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It's Like This & Like That/
Eli T. Evans
There are two Pauls. One is unaffected, straightforward and sincere. Avoiding literary flourish, he speaks plainly in exhortations, admonishments and personal sentiments. This is the Paul we meet in 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Philemon and Philippians. The other Paul is a poet and a philosopher who uses his vivid imagination and rhetorical skill to teach doctrine and correct error. And he loves a good metaphor.
A metaphor is a compact way to draw an analogy between two things. By saying this is that, associations, connotations and contexts belonging to that are imputed this. When I call my wife "my heart," I am telling a literal falsehood in order to express a greater truth. My wife is many things, but she is not a blood-pumping muscle in my chest. Rather, I mean that like my heart, she is a vital, indispensable part of my life. Likewise, when Paul says that he "feeds" his fellow saints either "milk" or "solid food" (1 Cor 3:1–2), what he says is not true literally, but literarily.
Galatians 3:15–4:7 is a metaphorical tour de force, stringing together image after image in support of Paul's overarching point. He begins with a "human example" (3:15 ESV), 1 an explicit cue that he is now arguing and teaching by analogy. Later in the book, he says plainly that he is using the "allegory" of Sarah and Hagar to teach about the Law and grace (4:22 forward).
Here's his "human example": If the Law of Moses and the earlier promises to Abraham are covenants, then (by analogy) the Law of Moses does not void the earlier commitment (3:15–20). Neither does the coming of Christ. As Jesus says, his advent fulfills the former Law (Matt 5:17–18).
Paul then switches to a prison metaphor: Scripture "imprisoned" everything under sin, and we were "held captive" by the Law of Moses until Christ came to release us (3:21–23). In just a few words, the imagination is aroused with thoughts of law, jails, criminals and justice. (Paul develops this metaphor at length in Rom 2–4.)
In Galatians 3:24, Paul smoothly transitions the law from guard to guardian (παιδαγωγὸς, paidagōgos; "a child's supervisor"). Believers are no longer prisoners of the law, but children under its strict management (3:26). It's a subtle distinction, but it serves as a launching point into a complex of metaphors:
Unbelievers as slaves. Paul says they are enslaved either to the "elemental" spirits (Gal 4:3, 9), to sin (Rom 6:16, 20), or to God's righteousness (Rom 6:16, 18). In the New Testament world, a "slave" (δοῦλος, doulos) was anyone legally prohibited from exercising his own will by his own authority; rather, he did his master's will. Slaves might be captured, bought or born. Some sold themselves into slavery to pay off debts they could not pay otherwise. Some were slaves for their lifetime, and some were held only for a set term, or until a set amount of money was paid off through labor. But no matter how a slave got there, the result was the same: A slave was not free to act on his own.
Christ's sacrifice as ransom. A slave could be purchased and then freed, or his debt could be paid off. Either way, the point is that Christ's sacrifice is the payment (Gal 4:5; compare 1 Pet 1:18–19).
Read all of Galatians and highlight any figurative language you find. (Hint: Look for comparisons, analogies, and the words "like" and "as.") Are your highlights clustered together, or spread evenly throughout? What do you think the highlighted sections indicate about Paul's argument and teaching method?
Salvation as adoption. It was probably rare, but legally possible for a slave to be bought and then adopted into the family. Here, Paul says as much: "In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith" (Gal 3:26; compare Rom 8:15, 23; and John 1:12).
Believers as heirs. Adopted children have a legal right to share in the inheritance of their adoptive families. "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God" (Gal 4:7). The promise of final glory and eternal life are the legal inheritance of believers, as sons of God and co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17; Gal 3:29).
The law as guardian. Young children were not trusted to exercise rights and privilege beyond their ability (remember the Prodigal son?), but were set under managers. Likewise, humanity is managed by the law until it is of age (Gal 3:24–25; 4:1–2), and until "the date set by [the] father" (Gal 4:2).
The Holy Spirit as pledge. The Spirit is (among other things) a token of the Father's goodwill toward His children. It expresses His intention to distribute their full inheritance (Gal 4:6; Rom 8:14–16).
In Galatians 3–4, Paul employs powerful metaphors. With a few select words, he paints a vivid image that encourages us to imagine an inconceivable situation: Slaves—owned by sin and wickedness, toiling under a debt (to the king, and his just law) that they can never repay—are ransomed by the death of the king's only and beloved son. As if this act of mercy weren't incredible enough, rather than being enslaved by their new owner, they are adopted into the royal family and counted as legitimate heirs.
Pick up Figures of Speech Used in the Bible at Logos.com/Speech
Article courtesy of Bible Study Magazine published by Faithlife Corporation. Originally published in print, Vol. 2 No. 6
1. All biblical references are from the English Standard Version (ESV).↩


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The Truth About "Nutrients" that are in Supplements and Meal Replacements Drinks/
By Paul Scicluna
I had a friend contact me recently to find out my thoughts on a particular brand of supplement she was thinking of taking. I'm glad she contacted me - it's spurred me on to write this blog, and open people's eyes to some of the elements, additives and flavors in supplements that will shock and surprise you. Plus, it will expose some of the industry's tricks.
For privacy, I have replaced my friend's name with "Sally" and removed the brand of supplements.
Now, the supplements industry is HUGE! According to the FDA, Americans spend more than $25 billion a year on dietary supplements. What's more, the global supplement market is worth close to $70 billion according to research from Euromonitor.
Thanks to companies with their influential marketing, they've had the public believe that supplements are good for you, but while not fully disclosing all the ingredients contained in them. Therefore, manipulating them to believe it's healthier.
As a health coach and nutrition specialist, I've had so many people ask, "What supplements should I take?"
My answer, "You don't need to take supplements." If you have holes in your nutrition you shouldn't be filling those holes with pills and powders. You need to adjust your diet to get quality nutrition instead of synthetic chemicals.
I checked out the products on the website that "Sally" referred me to. I looked at the high protein meal replacement shake (strawberry flavor). The ingredients list is huge and that's always a sign to steer clear of the product. The bigger the ingredients list of anything the further you should keep it from your body. Apples contain thousands and thousands of nutritional components but they don't need an ingredients list, as they are all truly natural.
The product also contained a lot of oxides. Anything oxidized is rusted. Metals that have rusted have oxidized. These elemental forms of minerals are the cheapest form they add to supplements and also the worst kind.
So as an example, Iron Oxide or Zinc Oxide are both oxidized (rusted) elemental minerals. Not good at all. They only have about an 8-10% absorption rate in the body and those compounds get caught up in muscle and organ tissues. The body has a hard time removing them. So can you see why you aren't getting the quality of nutrients these companies claim you should be getting?
There were also plenty of chelates (chelated minerals) such as "copper amino acid chelate". To increase the absorption of an elemental mineral they use amino acid chelates. So they take the elemental mineral or oxide as previously mentioned, and bond or wrap it with an amino acid. This increases the absorption rate to between 30-40%.
However, when it's processed by the body you end up with far more elemental minerals and oxides in your body. Your body now has even more to deal with as explained previously.
99% of all vitamins on the market are synthetic chemicals. No wonder there's such as big vitamin deficiency in society! In my opinion the ones in these products would be of this type.
For example, 99% of Vitamin E supplements are usually made from petroleum, turpentine, sugar, and artificial preservatives. According to the New York Academy of Sciences, synthetic Vitamin E has been shown to block the absorption of natural Vitamin E from the foods you eat.
Also the FDA allows the blended version of Vitamin E added to supplements and other products to be labeled as "Natural," even though 95% of the blended version is synthetic and only 5% is natural. Work that one out! So do you really think you're getting the quality nutrients that your bodies actually need? Think about it, you're paying for this rubbish.
Unfortunately, most people have no idea what they are consuming due to the labeling laws that allow manufacturers to hide ingredients and additives or label them with a code. This only makes it harder for the consumer to know what they are consuming.
Also, the product contained "natural strawberry flavor" and "natural flavors". The term "Natural" is misleading. Most "Natural" flavors are not what you think they are.
For example vanilla, strawberry and raspberry to name a few are produced from castoreum. Castoreum actually comes from the castor sacs of the animal we know as a beaver. These castor sacs are located within the animal's anus. It's times like these you wish you didn't have an imagination! The beaver use this slimy brown substance to mark its territory but we use it to flavor many things, even the majority of perfumes will contain castoreum.
So it's up to you if you want to consume these types of products to supplement your diet. Trust me there are a lot worse elements than what I've listed here.
But as you can see, the marketing and sales around all these products doesn't lead you to the truth of what is inside them. And in my belief, they won't lead you to improved health.
Many sales people selling supplement products wouldn't have a clue where the ingredients in these products come from or what they are derived from. Now, in many cases it's not their fault either. They're just learning what they've been told is the supposed truth.
If you wanted a super healthy meal replacement drink or a pre or post workout drink, then smoothies or juices using fresh fruits and veggies are the best alternatives.
Plus, if you use ingredients such as spinach it will give you a huge boost of nutrients, enzymes, fiber and amino-acids to help fill you up and give you a large injection of quality "natural" nutrients. If you have veggies you can sweeten it up by adding fruits such as berries, watermelon and bananas.
Now that's what I call a truly natural and healthy "supplement." The way you are meant to get your daily nutrition.
Fresh is best, but if you need to, freeze your favorite veggies or fruits when they're not in season. You can also save money by implementing this tip.
You can download my free eBook here with some of my favorite juices and smoothies, including one with avocado! They contain only truly natural nutritional components with no harmful additives or flavors that may harm you. They'll smash any multi-vitamin supplement or any meal replacement protein shake on the market when comparing the nutritional content.
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Quick review:
The Body Shop Grapeseed Glossing Serum, S$26.90
Good shit! Tames my fly-aways, makes my hair look healthier.
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The first avian harbinger of Autumn I usually notice each year is the gathering of Northern flickers along the dirt roads. When they fly at the car's approach they have very distinctive white rump patches. At the end of summer we start to see them every time we travel the gravel roads into town. Shortly before the official autumnal equinox they will be gone, catching a favorable wind for their journey south.
This year, we had the delight of hosting nesting Sharp-shinned hawks. We witnessed the whole process from dating to mating to roosting to fledging and now leaving. Because Sharpies feed on songbirds, we took down most of our feeders for the summer. The parents raised two offspring. By mid-August, the parents had already flown, but the kids were still around—and they were NOISY. Then, one day the last week of August I didn't hear them; the kids were gone, following their parents on their migration south.
Hummingbirds delight us each year and by the end of summer we have five feeders out and often need to fill them daily. [Y'all know I'm not much of a cook, but I know many of our readers appreciate good recipes, so I'll share mine for hummingbird food: Bring eight cups of water to a rolling boil; stir in two cups of sugar until dissolved; turn off the heat and let cool. That's it. No need for food coloring or those expensive store mixes, but if you're like us, you will go through many pounds of sugar in a season. The recipe is scalable: just keep the four-to-one ratio of water to sugar.] Sometime in the last week of August almost all the hummers disappear. We'll go from filling feeders daily to not needing to fill them at all. We'll still probably host a couple of hummers for another week or ten days. These might be migrants from farther north who have found our feeders along the path of their own migration.
Considering how far birds fly on migrations and, unlike us, they rely on self-propulsion rather than fossil fuels, it's not surprising how much they eat before they take off for their long trip. I've never banded hummingbirds, but I have banded many passerine species. The hollow area in their throat fills to overflowing with yellow fat as they prepare to migrate. After a night's flying without rest, they land with those energy reserves exhausted. If you are bird watching, they are easy to see after they first land because they do not move much for a while. Soon, however, they're flitting around, all about the business of restoring their fat reserves so they can make the next leg of the trip.
Asked what they think of when they contemplate Autumn, many people talk about the leaves turning colors. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula the first plants to turn are the ferns. Already some have browned up and within the next couple of weeks all the ferns will turn from their vibrant greens to dull browns and then eventually lay down on the ground to provide sustenance to the next generation. It's not relevant to this blog (which already has a meandering thread) but if you want to know how ferns reproduce, here is a link http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Ferns/Sci-Media/Video/Fern-reproduction
Stressed trees start to turn in August. They may be stressed by disease or old age or by not having forest surround them, which is why colors often first appear at the edges of fields or along roads. I tend to notice maple leaves first, perhaps because they turn orange or red. Even though peak color for us is still two or three weeks away, we're starting to see the stressed trees with branches or tops in full color.
With Autumn comes cooler weather. The lakes stay warm for a while, the nights are cool, and the combination produces fog. Every morning for about a month we'll have fog. When the night cools significantly the fog will be worthy of the Maine coast, so thick you lose your hand if you stretch your arm to full length. I've learned to avoid early morning appointments this time of year. Usually the sun will burn the fog off by midmorning. Usually…
What lets you know that Autumn is in the air?
~ Jim


