text:
Oops, I Goofed!
As a consumer, you've undoubtedly been on the receiving end of goofs: the repairman who showed up three hours late; the mail order blouse that arrived in the wrong color; your name misspelled on every engraved invitation to your party. Those foul-ups can be infuriating. But when you're the entrepreneur who makes them, they can be more than aggravating--they can be expensive.
Ellen Shapiro, owner of EPSD Graphics in Somerville, Massachusetts, made an error that might have cost her one of the company's best customers. The hours Shapiro put into a project greatly exceeded the number she'd quoted in her original bid. Understandably, the client's eyebrows shot up when Shapiro handed her an invoice for almost 70 percent more than anticipated.
Shapiro felt terrible and agonized over what to do. "I considered taking the whole invoice in trade because I felt uncomfortable about not telling them sooner," she says. After thinking it over a bit more, she sent a revised invoice that included a partial trade. "The client offered compensation of an amount in between, and we basically split the difference."
What did Shapiro learn? For one thing, to get everything in writing. She realized having an agreement letter explaining that the bid was a ballpark estimate could have saved her the trouble she encountered.
Of course, avoiding all goofs is a worthy goal, but since that's not realistic, here are some ideas on reducing the damage should you happen to mess up:
- Take the long view. Tom Gibbons, president of Cornerstone Associates, a Sparta, New Jersey, consulting company, emphasizes that entrepreneurs must be farsighted in trying to right a wrong. In the case of Shapiro and the overpriced invoice, Gibbons counsels, "The issue is not the invoice or the cost, but the long-term relationship. Is she looking to maximize the profits of each job or of all her jobs?" If you want customers to be yours for life, be sure to act in ways that will help the relationship endure despite periodic problems.
- Accept the blame. Have you ever called a company with a complaint and been passed from person to person like the hors d'oeurvres platter at a cocktail party? Not helpful, is it? Finger-pointing and excuses only infuriate customers. Instead, take a deep breath and admit you made a mistake. Customers appreciate and respect someone who is honest with them.
- Put yourself in the customer's shoes. If you're worrying about how to make things right, take a look at the situation from your customer's perspective. If what happened to him had happened to you, what would it take to satisfy you? What could be done to ensure that you would continue to do business with the company?
- Figure out why it happened. Ron Willingham, chairman of Integrity Systems, a training firm in Phoenix, and author of Hey, I'm the Customer! (Prentice Hall, $10.95, 800-922-0579), suggests following a simple four-step formula to regain your customer's goodwill following a slip-up: 1. Understand the problem; 2. Identify the cause; 3. Discuss solutions; 4. Solve the problem.
Typically, Willingham says, businesses skip step number two and treat goofs as isolated incidents. They send a coupon and an apology and think they're home free. "But if you understand the cause," he says, "you can then understand the effect, have a better chance of correcting it, and avoid making the same mistake."
- Find the best solution. Every goof will require a different action to resolve it. In some cases, a small gift accompanied by a note of apology will suffice. Ask the client what you can do to satisfy him. If he likes you and appreciates your products or services, he's likely to want the problem resolved fairly.
Whatever you do, be sure that your customer is happy with the final outcome. Check back after a couple of weeks to ensure his continued support. --L.H.C.
Contact Sources
Lisa Roberts, (203) 372-4977, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Avenida Travel Services, 2 Venture Plaza, #140, Irvine, CA 92718, (714) 325-4637.
Cornerstone Associates, P.O. Box 514, Sparta, NJ 07871, (201) 729-9992.
EPSD Graphics, (617) 666-3874.
Integrity Systems, 2425 E. Camelback Rd., #785, Phoenix, AZ 85016, (602) 955-9090.
Renaissance Interactive,email@example.com.
Ronin Publishing, P.O. Box 1035, Berkeley, CA 94701, (510) 540-6278.
The Perfect Gift, 9648 Olive Blvd., #403, St. Louis, MO 63132, (314) 872-0202.
"The Stress Doc," (202) 232-8662, (http://net-site.com/gorkin).
Like this article? Get this issue right now on iPad, Nook or Kindle Fire.
This article was originally published in the June 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Beating Business Burnout.


text:
Unlocked Deals
User collected and ranked list of the cheapest Unlocked deals and discountsLast Updated December 16th, 2014
Unlocked Deals
Sony Xperia Z Black C6603 4G LTE (Unlocked) Android smartphone (Grade AA refurb) From UnipartSales @ Ebay / unipartretailsales £169.99 Delivered £164.99
"Grade A translates to 'Like New' thus any parts that have been used by a previous consumer mean it cannot be 'Like new'. As such Grade A must have all external components replaced for flawless parts.... 14 Commentslouiselouisefound 2 months, 12 hours ago
Star G9000 5.1 inch S5 Android 4.2 octa core MTK6592 1.7GHz + GPU Mali-450 + 2GB RAM + 8GB ROM + Dual camera 13MP + 2MP + Bluetooth + 3G+ Wi-Fi + Free spare battery £114.99 Sold by myGadgetsandGames LTD and Fulfilled by Amazon.
Seems a pretty good spec for the price, sold through amazon, so should be no issues with warranty. . Model S5. Frequency Band WCDMA 2100/850 (HSDPA) and GSM 850/900/1800/1900. Sim Card Dual Sim. Service P... 26 Commentsjohnwilliamson47found 2 months, 1 week ago
Iphone 5s 16GB £50 upfront + £18.23 x 24 Total £499.52 @ giffgaff
Iphone 5s 16GB. . Cheapest in installments.. . £50 upfront + £18.23 x 24 = Total £499.52 in 24 months. . This is a phone only deal which comes unlocked 10 Commentsritin.jainfound 2 months, 1 week ago
Moto G 2nd Generation - White £145.94 @ amazon.es
I know there is a Moto G 2nd Generation thread which is red hot, but if anyone wants the white version of it Amazon.es has it roughly the same price as Amazon UK. Personally I cancelled the UK order a... 8 CommentsDraken21found 3 months, 4 days ago
UNLOCKED Samsung Galaxy S3 16GB Smartphone Pebble Blue £183.00 delivered @ Scan
Ebay has these at ~£140-£150 so this seems like a good deal to me. . I have a S3 on contract and only negative is that its only 4.3 android and no support for 4.4 but you can easily install a custom r... 3 Commentswootwootwootfound 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Moto G +4G £139.00 @ Tesco instore (plus unlock on eBay for £1.69)
Hey everyone. . I've picked up a Moto G +4G this evening at Tesco Extra Pengam in Cardiff for £139. . It is locked to Tesco Mobile, but using eBay and paying £1.69 for an unlock code I've got an unlock... 14 Commentsphilsfound 5 months, 1 day ago
HTC One M8 Silver or Gold Sim Free + 3 months free insurance £424.98 @ Unlocked Mobiles
Seems like a good deal to me, add £18 for grey version.. . You now receive up to 3 Months FREE Mobile Phone Insurance with every purchase through Unlocked Mobiles.com. . To activate this FREE mobile ... 41 Commentschrisgtifound 5 months, 2 days ago
Intel Core i5 4670K Quad Core (Socket 1150), 3.40/3.8 GHz, Haswell, 84W, Intel Graphics £161.99 @ Amazon
A welcome drop of £5 on yesterdays Amazon (ebuyer?) price on Intel's popular unlocked (overclockable) CPU. Intel's new CPU/motherboard offerings due 11th May but the overclockable K-versions ('Devil's... 29 CommentsNocloudsfound 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Nokia Lumia 1020 Unlocked - White - £334.59 @ Amazon and sold by Gooddeal4you
Nokia Lumia 1020. 41 Megapixels. Nothing else comes close. The only smartphone with a 41 megapixel camera sensor, optical image stabilization, 6 ZEISS lenses and a powerful Xenon Flash. . Also available... 40 Commentsdwoodsy90found 8 months, 5 days ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 32GB WHITE SIM FREE ONLY 12 LEFT £409.99 @ EXPANSYS UK
You should be quick this is the 4g model and there's only 12 left. 26 Commentsnonameneededfound 8 months, 2 weeks ago
Samsung Galaxy S3 White or Black Unlocked Online too £249.00 @ ASDA
Noticed this in my local ASDA in Dalgety Bay. . They had around 3 in black and 2 in white. £249. Unlocked and boxed. . Check your local discount isles too. . They also had Galaxy Pockets for around £39 i... 5 Commentschrispynuttfound 9 months, 4 weeks ago
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini (La Fleur,White, Blue & Red) ... PAYG Upgrade ... £119.95 ... (£6.30 Potential TCB Cashback £113.65) ... @ Carphone Warehouse
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini ... All Colors available (La Fleur,White, Blue & Red) ... PAYG Upgrade ... £119.95 ... OR PAY & GO £129.95+ Top-up. (£6.30 Potential TCB Cashback). . Phone is UNLOCKED:. . Link fo... 40 Commentsaramaj36found 1 year, 3 weeks ago
Motorola Moto G 16GB Sim Free Smartphone - Black (PRE-ORDER) £159 @ Amazon £159.99
Pre-order the Motorola G phone. Great spec and a good price. Might get one myself. Should get it next week. 14 Commentserko247found 1 year, 1 month ago
RED HTC One 32GB £439.19 from MobiCity.co.uk (not available at Amazon)
I know it went down to about £407 on Amazon recently but I've been checking and can't find anything cheaper than this at the moment. Also this is what seems to me to be the exclusive Red colour which ... 2 CommentsGunMetalfound 1 year, 1 month ago
Alcatel Onetouch S Pop - £50.00 @ ASDA Direct (possibly unlocked)
Not the best phone in the world (by a long way) But a cheap and cheerful stopgap in any case. ALSO AVAILABLE IN STORE. Bought one this morning and spent an hour trying to find an unlock code. Then ... 3 CommentsFlubfound 1 year, 2 months ago
Nokia 100 Mobile Phone - SIM Free Unlocked £19.95 @ Argos
Great cheap unlocked phone, with long battery life. I needed one, that was unlocked, for holidays, so this is perfect. Remember:. PAYG = Cheaper, but locked to network. SIM Free = More expensi... 15 Commentsdilsefound 1 year, 3 months ago
Samsung Galaxy S3 White/Blue 16gb Unlocked ( 2 year samsung warranty) 279.99 @ Tesco Direct
£20 off tesco voucher brings phone down to 279.99. code is TDX-MJGQ. potentially £262 if you minus topcashback and tesco points 8 CommentsBoGoFfound 1 year, 3 months ago
Nokia Lumia 520 (8GB) unlocked - £115.59 @ Amazon
Looks like a pretty good price for an entry Windows Phone 8 device. Details as follows:. Super-sensitive screen that can be used even with gloves. Windows Phone 8 with Live Tiles - stay updated... 30 CommentsExpelliarmusfound 1 year, 4 months ago
SIM Free Samsung Galaxy S3 White £285.00 @ ASDA in store and online
Saw this at my local ASDA this morning. looks like a bargain. direct.asda.com/Samsung-Galaxy-SIII-Mobile-Phone---Blue/008726418,default,pd.html 65 Commentsvbnmufound 1 year, 4 months ago
Prestigio "Dual sim" Multiphone 4322 - £135.91 (inc p+p) @ QVC
Saw this advertised last night and thought it might be good to point out to anyone who needs a decent "sim free" dual-sim phone. Or maybe a cheaper alternative to the bigger named boys... Usual pr... 14 CommentsPhsycronixfound 1 year, 5 months ago
S4 unlocked Grade A at The Smartfonestore £459.99 £459.98
In stock, good price I think. Some other handsets on Three, EE, Available at various grades 3 CommentsDonkeyKonkfound 1 year, 6 months ago
£7.99 phone from O2 online + 99p unlock - £5.55 cashback (effectively £3.43 unlocked and delivered) £8.98
Was looking for just a basic handset for a basic user, and stumbled across the Alcatel OT-232 phone for £7.99 plus free next-day delivery at the O2 online shop. When buying from O2 online, they do not... 53 CommentsKhairulfound 1 year, 9 months ago
preorder xperia z @ Asda - £499.00
Asda preorder xperia z 499.00 cheapest per order sim free !!! 14 Commentsooshyfound 1 year, 10 months ago
Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 (Black/White) Pay as you go upgrade Unlocked - £109.95 @ Phones4U (instore)
Saw this in phones4u in town (Cardiff) and thought it was a good deal for a decent phone.. It's available in black and white, and it's only for pay as you go upgrade (think you need to have a sim c... 78 CommentsArif123found 1 year, 10 months ago
Samsung Galaxy Beam Sim-Free Unlocked Mobile Phone, Play.com, £182.59 inc Delivery
Been on the lookout for a sim-free mobile to take advantage of all these Virgin, tesco,GiffGaff sim only deals. Stumbled on this little gem. £182.59 directly from Play.com. Bargain!!. Posted on he... 10 Commentshanhha2000found 1 year, 10 months ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 16GB Unlocked in White @Amazon £329.00
With a 1.4GHz Dual-core CPU, 5.3" Display at 720P, MicroSD Card slot and Android 4.1 coming soon, this is a great Samsung phone! 29 CommentsElectroDragon8found 1 year, 11 months ago
Samsung S5830 Galaxy Ace Unlocked £108.50 @Amazon
According to Amazon:. "RRP: £399.99. Price: £108.50. You Save: £291.49 (73%)". ykmnenterprise2012 selling NEW for £103.21 else £108.10 from ASKGPS 14 CommentsSpinderpfound 2 years, 4 days ago
samsung S3 blue Currys/PCWorld - £399.00
They were doing this for £459, then £409 and now £399.. Seems a good deal as you can get next day delivery to your local store, the handset is unlocked as well. . Enter code COMPUT10 for £10 off, maki... 31 Commentsbgregitisfound 2 years, 1 week ago
Sony Ericsson J132 T-Mobile Phone & Vodafone 527 Mobile £9.99 Each Collect from store only @ Home Bargains
While not mind blowing these are cheap enough as backups/spares or for festivals, kids etc! I believe they can be unlocked pretty easily!. Sony Ericsson J132 T-Mobile Phone. A simple and well tho... 1 CommentButtersfound 2 years, 1 week ago
Nokia Lumia 800 - Unlocked £143.96+£10top-up... Phones4U £153.96
Cracking phone, I HAVE Seen the Tesco deal, but this deal is available for Black, Glossy White, Cyan (Blue) & Magenta (Pink). Buying on Pay & Go, is cheaper than the SIM-Free Price, handset is stil... Read morelnsertNamefound 2 years, 1 month ago
Sim free Nokia Lumia 800 back in stock £149.00 with code below @ Tesco Direct
13th Nov. - use TDX-WRKT for £10 off £50 spend (first time buyers) valid until 28th Nov. I've had an email alert from Tesco that these phones are back in stock. Not sure about valid vouchers at the m... 33 Commentscheddarmanfound 2 years, 1 month ago / expired 2 years, 4 weeks ago
Pay as you go Upgrade - Unlocked Mobile phones from - £4.95 at all Car Phone WareHouse Stores
Direct Link:: http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/pay-as-you-go/payg-upgrades. Pay as you go Unlocked Mobile phones from just £ 4.95. No additional Top up required. Conditions::. It must have been... 9 Commentsmcseguyfound 2 years, 1 month ago
Samsung Galaxy S III 16GB Sim Free Unlocked Mobile Phone (Pebble Blue) @ Play.com £446.99
A penny cheaper than Asda Direct and Amazon. Dispatched from and sold by Play.com - Free delivery. Samsung Galaxy S III 16GB Sim Free Unlocked Mobile Phone (Pebble Blue). Note - 3.5% cashback w... 3 Commentsanooobistfound 2 years, 3 months ago
HTC One V Reduced to £207.00 at ASDA Direct + 5% Cashback
HTC One V sim free phone reduced to £207 from £230, Can get 5% cashback using quidco under "mobile phones". Edit: Not sure if this deal can be accessed through quidco mobile phones, but otherwise it... 2 Commentsemmalaurafacefound 2 years, 4 months ago
BlackBerry Bold 9000 Sim Free - £69.99 @ The Phone Outlet Store
'Refurbished items are customer returns. A large proportion of these items have never been used. They might for example, be unwanted gifts or products where customers have simply changed their mind wh... 9 CommentsSupaSimmskiifound 2 years, 5 months ago

