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Sometimes the most interesting and memorable part of a D&D adventure is the stuff that happens between the structured encounters. These are often instances when the players do something unexpected and the DM is forced to fly by the seat of his pants. If the DM pulls it off successfully the result can be a scenario that is talked about for a long time. If only there was a way to scrip this kind of strange happenstance?
Spontaneity cannot be scripted by its very nature; however there are ways to still get the effect you're looking for by giving the PCs a nudge in the right direction. And you don't have to look any further than their equipment list. When it comes to inventory on a character sheet, most players are really only concerned with magical items and money. The other regular stuff is usually added to the list as an afterthought. So why not have so fun with the regular stuff.
Illicit Property
Most PCs are proud of who they are regardless of their class and race, the only obvious exception being the Rogue. Rogues generally earn their place in the party because of their unique skill-set. In combat they are deadly strikers but it's their other talents that make them incredibly useful to adventuring parties. Their ability to find and disarm traps, open locked door or treasure chest without keys, and sneak into places they shouldn't be are all staples of any Rogue worth his salt. While these are admirable skills for an adventurer, in normal life these talents are usually associated with unlawful activity. Just think about how the Rogue got so good at these things in the first place.
It stands to reason that most Rogues would take pains to hide their class when they interact with regular people. However, this is not something that I've seen happen very often at my gaming table. So why not have a bit of fun at the Rogues expense by reminding the player how the rest of the world views Rogues?
The next time the party visits a large city have them go through an inspection checkpoint at the city gates. During the inspection the guards ask a couple of "random" PCs if they can look through their gear. They are completely above-board and assure everyone it's just routine.
What do you think will happen when the guards discover Thieves Tools in the Rogues possession? An honest man has no need for such things. Is this man a criminal? Is there a warrant out for his arrest? Or if this is his first time here is he planning to rob the town's populace? Suddenly the Rogue and his companions find themselves fast-talking their way out of trouble. Depending on what's supposed to happen once they get into the city a short skill challenge might even be in order. Getting the Rogue out of jail may be a necessary side-quest before continuing on with the primary adventure.
More Than Meets The Eye
When a party loots a monster's treasure horde they only ever ask about the magic and the coins. An experienced party may also ask if there are any gems, jewels or art objects, but no one asks or even cares about anything else. However, a creative DM can use this to his advantage by adding a few choice and seemingly inconsequential details.
Low-level parties without a Bag of Holding must be mindful of exactly how they're transporting all that loot. If the DM makes a stink about it, the players will no doubt look for anything they can find in the vicinity to carry their spoils. Among the corpses of the monster's previous victims where the PCs found the magical items the DM already described, they find a few ratty backpacks and large sacks. Problem solved. For now.
This is where the DM can have a little fun. In a future adventure the PCs end up getting wet. Maybe they swim across a shallow river or get caught in the rain. When this happens one of the backpacks reveals a secret. This can be something beneficial like a previously undiscovered magical property or something nasty like an extra-dimensional space in which lived a nasty little creature from another plane.
The idea isn't to kill the heroes, but to have fun and inject something unexpected into the game, preferably at a time when they think they're just going through the motions. I guarantee that they'll pay more attention to the regular, mundane stuff in future treasure hordes.
When Clothes Speak
Anonymity can be very useful to an adventuring party. If they can keep a low profile and don't draw unnecessary attention to themselves then there's no reason anyone will suspect who they really are. Some adventurers will even go a step further and actively hide anything they possess that could broadcast their true identity. PCs will hide magic weapons or try to disguise their ornamental armor, but rarely does anyone worry about the regular clothes.
PCs that wear cloth armor (usually arcane characters) are really just wearing regular clothes during combat. I've got to believe that during combat these regular clothes get damaged and sometimes destroyed. The PCs must constantly purchase new clothes to replace the damaged ones. This is not something that's usually addressed in most games, but it is something that certainly happens behind the scenes.
Every artesian, seamstress and garment-maker will have their own style and use materials they can obtain locally and easily. This can be a pretty obvious statement of where the party has been and can also indicate their wealth. A party trying to pass themselves as travelers recently arriving from the Northern Province yet dressed in clothes clearly indicative styles and materials of the Southern Province could find themselves under increased suspicion.
It's this kind of detail, something that the players likely overlooked or deemed insignificant, that can turn a regular exchange between a few PCs and NPCs into something a lot more exciting. This could even be a good time to plant a red herring.
For example, a local woman could approach the party and compliment them on the latest fashions from the Southern Province. Suddenly the PCs realize that their cover is in jeopardy and they must take steps to correct the problem. In reality there may be no danger of exposure but the players don't know that so they spend time interacting with local merchants to get new clothes and offer the person who spotted them in the first place a considerable bribe to keep quite.
These are just a few examples of how to turn a regular item already on the PCs' equipment inventory into an adventure hook or at least into more than just a line item on a character sheet. If the DM pays more attention to the little details there's a good chance that the players will begin doing so as well. Don't let the game get drowned in minutia but remind the players every now and again that there is a great potential for fun outside of combat and skill challenges.
Related reading:
- The Little Details Make a Big Difference
- Don't Skip the Slow Parts
- Magic Items That Aren't Magical – April Fools!
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Brunch Party For One
The muffins were actually the only recipe from the book in this picture, but oh my gawd ya'll ... best thing ever! I know I say that a lot, but I mean it this time. These tender English muffins knock the Earth Balance off any biscuit, scone, or baked good I've ever put in my mouth. Mine didn't get any nooks and crannies, as the recipe promised, but I blame that on my subbing whole wheat pastry flour. That didn't matter though. These were tasty without nooks and crannies.
I served them with Earth Balance and Homemade Organic Strawberry Jam that I made with some local handpicked strawberries a few weeks ago.
I also whipped up a quick Cubed Tofu Scramble using my own scramble recipe:
I typically crumble my tofu for scrambles, but after seeing the "Portland method" (as seen on Jess of Get Sconed's blog and in Vegan Brunch) of cubing tofu in scrambles, I had to try it that way. I really like the texture of the cubes and it browns a little better than crumbled tofu. I also added black salt for a more "eggy" flavor, as well as chopped carrots and local summer squash.
Note to Testers (you know who you are): New recipes are up and ready for testin' on the Cookin' Crunk site.
19 comments:
- Gina said...
Ooh, I'm glad to know that the English muffins work well enough with whole wheat flour. You've got me craving an English muffin now!
- June 17, 2009 at 2:00 AM
- The Voracious Vegan said...
I can't wait to get my hands on the vegan brunch book! Every review I've seen is just stellar! What a yummy looking breakfast, beautiful!
- June 17, 2009 at 5:20 AM
- jessy said...
your english muffins look perfect, Bianca - who needs nooks 'n crannies!?! i still need to try your scramble, and i love that idea to cube the tofu - little bits of browned tofu sound most stellar! nice!
- June 17, 2009 at 5:29 AM
- Megan said...
I'm totally obsessed with VB too. I think I've made the quiche about 5 times since I got the book. Last night's quiche was zucchinis and summer squash. I'm still trying to get my hands on some black salt. Anyone know a good source in Baltimore?
- June 17, 2009 at 6:45 AM
Looks great as always! I love your new profile picture too, I just noticed you changed it. Now I have to go find some breakfast and hope it will be as good as yours!
- June 17, 2009 at 7:28 AM
- Sal said...
they look great, so does that jam! yum.
I've made scramble with chunks a few times, sometimes I like it sometimes I don't - it seems to depend on my mood!! hehe.
- June 17, 2009 at 8:27 AM
I haven't had an English Muffin in a million years! So excited - I get my copy on Saturday!
- June 17, 2009 at 8:39 AM
- A said...
Will you come live with me??
Homemade strawberry jam and home-baked English Muffins?!?!?!?! Will you marry me?
- June 17, 2009 at 9:19 AM
hey great spread...u will get ur big vegan brunch sooner than later. My dad cubes his tofu all the time for scramble for the past 4 years he told me it looks better this way. I made scramble this morning (not for me of course) and I crushed it.Guessed what I used inside?Yes the Bajan Seasoning. Anyways I wonder if you have time if you want to test some of the recipes for my book. It will not be alot only 2 or 3. I want a perspective from North America..let me know
- June 17, 2009 at 9:22 AM
- East Village Vegan said...
Those muffins looks fantastic, especially topped with your homemade jam. I think I'm the only one who doesn't own Vegan Brunch. The recipes sounds great.
- June 17, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I am totally having my own brunch parties when I get cooking out of that book. Who needs company!? haha
- June 17, 2009 at 10:19 AM
- miss v said...
diggin' that muffin!
i looked for black salt today at whole foods and couldn't find any... where'd ya get yours?
- June 17, 2009 at 7:19 PM
I've only heard good things about VB........Hmmmm... this intrigues me:)
- June 17, 2009 at 8:28 PM
- VeggieGirl said...
GREAT brunch fare!! Lucky tester, you :-)
- June 17, 2009 at 9:32 PM
- Mike K said...
I've been doing the solo brunch parties too - I love this book,and I like the idea of mimosas before noon, which is really only acceptable with company. The food looks great...need to try the cubed tofu scramble method too - I've been a crumbler myself.
- June 17, 2009 at 10:23 PM
- Mike K said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- June 17, 2009 at 10:23 PM
- Sheridanna said...
I'm coming! I'm coming! New Kids and Brunch party VERY SOON! Yay!!!
- June 20, 2009 at 10:24 AM
- Cyn said...
My English Muffins didn't have nooks & crannies either, but I also subbed whole wheat flour. They were SO DELICIOUS though. And your tofu scramble looks great - I love tofu scramble so much.
- June 24, 2009 at 3:11 PM
- Sarena Shasteen said...
I have this book and the first thing I want to try is the English Muffins. I need to get on it...you have convinced me!
- June 25, 2009 at 4:02 PM

