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There are many features that your NB-9L CANON camera performs which consume more battery power. The absolute worst is using a camera light that is powered from your camera's battery. We recommend using the camera light that is powered from its own power supply or CANON NB-9L battery. Another is by never rewinding or fast-forwarding your tapes on your camera. Before you leave your house, cue up your tapes to the desired location with your camera plugged to the ac power supply.
All of our CANON NB-9L battery chargers are automatic. Follow the charging instructions that came with your charger. For most battery chargers with LED lights the RED light on indicates charging in progress and the GREEN light on indicates charging completed. You can also calculate the approximate charge time using this method. Divide the desired charge mAh by the charge rate of your battery charger mA. For example to charge 1600 mAh rated batteries that are fully discharged it would take about 2 hours using a charger with a charge rate of 850 mA. (1600/850 = 1.88 hrs.)
The original NB-9L charger supplied with your camera or camcorder charges battery through AC power only, but our replacement NB-9L charger provides you complete charging solution. Our NB-9L battery charger is wall charger and car charger 2 in 1, it allows you to charge the battery by AC (in house) or DC (in vehicle) power. The charger charges your battery directly and separately through AC/DC power. You don't need to attach your camera / camcorder with docking station. So it is very convenient to use. Moreover, our battery charger kit has a free European AC plug adapter included, which enables you to charge your camera camcorder batteries in most Asian and European countries.
As we are the CANON battery NB-9L and charger manufacturer, huge business laptop battery, external laptop batteries, camcorder batteries, digital camera batteries, multi battery chargers, laptop ac dc car(auto) adapters, two way radio batteries, cell phone batteries, pda battery and more portable device products, supply universal wholesale and retail delivery. We have automatic online order system, we are able to lower our battery and battery charger prices to keep our daily sales volume high. To balance service quality and profit margin, note we deal with online order only for cost saving, almost our communication is through email. Our email service system is real-time, we guarantee customers get information updated in time.
Payment: Click "add to cart" and then you will find "payment method". You can choose PayPal or Credit Card. With SSL, order at our site is very safe.
Warranty: All the CANON NB-9L batteries we supplied are with full one year warranty. You can pay more 25% for 2-year warranty, more 50% for 3-year warranty or more 100% for longer warranty.
Shipping: We will ship items to you ASAP. Order digital camera batteries before 14:00 Eastern Time, we can ship at the same business day. To different countries, we will ship items from different Warehouses. For Canada and US customers, Items will be shipped from US warehouse. For European customers, items will be shipped from UK warehouse. For other customers, items will be shipped from HK warehouse.
Returns: Defective products may be replaced if returned within 1 year from the date of purchase. If products do not work properly, please contact our customer service department first to resolve your problem. Do not return them directly to us without getting a RMA number. It may make us difficult to find your transaction record so as to delay exchange or refund process.
Defective products must be returned within 30 days from the RMA issuing date.
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New Revised Standard (NRS) | New International Version (NIV) |
35 That very night the angel of the Lord set out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; when morning dawned, they were all dead bodies. | 35 That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning--there were all the dead bodies! |
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New Revised Standard Bible Version Online) | 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) |

subset: commoncrawl


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Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
As you select categories, the number of matching recipes will update.
Find exactly what you're looking for with the web's most powerful recipe filtering tool.
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"We all liked this one, and the fact that it is so SIMPLE makes it even better in my book! I will say that if you use a mild salsa like we did (one of the corn and black bean salsas) that it was a little sweet so next time when we use a mild one we'll cut back on the jam just a little bit. Excellent make ahead freezer meal, but really, it's so ea..."
"I'm not a fan of mayo based potato salad so this was wonderful! I left out the olives since I don't like them, but my husband said it would have added something to the dish. We both said it was "repeatable" which is a good thing in this house! I also diced prior to cooking so I did not have to handle hot potatoes! I used dried dill."
"Since my husband's Celiac diagnosis just over a year ago, we are extremely limited on where we can eat out. Thai is one of those foods that is pretty safe. This dish is just like one we get out, but so much cheaper to make and so easy. Love it. I also used about half of the fish sauce as suggested by several reviewers. I used green curry past..."
"We've tried quite a few GF crusts, and just came across this one. The texture was wonderful and the slices could be picked up without collapsing! It even had good flavor! Pizza has always been a quick throw together dinner for us, but since we've had to go GF, I have not found a good QUICK GF crust. THANK YOU for posting this one! It's "repea..."
"This is a great recipe. My family loves pie spice so we almost double the spices in any pumpkin pie. No exception here. It did not take the full time to cook in my crock pot...maybe 4 hours or just over. A great alternative to a crusty pumpkin pie. Lighter on the waist and I used gluten free Bisquick since we cannot have gluten here. I'm mak..."
"I actually forgot the honey and it was wonderful! Flakey and delicious under my strawberry pie! It was a huge hit. New to GF due to DH diagnosis so thank you for your help."
"even better when you add chocolate chips!"
"Such a welcome change from plain old tacos! I forgot the salsa both times I've made this and it's still delicious. Served in tortillas or hard shells with cheddar cheese, rice and sour cream. We are salt sensitive and only used 1 beef bullion cube."


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Hi Howard, I was about to send you an email, but then noticed your message on the VanLuven site so I thought I'd check it out. I did receive your email back in 2003, but can't find my reply anywhere - if I didn't please accept my apologies. Yes, I'm descended from John Van Leuven & Mary Ann Pulver as well, through their oldest son, Benjamin who m. Jane Galloway. They are my 3x g-grandparents. I'd love to exchange info with you. Lorraine Notify Administrator about this message?
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If you want a fun and enjoyable relaxed-pace game or you're new to mobile gaming, you will love SwipeTapTap Casual.
SwipeTapTap Casual (or STT Casual) is a visual Simon Says game that offers 9 distinct simple gestures. If you like Bop It, you'll love STT Casual!
Play STT Casual and you will increase your reaction time, coordination, memory, and focus while having fun!
You can play STT Casual for a few minutes or a few hours!
Have fun.


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Life Bridges Inc. began as a dream in the mind and heart of Madge Lockhart. Her dream consisted of services for people with intellectual disabilities, services that extend beyond their school days and into their adulthood. Many people dream big dreams; few see them to fruition. Lockhart was determined to see the dream become a reality.
Lockhart recruited help starting with the First Christian Church on North Lee Highway. The church offered their kitchen, recreation hall and offices.
Ralph Summers joined Lockhart as a founding board member and others, such as Dr. Raymond Brown, soon offered their expertise.
The Easter Seal Society of Cleveland donated a van and hired a driver to transport the persons served to the church.
By 1975, the agency offered their first residential services. The group home was established in response to the need for residential services for individuals from other areas of the state.
Services provided by Life Bridges continued to grow through the years. The agency's leaders in the early years included Paul Renner, Ralph Day and Dan Gilley. Each of these served relatively short terms.
In 1980, Walter Hunt accepted the position of chief executive officer of the agency. This began a 26-year tenure that saw many exciting changes as services expanded, jobs were created and lives changed.
Individuals served by Life Bridges each came with a unique history and family situation. Some had amazing family support while others had no family support at all.
In the early years, many had never been outside their homes. Trips into the community and to the center for day programming were truly adventures as stairs were conquered, manners learned and new sights, smells, and textures were experienced.
From 1973 to 1992, employment services and day programming were located in various rented or borrowed sites in Cleveland.
There was great joy as the agency built a main campus on Old Chattanooga Pike. The campus boasts a 20,000-square-foot building that hosts the day program, therapies, medical services, and administrative offices. The campus also hosts a 10,000-square feet structure that houses the Hunt Opportunity Center (HOC). The HOC houses supportive employment offices and supportive employment opportunities for the persons served.
Hunt retired in 2006 as the longest tenured CEO of the agency. Dr. Luke Queen, who continued to lead through an era of growth, took up his mantle. Queen's tenure was marked by difficult economic times that included difficult to manage cuts in the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities budget. He continued as CEO through 2013.
This year, the position of CEO passed to Diana Jackson. She began her tenure at Life Bridges in 1981. She held a number of positions in her rise to CEO. Her leadership guides the agency to celebrate its past while ensuring a bright future.
Lockhart's dedication to her dream is clear as what began as an adult day care in her living room in 1973 grew across 40 years, becoming Bradley County's eighth largest employer with over 500 employees.
They serve just over 200 individuals with intellectual disabilities; providing individualized services such as residential, employment, day services, medical, case management, transportation and therapies. The operation spreads across 36 locations throughout Bradley County.
Life Bridges officials expressed appreciation for the support offered through the years from individuals, civic organizations and businesses.