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I was at the airport a couple of months ago, waiting for a flight that had been delayed, when I encountered my first example of this therapy phenomenon. An elderly man was serenely leading a huge dog around the departure area, a great shaggy beast that must have originated in the mountains of Bhutan or the wastes of Patagonia so equipped was it to deal with the elements. One stranded passenger after another would come up to it and scratch its ears and make cooing sounds and then move along, and this naturally piqued my curiosity. So I asked the gentleman what he meant by bringing this brute into the airport and whether it had gone through security, and he replied with what I took to be pride that it was a therapy dog, as if nothing more needed to be said, as if the concept were perfectly obvious. An airport can be a stressful place, he added when he noticed my puzzlement.
I thought, imagine that: people so tender of feeling that their anxieties about missing a connecting flight (my situation) or getting bumped from an overbooked plane can be assuaged by petting a dog. And then of course I remembered the newspaper stories I had seen about dogs being introduced to nursing homes and elementary schools and hospitals in the same spirit.
I had just about accustomed myself to people kissing dogs, talking baby-talk to them, and introducing them to visitors — "Say hello to Mr. Strock" — for which one is expected to stand still and permit one's crotch to be sniffed — but this seemed to me "another level," as they say, a dog trotted out specifically to be kissed, talked baby-talk to, and introduced to visitors so that the kissers, talkers and visitors will feel good! So they'll stop sweating the inconveniences and impositions of an airport. This is Bacon Bits — because of course the pig has a name, and of course it's Bacon Bits. And of course every newspaper will identify it by name just as every newspaper that mentions a dog, no matter how fleetingly, identifies the dog by name, applying the same rule that applies to a congressman.
And this being the Christmas season, naturally Bacon Bits will wear a Santa Claus outfit when he is led around the airport, and of course unsuspecting children will be encouraged to hug this waddling emblem of all that used to be counted low and vile, and scratch its ears and talk baby-talk to it the same as their parents, and their parents will take cellphone photos to share on Facebook, where, to no surprise, the pig has a page, the lead photo showing it nuzzling a small child.
One of these days the pig will bite off a kid's ear, and then the adults will exclaim, "Oh, he didn't mean it!" I'm willing to bet on that.


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Cottage Rentals
Click on a cottage photo below for floor plan details and additional pictures:
Camper Rentals
Click on a camper trailer photo below for floor plan details and additional pictures:
Click on the image below for an overview of the grounds and layout of the campsites:
High Speed Internet
The Grounds
Comfort Station
Laundry Facilities
Fish Cleaning Room
Trading Post
A local store exists approximately 2km from the resort entrance where guests can purchase additional items such as food, beer, liquor, gas and a collection of local souvenirs. In addition, Deep River offers a wide variety of businesses to satisfy the shopping and service needs of our guests (approximately 20 minute drive from the resort).
Dock Facilities
Equipment Rentals
A 24' Pontoon boat is available to charter for that group/family outing, complete with fishing seats, livewell, and toilet.
Please advise at time of booking.
- Cottage Rentals
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|• Welcome • Facilities • Rates and Packages • Attractions • Links • Contact Us • TOP •


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Best media A-250 Hi-Power Amplifier is an advance Karaoke Amplifier that gives you more control on your Music and Microphone voice outcome. A-250 contains most basic and advance function such as Music Tone Control has Bass, Mid, Treble and Music Balance Control. Its unique design of the front panel is easy to read and friendly to use. The incorporate of two digital music bars on a glassy surface make this amplifier look more professional and is a great add to singing atmosphere. Thus, this Black shinny Amplifier is an excellent add-inmusic entertainment to your Karaoke room, music performance or party celebration.
A-250 is not just look great on the outside, it features excellent technology and high quality material on every of its parts.
Similar to Best Media A-150 Karaoke Amplifier, A-250 is designed with Switchable Two Speaker System. You can connect two sets of compatible Speakers to A-250, such as Boss Speakers for Movie Theater, and Best Media Speakers for Karaoke. With Speaker Switchable function, you can enjoy both watching Movie and Singing Karaoke just by just select which set of Speaker system you want it to play. But more advance than A-150, A-250Power Amplifier can support up to 4 speakers, which not only gives you more power, more important, this provide customer variety ways to arrange speakers in the room. A good arrangement of speakers can add depth and dynamic of music to the space. It certainly turn your outcome sound to realistic and smooth music.
And If the Power of Speaker is still not enough to you, Pre-Out input is available for subwoofer or Power Monitor
Power Protection: A-250 contains excellent built-in Auto Corrected Power Protection to protect both your Speakers and Amplifier get damage from excess its max Power limit.
Special Add-in:
Headphone Output Jack has been added to A-250 for those wanting to practice singing by hearing your voice directly from Headphone. This is an great way to practice, test and adjust your tone before any singing performance or contest.
Record plug-in is available, however, optional recorder is required.
– 250W + 250W max power output (8ohms)
– Digital Echo with Repeat and Delay Control
– Music Tone Control: Bass, Mid, Treble & Music Balance Control
– 4 Microphone Input
– 5 Audio/Video Input: KTV, DVD, AV1, AV2, DVR
– Switchable 2 Speaker system (SP-A, SP-B)
– Support up to 2 Speakers / Speaker System
– One Speaker System (SP-A or SP-B): 6 ohms – 12ohms
– Two Speaker System (SP-A and SP-B): 8 ohms -12 ohms
– M1 M2 M3 Reset – music high volume control
– Headphone Output Jack (for Singer to practice)
– Microphone Record Level Control
– Microphone Memory Reset function
– 1 x Pre-Out (able to support Power Amplifier/ Recorder)
– Power Output: 250W
– THD INTO (8 ohms): <0.004%
– Frequency Response: 20 Hz ~ 20 KHz +0dB/2.5dB
– Input Sensitivity/ Impedance: 150mV/47KW
– Signal To Noise Ratio: >-75dB
– Music Tone Control
– Bass: 100Hz ± 10dB
– Mid: 1Khz ± 10dB
– Treble: 10KHz ± 10dB
– High: 100Hz ± 5.5dB
– Low: 10Hz ± 5.5dB
– Echo Mixing Model: Digital Delay
– Power Consumption: 375W
– Power Requirement: AC 100V ~ 60Hz
– Dimension: 16.9″ L x 6.3″ H x 15.7″ W
– Weight: 27.3 lbs


