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Biden Offers Temporary Protections to Cameroonians
TPS for Cameroon could protect around 40,000 people
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday announced it had designated Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in response to more than a year of advocacy by immigration groups.
DHS designated Cameroon for TPS for 18 months to stop deportations of certain Cameroonians to the country, which has been experiencing violence and political instability as the result of armed conflict between the government, armed separatists, and terrorist organizations, as well as violence perpetrated by these groups. To be eligible to apply, a Cameroonian person must have lived in the United States continuously since April 14, 2022. Advocates estimate that around 40,000 people could be protected by the designation.
TPS is a form of humanitarian relief that can be granted to individuals of certain countries that have been designated (selected) by DHS due to the existence of at least one of three specific reasons found in law: ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. The Secretary of DHS, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, pointed to "the extreme violence perpetrated by government forces and armed separatists, and a rise in attacks led by Boko Haram" when announcing Cameroon's designation, fulfilling both the armed conflict and the extraordinary and temporary conditions criteria.
To be eligible for TPS, Cameroonian applicants must have entered the country and lived here continuously since April 14, as well as pay a fee and pass background checks.
This designation of Cameroon for TPS is the first in history, and will allow qualifying nationals of Cameroon already present in the U.S. on April 14, 2022 to apply for work authorization and remain temporarily in the country without fear of deportation. However, TPS does not provide a long-term status: the designation must be continually renewed by DHS, and TPS holders must "re-register" (renew) their temporary protected status and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) each time the designation comes up for renewal (usually in 6, 12 or 18-month intervals). TPS also does not provide a pathway to permanent residency or to citizenship.
The designation of Cameroon for TPS also follows a recent spate of designations and re-designations by the Biden administration. DHS designated Sudan and extended and re-designated South Sudan for 18 months in early March, designated Ukraine for TPS the following day, and designated Afghanistan two weeks later. Advocates and some lawmakers have additionally pushed for designation of Ethiopia, as well as Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.
The designation will go into effect when it is published in the Federal Register, which is expected in the coming days.
U.S. Immigration Guides by Country of Origin
How to Change From Temporary Protected Status to a Marriage Green Card
Temporary Protected Status, Explained
U.S. Travel Visas, Explained

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Apr, 2019 ) :Provincial Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid Tuesday ordered to initiate operation against illegal business of sale and purchase of human organs across the province.
She was presiding over a meeting of Punjab Human Organs Transplantation Authority (PHOTA) at Specialized Healthcare and Medical education office here.
She said that 100 per cent transparency and merit would be ensured in the new recruitment. She informed that legislation were being carried out against those who were involved in heinous act of sale and purchase of human organs.
Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Captain (R) Saqib Zafer, Director General Dr Faisal Masood, officers including Mian Zahid Rahman, Salman Shahid and other concerned officers were present .
Matters regarding performance of PHOTA, sub office of authority in Rawalpindi, PHOTA act, new posts and other administrative affairs came under discussion during the meeting.
DG Punjab PHOTA Dr Faisal Masood gave a detailed briefing of the overall performance of the institute.


