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Gov. Ricketts weekly column
Posted Dec 09, 2019 11:03 PM
Nebraska grows the food that feeds the world. Generations of Nebraskans have worked to develop markets for our high-quality ag products, creating opportunities for our farm and ranch families. Our recent struggles with low commodity prices illustrate the continued importance of trade for Nebraska. To this end, I've been leading trade missions around the world, lobbying for the passage of new trade deals, and working to diversify our markets.
This year, three international trade missions led us to four strategic trade partners: Mexico, Vietnam, Japan, and Germany. In Vietnam, we promoted Nebraska beef and urged officials to approve American biotech applications for soybeans, corn, and alfalfa. Nebraska beef exports to Vietnam grew 127 percent last year, and we want to sell even more. Vietnam's rapidly growing economy will aid our efforts in the years to come. Our conversations with the Prime Minister of Vietnam and his cabinet officials led to approval of five biotech traits that had been stuck in red tape. Our face-to-face conversations helped highlight the importance of these applications.
During our mission to Germany, Chapman-based Preferred Popcorn signed a deal to grow its relationship with Germany-based Haase Food. We also promoted Nebraska beef, which is set for significant growth thanks to a new deal between President Trump and the European Union (EU) to more than double American beef exports to the EU. These trade missions lay the groundwork for Nebraska's future international growth. No company invests in a generic place called Nebraska. They choose to do business with specific leaders whom they respect and trust because they have a personal relationship with them.
While we can build the relationships, free trade agreements open the door for Nebraska's ag products. That's why the Trump Administration's work to secure new trade agreements for the U.S. has been so important. Last week, Japan's parliament approved a trade deal negotiated earlier this year by President Trump and Prime Minister Shinzō Abe. The agreement is a big win for Nebraska farmers and ranchers and for Japanese consumers. Starting on January 1, 2020 the deal reduces Japan's tariffs on U.S. beef from 38.5 percent to 26.6 percent. Eventually, the tariff will fall to nine percent. Tariffs on pork, corn, wheat, and other Nebraska-grown crops will also significantly decrease. Breaking down these barriers will grow the longstanding friendship between our two countries and give our Japanese customers even greater access to our high-quality food.
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is another trade deal that will help grow Nebraska. Sadly, Democrats in Congress have stalled USMCA and are preventing Nebraskans from enjoying its benefits. Last Wednesday, Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse delivered a compelling speech on the Senate floor, urging Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stop blocking a vote on the deal. We will continue to work with our federal delegation to end her senseless delay of USMCA.
By actively pursuing new markets and pushing for new trade deals, we helped increase Nebraska's total exports by $667 million (7 percent) from 2017 to 2018. Growth in ag exports represented one-third of this increase ($226 million).
These are important accomplishments at a time when our ag producers have faced significant headwinds in the Chinese market. While the media likes to put the focus on President Trump, Nebraska's trade relationship with China has been in flux for many years. From 1996 to 2003, Chinese demand for U.S. beef grew exponentially. Then, in late 2003, China suddenly shut its market to U.S. beef after the discovery of a case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). U.S. ranchers effectively had no access to China's beef market for over 13 years until President Trump helped reopen it in 2017. Exports of other ag products to China have also varied greatly from year to year. China's imports of our state's corn collapsed from $119 million in 2013 to $11 million in 2014 and have remained near 2014 levels since then. In 2014, Nebraska exported a record $284 million of hides and skins to China. Just two years later, that amount had fallen more than 40 percent. These numbers show how China has been an inconsistent trade partner.
Unpredictability in our trade relationship with the world's largest country makes our strategic efforts to diversify our markets all the more important. In addition to the trade missions led throughout the year, we have been hosting international delegations here in Nebraska from the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, and other countries. The trade delegation from Taiwan agreed to purchase $2.1 billion in new U.S. ag products. And this week, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan visited to formalize an agreement with Valmont to purchase Nebraska center pivots to help Kazakh farmers become more productive.
As Nebraska's ag producers face ongoing uncertainty headed into 2020, I will continue to work to develop markets for Nebraska's agricultural products around the world. If you want to share promising opportunities, please email me at [email protected] or call 402-471-2244. Together, let's spread the word about what the Cornhusker State has to offer the world.
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STOP for School buses
Even though School has been in session for over 3 months, it's still a good idea to remember to always stop for a School Bus that is loading and unloading in a School Zone. If the lights are flashing and the stop sign arm is extended, you must stop.
A Nebraska school district is asking drivers to obey state traffic laws after getting reports that some drivers aren't stopping for school buses with their stop sign arms extended.
The Hastings Tribune reports that Hastings Public Schools officials have gotten reports of motorists putting student safety at risk by disregarding the stop sign arms. David Essink, the district's human resources and operations director, says most people ignoring the stop sign are going in the opposite direction.
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Charles Leclerc secures second career pole at Austrian Grand Prix
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will start on pole position for the second time in his career with Lewis Hamilton facing a grid penalty.
Leclerc, 21, blew away the field at the Red Bull Ring to leave the opposition trailing in his wake ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Hamilton set the second fastest time, 0.205 seconds adrift of the young Ferrari driver, but will be hauled in front of the stewards for allegedly blocking Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen.
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION: A second career pole for @Charles_Leclerc 💪#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/NipWbpHnzp
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 29, 2019
Sebastian Vettel's torrid time continued after a mechanical issue ruled him out of the pole shootout.
The German, already 72 points behind Hamilton in the championship race, did not set a lap, and is set to start from ninth.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen qualified third ahead of Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas, but both could be bumped up the grid if Hamilton is penalised.
High five, guys! 🖐🏻
Great drives from Kimi (P7) and Antonio (P8). 💥 Starting positions may turn out even better due to penalties. #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/M6XabkT0JF
— Alfa Romeo Racing (@alfaromeoracing) June 29, 2019
The flashpoint arrived in the opening phase of qualifying here at the Red Bull Ring.
Raikkonen was on a quick lap when he came across a slow Hamilton at the top of the hill on the approach to Turn 3.
The British driver appeared to see Raikkonen at the last minute, and in attempting to get out of the fast-approaching Finn's way, instead crossed his path.
"Hamilton completely blocked me," said an angry Raikkonen after giving Hamilton the finger.
Kimi Raikkonen was allegedly blocked by Lewis Hamilton (David Davies/PA)
McLaren driver Carlos Sainz was handed a five-place grid penalty for a similar incident in Canada, blocking Alexander Albon.
The world champion has been called to see the stewards at 5pm.
"Charles has been quick all weekend," said Hamilton, paying tribute to the young Monegasque. "We have not been able to keep up with them here.
"I am going to fight the young drivers tomorrow," he added. "I am representing the old guys.
It's P2 and P4 for the boys after a close Qualifying at the #AustrianGP. Already can't wait to get back out there. Tomorrow, we race! 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/MzrsBc5t2o
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) June 29, 2019
For Vettel, who qualified a lowly seventh in Canada a fortnight ago, he is set to start ninth after an engine problem prevented him from going out.
It will be a blow to the German with Ferrari holding a pace advantage at a track which suits their straight-line speed.
Vettel was promoted one spot after Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was demoted five places for a gearbox change.
Magnussen's penalty also promotes British teenager Lando Norris to an impressive fifth for McLaren.
British novice George Russell finished 19th of the 20 runners, three tenths clear of his Williams team-mate Robert Kubica to extend his unbeaten record over the Pole to 9-0.
Charles Leclerc secures second career pole at Austrian...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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"Trustees mistrusted within schools": TDSB governance review – Jan. 15, 2015 CBC article
January 15, 2015 /0 Comments/in MCHS Stories, Newsletter, Toronto /by Jaan Pill
A Feb. 8, 2015 Metro News article is entitled: "Majority of schools slated for closure are in Toronto's poorer neighbourhoods."
A Feb. 9, 2015 CBC article is entitled: Majority of elementary schools on TDSB closure list serve vulnerable students: "22 of 48 elementary schools part of program targeted at city's poorest neighbourhoods."
A Feb. 11, 2015 CBC Metro Morning podcast featuring Margaret Wilson is entitled: "TDSB Vote." The background text notes:
"Last night, with a crowd of angry parents and teachers outside, Toronto District School Board trustees voted to consider what to do with 48 under-utilized schools over the next three years. Matt Galloway spoke with Margaret Wilson. She was the author of a report on problems at the TDSB, which was released last month. Among the report's recommendations was for the board to close schools."
A March 16, 2015 Globe and Mail article is entitled: "Ontario orders sweeping panel review of beleaguered TDSB."
The article notes:
"Ms. Sandals said the option of appointing a supervisor is still "open" to her, but that is not what's needed at this time. A supervisor, she said, would strip trustees of their powers but leave the structure of the board intact while doing nothing to address management problems identified in Ms. Wilson's report.
"The panel, by contrast, has a wider mandate to examine the structure of the board and to recommend governance changes, including possibly breaking it into smaller entities, Ms. Sandals said.
" 'Certainly, one of the things that Ms. Wilson identified was a very top-heavy [organization] where there seemed to be a distance between administrative structure and actual focus on student achievement," Ms. Sandals said. "That might involve [breaking up the TDSB]. I'm not presuming that outcome.' "
An April 1, 2016 Toronto Star article is entitled: "Toronto school board dividing into 'learning centres': Too big, too unwieldy, too impersonal — criticisms of Canada's largest school board lead to plan to break it up into smaller centres."
An Oct. 17, 2016 CBC article is entitled: "Vancouver School Board fired by B.C. education minister: Education Minister Mike Bernier has fired all 9 elected Vancouver School Board trustees."
A Dec. 6, 2016 Toronto Star article is entitled: "College of teachers finds Chris Spence guilty of professional misconduct: Former TDSB education director, accused of plagiarism, will now face penalty hearing."
A Jan. 15, 2015 CBC article is entitled: "TDSB [Toronto District School Board} governance review reveals 'culture of fear': Trustees are mistrusted within schools, according to an external report on the troubled board."
The report, which can be accessed at the article, is worth a read.
The report brings to mind a Nov. 27, 2012 post entitled:
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP report regarding the Toronto District School Board
As a former teacher, who worked for both the Toronto and the Peel public boards, here's my take: The concept that a good way to run a school board is to have all key senior staff filled by management personnel who have worked their way up from the classroom is not a sound concept. There has to be a better way.
Erving Goffman: Total institutions
Every public or quasi-public institution, as is the case for every corporation, as is the case as well with judicial and quasi-judicial bodies (such as the Ontario Municipal Board), warrants close scrutiny by independent other bodies. The alternative is to perpetuate the kinds of culture and the kinds of practices that are associated with what the Canadian social theorist Erving Goffman terms "total institutions."
Senior management positions require experience in the wider world; restricting the selection of senior management to former teachers, who've worked their way up within the closed world of a school board power structure, is not the best possible way to go. I've never heard a good rationale for such a hiring practice. I say this as a former teacher, and with full respect and admiration for the great work that a majority of teachers do in their classrooms, frequently under stressful and demanding conditions.
Teaching conditions
The demanding conditions include the threat or reality of being assaulted. I refer to a Jan. 16, 2015 CBC The Current podcast entitled: "Students assaulting teachers in class, a common occurrence in Canada."
A Jan. 22, 2015 CBC The Current podcast is entitled: "'Universally ignored': Educational assistants also face violence in classrooms."
As a teacher, I learned the value of vigilance in the face of threats to personal safety. Eventually, I took an eight-week course in mindfulness meditation, which I learned about through a Globe and Mail article, to enable me to stay at ease in the face of the standard stressful situations. The latter course is among the best things that came out of my teaching career.
Peter Mearns is owner of Bolton Lock and Security Ltd. Jaan Pill photo
The above-noted CBC stories remind me of a war story from the 1963-64 school year, from a previous post, from Malcolm Campbell High School in Montreal:
"We shared our usual round of war stories – including an anecdote from Peter Mearns about the time that a husky and very tall student got mad at the French teacher, who taught the class that Peter Mearns was in. The student walked up to the teacher with the intention of having a fight with him. The teacher, experienced in such matters, hit the student first, spending him tumbling to the floor. When the student got home, if I recall the story correctly, the father staunchly sided with the teacher as was the standard practice, way back then, regarding such matters."
The issue of the trustees is a separate issue. I support the conclusions of the above-noted Jan. 15, 2015 report.
The report is not that long, and it warrants a close read. We need to make things work better.
A Nov. 24, 2014 TVO YouTube video regarding the TDSB provides good background information related to the above-noted report.
The Jan. 15, 2015 report, which is beautifully written, brings to mind an earlier post:
Ethnography offers the opportunity to practise journalism, filmmaking, and screenwriting
Ward fiefdoms
The report's reference to "ward fiefdoms" is absolutely fascinating and ties in well with a person's understanding of world history including the history of the British empire.
Freelancing trustees and school programs
The report notes (p. 15):
TDSB trustees, as individuals and as committee members, become directly involved in curriculum and program development. For instance, there do not seem to be any constraints on a trustee who wishes to involve the Board in a pet project. The Confucius Institute (CI) was the favoured project of a former chair of the board. Over a three-year period of development, the Board knew next to nothing about the CI and the agreement which had been signed between the institute and the TDSB. It was not until June 18, 2014, that a trustee seminar was held on the relationship between the institute and the TDSB. At the seminar, print answers were provided to questions that had been submitted by trustees.
https://preservedstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Preserved-Stories-logo-horizontal-1.png 0 0 Jaan Pill https://preservedstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Preserved-Stories-logo-horizontal-1.png Jaan Pill2015-01-15 18:14:302016-12-06 06:31:39"Trustees mistrusted within schools": TDSB governance review - Jan. 15, 2015 CBC article
W.O. 09-20003 QEW Improvements from Evans Avenue to Cawthra Road – Public... Passing of a classmate: John W. Scott (MCHS '66)