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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Government has taken a beating beginning with "government is not the solution to our problem;, government is our problem" and continuing with "the era of big government is over;" falling dramatically from the lofty ideas first collected in 1787 as the preamble to the Constitution. Government has figured out a way to heal after a Civil War, a way to regulate against food that killed, destroy an evil political ideaology that had swept Europe and put a man on the moon after a 10 year goal was set. They have developed a way to bring states back from the brink when they refused to enforce court ordered integration of schools with the Civil Rights Act and the important Voting Rights Act. Government has funded an end to polio, AIDS management drugs, and pushing the life expectancy of the population.
Now, we have a period in which we slash government with a blindfold called Sequestration. We have a Congress too timid to even debate many issues such as abortion, mortgage interest deductions, an assault weapons ban, and the age of retirement. In a time when people fly planes into IRS offices, distrust government registry of gun sales, and have begun shooting District Attorneys and County Sherriffs, we need to start talking about the life saving activities of government. When we only hear about lavish conferences, wasted dollars for x-ray machines at the airport, or 2 years wait for disability claims within the Department of Veteran's Affairs, we need to provide some balance. We wanted to document some successes in government in a time of scorn and outright hatred involving arming of the citizens to protect against government. We the people have done some incredible work that we need to champion.
This edition we will look at the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in 2009 which put a bunch of money into existing programs. They funded infrastructure projects, increased unemployment compensation and for our purposes pumped a bunch of funding into the Emergency Shelter Grant. In Cuyahoga County we received $14 million to serve homeless people between 2010 and 2012. This was a substantial amount of money to be used for homeless people at the same time. It allowed for experimentation and trials that we never had the opportunity or funds to try in the past. It was a resounding success and really saved Cleveland.
There were problems with the delivery of so many funds in such a short period of time, but that is to be expected. There was not the level of transparency that we would have preferred and there were some weak links in the agencies that distributed the funds. NEOCH had some better ideas for how to prevent homelessness, but in the big picture the money worked. The shelters were able to get people out quickly and were able to limit the flow of people into the shelters. We did not have to turn people away even though there was a significant increase in requests for shelter. With the funds from government, we prevented hundreds from having to spend time in the shelters. The stimulus dollars prevented homelessness and moved people quickly back into housing. This concept worked and proves that with the right funding we can reduce homelessness. For too long we have been only trying to triage people and keep them alive. We have spent all our money on this concept, and never had any left over for housing. We have proven that if we had targeted money for housing, we could quickly save people the agony of having to stay in shelter.
We need to build on this success by expanding targeted access to homeless prevention dollars. We know that eviction diversion works, and we know that if we can provide rental assistance to as many people as possible who show up at the shelter we can reduce the number of people forced to stay in the shelters. Government can do things right, and government funds can have an impact on society. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was a success for homeless people in Cleveland Ohio.


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Protect your Adams Drive, Concord, CA home from the elements.
Photo Gallery[monoslideshow id=16 w=320 h=230]
Concord, California 94521
For this Concord home Roofmax installed a brand new GAF Grand Canyon Mission Brown roof. Roofmax prides itself in offering GAF quality roofing products to its customers. Grand Canyon has a large color variance and because of the thickness of the shingle it ads depth and dimension to the roof. Grand Canyon is a superior product, it is a composition shingle designed to imitate wood shake shingles. For the best roofing contractor in concord contact Roofmax.
Google Maps
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Bi-Rite Creamery
I am such an idiot. I won't tell you who, but years back, someone with a thriving restaurant on 18th Street in San Francisco alerted me to a great business opportunity nearby. Food-related, of course. I passed, and now the area is the culinary destination in the Bay Area.
(Aside from the taqueria on Church Street across from the Afeway…)
Although I missed the proverbial boat, I'm glad to see the smart folks at Bi-Rite Creamery scooping up some excellent ice cream in that neighborhood. I sampled just about all of them, from the fruity Cherry-Almond to the most curious Soy Chocolate. There's a seductive Salted Caramel and a Butter Pecan as well. But my absolute, hands-down favorite scoop was the Mint Chip. Flavored with organic mint oil, it's a big dose of refreshingly cool mint with big, honkin' chunks of housemade chocolate chards. Think the best kind of Girl Scout cookies all mashed together and piled in a cone. Yum!
There's plenty of toppings to choose from at Bi-Rite Creamery, but where there are salty little grains of fleur de sel enrobed in dark chocolate from Michael Recchiuti, why order anything else?
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th Street
San Francisco, CA
(For those who can't make it to Bi-Rite Creamery, their most popular recipes can be found in their book, Sweet Cream and Sugar Cones.)
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12 comments
Little bits of salt enrobed in chocolate?! I'm drooling all over myself here.
So David.. did you weigh yourself before the trip?
Sounds like a food orgy to me!
I am on my way back in July.. sushi is first on my list for foods I miss!
I can make my own burrito's.. actually can make my own sushi too but the sushi bar experience.. sake.. eating at the bar…
is what I miss.
and peanut butter on english muffins for breakfast!
I know this is completely off the subject, but is there anything one can use in place of lemon zest? I mean something that will give the same lemon flavor!? HELP!!!
You know, David, there are many reasons why I read your blog. You seem to be quite charming, you are humorous and entertaining, and you offer lovely baking advice and tips.
This week, though, I especially enjoy your blog because I am going to San Francisco next week and you have quite a few suggestions of where I might take myself – including the Bi-Rite Creamery. Thank you! I can't wait to go and tell the boyfriend, who will be spending his week at a conference, how wonderful it is.
(Although if you could convince the nice people at Chez Panisse to not be completely booked on Friday, that would help me out. The boyfriend and I went on our last trip together and it was so good that we are trying to go back. I suppose this is what happens when you make arrangements at the last minute, though… c'est la vie! Drat their popular hides!)
ooooOOOooo I am so stopping there, after a jaunt to Lush (skin products that smell oh-so-wonderful). However, though the ice cream looks marvelous, what is up with that NAME? Reading the title, I thought you'd gotten stuck at some wierd midwest manufacturing plant. It sounds like the worst kind of 70's era holdover market, or was there really a market called bi-rite back then? I suppose it's a testament to the resilience of Bay Area folks that we can boldly tramp past the worst of marketing blunders for really, really, really good food. Don't forget to stop in Sushi Bistro, on Balboa and 5th! Speaking of Ice Cream, I wish Rick's Rather Rich was still around in Mountain View, I loved their chocolate with candied oranges and the rosewater & pistachio..yummmmmmmmmmmm.
I had to laugh……Hands down favorite being mint chip. That was me in 6th grade. No question. Yes, I loved chocolate anything, but the combo of chocolate with mint always sent me over the top! Thanks for a trip down memory lane..
Mmm, Bi-Rite is my latest indulgence. The hubby and I fight over the s'more ice cream pie. So, did you pop into Tartine and/or Delfina?
Could you please ask the By-Rite Folks to open a shop in New York?
They'd have the market to themselves except for GROM.
Or better yet YOU come and open a shop! :)
Would you believe there's an ice cream shop in NYC where you CAN NOT see the flavors only a list! UGH
Hi David,
I came by from Jaden's blog (steamy kitchen), I am interested to find out how to make ice cream without ice cream machine. I have a small kitchen and would prefer not to buy another big appliance, if possible. ;)
Gak – I can't believe I was there just a few weeks ago and didn't know about the ice cream. I will definitely have to pick some up on my next visit. Sounds like you're having a good time!
As an ice cream lover, I will definitely stop for a sampling at Bi-Rite. I have a dear friend who has purchased a copy of "The Perfect Scoop" as well as the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker for $119. I am the benefactor of every batch of ice cream, if at least a "petit gout". Thank you for your wonderful collection of one of my "favorites", ice cream.
I found your blog by Googling for salted caramel ice cream after I read Patty Unterman's Bi-Rite review in her newsletter that ex-pat San Franciscans (like me and spouse) can subscribe to. If you improve your recipe after your Bi-Rite experience, please post it. Can't wait to get my ice cream maker and copy of Perfect Scoop (which Patty also recommended in her newsletter). And can't wait to go to Bi-Rite next month in SF.