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Category Archives: Dumb Shit
March 29, 2016 by bbgcmac
The Hate That Hate Produced (Part Duex)
Dog Whistle Politics: It means putting out a message that, like a high-pitched dog whistle, is only fully audible to those at whom it is directly aimed. The intention is to make potential supporters sit up and take notice while avoiding offending those to whom the message will not appeal." – The Economist
History sure has a way of repeating itself… over and over again. Especially in an area where honest dialogue never existed. When it comes to race, America remains for the most part in a state of cowardly denial, is willingly senile, operating within a glass bubble, exposed, but unaware. As the Trump train powers through American politics and discourse, I am most amused by the rock throwing/hand hiding of not only the other GOP candidates, but many of their supporters who 'act as if 'they are put off with The Donald and his rhetoric. I've spent the last eight years attempting to dialogue with them as the Obama presidency continued to reveal the obvious underbelly of white racial rage. But all I heard was that I was making something out of nothing. That I was race baiting. I understand that in many cases privilege is a helluva blinder. Anytime privilege of any kind is threatened, it feels like discrimination to the preferred beneficiary. This is true with not only race, but gender, sexuality, class and so forth. The Obama presidential campaign in 2007 brought to bear the threatened privilege of White America's fear of Black progress in a post slavery post Jim Crow nation. As the rhetoric spewed in the months leading up to November the scene played out in both a Twainian and Shakespearean fashion.
You start out in 1954 by saying, "Nigger, nigger, nigger." By 1968, you can't say "nigger" — that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like forced bussing, states' rights and all that stuff. You're getting so abstract now you're talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you're talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is blacks get hurt worse than whites. And subconsciously maybe that is part of it. I'm not saying that. But I'm saying that if it is getting that abstract, and that coded, that we are doing away with the racial problem one way or the other. You follow me — because obviously sitting around saying, "We want to cut this," is much more abstract than even the busing thing, and a hell of a lot more abstract than "Nigger, nigger." — Lee Atwater, Republican Party Strategist 1981
This was how it was during the Reagan era. From the day he announced his campaign on Sunday August 3, 1980 in Philadelphia, MS of all places, he looked to perfect the art of Dog Whistle Code Speech. In case you didn't know, Philadelphia, MS in Neshoba County, was the same town where three young civil rights workers; a 21-year-old black Mississippian, James Chaney, and two white New Yorkers, Andrew Goodman, 20, and Michael Schwerner, 24 were murdered on June 21, 1964. The three young men were chased in their car, abducted, shot at close range, then buried in an earthen dam by the local Ku Klux Klan. The very location indicated a message that Reagan was sending to his white conservative audience. He chose a significant place where the empirical history of White Supremacy reigned. In his speech he wasted no time in mentioning 'welfare' reform. He continued to wax eager the virtues of 'states rights.'
I believe in state's rights; I believe in people doing as much as they can for themselves at the community level and at the private level. And I believe that we've distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended in the constitution to that federal establishment. And if I do get the job I'm looking for, I'm going to devote myself to trying to reorder those priorities and to restore to the states and local communities those functions which properly belong there. – Ronald Reagan 1980
States Rights/Decoded = A reference dating back to the conflict of the Civil War between the Union and the Confederate. The Confederate believed it was the rights of states to decide whether they wanted to own slaves and endorse slavery as an institution. Southerners who preferred slavery, and subsequently Jim Crow and segregation laws believe the federal government overstepped it's bounds in undermining what they feel were their 'states rights.'
Welfare Reform/Decoded = A term directed towards poor or middle class whites intended to focus them on poor minorities. Its purpose is to describe said minorities as 'takers,' who are lazy, unmotivated and unproductive while draining the economy, thus making it harder on white people, who are in turn hard workers. It says nothing of the statistics regarding the percentages of actual welfare recipients. It only assumes minorities, specifically black folk are the takers. It's also limited to individuals, not taking into account any corporations or corporate executives who may benefit from government 'subsidies.' The difference in the words 'subsidies' vs 'welfare' directly determines the response of the hearer.
Over the last 35 years or so, the dog-whistle style worked pretty well. Nixon, Reagan, Bushes 1 & 2, and even Clinton benefited from using coded language to project a narrative. But something happened when Barack Obama became a serious candidate for president. Coded language slowly began to give way to a more bold and ballistic approach as White anger and fear that the person who would become the face and symbol of leadership in these United States of America could be a black male.
One of the first series of racially motivated attacks was the so called 'birther movement's' questioning of Obama's status as a United States citizen. Many Whites including now GOP front runner Donald Trump riled that Obama was born in Kenya, East Africa as opposed to Hawaii. Trump went on to say that he had investigators in Hawaii that would prove conclusively that Obama wasn't born in Hawaii. Hillary Clinton's supporters jumped in as well questioning the origin of Obama's citizenship. In spite of there never being such evidence presented by Trump, so many White Americans latched on to the conspiracy theory, that it became a thing; so much of a thing that eventually the White House released a copy of the 'long form' certificate. This would not satisfy those who were set on believing that since the day of his birth Barack Obama was raised from birth to infiltrate the White House, take White people's guns and make America a Muslim state, overturn the constitution and replace it with Sharia Law. That brings us to our next conspiracy theory; which is that Obama is not a Christian.
In spite of 2016 being the last year of the second term of the Obama presidency, 43% of Whites still believe that Obama is a Muslim. This despite all of the evidence that supports the opposite. The Obama's were members of Trinity United Church of Christ for years. They were married there, and both of their children were baptized at Trinity as well. Despite that fact that there is no way in hell in 2016 that Obama could possibly hide a Muslim connection, (past or present) this suspension of reality for these White naysayers are simply ways to ostracize Obama to a group that they despise and are afraid of. They cannot embrace Obama's Christian faith without embracing him as their spiritual brother. To continue the lie that he is something other than a Christian, gives them a self deceiving legitimacy in not taking him seriously, rather dismissing every word from his mouth, his authority and even his presence. No other president or presidential candidate has ever had his/her faith questioned. Is Christianity even a question now among any of the candidates?
During the McCain/Palin campaign the racial overtones became more and more emboldened. Palin spoke divisively accusing Obama not being an American, like the White crowds in her audience. She linked Obama with terrorists. The crowd in turn shouted epitaphs such as, 'terrorist, off with his head, and kill him!" It got so ugly and threatening that even McCain himself tried to temper the racial rhetoric by defending Obama as a 'decent person, a decent family man and a citizen,' the crowd booed him. McCain tried to reason with the crowd and get the focus on Obama's views as opposed to his race. "We want to fight, and I will fight," McCain said. "But I will be respectful. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments, and I will respect him. I don't mean that has to reduce your ferocity, I just mean to say you have to be respectful." McCain was booed again. What, respect a black man who has the audacity to think he can be OUR president?
Once it became apparent that Obama did indeed win the election and was going to be sworn in. The rage was real and lay bare expressed through cable news channels. Critics like Rudy Giuliani became one of the go to guys for disparaging anything Obama. No matter what the issue was or what The President said or did. Echoing the voices of White rage the GOP took note to follow the script of de-legitimizing Obama. The racial rhetoric was starting to become less coded. The utter disdain utterly vicereal. Here is a round robin list of just a few examples.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell – "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." 2008
South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson – "YOU LIE!" * Shouted during the middle of Obama's first State of the Union Address. 2009
Newt Gingrich – "President Barack Obama deserves to be called, 'the most successful food stamp president in American history,' because "47 million Americans are on food stamps." 2012 *The food stamp reference feeds into the notion that Reagan fed into during his election that black folk were the major recipients of government assistance were poor black people. This made white people resentful of their own perceived lack of success. The poor people are takers. The takers are black. This despite that fact that when Gingrich made this statement in 2010, only 8 percent received cash welfare, while 30 percent had earnings. Nearly half of food-stamp beneficiaries are children under 18, and about 8 percent are elderly. About 34 percent of beneficiaries are white, 22 percent are black, 17 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Asian or Native American, and 20 percent "race unknown." Gingrich knew that his audience would interpret the myth of who welfare recipients are. The face of welfare is a black face.
After initially saying she would not meet President Obama at the airport, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer met The President with a never seen before confrontational finger to the face!
47 Republican senators committed treason against the United States by sending a letter to Iran intending to hinder Obama's negotiations with Iran regarding a nuclear arms agreement. 2015
None of these extraordinary examples were credited to Obama's color according to his White detractors. Even the mantra of, 'take our country back' was said to be benignly focused on politics. Instead, any mention of race at all was turned on Obama's head as being the racist. Ben Stein called Obama, "The most racist president in American history." This despite the fact that previous presidents owned slaves, supported Jim Crow laws and had ties to the KKK. Anytime Obama mentioned racial injustices such as the killing of unarmed Trayvon Martin, and the subsequent acquittal of George Zimmerman, he was accused of stirring up racial animus. If he showed empathy to anything black, he was accused of favoring Blacks. The irony is, that when Obama acknowledged the dog-whistle style of criticism himself, saying, "they (Republicans) are trying to scare you because I don't look like the other presidents on the dollar bill," he was accused of playing the race card. In other words, it was perfectly acceptable for whites to infer to Obama as the Food Stamp president. They could say, "let's take America back," as if he stole it and hid the nation in a crack house somewhere. They could freely claim all day long that race had absolutely nothing to do with their choice of words. And yet for him to mention race at all in a fashion that didn't denigrate black people made him a racist himself, and therefore a threat to White people.
Now we have come full circle. The conundrum that the GOP face today is that those racial undertones and sub-tweets of rhetoric have come home to roost. What Donald Trump says openly is what the GOP has established itself on in code that Atwater so eloquently spoke of. Though Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and others have tried to separate themselves from the niggerization of Trump's politics. But they can't escape the liable they are responsible for. Rafael Cruz, Ted Cruz's father is responsible for some of the most racially charged diatribes on record. As Cruz ran for the Senate in 2012, he said, "We need to send Barack Obama back to Chicago. Back to Kenya." Ask Ted Cruz, or any other republican if his father's statements have anything to do with race. Trump would not only acknowledge the obvious, he's encouraging the white rage by asking his crowds to beat up black people at his rallys. Law enforcement authorities are arresting the assaulted instead of the ones committing these assaults on national television. Its to the point now, that as D.L. Hughley said, "If Trump says the N-Word, he going to be president tomorrow." Michael Eric Dyson noted that if LBJ's motto was, 'The Buck Stops Here,' For the mainstream GOP the mantra has been for Obama, 'The Buck Must Be Stopped.'
