text:
Protesters Encircle Morsi Palace, VP Says President 'Could Accept to Delay Referendum' if No Legal Fallout

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  • W460
  • W460
  • W460

Thousands of protesters broke through a barbed-wire perimeter protecting the Cairo palace of President Mohamed Morsi on Friday, as his vice-president hinted at a possible compromise aimed at calming the seething crisis dividing Egypt.

A cordon of soldiers prevented the crowd from nearing the palace's main gate, but elsewhere protesters sprayed graffiti on the outside walls saying "Leave, Morsi" and "Down with the Muslim Brotherhood," the movement from which Morsi hails, Agence France Presse correspondents at the scene said.

There was no visible violence. But tensions were high after bloody clashes at the same spot on Wednesday between supporters and opponents of Morsi left seven people dead and more than 600 injured.

Several army tanks were stationed in the square and nearby but made no movement against the protesters, some of whom clambered atop them to declare the army was "hand in hand" with them.

That was reminiscent of the popular uprising that ousted long-time president Hosni Mubarak early last year, when tanks stood idle amid massive protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square, as protesters mixed with soldiers.

The crowd also shouted "We want to see the fall of the regime" -- a slogan common during the anti-Mubarak revolt.

The increasingly strident calls for Morsi to step down followed an address on Thursday in which the president dismissed demands he give up sweeping new powers he decreed for himself two weeks ago and postpone a December 15 referendum on a constitution drafted by a panel of Islamist allies.

Late Friday, however, Egypt's vice-president, Mahmoud Mekki, told AFP that Morsi "could accept to delay the referendum" on the draft constitution but only if the opposition guaranteed it would launch no legal challenge to the decision.

Under Egyptian law, a president is compelled to hold a referendum two weeks after formally being delivered its text.

Mekki's suggestion implied Morsi might be seeking a way to de-escalate the crisis.

On Thursday, Morsi had offered to hold talks with the opposition, but the main opposition bloc, the National Salvation Front, rebuffed the offer, accusing Morsi of "dividing Egyptians between his 'supporters of legitimacy'... and his opponents."

The opposition sees Morsi's decree as a brazen power grab, and the draft constitution as an attempt to quash Egypt's secular underpinnings in favor of Islamic aspirations.

Demonstrators on Cairo's streets said they were determined to stop Morsi.

"Before the violence, I just wanted Morsi to repeal his decree and cancel the referendum. But now that blood has been spilt, he has to go," said Sahar al-Shazli, 27, a veil covering her face.

"Morsi won't back down and neither will we," said Sharif Qasem, a demonstrator outside the palace. "Those who are steadfast the longest will win."

But determination flashed just as brightly among those backing the president.

Late Friday, police fired tear gas at hundreds of Islamist protesters, mostly hardline Salafists, who tried storming the Cairo studios of private Egyptian television channels critical of Morsi's supporters.

Prominent Salafist leader Hazim Abu Ismail had called for the demonstrations on his Twitter and Facebook accounts in order to "cleanse the media" of reporting they see as biased against the Islamists' cause.

At a Cairo funeral on Friday for several of the seven people killed this week and said to be Muslim Brotherhood members, Morsi supporters dismissed the public protests against the president.

"All the people are with us, with the (draft) constitution," said one Brotherhood supporter attending the service in the Al-Azhar mosque.

That unquestioning backing was not shared by Egypt's top Islamic body, which on Thursday called on Morsi to suspend the decree.

The United States and European Union have called for dialogue to resolve the crisis.

And on Friday, U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay criticized the draft constitution and "the way the process has been short-circuited," saying "people are right to be very concerned."

She highlighted the proposed charter's perceived weaknesses in upholding human rights and gender equality, the primacy of Islamic sharia law in the text and its potential to give the president "excessive power" over the judiciary.

Comments 6
Thumb jcamerican 07 December 2012, 16:33

The whole ME will go back to the stone ages very soon. These people deserve nothing but the worst. No revolution in the world will change these retards lives. Best thing to do, stop wasting time, just kill each other until no one is standing.

Missing bigjohn 07 December 2012, 17:52

The Ikhwan make a lot of false Rhetoric like liberating Palestine. The elections of Morsi showed that the only thing they care about is shoving religion on peoples throat.

Thumb lebnanfirst 07 December 2012, 18:37

And you not @bigjohn? I remember your posts very well. Double standards here buddy...

Default-user-icon Minx (Guest) 07 December 2012, 18:16

This should be a wake up alarm for the rest of the Arab population in the so called Arab Spring...If these fanatics take over this what will happen

Missing helicopter 08 December 2012, 08:08

The current protesters in Egypt remind me of the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon. Ours was kidnapped by M8 and theirs was kidnapped by The brotherhood.

Thumb LebDino 08 December 2012, 08:38

"could accept to delay the referendum" on the draft constitution but only if the opposition guaranteed it would launch no legal challenge to the decision."

Either way, Morsi is trying to screw the other side.


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Former Mobile Golfer Makes PGA TOUR Debut Thursday

July 18, 2013
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By Matthew Hicks, Mobile Sports Information Director

MADISON, Miss.-- Former Mobile (Ala.) golfer Nathan Rau will make his PGA TOUR debut Thursday when he competes in the Sanderson Farms Championship at Annandale Golf Club.

A native of Cumming, Ga., Rau fired a 62 in Monday's qualifier at the Lake Caroline Golf Club. Rau birdied nine holes and added an eagle to qualify.

The Sanderson Farms Championship runs Thursday, July 18 - Sunday, July 21 and has a purse of $3,000,000, with the winner taking home $540,000.

Rau is in group #11 with Nolan Henke and Ted Tryba. They will tee off on hole one at 8:50 a.m.

Among the 132 players competing are Masters winner Trevor Immelman, David Toms, Stuart Appleby and Davis Love III.

Rau played 2007-09 at Mobile after transferring from Darton State College. With the Rams, he was a 1st-Team All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) selection for the 2007-08 season and a two-time GCAC All-Academic honoree.

The Rams won the GCAC Championship both years and Rau won the individual title in the 2007-08 season after firing a 2-under 142 (68, 74).

Rau has been playing on the Emerald Coast Tour. He last competed on the ECGT June 5-7 in the Drex Guthrie Classic at Troy Country Club where he placed 6th with a 198 (68, 63, 67).

In his last season at Mobile, Rau won the UST Texas Intercollegiate with a 7-under 137 (68, 69), finished 10th at the Troy University Invitational with a 17-over 233 (77, 75, 81) and finished 3rd at the NAIA Preview Invitational with a 9-over 151 (75, 76).

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INM North Holds Educator Training in Victoria
  • Judy Lessin
  • June 6, 2014

INM North, the Canadian distributor of INM products, hosted its first annual Educator Training on March 28-31 in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia. The four-day intensive training was led by INM’s director of education, Lorena Marquez. Marquez opened the event with an inspirational speech that motivated all in attendance to push their skills to new heights.

Attendees came from all over Canada in hopes of becoming an INM educator. Three days of intense hands-on training was followed by a full day of testing broken down into three sections: a written test, a presentation in front of their peers, and a nail skills test.

“The focus of this year’s training was to build a great team of well-rounded educators who would be highly trained on all INM product lines,” said Marquez.

Nail art was a huge focus at the training. Attendees learned many new techniques and designs that were created using Out The Door Acrylics, Integrity Gel, Powder Paints Colored Acrylics, and Gelavish soak-off gel-polish.

The event ended with an amazing dinner and certificate ceremony with live music performed by Victoria-based singer/songwriter Karly Summers. Yvonne Duclos, owner of INM North, closed the evening with a heartfelt thank you to her new team and announced that next year’s training would take place on a seven-day Alaskan cruise.

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This apartment is no longer on the market. Search for others

2br, Fort Greene, Brooklyn, $2,700

Fort Greene

Quiet Good transportation Great food Fun nightlife Cool factor LGBT-popular Young crowd On the rise

The Fort Green area is sometimes referred to as Little Europe due to the many Europeans who have made this beautiful neighborhood their home.

Fort Greene’s current population is around 15,900. The neighborhood is valued as being both diverse and prestigious. The architecture consists predominantly of brownstones.

learn more about this neighborhood

#38Neighborhood popularity:

based on Naked Apartments searches

Building Mix

  • 38% Luxury Highrise
  • 12% Brownstone
  • 10% Pre War
  • 9% Elevator/Laundry Building
  • 8% Walk-Up
Legal Disclosure: Neighborhood descriptions and data are created exclusively by Naked Apartments without contributions or approval from the agents listed on this page.
Truly gorgeous two-bedroom residence in Fort Greene! Conducive to self-pampering: this unit has a fireplace, terrace, and Jacuzzi. Call today for details and/or appointment...

