text:
Mind Control–Psy Ops–Propaganda–and Disinformation
Sut Jhally: " If you can control the stories, you don't need to have soldiers on the street corners to control them. You can control people in their own heads and their own imaginations. On one hand it's really depressing because it's like: How do you then get out of it? Because there's no way you can have control of the media, there's no way you can compete with these stories that are told thousands of times a day. Through advertising, through programming, through newspapers. Through the Internet now, through video games, through all kinds of ways…. the reason that actually gives me some optimism is, that capitalism has to do that. That unless it does that, they know that things will fall apart. Capitalism in that sense is like a house of cards. A house of cards that has to be constantly held together. We have to be told every single day what this story is. And they have to do it every day because it's unnatural. If it was natural they wouldn't have to do it. And if they stop, they know that in fact it would fall apart…. the amount of time they have to spend convincing us about [the] value of the society, is in fact what gives me hope – that there's an alternative, just actually – just below the surface. And that alternative is much more human, much more compassionate, it's much more connected to concern for other people, it's much more connected to concern for the planet. And that it's being held down by this incredible and relentless propaganda system. Psywar – The Real Battlefield Is In The Mind (2010)
Subverting Medicine:
The Role of the Federation of State Medical Boards
Where does the FSMB derive its authority to regulate U.S. medical boards and, through its apparent international partner, the IAMRA, direct medical councils around the world to discipline doctors?
Open Letter to Oliver Stone On the Wisdom of Pursuing Nuclear Power
Oliver Stone is finishing a new documentary advocating nuclear power. This Open Letter evaluates some of the risks & consequences of pursuing nuclear power as our species' primary energy source.
Why The West's Strategy in Ukraine Is So Dangerous
The trouble over Ukraine started at NATO's Bucharest summit in April 2008, when G.W. Bush's administration pushed the alliance to announce Ukraine and Georgia "will become members".
On the Edge of a Nuclear Abyss
It is very hard to accept that the leaders of your own country commit and contemplate unspeakable evil deeds and that they wish to control your mind. To contemplate that they might once again use nuclear weapons is unspeakable but necessary if we…
By using Ukraine to fight Russia, the US provoked Putin's war
Rather than end the proxy war that it helped start in Ukraine, the US has only fueled it over the last eight years with billions in weapons, a drive to incorporate Ukraine into NATO, an expansion of US offensive weapons around Russia, and a…
NATO Expansion: What Gorbachev Heard
US Sec. of State James Baker's famous "not one inch eastward" assurance about NATO expansion with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on February 9, 1990, was part of a cascade of assurances about Soviet security given by Western leaders to Gorbachev…
Chilling Pandemic Data from the Insurance Industry
Publicly reported death rates demonstrates trends and the significant impacts of COVID-19 reflected in "huge" and unprecedented death rate increases among working-age people in the U.S.
Jan 2022: Indiana life insurance CEO says deaths are up 40% among people ages 18-64
We have been living through the most massive, globally coordinated propaganda and censorship campaign in the history of the human race. All major mass media and the social media technology companies have coordinated to stifle and suppress any…
JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass by Oliver Stone
JFK Revisited emphatically shows why JFK's assassination is crucial for understanding the United States today. For without a clear and unambiguous accounting of why he was killed and by whom (I do not mean the actual shooters), and who in the…
President John F. Kennedy: His Life and Public Assassination
To understand why and by whom he was assassinated on November 22, 1963, one needs to apprehend this pressure and the reasons why President Kennedy consistently resisted it, as well as the consequences of that resistance. It is a key to understanding…
Conscience and The Nuremberg Code
Informed Consent, Censorship, and Inalienable Rights
Each one of us must decide for our self how we perceive our world and what we choose to act upon, stand up for and stand with. I appreciate how Charles Eisenstein frames this: "Don't let me or anyone else tell you what to do or when to do it. We are…
U.S. Terrorism 101: The Bert Sacks Story
Thus did Kate Pflaumer, in an act of conscience and upholding her legal obligation as an attorney, call the U.S a terrorist state. This probably never would have happened without the non-violent hammer of Bert Sacks, who over the years has made nine…
Colonel L. Fletcher Prouty on The Pentagon Papers
"In this book, I have used various editions of the Pentagon Papers as reference material. They are useful and they are quite accurate as far as individual documents go, but they are dangerous in the hands of those who do not have the experience or…
Edward Curtin: An Invitation to Seeking Truth in a Country of Lies
In putting together this selection of essays, I was reminded of what Albert Camus once wrote: "A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his…
Doug Valentine's MKULTRA Files Retrieved via FOIA
Archive of Doug Valentine's files on MKULTRA that he pried loose from the CIA


Few things are as illustrative of life in the modern US and UK than the way we handle our elections.
Idolized by some, demonized by others, mystifying to many, they embody our most lofty principles while exposing the limitations and vagaries of our media and our political systems, often in ways which are hard to explain, and even harder to justify. For our students, witnessing a real election, particularly a general or presidential race, can be an exhilarating opportunity to learn about the process itself, but also about how that process reflects the history of the nation, how its people view their own leaders and how media and money play a role.
Holding your own presidential election in an ESL classroom is easier and quicker than you might think. All that's required are a couple of fictional candidates, each with a well-defined platform, some debating skills and question forms, and then a free ballot at the end. I thoroughly enjoy this exercise because it allows my students to learn about themselves and each other, and to practice a range of very useful language in an entertaining and relevant setting.
How often do elections happen in your country?
How old must you be to vote?
Does everyone have to vote? Is everyone allowed to?
Who are you voting for? A president, prime minister, representative, etc?
How do candidates try to persuade the public?
Is there ever 'negative campaigning'?
Do candidates engage in 'spin'?
These last two concepts will probably have to be taught in advance; they will be very important in this exercise.
Each student then describes the electoral system of their partner's country. You'll probably find a lot of variety, especially if you have a mixed-nationality class.
From the outset, I urge you to be careful. Many of our students come from nations whose governments are not democratic, and more often than you might think, they're completely fine with that. I've had Saudi students marveling at the rank inefficiency of multi-party politics; who, in 2015, would laud the ability of the US Congress to get things done?
Remember, simply because it's different from more familiar systems doesn't make it bad. I'm no apologist for China's human rights record; their hard-line government has, on the other hand, turned an agrarian backwater into a world-leading economic powerhouse. Try to leave your preconceptions at the door.
This 38-year old woman has six years' experience as a Congresswoman. Her business activities have included consulting for uranium mining companies. She is separated from her husband, who has agreed to suspend their lengthy and difficult divorce proceedings during her presidential campaign. She has an excellent record of supporting the poor, especially during the recent economic crisis, and has never accepted campaign funding from organizations which harm the environment. She has, however, accepted money from major banks who hope to slow the debate on regulation. Her doctorate is in visual arts from a small, relatively unknown college.
A 67-year old political veteran with lots of experience but lots of enemies. He has voted against increased funding for troops in Iraq, but continues to write unusual requests for money to contact aliens using NASA equipment. He has four children, one of whom has twice been arrested for possession of recreational drugs. He has fought to reduce taxes on everyone, including the poor, and believes that private companies can run healthcare more efficiently than the government can. He had a heart attack six years ago but appears to have made a complete recovery and recently ran the Boston marathon.
The daughter of a wealthy shipping family, and able to fund her campaign independently, Ms. Hailsham has had a varied relationship with the media. For several years she was seen as America's No. 1 playgirl, attending the most lavish parties, driving around in sports cars and getting involved in numerous short relationships. Since then she has reformed, and her image has improved; she has worked closely with charities, won a seat in Congress with a large majority, and successfully campaigned for the protection of rare animals.
Divide the class into three teams and assign a candidate to each.
The task is simple. Read the background information on the candidate, and prepare to do two things: 1) Defend their record and downplay their failures; 2) Prepare to attack your opponents by criticizing their records and highlighting their failures.
Senator Philips, how can you justify spending money on contacting aliens when there are more bigger problems here on Earth?
Dr. Kilkenny, how can you be trusted to handle environmental issues when you have such close friendships with the nuclear industry?
The debate will be noisy, rancorous, and full of invective and spin - at least we hope so! Give this section plenty of time, so that all of your students have the chance to ask, answer and rebut. Then call a secret ballot; the students should now divorce themselves from their candidate and vote entirely on their own conscience. Ask them which of the three candidates would genuinely make the best President of the United States, serving the people and protecting the constitution. Perhaps give them a few moments' pair-work time to review the debate and bring into focus what they learned about each candidate.
I never fail to enjoy our classroom elections.
The exercise can be extended to include interviews not only on electoral systems but on political opinions the preparation of speeches and op-ed articles, and endless research opportunities into campaign finance, congressional deadlock and government shutdowns, the power of veto, and other topics.


I have owned a bread machine for many years. I used it a lot with packaged bread machine mixes when I first got it. The bread was good, but kind of an awkward sized loaf and odd crust. I recently pulled my bread machine out of the garage cabinet, did a little research and found that it can also be used to make dough from "scratch" for many yummy items that you can bake in your oven!
Determined to make some economic Christmas presents, I looked up a bread machine recipe for Hoska, a Czech Christmas bread my Bohemian grandmother, Nana, used to make. I made 12 loaves to enjoy with my family and give as gifts to family and friends. It was a big hit and cost very little, just time, which I have a lot of at the moment.
I have also started making my own pizza with dough made in the bread machine, homemade pizza sauce, hand grated mozzarella and other cheeses and toppings. I made cinnamon rolls from scratch, our traditional Christmas morning breakfast (formerly used Pillsbury Grand rolls) and made rosemary garlic sandwich rolls for New Year's Day ham and cheese sandwiches (see picture above). I guess you could say I'm on a roll! (I know, bad bun pun!).
My grandmother was a great baker, I'm sure she is looking down on me from heaven very proud! It has been a lot of creative fun during the holidays. I will be posting recipes I have found to be successful with my White Westinghouse 1.5 lb capacity bread machine. Search the tag "Bread Machine" on this site to find my favorite recipes.
Tip: If you have a bread machine, you can save a lot of $ by making your own baked goods for home and using for gifts!


