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The 5 biggest questions and 5 players to watch as Alabama opens spring practice
Updated Mar 07, 2019; Posted Mar 16, 2013
Alabama Coach Nick Saban cheers players in drills during the Crimson Tide's BCS Championship football practice, Thursday, January 03, 2013, at Barry University's soccer fields in Miami Shores, Fla. (Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com)
By Andrew Gribble | agribble@al.com
-- It's here.
Sixty-eight days since Alabama wrapped up its third BCS National Championship of the past four seasons, the Crimson Tide will take to the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility fields and open spring football.
The Crimson Tide's 15 practices will be spread over a month and four days. It all culminates April 20, when Alabama hosts its annual A-Day spring scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Over the past nine days, we've been breaking down Alabama's nine position groups. If you missed any or all of them, here's another chance:
H-backs/tight ends
Within each of those previews, we asked a question and highlighted a player or two who are facing a significant set of spring practices. In what we hope is our final preview of spring football, here are our "top five" from each of those categories.
1. Who will get a jump on the competition for two wide open battles for starting positions on the offensive line?
2. Who will win the backup job behind
and ultimately be in the driver's seat to start in 2014?
3. Who among the redshirt freshmen and other part-time contributors from 2012 will help fill the void left by three departing regulars on the defensive line?
4. With short-kick specialist
Jeremy Shelley
gone, how will Alabama assign its responsibilities for field goals and extra points?
5. Who will replace
and who will be the answer at an H-back position that wasn't as involved in the passing game as it's been in previous years?
Top 5 to watch
1. TE/H-back
O.J. Howard
- "Howard says he models his game after NFL tight ends
Tony Gonzalez
. If he's able to give Alabama a quarter of what those all-pros gave their teams, he'll be one of the top true freshmen in the nation. First, of course, he has to earn a prominent role."
2. WR
Chris Black
- "Alabama coach
repeatedly said that Black would have been a significant contributor in last year's offense, and that same belief permeates as the Crimson Tide prepares for 2013."
3. CB
- "By the end of his freshman year, he was Alabama's "star" -- the extra defensive back on the field for nickel and dime packages. Smith was the target of
Nick Saban's
stern, on-field tutelage through the first couple of months of his Alabama career, but he didn't buckle. He's in a good position now because of that."
4. OL
- "If he can maintain his health for an extended stretch of time, that will only increase his chances of starting alongside his brother this season."
5. S
- "A highly touted five-star, Collins embraced his role on special teams last year and was one of the team's leaders in special teams tackles. Unless something unexpected happens, his role promises to expand in 2013."
Follow @Andrew_Gribble


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Snjatyn ( ; ; ) är en stad i Ivano-Frankivsk oblast i västra Ukraina. Snjatyn, som för första gången nämns i ett dokument från år 1158, hade 13 867 invånare år 2015.

Referenser

Externa länkar

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Städer i Ukraina
Orter i Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

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How Can I Write About Sustainability When the World is Imploding?
I have been trying to figure out what to write next for quite some time. I like sharing our travel stories and information we've learned about farming, sustainability, permaculture and food. No, actually, I love it – especially when readers respond with wonder, advice and gratitude. It makes me hopeful; like we are actually doing something meaningful and good.
But the world, it seems, is coming apart. Yes, in our global information age we see and hear more about conflict in far off places more immediately than ever before. And yes, for centuries we have had war, idiotic politicians and the trampling of human rights as the ignorance and arrogance of the powers that be wind themselves through shadow and light. But these times feel different, more dire and more lopsided.
Maybe it feels so dire because I am more mature and I now allow myself to care more deeply. Perhaps I just have too much time on my hands and I should go out and get a job. (Or stick my head in the sand.) Or maybe, we as a human race have reached a nadir in our humanity – where we care more about our own comfort, security and proximity to power than we do about what's right or just.
Regardless of the answer, I remain angry, despondent and feeling silly and impotent. How can I write about canning tomatoes or developing patience or even about food programs in urban centers when innocent people are being repressed, maimed and killed? Does it matter if I convince middle-class people to buy organic produce from a farmers market when millions of people are starving? What is the point of blogging about climate or food awareness when the last weak-kneed legs of our "free press" have been rounded up in parking lot corrals?
I keep coming back to the same dilemma: How do I work on the Good Foot Project's sustainability objectives when the problems of the world are so critical?
When I moved in with JC, he shared his plans to build a garden in the southeast corner of the yard. We staked out the dimensions and then broke out the pickaxe, as the grass that covered the nearly 300 sq ft plot needed to be removed roots and all.
I went to work on the patch each weekend. It was slow going. It took me a long time to figure out how to wield the pickaxe effectively and the grass had been there a long time with deep, deep roots. But each time I went out there, I just focused on a little square and did the best I could. Eventually, the grass was cleared. We added topsoil and we laid in brick for the walkway. JC built a fairy-tale fence using old limbs trimmed from the avocado and oaks trees on the property. We laid out a garden design on graph paper and then dug furrows. Planting the seeds was kind of anti-climatic, but when the first shoots came up I was ecstatic. We took to walking through the garden each morning to check on the babies and pull weeds. We built a tripod like structure for climbing beans and cucumbers. We peppered a few rows with tomato cages. Over the summer, the garden matured. At parties and BBQs, guests would always wander out to the garden to marvel at its slightly wild beauty. Toddlers invariably plucked cherry tomatoes and we pulled baby carrots from the ground. One mother even remarked "Is THAT where carrots come from? I had no idea!" Don't laugh, I had no idea how eggplant and broccoli grew until I planted them myself.
We shared tips and seeds with friends who subsequently started gardens of their own. We started a melon patch beneath the avocado tree. Which then became a brassicas patch. We made lots of mistakes and we probably could've achieved higher yields, but we loved it like a member of the family.
We held our wedding in the backyard and the garden became our thematic centerpiece. From the invitations and the parting gifts to the vows and the communal table, sharing the garden became a physical manifestation of our values, our love and our passions. I'd like to think that our garden inspired others to grow food at home, or at least to think a bit more about where their food comes from, but even if it affected no one else, it was lovely, therapeutic and nourishing for us. It gave us insight into organic food – it was the second year of our garden when we stopped shopping for the cheapest produce and started searching out the cleanest. And the garden was an important cornerstone of the Good Foot Project.
But what if we did influence a few others? And what if that helped create a ripple effect so large that eventually everyone with a patch of ground grew food instead of landscaping? And if they then shared their harvests with their neighbors, wouldn't that actually make a real dent in food insecurity and malnutrition? (In fact, a UN report asserts that the only way to fight global hunger is to re-establish the prevalence of the small holder farm.) An upswing in home farming could also decrease the amount of chemical run-off poisoning our water sources, reduce the amount of fuel used to transport produce over vast distances and perhaps even starve Big Ag into rethinking its relationship to petro-chemicals and reliance on salt, sugar and fat in food processing. Maybe, we could even build stronger communities in which the economically and emotionally disadvantaged feel supported and connection, generosity and compassion are rewarded.
And all of that started with me taking a pickaxe to a tiny patch of grass?
We launched the Good Foot Project in March 2013 with a fundraiser at a gallery in Downtown Los Angeles.
Most of the time, I feel like we are in a bubble and none of the things we are doing to promote sustainability are actually achieving anything. I mean, if I'm careful about my water consumption but every other person on my block is watering their driveways and taking 20 minute showers, what difference does my small action make? If I choose to buy only pre-owned clothing but thousands of people are buying cheap goods produced by slave-labor, am I changing anything at all?
The truth is, I have no idea. I have no idea how many people are watching, reading, or listening; seeing how easy it is to conserve water; awakening to consciousness outside of the dominant culture; or being inspired to plant a vegetable garden. We have no idea how our actions ripple outward. More importantly, to reassert our humanity, we must do what is right even when no one is watching.
I cannot go to Gaza and convince both the Israeli and Hamas leaders that bloodshed is not the way to achieve their objectives. I cannot lead a peaceful surge into the northern reaches of Nigeria to rescue the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram. I cannot force even a single cop in Ferguson or New York or Los Angeles to practice compassion and earn respect from the communities they patrol.
I can however try to make people aware of issues I care about, especially food-related climate change. I can join public relations campaigns to pressure leaders to make better decisions. I can use my buying power to purchase food from local family farms, soaps from pollution-conscious companies and sweat-shop free clothes. I can make a micro-loan on Kiva and completely change one person's life. I can become more informed on the issues facing my community and VOTE.
I can also practice the compassion, generosity, justice, nurturing and kindness I want to see in my community. I can make changes in my own life that bring me closer to my values even while some of these may make my life less "convenient." I can continue to decrease my carbon footprint because I believe it's necessary and the right thing to do.
In fact, climate change is the most-urgent issue of our time; for if we fail to stem its effects, the earth may become uninhabitable and all other issues become afterthoughts. Climate change is a social justice issue, a human rights issue, an equality issue and a race issue for when extreme climate events occur, those most vulnerable to its effects are the poor and disenfranchised.
And what is our best tool to combat climate change? Is it new legislation? Regulation? Voting climate deniers out of office? Actually, it's resistance. Practiced by regular folks like you and me.
The one bright spot in his model? "People or groups of people" who "adopt a certain set of dynamics that does not fit within the capitalist culture – environmental direct action, resistance taken from outside the dominant culture, as in protests, blockades and sabotage by indigenous peoples, workers, anarchists and other activist groups".
Sure, resistance works best when well organized, but real change starts with you, the individual. The first step is a change of heart or mind. Then the hands, feet and wallet follow.
If you have made it this far, I hope you will take it upon yourself to do what you can to resist the dominant culture that tells you to buy more and keep to yourself. Instead, promote peace, kindness and compassion wherever and whenever you can. We need to flood the world with good, to use our global connectedness to help where help is needed, to reassure both the despairing and ourselves. We need to do what we can, in whatever small ways that we can, to reassert our humanity – to send a message, not only to the powers that be, but to our neighbors as well.
You don't have to change your whole life, just step a little outside of your comfort zone. Do things that you love consciously and share them with others.
It all starts with you. Doing good is contagious.
Throughout the GFP expedition, we've met people from all over the world dedicated to supporting sustainable food systems and doing what they can to change the world. The crew at Root n Roost Farm in upstate New York was a prime example.
Find a farmers market near you Spread the good word!
8 Responses to Sustainability – Does It Matter?
I love everything you said in this post.
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. These comments mean so much to us!
Thanks, Anastasia. A very elegant and earnest appraisal of the dilemma millions of people face as they work toward creating a sustainable world in so many diverse and often unpublicized ways. In the context that you have so well articulated, it is important to remember that the world that is imploding or exploding is a world born of human constructs that have dominated life on the planet for centuries. But another "world" and its intrinsic truths are far older and resilient to man's modern desire to control all aspects of the universe, the Creation, and so it is that they will be here long after our generation of humans is gone and in ways, as Tolstoy suggests, that we cannot assume or begin to measure. So all we can do is take the gift of our life each day and put our hearts and hands to the journey and tasks before us knowing that we have more friends and supporters than the mainstream news feed would have us believe. That said, peace and good power to you and JC. And thanks for the Good Foot Project Blog.
Thank you for reminding us of the power and resiliency of Creation. This is a key perspective that is sorely overlooked in my article. Not only is it stabilizing to put these times into perspective vis a vis the millions of years of life on Earth, it's reassuring to note that the planet is not just the setting for the drama of climate change but an actor in it as well. We may have yet to see Creation's most amazing adaptations.
Perhaps we should embrace the emerging faces of the world instead of fearing them. Massive changes in climate may well institute a much-needed correction and produce new beauty, an expansion of bio-diversity and a catalyst for transformation in humanity.
Thanks again for the perspective. We look forward to hearing more about your journey and experiences. Please keep us updated!
What a great article. I grew up w/ a vegetable garden at my parents house. As an adult who loves to cook, I noticed the difference in taste of store bought veggies. Last yr. I planted my first vegetable garden myself. What a great feeling of satisfaction. Your article opened up my mind to things like the local farmers markets etc. you are a gifted writer and have many valid points. I love watching the adventures that you and JC have on FB. Thanks for your eye opening article. God bless you.
Please let me know if there are any topics in particular that interest you or questions that you might have for our organic farmer friends. We'd love to share some experience and knowledge that will help those of you growing food at home.
There are loads of resources to assist the home grower online and in books, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming.
Let us know how we can help and feel free to send us some pix of your garden. We'd love to share with others!


