While posting this article to my blog page today, it became clear to me that this topic had to be the focus of an article. Over the past few weeks I have been even more motivated that usual to get the word out about the connection between birth trauma, infantile colic and fussiness, and trouble later on life with neuro-developmental disorders such as hyperactivity and autism spectrum disorder. Too often the past few weeks I have read case history after case history on our new patients that could have been prevented had these children had chiropractic care and intervention early in life.
It obviously hits home for me, knowing that having adjustments and care immediately is the major reason why my son Oliver is the amazing and perfect little boy he is today! Were it not for chiropractic, my son's development would have never left the medical world and he would have been down the same road so many of our patients are. I will always work hard to help care for children who are suffering from these issues, but I strongly feel the bigger impact will be stopping more from going down that road in the first place!!! The old saying that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is as true as can be.
In the article on MSNBC no mention was made of why the researchers thought this correlation was found… why it started… or how it could be prevented? None at all. Instead their take home message was – Early Screening. Reading between the lines and knowing the history of psychiatry, what this really means is a new market for drugs like Zoloft, Ritalin, and Prozac. Rather than address the cause, if they have their way eventually "the research" will show that more and more kids need to be drugged earlier in life. In their world, one day you will be able to buy Similac "enriched" with Ritalin. It is disgusting and alarming that they can be that clueless.
The brainstem is directly responsible for control of the Autonomic Nervous System which regulates functions such as sleep, immunity, and digestion. This is the primary reason why these children have sleep difficulties, weakend immunity (ear infections), and digestive issues such as reflux and constipation. An infant struggling with this neurological stress will be difficult to console, hard to hold and snuggle, and will often constantly extend their neck and back as if writhing in pain and discomfort.
Not only does this lead to issues at the time, but is perhaps the most damaging issue going forward through development. When the nervous system is "stuck" in this state of fight/flight stress, it begins to become "hard-wired" for stress. There is a saying in neurology that says "nerves that fire together, wire together" and thus as this child develops they do so in a perpetual state of stress, anxiety, hyperactivity, etc… all of which are the hallmarks of the conditions they will later be diagnosed with in the mental/emotional/social realm. As stated, when the subluxation is left uncorrected, these children are pre-programmed for stress and anxiety related issues.
An upper cervical subluxation often is the major cause of torticollis. Also known as wry neck, this is a condition where an infant's SCM muscle is locked in spasm and keeps the head tilted and rotated, often causing pain and discomfort. Most cases of mild to moderate torticollis are completely missed by pediatricians, and even those that they catch are referred to PT where stretching helps but does not remove the subluxation and neurological interference.
the misalignment of the bony structures causes the sinus and ear passageways to become "clogged" leaving fluid and mucus to accumulate in those areas. This leaves an environment ripe for bacteria and viruses, and frequent infections occur. This is also why antibiotics are worthless for sinus and ear infections… they do nothing to address the drainage issue.
So again what needs to be done? Every infant should be checked for vertebral subluxation, especially of the upper cervical spine, as soon after birth as possible. The sooner this subluxation pattern is corrected, the easier, and the less likely it is to return. The longer it remains, the more and more their nervous system becomes hard-wired for stress, leaving them susceptible to neuro-developmental and mood disorders.
I will work my entire career on educating the public about this life-saving change that needs to be made in our infant and pediatric care. Each of us knows someone who has had a child via C-section, or has a fussy baby, or a child with neuro-developmental delays.
Due to the correlation with birth injury and thus upper cervical subluxation, every infant should be checked by a pediatric and family chiropractor. Doing so could remove countless amounts of suffering and challenges placed on the entire family. If you know of a child who needs to be checked, make sure and get them help today!


The Banana Cone© available in two heights 600mm or 900mm.
The Banana Cone is an extremely innovative product, it was voted the Most Innovative Cleaning Product and winner of the Visitors™ Choice Award at the 2013 ISSA Worldwide Interclean. The stylish design immediately sets the Banana Cone apart from other safety cones, catching the eye of passers-by.
Both the 600mm high and 900mm high Banana Cones are printed with a warning message on each of the 4 sides, this red and black English-language safety message is easily recognisable. Thanks to the innovative design and black detachable stem these safety cones can be stacked to save space.


Going to be in NYC this month? Film Forum's three-week William Wellman retrospective kicks off today.
William "Wild Bill" Wellman (1896-1975) earned his nickname, enlisting in the Lafayette Flying Corps before America entered the Great War, directing the first-ever Best Picture Oscar-winner, becoming Hollywood's greatest specialist in aerial adventure, and renowned as well for a quick temper and occasional fisticuffs. But beyond the tough guy and action classics, he helmed some of the greatest of screwball comedies, among works in virtually every other genre; guided signature performances by Barbara Stanwyck, Louise Brooks, Loretta Young, Ginger Rogers, et al.; sensitively portrayed Norman Maine's disintegration in A Star is Born; directed Cooper, Cagney and Gable in star-defining roles; and in his Pre-Code collaborations with producer Darryl Zanuck at Warner Bros., was the key director of one of the American cinema's greatest periods.
The festival kick off with weekend screenings of the first movie to win the "Best Picture" Oscar: WINGS (1927), starring Clara Bow, Richard Arlen, and Buddy Rogers.


text:
Route 80 (2018)
Tommy DiNello, a freelance videographer, moves back to North Branford Ct. from New York City after two years on his own. His extremely close cousins, Marie and Dom Jr., are reluctantly accepting their father's new young foreign wife Varya, just two years after their mother's death. Since Tommy's parents moved to Florida when he was away, he has no choice but to stay with his Uncle Dominic and cousin Marie while battling memories of the reason he left town in the first place. His dear friend, Angela and him are reunited, This is bittersweet as she is the only one with clear knowledge and witness of his past.Tommy moves back to North Branford Ct. after two years in NYC. He resides with his uncle and close cousins as they reluctantly accept their father's new marriage just two years after the death of their mother.
Director: Nick Rapuano
Actors: Buck Biestek, Corinne Britti, Joe Grant
Quality: 1080p720p
Keywords:1080p 720p
Come Unto Me (2016)
Young Samuel and little Mary are intrigued by the man called John the Baptist, but they can't take the chance of staying in one place long enough to listen to…
Although Brad has a satisfying career, a sweet wife and a comfortable life in suburban Sacramento, things aren't quite what he imagined during his college glory days. When he accompanies…
The Nun's Story (1959)
After leaving a wealthy Belgian family to become a nun, Sister Luke struggles with her devotion to her vows during crisis, disappointment, and World War II.
A Dose of Happiness (2019)
The real story of the journalist Vesela Toteva (in the role is her daughter -Valentina Karoleva) searching for her own happiness during the dynamic and uncertain 90's in Bulgaria. A…
Country: Bulgaria, United Kingdom
The Confirmation (2016)
A divorced father reconnects with his son when they track down a stolen toolbox over the course of a weekend.
Beyond the Summit (2022)
Mateo undertakes the ascent of Annapurna, the most dangerous mountain on the planet, in order to fulfill an old promise.
Country: France, Spain
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Memories of My Melancholy Whores (2011)
To celebrate his 90th birthday, an old single journalist, Sabio, who accustomed to intimacy with whores since childhood, decides to gift himself with an intense night of love with a…
Country: Denmark, Mexico, Spain, United States
Shiner (2018)
Matt sets out to live his dreams of becoming a world champion fighter. He meets Happy McBride, a washed up has-been, who takes him under his wing and introduces him…
Out of Nature (2014)
Out of Nature is a journey inside Martins head. A family father in his 30s living in a small town of Norway. He feels alienated in his own life and…
A success-hungry lawyer meets a young sister and brother suffering from domestic abuse and digs into their case.
1080p2160p720p
A small-town Oregon teacher and her brother, the local sheriff, discover a young student is harbouring a dangerous secret that could have frightening consequences.
Country: Mexico, United States
Pretty Boy (2015)
Sean is taken to a motel and is given a prostitute for his 18th birthday by his father. He must sleep with her to "fix" his questionable homosexuality. "Pretty Boy"…
Trailer: Route 80 (2018)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Focus on body treatments including massage, specialised wraps and permanent hair removal. Help clients reveal healthier-looking skin with microdermabrasion. Perfect your skills by working with clients in our salon and spa. Benefit from small classes. Gain CIDESCO, an internationally-recognised diploma.
Successful completion of the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy (Level 4) or equivalent academic qualification.


