration of this request.
Carmella R. Mantello

domain: law


text:
Perhaps one of the most brilliant insights from Ernest Hemingway concerns the process of making an emotion. Using this technique allows us as writers to evolve from simply telling a tale, to having our readers become immersed in our story.
Close observation of life is critical to good writing, said Hemingway. The key is to not only watch and listen closely to external events, but to also notice any emotion stirred in you by the events and then trace back and identify precisely what it was that caused the emotion. If you can identify the concrete action or sensation that caused the emotion and present it accurately and fully rounded in your story, your readers should feel the same emotion. In Death in the Afternoon, Hemingway writes about his early struggle to master this:
I was trying to write then and I found the greatest difficulty, aside from knowing truly what you really felt, rather than what you were supposed to feel, and had been taught to feel, was to put down what really happened in action; what the actual things were which produced the emotion that you experienced. In writing for a newspaper you told what happened and, with one trick and another, you communicated the emotion aided by the element of timeliness which gives a certain emotion to any account of something that has happened on that day; but the real thing, the sequence of motion and fact which made the emotion and which would be as valid in a year or in ten years or, with luck and if you stated it purely enough, always, was beyond me and I was working very hard to get it.
I have recently begun to incorporate the above in my writing. The below sentence originally read…
“… panic sets in.”
“Heart racing, pulsations banging against my ribs. Breathing shallow and rapid. Air dwindling, muscles screaming for oxygen.”
The goal is to not have the reader told an emotion, but to have the reader, through the story, experience the emotion. It need not be wordy, it just needs to convey the emotion. In changing three words to eight, I didn’t simply say panic, I took, what I believe to be the key components of panic and utilized them. There are many more words I could have used, and may use at different points, but at the juncture of the story, I felt best to go with heart rate and breathing.
I am an independent, self-published teller of tales,
an author, as of yet, scarcely any renown.
However, as a storyteller, I know who I am,
and with that persona, I am both confident and comfortable. I invite you to please visit my website,
and/or Amazon Author Pages
if you are so inclined please
purchase a copy and leave a review.
I write of the damaged and broken, because that is the norm. For each person who overcomes their demons, there are hundreds, if not thousands, who do not.


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Despite a new poll that shows Canadians want a travel warning issued. Especially those in Ontario where all of the Canadian tourists killed in Mexico have come from.
The Canadian government issues travel advisories, which are warnings used to alert travelling Canadians to stay clear of certain countries and areas when their personal safety cannot be guaranteed. Do you think the government should issue a travel advisory for Mexico?
"I don't think that it's necessary to have an emergency debate on this because millions of Canadians have travelled to Mexico without incident," Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Helena Guergis told the Toronto Star yesterday.
Yeah and millions of Canadians have traveled to Israel and Lebanon and live there but they are on the travel warning list. The difference is the Middle East is a war zone, while Mexico just suffers from drug wars and graft ridden police and justice bureaucracy.
As Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay arrived Wednesday in Mexico for high-level meetings on the deaths and mishaps that have befallen Canadian tourists there in the last year, Amnesty International released a scathing report on Mexico's justice system.
The report raises questions about the level of trust Canadians should have in the assurances they have received from Mexican authorities that they can investigate these cases, said Amnesty and Liberal opposition critic's. The human rights group and Grit MPs also argued the report should give MacKay ammunition to push Mexican authorities to allow greater intervention from Canada.
The report documents serious flaws in Mexico's judicial system, such as: arbitrary detention, torture, the flouting of the presumption of innocence, fabrication of evidence and the targeting of human rights defenders.
And what did Pete do? Ignore the Amnesty Report and blithely accept assurances from corrupt incompetent officials
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said yesterday he was assured by Mexican officials they will follow investigations into a string of violence involving Canadian tourists.Meanwhile I wonder how he missed this; which is worthy of a Travel Warning
Find blog posts, photos, events and more off-site about:
,Ianiero, murder, Mexico, Cancun, Cocaine, Cartels, Drug Wars, Canada, Peter MacKay, travel warning, Canada, Canadian Tourists, Foreign Affairs,police

domain: sociology


text:
The sidra opens with the words, “When you count the heads of the Children of Israel” (Ex. 30:12).
Metaphorically the verse could be read as saying, “When you get inside the head of a Jew”.
What does one find inside a Jewish person’s head?
The range of answers has many ideas and priorities and there is no guarantee that God has a place.
Nonetheless more people believe in God than tell you so. Though they reject the “God as grandfather” concept which features a benign old man who smiles and tells you tales of the past, God cannot be pinned down to a stereotype.
God is unique (Ehyeh asher ehyeh – “I am what I am”) and His presence is often suddenly revealed.
The beauty of Nature, the grandeur of the human spirit, the impulse toward truth, justice and peace, the sense of comfort and confidence – all burst upon us as signs of the Divine Presence.
God of my mind, I reason You exist.
God of my heart, Your presence comforts me.
God of my memory, I recall how often You inspired me.
God of my books, I read the testimony of others.
God of my eyes, I see Your works.
God of my ears, I hear Your call.
God of my feet, I go where You send me.
God of my hand, I seek my brothers.
God of my guts, I sense You everywhere.
God of my people, Your wings protect us.
God of my land, Your holiness is in every cranny.
God of my nerve, my courage comes from You.
God of my life, I am overwhelmed by Your grandeur.
God of my being, I am upheld by Your greatness.
God of my music, I sing Your song.
God of my mouth, I speak Your praise.