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Could you possibly help identify life outside of Earth? Alien hunter, Dr. Jill Tarter is enlisting the help of citizen scientists to step forward and assist in identifying interference signals from extraterrestrials.
i just came back from memphis the other night when i saw a strange light running along the power lines after thinking about it i can explain what caused this,It had to be an air born or space born lazer. thanks
Wether people want to believe it or not. We are not alone. What's your opinion?


text:
|Displaying 1 to 40 (of 40 products)
|Result Pages: 1
The Alstroemeria are either locally grown or imported depending on the time of the year. Please note these are sold in individual bunches of 10 stems. If you are looking for larger quantities and specific named variety's we would like to refer you ... more >
Light blue / lavender rose packed 10 bunches per box 25 stems per bunch. Volume price locally California Grown. Super quality! more >
Packed 5 bunches per box 25 stems / bunch. Volume price. Locally grown super quality! more >
Lavender rose with 25 inch long stems in a growers bunch. more >
Lavender in color, 25 long stems in a bundle. more >
Lavender more >
Dark Lavender in color. 25 stems per bunch 4 bunches per box. Shipped per order directly to you from the farm to ensure quality and freshness. Please place order 7 days in advance. FOB Miami more >
12 stem bunch. We also offer these 6 bunches per case at substancial savings on growerselect ship directly to you. Kate is truly beautiful at all stages. The charming waved outer petals have soft, silvery highlights. As the flower ages, yellow ... more >
Very nice Lavender Garden rose Large flowers and many side shoots because of the way they are harvested.California Garden Roses are Organically Grown outdoors here in Carpinteria. Great quality They have a natural look and are not as ... more >
Lavender 12 stem bunch . We also offer these 6 bunches per case at substancial savings please check on the Growerselect link or consult with your account manager for particular colors please place order 7 days in advance more >
Locally grown nice stem length more >
Super quality! Local grown Larkspur packed 20 bunches per box assorted colors. These are cut to order and shipped over night to you to ensure freshness and at a great price. more >
Locally grown and dried, great frangrance. more >
Locally grown a very nice fragrance. more >
New oriental lily large flower. Light lavender edges darken to raspberry. Color may vary depending on time of the year and growing location. more >
Locally grown packed 10 bunches per box. Assorted colors growers choice. more >
Locally grown packed 20 bunches per box. Assorted colors growers choice. more >
Mini carns are packed 10 stems per bunch. more >
Pale Lavender Dark red with Cream inside. 25 stems per bunch 100 stems per box. These fine roses are shipped per order from Elite farm to you to ensure quality and freshness. Please place order 7 days in advance. FOB Miami more >
18 individual plants in 5 inch pots ship via next day air. Beautiful quality plants. Assorted colors growers choice or If you prefer a certain color please make a note when your order and we will confirm with the grower. Ask your Florabundance ... more >
We use 75 rose blooms per plastic bag. The average number of Rose petals per rose bloom are 30-40. Our rose petals are made to order and packed in a plastic bag which makes it very easy to decorate a reception or special event site, or ... more >
Lavender more >
Lavender colored rose. Beautiful variety, great petal count. more >
Locally grown nice lush green foliage great consistent quality. more >
Locally grown, super fresh quality with foliage that stays green. Very similar to the Holland grown varieties but better priced. more >
Locally Grown the availabilty can vary early in the season more >
|Displaying 1 to 40 (of 40 products)
|Result Pages: 1


text:
Otatara Pa Historic Reserve
Otatara Pa is one of the largest and most ancient Maori pa sites in the Hawke's Bay. It is significant for its immense size and for the large number of terraced dwelling sites and food pits. Remnant earthworks of many of these are still evident today.
Otatara Pa Historic Reserve is a site of significance to iwi throughout New Zealand as the place from which Ngati Kahungunu spread through and beyond Hawke's Bay. It is a popular recreation site, providing a good workout for walkers and runners and stunning views of the district.
The reserve is also well-known to educationalists, students of history and archaeology and visitors keen to learn about one of the cultural highlights of the Hawke's Bay.
Otatara Pa is situated close to Taradale and is signposted clearly. Look out for the palisades on the hill above the Eastern Institute of Technology.
See why Otatara Pa is so special and to find out more about this unique place:
Find businesses that are DOC-approved to provide activities and services in Otatara Pa Historic Reserve.
NZ weather
DOC maps: Discover the outdoors - DOC's key places, campsites, tracks and huts, and visitor centres on a map
Check, Clean, Dry between waterways and stop the spread of didymo.
Walking track categories
Follow the Outdoor Safety Code:1. Plan your trip2. Tell someone3. Be aware of the weather4. Know your limits5. Take sufficient supplies
Alerts for Hawke's Bay places


text:
WSSC e-Services
Pay Your Bill
Frequently Asked Questions
Customer Notification System
Hot Topics
Start / Stop Service
News Releases
LabWorks (LIMSWeb)
Translate this website to:
Flush Your System
WSSC asks customers who have experienced a water service disruption due to a water main break to take a few precautions.
Steps to Take
WSSC recommends you flush the cold water lines you use in your home or business. We recommend you flush your taps as a precaution because of an increase in the number of water main breaks in our aging infrastructure. It will cost you just pennies per faucet to take this important step.
We suggest running all cold water taps for five minutes. If you have a single-lever faucet, set it to run the cold water. Begin with the highest faucet in your home or business and then open the other faucets one at a time, moving from your highest floor to your lowest.
WSSC Flushing Guidelines:
What to do after a Water Main Break in your area
After five minutes, turn off your faucets in reverse order, from lowest to highest. You should also flush your refrigerator's water lines.
Flushing your water lines lowers the risk of potential contamination that is created whenever a water main is depressurized because of a break. This is particularly important for people who have special health concerns because their immunity is compromised.
If you still experience problems after performing the above procedures, or if you have any questions, please contact our Customer Emergency Call Center 24 hours a day, seven days a week at: (301) 206-4002, 1-800-828-6439 or TTY (301)-206-8345.


