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Now that we have kits, you can add your layout as an example layout by following these easy steps. (Obviously this only works with kits that have actually been uploaded, but eventually they all will be here and you can edit your layout if you'd like to add it).
When uploading a layout, choose the "Kit" tab:
Then start typing in the name of the Kit. If the kit has a "bundle" option, you should choose that one, otherwise select the kit you used.
After a little time your layout will show up among the other layouts that have been added:


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News | April 1, 2013
NASA Sends Unmanned Aircraft to Study Volcanic Plume
Last month, a team of NASA researchers deployed three UAVs with special instruments into and above the noxious sulfur dioxide plume of Costa Rica's active Turrialba volcano, near San Jose. The project was designed to improve the remote-sensing capability of satellites, including satellite data research products such as maps of the concentration and distribution of volcanic gases. It was also designed to improve computer models of how and where volcanic plumes will travel.
Led by principal investigator David Pieri of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., the team launched 10 flights of the remote controlled UAVs into the volcanic plume and above the rim of Turrialba's 10,500-foot (3,200-meter) summit crater between March 11 and 14.
The small, twin electric engine Dragon Eye UAVs were operated by researchers at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Weighing less than six pounds (2.2 kilograms) each and with a wingspan of 3.75 feet (1.1 meters), they have visible and infrared video cameras and can carry a one-pound instrument payload for up to an hour within a volcanic plume. The researchers equipped them with sulfur dioxide sensors, particle sensors and automatic atmospheric sampling bottles keyed to measure sulfur dioxide concentration.
During the flights, the team coordinated its data gathering with NASA's Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA's Terra spacecraft, allowing scientists to compare sulfur dioxide concentration measurements from the satellite with measurements taken from within the plume.
Scientists believe computer models derived from this study will contribute to safeguarding the National and International Airspace System, and will also improve global climate predictions and mitigate environmental hazards (e.g., sulfur dioxide volcanic smog, or "vog") for people who live near volcanoes.
Key constituents of such models are the intensity and character of the volcanic activity located near the eruption vent. For instance, knowing the height of ash and gas concentrations, and temperatures over the vent during an eruption are important initial factors for any model that predicts the direction of the volcanic plume.
"It is very difficult to gather data from within volcanic eruption columns and plumes because updraft wind speeds are very high, and high ash concentrations can quickly destroy aircraft engines," said Pieri. "Such flight environments can be very dangerous to manned aircraft. Volcanic eruption plumes may stretch for miles from a summit vent, and detached ash clouds can drift hundreds to thousands of miles from an eruption site."
The project supports NASA's ASTER mission as well as JPL's planned Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) satellite mission by improving satellite data-based retrievals of gases and solid aerosols associated with volcanic activity, as well as volcanic emission transport models. HyspIRI will study the world's ecosystems and provide critical information on natural disasters such as volcanoes, assessing their pre-eruptive behavior and the likelihood of future eruptions.
"This project is a great example of how unmanned aircraft can be used for beneficial civilian purposes - in this case for better understanding Earth system processes and the impact of volcanism on our atmosphere," said Matthew Fladeland, airborne science manager at Ames. "We can very efficiently and effectively collect measurements that improve NASA satellite data and aviation safety that cannot be safely collected by manned aircraft."
The recent deployment of the NASA Dragon Eye small UAV aircraft was a collaborative effort among three NASA centers (Ames, JPL and the Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va.), along with several international and commercial partners, including the University of Costa Rica (UCR), San Jose; the Applied Sciences University of Düsseldorf, Germany (FHD); RadMet LLC, San Mateo, Calif.; and Teledaq LLC, Santa Clarita, Calif. Major logistical support was provided by CICANUM at URC, and instrument and science support was provided by FHD. Airspace clearance management was provided by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Costa Rica (DGAC). NASA investigators are especially appreciative of the kind hospitality and superb technical support of our Costa Rican hosts.
For more information, read the full Ames feature at: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/earthmonth/volcanic-plume-uavs.html . For more on NASA's Airborne Science Program, visit: http://airbornescience.nasa.gov/ . For more on HyspIRI, visit: http://hyspiri.jpl.nasa.gov/ . For more on ASTER, visit: http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/ .
JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
News Media ContactAlan Buis 818-354-0474
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Ruth Marlaire 650-604-4709
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

subset: commoncrawl


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Researchers Make Important Findings on Hookworm
A new study published in Nature Genetics, led by a team of researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, reveals that the hookworm's genome has been decoded.
The scientists, including Drs. Peter Hotez and Bin Zhan of the Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, focused on how different hookworm genes are responsible for invading humans, feeding on human blood and bypassing the host's immune system. Other discoveries include pinpointing genes that could be potential targets for vaccines and new drug treatments.
As senior author Makedonka Mitreva, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and genetics and a member of The Genome Institute at the School of Medicine, commented in a Washington University in St. Louis press release, "This information will accelerate development of new diagnostic tools and vaccine against the infection."
These findings – with the potential to lead to new advancements – are welcome given how human hookworm, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), plagues nearly 700 million of the world's poorest people.
Hookworm disproportionately affects pregnant women and children in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Left untreated, hookworm causes internal blood loss leading to iron-deficiency anemia and malnutrition. Hookworm also contributes to physical and cognitive impairment, poor school performance and attendance, and low birth weights.
Fortunately, the Sabin Vaccine Institute Product Development Partnership (Sabin PDP) is working on the world's first and only hookworm vaccine development effort.
Last fall, we announced that HOOKVAC, a consortium of global partners across the United States, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa, with funding from the European Commission FP7 programme, will build on previous clinical development by beginning the first clinical testing of the human hookworm vaccine in the West African nation of Gabon.
With greater understanding of hookworm, we hope that we can bring about cutting edge ways to reduce the global burden of diseases affecting the world's poorest people.


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Cisco's approach to wireless standards has been to create its own platforms, and only fully support open standards once these platforms have gained such market share that openness is no real threat.
This was seen in WLans, where Cisco has only recently backed interoperability between its products and third party access points – and is pushing a technology it acquired with Airespace as a standard for open switches. It made its EAP-Fast authentication protocol – a proprietary implementation that is an alternative to industry standard EAPs – into a de facto standard by allowing third parties to license it for free, and its Cisco Compatible Extensions program, which certifies compatibility of wireless hardware devices with Cisco's key WLan range, Aironet, is also seen mainly as a way to create Cisco-controlled standards.
Its market share means that third parties find it hard not to support its technologies, which can achieve more rapid uptake than IEEE or IETF official platforms.
Unified Communication System
But last week saw a major departure from this habit, with Cisco unveiling the Unified Communication System, a comprehensive converged IP framework based around industry standard SIP. This is a major breakthrough in terms of bringing better integration and coherence to the company's wired and wireline portfolio, and also shows how SIP (Session Initiation Protocol, the basis of most future IP applications) has become an unstoppable force even for Cisco, the king of IP (of course, its position in the IP market means it will also be able to exploit one of its greatest hidden assets, its intellectual property, as IP networks take hold across the mobile and converged markets).
SIP has been built natively into Cisco's network operating system IOS, allowing it to support current Cisco IP products and openSIP versions simultaneously. This opens up the Cisco VoIP environment, with products such as CallManager, to SIP for integration with third party appliances, and server-based applications such as Microsoft Live Commuications Server.
Growth in SIP support
Until now, Cisco's support for SIP has been lukewarm. As with other standards, it cited functionality compromises that it said went hand-in-hand with open platforms, and the slow progress of standards bodies compared to the pace of change required by enterprise customers. Of course, there was also an issue of protecting its own base, especially in key applications where it is dominant, such as corporate VoIP, and of giving itself leverage over its market share in those areas to build up similar strength in emerging sectors such as wireless convergence and mobile IP systems.
Not that Cisco was the only one - SIP has been hyped for years, but full commitment by top vendors has been lacking, with 3Com, Avaya and Nortel among those hesitating to create pure SIP versions of their gear, citing feature limitations. Even disruptive VoIP force Skype developed its own protocol, claiming SIP has too many weaknesses.
Now all the main IP telephony companies – Cisco, Siemens, Avaya, Nortel and 3Com - have promised SIP PBXs' based on Linux. This change of heart has been driven by enterprise demand for low cost solutions and by the increasing drive from the telcos and cellcos for SIP, as they look to converged wired and wireless, and voice and data/multimedia services to improve their own business models.
In the multinetwork, multimedia world, no technology – despite the probably short term influence of approaches like Unlicensed Mobile Access – has emerged to challenge SIP, and carriers have less dependence on Cisco than their enterprise cousins. Their support has sparked a high level of applications development around SIP, which has, for all its limitations, become impossible to ignore.
Cisco's Unified Communication System (UCS) will focus initially on the voice application but has the potential and scalability to support a wide range of integrated IP functions in an enterprise environment, over wired and wireless networks. As such, it could also be adapted for the carrier market, especially for operatorsthat are not yet moving to the full IP Multimedia Subsystem as their convergence umbrella. The main initial components of UCS are CallManager 5.0, Unified Presence Server and Unified Personal Communicator, which will play to the rising trend for integrated messaging, combining voicemail, videomail, chat, email and messaging into a single interface and supporting presence and location awareness. Importantly to the enterprise market, Cisco's own products in this area will also interoperate with Microsoft's Office Communicator client, and its Live Communication
Server presence and multimedia platform
Cisco also plans to introduce integration with two other key partner platforms: Nokia's dual-mode Wi-Fi/cellular handsets, which the phonemaker aims to turn into the "only handset an enterprise needs" for all its networks and applications; and the RIM BlackBerry 7270. Both devices will be able to run Cisco-based VoIP in Wi-Fi and cellular modes.
Cisco has leapt ahead of its IP telephony rivals in its support for both wireless and wired access. Soon, the UCS umbrella brand will cover almost 60 new or revamped Cisco products, with special attention paid to increasing intelligence around call processing, presence and location, plus enriching the offering through third party applications and devices.
With regards to Microsoft, which sees Live Communications Server as a key strategy for getting into the wireless as well as the wired enterprise, Cisco has given with one hand and taken away with the other. Its endorsement of LCS and other Microsoft products further increases the momentum behind them, and reinforces the old situation where Cisco products worked best with Windows-based, Cisco-only environments, thus generating further pressure for large companies to stick with this well tested combination.
But Cisco has also significantly stepped up its support for Linux in UCS, loosening its bonds with Windows somewhat. This is a Cisco that appears to be more open to standards it does not directly control, and to new partnerships, to ensure it stays king of the enterprise IP game as that expands its role into multimedia and mobility. It is also a Cisco that is continuing to play its trump card, its claim that no other vendor can match its breadth of products and provide a single-source converged solution.
The weakness in that story has been that the huge range of elements has not always worked smoothly together. Cisco will not undermine its market share significantly by supporting SIP, but it would have done with an IP platform that was fragmented and hard to integrate. SIP support gives it a better tale to tell carriers and enterprise service providers, and also a far quicker route to full portfolio integration than a proprietary reworking would have done.
Copyright © 2006, Wireless Watch
Wireless Watch is published by Rethink Research, a London-based IT publishing and consulting firm. This weekly newsletter delivers in-depth analysis and market research of mobile and wireless for business. Subscription details are here.