The GOP would like to make you believe this poisonous racial environment and Trump's political success isn't on them. But it absolutely is.
Memo to those:
When you called Obama weak, while he is out here killing Bin Laden, as well as other key figures in Al Qaeda and ISIS. You are ungratefully biting the hand that has kept you safe.
When you say that other nations don't respect us. What you are really saying is that YOU don't respect the president.
When you say he is a con man, you are saying he doesn't act like your stereotypical image of what a nigger is. (And that he is smarter than you! For his accomplishments have surpassed yours by leaps and bounds) Those who haven't had ONE good word to say about this president, in 7 years is fooling no one but themselves.
The birth of Trump is merely the product from 7 years of racially ejaculatory motivated hate. Quoting Michael Jackson is not appropriate. The the kid is definitely your son!
Posted in Conversations, Dumb Shit
Tagged 2016 Election, Bernie Sanders, Bill Clinton, donald trump, Hillary Clinton, Lee Atwater, president obama, Racism, Rafael Cruz, Ronald Reagan, Sara Palin, Ted Cruz
April 29, 2015 by bbgcmac
It Takes Two To Make A Thing Go Right, or Selective Outrage is Impotent
Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. – Frederick Douglass
Just a few thoughts regarding the latest in protest and violence in America post what strongly appears to be unchecked police brutality.
I've had conversations with friends, African-American friends in particular who voice either in word, social media and otherwise their frustrations and disdain for looters and folk who are burning buildings in Baltimore. They've praised the mother who went Ronda Rousey on her son for participating in the riots. They say, "I hate what I'm seeing on TV! This is NOT the answer!"
What occurred to me was the history of the world, the history of this country. Change from those in power to benefit those with less has rarely happened without violence and physical struggle. I think of the Arab Springs in Syria, Egypt and Morocco to name a few over the last several years. People had decided that they had enough of their oppressive and corrupt governments. I think of the history of the civil rights movement during segregation and Jim Crow. Hell, I think of the Boston Tea Party! That struggle is glorified in history books. My response to my friends has simply been to ask them, "Well what IS the answer? What should they do? Call the police? (The same police who have one of THE worst documented reports of police brutality?) Write the police commissioner? What should they do to make the difference? None could give me any answers. I sure as hell don't have any either.
I saw President Obama this morning demonizing the looters. But he can 'miss me' with that until he also demonizes the police who crushed a man's spine and voice box while in their custody for simply running away from them. Freddie Gray wasn't wanted for any crime. The knife he had in his pocket was of legal. His downfall seems to be that he didn't possess NFL first round wide receiver speed to escape his killers. The President isn't the only using all of his vitriol against those in rebellion. Mass media and the direction or misdirection of narrative shaping is solely focused on the fallout from Gray's death instead of the original sin of Gray's death. The truth of the matter is, I am not willing to listen to anyone who is not nuanced enough to have a real discussion regarding the cause and effect of what's going on in Baltimore, what happened in New York, Ferguson and Oakland to facilitate community unrest. I mean, how many times does this have to happen before there is a recognition of human nature; that if you keep putting a boot on people's necks they are going to rise up? It's easy to tell people, "Keep on taking this ass whooping and burying your friends and kin to police brutality. Organize and wait for the next election. Have a church services, pray and forgive corrupt cops and the institutions that protect them." Historically that is not going to be a unified or sustained response. Again, just check the history of anywhere in the world! It ain't gonna happen!
Furthermore, I am past the point of apologizing for the looters. Looting is something I have never done nor would I. I was in Ferguson and it never crossed my mind. It's not my thing. But why should I have to own the onus of those that do when my counterparts don't own the burden of unarmed black boys and men being murdered by police? Am I the only one (as an activist) that needs to make concessions here and take ownership? If they want to isolate and tell me that all the facts aren't in, then I will say the same thing. Dammit we don't know who burned down the buildings. You got a name? Have all the facts been gathered yet? Has there been an investigation of who exactly started the fires? What accelerant was used? At what point in each building was the fatal match thrown? …and by WHOM exactly? Sound ridiculous? I don't know… Cause sure as hell we had Eric Garner's death from start to finish on VIDEO and we saw how THAT turned out! Mr. Scarface said it best, "Black men are being hunted!"
I have always been an ambassador of sorts. I bridge gaps and intermediate many potentially explosive situations. I've done it all my life. It's natural for me. I love peace. Thus I am a fan of Dr. King's non-violent work. Yet I have always understood the need for an armed movement like The Black Panthers too. I don't own a gun. I don't desire to own one. But I do recognize that with non-violence it's easy for the one oppressing you to get a little too comfortable believing no retribution is possible. Having the thought that in the back of one's mind that he can catch some hurt if he stepped to the wrong person or set of people is just smart negotiating. In other words, Rosa Parks is going to sit on that bus, but Nat Turner may take a shovel to your dome!
Is that not how our own government deal with other countries? It goes like this: "If you don't act right, we may use economic sanctions. Or we may bomb the shit outta you!"
Finally let me bring this point home. If something goes down at my house where I need help, I'm calling the police. I have several friends who are police officers. One is a high ranking member. If I see one of those guys driving behind me, it wouldn't phase me a bit. As a matter of fact, I may try to flag them down and start a conversation. Equally true, is that because of my own experiences with bad police, I am scared as hell when one gets behind me who I don't know. *Especially if he is white* I'm on the road almost every day going to someone's basketball gym, football field or baseball diamond. Sometimes I am some very remote areas where there are rarely is any folk who look like me. And the reality is this; On any given day I could be the next Freddie Gray, Mike Brown, Eric Garner or Oscar Grant. That ain't hyperbole. That's real! Look, I was on a field last week working a baseball game. I saw two cops approach and started watching the game. I hadn't done anything wrong, yet I was scared. I wondered if they were there for me. At the time there was a baseball game and a track meet going on right next to the diamond. I didn't see any faces of color anywhere. My tensions didn't subside till the police vacated the property. And it's not as if I am afraid of any man in isolation. But I expect danger and conflict from police who I know mostly operate with impunity. But this is my life. And the fact of the matter is, if it IS me, if I am the next to be murdered by police many detractors will believe that I somehow provoked it or deserved it. Yes some of my white friends will say, "Well, he is a fiery guy! You ever see his Facebook page? He must have went off or took a swing at them…went for his gun." And this is how they will live with the lie that they tell themselves in NOT getting involved or using their own voices to promote an end to this bullshit! If I'm lucky, others will rally for me as I have rallied for them. I shouldn't have to live with this conflict of having a cognitive dissidence of respecting police and their duties and yet fearing the one in the badge that is supposed to represent service and protection from REAL criminals.
So no I don't pretend to know what black folk should do in reaction every time this happens to us. But I do know that when white folk decide that enough is enough, things will change , and change in a hurry. Folk like Baltimore Oriole's COO John Angelos who said;
Brett, speaking only for myself, I agree with your point that the principle of peaceful, non-violent protest and the observance of the rule of law is of utmost importance in any society. MLK, Gandhi, Mandela and all great opposition leaders throughout history have always preached this precept. Further, it is critical that in any democracy, investigation must be completed and due process must be honored before any government or police members are judged responsible.
That said, my greater source of personal concern, outrage and sympathy beyond this particular case is focused neither upon one night's property damage nor upon the acts, but is focused rather upon the past four-decade period during which an American political elite have shipped middle class and working class jobs away from Baltimore and cities and towns around the U.S. to third-world dictatorships like China and others, plunged tens of millions of good, hard-working Americans into economic devastation, and then followed that action around the nation by diminishing every American's civil rights protections in order to control an unfairly impoverished population living under an ever-declining standard of living and suffering at the butt end of an ever-more militarized and aggressive surveillance state.
The innocent working families of all backgrounds whose lives and dreams have been cut short by excessive violence, surveillance, and other abuses of the Bill of Rights by government pay the true price, and ultimate price, and one that far exceeds the importances of any kids' game played tonight, or ever, at Camden Yards. We need to keep in mind people are suffering and dying around the U.S., and while we are thankful no one was injured at Camden Yards, there is a far bigger picture for poor Americans in Baltimore and everywhere who don't have jobs and are losing economic civil and legal rights, and this makes inconvenience at a ballgame irrelevant in light of the needless suffering government is inflicting upon ordinary Americans.
Jeering at protesters is low hanging fruit. Going after bad police, digging into the policies of oppression, mass incarceration and the roots of class warfare and suffering is HONEST! OWN THAT and then we can talk. Otherwise… See you after the next police led murder and cover up in a city near you.
Posted in Breaking Bad, Conversations, Damn Shame, Dumb Shit
Tagged Baltimore, Civil Rights, CNN, Freddie Gray, martin luther king, Police, Police Brutality, Riots, Rosa Parks
In Defense of Empire, Black Images and Nuance
Image matters! I agree! Race matters! Absolutely! African-Americans don't have much power in Hollywood. Check.
The images of black folk in television and film has been both marginalized and groundbreaking. From Bert Williams, Bill Robinson, George Walker, Hattie McDaniel, Paul Robeson, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, to Ron O'Neal, Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, Diahanne Carroll, Richard Roundtree, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, our images have fit most every possible dynamic. I am conscious of the image game. I care about how black folk are portrayed. If you can't read any of the dozens of books available on the subject, Spike Lee's somewhat satirical film, "Bamboozled," covers the darker history and current struggles in how black images are portrayed. It's important to know this history. It is with this in mind that I approach the subject of critics like Dr. Boyce Watkins. He's been going in hard via social media and news shows like CNN to criticize Fox's smash drama, Empire. Watkins went as far as describing the performances of stars Terrance Howard and Taraji P Henson as 'coonery.' I can't think of a harsher criticism for an African-American to receive from another. As a social critic and an avid watcher of Empire, I find his choice of words reprehensibly irresponsible.