Apartment Details

Web ID: 3032654
Price: $2,700
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1.0
Listed for: Almost 3 Years
Last updated: Almost 3 Years
Available: Immediately
Pets: Pets must be approved
Balcony, Fireplace, Outdoor Space, Terrace
Nearby Subway Stations
  • C A Lafayette Av (0.2 mi)
  • G Fulton St (0.31 mi)
  • G Clinton - Washington Avs (0.33 mi)
  • C A Clinton - Washington Avs (0.4 mi)
  • B Q Atlantic Av (0.42 mi)


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This apartment is no longer on the market. Search for others

3br, Battery Park City, Manhattan, $9,200

No fee

Battery Park City

Quiet Near park

Battery Park City apartments have great views but look like they were all part of one centrally planned development, because in large part they were.

Battery Park is located at the southern tip of Manhattan on the west side. It's a planned community built upon the dirt and rock excavated during the construction of the World Trade Center.

learn more about this neighborhood

#35Neighborhood popularity:

based on Naked Apartments searches

Building Mix

  • 85% Luxury Highrise
  • 4% New Building
  • 4% Elevator/Laundry Building
  • 3% Condo or Co-Op Building
  • 3% Post War
Legal Disclosure: Neighborhood descriptions and data are created exclusively by Naked Apartments without contributions or approval from the agents listed on this page.
High floor in a full service, doorman building with great roof top terraces. Unbelievable, unobstructed water views on this very high floor measuring 1,882 square feet. Your new home boasts three large bedrooms, great closet space with a huge walk in closet and beautifully renovated bathrooms. Your gally chefs kitchen includes beautiful maple wood cabinets with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting and a pantry. Your formal dining room has stunning views of the NY Harbor with its curved glass shape windows everywhere. So rare to find an apartment of this size at this price in Battery Park City. The building is a full service, luxury high rise which includes a health club with a pool (extra fee) Bicycle Room; Garage; Laundry Room On Every Floor; Valet; Lounge; Rooftop Deck and Common Storage Room. Located just minutes away from a plethora of luscious green parks, restaurants and major subway lines. Free shuttle bus takes you to Tribeca, Whole Foods and South Street Seaport. To see this apartment or any apartment on the CitiHabitats website please contact Maria Hadjidemetriou, a Battery Park City resident for over 12 years. AMAZING LANDLORD INCENTIVE.

Apartment Details

No fee
Web ID: 980829
Price: $9,200
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.0
Square ft: 1882
Listed for: Almost 3 Years
Last updated: Almost 3 Years
Available: Immediately
Pets: Pets Allowed
Doorman, Elevator, Garage, Gym, Laundry Room, Outdoor Space, Pool, Storage Room, Terrace
Nearby Subway Stations
  • 1 Rector St (0.24 mi)
  • R N Rector St (0.28 mi)
  • 4 5 Bowling Green (0.36 mi)
  • 4 5 Wall St (0.37 mi)
  • 1 Cortlandt St (0.38 mi)


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Nanotechnology General News

The latest news from academia, regulators
research labs and other things of interest

Posted: Oct 04, 2013

Nanoparticle stem cell replacement therapy for reflux nephropathy

(Nanowerk News) An EU-funded project has investigated the potential of stem cell-based replacement therapy for prevention of end stage renal disease. The work involved the design of a new type of magnetic nanoparticle to label the stem cells for in vivo tracking.
Reflux nephropathy is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged or scarred over time by the backward flow of urine into the kidney. This condition may cause kidney failure in both children and adults. The long-term goal of the 'Developing a stem cell based therapy to replace nephrons lost through reflux nephropathy' (RENALSTEM) project was the development of stem cell based replacement therapy to prevent chronic kidney disease.
During the initial stage (first 17 months) the major goal was to develop a non-invasive method to monitor stem cells following their transplantation. Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) labelling of the cells coupled with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the advantages over other imaging techniques because the magnetic signal does not diminish with tissue depth.
However, most MNPs available to date are quickly degraded within the cellular environment. Researchers of the project prepared MNPs with a protective coating and demonstrated that these MNPs were more readily retained inside the stem cells than were commercial MNPs. RENALSTEM MNPs caused no significant cytotoxicity at concentrations of 30 micrograms per ml per 100 000 cells.
Embryonic stem cells labelled with the MNPs expressed similar levels of the pluripotency markers and expressed markers of three germ layer derivatives. Stem cells labelled with the MNPs were able to undergo osteogenesis and adipogenesis to a similar extent as unlabelled stem cells. This demonstrates that the developed MNPs had no adverse effects on pluripotency and differentiation potential of stem cells.
The results of this initial stage of the project formed the basis of a proposal to a United Kingdom stem sell initiative that was funded in March 2010. Two papers have been published in the journals of IEEE Transactions on Nanoscience (2010) and the Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (2011).
Further investigation based on RENALSTEM results would be a significant step forward in the development of stem cell based therapies in general.
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Nanotechnology Spotlight

Behind the buzz and beyond the hype:
Our Nanowerk-exclusive feature articles

Posted: Jan 04, 2007

Designing new materials with nanostructures as building blocks

(Nanowerk Spotlight) Novel and robust networks, tailored from nanostructures as building blocks, are the foundations for constructing nano- and microdevices. However, assembling nanostructures into ordered micronetworks remains a significant challenge in nanotechnology. The most suitable building blocks for assembling such networks are nanoparticle clusters, nanotubes and nanowires. Unfortunately, little is known regarding the different ways networks can be created and their physicochemical properties as a function of their architecture. It is expected that, when 1D nanostructures are connected covalently, the resulting assemblies possess mechanical, electronic, and porosity properties that are strikingly different from those of the isolated 1D blocks. In extensive theoretical studies, researchers now have shown that the properties of 2D and 3D networks built from 1D units are dictated by the specific architecture of these arrays. Specifically, they demonstrate that one could join nanotubes and make supernetworks that exhibit different properties when compared to the individual building blocks (i.e. the nanotubes). Besides the unique and unusual mechanical and electronic properties, the porosity of these systems makes them good candidates for exploring novel catalysts, sensors, filters, or molecular storage properties. The crystalline 2D and 3D networks are also expected to present unusual optical properties, in particular when the pore periodicity approaches the wavelength of different light sources, such as optical photonic crystals.
The power of theoretical calculations at predicting novel materials with enhanced electronic and mechanical properties, using single atoms as building blocks, has been demonstrated repeatedly. A further step in this direction is to analyze the mechanical properties of 3D arrays built up from carbon nanotubes and study the influence of different framework architectures.
"With our recent work we provide new information related to the mechanical and electronic properties of 2D and 3D networks using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as building blocks" Professor Mauricio Terrones explains to Nanowerk. "The blocks are joined covalently using heptagonal, octagonal and pentagonal carbon rings. The networks we propose could adopt a hexagonal lattice (supergraphite), a tetragonal network (super diamond), a cubic 3D network (super cubic) and a squared lattice (super square)."
Terrones, who is a member of the Advanced Materials Department at IPICyT in Mexico, and his colleagues from IPICyT and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, observed that the damping properties of these nanotube networks are excellent and therefore their work motivates further experimental research.
"From an electronic point of view we realized that we could make networks with semiconducting and metallic tubes and therefore, we could guide electronic current through specific paths of the networks" he says. "The idea of having 3D electronic nanocomponents is quite exciting and we believe that in the future scientists will be able to make these materials."
Jose Manuel Romo-Herrera, a PhD student in Terrones' group, and first author of the paper published on these findings ("Covalent 2D and 3D Networks from 1D Nanostructures: Designing New Materials"), hopes that their simulations will motivate experimental work in the field in order to explore different types of geometries by selfassembly in order to "tune up" different type of properties to the arrays.
"Testing the properties of different 2D and 3D arrays was possible thanks to a hierarchy algorithm which is a simple set of rules to follow in order to design whichever ordered network, build up from a choice of constructor blocks" he explains. "To design the networks, we begin by selecting a 1D nanostructure as a building block, and by using point group operations we generated a multi-terminal node. Subsequently, we introduced the concept of hierarchy to use these nodes as the new building blocks, which by translation operations will result in complex architectures. These conceptual steps (illustrated with CNTs in the figure below) represent the hierarchy algorithm able to generate crystallographically different types of 2D and 3D supercrystal models from 1D blocks."
Illustrations of the hierarchy concept for four different architectures of ordered networks based on CNTs (1D nanostructures). (a and b) super-square and super-graphene correspond to 2D networks, whereas (c and d) super-cubic and super-diamond represent 3D network examples. The four families are constructed from either armchair or zigzag CNTs in order to study the chirality effects. The red rings point out the nonhexagonal carbon rings in each node.(Reprinted with permission from the American Chemical Society)
The researchers also demonstrated that the active surface area of these arrays could be as high as 3600 m2/gr and with densities much lower that than of water.
Romo-Herrera adds that this idea or algorithm should help the scientific community to design new types of networks and with different types of 1D nanostructures (inorganic nanowires, CNTs, doped CNTs, nanorods) in order to explore the different properties the arrays could present by "virtually playing Lego".
"Presenting our tools and results we are proposing a way of how to build new materials" says Terrones. "We propose to construct new materials with properties that are attractive in various areas such as catalysis (larger surface area porous materials with low densities), electronics (new 3D molecular devices), composites (fabrication of shock absorbers), and optoelectronics (porous materials with controllable holes that could interact with different wavelengths)."
This work could lead to a significant body of research, exploring the vast number of combinations of architectures and nanostructures and determining their respective mechanical and electronic properties.
"It provides the foundation for building new materials by connecting covalently 1D units" adds Terrones. "I personally believe that in less than 5 years materials like these will be produced with some control."
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show large interannual variations, as well as some fluctuations on decadal time scales. The interannual variations of the South Pacific anticyclone are associated with the Southern Oscillation, and they are larger than those of the anticyclones over the other two SH ocean basins. The index used for the strength of the southern westerlies is also a measure of the high-latitude mode described earlier. It shows pronounced interannual and longer-term variations.