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Arsonal - Rolling (Dedicated In Memory Of Amar McLean, Who Was Gunned Down By Newark, NJ Police While Still In Handcuffs)
Chuck reports "An Uncle Nephew Films Production. Shoot in Newark, NJ. This Video is in the memory of Amar McLean aka "Black" who was gunned down by Newark police while still in handcuffs. Rest in Peace. Video features current MTV2 Fight Club champion Arsonal da Rebel along with Ray Swag and the late Amar Mclean "Black". "
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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Big Data has become one of the most over-used and over-loaded terms in IT and data management in recent years. Since we focus on business intelligence for SQL Server in this blog, I think it's fair to make the statement that many of us have had "big data" data warehouses and analytics in SQL Server for many years. Yahoo! has OLAP cubes in SSAS of many TBs, for example. I've personally built and managed CDR, telecom and ICA media data warehouses in SQL Server of many TBs in size. We used to call these "VLDBs" and truth be told, and there are some very specific complex configurations that you need to put in the place for SQL Server, focusing on columnar databases and in-memory cubes in SQL Server 2012 or look at the MPP SQL Server PDW. SQL Server Fast Track is another good option for large SMP scale-up data warehouses.
Related: Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Takes on Big Data with Hadoop
The difference with Big Data is that we start to look at providing analytics and insights into your organization's data assets that are NOT in the data warehouse. Most enterprise BI systems provide maybe 10% of your overall data assets for your decision makers and BI users. The idea with Big Data is that we can additional provide 2 specific features in our data systems with SQL Server if we were to utilize the primary Big Data platform: Hadoop. These features are:
1. Optimized ETL. A key reason why your data warehouse does not contain all of the data for insights that your organization may need could be because the data sources are too varied, too large or unstructured in nature. Linux shops that take advantage of Apache's Hadoop Big Data platform have been utilizing tools in Hadoop like Hive, Sqoop, HDFS and MapReduce for years now. Microsoft has just released a developer preview of their first Windows port of the Hadoop platform which I'll talk about in more detail below. You can pre-process very complex large files in Hadoop MapReduce in a distributed manner and then ETL the resulting aggregated results into your SQL Server data warehouse using SSIS or the Apache Hadoop Big Data extraction tool Sqoop.
2. You can always just leave the source data in HDFS and run Hive queries against that data. This is the scenario I'll introduce you to below. This is what I call Big Data Analytics.
The Microsoft port of Hadoop to Windows is available here in developer preview from Microsoft and Hortonworks: Microsoft HDInsight. There is a version that you can download and install locally on Windows or Windows Server. Or you can use the public cloud version of Hadoop on Azure. I downloaded and installed the local version of Hadoop on my Windows 7 laptop to get the Hive ODBC driver that I used in this demo. The distribution with install a name node and data node together on your box. That won't give you the distributed quality that Hadoop provides you with MapReduce and HDFS. But it will give you a way of getting started on these Big Data technologies on your Windows platform and integrate them with Excel and SQL Server in a single-node configuration and includes some great examples of MapReduce, Pig and Hive.
Hive is part of the Apache Hadoop platform that allows users to build SQL-live queries using the Hive query language (HiveQL or HQL). This is where you can provide data discovery capabilities to your data scientists who want to find new patterns and answers in your organizational data assets that are not available in the aggregate or even in the detail in your data warehouse.
You can write HQL queries from the command-line for Hadoop or you can use the Hive ODBC driver for Excel in Microsoft's HDInsights Hadoop distribution.
When you click over to the Hive Pane in Excel, you can then connect into your Hive system either on the Windows Hadoop platform or your Linux-based distribution.
Excel will present you with the list of tables available to you in Hive. These tables are built via metadata DDL statements that you use to create schemas that can be queried with data stored in HDFS.
Select your tables & columns and then execute the query. The ODBC driver will issue the Hive query out to the server and return the results from Hadoop to your Excel interface. Note the HQL query syntax which allows your users to write custom SQL-like HiveQL in the bottom-right pane.
Excel may be a more beneficial interface for your company's analysts who wish to explore big data, or you can still use the HiveQL command-line interface. In either case, you can execute custom queries. In Excel, you are now able to bring this data into analytical tools (such as Excel or PowerPivot) for advanced Big Data Analytics from a single tool.


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Kentucky Opera's Carnevale
Kentucky Opera's black tie gala, Carnevale, was held Jan. 12 at the Marriott Ballroom. Carnevale is one of Kentucky Opera's major fundraisers.
The event began at 6 p.m. with a grand wine and spirit tasting, followed by dinner and entertainment by Kentucky Opera artists. Those attending had the chance to bid on exciting live auction items, which included rare wines, dinners, diamond and pearl jewelry and a one-week stay at Maison Rose in Dordogne, France. The elegant evening concluded with dancing at Don Giovanni's Fiery Lounge.
Photos By BILL WINE | Contributing Photographer
Click here to see the full gallery.
Kids Acting Against Cancer
Kids Acting Against Cancer, a nonprofit theatre troupe that annually performs theatrical productions to raise money for pediatric cancer research, performed a modern interpretation of Agatha Christie's classic murder mystery "And Then There Were None†on Jan. 11 in the MeX Theater of the Kentucky Center for the Arts.
Kids Acting Against Cancer is run entirely by kids ages 10 to 25. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the show will benefit Gilda's Club Louisville and the pediatric hematology/oncology clinic of Kosair Children's Hospital.
Photos By BILL WINE | Contributing Photographer
Click here to see the full gallery.
Boutique Warehouse Sale
Local shoppers enjoyed up to 90 percent off clothing and accessories during the Boutique Warehouse Sale hosted inside Holiday Manor Jan. 11-12.
Rodeo Drive, Boutique Serendipity, My Bel Amour, Designs by Dennis Tapp, 15 Ounce Premium Denim, Glasscock and Peacock Boutique participated in the shopping extravaganza. Guests who stopped by the sale later in the evening enjoyed a special happy hour featuring wine and desserts.
Photos by TIM VALENTINO | Contributing Photographer
Click here to see the full gallery.
Bobby Burk's 40th Birthday Roast
Friends and family of Bobby Burk gathered on Jan. 12 to "roast and toast†Bobby, in honor of his 40th birthday.
April Burk hosted the special celebration, which was held upstairs in The Silver Dollar on Frankfort Avenue. Guests enjoyed light appetizers that included chicken and waffles, veggie empanadas and brisket sliders, with a cash bar. Five close friends prepared their own good-humored roasts of the guest of honor, while many more wished him well with heartfelt birthday toasts.
Photos By TIM VALENTINO | Contributing photographer
Click here to see the full gallery.
MAP Louisville
MAP Louisville, a competition of beauty, talent and poise, was held Jan. 12 at The Whiskey Row Lofts.
Participants in the fun-filled competition each purchased one of 53 sash packages, which corresponded to those of contestants in the nationally-televised Miss America Pageant. The crown was awarded to the lucky person wearing the same sash as the newly-crowned Miss America.
Participants enjoyed stand-up comedy by Miss Coco Peru, entrance into the sash private party, unlimited drinks and door prizes.
All proceeds from the event will go to The Louisville Youth Group.
Photos By TIM VALENTINO | Contributing Photographer
Click here to see the full gallery.
Millers' 50th Anniversary
Scott and Kimberly Miller gave a surprise 50th wedding anniversary party at the Louisville Boat Club for Scott's parents, June and Ed Miller. The Millers had received an invitation to a party for another couple, and were surprised to find the party was in their honor.
Photos By The Voice-Tribune's Veteran Photographer John Harralson
Click here to see the full gallery.
Cabo Wabo 20th Annual Coat Party
Cabo Wabo hosted their 20th annual Coat Party, a philanthropic event held to collect coats and raise funds for local charities, on Jan. 13 at Mellwood Arts Center.
This year's fun-filled event benefited Indian Summer Camp, while the coats were donated to St. Vincent de Paul.
Guests danced to music by The Crashers as they sipped tasty beverages and frozen drinks. Everyone enjoyed posing for photos in the Cabo Wabo picture frames.
Cabo Wabo President Alan Lewis took a moment during the evening to stop and thank The Voice-Tribune's veteran photographer, John Harralson, for his support of the organization.
Photos By BILL WINE | Contributing Photographer
Click here to see the full gallery.