text:
Shrimp nigiri is a very easy and delightful nigiri sushi dish, to make it follow the simple steps in the video above, and the detailed instructions below.
What you will need to make shrimp nigiri
Follow the steps below for the full recipe to make shrimp nigiri sushi
Step 1 . remove the head of the prawn and add a tooth pick between the belly of the shrimp and where the legs are making shore not to damage the flesh of the shrimp, this will keep it straight while cooking.
Step 2 . Cook the shrimp for 3 min in salty boiling water(add enough salt to make it taste like seawater), the salty water will prevent the loss of protein during the cooking and preserve the flavor.
Once the shrimp is cooked place straight into ice cold water, this will preserve the texture and color of the shrimp.
Step 3 . Peel the shrimp and then cut about 1cm (2/5 inch) off where the head used to be, this cut is just for esthetic purposes.
Step 4 . Cut the shrimp on the belly side until you feel a pop, at this point the shrimp should open up like a butter flies wings, do not cut all the way through the shrimp.
Step 5 . Making the shrimp nigiri, with your right hand pick up some cooked sushi rice (about the size of a quails egg) and softly form it in to an oblong shape. Then with the left hand pick up the shrimp butterfly and add some wasabi with your right hands index finger, now add the rice pressing down with your thumb while supporting the sides of the rice, now flip over the rice and shrimp, firm up the edges and press in the rice ends with your thumb while supporting the nigiri, turn round and press in the other side and you should be done.
This article was written by Davy Devaux
Hi I'm Davy and this is my website, in case you haven't noticed I love making sushi... on this website I share some of my best recipes, enjoy My Google Profile+


text: With demand for solar power on the rise, more and more entities are looking for cost-effective solutions for taking advantage of this clean, sustainable energy resource. This program allows you to procure solar power from Siemens with equipment that Siemens makes, builds, maintains, and owns on your behalf. Using that equipment, you purchase solar energy from Siemens at a competitive price per kilowatt hour, paying only for the power that is generated on your property. With the Siemens Solar PPA, you can contribute to the renewable energy movement and take advantage of solar power without owning or investing in the equipment, thus minimizing any financial or technical risk.


text:
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Path of Purity: Our Story. My First Kiss and His Second Chance.
From "The Princess and The Kiss by Jennie Bishop.
Although that book wasn't around when I was growing up, that sentence says perfectly the decision I made for myself as a young girl. I was going to save my kiss for my husband. (and let me add that if you don't have that book, you must get it for your daughters! Amazing!)
If you knew me, like in real life, you would know the odds were stacked against me.
My parents, they only got married so my dad could have a green card, and I haven't seen him since I was 5. My mom, who loves me very much, has much hurt in her life and is still dealing with some pretty hard issues and choices she has made in her past.
Me just being here. Typing this. This is a MIRACLE. I am alive. I've escaped an in-womb death and have lived through the pain and rejection that comes with a father that walks away. I've watched my mom struggle and hurt and strive.
And I know that I know that I don't want to be like that.
Even though life has handed me some lemons, there were always lemonade moments! I was fortunate enough to be raised "in church" and at some point in middle school, the decision was made.
"I'm not kissing any boys until my wedding day."
God has always taken the "Father" role in my life and I've sought after Him hard, found comfort in Him. With Him, I would be able to do this.
I made it through high school staying true to my vow. I never felt like I was "missing out" on anything. I had a great circle of friends that knew my promise to myself and were supportive. I was proud of my decision and made sure any guy that came around knew about it. It usually generated a huge amount of respect and a big laugh. Oh well.
Right after I turned 18 I moved away to join a ministry internship program called "Master's Commission". It's basically a 9 month program that allows you to work in every area of ministry and do a bit of traveling. It was great. The program was a "no dating" program which fit well with my life. My friends joked that this is where I would meet "the one". They were right.
Mr. Nate Mundell. The "cool guy". The lead singer of a band he had just left behind to seek the Lord. All of the ladies swooned. Not me. But deep in my heart "I just knew" he was mine. How? I don't know but I did.
We were instantly paired off by our leaders to work in the youth ministry. Our program director yelled out with a knowing grin "Oh boy...you two are going to get married. Just wait until after this year"...
Me and Mr. Cool Guy. He was the life of the party. I was the quiet, shy girl. He was funny and a charmer. I was sarcastic and said it like it was. Interesting.
Just by nature of getting to know one another, sharing testimonies in our group of students, Nate found out about my no kissing vow. He would tell you it was around this time that he "knew" I was his. He also shared about his past. How he was very much a "christian" but had made some pretty bad choices along the way. One of those choices included having sex before marriage. This was the choice he regretted the most.
I didn't know this at the time, but he would sneak into the sanctuary and listen to me play the grand piano and sing. He said each time he heard, he fell more in love. Isn't that sweet?!
As we were growing closer to God, He was bringing us together.
As our internship progressed, I became positive that Nate was the man I was going to marry. He felt the same way. In an effort to be honest about the "no dating" rule we presented "our feelings" to our program directors (can you say embarrassing!?) and we stayed true to the rules of the program.
I scared Nate. He had never been around a girl who didn't just fall for him. I was guarded, in a good way. I wasn't willing to just throw myself out there. I valued myself more than that and I made sure he knew that.
After our internship was over, we, with a couple of friends, took a crazy long road trip to New York. Nate wanted to visit his family, and without my knowledge, he was going to introduce me to his parents as "the girl he is going to marry".
While in New York we held hands for the first time. Nerdy, right? ha ha ha. Nate told me he loved me and I, of course, said I love you back.
Then I ran in the house and told my best friend all about it. She knew from the get go we were going to get married, too. Strange!
Once back home in Florida, Nate gave me a "promise ring" signifying his love and his promise to wait for me. He honored me and my choice to wait to kiss him until our wedding day. After he so romantically gave me the little promise ring that would soon turn my finger green (don't worry....it's not my REAL ring..ha ha ha) I wanted nothing more than to kiss that man! I started thinking of ways to justify myself. You know, like "well I am going to marry him so I can kiss him!" but Nate knew the promise I made to myself and even though he was certainly ready to kiss me, he made sure I stayed true to my word.
True love is WAITING. This was true love.
A few months later, on my 19th birthday, we got engaged. We often would walk the lake where we lived and pray together. This time, Nate suggested we stop walking to pray. I thought this was odd but just went ahead with it. I closed my eyes and began praying and after I said "Amen" and closed the prayer I opened my eyes to find Nate on one knee. I, obviously, said YES!
From the get-go, our relationship was grounded in Christ. I am so blessed to be married to a Godly man.
7 months later, March 6, we were married. It was the most beautiful day in the world. We were married on the beach. Me, still waiting for the first kiss of my entire life and him, proving that people can change and God's grace is sufficient.
I walked down the aisle (or down the sand) and my almost husband greeted me with a tearful smile. The man doing our wedding, Patsy, was the same man who months ago told us we were going to get married. He smiled, too.
Finally, it was time. In front of about 100 family and friends it was time for our first kiss. I had stayed true to my promise and I was marrying a man who honored me because of it! God is good, my dear friends!
I held my new husbands face and gave him my first kiss. A day I will never forget and one that I look forward to sharing with our children.
We spent the rest of the evening at our reception counting our kisses. Our friends giggled and pointed at us. They too were so proud of our accomplishment.
Through this whole "saving my kiss" so much was accomplished. I beat the odds that were stacked against me. I didn't turn into another young girl with no self esteem because her daddy wasn't around. Nate felt as though he was made new, his past was gone and he had succeeded at the "ultimate purity challenge".
We have been given the chance to speak to groups of young people who are facing the pressures of the world and we are able to present a very real and honest story about what it looks like to be pure in a world that is just filthy.
Next weekend we will celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary. 7 years of kissing and a few kids later, and we are more in love with each other than ever before.
Not to us, but to God be the glory. He made this possible and has richly blessed our family since day one. What a gift that true, real, waiting, lasting love is.
So this is "our story" in a nutshell. A very long, wordy nutshell :-) Next up in the series : "What is Purity?"
I hope you will continue to read along!
9 comments :
I so love everything about this Ida, what a wonderful testimony! I feel like I can really connect...Joe was the first guy I kissed and we got engaged on my 19th birthday ;)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 27, 2011 at 3:28 PM
I have enjoyed reading your story and reading it has brought me abundant joy. Please tell Nate that Mrs. Esterline sends her love and is rejoicing in how God is using both of you and working through the two of you for His glory. I look forward to reading more and staying in touch.ReplyDelete
LOVE LOVE LOVE! THanks for the book you recommended! I intend on checking it out. :)ReplyDelete
-Lori Simms
Angela-that is so cool. I did not know that about you :-)ReplyDelete
Mrs. Esterline-thank you for your kind words. I will give Nate your message!
Lori-The book is fantastic. There is also a boy book. I believe its called the Squire and the Scroll. And both have accompanying workbook/devotions!
Love this post. My husband and I were married at 19. Although I regret to say he wasn't my first kiss (nor I his), we were able to save ourselves for eachother. :) A gift I will always cherish and hope to instil in our four children!ReplyDelete
We share a very special date- March 6th will be mine and Jason's 17th wedding anniversary. :) Beautiful story and so glad that you shared it.ReplyDelete
Sassy-that is great! What a great gift to give to our children!ReplyDelete
Gina-Happy (early) Anniversary! I did not know that we shared the day :-)
Love this Ida! What a sweet, sweet story! You are a gem!ReplyDelete
Cathy, Thank you!! and Thank you for all you are doing to promote the message of purity. You rock!ReplyDelete


text:
I'm a bit paranoid about doing any kind of iconic based images at the moment, due to finding other people may have done similar stuff. The last one being the grenade with a brain that i did…someone pointed out it already existed. And when i searched it up further on google…there were several(4? that i found easily) of them from stencils to one even closer to the one i designed…pin and stuff on the same side…it was done as a belt buckle so…anyway, away it went! But here goes…i did try and run it by those who might know but…not online at the moment. I did google a whole bunch of things to check if anything similar was about…but came up with nothing so i'm putting it up. Wish me luck.
ps- i did find a sculpture of a gun with a knot in it, flowers in the barrel…but no handshakes.
Ha! Genius – I love it.
Cheers! thanks Ross.
i know what you mean
it's a huge world out there and images pass by a thousand a second
i still reckon your work is funny, clever and thought provoking
not to mention prolific
keep 'em coming
Thanks D! Its getting hard to know who your chatting too with the avatar and name changes! Russian is the new black right? Maybe there is only one RB user with multiple personalities…its all a big scam.
hey…nice one.
how'd the fest of the photocopier go yesterday?
Cheers dude! Will BM u.
excellent..this is really cool and original..congrats
Thanks heaps Liviu.
this is so great!
Thanks J. It started out completely different. But im happy where it ended. I was going to also call it war and peace/piece. But hey?!


