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Colman's One-of-a-Kind Converted Stable in Georgetown
When people walk into Colman's house, tucked away in Georgetown, they invariably ooh and ahh. And I am no exception. Once a stable for a stately home, the home is truly one-of-a-kind.
Colman, a DC native, had her sights on this converted stable for more than 30 years, but it wasn't until a year ago that she actually set foot inside. She recalls, "When I heard it was on the market I pounced. As soon as I entered the massively fabulous living room. I didn't need to see any more, that was that. Sold." The living room, with its impossibly high vaulted ceilings, curious little windows and arches, and majestic stained glass windows, is the home's centerpiece (and thus deserving of a special post all its own). "This house is all about that main room, and it's where we all hang out. And because we don't have a basement, I actually get to lay eyes on my preteen son; otherwise, I'm sure he'd be subterranean until high school graduation."
When it came to decorating her new home, Colman says the bulk of her budget was blown by boring things like boilers and central AC. She also had to decide between a handful of big projects: refinishing the floor, replastering the popcorn walls, building radiator covers, refinishing the trim, and new lighting. "Being all for immediate gratification, impact and ease, I went with new lighting everywhere and all things trim." The radiator covers were inspired by local king of design Darryl Carter. Notice how she extended the radiator cover to make a parsons desk for her home office space!
Colman, who is a nurse-turned-decorator, describes her style: "I love a textured neutral palette in a mostly traditional setting with artifacts as accessories. As a decorator, my house is my laboratory where I can experiment with styles, so I don't have to experiment in clients' houses!"
The stained glass windows, which were added by a previous owner, are purported to come from the Iranian Embassy. Colman decided the best thing for the room would be to cover the walls with wall art from head to toe. "I am still working on that, and things are moved around on a daily basis!"
Colman gets a lot of her inspiration locally, explaining, "Georgetown itself has a great variety of antique shops that are full of inspiration, such as Marston Luce, John Rosselli, Jean Pierre Antiques and Jardin. But it's worth shopping around because the Georgetown shops can be very pricey." For example, several months ago she bought one of her favorite pieces, an old masthead statue, for just $150. Some time later she was browsing in one of the finest shops in Georgetown and spotted a similar masthead "for exponentially more cash." Colman believes that "inspiration can be found anywhere and I always go with my gut, even if it's a ginger jar from Target."
When prodded, Colman admits that she has had friends say "This is the coolest house in Georgetown". So far, it's a winner in my book!
• Paint: Benjamin Moore ballet white, trim in white dove.
• Large sofa: Martha Stewart for Bernhardt.
• Chandelier and sconces: Currey and Co.
• Large mirror: came with the house. I had to keep it in mind when choosing the lighting.
• Art: Most prints from eBay, then framed at a you-frame-it store. They never want you to use such big mats, but you must overrule them. Every time! I collect skulls, which is morbid but probably stems from my background in biology and nursing and my love of all things related to physiology and anatomy. The small skull painting is from the website a painting a day. Every artist paints a canvas every day for a year and all are sold for $100.
• Root chair: A new purchase and favorite of mine by JF Chen.
• Other small sculptures and art were made by my kids. Children's work deserves optimal placement!
Thanks, Colman!
(Images: Colman Riddell, Catrin Morris)


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Spotted this motorized bicycle with dog in West Seattle. Stopped, chatted for a while. 25CC motor, bored to 50 – 100 miles on a 1/2 gal tank. 50 mph top speed.
Watch now on YouTube or download and sync to iTunes, your iPod, iPhone. Subscribe to the Huggacast Feed for more episodes.
iPhone users can download and watch now and access our Huggacasts via the iTunes Store on a Wi-Fi or cellular network.
- Huggacast archives
- Bike Hugger YouTube Channel
- Huggacasts are also available in the iTunes podcast directory.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hello Flowers from Finnabair! Finnabair is a member of our Design Team and she is what most would call a real "artist". Her eye for detail, spacing, color, contour and whimsy create fantastic interest for the viewer.
Finnabair is a friend of mine from Poland. My mother's family is from Poland - in fact, my grandmother can speak Polish. I have always thought it was an angel gift that Finnabair came into my life. Thank you for sharing your creative genius with our stamps Finnabair! It is a great pleasure to view your work.
Would you like to see Finnabair's blog! ? PLEASE check it out, the pictures are the greatest, sweetest eye candy for your day! CLICK HERE to see her blog. Her imagination soars!
Do you like the stamps she used to create her magic works? The set is called HELLO FLOWERS and it is an exclusive Simon Says Stamp set designed by our friend Sara D. CLICK HERE to buy it in our store. It's a great value and a great addition for your Spring and Easter projects!
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Indoor-Outdoor Kitchens
We're not talking fully-appointed kitchens at the poolside here. Rather, these kitchens are the main kitchens of home interiors and serve as a connection between the indoors and out through openings, views, materials. It's easy to imagine the purpose of such a kitchen on a nice spring day like today (not that the poolside version wouldn't be fun, too!).
• 1 This kitchen by Ron Radziner is sunken and has no upper cabinets. This vantage point provides unobstructed visual connection to the outdoors, and physical connection through full-height movable glass panels.
• 2 This indoor-outdoor kitchen makes a connection through doors and through material. Look at how that beautiful tile floor pours right out onto the patio.
• 3 While fully outdoors, this kitchen is protected by a full roof overhead, complete with recessed lighting and a range hood.
• 4 A window wall with fully operable casement windows above counter height allow this kitchen to go from indoor to out very easily. That door at the end of the cabinetry makes it very easy to slip right outside, too.
• 5 French doors on all sides connect this kitchen directly to outdoor dining space.
(Images: Roger Davies/NYT, Commune, ACM Design, Elle Decor, Tria Giovan/Southern Accents)


text: Dancing Deer's selection of gourmet food gifts under $50 are the perfect affordable gift for any occasion. "Happy Birthday" brownie samplers, "Thank You" cookie gifts and a divine collection of cookie and brownie medleys that include "America's Best" Chocolate Chunk Brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Shortbread Cookies. These tempting treats are sure to please and won't break the bank!


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Write some Software - 09/11/2016 01:27 EST
Presupuesto $30-250 USD
We need a meeting and schedule system. This will run on a tablet or tablet PC that place outside the meeting room. The will show current meeting, schedule and administration area to manage the bookings. The users can send request of meeting roo, booking.
It can be done on browser or an app and possible an option to schedule an event via outlook or a form which somone can fill and book a room.
Its needed for our office meeting rooms.
Can be done in Android or html5 or any preferable method
64 freelancers están ofertando el promedio de $395 para este trabajo
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Gov. Rick Perry said lawmakers still have time to approve a school finance plan on the regular session's last day – but if they don't, he suggested they'll be back "at 8 o'clock in the morning" in a special session whose subject matter he'll decide and in which procedural rules could bypass outnumbered Democrats.
Perry said the GOP majority's budget cuts $15.2 billion from current state and federal spending levels – and shorts school districts $4 billion what they'd be due in the next two years under current funding formulas – is "a reflection of these members of the Legislature expressing what happened on the second of November 2010."
He said they're representing constituents who sent the message of wanting a "balanced budget, don't raise my taxes, stay out of the rainy day fund."
Asked about the Sunday night filibuster by Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, that derailed the measure, Perry took a dig.
"I'm sure members of the Legislature that will be back here in special session will have appropriate things to say to her," Perry said. "We come here to work. We don't come here to be show horses or to do anything other than to get the will of the people done.
"I think the members of the Senate understand that, and I hope that cooler heads prevail, and that before the end of the day is up, we will have a fiscal matters bill passed so that we don't have to back here at 8 o'clock in the morning," he said.
Asked if there would be topics Democrats would rather not see addressed on the special session agenda, Perry noted he has "free rein" to put whatever subjects he chooses before lawmakers.
He added, "I think everyone knows that we work with a different set of rules in a special session." The Senate could do without the two-thirds rule in a special session, meaning the 12 Democrats in the 31 member Senate wouldn't have the ability to block legislation.
According to lawmakers, Perry already has suggested he would call lawmakers into special session to revamp the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, but that would be expected later this summer.


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The creativity that went in inventing McDonald's miracle flavoured rice is so beyond my little human brain that I'd have to be high as a kite to understand the magic. But oh, the magic! The culinary geniuses at RocketNews24 cooked rice with a Big Mac, fries, chicken nuggets, sauce and coke to deliver what has to be the most delicious flavour of rice ever.
I have a drawer filled with USB drives that I've picked up along this windy life of mine but none of them look like Empty Memory, an artsy, almost jewellry-esque USB stick that looks like it's hollow. They only hold 4GB of data but BOY DO THEY LOOK COOL.
Motorola's got a new tablet called the Xyboard. That's an asinine name for anything. On the other hand, Samsung sells a beautiful 55-inch LCD TV called the UN55D8000, and Sony's awesome 3D helmet is labeled the inscrutable HMZ-T1. What's worse?
Ice Cream Sandwich's here! Ice Cream Sandwich's here! And in the world of Android, that can only mean one thing (besides a bunch of nerds whining about not having their update yet): Oh god I need to know what's next.
I have pretty secure passwords, as much to keep would-be miscreants at bay as to keep my friends and family from finding out just how horrible a life I'm living. But according to a study, a full 11 percent of Brits plan to leave their passwords in their will.


