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The Patriots released receiver and six-time Pro Bowl selection Chad Ochocinco on Thursday, Fox News reports. Ochocinco, 34, played in 15 games in his only season with the Patriots. he caught one pass in the Super Bowl as New England lost 21-17 to the New York Giants.

"Thoroughly enjoyed the oppurtunity to play for the 'Patriot' organization… fans were f***ing wicked awesome, I wish all of you the best," Ochocinco, a prolific Twitter presence, tweeted. "I'm healthy n living life, I'll be fine," he wrote, and exercised his sense of humor by changing his job profile to "UNEMPLOYED BLACK GUY."

Ochocinco's agent Drew Rosenhaus said he is "in the process of gauging interest from potential teams."

Read more about Chad Ochocinco here:

ENGAGED: Chad Ochocinco and Evelyn Lozada

Chad Ochocinco Booted from 'Dancing'

First tee, Golf and Country Club, Heilloo, Netherlands, 1648:

“Rene – could you hand me my driver please?”

“Why would you want that implement, sir?”

“For to hit the ball my good man – now hurry up there are lieden waiting”

“But it is my job to question. So once again I ask why would you want this all titanium, 9.5 degree loft, driver?”

“Because I’m on the tee, it’s a par 4 and over 300 metres. Now please..”

“But sir, again I ask, why a driver ? “

“Rene, you are a bit of a thicko, aren’t you. let me explain it to you slowly…. If I hit the driver 230 metres I will be 230 metres closer to the hole. I can then hit a wedge, 2 putt and make a par.”

“And where will this be happening?”

“On this hole, the first – if I ever get to it.”

“I mean, where is this happening – philosophically?”

“It’s happening in your mind, isn’t it? You see the next 5 minutes played out in your head – but that’s not reality is it? The mind and body are separate.”

“I get that but I also dreamt somewhere that visualising helps with this. It will be called psycho-cybernetics and In USA a group of schoolchildren will be separated. one group will practice shooting free throws every day. The second group will sit on the bench and imagine themselves shooting free throws. The third group we do nothing and unsurprisingly will be the worse when tested. There will barely any difference between groups 1 and 2.”

“Ah but that’s not for another 300 years. At present we are stuck with this Cartesian anxiety.”

“Oh I see – bit of a joke there. but tell me, oh wise one – what would you suggest?”

“Well, having become familiar with your game over the past few years, which is possible as golf (or kolf) has been played here in the Netherlands for many years, I have yet to see you hit a drive 200 metres in a consistently straight, forward direction.”

“I see. So this philosophical argument is merely a distraction to show me up as a rubbish golfer, or kolfer as we sometimes say here in North Holland.”

“Not entirely I was testing out my method of doubt. It’s my theory on challenging assumptions. I find it useful to assume that everything you believe is put there by a deceitful, omnipotent being who can deceive you in even your most basic assumptions.”

“And what would be my most basic assumptions today?”

“That you want to hit a driver, which assumes you want to hit the ball, which assumes there is a reason for it, which assumes you derive some pleasure from the game, which would lead to a bit of a discussion on pleasure and pain in the future. Incidentally a proponent of this, Jeremy Bentham will be born exactly a 100 years from this day and will take up the challenge by revealing that mankind is governed by pain and pleasure”

“All very well Rene. However there is a crowd of many, many people waiting for us so please just hand me a club.”

“Here’s a 3 iron.”

“You were always going to give me this club weren’t you?”

The 3 iron sails down the fairway. after another prolonged discourse the 8 iron approach shot lands softly on the green and we walk toward it. as I start checking my putt Zeno of Elea walks toward me;

“You know that philosophically, your ball will never reach the hole don’t you?”

“Oh – don’t you start!”

El Pasoan Angel Wicker believes the best job in the world is being a mom.

It “is one of the greatest blessings of my life. I couldn’t imagine doing anything better. and I love my job but it doesn’t compare to being a mom,” said Wicker, executive director of the Pregnancy help Center.