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NOTICE: The Digital Living Networking Alliance ("DLNA") has dissolved and is no longer operating. This website, its contents, and certification and testing services and tools related to compliance with the DLNA Guidelines are now being provided by SpireSpark International, Inc. (spirespark.com) with permission from DLNA.
SpireSpark International cares about your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines the types of Personal Information (as defined below) that is collected by SpireSpark, and outlines how we use and protect the Personal Information. This Privacy Policy also tells you what to do if you do not want SpireSpark to use your Personal Information, and how you can change information you have already provided to us. This Privacy Policy applies to the Personal Information and other data collected through your use of the SpireSpark owned web properties (located at spirespark.com) (the "Website"). This Privacy Policy also applies to SpireSpark's collection of Personal Information and other data through offline contacts you may have with SpireSpark.
Section 1. Your Consent to this Privacy Policy
By providing Personal Information to SpireSpark either through the Website or otherwise, you signify that you agree with the terms of our current Privacy Policy, as posted here. If you do not agree with any term in this Privacy Policy, please do not provide any Personal Information.
Section 2. Information Collected through Your Use of the Website
When you visit this Website, you may provide us with two types of information: Personal Information that you knowingly and voluntarily choose to provide, and Anonymous Information (as defined below) that we automatically collect as you browse the Website.
A. Your Personal Information
As used in this Privacy Policy, "Personal Information" means personally-identifiable information such as your name, address, e-mail address, phone number, fax number, and other details regarding you and/or your company. In order to participate in certain services provided by SpireSpark, you will be asked to provide Personal Information. We collect and store Personal Information you enter on this Website or otherwise provide to us in offline contacts that we have with you. You are never under any obligation to provide such Personal Information. However, if you do not provide Personal Information, you may not be able to use certain features of the Website. When you do provide us with Personal Information, you are authorizing us to use that information in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy.
B. Anonymous Information we receive from your usage of the Website
We collect certain information about you from your use of the Website (referred to in this Privacy Policy as "Anonymous Information"). Our web servers may automatically collect and store the name of the domain and host from which you access the Internet and the Internet protocol address of your computer. Additionally, we may collect information about the browser software you use; the type of operating system your computer uses; the date and time you access the Website; the website you visited just prior to visiting our Website; and the amount of time you spend on each Website page, and the order in which you view the Website pages. We use this Anonymous Information to improve the performance of the Website and make it more compatible with the technology used by our users. This Anonymous Information may be combined with Personal Information you have provided.
To help make the Website more responsive to the needs of our users, we may also use a standard feature found in browser software called a "cookie" to assign each visitor a unique, random number, a sort of anonymous user ID that resides in your computer. The cookie does not identify the Personal Information of the user; rather, it identifies the computer that a user uses to access the Website. A cookie cannot read data off of your hard drive. The cookie may store Website statistics, information about your browser, and other information that identifies the computer a user uses to access the Website. Most browsers automatically accept the cookies, but you can disable the acceptance of cookies at any time by changing the preferences in your browser. Certain Website pages and features may not function properly if you choose to disable the acceptance of cookies.
Section 3. How We Use Your Information
A. Personal Information
When you supply us with your Personal Information, we will use it for the express purpose stated when we ask for such Personal Information (e.g., to respond to any inquiries you may have, or to create a user account). Our Website requires registration to access member areas, and our Website allows you to make a membership inquiry. To do these activities, the Website requires (or, in some cases, allows you to provide, but does not require) your name, address, e-mail address, and some basic information about you, such as your job function. We collect this Personal Information to be better able to understand your needs, and to provide you with services that we believe may be valuable to you. We give you the opportunity not to receive information from us regarding upcoming events and other news, and other general information about our services.
We also collect Personal Information from you when you contact us through the Contact Us page on the Website. To do this, the Website requires your name and e-mail address, and also allows you to provide other Personal Information (at your option) in the comments portion of the Contact Us page.
We may also use your Personal Information to contact you regarding the Website. And we may provide your name and delivery address to third parties that SpireSpark uses to deliver specific services you have requested, such as customer support or to ship something to you that you have asked us to send you.
B. Anonymous Information
We collect Anonymous Information in an effort to ensure that our Website will appear and function appropriately on your computer, to help us improve our Website, and so we may determine which website referred you to the Website. Your Internet protocol address is used to help identify you. For additional information on how we use your Anonymous Information, see Section 2(B) above.
C. Personal Information and Anonymous Information
We may use Personal Information and Anonymous Information to help diagnose problems with this Website. We may also use Personal Information and Anonymous Information to analyze statistical use patterns and demographic data, including where our Website visitors come from and what demographic characteristics they have, and to improve the Website to better serve our users.
At times, we may retain third parties to analyze data we collect, including Personal Information and Anonymous Information, solely to help us improve our Website by, for example, learning details regarding the number of visitors to our Website. These third parties are not authorized to use your Personal Information or Anonymous Information in any other way and are required to keep the information confidential.
Except in the limited circumstances stated in this Privacy Policy, SpireSpark does not sell, license, or otherwise transfer or disclose Personal Information or Anonymous Information to third parties who are not affiliated with SpireSpark.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Privacy Policy, SpireSpark reserves the right to and will release your Personal Information or Anonymous Information, without your consent and without notice to you, if required to do so by law, or by search warrant, subpoena, or court order; when SpireSpark believes disclosure is necessary to protect, establish, or exercise SpireSpark's legal rights or defend against legal claims; when SpireSpark believes disclosure is necessary to protect our other Website users and members or our employees, property, or business; to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving threats or potential threats to the safety of any person, violations of this Privacy Policy; or to otherwise comply with the law, a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process served on SpireSpark.
We may transfer your Personal Information and Anonymous Information if SpireSpark is acquired by or merged with another company. SpireSpark will notify you before your Personal Information and Anonymous Information is transferred as a result of such an acquisition or merger and becomes subject to a different privacy policy by following the procedure set forth in Section 10 below.
Section 4. Intended Users
By accessing, providing information on or through, or otherwise using the Website, you affirm that you are at least eighteen (18) years old, or that you are over the age of thirteen (13) and possess legal parental or guardian consent, and that you are competent and capable of understanding and complying with this Privacy Policy. SpireSpark will never knowingly solicit or accept Personal Information from children under the age of thirteen (13) and will never knowingly contact children under the age of thirteen (13) for marketing purposes or otherwise in violation of the law.
Section 5. Opt-Out Procedure; Control of Your Personal Information
At any time, a Website user can change or remove Personal Information or opt out-out of receiving general communications from SpireSpark about its services, upcoming events, and other news by contacting SpireSpark via the contact information below in Section 12. If you request that your Personal Information be changed, we may maintain your existing Personal Information and information about your activities on and through the Website for the purpose of record keeping and servicing, and to comply with our retention policy described in Section 7 below.
Section 6. Security of Information
The security of your Personal Information is important to us, and we are committed to protecting the Personal Information we collect. We have commercially-reasonable physical, electronic, and managerial security measures in place to attempt to protect against the loss, misuse, alteration, or unauthorized access of Personal Information we have collected from you. This includes measures such as the use of firewalls, intrusion detection, password protections, vulnerability scans, and storing the Personal Information you provide on limited-access computer systems located in secured facilities.
Section 7. Retention and Storage
We may retain Personal Information in our databases in accordance with any existing document retention policies and applicable laws. This period may extend beyond the end of your relationship with us, but it will be only as long as it is necessary for us to have sufficient information to prevent fraudulent activity, protect ourselves against liability, permit us to pursue available remedies, or limit any damages that we may sustain. Also, we may retain Personal Information beyond the end of your relationship with us if we believe in good faith that a law, regulation, rule, or guideline requires it. The Personal Information and Anonymous Information collected by SpireSpark through the Website and other offline contacts we have with you will be stored and processed on databases located in the United States.
Section 8. Links
This Privacy Policy applies only to Personal Information and Anonymous Information collected by SpireSpark through the Website or otherwise. The Website may contain links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by SpireSpark ("Linked Sites"). SpireSpark is not responsible for and has not reviewed the privacy practices of the Linked Sites, or the owners and operators of the Linked Sites. The owners and operators of the Linked Sites may have their own policies regarding privacy and security. We advise you to review any Linked Sites for their own privacy practices to determine what information about you may be collected and used when you visit and use such Linked Sites.
Section 9. Legal Disclaimer
We cannot guarantee that your Personal Information will never be compromised. No transmission of data over the Internet or any wireless network can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Further, while we employ reasonable measures to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee or warrant that unauthorized third parties will not defeat those measures or use non-public Personal Information for improper purposes. Nevertheless, we value your business and have adopted this Privacy Policy and undertaken the described security measures as an endeavor to respect your privacy and to keep your Personal Information confidential.
Section 10. Modifications to Privacy Policy
SpireSpark reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy at its discretion. We will post any new policy here, and we encourage you to visit this area frequently to stay informed. If changes are significant, SpireSpark will also notify you of such changes via the Personal Information you have provided to SpireSpark. Privacy Policy changes will apply to the Personal Information and Anonymous Information collected after the date on which we post the revised Privacy Policy to the Website. Each version of this Privacy Policy will be identified at the top of the page by its effective date, and we will keep prior versions of this Privacy Policy in an archive for your review.
Section 11. Enforceability
If any part of this Privacy Policy is determined to be invalid or unenforceable pursuant to applicable law, then the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision, and the remainder of the Privacy Policy shall continue in effect.
Section 12. Contact Us
Contact SpireSpark through any of the means listed below if you have any comments or questions about this Privacy Policy or the use of your Personal Information or Anonymous Information.
SpireSpark International
PO Box 2270
Tualatin, OR 97062
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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After all the family time during the holidays, I'm back to trying my hand at new work for Illustration Friday. This week's prompt word was "grounded." Watching my grand-niece, Zoe on the cusp of walking, I was inspired to illustrate this amazing process.
Gus is Grounded! Illustration ©Cheryl Kirk Noll
I am taking inspiration from a baby's tenacity with this task, and sticking to my task of working with watercolor and Photoshop.


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If you need a mortgage or are looking to arrange a loan modification, there are fewer people working in the mortgage industry who might assist you than there were a few months ago.
Mortgage industry employment fell in the third quarter of the year, the first downturn in nearly a year. The industry had slowly begun to add people again after steep cutbacks that came with the decline of the housing market.
Layoffs exceeded hirings by 930 people in the third quarter, according to figures released today by MortgageDaily.com, following three consecutive quarters of rising employment. The decline was largely attributed to Wells Fargo's decision last July to close its Wells Fargo Financial Inc. division, a 100-year old entity.
Wells Fargo decided the division was no longer needed after it decided to get out of the business of subprime lending, and because its purchase of Wachovia Inc. meant it no longer needed the more than 600 Wells Fargo Financial Offices. The move resulted in the elimination of approximately 2,800 jobs in the two months following the announcement, with another 1,000 to be cut over the coming year.
The Wells Fargo cuts made up the vast majority of the 3,216 industry-wide layoffs reported for the quarter, according to MortageDaily, compared to 2,286 hirings. Total mortgage industry employment was estimated at 246,000, less than half the 535,400 government figures reported at the industry's peak in October 2005.
Mortgage industry employment has generally been trending upward since bottoming out in the first quarter of 2009. A net total of 8,321 jobs were added in 2009, while 2010 employment remains up by 524 despite the recent job losses.
California experienced the most mortgage industry layoffs during the third quarter, although both it and Texas saw hundreds of hirings as well. North Carolina had the greatest net increase in mortgage jobs, more than 500, while the greatest net losses were in Maryland, Illinois and Oregon.


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DESCRIPTION: It can't get much better than Organic Date Sugar! Date Sugar is simply dehydrated and ground Dates! Unlike processed cane sugar, there's no processing whatsoever with Date Sugar – just a pure, unrefined, natural sweetener! Date Sugar lends a gentle sweetness to baked goods and packs in a fiber and mineral power punch not found in most other sweeteners. So ditch the processed sugar and enhance your Paleo baked goods with Organic Date Sugar! Use as a 1:1 ratio to brown sugar or white sugar.
INGREDIENTS: Organic Date SugarPRODUCT DETAILS: Use as a 1:1 ratio to brown sugar or white sugar. Great for baking. Because it is made from whole crushed dates and does retain the fiber, it does not dissolve well in hot or cold liquids. 100% Organic. Gluten Free. Vegan. Kosher.