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CHUD DRAFT: REPERTORY COMPANY ROUND FOUR RECAP
Nick Nunziata
The fourth round of CHUD.com's 1st Repertory Draft is over and the results are in! These five films will be populated by companies of seven actors from the 25 participants and the list is already getting quite interesting:
A drama. Aqueduct of Tears
A comedy. Beer Battered Bedmates
A horror flick. The Warehouse
An action flick. Forty Second Fuse
A science fiction flick. Beyond Pluto
This is the fourth round of choices, followed by the comments by the drafter:
#1 Uma Thurman
No Commentary Yet. – Justin Clark
#2 Jason Bateman
Jason Bateman has accomplished two of the hardest things to do as an actor.
A) He had a career revival in his thirties after being a succesful child actor and
B) Mastered the oh so elusive art of being an incredibly gifted comedic straight man.
Is there a harder role in comedy than that of the straight man? It's so easy to overplay it and yet Bateman makes it look like a walk in the park. On Arrested Development the rest of the cast had the showier, more outrageous moments but it was Bateman who stealthily got some of the biggest laughs while proving to be the gel the held the show together. He can be funnier with an expression or an inflection in a line reading than a barrel full of Ferrels at their wackiest. He can simultaneously be the pompous jerk you hope to see fail and the sympathetic guy you identify with and root for.
Unfortunately, Bateman seems to be getting a lot of stuffy, uptight roles thrown on him since his brilliant turn as Michael Bluth, but when he gets his chance to show what else he can do, Bateman makes the most of it. Even when his screen time is limited. Take his brief role in Dodgeball as an utterly moronic to the point of being brain dead sportscaster on The Ocho. Even more impressive, was his completely out there one man show of a performance in Smoking Aces. It was so unlike anything else Bateman has done and such a scene stealing five minutes in an otherwise lousy movie, he completely overshadowed everything else on screen. I would gladly pay to see a Smoking Aces sequel if it centered around Rupert "Rip" Reed.
Even more promising were his roles in The Kingdom and Juno that show Bateman has truly blossomed and is ready to branch out to other types of films besides comedy. His performance in Juno is especially layered and full of nuance. The anger and onset of midlife crisis are always bubbling just below the surface even before his character begins to express it. Bateman takes what is essentially a smarmy prick of a character and makes his midlife crisis somewhat sympathetic.
Jason Bateman has proven to be an actor who's potential has only been tapped and I'm happy to have him as a cornerstone of the Socially Inept Review. – Sacrelicious Supersucker
#3 Emile Hirsch
I am aware that Emile Hirsch, despite his age, is something of a seasoned performer at this point. I know that he appeared in some movies that some people liked, such as The Girl Next Door and Alpha Dog, but I haven't seen those movies. Looking back on hsi resume, I realized I have seen him in Lord of Dogtown, although I don't think he was Heath Ledger, so I don't really remember him much. I also saw The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, but the truth is I have zero recollection of it. I think they sat around reading Cummings poems to each other. Then someone died. Whatever.
None of those mean a goddamn thing though. I drafted Emile Hirsch entirely because of Into the Wild, possibly the best film released this decade. I can't recall seeing a star making performance of that calibre since Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting. Now granted, the material is top notch. But Hirsch doesn't just succeed, he excels. His performance resonates so well because the script requires him to make such a deep impression on everyone else in the film, and the audience as well. If Chris McCandless isn't perfect, the whole thing comes crashing down, and the protagonist looks like a completely selfish stupid asshole. Instead, Hirsch taps into an ineffable primitive wanderlust that human beings have carried around inside, often deeply hidden, since ancient times and lets it rule. I'm still angry he didn't win an oscar, or even get nominated (Eddie Vedder too, by the way).
And he was good in Speed Racer, so he can do frivolous.
He's going to play two leads, in the comedy and the horror films. Both are tricky, and require the audience to sympathize with a character that has some unusual shortcomings, just like McCandless. – Arjen Rudd
#4 Julianne Moore
I couldn't pass up pairing Julianne Moore with Laura Linney. These two sparring together will be magic. Plus they are both hot and sexy.
Julianne Moore'se wheelhouse is the heartbreaking drama but she can add alot to action and comedies. She has the comedic timing that would have her paired with Cary Grant back in the day and is perfect for the Altman comedies like Cookie's Fortune which she was in. While not the typical action heroine she can hold her own in anything fast paced like in the Jurrasic Par series. But I see her more in her zone in action thrillers like Children of Men. Action movies are best when they aren't dumed down. - Anyawatchin Angel
#5 Gary Oldman
What does Sid Vicious, Lee Harvey Oswald and Beethoven have all in common? Theirs lives have all been made all the much better by being impersonated by Gary Oldman. Also one of the top character actors, he's seriously mesmerizing to watch. It would be too easy to relegate him to the role of a villain, which he does so very well , but he clearly demonstrated his acting chops as a leading man in some very diverse movies. And to those that says that he's over-the-top, comments that fuses over his most villainy roles such as in Leon: The Professional, go watch Immortal Beloved or Sid & Nancy. Or Dracula, which he was the only good part of. He can be as quirky as needed, or be the performance that glue the rest of the cast.
He's one of the best. - Martin Savage
#6 Ewan McGregor
No Commentary Yet. – Jonathan Strickland
#7 Mos Def
Mos Def - representing Hip Hop
Where does Mos Def fit in as a SCAB? This wasn't my original genre-representing selection for this draft, but I'm glad I went with the better fit for my group rather than a "bigger" star. Mos Def is, of course, a huge star in his own right: Grammy nominated recording artist, with an Obie (off broadway) award and a ever growing filmography filled with projects under such directors as Richard Donner, Spike Lee and Michel Gondry – the man conquers any field he applies himself to. Best of all, he doesn't limit himself to gritty, urban-esque movies like most hip hop/rappers turned actors; he's shown his ability to work in a wide range of genres and always delivers a solid performance that feels very true to his character. His newest project, Cadillac Records, sees Def taking on the role of legendary rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry, and hopefully will skyrocket his public recognition and fandom closer to where it deserves to be. Of course, his work sofar has been in more of a supporting fashion, and he does have experience working in ensemble projects such as The Italian Job, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Monster's Ball so his spot in my company is well earned. With his multitude of talents and hard work to get to where he is, he deserves all the success that finds him; his work with THE SCABS will ensure he achieves that success.
What he brings to the table? I'd be lying if I said I planned it this way, but Mos is the beating heart behind the current faces (and mouths) of my repertory company. It's funny, the thing he was known for bringing to the hip hop game is exactly what he brings to his performances – insight and introspect. I've never seen a performance of Def's where I thought 'Oh, here's Mos Def playing so-and-so'; he has an innate ability to take a collection of dialoge and actions on paper and really turn it into a believable character, a person. I think it's really impressive for a hip hopper with no acting background. In 16 Blocks, he IS Eddie Bunker. The way he delivers lines, the speech impediment he gives the character – he really disappears in the role and brings something extra to a walking stereotype. That effort matched with a better script and you have yourself some dynamite. Obviously some projects like the Italian Job ask a little less of his acting ability, with only enough time to make quick caricatures of most the (many) characters, but Def always does the most with what he has. He also brings experience in a wide variety of genres: action/thrillers, dramas, science fiction (he DID play an alien in Hitchhiker's Guide), and most recently comedy with films like Be Kind, Rewind, though he was more of the straight man to Black's typical wacky persona in that. Out of everyone I have in my company so far, there is no one I am more confident in the ability to take on any role in any genre and deliver a great performance than Mos Def, making this a total no-brainer draft choice. Mos' Definitely. – Jesse Giles
#8 Rachel McAdams
No Commentary Yet. - RathBandu
#9 James Franco
No Commentary Yet. - Eric Cordo
#10 Channing Tatum
This round, I go for my first supporting actor. Channing Tatum hasn't been in very good movies up to this point, but has been the best thing about those he has appeared in. She's the Man actually had two very talented stars and Tatum proved in that as well as in Step Up that he has a load of charisma and talent. His next film is G.I. Joe, so if he's gonna break out, that's when it should happen. Either way, he is a great young actor and will work well as a supporting actor, whether it is alongside LeBeouf as a friend or an adversary, he should be just the right man for the job. I don't draft based on their previous film choices, I draft based on talent. He'll be starring in my movies, so his taste has nothing to do with my choice. – Starving Dog
#11 Illeana Douglas
Illeana Douglas is an actress that can take any role, no matter the size, and make it memorable. From her first appearance in Goodfellas to her role as rape victim in Cape Fear, she becomes an integral part of the larger picture. My favorite was in the film To Die For. As the vengeful sister with a small but important part she steals the movie and becomes the star. She is a believable everywoman whether drama or comedy and I can't wait to pair her up with William H. Macy.
Plus, with some directing under her belt, she will useful behind the camera as well. - jay f
#12 Paul Newman
Not that anything I could write could possibly do this fucking treasure of a man any justice, but I don't think it's too tough to see why I picked him. Paul Newman is one of our greatest remaining actors of such a long history in the business. At every stage of his life he has been captivating, entertaining, and capable of power like no other. Aging like wine, he has developed a face and a voice so affectingly serene and wise, it's intimidating just to witness a scene with him. He is of course now in worsening health and de facto retirement, but it is within easy memory that we have gotten both powerful drama (Road To Perdition) and levity-filled fun (Cars) from him. His most memorable roles are of team ups (Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid) and large ensembles (Cool Hand Luke), so he'll slide right in as another excellent entry of the troupe. Another classic (and Coen-veteran!) actor I am pleased to have.- Renn Brown
#13 Nathan Fillion
So why did I pick Nathan Fillion for my company?
I needed a charisma factory. Someone with perfect comedic timing and charm. Fillion has been cursed at birth, destined to star in countless quite good TV shows that no one watches. I never liked Firefly, but I watched the show and Serenity mostly because of him. He was the best suitable candidate for the Indiana Jones/Han Solo type of hero. He has proven that he can handle action and Sci Fi well, he was born and raised in comedy and even has a few dramas up his sleeve. He did horror with a straight to dvd sensation White Noise 2: Whitey!. So really, how can someone not one such a versatile actor to fuel your team? He's the engine that just keeps giving, sparring with every other actor to create great chemistry. Having already worked with Chiwetel Ejiofor in the past, they really look forward to recapturing that great magic back. They'll be confronted directly in 2 of the movies they'll do. But I won't disclose all of his roles just yet. – Tati
#14 Edward Norton
It's appropriate that Norton can currently be seen as Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk, since one of his strengths is in playing characters who belie his seemingly benign outward appearance. Did we really expect Derek Vinyard to pop out of this guy? Or suspect that Tyler Durden (despite being a dead ringer for Brad Pitt) lurked inside? Norton can easily move from charming easy-going guy to seething intensity, and it's all the more effective because you don't see it coming from him. He just looks like a nice guy, and then he's curb stomping you.
We look forward to Norton bringing his unpredictability to these roles:
Aqueduct of Tears: Norton is Componus Secundus, the assistant to Hoffman's Gravis Edificius in Gravis' quest to build his aqueduct; but Componus' silently jealousy of his mentor may bring the whole project crashing down.
Beer-Battered Bedmates: Here, Norton pairs up with Bana as Mark Cuccio, the hot-tempered friend of Tony Romero.
The Warehouse: As Robert Simms, Norton is one of the five sent to pick up a package, yet he seems to not be all that surprised when things begin to go wrong.
Forty-Second Fuse: Norton plays Hermes Sullivan, the brains behind the boom in Bana's gang of dynamite-slinging outlaws.
Beyond Pluto: Finally, Norton takes on the role of Erasmus Jennings, a reporter looking to root out the secret of Pioneer 10's improbably turn.
Welcome aboard, Mr. Norton!
. – Richard Dickson
#15 Ben Foster
Sure to be the most controversial addition to this company, Foster embodies our group's title, The Secret Weapons. It's not enough to have large recognition. One must be able to be the shining star in truly awful films. Foster has done that repeatedly with his performances in 30 Days of Night, Alpha Dog, and The Punisher. But he's not just a diamond in the shit. He's a scene-stealer, receiving the critical acclaim while starring alongside Bruce Willis in Hostage and Russell Crowe and Christian Bale in 3:10 to Yuma. He's the under-appreciated actor who deserves to be recognized and I proudly do that now as I welcome him to The Secret Weapons. - Matt Goldberg
#16 Elizabeth Banks
Eilzabeth's resume is relatively short compared to others in the company, but she excels at making big impressions in smaller roles.
In the Spider-Man franchise, she's the girl you want Peter to chase after instead of the snaggletoothed redhead. In Slither she proved she can be appealing a lead role and not fade into a roomful of special effects. She's been nominated for a SAG award for Seabiscuit. She played in Catch Me If You Can, so she's good enough to impress Spielberg. She can do drama if given the chance, clearly.
But comedy is her forte. As Beth the Bookstore girl in Forty Year Old Virgin, she is fearless in playing against Steve Carell. That boldness I plan on tapping for the Company's projects in both lead and supporting roles. I'm really looking forward to the drama with her. I think she's going to have a fantastic career, and we'll be happy to help her pad her filmography. – Scott Christy
#17 Famke Janssen
She's diversely talented, has good taste in material, beautiful but capable of great darkness, and great in ensembles. Welcome, you wonderful broad. – Nick Nunziata
#18 Amy Ryan
Amy Ryan has been one of those actors that's been working since the early 90s but only in the past few years has been getting noticed, mainly in the form of two roles. That of Port Authority Officer Beadie Russell in The Wire and her Oscar nominated role as Boston white trash mother Helene McCready in Gone Baby Gone. In these two contrasing roles, Ryan plays characters that have their world's completely shaken due to outside forces and shows a different potrait for each character.
Now, it's pretty clear that Ryan is a great actress in terms of drama but only until recently had we found that she can also do comedy as viewed in her role as the new HR rep of the Dunder-Mifflin Scranton branch of The Office. Yes, we've only seen one episode in a role that'll probably last only a few more episodes. But even then, there's a clear niceness and sweetness to someone who appears to have an interest in Michael Scott (Only time will tell). Clearly this is a shift from the other two chracters mentioned but from what's been seen, Ryan is clearly able to handle the challenge without appearing wooden or being out of her element.
Hopefully, unlike other best supporting winners and nominees, she won't disappear as she definitely has a place on the screen. - Amy Ryan
#19 Maggie Gyllenhaal
Since this is fantasy, I haven't worried too much about who likes who and who would or would not be able to act in five movies in quick succession. But once I decided on Maggie for obvious reasons — young, talented, and despite this not being a babe draft, still gorgeous — I noticed that she's a furious worker. She won't have much of a problem handling the tonal shifts that our five fantasy films require, and she won't buckle under the pressure either. Again, that's not really a requirement for my draft — after all, I've got Daniel Day-Lewis in the company — but it's something I was marveling at earlier. Among other things. – flyarz
#20 Michelle Williams
While many of her peers concerned themselves with becoming stars, Michelle Williams was busy becoming an actor. I'll be honest; she wasn't on my radar for a long time. I never watched Dawson's Creek, but I have it on good authority (women) that she was pretty good, and a lot of the films on her resume are completely unfamiliar to me. However, what I have seen I've really liked, and I think she's a talent that's only just beginning to gear up—unlike a lot of young actors, her best work is clearly ahead of her.
2005's Brokeback Mountain was a breakout performance for her—with good reason, it's heartbreaking and beautiful work—but it was her performance that year in The Baxter that really made me pay attention. If you haven't seen it you owe it to yourself to check it out (I did on the advice of this site); it's a wonderful, charming, and funny movie, and watching Williams bring her character fully to life is one of the highlights.
So what does Michelle Williams add to the mix? Probably anything that's needed. She's a valuable part of any ensemble, a proven talent in supporting roles with the skills to easily handle a lead; she's shown herself capable of covering huge tracts of emotional territory, always making interesting choices in her performance; and I think she's a smart actor with a long and prestigious career ahead of her. – Mr. Mushnik
#21 Evan Rachel Wood
No Commentary Yet. - juddl
#22 Judy Greer
Judy Greer has a tough last name to say if you are eating crackers. And THAT's what I look for in an actress, honestly. Well, that, and the ability to destroy audiences with a shitload of talent. Guess what? Greer's got IT! That special something. You know what I'm talking about. Special enough to survive the horrific double dose of The Village and (gulp) Wes Craven's Cursed. You can put her in any sitcom, funny or no, and she does great work. She managed to make Arrested Development funnier. How? Because God bestowed in her a gift. She gets a metric ton of best friend stuff, and she knocks it out like a half-dead tooth every single time. She's fantasic. You're jealous. I can see that. You're Greern with envy. How did I trick her into becoming the fourth member of my amazing acting group? I made her a mix CD of all of my favorite songs. And since all of my favorite songs are by Puddle of Mudd, it was pretty easy for me to make. – Justin Waddell
#23 Franka Potente
Every good acting troupe needs a solid, talented actress that can bring the goods when necessary, and in the Fortis Company Players, Franka Potente is that actress. While she isn't a conventional beauty by Hollywood standards, and she isn't exactly what one could call a "star," she can act up a storm, and offers up a quietly compelling presence that pretty much demands that an audience to watch her. Based on the first two Bourne films and Tom Tykwer's Run Lola Run, Potente has demonstrated that she can handle action with ease, while Creep proved that she's no stranger to the horror genre. Her turn on the powerful television program "The Shield," along with her roles in films like Blow and Storytelling illustrate a natural knack for dramatic work, and while it's true that she is unproven in the genres of science fiction and comedy, it's not too much of a stretch to believe that she can put her considerable talents to good use in both types of films. In fact, I could easily see her serving as the best friend/comic foil of the female lead in a screwball comedy, or as the hero's romantic interest in a cerebral science fiction epic. Franka Potente may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of agreat actress, and she may not be as desirable as international sex symbols such as Angelina Jolie or Scarlett Johansson, but she's a confident, talented and above all dependable actress, and sometimes that's enough. – Chris Olson
#24 Anne Hathaway
I fell for Anne Hathaway the first (and only) time I saw THE PRINCESS DIARIES. Here was a young actress who combined elegance with a goofy, likeable charm, and it didn't hurt that she was, well, kinda stunning. And as she made her way through a handful of innocuous comedies, it was always clear that she was gearing up for something with a bit more substance.
She's since delivered and then some: Streep, Tucci and Blunt got the plum parts in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA but Hathaway truly carried it; her supporting role in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN not only displayed off-the-charts sexiness (you know the scene I'm talking about) but an ability to convey a wide range of emotion (her phone conversation with Heath Ledger near the end of the film, where she sadly and wearily recounted the fate of her husband, was a small marvel); BECOMING JANE was a bit wet but it showed that Hathaway could handle period pieces in look and demeanour.
I'm sure her stunt double handled a fair portion of the butt-kickery in GET SMART but there are more than a few occasions when she shows a dynamic physical presence. And while she essentially has the straight-man role, she absolutely nails the one-liners she's given and has a pleasingly combative/romantic rapport with Steve Carell.
She's classy, she's funny, she's sexy, she's talented. And now that she's dumped her white-collar criminal boyfriend, she's mine! You hear? Mine!. – tommy five tone
Keep up to date with the draft in THESE THREADS.


