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Nielsen Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results
Nine Months Ended September 2012 Operating Results
Revenues for the first nine months of 2012 increased 1% to $4,148 million, or 4% on a constant currency basis compared to the first nine months of 2011. Revenues within our Buy segment decreased 1% (4% increase on a constant currency basis), revenues within our Watch segment increased 3% (4% on a constant currency basis) and revenues within our Expositions segment increased 5% (5% on a constant currency basis).
Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months of 2012 increased 3% to $1,145 million, or 6% on a constant currency basis compared to the nine months of 2011.
Net income for the first nine months of 2012 was $234 million compared to a net loss of $9 million for the first nine months of 2011. The 2011 results included charges of $206 million, net of tax, associated with the IPO. Net income per share, on a diluted basis, was $0.64 compared to a net loss per share of $0.03 in the first nine months of 2011.Adjusted Net Income for the first nine months of 2012 increased to $470 million compared to $400 million in the first nine months of 2011. Adjusted Net Income per share was $1.25 compared to $1.10 in the first nine months of 2011. Financial Position As of September 30, 2012, cash balances were $325 million and gross debt was $6,392 million, excluding the $288 million mandatory convertible subordinated bonds due 2013. Net debt (gross debt less cash and cash equivalents) was $6,067 million and our net debt leverage ratio was 3.8x at the end of the quarter. Capital expenditures were $225 million for the first nine months of 2012 as compared to $213 million for the first nine months of 2011. In October 2012, we issued $800 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.50% Senior Notes due 2020 at par with cash proceeds of approximately $788 million, net of fees and expenses. Further in October 2012, we redeemed all of our 11.50% Senior Notes due 2016 and prepaid our 8.50% Senior Secured Term Loan due 2017. The redemption and prepayment transactions will result in a pre-tax charge of approximately $115 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.
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Apartment Rental Search in 93446 Zip Code Area 0 mile radius
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Paso Robles, CA 93446
Dry Creek Apartments
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Located in Paso Robles, Dry Creek offers spacious 2 bedroom floorplans. We also feature a fitness center, pool, sauna, tennis courts and a playground for the kids.
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Sedu Boost Try Me 4 Pack
Based on 1 Review
Keri J.HairBlondeNormal HairDry HairColor Treated HairExcellent Combo!I LOVE these products. I like to alternate between them. After I ran out & stopped using them for a couple months, I really noticed a difference in my hair (in a bad way!) These products really do help protect your hair from breakage & make it feel so much softer after styling.2 out of 2 shoppers thought this review was helpful.
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Most of Virgin Gorda's shopping takes place at the resort hotels, but there are also some pleasant shops at the yacht harbor in Spanish Town. Look for jewelry, perfume, cotton dresses, swimwear, and native handicrafts.
If you plan to eat in at your villa, consider visiting The Chef's Pantry at Leverick Bay. They stock fresh produce, meats, and seafood as well as fresh baked goods and a wide variety of deli meats and cheeses. For your staples, Buck's Supermarket should also be fairly well-stocked.
CaribbeanDays was founded in 1978 and has been renting villas in the Caribbean ever since.
We are Better Business Bureau approved with an A+ rating.


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Banned cuz I stopped playing after I unlocked everything...
Banned cuz I stopped playing after I unlocked everything...
banned for cute blonde girls
Banned cuz I sort of agree....
Banned cause I still didn't unlock everything, but some stuff is so near impossible that I won't even try.
I have most stuff though, just a few challenges and the trophy of meta ridley
I am indeed the one with the power of a god.
The divine flames that I've absorbed
will burn you to a crisp with nuclear energy and leave nothing behind!
Banned cuz you guys should kick it up a notch!
Banned cuz I almost never play as Shiek.
Banned cuz that doesn't make her better....
banned for poke-fusions
banned because she's too adorable...
Banned cuz I'm helping Serebii Joe out with something this week
Banned for gif
Banned for posting mudkips banner.


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- Home
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Win $10 in the Anime Wallpapers.Com August 2013 Wallpaper Contest or Origami Sticky Notes!
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Track # 2
Vocal and Lyrics: Irino Miyu
Music Arrangement: Nakanishi Ryousuke
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|New King James Version (NKJV)
|New International Version (NIV)
|1 In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri.
|1 In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri.
|Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New King James Version)
|Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online)


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The Premier League website employs cookies to improve your user experience. We have updated our cookie policy to reflect changes in the law on cookies and tracking technologies used on websites. If you continue on this website, you will be providing your consent to our use of cookies. Find out more.
Type in your search then hit enter
Tuesday 02 April 2013
Iain Dowie joins Dave Farrar to discuss the weekend's action. We hear from new Sunderland head coach Paolo Di Canio and former midfielder at the Stadium of Light Gavin McCann on the appointment.
Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper speaks exclusively after his side got dragged back into the relegation scrap.
Plus we hear from an Arsenal fan from Lahore about their chances of beating Spurs, Chelsea and Everton into the UEFA Champions League spots.
© Premier League 2014


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Using Rocks to Study Animals
Posted: 03/12/2009 - When you look at rocks, you may not think of them as part of a major history lesson, but an ichnologist from Germany spent the day at Marietta College studying just that.
Posted: 03/12/2009 - When you look at rocks, you may not think of them as part of a major history lesson, but an ichnologist from Germany spent the day at Marietta College studying just that.
Updated: 03/12/2009 - The nation has seen a dramatic increase in foreclosures since this time last year, and Ohio has one of the highest rates in the country.
Posted: 03/11/2009 - In her 3 part special report, Lauren Keeling takes a look at the challenges and financial hurdles facing parents who have children and adult loved ones with disabilities and special needs.
Posted: 03/11/2009 - Wood County Schools' superintendent Bill Niday is set to spend another year with the county's school system.
Updated: 03/11/2009 - The American Heart Association teamed up with St. Joseph's Hospital Wednesday afternoon for the annual Parkersburg Goes Red Luncheon.
Updated: 03/11/2009 - A Cambridge, Ohio, man has been arrested and charged with lewdness, indecent exposure, and obstructing an officer.
Posted: 03/11/2009 - Randal Roberts named the president of the Parkersburg Homecoming for 2009.
Updated: 03/10/2009 - Firefighters say a home in the Mid-Ohio Valley Tuesday was just minutes away from becoming a total loss.
Posted: 03/10/2009 - Allison Rhea previews the top 13 for season 8 of American Idol.
Updated: 06/21/2009 - First come, first serve at the Comfort Inn to sign up for the August trip!
Posted: 03/09/2009 - Chauncey Mayor Ginger Mender steps down despite dismissal of petition.
Updated: 03/07/2009 - WVU's Board of Governor's has selected the university's next president.
Updated: 03/07/2009 - A Parkersburg man has been granted mercy after being found guilty of murder and other charges.
Updated: 03/05/2009 - OVU announces that head women's basketball coach has resigned.
Posted: 03/04/2009 - A physical education teacher at a local elementary school is going for a new look, and he has his students to thank for it.
Updated: 03/04/2009 - A popular toy that's been around for half a century may soon be taken off the shelves in West Virginia.
Updated: 03/05/2009 - Marietta College Police releases updated description of suspect in weekend sexual assault and burglary.
Updated: 03/03/2009 - A showboat that's been in Marietta for more than three decades may soon need to find a new home.
Updated: 03/03/2009 - If you've driven down Front Street in Marietta lately, you may be wondering about all the construction.
Updated: 03/02/2009 - Marietta College is working to keep the campus a safe place, and to make sure students are being cautious.
Updated: 03/02/2009 - The WV National Guard is looking for about 25 troops that may have been exposed to a toxic chemical while serving in Iraq.
Posted: 03/01/2009 - Some local annual festivals in the Mid-Ohio Valley are having to cut back.
Posted: 03/01/2009 - A local historian and author was in Marietta Sunday to give a special presentation on his latest book.
Posted: 02/28/2009 - The congregation of Whitman Chapel AME and Rockland United Methodist Churches spent the afternoon singing, dancing and eating, but they did it in a way that observes all races.
Updated: 03/02/2009 - Officials with the Athens County Sheriff's Department tell us they've been receiving many calls from people claiming to have seen the zebra.