Allan and Haylock (1993) have used the J91 MSLP data set to identify the SH circulation variations associated with the long-term winter rainfall decrease over southwestern Australia. In the Australasian region, they describe variations of MSLP on decadal time scales as well as a longer-time-scale trend, both of which are associated with the regional rainfall variations.

Several indices of the large-scale surface-pressure field in the SH have been used to investigate variations of the SH circulation (Troup, 1965; Trenberth, 1976; Pittock, 1984). The index most frequently used is the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), the difference between normalized mean sea-level pressure anomalies for Tahiti and those for Darwin. This index represents the magnitude of the pressure oscillation between the eastern Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean regions associated with the Southern Oscillation. Pittock (1984) defined the Trans-Polar Index (TPI) as the pressure anomaly at Hobart (43°S, 147°E) minus that at Stanley (52°S, 58°W), on the opposite side of the hemisphere. The TPI represents variations of the amplitude of zonal wave-number-one asymmetries in the pressure field. It probably captures variations in the high-latitude mode to some extent, because of the difference between the latitudes of the two stations. Pittock (1984) has shown that the two dominant modes of common interannual variations of rainfall in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America are associated with variations of the SOI and the TPI, and that there is little relationship between these two indices. Pittock considered only 30 years of data, 1931 to 1960, and did not directly examine interdecadal variations of these indices and hence of the SH circulation. However, in commenting on several other studies that have considered relatively long time series of the SOI, he noted that there were significant differences in the relationship between the SOI and Australian rainfall between the periods 1930 to 1950 and 1950 to 1980, with a much weaker relationship in the 1930-to-1950 period.

Several recent studies (Hamilton and Garcia, 1986; Elliott and Angell, 1988; Allan et al., 1991; Quinn and Neal, 1992) have examined decadal variability of the Southern Oscillation; it is covered in some detail in Cane et al. (1995), Keeling and Whorf (1995), Rasmusson et al. (1995), and Trenberth and Hurrell (1995), all in this volume. It is sufficient to say here that decadal variations in the Southern Oscillation must be associated with significant decadal variations in the SH circulation.

Time series of the SOI and the TPI since 1896 are shown in Figure 5. There is negligible correlation of the interannual variations between these two time series over the past century, confirming the conclusion of Pittock (1984) that they represent independent modes of variation of the SH circulation. The SOI and TPI show large interannual fluctuations as well as variations on longer time scales. The TPI exhibits decadal variations that are a larger fraction of its interannual variability than does the SOI. The decadal time-scale variations of these two indices must be associated with variations of the SH circulation on these time scales and, almost certainly, with regional climate fluctuations as well.

It is not possible to use the available surface meteorological observations for the SH to describe variations at century or longer time scales in the SH. The only source of data at these longer time scales is proxy data from tree rings or other sources from a very few sites in the SH. Cook et al. (1991) and Villalba et al. (1989) have used tree rings to reconstruct temperature variations at some SH sites, while Lough and Fritts (1990) have used tree rings to identify

Variations of two surface-pressure indices of the SH circulation, with the solid line joining annual values and the dashed line 5-year running averages. Upper panel, Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), normalized Tahiti—Darwin pressure anomalies. Lower panel, Trans-Polar Index (TPI), Hobart-Stanley pressure differences.

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Letter: Who is the lost sheep?

My wife and I are lifelong practicing Catholics and have been going to St. Leo Catholic Church every winter since 2001.

After Father Stan Strycharz came, we joined the parish and volunteered there. We have known many priests but Father Stan touched our hearts more than any other. We believe him to be a holy man.

We first heard from friends that Father Stan fathered a child. They heard it directly from Bishop Frank Dewane at Mass. The bishop was wrong to announce this publicly.

We then heard the charges of financial misdeeds from the spokesperson for the diocese. We never believed those charges, but our hearts ached for Father Stan. The child didn't scandalize us either. Everyone sins and we heard the sin had been forgiven years ago.

The scandal here is that a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church would unjustly assassinate the character of a priest for 16 months while forbidding him to respond. Father Stan has a moral right to respond to public charges against him. A bishop is supposed to proclaim the good news of the gospel and lead us to Jesus Christ.

This bishop has lost his way, and we will not contribute another penny to the diocese until he is gone or apologizes to Father Stan.

Naples Daily News polls


text:
Bharatanatyam: Present and future at the hands of NRIs
- Prathiba Natesan
e-mail: prathibachaj@gmail.com

November 14, 2011

In recent times, I have witnessed several jaw-dropping, wonderful performances in Dallas and Houston (Shijith Nambiar, Rama Vaidyanathan, Spanda) that I have left the auditoriums giggling like a teenager, almost drunk with the beauty of these performances. Today’s dancers, even the traditional ones, incorporate interesting and different movements in their dances to add dynamism – an excellent example of evolution.  At the same time, there also seems to be something that is stagnant in its practice and even an evolution in the wrong direction, if I may be so bold.

While artistes like Uttara Coorlawala and Anita Ratnam seem to have taken evolution to a new level, why are we still defining women based on the Ashtanayikas? Based on the relationship with the hero, the Natya Shastra classifies women as the one who dresses for union with her hero, the one distressed by separation, the one having her husband in subjection, the one separated by quarrel, the one enraged with her lover, the one deceived by her lover, the one with a sojourning husband, or the one going to meet her lover. What about the woman who is an intellectual equal of the man? What about the woman who brings home the bacon? What about the woman who decides that she is better off as a single parent or even as a single woman? May I remind that although the Natya Shastra has provided us a wealth of information and is THE book every dancer should read, it was written between 2nd century BC and 2nd century CE? Its views on women are as outdated as some of our old texts that classify humans based on caste or propagate the theory of creationism. Why are we, the modern women, clinging to it for dear life?

I wish Bharatanatyam was truly evolving on all fronts. I wish we overcame the barriers of caste and religion in its practice. I wish we overcame the male chauvinistic ideas portrayed in a Bharatanatyam performance. I am writing this as a woman who is tired of seeing nayikas who long, pine, and suffer for their lords (yes, we don’t even call them men, but lords). For the purists who will retort that the “lord” represents “truth” and the pining is the search for truth, my response is: Is this the only metaphor you can think of for 2200 years of imagination?

Recently, I heard someone call the ardhanareeswara concept as the oldest example of gender equality where Shiva carelessly wears unmanageable matted locks for hair while Parvati has beautiful flowing hair. Shiva shows rage while Parvati is demure. Shiva can lift his leg over his head but Parvati (may be able to but) should not. What about this really shows gender equality? Showing that the male is all male and masculine while the female enhances his masculine features seems to be a stronger manifestation of the status quo of the expected role of women. Despite all the good values of Indian culture, a major rule of our society that creates a stumbling block is “do not question tradition.” We stop evolving when we stop asking questions. Perhaps that is why we label anything that does not conform to these values as ‘fusion’ or ‘modern.’