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There is a bill presented in New York City that would allow job applicants, who are rejected on the basis of unemployment, to file a complaint with the city or file in court. Washington D.C. has a similar law in that it prohibits both discrimination in hiring and consideration and also prohibits job postings that require job applicants to be employed. New York City's law would be the only city that would allow someone to bring a lawsuit if they were discriminated against due to their unemployment status, says Naomi Sunshine, employment lawyer and associate with Outten and Golden in New York.
A study done by the National Employment Law Project looked at the pervasiveness of job postings that said "unemployed need not apply" or "you must be currently employed to be considered," and since that time, especially with similar laws passed in New Jersey and Oregon, there are far fewer job postings like this, says Sunshine.
Sunshine thinks that this law in New York City will hopefully send a message to recruiters and employers that they should not discard a resume or look no further when a person is unemployed because that person could be the most qualified.
Sunshine points out that this law still allows employers to inquire as to the reasons why someone last left a job and to consider those reasons if it's significantly job-related. What this law does, says Sunshine, is it requires and encourages employers to pick the most qualified applicant regardless of employment status.
As New York City is an "HR capital and a business headquarters," Sunshine thinks this bill will have an impact on other states as well. "The unemployment rate is 10% in New York City, which is higher than the state and national average, so it's a real issue here," says Sunshine.
If someone believes they are a victim of unemployment discrimination, Sunshine advises that they write down everything that was said or communicated and if in New York City, they may soon have a right to file a lawsuit. If unemployed, Sunshine recommends staying on top of their field and to be prepared to explain gaps in employment.
Naomi Sunshine is an associate with Outten and Golden, an employment law firm in New York. For more information on Naomi, visit http://www.outtengolden.com/lawyer-attorney/naomi-b-sunshine. Naomi spoke with the Employment Law Channel, part of the Legal Broadcast Network.


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crate and barrel
Emily Oster
I was in Crate and Barrel the other day and immediately honed in on a set of blush dinnerware. It was just the right shade - pink but not too pink - beautifully designed with just the slightest bit of detail. I don't usually do too much sourcing at Crate and Barrel but I think they have some really nice pieces. They seem to be moving in a slightly different design directly lately and I have to say I think I like it. See below for just a few favorites.


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You bitched, we listened. That should be the slogan for today's Final Cut Pro-X update.
Apple hopes the update will turn back an avalanche of criticism on what turned out to be a complete redesign of the beloved editing tool. So far, Final Cut Pro-X has been a colossal disappointment, too weak for professional users and too powerful and confusing for the casual content creator. It's like they hired the head of engineering for Toyota's Prius division to design Ford F-350s. He showed up on day one and said, "These don't look ANYTHING like a Prius should look!" And then started trying to make super-duty trucks into compact hybrids. That pissed off a lot of people, but today we're getting a glimmer of hope - It looks like the Prius is getting off road tires and a roll cage.
The multicam support functionality is truly amazing. The update allows FCPX to sync up to 64 video inputs using audio waveforms, time and date or timecode - pretty sweet. The days of manually matching clips are over and that puts a smile on my face.
The update also features a host of new tweaks to Final Cut Pro-X's chroma-key functionality which includes (finally) some advanced controls including color sampling, edge adjustment and light wrap
This is the big one. What separates the casual content creators and amateurs from the pros is that professional editors have to conform to broadcast standards. This is because what THEY are working on actually winds up on TV or in theaters. For that reason, it's critical to have vector scopes, waveform monitors and broadcast calibrated production monitors to ensure proper color correction, chroma values, etc. This is huge for the pro guys and will go a long way towards getting FCPX into the edit bays of more production companies around the world and earning some much needed street cred.
I've worked as a professional editor for nearly a decade and in that time I've come to appreciate the clean (if dated) interface of Final Cut Pro. For all the editors working in high-volume, fast turnaround environments, the new interface simply takes too long to learn. Apple is asking them to break their workflow, put dozens of projects on hold and swap to an entirely new piece of software with a completely new learning curve. How, exactly, does Apple expect anyone servicing a roster of clients to do that? Answer - they don't. All the pro editors I know are sticking with the old suite or switching to Adobe Premiere (a similar and familiar suite) to maintain their existing workflow and continue to serve their clients. Final Cut Pro-X will eventually gain momentum but it will be with a fresh generation of editors who grow up around the new workflow. I think Apple is counting on this and will allow Adobe to start handling the more traditional "high-end/high-maintenance" editors with their suite while Apple moves into new and more creative market space. This is evidenced partially by the fact that Adobe Lightroom 4 (beta) has video editing capabilities. That's not to say Final Cut Pro-X won't get more powerful, it will - but Apple is always looking five years ahead and I'm certain that the redesign will begin to attract a loyal following in the coming years.
Check out their press release below:
Apple Updates Final Cut Pro X
CUPERTINO, California-January 31, 2012-Apple® today released Final Cut Pro® X v10.0.3, a significant update to its revolutionary professional video editing application, which introduces multicam editing that automatically syncs up to 64 angles of video and photos; advanced chroma keying for handling complex adjustments right in the app; and enhanced XML for a richer interchange with third party apps and plug-ins that support the fast growing Final Cut Pro X ecosystem. Available today as a free update from the Mac® App Store™, Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3 also includes a beta of broadcast monitoring that supports Thunderbolt devices as well as PCIe cards.
Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3 includes a collection of groundbreaking new tools for editing multicam projects. Final Cut Pro X automatically syncs clips from your shoot using audio waveforms, time and date, or timecode to create a Multicam Clip with up to 64 angles of video, which can include mixed formats, frame sizes and frame rates. The powerful Angle Editor allows you to dive into your Multicam Clip to make precise adjustments, and the Angle Viewer lets you play back multiple angles at the same time and seamlessly cut between them.
Final Cut Pro X builds upon its robust, one-step chroma key with the addition of advanced controls including color sampling, edge adjustment and light wrap. You can tackle complex keying challenges right in Final Cut Pro X, without having to export to a motion graphics application, and view your results instantly with realtime playback.
In the seven months since launch, the third party ecosystem around Final Cut Pro X has expanded dramatically. XML-compatible software like DaVinci Resolve and CatDV provide tight integration for tasks such as color correction and media management. The new 7toX app from Intelligent Assistance uses XML to import Final Cut Pro 7 projects into Final Cut Pro X. In addition, some of the industry's largest visual effects developers, including GenArts and Red Giant, have developed motion graphics plug-ins that take advantage of the speed and real-time preview capabilities of Final Cut Pro X.
Broadcast monitoring in Final Cut Pro X is currently in beta and allows you to connect to waveform displays, vectorscopes, and calibrated, high-quality monitors to ensure that your project meets broadcast specifications. Final Cut Pro X supports monitoring of video and audio through Thunderbolt I/O devices, as well as through third party PCIe cards.
Pricing & Availability
Final Cut Pro X v10.0.3 is available from the Mac App Store for $299.99 (US) to new users, or as a free update for existing Final Cut Pro X customers. A 30-day free trial of Final Cut Pro X is available at www.apple.com/finalcutpro/trial. Full system requirements and more information on Final Cut Pro X can be found at www.apple.com/finalcutpro.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.
- Clint


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Brennan Committed To Further Expanding & Increasing Benefits, Supports and Services for Country's Carers
The Minister for Social Affairs, Seamus Brennan T.D., today announced that so far this year over €40 million has been paid out to more than 30,000 carers from an increased and extended respite care grant scheme.
Minister Brennan has also announced that consultations would begin shortly on the preparation of a National Carers Strategy that focuses on supporting informal and family carers in the community. He said that he is also committed to further expanding and increasing benefits and supports for carers in forthcoming Budgets and also through other targeted initiatives that recognised the valuable contribution carers make to Irish society through their dedication and sacrifice.
Minister Brennan said that in recognition of the valued role of carers in society, the annual Respite Care Grant had been increased from June from €1,000 to €1,200 and was now available to all carers, regardless of their means, providing full-time care and attention to an older person or a person with disability.
So far this year some 26,500 people in receipt of the Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit support schemes have automatically qualified for the Respite Care award at a cost of over €35million. Over 6,000 additional carers have also applied for the grant following the extension last year of the support measure to full-time carers who previously did not receive the grant. The total cost of the scheme, which is demand driven, is estimated at almost €43 million.
The grant is paid automatically to carers in receipt of schemes such as Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the domiciliary care allowance, administered by the Health Service Executive.
Minister Brennan said: "Carers make a valued and valuable contribution to Irish society through their dedication and sacrifice. I want that work to be recognised and acknowledged through increased benefits and practical support measures. In this regard, a break from caring is one of the greatest needs identified by family carers. By increasing the Respite Care Grant to €1,200 and significantly expanding it to include thousands more recipients, we are going some of the way towards giving carers a badly needed break and also recognition for their commitment and compassion."
Minister Brennan added: "I am determined to work for carers and with carers to continue to deliver substantially increased benefits, proper recognition payments and the services and supports which provide practical help for those people who devote their time and energy to improving the quality of life for others. We have made substantial progress but there is a great deal yet to be achieved.
"The provisions in the most recent Budget delivered the biggest ever increases in rates of payment, extended the value of the respite care award and introduced more flexibility and opportunity for carers. I was particularly pleased to be able to increase the Carers Allowance for all over age 66 by over €30 to €200, making it the single largest welfare entitlement apart from over 80's pensions."
For carers under 66 years the rate of Carer's Allowance has increased by €26.40 to €180 per week. Overall, the increases represent an increase of over 17% for those on Carer's Allowance. The rate of Carer's Benefit has increased by €17.00 to €180.70 per week.
Also from June, the number of hours which a person can work and still receive Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or the Respite Care Grant has been increased from 10 to 15 hours per week. This is in recognition of the need for carers to have increased flexibility in arrangements and also to allow them retain some contact with the labour market. It is estimated that this measure will benefit up to 700 carers.
In another improvement, the Carer's Benefit duration has been extended by nine months to 24 months, which will benefit at least 200 current carers. The carer's employment rights will also be protected during this time through an amendment to the Carer's Leave Act, 2001.
The Minister further pointed out that the commitment in the Programme for Government to enable all those earning up to average industrial earnings to qualify for Carer's Allowance has been fulfilled by an increase in the income disregards for the means test for Carer's Allowance to €290 for a single person and €580 for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn up to €32,925 while the carer receives the maximum rate of Carer's Allowance.