text:
Parent & Child for Ages 6-7
Parent & Child for Ages 6-7
Enjoy these crafts for your furry and feathered friends.
Your kid volunteered to take home the class mascot for the weekend?
by Carlin Flora
Yes, kids get bullied — but not as much as we think, experts say. Find out how the anti-bullying movement is shortchanging students and...
What to look for when selecting a high-tech title.
by Jodi Levine
Gather your family and deck a festive table with these crafty, kid-friendly candy creations.
Making candy may seem daunting — until you see how easy our recipes are. You can even include kids in the prep!
Consider your shopping done. We've rounded up all of our wallet-friendly holiday gift guides for everyone on your list!
by Jodi Levine
These creatures can stand alone as cute cupcake toppers, but we love how a whole menagerie of 'em makes for a playful Hanukkah decoration.
by Tom Booth
Get the kids even more excited for the big day with our special "The 12 Days of Christmas" printable coloring book!
With these easy make-ahead dinners, you'll be able to feed your crew a delicious homemade meal even when you're crazy busy!
Fiber- and protein-packed lentils make this vegetarian stew a hearty meal.
Get your meat and potatoes in one with this tasty twist on a family favorite.
Your kids will love this cheesy pasta, and you can feel good about them filling up on veggies.
This hearty take on the classic Italian dish doubles easily.


text:
The Lightning R-84
World's Lightest Recumbent — 18.5 lbs with full suspension (medium size lightweight frame with Super Light components).
Made in the USA.
R-84 Performance Midracer (shown above)
- Affordable component group for those wanting superior R-84 performance and comfort
- Lightweight triple front gearing and 11-34 rear cassette provide a wide gear range
- Average riders can climb grades up to 12%
- Super stiff yet light bladder molded Unibox mega oversize R-84 frame, not wimpy round tubes
- Super rigid integrated seat attachment increases power transfer.
- Exclusive patented Swing Stay rear suspension integrated with the frame for unmatched ride comfort
- New for 2013 on all R-84s — Shimano press fit bottom bracket saves even more weight
Read the latest Lightning R-84 review in Recumbent & Tandem Rider magazine.
Read more about Lightning Midracers here.
The Lowdown on High Performance
Lightning strikes again with the super light suspended R-84. The sub-3-pound frame is aerospace-grade carbon fiber, titanium, and oversized aluminum. The seat is positioned a bit lower than the P-38 and Phantom II for even more aerodynamic advantage.
Love my bike. Plan to ride it for decades. First 100 mile ride was on the R-84. Thanks for a great product that I know will take me places and on the R. I'll see things that I will remember for life. I'm planing tours and rides for the bike. It just seems to click off the miles effortlessly.
As much as it cost … and I'm a stingy person … it's worth every penny. — Frank Raineri
An F-40 fairing can be added to create the most technically advanced high performance bike available!
Can this light bike climb hills? Better than any other recumbent. Take a look at the video on our Cyber Test Page. Because of its lightweight design and aero components, the R-84 will even outperform the F-40 in very hilly areas or on rides that are mostly climbing. If the course is 50% near-flat terrain, the F-40 will be faster; in very steep hills (over 5% average grade), the R-84 will have the advantage.
"This bike accelerates and climbs great!" — John Howard, Twice Olympic team rider, Ironman winner
Lightning R-84 specifications
|R-84 Performance 3×9
|R-84 Velocity 2×10
|R-84 Super Light 2×10
|20 - 22 pounds
|19 - 21 pounds
|18.5 - 20 pounds
|Rider weight limit
|Lightweight: 160 pounds; Standard: 210 pounds; Heavy Duty: 250 pounds
|40 inches
|63 - 75 inches
|20 inches
|Seat height
|18 inches with mesh seat; 17 inches carbon Midracer seat
|Seat back angle
|50-58 degrees (mesh seat); 35-40 degrees (carbon Midracer seat)
|42 - 47 inches
|Molded carbon fiber Unibox, oversize aluminum bottom bracket assembly and seat stay
|Lightning carbon
|Rear suspension
|Swing-stay spring/elastomer mechanism, 1 inch of travel
|Water bottle (1), aluminum cable guides
|Catalyzed urethane
|Frame color
|Clear coated natural carbon
|Stem and bars
|Custom oversize aluminum stem, 22.2 mm (7/8-inch) drop handlebars
|Ergomesh seat
|Patent-pending Ergofit bend with 7005 TIG welded, oversize aluminum frame and nylon mesh webbing.
|Midracer carbon seat
|Hand laid up woven carbon fabric/epoxy resin seat with integrated aluminum bar frame attachment fittings. Ventilated plastic honeycomb type seat pad with fitted aerodynamic cover.
|Chain idlers
|Machined Delrin with precision sealed bearing, aluminum bolts
|Gear Range
|24 - 125 inches
|26 - 123 inches
|Bottom bracket
|Shimano Ultegra Hollowtech II
|Lightning Carbon integrated, ABEC5 sealed bearings
|Lightning Carbon integrated, ABEC5 ceramic bearings
|Shimano Ultegra 30×39×52
|Lightning Carbon integrated 30×50 or 34×50, 160 to 180 mm
|SRAM PG-980 9-speed, 11-34
|Shimano XT 10-speed, 11-36
|Shimano XTR 10-speed, 11-36
|Front der.
|Shimano 105
|Ultegra Triple
|Dura-Ace Triple
|Rear der.
|Shimano Deore
|Shimano XT
|Shimano XTR
|KMC X-10SL hollow pin
|Shimano Tiagra bar end, 9-speed
|Shimano Dura-Ace bar end, 10-speed
|Shimano Caliper
|Ultegra Dual Pivot
|FSA K-Force Dual Pivot
|Brake levers
|Shimano 105
|Velocity Race Hi-Lo
|Front rim
|Alex DA-16 406 mm, 18 stainless spokes
|Velocity A23 20", 20 spokes
Velocity A23 20", 24 bladed spokes
|Front tire
|Continental Contact 28-406 (20×1.1), 110 psi
|Schwalbe Durano 28-406, 120 psi
|Rear rim 700C
|Shimano 105 Aero, 20 stainless spokes, M, L, XL Mesh seat
|Velocity A23 OC, 28 spokes
|Dura-Ace OC carbon, 20 bladed spokes
|Rear rim 650B
|Mavic Aero, 28 stainless spokes
|Velocity A23 OC, 28 spokes
|Rear tire
|Continental Ultra, 120 psi
|Continental 4000 Folding, 700×23, 120 psi
|Diatech (carbon fork), Chris King (suspension fork)
|Zzipper fairing, seat bag, mirror (see Accessories page for prices)
* Weights with mesh seat; carbon seat adds one pound.
|R-84 Performance 3×9
|R-84 Velocity 2×10
|R-84 Super Light 2×10
|Frameset (includes headset)
|S-2 suspension fork upgrade
|Rear disc brake for R84 frameset
For details on framesets, check the frameset page.
The R-84 is custom built to order and available with either the Ergomesh seat or Ergospeed carbon Midracer seat.
To place an order, contact your closest Lightning dealer, or the factory.
Copyright © Lightning Cycle Dynamics, 1977–2014


text:
2009 is almost over and this is the time to look back at the year's most memorable fashion icons. From the elegant bunch to the simply silly, these are celebrities who made fashion statements in their own way. Celebrity Clothing Line presents… you 2009 Fashion Icons.
Good girl turn bad? Maybe, but seeing how she revamped her image after the Chris Brown incident, Rihanna seems to want to scream to the world: "I'm one tough lady!" But does it really work with her hairdo and edgy clothes? Or does it just make her look more like… err… Prince?
We still can't understand which part of this Thierry Mugler show leotard is flattering. If anything, it makes Beyonce look 10 pounds heavier. But then, fans seem to like it, Bey seems to be comfortable in it -remember, she's the one who started the leotard fever through her "Single Ladies" video. To sum up, looks like Beyonce spent most of 2009 in her leotards. We just wished she'd spend more time wearing her Dereon line.
Now, we're not really sure why she did this (some say she's inspired by Rihanna, although we think it's the other way around…), but when Cassie shaved half her head, let's say she inspired other girls to do it too. The last one to 'swagger jack' Cassie was Will Smith's daughter, Willow.
Lady Gaga
It's unclear who inspired who, but it looks like Lady Gaga has also jumped on the leotard-loving wagon along with Beyonce and Rihanna. But that doesn't mean she hasn't got swagger of her own. No matter how outrageous, Lady Gaga always know how to steal the spotlight with her daring choices of fashion!
Kanye West and Amber Rose
Kanye West and his bald girlfriend, Amber Rose. Need we say more?
Soulja Boy
We know some of you might protest this, but the reason we put Soulja Boy on our list is because we admire him for cleaning up his look. Although he still holds on to those gigantic medallions and chains, Soulja Boy is now far from the Gucci-clad boy he once was, and learned that some brands are better worn monogram-less. Nice look on Snoop Dogg's video, Soulja Boy!
The recently-released to halfway house T.I. made our list because although he's away at prison in 2009, his clothing line AKOO is going strong and heading to the more sophisticated side of things. T.I. indirectly teaches our men to look fly without appearing too flamboyant and we just LOVE him for that.
The Twilight Cast
Put them in overalls and flannels, put them in designer evening gears… the cast of Twilight will just look fantastic. They're among the hottest fashion icons of the year and we look forward to see more of them in 2010!
Whitney Houston
The ultimate pop star came back with a bang in 2009, Whitney Houston didn't just bring good music to her fans' ears, she also appeared with such elegance that's a feast to our eyes! We hope Bobbi Kristina learns about true elegance from her mother.
First Lady Michelle Obama
From her iconic inauguration white ball gown that put designer Jason Wu on the map, to grazing the cover of Vogue, Michelle Obama clearly became First Lady in her own stylish way. And it is why we feel the absolute need to include her in our list. Loving Michelle Obama's fashion sense… always!
Latest posts by Ashlee Vensel (see all)
- Kanye West Auctions Autographed Sneakers For Hurricane Sandy Relief - January 12, 2013
- The Fashion Rumor We Hope Will Come True: Beyonce for H&M! - January 12, 2013
- Snooki Launches Headphone Line - January 11, 2013


