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August 27, 1910 - April 4, 2013
Town of Newburgh, NY
J. William "Bill" Monell, of the Town of Newburgh, Owner and Sales Director for Newburgh Paper Box Company, (now known as the Newburgh Brewery Co.) died on April 4, 2013 at St. Luke's Hospital.
Bill was born on August 27, 1910 to the late Joseph William and Lizzie Belle VanCleeck Monell.
He was a member of the Powelton Club, Balmville NY since 1940. Bill graduated from Syracuse University , Summa Cum Laude , in 1931 with a BS in Business. In addition, he was a Captain in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 7th Service Brigade, Omaha, Nebraska.
Bill was survived by his wife, Maxine "Meg" Monell; two daughters and their husbands: Patricia and Dean Davis of Rutland, VT, and Michelle and Jim Techtmann of Gaithersburg, MD. There are nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and more on the way. He is also survived by his sister, Cordelia Overheiser of Woburn, MA and his brother, James Monell of Princeton, NJ.
Bill was predeceased by four brothers: Borden, Lloyd, Don, and Bruce Monell and a sister, Bertha Nelson.
A memorial service will be held at Union Presbyterian Church, Balmville, NY on Monday April 8th at 11 a.m. Friends may meet with the family from 10 to 11 a.m. at Union Presbyterian on April 8th; Rev. David Mason will be officiating the service.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hudson Valley Team Match Series (HVTMS), 20 Tor Road, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. HVTMS is a group for junior golfers that Bill and Meg ran for 38 years.
Arrangements by Brooks Funeral Home, Newburgh; to send a personal condolence or further information, please visit www.Brooksfh.com or call 845-561-8300.


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Murc Camp DVD Trailer (Feat DJ Drama,Twista, Bleu Davinci, Playaz Circle and Many More) [User Submitted]
M reports "From the DVD Big Bizness in Bama !!!! Available in the Streets and Online !!!! Video feaatures Cameos from Bleu Davinci,Playaz Circle, DJ Drama,Zaytoven,Killer Mike, Modesty XO,Fury, Birmingham J,Kaya,Too Short,Attitude, BA Boys, Bigg Chuck, The Mack Twins and Mr. Mal"
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subset: commoncrawl


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Investigators focus on wood stove as cause of Dresden fire
Firefighter's home burned flat
An investigator with the Maine State Fire Marshal's office returned to Dresden Friday to try to find a cause of a Thanksgiving Day fire that destroyed the home of a firefighter.
Investigators told News 8's Paul Merrill that they are focusing on a wood stove that was located in the center of the home at 1115 Middle Road.
The house was owned by firefighter Albert Lilly and his wife Rosemary. "You don't know the empty feeling it leaves inside of you, " Lilly said.
He said he and his wife were having Thanksgiving dinner at his daughter's house when he heard the dispatcher page fire crews to his address. "I didn't know what to think," Lilly said. "I was hopping it was wrong."
But as they drove towards their home, the Lilly's could see the smoke. "Shortly after that, I heard over the radio 'We've got fire coming out of the eaves.' I looked at my wife and said, 'It's gone.'"
"I don't think any of us really realize it's actually gone," Lilly's youngest daughter Catherine said. "Even the dog this morning- she rain right to the front porch, wanting to go inside."
Firefighters from several towns battled the fire, which was reported around noon on Thursday.
Anyone who wants to help Albert or Rosemary Lilly can donate to The Lilly Family House Fire Fund at the First National Bank in Damariscotta.


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It appears India's food regulator has got all its priorities horribly wrong. The regulatory body plans to spend a whopping sum of over Rs1,000 crore just on publicity during the 12th plan period.
The amount the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sought from the government for publicity related activities is much more than what it plans to spend on its core activities – developing food safety standards, setting up testing labs, surveillance and so on.
Out of Rs6,548 crore for various projects and initiatives planned during the 12th plan period, as much as Rs1,019 has been earmarked just for publicity.
The meek justification being offered for this disproportionate funding for publicity is that people have to be made aware about various provisions of the Food Safety Act, 2006. While detailed rollout schedule and clear deliverables have been shown for various activities, the authority remains vague when it comes to its gigantic media spending plan.
All that the proposal says is 'awareness generation/ IEC programme would be as per well-thought-out media plan to be undertaken regularly using all forms/formats of publicity having wide reach'.
The Rs1,000 crore media blitzkrieg is expected to result in 'overall general awareness about food safety rules/ regulations and sensitisation of various stakeholders about food safety issues'. Rs350 crore under the so-called media plan will be spent for undertaking a 'comprehensive campaign utilising audio and video and print media for dissemination of messages'. An amount of Rs319 crore has been proposed for publicity utilising 'non-media vehicles' such as multi-coloured pamphlets on food safety, hygiene, prevention of food spoilage, use of potable water in cooking etc. Such material will be distributed to schools, vendors and will be displayed at bus and railway stations. Another Rs350 crore would be disbursed to states at the rate of Rs2 crore for every state every year for publicity in local language. (courtesy: Dinesh C. Sharma & MailOnlineIndia)


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MBA Career Assistance
Working with Career Development
To set you up for success after your MBA degree, our career development team begins the process on day one. Below are the many components that are always on their radar.
Career Development Programming
- We have built strong, enduring relationships with a broad network of more than 600 top corporations that know the quality of our graduates. This network continues to expand to reflect emerging growth industries and students' interests.
- Career management workshops on topics such as self-assessment, networking and interviewing.
- Web-based self-assessment tools to assess your interests, values, talents, activities, and environments that motivate you.
- Career development programming on topics such as investigating industries and job functions, leveraging social media and developing a personalized marketing message.
- Career advisers who can provide coaching tailored to your needs, including reviewing career goals and choices, cover letters, resumes, LinkedIn, and conducting mock interviews.
- Preparing for job interviews and negotiating offers.
- Customized programming and support for international students.
Career Development Tools and Resources
You will receive the essential tools you will need to help you in your career research of industries, companies, and contacts.
- Resume referral – Our team directly supplies companies with resume books of qualified candidates.
- Employment reports – UC Davis MBA hire summaries by function, industry and location.
- eNewsletters – Information to succeed in today's job market, including MBA-level job openings, national career fairs, vetted career related articles, and more.
International Students
We are here to help with the needs of our international students. We help address areas of common anxiety including: norms in U.S. business culture; expectations and culture in a UC Davis MBA class; and team project expectations through workshops, webinars, and career development tools that include:
- Written and language proficiency evaluations
- Bi-weekly communication workshops
- Writing seminars
- Resume & cover letter workshops & webinars
- Mock interviews
- Coffee bar chats
- Individualized instruction through counseling appointments
- Cultural understanding seminars of U.S. behaviors, expectations, and business culture
We also partner with Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) to help our international students navigate the process of summer internships and opening the door to hiring after graduation.
Career Placement
No two students entering our MBA program are alike and graduates have pursued a wide variety of business careers. The question is not "What are the best MBA jobs?" but "What is the best career for you?" Whether you want to start own business in Silicon Valley or join a Fortune 500 firm, our Career Development team will help you stand out in the ultra-competitive business world.
Making Connections As a Student
- Information sessions – The School organizes company information sessions and company visits for students to learn more about potential employers.
- National career fairs – Where all the big name companies attend.
- Case interviews – A complete guide for effective interviewing that will test your analytical skills, your ability to take data and in a structured manner, derive a conclusion.
- Alumni network – Your gold mine for connections.
- Career Development online handbook – All of the resources you need to conduct a self-directed job search.
- On-campus interviewing – The first step in an effective interview is analyzing the job qualifications and developing accomplishment stories from your background to show how you fit in.
Internships are an essential part of the MBA experience to hone new skills and try out possible career paths and companies. One hundred percent of our full-time students are placed into internships during the summer after their first year.
Internship Profile
- 100% of students placed into an internship through our career services office.
- $5,815 average monthly salary for 2016
- Companies where interns worked include Autodesk, Intel, Mars, and Microsoft.
- Internships covered industries including finance, manufacturing, nonprofit, energy, healthcare, and technology.
- Internships covered functions including consulting, finance/accounting, general management, I.T., marketing/sales, and operations/logistics.
Internship Preparations
Get the support and activities to help you prepare for your internship. These include:
- Mock interviews with alumni, staff and current students
- A curriculum that allows you to choose elective courses to help you succeed at the next level
- Access to corporate events
- Student mentors who provide career advice and information about what to expect during an internship
- Career development and self-assessment guidelines
- Career Leader online assessment
- Goal setting using SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) & gap analyses
- Expert speakers in job search, social media, case study interview prep, storytelling and professional etiquette
Your Journey As An Alumnus
True career management is a lifelong process and the Graduate School of Management is committed to assisting you in your professional growth. Some of the ways we are helping our alumni include:
- Online alumni directory – search for alumni by graduation year, location, company, industry or job function. Customize your record to show the pieces of information you want seen.
- LinkedIn group – stay connected with your classmates, fellow colleagues and faculty
- Alumni on the move – alumni share their latest career accomplishments, promotions, awards, accolades or career switch
- Access to our alumni online job postings
- Alumni networking groups
- Monthly e-Newsletter


