Netanyahu skeptical of Abbas hint of no return for refugees

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced skepticism on Sunday over an apparent concession from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on a major sticking point in any future peace negotiations.

Comments by Abbas on Thursday that he had no permanent claim on the town of Safed, from which he was driven during a 1948 war, were widely seen as hinting he was dropping a demand for a right of return of Palestinian refugees to homes now in Israel.

"I watched President Abbas's interview at the weekend, and I heard that since then he has already managed to recant," Netanyahu told his cabinet, urging Abbas to return to direct peace negotiations, suspended since 2010, to clarify his positions.

Abbas's remarks, to Israeli Channel 2 TV, were also interpreted by some commentators as an attempt to soften his defiance of Israel and the United States over his plans to ask the U.N. General Assembly to upgrade the Palestinians to a non-member state.

Touching on the refugee question - one of the most emotional issues for Palestinians in their dispute with Israel - Abbas said: "I visited Safed before, once. But I want to see Safed. It's my right to see it, but not live there."

But on Saturday, Abbas appeared to pull back from his comments, telling Egypt's al-Hayat television in Arabic: "Speaking about Safed was a personal position and it did not mean conceding the right of return."

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is considering whether to challenge Netanyahu in a January 22 election, said that in his own peace talks with Abbas, the Palestinian side had made clear it had no intention of changing the demographic character of the Jewish state through a mass return of refugees.

At those U.S.-backed negotiations held between 2006 and 2009, which failed to clinch a land-for-peace deal, the possibility that Israel would allow a few thousand refugees to return on humanitarian grounds was raised, Olmert added, in a written statement.

Tzipi Livni, a former foreign minister who oversaw talks with Abbas under Olmert's stewardship, accused Netanyahu of failing to "embrace" what she saw as a possible peace overture on Abbas' part. She accused Netanyahu's government of making Israel "a country where peace has become a dirty word".

Abbas has been refusing to resume peace talks with Israel unless it halts settlement building in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, construction that Palestinians say will deny them a viable state. He has, however, promised to return to negotiations immediately after the U.N. status upgrade vote.

PERES PRAISE

Washington also wants Israel to halt settlement building, but backs its call for Abbas to return to talks rather than seek statehood at the United Nations first. Abbas could face punitive U.S. and Israeli sanctions if, as expected, he wins U.N. approval for the unilateral move.

Israeli President Shimon Peres, a Nobel Peace laureate who has little influence on the policies of Netanyahu's right-wing government, swiftly praised Abbas over his Channel 2 interview.

"(His) courageous words prove that Israel has a real partner for peace," Peres said in a statement.

In the Gaza Strip, seized by Hamas Islamists from Abbas's Fatah group in 2007, thousands rallied against the Palestinian leader. Hamas said no one can "cede the right of return" or "a single tract of the land of Palestine".

Palestinians have demanded that as many as five million of their compatriots - original war refugees and their descendants - be granted the right of return to towns and villages that became part of Israel after its founding in 1948.

Israel, saying an influx of refugees would eliminate its Jewish majority, has proposed they be resettled in a future Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, territories it occupied in a 1967 war.

Addressing his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said Abbas should re-engage without preconditions.

"Peace can be advanced only around the negotiating table, and not through unilateral resolutions at the U.N. General Assembly, which will only put peace further away and bring about instability," Netanyahu said.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, whose far-right Yisrael Beitenu party is running jointly with Netanyahu's Likud in an election which opinion polls show the prime minister will win, said Abbas "can no longer deliver the goods" since he lost Gaza to Hamas.

(Editing by Stephen Powell)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-skeptical-abbas-hint-no-return-refugees-173417362.html

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Skins launches legal claim against UCI chiefs for two million US ...

Three days after the journalist Paul Kimmage announced that he had lodgd a criminal complaint against Pat McQuaid and Hein Verbruggen, the current and former presidents of the UCI, the clothing company Skins has revealed that it too is launching legal action.

Last month its chairman Jaimie Fuller wrote an open letter to McQuaid complaining about the UCI?s relationship with Lance Armstrong, its acceptance of donations from him, its handling of the USADA case and its general anti-doping work.

?The Lance Armstrong scandal has exposed the sport to an embarrassing level of global disrepute. In short, world cycling is a mess and as President of the UCI, you and those of your colleagues charged with its executive management, must act now to restore confidence in world cycling or withdraw from office.?