Are you ready for the new HFSS rules?
Last December, the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) announced new restrictions on HFSS advertising in non-broadcast media. These will come into effect soon.
From 1 July 2017, HFSS advertisements will be subject to media placement restrictions and any other HFSS ads that are directed at under-12s through their content will not be allowed to use promotions or celebrities and licensed characters popular with children.
These are big changes focused on ensuring that advertising self-regulation continues to deliver proportionate protections for our children. But, CAP is also conscious of the potential burdens on businesses.
CAP want to help you to comply with the rules. Their Copy Advice team are ready to provide fast, free advice on ad copy. Here's a helpful checklist of what you need to know.
Identify your HFSS products using the Department of Health nutrient profiling model. Make sure you've got the evidence to hand should the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) receive a complaint. They'll expect you to show them that products aren't HFSS. See this article for more advice.
Ensure you place any ads for these products away from children's media or other media where they make up more than 25% of the audience. Using measurement data and analytics are the best way to satisfy the ASA. CAP has produced new guidance on ad placement and on interest-based targeting in online environments like social networks. See also this article for further details.
Be careful of brand advertising – if a piece of branding is synonymous with a specific HFSS product, using it even without featuring or referencing the product itself could be a problem. CAP has produced new guidance to help advertisers identify such issues. See this article for more information.
Don't get caught out by cross-media campaigns; in particular, promotions. Although you can still use promotions on things like packaging and at point of sale, the entry page on your website will be covered by the rules. Consider using non-products branding or generic branding (provided that it doesn't fall foul of being synonymous with an HFSS product).
Remember, HFSS ads placed in accordance with the HFSS placement restriction are still subject to content rules. If your content is likely to be seen as directly targeting under-12s (e.g. directly addressing them or featuring child-oriented imagery without clearly targeting parents), you can't include promotions, or licensed characters or celebs popular with under-16s.
CAP also launched a new online training module to help advertisers get to grips with the new and existing rules on advertising food and soft drinks to children in non-broadcast media. You can find out more on their eLearning page.