text:
Marc van der Linden
Stedin Groep
Marc van der Linden (1972) has been appointed Chairman of the Executive Board with effect from 1 February 2017. Before that he was, since December 2012, a member of the board of directors of Eneco Holding NV He started at Eneco in 1997 and held various positions including that of director of Eneco Energy Projects, director of Eneco Installation Companies and director of Eneco Wind. Before that, Marc worked at Van Gansewinkel Groep. He studied Economics at the University of Tilburg.
Other position: Chairman of Netbeheer Nederland, Member of Cyber
Security Council of the Netherlands, Member of Economic Board Zuid-Holland,
Member of Advisory Board of Technical College Rotterdam.


text:
package unitTests;

import static org.junit.Assert.*;
import model.Animation;
import model.AnimationInSheet;

import org.junit.After;
import org.junit.AfterClass;
import org.junit.Before;
import org.junit.BeforeClass;
import org.junit.Test;

import util.JSONWriter;
import util.Location2D;

public class JSONWriterTest {

	@BeforeClass
	public static void setUpBeforeClass() throws Exception {
	}

	@AfterClass
	public static void tearDownAfterClass() throws Exception {
	}

	@Before
	public void setUp() throws Exception {
	}

	@After
	public void tearDown() throws Exception {
	}

	/**
	 * this test is wrong. sorry.
	 */
	@Test
	public void test() {
		Animation a = new Animation();
		a.setName("fish");
		a.setInterval(300);
		AnimationInSheet ais = new AnimationInSheet(a, new Location2D(5, 10));

		String json = "animation:\n" + "  name: fish\n" + "  x: 5\n"
				+ "  y: 10\n" + "  width: 1\n" + "  height: 1\n"
				+ "  num_frames: 0\n" + "  ticks_per_frame: 300\n";

		assertEquals(json, JSONWriter.writeAnimation(ais));
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
cask "inkscape" do
  version "1.0.1"
  sha256 "52597712673dedf56d2c084e26d906fd376a382a792d1ac2315a9de697a66dd6"

  url "https://media.inkscape.org/dl/resources/file/Inkscape-#{version}.dmg"
  appcast "https://macupdater.net/cgi-bin/check_urls/check_url_redirect.cgi?url=https://inkscape.org/release",
          must_contain: version.major_minor
  name "Inkscape"
  desc "Vector graphics editor"
  homepage "https://inkscape.org/"

  app "Inkscape.app"
  # shim script (https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-cask/issues/18809)
  shimscript = "#{staged_path}/inkscape.wrapper.sh"
  binary shimscript, target: "inkscape"

  preflight do
    IO.write shimscript, <<~EOS
      #!/bin/sh
      exec '#{staged_path}/Inkscape.app/Contents/MacOS/inkscape' "$@"
    EOS
  end

  zap trash: [
    "~/.config/inkscape",
    "~/Library/Application Support/Inkscape",
    "~/Library/Application Support/org.inkscape.Inkscape",
    "~/Library/Preferences/org.inkscape.Inkscape.plist",
    "~/Library/Saved Application State/org.inkscape.Inkscape.savedState",
  ]
end


The Parish of Mutford is situated between Beccles and Carlton Colville on the north side of the Hundred River Valley a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It has a population of 471.
Mutford and Rushmere Village Hall, Mill Road Mutford offers a lovely venue for clubs and groups for activity sessions and for community events and is regularly used by a wide range of local clubs. The hall serves as a community hub and Village Hall Committee organise regular events for residents. Click here to link to their website.
There is a playground for children under 14 years of age and a large playing field at the Village Hall.
'Mutford Parish Council has approved the Mutford Neighbourhood Plan and has submitted it to Waveney District Council.


Watch Dragon Ball Super episode 31 English Dubbed online in HD quality. You can also download this Dragon Ball Super episode 31 with high quality.
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We have all probably heard the saying "Living off the interest". It means you have made a substantial investment and now you are receiving a return from it. And as long as you never touch the principal investment, you will always have an income from it. But what about when you need extra money, so you draw out some of the principal to make up the shortage? Number one, the principal has been diminished, so your future interest will be diminished, and number two, you have spent some of your investment. What does that have to do with healing? Glad you asked!
My immediate goal was to learn all I could about this Jesus who died for my sins, took stripes for my healing, and rose again. In long hours studying my Bible the LORD revealed to me that He fervently loves us and created us to be healthy, not sick. That didn't agree with what most teach. Tapping into the "benefits" was coming, but first, just like any earthly job, you don't get the "benefits" until you have performed some "work". It would be unrealistic to expect an employer to give you a paycheck when you were hired when you hadn't even showed up for a day's work yet. And it's unrealistic to think you will reap any heavenly benefit without putting some effort into it first. Your first work is "Believe only, fear not". Until that takes place, nothing happens. You've made no deposit, so you have no return coming.
But let's say you've made the decision to invest your time in God's Word. Many have told me, "I try reading the Bible but I can't understand it." First off, you need to ask God to reveal His Word to you and open your understanding. Then by faith believe He will, for you need understanding of the Word of God if it is to be of benefit to you. God is not hiding the understanding to you, anyway, the devil is. God wants you to be settled once and for all, immoveable and rock solid, so when the floods of life hit, you will be standing when it's over.
Getting back to "Living off the interest": The more time you invest in God's Word, the more your investment grows, and the more "interest" (benefits) you have to draw from and your life begins turning around for the good. Sadly, I've seen people really get serious about God's Word just long enough to get over a crisis, then it's back to their old ways, and they decide to "coast" and "live off the interest" and they draw back on their study and prayer time. What happens? Well, the "cost of living" always goes up at the next crisis and the "interest" they are receiving on their past investment just isn't enough to get them by now, because they quit making deposits in their heavenly account. Does that make sense to you? So what's the solution? Get serious about doubling down on your investment, and keep making those deposits regularly, because if you don't? Like I said earlier, "No deposit, no return", and God does not play favorites.
If you stop investing your time in regular time prayer and study, you may get by for a while, but sooner or later you will use up all your "benefits" , and when you get attacked by the devil, you will find there is nothing there to draw on when you need it most. A wise investor has his eye on the future and keeps making those deposits regularly so he can live securely on the interest. He won't spend up his investment, thereby losing his future benefits. We can all learn from this. If you want to live off the interest in a heavenly way, make sure you're making the deposits. And no, I'm not talking about ministry donations. I'm talking about you investing quality time alone with God and His Word. "Seed faith" offerings get you nothing but donation receipts. And if all you want out of life is a stack of donation receipts, then friend, go for it. BUT IF YOU WANT REAL BENEFITS THAT YOU CAN LIVE OFF THE INTEREST FROM, INVEST YOUR TIME IN THE LORD!! That's the best investment advice you'll ever receive.
Thank you Bro. Jerry! I CHOOSE to keep investing in my heavenly account !
Thank You, Lord for a blessed 1015 for the Baysinger's!
I appreciate all you do !
Thank you for the simple, practical way you teach the Word. It is a great reminder to me.
This cold weather has been difficult because in the Spring and Summer, I am always going on my walks and praying as I go. Reading the Word is also easier in these seasons. Not sure why though. Oh well, I have a goal of finishing my Bible class I started by the Spring. I definitely needed this reminder!
The word for this year…INVEST, INVEST, INVEST!!!