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Our adorable raccoon is now a cute enamel pin!
The raccoon enamel pin looks brilliant on book bags or school bags, jackets or pin boards. The enamel pins make a great back to school gift or stocking filler for Christmas.
Made from black nickel with a hard enamel finish, the raccoon pin has a premium finish. It measures 30mm, has a rubber clutch and comes on a special backing card. The standard text at the bottom of the backing card says "Original Enamel Pin". However if you would like us to print you a customised card with a special message please drop us a message.
The raccoon pin on backing card is packaged in a cellophane wrapper and shipped in a metallic padded envelope.


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Even More Tea Gadgets & Offbeat News
By William I. Lengeman III
Did you hear the one about 900-year old cup of tea recently found in the southeastern United States? Well, don't get too excited. First of all, it's not an actual cup of tea – spillage and/or evaporation presumably saw to that. Second, as near as anyone can tell, none of the natives living here at the time had access to real tea, as in the beverage made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. But "tea" is a malleable word for most people, and in this case it's one that can be used to describe a beverage brewed from the shrub Ilex vomitoria, a species of holly, which produces a concoction known as the black drink.
read the full article here


text: JUST AN IDEA (2yo) ran a cracking race in the Group 3 Molcomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The winner smashed the course record and the horse that was 2nd The Last Lion was the horse Just An Idea was just behind in the Dragon Listed Stakes at Sandown! What fun he has given his owners the Gehring brothers Eric & Paul, their great friend Peter Rouse and Chris Craig Wood. There is still a share available in this gusty colt or could be sold as a whole. His next aim is a Listed race at Deauville. Info Written by Harry Dunlop On July 29, 2016


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Richards, Michael and Smith, Neil
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Modern computer science education has to take account of the recent changes towards smart ubiquitous computing devices. In addition, existing programming languages are needlessly difficult for novice programmers to learn concepts. We have developed Sense, an extension to the graphical programming language Scratch, and an associated sensor/actuator board. Together, these will allow novice undergraduate students to quickly develop their own smart devices while learning the fundamentals of programming. Students will first study with Sense in 2011 but developmental feedback has been positive.
|Item Type:
|Conference or Workshop Item
|Copyright Holders:
|education; programming; graphical languages; ubiquitous computing
|Academic Unit/School:
|Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) > Computing and Communications
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
|Research Group:
|Centre for Research in Computing (CRC)
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|Michael Richards
|Date Deposited:
|20 Jan 2011 13:37
|Last Modified:
|11 Dec 2018 21:41
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FamilySearch announced new Hispanic Family History Resources for its popular FamilySearch Website. The resources are available both in English and Spanish and link to the Hispanic Family History Resources Portal of the FamilySearch Wiki. Interestingly, our own Mesa Regional Family History Center is featured as a related Website. For the past few months, I have been helping translate the Center's Website and organize the materials at the Center for use by Spanish speaking patrons. There is also a link to a four part interview with Dr. George R. Ryskamp, AG. from Brigham Young University. His books on Spanish language genealogy are the starting point for any Hispanic research.
This move by FamilySearch can be seen as a continued extension of genealogical resources into geographic areas long ignored by the mainstream repositories and Websites in the United States. For example, the closest Ancestry.com gets to Spanish language genealogy is the Spanish American War. A look at Ancestry.com's summary of their International Collections makes no mention of any Spanish language records. In another example, on Cyndislist.com's opening page, the only mention of Spanish language Websites is a list of 169 sites from Spain and the Basque Country and 259 sites from Mexico. The list of sites, interestingly, contains one reference to Ancestry.com -- an article by Dr. George Ryskamp! As a side note about Cyndi's list, (not related to Spanish language genealogy) the site has a "New" list of genealogy wiki sites that does not include We Relate, the world's largest genealogy wiki, and was last updated in November of 2008.
Latin America and other Spanish speaking areas of the world, are routinely ignored by the predominantly northern European cultures. The reason is likely the long historic antagonism between the two cultures. However, the lack of Spanish language resources in genealogy is inexcusable since Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the World and may now have more actual native speakers than English. In many lists of the world's most widely spoken languages, Spanish is now listed ahead of English. Click here for an example.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Recursos de Historia Familiar -- Hispanic Family History Resources
2 comments:
Very nice post! I've been researching my husband's family using films at my local Family History Center, and even a few trips to Spain. The church records in Spain are wonderful, and each lists several generations as well as witnesses (usually close relatives, too) I find them second only to the French Canadian records in genealogical value. I added 200 years to his family tree in one afternoon, and I speak very limited Spanish!ReplyDelete
Busco datos sobre Filiberti Donnino. Italiano que llego a Argentina con sus hijos. Año de arribo y puerto. Muchas graciasReplyDelete
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Touring the Malaysian states of Sarawak & SabahWe – two families with an adult son each – had been looking for a destination in Southeast Asia for summertime. This undertaking had been complicated by the fact that the rainy season falls over the summer months. Finally, we settled for North Borneo as there is high season in July. In addition, we are nature lovers and wanted to spend some lazy days on the beach after exploring the sights. The Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah seemed to be the perfect choice for our needs.
We did not do the planning ourselves, but booked a private 8-day tour from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu with a Swiss tour operator (Tour Asia). In this post you find the details of our trip with my comments. My next post will be about the hotels we stayed at during our North Borneo tour.
|Myself on a longboat on my way to Iban people
Borneo, the third largest island in the world and the largest one in Asia, is shared among three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The northern third of the island with its states Sarawak and Sabah belongs to Malaysia and is largely covered with rainforest, one of the oldest ones in the world.
While Sarawak with its capital Kuching is known for its historic, cultural and natural attractions, Sabah with its capital Kota Kinabalu is known for its wildlife, national parks and beaches.
|Longboats at Gunung Mulu National Park
An 8-day itinerary
Day 1: Kuching
Kuching, the capital of the state of Sarawak, is the gateway for exploring sites such as Semenggoh Wildlife Center, Iban people and Bako National Park. It is a bustling city with a mix of colonial and modern buildings along a river waterfront.
|Kuching river waterfront
My opinion: While the city of Kuching has a certain charm, sights really worthwhile seeing are missing.
|Kuching city center
Day 2: Batang Ai Lake
Our first stop was at Semenggoh Nature Reserve where young orangutans are trained how to survive in the wilderness. During the feeding sessions there is a good chance of seeing semi-wild orangutans returning for a free meal from time to time.
|Orangutan at Semenggoh Nature Reserve
The next destination was Batang Ai Lake, the starting point for a trip to Iban people. These natives from Borneo who used to practice headhunting in former times, still live in longhouses, a special type of accommodation.
My opinion: If you visit Borneo, you absolutely have to see orangutans because they can be found (worldwide) only on Borneo and Sumatra. That is why going to Semenggoh Nature Reserve is a must-see.
|Batang Ai Lake
Day 3: Iban people (Lemanak River)
This day was dedicated to a visit to the Iban people to get an insight into their culture and customs. A trip with a longboat on the Lemanak River brought us to one of their traditional longhouses.
|Arriving with Iban people after longboat trip
My opinion: Visiting a longhouse with Iban living in it is an interesting thing to experience, but I could not help feeling like a voyeur.
|Interior of longhouse
Day 4: Bako National Park
After returning to Kuching, a trip to Bako National Park, was scheduled. This park offering diverse natural landscapes is the home to around 150 highly endangered proboscis monkeys with its distinctive nose and other wildlife.
|Coastline at Bako National Park
My opinion: This National Park is worthwhile seeing as there are great trails where you can admire the beautiful nature and of course the long-nosed monkeys are a top attraction.
|Proboscis (long-nosed) monkey
Day 5 & 6: Gunung Mulu National Park
On both days, we went to Gunung Mulu National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an area of exceptional natural beauty with a high biodiversity and karst features. You find there the largest caves on earth, which are home to millions of bats.
|Bats leaving cave at Gunung Mulu National Park
My opinion: There is quite a number of caves to be seen here. My advice is not to visit too many, but to concentrate on 2 or 3 of them. What I like best here is the exit of an enormous colony of bats in a spectacular exodus at Deer Cave, not to be missed!
|Interior of a cave at Gunung Mulu National Park
Day 7: Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the state of Sabah, was the endpoint of our Borneo tour. In contrast to Kuching, it is a modern city with no or only little cultural heritage as it was destroyed by fire in the late 1800s and only rebuilt in the mid 1900s.
|View of Kota Kinabalu
My opinion: Kota Kinabalu has a rather modern feel, but – as Kuching – misses really important sights.
|Night market in Kota Kinabalu
Day 8: Kinabalu Park
The last trip was dedicated to Kinabalu Park, Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is dominated by Mount Kinabalu (4,095 m), one of the highest mountains in South East Asia, and has a variety of flora and fauna ranging over 4 climate zones.
|Mount Kinabalu
My opinion: Whereas Mount Kinabalu is impressive to look at from a distance, it is rather difficult to experience unless you want to climb Malaysia's tallest mountain (no easy thing to do). At Kinabalu Park there are various trekking trails and a Botanical Gardens.
|Botanical Gardens at Kinabalu Park
Tour evaluation
The nature highlights of North Borneo are really worth a trip. The place I like best is Bako National Park. Its coastline with steep cliffs, rocky headlands and sandy beaches is amazing. Also flora and fauna have a lot to offer, from 25 types of vegetation from 7 ecosystems to an abundance of wildlife, above all the endemic proboscis monkeys.
|Rafflesia, the largest flower on earth (near Kinabalu Park)
Malaysia is one of the richer countries in Southeast Asia and therefore a mix between a modern and a developing nation. Further, the landscape – when not being in a national park – is neither especially scenic nor exotic. Also we found that the local people are a bit reserved when dealing with tourists.
In short: the Malaysian part of Borneo has an abundance of natural attractions, but it is certainly not the most idyllic part in Southeast Asia.
In short: the Malaysian part of Borneo has an abundance of natural attractions, but it is certainly not the most idyllic part in Southeast Asia.
|Iban people cooking food in bamboo stems
Date of stay: July 2015