At least one Alabama voter elected to Roll Tide at the ballot boxes on Tuesday.
Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban emerged as a write-in candidate in the state's special election for senator, which saw Democrat Doug Jones pull out an upset victory over controversial Republican Roy Moore.
It's unclear exactly how many of the approximately 22,000 write-in votes (1.7%) went to Saban, but one conflicted voter, Greg Dobbins, wasn't reluctant to explain his decision.
"I'm a life-long Republican," Dobbins told MSNBC. "This is the first time in my entire life that I haven't voted for the Republican candidate. I wrote in Nick Saban instead. The reason why is at first I was going to vote for the other guy. Then, I had a crisis in the voting booth and started thinking about what Richard Shelby had said and Condoleezza Rice. I just wrote in Nick Saban."
Rice, the former U.S. Secretary of State under George W. Bush and a Birmingham native, encouraged Alabamians to vote in what she called one of the most significant elections in the state's history.
Shelby, the Republican senior senator of Alabama, said he did not vote for Moore, instead writing-in a "distinguished" Republican (which rules out Saban).
Moore has been accused of molesting, assaulting and pursuing teenage girls when he was in his 30s. He has denied the allegations.
A new Alabama law states that write-in totals for candidates would be counted if the number of write-in ballots exceeds the difference between the top two candidates.
Jones defeated Moore by roughly 21,000, which means the tally for Saban is slated to be made public.
On Monday, a liberal super PAC released a how-to video urging Republicans to put Saban on their ballot.
All this for a guy who didn't even know he missed Election Day last year.


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The characteristics of the terrain surrounding Lugano airport are quite demanding in terms of aircraft climb performances. For example, the Procedure Designed Gradient (PDG) for take-off and initial climb on RWY 19 is up to 10.2%.
During all IFR approaches, the applicable MDA and the corresponding minimum visibility shall be predefined by the operator and the flight crew considering the daily performance limits of the corresponding aircraft given by mass, temperature, density, and wind conditions (including, where applicable, the Company contingency procedures).
Note that depending on the performance of the aircraft, operators may need to establish contingency procedures for certain flight maneuvers (take-off on RWY 19 with VIS less than 3000 meters).
The contingency procedure for the circling CHARLIE is a requirement. The use of this circling procedure is only allowed to operators holding an approved contingency procedure, covering a missed approach maneuvers initiated from circling procedure.
The Commander is responsible to conduct the airplane safely within the certified envelope (AFM) and in compliance with the current regulations regarding proper weather conditions as well as published procedures for LSZA airport.


