text:
Decision Models for Comparative Usability Evaluation of Mobile Phones Using the Mobile Phone Usability Questionnaire (MPUQ)
Young Sam Ryu, Kari Babski-Reeves, Tonya L. Smith-Jackson, and Maury A. Nussbaum
Journal of Usability Studies, Volume 3, Issue 1, November 2007, pp. 24-40
A comparative usability evaluation was performed using various subjective evaluation methods, including Mobile Phone Usability Questionnaire (MPUQ). Further, decision-making models using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and multiple linear regression were developed and applied. Although the mean rankings of the four phones were not significantly different across the evaluation methods, there were variations across the methods in terms of the number of rank orderings, preference proportions, and methods to select their initial preference. Thus, this study provided a useful insight into how users make different decisions through different evaluation methods. Also, the result showed that answering a usability questionnaire affected a user's decision-making process for comparative evaluation.
Practitioner's Take Away
The following important usability dimensions and items for mobile phone usability were based on MPUQ (Mobile Phone Usability Questionnaire) results using several usability evaluation methods(Ryu & Smith-Jackson, 2006):
- EC (Efficiency and Control) for Minimalists
- TTMP (Typical Task for Mobile Phones) for Voice/Text Fanatics
Thus, if usability practitioners want to employ a short list of questions to compare mobile phones for each user group, the questions from EC (9 questions) and TTMP (7 questions) of MPUQ could be selected as appropriate.
Also, the activity of answering a usability questionnaire has the following effects:
- improves users' ability to provide specific design recommendations (Kirakowski, 1996)
- affects users' decision-making process for comparative evaluation.
The results and outcomes of this paper were restricted to two major mobile user groups, Minimalists and Voice/Text Fanatics.
Download Article
Decision Models for Comparative Usability Evaluation of Mobile Phones Using the Mobile Phone Usability Questionnaire (MPUQ)


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Competitive dance squad to hold tryouts
Date: June 8, 2009
by: Jen Blanco | Associate Editor
KC and the Sunshine Dancers, a competitive all-star dance team specializing in hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and open dances, will host tryouts from 1-3:30 p.m., June 13 at Freestyle Creative Dance Studio, 11255 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 103, Parrish.
Tryouts are open to boys and girls in middle school up through college. Those trying out are required to wear comfortable dance clothing and appropriate dance shoes. Dancers will be selected based on their ability.
For more information contact Kristina Castner at email@example.com or visit www.myspace.com/kcandthesunshinedancers.
Currently 0 Responses
Students make splash for school
Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp. this weekend will celebrate the start of school with its annual Back to School Splash Bash event Aug. 23, at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA, 5100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
Klauber, Mancini honored by AJC
The West Coast Florida Region of AJC (American Jewish Committee) will honor Michael Klauber and Phil Mancini, of Michael's On East, in November.
Temples share the Torah
Twenty-three years ago, Temple Sinai received a Torah on loan when it organized a new congregation in Sarasota.

subset: commoncrawl


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There's no people like snow people! Snowman-opoly, has all the fun of a traditional property trading game but with some very cool characters! Collect your favorite snow people, add Buttons and then really increase the rent by trading Buttons in for a Carrot. While playing, flip over the deeds and learn helpful hints for building your won snow creations or enjoy a little snowman humor. It's all fun and games until you land on go to Meltdown and you're out of the game for three turns! A flurry of family fun while you're chillin'! For 2 to 6 players. By Late for the Sky
Enter your email address below to receive exclusive updates, special deals and more!
I always get all of my kids' toys from Kazoo Toys. They have the best selection and always ship so fast! Thanks!-Karen, FL
Keep up with us on social media!


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Generic Name:
- Esomeprazole
- Nexium
Why is Nexium prescribed?Nexium is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which backward flow of acid from the stomach causes heartburn and injury of the esophagus (food pipe between the mouth and stomach). It is also used with other medications to prevent stomach ulcers. It works by decreasing the amount of acid made in the stomach.
Special precautions to follow when taking Nexium
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, Aciphex, or any other medications.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking Nexium, call your doctor.
- If you feel you also need an antacid, ask your doctor to recommend one and to tell you when and how to take it.
What if you forget a dose?Consult your physician before taking a missed dose. Your doctor will be able to determine if it is safe to do so, or if you should wait until your next scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Possible side effects of NexiumTell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
- Gas
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Hives
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- Hoarseness
"Nexium." 620514-04 9346604 Rev. 02/03. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 11 Mar 2007 <http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2003/03Feb_PI/Nexium_PI.pdf>
"Nexium." 620514-04 9346604 Rev. 02/03. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 11 Mar 2007 <http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2003/03Feb_PI/Nexium_PI.pdf>


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London Rock Music Tour
Take a tour through historic London neighborhoods including Soho, Islington and Camden Town, and discover where many of the wild adventures in the history of rock 'n' roll took place. During this tour, you will see Paul McCartney's Golden Disc-covered office and the flat where he wrote the Beatles hit song 'Yesterday.' You will also see the flat shared by the Fab Four and walk across the famous Abbey Road crossing outside the recording studio. You will visit 'Tin Pan Alley,' where the Rolling Stones cut their first disc, and you'll see the Pink Floyd studios. Sites of other famous events include the place where Jimi Hendrix burned his first guitar, where Jimmy Page cut his first disc and where Amy Winehouse lived and died. See more than 50 additional sites connected with U2, The Clash, the Sex Pistols, Queen, The Who, Zombies, Madness, Elton John and many more.
Afternoon tour (3.5 hours):
On the afternoon tour, see famous gig sites, clubs, rock hotels, record labels, management offices and studios. Highlights include walking across the famed Abbey Road crossing and seeing where Paul still lives. You will also see where Jimi Hendrix lived and died, where Freddie Mercury and Queen hung out, and Led Zeppelin's HQ. You'll see sites connected with The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Cream, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Elton John, the Beatles, The Sex Pistols, Bowie, The Who and many, many more!
Full-Day Tour (8 hours):
A combination of the morning tour, followed by the afternoon tour. It's the ultimate way to see the best of London's rock music history.
Tour route is subject to change without notice due to weather or traffic conditions.
Recent Photos of this Tour
Schedule details
Select a month to view a calendar of availability and departure details.
2pm - Afternoon Tour
Pricing information
Click the link below to check pricing & availability on your preferred travel date. Our pricing is constantly updated to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.
Full Day Tour
Code: FD0900
Full-day Rock Music Tour combining the morning and afternoon tour to give you the very best of London's rock music history. Departs 9am.
AUD117.43Pricing details
Morning Tour
Code: HD0900
Morning Rock Music Tour including Pink Floyd's studio and band members' homes, Hendrix, Page and Clash sites, Amy Winehouse's Camden, McCartney's office, Soho Clubs and Abbey Road. Departs 9am.
AUD58.71Pricing details
Afternoon Tour
Code: HD1400
Afternoon Rock Music Tour including sites connected with The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, the Beatles and much more. Departs 2pm.
AUD58.71Pricing details
Pricing information
London Rock Music Full Day Small Group Tour
- Local guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan (maximum 16)
- Gratuities (optional)
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Vehicles are collapsible wheelchair accessible, however the driver is unable to assist passengers boarding and disembarking due to insurance regulations
Traveler Reviews
Reviewed by: Sharon W, August 2014
Did enjoy it very much the guide certainly knew her stuff not only commentated but drove the bus as well
Reviewed by: Peter K, August 2014
This was a small group tour which visited a number of places of historical and current interest.
The guide was very knowledgeable and did his best to tailor the tour to the customers interests. He was able to provide many interesting anecdotes.
Traffic means that the bus cannot stop at all sites of interest but many sites of interest were visited.
Very good if you are interested in the history of rock and roll.


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CHS and the Montana Department of Revenue ended a dispute over the property tax valuation of a refinery in Laurel. The settlement frees up millions of dollars.
CHS protested $16 million in property taxes from 2009 to 2012. The company will get back $4 million dollars as a part of the settlement, which is approximately a 15 percent reduction in the refinery's assessment.
The other $12 million will be divided, not evenly, among Laurel Schools, Yellowstone County, and the state. The parties are working with local officials to determine the precise refund amounts.


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News & Events
Eight students traveled to Guatemala over spring break, bringing with them a large cache of useful items for local residents.
Lynn McMahon and Cindy Calderon of Health Services led the trip as part of BSU's Alternative Spring Break program. The program allows diverse groups of students to learn about global and local social justice issues through immersion in communities across the world and engaging in meaningful, direct service during their stay.
In Guatemala, the students performed a variety of community activities, including working as part of a reforestation project, making cooking stoves for three Mayan families, and painting two rooms in a local school.
The donations the BSU contingent brought included new pots, pans and cooking utensils, which were given to a group that focuses on the empowerment of women and small business enterprises.
A business out of Foxboro, We Got Soccer, donated 12 new soccer balls for the trip. The owners of this business are Michael and Andrea O'Connor, both Bridgewater graduates.
The participating students were Sebastian Patino, Eileen Lara, Jonathan Cowal, Andrew Baird, Melissa Hughes, Bianca Fonseca and Joshua Paulson.