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After two initial episodes that reminded me why I stopped watching Curb Your Enthusiasm toward the end of its previous season few laughs, lotsa aimless yelling the new season's third episode kicked off the muchballyhooed Seinfeld arc, and boy, is it ever a gas. Watching Jerry, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards bounce off Larry David makes you realize what Curb had been missing: worthy opponents for Larry to argue and scheme with.
The setup is impeccable doing a Seinfeld reunion show mostly so Larry can get back together with his wife, Cheryl (a gleaming Cheryl Hines). The execution, so far, has been flawless. Every actor knows precisely how to slip in and out of his or her original Seinfeld persona. Right down to Alexander's grudge against the show's controversial finale, every whine, every forced smile, every giddy giggle is earned.
Graded for the current Seinfeld arc alone: A


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Charles J. Fleck Sentenced in U.S. District Cour
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on April 2, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, CHARLES J. FLECK, a 38-year-old resident of Newman Lake, Washington, appeared for sentencing. FLECK was sentenced to a term of:
Probation: 2 years
Special Assessment: $100
Fine: $2,500
FLECK was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to misprision of a felony.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
In December 2007, XX and ZZ stole property from in and around Great Falls, Montana. The stolen property included two 2002 Polaris snowmobiles, three saddles, four tires, a Yamaha YFZ 250 dirt bike, and a Yamaha YFZ 450 racing All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). ZZ was acquainted with FLECK, a Newman Lake, Washington man, who was willing to purchase the stolen property.
ZZ contacted FLECK and offered the vehicles for sale. On December 20, 2007, FLECK reserved and paid for a U-Haul truck rental, with a trailer, through the U-Haul call center in Spokane. The trailer was to be used to transport ZZ's Volkswagen Jetta so that he and XX would have transportation back to Great Falls after delivering the stolen property to FLECK. FLECK reserved the U-Haul for one-day with a pick-up location of Great Falls and a drop-off location of Post Falls, Idaho. ZZ and XX picked up the truck and trailer on December 20, 2007. They loaded the stolen property, and the following day, on December 21, 2010 around 2:00 a.m., left Great Falls for Newman Lake where they delivered the stolen property to FLECK, dropped off the U-Haul and headed back to Great Falls in the Jetta.
FLECK's December 20, 2007 call logs reflect four calls to numbers associated with his rental of the U-Haul. Nine calls were made to ZZ. FLECK and ZZ communicated by phone eight times the following day, December 21, 2007.
FLECK's E-bay account records indicate that FLECK began purchasing parts for the motorcycle and ATV immediately after the stolen property was delivered. FLECK bought a 2000 Yamaha YZF 250 Frame with a "clean" title on December 22, 2007, and a 2005 Yamaha YZF 450 chassis with a "clean" title on January 14, 2008.
FLECK was interviewed by the FBI and a local law enforcement officer in August, 2011. He admitted to buying stolen property from ZZ and XX, but said he may not have known the property was stolen when he first bought it but came to that conclusion soon after. In a shed on FLECK's property, the FBI found a motorcycle with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) filed off.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Great Falls Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


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Why am I thinking there was already a Penny Arcade CCG?
Just got this in from ol' Mr. Bluehair...
FFG is doing a Penny Arcade 2-player non-collectible card game. I think that's great news, it's a really current license that a lot of non-boardgamers are into, I think it'll bring a lot of business to FFG and it sort of ties them more closely to a video games-savvy market.


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'Mission: Impossible 5' Moves Up to Summer to Avoid 'Star Wars: Episode 7'
Your mission if you choose to accept it: save 'Mission: Impossible 5' from being trampled by 'Star Wars: Episode 7' at the box office. Mission complete. While 'Mission: Impossible 5' was originally set to open this Christmas, just one week after the juggernaut that is 'Star Wars', Paramount has wisely thought this over and moved the new Ethan Hunt adventure up to this July.
The 'Napoleon Dynamite' Cast Reunited For the Film's 10th Anniversary
We previously showed you a look at what the 'Napoleon Dynamite' cast looks like recently with our Then & Now feature on the film, but we have a quick update. The cast - Jon Heder (Napoleon), Tina Majorino (Deb), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Haylie Duff (Summer) all reunited and took a photo together as the film's 10th anniversary approaches.
The Best Oscar Moments You May Have Missed: Jennifer Lawrence Trips, Travolta Trips Up and More
The 2014 Oscars were loooong. In fact, we can't be entirely sure that they're not still going on somewhere. So, you can't be blamed if you took a pee break, got up to get some snacks and/or dozed off and missed something. It's OK, we got your back. In case you missed anything, we have a full list of all the Oscar winners, plus this quick handy wrap-up of all the other fun moments you may have missed.
'Modern Family' Wins Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2013 Emmy Awards
Surprise, no one! 'Modern Family,' a show that has been nominated 57 times since it's debut and won Outstanding Comedy Series the last three years, once again won the Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2013 Emmy Awards.
2013 Golden Globes Nominations: 'Django Unchained,' 'Lincoln' and 'Les Mis' Lead the Pack
The 2013 Golden Globes nominations are in and we already can't wait for the awards ceremony! While the Oscars has Seth MacFarlane, comedic duo Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are taking over hosting duties for the Globes, which will be a nice change from Ricky Gervais' run these past few years. But enough of that, let's get down to the list of nominees!
Watch Tom Hanks' Touching and Funny Eulogy for Michael Clarke Duncan
Michael Clarke Duncan was laid to rest yesterday in Los Angeles and a number of his friends were on hand to share their memories of the larger-than-life actor including Jay Leno, Holly Robinson-Peete, Stevie Wonder and his 'Green Mile' co-star Tom Hanks. Below you can watch Hanks speak lovingly about his favorite Michael Clarke Duncan story, which had the audience laughing.


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Liar Poker also known as Liar Dice is an easy to learn and competitive game played with 5 poker dice which are traditionally rolled inside a leather cup.
The variant played here is « individual hand » and is played as follows :
You are playing against iPhone or iPad.
The starting player rolls the dice by shaking the cup and passes the cup to the next player along with a bid
The next player accepts or challenges the bid
If a bid is challenged , the dice are revealed :
oIf the actual dice hand is equal or better than the bid, the challenger loses a life (point)
oIf the actual dice hand is lower, the claimant loses a life (point)
If the player accepts he or she rolls the dice and makes his or her bid :
oBefore rolling the dice, the player may move some of the dice in or out of the cup in order to maximize the bid.
oNext he or she will either roll some of the dice outside of the cup or roll the remaining dice inside the cup before making his or her bid.
The winner of the round starts again a new round
When a player has lost all his or her lives (5) , the player is out and the remaining player wins the game
The are 5 dice : each dice is marked with Ace(A), King(K), Queen(Q), Jack(J), 10(T) and 9(9), indescending order of value.
The bids are = Singleton(S) , Pair(P), Double Pair(DP), Three of a Kind(TK), Full House(FH), Fourof a Kind(FoK), Five of a Kind(FiK)
* time constrained game:
* 60 seconds per turn
* no time limit per game
*User manual and game rules described in flip-over screen accessible via button i .
* you can restart the game as often as you want, the score is displayed on the screen
* warning: addictive game!
Screen information :
The dice are shown in a circular frame representing the cup which can be opened and closed by double tapping the screen
The dice can be dragged in/out of the cup to the rectangular frame below the cup
A second rectangular frame contains the bid labels permitting to formulate the bid by tapping repeatedly on the each label until the requested combination is shown.
The last line represents the final bid in the middle to be double tapped to confirm ones own bid or to challenge the other player's bid.
The i on the last line gives access to the user manual and the game rules.
The remaining lives (points) from each player are shown at each side at the bottom of the cup. The score is shown at each side at the top.
If you have any technical problems please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
For more information please visit : http://www.baltico.fr


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Indicative Rate* $2.00 to $30.00 Accommodation Only
The Stonehenge Caravan Park is centrally located in Stonehenge diagonally across from the hotel, the hub of the town. The park has four powered sites but ample room for extra vans or tents. An ablution block complete with unisex facilities for guests with a disability are provided. A barbecue has also been erected in the grounds for the visitors' convenience. Surrounding the park is landscaped gardens providing an inviting appearance to the visitor.
Children are welcome.
There is access for guests with a disability.
Pets Allowed:
Yes. Pets are allowed, must be restrained at all times.
General Comments
The Stonehenge Caravan Park is located in a small remote township where locals are only too happy to talk about their small community. Hospitality is genuine. Don't be one to say let's bypass Stonehenge because you will never know what you missed out on.
How To Get There
If you are travelling from Longreach it is an hour and a half drive or 151 kilometres in a south-westerly direction. From the south you may travel from Quilpie through Jundah and onto Stonehenge or if you are travelling from Birdsville turn at Windorah and head up to Stonehenge, through Jundah.
Tariff Text
The park is unmanned therefore entry is welcome at any time. Fees can be paid at the Information Centre or by using the honorary system.
Space is available for both tents and caravan/cars or trucks wishing to stop over without using a powered site
From | To | Inclusions |
$2.00 | $5.00 | Adult Room Only |
There are powered sites available to suit car, van, trucks or buses
From | To | Inclusions |
$10.00 | $30.00 | Adult Room Only |
* Please note: These rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available costs of listed products and services. To obtain a firm price from the provider, please use the contact the operator. All prices are quoted in Australian dollars.