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Листопадно растение е растение, което губи сезонно листата си за част от годината в процес известен като листопад. В някои случаи това съвпада със зимата, а именно в умерения и полярния климат. В други части на света като тропици, субтропици и сухи области растенията губят листата си през сухия сезон или в зависимост от промените във валежите.

Много листопадни цъфтят докато още нямат листа и това увеличава ефективността на опрашването. Липсата на листа подобрява пренасянето на прашеца при опрашваните от вятъра растения и подобрява видимостта на цветовете при опрашването от насекоми.

Противоположни на листопадните са вечнозелените растения.

Външни препратки
 Lemon, P. C. (1961). Forest ecology of ice storms. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 88: 21.
 Deciduous Forest Biome

Ботаника
Периодични явления

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


THE fall began more than two yearsago with the collapse of several high-interest-paying investment companies, includingthe famous – or infamous, to some –Villalobos Brothers, realtors say.As the companies closed down or wereshut down by authorities, many foreignersfound themselves without the savings thathad allowed them to live in 3,000-squarefoothomes with swimming pools, overlookinggolf courses in gated communities.They were forced to move out of their$3,000-a-month digs into more affordablehousing.And when the bottom dropped, rentswere not far behind. Prices fell 30-50%,according to Eddie Fridovich of Aliter Corporation(289-4200, www.alitercorp.com).Several years later, prices have stabilizedbut remain 25-33% lower than theywere three years ago, he said.PRICES began to stabilize lastSeptember, agreed Les Nunez of RE/MAXFirst Realty (290-3183, www.remax-firstcr.com). And because construction of luxurycondominiums continues, there is littlesign of them rising again, he added.A 3,000-square-foot home or condominiumin the western suburb of Escazú orSanta Ana, southwest of the capital, in agated community such as Valle del Sol orVilla Real, can be had for $2,000 a month,according to Nunez. Homes that rented for$2,500 when the rental boom was going onnow rent for $1,500, he added.THE rest of the rental market has notseen such a shift.A 2,000-square-foot home in Escazúrents for approximately $1,200, Nunezsaid. Fridovich agrees that a fully furnished,two-bedroom townhouse in Escazúcan be found for $900-1,100.Meanwhile, rental prices for "entry-levelhousing," which Nunez classifies astwo to three bedrooms for $700-800 amonth, are steadily increasing.More people are looking for lessexpensive rentals, while developers havebeen more focused on building luxuryhousing; therefore supply is limited, heexplained.However, he added, deals can befound, particularly in Heredia, north of SanJosé. For example, in Lagunilla deHeredia, Nunez was offering clients 1,100-square-foot, three-bedroom condos, in asecure complex, for $550. Prices in thisrange and up can be found in Rohrmoser,west of San José, and La Sabana, he said.Fridovich pointed to the areas of Alajuela, northwest of San José,Heredia and Orotina, west of the capital,for more affordable, older homes. Athree- to five-bedroom house of approximately3,000 square feet will rent for$600-700, he said, whereas in Escazú ahome of similar size would cost closerto $3,000.A glance through the classified sectionof The Tico Times or the daily LaNación reveals homes at all price ranges,starting at $300 a month.DEVELOPERS may start buildingmore housing in the lower range, Nunezsaid, instead of the high-end condominiumsthat have come to characterizeEscazú.However, many developers havealready made land acquisitions at highprices, and must follow through withtheir high-end plans."Those who have had land for awhilecan now build a more acceptable product,"Nunez said. "In Lomas San Rafael(in Escazú), there is a developer thatacquired the land a while ago, and now ison phase three and four of the development,so he can scale things back a bitand offer some excellent pricing."GENERALLY speaking, furnishedunits run $200-300 a month more thanunfurnished ones."Furnished is a very subjective wordhere. It could mean it has light fixtures orit has appliances or it has appliances plusfurniture," Nunez said.Beyond clarifying what is meant byfurnished, Fridovich suggests renters aska lot of questions."Make sure it has Internet, cable,find out who pays the water bills, andmake sure they can actually deliver thebill," he said.BEACH rentals have not seen thesame fluctuation in rental prices, accordingto Tomas Ghormley, owner ofCentury 21 in Jacó, on the central Pacificcoast (654-3356, www.c21jaco.com).Properties are rented primarily toNorth Americans who come to CostaRica for the three to six months of thenorthern winter.A nice one- to two- bedroom condoon the beach in a complex with a poolstarts at $1,500 a month, Ghormley said.Moving a few blocks from the beachmeans a one-bedroom apartment can befound for $500 a month.Almost all beach rental propertiescome completely furnished, and somecome with maid service. Higher-endmonthly rentals can also be found inhotel or condominium resorts, whichoffer all the comforts of a home alongwith the restaurants, bars and amenitiesof a hotel, Ghormley said.Beach rentals in Guanacaste rangefrom $1,000-10,000, he said.


There are other renovations that are quite simply a waste of time and money. Take the following for example.
A swimming pool. On the one hand, if you live in a place where the climate is forever warm and sunny, this may be a worthy investment when looking to add value. On the other hand, if the warm weather is purely seasonal, there may be more you can do to your garden to add value to your property. And besides, not everybody wants a swimming pool, especially worried parents who may consider this watery deathtrap a health and safety nightmare.
New plumbing or electrical systems. If the home buyer can't see the work you have put into the property, why bother? Yes, you may be proud of the pipes you have installed under your home, and the changes to your electrics may add more functionality to the property, but if you are planning on showing your house to a buyer, they will be more impressed with your conservatory than the work you have done behind the walls.
Wall-to-wall carpeting. If your carpets are in a state of repair, then, by all means, replace them. Be aware, however, that the carpet designs you go for may not suit prospective home buyers, so you need to exercise caution. Either go for something neutral, with those colours that are unlikely to offend the buyer, or consider polishing and sanding down the wood underneath, letting the buyer opt for carpets later if they don't like the hardwood flooring.
Remodelling a room to your taste. As with carpeting, you need to allow the buyer room to choose what they do with the house themselves. So filling the kitchen with high-end equipment, or transforming a room into something specific, such as a home office or a games room, is an entirely pointless exercise if the buyer is looking for something different. Leave the personal touches to the property you are moving into.
Adding a summer house. A summer house is a great feature for those who want it, but again, it's not for everybody. Home buyers will have their own ideas for a garden, and like the swimming pool we mentioned earlier, a summer house will only get in the way of their vision.
Replacing the windows. Okay, so there may be drafts of air coming through your windows, and you wouldn't want this putting off any prospective buyers. But it can cost you a small fortune to replace, especially if you then have to match the other windows around the property. Unless your windows are in a terrible state of repair, don't worry about your home losing value because of them. Seal any gaps with caulking, and you will hide any evidence that there was a problem in the first place.
Rather than wasting money on those things that don't add value, consider the ideas we mentioned earlier; those renovations that will add worth to your property. It makes more financial sense, not only for you but for the poor home buyer as well, as they may have to spend a fortune down the line putting right the inconvenient extras you added to the property.


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Richard Lichtheim (ur. 16 lutego 1885 w Berlinie, zm. 29 kwietnia 1963 w Jerozolimie) – niemiecko-izraelski działacz syjonistyczny, polityk, redaktor naczelny syjonistycznej gazety "Die Welt".

Pochodził z rodziny zasymilowanych niemieckich Żydów, jako syn dostawcy zboża Georga Lichtheima (1849-1908) i Clary z domu Pollack (1857-1896). Ukończył Bismarck-Gymnasium w Berlinie-Wilmersdorf w 1904 roku, po czym studiował w Berlinie i we Fryburgu Bryzgowijskim. Już w pierwszym semestrze studiów zaangażował się w ruch syjonistyczny. Wstąpił do organizacji "Hasmonäa" Egona Rosenberga w 1902 roku. Po śmierci ojca i otrzymaniu znacznego spadku zaangażował się jeszcze silniej w działalność syjonistyczną. Na początku 1910 roku po raz pierwszy wyjechał do Palestyny. W tym samym roku został wybrany na przewodniczącego Zionistische Vereinigung für Deutschland. W 1911 roku wyjechał do Konstantynopolu, gdzie poznał przyszłą żonę Irene Hafter. W 1911 przedstawił "Das Programm des Zionismus". W 1913 ponownie w Konstantynopolu, W 1916 roku oskarżony o szpiegostwo, musiał powrócić do Berlina. W maju 1917 został członkiem egzekutywy Zionistische Weltorganisation w Berlinie i przewodniczącym Zionistische Vereinigung für Deutschland. Po zakończeniu I wojny zdecydował się emigrować do Palestyny; w tym celu wraz z rodziną wyjechał do Holandii, skąd łatwiej byłoby o pozwolenie na wyjazd. Jednak stamtąd w lutym 1921 na polecenie Chaima Weizmana przeniósł się do Londynu, gdzie miał przyłączyć się do komitetu syjonistycznego. Od 1923 z powrotem w Berlinie. W 1925 związał się z ruchem syjonistyczno-rewizjonistycznym Władmimira Żabotyńskiego. (1880–1940). W 1933 razem z Meirem Grossmannem (1888–1964) założył Jüdische Staatspartei. W 1934 wyemigrował do Palestyny.

Autor opracowań na temat historii ruchu syjonistycznego, pozostawił autobiografię (She'ar yashuv: Zikhronot ziyoni mi-Germayah). Jego synem był George Lichtheim.