He said that Skins and other companies had invested ?considerable amounts of time and money? into the sport and that they had been left exposed by how the sport had been run.

Two weeks later, the company has moved into action and sent a legal demand via the attorney C?dric Aguet, who is also representing Kimmage.

It points out that it has been an official supplier and sponsor of national federations since 2008, namely Cycling Australia, BikeNZ, USA Cycling, as well as the professional teams Rabobank, Europcar, NetApp, Telekom and Highroad. It also stated that it sponsors numerous UCI-sanctioned athletes.

?As a supplier and a sponsor, SKINS is particularly concerned by its brand image and since it strongly believes in the true spirit of competition, it is firmly against doping,? Aguet writes on behalf of Skins.

?When it decided to invest in cycling not only as a sponsor but also in extending its product range through massive investments in R&D, SKINS was under the illusion that professional cycling had been fundamentally reformed to contain doping and to minimise the risks of scandals with which the brand of any sponsor could be associated.

?It has now been proven that these legitimate expectations have been betrayed on the grounds you are aware of, which the press published at large. It has also been proven that the way the UCI, Henricus Verbruggen respectively Patrick McQuaid have organised the fight against doping, have communicated in that field and have then dealt with the case of Lance Armstrong is the main cause for the total loss of confidence in professional cycling by the public, which harms SKINS, as well as any other sponsor or supplier.?

Aguet said that because of those ?acts and omissions,? Skins has suffered prejudice, and that the costs of this exceed $2 million US. He said that the company now plans to recover this sum through the courts, unless a settlement is agreed.

The news ramps up the pressure on McQuaid and Verbruggen, particularly as they are being sued as individuals rather than as part of the UCI.

Skins chairman critical of inaction:

In an open letter printed today in connection with the court action, Fuller explained the company?s position and blasted the UCI duo.

?The recent report from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) which blew the lid off Lance Armstrong?s systematic control of widespread doping, proved that the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and its two leading figures, President Pat McQuaid and Honorary President For Life, Hein Verbruggen, have failed to eradicate cheating within the sport,? he wrote. ?In fact, Mr. McQuaid and Mr. Verbruggen refused to even acknowledge that the problem was so entrenched until USADA forced them into submission.

?In short, we say that the UCI, Mr. McQuaid and Mr. Verbruggen have failed us, the sport and the public who love cycling. We also believe the USADA revelations of widespread doping activity have raised wider, cultural issues within the UCI relating to an apparent inability to rid the sport of doping over an extended period of time.?

He said that Skins? investment had been damaged and, in addition to that, that the company?s trust in those at the top has been ?crushed.?

McQuaid has said repeatedly that he doesn?t accept the UCI has any responsibility for what happened with Armstrong and the US Postal Service team, which ran a massive systematic doping programme which enabled it to win seven Tours de France.

He has resisted all calls for his resignation, saying that the UCI has worked hard on anti-doping.

The UCI recently said that it would allow an independent review, and that it hoped it would be concluded by June of next year. It is yet to reveal how that independent commission will be put together.

WADA?s director general David Howman told VeloNation this week that he would welcome the chance for WADA to be involved.

However Fuller states that the announcement of such a review doesn?t give him confidence. ?The UCI has announced that it is will invite an independent commission to investigate cycling?s obvious problems but the fact that it took another organisation?s report to force them into action (and greatly delayed action) is a disgraceful reflection of incompetence at best,? he wrote.

?It fills me with absolutely no confidence that the UCI is either capable of leading global rehabilitation or commissioning a suitably independent and unrestricted group to conduct the forensic enquiry the sport crucially requires. Those at the top have presided over the mess, so how can they possibly be given the responsibility of commissioning and overseeing its review??

He concluded that he sees no way for the duo to continue to lead the sport forward. ?The unequivocal overhaul of cycling can only be achieved by a credible and capable governing body. In serving this action, Skins? is also serving notice that the UCI is not currently the organisation that cycling needs it to be. For the last 22 years, there have been 2 people at the head of this organisation and we allege that they are directly responsible for the culture of denial within the UCI. It?s past time for change.?

