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	<title>Belfast Downtown</title>
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		<title>DMX accused of owing $1m in child support</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/dmx-accused-of-owing-1m-in-child-support/</link>
		<comments>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/dmx-accused-of-owing-1m-in-child-support/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:30:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accused]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[owing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[support]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[DMX has reportedly been accused by a former lover of owing over $ 1m in unpaid child support. His ex-girlfriend, Patricia Trejo, made the claim at the LA Superior Court in response to DMX asking the court for permission to perform in Europe. Trejo asserts that DMX owes her $ 1m in child support for [...]]]></description>
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<p class="spip"><strong class="spip">DMX</strong> has reportedly been accused by a former lover of owing over $  1m in unpaid child support.</p>
<p class="spip">His ex-girlfriend, Patricia Trejo, made the claim at the LA Superior Court in response to DMX asking the court for permission to perform in Europe.</p>
<p class="spip">Trejo asserts that DMX owes her $  1m in child support for their 10-year-old daughter, a claim which could lead to the rapper being prevented from travelling abroad.</p>
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		<title>Like Your Kiss</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/like-your-kiss/</link>
		<comments>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/like-your-kiss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:17:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kiss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[like]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[I hear your voice like the wind in the trees, Quiet and loving me again. With your Kiss! A heat like this I thought to burn,But to touch your skin is sweet bliss,Like a Kiss! My heart feels much to hot,My soul cries out not to stop.Your Kiss! Hold my life in your sweetest hand,And [...]]]></description>
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<div id="article_text_blocks">I hear your voice like the wind in the trees,<br/><br />
Quiet and loving me again.<br/><br />
With your Kiss!
<p>A heat like this I thought to burn,<br/>But to touch your skin is sweet bliss,<br/>Like a Kiss!</p>
<p>My heart feels much to hot,<br/>My soul cries out not to stop.<br/>Your Kiss!</p>
<p>Hold my life in your sweetest hand,<br/>And I will be lost in romantic bliss,<br/>Like your Kiss!</p>
<p>I never knew it could be like this,<br/>Your fantastic music thrills me to the core.<br/>Like Martian wind songs so deep and glad,<br/>Like the spin of Venus in my heart,<br/>Your cosmic touch is deepest bliss,<br/>And your Kiss!</p>
<p>Spinning planets, soaring into the sun,<br/>Glowing hearts flowing into the fun,<br/>Your face so bright and shining with love,<br/>Melts my face into such smiles,<br/>With your Kiss!</p>
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		<item>
		<title>My Guardian Angel</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/my-guardian-angel/</link>
		<comments>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/my-guardian-angel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:02:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Angel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Guardian]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The picture is faded, cracked and spotted,Taken more than thirty-five years ago.Yet I remember the first dayI hung it on my living room wallIn Los Angeles many moves ago. Right away I noticedHow her eyes followed me.Wherever I stood or sat in the room,I saw an expression of such purityIt would cause any demon to [...]]]></description>
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<p>The picture is faded, cracked and spotted,<br/>Taken more than thirty-five years ago.<br/>Yet I remember the first day<br/>I hung it on my living room wall<br/>In Los Angeles many moves ago.</p>
<p>Right away I noticed<br/>How her eyes followed me.<br/>Wherever I stood or sat in the room,<br/>I saw an expression of such purity<br/>It would cause any demon to shiver.</p>
<p>I&#8217;d taken other photographs of her,<br/>Dressed American style in blue jeans.<br/>But that day she honored my request<br/>To take me all the way to Ethiopia,<br/>By wearing clothing reserved for festivities.</p>
<p>The sun was at a perfect angle,<br/>As she posed in Wattles Park.<br/>The necklace and ring she wore<br/>Were made of pure gold…<br/>I&#8217;d never seen her wear before.</p>
<p>And notice the way her shawl,<br/>Heart-shaped around her lovely face,<br/>Adds to the photo&#8217;s symmetry<br/>In such an captivating and intriguing way<br/>To compel one&#8217;s eyes to seek her gaze.</p>
<p>At the moment I snapped the shutter,<br/>I had no way of knowing in few short years<br/>Cancer would claim her sweet young life,<br/>And that this photograph would become<br/>A picture I call my guardian angel,<br/>Zoma Shifferua.</p>
<p><br/></div>
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		<title>Gas Prices Rise at the Pump, Pushing Non-core Inflation Higher</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/gas-prices-rise-at-the-pump-pushing-non-core-inflation-higher/</link>
		<comments>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/gas-prices-rise-at-the-pump-pushing-non-core-inflation-higher/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:50:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Higher]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inflation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Noncore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pump]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pushing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rise]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Despite a core inflation print at just .2% for the month, which was in line with expectations, the 12-month rate of core inflation was still at a somewhat troublesome 2.3%. That number is a bit higher than the estimates put forth by the Fed and reveals that, despite the intentionally inaccurate means of measuring inflation, [...]]]></description>
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<p>Despite a core inflation print at just .2% for the month, which was in line with expectations, the 12-month rate of core inflation was still at a somewhat troublesome 2.3%. That number is a bit higher than the estimates put forth by the Fed and reveals that, despite the intentionally inaccurate means of measuring inflation, consumer prices are rising. Most analysts don&#8217;t expect the slightly increased inflation pressure to be a deterrent for the Federal Reserve to embark on a fresh round of Quantitative Easing in order to spur growth.