You’d think that living in a western society as NRIs would help people push the boundaries of Bharatanatyam better. You couldn’t be more wrong! As an NRI, I regularly witness painful arangetrams performed like weddings with splendor and showmanship but lacking in content and standard. As a dancer, I am tired of NRI parents badmouthing their children’s gurus’ practices (Question: If you hate them so much, why do you continue sending your kids to their classes?). As a fellow dancer, I see some gurus treat the art simply as the business of teaching (read moneymaking) and graduating more mediocre and substandard students year after year. I do not believe in religion, neither am I traditional. Yet I cannot bear to watch kids wearing their salangais along with their sandals in auditoriums. I am tired of the standing ovation given to every kid finishing his/her arangetram, irrespective of the standard. I am even tired of the almost ritualistic applause I hear at the completion of every jathi, theermanam, and swaram that so takes the focus away from the dance.

Living in the western society frees our barriers and opens new horizons. Sadly, most NRI parents today seem to be focused on how many traditional items they can get their children to learn, how many costume changes one can manage in a given arangetram, how many costumes and jewelry they can acquire on their next trip to India, etc. Lata Pada, in a recent lecture said beautifully, “Do not expect me to be a cultural babysitter for your children just because I teach them Bharatanatyam.”  It seems that this is exactly what several NRIs are hoping. Instead of encouraging their children to become dancers in the true sense (creators and practitioners of an art form whose boundaries they should push), they want to create replicas of Priyadarsini Govind or Rama Vaidyanathan so they can be happy that their children are, after all, Indian. PG and RV became experts not by following status quo but by carving their own niche. Of course, there are exceptions among NRIs such as Mythili Prakash and Bhavajan Kumar, to name a few.

Why am I now taking it out on the NRIs? Three reasons exist. I live abroad. I cannot comment about the current practices in India. NRIs have the resources to take the risk and push the boundaries. Living in a western society, witnessing art forms such as modern dance, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, opera, etc, and receiving constant encouragement to explore and experiment should foster these experiences even more. Sadly, I am yet to see examples of such. And the question, “Will the NRIs who have the resources to push the boundaries and experiment help Bharatanatyam reach new heights?” remains unanswered to me still.

Prathiba Natesan is a Bharatanatyam and Kathak dancer. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Statistics and Measurement at the University of North Texas.

To throw stones at tradition

- Subhalakshmi Kumar

If we put Bharata's vision and Bharatheeya samskara together, 'woman' is a concept par excellence. Gender difference is the law of nature even amidst other beings including plants. Each has several purpose other than procreation. By genetic constitution the variety in behaviour and ability to express them with minute details are more on the female side than on the male. This is why, probably, Bharata has referred to women while he discusses heroines, alankaras and sheels. Males need to put in more effort to bring forth such parameters of acting. Experimenting is a must but not with an attitude of challenge by one gender to the other.
- Dr. C.P. Unnikrishnan
(Dec 3, 2011)

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News & Media

NASCAR Nation goes global with Dale Jr.'s win

March 04, 2014, Stu Hothem,

Daytona 500 victory reconnects fan from Belarus with Richmond International Raceway

RELATED: BUY TICKETS | All Richmond ticket holders can walk the track
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On Feb. 23, the epicenter of Junior Nation was Daytona International Speedway as Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 56th running of the Daytona 500. But the ripple effects from the World Center of Racing were felt across the globe in the early morning hours on Feb. 24 when a connection between a race fan from Belarus and Richmond International Raceway was rekindled.

To set the stage for this international story, go back to the early 2000s as Earnhardt Jr. began his career in NASCAR's premier series. Aliaksandr Bialiayev was a young man growing up in Belarus with a passion for motorsports.

"I grew up in a very hardworking family in Belarus," Bialiayev said. "Although we have never had a luxury of allowing ourselves more than the vast majority of people in our community could, I could watch some Formula 1 races early in the 2000s, but these races were always rebroadcasted from Russian public channels. When in 2004, Belarus failed to reach an agreement with Russia regarding the rebroadcasting rights for sport events in the territory of my country, I was left with no opportunity to feed my passion."

Young Aliaksandr's father saw his son's need for speed and bought a receiver and satellite dish to bring in over-the-air German networks to watch F1 races. After waiting two weeks for a technician to install the equipment, Aliaksandr set up the system himself, learning to rotate the dish and find new channels.

One Sunday night in April 2004, he tuned in to the French AB Moteurs channel with a live broadcast of the NASCAR premier series race from Texas Motor Speedway. Elliott Sadler won the event. Six weeks later, Bialiayev fell in love when he saw his first full NASCAR race.

It was the Chevy American Revolution 400 at Richmond, won by Earnhardt Jr., and it set off a revolution in Bialiayev's world.

"This Saturday night, I was meeting with some friends of mine," Bialiayev said. "I stayed up until 2 a.m. and before I was about to call it a night, I launched my computer to check whether more sports was online."

"I remember me lying on the floor in my parents' room, watching the race with English commentary. I could understand nothing, but the whole atmosphere was pretty much amazing -- 3 a.m., complete darkness, in the middle of nowhere, people around me all sleeping and only me watching something so exciting, somewhere far (away) and in a foreign language. This was pretty much the moment when I became a fan of NASCAR."

In 2005, his family moved to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, and it became easier to find NASCAR races and follow both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series. In 2008, Bialiayev attended a university in Poland and began studying the English language. He said, "I couldn't take a satellite dish with me" so he followed races on's leaderboard. For some races, he said he avoided the Internet "for a week or two while waiting for these DVD to be delivered before I could watch them without knowing a winner."

Four years later, Bialiayev saved enough money to see a race in-person at "America's Premier Short Track."

(Courtesy: Aliaksandr Bialiayev)

"In 2012, I finally got an opportunity to realize one of my dreams -- flying over to the United States, to Richmond to be more precise -- to watch a race," Bialiayev said.

While attempting to return to his lodging after the Nationwide Series race, he became stranded at the track, 20 miles away from his hotel. A police officer set him up with a friend who was going in the direction of the hotel "because, as a racing fan, he didn't want me to miss the race on Saturday," Bialiayev said.

Before leaving the premises that night, he visited the track's administration office, where he met John Moreland, RIR's vice president of sales and marketing, and track president Dennis Bickmeier.

Bickmeier was amazed by the "courageous young man" and his story.

"I was just in shock when I first met him and heard about him making this trek to see NASCAR at RIR; however, after hearing his full story and listening about his multiple attempts to one day get here and what it meant for him to achieve this goal, he's become an inspiration to me," Bickmeier said.

On Saturday, Moreland took Bialiayev to the drivers meeting where Bickmeier introduced him, recounting the effort it took for Bialiayev to realize his dream of attending a NASCAR race.

"I told his story a couple of times on race day, including in the drivers meeting, and I got choked up," Bickmeier said. "I've told the story many times since, and still get emotional about it when I think of all the obstacles he overcame. He is an example of the passion people have for our sport, and we should never take that for granted."

Bickmeier commended Clint Bowyer, who went to Victory Lane that night, for taking an interest in Bialiayev and inviting him to take a picture with his No. 15 team.

Bialiayev recalled: "It was an unbelievable experience, standing next to Clint and another legend -- a two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip."

(Courtesy: Aliaksandr Bialiayev)

Since that 2012 fall race weekend, Moreland and Bickmeier have kept in touch with Bialiayev. So it wasn't a surprise when they heard from their friend in the early morning hours of Feb. 24. Bialiayev expressed his excitement after seeing the man who won the first race he watched in 2004 win NASCAR's most prestigious event for a second time.

"Dale Jr. came such a long way to winning his second Daytona 500 so I was extremely happy for him and his team, thus I could not resist the temptation of sharing this excitement with RIR's John Moreland and Dennis," Bialiayev said. "But I like to see other drivers succeeding as well. These incredible Cinderella stories like David Ragan's win at Talladega, Jimmie Johnson's sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship or Tony Stewart's first win at Indy in 2005 (are) what this sport (are) all about."

Currently living in Frankfurt, Germany and working in finance, the 26-year-old Bialiayev is working to "find an application for my hobby to spread (the) word about NASCAR around (to) many fans."

"I think there are millions of people who get inspired when seeing other people do great things in life, art, politics or in sport," Bialiayev continued, "so it is a normal situation (to) look up (to) the best when paving your way into becoming somebody."

Bickmeier agrees, and he knows Bialiayev isn't alone.

"I'm sure there are a lot more stories like Aliaksandr's out there that can be unlocked," Bickmeier said. "Having the distribution capabilities that we have in NASCAR allows us to build a fan base anywhere."

"This proves the old saying ‘you never know who is watching,' and in this case, a young man halfway around the world was inspired by our product, and now maybe he can inspire others."

