Hungary's Media Freedom Burns

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Hungary has implemented draconian media laws that have drawn widespread criticism and cast a shadow on Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban's current EU Presidency. The laws effectively hand over complete control of the media to the government, which will be able to impose penalties to any perceived offence. The new laws are said to be vague and open to interpretation.

One of the first casualties of the new laws was radio host Attila Mong, whose personal protest involved a minute's silence on his popular programme, 180 Minutes. Mong was immediately suspended and faces an internal disciplinary investigation. Npr.org reported Mong as saying, "This was a matter of journalistic conscience for me. I was talking with my editor and we were thinking we wouldn't want young reporters 15 years from now asking, 'You were there, what did you do, what didn't you do?' I think this is public service journalism when something serious is happening to maybe choose unusual, formal solutions. This was trying to draw the attentions of average Hungarians that these

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Social Investment for Newspapers in Developing Markets Needed

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As digital media growth begins to surpass that of print media, newspapers are becoming increasingly threatened financially. The problem is not so bad in developed countries, but in emerging markets, where print is often the only widely available news medium, the danger is compounded. To combat this, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-INFRA) has called for socially conscious investors to come forward to ensure the continued existence of newspapers in developing markets and the freedom of the publications available.

One of the problems is that many developing countries operate in a state of political turmoil. This means that not a lot of local funding is available for media, self-funding is often not viable because bank loans are too expensive, and in many cases the state funds and owns the media, which makes objective reporting impossible and media freedom a joke.

Mirjana Milosevic, the WAN-IFRA programme director who coordinates the Social Investment in Media Initiative, calls it the "capitalisation gap". She says, "We are working to address this gap and help the growth of financially healthy media outlets as one of the key conditions for the existence of a free press."

WAN-IFRA is joined in its mission by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Media Development Loan Fund (MDLF). Pia Hallonsten, senior policy specialist at Sida, says that a possible solution lies in public-private development partnerships. "Public-private development partnerships can generate significant added value to development projects. Sida has recognised this and is striving to strengthen the role of development partnerships with private sector."

Sasa Vucinic, MD of MDLF, says, "Impact investments in independent media provide an opportunity to invest in a sector

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What Men Don't Like About Women: What To Avoid

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You might be one of those single women who are looking for some love. It might sound so desperate, but this is merely a fact of the real world since everyone needs to be loved. You are probably asking how to get a guy to want you, but lets take a look at the other side of the question. Rather than seeking answers to "What do men want in a girl?" let's look at what men DON'T like about women, things that may be preventing you from getting what you want. After all, women often have some traits that men dislike. Most men are short-tempered and don't want to deal with all the issues of women. So in order to avoid turning guys off, or worse getting ditched by the man you're dating, you must know what men don't like about women.

1. Complaints. Sharing complaints is not a form of emotional intimacy that connects to men. To men, complaints are not to be shared, but to be solved. This usually results in a big fight, accusations, and everything getting more complicated.

2. Demands. Men are annoyed by demanding women, especially when those demands are uncalled for. Even though they are committed, being nagged all the time is not what they signed on for.

3. Conceit. This gets into their nerves. Confidence is far different from conceit. Conceited women are often intimidating because they seem so full of themselves. Men will figure these women will demand a lot simply for the privilege of spending time with them.

4. Drama. Guys are tired of drama. Your life is not a television show. Not everything should be blown out of proportion.

5. Questions. Men are irritated with lots of questions being thrown by women. Even if you want your guy to tell you everything, do not force him to share things that he is not comfortable talking about. It's too much like you're his mommy, and he is a little boy. A big part of a boy becoming a man is escaping his mother's domination.

6. Unappreciative. If a guy has an accomplishment, compliment him a little. Overdoing it will not be a good idea either, but a little appreciation will make him happy. Remember that being successful is important to a guy.

7. Pretender. Men know when you are lying. They also know when you are being authentic and when you are just pretending. You cannot fool them. They have a good sense for it.

8. Criticisms. Most women want to change men, and their preferred method of transformation is criticism and repetition. It may change men, but not in the way desired. And one big thing to know about men -- never get into their own business.

9. Control freak. Men do not want to spoil things, so they leave good things alone. Women love to control everything, and it makes men anxious.

10. Indecision. Men are success-oriented, and they know the way to succeed is to decide on a suitable plan and carry it out. Unless something has gone seriously wrong, changing the plan only gets in the way of success. Women are completely the opposite. They decide quickly and then change it over and over again. Women are always undecided about everything even in small things. This really irritates men.

The differences between men and women often result in a fight. Now that you know what men don't like about women, you can be aware of your old habits and try to avoid doing them. Although you may not have all of these characteristics, knowing them might be of help. Winning a man's heart could be a challenge, but once he falls in love, he will find it hard to get out of it.

To find answers to " What do men want in women?", visit the TipsWhatMenWant.com site. Learn how to get a guy to want you.

Thomas Christopher is a Colorado public speaker.

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Is Your Favorite News Station Biased?

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Current news affairs have undergone a lot of changes in the last years and the constant migration to the online world has to be the most monumental of them all. However, not even the internet can abolish the bias that most accept exists inside our world news. Everything published through a corporation or massive news outlet often has its own secret agenda and those publishing it often do so with their own personal bias. Perhaps not always intentional or even noted by the company, but there's no denying that exists in a lot of places and has harmed the news industry quite a lot.

It's Apparent Everywhere

A prime example of the bias of many news corporations was the constant coverage of President Obama, beginning early in his presidential campaign and has yet to slow down in the slightest. Studies have shown that Obama received more attention from the media than any previous or current candidate, but much less negative coverage than any of his opponent. Now of course this didn't decide the elections, but there's no hiding the biased opinions various news-casters held on Obama be it good or bad. They no longer delivered powerful and informative news, but rather a stream of personal opinions regarding him or the situations. This sort of newscasting has become a problem for current news media, but online integration has done a lot to combat this issue.

Republican vs Reporter

Many stations that deliver current news affairs take a strong and public political biased on many situations, but don't see it as wrong. Whether you're Republican or Democrat, it should not matter when your duty is to deliver the news to the people who want to hear it. If the news-man is a strong conservative, it should not affect his deliverance of a certain news-story at all, yet it does and is often encouraged by those higher up. Atop this more obvious political bias, there's a less seen advertising bias. This comes in the form of a certain company or office donating or making an advertisement with a specific news outlet. This almost always ensures that the news media takes a standing with them on most issues, regardless of who or what the situation really concerns. Now how does online news deliverance help minimize this issue? By firing the reporters and corporations.

Welcome to Your New Job

Putting the news in the hands of the people means the people will more often hear or read what they want to. Sure, there are still those who deliver bias reports that favor political parties or are being paid to advertise in their writing, but if you find one writer too bias there's almost always more who are writing on the same subject.

Serpholic News Media is a great example of a site that allows news to be delivered by the people, but takes a strong standing on letting heavily biased news-reports take a stance on their pages. Hopefully more sites like this will emerge with time and put a stop to the one-sided current news affairs that we see each and every day.

If you can't believe how easy it is to find current news affairs, just head over to Serpholic Media. They'll be glad to help you sift past all the biased opinions and get down to what you really want to know.

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What Does Radio Need to Do to Survive the Social Revolution?

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In the good old days the family radio was the hub for family entertainment. Parents and children gathered around to listen to serials the way they now gather to watch Grey's Anatomy or The Closer. There were programmes for kids, mommies, daddies, news programmes, and music - pretty much anything you could want. Then TV came along and radio started to take a back seat. Then MTV came along and, well, video killed the radio star, didn't it?

Radio still served a purpose: people had to listen to something during the commute to and from work and was a launching pad for local bands, but its popularity was definitely on the wane. Fortunately, nature abhors a vacuum and the shock jock hit the air waves. Shock jocks are loathed and loved but they attract listeners and they attract revenue and so, despite the controversy, radio stations love them (although the trend is to only have one shock jock per station - too much controversy is a bad thing).

But then social media entered the picture and people discovered that they preferred interacting online to almost anything else: they could download the music they wanted, to listen to when they wanted and YouTube became the medium of choice for new artists to break into the music scene. Music became public domain, people got tired of listening to the same songs over and over and over again and radio was once again relegated to the bench.

Writing on bizcommunity.com Daryl Ilbury says that to survive old radio needs to become new radio and new radio needs to connect with its audience in ways it has never done before. It needs to embrace the social revolution to remain relevant. To this end he predicted 11 trends in radio for 2011, some of which we will look at below.

