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- Ruth Aarons
- Sharon Acton
- Shonie Aki
- Mal Anderson
- Laszlo Bellak
- Valleri Smith Bellini
- Angelita Rosal Bengtsson
- Abe Berenbaum
- Insook Bhushan Profile
- Robert "Bud" Blattner
- Eric Boggan
- Scott Boggan
- Joseph R. "Tim" Boggan
- Housang Bozorgzadeh
- George Braithwaite
- Quang Bui
- Bernie Bukiet
- Charles "Chuck" Burns
- Jim Butler
- Doug Cartland
- Cheng Yinghua
- Bernice Charney Chotras
- Elmer F Cinnater
- Coleman Clark
- Mae Clouther
- Fred Danner
- Kasia Dawidowicz
- Mike Dempsey
- Detroiter
- Wendell Dillon
- Otto Ek
- Dick Evans
- Dick Evans - Lifetime Achievement Award
- Amy Feng
- Bobby Fields
- Peggy McLean Folke
- Bob Fox
- Emily Fuller
- Gao Jun
- Diana Gee
- General Sportcraft Company
- Bob Green
- Sanford Gross
- Ray Guillen
- Bill Gunn
- Bobby Gusikoff
- J. Rufford Harrison
- Harvard Table Tennis Company
- Davida Hawthorn
- Tibor Hazi
- Sidney Heitner
- George Hendry
- Richard Hicks
- Judy Bochenski Hoarfrost
- Bernie Hock
- Bill Hodge
- Larry Hodges Profile
- Chuck Hoey
- Billy Holzrichter
- Jack Howard
- Azmy Ibrahim
- Peggy Ichkoff
- Steve Isaacson
- Jimmy Jacobson
- Jennifer Johnson
- Barbara Kaminsky
- George "Gus" Kennedy
- Alice Kimble
- Erwin Klein
- Yvonne Kronlage
- Dolores Probert Kuenz
- Herwald Lawrence
- Dal Joon Lee
- He Ja Lee
- Y.C. Lee
- Ilija Lupulesku
- Attila Malek
- Patty Martinez
- Brian Masters
- Marcus Schussheim
- Richard McAfee
- Mary McIlwain
- Jimmy McClure
- Mary McIlwain
- Jim McQueen
- Dick Miles
- Tom Miller
- Reba Monness
- Manny Moskowitz
- Garrett Gray Nash
- Leah Neuberger
- Joe Newgarden
- Nippon Takkyu Company
- Khoa Nguyen
- Sean O'Neill
- P Becker and Company
- Lou Pagliaro
- Danny Pecora
- Eddie Pinner
- Marty Prager
- Bill Price
- Sally Green Prouty
- Jessie "Jay" Purves
- Jasna Rather
- John Read
- Marty Reisman
- Errol Resek
- David Sakai
- Donna Sakai
- George Schein
- Sol Schiff
- Dr. Michael Scott
- Danny Seemiller
- Ricky Seemiller
- Mitch Seidenfeld
- Mildred Shahian
- Mildred Wilkinson Shipman
- Cornelius "Neil" Smyth Profile
- Olga Soltesz
- Johnny Somael
- Pauline Robinson Somael
- Tybie Thall Sommer
- Graham Steenhoven
- Wendy Hicks Stockwell
- Cy Sussman
- Connie Sweeris
- Dell Sweeris
- Todd Sweeris
- Tamasu Company
- John Tannehill
- Chartchai Teekaveerakit
- Terese Terranova
- John Varga
- Norbert Van de Walle
- Lan Vuong
- Wei Wang
- Bill Walk
- Si Wasserman
- Sharlene Krizman Wilson
- Lily Yip
- Carl Zeisberg
- David Zhuang
Wendell Dillon, as he tells us in a brief biography, played in his first sanctioned USTTA tournament—the National Intercollegiate's—when he was a second-semester freshman at Ohio University in 1954. But you wouldn't say he'd begun to make his mark in the Sport, not yet, not for a while—in part because he served in the U.S. Army from 1957 until he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1980. Although he reentered the tournament scene in the late '60's, played some in Orlando, FL while stationed at Fort Benning, GA, it wasn't until he'd returned from his third tour of duty in Vietnam in 1973 and settled in Atlanta that he really got involved in the Game. While stationed at Fort McPherson he began playing tournament table tennis—paired with Cyril Lederman in an Atlanta two-man team tournament. Lederman had started the U.S. Umpire Certification Program, and had early on certified Dillon. Soon, Wendell was not only interested in umpiring, but with his desire for order and clarity found that he enjoyed running tournaments more than he did playing in them
Of course trying to set things right in an Atlanta tournament sometimes presented problems. Who could forget the debacle of the 1971 U.S. Open? Wendell wasn't responsible for that, nor could he help what sometimes befell him as he tried on tournament weekends to do his best. Here, for instance, in just a little pocket of the mid-'70's, about the time he's writing his Atlanta Tournament Guide, are…diversions he has to put up with.