Skins' Letter of Demand:

By fax and registered post:

Union Cycliste International

By registered post:

Patrick McQuaid

Henricus Verbruggen

Lausanne, 2 November 2012

CA / gv

Skins International Trading Ag vs. Union Cycliste Internationale, Patrick McQuaid and Henricus Verbruggen

Dear Sirs,

I inform you that I represent and defend Skins International Trading AG (hereinafter referred to as "SKINS"), which elects domicile in my Law Firm. A copy of the power of attorney in my favour is attached hereto.

As you know, SKINS has been an official supplier and a sponsor of national federations and professional cycling teams since 2008, among which Cycling Australia, BikeNZ, USA Cycling, Rabobank Professional Cycling Team, Team Europcar, Team NetApp, Team Telekom and professional teams managed by Highroad Sports. In addition, SKINS sponsors numerous individual athletes sanctioned by the UCI.

As a supplier and a sponsor, SKINS is particularly concerned by its brand image and since it strongly believes in the true spirit of competition, it is firmly against doping.

When it decided to invest in cycling not only as a sponsor but also in extending its product range through massive investments in R&D, SKINS was under the illusion that professional cycling had been fundamentally reformed to contain doping and to minimise the risks of scandals with which the brand of any sponsor could be associated.

It has now been proven that these legitimate expectations have been betrayed on the grounds you are aware of, which the press published at large. It has also been proven that the way the UCI, Henricus Verbruggen respectively Patrick McQuaid have organised the fight against doping, have communicated in that field and have then dealt with the case of Lance Armstrong is the main cause for the total loss of confidence in professional cycling by the public, which harms SKINS, as well as any other sponsor or supplier. Therefore, the acts and omissions by the UCI, Henricus Verbruggen respectively Patrick McQuaid have caused the prejudice SKINS now suffers, which prejudice exceeds the amount of USD 2,000,000, sum which the latter intends to recover through the Courts.

Before proceeding, I would be thankful if you could let me know by return of mail if a settlement could be envisioned.

While expecting your news,

I remain

Yours sincerely,

C?dric Aguet, att.

Today's open letter by Jaimie Fuller, Skins chairman:

Source: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13217/Skins-launches-legal-claim-against-UCI-chiefs-for-two-million-US-dollars.aspx

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Camden town official dies when tree falls on him - Bangor Daily News

CAMDEN, Maine ? The accidental death Sunday of the director of Camden Parks and Recreation has hit many folks in the midcoast community hard, according to those who knew the avid outdoorsman.

Jeffrey Kuller, 56, died when a tree that he had been working on fell on him at about noon at his LeGrand Drive home, according to police.

?It?s really sad ? everyone is in shock throughout the community,? said Pat Finnigan, Camden Town Manager. ?Jeff was just a wonderful colleague. His passing leaves a big hole in our hearts.?

Officers from the Camden Police Department and first responders from Camden First Aid went to Kuller?s residence after receiving a 911 call. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kuller, a native of St. Paul, Minn., had worked for Camden since 2004. One of his duties was to serve as the general manager of the Camden Snow Bowl and the Ragged Mountain Recreation Area ? a task he undertook with both passion and patience, according to co-workers.

Brian Robinson of Camden has been a volunteer member of the mountain?s ski patrol since 2006 and also has served on the Camden Parks & Recreation Committee.

?He was an amazing organizer and had the ability to attract people to his vision that Ragged Mountain Recreation had something for everybody throughout the entire year,? Robinson said of Kuller. ?Whether it?s dog walking or snowshoeing or tubing, ice skating, hiking or mountain biking, his vision was a 12-month accessible facility.?

Robinson said that Kuller, who also was a personal friend, was a thoughtful and considerate leader.

?He was very much a bridge builder when there were conflicts,? he said. ?He was great at listening to everybody?s concerns and coming up with common-sense approaches that preserved and protected the resource for everyone in a way that brought people together.?

Before coming to Camden, Kuller worked for several years as executive director of a community sailing program in East Boston, Finnigan said. In Camden, he was very involved with the popular U.S. National Toboggan Championships, held annually at the town-owned ski facility. Finnigan said that he worked hard to get everyone ? including children and people with disabilities ? outside and, hopefully, on the mountain.

?Jeff was so passionate about having an active lifestyle and being outdoors, he wanted to share that with everybody,? she said.