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Please login to get additional information, such as OXYBUTYNIN TOPICAL GEL development phases.
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Oxybutynin is used to relieve urinary and bladder difficulties, including frequent urination and inability to control urination. It also helps to decrease muscle spasms of the bladder.
Antares is developing Anturol for the treatment of over active bladder. Anturol is the anticholinergic oxybutynin delivered by its proprietary ATD(TM) gel that is used to achieve therapeutic blood levels of the active compound that can be sustained over 24 hours after a single, daily application. It is believed that Anturol may offer equal or increased oxybutynin to the metabolite ratio, thus resulting in decreased reporting of adverse events when compared to patients taking comparable oral products. In addition, Anturol is more cosmetically appealing than patches and may have less irritation and allergic reactions.
Drug information


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As we announced in 2011, Symantec Message Filter powered by Brightmail is discontinued for Enterprise, Mid-market, and Small Business customers. If you are an existing customer with a current subscription, you can continue to use the Symantec Message Filter version 6.3 until the end of your current subscription or the End of Support Life. You will need to migrate to an alternative product no later than the time of your next renewal.
In order to enable earlier migration, most existing customers with a current subscription are now entitled to migrate to the Symantec Messaging Gateway appliance product. Symantec Messaging Gateway offers superior functionality that includes the same 99%+ effectiveness against spam, malware and phishing messages, as well as rich reporting and centralized management, advanced threat protection, integrated MTA, content filtering, data loss prevention capabilities, LDAP integration, native TLS support and an optional encryption add-on. It can be deployed on Symantec Messaging Gateway 8300 hardware appliances (sold separately), VMware vSphere, or Microsoft Hyper-V virtual environments. To learn more about this product, visit: http://www.symantec.com/messaging-gateway
Other alternatives available at the time of your next renewal include:
- For customers who are interested in deploying a hosted email security service, Symantec Email Security.cloud helps protect organizations from email-borne viruses, malware, spam, phishing, targeted attacks and bulk email, enforces Acceptable Use Policies, and controls sensitive information without requiring on-site hardware or software.
- For smaller customers who are deploying Microsoft Exchange as their only email infrastructure, Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange provides tightly integrated antivirus and antispam filtering leveraging the same technologies as Symantec Message Filter.
To learn more about Symantec's complete portfolio of Email Security, Mobility and Management offerings, visit: http://go.symantec.com/email
For technical guidance on how to migrate from Symantec Message Filter to alternative offerings, visit: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO54705
For Service Provider Customers
Symantec Messaging Gateway for Service Providers 10.5 is the next release of software that represents a major update to Symantec Message Filter 6.3. New protection features, backed by the most extensive security network in the industry, deliver 99% effectiveness against spam, malware and phishing messages with less than one in a million false positives. Note: the Brightmail Control Center is not supported with this release and configuration is via Command Line Interface only. This product is only available / supported for Service Provider customers.
To learn more about this new product release, visit: http://www.symantec.com/messaging-gateway-for-service-providers.