• Celeb-jocks: the one thing people never get tired of is celebrity. TV has picked up on this which is why celeb reality and talent shows are so popular - think Heidi Klum and her quest to find fashion designers or Dancing with the Stars. Ilbury expects radio stations to sign on TV, music, comedy and socialite celebrities to host their own radio shows, regardless of talent.
• In addition, radio DJs will have to work harder to boost their public profiles and achieve a greater degree of celebrity to keep listeners coming back for more. In South Africa, 5FM DJ Gareth Cliff is a judge on South African Idols and has hosted his own TV talk show. We can expect more of this kind of thing as the year wears on.
• More talk: in an effort to better connect to its audience radio stations may implement an unspoken policy of more talk less other stuff. This has the potential to backfire, however, as only certain personalities can carry extended conversations on air. The air waves are full of DJs spouting rubbish and annoying listeners. Many people switch off their radios and turn on their MP3 players because they don't want to listen to unnecessary prattle.
• The growth of non-traditional revenue streams: most radio revenue is generated by ads, which, like waffling DJs, are annoying and alienating. According to Ilbury, radio stations need to follow in the footsteps of social media and find unobtrusive ways to finance their existence.
• Well-planned spontaneous programming: this requires a fluid and creating approach to radio shows and also means that listeners won't have to sit through the same songs repeated six times per day.

Radio is remarkably resilient; it has survived, largely unchanged, despite everything that technology has thrown at it. But as the media industry becomes ever more competitive and audiences ever more demanding radio stations will find that they have to adapt quickly to survive.

We write about media planning and buying for the leading resource for media, marketing and advertising professionals in South Africa, SARAD.

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Upcoming Events in 2011

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The upcoming events in the 2011 calendar are certain to make sports enthusiasts keep themselves busy. This is especially true of cricket fans. February, 19 to April, 2 will see the 2011 world cricket cup to be played in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft is scheduled to arrive in the orbit around Mercury on March, 18. Men's World Ice Hockey Championships will be held in Slovakia from April, 29. The lovers of Space Science have good news coming up on April. Pakistan will launch its first space Satellite in April.

Astronomers have predicted that Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and Mars will all be visible within a roughly 6 degree area of the sky. They have found that a partial solar eclipse will be visible in the Arctic region in June. In the same way total lunar eclipse will also be visible mainly in Africa, India and the Middle East in June.

Sports lovers will receive good news again in July 2011. The International Olympic Committee will announce the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Durban, South Africa. It is interesting to note that the planet Neptune will be completing its first full orbit since its discovery in the year 1846 on July, 10. A partial solar eclipse will be viewed off the coast of Antarctica in July 2011.

Rugby lovers will enjoy finding that New Zealand will host the 2011 Rugby World Cup between September, 9 and October, 23. 2011 Pan American games will be held between October, 13 and October, 30. In the meanwhile scientific researchers have predicted that solar maximum would occur in the 2012 calendar. The 2011 calendar, thus, shows that it is laden with upcoming events that keep people from all walks of life and all interests busy all through the year.

Please, click here to find out more about 2012 calendar and 2011 calendar.

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How To Develop Powerful Interior Motivation

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Growing powerful interior motivation is a key part to success in life. When you have a strong interior motivation, you may obtain pretty much something you want. The trouble is although that many people shouldn't have a powerful motivational streak operating by means of us and the results that we get in life replicate this lack of motivation.

So how will we go about discovering that inner motivation?

One of the key rules to circulation is to be sure that what you are going after in life is according to what your true values. When your objectives are in keeping with what's essential to you in life you will expertise an interior motivation or inspiration that's far stronger than any outside affect or encouragement.

Having an extremely detailed view in your mind of what you need could be a real motivator too when you find yourself trying to achieve your goals. When we have more particulars about what we wish in our thoughts, it stimulates and gets the thoughts transferring towards that target. So the thing to remember is to make your targets as rich and detailed as doable that will help you move in direction of them with greater ease.

Another nice way to let motivation circulate into your life is to just remember to don't have any internal battle occurring inside about what you want to achieve. When you will have inner conflicts, you've a 'push and pull' situation that can be like driving with the brakes on.

A very good instance of this is when you find yourself trying to achieve success in your job or career but are afraid of success on the same time. This could lead us to be sluggish about attaining our objectives or self sabotaging ourselves when issues are nearly to come collectively for us. Performing some inside work here will be actually useful to clear away this kind of drawback and maximize the potential motivation that you just really feel in your life.

Probably the most essential parts of creating powerful motivation in your life is retaining on observe and keeping focused. So as to strengthen this space, it's really essential to write down your objectives down and look at them each day. This keeps your thoughts focused on what you need to achieve and you will know in case your every day activities are in keeping with what you need to achieve long term.

If you would like to discover the secrets and techniques of mind power and utilizing the law of attraction, do check out our site.

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What Would King Do?

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have turned 82 years old on January 15. There has been a lot of changes in the United States and the rest of the world since his assassination in 1968. But the question here is what are some of the things that King would like and dislike. Now I can't think for Dr. King because he was a man with his own thoughts and opinions, but it would be interesting to see if he were alive today, what are some of the things that King would have been happy about and other things that he would not have liked at all.

Things that King would have liked:

1. First African-American President

Dr. King would have been ecstatic to see a black man as the leader of the free world, especially of what African-Americans have endured in the history of the United States (slavery, Jim Crow, the horrible acts of violence) and continue to go through to this day. However, he would dismissed the idea of a "post racial America." As long as bigotry, hatred, discrimination, ignorance, prejudice, intolerance, stereotyping and the not fair and balance treatment of minorities (African-Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans,those of Pacific Islander decent) still continues in 2011, a "post racial"America will NEVER happen.

2. Women and Minorities as elected political officials

Dr. King believed in mobilizing people in order to fight for a cause along with the idea of participating in the political process. Over the last forty years, women and minorities not only engage in voting but also became elected officials in all phases of politics (Mayor, Senator, Governor, City Council, etc.) Also, women and minorities has made some moves working in the higher levels of government, which include Secretary of State (Colin Powell, Madeline Albright, Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton) Secretary of Labor (Alexis Herman, Elizabeth Dole, Elaine Chao, Hilda Solis); Attorney General (Janet Reno, Alberto Gonzalez, Eric Holder); Joint Chief of Staff (Colin Powell); Surgeon General (Dr. Jocelyn Elders and Dr. David Satcher); Supreme Court (Justice Clarence Thomas) Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Carla Hills, Patricia Roberts Harris, Henry Cisneros, Mel Martinez, Alphonso Jackson); Secretary of Health and Human Services (Oveta Hobby, Patricia Roberts Harris, Margaret Heckler, Louis Sullivan, Donna Shalala, Kathleen Sebelius) Secretary of Commerce ( Juanita Kreps, Barbara Franklin,Ron Brown, Norman Mineta, Carlos Gutierrez, Gary Locke) Secretary of Interior ( Ken Salazar) United States Ambassador to the United Nations ( Jeane Kirkpatrick, Madeline Albright, Bill Richardson, Susan Rice); and the founding of minority political groups such as The Congressional Black Caucus (1971); Black Leadership Forum; The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (1976); National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (1976); National Council of La Raza (1968); The Asian Pacific Americans For Progress and Chinese American Political Association. Now, you only hope the younger generation will pick up the torch and continue to participate and eventually have a career in politics. The turnout for the 2008 presidential campaign was a good indication, but the lack of participation in the 2010 mid-term election was not a good sign. We shall see where it goes from here.

3. Racial groups working and socializing together

Dr. King had a vision of people of different races and cultures getting together without conflict and he would have been happy seeing this going on at various places such as work, school, neighborhoods, social functions and sporting events. However, he would not like the idea that some people may choose to segregate theme selves and not learn more about another person's culture. In my opinion, by isolating yourself from everyone, you will live a sad life because you will never know how much similarities you might have with someone of another race or ethnicity.

4. Minorities doing well in education

Dr. King would have been pleased to see minorities doing well in education, not only graduating from high school but also have a serious interest in higher education (earning a Bachelor's Masters and/or Doctoral degree.) However, he would have been disappointed to hear that certain minority high school students can only read at grade school level and that students likely to drop out of school well before graduation. These students actually believe that the only way they can become successful are through either sports, entertainment, or hustling. NO! NO! NO! That is NOT the way to go if you to make it in life! The reason why students should say in school is because with a good education, they can create the type of life that they always wanted. Students that drop out of school early are more likely to get involved in drugs and crime and besides, who really want to have that kind of lifestyle? Everyone, whether you have a GED or a Ph.D., follow this simple message: NEVER STOP LEARNING!

