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Windows Phone 8 Portico update: at last here in New Zealand
After waiting for ages we finally get the Windows Phone 8 Portico update in New Zealand. It's said it fixes some freezes and restarts, plus it corrects the SMS date problem.
Surprisingly, once the update was available there was none of that "staggered release" rigmarole. Once Windows Phone 8 Portico is available we just have to check for updates on the phone and it downloads over the air (OTA), ready to install. Install times will depend on how full your phone is, but in mine it took just around 25 minutes.
So, here is my score card for Windows Phone 8 update:
- Easy of install: 10/10
- Download speed: 10/10
- Availability: 3/10
All in all pretty good having it available now and easy to update too. But not good enough. Last week I was driving to town when the Bluetooth speakerphone in the car announced "Connection lost". I looked down and the phone was restarting itself. The Nokia logo showed up and it just stayed there. That logo stayed on the screen for five hours (hey, great battery!) until someone told me about the soft reset procedure. Until then I was thinking "great, just before the update that supposedly fixes these my phone crashes and needs to go away to be flashed".
Luckily the reset worked and the phone seemed ok after that. And today the phone got the update OTA so I feel a bit better about not losing the phone.
As usual manufacturers say Microsoft is the one to be blamed for timing, Microsoft says the mobile operators are the ones who decide if updates can be deployed, and so on. A loop of excuses, where consumers are the ones with no say on when or how.
Basically, as I said before, Microsoft should separate app and UI fixes, new apps from network updates and delivery Windows Phone updates every month, instead of waiting for a twice a year release cycle. It's not like they have the leading mobile platform in the world and can do whatever they want. If they aren't good at this now, I'm sorry, they are toast.
Having said that, they do act like they have the #1 mobile platform in the world, and don't need users to download apps:
I know Apple and Android also do region locking. But they don't have to compete from the last position in the market.
Windows Phone updates, again
The Windows Phone folks at Microsoft managed to raise my expectations and failed completely to deliver.
I tried for one last time updating two Windows Phone 7 devices I have here (mine and wife's) to the latest 7.8 release and again Zune says both are up to date and no updates are available. This is when Windows Phone 7.8 has been available for almost four weeks here in New Zealand.
Seeing that Microsoft persisted with the crappy experience in the Windows Phone ecosystem - taking this same "managed release" idea to Windows Phone 8, I just removed Zune from my laptop and won't bother updating the old handsets. And when they die we will just replace them with something that, you know. works.
If only they actually treated Windows Phone updates as serious business and delivered these instead of playing around.
As for my Nokia Lumia 920 (the one I use as my day phone), I will continue to use it. If anything happens then this too will be replaced with something else that just works. It might even have something happening by "accident" to this handset if I just get worked up enough.
More Windows Phone account troubles
What's with Microsoft and badly designed/implemented account management systems?
First I couldn't add a credit card to pay for things (take my money already!), and now I can't remove an old Windows Phone device from my account.
Then as I try updating the phone number on my new device, I get another error:
They sure have some problems implementing basic stuff there.
UPDATE: And it seems if you go device.live.com and from there to the Windows Phone list the "Remove" link doesn't work. If you go through the windowsphone.com website through the device list and select "Account Settings" then you can remove the device and update the number. Why two different ways of getting to the same place, and only one works?
Also, having said that. Posted a comment to @WinPhoneSupport on Twitter and receive a reply in less than five minutes with a good suggestion (unrelated by good troubleshooting start). Plus karma points for them.
Wireless charging Windows Phone
And it is here:
Wireless charging. If you have a Nokia Lumia 920 then you just need to plug the charger to the wall and as soon as you drop the phone on the plate it will charge.
The Nokia Lumia 920 has everything needed for wireless charging out of the box. If you have a Nokia Lumia 820 then you need to replace the original cover with a special one that enables wireless charging.
Very cool, having the charging plate on your desk, just lie the phone on top of it and charge away. As you can see in the photo it even works with the Otterbox Commuter case.
Microsoft should update Windows Phone update
I previously commented on how I thought Microsoft should split Windows Phone 8 updates in different types and deliver those without interference from the operators and OEMs. It seems this is something is being done - if we actually have had updates yet.
We now see that some OEMs have been receiving Windows Phone 8 updates before others, and some countries come first. This means we will again get into that old game of waiting, waiting, waiting for updates.
Here is how I would like to see it working: use the Windows Update infrastructure for deployment. It's tested and supports heavy loads. Every second Tuesday of the month (Wednesday 7am New Zealand time) Windows Updates are available to everyone, around the world, at the same time. You can manually start an update at that time, or let your PC do the automatic update which will happen sometime during the next couple of days.
I would also like to see this certainty in Windows Phone. Something like "every last Friday of the month there's an update available". And that would be available to everyone, exactly like the Windows Update for desktop is available. This could be for example small fixes, like the SMS timezone bugs affecting New Zealanders who see SMS with +13 hours difference - almost like they're applying the timezone shift twice. This should be a simple fix, so why do we have to wait months to see it here?
Yes, I understand some updates require the mobile operator blessing, but those should not block updates that fix things in the OS and don't touch anything related to the mobile network. These should have a separate schedule.
This is another thing Microsoft could do to differentiate itself from competitors in the smartphone market.
Windows Phone 8 SMS wrong date/time
It seems there's a problem with Windows Phone 8 and the way it processes date/time on SMS.
The ones received at "23:10" were actually received at 10:10. The one marked as 2/12 was actually receive 1st Dec @ 1:45pm.
It seems the messaging app is showing dates with a 13 hour shift. I am told both Telecom NZ and Microsoft NZ know about this problem but in our forums they are quiet about what's causing it and when it will be fixed.
By the way, this does not happen in Windows Phone 7.5.
@freitasm Yes, should be a fix in next software update, no eta at the moment however. ^AB— Telecom New Zealand (@TelecomNZ) December 1, 2012
Windows Phone billing
It is business as usual: we all have to give a publisher our credit card information so that we can buy apps, subscriptions, etc. One would think Microsoft would make it easier for every customer to give them money, but that is not so.
My main credit card, the one used for online purchases, expired yesterday so obviously it was time to update it so that I could continue buying apps for my smartphone.
So I go to windowsphone.com and see the following:
So far so good. I click "Edit payment info" and get this:
Bummer Microsoft, something wrong with your systems uh? By the way, "contact customer support" is just an helpful suggestion. It could be hyperlinked to a page with a real phone number to contact support. But not, it is not. The "Contact Us" at the bottom leads to a page suggesting I contact my operator or OEM. Very unhelpful because neither has control over YOUR billing.
So I click "View billing info" which instead takes to me a page https://commerce.microsoft.com/PaymentHub/PaymentInstrument which seems to work:
That's my new credit card there. But it wasn't easy to get it there, because that page doesn't have any "Add payment option" link. I suspect it would be in the other page appropriately named "Edit payment info" that already spat out the dummy on me before.
The way I got that credit card there was by using the Windows Phone 8 Wallet app. It worked, but in a cumbersome way. It should work on the "Edit payment info" page but it didn't. I had to enter a new card in the Wallet app and check the box "Set up card for app and music purchases". Lucky there is an app for that, right?
Note though that unless you check the box to make the new card a payment option for your app purchases, it will not be stored anywhere else but on your phone. If you check the box to make the card a payment option for app purchases you are actually redirected to a page outside the app (no way to see the URL but I suspect linked to the Windows account) to add the card information. In effect it seems you are adding the card to the Microsoft account payment info and this is then downloaded to the phone. Works for me but. . .
When I started entering my data I was thinking "cool, I can enter the information here and once it syncs to the cloud I can restore the data in case this phone needs to be reset or if I get a new Windows Phone". The sync in this case exists only one way - from your Microsoft account to the phone. This means updates you make inside the Windows Phone Wallet to an existing credit card doesn't reflect on the Microsoft account - I tried, when my card expired and actually was told by the app to first delete the card online then go back to the app.