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The BMW Concept K2 Power Ride Concept is making its debut at the 2012 LA Auto Show today to usher in the availability of the BMW X1 Power Ride Edition which is now available for order. Here is the ordering info for the BMW X1 Power Ride Edition.
The BMW X1 Powder Ride Edition will be available with the following selection of features:
• Choice of X1 xDrive28i or X1 xDrive35i model
• Choice of Alpine White (300); Jet Black (668); Glacier Silver (A83); Mineral Grey (B39)
• Standard … CONTINUED
The 2013 BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle is now available in US showrooms. Two very special vehicles will soon arrive to reflect the X1's special capability to take full advantage of winter fun. The BMW X1 Power Ride Edition will be available at BMW Centers, especially tailored for those who make the most of winter on the slopes. The BMW Concept K2 Power Ride is a reflection of the adrenaline rush of full-speed downhill fun. This unique concept will make its debut at the Los Angeles … CONTINUED
The X1 recently began delivery to US owners and we've now seen members beginning to take delivery of X1 M Sport models. Check out this great looking (car and photos) Valencia Orange X1 M Sport belonging to BIMMERPOST member BEAMERBOI.
BMW of North America today launched the 'X1 Restore the Outdoors' social media program in Seattle, WA which will run through September 10 in New York City. X1 Restore the Outdoors is a social good program that gives back to the outdoor places we love including parks, beaches, forests and recreational locations across the country.
The X1 will travel through the United States for two and half weeks, stopping at 12 predetermined locations. Drivers will take an Instagram photo at each stop and share it at the … CONTINUED
The X1 has finally landed in the U.S. and in owners' driveways! The first deliveries began this past week and several of our U.S. members can already call themselves official X1 owners.
Check out one of these deliveries, to XBIMMERS member Paul, of his 2013 X1 xDrive28i in Midnight Blue Metallic. Congrats to all owners to come!
Great news for expectant X1 owners! BMW has announced that the US launch date for the BMW X1 has been moved forward and all X1s are being released immediately for shipment (if it's still in European port) or delivery (if it's already in the US or arriving soon).
Also, at least one X1 is now making its rounds at certain BMW events to drum up awareness and further promote the X1. Here is one that was on display yesterday at a Golf tournament held by Steve … CONTINUED
The first reviews of the 2013 X1 (LCI facelift) are in and they're a generally positive bunch. First up are the reviews from Car and Driver, Automobile and Motor Trend.
Check out what each American magazine has to say about the refreshed X1 which has already sold more than 300,000 units worldwide.
Anyone wanting a RWD X1 should look into buying a current generation X1, if a new report coming out of Autocar is true.
It's being reported that the current model's RWD / AWD platform (adopted from the E9X 3 series) will be replaced by the FWD / AWD UKL platform when the next gen BMW X1 hits the market around 2015. "UKL" is German for 'Unter Klasse' or 'entry level.'
The FWD UKL platform is the same one upon which the initial FWD BMW models and the next … CONTINUED
A further chapter has been added to the success story of the BMW X models. In a matter of two-and-a-half years, the BMW X1 has notched up worldwide sales of more than 300,000 units. Since its market launch in autumn 2009, the first – and for a long time only – vehicle of its kind in the premium compact segment has conquered a steadily expanding fan base and scooped up a host of awards. The tremendous popularity enjoyed by the BMW X1 both in its home … CONTINUED
The BMWUSA website build your own feature for the 2013 X1 is finally online. Head on over to configure your very own BMW X1.


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Report: Menino will skip Marty Walsh's swearing-in ceremony
Mayor-elect Marty Walsh will be sworn-in next month, but one person who won't be there is his predecessor Mayor Thomas Menino.
Sean Collier to posthumously join Somerville Police Department
Sean Collier, the MIT police officer allegedly killed by the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, will be posthumously sworn in as a member of the Somerville Police Department Thursday night.
Markey to hold public swearing-in at Faneuil Hall
Ed Markey, the state's newest senator, will hold a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony at Faneuil Hall this week.


text:
DescriptionUnfortunately we do not support dodol Wallpaper Maker 1 anymore, so we encourage to try dodol Wallpaper Maker 2.
It is much stable and better :)
Need feedback about new version!
Create custom wallpaper from your own image. You can crop your image to make "portrait" and "landscape" wallpaper. Also you can merge wallpapers.
* Device with low memory (less than 512MB) has difficulties to apply 7 stitched wallpaper.


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When it comes to purchasing diamonds online or at a physical store, most people are clueless about the things that they should look out for and how to protect themselves from making a bad purchase. You can't really blame them.
The thing is, diamond buying is not a common day event in which you would regularly perform unless there's a special occasion coming up.
I had been through the same experience and I can totally understand how it feels like to be spending money on a big purchase. Chances are, when you landed on this website, you are probably doing your own research or reading up on a good guide before you hit the stores.
And that's what I am going to show you here.
To be a smart shopper, you need to know the essential elements that go into the process of selecting a good diamond and the critical pitfalls/scams to avoid. At the end of the day, if I had helped you achieved that, then I'm glad that the knowledge you had picked up here had accomplished its goal.
Every Year, There Are Thousands Of Consumers
Who Have Been Ripped Off Unknowingly By Jewelers
100% No Spam. Your Privacy Is Important To Us.
So, why is research and education required when shopping for diamonds? The truth is, there is a lot more to consider than simply looking at the price tags. There are a number of reasons why diamonds can be pricier or relatively cheaper. And these are the reasons that you need to understand if you want to make the best purchase within your budget.
In a nutshell, there are 4 different characteristics to look for when you are searching for a diamond, these are; Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. Each of these features can greatly change the price and the technical qualities that the stone possesses. Truth be told, each of these characteristics requires deeper knowledge than what is usually told or shown to you by a sales assistant in a store.
In the section of essential diamond education on our website, I will show you how to take a deeper look at each individual feature and how you can use them to your advantage. With a combination of these factors, you will be able to make an educated and rational decision when looking at stones that you are interested in.
The cut is how well the diamond is able to both absorb and reflect light. The better the cut, the more sparkle the stone will have. Note: Cut does NOT refer to the shape of the stone.
The clarity refers to the amount of inclusions or imperfections that are present in the diamond. A stone with lesser or little flaws inspected under 10X receive a higher grade.
The color of a diamond is given based on a scale of D – Z, with D being totally colorless and Z being a noticeable yellow. In the market, the range of D-F is highly sought after.
The carat weight refers to a specific measurement of how heavy the diamond is. Note: By itself, carat weight is not an indication of the stone's physical dimensions.
Due to its versatility and excellent light properties, the round brilliant is by far the most popular shape that is found in jewelry today. However, new cuts and shapes had been emerging over the years as the individual demands for fancy shapes increase.
If you are interested in getting a fancy shaped diamond, you need to understand that the selection processes for every different shape will not the same. For example, in an emerald cut, the presence of inclusions will be much more obvious due to lesser scintillation and brilliance of the step cut. Hence, in order not to compromise eye cleanliness, a higher clarity grade is usually preferred.
The point to take back is; the criteria for selecting different shapes will vary from one to another. If there is any particular shape that you are interested in, it is best to take some time to read and understand the characteristics associated with it.
Once you had equipped yourself with the necessary knowledge, you can shop with confidence from anywhere you would like to. The choice is up to you. However, if you would like to get better bang for your buck, my advice for you is to make your purchase online instead of buying from a local brick and mortar store.
For online stores, these are a few places that I highly recommend: James Allen (top choice for fancy cuts) & Brian Gavin (top choice for super ideal hearts and arrows). Apart from having a HUGE selection of diamonds, you will definitely be able to find a perfect stone for your needs and get a better deal. The rational is simple: You'll find more listings online and avoid paying for expensive overheads that the physical stores pass on to you.
The majority of consumers have very little or no knowledge about diamonds and usually end up paying twice of what a gemstone is actually worth. Don't you find it weird that people spend thousands of dollars on a purchase without knowing what makes it a good value?
High quality diamonds are never on sale. Forget about all the advertisement hypes that constantly scream 50%-75% off. If jewelers can sell top notch inventory for more, what do you think the reasons behind the "massive discounts" are?
Less than 10% of the diamonds in the market are cut for optimal light brilliance. Instead, the majority of them are cut to maximize the jeweler's profit margin by retaining "dead weight".
Buying based on the 4Cs isn't enough. Most jewelers would simply repeat and regurgitate to you the same old information without telling you the real insights to choosing the perfect stone.
The fact that you are reading this right now will help you avoid making bad decisions.
All in all, shopping for a diamond can be a very time consuming process and it does require you to put in some effort in educating yourself.
A good quality stone isn't cheap and, it may take some time before the right gemstone comes along. By being clear on the 4C's of diamonds, you will have a better idea of the types of stones that will suit your needs and budget best.
Remember, everyone has their own tastes. Some people may prefer stones that sparkle more while others might prefer diamonds that look bigger to the eyes. Some people might prefer a fancy shape or prefer stones that come with a warmer color. So, if you plan on buying a piece of jewelry for someone else, make sure you figure out what they like beforehand.
After all, diamonds are forever. When you make a purchase, you must make sure that it is the perfect stone that suits you. You (or your partner) won't want to be stuck with something that you wouldn't like to look at and end up with buyer's remorse.
Lastly, if you need any advice on any questions that you have or would like to seek a second opinion on helping you choose a diamond; please feel free to leave me a message via email. I will usually answer your email within 24 hours.
All the best in your shopping experience!
paul [@] beyond4cs.com
(To prevent spam, you need to remove the [ ] when you email me)


text:
New York Jets running back Mike Goodson, after pleading not guilty to drug and weapons charges earlier this week, will join his teammates for organized team activities next week, according to sources in a report from Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com on Friday.
Goodson was not present at the team's OTAs last week. As Cimini writes, while OTAs are voluntary and Goodson could have participated this week, both the team and player decided to wait until the situation settled down before Goodson's return.
Wednesday, he was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a loaded handgun, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of hollow point ammunition, all stemming from his arrest in the early morning of May 17 where he and another man were found asleep in a stopped SUV in New Jersey.
Goodson was heavily intoxicated when police found him, so they transported him to a local hospital. It was then that authorities allegedly found him in possession of marijuana, along with the loaded handgun in the vehicle. If found guilty of the gun charges alone, Goodson could be facing 10 years in prison. As Cimini also notes, potential NFL punishment remains unknown.
Goodson alleged through his lawyer this week that he was not aware of the presence of either the gun or marijuana in the vehicle. He was signed by the Jets this offseason to a three-year deal.
More from SB Nation:
• The great Super Bowl stadium swindle
• Hakeem Nicks reportedly wants a new deal
• How will 49ers respond to Crabtree's injury?
• Landry Jones on Christianity and gay athletes
• NFL rookies review 'Star Trek Into Darkness'


text:
Historical Costumes
He can dress up like the famed Roman emperor and she can wear the toga of a Grecian goddess. Our selection of historical costumes has something to offer to the whole family. We have a great array of history inspired outfits and costume kits to dress up your entire family. You can be Napoleon on his conquest to take over the world, a mighty Egyptian pharaoh or a Mayan king. We have gladiator and Cleopatra costumes for kids, along with our Colonial Girl Child Costume can help you get your daughter dressed up like one of the pilgrims or she could be a little Martha Washington in this period inspired getup. Our Colonial Girl Child Costume comes with a pinstriped top with bow and lace details, along with a full skirt. Add some curls and pin up her hair or simplify the process and let her wear a fancy wig. This costume is not only great for Halloween, but you could also use it for school plays, historical presentations at school, and more. You can't go wrong with our Julius Caesar Plus Adult Costume. It comes with the robe, cuffs, and headpiece. Break out this fantastic costume at all of your toga parties and rule over the lesser togas with this empirical ensemble. Ladies can look forward to adorning armor when they choose our Joan of Arc Premier Adult Costume this Halloween. This fantastic costume includes the red gown that has silver armor details with gold accents and a large cross symbol. Emulate these historical figures and others with our collection of historical costumes. Add some Roman style sandals and stock up on our swords, shields and armor sets to complete any number of fun costume ideas. Windy City Novelties has nearly 100 historical costume items for you to check out and get inspired by. This Halloween is sure to be an awesome experience when you get dressed up in your favorite of all of our historical Halloween costumes this year.