5. Minorities doing well in sports and entertainment

While Dr. King would applaud the success of athletes and entertainers both professionally and on the business side, he would probably encourage them to speak out about social issues. While there are athletes and entertainers who are right now doing an excellent job by giving back to the community, there are others out there who's only interested in making money and that's about it. In my opinion, if you have the platform to speak, along with the fact that your fans follow your every word, use the stage to talk about issues that affect you personally. Athletes and entertainers will never know how much power and influence they really have on people once success happens to them.

Things that King would not like

1. The Wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq

Dr. King was a man of peace and believed that nonviolence was the way to go to solve any problem. On April 4, 1967 at the Riverside Church in New York City, King spoke out against the Vietnam War in a speech entitled "Beyond Vietnam." If you listen to that amazing speech (check it out on You Tube), just remove the words "Laos" and "Vietnam" and replace it with "Baghdad" and "Kabul" because you can use that speech to describe what is going on in both Iraq and Afghanistan right now.

2. Inequalities among women and minorities

Women and minorities have come a long way over the last 40 years. However, everything is not equal for all people. For example, for every dollar a man makes, a woman is paid $.80 and for minorities, it's less than that. The feeling is this: if everyone has the same level of education and similar qualifications for the job, then everyone should have equal pay for equal work. Also, there are inequalities when it comes to health care, education, housing, the judicial system as well. Dr. King wanted everyone to be treated equally, regardless of their gender, race or ethnicity and it's too bad in 2011 that people are still treated like this.

3. The violence in the US

Dr. King would be disappointed to see how violent this country has become. Cities in the United States has been affected by the number of gangs along with the fact that people can get access to drugs and guns anywhere at anytime. Those three elements can create a violent environment and it can get to the point where, depending where you live at, that you can't even walk in your own neighborhood without someone might try to do something to you. Also, it's sad to see and understand how can people can commit such violent act and doesn't feel any remorse about it. Whether it's the senseless daily violence taking place in the streets and communities in America or the recent shocking tragedy in Tucson, Arizona, people had this shoot first and don't care about the other person mentality and that's just insane. If you have a problem with another person, that's fine, but don't pick a gun to solve the problem because it will make the situation worse that it really is.

4. Hatred spread online

The Internet is great because it allows people to connect with each other along with the chance to meet new friends and talk about anything on their mind. However, if the issue is about race, the message boards online can really show the ugly side of people. Whatever it's about a highly debated issue (the immigration bill in Arizona) or a prominent news story (remember Bethany Storro, the Vancouver woman who last year made up the hoax that an African-American woman threw acid in her face) people will go online and use racial slurs and comments to express themselves. They can hide behind a computer screen and submit their hate filled comments without getting themselves in trouble. Also, online is a target for hate groups to not only spread their own hatred but also recruit new members to their organization. They say that they are protected by the Freedom of Speech Amendment. Yes, you can say and do anything that you want, but use it to spread peace and goodwill, not hate.

5. Poverty in the US and the world

When Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, he was there for the Poor People's Campaign, a campaign designed to help out poverty-stricken citizens by talking about their plight and come with ways to solve their problem (the proposed idea was to provide housing, full employment and the promise to have annual income for those who were down and out.) Today, he would have been depressed to see so many people either unemployed; living at or below the poverty line; homeless; along with looking at the long line of folks just waiting for food at each food bank across the United States.

6. Certain politicians, talk show hosts and people in general taking his words, twisting them and using it to their own advantage.

I have two words for those folks out there who engage in this type of behavior: "STOP IT!" Dr. King said in his 1963 "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. that one day he wanted his children to be judged by "the content of their character and not by the color of their skin." Unfortunately, they are some people out there who want to take that part of the speech and use it to speak out against both Affirmative Action and the use of racial quotas along with, in their opinion, the need for an increase of reverse discrimination policies. I'll tell you right now, there is NO WAY in the world that King would stand by and let people do this to any of his speeches.

Conclusion

While writing this article, obviously I have no idea what Dr. King would do or even think about when it comes to issues that affect all of us in today's world. It was a tough task to say the least, but I gave it a chance and see what happened if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today in 2011, what would he say and what would he do?

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Does Allah Order Female Genital Mutilation?

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Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is definitively top of the list for being the worst kind of evil exercised against women to date. In the course of my research regarding this issue, the cases that I have come across have left me stunned and sick to the stomach. No other form of degradation quite compared to FGM. What I also find troubling is how the practice is associated / attributed with Islam / Islamic practice, and particularly so by the likes of Christopher Hitchens and Ayaan Ali Hersi.

How could it be that God could order (or through Islamic teaching encourage) such an unjust act? Firstly, it is important to note that the simplistic label of FGM fails to differentiate between the different types of cutting. Not all forms of this practice are equal in procedure and do not result in such horrific consequences, which can then be labelled as mutilation. A more accurate term therefore would perhaps be female circumcision. Take for example Labiaplasty which has become very popular in the West. This procedure is just one of an endless list of body improvement options available to women. That is, along with breast enlargement, buttock augmentation and toe surgery (yes, even toes have not been spared from the rigorous procedures required to obtain 'perfection'). What is Labiaplasty? Cosmetic Labiaplasty (labia minora reduction surgery) involves surgically reducing and/or reshaping the female external genital structures (genital lips). There are various reasons why an increasing number of women are requesting this procedure. For many women they simply want to enhance or improve appearance of "butterfly" or asymmetrical labia. 'Feeling good about how you look often builds self-confidence and self-esteem' says one plastic surgery website.

It is important to note that female circumcision is not a phenomena restricted to Muslim communities, nor is it restricted, more generally, to any ethnic, religious or socioeconomic classes in society. Female circumcision has been practiced for centuries within various ancient cultures. For example Egyptian mummies were found to have been circumcised as far back as 200 BC. Interestingly, and less well known, a form of female circumcision was promoted among teenage girls in Britain and the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was seen as a cure for lesbian practices or suspected masturbation, hysteria, epilepsy, and nervousness. Currently, the practice is most prevalent in African countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana and also in parts of the Middle East. With respect to religious adherence, the practice is carried out not only by Muslims but, followers of different religions such as Christians (Catholics, Protestants and Copts) and Animists.

"The Quran makes no references to any form of FGM or lesser procedures."

There are three main types of FGM. Firstly, the removal of the tip of the clitoris. Secondly, total removal of the clitoris and surrounding labia. Thirdly, the most severe form, where all external genitalia are removed and the vaginal opening is stitched nearly closed: only a small opening is left for urine and menstrual blood.

Is this an Islamic practice? The answer is a definitive no. It is more so a cultural practice. It is simply the case that actions that are done for purely cultural reasons, over time, acquire an Islamic justification: FGM is no different. In Islam an act will only be considered Islamic if it has a basis in the Quran, the divine words of Allah-SWT) and the Sunnah, comprised of hadith which are the deeds, words, or statements of approval of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Like any other issue requiring a clear Islamic verdict, it is necessary to refer to these fundamental sources to establish whether there is any evidence substantiating approval for the practice of FGM. The traditions (sunnah) of the Prophet (PBUH), which are well documented should indicate whether or not there are any authentic or relevant traditions that can be used to support the practice.

The Quran makes no references to any form of FGM or lesser procedures. There are also no implicit orders form the Sunnah to support such a practice. There are, however, narrations mentioning female circumcision. These narrations are considered weak (related to the weak nature of their transmission rendering it lacking in juristic value). Those who argue FGM/C has an Islamic basis often do so on the basis that that the following hadith establishes it as part of the Sunnah or Tradition of the Prophet:

'Um Atiyyat al-Ansariyyah: A woman used to perform circumcision in Medina. The Prophet (pbuh) said to her: "O Umm

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Illusion of Safety

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Full individual protection is an illusion. Currently we have rules for war, weapons and mass destruction, we have laws for behavior, and traffic, etc. we have protected ourselves so well that we've nearly forgotten what it was like before all of our protection. We fail to realize that laws and rules are simply guidelines with consequences. They are not guarantees. We have become too paranoid to take risks, not because we are afraid of the outcome, but because we are afraid of being unprotected. The cost of a risk is relative depending on the person taking it and risk can result in backlash, anything from ridicule to loss of life, but they are necessary. Our fear of being unprotected is undermining our ability to stand up for our individual values and our protections are allowing not only the abdication of responsibility for our actions but also the disintegration of our children's education.