Escape The Fate have rocked the alternative scene for over a decade now, and with five full-lengths under their belt, they aren't about to slow down. From the band's latest record, Hate Me, comes a new music video for "Breaking Me Down," a heavy ballad that speaks to mental health and self-preservation. In this brief interview, vocalist Craig Mabbitt explains the important message of the video and shares that even with a long music career already behind them, ETF still have a lot left to do.
Was this song written with a particular person or situation in mind?
Songs of this nature can always start off with someone specific in mind and end up being about numerous individuals and situations. Every member and listener ends up taking it to heart in their own way. I've seen fans say this track helped them get over an ex or it helped them through getting over a friend who kept doing them wrong, and I think all those different interpretations of the track is what makes it special.
What made you decide to turn this song into a music video?
The vision of the song was to have a video for it from the get go, so I'm happy we had the opportunity to do so. The video is not about someone's mother specifically, but we thought it would depict someone who's the closest to an individual (a parent and a child) and the child picking up all the slack and just can't hold his mother up anymore if she herself doesn't wanna fix it, which is what the song is essentially about—you can't help someone who refuses the help.
What can we expect from ETF in 2017?
New music, new tours, more shows, more fun! Come join us!
You've had a long career and your sound keeps evolving with each record. What would a next record sound like?
I have been blessed to be able to do what I love and continue to do it. As far as the sound for the next album, I can't really say. It's always evolving and we surprise ourselves sometimes once we are in a room writing together.
What do you think is left for you guys to do that you haven't done yet?
Everything! We never want to settle because we are always looking forward and up, and that's how you continue to achieve your goals. So we haven't done nearly enough yet.
What would you say to someone who is currently going through the types of things that you confront in your new video?


The Work Description Of Different Car Dealers Owning a car comes with different responsibilities and advantages to different people. Cars are highly classified as luxurious commodities in some least developed countries and as necessities in the most developed countries. The make and class of car that you want will greatly determine the price of that particular car. We can either choose to purchase new cars or second-hand cars which will help us to move without difficulty to and from places. A person's ability to buy a particular make or model of car will rely on his or her income and total expenses for different months. When buying a new or second-hand vehicle, you should be careful enough to consider different factors like the condition of the car, its fuel consumption and the car dealer that you are in business with so that you get best deal ever. Car dealers are mainly those people who specialize in selling both new and used vehicles at different business levels that largely depend on the type of dealership contracts they have with different sales subsidiaries or automakers. Other services that are offered by different car dealers include; carrying out the sale of spare parts, processing warranties and maintaining cars for their clients. The most renowned types of car dealers are; the bad credit, community and the high pressure dealers. Community car dealers can be described as those types of dealers who mainly focus in developing their businesses with the help of their trusted clients and will make sure that they safeguard their reputations by meeting needs of their trusted clients. If you are a high pressure car dealer, you will have to do your level best in order to conduct the sales of your cars using transparent strategies and tactics. Managing to attract customers in their shops and convincing them to buy different products, acts as the main goal of a high pressure dealer. As a high pressure car dealer, you will have to use the switch and bait method, deposit request strategy, decoration technique and four-square strategy to convince potential clients to buy your commodities. Most bad credit vehicle dealers focus on targeting clients with bad credit. They always act by taking advantage of different clients by coming up with high interest financing while providing additional services to clients so as to generate profits. You should be observant and careful when deciding on the type of car dealer that you want to get into business with. Genuine car dealers will hook you up with some of the best cars at considerably fair prices. Those car dealers who offer some of the best genuine cars in the market will be able to sell cars that are easy for clients to maintain.


Take Dumbo and Dr. Dolittle and mix the two stories together and you get Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. The story peels off the page as Jacob Jakowski, now into his nineties, begins to see his young adult life through a nursing home window; where a circus is being constructed across the street. As Jacob daydreams back to his old life, he is reminded of the death of his parents and his life-changing choice to join he circus as the official veterinarian for the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.
But this story is much more than a boy's experience of traveling with the circus; it's a journey of his heart. As Jacob becomes more entangled with the inner workings of the circus, he quickly discovers the darkening secrets that lie beneath the Benzini Brothers. Water for Elephants fills each page with reverting emotions that are often bypassed by other writers. With a twisted love, The Great Depression, a Polish speaking elephant, all portrayed through the misty memory of a old man, Gruen leaves you lost in the 1930s waiting for the next live performance. Step right up ladies and gentleman and experience the deepest expression of passion of all . . .