Yet with their youngest child a junior in high school, Wicker and her husband, Tom, knew they would soon be empty-nesters. in the blended family, their other four children are already grown; some live away from home and others are getting married.

“My son would tell me, ‘Mom, I’ll be getting ready to go to college soon,’ ” Wicker said. “And even though I know some of my friends are excited about that phase, I was kind of dreading it.”

Then one day last June, 3-year-old Nevaeh came into their lives.

At first, Wicker and her husband were just baby sitters, a couple willing to help a child in a difficult family situation. Wicker does not want to provide details, out of respect for the child’s mother.

But after the Wickers had spent several weeks caring for the timid and at times withdrawn youngster, Nevaeh’s aunt asked the Wickers a question that would change the course of their lives.

“I cried tears of joy,” Wicker said, when she read a text from the relative asking whether she and her husband wanted to adopt Nevaeh. “I remember it was the Fourth of July and I was unpacking at the center.”

Though the couple had once talked about having another child or adopting, they hadn’t proceeded with it. Tom Wicker had even bought a red Camaro for his wife, knowing she didn’t have to taxi their children anymore.

But it wasn’t a difficult decision. the couple had fallen in love with Nevaeh. and Nevaeh (the name is “heaven” spelled backward) had started to call them “mommy” and “daddy.”

“We didn’t hesitate. it was like an instant connection, like she was always meant for us,” Angel Wicker said. “And she was like a sponge, soaking in all the love and we just poured it out.”

Dede Farmer, a friend of the Wickers for four years, agrees that Nevaeh and her parents are a great match.

“There really was no adjustment period. Nevaeh is the most loving little girl. She calls me auntie and she just wants to give hugs to everybody,” she said. “She always tells Angel she wants to go and hug them.”

The adoption became final Oct. 20, and the happy couple look forward to all things that come with parenting a 4-year-old: meeting teachers on the first day of school, baking cookies together in matching aprons, dancing in the living room.

“I told her she wasn’t born under my heart but she certainly is in my heart,” she said. “She’s been a tremendous blessing for our whole family.”

Nevaeh certainly loves her parents. when asked what she loves about her mommy, she extends her arms out as wide as possible.

She says she loves to “scrapbook and go to the park and dance with mom.”

Of course, the couple still take time to have date nights, and Wicker said she makes sure to give her teenage son his own time.

“We try to keep a real balance and perspective. Nevaeh doesn’t take the place of any of my children, who are all awesome. They all add so much value to being a parent at any of their ages.”

For his part, Tom Wicker agreed that making time for themselves makes them better parents.

“What makes a healthy relationship is taking time for each other, and we’ve always done that. and if parents are healthy, your children are going to be healthy,” he said.

Tom Wicker added that he looks forward to creating new memories with his sixth child.

“We just went to Sea World because we went to marry off a son in San Antonio. and we had a blast there. and we want to go to Cloudcroft to go hiking and have a picnic at White Sands, which are some of the things we used to do,” he said.

Son John Wicker, 17, said he was surprised at first to hear his parents wanted to adopt but knows his parents will be great for his new sister.

“They have raised me in a fantastic way. They helped me by building my relationship between them, but most importantly God. That is key to having a successful family. I believe that my parents’ great relationship will provide an excellent childhood for Nevaeh,” he said.

John added that he is enjoying being a big brother.

“I was the youngest my whole life and being used to the spoiled lifestyle, but having a little sister has been a big change but has also been one of the biggest blessings of my life,” he said. “I am trying to be the best brother I can be for Nevaeh.”

Angel Wicker, who loves to scrapbook, said she can see through photos of her other children how fast time flies. so she plans to cherish every special moment.

“When I think of my other children being 28, 25 and 21 É I wonder, when did that happen?” she said.

She hopes she is wiser and perhaps a bit more patient as a parent in her 40s. She said she and her husband also lost some weight recently so they would have plenty of energy for their child.

Wicker said she’s noticed a few differences since she parented her first children. like most children of her generation, Nevaeh knows how to work an iPhone and iPad. and cartoons these days — well, many of them — are not suited for 4-year-olds.