When a person makes a move to defend their values, that person is not "protected" from the public; they may be called names, their property or person may be harmed they may even be ostracized by friends, family and community. To be protected from these potential effects, people elect not to stand up and defend their values. In essence we allow others to decide what values our community, state or country will espouse and if our community chooses to embrace values that an individual does not agree with, there are two courses of action: risk the above unpleasant experiences by voicing disapproval, in this one may open themselves up to questions as to why they did not speak up sooner or we can just "go with the flow" thereby weakening not only our individual values system, but that of our family, community and country.

We have come to rely far too heavily on perceived protections. Since we have parental controls and firewalls to protect our children from the internet and television, many parents no longer feel it is necessary to take responsibility for or closely monitor what their children do. What happened to snooping in your child's room while they are at school? What happened to asking about a child's day and insisting on meeting their friends and boyfriends/girlfriends? What happened to asking questions and demanding answers? Simply because children have gotten smarter does not mean that they have become more trustworthy, in fact because of this children should be monitored more closely because now many of them possess the ability to cover their tracks.

The No Child Left Behind Act requires that schools meet certain standards in the areas of reading/language arts and math. While this appears to be beneficial, many schools are finding it necessary to cut funding for programs such as art and music that encourage expression, in order to use these funds to bring English and math programs up to the newly required standards. Classes that were required 20

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President of Cameroon for a Day

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Fellow Cameroonians, ladies and gentle men, thank you very much for the confidence you bestowed on me to put me into this prestigious post of head of state to paddle the affairs of this our beloved Nation Cameroon for a day. As I told you during my campaign, I am not a politician who thinks only of the next election and will promise to build bridges where there are no rivers. Rather, I am a statesman who thinks of the next generation and that the bridges we cross before reaching them are on rivers that do not exist. As we must have noticed, he who did not come in through the ballot box is likely not to be shown the exit door through a ballot box.

Fellow Cameroonians, this is not the time to be talking again. Somewhat, it is time for action for the previous government was really a gravel in our shoes. First and fore most before taking over this prestigious office, I will like to declare my assets. This will form a baseline for any evaluation upon my leaving the office to ensure that I did not take any thing to improve the livelihoods of average Cameroonian wallowing in misery for personal use. My body guards are all the citizens of Cameroon for I will be with them in times of joy and sorrow and therefore need no personal body guards who will prevent me from reaching my people. My Slogan "Cameroon for Patriotic Cameroonians if truly we wish to re-brand Cameroon" is my guiding principle.

To say there is any sector in Cameroon which is corruption free is like looking for a new born in a maternity ward. For this reason, I have dissolved the cabinet, the parliament and sack all the people in posts of responsibility who have persistently lined their pockets with hard earned tax payers' money. Most of them are occupying these posts on tribal lines/ fake political affiliations and are too old to climb the staircases leading into their offices. They are too old and create wars for those who are too young to die. There are vibrant and more qualified patriotic Cameroonians who are roaming the streets and can better serve in these posts. All activities of political parties have equally been banned all over the National territory.

The history of our beloved country Cameroon has been distorted and any country based on falsehood can not stand on its own and the facts must be made known to all. Those without history have no future. One of the greatest problems my regime has to tackle is that of rising unemployment especially among the youths who are graduates of the Universities and are roaming the streets and thus their future is fuzzy. They live on the falsehood that they are the leaders of tomorrow and why not today? Employment, they say, is your personal talents and the environment in which you are living. This must not be misquoted to substantiate juvenile delinquency. I am tackling this problem right from the roots and that is changing the school curriculum to make our graduates better suit the job market in which they find themselves for the previous has failed us.

Fellow Cameroonians, ladies and gentle men, it is 2.00PM by my watch and a perfect census of all Cameroonians will be done and the results made known by 3.00pm. This will be a pave-stone for any credible election to be organized as Cameroonians have the right to know how many they are and those who are eligible to vote and to be voted for. Early release of these census results will not give room for many doubts as some people who were previously counted might have passed on to the world beyond if such results are delayed for long. Also this will also reduce the chances of new births which might alter the census results significantly thus further putting its credibility to question.

I am setting up with immediate effect an Independent Electoral committee of ten members who will be drawn from the ten regions of Cameroon and since all activities of political parties within the National territory have been banned, it is obvious that this people will be able to do their job without any fear or favors. This committee will have the mandate to organize credible elections and results known before 5.00 pm since counting votes in the night using candles and lanterns will lead to irregularities. I will personally chair this committee but I am sorry to say that I will not be a candidate for the up coming presidential elections since incumbent presidents especially in Africa are very difficult to be defeated through the ballot box because of the rigging machinery they have put in place. I will not be part of that mess and as I told you in my campaign speech, I have not changed my mind. Neither will I change the National Constitution on which the future of the country relies for personal gains. How ever, if it is imperative that it must be changed, a referendum must be organized.

Independent candidates will have to bid for the post of the presidency and their manifestos and charisma will be used by Cameroonians of good will to judge who can best deliver the goods. Their credentials will be thoroughly scrutinized by the committee. Remember that you can not deliver the goods if your heart is heavier than the load and you can not blindfold a man and expect him to ferry you across a river. Immediately the presidential election results are proclaimed by 6.30 PM, I will supervise the installation of the new president into office and the Committee dissolved and I have to step down and give way to this new regime. Early proclamation of such results will give room for no manipulations and thus the credibility will not be questionable. This new government will use the remaining part of the day to put in place structures and institutions which will pave the way for a better Cameroon tomorrow. Do not use your people to build your good works. Use your good works to build your people.

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How to Combine Ugg Boots With Spring Outfits

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Even when the grass is starting to turn green and the birds are outside chirping, you may not be ready to give up your Ugg boots yet. After all, Uggs are comfortable, stylish and go with all kinds of outfits. Instead, you simply need to learn how to combine your Ugg boots with spring outfits. The best ways to make your boots stretch into spring are to wear simple fabrics, pair them with light colors and use accessories.

It's easy to give your entire outfit an infusion of springtime when you wear simple, lightweight fabrics. Wearing a draping shirt made from a sheer fabric with your Uggs is a simple way to make them appropriate for the season. The best option is to wear them with leggings, as the combination of boots and jeans may be too heavy and can make you look prepared for the snow. Rather than pairing your boots with a pair of jeans, try leggings or even jeggings with a long tunic. This combination is simple and lightweight, so you'll look comfortable for the weather even with your Ugg boots. You can can also combine a thin, unbuttoned cardigan sweater over a favorite shirt for a look that is fresh and ready for warm weather.

Another great way to make your Ugg boots seasonal is to wear light colors. This works particularly well if your Uggs are a light color of tan or mocha. However, you can even pull off a darker color by especially focusing on the rest of your outfit. Choose a light color to wear on top, such as pale pink, light yellow, or even a sky blue. These colors are perfect for spring, so it will be a natural look regardless of your footwear. If you're pairing your shirt and boots with leggings, opt for a neutral medium color. Leggings in a chocolate brown are a great place in the middle for spring. They aren't as harsh or dark as black leggings, so they will look more appropriate with your boots in springtime.

You can also use accessories to create a lightweight look for spring with your Uggs. As with clothing choices, you'll want to look for pieces that are lightweight and available in light colors. Choosing floral accessories is also one of the best ways to soften your look for spring. Long necklaces with flowers or delicate beadwork are a great option for spring. Stay away from heavy chains, glitzy gemstones and other dramatic accessories. You can also opt for accessories that feature earthtones and retro-inspired themes. A bold cocktail ring or bangle bracelets are a great way to draw attention upward, especially if your arms are highlighted with short sleeves.

The most important factor about any outfit is whether or not you feel comfortable wearing it. Choose pieces that make you feel good about yourself and that you're excited to wear. By combining your Ugg boots with lightweight fabrics, soft colors, and springtime accessories, you can take them into springtime.

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Will My Cab Fare Be Impacted by Fuel Surcharges?

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The taxi services industry has been hit just as hard in recent years by the rising price of gasoline as any other travel services industry. In recent years, gas prices have jumped to all-time highs, and many industries have been forced to impose fuel surcharge fees for deliveries, and the taxi service industry has not been immune to that fact. The fuel surcharge fees were being passed down to the taxi drivers themselves, who were then seeing their profits decline as a result. For this reason, your taxi cab company has allowed their drivers to include the surcharges in cab fares paid by passengers, so that the drivers can continue to work comfortably without seeing their profits, and they can continue investing their time and effort into ensuring the safe comfort of their passengers.