MISSION :: Provide leadership, professional development, resources and on-going support in order for schools to successfully implement Positive Behavior Intervention and Support.
Summer Institute for PBIS has been scheduled for July 22-26th. Save the date and check back periodically for updates on sessions.


The Academy has an assigned Chief Administrative Officer and Superintendent through a third party (St. Clair County RESA) at a contracted cost of $2,500.00 and did not pay employee salary and benefit costs for a superintendent in the fiscal year ended June 2018. The academy Director position is also a contracted position through a third party (St. Clair County RESA) at a total cost of $141,028.24.
The Academy did not have employee wages in excess of $100,000 for fiscal year ended June 2018. The Academy contracted with SCCRESA for administrative and business services during fiscal year ended June 2018.
2017-18 List of Teacher and Administrator Salaries and Benefits - No salaries that meet the State requirements to post under this category for year ended June 30, 2018.
There was no out-of-state travel to report for year ended June 30, 2018.


Think you like margaritas as much as Kid Rock? Probably not! Check out Kid Rock's coveted Margarita recipe!
Kid Rock holds ham in high esteem, it's one of his favorite meat based products.
Cans of cola are perfect for this signature drink, and as Kid Rock started, 1/4 cup and a few splashes is all you need to bring the flavors out of this classic marg.
Remember that behind every classic marg is a symphony of flavors crafted by one of many margarita mixes, do not use sparingly!
Red onions are particularly flavorful and a perfect marriage in this drink. Garnish each glass with diced onions and serve!
If there's one thing owls cherish it's family.
There are all kinds of owls. Some of them have feathers and children, most of them have a lot of feathers.
Not many people realize that owls were banned until 1978.
This is a guy who really gets into the corners. Classic owl humor.
In Japan they elected their first Owl Prime Minister — what a hoot!
One common misconception about owls is their piss poor grooming habits, and I would have to agree with that statement. Absolutely disgusting.
King of the jungle indeed!


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Leah Remini: Scientologists Are Falsely Accusing Paul Haggis of Rape
by Tyler Johnson at January 16, 2018 12:29 pm .
If you've picked up a newspaper or been anywhere social media in the past three months, then you're no doubt aware that the film industry has been shaken to its foundations by allegations of sexual assault against some of the most influential men in Hollywood.
While most of the accusations have centered around alleged attackers such as Harvey Weinstein abusing the power they attained through their wealth and fame, some have singled out problematic organizations such as the Church of Scientology, which for decades, has been haunted by reports of human trafficking and coerced sex acts.
For years now, Leah Remini has been publicly calling out the controversial cult for its abuse of low-level believers and the harassment campaigns they use to target former members.
Now, she's coming to the defense of a fellow lapsed-Scientologist, filmmaker and two-time Oscar winner Paul Haggis.
On January 5, Haggis was accused of sexual misconduct by three women who offered accounts of incidents in which the Crash and Million Dollar Baby screenwriter groped or harassed them.
Earlier this week, Remini and her Scientology and the Aftermath co-host Mike Rinder posted an open letter in which they state their belief that Haggis is being framed as part of a Scientologist conspiracy.
"There is plenty of reason to worry about defending anyone accused of sexual assault in today's climate. But the fear of consequences for speaking our truth has not held us back in the past and isn't about to start now," Remini and Rinder write.
"It is not a crime to be attracted to women (or men). It's not a crime to flirt. Or to have sexual relations with someone," they continued.
"It might not be acceptable to your significant other (if you have one), but it certainly isn't criminal nor worthy of newspaper headlines."
Remini and Rinder go on to point out the ways in which current Scientologists are persuaded to assist the church in tearing down the reputations of former members:
"Only a Scientologist can understand the pressure one feels to offer up even the slightest thing that the Scientology organization might consider a transgression of THEIR mores," they write.
"Paul Haggis deserves, based on his record as a gentleman and humanitarian, to be judged when all the evidence has been taken under penalty of perjury in a court of law.
"Because claims of anonymous accusers who have NOT gone to law enforcement are not credible," they conclude.
This is not the first time that Scientology and its controversial practices have been mentioned in connection with the recent wave of sexual assault scandals.
Several times over the past year, former That '70s Show actor Danny Masterson was accused of rape, and his alleged victims say he used his position of power within the church to coerce them into performing sex acts.
Many believe that Masterson was able to avoid the professional consequences of his alleged actions
We'll have further updates on this story as more information becomes available.
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Queens Idol 2010 Singing Competition for Residents of Queens New York.
Manhattan Idol 2010 Singing Competition for Residents of Manhattan New York.
Brooklyn Idol 2010 Singing Competition for Residents of Brooklyn New York.
Bronx Idol 2010 Singing Competition for Residents of The Bronx New York.
As Juniors you won, what now?
The best to all of you, this year and forever.
Joe and Celeste, the (un)happily married couple.
Luigi tells Joe to "never sign anything"
Miriam and the Devil, pure good against evil.
Liz and Walla leading the dancers to victory.
Walla puts some punch into the production.
Directors Jaime and Jorgie put together the finale.
Jaime directs Liza on important matters.
Seniors singing loud and clear.


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Flowers That Bloom in June
Outdoors & Gardening
By David Beaulieu
June is the time in the North when gardeners experience the culmination of spring's fabulous flowering show. Summer will have garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) and its other star performers, but the last month for a yard jam-packed with perennial blossoms in many landscapes will be June. Take advantage with these top selections.
Hisako Sugano / Getty Images
Sun-loving Chinese peony has a lot going for it. Everyone agrees that the fragrant, large, double flowers are lovely. A nice bonus, though, is that it is one of the longest-lived perennials. Listed for zones 2 to 9, it is also one of the hardiest perennials. Perhaps its one drawback is that it does not like to be moved; if you must transplant it, do so in fall, once it enters dormancy.
Stella de Oro
David Beaulieu
An herbaceous root plant, Hemerocallis Stella de Oro is a popular day lily. This is another plant for full sun that can be grown across a number of zones (3 to 9). Its strengths include that it:
Blooms a long time (May to July)
Will rebloom
Can adapt to a variety of conditions
Bears vibrant, golden-yellow flowers that light up any spot they dwell in
About its only drawback is a manufactured one: that Stella de Oro is overused. Do not let this subjective charge dissuade you from growing it if you have never grown one.
Anshu / Getty Images
There are plenty of perennial salvias that bloom in June for northern gardeners, including Blue Hill (Salvia x superba Blue Hill), which grows in zones 4 to 8 in full sun.
A major pro in favor of salvia is how easy it is to grow. A minor con against it is that its leaves stink, although such assessments are always subjective.
Purple Ice Plant
Purple ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) gives you a shorter option for a full-sun perennial in zones 5 to 10. It is a sprawling ground cover, whereas the other selections in this list have an upright plant form.
This unusual plant is valued for the length of its flowering period (all summer) and its suitability as an edging plant. On the negative side (for gardeners in the North), it absolutely requires a soil that drains super-well in regions colder than zone 7, else it will die during the winter.
Allium Atropurpureum
There are several kinds of flowering onions (Allium spp.), and they bloom at different times of the year. But Allium atropurpureum blooms in June.
Technically bulb plants, flowering onions nonetheless come up every year (for a number of years) like perennials. Give Allium atropurpureum full sun and grow it in zones 4 to 8.
The chief asset of flowering onions is that, since the different types bloom at various times, they are valued by those seeking continuous sequence of bloom. There is a flowering onion out there for you to plug into that empty spot in the garden whether you need it for spring, summer, or fall. A drawback against them is that they are poisonous.
Shelly Chapman / Getty Images
Lavandula spp. are actually sub-shrubs, but gardeners often treat them as perennials or herbs. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the hardier kinds (zones 5 to 8). Grow it in full sun.
Even non-gardeners are familiar with its best feature: the fragrance of its leaves, which are dried and used in potpourris. Its worst feature is its intolerance for ground that does not drain well; growing this Mediterranean plant in such soil often leads to root rot.
Variegated Yellow Loosestrife
Lysimachia punctata Alexander is a full-sun plant for zones 4 through 8. The best argument for growing it is its variegated leaves, which display green and pink colors when they first come out. The one disappointment with it is that this wonderful pink color does not hang around for long. When the plant flowers in June, its leaves are green and white.
Monarda didyma just sneaks in as a June bloomer, coming into flower at the end of the month. Grow it in full sun to partial shade. If you choose to grow it in full sun, be especially careful to water it well, since it likes a slightly moist soil.
A point in bee balm's favor is that you can flavor salads with its fresh leaves and use the dried leaves in herbal teas. A demerit against it is its strong tendency to get powdery mildew on its leaves.
Becky Shasta Daisies
Maria Mosolova / Getty Images
Different daisies bloom at different times. Leucanthemum x superbum Becky flowers June to September. Grow it in full sun in zones 5 to 10.
Its best feature is that it is a long-blooming perennial. Its worst feature is that a number of bugs eat it, including:
Leaf miners
Summer Skies delphinium is aptly named, bearing a heavenly blue color. David Beaulieu
Sun-loving larkspur (Delphinium spp.) has long been used in cottage gardens. The different types vary in terms of height and hardiness. As an example, Black Knight can become 7 feet tall and grows in zones 3 to 7.
Maybe the biggest pro for larkspur is its height. It is a tall perennial that you can place in the back row of a planting bed without worrying that the plants in front of it will block your view of it. The biggest con against it is that it is highly susceptible to crown rot and so needs excellent drainage.
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Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever.