Wicker is also relishing those mom-and-daughter moments. Nevaeh likes to sit next to Mom while she’s scrapbooking and glue her own photos on paper.

“One day we were at the mall, and she stopped and said, ‘Mom, look at all those pretty shoes,’ and I realized I had someone to go shopping for pretty shoes and purses.”

As with most Mother’s Days, Wicker said she looks forward to spending time with her children. but on this first Mother’s Day with Nevaeh, she wonders what special handmade gift her daughter made at school.

“I have a hope chest with things my kids made when they were little. All those things where they put their handprint is just the best. and I get to do it all over again,” she said.

By the way, Wicker kept the Camaro. so when Nevaeh gets picked up from the school, the two often drive away dancing to the music.

María Cortés González may be reached at mcortes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6150.

Caring for your car is probably the primary tasks that provide car ownership. This specific chore is necessary to avoid eventual damage to the actual vehicle’s look and gratifaction. While, there are countless car care services accessible around you, your car may easily be damaged if you aren’t vigilant about in places you take it to be preserved, cleaned or restored. Being a responsible owner, you want to observe correct car care procedures to make sure that your car continues in top condition.

Features of Proper Car Attention

Proper car proper care may be a painstaking job for most people, but its need is undeniable. Preserving your car well- maintained won’t only ensure the good looks but also of the company’s commendable performance. Cars that are deprived of required car care turn out to be damaged and crash much earlier than those that receive proper care on a regular basis. And when people say Car Care Products, it does not only pinpoint the outer part of the vehicle, but chiefly beneath the hood.

If you want your car to be able to last long in terms of wonderful looks and performance; you’ll want a regular cleaning and maintenance routine to follow. first, your car or truck must be maintained glistening and clean with proper washing and cleaning; and with the use of non- hazardous cleaning goods that are made to enhance, as an alternative to damaging your car. As a result, you need to be cautious in choosing such products as there are those that prove damaging to your car in the long run.

Also, you have to make sure that the engine is in good condition. Scheduling a regular consult your reliable auto service center is really a wise move. Many people may think that this will only cost them big money, but they fail to take into consideration that this might actually give up them from potential more massive fiscal problems once the injury on their car gets to be more extensive. you may make this happen on your own, but remember that car service centres have more effective pieces of equipment in treating your car. you may well be able to perform basic car mechanical works, nevertheless more complex tasks must be left to the experts.

Finally, you have to be hypersensitive enough to be alert to small, yet alarming changes in your autos performance. if you learn to hear noises then you need to check it out. the modifications in your car may possibly mean something simply an expert can tell you what is really wrong. Tend not to wait until your car out of the blue breaks down in the middle of the path.

More information about Car Care Products are available at our web site. Checkout what we have to offer!

“The cold Hard Truth” tested friendships and strained alliances, as the risks of Riley’s new profession were made clear.

After Lacy found the cash in Riley’s freezer in last week’s Client List episode, I expected her to confront her friend right away. Instead, she waited until the AC repairman was in the room. Apparently Lacy’s better at making sideways comments that imply her meaning instead of just coming out with it, but eventually she gets there.

Unfortunately, Riley’s explanation didn’t hold up for long and Lacy came back with a more direct approach. I was a little surprised Lacy’s reaction was so harsh. Riley’s her best friend. I would think Lacy would be more worried for Riley than angry.

I loved the humor of them having to sit through Pretty Woman after the big reveal. Talk about a way to ruin a classic romantic comed. and Lacy’s asking Riley if she’d washed her hands was really cold. no one can get a good dig in like an angry friend.

I was a little surprised by how vehemently Riley defended her job. I did think that Lacy underestimated how difficult it was to pay the bills on her own but Riley seemed to look upon herself more as a therapist than a masseuse giving extras. I think that Riley’s simply enjoying the feeling of being in control of her own life for the first time in her adult life.