Prace
 Der Aufbau des jüdischen Palästina. Jüdischer Verlag, 1919
 Die Geschichte des deutschen Zionismus. Jerusalem: R. Maas, 1954
 Toldot ha-Tsiyonut be-Germanyah (1951)

Bibliografia
 Franz Menges: Lichtheim Richard W: Neue Deutsche Biographie Bd. 14, ss. 466-467
 Walter Laqueur: America, Europe, and the Soviet Union: Selected Essays. Transaction Publishers, 1983  ss. 177-179

Urodzeni w 1885
Syjoniści
Zmarli w 1963


text:
#ifndef _LINUX_BULKMEM_H
#define _LINUX_BULKMEM_H

/* For GetFirstRegion and GetNextRegion */
typedef struct region_info_t {
    u_int		Attributes;
    u_int		CardOffset;
    u_int		RegionSize;
    u_int		AccessSpeed;
    u_int		BlockSize;
    u_int		PartMultiple;
    u_char		JedecMfr, JedecInfo;
    memory_handle_t	next;
} region_info_t;

#define REGION_TYPE		0x0001
#define REGION_TYPE_CM		0x0000
#define REGION_TYPE_AM		0x0001
#define REGION_PREFETCH		0x0008
#define REGION_CACHEABLE	0x0010
#define REGION_BAR_MASK		0xe000
#define REGION_BAR_SHIFT	13

int pcmcia_get_first_region(client_handle_t handle, region_info_t *rgn);
int pcmcia_get_next_region(client_handle_t handle, region_info_t *rgn);

#endif /* _LINUX_BULKMEM_H */

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We all have weaknesses but what are appropriate to share in a job interview, and how can you be honest without reducing your chances of getting the job? Here's how to approach this difficult question.
There is no better feeling than going for an interview for a job you really want and feeling like you are sailing through. You are answering the questions well, you are showcasing your fantastic experience and skillset and then the interviewer hits you with the one question that can stop the most prepared of interviewees in their tracks; what are your weaknesses?
It may seem weird that you are there to show off what you are good at, and then they are asking you a question where the answer could potentially hinder your chances of getting hired.
Why Do Interviews Ask About Your Weaknesses?
In order to answer this question well, it's important to understand why they ask the question in the first place.
The interviewer is trying to get past the 'interview façade' that potential employees put on when they are interviewing for a new job. Everyone is doing their best to impress when it comes to interviews, but these weakness questions are there to see the real you and see how self-aware you are.
This is where you can either keep your cool and give a great answer or potentially say something that may affect your chances of getting the job.
How Can The Weakness Question Be Asked?
There are a few ways an interviewer can ask this question.
So, how should you answer the weakness question and improve your chances of getting the job?
Once you have stated what your weakness is, it is best to then say what you are doing to turn this weakness into a strength. This shows that you can identify weaknesses, can find ways to learn and grow and will take the initiative when needed.
Applicant (Structural Engineer): I would say my biggest weakness is presenting and speaking to large groups of people. I know this is something I need to improve on as my career develops so I have been reading books on public speaking and pitching for new business to improve my knowledge and skillset and try and put this into practice in my working day.
To sum up, it is important to choose a weakness that is fairly small and can be worked on, isn't a major barrier to you undertaking the responsibilities of the role and should be answered concisely and sincerely.
To explore structural engineering jobs click here.


Even if you think you are a poor writer today, you can learn how to take your simple essay and transform it into something much more effective. Adding some of the winning elements from the sample essays below will give you the extra marks you need to become a high-scorer on the IELTS. If you feel that you cannot cope with your IELTS assignment, CustomWritings - essay writing service is available 24/7 to help you.


Apartment EG37-43 - Notting Hill Apartments Ltd.
This stylish, bright and spacious fourth floor studio apartment has recently been fully refurbished. It is ideally located in a quiet street in South Kensington yet a few steps away from all that London has to offer.
The studio has been cleverly designed, using exposed brickwork and wood floors to give warmth, bespoke joinery and atmospheric lighting for a contemporary feel. The enormous window and tall ceilings ensure a bright and spacious feel.
The Clei bed system ensures your comfort, both when used as a sofa or when converted into double bed using Clei's effortless mechanism. Custom made joinery includes plenty of storage and wardrobe space together with a recessed smart TV for access to your favourite streaming or freeview programs. A small table and chairs offers a place to eat or park your laptop.
The modern, wood veneered kitchen has the advantage of being slightly separate from the studio area. It includes premium brand appliances from Smeg and everything you need for meals in, from crockery and cutlery to pots and pans.
The newly installed bathroom has a large walk in power shower with separate hand shower for a refreshing start to the day and underfloor heating provides comfort through the seasons.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a pretty area and home to some of the most expensive residential property in the world. It is also one of the most popular London destinations due to its wealth of museums, iconic London landmarks, galleries and shopping and eating possibilities. These are all within walking distance of the apartment. Despite the area's affluence there are plenty of eating and shopping choices for all budgets.
South Kensington has great transport links for getting around London with several bus stops and a tube station just a few minutes walk away.


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Jean Durand, född 8 januari 1865, död 11 oktober 1936, var en fransk politiker.

Durand var deputerad 1906-19 och från 1920 medlem av senaten, där han anslöt sig till demokratiska och radikal-socialistiska vänstern. Han var jordbruksminister i Paul Painlevés bägge regeringar 1925 och i Aristide Briands av november 1925. När Aristide Briand i mars 1926 och sedan i juni samma år omformade sin ministär, blev Durand inrikesminister. Durand var undervisningsminister i Camille Chautemps regering 1930.

Källor
 Svensk uppslagsbok. Malmö 1931.

Franska politiker
Frankrikes jordbruksministrar
Frankrikes utbildningsministrar
Frankrikes inrikesministrar
Födda 1865
Avlidna 1936
Män


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Q: SOAP Server for testing purposes I'm fairly new to web services. I have a requirement to create a SOAP client for my current employer. The issue is, the SOAP server is being built by our Vendor and is still many months away; however, I need to start building the client now. I've tried to find a way to easily build a SOAP server (I was hoping there was an online way of doing this) to return mock data in the format I need. I'd prefer not to actually have to code the server if it was at all possible.
I hope this makes sense and any help would be appreciated.

A: SoapUI is a tool which (among other things) allows you to create SOAP mocks, which you can setup to prepare and build your SOAP client.
Once you create a basic mock using a sample service, you can customise the request definition to your needs.
https://www.soapui.org/soap-mocking/getting-started.html
You can also pass in a WSDL if you have one available.