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The Obama administration is engaged in the sort of mental gymnastics it usually adopts before making a big decision. The administration is "discovering" the shocking fact that Syria's ruthless autocrat, Bashar al-Assad, has been using chemical weapons against his own people.
Claude Rains did this routine much better in Casablanca.
Before the rebellion, Assad was a brutal dictator. Once it started, he had no qualms about using artillery and air-strikes against civilians.
The administration wants to treat chemical weapons as a "bright red line" – but really, does it matter to a mother whether the immediate cause of her child's death was an explosive or poison gas?
The Obama administration talks about "war crimes," which is not an irrelevant point in the legal and diplomatic aftermath of war.
But whatever might be said of ancient warfare, when brave men faced each other breastplate to breastplate, modern warfare is mostly about random destruction and the death, dismemberment, and displacement of innocents.
All wars are crimes.
The best policy is to fight them only when necessary, and then, fight them as quickly and successfully as possible.
From the beginning of the Syrian uprising, it's been clear that American troops would eventually be called upon to end it.
Israel could do it, but only at the price of stirring up every lunatic in the world's biggest outdoor madhouse.
Europe should do it, but Europe can't decide where to have lunch.
Russia, as usual, is on the wrong side.
So it comes down to us.
Why should we care?
One reason: In modern history, the longer a rebellion goes on, the more certain it is that ruthless, fanatical bastards will rise to the top.
Americans tend to forget this. Our great experiences with revolution both ended up with Virginia gentlemen – George Washington, Robert E. Lee – as the most visible figures on the rebel side. Those were old-school revolutions – largely fought by men in uniform who conducted war by a set of rules. Guerilla warfare and terror were exceptions.
Those days are gone.
It's true that, today, revolution can often be achieved without firing a shot. When that happens, the new order is sometimes led by civilized men and women.
But once it comes to slaughter, the work of toppling the old regime usually ends up in the hands of warlords, butchers, racial bigots, or religious fanatics.
And we don't need that. Syria is too strategically placed. And it does have those chemical weapons.
None of that seems central to the President's thinking. He's obsessed with public opinion and his own strange set of internal rules.
So America's official position has gone from cheering from the sidelines to providing slowly increasing amounts of "non-lethal aid" to those rebels it identifies as "good guys" – as opposed to Al-Qaeda-affiliated "bad guys."
Now, it appears, we're providing minimal training to some of the "good guys" at undisclosed locations in Jordan.
And the administration has begun talking about chemical weapons and "red lines."
So off we go again, winding our way down a long, twisting path to war. Pretending that there is some tidy test for deciding when an evil regime has proven itself sufficiently evil to justify sending our soldiers into harm's way.
There is no such test.
The decision to go to war is not a judicial process. It's a strategic decision – and an act of national will.
In the case of Syria, the United States would be better off acting to end Assad's tyranny quickly. And that's the only consideration that means anything.
As a human being, I care whether Assad has used chemical weapons against his own people.
But as an American, that's a minor consideration. The world has any number of vicious tyrants. It's not our job to depose them all.
Syria matters – to us. But if we go into Syria, we must go in with a strategy.
We should go in fast. Arrest – or, preferably, shoot, the key members of the old regime. Destroy all stocks of chemical weapons. And leave.
I'm no Napoleon, but it seems to me that – when we invade a foreign country with no recent history of the rule of law, individual liberty, or elected self-government – we should just take out the bad guys and go home.
With the message that, if that country ends up with another hostile tyrant, we'll be back to do the same to him.
That's what we should have done in Afghanistan.
Assuming we went in at all, that's what we should have done in Iraq.
Now, if some country invites us to help them build a modern nation, without having to invade, I'm fine with that. That sort of nation-building is worthy of America. We might even learn something.
But building a nation among people who have known only tyranny, oppression, or tribalism – that's making bricks without straw.
We should have learned that by now.


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I live in a brick house with a concrete foundation. Along the length of the house, I've planted a new perennial garden this year which was loaded with mushroom compost and topped with shredded cedar mulch. I've seen rabbits in our yard but no other critters (other than squirrels). About 2 weeks ago, I noticed a hold dug in the garden right up against the foundation and pointing toward the foundation. It was about 3 inches in diameter. I sort of closed it up by pushing the cedar over it. We just returned from the long weekend and this hole is freshly reopened but there's a second identical hole about 3 feet away. Is this typical for rabbits or might we have something else that I haven't yet seen? The only plants that have obviously been eaten are pansies that I used as filler. Any ideas? |
Follow-Up Postings:
Most likely it's chipmunks. |
I vote for gophers. If it's gophers, I've been most successful getting them by baiting a live trap with peanut butter covered apples. Jerger |
We have had chipmunks living under our porch slab for years. They don't bother anything and are very cute. Also, toads use the chipmunk burrows, and they are beneficial. I first noticed the chipmunks during winter a few years ago. Actually what I noticed were the tunnels they were leaving under the snow. I started just putting sunflower seeds down the holes by the slab in winter time. I looked chipmunks up in the terrific University of Illinois Press book, "Mammals of Illinois," and it looks like they eat some insects. I have never had any trouble with them. |
- Posted by littlebug5 z5 MO (My Page) on Tue, Jul 5, 05 at 11:37
I have something digging in my beds too. I'm betting on oppossums or coons. One day I had planted a clump of ornamental grass, the next morning it was pulled out of its hole. I planted it again, and the next morning it was pulled out of its hole. I planted it again, and it has stayed. Holes keep appearing under a walnut tree where I planted some marigolds. New holes keep appearing every once in a while, and some marigolds were destroyed. It doesn't appear as though the plants were eaten though; just uprooted. |
Thanks for all your comments. I've never seen chipmunks in the 6 mos. we've been in this house but these 2 holes are about as wide around as 2 chipmunks. This morning, the coverup that I had done last night was still in place. These holes are weird because they aren't too near the plants/roots and are pointed toward the concrete (no cracks in the foundation at that spot). I've had squirrels rip out annuals many times in the past and they didn't do that this year so that's why I was trying to see if it might be something else. I may try cutting some chicken wire and laying it under the mulch in this area because there aren't plants in the way. It's weird but now that I think about it, the holes were about as big around as a medium size squirrel body. I've also heard we have an opossum in our neighborhood so I'll keep my eyes open for that, too. If new holes appear in a different spot after I chicken wire, I'll go with the live trap idea. So far, there's been no damage to the plants. Thanks, all. |
- Posted by Elisabeth_Rose z5 IL (My Page) on Tue, Jul 5, 05 at 17:14
Rabbits for sure!!! We had the same problem last year. We noticed the rabbits in the yard and thought "how cute". Well, once the plants started coming up and the annuals went in the ground, we discovered that pansies are their absolute favorite meal! We have a fenced yard and thought that they came in through the gate that was often left open, so we started closing it, and then the digging began! They dug, we covered it up and they dug again. I replaced the pansies, and they ate them too, along with other things they had developed a taste for. We just gave up last year, but when they started again this season, war was decleared! We talked about it but could not bring ourselves to poison or trap them, so we dug down about 18" all around the fence and installed a wire shield that was attached to the bottom of the fence and covered up again. It was a HUGE job, but worth it! We still see the rabbits hopping by on the way to someone elses pansies, but ours are left alone and looking beautiful. If I ever find a rabbit in my yard again, it will not be pretty!!! |
Thanks everyone. Just came in from a face to face standoff with one of the snippiest rabbits I've ever encountered. I stomped my feet, chased the thing, threw a plastic hand held garden fork near him - the bugger wouldn't leave! Finally, though, I chased him out of the yard...and sadly right into our neighbor's yard. I'll be doing the wire shield routine this weekend, covering up all available holes on the 3 fenced sides of our yard and I'll be building some kind of barricade (to be determined) on the 4th side. If that doesn't work, we go the live trap route. Right now, I'm definitely not thinking "how cute"! Thanks everyone. |
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Tue, Mar 3, 09 at 19:56
I have an antique ornamental structure that I think was intended to be a tomato cage, but I find it impractical for that purpose, so I decided to use it to dress up the garden. I have a row of zucchinis and a row of crooknecks with a space in between intended for a companion--but I have so many nasturtiums, marigolds, etc. that I'd rather just do something pretty that won't hurt, rather than worry about extra help. The cage is only about 3 ft. tall, but I'd like something to climb and wrap around it to give a nice spot of bright color. Suggestions? Is passion flower friendly with zucchini? I had thought of that with our hot, dry climate (Southern California). Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by eaglesgarden 6b - se PA (My Page) on Fri, Mar 6, 09 at 9:21
I've heard nasturtiums go well with squash. |
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COLUMBIA, Md. (AP) — Howard County police say two people are in serious condition after a car wreck in Columbia. Police say the crash occurred at roughly 1 p.m. on Saturday. Police say the driver…
Police in Howard County arrested a Columbia man in connection with the sexual assault of an 86-year-old woman.
COLUMBIA, Md. (AP) — Merriweather Post Pavilion is getting a makeover. Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced a $19 million plan Monday for improvements to the outdoor concert venue in Columbia. The renovations planned over…
Police are investigating three reports of a suspect touching women inappropriately on pathways in Columbia, Md.
A home in West Laurel is a danger to the public after strong winds sent a tree crashing into its roof like an ax.
Warm weather means great outdoor festivals, and this year is no exception. Tim Bracken previews the M3 Festival.
Four small bombs exploded in the same country where President Obama has joined leaders from North and South America for a summit.