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Consumer Products & Retail News
US STOCKS-Wall St muted as Apple overshadows positive trade deal cues
By Medha Singh, Devik Jain
(For a live blog on the U.S. stock market, click or type LIVE/ in a news window.)
* Medtronic, J.M. Smucker rise after results
* Best Buy warns of slowing sales growth, shares fall
* U.S. consumer confidence hits six-year low
* Indexes dip: Dow 0.30%, S&P 0.05%, Nasdaq 0.15% (Updates to open)
Aug 25 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes slipped on Tuesday following a three-day rally as a drop in Apple shares overshadowed optimism from remarks made by U.S. and China officials in pledging firm commitment to a Phase One trade deal.
The benchmark S&P 500 opened at a record high as the news eased some concerns that the deal could be on shaky ground. Investors also anticipate the centerpiece event of the week - an annual conference of U.S. central bankers where Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak.
"Both countries believe it's in their interest to cut a deal and are making noise that they don't want to let political concerns to interfere with the trade and also disrupt the world economy," said Christopher Grisanti, chief equity strategist at MAI Capital Management in Cleveland, Ohio.
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq logged new closing highs on Monday, boosted by signs of progress in developing treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. The benchmark index surpassed its pre-pandemic high last week even as recent economic indicators signaled a bumpy recovery from the virus-led downturn.
A survey from the Conference Board showed U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly fell in August to hit a six-year low.
Among stocks, Salesforce.com Inc, Amgen Inc and Honeywell International Inc climbed between 2.9% and 5% on news they would join the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average index on Aug. 31.
Cloud computing heavyweight Salesforce.com is also expected to report second-quarter results after markets close.
The three companies will replace Exxon Mobil Corp, Pfizer Inc and Raytheon Technologies Corp, which were down between 1.4% and 1.9%.
Apple Inc slipped 1.7%, set to snap a five-day winning streak and weighing heavily on the three main indexes.
At 10:08 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 85.39 points, or 0.30%, at 28,223.07, the S&P 500 was down 1.85 points, or 0.05%, at 3,429.43. The Nasdaq Composite was down 17.34 points, or 0.15%, at 11,362.38.
The healthcare sector, which got a lift from Amgen and Medtronic shares, as well as economically-sensitive financials and industrials, outperformed among the major S&P sectors.
Medtronic rose 3.7% after the company said demand for medical devices was improving as elective surgeries picked up pace while it posted a plunge in first-quarter profit.
J.M. Smucker Co jumped 8.3% after the Folgers coffee maker raised its forecast for fiscal 2021 adjusted profit.
Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co Inc fell 7% as it warned sales growth may slow in the coming weeks.
Advancing issues matched decliners on the NYSE and outnumbered them by a 1.27-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.
The S&P index recorded 21 new 52-week highs and no new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 38 new highs and 12 new lows. (Reporting by Medha Singh and Devik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Bernard Orr)

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Of all the recipes in my cookbook and on this blog, this Crab Fettuccine Alfredo is the one that is always requested for birthdays and special events. Tender and fresh fettucine noodles, loaded with delicate crab meat and creamy flavor, it never disappoints!
I've tweaked the process slightly from previous versions, and the result is so rich and creamy - and lightened up just a bit!
This cooks up so fast that it really works best if you have two people cooking - one working on the sauce, the other cooking the fresh fettuccine noodles. Better make that three - you'll need someone to guard the crab meat from sneaky snitchers!
This wonderful family favorite cooks up in minutes, and one that I'm sure your family will love too.
I was looking around for an easy crab alfredo recipe. This takes very little time to prepare and it comes out delicious. Instead of the imitation crab meat, I used lump crab meat with this recipe. I tried it with both Philly-style cream cheese and whipped cream cheese. The Philly cream cheese came out smoother and a little creamier. This recipe is a definite keeper!
So glad that you enjoyed this recipe! We LOVE lump crab meat and cook with it every chance we get! We crab lovers need to stick together!!


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'Struggling' Jessica Eye 'begging for help' following Staph infection, surgery
I don't know much about the personal life of UFC flyweight Jessica Eye or how she ended up alone in this situation, but I do know that if "Evil" is turning to Twitter for guidance at one of the lowest points of her career, then she must be in a pretty desperate place.
For anyone who hasn't been there I can assure you, it sucks.
"It is now Sept. 1 and I am in need of help," Eye wrote on Twitter. "I am not sure where to turn right now with what to do next. I feel the doctors took out my organ and just said, 'Figure it out.' I am struggling deeply to eat, feel good, and get back to any type of physical activity. I don't know what to do anymore and I feel I am inadequate to get myself through this and be able to return to normal life and the Octagon! If anyone can point me in directions to get help, I am begging. I just don't know what to do now and I don't want to just give up."
It's been a rough couple of months for the "Evil" flyweight.
Health issues contributed to her bungled weight cut ahead of UFC on ESPN 10 back in June, which preceded her five-round unanimous decision loss to the once-beaten Cynthia Calvillo. The end result was gall bladder surgery, which also left her with Staph infection.
"I missed weight, devastated, mortified, repulsed by myself and to others [it] just looked like I didn't care [about] my opponent or my career," Eye continued. "Post-fight I would face many challenges within my team. The opinions of what I need to do moving forward would drive me away and push me deeper into this sad and lonely place. I just felt like I was dealing with something different than everyone else and no one understood."
Eye, who turned 34 back in July, has won four of her last six and remains ranked at No. 5 in the division, so clearly the "Evil" veteran still has plenty left in the tank. Hopefully the team at UFC Performance Institute can help Eye get back on track, or at least refer her to someone who can.
BERITA HIGHLIGHT MOTOGP JEREZ 2020 HARI INI MINGGU 26 JULI 2020
Williams contract signed, Pitaluga bid submitted, Heskey warns Klopp over lack of business
Auger-Aliassime Signs with Adidas
UFC 260 odds: Brian Ortega opens as betting underdog for Alexander Volkanovski title fight on March 27
[ad_1] Frank Lampard's position remains precarious at Chelsea and he is now the favourite to be the next Premier League boss to be sacked. The
Michael Chiesa defeat Diego Sanchez ahead of UFC Fight Island 8
Le Double J News – Actus MotoGP – HVR – FIRST ON TRACK
Lightning ready for season opener despite shortened camp, no preseason games
Frank Lampard admits Chelsea were 'beaten by better team' following Leicester defeat as pressure mounts on Blues boss
Calgary Flames Need to Be More Disciplined if They Want to Stay Hot


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WHAT IS SPIRIT MEDICINE?
Spirit Medicine is a healing modality created by Australian naturopath Omanisa, a unique blending of First Nations and Eastern wisdom with naturopathy and neuroscience that helps people feel lighter and brighter!
Recover from the after-effects of trauma
Navigate life-changes, relationship endings and loss
Build resilience and adaptability in the face of stress and hardships
Develop mindbody self-awareness rather than tuning out and self-numbing
Understand & resolve your inner conflicts so you can stop sabotaging yourself
Improve your self-care skills and reduce a tendency to self-harm or self-neglect
Discover the hidden psychological and emotional issues affecting your health
Learn how to use mindfulness and meditation to heal yourself and feel happier
Use natural remedies to compliment your medical healing journey
Learn how to use your imagination to heal and balance yourself
Release Ki blockages and develop Ki-mastery
May you savour the good times and good company with lightness of heart, and weather the inevitable storms of life with graceful grittiness and good humour, emerging all the wiser and stronger for the journey.
~ a blessing from Omanisa and the Welcome Swallow
The naturopathic element in Spirit Medicine is a return to the nature-therapy principles naturopathy was originally founded on – natural whole-foods, herbal medicine, exercise, sunlight and fresh air, i.e. time spent outdoors in Nature. Om specialises in using Spirit Medicine to modulate the nervous, immune and endocrine systems, using herbal medicine and therapeutic techniques inspired by PNI (psychoneuroimmunology – the connection between personality, behaviour, the nervous system and the immune system) and Neurotheology (spiritual neuroscience – the effect of spiritual practices on the brain.)
Spirit Medicine is a deeply creative approach to healing, counselling and spiritual mentoring that often appeals to artistic, imaginative, nature-loving people. Omanisa delivers her therapy and counselling sessions via story-telling, the visual arts, metaphor and guided imagery… and she often prescribes homework that has a creative element to it
Spirit Medicine draws on the wisdom of cultures who practise mindfulness, martial arts, breathing techniques and healing methods based on the cultivation of an invisible lifeforce energy known by many names in many different cultures… you might know it as Chi or Prana. Om refers to this energy as Spirit or Ki. Om teaches her clients and students how to harness and balance their Ki through breathing and mental exercises such as mindfulness.
"I first met Om around 8 years ago and to say she changed my life is an understatement. Through her perspectives and healing she allowed me to really see and feel things that I had trouble recognising and processing. Over the years I have been back a couple times when I feel like I have lost my way and I always leave feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. I always gain the courage to face things with fresh eyes and an open heart and can honestly say that she brings out the best version of me, when I need myself most. Thank you Om, you have no idea how much I grow every time I see you"
Omanisa was born in a beautiful desert town in the centre of Australia called Alice Springs and Mparntwe (pronounced m'barn-twa), land owned and cared for by the Arrernte (pronounced a·ruhn·duh) people, the traditional owners of this land.
Om was raised by elders whose worldview was shaped by their friendship with the indigenous First Nations people of central Australia and their spiritual love for the land.
At the age of 14, Omanisa began training herself to enter visionary trance states. Two years later, a visiting American Indian shaman took her on a vision-quest….
Learn more About Om
"I can highly recommend Omanisa as a truly gifted healer who has made an enormous impact on my life. Omanisa is a treasure as she is deeply connected to Spirit and works to untangle the invisible and to repair what needs to be repaired. Best of all she always does this work compassionately, and gently. I am blessed to have found Omanisa. Do yourself a huge favour and contact her."
Om delivers her Spirit Medicine modality via three avenues: private consults, therapeutic resources which are available in the shop, and her "Shadows into Light" Group Coaching Journeys, which include Practitioner Training apprenticeships and Visionary Retreats.
Omanisa has written and self-published a range of therapeutic card and book sets, including the Aura Cards and the Spirit Guide Oracle Cards. She also has a range of chakra tonics/kits and aura sprays which are slowly being added to the shop.
All Services are available both online via Zoom and onsite at Om's clinic. Our time zone is ACST (Australian Central Standard Time) and our booking system automatically calculates the time difference so you can book in your own time zone.
These group coaching journeys teach you how to harness the power of Spirit Medicine for greater mental clarity, peace of mind, and emotional calm. Learn how to release blocks, overcome self-sabotage, heal yourself and access your intuitive wisdom, or become a Spirit Medicine Practitioner!


