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This is a folding air hockey table when not in use the whole table surface rotates into a vertical position so the table can be stored flat against a wall out of the way, the table has sturdy legs that holds the air hockey table in both its unfolded and folded positions, to fold the table simply turn the two large locking wheels with your hand (check pool table air hockey table) and push into an upright position, air hockey tables use an electric motor to create an airflow up through the table, tiny holes in the table force air upwards onto the table surface and you can feel the air flow on your hand if you hold your hand on the table top, this air flow makes the puck and pushers move without friction so the game play is really fast as you push the puck with your pusher and the puck fly's round the table and the pushers move so freely due to the air flow that you can really get some speed up.
Included are two large red coloured pushers that are easy to hold for smaller children's hands as well as adults larger hands and you also get two pucks and a cleaning cloth for the air hockey table surface, the table surface is a PVC laminate on an MDF table the table surface has the hockey court marked out in red on a white table top and the sides of the table are raised so the puck and pushers won't fly off the table the table sides are grey in colour whilst the legs of the table are black MDF the air hockey table looks modern and fits in well with other pieces of modern furniture your have in your home.
This air hockey table comes with free delivery and a one year warranty with two paddles, four pucks, electronic scoreboard, sound effects and built in air fan which floats puck on table top, the air hockey table has fans in the table push air out of holes in the table the airflow causes the puck and pusher to move without friction so both the puck and pusher will whiz across the table at high speeds, with two paddles, four pucks, electronic scoreboard, sound effects and built in air fan floats puck on table top.
We'll cover electric air hockey table uk and electric air hockey together with indoor air hockey table along with 4 foot air hockey table with wood air hockey table as well as air hockey table adults and table football and air hockey including foosball and air hockey table also air hockey table 3ft to 2 in 1 pool table air hockey and 6ft pool and air hockey table and 2 in 1 pool table and air hockey with air ice hockey table plus air hockey table deals and air hockey snooker table.
Its a lot of fun, to ensure that the puck and pushers don't fly off the table the edge of the table is raised and the table top itself has the hockey field marked out on it with electronic goals that automatically keep score when your puck goes in the goal, your score is shown on the digital display, the air hockey table also features sound effects as you whiz your puck round the table and as you score a goal so it's as lot of fun for the whole family.
The electronic scoreboard shows both your score and your opponents score at the same time and electronic sensors in the goals make sure that all your goals increase your score automatically, he table has large legs for stability which can be easily removed if you want to put the board on a table or want to put the board away for storage the wooden table is a modern dark grey in colour (look at pool table air hockey table) and certainly won't look out of place with other pieces of furniture in your home, the air flow comes through tiny holes in the table and is driven by an electric fan which is built into the table, simply plug the table into a mains socket with the cable supplied and the electronic score board and fan will be powered.
The feet of the table are height adjustable so you can make the table higher and lower as well as adjust the legs for an uneven floor so the puck and pushers always move freely, or how about a 6ft air hockey table with high gloss table top and electric fan that provides air flow to table, this full size air hockey table has a high gloss finish which looks stunning having that high quality wooden arcade machine look about it there's an electric fan built inside the table which provides the air flow to the table with tiny holes in the table flowing with air so the included puck and pusher glide fast over the table, the table has a slight rim to catch the puck and pusher and stop them shooting off the table.
Also worth mentioning is pool table tennis air hockey combo and air hockey and football table together with gamesson air hockey table along with air hockey table entertainer with air league archer 5ft foldable air hockey table as well as air hockey pushers and pool table air hockey table including table top football and air hockey also air hockey table sports direct to air hockey snooker table and best folding air hockey table and pool air hockey with power puck air hockey table plus best air hockey table for kids and football air hockey table.
With such a high gloss finish and air flow through the table holes the puck and pusher move incredibly fast and make excellent high speed came play that's fun for children and adults alike, there's a slider scorer on the ends of the table so you can keep count of the goals and the high gloss table top has the hockey field marked out on it showing you the goal areas (see pool table air hockey table) and where to put your pushers, the table is black in colour and has large wooden legs for great stability and a high gloss piano finish table top that looks great included are two pucks and two pushers and two cloths to keep the table top clean, there's two slide scorers one for each player at each players end of the table, just move the slider to keep track of your goals.
The sides of the table are metal for added strength and the table is reinforced to cope with the most vigorous of game play, the pushers are grey in colour and are large and easy to hold even for small hands, the air hockey table is delivered free of charge and comes with a one year warranty, how about a 6ft air hockey table with folding table with two table tops one for pool and one for air hockey, his is a beautiful wooden table with two interchangeable table tops, put the table on one way round and you have a pool table with a beautiful red felt, triangle, chalks and pool balls with 6 pockets for the balls and put the table top on the other way round and you have an air hockey table with pucks and pushers that glide with practically no friction across the air hockey table which has the hockey field drawn out on the smooth table and shows you where to put the pushers if you don't know the rules.
The air hockey table has a built in fan which blows air through tiny holes in the surface of the air hockey table the air ensures the pucks and pushers glide with no friction and the edge of the air hockey table is slightly raised so that the pushers and pucks don't fly off the tables edge, built into the table is an elegant score counter abacus that looks stunning with matt black sliders against a mahogany look table the sides, legs and feet of the table are all mahogany look and will be great in any home and a very elegant piece of furniture, the mahogany look table is folding so while its 6ft in length giving plenty of space to play pool or air hockey the table easily folds away for storage.
With the table you get a range of accessories which when not in use are stored inside the table keeping all the bits together so they don't get lost you get two poker cues one set of pool balls and a pool triangle as well as a brush for the table felt and two pieces of chalk for the pool cues and for air hockey two pushers and one puck, or how about an 8ft air hockey table with electric score board, 4 pushers and 4 pucks, wooden table and height adjustable legs, this is an eight foot long table with plenty room for four players at once the full size table has an air fan inside the table which blows air up through tiny holes in the table surface making the pucks and pushers glide easily on the table with no friction, the pucks and pushers move fast on the frictionless surface and game play is fast and furious for both children and adults.
Worth noting is air hockey multi game table and spider man air hockey table together with air hockey paddles along with air league archer 5ft foldable air hockey table with stats air hockey table as well as air hockey multi game table and air hockey board game including air hockey paddles also air hockey table northern ireland to 2 in 1 air hockey pool table and hy pro all star 6ft folding air hockey table and air hockey table tennis with best folding air hockey table plus air hockey accessories and table air hockey set.
With an electric score board, 4 pushers, 4 pucks and wooden table with height adjustable legs, the table surface has a hockey field printed on it showing you the goal areas and where to put your pushers the goal areas have electronic sensors and will increment the score on the digital counters that maintain the score and show you the score on the side of the table, the table is made of wood with black legs and body and silver sides, silver corners and a white high gloss playing surface the legs are height adjustable so you can adjust the height of the table for different sized players as if its mostly children who will be playing you can lower the legs and if its mostly adults who are taller you can increase the leg height also with individual leg adjustment you can counter for floors that are not level by making the table sit level no matter how uneven the floor of the room.
Simply plug the cable from the air hockey table into the wall socket and switch on the table and air will push the pucks and pushers up making for a smooth surface to play on and the electronic counter will automatically count points, there's a one year warranty on this air hockey table and delivery is free of charge, how about a 4 in 1 games table that lets you play four different games on the one table machine, they include motorised air hockey, table tennis, football (see pool table air hockey table) and pool, the motorised air hockey really is motorised as the table has a mains cable which you plug in to your electrical wall socket to provide the 240 volt motor with power for the motorised air hockey game.
It's easy and quick to change the games and when you want to store the games table you can remove the legs for easy storage as they just unscrew, but are sturdy in use, the table is made from a beech finish with laminated PVC games tops that are quick to change. With the games table you get 2 soccer balls (mini football balls), one set of 1/2 inch (half inch) pool balls for playing pool on the table as well as two 42 inch cues, a brush to keep the surface of the bale clean and two pieces of chalk for the pool cues, also included are two table tennis bats and two table tennis balls, the typical table has a size of 41 1/4" x 22 3/4" x 27" or 105cm x 58cm x 69cm and a weight of 38.25kg and is suitable for all ages, from the children wanting a game on their own to the parents looking for a game they can play with the whole family.
Built into the side of the games table is an accessory drawer perfect for keeping the bats and balls together with the table without getting lost, he tabletop football game has a full football pitch marked out on the floor along with goal areas and is a classic mini football game, delivery is free with this games table so it makes a perfect present, or how about a 12 in 1 table for pool, table football, slide hockey, table tennis, bowling, chess, checkers, backgammon, playing cards, shuffle board, horseshoes and ring toss, with this 12 in 1 games table you get a table with different table tops to play the game of your choice so you can use the table football top which has the football team attached to their poles and goals built into the table.
To cover how much does an air hockey table cost and pool table air hockey table together with air hockey table adults along with rechargeable air hockey pucks with air hockey pool table topper as well as air hockey board game and air hockey and pool table combined including foosball table air hockey combination also foosball and air hockey table to wood air hockey table and instant air hockey game and football air hockey table with how much does an air hockey table cost plus folding air hockey and pool table and table top football and air hockey.
Or you can use the table tennis table top that has a table tennis net and two table tennis bats or you can use the chess and backgammon table tops which has the chess board and backgammon board marked out on the table (check pool table air hockey table) and includes all the chess pieces and backgammon pieces or you can use the slide hockey table top which has the hockey field marked out on the table top and includes pushers and pucks to play slide hockey, the table is a solid wooden table with beautiful wooden sides and strong wooden feet that provide great stability even for vigorous play the wood used on the table is truly beautiful and will really be a talking point in any room, you get a gamers table that can play twelve different games and comes with all the accessories you need to enjoy every game like a full pool table with balls and two cues and a pool triangle and two pieces of chalk for your pool cues there's a table football top that comes with two footballs and a table tennis table top that comes with a table tennis net and two table tennis bats and ball.
There's a slide hockey table top with two slide hockey pushers and pucks there's a shuffle board top and a checkers top and a backgammon top all to keep both adults and children amused for hours and with so many games to choose from the children won't get bored and every game has a proper table and proper accessories so it really is like having twelve different table games in one.
Cheap Home Fitness