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If you didnt notice, EDM Ranks didn't blog or write news on the Tomorrowland 2015 EDM festival, or the festival live stream this past weekend, Why?
With all the eyeballs watching and attending the Tomorrowland 2015 festival there definitely should have been more emphasis on real electronic dance music.
Looks like David Guetta and Steve Aoki were on a mission to out-douche each other at Tomorrowland.
-Fact Mag
3. David Guetta Plays Children's Nursery Rhyme?
If you didnt watch, you missed out on David Guetta's new If your happy and you know it clap your hands EDM song. I dont know how it can get any worse. Like, what? not to mention another famous DJ did the same thing!
As you watch this video, you will see for yourself that the crowd is not really for it, mindlessly standing there waiting for a better EDM song to play so they can go back to dancing/partying.
2. Steve Aoki Drops Titanic Theme?
Steve Aoki dropped Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On', The theme for the movie Titanic, but added in an EDM drop to play at the behemoth mega EDM festival in Belgium.
Steve Aoki plays Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On'. Of course he put a drop on it… as well as asking fans to do a Titanic-style pose. wtf? Never in my life would I.
1. Play Better Electronic Music!
If I was paying hundreds of dollars for a ticket to listen to electronic dance music live, (Thousands of dollars for visitors worldwide, Total cost for Tomorrowland = €1,745 or $2,069) I would want to hear some of the best freaking electronic music in the world at the exact moment in time. Some music I have never heard before, some unique EDM, some unreleased EDM, brand new shit, the next trending genre, something, anything except some shit I have already heard played on the radio a million times, or even worse a nursery rhyme from when I was a child in grade school. Not cool bro-skeet. Dont fuck with my electronic music.
The Best EDM, The Worst EDM?
If I go to one of the worlds BEST EDM festivals to hear the worlds best DJs producers, and EDM artists, I want to hear the BEST EDM from those Top 100 artists at the festival. underground or mainstream.
Not a nursery rhyme I learned and heard when I was a child in kindergarten. Come on, really?
For a main stage EDM DJ at the worlds top EDM festivals to start playing a kindergarten nursery rhyme song, That is the day EDM has gone mainstream.
What has happened to electronic music? This is a joke.
The music I use to listen to back in high school and everyone thought i was gay, or weird is now being turned into nursery rhymes that people dance too. Has anyone ever seen the movie Idiocracy? For those who haven't, bless your soul, the movie is about an average guy who is involved in a military experiment that will only last for 1 year to see if the new technology works, something happens and he ends up being frozen in a cryogenic box for 500 years, When he comes out the entire world has gone to shit, everyone is stupid as a rock, making him the smartest person on earth. Great movie. Moving on..
At least when deadmau5 mocked some EDM songs it was actually funny:
Deadmau5 Trolls Ultra Music 2014 with Animals
Watch Deadmau5 Troll Ultra Music 2014 with Martin Garrix's song Animals. And I wont lie, not only was this very clever, but it was actually funny, and groovy! Did I just say groovy? Yes, maybe because Deadmau5 actually picked a nursery rhyme everyone liked growing up. For the most part. The Old Mcdonald had a farm Nursery Rhyme.
But David Guetta and Steve Aoki were dead serious here. It reminds me of something like this from Saturday Night Live's EDM comedy.
The Good EDM SH*T.
I dont see anyone booking Flying Lotus at Tomorrowland. Id much rather see some one like Krayzie Bone jump out on the stage and rap an EPIC rap at Tomorrowrland.
Or some underground producers, Like these two Florida friend/producers, Part Native.
This song kills. Literally. Click play and let it rip you to pieces, then put you back together.
I dont see anyone booking Part Native at Tomorrowland yet. In my opinion, they have far more skills than many of the DJs playing at Tomorrowland 2015.
But the crowd doesn't get any of this.
Instead, Tomorrowland 2015 festival goers in my opinion get a narcissistic DJ David Guetta to play if your happy and you know it clap your hands house song. With him being serious about it too. Real funny David Guetta. Not. Yet he does have us and the rest of the EDM news media and press talking about him. So this is how he got famous, huh? From negative publicity and some positive publicity?
When will Stimming headline Tomorrowland? Or some of these Top 100 EDM Artists? What happens next, Will Soundcloud die? Is EDM Dead?


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I'm completely new to mod_rewrite. I'm converting from IIS to apache just to leverage this "Voodoo"!
I've read some posts regarding the topic of bandwidth theives. I'm going to build a photo gallery, and I dont want others scumming my photos.
I've found this code on the forum for restricting access to images within the site
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^$
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://localhost/.*$ [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://mywebsite/images/.*$ [NC]
RewriteRule .*\.(gif|GIF|jpg|JPG|JPEG|pjpeg).*$ http://mywebsite/images/bad.gif [L,R]
If I do a inline image tag with an absolute path it doesnt serve up my bad image. if I type in the absolute path into the address bar I get the bad image in firefox, but the orginal image shows up in IE.
any clues?
BTW: what's the deal with the russian dude calling everyone suckers?