text:
Also check out PMA foodservice new products booths A-E and PMA foodservice new products booths F-N.
MONTEREY, Calif. — Editor Greg Johnson and staff writer Mike Hornick collected these news items on the exposition floor at the Produce Marketing Association’s recent Foodservice Conference and Exposition.
Peak of the Market
Winnipeg, Canada-based Peak of the Market plans to open a 24,000-square-foot distribution center in Calgary around Aug. 7, president and chief executive officer Larry McIntosh said.
“It’s the first time we’ve opened a facility outside of Manitoba,” McIntosh said.
“We wanted to service our customers better and there are lots of opportunities in western Canada.
Product from the company’s growers will pass through the Calgary facility. Other suppliers will also be able to store there and use the docks, McIntosh said.
McIntosh said the center will carry a ful line of fresh produce and serve customers in Alberta and British Columbia.
Pear Bureau Northwest
Cristie Mather, director of communications for Pear Bureau Northwest, Milwaukie, Ore., said the commission has relaunched its foodservice website, at foodservice.usapears.org.
She said it is designed for foodservice operators, distributors and chefs and features recipes, menu ideas and pear handling and ripening information, among other features.
Prime Time International
Prime Time International, Coachella, Calif., displays its new nine-count red and green pepper packs for foodservice at the expo.
Director of marketing Mike Aiton says the packs are about 5 pounds and eliminate excess handling, preserving higher quality. Prime Time also packs peppers in four-count bags. The company has expanded its mini pepper acreage by about four times this season, and it’s still not enough to fill the demand, Aiton says.
Sunkist Growers plans to offer seedless lemons in late October. “They’ll be seasonal at first but eventually we will have it year-round,” says Leland Wong, director of marketing. The fruit is from a variety developed at the University of California, Riverside.
Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC, Idaho Falls, Idaho, plans to double acreage of red and yellow potatoes to more than 1,000 acres this season, said Joe Esta, vice president of sales.
He said those varieties are seeing more demand from foodservice customers.
Harvest should begin in mid-August, and those varieties should ship to the market in October.
Wayne E. Bailey Produce
Wayne E. Bailey Produce Co., Chadbourn, N.C., is standardizing its George Foods label this season to give it more of a consistent look across products, says George Wooten, president and owner.
World Variety Produce
World Variety Produce, Los Alimitos, Calif., which markets under the Melissa’s label, showed its cherry-plum cross at PMA Foodservice, though production of the limited-time retail fruit has ended in the Fresno, Calif., area. The first-year offering will be back in 2013, says Bill Schneider, director of marketing.