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Home Gardner: What are these little bugs on my plants? The red ones are on goldenrod and the green & black striped ones are on a zucchini flower...thanks
What are these bugs?
By: winchell_hillSubscribe Channel: Weather
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says ... on Friday, Jun 22 at 11:23 AM
Thank you Awood94321836
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says ... on Saturday, Jun 16 at 5:15 AM
The critters are Red Aphids and Striped Cucumber Beetles. Ahhh the joys of gardening! Both can do some damage. I usually use a mild mixture of water and dawn dish detergent for aphids but the beetles I pick off. Hope others have better ideas for you!93811885
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Ring Inox Pendant Light
Price: $544.00
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Related Info
Design by Silvia Poma.Made in Italy by Zaneen.
The Ring Inox Pendant Light from designer Silvia Poma is available in three sizes. This pendant is offered with chrome fittings and a sleek polished stainless steel shade. Two perpendicular rings surround the light source, which creates ambient light. A geometric, minimal design from designer Silvia Poma.
Small model shown.
Material(s): Glass, Metal
- Small: 5.75"D X 9.88"H
- Medium: 9.88"D X 9"H
- Large: 15.25"D X 14.25"H
Lamp Type: HALOGEN, INCANDESCENT
- Small: 1 X 60W 120V G9 halogen lamp (not included)
- Medium: 1 X 100W 120V E26 (medium base) G30 incandescent lamp (not included)
- Large: 1 X 100W 120V E26 (medium base) G40 halogen lamp (not included)
Listing: CSA
Manufacturer Specifications: Click to download specifications.
Model(s): D8-1174 D8-1175 D8-1176
From the onset of Zaneen Lighting in 1981, their goal has been to provide discriminating clients with high quality lighting from European crafters. To this end they continue to introduce unique new models in a variety of styles while maintaining a commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
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We are gaining quite the extensive list of Valentine's Day Hairstyles, with some from as far back as 2009. Feel free to click the link to view them all!
Today we are going to teach you how to create a Rope-Braided Heart updo. This tutorial uses aspects from a few of our past Valentine's Day tutorials, and combines them with a rope braid to bring you this beautiful updo.
Be sure to tag your own photos of this hairstyle with: #CGHRopeTwistedHeart
We chose a rope braid specifically because of how perfectly it accents and frames the parted heart ponytail, without overpowering it.
To finish off the elegant Valentine's Day updo, we decided to add a cute rope-twisted bun at the base of the heart and at the nape of the neck.
Clearly we were going more for an older look with this updo, especially for those who do not feel comfortable wearing LuvPiggies this week! Brooklyn and Bailey love this one!
I can't even begin to tell you how much attention this hairstyle garnered as we wore it around this past week! I promise you will love this one!
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 3 small hair elastics, hairspray and accessory {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 8-10 minutes
Skill Level: Medium
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Please feel free to leave me a comment below letting us know what you think of this Rope-Braided Heart updo! As always, if you loved this hairstyle, please feel free to share it!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Be sure to check out Bailey's new tutorial for "Simple Valentine's Day Makeup" on her BrooklyAndBailey YouTube channel. Simply click below to watch…
For those of you who are super fans, you will know that we started this hairblog to document our girls' hairstyles back in October 2008. Just a few month later, in February 2009, we posted our very first Valentine's day tutorial on our website, which back then was taught in photos only.
Has it really been that long? That was five years ago! *gasp*
It has been a great journey, for sure, but one of the styles I posted that month was a simple Hanging Heart. Two years later, in Feb 2011, after our transition to using YouTube, I uploaded a video tutorial of that very same hairstyle on YouTube.
Today's tutorial is absolutely adorable, and you can share/pin it <——- here!
Here in 2014, for today's tutorial, we wanted to post an updated variation of the hanging heart, using braids to accent the hearts and doing them in triplicate. Princess Hairstyles also has another beautiful variation of a triple hanging heart.
You do not have to do all three braided hearts if you do not want to, perhaps you would only prefer one or two. In any way, the hairstyle will look adorable. {A flip-braided heart can also be perfect in any number of hairstyle combinations.}
Be sure to tag your own photos of this hairstyle with: #CGH3BraidHearts
{CGH#4 also wanted to be our model today, because right after filming we are cutting her hair into an A-line Bob. She has been wanting to cut it for months, and I have been the hold up. This week, I relented and we are both very happy with the new cut! We have already posted a photo on our Instagram page…}
Please click here to see a listing of all of our Valentine's Day Hairstyles!
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, small Topsy Tail tool, 6 small red hair elastics, hairspray {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 8-10 minutes
Skill Level: Easy
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Happy Valentine's Day!
Last week, my twins posted a Valentine's Day Fashion Lookbook on their BrooklyAndBailey YouTube channel. You can see the outfits they put together below…Comment on this post »
Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and as is customary, every year we try to add one more cute and creative hairstyle that you can wear for the occasion. {You can pick your favorite from our Valentine's Day Hairstyles playlist.}
Today's tutorial is absolutely adorable, and you can share/pin it <——- here!
A very good friend of mine, whose twin daughters we have used in some of our Disney hairstyles, texted me a photo of a heart bun that she created the other day and wanted me to see it! We loved it so much that we asked her if we could film a tutorial for it… he said that was her intention!
So today, we are going to show you how to create a Love Bun {heart-shaped sock bun}!
What I love about this hairstyle, is how simple it is to create the heart form out of a simple bun maker and a few hair elastics. I would never have thought of that!
So this Love Bun tutorial is dedicated to my friend Jill, one of my best friends and an even better vacationing buddy!
Feel free to tag your own photos of this hairstyle with: #CGHLoveBun
If you know how to make a sock bun, this hairstyle will be easy for you. You can use the bun alone, as I did in CGH#4, or in any number of combinations, including one I show you on CGH#3. You can also do two on top of the head, or incorporate a braid around the base, etc.
We've worn this around several times in the past two weeks and had people stopping us everywhere! If you want a comment-getter hairstyle for Valentine's Day, this is the one!
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 1 bun maker {hair donut}, 4 small hair elastics, 2-3 hair bands, 6-8 bobby pins, hairspray and accessory {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 5-8 minutes
Skill Level: Medium
Step-by-Step Instructions:
I know some of you will ask, but yes, you could carefully wrap the head in an old towel and spray the heart red with temporary color {adding a spritz of glitter spray as an accent}.
Please feel free to leave me a comment below letting us know what you think of Valentine's Day Love Bun idea! Of the two ideas shown in the video, which was your favorite?
If you love the look of this hairstyle, please help us by sharing it on YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc! I have a feeling that this video will go viral with your help if you send it to as many friends as you can! The Love Bun is simply too adorable to keep a secret!
You can also share the link by clicking any of the social share buttons in the floating sidebar to the left!
Happy early Valentine's Day!
A week ago, Brooklyn had her braces taken off and filmed it all for their BrooklyAndBailey YouTube channel. You can see the process, before and after, including her reaction by clicking below…Comment on this post »
This braid is similar-looking to a conjoined double Cobra Braid, only the stranding is different and very tricky.
This is not a new braiding technique, but the braid should be included on the list as one of the most beautiful braids out there!
I first saw this technique in video form on YouTube in Spanish back in July by a talented braider named Diana Rojas. Our version uses the technique diagonally across the back and ending in a braided bun for an absolutely gorgeous updo! {The braid would actually look great in any number of hairstyle combos.}
Tag your own photos of this hairstyle with: #CGHZipperBraid
We imagine this hairstyle as being a perfect updo for Prom, Homecoming, or any other formal occasion. You are going to simply LOVE IT!!!
My first huge tip is to wet down the hair before braiding. For braids that involve multiples in stranding, we find that this helps the braid be more clean and crisp in the final look.
As you braid, you may find a few "sharks" {parts where the hair sticks up like a shark fin in water} will appear. Simply comb them towards the braid and tuck them under it, to help hide them.
This is an expert-level braid that can be difficult the first few times, but is easy each subsequent attempt and truly amazing if you know how to do it! Again, the first few stitches are the most difficult, so keep practicing until you get it!
CGH3 has worn this to school a few days over the past few months. The girls at her school loved it so much that they were taking photos of them on their phones and texting it to their friends.
Apparently the photos spread to older sisters, who then showed the photos to my twins at their Junior High asking them to show me the style! My twins and CGH3 thought that was so funny how fast it spread, and came back full circle to us!
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 1 hairband, 3-5 bobby pins, hairspray {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 8-10 minutes
Skill Level: Hard
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Please feel free to leave me a comment below letting us know what you think of this Zipper Braid Updo! As always, if you loved this hairstyle, please feel free to share it!
Happy Hairdoing!
This past week, my twins BrooklyAndBailey shared a Book Review video, sharing their thoughts on John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, and Marie Lu's Legend!
Feel free to follow CGH on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos of our hairstyles and family!
Many fans have emailed or tagged me in photos from Pinterest and Instagram asking me to film a mermaid braid tutorial.
To be honest, I haven't loved the style enough to film one because I didn't particularly like how the strands pulled into the braid from the front and sides.
Thinking about it for some weeks now, it hit me that we should create a hairstyle combination using the Waterfall Twists as a base for the style… and then use the falling strands of those twists as the "add-ins" for the Mermaid Braid!
When I tried it out, as soon as I released the braid… it nearly took my breath away! We L-O-V-E-D it!!!
CGH#3 wanted to be my model knowing that today is Mother's Day, and she asked to do the video introduction as well! Isn't she adorable???
Items Needed: Brush, rat-tail comb, spray bottle, 1 small hair elastic, hairspray, and accessory {if desired}.
Time Requirement: 8-10 minutes
Skill Level: Hard
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you think, and as always… feel free to share!
Happy Hairdoing!
* Note from Mindy: Google Reader will be shutting down on July 1st, so if you want to follow our blog… you can do so at BlogLovin, a new easy-to-use blog reader for women!Comment on this post »
What do you get when you cross 34 yrs of living, 14 yrs of marriage, one HOT husband, five adorable daughters, one handsome son, and tons of great family and friends? Pretty much the sum total of who I am!!
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Vt. police seek robber who duct-taped own mouth
Barre police are seeking an armed robbery suspect who went into a store in the Vermont city and demanded cash while covering his mouth with duct tape.
Police say the robbery occurred at about 7:40 p.m. Tuesday at the North End Deli on North Main Street.
After demanding cash from the clerk the suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money.
The clerk was not hurt.
The suspect was described as a male, about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was wearing a gray, zip-up sweatshirt with a hood and black pants.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Barre police.
Copyright 2014 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on baseDave Barry
The saddest day of the year is the day baseball season endsTommy Lasorda
It baseball is an American institution and more lasting than some marriages, war, Supreme Court decisions and even major depressionsArt Rust
Baseball is what gets inside you, it lights you up, its supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The HARD is what makes it greatUnknown
One thing anyone can go through is a slump. Unless you're Greg Maddux, it's going to happen to everybodyMike Piazza
Ninety feet between the bases is the nearest thing to perfection that man has yet achievedRed Smith
Love America and hate baseball? Hate America and love baseball? Neither is possible, except in the abstractJohn Krich
I'd walk through hell in a gasoline suit to keep playing baseballPete Rose
Baseball is a lot like life. The line drives are caught, the squibbers go for base hits. It's an unfair gameRod Kanehl
The guy with the biggest stomach will be the first to take off his shirt at a baseball gameGlenn Dickey
With those who don't give a damn about baseball I can only sympathize. I do not resent them. I am even willing to concede that many of them are physically clean, good to their mothers and in favor of world peace. But while the game is on, I can't think of anything to say to themArt Hill
We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of timeVince Lombardi
Back then, my idol was Bugs Bunny, because I saw a cartoon of him playing ball - you know, the one where he plays every position himself with nobody else on the field but him? Now that I think of it, Bugs is still my idol. You have to love a ballplayer like thatNomar Garciaparra
I could never play in New York. The first time I came into a game there, I got into the bullpen car and they told me to lock the doorsMike Flanagan
Grantland Rice, the great sportswriter once said, 'It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.' Well Grantland Rice can go to hell as far as I'm concernedGene Autry
A baseball manager is a necessary evilSparky Anderson


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FIRST Robotics 2010 Championship Photo Gallery
The 2011 FIRST Robotics national championships are just getting underway in St. Louis's Edward Jones Dome. Here are some of our favorite mentors and teams from the 2010 competitionand their thoughts on what FIRST means to them. For more on how this year's game is designed, look for the special FIRST Robotics feature in PM's May iPad app, in the iTunes store now.
By Jennifer Bogo
Justin Ridley's path form FIRST eventually led to a job as a NASA flight controller. Now he's back as a mentor to the Robonauts in League City, Texas. "Engineers are good problem solvers, communicators and critical thinkers, and they work well on a team," Ridley says. "Those are all things FIRST teaches kids." Anybody can be a mentor, he says. "Teams needs lots of different types of support. It's really just about finding a team and raising your hand and saying, how can I help?"