text:
REVIEW: "Enterprise Information Security and Privacy", C. Warren Axelrod/Jennifer L. Bayuk,Daniel Schutzer
April 28th, 2011 by p1, Filed under: Book Reviews, Commentary, Corporate Security, Culture, OPSEC
"Enterprise Information Security and Privacy", C. Warren Axelrod/Jennifer L. Bayuk,Daniel Schutzer, 2009, 978-1-59693-190-9, U$99.00
%E C. Warren Axelrod firstname.lastname@example.com
%E Jennifer L. Bayuk www.bayuk.com
%E Daniel Schutzer firstname.lastname@example.com
%C 685 Canton St., Norwood, MA 02062
%I Artech House/Horizon
%O U$99.00 800-225-9977 fax: +1-617-769-6334 firstname.lastname@example.com
%O http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1596931906/robsladesinterne
%O http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1596931906/robsladesin03-20
%O Audience i- Tech 1 Writing 1 (see revfaq.htm for explanation)
%P 231 p.
%T "Enterprise Information Security and Privacy"
The authors of this collection of papers were told to examine and challenge current and traditional approaches to information security and suggest alternatives overcoming noted deficiencies.
Part one looks at history and trends. Chapter one traces privacy attitudes and legislation in the United States over the past century, and suggests that privacy and information security are related. Data protection should be supported by a defined, multi-factor, holistic security system, says chapter two. (As the editorial comment notes, this is hardly surprisng news to security professionals.) Security faces pressure from operational concerns, and chapter three states that security departments that help the business rather than hindering (in other words, planning security properly) are more likely to succeed. Chapter four notes that information classification based solely upon confidentiality concerns is limited, but the suggested structure still relates only to that aspect. The article singularly fails to examine any possible form of multilateral classification scheme, incorporating integrity and availability issues. Chapter five delves into human factors, which are vitally important to security, but limits the discussion to privacy, which is already pretty human.
That piece finishes off with some examination of risk, although it doesn't say much about human factors in risk, but I suppose makes a nice lead in to the fact that part two is concerned with risk. Donn Parker makes his usual contrarian argument against risk-based security in chapter six. The author of chapter seven notes this objection, but claims that it is only applicable if you fail to account for all the proper factors (totally missing Parker's point that you can never know all the factors). A hodge-podge of legal topics goes into chapter eight, but the emphasis (if there is any) seems to be on new "compliance" standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS or just PCI). Chapter nine takes a brief and focussed look at the most important changes in the telecommunications arena.
Part three turns to specific idustries: finance, energy, transportation, and academia. Chapter ten lists US financial regulations, and then offers vague suggestions of new regulations. A number of questions about the security of enegery providers or infrastructure are raised in chapter eleven, but there are few answers. In terms of transport, chapter twelve mentions SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Aquisition) systems and alarm sensors. Chapter thirteen doesn't really appear to examine academia: the "case studies" may be formal, but are really just reports of malware similar to those in the general user population.
If the authors were supposed to present new ideas for security, they have failed. There is nothing wrong with any of the pieces contained in the book, but they are simply "more of the same."
copyright, Robert M. Slade 2011 BKEISCPR.RVW 20101023


text:
Welcome to Mountain Town Olive Oil, where you can find the finest and freshest extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars in Utah, carefully sourced from award-winning, small batch producers in Europe, Australia, California, and North Africa.
Shop our gourmet products online today and explore the exciting world of unique olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and gourmet gifts.
Sign up for our mailing list and be the first to know about amazing deals on our unique, delicious products. Also get updates on new products, recipes and expert pairing recommendations. Join today!
Forgot it?


text:
Search for your vendor and printer model.
Search for your vendor and printer product.
Search for your printer model or product by keyword.
Dell 1250c toner cartridges and supplies. Guaranteed quality, discount-pricing, and same-day shipping!
The Dell 1250 is a color laser printer that will work in homes or small offices well. Though the 30,000 page per month duty cycle may make it seem like it was designed for offices, the slow speeds of only 12 pages per minute for black-and-white documents and 10 pages per minute for color documents make it more suitable for homes and small offices with low output rates.
For operation, four Dell 1250 toner cartridges are needed—cyan, magenta, yellow and black. The black will last 2,000 pages before expiring, while the colors will last 1,400 pages. Resolutions as high as 600x600 dpi are possible. This quality is not above average, but will leave documents looking professional and sharp.
As far as consumer and expert reviews go, there are both positives and negatives with the 1250. Everyone agrees that the affordable upfront price is great, as well as the fact that it is easy to setup and install. Quality of prints is excellent, according to reviews, and the colors produced are sharp and detailed. It doesn't have paper jams very often either, which is a good thing because those are a huge annoyance to most users. When it comes to complaints, though, there are a few. The first is that the lights on the machine are a little confusing, making it hard for users to understand problems their unit may be experiencing. Some believe the Dell 1250 toner is expensive while others complain that the printer toner doesn't hold out as long as promised.
To maintain this laser machine affordably, the best thing to do is to purchase remanufactured Dell 1250 toner cartridges from third party vendors rather than OEM printer toner. Not only do the remanufactured toners have the exact same page yield, but they produce the same high resolutions as the original.
Based on our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, Ink Technologies will accept returns of compatible or remanufactured ink and toner cartridges for full credit if the returned product has a valid return authorization number and is received in our warehouse within 6 months of the original shipping date. If there is a confirmed print quality issue, only 1 set of opened products will be accepted for credit returns, and only if less than 30% of the ink or toner has been used.
Ink Technologies will replace defective compatible or remanufactured products free of charge if the products are returned within 1 year of the original ship date, and provide a return shipping tag for return of the product.
Receive a coupon for 10% off + Free Shipping*, sent instantly to your email - just sign up for our monthly newsletter!
* offer applies minimum purchase $60; OEM products excluded
No thanks


text:
As a journalist, I go to a lot of parades. Celebration parades, holiday parades, fair parades, homecoming parades, and parades just to parade – I've been to nearly every kind imaginable, sometimes as many as a dozen per year. Over the years, I've learned one thing about them: I hate them. Except one: the Bancroft Good Old Days Parade.
I hate parades because they're all the same. The same floats, the same pacing, the same fire trucks, the same horses that always manage to do their business in front of me, the same politicians trying to get my vote with a Green Bay Packers schedule, the same spectators getting in my space and the same hot weather making it an uncomfortable experience. You probably get my picture.
I like the Bancroft parade because it dares to differ. Yes, many of the floats and fire trucks are still the same, but it's the only parade I've ever been to in which you can expect a different surprise every year.
A little history: I've been going to the Bancroft parade all my life. Growing up in Wautoma, my grandparents took me to the parade on occasion as a child, and for 10 years I covered it for The Waushara Argus in Wautoma, just as I cover it now for The Gazette. As a kid, I loved the parade because my candy haul was always huge. Bancroft people are generous in throwing out candy, and as a kid this was just like Halloween, except I didn't have to work so hard or find items around the house to put together a really bad costume that didn't come close to resembling what I was trying to be.
As a young journalist with the Argus, the parade wasn't nearly as enjoyable because it usually meant I was working on a Sunday when I could be trying to sleep off my Saturday night. But as a family man who brings his wife and young boy to the parade, I have more time to appreciate what the Bancroft Good Old Days Parade offers.
This includes beer. In past years, Pop-A-Top, a restaurant tavern in downtown Bancroft, has handed out cups of beer, much to my pleasure. I'm not a big beer drinker, but a beer at the right time can be the greatest drink in the world. The right time for me is usually on a hot day after physically working hard at some endeavor, when I'm grilling out, or during the middle of a hot parade when the mundane insanity of all that is happening around me is starting to become intolerable. Suddenly it becomes tolerable again.
This year's parade didn't have any beer. Maybe it was because the weather wasn't nearly as hot as it's been in past years, or maybe the Portage County Sheriff's Department told them that's not a wise decision. Or maybe it's the economy. Regardless, my sixth sense must have figured not to expect any beer, as I went into Pop-A-Top prior to the parade and purchased a bloody mary. I asked the bartender if it was ok to take it outside, fearful of violating any open intoxicant ordinances, and she told me anything goes during Bancroft Good Old Days.
Anything goes. I like that. I also like that even without beer, the parade still has plenty of surprises to offer. In other years, we've received giant dill pickles, potatoes and cheese sticks, the last two of which we received this year. New this year was a giant beef stick. I can't even remember what business handed them out, but the person who made that decision was a genius. Nothing spells greatness better than a giant beef stick.
In addition, the parade is quickly paced. Half an hour and it's done. I wish the same could be said for some of the long, drawn-out parades I go to.
As home to the world's greatest parade, Bancroft should think about offering parade clinics to other communities. Heck, I've even been to a parade in New York City, which could learn a thing or two from Bancroft.


text:
Now that summer is officially here, there are additional needs when providing safe care for your pet. The heat, along with encounters from wildlife and insects, can stress your pets.
"Summer is a great time to spend outside with your pet, but it does pose additional health risks," according to Kim Krause, DVM, of the Animal Medical and Surgical Clinic in Wisconsin Rapids.
To avoid common summertime accidents and injuries, prevention is the key.
Dr. Krause suggests constant access to water for your pet along with a shady area for your pet to play in. For a brachycephalic breed (characterized by short and wide skulls such as pugs and bulldogs), air conditioning is best.
Additional preparations before a day outside should include pet-specific sunscreen for pets with thin, short or missing fur and for those with light-colored noses. Dr. Krause recommends avoiding exercise during hot or humid weather as well as during the hottest times of the day.
Summer can also bring encounters with insects, parasites, and wildlife such as skunks, porcupines or snakes.
"Parasite control is very important," Dr. Krause says. "Discuss with your veterinarian the best preventative measures to keep your pet healthy."
As for other preventative care, Dr. Krause suggests to "keep your pet fit – overweight pets are at an increased risk [of heat stress]."
According to Dr. Krause, heat stress in pets occurs when the level of heat rises quickly and exceeds the body's ability to release heat. This elevated body temperature causes injury to the body's cells and thermal damage to tissues.
"[Heat stress] can be fatal," Dr. Krause states. "Never leave a pet in a parked car – even for a few minutes with the windows partially open – fatal heat stroke can occur within minutes."
Early signs of heat stress consist of uncontrollable panting, increased thirst and shade-seeking behavior. Weakness and diarrhea are severe symptoms along with collapsing, vomiting and seizing. For a pet in heat stress, Dr. Krause recommends wetting the pet down with cool (not cold) water, turning a fan on the pet, and seeking veterinary attention. When suspecting heat stroke, owners should immediately contact their veterinarian.
Since dogs do not sweat like humans, the mortality rate is higher when treatment of heat stroke is delayed, explains Dr. Krause. This is because dogs mainly release heat by panting. Dr. Krause also notes that cats will pant only if they get really hot. Both dogs and cats sweat a little through their paws, but it is inefficient at dissipating heat.
Lawn chemicals can pose another challenge to pets during the summer months. Fertilizer, pesticides, fly bait, insecticides, rodent bait and poisons should be kept out of reach, suggests Dr. Krause.
Summer time is an enjoyable time for you and your pets, so be sure to prepare your pets and be extra cautious while spending time in the summer heat.
To make sure you and your pets are prepared for the summer, contact your local WVMA veterinarian. Find one online at www.wvma.org!
Wisconsin's dairy industry contributes more than $20 billion to the state economy annually. Keeping Wisconsin's dairy herd healthy and productive is vital. Veterinarians play a key role in this process which becomes even more crucial during Wisconsin's hot and humid summers.
"As a veterinarian, I work to assist dairy producers in evaluating their current facilities or developing new facilities to ensure maximum comfort for all cows, therefore reducing their heat stress levels," says Robert Farruggio, DVM, Jefferson Veterinary Clinic. "I also work to educate my clients on the importance of good ventilation and cooling systems, and how to properly treat those animals who are experiencing heat stress."
Heat stress occurs in cattle when they are unable to regulate their body temperature. Heat stress typically happens when the temperature is over 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity is higher than 50 percent, according to Dr. Farruggio.
"When cows become heat stressed, they begin to breathe rapidly and drool excessively. During extreme heat stress, cattle will become uncoordinated and eventually will lie down but not be able to get up," states Dr. Farruggio.
Cattle are more prone to heat stress than humans because they are only able to sweat about 10 percent of what humans can.
"Normally, humans perspire to form moisture on the skin, which eventually evaporates, causing a cooling effect," he describes.
Cattle's inability to sweat, coupled with symptoms of heat stress, can negatively affect the health of a cow. Fortunately, there are numerous ways farmers can keep their cows cool.
"First of all, shade or shelter and fresh, clean water should be available to the cattle at all times," Dr. Farruggio says. "Secondly, if possible with the farm set-up, soaking the cows by allowing water to gently be applied to their backs for short periods of time either in the holding area, milking parlor or along the feeding area, will increase the cooling effect when the water evaporates."
Dr. Farruggio also recommends ventilation systems to keep air circulating. Dairies can use several different ventilation systems to help cows stay cool. Fans and open curtain sides on barns are two common ventilation systems used.
Additionally, a cross ventilation system can be implemented. "By utilizing a cross ventilation system, it increases airflow through the facility, providing fresh, cool air to the cows," he explains. "When combined with a system that utilizes water applied to the back of the cow, it increases the evaporative effects, therefore cooling the cow even more."
There are many different options dairy producers use to keep their cows comfortable. Rosy-Lane Holsteins, LLC, in Watertown, is just one of the farms in the state taking an innovative approach to cool their cows.
"Farms such as Rosy-Lane Holsteins that utilize milking parlors have successfully implemented a newer concept for using water to cool cows," Dr. Farruggio explains. "This new design is to have showerheads installed above each milking stall. At least once during the milking process and after the units are removed, the water should be turned on for eight to 10 seconds to allow the backs of the cows to be drenched. After the cows exit the parlor, the water can then slowly evaporate, reducing heat stress."
Veterinarians like Dr. Farruggio help dairy producers ensure their animals are healthy. Rosy-Lane Holsteins has more than 850 cows that each get showers to cool them down three times a day.
It is also vital for cows to have access to clean drinking water at all times. Adult cattle require between 20-24 gallons of water per day.
"When cattle become heat stressed, their requirements for water can increase by as much as 10 additional gallons. This is why it is very important to provide multiple locations of clean, fresh water," he adds.
Clean drinking water, moving air, and misters or showers are all important aspects of a modern dairy that farmers implement and veterinarians recommend and oversee. This summer, the Dairy State is prepared for the heat!
To learn more about keeping cows cool in the summer, contact your local WVMA veterinarian. Find one online at www.wvma.org!
Read More
Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association 2801 Crossroads Drive, Suite 1200 | Madison, WI 53718 | Phone: (608) 257-3665 | Fax: (608) 257-8989
Contact Us | Site Map | Disclaimer