No problem, I hear you saying, just enter the data directly in your Microsoft account and it will flow to the phone. Except that as we saw before, one page brings an error and the other doesn't even have an option to add payment options. This means If I want a backup option then the way to go is setting up on the phone itself while having all credit cards set as "App purchase" options, which is not ideal.
Anyway, the card is loaded. I wonder if this was a problem with my account only and how it would have worked if I didn't have the Wallet app (like Windows Phone 7 users for example).
In the next post I will comment on the Windows Phone Wallet app itself and how it works (or it was supposed to).
Nokia Lumia 920 first impressions and power saving tips
Found a problem with Office Hub (it seems it doesn't like SkyDrive accounts with 2,200 folders and 30,000 files) which is not a big deal since the standalone SkyDrive app deals with this very nicely.
Some things seem "incomplete" (as mentioned the Windows Phone Desktop app) such as the SMS backup - all good but can I access my SMS from the web please?
Good to see all apps I had on my Windows Phone 7 Nokia Lumia 800 work on this Windows Phone 8 Nokia Lumia 920.
Had a couple of Skype experiences and it worked well. Used Bluetooth to play music with a Samsung Wireless Audio system and a Philips Fidelio clock with no problems - hey Bluetooth seems to work fine!
I read around the web people complaining about their new Nokia Lumia 920 battery life. I have no complains about it. Actually this one was last charged around 14 hours ago and with light use (a little Bluetooth, WiFi updates) it is at 50% now.
Here is what I've done to manage the device's power consumption:
Email accounts:
- Push email: I have it off all the time. I use Office 365 and could have push email active but because I receive a high number of emails every day I rather not have the phone constantly updating the Inbox. I manually update these.
- Hotmail update: change the default to daily if you use the Windows Live account only for managing the device, or for something suitable to the volume you receive. There's no manual option here.
- Bluetooth and WiFi off: if you are not connected to a Bluetooth or WiFi access point, having these on is just a waste of battery.
- WiFi search: uncheck [Notify me when new networks are found], [Automatically connect to WiFi hotspots] and [Send information about WiFi connections to help discover nearby WiFi].
- Turn WiFi and Bluetooth on/off quickly: download an app such as Shortcut Tilesand use it to pin a tile to the home screen that allows you to quickly toggle WiFi, Bluetooth and other settings.
- Lock screen timeout: I have mine set to one minute.
- Lock screen background: I use a static photo. Do not use the Bing, CNN, Facebook services as that might initiate data traffic.
- Tap+send: I don't use NFC so this is off. You can obviously create lots of automated tasks with NFC but unless you have tags and actively use them, turn this off.
- Location: if you don't use maps, turn this off. If you do, leave it. Mine is on.
- Backup: I have [app list+settings] on, the rest off. I don't mind if I lose my text messages and my photos are manually copied if I want them - uploading every photo taken to SkyDrive is a sure way to use the battery and mobile data.
- Brightness: I set to medium, no automatic brightness.
- Find my phone: I leave this set. You could save a bit more battery by turning this off but can't manage the phone remotely.
- Background tasks: I turned all off.
- Music+Videos: unless you use Xbox Music, turn [Connect with Xbox Music] and [Xbox Music cloud collection]
- Photos+Camera: [SkyDrive auto upload] off
- Internet Explorer: turn [Use SmartScreen filter] and [Send a Do Not Track request to websites] off.
- Messaging: turn off the Facebook messaging option and if you don't use Messenger turn your status to Offline.
- A large number of apps have automatic updates implemented. Turn these off. For example the Currency app by xe.net updates currency exchange values every 10 minutes by default. If you have weather apps that shows current weather for your location in a tile you might want to replace this with just looking outside the window.
- Switch radio to best service in your area. Every phone has a Maintenance menu. If you are using a mobile operator that offers 100% 3G service (Telecom NZ for example), having the radio searching for 2G service is a waste of battery. You can open the Maintenance menu and set the radio to use WCDMA only.
- Caution is needed here. If you go overseas not all operators are 100% 3G and if you don't turn this back to default you may not roam in all areas. If you try to use the phone in an operator with older 2G and newer 3G mix (Vodafone and 2degrees for example) then you will have limited coverage in some areas because their 2G/3G services have different coverage areas. If you need to place an emergency call while outside your operator area and only 2G is available then you won't be able to do it. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
Can we trust app reviews?
Scratch the whole thing. As pointed out below, a change in policy means that now all reviews always show the reviewer's first name, instead of the tag name.
Apologies for raising a red flag where none is needed. I will keep the post below as evidence that I can err as well.
Looking around the New Zealand Windows Phone Marketplace we see very few apps with lots of reviews. Those with many reviews are mainly the big names in games, plus the very good New Zealand made ones. That's why I was curious when I saw the new ASB app for Windows Phone had 39 reviews and a five star rating - every single review was a five stars review. Then I looked at the names of people reviewing the ASB app: (in the order I see in the Marketplace): Regan, Andrew, Joanne, Simon, Matthew, Ben, Bobby, Royce, Keith, Annabel, Stephen, Darren, User, Jack, Geoff, Peter, Tim, Leighton, Jeff, Bruce, Alastair, Craig, Andy, Angela, Jonathan, Eby, Danil, Karan, Vinesh, Danny, Brian. Nothing strange there. But let's look at other app reviews. On Sale New Zealand: keithpatton, attaelayyanm, mohitsb, ryancrawcour, jamesfwarren, vmcoll, MulberryQuasar, Fallaenae, darylooh. NZ Radio: User, Shane, Keith, MackinNZ, xStally, iczephyr, UrbanKiwi, SomeBluehippo, GotItWrong, Gavin, mohibtsb, RootedEvergreen, snakes1704, Player531062019. Supermarket Finder: Bruno, seanjackson24. DayOut: tomisbetterthnu, tianhai. NZ Cell Sites: John, Player371984687, Evil Red Diablo. God Defend New Zealand: davidgladstone. NZ Weather: Gortdon, User, Klem0n, dhrot. Weather NZ: Kevin, Keith, SomeBluehippo, suprrudey, Phivii, Mudz12, Evil Red Diablo, tomisbetterthnu, Shiny Empire, wim mertens, Obfukaster, guvnor255. The Official All Blacks Application: User, Klem0n, Player584951968, SatanicAntz, JeffBridges21, iczephyr, stewartisland, sumerman1, CosGirds, AdvisoryCloud, MisterOlly, bigdogphone, scozzard, PeskyBeaver, sista001, Phile Whitehead, Keithpatton, Crispo66, matteusvelloso, nzigel. Fruit Nija: Nick, Steve, Damien, NZ Infection, ArkhamZBest, CurbsideCupatea, RevivalV3, tomisbetterthnu, Pb Elements, FancyAardvark1, normanstrange, CoolestKiwi, Chaks Corner, BrainOffline, PeanutG85, APEKTRON, minalg, M Doms, coaxke88, AtomicSharky, TropicalRajput, The Mega Me. Ok, I will stop here. Can you see a pattern?
What will be Windows Phone 8 update strategy?
Now that we know Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 share some of their code, I wonder. Will we finally see an update policy for Microsoft's mobile platform that reflects the one we are used to in our PCs?
For years Microsoft has released operating system updates every second Tuesday of the month (second Wednesday New Zealand time). Only in cases of a real treat such as a zero day exploit has Microsoft released an "out of band" update. This policy has been going on for years and still most people I talk to and remind "tomorrow is Windows Update day" say they never knew it.
On top of those monthly updates Microsoft releases Hotfixes, which are patches that fix small problems in specific areas. For example there's a patch that fixes a problem when plugging a USB hub in a specific type of computers with specific drivers and so on. These only need to be applied if you are experiencing a very specific problem.
Every few months or years Microsoft releases a Service Pack for its operating systems, which contains all the previous updates and hotfixes all in one. It's Microsoft's policy not to release new features in Service Packs.
Then there are other software updates targeting applications such as Messenger, Movie Maker, Skype, Security essentials and others which are not essential part of the operating system but offered by the company.
I wonder if Windows Phone 8 would follow the flawed model implemented with Windows Phone 7, or the more advanced and logical model adopted by the company by its PC operating systems and applications until now?
Perhaps Microsoft should separate the applets built-in inside Windows Phone 8 and consider those as applications instead of core, and release them independently of the operating system.
For example a new feature implemented in its mobile email client could be delivered to users around the world with more speed than before. Instead of waiting for the whole Windows Phone 7 process of sending an entire operating system to OEMs then waiting for those to customise each image to different devices, then waiting those to be sent to each mobile operator around the world for approval, then the slow staggered delivery perhaps Microsoft should consider making these updates to apps independent of the entire chain and deliver them directly to end users.
This would speed up adoption of new features, use existing Windows Update infrastructure and get slow OEMs and mobile operators who are not actively supporting the ecosystem completely out of the picture when it comes to happy users. The chain of approval would only ever exist for core operating system functions.
This is completely different from the strategy used by other smartphone platforms too, and could be a differentiating point.
Somehow I think Microsoft would never do that though.