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Tonight at The Orpheum in Ybor City, FL – in conjunction with WWN – Shine Wrestling presents its second iPPV, headlined by Mercedes Martinez taking on former WWE Women's Champion Jazz, who beat Sara Del Rey on SHINE 1 last month. You can read the results and our thoughts on the inaugural show by clicking here.
With a hand picked roster representing some of the best in the country mixed with some local talent and promising stars, Shine promises a heady dose of youth and experience. Order the show, or watch on VOD (or get both *and* a DVD) with the purchase options on WWN and join live event hostess Daffney – but if you're unable to be in front of a screen, click through to after the jump and join us for live coverage of the show.
Also, take a look at the new addition to the roster with the Scouting Report which we posted yesterday, which includes Jessicka Havok, Sassy Stephie, MsChif, Mia Yim and three members of the Ohio Valley Wrestling roster…
1. Su Yung pinned Kimberly by countering a Texas Cloverleaf attempt into a roll-up.
2. Sojo Bolt beat Heidi Lovelace & Taeler Hendrix in a 3-way when Bolt hit Lovelace with a Muscle Buster.
3. Mia Yim defeated Sassy Stephie with a SkyYim (Skytwister Press)
4. Jessicka Havok beat Reby Sky with an Air Raid Crash. After the match, Havok attacked Sky's left arm with a chair.
5. Rain pinned Santana Garrett in the corner with her feet on the ropes.
6. Leva Bates beat Portia Perez by blocking Perez's superkick and connecting with one of her own. After the match, Leva called for a SHIMMER Tag Team Title match with she and Allison Danger against Perez and fellow Canadian Ninja Nicole Matthews.
7. Made In Sin (Taylor Made & Allysin Kay) defeated MSEERIE (MsChif & Christina Von Eerie) with the Seventh Deadly Sin (wheelbarrow into an Ace Crusher). MsChif was taken out of the match when April Hunter hit MsChif in the leg with a club. Hunter was announced as their "insurance policy".
8. Mercedes Martinez vs Jazz ended in a no-contest after the match never made it to the ring. Two referees were beaten up after the match was thrown out.
• Kimberly vs Su Yung was a better opener than last month (Kimberly vs Veda Scott), but the biggest problem is that for an opening match, the fans didn't know who to cheer for as it was a fairly standard and good natured babyface vs babyface encounter. I got the impression that Kimberly was subtly heeling on occasion, but it wasn't overt. Su showed more personality in this one than in her match last month too. Decent match, just nothing that grabbed the viewer by the scruff of the neck.
• There's something about Kimberly that I dig though – and if she is going heel after two losses in a row, that's something I'm interested to see.
• The triple threat match between the OVW-associated women really came across as overly choreographed (with a big emphasis on three-way moves), *but* despite that it was entertaining. The three-way spots were at least pretty creative, and the three women were all able to depend on each other. One issue I had with the match was the lack of crowd interaction. Once the match started, everybody just did their stuff to the point where the match may as well have taken place in an empty venue.
• Sassy Stephie & Mia Yim knocked the quality up and worked the crowd for their match. Stephie was the first person to really give the fans a heel to boo on the show, and was aggressive with the likeable Mia. So far so good. Stephie pulling out a Lightning Spiral at one point was sweet, too (and just as well that the Dragon Gate USA commentator Lenny Leonard was on hand to recognise and call the move). Could've done with shaving a couple of minutes off the match during the heel heat segment, but otherwise a fine wrestling match.
• Jessicka Havok was the absolute perfect maniacal heel in her match with Reby Sky. She was distinctly evil, and made Reby look really good. Havok & Sky have worked together a number of times, and Havok knew exactly what she needed to do. In fact, if you want to make a star out of Reby Sky (and why wouldn't you?), Shine has specifically put her with the two best opponents for her in the first two shows. The post-match beatdown and chair use sets up a proper feud going forward where Sky will have revenge in mind. I'm fine with this. Not the most competitive match ever, but told a fantastic story.
• Santana Garrett's execution was very good – including pulling out some early lucha. Having been denied her match last month due to iPPV issues, this was my first chance to see Santana in Shine properly, and she seems fine – but doesn't have a hook. Rain was effective as usual, and she's won twice now with cheating… so there's something going on with her. Hopefully we'll get a reason to emotionally invest in Santana next month.
• PIRATES VS NINJAS?! It's like a crossover between Pro-Wrestling and Spike TV's "Deadliest Warrior"! Someone call Geoff Desmouillin! In all honesty, this was a fantastic performance by Leva Bates, who as noted came out as Capt. Jack Sparrow. Loads of credit to Portia Perez for this, naturally, but this was arguably the best I've ever seen from Bates in mixing comedy and serious – her Capt. Jack schtick was great with the drunken style and (water) pistol, but when it was time to work in some serious wrestling, build tension and deliver… Bates did just that.
• I really like Made In Sin, and they worked their schtick so well. Mentioned in the Scouting Report for Shine 2 that MsChif was likely coming in injured, and you'll notice she didn't take a single bump. Oh, you didn't notice? Yeah, MsChif is that good. But with 'Chif struggling, the pressure was on Made in Sin to keep the fire burning in the match, and that's exactly what they did. Allysin Kay was once again subtly directing traffic in there, and was there for all the major moments in the match – once again showing an experience level beyond her years. The addition of April Hunter is good, so long as Hunter is simply referred to as Made In Sin's insurance policy rather than taking away any heat as a manager or "brains" behind the team. I don't want to see Taylor & Allysin overshadowed.
• The main event was exactly what Shine needed… a match that would hopefully create some buzz and be good enough to cause people to go away and suggest that their friends buy a replay. Just a crazy brawl between Mercedes and Jazz. Violent. Hard hitting. In your face. The finish was definitely unsatisfying, but unsatisfying in a way that made you anticipate a rematch rather than feel like you lost your money's worth.
• Lenny Leonard was excellent on commentary, and Sara Del Rey did a fine job calling the main event with him. It'd still be handy if he had a colour commentator more often, but he was on good form.
• Shine 2 was a far better overall product than Shine 1, which I felt dragged in parts. We've got clear feuds and characters going forward in many of the major matches. Martinez vs Jazz 2 will be another war. Can Reby Sky get revenge on Jessicka Havok? What's going to happen next with Made in Sin? Will Rain cheat to win *again*? All of these combine into a pretty good reason why we should consider putting down $10 of our cash again next month to find out some answers.
— Stew Allen


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A staycation is when someone takes a vacation at home or in the UK. And according to the latest statistics, more people are taking them. International travel from the UK was off by nearly ten percent in 2009. But just because you have to stay home doesn't mean you can't have any fun.
One of the great things about living in the UK is that you have four countries you can visit in your own backyard. Transportation between Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland is affordable because they are all on the same island. Well, all except Northern Ireland. That makes planning


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In an open space salon accented by black and white paintings, Shear Bliss's team of stylists transform lanky locks into finely honed hairstyles. Whether you?re walking in for the first time or returning for a regularly scheduled cut, the team delivers on-trend or classic looks based on your style, goals, and face shape. And for folks looking for a more dramatic change, the crew can add a few highlights or infuse 'dos with a permanent curl.
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I'm looking for several of their molds to wrap around a cake I'm making, but their site hasn't been working and I notice a lot of their products going out of stock/listed as discontinued on other cake supply sites. Does anyone know if they've closed for good? Thanks!
post #1 of 5
1/5/13 at 5:09pm
Thread Starter


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Game Rules Index - Previous - Next
Striptease Solitaire
1 deck. Difficult. No redeal.
Striptease Solitaire uses one deck (52 cards). You have 4 tableau piles and 4 foundations. 13 cards are dealt to each tableau pile at the start of the game. 4 Queens are dealt first, followed by 4 face down cards. The remaining cards are dealt face up.
The object of the game
To move all cards (except Queens) to the foundations. You may build them up or down, regardless of suits. Kings are considered consecutive with both Aces and Jacks.
The rules
You can move the exposed cards from the tableau piles to the foundations. A foundation space may be filled with any card. You cannot move cards from one tableau pile to another. None of the face down cards are allowed to be turned face up until all other cards have been played to foundations. Queens are not played to the foundations.
There is no redeal. This game was invented by David Parlett.
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Flier numbers creep up at Las Vegas airport
LAS VEGAS (AP) – A monthly tally found about the same number of passengers using McCarran International Airport in May as in April, and a slight increase from a year ago.
Sponsored Links
Airport data made public Friday said about 10,600 more passengers used the Las Vegas airport in May 2012 than in May 2011. That was up just 0.3%.
Year-to-date figures show the number of passengers using the airport was almost 17.2 million passengers between January and May.
That's up 2.4% from the first five months of 2011.
McCarran ranks as the eighth-busiest airport nationally and 23rd worldwide by passenger volume
Southwest Airlines continues to be the airport's busiest carrier. United and Allegiant airlines had the biggest year-to-year increases in passenger traffic.
Posted | Updated


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Christiana Care Careers
Nurse Scholarships
Christiana Care Health System, located in Newark, Delaware, offers scholarships to qualified students through a competitive selection process. The Ruth Shaw Junior Board Scholarship program helps nursing and allied health students prepare for a challenging career and ensures employment after graduation.
The program offers financial assistance to students currently enrolled in nursing and selected allied health programs and eligible for graduation in 2014 or 2015. Scholarships cover tuition and textbook costs and are offered in return for a commitment to work for Christiana Care after graduation.
Applicants are selected based on academic achievement and a proven commitment to quality patient care. Current employees of Christiana Care may apply as well as all others who qualify.
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- Resume.
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- Unofficial transcripts from your current school.
- Two letters of recommendation, preferably from a clinical instructor or employer.
Those judged best qualified based on the above are invited to interview before selected representatives of Christiana Care. As a condition of receiving this financial assistance, students are required to commit to at least a minimum of one year of employment with Christiana Care.
We will begin accepting applications as of February 3, 2014. The deadline to apply is May 5, 2014. For more information, contact Patricia Bjorklund at firstname.lastname@example.com. Thank you for your interest in Christiana Care.


text: Revelwood provides IBM Cognos and TM1 Consulting, business performance management software to Fortune 1000 and mid-market companies. Our solutions (Business Performance Management Software, IBM Cognos, TM1 Consulting) help businesses strategize, plan, execute and take corrective action—at all levels across the organization—on a continual basis, in real time. Offering products (Business Performance Management Software, IBM Cognos, TM1 Consulting) implementation services, training and support, our business performance management solutions bring ease, speed and flexibility to enterprise planning, reporting, consolidation and analytics.