Another issue is now facing the taxi services industry. Since gasoline is a traded commodity, the price of gas can fluctuate, and at times in recent years, gas prices have plummeted from their previous highs. As a result, the argument has been made that taxi cab companies should be eliminating previous fuel surcharges applied to cab fares. However, other expenses, such as insurance, liability and repairs continue to rise, and taking away the fuel surcharge even when the price of gas has dropped will still cut into profits for cab drivers. The issue has become a concern for many companies in the taxi services industry, as they struggle to retain a fair fee structure for their passengers while at the same time ensuring that their taxi cab drivers can continue to see reasonable profits. While regulatory agencies that govern taxi cab fares in some cities have ordered the reversal of fuel surcharge policies, cab companies struggle to find ways to ensure reasonable profits for their drivers.

Taxi cab companies will continue to struggle with the issue of fuel surcharges for years to come. As the global economy continues to fluctuate, so too will the price of gas. While fuel surcharges may be eliminated at times due to falling gas prices, they can and will be implemented in the future when gas prices go back up again. The issue for the taxi services industry will be how best to implement a fuel surcharge, while at the same time balancing driver profits with a fair and modest cab fare fee structure. Taxi cab companies will continue to try to offer a level of service that offers their passengers a safe journey; however, passengers should always expect a higher fare during times of fluctuating gas prices.

Brandon Caldwell is a consultant for Chicago taxi service and Oak Brook Terrace taxi services as well as national courier service businesses.

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United States Flagpole for Different Occasions

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A flag is a nation's pride. It is a symbol of its existence and achievements. The flags are complete with a pattern or a design on itself. These are symbols and emblems of the principles and goals that a country stands for and remains significant for its existence among others.

There is a national flag for every country of the world and each of them is special for its people. They treat this with care and sincerity and even follow the norms and etiquette laid down for its use.

United States

The national flag of the United States of America has a unique symbolic value to its past and its present. It has 13 horizontal stripes of white and red color alternatively as a symbol of the original number of colonies that the country was made of. These 13 colonies came together with a pledge of unity to fight the British rule and establish and independent and free America.

The next significant aspect is the blue rectangle on the canton of the flag. This comprises of an offset design of five pointed stars that are white in color. They are arranged in nine rows of six stars and alternately with five stars.

There are fifty stars on it that is symbolic of the total number of 50 states that make the nation of the United States of America.

There is a unique blend of the past with the present or even with the future that is expressed in design of the country. While the stripes signify the history of the country, the stars signify the present states that constitute the nation.

Flagpole

Every flag is hoisted on a mast or a flagpole. This is pole holds the flag and provides it support as it gently flows to the rhythm of the wind. Flagpoles hand made with different mechanisms. These are mostly made of wood or metal.

There are different heights of the poles that depend on the kind of usage and purpose of hoisting it. There are times when it is put up on top of residential buildings or even private homes. The required range in these cases is less and thus the poles can be shorter in height.

There are poles that that are required on important occasions and special days for hoisting. In such cases, there is taller flagpoles that are provided.

There is usually a loop and pulley system that is used for flag hoisting on special occasions. But in case of taller flagpoles for all days there is a mechanized system that can help to retract the pole and fold the flag.

Flagpole Dealers of United States

For more information on flagpole, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the United States flag!

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How Local Communities Can Work Together to Prepare for Floods

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If the recent floods in Australia have done anything positive, it has warned the rest of the world just how damaging and unpredictable flood waters can be. With an area the size of Germany now deluged in flood waters, one message that has come from the disaster has been the advantages of being prepared.

Coping with flooding is all too often thought of as a concern for governments and local authorities, but as with the Australian floods, the speed in which flood waters arrive mean that the authorities just don't have enough time to prevent and assist those suffering.

Being prepared is therefore, something that local communities should take on themselves, as when flood waters rise, every minute is precious if you are to prevent the damage and destruction done to homes and businesses that can affect people for years to come.

The problem with flood defences is that most of them take time to prepare, and as flooding gives little warning, it means much of the flood defence preparations should be planned in advance.

Flood defences like sandbags should be stored locally, as should a good supply of sand. This is because they have to be filled and installed within the first warnings of rising water. Full sandbags are too bulky to transport so a local community needs a good store of them.

Whether it's in public property, such as in council storage, or in the cellar of a pub, these sandbags need to be somewhere where they can be deployed quickly - with a source of sand nearby to fill them.

Alternatives to sandbags can be used and are far more practical as many, like Instant Sandbags, do not require sand to fill them, relying instead on water. This has great advantages for local communities who have no need to worry about finding, or storing the sand to fill them. Instead the flat Instant Sandbags can be stored locally until needed.

Other defences such as door guards, should be installed well-in advance. These products can be fitted and the guard removed until necessary, but with the brackets in place it takes just minutes for the guards to be slid down. Local communities should get together and work out which are the most vulnerable buildings. That way, places like schools and surgery's can be kept be protected when flood waters rise.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and professional writer who is interested in flooding, flood defences and flood management. Please visit us if you would like more information about flood defences or require more information on Instant Sandbags

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The Public Safety Protection

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No one considers him safe when it comes to the public safety issue in the society. The society as a whole has so much to bear regarding safety and protection. The importance of placing safety and protection measure for the normal and safe life of the people in the society was never this high as it is now a day.

The fanatic September 11 event made the security concern come to the highest level in the priority list for it exposed to the world how stern this issue is. It made the security and safety an uncompromising concern.

Each county in the world has its own rules and regulation and public safety and security policies. For people in each country however the need of awareness regarding this matter is really high. It was not as important ever before for people to know how to act and what measures to take for safety in the event of some attack.

People get to know about the security issues and safety steps with the assistance of other workers

Many experts provide protection to general public and keep them informed about the likely to take place natural disaster and ways of protection from them. They also are experts who can give you awareness about safety against social evils like robbery, theft and other forms of attack.

The list of people having knowledge regarding public safety and protection is long. The common and most sought assistance for public awareness is the professionals. Other in the list is medical staff. They provide their service for public health protection when they share their knowledge of health related problems, protection against them and the plagues etc. Police officers know the ways of protection from social problems and security guards and environmentalists also are good resource persons.

To ensure people remain safe and protected in case of environmental disasters and other attacks and assaults, warning systems and other safety measures be in place.

To make a public security and safety system successful, it is necessary that the experts, professionals and member of society assist each other. These mutual efforts only can ensure the system is in place in a proper way and people are following the guidelines the way they should be.

The author also writes review about the Men Made Easy and the The Linden Method.

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Knowing Your Public Security Level

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Now a day public safety has got high attention because every individual's life is exposed to threat. To ensure healthy and secure life of people in the society, precautionary measures must be taken at every dimensions of public life. Otherwise people will all remain scared.

Some threats are very severe than others, especially after the September eleven event the concern for public security has got highest ever.

The rules and regulations regarding the maintenance of safety and security vary from country to country. People's awareness and the need of it however is the same in all territories and more than it was before. People need to have full knowledge of the likely threats and the steps to follow if such undesired attacks take place.

The people can learn about safety with the help of other workers. These works give all possible awareness and information they can for public safety.

There are professionals who provide assistance to the common people regarding how to remain protected in case of natural catastrophe which can take place any time. They also train them about how to ensure safety against theft, robbery and other social issues in the areas they live in.

Public safety cannot be given by experts only. The assistance of doctors can also be useful who keep the public informed about the health related issues and contiguous diseases. Police officers, environmentalists and guards also have good knowledge about public safety.

Being member of the society it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure precautions are taken and warnings are given if a natural calamity occurs or an outside attack takes place. Showing responsibility towards the society can save many from unwanted events like theses.

The public safety and security system when put in place, can only be effective if the professionals, authorities and each member of the society cooperate with one another and the safety steps be followed in the proper way.

Read the Recipe Secrets for delectable dishes and there are Dog Food Secrets too.

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Things Not True: Common Urban Legends

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Have you ever been told something that just seems too perfect to be true? Here are some urban legends that I have come across. In each case, the person promoting it is completely convinced of its authenticity, but a small amount of research reveals the story to be utterly false.

Candy Canes for Jesus

I visited an outdoor shrine, decorated by thousands of Christmas lights. There was a building dedicated to children's birthday wishes to the baby Jesus. Featured prominently on the wall was the story of the religious origin of the candy cane. The sign said that the popular Christmas candies were designed to be Js for Jesus, and then went on to describe the religious symbolism of the candy.

This struck me as sketchy, especially since these candies are always marketed as candy canes, not candy Js. I looked it up, and sure enough, the story is a myth. The original candy canes didn't even have red stripes, which the story at the shrine attributed to Jesus' blood. The funny thing is that this false history of the candy cane is so attractive to some people that several children's books have been published that teach the story as actual history.