On Wednesday Night, September 28, the teen group served at the Denver Rescue Mission - The Crossing. Over the course of two hours, the teenagers cleaned a children's play area and sorted books for the children's library. This event serves as a part of the T.E.A.M. (Teens Engaged in Active Ministry) program which is a core of the Beth Eden Youth Ministry. Through this event, our teenagers continued to learn the joys of serving others.


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Home » Questions and Answers » Stalin and Hitler
Stalin and Hitler
In February you gave a message saying "a new light shall break upon the earth", 3 and just after that [on 5 March 1953], Stalin died. Does this signify anything?
That would truly be a small result. The death of Stalin (unfortu- nately not any more than the death of Hitler) has not changed the present state of the world. Something more than that would be necessary. For this is like the assassin who is guillotined: when his head is cut off, his spirit remains behind and is projected outside him. It is a vital formation and it goes and takes shelter in one of the benevolent spectators, who suddenly feels a criminal instinct in himself. There are many men like that, specially very young criminals who when questioned have acknowledged this. They have been asked: "When did this desire to kill come to you?" and the frequent reply is: "It got hold of me when I saw so-and-so executed."
So, this is of no use, the death of this one or that other. That does not help very much — the thing goes elsewhere. It is only one form. It is as though you did something very wicked with a particular shirt on and then threw away your shirt and said: "Now, I shall no longer do harm." You continue with another shirt on!
If life has been converted into death, why doesn't it itself die?
Because it protects itself well. What you say is quite true, but it takes good care not to incarnate on earth. And in the vital world there is no death, it does not exist there. It is in the material world that this exists, and it takes very good care not to incarnate.
Was Stalin predestined to be what he was?
But he was possessed. He was rather mediocre by nature, very mediocre. He was a medium, a very good medium — the thing took hold of him, besides, during spiritism s ́ eances. It was at that moment that he was seized by those fits which were described as epileptic. They were not epileptic: they were attacks of possession. It was thus that he had a kind of power, which however was not very great. But when he wanted to know some- thing from that power, he went away to his castle, and there, in "meditation", there truly he invoked very intensely what he called his "god", his supreme god, who was the Lord of the Nations. And everything seemed to him magnificent. It was a being... it was small — it appeared to him all in silver armour, with a silver helmet and golden plume! It was magnificent! And a light so dazzling that hardly could the eyes see and bear that blaze. Naturally it did not appear physically — Hitler was a medium, he saw. He had a sort of clairvoyance. And it was at such times that he had his fits: he rolled on the ground, he drivelled, bit the carpet, it was frightful, the state he was in. The people around him knew it. Well, that being is the "Lord of the Nations". And it is not even the Lord of the Nations in its origin, it is an emanation of the Lord of the Nations, and a very powerful emanation.
If it chooses to disappear, would that be a loss of power for the Divine?
What? What are you saying! Disappear where? What do you call disappearing? — Disappear where? You know the story of the Ramayana. What did Ravana choose? You know that? Very well, this is what is called choosing to disappear: that is to say, he has no longer any individuality.
What happened to Ravana after his death we are not told.
We are not told? To me it has been told. It is said that Ravana chose to disappear into the Supreme, and that he was com- pletely dissolved in Him, that is, he lost his individuality, he was no longer a separate being, he returned to the Origin, he was dissolved in the Supreme. And even before doing it, he had chosen to play that part, his part as a hostile being, because the road is much shorter than for those who are devotees and obey. One goes much more rapidly, for, one day, the Divine decides that it is enough, and he just destroys them. He cannot go out of the Divine, for all is divine! He may lose his individuality, that is, may be fused, dissolved into the Supreme.
Besides, nothing disappears, it is the form which disappears but the constituent elements continue. Everything is eternal, for everything is the Divine, and nothing can go out of the Divine, for everything is divine. But the forms disappear. And it is through this identification with the form that the impression of death comes; but the constituent elements are eternal, for all is eternal. It is the form which disappears.
So, some of those beings prefer to be just completely dis- solved and to disappear totally like that, into the infinite, the oneness (that is, they lose their personal consciousness, they have no longer any personal consciousness, they exist no longer as a personal consciousness), they prefer that, rather than having a personal consciousness which gives itself to the Divine and becomes by this very fact consciously and personally immortal. They like dissolution and personal disappearance better than conversion, that is, self-giving.
Through pride, I suppose. It is always pride. Fundamentally, from the very beginning it is pride — but almost all the religions have said it. It is pride, that is, a sort of consciousness of one's power and one's importance.
You said that these four emanations were parts of the Supreme. Then how can they have another consciousness than His?
Another consciousness? But there is no other consciousness! The very principle of emanation is an objectivisation of a part of himself, which potentially keeps the qualities of the emana- tor. But if this emanation is made (as they were made) with a will to give freedom of choice, as I said, these emanations can either follow that freedom and independence or continue to keep the connection with the emanator, for there is a freedom of choice. That strength and force which they hold in themselves is quite sufficient to give them the impression of their importance and power. If they themselves, of their own will, choose not to remain in contact, in a relation of surrender to the Supreme, if they choose to use the amount of power and consciousness and force they contain in themselves to do what they must do independently, by that very fact they cut themselves off from their source — but in spite of that the constituent elements of their being are those which belonged to the Source. And it is because of this that, even if they cut themselves off voluntarily, there is in the very depth of the consciousness a link which is indestructible. It is the link of identity. But in the outer mani- festation, as they were emanated with this essential quality of freedom of choice, well, they are free to choose to do this or that. That is why, even in the worst criminal, there is somewhere in the depths, somewhere, the divine light. I believe you have read that passage of Vivekananda where he says (I don't know the exact words), that the criminal must be told: "Awake, awake, being of light, and shine forth!"
Just a while ago, when I told you I shall narrate the story to you as one does to children, that is precisely because I narrated it as if it were a material story. And narrated thus, it becomes a child's story. But these things must be seen in their own domain, which is a spiritual domain and not a material one. Things do not happen as they would here.
But still, yes! What happens here is symbolically the same thing, in the sense that the child who is born is nothing else but a little piece of his mother, even materially, altogether materially, for during almost... completely during a few hours, about two days, and to a lesser extent though still very perceptibly during at least two months, this link of substance is so great that it feels really like a physical material prolongation of herself, but outside herself. That is just the element of emanation. Well, this does not prevent children, when they grow up, from becoming quite independent of their parents and at times completely differ- ent, but at the source, at the beginning, it is the same thing. It is simply the same matter, absolutely the same, simply exteriorised, that's all.
And for the emanations, it is the same phenomenon, but instead of being on a material plane it is on the highest spiritual plane. And what happens here is a symbol of what happens up above.
Well, doesn't it ever occur to you to say: "How is it that this child whose father and mother are so good, so honest, so generous, so truthful, how is it that he is such a rascal?" You may wonder at it, but it does not seem anything impossible. So, this is the same thing. Fundamentally, all depends on the inner constitution of the being. There are no two beings who are exactly alike; there are no two constitutions which are the same. And all depends on the inner organisation, the integral organisation of the being, on the order in which the elements are organised and what their inner relation is — even as the external form differs because the cells are not organised in the same way. But as this is a phenomenon you constantly see, in the midst of which you are born, which you see every day, it seems quite natural to you. But it is the same thing. It seems quite natural to you that a child is different from its mother and father — and yet this is the same thing. And in an emanation of the Supreme, to begin with, one part is necessarily different from the whole, though it may potentially contain the whole, but the whole is not expressed. And as the whole is not expressed, it is perforce different from the whole, for the inner organisation is different. There then, I think that is enough.
We have almost touched philosophy.
Au revoir , my children.
Questions and Answers 25 November 1953
‹ Questions related to the subconscious and the fate after death up The psychic being and individual development ›