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A few of you have suggested actually planning out meals based on recipes and cookbooks, shopping for those recipes, and then completing the cycle by actually making those recipes for my family dinners. I have to admit, I've tried this in the past, and it worked well for both budgeting and planning, but sometimes things perished before I actually made the time to make that specific meal.
But, this time I'll do better.
This past Sunday, a friend of mine enlightened me with her plan of action. She works her way through her cookbooks one at a time, looking in her pantry for items already in stock, and adding to her shopping list as needed. She then keeps a running tab of recipes she has the complete list of ingredients for, making decision time easy at dinner time (well, in theory anyway). I thought I would try this plan, and went through two cookbooks doing the same thing. I picked recipes that were easy, and that I recognized the ingredients (big plus in my book). Now, I have a list of ten meals, and almost all ingredients in stock.
Look out family, Betty Crocker in training.
But, last night was another one of those nights I needed an appetizer, and commissioned my mother-in-law for some homemade cookies (which were a big hit!). One thing at a time, right?


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Ukraine More Than Doubles Gas Import From Europe
KYIV, Ukraine, April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Ukraine has increased its gas import from Europe through Poland to five million cubic meters per day starting April 1, 2013, reports Ukrtransgas, the Ukrainian gas transit state monopoly. This is 2.5 times the previous average amount of two million cubic meters per day. The gas supply increase has been stipulated in the contract between the German electric utilities company RWE and the national oil and gas company of Ukraine NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy.
Overall in 2013, Ukraine plans to import between 5-7 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Europe and reduce its import from Russia to 20 billion cubic meters. Comparably, Ukraine imported about 33 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia in 2012.
In order to achieve this goal, Ukraine started receiving European gas through Poland employing Ukrainian gas transporting system (GTS) in reverse mode since November 2012. Notably, in January- March 2013, the volume of gas Ukraine imported through Polish Gaz-System S.A. amounted to 2 million cubic meters per day at a price of USD 390 per thousand cubic meters.Since the beginning of the reverse gas supply Ukraine has imported from Germany about 100 million cubic meters of gas as of March 28, 2013. Interestingly, this was the day when Ukraine started receiving European gas through Hungarian operator FGSZ Ltd as well. The transfer capacity of Hungarian-Ukrainian pipeline amounts to three million cubic meters of gas per day with the possibility to reach 15 million per day after appropriate modernization is employed in April-June, 2013, reports http://www.liga.net. In addition, Ukraine also plans to import gas through Slovakia and Romania. As of today, there are four pipelines connecting Ukraine and Slovakia and if the parties agree to use one of them in reverse mode it could result in about 10 billion cubic meters of gas supply to Ukraine annually. The negotiations between Ukrainian Ukrtransgaz and Slovakian Eustream are currently underway. Reportedly the parties are expected to sign the Interconnection as well as the Technical Agreement in April, 2013. The negotiations with Romanian S.N.T.G.N. Transgaz S.A. have resulted in signing of the memorandum of intent. Ukraine is exploring the possibility of importing up to five million cubic meters of natural gas per day from Slovakia through Tekovo. SOURCE Worldwide News Ukraine
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The Poteau Spirit Center named its Stars of the Month for September.
Aidan Athey was so honored because he doesn't give up on the skills he is learning, and he worked hard in class.
Juliet Clarke was named the Gymnastic Star of the Month because of the improvement she has shown and her positive attitude of ŌĆ£I can do it.ŌĆØ
The Team Star of the Month is Abbey Billings because she listens well in class, and is working very hard as this is her first year to compete.
Macy Wolf is the Tumblebear Star of the Month because she is a great listener and tries her best.
Can you believe Friday night's games were the Week 6 contests for the 2012 high school football season? That means we're into the second half of the fall campaign. How time flies when you're having fun, right?
When games kicked off Friday night, several LeFlore County teams were in pretty good shape as far as playoff spots were concerned. Now, be mindful that this page and this column were finished before Friday night's games were finished.
MUSKOGEE ŌĆö Last fall, there was heartbreak for the Poteau Lady Pirates softball team, losing in the regional final on its home field. Friday afternoon, the Lady Pirates were hoping for a different ending in this fall's Class 4A Regional Tournament. Unfortunately, it didn't happen.
The regional host Hilldale Lady Hornets edged the Lady Pirates 5-4 in Friday afternoon's title game to end their season at 31-8.
In Friday's loser's-bracket final, the Lady Pirates rallied to down Sequoyah-Claremore 3-2.
Look for the complete story in Saturday's edition of The Poteau Daily News.
The Poteau Pirates football team hopes to be celebrating a happy homecoming at night's end after what they hope will be a District 4A-4 victory over the Fort Gibson Tigers. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. tonight at Costner Stadium.
Greg Werner, Poteau's first-year coach, believes his 10th-ranked Pirates are focused on the task at hand ŌĆö upsetting Class 4A's sixth-ranked Tigers.
For those fans attending tonight's District 2A-6 contest between the homestanding Pocola Indians and the Wilburton Diggers at 7:30 p.m. tonight at John Carter Field, they will be seeing pink ŌĆö literally.
Tonight's game will be the second annual ŌĆ£Pink-OutŌĆØ football game for the Indians.
The Spiro Bulldogs football team will have its fourth tough road test of the season at 7:30 p.m. tonight when they travel to meet the Eufaula Ironheads in a crucial District 3A-8 contest.
The Bulldogs (2-3 overall, 1-1 in district play) ended a two-game losing streak last Friday night at McClain Stadium by blanking the Idabel Warriors 17-0.
ŌĆ£It felt good,ŌĆØ said Chris Bunch, Spiro's coach, about last week's victory. ŌĆ£The kids are pumped up, and it made for a better week in practice.ŌĆØ
To Get There ŌĆö Take Oklahoma State Highway 9 west to Eufaula.
If there was a golden chance for the Bokoshe Tigers football team to get a win this season, it could very well be tonight.
The Tigers (0-5) will step outside of District C-4 play tonight for a 7:30 p.m. home game against Eagle Point Academy.
Last season, these two teams met in Bokoshe, with the Tigers posting a 48-42 win ŌĆö which proved to be their only win in 2011.
OKLAHOMA CITY ŌĆö There will not be a state champion crowned in softball from LeFlore County this weekend.
Class 2A's defending state champions, the Panama Lady Razorbacks, suffered an upset at the hands of Cyril/Cement Thursday afternoon at the Class 2A State Tournament at Hall of Fame Stadium. The Lady ŌĆśBacks lost 7-2 to Cyril/Cement in the state quarterfinals to end their season at 27-12.
MUSKOGEE ŌĆö The Poteau Lady Pirates softball team will have to do it the hard way to make it to the Class 4A State Tournament next weekend.
The Lady Pirates blanked Sequoyah-Claremore 2-0 in the Class 4A Regional Tournament Thursday at Hilldale High School, but then lost in the winner's-bracket final 4-3 to host Hilldale.
The Lady Pirates (30-8) will play Sequoyah-Claremore at noon Friday in the loser's-bracket final, with the winner having to beat the host Lady Hornets twice in the championship round ŌĆö which will begin at 2 p.m. Friday.
Kansas City Chiefs
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Chone Figgins of the Angels was added to the AL All-Star squad for tonight's game.
Starting third baseman Evan Longoria of Tampa Bay had to scratch because of an infected finger, and Texas' Michael Young will take Longoria's place in the lineup.
Longoria has an infected right ring finger, and on Monday the medication he was taking made him ill.
Figgins joins Brian Fuentes to give the Angels two All-Star representatives. Outfielder Torii Hunter was selected, but went on the disabled list Friday.
It is the first All-Star selection for Figgins, who is hitting .310 and has scored an AL-leading 68 runs.
RELATED: More on Figgins the All-Star
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Dr George's second photo page | Dr George's third photo page
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
My Fulbright experience in Uganda afforded the opportunity to support faculty in the Department of Nursing at Mbarara University of Science and Technology to refine the curriculum of undergraduate program in nursing (BNSc) and work with nurse leaders at three universities to establish a forum for addressing the development of professional nursing in the country. My research on risk perception among nurses afforded the opportunity to engage hospice nurses in conversations regarding how they provide care to this vulnerable population and at the same time protect themselves from harm.
On a personal note, this was my first trip to Africa. I was amazed at the resiliance of the people, the beauty of the land, the abundance of natural resources, the potential of the students, and the effects of war and disease on individuals, families, communities
Path to Staff Flats Mbarara University of Science & Technology
|MUST Guest House
|Mobile Hospice Mbarara
|Milk factory in Mbarara on the East African Highway
|Boda Boda Drivers (Moped Taxis major method of transportation). Old market in Mbarara
|Selling tires and salt at Mbarara market
|A typical shop across from the Market in Mbarara
|Ibanda Children's Home for HIV/AIDS orphans
|Preparing a fire pit for roasting goat meat
Contact George Burke: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Collaborating with Goose Island
Collaborating with our friends at Goose Island Brewing Company was a lot of fun and our Belgian-style ale aged in Muscat barrels was truly amazing, if we do say so ourselves.
Categories —Class of '88, Collaboration, craftbeer, Film
Collage Bottles & Beer Dinners
It's hard to believe but it's been two years since Alan Sprints from Hair of the Dog Brewing Company came over to Bend to brew Fred and Adam at our brewing facility for our first collaboration project. The Dissident and The Stoic were later brewed and all four beers were then transferred into a variety of oak barrels.
Categories —adam, Beer Dinner, brew, Brewery, Collaboration, collage, fred, hair of the dog brewing company, The Dissident, The Stoic
Brewers Collaborate to Create White IPA
A Convergence of Groundbreaking Genius
Rarely do two rivers converge in nature without some degree of turbulence. Fortunately, for everyone with taste buds, two esteemed brewmasters have pioneered a never-before-seen style with practiced composure and sure vision. Conflux No.