I admit that initially when I first saw previews of Empire before it premiered, I was skeptical. The heavy rotation of promos weeks ahead focused on the glitz and glamour of the music industry, the debonair persona of Luscious Lyon, (Howard) and the powerful hurricane that is Cookie Lyon, (Henson). My skepticism had everything to do with the history of the so called, "black drama" on network television and the recent phenomenon of other shows appearing on networks like BET. I worried that Empire would be Fox"s version of a pseudo Kardashian-like program that focuses on the most simple minded of viewers. It was the reputations of both Howard and Henson that convinced me to at least view the show before writing it off. My respect for Henson in particular convinced me that she would not participate in a show that didn't have substance just for a paycheck. After a full season culminating in a special 2 hour finale, my gut reasoning was on point.
Surrounded by Henson and Howard, the cast is set around mostly unknown actors and actresses. Astute viewers noticed how these newcomers' performances improved as the season progressed under the direction of Lee Daniels. While it's premature to project the future for Bryshere Gray, (Hakeem Lyon) Jussie Smollett (Jamal Lyon) and Trai Byers (Andre Lyon) they've blended into a believably legitimate family to surround a television drama. Adding veterans like Malik Yoba and later Derek Luke added more star power to balance the new talent. Daniels was careful not to let veteran actors like Luke, outshine the rookies, which is genius.
It's hard to comment on a man's agenda, or where his heart is on a matter. Watkins, the self described 'people's scholar' has been a cultural critic for years. He seems to spend half his time attacking racism in mainstream America, and the other time criticizing other black folk and or black culture that he feels falls into dangerous stereotypes. His visceral zeal against Empire seems to be more personal. In an article he wrote for allhiphop.com, Watkins rants about Daniels' homosexuality and Jamal's homosexual character.
I also have a few things to say about Lee Daniels and his admitting that he'd like to use the show to "blow the lid off of homophobia in the black community." I'm not sure why black people are always the target of this kind of propaganda, especially when there are millions of white conservatives who have their own issues with homosexuality as well. Not to say that any of us should be forced into a position on gay rights or that we can even agree on what it means to be homophobic, but black people do not have a monopoly on homophobia, however it is defined.
Basically, "Empire" wasn't created to entertain black people (although I'm sure it has black viewers). It is instead selling an image of blackness to a predominantly white audience that has been long fed stereotypical messages about what blackness represents. These thug-gangster-hoodrat images are the ones that are deeply embedded in the minds of police officers who shoot black men and potential employers who refuse to give black people jobs. Just like animals in the zoo, the world loves to observe black people at our most ratchet, because ignorant negroes are simply fun to watch.
I don't know how to describe this throw up of hyperbole beyond ridiculous. Perhaps Watkins believes every television show or movie with black people in them should be like NBC's Cosby show. *Imagine the irony of THAT! He talks about being fans of Howard's and Henson's work previously. I'm trying to figure out whether he's referring to when Howard played DJay, a Memphis pimp and aspiring rap star in Hustle and Flow, or Henson's as one of his whores? Perhaps it was when she played Yvette, a single mother with a convicted felon for an ex boyfriend in Baby Boy. Both performances were some of their best work.
Chances are black people we will never have control of Hollywood. Chris Rock detailed who has the power to 'green light' a show. Still, each show should be judged based it's content can bear the brunt of it's own praise or criticism. Judging a show with a lack of nuance as Watkins does is not only unintelligent, it's dangerous. Art, even black art's purpose is not meant to change social thought and carry cultural burdens to save a people. Second, police are not shooting unarmed black boys and men because of a television show. If Paul Robeson and Sidney Poitier – two of the most positive and powerful actors in the history of film couldn't stop lynchings, then how in the hell are Howard and Henson supposed to protect Michael Brown or Eric Garner by not starring in Empire? Is Watkins that naive? Or he just an old bitter black man? Art is being able to enjoy Denzel Washington portraying Silas Tripp in Glory as well as Alonzo Harris in Training Day.
White folks can be as honorable or as 'ratchet' as they want to be on television. They play cops, doctors, gangsters, idiots, bigots, whores and so forth. No show is indicative of the entire Caucasian, Italian, or Chinese population. Shows like The Sopranos and Breaking Bad aren't apologizing about a damn thing; Nor should they. Equally true, black folk like myself, are nuanced enough to watch both Eyes On The Prize and Empire without expecting one to be the other.
There are shows, movies, and music that deserve our critique because of negativity, or more importantly lack of creativity. Empire is not one of them. It's well written and wildly entertaining. It doesn't try to be what it's not. Watkins wouldn't know that as he claims he doesn't watch the show. What kind of of 'scholar' comments so feverishly on a subject matter he has little knowledge of?
Perhaps the repressed and uptight scholar should eat some "Cookies" so he can smile and lighten up a bit. Regardless, I can't wait till next season!
Posted in Dumb Shit
Tagged allhiphop.com, Boyce Watkins, CNN, Coonery, Don Lemon, Empire, Empire Finale, Eric Garner, Fox, Lee Daniels, Lucious Lyon, Michael Brown, Scandal, Taraji P Henson, Terrance Howard
August 17, 2013 by bbgcmac
CMac's Top Ten A-Rod Lies as Told By Bud Selig Before October
In lieu of the latest allegations against Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) that he leaked the names of Ryan Braun, as well as a hand full of other names to the biogenesis clinic in Florida, it's imminently transparent that Bud Selig, MLB, and the Yankees will stop at nothing to rid themselves of A Rod's contract. The latest leaked rumor is an attempt to turn the players and the players union against him. It's yet to be seen whether this will work or not. But if it doesn't, rest assured the stories will continue and get even juicer. Here are my Top 10 predictions of what Selig will release to gangster A-Rod out of the league and some 80 million dollars in salary.
10. A-Rod kidnapped Hannah Anderson and took her to Idaho
9. A-Rod, not White Bulger committed those mafia crime in South Boston.
8. A-Rod caused global warming
7. A-Rod shot Trayvon Martin
6. It was A-Rod who took pics of Anthony Weiner's junk
5. A-Rod causes sink holes in Florida
4. A-Rod is the founder and leader of the Muslim Brotherhood
3. A-Rod leaked secret government documents and hid in a Russian airport for a month before gaining temporary asylum.
2. It was A-Rod who fired Abel during the AOL conference call
1. A-Rod's real name is Walter White, and he cooks meth for a living using the code name Heisenberg
I can't wait!
Posted in Damn Shame, Dumb Shit, Sports
Tagged A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, Anthony Weiner, Bradley Manning, Bud Selig, Global Warming, Hannah Anderson, Lies, Major League Baseball, MLB, Muslim Brotherhood, NY Yankees, Russia, Ryan Braun, Trayvon Martin
April 2, 2010 by bbgcmac
Message to the Tea Party.. What you mad?
I didn't write this but received it in an email. A perfect letter to the so called Tea Party!
They sould call themselves the NazTea Party!
We had eight years of Bush and Cheney, now you get mad!
You didn't get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President.
You didn't get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate energy policy.
You didn't get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed.
You didn't get mad when the Patriot Act got passed..
You didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.
You didn't get mad when we spent over 600 billion(and counting) on said illegal war.
You didn't get mad when over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq .
You didn't get mad when you found out we were torturing people.
You didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.
You didn't get mad when we didn't catch Bin Laden.
You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.
You didn't get mad when we let a major US city drown.
You didn't get mad when we gave a 900 billion tax break to the rich.
You didn't get mad when, using reconciliation; a trillion dollars of our tax dollars were redirected to insurance companies for Medicare Advantage which cost over 20 percent more for basically the same services that Medicare provides.
You didn't get mad when the deficit hit the trillion dollar mark, and our debt hit the thirteen trillion dollar mark.
You finally got mad when the government decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick. Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, are all okay with you, but helping other Americans… oh hell no.
BUT YOU ARE 100% MAD BECAUSE WE HAVE A BLACK PRESIDENT.
Caveats: NONE
Posted in Damn Shame, Dumb Shit, Just Sayin, Political, politics, Race, Race & Economics
Tagged Healthcare, Obama, Racist, Tea Party
Ricky Martin is Gay? What? Are You Serious?
I had NO idea! DUHHHHHH! George Michael and Boy George thinks this guy is stating the obvious!
And honestly I don't care. I may not be in the loop but does this guy have a hit out currently?
Tagged coming out, Gay, Ricky Martin
Black People – GET OUT!
I read this story and thought to myself if I heard this on the PA system I probably would have started laughing.
I mean, of all the racial issues we have in this country and there are many, no way I would have taken this seriously.
I'm not saying I'm right. Just saying when I read this my first thought was that this was an ignorant customer using the PA system or one dumb employee. Either way, no reason to sound the alarms. We got bigger fish to fry!
Tagged New Jersey, Race, Wal-Mart
October 16, 2009 by bbgcmac
So Much for Post Racial, Part 567
Seems the justice of the peace Keith Bardwell in Louisiana refused to marry an interracial couple. Of course like other racist, he denies that he is and says he's "worried about the kids." WHAT? Oh he really cares about the kids!
I see. Well I am sure the gentleman pictures above and his bride to be will work things out. But Bardwell need not hold this post.
Posted in Dumb Shit, Race
Tagged interracial couple, keith bardwell, Louisiana
Quick! Somebody Please Arrest & Charge These Pranksters!
Not only that! Please make them pay for all of the police and manpower work that it took away from other needful cases. The things folks come up with to try to get fame! Freaking shameful!
Richard Heene can say what he wants. But he is the pathetic one! The last thing I'm going to do if I think my child is in some balloon flying across the country is to do a round robin of network and cable news shows talking about how scared I was and I relieved I am.
CHARGE THEM I SAY! And make examples out of them for this foolishness!
Tagged Balloon Prank, Reality TV, Richard Heene, Wife Swap
September 22, 2009 by bbgcmac
This is Some Stupid Shit!
Guess this is how they do police work in some places in Florida. They do a drug bust and within 20 minutes of the raid some officers break out the Wii.
That make sense! What the hell else are they supposed to do? Collect evidence? Look for guns or money? No it's about who can get their Wii on and be the top bowling scorer! That's fresh!
And to think folks are tearing their clothes in satcloth and ashes about what the president wants to handle their tax dollars.
Tagged Drug Raid, Polk County Police, Polk Police, Stupidity, Wii and the Police
bbgcmac
4RealThoShow – Special Guest & Friend of the show Shonte' Harmon Young
4RealTho Show – When White People Ask, "What Can I Do?"
4RealTho Show: Death, Fear & Anger
Where Are The Blogs?
Gerri P. on On Suicide & Fighting for Life
Big Hump on The War on Truth, The Lies of War
Anonymous on Why the Skeptics Should Watch Leaving Neverland
Shawn Edmonds on Blacks, Jews, Civil Rights, & A Banana in the Tailpipe
bbgcmac on SEXplorations: Unwrapping #MeToo, Patriarchy, Sex, Power & Responsibility – (A Series)
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youtu.be/CQDMwyciS7U 6 days ago
Runoffs, Insurrection & Roasting Chickens w/ Shonte' Harmon Young youtu.be/CQDMwyciS7U via @YouTube 6 days ago
Just posted a photo instagram.com/p/CJ1pyzijD3xr… 1 week ago
ALSO would have protected The Capitol effectively! instagram.com/p/CJwGcjpjVw9I… 1 week ago
True instagram.com/p/CJwFs-ajLPne… 1 week ago