Vice President, agronomist and oenologist of Ferrari Winery, founded in Trento in 1902 by Giulio Ferrari, Ferrari Winery is Italy's leading producer of Metodo Classico sparkling wines. Since 1952 the Lunelli family runs the company with excellence as guiding principle. All vineyards are grown with sustainable methods at high altitude in the Trentino mountains.
The Carapace of Tenuta Castelbuono is the architectural sculpture created by Arnaldo Pomodoro as a shrine to hold the precious great wines of Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco. The project, whose roots go deep down into a long and venerable past, is a tale that started in 1902; it is the story of a dynasty of entrepreneurs, the Lunelli family, my family. Beginning with the Ferrari Winery in our native Trentino, we have pieced together a group of excellence in the winemaking sector, whose creations are renowned for their high quality and strong bonds with our areas of origin. Won over by the numinous land of Umbria and by a wine as powerful and with such a long cellar life as Sagrantino, we bought the Castelbuono vineyards, located between Bevagna and Montefalco, in 2001 and launched into a new winemaking undertaking.
Here was born the idea to involve Arnaldo Pomodoro and I remember it as a very special moment; it was 2004 and my family invited the great sculptor, my father and uncles' friend, to design our winery.
They tasked me as the oenologist of our family to join in support of Maestro Pomodoro, a revered figure of modern sculpture and a person of considerable worldwide fame, from the inception of the idea to its realisation. I wasn't particularly familiar with his work then, so I didn't immediately realize the opportunity that had been given to me; for it was a door that opened to another world.
On one of our first journeys we visited the surroundings of where the wine cellar was to be built as well as museums and churches of the area. We walked through the meadows and vineyards, smelled and tasted the Sagrantino wine, acquiring all the possible sensations of the place and taking in the spirituality of a territory that is the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi.
I was, and still am, stunned by the intellectual freshness of a man who was almost 80 years old.
While we were driving home in the middle of a hot and muggy July, I turned my eyes to Arnaldo and I saw him strangely absorbed and meditative. It was after lunch so I asked him if he wanted to stop for a while and rest. He interrupted me and told me that he was, right there and then seeing, as in a true enlightenment, a vision; he was visualising the shape of our future cellar. I immediately sensed the magic of the moment.
He looked at me with his eyes full of childish wonder, mixed with the wisdom of those that have "caught the bigger picture" and, while putting his palms against each other with fingers displayed like a spider, he said: "Marcello, this is what our winery should look like: a shell of a turtle, born from the strength and energy of Mother Earth. This shell (the palm of the upper hand) will guard a treasure, the wine, protecting it until its birth and its subsequent presence throughout the world".
In that instant, the "Carapace" was born.
It is the only sculpture in the world in which people work, live and produce wine. And I was there, as a privileged spectator, unaware of the "miracle" taking place.
At first I didn't completely understand of the complexity of Maestro Pomodoro's narrative. A few days later the first ink drawings of the idea of the 'turtle' were born, which since then have never changed, and in which you can now admire as Tenuta Castelbuono, the property of our family in Umbria.
A magic moment, mine and mine alone, that made me realize how some people see things that us mere mortals are not given access to. I often think about this episode as the existence of the "magic touch", and I truly cherish the memory deep in my heart.


Since 2016, we intend to give a nice memory of Ramadan to orphans and reinforce their feelings of fraternity and unity by organising Childern Iftar Meals.
On 17th June, we welcomed 500 guests including childern and mothers within 2. "House of Goodness Childern Iftar meal" at Bosphorus Mansion. We prepared many entertaining activites such as air toys, swing, face painting, clown, painting and origami stands, cotton candy for childern. We witnessed their happiness with many volunteers. Although there was a light rain in the end of the event, we were very happy to hear the sentence "This day was beyond our dreams" from our little guests. We thank to the authority of Bosphorus Mansion for the place, to the Uskudar Municipality for the meal and travelling, to our benefactors for organisation costs, and to our volunteers for their effort with enthuisiasm, sincerety and care.
On 28th June, we started our day by buying Eid clothing for childern in company with our volunteers and went to Gazanferaga Medresseh which had been decorated earlier for our 2016 Childern iftar meal. The event started with face painting activity and continued with playing with clown. We have send our little guests to their houses after giving them our little memory gifts.