subset: commoncrawl


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Definitions of guild
v. t. - An association of men belonging to the same class, or engaged in kindred pursuits, formed for mutual aid and protection; a business fraternity or corporation; as, the Stationers' Guild; the Ironmongers' Guild. They were originally licensed by the government, and endowed with special privileges and authority. 2
v. t. - A guildhall. 2
v. t. - A religious association or society, organized for charitable purposes or for assistance in parish work. 2
The word "guild" uses 5 letters: D G I L U.
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Words formed by adding one letter before or after guild (in bold), or to dgilu in any order:
e - guiled f - fulgid s - guilds
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Mods, I'm restarting this, but please amalgamate with the old thread if you prefer ( it's already quite long)
After a number of very excellent and interesting posts on the Canadian Nationals Ice Dance competition threads and various post-competition discussions across other threads and forums ( which are bound to fade as successive competitions approach ), I felt I wanted to keep the discussion going , not only in light of the respective finishes at National's and the upcoming 4CC and World's, but in general as well.
Here's a quote from one of ImaginaryPogue's posts on the Free dance thread that gets to the crux of the situation , for me. ( I've used bold text to stress what pertains to dance. The italics are 'Pogue's ) ..
"b) In this case (G/P, Patrick Chan) there seems to be a more specific intent in the scoring, moreso than Nationals inflation. Plain-jane Nationals inflation - we saw that with Duhamel/Radford's skates. They'll be above 120 w/ a clean skate, but not that close to 130. You can even make the argument that Chan will break his own record with those skates (I'm not convinced), but there seemed to be a goal - get G/P on the podium, get Chan 300."
It's like the old saying about Caesar's wife..not only must she be above reproach , she must be seen to be above reproach. As Caesar's wife , Skate Canada and this judging panel appear to make a great scarlet woman with a shady past.
Even if there was no intent, the inexplicable , unbelievable bronze finish of G/P guarantees speculation and suspicion that somewhere , intent must have been at work ...or that this judging panel was particularly gullible and susceptible to hype. And if either possibility exists , what will it mean for our athletes going forward ?
These athletes have all invested a great portion of their lives in the pursuit their sport ; their competitive careers are relatively short , and they risk career ending injury daily. As others have said before me , the very least they deserve is to be able to trust in fair judging and a fair competition. Neither the judging nor the competition schedule at Nationals this year afforded them that.
If I was one of these athletes ( with the exception of G/P) I'd be very depressed about my prospects. Of course, I do hope to see them all emulate the attitude W/P displayed last year ..just work to perfect your own performance , so that you can't be denied . That's all they can do , after all ... even though that disgraceful 100+ score for G/P would seem to imply that there are no limits to the amount of preference or over-evaluation G/P will be shown , nationally. ( Unless there's a backlash , which I truly hope there will be )....I further hope that some of the annual changes in Ice Dance rules help prevent a repetition of what we've just seen.
So, with this cloud over the scene, and despite it , what do we hope for some of these teams ? What can they do ? What should they do ? Just some initial thoughts...
For R/H .. I would wish for them to get out from under. Change schools and continue to address their posture issues. Realize there's quite a bit of luck involved in their trip to World's ( see FD scores).
For P/I .. I hope they are even stronger by 4CC. I'd wish for a different SD costume. It's a pretty dress, but because their SD is more restrained than most , it cries out for colour, just as the FD did. After being plagued by injury , do they need to rethink strength regimen ? ( I really don't know that much about their regimen ). I think they'd benefit from more of a group training environment, but don't know where that would be. They're already developing their own look and I'd hate to see that change. ( Progress, yes. Change , no. )
For O/W .. keep going. Unlike NorthernDancers,( whose opinions I still respect ) I do see a lot more togetherness between them over last year,and particular progress for Thomas. Considering all they've had to contend with this year - having to be ready for Jrs. and Srs., and the G/P circus coming to town , I think they've done about as well as they could be expected to do. I hope they have a very respectable finish at Jr.World's. It's a deep field..but the GP, at both levels , can be fairly deceptive, so I wish them luck.
Of course, that's not all I think or wish, but it's enough for tonight.
Last edited by colleen o'neill; 02-03-2012 at 04:18 AM.


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The headache some folks wake up with on Jan. 1, 2013, most likely will be the result of New Year's Eve over-indulgence rather than a precipitous fall over the mythical fiscal cliff.
"How the fiscal cliff is resolved has a bearing on both near-term growth and long-term debt," says Chad Wilkerson, Oklahoma City Branch executive and economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
But that so-called cliff is neither as precipitous nor as close as some would have us believe, Wilkerson said during the third annual Rural Economic Outlook Conference held on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater.
He said recent descriptions of the mandatory tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to go into effect in 2013—f ailing congressional action before year's end—as more slope than cliff makes sense. Not all of the mandated cuts will occur on January 1.
"The process will roll out throughout 2013," Wilkerson said, "with the biggest hit occurring in the second quarter."
Uncertainty about how Congress will address those mandatory cuts "are weighing heavily on the economy," however, and Wilkerson says negotiations have begun to seek a solution to the stalemate. Failure to act likely will result in another recession and increased unemployment.
"Economic forecasters generally assume the fiscal cliff will be avoided without recession," he said. But he also noted that if all the tax increases and spending cuts scheduled occur, GDP could drop by 4.5 percent.
Employment an issue
The Congressional Budget Office projects that unemployment would rise 1 percent "if we go over the fiscal cliff," Wilkerson said.
Over the long term, however, allowing the fiscal cliff to play out, accepting both the tax increases and the spending cuts, would reduce the budget deficit over the next 10 years.
"Avoiding fiscal changes," Wilkerson said, "means further increases in the national debt."
Some areas, such as unemployment, likely will get better, Wilkerson said. "At its September meeting the Federal Open Market Committee, the branch of the Federal Reserve Board that determines the direction of monetary policy, indicated that unemployment will improve "gradually." The range of views of FOMC members about monetary policy includes relatively wide variations.
He said some improvement in the U.S. economy has already begun but at a slow pace. "The U.S. economic growth has been moderate," he said, "as European and political concerns remain high. U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) rebounded somewhat in quarter three but business investment and exports weakened."
This sluggish growth is typical "coming out of a financial crisis. Consumer spending is rising but not quickly."
Early fourth quarter data suggest "moderate U.S. growth to continue." Residential housing has improved but "recovering at a low level."
Financial stress in Europe continues to remain high but has improved. "The European economy has not settled as much as the U.S. economy. The United States has settled some in the last few months."
Inflation rate is expected to remain "at or near its long-term target through2015," Wilkerson said. The Fed's inflation target is 2 percent.
More than a third of FOMC members disagree on the timing of monetary tightening. Wilkerson said some expect tightening to increase in the next few years with interest rates moving up to 4 percent. Others expect rates to remain close to zero until unemployment gets close to normal.
Okla. fares better
Wilkerson said Oklahoma's economy has fared better than the national economy and "has outperformed just about every other state since last year. Many areas of the state have returned to full employment and most industries are growing. However, energy activity has begun to slow; the fiscal cliff looms; and the drought lingers."
Job growth rate is widely variable across the country. With a 2.5 percent growth rate Oklahoma is second only to North Dakota. New Mexico, on the other hand, is number 50 and is "one of the most dependent on industries that sell to the Federal government."
The defense industry is also important to Oklahoma and "is vulnerable," Wilkerson said. "State unemployment is low but would be higher with more labor force participation." Northwest and south central Oklahoma unemployment rates are especially low, at or near full employment.
"Growth in energy jobs slowed in quarter three but other industries posted positive growth."
Oklahoma is not overly vulnerable to European trade risk. The fiscal cliff risk is about average. "Severe to exceptional drought is still gripping the state and the region," Wilkerson said, putting a clamp on agricultural enterprises. Even with a historic drought, however, observers expect the U.S. farm sector to do well this year. "Total U.S. farm income is projected to rise, given high crop prices and insurance," he said.
Livestock producers, however, will continue to be "squeezed by high feed costs."
For lenders, agriculture remains a good bet, he said. 'Ag loans are more current than any other type of loan at Oklahoma banks. And ag loans are much more important to Oklahoma banks than they are across the nation."
Regional farmland prices continue to surge "and have accelerated in Oklahoma."
Wilkerson said recent U.S. economic growth "has been moderate, with low inflation." The fiscal cliff and concerns over the European economic situation continue to weigh on economic activity.
In Oklahoma, he said, "economic activity remains relatively solid, but drought and low natural gas prices have hurt recently."
The economy, for Oklahoma and the Southwest region, as well as the nation as a whole, is making progress but some headaches may continue until Congress makes changes in fiscal policy and Europe's economy settles down. But the Jan. 1 cataclysm may not be the doom and gloom some have predicted.