A: You can also take a look at Karate which now has the capability to easily create mock HTTP responses that can be JSON or XML.
This is explained more in this blog post.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Bidens Drug Czar Is Leading the Charge for a Harm Reduction Approach
MANCHESTER, N.H.– During a recent interview right here, Dr. Rahul Gupta, President Biden's medicine czar, seemed on the brink of sustaining a radical change in U.S. medication control policy.
Requested his sights on supervised usage websites, where individuals bring their own medications to take under the supervision of qualified workers in situation they overdose– a concept approved in Canada and also Europe however still practically unlawful in the United States under federal regulation– Dr. Gupta's eyes illuminated. He paused, capturing himself, and stated he might not consider in yet.
The Justice Department is anticipated to soon decide whether one organized site that it blocked 3 years ago can run, providing even more understanding into the Biden administration's sights on the concept. Many public wellness specialists think it might help stem a record variety of overdose fatalities greatly triggered by synthetic fentanyl.
"All of us are enthusiastically waiting" for the division to weigh in, Dr. Gupta stated.
Assistance for monitored intake from the Biden administration would certainly be a significant turning point in exactly how the government addresses an epidemic of dependency as well as overdoses that has endured for decades as well as currently claims more than 100,000 lives a year. As opposed to discouraging substance abuse, such websites aim to maintain users from dying, with experienced workers supplying syringes as well as other sterile tools for working as well as using medicines to reverse overdoses right away.
Dr. Gupta is already supervising what professionals describe as the most modern government medicine strategy since his office's beginning.
The method mainly hinges on the concept of damage decrease, concentrated out assisting drug addict attain abstinence yet on reducing their risk of dying or acquiring infectious diseases. A main piece is supplying sterile needles to utilize in injecting medications, devices to examine medications for fentanyl as well as various other lethal materials, as well as naloxone, a medicine that can restore people who have overdosed. Mr. Biden is the very first president to sustain the strategy.
"It's late by, I don't recognize, a couple of years," Alex Kral, an epidemiologist and medicine plan professional at RTI International, a nonprofit research study organization, said of the White House support for the technique.
Dr. Gupta's remarks in New Hampshire came days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced that overdoses rose again to record-breaking levels in 2021, nearing 108,000, a year-to-year rise of almost 15 percent. The recent surge has actually struck Native and black American neighborhoods particularly hard.
The administration has stated it aims to decrease overdose fatalities by 13 percent by 2025. Without even more damage decrease interventions, Dr. Gupta claimed, 165,000 individuals might fatally overdose every year by 2025.
Dr. Gupta, in the eyes of some dependency experts, is a not likely flag-bearer for the method. Just four years earlier, he was criticized for the death of harm reduction programs in Charleston, W.Va., after he approved a record criticizing one heavily secondhand site, bring about its decertification.
He currently says the closure of the Charleston program was a significant mistake; in an interview, he highlighted that he had sustained more than a lots injury reduction programs in West Virginia when he was overseeing public wellness there.
Dr. Gupta describes fentanyl– not the pharmaceutical kind, yet an artificial variation generated in illicit research laboratories, commonly in Mexico– as a "Pandora's box" in the nation's medication supply. Small distinctions in quantity can imply the distinction in between a medicine user's typical dosage as well as one that is fatal since it is strong and sold in varying formulations. It is commonly combined with energizers like methamphetamine as well as cocaine, or pushed right into counterfeit prescription tablets used not just to chronic drug addict yet to exploring teenagers.
A current study of illicit pills seized by the drug enforcement authorities discovered that a considerable share of pills marketed as OxyContin, Xanax or the attention deficit disorder drug Adderall currently contain fentanyl. Xylazine, a pet depressant that can have rough effects on humans, has also recently played a role in a higher share of overdose fatalities.
Naloxone, a medication invented in the 1960s that can promptly reverse opioid overdoses, took many years to find into traditional usage in the United States, with government firms unwilling to research and fund its usage until the last years, specialists claimed. The F.D.A. approved the initial generic naloxone nasal spray only in 2019. Syringe exchanges, currently readily available in roughly 40 states, were additionally slow to obtain broad acceptance.
Naloxone is currently fundamental to the nation's efforts to curb overdose fatalities. Observing a naloxone training session at a style firm in New Hampshire that keeps the drug on website, Dr. Gupta observed that he had actually expanded acquainted with the dummies made use of for such demos.
The objectives set out by the drug control office show how much it has progressed because 1988, when it was developed to pursue a "drug-free" America. Its very early leaders had histories in police, resulting in even more interest to medication trafficking than dependency.
A lot more recent medication czars have actually avoided law-and-order atmospherics as well as highlighted addiction; one of Barack Obama's choices for the job, Michael Botticelli, was himself a former drug addict.
Dr. Gupta is the very first clinical physician to inhabit the function, after serving as the health and wellness commissioner in a state– West Virginia– that has continually had among the highest prices of overdose deaths in current years.
Dr. Dan Ciccarone, a teacher of household and area medication at the University of California, San Francisco, claimed that Dr. Gupta's arrival at the White House was the culmination of the shift from the moralistic discussion around drugs, criticizing users and vendors, to a strategy treating the problem as a wellness situation, with acceptance of substance abuse.
"It came to be a professional trouble that ought to be handed over to the physicians," he stated. "This is the anti-shame approach: 'We love you; we're worried regarding you; let's assist you be ready.'"
Dr. Gupta is still trailed by accusations that by condemning the Charleston needle exchange with the audit that he and also his colleagues there released in 2018, he had actually weakened the progression West Virginia had made in applying harm reduction programs. A large H.I.V. break out amongst individuals who inject medications– and a pungent C.D.C. record– followed.
State legislators piggybacked on the report in 2014 and also passed an expense that drastically limited how syringe exchange programs might run, asking for identification as well as the return of made use of needles– both deterrents to the drug users the programs are meant to assist, professionals stated. It also intimidated penalties for websites that did not abide by the brand-new policies.
"There were a variety of regions readied to open programs that after that really did not," said Joe Solomon, the creator of Solutions Oriented Addiction Response, or SOAR, which ran a syringe exchange program in Charleston. "They couldn't afford that resistance in their communities."
Mr. Solomon claimed that Dr. Gupta was now gaining from a much more comfy political atmosphere in which to promote damage decrease, with "a renewal of research study as well as momentum" behind it.
Dr. Ciccarone, that pressed Dr. Gupta to extra vocally sustain injury reduction after the Charleston syringe exchange was shut down, called him "changed."
"He sees the beauty of harm reduction, the need of harm decrease," he stated. "Because crisis times are calling for determined actions, we require to place all the tools out."
Previously in his profession, Dr. Gupta exercised medicine in Alabama and also at a safety net hospital in Nashville, experiences he said had actually brightened the social as well as economic causes of addiction, especially among the poor.
Already, Dr. Gupta stated, several states and also cities are only simply beginning to have conversations concerning the benefits of injury reduction. Naloxone can be tough and pricey to find in some components of the nation, he said; in a recent evaluation of overdose deaths in 2019 and also 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention located that naloxone had been provided in just about 20 percent of the situations. He is currently talking to Food as well as Drug Administration regulators about permitting naloxone to be marketed over-the-counter, which might enhance gain access to as well as affordability.
He has chatted up harm reduction this year in Salt Lake City as well as in Kentucky, where local health and wellness divisions across the state have actually taken up syringe exchange programs.
There are now more than 80 such programs statewide, stated Van Ingram, the supervisor of Kentucky's drug control plan workplace, indicating it an example of bipartisanship in harm decrease policymaking. Local health officials, he included, "had to take the uneasy placements with the same people they stand in line with at Kroger."
During a check out to Maine's state prison this month, Dr. Gupta praised a drug therapy program for opioid dependency, an additional element of harm decrease initiatives that dependency experts claim is essential to stemming overdoses amongst the incarcerated and also after launch.
As fentanyl continues to pound areas, Dr. Gupta states that the Biden administration has actually adopted a consider-everything attitude. It has actually relocated to loosen limitations on recommending buprenorphine, an anti-craving medication. Fentanyl test strips, which can now be bought with federal gives, are one tool that needs to be extra extensively embraced, Dr. Gupta stated, citing drug individuals as an instance of that might benefit.
"They do not recognize there's a new contaminant in this," he stated. "And then they'll die. Is that reasonable? Is that right?"
A Justice Department decision on monitored intake– connected to the Philadelphia situation– could enable websites to work without worry of disturbance by federal authorities. The resolution could also offer the White House an open up to openly support the choice.
"The Department is examining supervised consumption websites, including discussions with state as well as regional regulatory authorities regarding proper guardrails for such sites, as part of an overall technique to damage reduction and public safety," a Justice Department spokeswoman stated in a statement.
Dr. Gupta warned in interviews that study on monitored usage websites in the United States was almost missing, as the first licensed sites opened just last November. A 2021 evaluation of 22 researches from other nations found that such websites "might decrease the risk of overdose morbidity and mortality and also boost access to care while not boosting criminal offense or public nuisance to the surrounding neighborhood."
Lots of Republican governors and state legislatures in recent years expanded extra responsive to needle exchanges and also naloxone as overdose deaths reached once-unthinkable levels. The Trump administration additionally sustained them, as well as medication-assisted treatment, in which customers get much less powerful opioids under clinical guidance to fend off withdrawal symptoms as well as stem cravings.
Some lawmakers still reveal pain with harm reduction devices, not least fentanyl strips, which are acquiring acceptance even in some conservative states however stay prohibited in others. A current uproar regarding so-called "fracture pipes" in a harm decrease give program demonstrated how the idea still deals with deep pockets of resistance and can be weaponized politically. Supervised intake websites remain a specific lightning rod.
At a recent hearing examining the National Drug Control Strategy, which Mr. Gupta's office looks after, Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, claimed, "I'm concerned that making drugs more available is what this administration calls medicine control."
Mr. Grassley wryly kept in mind that contrasted to reasonably couple of mentions of counterfeit pills, the expression "injury decrease" appeared 198 times in the new strategy.
Advocates of harm decrease state that Dr. Gupta still requires to push for even more government gives for such programs and that legislators should remove a limitation on making use of federal cash to acquire syringes for needle exchanges.
The first government gives for damage decrease groups, a $30 million program funded by the American Rescue Plan, were an unlike what is required to maintain organizations afloat, specialists said. Not obtaining a grant "suggests most of us devote a great deal of time that might be invested in means extra impactful job fund-raising for the lengthy list of products we can't make use of state or government funds for," claimed Lauren McGinley, the executive director of the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition.
Jessica Parnell, that supervises a syringe exchange program in Nashua, said her team relies upon charity gaming funds to manage the variety of syringes she needs to fulfill need. Her team expanded the variety of days on which it offers people each week as well as started offering glasses in more secure smoking cigarettes kits.
"It's removed," she claimed. "We're getting to populaces we haven't before as well as using an alternative to shot, which is much safer."
Kellene Mulcahy runs an injury reduction program out of the trunk of her auto in Manchester, with an expanded collection she supplies to members of the area: sterile water and clean cookers to liquify illicit medicines, syringes and also tourniquets to infuse them, condoms, Band-Aids as well as fentanyl examination strips, among other products, she stated. The more adaptable and also neighborhood the operation, she claimed, the far better the chances of individuals going back to it.
"They want to be humans," she said, "despite the choices they're making."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Home Entertainment MDA Labor Day Telethon 2012: the renamed MDA Show of Strength is...
MDA Labor Day Telethon 2012: the renamed MDA Show of Strength is no longer a telethon
The 2012 edition of MDA Telethon, now renamed the MDA Show of Strength (thus no longer referring to itself as a telethon), aired Sunday, September 2, 2012, and was reduced to three hours for prime-time broadcast.
The telethon was seen at 8:00 PM ET/PT, 7:00 PM CT/MT, and seen live in the Eastern and Central time zones.
Kicked off with the electrifying song This Is Love by Grammy-winning artist will.i.am, the all-new MDA Show of Strength presented three hours of prime-time entertainment while raising awareness of Muscular Dystrophy Association's research and services missions, its sponsors and the people it serves.
The show, which aired Sunday night, September 2 and featured local segments produced by MDA's Love Network of 150 stations across the country, redefined the tradition of MDA's Labor Day Telethon with a faster pace and performances targeted to engage show viewers in MDA's cause.
The 2012 edition of MDA Telethon, now renamed the MDA Show of Strength, was reduced to three hours for prime-time broadcast
"We're truly grateful to members of the public who responded to our SHOW of STRENGTH with generous contributions made by phoning, texting or giving online," said MDA Interim President and Medical Director Valerie Cwik, M.D.
"We hope that the momentum started by the show this weekend has inspired our viewers to learn more about MDA and be involved all year long."
The show presented a variety of musical styles, from country sensation Carrie Underwood to rap artist Pitbull, aka Mr. Worldwide, who ended his performance by inviting MDA's 12-year-old National Goodwill Ambassador Bryson Foster to be a guest at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas in late September and declaring: "We need you guys more than you need us. You're the ones that are strong."
Other performers included: B.o.B, Brandy, Hot Chelle Rae, OneRepublic, All-American Rejects, Gavin DeGraw, Karmin, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Luke Bryan, Eva Simons, Silhouettes and Alanis Morissette.
You've Got a Friend, performed by legendary singer-songwriter Carole King and accompanied by images of MDA families, provided the emotional, inspirational finale.
Also appearing were: Nancy O'Dell, Jann Carl, Alison Sweeney, Ryan Seacrest, WWE Champion The Miz, Paula Abdul, Khloé Kardashian Odom, Max Adler, Lou Ferrigno, Ace Young, Diana DeGarmo, Jesse McCartney, and Benji and Joel Madden.
People can visit mda.org to view performances, backstage interviews and exclusive online bonus performances that did not air on the September 2 broadcast.
As a way of saying "thank you" to viewers and the generous public for its ongoing support of MDA, the exclusive bonus performances include: Carole King singing Beautiful and OneRepublic with their smash hit Good Life.
Fans of Hot Chelle Rae can see them perform Whatever; Alanis Morissette sings You Learn; Gavin DeGraw delivers with his song Soldier; and B.o.B contributes two performances, So Good and Strange Clouds.
Families give new meaning to the word "strength"
Individuals and families affected by neuromuscular diseases – such as Bryson Foster, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy – were the real stars of the show and were introduced in profile segments.
In addition to Bryson Foster, the show featured 14-year-old Latondra Chappell, who has central core disease; 17-year-old Kennedy Healy, who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA); 7-year-old Reagan Imhoff, also affected by SMA; and 12-year-old Justin Moy, a science enthusiast with congenital muscular dystrophy who says he wants to "become a biochemist and find a cure for muscular dystrophy."
Featured adults included Veronica Niño and Shaun Probert, both of whom have ALS, and Angela Wrigglesworth, a fourth-grade teacher with SMA who shared that MDA summer camp helped her "to become an independent woman."
Also appearing were MDA spokespeople Augie and Lynne Nieto, Luke Christie, Abbey Umali, Kelly Mahoney, Benjamin Cumbo, Mandy Beckham (formerly Mandy Van Benthuysen) and Lucas Cook.
Special acknowledgment was made of the crucial support provided by MDA national sponsors, including: Acosta, Burger King, CITGO Petroleum Corp., Harley-Davidson, International Association of Fire Fighters, Jiffy Lube International, Lowe's, National Association of Letter Carriers, Safeway, 7-Eleven, and 7UP.
"In one night, we presented great entertainment, inspiring stories and the unwavering support of our national sponsors and called on the American public to join our <<muscle>> team," said MDA Executive Vice President of Business Development Kevin Moran.
"MDA SHOW of STRENGTH is bringing a whole new energy to MDA and pointing the way to exciting new directions for all of us who are dedicated to advancing MDA's mission."
About MDA
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.
In addition to funding some 300 research projects worldwide, MDA maintains a national network of 200 medical clinics; facilitates hundreds of support groups for families affected by neuromuscular diseases; and provides local summer camp opportunities for thousands of youngsters living with progressive muscle diseases.
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labor day telethon
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Back to Reality July 26, 2008
Tags: British Tourists, Houseguests, Internet Friends, Travel
It took two cars to transport my friends from England to LAX with all their plunder. They gave it their all trying to buoy the U.S. economy. Lesley spent valiantly until the very end. Down to her last $20, she fixated on a lawn ornament at Joanne's, a metal stake that featured a pyramid of farm animals. She carried this Americana saber around for half an hour before finally admitting it wouldn't fit in her suitcase.
Instead, Lesley bought some new fangled things, evidently unavailable in England, called paper napkins.These matched the stack of plastic picnic plates she'd purchased on sale. Hey, the dollar is worth only 50 percent of the English pound and all items were 60 percent off. If you do the math, the cashier was handing out cash.
Facing the 11-hour flight back to Heathrow, our friends were in no great hurry to leave until I told them the tonic had run out. That sent them packing. Now we're left with a big bottle of gin, no tonic, and sadly, no houseguests.
Who could ever have imagined that I'd meet someone over the internet, jet off to spend New Year's Eve with their family in England, and they'd be sitting out on my porch in sunny California sipping G&Ts six months later? When Richard left for the airport with Ian and Lucy, he said they both waved to our house and said, "Goodbye our American home!"
So, after hosting a two-week long party that made the Boston Tea Party look like a rather sedate and proper affair, it's back to reality. Reality sucks.
Here's the skinny on the cultural exchange between the Brits and the Americans. Let's keep score. (If you're a teacher, you might want to use a Venn diagram.)
The British learned:
People in LA are way nicer than people in snotty San Francisco.
People in the U.S. have pigs living inside and broom closets outside.
If you use the toilet at a restaurant, someone will take away your salad.
The sun may never set on the British Empire, but it's always sunny in California
If you order a hamburger "without salad," you have to also specify that you don't want lettuce, tomato, or anything green.
The Dewey Decimal system is alive and well in America. (Lesley made a surprise spot check)
Americans eat these strange contraptions called artichokes. Then, after performing a bizarre cutting ritual, consume their hearts, which are actually quite tasty.
The Americans learned:
Brits call leftovers "bits and pieces."
Brits take this shagging thing quite seriously and also engage in something referred to as snogging, which they say the Scots also do with sheep. We talked about joining them in Scotland to check our the veracity of this claim.
Brits refer to the lowly rhinestone as "diamonte" and covet it like raccoons.
People from Manchester, England are referred to as Manculians, which is just downright kinky.
I'd say it was an even exchange with the common currency being laughter. I don't think I've laughed so hard and so much in ages. What's funny is that after all my obsessing about where to take my visitors, they seemed to be happiest when sitting out "in the garden." That's Brit-speak for a patio. They wallowed in the sun, as I believe it took them two full weeks just to dry out. After a few days they were casually stepping over the pig and throwing the mousetraps back on the couch, so the dogs wouldn't sit on them. In short, they made themselves at home.
I can hardly wait to say, "Hello English home" again. Hugs across the pond to all my friends in the UK.
America – Daze 2/3/4 July 13, 2008
Tags: British Tourists, Humor, Popular Culture, Target, Travel
All museums have been put on the back burner because I'm too busy showing my guests American culture. British tourists don't need to come all the way to LA to see yet another painting entitled "Madonna and Child" by an artist whose name is heavy on vowels. Our first stop on our gallery walk was Target.
My husband likes to say that I belong to the church of Target. Well, I took Lesley and her daughter, Lucy, for a look-see and Lesley emerged shouting,"I'm a believer!" She had all her loot stashed in a red reusable Target bag that folds up so you can carry it as an evening clutch. It can also be opened like a large book and Lesley spent the rest of the day wandering about the house holding it like a hymnal and singing, "Amen!"
Our next stop was Venice Beach. We wandered into a lovely shop. The inventory consisted of hookahs, Made in China dream catchers, belly dancing coin belts, crotchless panties, and jewelry. Lesley saw a bracelet in the glass case and shreiked, "Look, that's so me!" I just remember it was very pink. Barbie bling. I think it was kept under glass so raccoons couldn't make off with it.
One look at the man behind the counter and I doublechecked to make sure I still had my wallet. I've seen classier barkers at the carny. He took the bracelet out so Lesley could try it on and even attached the "safety clasp."
But when Lesley asked if he could take it off, he said smiling, "No, I want you to keep it on and give me money for it." Lesley cooed, "But you need to take it off so I can have a better look at it." Now, if this were a folktale, it would have been a toss-up as to who was the trickster, though I was rooting for Lesley.
The bracelet was pricey so the bargaining began. When Lesley asked what sort of metal it was made of, the man assured her it wasn't metal, it was "silver." She considered giving him a quick lesson in metallurgy, but decided not to hobble him with knowledge. The price of the bracelet had now fallen from $175 to $100. It was at this point, the salesman told Lesley he was "easy." She recoiled in horror. "You don't go around telling someone you're easy," she said. "That's like saying you're slutty!" Taken aback, the man said he hadn't mean it THAT way, but the damage was done. We kept moving as the Venice boardwalk is heavy on galleries.
Lesley took one more swing by the place on our way back to the car. This time her daughter Lucy went into the shop to check out the bracelet. Lucy had her mum by the shoulders and escorted her out of the shop, saying, "Mummy, that's the most horrid bracelet I've ever seen," adding, "If you buy that, I'll never speak to you again!" Sulking, Lesley was escorted back to the car, blingless.
Thursday we took Lesley and Ian out for breakfast. When the waiter asked Lesley if she'd like toast or a tortilla, she asked, "What's a tortilla?" The restaurant was suddenly still. Convinced it was something "like that Indian bread," she decided to go for it. We explained that the sour cream and salsa, which came in little containers, is put on the eggs and beans. I then introduced them to the friendly Tapatio man's face. They declared it a fabulous breakfast. We sent them off on the Gold Line to Union Station and Olvera Street, so they could meet more Tapatio men.
They had such a wonderful time downtown, we were able to send them off there again the next day so we could recover from this non-stop cultural marathon. We had to rest up to see Chris Isaak at the Hollywood Bowl Saturday night. Our seats were in the nosebleed section, but it was a lovely night to sit out and watch the concert on the big screen TVs, since from where we were sitting, the performers were the size of ants. Lucy dozed off, but awoke for the fireworks finale. Then we shuffled down the mountain with all of the other art lovers, eager to secure a seat on the bus for the trip back to Pasadena.
So today we soldier on. I'm not sure about the itinerary, but it doesn't have the word "museum" in it. Eat your heart out J. Paul Getty.
America – Day One July 10, 2008
Tags: British Tourists, Houseguests, Humor, Popular Culture, Travel
I slept in so as not to wake the Brits. I needn't have bothered. By the time I wandered out into the kitchen at 8 a.m., Richard and Lesley were already returning from Home Depot with paint for the fence and pastries from the Union Bakery. Lesley was ecstatic. "I just saw my first two fatties!" she exclaimed. She and Richard debated how much the two people they saw weighed altogether, but when translating pounds to stones, they reached an impasse. As a compromise, it was agreed both people were about as big as a boulder.
Lesley dieted before for her trip here, all because she wanted to be able to say, "I want that supersized!" I had to break it to her gently that everything in America IS supersized.
On the way home from the airport the night before, I'd driven Lesley through my town's historic district. "It looks like Australia," she proclaimed. I didn't take this as a compliment and went to great pains to point out the historical significance of the buildings we whizzed by. "Brisbane, Australia," Lesley reiterated.
Today, Lucy's all consuming goal was to go to Abercrombie & Fitch and once inside the inner sanctum, she began hyperventilating. She emerged an hour later with one, count it, one shirt. We then took a romp through H&M, The Gap, and another 135 stores. It's so hard when you're 15 and you look gorgeous in everything. At each store I got to hear, "I can't believe how cheap this is!" Since my dollars convert to lowly dollars, I couldn't make it a shopping menage a trois.
We took a break from all the frenzied spending to have lunch at Twin Palms where Lucy pulled out her new shirt from the Abercrombie & Fitch bag (and no, they're not paying me for product placement) and buried her face in it. "It even smells like Abercrombie & Fitch," she squealed. I was looking at the black and white photo of the very manly model on the bag, who evidently embodies the essence of A&F, armpit hair and all. Lucy's mum, Lesley, suggested that the model had personally licked the new shirt to give it that unique smell. I think Lucy rather liked that idea.
We staggered back to the parking garage, came home and took a nap, which sounds a lot more exotic, if you call it a siesta.
This is what Lesley learned on Day 1:
Most of the streets in LA are quite straight and wide (supersized!)
Everyone in LA seems to drive a silver or black car (I'd noticed that myself recently)
Waiters don't wait for everyone at the table to finish eating before removing your plate.
Here's what I learned on Day 1:
A popsicle is actually an "ice lolly"
The school crossing guards who sit in lawn chairs and hold up the STOP sign so children can cross, are referred to in England as "lollipop ladies."
The reason it's incredibly rude for a waiter to take away your plate before everyone's finished eating is because then everyone just stares at the person who's still eating.
We then went out to Gus's and ate hamburgers the size of the Isle of Wight and Lesley never even had to utter the "s" word. And the waiter took away my plate as soon as I'd finished, so I could then watch Lesley start packing on American-style pounds.
Welcome to Armageddon July 7, 2008
Tags: British Tourists, California, Humor, Travel
If I were working for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, I'd have a hard time putting a positive spin on what's happening in California. It would be like putting lipstick on a pig.
This is supposed to be "sunny" California, not "it feels like I'm living on the sun" California. But that's what it feels like in my house where we're boycotting the AC to save mucho dinero. My friends from England arrive Tuesday night, and I reluctantly took a peek at the Los Angeles Times today to check out the weather forecast for the upcoming week. Now, I know that predicting the weather is somewhere between watching the clouds float by and consulting a Magic 8-Ball, but it doesn't look good. Temperatures are to hover near 100 degrees all week. Farenheit. I make this distinction because my friends from the UK are used to temperatures Celcius style, so they have to do a little math.
My friend Lesley called me today via SKYPE and said they planned to make the scenic drive up the coast to Big Sur and stay in San Francisco their second week here. I conveniently failed to mention that there's currently a wildfire raging in Big Sur. I wanted to put Arnold on notice, so he can put a lid on it. As far as I'm concerned, he can take money directly from the schools and dump it on the fire. At least then, I'd know where the school funds are going.
Lesley also mentioned the one place her daughter, Lucy, wants to visit is Universal Studios. I'm allergic to all things theme park, but because I'm such a gracious host, I am available to drop them off and pick them up. Now my son, Ian, has informed me that three major attractions burned at Universal Studios last month. The fire evidently started on the "Backdraft" attraction and spread. Who would have thunk it?
What's next – locusts? I'm not laughing.
A Sorry Safari for Lucy June 29, 2008
Tags: British Tourists, Houseguests, Humor, Travel
Where on earth will Lucy sleep? Our friends, Lesley and Ian, are coming from England with lovely Lucy, their vivacious 15-year-old daughter. All Lucy has to do is say, "Mummy!" and I get goosebumps. We planned to put her parents out in the room next to the garage, but that would leave Lucy couch surfing in the midst of the mayhem that passes for our life.
Then I had the most brilliant idea. We'd put Lucy out back in a tent. No, I'm not talking about a tent like THAT! More like a room with drapes. I've seen outdoor rooms at Target that would fit the bill. They're swathed in mosquito netting with canvas sides that can be artfully tied back. It's an oasis, really, at a fraction of the cost.
I proposed that we move the daybed out into the tent along with a chest of drawers. Hang a portrait of Queen Victoria and Lucy could pretend she was on safari! Richard suggested we paint a view of Lake Victoria on the side of the garage. We even have a pig who can pass as a warthog. What luck! And for a pittance, I'm sure my neighbors, Mark and Eunice, would don tribal make-up to recreate that bush-like ambiance.
The wonderful thing about Southern California is there are no insects. Oh, that's Hawaii. Okay, there are no insects that a sturdy fly swatter and a hammer can't take out. We could set the legs of the daybed in coffee cans filled with kerosene to discourage bugs or reptilian bedmates. I know that works cause I've seen it in movies.
I emailed Lesley to see if she'd warm up to my inspired idea. Her only suggestion was that we add a picture of Russell Crowe alongside the Queen's. I took that as an enthusiastic yes.
Unfortunately, like all visionaries, I'm subject to the stinging barbs of criticism from the commoners aka my family. Alas, Lucy's safari was nixed. Lesley and Ian will stay in our bedroom so Lucy can sleep – dare I say it? – on the couch in the den. Doesn't sound nearly as exotic, but at least she won't have to fend off wildlife. And Lucy will also have access to a computer and a TV. No "EastEnders" though, and that could be the biggest hardship of all.
Bienvenidos al Los Angeles June 22, 2008
Tags: British Tourists, England, Internet Friends, Los Angeles, Travel
The British are coming! The British are coming! One by land, two by sea. Okay, make that three by air. My friend, Lesley, and her family are flying in from the UK on July 8th. This is their first visit to the states, or the colonies as I refer to them, and they're eager to see Los Angeles.
There are so many things to see and do in LA that I'm feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities. Future diplomatic relations between the UK and its petulant offspring, the US, could hinge on my choices. I don't want to muck this up like George W. And the timing couldn't be better, what with the price of a gallon of gas fast approaching that of a vial of Botox. Of course, for each kilometer they fly west, their wallets grow fatter. So America beckons like one giant factory outlet.
I met Lesley on the internet late last summer. After a flurry of emails, and several conversations via SKYPE, she invited my husband, Richard, and I to come to England to celebrate New Year's Eve. Crazy? Absolutely! But we had such a fabulous time now they want to see how how those wacky Americans live.
Yes, there's lots of history in Pasadena, but really! As Eddie Izzard said, "I come from Europe – you know, where history is from." When we were in England we toured the local castle, where Mary Tudor aka Bloody Mary (not to be confused with the urban Bloody Mary who haunts the bathrooms of elementary schools) mustered her supporters in 1553, before being crowned Queen. We walked the streets of Framlingham, their incredibly quaint 17th century village and toured the local church, which traces its origins to the 12th century. No, I won't be playing the history card.
When we were in the UK, we trapsed through castles, and along the cobblestoned streets of Cambridge. We queued up for fish and chips in Aldeburgh on the North Sea. But what do I remember most? The people! For one thing, I'd never seen so many people who looked vaguely like me or so many redheads, including Lesley. But mostly, I remember how lovely the people were. Once we'd mentioned that we thought George W. was the village idiot, people embraced us like the long lost relatives that we probably are.
It helped that Lesley is the town librarian in a town of 2600 people. The library is located in a 300-year-old building that's a gathering spot for local folk. Think of it as Starbucks, only the books are free. No espresso, but there was a pot of coffee brewing. So much for the stereotypical, "Would you like a cuppa…?" People popped in to pick up DVDs they ordered or for just the chance to chat up Lesley and her co-workers, Sally and Crawford. It was a delight just to walk about the town with Lesley, who knew everyone!
So what should I show my friends? It's made me think about what it is I find so unique about this place called Los Angeles, the most multicultural city in America. The place I call home.
I definitely want Lesley and her family to meet our friends and neighbors, a diverse lot indeed. While they're here, my neighbors, Chuck and Chris, are having a block party to celebrate Chuck's 50th birthday. They're also celebrating 10 years of being partners and their house's 100th year. I'll count that as history in the making.
And then there's the food. In Framlingham, we ordered out from the "curry house" one night for fabulous Indian food prepared by the local Pakistanis. Since Fram is an hour east of London, that's about as diverse as it gets. I recently sent Lesley an email detailing some of the food options. Mexican food and margaritas, Cuban food at The Cuban Bistro in Alhambra, Spanish tapas at La Luna Negra, Thai food from Saladang, sushi, Chinese dim sum, and kick-ass bar-b-q from the new Gus's in South Pasadena, and a late night stop at In-N-Out Burger. Maybe we'll get lucky and my next door neighbor, Stella, will whip up one of her Greek specialties which she loves to share.
If my house guests get homesick, we can always take them out for Indian food. But at our local Indian restaurant, the cook is Latino. Only in America.
I couldn't believe it when Lesley told me she'd never heard of Target. And I thought England had come out of the Dark Ages centuries ago! After a visit to Target, I'll take her for a look-see at Costco. I don't think she believed me when I told her you can only purchase soy sauce in a gallon-sized gasoline can.
Then there are the artichokes and the avocados to be enjoyed on the patio with pitchers of sangria. Trader Joe's alone is worth a trip across the pond. Oh, and I can't forget the parrots! We live in their fly-over zone. Not only are they loud and colorful, they too are immigrants, which makes them the consummate Americans. Of course, we'll have to spend a day at the beach and wallow in the craziness that is Venice.
Come to think of it, I know now exactly what I'm going to show them. I'm going to show them what the New World looks like. It's called Los Angeles.


Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, is in a tussle with former governor of Osun State, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola in what could be regarded as an international embarrassment.
The stiff between the duo has to do with who, between them, is the legal chairman of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) in Oshogbo, the Osun state capital.
According to Soyinka, who spoke at a press conference on Tuesday September 1, Oyinlola has been carrying out activities as the chairman of the globally acclaimed government-owned organisation after illegally amassing power by doctoring documents to make him the chairman.
Soyinka said with the collaboration of Nigeria's former representative to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO), Dr. Omolewa, the former governor has been travelling to different parts of the world soliciting and getting funds and maligning the centre and members of the board.
"One way to summarise the situation of CBCIU at this moment requires no deep elaboration. It goes thus: there is a law, and there are ethics. Wherever these two arbiters of public conducts appear to clash, even ethics must bow to law.
"On the other hand, it is useful to remember also that the sinews that bind civilised society together are strengthened when both -law and ethics -converge, and are harmonised in a public cause,".
The professor also revealed that in July 2012, the Osun State House of Assembly amended the original CBCIU law that had been signed into law by Governor Oyinlola on 29 December, 2008 and which, in his view is unethical.
He said those in the legal profession have agreed that the amendment supersedes the original law as signed by Oyinlola and that the validity of the amended law remains, until it is overturned under a new law by the House or a chamber of superior jurisdiction.
Soyinka added: "Contrary to whatever has been propagated so assiduously by some parties of interest in various quarters, no court order exists that prevents the Board that was established under the 2012 amendment from exercising its rights and responsibilities.
"No court order exists that compels the governor or House of Assembly to reinstate the former board chairman of 2008.
"What the amendment legislates is that the CBCIU is a public property, established and maintained with state funds, funded by the state, housed by the state, instituted by elected representatives of the people.
Soyinka, who says he is not desperate for the chairmanship position, added that he only wanted the world to know how Oyinlola is embarrassing the country through his desperation.