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In a tournament which featured 16 nationally ranked players and two Division II top-10 participants, the 31st ranked Olivares battled through an exceptional field of singles competition, showing why he earned the highest ITA preseason player ranking in ETSU history earlier this month.
By defeating 39th-ranked Reid Carleton of Duke in the semifinals on Sunday, 19th-ranked Bruno Agostinelli of
After a full weekend of pressure packed tennis, the finals lived up to every bit of the hype. In the first set, the
"Wow what a match," said head coach Yaser Zaatini. "Watching Enrique fight like he did against an amazing player like Bruno, was something special. Enrique along with Alex (Ahlgren) got done playing doubles last night around eight. That capped off three consecutive days of tough matches for him. I know being tired affected him early this morning; however, I think Enrique did a great job taking one point at a time and using the emotion of this match to propel him during the comeback.
With the win Olivares adds to what is already a storied career at ETSU. The reigning A-Sun Player of the Year and two-time conference tournament MVP also earned ETSU Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors just a year ago.
With all those great awards Olivares now sits among the ETSU tennis greats coached by Zaatini and former coach and current athletic director Dave Mullins.
"I've watched Enrique have his ups and downs early in his career, but to see him come into the accomplished tennis player like he is today is something truly remarkable," said Zaatini. "To achieve the things he did in this tournament and his career takes a lot of hard work and determination. I played in the Southern Intercollegiate and I know how tough this tournament can be on a player. Again Enrique, like he has so many times, proved why he's among the great champions that played here at ETSU. Hopefully, he can continue this high level of play as we move forward the remainder of the season."
In doubles action Olivares, along with fellow senior teammate Alex Ahlgren (
This ended a remarkable run for the Bucs, in which Olivares and Ahlgren defeated the fifth seeded Duke team of Arnould and Wietoska, 8-3, in the quarterfinals and Middle Tennessee's Peers and Cowden in the semis. In the end, the dominant Buccaneer duo outlasted five ITA preseason ranked doubles teams.
Attached is the final bracket with results. For more information on the men's tennis team please visit www.ETSUBUCS.com.
Division Round Result
I FNALS (4) Enrique Olivares (ETSU-31) def. (2) Bruno Agostinelli (Kentucky-19), 3-6, 7-6, 6-1
I FINALS (1) Bruno Agostinelli/Brad Cox (Kentucky-15) def. Enrique Olivares/Alex Ahlgren (ETSU), 8-5


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JA Konrath and Amanda Hocking began on their own and ended up with lucrative publishing contracts.
Traditionally published midlist authors like Bob Mayer have decided to leave their publishers and go off on their own.
Epublishing has changed the game. It's the fastest growing market for books. Ereader folks are voracious readers. This is great news. It means the written word won't die. It's just changing formats.
These were some of the factors which made me decide to go indie. Science fiction is not a big market. Most of my readers are digitally savvy. So, it made sense to me to get out there and tap into my market myself.
Sure, writing is an art, but it's also a business and a career. In the end, I want to make money and quit snuffling around for peanut shell crumbs. Going indie is my best shot at achieving that.
Just because that's what I decided, doesn't mean it's the best answer for you. We all need to respect each other's decisions. No matter how a writer publishes—indie, traditional, or a smaller press—we all work very hard and put a huge amount of effort into what we produce. We all pour our souls into our stories, sentences and words.
It's wonderful that we now have so many options.
And check out The Missing Link, a novel by Brandon Meyers and Bryan Pedas of A Beer in the Shower. Available at Amazon.
And there have been noises in the blogosphere of this year's AtoZ Challenge. Arlee Bird has a separate site for it this year HERE and several cohosts for the mega event.
Load up the posts ahead of time, so that you're not blogging and visiting all at once. There's no way to visit everyone. Last year I started in the middle of the list and went as far as I could. I plan on signing up again.
I'd actually like to feature many of you this year, so if you have a book, a short story to promote, blog post send it on over--mpaxauthor[at]gmail[dot]com. Flash fictions, etc.. would also be great. How about your favorite blog post? Maybe could all trade posts and made the load lighter. :) Shrug. Just an idea.
Anyway, hope you all had a great weekend.


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Over the last couple of years, I have left my footprints around the globe except China. However, last week, I finally made it to Beijing and explored it in depth. For our backpackers, an excursion to the Great Wall is a must-do during the trip to Beijing. So after a series of preparation, I set off from my hotel and headed straight to the Great Wall at Jinshanling section.
It is said Jinshanling is the most remote and least restored portions of the Great Wall near Beijing. For veteran backpackers like me craving a more natural Jinshanling Great Wall tour experience, there truly is no better place to be than Jinshanling. I planned a whole day hike on the wall. Jinshanling was least visited by domestic tourists posing for photos at every step, enabling me to explore the Great Wall at my own pace. It took me about 4 to 5 hours to hike all the way up the highest point, passing 43 watchtowers in various states of disrepair. Along the way, there were a few parts of the wall broken, which made the climb very hard and challenging as well as fun.
I also came across a few travelers from abroad and we talked a lot about travel around the world by sharing our experiences. It brought me a lot of fun and I had a wonderful time mingling with them. I got a lot of photos taken with them, and we even made a promise to visit other places together while traveling in China. It was really a lifetime experience sharing the sunset on the wall with fellows who happen to have the same hobby. I will always remember that moment till the last breath! What a meaningful trip! I guess sometimes life just gives you something when you least expect it!
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Manti Te'o and his parents will make their first public appearance since the Lennay Kekua girlfriend hoax came to light Wednesday, when they appear on Katie Couric's daytime talk show on Thursday.
Te'o sat down for a face-to-face interview with ESPN's Jeremy Schaap on Saturday but he declined to go on camera. Schaap has said Te'o, who claims the perpetrator of the hoax has apologized to him, seemed sincere and truthful.
To recap, the All-American linebacker from Notre Dame became a national sensation when he played a monster game the Saturday after his grandmother and girlfriend both died. But Kekua existed only online, the creation of a Southern California man named Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, according to multiple reports.
To make matters worse, Te'o continually talked about the passing of Kekua, who supposedly died of leukemia, and his grandmother as inspiration for his stellar play. He and his family talked about Te'o meeting her as well. The tale grew larger as the Irish marched through an unbeaten season before losing to Alabama on Jan. 7 in the BCS national championship game.


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Evgeny Korolev is just 21, but he's already faced a lot of adversity on and off the tennis court.
He's had four surgeries for various ailments. He's had to deal with the not-so-favorable comparisons to his famous cousin and former WTA cover girl Anna Kournikova. Most of all, he's playing with a heavy heart.
"I lost my [infant] nephew when he was born," said Korolev, who earned a spot into the BMW Championship on Tuesday with a three-set victory over Jose De Armas in the qualifying round.
"It's a very sad story. I've learned to just wake up and enjoy your day as good as you can. And be thankful for what you have. I've had a very tough last few years."
Korolev will have a tough first-round match today against Rainer Schuettler on the stadium court. Schuettler, ranked fifth in the world in 2004 (30th now), was a Wimbledon semifinalist last year.
Sweden's Robin Soderling, ranked 26th, won a final qualifying match to earn one of the four remaining spots in the main draw. He'll play Gilles Muller, the best player in Luxembourg history and also the vanquisher of Andy Roddick in the 2005 U.S. Open. Also playing today is 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson, who is on his way back from heel surgery.
Korolev, who was as high as No. 63 in 2007 before undergoing hernia surgery, is on a roll since roaring through the qualifier and main draw at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. He defeated Belgian Christophe Rochus in the Delray semifinals before losing in the final to American Mardy Fish.
Because his ranking is 87, Korolev still needs to endure qualifying to earn spots in ATP events, including Challengers.
"For the tournament events, you have to enter four or five weeks before. I had a bad ranking at that time, so I have to play qualies everywhere now," said Korolev, who will be in the main draw following the Sony Ericsson Open.
"I'm kind of a little unlucky because you know I played well at Delray and got all the points."
Three first-round matches were completed before rain delayed play Tuesday afternoon. No. 5 seed Simone Bolelli defeated Rochus 6-2, 6-4. Marc Gicquel and Mischa Zverev also won.
Weston resident Wayne Odesnik fell to seventh seed Janko Tipsarevic in a competitive two-set nightcap, 7-6 (8), 7-5.


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Former secretary of State Colin Powell intends to vote for the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, for president, according to CNN and The New York Times.
Powell announced he is voting for Clinton and denounced her opponent, Donald Trump while speaking before a Long Island trade group, the Times reported.
Powell's decision to vote for Clinton was confirmed by his chief of staff, Peggy Cifrino, according to CNN.
His support of Clinton comes despite his feelings in 2014 that "he would rather not vote for her," which came to light when hackers released a number of Powell's private emails in September. In one email, Powell called Clinton, "A 70-year-old person with a long track-record, unbridled ambition, greedy, not transformational, with a husband still d---ing bimbos at home (according to the NYP)."
Whatever his misgivings about Clinton, they seem to have been outweighed by his dislike of Trump, whom he called "a national disgrace and an international pariah," as well as a "know nothing" in his emails.
Clinton would be the third Democrat in a row to win Powell's endorsement, although he identifies himself as a Republican.