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Expert Reviews
2006 Lincoln Mark LT
First, there was the 2002 Lincoln Blackwood. Now, there's the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT. And just as buyers of the Blackwood might have believed they were getting a true pickup, so might buyers of the Mark LT be lulled into assuming they're getting an updated, if gently downgraded, Blackwood. Neither was nor is true.
That earlier, faux hauler was an uneasy amalgam of a couple of Ford F-Series pickups and the Lincoln Navigator, which itself was a direct knock-off of the Ford Expedition. This true hauler, however, is in fact a rhinoplasticized and slightly beefier version of nothing less, or more, than the Ford F-150 crew cab pickup. That bodes both good and bad for 10,000 people a year Lincoln hopes will buy the second truck ever to wear the Lincoln brand. Seeing as how Lincoln sold less than 4,000 Blackwoods over two model years, that'd be a bullet on the company's sales charts.
The good news is buyers will get a thoroughly polished, well-trimmed, four-door vehicle that can transport four people in comfort, five people in a pinch, handle a payload of more than a ton and a half, and tow up to 8900 pounds. It's available in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, which is unique to the class. The latest in engine technology delivers best-in-class fuel economy. An audio/video system is available to entertain rear-seat passengers, and satellite radio is available.
More good news: Pricing. The Mark LT starts at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $38,680 for the two-wheel-drive model and $42,235 for the four wheel-drive model. That's significantly less than the Cadillac EXT, its most logical competitor, which starts at more than $54,000.
The bad news is that even with all the trimmings, the two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel, the overstuffed seats, the automatic climate control, the play-anything stereo and so on, the Mark LT cannot overcome the reality that it started life as a pickup. And its ride and handling are the ultimate betrayers of this truth.
This leads us to offer the following recommendation: Do not buy the Mark LT for its stellar performance numbers. Don't buy it for its plush, luxo ride. Buy it instead and only for whatever cachet the Lincoln badge brings with it in the circles in which you live and work, along with its ability as a pickup truck.
Model Lineup
Lincoln Mark LT 2WD ($38,680); Mark LT 4WD ($42,235)
Walk AroundLincoln's stylists did a better than decent job of making a square peg fit in a round hole in the design of the Mark LT's front end. Only the most observant eye notices that what looks like a distinctive Lincoln face, like that of a Navigator or of a Blackwood, is the trademark air vent-like Lincoln grille carefully shaved to slide into the same opening as a Ford F-150 grille. Otherwise, everything that makes up what the Mark LT first presents to the world is, yes, out of the same parts bins as feed the F-150 assembly line. Still, it's not an unflattering face.
Distinctive marks on the Mark LT's side panels are few, but noteworthy. Front fender side panels sport the Lincoln badge and a Mark LT logo. The mirrors wear chrome caps over a matte black base, which matches the mounting plate filling the forward lower corners of the front door windows. Door handles are chrome full-rounds set in body-color bezels. Chrome cladding visually links the front and rear bumpers.
Large, mostly rectangular taillight and reflector lenses bridge the seam between the fenders and tailgate. A chrome handle in a body-color surround above an oversize Lincoln badge opens the lockable tailgate, which also wears Mark LT identification. The license plate occupies a recess in the chrome rear bumper above an inset step pad over the optional hitch receiver plate. A single chrome exhaust tip peeks out under the side body panel aft of the right rear tire.
Climbing into the Mark LT is a major step up even with the assist of the optional running boards. And about those running boards, they weren't much help. To be truly functional, they need to protrude farther from the body. As they are, they're some help climbing in, but when you're climbing out, they mostly serve to dirty the back side of your leg as it's nigh impossible to twist your foot around to use them as a step. The powered running boards on the Navigator, which extend when the door is opened and retract when it's closed, were a better idea.
InteriorSave for the Lincoln logo and name sprinkled liberally around the cabin and a trendy color scheme of cool shades of tan or gray accented with tasteful wood and chrome trimmings, there's nothing to distinguish the Mark LT's interior from a Ford F-150 crew cab.
Seats front and rear are virtually bolster free and borderline over-stuffed, much like what might be found in the den of an upscale house or in an airline first-class cabin. An oversize center console with a deep storage bin separates the two front seats, which are adjustable along multiple planes. The rear seat, which is rather upright and fixed, can sit three, but with a fold-down center armrest, it's more inviting for two.
Against the most sensible competition, the Cadillac Escalade EXT, there's little difference in dimensions. Headroom front and rear varies by less than an inch, likewise legroom, which is ample. Hip room is more problematical, as the way it's measured can mislead. The Mark LT's front seat width is listed at almost 64 inches, but this is side to side between the inside door trim and without accounting for the center console, which is far from slender. The EXT's front-seat hip room is listed at 62 inches, but this also includes a substantial center console. Our memory tells us the Mark LT's front seats are the roomier, but this reflects as well our comfort with the busy-ness of the inside door panels, the shape of the seat cushions, etc. Best to try, then decide. We're more comfortable assessing the rear seat. The Mark LT's back seats promise 63.1 inches of hip room, the EXT's 62 inches. In that the design and style of the seats are similar, essentially benches with split, fold-down backs, the Mark LT's extra inch-plus directly translates into more hip room. The Mark LT's rear door openings are more welcoming, too, than the EXT's, which offer less clearance between the seats and door edges at floor level, to the point we had to turn our feet sideways when climbing in and out of the Cadillac's back seat. The EXT comes out ahead on one major interior measure: Front-seat side impact airbags are standard, which are not available on the Mark LT.
The way the Lincoln Mark LT's interior interfaces with occupants is virtually all positive, even more so when compared with the Cadillac EXT's chunky, cheap-feeling, outdated, over-done, ad hoc hodgepodge of panels and switches. In contrast, the Mark LT's dash is smooth and sleek, with sharply defined, vertical panels and well-spaced, supremely functional ventilation registers. The instrument cluster is a quiet, symmetrical assemblage of well-shaded, round, easily scanned analog gauges. The speedometer dominates, with a slightly smaller tachometer to the left and a combination voltage and oil pressure twin to the right; the last houses the information display with compass heading, ambient temperature, odo/trip meter and vehicle system warnings. Tucked into the saddles between the two side gauges and the center speedometer are needles reporting fuel level and coolant temperature. Large buttons managing the essential cruise control, audio and air conditioning settings bracket the sizable steering wheel hub.
The stereo control head occupies the top third of the center stack, with the air conditioning controls directly below. The bottom third is filled with a cigarette lighter and the reverse parking sensor on/off switch above an iconic Lincoln label. All controls are intuitively marked, finger-friendly and ergonomically arrayed. The only disappointment is the lack of a proper tuning knob for the stereo; in lieu, there's either scanning or seeking, both agonizingly slow processes. Give the Cadillac EXT credit, though, for a feature not offered on the '06 Mark LT: a navigation system.
A surprisingly comfortable, ice cream scoop handle-like gear lever stands proud out of a chromed shift gate in an equally sleek and uncluttered ce
Driving ImpressionsA truck is a truck. No matter how it's featured and trimmed, or how sophisticated the suspension design and frame composition, a truck will drive, ride and handle like a truck. The Mark LT is no exception to this rule. This isn't to say it's uncomfortable, or unresponsive, just that notwithstanding its luxury nameplate, it's not a Town Car with an enlarged, open-air trunk.
The reality check starts with the engine. Despite the promise of three-valve-per-cylinder and variable-valve-timing technology, its 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque disappoint when called upon by the driver's right foot. Maybe the relaxed acceleration from a stop and middling mid-range punch are sufficient for a pickup hauling building materials or pulling a trailer, but they left us wanting more from a vehicle positioned principally as a people mover.
Fuel economy tried to make up for the lackadaisical performance, however; rated by the EPA at 14 miles per gallon in the city and 18 mpg on the highway, the four-wheel-drive Mark LT we tested averaged a respectable 15 mpg over the several hundred miles we racked up in our week with the truck. (EPA estimates the two wheel-drive mpg at 14/19 city/highway.) In contrast, Cadillac gives the '05 EXT 345 horsepower and 380 pound-feet to motivate approximately an equal mass, with the obvious result a sprightlier truck. Fuel economy is lower, though, on the EXT with an EPA mpg estimate of 13/17 city/highway.
The Mark LT is a full-size truck, make no mistake. It rides like a truck, rocking and rolling over pavement heaves and mid-corner ripples. This is a consequence of a relatively high center of gravity that plagues pickups and SUVs, but we wonder how much the old-fashioned live rear axle and heavy duty leaf springs contribute. Especially when we didn't experience similar dynamics on a recent ride in a Cadillac EXT, which employs a live rear axle but with trailing links, coil springs, Panhard rod and automatic load leveling. The Mark LT tracks around sweeping freeway on-ramps about the way we expect a full-size pickup to track: Initially, it understeers, where the front end wants to slide. Lift off the throttle and the relatively lighter back end teases with hints of oversteer, where the back end gets loose and starts to come around.
Steering was about par for a pickup, with decent on-center feel and reasonably responsive turn-in; most certainly, there's no dartiness in the Mark LT's directional stability depth chart.
Braking was solid and linear. Even with the front-end dive that hard braking induces, we experienced no rear wheel lockup, thanks to Electronic Brake-force Distribution.
The Mark LT is rated to tow up to 8600 pounds with four-wheel drive, 8900 pounds with two-wheel drive. Maximum payload is 1460 pounds with four-wheel drive, 1620 pounds with two-wheel drive.
The 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is a worthy successor to the ill-fated Lincoln Blackwood. One might even argue, it's what the original Blackwood should have been. There's no denying its F-150 origins, but Lincoln has done a quality job in endowing the Mark LT with enough creature comfort to earn it a place on any dealer's showroom floor.
New Car Test Drive correspondent Tom Lankard filed this report from Carmichael, California.


