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After winning landmark parliamentary elections on Feb. 18, Pakistan People's Party met to select its nomination for the next prime minister. The PPP has vowed to form a coalition government with other opposition parties, shutting out loyalists of President Pervez Musharraf, who could face impeachment by a hostile parliament that is due to convene later this month.
On Thursday, the party failed to agree on a candidate, largely due to discord over front-runner candidate Makhdoom Amin Fahim, a stalwart Bhutto aide, reports the Agence France-Presse. He is one of four candidates whom the party is expected to nominate, reports the Associated Press.
The Bush administration is anxious to ensure that the tensions between pro-US Musharraf and his opponents don't blunt Pakistan's resolve to combat militant violence, particularly in its tribal belt along the troubled border with Afghanistan. After a lull, Pakistan has been roiled by a recent upsurge in suicide attacks. A power blackout in Karachi has also drawn attention to economic challenges facing the next government.
In a possible sign of easing political tensions, on Wednesday an anticorruption court threw out five charges against PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The charges dated from Ms. Bhutto's two terms in office, when Mr. Zardari was accused of massive graft and later jailed on what he called politically motivated charges, reports the Associated Press.
Property seized from Mr. Zardari will be immediately returned to him, while the court is expected next week to quash two other outstanding corruption cases against him. His lawyer, Farooq Naek, praised the Supreme Court for upholding a controversial ordinance issued last year by Musharraf that gave an amnesty to politicians and bureaucrats in corruption cases prior to 1999, when Musharraf staged a coup. The ordinance was widely seen at the time as a conciliatory offering by Musharraf to Bhutto as she prepared to return from exile.
Asked whether the end of the corruption cases made it easier for the party to work with Musharraf, Naek said: "We do not believe in politics of revenge, and we believe that there should be coexistence between democratic forces."
While Zardari is not currently a candidate for prime minister, several other senior party officials are vying for the job, and a decision may be reached Thursday, reports Agence France-Presse. Mr. Fahim, the front-runner, has struck a conciliatory tone towards Musharraf, telling CNN last month that there were no immediate plans to oust the embattled former Army chief.
Another contender is Ahmed Mukhtar, an industrialist who is close to Zardari and who defeated the chief of the pro-Musharraf party in the elections, party officials said.
Also in the running are Yousaf Raza Gilani, who served as parliamentary speaker for a time under Bhutto, and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, head of the PPP's Punjab branch, they said.
Pakistan's daily newspaper Dawn says that Mr. Fahim is a veteran lawmaker from the PPP's power base in Sindh Province, where Ms. Bhutto's family lives. Political commentators have argued, however, that the party may nominate a candidate from the populous Punjab region to bolster its standing in the province. In last month's election, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif headed the field in Punjab. Mr. Sharif has agreed to join a PPP-led coalition, but the rivalry between the two parties is unlikely to end.
In India, The Hindu reports that the selection of a candidate from Punjab may be a tactic to pave the way for Zardari to eventually take over as prime minister. It says speculation in Islamabad suggests a "stop-gap arrangement" that would nominate a Punjabi, rather than Mr. Fahim, who is popular in the party and would be harder for Zardari to forceout. It also reports that the PPP is still working out the details of its coalition with Sharif's party, which is said to be reluctant to participate fully.
The battle over Musharraf and his rule is still driving Pakistani politics, reports The New York Times. Lawyers who spearheaded opposition to him last year are regrouping and calling for the reversal of Musharraf's purge of the judiciary, including the reinstatement of a former chief judge who remains under house arrest. Nor have the calls for impeaching Musharraf once parliament reconvenes gone away, adding to his difficulties.
Mr. Musharraf, much weakened since removing his uniform and since his political party sustained a resounding defeat at the polls, nevertheless retains one powerful weapon. Under controversial constitutional amendments, he has the power to dissolve Parliament and dismiss the government. He also has the right to appoint and remove the top officials of the armed forces.
The jockeying comes as militants step up a suicide-bombing campaign, amid a possible military cease-fire with key militant leaders in Pakistan's tribal areas. The Christian Science Monitor reported this week that four bombs in five days have unnerved Pakistanis after relative calm during and after the elections. The targets have included members of the security forces and tribal elders at a public meeting.
What is clear is that the attacks are turning more Pakistanis against militants, whose actions were sometimes cast as freedom fighters against the United States in Afghanistan.
"It is leading to enormous public revulsion and a backlash against militants," says [Ahmed] Rashid, the Taliban expert, who lives in Lahore.
On the streets of Lahore, however, Pakistanis are drawing their own conclusions from the bombings. Not surprisingly, it is the same message they tried to send in the election: Mr. Musharraf is the problem, and he needs to go to save the country.
The Los Angeles Times says that Musharraf has struggled to contain Islamic extremists in the tribal belt and halt the rising tide of violence spreading across the country, including Islamabad. Neither attempted peace deals nor military offensives have managed to stop the insurgency from spreading, to the dismay of US policymakers.
Most Pakistanis abhor the violence gripping their nation, but many are critical of the harsh military crackdown on the tribal areas, which they see as Musharraf doing the bidding of U.S. officials.
Wednesday's court ruling allowed Zardari to clear his name over domestic corruption cases. But other international cases still hang over his head, including a Swiss probe into money laundering. The BBC reported last year that in 2003 a Geneva court convicted Bhutto and Zardari of laundering over $15 million in kickbacks from Swiss companies who had received government contracts in Pakistan.
The court in Geneva sentenced the two defendants in absentia to 180 days in prison and ordered the return of $12 million to Pakistan's government. The defendents contested the ruling, though. Even if Pakistan stops cooperating with the court to chase the missing the money, the Swiss case would not automatically end, the BBC reported.