At his Oct. 25-26, 1975 $1,400 Atlanta Fall Open:
"…My apologies to those players who followed directions and parked next to the tournament hall. Saturday morning as we were about to call the first matches, the fairgrounds police chief came in and informed us that we would have to move all cars outside the fence because he had to lock our gate. His tact on passing on this pleasant information was about as delicate as tournament director's. He simply announced that any car not moved immediately would be towed away. This wouldn't have been too hard to accept but for the fact that specific arrangements had been made to use that gate and to park inside. When confronted with the problem, the fairgrounds contractor replied casually, 'Oh, yes, we had a function in another building and decided to lock that gate; sorry 'bout that'—or words to that effect."
At his Jan. 24, 1976 Atlanta Winter Open:
"I want to thank all the players for their outstanding cooperation in enduring the winter-like playing conditions. The heat in the building didn't work most of the time and the floor at times was as slippery as ice….The slippery floor was caused by improper cleaning and has been corrected. The air-conditioning works and maybe by next winter we'll have heat."
At his May 8-9, 1976 Atlanta Team Tournament:
"Vandalism struck the tournament before we got started. After we had set up on Friday night, vandals broke in and tore the place apart. They knocked down the barriers, knocked the nets off the tables, sliced up one of our Hanno nets, and broke a table. Fortunately by the time the players arrived Saturday morning, we were able to get it all set up again except for putting a few nets back on the tables…."
Despite such disturbances, Wendell has continued to run tournaments in Atlanta for 30 years, and shows no signs of quitting. A controlling figure he is, but as I said in my write-up of his $4,000 Nittaku Southern Open (where he was assisted by his wife Mikkie), "Best of all though was the promise this tournament held for the future Why? Because the mind behind it, Wendell's mind, wants to take command with the best of motives—which means, most importantly, that player after player can expect to be given responsible and considerate treatment."
In 1979, at the Benihana U.S. Open in New York, Wendell began a three-year stint as the USTTA National Tournament Chairman, and his Atlanta manual ($1 a copy) was adopted as the Association's Tournament Guide ($2.50 a copy). Here are some sensible lines from the Forward by someone who's "been there": "The best tournaments are almost always those where it looks like the tournament director doesn't have much to do. That isn't accidental; it's an indication that he's worked hard before the tournament and that he has a good committee to help. Anything that can be done before the tournament starts should be." Buy this Guide or not, you could be sure to be apprised of the USTTA's latest tournament policies and operations by reading Wendell's end-of-the-'70's/beginning-of-the-'80's "Tournament Tips" inTopics. The latest edition of the Guide, Wendell would say later, "includes a disk with all formats needed to run a tournament." The Guide is also available now on the USATT web site.
