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Reuters reported last night:
President Barack Obama has ordered the National Security Agency to stop eavesdropping on the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank as part of a review of intelligence gathering activities, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.
The order is the latest move by the White House to demonstrate that it is willing to curb at least some surveillance in the wake of leaks by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden of programs that collect huge quantities of data on U.S. allies and adversaries, and American citizens.
The NSA's surveillance of the Washington-based IMF and World Bank has not previously been disclosed. Details of such spy programs are usually highly classified.
Ironically, I have very little problem with the Adminstration spying on the IMF, the World Bank, or the United Nations because I don't think those institutions are allies of the American people. In fact, I view them as quite the opposite.
Do we have any evidence yet that Obama has stopped the NSA from doing mass data collections on his own people?
Then again, there are probably plenty of Americans in IMF building in Washington DC. And, in theory, these people are supposed to be protected by the Fourth Amendment just like any other American. I suppose they are protected just as little as the average American.
The news story confirms what I have mentioned elsewhere, that the NSA's mission is so broad that we have no reason to trust that it is devoting its efforts to protecting us from terrorist attack.
Loch K. Johnson, a former congressional oversight aide who is now a professor of international relations at the University of Georgia, said Obama made the right decision by curbing eavesdropping on international organizations and friendly foreign leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"I think it's a good idea to cut back on surveillance" of economic-related targets, Johnson said. "The enemy is terrorism and we should focus on that. We have to focus almost all of our resources on Al Qaeda and its affiliates," he said.
So where were we focused before? Where would the NSA still be focusing its efforts if it wasn't for the courage of Edward Snowden?
According to real economics (i.e. capitalism) there is no conflict between the people of different nations. We are all better off as we trade with each other and each person's prosperity adds to everyone else's. Apparently, under Obama and the Keynesians, each nation is a threat and we need to spy on them for the sake of our own economy.
That is a depressing vision. I prefer reality.


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Happy Wednesday - are you ready for a challenge? This month at Whimsie Doodles, we have a sketch to inspire you! I was inspired to use this fun image from the Valentine Gift Tag collection which can be found here. All the details of our monthly challenges can be found here.
For February we will once again have two (2) lucky winners for this challenge! One (1) winner will be drawn at random to win a FREE Whimsie Doodles image of their choice from our latest release. And the second winner will join our team as a Guest Artist in February 2014!! Make sure to check out the Monthly Challenge Details page for all the rules and specifics. You have until February 13th to complete and link up your entry.
I hope you find time to play along and remember to stop by the blog for inspiration from our fabulous design team - thanks for stopping by! Cathy
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
you make my heart race valentine with Whimsie Doodles
Posted by PapierGirl at 5:00 AM
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subset: commoncrawl


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Imagine all the things running through your mind on a regular basis when it comes to your children. Now imagine how much more complicated things could become when your child is ill. The last thing on a parent's mind is usually their own well being. Ironically, that does no good for the parent or the child, who needs their parents at full strength to help them through this process.
When we designed our new hospital, we wanted to make sure we make it as easy as possible for parents and family members to take care of themselves while we're taking care of their child. Continue reading


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This rant is the 10th installment of the Rant On... series, which will be featured regularly - by which I mean whenever I feel like ranting. Post any suggestions for future rants in the comments.The last couple of weeks have been a source of incredible satisfaction, knowing that we won't miss a single detail about Paris Hilton's prison escapades. They're talking about it on all the networks for the last few weeks, and this nonsense about her being in and out of prison/court isn't helping any. Check out TMZ's posts from just this morning:
Did Paris Catch ANOTHER Break This Morning?Oh. My. God. They confirmed she's phoning it in! I'm taking the rest of the day off to stay on top of this juicy coverage. You don't have to tell me to reload TMZ, I've already got a paperweight set on my F5 button so I don't miss any of the action.
Friday, June 08, 2007 5:34 AM
A spokesman from the Los Angeles County Superior Court has announced that Paris Hilton might be allowed to appear by phone this morning, instead of having to face the judge in person.Story developing......
CONFIRMED! Paris WILL Phone It In!
Friday, June 08, 2007 5:47 AM
TMZ has confirmed that Paris will appear at her hearing today via telephone. We've also learned that LAPD is turning people away from Hilton's West Hollywood home who don't have the proper press credentials. Luckily, we do....
War in Court Over Paris
Friday, June 08, 2007 5:55 AM
Now, TMZ is learning that there is a battle raging inside the courtroom between Paris' lawyer, the City Attorney and the Sheriff's Dept. -- over the decision to allow Paris Hilton to appear by phone this morning. Stay tuned... reload!
Seriously, enough already! How are so many people interested in this anyways? Obviously they are or the networks wouldn't keep covering it. But it seems like there's just a lot more important and remotely interesting stuff to report while all this garbage is going on. And even if there isn't, stop talking about Paris already. First there was Brittany Spears in and out of rehab, then Lindsay Lohan and her DUI and drugs, and now this. At the very least just combine all this stuff into "The Stupid Celebrity Show" instead of spreading it in the news, so I can ignore it more easily. All they're doing is making them more famous and making them a bunch of money, which is sure to do nothing but continue fueling more of this trash.
Yes, this rant was too easy but it was a long time coming and needed to be said.