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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Riley and I made the Houston Chronicle
"Was Riley Fuzzell Road in Spring named after a real person?"
The columnist gave a wacky reply, but didn't answer the question. Well I wanted to know about Riley Fuzzell, so I went hunting. I found him easily, as a child and an adult with his own family. He was a farmer and a fine citizen of Spring, Texas. I gathered all the information I had collected in 20 minutes and sent it to the columnist, hoping he would pass it on to the curious reader.
I heard nothing and forgot about it.
Fast forward to today, when I'm eating leftover pizza for lunch and catching up on my Sunday newspaper reading. I scanned the weekly column and noticed that something looked familiar. It was my email printed out for all to see.
Actually, it was part of my email and it was chopped off at a strange place. Why the staff included the part about the attachment is beyond me.
The portion that got cut off talked about Fuzzell's World War I draft card and how it was signed by another big name in Spring (Budde, if you're wondering). Not fascinating news for a humor column, but very interesting if you're into local history, which is why I shared it with the reader. I just didn't realize it would be shared with everyone else. Had I known, I probably would have written it differently.
So I had a good laugh today at my 15 seconds of newsprint fame, and how old Riley was overshadowed by the story on bad supermarket products.
If I had the time, I'd love to give Riley Fuzzell the genealogy star treatment as well and research him properly. Next time I'm in Spring, I just may pay his road a visit.
10 comments:
You rock Amy! I can't wait for the road trip to Riley's road!ReplyDelete
Too funny. I wrote about ol' Budde and his road [if anyone's looking for humor]. I'm on Riley Fuzzel's Road every day. Did you know that a lot of the roads in and around Spring have names of its founders - Holzworth, Budde, Klein, etc.? For local history, one only need to research its roads. You know, that would be a good idea for a local history book...ReplyDelete
Great job & congrats!
Ha! That's funny. Good on you for taking the time to research it.ReplyDelete
Thanks, guys!ReplyDelete
Caroline, I remember your Budde blog post, which is part of the reason I included his details in the email. I am fascinated by the history in Spring. Maybe we could write a book in our spare time. :::cue tears of laughter:::
That was so good of you to research and share. So, you and Riley will both become better known, huh?! Congrats.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 25, 2012 at 9:59 PM
There is a Riley Fuzzell Farm located on Highway 79 between Buffalo and Palestine. Is that farm a part of the farm on Riley Fuzzell Rd. Thanks, SandraReplyDelete
I named my dog Riley after that road.ReplyDelete
- Patricia MannOctober 26, 2013 at 11:41 AM
Thank you, amy. My question to my relatives who live close to thar stree, don't know about the history. I love local history. How about the little cemetary across from Spring High school. on the side of I-45? i love the history of Texas, i am a native Houstonian. Pat MannReplyDelete
I named my CAT Riley after that road...LOL - seriously.ReplyDelete
I named my CAT, Riley after that road. How funny!ReplyDelete


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Mitt's law has 'unelected board' too
Mitt Romney is on the warpath against President Barack Obama's "unelected board" of health care bureaucrats — but his own Massachusetts health care law has been blasted more than a few times for the same reason.
It's another reminder that, as much as Romney is trying to campaign against "Obamacare," there's almost always some similarity in "Romneycare" that can come back to bite him.
Story Continued Below
( Also on POLITICO: GOP: Let's debate health taxes, too)
On Thursday, Mitt Romney ripped President Barack Obama's health law for establishing an "unelected board" that can "tell people what kind of health care they can have." The clear implication was that Romney's plan doesn't have an equivalent to the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a panel established in Obama's law that's charged with clamping down on Medicare spending.
But Romney's law had a powerful, unelected board of a different kind, one that has vexed Republicans and business groups for years. That entity, called the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority — which oversees the Massachusetts health insurance exchange — has made many of the most critical decisions about the type of health care Massachusetts residents must obtain.
Since 2006, the Connector has set minimum standards for what constitutes adequate health insurance coverage, what constitutes "affordable" health insurance and rules for small businesses seeking to enroll in health plans. The Connector also doles out exemptions to people who don't have health insurance and otherwise would have to pay the penalty.
The state's Democratic leadership has largely hailed the Connector as government at its best, but many Massachusetts Republicans have decried its power in terms strikingly similar to Romney's, branding it an "unelected board" that has driven up health care costs by mandating generous benefit packages.
"The board ended up making a lot of decisions that drove up the cost of health care," according to Richard Tisei, a former state senator who voted for Romney's plan but has since ripped the power it gave to the Connector.
"The whole point of health care reform was to be able to offer people more products at a cheaper cost," he said. "The Connector, by mandating what the minimum coverage was, helped ensure that policies would be more expensive."
Tisei doesn't fault Romney for the Connector's actions, particularly since Romney left office in 2007. And the board created under the president's health law — the IPAB — has the authority to make "irreversible" decisions about Medicare, he said, whereas the Connector has routinely been guided by the state Legislature.
The Romney camp also drew a distinction between the Connector and IPAB. "President Obama has set up an unelected board of 15 bureaucrats to cut Medicare by reducing seniors' access to care. There is nothing remotely similar in Massachusetts," said spokesman Ryan Williams.


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Moderator: Cartographers
The gameplay right now is straight-up standard; there's nothing unique in the way a game will play out (although I really like the split bonus region in the "west").
Kaisermikeb wrote:I must say I disagree with thinking that this map should be more like "Age of Realms".
natty_dread wrote:...So did you do this map with watercolours and then scan it? That's pretty impressive...
natty_dread wrote:Oh, don't give up on your roulette map. Lack has promised us new XML features, so the idea of "randomly distributed bonuses" may yet be feasible some day...
Also, I've many times thought about drawing a map by hand and then scanning it... I even got a scanner, but being the lazy procrastinator I am I haven't managed to install the software for it yet...
The Bison King wrote:Which form?
natty_dread wrote:The Bison King wrote:Which form?
he means design brief, you submitted that already I think..
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Carrie Underwood to Release 2012 Album
Carrie Underwood fans, rest assured. The 'Before He Cheats' singer has not let married bliss come in the way of her music career. Underwood promises that she will be touring like a "mad woman" and dropping a new album in 2012 (with a release date yet to be announced), the follow-up to 2009′s 'Play On.'
"There's no written-in-stone date to announce yet, but I would imagine I will be touring like a mad woman in 2012!" Underwood tells StyleList, insinuating that she will hit the road next year to push a new album, which should also drop some time in the new year.
As for her home life, Underwood reveals that life with her Nashville Predators husband Mike Fisher is great and that the two are enjoying their second year of marriage: "Married life is great! Mike is so supportive! And I love to watch him play hockey! It's fun to have someone in your life that is there for you no matter what. We have fun together! He's my Prince Charming!"
Now that the two-time ACM Entertainer of the Year has a few new things to write about, she should have no trouble putting out a new album in 2012. Underwood explained that compared to other artists, she's able to relate to her own music the easiest. "Especially the songs that I write. I choose songs based on how they make me feel … and then I hope there are enough people in the world who are like me that will like it too!" she says. "Writing makes the songs so much more personal."


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Ohio clinic tackles Appalachian dental needs
Ohio clinic tackles Appalachian dental needs
MARIETTA, Ohio —
An Ohio dental clinic that takes Medicaid and bills on a sliding scale for people with no insurance is a rarity in Appalachia where unmet dental care is rampant.
Some adult patients at the Southeastern Ohio Dental Clinic in Marietta never saw a dentist as children, some children as young as 5 have had all their baby teeth pulled and some patients in their 20s need dentures.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that children in Appalachia have a nearly 60 percent higher rate of tooth decay than elsewhere in Ohio while about half of working-age adults don't have dental insurance.
Dr. Paul Casamassimo, chief of dentistry at Nationwide Children's Hospital, said his staff sees many patients who can't find care in Appalachia.


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Tagged: Shane Greene
The Phils win their third straight Grapefruit League game as they blank the Yankees, 6-0.
The Phils win their third straight spring training game as they throw a goose egg at the Bronx Bombers, defeating the Yankees, 6-0.
The Phils took the lead in the top of the second as, with a runner on second, and with one man out, Bobby Abreu hits an RBI single, knocking in Carlos Ruiz, who had earlier reach base on third baseman Kelly Johnson's fielding error, his second of the inning, before moving up to second base as Dom Brown, who had started the inning off by reaching base on third baseman Johnson's first fielding error of the inning, is thrown out at third base as he tried to score on the error, 7-2, for the inning's first out, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead. The Phils increased their lead in the top of the third as, with two men out, Ryan Howard hits a solo home run, his third home run of the spring, giving the Phils a 2-0 lead. The Phils then made it a 3-0 lead one batter later as Marlon Byrd follows with a solo home run of his own, his second home run of the spring. The Phils added to their lead in the top of the sixth as, with a man on second, and with one man out, Brown hits an RBI single, scoring Byrd, who had just doubled, giving the Phils a 4-0 lead. The Phils then took a 5-0 lead one batter later as, after Brown had stolen second base, and with still one man out, Ruiz hits an RBI single, knocking in Brown. The Phils then made it a 6-0 lead in the top of the ninth as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, Tony Gwynn, Jr. hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Edgar Duran, who had earlier singled, then went to third base on John Mayberry, Jr's single. That would end up being the final score as Barry Enright pitched a scoreless ninth, getting Yangervis Solarte to pop out to the third baseman for the final out.
Jeff Manship (2-0, 1.80) gets the win as he pitched four shutout innings, giving up five hits, while striking out two. Mike Adams received his first hold of the spring as he pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while striking out a batter. Justin De Fratus, Brad Lincoln, Shawn Camp and Barry Enright combined for four scoreless innings, giving up two hits (Lincoln (1), Enright (1)) and a walk (Lincoln) between them, while striking out five (De Fratus (1), Lincoln (2), Camp (1), Enright (1)). Adam Warren pitched a scoreless inning, giving up two walks, while striking out a batter. David Phelps (1-1, 2.61) took the lost as he gave up an unearned run on a hit, and two errors. Vidal Nuno pitched an inning, giving up two runs on two hits. David Robertson and Matt Thorton combined for two scoreless innings, giving up a walk (Robertson) between them, while striking out one (Thorton). Shane Greene pitched an inning, giving up two runs on three hits. Shawn Kelley and David Herndon would combine for two scoreless innings, giving up a hit (Kelley) and two walks (Herndon) between them, while striking out a batter (Kelley). Matt Daley pitched an inning, giving up a run on two hits, while striking out two.
The Phils had nine hits in the game, with Marlon Byrd leading the team with two hits, a double and a solo home run. Ben Revere (Single), Ryan Howard (Home Run, RBI), Dom Brown (Single, RBI), Carlos Ruiz (Single, RBI), Bobby Abreu (Single, RBI), Edgar Duran (Single) and John Mayberry, Jr. (Single), had the other seven Phils' hits. Tony Gwynn, Jr. knocked in the final Phil run with a sac fly. The Phils also had five walks (Revere, Howard, Ruiz, Abreu, Cody Asche) and two stolen bases (Revere (6), Brown (2)) in the game.
The Phils (9-15-3) next spring training game is with the Tigers (12-12) in a game already in progress.