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Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Another Define Mess
After 3 years of everything conceivable getting worse for Americans, even Barack Obama's supporters are starting to ask him what the "Hope" and "Change" he promised was supposed to be. Pressed for a definition of these vague terms, Obama has now clarified "Osama bin Laden will never again walk the face of this Earth. That's what change is!"
OHhhhhh! Somehow when he was describing "Change" during the campaign, we assumed it would involve less brain matter spattering across walls at high velocity.
Of course, he also promised "Change" in the tone of rhetoric in Washington - and he's certainly delivered on that score, too - by making it exponentially worse. In the same speech in which he was licking Osama's blood off his alleged trigger finger, the president said that evil Republicans are putting "the very core of what this nation stands for on the line. The notion that we're all in this together, that we look out for each other."
Frankly, it strikes us as odd that the president claims "we're all in this together," while trying to incite half of the country to take up arms against the other half. Maybe we don't quite understand his definition of "looking out for each other."
And what are we to make of Obama's accusation that Republicans are against people succeeding "no matter what you look like?" Seriously, if he was any faster at whipping out the race card, he'd be dealing Blackjack in Vegas.
But at least we don't actually have anything to fear from Barack Obama's violent new definition of "Change" as killing your political enemies - right?
Maybe yes, maybe no. Because Homeland Security has now been tasked with collecting personal information and keeping data banks on anyone in the country who uses "traditional and/or social media in real time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed."
Which means there's a pretty good likelihood that they're keeping an eye on Hope n' Change Cartoons.
I just hope that there won't be an ugly midnight visit from Seal Team Six when they find out that my real name is Bill Maher.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Here are the enhanced results. Big difference!
First, I was very happy to see that Native American sliver of the pie. My family proved Chickasaw heritage in order to become Chickasaw Citizens, but it was comforting to see it in the DNA results. We're legit!
Second, look how the Scandinavian percentage went from 33% to 6%. That's a number I can believe. I still don't know where it comes from. I just know it's there.
Western Europe is only 7%. My paper research indicates that should be higher with all the French, German and Belgian history. Just shows how far back a DNA test can go, and how recent my research actually is.
What is going on with Great Britain? 53%? I know my paternal grandmother is responsible for part of this. What bothers me is that my dad's Y-DNA test indicates several matches in Great Britain, but my research is showing Luxembourger (German). Did the Lenertz line originate in Great Britain or do we have a non-paternal event somewhere? I'm going to have to DNA test another Lenertz male. Any takers? I'll pay for the test. I simply have to know what the heck is going on with all this British-ness in my blood.
Italy/Greece? What is going on there? Who are you people and what are you doing in my DNA? You know, I'm suspicious about my French ancestors. They look olive-complexioned in old photos. I just dismissed it as farm tans from vineyard work, but maybe it's something in their genes and they came from another place.
Europe East is my maternal grandmother's mother. I'm sure of it. Austria/Hungary border and points east according to my research. No surprise there.
West Asia? Ancestry defines this as the countries on the Arabian Peninsula like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, etc. No idea where that came from, but I'm guessing my mom's side.
For fun, here's my old results from FamilyTree DNA:
I view these enhanced DNA results just like the old ones: mostly for my own entertainment. I've had zero-percent success contacting matches. Zero. It's very sad. I don't know why nobody will respond to my messages. Oh well. Back to figuring out who I am.
Did you get some enhanced AncestryDNA results lately? What did they say about you?


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The Majat Code
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Choosing the Bride
January 17, 20195 stars
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The Chocolatier's Ghost
June 29, 20175 stars Awesome new installment in The Chocolatier's Wife series!
The Chocolatier's Ghost
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Anna Kashina liked a review
July 19, 2016Anna Kashina liked Jo (Mixed Book Bag)'s review of Assassin Queen (Majat Code, #3): "All of the key players are here in the final book of the Majat Code. Kara has been marked in the last battle with the Kaddim Brothers and that is at the heart of this final battle. That mark can turn her to the other side and there does not seem to be any way to st […]
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June 11, 2016Anna Kashina liked Isis's review of Assassin Queen (Majat Code, #3): "I would like to thank Angry Robot & NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC to review. While I received this ebook for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review. Goodreads Teaser: "Defeated by the Majat forces, Nimos and the other Kaddim Brothers retreat to their […]
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June 11, 2016Anna Kashina liked Marlene's review of Assassin Queen (Majat Code, #3): "This joint review was originally published at The Book PushersReviewed by E and MarleneE: I absolutely fell in love with this series and Kashina's writing with the first installment of the Majat Code that I reviewed with Marlene. We both enjoyed it and subsequently reviewed th […]
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Monthly Archives: June 2014
Sexual attraction, scents, and smells
I have recently seen some on-line discussions (including those of my books), questioning the use of scents and smells, especially in romantic fiction. This also came up more than once during some fiction workshops I was on, and I thought … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Blades of the Old Empire, Romantic Fiction, Sensory stimuli 4 Comments
THE MAJAT CODE: in thanks to everyone's support for the series
Amidst the drama that has surrounded the release of the "Blades of the Old Empire" earlier this year, amidst the work on the next installments in the series, I had very little time to sit back and enjoy some of … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Angry Robot, Anna Kashina, Blades of the Old Empire, Guild of Assassins, Majat Code, Majat Testing Leave a comment
MISTRESS OF THE SOLSTICE wins an Independent Publishers Book Award
Last week I drove up to New York to receive my IPPY silver medal for "Mistress of the Solstice". It was so much fun. I met a lot of authors and publishing professionals. And yes, the medal itself is very … Continue reading


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Celebrate Fair Trade Month: 20 Fair Trade Goods for Your Home
Did you know October is Fair Trade Month? I swear I must live under a rock, because I just learned about this a few days ago. According to Fair Trade USA it is indeed fair trade month. I may be a bit late to the party, but it's never too late to support companies that create beautiful goods using ethical practices.
We're all familiar with rustic, handcrafted looking goods, but often these goods are anything but lovingly handmade. They're mass produced using incredibly cheap materials in sub-standard work facilities. Fair trade merchants offer the same types of handcrafted goods that many of us love, only these goods truly are handmade by artisans who are given fair payment for their labor.
Fair trade practices also support sustainability and many fair trade organizations promote education and empowerment of those living in developing countries. In a social climate that tends to focus on all that is wrong in the world, it's exciting to know that by doing something as simple as purchasing fair trade items, we can support those who are working for positive change. One of the inspiring aspects of shopping fair trade is taking some time to learn about the stories of the artisans and read the mission statements of the companies working in this way.
Top Row:
1. Kanthra throw from Connected Fair Trade ($89).
2. Ethiopian Anything Towel from Connected Fair Trade ($60).
3. Jonathan Adler Dachshund Bookends ($150).
4. Honeycomb Blanket from Coyuchi ($122-$295).
Second Row:
5. Recycled Wine Bottle Soy Candles from Greenheart ($25).
6. Festive Manta Table Runner from Handcrafting Justice ($40).
7. African Bolga Hamper from Connected Fair Trade($90-$130).
8. Fall Floral Pillow from Serrv ($29 on sale).
9. Sun Ray Snowflake ornament from Ten Thousand Villages ($10).
Third Row:
10. Terracotta Pitcher from 7 Hopes United ($45).
11. Dragonfly Panel from Ananse Village ($42).
12. Diamond Weave Jute Area Rug from Connected Fair Trade ($160).
13. Handled Raffia Basket from Ten Thousand Villages ($29).
14. Classic Coaster Set from Global Goods Partners ($35).
Fourth Row:
15. Rustic Leather Photo Album from Greenheart($59+).
16. Blossom Rug from 2Modern & Emma Gardner (Goodweave produced rug, $995-$1,795).
17. Sustainable Wood Pizza Board from Greenheart ($46.95).
18. Leaf Vase from Handcrafting Justice ($25).
19. Fairtrade Cotton Bath Towels from Gossypium ($20).
Bottom Row:
20. Bimbi Mango Wood Bowls from 7 Hopes United( $20).
(Images: As linked above)