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App of the Week - HomeCourt
At the time we're writing this, March Madness is just winding down, and the NBA season is fully gearing up. That's good news for basketball fans looking for incredible action on TV or in the stands. But it also got us thinking about our own hoop skills - and trying to find solutions and tools that could help us step up our game, in the Geekiest way possible.
That's where HomeCourt comes into play.
If you're looking to improve your basketball game in an easy and stress-free way, HomeCourt could be your new favorite sports-oriented app.
Created by former Apple engineers and backed by basketball aficionado investors including Mark Cuban, Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash, and Sam Hinkie, HomeCourt is a seamless way to start tracking and improving your fundamentals, no fancy equipment or screaming coaches required. Instead, all you need is the gear already hanging out in your gym bag - your smartphone, that is!
As FastCompany helpfully describes it, HomeCourt functions as a "virtual trainer," which can track your layups and solo shots through your phone or tablet's camera. The app uses A.I. to read your shots and will give you the ability to view your videos in slow motion, or break down your moves as individual still images for further analysis.
Think of HomeCourt as your own personal skills coach and practice log, rolled into one. You can use the app to track different aspects of your stats, ranging from jump height to shot angle, so that you can catch what you need to improve on, and what you're already doing correctly. You can use the app to monitor your dribbling, and also tap into its reserves of interactive drills, backed by the power of A.I-assessment tools.
While the app is free to download in the Apple apps store for iOS devices, users will need to pay a $5 monthly subscription fee to access some features. There are also higher pricing tiers for even more serious players and coaches, who need even more cutting edge functionality for themselves or their team.
Do you have any apps and gadgets you'd like us to check out at Geek Chicago? We'd love to hear from you! Interested in staying up-to-date on all the latest and greatest in Geek speak, from gadgets to apps to digital marketing? Make sure to check out and follow our team on Facebook and Twitter to keep the conversation going.
SmartphoneAppsApp of the Week
How Does My iPhone Know Where I Live and Work? Here's How to Disable This Feature
How Does My iPhone Know Where My Car Is?
LinkedIn 101 - The Basics That Every Business Professional Needs to Know
How Does My Android Phone Know Where I Live and Work?
How Blogging Drives Customers to Your Website
The Five Most Important Things You Can Do to Get Future Customers to Your Website
How to Use Social Media to Listen for Potential Clients, and Generate Leads
13 Ways to Save Your Battery with iOS7
Digital Marketing for Real Estate, Architecture, and Interior Design
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Turn your IPad into a Cash Register
No iPhone 5 Yet; iPhone 4S Looks Pretty Nice
Microsoft Office for the iPhone
"Waze" now Powered by Google - The Best App to Get Around
We Can Assist You!
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Geek | Chicago creates unique, dynamic websites to show off your service offerings, satisfy the needs of your customer base, and allow you to reach a much broader audience. Whether you're looking for a basic three-page web presence, an integrated blog or forum, a multimedia showroom, or a new social network, we have a solution for you.
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Jason Finn
Founder & Chief Geek
Jason has nearly 20 years of consulting experience, predominantly in the technology space. Most recently he was the COO and Director of Technology for Rich Casto & Company, a national training and consulting organization in the real estate industry.
As a consultant for IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and Envision Consulting Group (now IMS Health), Jason has served clients of all sizes, including Big Pharma, Fortune 500, and Global 1000 companies:
Allstate Insurance Company
AOL (America Online)
Astellas Pharmaceuticals
Eli Lilly and Company
Ford Motor Credit
Wockhardt USA (formerly Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals)
Reynolds and Reynolds
Sarunas Budrikas
Sarunas is a web design and development expert with hundreds of successful projects in his portfolio. He is passionate about delivering extraordinary user experiences for every client and consistently goes above and beyond everyone's expectations. As an SEO expert and strategist, he can optimize your website, or app, to get the most out of it, day in and day out. Sarunas holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Kaunas Technology University, in Lithuania. Sarunas now lives in Chicago, and calls it home.
Alexandra Olsavsky
Client Experience Specialist
Alex specializes in content generation and social media promotion for Geek | Chicago clients, helping to solidify their presence in the online community. This includes blog writing, graphic design, co-ordination and design of weekly newsletters, and active engagement on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn. Outside of Geek, Alex is a classically-trained soprano who professionally performs around the city of Chicago (most recently with the Chicago Baroque Band, and with the Rolling Stones for their "50 and Counting" tour).