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The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd talks about President Barack Obama's 29 trip to Ohio while in office and Mitt Romney's recent campaign stump in the state.
New polls and TV ads show the impact that "47%" has had on the race… Romney and Obama camps battle over China… Examining Romney's troubles in Ohio… Romney yesterday: Obama DID NOT raise taxes?... Obama tells the Des Moines Register: Presidential election will send a message to Congress… The GOP's surprisingly uphill climb to win the Senate… First Read's Top 10 Senate takeovers… McCaskill hits Akin's "legitimate rape" comments in new TV ad… And good donors vs. bad donors.
Brian Snyder / Reuters
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio September 25, 2012.
*** The impact of 47%: Want to know the impact that the video of Mitt Romney's comments on the "47%" have had in this presidential contest? We have two fresh pieces of evidence. The first are brand-new New York Times/CBS/Quinnipiac surveys -- conducted right after the release of the video -- showing Obama leading Romney by nine points among likely voters in Florida (53%-44%), 10 points in Ohio (53%-43%), and 12 in Pennsylvania (54%-42%). These are margins we haven't seen before. The second (and perhaps more telling) piece of evidence is Romney's new 60-second TV ad, his first of the general election where he looks to the camera. "President Obama and I both care about poor and middle-class families," Romney says as the camera zooms in on him. "The difference is my policies will make things better for them. We shouldn't measure compassion by how many people are on welfare. We should measure compassion by how many people are able to get off welfare and get a good paying job." Folks, this is an admission that the "47%" remarks – and the Obama camp's new TV ads on them -- have done real damage. Realize: Candidate-to-camera ads are typically when all else is failing and the bonds of trust with the voters are fraying. Even Obama had to do it in late July, after the welfare hits and the "You didn't build that" attack.
*** When a race becomes a referendum on the challenger: Want another example? Look no farther than this quote in Bloomberg's write-up of its new national poll showing Obama ahead of Romney by six points (49%-43%) among likely voters. "'If I have to choose between the two, I prefer Barack over Mitt,' said Stephanie Martin, a 41-year-old insurance agent in Glasgow, Virginia, who describes herself as a libertarian. 'I think Mitt Romney is just so out of touch. It's mostly a protest against him and the Republican establishment; it's not that I think Obama has done such a great job.'" So let's get this straight: Obama is the incumbent president, presiding over a sluggish economy in a hotly partisan environment, and this woman is casting the protest vote against Mitt Romney and the GOP? We know this is just one anecdote, but wow…
*** Battling over China: Romney's other response to "47%" is his campaign's increasingly tough rhetoric on China. "I'm not afraid of trading with other nations," Romney said while campaigning in Ohio yesterday, per NBC's Garrett Haake. "But I also understand that when people cheat, that kills jobs. China has cheated." And this comes on the heels of a recent Romney TV ad asserting "Obama had years to stand up to China. We can't afford four more." But the Obama camp is countering with its own TV ad, "Tough on China? Not Mitt Romney." Also, Team Obama last night circulated a Boston Globe story reporting, "Less than two weeks before an investment firm controlled by Mitt Romney decided to invest in a China-based home appliance company, the company put out a detailed document to investors promoting itself as a low-wage, low-tax firm that would not be subject to taxes in the United States." And today when he's campaigning in Ohio, per NBC's Ali Weinberg, President Obama will discuss how his administration has taken action to hold China accountable when it comes to trade.
*** Romney's troubles in Ohio: As alluded to above, today's major campaign-trail activity takes place in Buckeye State. Romney concludes his bus tour in the state (hitting Westerville, Bedford Heights, and Toledo), while Obama holds rallies at Bowling Green State and Kent State University. And here is something to chew on given that New York Times/CBS/Quinnipiac poll: Ohio has been a problem for Romney the day he got into the race, even during the primary season. Remember that Romney edged Rick Santorum by just one point in the Buckeye State during the GOP primary season, 38%-37%. The fact is, this bus tour has to do more than stop the bleeding for Romney in Ohio; it has to be the beginning of a turnaround for him in this state. Losing Ohio isn't checkmate but, it's close
*** Obama didn't raise taxes? Yesterday in Ohio, Romney said this: "I admit this: [Obama's] got one new idea that he did not do in his first four years that he says he's going to do in the next four years -- which is he's going to raise taxes. And is there anybody who thinks that raising taxes is going to help grow the economy?" Read that again: Romney says that Obama DID NOT raise taxes in his first term, even though he's said time and time again that Obama DID raise taxes (in the health-care law, etc.). And the Weekly Standard took Romney to task, arguing that Obama has raised taxes. A Romney campaign spokeswoman follows up with the Weekly Standard, "President Obama has raised taxes on millions of middle-class Americans during his first term in office. Governor Romney was clearly communicating about an additional tax increase President Obama is proposing."
*** Obama: Presidential election will send a message to Congress: By the way, with Iowa beginning its early voting on Thursday, Obama gives an exclusive interview to the Des Moines Register. "Obama said if he's fortunate enough to win a second term, his re-election will send a message to Republicans that Americans want them to follow his strategies, and that includes aiding the economy by spending on education and roads and bridges. 'What I think most Iowans certainly believe,' the president said in a telephone interview with The Des Moines Register, 'is that if the majority of the American people have said, "This is the direction we need to go," and the Republicans in Congress say, "No, we're going to go in the exact opposite direction," that's probably not going to leave them to keep that majority too long.'"
*** The GOP's surprisingly uphill climb to win the Senate: With Todd Akin (R) now staying in Missouri' Senate contest -- increasing the chances of Claire McCaskill (D) winning re-election -- Republicans now face an even steeper climb to win control of the U.S. Senate in November. If President Obama wins the presidential contest, Republicans would need to pick up a net of four Senate seats to get the majority. And here are their best chances (in order): Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Virginia, Connecticut, Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, and Missouri. If you assume that Angus King (I) wins in Maine and caucuses with the Democrats, then Republicans must win five of these 10 races. If Elizabeth Warren wins in Massachusetts, then the GOP has to win six. So that's the challenge for the GOP. The good news is that things have gotten better for them in Maine, where they have beaten up King in TV ads; the question now is if they can get the Democratic number in this three-way race into double digits.
*** First Read's Top 10 Senate takeovers:
1. Nebraska (D): Unlike the other Dems running, Bob Kerrey is getting no traction
2. Maine (R): This is no longer a slam dunk for Angus King
3. Montana (D): Why Montana over North Dakota? Tester is an incumbent with a record
4. North Dakota (D): See above
5. Massachusetts (R): This is the nastiest race in the country right now
6. Wisconsin (D): Who would you rather be -- Tommy Thompson or George Allen? We think you'd rather be Thompson
7. Virginia (D): See above
8. Nevada (R): Demographics and Obama vs. Romney are keeping Berkley in the race
9. Connecticut (D): McMahon is running perhaps the best challenger race in the country
10. Indiana (R): Will Mourdock have to beg Dick Lugar to do a final TV ad?
*** The rest (in order): Ohio (D), Florida (D), New Mexico (D), Missouri (D), Arizona (R), Hawaii (D), New Jersey (D), Michigan (D), Pennsylvania (D), Texas (R). Note: As of now, we don't expect these races to flip, but they do suggest where the winning side might not crack 60%.
*** McCaskill hits Akin's "legitimate rape" comments in new ad: And speaking of that Akin-McCaskill race, we told you McCaskill would begin to hammer Akin in TV ads right after yesterday's final deadline to withdraw from the race had passed. And here's her latest TV ad: "On Aug. 19, Todd Akin said only some rapes are legitimate. What will he say next?" It's an interesting tactic by the McCaskill campaign to NOT use Akin's voice in its first big hit. Perhaps they don't want to OVER-play it early (and save that if for some reason they are struggling to put him away in October). We only ask because the first hit, using an announcer to read Akin's quotes rather than HEARING Akin, struck us as less effective.
*** Good donors, bad donors: Romney yesterday at Education Nation seemed to soften his tone toward teachers' unions acknowledging they could strike (where it's allowed). But Romney also said this: "[P]eople are able to give … in case of the Democratic Party, the largest contributors to the Democratic Party are the teachers unions, the federal teachers unions. And so, if they can elect someone, then that person is supposed to be representing the public vis-a-vis the teachers union, but actually most of the money came from the teachers union. It's an extraordinary conflict of interest. That's something I think is a problem and should be addressed." He added later, "We simply can't have a setting where the teachers' unions are able to contribute tens of millions of dollars to the campaigns of politicians and then those politicians, when elected, stand across from them at the bargaining table." Some critics of Romney might find it rich with irony that he's complaining about secret union money since he is getting support from Super PACs that are essentially doing the same thing he's alleging the teachers are doing.
Reuters, Getty Images
In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.
*** On the trail: Obama, in Ohio, stumps in Bowling Green at 1:05 pm ET and Kent at 5:30 pm ET… Romney, also in Ohio, campaigns (with Jack Nicklaus) in Westerville at 8:30 am ET, holds a manufacturing town hall in Bedford Heights at 1:05 pm ET, and concludes his bus tour in Toledo at 5:00 pm ET… Paul Ryan hits Colorado… And Marco Rubio and Tagg Romney campaign in North Carolina.
Countdown to 1st presidential debate: 7 days
Countdown to VP debate: 15 days
Countdown to 2nd presidential debate: 20 days
Countdown to 3rd presidential debate: 26 days
Countdown to Election Day: 41 days
Click here to sign up for First Read emails.
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Check us out on Facebook and also on Twitter. Follow us @chucktodd, @mmurraypolitics, @DomenicoNBC, @brookebrower

subset: commoncrawl


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Hadoop: The Lay of the Land
The core map-reduce framework for big data consists of several interlocking technologies. This first installment of our tutorial explains what Hadoop does and how the pieces fit together.
Hadoop: Writing and Running Your First Project
MapReduce on small datasets can be run easily and without much coding or fiddling provided you know what to do. Here's how.
Introduction to Hadoop: Real-World Hadoop Clusters and Applications
The Hadoop ecosystem relies on composability the ability to use output from one tool as input to the next to efficiently process data at scale, from simple projects, to processing streams of real-time data, to building data warehouses.