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Drew Muren started in 51 of the 52 games played this season, hit .290, and improved his numbers at the plate across the board compared to his previous season ... in his 207 at-bats, D. Muren scored 47 runs - a total that ranks him second on the team, 60 hits, nine doubles, two triples, three home runs, and drove in 21 batters ... his 13 hit-by-pitches were the most by any Matador, a figure that ranks him tied for fourth in the conference ... after stealing only two bases in 2008, the centerfielder stole 13 bases out of 16 attempts to finish with the third most steals on the team, and eighth-highest total in the conference ... finished with 17 multiple hit games.
D. Muren was a redshirt during the 2009 season.
In his inaugural season with the Matadors, Drew Muren hit .270 and started in 40 of the 42 games he played in ... of his 40 hits, seven of them were doubles, and one was a triple ... hit one home run and drove in 14 batters ... in four attempts Muren stole two bases ... only allowed four hits in 6.0 innings pitched vs. LaSalle (3/4) ... batted a perfect 4-4 vs. Cal Poly (4/4) ... hit 3-4 and scored once vs. Long Beach State (4/20) ... in 5.0 innings pitched he allowed zero earned runs and only four hits vs. UNLV (5/7).
A two-sport athlete for the Bulldogs, Muren played football and baseball ... named captain as a senior ... earned All-Valley League and All-CIF honors as a senior ... led football and baseball teams to league championships as a junior ... batted .472 with nine home runs and posted a 1.44 ERA as a senior ... graduated in 2007 with a 3.47 GPA.
Born November 22, 1988 in Poway, Calif. ... parents are Tammy and Tim Muren ... favorites include actor Robin Williams, actress Eva Mendez, television show "Family Guy", and steak ... roots for the San Diego Chargers and the Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy ... likes to go to the pool when he has time to relax ... once met Tony Gwynn ... if forced to listen to one CD for the rest of his life, it would be Queen's Greatest Hits ... enjoys playing Call of Duty on his Xbox whenever he has free time ... would give out more scholarships to students if her were the president of the NCAA ... if given the chance would have dinner with his grandfather and Ted Williams ... considers his dad as his biggest hero ... biggest obstacle he's overcome is fracturing his back as a teenager ... major is undeclared.


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thank you for the wonderful service!!!
Dear Millet, I would like to thank you for the wonderful service!!! I spoke to you yesterday regarding an order that was sent back due to a mistake...
You will also find several affordable accessories for your most loved karaoke microphone. One of these in the Magic Sing Recording Pack that will let you record your very own song and upload to your computer. With this wonderful piece, you can even burn a copy of it and send some to your friends. Other great products that we offer include the Magic Sing Song Book, Magic Sing Stand and the Magic Sing Adaptor. We are also selling the Magic Sing RCA Cable that is available for the ED-8000, Black (4 Slots), OnStage, Silver as well as Silver with Video Input and Black (3 Slots).
In the event that there are some questions boggling in your mind, please don't be reluctant in giving us a call at your convenient time.


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May 10
It's official: The first quarter was a huge pleasant surprise.
In a report fired off to clients, Deutsche Bank figures with 87 percent of the S&P 500 companies having reported, earnings for the March three-month period surged 18 percent year-over-year. This far exceeded the 12 percent expectation at the beginning of the quarter.


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President Obama wasn't kidding when he said last September that he'd make a lot more use of the bully pulpit if he were reelected. On Monday, he held a news conference to lecture House Republicans about fiscal responsibility and the debt ceiling, a lesson offered more for the general public's ears than those on Capitol Hill.
"Raising the debt ceiling does not authorize more spending," Obama said. "It simply allows the country to pay for spending that Congress has already committed to. These are bills that have already been racked up, and we need to pay them."
That's succinct and inarguable. He later amplified on this point, discussing the constitutional separation of powers at the heart of the matter:
"Congress authorizes spending. They order me to spend. They tell me, you need to fund our Defense Department at such and such a level; you need to send out Social Security checks; you need to make sure that you are paying to care for our veterans. They lay all this out for me because they have the spending power. And so I am required by law to go ahead and pay these bills. Separately, they also have to authorize the raising of the debt ceiling in order to make sure that those bills are paid. And so, what Congress can't do is tell me to spend X, and then say, but we're not going to give you the authority to go ahead and pay the bills."


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#8503 - NISSAN Skyline GT-R (R32) Red Pearl Metallic
HPI's scale model line-up expands with exclusive 1:32 scale slot cars! The iconic Japanese supercar for many years has been the Nissan Skyline GT-R. HPI now offers the R32 GT-R version of this amazing vehicle in a popular slot car version for collectors, racers and scale model fans!
The R32 GT-R model was first released in 1989 to immediate fanfare and the amazement of sports car fans around the world. Designed from the start to compete in Group A production car racing, the R32 GT-R was taken to the Nurburgring Nordschliefe for testing, where it beat the production car lap record of the time by 25 seconds. The R32 GT-R was so dominant in Group A racing that many feel that the car led to the formula's demise, as well as the split of the Japanese Touring Car Championship into two different formulas. Winning the legendary Bathurst 1000 race in 1991 and 1992 led to the Australian press labeling the car 'Godzilla' because it was a monster from Japan. All of this racing success led to a massive increase in exposure and popularity among sports car fans around the world. The Skyline name started appearing in television shows, comic books and video games in the mid-1990's. Ever since then, the name 'Skyline' has always been one of the first cars mentioned when car fanatics discuss modern supercars. We are proud to present the Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R in a variety of actual Nissan production colours, rolling on replica mesh wheels. Clear windows and a stylish driver figure with full interior help complete the scale look and draw the viewer's eye to the scale looks of the car as it drives. Performance upgrades will be available, however our version is designed to be as true to scale as possible, to please car and slot car fans alike. #8501 NISSAN Skyline GT-R (R32) Gunmetal Gray Metallic #8502 NISSAN Skyline GT-R (R32) Crystal White #8503 NISSAN Skyline GT-R (R32) Red Pearl Metallic #8522 NISSAN Skyline GT-R (R32) Jet Silver Metallic


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Whispering Ice
- $4.99
- Published By: eXtasy Books
- Author: Gabriella Bradley
- Page: 160
- Word Count: 46855
- Publication Date: January 28, 2011
- Heat Level:
- Available Formats: Adobe Acrobat, Epub, Hiebook, Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket, Mobipocket (.mobi), Palm DOC/iSolo, Rocket, Sony PDF
- Categories: Erotic Romance, Fantasy, Holiday, Menage, Paranormal, Romance
Qty + -
What are the secrets hidden within the walls and cellars of Whispering Ice Manor? What happened to the three brothers who built it?
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Big Banks Finally Punishing Employees For Fraud... Like The Call Center Guy Who Used A Fake Dime 50 Years Ago
from the rules-are-rules? dept
And now he's really paying the piper: Wells Fargo has just fired him for the decades-old incident that, again, involved a dime. Even accounting for inflation, we're talking about a dime. However, thanks to supposedly "tough" new regulations concerning financial institutions, barring them from employing execs convicted of fraud, Wells Fargo is claiming that it had to fire Eggers.
"We don't have discretion to grant exceptions in situations like this. Once we find out someone has a criminal history of dishonesty or breach of trust we can no longer employ them."Eggers has responded by filing a civil rights complaint against the company and federal regulators. He and his lawyers are hoping to turn it into a class action lawsuit, as apparently a number of other employees at banks have lost their jobs under these rules. Actual execs responsible for the financial crisis? Not so much.
This is yet another case where laws like this must "sound good at the time" to the policy makers putting them together without any sense of who it will really impact. And the end result is that we sure are making Mr. Eggers "pay" for that dime stunt in 1963, huh?