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The fierce drumbeat of thunderstorms continued to threaten the Waldo Canyon burn scar Monday, bringing heavy rain and hail to Manitou Springs but largely sparing the small city of more flood damage.
That constant threat - the anxiety of waiting for another muddy torrent - hung ominously over the waterlogged city. And forecasts call for more of the same from Mother Nature on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"It's scary," said Tracy Fagner, owner of D'Vine Wine in the Manitou Spa Building. "You're whole livelihood is here.
"It's getting to the point where one drop of rain, you're starting to panic."
Shortly after a flash flood warning was issued at 2:31 p.m. officials closed U.S. 24 from Manitou to Cascade, as well as some roads in Manitou. The flood siren sounded and cars streamed toward the east. As the water in Fountain Creek rose, and warnings were issued to businesses between Manitou and western Colorado Springs.
Hail accumulated like snow along the hillsides bordering the town, and Monday's storms turned some lanes of Manitou Avenue into creek beds. But by 4:15 p.m. it was over, and the flood warning was lifted.
The patio of the Adam's Mountain Cafe flooded with muddy water that rushed down Canon Avenue onto Park Avenue, but only a small amount of water made its way indoors..
"We got lucky again," said Jaime Green, who lives in an apartment above the cafe. "We thought it was going to come down hard again."
As residents kept their eyes to the sky, mounds of mud and debris remained stacked alongside city streets from Friday's storm, which killed one man on U.S. 24 and damaged or destroyed dozens of houses and businesses.
The devastation could have been worse, said officials at the monthly Waldo Canyon Fire Regional Recovery Group meeting.
Five finished sediment retention ponds that were build in Waldo Canyon kept more than 11,000 tons of debris from making it to the highway, said Dave Rosgen, of Wildland Hydrology, which conducted the Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply study earlier this year in the Waldo Canyon burn area.
If the basins weren't there, CDOT and county crews would have had to haul away another 1,100 dump truck loads before U.S. 24 was reopened.
Rosgen was cautious, however, noting that the intent of the ponds is merely to slow the flow of flash flood waters and debris "so we don't have the high velocities" and destroy the steep slopes even more.
Even with the ponds in place, the floodwaters Friday were vicious - sweeping away more than 20 cars and killing motorist John Collins.
"There's no way these basins are going to stop the floods," Rosgen said.
The cleanup continued Monday as the city prepared to host one of its keynote events: The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon.
Mayor Marc Snyder said emergency management officials from around the Pikes Peak region had urged him to shut down the town and businesses and cancel the marathon and ascent so cleanup could be done.
"I told them I was not going to do that," he said.
About 120 to 150 truckloads of debris must be hauled somewhere, Snyder said - a complicated task.
Colorado state rules must be followed while disposing such material, otherwise the state will not reimburse Manitou Springs for hauling it if the city qualifies for disaster relief money.
On Monday, Gov. John Hickenlooper declared a disaster emergency in relation to Friday's flash flood - authorizing $400,000 to aid Manitou Springs and El Paso County.
Survey crews also began planning to how fix two massive sections of Manitou Avenue that eroded leading to and from U.S. 24 on the west end of the city.
Two, 30- to 40-foot sections of roadway crumbled in Friday's flood, leaving the road unusable, said Bob Wilson, a Colorado Department of Transportation spokesman. The flood caused asphalt from the shoulder and parts of the westbound lanes to slide down the hillside.
The road - which provides business access for U.S. 24 - will likely be closed at least a month, he said.
The city's number one priority Monday was cleanup "and positioning ourselves for the next big storm," said Jack Benson, the city's administrator.
The woman thought to be missing after being swept off her feet Friday was found safe, accounting for all three people who were reported missing on Friday, said Manitou Springs police Chief Joe Ribeiro. He said the woman did not want to share information on her injuries.
Meanwhile, heavy equipment rumbled along the banks of Fountain Creek as business owners along Canon Avenue sifted through their wares to see what could be cleaned and saved.
The deadline of this weekend's race added pressure to business owners, including Julia Wright, one of the owners of Commonwheel Artists Co-op.
"I am really stressed," Wright said Monday morning. "We want to open tomorrow. That's our goal.
The foot traffic generated by "thousands of people coming from around the country" is important to all businesses in the town at the foot of Pikes Peak. She showed concern and urgency to get the town cleaned up in the next few days.
"This would not be a good introduction to Manitou," Wright said.
At least 1,000 volunteers helped Saturday and Sunday with another 200 working Monday morning, said Kelly Snyder, who helped coordinate volunteer and disaster relief efforts for Manitou Springs.
City officials planned to open a Disaster Assistance Center on Tuesday and Wednesday at Venue 515, 515 Manitou Ave., to offer services, including insurance, health or debris removal assistance.
At about 3:45 p.m. Monday, the latest batch of storms to hamper cleanup efforts began to subside. The hordes of volunteers were replaced by city residents who peered into Fountain Creek to watch the waters rise.
"Just got to keep your eyes on it and watch," said Kevin Cordtz, who lived in an apartment building a couple hundred feet from the Commonwheel Artists Co-op.
Moments later, a man carrying a yellow umbrella joined Cordtz in looking at the creek.
Then he kept on walking through the rain.
"Just keeps on giving, doesn't it?" the man said.
Contact Jakob Rodgers: 476-1654
Twitter @jakobrodgers
Facebook Jakob Rodgers