But the risks are huge. The cop pulling her over could have gone in such a bad direction. I certainly didn’t believe that he randomly pulled over Riley. He’s targeting the ladies at the spa and this game could become dangerous very quickly. I’m not sure even Georgia’s watchful eye can keep them safe.

On the other hand, Riley’s love life had its own complications as she indulged in a play date. I always thought play dates were just for kids but this one took a distinctly adult turn.

Mark’s a nice, successful guy and he obviously liked Riley, but I still think it’s too soon for her to jump into anything right now. some time on her own might do Riley some good. no matter how sweet and simple Mark says they can keep it, the reality of a relationship never works out that way.

Evan seemed destined to get his heart broken but I don’t think this is the time for him to come clean about his feelings just yet. I know it’s a risk but perhaps it’s smarter for Evan to let Mark be the rebound guy. I could be wrong but I don’t believe that Mark’s the guy for Riley.

The high alert at the spa definitely cut down on the tips for everyone but Selena who figured out a way to encourage her clients to handle things themselves.  I couldn’t help but laugh when she said that. I have a whole new respect for the girl.

Now that Lacy knows, who will be the next person in Riley’s life to learn the truth? Linette? Evan? neither of those will go nearly as well. how long can Riley lead this double life before the truth comes out and what will the consequences be for the girl working The Client List?

15 may 2012 last updated at 19:00 ET Share this page

Ruslan Gritsaylo, 40, speaks to the BBC about how he set up a business taking people on paratrike tours in the skies above Kiev

What makes an entrepreneur? The BBC's Roman Lebed and Tom Santorelli speak to Ruslan Gritsaylo about how he set up a business taking people on paratrike tours in the skies above Kiev.

"my business is to fly," says 40-year-old Kiev resident Ruslan Gritsaylo, who really does look like a man who loves his job.

Every week he takes customers up in the air on his tiny aircraft known as a paratrike.

A cousin of the microlight, paratrikes look like a tricycle tractor with a huge propeller mounted behind, as well as a big parachute which rises into the sky on take-off.

At first sight it may be difficult to believe that this vehicle can make it into the air, but these doubts quickly eat the dust when the vehicle breaks away from the earth.

Piloting in the blood

Mr Gritsaylo is a third generation pilot. his grandfather flew during World War II, and his father was a pilot in the 1970s. he himself flew sports aircraft and was trained as civil aviation pilot.

When the Soviet Union ceased to exist, he realised he could make good money by piloting flights on his own.

"my dear wife Aliona is joking with me: your hobby became a business, and then your business became a hobby. It's all about love," says Mr Gritsaylo.

When he started his business in the 1990s, there was not much competition. There was not enough information about paratrikes – how to construct them or how to fly them safely – so it was a rather dangerous business.

This changed over time as the technology improved, making flights on the micro-vehicles completely safe and civilised, according to Mr Gritsaylo.

"It still can be considered as an extreme sport, but it is more about endorphin then adrenalin," he says.

"It's more about enjoying it rather than being scared of it. The definition of paratrike is one of the safest flying machines ever created by man."

Between the lines of the law

In a country well-known for its love of red tape, securing permits to fly paratrikes proved complicated.

Mr Gritsaylo found that many laws in the aviation sphere contradicted each other, and it was very difficult to properly legalise the business for a small private company.

"There are lots of things, which make no sense.

"For example, people come and ask, show me your papers. I say, what kind of papers? and they say, well your pilot licence.

"I have six pilot licences all over the world, but I don't have Ukrainian, because there is no company legally providing official pilot licences for this kind of ultra-light flying machine," he says.

Mr Gritsaylo's father and grandfather were both pilots

So his biggest problem became his biggest opportunity: because of imperfect legislation his aircraft does not require registration.

Otherwise, he would have had to get 11 different permits, which would have been almost impossible.

"It's a balance between 'yes' and 'no' – it's 'maybe'. and between the borders of this 'maybe', you can do everything. We are between the lines of the law."

Mr Gritsaylo carries several thousand customers every year. They stand in line to fly during weekends.