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Theme park heaven, and only an hour from the Florida coast, Orlando is not only a beautiful place for locals to plan a wedding – it's destination wedding paradise, too.
read more
Buca di Beppo - your Wedding Party Destination! Perfect for Rehearsal Dinners, Bridal Showers, Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties and more!
We offer the authentic cuisine of the Caribbean islands. Full menu and custom cake. Full service at your venue. We cater large, small, formal or casual. Prices are moderate, payment plans available.
Cocktails Catering offers fresh, mouth-watering food, bar services, and event rentals for weddings, corporate events, birthday celebrations, house parties and other special occasions. We offer you quality food along with excellent service and fair pricing.
There are a lot of catering companies in Central Florida but only a few that can make the wedding reception feel unique to the bride and groom. Java Lava Catering & Events reputation for its excellence of service and thequality of food prepared for your guest is second to none.
Be it an elaborate wedding, corporate event or a cocktail party we are committed to providing you with food, beverages and service of an exceptional standard.
CNN and The Food Network have identified Bubbalou's as Central Florida's #1 BBQ and catering company.
At Royal Catering, we have been creating exceptional meals and have been providing professional services for over 10 yrs in the Central Florida Region. With our staff of professional chefs our presentation and quality of food is always unsurpassed. We are a full service catering company with a commitment to excellence.
Wedding receptions are special to Tastebuds Catering. It's one of the most important events in your life and we consider it an honor to be part of that special celebration.
Fresh. Local. Organic. Whether it's your wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, or engagement party, your special day calls for an exceptional cater, Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine & Events. We have been exceeding couple's expectations for over 20 years. Celebrate Deliciously!!
Have one of our 7 golf clubs throughout Orlando make your special day truly unforgettable. Our courses offer a range of beautiful ceremony sites, elegant receptions and professional catering.
The formation of all types of corporate events, weddings, birthdays, or social events has a unique way of uniting people. Cooking for you gives us the opportunity to communicate differently and bring a common goal: to make good food and make your experience an unforgettable one.
Whether entertaining a few friends or celebrating a wedding or anniversary, we will exceed your expectations. We make all the arrangements so you don't have to.
Taproom at Dubsdread is one of Orlando's premier wedding and reception sites combining charm and elegance with an Old Florida feel.
Tabla is the finest Indian restaurant in Orlando. We understand the Indian way of life. To make your occasion special we offer our catering services for your wedding and other parties. We take it as an honour to be part of your once in a lifetime celebrations and contribute towards it with our sumptuous food and services.
Licensed & family owned caterer in Orlando, FL. We believe in treating every client as a member of our family. Our chef is at your service, adding a secret ingredient to every dish - Love.
Incredibly Edible Catering is a full service caterer with the versatility to fulfill all your catering needs.
Big City Catering is a full-service gourmet caterer providing unique culinary expressions, exceptional service and memorable events.
We have a restaurant and catering in the Radisson Orlando International Drive with 7,000 sq. ft. of flexible banquet space, chiffon ceiling, dance floor and stage.
We limit the number of events we do in any one day - this helps ensure excellent food quality and superior staff. We value the fact that this is someone's big day and lots of love and attention are needed. We are a green caterer using only organic/natural foods.
Making your dreams come true, Central Florida's premier off site caterer and event planner, specializing in excellent service and exceptional food.
Our International Drive location features a 60 person Private Dining Room available for booking!
We have a scratch kitchen where our chefs make every sauce, dressing, and menu item from the highest quality ingredients. We will do whatever it takes to make your wedding absolutely perfect.
At Puff 'n Stuff Catering, our team of experts will listen to your ideas, and then help you bring them to life. We'll work with your budget and even choreograph every detail of your event!
Now Servicing Orlando, Tampa, St. Augustine, and surrounding areas. Cocktails Catering offers fresh, mouth-watering food, bar services, and event rentals for weddings, corporate events, birthday celebrations, & other occasions. We offer you quality food along with excellent service and fair pricing.
Buca di Beppo - your Wedding Party Destination! Perfect for Rehearsal Dinners, Bridal Showers, Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties and more!


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It's been almost 12 months since Thunderbolt made its debut on the 2011 MacBook Pro. In that time, just a few dozen Thunderbolt products have shipped, to the disappointment of users eager to take advantage of the fast connection.
The reasons for the lack of devices range from the technical to the financial. For Hitachi, implementing Thunderbolt technology into their products turned out to be a bit more complex than they had anticipated. Back in September, the company announced that they would begin shipping Thunderbolt G-Raid and G-Drive external drives in October, but had to put those plans on hold.
"The complex technical nature of Thunderbolt required us to take extra time with design, testing and quality assurance, as the inside of a Thunderbolt product is considerably more complicated than a simple USB device," explained Mike Williams, VP and General Manager of branded business for Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.
Unlike USB and FireWire, Thunderbolt combines video, audio, data, and power into one single connection, allowing up to 10Gbps of information to be passed through. The technology's complexity even extends to the cable, where chips in the connectors on both ends of the cable help with the heavy lifting.
"It's a developing process. It isn't completely there yet, but we've worked closely with Intel and Apple, and now we're seeing great performance," Williams said. Due to the delay, Hitachi now hopes to ship products in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Sonnet Technologies experienced a similar situation. At the NAB Show in April 2011, the company announced a slew of Thunderbolt storage devices and adapter cards. Since then, only one product, the Echo ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapter, is currently for sale.
(Image Caption: Thunderbolt is a year old, and Apple is still the only provider of Thunderbolt cables, which cost $49 each.)
"The overall development and testing is taking a bit longer than we thought," explained Greg LaPonte, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Sonnet.
After looking at the cost benefits, Sonnet decided to put the development of Thunderbolt drives on the back burner and focus on making adapters. Instead of releasing individual gigabit ethernet and FireWire 800 adapters, as originally intended, Sonnet shipped the Echo instead, which works with ExpressCard/34 cards. "When we saw how much adapters would cost, we decided it would be better to put out the Echo to provide a better value," LaPonte said.
In BlackMagic Design's case, it wasn't the technological complexity of the new protocol that kept their products from entering the market. Rather, it was the certification process. According to Dan May, President of BlackMagic's US Office, products must be certified and approved by Apple and Intel before they are released. In the case of the Intensity Extreme, a video capture and playback device, that procedure added about a few weeks to the development process.
"We wanted to try making it so that the device was powered through the Thunderbolt port, which presented some new challenges," May said. "It delayed us for about a month, but we got it out."
May didn't seem to mind the delay though, since he praised Apple and Intel's way of doing things. "Both Apple and Intel have been hands-on in this. They've made the process smooth. Everyone involved said, 'let's make sure everything is done the right way.'"
Some manufacturers are waiting for costs to come down, as Larry O'Connor, CEO of Other World Computing, conveyed to Macworld. "Everyone points to the products that are out there and asking why we aren't there yet," said O'Connor. "But many of the same products pointed to, the number one complaint is the high cost. We're waiting for the right performance, right features, and cost consideration as well."
One example of that high cost is with the Thunderbolt cable itself, which currently retails for $49, and can only be purchased through Apple. The cheapest Thunderbolt accessory available is the Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt adapter, which costs $100--but it doesn't include an external drive.
The companies that have released Thunderbolt products say they have been met with praise. Mike Mihalik, Senior Engineer & Program Manager at LaCie, said customers were happy with the Little Big Disk Thunderbolt Series, released last September. "The response has been excellent, with demand exceeding our expectations. We've had to increase our initial forecasts several times. Only recently have we been able to ramp up volumes to meet our worldwide demands."
Despite the delays and current lack of devices, companies are still excited about the technology and its potential. Hitachi's Williams feels that Thunderbolt's biggest impact will be in video production. The new technology "helps laptops and desktops morph into full-fledged video editing workstations. Just imagine the blazing speed that you can get while editing in the field."
Several of the company representatives pointed out that Thunderbolt adaption will only continue to flourish. Apple recently announced that it sold 5.2 million Thunderbolt-equipped Macs in the fiscal first quarter of 2012, outpacing the rest of the PC industry, and the numbers are expected to grow.
More products were unveiled at CES and more recently at Macworld | iWorld, where Seagate and Western Digital demonstrated their new Thunderbolt adapter and hard drive, respectively.
PC manufacturers have also thrown their support behind the protocol. Asus and Acer have expressed their interest in adding Thunderbolt to their line of products later this year.
BlackMagic's May thinks Thunderbolt could even show up in non-computer devices in the future. "Thunderbolt continues to push boundaries, so we're definitely excited," he said. "How great would it be to have a Thunderbolt connection in your car?"