text:
Humidity 64%
Winds 11.5mph
KTVQ.com Sponsored Search
Humidity 64%
Winds 11.5mph
Aug 8, 2012 3:53 PM by Judy Slate - MTN News
BOZEMAN - Fire engulfed an apartment complex Tuesday night at 311 Michael Grove, just south of Villard on the west side, but no one was hurt.
Chrissy Saoire-DeBoer lives right below where the fire started. She said, "I heard smoke alarms and went back outside and it was huge. And I ran back inside and got my dog and husband."
Saoire-DeBoer and everyone else in the eight-unit apartment complex made it out safely.
"I'm glad everybody's OK. The neighbors knocked on doors," she said.
People were also relieved when a pet dog was found and brought out safely.
Firefighter Dan Sertich said, "I walked up the ladder, went into the building and the dog was in the kennel."
He carried the dog, Sis, from the burning building. Her owners had arrived a few minutes before and assumed she didn't make it.
"The dog was a little frightened, probably happy to see us, I imagine," Sertich said.
The building has extensive fire and water damage, but the people who call this place home know it could have been much worse.
There's no word yet on what caused the fire. Firefighters stayed through the night watching for hotspots.
4 hours ago


text:
If you wished this year's Oscar nominees suffered from a severe lack of cats and double rainbows, Jimmy Kimmel has you covered. The late-night host gave YouTube videos the big-screen trailer treatment during his post-Oscars special — with the help of a few friends, of course.
Frank Underwood might be great at playing politicians, but Kevin Spacey was board to play the piano in the trailer for Ameowadeus. The actor took on the iconic role of Keyboard Cat in the fake trailer, starring opposite Christoph Waltz, Ben Kingsley, Gary Oldman and Mandy Patinkin.
Is there a chance Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones won't get divorced? Douglas told Jay Leno last week that he was "hopeful" about possibly salvaging their 13-year marriage.
Catherine Zeta-Jones may not have accompanied her estranged husband Michael Douglas to the Emmy Awards on Sunday, but that's not to say she didn't walk a red carpet over the weekend.
41st Academy Awards - Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand tie
America's Sweethearts movie trailer - starring John Cusack, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hank Azaria, Billy Crystal. Directed by Joe Roth. Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG-13
The famous masked Zorro of old California has spent twenty years in jail - upon his escape, he trains a young bandit to take his place. A rousing, swashbuckling adventure, with Catherine Zeta-Jones.
49th Academy Awards - Muhammad Ali surprises Sylvester Stallone
More Clips & Interviews
Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta Jones star in this gripping crime thriller where everyone has a motive and no one can be trusted.
Channing Tatum, Rooney Mara, Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones star in Steven Soderberghs psychological thriller about an experimental drug that has chilling and deadly side effects.
Emmy-winner Katherine Heigl (TV's "Grey's Anatomy" and Knocked Up), is a twenty-something career girl whose landed the perfect job. As she moves up the corporate ladder, she starts to really enjoy the perks of success - a company car, a big raise, and a closet full of great clothes. But when the man of her dreams comes into the picture, she must find a way to balance love, career, friends and family, or risk losing them all to protect the job she's always wanted.
When disgraced cop turned private detective Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg) is hired by NYC's mayor (Russell Crowe) to tail his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones), he uncovers a city-wide conspiracy of corruption, sex, and murder. With his life threatened at every turn, Billy finds himself faced with an impossible choice, which could have disastrous repercussions for his career and family.
More Catherine Zeta-Jones Movies Videos
Catherine Zeta-Jones swings by The Daily Show to discuss her new movie "Rock of Ages."
Catherine Zeta-Jones hosts Saturday Night Live.
Also Available On Xfinity and Amazon Instant Video
More Catherine Zeta-Jones On TV Videos
More Credits (156)
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas are "taking a break" after 13 years of marriage, People reports.
Michael Douglas says that oral sex is possibly to blame for causing his throat cancer.
In an interview with the U.K.'s The Guardian, the 68-year-old actor said, "Without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV, which actually comes about from cunnilingus ... I did worry if the stress caused by my son [Cameron]'s incarceration didn't help trigger it. But yeah, it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer. And if you have it, cunnilingus is also the best cure for it," he joked (we think).
Catherine Zeta-Jones has checked into a treatment center to seek help with her Bipolar disorder, TVGuide.com has confirmed.
"Catherine has...
read more
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have once again been tapped to produce the Academy Awards, Academy President Hawk Koch announced Tuesday.
"Craig and Neil have...
read more
The Oscars will honor movie musicals of the last decade with a celebration that includes Oscar winners Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Russell Crowe and Oscar nominees Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway and others.
"We are pleased to have been able to amass so much talent to create the celebration of musicals of the last decade that we envisioned," Academy Awards producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said on Wednesday. "We are thrilled that so many talented actors have agreed to bring our vision to life."
More Products
Download the TV Guide app for iPhone, iPad and Android!


text:
Real news. Real funny.
Real news. Real funny.
If you can read this, either the style sheet didn't load or you have an older browser that doesn't support style sheets. Try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page.
• • •
3929 clicks; posted to Main » on 06 Apr 2013 at 11:04 PM (1 year ago) | Favorite | share: more»
Share this link:
Article Comments close
56 Comments (+0 »)
Archived thread
Displayed 56 of 56 comments
This thread is archived, and closed to new comments.
Submit a Link »
In Other Media
Stories from our partner sites:
Mosque fire in Sweden being treated a...
Elusive suburban bear captured in Pho...
Capsized kayaker had Charlie Brown cu...
Hawaii gets a Christmas blizzard warn...
More news at UPI »
William Shatner Goes #OffTheGrid
Directores de Noticias de EE.UU. y Ed...
Associated Press Names the Top News S...
Hair is the Superpower of The Band Perry
More news at OraTV »
Walt's Wild Men: LIFE Behind the Scen...
Brando Takes Broadway: LIFE on the Se...
Last Call: Prohibition and the Speake...
'It's a Wonderful Life': Rare Photos...
More news at Life »


text:
Advocacy Service Innovation
Insurance & Retirement Services
Local Government Services
2014 Legislative Session
Legislative Polices
Hometown Connection
Find Your Legislator
Policy Council & Committees
Renaissance Act
Federal Issues
Job Descriptions
Grant and Award Opportunities
GMA Publications
Municipal Desk Reference
Fact File
Handbook for Georgia Mayors and Councilmembers
Civic Strategies Podcast
"Public Information" Column
LOST Negotiation
Newly Elected Municipal Official Resources
Legal Database
Data Tools for Cities
Breaking News
News Line
Georgia Cities Newspaper
Annual Convention
Mayors' Day Conference
Georgia Cities Week
Essay Contest
Mayors' Christmas Motorcade
Breaking News
News Line
Georgia Cities Newspaper
Bloomingdale Begins Town Center with New History Museum
January 3, 2013
In 2010, the Bloomingdale Historical Society had an active membership that included the mayor and every member of the city council but it didn't have a regular place to meet.
"We needed a place to meet and a place to keep our artifacts," explained City Councilmember Jerry Crosby. "Our history was dying. Every time a senior passed away, we would lose a piece of the history he or she had collected."
A city purchase shortly before Crosby joined the city council turned out to be a win-win solution.
"The city purchased a 1920s brick home, the second brick home built in the city, out on Highway 80," Crosby said. "We worked out a deal to lease the building from the city for $10 a year."
The building however, was far from move-in condition.
"The property was in bad shape," Crosby said. The Historical Society incorporated as a non-profit and set about raising money for the restoration of the home but with little success.
Bingo was the game
"We tried yard sales and bake sales, and nothing seemed to work," Crosby said. "Then my wife said, 'Let's try Bingo.'"
The city allowed the society to hold Bingo every other Friday evening in the city's community center. "I never realized so many people over age 50 played Bingo," Crosby said. "It turned out to be a fantastic fundraiser. People from a 30-mile radius came to Bloomingdale to play."
The society raised $42,000 within two years from the Bingo nights. When the city saw the society's efforts, it contributed $50,000 in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) dollars to the effort. The $92,000 was enough to fund the restoration and on November 10, 2012 the old brick home opened up as the Bloomingdale History Museum and Visitor's Center.
The Historical Society continues its Bingo nights to raise money for the ongoing operation of the facility, about $12,000 a year. The city pays the utilities and maintains liability insurance through the lease agreement., according to City Administrator Charles Akridge.
"This museum put pride back into Bloomingdale," Crosby said. "The history of the city is being saved. I feel great about this because my grandkids will have a place to go to see the history of the city."
More than a meeting place
Carey Ferrara, Tourism project manager for the Georgia Coast with the Georgia Department of Economic Development Tourism Division called the History Museum and Visitor's Center "wonderful."
"I was really surprised by the quality of the museum because Bloomingdale is such a small town," she said. "I was also impressed with the quality and quantity of the artifacts; the residents were so loving in the way they have restored and displayed them. What the society and city have done can be a model for other towns. I understand they are going to add an interactive piece and that is key because tourists are looking to be involved with attractions beyond just looking at display cases. We call it experiential or immersion tourism."
The city is also developing a rails-to-trails park and has plans to eventually install sidewalks that will connect the park to the museum.
"We are turning an old rail bed into a linear park with amenities," Akridge explained. "We received a federal transportation enhancement grant for approximately $718,000 to fund the project. We hope to start construction sometime next spring; it should take six months to one year to complete."
Creating a sense of place
Crosby said the city's aim is to use the History Museum and Visitor's Center as the seed to create a sense of place in Bloomingdale.
"Bloomingdale never had a downtown area," Crosby said. "The city was just a bedroom community for Savannah and there were just some stores off the highway."
"We are trying to create a town center situation—a central point that turns into the core of our community," added Akridge.
Additionally, the city has applied for a Department of Natural Resources tourism grant to help fund the relocation of the oldest building in Bloomingdale to the peripheral of the museum. "We don't have a cost estimate yet for the restoration," Akridge said. "If the grant is funded we will go from there."
Bloomingdale's plans for Highway 80 don't stop with the museum and park; the city is also building a Veterans Freedom Park across the street from city hall. The city allocated $50,000 in SPLOST dollars to fund the park's construction.
"The allocation of the SPLOST dollars to the museum and veterans park exemplifies the commitment the city council has to these two projects," Akridge said, "which are really going to be integral focal points of our community."