Ten minutes in the sky costs about $60 (£37) – for Ukraine, that is quite a lot of money, but he spreads his net wide to catch customers by using social media and maintaining his own website.

"I follow the rule of big figures – you make lots of calls, lots of e-mails, lots of people. Lots of money," says Mr Gritsaylo, whose phone rings almost every five minutes.

AirForia euphoria

His clients are made up of a wide range of people – bankers, office managers, artists, actors – and often people buy certificates to fly as gifts for each other.

People get their biggest kick from night-flights, otherwise known as open-space flights.

Ruslan diversifies his revenue by producing videos of the flights and performing at airshows

Mr Gritsaylo likes to call himself The Man who Brings Happiness. he even named his aero club AirForia, a play on euphoria.

He says that after he started taking people up into the sky he needed to diversify his business model, and now he advertises insurance companies and other companies on his parachutes, flying their banners through the skies and performing paratrike tricks during airshows.

"Take a bottle of milk. how can you earn money with a bottle of milk? Advertise it with an airplane! where, when, with whom – these are the questions. But every question has an answer. you have to find the connection between the airplane and something you see around".

Mr Gritsaylo also purchased equipment so he could produce high-quality videos of the flights.

He sets the camera right on the nose of his aircraft and claims that he can take better pictures than helicopters can.

"every year you must make some step forward, because there are lots of people walking behind you. and they are trying to step on your toes. if you don't go forward – they will walk on top of you," says Mr Gritsaylo, with a huge smile on his face.

From Vetstreet's Linda Lombardi: the last thing modern moms need is yet another reason to feel that they're not doing a good enough job.
The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com

Thursday, 10 May 2012, 11:31 am Press Release: Families Commission

9 May 2012

Mothers’ efforts deserverecognition

The Families Commission says Mothers’Day, observed this Sunday, is an opportunity to recognisethe rich contribution of mothers to families and whānauthroughout the country.

Families Commission ChiefExecutive, Paul Curry, says the vast majority of New Zealandmums are doing a great job and the Commission’s researchand knowledge base is testament to the efforts of mothersfrom right across the social spectrum.

Mr Curry says,“We often hear about those families who have failed insome way, but it’s important too to acknowledge andcelebrate those who are getting it right.”

“He says Ihave been particularly moved by accounts throughout ourresearch of mothers, grandmothers, aunties and foster mums,who, in spite of many hurdles, focus on the value andimportance of family and whānau and make a hugecontribution to the success of futuregenerations.”

“in a Families Commission report on teenparenting, our research showed that becoming a parent at ayoung age certainly brings some real challenges, but we alsofound evidence that many young mums found parenthood to be asignificant turning point in their lives. they were findingtheir feet and doing an amazing job. Their own mums andextended family and whānau were often an important part ofthe equation too.”

Mr Curry says, “I’m also inspiredby the accounts of Māori women leaders in our MātiroWhakamua: Looking over the horizon report, which showsthe strength and mana they bring to their work with whānauand as movers and shakers in their own whānau.”

“Thisreport was developed from interviews with ten incrediblewomen who demonstrate that the role of the matriarch is oneto be valued and revered. As role models, influencers andholders of knowledge, some of them have been ‘mum’ tomany more than their immediate offspring.”

He says, “Iencourage you this weekend, to take this time to recognisethe important women in your family or whānau; your mothersand those who have had a role in nurturing you. Of course,the whole family is important, but let this Sunday be allabout Mum.”

For a closer look at our research:• Teenage pregnancy andparenting• Mātiro Whakamua: Looking over thehorizon

The Families Commission is a centre of excellencefor knowledge about family and whānau in New Zealand.

Itgenerates and analyses knowledge about families and whānauto inform and influence policy development, programmemanagement and family service delivery.

Throughindependent and impartial research and evaluation, theFamilies Commission has built an authoritative and robustknowledge base about issues relating to family andwhānau.

Subject specialists are widely knowledgeableabout family and whānau and are available for comment onkey family issues.

An autonomous Crown entity, theCommission was established in 2004 under the FamiliesCommission Act 2003.