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My Lucky Dog by Mellon Tytell
Hunter, my majestic eighty-six-pound mutt, was the love of my life for thirteen years. I was addicted to looking at him—every twitch of his ear was fascinating to me. I've taken thousands of photographs of him, dozens even in the same position. He was "my lucky dog."
I adopted Hunter when he was two. He came with that name, his former owner a fan of Hunter S. Thompson. I noticed Hunter's photo in the window of a pet store in Vermont and brought him home.
If I was the lucky break in his life, he was the transforming experience in mine. Before, I was a little wild. As a photographer, I traveled around the world, picking up and leaving on a dime. Life was exciting: photo shoots in Paris, Haiti, the Himalayas, the Andes, and even the Amazon.
Hunter tamed me. I couldn't be away from him for more than five hours at a time. I had no children of my own; Hunter taught me about responsibility, love, and devotion in a way that was inaccessible to me with "people."—Mellon
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The HTC Snap is a classic looking 3G Smartphone which comes in a bar shaped casing. This handset has a large display screen complete with a full QWERTY keyboard situated neatly below the screen which provides a user friendly input method whilst the user can view the screen, like a mini PC. The Snap is available is a rich dark brown coloured casing & the numeric keys are highlighted on the QWERTY keyboard in a paler brown coloured keys which stand out perfectly for ease of use. A well proportioned screen fills almost half of the front section of this handset which is 2.4 Inches in size when measured diagonally from corner to corner.
This screen has a clear & colourful display which is lit up perfectly by the screens LED back light. It has a resolution of 320 pixels by 240 pixels & is a LCD type TFT display which provides a crystal clear viewing experience for the user to enjoy when viewing videos & pictures on their Smartphone. The overall size of the handset is 116.5mm tall by 61.5mm wide by 12mm deep which is not a small, compact design but it is a good size casing for a 3G Smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard & 2.4 Inch screen located on the front section.
The HTC Snap weighs one hundred & twenty grams in total including the fitted battery which is a solid weight without weighing the user down when in use or when the user is carrying their handset. This 3G Smartphone comes with a Qualcomm® processor complete with a Windows Mobile® professional 6.1 operating system. The user can assign new ringtones for their incoming calls & message alerts which can be played in polyphonic sound & MP3 format. A built in music player allows the user to listen to their favourite tracks which can be stored on their HTC Snap for a beautiful listening experience. The user can download new tracks from music websites or transfer their own CD's using the connectivity options available which include USB connectivity & Bluetooth® wireless technology. This built in music player supports music playback in MP3, WMA, MIDI, WAV, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, QCP & AWB music format. The HTC Snap comes with an integrated camera feature & the user will find a well positioned 2 megapixel camera lens situated on the back of the casing.
The 2.4 Inch screen works as a viewfinder which turns the HTC Snap into a digital camera complete with a well positioned camera capture key & easy to use imaging features. This built in camera can record video footage as well as capturing still pictures & the user can store these on their Smartphone's memory & view them whenever the user desires. The HTC Snap supports video playing capabilities which allows the user to playback video which has be stored on their phone or video which has been sent from others. The user can play video in many formats which include WMV, ASF, MP4, 3GP, AVI, 3G2 & M4V format. This 3G Smartphone comes with a HTML Internet browser which allows the user to surf the Web on their Smartphone to look for new music, videos, news & much more. If the user need to stay in contact with others but prefers to use a messaging service then the Snap has it all, as the user can communicate with others using an email service, text messaging service, instant messaging service or a multimedia picture messaging service depending on the users messaging & communication needs. An instant message can be enjoyed between compatible users that are online at the same time as each other & this service allows the users to enjoy an online chat using text & symbols to communicate.
The user of the HTC Snap can share photos & video clips with compatible MMS contacts by creating a MMS complete with either a photo or video attached which is a fast & efficient way to share experiences with others. The Snap comes with 192 megabytes of RAM memory, 256 megabytes of ROM memory & the user can also add a MicroSD™ type memory card in the memory size to suit their storage needs. This Smartphone comes with a fitted battery which when fully charged provides approximately eight & a half hours of GSM talk time or approximately five hours of 3G talk time for the user on the move to enjoy. The HTC Snap works over a quad band GSM network which covers GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900 & a 3G HSDPA network which covers 900 & 2100. The user can enjoy easy to use connectivity options on their 3G Smartphone which include Bluetooth® wireless technology allowing the user to gain a wireless connection to compatible Bluetooth® devices, or a USB connection which allows the user to use a USB cable to connect their handset to devices with a compatible USB port.
The Snap is a 3G HSDPA technology handset which allows the user to enjoy high speed connectivity, & the handset comes with a GPS navigation feature which supports Google Maps™ which allows the user to view direction & locations on a map view. This Smartphone supports Wi-Fi® technology which means the user can connect their handset to a close by hotspots or wireless LAN's to gain a connection to the worldwide Web without having to use a cabled connection. The user can experience high speed transfer rates when transferring files as this handset supports EDGE technology & GPRS.
2G Network
3G Network
UMTS 900 / 2100 - for Europe and Asia
UMTS 850 / 1900 - for North America
2009, March
Available. Released 2009, June
116.5 x 61.5 x 12 mm
120 g
TFT, 65K colors
320 x 240 pixels, 2.4 inches
- QWERTY keyboard
- Trackball navigation
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones, composer
Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records
Practically unlimited
Card slot
microSD (TransFlash), up to 16GB,
Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
Class 10, 236.8 kbps
HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port
2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels
Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard
528 MHz processor
SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE)
Yes, with A-GPS support
Yes, MIDP 2.0
- MP3/AAC player
- Pocket Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF viewer)
- Organizer
Standard battery, Li-Ion 1500 mAh
380 h (2G) / 480 h (3G)
Talk time
8 h 30 min (2G) / 5 h (3G)


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SANFORD, Fla. – In a new motion on Tuesday, George Zimmerman's defense team argues that they believe Trayvon Martin was high on marijuana the night he was killed by George Zimmerman.
Zimmerman's lawyers say they want to introduce toxicology results from Martin's autopsy that show THC, a key component of marijuana, in his bloodstream.
The new motion, written by defense lawyer Donald West, says the defense plans to argue that, "it is likely that Trayvon Martin was under the influence of marijuana at the time of his death and that his thinking and judgment were impaired at least to some degree."
The motion filed on Tuesday argues against a state request last week to prevent the defense from using Martin's toxicology report at Zimmerman's trial.
Although the state wants to keep Martin's past out of Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial, the defense appears to be pushing to use Martin's alleged past drug use and to imply that Martin was "under the influence of marijuana at the time of his death and that his thinking and judgment were impaired."
DOCUMENTS: Reply to state's motion for protective order | Motion for reasonable fee
The motion states that Dr. Bruce Goldberger, the toxicologist for the prosecution, said at a deposition that Martin may have used marijuana within a couple of hours of his death or it could have been longer than that depending on whether Martin was a chronic user or occasional user.
"From other evidence in the case, it is known that Trayvon Martin brought marijuana with him from South Florida to use while he was in Sanford and that he used it at least one time after arriving in Sanford prior to his death," West writes in the motion. "Trayvon Martin was suspended from school for possessing a baggie containing marijuana residue and was known to smoke marijuana with his friends."
In a footnote to the line in the motion, the defense says, "This is why Trayvon Martin was in Sanford rather than in school in Miami where he lived."
The defense also states the toxicology report is necessary in the trial because Zimmerman's non-emergency call to police, he describes Martin as appearing as though he was "on drugs."
In the motion, the defense also argues that the 7-Eleven surveillance video shows Martin "'sways' at the counter at the counter as if he's under the influence of some substance."
West continues that the jury should be allowed to give the evidence of Martin's toxicology report, "whatever it believes it should" and that it is "relevant for the jury to consider when it evaluates Martin's actions that night."
The defense also filed another motion on Tuesday that said the state's audio experts is charging too much for his time for a deposition.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in Martin's February 2012 death. He has claimed self-defense. The next hearing in Zimmerman's case is slated for May 28.