text:
This hCard created with the hCard creator.
Suicide is a problem within the law enforcement community due to the daily stress and rigors an officer is subjected to. To learn more, please view the Kenosha Police Department's newest video about Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention. If you know of someone in need of assistance, please reach out to get the needed help.
Chief John W. Morrissey has released the Kenosha Police Department 2013 Annual Report. Please check out the report to see what the Kenosha Police Department did in 2013.
To read about Wisconsin's Conceal Carry Law, click here.
The Kenosha Police Dept. Honor Guard is a member organization in the Wisconsin Honor Guard Association
Check out how one of our squads is built. Click here to see the video.
Jose Flores
Jose Flores is wanted for 2cts Identity Theft and 2 cts Fraud. $10,000 cash bond has been ordered. If you know where this person is, or have seen this person, call the Kenosha Police Detective Bureau at (262) 605-5203, Operations (262) 605-5210 or Crime Stoppers at (262) 656-7333.
Date of Birth: 06/06/1969
Height: 6"03"
Weight: 207
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Sex: Male
Race: White


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Switched On: Gluts and glory
Ross Rubin
4 years ago
Each week
Ross Rubin
Switched On
, a column about consumer technology.
Before the mass adoption of smartphones in the U.S., many fretted that the heavy subsidization model was feeding a free handset model that would keep Americans hopelessly addicted to basic voice plans and phones optimized for them. The price consumers paid in relation to the value of the handset, it was argued, was hopelessly out of whack. This year, a string of successful smartphones have shown that an increasing percentage of U.S. consumers are willing to pay $200 for a flagship device. On the other hand, there's still ample evidence that price and value can remain disconnected. And the carriers aren't making it much easier.
The smartphone surge has been driven in part by a desire to acquire the best and by a response to carrier advertising. However, a recent run-up in advanced smartphones have made it difficult to define a clear top of the line at many carriers, and carriers simply cannot promote them all with the same attention lavished on the
or original Droid. Take the turn of events at Verizon, for example, which in the space of a few months has rolled out the
Droid Incredible
Droid X
Droid 2
, with the
Samsung Fascinate
in the wings. At least the first three have been all priced at $199, with strong precedent for the Fascinate coming in at that level. And while AT&T has been a bit more diverse in the operating systems of its recent spate of high-end contenders -- the iPhone 4,
BlackBerry Torch
Samsung Captivate
-- they too have all been priced at $199.
And for those who find that moderate confusion level of this uniformity humdrum, Sprint has thrown things for a loop with its recent pricing of the
Epic 4G
at $249. The most feature-packed of the Galaxy S quadruplets with its sliding keyboard and front-facing camera, Sprint has taken a risk in pricing the Epic 4G above its own recently launched
and its larger, enthusiast-beckoning 4.3-inch display. In contrast, while the Droid 2 is not a perfect counterpart to the Epic 4G, Verizon's highest-end keyboard-packing Droid has not crossed the $199 transom. But counter to Sprint's focus on the keyboard, Verizon has implied that the Droid X is its highest-end handset -- and its feature set matches up fairly well against the EVO 4G.
Gone are the days when carriers were holding out for a hero device. Now, as a whole league of them rush to the scene, the bigger burden is choosing your champion.
Sprint has even released a video explaining the differences between the EVO 4G and Epic 4G in which surname-excised Sprint employee Heather asks, "how will you ever decide which one is right for you?" While the WiMAX-supporting carrier would clearly be pretty happy if customers (especially those defecting from other carriers) bought either, its justification for the Epic's 25% premium is anything but airtight. Sprint highlights the Epic 4G's display, noting that it makes for a thinner form factor and longer battery life, but the EVO's screen is, of course, larger. It also highlights the keyboard ("a third way to send messages" and an advantage diminished by the efficiency of typing on the EVO's larger display),
But the most dubious contrast is Sprint's positioning of the DLNA support of the Epic 4G vs. the HDMI support of the EVO 4G even though the EVO could certainly gain DLNA capabilities via a software update (or even an app). More importantly, though, HDMI and DLNA are really focused on different tasks. Despite the need for a cable, more consumers are in a better position to take advantage of the former for displaying HD video.
Another deviation, though, is more promising for consumers hoping to see lower prices for premium hardware. Sony Ericsson's
, with its 1GHz processor and four-inch display, is launching on AT&T at $149. While the XPERIA X10 ships with an older version of Android, and Sony Ericsson has not committed to an upgrade time frame yet, it's put its own TimeScape and MediaScape eye candy experiences on top of the stock Android experiences, and maintains that, unlike some manufacturer modifications, consumers don't have to use them.
With the re-entrance of Microsoft coming before the end of the year providing a new alternative to a bevy of hardware manufacturers, the cycle of new hardware smartphones coming to market may continue to compress. Gone are the days when carriers were holding out for a hero device. Now, as a whole league of them rush to the scene, the bigger burden is choosing your champion.
Ross Rubin
is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm
The NPD Group
. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.
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Exclusive: Motorola MB520 'Kobe' boasts a Droid X-esque UI, AT&T affinity


text:
The Village Moose -Ski In Luxury Condo @ 7 Springs Villages in Seven Springs
- bedrooms 2
- baths 2
- sleeps 7
- pool yes
- hot tub yes
- pets allowed no
- type Condo
- community The Villages
rates (USD)
/ night
$ 1,100 - $ 1,400 / week
Seven Springs Condo deals
stays between: 12/12/14 & 3/15/15
deal expires today
Get a Jump on the Snow and Take 5% Discount at The Village Moose
Time to get ready for the slopes and enjoy comfy and relaxing nights at The Village Moose. Book by 9/30- take 5% off 2 or more nights. Not Valid with other offers or holidays. Discount on rental fee only. Cleaning fees and damage deposits additional.
- $350 $332/night (5% off)
- Starter Kit ($85)
deal# DXDS5U
vacation rental description
Ski In 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condominium/Suite (Sleeps 2-7)
If you're looking to vacation in style, The Village Moose is for you! This unit is clean and tastefully decorated in a spa-like theme with stone and wood to blend with the natural surroundings. It has all the little details that will make your trip 1st class.
vacation rental location
property availability
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Last modified on 08-19-2014 at 7:54 AM.
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Sue Parker 412-979-2491
condo rental amenities
Moose Amenities:
Sink into the "Cadillac of king size beds" or relax in the whirlpool tub in the beautiful spa inspired master suite. A second bath and bedroom that sleeps 3 await your guests. Gather the family around the large dining room table and serve a tasty, hot meal that was prepared in the fully equipped kitchen. Or snuggle on the coach in front of a roaring fire and 50" Plasma TV with Bluray and Internet@TV including a large selection of free Netflix movies in the sunken living room where there's an additional pull-out queen size sofa bed. Wet ski clothes? No problem, just throw them in the steam washer and dryer. The deck is right on the ski trail and has some beautiful views. In fact in the winter, you can take one of lifts and ski directly up to the deck (Ski-in/Walk-out). The return to the slopes is just a short walk up the trail or through the parking lot (about 200 yds). Whatever you choose to do, you'll love coming home to the comfortable and tastefully decorated Village Moose!
More at the Moose:
At The Village Moose, we know that for some of you, this may be the only vacation you indulge in this year. So we always go the extra mile to make your stay extra special and carefree. Included with the condo at no additional charge is early check-in/check-out when available, shuttle service to anywhere in the resort, Wi-Fi, 50" plasma TV, Blu-ray, Internet@TV, Netflix Movies on Demand, an assorted selection of books, videos/DVDs and board games, and a lockable ski closet. And to help make your packing less stressful, we supply all bed linens and provide an initial supply of paper products, trash bags, wraps, dishwasher/dish soaps and laundry detergents and softeners.
Top of the Mountain:
The Moose is located in the Meadowridge community in The Villages at the top of the mountain at Seven Springs Resort. From the Moose you can enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful fall foliage or watch skiers pass by on the Village Trail just feet from the backyard deck. And there's lots to do during the other mountain seasons. After the snow melts, swim in one of the outdoor pools, play tennis, volleyball or basketball on one of the courts or just relax in The Villages' hot tub.
activities and attractions in Seven Springs Other Pennsylvania Areas
Mountains To Do:
Seven Springs Resort, rated the #1 Resort in the Mid-Atlantic Region
by Ski Magazine, is a four seasons resort located in the Laurel
Mountains about 60 miles from Pittsburgh, PA.
Here's just a mole hill of the mountain of stuff to do at Seven
Springs Mountain Resort:
Indoor Resort Activities:
Bowling, Massage/Spa Services, Formal Dining
Miniature Golf, Fitness Room, Casual Dining
Roller Skating/Blading, Hair Salon, Entertainment
Game Room, Bars/Nightlife, Hot Tubs
Indoor Swimming Pool, Conference Rooms, Shopping
Outdoor Resort Activities for Every Season:
Skiing, Snow Tubing, Snowmobiles
Snowboarding, Snowcat Rides, Snowshoe Tours
Snow Sports School, Sleigh Rides
Spring, Summer and Fall
Golf at 11 area courses, Outdoor Pool, Basketball, Canopy Tours,
Hiking and Biking, Fishing and Hunting, Tennis Courts
Horseback Riding, Sporting Clay Shooting, Alpine Slide, Segways,
Mountain Biking, Chairlift Rides, Paintball, Tubing, Zip line,
Climbing Wall, Disc Golf, Hayrides
Eurobungy, Kids's Summer Camps
Mountains More:
White Water Rafting, Canoeing and Rock Climbing
See Exotic Animals at Living Treasures Animal Park
Family Fun at Caddie Shak (go-karts, mini golf, bumper boats, batting cages)
Tour Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater or Kentuck Knob
Local Wineries (Christian Klay, Windber, Glades Pike, Stone Villa)
Visit a local Pennsylvania State Forest or State Park
Shop for Antiques or at one of the many Ligonier Specialty Shops
See Historical Sites or Theatrical Productions
vacation rental rates
The Village Moose Can Sleep 2 -7 People
Additional cleaning fee of $80 per stay, taxes, refundable damage deposit of $250 and short term agreement are required. More than 99% of damage deposits returned in full to date. Must be 21 to rent. Rates subject to change.
Paypal and credit card paymet accepted.
Winter Season
Weekend - $475/night - 2 night min
Midweek (Sun-Thurs) Nights - $350
Holiday (Dec 25-Jan 1, Martin Luther King and Presidents' Day weekends) - $575/night with minimum of 3 nights
Spring and Late Fall
Weekend - $235/night - 2 night min
Midweek (Sun-Thurs) Nights - $185
Week - $1,100 - Non holiday including 1 weekend only
Summer and Fall Season
Weekend - $285/night - 2 night min
Midweek (Sun-Thurs) Nights - $235
Week - $1,400 - Non holiday including 1 weekend only
Holidays - 4th of July and Labor Day - 3 night min at $285/night
Rates subject to change.
Sue Parker 412-979-2491
accepted payment methods
Prior to paying a reservation deposit, always verify payment instructions by calling the phone number displayed on this listing page. By contacting the owner directly and paying by an approved method - credit card, paypal, check or bank transfer - your reservation payment will be protected up to $1,000.Learn more in our Security Center
Top things to do in Seven Springs
- Ski, Snowboard, or Snow Tube
- Canopy Tour
- Attend a Seven Springs Event like Wince and Food or Autumfest
- Enjoy a Spa Treatment at the Trillium Spa
- Zip line
Top things to do on a budget
- Visit Frank Llyod Wright's Fallingwater or Kentuck Knob
- Bike along the Allegheny Passage
- Hike along a Number of Forest Trails
- Swim, Tennis, Volleyball and Basketball at No Additional Cost
- Watch a Netflix on Demand Movie - Eating Popcorn by the Fire
Top things to do with a family
- Race along the Alpine Slide
- Link Snow Tubes together and Fly Down the Tube Run
- Paddle Boat at the Resort
- Whitewater raft at Ohio Pyle
- Ride the Lift to the Top of the Mountain and Mountain Bike Down
Sue Parker , owner