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30 Jun 2014
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Politics & Society
THE WORKING summit of the ruling Smer party at the end of June brought a number of changes in its leadership. In reaction to the recent drop in party preferences, as well as the failure of Smer leader Robert Fico in the presidential election, Smer replaced its deputy chair, Vladimír Maňka (who also works as the party's MEP), with Peter Pellegrini, the Finance Ministry's State Secretary and head of Banská Bystrica regional Smer structures. Culture Minister Marek Maďarič, who offered his resignation following the presidential election, thus taking responsibility as the leader of Fico's presidential campaign, was re-elected into his post during the June 28 summit. Fico admitted that the party is preparing to make changes in the cabinet too, but did not go into detail. Replacements in the cabinet are to be announced the first week of July. In his speech to the delegates, Fico was critical towards his party colleagues. Regional top party chairs are encouraged to table proposals for personnel changes concerning district chairs, if changes are needed, TASR reported. Regional and district party councils are expected to carry out personnel audits of nominees in state managerial posts and public administration. "It happens sometimes that a party nominee makes a bad reputation for Smer," Fico said, as quoted by TASR. "There are only two criteria - whether they fail morally or fail in the area of their expertise.... We need to act as social democrats in all spheres. Unfortunately, that is not always the case." The party agreed at its summit to pursue what Fico called a post-consolidation "positive package" of changes, and presented this as the main message from the party to the public on June 28. Smer maintains that Slovakia has been successful in consolidating public finances and therefore is now free to usher in measures designed to improve living standards, Fico said, as reported by TASR. "This positive package will cost approximately €250 million, but we dare to do this as we have not only good consolidation under our belt, but successfully managed also the fight against tax evasion and enjoy higher income from taxes as a result. This is all very good news," said Fico, as quoted by TASR. The set of measures will consist of increasing the minimum wage and Christmas bonus contributions, reducing levies in the category of mid- and low-income employees, the introduction of a minimum pension, the option to simultaneously receive a wage and welfare on a temporary basis, a double-digit drop in gas prices for households in 2015-16 and boosting the capacity of kindergartens. Smer also wants to increase discounts for train commuters from 35 percent to 50 percent, to usher in train transport free of charge for all pensioners and students of primary schools, high schools and universities, enlarge student exemptions from levies on employment agreements, raise contributions for teachers' assistants of mentally handicapped students, support professional education, lower taxes in the sphere of research and development and implement the option to pay VAT after payment for received invoices, TASR reported. Finance Minister Peter Kažimír claimed that this set of measures will not endanger Slovakia's fiscal targets. "It won't be at the expense of either the deficit or the public debt. In order to embrace such an initiative, we had to put public finances to order first," Kažimír said, as quoted by TASR, adding that the government wants to cover this with income received from fighting tax evasion. The opposition has slammed the measures announced by Smer as a populist gesture and a start of the campaign before the 2016 parliamentary election that the taxpayers will have to pay for. More from Politics & Society |
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Oban, 4th December 2014 – We invite applications for the role of Director of SAMS and CEO of the entire SAMS Group. This requires a dynamic individual with commitment to our vision and values, who can provide strategic leadership to sustain and develop SAMS, building on our existing strengths of research, education, public engagement and enterprise provision. Click here for more
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Roll for initiative! The highly under-appreciated Dungeons and Dragons Online is always moving forward with new and interesting content, and recent weeks has seen all-new attack rolls on that front. They just recently released all-new high end content, an all new starting zone for incoming players, and a strong creation guide for working up a new character. Turbine has generously offered up half a dozen game time cards for the game, allowing players a full month of playtime. Each are worth about $15, making this giveaway worth $90 in total.
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling us whether you've ever played D&D. Whether on the tabletop, in DDO, in one of the classic PC games, or in one of the more recent console games there have been plenty of chances to roll that d20. You'll need to comment before 7:00 AM EST Saturday, November 8th. You can only enter once per person, and after the contest closes we'll ship out thes fantastic prize to 6 randomly-selected winners. Give us at least a week to ship out this massive pile of swag, though. To win you must be age 18 or up and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec). For full eligibility details, we suggest you read our official rules. Good luck!
Reader Comments (232)
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 1:55PM Snorii said
I've played DDO a little bit. I imagine it would be a lot of fun if you found a regular group of friends to play it with.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 1:55PM ttvp said
While I can't profess to having the most D&D experience, I have had my fair share with the tabletop game, since 3rd edition. Currently doing a 4th edition game every other week. Also played the Baldur's Gate games and Neverwinter Nights. Good times. Played some D&D Online during and after beta. Good game but I didn't have the income to support another MMO at the time. This would be awesome and give me a chance to check out all the new features, especially the monk.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:04PM Ironraptor said
Olayed 2nd edtion 3rd and 3.5. Loved the bioware games
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:03PM (Unverified) said
Tabletop D&D began for me in high school, but moving away to college made it difficult to continue. During and after college, I found solace in Neverwinter Nights until finally I found that DDO was being launched. Since then, DDO has been my main source for DnD.
@Snorii - DDO is even better with a regular group of friends. Guilds are a great way to play the game with the people you enjoy being with.
@Snorii - DDO is even better with a regular group of friends. Guilds are a great way to play the game with the people you enjoy being with.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:25PM preciousj said
Played back in the days of the Red Box. Yeah, I'm old.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:09PM (Unverified) said
Pen & paper, and various electronic versions. I played DDO in beta and release, but it never really grabbed me. I've been interested in checking it out again, but not really interested in paying for it.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:14PM Anatidae said
I would play the game if I won! I have been meaning to check it out. Maybe this will be my time.
Posted: Nov 9th 2008 9:04PM drunkenpandaren said
Planescape: Torment
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:25PM (Unverified) said
I love DDO, I think it is a very high quality MMO like the original Asheron's Call. I played other D&D games before this one but DDO allows another level of interaction and regular new content that makes it the best electronic D&D game available.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:17PM (Unverified) said
This would be a perfect gift for my son as he is a huge fan and player of D&D...Christmas is right around the corner and this would make his day. I enjoy him playing the games with a group of older adults next door because I know that he stays out of trouble. He has fun and his imagination swores. Please count me in for your giveaway...this would be a remarkable win for me and an awesomely cool gift for my son (who is 15)...
Thanks a million, Barb :)
Thanks a million, Barb :)
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:20PM (Unverified) said
Yep, I've played some 4.0 tabletop D&D before. DDO is great fun!
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:23PM (Unverified) said
Oh, yeah. I've played D&D in various forms for something like 18 years. I've played most of the computer iterations, too. In fact, I'm going to visit some friends tonight to continue our adventures in Paizo's excellent Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path. Also, I am an avid DDO player. I love me some d20s!
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:53PM (Unverified) said
I play DDO!
And you should too.
And you should too.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:31PM (Unverified) said
I used to play DDO but it was rough solo in the early days. Hear it is better now and would be interested in finding out.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:47PM BelShamharoth said
Some of my favorite memories are playing with my friends.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 3:28PM (Unverified) said
I started in '84 when AD&D was on the shelves, still have my basic set with the dice and the crayon in it. Played Pools of Radiance the first month it was out on my Commodore 64. Then Curse of the Azure Bonds, and now DDO.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:51PM (Unverified) said
Yup, I started with Basic Edition, then Expert, then Advanced. I skipped over AD&D 2.0 and jumped right to 3.0. We partially adopped some 3.5 rules but never moved to it and will never move to 4.0, its a piece of junk. I've been playing DDO for about 2 years, and its great fun, if you haven't played or haven't played recently, now's the time!
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:45PM (Unverified) said
Been playing in one form or another for 15+ years. Started out in live action as a teenager, moved onto tabletop around age 20. Played dnd online for awhile when it came out, and am back to playing tabletop now every other Sunday :)
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:47PM au071 said
Only PC games.
Posted: Nov 6th 2008 2:52PM (Unverified) said
First played D&D 2nd edition while in middle school. Moved onto 3.0/3.5 when it was released but reluctant to welcome it with open arms. Just recently purchased the 3 core books for 4.0 and have only played a very brief game of it at the local brick and mortar shop.
I've also played nearly every D&D based PC game that there is to date.
I've also played nearly every D&D based PC game that there is to date.
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PAX South 2015: Camelot Unchained's proactive approach to community management
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- Dec 8:
- Planning Commission tells Marin General Hospital to revise construction plan
- Oct 22:
- Marin Voice: Putting Marin General's patient care goals in order
- Sep 10:
- Judge rejects Marin General Hospital ballot measure challenge
- Sep 9:
- Critics launch last-minute legal challenge to Marin General Hospital lease
- Aug 15:
- Marin General Hospital managers begin effort to trim expenses 3 percent over the next 18 months.
- Aug 2:
- Patients gave Marin General Hospital average ratings in federal survey
- Mar 18:
- Marin General Hospital building plan features fewer patient rooms, new parking scheme
- Mar 17:
- Marin General Hospital administrators say hospital is safe, nurses concerns unfounded
- Mar 15:
- Doctors at Marin General Hospital enthusiastic about robot-assisted surgery system
- Mar 11:
- Marin General nurses petition administration to address patient care concerns
- Jan 7:
- Marin General Hospital reaches tentative agreement with United Healthcare
- Dec 5:
- Marin General, UnitedHealthcare approach contract deadline
- Nov 17:
- Editorial: MGH victory a sign of rebuilt public confidence
- Oct 30:
- Top county health official defends psychiatric bed policy at Marin General Hospital
- Oct 26:
- Marin Voice: Measure F vital for Kaiser patients, too
- Marin Voice: Measure F fails to meet Marin's mental health needs
- Oct 22:
- Marin General Hospital gets $4 million gift; donor chooses to remain anonymous
- Oct 10:
- Authorities investigate fatal plunge of Novato man at Marin General Hospital
- Sep 28:
- November bond measure could determine the future of Marin General Hospital