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Amy Bell - Teaching, General Teaching Projects in Ghana
I arrived at my host family's house which for the next eleven weeks was to be my home. I couldn't wait to explore where I was located. I loved the fact that there was so much to see, experience and take in. It was not long before I had settled in and had become accustomed to my host family's way of living. At first I felt a little intimidated by the society, but as I worked and lived with the locals I soon felt apart of it. I soon became a familiar face to the people on my street and was always smiled and waved at.
I never really had any pre-conceived ideas of what Ghana would be like and I don't think anyone can really fully understand unless they gain a first hand experience of the country. The more I saw of how people lived on the streets the more I began to appreciate how lucky I am to live in an economically developed country. I see it a great shame that so much of the land and natural beauties have been ruined by the corruption the country faces.
For my placement with Projects Abroad, I worked in Accra, at a school called The Street Academy. The school building was nothing more than what I would describe as either a run down village hall or a derelict barn. It was made of wood, had missing floorboards, was infested with mosquitoes and flooded when it rained. There was just one room in which the three different classes were taught.
My place of work was where most of my friendships were created. I loved the children, they were so fantastic to teach and they certainly taught me a great deal, I certainly learnt so much from them. Best of all they were themselves, sharing everything with me; their love, trust, kindness, respect and disobedience.
It was not long into my placement that I realised the more I gave the more I got back. This led me to set high goals for myself. It was certainly draining having to deal with third world obstacles and working with poor, limited resources available to me. Therefore to experience lows in such circumstances was unavoidable, but from these times of hardship I made positive progress and I was always rewarded with moments of achievement and success.
Whilst I was working at the school, I was asked to put on a drama production with members of the Street Academy. Never one to turn down a challenge, I quite literally jumped at the chance. I had a lot of work cut out for myself and it was a real struggle, but at the end of the day the children made everything worthwhile and the staff were always there to help.
When I returned home I found it fairly easy to adapt to western culture again. However, I do now have different opinions and views on certain aspects of life. What I saw and went through caused me to take a whole new outlook. After living in a Ghanaian community, I feel that our culture lacks the value of respect, generosity, hospitality, which they set the perfect example of. I also believe that we as a society could learn from the Ghanaian culture, as the majority are open, kind, giving and selfless.
My time in Ghana has most definitely been a life changing experience, one reason being that I have been given an insight into voluntary work overseas, which offers some fantastic opportunities. I am so glad to have gone through with the trip as the last three months were a huge learning curve for me and I have benefited from every experience. I will definitely be returning to Ghana in the near future, primarily to carryout more work at the school but also to travel the country a little. My friends who had time to travel said there are some great places to visit. I was also fascinated by the African dancing and would love to go back to train with the National Ghanaian Dance Ensemble.
Although the children were exhausting and my life became incredibly chaotic they always inadvertently reminded me why I was there and that I was doing the right thing. They were the ones who drove me forward and pushed me to the limit and for that I thank them for. By the end of their stay their confidence had absolutely soared and we had all come such a long way.
Amy Bell
Dit verhaal is een persoonlijke ervaring van een vrijwilliger op dit project en dus een momentopname. Houd er rekening mee dat jouw ervaring hiervan af kan wijken. Onze projecten veranderen constant, omdat we inspelen op de lokale behoefte en we voortborduren op de behaalde resultaten. Ook verschillende weersomstandigheden kunnen de ervaring beïnvloeden. Lees meer over wat je kunt verwachten van dit project of neem contact met ons op voor meer informatie.


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Gary Benfield leaned back in his chair and looked at the walls of his office, covered in pictures of wrestlers past and present and their autographs.
Gary Benfield leaned back in his chair and looked at the walls of his office, covered in pictures of wrestlers past and present and their autographs.
Benfield is the owner of High Velocity Wrestling in Hendersonville — a company he started in his backyard and that now draws hundreds of people every Saturday night for exhibitions.
On those Saturday nights, High Velocity Wrestling takes the stage on Asheville Highway in an old building owned by the Salvation Army. Wrestlers put on a show that is family friendly, but filled with some of the same moves and storylines you can find in places like World Wrestling Entertainment or Total Nonstop Action.
HVW has entertained families for the last 10 years. The last five have been in the building that it occupies now.
That five-year run, however, will soon come to an end. The Salvation Army is selling the building, Benfield said, and HVW is looking for a new home.
It's the next step in a long journey for Benfield, who went from watching wrestling to launching a career in the sport that almost landed him in WCW's developmental program. A long struggle with drug addiction, however, kept him out of the "big show." Only recently did he find sobriety and clarity, bringing a new kind of success and an even stronger sense of family.
Immersed in the sport
Benfield's life has always been about wrestling. He smiles as he recalls watching NWA on Sundays in the 1980s and the Monday night wars of the late 1990s and early 2000s as WWE's Raw and WCW's Nitro squared off in television ratings.
His passion really evolved in 1994. After a decade of watching wrestlers such as Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes and other greats on NWA, Benfield decided he'd give the sport a shot himself. He began training in 1994 and eventually found himself at the "Chop Shop," a company owned by wrestling great Wahoo McDaniel.
McDaniel watched Benfield wrestle at the Universal Wrestling Alliance based out of Lenore and invited him to his school. While at the "Chop Shop," Benfield was trained by longtime wrestlers Shane Douglas and Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker.
"Once I started learning the right way, I fell in love with it," Benfield said. "It was a total different experience."
From the onset of his wrestling career, Benfield has used the moniker "Viper." He and his son, Aaron, drove to Charlotte every Sunday while he was training. The younger Benfield was 10 when those trips began. He's now 20 and wrestles frequently for HVW.
"He's been a huge influence," the younger Benfield said, adding that those trips instilled in him the same love affair with the sport.
"Ever since then, I've been hooked," he said. His wrestling name is "Pure Perfection" Aaron Vaughn.
The wrestling business wasn't always good on the family life, however. Gary Benfield said that as he progressed in the sport and began to make a name for himself, he got closer to the "big show." Through his trainers at "The Chop Shop," he began to make connections with WCW. He wrestled in multiple house shows, which are touring shows that aren't on television.
After a few of those, WCW's President Eric Bischoff had Benfield following the production on tour. Benfield's big break came when he got to wrestle WCW star Diamond Dallas Page on a live broadcast, which lasted six minutes.
"I got to throw two punches and attempt a close line," Benfield said. "He ducked it and hit me with the diamond cutter (Page's finishing move)."
Backstage, Bischoff called him into the office to offer him a developmental deal, but the drug test held him back.
As Benfield immersed himself into the sport, he also lived a certain lifestyle. Benfield spent years popping pills and smoking marijuana. WCW was serious about their wellness policy, he said, and that opportunity faded.
"I was kind of used to the failure," Benfield said. "I'd been there before."
Even that, however, didn't change his lifestyle. He returned to the independent scene with the same "bad attitude." This was in the 1997.
After five years of working in the independent federations, wrestlers came to him and wanted to be trained while he was working at American Pro Wrestling in Spartanburg, S.C. He began training them in a ring in his backyard. That didn't work well in the winter, so he sought refuge for his ring and pupils.
The ring soon found itself in a building next to Wendy's on Spartanburg Highway in Hendersonville. Five years after Benfield missed his big shot, he began tutoring others who were seeking the same chance. He promoted High Velocity Wrestling's first event that year and 15 people showed up. Some of those folks still attend HVW shows today.
It wasn't until three years later that Benfield found success in rehab and began helping himself with the addictions that had hounded him for the last decade.
In 2005, he passed his first drug test. That test result is hanging on his office wall alongside the faces of wrestlers he has crossed paths with. On that framed document, he wrote, "I promise to myself I will stay this way."
He married his longtime girlfriend, Mandy, that year and has remained sober.
"Now my visions are clear," he said. "I look forward to living life sober."
Benfield has found a family in his wrestling brotherhood at HVW. In the ring they play good guys and bad guys — in the wrestling world, "faces" and "heels" — but behind the scenes, it's a family.
Benfield is using the sport he loves for good. HVW is billed as family friendly entertainment and he's trying to take that a step further. One of his goals is to reach out to troubled youths in the community through the sport.
As for his journey and survival, Benfield credits his family for the success he's found and the peace that has come with sober living.
"That's what I do all this for — my family," he said. "Now I kind of feel like I owe them something."
That something is a legacy he will eventually drop into his son's hands.
"This wrestling thing won't last forever," Benfield said. "One day I want to hand this over to my son."
The younger Benfield is excited about the opportunity and appreciates what's in front of him.
"He's put everything he's had into making HVW into what it is," Aaron Benfield said. "I've seen it move from a backyard into an arena that we pack every weekend."
For now, however, Gary Benfield is just living in the moment. He's a student at Blue Ridge Community College, enjoying his family and living the wrestling life, his addiction buried in the past.
"It's just fun to let everyday life go and be someone else for a couple of hours," he said.
Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at email@example.com.


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March 29, 2009
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Competing as a team for the first time in the 2009 outdoor season, the MIT men's track and field team took home a second-place showing at the Point Loma Nazarene Collegiate Challenge while on a spring break training trip this weekend. The Engineers relied on their balance and depth, securing the solid team showing despite winning just two individual events.
Paul Welle was one of those first-place finishers, edging his opponent in the 3000m Steeplechase by just two-tenths of a second, crossing the finish in 9:40.68. Welle also secured valuable points for Tech in the 800m finishing sixth with a time of 1:58.22. Teammate Bill Phipps took fourth in the event in 1:57.27.
The Engineers had a pair of top three finishers in the 1500m and 5000m, as Yermie Cohen secured second-place in both events. Cohen opened the season with solid times, running 3:58.53 in the 1500 and 15:10.21 in the 5000. He was followed in each event by a pair of teammates, Matt Bieniosek (4:06.05) and Hemagiri Arumugam (15:18.78) each recorded third-place showings.
MIT's other event winner came in the field, as sophomore Mitchell Kelly captured the discuss with a throw of 145-06 feet. All-American Stephen Morton was the runner-up in both jumping events to help earn 26 team points for Tech.
Azuza Pacific took home the team title with 313.50 points, beating out the Engineers, who finished with 285.50 points.
MIT returns to New England for next weekend's Engineer's Cup hosted by WPI on Saturday, April 4.