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Date: Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 6:30 pm
GET REEL Film: Waste Land
Thursday, August 29, 6:30 pm, Chiego Lecture Hall
Contemporary artist Vik Muniz travels from Brooklyn to the world's largest garbage dump located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Muniz collaborates with the catadores—pickers of recyclable materials—to portray their dignity and despair. Brazil and UK. 2010. English and Portuguese, 99 min., color. Not rated. © Vik Muniz Studio
The McNay Contemporary Collectors Forum (MCCF) presents GET REEL, a program featuring critically acclaimed independent and foreign films and videos. Vik Muniz is the winner of the 2012 MCCF View & Vote selection currently on view in Majority Rules: A Decade of Contemporary Art Acquisitions. Admission is free. Some films may not be appropriate for all audiences. Wine reception precedes screenings at 6:00 pm.


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Backpacker Magazine – June 2008
These weekend float trips have side hikes that rival the paddling for scenery and solitude.
Nancy Lake SRA, AK | Floodwood Pond, NY | Village Creek, TXThere's no better time to hit the water than June, when river levels–and daily temps– are up. Pack up now to enjoy the best of both worlds with these surf-and-turf journeys.
Nancy Lake SRA, AK
Dip into beginner-friendly waters
The Lynx Lake Loop, an eight-mile route just two hours from Anchorage, is a perfect starter course for wilderness paddling in Alaska: no sat-phone or shotgun required. Start at Tanaina Lake and head south to Milo Pond, following orange portage signs in a counterclockwise circuit. In between each of the 14 lakes, short trails (the longest is a half-mile) cut through dense forests sprinkled with Alaskan rose and wild iris. You'll cross honey-colored meadows where brown bears sometimes snack on blueberries–though moose sightings are more common. Hit the primitive campsites between Little Noluck and Big Noluck Lakes. From there you can watch the midnight sun set on one lake while its soft afterglow illuminates the other.
Canoe Rental
Tippecanoe, at the South Rolly Lake Campground (907-495-6688, paddlealaska.com)
The Way From Anchorage, take the Parks Highway 67 miles north. Go 4.5 miles west on Nancy Lake Parkway to the canoe trailhead at Tanaina Lake.
Nancy Lake SRA, AK | Floodwood Pond, NY | Village Creek, TX
I'm looking at a map, & trying to understand this path. So I paddle from Floodwood Pond into Little Square Pond, thru Fish Creek into Square Pond into Follensby Clear. Then what? Do I travel up to the top of Follensby & portage to either Polliwog or Green Pond, then portage over to Hoel Pond? The rest makes sense.
This is an incorrect description of how to access Long Pond Mountain. Paddlers can access Long Pond via a short carry from a well-marked parking lot off Floodwood Pond Road.
I've gone through Floodwood Pond many times and explored the surrounding lakes and ponds. Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation does some really awesome treks through that area. One of the greatest places to go. God's country
You can stretch this creek out. I have paddled a 50 Miler with my scout troop and over 65 miles with a friend. When the creek is flooded (often) you double your speed and loose camping spots. If you have time to slow down you can catch some Perch, Large Mouth Bass and Catfish.
Just booked a reservation with Evelyn at St. Regis Canoe Outfitters. She couldn't have been nicer, or more helpful.


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Today's weather forecast: Dry Like Toast
Hang-up phone calls to his victims were a big part of the Golden State Killer's m.o. Police believe he got victims' numbers from burglarizing or casing their homes in advance; rotary phones in the 1970s had the number printed on the front. He called both before and after attacks, perhaps to ascertain his target's whereabouts and/or to frighten his victims with intimidating taunts.
NEW! This clip is from a Sacramento-area 911 call placed in late 1977 by an unknown male claiming to be the East Area Rapist. Investigators had intended to share this audio file along with the other new evidence published by Los Angeles magazine late last month but delayed its release so they could clean up and enhance the sound. Investigators would like toidentify the man on this tape and believe that his voice sounds similar to the "Is Ray there?" caller (below).
Alternative content
Sacramento detectives put a tap on one rape victim's phone. In January 1978, the tap recorded a terrifying, obscene phone call. As the young woman waited silently on the phone, knowing the police tap was recording, the caller breathed heavily, then whispered menacingly. "Gonna kill you," he repeated. "Bitch," he hissed. "Whore." Both the victim and the police believe the caller was the Golden State Killer.
While listening to the police tap recordings years later, investigators caught an earlier, overlooked wrong number call that piqued their interest. "Is Ray there?" a man asks quickly. Many victims reported an unusual number of wrong number calls around the time of their attacks, and because such calls are relatively uncommon, investigators believe the man's voice, which is more identifiable than the obscene whisper call, could be the killer's. In this edited version, the man's voice is slightly slowed down.
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Bus boss blames council for services being axed
The boss of the bus company which is axing services in west Cornwall says he was forced into the decision by lack of support from Cornwall Council. Mark Howarth had told ITV West Country the council wasn't prepared to help fund the routes.
News of the cuts has been met with dismay in rural communities, with many fearing they'll be cut off. Our Cornwall correspondent Steve Hardy reports.