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Kings and Milks | Asian Elaphe | Dwarf Monitors | Tortoises | Links | The Last Word |
*NOTE: The information on this page applies only to the shipping of nonvenomous reptiles. The transport of venomous herps is governed by specific laws and policies and will not be covered on this page. I am not a shipper of venomous, but if someone well experienced in the process would like to write up a detailed description, with pictures, of the proper, legal, way to do it, I would be glad to post it here.Preparing the BoxProbably the biggest problem for someone new to shipping reptiles is actually getting the approval of one of the carriers to ship through them. Now there is finally a reliable alternative. I use and recommend ShipYourReptiles.com
I see on a regular basis questions concerning the different aspects of shipping reptiles. It seems to be a point of considerable confusion and some misunderstanding among those who are new to the practice.
The intent of this page will be to introduce you to the proper methods of shipping reptiles, including packaging, and selecting a carrier.
The first consideration is to prepare a proper box in which to pack the reptile. This is one of the most important parts, as the box will be the basis for ensuring safe shipment of the animal.Packing the animal
The only acceptable box to use is one that is lined with styrofoam insulation. Even in mild weather, the insulation is still an important part of the package. It forms a buffer between the animal and the outside temperatures, and protects it from sudden changes in temperature. In very cold or hot weather, it will greatly aid in the use of hot or cold packs. In cold temperatures, and even more so in hot temperatures, not using an insulated box can and often is a death sentence to the animal inside.
You can purchase ready made insulated boxes for shipping from several reptile supply dealers, or you can make your own. I prefer the latter. Most of the supply companies charge from $3.50 to $5.00 per box, but you can make a better box for less money.
For several years I recycled boxes from the trash, lining them with styrofoam, and used them for shipping. This works fine, and there's nothing wrong with it at all, as long as you find boxes that are not damaged, or soiled. I eventually got tired of always trying to locate the appropriate size box, especially when my shipping began to increase, so I decided to order new boxes of a uniform size.
I order from Associated Bag, and boxes the perfect size for most normal reptile shipments run $0.45 to $0.50 each. Not bad at all really, especially considering the time saved, and the fact they are all the same size which makes them easier to insulate.
For the styrofoam lining, I use 3/4" blueboard. This is an insulation board sold at most construction supply stores such as Lowe's. I pay $9.50 or so per sheet, but I haven't compared prices. The blueboard is also superior to the insulation found in the ready made boxes. It is more dense, and thicker than the normally 1/2" styrofoam provided with the commercial boxes.
The overall cost to make these comes to around $2.00 per box, I would estimate, however I haven't figured it out exactly. At any rate, you get a better box for less money.
Below is a series of pictures detailing how to line the boxes.
First cut 2 pieces the exact size of the inside of the box. Push one to the bottom, and the other will be the top. You want these pieces to be tight. Next you'll cut the side pieces. If you're using 3/4" thick styrofoam, cut them 3/4" shorter than the length and height of each side. You'll wind up with two sets of two identical pieces. Now put the side pieces in, overlapping the ends of each piece. This method will add strength to the finished box. This picture shows all four side pieces in place. The top will fit flush over the sides, and will allow the box flaps to fit normally.
The first consideration is the condition of the animal itself. It should be well hydrated, and the gut should be empty. Refrain from feeding the animal for 3 days before shipping. The temperature in the container will likely not be appropriate for digestion, and any rough handling along the way may result in regurgitation.Hot and cold packs
Any sick, gravid, or otherwise compromised specimens should not be shipped at all.
The animal itself will need to be in an additional container inside the box. Depending on the animal, this may be a breatheable bag, or a deli cup of some type.
All hatchling and small snakes and lizards should be inside a deli cup. There are many suppliers of these containers, and I get mine from Superior Enterprise at http://www.reptilepackaging.com/. Getting the pre punched cups is advised. The extra cost is nominal, and the convenience is well worth it.
Some form of bedding or other material should be used inside the container to cushion the herp from being jostled about, and to absorb any fecal matter that may be passed enroute. I have used paper towel, wood shavings, and shredded newspaper.
When shipping amphibians, paper towel would be preferred and this should be misted lightly to keep adequate humidity during transit. For other species, the container should be completely dry, but the animal well hydrated prior to packing.
Remember, always tape the lids of the deli cups down. Don't trust them to remain in place. The cheaper cups especially do not always make a tight fit, and the scotch tape is an additional safe guard against the animal getting out inside the box.
Adult snakes are best shipped inside a snake bag. These can be bags manufactured for the purpose, or you can use pillowcases. The main thing is that the fabric is breathable, meaning the snake will have no trouble getting air. You can put some shredded newspaper inside the bag with the snake, but I often do not.
The bag will have to be closed securely. You can tie a knot in the fabric, or use a rubberband. I prefer the rubberbands myself. I make sure the snake is at the bottom of the bag and twist the fabric tightly for a space of 3-4 inches. Then fold this down and put a rubberband tightly around the top. Alternatively, you can use clear packing tape for this. It can be very aggravating to get into, but there's no chance of the snake getting out.
Below are some pictures detailing both methods of containing a snake.
Here is a young carpet python in a deli cup for shipping. Note the cup is labeled with the ID number of the hatchling, and the sex. The marking of the sex is difficult to see in this picture because it's done with a magic marker and the snake is sitting directly under it. The lid is taped down to make it completely secure.
The above pictures show two methods of securing a snake inside a bag. The first uses the rubberband method, and the second shows the bag itself tied in a knot.
Make sure the container is cushioned on all sides inside the box. You want to limit as much movement as possible during transit. You can use crumpled newspaper, shredded newspaper, or packing peanuts as a packing material.
Start by putting some of the material inside the box to support the container. Sit the container on this layer of padding and fill in all around it so that it is held securely. Then add additional material on top of the box so that when the lid is placed on it will remain in place with very little movement.
The need for a hot or cold pack will depend on the temperatures the package will be exposed to on its way to the destination. As a general rule, if the temperatures are between 65 and 80°F I normally don't use either. If the temperature exceeds this range I use the approrpiate pack to help keep the proper temps inside the box.Air Holes
When using either of these, it is important not to let them lay in direct contact with the container holding the reptile. They are there to change the air temperature inside the box, not to heat or cool the animal directly.
Heat packs are chemically activated and can only be used once. When the pack is exposed to the air and shaken, it reacts with the oxygen to generate heat. Nothing less than a 35-40 hour heat pack should be used. The hand warmers sold at Wal Mart are not adequate for this purpose and should not be considered at all. I order my heat packs from RLD Enterprises at http://rldtheheatsource.com.
To use a heat pack remove it from the plastic bag and shake it very well for a minute or so, then tape it to the inside of the lid of the box. Remember, they require oxygen to create the heat, so only tape the edges enough to secure them, but do not cover them so they cannot get the needed air. Some heat packs have one perforated side, and one side that is not perforated. The perforated side allows exposure to oxygen, so this side should always face into the box, not against it.
Generally only 30 and 40 hour heat packs are used to ship reptiles. There are differences in the two. A 30 hour heat pack will reach a surface temperature of about 115° at it's peak. It takes 20-30 minutes to activate, and peaks betwen 12 and 14 hours. A 40 hour pack takes 40-50 minutes to fully activate and will peak at 110°or so at 17-19 hours.
Depending on the size of the box, or the severity of the weather, more than one heat pack may be necessary, use your own judgement. In a 12x12x12 box, one heat pack will raise the temperature approximately 12-16 degrees, and each additional pack will add another 10 degrees. This will vary to an extent with the quality of the insulation of the box and the severity of the outside temperatures. Insulate very well in winter.
Cold packs are reusable. You can get these at any Wal Mart, in the cooler section. They are normally used in coolers to keep drinks or food cold.
When using a cold pack, I pack the animal, but leave the lid off the box. I put the pack in when the driver arrives so that it has the maximum time to remain frozen. It's a good idea to wrap the cold pack in a paper towel to soak up any condensation given off as it thaws. Again, place the pack so that it cannot come in direct contact with the container holding the reptile.
An unopened heat pack A reusable cold pack
Some people feel air holes are required and some do not. I personally do not use them. I feel if holes are punched in the box, then the insulation properties are compromised. An alternative is to make holes in the cardboard only, but not in the styrofoam itself.Choosing a Carrier
It's basically impossible to make one of these boxes air tight, so the risk of suffocating an animal is almost non existent. The styrofoam will not fit together perfectly and the cardboard box itself "breathes" somewhat. I also do not completely seal the seams with packing tape.
It is my opinion than especially in cold or hot weather, you are hindering your efforts to maintain a safe temperature in the box if you make holes in it so that outside air flows freely inside.
Deciding which carrier to use to ship your reptile has to be the issue that generates more confusion, misunderstanding, and questions, than any other part of shipping live reptiles.Labeling
You have several choices. First, the best method of shipping is of course Delta Dash. You send the package in the morning and it arrives the same day. They also openly accept reptiles, and have a degree of guarantee as to their safe arrival. However, before you can ship through the major airlines, you have to become a "known shipper", and this takes some effort, including having an airline representative visit your home or place of buisness.
It is also the most costly method of shipping, and frankly will not be readily utilized by those shipping the cheaper animals. Someone ordering a $20 leopard gecko, will not want to pay $65 to have it shipped to them. This leaves some other options.
First off you have the United States Postal Service. This is one I do not recommend fo rshipping reptiles. Their overnight service has become very unreliable, and while I use them almost exclusively to ship feeder insects, I would never send a live reptile using this method. Furthermore it is illegal to ship snakes via USPS, DO NOT do it. We have enough bad press in this hobby so don't be stupid and bring more upon us.
This leaves the three major overnight carriers, UPS, FedEx, and Airborne Express. Let's look at them individually.
UPS - I personally do not like UPS. I have found them to be very rough on packages, and somewhat unreliable with delivery. They will accept reptiles, but you have to jump through a few hoops to get permission. To make it more difficult, it's hard to get two people form UPS to give you the same story concerning this, they apparently make no real effort to get everyone on the same page.
FedEx - I use FedEx for my overnight shipping. They are now allowing people to ship live reptiles, but you have to jump through some hoops. There are some stipulations we hope will be addressed, but it is a step in the right direction. See this thread on Fauna Classifieds for details on getting a waiver to ship.
Airborne Express - I used Airborne for all my reptile shipping for about 3 years. Their service began to lack however. Double billing bacame more frequent, and their customer service was going downhill. Then to top it off they merged with DHL and are now taking a proactive approach to eliminate the shipping of reptiles entirely.
Several people who had spent several years a a customer of Airborne, and some who spent tens of thousands of dollars annualy with them were told their business was no longer welcome. To make matters worse, it was usually after they had taken packages for shipment which they then refused to return resulting in the shipper having to go get them.
I encourage you to avoid Airborne, not only for your reptile shipping, but for any other shipping you may do as well.
There are problems with all the overnight carriers. Some are better or worse in different areas. I have received animals from all of them and have had problems with all of them on occasion. Overall though, the problems are few when the number of shipments I have received is taken into consideration. There is no foolproof method to ship reptiles overnight, but with the proper packaging, the animal will arrive safely.
The main thing to remember, no matter what carrier you use, is to ship responsibly. Make sure there is no chance of the animal escaping enroute. We have hopes of at least one of the carriers to begin accepting reptiles completely, but any incident of escape severly undermines the efforts to get that accomplished. Recently a 7 foot burmese escaped in a UPS truck due to completely idiotic shipping methods. Incidents such as this go much farther to keep the restrictions in place than 100 good shipments do to get them changed.
Do not try to be sneaky and label a reptile shipment fragile, perishable, glass, or any other misleading way. This will cause problems if the carrier discovers you have lied about the contents. It is also very possible that mislabeling a package can cause you to be in violation of the Lacy Act, which can get you in some serious hot water with the Federal government. We have discussed this possibility in the past, and so far there is no concrete explanation of this. Some interpret the Act to say that all shipments must be labeled with both the common and scientific names of the reptile, while others read it to mean that only species covered by the Act are included. We really need the opinion of a lawyer versed on the topic, or a definate answer from the US Fish and Wildlife department. So far however, neither has happened, but be aware of the possibility.
At the very least, label the package "Live Harmless Reptiles" and include the scientific name somewhere on the documentation with the carrier.
I use the methods outlined here to ship my reptiles, and to date haven't lost a single animal in shipping.
I hear reports regularly of poor shipping methods. It takes so very little effort to ship a reptile properly, there is simply no excuse for the level of sheer stupidity some people display. I find it difficult to comprehend just what some people are thinking when they pack a turtle in an empty unlined Priority Mail box with no padding then can't understand why it died on the way.
Use your common sense, and put forth the extra effort to do it right, for the sake of the animals as well as the rest of us in this hobby.
Final Note
The information I have presented here is all the information I have to offer. If you have a question on the packing methods used to ship a reptile, then email me and I'll do my best to help you.
However, I can offer no further help on such things as choosing a carrier so please do not email me asking what to do when you've called UPS and have been told by the counter lackey that they do not accept reptiles for shipment. Any such emails will not be answered. Please refer to the thread on Fauna Classifieds listed above for information on getting a FedEx certification.
Also, I've gotten several emails asking how to pack a 12 foot burmese or the like for shipment via FedEx. Please use some common sense and realize that any snake of that size is only suitable for shipment via the airlines
Clay Davenport
|Sponsored Ads


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In Effective Use of Films For Goal Setting, I talked about the movie Hoosiers and how it can be used to challenge your team to blow past preconceived notions of how good they can be. I haven't used the movie as a rah-rah "let's beat the dominant team" motivator, because I don't want them to be that fired up about one team. I talked about it in the post linked above…you should check it out. It's such a good movie that I've come up with more topics that you can use with your team during the season. Here are three ways that you can discuss Hoosiers if you decide to watch it with your team.
3 amazing lessons from Hoosiers
It takes teamwork to make the dream work
Ideally, your team is highly motivated and focused on what they want to accomplish personally as well as corporately. It's our jobs as their coach to push them along the way…reminding them that accomplishing goals and dreams shouldn't be easy. It will require hard work and perseverance. Most times, the dreams that keep your team up at night will be bigger than their britches…accomplished only through the power of the group. After all, is it really a dream if you can do it all by yourself?
You gotta play the game
To me, this is the major lesson of this movie. You've got to lace up the shoes and give yourself a shot. If you learn anything from Hoosiers, it's got to be: the court is the same size, the hoop is the same height, and the rules are the same for both teams. Sure, one team is favored over the other…but nothing matters until you play the game. If your team can get to a place where they believe they have a chance to win (even when no one else shares that belief), then guess what? They've got a chance to win!
Sometimes things work out just how you want them to
Every now and then, you'll have a magical season. Your seniors will step up, your freshmen will play over their heads…all culminating with winning the big game. Sometimes it's nice to let your team open up their brains to feeling good about the team and the season…to the possibility of everything working out. It may not, but I think it's more likely to happen if they've got a vision of what it'd look and feel like in their heads and hearts.
This is a great movie to get your team fired up about working hard. Hoosiers is exciting, dramatic, and emotional…sounds a lot like the sports season, right?