text:
ISIS in Iraq: Ramadi and What Lies Ahead
By Khairuldeen Al Makhzoomi | Jan 29, 2016 | Middle East, News & Analysis | 0 |
Ramadi, Iraq (Jeremy M. Giacomino/US Marine Corps)
The world has cheered the Iraqis' victory in Ramadi, but ISIS is far from defeated.
The last seven months of serious combat operations and airstrikes have finally borne fruit. As of the end of last year, Iraqi forces have recaptured the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State. In a press release on Dec. 28, US Secretary of State John Kerry applauded the Iraqis for displaying perseverance and courage in the fight against ISIS.
Ramadi, the capital of the province of Anbar, was taken by the Islamic State in May of 2015 after ISIS fighters overwhelmed Iraqi forces, forcing them to retreat. Soon after, the prime minister of Iraq, Haider al-Abadi, proposed a counteroffensive strategy to the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, which they supported.
The successful execution of Al-Abadi's plan allowed the Iraqis to regain control of former government-owned buildings in Ramadi. This victory came as a big blow to the Islamic State, especially following their recent losses in the cities of Baiji and Tikrit in Iraq and Al-Hawl in Syria.
However, it may be too early for the international community to celebrate this win, as ISIS is a well-funded, highly-structured organization still operating in many other locales. Their stock of resources is too enormous to be so easily washed away, and the loss of Ramadi may not necessarily mean their defeat.
As of this writing, Iraqi forces are said to be in control of about 75 to 80 percent of Ramadi. Some places in the suburbs and on the outskirts of the city are still controlled by ISIS members, and outside observers fear that militants are continuing to terrorize innocent members of the population.
What Next for Iraq in the Fight against ISIS
Following the recent successes at Ramadi, the international community has been crossing its fingers, anxious to see just how well the Iraqis can resist pressure from ISIS and other militant groups. Authorities on the region have warned that the fight against ISIS is yet to be won.
Iraqi forces must now conduct a cleanup mission to secure the areas of Ramadi still held by ISIS. These troops will need to sweep the city in search of hidden explosives and booby traps that may have been set by militants during combat. But the government of Iraq will also need to focus on rebuilding the city's infrastructure to its original capacity, to allow displaced persons to resettle.
Some cities in Iraq are still run by ISIS, and Mosul is one of the biggest. Taking back Mosul from the Islamic State could majorly set back the group's operations in Iraq, as Al-Abadi had promised to accomplish.
In the meantime, it would be wise for the Iraqi government to consider revising its constitution, such that members of both the Sunni and Shi'ite tribes are assured government positions. The Iraqi government is dominated by Shi'ite Muslims, Al-Abadi being one of them. It would be only fair that Sunni Iraqis, including the tribal fighters that helped to expel ISIS, be assured of their stake in the government.
In a bid to win Sunnis over, Al-Abadi has promised to leave Ramadi under the control of local police and Sunni tribal security forces. It is hoped that this move will also bring stability to Ramadi, as many members of the Sunni community do not trust Shi'ites – a problem, given that Shi'ites comprise the majority of Iraqi forces. Some Sunnis are thought to favor the ISIS militants – not because they share ISIS' goals, but because they feel that they have been denied their right to governmental representation. Because of this, the Shi'ite-dominated Iraqi police force could start treating Sunnis as Islamic State members and sympathizers, rather than continuing to protect their rights.
To resolve these tensions, it is important to begin the process of healing ties between Iraqi Sunnis and Shi'ites. Those members of the Sunni community who oppose ISIS should engage in a dialogue with their counterparts who support the militant group, in order to stop a possible sectarian conflict.
As the war's epicenter moves to Mosul, Congress has already allocated $1.6 billion to the Iraq Train and Equip Fund (ITEF). $1.2 billion was assigned to the Iraqi Security Forces, while $24 million was awarded to the country's tribal security force.
Despite Kurdish fighters' significant successes against the Islamic state group, a high-ranking Kurdish official in the U.S. told the Huffington Post that additional support is needed from coalition nations. However, they managed to cut off a major supply route between Mosul and Raqqa – a move that, in concert with reinforcements from the global coalition, may be enough to reacquire Mosul. Dislodging ISIS militants from the city would be a severe blow to the terrorist group, as they would no longer have income from taxation and revenue from oil trade there.
ISIS will do everything in their power to retain control of Mosul, as they cannot afford to lose such a big source of funding. However, Mosul is also reported to be the biggest area occupied by ISIS in Iraq, and it is situated in an area where militants from both Iraq and Syria are stationed. If ISIS fighters from these two countries combine forces to fight back against the Iraqis, they could cause serious harm to the city and its people. Retaking Mosul may take another year or more.
But ISIS still has many resources at its disposal, and continues to operate many countries in different parts of the world. Through its alliance with Boko Haram, the group has already entered Nigeria – the largest producer of oil in Africa – and is looking to control oil trade. ISIS has also had significant success in acquiring resources in Saudi Arabia, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, and Pakistan, and it retains power in Iraqi and Syrian cities such as Fallujah, Raqqa and Palmyra.
The world has cheered the Iraqis' victory in Ramadi, but ISIS as an organization does not lose much from losing control of Iraq and Syria. They still have a great many sources of funding to advance their agenda, and the world will need to wait to see if Iraq can contain ISIS, even with the support of the United States and other countries.
This article was edited by Graph Massara, a freelance copy editor and UC Berkeley student. Contact Graph at [email protected]
Tags: Iraq, Islamic State, Nigeria, Syria
Khairuldeen Al Makhzoomi
Khairuldeen Al Makhzoomi is a researcher at the Near Eastern Department of UC Berkeley. He is majoring in Political Science and Near Eastern Languages and literature, and is currently working on his honor thesis, "Obstacles to National Reconciliation in Iraq." He also founded the popular "United 4 Iraq" Facebook page, and writes for both the Berkeley Political Review and The Huffington Post.


This ain't no Law and Order!
Sorry I haven't commented to you guys yet.
Today I begin jury duty as an alternate juror. All the boredom without actually participating! This young man "allegedly" sold crack cocaine 5 different times over a couple of months and they know the exact weight of each sale as well as the date, time, and location. I'm must guessing, but I'm thinking he was selling to a Fed? So, we'll see if his public defender is the next Johnnie Cochran, or if he be screwed.
Sinus drainage commenses to beat the band, thus to make sitting still ALL DAY even more pleasant. Sore throat, dry heat, not enough fluids, no foot props or computer/TV. How will I survive?
The good news, I probably won't have to work Friday night. Still on for Saturday and Sunday, however.
The selection process was handled by the judge for this one. Not bad at all. I could see where a 2 or 3 day trial in the Federal system wouldn't be too bad. Don't dread it, but I wouldn't go trying to get selected either!