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Kings (27-50) vs. Hornets (27-51)
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Sleep Train Arena
Radio: KHTK (1140)
Finding Ryan: Ex-Oak Ridge High School and Cal star Ryan Anderson is averaging 22 points in two games against the Kings this season. The Kings can't lose track of him, especially when he's setting up for three-point shots.
Speed it up: The Kings struggle when playing at a slower pace. They are 7-34 when scoring fewer than 100 points, so relying on defense in a slower game is not their strength.
Home pride: The Kings have lost a season-worst five straight home games, and tonight they'll face a team with a losing record for the final time this season. Friday, they open a three-game trip against playoff contenders.
No. Player Pos.
22 Isaiah Thomas G
13 Tyreke Evans G
5 John Salmons F
34 Jason Thompson F
15 DeMarcus Cousins C
No. Player Pos.
21 Greivis Vasquez G
10 Eric Gordon G
0 Al-Farouq Aminu F
23 Anthony Davis F
15 Robin Lopez C
Follow The Bee's Jason Jones on Twitter @mr_jasonjones and read more about the team at www.sacbee.com/kings.
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


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By Barry Moody and Steve Scherer
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's parliament failed to elect a new state president in the first two votes on Thursday, with a center-left rebellion against leader Pier Luigi Bersani torpedoing his official candidate and prolonging political stalemate.
Until the new president is elected, the paralysis hobbling attempts to form a government since February's inconclusive general election will continue but a chaotic day of voting on Thursday showed how fractured the political landscape remains.
Bersani's candidate Franco Marini, a former Senate speaker, fell far short of the required two-thirds majority of the 1,007 electors in the first vote and in the second he won no votes at all, with many members of both center-left and center-right blocs casting blank ballots.
Political sources said the casting of blank ballots was intended to protect Marini from further humiliation after a center-left rebellion against his candidacy made it impossible to win the two thirds majority of electors from both houses of parliament plus regional representatives.
Marini's failure, in a vote which is key to filling a government vacuum since the deadlocked general election in February, was a slap in the face for Bersani. He badly split his party by nominating Marini in a deal with center-right boss Silvio Berlusconi.
Bersani told reporters he would meet the center-left electors to decide their next move ahead of a third vote on Friday morning. After that vote, a simple majority is required to elect a new president.
Bersani said he needed to accept that the election had entered "a new phase", indicating Marini, 80, would be dropped as a deeply divisive candidate. The center-left would make a new proposal for the presidential election, he said.
Many rebellious center-left parliamentarians voted in the secret ballot for academic Stefano Rodota, candidate of the populist 5-Star Movement of former comic Beppe Grillo.
Nichi Vendola, head of Bersani's leftist ally SEL, said nominating Marini was a mistake. "Marini was a candidate who united the center right, not the center left," he said.
He said unless things changed, his 46 representatives would keep voting for Rodota.
Marini's failure could wreck Bersani's deal with Berlusconi which is aimed at helping him form a minority government.
Bersani has repeatedly refused to agree to Berlusconi's demands that they form a broad coalition together. But it is widely believed he wants to parley an agreement on the presidency with center-right willingness to support a minority center-left government.
The vote for a successor to President Giorgio Napolitano, whose term ends on May 15, is a crucial step towards resolving the stalemate since an inconclusive election in February which left no party with enough support to form a government.
However the choice of Marini provoked fury in Bersani's Democratic Party (PD) and an open revolt by his rival, Matteo Renzi, the 38-year-old mayor of Florence.
Renzi had described the 80-year-old Marini as "a candidate from the last century" who had no charisma or international standing, adding that he was only chosen because he was acceptable to Berlusconi.
"The PD is in fragments, it doesn't exist anymore," Renato Brunetta, the parliamentary leader of Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party, told Canale 5 television.
Failure to win the election of a candidate like Marini who is acceptable to Berlusconi could lead to the PD abandoning hopes of a deal with the center right and going for a candidate like former Prime Minister Romano Prodi, one of Berlusconi's oldest political enemies.
Such an outcome is widely seen as likely to lead to an election within months.
The head of state is a largely ceremonial figure but has a number of vital political functions, as Napolitano demonstrated in 2011 when he put Mario Monti at the head of a government of technocrats to replace the scandal-plagued Berlusconi.
It will be up to the new president to end the political deadlock left by the election, either by persuading the parties to come to an accord that would allow a government to be formed or by dissolving parliament and calling a new national vote.
February's election gave Bersani's center-left alliance control of the lower house of parliament but short of the Senate majority it needed to form a government.
The 61-year-old former industry minister has faced growing pressure from Renzi and others in his party after throwing away a 10-point opinion poll lead before the vote.
(Additional reporting by Paolo Biondi; editing by Andrew Roche and James Mackenzie)


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Halsway Schottische
It appears that Nigel Eaton's composition, Halsway Schottische (or Halsway Carol) has somewhat of a cult following. This page provides the sheet music for the tune, plus a link to some 40 different arrangements and recordings of it. What's more, they're looking for more! Record your version and send the link to this email!