Nestled in the leafy grounds of St Joseph's Convent, Mary MacKillop Centre, South Perth offers retreat and reflection days for groups of school children preparing to receive the sacraments and for people of all ages wanting to reflect on and learn more about St Mary of the Cross, our Australian Saint.
Venue: Mary MacKillop Centre, 16 York Street, South Perth.
Parking on York Street. Public transport – Bus 34 King Edward Street, nearest York Street.
'Praying Our Experiences' is about faith in our everyday through guided reflection, optional sharing and personal prayer.
Bring a torch and a friend!
The Sydney Online Store has information and many keepsakes relating to Mary MacKillop's life and writings including books about Mary's life, bookmarks, candles, medals, magnets, keyrings, CDs, postcards, posters, rosaries, prayer cards, and much more.
Click here for the 2018 WA Retreats and Prayer Events brochure: "Living into Mystery ~ Opportunities for Spiritual Enrichment 2018".
You are invited to donate to the ongoing works of the Sisters of Saint Joseph including this centre. Your contribution will help to support our facilities and programs that do not receive other funding.
The Centre has ample street parking. It is also conveniently situated close to a main bus route from the city. Bus route 34 from the Bus station or William Street in the city to the bus stop near the corner of King Edward and York Street, South Perth.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph were founded by Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods in Penola, South Australia in 1866.