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Author Archives: Jianan Li
Tiny Tetris
All source files for this project are available here: https://github.com/Jianan-Li/Tiny-Tetris
Before talking about the Tiny Tetris itself, I need to say that there are a couple firsts with this project:
First time using the laser cutter to make enclosures.
First time using a stencil for applying solder paste.
First time using a toaster oven to reflow PCBs.
First time using an IC in QFN package with 0.5mm pitch (ATmega32u4).
There are two things I don't like about my previous Tetris Gaming Device. First, it's too bulky. It doesn't fit in my pocket, so I can't bring it anywhere with me. Second, it's not rechargeable through usb. The battery used in the Tetris Gaming Device is a 7.4V 2S LiPo battery, so you'll have to use the special LiPo charger to charge it instead of usb.
That's why I decided to make the second generation of the Tetris Gaming Device. Introducing the Tiny Tetris!
The size of the Tiny Tetris is 94.0 mm (3.70 inches) x 49.5 mm (1.95 inches) x 17.1 mm (0.67 inch). It is powered by a 3.7V LiPo battery and is rechargeable through its micro usb port.
On the left side, there are two general purposes buttons, which I configured to adjust the brightness of the LED display in my demo program, and two indicator LEDs for power and charging respectively.
On the right side, we have a reset button that is connected to the reset pin on the MCU.
On the top, there is a pushbutton power switch. The circuitry used is essentially the same as the breakout board that Adafruit sells.
On the bottom, there is the micro usb port for both charging and programming the MCU (ATmega32u4), and also a 6-pin ICSP/ISP header for flashing the bootloader and setting the fuses with USBTiny or other AVR programmers.
There are a couple things I want to talk about in this post, including the enclosure design, the pcb design and component selection, and then the software.
First, let's talk about the enclosure design. On the old Tetris, the enclosure is 3D printed on a Stratasys 3D printer. Since I wanted to experiment with different tools and machines in my projects, I decided to laser cut the enclosure for the Tiny Tetris in our student machines shop.
It's not easy to get the power and speed settings right on a laser cutter, and you'll have to design the kerf into each piece to get the correct dimensions. The picture above shows about a third of all the tests that I did using scrap acrylic pieces to get everything right.
The design I used consists of six pieces of acrylic: top, bottom, and the four sides. The side pieces have tabs both on the ends and sides, so all the sides pieces can be connected together, and then plug into the top and bottom pieces. The eight holes and the top and bottom pieces are for the flat head M2 screws. If you look carefully at the screw holes, you'll see that they are countersink holes. I did this with the 3D engraving feature that is available on the Universal Laser Systems. It turns grayscale images into three-dimensional engravings, so all I have to do to countersink the holes is to draw a circular grayscale gradient around the holes.
I used the same technique to 3D engrave the area around the joystick/navigation switch to allow the movement of the switch without exposing too much circuit board from the top, and also the area around the micro usb port to be able to use any micro usb cable with this device.
The design of the buttons on this acrylic enclosure is inspired by this clock kit from Evilmadscientist. When pressed the acrylic would bend just enough to trigger the pushbutton mounted on the pcb inside.
Here is a picture showing the thickness breakdown and how everything is fastened together.
Next, let's talk about the pcb design and component selection.
I went through a total of four iterations of the pcb design, and they are named Tetris v1.0 ~ Tetris v1.3 as indicated on the pcb. There is a huge difference between v1.1 and v1.2 since I made the decision to replace the ATtiny85 with the ATmega32u4, whereas the difference between v1.0 and v1.1, and v1.2 and v1.3 is not so significant.
Moving from v1.0 to v1.1, I changed the way that the 8-pin headers are connected to the pcb by increasing the hole size. Here are pictures showing the difference between the two.
The difference in height between the two is about 1.5mm, which means that it reduced the thickness of the Tiny Tetris by almost 10%.
Moving from v1.1 to v1.2, I decided to replace the ATtiny85 with the ATmega32u4. The main reason is that I realized I wanted to be able to measure the battery voltage and have the device automatically turn off when the voltage is below a certain threshold. This feature requires two more pins – one with ADC to measure the voltage and the other to kill the power – and this means that if I stick with the ATtiny85, some of the pins will have dual functionalities, and it would be even more troublesome to run SoftwareSerial at the same time. So in order to make the device more reliable and function more predictably, I decided to use the ATmega32u4 instead. But this is not a decision that can be made at any time of the day. I was lucky enough to find a small quantity of the ATmega32u4RC available on Digikey. Now if you don't check Digikey regularly, you probably don't know that all variants of the 32u4 have been out of stock for months, not only on Digikey but also other major distributors, due to the popularity of the chip. I couldn't believe it when I accidentally found 71 of the RC version available on Digikey and immediately bought 10 of them.
Also, another change I made to the pcb design is that I added a tiny piece of pcb under the joystick so that it would be able to stick out above the top surface of the enclosure. In v1.1, the joystick is almost impossible to use when the pcb is mounted in the enclosure because it's not as tall as the LED matrix. So i decided to add a small piece of pcb just for the joystick for better user experience. The two pcbs are aligned using two short pieces of resistor legs before and during the reflow process.
From v1.2 to v1.3, the only thing I changed is the location of the reset button, as I've found that it is easier to accidentally press the reset button when it's located near the top on the right side of the device.
So in the final version, we have a total of five ICs on the board: MCP73831 for charging the battery, NC7WZ14 for latching the pushbutton power switch, TPS61240 for boosting the voltage from 3.7V to 5V, HT16K33 for driving the LED matrix and monitoring button presses, and ATmega32u4.
The joystick/navigation switch used here is the exact same part that was used on the Nokia 3230 cell phone. I remember asking my parents multiple times to buy that phone for me when I was in elementary school. The LED matrices are bought from Adafruit, and I bought two of every single color of the square dot matrix they carry. Finally the battery used in the Tiny Tetris is a 3mm thick 700mAh LiPo battery bought on ebay.
Here are some pictures I took when I was reflowing the boards.
Finally, let's talk about the software. You might not believe it, but this is actually the first time I've ever written any C++ code. I wrote a total of four C++ classes, including a simplified version of the HT16K33 driver, the Tetris game, the Snake game, and a Draw/Paint program. I used the i2c.h instead of Wire.h for the I2C interface because I want to refresh the display at a fixed rate (50Hz) using a timer interrupt, and Wire.h made it impossible because it uses the timer interrupt to drive the I2C interface, and you can't have one running inside the other.
Here are some pictures of the game play. I also did a demonstration in my short youtube video.
I mentioned above that I wanted to implement the self kill feature when the battery is below a preset value, so here is a GIF showing you what happens when the battery is low.
Before it turns itself off, a low battery symbol is displayed on the screen. After it flashes for 3 seconds, the kill pin on the 32u4 goes high, changing the state of the latching power switch circuit, and turning the device off.
LiPo Booster
LiPo Booster is a breadboard-friendly boost converter board based on the TPS61230 IC from Texus Instrument. It has an output voltage of 5V, and is designed to be used with a single cell LiPo battery.
For normal and half size breadboards, the LiPo Booster can be plugged into the power rails without blocking the vertical 5-pin strips. It can also be used with a tiny breadboard or breadboard of any sizes as shown below.
The Eagle design files and BOM can be found here: https://github.com/Jianan-Li/LiPo-Booster.
Tetris Gaming Device Demo
Tetris Gaming Device Enclosure
It's done!
I printed my enclosure design and button\switch caps on a Dimension 1200 3D printer from Stratasys overnight on Monday. After going through a base bath to remove all the support material, everything fits together perfectly. Since I wanted to make the button\switch caps a different color than the main body, I spray painted them blue.
Here's a picture showing the programming and charging ports (JST), along with the power and sound switches.
The top and bottom pieces are held together using four M3 screws.
Here are a few more pictures from different angles.
Tetris Gaming Device v2 Prototype + PCB
Figure 1: Tetris Gaming Device v2 Breadboard Prototype
For the past month, I've been working on the second version of my Tetris Gaming Device. This first picture shows you almost everything I've included in this version except for the two 8×8 RGB LED matrices.
One major difference between this one and the first version I made last September is that I've replaced the 74HC595 shift registers with LED driver ICs. The problem with using 74HC595 shift registers to drive the led matrix is that they can't supply enough current though each channel. An example would be when you having text scrolling across the screen, and you can clearly see the dimming in columns that have more LED lit up than the others. To solve this problem, I decided to replace the two column (anode) driving shift registers with a single MIC5891 source driver from Micrel, and the six row (cathode) shift registers with three STP16DP05 constant current LED sink drivers from STMicroelectronics. After making these changes, the brightness of each LED won't change at all no matter how many of them light up in each column. Absolutely fantastic!
Figure 2: Tetris Gaming Device v2 PCB, ordered from Advanced Circuits (4pcb.com)
I've also added several other components to the system. First of all, I've added an accelerometer breakout board to provide a motion controlled gaming experience. The IC on this breakout board is the MMA8452Q from Freescale. It talks to the ATmega328 over I2c at 800Hz and provides 3-axis acceleration with either 12-bit or 8-bit resolution. Next, I've added a vibration motor to provide extra physical feedback to the player. In the current Arduino sketch, I've decided to let it vibrate whenever a line is cleared for about half a second. Last but not least, I've added a second LED bargraph to make the pcb look more symmetric. The two bargraphs are individually controlled by the 328 and can be used for any kind and status indication.
Figure 3: Populated PCB with LED Matrices removed, everything hand soldered
This is my first time designing a PCB, and I inevitably made a couple mistakes in the PCB layout. The first major issue is that the eagle part I used for the LED Matrix is from one of SeeedStudio's PCB, and its dimension is short by 1mm on each side. As a result I had to bend the pins on the two matrices in opposite directions to make them fit together. In future PCB designs, I'll definitely check the dimensions for any part from non-major manufactures. Second, I placed the female programming headers way too close to the bottom edge of the board. I actually wanted the headers to be flush with the bottom edge, but, for reasons unknown, I just didn't bother to check the actual dimension of the headers.
Figure 4: The PCB in its final form running Tetris!
I've already designed an enclosure for this PCB in solidworks, and it will be 3D printed tomorrow. Since I have a midterm this Wednesday, I don't know if I'll have time to make a video of me playing it right after the enclosure is done. However, I'll definitely be on this week's Show and Tell at 7pm on Wednesday, so be sure to check out that video or watch it live!
Figure 6: A modded 2-cell Lipo battery pack taped to the back of the PCB
Our First Hackathon – Wireless MIDI Floor Piano (Videos)