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GENEVA – Fourteen members of the Cougars' 25-man roster encountered the Elfstrom Stadium diamond for the first time on Tuesday. They hit, they spit, they tracked fly balls.
Eleven other teammates had passed through the gates before, but they still could sense another novelty.
Elfstrom? Empty? It can happen when the season hasn't started yet.
The 11 players who visited Geneva as Burlington Bees last season remember various things about their new summer home, and foremost among them is the fans. Clearly, the parent Kansas City Royals' affiliate change to Kane County meant both a geographical shift east and a journey north up the Midwest League's attendance standings.
"Every time we walk in here, everybody is excited," right-hander Keaton Hayenga says. "We just feel like it is going to be a better experience here."
Leaning against a bat as he soaked up the sun along the third-base line, shortstop Gerard Hall Jr. came within a ballpark range of guessing the 2010 attendance disparity between Burlington and Kane County. The Bees averaged "hundreds" of fans last season – 906 to be exact – while the Cougars, their longtime Western Division rivals, drew "thousands."
Kane County's attendance of 430,831 spectators, an average of 6,244, ranked second in the league to Dayton.
Players casually followed the situation as Burlington and Kane County approached the end of respective player development contracts in September, navigating speculation that the former Bees may even migrate to the South Atlantic League.
When Oakland and Kansas City essentially traded affiliates, cities and stadiums, the newest Cougars rejoiced.
"Home should be your home. You should enjoy playing at home," Hall said. "And you had a sense that we didn't really enjoy playing at home as much because there weren't that many people in the stands."
Hayenga recalls looking out among the Community Field faithful and knowing most of the faces. Host families, die-hards, relatives of employees – the people in a town of about 30,000 who loved baseball traditionally showed their support.
With no slight intended to the city the Cougars will play in nine times this season, including six games in June, reliever Matt Mitchell calls Elfstrom "a better environment."
He's looking forward to scouting the western suburbs and eventually Chicago once the Cougars get a few games under their belts. The season opener at Wisconsin is set for 6:35 p.m. Thursday, with the home opener against Quad Cities scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday.
Until then, Mitchell will get a good grip on Geneva, where he'll share a host family with Hayenga. The only thing missing, perhaps, is former bullpen brethren Scott Kelley, an Arlington Heights native who was released during the spring.
Right-hander Greg Billo (Palos Heights) and lefty Jon Keck (Joliet) have suburban ties on this year's club. They've been among the players asking those in the know about Elfstrom and the 140-game grind of a professional season.
"Some of these guys are familiar with that, and some of these guys are familiar with the league. They know what to expect," said infielder Ryan Stovall, another ex-Bee who also logged time at the Royals' rookie-league affiliate in Burlington, N.C.,, last season. "I think the other guys, they'll just jump right in and we'll get it going."
In the minors, moving on and moving fast remains the goal.
Burlington transplants dig in with Kane County Cougars
GENEVA – Fourteen members of the Cougars' 25-man roster encountered the Elfstrom Stadium diamond for the first time on Tuesday. They hit, they spit, they tracked fly balls.


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TORONTO — A booze-fuelled fight between two women who were allegedly drinking and smoking in an airplane bathroom prompted Sunwing to turn a Cuba-bound flight back to Toronto, the airline said — along with a brief military jet escort.
The women also made a threat against the aircraft, but "it was considered non-credible given their condition," Sunwing's Janine Chapman said in a statement.
Nonetheless, two Toronto-area women are now facing charges of smoking on board an aircraft and endangering the safety of an aircraft.
Lilia Ratmanski, 25, of Whitby, and Milana Muzikante, 26, of Vaughan, were set to appear in court in Brampton, Ont., for a bail hearing Thursday.
Peel Regional Police Const. Thomas Ruttan said the pair will face additional charges including mischief endangering life and uttering threats.
The flight left Toronto at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday en route to Varadero via Manzanillo, but was disrupted by "two unruly female passengers," Sunwing said.
The women consumed a "significant quantity of their duty-free alcohol purchase in the lavatory and lit a cigarette, triggering the smoke detector alarm," Chapman said. "The passengers proceeded to get into a physical altercation with each other and made a threat against the aircraft."
The pilot decided to turn the plane around over South Carolina and "that's when NORAD got involved," said Major Julie Roberge, a spokeswoman for NORAD based in Colorado Springs, Colo.
NORAD scrambled two CF-18 fighter jets based out of Bagotville, Que., to escort Flight 656 back to Toronto. The jets met the aircraft at the Canadian border and did not venture into American airspace, Roberge said.
The CF-18 escort lasted just four minutes, she said.
The aircraft landed at Pearson International Airport at about 8:30 p.m. and Ruttan said the entire plane "erupted in cheers" when the two women were removed from the aircraft.
The flight took off for a second time from Toronto around 11 p.m. Wednesday with a new flight crew, Chapman said.
When there is an incident on board an aircraft the pilot reports the disturbance to their traffic control centre, said NORAD spokeswoman Army Capt. Ruth Castro. The control centre then relays the incident to the Domestic Event Network, which is hosted by the Federal Aviation Administration, she said. NORAD monitors the event network and responds based on the level of the disturbance, Castro said.
She couldn't say what information NORAD had about the situation on board the Sunwing flight at the time it scrambled the jets, "but the purpose of that DEN is to provide timely notification to the appropriate authorities that there is an emerging air-related problem or incident," Castro said.
"Just out of an abundance of precaution or caution NORAD jets were launched and they monitored the situation from the air."
NORAD also used two American F-16 fighter jets based out of Toledo, Ohio in late July as a precautionary to escort another Sunwing flight as it returned to Toronto.
A 25-year-old man allegedly made a "direct threat" to the aircraft and it was turned back to Toronto about 45 minutes into the flight to Panama City.