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Watching PBS last night with my family, I learned that Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln were both born on the same day two hundred years ago today.
Kristine had been urging me to stop growing the Family Forest® long enough to write a new blog about Lincoln before his birthday passes. I had been considering comparing him to Benjamin "Don Benito" Wilson, another early American wilderness boy born about the same time who went on to greatness.
I had also been considering talking about the recent inaugural celebration concert at the Lincoln Memorial and the Family Forest® cousins I had noticed there in addition to the Obama and Biden families, like Pete Seeger, Tao Rodriquez-Seeger, George Lucas, James Taylor, Ashley Judd, and Tom Hanks. While channel surfing over the weekend, I stopped at Forrest Gump just in time to be reminded that Tom had already spoken in front of the Lincoln Memorial at least once before.
During the last few days Kristine had wanted me to watch a video about Darwin that relates to the Family Forest® Project. After watching the fascinating video over a cup of Kona coffee this morning, I couldn't help but wonder what Darwin (and Lincoln) would think if he could visually explore the Family Forest® today.
Surely he would have found the world's largest maps of human genetic migration thought provoking and helpful in his work, and I'd like to think he would have been amazed to discover what this single digital resource can do to ignite the curiosity and imagination of children.
President Lincoln's family, and to relate them personally to so many thousands of the most famous people, places, and events in human history.
While I don't expect anyone will be remembering the 200th anniversary of my birth, I do like to think that 200 years from now I will still be giving people smiles from the Family Forest®.
Kim on Tudors descendants in the audience. Are you one of them?
FamilyForest on Tudors descendants in the audience. Are you one of them?


The Entertainment Factory presents live stand up comedy.
Who doesn't enjoy a good laugh? Get ready for another side-splitting evening of incredible live, pacy, upbeat and infectious comedy, makes you laugh out loud.
No law and order here – TEF brings a new level of laughter and disorder to the stage!


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The Perfect Secret
Written by: Steena Holmes
Narrated by: Erin deWard, Christina Traister
Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
A Twisted Psychological Thriller
Written by: Kiersten Modglin
Narrated by: Tim Paige, Christa Lewis
When Loren meets Jack, she's sure he's the man she's been waiting for - a perfect husband and father for her young daughter. Shortly after their wedding, their plans to start a life together are put on hold when the couple receives word that Jack's father has died. In an effort to appease her new husband, Loren invites her mother-in-law, Coralee, to stay with them while she grieves. When strange things begin to occur just after her arrival, Loren questions how much she knows about the woman she invited into her home.
The Wife Lie
A Suspense with a Shocking Twist
Written by: Anya Mora
Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
My husband is missing. And his wife is on my doorstep. The wife I never knew he had. Does that mean my husband's out looking for wife number three? The more I dig...the more I find. Ledger Stone is not the man I thought I knew. What I'd thought was a whirlwind romance has turned out to be a hurricane laced with lies. It started with one. Will it end with another?
Some Days Are Dark
Written by: Miranda Smith
Narrated by: Barbara Barnes
Before: Olivia knows she is lucky. She has a loving husband, Frank, an adorable son, Jake, and a beautiful new home. It couldn't be more different from her childhood on the outskirts of Whitaker, dirt poor and dreaming of getting out. But at the end of long days with no one to talk to, always feeling like she's not quite good enough, she starts to wonder if there's a better life waiting.... After: Everyone in Whitaker knows who Olivia is. She's the woman who left her family for no-good Dane Miller - and the one who most likely shot him.
Written by: Anita Waller, Patricia Dixon
Narrated by: Emma Fenney
Wendy and Nell have been best friends since childhood but when someone threatens to ruin their relationship, tough decisions must be made. Nell leaves for France while Wendy embarks on marriage and motherhood. Both keep in touch, sending letters baring all, or are they? They hide the truth that homesickness, violence, loneliness, and murder form the backdrop of their lives. When a twisted, deceitful face from the past turns up, obsession and heartbreak wreak havoc on their lives. Someone is seeking revenge and recompense. And someone is a killer.
An Addictive Psychological Thriller
Narrated by: Tim Paige, Hayden Bishop
Length: 5 hrs
When Hannah meets Mark during a chance encounter, she finds herself saying yes to him for the first time. With an immediate first date, the two begin a whirlwind romance. Soon, Hannah is saying yes to everything Mark asks of her. These decisions quickly alter the world she once knew. Within months, they become inseparable, and she says yes to moving, marriage, and unbeknownst to her, a new existence filled with secrets, lies, and questions Hannah never thought she'd have to ask her husband.
Never Ever Tell
Written by: Kirsty Ferguson
Narrated by: Susie James
Vanessa Sawyer knows all about pain. She's felt it every day since marrying the boy who fathered her baby in high school. All he's meant are broken bones, broken heart and broken dreams. But he also brought her the love of her life. When her son, Wren, was born, her baby boy was her salvation. Vanessa watches Wren grow and become a young man she can be proud of. Until one night everything changes, including Wren. One night that her son refuses to speak of. Now, Vanessa can't rest, not until she uncovers the secret that her son has been hiding from her.
The Picture on the Fridge
Written by: Ian W. Sainsbury
Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
Mags Barkworth still suffers the effects of a life-changing tragedy over a decade ago. She knows her husband loves her. She knows he would never do anything to hurt her, or their daughter. But what if the voice in her head, the one she's pushed away with therapy and anti-depressants, is telling the truth? What if it's all a lie? When Tam, their daughter, draws an uncannily detailed picture of a place she's never been, Mags's life starts to unravel. But even in her most paranoid moment, Mags could never have guessed the secret she is destined to uncover.
What Happened Last Night
Written by: Cole Baxter
Narrated by: Anthony Lee
One dead mistress. Two suspects. A detective determined to find the truth...LAPD detective Jamie Del Rey has a problem. He's just walked straight into the ugliest, most confusing case of his 20-year career. Carlotta and her husband William both have reason to want the 19-year-old Candy Xavier victim dead. The question is: Was it the angry, jilted wife, or the arrogant, philandering husband? He has two suspects, one of whom must be innocent, both of whom seem to be guilty as hell. Both claim to have no memory of that night. But the truth is far more sinister and deadly.
The Wife's House
Written by: Arianne Richmonde
Narrated by: Helen Duff
The moment my husband showed me Cliffside - a sleek and modern glass home perched on the edge of the jagged Big Sur clifftops - I fell in love. And right there and then I made a pact with myself. I am never leaving this house. But when my husband was killed on the perilous roads leading up to the house, weeks after we moved in, I had a decision to make - leave the home I love and start a new life or stay and shut myself off from the world? I am never leaving this house.
Her Darkest Fear
Written by: Nina Manning
Narrated by: Nicky Diss
One mother's past could cost her everything...Frankie Keegan is struggling. While she tries to make strides in her career, life at home is slowly unravelling as she is haunted by the secrets of her past. Someone else remembers.... As the dark nights draw in, the anniversary of the loss of her brother looms, and Frankie is drawn back to the memories of that fateful night 20 years previously. As she descends into a guilt-ridden state, she begins to suspect that someone else is also remembering that night and they are determined to terrify her....
The Betrayed Wife
Written by: Kevin O'Brien
Sheila O'Rourke has always known her husband isn't perfect. Who is? But things have been better since they moved to Seattle to make a fresh start. So much so that when 16-year-old Eden turns up, claiming to be Dylan's child by another woman, Sheila tries to be welcoming.
The Girl She Wanted
Written by: KL Slater
Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
What was my sister doing standing over Florence's cot in the middle of the night?I trust my sister, Carrie, with my daughter's life. But then she's accused of a terrible crime. Carrie lives under our roof, she pushes my daughter on the swings, she takes her out for ice cream. You might ask, why do I let her? Why would I risk my darling baby? How could I let my sister stay? Because I have a dangerous secret too. One that only Carrie knows about. And if that secret gets out, I could lose my little girl....
An Unputdownable Psychological Thriller with a Breathtaking Twist
Written by: Shalini Boland
Narrated by: Katie Villa
It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Zoe was sitting in her hotel room, in her perfect white dress, looking forward to the moment when she would make kind, handsome Toby her husband. Then, there was a blank. They said she must have fainted, overcome with emotion. But nothing felt quite right afterward. Did something happen in that missing time?
Too much filler, not enough story
By Dr. Pamela Prince on 2021-01-19
The Perfect Couple
Written by: Jackie Kabler
Narrated by: Elaine Claxton, Hattie Ladbury
A year ago, Gemma met the love of her life, Danny. Since then, their relationship has been perfect. But one evening, Danny doesn't return home. Gemma turns to the police. She is horrified by what she discovers – a serial killer is on the loose in Bristol. When she sees photos of the victims she is even more stunned...they all look just like Danny. Who would you believe? But the police are suspicious. Why has no one apart from Gemma heard from Danny in weeks?
The Accusation
An Addictive Psychological Thriller with a Jaw-Dropping Twist
Written by: Victoria Jenkins
Narrated by: Alison Campbell
They say she's guilty. She says she's not. Who do you believe? "Help me! Help me, please!" When Jenna hears the cry in the park one night, she feels she has no choice but to run and help. Cradling the injured woman in her arms, the attacker nowhere to be seen, all Jenna wants is to keep her alive until the ambulance arrives and for the ordeal to be over. But the nightmare begins when the victim wakes up...Jenna's relief turns to horror when the finger is pointed at her. There must be some mistake: She's never seen the woman before in her life, and Jenna tried to save her life.
Written by: Valerie Keogh
Narrated by: Danielle Cohen
Length: Less than 1 minute
Molly Chatwell has a beautiful house, a handsome husband, two children, and a job she likes. It all seems so perfect, but when her two children leave for university, she realizes her life has become dull and empty. When her husband refuses to go away on a trip with her, Molly decides to go alone. But what should have been a relaxing break turns into a nightmare. Back at home in London, Molly tries to put it all behind her, but when the police arrive at her door and tell her a body has been found with connections to her, she realizes her perfect life is under threat.
The Girl on Gander Green Lane
A Chilling Psychological Thriller with a Twist
Written by: M J Hardy
Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman
When a perfect marriage, the perfect husband, and perfect life is nothing but an illusion. Sarah Standon is living the dream, at least that's what everyone tells her. She is the wife of a successful solicitor who looks like a movie star. They live a Stepford existence and appear to have it all. Then, one fateful night, everything changes. A terrible accident leaves Sarah alone to deal with a situation so frightening she starts to question her grip on reality. Her perfect life has been exposed as the lie it always was and she loses everything.
The Dream Job
Narrated by: Jayme Mattler
Autumn Sanderson goes by Lark now. No one in her new life can know who she was. No one from her old life can know where she is now. Drowning in debt, she's desperate to land a job - any job. When she finds herself at an interview for a mysterious company offering an exorbitant salary, she jumps at the chance. But things aren't quite what they seem....
Everyone has secrets - some deadlier than others
She was on cloud nine after accepting an offer of a lifetime. A simpler life than what she was accustomed to. What could go wrong?
Starla Bishop learned to survive in the foster-care-to-jail system in New York City. There she learned the tools and skills she put to work later to con jewel thieves, drug traffickers, and mobsters out their fortunes. Now fresh out of her latest stint in jail, she accepts a too-good-to-refuse offer - a perfect life on a silver platter. Starla has everything she ever wished for: a simpler life, a normal life, a new start with new job, a straight job - a receptionist for Soil and Springs Landscaping run by a famous botanist. And it got even better - a whirlwind romance and engagement to her boss's charming ex-husband.
But everything comes with a price. When bodies start turning up in the gardens of her employer, Soil and Springs Landscaping, Starla and her fiancé are hauled into jail for questioning. The revelation of Starla's secret, previous life and her special skills make her a prime suspect.
How much does Starla want the perfect life, and did she use her special skills to keep it, or is this just her biggest con yet? The shocking truth is closer than anyone thinks?
Everyone has secrets, some worth killing for.
©2020 Steena Holmes. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
The Forgotten Ones
The Patient
Emma's Secret
Warrior Goddess Training
Escaping the Build Trap
Professional Writing Skills
What listeners say about The Perfect Secret
karen ainsworth
I have no idea how this got so many 5 star ratings! It was terrible! There was no real story no real reason for the things that happened. It had potential in the beginning but then just took a weird turn and the narrator for starla was not good! She took in sharp breaths after every sentence and it drove me crazy!! Don't waste your time on this one
Wow, what a ending! The story is excellent, a bit drawn out, but the end is worth it! The narration is good.
twisted trutj
Starla, An ex-con with the opportunity to redeem herself with a dream job. Littles does she knows she is going to be caught in an spider web and must do what she can to get ou unscathed. Some secrets are deadly than others. Brilliant plot and brilliant audiobook.
Steena has never disappointed
Serial killers can exist anywhere I suppose. A lot of clues but you have to pay attention. I really enjoyed this book. Loved the unexpected ending I had something totally different in my head.