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NEW YORK – "You seem like so much fun and if everything works out, I'd love to go with you." That's what Kate Upton said to a Los Angeles teenager who posted a YouTube clip asking Upton to his prom. The Sports Illustrated cover girl responded to his request live by phone on NBC's Today show Wednesday morning.
READ: Kate Upton graces the cover of Sports Illustrated for the second time
Kate Upton told 17-year-old Jake Davidson, "I know we'd have a blast."
--Kate Upton's 2012 Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover photo
Davidson made his pitch in a video he posted March 16. The 1:48 film shows him maintaining good hygiene, knocking out some push-ups, and putting on his tuxedo. The teen asks Upton if he can call her "Katie," and lets her know that "we can ride around all night long – until 11, that's my curfew."
READ: Top Yahoo! searches of 2012
"I absolutely love the video," Upton said on TODAY. "It was so hilarious and so creative. Thank you so much for doing that, I really appreciate it."
SLIDESHOW: Sports Illustrated covers through the years
Davidson also had a Twitter exchange with Upton heading into Wednesday that made things look promising.
WATCH: Kate Upton, Will You Go To Prom With Me?
READ: Song parody of Justin Verlander, Kate Upton romance hits YouTube


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text:
My sentiments exactly!Originally Posted by J-Sun
Just wanted to chime in with my praise.
This is great!!! The art has always been top notch, but the writing seems to improved since your last work. I'm also amazed at the level detail you put in the character designs. We gotta have a "behind the scenes" documentary after this is done.
Anyway, I'm impatiently waiting the next installment.
I loved the last project you guys did and this one is even cooler.
I was just sketching my own Geldor so It's cool to see him show up in this too.
Can't wait to see more.
As BAENA would say, right click, save. right click, save...
Chapter Three: Beneath the Slave City
When He-Man awakens, he is still in a sunless underground cavern. Around him are thousands of Reptons in chains and collars. The clatter of mining work is all around him in the dark caves, and a big human male stands before him. "You're awake already? Good. Most take a full day to recover from the Gargons. Not that you'll get much rest time around here."
He-Man shakes his head, unable to rid himself of a haze dulling his senses. "Who . . . am I," he asks.
"Ah," says the big man, "they've hit you with the Obliterator. You must have been quite a challenge for them then. You're in Targa, young man. I am Garn, Slaver Prime of the Mines. I answer directly to Lodar. You are fortunate—I am in need of a Second. You'll have to prove yourself in the Fighting Arena, but you look fit enough. Keep that pretty face of yours intact and you'll be Queen Balina's favorite."
"I don't understand. Am I a slave?"
"Keep asking questions and you could be. Fight well in the Arena, and you'll be an overseer like me. Come, you'll be going up soon."
Garn takes He-Man to a subterranean arena where the slaves and overseers train to be gladiators for the Circus of Targa.
Garn tests He-Man's strength and is impressed, but He-Man's head remains clouded and he has trouble focusing on his opponent.
When he survives several head on strikes by the battle clubs, strikes that would have killed any other man, Garn is amazed.
He-Man lifts Garn's gladiators over his head to stop their attacks. "By the Elders' brows, you have power! No wonder they cast the Obliterator on you so fast. You are more than ready for the Great Arena!"
Last edited by gbagok; August 31, 2012 at 05:35pm.
He-Man witnesses the cruelty of Targa's slave pits first hand as Garn leads him through the mines. Hideous, misshapen creatures called Kobolds are the primary enforcers. They appear mindless, possibly controlled by a strange substance that He-Man sees them ingesting. To his surprise, Garn seems no less revolted by the Kobolds and their treatment of the Reptons, yet he does nothing.
As Garn take He-Man to the upper levels of the Mines, they pass the recaptured Lizard Man. The Repton recognizes He-Man and tries to remind him of his true identity, but He-Man does not recognize his own name. "How is it you remember while I do not," he asks Lizard Man.
"They say the Obliterator only works once, but that is usually enough," Lizard Man explains as the Targans pull him away. "The others will help us, He-Man! I escaped once, I can do it again!"
"He's a fool if he thinks that," Garn laughs. "No one escapes Targa. Even those who escape the pits are recaptured or killed."
"Why," asks He-Man. "Why are you all living like this? Why are these people in chains?"
Garn blinks, as if the answer was obvious. "Because they were captured, that's why! If they escape, they know they'll be caught again and beaten and then put back in the chains anyway, so they stay where they are. And you'll stop asking questions if you don't want to end up like them." He-Man did as Garn ordered, but he did not understand why the Reptons were slaves and he was to be something else.
In the larger arena on the surface, He-Man is pitted against more gladiators for the amusement of Geldor and Balina. Geldor is especially pleased with He-Man's strength, and wishes to see him fight greater and greater opponents until at last He-Man has only Garn left to defeat. They clash, and He-Man realizes that Garn is afraid of him for the first time.
He asks Garn, "What will happen to you if I win?"
Garn says nothing, but the fear in his eyes answers the question. He-Man disarms him and Geldor applauds.
"Excellent, gladiator! Finish him off!"
Last edited by gbagok; August 31, 2012 at 05:36pm.
He-Man lets Garn get back up and throws down his weapon. "I won't take his life—not for your pleasure of anyone's." Geldor is furious and orders the other Gladiators to kill him, but He-Man has already defeated them and there is no doubt in anyone's mind that he could do it again.
"Magnificent," Balina says with glee.
Geldor ignores her. "Very well then," he says to He-Man with a cold smile. "If Garn's life matters so much to you, then he can be your Second. You are now Slaver Prime. Report to Lodar at once!"
"Coward," Balina scoffs quietly after Geldor leaves. "He backs down and disguises it badly as generosity. These men will rebel against him before they follow him." She watches the gladiators rallying around He-Man, impressed by his strength and moved by his mercy. She snaps for her wizard Drakka to come to her. "I must know who this man is. Bring him to me, Drakka, before he lands in Lodar's clutches."
Drakka obeys, intercepting He-Man as the guards escort him back to the mines. He leads He-Man to Balina's private chambers, where she welcomes him with a sensual smile.
"I saw you in the Arena. You fight well. Tell me of yourself . . . or do you remember anything?"
"I think they called me . . . He-Man."
"He-Man? I've heard that name before. They say he is the reincarnation of the Grayskull legend from long ago. But that is folk lore, and you are very real." She draws herself close to him. "Your power is great, and best of all you have fire. The others look to you already like they look to no man…they see a leader in you. I have been looking for a man such as you. Targa needs strength now. The forces of Darkness are growing, and Targa will be lost if it has no one strong like you to protect it. Torgul is an old man, Geldor is a coward, and I do not trust that foreign King Randor or his alliance of alien kingdoms. Targa is on its own, as it has always been. But you . . . you could make Targa strong."
He-Man rejects her. "A city built on the backs of slaves doesn't have the strength to stand on its own."
Balina laughs. "Bless the Elders, they took your name but left pretty little adages like that in your head? Mighty one, I have no desire to keep slaves. Free them if you like. It is Geldor who amuses himself with the slaves. But that too could be solved if you joined me. With you, we would not need an alliance with Eternos! Eternia could be ours by our own hands."
He-Man thinks he hears a distant voice calling him, another woman--this one with wings like a falcon. But her voice is very faint and he cannot concentrate long enough to hear her clearly. Balina demands back his attention with a slap.
"Do you think the Queen of Targa assigns her affections to just anyone? I offer you the envy of a kingdom, and you stare at the floor!"
"Can you restore my memory," he ask her suddenly and Balina is caught off guard.
She questions Drakka, but the wizard shakes his head. "The spell used was the Obliterator. It comes from Lodar, and only he knows how it might be undone."
"Then I must speak to Lodar," He-Man concludes and turns to leave.
"He will not give you what you want, champion," she calls after him. "You will spoil your life chasing memories that will never return. I offer you the chance to make new memories…better memories. Consider my offer. The Slavery in Targa can end with you."
Who is this mysterious Lodar? Will He-Man recover his lost memory? And What has become of Teela and Battlecat? Find out more clues in the next chapter: "A Tale of Two Cities"
Last edited by gbagok; August 31, 2012 at 05:36pm.
Targa City, one of the largest kingdoms in Eternia. Ruled by King Torgul it is a prosperous city built on the technological prowess of the Targan people. Probably most well known for the Great Lake situated in the mountain slopes above the city which supplies the Kingdom with all the water it needs. It is also the source of the Great Targa Falls, truly a spectacle of Nature and a stark contrast to the industrialised city.
Another claim to fame for Targa is the Great Coliseum - home to the Circos Eternia. Held every few years, the Games pit the greatest champions from various Kingdoms in Eternia against each other for the coveted Grand Championship.
DeviantArt Gallery
Week Daze - my webcomic
The Return to Anwat Gar
Although, He-Man's costume is quite ...
Awesome stuff.
I know how much dedication it takes to pull this kind of thing off, I salute you.
Mattel should have snapped you guys up years ago...
Can't wait for more...
Really digging the variety of He-man costumes in these adventures, he's never looked so good.
the story is great, the pics are awesome and i m curios for the next part
Well done guys keep it coming
When can we start making the customs ????
Wow guys, I'm impressed with the scope of your project, and how much you two have done with this. Verrry cool...I'm liking the way you incorporated the ol' school "slave city" story from the mini-comics. And the art fits right in with the new school cartoon...An interesting blend of old and new...Kudos!
Thanks everyone! Glad you're liking it!
Prime did you check out our first story, The Return to Anwat Gar?
DeviantArt Gallery
Week Daze - my webcomic
The Return to Anwat Gar
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing when I saw it. Then again, the queen seems to be interested in him so maybe she picked out his wardrobe. Never saw her as the S&M type.Originally Posted by Irian
Anyway, more, more, more!!!!!
I haven't been this excited about MOTU since the season 2 premiere!
He'll get good and covered later, but he had to catch Balina's eye in more than one way.Originally Posted by Irian
Originally Posted by gbagok
DeviantArt Gallery
Week Daze - my webcomic
The Return to Anwat Gar
As we speak.Originally Posted by oICEMANo
Cool! Be sure to read it here http://www.marlbanktavern.com/tlog/i...=legends/rtag1 as it has all the extra bits.
DeviantArt Gallery
Week Daze - my webcomic
The Return to Anwat Gar
you are gods
"I only touch base with reality on an as-needed basis!"
- Royal Floyd Mengot (Klaus)
This is just beyond awesome .
Fictional characters are just that. Fictional. They have no personality or free will of their own.
Writers and editors mold them to their own wants and needs.
All we as the audience and fans can do is pick and choose our favorite interpretation and ignore the rest.
Chapter Four: A Tale of Two Cities
The Sorceress struggles to reach He-Man telepathically, but her calls cannot reach him. She senses a hand surrounding He-Man, and a malevolent mind laughing at the folly of her attempts. Suddenly she recognizes the aura of the Cosmic Enforcers and she calls out to Zodak for help, but his answer is cold.
"I cannot interfere, Sorceress. He-Man is facing a test of great import. He must face these trials without our help, or he will not be ready for the greater battle that lies ahead."
With that, Zodak blocks the Sorceress from his mind, ending their telepathic bond. Determined to help He-Man, the Sorceress reaches out again, this time searching for the Masters. But the same dark force obscuring He-Man's thoughts from her has also engulfed the realm around him. Only one mind is close enough to the Sorceress for her to reach, a mind that shares the Sorceress's very blood.
"Teela," the Sorceress calls, "you must hear me!"
Meanwhile, in Targa's main arena, the Champions of Eternia are training for the Circos Eternia, unaware that mere hours earlier the arena had been the site of a battle where brave warriors almost lost their lives. Man-At-Arms arrives to see his protégé, Eternos's champion in the Circos Eternia (and newest Master) the Clamp Champ. The Champ is aware of the mysterious circumstances that preceded their arrival in Targa, and he knows that Prince Adam and Teela are missing.
"The Targans assure me that everything that can be done is being done," Man-At-Arms tells him, "but I'm not convinced."
"Do you think the Targans are behind their disappearance, Duncan?"
"Maybe. Queen Marlena trusts Torgul, but he's not in the picture so far. For all we know, Geldor and Balina are plotting behind his back." He holds up a tracking monitor, indicating a target inside Targa. "I placed a homing device on Lizard Man before he left with the others. According to it, Lizard Man is still in Targa. If I didn't know better, I'd say the device is malfunctioning, but I'm unable to investigate with the Targans watching us so closely. And I can't summon more Defenders without tipping them off to my suspicions."
"Then perhaps," the Champ says, "I should be the one to investigate. As a champion in the games, I won't stir up as much attention touring the city as you and the Defenders."
"My thoughts exactly," says Man-At-Arms with a smile. "Let me know the instant you find out about Teela. The Targans insist the city is secure but it's what is inside the walls that troubles me."
The Champ places a hand on Man-At-Arms's shoulder. "Teela's a smart girl, Duncan, and stubborn like her old man. I'm sure she is safe even as we speak."
Last edited by gbagok; August 31, 2012 at 05:37pm.
Meanwhile, far away, the voice of the Sorceress carries into Teela's dreams, calling her name. "Teela! A terrible evil has taken hold of He-Man. I am unable to reach him, or any of our allies in Targa. Evil magic is all around you! You must beware the wizard--"
Teela opens her eyes in a luxurious bedroom suite. She recognizes the city of Oberon's totemic architecture outside her window. She had been exhausted on the flight to Oberon and had slept through their arrival. A woman enters to check on her.
"My father will be relieved to find you well," says the woman. "I am Rana, Princess of Oberon. You saved my brother Dakkon's life."
Teela asks about the others, if He-Man has been found, but Rana has few answers. "The big cat is feeding in our stables. He's consumed very little for such a large animal, as if his strength has no end." When Teela inquires about Sala-Man-Dor, Rana tells her, "He converses with my father. Come, you'd best wear Oberon garments since your own were damaged in battle."
Rana takes Teela to see Dakkon, but he does not remember her or even his own name. "He's the same as Lizard Man," Teela says, bewildered.
"Yes," says Rana. "My father believes that this is the way of these hunters your friend described. They use magic to rob their victims of their memories to weaken their wills." Rana goes on to explain that the Oberon Healers are unable to reverse the amnesia effects.
Teela remembers the Sorceress's words in her dream, and suspects that He-Man also has the same amnesia. In the main hall of Oberon, Teela finds Sala-Man-Dor in conference with King Thales. The Oberon King seems interested in the Reptons' plight, but his advisor, Tarrak, is suspicious and defensive. He accuses Sal and Teela of fabricating their story, and harming Dakkon themselves.
"Does anyone in this valley have advisors who aren't hostile," asks Teela hotly.
But Thales is interested in Sal's account of the Gargons. "Such demons were described in our ancient lore. The purple skin and eyes of fire were the offspring of the Enemy. Do you know the story?" Teela and Sal shake their heads, and Thales relates to them the origin of Targa and Oberon.
"Long ago, a warrior fell from the stars. He was an enforcer of order in the cosmos, summoned to Eternia to track down a vile Enemy of his people. The enemy had once been another of the Enforcer's own kind, but a malevolent force had corrupted him and made him powerful. Here on Eternia, the Enemy became stronger and revealed his true beastly form. The Enforcer's cosmic craft crashed in our valley, where he was saved by two brothers who had come here to hunt. They tended his injuries, and though they did not understand his weapons, they defended him until he was strong enough to engage the Enemy himself.
"But the Enforcer was still not at his full strength, and though he felled the Enemy and smote his noxious form upon the land, the he received a wound even he could not overcome. In return for their help, the Enforcer healed the brothers' wounds with the Liquid of Life, an elixir that merely replenished the Enforcers, but granted near immortality to those born on Eternia. Since the Enforcer was too badly injured for the Liquid to save him, he asked that the brothers bury him in the valley and place his belongings on the mountaintop. His name was Zodac of the Cosmos."
Last edited by gbagok; August 31, 2012 at 05:38pm.
"The brothers then founded two houses, here in this valley where the battle was fought. Years later, the brothers would don the armor of the fallen warrior to fly to the aide of the other Enforcers, and would themselves become members of their galactic order. Yet with the brothers gone, their families turned on one another as their sons became greedy and desired the secret of the Liquid of Life. Countless wars were fought, until finally the brothers returned and told the cities that they were ashamed of their descendants' pettiness--for the Secret of the Liquid of Life is in the land itself, and all creatures that dwell upon it and within. It would remain unknown to both houses until peace came to our valley. While the people of Oberon accepted this judgment and sought forgiveness, the people of Targa spat at the brothers and cursed their reproach. So it was that Oberon has long sought peace while the Targans scavenge the world greedily, forever seeking the secret that has eluded them."
"We are not so noble as you make us seem, father," says Rana slowly. "We, like Targa, have never reached out to our neighbors in this valley—the Reptons. My husband, Garn, wished to offer friendship to Pythos, but your advisors," she flashes an unkind look at Tarrak, "spoke against it and you refused to help. When he tried to do it alone, he disappeared like the Reptons in Sala-Man-Dor's story."
"But how do the Gargons fit in," asks Teela.
Thales explains, "It is said that the enemy was not truly destroyed when he was cast down into the land. Just as the Liquid of Life is a part of the valley, so is the Enemy. And traces of his poisonous being have polluted some springs and wells, and created sad mutations among us. The poor wretches were called the Kobolds, the children of the Enemy. Now a more terrible creation has come, the Gargons. Perhaps the time has come at last for us to consult the Cosmic Enforcers themselves."
Teela is shocked. "You can do that?"
Thales nods. "The Enforcers made an outpost from the shrine in the mountains where the brothers took Zodac's belongings. It is a holy place to us, and should only be visited in times of greatest need. I believe now is such a time. Teela, you and Rana will take Dakkon there. If anyone can restore his memory, it will be the Enforcers. Come, and I will show you the path to find the Eternian Outpost of the Cosmic Enforcers: Point Dread."
Tarrak listens to all that is said and quietly retreats to his inner sanctum. He accesses a magic mirror and calls on Geldor. "Master, there is trouble. King Thales means to summon the Cosmic Enforcers! If they learn of our plan to find the Liquid of Life beneath Targa, we are all doomed!"
"I see. Never fear; we anticipated Thales's eventual meddling. Why else would we have placed you in his court, Tarrak? Are the others with you?" From the shadows of Tarrak's chambers, Kobra Kahn emerges with a group of Kobolds. "Excellent! Take the Kobolds at your disposal and remind our Oberon friends why it is called Point DREAD!"
Will the Cosmic Enforcers save He-Man and the Masters of the Universe? Will Teela be able to restore Dakkon and He-Man's memories? Will Clamp Champ uncover the truth of the Targan conspiracy? Look for the answers in the next thrilling chapter: The Power of Point Dread!
Last edited by gbagok; August 31, 2012 at 05:38pm.