He has been instrumental in the active campaign to raise $4.5 million to redevelop the Ragged Mountain Recreation Area.

?We just passed the $3 million mark,? Finnigan said. ?Jeff was so excited, because the end was in sight. He was absolutely the moving force.?

Robinson said that Kuller?s dedication to his job was such that friends would often try to drag him out of the office so that he could get outside and on his telemark skis ? one of his favorite things to do.

?It was difficult to get him away, and he absolutely loved it. Cherished it,? he said of skiing with Kuller. ?I had fond memories of skiing through the glades with him.?

Kuller is survived by his wife, Alison, and two children, Finnigan said.

His death will reverberate far beyond Camden, according to Robinson.

?It?s obviously an incredibly tragic loss ? not only for Alison and his family and friends, not just for the community of Camden, but for the area,? he said. ?The whole midcoast area will feel the impact.?

Source: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/05/news/midcoast/camden-town-official-dies-when-tree-falls-on-him/

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PST: Juventus' strange, remarkable run

Juventus went 49 Serie A games without a loss, but when they finally fell 3-1 to Internazionale yesterday, the reaction was less shock than confirmation, the feeling that an inevitability had come. Inter were clearly the better side ? an advantage they needed after a wrongly allowed goal put them down one after 18 seconds ? though they weren?t the first team to outplay Juventus over the league 18 months. That they were the first to beat them in league made the preceding 49 games all the more confusing.

?We came back out for the second-half with so much anger after the offside goal,?¹ Inter striker Diego Milito admitted afterward, the Argentine having taken his customary place in the big stage?s spotlight. His two goals had Inter up in by the 75th minute, with Rodrigo Palacio?s late insurance handing Juve their first loss at Juventus Stadium.

?We are still proud of these lads, who didn?t lose for 49 games,? Juve general manager Guiseppe Marotta said. [N]ow we must look forward.?²

?The Nerazzurri will compete at the top right until the end. We accept this defeat and we?re not going to make any bones about it.

For some, it was a surprising moment of humility. In the days before the game, Marotta made the mistake of publicly chiding Inter?s preparation, his glib derision catching the Nerazzurri?s attention.

?I was annoyed by what Mr. Marotta said before the game,? Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni conceded after ending Juve?s run. ?He made a sarcastic remark about our blithe approach. We work hard and you could see that.?³

The team?s formation symbolized that preparation. Stramaccioni took advantage of Juve?s two-forward approach by going three at the back, an approach they?ve used a various times this season, the team using both 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 formations. Surprisingly, Stramaccioni chose the more audacious approach on Saturday, Inter?s 3-4-3 seeking to pressure Juve high while taking advantage of the Old Lady?s lack of a top finisher.

Though Inter relinquished their clean sheet early, Juventus was held at bay for the next 90 minutes, a testament to both the Nerazzurri?s preparations and Juve?s lack of punch.

?We weren?t used to losing anymore, even if we played well,?⁴ captain Gianluigi Buffon said after the game, Juventus conceding three goals in league for the first time since last November. eventually noting another issue with Juve?s attitude. They?d never conceded three in their new home.

Buffon went on to note another issue which, like Marotta?s ill-advised criticisms, hints Juve took Inter for granted.

?I did not like our attitude after we went 1-0 up. I don?t understand why we sat there waiting for them outside our own box, we were far too carefree.?

Passivity is not a new problem for Juventus, a team whose 49-match unbeaten streak defied their approach. This year?s Champions League has highlighted the problem, the Old Lady sitting on a disappointing three points after as many matches. The team too often relies on opportunism in lieu of control, and while their streak shows the approach can be successful, it frequently leaves your success in the hands of your opponents.

The approach also leaves the team content to sit on a lead, an attitude that would have been difficult to maintain last year had Inter, Milan, and Napoli (thanks to their Champions League commitment) not all, simultaneously taken a step back. Udinese had sold Alexis Sanchez. Fiorentina was in disarray. As with all remarkable results, Juve?s streak required remarkable circumstances.

?In my view, we could?ve dealt with the game differently,? Buffon continued, ?but after 15 minutes we just left the initiative to them.?

?Was our attack light,? Moratta asked, rhetorically, after the game. ?Yes, maybe with a more clinical striker we might?ve had a different result.?⁵

The remark understates the difference between the sides. With better finishing, Juventus may have scored another goal, but they still wouldn?t have had an answer for Milito.