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Proven Winners® Shrubs
Proven Winners® flowering shrubs are not just another brand of plants. They are a select group of new, colorful, easy growing shrubs selected specifically for the North American gardener. There are over 100 new and exciting shrubs in this program, and each was selected based on strict criteria that makes Proven Winners® flowering shrub program unique and powerful. These shrubs are especially colorful and offer season long interest. Wholesale nurseries, garden centers, landscapers, and gardeners know and trust Proven Winners®.
How does a new shrub becomes a Proven Winners® shrub? Only the very best shrubs earn the Proven Winners® label. Proven Winners® searches the world for the best new shrubs and test them to make certain you get only the best performing shrubs, and most colorful shrubs. A new shrub must prove itself as superior to get into the Proven Winners® flowering shrub program. Novelty alone is not enough. Potential shrubs are evaluated to existing similar shrubs in a side-by-side evaluations and are graded on the following criteria:
► Is the shrub an improvement over current selections?
► Is the shrub strong and healthy growing?
► Does the shrub have superior disease and pest resistance?
► Does the shrub have multiple seasons of ornamental interest?
► Does the shrub serve a new or unique function in the landscape?
If a new shrub scores better in a side-by-side evaluation, it's then made available to North America gardeners. While no plant is perfect, Proven Winners® flowering shrubs exhibit the greatest number of key characteristics that dictate success for gardeners.
Sunny Anniversary™
Starting at: $16.99
- A First, Yellow Blooms
- Large, Fragrant Blooms
- Mid Summer- Fall Flowers
Adonis Blue™
Starting at: $16.99
- Fragrant Blooms
- Large 10-12" Flowers
- Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds
Lo & Behold® Blue Chip
Starting at: $16.99
- Compact Habit
- Flowers Continuously
- Great in Containers
Lo & Behold® Blue Chip Jr.
Starting at: $16.99
- Compact, Airy Mound
- Flowers Continuously
- Early Bloomer
Lo & Behold® Ice Chip
Starting at: $16.99
- Low Spreading Habit
- Flowers Continuously
- Great in Containers
Lo & Behold® Lilac Chip
Starting at: $16.99
- Compact, Tidy Mound
- Long Bloom Time
- Incredibly Fragrant
Lo & Behold® Pink Micro Chip
Starting at: $16.99
- Tiny, Compact Mound
- Dainty Flowers
- Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds
Lo & Behold® Purple Haze
Starting at: $16.99
- Spreading, Mounding Habit
- Great in Containers & Landscape
- Continuously Flowers
Miss Molly
Starting at: $16.99
- Rich Pink Flowers
- Fragrant Flowers
- Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds
Miss Ruby
Starting at: $16.99
- Compact 4-5' Habit
- Vivid Pink Blooms
- Fragrant Flowers
Starting at: $16.99
- Huge, Full Flowers
- Great for Cutting Bouquets
- Very Fragrant Blooms
Purple Emperor™
Starting at: $16.99
- Compact 3-5' Habit
- Very Fragrant
- Stunning Purple Color
Summer Skies
Starting at: $16.99
- Unique Variegated Foliage
- Long Bloom Time
- Fragrant Flowers
Starting at: $17.99
- Large, Bright Red Flowers
- Very Fragrant
- Glossy Green Foliage
Lil' Miss Sunshine™
Starting at: $16.99
- Bright Yellow Foliage
- Compact Habit
- Striking Blue Fall Flowers
Petit Bleu™
Starting at: $16.99
- Tight, Compact Growth
- Loads of Blue Flowers
- Deer Resistant
Sunshine Blue™
Starting at: $16.99
- Large, Bright Yellow Foliage
- Bigger Blue/Purple Flowers
- Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds
Sugar Shack™
Starting at: $16.99
- Compact Habit 3-4'
- Unique White Flowers & Red Fruit
- Glossy Green Foliage
Starting at: $16.99
- Compact Habit, 2-3'
- Fragrant Crisp White Flowers
- Yellow Fall Foliage
Vanilla Spice™
Starting at: $16.99
- Glossy, Dark Green Foliage
- Wonderful Fragrance
- Extra Large Bottle Brush Flowers
Little Henry®
Starting at: $16.99
- A Very Versatile, Compact Shrub, Easy to Grow
- Spring Brings White Bottle Brush Flowers
- Fall Brings Intense Red and Orange Foliage
Sicilian Sunshine™
Starting at: $16.99
- Golden Yellow Foliage On Red Pedicles
- Fragrant Leaves & It's Edible
- Tender Perennial, Hardy in Zones 8-10
Starting at: $16.99
- Adds Vertical Interest To Your Landscape
- Blooms Early Summer Through Fall
- Extremely Fragrant Flowers
Candy Oh!™ Vivid Red
Starting at: $17.99
- An Abundance of Candy Apple Red Blooms
- Dense, Mounding Habit
- Little To No Pruning Required
Home Run Rose®
Starting at: $17.99
- Deep, Dark Single Red Bloom
- Dark Green Foliage, Mounding Habit
- Excellent Powdery Mildew Resistance


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How much can you expect your business to make in gross sales? These figures vary wildly in the staffing services industry. Staffing experts say that privately held companies average somewhere around $750,000 a year. But we talked to several owners whose businesses make closer to $15 million in gross sales. More than one owner topped $1 million in sales the very first year.
Marking It Up
The profit for staffing services is in the markup they add to the price of an employee's labor. There's a huge range for markups in the staffing industry, but several owners noted that industry markups have increased in recent years. In fact, several owners noted that although industry markups have slipped in recent years, markup can remain high even in a slumping economy because there aren't that many qualified applicants to work with. In addition, today's workplace requires more skills and therefore more training.
Wide markup ranges exist even within the same company. For example, the markup for PDQ Personnel Services in Los Angeles is anywhere from 25 to 75 percent.
To determine the amount of markup you can earn for a particular type of placement, you'll need to consider all the following factors:
- Amount of competition
- Client relationship
- Industry sector
- Local standards