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Wildwood Creek
by: Lisa Wingate
With love and loss tangled together, how was she to know where her life would lead?
Allie Kirkland has always heard the call of her father's unfinished destiny. When she's offered a production assistant's job on a docudrama filming in the hills near Moses Lake, Texas, the dream of following in her director-father's footsteps suddenly seems within reach. The reenactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step into the film industry. A summer on set in the wilderness is a small price to pay for a dream.
But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities. Town founder Harland Delavan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip. Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the region's folk songs. Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.
When filming begins, strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, and everyone in Wildwood--including Blake Fulton, Allie's handsome neighbor on the film set--seems to be hiding secrets. Allie doesn't know whom she can trust. If she can't find the answers in time, history may repeat itself...with the most unthinkable results.
Lisa Wingate (www.lisawingate.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty novels. Her work has won or been nominated for many awards, including the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize, the Oklahoma Book Award, the Utah Library Award, the Carol...
Continue reading about Lisa Wingate
Full of suspense, mystery, and romance, Wildwood Creek is a must read.
RT Book Reviews Top Pick


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Q: Test to determine if difference in revenue percentage is significant between days of week I work with data for a mobile app and the analytics system records the dollar sum of user purchases made on each day. My task is to determine whether there is any statistically significant difference between the sum of purchases made on each day of the week (Sunday to Saturday).
I assume I can use the factual dollar sum total of purchases through the week and let 1/7 of it be the 'ideal' distribution for each day and then compare it with the actual percentage for each day of week. The issue is I'm unsure which test to use for it.
If I understand correctly, I can't use chi-square test because e.g. people who made a purchase on Monday could have done it on Tuesday too, so those are not mutually exclusive categories, which is one of the assumptions for that test?
I'm also curious if any of proposed tests might work in case where we compare the averaged values for the whole year (i.e. mean for Monday's dollar sum total of purchases avereged over the 52 weeks, etc.).


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Texas Woman Arrested for Voter Fraud Twice in Two Weeks
Former Starr County employee accused of stealing an elderly voter's mail-in ballot is charged with eight counts of voter fraud.
By Erin Anderson|October 22, 2018
For the second time in two weeks, a South Texas woman has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of voter fraud.
Modesta Vela of Roma was arrested October 4 on four voter fraud charges relating to mail-in ballots. Vela is accused of approaching an elderly voter, taking the voter's mail-in ballot for the November 2018 election, then filling it out herself and mailing it.
District Attorney Omar Escobar said his office began investigating Vela last month after the Starr County Elections Department notified him of the allegations. Vela was charged with felony counts of illegal voting, knowingly possessing a ballot or ballot envelope of another person with the intent to defraud, and election fraud, as well as a misdemeanor count of unlawful assistance of a voter.
Vela was arrested again Friday on four new voter fraud charges of tampering with a government record, namely voter registration applications. Starr County Special Crimes Unit made the arrest.
Escobar's 229th District Attorney office (which covers Starr County), the Special Crimes Unit commanded by Robert Caples, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Election Fraud Unit have been working together since January on an ongoing voter fraud investigation that has resulted in several arrests for mail ballot fraud.
Escobar said the AG's office is advising local authorities on what evidence to collect in Vela's case. Vela, a former Starr County Precinct 2 employee who was fired earlier this year, assisted over 200 mail ballot voters in Starr County's March 2018 Democratic primary. She was also arrested in 2010 on a voter fraud charge involving improper mail ballot assistance during that year's Democratic primary.
Escobar warns mail ballots are the least secure method of voting. Prosecutors in the AG's office told a Senate committee in February that mail ballot fraud is "by far the biggest problem we see across the state" and "the wild West of voter fraud."
"This is an investigation that could go on for the next couple of years," Caples said in February of the Starr County probe, one of several underway in the Rio Grande Valley. "People can say that election fraud doesn't exist but maybe it's because they don't want to look."


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Marshfield Clinic Health System > Marshfield Clinic Division of Education
Marshfield Clinic Division of Education
Marshfield Clinic has a rich tradition of medical education.
This tradition was identified as early as December 27, 1916, with proof in a statement by a founding Clinic physician to a Marshfield Times reporter: "Each member of the firm, besides his usual work, will do reading and study in a special field. He will thus gain more expert knowledge by reason of such study and will, through his extra knowledge, assist and help his colleagues in diagnosing especially difficult cases."
In 1927, Marshfield Clinic began training University of Wisconsin (UW) medical students through a preceptorship program. Marshfield Clinic and Saint Joseph's Hospital (now Marshfield Medical Center) were approved for a rotating internship in 1928 and surgical residency in 1931. These early projects led to a relationship with the UW that continues today.
Visit the Division of Education website
A UW teaching service for internal medicine residents was so successful that residencies were developed in 1975 in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics and a transitional year as a foundation to pursue other specialties. Dermatology and internal medicine/pediatrics and fellowship opportunities in psychology, palliative care and internal medicine were later added. Since the program began, more than 600 alumni have gone on to further training or medical practice, with a significant number employed by Marshfield Clinic.
Marshfield Clinic Division of Education provides a system of patient, customer, physician and employee education through divisional sections - Conferences/Continuing Medical Education, Corporate Education, Media Services, Medical Library and Patient Education. The Division also plays a lead role in developing formal dental education programs and facilities to help integrate medicine and dentistry.
Marshfield Clinic Health System Board
Marshfield Clinic Board of Directors