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The Club Industry East trade show is nearing, and this issue has several pages worth of details about what to expect at the conference and trade show scheduled for May 27-30 in Boston.
The conference will feature 85 seminars in nine tracks. This year's keynote speaker is Nancy Snyderman, chief medical editor for NBC News.
Make sure to check out all the show details at clubindustryshow.com to get more information or to register for the show.
Hide comments


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The US and world to pay a high price for utter incompetence in foreign policy? August 20, 2014
Didn't the President JUST tell us that the threat from ISIS was past? August 15, 2014
Kasparov: 'Carter looks like Churchill in comparison' to Obama March 17, 2014
Wendy Davis Slams Abbott for Gender Pay Gap, Paid Men Thousands More on Her Own Staff April 13, 2014
Related Posts
Quotes & Notes
"Terrorism flourishes because they are protected by a Left-wing denial industry" . --- author unknown
"Facts are rarely allowed to contaminate the big-government utopian delusion of the Left" -- author unknown
"Without double standards, the Left/Statists/Liberals would have no standards at all" -- author unknown
"The champions of socialism call themselves progressives, but they recommend a system which is characterized by rigid observance of routine and by a resistance to every kind of improvement. They call themselves liberals, but they are intent upon abolishing liberty. They call themselves democrats, but they yearn for dictatorship. They call themselves revolutionaries, but they want to make the government omnipotent. They promise the blessings of the Garden of Eden, but they plan to transform the world into a gigantic post office. Every man but one a subordinate clerk in a bureau. What an alluring utopia! What a noble cause to fight!" -- Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) Economist and social philosopher
"And what is Fascism? Fascism is private ownership, private enterprise, but total government control and regulation. Well, isn't this the liberal philosophy?
Liberals value theory over truth and facts
The conservative, so-called, is the one that says 'less government, get off my back, get out of my pocket, and let me have more control of my own destiny.'" -Ronald Reagan
"Liberals sense of moral righteousness doesn't come from achievement - it comes from believing that you are a bad person... for a Liberal to be morally superior, they must paint Conservatives as morally inferior, even if they have to lie. It's an unearned sense of moral superiority."
"The left no longer makes arguments about policies' effectiveness. Their only argument is character assassination"
"The religion of Leftism supersedes the law, fairness or personal integrity."
"...liberals are big fans of freedom speech, freedom of expression, freedom of anything and everything - unless, of course, they disagree with whatever the "anything or everything" is." - Adam Corolla
"I have never understood why it is 'greed' to want to keep money you've earned, but not greed to want to take someone else's money". - Thomas Sowell
"Have I not destroyed my enemy when I have made him into my friend?" -Abraham Lincoln
"The most intolerant people I've ever met are those Liberals who consider themselves most tolerant." -MB
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
"Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so." -Ronald Reagan
"The problem with Socialism (Liberalism) is that eventually, you run out of other peoples money" - Margaret Thatcher
"If you think criminals and lunatics are going to obey gun control laws, you're a special kind of stupid" -MB
"One thing you have to say about the Left: They never miss an opportunity to let the mask of hatred slip. It's practically Pavlovian; they are so invested in the myth of their own righteousness that their "tolerance" fetish goes right out the window whenever they suffer the slightest affront to their delusional notion of how the world works." - Michael Walsh


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In May 2012, the Government of the Future Centre held a roundtable to discuss the ways in which European Union member states could create a climate of sustainable employment, and to share initiatives that member states are currently taking. In this video, executives from several European countries discuss the possibilities and the challenges they are facing to foster inclusive labor markets and lasting job opportunities.
The executives – from Germany, Denmark and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – reflect on how their countries and organizations can encourage sustainable employment, what are the challenges for governments in the future and what are the key thoughts they take away from this roundtable. All argue that sustainable employment means avoiding long period unemployment and inactivity. All agree that sustainable employment is about fostering collaboration and coordination between education organizations, private companies and public employment services to develop tailored solutions for targeted group of people.
Recorded at the High-Level Roundtable for Government Executives on Sustainable Employment, May 2012.


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Greater Manchester Police have confirmed the youngster has been apprehended and bailed on suspicion of a racially-aggravated public order offence following Sunday`s match
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence in the aftermath of the Manchester derby, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed.
The investigation was launched when police were notified of a racist tweet which was sent to a Manchester United player, reported to be defender Rio Ferdinand, following Sunday`s game, which the Red Devils dramatically won 3-2.
A statement from Greater Manchester Police read: "Police investigating a racist tweet sent during Sunday`s Manchester derby have made an arrest.
"An investigation was launched following a message directed at a Manchester United player.
"A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence on the evening of Monday 10 December 2012.
"He has been bailed pending further enquiries."
The boy has been bailed pending further enquiries as the fallout from a particularly heated clash at the Etihad Stadium continues to intensify.
Nine arrests were made in the immediate aftermath of the fixture, and authorities are still searching for the man who threw a coin which struck Ferdinand in the face as he celebrated his side`s victory.
Meanwhile, Manchester City fan Matthew Stott is facing a life ban from the club after running onto the pitch in an attempt to get to the United star.


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Whisky Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak (12 Year)
Whisky Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak (12 Year) 86/100
Review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Posted July 2010
The Macallan is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery, located near Easter Elchies House, at Craigellachie in the Speyside region of Scotland.
I was given a bottle of The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak and the 10 Year Old Fine Oak by J. Wheelock, the Brand Ambassador West for The Macallan, Highland Park, and The Famous Grouse. Mr. Wheelock ask me to do a comparative tasting of the two styles of oak as part of my series of reviews of The Macallan Single Malt Scotches. For those who do not know, The Macallan Sherry Oak whiskies are aged exclusively in oak barrels seasoned with sherry from Jerez, Spain. The Fine Oak Series is a relatively new series of whiskies which uses American Sherry and American Whiskey barrels in addition to the Spanish Sherry casks.
Both bottles presented to me were 750ml bottles, each bottled at 40% alcohol by volume. I shared my review of The Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year Single Malt Whiskey earlier and you may click on the link to read it for comparison.
And this is my review of The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky.
In The Bottle 5/5
I love the elegant display box the back of which is full of informationabout the whisky, where and how it is made, and why this is important. These Macallan boxes always add a touch of class and ambiance to the occasion of opening the bottle for the first time. They also protect the spirit from light ensuring that when I sample it, the whisky is as close to the distiller's and blender's intentions as possible.
A nice tidbit of information from the display box confirms that The Macallan Sherry Oak is exclusively matured for a minimum of 12 years in Spanish oak casks, handcrafted and sherry seasoned in Jerez, Spain.
This should deliver the classic Macallan style with rich sherry notes and strong complexity.
In the Glass 8.5/10
When I poured the Macallan Sherry Oak into my glencairn glass the immediate nose was complex and tainted with sherry. I sensed a firm woodiness in the air which had an exotic 'fruit-like' flair. Treacle and sherry smoke slowly drifted out of the glass with the firm imprint of wild berries and tart cherries. As I let the glass decant, leather scents arose as did a smattering of tea leaves (Oolong).
The colour of the whisky is a waxy brownish bronze which seems to have hints of reddish highlights.
In my Mouth 51/60
When I was tasting the Macallan 12 year Sherry Oak for the first time I had some friends over to help me. (The very same friends that helped me with the Macallan 10 Year Fine oak.) We again, sat around my table on the deck outside in the early evening, and shared our thoughts. Unlike the experience with the Macallan Fine Oak, this time the impressions were a little more scattered from person to person. We all agreed that a heavy sherry smoke dominated the flavour profile. A firm fruity flavour was inside the smoke but we disagreed as to exactly which flavours of fruit we were tasting. I tasted purple fruits like plums and dark schubert cherries; whereas some of the others tasted grapes and red cherries, and yet another tasted the fruitiness but could offer no real identification.
I also tasted a firm woodiness in the spirit as well, which I want to say was accented by that flavour of Schubert cherries I had noted earlier. Cocoa, leather, dry fruit rounded and a smattering of tea leaves filled out the flavour profile. I tasted a perhaps a light maltiness in the spirit as well but my friends did not.
When an ice-cube is added to the glass the smokiness was muted and the sweeter flavours in the glass seemed to gain expression. Everyone at the tasting observed great complexity in the initial delivery of this whisky.
In the Throat 13/15
The Macallan 12 year finishes with a smooth long finish filled which leaves trails of smoke and unsweetened cocoa in the throat. A vague hint of nuttiness seems to be left behind as well as a nice spicy woodiness which stays on the palate and throughout the mouth. The finish is not nearly as sweet as the delivery but it is every bit as enjoyable.
The Afterburn 8.5/10
The Macallan 12 Year was not initially my preferred whisky when I began to compare the 10 Year Fine Oak and the 12 year Old Sherry Oak. However, as I tasted the whiskies more often I began to appreciate more and more the rich complexity and the superior finish this whisky offered. In the end I scored the 12 Year Sherry Oak just a tad higher based mainly upon the superior finish the whisky provided.
I want to be careful when drawing conclusions between the two whiskies however. The 12 year old Sherry Cask whisky has had a full two years of extra aging; thus a direct comparison between the two whiskies is thus fraught with difficulty, especially as I found the flavour complexity of the 10 Year Old Fine Oak to be very good as well.
In the end it is a subjective choice between styles of whisky. The Sherry Oak displays an 'in your face' approach to flavour and complexity whereas the Fine Oak has a more subtle approach. It will be interesting as I move higher up the chain of The Macallan Whiskies to see which style grows on me more.
You may read some of my other Whisky Reviews (click the link) if you wish to have some comparative reviews.
Suggested Recipe
For the most part I sipped the Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak neat or on the rocks during my tasting sessions. It is rich and complex with a plethora of subtleties to tickle the palate. But I will confess that I am a mixer at heart, and I firmly believe that the best cocktails are those mixed when the best ingredients are used. So it is that I came to mix a rather interesting cocktail with the Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak. It is called the Tartan Breeze, and I found the original recipe on page 205, in my handy-dandy cocktail book, 1001 Cocktails (compiled by Alex Barker):
Tartan Breeze
1 1/2 oz Scotch Whisky
1/2 oz Apricot brandy
1 ounce of Orange Juice
dash Angostura Bitters
Shake all of the ingredients over ice in a metal shaker until frosted.
Strain into a suitable glass with more ice
Garnish with an Orange peel
Enjoy Responsibly!
As always you may interpret the scores I provide as follows.
0-25 A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49 Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59 You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn't.
60-69 Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74 Now we have a fair mixing rum or whisky. Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79 You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84 We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89 Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94 Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+ I haven't met this bottle yet…but I want to.
Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be more familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal scale as follows:
70 – 79.5 Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5 Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95 Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+ Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)
One Response to "Whisky Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak (12 Year)"
April 18, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Something I find interesting is that Macallan 12 is bottled at 43% for certain markets like the US. I believe Highland Park 12, Glenmorangie 10, and Teacher's Highland Cream are also bottled at 43% for the US market and 40% for in other places.


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Say it with me: "No one cares about your fantasy team." But we can at least devote a moment to Shea, who sent along this video of him celebrating a championship, thanks to Justin Tucker's fantasy-swinging 61-yard winner.
Here's the proof. Yeah, that jerk had Tucker and Jamaal Charles. Congrats on winning your four-team league.