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The Poohbahs are a secret, silly society on Fraggle Rock.
Among their solemn, time-honored traditions are calling each other "Fritz" and requiring potential new members to recite an oath in the "Uffa-fluff" language. The Beggler-Beg and Vanguard are some of the official Poohbah positions held by secondary characters. There is also a Mind-Reader who sees if a potential member is worthy to join the Poohbahs.
In the Fraggle Rock episode "The Secret Society of Poohbahs," Mokey Fraggle desperately wants to join their organization. As it turns out, all the main characters of Fraggle Rock are part of the society.
At the end of the episode, it is mentioned that the Poohbahs are focusing on getting Boober Fraggle to join.
Known Members
- Convincing John (Vanguard)
- Gillis Fraggle (Beggler-Beg)
- Red Fraggle (Mind-Reader)
- Mokey Fraggle
- Gobo Fraggle
- Lanford


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|Land Matters Discussion Area Discussion Relating to Your Land/Legislative Issues
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Tillamook State Forest OHV Grant.
Back in January, Oregon Department of Forestry submitted an ATV Grant application for OHV Program Operations and Maintenance. This was a two year grant that was approved by the ATV Committee. Unfortunately, timber sales have dropped substantually causing a reduction of revenue for the recreation program. Due to projected budget reductions, ODF needs to resubmit a new application to fund recreation staffing and vehicle operating expenses. WE NEED THIS GRANT OR THE OHV TRAILS IN TSF WILL BE CLOSED!
Here is a sample of the letter I sent to Ron Price. Please write your own letter and mail it to the as soon as possible. It is important that the people that use the TSF OHV trails lets the committee know how important this grant is.
ATV Grant Allocation Committee
c/o Ron Price
725 Summer Street NE, Suite C
Salem, OR 97301
Dear Ron Price:
I am writing in regards to the new ATV Grant application that is being submitted for the OHV Program Operations and Maintenance in the Tillamook State Forest. I realize that it is unusual for a grant to be approved and then resubmitted with changes, but I implore you to realize the gravity of the situation. I am an active OHV enthusiast, a member of Cascade Cruisers and a member of the TSF Trail Patrol. I practice and educate responsible OHV use in the Tillamook State Forest.
Based on the projected budget reductions for the State Forest Division, there will be significant reductions in Oregon Department of Forestry staffing. Most likely those cuts in staffing will be in the recreation positions. The reason for these budget reductions is due to the lack of revenue coming in from timber sales. This new application sets grant funds aside for that deficiency. You see, if this new application isn't approved, there is a good chance that ODF won't have the staffing needed to follow through with the stipulations of the grant. That would lead to closing down the OHV trails in the Tillamook State Forest.
As someone who uses the Tillamook State Forest trail system on a regular basis and spends countless hours a year volunteering in the Tillamook State Forest, I would hate to see that happen. I know that it would not stop illegal OHV usage in the Tillamook State Forest and that the lack of regulation would lead to horrible environmental damage. Please approve the updated ATV Grant application for the OHV Program in the Tillamook State Forest.
Chad Holznagel
Chad - KE7VSA
FZJ80 - 37's, lifted, locked, geared, dented
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Among the celebrations this weekend at Comic-Con International in San Diego, one of the most noteworthy is Saturday's Gays in Comics panel 25th year celebration.
It won't be as flashy as the celebrity-thronged bow by the "Twilight" franchise, or retro in feeling as Schwarzenegger and Stallone's appearance to plug "The Expendables 2." But in terms of social and industry change, it's as important and valued as a mint-condition, Mylar-sealed first edition.
"When you realize that the comic book industry started in the 1940s – it's not even 80 years old – and we've been doing the panel a third of that period, it says a lot about our time," says Andy Mangels, the author behind the panel since its inception. "About when comics were created and when gay comics became a force."
U.S. & World
The roots of the comic world's longest running panel can be traced to an article Mangels wrote that was published in "Amazing Heroes" in the summer of 1988. "Out of the Closet and Into the Comics" addressed Mangels' personal experiences of coming out as a gay man, and working in an industry he loved, but was one that offered no support or reflection of his own life.
Word of mouth grew over Mangels' article (this was the pre-Internet 1980s), spurring the then 20-year-old to approach the organizers of Comic-Con with a view to staging a panel that addressed queer comics and the people who create them. They agreed.
"They didn't know what would happen," says Mangels. "None of us did."
Between 600 and 700 people attended that first year, mainly out of curiosity according to Mangels. Today, the annual event draws roughly 3,000 people. "We get more people at our panel these days than they do at the 'X-Men' panel," says Mangels proudly. "It's kind of cool."
Twenty-five years ago gay characters and storylines existed only in underground comic publications. In 2012 hundreds of characters and titles now exist and sit proudly among mainstream franchises on bookstore shelves. DC's Batwoman is a lesbian and Marvel superhero Northstar recently wed his long term same-sex partner Kyle in "Astonishing X-Men."
Even more astonishing is that Northstar was beaten to the gay-marriage altar by none other than "Archie." "Life with Archie" #16, published in February, showcased the marriage of Kevin Keller (a military veteran) to his male partner whom he met while serving in Iraq. Despite protests by conservative group One Million Moms the issue was a sell-out. Riverdale will never be the same.
In response to the popularity of the issue, Archie Comics co-CEO Jon Goldwater released a statement saying, "Our fans have come out in full support of Kevin. He is, without a doubt, the most important new character in Archie history. He's here to stay."
Viewed against the current backdrop of gay-marriage debates, hip-hop performers coming out of the closet and LGBT characters and shows staking a claim in pop culture, such advances may seem less than significant. But current social acceptance is a relatively new occurrence that only came about in the last decade. All thanks to the activism of people like Mangels and his supporters who demanded to see themselves represented alongside and within the mainstream.
"I don't know if you would have seen a mainstream character like Batwoman that out ten years ago," says "Jane's World" creator Paige Braddock, whose titular character is a lesbian.
"It was a ghetto art form basically," adds San Francisco-based cartoonist Justin Hall, referring to queer comics of the not-so distant past. "They traditionally lived in a parallel universe to the rest of the comic book world. Now that ghetto is dissolving – in part because of the publishing climate and part because of mainstream acceptance of queer stories. Every Barnes & Noble has a gay section these days."
Hall, who edited the new gay anthology "No Straight Lines: 40 Years of Queer Comics" (which also is celebrated with a panel at Comic-Con), believes that queer comics and the people who create them made their biggest advances over the last decade.
"Andy Mangels was like the lone voice in the wilderness for a long time," says Hall, who goes on to say that the creation of Prism Comics – a not-for-profit advocacy group that supports LGBT comics – in 2003 by Mangels and other cartoonists who had previously worked together on the publication "Out in Comics," was a turning point in advancing awareness of the genre and the people who create it.
The long-standing attraction of the LGBT community to comic books is not hard to fathom. "More often than not, they have characters that have secret identities," explains Mangels. "They have something special about them that they can't reveal to the world. They're hiding something from the people they love. That's a very seductive type of material for young LGBT readers."
The 25th-year panel will mark Mangel's retirement from moderating the panel, though he will still be involved in organizing the event into the future. To ensure it would be more a celebration than the regular question and answer panel, Mangels reached out to every panelist who has participated in Gays in Comics over the 25 years and asked them to attend. Some cartoonists are sending video messages, others like Braddock and Hall will appear in person.
One issue likley to come up is the worry that the current celebration by the media of all things gay coild lead to queer characters and storylines being added simply for political correctness or to jump on the zeitgeist. "You want to believe that it is authentic," Braddock says. "You have these mainstream books doing it and you think, 'Hmm, was it just for publicity?'"
"In [mainstream] comics right now gay storylines are only just beginning to be shown," says Mangels.
So can we expect to see a gay superhero comic book/blockbuster movie cross-over anytime soon? "That would be fantastic," said Hall. "That would be a huge jump."


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Despite reports and plenty of wishing on the part of the fans, Carrie Bradshaw's second "Big"-gest love, Aidan Shaw, won't be making an appearance in "Sex and The City 2."
On Saturday afternoon, following his Television Critics Association panel to promote Season 2 of his Showtime series with Toni Collette, "The United States of Tara," John said he won't be in the movie.
In December, Sarah Jessica Parker told MTV News she could not "confirm nor deny" that John was coming back for a cameo as Aiden, after he was reportedly spotted in Morocco at the same time "Sex and The City 2" was being filmed there.
But on Saturday, John told AccessHollywood.com he wasn't even in the North African country as past reports suggested.
"I wasn't in Morocco," John told Access.
In fact, John said the shots of the star people have referred to are actually from some time ago.
"I was in Istanbul about six years ago and somebody put a picture up and said I was Morocco," he said.
When asked about Sarah Jessica's recent non-denial and non-confirmation, John smiled and said his former co-star was doing the right thing for her film.
"Well, if I were a producer, I would do the same thing," he laughed.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, "Sex and The City 2" will hit theaters this summer.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: John Corbett
PLAY IT NOW: Preview: Hugh Grant Gives London Tour To Sarah Jessica Parker & Billy Bush
PLAY IT NOW: 'Sex And The City 2' Spoiler: Is Samantha Getting Married?
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: John Corbett - Sex And The City - Sarah Jessica Parker - TV - Toni Collette