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Friends of Local Songwriters
When Sandy and I first decided to check out Chili Pepper Songwrite Nite two years ago, I never imagined that I would make it every single time. As I described in Storytelling in a Song, I was totally hooked. Since that time, I support however I am able to, whether it is sharing a status, going to someone's show, or recording video to help with a portfolio because I am able to and I like doing it. It has been my pleasure because I love listening to the music from the group and hearing their stories. There's more than that, though, because I have made friends.
The Chili Pepper show tonight was additional to the normal third Sunday of the month since a "Father" of the group, Marc-Alan Barnette (MAB), came to visit this weekend from Nashville.
Besides providing an educational as well as entertaining show, there were presentations included. One was to Rene, also known as "Uncle Bingo." Rene connected the seven in the Chili Peppers together, and is constantly doing that with and for musicians and songwriters. Tonight, he was personally thanked by the group with an award that was presented by Dani.
It didn't stop there, though. Clayton, who was the emcee for most of the night, handed the microphone over to Charlie. This time the award was for someone who was not just a fan, but an actual "friend." Reread what I wrote at the beginning and it basically is what Charlie was stating…about me. How cool is that?
I don't do anything because I expect something back. In fact, much of what MAB discussed was that songwriters write to touch lives and the money is a bonus. Expecting more probably means that you are in the wrong business. I support local music and musicians, and this is an awesome group. I totally appreciate and am humbled to receive the award and thank all the Chili Peppers for it. The only thing I am sorry about is that I cannot connect with them more regularly than once a month. Anytime I can, I definitely do.
If you want to know more, please visit (and "like") their Facebook page and also M89 Sports Bar & Grill.
Thanks for reading! (and liking/commenting)
Lessons in Baking Muffins
I haven't baked in a really long time. In fact, when I decided that I wanted to try a recipe for gluten-free blueberry muffins that came with a product I bought, it wasn't something I could do right away. First, I didn't have many of the ingredients. Once I was able to find the missing pieces (which included going to a natural health food store), I thought I was ready. For some reason, though, I could not find any muffin pans. I'm pretty sure I had them. If they did exist, then they must have been lost during one of my moves, which could go back a few years. Finally, I had all of the ingredients AND a new muffin pan. Whew! Like I said, though, I haven't baked in awhile.
The last couple of days have been cooler summer weather, and I decided to take advantage of that. My only plan for the Fourth is to relax and do things around the house, whether or not I go anywhere later. Baking muffins seemed like a good place to start.
I discovered more missing items – such as measuring spoons. At least I found my measuring cups! As you might imagine, though, I put too much or too little of some of the ingredients. Also, whether it was the measuring or the mixing or both, I could definitely taste some of the parts that would normally blend in better. Overall, though, if I hadn't tried, I wouldn't have known. This is being considered a practice batch, and the next attempt will be that much better after what I have learned!
Experimentation can be fun, as long as there is a chance to learn and not an expectation of perfection. Many times, the tolerance for having a learning curve is low. In those cases, I tend to not want to try in the first place, or feel super frustrated when it doesn't turn out right. On the other hand, when I can just have fun and note the things to change for next time, there really will be one!
What do you think?
Thanks for reading! (and commenting/liking)
Why I LOVE the Library
Ever since I can remember, I've not only loved to read, but I've also been a fan of the library. Since I grew up in a suburb of Detroit, I could have multiple library cards for the various cities. It was special to go to the libraries, especially what seemed like the "bigger" ones in the area. A close friend of mine actually is a librarian at one of those. Unfortunately, she is disheartened because of the financial issues the city, and therefore the library, is facing. In Kalamazoo, however, it appears to be a different story.
I have continued the regular use of the public libraries as an adult, and I have a card at Kalamazoo and a (reciprocal) one in Portage. I used to have several others until I stopped visiting the libraries and the cards expired. Even when I lived out in Gobles, I had a card through the Van Buren District Library, which covered the local city one.
As the facilitator of a book club, I find it important to make sure that book choices are available at one, if not both, of the mentioned libraries in the area. I also look for books on audio, which is a preference or necessity by some of the members. In this case, I am visiting at least once a month for a new book club book. Usually I am reading multiple books in a month, and visit more often than that.
Several years ago I learned how to utilize the library's local resource room. It is fascinating what one can dig up, whether for genealogy research, or local history. The seating is a nice and wide area, allowing space to work. Sometimes I sit there with a different project, just because.
A music service I discovered that has been useful is FreeGal. I can download up to three song selections each week. Although they don't have every artist available, the songs that I do find are MINE TO KEEP! I have added many that I don't necessarily want to buy or that I did buy as a CD and adding a download was an easy way to include it on my music player (which is my phone). I can use it through Kalamazoo only, so having a reciprocal card in Portage does not matter. It has to be your home city's library.
Since I am working on what I hope to have as a non-profit business, a free library program called ONEplace is available. They offer classes and other resources specific to non-profits. The few classes I have attended have been a great experience, both for learning information and meeting new people. It is challenging enough to start any type of business, and a non-profit has additional work that for profit businesses do not. It is nice to know there is support to learn how to best handle the situations.
The beginning of the month was the introduction of a brand new area to the library that I am super excited about! It is called "The Hub." They have computer stations set up with equipment to be able to copy items to a digital format, and another set of computers to create productions. Today I fully used the allotted two hours to copy old movies and one project from VHS to digital. Most of the movies were originally Super 8mm converted to the VHS. You can also copy pictures, negatives, slides, audio cassettes and vinyl LPs. Did I mention I was super excited? Right now they are only open a couple of days a week, and users are allowed two hours a day. I missed out on my other two hours earlier this week and have started planning for next week's. I literally could have stayed there all day and would have been quite happy about it. I cannot wait to try the production part!
Overall, a library has consistently offered me something of value my whole life. I am glad the ones where I live continue to have new ideas. Even for the basics of reading books, I can own less stuff yet receive the same value. If I decide I need the book on my shelf, it is still not as expensive as buying everything. Besides books and what was mentioned here, I can also check out music and movies and even e-books. Really, what's NOT to love?
Thanks for reading (and commenting/liking!)
Family Pet
As cliché as it may sound, I am heartbroken over the loss of my kitty. In fact, although I always referred to him with "kitty" in his name, it was more equivalent to being the youngest or only child and being called the "baby," regardless of the age. Whisker Kitty was just shy of being 14 years old when I had him put to sleep a week ago.
Based on the number of responses I had on posts about Whisker Kitty, I know many people relate. What is it that makes the loss so sad? Whisker Kitty was originally adopted while I was married. We had moved to the country and had mice problems. Getting a cat is what my (ex) husband suggested. I had never had a cat, or any pet, previous to that, since I don't count fish. Whisker was about 5 months old when we adopted him from the 28th Street Animal Clinic in Grand Rapids. On the day we took him home we had to stop for supplies– food, a carrier, toys – so he sat in my lap on top of my winter jacket (it was December). Between being sick and scared, he defecated while laying in my lap. If that wasn't bonding, I don't know what is. Although I didn't know much about cats, I learned along the way and we became best buddies. My "little buddy" continued with me on the adventure back to Kalamazoo from Gobles and even managed to "know" more humans he would hang out with when they visited.
It was not an easy road for either of us and it was nice knowing he would be around to greet me or guard or try to herd me towards wherever he wanted me to go. Although he actually had been sick for a while, it wasn't painful and he didn't exhibit any signs of being ill until I had to take him to the vet a couple of weeks ago.
The way I am handling this loss is to write and create an album. You are reading the writing I am sharing with the public. For the album, I can share the process and some of the pictures and background. Obviously, for a cat, there is only so much he did, and it would be true of all cats – eat, sleep, and play. He had favorite (indoor) spots, though, and favorite toys. Plus, we lived in four locations in Kalamazoo, with pictures in each. I am making a new digitally based album which includes scanning pages from his first "kitty" book and then adding more recent photos and stories.
My favorite pictures of all are the ones I managed to get of Whisker WITH me. It was not easy to do and every once in a while I would get a great one, including the one below taken on my last birthday. I'm hoping that like anything else, I'll be able to look at these and smile instead of cry. How long does it take to mourn a pet? My house feels empty right now. I am guessing it takes as long as it is going to take, and eventually I will decide if another cat will fill the emptiness.
What is your story?
Thanks for reading! (and commenting/liking)
Why the Bus Reminds Me of the Bar
Maybe it seems a weird comparison – the bus and the bar. However, after making a new "friend" on a recent bus trip while totally minding my own business, that's exactly what I thought about, since it would happen at the bar, too. I've been using the bus for most of my transportation during the last six or seven weeks, and here are some other reasons why I believe there is a similarity:
Most people take the same bus at the same time and either know others on the bus because of that, or they know people from the community. In these cases, it is a big network of friends, including the driver. At least half of the bus is in on the conversation, such as when I explained what the Color Run was on the way to it.