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How Britain Got So Fat Sarah Boseley Analysis
How Britain got so fat Sarah Boseley Obesity causes potentially lethal diseases and The National Health Service in Britain is spending billions of pounds a year treating heart attacks, diabetes, cancers and lots of other consequences caused by obesity and unhealthy lifestyle. It is in many expert's and healthcare organisations' interest, to reach a resolution to the increasing problem, but who is to blame for this huge health and social problem? And maybe even more important, what is the reason for this? The text "How Britain got so fat" by Sarah Boseley, discusses the issue of obesity and unhealthy living in Britain in general. Consequently, this essay will focus on the writer's argumentation in contemplation of rhetorical appeals and other…show more content…
Beyond that, Boseley has won several awards for her journalism, which tells the reader that she is qualified to her occupation. The fact that she works for 'The Guardian' leads to her appearing as a significant journalist and writer, because of the newspaper's prestige and approval. This newspaper has the ability to reach millions of readers in Britain and throughout the world. It makes her writing occurring as specialised subject matter, partly because of her use of statements from experts, outcomes of surveys and her critical accession to the different organisations in Britain. The writer makes use of rhetorical features to convince the audience about the rising obesity levels in Britain. Her rhetoric is among others characterised by rhetorical questions, which activates the reader's mind and opinions to the discussed subject, for example; "So where do we go from here?" (p. 1). The question emphasizes the severity in the increasing percentage of people getting obese and does also allude society to be accessory to the obesity among the Britons, you can assume that the reader starts worrying and reflecting about the present situation by this
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Nearly two weeks ago, transgender actress Alexis Arquette passed away at 47.
Rumors were swirling that Arquette died from complications related to AIDS, but now we have an official cause of death.
On Tuesday, Arquette's death certificate was released, revealing that she died from cardiac arrest, but also battled bacterial endocarditis, cardiomyopathy, and HIV.
In her certificate, it was revealed that Arquette was living with HIV for 29 years.
Arquette's brother confirmed her death on Facebook, saying, "Our brother Robert, who became our brother Alexis, who became our sister Alexis, who became our brother Alexis, passed this morning September 11, at 12:32 am. He was surrounded by all of his brothers and sisters, one of his nieces and several other loved ones. We were playing music for him and he passed during David Bowie's Starman. As per his wishes, we cheered at the moment that he transitioned to another dimension."


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POLITICS Heidi Cruz: My Husband Is Here To Bring Christian Sharia Law To America
mikeghouse February 17, 2016 August 18, 2016 Comments Off on POLITICS Heidi Cruz: My Husband Is Here To Bring Christian Sharia Law To America
Oops, I thought Collin Taylor beat me to writing a similar article. I am glad he did not, and I will finish my article on Christian Sharia.
Mike Ghouse
Courtesy – Occupy Democrats
ByColin Taylor
Religious extremism, once been relegated to the fringe of American politics, has broken through and now is a policy platform for Republican presidential candidates. Championed by Ted Cruz, his campaign is an affront to the Constitution that he claims to love so dearly and the religious pluralism that our nation was founded on. It's a slap in the face to the millions of Americans who don't happen to follow Cruz's perverse interpretation of fundamentalist Southern Baptist Christianity.
Cruz's wife, Heidi Cruz, made some extremely alarming remarks to South Carolina radio host Vince Coakley, in which she asserted that her husband was uniquely able to deliver a "combination of the law and religion," which sounds alarmingly like a Christian version of the sharia law that Cruz was so terrified about Muslims imposing on Texas:
Explaining why she is supporting and campaigning for her husband, Heidi Cruz said "we are at a cultural crossroads in our country" and that she feels she and her husband "can be in this race to show this country the face of the God that we serve — this Christian God that we serve is the foundation of our country, our country was built on Judeo-Christian values, we are a nation of freedom of religion, but the God of Christianity is the God of freedom, of individual liberty, of choice and of consequence.
She went on to say that, "I think that's something that this country really needs to be reminded of, is that Christians are loving people, are nonjudgmental people, but there is right and wrong, we have a country of law and order, there are consequences to actions and we must all live peaceably in our own faiths under the Constitution. And Ted is uniquely able to deliver on that combination of the law and religion."
It is astonishing to see a presidential candidate openly espousing the end of separation of church and state, and it's why Ted Cruz's candidacy is so dangerous. If he somehow gets elected, we could see our nation of tolerance and diversity turn into a Republic of Gilead-style theocracy, and he's not even being shy about it. This is a man who insists that he swears to defend the Constitution but then proclaims that our rights come from God; who took to the podium following his primary win in Iowa and yelled what was essentially the English equivalent of Allahu Ackbar; who manufactures the false narrative of "Christianity under attack" and swearing to defend "religious liberty" while working to deny those freedoms to members of other religions.
He's the kind of false Christian who would shut his doors to Syrian children fleeing Russian bombs and chlorine gas; the kind who would openly endorses torturous waterboarding, the kind who goes to Flint, Michigan, to hand out clean water only to anti-abortion religious centers. He's the kind of man who defends his endorsement from a preacher who said Hitler was a "hunter sent by God," or that other endorsement by a man with links to white supremacy groups. This despicable man must not be allowed anywhere near the White House if we are to preserve the integrity of our union and our Constitution.
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India's Muslims – Superior or Inferior?
Maligned Quranic Verses
Beware of Bad Translations of the Quran
Kennedy on Islam & American Muslim Agenda
New Zealand Muslims to follow Prophet Muhammad.
A Death Knell to Hijab Proponents
Book Release – American Muslim Agenda
Book Release American Muslim Agenda
American Muslim Agenda – 4th day of July 2014
Muslim behavior towards conflicts like Quran Burning
Are Muslims a part of the American story?
Unlike Jews or Christians
Quraan on Apostasy
Blasphemy Laws go against Islam
Sura Kafirun – "Un-believers" a chapter in quran
Hadith rejection rate is 99% – Imam Bukhari
Sacred the film and a new paradigm
The Criminals of Islam by Dr. Shabbir Ahmed
Genesis of Sharia law
Fixing Sharia Laws
Islamic Sharia Law is NOT a Word of God!
Sharia, Fiqh and Islamic Law
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Transition Tracker: Harris casts third tie-breaking vote on coronavirus recovery bill
By Ballotpedia staff
In Federal, Newsletters
President Joe Biden (D) and his team have been preparing for the transition between presidential administrations since the election, including selecting senior White House staff and appointees to top government positions.
In 2020, there were 1,472 government positions subject to presidential appointment: 1,118 positions required Senate confirmation and 354 did not. The new administration is also responsible for filling thousands of other positions across the federal government, including in operations and policy. Every weekday, Ballotpedia is tracking potential Cabinet nominees, appointments, and news related to the Biden administration.
There are no committee hearings scheduled on Friday.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced the nomination of Debra Haaland for secretary of the interior by a vote of 11-9 on Thursday.
The Department of Justice requested the Supreme Court dismiss three lawsuits relating to the withholding of federal funding from sanctuary jurisdictions. It said it had reached an agreement with the jurisdictions at issue. The department, under the Trump administration, had sought to block jurisdictions that did not cooperate with federal immigration authorities from receiving certain aid.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Biden canceled a second airstrike on a target in Syria to avoid civilian casualties on February 26, 2021.
Biden will meet with leaders from Australia, India, and Japan as part of the first meeting of the Quad bloc—four democratic Indo-Pacific countries. No date was set for the event.
Vice President Kamala Harris (D) cast her third tie-breaking vote to proceed with debate on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 on Thursday. The Senate had split 50-50 along party lines.
Transition in Context
Here's what Democratic and Republican leaders, advisers, and stakeholders said about Xavier Becerra as the nominee for secretary of health and human services. The Senate Finance Committee split along party lines, 14-14, on whether to favorably report his nomination.
"If a doctor were nominated for Attorney General, everyone would say 'he's not qualified.' Apparently, however, it is okay to nominate an Attorney General for HHS Secretary. A HHS Secretary should have some expertise in the subject matter. Previous appointees have been governors, a state insurance commissioner, health administrators or doctor, and a pharmaceutical executive." – Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)
"If there is an effort to paint the Attorney General as some kind of inexperienced radical, it's just not backed up by what the committee saw last week. He respects those with whom he has differences of opinion, and he wants to find common ground with all members of this committee to solve big healthcare challenges." – Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)
"Significant concerns have been raised about Attorney General Becerra's challenges to HHS' authority to provide a conscience exemption from the Obamacare contraception coverage mandate and enforcement of the state's restrictive actions, including a ban on indoor religious services that was rejected by the Supreme Court." – Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)
""HHS has always been a critical role, but especially during a pandemic. Attorney General Becerra's experience will be a tremendous asset as he works to address the pandemic and make healthcare more affordable. … I know he'll put American families at the top of his agenda." – Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
Bloomberg: Popular Policies Don't Elect Presidents
Politico: The Rise of the Biden Republicans
The Wall Street Journal: Biden, Buttigieg Push Infrastructure Plan
Ballotpedia staff