- Sep 8:
- Editorial: Measure F is about safety and modern hospital care
- Aug 15:
- Marin General Hospital fined $100,000 in connection with death of patient in 2011
- Aug 10:
- Dick Spotswood: Bond measure shows MGH's remarkable turnaround
- Jul 30:
- Marin General Hospital will spend $500,000 on campaign to pass bond measure in November
- Jul 29:
- Marin General managers want most nurses to begin working 12-hour shifts
- Jun 6:
- State fines Marin General Hospital for medication error that contributed to patient's death
- May 27:
- National critic of health care information technology says Marin General should heed nurses' advice
- May 15:
- Marin General Hospital nurses warn that new computer system is causing errors, call for time out
- Apr 22:
- Plan for new Marin General Hospital complex raises concerns about traffic, parking, aesthetics
- Volunteers made sizable contribution to Marin General Hospital in 2012
- Apr 10:
- Marin General Hospital gets 10-year extension on seismic safety deadline; building plans remain unchanged
Phone communications at Marin General Hospital were disrupted Friday by what is believed to have been a scamming operation, and the hospital has asked the FBI to investigate.
"They have technology that allows them to inundate a business's phone system such as the phone system becomes unusable, and they demand credit card numbers," said Jon Friedenberg, chief fund and business development officer at Marin General Hospital.
The attack on the hospital's phone system began with its labor and delivery department and then shifted to its emergency department, Friedenberg said. It shut down phone communications with those departments for much of the day Friday, but did not pose any threat to patient care, he said.
The caller posed as a bill collector trying to reach an employee at the hospital.
"It's a scam," Friedenberg said. "There isn't an employee who owes somebody money as far as we know. We do not believe the callers were legitimate bill collectors but rather extortionists."
Friedenberg said the hospital notified AT&T and the FBI. The calls ceased at about 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. on Friday night.
"We're not sure what caused it to stop," Friedenberg said, "if they just gave up or if the phone company was able to intervene. The phone company was attempting to intervene at the time it stopped."
Representatives at AT&T could not be reached for comment.
Friedenberg said the hospital initially filed a report with the Marin County Sheriff's Office.
"We were advised that this is not unique to Marin General, that there is organized crime involved in this and that the FBI has an agent or agents who investigate this, he said. "It was suggested that we call them, so we did."
Peter Lee, an FBI spokesman based in San Francisco, would not say if an investigation is under way.
But Lee said, "We have encountered folks in that past that have done acts like this."
In June 2012, ABC News broadcast a report that debt collectors operating out of overseas call centers and suspected of having links to organized crime in India, were prying millions of dollars from American victims by bombarding them with scam debt collector phone calls.
And a Patch site reported earlier this year that a trucking company in Strongsville, Ohio asked for help after getting calls from India for three straight hours insisting that one of the company's drivers owed money to a bogus company.
Contact Richard Halstead via e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Memory, Meaning, Moments and Madness: Wanderers in No Man's Land |
Written by Chris Floyd |
Monday, 31 May 2010 04:45 |
Zachary Mason's remarkable new novel, The Lost Books of the Odyssey, is based on a grain of fact. Before the stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey were crystallized and canonized in the books of Homer sometime in the 8th century B.C., various (and often conflicting) tales of the Trojan War and its heroes had floated around in various forms for hundreds of years. Some of these variants survive in fragments of other ancient works, like ghostly echoes of alternative universes. Mason's intriguing fictional conceit is that he is translating one of these: a "pre-Ptolemaic papyrus excavated from the desiccated rubbish mounds of Oxyrhynchus" which "contains forty-four concise variations on Odysseus's story." And that is what he proceeds to offer us: 44 chapters, 44 alternative (and conflicting) universes, where some tale of Odysseus -- or, occasionally, the whole arc of his life -- is presented in sharply etched, psychologically penetrating modern prose. (No faux-epic stylizations.) Sometimes there are gods and magic; sometimes Odysseus lives in a world of the grimmest realism. It's not my intention here to give a literary review of the book. I just wanted to highlight two passages which seem to me to have some particular relevance for our current political situation. Both come from a chapter called "The Iliad of Odysseus." This is the longest chapter in the book, and one of the most "realistic." As Odysseus puts it toward the end of the section: "There are, as far as I have seen, and I have seen much, no gods, no spirits and no such thing as witches, but I seem to be the only one who knows it." In this chapter, Odysseus begins as a rather soft, dreamy young prince, more given to the songs and stories of the bards than to the role of warrior-king for which his father is rigorously -- and violently -- molding him. In time, the young man learns to fake his way through the role, and when Agamemnon comes calling for troops to take to Troy, Odysseus is given command of Ithaca's armies. An attempt to get out of the war by faking an epileptic fit fails; instead of being rejected as sickly, Odysseus is now considered touched by the gods. In any case, he goes to war. He avoids combat whenever he can, without losing face, often by following in the wake of the berserking Achilles, and picking off his wounded victims. Achilles is killed after five years, and Odysseus, desperate to end the war, bribes a maid to kill Helen of Troy, in the hope that scotching the cause of the war will bring it to a close. It doesn't; a massive battle ensues in which both sides are almost completely destroyed, Troy is sacked, and only a few Greeks manage to slink away in their boats. But Odysseus has already walked away in the midst of the battle, and begins wandering down the Ionian coast. He takes on the persona of a bard, singing for his supper. He is skillful, becomes popular, well-paid -- and begins to incorporate tales of the Trojan War into his repertoire: fanciful stories filled with the gods and spirits that he has never seen, with many passages celebrating the great cunning and courage of the warrior Odysseus. After 10 years of enriching himself, he goes home, is greeted with amazement and celebration -- which he finds tedious: "I just wanted it to end so I could spend my remaining years with sword and harp on the wall, making loans at high interest and fathering sons." The first relevant passage comes early in the chapter, when young Odysseus is still hoping to become a bard, only to be slapped down by his father, who scorned such a lowly fate for his son, insisting instead that he become a warrior: (In a handy footnote, Mason reminds us that "Coprophagoi" means "excrement eaters.") Here we have the essential foundations of militarism, which, along with greed and fearmongering, has become the organizing principle of modern American society. (And innumerable other societies since the days of Troy.) Another passage in the chapter speaks to the guiding mindset of our ruling elites, and their forbears down through the ages: And here we have our elites in a nutshell. Their power and privilege -- though real enough in their deadly application-- are, at their core, empty shams, and entirely illegitimate. Arthur Silber wrote eloquently on this theme just a few days ago, in a piece outlining the need -- and great effectiveness -- of non-violent non-cooperation with evil. You should read the whole piece, and follow the links, to get the full scope of the piece, but here is an excerpt: *** Odysseus is one of the best representatives of human consciousness, that strange spirit of knowing and confusion that arises from the ever-churning matrix of biological and neurological activity that makes up our physical being. Odysseus the wanderer is a man of many identities, a man of deception and self-deception, of keen insight and rash impulse. Perhaps the most telling of his false personae is the one he used in talking and scheming his way past the Cyclops. My name, he tells the giant, is Nobody (or No Man). He hopes by this to forestall any revenge for blinding the creature, who, when asked who has wounded him so grievously, can only cry, "Nobody! Nobody did this to me!" Here Odysseus is true to his role as an avatar of consciousness -- both in his attempt to escape responsibility for his actions, and, inadvertently, in revealing the empty core at the center of that furiously firing neurological matrix. Who are you, really? Are you Odysseus, a king, a warrior, an ally, a husband, a son, a wanderer, a killer, a hero? Lay each torn scrap of defining -- and reductive -- identity aside, or have them torn from you by fate, and who are you? "I am Nobody," says the man; I am just this "I am," making himself up as he goes along, in a world of chaos and danger, with the eternal night of death looming at every turn. All share this condition; there are no elites. No amount of power or privilege can lift you above it, or above another single living soul. We are all wanderers, bound in a universal union of separateness, made bearable and given meaning only by the moments, the numinous moments -- of genuine connection with our fellow wanderers (each locked in the mystery of their own unique, ever-shifting coalescence of neural networks, hormonal flows, memory and perception), of insights and flashes of awareness into some aspect of reality that seize us (through nature, art, books, thought and many other venues) and carry us, for a moment, into a higher, deeper apprehension of being. As Odysseus learned, you cannot force the gods to give you these moments, you can't call them forth at will. But you can stand ready for them, you can try to stay open to them, to recognize them when they come, and feel their quickening power. And you can strive to make the networks of association that we wanderers form, on large scales and small, to be more conducive to these connections, to foster their occurrence and their recognition, to remember and honor them, and pass on their good effects -- to enhance whatever good that has emerged from the countless millennia of breakage and mutation that have molded, so imperfectly, our human kind. But we live today in networks given over to death and domination -- rapacious, aggressive, degraded and degrading. Networks which actively, at times gleefully destroy the moments of connection and awareness, and instead seek to impose ever-more reductive and false definitions of reality, which then must be defended with manic ferocity against the mysterious flows and eruptions of being. We are now hurtling a thousand miles an hour in the wrong direction, deeper into death and degradation, which are no longer resisted, or lamented, or regretted, or even debated, but embraced and celebrated, in a sickening inversion of the "civilized values" that our degraded, militarist-corporatist system purports to defend. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in America's current political state, where a warmongering, corporate-coddling political hack who claims the tyrannical power to assassinate anyone on earth or imprison them for life without charges or trial is somehow considered a "progressive," a "liberal," or, god help us, a "socialist" ... while his most vocal and powerful opponents rail against him for not being even more degraded, elitist and death-ridden. Like Mason's Odysseus, we live in an age where murderous pig-stickers and corporate Coprophagoi demand that we tip our caps to them, sing songs of their goodness and glory, and praise the hideous system they have made. For generations now, we have taught our children that this is the way the world should be, this is the only form of reality -- this crabbed, cruel, diminished, hollowed-out travesty. The power of "No" that Silber speaks of is the most positive, productive response you can make to such insanity. Saying no to cooperation with evil, in whatever form it takes, on whatever scale -- including the scale of our own chaotic, wandering, mysterious psyches. What we need, desperately, is more and more of the power of No -- and the determination in live in -- and live for -- those moments of connection and awareness that the free flow of being can provide. blog comments powered by Disqus |