With a NASCAR Whelen Euro Series race only a 90-minute train ride away at Nurburgring, Bialiayev is considering attending the July 19-20 race weekend at the famed German facility. But his goal is to make it back to the States and the source of his inspiration.

"I definitely plan to visit the U.S. before the season is over to see another race," Bialiayev said. "I still believe that I owe all the best experiences in my life to this evening back in 2004 when I saw a part of a NASCAR race on TV," Bialiayev said.

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Unisys Extends TASPO Relationship - Analyst Blog

Unisys Corporation ( UIS ) recently announced that it has won a contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Targeting and Analysis Systems Program Office (TASPO).

TASPO is a part of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Information and Technology. Unisys has a long-standing relationship with the TASPO and its predecessor organization over the last 15 years. TASPO provides technology solutions that empower CBP to better protect the U.S. borders.

As per the latest contract, Unisys will develop, operate and manage systems for risk assessments of people and cargo entering the U.S. The task order forms a part of the U.S. General Services Administration's Alliant government-wide acquisition contract.

The contract is estimated at $504 million and carries a one-year period and four one-year option periods.

Management is encouraged with the extension of its long-standing association with TASPO organization and will work diligently to further improve the suite of applications managed by TASPO.

In a separate development, Unisys Corporation successfully completed a project to shift nearly 5,000 users at the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to Google Apps for Government email and collaboration platform.

This transition will facilitate INL to improve collaboration among its employees through better sharing of information technology infrastructure, resources and applications. The solution also provides employees secure access to email and data in a cost effective manner. This, in turn, allows INL personnel to efficiently execute on essential work with improved system uptime and availability.

Unisys was awarded the transition project in August last year by the Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, the Department of Energy's management and operations contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory. The INL is one of the 10 multi-program national laboratories responsible for operations within the Department of Energy.

In addition, this transition to cloud computing enables INL to invest in the optimum resources allowing workers to focus better on the critical elements of the mission as well as reduce costs related to operating and maintaining its IT infrastructure.

Unisys is an information technology (IT) company that specializes in helping clients to secure their operations, increase efficiency and utilize their data centers, enhance support to their end users and constituents and upgrade their enterprise applications. Unisys is currently concentrating on business opportunities in fewer, more profitable markets in the IT marketplace, such as outsourcing, security, mobility, cloud computing, and others.

In the long run, we maintain our Neutral recommendation on Unisys. Our recommendation is supported by a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term rating of Hold.

UNISYS (UIS): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

This article appears in: Investing , Business , Stocks

Referenced Stocks: CBP , DHS , IT , UIS

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Colio Estate Wines Bricklayer's Predicament Chardonnay Pinot Grigio 2012 Wine Review

Colio Estate Wines Bricklayer's Predicament Chardonnay Pinot Grigio 2012

Colio Estate Wines Bricklayer's Predicament Chardonnay Pinot Grigio 2012

Harrow, Ontario VQA, Canada

Community Score: 4.4/5

Community Reviews: 4

  Add My Review

Price: $13.95

NOW $12.95!

(EXPIRES August 16, 2015)

Drink: 2012-2015

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: White Wine

Winery: Colio Estate Wines

Agent: Colio Estate Wines

Product: 371567

More Vintages:   Add New Vintage

Natalie's Score: 87/100

A soft, subtle white wine without a lot of acidity and subtle notes of white melon and white apricot. Dry. The founders of this winery were Italian bricklayers, thus the name. The winery is located on the shores of Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario. Pair with light seafood dishes.

Voluptuous Veal Wine

This was reviewed July 16, 2014 by

Reviews and Ratings

Nick Onischuk - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

The Colio Bricklayer’s Predicament Chardonnay Pinot Grigio 2012 features intense aromas! Apple, peach, floral and vanilla on the nose. Equally enjoyable on the palate makes this wine a great choice! (89/100) Tasted July 14, 2014
Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Heavy floral, peach, red apple, aromas. The taste is grapefruit and apricot. There's a slightly oily mouth-feel, and medium acidity. A nice wine with BBQ chicken, and this could even handle a bit of spice as well.
Heather Wall - CS; WSET Advanced rated this wine as 86/100 with the following review:

Clear pale lemon-green with pronounced aromas of pear, apple, floral, honey, flint and minerality. Wine is clean and XD. Acidity is medium(-). Palate offers some citrus zest, apple, honeysuckle and herbal(fennel).
Medium length on a stemmy, green finish.
Enjoy now with your favourite Asian Fusion dish or on the patio with crudite.
Bargain at $13.95
Tasted - July 2014

If you liked the Colio Estate Wines Bricklayer's Predicament Chardonnay Pinot Grigio 2012, you might also like these wines:

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Kilikanoon Wines Red Wine
Shiraz 2013,
South Australia ...
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Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is editor of one of the largest wine review web sites, publishing hundreds of wine reviews every week for more than 167,727 members.

She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, the second was named one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year. Get access to all of her reviews today by becoming a member of her site.

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Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

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Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a fiesty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

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Penmara Reserve Shiraz 2007 Wine Review

Penmara Reserve Shiraz 2007

Penmara Reserve Shiraz 2007

Orange, New South Wales, Australia

Community Score: 4.6/5

Community Reviews: 2

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Price: $19.95

Drink: Now

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Penmara

Agent: Vin Vino Wine Merchants Inc.

Product: 912782

More Vintages: 2009   Add New Vintage

Natalie's Score: 90/100

Vintages Wine Panel: Penmara (Pen derives from the Greek word for five; Mara is Aborigine for five fingers or hand) came into being when five family-owned vineyards joined forces in order to gain greater control over their own production, winemaking and distribution. They now need a second ‘hand’ as a sixth family has joined the group. This wine has been a popular choice since we introduced it in 2004. It is a forceful, flavourful, but impeccably balanced berry-filled wine that is a fine choice. My note: If you like excess, you’ll love this full-bodied wonder. Laced with a dark fruit core of blackberries and plums. Finishes with some mocha and espresso.

Shiraz food pairings: spareribs, rich meat pasta sauces.

This was reviewed January 23, 2010 by

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Deborah rated this wine as 95/100 with the following review:

Fantastic. Dry. Light for Shiraz

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She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, the second was named one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year. Get access to all of her reviews today by becoming a member of her site.

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Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a fiesty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

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Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
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Presenter of the National Book Awards

National Book Awards Acceptance Speeches

Adrienne Rich, Winner of the 1974 National Book Award for DIVING INTO THE WRECK

The statement I am going to read was prepared by three of the women nominated for the National Book Award for poetry, with the agreement that it would be read by whichever of us, if any, was chosen.

We, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, and Alice Walker, together accept this award in the name of all the women whose voices have gone and still go unheard in a patriarchal world, and in the name of those who, like us, have been tolerated as token women in this culture, often at great cost and in great pain. We believe that we can enrich ourselves more in supporting and giving to each other than by competing against each other; and that poetry— if it is poetry— exists in a realm beyond ranking and comparison. We symbolically join together here in refusing the terms of patriarchal competition and declaring that we will share this prize among us, to be used as best we can for women. We appreciate the good faith of the judges for this award, but none of us could accept this money for herself, nor could she let go unquestioned the terms on which poets are given or denied honor and livelihood in this world, especially when they are women. We dedicate this occasion to the struggle for self-determination of all women, of every color, identification, or derived class: the poet, the housewife, the lesbian, the mathematician, the mother, the dishwasher, the pregnant teenager, the teacher, the grandmother, the prostitute, the philosopher, the waitress, the women who will understand what we are doing here and those who will not understand yet; the silent women whose voice have been denied us, the articulate women who have given us strength to do our work.


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Published on: August 13, 2014
Photography by: The National Enquirer

The anticipated jailhouse wedding of “Helter Skelter” madman Charles Manson and his naive gal pal has hit the skids after nearly a year of engagement, The National ENQUIRER has learned exclusively.

The killer’s future mother-in-law, Melissa Burton, 47, admits she doesn’t know why her daughter, Afton, 26, hasn’t tied the knot with the infamous killer yet, but the Illinois mother of four told The ENQUIRER in an exclusive interview: “I prefer that they not get married.

“This is not the life that we chose for our daughter, by no means, you know,” said the devastated mom.

“I had other hopes and dreams for my first child, but you can’t dictate the course that they take. They choose their own lives.”

Manson spent the 45th anniversary of the brutal 1969 murders – which left seven dead including director Roman Polanski’s pregnant wife Sharon Tate – at Corcoran State Prison in California.

Afton moved to the area seven years ago to be closer to the coldblooded killer. Her obsession with the 79-year old maniac blossomed in high school when she learned of Manson’s environmental beliefs. She then began exchanging letters with him, her mom told The ENQUIRER. Afton was only 19 when she bolted from her home to be near Manson, who gave her the nickname “Star.”