Ennis ISD officials say they are taking all appropriate measures after a teacher tested positive for tuberculosis.
The district released a statement Monday afternoon saying they are working with the Texas Department of State Health Services to determine if any other staff or students were exposed to the disease.
Posted by publisher on Aug 30 2011. Filed under News, School news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.


Good friend and customer Cecil Bruce contacted me through Jason Rushforth. He had a vision in mind of a car with a perfect stance....and the rear wheels had to have alot of dish. After discussing various options, we came up with a plan that included Rushforth Rated-X's (20's all around) and maxium back-space on the rears. A call was made to Ride Tech for a complete air-ride set-up. To fit the maxium dish wheels on the rear, we installed a complete Ford 9" rear end 1.5 inches narrower that the factory 12 bolt. In addition to the upgrades, we tackled some wiring issues and various concerns. In less than a month, Cecil left the shop in a car that is totally transformed!


(E)xpress delivery of practically anything online is possible these days. Seriously, what was almost unthinkable a few years back seems to have become a norm these days. We could get goods and services from the world of the web, with a click or swipe on our handheld gadgets.
Mrs Dixit, our Customer Support in charge in office, recently invited us for her husband's 50th b'day celebrations. She wanted it to be a surprise party for him. Hence all her planning, from the guest list, the food, the present et all… were done in secrecy during office hours. At 40 something years, Mrs. Dixit has never really been the gadget kinds. Nor did she really use the internet, except for the compulsory browsing and checking of emails that work required her to do. She often commented on how we youngsters spend the whole day on the internet, wasting away precious hours. And shopping on the internet? OMG! It meant compromising on quality.
Anyways coming back to the surprise party she was throwing for her husband. It all had to be kept hush-hush. And it wasn't possible to do it after office hours, as her husband would be around. So Mrs. Dixit, on our stenographer Sarah's advice, took to the online mode of planning. The gift, an iPad for her husband was brought from Flipkart, delivered to the office address. The cake for the party, was ordered from a popular baker in Vasant Kunj. The dinner was booked using another popular caterer's website, from Nehru Place.
Mrs. Dixit was surprised at the ease with which she actually planned the whole event. All online and her husband hardly had any idea about it. Anyways the party was a big success. Her husband loved the surprise. The person beaming more was Mrs. Dixit, who proudly announced that anything could be done online.
At that moment another gentleman at the gathering announced that he had been taking piano lessons online. He had a piano at home, he signed up online, learnt at his pace and convenience and ended up saving a lot of money. Wondering if this was thinkable even 3-4 year back.
Poojas are also done online. 😛 Good one..
Raising kids perhaps is the only thing not available online.. but then there are lot of tips and advice on the same. For many people in my generation (40+), it is difficult to get comfortable online as we had seen very few computers and mostly in offices only. But, they adapt like fish to water once they overcome the fear.
Thank goodness for online shopping and ordering.


It is said that the model that holds this banner along with the whole unit gains the ability to arouse fear, an important feature in our favourite 6ed. The legend says that few human explorers, who survived the clash with a totem-bearing unit, swore that the banner came alive and was showing a picture of the near future.
In FallenSun, we know one thing ... This cloth carried by various small inhabitants of the ancient jungle, comes from the interior of the Citadel in Tlaxtlan, and no one knows what magic the Ancients imbued inside it.