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Tugg, the web-based platform that allows you to bring fan-selected films to a theater near you, has added an extensive list of features from The Weinstein Company. Now available are Best Picture Oscar-winners, The Artist and The King's Speech, along with award-winning films Inglourious Basterds, The Reader and more. Boasting over 500 titles, Tugg allows fans to relive the theatrical experience of some of their favorite blockbusters and sought after indies. Hit the jump to read the full press release.
Here's the full press release, including a list of films available from Tugg and instructions on how to bring them to a theater near you:
Best Picture Winners "The Artist" and "The King's Speech"
Among Titles Now Available To Screen
Austin, TX— Tuesday, August 7, 2012— Tugg, Inc. ("Tugg"), a web-platform that enables individuals to choose the films that play in their local theaters, today announces that it will begin offering films from The Weinstein Company. Newly available titles include the 2012 and 2011 Best Picture winners The Artist and The King's Speech, Academy Award-winning titles Inglourious Basterds and The Reader, and more.
Starting today, audiences nationwide will be able to program films from The Weinstein Company in any of Tugg's thousands of participating movie theaters around the country. These films will be added to Tugg's current library, which consists of over 500 titles ranging from new releases to repertory classics and studio blockbusters to independent festival favorites.
"The Weinstein name is synonymous with quality filmmaking, and we are thrilled to be featuring such a critically-acclaimed list of titles," said co-founders Nicolas Gonda and Pablo Gonzalez. "As we continue to grow the library, our mission is to enable audiences to share an endless selection of films with friends, family and local communities, and to provide for a rich and engaging experience at local theaters."
"Partnering with Tugg gives our audience the chance to relive some of their favorite independent films," said TWC President of Distribution Erik Lomis. "We are always looking for new avenues to distribute our films – old and new."
Browse Tugg's library and request to bring a favorite title to your city at www.tugg.com/titles
To learn more about how Tugg works, visit the "How To" page at www.tugg.com/howtuggworks
About Tugg, Inc.
Tugg, Inc. ("Tugg") is a collective action web-platform that enables individuals to choose the films that play in their local theaters. Through Tugg, individuals are empowered to select a film, screening time, and nearby theater, and then spread the word to their immediate and online community. Once a necessary amount of people commit to attending, the event will be confirmed, and Tugg will reserve the theater, manage ticketing and ensure delivery of the film; allowing the audience to sit back and enjoy the show. Tugg is currently working with exhibitors Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, AMC Theatres, Bow Tie Cinemas, Cinemark Theatres, Goodrich Quality Cinemas, Rave Cinemas and Regal Cinemas, as well as additional regional and independently-owned theaters across the country. These exhibitors will provide theatrical venues for individually curated events showcasing Tugg's growing library of hundreds of studio and independent films.
The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes. TWC releases took home eight 2012 Academy Awards®, the most wins in the studio's history. The tally included Best Picture for Michel Hazanavicius's THE ARTIST and Best Documentary Feature for TJ Martin and Dan Lindsay's UNDEFEATED. THE ARTIST brought TWC its second consecutive Best Picture statuette following the 2011 win for Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH.
Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; I'M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE; THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; SCRE4M; SUBMARINE; DIRTY GIRL; APOLLO 18; OUR IDIOT BROTHER; I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT; SARAH'S KEY; SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D; MY WEEK WITH MARILYN; THE IRON LADY; W.E.; CORIOLANUS; UNDEFEATED; THE ARTIST; and BULLY. Currently in release are EASY MONEY and THE INTOUCHABLES. Upcoming releases include LAWLESS; KILLING THEM SOFTLY; THE MASTER; and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. Currently in production is DJANGO UNCHAINED.


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Is Adele Planning a Comeback Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall?
Is Adele ready for her comeback? With a new album tentatively slated for October of this year, UK's Daily Express reveals that she may be ready to take the stage again at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Adele has, for the most part, been out of the stage spotlight since 2011. The 25-year-old singer suffered a vocal-cord hemorrhage and needed surgery on her vocal cords. She also took time off to care for her new child who was born in October of 2012. Her only stage appearances in recent years include the 2012 Grammy Awards and the 2013 Academy Awards.
The Express also reports that in addition to the London Royal Albert Hall, Adele could bring her show to New York City and Los Angeles.
"Everything will be on her terms," a source told the publication. "The key to all these plans is that Adele feels comfortable with her voice. She has vowed that she never wants to break down during a tour or put her voice through so much stress that she suffers problems. Her doctors warned her that stress could also mean more surgery, and she is adamant that she never wants to go through that again."
In addition to a new album, fans can also expect to hear a collaboration between Wiz Khalifa and Adele on his forthcoming album, 'Blacc Hollywood.'
So what do you think, Adele fans? Are you excited to see her perform again?


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July 26th, 2010
We updated our website for you. Here are some changes at a glance.
Widen your view!
We increased the width of the website so the texts are easier to read.
We improved the navigation of the website. You can now easily find the information you want...
Summarizing all family members with only their differences. Clear and easy. Just click on the desired model for more information.
To the point!
Only the most important camera specifications in one view. More information can be found on the leaflets.
We believe in a personal approach. Now you can see the people that are serving you.


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Welcome to Very Short Introductions
Brilliant. Sharp. Inspiring.
Discover a new topic or subject with these intelligent and serious introductions written by authors who are experts in their field. Find out more…
See the full list of titles currently available.
Hundreds of VSIs, on dozens of subjects ...
- Browse all VSIs ... or browse by subject
- Just published: new VSIs on British Politics, Buddhist Ethics, Fire, and The U.S. Supreme Court
Helpful Resources
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- View the online tour or read the FAQs
- Recommend to your librarian


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History repeats itself and Gov. Jerry Brown is no exception.
The LA Times reported recently that Brown had dropped by the home of California Federation of Teachers official Joshua Pechthalt, a former social studies teacher who is the original proponent of the so-called "millionaire's tax" initiative that is seen as competition for the governor's own tax-hike initiative. Brown has been trying to convince Peschthalt and the measure's other backers, the Courage Campaign, to drop the measure.
On a recent evening, a dark sedan glided to the curb at a two-story Craftsman off Crenshaw Boulevard near the Santa Monica Freeway. It carried Gov. Jerry Brown and his top aide, fresh off a day of squiring the vice president of China around Los Angeles.
U.S. & World
This isn't the first time that Brown has resorted to the home drop-by to win the favor of an initiative sponsor whose goals conflict with the governor's own.
More than 30 years ago, Brown made quiet, personal visits to the Los Angeles home of Howard Jarvis, the anti-tax activist who was co-author of the famous initiative, Prop 13. The location was different. Jarvis lived on Crescent Heights Boulevard, not off of Crenshaw.
Brown won Jarvis' political support for a time, and he seems to have won Pechthalt's personal admiration. But in the end, Jarvis went his own way, and his measure created problems for Brown.
Perhaps the governor's tactic will work better this time.
Let us know what you think. Send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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MTV Riff Raff - Bird Game
"23 VIDEOS ON THA WAY - 5 ALBUMS ON ITUNES - 89 NEW SONGS iTUNES.COM - MTVRIFFRAFF.COM - NEW SHOW COMING SOON ON TV - FOLLOW @MTV_RIFFRAFF @DBDABOSS"
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In the News: RAs Get Hands-On Fire Safety Training
Forty-five Augustana resident assistants learned about general fire safety, received training on fire extinguishing, witnessed a live fire demonstration and took part in an evacuation drill during Sioux Falls Fire Rescue's Campus Fire Safety Education day, held yesterday on campus.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution recognizing September as Campus Fire Safety Month.
The following story aired on KELO-TV:
Augustana RAs Get Hands-On Fire Safety Training
By David Brown
As students prepare to go back to class at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, resident assistants are getting hands-on training in fire safety.
This is the third year Augustana's held the seminar right before the start of the school year. And the more than two dozen RAs involved say it'll help them prepare for the worst.
This isn't your normal fire-safety lecture. While participation remains the most critical part of the class, this one is a little more active.
"You can sit down and learn it by book or Powerpoint, but this gives them a little more hands-on training, so hopefully, they actually retain it a little more," Augustana campus safety director Rick Tupper said.
Tupper says the idea behind students running with a uniform on, spraying the hose and putting out small fires is to get them thinking about all the possibilities.
Additional Coverage
"When stress goes up, your brain kind of goes to mush at times," Tupper said. "You fall back into what you're familiar with and comfortable with, so we want to give them that familiarity."
"It's been a little overwhelming and stuff, but it's a good group of people to keep your morale up," junior Kyle Blake said.
Blake says the training's been difficult, but also fun.
"It's kind of hard to balance it all out sometimes, but we're getting it done," Blake said.
"We're all taking pictures in our fire gear and stuff, so it's fun," sophomore Claire Bestul said.
Even though students will never wear a firefighter's uniform or even use a fire hose, Tupper says knowledge of the equipment and the job a firefighter does will help the RAs in an emergency situation.
"The staff that we have, once an alarm sounds, they'll also coordinate with the firefighters when they arrive," Tupper said. "So, it kind of gives them a chance to mesh with them and learn what they do and appreciate what they do."
"It's really cool and also very important," sophomore Amanda Strenge said. "It's just really informative with information that everyone needs to know."
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue will put on the same demonstration for resident assistants at the University of Sioux Falls on Thursday.
Kelly Sprecher
Director of Communications & Media Relations


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Replays will be unavailable for games played on servers in the Southeast Asia matchmaking region, specifically servers in Singapore, Shanghai and Malaysia. We apologize for their unavailability and hope to have them recording and available again soon.
Replays played in Europe, US West, US East and Hong Kong are fully available. Please note that games with bots are not recorded.
As recently mentioned in the blog, the upcoming Test release changes the replay format. Once the test version moves to the released version of Dota 2 all existing replays to be unable to be played. Please render your existing replays to video if you wish to keep important moments. You can use programs such as Fraps to record replays, or you can record them to video using the Source engine itself as documented here, https://developer.valvesoftware.com/...Video_Creation
We will soon be releasing more information about the features the new replay format will bring and we plan to publish the format of the replay files so that third parties can parse them for game information.