In addition to serving as Disciplinary Chair and Nominating Chair, Wendell in the last 20 years has continued to show a primary interest in umpiring and referring. Experience gained not only at countless major U.S. tournaments but as an International umpire at the '85, '91, '04, and '05 World Championships has allowed him to participate "in developing the advanced umpire program and to write the exams for the advanced training (AUT) program as well as the IU exams."
After qualifying as "one of the first U.S. International Referees," Wendell became Deputy Referee at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, then Referee at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics." During the ten-year period preceding his service as Deputy Referee at the 2007 German Open, he served as Referee or Tournament Director at a number of ACUI finals, and as Referee at both the U.S. National Team Trials and North American Olympic Trials.
In 1993 Wendell started the U.S. National Referee Program and began conducting seminars to improve the quality of both umpires and referees; he'd also take on the role of Evaluator of officials and would urge enforcement of umpire recertification (every three years). Understandably he'd become (who better) Chair of the USATT Officials Committee.
By way of summing up Dillon's long career, let me close this Profile with comments by Dick Evans who gave the Hall of Fame introductory speech for Wendell at his induction. Though Dick knows of Wendell's Georgia background beginning in the 1970's as President of the Chastain Park TTC, he focuses in this excerpt on what he's seen of Wendell both personally and professionally in the last ten years:
"Wendell Dillon regularly contributes 20+ hours per week for U.S. table tennis in his role as Chair of the USATT Officials' Committee; a job which involves coordinating the training, testing and certification of U.S. umpires, and receiving and processing invitations from ITTF member associations for U.S. officials to participate in international events. Wendell also writes and updates extensive USATT tournament manuals, DVDs, seminar materials and tests for the training and certification of umpires. He has been a high-ranking official (referee) of countless national and international tournaments, making the draws, ruling on questions of law, and selecting and assigning match officials.
Wendell is dedicated to improving the quality of officiating and tournament management at all levels, and expects commitment from all officials working with, and for, him. He is a credit to our Association and to the Sport of Table Tennis."


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Studying Abroad in Madrid: January 9th
I hate security lines at the airport. It's not like I ever have anything on me but I always get worried that I accidentally left tweezers I my bag, a sharpened mascara want in my purse or worse, I accidentally strapped a bomb to my shoes. Ironically the stress of the situation causes my heart to race, my legs to shake, and my eyes to dilate. Three crucial signs of being a terrorist. This all goes through my head as I place my baggage on the security belt and stand oblivious to the growing line behind me as I contemplate the worst.
30 seconds later, I'm at my gate. My mother's epidemic neurosis coupled with my studying abroad transformed her from comically overprotective to restraining order crazy. But even though I dismissed every piece of advice she gave me about traveling abroad, I still caught myself shoving my passport down my pants and clipping money to my bra just in case. Pack dry rations for a week, just in case. In her eyes I was embarking on the Oregon Trail rather than a semester abroad.
After securing all my belongings and double checking my ticket 45 times I looked at my watch. I had arrived four hours early, just in case. My friends sat around me, surrounded by magazines, sudoku, and snack food. In all my mother's preparation for the worst, she had forgotten to remind me to buy things to entertain myself. At 20 years old I still hold her fully responsibly for providing 24/7 entertainment. God forbid I'm bored. Seriously god forbid, I have A.D.D and when my mind starts to wander, my legs often follow and before you know it I'm stuck on a 17 hour flight to Beijing, Full House style.
Despite begin with my friends and catching up on Cosmo's latest tips on how to please my non existent boyfriend, time did not fly. 17 years later my flight began boarding. I grabbed my brand new rolling airline approved carry on bag overdramatically in an attempt to show it off to my friends. However my over packing apparently caused some unequal weight distribution and the bag barely limped to the plane, let alone roll.