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$100? Really?
Still Life Fruit Bowl
With Barnaby Barford and André Klauser's novel Still Life Fruit Bowl, you can create a piece of art that changes according to your fruit-buying patterns. The oak frame and earthenware bowl is available for pre-order for $100 at Areaware (though it also looks like something you might try making yourself).
Posted by Josh Friedland on Feb 20, 2009 in Art and Design, Featured, Fruit, Shopping List, Tableware, What's Fresh | Link | | Print this page | Share This
What a bizarre concept! I guess it would make a cute gag gift for a fellow food blogger, but not at $100! Sheesh!!!
I'd like to meet whomever buys that, because I have a lot of junk I could hawk off and make bank on.
~ Paula
The comments to this entry are closed.


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London via Seville: Dappled shade. Fruit hanging from the trees. Scents as sunny as the sky.
The way we blend it: A hand lotion with Sevillian orange oil with bergamot and our skin-enriching complex (instantly firms, comforts and hydrates).
Why you'll love it: Treat your hands to instant hydration with this easily-absorbed hand lotion. Beautifully scented with our original fragrance, it's a Molton Brown iconReturn to Collection


text:
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- Ned
ROBIN: Who Was Meant to Wear the Red, Green & Yellow? (Part 1)
- Tawny Jones
SUPERGIRL EXCLUSIVE: Bringing Hope Back to the Genre – Audio Article
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MAN OF STEEL: It Broke Vadakin's Heart (Not a Review, a Rant!)
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Alternate Earths
Planet of the Apes
CONSTANTINE: Harold Perrineau Exclusive Interview
CONSTANTINE EXCLUSIVE: An Interview With Matt Ryan
ARROW: Official Synopsis for John Constantine's Return
DC NEWS: Batman v Superman, Constantine & GothamPosted on January 20, 2015 | No CommentsTheAnglophileChannel posted a new video interview with BATMAN Vs SUPERMAN star Henry Cavill and he told them how many more years he intends to play Superman on the big screen. […]
CONSTANTINE: Spoilers and First Photos for "Quid Pro Quo"Posted on January 15, 2015 | No CommentsHere are minor spoilers and the first photos of the upcoming Constantine episode "Quid Pro Quo" which will air in February. CHAS FACES A PARENT'S WORST NIGHTMARE — MARK MARGOLIS […]
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CONSTANTINE: "Saint of Last Resorts" Pt 2 Spoilers & TrailerPosted on December 28, 2014 | No CommentsNBC has released a description for "The Saint of Last Resorts: Part 2," the episode of Constantine set to premeire on Friday January 16 at 8 p.m. Here's how the episode […]
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Pastor Carl shares this important message about pride at a devotional service at Grace Mission Bible Training Center in Paragould
The fall of man presented the challenge for us all that we would find ourselves tragically separated from God's Spirit. His guidance, His blessing, His protection, His presence – all of these things were no longer accessible, because we chose to disobey – We put our plan ahead of God's.
C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying, "A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you."


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Black 7-Bin Rolling Cart
Store, file and organize with ease! This storage cart is built for durability, easy organization and portability with a versatile top shelf and 7 drawers to store clothes, office supplies or accessories. Perfect for your bedroom, bathroom, office or dorm.
- Assembly required
- Fabric drawers with chrome handles
- Sturdy tubular steel frame
- 2 - Locking swivel castors
- 28.7"L x 13.8"W x 30.7"H
- Material: Medium density fibreboard, steel tube, fabric bins, plastic
- Product weight: 56.8 lbs.
Return Policy
If you wish to return your online order, please visit your order history to start the return process. If you have any issues, contact our Customer Care Support Center at 1-866-BIG-LOTS (244-5687) for assistance with making your return. Please be prepared to provide your order number and email address, or your rewards number, so that we may better assist you.
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Mark the Horizontal Falls Off Your Bucket List With an Amazing Scenic Flight
The Horizontal Falls are one of the biggest tourist attractions in Kimberley. These fast moving tidal flows are part of Kimberley falls and are famed for changing direction whenever the tides change. While some people can enjoy these falls by taking a boat ride, the best experience is when one takes a flight. The spectacular view from the sky is almost like a spiritual experience that you will not have enough of. Without digging too much into your pocket, you could get yourself a Horizontal Falls flight that will remain in your mind long after the holiday is over.
With the increase in tourist activity in Kimberley, the scenic flight Horizontal Falls adventure has grown over time. This has been mostly due to word of mouth and customer referrals. It is encouraging to know that previous clients are referring others to experience the phenomenon that is Horizontal Falls. While the main attraction in the area is the Horizontal Falls, the surrounding areas themselves have their own attractions. The communities around have very rich Aboriginal culture, especially around Dampier Peninsula.
If you are looking to take a flight around Horizontal Falls, Kimberley Aviation is going to be a very reliable and friendly partner. The company has been operating flights around Kimberley and the Dampier Peninsula for some time now and it, therefore, has the local experience that is necessary to provide quality services. The company has packaged a couple of trips that one can choose from depending on what they fancy and the time they have on their hands. To accommodate those people that don't get that many chances to get out and take a holiday, the company has a trip that gives customers a wholesome experience of Kimberley and surrounding areas in one day. There are other packages that take care of varied customer needs as well.
Kimberley Aviation is able to provide a scenic flight in Horizontal Falls at highly competitive prices as well. The company is family owned and provides highly customized services to the customers. Kimberley Aviation owns several aircrafts and one is therefore given the opportunity to choose what they like. Because the company is small in size and operations, it is able to provide the customers with a very personal service and customer service is therefore at the centre of all their services. The staffs are local people that have the local knowledge and are therefore able to answer any questions that the tourists might have. The company has grown over time because of the positive feedback received from former clients.
For convenience to the company's clients, the company allows online booking of trips. This is very convenient as clients are able to book their trips and flights without having to move from their desk. Being a licensed aviation company, the company is authorized to provide flights around Kimberley and the clients can rest assured that safety and quality standards are observed. All the pilots and technicians are qualified professionals that have the relevant professional qualifications and experience to do their jobs. Please visit http://kimberleyaviation.com.au/air-safari/irresistible-islands/.


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Is the recovery everyone has been waiting for finally here? Encouraging signs from Europe—rising share prices, lower sovereign bond yields, and increased risk appetite—reflect an upturn in high-frequency indicators, the first signs of positive domestic demand in the euro area, and the prospect of less drag from fiscal consolidation.
At the same time, there are formidable headwinds to overcome. Debt owed by households and businesses remains high, making a rapid pick-up in consumption and investment unlikely. Contracting bank lending, as well as relatively tougher credit conditions in the countries most in need of support, are also holding back recovery. And reducing unacceptably high levels of unemployment depends on strong growth.
So, the recovery is real, but the pace is weak, and more policy actions are needed to boost growth and foster job creation.
For a more detailed assessment of European recovery prospects and policy prescriptions, click on the video below. And check out the recently released IMF book,Jobs and Growth: Supporting the European Recovery, particularly for specifics on growth-enhancing structural reforms.
This piece is cross-posted from iMFdirect with permission.