<p>The markets have largely ignored any concerns about inflation, focusing instead on the ongoing debt drama in Greece. At this moment, it appears that yet another Greek &#8220;agreement&#8221; may be only days away, although that is the story that has been repeated for the better part of the last two years.</p>
<p>Much of the rise in gas prices can be attributed to the escalating tension in the Middle East involving Iran and Syria. The cat-and-mouse games being played by Iran, the U.S. and Israel have caused crude oil prices to rise on the uncertainty that the region will remain stable and oil flow will not be disrupted.</p>
<p>Of course, one factor that is being overlooked in keeping prices down is that the most populous areas of the U.S. have enjoyed a very mild winter. With early spring temperatures covering most of January and February, energy consumption at the consumer level is considerably lower than normal. It&#8217;s unlikely that a prolonged cold spell could grip the U.S. between now and the start of spring, but an especially hot summer could put extreme upward pressure on energy prices, driving inflation and consumer prices that much higher.</p>
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		<title>Move in no time with LA movers</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/move-in-no-time-with-la-movers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/move-in-no-time-with-la-movers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:40:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.belfastdowntown.com/?p=305</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you search around a couple of moving companies in California, the only company that would please your eyes will sure be a Los Angeles moving company. Once you get in contact with an LA moving company, you do not have to keep yourself involved in the entire moving process. Residents of the house will [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you search around a couple of moving companies in California, the only company that would please your eyes will sure be a <a href="http://www.acamin.com/">Los Angeles moving company</a>. Once you get in contact with an LA moving company, you do not have to keep yourself involved in the entire moving process. Residents of the house will just have to move to the new location without having to carry any home stuff with them. <a href="http://www.acamin.com/">LA movers</a> will make sure that you do not have to look around for any other moving company for getting the right job done.</p>
<p>Los Angeles movers have an impeccable reputation among the people residing in California, and in the nearby states. They really will prove to be the best available option. Your costs for moving will be kept to a minimum. LA movers always ensure that the entire moving process gets done in an appropriate time. Do not waste any more time further in looking for any other local moving company, when you have the best. Fill up the form quote, and get back to your daily routine. <a href="http://www.acamin.com/">Los Angeles movers</a> will take over from there till the moving process completes. The customers should necessarily mention their proper contact details, so that the movers can keep in touch with them.</p>
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		<title>Santorum, Romney Ramp Up for Super Tuesday Battles</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/santorum-romney-ramp-up-for-super-tuesday-battles/</link>
		<comments>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/santorum-romney-ramp-up-for-super-tuesday-battles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:32:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Battles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ramp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Romney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Santorum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Super]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Super Tuesday comes just one week after the battle royal between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in Michigan on Feb. 28, and while all eyes in the media are fixed on the Wolverine State, the two campaigns are looking beyond it. Santorum will give a major economic speech Thursday afternoon in Michigan, but this week [...]]]></description>
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<p><img src="http://images.rcp.realclearpolitics.com/124674_5_.jpg" width="646" class="c4"/></p>
<p>Super Tuesday comes just one week after the battle royal between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in Michigan on Feb. 28, and while all eyes in the media are fixed on the Wolverine State, the two campaigns are looking beyond it.</p>
<p>Santorum will give a major economic speech Thursday afternoon in Michigan, but this week he has worked his way through a handful of states that hold their contests on March 6. And Romney, whose <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html">poll numbers</a> have begun to fall behind Santorum’s nationally and in some of the upcoming contests, is hot on his trail.</p>