“People can think I’m crazy, but they don’t know,” the defiant Manson worshipper told an interviewer. “This is right for me. This is what I was born for!”

In a haunting coincidence, Afton bears a striking resemblance to one of Manson’s most notorious disciples, Susan Atkins. Atkins died in prison of brain cancer at age 61 in 2009 while two other accomplices, Patricia Krenwinkel, 66, and Leslie Van Houten, 65, remain behind bars serving life sentences for murder.

Heartbroken Melissa and her husband Nolan, 46, were blindsided last year when their daughter told them about the engagement – leading them to suspect that Manson, a master manipulator, hoodwinked their oldest child. “My daughter is an extremely sweet and loving person, and that’s why she is in the position she is in now,” said her devoted mom.

Despite her concerns, Melissa communicates daily with her daughter, who rarely talks about Manson anymore, despite visiting him every weekend. Incredibly, fiendish Manson tried to cozy up to his future in-laws with phone calls and letters. After seven long years of being haunted by the cult leader, it seems the Burtons are adjusting and reluctantly accepting the bizarre situation out of love for their daughter.

But Melissa describes her predicament as an “extraordinary situation” because “there is really no one to talk to about it. “We love our daughter with our whole heart.... It’s not that we support everything that our children think and do, but we love them and we will always be there for them, no matter what. “My biggest prayer is that someday she’ll be back home.”


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Garofalo: 'An Allegory of Love'

Garofalo worked at Ferrara and this ambitious composition of about 1530, probably a court commission, reflects the influence of the mythological paintings sent to that city by Titian in the 1520s. Its subject is mysterious: a contrast may be intended between the two pairs of lovers. An episode in a romance involving twins is also a possibility.


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In Mississippi, Bryant Hoping To Make Obama's Day

Mississippi Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant wants to win the governor's race on Tuesday. That, and spoil the evening of another politician, whose likely level of interest in the race was overstated a tad by the Republican frontrunner on Thursday. The AP:

Bryant told supporters he imagines President Obama and wife, Michelle, watching election returns on TV Tuesday night and hoping Democrats can win the governorship in Barbour's home state. "We just need to ruin their evening," Bryant said.

Bryant, the overwhelming favorite in the race, received some help on Thursday from Gov. Haley Barbour and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

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Recession And Recovery Offer Some Opportunities To Get Out From Obama's Shadow

With Congress in the most critical legislative period of this session -- getting down to the short straws on health care reform and a cap-and-trade climate change bill -- President Obama's standing with voters looms large.

For Democrats in Congress, it is an issue of determining to what extent they want to fall in line or how willing they are to buck the administration, either from the right or the left. Most agree that Democrats are all in the same boat: that party fortunes in the November 2010 midterm elections will be based largely on how the public sees Obama and his Democratic team; whether they agree with the direction and governing agenda; whether they are seen as having helped or hurt the economy.

The White House has not effectively connected the dots with voters on the message that its actions, while extreme, have been essential.

Do individual Democrats want to be seen as totally supportive? Or might they want a wee bit of distance to point to when addressing the Lions Club back home?

For Republicans, the calculus is obviously different. There is little in the Obama agenda for conservatives to love. Indeed, for many this must seem a world turned upside down. In a half a year, congressional Republicans have gone from almost lockstep support of the Bush administration to almost equal unanimity opposing all but the least controversial matters.

But for Republicans in swing states or districts, selectively playing ball with this popular president on an issue here or there can certainly burnish one's standing with independent voters, though that risks angering the base or even inviting a conservative primary opponent.

Even for the Republicans who feel sure they want to oppose much of the Obama agenda, the question then is whether they want to simply register their opposition or to stop it in its tracks. The latter course is more risky and more popular with the base, but more problematic with swing voters.

Whether the issue is health care, climate change or anything else important, it is one thing to say, "I disagree." But is there a danger in stopping it altogether and potentially antagonizing a public that is supportive of the concepts, if not the details, of addressing health care and climate change?

There is little question that this president is popular. The latest Gallup polling shows his approval rating through Sunday at 62 percent, with a 32 percent disapproval rating.

His Gallup approval rating has only dipped as low as 59 percent three times since he took office, in each case just for one three-night moving average. Each three-night sampling is just over 1,000 adults with a 3-point error margin.

A Gallup report released Monday based on May 29-31 interviewing shows his personal favorability at 67 percent, with 32 percent viewing him unfavorably, and an overall job approval rating of 61 percent.

Gallup also examined the president's approval rating in seven areas. His highest approval rating in these areas was for foreign affairs, with a 59 percent approval and 32 percent disapproval. On the economy, 55 percent approved and 42 percent disapproved. His handling of both terrorism and the Middle East came in at 55 percent approval and 37 percent disapproval. His handling of North Korea was next, with 47 percent approval and 33 percent disapproval. Then came two trouble spots: the federal budget deficit, with 46 percent approval and 48 percent disapproval, and controlling government spending, with 45 percent approval and 51 percent disapproval.

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For Obama, the challenge is to convince voters that the recent spate of deficit spending is essential to jump-start the economy out of a deep recession and that he really had no other choice.

On this point, one thing that might have hurt Obama's case is that for obvious reasons, not wanting to cause a public panic, many key officials didn't quite explain to the public at the time how close the economy came to an economic Chernobyl last fall.

In an extraordinary interview rebroadcast Sunday night on CBS' "60 Minutes," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke came pretty close. Many insiders say that in September, the world economy was within hours of collapsing, prompting Bernanke and the Bush administration to take extraordinary actions, which the Fed and the Obama administration have had to continue to keep the economy from going over the edge.

The White House has not effectively connected the dots with voters on the message that its actions, while extreme, have been essential.

For Democrats, the calculus is trying to figure out whether Obama's spending and deficit problems with voters will be fixed, or if this is something they need to create some distance on, understanding that opposing him and putting his agenda at risk could have even greater negative implications for them.

Ultimately, they have to decide whether they are better off sharing a boat with him or taking their chances alone.

For Republicans, these numbers should suggest a path out of the political doghouse. They blew the GOP's long-standing credibility on fiscal issues, and now have an opportunity to reclaim it, steering the focus away from the social and cultural issues that contributed to their estrangement from moderate, college-educated suburban voters.

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Plutonium-Facility Construction to Proceed This Year, Despite Mothball Plans Plutonium-Facility Construction to Proceed This Year, Despite Mothball...

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Plutonium-Facility Construction to Proceed This Year, Despite Mothball Plans

The Energy Department on Tuesday said construction of a mixed-oxide plant will continue for now, though the intention is to eventually ax the project.

"We will continue with construction activities through [fiscal] 2014, retaining the key nuclear engineers and other highly skilled workers that will be needed regardless of the path forward," National Nuclear Security Administration spokesman Josh McConaha said in a statement to the Associated Press.

The Energy Department in its fiscal 2015 budget proposal said it planned to shut down work on the partially constructed MOX fuel fabrication facility in South Carolina due to the project's high cost. That announcement was met by an outcry from the state of South Carolina, which is suing to keep the project going.

The department on Tuesday said it would not continue construction of the fuel fabrication facility past Sept. 30 -- the end of the current fiscal year -- unless it receives a pledge from Congress that further funding for building work would be approved to the tune of $500 million to $600 million annually until 2027, the New York Times reported.

The facility was intended to dispose of a large amount of surplus weapons-grade plutonium that the United States agreed to eliminate under a binding nonproliferation accord with Russia.

The National Nuclear Security Administration on Tuesday released a study into alternatives for disposing of the excess plutonium. The report focused on four alternative options: irradiating the plutonium in a fast reactor that would need to be built; immobilization; down-blending and storage at an existing underground nuclear-waste dump in New Mexico; and deep borehole disposal. The latter three options would all require a supplemental agreement to be worked out with Russia.

Down-blending the plutonium with inert materials and storing it at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant offered the smallest projected price tag at $8.8 billion.

Edwin Lyman, a senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a Tuesday analysis said the down-blending option was the best alternative, due to its comparatively low cost and technical risk.

The WIPP facility, however, is not presently accepting new shipments of radioactive waste, due to an accident earlier this year that caused the release of some radioactive elements.

This article was published in Global Security Newswire, which is produced independently by National Journal Group under contract with the Nuclear Threat Initiative. NTI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group working to reduce global threats from nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.

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How to Renew as a Notary

If you are interested in renewing your Notary Public appointment/commission, this practical guide will answer many common questions. (*Note: Processes and procedures vary by state.)

When should I begin my renewal process?