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Dear Em.
I have been out here on this new post, from which I wrote and sent Lena's letter, since yesterday, and therefore I have not received any mail since sending it. But I expect to find some waiting for me when we go back this noon. You see we leave camp at eleven thirty one day and get back at about twelve the next. That gives us twenty four hours in camp and twenty four on out post. I have just discovered some important information on this post that I hope will be to my credit.
Right near this post is a hut painted green, in which Madero, made his headquarters. Now just beyond this hut, there is a white hut which was visited this morning by a Mexican officer and his orderly, (By the way these two huts are in Mexico and are not more than tree hundred yards from my out post.) I also discovered that this house was guarded by four Mexicans between one oclock and up until the time of the Officer's visit. Now this green hut that I mentioned is where Madero started the revolution against Diaz, and I think there is a plot being hatched now to form another faction. The hut is on a trail leading to Jauarez. It may not amount to any thing but I have to report it any way, and it will show the commanding officer that I am on the job in gaining this information.
Probably the next time I get a chance to write will be when I am out again at the tunnel, cross roads or the trestle bridge. I havent had five minutes liberty since reaching this camp, but I am going to make one grand stab at getting to town this after noon. Of coarse this will only put me back a half a day, for I'll have a uniform, a set of under wear, socks and other things to clean. But we are never caught up in this game so I should worry. This isn't saying I am going to get off, for four more recruits have just arrived and that will mean more work for (yours truly) but there is nothing like trying. The best of this life is, "Take what comes to you and say nothing." You all know how hard it is for me to do this. Some times it seems as though I am the only guy in the whole camp, but the Good Book says "Every thing comes to him who waits." Gee, but it seems that the end of the mouth never comes.
Please make it plain to all the Cousins and Aunts that have been so good as to write to me, that all the time I have latly isnt even mine, and that all I do steal, I cannot sacrifice for my letters home to You, Lena, & Pa. Give my regards to every one and tell them that Sam is the same and is going to remain so.
Yours Samuel.
P.S. I forgot to thank Lena for the stamp she sent, and they did come in handy for it took all I had left to send that small package. It seems too bad to waste this sheet of paper but the releif is expected any time now, when we go back for some eats. Let me say right now that as far as I am concerned, there is no kick from my side of the bed as far as the eats are concerned. But cut all jokes and bull out of it, I sure would like to sit down there with you now and eat a good square meal, which only Lena can put out, (to my liking) and listen (Say Em get me another glass of water will you, and let the water run awhile.
I thought I was going to cut this letter short, but here I am going a mile a minute. But who can help it. I think if I was much of a hand at writing you would get news in book form with plenty of illustrations. Well I'll have to cut it right now and get ready to march back home. Tell me how Pa enjoyed himself, and a few words from that little trump Mary will be gladly accepted. I close now with all my thoughts centered at 297 B.H. St. Id like to send you a picture but it seems to be a forgotten art in this part of this U.S.
Dear Em.
Well here I am in the big town, and say what do you think of the ink. I guess the old pencil is the best after all what? I just got a hair cut and shave and also my picture taken. I might just as well add that I got ahold of a bum pen too. I am writing this in the Post Office, where I bought 24 one cent stamps, and 25 of these post cards. I just sent you a letter this morning, but I thought I would send this to let you know of my good luck in getting a pass and that I am not feeling any worse for it. I will send pictures soon. I am getting to think this is the life.
© Copyright 2008 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.


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Garden Detective: Tips for starting seeds
DEAR JESSICA: I am starting zinnia seeds indoors in seed-starter medium in clear plastic egg cartons. There is a hole in each compartment for drainage. My question: Should the container be covered with clear plastic or left uncovered? These egg cartons can be covered with a second egg carton, so the cover leaves room to grow for a while, but the material is thicker than Saran Wrap. Also, how much watering is necessary; should I keep the soil visibly moist, watering until it leaks out the bottom? --Ginny Neal, Levittown
DEAR GINNY: Egg cartons make great seed-starting containers. They're free, and make good use of something that would otherwise end up in the trash.
It's always best to water seedlings from the bottom. This helps avoid damping off disease, which results when the soil surface is kept too moist. Watering from above also risks displacing the tiny seeds. Every day or two, when the soil feels like it's drying (never allow it to dry out completely,) place the egg carton in a shallow roasting pan or similar container filled with an inch of water for about an hour or two. The growing medium will absorb the water through the drainage holes in the bottom of each seed compartment, and the roots will get the water they need without the soil surface becoming soaked.
You might have heard recommendations to cover planted seeds with plastic wrap because it holds in moisture and warmth, creating a miniature greenhouse environment. Covering with a second egg carton (or snapping the lid closed) until seeds germinate should suffice. Uncover as soon as the seeds sprout, and place the tray under fluorescent grow lights or near your brightest window.
DEAR JESSICA: Now that spring is here, I noticed a large area of my lawn is covered in moss. This area is generally in the shade. There was grass in the area in the fall, but it wasn't very dense. What would you suggest I do to restore grass there? --Fred Reisfeld, Commack
DEAR FRED: Moss typically takes advantage of and thrives in lawns that are weak. This includes lawns that are sparse, grow in acidic soil or are deprived of nutrients, sunlight or adequate drainage. If the problem is severe, dethatch the lawn this month (rent a flail-type dethatcher from an equipment company or hire a landscaper). This should remove most of the moss, but the conditions that caused the moss to grow must be addressed to keep it from returning.
So first, test your soil. You can purchase a test kit at a nursery or bring a sample to a Cornell Cooperative Extension office (516-565-5265, ext. 7, in Nassau, 631-727-4126 in Suffolk). If the soil tests acidic -- below 6.5 -- apply dolomitic lime as directed on the package label. This won't end your moss problem, but it will boost the lawn's health.
No grass will grow exceptionally lush and full in shady conditions. If you can thin out some overhead trees by removing branches to allow more sunlight in, that would go a long way toward discouraging moss to grow, as moisture would dry up more quickly.
You also should ensure soil drainage is adequate and, if it isn't, aerate the lawn. It's not expensive to hire someone to do this, but if you prefer, you could rent an aerator from a lawn-supply company and do the job yourself. An aerator is pushed along similar to a lawn mower.
Next, apply an inch or so of compost over the area (it's OK if compost gets into the aeration holes). Follow up by seeding over the compost with roughstalk bluegrass, which can handle moist, shady sites a bit better than other turfgrasses. Water the seeds really well, just once, and then follow up with light daily sprinklings just to prevent them from drying out. Apply more seeds once a week until bare spots are filled in and blades are 3 inches in height. Then apply a nitrogen fertilizer, which will boost the lawn's vigor and density. A healthy lawn will out-compete and choke out any moss that dares return.
DEAR JESSICA: Can you help me identify this weed that has, very quickly this spring, taken over the beds around my house and surrounded the early spring flowers? And even more important: Do you have any ideas for getting rid of it permanently? I spent a couple of days digging and pulling, but I suspect there's more to come. --George Fletcher, Bay Shore
DEAR GEORGE: Typically the first annual weed of spring, common chickweed reproduces quickly, spreading both by seed (within five weeks of emerging) and rooting at stem joints at soil level. The opportunistic little fellow takes advantage of bare spots in the lawn and garden beds and thrives in cool, moist weather, preferring shady spots. Chickens love to eat it, which is how it got its name, so if you had poultry grazing on your property, that would solve the problem. I'm guessing you don't.
Seed germination can be avoided by pulling up the plants before they bloom, but I see your chickweed already is sporting some flowers. Still, the best way to eradicate chickweed is to pull it out by the roots and cover the bed with a thick layer of mulch to block sunlight from reaching seeds, which invariably will be spewed around invisibly as you pull. Take care not to leave plant parts on the ground, either, as they can take root and grow.
Thinning overhead branches to allow more sunlight to reach the soil should help, as well. There are some pre-emergent controls available, but they are applied in late winter before seeds germinate. Herbicides containing glyphosphate (such as Roundup) can be sprayed directly onto the weeds to kill them, but great care should be taken not to allow it to come into contact with your other plants, as it will kill everything it touches. I would start by pulling the weeds by hand and mulching and take it from there.
Garden club of the week
Meets: 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month year-round except October, when the meeting is held on the third Monday.
Location: Main greenhouse at Planting Fields Arboretum (Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay)
Dues: $40 individual; $45 couples; $10 students; $50 patrons
Contact: 516-593-1855, longislandbonsai.org
The society, in existence for more than 30 years, has about 150 members with varying levels of expertise. Meetings are preceded with beginners' workshops taught by the most skilled members and feature guest speakers from around the world. Demonstrations are performed, and the resulting specimen is raffled off. Members also participate in workshops, club sales, picnics, parties and field trips, and receive a monthly newsletter. (For the record, the proper pronunciation of this Japanese art of growing and trimming miniature trees is BONE-sigh, not BONDS-eye.)


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My soldiers say really awful 'science facts' from time to time. More often than not, it comes from these shitty infographics on Facebook.
How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways…
- These all the same thing: "Spot buster", "Stain remover", "Removes stains", "Glass cleaner", "Toilet cleaner"
- Plausible, citation would be helpful: "Sore throat soother","Food preservative", "Fingernail brightener", "Dry mouth cure", "Hair highlighter"
- Doubtful, citation needed: "Dandruff", "Lighten age spots and freckles", "Metabolism booster", "Hiccups",
Misleading or Untrue:
"Insect Deterrent" (There are insects that love lemons, and some species of ants that feed off of those bugs waste.) "Deodorant / odor destroyer" (Plausible / acceptable: scent masking, flavoring, etc.)
- Dangerous to be telling people, especially in lieu of medical advice: "morning sickness", "breast cancer (!)", "sinusitis", "warts", "kidney care (?)"
But the #1 thing I have to ask is…
Why are there so many *limes* in the infographic about lemon juice?
Limes are very different from lemons. Limes do not grow on lemon trees. Premature lemons have a greenish tint, it's not the royal lime green pictured there, and farmers don't generally ship premature lemons.
Interestingly, limes do not float in water, but lemons do.
Limes have amazing medicinal properties, but lemons do not.
I find that arguing with these types of 'facts' just introduces more of them. Perhaps a simple counter infographic should be the standard operating procedure.