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Categories > Celebrities > Panic! At The Disco > Like A Knife
Please Let This Be A Horrid, Twsted Dream. Please.0 Reviews
When Ryan finds Cammy and Brendon in a situation he never would have thought about dealing with, things turn into a brutal war with harsh words. How will they cope?
"Back so soon?" Keltie asked me as I approached the porch again miserably, soaked from head to toe, my tee shirt clinging to my body.
"Yeah," I said bluntly. I didn't feel like explaining myself.
I thought again about the happiness that I saw in their eyes, the liveliness that had left Cammy after we had our conversation. It was back again, but only when I wasn't around, which caused more anguish and sorrow than any human being could ever comprehend. I had known her for a large portion of my life, before I was famous even, and once you know someone's heart inside and out, you can't sit there and let yourself watch it be put back together again by someone other than yourself.
I sat back down next to Keltie on the loveseat, watching as Pete and Moony happily conversed, looking at each other with a passion and a fire in their eyes that I wished I could imitate. But in reality, true love could not be imitated, only experienced, and it was irregular to see it often. I wasn't sure if Pete and Moony were truly, genuinely in love with one another, but there was a spark of lust in each of their eyes.
For all I know, Pete could have loved Cammy.
And she could have loved him back, because we had drifted away from one another, and I wasn't as in tact with her emotions as I used to be. I wish it was different, but it took a lot to change things as you aged.
"I'm going to get going, guys. Dylan might be getting lonely," Jon said, standing up and finally prying himself from the conversation he was having with Spence. They were talking about something having to do with walruses. I didn't bother to ask.
From then on, everybody began leaving, as the rain continued to stream down in swift torrents. Brendon and Cammy still had yet to return, which kept me wondering what they could possibly be up to. No one could tell what to expect with two people as spontaneous as they were, when they obviously had feelings for each other. Whether they were they were just feelings as friends or more would be a mystery to me until I had proof.
Even Keltie had to leave; she had to go and pick up some things for her friends. I sat by myself on the loveseat, just waiting for them to return. But as much as I waited, I knew they would be a while, because they were enjoying themselves. I really couldn't blame them.
As I watched the rain fall down past me, I slowly drifted into a sleep, almost free of worries. Besides the fact that I didn't really love my girlfriend, had true feelings for my best friend whom I refused to tell, and my doubt that she loved me and that she had utterly fallen for my best friend.
Upon waking up, I couldn't help but let curiosity seep in to my body and propel me forward, down the porch steps and onto the sidewalk again. The sun was just beginning to creep out from behind the clouds, now relieved of their sorrows, and trees leaned over, heavy from the recent downpour. I made my way down the road, taking in the smell of asphalt after a heavy rain, fresh, sweet, and bringing back memories.
I dribbled the basketball down the course, the sun preaching its happiness down on Cammy and I. We had just gotten out of school for the day, and decided that with a lack of homework we would take advantage of it and play basketball in the court near the edge of the building. It was just her and I, as the other kids had better things to do. But there was nothing more important to us than spending time together.
"Traveling! You're traveling!" I shouted as she ran down the court, basketball in hand, grinning. She knew she was traveling; I could tell form the look in her deep blue eyes.
I ran to her and tried to grab the ball; she held it defensively, making sure I was unable to steal it from her. We laughed as we played keep away with the ball, smiles written on our faces in what seemed like permanent ink.
"I know what traveling is, Ry," She giggled, as I wrapped my arms around her from the back, holding her in place. She tried to squirm away from me, but I just held her tighter, as her hair rubbed up against my face. She smelled sweet; a smell that I knew would be etched in my mind forever. Even after our years in high school were over, maybe even our last times together, I would never be able to forget anything about her.
Or so I hoped.
"Let go of me!" She squealed, trying desperately to get away from my tight grasp. But I held her there, laughing as she laughed with me, watching as the sky became dark with low hanging clouds.
"It looks like it's going to rain out," I pointed out, finally allowing her to break free. "Maybe we should go."
"What are you talking about? Scared of a little rain?" She teased me. "Poor little Ryro. Are you going to melt?"
"I just might," I replied.
She couldn't see it, but every time she batted her long eye lashes, looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes that reminded me of the never ending sky, even spoke simple words to me, I melted. So in a way, I wasn't lying. I was just too embarrassed to admit anything like that to her.
"Well, I'm not cleaning up the mess you make when you melt everywhere. So find yourself a new maid," She giggled, shooting the basketball into the hoop. I watched as it made a swish sound and fell right through, obediently making it down to the ground through the net.
She beamed. "Did you see that, Ry?"
"No, I didn't see anything," I joked, covering my eyes. Ah, the innocence of high school kids.
"You'll see it next time when I accidentally throw it in your face," She kidded, playful anger in her voice.
And then, as I had predicted, the rain began to fall from the sky, staring as a rain drop and progressing to a full out shower. I gave her a 'told you so' look and smiled.
"Maybe we should get going," She agreed, following me as we walked down the sidewalk to our houses.
Trees leaned over us, casting a shade that kept up more than cool in the rain. Our clothes clung to our bodies, our hair was drenched and was sticking to our ever so joyful faces, and we stood close to keep warm. Maybe a little too close than normal friends would, but close enough to admit that we were wholly comfortable being around each other. We didn't care what other people thought about us.
The rain let up, turning to small sprinkles, and the roads gave off the beautiful aroma that wet pavement always did after a rain storm.
"Don't you just love that smell?" Cammy asked me, closing her eyes in content.
"What smell?" I replied, unsure of what she was talking about.
"The smell of pavement after a storm. Doesn't it smell great?" She wondered.
She had gotten me to notice something completely new, as always, introducing me to things I never would have noticed without her. She had a tendency to pick out the smallest things and make them seem larger than life, and I loved it. Maybe I even loved her. As I drifted out of my reverie, I found them.
I finally had the proof I was searching for.
Brendon and Cammy stood in the middle of the street, completely drenched, locked in a passionate kiss. Nothing could describe how I felt at that very moment, except betrayed by everyone, like the world had purposely gotten revenge for hurting her. Even though I never meant to.
Once again, I felt like I had no right to interrupt them, as I wouldn't want to be, either. But I couldn't depict just how much I wished to be him, to be the boy I had known my whole life, that I had gotten famous with, that I had trusted with my deepest, innermost feelings. I had yet to tell him how I felt about her.
But I went on my quicker impulses and split them apart.
"What the Hell, guys?!" I screeched angrily. "I'm not here to watch out after you for two hours and you end up making out? Seriously, you have fucking problems!"
"This doesn't involve you, Ry! So get the fuck out of our lives!" Someone said.
I was expecting it to be Brendon, but the girl I had once known was drifting from me, and she had finally stood up for herself. She had finally come out of her shell and took a stand for what she thought about, was willing to admit that sometimes she just might have been right.
"You've hurt her enough, Ry! Just leave!" Brendon yelled, as the rain fell.
"I'm living my life, and you're living yours. Just let me be who I want to. I told you that I loved you, you didn't want to hear it, I've moved on like you told me to, and now you stand there, expecting me to bear with you in one of the best moments of my life? Only bitches ruin other people's lives over and over again with a clear conscience. So just…Go talk to Keltie, because she's so fucking important to you," Cammy continued. My jaw dropped in confusion.
Never had she been able to talk like that. Never had I known this Cammy, a girl who spoke her mind and let it all out. And I willed myself to let it go, but I couldn't.
"Brendon is the only one who ever loved me, so what's the problem, huh, Ry? Angry that someone flipped my life right side up for once? Just fuck off already, because I've finally found someone who felt for me. Who felt with me," She argued.
"Cammy, plenty of people felt for you! You just didn't see it!" I objected. I thanked the rain as it became a camouflage, hiding all of the tears creeping their way from my eyes.
"Who are you talking about, Ry? Because it sure as Hell wasn't you!" She shouted.
"It was me, Cams! I loved you from the beginning of everything…I just never admitted it. And now that you've found Brendon…" I began. "I think I will fuck off for once."
And with that, I walked away; brushing my tears away from my grief stricken eyes, wishing things had been different. Wishing that things could change, that I could maneuver around this and convince her that I loved her more, that I needed her. Hoping that it was all just a horrid, twisted dream that lurked in the back of my mind.
And as I shot up, still on the love seat, I realized it was.


text:
Picture Pine River in plaid
At a previous meeting, a Pine River Revitilization (PRR) group member suggested the city of Pine River should claim official city colors. It was suggested that Pine River is already locally associated with red and black "buffalo plaid," the pattern often associated with lumberjacks.
At its next meeting, the group approved of the theme, if used within reason.
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NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a contract with forward Andrei Kirilenko, another strong addition for a team that has loaded up on talent this off-season.
Kirilenko accepted the taxpayer's mid-level exception worth about $3.2 million this season. The contract includes a player option for the second year, a person with knowledge of the deal said Thursday on condition of anonymity because it has not been announced.
The Russian forward opted out of his $10.2 million deal for next season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and found a home with the Nets -- owned by fellow Russian and former CSKA Moscow owner Mikhail Prokhorov.
The versatile forward is the latest acquisition for a team whose previous moves this off-season include a pending trade to acquire Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett from Boston.
Kirilenko can back up or play alongside either with the Nets and likely will be popular in Brooklyn, where there is a strong Russian presence.
The 6-foot-9 Kirilenko averaged 12.4 points, right at his career average, last season for the Timberwolves. But his strength is his versatility on defence, where he can match up with forwards and guards.
It's another costly move for the Nets, who already were facing a league-high tax payment of more than $70 million next season, the first of the most severe penalties for the NBA's biggest spenders. But Prokhorov has set a goal of a championship within five years and the Nets have clearly upgraded after winning 49 games and losing in the first round of the playoffs last season.
Earlier Thursday, they announced the re-signing of forward-centre Andray Blatche and the signing of guard Shaun Livingston.
It was Canada's night at the NBA Draft as four players from north of the border were selected.
1. Andrew Wiggins - Cavaliers
8. Nik Stauskas - Kings
18. Tyler Ennis - Suns
45. Dwight Powell - Hornets
2014 NBA Draft Tracker
Follow the Raptors and Raptor play-by-play man Matt Devlin on Twitter! Check out the latest Tweets!
After drubbing Finland; is Team USA too confident? Will & Duane examine this, the Raptors at FIBA World Cup, Durant's Nike deal, WNBA Playoffs & more
Love for Wiggins is official! Is the future bright for Minny? DeMar DeRozan makes USMNT, Tim Leiweke steps down from Raptors & what's next for Kobe?
Love-Wiggins done deal? KD: The Real Reasons, what's next for USA Basketball, Becky Hammon breaks barriers & Naismith 2014 Hall of Fame Inductees


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Format MapsShow Featured Items
Noort Rivier in Niew Neerlandt.
Relief shown pictorially. Depths shown by soundings. Shows the Hudson River from Manhattan Island to Albany, natural features, and other geographical entities in the region. Pen-and-ink and watercolor. Attributed to Joan Vinckeboons ...
- Contributor: Vinckeboons, Joan
- Original Format: Maps
- Date: 1639


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Search our database of handpicked sites
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Andy from Redemption Brewing about the physics behind keeping beer separate from oxygen in the air when moving it to a conditioning tank.Exposure to oxygen causes reactions in beer that lead to ...
How Beer Gets Its Color
A great article explaining the reactions that go on to give beer its colour.
What makes old beer taste bad?
Article looking at the effect of temperature on how fast a beer ages
The Physics of Beer
How does pressure help get beer out of a keg? Find out in this article
Properly Pouring Beer
Three different ways to pour your beer.
Science and Magic of Beer
A in-depth guide at what goes on in the brewing process to make your beer, from developing flavours to ensure the right amount of bubbles
What do a glass of beer and Mount Merapi have in common?
Bubbles in beer can be studied with sound waves, and the same thing can help researchers peer inside volcanoes.
20 Things You Didn't Know About... Beer
20 facts about beer.