domain: food


The 1911 pistol has been in use since its invention by John Moses Browning in the year that became the pistol’s namesake. This type of pistol is known for its short recoil operation and telltale grip safety. Many of these weapons have been developed by different gun brands over the years, which clearly illustrates the quality of the weapon itself.
The 1911 is a somewhat controversial firearm that has scores of fans and detractors, but as with any firearm, you should have a good holster. These days, synthetic holsters are gaining a lot of fans, and Kydex is becoming an increasingly popular material. With this in mind, we’ve created this guide of the top Kydex 1911 holsters on the market.
Get Great Guns and Ammo Deals!
Our Top Pick: Concealment Express IWB KYDEX Adjustable Carry Holster
We’ve tested more than 50 different Kydex holsters for 1911 pistols and out of these products, we found that the Concealment Express IWB KYDEX Adjustable Carry Holster did the best job of providing a well-rounded shooting experience. It has all of the features that a concealed carrier might want like trigger protection, a sturdy body, and a concealing form factor.
The first thing that you might notice about this holster is its “carbon fiber” design. While this is a faux carbon fiber, it looks very attractive in everyday use. Additionally, the material on this gun holster is capable of taking a lot of abuse thanks to the .08-inch thick Kydex.
- Inside the waistband holsters should be moisture-proof; this product is perfectly capable of withstanding the sometimes sweaty situations that come with an IWB holster.
- Some shooters prefer their holster to have a “click” retention. This product clicks audibly into place so that you know that it’s firmly seated.
- You can adjust the cant of this particular holster, which is good for carriers that prefer a different draw angle.
- To adjust the retention using the Posi-Click system, you simply need a Phillips head screwdriver.
- Concealment Express are the masters of Kydex; in fact, it’s the only material they use.
- Unfortunately, the clip could be better. If you’re not careful, the whole holster can come up with the gun.
- The “carbon fiber” design is just an aesthetic feature and has a tendency to grate off of the holster over time.
Why Pick a 1911 Kydex Holster?
So why not just select a leather or nylon holster? What makes Kydex so good of a holster material? To understand this, let’s take a look at the synthetic material itself.
Believe it or not, Kydex has been around for more than 50 years; it was invented in 1965 and was primarily used for aircraft interiors. It is a rigid and strong material that has a good degree of formability, which is why it’s such a good material for crafting holsters.
Also, while having a strong and durable construction, Kydex is also a very lightweight material. This makes it an exceptional choice for crafting in and out of waistband holsters.
Additionally, Kydex holsters, as hard-form holsters, have some great built-in firearm retention. In fact, many of the modern Kydex holsters will audibly click once you’ve gotten the gun seated properly. This provides a degree of reliability that many gun owners will appreciate.
Amazingly, there are even ways for industrious gun owners to even manufacture their own Kydex holsters. While this might be attractive for some, you can find some great Kydex holsters on the market for relatively inexpensive prices.
Some Additional Benefits of Kydex
- Easy Maintenance: One of the coolest features of Kydex is how easily it is cleaned and maintained. The material is virtually pore-free, so you won’t have to worry about the thermoplastic being stained; simply dab it with a wet cloth and most debris should come right off.
- There’s No Break-In Period: Leather holsters are very popular, but even the most die-hard leather holster fan will tell you that the first few weeks are toughest with a leather holster because of the break-in period. Kydex is usable right out of the box and will keep its retention for a long period of time.
- They Are Moisture-Resistant: Moisture can wreck a gun and the holster that’s carrying it. Since many Kydex holsters are designed to be in the waistband, it’s good that Kydex is a very moisture resistant material. Some Kydex holsters even employ a moisture guard for added protection.
Some Things to Watch out for With Kydex
- False Kydex: It’s easy to get fooled by holster manufacturer’s claiming that their synthetic plastic holsters are actually Kydex. Kydex is a thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride material that looks a lot like standard plastic, which is why unscrupulous holster sellers may try to hoodwink you.
- Gun Wear:: You’ll often hear about this with both Kydex and Boltaron holsters, but the truth is, just about any holster can damage the finish of your firearm. To avoid this type of damage, you should aim for Kydex holsters that conform to the shape of your weapon and use retention points on the gun for a secure fit.
- Material Variances: Unfortunately, all Kydex holsters aren’t built the same. The truth of the matter is the Kydex manufacturers actually have several different grades of the material that range all the way up to the top-of-the-line Kydex 100.
The holsters using the higher-grade Kydex materials will consequently cost more because the manufacturing process will be more complex and use better components. In fact, there are more than 40 different lines of Kydex, so before you buy, it doesn’t hurt to contact the manufacturer and ask about the specific production process for their Kydex holsters.
The Truth About Guns has an excellent write up about Kydex holsters that delves into the benefits and drawbacks of the material.
Alternative 1911 Kydex Holster Reviews
Our first alternative pick has a very unique design that has a grated paddle that also has a belt loop. Out of the holsters that we’ll be featuring here, this is one of the most adjustable.
- The leading edge of the holster is left open-ended. This allows for the weapon to be more easily drawn when the need arises.
- The paddle isn’t the only means of attaching this holster; you can also connect a belt loop attachment by way of the adjustable screws.
- Another adjustable feature with this Kydex holster is its retention. Simply using a Phillips screwdriver will allow you to increase or decrease the retention to your preference.
- The cant is adjustable as well for drawing convenience.
- Torso length is a major factor when you want to draw naturally; this is also fully adjustable via screws.
- While this holster rides close to the hip and has a relatively flat form factor, it can also feel a bit bulky.
- The teeth on the paddle clip can actually damage pants over time.
- This is a holster that can cause slight finish damage to your 1911 if you aren’t careful.
This Blade Tech Industries holster is an inside the waistband (IWB) product that has a relatively unique design. This is a fully clip-less holster; you attach it to your belt via adjustable loops when you need to conceal it.
- This is a relatively thin and lightweight Kydex holster.
- It employs a sweat shield to protect your 1911 from the damage that oil and moisture can cause.
- The belt loops have several points of adjustment so that you can always have a secure connection that won’t jiggle when you move.
- This is a very comfortable to use holster.
- The holster also does a good job of minimizing the imprint of your 1911, which is crucial for concealment.
- The Kydex for this holster is somewhat thin. While it’s still a sturdy holster, this might be a turnoff for those who want a thicker build quality.
- If you squeeze the holster while placing your gun inside, it can contact the trigger.
- This holster may not block the hammer of your 1911 from contacting with your body, which can be uncomfortable.
- This is a good holster for warmer weather because of its sweat guard that covers a fairly wide area.
- With such a small footprint, you shouldn’t have any problem freely drawing with this Triton holster. In fact, this product even features a completely open top.
- It has a built-in 10-degree cant, which is useful for those who like to draw from the “FBI cant.”
- The clip on the side of the holster is fairly secure so that you won’t pull the entire holster out on your draw.
- It’s very lightweight.
- This doesn’t fit all belts. It’s best to get a belt with a thickness of 1 ¾ inches in order to have a secure fit.
- The cant of this holster isn’t really adjustable.
Our second Concealment Express holster and final product on this list has an adjustable cant and retention functionality that can enhance the firearm drawing experience significantly. Like most Concealment Express holsters, this product also features Posi-Click technology so that you can very audibly tell when a positive connection has been made.
- This holster utilizes a relatively large sweat shield to protect your firearm from moisture.
- The trigger guard of your 1911 will be completely covered by the Kydex material. It’s virtually impossible to have an accidental actuation occur.
- The Kydex is .08 inches thick, which provides a very durable construction.
- The cant and the retention are easily adjusted on this holster.
- This Concealment Express holster has a tendency to scratch the slide when you’re drawing your gun.
- This holster can dig somewhat into your side.
The 1911 has a long history and is a very reliable firearm for daily carry. While it’s not the easiest to conceal gun on the market, finding a good holster is crucial. The holsters that we’ve covered all are great for several versions of the 1911 pistol that have been released over the years.
It has all of the features that a concealed carrier might want like trigger protection, a sturdy body, and a concealing form factor.Check Price
Out of these holsters, we still have to go with the Concealment Express IWB KYDEX Adjustable Carry Holster as our overall favorite. It has a great looking carbon fiber design, it’s got the very satisfying “Posi-Click” retention system, and it’s also a very comfortable choice for the daily carry of your 1911.