text:
Does intermittent fasting shed those kilos? Here are 7 things you should know – CNA
SINGAPORE: In the past two years, intermittent fasting has become one of the top weight loss trends worldwide.
In most intermittent fasting regimens, you avoid food for a certain number of hours of the day and eat normally within a specified time.
So can it help return you to your ideal weight and body mass index (BMI)?
That is what Talking Point host Steven Chia wanted to see after he gained about two kilogrammes from drinking bubble tea over a month, for a recent investigation into the effects of bubble tea.
After a discussion with physician Zulkarnain Abdul Hamid, who began intermittent fasting three years ago and lost more than 20 kg in the first year, Chia settled on the 16:8 regimen.
Dr Zulkarnain Abdul Hamid explains to Chia what happens to the body during a fast.
After eight weeks since December, he lost 3 kg and his body fat dropped from 24.1 per cent to 18 per cent. So he decided to continue with intermittent fasting and has now lost about 5 kg.
But there are some things to note for those considering intermittent fasting. For example, individuals who are pregnant, under 18 or have a low BMI should avoid it. Here are seven other pointers:
You must still watch what you eat, though it is easier said than done.
How appetising would those chicken wings look if you have not eaten for 16 hours?
"It can be quite challenging when eating out, especially when you're trying to break fast," acknowledged Mary Chong, who researches weight loss diet interventions and eating behaviour in adults and infants. "One way is to ask for half the portion."
Another way is to use smaller plates. There is evidence to suggest that the sizes of plates, bowls and even spoons "can unconsciously influence" the amount people eat.
"(On a) large plate, food tends to appear … less, (which) encourages people to pile on more things," she said. "On smaller plates, food appears to be greater in amount, and so that can help in terms of reducing intake."
To prevent snacking, Chia removed snacks from the communal areas at home, like the television area. "(Snacks are) a temptation waiting for you to just dig in," he said. "Out of sight, out of mind."
Chia trying to make it through his regimen with two meals a day — and no snacks.
2. PRACTISE MINDFUL EATING
Importantly, one should not only chew properly, but also eat mindfully.
According to Chong, an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, mindful eating means "paying attention to the food you eat" and to the "feeling of fullness you get from the food".
She said: "Our brain takes about 20 minutes to register that we're full after eating. So you can slow down, then you'll … be aware of the sense of fullness. And that can help prevent overeating."
3. DRINK BEFORE EATING
Chong said it is also important to stay hydrated during intermittent fasting, as people "often mistake thirst for hunger".
Dr Mary Chong.
It is good to drink a glass of water or take "some clear soup" before each meal to fill the stomach, she added. This usually helps to reduce hunger pangs and control the food portions.
During his experiment, Chia drank more black coffee than usual — without sugar — in the mornings. "That was the one thing I could drink to sort of help stave off the hunger," he said.
4. BALANCE YOUR MACRONUTRIENTS
Advertising creative Corey Cruz, a moderator of the Intermittent Fasting Lifestyle Facebook group, noted that followers of this diet regimen need to have more protein to sustain themselves through the fasting periods — but carbohydrates are necessary too.
"It's not about cutting stuff out completely," she said. "I don't deprive myself of things. A lot of us in my Facebook group ascribe to the 80-20 percentage rule, which is 80 per cent healthy, 20 per cent just treats.
"So we're going to have a cake (or) a pizza … You have to integrate (intermittent fasting) into your lifestyle, otherwise it's not sustainable."
Corey Cruz started intermittent fasting in 2018.
5. LETHARGY AND MOOD CHANGES ARE NORMAL
Cruz said she lost 15 kg through intermittent fasting and exercise but warned that it is "quite normal to not feel great" during the first few weeks, as one is "used to eating so many times during the day".
Early in his regimen, Chia felt more tired than usual, and his daughter Lucy said he was "very cranky" at times. The 15-year-old advised children whose parents take up intermittent fasting to "be patient".
She added: "You'll get used to it. And they'll probably get used to the intermittent fasting, so they'll become less cranky — just have to wait a while."
WATCH: Intermittent fasting made my dad cranky — Lucy and Steven Chia spill the beans (8:07)
6. DON'T GO TOO FAR
Weight change may also take more than a couple of weeks, so one should not overdo the intermittent fasting.
Chong said: "There's a real danger of becoming malnourished if one … (is) taking calorie restriction to an extreme or constantly omitting certain food groups."
It could lead to nutrient deficiencies, a weakened immune system, poor wound healing, loss of muscle mass or even becoming depressed.
7. THINK ABOUT HEALTH, NOT DIETS
Chia asked Verena Tan of the Singapore Institute of Technology's dietetics and nutrition department if there was an ideal diet — ketogenic, paleo, vegan or gluten-free — to pair with intermittent fasting to accelerate weight loss.
She did not recommend following any trending diet, though she weighed up the pros and cons of each.
Dr Verena Tan breaks down the different types of diets.
In theory, a keto diet, which is a low-carb and high-fat diet, could help a person to reach the "fat-burning stage" faster if combined with intermittent fasting. But this combination "hasn't been studied or proven to work".
The side effects, however, include headaches, bad breath, muscle cramps and headaches.
A paleo diet does not contain processed foods, so one eats what is natural. But that also means no cereals, grains or dairy products, and one of the health risks is lower bone density.
A vegan diet, comprising only foods made from plants, is considered to be an "ethical" and "healthy way of eating".
Studies have shown that it "does improve some of the risk factors for chronic diseases", such as glucose levels and cholesterol levels, cited Tan.
WATCH: The full episode — Intermittent fasting: A two-month experiment (22:33)
But it can be unhealthy depending on the types of food chosen, for example sugar-sweetened beverages and potato chips. There is also the risk of vitamin and mineral deficiency if meals are not planned properly.
As for a gluten-free diet, it is designed for people with coeliac disease, who cannot digest products containing wheat, rye or barley, such as bread, pastries and cakes.
"But for people who aren't gluten-sensitive … a gluten-free diet doesn't improve health," said Tan. "To improve health, my take-home (message) would be that less is more … Less calories, less processed food and less time spent eating."
Watch this episode of Talking Point here. The programme airs on Channel 5 every Thursday at 9.30pm.
In his experience, intermittent fasting worked, but Chia said he needed to be "really disciplined".
Intermittent fasting may change how your DNA is expressed, new study finds
CDC Admits To Collecting COVID Nasal Swab PCR Tests For Genomic Sequencing Analysis
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Martin Wildauer Wins The 2014 Strongman Champions League World Championships
The MHP Strongman Champions League wrapped up its worldwide 2014 season in Kuala Lumpur. After 16 stages worldwide, the world champion 2014 will be crowned in Kuala Lumpur –Malaysia. Throughout the history of sports, there have been amazing, inspiring competitions that fans and athletes alike talk about for years to come, and the 2014 Strongman Champions League Final in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia became one of those historical competitions for the Strongman Sport.
The two day competition was completed on Saturday, 15 November in front of a screaming crowd that endured torrential downpours and high humidity to find out who would become the Strongman Champions League 2014 World Champion. At the end of Friday's events, the athletes began calculating every possible scenario that could determine the ultimate victor. Martin Wildauer, the SCL Leader, started the competition in top form. He managed an impressive tie for second place with 1:07 in the front hold and he tied with J.F. Caron for the win in the van deadlift. They both completed seven reps. The evening ended with Wildauer falling to the ground after only a few steps during the truck pull with fears that he had torn his achilles.
After a trip to the hospital, it was confirmed. Wildauer had torn his achilles. Despite this news, he was determined to continue. "I was extremely disappointed," Wildauer stated, "I had worked so hard for this entire season and couldn't believe this happened." After consulting his doctors it was determined that he could have his surgery upon his return to Austria and it was possible, if his leg could be stabilized and taped well, he could compete on Saturday.
After Friday's aftermath, Eddie Hall had the lead for the day with Vidas Blekaitas and Kryzstof Radzikowski in second. Hafthor Bjornsson was only trailing by a half point. Wildauer was tied for 5th place ensuring he was still a contender for the overall win.
Saturday began with the Farmer's Walk. 150 kg in each hand for 40 meters. Wildauer started. The tension was high to see if Wildauer could continue. In an amazing feat of pure determination, Martin carried the suitcases just short of 20m with his torn achilles. The crowd and fellow athletes alike cheered madly as his focus was unbreakable. The farmer's walk proved to be quite heavy with six athletes unable to complete the course. Hafthor Bjornsson breezed through this event with lightning speed finishing with an incredible 17.22 sec several seconds ahead of the next competitor.
The next event was the log lift. 150 kg for reps. The heat and humidity played a significant factor as many of the athletes struggled with completing a single rep. In an impressive display, Martin Wildauer, managed one full rep despite his injury. Vidas Blekaitis and Eddie Hall both completed this event with an impressive 8 reps.
During the break, the downpour came. As a result of the weather, the tire flip was cancelled making the hand over hand truck pull the final event. The crowning of the world champion would come down to the last event and the last athlete. Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson were battling it out to take the win on the day, but the real story was the placement as it affected the overall standings. Martin Wildauer limped his way to the hand over hand truck pull. With assistance he was able to start seated. With intensity in his eyes and the screams of the crowd behind him, Wildauer began to pull. Slowly the truck began to move and it continued in the din of the crowd. After 49.13 seconds Martin Wildauer not only completed the event, he had taken the best time. Despite his injury, Wildauer won the truck pull.
It was determined, based on Wildauer's results, Eddie Hall would have to beat Radzikowski in the truck pull. The competition literally went down to the last event and the last athlete. Martin Wildauer stood on the sidelines screaming for Eddie. The final results ended with Eddie Hall finishing the hand over hand with 7.1m while Radzikowski completed 6.35m.
In the end, the winners of the Kuala Lumpur stage were:
1. Hafthor Bjornsson
2. Eddie Hall
3. Kryzstof Radzikowski.
Martin Wildauer placed 9th giving him enough points to win the overall championship.
The support of the athletes to Martin Wildauer was unmistakeable. This is the unique, amazing thing about the sport. Despite being competitors, each athlete was willing to offer Wildauer a helping hand as he worked through his day with an injury.
The 2014 Strongman Champions League made history today," Marcel Mostert stated. This was the most amazing way to finish the season. Martin showed tremendous fight and passion to become the world champion.
About TSA
TSA (formerly known as Total Sports Asia) is Asia's global leader in sports content and branding solutions. TSA is an independent sports marketing agency and content distributor with a dedicated team of 50 sports marketing experts and offices in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Beijing and Mumbai. Media rights distribution, TV production, sponsorship/licensing, events management, consulting, stadium consulting and branded real estates are its core business activities. TSA works with the leading corporate brands in Asia and has developed unique branding solutions for many including ground breaking concepts like the "Branded Real Estate" space. For more info please log on to www.totalsportsasia.com