Do I really need a lawyer for what I want to do?
Odds are, yes. If nothing else, it makes good sense to consult with an attorney about what it is you are interested in pursuing. And why wouldn't you? The consultation should be free of charge. In fact, just to be on the safe side, you might want to make sure that's the case before scheduling the initial consultation. If a lawyer wants to charge you before knowing whether he can even be of service to you, that should concern you. However, some attorneys can justify charging for an initial consultation, depending on the specialty of the attorney and/or his or her practice area. For example, an immigration lawyer being consulted about obtaining a work visa may rightfully charge for an initial consultation because the immigration lawyer knows that he will be able to provide the advice and guidance necessary to obtain a work visa, regardless of the client's situation.
How do I find the best attorney for what I want to do?
Nowadays, there are so many resources available to the consumer in need of legal services. First, ask around. Ask friends, relatives or colleagues (whose judgment you trust) if they know of a good lawyer. You do the same thing with doctors, don't you? You might also want to check out www.martindale.com That website provides a directory of attorneys and even goes so far as to rate them based on their experience and interaction with other attorneys in their industry. Martindale regularly polls attorneys to rate others with whom they've interacted with. Also, you can always try to do a Google search based on location – if, in fact, convenience is a factor in your decision to find the right attorney.
Which is best: Young Attorney vs. Old Attorney?
Unlike medicine, where doctors coming out of med school may be learning the latest and greatest techniques using recent breakthroughs in medicine and technology, the law is a bit more old school. It doesn't change radically very often. And there are rarely new ground breaking techniques or legal strategies that would make younger attorneys the better choice, but not all younger attorneys should be avoided. An attorney who has experience with handling a specific type of matter is much better than one who does not have any experience in that area. Would you go to a foot doctor to treat a sinus infection? Of course not. So, why would you want to go to an attorney who may have dabbled in a specific field, such as handling a home purchase, if you were then interested in buying an office building. The fact is that there are so many differences between the two matters, but a lawyer who advertises that he "handles real estate transactions" may fool you into believing that his experience in one area (i.e., residential home purchases) is sufficient for him to handle a matter in another area (i.e., commercial real estate). Most likely, the ordinary consumer of legal services will not know how vastly different 2 types of transactions (such as the residential vs. commercial example I've used above) may be. So, when you inquire about an attorney's experience, be very specific. Following my example, ask the attorney whether he or she has handled the purchase of an office building before and, if so, how many has he or she handled and how long ago did he or she last do so. You don't need to know every facet of the law to weed out the good attorneys from the bad ones, but you do need to use a little common sense. Odds are that older attorneys have had at least some experience handling exactly what you need done. He or she may come at a higher hourly rate, but would you rather pay the higher rate of an attorney who knows what to do than a lower rate of an attorney who may spend hours trying to figure out what to do? Don't get me wrong. There is a time and a place when a young attorney may be useful. Ideally, a young lawyer who works hand in hand with a more experienced lawyer is what you may need. Why is that? The reason is quite simple. Even some of the most complicated transactions will involve work best suited for a lesser experienced attorney, and you wouldn't want the experienced attorney who comes with a high billable rate to be spending time on that type of work – that's where the younger, less experienced lawyer comes in handy.
How much should a lawyer cost?
There are many factors that will affect the cost of a legal matter. Let's start with geography and the cost of living. Suppose that you need to have a will drafted. Who do you think will charge you more? The lawyer who works in downtown DC or the one who works in the suburbs? Which one do you think has higher expenses (such as rent, payroll, parking, overhead, etc.) to run his or her practice? Clearly, the one who works in the suburbs can charge you less because his own costs of operating a law practice are less than the costs of operating a law practice in downtown DC. The trade off though – is that the downtown DC lawyer may be a bit more experienced in handling more sophisticated matters than a suburban lawyer. The solution? Find a suburban lawyer who once practiced in downtown DC, but later decided to make the move to suburbia. I spent the first 20 years of my legal practice at a 400 person, mega-DC law firm (Dickstein Shapiro) before deciding to make the move to suburban Maryland. And there are so many other attorneys at Shulman Rogers who started their careers at bigger, downtown DC law firms, like Shaw Pittman, Morgan Lewis, Sidley Austin and Skadden – just to name a few – before moving to the suburbs. The type of legal matter will certainly determine whether the cost of the lawyer would be high or low. Using the previous example – clearly, needing a lawyer to help you buy a house won't cost you nearly as much as a lawyer to help you purchase an office building. And the same would hold true with a will. A simple will won't cost much when compared to an estate needing trusts and tax shelters set up to minimize adverse tax consequences during the inheritance. And, if you need a lawyer to handle a deal or resolve a dispute between you and another person, that person's attorney can have an indirect impact on your own cost of a lawyer. Think about it. Let's suppose that you are trying to raise money to start a new business and one of your investors hires a lawyer to review the paperwork. If the investor's lawyer is very practical, he or she may only feel justified in negotiating parts of the contracts containing some of the most significant concerns that his or her client may have. If, on the other hand, the investor's lawyer doesn't have many other clients keeping him or her busy, odds are that the investor's lawyer will spend more time than is reasonable and practical to protect his or her client's most significant concerns. I will never forget the time when I had to deal with opposing counsel who wanted to negotiate every word, every line and every paragraph in the contract – arguing over the most ridiculous things and seeking to address the most unlikely of events. That would be perfectly fine if his or her client was paying an agreed-upon price for the legal work, but more likely than not the investor's lawyer was charging by the hour. The more time he or she spends on the paperwork, the more time your own attorney will need to do so as well. That's why I rarely agree to represent a client on a matter if I know opposing counsel has a bad reputation for being impractical. Get the drift? Many law firms not only charge for their lawyer's time spent working on a matter, but also charge for certain overhead costs – like secretarial overtime, food (if the lawyer needs to work through lunch or dinner), travel expenses, photocopying, file storage, faxing and the like. While it is not unusual for a law firm to pass along some of these costs to you the consumer, just make sure that the firm is not marking up and making a profit on what should really be just reimbursements for out of pocket expenses.
Good lawyer vs. bad lawyer. How can I tell the difference?
Unless the attorney you have selected is one who came highly recommended from a trusted friend, relative or colleague, you may not be able to tell the difference between a good attorney vs. a bad attorney until it is too late. As a lawyer myself, I have dealt with hundreds of lawyers over the years. Usually, I can get a good sense of a lawyer's aptitude, ethics and experience within the first few minutes of speaking with him or her. The odds of a lay person being in a position to make a similar determination are slim. Don't get me wrong. You might be a very good judge of character, but there are certain telltale signs in the legal profession that speak volumes about an attorney. Here are just a few to keep in mind: Is it easy to schedule an initial consultation with him or her? Odds are that the good attorney is booked solid a few days out. Within the first few minutes of the initial conversation or consultation, does he or she ask you what you want in the way of results from his involvement? A good attorney should, at a minimum, want to know the client's goals and expectations before undertaking the representation. Has the attorney mentioned an approximate cost or a range of cost for the work he or she is being asked to do? This goes hand in hand with the prior inquiry on knowing a client's expectations. If an attorney knows that a client is expecting to get a $50,000 recovery for his contract dispute, he or she should also know up front what the client is willing to pay the attorney to obtain that result. My suggestion: Think about a friend, relative or colleague who you has had some success in business generally and get a few recommendations from him or her. Even if the recommended attorney may not be the right fit for you, odds are that he or she will know of another attorney who would be!!! Over the years, I have developed a significant rolodex (alright – admittedly I'm showing my age – I guess I should say "Contact List") of trusted friends, colleagues and advisors in a variety of industries and professions. I frequently get calls from them inquiring about referrals – along the lines of… "My brother wants to adopt a child." Or "My sister has a nanny who is an immigrant who needs to apply for a work authorization?" Do you know of an attorney who can help? Are those matters that I can handle? No way. I will be the first to tell you that I am not qualified to handle such matters. However, I may work with colleagues or know reputable attorneys who are not only capable and qualified to handle the matter, but also well-respected leaders in the industry on that particular matter. So, if you happen to get introduced to a lawyer or an attorney whom you know and trust – even if he or she doesn't do the type of legal work that you may need handled – don't let him or her go. Use him or her as a resource and referral source to help you find the trustworthy lawyer who is well-versed in the legal work you need him or her to handle.
Finding The Right Lawyer – Generalist vs. Specialist?
Would you go see a brain surgeon simply because you had a headache? Probably not. If the headache lasted for a few days, you might be a bit concerned and go see a regular doctor, but you would not go running to a specialist like a brain surgeon. What if you decided that you were ready to get laser eye surgery? Would you be comfortable having the eye doctor from Hour Eyes or Pearl Vision Centers perform the surgery? Again, probably not. The same holds true with legal work. There are many things that a lawyer need not have much experience to handle properly. Likewise, there are legal matters that an inexperienced attorney should not get near – even with a 10 foot pole!!! Take, for example, buying a house. Most lawyers have taken a class on "contract law" in law school. And buying a house is nothing more than negotiating and closing on a contract to purchase a home. Sure, there are real estate title and finance aspects to the home purchase that an experienced lawyer can usually handle blind-folded, but representing a client who is buying a home, with a little research, is not very challenging for a lawyer. So, odds are that the solo practitioner who considers himself a small town lawyer can get the job done for you. If, on the other hand, you are interested in purchasing new market tax credits, historical tax credits or transferrable development rights (or TDRs), it would be downright foolish to hire the solo practitioner to get the job done for you. Why? Well, quite simply, new market tax credits, historical tax credits and TDRs are very specialized areas of the law. Some attorneys may initially learn the ropes from a mentor, but it would still take him or her years of handling such transactions in order to become well-versed in the specialized area. Can a solo practitioner work on a new market tax credit deal? Of course. However, do you really want to pay him or her by the hour to do enough research and review enough case studies to get the job done with minimal fallout? I wouldn't think so. That's the benefit of a specialist or someone who has developed a niche. From an ethical perspective, attorneys can't market themselves as specialists or experts, but that doesn't mean you can't find one who has developed a niche in your needed area of the law. I have had some people refer to me as a specialist when it comes to government contract finance. It is true that I have, for more than two (2) decades, handled billions of dollars of loans, credit facilities and other structured finance transactions for banks, government contractors and others who do business with the government – probably beating out more than 95% of the attorneys in the Washington, D.C. area – being the hub of government contracting – but that lends itself to mean that I have just developed a niche in government contract finance. I can't hold myself out as a specialist. When I wrote about my transaction experience with respect to the Assignment of Claims Act, that seemed to have attracted a lot of attention in the government contracting sector. Even though the article is several years old (and written by me when I was at my old firm), it still is factually accurate to this day and seems to have become popular reading among others in the industry. Here is the link to that article.
So, how much should it cost me to close a government contract finance transaction?
As you might imagine, I get asked this question quite often. A properly documented credit facility of $2 million or less (which oftentimes can be documented using bank form documents) may run only a few thousand dollars. Quite a bit depends on the complexity of your own company's situation and the financing needs that it may have. I have documented credit facilities in which there is just one lender and one borrower – which is usually the simplest structure, but also potentially more risky from a credit perspective because the company's business (i.e., all of its eggs) are in one basket. And I have handled numerous transactions involving one lender and multiple borrowers (usually a main holding company and its operating subsidiaries or its affiliates), as well as multiple lender / multiple borrower credit facilities – where we would frequently serve as counsel for the lead bank or lender in the transaction. Throw into the equation that the credit facility may not be a simple revolving asset based loan, but may also include a term facility and a sub-limit for letters of credit – and then you could easily see legal fees for the loan closing to run anywhere from $35,000 to $75,000. Add an opposing counsel who feels the need to prove his or her worth and you will find the legal bill gets even higher.
How much should it cost to close a real estate transaction?
With almost one-third of the 90+ Shulman Rogers' lawyers practicing some facet of real estate law, it is not hard to imagine that this question gets asked most often. Before the right answer is given, I do need to distinguish between a commercial real estate transaction and a residential / consumer real estate transaction. Most residential / consumer real estate transactions involve buying or selling a home, or refinancing a mortgage. Putting aside the out-of-pocket costs and expenses, most home purchases, sales and mortgage refinances can be accomplished for less than $2,500 in attorney's fees. Not only do the costs rise exponentially for a commercial real estate transaction, but so do the legal fees. Commercial real estate transactions can be relatively straightforward or they may be structured in a sophisticated manner that may serve to minimize taxes, reduce exposure for liabilities or effectuate a succession plan, among other things. Clearly, the time and effort required of an attorney for commercial transactions is substantially more than what may be required of an attorney for a residential transaction. On average, a commercial real estate transaction can be closed for as little as $7,500 in legal fees. The average legal fee for a commercial real estate closing is in the range of $17,500 to $35,000. Again, there are many factors that can impact whether a commercial real estate transaction would end up on the low end of that range or the high end – be it difficult opposing counsel, convoluted structure, adverse property conditions or complicated title issues, just to name a few.
How do I know if I have found the right lawyer for me?
First and foremost, ask him or her how much experience he or she has in the particular field of interest. Fair warning, many lawyers will be so quick to say that they "have handled plenty of these transactions for clients". Don't be satisfied with that answer. Ask for references. Second, make sure that your lawyer is not doing all of the talking. A really good lawyer listens intently to his or her client. Why? Because a lawyer who does not really know what his or her client wants or needs is a lawyer who will not serve you well. The lawyer may be really good at what he / she does, but maybe you don't need the Rolls Royce of service when a Chevrolet can get you to the same place in the same amount of time. A really good lawyer will know which car to pull out of the garage for his or her client – usually after the first client consultation – but again, if the lawyer is doing all of the talking during the initial consultation, find yourself another lawyer. Third, be very wary of the lawyer who promises big returns for you or who represents that he or she will easily get you a great result. That is not something a lawyer can or should do.
What do I do if I have a complaint about a lawyer?
If you feel like a lawyer has taken advantage of you, did something ethically wrong or questionable, engaged in conduct that leads you to question the lawyer's integrity, or seemed otherwise unfit for practicing law, you can do something about it!!! Depending on the severity of the conduct or behavior, it might be enough to call up the managing partner of the firm where the lawyer is employed. Managing partners hate getting calls about an engagement or representation gone bad. At best, it may end up costing the firm some money to rectify the situation. At worst, it can expose the firm to significant liability or a malpractice action. If the managing partner happens to be the wrongdoer, or if the wrongdoer is a solo practitioner, then your best bet is to file a grievance or complaint with the state bar association. Find out what state the lawyer is licensed in, and then contact the bar association of that state. State bar associations actually set aside funds to compensate victims of improper lawyer conduct. You may be entitled to some of those funds!
Should I expect my lawyer to be responsive?
Absolutely! In this day and age, with cell phones, laptops and PDAs, you should be able to reach your lawyer 24/7. Whether you should do so is a different story altogether. At some point during the last 25 years, practicing law changed from being a profession to providing a service. Service providers (particularly in the DC metro area) are a dime a dozen. If a lawyer does not provide great customer service, the client should rightfully find a new lawyer – one who appreciates that the client does, in fact, have a choice and, therefore, can demand the best customer service money can buy. I make it a point to get back to every client or prospective client within a few hours of receiving their voicemail or email – even if my message back to him or her is "Hi there. I received your message. Can it wait until [the morning]? Or is it something urgent that requires my immediate attention?" In some locales, where competition is not as stiff among lawyers, you might find it more difficult to get a hold of a lawyer at a moment's notice and demand his or her immediate attention. However, in most jurisdictions, that is not the case. The responsiveness of an attorney may also be reflected in his or her diligence in getting the legal work done for you in a timely manner. See the next inquiry and response.
How long should it take my lawyer to complete the work?
This is a loaded question and ranks right up there with "how much should a lawyer cost?" More often than not, a lawyer has some reasonable ability to control the amount of time it takes to handle a legal matter from start to finish. The type of matter has lots to do with how long a matter may take. If you hire a lawyer to resolve or litigate a dispute, whether the court system ends up being involved will certainly have bearing on the time it takes to complete. Some court systems have "rocket dockets" – very fastpaced scheduling systems that may move a case along from start to finish in just a few months. Other court systems are terribly backed up and if you factor in an appeal of a decision, you could be looking at years for a matter to be completed. If you hire a lawyer to handle a home purchase or loan closing, odds are that the matter will take anywhere from 30 to 90 days to complete. Some types of transactions have regulatory requirements and timetables that might further delay the completion of a matter. For example, if two competing businesses have agreed to merge companies (or one competitor has agreed to buy out another) and they also meet or exceed certain thresholds, then the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act requires that the merger be stalled for a certain period of time (typically 30 days) to allow certain agencies of the federal government sufficient time to determine whether the merger would violate antitrust laws. With respect to getting a matter completed quickly, the anomaly that a client faces on a regular basis is as follows: the client is typically not the only current client of an attorney, and typically the really good attorneys have so much business to handle at any given point in time that it makes it highly unlikely for a really good lawyer to have enough time available to complete your matter quickly. However, it may be that the good lawyer is incredibly effective at time management or happened to have a lull in his or her workload. If you find a lawyer who has completed a matter for you quicker than you even imagined it would take, consider the possibility that the lawyer may have cut corners to get the matter completed sooner than he or she should have.
What is a conflict of interest and why should I be concerned about it?
A conflict of interest should not be taken lightly. What is it? It is a situation in which the lawyer you hire or want to hire can't or shouldn't represent you for one reason or another (that I will explain shortly), but oftentimes as a result of having multiple interests where one primary interest can be affected by a secondary interest. Sometimes, conflicts of interest can be waived without issue. Before you proceed to waive a potential conflict of interest, you should ask your lawyer whether he or she feels confident that he or she can represent you and/or continue to do so to the best of his or her ability without reservation or qualification. A conflict of interest is difficult to define in the abstract. It is much easier to understand using examples. Let's suppose that a married couple decides to get a divorce. The husband hires John Smith – Attorney at Law. The wife calls up John Smith – Attorney at Law – and asks him to represent her in the divorce. Can John Smith – Attorney at Law – represent both the husband and the wife in the divorce proceeding? No. There is no way for John Smith – Attorney at Law – to zealously represent the husband and the wife at the same time. Their respective interests are adverse to one another. In some cases, a conflict of interest can be waived. Most often, a conflict of interest can be waived if the matters representing the parties are unrelated to one another. Using the divorce example, let's suppose John Smith – Attorney at Law – represents the husband in the divorce case. The wife engaged her own lawyer to represent her. A year later, the wife decides to call up John Smith – Attorney at Law – and wants to hire him to assist her with the purchase of a home. Can he do so? Probably. Although he had previously represented her husband in the divorce proceeding, John Smith – Attorney at Law – should be able to represent the husband's ex-wife at a later date in connection with the purchase of her home because the original divorce proceeding and subsequent home purchase are unrelated matters. And, in all likelihood, the information that John Smith – Attorney at Law – may have learned about the wife during the divorce proceeding will likely not impede or adversely affect his ability to zealously represent the wife. However, many conflict of interest situations are not as clear cut as the example I used – so be vigilant and give serious consideration to any request to waive a potential conflict of interest. Lawyers will probably cringe with this tidbit of advice to clients and potential clients: There are so many lawyers in the world – so if there is the slightest chance that a conflict of interest might exist and it might potentially have an adverse effect on you being properly represented, go find yourself another attorney.