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Major Public Education Issues Faced Today

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Unemployment is one of the serious problems in developing countries. From year to year the amount of unemployment is getting difficult to control. It is not easy to discover what the main cause of unemployment is. However, we should give more attention to education as one of the many factors that cause unemployment. There are three important education problems that affect the unemployment increase in Indonesia: a high cost of education, a mismatch between education system and job requirement, and lack of entrepreneurship lesson.

The expensive cost of education affects unemployment increase. Education becomes an expensive thing because it needs a high cost for better quality. Thus, only few people can access it. If the cost of education was expensive as now, I think my parents would not have been able to send their five children to college. I can't imagine my job if I did not graduate from college. Many people, especially poor people, become unemployed because they don't have an opportunity to get a good education. The government should allocate much more of their budget for education. Therefore, the education budget is enough to improve better education that could be accessed by all people, even the poorest ones.

The next problem of education that causes unemployment is the mismatch between the education system and the job requirement. In fact, industries have offered numerous job opportunities. The job opportunity should be filled by the people who have appropriate education background to support the industries. Unfortunately, they can't be filled because people who apply for these jobs don't have the skills and competence required by the jobs. For example, a garment industry needs some tailors from dressmaking vocational high schools, but there are many high school graduates who do not have sewing skills applying for the job. Consequently, the industry will reject them since they do not want people who will not be ready to work.

Besides, there is no entrepreneurship lesson in schools. Thus, after they graduate from their schools, graduates are always trying to get a job. Most of them have never thought to become entrepreneurs because they have never been taught to be entrepreneurs when they were in school. Actually, entrepreneurs are people who are able to optimize their potential and see an opportunity. For example, they see the garbage that is not useful, but it can be used as material to make unique and expensive souvenirs. This skill can be obtained if the entrepreneurship lesson is given earlier and continuously in schools. Then, after they graduate from their schools, they do not need to apply for a job. They can be entrepreneurs, create new businesses and give job opportunities to other people.

In brief, the high cost of education, the gap between education system and industry needs, and the fact that education system doesn't encourage students to be entrepreneurs cause the number of unemployment increase. The government can make this condition better. Thus, the government should solve education problems above seriously since we know that education is an important key to reducing unemployment. We are optimistic that the number of unemployed will decrease gradually.

Hilmi Arifin is a civil servant in the development planning agency. He has become a part-time blogger and learned to make money from internet since 2006. Find out more about his online store at Rame-Rame and Best Fitness Tool.

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Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding - 5 Things She Needs for Planning the Perfect Day

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Ages-old British traditions will likely dictate many of the details exclusive to Kate Middleton and Prince William's much-anticipated wedding, but as most broomjumpers will attest, the actual ceremony is only the beginning. Millions of viewers will get to see the grand entrance, the vows, and the official smooch, but everyone who isn't close to the couple will have to sit out the reception, and with it, the bride's opportunity to personalize her big day. If Kate's public image as a playful, independent spirit is any indication of her popularity, these personal nuances are what the world will hope to read about most when it's all over.

Electing the right designer to create a mega-dress fit for a princess and choosing which royal accessories will make the final costume are just the beginning in her dreamy marriage to an even dreamier beau. In the spirit of encouraging a spunky bride-to-be to enjoy the whirlwind process of getting married, here's a list of five things Kate needs to stress less:

1. A chalkboard wall decal can provide a noncommittal writing space for organizing her thank-yous, designing potential bouquets, and keeping track of stress-eating credits and debits. Once the dust has settled, she can hang it where her hubby will see all the little love notes and reminders to pick up eggs at the market that make a union special.

2. Any child reared in the 1980s knows that owning a fashion design sketch set is necessary for planning a well-outfitted future. Kate can use hers to maintain her fabulous sense of style and successfully pull off presenting her best self during the photography frenzy she's sure to encounter for years to come.

3. A small auxiliary refrigerator can help her hang on to wedding food samples thousands of British purveyors are dying to send her in the hope that she'll choose them as official wedding day caterers. It would be a shame to throw away cakes and hors d'oeuvres fit for a queen when she could just as easily save and share them with her prince and pals during a relaxing movie marathon or parkside cricket match.

4. Picking up a few layerable gold charm necklaces or weeklong spa getaway packages for her flower girls and ladies-in-waiting will eliminate the need to shop at the last minute for wedding party favors.

5. When the most dreadful planning days have sapped her energy, she'll want some high-quality sound speakers and a stash of favorite songs to help her cut loose. Once she's nice and rehabilitated, she can test out a few songs that might make her first dances perfect. Still, there's nothing wrong with forgetting about the wedding just long enough to hang up a disco ball, grab her prince's hand, and enjoy a much sillier version of the St. Bernard's Waltz.

Allison Krongard is the founder and president of WallCandy Arts; a U.S.A. manufacturer and distributor of modern and unique, high quality removable, re-positionable, vinyl wall decals for baby nurseries, kid's rooms, dorm room decor, play rooms, classrooms and rooms for teens and adults.

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Identity Theft Prevention Is the Responsibility of Both the Consumer and Business

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Identity theft prevention has become a major concern for all of us in recent years. We hear of people whose identity has been stolen and used to make purchases, to get credit and loans, sticking the victim with the burden of proving that they were not the one who incurred these debts. The thief doesn't make payments on what they illegally obtained and the victim doesn't know about it until he or she tries to get credit. It can take years before your credit report is corrected, and some never are. Identity theft prevention is directed at keeping others from stealing your identity and using it to defraud others into giving them money or goods on the back of your good credit and your credit cards or bank account.

The consumer is the first in line to assure identity theft prevention. You are expected to keep your credit cards, bank account, and social security number secure. The best way to assure identity prevention is for you to protect your identity. If you lose your credit card or if you think it has been stolen, call the issuer immediately and have it canceled. Remember, someone who is using your credit cards or checks is pretending to be you. They can use them without having to be personally identified. They can make purchases over the phone or on the internet. They can make direct purchases from merchants who do not make a practice of verifying the signature on the credit card against some other form of identification. If you don't put your signature on the credit card, you're asking for trouble. The reason credit cards have a place to sign your signature is precisely for identity theft prevention.

For the consumer, identity prevention also means safeguarding your social security number. This number represents our identity in both the public and the private sectors. With your name, it can be used to give another person an entirely new identity - yours! Landlords use it to check credit before they rent. Businesses use it to check on a person's credit before they extend credit. Employers are required to get it and report it to the IRS when they hire you to work. With your name and social security, someone can start a whole new life: someone can live their life as yours.

The second line of defense for identity theft prevention are the businesses and organizations that obtain personal information from their customers or clients. A consumer should not automatically assume that the business or organization has an active theft prevention program and should ask. Ask if their computers have been hacked, if they've had any cases of identify theft, if they have an active identity theft prevention security system and if someone or a department is responsible for information security. Consumers should make identity theft prevention one of their criteria in doing business with a company that uses their personal information. If the company does not have an active identity theft prevention policy and security provisions, the consumer should find a company that does.

Identity theft prevention is a joint effort between the consumer and business. Working together, they might not be able to eliminate identity theft entirely, but they can make it harder for identity thieves to succeed.

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Understanding the Concept of Charter Schools

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Charter schools are a new concept in schooling that has worked wonders for the educational system in the city of New Orleans following the damage wrought by hurricane Katrina. Charter schools are experimental elementary and secondary schools that are publicly funded but have been granted charters from either the board of education or school districts that allow them to operate independently of other schools. These schools are set up and organized by parents, teachers and leaders in a community.

To put it another way, schools that are run by a charter operate independently but do so by way of public money. Before hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans the educational system had structure and direction but academic failure was very high and corruption was rampant. With the introduction of charter schools in the city borne out of necessity, the Recovery School District (RSD) took over the reform of the school system. The city has since become "a laboratory for education reform." In fact out of 30 cities analyzed by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, the city was recently named the most reform friendly in terms of education.

Charter schools dominate in the city of New Orleans and the opportunity to experiment with learning methods is there. There are currently 88 public schools in the city, of which 61 are charters that are run by local operators and state operators. Parents also have plenty of say in what their children are learning.

Schools that are charters are innovative, legally independent and are outcome-based. They are a new breed of public school that has caught on in many different areas of the country. There are certain things that they share in common. To begin with they must receive legislation from the state that gives them the right to operate. The legislation will outline what the requirements are to start and to maintain such a school. It also will outline how many schools of this nature are allowed in a particular state.

When a group of people such as teachers, organizers and parents get together and submit plans to the board of education to open such a school they must be willing to follow the guidelines established by the state. The board or sponsor will then take everything under advisement and will then render the verdict. In other words they will either grant the charter or will deny it.