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Вашето търсене не съответства на никакви резултати.
Предлагаме да опитате следното, за да намерите това, което търсите:
Learn what Oracle IoT solutions can do for your industry.
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Gather the digital information you need to develop new, innovative business models, including metering by usage. Improve your ability to evaluate and manage risk, mitigate costs, and increase profitability.
Oracle brings a new approach to Industry 4.0. We embed insights from Oracle's IoT Cloud applications, advanced machine learning, artificial intelligence, and blockchain into Oracle's supply chain management cloud suite to enable new possibilities in manufacturing and supply chain efficiency.


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ITEM: One copy of 'The Blue Ribbon Cook Book' by Liz Harfull signed by the author.
DETAILS: Every year hundreds of talented amateurs spend countless hours preparing entries for cookery competitions run as part of some 600 country shows across Australia. These cooks range from stalwarts well known and respected in their local communities for their prize-winning efforts over many years, to talented newcomers using tried and true recipes and techniques handed down from generation to generation.
Some of their stories and recipes have been captured in The Blue Ribbon Cookbook, published by Wakefield Press in September 2008. The book focusses on 50 South Australian shows and their top cooks, capturing their secret tips and the recipes they have used to win those precious first prizes and blue ribbons.
Now in its third print run, the best-seller was named runner-up in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards announced in Paris in July 2009, after competing against 56 finalists from around the world. In April 2010 it was short-listed for the biennial Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards.
Author Liz Harfull is now researching and writing a national version capturing more stories and recipes from across Australia.
CV: Liz Harfull only 10 years old when she decided to become a journalist and writer. At the age of 12 she contributed her first published piece to a book in memory of Robe author Kathleen Bermingham, who was an early mentor; and at 17 she started her cadetship as a journalist at her local newspaper, The Border Watch.
Since then Liz has worked for a range of Australian and overseas publications as a full-time journalist, freelance writer and photographer. She also spent more than 10 years with one of Australia's leading public relations consultancies, building a national reputation in the rural sector and being awarded a Churchill Fellowship which took her overseas to study better ways to communicate with farmers.
Today she lives and writes from her home in the beautiful Adelaide Hills. In her spare time Liz volunteers as a committee member of her local historical society, and as president of the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists – the umbrella organisation for the country's five rural press clubs.
The Blue Ribbon Cookbook was her first book, bringing together her love of country shows, cooking and story-telling. A keen amateur cook who thinks whipping up afternoon tea for 20 people is a great way to relax at the weekend, she became a prize-winning show cook in her own right while researching the book, winning prizes for her scones and jubilee cake. Her late father helped to set up one of the smallest surviving district shows in Australia – at Mil Lel.
Please bid in the comments box below.