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This is a syndicated post from ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome. [Read the original article...]
Here is the statement of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the US bishops' conference, in response to the June 28 Final Rule on the Health and Human Services Mandate. * * *
Last Friday, the Administration issued its final rule regarding the HHS mandate, which requires healthcare coverage for sterilization, c…
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This is an over the counter product - it does not require prescription.
Bowser Beer is a non-alcoholic, non-carbonated beer for dogs. All ingredients are American made and the broth is made from scratch – no onions, salt or fat is added. Malt barley is good for shiney coats and glucosamine aids in joint health. Packaged in 12 oz. plastic recyclable bottles with tamper-proof re-sealable caps.


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Seattle parks plan: Why does City Council want to control it?
The other night, activists, volunteers, and parks staff packed into City Council chambers to discuss Seattle's proposed Metropolitan Parks District. Beyond the ailing state of the city's parks — officials estimate a maintenance backlog around $270 million — supporters and opponents agreed on few details.
The philosophical divide was often stark, as it has been since the city parks-funding proposal's debut. The district's proponents emphasize the importance of making it easier to raise revenue for critical parks maintenance and improvements. Opponents express concern that a Metropolitan Parks District, which could levy up to $375 of additional property tax per year on a $500,000 home, would lack the financial restraint and line-item specificity about spending purposes offered by the voter-approved levies under which most major Seattle parks have been approved up to now.
During more than two hours of public comment on April 7, lines of conflict were generally drawn around mechanisms for funding.
Another part of the MPD proposal has received less attention, but may prove an equally contentious issue: Who would be in charge of the new Metropolitan Parks District's considerable taxing authority?
The plan proposed by the City Council and Mayor Ed Murray would keep this authority with the Council. This model — where the City Council serves as Parks Board in an "ex officio" capacity — seems like a natural progression. The proposed Metropolitan Parks District (despite the name, it would only involve City of Seattle parks) will operate on the basis of an inter-local agreement (ILA) between the City and the Council (as Parks Board). The ILA would essentially be a unilateral agreement, binding the City Council to itself. However, the ILA can also be used to enumerate the MPD's responsibilities and powers, and does require the Council's formal amendment (subject to mayoral veto) to modify..
This model would closely resemble the current system, under which the parks system is subject to City Council oversight. However, statewide, this form isn't the most common for parks districts. Across Washington state's 16 metropolitan parks districts, only four use the City Council as the parks board. And those cases would be markedly different situations. In Tukwila, the parks district operates a single public swimming pool, not a farflung collection of parks and facilities like Seattle has. The others serve relatively small cities: Normandy Park (pop. 6,500); Pullman (31,400); and Shelton (9,800).
By contrast, the residents of many of the state's larger metropolitan parks districts — including Tacoma's — elect their parks commissioners. Why, then, shouldn't Seattle?
A scene in Discovery Park Wonderlane/Flickr
In a 1999 blog post, Councilmember Nick Licata lays out the basic arguments for Council control. An ex officio board, he writes, "would avoid creating a new bureaucracy," and "avoid having city parks divided between MPD managed properties and City managed ones." Rejecting claims that an independent board fosters accountability, Licata argues that it instead "fracture[s] policymaking," potentially leaving "competing bodies…vying for the same public revenue base." Seattle voters, he notes, do not elect an independent board for Seattle City Light, which boasts a larger budget than Parks.
When I contacted Licata last Tuesday, he reaffirmed his previous commitment to an ex officio Parks Board. He was especially skeptical of claims that an independent board would foster greater accountability. "That's a pretty strange argument," Licata said, "[since] what you're basically arguing for there is separating city functions into separate accountability boards, and I don't think you're getting as good of a response."
Another plus in Licata's estimation: continuity. He argued that the Seattle City Council is a known quantity on parks issues, and a separate board could potentially squander well-built social capital. Speaking of labor in particular, Licata explained that much of unions' support of the MPD comes from their familiarity with the Council, and fears that a separate board might require new bargaining units. "They have a relationship with the City," Licata explained, "and they see the Council as tried and true, something that works."
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Posted Fri, Apr 18, 8:06 a.m.
Does this mean that this proposal of up to $375m would supplant or supplement the approximately $135M in the 2014 city budget?
It is one thing to have the transfer be tax neutral, and another if the current city funding goes elsewhere in the budget and the proposed park district is an incremental addition to the tax burden.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 10:46 a.m.
What I've heard is that it would supplement.
What I fear is that it will end up supplanting.
So I suppose we're on opposite sides of this. If implemented as promised, you won't be happy, but I will. If it turns out as I fear it will, you'll be happy, but I won't.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 11:58 a.m.
The ILA specifies Council has to provide a minimum of $89M (I think) to the MPD. Since Council is making this contract with themselves, and Council (so far) refuses to put the ILA in the voted MPD measure (which means it could not be changed without a ballot vote), this is a promise and not a guarantee.
It should be noted this reduced funding figure from Council is one "feature" of the MPD and part of a multi-year trend in City finances - shift General Fund responsibilities to levies to free up General Fund money for "other things".
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 8:31 a.m.
"The district's proponents emphasize the importance of making it easier to raise revenue for critical parks maintenance and improvements." Yes, that's the whole idea--remove citizens' ability to reject more taxation and allow an MPD to hit us up willy nilly anytime they want. No, thank you.
And the idea of a self-referential MPD where "The ILA would essentially be a unilateral agreement, binding the City Council to itself," means to me that the only parks we'll have left will be those built as front yards for the overbuilt city the current council and it's directors the developers envision. Again, no, thanks.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 9:52 a.m.
Well, remember what the Legacy Cmte co-chair said to council about the 80% at the public hearings who opposed the MPD: those folks just don't know any better..... Translated: the powers that be want a paternalistic system that decides how much to tax (in addition to the general fund) and what tax dollars will be used for, I.e the council's latest pet project....waterfront park glam, basketball arena...or just freeing up money in the general fund for other departments.... MPD takes way too much away from the tax paying voter.
Posted Mon, Apr 21, 12:48 p.m.
Actually, the figure was 81%. Guess that overhwhelming response just wasn't convincing enough to Bagshaw and her co-conspirators.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 8:56 a.m.
"Beyond the ailing state of the city's parks"
Seattle parks have the some of the highest per capita spending in the US. 40% higher than Portland. We know what wiles the parks and it's not a tax problem
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 9:01 a.m.
Oh, and the parks need to get out of the education business.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 9:25 a.m.
Simon, are you talking about the $551,000/yr additional a year for job training? I always thought that should be in a different department.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 9:40 a.m.
And please note off-leash dog owner in photo. This is 1 of the most serious problems in Discovery Park. Many people feel "entitled" to ignore the rules, but the rules are there for good reasons. And how will the new MPD, under the same city council, address this problem???
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 10:47 a.m.
Also, how would the new MPD deal with the private houses in the middle of the park, and the proposal that the lots be subdivided so that each one is its own parcel?
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 8:40 p.m.
RE: Off-leash dog in photo: THANK YOU!! True in all parks.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 11:33 a.m.
This whole proposal of taking away the right to vote on taxes and "extra projects" is a step backward, considering Seattle just voted for MORE control via Council Districts. And, this is City Council's response--a power grab!? As you may recall, the original argument was "citizens don't want to have to be bothered with voting on periodic levies" as though that was a benefit. How out of touch are they? .... they will be very out of touch when the MPD fails AND they get voted out of office!
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 12:09 p.m.
It's hypocritical to say you don't trust Council on one hadn and then cite (or previously supported) Charter Amendment 19 on the other. Either CA19 and districts give us a more responsive Council -- negating your argument that Council shouldn't be trusted -- or it doesn't.
You can't have it both ways.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 2:50 p.m.
I don't think fear of the city council managing a new taxing parks district is hypocritical; it's justifiable paranoia. Just because we voted for Charter 19 doesn't mean we're going to get a more responsive or less downtown oligarchy oriented council. We won't know until November 2015.
Furthermore, Anderstone's argument about lack of focus by the council on parks is accurate; why should we trust the council, even a more responsive districts oriented council, to give first priority to parks when the competition for attention and funds are early childhood education, bike lanes, and a dozen other "priorities"? If we're going to split Parks off from the rest of the Executive and give it separate and higher taxing authority (without another vote, EVER), we should also split off its management.
This MPD is a power grab by the oligarchs before the district council is elected in 2015. We shouldn't say "no," we should say "hell no!"
Licata's position is particularly disappointing. If the only real liberal to left council member thinks this MPD proposal is good governance, we really do need a large turnover...
Posted Wed, Apr 23, 11:40 p.m.
I voted for Charter Amendment 19, but that doesn't mean I'm going to trust City Council. Seattle's spendaholic government epidemic is citywide by district too. So I'm guessing the commenter does not deserve hypercriticism for being hypocritical.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 2:17 p.m.
Thanks for increasing awareness of what should be the most important part of our decision on an MPD.
Unfortunately the idea of having a board separate from the City Council govern a Seattle MPD has probably been purposely ignored or suppressed by those controlling the legacy process.
Politicians don't like to give up control or ability to hand out park favors. And present park bureaucrats probably perceive change as threatening. Regardless of that there are some reasonable arguments for each side of the question, although at least initially it seems having a more independent MPD would be better for the public and parks.
Asking the public to approve and MPD before there is full consideration of governance alternatives begs rejection.
At this point few of us have heard all the arguments or know enough to judge.It will take some time for that. Ideally it should happen before the public has to vote on an MPD and if increased funding is needed before then it should be via a short term levy.
At first glance it seems a new elected MPD board would be more accountable than the City Council because their performance could be judged solely on park issues whereas other issues would affect council member elections.
How the future council members, elected by districts would perform and whether they would have broad vision or just cut narrow minded deals for parks in their districts is a legitimate concern.
It also seems that being focused only on park issues could result in a new board providing better oversight and direction. At present even the few council members assigned to the park committee give it only a small portion of their time and thus less attention than an elected and dedicated board could provide.
Although there is a board of park commissioners at present it is not elected, represents no one, and is perceived by many as a largely ineffective rubber stamp for staff.
Independent governance by a new MPD Board may also lead to new efficiency by freeing parks from some City imposed constraints and costs. Alternatively some may argue that there is advantage to those limitations and even cost reduction due to things like larger volume purchases.
At present influence or demands from other City Departments sometimes adversely affect parks and having an independent MPD may prevent that. On the other hand some may make the case that park interests should yield to other city government interests. Some might argue there is is already cost shifting in favor of parks and that eliminating it would detract from parks.
Hoping for full airing of the governance question,
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 3:01 p.m.
Good comments.
"if increased funding is needed" -- How would we know how accurate the numbers are; Parks has never had a complete audit. Over 20 employees make over $100,000 and took pay raises as lower wage employees were being cut.
The problem we face right now is the MPD proposal is wired for placement on the August 5 ballot, right during vacation time. In a non-municipal election year. How are we supposed to have a "full airing" of the governance issue in the next three and half months [edit--and the final deal has to be voted on by the council in less than two weeks no matter how half baked it is] when the dialogue has already been constrained? As with the separate managing board issue, the option of using impact fees as part of a new revenue stream was also shoved off the table. Explicitly: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=5011360&file;=1 [go to minute 43]
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 4:38 p.m.
A Funding Idea for Parks
The bridges, the tunnel, the sea wall, the schools, the pre-schools, the buses, the rails light and heavy, the trolleys, the roads …. The tax bill is frightening.
So before Seattle's mayor and city council double the property tax for parks and saddle taxpayers with another special tax district, they should consider at least one out of the box alternative. It has been suggested before but fainthearted, unimaginative politicians ignored it preferring to do what they always do, raise taxes. The idea, establish an endowment for the Seattle Parks Department. And where would the endowment funds come from? Sell Seattle City Light to a private investor. One can almost hear the anguished cry from the 1930s public power populists not to mention a certain newly elected city councilwoman. But in today's economy and with taxpayer burnout on the horizon, it merits a second look.
It would only take an inexpensive study by a mergers and acquisitions firm to determine approximately how much money the sale of Seattle City Light would generate, surely in the billions. They could also forecast if a conservative return on investment would be sufficient to fully fund the Seattle Parks Department. If the answer is yes, the benefits would be significant:
1. Permanent and predictable funding for the parks.
2. Lower taxes since a major part of Seattle's budget would be covered by the endowment, not the taxpayers.
3. The private utility rates would be controlled by the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission with a professional staff rather than by the politically influenced city council.
4. Rates would remain competitive because the private utility, like City Light, would own the hydro generation facilities. A private utility is also likely to operate more efficiently and pay closer attention to maintenance and infrastructure improvements.
If the city can seriously study jumping the minimum wage 62%, it can look at replacing some taxes with an endowment. A wacko idea, maybe, but considering some of the local elections and public projects we have endured lately, not so much.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 4:59 p.m.
You're right about the response: We should NEVER sell off publicly owned utilities. It's a step back into Nineteenth Century governance. The arguments in favor of publicly owned power from the early Twentieth Century are still valid. And unlike Parks, City Light is not in need of a management overhaul; your point 4 is inaccurate.
The idea of an endowment is a good one. The proposed source of the money is not.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 6:57 p.m.
Agreed City Light is not in need of an overhaul - selling it would be a very big mistake.
I would be more inclined to vote for a MPD if included a separate board and a separate citizen oversight committee.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 6:29 p.m.
"Seattle voters, he notes, do not elect an independent board for Seattle City Light, which boasts a larger budget than Parks."
CM Licata ignores every neutral, independent review of City Light, which has recommended an independent board.
Posted Fri, Apr 18, 6:59 p.m.
I'm curious about this - can you provide links to these "independent reviews"
Posted Sat, Apr 19, 12:13 p.m.
How much of the current parks funding problem is a result of the last parks levy providing no funding for maintenance? Council could have asked voters to revise the last levy, to allow some portion of the funds to be used for maintenance; however, they chose not to do this.
Continuing the present system of funding via levies, with levies including funds for maintenance, would leave control in the hands of the voters. I believe all recent levies for parks have passed with solid majorities. Given voter support what is the purpose of the MPD if not to raise taxes and simultaneously remove control from Seattle's citizens?
By having an August ballot with the MPD as the only option, voters are forced to vote "for" or "against" parks.
If the vote were delayed to November and if the ballot offered an "either-or" option -- an MPD or a levy including maintenance, then Seattle citizens would actually be able to decide which funding option they prefer.
Posted Mon, Apr 21, 12:55 p.m.
Bagshaw says, "We have our fingers on the pulse of everything, and we're thinking about this as a whole."
More accurate for Bagshaw to say they have their fingers in the pie, and they're thinking about eating the whole thing themselves.
Posted Tue, Apr 22, 11:40 p.m.
The parks levy is to parks what bridging the gap was to streets: A cheesy fraud. Support this thing, and you'll have remote bureaucrats spending a huge new slush fund on another downtown needle park, and ignoring the parks we have. No one should waste a microsecond taking a single one of these people at their word.
Posted Wed, Apr 23, 2:34 p.m.
Hey!! This is the first post where you didn't say progressives! Been at aversion therapy?
Posted Wed, Apr 23, 11:58 p.m.
Citizens regularly enjoy their parks, three or four times every day in my case. Citizens rarely must deal with -- and never enjoy -- fire, crime, burnt out streetlights, too-deep potholes and land use wars. So I'm thinking City Council is best tasked to protect us and the Parks Board is tasked with increasing our happiness through recreation and nature. However, since Parks is a basic municipal service, lets not pretend it is an income-producing utility. The Parks budget belongs in the General Fund, not in a special taxing district taxing the same constituency.
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Get the most out of Microsoft Windows in your enterprise with these tips, tricks, tweaks, registry hacks, and security patch breakdowns. In addition, get ahead of the curve with insight into future Microsoft products that will impact your business.
Articles about Windows
Trade in a picture password for a PIN on a Windows 8.1 tablet
Greg Shultz takes a look at using a PIN instead of a picture password to sign in to a Windows 8.1 tablet.
Bring on Cortana for Windows 10!
The Cortana voice assistant is one of the most anticipated features for the new build of the Windows 10 Technical Preview that Microsoft is scheduled to unveil this week.
Are you ready for the next chapter of Windows 10?
Microsoft's next event will be held on January 21, 2015. Greg Shultz speculates about some of the things we might see in the next chapter of Windows 10.
Spartan: Microsoft's potential new entry in the browser wars
Greg Shultz takes a look at rumors of a new browser, going by the code name Spartan, that's being built for Windows 10.
Microsoft's quixotic struggle to make Windows Phone relevant
Tony Bradley takes a look at the space that Windows Phone currently occupies in the mobile market. What do you think about the future of Windows Phone?
Get better search results with Windows 10's Universal Search feature
Windows 10's Universal Search feature is a work in progress, but it shows promise. Greg Shultz takes a closer look at the changes in Universal Search leading up to Windows 10.
How to troubleshoot Chrome at Home
Andy Wolber offers six steps to troubleshoot problems with Chrome on Windows at home.
How to group an Access report on the fly
You don't need specialized VBA skills to add intuitive click events that regroup Access reports on the fly. Susan Harkins explains.
How much would a Windows 10 subscription cost?
Greg Shultz highlights the history of Windows pricing and then analyzes what a Windows 10 subscription might look like.
Leaked Windows 10 Build 9901 shows smarter Storage Sense
The latest leaked build of Windows 10 includes new features that allow users to designate where apps and games are stored by default.
Pro tip: Use standard and custom views to personalize an Outlook folder
Outlook displays a lot of information, and you can determine what you see using views. Susan Harkins explains.
Cortana, the virtual assistant, will likely appear in Windows 10
Cortana, the virtual assistant in Windows Phone, will likely appear in an upcoming build of Windows 10. Greg Shultz explains.
Office Q&A: Find and Replace tricks, disappearing margins, and accommodating graphics
Susan Harkins helps a few readers find simple Office solutions, including how to perform some Find and Replace tricks, create disappearing margins, and accommodate graphics.
Storage Sense in Windows 10 will allow you to track hard disk usage
Greg Shultz takes a look at Storage Sense in Windows 10 Technical Preview Build 9879.
Snap: A truly slick feature in Windows 10
Snap, a windows management technique, has some cool new features in Windows 10. Greg Shultz takes a closer look.