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"Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention" released by The Trevor Project, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American School Counselor Association and National Association of School Psychologists
(Februay 5, 2014, Los Angeles, CA) – In time for National School Counseling Week, four leading organizations supporting the mental health of youth are releasing a "Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention." This modular, adaptable document will help educators and school administrators implement comprehensive suicide prevention policies in communities nationwide. When suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth as young as 10 through age-19, it is crucial that our school districts have proactive suicide prevention policies in place.
"It's hard to talk about suicide, but we know that a young person's environment plays an incredibly important role in preventing it – especially for students who are most vulnerable to attempting suicide, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender students," said Abbe Land, Executive Director and CEO of the Trevor Project. "Improving a school's environment is something that school leaders can control, and this 'Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention' provides accessible steps to making life-saving changes for youth in crisis."
The model policy, a collaboration created by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and The Trevor Project, is research-based, comprehensive and easily adaptable for middle and high schools without policies or those that need help amending existing policies. Inside, readers will find specific, actionable steps to support school personnel; sample language for student handbooks; suggestions for involving parents and guardians in suicide prevention; and guidance for addressing in-school suicide attempts.
"Our organizations came together to provide different perspectives on crisis intervention, youth mental health and suicide prevention. We were able to define the best practices that create a strong, positive school environment," said Robert Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
In addition to educators and school leaders, school-based mental health professionals such as counselors and psychologists are essential in putting a policy into practice to enhance the whole school environment. "School counselors are often the first to identify a student who may be at risk," said Dr. Richard Wong, Executive Director, American School Counselor Association. "With protocols in place we can help that individual student as well as support school personnel in creating safe schools."
School psychologists can further provide, "insights into family systems and mental health issues to help ensure that our learning environments are respectful of all students," said Susan Gorin, Executive Director, National Association of School Psychologists.
Only four states in the U.S. currently require that educators receive annual training to prevent suicide, (Alaska, Kentucky, Louisiana and Tennessee). To reduce the prevalence of suicide attempts among youth throughout the nation, the movement for mandated suicide prevention training must grow, and school districts everywhere must take steps to have strong prevention policies in place. With recommendations rooted in best practices, the "Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention" can complement state law requirements and help schools achieve an inclusive, comprehensive suicide prevention plan. To access this resource, visit TheTrevorProject.org/pages/modelschoolpolicy.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. To fully achieve its mission, AFSP engages in the following Five Core Strategies: 1) fund scientific research, 2) offer educational programs for professionals, 3) educate the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention, 4) promote policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention, and 5) provide programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk, and involve them in the work of the Foundation. Learn more at www.afsp.org.
The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) promotes student success by expanding the image and influence of professional school counseling through leadership, advocacy, collaboration and systemic change. ASCA helps school counselors guide their students toward academic achievement, personal and social development, and career planning to help today's students become tomorrow's productive, contributing members of society. Founded in 1952, ASCA currently has a network of 50 state associations and a membership of more than 33,000 school counseling professionals. Learn more at www.schoolcounselor.org.
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) represents more than 25,000 school psychologists who work with students, educators, and families to support the academic achievement, positive behavior, and mental wellness of all students. NASP promotes best practices and policies that allow school psychologists to work with parents and educators to help shape individual and system wide supports that provide the necessary prevention and intervention services to ensure that students have access to the mental health, social-emotional, behavioral, and academic supports they need to be successful at home, at school, and throughout life. Learn more at www.nasponline.org.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) young people ages 13-24. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and confidential phone, instant message and text messaging crisis intervention services. A leader and innovator in suicide prevention, The Trevor Project offers the largest safe social networking community for LGBTQ youth, best practice suicide prevention trainings and resources for youth and adults, and advocacy initiatives. Learn more at TheTrevorProject.org.
Laura McGinnis ([email protected]; 323-423-7405); Susan Denelsbeck ([email protected]; 212-363-3500 * 2025); Kathleen Rakestraw ([email protected]; 703-864-8734); Kathy Cowan ([email protected]; 301-657-0270 *226)


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Victoza Side Effects
What should I watch for?
Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress.
Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medicine. Check with your doctor or health care professional if you get an attack of severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. The loss of too much body fluid can make it dangerous for you to take this medicine.
A test called the HbA1C (A1C) will be monitored. This is a simple blood test. It measures your blood sugar control over the last 2 to 3 months. You will receive this test every 3 to 6 months.
Learn how to check your blood sugar. Learn the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and how to manage them.
Always carry a quick-source of sugar with you in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Examples include hard sugar candy or glucose tablets. Make sure others know that you can choke if you eat or drink when you develop serious symptoms of low blood sugar, such as seizures or unconsciousness. They must get medical help at once.
Tell your doctor or health care professional if you have high blood sugar. You might need to change the dose of your medicine. If you are sick or exercising more than usual, you might need to change the dose of your medicine.
Do not skip meals. Ask your doctor or health care professional if you should avoid alcohol. Many nonprescription cough and cold products contain sugar or alcohol. These can affect blood sugar.
Pens should never be shared. Even if the needle is changed, sharing may result in passing of viruses like hepatitis or HIV.
Wear a medical ID bracelet or chain, and carry a card that describes your disease and details of your medicine and dosage times.
Common and Rare Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Bladder pain
bloody or cloudy urine
difficult, burning, or painful urination
frequent urge to urinate
general feeling of discomfort or illness
joint pain
loss of appetite
lower back or side pain
muscle aches and pains
trouble sleeping
unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
Blurred vision
pounding in the ears
slow or fast heartbeat
cold sweats
cool, pale skin
hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
increased hunger
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
loss of consciousness
redness of the skin
slurred speech
Incidence not known
clay-colored stools
dark urine
decreased awareness or responsiveness
decreased urine output
difficulty with swallowing
muscle twitching
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
rapid weight gain
severe sleepiness
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
tightness in the chest
unpleasant breath odor
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Back pain
body aches or pain
decreased appetite
loss of voice
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
stomach cramps, discomfort, or pain
swollen mouth and tongue
unpleasant taste
urge to have bowel movement
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.