<p>Romney remains the front-runner in the delegate count and should easily maintain that spot after Super Tuesday. By the Republican National Committee’s count, of the 271 delegates that have been at stake thus far, Romney has 73 to Santorum’s three. But the 271 total includes 158 “unbound” delegates, 156 of which are from contests Santorum won: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri. (Those states decide through party processes at later dates how the delegates will be awarded and if they’re binding, but by most measures, Santorum has far more than three, and Romney would have more than 73.)</p>
<p>Fifty-nine delegates are at stake on Feb. 28 &#8212; when Arizona also votes &#8212; and regardless of whether Romney scores a victory in his native Michigan, he’s still expected to pick up the bulk of the delegates that day. The reason: Arizona, which has a relatively large Mormon population, is expected to break for Romney, meaning all 29 of its delegates will go in his column. But because Michigan awards its delegates proportionally, it makes sense for Santorum to contest it heavily whether he ultimately wins or not in order to pick up delegates.</p>
<p>The Super Tuesday states award delegates on a proportional basis, meaning even if Santorum wins a majority of those contests, Romney will still pick up delegates in most cases and likely will remain atop the delegate count.</p>
<p>He begins with an advantage in three of the 11 states holding contests on March 6 &#8212; a day that will see 466 delegates awarded. His rivals aren’t contesting his current home state of Massachusetts, so he should pick up the bulk of its 41 delegates. The only other candidate to qualify for the ballot in Virginia was Ron Paul, so Romney should get a disproportionate share of the 49 delegates awarded there. And Vermont holds an open primary, where any registered voter can vote, with 17 delegates at stake. Right off the bat, Romney will have a major advantage with those 107 delegates.</p>
<p>The remaining eight states, with their 359 delegates, will be tougher for Romney to get a big share of. The contests include: Alaska conventions (27 delegates), Georgia primary (76 delegates), Idaho caucuses (32 delegates), North Dakota caucuses (28 delegates), Ohio primary (66 delegates), Oklahoma primary (43 delegates), Tennessee primary (58 delegates) and Wyoming caucuses (29 delegates).</p>
<p>Romney won Wyoming in his 2008 bid, but Ron Paul has been organizing for its rolling caucuses. Paul is also a major threat in Alaska. But Santorum is contesting Sarah Palin’s home state along with the other six states.</p>
<p>The two-term Pennsylvania senator started this week in Tacoma, Wash. The Pacific Northwest state holds non-binding caucuses on March 3 for 43 delegates. He held two rallies in Idaho on Tuesday, with several thousand attendees in Boise. And he bounced from there to North Dakota, where he held three events Wednesday, including another rally that drew a few thousand people in Fargo. Ron Paul’s campaign also has put a lot of emphasis on the North Dakota caucuses.</p>
<p>By Friday, he’ll be in Ohio, the marquee Super Tuesday battle, and he’ll campaign there on Saturday, as well. By Sunday, he’ll be in Georgia and on Monday he’ll hit Tennessee.</p>
<p>Newt Gingrich is leading in his home state of Georgia, but Santorum is creeping up on him in the polls. Santorum also leads in Ohio and Tennessee. Romney has campaigned in Ohio throughout the campaign and will be back Thursday night before he jets out to Idaho for an event Friday in Boise. Romney plans to return to Ohio for events early next week.</p>
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		<title>Federal and State Attorneys General Reach Settlement with Banks on Foreclosures</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/federal-and-state-attorneys-general-reach-settlement-with-banks-on-foreclosures/</link>
		<comments>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/federal-and-state-attorneys-general-reach-settlement-with-banks-on-foreclosures/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:23:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Attorneys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[banks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Federal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreclosures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[COMMENTARY &#124; As a foreclosure defense attorney, I have spent the last few days processing the Yahoo News report that the top five servicers of mortgages in the country reached a settlement in lawsuits filed against them by the U.S. Justice Department and all 50 States Attorney General. The suits were filed by the AGs [...]]]></description>