12:15pm • Playful Learning Expo, Dessert, and Coffee!
2:00pm • PM6: Explain Yourself!
2:30pm • Ghost Stories from Learning Game Design: Surprises: Good outcomes we weren't expecting and things we'll know to worry about next time.
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12:00pm • FarmVille. Testing limits. Four years. Level 1446.
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8:00pm • Arcade open 'til midnight!
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2:30pm • Take our GLS 10 Survey!


Steel Wool Studios, an independent developer made up of former Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Telltale Games veterans, released a launch trailer for the VR physics game Bounce today.
In the game, players must help D1G-B, their spherical robot companion get through 50 levels by using different items such as boards, half pipes, pipes, treadmills, and accelerometers in order to open a portal and proceed to the next stage.
To coincide with the launch of Bounce, the game's soundtrack was also released on Steam as a standalone purchase. It can also be purchased in a bundle with the game here.


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You are here: Home / Movies & TV Shows / How to Watch "Spider-Man: No Way Home" Movie Online
How to Watch "Spider-Man: No Way Home" Movie Online
Last updated December 17, 2021 By Patrick
The latest Spider-Man: No Way Home movie has just been released worldwide. It's fair to say that it's going to be one of the biggest films of the year. This film looks to be bringing big crowds to theaters. However, not everyone is enthusiastic about a cinema trip. Many are wondering how to watch Spiderman: No Way Home online, without leaving their homes.
This Spider-Man movie sees Tom Holland's incarnation of the character return. This time he's up against the iconic villains of the first five Spidey films. That's alongside rumors of certain other original characters popping up. So how can you see this spectacle for yourself? It's looking a little complicated for the web-slingers out there.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is going to take a slower journey to online streaming. Though the movie might be available on free movie apps, third-party streaming sites, and torrents, you won't be able to find it on any of the authentic platforms like other blockbuster movies.
You can watch most of this winter's other major releases like the Matrix 4 at home, but things are different for Spider-Man. This is how it will work and when you can watch Spiderman: No Way Home online.
Attention, FireStick Users!
Governments and ISPs constantly monitor your online activity, and accessing copyrighted content on your Fire TV Stick could lead to serious trouble. Currently, your IP is visible to everyone. I strongly recommend getting the best FireStick VPN to mask your IP address and securely stream your favorites.
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Here are reasons why using a VPN at all times is essential.
How to install and use the best VPN for FireStick
How to install and use a VPN on any streaming device
How to Watch Spider-Man: No Way Home
Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of the most anticipated films of the year. However, you're likely going to have to visit the cinema to see it soon. The film isn't going to be coming to most streaming services immediately. The title came out on December 15th in the UK and other regions, followed by a release in the US and worldwide on December 17th.
In the immediate future, the only way to watch Spider-Man: No Way Home is by heading to a local cinema. That's why it isn't going to be streaming right away. I'll explain where you can catch it once it does make the jump.
Will Spider-Man: No Way Home Be on Disney Plus?
Spider-Man: No Way Home is the third Spider-Man film to be part as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This shared space for all of the Marvel comic heroes is popular with fans. It has also found a permanent home on streaming. Disney+ currently hosts the vast majority of Marvel projects, new and old.
In fact, 2021 has seen Disney's biggest movies moved over to their streaming service. You can watch big titles like Black Widow and Pixar releases at home alongside in the cinema.
So when is Spider-Man coming to Disney+? Well, it isn't. Spider-Man: No Way Home won't be appearing on Disney+ right now no matter where you're located. Even VPNs can't help you find a region that has the film just yet!
Is Spider-Man: No Way Home Streaming Online?
Spider-Man is a central part of the Marvel world now, but ownership of his films is a bit more complicated. While produced by Disney's Marvel, Spider-Man is still owned by Sony, which has the full rights to this film. They decide where it ends up streaming.
Image credit: Sony Pictures
Sony is the biggest movie producer without a streaming service for their films. Their last Spidey-related project, Venom 2, saw a release as a rental video on demand. However, this wasn't until 45 days after its initial release.
By Sony's comments, it seems like Spider-Man: No Way Home won't be available to watch anywhere online for 45 days as well. This will put the likely streaming release date after the end of January 2022.
Sony did recently strike a deal with Disney. This puts their Spider-Man movies on the platform. Although, that's only after they've seen a release on other services first.
If you're wondering how to watch Spiderman: No Way Home on Disney+, you'll be waiting quite a while! It will be coming to some other platforms first though.
Is Spiderman: No Way Home Coming to Amazon Prime Video?
Amazon Prime might be the first place to get Spider-Man: No way Home. Sony has a deal to put their films onto the Starz service in the US. This is a channel you can subscribe to as part of Prime Video. Starz will likely be the quickest way to watch Spiderman: No Way Home on streaming.
Is Spiderman: No Way Home Coming to Netflix?
Sony recently signed a deal with Netflix to give them their streaming catalog. Yet Spider-Man: No Way Home isn't on there? It's because that deal technically starts with films released in 2022, not 2021. Coming just a few weeks under the wire, No Way Home doesn't count here!
Unfortunately, it looks like fans won't be able to watch Spiderman: No Way Home on Netflix. At least not until it's already across other streaming platforms.
That's why you won't find Spiderman: No Way Home on any streaming service soon. Instead, the traditional route of seeing it on the big screen is the only way. Or you can wait a little while to catch it at home in early 2022.
While that's disappointing, there are loads of other big releases available to stream. If you're looking to scratch that Marvel itch, both Shang-Chi and Black Widow are available on Disney+ on Fire TV with a free trial.
All three Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies are on Netflix, along with the two Amazing Spider-Man movies. Between these, there is plenty of Spidey to watch while you wait.
Filed Under: How to, Movies & TV Shows
1 How to Watch Spider-Man: No Way Home
2 Will Spider-Man: No Way Home Be on Disney Plus?
3 Is Spider-Man: No Way Home Streaming Online?
4 Is Spiderman: No Way Home Coming to Amazon Prime Video?
5 Is Spiderman: No Way Home Coming to Netflix?