When it comes to the bar, people tend to go to the same ones on the same days and general times week after week. By doing this, they become familar and make friends with others who also follow the pattern. It is weird, then, when "Norm" isn't sitting on his favorite stool.
One time I was riding the bus and I watched as a guy got on for free, claiming that all he had in his pocket was a $20 bill. The bus drivers do not give any change and he was allowed on anyways, for free. This guy happened to sit directly in front of me, and when he turned around I could smell the alcohol. If you can imagine Joey's line from "Friends" coming from a middle aged drunk guy, "How YOU doing," and not think of a bar, then you might as well stop reading here. Luckily, something else caught his attention because he turned towards the front to speak to someone else, relieving me of having to say much.
And last, if not least, are the potential fights. The one I saw developing was between two females. Not what I really wanted to witness, although it was sadly funny. The instigator clearly wanted to get a reaction out of somebody. She was sitting in a seat near all the paper schedules and would grab some and throw them to the ground, and kept doing that long enough for another passenger to start yelling at her. As soon as there was yelling, the bus driver was involved, defending the person being yelled at, as in, the same one throwing papers to the ground. That didn't sit right and basically continued the argument, eventually leading to the litterer getting off at the next stop, the yeller picking up the mess and getting off the bus shortly after. She was upset because another passenger was being loud. When she complained to the bus driver, the response was that "talking is allowed on the bus."
I guess that makes the drivers the bartenders. They are still my heroes for their daily endurance, amusing or otherwise. I am thankful that the bus is an option. So much for getting away from the bar scene, though.
What do you think?
Thanks for reading! (and commenting/liking)
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Although titled the same, this post does not have anything to do with the popular book written by Shel Silverstein. Instead, it is about the actual sidewalks of the area. Or, rather, where they are supposed to be.
If you live in the Midwest part of the United States then you already are aware of how much snow there was to deal with during this winter. The fact that there were two snow days (in a row) at the university that is usually the last to close states quite a bit. What I want to know, though, is there really an excuse to not clear the sidewalks?
The picture above was taken in the past couple of days. It hasn't snowed that much in March, so it would have been a great chance to finish clearing any sidewalks that any place in the area was behind for shoveling. Yet, I walked through more snowy paths than I can even say. Some, I couldn't even tell where the sidewalk was supposed to be and had to walk in the street. I've been noticing many pedestrians using the streets, too, because the sidewalk doesn't exist! Drivers in the area complained when the roads were hard to get through. Great! Once those were done, why weren't the sidewalks finished, too? Who is responsible? I can't quite figure that out. I know it can be tough, too. I lived on a corner lot with a long driveway for three winters. The pedestrians and the postal carriers deserve to have a path to walk! It may have been tough to do, and I was glad when neighbors helped. Bottom line was that I did it.
And then there are the bus stops. Do you see the mountain to stand on around the sign? Considering that many who use the bus system may be using a cane, using a walker, in a wheel chair, blind, or bringing young children, why is a site like this the norm more than the exception? This picture was also taken in the last couple of days when the temperature was up into the 40's. It might look like a sidewalk exists. Actually, it was a muddy lake. I had no choice about wearing boots because even though the streets were clear, the rest was a sloppy mess.
What are other areas like? What can we do to bring attention to the public and fix this before someone dies from using the street as a pedestrian and gets hit by a car? What are your thoughts and experiences?
Thanks for reading! (and commenting/liking)
Sunshine Personality
When it comes to cats, although they each portray their own personality, they also do many things the same. The cat in the picture belongs to the neighborhood, as far as I can tell. While it bathed in the sun under my porch, MY cat had the same idea somewhere in the house.
The question is, what makes that personality, whether a cat or a human, shine through? At least as humans it seems we are bound and determined to "do things right." Sometimes that means listening to lots of advice. That advice can be contradictory, too. So, where do you draw the line? How do you choose what fits your own personality so that is true to you and shines through?
Cats, especially when left alone, do exactly what they want to do, when and how they want to do it. At least, I know mine does. He totally has his own personality.
The reason I'm even contemplating all of this has to do with speaking about Hacker Gals. It is something that was created based on my own insights, experiences, and passion for a problem I want to help solve as much as I can, at least locally. Advice on how to "pitch" has taken me in circles and I am hoping to break that trend. At first, it was a challenge to explain. Now, I know exactly what I want to say, and I sound rehearsed. It is not because I am presenting to a group that I get nervous, as many have questioned. My time in Toastmasters fixed that issue several years ago. I believe the nervousness is inward, and may be related to the fact that I want to do it the right way, with "it" being the business of creating and spreading the word about Hacker Gals. The best piece of advice has been to relax and let my personality show through, yet the "how" still escapes me. Maybe I'll curl up in the sun on a bean bag chair and present from there.
Have you found yourself in this type of dilemma? What are your thoughts?
Thanks for reading! (and commenting/liking)
Seeing Red
When it comes to "Hallmark" holidays, I pretty much could care less. I didn't always have that attitude. In fact, it is not from formerly being married where I miss holidays such as Valentine's Day. It is actually my grandmother (Bubbi) who made me smile most on any of these types of days. I believe when Hallmark created the different holidays, they had my grandmother in mind as much as couples and children. For as long as I can remember, my grandmother would take any opportunity available to send out a card, sentimental or otherwise, to family and friends special to her. She didn't need a holiday created to do it, either. My grandmother had a whole stockpile of cards, which was her trait in general (you could go grocery shopping in her pantry and she would not notice the difference because there was THAT much). That stockpile would usually include the current holiday of candy in the dishes on her end tables. Bottom line, today, on Valentine's Day, if I think about anyone, it is my grandmother.
What do you think?
Thanks for reading (and commenting/liking)!
Chocolate Convictions
If the term "muddler" were to have a picture with it in the dictionary, Dale Anderson, owner of Confections with Convictions, would probably be a top choice. Dale was the December 2013 speaker at the WMU Entrepreneurship Forum series at the Haworth College of Business. He started out the talk by mentioning that he didn't know why he was asked to speak, and he continuously used the term "muddler" to describe himself.
I have attended most of the lectures in this particular monthly series since it began in October 2012, and I always learn something new. The idea is to share the path of local entrepreneur business owners. Many of them would declare something similar to Dale – they didn't understand what made them special, and/or they considered themselves something other than a business person. For example, Dr. Robert Gadwood, President at Kalexsyn, considered himself a scientist who happened to be in business. His presentation can be viewed here.
What struck a different chord about Dale's talk is the emotions and heart that went into each part. You cannot help but tear up along with him during parts of his story, which can be viewed here. In a nutshell, while "muddling" through life post high school starting in 1974, he went from being a builder, to returning to school, to eventually deciding to be a counselor, to learning how to make chocolates and opening a shop specifically so he could help employ those with felonies or other convictions on their records. It is worth the 57 minute video and listening to it directly from Dale.
What do you think?
Thanks for reading! (and commenting/liking)
I wish I could say that more of my conversations in general, or, even since the one I wrote about in Making Life More Bearable regarding Startup Grind, were common occurrences. The fact is, I need them. I don't want them everyday or even always want them in person, and sometimes they are completely unplanned because it is someone else's topic.
For example, I posted this picture of the freight train on Facebook. It was taken through my living room window and I thought it was pretty with the snow. My friends had all sorts of comments. One thought it was "magical" and looked like days from long ago. Another asked if the trains ever woke me up (they haven't) while a third person commented on the potential noise in the summer. I cannot imagine it being that bad, especially after living on a high traffic street for the last few years. Of course, that still was trumped by my friend who had to point out that if there was a chemical spill, it would be much worse than the traffic noise I was used to. Ok…I cannot argue with that one. I asked him later how often that really happens and he told me it was rare. Yay!
The next day or so, I took this picture, from the same window, of the trees with the branches glistening in the sun. My landlady, who is also one of my friends, couldn't figure out which window I was at even after living there a long time. However, she also tended to look down and take pictures of the flowers which is not a possibility at all right now (plus, they were dug up before I moved in).
Probably the next best conversation was on email. It was pretty in-depth and I was much appreciative of it. But, what about the rest of the time?
Sometimes, I actually don't want MORE conversations because I'd rather think about (or re-read) what was discussed. Otherwise, it can feel overwhelming because I want to take action on many things and cannot choose where to start. Writing this out as a blog post helps me think about things and at least be able to refocus and decide what to do next.
And, if the conversation is going to be about the weather (this happens a lot in Michigan) or other generic topics, it probably won't last long since they don't hold my interest.
What are the conversations you like best? What other comments do you have?
Thanks for reading (and liking/commenting)!