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A couple weeks ago me and partner went to a ghost tour out near a place called Toowoomba. While there we picked up on a spirit of a child that was communicating through basically every device we had (EMF, dowsing rods,ovilus) we also found out he was following my partner to every building. It all started in the school room. Anyways it was a good night, a couple nights later at home I was sitting on the couch and I noticed a black shadow leave our bedroom and disappear into the laundry. I told my partner and she told me she has trouble sleeping at night as she feels like something is standing on her side of the bed, and she's had dreams of a little boy standing there.
So we brushed it off thinking it was harmless but now things of mine are being hidden when I'm in a rush and once I get back its sitting in the middle of the bed.
I have been having dreams of death, and just last night I awoke from a dream where I was in my room and I could feel something watching me so I taunted it. My partner yelled 'she's behind you' as I turned around it was a little man with a goat face and he launched at my face, at that point I woke up and could feel heat radiating off my face.
We also had the ceiling fan on the highest setting but as I felt around in the dark all I could feel was still air and pressure on my legs.
Lately I have felt unwanted in this house and me and my partner have started arguing which is a first for us. As I sit on my bed and write this I have noticed a few balls of light flying around the room. I'm no psychic or anything like that, I just see shadows or balls of light from time to time. So I'm not sure what to make of what's happening or if anything is.


UR falls to Longwood in opener
VCU takes down Hampton
To VCU coach Mike Rhoades, sophomore forward Marcus Santos-Silva has skill and ability to score.
In addition to those qualities, Santos-Silva plays harder than everybody else, Rhoades said.
On Friday, in VCU’s
69-57 victory over visiting Hampton, Santos-Silva led the Rams with a careerhigh 16 points and added four rebounds.
The performance came in a tad over 15½ minutes on the floor. Santos-Silva helped VCU (2-0) stave off a late run by Hampton (1-1) with 6 of his points in the final 3:19.
“It was just a team effort,” Santos-Silva said. “My teammates were giving me the ball, and I was doing anything to help the team win. And it was just an overall great effort from all of us.”
Though Santos-Silva led, the Rams scored by committee for most of the game. Junior guard Marcus Evans
added 13 points, and junior forward Issac Vann and sophomore forward Sean Mobley had 7 apiece.
“This year ... we call it a whole army,” Evans said. “We can go really deep, whether guys get in foul trouble or just having an off night.”
Evans played 18:34 on Friday, up from the 9:18 he played in Tuesday’s season opener. He’s still on limited minutes coming off his June Achilles injury.
Junior guard De’Riante Jenkins, the Rams’ leading returning scorer at
12.9 points a game, did not play Friday because of a heel bruise. He’s day-to-day.
Junior guard Mike’L Simms (Highland Springs), who is known for the spark he brings off the bench, got his first career start in Jenkins’ absence. He finished with 5 points.
Rhoades, overall, liked how the Rams came out and guarded.
Hampton finished just 18 of 62 from the field (29 percent).
“Pressing and in the half court,” Rhoades said. “We were real active, did a great job helping each other.”
Hampton had a particularly cold first half. At one point, the Pirates had a 1-for-15 stretch from the field.
They shot 20 percent overall before the break (8 for 40).
The Rams put together an 11-0 run, starting 6½ minutes in, that allowed them to start pulling away. The run began with a 3-pointer by freshman point guard P.J. Byrd, the first basket of his career.
Santos-Silva then followed
scored a career-best 16 points in the win over Hampton. a layup with a steal and a fast-break dunk.
After that, freshman Vince Williams’ layup pushed the Rams’ lead to 20-8 with 11:48 to play in the half.
In the second half, Hampton junior guard Jermaine Marrow caught fire. Starting with a jumper at the 8:19 mark, Marrow put together a personal 14-0 run.
Senior guard Kalin Fisher added three free throws at 4:06 to push the Pirates’ run to 17-0, and cut VCU’s lead to 57-50.
But Evans then halted the run with a 3, and Santos-Silva followed with a dunk. He also added a pair of late layups.
Marrow finished with a game-high 25 points for the Pirates, but no other Hampton player finished in double digits.
Friday’s game was part of the Legends Classic Richmond Regional. VCU will play another Legends Classic regional game on Monday, at home against Bowling Green.
“I’m glad we won the last two. But there’s a lot to learn,” Rhoades said. “There’s a lot to learn to play with a lead. And our upperclassmen got to put it away, and our young guys got to help them put it away.”
VCU’s Corey Douglas covers up the ball amid flying Hampton defenders. Douglas finished with 4 points. Marcus Santos-Silva led the Rams in scoring with 16 points.
VCU 69, HAMPTON 57Monday: Bowling Green at VCU, 7 p.m., MASN
Mike’L Simms, a former Highland Springs standout, eyes the hoop as Hampton’s Dondre Griffin defends. Simms finished with 5 points in the Rams’ 69-57 victory.


On its way through the Solar System, the Star Force falls victim to Jupiter's gravity as the Argo is pulled down toward the planet. The Star Force manages to land the ship on a floating continent hidden in the thick methane sea of the gas giant. Afte... (more)r repairing its energy storage unit, the Star Force crew gets the Argo flying again. Meanwhile, a Gamilon base on the floating content attempts to attack the battleship. The missiles miss the Argo, but serve to alert the Star Force to the base's presence. Avatar orders the Star Force to fire the ship's Wave Motion Gun at the Gamilon base. However, the weapon is so powerful that it wipes out the entire floating continent! Gamilon's commander on Pluto, Col. Ganz, reports on this unexpected development to General Krypt, only to be rebuffed by Krypt who does not believe that Earth possesses the technology to build such a weapon. Earth has 361 days left.