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<p><strong>COMMENTARY |</strong> As a foreclosure defense attorney, I have spent the last few days processing the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/states-banks-reach-foreclosure-abuse-settlement-154526465.html" target="">Yahoo News report</a> that the top five servicers of mortgages in the country reached a settlement in lawsuits filed against them by the U.S. Justice Department and all 50 States Attorney General. The suits were filed by the AGs for flaws and fraud in the foreclosure process by these servicers. I have reviewed the story carefully to see if it would help my clients any. The story of this settlement will stay fresh in people&#8217;s minds during this Great Recession that is almost four years old now. Five of the top banks in the country are involved in the settlement; they are Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Ally, Chase, and Citigroup. The total amount of payouts from the bank will total about $  25 billion; the deal must still be approved by the courts to be binding. According to a <a href="http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com/about" target="">website created to discuss the settlement</a>, all states but <a class="link interlink" rel="&amp;content_type=theme&amp;content_type_id=572" href="http://voices.yahoo.com/theme/572/oklahoma.html" title="Oklahoma">Oklahoma</a> are participating. Offended borrowers can still sue their lender or servicer for any action they have a case for. So how will this $  25 billion be used and how much will this help homeowners?</p>
<p>$  1.5 billion of the funds will go to borrowers that have already been foreclosed on. 750,000 borrowers will share these funds meaning that each borrower will get a measly $  2,000 apiece. This seems to me to be a very small price for lenders to improperly foreclose. There are a lot more than 750,000 borrowers who are eligible for this payout and it will take as much as three years for borrowers to be identified for payments.</p>
<p>The 49 states that have participated in this settlement will get $  3.5 billion. However, some of these states, including Missouri and Wisconsin according to the website of <a href="http://foreclosuredefensenationwide.com/" target="">foreclosure defense attorney Jeff Barnes</a>, will use their settlement proceeds to plug holes in their budget deficits and not to help suffering borrowers.</p>
<p>$  3 billion will go to re-finance borrowers who are current in their payments, but owe more than their house is worth, &#8220;underwater.&#8221; The remaining $  17 billion will be used for mortgage modifications, principal reductions, and &#8220;short sales&#8221; where properties will be sold for less than what is owed on the house mortgage. $  20 billion, unfortunately, is a &#8220;drop in the bucket&#8221; to the trillions of dollars of equity that have been lost in this mortgage crisis. It will take months to identify potential borrowers for the programs and as many as three years for modifications to be finalized. This is not going to help my clients that are over two years into foreclosure cases with these lenders. It will not help many borrowers that are just starting foreclosure either. Also, this settlement does not help borrowers who have loans owed by <a class="link interlink" rel="&amp;content_type=topic&amp;content_type_id=21579" href="http://voices.yahoo.com/topic/21579/fannie_mae.html" title="Fannie Mae">Fannie Mae</a> or Freddie Mac. Sadly, the banks have come out ahead again on the homeowner with this settlement. I fear his trend will continue.</p>
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		<title>Teaching The Odyssey</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/teaching-the-odyssey/</link>
		<comments>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/teaching-the-odyssey/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:23:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Odyssey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teaching]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The Odyssey is a spectacular piece by Homer that recounts the trials and tribulations of Odysseus as he makes his way home to his wife, Penelope, after the Trojan War. It takes him twenty years to get home, and he encounters many monsters and vixens on his way, making it a delightful read for students [...]]]></description>
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<p><em>The Odyssey</em> is a spectacular piece by Homer that recounts the trials and tribulations of Odysseus as he makes his way home to his wife, Penelope, after the Trojan War. It takes him twenty years to get home, and he encounters many monsters and vixens on his way, making it a delightful read for students of all ages. Whether they are reading it as a translation or in the original Greek as students of classical languages, or whether they have a toned-down version that is friendly for younger students, they will love the stories from the Cyclops, to Scylla and Charybdis, to Circe, to the suitors begging for Penelope’s hand in marriage. While the story is captivating in and of itself, having the right teaching tools makes all the difference.