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Uncovering China's Rush for Gold
We are delighted to bring your part II of Jan Skoyles and Koos Jansen's collaborative research into the Chinese gold market. Earlier this week they highlighted the modern history of China's gold market developments in a superb infographic. In the coming weeks they will be digging deep into the elements of China and its plans for gold. If you would like to read more of Koos' work, visit his website here.
The Chinese government acknowledged gold as a strategic asset in 2000, when it included the establishment of an open gold market in its five year economic plan.
Since then China has come to play a significant role in the international gold market as it strives to develop and advance all aspects of the industry and gold's role in the domestic market.
Why it has decided to focus on building and developing the gold industry from both a supply and demand perspective is a question that requires further investigation.
In the coming weeks Koos Jansen and myself will reveal the cogs of China's gold market as we work to reach a conclusion as to why gold is such a high priority for China's economic development.
This week we provide an overview of the major elements of the marketplace in an attempt to unveil the strategy of the State Council.
What is the China Gold Market?
There are three main areas of focus for the State Council when it comes to the precious metal market. These are not exclusive areas and are, in many ways, interconnected. The point being however that the government has identified where and who is best to develop its gold strategy.
We look at them briefly below.
Shanghai Gold Exchange
The SGE is the poster child for the 2013 gold market. It is managed and supplied by the PBOC. Many expect it to represent the tipping point in a dichotomous two part gold market (paper vs physical) due to the vast number of physical deliveries made in the last year. At times delivery numbers have touched global mine supply figures and when they haven't they remain stunningly high.
Numbers from the SGE this year suggested that there was a change in the manner in which the Chinese made investment decisions. Having previously bought when prices were climbing and during festival seasons, they took delivery of record amounts of gold in both April and July following significant drops in the price of gold.
Launched in 2002, it took just ten years for the SGE to become the biggest physical gold exchange in the world signalling the rise of China as a gold market leader. A quick glance at previous data released by the SGE shows that the three largest gold contracts traded on the exchange are as follows: Au 99.95 (3kg contract), Au 99.99 (1 kg) and Au (T+D) (also 1kg of 99.95).
Members of the SGE, of which there are over 160, are heavily represented by commercial banks (domestic and Chinese branches of foreign banks) and firms involved in gold production and investment.
Shanghai Futures Exchange
The Shanghai Futures Exchange, controlled by China's Securities Regulatory Commission, launched its first 1kg gold contract in 2008. This was a major step in the sophistication of the China gold market.
In terms of open interest the SHFE is the second largest gold futures exchange in the world. Despite this, the largest contract on COMEX (100 troy ounce) is over 11 times larger by volumes traded than the SHFE 1kg contract.
As we found in previous research, the 100 ounce gold futures contract on COMEX dominates this market and accounts for 82% of gold futures trading. This has fallen since we last looked at this area, by 3%. Neither the SHFE nor TOCOM have had any issues picking up more demand in the market.
The SHFE has taken a further 2% of market activity, from 7% since May 2013. TOCOM, in contrast has grown by just 1%.
This isn't surprising given the increasing popularity of the 1kg gold futures contract on the SHFE, since January 2009 open interest has increased by 430%. In contrast, activity on COMEX has increased by just 116%.
Commercial banks in the gold market
The 2011 China Market Gold Report states that there are four pillars of gold market activity in which commercial banks are involved; physical gold, gold for trading, gold for financing and gold for wealth management. Through these activities commercial banks are members of the SGE and SHFE.
Commercial banks also play a key role in the financing of gold-orientated businesses. This was a feature of the 2010 report, "Guiding opinions on promoting the development of the gold market", that instructed commercial banks to be actively engaged in developing China's national gold market. Bullion producers are targeted for strategic assistance, with banks instructed to offer finance for overseas gold mine purchases and innovation.
Commercial banks operating in the gold market own proprietary gold businesses. These subsidiaries are involved in a variety of areas from account gold business, to gold depository plans to gold leasing. In 2011 the paper gold sector, the account gold business, experienced the lowest growth. Whilst the gold depository plans as offered by institutions such as ICBC have proved popular between small and medium-sized investors.
Commercial banks and their proprietary gold businesses are the key to gold market development, providing the link between the gold exchanges, gold supply and the domestic customer. It is through these institutions that the government can encourage and facilitate gold investment.
For instance it is through commercial banks that individual investors can buy gold on the SGE. Banks provide individual investors with a trading number which allows them to trade.
Banks also sell branded gold bars, said to be of a higher quality than those sold in other commercial gold outlets. Making physical gold available to individual investors through this route improves the accessibility for the smaller saver and means the government can ensure the quality of gold being bought.
Who controls the gold market?
Above all else in the China gold market is the State Council. In recent five year plans the role of gold has featured heavily as the Council instructs banks and other major institutions to develop the gold market. The 2010 Twelfth Five-Year plan (2011 – 2015) urged on-going development of the gold market both domestically and abroad and showing China is want to affirm her strategic interest in gold.
Below the State Council is the PBOC which probably plays the largest role in China's developing gold market.
Former member of the PBOC's MPC Yu Yongding, is just one of a few PBOC staff who are vocal about the role gold should play in the China's international strength, "China should use its foreign-currency reserves, the world's largest, to buy gold and oil as a hedge to guard against the risk of a sudden drop in the U.S. dollar."
Not only does the PBOC manage gold-based products offered by banks but they also manage and supervise the supply of gold through mining and import to the Shanghai Gold Exchange.
The China Gold Association acts as the industry body, or the trade organisation. With interests in every corner of the gold market it ensures the government's policies are put into action within the world of the yellow metal. Senior staff of the CGA are vocal supporters of building up China's gold reserves and critics of the US. Expert member of the China Gold Association, Zhang Jie, is an exceptionally vocal critic of the US Dollar's dominance and the Fed's actions to manipulate the gold market.
"For the Fed, it is crucial that the dollar dominates the world and so the Fed will store gold reserves from countries all over the world to control the gold settlement system."
There are several other government departments and key individuals who drive the gold market development, from all aspects including gold reserves and international gold trading. Look out for our 'Who's Who' infographic in the coming weeks.
Gold demand
This year many gold article headlines have told us that this year China will overtake India as the world's largest consumer of gold. This is according to the World Gold Council who have highlighted China's rapid gold demand growth through theirs and GFMS' data. It is these figures gold market participants and observers use to watch the race between India and China for the top spot in gold demand.
However, 2011 data from the SGE suggests otherwise. China may have taken over India a while back.
In 2011 the WGC stated that China's gold demand stood at 769.8 tonnes. However the 2011 China Gold Market report (as published by the PBOC) states that demand reached 1043 tonnes. As Koos Jansen recently illustrated, this was the exact amount delivered by the SGE in the same year.
Koos Jansen found this same method of data reporting was duplicated in 2010, when SGE deliveries equalled the gold demand reported by the PBOC that year. If this is the accepted way to report gold demand in China's data collection then total gold demand for the first eight months of 2013 is 1600 tonnes.
Central bank gold reserves
When it comes to reserves, very few believe that the PBOC has not increased the amount of gold since 2009 when the official reserves were announced to be 1,054 tonnes. It has been said recently by Zhaoxue Sun, Head of the China Gold Association and China's biggest mining company, that gold reserves that account for 1.6% of total reserves are too low compared to other developed countries.
A 2012 paper, 'A Study on Optimal Scale of China Gold Reserves' co-authored by the Vice-President of the China Gold Association recommended that by 2020, China's optimal reserves should be 5,787 – 6,750 tons. If the State Council has followed this recommendation then the PBOC should currently hold between 2,947.2 tons and 3332.4 tons of gold in reserve.
Western central bank gold sales have become a source of gold supply, this does not appear to be the case in China. In the 2011 Gold Market Report the SGE provide a breakdown of gold supply for the year, no gold had been supplied by the central bank.
How much gold is in the country? The graph below provides a wide estimate of the total gold held in China – both domestically and institutionally. However this does not include private gold holdings prior to 2001 or imports via ports other than Hong Kong.
Gold supply
Where does the gold come from? As we will explore further in this research project the supply of gold is coming under closer scrutiny. China National Gold is the largest supplier of gold to the country and the only Chinese member of the World Gold Council. The country's gold mining production is now second to none, having risen from 4 tonnes 60 years ago to an expected 440 tonnes in 2013.
The 2011 Annual Gold Report state that 'The country's proven gold reserves in 2010 consisted of 4,898.09 tons of rock gold reserves in independent gold mines, 512.86 tons of placer gold and 1,468.03 tons of associated gold reserves.' A total of 6864.79 tons of gold is waiting to be mined.
But this cannot be mined fast enough to meet day-to-day gold demand, a trend unlikely to subside given the ongoing development of gold investment products. The previous graph showed the growth of imports but recycled gold always plays a major role. Recently the PBOC highlighted the need to modernise and finance gold recycling and processing plants. In 2011 this source of gold accounted for 39% of total supply to China's gold market.
The role of Hong Kong
Hong Kong's gold imports and exports to mainland China have provided a window into the amount of gold being absorbed by the Chinese.
Since mid-2010 the net inflow of gold from Hong Kong to mainland China has increased significantly. Prior to 2012 very little gold was imported via Hong Kong, however in the last 18 months import levels have increased enormously.
The import and export numbers through Hong Kong show not just a growing demand for gold in China but also a growing presence of China's gold on the international market.
Published plans for the Chinese gold market
As we have shown in recent research China's quest to open up the gold market has been moving quickly since 2000.
In the 2013 China Financial Stability Report, the PBOC reaffirmed their commitment to the gold market stating they would, 'Promote the steady development of the gold market, improving the service system of the gold market, improving storage, transportation, delivery and account service system of the gold market.'
One of the most recent developments was the launch of the country's first gold ETFs in July 2013. Neither ETF, from HuaAn Asset Management Company and Guotai Asset Management Company, are backed by gold. Instead the funds mirror the domestic spot price by purchasing futures contracts on the Shanghai Gold Exchange.
Because of the nature of these 'paper' ETFs it is not impossible to understand why neither managed to raise the expected initial amount. If China is to become the next centre of price discovery it is unlikely to be driven by their ETF offerings.
Whilst the Western world watched the gold price fall at the beginning of October 2013 the PBOC floated the idea of the easing of gold trade restrictions for both firms and individuals. Bank members of the SGE will be able to apply for import and export licenses, as will gold producers with an annual output exceeding ten tonnes. Individuals will be able to bring in seven ounces of gold, without being required to pay tax or report to customs.
What China means for the gold market
Advancing and opening up the gold market to both domestic and individual participants is clearly a top strategy for the government of China. However gold market observers in the West merely acknowledge gold import numbers and, more recently, SGE delivery numbers. Many dismiss this year's record gold figures as a provincial approach to investment. However, as we have shown, the Chinese gold market is far more complex and strategic than many would give it credit for.
The Chinese authorities recognise gold as an asset with two purposes. One for investment, the other as sound money. Not only are banks and institutions able to invest in gold as an asset, citizens are encouraged to use gold as money as they are offered savings accounts in gold.
As The Real Asset Company stated in previous research, the legitimacy and transparency of COMEX and the London Gold Market are being called into question. We have found a market, driven by the world's most populous nation, which is transparent and eager to encourage gold's role in the international investment and monetary system.
As much as the West may like to ignore it, China is the face of the modern gold market. And we believe, the soon-to-be-face of the modern monetary system. Look out for our upcoming research as we investigate this further.
Please Note: Information published here is provided to aid your thinking and investment decisions, not lead them. You should independently decide the best place for your money, and any investment decision you make is done so at your own risk. Data included here within may already be out of date.
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3:30 pm
Biz Kid$ "Bulls, Bears, and Financial Markets" Kids and bulls and bears, oh my! The Biz Kids examine stocks, bonds, commodities, and the markets where each of them are traded. You will discover various ways young people can get involved with the transactions, aim for profit, and avoid risk. Meet some successful entrepreneurs along the way. D
4:00 pm
Growing a Greener World "Composting 101 and Beyond" Seattle, WA. - Healthy plants start with healthy soil, and the single best amendment you can add to any soil is compost. It's full of the primary nutrients your plants need, along with beneficial microorganisms no manufactured product can provide. D
4:30 pm
Hey Kids, Let's Cook "Doggie Treats" You don't have to just make people food in your kitchen, you can make doggie treats as well. Today we're making doggie treats, and doggie brownies for Hans's Birthday Party. And we've invited some of Hans's friends too!. D
5:00 pm
Ciao Italia "Roast Pork, Tuscan Style/Arista!" Mary Ann travels to Tuscany to host a group of eager students who want to experience terrific Tuscan-style cooking. They team up to create Tuscan Black Cabbage Soup -Ribollita, Roast Pork, Tuscan-style, called Arista, Sauteed Mushrooms, a delicate Zucchini Tart, and for dessert, what else but Tuscany's most famous cookie, Biscotti di Prato. D
5:30 pm
New Scandinavian Cooking "Western Norway: A World of Apples" Host Andreas Viestad visits Hardanger, the "apple orchard" of Western Norway. Andreas makes an apple drink and bakes a traditional sourdough bread in an old wood-fired oven and prepares a hot apple dessert. D
6:00 pm
Rick Steves' Europe "Surprising Bulgaria" Rick finds a time warp of old and new chic shops in the city, and donkey carts in the country.G
6:30 pm
Grannies On Safari "Peru - Its Coastal Cultural Heritage" Watch the Grannies as they move about Peru's Atlantic coast and explore cosmopolitan Lima - its culture and history. Experience the Afro-Peruvian community in El Carmen and visit with well-known musical, visual and performance artists. Regina reconnects with an old friend who creates marionettes that tell stories of old. D
7:00 pm
P. Allen Smith's Garden Home "Mystery" Smith shows how to evoke curiosity and expectation in the garden and provides examples. He offers helpful information on citronella geraniums, grafting Japanese maples and an easy way to plant potatoes.G
7:30 pm
This Old House "Barrington Project, Part 3 of 10" Builder Andy Tiplady takes host Kevin O'Connor out on the water to gather provisions for an authentic Rhode Island clambake. Later, back at the project house, he shows master carpenter Norm Abram the windows he's using and how he's installing them using a custom copper pan for flashing - his preferred method in coastal situations. Kevin visits the Hurricane Research Lab at the University of Florida to see how they are protecting buildings through research and, with the help of the world's largest portable hurricane simulator, to feel what it's like to stand in a Category 3 hurricane. D
8:00 pm
Rough Cut - Woodworking with Tommy Mac "Pie Crust Tray" NULL
8:30 pm
Around The House with Matt and Shari "Exterior Accessories" We just can't stop accessorizing so now your exterior is going to get some sprucing up tips! We begin by dressing up a garage door. Then, it's all about vinyl trim details to change the look or style of your home. Next, it's a lesson on adding stone details and mixing grout. D
9:00 pm
Sewing with Nancy "Column Quilts, Part 1" Make an easy quilt with columns of color and square inserts. Nancy explains the simple process of quilting in columns instead of the traditional squares, triangles, and blocks. The color flow is continuous with one color leading into another color. D
9:30 pm
Grand View "North Cascades National Park" This episode explores the dynamic features of the North Cascades. This beautiful park is home to jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 700 glaciers; It is also renown for it's unbelievable hikes. Baumann is accompanied by park ranger, Ryan Booth and Sherman Williams Sr, as they discuss the landscape of this beautiful region; Paula Ogden-Muse, national park ecologist; and Native American, Dorothy Stark, reveal the details of the region's natural and human history. D
10:00 pm
Simply Ming "Thai Bird Chiles & Maple Syrup" Guest Chef: Michael Schlow. Thai bird chile, the pepper that gives much of Asian cooking its heat, is paired with sweet maple syrup to create Ming's East-West recipes this week. In the kitchen, Ming updates his childhood favorite, Piggies-In-A-Blanket, with a touch of spicy heat. D
10:30 pm
Lidia's Italy In America "USA: Italy's Crowd Pleasers" NULL
11:00 pm
Primary Sources: Workshops In American History "Cans, Coal and Corporations: The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition" Intrastate transportation and industrial technology exploded in the second half of the nineteenth century, creating a new vision of America. Join the onscreen participants as they draw on essays written to celebrate the 1893 Colombian Exposition in Chicago to explore this new perspective, both cosmopolitan and expansionist, and its implications for the future.G