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Explore the historic highlights of Trondheim
Perched atop its cliff where the Ploučnice meets the Elbe, Děčín Castle is one of the oldest and largest landmarks in northern Bohemia. In the past several hundred years it has served as a point of control for the Bohemian princes, a military fortress, and noble estate.
The forerunner of the Děčín Castle was a wooden fortress built towards the end of the 10th century by the Bohemian princes. The first written record of the province dates from 993 A.D. and of the fortress itself from 1128. In the thirteenth century it was rebuilt in stone as a royal castle that, under unknown circumstances, fell into the hands of the powerful Wartenberg dynasty around 1305.
Numerous later renovations has erased all but fragments of the original medieval semblance of the castle. A significant change to the castle came in the second half of the 16th century when it was held by the Saxon Knights of Bünau, who gradually rebuilt the lower castle into a Renaissance palace with a grand ceremonial hall. The current semblance of the castle is the work of the Thun-Hohensteins, who held the Děčín lands from 1628 to 1932. The Thuns originally came from southern Tyrol and gradually worked their way to the upper echelons of Hapsburg society where they regularly filled important political and church appointments.
The Thuns reworked the castle twice. The first reconstruction, in the Baroque style, was undertaken by Maximilian von Thun, Imperial envoy and diplomat, and was meant to enhance the ceremonial aspects of the property. A central element of the project was a grand access road, the Long Drive, ending in the upper gate of the completely rebuilt entry wing. Along the drive stretched an ornamental garden (today known as the Rose Garden) and a riding yard. Maximilian's brother Johann Ernst von Thun was responsible for the erection of the Church of the Ascension of the Holy Cross in the town below.
The second and final reconstruction of the castle was undertaken in 1786–1803. The Gothic and Renaissance palaces were torn down, all structures were leveled to the same height and gave them a unified facade. On the riverfront the castle's new dominant feature arose, a slender clock tower. Thus the castle took on the Baroque-Classical style we see today.
In the course of the 19th century, the castle became an important cultural and political center. In the 20th century the castle was used as a military garrison for German and Soviet troops after being handed to the Czechoslovak state in 1932. In 1991 the castle reverted to the ownership of the city of Děčín and the gradual renovation of the devastated structure began.
The eastern wing serves as a branch of the Děčín Regional Museum. The northern wing is occupied by the State District Archives. The staterooms of the western wing welcome individual and group tours, weddings, concerts, exhibits, and other cultural events. The castle courtyard comes to life throughout the year with events ranging from the Historic May Fair to the Wine Festival in September.


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Connie's not taking this sitting down…
Connie will not be Defeated
The last eight years have been a struggle for Connie. But she defines the word "survivor." She's battled breast cancer, lung cancer and skin cancer…and won. But, effects of chemo and treatment had compromised some of the vessels in her legs. Walking became a horrible chore.
Independence is something Connie values. This pain in her legs made it difficult to even get through the grocery story. "I'd map out my trip to the grocery store. My legs would allow for four to five minutes to get in and get what I needed, before I had to sit. I'm only 61 and I refuse to use one of those scooters!"
Connie's constant leg pain was due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD is a blood-flow issue to the legs or peripherals. If left untreated, it can eventually lead to amputation. People with diabetes or heart disease are especially at risk.
To fix the problem, her first and second approach was a surgical procedure at Paducah, but with blood-clotting difficulty, the attempts were a failure.
Time for a New Solution
Prairie Vascular Services in Carbondale is a specialized area of Prairie Heart Institute dealing with vessels outside the heart. Dr. Raed Al-Dallow had a complex, yet minimally invasive way to increase blood flow to Connie's legs. "She had severe blockage in her lower aorta leading to the arteries in her legs. And because of previous health issues, the procedure was quite difficult," remarked Al-Dallow.
But for Connie the minimally invasive approach was surprising, "I couldn't believe it. It was so easy. I was awake through the entire thing!"
Connie Jumps for Joy
Now she feels better than she did at 51. "I asked Dr. Al-Dallow, 'Can I jump on a trampoline? Can I play basketball with my grandkids?' He said 'Yes!'"
She has no intention of staying down. She'll be visiting her daughter in Tennessee and intends to walk all through Dollywood. If that wasn't enough, Connie is determined to challenge her children and grandchildren to a basketball match.
"I'm not taking this sitting down," she says. "I'm afraid if I were to allow people to help me do the normal everyday things, it would mean that I'm giving up. I don't give up."


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Skip to Content
Small cohorts of three to four faculty who meet regularly during the academic year to discuss their research, scholarship and/or professional writing. The first RIG meeting will establish the goals and objectives of the group members, guidelines for giving and receiving feedback and a meeting schedule.
Faculty who are looking for feedback from their peers on their research endeavors.
Please contact Carolyn Brennan (firstname.lastname@example.com) if you are interested in participating in a Research Interest Group.


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Standards of Conduct for Representatives
All attorney and non-attorney representatives of claimants who practice before the Social Security Administration (SSA) must comply with the Rules of Conduct and Standards of Responsibility for Representatives (Rules of Conduct) found at 20 C.F.R. § 404.1740 and 416.1540. The Rules of Conduct specify both affirmative obligations and prohibited conduct.
If a representative violates the Rules of Conduct, is not qualified to be either an attorney or non-attorney representative under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1705 and 416.1505, or has been convicted of a violation under section 206 of the Social Security Act, SSA may file charges and initiate proceedings to suspend or disqualify that representative from acting as a representative before SSA.
Any person who believes that an attorney or non-attorney representative has acted in a manner that violates the Rules of Conduct should promptly report that representative to an SSA field or hearing office. Allegations of representational misconduct may also be reported in writing to:
Social Security Administration
Office of the General Counsel,
Office of General Law
6401 Security Boulevard,
Room 617 Altmeyer Building
Baltimore, MD 21235
Section 205 of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004
Rules implementing section 205 of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (SSPA) were published in the Federal Register (71 FR 2871) on January 18, 2006. Section 205 of the SSPA amends section 206(a)(1) of the Social Security Act with respect to the recognition, disqualification and reinstatement of certain individuals as claimants' representatives.
Federal Register/(71 FR 2871) on January 18, 2006.
To access documents with this logo, you will need the Adobe Acrobat reader software. If you do not already have this software, see our page on downloading and printing Portable Document Format (.pdf) documents.


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IUCN SEE has initiated the implementation of a 3 year long project "Supporting the Long-Term Sustainable Management of Transboundary Lake Skadar", in partnership with the Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania (INCA) and Green Home of Montenegro. Improving practices and capacity for the management of protected areas, the project intends to foster the effective management of biodiversity of Skadar Lake, natural border between Albania and Montenegro.
Being the largest on the Balkan Peninsula, Skadar Lake witnessed a number of political agreements toward its improved management and international conservation efforts. With its partners, IUCN will build on the gathered experience and establish a cross-border exchange platform for protected area authorities and other stakeholders to work jointly and ensure the sustainable future of the shared lake.
Funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, the project aims at diminishing illegal activities by strengthening law enforcement, increasing the participation of civil society organizations in monitoring and protected area management, increasing transparency and awareness rising on the importance of biodiversity conservation among key stakeholders and resource managers.
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund is a joint initiative of l'Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.
For more information visit the project webpage, or contact Tomasz Pezold, Project Officer at IUCN's Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe.