The renewal process varies greatly from state to state, so it’s always a good idea to start thinking about it at least six months prior to the expiration of your current commission. You can check with your state’s commissioning authority to find out what you need to do and when.

What happens if I have breaks in my appointment/commission?

First, you will not be to notarize documents until your new commission takes effect. In most states, the renewal process is the same as it is for your first commission. Some states require first-time Notary applicants to go through a training course and/or pass a test. In some of those states you might have to attend training and pass a test if you wait too long to renew. A typical grace period might last up to a year.

Can anyone help me with the process?

Yes, there are organizations that can help you navigate the renewal process. You can check on your commissioning agency’s website or do an Internet search.

Do I have to take any courses to renew?

It depends. Several states have education and/or testing requirements. Some of those only require training and testing for first-time applicants.

How long does it take?

The time it takes to renew your commission varies greatly from state to state. Some states can process renewal applications in a matter of days or weeks. Others can take up to six months or longer. Any number of factors can affect how long it takes to renew, including agency staff levels, application volume, budget cuts and how many steps you have to go through. So it’s a good idea to check with your state’s commissioning authority well in advance of the expiration of your current commission.

How much does it cost?

Depending on the state, the cost can be less than $100 or as much as several hundred dollars.

Where can I get training if my state doesn’t require it?

A number of organizations offer Notary training. You can check with your Secretary of State’s office to see if it has a list of education vendors, or do an Internet search for “Notary education.”

What kind of equipment will I need?

You will likely need a new Notary seal. You can continue using the same Notary journal you had with your previous commission.

Will I need a bond or insurance?

If your state requires a surety bond, you will need to purchase a new bond for your new commission. The bond protects consumers who may be harmed by a mistake or misconduct on the part of the Notary by paying damages up to the amount of the bond. Depending on the state, the bond can be as little as $500 or as much as $25,000. If a claim is paid out, you would be responsible for repaying the bond company. That’s why it’s generally a good idea to also maintain an optional Notary errors and omissions (E&O) insurance policy. An E&O policy protects you against errors you make in performing notarizations.

Where can I go if I have more questions?

You should start with your state commissioning authority. They should be able to answer your questions. We are another good resource. You can reach out to our Customer Support staff at 800-876-6827.

What is the process to renew as a Notary Public?

While procedures differ from state to state, the general process to renew your Notary appointment includes:

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Knowledge Center


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Unnatural Reasoning

by Ed Whelan

If you need further evidence that our legal world is insane, consider this:

Two women, A and B, were in a committed, long-term domestic relationship when they agreed to bring a child into their relationship. B adopted a child, C, from Russia. For a number of years, A supported B and C financially, lived in the family home, and “co-parented” C, but A never adopted C. The relationship between A and B then ended, and B sought to prevent A from having any contact with C. A sued to establish parentage and determine custody rights.

Governing law states that a “parent and child relationship” means “the legal relationship between a child and his natural or adoptive parents incident to which the law confers or imposes rights, privileges, duties, and obligations.” (Emphasis added.)

Does A have a “parent and child relationship” with C?

Believe it or not, according to a ruling issued last Friday by the New Mexico supreme court, A is “a natural mother” of C. (More precisely, in the particular procedural context of the case, the court determined that the facts pleaded by A—the facts outlined above—would, if proven, suffice to establish a presumption that she is “a natural mother” of C.)

I emphasize that I have no considered view on what custody rights, if any, someone in A’s position ought to have, but the idea that the law can be twisted to classify A as “a natural mother” of a child that she indisputably has no genetic relationship with and did not give birth to strikes me as absurd (and nothing in the court’s effort to justify that result persuades me otherwise).


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Things to see & do

This section of the page features an image gallery, so if you're using a screen reader you may wish to jump to the main content.

Geocache with us

Geocaching is a great way to explore and give the kids a bit of an adventure. To give it a try, borrow a GPS from Chapel Porth car park (Easter to Autumn half-term).

Don't miss

  • The panoramic views from St Agnes Beacon
  • Exploring the iconic mine buildings at Wheal Coates
  • Strolls along the beautiful low-tide beach at Chapel Porth
  • Enjoying a hedgehog ice cream at Chapel Porth Cafe
  • Some old school prone bellyboarding
  • The annual St Agnes Bolster Festival

What's on

From barefoot walks and beach cleans to surf competitions there's a whole host of events on the coast throughout the year.

Starry, starry nights

We've teamed up with the Dark Sky Discovery Site to put St Agnes on the star gazing map.

Walk or drive to our small car park off Beacon Drive (SW 699513) and you won't need to wander far to find a good spot to settle down, get your telescope out and look up. Please wrap up sensibly for being out after dark and don't stray far from the parking area.

No telescope? No problem, there's lots to see with the naked eye.

The World Bellyboard Championships

This unique celebration of surfing culture has been part of the great British seaside tradition since the 1920s. Contributors and competitors gather in their hundreds each September to share stories, display boards, eat good things and dive in the surf.

Chapel Porth has hosted the champs since its humble beginnings, set in a dramatic landscape that has changed little over the past 50 years, providing a perfect vintage atmosphere for the champs. Everyone can enter, so why not visit our bellyboarding website to find out more?


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Malaysia - Judicial system

Malaysia Judicial System 1530
Photo by: iNNOCENt

Malaysia has a unified judicial system, and all courts take cognizance of both federal and state laws. The legal system is founded on British common law. Most cases come before magistrates and sessions courts. Religious courts decide questions of Islamic law and custom. The Federal Court, the highest court in Malaysia, reviews decisions referred from the High Court of Peninsular Malaysia, the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, and subordinate courts. The Federal Court, of which the yang dipertuan agong is lord president, has original jurisdiction in disputes among states or between a state and the federal government. The Federal Court consists of the chief justice, the two chief judges from the High Courts, and seven other judges. Administrative detention is permitted in security cases, in which certain other guarantees of due process are reportedly suspended.

The judiciary has traditionally functioned with a high degree of independence. Most civil and criminal cases are fair and open. The accused must be brought before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. Defendants have the right to counsel and to bail. Strict rules of evidence apply in court and appeal is available to higher courts. Criminal defendants may also appeal for clemency to the paramount ruler or to the local state ruler. Severe penalties, including the death penalty, are imposed for drug-related offenses.

High courts have jurisdiction over all serious criminal cases and most civil cases. The sessions courts hear the cases involving landlord-tenant disputes and car accidents. Magistrates' courts hear criminal cases in which the maximum sentence does not exceed 12 months. The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction over high court and sessions court decisions.

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Jeff Anderson

How To “Shrink Wrap” Your Abs!

Got a present for you!

Want that “shrink wrap” look around your midsection that looks like someone painted on your skin around a deep, carved 6-pack?

What if “dieting down” wasn’t the way to do it?

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(Hint: it’s actually the OPPOSITE of what a lot of people advise!)

Right Click Here To Download your free copy right to your computer.

Then, click below to go and check out 4 VIDEOS for more information on this technique.

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Go watch these 4 videos and see what I mean…

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24 Responses to “How To “Shrink Wrap” Your Abs!”

  1. ads says:

    Ya, I knew there would be something to buy after all of this. What a load of crap.

    • Mike says:

      Ah, I knew there would be a cynic in the Comments section. Upsetting, but not surprising. A more cynical comment could not have been made.

      Just wondering whether YOU, Mr. Ads (Ads-Hater?) actually HAVE a six-pack. If you do, then why don’t you start your own Web site and help some people out, as Jeff is doing?

      If not, then perhaps you ought to start spending more time in the gym than on the Internet, complaining that people like Jeff Anderson are trying to run a business and feed their families!

      If you disagree with the information he is offering – check that, if you are qualified and intelligent enough to be able to disagree with Jeff’s insights and analysis – then please step off your high horse and enlighten the rest of us with YOUR ideas about fitness. Start your own Web site; run your own business. Don’t rip people off the way you think Jeff is doing; give them the truth – for free.

      Here’s one thing I know for certain: Starving yourself is NOT the way to get a six-pack, but if Jeff Anderson didn’t run his business, and didn’t make money, then he and his family would starve.

      Let’s see you run a Web site, without ads, without selling anything, and without starving yourself as a result. Even if you have a six-pack right now, which I doubt, then you wouldn’t be able to maintain it for long if you starved. And starve you would if you gave stuff away and had no ADS.

      Yes, to have ABS, you need to have ADS. Jeff Anderson has both. And you, sir? And you?

      • Ha! Thanks for having my “6” Mike! LOL

        You’ll always have a glass is half full or glass is half empty crowd out there. Cynics always fail to achieve because they’re always looking for a reason NOT to trust someone or something. If you look, you’ll always find.