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Graphic Novel Memoir
Read Nancy’s Tumblr where she’s created “draft zero” of a memoir done in comics. Some names and identifying details are changed and combined to protect people’s privacy, but Nancy’s story of her 7 years’ involvement with a sociopath — a swindler who led multiple lives – is true. Note how the art changed over the years that Nancy worked on it.
(Will this someday be a book as well? Maybe, but the road is long.)


Like a new variant let loose on an unsuspecting nation, rugby fever is sweeping through France in September as the World Cup sets up shop from Paris to the Med. But, and I realise this may border on sacrilegious, it’s not all about the rugby, right?
Because beyond the stadiums of Bordeaux and Marseille, where bloodied men battle it out on the fields of France, there is so much more to explore. So whether you’ve got a few days to spare between the Bok’s scheduled group matches, or are just happy to leave the stadium fervour to others, set aside some time to explore all that these historic cities have to offer…
While rugby fans are in the queue at the Stade de Bordeaux, chances are you’ll find me in the top-floor wine-tasting bar of Bordeaux’s impressive La Cité du Vin, a riverside museum dedicated to the history, influence and art of winemaking. That’s because few wine regions in the world come with the same cachet as Bordeaux, where the Left and Right Bank of the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers are home to iconic names such as Latour, Lafite and Margaux.
If you don’t have time to venture into the winelands, Bordeaux has no shortage of diversions. Book a show at the impressive Opera House, opened in 1780, or simply wander happily down the charming alleys of the old town. Join the locals on the crescent-shaped quayside — it’s why Bordeaux was once dubbed the “moon harbour” — and you’ll marvel at the honey-coloured stone of the Place de la Bourse.
Be sure to climb to the top of the Pey-Berland bell tower for views downstream. Of course, you’ll start each day with un café and one of the delicious canelé pastries the city is known for. But Bordeaux is just as famous for oysters, plucked from the Gironde estuary downstream. A reliable favourite is Le Cabane Cent Un, serving shucked oysters from nearby Cap Ferret. Lastly, allow an afternoon to explore the new precinct of Darwin, a former military base transformed into a creative hub home to organic restaurants, street art, skate parks and boutiques.
When the Springboks return to Marseille’s impressive Stade Velodrome — France’s second-largest stadium — in early October, chances are they won’t have time to wander the cobbled alleyways of this charming port city. Made up of more than 100 neighbourhoods, or quartiers-villages, Marseille is one of the oldest cities in Europe and traces its history back to Roman times. That rich history is on full display in Le Panier, the oldest district, but you’ll also want to wander the colonnades of Palais Longchamp, and climb the Notre-Dame de la Garde for glorious views of the city and Mediterranean beyond.
History aside, there’s a cultural side to the city too. The wonderful Musée des Beaux-Arts de Marseille exhibits works by notable European artists, while the Musée Cantini boasts one of the country’s largest collections of modern art. And certainly don’t miss the striking architecture of the MuCEM — Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean
Worked up an appetite? Bouillabaisse is the star of the show in Marseille, and chefs will make their morning pilgrimage to the seafood market on Vieux Port to select fresh line fish — usually gurnard, red mullet and bream — for this famous seafood broth. You’ll find it everywhere from humble seafood street stalls to Michelin-starred eateries — Gérald Passédat’s Le Petit Nice is especially famous — that will dent your pocket and please your palate.
With the rich immigrant community common to so many port cities, you’ll also find wonderful North African food here. End your day with cocktails at Le Dantès Skylounge with inspired cocktails and glorious views over the historic port.


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Bojangles Inc (BOJA) reported quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May-5-2016. The company said it had a profit of $0.21 Earnings per Share for the quarter. The results exceeded Wall Street expectations beating the analyst consensus estimate by $0.03. Analysts had a consensus of $0.18. The company posted revenue of $127.70 million in the period, compared to analysts expectations of $126.79 million. The company’s revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.17 EPS.
Many Wall Street Analysts have commented on Bojangles Inc. Shares were Reiterated by Barclays on Mar 11, 2016 to “Equal Weight” and Lowered the Price Target to $ 18 from a previous price target of $23 .
Bojangles Inc closed down -0.05 points or -0.28% at $17.56 with 1,02,641 shares getting traded on Wednesday. Post opening the session at $17.44, the shares hit an intraday low of $17.44 and an intraday high of $17.69 and the price fluctuated in this range throughout the day.Shares ended Wednesday session in Red.
In a different news, on Nov 19, 2015, Kenneth E Avery (Sr. Vice President & COO) sold 10,000 shares at $17.36 per share price. According to the SEC, on May 13, 2015, William A Kussell (director) sold 56,803 shares at $19.00 per share price. On May 13, 2015, Eric Mcgrew Newman (Exec. VP, Secy & Gnl Csl.) sold 3,905 shares at $19.00 per share price, according to the Form-4 filing with the securities and exchange commission.
Bojangles’ Inc. (Bojangles’) is a restaurant operator and franchisor. The Company is engaged in serving customers with food made from its Southern recipes. The Company’s restaurants offer biscuits bone-in fried chicken fixin’s and Legendary Iced Tea. It offers Southern-inspired items to a customer demographic across five day parts: breakfast lunch snack dinner and after dinner. It offers hand-breaded bone-in chicken Chicken Supremes Homestyle Chicken Tenders sandwiches and wraps as well as fixin’s including its Seasoned Fries Bo-Tato Rounds Cajun Pintos and Dirty Rice. The Company’s Bo-Smart menu features items such as salads grilled chicken sandwiches roasted chicken bites and fat-free green beans. In addition to its individual menu items the Company offers combos and family meals for parties as well as its Big Bo Box for tailgating events. Bojangles’ offers biscuit sandwiches including its smoked sausage biscuit grilled pork chop biscuit and Cheddar-Bo.