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For the first time, in breathtaking and high-definition cinematography, the truth, goodness, and beauty of Catholicism are illustrated in a multimedia experience. Journey with Bishop Robert Barron to more than 50 locations throughout 16 countries. Be illuminated by the spiritual and artistic treasures of this global culture that claims more than one billion of the earth's people. Learn what Catholics believe and why. Discover the full meaning of the faith.
Mike Leonard, a veteran NBC Today show correspondent and acclaimed filmmaker, is the Executive Producer of this groundbreaking production.
"The most important media project in the history
of the Catholic Church in America"
The strange and dangerous words of Jesus of Nazareth set up a drama that will culminate in a surprising battle between two kings, and in the wake of this conflict, an empire will be defeated – and the world will be changed. Bishop Robert Barron illuminates and explains the conviction of the Catholic Faith that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, and the revelation of God become man. He shows how Jesus fulfills the four tasks of the Messiah, according to the Old and New Testaments, and how the living legacy of Christ, God and Messiah, is proclaimed by the Church. Join Bishop Barron as he addresses some of the most controversial questions about the life and identity of Jesus Christ and travels through the mysterious and sacred places of the Holy Land of Israel and the eternal city of Rome.
The revelation of Jesus as God is accompanied by a stunning invitation to a unique new way of life, explained in the teachings of Jesus. To every generation, the words of Jesus have proven fascinating, disorienting, sometimes confounding, deeply transformative, and always unforgettable. Bishop Barron highlights the Beatitudes, the path of non-violence and lessons of forgiveness, care for the poor and our relationship with God as presented in the parables. Jesus' teachings are illuminated during Bishop Barron's pilgrimages to Poland, Germany, Spain and New York City. Commentaries at these sites also show how the Catholic Church is a living culture, which gives witness to the inviolable dignity of the human person.
Bishop Barron considers St. Anselm's description of God as "that than which nothing greater can be thought," and goes on to explain St. Thomas Aquinas' arguments which support the claim that God truly exists. He also speaks from the Catholic tradition about the nature of God and the challenging question of evil and the existence of God. To provide a vision of the ineffable majesty and mystery of God, Bishop Barron invites us to the heights of the Sinai desert and makes his way to mysterious Istanbul, walks the glittering streets of Paris and then captivates the viewer with the glories of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
In this episode, Bishop Barron masterfully correlates the Catholic Faith's testimony to the revelation of God in Christ with the vivid practices of reverence offered to his Mother. Mary is explained as "an on-going presence, an actor in the life of the Church." Bishop Barron journeys to the humble remains of Mary's house in Nazareth, to the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus and to the great Marian shrines of Lourdes and Guadalupe to explain the Church's teachings about Mary as the Mother of God, the Immaculate Conception and the dogma of the Assumption.
Bishop Barron calls Peter and Paul "two indispensable men, the ones without whom the church never would have emerged and survived." In telling each man's story, Bishop Barron shows how the Holy Spirit worked through all the apostles and disciples to build the Church. Following the trail of these apostles as they took the Gospel to the ends of the earth, Bishop Barron presents the foundations of the apostolic faith, particularly the revelation of Christ's resurrection from the dead.
Clearly answering the question, "What is the Church?" Bishop Barron presents the reality of the Church as "one, holy, catholic and apostolic." The Body of Christ can be seen on earth from the Church's center in Rome to the cities of New York, Sao Paolo, Manila, Namugongo and Uganda, while still escaping total understanding as the mystical union between Christ and his Church. Bishop Barron also explores the Catholic conviction that the life and presence of Christ continues to embrace humanity in all its joys and sorrows through the presence of the Church.
Bishop Barron explores the ancient practices of the Church's worship that endure to this very day, and the notion that "all value is summed up in the liturgy, the supreme act by which we commune with God." Considered by the Catholic Faith to be "the source and summit" of its identity and mission, the Eucharist is the central practice of the Church's culture. Bishop Barron describes all the parts of the Mass, and shows how the Sacred Liturgy embodies the whole of the Faith in diverse places as Jerusalem, Rome, Chicago, Orvieto, Mexico City.
The story of the Church is told in the examples of those men and women who dedicated their lives to knowing and serving Jesus Christ. The Catholic Faith is made visible in real human lives. Bishop Barron gives consideration to some of the Church's greatest heroes, and demonstrates how their extraordinary examples display both the passion and creative potential of the Catholic Church. Highlighting Katharine Drexel, Therese of Lisieux, Edith Stein, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Bishop Barron tells the story of the Church as a vast company of witness who are called by Christ to be a Communion of Saints.
In this lesson, Bishop Barron explores Catholic spirituality, which is centered on prayer. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Prayer is the lifting up of the mind and the heart to God." On pilgrimage to the places where the great saints and spiritual masters lived, Bishop Barron explores the different types of prayer: contemplation; adoration; petition; and intercession. In telling the stories of Catholics like Thomas Merton, St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, Bishop Barron demonstrates how the human person can be transformed through prayer that manifests a deep, spiritual commitment centered in Christ.
Explore the Church's conviction that life here and now is preparation for an extraordinary world that is yet to come – a supernatural destiny. Bishop Barron presents the Catholic vision of death, judgment, heaven, hell and purgatory as he journeys to Florence, Ireland and Rome. The vision of the Church sees beyond this world and invites us to consider a world without end. Bishop Barron shows how this vision is supported by the mystery and truth of the Resurrection of Jesus.
Click the "Play" button below to watch the entire Episode 6 - The Mystical Union of Christ and His Church.
Bishop Robert Barron created this groundbreaking program as a thematic presentation of what Catholics believe and why, so all adults can come to a deeper understanding of the Catholic Faith. Not a video lecture, Church history or scripture study, this engaging and interesting formational program uses the art, architecture, literature, music and all the treasures of the Catholic tradition to illuminate the timeless teachings of the Church.
The CATHOLICISM Study Program presents the strong, ecclesial dimension of the Catholic Faith – God's revelation through Jesus Christ and His Church. It is comprehensive and faithful, appropriate for:
The Study Program can be experienced in 12 or 22 sessions.
- CATHOLICISM DVD/Blu-ray - The complete film series on DVD or Blu-ray. Filmed in 50 locations throughout 15 countries, the ten episodes reveal the Faith in a breath-taking and compelling way, with original, high-definition cinematography.
- Leader's Study Guide - Includes facilitator's guide, lessons, and study guide answer key.
- Student StudyGuide - Written by Carl Olson for each DVD, complete with extensive commentary, questions for understanding and also questions for application to each participant's own life.
- CATHOLICISM: Journey to the Heart of the Faith - A companion hardcover book based on a more detailed rendering of the scripts from the DVD series.
- Leader's Program Kit - Includes core and supplemental materials needed to host a program, especially for lay leaders.
- Support Materials - Promotional materials and other aids to enrich your program.
- Spanish and English subtitles included in each DVD set.
Click on the appropriate links below to open or download the files. On a PC you can right click on the link and select "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As" (Firefox) to download to your computer.
Compare the different study programs and decide which is best for you by visiting the Study Programs page.
Register for a free webinar to get more information about our programs or to participate in facilitator training:
Register for Webinar
Register for a free webinar to get more information about our programs or to participate in facilitator training:
Click on the appropriate links below to open or download the files. On a PC you can right click on the link and select "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As" (Firefox) to download to your computer.
CATHOLICISM Topical Index
CATHOLICISM Diocesan Initiative
CATHOLICISM Sample Lesson
CATHOLICISM Table of Contents
CATHOLICISM Certificate of Completion
CATHOLICISM Large Poster
CATHOLICISM Bulletin Insert (editable)
CATHOLICISM Flyer (editable)
CATHOLICISM Poster (editable)
Registration Form
Bishop Robert Barron Biography
CATHOLICISM Fact Sheet
Participant Survey
"Managing Personalities" Powerpoint Presentation


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From ForensicsWiki
This is Jesse Kornblum's account. My favorite command is chmod -x /bin/chmod.
Online Resources
I am trying to start pages for Online resources and the Google Desktop Search but am not sure how they should be placed or categorized.
I hereby license all my contributions to this wiki (before and after March 19th, 2006) under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license.


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The University of Akron Office of Research Administration (ORA) supports UA's research endeavors. ORA is committed to providing the highest level of customer service to our research community, through responsiveness, communication, and transparency. We strive to be a Lean operation by using technology and tools as they become available, streamlining and continuously improving our processes, and providing user-friendly products.
Follow us and visit the ORA blog for funding opportunities and research-related events!
ORA's dedicated professionals strive to assist UA researchers through every step of the research administration process.
Grant Life Cycle
Coming soon: Preparing a proposal for submission; PI eligibility; grant, gift or contract?; and more!
Coming soon: extensions and award modifications.
Coming soon! Information on monitoring expenditures, sub-agreements, invoicing, financial reporting and more.
Coming soon! This information will help the researcher ensure all appropriate expenditures have been applied and closes the account.
Questions, comments, suggestions? Email ORA Webmaster.


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moth fold-over clutch from ZEPHIandtheDEVIL on etsy <3
my shoes are Jeremy Scott x Adidas from Solestruck
My name is Celia Edell. I'm 26, and I'm doing my PhD in philosophy at McGill University. I'm Canadian. I'm from the armpit of Ontario.
I used to make Youtube videos for EverydayFeminism on topics like anxiety, feminist theory and philosophy. At McGill I mostly work on critical philosophy of race, feminist ethics, and moral epistemology.
I sometimes write things that are not essays for school. I also love doing photosets of/with my friends.