Once a charter has been given the green light to operate, the schools organize as their own legal entity. Very often this means that they become an independent school district because they have come together as a not-for-profit corporation.

All schools that operate as charters are public schools. What this means is that they are required by law to teach all of the students that wish to attend. These students do not have to be gifted intellectually nor do they have to come from families with lots of money. Admission cannot be limited and these schools cannot charge students to be educated there. These schools are not private institutions. These educational institutions must follow all of the proper provisions of civil rights. Admission is not based on religious affiliation, athletic talent or academic ability.

New Orleans charter schools are improving, but there's still work to do. For more information visit: http://educatenow.net/.

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Schools in Struggling Communities Turn to Teach for America

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Teach for America utilizes the talents of outstanding college graduates in many career fields who are burdened for struggling schools and school districts throughout the country. These young adults choose to commit two years of their life to teach in one of these struggling areas, pushing the students to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Teach for America was founded in an effort to eliminate or at least lessen the gap in achievement between students in high-income school districts and those in low-income school districts. Those who work with the program believe a student shouldn't be doomed to a poor education simply because of the neighborhood he lives in. As a result, they are utilizing the best and the brightest young teachers to work in those lower-income areas and inspire the students to achieve more.

Schools who are part of the Teach for America program receive teachers from the Teach for America corps who are committed to teaching in their school for two years. During those two years, the school receives top-notch educational skills from these teachers. The corps utilizes those who have demonstrated above-average teaching abilities. These young teachers would normally be hired by the best districts with the highest possible salary package because of their skills.

In return for their willingness to teach in these troubled schools, these young teachers receive benefits like scholarships for grad school, money for relocation, a stipend to repay student loans, and the option to have loan forbearance and paid interest for the two years they are teaching. This compensation counteracts the lower pay they will receive from the school district during their time there. The corps also offers training and ongoing support to its teachers and alumni.

In theory this model seems like it would be effective. Placing highly skilled, highly motivated teachers who have a fresh passion for their job in the classrooms where they are needed most seems like it would make achievement rise. But are the schools that participate in the Teach for America program actually seeing any improvement?

Research shows that it is, in fact, working. Achievement scores are on the rise in those classrooms that have participating teachers. Also, studies are showing that Teach for America teachers are more effective in the classroom than other teachers, including veteran teachers and others who are fresh out of college.

Teach for America is impacting more than just the participating schools. The teachers who participate in the program are finding a love for their students that translates into a passion for teaching well past the two years they are in the program. Some even stay on to continue in those districts where they were originally hired, allowing their impact t continue with the students. Others find employment in business partners who appreciate the leadership skills shown by corps members and offer programs like deferred benefits plans and special pay packages to alumni of the program. This mutually beneficial arrangement is what has made Teach for America such a successful and popular program.

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Spray on Clothing May Be a Big Hit in Hospitals and in the Fetish World

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Seeing how everyone else has made a joke about jeans being so tight that they look as if they have been painted on, I won't go there. Hospitals as well as fetish enthusiasts are sure to love this product which was developed in the imperial college of London.

This product is applied with a spray can and is made up of binding polymers and short fibers. This is combined with an evaporating solvent that evaporates when it is sprayed onto the body. You can spray it on as thick or as light as desired. Once the product is sprayed onto either skin or any other material simply remove it and wash it. Amazingly it keeps its shape and can be used over and over again. You can be as creative as you want and spray your clothes on your body.

Fabrican which started developing this product in the year 2000 says that hospitals may take to this product once it is available for purchase. It is said that this spray on material can be used for dressing wounds and it will not bother the skin. Due to a very strong odor the product needs to be perfected before it hit's the market. Now, can you just imagine all shapes and sizes wearing this spray on clothing out in public? It could be quite entertaining or maybe just sickening.

With this technique, sky is the limit and you can let your creativity go wild and design different fashion styles. Various permanent color pigments can be added to the mix for maximum creativity.

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Traditional Costumes In Rural Germany

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If it wasn't for the random car passing by you wouldn't even be sure that this cozy part of the world has made it into the modern world. Villagers go about their everyday business in a leisurely fashion and you see little girls in traditional garments just like their mothers strolling across a busy market place. Once in a while the idyllic scenery though gets tainted some from the unexpected ring of a cell phone.

Most of all it is the traditional costumes that create the timeless feel. Men wearing "Lederhosen", a type of shorts with the legs covering about half the thighs and made from soft leather. Women and girls are in "Dirndl", an ensemble of a tight bodice covering a short-sleeved white blouse over a full length skirt with a contrasting apron on top. The dirndl ensemble emphasizes a friendly and feminine look especially if long hair got braided to complete the traditional look.While guys in short leather pants look a little like boys that have not grown up fully the dirndl style agrees wonderfully with the women.

Many Americans might be only familiar with dirndl wear from visiting one of the many local OKtoberfest festivities in the United States and Canada. The dirndl seems to be the most popular traditional costume that has ever made it from Germany over the big pond. Other than in its country of origin the American OKtoberfest does not follow a specific schedule. It is rather held at various occasions between June and November. While obviously intrigued with the Bavarian idea of beer and a good time the costume wear has little to nothing to do with rural Bavarian dress style. Waitresses copy the historic dirndl garment in order to create a visitor experience as closely as possible to the original and wear dirndls as a working garment.. If the idea works out well is for the people to decide who enjoy a German beer in one of the bear tents or drinking halls.

While smart American business men make a living off recreating a small piece of Bavarian lifestyle life itself moves on in rural south Germany unaware and mostly disinterested in what goes on beyond the village walls.

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Michelle Obama: More Than A Style Icon

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Michelle Obama is an amazing woman. We love her strength, her leadership, and the active role she is taking in making America healthier and saving our children from obesity. We think she's a wonderful mother who obviously cares a lot about her daughters. No doubt, she's a supportive wife!
Not Afraid To Wear An Off The Rack Dress

We also love Mrs. Obama's personal style. Remember the $148, off-the-rack, black and white dress she wore for her appearance on The View back in June 2008? That was probably our first clue that Mrs. Obama has her own sense of style, and that she's not afraid to show it. That dress looked so pretty and fresh, we can't imagine a designer outfit costing ten times as much would have looked better.
Celebrating Her Curves

Michelle Obama is a tall, pretty woman. We love that she's not skinny and is not trying to be - she obviously takes care of herself and works out (look at those amazing arms!) but she goes with her natural body shape and doesn't try to fight it, or to hide it. Mrs. Obama has narrow waist and wider hips, and she makes no attempt at concealing her hourglass figure or making herself appear thinner. Which we absolutely love!

Mrs. Obama loves to dress in clothes that show off her beautiful arms and shoulders. She wears body-conscious clothes that acknowledge - one might say celebrate - her curves, but are never too clingy. Instead of trying to camouflage her bottom part, she celebrates it. Her choices are markedly different from former First Ladies in that they are much more casual and much less formal and restrictive.
A Style Icon, And So Much More

While Michelle Obama has certainly become a style icon, she is so much more than that. Mrs. Obama is an incredibly smart, talented woman. She obviously wants to leave a legacy that goes beyond "she had a great sense of style," and this reflects in her campaign against obesity as in other initiatives.

Michelle Obama is a beautiful woman, inside and out.

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M2M Will Have Many Opportunities In Automotive And Energy Market

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According to the research report of iSuppli, the sales of machine to machine model group will increase by thirty-eight percent than last year. Although the M2M communication is suitable for many application markets, we can find some key markets, such as transportation, energy and medical care. This technology will have large opportunity in the automotive and energy market. The automotive application ranges from eCalll to entertainment. Energy application includes the energy monitoring and management, renewable resource, transmission and distribution, smart meter and EV charging station. It is predicated that the sales of the M2M model group will be more than 200 million in the public facility market.

The demand of eCall system is increasing in the automotive market. This system can send out an urgent call by wireless communication. ECall solution allows the data to transmit to public safety agency through the wireless network. It is predicated that all the cars will install the eCall system in the year of 2015. What is more, electric vehicle also drives the growth of M2M. Remote information processing service helps the owner of electric vehicle to find the nearest charging station and receive the newest information of electric quantity. The Asia automotive market grows fastest, which have the potential demand for the eCall.

In energy market, the laws of energy demand and cost are increasing, which drives the public utilities to transform the transmission and distribution of infrastructure and use the solution of smart meter. The new emerging countries, such as China, India, Southeast Asia, have the increasing demand of energy, but the installment of facilities is controlled by their governments. West Europe is a mature market, which has the complete infrastructures. North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are also the mature market, but they have problem of capacity. The related integrated circuit is 0233H.