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BUST Magazine
Date: Thursday, October 25, 2012 - 8:00 pm
Duration: 2 Hours
Storytellers include:
- 'SuperNova of Kink' & Sex Educator Midori
- Marketplace & Leather Women series Author Laura Antoniou
- Pervy Artist & Instigator Nayland Blake
-AVN & Urban X Awards Hall of Fame porn star, author and radio host, Sinnamon Love,
-John Leo of Tiny Dangerous Fun/Pegassus
-Twanna Hines (Funky Brown Chick)
- Musical comedy duo Mel and El
& more storytellers coming soon!
Join the celebrated Dame of the Dirty Dish, **Miss Dixie De La Tour** (host & curatrix of Bawdy Storytelling) as she teams up for the first time with that infamous '**SuperNova of Kink,' Midori**! We're calling this racy evening of storytelling & socializing 'Bawdy Luxe,' and for one night only we invite you to rub elbows (& who knows what else?) with NYC's Perverati in a private Gotham loft with us. (This event's address will be e-mailed after ticket purchase). Drink, nosh & enjoy pornstars, kinkstars & surprise rockstar guests as they share true stories from their very twisted and sexy, sexy lives. What better way to build sex-positive community than to meet and be inspired by the city's carnal cohorts?
Bawdy Luxe will take place at a chi-chi Manhattan loft (near Chelsea), and since social connection and community building is at the core of what we do, we'll allow plenty of time to meet and mingle. But note: we won't sell tickets at the door,* so get your tickets NOW. Keep an eye out for updates to our storyteller roster – we're adding new big shots every day.
Doors open at 7, stories at 8
Where: Private loft, Chelsea, Manhattan. This event's address will be e-mailed after ticket purchase.
Buy advance tickets now (absolutely no tickets will be sold at the door):http://bawdyluxe.eventbrite.com/
Tickets: $20
This event is 21+ only.
* Event address will be e-mailed after ticket purchase.
** Consider this an opening event for Midori's always sold out FortéFemme Intensive workshop (October 26-28th). http://www.fhp-inc.com/fortefemme
Facebook RSVP: http://on.fb.me/RecwWh
URL: www.BawdyStorytelling.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bawdystorytelling
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Bawdy
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BawdyStoryTelling
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/bawdystories
Laura Antoniou is the author of the well known, now 20-year-old Marketplace series of erotic BDSM novels, and many short stories, essays and rants cleverly disguised as speeches. In 2011, Laura won the John Preston Short Fiction Award from the National Leather Association, for her short story, "That's Harsh," which appears in the e-book edition of The Slave. In addition, she is the co-author (with her wife, Karen) of a ritually correct Leather Passover Seder, Avadim Chayanu (Once We Were Slaves). Laura had edited about a dozen erotic anthologies and appeared in many more. The Marketplace has been acquired by Audible to be produced for the first time as an audio book, and in 2013, her first mystery, The Killer Wore Leather and the 6th Marketplace book, The Inheritor, and the first collection of Marketplace fan fiction, No Safewords, are all slated for release. Her website is lantoniou.com; there you can follow her travels, book her for appearances and read an occasional tirade.
Frequent sightings of **Midori** from around the globe make us wonder if she ever sleeps or if she's cloned her self. A sexuality educator, sex-positive activist, and artist, she's made an improbable career out of being the traveling sexpert. Don't miss the groundbreaking book *Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage* which first cracked open the mysteries to Westerners, the hot essays in *Wild Side Sex: The Book of Kink* and twisted dark science fiction in *Master Han's Daughter*. Learn the basics in *Midori's Expert Guide to Sensual Bondage* DVD. Don't miss her other classes in your area! (www.FHP-inc.com). You'll find her adventures, twitters, calendar and more at www.PlanetMidori.com.
Sinnamon Love is an adult film star, fetish model, professional dominatrix, writer, radio personality & single mom of 3 teenagers living in Brooklyn, NY. Since 1993, Love has appeared in over 250 hardcore movies, numerous men's magazines and countless appearances on Playboy TV & Radio. In 2010, Sinnamon took on a year long tour with The Punany Poets of HBO's "Real Sex" fame, a sex positive erotic poetry & sex education theater show. She is a frequent guest on Shade 45 on Sirius/ XM radio. Love is currently a staff writer & relationship columnist for TheWellVersed.com. In 2010 she was inducted into the Urban X Awards' Hall of Fame followed by induction into the AVN Awards' Hall of Fame in 2011. She is an outspoken Autism/ Asperger's parent advocate and has recently taken on improving sex education in Inner City schools. Love can be heard on DTFRadio.com every Thursday night from midnight-2am on her radio show, Sex, Love and Hip Hop. Her show is a relationship advice show featuring good music, well known and underground hip hop artists, sex educators, adult stars and every day people, discussing real topics for the urban demographic.
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Oh the Stardream collection. . . a shimmering, glimmering, lustrous line of metallic papers made in Italy, but loved around the world. And what's not to love? That subtle sparkle, that slight iridescence, that captivating color palette - even its name alludes to its glamor and splendor.
At LCI, we love Stardream too, and we offer it in sixteen colors, two weights, and in a full line of popular sizes and envelopes. Below, we display and describe the whole collection. Take a look, you'll see what we mean.
Order Stardream Now! • Shop Stardream Paper • Shop Stardream Envelopes
Antique Gold
Oh so appropriately named, Antique Gold is an old, rustic shade of gold reminiscent of tarnished golden jewelry. Just like a cherished antique, this paper is more brownish gold than yellow, yet thanks to the mica flecks embedded in its coating, this sheet is anything but dull! With every movement, you'll catch a dazzling golden hue and a subtle iridescence that makes for one seriously stunning sheet.
Just like the bright pink azaleas you'll find blooming in the garden, Stardream's Azalea is a super saturated shade of fuchsia that can't help but catch your eye. Combined with a shimmery silver sheen, this paper is best described as bold, fun, and yes, quite girly.
At first glace, Bronze is nice, classic chocolatey brown color - but this is Stardream folks! Pick that paper up, move it around, and discover the sparkly, golden luminescence that gives Bronze its name! Though it may be darker than your average sun tan or bronzer cosmetic (whichever reference you prefer), it's a lovely, warm, "bronzed" shade of brown, and it's fantastic when grazed by the light!
Stardream Crystal is a clean, bright, sparkling shade of white - no discernible hues of color, "crystal clear," plain and simple!
Similar to the fairway in the game of golf, Stardream Fairway is a bright, enticing shade of green. With yellow undertones and that shimmery Stardream coating, Fairway could justifiably be described as anything from a subtle lime to a classic grass green, depending on the light.
You guessed it - Flame is a metallic orange, and a lovely metallic orange it is! With its soft Stardream sheen and understated, lightly saturated shade of orange, Flame color is funky and fun without crossing the line into oppressive (for those of you who might not keen on orange).
The name for this red metallic stems from Jupiter's Great Red Spot (if you remember that one from grade school). If you don't, nonetheless, Jupiter is best described as a classic, primary shade of red. One of the more "sparkly" members of the Stardream family, mica is very prominent in this sheet, which is appropriate for such a cosmic name.
Like the gem it is named after, Kunzite is a light, muted shade of lilac. Though this paper is unmistakably purple, when placed next to deeper, more prominent shades of purple, Kunzite can appear to be almost silver or white, especially when reflecting lights around it.
Just like the body of water that comes to mind when you hear the word, Lagoon is a tropical blue/green color that brings sea breezes and sunshine to mind.
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli: an LCI staff favorite, a customer favorite, and it's easy to see why! Stardream's Lapis is an intensely saturated navy, a color that makes a slew of mica really pop! With each movement, its color may range anywhere from deep navy to a sapphire-like blue, each shade complemented by a striking sparkle, of course.
Some say it's black metallic, some say it's charcoal metallic, we say it's both! After all, like all members of the Stardream family, Onyx is iridescent and darker in some lights, lighter in others.
With a yellow undertone, Opal is a metallic cream, or a metallic ivory, if you prefer. It's warm, it's neutral, and if it wasn't covered in a modern-day sheen, we'd dare call it timeless.
Remember Crystal from the beginning? Remember Opal from above? Well the color of Quartz falls smack in the middle of the two. With subdued yellow undertones, Quartz is not quite a metallic white, not quite a metallic cream/ivory, it's just Quartz, and it's quite nice!
Don't be fooled, Ruby is not a red, but instead a purple! More specifically, it can be described as a plum, eggplant, or any other reddish purple color name you can think of. Perhaps the reddish tint in Ruby is where that deceiving name comes from. . .
The name says it all here. Stardream Silver is a classic metallic silver. We need not say more about this color.
Last but not least, we have Vista. Since a vista refers to a pleasant, open air/open sky view, we feel this name is more than appropriate for this metallic blue paper. Though it is more of a desaturated cornflower blue than a "sky" blue, it is certainly a pleasant vista-like shade of blue.


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Email: email@example.com
Mailing Address: Funfest EventsP.O. Box 136817082 N US Hwy 45Effingham, IL 62401
Pepsi MidAmerica
Visit Our Corporate Site
Visit Our Air-Cooled VW Store
Connect with Mid America Motorworks
Follow Mid America Motorworks
There are fun things for everyone to do at our events and we invite anyone and everyone to our shows! General Parking is only $5.00 a day and the Saturday Night Concert is free!
Click Here to Buy Tickets to the Show
Following the response of his documentary, The Bus, renowned filmmaker, Damon Ristau, is creating a feature length documentary film about the most beloved and recognizable vehicle on Earth, the Volkswagen Beetle. The Bug Movie follows the iconic vehicle and the culture that loves it, including footage he shot right here at Funfest for Air-Cooled VW! Best of all, YOU can help make it happen! Contribute to The Bug Movie and be part of this amazing film.
The sun was shining – most of the time – and we had a great weekend with our Volkswagen friends and family! Thank you for being part of our Sweet Sixteen Funfest for Air-Cooled VW! From the Friday Night Fun Run and Downtown Part to the Expert Seminars, Slaloms, Exhaust Sound Off and of course the Saturday night Tons O' Fun Band concert, it was a great weekend. The perfect kick-off to summer show season!
Funfest for Air-Cooled VW kicked off with the crowd favorite Fun Run & Downtown Party. Some 200 Volkswagens streamed through scenic Effingham County before an impromptu parade had locals welcoming VW crowd to Effingham. The Downtown Party – known as Welcome Fest – was hosted by the Effingham Convention and Visitors Bureau around the Effingham Courthouse square. It included food vendors, snow cones, kettle corn, live entertainment, fabulous giveaways and, of course, a one-of-a-kind Volkswagen show. New to the Downtown Party, a full-fledged Celebrity Choice presentation took place along with the Effingham Mayor's VW Award.
Celebrity Choice Awards are a Funfest tradition! For our Sweet Sixteen, we added judging on Friday at the Downtown Party, giving our Fun Run participants another reason to celebrate the first day of Funfest for Air-Cooled VW! Winners received a custom-made canvas trophy, autographed by Mike Yager.
Funfest for Air-Cooled VW kicked off Saturday morning with the Star Spangled Banner at Opening Ceremony. Mike Yager and the entire Yager Family welcomed guests and presented the Platinum Bug and Passing on the Passion Awards to stand-out VW enthusiasts who took the hobby to the next level.
From a hands-on demonstration on M Works Car Care to the latest in VW fashion and installs that just wouldn't stop, the Fun Dome and Install Dome were both full of activity all weekend!
Check out the timelapse Install Dome video here:
Don't forget to test your "not-so-low"-speed Slalom skills! It is only $5 for 3 tries and is tons of fun! Don't worry VW Buses, we have different classes, so you will not have to compete against Dune Buggies! There are great prizes each day, and also a spot in the Winners Corral and a photo with Mike.
© Mid America Motorworks 2013. All rights reserved 2013 | Pursue Your Passion Here