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Directors and Officers Insurance
Non Profit Boards can be sued by donors, employees, volunteers, the general public, third parties, clients and even the government agencies that help support their mission. Directors and Officers Insurance, typically referred to as D&O, provides financial protection for the members of your board, as well as your employees, volunteers, and the 501c3 entity itself.
Board members can be held personally libel for acts of the 501c3 and therefore many directors are wise to insist that a D&O policy be purchased to protect their personal assets.
Directors of Nonprofit Boards face the same fiduciary duties as that of a corporate Board and therefore can be involved in a variety of issues, such as:
- Duty of Care-requires Officers to act prudently and reasonably in regards to management
- Duty of Loyalty-directors are prohibited from using their position to further their own interests
- Duty of Obedience- requires Directors to ensure the organization is run in accordance with By Laws
- Employment Issues- harassment claims, termination issues
A D&O policy will protect your organization and its Board members from a variety of law suits. Defending even one claim can bring down a nonprofits financial stability. Remember, if you're nonprofit does not carry D&O Insurance the personal assets of each board member may be at risk.
If you'd like to receive a free, no obligation quote on D&O Coverage for your non profit simply click the apply for coverage now link below to complete the simple application. After you submit your application, your no obligation quote will be emailed to you for review.
You can visit our FAQ for more information about D&O insurance or contact Vince Basciano
Apply for Coverage Now
Contact Vince Basciano for Directors & Officers at 973-538-6300 ext. 217 or ask for him at 973-538-6300
Contact Rachael Yerkes for General Liability or Certificates of Insurance at 973-538-6300 ext. 516 or ask for her at 973-948-3200


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Node:Quadrigraphs, Next:Quotation Rule Of Thumb, Previous:Changequote is Evil, Up:M4 Quotation
When writing an autoconf macro you may occasionally need to generate
special characters that are difficult to express with the standard
autoconf quoting rules. For example, you may need to output the regular
[^[], which matches any character other than
This expression contains unbalanced brackets so it cannot be put easily
into an M4 macro.
You can work around this problem by using one of the following quadrigraphs:
Quadrigraphs are replaced at a late stage of the translation process,
m4 is run, so they do not get in the way of M4 quoting.
For example, the string
^@<:@, independently of its quotation,
will appear as
^[ in the output.
The empty quadrigraph can be used:
Trailing spaces are smashed by
autom4te. This is a feature.
For instance
@<@&t@:@ produces
For instance you might want to mention
AC_FOO is a comment, while
still being sure that
autom4te will still catch unexpanded
AC_*. Then write
The name
@&t@ was suggested by Paul Eggert:
I should give some credit to the
@&t@pun. The
&is my own invention, but the
tcame from the source code of the ALGOL68C compiler, written by Steve Bourne (of Bourne shell fame), and which used
mtto denote the empty string. In C, it would have looked like something like:char const mt[] = "";
but of course the source code was written in Algol 68.
I don't know where he got
mtfrom: it could have been his own invention, and I suppose it could have been a common pun around the Cambridge University computer lab at the time.


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Max Braun, a Google engineer, built android powered bathroom mirror and replaced his old mirror. At the top left of the mirror, a weather app sits with a brief detail of today's forecast, while the top right offers the time and date. Below both of those notifications, rests recent news headlines via Associated Press that can give him a heads up on what's happening in the world.
How did he put all of this together? Braunordered a two-way mirror, an ASUS 15.6″ display panel, a 40-pin LCD controller board and then picked up some components and arts and crafts supplies, which included a push-to-activate momentary switch and some terminals. With his engineering expertise, Braun was able to put it all together and push Android apps into view on the ASUS screen. If you want to see a little bit more of how he created his slick mirror display, you can visit his blog which contains a few extra details.
The mirror display is not quite complete, as he intends to add to the available on-screen content, like traffic reports, reminders, and other Google Now card services over time. Still, the evolving product is mostly complete, and it's sure to be something that many other fans of in-home tech will want to try to reproduce on their own.


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Peter Black
Senior Historian
Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Tel: 202.479.9728
August 23, 2013
Dear Mr. Black:
On July 3, 2013 Mr. Bradley Smith wrote your office at the USHMM regarding the Rosenberg papers, asking, "Why do you not simply scan and post the documents publicly so that everyone who is interested in the matter can view and analyze them for themselves? Once that is completed, the papers can then be returned to the Rosenberg family, who appear to be the legal owners."
Because of the importance of the papers, it seemed a reasonable question. I note that the USHMM has not yet posted the documents but did add a webpage on the matter: http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/rosenberg/
Your page claims that "The Museum is racing to rescue the evidence of the Holocaust."
Ok. That's good. Now why don't you simply share that evidence with the public?
Unfortunately, the new webpage does not give any additional information on the relevant papers. Instead, its purpose appears to be to whitewash the actions of the man who filched the evidence from the Court, Robert Kempner. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's webpage on the Rosenberg Papers states,
"Dr. Robert M.W. Kempner was a German lawyer who fled Germany for the United States during the war. At the conclusion of the war, Kempner served as the deputy chief counsel and was the chief prosecutor in the 'Ministries Case' at the Nuremberg Trials. In this role, Kempner had access to seized Nazi documents in his official capacity as an employee of the U.S. government. At the conclusion of the Nuremberg Trials, Kempner returned to the United States and lived in Lansdowne, Pa. Contrary to law and proper procedure, Kempner removed various documents, including the Rosenberg Diary, from U.S. government facilities in Nuremberg and retained them until his death in 1993."
Your website says, "Kempner received permission from the Office of the Chief of Counsel of War Crimes to retain unclassified documents 'for purposes of writing, lecturing and study.' "This appears to be contrary to all protocol regarding evidence collected in a criminal prosecution, and it is contradicted by the comments of the ICE itself. But the use of quotation marks implies that there was a written document authorizing Mr. Kempner's removal of documents. Was there? Please respond to this question. Was the Museum, or was it not, quoting a particular document?
If this document exists, it could also provide an insight into what other evidence Mr. Kempner took from the Court files. Your webpage admits: "He returned home with an unknown number of documents in his possession." We believe we know that Kempner destroyed evidence favorable to the defendants, specifically the important Schlegelberg Memo of March 1942. What other evidence did Kempner take? Why did he take it? The other "unknown number of documents" could be of even greater importance than the papers written by Rosenberg!
We at CODOH thank those at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's branch, Homeland Security Investigations, for saving the Rosenberg papers. We encourage them to continue with this important investigation of other stolen and destroyed evidence; not only the evidence taken by Mr. Kempner, but all documents and records improperly taken from the Court files.
In the meantime, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum should expeditiously scan and post the entire collection of the Rosenberg Papers and break the miasma of obscurity which has haunted these Papers for 70 years.
David Merlin,
Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust
Post Office Box 439016
San Ysidro, CA 92143
Telephone: 209 682 5327
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web: www.codoh.com


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Upscale tasting rooms and a fine vegetarian restaurant mix with a bit of gold lore.
Once a hodgepodge of miners' tents and lean-tos, Murphys has aged well. Main Street, a leafy half-mile spur heading west from Highway 4, was visited by the likes of Black Bart and President Grant in its heyday and is now lined with picket fences, ambitious eateries, and more than 20 tasting rooms. The town is a good way to get into Calaveras Wine Country, home to the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance (calaveraswines.org) and an annual October grape stomp. But gold fever hasn't been entirely usurped: The Ironstone Vineyards Heritage Museum prominently displays a 44-pound nugget of crystallized gold leaf. Calaveras Visitors Bureau: (209) 736-0049, gocalaveras.com. Area code is 209.
to do
Cool and rock-walled, Lavender Ridge lures tasters with Rhône varietals and a tempting cheese counter. 425A Main St., 728-2441, lavenderridgevineyard.com. Muir's Legacy, owned and founded by naturalist John Muir's great-grandson, produces wine from organically grown Napa grapes. The genial pourers are themselves fonts of local lore. 260 Jones St., 728-0500, muir-hanna.com. Smack in the center of Main Street, Newsome-Harlow Wines' sleek tasting room and outdoor patio feel hip and friendly. Calaveras Zinfandel rules here, and the staff dispenses recipes with pairing advice. 403 Main St., 728-9817, nhvino.com. Cleanse your palate after a quick six-mile drive east to the Red Apple with a swig of pleasantly sweet cider, hot or cold. 4950 E. Hwy. 4, 728-8906, theredapplebunch.com. Sniff a different bouquet at the Spice Tin, a refurbished shed stocked with nearly 200 jars of aromatic seasonings, plus rare blocks of glowing pink Himalayan salt. 457 N. Algiers St., 728-8225, thespicetin.com.
Alchemy Market and Cafe offers lunch, dinner, and picnic supplies, but a between-meal snack of truffle fries and craft beer hits the spot. 191 Main St., 728-0700, alchemymarket.com. The three tables inside tiny Aria Bakery & Espresso Café are often empty in good weather, so grab coffee and a spinach-ricotta croissant and step outside to join the chatter on the stoop. 458 Main St., Ste. B, 728-9250. Snag a bar seat and dig in to the varied vegetarian menu at Mineral, which includes a nightly prix fixe dinner and à la carte offerings such as "land scallops" (savory tofu) and a secret-recipe veggie burger. 419 Main St., 728-9743, mineralrestaurant.com.
A carefully tended garden of roses, wisteria, and Dutch elms surrounds the Dunbar House, 1880. Equal attention is paid to period decor and an eclectic breakfast menu. 271 Jones St., 728-2897, dunbarhouse.com. To find a place to stay, visit AAA.com/hotels.
Photography by Gary Crabbe
Check out the rest of our Gold Country package:
Amador City: Antiques and boutiques
Angels Camp: More than Mark Twain
Jackson: Main Street meets mining town
Plymouth: Top-notch eats and wines
Sutter Creek: A handsome Gold Country base camp
This article was first published in September 2011. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.