domain: finance


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The Government's promotion of elected mayors is a catalogue of missed opportunities
Showing 2401–2410 of 2596 results.
Missteps by the Government have led to missed opportunities.
Coventry, Bradford, Manchester and Nottingham have all voted no.
First city to vote yes.
Another failure to introduce an elected mayor
Predictions for the May local elections.
Some cities may have been in recession before the official announcement.
The case for metro mayors
As 10 cities decide whether to bring in elected mayors, we've put together an overview of the scope of the job that a new mayor would face.
London’s Mayor needs to focus on backing policies which support job creation in the short term, and develop London’s role as a global city in the longer term.


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So far S’Espalmador was known as an earthly paradise, but a tycoon bought it for just under 20 million euros
S’Espalmador is a small island in the Balearic Islands off the coast of Formentera and not far from Ibiza. Until now it was known as a paradise on earth, a favorite destination for those who practice naturism and the passionate sailors who throw anchor in its crystal clear waters to make memorable baths. But from next summer nobody will be able to set foot.
The island has just been sold for just under 20 million euros to a Luxembourg magnate.
On the island, only 137 hectares large (3 km long and 800 wide), there are very few buildings: two houses, a chapel and a watchtower. Also now owned by the magnate.
S’Espalmador can also be reached on foot from Formentera when there is low tide. Many tourists come here to immerse themselves in the natural mud that seems to be a cure for the skin.
The island was in fact already privately owned and belonged to the Catalan architect Norman Cinnamond, but it still remained in Spanish hands. He had been in the real estate market for three years, but the local government could not get it.
The old owners allowed thousands of tourists to arrive safely on the island during the summer. We will have to see if the new one will also be of such broad views.
The new owner is however aware of the fact that S’Espalmador is part of the Ses Salines Natural Park and therefore must be protected by law and maintained as it is.
The park extends from the southern edge of Ibiza to the northern part of Formentera and, in addition to S’Espalmador, includes the islands of Es Penjats, S’Espardell, the Illes Negres and the rocks of Escull d’en Terra, En Caragoler, Seca de Sa Barqueta.
From the S’Espalmador beach you can easily see the lights of Ibiza’s nightclubs and beach bars, just a few nautical miles away and reachable by boat. Without being disturbed by noise. A paradise, in short, perhaps now lost.

domain: travel


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Maybe you’ve heard about “doctor-shopping” where drug addicts go from doctor to doctor until they find one or more willing to write prescriptions for them. But I doubt you’ve heard about the guy who got prescriptions from more than 50 doctors for more than 23,000 oxycodone pills from 100 different pharmacies.
A judge has ordered that the Vancouver murder trial of a man charged in the slaying of his brother be adjourned so that the accused can get a psychiatric assessment. On the second day of the trial of Douglas Cameron Orr last Tuesday, the proceedings were halted when his lawyer reported that he was having trouble getting instructions from his client.
Jordin Tootoo stayed quiet this time. The New Jersey Devils practised Saturday afternoon at Rogers Arena, in preparation for their game there Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks. That contest will mark the first meeting between the clubs since a feisty 4-3 Canucks loss in overtime in New Jersey on Nov. 8 that wound up receiving national attention after Tootoo, a Devils winger, said that Vancouver winger Alex Burrows made remarks about Tootoo’s “personal life and family,” that were “classless and unacceptable in this day and age.”
When a nine-year-old girl had to testify at a B.C. Supreme Court trial earlier this month, a furry, tail-wagging friend was at her side.
Belinda Mary Hainsworth, 43, pleaded guilty to unlawfully importing cocaine and unlawfully possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
When Aileen Leona Michel was a teenager, she and a friend savagely beat a 73-year-old Lillooet woman to death for drinking money. Sixteen years later, she is insightful, remorseful, has grown mentally and spiritually and has “strengthened her purpose in life” according to a recent Parole Board of Canada decision granting her day parole.
Day parole has been granted in the Fraser Valley to an Alberta man who took nine people hostage at gunpoint in a Workers' Compensation Board office in downtown Edmonton.
As a young girl, Cathy Munroe didn’t understand why her father woke up at night screaming. During the day, she says, Frank Whitford was a strong, loving father who took great care to protect and enjoy his children.
As a young girl, Cathy Munroe didn’t understand why her father woke up at night screaming. During the day, she says, Frank Whitford was a strong, loving father who took great care to protect and enjoy his children. It turns out Whitford, who died in 2010, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after a German mortar killed his friend and implanted shrapnel in his head in the Italian theatre of Monte Cassino in 1944.
Even after losing 100 pounds and competing in Strongman competitions, Kamloops’ Gillian Faith McRae couldn’t stand the idea of getting into a bikini in front of a crowd of strangers. It’s a remarkable admission, given the mom of three’s recent accomplishments at the World Beauty Fitness and Fashion (WBFF) Show in Edmonton last weekend, where she placed third in her category. She’s set to hit the bodybuilding stage again Saturday for the Popeye’s Fall Classic in Coquitlam.
The British Columbia government is allowing private methadone-dispensing clinics to charge recovering heroin addicts for drug treatment by taking money from their income-assistance cheques, claims legal action launched against the province.
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — Legal arguments will continue in a British Columbia court Wednesday as the province attempts to have a “high-risk” designation applied retrospectively to a mentally ill man who killed his three children.
The B.C. SPCA is expecting a “record year” in cruelty investigations, with a projected total of 11,000 cases to be opened by the end of 2015. The not-for-profit has already funded 8,900 investigations this year — the total number of cases recorded in all of 2014.
The RCMP brought in a new lead investigator in the 11th hour of an undercover terrorism operation because they knew he was a “closer” who could wrap up the elaborate plan, a senior Mountie has confirmed in B.C. Supreme Court.
A Pemberton teen who tried to murder a friend who was dating his former girlfriend has been sentenced to two years in jail. The youth, who was 16 at the time of the November 2013 attack, will also have to serve a year of supervision in the community after he’s released from custody.
Vancouver police say they are finally seeing a plateau in the number of mental-health related arrests following years of rising numbers. A packed room of professionals and advocates met Saturday at the Symposium for Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System to discuss the complex issues of working with people who are mentally ill that come into contact with police, courts and corrections in B.C.
Charges are expected after the arrests of three people alleged to be the masterminds of a large fencing ring in Metro Vancouver. At a media briefing to show off the $100,000 worth of stolen goods seized in Vancouver and a business along Surrey’s King George Boulevard, police said the people behind the massive theft ring preyed on drug addicts and the downtrodden who supplied them with the stolen merchandise.
The federal government isn’t doing enough to combat homelessness in Vancouver, Mayor Gregor Robertson said Tuesday while officially declaring Homelessness Action Week in the city. Robertson did single out federal funding for the recent At Home/Chez Soi — a national $110-million study by the Mental Health Commission of Canada that found people with mental illnesses and drug addictions could successfully live in social housing scattered throughout the community.
The first time Darrell Le Lacheur visited the Union Gospel Mission five years ago, he was looking for a hot meal. He got more than that. That first meal turned into regular visits, and eventually, a spot in a UGM addiction treatment program for Le Lacheur, who at the time was addicted to alcohol and “mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and just physically a wreck.”
A class action lawsuit filed in Vancouver alleges that the RCMP has breached the privacy of a number of Mounties by wrongfully disclosing their mental health records. The suit says that the disclosure of the records in 2012 was done to undermine the work of Dr. Michael Webster, a longtime RCMP psychologist who had treated the officers and who has been outspoken in the past on RCMP issues.


Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of columns from agencies served by Jackson County United Way.
“Unity is strength … when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”
— Mattie Stepanek
The above quote embodies how we view our relationship with Jackson County United Way.
This year Turning Point Domestic Violence Services turns 40 years old and for 31 of those years we have been the beneficiary of a solid working partnership with the Jackson County United Way.
Through this collaboration we have been able to build and grow our programs in Jackson County thanks to the efforts made on our behalf by Jackson County United Way.
They have opened doors for us, made introductions, created opportunities for community connections and advocated on our behalf. All for the betterment of the citizens of the community they serve.
As a multi-county agency, we face many and different challenges in each of the counties in our region. Each county has its own personality and set of special needs and ways to meet those needs.
Through the years the Jackson County United Way staff has helped our staff members navigate and successfully meet those needs specific to Jackson County in the best ways possible, through networking, training and community involvement opportunities.
In just this past year our local office has established a Teens for Change group thanks to the support of the Jackson County United Way.
Teens for Change is a dating violence awareness and prevention council, that is run completely by teens.
They work together to promote healthy relationships in their community and others by planning, organizing and executing events to help educate the community about Dating Violence.
The competent and professional staff of Jackson County United Way is always willing to help and they represent the spirit of collaboration of the Jackson County community. Everything they do is with the mantra of partnership and community need.
Most recently we have begun the process of creating a Community Coalition for Jackson County, a group of community representatives whose professional or personal lives interface with the issue of domestic and dating violence.
The purpose being to raise awareness of our intervention and prevention programs in the hope we can reach those who need our services. This community-based group can be our eyes and ears in Jackson County.
The Jackson County United Way helped us identify potential members and made introductions to facilitate this initiative. As we move forward with this coalition building in Jackson County we will continue to collaborate with with the local United Way as our key community partner.
We are proud to be a part of the Jackson County United Way family and enthusiastically participate in their mission as they do in ours. Thank you Jackson County United Way for everything you do to make Jackson County a great community.
Lisa Shafran is president Turning Point Domestic Violence Services. Send comments to [email protected].