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Defining the future of integrated health care.
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Great eats are coming to NUHS to kick off fall trimester! Each Friday in September, a different food truck will be on our Lombard campus offering lunchtime fare.
National University recently announced the winners of several institutional scholarships. More are available this coming fall trimester, so be sure to apply in September.
Family, friends, faculty and staff filled the National University auditorium for the August 2014 commencement ceremony. 84 graduates of both the College of Professional Studies and the College of Allied Health Sciences received honors, diplomas and certificates, taking the next step forward on their educational and career paths.
Japanese, Korean and Chinese acupuncture all have their foundations in traditional Chinese medicine, and all are very effective. Learn how acupuncture evolved in different regions of Asia, reflecting the culture and history of each region.
During the clinical internship, naturopathic medicine students at NUHS serve a three-week rotation in a Chicago Salvation Army facility seeing a wide variety of patients who are often homeless, drug-addicted or who have recently suffered tragedy in their lives.
On Saturday, July 12, DC interns from NUHS - Florida joined Dr. Carlo Guadagno in providing medical triage services for the Gulf Coast Sevens Rugby Tournament.
Learn more about managing fibromyalgia at our free "Get Educated" presentation on: "Why I Hurt: The Truth Behind Fibromyalgia."
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Illinois Campus
200 E Roosevelt Rd
Lombard, IL 60148
Florida Site
Multiple locations
St. Petersburg, FL


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BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA — Betty Jane Mintzer of Boynton Beach, Fla., formerly of AuSable Forks, N.Y., died peacefully on Friday, August 16, 2013, at home, surrounded by her family. She was born Jan. 25, 1931, in Amsterdam, N.Y., to Ada and Robert Edmonds.
Betty was predeceased by her husband, Lester Mintzer.
She is survived by her children, David Mintzer of Amsterdam, Gary Mintzer of Boynton Beach, Mark Mintzer (Bonnie) and Paul Mintzer (Marilee), both of Vero Beach, Fla.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her companion, Joseph (Lefty) Sochurek.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Vitas-Innovative Hospice Care, 1901 S. Congress Ave., Suite 420, Boynton Beach, FL 33426.
Burial will be held privately at Hagaman Cemetery in Hagaman, N.Y. Arrangements are under the direction of Palm Beach National Chapel in Lake Worth, Fla.


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Taylor Armerding
CNHI News Service
Editor's note: CNHI newspapers that are not weekly subscribers to Taylor Armerding's column may publish this one if they notify him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
There was a time, not so long ago, when my liberal friends wailed at me in outrage over what they claimed was conservatives engaging in "the politics of fear." Nothing could be worse, they said, than avoiding the "real issues" by trying to scare people.
This reached a crescendo in 2008 when President Obama was still just a candidate and liberals were convinced that every criticism of his statements, policy proposals or political philosophy was really just racist code designed to frighten voters.
Didn't work, obviously. But the politics of fear is now very much a bipartisan thing. This year's mid-term elections, still seven months away, are looking like they will be the campaign of the bogeyman, or woman.
It is not new; it has a long, tired, absurd history. Back in the '90s, it didn't matter who various Democrats were running against because they would spend most of the time pretending they were running against Newt Gingrich, the increasingly unpopular speaker of the House. Republicans generally pretended they were running against Ted Kennedy, the late U.S. Senator from Massachusetts who was very rich and very liberal.
This year, Democrats are going to be running against a couple of guys who aren't even in office – the billionaire Koch brothers. Republicans, no matter their home state, will pretend they are taking on yet another increasingly unpopular former speaker of the House, Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, of California.
If you believe all the things that are said, and will be said, about them over the next seven months, you'll probably want to hide your kids – maybe even hide yourself – if you so much as see one of these people on TV. Who wants to risk being under the influence of such satanic forces?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has a tough time getting through a comment on anything partisan without vilifying the Koch brothers. He has called them "un-American," but that is apparently not good enough for those in the fever swamps of the Left, who have now taken to calling them and other rich conservatives "oligarchs." You know, like the super-rich Russians who want wealth to rule the country. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
It is true that the Koch brothers are fabulously wealthy, thanks in large measure to their father building an oil refinery business. They are politically active, donating millions to conservative and libertarian causes.
But, how are they any different, other than political philosophy, from left-wing billionaires who are just as politically active? George Soros is a hedge fund billionaire who made part of his fortune shorting the British pound in 1992. For years he has donated millions to liberal causes and groups that support Democratic candidates. Tom Steyer, who made a chunk of his fortune from the oil business, is another. Al Gore, vice president during the Clinton administration, made some of his millions selling his cable TV station to Al Jazeera, the TV network built with Qatari oil money.
Maybe donations from the rich ought to be limited to what the "average" American could donate, but that is an entirely separate argument. If the Koch brothers are evil because they are rich, then so are Soros, Steyer, Gore and a long list of others.
When it comes to which is the "party of the rich," it's also worth noting that Democrats represent eight of the ten wealthiest congressional districts in the country. And, for a long time, there have been more Democratic millionaires in Congress than Republicans. One of them is Nancy Pelosi, with an estimated net worth of $58 million.
But that is not the major reason she is a major "bogeywoman" for conservatives. I have little respect for Pelosi, who brings hypocrisy to a new level almost every time she opens her mouth. One of the most blatant examples is her declaration that when Democrats would "drain the swamp" of political corruption when they gained control of both houses of Congress.
Since then plenty of members of her party have engaged in the same or worse corruption - California state Sen. Leland Yee, a Democratic gun-control advocate who the FBI says has been an illegal firearms dealer, comes to mind - Pelosi's sense of outrage vanishes.
But the main reason Republicans want to demonize her is because she has been a very effective party leader, even as House minority leader, whipping her troops in line much more effectively than current Republican Speaker John Boehner.
And it's silly to try to scare voters because she has used her power, which all politicians seek to do, just as it's silly to try to scare voters because somebody is rich.
Perhaps both parties are signing onto Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals," which recommends looking for ways to "increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty" and "go after people and not institutions." His most famous rule is No. 12: "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it and polarize it."
You know, like calling someone an "oligarch."
Trying to scare voters by turning certain people into bogeymen is a transparent attempt to distract from the "issues" that we all claim should be foremost in a political campaign.
Why can't the pronouncements of the Kochs and Pelosi be judged on their merits, rather than on how much money or power they have?
Taylor Armerding is an independent columnist. Contact him at email@example.com


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For the second time, Bedford's planning board granted a final site plan...
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Tar Heel Stock-Picking: National Oilwell Varco, Atwood Oceanics
While the Tar Heels may be a best known college basketball program, there's another team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that's worth looking at.
UNC's Applied Investment Management (AIM) program enables the school's best and brightest MBAs to mange over $1 million in real capital . Here's a look at how the AIM class of 2008 picked their best-performing stock holdings.
AIM Quick Facts
According to AIM student Tom Shohfi, UNC's AIM program is one of the oldest student-run investment funds in the country. The program's original fund, the aptly named Reynolds Fund, was started with "tobacco money in the early 1950s." The class of 2008 managed two funds in the AIM program (the Reynolds Fund and the Cherry Hill Fund), valued at just over $1.3 million. While other schools sometimes allow students to use margin in their programs, this past year, AIM's managers were forced to use a vanilla long-only strategy. "We're not allowed to use leverage and we're not allowed to go short with our current rules," explains Shohfi. Shohfi adds, "The fund can only apply leverage through the use of derivatives and that's limited to two times the assets under management." "At the current point in time, being a long-only fund is one of our weaknesses, but we're making changes based on how other student-run funds are changing and based on how the industry's changing," says Shohfi. Next year's AIM class will be allowed to short. (For more on shorting, read "How to Beat the Street: Short-Selling." Even with the fund's limitations, the Tar Heel money managers were able to keep market meltdowns at bay, since they took control of the fund last April -- one of the toughest 12 months investors have seen in a while. One of the biggest ways they managed that was by making good market bets that paid off. Where is their money now? Don't Count the Financials Out This Year Writedowns aside, AIM sees a future in financial stocks over the next six to nine months. "We do like the financials," says Shohfi, "and we established positions in some really beaten down companies that we think can rally significantly." With the financial companies, Shohfi acknowledges that "there's a lot of room for upside because there's certainly been a lot of downside." Financial names the AIM students like include BB&T (BBT) and E*Trade (ETFC) -- two stocks that are up over 20% since January. But despite those impressive numbers, financials were not what fueled AIM's portfolio performance. AIM's Top 5 Gainers 1. National Oilwell Varco (NOV) and 2. Atwood Oceanics (ATW) Shohfi and company felt that investing in two oil-centric businesses, such as National Oilwell Varco and Atwood Oceanics was bound to be a good play. And over the past year, it certainly has been. The value of AIM's National Oilwell Varco position is up around 63% and its Atwood Oceanics stake is up around 42%. "Oil has risen nearly 70% since we took over the fund," notes Shohfi. But with oil lingering around an all-time high, energy is making AIM students a little nervous these days. "We feel [energy] has played out, says Shohfi. "We have trimmed [AIM's energy holdings], but will likely preserve full portfolio weightings in both these names [National Oilwell Varco and Atwood Oceanics]. Rigs and exploration were our favorite theme."
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Printed for you from the St. Mary's of Michigan website on 09/02/14
CyberKnife is a radiosurgery instrument that provides surgery-like results without surgery. There is no pain, no incisions, no blood loss, no anesthesia and little or no recovery time. The tumor-fighting power comes from up to 1,200 beams of radiation that target the tumor while sparing healthy surrounding tissue. The range of motion offered by the robotic arm gives it maximum flexibility to reach tumor sites not accessible by other means.
Best of all, CyberKnife continuously checks and compensates for any movement a patient makes during treatment – even adjusting as patients breathe – ensuring superior accuracy. Because of its accuracy, CyberKnife can use higher doses of radiation to attack tumors and is extremely useful for lung cancer in particular.
St. Mary's of Michigan is the only hospital north of the Detroit area to offer CyberKnife and patients from around the country and into Canada seek us out for this treatment technology.
|800 South Washington Avenue | Saginaw, MI 48601-2524 | (989)907-8000 | 1-844-907-8000
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The South Windsor Police Department said a teenager that was reported missing has been found safe and her cousin is under arrest.
Allison Toupal, 14, left her home sometime overnight and was reported missing Tuesday morning.
She was eventually located by authorities Tuesday afternoon.
Allison's cousin Abraham Jenkins, 21, of Northampton, MA, was arrested following her disappearance. Police said he failed to notify authorities of her whereabouts after being asked to do so.
Jenkins drove to South Windsor and picked Allison up, police said. It is unclear where Jenkins took Allison after he picked her up.
He was arrested by the South Windsor Police Department and charged with risk of injury. Jenkins has since been released from police custody.
Copyright 2012 WFSB (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.