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|Thread Tools
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Okay Duvet. Let's go hide behind a substitute (15%).
Now let's Giga Drain some energy back
Substitute 15%~Giga Drain x 2
Last edited by ABCD; 01-03-2012 at 02:29 AM.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Round Four
blazheirio889 (O)
Niflheim (M) <Run Away> @Lucky Egg
Health: 84%
Energy: 63%
Performed: Protect~Echoed Voice~Sleep Talk (Sunny Day)
Asleep (severe)
-Murmur murmur
Duvet (F) <Infiltrator> @ Sun Stone
Health: 76%
Energy: 67%
Performed: Growth~Grasswhistle~Grasswhistle
-Glad to have something go her way
+3 Def. +1 Atk. +1 Sp. Atk.
As Duvet wiggle around, bunches of cotton started falling to the ground which she shaped. Somewhat Cottonee-like, the substitute started to glow a bright green as it absorbed energy from Duvet. Similarly, the red stone Duvet was carrying around started glowing. Niflheim, on the other hand, seemed to be in a fitful state of sleep. He wasn't going to wake up anytime soon at this rate.
Noticing this, Duvet started attacking. What started as a green aura around the little puff ball suddenly changed into bright beams of energy. These then lashed out violently and repeatedly whipped the sleeping pokemon. With each whipping, energy was being transfeered to Duvet from Niflheim, who started wildly flailing around. Both trainers and Duvet gawked at the sight. Somewhat creepily, Niflheim's body seemed to moving as if possessed by a ghost. As the movement quickly died down, Duvet once again sent forth energy whips which repeatedly lashed out at Niflheim. Waking up from the flurry of blows, the brown mammal stretched its limbs as it absorbed some sunlight. Through some unknown force, Niflheim suddenly grew larger in size. This growth spurt was even more pronounced than that of Duvet's.
blazheirio889 (O)
Niflheim (M) <Run Away> @Lucky Egg
Health: 84%
Energy: 44%
Performed: Chill~Sleep Talk(Curse)~Growth
-Suddenly Tired
-1 Spd. +3 Atk. +2 Sp. Atk. +1 Def.
Duvet (F) <Infiltrator> @ Sun Stone
Health: 63%
Energy: 63%
Performed: Substitute~Giga Drain~Giga Drain
Substitute - 15%
+3 Def. +1 Atk. +1 Sp. Atk.
Terrain Notes
-The sun is starting to be covered by clouds (2 actions)
Damage and Energy Calculations
Duvet's HP = 76 + 2(Sun Stone) - 15(substitute) = 63
Duvet's Energy = 67 + 2(Sun Stone) - 8(substitute) + 2(giga drain) +2(giga drain) = 65
Niflheim's HP = 84
Niflheim's Energy = 63 + 10(chill) - 10(giga drain) - 10(giga drain) - 2(sleep talk) - 3(curse) - 4(growth) = 44
Final Notes
-ABCD commands first
Last edited by Skylark; 01-07-2012 at 02:00 AM.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Curse raises defense, not sp. atk.
Also Niflheim you're big now! :D
Last edited by blazheirio889; 01-07-2012 at 01:54 AM.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Okay Duvet, let's attack them hard!
First! Let's start off with Solarbeam. Let's spread it out if neccessary to kill any clones! Now if you see Niflheim preparing to use a move that does not attack you, let's Taunt him. If he's inaccessible (i.e. Protect, Detect, etc..) in any way let's Growth.
Now for the last two actions, let's repeat the same thing except Solarbeam if Nifheim is already taunted as well.
Solarbeam/Taunt/Growth x3
Last edited by ABCD; 01-08-2012 at 04:55 AM.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Skylark, I think you said you use Negrek's scale? Just to make sure, you add 10 points to BP for each stat boost, right?
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Actually, I just use her calculator and plug in 0 exp for basic pokemon in a three stage line, and 4 exp for basic pokemon in a two stage line and so forth. Did I miss something?
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Oh nonono, just checking, because depending on your method of calculation an attack may not do enough damage to break the Sub.
Commands in a bit.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
ACTUALLY yeah no let's stick with what we had before... *sigh*
Hidden Power to take out the Substitute. With sun and stat boosts, it should be just enough.
Then let's have a staring contest with Duvet. That's not preparing any move, is it? Since he's faster, especially after that Curse, he'll eventually get impatient and use Solarbeam. After that happens retaliate with Yawn.
Finish up by smacking him with Stored Power.
Hidden Power ~ wait then Yawn ~ Stored Power
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Round Five
blazheirio889 (O)
Niflheim (M) <Run Away> @Lucky Egg
Health: 84%
Energy: 44%
-Suddenly Tired
-1 Spd. +3 Atk. +2 Sp. Atk. +1 Def.
Duvet (F) <Infiltrator> @ Sun Stone
Health: 63%
Energy: 63%
Substitute - 15%
+3 Def. +1 Atk. +1 Sp. Atk.
Duvet's leaves quickly glowed light green as it gathered energy in them. This took no time at all, as the sun beat down heavily. Then, a light green ball suddenly appeared on top of Duvet, her form illuminated by its glow. With a battle cry, Duvet extended the ball of energy into a thin beam, hitting Niflheim straight in the chest. Niflheim wasn't one to take attacks lying down, though, and responded in kind. As soon as he could, Niflheim drew forth a power unique to him. A dozen tiny orbs of orange energy started floating around the Eevee. Through some strange force, the spheres seemed to be growing, feeding off the rays of the sun. When he couldn't hold the attack any longer, Niflheim sent the balls of energy, one after another, towards the cottonball. Without hesitating, the Cottonee's substitute jumped in the way of the attack and was completely incinerated.
Duvet then waited for her opponent to make his move, but she was simply met with his gaze. If it was a staring contest her opponent wanted, it was a staring contest he would get. A few short moments passed by without either pokemon moving a muscle. Duvet, however, proved to be more eager for action, breaking eye contact by calling forth another beam of light which struck true. Niflheim, easily out waiting his opponent, couldn't help stifling a chuckle before producing a throaty yawn. Seemingly in response, a strong gust of wind started blowing through the arena, and clouds fully covered the sun.
The yawn was clearly effective, as Duvet, storing up energy in her leaves, started drowsing off. Solarbeam was more difficult to perform without the sun's aid, but Duvet would perform this attack even if it would've drained her energy. Hoping to inflict as much pain as possible, Duvet sent out yet another beam of light. Niflheim was getting weary of all the beams of light. Feeling very confident, Niflheim used what little psychic force was at his disposal and sent a pulse of energy towards his opponent. Upon getting hit, Duvet was thrown some distance away, and both trainers were stunned at the shockwaves that emanated from the attack. Upon landing, Duvet suddenly felt weary, and went on to close her eyes. "Just one minute," she said.
blazheirio889 (O)
Niflheim (M) <Run Away> @Lucky Egg
Health: 44%
Energy: 29%
Performed: Hidden Power~Yawn~Stored Power
-1 Spd. +3 Atk. +2 Sp. Atk. +1 Def.
Duvet (F) <Infiltrator> @ Sun Stone
Health: 47%
Energy: 41%
Performed: Solarbeam~Solarbeam~Solarbeam
-In a fitful sleep
+3 Def. +1 Atk. +1 Sp. Atk.
Sleeping (severe)
Terrain Notes
-The sun is gone.
Damage and Energy Calculations
Duvet's HP = 63 - 16(stored power) = 47
Duvet's Energy = 63 - 2(solarbeam) - 6(solarbeam) - 6(solarbeam) - 8(solarbeam) = 41
Niflheim's HP = 84 - 17(solarbeam) - 17(solarbeam) - 17(solarbeam) = 44
Niflheim's Energy = 44 - 4(hidden power) - 3(yawn) - 8(stored power) = 29
Duvet's substitute = 15 - 18(hidden power) = 0
Final Notes
-I forgot to charge extra energy for quick charging that solarbeam on the second round, so I docked it off this round.
-The third solarbeam went past the damage cap
-blazhy commands first
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Mm'kay, uh... Chill while you can, then give me a 20% Substitute, and end with Last Resort. If Duvet is awake on the last action and is about to Protect or she's unavailable somehow (not including Substitute), use Growth.
Chill ~ Substitute (20%) ~ Last Resort/Growth
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Know what, I'll take this match back over. Thanks Skylark for doing it while I was not reffing.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
EDIT: Scratch that. Saw the absence sheet post just now.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Ugh. Carnage has escalated... D:< Anyways...
First, Duvet, I want you to Chill. You can't do anything else at the moment.
Now for your second action, I want you to Chill again. However,in the event that you do wake up, I want you to Wait, then Encore his substitute.
For the last action, if you remain asleep, I want you to do nothing! If you wake up at the start of the action, let's quickly Encore his substitute. Otherwise, if Niflheim's Last Resort wakes you up, let's Solarbeam.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Round Six
blazheirio889 (O)
Niflheim (M) Run Away
Health: 44%
Energy: 29%
Status: Confident. 4/5 chills left, 1/1 heals left. +3 Attack, +2 Special Attack, +1 Defense, -1 Speed.
Commands: Chill ~ Substitute (20%) ~ Last Resort/Growth
Duvet (F) Infiltrator
Health: 47%
Energy: 41%
Status: In a fitful sleep. 5/5 chills left, 1/1 heals left. +1 Attack, +1 Special Attack, +3 Defense.
Commands: Chill ~ Chill/Wait+Encore ~ Nothing/Encore/Solarbeam
Duvet begins the round by snoozing peacefully, neither knowing nor caring what her foe might do. Fortunately for her, Niflheim isn't about to charge or bite or kick; instead the Eevee settles down right where he is, closing his eyes and putting himself in a restorative trance. For a few moments the two Pokemon do nothing but rest in the middle of the battlefield, with energy returning to their bodies in a welcome rush.
Soon Niflheim shakes himself back to alertness, hopping back onto his paws. While Duvet remains blissfully asleep, he uses his newly regained energy to pull several tiles up out of the ground as well as bits of fur from his body; they fly into position as he pours his own life force into them, and he only stops when he's certain that the new Eevee-shaped construct can stand solidly on its own. The brown and white Substitute takes its place before its creator, watching Duvet with unblinking eyes.
Several seconds pass, but the Cottonee doesn't get up, and Niflheim curiously peeks past his Substitute. A quick glance at Duvet assures him that she's not going to do anything right now. Her simple slumber reminds him of just how tired he's getting; he's starting to really feel worn out for the first time. He wants this to end quickly and decisively, and a strength born of desperation tingles in his limbs. Slightly dizzy from the sudden rush of power, he nevertheless charges at Duvet, smashing into her with a force he hadn't known he was capable of. He skids to a halt, feeling the power die down to a light buzz, and as he watches her tumble away all he can think is Whoa.
Duvet finally rolls to a stop, and she blearily opens her eyes to an unexpected bout of pain. Wondering about how she got hit so strongly, she shakes herself back to wakefulness and squints in suspicion at the tail-wagging Eevee before her.
blazheirio889 (O)
Niflheim (M) Run Away
Health: 24%
Energy: 22%
Status: Exhilarated. 3/5 chills left, 1/1 heals left. Has a Substitute with 20% health. +3 Attack, +2 Special Attack, +1 Defense, -1 Speed.
Actions: Chill ~ Substitute (20%) ~ Last Resort
Duvet (F) Infiltrator
Health: 30%
Energy: 61%
Status: A bit groggy. 3/5 chills left, 1/1 heals left. +1 Attack, +1 Special Attack, +3 Defense.
Actions: Chill ~ Chill ~ nothing
Niflheim's health: 44% - 20% (Substitute) = 24%
Niflheim's energy: 29% + 10% (Chill) - 10% (Substitute) - 7% (Last Resort) = 22%
Niflheim's Substitute: 20%
Duvet's health: 47% - 17% (Last Resort) = 30%
Duvet's energy: 41% + 10% (Chill) +10% (Chill) = 61%
Other Notes:
- Duvet woke up at the end of the third action.
Next Round:
- ABCD commands
- blazheirio889 commands
Last edited by Totodile; 06-14-2012 at 04:44 PM.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
DQ warning for ABCD, 24 hours.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
Do you think you could give him a bit of an extension? We have exams now and he's probably too busy to command.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
I suppose so, even if his last post was four months ago. So. DQ redacted, then.
Re: ABCD vs blazheirio889
So I guess ABCD is DQ'd at this point. Not how I'd have liked to finish, but oh well.
blazheirio889 gets $8, while Skylark and I get $3. Niflheim and Duvet get 1 exp each.
|dq asb battles, loss: abcd, ref: skylark, ref: totodile, win: blazheirio889
|Thread Tools


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Freeze Climbing
An exploration of a climbing mechanic I first saw in Paintey. Its become somewhat of a VR love-letter to the platformers of my childhood, like Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, and Spyro.
An exploration of a climbing mechanic I first saw in Paintey. Its become somewhat of a VR love-letter to the platformers of my childhood, like Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, and Spyro.
The few VR projects I've put together. These are mostly little demo's or tests of ideas that I may come back to at some point. Hopefully this list will get longer with time.
A small project I put together to see how player scale and VR worked together. Mostly inspired by Alice in Wonderland, as well as films like Inception.
My very first VR Project, made for my Google Cardboard. If you're a fan of Undertale, you may like this.
All the experiments and incomplete games I've made over the years. None of them are complete or especially exciting but I think each is interesting, if not in itself, than in the story and experience it brings with it.
This is a project I started with my good friend Chance. We worked on it for a little over 3 months together in out Junior year of High-school. We eventually dropped the project, as we thought it was the best thing for our health and friendship. In the end we made a project that looked nice, and I got a lot of experience out of it.
My submission for Ludum Dare 35. This was while I was still learning Unity, and was my very first Game Jam. I learned quite a bit about Unity and my personal development pipeline during this game. It's also the first game I ever called complete and finished.
My submission for 2018 Global Game Jam. A collaborative effort between myself and 2 teammates. Some of the most 3D modeling I've ever done on a single project.
My submission for Ludum Dare 36. I only had a little over 24 hours for this submission, so it's a bit rough around the edges. The controls are wonky and I have a lot of visual errors, but I felt I had a good Idea behind it, and It was a nice refresher project. I hope to come back to it some day.
This was my first foray into UNET so, although it's far from finished, it accomplished did a good job of teaching me basic Unity networking. My main goal was to make a movement system that was fun and satisfying. It eventually evolved into a high-speed sniper battle, and is actually a fair bit of fun if you get a few friends in.
These are just the games that I got around to making a page for. I have a few more small projects I haven't gotten around to adding here.


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Mentally Challenged Teenager Forced To Take "Cinnamon Challenge" By Police
If you are at all like me, you probably know very little about the so-called, "Cinnamon Challenge." After a quick investigation, I can tell you that the challenge is actually a dare in which the challenger is supposed to swallow a tablespoon of powdered cinnamon without inhaling it, choking or vomiting. What is supposed to make it so "fun" is that someone videotapes the challenge and then posts the video on the internet. Sounds like a blast, huh?
This story is about a mentally challenged teenager from Mississippi who was forced to undergo the "cinnamon challenge" by the Chief of Police and four of his staff members while he was performing court ordered community service at the local city hall. The officials also are accused of beating the teenager up possibly because he told them while in the courtroom that "they ain't about nothing." I'd say he was right.
According to the story at the Daily Mail, the Chief of Police and the other police and city hall employees who were involved have been fired.