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A picture is worth a thousand words and from the collage that Cam'ron tweeted, you can come up with a million. Kim Kardashian is often the butt (pun intended) of "hoe" jokes, but she has successfully turned her porn star status into millions (whose really laughing?). Since hooking up with Kanye West, she has reached new levels of being hated and one of those haters happens to be Killa Cam. He tweeted these messages, which have received tons of backlash:
Cam seems to be looking for attention, seeing how he has vowed to drop a track a day for 30 days. As Kanye's buddy Jay would say: "Don't throw rocks at the throne!"
Like HelloBeautiful on Facebook to stay on top of your favorite black celebrities
Beyonce To Kim Kardashian: "Stay Out Of My Circle"


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A Young Witch Emerges From A Curse To Find Her World Upended In This Gripping Fantasy Of Betrayal, Vengeance, And Self Discovery Set In Turn Of The Century France.For Centuries, The Vineyards At Ch Teau Renard Have Depended On The Talent Of Their Vine Witches, Whose Spells Help Create The World Renowned Wine Of The Chanceaux Valley Then The Skill Of Divining Harvests Fell Into Ruin When Sorci Re Elena Boureanu Was Blindsided By A Curse Now, After Breaking The Spell That Confined Her To The Shallows Of A Marshland And Weakened Her Magic, Elena Is Struggling To Return To Her Former Life And The Vineyard She Was Destined To Inherit Is Now In The Possession Of A Handsome Stranger.Vigneron Jean Paul Martel Naively Favors Science Over Superstition, And He Certainly Doesn T Endorse The Locals Belief In Witches But Elena Knows A Hex When She Sees One, And The Vineyard Is Covered In Them To Stay On And Help The Vines Recover, She Ll Have To Hide Her True Identity, Along With Her Plans For Revenge Against Whoever Stole Seven Winters Of Her Life And She Won T Rest Until She Can Defy The Evil Powers That Are Still A Threat To Herself, Jean Paul, And The Ancient Vine Witch Legacy In The Rolling Hills Of The Chanceaux Valley.
10 thoughts on "The Vine Witch"
AAAHHHH I was literally just telling someone how I thought this sounded super interesting and then the Kindle first newsletter comes out and this is one of the choices
4 wining StarsA light, historical, murder mystery, romance, fantasy read that will have you anticipating each turn of the page This book is a mix of so many different genres neatly wrapped together in a superb read.
Not my cup of wineMy apologies for being on the move and writing this with my phone app It is a desperate attempt to get my thoughts down on a book that I thought would be less romantic perils and wine in a fantasy world Elena is a wine witch, a special person whose gifts include being at one with her vineyard Even without the hexes and curses from other witches, her days would be full communicating with her vines and the bugs, birds and soil.Smith s thoughts on the subject are interesting and the various aspects of a vine witch s toolkit are well thought out Other magic is also interesting However, there is not a single character with sufficient depth to carry a story about two people, with issues, who don t initially like each other but find passion eventually The fact that one of the two is being tortured in a wine press for most of the final third of the story added to my disappointment Maybe my rating is generous, but I can be such while closing the door on this series.
When a book starts from the viewpoint of a toad, you know you re reading an original and unusual story Elena is a vine witch, one who uses her spells to enhance the vineyards of the Ch teau Renard, a common occupation in the Chanceaux Valley When she finally reverses the curse that changed her to a toad, she returns to find that the Chateau has been sold Jean Paul is a man of science who scoffs at the country folk and their witchcraft, but his vines aren t doing well and he doesn t know why.This is such a fun story Elena comes back for revenge but her inbred sympathy for the vineyards vies with her darker instinct Jean Paul is a city man who must amend his deeply held beliefs in order to save his vineyard There are some good twists that keep the plot moving forward This is a great debut novel, and I hope to read from this author in future.
Hooray for a complete storyNicely written, this book grabbed me from the beginning The World Building was great, and the characters were appealing I read it straight through to the satisfying ending And it did end, without forcing you to read a next book I ve almost forgotten what that was like.The whole idea of various witches, including Vine Witches, was intriguing Yes, there were other Supernaturals included, but the Vine Wine witches were the focus The story starred a strong Heroine, who didn t need a man to rescue her In fact, she ended up doing some rescuing The murder mystery was entertaining, and the story had an interesting twist towards the end.If you like Fantasy this one is a quick, entertaining read.
There s nothing like spending the last 7 years as a toad, is there Right off the bat, this book had me intrigued, eager to see where this story would take us How could she wish for anything else but to be part of the vineyard Its terroir was her blood, its mist her breath, its soil her bones, its harvest her unborn child. I adored this historical fantasy world and all the magic that it contained I love the idea of all these different types of witches who secretly specialize in the creation of everyday products Like, I would gladly consume witch made wine and witch baked pastries There was a lot of cool magic involved and the world was abundant in detail But while I enjoyed this world, I did find myself wanting to know , specifically in terms of the rules of magic and the witch community What the eye couldn t see, the imagination filled in We put names to the unexplained Cast it as something to either fear or worship And yet just because a thing can t be seen doesn t mean it isn t real. But as I hinted at in the previous paragraph, while this was an interesting read, I wanted worldbuilding, character development, pages Don t get me wrong it was decent as is, but it could have been so much better fleshed out I also found the romance completely underwhelming The protagonists are quick to romanticize love, but it felt unsupported by the lack of interactions we saw between the two characters They felt like they never moved passed infatuation Pain has always been the prosecutor s handmaiden. Overall, The Vine Witch was an interesting read, and I would definitely check out another book that explores this world If you re craving wine or seeking an easy witchy read, give this book a try August 31, 2019 VINEYARDS, WINE, AND WITCHES Um, yes PLEASE How did I not know about this book sooner
I m not sure why I ve picked The Vine Witch I have no interest in wine and even less in books with a significant romance arc I won t say no to a glass of good wine or to a good romance book, but I don t actively seek them out Maybe it was the cover No idea To my surprise, I adored every second of Smith s debut A sign that I m growing old and sentimental for sure The Vine Witch, set in a fantasy version of rural France, blends romance, folklore, witchcraft, and murder mystery Elena Boureanu, the titular vine witch, had never suspected she d spent seven years eating moths and slugs to survive in a fetid pond, turned into a toad Focused on making Chateaux Renard s wines exceptional, she paid little attention to petty rivalries or little things And yet someone has cursed her and turned into an animal.When she regains her body, she wants nothing than revenge against whoever stole seven years of her life She suspects it was her ex fianc Bastien Du Monde, ambitious, business savvy and charismatic vigneron, and she plans to make him pay First, though, she needs to regain her power When she returns Chateaux Renard, her home, she discovers it was sold to a scientifically minded ex lawyer Jean Paul Martel who seeks a new vocation in life Her Grand Mere and magic teacher grew old and lost her edge and the vine that made Renard s Domaine famous lost its magic She took a sip of the wine to chase the memory from her mouth, but if she was looking for relief she was vividly disappointed None of the musky hues of spice and rose petals the Renard vineyard was famous for hit her palate It was all chalk and mushrooms.A closer look at the vineyards make things obvious someone cursed them Elena can deal with an intricate spellwork, but her magic reserves are still weak and when Bastien is found dead and Police consider her the prime suspect, things get complicated.Shaped by historically accurate details, the story feels true to the era of the late Belle poque Smith enriched it with fascinating details particular to that era fashion, automobiles, pre industrial wine and cheese making practices I m sure she s also made a lot of research on witchcraft, witch trials, and herb lore as they re very detailed All of this in less than 300 pages, something I highly appreciate as it proves the skillful writer can find a perfect balance between world building, pacing and characterization.The plot, while slightly predictable in places, impressed me with a great balance between murder mystery, action, and slow burn romance Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Smith threw few clever surprises at me, the perfect bitter sweet ending being one of them Well done.Both main characters and their sidekicks feel human Elena and Jean Paul are three dimensional and their romance is believable and engaging I prefer Elena, but I can see female readers falling for the handsome lawyer whose life is just about to turn upside down.Elena is a strong lead Fierce, intelligent, and hungry for knowledge, she s easy to like and admire Her past remains mysterious but we learn she has mastered divine arts while still in her teens Hungry for , she sought the magic she hadn t been taught including blood magic and developed an extraordinary talent known as shadow vision She knows there s a glorious magic to be found in the darkness and she wants to understand it I admit I have a soft spot for protagonists with a darker side and Elena fits the archetype well Jean Paul believes in science and innovation He treats the mention of magic as the superstitious nonsense and has no interest in seeing it applied in his vineyard When his beloved laws of physics, doctrines of religion and the empirical evidence of the senses are rendered useless by what he d seen, he must reassess his beliefs Smith portrayed his inner conflict well and found a clever way to change him.And now the romance I liked it perhaps because, while important and highlighted, it never overshadowed intricacies of the plot Jean Paul and Elena share a strong chemistry Their beliefs are at odds and this adds some tension to their budding relationship Besides the vine magic and slow burn romance, I enjoyed the investigation of the murder mystery and Elena s focus on discovering the witch wielding blood magic This part of the story went into dark places and added another layer of complexity to the story and characters I need to mention and praise the prose Rich, nuanced and appealing to all senses it makes reading The Vine Witch a worthwhile experience I loved the way the author described tastes, smells, landscapes and emotions Here s a little sample Despite his desire to leave, the fresh baked smell captivated him, and he reached for the sticky tart One bite and the full complexity hit him The pastry tasted of fruit and nuts, butter and brown sugar, and the rich spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, all heat seared by fire Sweet, yes, but also sophisticated, heightened by a hint of salted brandy Not unlike a well aged wine, he thought, the way the flavors evolved on the tongue Descriptions of food and wine made me salivate Description of the Chanceaux Valley made me want to visit it When a book does it to me, I don t need another proof it s well written.If you re in the mood for witchcraft, romance, and the wine, I have an inkling you re going to love The Vine Witch.
I m not going to finish this I just don t love something about it and I don t even know what it is I might pick it up again but for now I m not enjoying the characters or the story so I m gonna throw in the towel Pity because wine and witches How can I not like it
Enjoyed this Full RTC.
Magic in the air Considering this is the authors debut novel it is absolute M A G I C WE start in the swamp of all places Slightly confusing at first until we realize it s the inner monologue of a toad of all things Confusing, until we learn she s actually a woman that s been trapped in toad form for seven years by someone unknown We re introduced to a magical landscape in ways than one The French countryside full of vineyards and dazzling wines brought to their peak perfection through the age old courtesy and love of vine witches What happens when one such witch comes home from her seven year curse to find all she knew had changed Can she find her footing when her home and love are no longer hers When she not certain who cursed her and the vines she loves so very much Her magical tale will weave its way into your heart and beg to hear This is one author I can t wait to see from Brava