text:
package me.shoutto.sdk;

import java.util.List;

/**
 * Contains data which is used to update the Shout to Me user.
 */

public class UpdateUserRequest implements StmEntityActionRequest {

    private List<String> channelSubscriptions;
    private String email;
    private String gender;
    private String handle;
    private String phone;
    private String platformEndpointArn;
    private Boolean platformEndpointEnabled;
    private List<String> topicPreferences;

    /**
     * Gets a list of the channel IDs for all channels the user is subscribed to
     * @return The list of subscribed channel IDs
     */
    public List<String> getChannelSubscriptions() {
        return channelSubscriptions;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the list of channel IDs which will replace the existing user's channel subscriptions
     * @param channelSubscriptions The list of channel IDs
     */
    public void setChannelSubscriptions(List<String> channelSubscriptions) {
        this.channelSubscriptions = channelSubscriptions;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the user's email address
     * @return The user's email address
     */
    public String getEmail() {
        return email;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the user's email address
     * @param email The user's email address
     */
    public void setEmail(String email) {
        this.email = email;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the gender that will be sent in the update user request
     * @return The gender
     */
    public String getGender() {
        return gender;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the gender that will be sent in the update user request. There is no enum for this
     * value as client developers can specify values based on their organization's conventions
     * @param gender
     */
    public void setGender(String gender) {
        if (gender == null) {
            this.gender = "";
        } else {
            this.gender = gender;
        }
    }