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- Inside Athletics
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 28, 2008) - Senior Michele DeVault (Columbus, Ohio) drained a career-high six threes and the ETSU women's basketball team moved into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Sun standings after knocking off Jacksonville, 80-74, snapping what was the nation's second longest home winning streak at 17 games Monday afternoon inside Swisher Gymnasium.
With the victory, the Lady Buccaneers move to the .500 mark (10-10), but more importantly jump to 6-1 in the conference; while Jacksonville saw its program-record 10-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 16-4, 6-1. The loss marked the Dolphins first defeat at home since falling to Niagara back on Dec. 18, 2006 and their first conference loss since Feb. 25, 2006 (Belmont).
Three Lady Buc players reached double figures in scoring. ETSU was led by DeVault's hot hand as she scored a team-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting (6-for-7 from beyond the arc). Sophomore Siarre Evans (
"I was extremely pleased with our level of intensity at the start, and how we came out focused and ready to play," mentioned head coach Karen Kemp, whose club has now won four straight games for the first time this season. "The most important thing today was getting the conference win and moving into a tie for first place."
DeVault lifted ETSU in the first half as she scored 14 points and hit four of the Lady Bucs' five threes (she opened 4-of-4). ETSU shot 42.9 percent (15-35) for the half, and
In the second half,
The Lady Bucs made it shaky down the stretch after having its 10-point lead at the 1:15 mark dwindle down to only four, 78-74, but ETSU made seven of its 17 free throws down the stretch to come away with the victory and spoiling JU's Pack the House day, as the Lady Buccaneers sent 823 Dolphin fans home unhappy.
For the game, the Lady Buccaneers shot 46.6 percent (27-58) from the floor, compared to
ETSU will return home for and enjoy a two-game home stand next weekend. The Lady Bucs will host
For more information on ETSU women's hoops, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.


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Kenny Chesney, 'Feel Like a Rock Star' (Feat. Tim McGraw) – Song Review
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw didn't need help selling tickets for the Brothers of the Sun Tour, but whatever seats were still available may have just been scooped up by fans anxious to see the two country superstars sing 'Feel Like a Rock Star' together this summer. The rest of America will have to settle for the radio edit, which is vintage Kenny Chesney.
The singer hasn't rocked out this hard since 2006′s 'Living in Fast Forward,' but a better comparison would be hits like 'Young' and 'Big Star,' both from the 2002 album 'No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems.' Many of Chesney's singles since then have been quieter, more reflective and emotional. 'Feel Like a Rock Star' is a loud and shameless good time.
"Do you smoke do you drink do you yell out Hank / Do you fold it in your pocket to you lock it in the bank / Do you jack it up or drop it down to the ground / With the juice in the Goose or the Coke in the Crown," Chesney sings during the first verse. McGraw sings the second, before the two come together later in the song.
"Whatever makes you feel like a rock star / Yeah you can kick it back chill or you can rock hard / You busted your butt all week / And now it's your time to be / Whatever you wanna be / You can dress to kill / You can shoot to thrill / Try to seal the deal / Whatever makes you feel like a rock star."
Rodney Clawson helped write this summer anthem, which is the lead single from 'Welcome to the Fishbowl,' in stores June 19. The album is available for pre-order, which will score you the single instantly at iTunes. Chesney created some powerful, insightful music and strikingly beautiful melodies on previous albums like 'Hemingway's Whiskey' and 'Lucky Old Sun.' 'Feel Like a Rock Star' is a welcome change of pace. It's a song that doesn't think too hard, which is what feeling like a rock star after a long work week is all about.
Listen to Kenny Chesney feat. Tim McGraw, 'Feel Like a Rock Star'


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The federal government's plan to create the world's largest network of marine parks will ruin small businesses and increase the price of local seafood, the opposition warns.
More than 2.3 million square kilometres of ocean environment around Australia will be protected from July 2014, federal Labor announced on Friday.
Environment Minister Tony Burke says the government recognises there will be impacts on some fishers, which is why $100 million is being allocated under a fisheries adjustment assistance package.
But the commercial fishing industry and the opposition fear the package will not be enough to compensate affected businesses.
The Commonwealth Fisheries Association, which represents the interests of commercial fishers, is concerned compensation is being capped.
"Surely the concept would be if you are negatively impacted, you should receive compensation - pretty easy," association chairman Martin Exel told ABC radio.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says $100 million falls short of what will be required to properly compensate the industry.
"We support strong environmental protection but it cannot be at the expense of the livelihoods of people who make their living from the sea," he told reporters in Sydney.
If the coalition wins the next election, it will review the marine reserves plan, including the associated compensation package.
Mr Burke dismissed criticism of the compensation, saying people needed to know the parameters of any assistance.
"You can't have an open-ended bottomless pit," he said.
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce says under the marine parks plan Australia will have to import more seafood.
"The reality for the Australian people is we import 72 per cent of our seafood," he said.
"So if you eat seafood it's 72 per cent likely to have come from somewhere else."
Environmental groups have welcomed the proclamation, saying polling shows seven out of 10 Australians support it.
"The reserves will protect our magnificent endowment of marine biodiversity and many of our spectacular coral reefs," said Paul Sinclair from the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Queensland LNP senator Sue Boyce said the plan would "ruin hundreds of small and family businesses up and down the Queensland coast".
Assistance will begin to flow from early in 2013/14 once management plans are in place but before any zoning restrictions take effect in July 2014.


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Mormon leader: Same-sex marriage laws cannot 'make moral what God has declared immoral'
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SALT LAKE CITY – More states and nations may legalize same-sex marriage, but human laws cannot "make moral what God has declared immoral," a top Mormon leader said Sunday.
Apostle Dallin H. Oaks, in an address at the Mormon church's biannual general conference in Salt Lake City, said the faith's stance against same-sex marriage might be misunderstood or prompt accusations of bigotry.
But he urged members to remember that their first priority is to serve God, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' policies are based on God's decrees, The Salt Lake Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/1huO8fj ).
An LDS eternal perspective does not allow members "to condone such behaviors or to find justification in the laws that permit them," Oaks said. "And unlike other organizations that can change their policies and even their doctrines, our policies are determined by the truths God has declared to be unchangeable."
Some 20,000 Mormons gathered at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City and millions more watched worldwide via telecasts and the Internet to hear Oaks' remarks on the final day of the two-day conference.
Oaks, a former Utah Supreme Court justice, bemoaned America's declining birthrate, later marriages and rising cohabitation.
He cited the changes as evidence of "political and social pressures for legal and policy changes to establish behaviors contrary to God's decrees about sexual morality and the eternal nature and purposes of marriage and child-bearing."
The Mormon church teaches that same-sex attraction is not a sin, but acting on it is.
"Even though individuals do not choose to have such attractions, they do choose how to respond to them. With love and understanding, the church reaches out to all God's children, including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters," the church website states.
Church President Thomas S. Monson spoke about the death of his wife, Frances, in May and about the challenges of facing mortality with strength and grace. Monday would be their 65th wedding anniversary.
"Her loss has been profound," said the 86-year-old Monson, considered a prophet of the 15-million-member church. "She was the love of my life, my trusted confidante and my closest friend. To stay that I miss her does not begin to convey the depth of my feelings."
His faith has helped him deal with the loss, he said.
"The difficulties which come to us present us with the real test of our ability to endure," Monson said. "A fundamental question remains to be answered by each of us: Shall I falter or shall I finish? Whenever we are inclined to feel burdened down with the blows of life, let us remember that others have passed the same way, have endured and then have overcome."
Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com


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Equestrian Shield Leather Wallet with Detachable Strap
$990.00 $990.00
$400.00 $400.00
All orders will be fulfilled by Burberry Limited and shipped from the US. When you place your order, you accept Burberry's Terms and Conditions and confirm that you have read our Privacy Policy.
Size Guide
Use the Size Guide to choose the best fit for your measurements.
In this window, you can find out the shipping and returns options for the selected item.
In this window, you can contact customer service for further assistance.
- A compact wallet in leather with a hand-stitched tab, shaped to evoke our Equestrian Knight's shield, and a contrast-coloured interior. The detachable shoulder strap converts the wallet into a compact crossbody bag, with multiple compartments to keep essentials organised.
- 19 x 4.5 x 13.5cm/7.5 x 1.8 x 5.3in
- Outer: 100% goat leather
- Inner: 100% calf leather
- Foldover flap with magnetic closure
- One zip coin pocket, two slip pockets
- Six credit card slots
- Detachable shoulder strap
- Hand-painted edges
- Polished metal hardware
- Embossed Burberry lettering at front
- Made in Italy
Item 40749951
Wear this with
Colour Block Detail Jersey Turtleneck Dress
$560.00 $1,390.00
The Patent Leather Rope Stiletto
$260.00 $650.00
Faux Pearl Palladium-plated Drop Earrings
$160.00 $390.00


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It looks like your browser is out of date.
To use all features of KLM.com safely, we recommend that you update your browser, or that you choose a different one. Continuing with this version may result in parts of the website not being displayed properly, if at all. Also, the security of your personal information is better safeguarded with an updated browser.
Paris may be known as the place for a romantic escapade, but Istanbul is a very strong contender for the title 'City of Love'. It is the perfect getaway for lovers, newlyweds or couples wanting to renew their vows. And what could be more romantic than to stay in a unique hotel with rooms especially furnished for an amorous experience?
Perhaps it is the magical oriental atmosphere that permeates the city. Or maybe its impressive views over the Bosporus and sunsets in the Sea of Marmara. Either way, Istanbul just oozes romance. The city seduces and captivates. The sensual aromas of the bazaars and the mystical sounds from ancient mosques and churches are simply unforgettable. You will fall head over heels in love with Istanbul.
Boutique hotel Witt Suites lies tucked away between the galleries, patios and restaurants of Cihangir, within walking distance of the Istanbul Modern Museum and the bars of Beyoğlu. The 17 rooms are stylishly decorated by design company Autoban which furnished the rooms with grey marble bathrooms, luxurious sofas and Bose iPod docks. The result is a tranquil room that feels like a loft. The comfortable beds with leather headboards are perfect for lazing around all day, and you can order a delicious breakfast in bed at no additional cost.
Defterdar Yokusu, 26
The Four Seasons Hotel on the banks of the Bosporus is one of the most popular wedding venues for Istanbul's high society. The pale pink former Ottoman palace, with its marble interior, velvet fabrics and stunning hand-painted ceiling decorations, feels more like an intimate resort than a hotel. The main terrace and some of the rooms offer an irresistible romantic view over the river. At night, lit torches illuminate the terrace. The luxury spa at the hotel boasts a special 2-person treatment suite.
Çırağan Cad, 28
Super deluxe rooms with shimmering curtains, walnut wood furniture, an XL-minibar and lovely limestone bathrooms; photos by famous Turkish photographer Ara G on the walls and a wine lounge in the lobby; the Park Hyatt Macka Palas, nestled between the elegant shops in Nişantaşi, features all of this and more. For the ultimate romantic getaway, book the exquisite Spa Suite with a 2-person tub, a private hammam and steam room. And of course a remote control to dim the lights and set the mood.
Tesvikiye, Bronz Sokak, 4 Sisli