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In Case of Non-Emergency, Break Glass…..or What If They Burned Down the Reichstag and Nobody Cared?
Five weeks ago in these pages I predicted that our fearless leader would declare a national emergency over the idiotic border wall he wants to build. (A Modest Prediction, January 9, 2019.)
It did not require the skills of Nostradamus to foresee that.
However, three weeks ago, I ate crow — prematurely — when he caved on the shutdown without declaring such an emergency. (Sending Don Spelunking, January 26, 2019.) At the time, I grudgingly gave him credit for not going to that extreme, no matter how much he wanted to save face with his base — albeit for tactical, self-serving reasons, not principled ones, of course.
But now he has renewed my faith in his stupidity and contempt for the rule of law.
MANUFACTURING CONSENT
To dispense with formalities, the transparently false, dishonest, and anti-democratic rationale for declaring this fake emergency is self-evident. There is no emergency at the border except the mythical one Trump has created with his racist fearmongering, his delusions that Sicaro: Day of the Soldado is a documentary, and his need to distract from the threats to his kleptocracy as various investigations begin to close in upon him. All this has been widely reported. Indeed, it's the central fallacy at the heart of the whole charade, so there is no need to rehash it in great detail here.
That Trump, we are told, intends to build the wall (or part of it, anyway) by taking away funds earmarked for actual disasters, including Puerto Rico — already the site of some of his most appalling and racially-motivated disregard for the citizenry he is sworn to serve — would be forehead-smackingly horrific if perpetrated by any previous president. With Trump it's just par for the course.
Many have also scoffed at the idea of an "emergency" that was preceded by weeks and weeks of foreplay. Fair enough. But at the risk of jeopardizing my Platinum Club status in the Trump Derangement Syndrome Club, here I'll demur slightly.
In theory I could buy the argument that a crisis was bubbling up, one that the administration was hoping could be resolved through normal congressional channels, and only took this drastic step when that failed. (I say again: in theory.)
Except that this argument falls apart when the actual "emergency" itself is examined.
Per above, ain't no emergency. Instead, what we have is sheer demagoguery, wholly contradicted by the facts, from a man who launched his political career on the lie of birtherism, who began his presidential campaign by declaring that Mexican immigrants are drug dealers, criminals, rapists, and who has governed by stoking racism and hate among a panicked segment of white America. The wall is simply the biggest and most concrete (or is it steel slats?) manifestation of that.
And guess what? A lot of people know it.
YOU NEVER PROMISED ME A ROSE GARDEN
I don't generally torture myself by listening to Trump speak at length; the legitimate media is very good at distilling what we need to know, saving us the pain of enduring the full force of the garbage that issues from his piehole. But actually exposing yourself to it can occasionally be instructive. So it was that I happened to hear much of his Rose Garden announcement, which — brace yourselves — was absolute gibberish. (Death penalty for drug dealers? Railing against "chain migration" when your own wife and her family made use of it? In that sense it was all vintage Trump.)
Even if one supports Trump's agenda, no rational person could listen to that rambling, incoherent mélange of braggadocio, outright lies, non sequiturs, and fascist free association and come away arguing that this man is fit to lead a pre-kindergarten playdate, let alone the government of the United States.
Yet here we are.
The House will likely vote to challenge this so-called emergency, triggering an automatic vote in the Senate that Mitch McConnell is loath to have, and will force every last Republican senator to publicly pick a side: the Constitution's or Trump's. Given the bright banana yellow streak they have collectively displayed over the past two years, I am not at all confident that they will suddenly sprout any courage now, not even if the failure to do so means opening the door for similar unilateral action — abusive or otherwise — by Democratic presidents in the future.
Both Democrats and Republicans have already raised this issue of precedent, citing their own hypotheticals, both positive and negative. Noting the bitter irony that this moronic announcement was taking place on the first anniversary of the Parkland massacre, Nancy Pelosi suggested that a Democratic president might one day declare a national emergency over gun violence — daring Trump to explain why he hasn't done that. Meanwhile, Rep. Thom Tillis (R-NC) was openly aghast at the prospect of a "President Elizabeth Warren declaring a national emergency to shut down banks and take over the nation's financial institutions."
In the end, this fear of what future presidents from the other party might do with this weapon may be the only thing that motivates the otherwise spineless Republican leadership to stand up to Trump on this one, or at least give them cover to defy MAGA Nation. And even that may not be enough.
But even if Congress fails to stop Trump, numerous other legal challenges will likely mire this issue in the courts for years to come and prevent the wall from being built before the 2020 election. (As of this writing several lawsuits have already been filed, by the ACLU, Public Citizen, and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, among others.)
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying Trump is going to lose that legal battle, even though most scholars of constitutional law think that by all rights he should. His chances are especially good if it gets to the Supreme Court, which has already shown its willingness to bend over backwards and defend the indefensible — see the Muslim ban, as he bragged on Friday — even when Trump himself recklessly goes out of his way to undermine their strained efforts on his behalf. (And that was pre-Kavanaugh. The rightward tilt is even more pronounced now.)
Trump is doing much the same again this time, with his blatant admission to the press that he didn't "need" to declare a national emergency, and did so only as a matter of expediency. Yet it is by no means clear that this typically Trumpian own goal will stop the right wingers on the Court from providing him legal cover, 5–4.
But if they do, it will be a travesty of constitutional law and a terrible precedent.
TRUMP DIALS 911
I have heard the argument that, however wrong and unjustified this "national emergency," it is not in fact tactically stupid. According to this argument, Trump is proving to his mouthbreathing base that he is fighting tooth and nail for their racist ideals, even if the declaration gets mired in legal battles and never results in the building of any wall at all.
Indeed, some think that is precisely the intent, as a way for him to get out of an impossible-to-keep campaign promise.
Further, not having the wall may be far better for Trump in the 2020 campaign than having it, if he can claim he's been valiantly trying to build it in the face of "open borders" Democratic obstructionism, and desperately needs a second term to finish the job.
Assuming, of course, that he's not already in federal prison by then.
All true, tactically speaking. But that doesn't mean it's smart.
This, again, goes to the fundamental question of whether continually pandering to his hardcore supporters is a prudent political strategy for Trump, as opposed to trying to expand his support among the vast majority of Americans. It can be argued that it is in fact prudent, and effective, thanks to the craven GOP leadership, which has allowed Trump and his red-hatted minions to hold the rest of the country hostage. But simple arithmetic tells is that it is also fraught, if the rest of America can get its shit together to rise up and oppose this appalling coalition of crypto (and not so crypto) white supremacists, pseudo-Christian zealots, and criminal plutocrats.
Moreover, does Trump really need another constitutional crisis, with all the other pressures bearing down on him? I know his brand is crisis, but does it serve him to have yet another front to defend when he and his team are already embattled on a half dozen others?
Evidently, he seems to think he does.
DER ROOF, DER ROOF, DER ROOF IST ON FIRE
From the very beginning of the Trump presidency there have been widespread fears that he would eventually reach a point of such pressure, and of such panic at the threat of being exposed as the criminal he is, that he would precipitate some kind of fake international crisis to distract the public and justify seizing imperial-like powers. A Reichstag fire is the usual metaphor, although the Gulf of Tonkin or sinking of the Maine would also suffice.
In many ways, the "national emergency" over the border wall is that long awaited, all-but-inevitable Reichstag fire.
Yes, there are other motives in play. Obviously, Trump is desperate to fulfill his signature campaign promise — or what Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) more correctly calls "a campaign applause line" — and satisfy his xenophobic base. As part of that, he is trying to save face and somehow spin his humiliation at the hands of Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats as a "win," a contortion that strains the credulity of even his reliably slavish followers (See Ann Coulter.)
But at the same time, the wall is undeniably a means of distracting the public from the slowly closing jaws of the Mueller probe and Trump's myriad other existential problems on the legal and counterintelligence fronts. It's no coincidence that his rambling, free association Rose Garden announcement came hot on the heels of several bad moments for the White House.
One was this week's court hearing for Paul Manafort, where the usually sphinx-like Mueller team revealed the centrality of Manafort's coordination with Konstantin Kilimnik to their case. ("This goes, I think, very much to the heart of what the special counsel's office is investigating," prosecutor Andrew Weissmann told the judge.)
Another was Andrew McCabe's jawdropping revelation that the FBI and DOJ actively looked into recruiting Cabinet members, and even Mike Pence, in an effort to invoke the 25th Amendment and carry Trump out of office rolled up in duct tape.
And lastly, there was Friday's revelation, in a court filing, that the special counsel has proof that Roger Stone had direct contact with Wikileaks and Russian hackers. (News that the White House likely knew was coming. Trump is frequently at his craziest right before big, damning stories like that drop.)
So the camouflaging aspect of the "national emergency" should not be underestimated. Indeed, the mere fact that I am writing about it — even if just to point out its insidiousness — is proof that it is at least partially working to steer the national conversation away from more substantive matters, especially those involving his legal jeopardy.
I understand that the Reichstag comparison is not perfect, in that the burning of the German parliament was a manufactured pretext for the Nazis to consolidate power, not primarily a Wag the Dog style distraction from other issues per se. But in another way, the comparison is very apt, in that this fake emergency represents Trump literally usurping powers that rightly belong to Congress. If he is allowed to succeed in doing that, where will he stop?
But here's the thing about the Reichstag comparison. By definition, it presupposes that the invented crisis will fool people. That's the whole enchilada — the whole reason that a despicable regime would manufacture a distraction of that sort.