Home of the "No Regrets Guarantee"
We've been in business since 1973. There is a reason for our longevity.
At Factory Flooring & Design, we focus on the needs of our customers. We want to be your trusted partner for all your flooring needs, and when it comes time for a home remodel.
Value. Trust. Experience. Client satisfaction. More than words, these are the core values that are part of our DNA.
Our business began with flooring—all aspects of it. Hardwood, vinyl, laminate, tile and carpeting. Our business has grown to now include complete home remodeling services. We understand the remodeling process can be a stressful time. We are here to make it easier and take the guesswork (and stress) out of your home remodeling and design decisions.
We provide a huge selection of flooring products, and our Trusted Advisors can perform a design audit, and provide the best recommendations based on your lifestyle and budget.
Centrally located in Sanford, North Carolina, our showroom is where our client relationships happen. Stop and learn more about our "No Regrets Guarantee" and our lifetime installation warranty on all products we sell.
Born and raised in North Carolina, Jimmy has owned Factory Flooring and Design since 1995. Prior to that he owned Cary Carpet & Design Center, Cary, NC. Jimmy's breadth of knowledge spans all areas of construction and flooring, including custom carpet/area rug design and assembly. His unwavering commitment to customer service and helping clients create the home of their dreams is a rare quality in the home remodeling industry.
Growing up on a farm in the Tar Heel state, Jimmy is a deep reservoir of information surrounding agriculture, organic farming practices and nutrition. Over the years, Jimmy has written about food and the connection to health, and freely shares his knowledge with our clients, and in our newsletter.


text:
Fritz Johan "Charles" Brommesson (* 12. August 1903 in Helsingborg; † 1. September 1978 ebenda) war ein schwedischer Fußballspieler.

Laufbahn
Brommesson spielte ab 1921 für Helsingborgs IF. Mit dem Klub, der 1924 Gründungsmitglied der Liga war, spielte er in der Allsvenskan. 1929 und 1930 wurde er mit dem Verein Erster der Liga, seinerzeit wurde jedoch der Titel des schwedischen Meisters nicht offiziell vergeben. Insgesamt bestritt er 231 Partien für den Klub, ehe 1930 aus beruflichen Gründen seine Karriere beenden musste.

Brommesson bestritt zudem 12 Länderspiele für Schweden. Er debütierte bei der 1:2-Auswärtsniederlage gegen die ungarische Landesauswahl am 28. Oktober 1923 im Nationaljersey. Bei den Olympischen Spielen 1924 kam er drei Mal zum Einsatz. Mit der Auswahl gewann er die Bronzemedaille, kam aber in den Spielen um den dritten Platz – das erste Spiel endete unentschieden und machte ein weiteres Entscheidungsspiel nötig – gegen die niederländische Nationalmannschaft nicht zum Einsatz. Während des Turniers erzielte er zudem seinen ersten von vier Länderspieltreffern, als er beim 8:1-Erfolg über Belgien am 29. Mai zum zwischenzeitlichen 4:0 ins Tor traf. Bis 1930 gehörte er der Nationalmannschaft an, sein letztes Länderspiel bestritt er am 28. September des Jahres beim 2:2-Unentschieden gegen Belgien.

Weblinks
 Profil beim Schwedischen Olympischen Komitee

Einzelnachweise

Olympiateilnehmer (Schweden)
Teilnehmer der Olympischen Sommerspiele 1924
Fußballnationalspieler (Schweden)
Fußballspieler (Helsingborgs IF)
Schwede
Geboren 1903
Gestorben 1978
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Adapter for metric steel musket ramrods, fits a ball puller, jag or worm. Available in 10-32 female and 5-.8mm female threads only, to fit the Davide Pedersoli Brown Bess, Charleville, and Enfield muskets.
Our brass adapter will allow you to interchange 8-32 and 10-32 jagged tips and ball pullers with rods of one thread size to the other and vice-versa. Offered in a variety of male and female configurations. And they make the rod a bit longer!
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Adapts 8-32 or 10-32 to steel rods from Springfield's, Zouave, Mississippi, and Harper's Ferry from Italy. Adapts Japan's 1763 Charleville, Springfield, and "Tower" Brown Bess musket.


text:
'Do you want to get to Rapinoe's level?' - Neville challenges Mead to replicate USWNT star's consistency
Ameé Ruszkai
3:00 AM IST 05/10/19
The England manager wants to see the Arsenal forward reach a new level after a stunning season in the FA Women's Super League last year
England manager Phil Neville has challenged Beth Mead to reach Megan Rapinoe's levels after a fine start to the season with Arsenal.
The former Sunderland forward scored seven goals and provided 12 assists in 19 games for the Gunners last season, earning herself a place in the Lionesses' Women's World Cup squad.
After getting five games in France under her belt, Mead has started the domestic campaign with one goal and one assist from three games and Neville has challenged her to raise her level even further.
"Beth's in the best place she's been in," the manager said, when asked who has stood out for him so far this season.
"We were quite tough on her coming off the back of the World Cup and she's answered everything we've asked of her.
"In terms of players that score goals and assist, I don't think there's anyone like her in our team, she assists and scores in most games that she plays.
"Her delivery, think back to the World Cup, the cross in the semi-final for Ellen [White], she has an impact in every single game, now it's just the consistency.
"We saw Rapinoe win the big [FIFA The Best] award last week, on the big occasions she delivers. That's the challenge we've set Beth: Do you want to get to that level?
"We've shown her the stats, the assists, the goals, we've said do you want to reach for the moon?
"You can go left or right here. Do you want to do OK, which is what we've seen, or go to the next level?"
Neville also picked out Mead's Arsenal team-mate Leah Williamson as a player who has impressed him since the FA Women's Super League started again.
Fellow centre-backs Millie Bright and Abbie McManus have withdrawn from the current squad, who will take on Brazil on Saturday 5 October before travelling to Portugal.
That means 22-year-old Williamson is now in line for her first start since before the World Cup, when she was in the line-up for England's 2-0 win over Denmark.
"I think what you'll see from Leah Williamson when she starts tomorrow is her go to the next level," Neville said.
"She's been patient. What we've said to Leah is she might play in defence or midfield, I see her as both, I really do with her composure and quality.
"That girl has to play for England sooner or later."