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With Kings in Stanley Cup Final, which hockey movie rules? [Poll]
The Los Angeles Kings have been providing some great drama on the ice, landing in the Stanley Cup Final and stealing Game 1 in New Jersey. But hockey has been a reliable, if underappreciated, source of drama on the screen, too. Yes, there's "Slap Shot," about the laughable, lamentable Charlestown Chiefs, often regarded as the best sticks-and-pucks movie of all time. But not everyone agrees.
Here, then, are five choices for the best hockey movie of all time. Read the arguments, then vote in our poll.
"Miracle" (2004) -- Gavin O'Connor did something novel when he cast his dramatization of Mike Eruzione's upstart squad from the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. Instead of finding actors and teaching them to play hockey, he found hockey players and taught them to act. The result is a thrilling, true-to-life depiction of what it's like to deke, check and dipsy doodle. Also, you get Kurt Russell in plaid as U.S. coach Herb Brooks.
"Slap Shot" (1977) -- Racy, outrageous and occasionally even poignant, "Slap Shot" defined not just the hockey movie but sports films in general. But is it the best of all time or just an R-rated comedy ahead of its time?
"Goon" (2011) -- OK, so it's not the first movie to turn a sweet man into an enforcer. But in telling of the transformation of nice-guy Doug Glatt (Sean Wiliam Scott) into a hockey goon, Michael Dowse brings his off-the-wall-Canadian charm to the subject of Canadians on the boards.
"The Mighty Ducks" (1992) -- Vote for any of these films. Just not this one. Please.
"Youngblood" (1986) -- A hot prospect on a minor-league team, a wise veteran mentor, a liaison with the coach's daughter. It's "Dallas" with hockey. Also Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze in the same '80s movie.
Anze Kopitar's goal lifts Kings in overtime
Room on bandwagon? Kings will keep on truckin'
-- Steven Zeitchik
Photo: A scene from "Miracle." Credit: Disney


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Stephanie Moon - Consultant Chef
All things food
Here's a short video produced recently introducing the world to our fabulous Yorkshire Pudding. Mathew Wilkinson at Rudding park, showed the German crew how it's done. Deutsche Welle German Television, magazine show "euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe is broadcast daily around the globe in English, … [Read More...]