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U.S. Army War College >> Strategic Studies Institute >> Publications >> Details
Turkey's Strategic Position at the Crossroads of World Affairs
Authored by Dr. Stephen J. Blank, Dr. William T. Johnsen, Dr. Stephen C. Pelletiere.
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This report analyzes the implications of Turkey's policies and the reactions of Turkey's neighbors in three discrete chapters. The authors focus their conclusions and options for U.S. policymakers on the effect of Turkish policies in Europe, the Middle East, and the former Soviet republics. The final chapter summarizes their conclusions with respect to the three regions and provides policy options for continuing U.S.-Turkish relations that are so important in the search for peace and stability in these regions.
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Turkey's New Regional Security Role: Implications for the United States
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HUNTINGDON, PA, March 31, 2012 - Jonathan Antoine's reticent, self-effacing manner portrays the young man's lack of self-assuredness, undoubtedly the result of the bullying he has endured. However, when Antoine sings, his voice resonates the phenomenally talented soul that lies behind the façade.
Antoine endured years of bullying about his weight. He said he has had weight issues a long as he can remember.
Fellow students began verbally abusing Antoine in elementary school; by high school, the stress from the experience culminated in a nervous breakdown in 2011.
To 17-year-old Antoine's credit, he has not let the bullying from school classmates defeat him. He has overcome the taunts and social exclusion in the best of ways: he has succeeded by using the tremendous vocal gift that God has given him.
Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli performed, "The Prayer," on Britain's Got Talent, wowing the audience and judges when they began to sing. Antoine's rich, operatic voice even garnered praise from Simon Cowell, who stated, "You're a future star."
Cowell told Antoine's partner and friend, Jaconelli, that she may hold Antoine back. Antoine retorted, "Well, we came on here as a duo and we're going to stay a duo."
A YouTube video of the pair's performance on Britain's Got Talent includes a short interview in which Antoine reveals how the bullying has affected him. "I've always had problems with my size since I could remember. When I was in … school, it damaged my confidence quite a bit. When people would say something to me, it would take a little piece out of me, in a sense."
Antoine's classmate and singing partner, Jaconelli, succinctly expressed her stance against such treatment. "I'm quite protective of Jonathan. If I was there and someone said something to him, I couldn't sit there with my mouth shut … Before you make a judgment of someone, you really need to get to know them.
It's not as cliché as judging a book by its cover; you've got to read what's inside."
According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, bullying is a prevalent experience for children and adolescents today. "Surveys indicate that as many as half of all children are bullied at some time during their school years, and at least ten percent are bullied on a regular basis."
Bullying is not only disruptive to a child or young person's academic and social life; it also undermines his or her self-esteem to the extent that many contemplate or commit suicide.
Hence, the reports about Antoine's nervous breakdown from bullying are not surprising.
"I had a nervous breakdown back in October. At that point, I left the school I was at and rejoined the school I was at previously in the New Year … But then I couldn't handle that either, so I'm currently not at school but still enrolled. Me and school just don't get on. That's just the way it has always been. I've never felt right there. Ever since I was quite small I've had weight problems, and the bullying was related to that. People would be nasty about my weight and say nasty words," Antoine told Fox News.
Obviously, bullying needs to be stopped; parents, teachers - all adults need to take a proactive stance. Teenagers who have been bullied have developed such serious mental health issues that they have killed their classmates or themselves in schools across our nation. This, in itself, is enough to alert society that more needs to be done to be stop bullying at the first signs of classmates ostracizing or negatively focusing on a particular child.
Children are often "picked on" for being too heavy, too thin, too smart, too shy - anything that captures a bully's attention. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry states in a report that bullies "thrive on controlling or dominating others. They often have been the victims of physical abuse or bullying themselves. Bullies may also be depressed, angry, or upset about events at school or home."
The victims of bullying, the report goes on to state, are often targeted because they are "passive, easily intimidated, or have few friends." As parents, we should not hesitate to take action if we suspect that our child is being bullied. Psychiatric experts also say that it is essential to respond in a positive and accepting manner if your child opens up to you about bullying. Focusing on a child's inherent attributes and talents is imperative to building self-esteem, which can help him or her cope better if bullied. Again, Antoine exemplifies the unique talent that lies within each child. Whether your child is gifted in music, art, academics, sports, or any other endeavor, it should be the focus, not the child's exterior appearance.
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry gives the following pointers to parents of children who may be experiencing bullying:
- Ask your child what he or she thinks should be done. What's already been tried? What worked an what didn't?
- Seek help from your child's teacher or the school guidance counselor. Most bullying occurs on playgrounds, in lunchrooms, in bathrooms, on school buses, or in unsupervised halls. As the school administrators to find out about programs other schools and communities have used to help combat bullying, such as peer mediation, conflict resolution, anger management training, and increased adult supervision.
- Don't encourage your child to fight back. Instead, suggest that he or she try walking away to avoid the bully, or that they seek help from a teacher, coach, or other adult.
- Help your child practice what to say to the bully so he or she will be prepared the next time.
- Help your child practice being assertive. The simple act of insisting that the bully leave him alone may have a surprising effect. Explain to your child that the bully's true goal is to get a response.
- Encourage your child to be with friends when traveling back and forth from school, during shopping trips, and on other outings. Bullies are less likely to pick on a child in a group.
If enough adults take a proactive stance, perhaps bullying can be extinguished and replaced by positive interaction among peers. Maybe more children and teenagers will succeed as Antoine has and inspire others to do the same.
This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.


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Sounds great! I'm willing to see this game to the end.
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Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance
Pain2 Reviews
Maybe the kindness of a stranger could numb the pain. [Music and Words] Oneshot.
Pain. A horrible blackness, a feeling that wells up inside you, washing over and engulfing any light that once may have rested in your heart. It eats you from the inside, starting in the deepest pits of your heart and gradually spreading outwards, destroying you until you are left with nothing but an empty, aching shell.
And it opens up other doors for other monstrosities that can invade your mind. Like the nightmares, the ghouls and demons that haunt your visions, the insomnia for the fear of that when you fall asleep, you cannot escape them. Then when you eventually have a peaceful sleep, you face the fear of waking up to the true horrors that caused this pain in the first place. Waking up to face the knife, the one wielded and driven so cruelly by those others.
Sometimes, with the right words and a kind smile, the pain can be fixed. But others, that knife has been driven so deeply, twisted so much that you can never truly recover. The edges of the wounds are to ragged to ever be truly stitched back together again. Not even the harsh pounding of drums and bass that played through my earphones could hold me together.
They say music is the best medicine. But you can't heal something that's died, whether metaphorical or not. I had been broken so much that I had died. And that leads to my next point; those people also say that you can't break a broken heart. They know nothing. They don't know what it's like to have that knife, the hurt inflicted upon your already pain-filled self over and over, day after day after day.
I knew that feeling all too well and usually my music could help. But now, as I trudged down the dark, dank streets with it playing from my earphones, I still felt broken. I still felt empty as the bullets of rain hailed from the heavens, plastering my tangled hair flat down over my face and mixing in with the real tears that flowed from under my eyelids. Here was my only comfort, the fact that the weather knew how I felt, like the sky was crying with me.
If I was lucky, a truck might skid on the soaked road, skid off course onto the pavement and crush me. End my worthless life; remove the stain of misery that was my presence off the face of the earth. I was no more than nothing. I deserved no more than the ending of my life.
Of course, luck was never on my side. No truck appeared. I sighed and shivered, tracing my hands up the still leaking scars on my arms, my sleeves not just soaked from the rain. The tears welled up again as I looked down, examining the latest addition to the scars, this time not even self-inflicted. Ugly. That's what I was. It fitted in perfectly with the rest of the scars, an awful criss-crossing mosaic of ugliness that decorated me, and matched me exactly.
I was ugly. That's why nobody ever cared or helped. Who would want to even look at me, the pale, miserable, ugly boy whose eyeliner smudged with his tears and ruined his face even more than it already was? Who would even want to look at boy so insecure, so pathetic that he wore fucking eyeliner, for crying out loud? At least with the rain falling on my face as well, I could hide the fact that I was crying.
My breath swirled out in front of me as my feet carried me along the path. I had to force myself to stop, scrunching my eyes closed and grabbing harshly onto my forearms where the scars were. My hands acted like a bandage, blocking the flow of blood from some wounds... but some of the red liquid still leaked out of the others that I wasn't blocking, like I was massaging it out of the slices that decorated my arms.
Because the self-destruction wasn't just my own relief, wasn't my own escape from the pain, but it was the doing of others, of the people who carried around their own tools to carve those sickeningly true words over the top of the others that were already there. Like that word, Ugly. And it was beautiful to me, I loved it. It numbed my own pain through another release of pain. It was like a numbing effect even if it still hurt. It was my Novocain.
"Hey?" I opened my eyes to look for the voice, the one that had come out of the darkness in front of me. A figure stood a mere meter away, carrying an umbrella and watching me. I shrunk back into my shell; right now, I didn't want anybody to help me. I didn't deserve their sympathy. I didn't want it. I nodded, partially to clear my own head and made to walk pass the figure. Before I could, a pale hand shot out, clasped my shoulder gently and pulled me out of the rain to join the mysterious figure under the umbrella.
"Sorry," I muttered, bowing my head and pulling my sleeves over the wounds on my arms.
"Why are you sorry? What are you doing out here?" he asked, (as I decided that the voice was definitely a male one). I shrugged and looked up at the guy, able to see him clearly now that I wasn't trying to drown my vision in the rain. A tall, raven-haired man with concern etched onto his pale face, worry reflected in his large, dark eyes.
"I..." my voice caught in my throat, unable to answer his question. The man smiled, but it wasn't a cruel smile like the one I was so used to seeing, on the faces of family and 'friends'. It was sympathetic, it was understanding. It was the exact opposite sort of smile that I deserved to see, because it was genuine.
"Look here, do you..." he started, but I cut him off.
"If you're going to offer me sympathy, you might as well leave because I don't want it." My voice was blunt and emotionless, a mask that had grown in my personality over the pain-filled years. A voice that hurt people in the way they hurt me because I couldn't lie to them.
"I was going to say, do you want to get a coffee? You look freezing," he said, his face clear of any hurt or anger that I had cut off his offer. I looked into his eyes, furrowing my brow and trying to work this man out. He hadn't offered to help me, which is what I never want people to do. It just feels fake, like all they want to do is to make themselves feel good, not actually caring about my own wellbeing. I don't want them to care about my wellbeing, I don't need it.
But this was different. He was just being kind.
The man held out his hand to me, not a gesture of greeting or of politeness, simply a motion of kindness. I inhaled deeply, pushed the negative thoughts to the back of my mind and took his hand. Maybe this man might actually be okay. Perhaps his kindness might numb my own pain. This man might become my own Novocain.
Things might just be okay.
I wrote this a while ago but had deleted it in a fit rage. I deleted a lot of my stories earlier in rage fits. But here it is. It's the darker side of Novocain, but I'm very proud of it. Because Novocain numbs pain, does it not? I wasn't in the best mood when I wrote it, and for the dark, evil sides of emotion, it does the trick pretty well.
The characters there are supposed to be... anyone. I'm not sticking the roles to any particular character, because it's such a vague topic that it can affect anyone. So... yes, the characters can be whoever you want. Please Rate and Review.