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Welcome to my blog! I'm a Sr. Software Development Engineer in the Seattle area, who has been performing C++/C#/Java development for over 20 years, but have definitely learned that there is always more to learn!
All thoughts and opinions expressed in my blog and my comments are my own and do not represent the thoughts of my employer.
C# is a wonderful language for modern programming. While everything in C# has a reason and a place, occasionally there are things that can be confusing for a developer who isn't aware of what is happening behind the scenes. This is my fifth post in the Little Pitfalls series where I explore these issues; the previous Little Pitfall post can be found here.
Side Note: I'll be presenting sessions on the Little Wonders and the Little Pitfalls at the St. Louis Day of .NET conference on August 5th and 6th at the Ameristar Casino and Conference Center. It's a great mid-western tech conference and well worth the money! Check them out here!
Default parameters have been around forever both in C++ and in VB. When Java was introduced, however, they were eschewed as being a problematic source of potential code-safety issues.
Having been bitten by default parameters before in less strongly-typed languages, I can understand this to an extent. But in many ways this forced us to write heavier code (using overloads) where a default parameter would have been easier to maintain. Java seemed to throw out the baby with the bathwater, just in my opinion, instead of letting the developer decide when using default parameters was the most appropriate choice.
C# 1.0, having descended from Java and C++ roots, took the Java approach originally of not allowing default parameters. With the advent of C# 4.0 compiler, however, default parameters are now a part of the C# language. They are a great tool for reducing armies of overloads created to get around the lack of default parameters in early C#. That said, they do have a few things to watch out for so you don't get bit…
Default parameters let you specify a default value for a parameter of a method (or constructor) if the argument in that position isn't provided. Seems simple enough, right? The main reason default parameters are nice is it eliminates the need for armies of overloads in constructors and methods.
Consider how much cleaner it is to reduce all the overloads in the constructors below that simply exist to give the semblance of optional parameters. For example, we could have a Message class defined which allows for all possible initializations of a Message:
1: public class Message
2: {
3: // can either cascade these like this or duplicate the defaults (which can introduce risk)
4: public Message() : this(string.Empty)
5: {
6: }
8: public Message(string text) : this(text, null)
9: {
10: }
12: public Message(string text, IDictionary<string, string> properties)
13: : this(text, properties, -1)
14: {
15: }
17: public Message(string text, IDictionary<string, string> properties, long timeToLive)
18: {
19: // ...
20: }
21: }
Now consider the same code with default parameters, reduced to one constructor:
3: // can either cascade these like this or duplicate the defaults (which can introduce risk)
4: public Message(string text = "", IDictionary<string, string> properties = null, long timeToLive = -1)
5: {
6: // ...
7: }
8: }
Very clean and concise! In addition, in the past if you wanted to be able to cleanly supply timeToLive and accept the default on text and properties above, you would need to either create another overload, or pass in the defaults explicitly. With named parameters, though, we can do this easily:
1: var msg = new Message(timeToLive: 100);
Now, many of you will point out that we could have also achieved this using object initialization, like so:
1: var msg = new Message { TimeToLive = 100 };
But that is only true if the properties have a setter exposed. Perhaps this Message class is designed to be immutable so once the message is created it can't be changed. In that case, we'd want to have multiple constructors (or one with default parameters) defined to give us the flexibility to construct in multiple ways, but not allow mutation after construction.
Default parameters are a tool for cases like this, and of course for eliminating method overloads (which object initialization can't help with). That said, they do have some things to watch out for.
There is one thing and one thing only to keep in mind when using optional parameters. If you keep this one thing in mind, chances are you may well understand and avoid any potential pitfalls with their usage:
That one thing is this: optional parameters are compile-time, syntactical sugar!
So what do we mean by that? Well, Basically just that optional parameters are compiler magic that helps the developer. When you use optional parameters, the compiler looks first for a match for the method, and if it can't find one it will look for a method that matches, taking default parameters into account and then it inserts the default values (just as if they were explicit in the code) into the compiled IL call to that method.
For example, say we had this snippet of code:
1: public class MyClass
3: public static void SomeMethod(int x = 5, int y = 7)
4: {
5: Console.WriteLine("Called with: {0}, {1}", x, y);
6: }
8: public static void Main()
9: {
10: SomeMethod(13);
11: }
12: }
Notice the call to SomeMethod(13), this clearly passes in 13 for x and accepts the default of 7 for y, right? Yes, but when does that default of y get set? As you probably guessed from the title, these are set at compile-time.
This means that these two calls will emit identical IL:
1: // the default parameters are substituted at compile-time!
2: SomeMethod(13);
3: SomeMethod(13, 7);
Now, since we know the default parameters are substituted at compile-time, this leads to our potential little pitfall: the default parameter used depends on the reference you are calling from and not the actual object (this is similar to our operator overloading pitfall we discussed here!)
So let's illustrate this with a more complex example. First let's define an interface, a base class that implements the interface (virtually) and a sub-class that overrides that implementation. And we'll throw default parameters into the mix for fun!
1: public interface ITag
3: void WriteTag(string tagName = "ITag");
4: }
6: public class BaseTag : ITag
7: {
8: public virtual void WriteTag(string tagName = "BaseTag") { Console.WriteLine(tagName); }
9: }
11: public class SubTag : BaseTag
12: {
13: public override void WriteTag(string tagName = "SubTag") { Console.WriteLine(tagName); }
14: }
So, ITag defines WriteTag() with a default parameter of tagName = "ITag", then BaseTag implements it with tagName = "BaseTag" and finally SubTag overrides it with tagName = "SubTag". Confusing eh?
So now, what do we get when call it these three different ways:
1: public static void Main()
3: // three different typed references to same object instance
4: SubTag subTag = new SubTag();
5: BaseTag subByBaseTag = subTag;
6: ITag subByInterfaceTag = subTag;
8: // what happens here?
9: subTag.WriteTag();
10: subByBaseTag.WriteTag();
11: subByInterfaceTag.WriteTag();
Some might expect them to all print "SubTag" since that's the default parameter of the actual object instance for that method, right? But hopefully you remembered the key that default parameters are compile-time magic. That means the default parameter used is entirely dependent on the reference that the method is called from!
Thus, we will get:
1: SubTag
2: BaseTag
3: ITag
This is because these two blocks of code emit the same IL, because the default taken is from the reference we are calling from:
1: // These calls with default parameters...
2: subTag.WriteTag();
3: subByBaseTag.WriteTag();
4: subByInterfaceTag.WriteTag();
6: // Are expaneded to these by the compiler...
7: subTag.WriteTag("SubTag");
8: subByBaseTag.WriteTag("BaseTag");
9: subByInterfaceTag.WriteTag("ITag");
That is, when we called WriteTag() from subByBaseTag, we used the default parameter defined in BaseTag since that was the type of the reference subByBaseTag, and so on.
Further, if you define the defaults in a base class (or interface), because they are compile-time magic only, they are not inherited! They only apply for references of that type. Thus, if you have the following definition:
1: public interface IAnotherTag
3: void WriteTag(string tagName = "I have a default!");
4: }
6: public class SomeTag : IAnotherTag
8: public virtual void WriteTag(string tagName)
10: Console.WriteLine(tagName);
And have the following lines in main, the first attempt to use the default succeeds, while the second fails with a compile-time error!
1: public static void Main()
3: SomeTag tag = new SomeTag();
4: IAnotherTag tagByInterface = tag;
6: // this works because the default was defined in the interface
7: tagByInterface.WriteTag();
9: // this will not compile because SomeTag doesn't have a default defined!
10: tag.WriteTag();
11: }
So remember the rule: default parameters substitutions are determined at compile-time, not at run-time. You will get the default value defined (if any) from the reference type you are calling from.
Default parameters are a great tool for reducing the number of redundant overloads of methods and constructors. They have many benefits, but can bite you if you forget that substitutions are determined at compile-time and not run-time.
As such, you may want to limit to defining them in sealed classes at the end of hierarchy chains. Avoid defining them in interfaces or base classes, as this may lead to confusion if they are not implemented in sub-classes – or worse, are implemented with different values!
Print | posted on Thursday, July 28, 2011 6:24 PM |
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But Are Nonprofits Ready for Them?
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June 2007
The nonprofit sector is growing by leaps and bounds, and so is the number of baby boomers approaching retirement age with the desire to continue working. These two trends can potentially foster a match made in heaven. But there's a catch. Nonprofits traditionally put few resources into HR and staff development, but both are sorely needed for the recruitment and management of older workers, who have very specific needs for meaning in their work and flexibility in their schedules.
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NOC Community Enrichment Quilting Class begins Tuesday, June 3
"Quilting Made Easy, Unfinished Objects," a Northern Oklahoma College Community Enrichment Course, begins Tuesday, June 3 in the Renfro Center, room 106, on the Tonkawa campus. The class will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. each Tuesday through June 24. The instructor will be NOC's Kerri Gray.
"We will work on all those projects that you have started but never finished," Gray said.
You may enroll Tuesday, June 3 at the class or in advance. Contact Gray at (580) 628-6760 or email email@example.com to enroll early and get a supply list so you can begin sewing the first night. If you have questions or need more information, contact Gray.
The cost for this three-week session is $20 plus materials, if needed.