text:
Welcome, Kapamilya. Please
ABS-CBN Forums
Kapamilya Music
General Music Forum
Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
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Topic: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25. (Read 12916 times)
Hero Member
Posts: 13172
Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
February 24, 2016, 08:56:48 PM »
International pop star Madonna will stage her two-night
"Rebel Heart"
concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Hero Member
Posts: 13172
Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #1 on:
February 24, 2016, 08:57:38 PM »
ABS-CBN News
Posted at 02/23/16 7:37 PM | Updated as of 02/24/16 4:21 PM
International pop star Madonna
visited an orphanage in Manila on Tuesday ahead of her two-night "Rebel Heart" concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Madonna, who arrived in the country on Monday, posted a selfie with three children of the Bahay Tuluyan Foundation on her Instagram account.
"Chillin with my Homies at the Bahay Tuluyan Foundation. Inc. giving shelter to Orphans street children trafficking/abuse victims in Manilla‼" she wrote on her post.
According to Australian volunteer Catherine Scerri, the 57-year-old pop icon was warmly welcomed at the orphanage.
"She spent time with the kids, dancing and interacting with the kids," she told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview.
Scerri said the older children were able to recognize Madonna and her songs. "I think the older ones know her. They were dancing and playing, everybody enjoyed it," she said.
"She's very down to earth and loves interacting with them," she added.
Madonna is known for being fond of kids. She has adopted two children, David Ritchie and Mercy
Hero Member
Posts: 13172
Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #2 on:
February 24, 2016, 10:51:07 PM »
Hero Member
Posts: 13172
Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #3 on:
February 24, 2016, 11:29:06 PM »
darlasaulerVOGUE! Kavogue! Clap clap clap!
Hero Member
Posts: 13172
Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #4 on:
February 24, 2016, 11:30:19 PM »
Hero Member
Posts: 13172
Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #5 on:
February 24, 2016, 11:32:52 PM »
Hero Member
Posts: 13172
Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #6 on:
February 24, 2016, 11:34:44 PM »
Hero Member
Posts: 13172
Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #7 on:
February 25, 2016, 09:22:18 PM »
Madonna, malambot ang puso sa mga batang kapuspalad!
ANG daming celebrities na atat mapanood nang live si Madonna, kaya maagang nagsibili ang mga ito ng mamahaling tickets sa Rebel Heart Tour ni Lolah Madz, kagabi at mamayang gabi sa SM MOA Arena.
Walang nakakita sa Queen of Pop pagdating nito sa 'Pinas bandang 2:00 AM nu'ng Lunes, sakay ng chartered Boeing 752 galing Macau
Grabe ang higpit ng security sa NAIA 1.
Ang airport officers na nag-process ng papers ni Madonna ay pinagbawalang magdala ng celfone at camera
Sa loob ng eroplano na tinatakan ng immigration official ang passport ng pop superstar, na pinasakay agad sa isang private vehicle na may kasunod na mahabang convoy.
Napakasuwerte ng mga batang nasa bahay ampunan na binisita ni Madonna dahil nakasalamuha nila ang sikat na singer.
Ang cute nu'ng tatlong bagets na naka-selfie ni Lolah Madz nang magpunta siya sa Bahay Tuluyan Foundation, na nagbibigay ng shelter sa orphans at street children na biktima ng trafficking at pang-aabuso.
Ipinost 'yon ni Madonna sa kanyang Instagram account na may 6.2M+ followers.
Puwedeng ipa-blowup at ipa-frame ng tatlong bagets ang priceless photo na 'yon at keri nilang ipagmalaki na nagkaroon sila ng ganu'ng moment with the Queen of Pop.
Hindi lang namin sure kung kilala ng mga bagets si Madonna, na naging sobrang sikat nu'ng dekada '80.
Malamang mga Justin Bieber at Taylor Swift na kasi ang kilala nilang international artists, so posibleng clueless sila na isang music royalty ang kasalamuha nila.
May ipinost pang pics si Madonna na kapiling niya talaga ang mga nasa Bahay Tuluyan at parang ang saya-saya niya na katabi niya ang mga kabataan doon.
May kuha pa siyang may karga siyang baby at hawak niya ang kamay ng batang babae na si Celeste, na binigyan siya ng guided tour sa Hospicio de San Jose.
Kilala sa kanyang humanitarian causes si Madonna. Malapit siya sa mga bata, lalo na 'yung mga kapuspalad at mga galing sa cultural minorities.
Feeling namin ay personal siyang nagbigay ng tulong at donasyon sa orphanages na binisita niya.
Balitang kaya napaaga ang dating sa bansa ng Material Girl ay dahil pupunta muna siya ng Amanpulo resort sa Palawan bago ang kanyang two-night concert.
Walang post si Lolah Madz ng kanyang beach trip sa Amanpulo at sa halip ay ang kanyang pagdalaw sa mga bahay-ampunan ang nilagay niya sa IG, kaya lalo siyang pinuri ng kanyang Pinoy fans.
Sa Amanpulo rin nagpunta kamakailan sina Bill Gates at Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie.
Ilan pa sa famous visitors ng nasabing world-class resort sa Palawan ay sina Tom Cruise, Mariah Carey at ang late King of Pop na si Michael Jackson.
Si Madonna ang tinuturing na best-selling female recording artist of all time, with 300 million records sold worldwide.
Siya rin ang top touring female artist of all time, ayon sa Billboard.
First time niyang mag-concert sa Maynila, na ang halaga ng pinakamahal na tiket ay P57,700 at ang pinakamura ay P3,500.
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Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #8 on:
February 25, 2016, 09:29:08 PM »
Juday, bigo kay Madonna
HAVEY: Mahigpit ang kautusan ni Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles na huwag pahalagahan ang Rebel Heart concert ni Madonna sa SM MOA Arena.
Nagbababala si Archbishop sa publiko not to fall for the works of EVIL.
Evil na ba agad?
Dahil lang sa pakikinig ng mga kanta ng Queen of Pop na Papa Don't Preach, Material Girl, Like A Virgin, Vogue at ang inaasahan ng mga Pinoy na kantahin niya sa concert na Crazy For You?
Bago mag-concert, imbes na magliwaliw at magpakasaya sa magagandang beaches at islands ng Pinas, naka-score ng ganda points si Madonna sa kanyang pagbisita sa Bahay Tuluyan Foundation na shelter for orphaned street children who are victims of trafficking and abuse at Hospicio de San Jose.
Ikinahanga ito ng mga Pilipino kay Madonna.
With Archbishop's warning, what does this make of celebs na nakaplanong manood ng Madonna concert tulad nina Anne Curtis, Iza Calzado, Amy Perez, Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres-Gomez and a lot of the Star Magic artists who are slated to watch The Rebel Tour?
At dahil fresh pa ang kanyang pagkaka-CS, bigo si Juday sa panonood ng concert.
Ang kanyang glam team ang pumunta kagabi kasama sina Juan Sarte, Pam Quiñones, Jing Monis at maging si Ricci Chan na magre-represent sa kanya kay Madonna.
Hail to the scalpers na maaga pa lang ay naglipana na sa venue!
Hail to the naysayers, as Allan Jones would put it!
Hail to Queen Madonna!
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Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #9 on:
February 25, 2016, 09:54:31 PM »
How Pinoy fan ended up on stage with Madonna
ABS-CBN News
Posted at 02/25/16 6:00 PM
MANILA - A lucky fan got the chance to be with international pop star Madonna on stage during the first night of her concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
That lucky fan is stylist Shahani Gania, who introduced himself to Madonna as "Super Starlet."
In a lengthy Facebook post, Gania shared how he ended up dancing with Madonna during her performance of the song "Unapologetic Bitch."
He said it all started when two ladies gave him an SVIP ticket, giving him a better view of his idol.
"I cried! I hugged both of them, and in between sobs I explained to them that I'm such a huge fan and that I organized this Madonna exhibit. It was an Oprah moment!" he said.
According to Gania, Madonna made eye contact with him the moment she emerged on stage. He, in turn, sang and danced to every single performance.
"From there, hindi ko na siya binitawan. I knew all the songs! I sang with her in all of them. I danced to everything, never sat down at all! I screamed out the names of all the dancers. She looked at me directly sa isang buong chorus ng 'Who's that Girl'! Heaven!" he said.
Gania said the same ladies who gave him the SVIP ticket then asked him if he wanted to be Madonna's "Unapologetic Bitch" for the night.
Of course, without hesitation, he said yes. At the end of the performance, Madonna gave him a banana and a straw.
Recalling the experience, Gania said: "I had my 4 minutes with her. She called me brave. Her eyes were so beautiful! I made her laugh! Everything was too much to handle! Nakasayaw ko si Madonna! Inakbayan niya ako. Pinatong niya ulo niya sa akin. Sinabi niya ang pangalan ko paulit-ulit: Super Starlet!"
"Ang saya-saya ko right now! Feeling ko lahat ng ginawa ko tama... Mula sa exhibit at pag-memorize ng buong concert, hanggang sa last-minute decision na mag-drag. Everything just came together. The universe gave me my moment with Madonna... The one thing I've been wishing for ever since I found out she was coming to Manila."
Fellow Madonna fans took to social media to congratulate Gania for being chosen to dance with the international pop star on stage.
One of them is "It's Showtime" host Anne Curtis, who even wore a Madonna-inspired outfit during the show.
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Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #10 on:
February 25, 2016, 09:56:41 PM »
Concert recap: Madonna in Manila, Day 1
She is an artist whom fans in our country had been wanting to see for the past thirty years. When it was announced middle of last year that Madonna was finally coming to the Manila for a concert, everyone got very excited. The extravagant P58,000 per seat in the VIP section apparently did not matter. The February 24 date quickly sold out. Just like the One Direction and the EX-O concerts before it, a second date was also opened on February 25.
On concert day itself, the MOA Arena was full of very excited fans of all ages, but mostly children of the 80s and 90s whose long wait to see their Queen of Pop was finally becoming a reality tonight. There were fans who dressed up for the occasion. I saw girls who wore the "True Blue" look, the "Cherish" look, the "Like a Virgin" look. I also saw guys who wore "Take a Bow" matador coats, as well as several transvestites who came in very daring "Express Yourself"-style drag outfits.
By 8:30 p.m., a lady DJ named #DJMaryMac took the stage to warm up the audience. Whenever she played songs from the 80s, notably Whitney's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody", everybody got excited and even sang loudly along. However, most of the songs she played were of the modern EDM genre. In fact by the one hour mark, people began to get impatient when her set began to last so much longer than typical front acts. Her set ended 1-1/2 hours later at about 10 p.m.! As her table and gear were being dismantled to clear the stage, a voice announced that we will have to wait 30 minutes more before the show will begin. A loud groan was heard from the audience, and people started to file out of the theater for a snack or souvenir or a trip to the bathroom.
By about 10:45 p.m., the house lights were finally dimmed and people started to scream loudly. I personally felt like I had butterflies in my stomach much like I was about to have a big plunge drop on a roller coaster. The anticipation was quite exhilarating at that point.
The opening song "Iconic" (from the "Rebel Heart" album) was the most elaborate concert production number I have ever witnessed, where Madonna entered in a glittery cage. From that opening number alone, you can already see that this will not be an ordinary concert in terms of its elaborate lights, its colorful costumes, its innovative stage design and props, its complex choreography. This was followed by another song from the last album, "Bitch I'm Madonna" with its Japanese flavor and racy language. With this song, we are already warned that this concert will still be Rated R. Madonna's age of 57 did not mean her mouth had mellowed in terms of attracting controversy.
Her very early hit "Burning Up" followed next, with Madonna playing an electric guitar centerstage. The next song "Holy Water" had those Catholic images which had long been Madonna's favorite whipping boy. The stage had four poles (which just had to have crossbars near the top) and her dance mates were four dancers dressed like nuns. Her big hit "Vogue" was thrown into the mix to the delight of the audience. This set ended with "Devil Pray" where Madonna was writhing on the floor of the raised stage with her hands tied together by a red rope.
After an interlude with some elaborate special effects of air and fire, the next set had Madonna and her dancers in an auto mechanic shop in another big dance showcase "Body Shop." She then addressed the surprised audience with a spiel generously peppered with "M-F" bombs! She even wanted the audience to answer her questions with a "F - yeah!" She then took up her ukulele and sang her sweet old song "True Blue". This segued to an energetic rendition of one of my personal favorite upbeat songs, "Deeper And Deeper".
A metallic spiral staircase appeared over the heart-shaped stage and Madonna performed the dramatic "HeartBreakCity" with one of her male dancers, ending in an impassioned "Love Don't Live Here Anymore." This set ended with a simple version of her classic signature song "Like A Virgin" but this one had everyone on their feet singing and dancing along. The big productions were reserved for the newer songs she is promoting.
The next interlude had four beds with four couples doing those sexy suggestive moves to the sultry songs "Justify My Love" and "S.E.X."
Madonna and crew came out in Spanish matador-inspired costumes to perform "Living For Love". This dissolved into another sweet classic "La Isla Bonita". She walked to the heart stage, put on her acoustic guitar and unexpectedly sang what I thought was her most obscure #1 song, "Who's That Girl." The next song again had everyone up on their feet dancing and singing at the top of their voices-- "Like a Prayer"! She was very effusive with her thanks to the audience before she sang the title song of the tour "Rebel Heart."
The next interlude set to the tune of "Illuminati" had the dancers in tuxedos with coat tails. But what set this number apart were the dancers on tall poles who were bravely swaying in all directions. That act was truly breathtaking to witness.
Renditions of #1 hit "Music" and "Candy Shop" followed with a 1920s nightclub setting and costumes. Another classic hit "Material Girl" was sung on a hydraulic stage with lighting effects. She then took a small bouquet and threw it to the audience. A girl named Zorina (?) caught it. I thought Mads would call her up on stage, but this did not happen. I wonder what that was for. Madonna then sat on a raised mini-stage in the middle of the central stage, and surprised the audience by solidly singing a French torch song "La Vie en Rose."
Her dancers then escorted a tall blonde-wigged transvestite chosen from the audience to dance "Unapologetic Bitch" with the Gay Icon herself. After the number, Madonna chatted with her giddy guest, who hilariously called herself "Super Starlet". Again, the conversation took a raunchy turn when Madonna naughtily gave Super Starlet a banana and a straw as gift souvenirs. Then the words "Bye Bitch" was shown onscreen, and everyone just cleared out of the stage without warning.
The house lights were not yet being turned on, so the audience knew there would be another song at least to end the show. It would be her joyous early hit "Holiday." Madonna courted controversy here by wrapping a Philippine flag around her waist while dancing. I was really hoping the flag would not touch the floor as it dangerously swayed down so closely. She eventually gave the flag to one of the dancers. These dancers would later display the flag horizontally with red side up, which they corrected promptly, thankfully. The song ended with Madonna being lifted upwards by a cable, where she bid her final goodbyes.
This would count as one of the most unforgettable concerts I have seen, and you know I have seen a lot. The lights, graphics, stage design, choreography were out of this world. (I know I should already expect anything from Madonna, but the bad language can still be sort of off-putting, until you eventually get used it being repeated so often throughout the show, up to her very final words while hanging on the cable.) Her vocals were not really the highlight here, but it was her grandiose showmanship and her one-of-a-kind artistic vision joyously celebrated in her music and dance. This extravagant and ostentatious show of the Queen was indeed worth the 32-year wait!
This concert recap was originally published in the author's blog, "Fred Said."
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Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #11 on:
February 25, 2016, 10:10:58 PM »
Madonna speaks Tagalog during her Rebel Heart concert in Manila
by Nikko Tuazon and Jocelyn Dimaculangan posted on February 25, 2016
Read more at
After a long wait, Madonna finally brought her Rebel Heart tour to Manila.
She told her Filipino fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena: 'This is my first time in the Philippines, motherf*ckers! Give it up!'
At one point, the Queen of Pop tried speaking in Tagalog:
'Kumusta? Kumusta, Manila? Motherf*ckers!'
Madonna's Rebel Heart concert tour is divided into four acts. The pop diva's Manila concert opened with the "Joan of Arc/Samurai" segment followed by the "Rockabilly meets Tokyo" segment. The last two segments of the show had "Latin/Gypsy" and "Party/Flapper" themes, respectively.
Madonna will hold the second night of her #RebelHeart Manila concert this Thursday, February 25, at the MOA Arena.
Tickets to the Rebel Heart concert in the Philippines are priced at P57,750 for VIP, P52,500 for Patron VIP, P52,000 for VIP Floor, P42,000 for Patron, P33,600 for Lower Box VIP, P29,400 for Lower Box, P8,400 for Upper Box, and P3,150 for Gen Ad.
Madonna made a grand entrance at the SM Mall of Asia Arena by being lowered down a steel cage.
The pop diva's Manila concert opened with 'Joan of Arc/Samurai' segment followed by the 'Rockabilly meets Tokyo' segment.
The third segment is referred to as the Latin / Gypsy portion that featured Madonna in a sparkly
The fourth segment had a party vibe that brought back memories of the flapper era during the 1920s.
Madonna's set list alternated her new songs with her classic hits.
The first segment featured mostly her new songs from the album 2015 album Rebel Heart. Madonna opened the Manila concert with 'Iconic' and followed 'Bitch I'm Madonna' featuring Nicki Minaj.
During the first part of the concert, Madonna gave a controversial performance of 'Devil Pray' and 'Holy Water,' which are also part of her new album.
Some of the older songs she performed were 'True Blue' (1986), 'Deeper and Deeper' (1992), and 'Like a Virgin' (1984).
Madonna also performed her new songs 'Body Shop' and 'HeartBreak City' for the 'Rockabilly meets Tokyo' segment.
The 'Latin/Gypsy' segment opened with a music video of 'S.E.X.' from her 2015 album with elements from 'Justify My Love' (1990).
Later on during the show, Madonna did a bullfighting-themed performance for 'Living for Love.'
This was followed by crowd favorite tracks 'La Isla Bonita' (1986) and 'Take a Bow' (1994).
She addressed Filipinos by asking, 'Alright, Manila! Are you ready to heat this place up?'
She then pulled off her skirt to reveal her sheer dress underneath.
She candidly told the crowd, 'It's getting harder and harder for me to take off my clothes.'
At one point, the Queen of Pop spoke in Tagalog:
'Alright Manila, let me hear you scream! This is my first time in the Philippines, m*otherfuckers! Give it up!
'What I want to know is: are you happy that I came? Are you happy that I came? That sounds good. That sounds happy. F*uck yeah!
'Kumusta? Kumusta, Manila? M*otherfuckers!'
Her Manila concert served as a way for Madonna to thank her loyal fans who have supported her for the past three decades.
'It feels amazing after 32 years being able to do what I love,' she admitted.
Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, and Derek Ramsay
were among the celebrities spotted by PEP at the first night of the Rebel Heart concert tour at the MOA Arena.
Madonna will hold the second night of her concert series this Thursday, February 25, at the same venue.
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Re: Madonna's two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on February 24 and 25.
Reply #12 on:
February 25, 2016, 10:27:02 PM »
Madonna mounts girl, gropes butts and other shocking moments at Rebel Heart Manila concert
by Jocelyn Dimaculangan posted on February 25, 2016
Read more at
At 57 years old, Madonna
is fit enough to support her body weight as she twirls around the pole
Her backup dancers had the chance to show their sexy side when several beds were set up onstage so they could demonstrate their 'flexibility.'
Read more at
Madonna draped the Philippine flag around her body as she ended the first night of her Rebel Heart Live in Manila concert.
The Queen of Pop used cuss words and asked audiences to shout 'F*ck yeah!' during her concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last night, February 24, 2016.
During the pole dancing segment, Madonna mounted a female dancer from behind. She could also be seen touching and slapping butts of other dancers
Here are other shocking moments of the pop music icon during her Rebel Heart concert in the Philippines:
During the first part of the concert, Madonna sings her song 'Holy Water,' which features the lyrics: B*tch get off my pole, b*tch get off my pole.
In line with its theme, Madonna and her dancers perform a sensual pole dancing routine.
At one point, Madonna mounts a female dancer who holds on tightly to the pole set up on stage.
If you look closely enough, you'll see the gloved hand of Madonna touching the white panty of the dancer on the right. 'nuff said.
Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles considers the Madonna concert as a 'subtle attack of the evil one.'
He told Filipinos in a statement from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines: 'Pinoys and all God-loving people should avoid sin and occasions of sin.'
Some dancers wore head coverings that are similar to those worn by nuns.
Her backup dancers had the chance to show their sexy side when several beds were set up onstage so they could demonstrate their 'flexibility.'
Last Edit: February 25, 2016, 10:30:41 PM by lacsi08
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Thursday, August 23, 2012
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4 comments:
Yours walks like a crab, mine falls a lot (and she doesn't quite land on her feet). What can we do with them?!ReplyDelete
Hola, Hermano! You are so right. These bi-peds have no grace and not much balance. Is it my fault Dinah bumped her knee on the wall? I tried to tell her to move faster...ReplyDelete
The Smothers Brothers used to sing a song about that:ReplyDelete
Herman met Sally on the beach one night,
The sea was calm and the starfish were bright.
She looked at him and he looked at her it was true love at
first sight.
Well, Herman told his folks about the girl that he found,
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lobsters walk straight and We won't let you take her for
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Oh, you would laugh at us, too, Storbie. We walk all kinds of sideways in our house. Mostly because it seems to be Keith's mission in life to trip us, preferably when we're coming downstairs, but the kitchen will also do.ReplyDelete