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python merge sort non recursive
Budget $10-30 USD
need to write python code for non recursion merge sort need in hour
14 freelancers are bidding on average $28 for this job
Hello. Is it allowed to use additional data structures, such as lists, etc? Thanks.
Hello. Employer. I have read and understood the project. I'm an Expert in Data Structures and Algorithms. And I know well Python . I'm interested this project. So, firstly I want to discuss with you about thi More
Hi there, I would like to do this project if given the opportunity. Let me know if you are interested so I can have further details. Thanks.
Hi. I can do the merge sort for you. I have over 5 years of experience with python. Send me a message if you're interested.
Hello Sir, I am expert in python and I can deliver merge sort in an hour. Let's discuss in detail .............
Contact me if you still have need. I am a CS major from one of the UCs and I am a programmer of about 10 years now. I currently work building application in Python professionally.
Hello, I have 6 Years Experience in python development , and i have a team who won several international level coding competition in python like TechGig, Google Code jam, etc. Looking forward to work with you :)
Hi. I can do it in an hour. $30 in advance and I'll start now. I've got a lot of experience in algorithms and data structures. Best, Igor
I can help you understand the project. I have more than 4 years of experience in Python and proficient in Data Structures and Algorithms.
Hi, I'm a Computer Science and Statistics student at the University of Toronto and I'm currently interning at IBM as a software developer. I have 3 years of experience with python and can finish your project asap. More
I'm earning my Ph.D. degree and working in the China State Key Laboratory of Virtual Reality Technology and Systems. I have already complete this project. You can get the source if you choose me.
Able to use own initiative and work as part of a team under pressure to meet challenging deadlines / objectives. First-class communication and organizational skills with the will and determination needed to succeed.


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Aybar has four RBIs as Angels rout Rays
ANAHEIM -- Mike Scioscia has repeatedly stressed how important it is for the Angels to set the game up on their terms.
The manager wants to see his starting pitcher go deep into the game, his bullpen put up zeros and his offense manufacture a few runs.View Full Game Coverage
ANAHEIM -- Mike Scioscia has repeatedly stressed how important it is for the Angels to set the game up on their terms.
The manager wants to see his starting pitcher go deep into the game, his bullpen put up zeros and his offense manufacture a few runs.View Full Game Coverage
The template may sound simple, but the Angels have had very few stretches in which they accomplished all three tasks on a consistent basis.
However, the Angels -- who have won nine of their last 10 games -- are in the midst of one of those stretches.
"I think we're better when we're worried about our game, what we need to do in house, the process we need to go about to play a good game," Scioscia said. "Since we've been doing it, especially on the pitching end, these last couple of weeks, you're seeing the results that we had hoped for earlier in the season."
After winning eight of nine on the road trip, the Angels opened up a seven-game homestand with a 11-2 victory over the Rays on Monday night.
"We're just putting it together," J.B. Shuck said. "We've been working hard all year, we just hadn't been able to get something to click and now it is. We're playing with a lot of enthusiasm."
Garrett Richards, making his second consecutive start against Tampa Bay, struggled with command, but was able to keep the Rays offense in check and lower his ERA to 3.21 since rejoining the rotation on July 27.
Despite a career-high seven walks, Richards allowed just one run on two hits in five innings.
"You can give Garrett an A for effort, he hung in there," Scioscia said. "Never really got command of counts. His ball-strike ratio was very poor and his first-pitch-strike ratio was bad. Couldn't really get his secondary pitches into the game, but when it's all said and done, it's a win for us."
Richards gave up a solo home run to Ben Zobrist on the sixth pitch of the game, but the Rays' lead did not last long.
Mike Trout singled, stole second and scored on Josh Hamilton's double to tie the game, 1-1, in the first.
The stolen base was Trout's 30th of the season, making him the youngest player in MLB history to hit 20 home runs and steal 30 bases in back-to-back seasons.
Kole Calhoun gave the Angels their first lead of the game with an RBI groundout in the third and they padded their lead with a three-run fourth.
Andrew Romine and Peter Bourjos led off the inning with a pair of singles, Shuck drove in a run with a groundout up the middle and Erick Aybar -- who had nine hits in his previous 60 at-bats -- capped the three-run inning with a two-run home run to left field. Rays starter Chris Archer was out of the game one batter later. He allowed five runs on nine hits.
"Yeah, but leading up to that, I didn't control the damage very well," Archer said when asked if he thought he could salvage the night after Aybar's homer. "Had a lot of two-strike hits. I felt really good. I just wasn't executing when I needed to."
While Archer was unable to make pitches when it counted, Richards -- despite his troubles -- did just that.
"He did a great job," Shuck said. "He didn't have his best stuff, but he really battle out there, kept us in the ballgame. He gave us a chance."
Aybar struck again when his two-run triple highlighted a sixth inning in which the Angels scored five times and sent 11 batters to the plate.
"Erick puts the ball in play," Scioscia said. "He's a little bit of a slasher, but he's dangerous with guys in scoring position because he's got speed and he can use the whole field."
Grant Green pinch-hit for Aybar to lead off the seventh and belted his first career home run.
William Boor is an associate reporter for MLB.com.