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Officials in Bay County are calling on lawmakers in Tallahassee to assist them with a growing problem, the under regulated scooter industry. Commissioner Mike Thomas says spring breakers are riding up and down the beach carelessly and something needs to be done.
"It's an amusement on a very busy highway and people aren't trained, they don't have motorcycle license and it's creating a problem for the people that are driving and law enforcement."
Thomas is suggesting that scooter and moped riders be required to obtain a motorcycle endorsement. The Division of Motor Vehicles only requires vehicles above 50cc to have such endorsement.
Thomas is asking the local legislative delegation to lobby for change. The downside is that shops like the Hangout by the Sea, could be devastated by the changes.
"We're going to be out of business, we invested a lot of money and I hope that I going to make more in the summertime. I hope they are not going to change anything because when you are in this business I am trying to make money like everybody," Arson Mosesyants said.
The owner noted there had not been any accidents this year and says when they do, it only happens during Spring Break.
At last Tuesday's commission meeting the board approved a motion to ask for legislative support.
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Ledyard— Route 214 between Whalehead Road and Route 117 has reopened after a car crashed into an utility pole early Thursday morning.
At about 1 a.m. the Ledyard and Gales Ferry fire companies, along with two Ledyard ambulances and Ledyard police responded to the accident that happened in front of 98 Route 214.
Ledyard Fire Chief John R. Doucette said two occupants had to be extricated from the vehicle .
Police said the Kyle Fox, 23, of Route 163, lot 4, Uncasville, was taken to the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and later transferred to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition. The vehicle passenger, Andrew Hernandez, 24, of 69 Flintlock Road, Ledyard, was transported to the William W. Backus Hospital.
The roadway was closed for more than 10 hours as Connecticut Light & Power crews repaired the pole.
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The man accused in a fatal hit-and-run last week faced a judge for the second time Tuesday morning.
Police arrested Derrick Gulch, 25, after Thressa James, 26, was found dead on the side of the road at the intersection of Detroit Avenue and Willamont Road on Friday. He is currently only being charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
Gulch made his first courtroom appearance Monday, but was given more time to get an attorney.
He will be back in court on Friday and is out of jail on bond.
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Evans leads the way for returning Dragons (From Free Press Series)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting FPRESS to 80360, or email us
Evans leads the way for returning Dragons
2:59pm Saturday 15th March 2014 in Sport
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are hopeful they'll be significantly boosted by the time Connacht arrive next weekend at Rodney Parade for what promises to be one of the defining games in the campaign for the Men of Gwent.
The Dragons are seventh in the Rabo Pro 12, with 28 points, just in front of Connacht who are ninth on 27.
There is no secret that the Dragons would dearly love to finish ahead of at least one of the other Welsh regions after a season of relative progress under Lyn Jones and that is why the Connacht game next Sunday could prove to have real significance by the end of the campaign.
And the Dragons have several players ready to return as they gear up for a weekend at Rodney Parade where the good weather, and Newport County being away next Saturday, will leave them hopeful of an improvement in the playing surface as well.
In terms of personnel, Dan Evans, who departs from the Ospreys in the summer, returns from suspension after serving a five week ban for a tip-tackle in the Dragons' game with Newcastle in early February.
Exciting youngster Hallam Amos is also available again after missing several weeks with an ankle problem.
However, the Dragons will have to keep a watchful eye on his fellow young talent Jack Dixon, who featured for Wales in U20 action this weekend.
Wales selection is also likely to influence the Dragons with their returning duo Toby Faletau – who hit the headlines yesterday after it emerged he is dating the sister of Real Madrid star Gareth Bale – and skipper Andrew Coombs returning to the region.
However, Faletau in particular could be a doubt for the weekend as he's yet to miss a minute of Wales' mixed RBS Six Nations campaign, though Coombs could well be available.
The Dragons are also likely to have their most competitive selection of the season when it comes to selections in the front row.
Veterans Duncan Bell and Bruce Douglas are both set to remain with the region until the end of the campaign and they are joined by Dan Way (back) and Nathan Buck (virus) who have both returned to fitness.
Tighthead Francisco Chaparro is out for ten weeks after being suspended for a tip-tackle in the contest with Leinster.
Comments (3)
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1:14am Tue 18 Mar 14
corpardguy says...
Still not convinced about GavinH but i am sure the front row will be fixed in fairly short order.
3:42pm Wed 19 Mar 14
high x boy says...
3:44pm Wed 19 Mar 14
high x boy says...
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21 Jun
21 Jun
15 Jun
13 Jun
You know its bad when you login into your blog and it asks you to enter your password…and you forgot the password!!
Hello friends! I miss blogging. I will be better.
Summer is proving to be eventful.
My son's broken arm, dance back in full swing, ordering books for a new school and wrapping my brain around what that means.
I just finished a project I hope to share this week…and I made my own paint for it. Happy, happy, happy (for those Duck Dynasty lovers like myself!)
Had my first photo shoot with a precious 3 month old baby. I can't begin to tell you the joy I felt for that sweet baby and his parents. His journey into this world is nothing short of a miracle.
And I am working on a new blogsite for myself…if I could only settle on a name. I'll just tell you, my husband thinks he's a real comedian (that's why I married him!) but his idea and my idea don't jive. HA!
We are leaving for the sunny beach in less than 2 weeks…broken arm and all…and we could not be more excited. I have a few travel games in the works to share next week too.
And spending a few moments in quiet each day, praying thanksgiving for the friends in my life, my husband and my children. I love them dearly.
To update you on Angie…Revolucion is open for business!! And to quote Angie, she is 'busy as hell!" As you can imagine, running a business is hard work. Hopefully Angie will have some pictures to share soon!
And so I leave you with this: salt water in any shape or form is good. Whether it be tears down your cheeks, sweat on your forehead, or saltwater between your toes…
Source: llhdesignsblog.com via Carrie@2friends2cities on Pinterest
Happy Wednesday friends!!
30 May
Source: pinvolve.apphb.com via marije on Pinterest
22 May
Hello there? Remember us?
Angie. Carrie.
We are still here. Still alive.
Just refocusing our attention on other things.
And it's been good. We are busier than ever. Angie with the coffee shop, which is nearing completion. And Carrie venturing in a new direction in the near future.
This is Carrie speaking…so I can stop writing in the third person.
Since April, I have really taken a step back from blogging for various reasons. Traveling, spending time with my husband and children, ending the school year, upcoming recitals, and personally…taking a leap of faith with something that has been on my heart for many years.
Angie and I are always on the same page. Both of us felt as if we were blogging just to fill the white space and it really meant nothing…to us or to you. We started Two Friends Two Cities as a way to share our DIY projects between eachother and then it grew into something more. And we loved it.
And almost two years later, it has changed into something completely different.
Change is good, and necessary.
Not that we don't love a good Goodwill find revamp. (I have a dresser in my garage dying for some paint!) We just don't have as much time for those projects anymore. We recognized it and didn't want to give up that part of our blog, so we kept trying.
But it was really half-ass. And who wants to read a half-ass blog.
I don't. And neither do you.
After talking and both agreeing we needed a change, we sold our tickets to a DIY blog conference. That was a hard but necessary decision for us. We are still sad about meeting some friends we've grown to love along the way but are happy 2 DIY bloggers can go in our place to Haven 2012.
Angie's coffee shop has proven to be a bigger project than she could have imagined. My family and I took a road trip to San Antonio a few weeks ago and the progress they've made is freaking amazing. The Revolucion sign in person is gorgeous, the shop layout is fantastic, and they have worked so hard to bring their dream to life. All of those late nights will pay off in a few weeks when they can say they are officially open for business.
Angie's is wearing so many hats…general contractor, painter, electrician, architect, designer, wife, blogger…the list could go on and on.
She is exhausted both mentally and physically. But I told her the light is showing the end the tunnel. And it will be amazing once the shop is complete.
As for me, my family went to Disney several weeks ago. It was a great trip, exhausting, but wonderful And if I'm being honest, we are not Disney people. Gasp…I know.
Disney was everything we imagined it would be:
magical, exciting, hot, crowded, happy, beautiful, puke, french fries, pineapple floats, Rapunzel, sweat, fever, swimming, 15 second rides, 3 minute rides, tired feet, praises for double strollers, laughter, memories, thank God our hotel is on the Monorail and I brought my own pillow and didn't start my period til the last day, giggles, fireworks, and moments I wouldn't trade for the world.
Will we go back? Mostly likely. Will we do things differently? Absolutely.
Then we went away for Mother's Day weekend. That is all I wanted…no gifts, no flowers. Nada.
And it was perfect. My husband and I both agreed that weekend was better than Disney. Gasp again…I know. We are weird.
Now I am winding down the school year, wondering where the past nine months went. Totally flashing before my very eyes. And I started thinking really deeply about living intentionally, for myself, my children, my husband, my church. Living intentionally. Being honest with what I want and forgetting about the eyes around me who stand in judgment. Because at the end of the day, if I don't do something that I love out of fear of what others might say, they win. I lose. End of story.
With all of that said, there are some things I am sure we will keep on the blog. The food will stay for me because I have an intentional plan to do something with that in the future. Intentional blogging, remember?
We'd love to open our blog to you, even if you have your own blog or not, and share a typical day in your shoes. Take pictures with your phone, your camera, anything…one photo an hour with a little blurb. Everyone wants to see what others do in a day. I know I do. Isn't that why we read blogs?
But again, intentional blogging. Being real. Not staged, perfect photos. Because we all know the internet is full of blogs pretending to be perfect.
Perfectly imperfect glimpses of real, honest life.
My time, along with Angie's time, may be limited as we move forward with our new ventures but I know we want to keep Two Friends Two Cities because it brought our friendship together.
So bare with us as we make some changes. Leave us some comments if there is anything you'd like for us to keep on the blog and if you'd like to share your day with us. We'd love to have you!
Thanks for listening to this long letter.
2 May
I always rave about my friend Dave, who owns an amazing catering company in Hollywood. And I often share his recipes which are always delicious!
Now you can see Dave in action – literally because he has his own YouTube series!
Check Dave out here making one of my favorite deserts – panna cotta.
And this one for Dave's homemade foccacia! YUM!
Both recipes are very easy to make! I've had both of these dishes by Dave before and can testify that they incredible!
30 Apr
Monday inspiration — HUMOR! Humor always seems to lift the spirits and lighten any load. I especially enjoy humor that is self-deprecating. It's always entertaining to look at yourself and find humor in things that you usually take very seriously.
A new series YouTube series called Portlandia is hilarious. If you haven't watched them before, here are two of my favorite videos. Both are poking fun of subjects I love – eating healthy and crafts.
The first called "Is it Local?" is sooooooooo funny! It's about eating healthy and shows a couple interrogating a waitress about the origins of the food on their menu. It's a MUST see and your be smiling every time you think of the phrase "I'm sorry to interrupt, I had exactly the same question!" – That will make a lot more sense after watching the video. :)
The second is making fun of us crafty folks! It's a funny episode that shows two crafters who like to spruce up objects by painting birds on them. They paint birds on just about everything they can find and go a little too bird crazy.
- Angie
27 Apr
Happy Friday!!
A little peek in my life this week:
I haven't had a sip of coffee in over a month. Then Starbucks at Target had mini White Chocolate Mocha samples. I couldn't resist!
Breakfast for dinner? Yes please!! And try this trick of baking some bacon in the oven. Brilliant!
These are the devil. Just sayin'….
No commentary needed. The picture speaks for itself. (And I may or may not own a pair of earrings with his face from High School Musical)
And the excitement is building for our trip to see Mickey!!
Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you when we return!
26 Apr
We are really loving our little herb garden. We have cilantro coming out our ears and basil that makes my homemade spaghetti sing!
Does anyone use green onions as much as I do? We love them and they add just enough flavor…but I usually only use a 1 stalk and the rest go to waste.
I saw on Pinterest this little ditty…and thought I'd give it a try. And it would be fun for the kids to watch and measure…if it really worked.
First try…we cut the ends way too short.
After a week and changing the water every other day…we got nothing. And to the trash they went. My daughter told me to add them to our compost. But we don't have any compost. I think we need to start some compost since she already thinks we have compost. (How many times can you say compost?)
A week went by and I needed green onions again. Off to the store. Only used 1 stalk, of course. This time, we cut the stems leaving a good 3 inches and place in a glass of fresh water near a sunny window.
Started as this:
3 days later, they looked like this:
And day 6, we have full grown, yummy green onions in our kitchen.
We change the water every other day and it has been so fun watching them grow.
Give it a try!
23 Apr
Jason Lee is a wedding photographer who started taking photos of his daughters several years ago after his mom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. His daughters constantly had colds and coughs so he couldn't always bring them to visit their grandmother. Jason wanted his mom to be able to see her granddaughters without catching their germs so he started a blog where his mom could see what was going on in their life.
Jason's daughters – eight-year-old Kristin and five-year-old Kayla help with photo ideas. Jason says that they are never-ending source of ideas!
If you are tired of posed or stiff photography, then take a look at these incredibly creative pictures taken by Jason Lee.
To see more of Jason's photography, check out his website and blog here.
-All pictures courtesy of Jason Lee.
23 Apr
Nothing that I love more than spending warm mornings outside with him and her while big sister is at school.
Still in our jammies.
I feel like I am enjoying these moments so much more than I did when big sister was his age. Time is flying. And I wish it would stop.
And in my attempt to be in more pictures with my babies this year, here is the result:
It may not be perfect. But it is perfect.
Happy Monday!
20 Apr
Happy Friday my friends! Construction at the new coffee shop has been going great but it's pretty much a full time job now. Meeting contractors, buying supplies, evaluating work, managing when city inspections take place, etc… If all goes as planned, we should be done in a few weeks and open for business!
And the best thing to happen lately is that our sign was completed. Looks official now! I love what the sign company came up with. They really gave our logo life by making it dimensional. I also really like how they had the idea of raising the sign above the roof of the building. It stands out and really draws attention. What do you think?