<p><strong>Other Books Based on The Odyssey</strong><br />Epic journeys have always been a popular theme in literature, and many of them have been based on <em>The Odyssey</em> without the audience even knowing about it. Using these as teaching tools can help spark interest in students. Perhaps the most popular adaptation of the famous Greek poem is <em>Ulysses</em>by James Joyce. This novel follows Leopold Bloom on an epic, one day long journey through Dublin, Ireland on June 16, 1904. The chapter names are characters in <em>The Odyssey</em>, and each chapter contains a monster-like encounter similar to that of the epic poem. Another popular adaptation of Odysseus’ journey is <em>Cold Mountain</em> by Charles Frazier. This is a Civil War novel, but the epic journey and hero’s quest is very similar to that of <em>The Odyssey</em>. In this novel, W.P. Inman is the Odysseus character, and he is a deserter from the Confederate Army. He is wounded and trying to return to his love, Ada Monroe. This novel has also been made into a film. Among many other adaptations of <em>The Odyssey</em>, there is <em>The Penelopiad</em> by Margaret Atwood. In true, feminist, Atwood fashion, this novel is told from the perspective of Penelope and her maids. It gives a very interesting perspective we do not get from the poem itself.</p>
<p><strong>Possible Projects</strong><br />With higher-level students, a great project would be to pair <em>The Odyssey</em> with one of these other novels and have the students compare the two in some way. They could create a presentation for the class. Each student could take on a different novel, which would give all the students in the class an idea of what these other novels were about. With lower-level classes, the teacher can have the students analyze the hero’s quest and compare it with quests of other heroes in literature. With very young students, an idea for a project would be to create a theme park based on <em>The Odyssey</em>. Divide the students into groups and have each group tackle a specific monster from the epic poem. Each group should come up with a ride that represents the monster, characters that will walk around the park, and menu items for the food court. Once all the groups put their ideas together, you will have a class theme park that represents the entire story.</p>
<p><strong>Illustrations</strong><br />There are many famous illustrations of <em>The Odyssey</em> out there, and a quick internet search will yield many results to study. However, teachers can also have students create their own graphic representations of the poem. This works especially well with students who are artistically talented. They can create these representations and then share them with the class to see if they have similar ideas about what the poem looks like when visualized.</p>
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		<title>Why Brown Hair Isn’t Boring!</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/why-brown-hair-isnt-boring/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:02:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve had brown hair all my life, and unlike other people whose lightens in the sunny months, my almost black locks never change. So with change in mind I set out in my early college&#8217;s years to find the perfect hair color. I&#8217;ve miss stepped with copper highlights gone sour with additional orange red low [...]]]></description>
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<p>I&#8217;ve had brown hair all my life, and unlike other people whose lightens in the sunny months, my almost black locks never change. So with change in mind I set out in my early college&#8217;s years to find the perfect hair color. I&#8217;ve miss stepped with copper highlights gone sour with additional orange red low lights. I&#8217;ve tried jet black and failed with a one toned nightmare. And I had a red fetish in which I box dyed my hair auburn, after six months of this it started looking ginger. At my worst point I had four different shades of blonde, red, and copper. I finally decided, with a sigh of defeat, to go back to my brown roots. What I discovered is that brown wasn&#8217;t a boring color, in fact, when done right brown can be a warm rich color with a plethora of dimension.</p>
<p>What works for me is an ombre color. Ombre is a French word that&#8217;s roughly translated to a gradual fading of color. It&#8217;s a low maintenance color combination of a dark color starting at the roots and then towards the chin it starts to fade into a lighter color. The lighter color is painted on using a balayage technique. Balayage creates a natural looking highlight. For a girl like me who grew up with one dimensional hair, ombre was a miracle.</p>
<p>There are a few celebrities who have flaunted this look; Drew Barrymore and Rachel Bilson have been sporting it for a while now. Their colors are more dramatic with dark brown roots and a dark blonde at the bottom. For a natural approach to ombre try a medium brown base with light brown Balayage ends. My favorite combination ? Medium brown with dark auburn Balayage ends. The auburn color helps to create an edgier look.</p>
<p>For all you women who have shied away from your brown roots because of your need for exciting hair, try ombre! It&#8217;s a great way to spice up brown hair. The two colors blend well and it&#8217;s easy to do by yourself with boxed dye or have done by a professional stylists. It is a color that won&#8217;t disappoint.</p>
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		<title>Relatives toss roses into sea near Italian ship</title>