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Donald Trump for years has been the poster child for the
confident developer. The Donald may be more bombastic and boastful than most,
but he shares with other developers a high tolerance for risk and the audacity
to believe his multibillion-dollar projects will succeed. But developers and
real estate executives don't seem so self-assured these days. With the global
economy in free fall, their world decidedly changed from one of plenty --
available capital, myriad retail concepts, willing partners -- to one of
scarcity. "The deals we hear about are dying," said a Manhattan-based retail
broker. "My clients' sales are off. They don't want to go forward with anything
Gap, Talbots, Ann Taylor, J.C. Penney and Zale's are among the chains curtailing expansion or downsizing. Steve & Barry's, Boscov's, Goody's and Mervyns have sought bankruptcy protection. Meanwhile, Bombay Co., with 360 stores, released its entire real estate portfolio into the market. More bankruptcies are expected.
According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, retailers announced closings of 5,770 locations so far in 2008, a 25 percent increase from the amount in 2007. This glut of retail real estate will add more than 16 million square feet of space to the market, creating a perfect storm that might have a lasting effect on the industry. New retail concepts may not be able to find financing. Developers and landlords are no longer searching for the most interesting tenant or the store that would best complement the existing assortment. They're looking for any brand that's creditworthy.
Yet most developers are forging ahead, albeit on a delayed timetable, with plans for new projects.
"We're going to make sure every project has all the components that will ensure its success," Webber Hudson, executive vice president of Related Urban Development told me. Hudson said phase one of CityNorth in Phoenix is on schedule, but phase two will be delayed to 2010 from 2009.
Related isn't taking anything for granted. "We want to make sure we're not caught off guard in January or February when [the other] shoe drops," said Hudson. "There's going to be something. We have on our wall a listing of the leases we've had signed, but I've got names below each one of those retailers in case there's a problem."
The Grand, a $3 billion, 3.6- million-square-foot development in downtown Los Angeles, has also been delayed. "The retail community is hoping for a 2010 opening," said Hudson. Previously very self-confident, Hudson sounded equivocal. "That could change for reasons beyond our control," he said. "I need to be able to sign two or three critical deals that will give us credibility in the credit markets. Being able to say we've got square footage signed to these retailer [anchors such as Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Macy's West,] has helped us in Phoenix."
Lon Rubackin, a former Forest City Ratner executive who recently became managing partner of GFI Retail Group, which buys distressed shopping centers, is developing three hotels, including two in Manhattan, and building a 1-million-square-foot mixed-use project in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. "Things are changing so quickly," Rubackin said. "Wherever you are in this kind of cycle, as a developer, you're getting squeezed."
Meadowlands Xanadu, the $2 billion, 4.8-million-square-foot retail and entertainment complex in New Jersey, delayed its opening to summer 2009, from November 2008. Real estate experts believe the delays were prompted by the economy and Xanadu's inability to lease a portion of its space. To make matters worse, tenants with signed leases may be using the delay as an opportunity to drop out of the project. This scenario is likely playing out at projects across the country.
Even high-end centers are no longer immune. "Up until very recently, everybody thought that the very wealthy wouldn't be affected," Rubackin said. "That ain't the case. Luxury isn't really needed these days. The Palazzo [in Las Vegas] was slow in getting off the ground and numbers are still very disappointing. Since May, certain people have backed out and others aren't moving ahead."