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- "Throughout Thedas, the great holiday of Satinalia is marked by sumptuous feasts, wild celebration, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. Amid the feasting, it is customary for friends, lovers, and traveling companions to exchange gifts and pranks." ―Official description[1]
Feastday Gifts and Feastday Pranks are downloadable content packs for Dragon Age: Origins. The gifts and pranks are fun items which allow the player to "mess around" with the party approval system. The items can be purchased from Bodahn Feddic in the Party Camp. Each companion has a unique gift and prank. Many of the items are either usable or can be equipped and possess amusing effects. Most items are restricted to a specific companion. The gifts give (+50), while the pranks give (-50).
The DLC packs were fittingly released on April 1, 2010—in other words, on April Fools' Day. Each pack is currently available separately on the Xbox Live Marketplace, the PC, and the PlayStation Store, and can also be purchased as a combined Gifts and Pranks pack.
Both "Feastday Gifts" and "Feastday Pranks" are listed as quests to be completed under the Downloadable Content category. In order to complete the "quests" one must buy at least one gift and one prank from Bodahn. This will complete the quest; the items don't actually need to be given and may be destroyed or sold.
Feastday Gifts pack Edit
Alistair DollAlistair Doll
All companion specific gifts give (+50).
This little doll, fashioned from rags and stuck with pins, is eerily reminiscent of Alistair.
for Morrigan. It becomes an Alistair Doll that she can play with to inflict injuries on Alistair if present. Amulet of MemoriesAmulet of Memories
The simple patterns along this locket's outer edge are worn smooth, and a dark patina clouds the glass.
for Wynne. It becomes an item, Amulet of Memories that summons characters known to her. Beard FlaskBeard Flask
Fashioned from nug stomach, this fascinating dwarven device is like a loose-fitting muzzle that sits beneath the beard and keeps the drinker's alcohol accessible even after he loses feeling in his arms.
for Oghren. It becomes an item, Beard Flask, that gives him a small buff to strength (+2 strength). Fat LuteFat Lute
A favorite of traveling bards, the fat-bodied lute is a sturdy instrument with rich tone and a melodious sound.
for Leliana. It becomes an instrument that she can play. Grey Warden Hand PuppetGrey Warden Hand Puppet
This tin-helmeted puppet is painted with the blue-and-grey heraldry of the Grey Wardens.
for Alistair. It becomes a toy that he can play with. King Maric's ShieldKing Maric's Shield
Two dogs rampant mark this shield for the house of Theirin. It bears scars from many battles.
for the secret companion. It becomes a heavy shield, King Maric's Shield. Pet RockPet Rock
Someone has painted a pair of eyes and a goofy smile on this rock.
for Shale. It becomes a Pet Rock that Shale can play with. Qunari Prayers for the DeadQunari Prayers for the Dead
The words are in a strange spidery script, but the fine etchings demonstrate a clear respect for the departed.
for Sten. He can read it and revive any fallen party members. Rare Antivan BrandyRare Antivan Brandy
Pulling the stopper from the bottle reveals hints of exotic passion fruit. The alcohol content is low by local standards--"just enough to keep the conversation flowing," as the Antivans say.
for Zevran. It becomes an item, Rare Antivan Brandy, that gives him a small buff to dexterity (+2 dexterity). StickStick
This sturdy stick is well-weighted for throwing.
for Dog. Anyone (except Shale) can throw the Stick for Dog to fetch.
The following gifts are not specific to anyone.Sugar CakeSugar Cake
Dressed in strawberries and sugar-cream icing, this simple pound cake is a perfect pick-me-up at the end of a long day.
(+5) Thoughtful GiftThoughtful Gift
They say it's the thought that counts, and this gift is always sure to please.
- Unlike the other gifts, Bodahn initially stocks 50 each of the Thoughtful Gift and Sugar Cake, so it can be gifted multiple times. However, there is a small fee for each item.
Feastday Pranks pack Edit
Protective ConeProtective Cone
All companion specific pranks give (-50). Needless to say, it's advisable to save the game before giving any of these. That said, several of the items actually can be considered useful.
A pearly-white cone of unknown material attached to a dog collar. It looks like it would be uncomfortable to wear.
for Dog. It replaces any equipped mabari collar with Protective Cone. If you give Dog the Cone, and then the Stick, Dog acquires Dexterity bonus companion skills for having +100 Approval. Compleat Geneaology of the Kyngs of FereldenCompleat Geneaology of the Kyngs of Ferelden
Chapter upon chapter and verse on verse, this dense tome enthusiastically details the countless branches of Ferelden's royal family. The final entry describes King Maric's ascent to the throne.
for Alistair. The Chant of Light, UnabridgedThe Chant of Light, Unabridged
A luridly illustrated copy of Chantry teachings, complete with a hundred-page concordance and an overly simplistic collection of daily affirmations about how the Chant can bring light into any life.
for Morrigan. Butterfly SwordButterfly Sword
It's unclear whether this gaudy blade is meant as a weapon of war or simply a stage prop.
for Sten. It becomes a greatsword, Butterfly Sword. Uncrushable PigeonUncrushable Pigeon
This pigeon coos happily, apparently comfortable in the knowledge that no force could ever crush it.
for Shale. It becomes a large crystal, Uncrushable Pigeon. Ugly BootsUgly Boots
Many insects died to make these iridescent boots. What a waste.
for Leliana. It becomes a pair of light boots, Ugly Boots. Chastity BeltChastity Belt
This iron girdle looks distinctly uncomfortable. A sturdy lock keeps the loins secure.
for Zevran. It replaces any equipped belt with Chastity Belt. If you invite Zevran to your tent while the belt is equipped, the game will still cut to the love making scene. Cat Lady's Hobble-StickCat Lady's Hobble-Stick
This gnarled staff carries odors of cat urine and prune juice.
for Wynne. It becomes an item, Cat Lady's Hobble-Stick, that can summon a cat that can be used distract enemies during combat. Scented SoapScented Soap
This bar of brightly colored soap smells of elfroot blossoms.
for Oghren. It becomes an item, Scented Soap, that can be used by anyone to remove blood spatter. Orlesian MaskOrlesian Mask
Fashioned of lace and porcelain, this expensive mask is the height of fashion for Orlesian nobility.
for the secret companion.
The following pranks are not specific to anyone.Rotten OnionRotten Onion
It is unclear which smells worse--the onion or the rot.
(-10) Lump of CharcoalLump of Charcoal
A chunk of firewood pulled from the remains of last night's campire. How sweet!
- Unlike the other pranks, Bodahn initially stocks 50 each of the Rotten Onion and Lump of Coal, so it can be gifted multiple times. However, there is a small fee for each item.
Codex entries EditCodex entry: Feastday Gifts - Credits Codex entry: Feastday Pranks - Credits
Notes Edit
- Sten's Butterfly Sword is the only gift that (without mods) imports into Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.
Bugs Edit
- ps3 Bodahn's store resets, losing any items you have sold to him previously. This appears to happen only once as later items sold to him remain available for repurchase.
- pcps3xbox360 Upon storing the items within the party storage chest (Warden's Keep downloadable content) the gifts will reappear within Bodahn's store, and may be purchased and given to your companions again, for additional approval changes.
- pc Giving a Feastday gift to a companion when they are already at Friendly or Adore (and possibly Love) can lower that rating back to Warm. The rating does not lower numerically.
- pcxbox360 Dialog options are sometimes not available once a companion's approval rating is at certain levels. If you wish to romance a character use feastday items with caution.
Gallery Edit
See also Edit
References Edit


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Thomas Kinkade "Star Of Hope" Nativity Collection
Illuminated, limited-edition Nativity collection in hand-painted bisque porcelain. Figures beautifully detailed with 22K-gold accents and more!
Creche measures 17" W x 9" H
From Hawthorne Village
Important Message: The following items are either missing or need correction.
- Please select at least one item.
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write-off(redirected from Charge Offs)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
Charging an asset amount to expense or loss, such as through the use of depreciation and amortization of assets.
A reduction in an individual's or a company's income as the result of an expense. For example, an unpayable credit sale may be a write-off for the creditor, especially if the debtor declares bankruptcy. The bankruptcy means that the debtor is unable to pay the debt, which results in a loss of income for the creditor. A write-off may usually be deducted from one's taxable income.
To take an asset entirely off the books because it no longer has any value.If an accrualbasis taxpayer has taken money into income when bills were sent out to customers,but then some of the bills became uncollectible, the taxpayer may write off the uncollectible ones as a deduction against income. Financial institutions are required to write off loans when they become delinquent by a certain amount.