		<link>http://www.belfastdowntown.com/relatives-toss-roses-into-sea-near-italian-ship/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:02:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mike</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Print E-mail By SIMONE CAMILLI The Associated Press GIGLIO, Italy — Tossing bouquets of red roses into the sea, the relatives of people still missing one month after the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster mourned in a private tribute Monday. Ongoing operations to remove fuel from the half sunken hulk of the luxury ship Costa [...]]]></description>
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<p class="byline">By SIMONE CAMILLI</p>
<p class="organization">The Associated Press</p>
<p>GIGLIO, Italy — Tossing bouquets of red roses into the sea, the relatives of people still missing one month after the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster mourned in a private tribute Monday.</p>
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<p><span class="imageCaption leftFloat">Ongoing operations to remove fuel from the half sunken hulk of the luxury ship Costa Concordia a month after it ran aground are seen outside the port of Isola del Giglio island in Tuscany, Italy, Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Giorgio Fanciulli)</span><br class="clear" />
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<p><span class="imageCaption leftFloat">In this photo released by the Italian Presidency, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, right, attends a memorial service for the victims of the cruise ship that ran aground last month off Tuscany, in Rome, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012. Italy&#8217;s president and top bishop are demanding justice for the victims of the Italian cruise ship that ran aground last month off Tuscany. During a memorial service Sunday for victims, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco thanked the residents of the tiny island of Giglio who opened their doors to the 4,200 passengers and crew who came ashore Jan. 13 after the Costa Concordia capsized. (AP Photo/Antonio Di Gennaro, Italian Presidency)</span><br class="clear" />
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<p>The family members boarded a small boat that took them 50 meters (yards) from the stricken cruise ship, which struck a reef Jan. 13 off the Tuscan coast when its captain made an unauthorized maneuver. Seventeen people died while trying to flee and 15 remain missing and are presumed dead.</p>
<p>The search for the missing was called off after authorities determined it was too risky for the rescue divers.</p>
<p>Among family members at the scene of the tragedy was Susy Albertini, the mother of 5-year-old Dayana Arlotti, who was traveling with her father William, who is also missing. Kevin Rebello, the brother of a missing waiter from India, also attended, as did the families of missing French and German passengers.</p>
<p>The relatives hugged each other as the roses floated on the Mediterranean. Rebello said Monday&#8217;s anniversary was the hardest day yet since the shipwreck.</p>
<p>&#8220;I haven&#8217;t lost hope yet, anything can still happen, a miracle. He may be injured, he may have lost consciousness, anything may have happened. I still have hope, I always have hope, hope is the last thing to die,&#8221; Rebello said. &#8220;I hope I will find him as soon as possible, to bring him home.&#8221;</p>
<p>Dayana Arlotti was on the cruise with her father and his girlfriend, who survived the tragedy. William and Dayana disappeared after they returned to the cabin to get medicine for his severe diabetes, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported. Family members seeking news called his cell phone for days after the tragedy until it stopped ringing on the fifth day.</p>
<p>A statue of the Virgin Mary was retrieved from the ship and donated by the Costa Crociere SpA cruise company that owns the Concordia was placed in the main port church for memorial Mass held later Monday. Along with relatives of the missing, Costa CEO Pier Luigi Foschi attended the service.</p>
<p>&#8220;The feeling that has always been with me during these 30 days and today is sorrow. Sorrow for those who died, for those who are missing,&#8221; said the Rev. Lorenzo Pasquotti.</p>
<p>After weeks of delays due to bad weather, underwater pumping operations began Sunday to remove some of the 500,000 gallons of fuel aboard the ship, which has threatened to turn the human tragedy into an environmental disaster. Crews on Monday emptied the first of 15 tanks that are believed to hold around 84 percent of the fuel on board, Italy&#8217;s civil protection department said.</p>
<p>Officials say it will take 28 consecutive days of pumping to empty the tanks.</p>
<p>There have been no reports so far of heavy fuel leaking into the pristine waters off the tiny island of Giglio, which are part of a protected sanctuary for dolphins, whales and proposes.</p>
<p>The Concordia had 4,200 people on board when it slammed into a reef off Giglio after the captain deviated from the ship&#8217;s planned course in an apparent stunt. Passengers have said the captain then delayed sounding the evacuation alarm until the ship listed so heavily that lifeboats on one side couldn&#8217;t be lowered.</p>
<p>The captain, Francesco Schettino, is under house arrest, accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship before all the passengers had been evacuated.</p>
<p>Italian officials have said it will take seven to ten months after the fuel is pumped out for salvage experts to remove the ship from the shore.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>February 13, 2012 06:56 PM EST</p>
<p>Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</p>
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