CRAMER: House Passes Bill to Reform Medical Litigation Laws
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Cramer supported H.R. 1215, the Protecting Access to Care Act, to reform medical litigation laws and provide better access care for patients. Congressman Cramer issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the bill.
“We need to do away with endless lawsuits that cause doctors to practice defensive medicine in which unnecessary procedures are ordered or drugs prescribed just to reduce the risk of lawsuits, not to actually advance the health of the patient. The action of the House today reaffirms patient care will come at a lower cost with lower lawsuit liability premiums, which should encourage doctors to remain in the field, attract doctors into the field, and increase the availability of medical providers.”
H.R. 1215, the Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017, would establish a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages and limit the contingency fees lawyers can charge so patients can keep more of their awards. Patients would remain fully compensated for their injuries as there is no cap on the total amount of economic damages a plaintiff can receive. This bill does not preempt state laws that limit damages at higher or lower amounts, which includes North Dakota state law. The Congressional Budget Office reported H.R. 1215 will lower health care expenses by $50 billion.
In addition to H.R. 1215, the House passed a number of health care bills this Congress.
H.R. 2372, the VETERAN Act ensures vets can choose to purchase health care in the individual marketplace under the American Health Care Act should they choose not to receive care through the Veterans Administration (VA). “We’re keeping our promise to provide more quality health care options for our veterans,” Cramer said. “This bill makes law the ability for veterans to receive the monthly tax credits provided by the American Health Care Act, even if they’re eligible to purchase insurance through the VA.” Under law, people eligible for insurance through programs such as TRICARE, Medicare, or Medicaid are not eligible to receive help purchasing health care option in the individual marketplace. An existing regulation makes an exception for veterans – who are eligible but not enrolled in VA insurance. The VETERAN Act codifies this language into law. Passed: June 2017
H.R. 2579, the Broader Options for Americans Act, helps people who recently lost their jobs to continue using the insurance they received through work by providing access to the AHCA monthly tax credits. Currently, people who lose their job can continue using their health insurance through a program known as COBRA continuation coverage. However, they must pay full premium costs – and sometimes more – without access to Obamacare’s current subsidy program. “Ironically, folks on Obamacare who lose their job have to pay more for COBRA coverage, not less,” Cramer said. “We want to encourage people who have lost their jobs to get back on their feet. Our bill also applies to Americans who have similar coverage provided through churches or other houses of worship.” Passed: June 2017
H.R. 2581, the Verify First Act, protects the taxpayer from waste, fraud, and abuse by verifying a person’s eligibility to receive financial assistance before the health insurance plan goes into effect. Fraud has been an ongoing problem under Obamacare since subsidies can be dispersed without fully verifying an individual’s eligibility. “Every time someone takes advantage of our government safety-net programs, the people who truly need the programs are being punished with higher costs or less assistance. In order to continue providing high quality coverage to the most vulnerable among us, we need to make sure the assistance is going towards people who truly need it.” Cramer said. The Verify First Act builds off the added safeguards included in the AHCA, which expressly define who is eligible to receive monthly tax credits. Passed: June 2017
H.R. 1304, the Self-Insurance Protection Act, which clarifies that federal regulators cannot redefine “stop-loss” insurance as “health insurance coverage” under federal law. Specifically, the bill amends ERISA and the Public Health Service Act to continue allowing employers to utilize stop-loss insurance coverage, a financial risk-management tool, when offering employees health care coverage through a self-funded plan. Passed: April 2017
H.R. 372, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act, which ensures health insurance issuers are subject to the same antitrust and unfair trade practices laws with which all businesses comply. The bill specifically prohibits businesses from engaging in anti-competitive practices, including price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation that could drive up healthcare costs. It is the first step to allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines which will increase competition and reduce premiums. Passed: May 2017
H.R. 1101, The Small Business Health Fairness Act, which amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to allow small businesses to join together in association health plans (AHP) across state lines through bona fide trade associations to become larger purchasers of health insurance. Specifically, the bill relieves small businesses that form AHPs from costly state-mandated benefit laws that often make coverage prohibitively expensive. Passed: May 2017


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The young Churchill charged through imperial atrocities, defending each in turn. When concentration camps were built in South Africa, for white Boers, he said they produced "the minimum of suffering". The death toll was almost 28,000, and when at least 115,000 black Africans were likewise swept into British camps, where 14,000 died, he wrote only of his "irritation that Kaffirs should be allowed to fire on white men". Later, he boasted of his experiences there: "That was before war degenerated. It was great fun galloping about."
Then as an MP he demanded a rolling programme of more conquests, based on his belief that "the Aryan stock is bound to triumph". There seems to have been an odd cognitive dissonance in his view of the "natives". In some of his private correspondence, he appears to really believe they are helpless children who will "willingly, naturally, gratefully include themselves within the golden circle of an ancient crown".
But when they defied this script, Churchill demanded they be crushed with extreme force. As Colonial Secretary in the 1920s, he unleashed the notorious Black and Tan thugs on Ireland's Catholic civilians, and when the Kurds rebelled against British rule, he said: "I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes...[It] would spread a lively terror."
Of course, it's easy to dismiss any criticism of these actions as anachronistic. Didn't everybody think that way then? One of the most striking findings of Toye's research is that they really didn't: even at the time, Churchill was seen as at the most brutal and brutish end of the British imperialist spectrum. Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin was warned by Cabinet colleagues not to appoint him because his views were so antedeluvian. Even his startled doctor, Lord Moran, said of other races: "Winston thinks only of the colour of their skin."
Many of his colleagues thought Churchill was driven by a deep loathing of democracy for anyone other than the British and a tiny clique of supposedly superior races. This was clearest in his attitude to India. When Mahatma Gandhi launched his campaign of peaceful resistance, Churchill raged that he "ought to be lain bound hand and foot at the gates of Delhi, and then trampled on by an enormous elephant with the new Viceroy seated on its back." As the resistance swelled, he announced: "I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion." This hatred killed. To give just one, major, example, in 1943 a famine broke out in Bengal, caused – as the Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has proved – by the imperial policies of the British. Up to 3 million people starved to death while British officials begged Churchill to direct food supplies to the region. He bluntly refused. He raged that it was their own fault for "breeding like rabbits". At other times, he said the plague was "merrily" culling the population.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Yep just like him
Except he was right about ONE BIG THING, but Churchill was otherwise wrong and very very modern Republican Party in so many respects, just cut and paste and you'll have a John Bolton/Bill Kristol address.

domain: history