Special Feature: ACT Webinar "The Customer Experience Journey"
MYTH: A personal umbrella is something I only need to offer to wealthy customers.
TRUTH: Because anyone can be sued, everyone needs a personal umbrella.
Both agents and insureds are guilty of thinking that a personal umbrella is only for the wealthy, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Here are several ways to help your customers understand that they need an umbrella even if their last name isn't Gates or Rockefeller.
TIP #1: Explain in layman's terms what an umbrella is…an affordable way to protect themselves if someone sues them for more than what's covered by their basic policy. Make it simple and don't use insurance jargon that leaves your customer glassy-eyed.
TIP #2: Provide real life examples (such as these) of claims that have impacted "the average Joe". Most people would purchase an umbrella if they truly understood its value in a personal, relatable way.
TIP #3: Clarify that a single judgment can exceed their savings, the value of their home and other assets…putting their FUTURE earnings at risk. Renters are especially vulnerable to judgments that garnish wages and future earnings.
TIP #4: Advise that an umbrella covers defense costs. Besides the threat of a costly judgment, your customer will also have to pay to defend themselves, even if the suit is frivolous. A defense attorney may charge anywhere from $100 to $800 per hour…but a personal umbrella pays defense costs in addition to the insured's limit of coverage.
TIP #5: Show that an umbrella is an affordable way to obtain a lot of coverage. Depending on the insured's location, a Personal Umbrella averages just $250 in premium…that's just $20 per month for $1 million in personal liability protection. You can quote an umbrella in just 2 minutes at www.iiaba.net/RLI.
Armed with these simple tips, you'll find it easier to write more personal umbrellas, thereby protecting the customers who trust you, increasing client retention, and guarding yourself against "failure to offer" E&O claims. Keep in mind that you have access to the IIABA -endorsed RLI Personal Umbrella, which offers limits of up to $5M ($1M in NM) and excess UM/UIM nationwide. Obtain a quote today at www.bigimarkets.com or at www.iiaba.net/RLI.
Don't Put Your Agency's Reputation At Risk For Bonds!
Every time an insured calls your agency for a surety bond, you enter a race and a clock starts running against you. At the end of the race is your agency's reputation for knowing the marketplace and getting things done - and perhaps, your insurance relationship with that client. And if the clock runs before your insured gets the bond he or she needs . . .
That clock is your enemy. Can you really afford to put your agency's reputation and insurance commissions at risk for even one surety bond?
The risk might be worth it if surety bonds represented a great revenue opportunity for your agency. However, that is not the case for many Big "I" members. Unless an agency is very large and has a strong book of construction contractors, surety tends to create a negative force on an agency's profit and loss statement. Surety represents only 1.0% to 1.2% of the premium opportunity in the property & casualty sector of the insurance marketplace - and far less if you add life and health revenues into the total - and the time spent in handling bonds applications and marketing and re-marketing them tends to be very high.
Part of the problem is that surety is not like insurance. Surety bonds are credit instruments (not insurance), and they require a different set of forms, a whole different way of underwriting, and usually a very different list of potential markets than what your agency typically has available to meet your clients' insurance needs. This makes surety far more difficult and time consuming for most insurance producers and CSRs.
With all of those difficulties, surety bonds become time-consuming, costly and embarrassing process for many Big "I" members across the country. Producers and CSRs face a steep learning curve if they want to handle the product. They are not familiar with the hundreds of different classes of bonds out there, they do not know what forms to use, do not know what information to request from the insured, and they do not know what markets are the most likely to write that particular class of bonds. And worse, they do not know where to turn for help.
All this puts your agency at great risk. Most bonds are time-sensitive, and clients do not understand why your producers and CSRs send them multiple sets of forms to be filled out and multiple requests for information - while still not getting their bond placed. All the while, the clock is running on your insured's bond need, along with your agency's reputation and future relationship with the insured.
Did you know there is an alternative - one that relieves your agency of the burden of dealing with surety bonds altogether while also ensuring a prompt, thorough and professional response every time an insured calls for a bond and a commission to your agency every time a bond gets placed?
Big "I" Markets and its national surety partner, Goldleaf Surety Services, are teamed up to provide your agency with great capacity for surety bonds. They deliver access to better than two dozen surety markets - all rated "Excellent" or better by A.M. Best Company - coupled with the professional underwriting help that can make the difference for your agency and your insureds.
With the great capacity and range of the Big "I" Markets solution for surety bonds, there simply is no good reason to put your agency at risk anymore. The reward is not large enough to cover the risk to your reputation for getting things done.
Big "I" members can contact Goldleaf by logging onto Big "I" Markets (select the appropriate bond type from the bond options on the commercial markets menu) or by calling Goldleaf directly at 1-888-294-6747 (ask for Lori Olson).
Parting Shot is on a well-earned vacation this week.
Congrats to our agent in Texas on a community banks sale of $30,680 in premium!


December 14, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that the close US-Saudi partnership will continue, even after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and a CIA report that pointed the finger at Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) as the one who ordered the killing.
The president's statement cited a combination of geostrategic and economic reasons to justify continuing his close alliance with a regime that had practised utter brutality at home and abroad. Trump highlighted the lucrative financial dividends of this partnership to the US economy, based on MBS's promise of $450bn investment, including $100bn-plus of arms purchases.
The president also asserted that Saudi Arabia was central to containing Iran's expansion in the Middle East and achieving peace with Israel.
Despite its shockingly frank nature, the president's statement does not represent a major departure from previous US foreign policy but rather maintains a longstanding principle of supporting Arab dictators for specific strategic and economic reasons. What is different from previous US presidents is Trump's uncomfortably explicit calculus.
No previous US president has flagged hard cash as the rationale for maintaining close ties with and even support for the Saudi leadership.
But rhetoric aside, Trump is remaining faithful to a longstanding tradition of US foreign policy that privileges economic and strategic interests over moral and ethical issues, sometimes referred to as realpolitik.
In the past, the US has occasionally expressed concern over severe human rights violations by their proteges but few would seriously expect President Trump to be troubled by the crimes of the Saudi regime.
Even if he admits that no one should condone such a murder, he was apparently comfortable endorsing the far-from-credible Saudi explanation for what happened at the consulate. He even provided a possible exit strategy for the Saudis when he said that the murder could be the work of "rogue killers", thus providing a potential out for MBS, the de facto head of state and the security apparatus in Saudi Arabia.
Trump's latest statement, that business as usual with Saudi Arabia is to be maintained, even if MBS "may or may not" have ordered the murder of Khashoggi, is certainly shocking for some American audiences. But for Arabs in general and Saudis in particular, the statement was expected, to say the least.
It confirmed their strong belief that the US prefers to work with autocrats than encourage them to democratise or at least restrain themselves from suffocating their people with draconian measures ranging from detention to murder.
US support for Arab dictators has been asserted as the casus belli by the most violent terrorist organisations to target the US. Osama bin Laden's justification for hitting the "far enemy", namely the US that supports the Saudi regime only echoed previous slogans of Arab nationalists, socialists and pro-democracy forces that blamed the US for the excesses of their regimes.
In their logic, US support empowers dictators not only through the transfer of the technology of death, surveillance and torture, but also morally and globally.
Even Trump himself admitted that without US support, the Saudi regime will collapse in two weeks. Former US intelligence officer Bruce Riedel confirmed that without US and UK support, the Saudis will not be able to continue the war in Yemen.
The likes of Bin Laden strongly believed this narrative long before it was uttered by the US president. Consequently, his network diverted its struggle against the near enemy to the far one and precipitated a global terrorist crisis that keeps resurfacing under different names. The Islamic State group (IS) was the most recent incarnation of this phenomenon but may not be the last.
Many Americans understandably feel uncomfortable with the president's blunt words as they cling to a myth that American foreign policy should reflect American values, especially when a high-profile murder by a close partner is concerned.
However, like so-called 'American exceptionalism', American values, in the form of respect of civil, political and human rights, have not been an obvious principle guiding American foreign policy in the Arab world.
Also, such values are being eroded and undermined in the US itself under the ultra-nationalist and populist rhetoric of the current president.
Previous US presidents may not have liked Arab dictators but nonetheless lent them support, often in the form of military sales and assistance. The list is long.
Until his fall in 1979, the US granted the Shah of Iran its ultimate support by making him the "policeman of the Gulf" to ward off and contain the spread of communism and nationalism at the time. His dramatic fall at the hands of his own people was shocking for both the US and its Western allies.
The message to the US at the time could not have been clearer: no amount of US support can protect a dictator from the wrath of his own people when the right moment comes. In fact, the US could not even protect its own Tehran Embassy where over 50 diplomats were held hostage for 444 days, an incident that four decades later still shapes and haunts US thinking about Iran.
The US administration at the time meandered and left it to the US media and civil society to pressure the Saudi regime to change its policy of spreading lethal religious interpretations that had inspired a whole generation of Muslims across the globe and justified terrorism.
It is a cruel irony for the victims of this attack that Trump now considers the Saudi regime an indispensable partner against terrorism.
Even if Americans are not entirely comfortable with their government's foreign policy of complete neglect for human rights and even direct support for MBS, despite his latest murderous adventure abroad, this is as nothing compared with Saudis living under the reality of one-man rule.
As MBS became the sole face of Saudi Arabia, in control of economic, military, security and social dimensions of government, he has exhibited complete disrespect for the basic semblance of tolerance towards critics, dissidents and activists.
Saudi Arabia has hardly been a safe haven for dissent but the magnitude of MBS's ambition to reach the top of the royal hierarchy has turned Saudi Arabia into a murderous nightmare for anyone associated with dissent.
Under his orders, potential rival princes were detained, and a nascent feminist movement was stifled and its remaining advocates imprisoned and tortured according to a recent Amnesty report. Intellectuals and religious clerics were also imprisoned.
Vague charges such as communicating with foreign agents, treason, and undermining the image of the state are mentioned as justification for detention. These charges are more reminiscent of Stalin's terror than a benevolent monarchy that Saudi propaganda would have us believe it is.
Almost all detained Saudi intellectuals are charged with treason and of being agents of foreign governments. From Salman al-Odah to economist Essam al-Zamil and feminist Lujain al-Huthloul, the word treason looms large and may lead to the death penalty. In fact, the Saudi public prosecutor called for such punishment to be inflicted on those detainees. The infamous office of the public prosecutor is also in charge of the investigation of Khashoggi's murder.
Being "an enemy of the state" - to use Trump's reiteration of what Saudi officials had told him about Khashoggi - is now a common crime investigated by appointed judges who enjoy no independence whatsoever. Trump seems comfortable with such a statement. Perhaps "enemy of the state" reflects or mirrors his own thinking about anybody who criticises a president, a king or a crown prince.
Saudis know very well that US support for MBS will not waiver as they are fed on propaganda that money buys everything - from mighty fighter jets used against their poorest Yemeni neighbours, to the US president's silence over one of the most horrific crimes committed against a journalist.
Trump will cling to MBS even if the latter becomes more burdensome. If there is a chance for so-called "American values" to become relevant to foreign policy, it is the US Congress that will have to push for a reconsideration of the age-old US support for dictators. This should spring not out of concern for the safety and security of the Saudi people, but for their own American national security.
Congress must know that under the dark and repressive cloak of MBS, the flamboyant and illusory economic plans, and the veneer of social liberalisation, the seeds of terror are sown. In the past this terror has spilled over and reached the US itself. For the present, there is little to assure the American public that it won't happen again.