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A 10–18 years follow up of the uncemented isoelastic monoblock RM acetabular component in young patients
Suche in Medline nach
|21. Oktober 2010
Objective: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological survival of the uncemented isoelastic RM cup in high demand patients under 50 years.
Methods: During the period of 1990 and 1997 a cohort of 158 total hip arthroplasties were performed in our institution on 131 patients. The mean age was 42.4 years (range 16-50 years); 67 were female and 64 were male. The mean follow up period was 13.2 years ( range 10–18 years). Clinical and radiological analysis was performed using standard pelvic radiographs and questionnaires.
Results and conclusions: During follow up twenty-two patients underwent acetabular revision mainly due to acetabular wear. The mean wear rate was 0.11 mm/year (0–0.68) and was significantly higher in components with a metal on polyethylene articulation. Progressive significant acetabular osteolysis was seen in 4 patients (3%). Kaplan-Meier survival curves at 10 and 14 years showed survival of 98% (95% CI 95–100) and 80% (95% CI 72–89) for revision for any cause and 98% (95% CI 96–100) for aseptic loosening.


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Want to kick off your Monday with some exciting rumors? How about the rumblings that there may be a 3-D "Gremlins" in our future?
A bidding war broke out over Robert Rodirguez directed "Machete" over the weekend with 20th Century Fox winning the battle... in the process, they've also locked up the rights to Rodriguez's future work.
New images from the upcoming "Piranha 3-D" have shown up online and they're suitably gruesome. Just a fair warning, mangled mammaries ahead!
Now that "Legion" has hit theaters, director Scott Stewart sits down to talk about his next Paul Bettany starring movie, "Priest". Let's hope it's more interesting than his last one.
A cable TV exec charged with beheading his wife last year has come up with the clever defense that he cut her head off because she was mean to him.
A Chino Valley man has broken his parole by sexually assaulting his neighbor's dog. Might as well go out in style, I guess.
1947 - Al Capone dies in Florida, suffering from dementia caused by a long untreated case of syphilis.


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Well what do we have here. A new blog post and on a Thursday to boot. Since today (March 20th) is Bobby Orr's 66th birthday, I thought that this would be the perfect time to show you something that I just picked up. This piece dates back to his younger days, just after his 19th birthday actually. It's not quite a piece of memorabilia, but it is unique.
First is the back story to this item. On April 2, 1967, which was at the end off Orr's rookie season, a banquet was held in North Reading, MA. to support the towns independent hockey team. Special guests included Bruins players Joe Watson, Johnny McKenzie and of course Bobby Orr.
Here are some clippings of the event that were in the local paper.
The middle photo shows Bobby signing an autograph for a young fan.
According to the article, "Due to a mix up in dates, Orr did not attend the banquet, but did meet up with everyone after at the Congregational Church Hall to greet youngsters and sign autographs".
Here's the item I picked up.
This is the check paid to Orr for his appearance. As you can see in the first picture, it's made out to Bobby. The second picture shows his signature on the back of the check. PSA grading services authenticated the signature.
What makes this check so unique is that it's probably one of the first, if not the very first, paid appearances that Orr made for the Bruins. A very tidy sum of $25 for an hours worth of his time to talk and sign autographs for those in attendance. Nowadays, you would probably have to add about three zeroes to the end of that figure.
Thanks for reading. See you again hopefully soon with post #200. Happy Birthday Bobby!


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Why Job Hunting is a Consultative Sales Position
November 6, 2009 at 10:16 am 12 comments
Over the many years I've spent as a recruiter, I've always maintained that recruiting is actually a consultative sales position. In fact, it's one of the purest forms of sales that you can imagine. It involves selling a complete intangible – something that you can't touch or feel, but rather a concept. In the case of 3rd-party (agency) recruiting, each deal is actually a series of multiple intangible sales events. First the recruiter has to sell the concept of using the agency's search services to a potential client company (an employer with open jobs.) Once they get a signed Fee Agreement with that client company, then the recruiter has to actually go out and find — and then sell that company's job opportunity to — a person who fits the employer's specific requirements (a qualified candidate.) If the recruiter is successful in "selling" both of those intangibles, the next goal is to get the two parties in a room together (the interview) and hope they like each other. Essentially, it's then up to the candidate to "sell themselves" to the hiring authority during that interview. At the same time, that hiring authority must "sell their company" to the candidate so that an offer will be accepted. If that results in the candidate getting hired (a placement), and then the client company actually pays their agreed-upon fee to the agency – then and only then does the recruiter get paid! When you consider how many things can go wrong with such a complicated series of intangible sales events, it's easy to see how difficult a recruiter's job can be!
For job-seekers, the principle is essentially the same. It's often said that looking for a job is itself a full-time job. The process of searching and interviewing for a job is actually a pure consultative sales position. You are "selling" an intangible … yourself! You are selling your experience, your skills, your personality, your talent, and your potential to solve a potential employer's problems.
So what exactly is "consultative" sales? Describing it is a lot easier than mastering it. Here's a definition taken from Wikipedia: "Consultative Selling is a selling technique that emphasizes the dialogue between the salesperson and the customer. Before talking product and/or service, the salesperson strives to learn about the customer's needs, and may even help the customer identify and phrase these needs. Then, instead of delivering a standard sales pitch about a product or service, the salesperson can sell a tailored solution that meets the customer's needs, using the customer's language."
The analogy to job-seeking in today's market should be obvious. You're not selling a refrigerator or a car, where the "features and benefits" speak for themselves. (No one gets hired from simply sending a generic résumé.) You are selling a complex intangible – yourself – to someone who has a problem he wants solved! The process should involve a dialogue designed to uncover the needs of the employer you are targeting, and designing a "solution" that will meet those needs. In other words, you should be trying to understand the company's culture, the specific goals of the job you are looking at, the needs of the hiring authority, and addressing those needs and solving their problems. This involves doing company research, networking with people who may have inside information about the hiring authority and the company, and studying (and mirroring) the language of the job description.
Tailoring your "sales presentation" (your résumé, your cover letter, your phone messages, your emails and ultimately your interview presentation) to specifically address and meet the needs of your "customer" (the employer) and solve their problems will put you miles ahead of your competition for that illusive "sale" – the job!
Entry filed under: Advice for Job Seekers. Tags: consultative sales, job-seekers, networking, unemployment.
12 Comments Add your own
Hello, Michael!
The articles on you Blog are so well-written! How did you accumulate so much experience in your field to be able to present such powerful ideas, suggestions, and advice to Job Seekers?
A very comprehensive and holistic approach to the concept of job search. Well done.
It's very interesting reading your article, as it is very difficult to explain how different and complex it is from other sales roles. I always think it is really an Art, and involves a lot of communications.
Thanks for sharing.
Enjoyed your article very much especially the consultative selling approach. I have been in corporate household goods transportation sales for 31 years. Since my career began in 1977, I have discovered that there has been a more sophisticated evolution in the purchasing of services. The human resource buyer is looking for solutions, not slick sales pitches.
Thank you Michael. Excellent article. Very informative and dead on!
You hit the job search head on as a consultative sales position. Well done!
After over 2 years now of 'professional job searching', I am encouraged by your commentary. I have gone down several roads in this journey,and have come to the same conclusion as to the most effective and efficient search methodology.. That is, focus on a select number of target companies, research the hell out of them, and make direct (if no network contacts available/cultivated) and/or indirect (via soft networking contacts) connection with a defined value proposition unique to their enterprise. I believe it is probably the best (although hardest) way to get into a senior level role within an established organization. My personal dilemma is trying to stay focused on it without being swayed into the more easier, common practices of job search (ie too much time on internet sites, with recruiters, networking meetings with other unemployed, etc..)
Thanks Again,
Various people talk about this issue but you wrote down really true words!
I am so happy to have found this. It is a great forum.
Your posts are very informative, flowing and easy to follow, inclusive of many important details, helpful, and refreshing.
OK. Been an Electrical Engineering Manager for many years. Now, at 69, I am teaching English in China. Plenty of work out here. I am valued. Living is cheap.
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Lindenwood University's Theatre Department will present Cole Porter's musical of love on the high seas, "Anything Goes," at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 25-27 and March 4-6.
Tickets range from $10 to $18 and are available at the Lindenwood Box Office, 636-949-4433, or online at www.lindenwood.edu/center. The performance will be in the Bezemes Family Theatre at Lindenwood's J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts, 2300 W. Clay St., St. Charles, Mo., 63301.
Directed by Larry Quiggins, director of the Lindenwood University Theatre Department, the musical concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London. Billy Crocker (Peter Colombatto) is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt (Jenifer Sabbert), who is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Liam Hoeh). Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (DeAnna Jarrell-Massie) and Public Enemy #13 Moonface Martin (Bobby Stevens) attempt to aid Billy in his quest to win Hope. The musical introduced such songs as "Anything Goes," "You're the Top," and "I Get a Kick Out of You."
The cast also includes Lizzy Nolen, Mark Saunders, Bobby Gavin Picker, Amelia Morse Kolkmeyer, Jake Bucher, Tara Queen, Jonathan Elkins, Nick Windsor, Ashley Jemes, Nicholas Kelly, Nathaniel Carlson, Amy Grooms, Sara Rae Womack, Colleen Kelly, Beth Wickenhauser, Lauren Maureen Costigan, Caitlin Brand, Devon A.A. Norris, Sean Cameron Gibbs, Jonathon Morgan, Brant Nowack, Wes Jenkins, Johnny Pipitone, DuVaul Isreal Gamble, Ariel frey, Dzana Palavra, Emily Ivy, Emily Heitmeyer, Arelle DeGuire, Shelby Davis, Katie Ritter, Nolan McCay, Michelle Aubuchon, and Lauren Anselm. Assistant Director is Abby Powers, who is also choreographer; musical director is Pamela Grooms. The stage manager is Jeanette Maness.
For more information about the production or about the Lindenwood University Theatre Department, contact Larry Quiggins at 636-949-4850 or email@example.com. Information about other productions at the J. Scheidegger Center is available at www.lindenwood.edu/center.