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In every seaside town there is a man around whom chaos swells. Mortimer was that man.
For him, the bigger the explosion…the BETTER.
Donna Risetto just wanted a vacation, to recover from a heartbreak a girl should never have to know at eighteen. Sadly, that heart wasn't done being broken.
Johnny arrives in Dramaville, ready for a change. Little does he know…
His past is already here.


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The International Division seeks to provide eye care relief to poorest populations in the most isolated regions of our partner countries. It is within these areas that the prevalence of blindness is the highest and the access to eye care is the lowest.
These outreach efforts will deliver free eye health screenings, identifying and treating people with preventable and curable eye disease; including refractive error, cataract, glaucoma and corneal disease.
The universal goal of the International Division and our outreach team is to provide the highest quality eye care and maximum number of sight-restoring surgeries as possible in each outreach setting that our resources and time allow for.


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Regatta Fairview Mens Full Zip Fleece
- Low stock, selling fast
10 reviews
- Delivery
Regatta Fairview Full Zip Mens Fleece
Outerwear innovator Regatta presents the Fairview fleece – a warm top layer to take the edge off chilly days.
With a front zip fastening and a raised collar, it's a versatile jacket for the great outdoors. The twin side pockets are the perfect handwarmers and the anti-pilling Symmetry fabric prevents fraying to improve the longevity of the piece. Signature branding is included with an embroidered logo to the chest and lettering to the sleeve.
Whether you're walking the dog or enjoying a Sunday stroll, pack this Regatta fleece in your bag in preparation for a cold day.
Useful info:
- Mens fleece by Regatta
- Fairview
- Front zip fastening
- Raised collar
- Twin side pockets
- Anti-pilling Symmetry fabric
- Quick drying
- Available in 4 colourways
Regatta Calderdale Mens Waterproof Jacket
- Low stock, selling fast
9 reviews
- Delivery
Regatta Calderdale Mens Waterproof Jacket
If you're looking for a simple, stylish, practical waterproof at a great price, this waterproof jacket from Regatta is a safe bet.
It's constructed from waterproof, windproof and breathable Isotex 5000 peached polyester microfibre fabric, with taped seams for extra protection against heavy showers. This waterproof jacket has a full-zip fastening with stormflap, and it also has underarm ventilation zips and adjustable cuffs and hem.
The concealed adjustable hood is a useful feature, likewise the two zipped side pockets and zipped chest pockets. The long-length cut of this jacket handy for keeping warm, and keeping the damp out of your trouser pockets.
Wear this waterproof jacket as a standalone coat in mild weather or, during the colder months, as a top layer over warmer items like fleeces and jumpers.
- Mens jacket by Regatta
- Calderdale
- Waterproof, windproof, breathable Isotex 5000 outer
- Zip front fastening with stormflap
- Underarm ventilation
- Taped seams
- Concealed adjustable hood
- 2 zipped lower pockets
- 2 zipped chest pockets
- Avilable in 2 colours


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Home > New Yachts > Boston Whaler Yachts > 22/cc
Boston Whaler Yachts 22/cc
If you are looking to buy a used or new Boston Whaler Yachts 22/cc yacht, we have all the information you need. List price for the 22/cc is $27,299.00, with a bottom price of $8,360.00, typical price of $9,830.00 and top price of $11,500.00. The 22/cc is 22 feet in length. A guardian yacht, the 22/cc's hull is made of fiberglass, features a 7 foot 5 inch beam and weighs in at a net 2,550 pounds.
The 22/cc was manufactured during the years: .
The most popular sales locations by state for the 22/cc are: Missouri, Georgia, California, Washington, Florida, Delaware, New Jersey, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, Michigan, Alabama, Virginia, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin, New York, Tennessee and South Carolina.


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UNDATED (WKZO) -- Three University of Phoenix locations in West and Central Michigan are included in a plan to phase out 115 facilities around the country by 2014.
Campuses in Portage, Walker and Lansing, and 5 others in the Detroit area will close, leaving a lone Detroit campus.Students will be given the option to move to a remaining campus or finish their degrees online.
The majority of those attending the University of Phoenix are online and enrollment has also dropped as the federal government has tightened loan requirements for this kind of private college. The company expects to save 300-million dollars and do away with 800 positions nationwide, 3 of them in Michigan.


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A Study on James Legge's English Translation of Lun Yu
Lun yu, a masterpiece of ancient Chinese philosophy, is among the most influential books in Chinese history. Legge's English translation of lun yu has stood the test of time, distinguished as the standard work by which subsequent translations of the classics have been judged. The most remarkable quality of Legge's version is its faithfulness in content, owing to Legge's scholarly industry and keen perception of the original. Legge ensured a comprehension of Confucianism from his readership which is similar to the general Chinese interpretation. In spite of some referential and pragmatic inaccuracy, any careful, patient and judicious Western reader is able to perceive Confucius' key concepts (Ren, Li, etc.), and his ethical, political, philosophical and educational thoughts through Legge's translation. Legge had made a great contribution to the introduction of Confucianism and the Chinese culture to the West.
Key words: Lun yu; Legge; translation; faithfulness
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968%2Fj.css.1923669720090506.004
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Image Gallery
Friends Of: Campana Brothers' DesignsJuxtapoz // Tuesday, 16 Oct 2012
As we continue our series of featuring the Friends Of Brazilian great, Vik Muniz, today we look at the award-winning design team of brothers Fernando and Humberto Campana. Campana Designs have long been known for their unique combination of craft-meets-contemporary, recycled-meets-high design furniture. The Campanas have garnered massive critical attention for their innovative furniture made from everyday materials and waste products like cardboard, fabric scraps, rope, aluminum wire, and plastic tubes. The Campanas solo show at New York's MOMA distinguished the brothers as the first Brazilian artists exhibited in the museum. Their work is in permanent collections of major art and design museums worldwide. In 2001, the designers were honored with the prestigious Design Award at the Museu da Casa Brasileira (Brazilian House Museum), and in 2008, Design Miami awarded the Campana Brothers with the Designer of the Year prize.
Thank you: LevisxIntel