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Inside McClellanville
Get the flavor of living there.
Setting: McClellanville nestles along the Intracoastal Waterway and among the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Francis Marion National Forest, and the Santee Coastal Reserve. It's off U.S. 17, about 40 miles north of Charleston and 25 miles south of Georgetown. The average high from November to February is 62 degrees. Summer temperatures reach the upper 90s.
Attractions: Small-town charm (population about 500) and Southern hospitality; a family atmosphere; a quiet, resort-free waterfront; more than 350,000 acres of nature preserves; excellent fishing; and easy access to Charleston restaurants, museums, and cultural events.
Drawbacks: Job opportunities are limited. The town has few restaurants and no banks, hospitals, or large grocery stores. Mosquitoes vastly outnumber residents.
Housing: Historic antebellum and Victorian homes along oak-lined Pinckney Street start around $700,000 and rarely appear on the market. Marshfront homes fetch in excess of $1.5 million, but handyman-special cottages in town start at $200,000. Protected forests limit growth, and a planning commission and architectural review board control development. Unimproved land is selling faster than existing homes. Waterfront lots cost more than $500,000, and village lots range from $70,000 to $250,000.
Your Next-door Neighbors: A third-generation shrimper, an expat from France, artists, writers, retired teachers, and construction workers. "At the town picnic you'll see the garbage collector sitting next to the mayor, and a lawyer talking to a fisherman," says Bud Hill, director of The Village Museum. "We're a very diverse group of people."
How You'd Spend Your Free Time: Fishing, boating, exploring Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, taking a watercolor class at McClellanville Arts Council, eating fried shrimp and fish stew at the Annual Lowcountry Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fleet, chatting with neighbors at T.W. Graham & Company, taking in scenery from a front-porch rocker.
(published October 2006)


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How to use Nebuliser
A nebulizer turns your asthma medicine into a mist. It is easy and pleasant to breathe the medicine into your lungs this way. If you use a nebulizer, your asthma medicines will come in liquid form.
With a nebulizer, medicine goes into your lungs when you take slow, deep breaths for 10 to 15 minutes.
Many patients with asthma do not need to use a nebulizer. Another way to get your medicine is with an inhaler. Inhalers work just as well, and they are easier to use.
Most nebulizers are small, so they are easy to carry with you. Most nebulizers use air compressors. A different kind uses sound vibrations. These are called "ultrasonic nebulizers." They are quieter, but they cost more money.
It takes some time to keep your nebulizer clean and working properly.
These are the basic steps to set up and use your nebulizer:
- Connect the hose to an air compressor.
- Fill the medicine cup with your prescription.
- Attach the hose and mouthpiece to the medicine cup.
- Place the mouthpiece in your mouth. Breathe through your mouth until all the medicine is used. (Most times, this takes 10 to 15 minutes). Some people use a nose clip to help them breathe only through their mouth. Small children usually do better if they wear a mask.
- Wash the medicine cup and mouthpiece with water, and air dry until your next treatment.


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T.I. "Countdown To Trouble Man" Episode 1 (Go Get It)
TROUBLE MAN: HEAVY IS THE HEAD drops December 18
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Voted Most Likely To Be A Martyr
According to a November 29, 2005 story on this news channel (all emphases this blog author's):
American Citizen Convicted For Terrorism: Man Conspired To Assassinate The PresidentNote: As we locals well know, the name of Abu Ali's high school is the Islamic Saudi Academy, not the Saudi Islamic Academy.
"FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- An American citizen whose father worked for the Saudi Embassy is convicted for conspiring with Al Qaida operatives to assassinate President George W. Bush.
Ahmed Abu Ali, of Falls Church, Va., admitted to the crime in a videotaped confession.
"As a boy, Abu Ali attended the Saudi Islamic Academy in Alexandria. He even became a member of the National Honor Society. In his senior year, Ali's classmates voted him 'the most likely to become a martyr.'
"In the video, the 24-year-old said he went to Saudi Arabia in 2002 to study Islam, and met an Al Qaida operative who invited him to join the Jihad against America.
"'I immediately accepted because of my hatred of the U.S., for what I felt was its support of Israel against the Palestinian people,' Abu Ali said on the tape.
"Abu Ali also admitted that he suggested blowing up American warplanes, warships, or targeting hi-ranking U.S. officials.
"He also said it was his Al Qaida contact's idea to kill the president.
"Ali Abu went on to say on the videotape, 'I preferred this idea because it was easier to carry out since the U.S. president often appears in pubic places.'
"The group then plotted exactly how they would carry out the assassination.
"They agreed that they would 'either use at least three snipers who would fire simultaneously to increase the hit probability, or to carry out a martyr operation when the U.S. president goes out to greet the people.'
"During his trial, Ali testified that the Saudis beat the confession out of him. But jurors saw him on tape pretend to cock a rifle and laugh.
"'What was striking was how relaxed he looked, almost carefree...[he] didn't look like someone tortured, pressured into confessing,' said Roger Cressey, an NBC News Terror Analyst.
"Now the little boy voted most likely to become a martyr is facing 20 years to life in prison.
"Abu Ali will be sentenced in February."
If the following information from the Washington Post is accurate, no wonder Ahmed Abu Ali was so willing to conspire with Al-Qaeda:
"The 11th-grade textbook, for example, says one sign of the Day of Judgment will be that Muslims will fight and kill Jews, who will hide behind trees that say: 'Oh Muslim, Oh servant of God, here is a Jew hiding behind me. Come here and kill him.'..In light of the conviction of Ahmed Abu Ali, isn't it time for an extensive investigation of ISA on the part of Homeland Security? The Islamic Saudi Academy published a caption saying "Voted Most Likely to be a Martyr" to appear below Abu Ali's yearbook photo!
"Some teachers 'focus more on hatred,' said one teenager, who recited by memory the signs of the coming of the Day of Judgment. 'They teach students that whatever is kuffar [non-Muslim], it is okay for you' to hurt or steal from that person..."
A bit of background information on ISA is very interesting. According to "The Madrassa on Main Street: Teaching Fundamentalist Islam on U. S. Route 1,
"A few miles outside of Washington and a stone's throw from Mt. Vernon Plantation - George Washington's home - the Saudi government is teaching Wahhab Islam to hundreds of Muslim-American children. The school, called the Islamic Saudi Academy, is one of an estimated 200-600 in the U.S. that indoctrinate 30,000 students in the teachings of Koran."And just how did ISA get such a prime piece of property, so close to our nation's capital
"In 1988, 'Dusty' Rhodes, the Fairfax County official in charge of renting school facilities, bragged to a local pastor that the Saudis had not paid the county a dime for the deed to the school. According to Rhodes, the Saudis got the use of the building in exchange for making renovations. Once renovations were complete they were given the deed. At the time, Fairfax County discriminated against churches who used public school facilities by charging them commercial rates, rather than the lower rates charged other community groups. The county was forced to halt the discrimination after a lawsuit.Where did Abu Ali acquire his deep hatred of the United States? In Saudi Arabia? Or did his hatred begin with his Wahhabist education at the Islamic Saudi Academy in Fairfax County, Virginia?
"In a county where just the tax assessment on a vacant acre can exceed $250,000, the Saudis not only got the building but acres of athletic fields."
Addendum: I sent this story to Jihad Watch, Robert Spencer's site, which graciously printed the story as "American Citizen Convicted For Terrorism."
Continue reading....


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Hugh Jackman and Alicia Silverstone are the latest stars to join "Butter," the forthcoming film about the world of competitive butter sculpting, which is shaping up to be either an epic triumph or a legendary disaster.
"Butter," from a script by Jason Micallef, tells the story of a woman who tries to follow in her womanizing husband's footsteps by vying for the butter carving championship, but her dreams are threatened by a young black upstart. If that ll sounds awfully familiar, it's because the film is rumored to be a satirical metaphor for the 2008 Democratic primary.
Jennifer Garner, who is also producing the film, stars in the Hillary Clinton role, with Ty Burrell of "Modern Family" as Bill and newcomer Yara Shahidi, who starred as Eddie Murphy's daughter in last year's "Imagine That," as Obama.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
The cast also includes Jim Gaffigan, Twilgihter Ashley Greene, Olivia Wilde and Rob Corddry, with Jim Field Smith ("She's Out of My League" directing. "Butter" started shooting in Louisiana this week.
The cast is packed, the concept is brilliant... fingers crossed.


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Softball season is months away but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced a series of easy questions and two hecklers Thursday during a London town hall meeting.
"How do you deal with the haters?" asked someone in a crowd dominated by students from Western University.
"You are taking time from people who are willing to listen," Trudeau said to a woman raging about ISIS before security escorted her out of Alumni Hall. Another person, screaming about corrupt judges, also was shown the door.
The outbursts were an exception in what was mostly a lovefest that allowed Trudeau to talk at length about issues he loves, from feminism and diversity to how he balances work and family.
Three or four of those selected to ask questions during the first hour were in high school or grade school. The Liberal leader's lengthy, campaign-style responses left little time for questions, even though he said a key to governing is listening.
Trudeau apologized for the country's failings, citing Indigenous relations and Black Lives Matter, but said nothing of his personal failings exposed in December by Canada's ethics commissioner, who detailed free vacations he accepted twice in 2016.
The London stop was the third on Trudeau's six-city tour political observers say is his party's way of getting him out of the glare of scandal in Ottawa.
Watch the full town hall here:
Trudeau was cited Dec. 20 for running afoul of conflict rules by twice taking family and friends on vacation with the Aga Khan, and by failing to recuse himself later when question of funding one of the Aga Khan's charities came up on Parliament Hill.
The Liberals also face daunting trade challenges with Canada's biggest trading partner. U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) unless he obtains a better deal. That threat dominated the opening of a two-day federal Liberal cabinet retreat Thursday in London.
The prime minister spoke briefly to reporters, but refused to answer questions as he entered the morning cabinet meeting at London Convention Centre, saying he was happy to be back in London.
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland was grilled about the possibility of the U.S. withdrawing from NAFTA.
"If there is goodwill on all sides, we could have a great outcome," she said, noting it's always been a possibility Trump could pull out.
Morneau said his job is to consider "all scenarios" and the impact on Canadians when it comes to the free trade pact. "The way we best prepare is we work together to try to improve NAFTA," he said.
Earlier this week, at a town hall in Hamilton, Trudeau dealt with a heckler who shouted about Canada's $10.5-million payout to Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen imprisoned and tortured in Guantanamo Bay. His response — that Canadians should be angry when a federal government allows what happened to Khadr — drew applause.
By Jonathan Sher and Megan Stacey, The London Free Press


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Villa for sale in Super Cannes, French Riviera, France
* Calls to this number will be recorded for quality, compliance and training purposes.
Property features
- villa located in privileged area
- Panoramic sea views
- 500 sq.m living space
- 5735 sq.m plot
- Landscaped garden
- Swimming pool
- Pool house
Property description
For more information about this property, please contact
Unique Living, W1W on +44 20 3641 1050 * (local rate)
Property descriptions and related information displayed on this page, with the exclusion of Running Costs data, are marketing materials provided by Unique Living, and do not constitute property particulars. Please contact Unique Living for full details and further information. The Running Costs data displayed on this page are provided by PrimeLocation to give an indication of potential running costs based on various data sources. PrimeLocation does not warrant or accept any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the property descriptions, related information or Running Costs data provided here.