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As you may have heard, Google just announced the exciting news that bicycling is now an option on Google Maps! Just select "Bicycling" when getting directions in Google Maps, or just choose the "Bicycling" layer under the "More" tab when you are viewing a map (if you simply want to peruse the biking options in an area).
Basically Google has worked with many different sources to include as much data as possible about bike-friendly routes across the country. When you select biking directions, a route is calculated based on an algorithm that attempts to factor in the specific needs of a cyclist, from utilizing bike trails and lanes to avoiding big hills. They even give you an estimate of the time the route will take, with a fatigue factor built in! When you are looking at a map with the biking layer turned on, use this key to decipher the bike-specific features:
- Dark green indicates a dedicated bike-only trail;
- Light green indicates a dedicated bike lane along a road;
- Dashed green indicates roads that are designated as preferred for bicycling, but without dedicated lanes
Of course this feature is only in beta testing right now, so take any information with a grain of salt. But we've been playing around with this feature this morning, and so far we're pretty impressed. Below is a map of the area around our headquarters here in Chapel Hill; the bicycling layer does a very good job of capturing bike-only trails and also includes many roads that have bike lanes or are more "bike-friendly" (at least in larger towns):
But there's still a long way to go with this project, and Google is looking for your support. Go online and play with the Google biking feature; try out some directions or just browse the map.
Cyclists that you are, you have the information that Google is looking for to refine this service and make it even better and more accurate (when you get biking directions, you'll also get a prompt to report any problems or suggestions with the route). Let your voice be heard and we can make this feature better for everyone.
As the service improves, we'll look for ways to incorporate this feature into our website, but let us know what you find while checking out your area. Who knows, maybe you'll find a new route to ride this afternoon!


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"Lock and load through the history of time as a tough-as-nails commando named Barry Steakfries, who is looking for nothing more than to shoot some zombies and make it back in time for a hearty dinner. The evil Professor Brains has sent hordes of undead to the furthest reaches of time to destroy mankind, but Steakfries won't be taking that lying down. He'll take it with a gun and witty remarks. Shoot up ninjas, mummies, cavemen and all manner of historical undead zombies!
Massive bosses and a huge variety of weapons and explosives! Bonus Survival mode to take your zombie-blasting skills to the next level!
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The SMART PUSH solution is unique on the market in that the load can be discharged without the need to tip the bucket. Instead, the material is simply pushed out, allowing greater overhead discharge heights for small and mid-sized TORION wheel loader models, and for CLAAS tractors with front loaders.
The SMART PUSH principle
The core of SMART PUSH is a movable rear panel that can be easily operated using the third control circuit. To empty the bucket, the driver only has to move it into the desired position, for example alongside a mixed-feed wagon or at the intake for a biogas plant, and then push the contents into the container while maintaining the bucket in a horizontal position. This means the bucket can be emptied without the need for tipping. In this way, the driver is able to maintain full control of the discharge process at all times, and also optimally control the amount of material being emptied.
Hydraulic overload protection
Material uptake is the same as for a standard bucket, with the standard hydraulic overload protection preventing any operating errors. The protection system operates completely independently of the controls, and remains operational even when the hydraulic connections are decoupled.
Greater overhead discharge heights for smaller wheel loader models and tractors
Since the SMART PUSH bucket no longer needs to be tipped, greater overhead discharge heights are possible using the same wheel loader and tractor models, where previously this would have only been possible using larger models. This pays dividends particularly for all-round vehicles as used on many farms, for example for loading mixed-feed wagons or high-walled transport vehicles. In addition, the driver has an optimal view of the bucket and load during the controlled hydraulic discharge process.