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PKC Group is a global partner, designing, manufacturing and integrating electrical distribution systems, electronics and related architecture components for the commercial vehicle industry and other selected segments. PKC Group has two business areas: Wiring Systems and Electronics.
The added value that PKC provides its customers originates from PKC´s own unique know-how. Our competence is composed of processes, tools, expertise and architecture components developed for complexity management, which enable mass production of high-quality, individually tailored products and their countless variations with short delivery times.
With our worldwide service and production network we are where our key customers need us. Our production facilities are located in Brazil, China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Serbia and the USA. PKC Group Plc is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.
Printed version of PKC's fact sheet:


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Before Kyoto became the capital of Japan in 794 AD, this honour was held by NARA (奈良), a town some 35km further south in an area that is regarded as the birthplace of Japanese civilization. During this period, particularly the seventh and eighth centuries, Buddhism became firmly established within Japan under the patronage of court nobles, who sponsored magnificent temples and works of art, many of which have survived to this day. Fortunately, history subsequently left Nara largely to its own devices and it remains today a relaxed, attractive place set against a backdrop of wooded hills. Its greatest draw is undoubtedly the monumental bronze Buddha of Tōdai-ji, while Kōfuku-ji and several of the smaller temples boast outstanding collections of Buddhist statuary. However, even these are outclassed by the images housed in Hōryū-ji, a temple to the southwest of Nara, which also claims the world's oldest wooden building. The nearby temples of Yakushi-ji and Tōshōdai-ji contain yet more early masterpieces of Japanese art and architecture.
Nara has the added attraction of packing all these sights into a fairly compact space. The central area is easily explored on foot, and can just about be covered in a long day, with the more distant temples fitting into a second day's outing. Many people visit Nara on a day-trip from Kyoto, but it more than deserves an overnight stop, not least to enjoy it once the crowds have gone. If at all possible, try to avoid Nara on Sundays and holidays.
More a large town than a city, Nara is an enjoyable place to explore. The grid street system is well signposted in English, and the main sights are all gathered on the city's eastern edge in the green expanse of Nara-kōen. The route outlined below starts with the most important temples, Kōfuku-ji and Tōdai-ji, before ambling south along the eastern hills to Nara's holiest shrine, Kasuga Taisha, and splendid displays of Buddhist statuary in two historic temples, Sangatsu-dō and Shin-Yakushi-ji. With an extra hour or two to spare, it's worth wandering the streets of southerly Nara-machi, a traditional merchants' quarter where some attractive old shophouses have been converted into museums and craft shops.
Brief history
During the fifth and sixth centuries a sophisticated culture evolved in the plains east of Ōsaka, an area known as Yamato. Close contact between Japan, Korea and China saw the introduction of Chinese script, technology and the Buddhist religion, as well as Chinese ideas on law and administration. Under these influences, the regent Prince Shōtoku (574–622) established a strictly hierarchical system of government. However, he's probably best remembered as a devout Buddhist who founded numerous temples, among them the great Hōryū-ji. Though Shōtoku's successors continued the process of centralization, they were hampered by the practice of relocating the court after each emperor died, in line with purification rites. In 710 AD, therefore, it was decided to establish a permanent capital modelled on China's imperial city, Chang'an (today's Xi'an). The name chosen for this new city was Heijō-kyō, "Citadel of Peace", today known as Nara. In fact, Heijō-kyō lasted little more than seventy years, but it was a glorious period in which Japanese culture began to take shape. A frenzy of building and artistic creativity during this period culminated in the unveiling of the great bronze Buddha in Tōdai-ji temple by Emperor Shōmu in 752 AD. But beneath the surface things were starting to unravel. As the temples became increasingly powerful, so the monks began to dabble in politics, until one, Dōkyō, seduced a former empress and tried to seize the throne in 769. In an attempt to escape such shenanigans Emperor Kammu decided to move the court out of Nara in 784, and eventually founded Kyoto.Read More
For many people Nara is synonymous with Tōdai-ji (東大寺). This great temple was founded in 745 by Emperor Shōmu, ostensibly to ward off the terrible epidemics that regularly swept the nation, but also as a means of cementing imperial power. In doing so he nearly bankrupted his young nation, but the political message came across loud and clear; soon an extensive network of sub-temples spread throughout the provinces, where they played an important role in local administration. It took more than fifteen years to complete Tōdai-ji, which isn't surprising when you learn that the main hall is still the world's largest wooden building. Even so, the present structure (last rebuilt in 1709) is only two-thirds the size of the original. Avoid visiting Tōdai-ji at weekends, especially during the spring and autumn, the two peak times for visiting Nara, when the temple is overrun with thousands of tourists and school groups.
The Daibutsu-den
The main entrance to Tōdai-ji lies through the suitably impressive Nandai-mon (南大門), or Great Southern Gate. Rebuilt in the thirteenth century, it shelters two wonderfully expressive guardian gods (Niō), each over 7m tall. Beyond, you begin to see the horned, sweeping roof of the Daibutsu-den, the Great Buddha Hall (大仏殿), which houses Japan's largest bronze statue. A 15m-tall blackened figure on a lotus throne, the great Buddha (Daibutsu) seems to strain at the very walls of the building. It depicts Rushana (later known as Dainichi Nyorai), the Cosmic Buddha who presides over all levels of the Buddhist universe, and was a phenomenal achievement for the time. Not surprisingly, several attempts at casting the Buddha failed, but finally in 752 the gilded statue was officially dedicated by symbolically "opening" its eyes. To achieve this, an Indian priest stood on a special platform and "painted" the eyes with a huge brush, from which coloured strings trailed down to the assembled dignitaries, enabling them to participate in the ceremony. Not only were there hundreds of local monks present, but also ambassadors from China, India and further afield, bearing an amazing array of gifts, many of which have been preserved in the Shōsō-in treasury – as has the original paintbrush.
The Buddha has had a rough time of it since then. As early as the ninth century an earthquake toppled his head, then it and his right hand melted in a fire in 1180 and again in 1567. As a result, only tiny fragments of the original statue remain intact, the rest being made up of patchwork parts put together over the centuries. Nonetheless, the remodelled giant is definitely large, and it's hard not to be impressed by the technological triumph involved in re-creating it. As you walk round the hall, don't be surprised to see people trying to squeeze through a hole in one of the rear supporting pillars – success apparently reserves you a corner of paradise.
The Kaidan-in
Walk west from the Daibutsu-den compound and you'll find the more modest Kaidan-in (戒壇院), which was established in 754 as Japan's first, and foremost, ordination hall. It was founded by a Chinese high priest, Ganjin, who Emperor Shōmu hoped would instil some discipline into the rapidly expanding Buddhist priesthood. He had to be patient, however; poor Ganjin's ship took six attempts to arrive here, by which time the priest was 67 years old and completely blind. His ordination hall was rebuilt in the Edo period, but the statues inside include eighth-century representations of the Four Heavenly Kings (Shi-Tennō), crafted in clay.
- Nara-koen
Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha (春日大社; Kasuga Grand Shrine) was founded in 768 as the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara family and, for a while, held an important place in Shinto worship; indeed, the emperor still today sends a messenger here to participate in shrine rituals. The four sanctuaries are just visible in the inner compound, while the thousand beautifully crafted bronze lanterns hanging round the outer eaves are easier to admire. Donated over the years by supplicants, they bear intricate designs of deer, wisteria blooms, leaves or geometric patterns. The best time to see them is when they are lit up twice a year for the Mantoro ("Ten-thousand lantern") festivals – on February 3 marking setsubun, the beginning of spring, and during Obon, the festival of souls, in mid-August (Aug 14–15) for the Chugen Mantoro festival. The bronze lanterns and the nearly two thousand stone lanterns, which line the path leading up to the shrine, are lit at dusk. Just before the entrance to the inner shrine is the Kasuga Taisha Shin-en garden (春日大社神苑 萬葉植物園), especially charming in early May when the dozens of varieties of wisteria are in bloom. The garden is also a living museum of over nine hundred flowers, herbs and other plants mentioned in the verses of the Manyōshū ("Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves") poetry anthology, compiled in the Nara and early Heian periods.
Festivals and annual events
Festivals and annual events
Several of Nara's festivals have been celebrated for well over a thousand years. Many of these are dignified court dances, though the fire rituals are more lively affairs. In spring and autumn the New Public Hall in Nara-kōen stages a series of nō dramas, while the biggest cultural event of the year is undoubtedly the autumn exhibition of Shōsō-in treasures at the National Museum.
January 15 Yama-yaki
(Grass-burning festival). On a winter evening at 6pm, priests from Kōfuku-ji set fire to the grass on Wakakusa-yama – supervised by a few hundred firemen. The festival commemorates the settlement of a boundary dispute between Nara's warrior monks.
February 3 Mantoro Lantern Festival
To mark setsubun, the beginning of spring, three thousand stone and bronze lanterns are lit at Kasuga Taisha (from 6pm).
March 1–14 O-Taimatsu and O-Mizutori
(Torch lighting and water drawing). A 1200-year-old ceremony that commemorates a priest's dream about Kannon drawing water from a holy well. The climax is on the night of March 13 when, at around 6.30pm, priests on the second-floor veranda light huge torches and scatter sparks over the assembled crowds to protect them from evil spirits. At 2am the priests collect water from the well, after which they whirl more lit flares round in a frenzied dance.
May 11–12 Takigi Nō
Outdoor performances of nō dramas by firelight at Kōfuku-ji.
August 14–15 Chugen Mantoro
To celebrate Obon, the festival of souls, Kasuga Taisha's lanterns are spectacularly lit.
September Uneme Matsuri
On the night of the harvest moon, this festival takes place at the Sarusawa-ike Pond as a dedication to Uneme, a court lady who drowned herself here after losing the favour of the emperor. At around 7pm two dragon-bowed boats bearing costumed participants and gagaku musicians commemorate the lady's death in multicoloured splendour. The festival lasts until 9.30pm.
Early to mid-October Shika-no-Tsunokiri
(Antler cutting). This is the season when the deer in Nara-kōen are wrestled to the ground and have their antlers sawn off by Shinto priests. It all takes place in the Roku-en deer pen, near Kasuga Taisha. Check locally for exact dates.
December 15–18 On-matsuri
At around midday a grand costume parade sets off from the prefectural offices to Kasuga Wakamiya-jinja, stopping on the way for various ceremonies. It ends with outdoor performances of nō and courtly dances.