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The consultancy, which serves as the Brazilian engineering arm of French multinational utility GDF Suez, is employing 38 workers on the 30.6MW Talara and 81MW Cupisnique wind projects, only one of whom is Brazilian.
From taking its first steps in Brazil's wind power sector to winning its inaugural contract outside the country took just a year, says Ivan Veloso, Leme Engenharia's Peru manager.
"Leme decided to enter the wind sector in 2011 and a series of exchanges was made between Brazil and Belgium to import know-how," he says. "Since then we have signed several contracts and not only with Tractebel Energia (Brazil's largest private electricity producer, 68% owned by GDF Suez). So when we came to Peru, which is a greenfield site in wind power terms, we could provide expertise in the sector."
Leme, best known for its expertise and experience in hydroand thermo-electric power generation, is betting on the rapid growth of wind energy in Latin America. Aside from looking at more than 2.9GW in wind projects under development or consideration in Peru, the company also has offices prospecting contracts in Chile, from where it can cover other countries such as Uruguay, and in Panama, which positions it well for Central America and the Caribbean.
Brazil is well placed in a region with large potential for wind power and a commitment being displayed by neighbouring countries. Uruguay, for example, with 53MW currently installed, is aiming for 1GW by 2015. Meanwhile doubts remain over the commissioning of new projects in Brazil and demand at local government-organised auctions.
"In 2012 we had no auction in Brazil, and new rules on supply and grid connection guarantees will reduce significantly the number of projects to be contracted at the auction from the 16GW of projects already registered," says Elbia Melo, executive secretary of Brazil's wind power association, Abeeolica. "We need to have a yearly demand of some 2GW."
Leme is one of the few wind sector companies that could act as a spearhead for the internationalisation of Brazil's wind developers and equipment makers, which have profited from the country more than doubling its installed capacity in the past two years.
"Going abroad makes sense in the medium to long term," Melo says. "On the one hand, many of these countries do not have the industrial capacity or sufficient wind-power potential to attract factories. On the other, Brazilian-located factories must be guaranteed constant demand."
Early days
Melo says some Brazilian firms are already looking abroad, citing plans by developers to study projects on the border with Uruguay. But she cautions that there is a great deal of work to be done before decisions can be made on export incentives for equipment makers and the logistics of transporting the huge components. "We do not know yet what is best: export by land to our neighbors or by sea," she says. "Studies need to be made."
Brazil today counts nine international wind turbine makers investing in local factories, with a potential combined annual output of 2GW of turbines a year. To comply with local content rules implemented by Brazil's national development bank (BNDES), companies such as Spain's Gamesa, France's Alstom, Denmark's Vestas, India's Suzlon and US company GE have all had to expand their role as local suppliers and build large facilities to assemble the equipment. BNDES approval so far has been granted to Alstom, Gamesa, GE, Vestas, as well as German Enercon's subsidiary Wobben, Argentinian Impsa, and Brazilian WEG.
Gamesa is now looking beyond Brazil's borders, with more than one Brazilian wind developer approaching the company's Brazilian operation to negotiate supply for projects abroad, according to David Sigismondi, Gamesa's wind farm solution manager. "Brazilian companies want to build wind farms abroad," he says.
BNDES confirmed to Windpower Monthly that several wind-power equipment manufacturers and developers have sought information about financing exports from Brazil. BNDES has finance for export of infrastructure goods and services. For example, it offered a $200 million loan to Venezuela's government in 2005 to contract Brazilian companies to build an underground train system in Caracas and a hydroelectric dam in La Vultosa.
Wobben Windpower is another BNDES-approved Brazil-based firm looking to establish a foothold abroad. Last year it signed a contract to supply turbines for the 100MW Peralta project in Uruguary. Eletrobas, Brazil's biggest power utility, is also in talks with Uruguay's state-run grid operator Usinas y Trasmisiones Electricas to build another 100MW project.
"Brazil is a market in full consolidation," says Eduardo Lopes, commercial director at Wobben's Brazilian headquarters. "Although it has had its ups and downs, the moment we started competing in earnest with other sources at the auctions, we recognised we needed more experienced professionals from equipment suppliers and wind developers."
Achilles' heel
But Brazil's Achilles' heel is its heavy-handed bureaucracy and high taxes, locally known as the 'Custo Brasil' (Brazil cost). According to Abeeolica's Melo, this, above all, needs to be tackled to allow the country to grow its international trade and business.
Abeeolica has been discussing export plans with the government since the beginning of the year,confirmed Brazil's industry ministry. Melo says: "The government approached us and we are in initial talks. But there is a lot to do to reduce costs. We need a reduction in import and export taxes, other tributary costs and logistics that will definitely need to be in the double-digit figure range." The first proposed measures from the talks are expected some time next year, she says.
The association also signed an agreement in July with Brazil's industrial development agency to draw up studies focusing on the wind sector, while its own research will focus on technology development.
Brazil still has a considerable distance to travel before it can supply home-built wind power equipment to its own country, let alone to its neighbours.
As Leme Engenharia's Veloso points, the first wind farms in Peru will be equipped with 62 1.8MW V100 Vestas turbines built in China and transmission towers from India. "In the future it makes more sense to to have this equipment constructed in Brazil, since the final assembly and montage needs to be made here," he says. "The companies that offer these services and can also provide maintenance will be able to gain market share."


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BERLIN — David Hayter's supernatural thriller "Wolves," starring Jason Momoa and Lucas Till ("X-Men: First Class"), is heading to Germany via SquareOne.
It's one of a number of new acquisitions secured by the Munich-based company at the recent American Film Market.
Also in the distrib's shopping basket was Vertigo Films' comedy-musical "Walking on Sunshine," by "StreetDance" helmers Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini, and set to star Kylie Minogue and Gemma Arterton.
SquareOne likewise nabbed Stephen Frears' drama "Philomena," with Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.
Fellow Teutonic distrib Koch Media, meanwhile, picked up Christine Jeffs' romantic comedy "Wonderful Tonight," starring Amanda Seyfried and Patrick Dempsey; David Gordon Green's thriller "Joe," with Nicolas Cage; and Joe Carnahan's action comedy "Stretch," which revolves around a Los Angeles limo driver, played by Patrick Wilson.


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9 MILE POINT, La. — Director Steve McQueen was just a few yards from modern civilization — in this case, an air-conditioned sports utility vehicle that had brought him some 45 minutes from New Orleans — but as he looked around a sprawling plantation here last week, he could just as well have been walking around in the 1840s.
Spanish moss draped from the limbs of many of the sycamores, and the only way to navigate much of the 200-acre property was to plod down rough paths where the mud reached your shins. The plantation's main residence dates to 1784, and because its land rests largely below levees, you could neither see nor hear the Mississippi River, even though the waterway was just a stone's throw away. The mosquitoes were as thick as the buzzing of the cicadas.
"Oh, my God, look at this," McQueen said as he turned a corner on the foot path, slapping at the bugs landing atop his head. "It's all overgrown. The grass has all come back. It looks like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon."
A year ago in this precise spot — a small clearing with a giant live oak at its center — was where McQueen filmed a critical scene in "12 Years a Slave." The movie, opening in limited release Friday, traces the true story of a free man named Solomon Northup living in New York who was drugged, kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana for a dozen years.
The last time the British filmmaker behind "Shame" and "Hunger" was in this clearing, Solomon, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, was desperate to return to his wife and children in the North and was about to make a run for it.
He had stepped into the clearing, where he promptly came upon two would-be runaways. They had been captured in the act of fleeing and were being strung up on nooses. Solomon quickly turned around, more certain than ever there was no flight from his predicament.
One owner of the plantation had told McQueen and his team that their selection of the specific tree was jarringly fitting. In the shadows of the huge tree, in ground swiftly disappearing under kudzu vines, were the graves of slaves who had been hanged from its branches in the 19th century. There were no headstones, but if you looked closely, you could make out several small mounds in the undergrowth.
"It's what made the scene even more vital and necessary — bringing the past into the present. If this tree had eyes, imagine what it has seen," said McQueen, dressed in a maroon shirt, black jacket, navy pants and black boots. "Just out of respect, we said a few words before we started shooting here."
As adapted by screenwriter John Ridley, "12 Years a Slave" follows Northup's memoir of the same name, published in 1853 with the help of writer David Wilson, remarkably closely.
While Ridley compressed some scenes in the memoir's earliest chapters, he didn't have to invent any of the most horrific acts that befall Solomon in the film, including when he has to whip fellow slave Patsey (newcomer Lupita Nyong'o) on the orders of a sadistic plantation owner named Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender). The film also stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Alfre Woodard, Sarah Paulson and Brad Pitt.
As part of the rigor of presenting Solomon's story with scant embellishment, McQueen said he considered only one location for filming: Louisiana. It was a fortuitous coincidence that the state has some of the most generous film production credits in the nation, rebates that can cut as much as 35% from a movie's cost, which kept the "12 Years a Slave" budget to a modest $22 million.
"I couldn't shoot anywhere else," McQueen, who had never visited the state before making "12 Years a Slave," said on the plantation near 9 Mile Point, a few hours before "12 Years a Slave" would open the New Orleans Film Festival.
The production traveled to four main plantations during filming, most of which were south of where the real-life Solomon was held and toiled, because journeys from New Orleans to more distant parcels would have been impractical and expensive. (That meant the film had to hire botanists to plant half an acre of cotton because the crop generally is farmed farther north in the state).
Cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, who has shot all three of McQueen's features, said it wasn't difficult to find plantations that would welcome such a production. But in many cases, the architectural artifacts of slavery — the huts where slaves slept, for example — had been removed. "Rather than repair them, they tore them down," Bobbitt said. "So while the facades of the plantation homes have been preserved, a lot of the elements of slavery are gone."
McQueen and the owner of the plantation with the hanging tree asked that the location not be identified in this article out of fear that vandals, motivated by whatever strong feelings they might hold about slavery, would cut the oak down.
Owing to scheduling constraints, "12 Years a Slave" had to be shot in the middle of the summer, and the temperatures often exceeded 100 degrees, with oppressive humidity.
"The heat is a character of its own," Nyong'o said. "It changes the way you walk — it changes how you think. It definitely helped move me into character. I don't think there's any other place in the world we could have shot. It's pregnant with history."
When the movie was filming closer to swamps, the production brought in four snake and alligator wranglers to keep any unwelcome wildlife away from the cast and crew.
"It was a very hot summer and also a very wet summer. We had very extreme conditions," said McQueen, dousing himself with bug spray. "But without the locations, we wouldn't have the performances that we got. The fact of being on a plantation does something to you. It's like being at the scene of the crime. And yet it's also extraordinarily beautiful. It's an odd thing to be around."
Though the film's subject matter is exceedingly rough, the loveliness of the land reinforced in McQueen and Bobbitt's minds that "12 Years a Slave" should be filmed in a composed, painterly style, with several extended shots that look like a formal portrait — the still life of slaves. He said that if he and McQueen hadn't shot the film in a lush style, audiences might find the film unrelentingly harsh.
"We spent a lot of time talking about things in broad strokes and coming up with early ideas. When you get to the locations, those broad strokes get tighter," said Bobbitt, a former television news journalist. "When you see the locations, the story starts to come alive visually."
Added McQueen, referring to an opening shot of slaves standing silently: "That tableaux is like the first day of school. You line up, not knowing what's going to happen, and someone tells you what to do."
Woodard, who in the film plays a former slave named Mistress Shaw who enjoys a privileged life because she has married a white slave owner, said she previously worked several times as an actor on plantations. The first time she did so, "it wrecked me," Woodard said. Making McQueen's movie, on the other hand, was almost a spiritual experience.
"This was a lot more intense, because of the actual proximity," Woodard said. "It becomes a place that's sacred to you — but in the way of a family reunion that goes way, way back — because you own that land."
Knowing that they were working so near to where Northup and thousands of other slaves had suffered so horribly didn't just lend the production a sense of verisimilitude; the immediacy also deepened their commitment to tell his story as faultlessly as possible. At several points in the filming during emotionally and physically draining scenes, crew members either broke down in tears or had to avert their eyes.
"As actors, you want to slip down the rabbit hole," Ejiofor said of shooting in Louisiana. "You want to get as close to the experience as you can possibly do."
Back at the hanging tree, McQueen recalled how he had returned to the plantation months after wrapping principal photography, needing to reshoot the hanging scene because his initial filming of the sequence (at another location) hadn't worked to his satisfaction for a variety of reasons.
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"It wasn't good enough. It needed something more," McQueen said.
When he and Bobbitt first saw the giant oak, they considered it excessively large, its lower limbs too far from the ground. But once they learned of the graves beneath it, their minds were in agreement — here they would not only be filming but also reenacting.
"The scene was not connecting somehow," McQueen said. "What we needed was something, and the something we needed was the tree. It brought everything back together."
Times staff writer Amy Kaufman contributed to this report.