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Ten Amazing Coincidences:
1. What's in a Name?
A computer error gave two women in America called Patricia the same social security number. When the two women were brought together in an office to rectify the blunder they discovered that
- They had both been born with the names Patricia Ann Campbell
- Both of their fathers were called Robert Campbell
- Their birthdays were on 13th March 1941
- They had both married military men in the year 1959 (within eleven days of each other)
- They each had two children aged 19 and 21
- They both had an interest in oil painting
- Both had studied cosmetics
- Both had worked as book-keepers
2. Bullet With Your Name on It
In 1893, Henry Ziegland ended a relationship with his girlfriend.Tragically, his girlfriend took the news very badly, became distraught and took her own life.Her distressed brother blamed his sister's death upon Henry, he went round to Henry's house, saw him out in the garden and tried to shoot him. Luckily, the bullet only grazed Henry's face and embedded itself in a nearby tree.
In 1913, twenty years after this incident, Henry decided to use dynamite to uproot a tree in his garden. The explosion propelled the embedded bullet from the tree straight into Henry Ziegland's head – killing him immediately.
3. Lucky Hughs?
- On December 5th 1660, a ship sank in the straights of Dover – the only survivor was noted to be Hugh Williams.
- On 5th December 1767, another ship sank in the same waters – 127 lost their lives, the only survivor was noted to be Hugh Williams
- On 8th August 1820, a picnic boat capsized on the Thames – there was one survivor – Hugh Williams.
- On 10th July 1940, a British trawler was destroyed by a German mine – only two men survived, one man and his nephew – they were both called Hugh Williams.
4. With a Quack Quack Here
Mr McDonald was a farmer who lived in Canada – nothing extra-ordinary in that – until you learn that his postcode contained the letter sequence EIEIO.
5. 'Til Death Did Them Part
In 1996, Paris police set out to investigate a late night, high speed car crash, both drivers had been killed instantly.
Investigations revealed that the deceased were in fact man and wife.
Police initially suspected some kind of murder or suicide pact but it became apparent that the pair had been separated for several months – neither could have known that the other would have been out driving that night – it was just a terrible coincidence.
6. She's Behind You!
Michael Dick had been travelling around the UK with his family to track down his daughter, Lisa – who he had lost contact with ten years earlier.
After a long fruitless search, he approached the Suffolk Free Press, who agreed to help him by putting an appeal in their newspaper.
Fortunately, his long lost daughter saw the appeal and the pair were reunited. The odd thing was, his daughter had been right behind him when the free paper took the photograph – shown in the photograph above. What are the chances of that!
7. Licensed To Thrill
A fifteen year old pupil at Argoed High School in North Wales was to sit his GCSE examinations in 1990.
His name was James Bond – his examination paper reference was 007.
8. What Goes Around….
In 1965, at the age of four, Roger Lausier was swimming off a beach in Salem – he got into difficulties and was saved from drowning by a woman called Alice Blaise.
In 1974, on the same beach, Roger was out on a raft when he pulled a drowning man from the water – amazingly, the man he saved was Alice Blaise's husband.
9. Lightning Never Strikes Twice?
- British cavalry officer Major Summerford was fighting in the fields of Flanders in the last year of WW1, a flash of lightning knocked him off his horse and paralysed him from his waist down.
- He moved to Vancouver, Canada, six years later, whilst out fishing, Major Summerfield was struck by lightning again and the right side of his body became paralysed.
- After two years of recovery, it was summers day and he was out in a local park, a summer storm blew up and Major Summerfield was struck by lightning again – permanently paralysing him.
- He died two years after this incident.
- However, four years after his death, his stone tomb was destroyed – it was struck by lightning!
10. Practice What You Preach
- Businessman Danie de Toit made a speech to an audience in South Africa – the topic of his speech was – watch out because death can strike you down at any time.
- At the end of his speech, he put a peppermint in his mouth, and was choked to death


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Cee's Fun Foto Challenge: Bicycles, Tricycles, Motorcycles and Wagons
Cee's Fun Foto Challenge: Bicycles, Tricycles, Motorcycles and Wagons
Life on the Big Island of Hawaii
Random musings on life, society, and politics.
iPhone Photos From In My Daily Life
With a touch of Composites & Digital Art
Music * Movies * TV * Books * Games * Humor * Road Trips * Healthy Eating * Tips & Tricks * Saving Money * Resources
Philosophy is all about being curious, asking basic questions. And it can be fun!
Minimalism - Textures - Abstraction
A Journal Of Everyday Life
Adventures and Postcards from the road
Photographically Inspired Writing
A place where Linda brings out thoughts and stories within
Ramblings of an Irish ecologist and gardener
Romantic Suspense Author and Editor
life through my lens
I'm Victoria Stuart, a poet committed to love's transmission.
Less is not enough.
Everyone Has Something To Teach Us
age is just a (biggish) number


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Here's what you need to know about Pamela Jackson: She was picked from thousands of students as winner of the national Dream Award, an honor that goes to a student who, according to Everest College officials, has gone "above and beyond in academic achievement while facing personal challenges and obstacles."
Or, as spelled out on the silver trophy that sits beside her bed: "Pamela Jackson. Dreamer. Graduate. Role Model. 2009."
Here's the rest of what you need to know about Jackson: She grew up in Cabrini-Green. Her mom, long addicted to drugs and alcohol, often left Jackson and her four younger siblings without food and no one to take care of them.
Her dad, who'd been her hero, was gunned down shortly after she graduated from high school; his body, Jackson says, was stuffed in a sewer.
Jackson, who is 38 and a licensed practical nurse, "discovered I was smart" in seventh grade.
"School became my everything," she says, then spells out what that meant: a place to find breakfast and lunch, a place without violence.
She won a scholarship to a top-notch Chicago private high school. But getting lunch money and bus fare reliably from her mother was a problem.
She had little choice, she says, but to transfer to Near North Career Academy, a public high school. Jackson admits she was pulled into the ways of the streets — and a culture of drugs and gangs and violence. She had two babies. But she still managed to graduate on time and with honors, No. 11 in her class.
She's not proud that for a time, "I became part of my environment. I became what I always said I wouldn't: a teen mom."
But no matter the derailments, she'd found a social worker, a surrogate mom, who never gave up on her. And wouldn't let Jackson give up on herself.
Here's another thing you need to know: When Jackson, who put herself through Everest College's practical nursing program, won the National Dream Award, which came with a $2,500 scholarship, she turned right around and gave that scholarship to the oldest of her five daughters.
She had a grandbaby to take care of, and she wanted to see her daughter live her dreams. The college has since given Jackson a second scholarship so she, too, can finally go to nursing school and win herself the two initials, "RN," each time she signs her name.
And one last thing: This daughter of a longtime drug-addicted mom, she pours her nursing passion into counseling drug-addicted women, along with other cast-offs and folks shoved into society's shadows.
Talk about turning heartache into triumph.
Q: What is your greatest attribute?
A: My compassion for others. Specifically, I root for the underdog because I've always been the underdog. That's my team. I've always had compassion for them because they need more people on their side. Successful people and the top dog always have followers and supporters, while the underdogs usually don't have enough people to stand by and support them.
Q: What is your greatest possession?
A: My smile. I'm told that I have a wonderful smile that can brighten people's day.
Q: What's the best lesson learned from your father?
A: I learned from my dad the importance of education. He taught me that it's never too late to learn and that you can keep learning throughout life.
Q: Who's your living hero?
A: Rochelle Satchell. She was my social worker when I was in an after-school teen program. She supported me and saved my life; she was like a mom to me. Rochelle is — and always will be — my hero.
Q: What is the one secret to success?
A: Passion. You have to be passionate about anything you do — no matter what it is — in order to be successful.
Q: What do you consider your biggest mistake?
A: Not completing school right after high school. I should be a doctor right about now.
Q: What is your favorite food/movie/city/country?
A: My favorite food is Giordano's pizza, and my favorite movie currently is the "Twilight" series. I became a fan six months ago because my kids are really into it — I thought I should start paying attention since they were so excited about it and I got hooked! My favorite city is New York City, and my favorite country is the United States.
Q: What your mother/father never told you:
A: That money, credit and financial responsibility are so important. I wish my father would have taught me better financial skills, but I suppose since they didn't have anything, they didn't feel like they needed to teach it.
Q: What did you want to be at age 13?
A: A piloting Air Force nurse.
Q: What is your professional mantra?
A: I can do this.