I was over delighted to see that seat 27 E was a middle seat in the middle row. There is nothing I love more than sitting in between strangers for a six hour flight. Luckily none of them were fat. Unluckily they all fell asleep for the duration of the flight which left me trapped in the middle as my bladder grew heavier. But being a season traveler, I know all the tricks. I opened my tray table repeatedly, unbuckled my seatbelt, turned pages loudly, unbuckled their seatbelts until the girl next to me finally woke up. I too pretended that I had just woken up and then before she could fall asleep again, I yawned and asked her to get up so I could go to the bathroom.
Seven seconds later, I stood in the bathroom line that stretched so far back that I'm 87% positive I was still on the runway in New York City. Three seconds later the captain decided to cruise through some turbulence and demanded we are return to our seats. Spain was already hazardous to my health and we hadn't even landed yet. Everything my mother said was turning out to be true.

subset: commoncrawl


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Iznik: One of Anatolia's oldest residential areas, an antique city that enchants everyone with its historical monuments, nature and handicrafts.
Iznik, with a history going back to 2000 BC,
was known as the "Golden City." An important trade, culture and art center
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is also internationally renowned for its Iznik pottery and tiles.
Iznik is waiting for you if you want to
explore the city with the most beautiful sunsets and witness the most beautiful
harmony of art and history!


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It's all in the palm of your hand. Mobile banking gives you secure on-the-go management of your accounts, so you can check balances, transfer funds, get account updates and even deposit checks.
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I'm not making that up. I was in Peru for Tinkuy de Tejedoras in Cusco, a gathering of weavers from around the world, and I bribed my husband into coming along with the promise of going to the jungle with him afterward. (I love textiles; he loves plants.)
Elderly Yagua man wearing a fibrous wig with a twined top. Photo by Linda Ligon. Shipibo square, painted with earthen clay slip from the Amazon region in Peru and embroidered in an imaginative design. Photo by ClothRoads; www.clothroads.com. Looped bags made from palm fiber. The smaller bag is embellished with jungle seeds. So what does this have to do with PieceWork? The rainforests are being cut down at an alarming rate, but the cloth remains. Traditions survive. In the jungle city of Iquitos, shops sell stunning examples of traditional Shipibo work—resist-dyed with mud, appliquéd and embroidered for texture and richness. At one of the river camps where we stayed, the Yagua Indians are still making bags from palm fiber—spinning the fiber on their thighs, dyeing it with jungle fruits, looping it into handy carryalls, and embellishing it with jungle seeds. Some of the Yagua, the elderly ones, still wear the fibrous wigs and skirts with twined tops that made early explorers think that the warriors were women. Shamans still collect and use natural dye plants—dragon's blood, achiote (aka annatto), turmeric, and other more exotic ones.
There's a stunning new book called Before They Pass Away by photographer Jimmy Nelson. This bold and fortunate man went to some of the most obscure corners of the earth to photograph the inhabitants decked out in their finest. It's a wonderful reminder that people still practice remarkable skills to create and embellish their surroundings, their attire. We've been privileged to document some of these practices in PieceWork—stitching, appliquéing, thread manipulation, horse hair hitching, moose hair tufting (seriously!), and of course all manner of knitting, as well as simple looping and nålbinding. PieceWork brings the world together, with thread.
I went to India. This is not to compete with Interweave founder Linda Ligon's post about going to
© 2015 F+W All rights reserved.Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms and Privacy Policy, updated March 2007


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AVID Pet MicroChip ScannersAVID MicroChip scanners are arguably the best on the market today, offering some of the best value for money and without compromising on the quality. The AVID MiniTracker range are suitable for most uses including veterinary practices, dog wardens, rescue centres and pet owners. Should you require something a bit more robust or for animals where their temperament is unknown then AVID provides scanners for these requirements as well. A reliable MicroChip scanner is vital for reuniting pets - choose AVID for yours!