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Bret Michaels is looking for some restitution from the Tonys.
The rocker sued CBS and the Tonys yesterday for an incident in 2009 when a set piece hit Michaels on the head, The Associated Press reported. Michaels alleges that the accident led to him suffering a near-fatal brain hemorrhage, and that he still dealing with the effects from the injury.
Michaels and his band Poison were performing at the Tony Awards in 2009 when the singer was hit by a piece of scenery resulting in a broken nose and lip. He alleged that Tonys folks didn't inform him that the set would change after the performance.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
According to the lawsuit, which did not specify how much he was asking for, Michaels "was never told that the scenery piece would be descending or given any warning of the existence of the dangers it presented."
CBS and representatives for the Tonys did not offer a response about the lawsuit to the AP.
Michaels went to the hospital last April and was diagnosed with having a brain hemorrhage.
"Through his sheer will to live, to see his children grow up, Michaels was able to survive this trauma," said the lawsuit.
In a new interview with Parade magazine, Michaels, who also had heart surgery last year, talked about his health in relation to touring.
"It requires a lot of diligence and a lot of determination on my part," he told Parade, "but I never lose sight of the people and the things that inspire me to live a long a life. Surrounding myself with my family, my music, and my fans – that's what helps me keep my health in check because it reminds me how much I want to be here and it pushes me to take care of myself."
Selected Readings: The Associated Press, Parade


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Raspberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Swapped at the 2012 SE cookie swap by Sarah Bray.
Adapted from a recipe from the Piece of Cake Bakery in Atlanta.
These recipes from our annual Serious Eats Cookie Swap are provided by Serious Eats staff, friends, and family. They have not been tested by our recipe team.
- 2 sticks of butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 1/2 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Jam and chopped pecans for topping
Mix all ingredients together. The dough should be dry and crumbly. Form into tight balls in palm and place on baking sheet. Press down onto each ball with thumb, gently, then add a scoop of jam and top with chopped pecans. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes until golden brown.


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Farrell hopeful Drew can return this weekend
BOSTON -- After playing four games for the Red Sox, shortstop Stephen Drew has now missed four consecutive games with soreness in his right oblique. After Drew was examined by the team's medical staff on Thursday, manager John Farrell was hopeful the shortstop could play by this weekend.
This was an upgrade from before the Red Sox's 5-2 win over the Indians, when Farrell mentioned the possibility Drew could need an MRI.
"At this point, there was an ultrasound done," Farrell. "An MRI is a possibility if the increased baseball activities tomorrow warrant it. The plan is for him not to have it right now. He'll ramp up the activities. If there's any kind of reproducing of the symptoms, then it would be administered at this point. Hopefully he gets through tomorrow and then we're looking for game activity on the weekend."
Drew experienced some unexpected discomfort during his second round of batting on Wednesday in Baltimore.
Jonathan Herrera again started at shortstop in Drew's absence and went 2-for-4 with a key two-out triple.


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Reuters and DPA
Jan 6, 2013
Syrian President Bashar Assad announced what he described as a peace plan on Sunday, calling for a reconciliation conference with "those who have not betrayed Syria", to be followed by the formation of a new government and an amnesty.
"The first stage of a political solution would require that regional powers stop funding and arming (the opposition), an end to terrorist operations and controlling the borders," he said in a speech in central Damascus, his first public comments in months.
"We will not have dialogue with a puppet made by the West," he said.
Speaking before cheering supporters at the Opera House in central Damascus, Assad said that rebels fighting to overthrow his regime were "terrorists" and "criminals" who harbor al-Qaida's extremist ideology. He vowed to defeat the rebellion.
Our Christmas in July sale is in its FINAL HOURS! Get double Patriot Points and free shipping on our hottest products!


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The AKG sound expertise
A clear, word-class acoustic signature with a warm bass response that will take your musical enjoyment and appreciation to new levels.
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Enjoy an indulgent audio experience heightened by the use of attractive aluminums, soft silicones and durable fabrics.
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Easily be at one with your music at any time thanks to a carrying pouch, flight adaptor, 3 sizes ear tips and cleaning tool whether you're climbing the clouds or just crossing town.
Reference class performance meets on the go convenience with the visually stunning AKG N20 in-ear headphones. Boasting reference sound quality, soft, comfortable ear tips and a fabric cord that helps avoid tangling, the meticulously crafted AKG N20 sets a fine new benchmark for exceptional audio. Discerning listeners will appreciate the generous indulgence of premium materials and a semi-closed back design that allows for superior acoustics and enhanced bass response. As an elegant embodiment of immaculate sound, AKG N20 headphones also come with a complete accessory package that includes a flight adaptor, cleaning tool and semi-hard case to jump-start the audio action right out of the box.
General Specifications
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Spec Sheet (EN)English 1 MB
- AKG N20 In-Ear Headphones
- Fabric tangle free cable
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- Cleaning tool
- Carrying Case
- 3 pairs of ear tips (S, M, L)
The latest owner's manuals, quick start guides, and documents.
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Jay-Z: The Power of Our Voice
"Jay-Z shares why it is important to exercise your right to vote and how President Obama represents the power of our voice. "
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- Visit
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Rodin was an extraordinary creative artist and a prolific worker. After attending the "Petite École", he worked in the studio of the ornamentalist Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, first in Paris, then in Brussels, where his skill in handling decorative subjects fashionable in the 18th century became apparent. His discovery of Michelangelo, during a visit to Italy in 1875-76,was a decisive moment in his career. Rodin would, in turn, break new ground in sculpture, paving the way for 20th-century art, by introducing methods and techniques that were central to his own artistic aesthetics.
> Antoine Bourdelle
> Camille Claudel
> Jules Desbois
> Aristide Maillol
> Constantin Meunier
> Auguste Rodin


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Tonight on Truther Girls radio my guest is the mind-blowing Jim Lee, who has worked tirelessly for the past two years to put together a 3D map of Radiation, Chemtrails and all kinds of earth changes.
You may look at this directly at: http://www.terraforminginc.com/climateviewer/earth/
Jim Lee is a major researcher, you can look at his web site at: rezn8d.com
Jim's blog is at: terraforminginc.com
Jim Lee has a You Tube Channel with a world class play list that you can see by clicking HERE.
To listen live form 10:00-midnight EST on January 25, 2013 go to americanfreedomradio.com and click 'listen live'
Archive: americanfreedomradio.com/TrutherGirls_13
Please join us in the live chat at truthergirls.chatango.com
Call-in number is 218-339-8525
Image courtesy of Suvro Datta / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