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They built it from scratch.
Although there have been some renovations throughout the
Although there have been some renovations throughout the
years some things have never changed:
|This box used for holding potatoes is on a ledge as you walk downstairs.
|This is one out of a 100+ Bolo ties that my very sweet Aunt Stephie's husband made. Aunt Stephie is not really my Aunt. We called all adults Uncles or Aunts when I was a kid. She is sweet though.
|This doorknob is 54 years old.
This phone doesn't work as the battery last for only 49 seconds. When I asked my Dad why he doesn't throw it out he replied,
"Why? It works if you only say important things quickly!"
|This is an ashtray that has always been here although no one smokes anymore.
|These plastics flowers are in the room my mother calls the "Florida Room." My dad calls it the "glorified porch."A room that's too hot in the summer and freezing in the winter although it is a good place to store Walnut Kolache.
|This is a plastic owl that hangs outside to keep pigeons away.
I have never seen a Welland Pigeon but, if they exist, they will not be roosting around my parent's house in Welland.


text:
It was a beautiful day at the State Capitol last April 30, as hundreds of activists and advocates from all over New York State gathered in Albany for Equality & Justice Day. The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, or GENDA, had just passed the State Assembly for the sixth consecutive year, and there was a palpable excitement as activists attended workshops, networked, planned events, and spoke directly to their state representatives about the need for transgender rights.
The momentum was unmistakable. Surely, this would be the year GENDA would finally make it to the Senate floor. Surely this was the year it would finally pass.
It didn't pass.
In fact, the Senate didn't even bring the bill to the floor for a vote. But what obstructionists don't understand is that blocking GENDA cannot stem the rise of transgender rights in New York. GENDA is not an end, but a beginning - a focal point for a larger, cohesive community that has already galvanized an entire movement.
This past October, I attended a meeting of the New York Transgender Rights Coalition; a statewide coalition with more than 80 different non-profit organizations, service providers, grassroots groups and individuals, all working together to advocate for transgender equality and justice throughout New York State. The room was filled with the passionate energy of those who have devoted themselves to the passage of GENDA, and we spent plenty of time planning our campaigns to pass the bill in 2014. But GENDA wasn't the only item on our agenda. Nearly 50 representatives, from all walks of life and all corners of the state, sat in that room and offered presentations and strategies for navigating countless other issues that affect the trans community in New York - access to healthcare, disproportionate rates of homelessness, incarceration, unemployment, the limits to legal equality, and how to organize and build community beyond the scope of any one law.
That meeting was the microcosm for what has been a decade-plus of organized efforts. The Coalition started as a small group of organizations and individuals from Buffalo to Bay Shore and everywhere in between, working to ensure that the legislature would pass GENDA, and has grown stronger and stronger. Grassroots neighborhood meetings, community trainings, and church assemblies have gone hand-in-hand with legislative teach-ins, governmental hearings, statewide rallies, and national conferences.
As Transgender Rights Organizer for the Empire State Pride Agenda I can say that our number one legislative priority is the passage of GENDA. We are so proud to also work for transgender rights in regards to access to healthcare, birth certificate policy, policies around how trans people are treated and housed within the criminal justice system, and protecting trans and gender non-conforming youth from damaging and discredited "therapy" that tries to change who they are. But at the end of the day, if transgender people like myself don't have legal equality, then there is still work to be done. And that is why the commitment to the passage of GENDA has been and will always remain strong.
We will not give up, for while any of us remain second-class citizens, none of us can truly be free.


text:
Lenzing commits to sustainable forestry as a climate regulator
"Climate protection and thus the preservation of forests as carbon sinks storing CO2 are two key issues with respect to societal acceptance of the textile and nonwovens industry. In recent years we have contributed to a positive shift in awareness in the industry thanks to our exemplary wood procurement policy based on sustainability principles", said Stefan Doboczky, CEO of the Lenzing Group on the occasion of the presentation of the new Sustainability Report 2017.
Lenzing proactively supports the improvement of the condition and biodiversity of global forests. LENZING™ fibers derived from sustainable forest management make a global contribution to climate protection due to the storage of CO2 in growing forests but even more by the replacement of less climate-friendly materials made of fossil fuels.
Today the Lenzing Group is already one of the leading companies in the circular economy and with respect to eco-conscious process management in its industry. Now Lenzing has decided to take a major step forward in meeting its high standards by implementing a further substantial reduction of specific emissions1 by the year 2022. A specially designed eco-investment program will be implemented for this purpose. The Lenzing Group aims to have the EU Ecolabel granted for all its production sites.
A further goal of the company is to evaluate the sustainability scorecard of 80 percent of its most important suppliers by 2022.
The Lenzing Group will already optimize the ecological and social sustainability impacts of all its production facilities and ensure widespread transparency by the end of 2019 thanks to its introducing the Higg Facility Environmental Module, an internationally recognized assessment tool. These measures serve as the basis for Lenzing to resolutely implement its sustainability strategy. Key cornerstones of its efforts are the enhancement of the wellbeing of society and people by expanding partnerships in the value chain and with NGOs in addition to sustainable wood sourcing, responsible water management, decarbonization and sustainable innovations.
"We are at the beginning of the value chain and can contribute much to improving the situation thanks to our activities and a maximum level of transparency, especially with partnerships", stated Lenzing's Chief Commercial Officer Robert van de Kerkhof. "We will also press ahead even more with the systemic transformation of our industry on the basis of our products, for example by expanding our business with lyocell fibers manufactured in a particularly environmentally responsible manner and innovative solutions such as our REFIBRATM technology which partly uses cotton scraps for fiber production. Consumers can be certain of one thing: when they purchase products with our fibers, this will also translate into a positive contribution to a better world", van de Kerkhof concludes.