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Every new Assassin's Creed game has given us a wider selection of Assassin gear and abilities, graduating from the homely joys of the hidden blade to the high-end delights of bomb-making. Assassin's Creed 3's contributions include a Tomahawk (shaped like the Assassin logo to boot - good IP migration, Ubisoft), an Injun bow and something absolutely bloody awesome you'll only find out about by picking up issue 84, now on sale. Go on. Wait, read the rest of this first. Beware series spoilers.
The game's lethal antiquities aren't the only chaps who've seen tune-ups, however; modern day murderer Desmond Miles has come along in leaps and bounds too. Once upon a time, he was just some bum with a murky family tree and a mysterious resilience to bed sores. But with the thickening of the plot, he's become more and more capable, leveraging the tricks he learned at Assassin Summer Camp and those "bled across" from his Animus adventures. Nowadays he's as quick on his pins as Ezio and Altair, and he can trace their movements as ghost images in the present. Not a man to be taken lightly.
The first Assassin's Creed 3 trailer stays true to tradition by ducking all mention of Desmond. The 21st century context is evident in the form of silvery Animus static and steely caption text, but these presentational touches aside, it's all about defending the sovereignty of a free America by axing redcoats in their silly, chinless, snaggle-toothed faces.
This is ferociously sensible from a marketing perspective - "look, a guy with a tomahawk" is an instant hook, whereas "look, a digital recreation of a guy with a tomahawk as experienced by one of his distant descendents, care of a chair-shaped mind-reader" takes a bit of explanation. Still, we can't help thirsting for more news of Mr Miles, last seen waking up in a van somewhere in New York State. As you do.
Will his gradual rise from stubbly vegetable to semi-useful alternative to fun continue with Assassin's Creed 3? Are we nearing the day when (whisper it) Desmond can actually appear in an Assassin's Creed game as himself without scuppering the score, rather than donning the hood of some venerated ancestor? There are a few clues to go on.
For one, we have little doubt that Desmond will again explore present day versions of environments from the past in Assassin's Creed 3. Ubisoft has already aired its interest in settings that change over time, revealing that we'll visit towns and cities before and after events like the Siege of Bunker Hill or the Great New York Fire. It's hard to believe the developers will pass up the opportunity to string in the 21st century here, given Desmond's proximity to these locations. Assassin's Creed plots have edged closer and closer to allowing direct communication between eras, with Ezio addressing his unseen manipulator at the close of Assassin's Creed: Revelations. Making such links, tacit or otherwise, is important when you're dealing out the dramatic progression at intervals of 300 years.
Revelations also, in theory, purged Desmond's poor brain of Ezio and Altair's digital psyches, meshed together following that little accident at the end of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Long story short, the campaign is all about exorcising their spectres by enacting critical events in their lives, like that time Ezio sexually harassed a bookseller. Now that Desmond's awake, his mind should be his alone again, except... except that's a bit of a letdown, isn't it? Sorting simulated genetic memories from realities has proven a thrilling ordeal, and while we're happy to say goodbye to Altair and Ezio at this point, we suspect/hope Ubisoft won't abandon the idea of mingling personalities.


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Paper Screams
I'm still working on this book, Paper Screams – From A Distant Place. The latest iteration is a new freebie blog on WordPress: Paper Screams where I've put a minimalist compilation of the poetry (sans discussion, flowers and wrapping-paper).
Nightfall is where I feel the cold, the diminishing sun, the desolation.
Sunrise is where I've sung of sunlight, the rush and joy of living, discovering.
Shadows is where I've chased the mist and wandering screams.
Flickers are in that other place, where I've wandered, the old world, old words
The Faith is a collection of works that relate to my beliefs, both in doxology and wrangling.


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Some initial performance glitches with VS 2008 Web Development have been resolved and a patch has been released. Read more about it on Scot Guthrie's blog post http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2008/02/08/vs-2008-web-development-hot-fix-roll-up-available.aspx
Direct download https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?DownloadID=10826 (requires a live account)
Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 have finally been RTM. For those of you also on the W2K8 beta program you will be able to download from the connect website. Unfortunately Vista SP1 hasn't been made available to beta testers on connect yet.


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We would love to see what you create. Send us images of your projects so that we may post them on our Facebook page. Please post your comments and feel free to email your project images to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Posts Tagged 'winner'
Amy's Pick: Baseball Pitcher
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012Jewelry Kit Winners
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010Thank you to everyone who participated in our comment to win Jewelry Kit contest. Everyone had great choices and I hope you continue to make (or start to create) & wear miniature art pieces for yourself. Look for future posts on jewelry making ideas. Two winners have been randomly selected from all of the entries.
The winners are:
Jodie H. who posted "I would use the images in the fashion collage EMT101. I love shoes and purses and accessories in general. The images could go under glass and be framed and strung on cords for necklaces. The shoes would make cute little earrings! Oh what fun!!"
Barbara H. who posted "It would have to be: Pink Lady SI0144. The reason behind my choice is she looks like she is strong and keeps her wits about her, which described me to a tee about 10yrs. ago before developing a rare disease that turns you into a prisoner of your own body. My daughter tells me that it stole my zest for life, and your "pink lady" looks like she is full of her own zest for life…thanks. Barbara"


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