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B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
ANAHEIM, Calif. (Sept. 27, 2008) – The U.S. Men's Volleyball Team finished the 2008 America's Cup tournament on a high note with a 25-23, 25-19, 25-15 defeat of Mexico on Saturday in Cuiaba, Brazil.
With the victory, the U.S. Men finish the tournament in fifth. Cuba will play Brazil for the gold medal on Sunday while Argentina will face Venezuela in the bronze medal match.
Evan Patak (Pleasanton, Calif.) led all scorers with 14 points on a match-high 12 kills, one block and one ace. Matt Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y.) added 12 points on nine kills and three blocks. Andrew Hein (Carol Stream, Ill.) scored seven points on three kills and a match-high four blocks.
Scott Touzinsky (St. Louis, Mo.) scored seven points on seven kills. Phil Eatherton (Glencoe, Mo.) scored seven points on four kills, three blocks and one ace.
Brook Billings (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Brandon Taliaferro (San Clemente, Calif.) each scored one point on one kill.
Anderson had 25 service receptions with 60 percent "excellent." Libero Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.) had 15 serve receptions with 47 percent excellent. Lambourne was also credited with 10 digs.
Jesus Rangel led Mexico with 13 points on 11 kills and two blocks.
The U.S. Men converted 49 percent of their kill attempts into points while Mexico converted 41 percent. Team USA out-blocked Mexico 10-5 and was 60 percent "excellent" on serve receptions as compared to 52 percent for Mexico.
U.S. Head Coach Ron Larsen (Lafayette, Calif.) started Anderson and Touzinsky at outside hitter, Eatherton and Hein at middle blocker, Patak at opposite and Taliaferro at setter. Lambourne was the designated libero. Nils Nielsen (Fallbrook, Calif.), Jayson Jablonsky (Yorba Linda, Calif.), Jonathan Winder (Irvine, Calif.) and Billings all played as substitutes.
Team USA got off to a fast start in the first set, taking an 8-3 lead at the first technical timeout. But Rangel heated up at the net and Mexico tied the score at 11-11. U.S. errors aided Mexico in taking a 14-12 lead. But Mexico's service error cut Mexico's lead to 14-13 and the United States scored the next four points to regain the edge.
Mexico kept things interesting and pulled to within one point at 21-20, but a Patak kill kept the U.S. Men out of reach. The United States reached set point first at 24-22. Mexico gained one more point before a Hein kill ended the set.
The U.S. Men led 8-6 at the first technical timeout of the second set. With Team USA leading 11-9, it scored the next four points, including blocks by Hein and Anderson, to extend the lead to 15-9. Although Mexico trailed by as many as eight points, it did not give up and eventually pulled to within three at 21-18. But Team USA picked up the pace and stayed ahead for the victory.
Mexico held a 6-4 lead in the third set when the U.S. Men got the serve back on an Anderson kill and then scored five more points to lead 10-6. The United States led 16-8 at the second technical timeout and reached match point at 24-12. Mexico scored three points, but a Mexico serving error gave the United States the match victory.
2008 America's Cup
Sept. 24-28 in Cuiaba, Brazil
U.S. Team
1 - Matt Anderson (OH, 6-10, West Seneca, N.Y., Penn State)
3 - Nils Nielsen (OH, 6-4, Fallbrook, Calif., Cal State Northridge)
4 - Evan Patak (Opp, 6-8, Pleasanton, Calif., UC Santa Barbara)
5 - Rich Lambourne (L, 6-3, Tustin, Calif., BYU)
6 - Phil Eatherton (MB, 6-9, Glencoe, Mo., Ball State)
7 - Jayson Jablonsky (OH, 6-5, Yorba Linda, Calif., UC Irvine)
9 - Jonathan Winder (S, 6-8, Irvine, Calif., Pepperdine)
11 - Brook Billings (Opp, 6-5, Santa Barbara, Calif., Southern California)
12 - Andrew Hein (MB, 6-11, Carol Stream, Ill., Pepperdine)
16 - Brandon Taliaferro (S, 6-5, San Clemente, Calif., UCLA)
17 - Delano Thomas (MB, 6-7, Sacramento, Calif., Hawai'i)
18 - Scott Touzinsky (OH, 6-6, St. Louis, Mo., Long Beach State)
Head Coach: Ron Larsen
Team Leader: Mark Pavlik
Assistant Coach: Jamie Morrison
Assistant Coach: Peter Hanson
Medical Support: Aaron Brock
Technical Coordinator: David Hunt
Tournament Results and Schedule (All times PDT)
Group A
Cuba 2-0
Argentina 1-1
Group B
Brazil 2-0
Venezuela 1-1
Mexico 0-2
Sept. 24
Cuba def. USA, 25-19, 25-27, 23-25, 25-21, 15-8
Brazil def. Mexico, 25-18, 25-16, 25-20
Sept. 25
Argentina def. USA, 25-17, 16-25, 25-16, 17-25, 15-13
Brazil def. Venezuela, 25-20, 25-19, 25-16
Sept. 26
Cuba def. Argentina, 25-21, 25-16, 25-18
Venezuela def. Mexico, 25-20, 25-17, 25-20
Sept. 27
Cuba def. Venezuela, 21-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-19, 17-15
Brazil def. Argentina, 25-17, 25-22, 29-27
USA def. Mexico, 25-23, 25-19, 25-15
Sept. 28
Bronze Medal: Argentina vs. Venezuela
Gold Medal: Brazil vs. Cuba


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Through it's research and engagement with Indian cities, WRI India Sustainable Cities has put together a variety of city specific databases and analyses that researchers, practitioners, students and others might find informative and useful. This includes key charts and graphs from various WRI India Sustainable Cities reports. For more information regarding these data and analytics you can direct your queries to the contact person listed with the information or simply write to us at email@example.com.
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Mobility Policies & Planning
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Congratulations to Kim and Andrew, a happy Zoosk couple from the United Kingdom! This adorable Newcastle twosome met while online dating on Zoosk and felt an instant attraction as soon as they connected in person. As Kim writes in her Zoosk success story, the online attraction turned out to be love in real life.
Andrew and I met on late April after chatting on Zoosk for a number of weeks. I was separated at the time and Andrew was widowed. We'd both been through a difficult time in life. We chatted using Zoosk email for a number of weeks before exchanging phone numbers. Then, on the evening of Anzac Day I received a message from Andrew asking me on a date, he said "how about breakfast, lunch or dinner tomorrow?"….to which my response was…."how about breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow?"….It was agreed. We were to meet in Goldburg's Cafe in Newcastle the following morning at 9am. When I arrived, the cafe was bustling with people, however, I recognised him straight away. We went inside, had breakfast and coffee, talked non-stop for two hours or so and then went in his car to the foreshore. Once there, we went for a stroll along the breakwall, chatting all the while. I wanted to kiss him then but refrained. Then it was on to The Brewery where a band was playing, we had a couple of beers and kept up on our conversation, learning more about each other. We somehow got onto the subject of kissing and before I knew it we kissed. I felt all goose pimply and tingly, it was really lovely. Then to make sure it was good for both of us, we kissed again…more tingles! It was so exciting. The day flew by and ended for us both around 5pm. We both really connected and enjoyed each others company.
Our next date was at a little old pub in Morpeth called the River Royal Inn. It is quaint, really romantic and offers fine dining and boutique wines. We had a lovely meal and were really excited about seeing each other again. This is something that I feel we haven't lost. We have been together now for 7 months and are very much in love. Our love keeps growing stronger as we grow together as a couple.
I fell in love with Andrew one night after we'd been out to dinner. After dinner we laid down on a picnic rug under the stars in the freezing cold and he sang to me. We kissed tenderly and at that moment I said to him that I could easily fall in love with him. He said the same to me. I had already fallen, hook, line and sinker. I declared my love for him that week. He knew how I felt and he was more reserved at that time. He said he had strong feelings for me also and that he wasn't going to fight what was happening, he just needed more time. I felt a little silly for a while but we were able to talk about it. This was all so new for both of us as we'd both been in long term marriages. I wasn't fighting what I felt and as time passed we grew closer and closer. Andrew was never far from my thoughts and he makes me smile. He has an awesome sense of humour and we enjoy a similar outlook on life with similar energy levels.
We have both been ever so lucky to find each other and we know that our future together is bright and that we will adore each other for a very long time still to come. To have found love at our age is awesome. Some things are simply meant to be! We both look forward to seeing each other and we talk often and never seem to run out of things to say. We tell each other often of our love and feelings and it's really beautiful. When we are together it's like nothing else matters, we are lost in each other completely. I look at Andrew with adoration and I see him looking at me the same way, we only have eyes for each other and there's a great sense of security in that. All I ever wanted for such a long time was to feel loved and now I am! We both are!
Andrew makes me feel so alive, he makes my heart go boom, boom, boom & pitter-patter. He is very kind, caring, loving and such a beautiful person, a true gentleman. I feel ever so blessed to have him as my loving partner. Thank you Zoosk!
Congratulations Kim and Andrew! We wish the two of you all the happiness in the world. 🙂 Reader, do you have a Zoosk romance you'd like to share with us? If so, send it to success [at] zoosk [dot] com and we'll happily share your story for you! For more success stories, check out Zoosk's success story archives. If you like what you see, fan us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and make sure you check out our romantic videos on ZooskTV!