Li O Na is the freelance writer for e-commerce website in the integrated circuit. SeekIc.com offers the buyers around the world to find quality supplier of electrical components globally. We try our best to aggregate leads in the integrated circuit business world, and let these leads benefit the entire business person.

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Catering: The Secret to a Successful Party

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There are a few staples of any good party: entertaining people, fun games, and, of course, food. Food can elevate a standard party into an unforgettable event. There is simply something about wonderful food that can be unforgettable. Food, however, is a double-edged sword when it comes to parties: not only can it be a party's saving grace, but it can also ruin an otherwise perfectly good event.

There is a simple, elegant solution that can help you avoid the pitfall of serving poor food: catering. Hiring a catering service allows you to avoid a few rather serious mistakes. Hiring a catering service, first of all, ensures that the food you serve is amazing. As stated before, good food is a necessity at any social gathering and hiring a well respected catering service can cement your status as a master event planner.

Hiring a catering service can also free up some of your time so that you can consider other aspects of the party planning process. Planning a social event for your closest friends takes careful consideration; no part can be overlooked. If there is one aspect of the party planning process that has the potential to suck up a large portion of your time it is the food. Eliminate this potentiality by putting it in the hands of professionals who specialize in doing this week in and week out.

Throwing a party can be stressful, but you can eliminate some of the pressure by hiring a professional catering service. Not only will your guests thank you, your sanity will, too.

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The Ratio Takes By The LED Backlight Will Increase In LCD Panel

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Two-thirds of the large-size LCD panel will use the LED backlight in 2011, and this ratio was still less than fifty percent in last year. The shipment of LED backlight large panel can be 495.6 sets in 2011, which increase by 74.9% than the last year. For the panels of laptop computer and netbook, the ratio takes by the LED backlight increases from ninety-one percent to one hundred percent. The shipment of large-size LCD panel will be 834.6 million sets in the year of 2014, and the annual growth rate will be 47.9%. LED backlight is the main element to drive the shipment of large-size panel, which becomes the area with the largest growing speed. With reduction of the cost, customers' demand of LED backlight is become higher and higher. Most of them like to choose the products with clear picture, low power consumption and thinner shape.

Although the growth of the LED backlight products is robust, the panel market also has the worry of excessive supply which will make the price of panel reduce. According to the analysis of panel manufacturers' production plan, their capacity may exceed the market demand in the first half of 2011. However, the capacity expansion will be less in the second half of this year. The LCD industry will be prosperous in 2011 if the panel suppliers can control the production.

Apart from the LED backlight, the 3D television is another transformation of the large LCD television. The performance of 3D television was not as good as the predication in 2010, because the cost of panel and television is so high. Many panel manufacturers release the 3D television with delay thin film techniques. This technology will make the cost low. Apart from the low price, the panel will be bright when it is using this new technology. The related integrated circuit is 03886MXEP.

Lixiaona is the freelance writer for e-commerce website in the integrated circuit. SeekIc.com offers the buyers around the world to find quality supplier of electrical components globally. We try our best to aggregate leads in the integrated circuit business world, and let these leads benefit the entire business person.

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The Availability Of Our Flag

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The national flag displaying on various products indicated the spirit of love and patriotism to the country. The same spirit is seen in the market when we see the flags on various products.

It is a very brilliant idea to purchase a stock of the American flags and wait till some special national holidays. Therefore, if you can afford the wholesale ones, you can make some real fast cash by selling flags.

The wholesale flags of the America are very popular. These come in various shapes and sizes but the smaller ones are primarily sold on the parade ceremonies and various national defense exhibitions. These flags are mostly sold during the patriotic events of national level. If you want to sale the flags, the wholesale is a nice way to get cheaper flags at low cost.

The big size ones can be used in your own parties to welcome the guests and to invite them. You can set each guest an invitation along with a big printed flag. They will be impressed by this effort as they don't know that you bought these flags in wholesale at economical price. The sewn ones are also available but these are a bit costly.

If you work in the film industry or some sort of electronic media, the wholesale printed ones can be extremely useful for you to become popular. You can get various types of flags aside from the American flags like the military or the pirated flags.

The wholesale flags are commonly used for large scale shooting needs or where the authenticity of information is needed in the scene. To complete the shooting without disturbing your budget, it is advised to purchase the flags in wholesale quantity.

The wholesale flag is a very economical choice and you can get a large quantity at lower price.

Most of us are still unaware of the fact the buying anything in bulk quantity can be very savvy thing. If you need some flags for any purpose, you can order the flags in wholesale and save your money.

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Buenos Aires Opens a Beatles Museum

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Argentina just opened its first Beatles repository in Buenos Aires when a gigantic follower of the Fab Four made his huge assemblage for public viewing. Rodrigo Vasquez has been a follower of the Beatles since he was juvenile young man and since then, he has assembled memorabilia that turned into one of the large-scale Beatles collections belonging to a lone person. Vasquez, who is an accountant by occupation, owns more than 8,500 things associated to the well renowned band. Among the most valued pieces in his assemblage are the following: a clay brick from The Cavern Club (the location where the Beatles performed in their early days), an 11-pound ascertain marked by Ringo Starr, countless notes, gadgets, puppets, sport and toys. He even has the band's signature mop peak wigs and even obscure pieces for example John Lennon condoms.

Considered as the utmost rock band of all time, The Beatles furthermore has other repositories made in their honour. The best renowned of these is the one discovered in their hometown of Liverpool, England. The Argentinean repository in Avenue Corrientes is advised as more of a huge assemblage other than an genuine repository but it is still a reflection of how influential the Beatles are even decades after they disbanded.

In the news from luxury magazines, a fervent Beatles memorabilia collector in Buenos Aires, Argentina who has amassed the one of the world's biggest collections is now letting the public relish it. Rodrigo Vazquez, who works as an accountant, first dropped in love with the Beatles as a child. He now has a treasure trove of more than 8,500 things encompassing a clay brick from The Cavern Club, a ascertain for 11 pounds marked by Ringo Starr, notes, gadgets, puppets and sport, fundamentally everything from mop peak wigs to John Lennon condoms.

The Luxury magazines reports that more than 2,200 of them are on brandish in the Beatles Museum that just opened this month on Avenue Corrientes. According to the luxury magazines, among one of Beatles museum is that on Liverpool, England, the home of the Fab Four. The museum in Argentina is less of a museum and more of just an incredible collection. The repository in Argentina is less of a repository and more of just an unbelievable collection. The wideness of pieces on brandish devotes a gaze at just how pervasive (and marketable) Beatle mania was. Vasquez designs to rotate the things in the repository in order that the public can glimpse them other than having them tucked away in box.

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How To Make Great School Newspapers

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Are you ready to move your school newspaper forward, making it more exciting and interesting than ever before? If the answer is yes, then this article can help you to jump-start your project with the top five things that a good school newspaper should include.

1. News. This one seems like a given; however, it can be tough to come up with good news items. Unless you are writing a student column, try to veer away from world-wide issues, instead focusing on things that pertain to school or will be of interest to readers. Anybody can print an newspaper about a flood in a foreign country; only you can write about the cement being laid for the new gym or have an interview with a new teacher. Always keep an open eye, watching for news tips that involve the school, school activities, or students.

2. Student columns. Okay, it's easy to realize that very few school students will want to write a column once a week or even once a month; even the most dedicated writers will often find themselves swamped with extra-curricular activities or simply burnt out of ideas. Rather than have the same students write every month, consider rotating, allowing a wide-variety of aspiring writers to participate. Three columnist sections will let a lot of students experience writing if rotated among classes. Names of columnists can be randomly drawn, allowing everyone an equal experience at writing.

3. Sports. Sports are a big part of any school so, obviously, they need to have some time devoted to them. While winning the biggest game of the season might be front-page news, sports sections can also be devoted to reviews of practices, introductions to players, and even games that are lost. Reach out to even those who aren't interested in sports by explaining what the game is all about and encouraging them to come watch.

4. Photos. Having photos in your paper adds an extra special touch. Not only will they help readers to connect with the stories, but they also make the paper more attractive and more people want to read it. You can choose to just have one dedicated photographer or split the responsibility up with several students.

5. Additional submissions. Try to incorporate as many students as possible for newsletter submission. If you know someone who is good at drawing, see if they would be interested in in doing a comic strip. By having lots of different students submitting to the paper, their friends and family members will be more likely to read.

By including a wide variety of other students, adding good content, and trying your best, your school newspaper will be a wonderful success!

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