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2 nights for the price of 1 + Upgrade at UK Crowne Plaza Hotels
What: Following on from the previous Holiday Inn post.
"To make our 60th Anniversary extra special, we're inviting you to join us with our 60th Anniversary VIP Celebration Package. Book in advance, stay between 1st December and 10th February 2013 and enjoy 2 nights for the price of 1, superior room upgrade* and late check out."
I checked this out at the Holiday Inn Oxford – with the offer the total cost was £124, using the best alternative rate it came to £198 both for an executive room – so definitely worth doing!
- Book by: 19th December 2012
- Stay between : 1st December and 10th February 2013
Where: These Crowne Plaza hotels in the UK
Brands: Holiday Inn
How: Book here


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Step back in time with an overnight stay on beautiful and historic Mackinac Island. Our well-appointed 18 rooms and suites provide comfortable elegance, perfect for honeymoon couples to large families.
Your romantic Mackinac Island wedding awaits you at Bay View Bed and Breakfast. By combining your ideas with our experience, we'll help to create your "Special Day" and leave you with beautiful memories to last a lifetime.
Only once every 100 years did the mythical seaside village of Brigadoon appear in the mist of the Scottish Highlands, welcoming those who crossed the stone bridge into a village of merriment, hospitality, and warmth.Nestled near the water's edge, Brigadoon Bed & Breakfast exudes that same graciousness.
In order to enjoy the gateway to Mackinac Island, the Mackinac Bridge, and the many museums, golf courses, restaurants, and famous fudge shops in Mackinaw City, you are going to need a great place to stay while you are in town!
we offer a variety of accommodations, from comfortable, spacious single, double and triple rooms to luxury Jacuzzi® rooms with wet bars. Within the Mackinaw City Michigan Inn we have Mackinaw City's largest indoor pool and a bountiful breakfast bar complimentary to our guest.
Guests will enjoy comfortable and stylish rooms in a convenient location near downtown Petoskey
Bay Harbor is the most romantic destination in northern Michigan. Whether your wedding-day dreams look barefoot, button-down or in between, Bay Harbor offers the perfect location to say "I do". As one of the only locations in northern Michigan with a private beach venue, we offer beautiful ceremony and reception locations.
Treetops Resort distinguishes itself as one of Michigan's finest multi-season resorts known for it's incomparable views. Have our wonderful staff assist you in planning the wedding of your dreams!
Our luxurious rooms and our great customer service are what Charlevoix Inn & Suites are all about. We are proud to serve you to the best of our ability.
Waterfront Wedding Packages
Charlevoix's Wedding Accommodations A castle for your overnight stay Classic beauty with contemporary amenities We reflect the same spirit, design and service as Castle Farms.
Our goal is to offer a relaxed environment with those warm and caring extras that you never thought you would be able to find anywhere else but home.
The Country Hermitage Bed and Breakfast is located just north of Traverse City, Michigan overlooking beautiful East Grand Traverse Bay. Discover the beauty and tranquility of this romantic bed and breakfast while you enjoy the gracious hospitality.
A "hidden gem" in northern Michigan, the Knights Inn Traverse City is the best choice for lodging in the area. Only a short distance from downtown Traverse City, the hotel is near breath taking orchards and vineyards, unique shopping, eclectic restaurants, and sandy beaches that make this area a true year round ...
Our Victorian style hotel is nestled on the beach of West Grand Traverse Bay and offers the best of all you love about Traverse City – a great waterfront location and a short stroll away from downtown with its diverse dining, shopping, and nightlife.
ParkShore Resort is ideally located at the base of East Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan -- Minutes from dozens of family restaurants, entertainment, attractions, and great shopping.
A four generation run motel outside the Village of Beulah. A friendly place to stay!
The beauty of our small resort means excellent service, top notch accommodations, high speed wireless, audio visual, spouse programs, and great food for your most important guests. The Iverson Room can accommodate groups of 12-74 in various seating arrangements. Events can also be set up in the Inn, Terrace or Gardens.
At Soaring Eagle we treasure details and put our clients first. From complete menu offerings and stunning ceremony and reception locations to our first class service your big day will be spectacular from start to finish. Contact us today to start planning each and every special moment.


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matt.o'b needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 40 designs submitted by 14 freelance designers.
cow goes moo
cow goes moo (Australia) is an exciting new childrens retail line aimed at the Australian market. Products will include clothing, stationary, gadgets and general nick nack type items.
Our target audience are children, both girls and boys aged between 5yrs - 12 yrs.
We require a fresh, FUN and simple cartoon type logo for our new brand.
The logo will be single colour - Black (on white).
We are looking for a simple cartoon type logo of a cow, with the words "cow goes moo" incorporated into the design all in lower case. Not cartoon as in super clean line work.
By simplicity in form, we seek a logo along the lines Hello Kitty etc. in regards to basicness. Almost childlike in appearance. The cow itself will be the central figure of the logo as opposed to the font which should also be very basic in style.
We are open to ideas as you are the professional, not us however we think we'll know exactly what we want once we see it.
We do not want flashy, glossy or internety (is that even a word? ) :D
The logo will be required to be in vector format as sizing of printing will vary greatly from product to product.
Please feel free to ask any questions during the duration of the contest and we will attempt to answer as soon as possible.
EDIT: After seeing several designs entered in the contest, we have decided we will definately be going with a logo that has a complete cow eg: full body and legs etc.
Best Regards,
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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This week, Google quietly launched Keep, a simple, note-taking mobile app. It's not as full-featured or multiplatform as Evernote, the leader in the revived personal organizer or "external brain" category, and currently only works on Android and Google Drive. Google will likely make Keep available on Apple's iOS, as it has with its other apps, and add features, such as the ability to attach files and embed video. Nonetheless, the press and other observers are questioning the company's commitment to its apps after the recent notice that Google Reader would cease to exist.
The reality is that Google has discovered that note-taking, unlike an RSS reader, is as core as Docs, Maps or Calendar to its integrated suite of apps, especially in the context of mobile usage and Google Glass. Keep's simplicity, sharing and voice transcription-to-text capabilities will come in handy when the primary interface is voice, as with Google Glass, and the content is memos and checklists rather than documents or e-mail.
Imagine having Keep tuned for Google Glass, with voice commands and integrated with the Internet of things. You are standing by your smart refrigerator and it sends you a Keep checklist with what groceries you need to restock. You add or subtract from the list via the Google Glass interface and then share it with your grocery store, which will have the items sent to your door. Keep could also serve as a repository for random-access daily thoughts. With a collection of Keep notes or lists for various parts of your life -- such investments, movies and to dos -- you go through the day adding and deleting items as they come up while you are walking, hands free, down the street.
Of course, some users will prefer Evernote or another application for their Google Glass, smartphone or tablet experience. Google showed Evernote's Skitch app working with Glass at SXSW Interactive this month. But with Keep, Google has officially acknowledged that it plans to compete and will make every effort to keep users' data flowing through its servers.
Read: Google Glass could one day let you control objects around you
Read: Getting started with Google Keep