text:
This weekend, Nike Harajuku will release several colorful Running Jackets from the Nike x Undercover GYAKUSOU collection. Following a more subdued debut lineup, these brighter options may work to satisfy a wider range of runners.
Get Updates Daily.
Follow our Twitter feed
We'll update you as we publish on our site. You'll get an update instantly!Follow @highsnobiety
Get Updates on Facebook
We'll bring our best stories and photos direct into your newsfeed.
Follow us on Instagram


text:
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) speaks at the 2014 Values Voter Summit September 26, 2014 in Washington, DC. The Family Research Council (FRC) hosting its 9th annual Values Voter Summit inviting conservatives to participate in a straw poll. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Content engaging our readers now, with additional prominence accorded if the story is rapidly gaining attention. Our WSJ algorithm comprises 30% page views, 20% Facebook, 20% Twitter, 20% email shares and 10% comments.
Subscriber Content Read Preview
Subscriber Content Read Preview


text:
Welcome to the Reuter Group web pages
Welcome to our group home page. The goal of our research is to understand more about biological and biochemical processes at the molecular level of detail. We develop and use computational methods to investigate nanoengines conformational changes, allosteric mechanisms, enzyme-ligand recognition or membrane binding of peripheral proteins. These themes have in common to be dynamical by essence. In general, proteins dynamics is tied intimately to their function and this is why we always consider this dimension in our computations.


text:
Davis LLP's Heather Treacy, Q.C. and Robert Banno, Q.C. participated in the Federated Press' Inaugural Mini LLB for Aboriginal Leadership. The two-day event covered a wide range of issues in Aboriginal business, including taxation, corporate governance, corporate structuring, risk management and business development.
Robert Banno, Q.C.604.643.2903
Heather L. Treacy, Q.C.403.294.3589


text:
My LO is almost 7 weeks old and I really don't have a complaint about her sleeping patterns, just a few questions and "i wonders" about what everyone else is doing.
Right now my LO feeds almost like clockwork every three hours during the day. Usually around 10:30-11pm I give her the last bottle and she usually doesnt finish the whole thing because she falls asleep, then sleeps a good four hours before she feeds again. Its getting longer and longer at night. Last night she slept from 11-5am (THRILLED).
She tends to sleep in SHORT cat naps during the day, unless she is in her car seat where she sleeps longer.
What I am wondering is if I should try starting more of a "schedule" for her naps and if I should start trying to get her to bed earlier....or just keep doing what I am doing and as she gets older put her down earlier. It would be nice if she went to bed earlier so DH and I could have an evening not baby centered, but I also like not having the 2am feeding (because she is feeding later in the evening)
I feel like Ive read that everyone has some "system" they have read about and I am just kinda going with her cues.
Sorry if my post seems random and all over the place, just curious as to what others are doing!


text:
Home | Contact Us | Link to Us
New softwareRegistry First Aid PostgresToMsSql Soft4Boost Video to Device Lepide SQL Storage Manager Free BCGControlBar Professional Edition Publisher Plus CloudBacko Pro for Windows Free PDF to JPG PNG TIF Converter Audio Recorder Titanium 2014 MediaLion DVD Ripper 2014 PDF to Word Free MetaX WS Master Express Burn Disc Burning Software Free Wavepad Audio Editing Software Free
Top softwareNoteTab Pro TOWeb Simple Home Budget Lite PilotEdit Lite WinGuard Pro TickInvest FreeFixer HDClone Free Edition RoboTask Lite Nevitium Free Invoice Software HTMtied
Teen Titans free downloads
Teen Chat Decoder 5.0.00 - The Secret Code' your teen uses online, in Chat ... s free. Plus, the Teen Chat Decoder software does ... (11/0) download
Child Safety Including Teen Safety Tips 1.0 - Child Safety Including Teen Safety Tips ... (5/0) download
Titans of Steel v1.2.1 - Titans of Steel is a ... enough to become famous. Titans of Steel consists of ... 8 pilots and 16 titans. In the Factory module, you can design new titans. The factory features 20 ... (122/0) download
CeeBot-Teen 1.1 - CeeBot-Teen is ideal for kids ... (6/0) download
Realm Of The Titans 1.0 - games, Realm of the Titans will have a large ... aspects. Realm of the Titans features a motley assortment ... (2/0) download
Free Daniel Sharman Screensaver 3.0 - MTV supernatural drama series Teen Wolf. DANIEL SHARMAN WEB ... he appeared alongside fellow Teen Wolf cast member Colton ... (1/0) download
Fake Voice 1.753 - male, female, old, young, teen, hard, robot, shrill, or ... (4540/0) download
Fake Voice 5.298 - male, female, old, young, teen, hard, robot, shrill, or ... male, female, old, young, teen, hard, robot, shrill, or ... (0/0) download
AOMRecordedRenamer 1.3 - your Age of Mythology : Titans RCX recorded game files ... (10/0) download
Eternal War: Shadows of Light 1.5 - John Coronado a desperate teen ready to take desperate ... (1/0) download
ATHF-Mooninitron 1.1 - The Aqua Teen Hunger Force - Mooninitron game ... (5/0) download
Fake Voice - Voice Changer 4.828 - male, female, old, young, teen, hard, robot, shrill, or ... (95/0) download
Free Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Screensaver 3.0 - is an upcoming 2012 teen comedy film directed by ... (1/0) download
Lever Physics 1.1.2 - not a clash of titans; it's a fine combination ... (7/0) download
Mr. Matt 3.50 - Teen to adult age bracket ... (83/0) download
Titan Attacks for Mac OS 1.95 - and drive back the Titans across the Solar System ... (0/0) download
Teen Spirit 0.9 - Teen Spirit is a complete ... or video files on Teen Spirit. The first one ... you have to indicate Teen Spirit which directory has ... (1/0) download
SeasonPlanner - 2007 7.0 - website just like the Titans Pop Warner Football Team ... (0/0) download
IQ test for everyone 1.1 - taken by everyone- adults, teen and kids. It determines ... (28/0) download
Safe Chat w/Parental Controls 2.7 - Safe Chat Universal Messenger with Parental Controls is a universal instant messenger that support MSN messenger, Yahoo messenger, AIM (AOL) and ICQ network. The parental controls features let the parents control who can chat with their children, when their children can chat online. Once Safe Chat is installed it will block other messengers from being ... (64/0) download
Game Controls Online 1.10 - an ESRB rating of Teen (13+) will not be ... (11/0) download
Testwell v1.0 - into three age groups: teen, college, and standard adult ... (31/0) download
Arcangel - Legacy of Peace v1.0 - Wise and benevolent titans who use their powers ... and righteous. Therefore, the titans formed an elite corps ... (75/0) download
AV Voice Changer Gold 4.0.54 - voice of male, female, teen, baby..., you can disguise ... (392/0) download
Christina Ricci Screen saver 1.0 - Precocious, outspoken child-teen starlet of the 1990s ... (13/0) download


text:
DTD the day before positive ovulation test...how likely?
Find a Conversation
DTD the day before positive ovulation test...how likely?
|Wed, 01-01-2014 - 2:12pm
We DTD on Dec 19th and the next day I got a solid smiley face on the clearblue easy ovulation test...not a flashing smiley...a solid smiley. I am currently about 12 dpo with sore boobs and mild cramping on and off. How likely would it be that I got pregnant this month? Anyone have experience with this?
|Thu, 01-02-2014 - 8:37am
Sounds like your chances are pretty darn good! You are experiencing a few signs of early pregnancy which is a positive sign for sure. When do you plan to take a test? Please update us when you do! Wishing you the very best of luck!


text:
|Truly wonderful art :'D
|Truly wonderful art :'D
|Truly awesome prints I'd love to have C: Especially "Couldn't Care Less" ;w;
First, I want to thank ~wolfysammich . I'm very thankful for the beautiful sketches you drew for me, without asking anything for it in return~ :3
Hi, I'm Daan (yesh, that's my real name). I'm 19 years old, and I live in one of the smallest, most boring villages probably existing in the Netherlands, 300 meters away from the German border. I have ADHD, Gilles-de-la-Tourette and the Asperger-syndrome; or as I like to call it, the full fun package. I'm professionally retarded, although I do have my sane moments (mostly on midweek-Sundays).
I try to be polite in all situations. However, if you really, really piss me off, I'll rip open your back, split your vertebral column in two and play guitar with your spinal nerves: while only using words.
I like to photograph, but I'm really not professional. Trying to get better in it. I suck at drawing, which I really hate, because I would like to be able to draw more than making good photos...
NOTE: I do not edit my photos in any way. Just to clear up possible misunderstandings.
I've just graduated from high school, and I'm going to study History at the Radboud University next year.
I still live at my parental home together with my parents, sister, and brother. We also have a cat and a dog.
I love playing games, whether on Xbox 360 or laptop. I used to dive a while ago, but I had to sell my diving gear (not enough money for full diving equipment).
I LOVE music, mostly punk (Rise Against, Blindside, Story Of The Year, Three Days Grace...) and metal (Children Of Bodom, Insomnium, System Of A Down, Graveworm, Arkona, Disturbed, Bullet For My Valentine, Sonic Syndicate, Nightwish, Slipknot, Slayer...), although I like Trading Yesterday very much too
If you'd like to stay in touch with me, you could add me here:
MSN/Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Skype: Bansh33Howl
Xbox Live: Bansh33Howl
FurAffinity: Theseus93 (although I'm rarely online)
TopicFox Forums: BansheeHowl (also rarely online)
Youtube: skylineR34ownage666 (VERY OLD)
Just say who you are, otherwise I might think it's spam x3
RL friends:
Best dA friends:
Inspirations / amazing artists:
Current Residence: Babberich, the Netherlands
Favourite genre of music: Punk, Metal
Operating System: Windows 7
Favourite cartoon character: Phil, Blue and Kate (YOSH! comic), Keith , Flora, and Natani (TwoKinds comic), and many more...
Personal Quote: γνῶθι σεαυτόν (know yourself)
|Wait, I can't donate to myself? o.o I find this discriminating... D:


text:
Osama bin Laden became the face of militant Islam following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, and it was these attacks that propelled his organisation to the world's attention.
So without bin Laden, what happens to al-Qaeda?
His most obvious successor is Ayman al-Zawahiri. Born in Cairo he was a key figure in the Egyptian Islamist movement. He fought against the Soviets in Afghanistan and was bin Laden's closest adviser.
Another potential replacement is Anwar al-Awlaki. Born in New Mexico, he has now become the spokesman for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Seen more as a cleric than a fighter, Awlaki is believed to have played a key role in a number of terrorist plots in the US.
There is also Abu Yahya al-Libi. A leading al-Qaeda ideologue, he was a commander in Afghanistan. Al-Libi has been active in urging resistance and recruits from Europe and North America.
Who, among those, will be Bin Laden's successor? With the death of its iconic leader, how will the organisation operate in the future? And how will Western countries adapt to the changing face of the group?
Inside Story, with presenter Darren Jordon, discusses with Imtiaz Gul, a political analyst and author of several books on al-Qaeda including The most Dangerous Place: Pakistan's Lawless Frontier; Paul Rogers, a professor of peace studies at the University of Bradford; and Mahan Abedin, the director of research at the center for the study of terrorism, who the co-edited Unmasking Terror: A Global Review of Terrorist Activities. This episode of Inside Story aired from Wednesday, May 4, 2011.
Content on this website is for general information purposes only.
Your comments are provided by your own free will and you take sole responsibility for any direct or indirect
liability. You hereby provide us with an irrevocable, unlimited, and global license for no consideration to
use, reuse, delete or publish comments, in accordance with Community
Rules & Guidelines and Terms and


text:
After 17 years of silence, renowned classic rock star, Steve Miller, has released "Bingo!" this week. The new album is Miller's collaboration with producer Andy Johns, and will feature 10 tracks which are his interpretations of some of his favorite songs.
"Bingo!" will include cover versions of Earl King's "Come On" and BB King's "Rock Me Baby" as well as pieces from Jimmie Vaughan's 1994 album "Strange Pleasure."
"It is about rolling up the rug and dancing. It's a record to get up and dance and have a good time," said Miller on his website.
"I love songs that have hooks, that have choruses that people can sing. That's really what I'm all about."
Born in Milwaukee, to an amateur recording engineer and jazz-influenced singer, Miller has had a lot of jazz and blues influence from childhood. As a young musician, Miller learned the guitar and formed his first real rock band The Ardells in 1961 while attending University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In 1967, The Steve Miller Band was formed with Miller taking the spotlight as the lead singer and guitarist. The group began to pull in many all-time number one hits like "Rock'n' Me," "The Joker," and "Abracadabra" that earned them a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording.
The Steve Miller Band already debuted their fresh "Bingo!" tracks this Sunday at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Connecticut, and the warm reception seems encouraging for the group's plan to tour the United States, Canada, and Europe this year.


text:
The Innocent Party
Trade Paperback · 200 Pages
BOA Editions Ltd.
Recommended for These Courses
"Parkinson's prose flows with a subtle, musical rhythm that only prose can achieve, and then rarely… Every sentence, every sentence, is exquisite."—Debrah Lechner, Hayden's Ferry Review
"Aimee Parkison most often begins softly, slowly stripping away each layer of social interaction to get at what is numinous and frightening and necessary about living in the real world. These are stories both about the difficulty and the intense suddenness of human connection, about the profound link that exists between being in love and being alone."—Brian Evenson
"Parkison is a storyteller, conjuring characters who harbor festering secrets, lurid urgencies, and violent compulsions. Like Joyce Carol Oates, Parkison deftly works the caricatures of Southern Gothicism into terrifying clarity."—Joseph Dewey, The Review of Contemporary Fiction
From "The Glass Girl":
On certain evenings in dark motels, she could transform her lip into the edge of the bottle, imagining her face was made of amber glass and the men paused above her only to take a drink of breath. Over the years, men drank and drank until there were only two sips left inside. They began sucking the air out of the glass that grew warm in the wrong places because of heat radiating off their hands. The men's breath along with white feathers fell over autumn winds drifting through open windows.
In this collection, Kurt Vonnegut Fiction Prize–winner Aimee Parkison's characters struggle to understand what happens when the innocent party becomes the guilty party. With magical realist flair, secrets are aired with dirty laundry, but the stains never come clean. Carol Anshaw writes, "Aimee Parkison offers a distinct new voice to contemporary fiction. Her seductive stories explore childhood as a realm of sorrows, and reveal the afflictions of adults who emerge from this private geography."
Aimee Parkison has an MFA from Cornell University. She is associate professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she teaches creative writing.
About the Author
Order from an online bookseller
- A1Books.com
- Amazon.com
- Barnes and Noble
- Books-A-Million
- BordersStores.com
- Buy.com
- Hastings
- IndieBound.org
- Powells
- WalMart
Find a local bookseller
- Barnes and Noble (Store Locator)
- Books-A-Million (Store Finder)
- Borders (Store Locator)
- Chapters/Coles/Indigo (Canadian Store Locator)
- Hastings (Store Locator)
- IndieBound (Independent Booksellers National Directory)
- WalMart (Store Finder)
(Check your local Yellow Pages for a bookstore near you.)
International online orders
- Amazon.ca (Canada)
- Amazon.fr (France)
- Amazon.de (Germany)
- Amazon.co.jp (Japan)
- Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom)
- Chapters.Indigo.ca (Canada)
Domestic and International offline orders
The Perseus Books Group
Customer Service Department
1094 Flex Drive
Jackson, TN 38301


text:
The "Citizen Kane of bad movies" celebrates its 10th Anniversary this weekend and somehow became an overnight worldwide phenomenon in the process. For the past decade, The Room continues to persist as THE midnight movie for my generation and will be honored with two special midnight screenings commemorating its special anniversary at the Laemmle NoHo 7 this Friday and Saturday. For those unfamiliar with The Room, it's my generation's Rocky Horror Picture Show and has sold out midnight screenings across the globe to enthusiastic, energetic audiences.
Writer/Director/Star Tommy Wiseau consistently travels with the film worldwide and the film has extensively toured Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Europe. For Angelinos, The Room continues to persist as the "IT" midnight movie to discover, especially if you're a college student. In college, my best friend Danny introduced The Room to me while we were freshman and for the past six years I can't stop talking about it. The last time I saw The Room was at the Laemmle Sunset 5 (now the Sundance Cinemas) along with 700 fans. Despite the damp, rainy Saturday evening, everyone could barely contain their excitement to see the film infamously dubbed "The Citizen Kane of bad movies." But how did this even happen?
Originally conceived as a 600 page book, The Room eventually evolved into a movie, which premiered on June 27, 2003, at the Laemmle Sunset 5 to extremely unfavorable reviews. Even prior to its theatrical release, the film gained notoriety for its large billboard in the heart of Hollywood on the Sunset Strip. Despite early negativity, soon a rabid fanbase developed for midnight screenings and eventually forced the filmmakers to relocate screenings from the Wilshire Screening Room (Beverly Hills) to the Laemmle Sunset 5. There it regularly sold out multiple midnight screenings per showing and typically took up the entire multiplex for several years. Originally perceived as an L.A. cult movie, it all changed when Clark Collis' article for Entertainment Weekly emerged in December 2008 exposing the film to an even larger audience.
In the early days, there were hardly any guidelines for fans except throwing plastic spoons at the screen (whenever a framed spoon picture was seen) and yelling out various phrases like "Sestosterone," "Cancer," "Denny," "Focus," etc. to signal audience participation. However, The AV Club wrote a fantastic article called "A Viewer's Guide To The Room," which is a great way to familiarize yourself with proper audience participation before attending a screening. My personal favorite is the "7th inning stretch," where audience members encourage other patrons to use the bathroom and/or smoke for a few minutes while a previously seen gratuitous sex scene replays.
Despite numerous cues for possible audience participation, many question the film's authenticity as an intentional comedy or poorly executed drama. Wiseau describes The Room as a black comedy, but melodrama might be more accurate with most fans (including myself) agreeing on the latter. Regardless, thanks to classic lines like "You're tearing me apart, Lisa," the film will always be one of the coolest cult films of all time. After Wiseau's appearance on "Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!" in March 2008, The Room has screened annually on April 1st as an "April Fool's joke" on Adult Swim exposing even more people to the phenomenon.
For a long time, many of the cast/crew distanced themselves from the film, most notably Juliette Danielle ("Lisa"), who only "recently came out of hiding" to embrace her past. Unlike stars Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau, who regularly attend Q&A's worldwide, most cast members were initially reluctant to embrace The Room, but have since accepted their past. Still, there hasn't been smooth sailing for this phenomenon after all the success.
In February 2011, Entertainment Weekly published accusations made by script supervisor Sandy Schklair saying he, not Tommy Wiseau, directed The Room. In the article, Sandy argued his delayed response took so long because "Nobody was ever going to see this anyway. I came back from Europe and (The Room) was everywhere. I could not believe it. Who could?" However, fans have wholeheartedly dismissed Schklair and questioned his motivations, especially considering Tommy Wiseau has been out and about promoting the film since Day 1.
Notable fans of The Room and Tommy Wiseau include Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim (Tim & Eric), David Cross, Thomas Lennon and Patton Oswalt, who parodied the filmmaker with a sketch on his My Weakness is Strong DVD. A few years ago, The Room screened at the famous Ziegfeld Theatre in New York to a sold-out crowd of 1,163, which included Justin Long. Over the years at several L.A. screenings I have randomly bumped into other celebrity fans like Academy Award nominee Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd. Needless to say, people from all walks of life have embraced this cult classic and audience participation is strongly suggested.
Fans of The Room can always check the official website for details of upcoming screenings, but us Angelinos are spoiled since there have always been monthly screenings of the cult classic in our area. Since the closing of the Laemmle Sunset 5, monthly screenings of The Room have moved to the Regent Theatre. However, if you want to celebrate this special anniversary come to the Laemmle NoHo7 this weekend and attend the midnight screenings with Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau in person (http://www.laemmle.com/films/28540#get-tickets)
Whether it's on DVD, Blu-ray or in a packed theater, The Room is best watched with a group of friends or a room of first timers. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the experience as you witness one hell of a movie throwing spoons and yelling various catchphrases at the big screen.
For those interested, Phil Haldiman ("Denny") created a comic book, "My Big Break," which details his experience with The Room and regularly attends screenings in the Phoenix area. Additionally, Greg Sestero ("Mark") has an upcoming book, The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made, detailing the making of the film, which comes out October 1, 2013.
SO Note: Follow John Michael Simko @Edwoodfan.