Coming into the game, Inter?s focal point had 113 goals in his 191 Serie A appearances, yet he?d never scored from open play against Juventus. He?d converted from the spot during his time with Genoa, and in the 59th minute, Milito did the same on Saturday, equalizing after a penalty on Claudio Marchisio.

Sixteen minutes later, Milito finally had his open play goal, putting home a rebound of a Fredy Guarin blast to give Inter the lead. With Palacio?s late goal, Inter had their 3-1 win, giving Andrea Stramaccioni the biggest victory of his young career.

?Is this the best day of my career? The best day of my career was when the president chose me to coach Inter,? the 36-year-old modestly explained after the victory, preferring to keep the focus on the club rather than himself. ?I?m proud to be the Inter coach and I?m happy for our fans who can enjoy this win.?⁶

Stramaccioni?s appointment was almost a last resort in spring, with Inter having already gone through two coaches after Leonardo?s departure to Paris Saint-Germain. Gian Piero Gasperini was dismissed almost immediately after the 2011-12 season started. Claudio Ranieri failed to engineer the same turnout he?d brought to Roma. When he was dismissed in March, Stramaccioni was promoted from the team?s Primavera side, becoming Inter?s fifth coach since Jos? Mourinho left after the team?s 2010-11 league, cup, Europe triumph.

?Stramaccioni doesn?t need to be compared to Mourinho,? Inter president Massimo Moratti explained. ?He?s just good. He?s surprising.?⁷

The surprises mean Inter has adjusted their goals.

?I?m happy because what seemed to be a transition season is now starting to look interesting,? Moratti said, with caution. ?[Let's] wait a bit before talking up our title challenge.?

Moratti doesn?t have a choice. Eleven rounds into the season, Inter sits second, one point back of Juventus. After a win in Turin, the Italian press is sure to see Inter as a contender, and with good cause. On talent, they have the means to compete with Juventus and Napoli. If Stramaccioni proves to have move tricks up his sleeve, Inter is as capable of claiming the Scudetto as the league?s other two title hopefuls.

It?s an assessment that only underscores the strange nature of Juventus?s streak. One loss after a 49-game unbeaten run would normally be seen as a blip. Not so in this case. While that feeling could come from the strength of their opponents or the sense that all good things must come to an end, it?s more likely a reflects a more general feeling about Juve?s quality. Though their title earned them respect, there was always wonder at how a team could go from out of Europe to unbeatable ? from redesign to reign in one summer.

That wonder was a euphemistic one. Nobody felt Juventus unbeatable, an attitude reflected in how Napoli beat them in last year?s Coppa Italia final. Inter was similarly aggressive on Saturday, and in doing so, they may have affirmed a blueprint for dealing with the Bianconeri.

Mid-way through last season, Napoli was similarly found out, Juventus helping to uncover an antidote Walter Mazzarri?s 3-5-2. Now it?s Juve?s turn to adapt, even if their adjustment will be more mental than tactical. Though Stramaccioni?s innovations trickled into his formation, the real epiphany in attidute. Like Napoli in the Coppa final, Inter proved you can go after Juventus.

---

1 ? http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2012/11/04/3502194/milito-anger-at-offside-goal-motivated-inter-comeback
2 ? http://www.espnstar.com/football/serie-a/news/detail/item885085/Inter-driven-by-Marotta-comments/
3 ? http://english.gazzetta.it/Football/03-11-2012/strama-a-sign-of-our-strength-now-juve-should-show-us-respect-913112705397.shtml
4 ? http://www.football-italia.net/26879/buffon-slams-juve-attitude
5 ? http://www.soccerway.com/news/2012/November/04/marotta-rues-lack-of-marksman/
6 ? http://www.espnstar.com/football/serie-a/news/detail/item884902/Moratti:-Stramaccioni-is-just-good/
7 ? http://www.espnstar.com/football/serie-a/news/detail/item884902/Moratti:-Stramaccioni-is-just-good/

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/04/juventus-loses-inter-milan-49-match-unbeaten-run-serie-a/related/

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Week 31 ? Hats on Hold ? Bump is taking over ? Millinery And ...

?

Taking over in every way imaginable.