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One week after a blizzard blew through the state, similar stories of its aftermath are echoing in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. After days of disarray, communities have reopened schools, restored power, cleared roads, and are now beginning the task of damage assessment.
And with many emergency weather services already stretched thin, the National Weather Service is forecasting that another storm could dump as much as 6 inches of snow on the eastern half of the state late Saturday and early Sunday.


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A hot and humid air mass remains in place today as we track the next cold front set to swing through by afternoon/evening. Most of this day will be storm-free as temperatures soar into the low to mid 90s. Clouds will build this afternoon and as a powerful cold front enters north Georgia, it will spark a nearly solid line of storms that will press southward through the metro area into the evening.MORNING THROUGH NOON:Mostly sunny skies will prevail and temperatures will warm up quickly. Temperatures will be near 90 by noon with the humidity making it feel a few degrees warmer.AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNSET:Storms will enter the northern tier of counties of Georgia around 2pm-3pm. These storms will likely bring briefly heavy rain and frequent lightning with the potential to produce damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and large hail. This would prompt multiple Severe Thunderstorm Warnings through the afternoon. These storms will march into metro Atlanta around 5pm-8pm, and then press south of I-20 from 7pm through 10pm. While any storm can produce a brief torrential downpour, storms shouldn't last long enough in any one area to bring more than ½" of rain. Much drier air will filter into the state overnight and leave us with a very pleasant day for mid-June tomorrow. Highs will be in the cooler mid 80s with abundant sunshine and noticeably lower humidity. Temperatures will start creeping up over the weekend, but skies should remain sunny for Saturday and Father's Day on Sunday. A daily round of storms can be expected Monday through Wednesday.
Joanne Feldman / FOX 5 Storm Team Meteorologist
Stay with the FOX 5 Storm Team for details on this developing weather situation, and follow us on Twitter @FOX5StormTeam for the latest updates!
For the latest weather conditions, visit the FOX 5 Storm Team Weather Page.Don't forget to download the FREE FOX 5 Storm Team app! It's available for iPhone, iPad and Android. Click here for more details.
KTTV FOX 111999 S. Bundy Dr.Los Angeles CA 90025Main: (310) 584-2000News Tips? (310) 584-2025


text: I love that you're calling Garnier's oil "suspicious", like it's a shady character with a goatee in an episode of Law & Order: Beauty Crimes Division (first of all: if that doesn't exist yet, it should. secondly, yes, I think goatees are shady. if you are not a goat, you should not have a goatee). So, my thoughts on the categories of oil: Oils get a bad rap. Certainly, there are oils that are bad (oil spills. oily hair). We spend so much time stripping our face and hair of oil—but we forget that not all oils are bad and that oils are naturally-occurring on the surface of skin for a reason: to create and seal in moisture. I think almost everyone—barring people with cystic acne, whom I think should consult a dermatologist—would benefit from oil on their face and hair. Hair-wise, rub a bit between your palms and then apply to ends or from the mid-shaft down (especially if you heat-style). Your hair will feel softer and, well, yummier. Skin-wise, in the winter months especially (not so much in the summer when the humidity helps out skin), I use oil as a serum. My favorites are this one (made for oily skin), this one (if you have ultra-dry skin), and this one (my most recent discovery). On a side note, your body will also benefit from consumption of oils, like healthy ones found in fish, avocado, olive oil. I take fish oil (sounds gross, because it is! But capsules aren't too bad) and I really think it helps with my skin, hair, brain, everything, boosting it from the inside out.


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Freespirit Girls Fashion Fur Parker
- Low stock, selling fast
5 reviews
- Delivery
Freespirit Girls Fashion Fur Hood Parka
Equip her for the elements with this practical parka by Freespirit.
She'll be joining the fashion force in this trendy trench parka that's sure to see her rank top spot in the style stakes. It flaunts a shiny surface and plenty of pockets to the front, while a drawstring waist adds shape.
The fur trim hood is a fashionable finish that shelters her from showers, and the storm flap fastening keeps out windy weather with its pretty pink poppers. Finished with a rounded neck collar and ribbed cuffs, this khaki parka will combat the chill and lock in warmth.
Complete the army style with military ankle boots and tights. And this coat also looks great over her school uniform come term time.
Useful info:
- Freespirit girls khaki parka
- Shiny PU coating
- Hood with fur trim
- Drawstring waist
- High round neck collar
- Storm flap fastening with pink poppers
- Ribbed cuffs
- 4 button pockets at front
Freespirit PU Panel Parka Coat
- In Stock
3 reviews
- Delivery
- Next day delivery available
Ribstop PU coating garment washed.Colour: Khaki. Shell: 58% cotton, 42% polyester. Hood lining: Polyester fur. Body lining: Polyester Padding: Polyester. Machine washable.


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A Brief History of New York at N-Y Historical Society
"A Brief History of New York" includes Sam Roberts' choices for objects that, together, "constitute a unique history of New York."
The smART List - Fall 2014
Fall 2014's biggest cultural arts events in NYC, including Fall for Dance, Cher, the top exhibitions, and Blythe Danner in The Country House.
The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec at MoMA
A stunning collection of posters, lithographs, and more.
Ask the Met: Inside the Opera Archives
Facts, figures, statistics, and stories: It's all in the Metropolitan Opera Archives.
In a World of Their Own: Coney Island Photographs by Aaron Rose at MCNY
Featuring 70 images taken by Rose in Brooklyn's Coney Island during the 1960s
Recent Articles
Ciao, Milano
To relish in all things Italiano, we've picked out some of our fave fall offerings from a wide-ranging crop of designers — luckily, all currently available stateside.
Letters Man: Talking With Brian Dennehy
Dennehy, known for playing tough guys on film — and iconic American dramatic roles on stage — is taking a tender turn in Broadway's revival of Love Letters.
London Calling
To celebrate all things Brit, we've culled together some of our fave UK designers whose pieces are luckily available on this side of the Atlantic in NYC.
Wild for Wilde: London's Renowned Hotel Café Royal and the Oscar Wilde Bar
Last year, the celebrated Oscar Wilde Bar opened at the newly minted Hotel Café Royal along the Regent Street retail mecca.


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It was the second inning of Friday's game between the Brewers and Cardinals. Carlos Gomez stepped to the plate as the NL leader in batting average. After going 6-for-37 (.162 AVG) through the first nine games of the season, Gomez had gone on a tear…. [More]
Posts Tagged 'Mike Cameron '
Teams Tend To Miss Mike Cameron
By Jack Moore on June 15, 2010
[Please don't forget to vote in the poll on the sidebar if you haven't yet!] Last offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers decided not to attempt to re-sign Mike Cameron, despite the fact that Cameron had indicated a willingness to sign a discounted contract in order to… [More]