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Mustad forging hammers
Gives the shoe your shape
The Mustad forging hammers are available in three models. Two of these have a round side and a ball side. The difference is weight and size; the small one is 950g, the large one is 1,100g. The third model has a square side and a ball side. The strategic balance between the length of the hammer handle and the weight of the hammer head enables light forging with maximum power use. The precise fitting hammer handle is fixed with a steel ring wedge.
Ask the expert
Questions about this product?Let us know
Find your nearest dealer
Product summary
Find your nearest dealer
Good to know
- high quality forging hammer with an excellent price performance ratio
- three available models cover a wide range of needs
- recommendation! Immerse the head with handle of a new hammer for 24 hours in linseed oil or petroleum before first use
Phil Smailes, farrier in Australia
Shoeing isn't for everyone but if you have the body and the perserverance it is very rewarding
An old profession in a modern way
Stéphane Bréhin, farrier in FranceRead story
Age is no barrier when you love what you are doing
Carl O'Dwyer - Victorian, Australia FarrierRead story


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Louis Hotels. A World of Choices.
The Louis Group is one of the leading travel, cruising and hotel groups in the Mediterranean with over 75 years of experience. As a member of the Louis Group, Louis Hotels, with over 70 years in the hospitality industry has a leading position in the hotel sector in both Cyprus and Greece with 4 star hotels in Cyprus, 4 star hotels in Greece & a 5 star hotel in Limassol, Cyprus, a 4 star hotel in Crete, a 4 star hotel in Rhodes, 4 star hotels in Corfu, 4 star Zante hotels and a boutique hotel in Mykonos.


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by RoJeC on 01 Feb 2017, 09:16
by Activated Soundwave on 01 Feb 2017, 10:47
RoJeC wrote:I think idorio means the commands of the controls in the mixer section do not work when in external mode.This seems logical as if you use external the output has to go 'neutral' to the external mixer. So the controls are hidden. If you could still control by MIDI you will end up with the situation that you get sound output which is is modified by invisible controls.Seems to me you haven't provided the reason why you would like to have this option. Cause this external mode is ment to be used when you use a mixer and in that case you want your mixer inputs to be 'standard'.
by daniel clark on 01 Feb 2017, 11:02
by ldorio on 01 Feb 2017, 12:19
by daniel clark on 01 Feb 2017, 23:24
by ldorio on 02 Feb 2017, 23:38
by daniel clark on 03 Feb 2017, 02:31
by Activated Soundwave on 03 Feb 2017, 16:32
ldorio wrote:It has to do with both, actually.Either way, I now have 7 licenses, so I'm going to sign up 7 more user accounts so that I can agree with all of my suggestions.
by Activated Soundwave on 03 Feb 2017, 16:38
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Twitter and football have an interesting relationship. Many managers must tear their hair out at the mere mention of the word given the problems it can cause them, anyone remember Darren Bent's rant at Daniel Levy before his move to Sunderland a couple of years ago? Then there's those individuals who 'accidently' reveal the team plans before an important game or slag off one of their teammates on the social networking site (though football has nothing on cricket in that department!)
So what's the big draw then? Why is Twitter still the popular option despite all the controversy it causes in the game. Well, the players use it as a way to interact with the fans more often, an opportunity that has become all too rare in the modern game. You may not be interested in what Jack Wilshere eats for breakfast but believe it or not, there are some people out there that find that sort of information fascinating. Considering footballers aren't the brightest of bunches, there's plenty of them out there with accounts worth following and we round up the 25 footballers/pundits on Twitter who you should follow and why.
Click on Dean Windass to get the ball rolling
Comments are closed on this article.


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Over thirty years' experience in middle school, junior high, high school, college, and GED.
Yet to be added
President's Award from Henderson Community College; Initial Recipient: Thurman-Askew Award for Adjunct Faculty
Henderson Community College Indiana University University of Evansville Murray State University
• Ticket to Write: Writing Skills for Success (Pearson, 2012) (co-author) • The Only Grammar and Style Workbook You'll Ever Need: A One-Stop Practice and Exercise Book for Perfect Writing (Adams Media Corporation, 2012) • Henderson (Arcadia Publishers, 2008) • The Everything Grammar and Style Book: All the Rules You Need to Know to Master Great Writing (2nd ed.) (Adams Media Corporation, 2008) • Expanding Horizons: Short Readings and Images from Unusual Topics (Penguin Academic Series, Pearson Longman, 2006) • The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need (Adams Media Corporation, 2003) • 10 study guides for Masterpiece Theatre and other PBS productions • 19 study guides for various films
PreK, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, Higher Education, Adult Education, Homeschool, Not Grade Specific
English Language Arts, Creative Writing, Writing-Expository, Reading, Grammar, Spelling, Vocabulary, Specialty, Social Studies - History, U.S. History, European History, World History, Middle Ages, World Language, French, Spanish, Latin, Italian, Arts & Music, Visual Arts, Other (Arts), Drama, EFL - ESL - ELD, British History, Geography, Other (ELA), Critical Thinking, For All Subject Areas, Literature, Short Stories, Writing, Reading Strategies, Writing-Essays, Holidays/Seasonal, Back to School, Thanksgiving, Poetry, Halloween, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, For All Subjects, Informational Text, Test Preparation, Close Reading


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With CTFO, there are ways to unlock deeper discounts.
Retail Pricing - If you prefer not to create an account with us and simply decide to use Guest Checkout, Your Price will be Retail Pricing.
Wholesale Pricing - If you decide to sign up as either a Preferred Customer or an Associate then you will have access to Wholesale Pricing. Wholesale Pricing is a significant discount compared to Retail Pricing.
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* Some packages and items may not be available for Autoship, and may not be available for Autoship pricing because they are already discounted as much as possible.


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Curt Schilling wondered: "What's more ridiculous, that or Manny?"
Ramirez went 2-for-2 with 3 RBI in his first spring game yesterday. Papelbon: "Singling on the first pitch [in the first inning] -- the whole dugout started laughing." ... Schilling: "Hasn't seen a pitch in what, six months? Single to right. Yawning."
Schilling says he'll be pitching more aggressively inside this season. "It's something I've never, ever done, for any length of time in the past. It's something I've always needed to do. I've said in the past I would try it and do it and I've never really been efficient at it. I'm going to change that this year."
John Flaherty (who had a rough time catching Tim Wakefield on Sunday) has retired, leaving Josh Bard and Ken Huckaby fighting for the backup catcher spot. I'm rooting for Bard. Huckaby (while he has intangibles) remains slowed by a sore knee (tweaked in BP after offseason surgery).
Earlier this week, both Bronson Arroyo (1.2 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs) and Josh Beckett (3 IP, 5 runs) were less than impressive in their first outings.
Would the Sox start the season with a 10-man pitching staff? Tito: "Having two days [off during the first week] can throw things into a little disarray. It's going to be interesting. Maybe health plays a part, but I'm not comfortable having a five-man rotation with two days off. ... The one thing I'm worried about is not getting enough out of Papelbon. He's such a dominant pitcher at this age, I want to make sure we get the most out of him that we can."
Sean McAdam has some good quotes about the possible effects of MLB's policy of testing for amphetamines:
Jerry Remy: "For years, I think they've been a bigger problem than steroids. They were a common practice for as long as I've been around the game."Three notes from the CHB:
A National League manager: "I'll have to manage differently. Players are going to need more rest."
Longtime MLB player: "It's different for pitchers, but for position players -- I'm not sure how those guys do it, playing every day, in the heat, for six months. Really, I don't."
Longtime scout: "I don't think it will be noticeable in the first half. But it means the dynamic in August will change. The guys who play on emotion will be affected the most."
This from a new book, "Pedro, Carlos and Omar," by Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News: "Pedro mentioned how he was not eagerly awaiting the Mets' 2006 interleague schedule, which called for a June 27-29 series in Boston, with an off-day in Beantown before the opener, no less ... Pedro even suggested he might ask pitching coach Rick Peterson to align the rotation so he could avoid the Red Sox and instead pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays, then at Yankee Stadium."And Johnny? Why don't you talk about your own teammates for a change? Or better yet, just STFU!
The Red Sox already have contacted Ted Kennedy about throwing out the first ball five years from now when Fenway celebrates its 100th birthday. Kennedy, who will be 80 in 2012, said, "I'm practicing. I've been watching and checking the distance and getting ready. That would be great -- especially since Grandpa threw the ball out in 1912." Boston Mayor John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, Kennedy's grandfather, threw out the first pitch at the inaugural Fenway opener.
Johnny Damon T-shirt seen in Florida: "Looks like Jesus, acts like Judas, throws like Mary."
David Wells does not like Bud Selig: "He needs to resign ... there's so much hatred against Bud right now. It's a joke. Nobody likes him. ... He has no clue. He's clueless. ... He's a piece of [expletive]. And you can quote me on that."
Not that there's any bias towards certain players in the Boston media (cough, cough) but can you imagine the firestorm if Manny had called Selig (I'm assuming here) a "piece of shit"?