My Body is no longer my own ? it?s being shared with an active wriggly thing that just keeps growing with no regard for my bladder.My brain, as mentioned in an earlier post, will not focus on anything else except the arrival of wriggly thing in the New Year.My house is slowly becoming a family home and my Calendar is full with NCT classes, Doctors and Mid Wife appointments not to mention weekend shopping trips for buggies with my handsome husband.

Last week a lot of progress was made? in terms of getting ready for Bump.

It was the Baby Show at Earls court http://www.thebabyshow.co.uk. The Baby Show is well worth a visit. I came away with really big saving on a large part of my shopping list, ?and the ticket was just ?16 with a coupon my Mother in Law cut from the newspaper. What?s more it gave me the opportunity to see just about every imaginable make and model of buggy under one roof. So, today I dragged my husband to Oxford Street to view the short list and we bought the buggy. The Bugaboo Bee won out.?http://www.mamasandpapas.com/bugaboo-bee/ It seems it is by far the best option for the urban Mummy, luckily Mama?s and Papas price match so it wasn?t quite as painfully expensive as it could have been, and they are holding it for us until Mid December.

I got very excited about baby furniture too. After a lot of time looking at the many options on offer we settled on the Oak Hill set from Lollipop Lane http://www.lollipoplane.co.uk/uk/furniture/new-oakhill/oakhill-three-piece-room-set-1.html . It?s little wardrobe fits perfectly in the alcove in our room and it?s insides (drawer, shelves and hanging space) are really practical. Plus it was on offer last week,? and it is so cute!!. It came flat packed on 24hr delivery and I have already put together the wardrobe and began filling it was my purchases from the baby show.? At 7 months pregnant I did have to recruit my husbands muscle power but the instructions are fairly easy to follow and it feels really sturdy. The ?wood? finish is also really good ? easily as nice as more expensive brands such as silver cross.

In slightly more controversial baby news I had my whooping-cough and Flu jabs. It was a mistake to have them one in each arm on the same day. I was left with two sore arms, which made getting a comfortable nights sleep impossible. I did a little research before having my jabs? http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/whooping-cough-vaccination-pregnant.aspx To be honest I am surprised by comments from other Mums to be on the NHS website.? A number of ladies are worried by the advice to have the jabs, given that full clinical trails have not taken place on pregnant women. Here?s my opinion. Whooping cough kills around 1 in 20 infected babies ( this year 225 babies have caught whooping-cough and 10 have passed away) , infection can come from the most unexpected places, so it?s not realistic to protect our babies from this very real risk without the vaccine. ?From the studies that have taken place there is no evidence that the vaccine carries any risk, yet the risk from whooping-cough is deadly and proven. I am glad the NHS has given us the option to have the vaccine.

To finish on a lighter note . No/very little progress was made on my hats. I spoke to an interesting woman from http://www.mumsclub.co.uk at the baby show but that was about it. ?I really need to push on with designing Spring Summer, and start phase 2 of the marketing. If baby is taking up this much time now ? what is it going to be like when she?s born??

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Source: http://saravandenbon.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/week-31-hats-on-hold-bump-is-taking-over/

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Wellness Project Month 6: Spirituality | Simply Enough

Photo by Gabriella Fabbri at RGBStock.

New here? Learn about my?wellness project, a year-long wellness experiment.

In preparation for this blog post, I have been pondering what spirituality means to me.

What is it that makes my spirit well?

What activities make me feel more connected to my purpose (why I exist), my vocation, and generally lift my spirits?

Here are a few thoughts on this and my resolutions for Spirituality Month:

Making Music

The top activity that consistently lifts my spirit is making music. It might be playing the piano, singing alone or with others, playing the guitar, or even the violin.

I can think of a few reasons for this:

• I am experiencing flow.
• I feel connected to God/Creator.
• I?m away from the computer.
• It?s fun!

Resolution #1: Make Music Every Day

During Spirituality Month, I will aim to make music every day. (This should make my guitar teacher happy!)

Self-Improvement

I suppose this entire project is self-improvement in one way or another. However, in this context, I am thinking specifically about self-improvement in the sense that it makes me a better person, and helps me better connect with God and people around me.