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Charlie Sheen lost New York.
The actor's "Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat Is Not an Option" tour wrapped its opening night at Radio City a half-hour early, when Sheen ran out of tricks to calm a jeering crowd.
It didn't start out so bad. As in Cleveland, most fans welcomed the self-proclaimed warlock with a standing ovation. They didn't seem to mind he showed up a half-hour late.
U.S. & World
Sheen walked on stage in a Yankee tee and cap to the tune of Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me To The Moon." He sat down opposite an unidentified interviewer, lit a cigarette and began by saying how much he loved New York and its hotels.
"Surprise, surprise. I'm not staying at the [explicative] Plaza," he said in reference to the scene of his infamous meltdown.
He kept the crowd amused with a series of crack and cocaine stories--like the one when he chatted up federal agents after exiting a flight with drugs stashed in his underwear.
When the first few lulls emerged in his unscripted Q&A, Sheen filled them with interjections like "winning!" and "who doesn't love Emilio," which the crowd humored with applause.
But hecklers began to voice their disapproval just 20 minutes in, when Sheen veered away from drug anecdotes and towards subjects maybe better suited for an "Inside the Actor's Studio" crowd: his earlier films and what it was like growing up with a famous father.
Sheen's admission that he admired his father's wealth and ability to attract hot women, weren't the sorts of truths ticket-buyers were hoping to hear.
He momentarily placated the audience by showing a small Yankee-sign tattoo on his upper arm, and "winning" inked onto his wrist. But those tricks couldn't fill the second half of his show, or stave off a Detroit-style reception. Soon, shouts of "boring" and "you suck" began to drown out what was happening on stage.
The interviewer resorted to seemingly juicier content. "What about your kids? Why don't you talk about your kids."
"I love my kids, more than words can express," Sheen said.
"Boring!" The crowd shouted, as some began to make for the exits.
The interviewer grasped for something else. "What about Denise?"
"Denise stole my dog," Sheen said, about his famous ex-wife, after quipping that he can't say much about her for legal reasons.
As more people filed out the door, Sheen's interviewer quickly cued up Sheen's self-parody YouTube video of his "20/20" spot and hustled the actor off the stage.
By the time the pair returned, not even a pair of "goddesses" (who said hello and walked off without any of the antics the crowd expected) could save the show.
After a single hour of what should have been a 90-minute performance, Sheen took a bow, and called it a night. He'll get a second chance at Radio City on Sunday, but it was clear many New Yorkers have already written him off.
"That was the biggest waste of $280 I've ever spent in my life," said Massimo Didonna of Staten Island, who had purchased two $140 tickets last month. "The best part was the YouTube video, and I could've watched that from home."
Jesse Gamar, from the Upper East Side, also gave Sheen's performance a thumbs-down, but didn't seem so regretful.
"We wanted to see a disaster and we got what we paid for."


text: When we first heard about the Mayflash DolphinBar, we were immediately intrigued. Hardware that complements emulators has always existed in some form, like the various controller adapters we commonly use, but never has one benefited an emulator quite this directly. A USB sensor bar, with integrated Bluetooth? A fascinating opportunity! The devs immediately purchased one and sent it to a tester for analysis.


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In his latest interview on "60 Minutes," President Barack Obama expressed disdain for the wealthy fat-cats on Wall Street. If he is truly concerned about irresponsible unaccountable behavior and wants to redistribute the wealth, he should look to Congress.
The Center for Responsive Politics has reported that 237 members of congress are millionaires; that's 44% of the body compared to only 1% of Americans overall.
The richest is Representative Darrell Issa (R-California) who is worth $251 million, followed by Representative Jane Harman (D-California) at $244.7 million; Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin) at $214.5 million; Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) at $209.7 million; and Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) at $208.8 million.
By voting all incumbents out of office, regardless of party affiliation, we can help the president achieve his goals of economic and redistributive "change" and realize Michelle Obama's "hope" that, "in order to get things like universal health care and a revamped educational system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more."
It is time to drain the swamp. Let's make sure the next election generates "change" the president and congress can believe in.
Ed Konecnik


text: CL Posted July 28, 2002 My aunt was in town and came over for dinner tonight. I showed her my distillery photos from my recent trip to KY. She began to fill me in on my grandfather's jobs at various distilleries throughout his life. I am somewhat embarrased to say that I didn't know about his life in the time before I was born. Consequently, I didn't know how many distilleries in KY he worked at before my life began.My aunt and I called my grandmother and asked her to fill us in on the details. Here's what I got from my grandmother in the confusion in getting ready for supper. I will be sure to follow up with her later on, but I wanted to see if anyone here can provide some more info.My grandfather (Thomas Holman Bryant) began at the Frankfort Distillery in 1933. They sent him to Baltimore for a few years before he returned to reside in Pee Wee Valley (east of Louisville). My grandmother mentioned the brands Mattingly & Moore and Paul Jones at the Frankfort Distillery.After the Frankfort Distillery was bought by Seagrams, my grandfather left to work for Cummins & Collins at 15th Street in Louisville. He worked there through the death of Mr. Collins, but after the death of Mr. Cummins, he began to work at the Old Joe Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ky. This was about 1951 or 1952.I remember my parents having commemorative bottles of Old Joe, but in my adult life, I have never seen anything related to Old Joe. But, tonight, I searched the Internet (thank you Google) and found that it is the Four Roses Distillery.My grandather worked there for a few years before moving to another distillery in Lawrenceburg. I asked my grandmother if that was Austin Nichols on US 62. She said it was something famous and that it was on Versailles Parkway. This sounds like Wild Turkey to me on US 62 between Lawrenceburg and Versailles, but, of course, I don't know if there were some other distillery in the area in the 1950s. In 1961, my grandfather moved to Philadelphia to work for JA Daughtery & Sons in Philadelphia. After that, he moved to Linfield, PA to work for Publicker Industries about 1966. I lived with my grandparents for a few months in Linfield in 1968. At that time, I believe my grandfather was the manager of the plant. I do remember the school bus dropping me off at the plant's guard house where my grandmother would pick me up. They lived in a house behind the plant on the Schuykill River. The house was a historic house built in 1740 and served as a post office in revolutionary days.My grandfather retired in 1977. He and my grandmother moved back to Louisville where she still lives. My grandfather passed away several years ago before I gained an appreciation for bourbon. However, I do remember going to the store for him to pick up some Very Old Barton. ;-)I will be busy in the coming days looking up details on the Internet to fill in the blanks in my grandmother's description. But, if anyone here has any details, I would be most appreciative of any info you could provide.Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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I'm working on a project in WPF that aims *,
I need a PdfViewer so I tried your demo project (PdfEditorWPF) on Tablet but many features doesn't work properly.
Can you let me know if you provide any mean to make it better please?
- First, I can't resize the image thanks to touch.
- I can scroll along the image thanks to the panTool but I can't use the scrollPage Tool by touch.
- To resize an annotation, I have to aim just on the corner and it's just impossible for users...
- Finally, when i try to add text on the page, the visual KeyBoard doesn't appear Automatically.
Thanks in advance for your help,


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E. Ness Replies To Mysonne! "Ill Come Destroy You, Your Sweet Potatoe Pie. I Got Gold/Platinum Albums" [The Rap Battle Is Going Down 9-27-08]
RocStar P Interviews Philly's Own E Ness And Discuss The Up In Coming Rap Battle For WSOHH On September 27th And Responds To His Opponent Mysonne
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Over the last several months I've published 2 parts of the series on agile retrospectives, and the 3d part is supposed to come up as it gets closer to spring. By the way, the Groundhog Day will be this Saturday, so I'm eager to find out what the groundhog predicts 🙂
This whole work, research and observations led me to musing about meetings in general. Most probably you're familiar with the "Meetings are Toxic" maxim from the "Getting Real" book by 37 signals. I tend to agree with it. In short, meetings are huge energy drainers and productivity flow breakers, so the deal is to figure out if this energy drain is actually worth it. However, there's at least one great thing I'm very happy about when it goes about our meetings: there's no space left for elephants in the room! Unlike in the picture below. 🙂
I've been a part of some meetings in our company, and I've talked to people asking if meetings are productive? What are the other ways to reach the desired outcome? As always, there're pros and cons. If we try to follow 37 signals and their maxim, we will most likely miss something vital at the end of the day. People get together and talk at meetings. Getting together and talking is good, that's for sure, but is it paying off the value? The answer would be "yes", despite the subject drift-offs, someone holding the attention of the group for more than it's appropriate, being poorly prepared due to the overload with other tasks and commitments, etc.
One note though: this "yes" holds true for our company, and it depends. Besides, there're various kinds of meetings. Developers get together to discuss, sketch and define the way to do some functional feature. These meetings occur all the time, and they don't seem to interrupt the productivity. They really do matter. What I'm getting at are product management meetings, UX meetings and other larger company meetings.
It appears that the core of the "it depends" is hiding in the ability to create an asynchronous loop of valuable inputs into the product vision and UX concepts. What if we all were able to see as one without the drain of a meeting? To give it a personal perspective, through all the years of working with clients I've felt a disconnect, a slight or at times a larger one, between what production does, and what leads and customers want and feel. We're doing better now, which is great, and people who interface with leads and customers are able to make a meaningful input at the product board meetings. In our company, the product board is a 7-member decision-making unit, which includes developers, UX-ers and people who interface with leads and customers. The only nasty problem that persists is that meetings are a work in itself. If only someone's job would be solely to attend meetings. There're other tangible tasks to do. Designers need to actually create sketches and prototypes, developers need to build the architecture and write the code, and marketing/support people need probably even more energy as they are always in the trenches, talking to leads and customers. Oh. And product managers and feature owners are responsible for smart product decisions.
Unfortunately, smart product decisions are not 100% guaranteed by those meetings only. We're sticking to the board meetings approach so far, and it's definitely a step ahead in our evolution. Seven minds are always better than one mind. But is there a comfortable, slow-paced way for those 7 minds to unite in one vision? If seven people are trying to share their product perspectives over a short time frame, as in a meeting, that's where the ultimate, never-mentioned source of this exhausting drain sits. It's simply about the way we are wired. You just can't pour your vision from your brain to someone else's brain in one quick shot. It's not like with whisky. It's exactly for that reason that we inevitably face the need for building the gradual, asynchronous awareness of the product as a whole. This is related to Michael's recent Specialize or Generalize post, and it goes beyond the boundaries of software development as such.
Back to 37 signals. Their "Meetings are Toxic" judgement is sharp, clear and perfectly correct in the context of their evolution. We're doing things our way, as we try to back up meetings with various asynchronous ways of building and sharing a versatile product vision e.g. Google Groups, internal blogs, wikis, talks in the office kitchen, etc. Asynchronous exchanges are compulsory homework before the meetings; they work great for any knowledge work, for many reasons, and it would take a yet another blog post to tell more about that. For now, I will just reference this great article on asynchronous communication.
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Top flight deals to Nigeria*
Kuala Lumpur(KUL)toLagos(LOS)
Kuala Lumpur(KUL)toAbuja(ABV)
Fly to Nigeria with KLM
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Things to do in Nigeria
- Zuma Rock: an interesting and unique spot for climbing.
- Abuja National Mosque: the national mosque of the country, with beautiful minarets and stunning grounds.
- Yankari National Park: a large wildlife park in the north-eastern region of the country.
- Bar Beach: along the shorelines of Lagos and the most popular beach in Nigeria.
- Ibeno Beach: a beautiful destination and a haven for those looking for some peace and quiet.
Why travel to Nigeria with us?
We pride ourselves on good customer service. As one of the most punctual airlines in the world, we promise to go out of our way to get you to your destination on time. Airfares on intercontinental flights to Nigeria include meals, snacks and drinks and you can always benefit from our convenient departure and arrival times. Feel free to reach out to us 24/7 via Facebook with any questions about your flight!
*All amounts are in MYR. Taxes and carrier surcharges included. No booking fee applicable (credit card surcharge may apply).