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SPECIAL OFFERTOTALLY FREE SHIPPING and ASSEMBLY When Shipped To Store See details
- Overview
- Specs
- Reviews
Kestrel 4000 Pro SL Triathlon Road Bike - 2013 UltegraNo bike can guarantee a win, but the Kestrel 400 Pro SL with Shimano Ultegra components will make you feel like it will. Supreme aerodynamics and efficient components shave precious time with every on-course pedal stroke. Deeper 535 clinchers, carbon aero bars, and TRP brakes place an arsenal of technology at your fingertips. Let's look deeper.
With 20 years of carbon fiber experience, Philadelphia's Kestrel brand bicycles is truly a leader and innovator of race design against the clock. Behind every Kestrel stands a mighty process: meticulous engineering, modeling, computer-simulations and prototypes, subjected to rigorous structural testing, test-ridden, refined and redesigned. Finally, each frame is hand built by Kestrel using the tightest quality control standards in the industry before the bike reaches the Performance Bicycle sales floor, or is delivered to your door from our warehouse. The Kestrel 4000 Pro SL is constructed from 800k High Modulus (high degree of stiffness) carbon, which is 30% more stiff than their 700k carbon, and allows Kestrel to use 20% less material in the production of the frame. The BB30 press fit bottom bracket and tapered head tube further the amount of frame stiffness. The 4000 Pro SL is a dormant rocket ship, begging for even a small effort, and it will takeoff.
The 4000 Pro SL features Shimano's Ultegra drivetrain. The Microshift shifters, working in tandem with the TRP 920 aero brake design, allow for a greater level of modulation and power from the extensions, where most triathlete's spend a majority of their time. The 10-speed Ultegra rear derailleur integrates the wide link design prominently featured in the Dura-Ace line of derailleurs to not only promote quick shifting, but to preserve the pivots for greater durability and long term crisp shifting performance. Vision Trimax Pro cranks with a tri-specific 52/38 mid-compact ring configuration leave the big 53-tooth gears to the roadies; this is about cadence.
Oval Concepts has long been revered for producing high quality components. The Oval 535 aero clinchers provide a speed advantage without going overboard and losing comfort. They are outfitted with Hutchinson Fusion 2 tires that have a slick surface for low rolling resistance and a 23C width for fast cornering. An 500 series triathlon specific saddle with chromoly rails and a Kestrel EMS Pro Aero seat post add more efficiency to an already streamlined high performance road bike.
- 800K High Modulus Carbon Fiber frame and Kestrel EMS Pro SL TT Full Carbon fork result in speed, pure and simple
- Shimano Ultegra drivetrain is race ready and highly efficient when on course, provides easy maintenance before and after race day
- Oval Concepts components featuring 535 aero clinchers provide an increased aero advantage and a low spoke count for high stiffness
- Oval 950 carbon base bar and extensions, coupled with the 500 series triathlon saddle make finding the proper position for speed and comfort a cinch
Kestrel 4000 Pro SL Triathlon Road Bike - 2013 Ultegra
- bottom bracket:
- FSA Integrated, BB30
- brakes:
- TRP 920 Forged Aero Center Pull
- cassette:
- Shimano 105, 11-25T
- chain:
- KMC X10 Nickel-plated 10-sp
- crankset:
- Vision Trimax Pro Aluminum TT 52/38T (47cm, 50cm: 170mm; 52.5cm, 55cm: 172.5mm; 57.5cm, 59.5cm: 175mm)
- fork:
- Kestrel EMS Pro SL TT Full Carbon, 1 1/8" - 1 1/4" Tapered Steerer
- frame:
- 800K High Modulus Carbon Fiber
- front derailleur:
- Shimano Ultegra, Braze-on
- grips/tape:
- Kestrel Suede Tape
- handlebar:
- Oval Concepts 950 Carbon Base Bar, Oval Concepts 950 Clip On Ergo Bend Extensions
- headset:
- FSA CX Integrated 1 1/4" Top, 1 1/4" Bottom with 10mm Top Cover and Cable Guide
- levers:
- Oval Concepts 701
- pedals:
- None
- rack mounts:
- None
- rear derailleur:
- Shimano Ultegra, 10-sp
- saddle:
- Oval Concepts 500 Triathlon w/ Cr/Mo Rails
- seatpost:
- Kestrel EMS Pro w/ Ritchey Clamp System
- shifters:
- MicroShift Bar End
- stem:
- Oval Concepts 713 7050 3D-forged Alloy, 31.8mm +/- 6 degrees (47cm, 50cm: 80mm; 52.5cmcm, 55cm: 90mm; 57.5cm, 59.5cm: 100mm)
- tires:
- Hutchinson Fusion 2, 650 X 23c; Hutchinson Atom Comp 700 X 23c
- video:
- MJbH7dCgdeo
- wheelset:
- Oval Concepts 535 Alloy Clincher, 35mm rim, 20H Front, 24H Rear
- rating:
- 4.5
You May Also Like
- Kestrel 4000 LTD Triathlon Road Bike - 2013 Ultegra Di2 Our Price: $5,499.99 SALE: $4,199.00
- Fuji SST 1.3 C Road Bike - 2014 Our Price: $3,999.99 SALE: $3,399.99
- Fuji Transonic 1.3 Road Bike - 2015 Our Price: $4,470.00 SALE: $4,469.99


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USDA Reports Cattle Industry Improvements
Things seem to be looking up for the cattle industry - as USDA noted declining feed costs and improving pastures in its latest Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook report - according to Meatingplace.
Early this month - average monthly corn prices dropped almost one-third from August's average monthly price. This decline comes from good corn yields, good supplies and the proposed RFS. Good timing of precipitation also pulled the majority of the winter wheat crop in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma to the fair to excellent condition.
If wheat crop conditions continue improving - or don't deteriorate - USDA expects feedlots could experience an increase of large wheat-pasture feeder cattle in March - which would be market-ready in August and September.
USDA predicts precipitation now through winter will benefit spring pastures and enhance the outlook for summer grazing in the coming year. But winter weather could positively or negatively affect these gains.
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