I am a big fan of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I?ve read the book several times and picked it up again today. I thought it might be interesting to focus on one of the agreements each week this month. They are:

• Be impeccable with your word.
• Don?t take anything personally.
• Don?t make assumptions.
• Always do your best.

Resolution #2: Practice The Four Agreements

Each week of Spirituality Month, I will make an effort to practice one of the four agreements.

Cultivating My Vocation

The ?spirituality dimension? in traditional wellness literature is focused on how one ?seeks meaning and purpose in human?existence.?

It?s answering the question: Why am I here? What is my purpose?

I feel a sense of purpose when I am able to inspire others? To live simply. To be organized. To manage time well. To be healthy. To be in the moment. To do what they love!

One of my best platforms for inspiring others is this blog. I love getting feedback that a post I wrote actually moved somebody to make a positive change. Or maybe they just enjoyed reading my musings on a given topic.

I think everybody needs to feel like they?re making a positive impact in the world to have a true sense of purpose.

Resolution #3: Write Inspiring Content on Blog

This month, I will focus on writing inspiring content on this blog ? at least twice per week.

Over to You!

How do you nurture your spiritual wellness?

If you liked what you read, please share it with your friends.

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Source: http://livesimplyenough.com/life/wellness-project-month-6-spirituality/

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2 plead guilty in beheading plot | CharlotteObserver.com

RALEIGH Two Triangle residents pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring with an imprisoned North Carolina man to murder and behead witnesses who testified against him in a terror case.

Shkumbin Sherifi, 22, the brother of the prisoner, who prosecutors contend orchestrated the revenge plot, and Nevine Aly Elshiekh, 47, a special education teacher, entered their pleas several days before a trial on the murder-for-hire case is set to begin.

Hysen Sherifi, a native of Kosovo, was sentenced earlier this year to 45 years in prison for conspiring to wage terror overseas and at home. He is set to stand trial Monday in federal court in Raleigh on accusations that he directed a murder-for-hire plot against the witnesses.

The charges arose in similar fashion to those lodged against Hysen Sherifi and seven other Triangle men. The eight were accused of being part of a homegrown terror cell that plotted to maim and kill people overseas and in this country.

The accusations in both cases are based on investigations using confidential informants.

Federal prosecutors contend that Hysen Sherifi worked with his brother and Elshiekh to have the witnesses against him beheaded and pictures taken of the corpses to prove the deaths.

Elshiekh, who attended the terror trial last October in federal court in New Bern, is accused of transporting notes, photos and money from Hysen Sherifi and Sherifi?s brother in order to advance the revenge plan. Federal investigators said they became aware of Hysen Sherifi?s alleged desire for revenge through a confidential informant.

The informant, who according to court documents had worked with FBI agents on other cases, said he had heard talk about an inmate looking for a ?hit man? while he was in New Hanover County jail, where Sherifi also was being held.

Court documents show that agents arranged a sting operation using an individual who posed as a representative of a hit man. Prosecutors contend that Elshiekh and Shkumbin Sherifi gave $5,000 to the representative on two different days for one of the hits.

The plea hearing Thursday was presided over by Senior U.S. District Judge Earl Britt. Neither the defense team nor prosecutors provided many details of the case.

Elshiekh, who was director of the special education program at Sterling Montessori Academy and Charter School in Morrisville before her arrest, answered a series of questions from the judge during the brief hearing.

Her parents sat in the courtroom gallery with her sister. The crime to which she pleaded guilty, conspiracy to commit murder for hire, carries a possible 10-year sentence.

Shkumbin Sherifi faces the same possible sentence as part of a plea arrangement that could put him in the position of testifying against his brother.

?Obviously, this is his brother, and this is a difficult time for Shkumbin, but he is ready to step forward and take responsibility for his actions,? said James Payne, the defense lawyer from Shallotte representing the younger Sherifi.

As part of a plea arrangement, the two agreed to testify truthfully at trial in exchange for dismissal of other charges lodged against them in connection to the case.

Britt set sentencing hearings for February, leaving open the possibility that the plea agreement can be abandoned if aspects of it are not upheld.

Elshiekh and her lawyer declined to comment. She will remain free on bond pending sentencing. Shkumbin Sherifi earlier was deemed a flight risk by a federal judge and will remain in custody.

Source: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/02/3637587/two-plead-guilty-in-murder-for.html

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