    /**
     * Gets the user's handle
     * @return The user's handle
     */
    public String getHandle() {
        return handle;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the user's handle
     * @param handle A string that represents the user's handle
     */
    public void setHandle(String handle) {
        this.handle = handle;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the user's phone number
     * @return The user's phone number
     */
    public String getPhone() {
        return phone;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the user's phone number
     * @param phone The user's phone number
     */
    public void setPhone(String phone) {
        this.phone = phone;
    }

    public String getPlatformEndpointArn() {
        return platformEndpointArn;
    }

    public void setPlatformEndpointArn(String platformEndpointArn) {
        this.platformEndpointArn = platformEndpointArn;
    }

    public Boolean getPlatformEndpointEnabled() {
        return platformEndpointEnabled;
    }

    public void setPlatformEndpointEnabled(Boolean platformEndpointEnabled) {
        this.platformEndpointEnabled = platformEndpointEnabled;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the list of topics that the user is following. If a user is following topics, they will
     * only receive notifications for topics in the list.
     * @return A list of topics
     */
    public List<String> getTopicPreferences() {
        return topicPreferences;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the list of topics the user wishes to follow. This list will replace the list in the
     * Shout to Me system.
     * @param topicPreferences A list of topics
     */
    public void setTopicPreferences(List<String> topicPreferences) {
        this.topicPreferences = topicPreferences;
    }

    /**
     * Returns the status of whether the current object contains the minimum required data for
     * the request and if that data is valid
     * @return true if the current object contains valid data
     */
    @Override
    public boolean isValid() {

        return !(channelSubscriptions == null
                && email == null
                && gender == null
                && handle == null
                && phone == null
                && platformEndpointArn == null
                && platformEndpointEnabled == null
                && topicPreferences == null);
    }

    /**
     * Convers the current object to an {@link StmBaseEntity} object
     * @return A {@link StmBaseEntity} object with non-null properties set
     */
    @Override
    public StmBaseEntity adaptToBaseEntity() {
        User user = new User();

        if (channelSubscriptions != null) {
            user.setChannelSubscriptions(channelSubscriptions);
        }

        if (email != null) {
            user.setEmail(email);
        }

        if (handle != null) {
            user.setHandle(handle);
        }

        if (phone != null) {
            user.setPhone(phone);
        }

        if (platformEndpointArn != null) {
            user.setPlatformEndpointArn(platformEndpointArn);
        }

        if (platformEndpointEnabled != null) {
            user.setPlatformEndpointEnabled(platformEndpointEnabled);
        }

        if (topicPreferences != null) {
            user.setTopicPreferences(topicPreferences);
        }

        if (gender != null) {
            User.MetaInfo metaInfo = new User.MetaInfo();
            metaInfo.setGender(gender);
            user.setMetaInfo(metaInfo);
        }

        return user;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Unique meteorite hints at Mars' oxygen-saturated past
4 Jan, 2013 00:17
Designated Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034, and nicknamed "Black Beauty," the Martian meteorite. (Image from nasa.gov) © NASA
Experts have discovered a unique meteorite from Mars which contains ten times the amount of water and far more oxygen than any other Martian samples found on earth.
The sample found in the Sahara Desert in 2011 is now called Northwest Africa 7034. Known among the scientific community as a "Black Beauty," the baseball-size rock is estimated to be 2 billion years old. It's the second-oldest known Martian meteorite that formed from a volcanic eruption. Similar volcanic rocks examined by the NASA Martian rovers Spirit and Opportunity, also found water-bearing minerals.
Around 65 Martian meteorites have been found on our planet. They fell on earth after a large asteroid impact. One of the oldest found, Allan Hills 84001, is more than 4 billion years old, some experts believe it contains traces of ancient bacteria. About half a dozen Martian meteorites are 1.3 billion years old and the rest are 600 million years or younger. The newly discovered specimen scientists believe came from the Gusev crater on Mars.
This NASA panorama image released November 26, 2012 shows a mosaic of images taken by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on the NASA Mars rover Curiosity while the rover was working at a site called "Rocknest" in October and November 2012.(AFP Photo / NASA)
Water saturation analysis, which was published in Science Journal, found that the amount released during heating was small – only 6,000 parts per million – but still ten times more than other Martian meteorites. Scientists speculate this resulted from interaction with water near the surface during a time when the Red planet was mostly dry and dusty. Tests for oxygen isotopes also came out much higher than other Martian rock. Scientists say this suggests Mars once had reservoirs of oxygen in its crust.
Experts are now trying to determine how long the object floated in space and how long it was sitting in the Sahara. Further discoveries scientists hope will aid their understandings of the geology currently being explored by NASA's Curiosity rover.
This NASA image released November 26, 2012 shows Martian rock called "Rocknest 3" (AFP Photo / NASA)
Rover ready to roll: Curiosity begins search for life on Mars
Year on ISS planned ahead of manned Mars mission
Mars discovery, or screw? NASA rover spots 'bright object'
Bacteria from Siberia capable of living on Mars – study


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ISPS HANDA World Invitational Goes Global With Entries From Over 30 Countries
New World International Event For Northern Ireland in 2019
ISPS HANDA World Invitational Men | Women, Presented by Modest! Golf Management
Twitter/Hashtag: @World_Inv_Golf #WorldInvitational
Website: worldinvitational.golf
In less than eight weeks a little bit of history will be made when the ISPS HANDA World Invitational, presented by Modest! Golf gets under way at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort where men and women will compete alongside each other and for equal prize money.
The World Invitational is a first of its kind event in Europe and organisers have paved the way to create this exciting new international tournament where competitors from over 30 different countries have already registered to play.
The event formerly known as the NI Open, and the best attended event on the European Challenge Tour, will now see some of the best professionals from the women's game also compete over two venues, Galgorm and Massereene Golf Club.
Key names already registered to play include those featured in the top 10 of the Ladies European Tour (LET) money list with the promise of more to follow. There will also be a strong representation from Australia and Asia with further announcements in the coming weeks.
Germany's Olivia Cowan will feature at the World Invitational and will look continue her good form this season. The 23-year-old finished tied third in Thailand last Sunday to add to the handful of other top 10s recorded earlier in the season.
Cowan's compatriot Laura Fuenfstueck, Sweden's Lina Boqvist and India's Diksha Dagar are inside the top 10 on the ladies' European money list and will be on show at Galgorm from August 15-18.
"We have created the opportunity for women to perform on the same stage as men and compete for the same prize fund," explained Niall Horan, owner of Modest! Golf. "I am delighted so many women professionals from around the world have already seized the opportunity to compete in the new World Invitational."
Modest! have been involved in tournament golf at Galgorm for years. "We wanted to create something different, something unique, and with the help of ISPS HANDA we've achieved that through the World Invitational," added Horan.
"Our company ethos is simple; we are trying to grow the game and to look out for the next generation of player. We achieved that in the men's game with the hugely successful NI Open and now we have provided a wonderful opportunity for women professionals to compete alongside the men.
"With such an exciting new format and a packed schedule of events planned for tournament week, including live music acts and more, we continue to help grow the game and attract new audiences.
"I've said it before, but I actually think this is a bigger day for European golf than we think," enthused Horan.
Other women players listed to compete at Galgorm include prolific winner Trish Johnson, who has won 27 times on tour and has played Curtis Cup. The English golfer has won around the world and will look to make her mark in Ireland.
At the other end of the spectrum, England's Annabel Dimmock is making great strides in the early stages of her career. The 22-year-old won this season's Jabra Ladies Open with rounds of 69, 69, 68.
"We are delighted to be partnered with ISPS HANDA who have an international reputation for supporting golf around the world," explained Mark McDonnell, Modest! Golf Director. "This is such an innovative event which presents a unique opportunity for fans and supporters to come and watch the very best players from both the men's and women's game.
"The home crowds will also get the chance to see one of their own stars Leona Maguire compete on home soil. Leona is managed by Modest! Golf and though she is competing mainly in the States this season, she cannot wait to compete in front of home crowds at Galgorm."
Maguire will be joined by the fellow Irish player Stephanie Meadow who will also make the trip across the Atlantic to tee it up in the $500,000 event.
"We are delighted to bring a professional women's tournament back to Ireland after so many years without one. The World Invitational promises to be a great event and now spectators will get the chance to witness the stars from both the men's and women's games," added McDonnell.
Tickets for the World Invitational are already selling fast. Advanced ticket sales can be made at worldinvitational.golf where spectators can take advantage of the early bird offers and be part of another exceptional week for Irish golf.
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