The wall is not quite doing that. Outside of Trump's base, which would believe him if he pissed down their collective throats and told them it was lemonade, the majority of Americans see right through this idiotic non-emergency.
So it turns out Trump can't even misdirect effectively.
When Bush, Cheney, Rummy, Wolfowitz and the rest of Team Slam Dunk told the American people the epic lie that Saddam Hussein definitely definitely absolutely positively 100% had weapons of mass destruction, they at least did a reasonably convincing job of it……until our troops got on the ground in Iraq and no WMD were anywhere to be found.
Next to Trump, though, they look like geniuses.
But does Trump really need to bother with misdirection? His followers don't need anything to distract them, as they readily swallow his lies whole. The sentient majority of the American public knows he's full of shit and isn't fooled by any of this. I suppose there is a small slice of the electorate that remains susceptible to his bullshit, but they are statistically insignificant.
For as we've seen, neither the facts nor the will of the majority seem to matter anymore in these United States. And if the Supreme Court permits this blatantly unjustified usurpation of authority, they will be handing Trump — of all people — a serious escalation of imperial powers, regardless of whether the American people know it's a scam or not.
Chancellor Schicklgruber never had it so good.
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The Apostle Paul was knocked off his horse in a blinding flash. Emperor Constantine saw a burning white-hot cross in the sky. John the Divine cowered in his cave as he watched the stars fall.
Christianity has always been propelled forward by life-changing revelations.
My apocalyptic moment happened at a computer desk in a tiny studio apartment in the northern reaches of Manhattan, amid a clutter of papers and half-empty coffee cups.
But it was no less earth-shattering than if an angel with a flaming sword showed up at the door delivering the news.
I had struggled for months with a writing piece—a spiritual memoir, loosely modeled after Augustine's "Confessions." In it, I tried to make sense of the devout religion of my youth, with the hopes of finally figuring out the "real truth" about God.
But in a world with thousands of points of view, both religious and non-religious, I was still uncertain that my belief was based on something real, not just sentimentality or fear. I needed to know that my beliefs were something I could stand behind, not just a vestige of my evangelical Midwestern upbringing.
Had I ever really considered any other beliefs? Why was I still so focused just on one tradition? Was it just intellectual laziness? Force of habit?
I decided the only way to know was to approach religion scientifically. Some scholars claim that religion and science cover such differing areas of existence that there is no overlap, but I disagree. Both make claims about the universe and how it functions, those claims can be examined and tested, just like any other problem.
I would look at science texts, at religious texts, talk to people about what they believed, test my own assumptions for relative plausibility, and lay out all the evidence. Using my senses and the power of reason, I would get to the bottom of this.
It was, of course, going to take a phenomenally long time. Wiser men than I had dedicated their entire lives to this pursuit, and had still never gotten to the bottom of it. There was a huge amount of data to be considered. Thousands of books, millions of pages, hours upon hours of analysis and cogitation.
And somewhere in there I was still going to have to go to work, earn a living, eat, sleep, have a life. More to the point, I was going to need to find a way to live that life.
In the theater and other art forms, there is a concept called the "willing suspension of disbelief," which allows an audience member to join in the vivid and continuous dream unfolding on stage. I found myself trying to accomplish the opposite concept, the "willing suspension of belief," in which I held my Christian beliefs at a distance as I tried to examine the bigger picture.
It's hard to walk on eggshells before the Divine when you are used to just crawling into the Father's lap. But I muddled through, trying to be humble in my ignorance.
The bigger issue was adopting an ethical stance. Since my earliest childhood, I had lived under scrutiny of a divine eye, expecting that there would be consequences for my choices. Now I found myself feeling uncomfortably weightless with regard to moral choices.
Surely, even in my uncertainty, I could come up with something a little less shoddy than that.
I had long heard from my atheist friends that fear of divine retribution is far from the only source of morality. But how could I make sure I was still above reproach during my investigation? Would it be more genuine to base my behavior on kindness than on fear? On the well-being of the many? On what merely felt right?
This was wild, uncharted territory.
Without knowing exactly what I was doing, I embarked on my project. Rather than take on the major theological issues head-on, such as "Is there a God?" or "Did Jesus rise from the dead," I started first with a personal narrative. It seemed to make sense to set a baseline for what I believed, and to identify where my biases lie.
It was once I clawed my way through the history of all my belief-challenges to the present, and asked myself, "So now what?" that I had the first revelation of the night.
As I gazed at this ornate wall of belief that had been built by so many influences and experiences over the years, it dawned on me that it was going to be nearly impossible for me to achieve any level objectivity at all.
I believed what I believed. My biases were my biases, and that was probably it, at least for today. My fears and hopes and assumptions all operated within me in the same way as if they were facts empirically proven in the laboratory.
On one hand, the realization that I wasn't objective was OK. In fact, I realized that this was probably the case for many, if not everyone. Everyone approaches he world with their own frameworks, some of which they can see and some which they can't, which are either supported or contradicted by what they observe.
My background assumed the existence of God, a truth that was either going to have to be confirmed or falsified with evidence, if I was willing to consider it. Atheists assumed that it was possible for this universe to arise without help, and that ever-natural explanation was more likely than a supernatural one. Agnostics assumed that it was unknowable.
Even journalism, which had long been the bastion of supposed objectivity, had all but given up on the idea of objectivity, in favor of differing points of view. Today, anyone can call up a news network or website that fits his or her own belief structure.
This realization did not ruin my endeavor. The scientific method is built in such a way to overcome those biases, but it's OK to have them. In fact, hypothesis is encouraged.
In fact, after trying to hold my beliefs at arms length for so long, it was something of a relief to be able to admit that, despite my intentions, I believed. I just believed.
Many Christians would call this the best way to believe, an example of a kind of childlike faith. A faith beyond reason.
Of course, on the other hand, I found this unreasonable faith incredibly annoying. It seemed less than noble, if not totally irresponsible, to stake a claim in such an unsupported theology without evidence. Without first doing the hard work of digging to uncover the very bones of this system of belief.
But admitting that yes, indeed, I did believe, I believed in God and I believed in Jesus and the crucifixion and the resurrection and the whole of it, was like I was truly admitting who I was, after a long period of living in hiding.
I could finally pray to the God I knew.
In my funk, however, I realized that I had unlocked the secret to knowing how to proceed, or at least half of it. At any given point in my life—or perhaps in anyone's life—when it comes to making choices, I can only do what it is I know how to do. This is akin to the scripture that states that faith is a gift from God, and that each of us are expected to live in accordance to what we've been given.
The basis of my assumptions about the universe, what was expected of me, what I hoped and feared, was the accumulated knowledge that I had gathered through my lifetime. It was all I knew to do. As such, how could God expect me, or anyone, to do more than this?
Even as I considered this truth, the other half of the revelation dawned upon me. I still didn't know for sure if what I believed was absolutely, incontrovertibly true. Despite the long, storied history of the scriptures and the richness of the tradition I followed, the actual physical evidence to support even the existence of God, let alone all the details of the Bible and Gospels, was scant.
On the other side, there were solid philosophical arguments that posited that any explanation other than the supernatural were more likely than the ones put forth by Christianity.
And still, just outside the door, there were thousands of other points of view, both religious and non-religious, that claimed just as much authority on just as little evidence.
And even if I was utterly convinced that every word of the Bible were inherently written by God Himself, there was still a matter of understanding it. If one believes the Gospel stories, even the disciples who walked daily with Jesus expected him to emerge as a conquering king to overturn the Roman Empire. They had no idea that the plan involved death or resurrection, or any of the key tenets of the faith we have today. They had absolutely no idea what the story was until after it happened—and they were in it!
To quote the Apostle Paul, I still saw through a glass darkly, just as so many had before me.
The only way I could know I was being responsible, both in my reason and my faith, was to continue to keep an open mind to the next revelation. I would stand on the foundation of my current faith—in fact, I could do no better—but would have to hold onto it loosely enough to be ready when new information, be it physical evidence from the latest scientific journal or spiritual revelation from the Holy Spirit, taught me something new.
It is for this reason that you won't see me out in public, pounding on the cover of my Bible and telling everyone the error of their ways. I'm happy to tell you about my experience. I'm happy to tell you what I believe, what has been revealed to me. I'm happy to tell you about my answered prayers, about the miracles I've seen, about the hearings and financial rescues and dangers I've walked away from unscathed. I'm happy to tell you about the profound peace I experience when I walk into a church, or close my eyes in prayer.
But I know I don't know it all, and would be lying if I said I do.
My investigation still continues. In fact, in many ways, I've only just begun. I have a young son who asks me questions every day, which forces me to re-examine my assumptions over and over again.
Which I think is the way it's supposed to work. If I'm doing the best I know to do with what I've already learned, but constantly working to keep my mind open to the new, I'm not sure how anyone could ask more of me than that.
Because of this system of thought that came crashing into my apartment that dark night, I can finally feel that I'm being as responsible as I can to my intellectual and spiritual integrity, while still living a faith that I can stand behind and call my own.
Thanks -- but btw - there is no horse in Acts or in any letter of Paul. Caravaggio and other artists added the horse. And no donkey in the birth story either -- but who wants to be a literalist!!
1. Which 'faith'-system(s) requires me to climb a ladder for my Salvation --yet it is unassured?
2. Which 'faith'-system(s) has God come down the ladder for my Salvation --guaranteed?
When I got my answer, I picked that one.