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Boeing Co. BA, +1.57% said Wednesday it plans to employ 30% fewer executives at its Boeing Defense, Space & Security unit by the end of 2012 compared to 2010 levels. The company did not disclose a specific number of positions to be reduced, but it said the entire St. Louis-based defense unit employs 61,000 people worldwide, including managers and workers. A Boeing spokesman said the company does not release executive head count figures. "We are at one of the most challenging yet opportunity-rich times in our history," Boeing said. The company said funding for the U.S. Department of Defense "is under extreme pressure." Boeing shares fell 2% in recent trades. The stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +1.38% which fell 271 points, or 2%.
Have breaking news sent to your inbox. Subscribe to MarketWatch's free Bulletin emails. Sign up here.


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In the end, it will be another 60-80K before you need to do it again.
You are doing the right things for it in the long run, and you are learning how to do things yourself which translates into lower costs.
I am available during the week for some help as well. You know where I live :)
upper control arms are not that bad, but lower control arms you need a ball joint spreader, and I won't touch them. TRE's I don't mess with either. Sway bars are not bad either.
Pat is awesome!


text: Kaliningrad City Guide is a practical, completely offline digital guide that runs on iPhones, iPads, androids. It offers a wide variety of information about Kaliningrad, its history, and contemporary life, including suggestions for good places to eat, drink, and go out on the town. The guide also offers a selection of discounts on local services so that during your exploration of Kaliningrad you can save some crowns. The guide has been put together by a team who know Kaliningrad inside out, have lived here long-term, and love their city of a thousand spires. Kaliningrad is the great city and we bring it to your phone. Waffles, beer, great food and a compact charming city center. Kaliningrad is the hippest city with all its sights, monuments and restaurants in one handy guide for your phone. Already 6 million downloads. Packed with insider tips and in-the-know advice, this free Kaliningrad City Guide will help you avoid all the tourist traps so you can experience the city like a local. Our travel guide provides an authentic experience all via the latest app technology, and will give you insider information on the best attractions, sights, shops, restaurants, nightlife (bars and clubs) and museums. A complete guide to Kaliningrad that works offline.Features:• A unique map and content• GPS functionality for displaying your exact position• More than 100 points of interest, including historical monuments, events, restaurants, cafés, museums, and clubs• A display of attractions nearest to your current location• Indication of your distance from the attraction• 5 unique walking tours around Kaliningrad's neighborhoods• More than 100 unique photographs of Kaliningrad's most famous monuments


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exoram needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 36 designs submitted by 11 freelance designers.
Please look at the links of images attached in the design breif for what i am looking for.
Greater Washington Plastic Surgery
DC's Top Surgeons
Desired Color Scheme:
Blue/white or Blue/Black/White or Any Other Color you deem fit
Desired Style:
Make sure to include some sort of variation of the provided logo
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
I am looking for a logo that has some sort of version of this image built into it: http://www.knownaccess.com/bg.gif Name: Greater Washington Plastic Surgery Please be creative, make something professional yet attractive. Color Scheme: Perhaps Blue/black/white or just blue white or just black white. OR any combination of colors that you think would look good for a doctors logo. I have gotten other logos made on this site and love the talent here.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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B&B Introduces 'Swivel Kit' for Flat Screen TVs
October 15, 2013 by RVBusiness Comments Off on B&B Introduces 'Swivel Kit' for Flat Screen TVs
Mishawaka, Ind.-based B&B Molders LLC has introduced the EZ Swivel Kit for flat screen TV installations that require 180-degree rotation.
According to a press release, when combined with a single lightweight panel, the EZ Swivel Kit replaces the need to build a heavy interior box and eliminates lazy susan swivels, stop cleats, and locking pins. This system also enables quick alignment and installation with horizontal and vertical adjustments.
The EZ Swivel Kit comes complete with one bottom bushing, one top bushing, two EZ swivel brackets and installation instructions.
According to the company, benefits include:
• Ergonomic locking button secures TV panel in place during travel.
• Large 1-5/8-inch pass thru hole accommodates all TV and video cords.
• Integrated stops allow 180-degree rotation, eliminates tangled cords and stops cleat damage.
• Screw slots on EZ swivel bracket for quick adjustment of cabinet panel.
• EZ Adjustment Hole and Screw Access Window allow locking position adjustment.
• Locator Window for accurate alignment.
For more information about B&B Molders, click here.


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The final five have a group hug and exhale in relief. Big news from the party boat: Padma and Tom unexpectedly interrupt them mid-sigh to inform them they the next day they will be setting sail on a cruise to Alaska. Josh's immediate concerned is that he doesn't have appropriate outerwear. The gang heads home to pack. Brooke is deathly afraid of water travel and is trying to psych herself up and be a stronger person — for her son and for the sake of the competition.
The gang boards the Celebrity Cruises Infinity ship, which looks decidedly posh. They toast themselves with some very fruit-laden drinks and we see the ship's decks filling up (clearly the Top Chef budget wasn't big enough to rent out the whole ship). The band is kicking, dancing starts and Stefan shimmies up to Brooke who gently pushes him away, instructing, "You're too close."
Below deck, the chefs enter the kitchen, greeted by Padma and guest judge Curtis Stone. Lizzie is delighted to see Curtis, she's clearly crushing on him. For the Quickfire Challenge, the chefs will be cooking for the ship's Welcome Aboard party. They have two hours to prepare 200 portions of an amuse bouche highlighting iceberg lettuce. Stefan thinks this is a Titanic joke. I thought it was simply a reference to their Alaskan destination.
Either way, iceberg lettuce? Yikes. The chefs get to it, struggling to find everything they need and adjusting to the ship's kitchen (no open flames allowed on a boat!). Sheldon seems particularly stumped, as iceberg is mainly utilized for "crappy filling for a taco, or a lame salad."
Stefan is braising pork to be served with cooked iceberg, like cabbage. "They're freezing upstairs and I think Padma should have something warm in her mouth." he announces, absolutely intending every possible entendre.
After a commercial break featuring a spot for the Top Chef Celebrity Cruises Cruise from Miami (natch), the iceberg bites are served. Stefan's braised lettuce and Sheldon's Vietnamese wrap seem unique. Lizzie, Josh and Brooke all seem to have done the same thing: variations on the wedge salad, with bacon and blue cheese.
Curtis announces that though he and Padma enjoyed all the dishes, the one that used the ingredient in the most successful way was Sheldon's Vietnamese lettuce wrap with pork, shrimp and pickled iceberg hearts. He will be given an advantage in the elimination challenge, to be revealed later.
The chefs have the rest of the afternoon off to relax. Lizzie and Sheldon hit the spa for manicures. Sheldon's manicurist is from South Africa and she and Lizzie bond over their mutual homeland. Lizzie shares that she recently lost her father and gives us the first real look into her personal life all season. Meanwhile Brooke, Josh and Stefan are on the lido deck and knocking a few drinks back (prepared by, I can only hope, Isaac the Bartender). Josh's wife is due to give birth that day and he's on edge about that.
The gang reconvenes for dinner at "Q-Sine", the unfortunately named wacky-theme restaurant on the ship. Josh and Brooke engage in some playful sparring over who has won more challenges (answer: Brooke) but when Josh points out that Stefan hasn't won any elimination challenges, things take a seriously catty turn. Lizzie and Sheldon practice looking at their napkins.
Thankfully the food comes, which is plated in the most god awful cheese ball schticky ways. Sushi lollipops! Disco shrimp with blinking lights! I am half expecting someone with extra flair to offer them some Pizza Shooters or Extreme Fajitas. Padma and Curtis interrupt their dessert (chocolate tombstones!) to explain the Elimination Challenge. The chefs will be running dinner service at Q-Sine tomorrow night. Each must take the concept of surf and turf and "turn it on its head." Sheldon gets first pick of the proteins as his advantage. Padma leaves and advises them, "Please, be creative tomorrow."
The next day, in the walk-in, Sheldon selects the rather pedestrian pairing of beef tenderloin and lobster tails. Brooke decides to go bold or go home and takes frog legs and mussels. Yes! Lizzie wows everyone by expertly butchering an entire suckling pig (Josh in particular seems to be suddenly seeing her in a different light. If you know what I mean).
The gang races back into the kitchen and fights over the spread of non-traditional serving vessels. Gimmicks galore.
As prep moves forward, doubts creep in. Brooke is struck by amphibian ambivalence and wonders if the frog legs count as "turf" or not. Josh's scallop-based "pasta" has not set at all, and Sheldon seems totally despondent, resigned to the fact that he's not making a playful dish and that he missed the mark when selecting his predictable proteins.
Judges are seated, joined by Hugh Acheson and several Celebrity Cruises execs. Up first is Brooke's mussels and frog legs with celery root and fennel puree, papadums and shallot chutney. Tom praises her pairing of beets with frog legs, which gave them an earthiness (enough to quality as a "turf", one hopes). On the flip side, her greasy papadums are panned.
Stefan describes his dish to the judges: Braised pork belly with beer sauce, parsnip & eel ravioli. Tom and Hugh are taken aback by the crunchiness of the pork belly. Curtis defends it, saying that it's a cultural thing - in England, Australia and Europe cooking pork until it's charcoal is apparently totally normal. Hugh seems unconvinced. Everyone agrees that his parsnip-eel ravioli are a miss, and Tom is grossed out by the beaker full of greasy sauce accompanying the dish.
Josh serves next, and explains that he didn't like the way his pasta set so he changed it to a more scrambled egg presentation. The scrambled scallops are served with braised pork belly and, to no one's surprise, bacon. Padma and Tom can't taste the scallop but are generally happy with the dish. While some may argue it's not wise to admit your mistakes if they aren't obvious, the judges seem impressed with Josh's game time switch up and recovery.
Sheldon is having a bad day. He knows his food is "uninspiring" and his tempura is once again not frying up crisply (a repeat of the Roller Derby challenge). Despite his self-doubt the dish sounds amazing - Korean BBQ filet mignon, tempura lobster, sesame cabbage, kimchi & teriyaki sauce. The judges agree that the lobster missed the mark, but the other elements are winners. "The kimchi I could eat all day," says Hugh as he reaches for seconds.
Finally, Lizzie is up. She's panicking as she struggles to figure out how to work the kitchen's steamer. She is out of time and must start plating, not having steamed her rolls for as long as she wanted to. She serves up her dish: Cabbage stuffed with suckling pig & scallops with mustard sour cream and pickled shallots and apple. The cabbage is undercooked, making the rolls fall apart when they are cut into. Despite the cabbage blunder, Tom and Curtis love the flavor profile.
Padma asks the judges' panel for their votes on who should win. Brooke and Josh are named as favorites. Sheldon and Stefan are named as possible losers. Lizzie is actually named as both a favorite and potential dismissal. At judges' table, Sheldon stammers that he wasn't inspired by his ingredients. Tom points out that he was the chef with first choice and could have picked anything. Sheldon looks just about ready to cry and it's breaking my heart.
Curtis announces the most imaginative and successful surf and turf dish was Brooke's. She wins the challenge and a seven day Caribbean cruise from Celebrity Cruises.
"That's ironic," she says, dryly. In her interview she seems more excited and says she's "ecstatic" to have won and that being on the cruise helped get her over her fear of boats.
Padma tells Lizzie and Josh they are safe and can return to the kitchen. So it's down to Sheldon or Stefan. Tom tells them that they are both here for the same reason — the separate elements on their dishes didn't come together. Tom admits he doesn't want either of them to go, then asks Padma to deliver the news: Stefan, please pack your knives and go.
Stefan's exit interview is surprisingly introspective and positive. He says that the show has inspired him and that it helped him remember why he wanted to be a chef to begin with. Then, much more true to character, "See you in f---ing 'Last Chance Kitchen,' mother------s."
Next week: The chefs disembark in Juneau and are cooking up wild Alaskan salmon, and Padma tells one unlucky chef their dish is only worthy to feed the sled dogs.