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AFTA Grieves Recent, Ongoing Tragedies
It is with heavy hearts that we reach out to express our sorrow after another shooting and as another environmental disaster threatens families and communities. We grieve with the families and communities in Texas and those impacted by Hurricane Dorian. We grieve with and for our country. We also stand with the courageous protesters in Hong Kong.
There is much unrest in our communities and throughout our world. From gun violence and immigration to climate crises and political unrest, our families and communities, both here and abroad, are hurting.
We challenge you, as a part of AFTA, to act and work toward change.
What are you doing in your community? How can we support you in these efforts? How might we come together to demand change?
To join the Family Policy and Human Rights Committee, click here. To join the Cultural and Economic Diversity Committee, click here. To join in conversation with AFTA members on climate repair, click here. If you have ideas as to how AFTA might act, please let us know.
Let us look to those who are doing, let us look to the helpers. Let us join together to create a more just, safe, sustainable world.
Amy Tuttle, Ph.D.
Kate Wotanowicz


inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding, Job 32:8.
spirit of the holy gods is in thee, Dan. 4:18.
a man … in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, Dan. 5:11.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 2 Tim. 3:16.
holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. 1:21.
voice of the Lord came into my mind, Enos 1:10.
not stiffnecked … have communion with the Holy Spirit, Jarom 1:4.
began to be men inspired from heaven, 3 Ne. 6:20.
to do good, and to love God … is inspired of God, Moro. 7:13.
Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy, D&C 11:13.
God does inspire men and call them to his holy work, D&C 20:11 (20:26).
Being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation, D&C 21:2.
ye are to be taught from on high, D&C 43:16.
still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth, D&C 85:6.
as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration, Moses 6:5.
See also 1 Cor. 12:3; Gal. 5:22.


Pryvit from beautiful Kiev, Ukraine!
Brian and I are on the road hosting bootcamps for Windows 8 Design Principles. This week we were in Kiev, Ukraine, where we met our gracious Microsoft hosts, Nikita and Yevgen.
They took us on a walking tour of the city, where we saw several landmark churches, like St. Andrew's Church pictured here, and statues commemorating figures from Ukraine's rich history.
The turnout for the Windows 8 Design bootcamp was strong, and mentors from the local design community were on hand to help us during lab sessions. The attendees had some intriguing app ideas that I hope to see in the Windows Store soon!
Today Brian and I visited Pirogovo, the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Lifestyle just outside of Kiev. It was a gorgeous day to learn about traditional Ukranian structures, crafts and ways of life.
I am truly in love with this city and its culture, and honored to have been invited here! Next we head to the Big Nerd Ranch Amsterdam office, where we plan to host mobile design bootcamps for Windows 8, Android and iOS. There's a reason it's called Appsterdam!


Yesterday, we stumbled across this headline, "2 Days to iPad Heaven", and of course we were intrigued!
What we found was this blog from a group of art, music and theatre teachers involved in a funded education project in Pennsylvania, USA. The funding is coming from a grant called 'Arts Educator 2.0'.
There are some really interesting posts about the apps that the group are using on their iPads and their experiences (good and bad), plus the comments left by other teachers add useful resources and further reading, like this list of Projection Apps.
iPad to TV demo from ArtsEducator2.0 on Vimeo.
The iPad Heaven mentioned in the headline above is a 60 plus iPad project. At lunchtime today, Pennsylvania will have a lot of happy creatives receiving their brand spanking new iPads. We are looking forward to keeping up with the development of the project and reading about their experiences.
Be sure to check out the blog and have a look back at some of the older posts too for some interesting reading from a teacher's perspective.


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Episode 382 has honorary TRC-er Dallas Card back for a visit. Dallas gives us a look into the world of "Deep Learning," a kind of machine learning. In his honour, we did a parody of Elle King's Ex's and Oh's with the lyrics "zero and ones".


Vhong Navarro returns to the big screen with his brand of comedy in Unli Life, Regal Entertainment Inc.'s upcoming movie offering.
The film is also Regal's official entry to the forthcoming Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino film festival.
Just last year, Vhong entertained the audience with two comedy films, : Mang Kepweng Returns and the blockbuster hit with Lovi Poe from Regal Entertainment, Woke Up Like This.
With Unli Life, the talented comedian is sure to tickle our funny bones once more with his impeccable comic timing and witty dialogues.
Having been in the industry for 26 years, Vhong has made his mark in comedy genre and his comedic flair for likened to that of Hollywood star Jim Carrey.
By drinking "wishkey," (name of Vhong's character) is transported in different time periods, such as the Dinosaur Era, Magellan, and the '70s Era, in an effort to correct his mistakes and prevent her girlfriend from breaking up with him in the current time.
The film tackles about how much willing one is willing to go great lengths to get back that one person you love the most and what one is willing to do just to preserve it.
After making the country proud by being the first-ever Filipina contestant and eventually crowned Reina Hispanoamericana 2017, Unli Life marks Teresita's comeback to acting.
Teresita, together with her fellow beauty queens from Miss World Philippines, signed up with Regal Entertainment, Inc. last October 2017.
Unli Life also marks Teresita's first major role and as a leading in the movies.
The movie is directed by Miko Livelo, and Unli Life marks his second full-length commercial directorial job.
His credentials include being the writer and director of the 2013 indie film Blue Bustamante and as a writer for number of television series.
Unli Life is a star-studded movie that also stars Joey Marquez, Ejay Falcon, Donna Cariaga, Jon Lucas, Isabelle de Leon, Alex Calleja, Kamille Filoteo, Red Ollero with James Caraan, Anthony Andres, and Jun Urbano.
Special participation includes Dimples Romana, Joem Bascon, Jun Sabayton, Epi Quizon and Jhong Hilario.
Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino opens August 15 - 21. For more updates, follow Regal Entertainment Inc on Facebook, @RegalFilms on Twitter, @RegalFilms50 on IG and Regal Cinema channel on YouTube.


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African American Credit Union
Peggy Peacock
Peggy Peacock was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where she still proudly calls it home. Her love for her city and commitment to human causes made her a perfect candidate for a career of helping her fellow citizens. Her public service career began when she was hired in 1967 by the City of Baltimore. She was brought on as a Neighborhood Development Assistant for the Community Action Agency. This agency came out of the War on Poverty program established by President Lyndon Johnson. Her service to her community continued when she became involved with the establishment of the Inner City Credit Union which aided underserved residents of Baltimore's inner city. The credit union had branches in the Cherry Hill neighborhood, east and west Baltimore and Peggy was its chief liaison, informing residents in Baltimore's poorest neighborhoods that there was a financial institution for them.
In the mid-1970s, the Community Action Agency became the Urban Services Agency which merged with Model Cities. Ultimately the agency became Housing and Community Development where Peggy's position was Human Services Worker. She retired in February 2017 after 50 years of dedicated service to her beloved Baltimore.
In March 1999, Peggy Peacock became a member of the board of directors of MECU. Additionally, she held positions as a MECU Foundation board member, as a member of the ALM Committee, as co-chair of the Governance Committee, and chairperson of the Strategic Planning Committee. Furthermore, when it came time to choose a new President and CEO for MECU, she served on that committee as well.
During her tenure as a MECU board member, she has witnessed and been a part of MECU's increasing commitment to the community. One undertaking she recalls, in particular, was MECU's partnership with the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood in West Baltimore. Through MECU's collaboration with New Song Community Church and Habitat for Humanity, many citizens were able to realize their dream of homeownership. Peggy continues to inspire and encourage all those who come in contact with her, especially women, and through her actions, she has demonstrated her dedication to the true mission of the credit union movement.
© 2017 AACU Hall of Fame