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Ghana Hotels Association honours President Akufo-Addo-Ghanatoday.net
Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opared received the award on behalf of President Akufo-Addo
The Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) has honoured President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for demonstrating visionary and exemplary leadership in declaring 'The Year of Return' and ensuing its successful execution in 2019.
The Association presented a plaque and a citation christened "Significant Contribution Award" to the President for ensuring that the 'Year of Return' initiative impacted significantly on the tourism and hospitality sector and set the stage for accelerated growth of the industry.
The citation read, "For demonstrating strategic foresight in declaring 'Beyond the Return" to expand and harness the Ghanaian Diaspora dividend for the economic development of the nation in line with the Ghana Beyond Aid policy.
For demonstrating empathetic leadership by promoting domestic tourism for the expansion of the tourism and hospitality market in Ghana".
The event took place at the 4th GHA awards ceremony in Accra to celebrate deserving hoteliers and personalities who have distinguished themselves in 2019.
The programme was held under the theme: "Reducing Hotel Rates in Ghana: Role of Government and Hotel Operators".
Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the Chief of Staff, who received the award and in a statement read on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, commended the Association for the honour done him saying " I am truly humbled and very grateful'.
President Akufo-Addo on September 2018 at the Washington Press Club in the United States proclaimed 2019 as the "Year of Return" which commemorated the 400th anniversary of the time when the first 20 West African slaves were brought to the Commonwealth of Virginia, which subsequently became part of the United States of America, thereby initiating one of the most unfortunate and barbaric Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
The President said 2019 was a monumental year for the tourism industry as there was a steady flow of visitors, rising to a crescendo in December 2019.
He said throughout the year, businesses across the value chain-airlines, hotels, car rentals, and restaurants reported significant growth in numbers, adding that through the initiative and backed by a strong marketing push, the country had seen a year-on-year increase in hotel occupancy rate.
Some hotels were on record to have experienced more than double the occupancy rate than they did the year before.
To sustain the interest and solidify the impact of the 'Year of Return', President Akufo-Addo announced another initiative, "Beyond the Return" which is a 10-year programme that seeks to influence several core areas of the country's relationship with the diaspora and provide business opportunities across the tourism value chain.
He said Ghana was chosen by the African Union to host the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area, stressing that the opportunity would boost the tourism and hospitality sector greatly and urged the hotels to maximize the full benefits of the initiative.
President Akufo-Addo said the theme underscores the need for shared responsibility between the public and private sector players in order to deal with the challenges confronting the industry.
"I have asked the Madam Barbara Oteng Gyasi, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture to fast-track the ongoing discussions with the Trade, Industry and Tourism Sub-Committee of Parliament on the challenges that the multiplicity of regulatory mandates and fees poses to hoteliers".
"We must all work together through engagements to ensure that we keep hotel prices down and thereby lay a solid foundation for the growth of the Ghanaian tourism industry", he said.
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