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You know what they say, "Another day, another Muppet." At least... that's what we in Muppet fan circles say (or we will now, anyway). That's right, it's Weekly Muppet Wednesday on The Muppet Mindset. That's the day of the week where we turn our collective attentions to the focus of a specific Muppet character. Each week we'll highlight a different Muppet, showcasing their best appearances, quotes, songs, and more!
Matt Vogel (2008- present)
John Kennedy (2005-2007)
First appearance...
The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence Pilot (1975)
Most recent appearance...
Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
Best known role...
Bassist for Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem
Memorable quote...
Floyd Pepper has been an integral part of the Muppets since his first appearance in Sex and Violence, the pilot episode for The Muppet Show. In the pilot, he played a hipster musician who hung out backstage and pestered Sam Eagle (as you can see, not much has changed in Floyd's character). Within the pilot, he also performed in the debut appearance of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem--the band that would soon take the world (or at least The Muppet Show stage) by storm. With fellow band members Dr. Teeth, Janice, Zoot, and Animal, Floyd performed in the house band of the Muppet Theater, playing bass guitar. (No matter how unhip that theme song is.) The Muppet Show has been their biggest gig to date.
Once The Muppet Show began, Floyd was featured regularly in backstage plots along with Kermit and Fozzie. Floyd was always around to offer advice to the less-hip on how to be groovy, far-out, and way outta sight, man. But what was Floyd's main reason for relaxing backstage? To bug Miss Piggy, of course! This always comes back to bite him, as Floyd would say, most literally.
In a few performances in the first season of The Muppet Show, Floyd's singing voice was quite different from the voice fans have grown accustomed to over the years. The much-loved "raspy" tone of his voice is gone, instead replaced by a deep, bass voice (perhaps to match his deep bass?). This is best seen in Floyd's early performances of "Ain't' Misbehavin'" and "Mr. Bassman." In these early appearances, Floyd lacked the "blinking" quality of his eyes. They were immobile and looked more like sunglasses than the flexible eyelids they would become by the second season.
In the show, Floyd showed to have solid friendships with all of his band members. With Zoot, he performed various musical numbers and had a musician jokes sketch in episode 413 of The Muppet Show. With Dr. Teeth, he showed a bond in The Muppet Movie and other performances, when asked to take a solo in a song. Floyd is, of course, often regarded as Animal's caretaker. Usually seen holding the chain of the ravenous wild thing, and even performing the song "Wild Thing" with Animal on the 1996 album "Kermit Unpigged."
Floyd's deepest bond within the Band lies with Janice. The mustachioed hippy and the aloof valley girl have been seen as a couple since around 1979, where Floyd was seen in the movie theater with Janice for the private screening of The Muppet Movie. When Janice asked Floyd if she could have some "fresh, organic popcorn" (for only a buck) Floyd responded happily, "Sure, mama! Nothin's too good for my woman!" The duo have performed duets together many times on The Muppet Show, The Muppets Go to the Movies, and elsewhere.
Floyd was one of Jerry Nelson's most prominent characters on The Muppet Show, mostly due to his heavy involvement in the backstage plots. Jerry and Floyd also have a lot in common: both are avid musicians, both are (reportedly) rather lazy, and both keep Animal on a short leash. Wait... scratch that last one. The leash isn't short at all.
Jerry has been quoted as saying this of Floyd, "I always thought of Floyd as a character who had probably been a beatnik first, and then--just like real life--he was into jazz and poetry, and then he probably went along with the chase into rock and roll, because he needed a job. He drew the line at punk, as I probably did myself, I think. That's why I can relate to Floyd, I guess, because he's all those things."
Jerry has since retired work with the Muppets. His last performance as Floyd was in 2002's It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie where Floyd was seen laughing as Miss Piggy fell into a tuba in the band pit and river-dancing with the rest of his bandmates in the world without Kermit.
Floyd's biggest contribution to the Muppet world is his singing voice. He has always been one of the greatest singers in the Muppets' large repertoire. Some of my favorite Floyd songs include, "Blackbird," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Lady Be Good," "Man With the Bag," "Gone Fishin'," and, of course, "Can You Picture That?" and "New York State of Mind."
Floyd was such a huge part of The Muppet Show, it's no wonder that he has appeared in every Muppet movie to date. Floyd and the rest of the Mayhem were some of the original Muppets to follow Kermit's dream and go to Hollywood with the Frog in The Muppet Movie. In The Great Muppet Caper, the Band had their own verse and instrumental section of the song "Happiness Hotel" and even performed their own number "Night Life" alongside helping Kermit and the gang protect the fabulous baseball diamond. In The Muppets Take Manhattan the Band played the music for Kermit's show "Manhattan Melodies" and followed the Frog (once again) to New York City to be on Broadway--eventually leaving for a job as a polka band. Thankfully, they returned to help Kermit and Miss Piggy put on the old show.
In The Muppet Christmas Carol, the Band played the music for Fozziwig's Christmas Party in Scrooge's Christmas Past. Even though he always appears alongside the band, Floyd is usually the one (in more recent productions) to speak out. In Muppet Treasure Island, he reminded Zoot to "just play the gig, never get involved in politics." In The Muppets' Wizard of Oz he grudingly explained to Miss Piggy/The Wicked Witch of the West that they were late to the gig because the band has "been drivin' the same lousy bus since 1978!" He and the Band played back-up for Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and David Henrie on Studio DC: Almost Live!, and he told Kermit that the band had to leave for vacation in Letters to Santa instead of embarking on a journey to the North Pole with the frog and friends.
In The Muppet Christmas Carol, the Band played the music for Fozziwig's Christmas Party in Scrooge's Christmas Past. Even though he always appears alongside the band, Floyd is usually the one (in more recent productions) to speak out. In Muppet Treasure Island, he reminded Zoot to "just play the gig, never get involved in politics." In The Muppets' Wizard of Oz he grudingly explained to Miss Piggy/The Wicked Witch of the West that they were late to the gig because the band has "been drivin' the same lousy bus since 1978!" He and the Band played back-up for Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and David Henrie on Studio DC: Almost Live!, and he told Kermit that the band had to leave for vacation in Letters to Santa instead of embarking on a journey to the North Pole with the frog and friends.
Recently, Floyd has started to return to semi-prominence, with major appearances in the "Bohemian Rhapsody" viral video playing with the rest of the band, the OK Go music video for their cover of "The Muppet Show Theme Song" alongside Janice and Zoot, and, based on the trailers, in The Muppets film to be released on November 2011. Performed by Matt Vogel, Floyd seems to be one of the most prominent of the band members in the film, perhaps only second to Animal in importance in the movie. We'll never forget Floyd's questioning of Kermit where he asked, "Think we should've rented a bigger car?"
- "I'm Floyd, I blow bass!"
- "You're so hip, you make us flip!"
- "Down Animal! Back! Sit! Stay!"
- "I have a room for life at the home for the chronically groovy!"
- "Come payback time, old man frog's gonna wonder why he's payin' legal tender on us!"
- "Hey! Fozzie, my fuzzy! Everything is everything!"
This is a multi-tiered answer... The Muppets need Floyd for many reasons. He's funny, he's a part of the band, he's an excellent singer, that LAUGH, his relationship with the other Muppets (the Band, Kermit, Miss Piggy)... but most of all, because he's a part of the family.
Floyd is a huge part of the Muppets. Floyd is the hip older brother we all want to be like. An integral part of the family. He followed Kermit to Hollywood in The Muppet Movie, followed Kermit to New York City in The Muppets Take Manhattan, and would, no doubt, follow the frog anywhere (as long as he's payin').
But Floyd also needs the Muppets. Without the frog, who else could get the man and the band a gig? Not like anyone would've hired them before the frog discovered them in that church-turned-coffee house. Man, the Muppets need Floyd 'cause Floyd needs the Muppets. They're the meanin' for his bein'!
Even though he's a secondary character (although just barely), the Muppets need Floyd. He's the hip to this trip, baby. Without him these guys would be squaresville, man. And who wants to live in squaresville? So go watch some Floyd videos. Laugh at his laugh, love his voice, and nod cool-like at his hipster ways. Let's make sure Floyd gets to shine once again.
The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, firstname.lastname@example.com


text: Share: November 16, 2012 | Science Magazine | by Erik Stokstad Freshwater, Pearly Mussels Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered groups of organisms in the United States. Science Magazine reports on causes for the widespread declines and cites Cary research studying the factors threatening mussel habitats.Sometimes extirpation is delayed. Populations can persist, because the adults live for many decades. They might seem healthy, but they can't produce young, impaired either by pollution or because the fish hosts are gone. "It's an insidious decline," says David Strayer of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. The population crash can come "breathtakingly fast" once these older mussels start dying.Researchers are discovering more about these invisible threats. Lab studies show that mussels are sensitive to a number of common but poorly regulated water contaminants, such as the surfactants in the common herbicide glyphosate. In a detailed field study, Strayer and Heather Malcom, also at the Cary Institute, found that the absence of juveniles was highly correlated with ammonia—likely from fertilizer or manure—in the sediment where the mussels burrow. Spikes in ammonia concentrations "may be responsible for widespread declines of freshwater mussel populations, especially in agricultural areas," they reported in Ecological Applications in September. Some ecologists suspect that the current level permitted in surface water by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is dangerous for mussels. Referenced scientific publication:D. L. Strayer and H. M. Malcom, "Causes of recruitment failure in freshwater mussel populations in southeastern New York", Ecological Applications, vol. 22, no. 6, p. 1780 - 1790, 2012. Share:


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cry (one's) heart out(redirected from cry their hearts out)
cry (one's) heart out
To cry for an extended period of time. Poor Jane really cried her heart out during the funeral service. I can't watch those sappy movies because I just cry my heart out every time.
cry one's heart outand sing one's heart out; play one's heart out; sob one's heart out
Fig. to do something with vigor or intensity. She suffered such grief—alone and sobbing her heart out. The bird sang its little heart out each morning.
cry your heart outor
sob your heart outINFORMAL
COMMON If you cry your heart out or sob your heart out, you cry a lot. Note: The heart is traditionally regarded as the centre of the emotions. I threw myself on to the bed and cried my heart out. I had never known her cry, and here she was sobbing her heart out. Compare with your heart out.


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Hi there,
I've cut-and-pasted a javascript slide show into my website. I can't seem to find info about the small beige rectangle that appears under the mouse when I hover over the images that link to the slide show pictures - Although I see it everywhere, usually with text in it. I wonder if someone could direct me to some info on what this is. Thanks!
The web page I'm referring to is here Blacklock Longboards Decks