Visit us at: www.nzfamilies.org.nz

ENDS

Politics of Tuesday, 8 may 2012

Source: GNA

mr Kwabena Karikari, Hohoe Municipal Officer of the Electoral Commission (EC), on Monday said the 40-day biometric registration exercise ended impressively, despite initial technical hitches in the two constituencies; Hohoe North and South. he said the first three days of the first phase was associated with frequent breakdown of equipment, and registration officials trying to master their job. mr Karikari in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said the fourth phase of the exercise recorded low figures with the first and second phases churning out impressive numbers. he said 179 applicants were challenged throughout the exercise and that the Election Review Committee, comprising representatives of the police, political parties, Ghana Education Service, traditional rulers and the EC would soon meet to evaluate the cases. mr. Karikari said the registration exercise was carried out in 47 and 17 clusters for the Hohoe North and South constituencies respectively. he said the traditional polling stations of 116 and 69 respectively for the two constituencies would be maintained during voter exhibition and actual voting later in the year. he noted that Hohoe Central Mosque and Koloenu E. P. Primary registration centres in Hohoe North and South, recorded the highest figures of 1,764 and 1,261 respectively in the second and first phases respectively. the EC Official however said registration centres at Akpafu-Todzi L/A Junior High and Wobey L/A Primary in the Hohoe North and South constituencies recorded the least numbers of 53 and 244 for the last phase. the two areas registered 21 and 70 applicants on the last day of the registration exercise but had 233 and 169 on the old voter register. the two constituencies have 69,577 and 34,337 voters on the old register. he expects a drop in this figure from the current exercise due to the returns and officials were working assiduously to complete the compilation of records. on a question of the allegation of registration of foreigners, mr Karikari said “that is not the mandate of the EC but the Ghana Police Service,” and commended stakeholders for their comportment, which guaranteed a smooth exercise. meanwhile, mr Kwabena Otuo Acheampong, Hohoe Municipal Crime Officer, told the GNA that though some cases of suspected registration of foreigners were reported, the locus of the reports were not incriminating to warrant arrest.**

The Atheist Experience blog has an interesting post about how Chuck Colson and Prison Fellowship faked the data to make it appear as though taking part in their Christian rehabilitation program had a much higher rate of success in avoiding recidivism than it actually did.

What Colson claimed was that they studied the recidivism rates of prisoners who completed his ministry program and compared them with those who did not. Recidivism means that within a certain amount of time after they were released from prison, they were reincarcerated for committing new crimes. Colson always argued the study demonstrated that those who completed the program experienced a significantly decreased recidivism rate.

What he didn’t tell you is that the standards for “completing” the program dramatically skew the numbers in his favor. a person is only defined as a graduate if they stick with the program for a period of time, then are released from jail, and get a job after their release. in other words, a person who sat in on the ministry classes for the required amount of time, left the program, and then couldn’t find a job, wouldn’t be considered to have completed a program. therefore, if they were arrested later, that would be counted as a win for Colson, because they didn’t do what they what they were supposed to, therefore this proves that failing to “complete” the program was correlated with their arrest.

But this is a total cheat. if you simply removed the ministry from the equation, and only compared prisoners who got a job to those who didn’t get a job, obviously the employed prisoners would be far less likely to go back to jail. They don’t need to steal stuff to get money! so here we have Chuck Colson deliberately excluding the group most likely to go back to jail, and then giving his ministry credit for something that happens after they leave. The study doesn’t even attempt to demonstrate that people who take the program are more likely to get jobs.

In fact, what the study showed when you looked at the raw numbers was that among prisoners who simply entered the program — including both graduates and “dropouts”, the recidivism rates were slightly higher than the control group that wasn’t involved at all. or to put it simply, if the program had not existed at all, it’s possible that fewer of them would have returned to jail.

I’m certainly not surprised by that. Prison Fellowship brought in a lot of money, including a lot of government grants, based on its claim to be effective in turning prison inmates into good, law-abiding citizens.