        It’s no secret how I make a living and I’m truly blessed that I’m able to help people with my words and by locating other programs I believe in that may be that little something that changes someone’s life.

        This year, I had the very best transformations of my online clients ever. The tear-filled emails of gratitude I receive steamroll over idiots like “ads”.

        Anyway…appreciate the support brotha!

        ~ Jeff

  2. john says:

    Now someone else wants to tell us how we’re supposed to look…!

    How is this guy such an expert on the male physique? Is he gay?

    Sure he has invented a program that will make you look like Brad Pitt or one of those other Hollywood clowns…so what!

    What if you want that huge BB look!

    If you really want an attractive physique look no further than the ancient greeks…be an athelete!
    Play soccer, swim, bike,run…lift heavy ass weights. Do SQUATS, Bench, DEADLIFT and Row. Do bodyweight exercises. Eat whole foods, live right and you too can look good.

    • Geez John…bit of a body issue there? 😉

      There are certainly different ways that men (and women) want to look. You may want to get that huge bodybuilder look, which I personally find disgusting. Not just because I couldn’t get there without better genetics and roids…but because it truly looks disgusting in my view.

      To me, the most defining factor in whether someone “looks” good is their abs. I’ve seen scrawny toothpick guys with no arms turn heads of women at the beach because they had a killer 6-pack. Take a look at Eddys’s picture at Kid looks AWESOME if you ask me. Fact is, the “Hollywood Abs” look is easier to obtain for those with average or below average genetics and it looks great.

      Look, if you don’t want the Hollywood look, then don’t let someone “tell” you you need it. But don’t trash someone’s program because of what YOU want, eh? There’s a whole bunch of other guys who DO want that look.

      I’m one of them! 😉

  3. ( another mike ) says:

    This is Jeff’s site- He can run ads if he wants. I’ve even bought some things off of his site ( like Tom Venutos new program) and have use Jeff’s products- good stuff. Since this is a public blog we should be allowed to comment either way though.

    I have to agree with Johns comment above. Seems like these days most people are pushing their programs by running others down.

    If you really want to see something worthy of aspiring to check out the latest Sports Illustrated- The Body Issue. Atheletes still have the most aesthetic physiques. I might be biased though since I’m an amateur athelete and have a freakin’ 8 pack beeotch!

    • James says:

      dont know if your still around mike but I really am interested on what Tom Venutos new program is like do you have a review or could you give an honest one not a hyped up guru I want your money so click here review, you can reply to this message I will visit again in a couple of days, but if you never visit this site again have a good

      • ( another mike ) says:

        I like Tom’s Holy Grail program. He has a very generous trial period if you aren’t satisfied you get a 100% refund, It’s been nearly 3 weeks for me and I won’t be sending mine back,

        I had discovered some of what Tom is saying through my own studies and trial and error but he does a really good job putting it all together and has peer reviewed research to back it up. I’ve learned some new things from him. The program is about body recomposition and is centered around periodization and cyclical dieting. He has some canned plans already written up but you can tailor it to meet your training regimen as needed.

        I’m an ecto-mesomorph but still get too fat if I try to “bulk up” and lose most of the lean mass I gained during the cut. Tom’s approach is a breath of fresh air for anyone tired of the traditional BB bulk/cut ritual.

        I’m not a BB. I’m currently at 8% BF and am looking to build functional mass for endurance sports while not gaining fat. I got his TNB workout bonus with my package. I really like how I am responding to it! Of course any new program will take your body in a different direction.

        My wife will be doing this program too. She needs to loose a little fat and his turn key approach should keep her on track.

        Tom is one of the good guys. I highly recommend him.

  4. Michael says:

    Hey Jeff,

    I imagine that since you put this on your website, that it ties in well with your programs – like Optimum Anabolics – right???

    • I’m an avid tester. I love to try new things even when they’re not my own ideas.

      The benefits of integrating fitness programs is that you get to find out what works best for you.

      I suggest trying any program for a minimum of 6 weeks to see how your body responds. Track your bodyfat readings and your measured muscle circumference for changes.

      In some cases, the other programs I tell you about will work in tandem, but not usually at the same time because my programs are so specific and detailed that there isn’t much wiggle room for changes without basically creating your own style of program (which is still cool).

      That being said, I collect fitness programs like a pack rat and look for any single tip that will raise an eyebrow for me…then I find where it will fit in my current program to give me even greater results.

      For me, I’ll spend $47 or even $97 for a program and if I find one really kick-ass tip or exercise that I feel will give me better or faster results, then that was worth a HELL of a lot more money than me spending that same money on some supplement that lasted me 1-2 months. The tip will last me a lifetime.

      Money well spent in my opinion!

      • Michael says:

        That’s great thanks. My concern was that since OA is a muscle building program, that it might ‘create’ the kind of muscle that this guy is advocating against….(I haven’t started it yet, I’m on another program right now….. I like buying multiple programs too) I would love to have more muscle, but I don’t want to be the Hulk (but it’s fine if others do), so I figured that if I would supplement OA with this one, it might give the best of both worlds (OA gives you the crazy muscle growth and this program gives you the dense, lean look)….maybe OA does the other stuff too though, I haven’t started yet 😉

  5. TPP says:

    I honestly think all this hating on Jeff is childish, you expect a grown man to put up information for you on how to get ripped for free? He has a life to lead as well, this is his workplace, respect it as you would expect your workplace to be respected. Personally I have been checking out some of Jeff’s stuff, connected to him through Lee and from his emails I think he knows his stuff. Why don’t the rest who think he shouldn’t be avertising himself check out the free stuff he has to offer then decide weather he is a fraud or not, because I don’t think he appreciates people probably half his size telling him how to bodybuild. Like Mike said, it’s about time these ‘Facebook Gurus’ start doing something constructive and back up the s*** they talk.

  6. Jim says:

    Wow, you guys are harsh! What did you think this link would lead to – didn’t you realize it was an enticement to buy something? If you don’t want to buy, then don’t buy. If you don’t agree, then don’t agree but understand that’s what all these things are- just ads to get you to buy! I have no problem with it because I understand he’s running a business – more power to him for being self-employed and earning a living from it.

  7. Richard says:

    Wow, ya, i would just hate to look like some of those over muscular guys with the hour shaped bods. How terrible. NOT!!!!!!

  8. Dave says:

    I have to back Jeff on this one. I’ve bought his programs, used them and they work. His service is also excellent, when I purchased the wrong program, he exchanged it for the right program.

  9. Chris 1 says:

    I would like to thank you Jeff for sharing Rusty Moore ideas with us.
    Not sure if I will buy it or not, but to all those out there that have something negative to say, simply just don’t buy the program. If you start to read it an its not for you, then delete it. Personally I thought it was an interesting read as it is perspective/ program that I have not seen anywhere else.
    I have purchased some of Jeff’s material, and I’ve got to say it works.

    • Thanks Chris (and Dave, and Richard, and Jim, and TPP…LOL)

      Bottom line…take the free stuff…buy what you want…don’t buy what you don’t want…return what doesn’t work…blah blah blah…

      I’ve learned to just make a choice not to let negativity to sink into my life. Guys come on my blog specifically just to try to get to me and I feel sorry for them. To live life always looking to go out of your way to trash someone else for what? To make yourself feel better? These are the same bullies from high school who stole lunch money and caught the girls’ attention by tripping bookworms in the halls.

      I leave 90% of their comments up on my blog instead of deleting them as a way for others to decide which camp they fall in. If you read these comments and identify with idiots, then you’re looking for a reason NOT to follow my advice or try a new program. Best just to click away and not come back.

      Others (like you guys) are the positive ones who find the wisdom in the words and use what you can…discard what you can’t…and are appreciative of the effort.

      Thanks y’all! Stay positive! 😉

      ~ Jeff

      Stay positi

  10. Brenda says:

    I thought the info was more informative then a lot of sites out there. He explained and shared some interesting ideas. I just got done doing a Bodybuilding contest (Figure) and I can see how this approach would work to help a lot of competitors..including myself in taking your physique to the next level.

    If you want to look huge, I can see where you could use this workout in a way to get whatever results your after.

  11. Mike says:

    Mike seems to be a common name. Dime a dozen in fact. Anyway, there not much on here I either agree or disagree with. I mean everyone is entitled to an opinion, no matter how misinformed it is. But there is one comment I cannot abide. Playing soccer?? WTH? Man I can think of 50 sports to be playing before soccer. Limeys got a lot to answer for.

  12. Shawn says:

    The link doesn’t work.

  13. anwar ali says:

    jeff da man . trying it and loving it. but was wondering if drinking more water would make it faster process

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