It's a longstanding assumption that a long haul holiday is far more expensive than a short hop to Europe. Historically it's true – the long distances and limited numbers of flights meant that once upon a time holidays to exotic locations were seen as once-in-a-lifetime 'bucket list' experiences, or a luxury enjoyed only by those with plenty of cash to splash.
The distances may not have changed but in recent years flight routes have increased, the worldwide package holiday industry has boomed and destinations like the Caribbean, USA and South East Asia have become a lot more accessible for the average tourist. And with several popular European countries thrown into turmoil by terrorism and the Pound weakening against the Euro post-Brexit, there's never been a better time to look further afield. Let's take a look at how much long haul destinations actually cost – the reality might surprise you!
Cancun has developed into an all inclusive heaven – the luxurious 4 and 5-star resorts are temptation enough to have you searching for flights! A 7-night all inclusive deal can be booked for under £800pp, which is more than your average Spain deal but offers so much more in terms of your holiday and hotel experience. Think of this as a one-off cost, because it's likely that once you arrive you will spend the majority of your time in the hotel complex taking advantage of the all inclusive cocktails and enjoying the amazing facilities. The pound is currently strong against the Mexican Peso, so if you do venture out of your resort you'll be getting great value for money.
Thailand has become really popular for backpackers and young travellers on their gap years, who have been drawn in by the beautiful beaches, legendary full moon parties…and cheap cost of living. Packages to Thailand may not look particularly cheap if you're browsing all inclusive, but food is so cheap in Thailand that it's better to book room only and buy all your food and drink as you go. A plate of curry from a street cart in Bangkok or Phuket will cost you less than £1 and other essentials like drinks, taxis and tourist attractions are just as cheap, so even if your flight and hotel package feels like a big expense, your in-resort spending will be minimal.
Dubai has a bit of a reputation as a millionaire's playground, and it's true that once you arrive the city offers plenty of opportunities for you to spend your money. However most cities are expensive as you make them, and Dubai has plenty of free attractions, cheap dining options and public beaches if you're on a small budget. The key thing to note is that a flight and hotel package to Dubai is surprisingly cheap – even in winter (Dubai's best time to visit) return flights and a 7-night hotel stay can be found for under £500pp.
Want to check some prices? Search our worldwide holidays to find your next adventure!


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Andy Pettitte: Life is tough in the Major Leagues | 1:49
As a four-time world champion with the New York Yankees, Andy Pettitte has been on top of the world. Yet the fact remains that we all go through hard times. Use this video illustration to discuss successes in life, but also trials and struggles and how God uses both.
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Radical Faith | 2:59
Josiah was inspired to raise money to build a Bible school in Sudan. This idea was too big for him to do alone, so he had to trust in God. There were times when kids made fun of him other times he was discouraged. But other friends have joined in his vision. The passion and growth Josiah has experienced carry them through.
Teen Mom Has Hope | 3:38
Perla was always known as "the smart girl" until she got pregnant and then she was known as "that girl who got pregnant." Working hard to overcome the label, raising her son and excelling in school was not enough to get rid of the feelings of rejection ... until a youth leader led her to Christ.
Shattered Dreams | 2:18
Rob dreamed of being in the FBI, but acceptance to the FBI program required police experience. Jackie was apprehensive about Rob's choice to be a police officer and her fears were confirmed when he was injured on the job.
Olympic Dreams Shattered | 1:36
With years of training for the 2004 Olympics, Greg didn't make it. This real-life story reveals how he was faced with a choice about his future and and his faith.
David Carr: Faith as an NFL Quarterback | 1:47
David Carr was the first pick overall in the 2002 NFL draft and became the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans. Using his faith to overcome the pressures, David has found a mission with his teammates on the football field.
J.D. Drew: Accepting Christ and playing Baseball | 1:31
Growing up in church, J.D. Drew loved the Bible stories. At 16 he was challenged to accept Christ. Now as a professional baseball player he can share Christ with thousands of people.
Prodigal Child | 2:28
Vicki is a single mother who raised her children in the church and tried to be a Christian example. But Vicki's daughter became an atheist as an adult. Vicki continues to try to talk about spiritual things, and her biggest fear is that her daughter will cling to her unbelief. This real-life story illustrates the struggle parents have in maintaining family relationships when adult children walk away from faith.
Reassured by God's Presence | 2:40
Ronald was disappointed on the field while also dealing with his parents' separation at home. Feeling overwhelmed, he grew angry with God. A youth group leader reached out to him, leading to an encouraging encounter that restored his faith that God was with him even in the tough times. This story originally appeared in the RightNow Media series Bold.
No Longer Ashamed of the Gospel | 2:26
Devin wrestled with the question, "How will my friends react when they find out I'm a Christian?" He confronted his fear of rejection and is no longer ashamed of the gospel as he lives out his faith in front of his peers. This story originally appeared in the RightNow Media series Bold.
You Have Authority | 2:46
Kourtni never knew the amount of influence she had on her volleyball team until she suffered a severe injury that had her leading from the bench. God showed Kourtni what it looked like to boldly use her authority as captain to share the gospel with her teammates. This real-life story originally appeared in Control with D.A. Horton.


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Mimosa similis är en ärtväxtart som beskrevs av Nathaniel Lord Britton och Joseph Nelson Rose. Mimosa similis ingår i släktet mimosor, och familjen ärtväxter. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

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CAAV ready to embrace the future
The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) is well placed to lead the industry through future change and challenges after investing its latest president, David Brooks.
With a career spanning over 30 years, Mr Brooks has vast experience in agricultural valuation and rural surveying across East Anglia. As a past president of the Essex Association of Agricultural Valuers, a Fellow of the CAAV and a Recognised European Valuer, he is well-established in the industry.
"I'd like to focus on the need for us as valuers to embrace future skills and sell our attributes to other professionals," said Mr Brooks at the recent AGM in Shrewsbury. "We know a huge amount about an extraordinarily varied range of topics: We need to promote ourselves as the lead in most situations – with both specialist and a wide breadth of knowledge.
"I intend to do my very best to bring this association forward. We are embracing change and with this comes an opportunity not just for ourselves, but also for our clients."
The position of senior vice president goes to Andrew Thomas, at Herbert R Thomas, South Wales, who will be supporting Mr Brooks throughout his year-long term, before taking over from him in 2020. "The Association is in good health and we have a vibrant membership," said Mr Thomas. "I look forward to serving it to the best of my ability."
Taking on the role of junior vice president is Andrew Coney. A partner at P Wilson and Company, based in Preston, Lancashire, Mr Coney has been previously been president of the Lancashire Agricultural Valuers' Association and has been the CAAV Northern Group chairman. "I am delighted to be elected. I will do my very best to represent and develop this wonderful organisation."
While the older and experienced generation took on new roles within the presidential team, the younger generation were welcomed into the fold following exams to become a CAAV Fellow. Scoring the highest marks was Simon Wells at Armitstead Barnett, Lancashire, earning him the prestigious RASE Talbot Ponsonby award.
Mr Wells has an extensive background in farming, with relatives farming in Lancashire and his father being estate foreman on the Whitewell Estate. "This is where my interest in rural property came from," he said.
A keen member of Slaidburn Young Farmers Club, Mr Wells has taken part in sporting events, stock judging and quiz competitions, and has held the role of club treasurer and vice chairman. He joined Armitstead Barnett in September 2016 after graduating from Harper Adams University with a first class honours degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management. "Every week I learn something new and it helps keep everything interesting," he said.
"It was a massive relief just to pass the exam, as I felt like the CAAV exams were the culmination of over six years' work. When the results came in I was obviously very pleased, as all the time, effort and hard work had paid off."
Taking second place was Coral Little, a graduate from Cirencester University working at Bidwells, Oxfordshire. She is now part of its Specialist Services team, focusing on valuation and compulsory purchase and successfully undertook her CAAV exams at the end of 2018.
"The exam was every bit as intense as I had expected but achieving Fellowship to an association that vests so much time and effort back into the industry made all of the hard work worthwhile," she said. "I was delighted to be announced as runner-up and look forward to working in such a supportive industry in the future."
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