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Learn How to Squirt
Obviously this article is intended to show women how to squirt. It shouldn't be that hard for men. But it can also be very rewarding for men to learn how to give those orgasms to women.
What very few people know is that nearly any woman can learn how to squirt! An ejaculatory orgasm for women is not fiction but actually a scientifically proven fact! We just don't get educated about this topic very well.
But thank god we can change that. I highly recommend men and women to learn this skill because done right female ejaculatory orgasms become whole-bodyish and feel like heaven on earth. I'm so jealous I wasn't born as a woman.
No, actually I'm a man who had the tremendous luck of learning to give women those squirting orgasms and let me tell you … it has changed my relationships so much. That's why I want to give you a …
Sincere Warning!
No, not just a legal disclaimer I really mean it. Having a man give a whole-body squirting orgasm to a woman will create a very deep emotional bond this has been confirmed to me over and over again. Using this on one-night stands will absolutely backfire on all parties involved, so please use this responsibly. This can be used to incredibly deepen the bond and the intimacy in a relationship but it can also break hearts. I suggest developing a real solid connection in a partnership before attempting to learn how to squirt.
What about solo-squirting you ladies ask? I don't want to say it's impossible but extremely hard at least. It is easier to start out squirt-training with a partner and then transition to squirting while masturbating. You soon will understand why, just keep reading.
Who can do it, who can not
It' s a big myth that I always keep reading and hearing that "some women can squirt, some just can't". This is rubbish for the most part and the good news is that it probably is for you, too. I've heard of a couple of cases, mainly a extremely overwheight woman who really hated her body, who was impossible to train how to squirt. But she didn't proactively sought out the information eather so this already puts you ahead of her (winks)
Most women who were self-declared non-squirters just didn't know what you are about to learn. Okay enough of the teasing. Here comes …
The Simple Secret to Female Ejaculation
It's all about the blood flow. The only thing that determines whether you can succed in making an orgasm ejaculatory or not is the level of unprohibited blood-flow in the whole body. Okay, there's another catch to it and that is the ever-so-often talked about G-Spot. To me it's merely incredible that there are still people arguing whether it exists or not. Believe me: it does. It's just the myths and the unrealistic claims about it's effect that make women go "Nah, that can't be it!" who got their G-Point stimulated.
And we are back to the blood-flow again because if you understand how to make the blood flow thorugh your body, the G-Spot will gain more and more … "effect".
You see, most people have tensions all over their body and as a trained massage-therapist you can believe me with that. finding a stress-free back is like finding 100$ in the street. It seems like a miracle if you do. Now, of course to really get the blood flowing and to accomplish and ejaculatory orgasms through the G-Spot a massage is in order.
That's why I mentioned the immense benefit of having a partner for learning how to squirt. Also we need the blood flowing in the whole body, that's why the massage has to get really intimate. Have your partner not only work your back, but also especially the areas that are important to sexual stimulation: the pubic bone, the inner thighs (you will find an incredible amount of tension there most of the times) and the buttocks. Check the area around the breasts too, sometimes there is also some tension to be found. Go all the way down the legs and up the neck.
If you find tense spots, massage them thoroughly, untill the tension is gone, theskin area turns red (red area means increased blood-flow! But not all humans go red through massage, it really depends on the individual) you have at least worked the spot for quite some minutes. Sometimes tensions are just to deep to be removed in one session. This can make the actual squirting "fail" but then again there's a reason why most people need a number of sessions before accomplishing the squirting orgasms.
Oh, and use a natural massage oil because it will probably get in contact with vaginal fluids. Some of the most natural oils are olive and grapeseed oils. Use them if you have no problem being remembered of frying steaks. (laughs) But since I'm no doctor, check with yours first or ask the pharmacist when buying your oil.
The G-Spot
Okay, once you really got the blood flowing it's time for some good G-Spot stimulation. Now where is that dreaded thing? Easy, it's on top of the vaginal wall. If you were to put one hand on the female pubic area and with the other try to touch the palm of your hand from inside the vagina you have the area of that G-Spot. By stimulating this area (that means just touching it) there will build up a spongey knob and that's the actual G-Spot.
This may sound complicated in text but it's really no rocket science. Further stimulation of this spongey tissue will feel very good to the woman and if you did everything right and you got the right bloodflow going, the coming orgasm will wet bedsheets.
When stimulating the G-Spot you ought to be quite rough. There's not much to fear, the vaginal area was build to resist very strong stimulation and going to weak on the process won't bring any results. And next thing you know, you are back on the internet and searching for even more information on how to squirt when you were actually really close. Inside of there there's no need to be very romantic. You need a strong stimulus to achieve a strong response. But make sure your fingernails are cut!
Credit Where Credit is Due
I did not learn all of these skills by myself. Everything I try to explain on here in text format is actually nicely visualized by my personal mentor, Stephane Hemon. He gave me the basic tools on which I build all of my knowledge in this area. This is to say thank you and spread the word.
Edit: Unfortunately he doesn't teach squirting anymore. But I did write another free guide on female ejaculation. Click here to get it..
So that's it. That's the basic blueprint of how to squirt. For further tips on the process, the massage, common pitfalls, etc. check my other articles.
I wish you muuuuuch enjoyment
PS: I really did learn many new things since first writing this post and you can check my updated guide on how to make a girl squirt by simply clicking on the link.


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There was a bonanza of midweek action tonight, with 14 matches taking place across four competitions.
The Dr McKenna Cup and Connacht senior football league both commenced, with some of the stand-out fixtures including Down V Armagh, Donegal V Queen's, perennial winners Tyrone's meeting with Antrim and the Fermanagh-Monaghan derby as well as Sligo V Galway and Roscommon's trip to Leitrim.
In Leinster, we had second-round action in both football and hurling - three mouth-watering clashes in the Walsh Cup and three more in the O'Byrne Cup. In hurling, Kilkenny travelled to Laois, Dublin faced Meath and Wexford took on Carlow. Meanwhile, the Dublin footballers opened their defence of the O'Byrne Cup at home to Offaly, while Kildare entertained Louth and Meath were in Carlow.
Click here to look back at our LIVE text commentary on all the action as it happened.


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Nice work! Enjoy the show!
Link Copied!
Tiger breeders push lift on China trading ban
Opening Sequence
Trump nixes Pelosi travel in shutdown fight
North Korean envoy arrives in U.S. for talks
'Thousands' more immigrant children separated at border
Cohen says he rigged polls for Trump
Britain searches for a Brexit 'Plan B'
Israeli museum to drop "McJesus" sculpture
It's Fortnite vs Netflix in a battle for eyes
NBA's Kanter asks Trump to act on Turkey human rights
Closing Sequence


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Thursday, July 7, 2011
George, This Doesn't Look So Good
George Hincapie's leg (yesterday).
Hincapie is in his 16th Tour de France, equaling the most starts with Joop Zoetemelk.
Photo: Bettini
Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN
Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com. There are more than 2,000 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.
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