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Microsoft has launched a new technical computing initiative, dubbed "Modeling the World," in an effort designed to bring supercomputing power and resources to a much wider group of scientists, engineers, and analysts who are working to address some of science's most difficult challenges through modeling and prediction.
According to Microsoft's Bob Muglia, President, Server & Tools Business, "Our goal is to unleash the power of pervasive, accurate, real-time modeling to help people and organizations achieve their objectives and realize their potential. We are bringing together some of the brightest minds in the technical computing community across industry, academia, and science at www.modelingtheworld.com to discuss trends, challenges, and shared opportunities."
The initiative focuses on Microsoft's three areas of technical computing investment:
- Cloud: Bringing technical computing power to scientists, engineers, and analysts through cloud computing to help ensure processing resources are available whenever they are needed -- reliably, consistently, and quickly. Supercomputing work may emerge as a "killer app" for the cloud.
- Easier, consistent parallel programming: Delivering new tools that will help simplify parallel development from the desktop to the cluster to the cloud.
- Powerful new tools: Developing powerful, easy-to-use technical computing tools that will help significantly speed discovery. This includes working with customers and industry partners on innovative solutions that will bring our technical computing vision to life.
According to Muglia, "New advances provide the foundation for tools and applications that will make technical computing more affordable and accessible where mathematical and computational principles are applied to solve practical problems. One day soon, complicated tasks like building a sophisticated computer model that would typically take a team of advanced software programmers months to build and days to run, will be accomplished in a single afternoon by a scientist, engineer ,or analyst working at the PC on their desktop. And as technology continues to advance, these models will become more complete and accurate in the way they represent the world. This will speed our ability to test new ideas, improve processes, and advance our understanding of systems."


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Mariah Carey, Cee Lo Green, Il Volo and other stars belted classic Christmas tunes against the backdrop of the iconic Rockefeller Christmas tree Wednesday night, ushering in the holiday season at the annual tree lighting celebration.
Tens of thousands of bundled-up spectators braved 36-degree temperatures to catch a glimpse of the live performances at "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" and to witness the magic of 45,000 light bulbs flicking to life.
"It's such an iconic event for New York and the whole country," said Bill Bracken, who produced NBC's tree-lighting show for the fourth consecutive year, and helped pull together what he called "a huge lineup this year."
U.S. & World
Musical performances ranged from Cee Lo's smooth take on "This Christmas," to Il Volo's soaring rendition of "Silent Night."
The Radio City Rockettes in gold fringed leotards tapped and twirled to "Let Christmas Shine," drawing huge applause for their famous kickline. Rod Stewart in a Christmas red scarf and plaid blazer performed "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," while the classically trained "Voice" star Chris Mann and his backup singers sang "O Holy Night."
Mariah Carey kicked off the second hour of the show with her hit, "All I Want for Christmas," which was matched in energy by Scott McCreery's country-infused "Holly Jolly Christmas."
The broadcast, hosted by Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie, also featured performances by Trace Adkins and Victoria Justice and came to a close when New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Rob and Jerry Speyer, CEOs of Tishman Speyer — the owner of Rockefeller Center — flipped the switch and lit the massive Christmas tree.
First televised in 1951 on NBC, which makes its home in the complex, the tree lighting has grown to attract a quarter-million spectators and an audience of millions.
This year's model, a Norway spruce from Morris County, N.J., about 50 miles west of Rockefeller Center, arrived on Nov. 14. The tree stands in the center of the plaza bound by 48th and 51st streets, and Fifth and Sixth avenues, looming 80 feet high, with a 50-foot waist and weighing 10 tons.
The trees are typically donated by people from the tri-state area and New England. The tallest of all time was 1999's 100-footer from Killingworth, Conn. And Rockefeller Center is always looking for next year's version, so if you've got a tree measuring at least 75 feet tall and 45 feet in diameter that you think has what it takes to adorn The Rock, you can submit your tree for consideration.
After Wednesday's tree lighting, the tree will be lighted every day from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. until Jan. 7. After that, it will be put to good use: Since 2007, Rockefeller trees have been donated to Habitat for Humanity to be turned into lumber for affordable housing. Last year's tree was returned to Pennsylvania, where it was used to construct a pair of homes on Morse and Gratz streets in Philadelphia.


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Daughter of Strife
|Daughter of Strife is a concept which has only appeared in an adaptation of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
|Shadows of Angmar books
(Bree-land • Ered Luin)
Book I: Stirrings in the Darkness
Daughter of Strife is the fifteen and final book of The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. It was released as an update on November 18, 2008.


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What a day for a daydream. Just as we're settling into another week of work after a blissful three-day weekend, here come three signs of intelligent life in the universe. The common denominator? Changing the norms of how we think of work — and maybe even chipping away at the cult of busy-ness that encourages even five-year-olds to have dayplanners.
Sign No. 1 is a new study out of the U.K's New Economics Foundation that suggests that a 21 hour workweek might help us all to flourish in the 21st century. From the study:
There is nothing natural or inevitable about what's considered 'normal' today. Time, like work, has become commodified – a recent legacy of industrial capitalism. Yet the logic of industrial time is out of step with today's conditions, where instant communications and mobile technologies bring new risks and pressures, as well as opportunities. The challenge is to break the power of the old industrial clock without adding new pressures, and to free up time to live sustainable lives.
And, from a piece in the Guardian about the study:
Citing the example of Utah, the study shows how the US state's decision in 2008 to place all public-sector workers on a four-day week saved energy, reduced absenteeism and increased productivity.
The report argues that 21 hours a week is already close to the average length of time spent in paid employment.
"A lot of this is already happening," said the report's joint author, Andrew Simms of the NEF. "Job sharing is common practice … It's going to be increasing. Maybe we'll have less income and more time.
"Other than the benefit of having more time, what will happen is a reduction in inequality and the potential to be better-quality friends, partners and parents engaging more with communities.
There's a daydream for you. Scaling back the workweek — even to just forty hours — would clearly allow more time for life itself. And what if that became the norm, rather than the exception, even for those in high-powered careers? I think we'd see a change in workplace expectations with a possible bonus: If we knew that no matter what our life's work, we could still have a life apart from it, would we be more free in choosing what to do with our lives? More likely to follow our passions?
As for the second sign — something we've noted here before but clearly bears repeating — Reuters Life! reports on that Accenture study we noted above that found that millennial women not only believe they will find a balance between a "rewarding career and a fulfilling personal life", but because of their sheer numbers are likely to have the muscle to make it happen. Possibly a "trickle -up" effect for the rest of us? From the story:
Accenture surveyed the 1,000 women because "we are always interested in attracting and retaining the best and the brightest," explained LaMae Allen deJongh, noting that globally the company employed 60,000 women.
Women are soon expected to make up half the U.S. workforce and the so-called millennials, those born after 1980, are now one-third of the working population.
DeJongh, managing director of US human capital and diversity at the company, said the survey showed that "one-size is not going to fit all" when it comes to retaining women. Half of the respondents said flexible hours were important to them.
Finally, sign No. 3 may not be representative of anything but one enlightened dad, but here's a post from our fan Chrysula's blog. It's written by a freelance photog who has chosen to be a stay-at-home pop, "a part of the first generation of men that could consider staying home an option." He explains his choice this way:
My own father, by which I mean– the only father I've ever known–was a great dad to me growing up, but he worked until 9pm everyday, and was frequently away on long business trips. I knew this model wasn't going to work for us. What it all seemed to boil down to was being there for my son when he needed me. A simple proposition at first glance, until I realized that it meant being on call 24/7 for the rest of my life. Simply put, that became my priority. Other parents may prioritize putting food on the table, paying for college tuition, helping others, keeping the world safe, or simply holding on to their own sanity or self respect. And who's to say they are right or wrong? All I knew was that I never really had a choice.
"Many people would disagree, pointing out that not only is there a choice, but that it is a real luxury. I know I am very lucky, although I resent people highlighting it. On the other hand I know there are many impoverished mothers, who are secretly wealthy because they hold tight to what matters to them most. And I know that even a child can put up with great hardships, as long as they know someone is always watching over them. It seems to me that as a culture when we sacrifice the goal of being there for the sake of practicality, or comfort, or convenience, or even 'the future', that we risk a lot more than we gain.
"And that's my balance. I do most of the cooking, almost all the cleaning, all the laundry, and the weekday food shopping. I do my best to scratch out some profit as a photographer. I don't give a damn what people think about my life. And I pick my son up from school."
Wow. Talk about sweet dreams.