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Quick Links For Vets / Rescues | Links For Pet Owners | About AVID Plc |


text:
Blog | Comments |
WoW | 10 Comments |
Recent Comments:
Patch 3.3 PTR: Undocumented druid changes {WoW}
Oct 2nd 2009 8:22AM After being nerfed the T8 4-piece isn't all that special any more and is definitely inferior to the T9 4-piece. Personally, I never got very excited about the T8 4-piece... if I'm pre-hotting as I should be that heal is completely wasted, and it wasn't enough healing to be substantial when I really need to get someone up.
Enter to win a Creative World of Warcraft wireless headset {WoW}
Sep 24th 2009 11:33AM +1
Enter to win a Creative World of Warcraft wireless headset {WoW}
Sep 16th 2009 5:53PM +1
Win more TCG loot with WoW Insider {WoW}
May 5th 2009 8:21AM Weeee!
Countdown to Wrath Giveaway: Day 1 - BlizzCon Polar Bear Mount {WoW}
Nov 12th 2008 7:13AM Bears were made for riding.
Countdown to Wrath Giveaway: Day 7 - BlizzCon Polar Bear Mounts {WoW}
Nov 6th 2008 3:26PM I like polar bears.
Big Feral changes coming post-Wrath {WoW}
Nov 4th 2008 5:12PM I'm confused. My 50% dodge in bear form works pretty damn well, and I'd take that any day over a whole half percent damage reduction from a few hundred points of armor.
GC has been saying forever that we overvalue armor. This is a great change. It just means we can stop clamoring for armor rings and trinkets and keep cranking up our dodge and health.
Let's be honest here too, feral tanks are ridiculous right now. Even if this was a nerf (and it's not), it shouldn't surprise you.
Ask a Beta Tester: Flight, gear, and more {WoW}
Sep 25th 2008 3:36PM Northrend is designed for people to come in with Outland greens and blues, so they'll just replace things earlier and more often than those with BC epics. The gear gap will just shrink as they get closer to 80 as Wrath blues start becoming comparable to BC epics.
Moonkins aiming to get DPS and group utility {WoW}
Sep 9th 2008 12:56PM You do realize that most classes are hybrids, don't you? And I'm not sure what WoW you've been playing, but Druids can tank as well as other tanks, and they can most certainly heal as well as other healers. I guess you think priest dps should be terrible too? How about ret paladins? Shamans? Warriors? The game you're playing in your head sounds really dull.
Just like the many other hybrids, Druids have to spec for a certain role. When they do, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to actually fulfill that role. They'd be a completely useless class otherwise wouldn't they?
Naxx-10 loot discovered {WoW}
Sep 6th 2008 1:31PM Agreed. If you ask me, that Feral gear isn't good for a bear or a cat. Surely they'll change it.


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Fluorite Sphere Sold by Mysteria (facebook.com/MysteriasBazaar)
Tophatter is the world's most entertaining live auction marketplace.
Ships from United States within 5 business days of payment.
This item will sell on November 15, 6pm PST in the Get Your Rocks Off: Enchanted Arts auction.
48g Clear Fluorite Sphere Ball Crystal
Sphere size: 20 mm
Pictures do not show well, the clear yet color effect of Fluorite.
Fluorite belongs to the spar family, as all other family members, fluorite can be separated into flakes. According to folklore, it is the home of the rainbows.
Helps to ground excessive energy, particularly mental, emotional and nervous energy. It is a powerful healer, it affects all the chakras as well as mental attitudes. It is excellent for use in cleansing the aura...it is known to ride the aura of cording (unwanted attached energy lines from other people).
Fluorite aids in channeling as well, excellent for connecting with the Akashic records for answer to your past lives.
It is particularly helpful in aiding inter-dimensional communications, particularly with Nature spirits, faeries, elves and other fae folk.


text:
Site Created: 2/4/07
Site Updated: 2/13/10
Shawn Downs
Shawn has been the Program Director at WCAT since 2000. He has many contacts on the local music scene. While at school at UMass he wrote and produced a feature length film with his friend called "Noise, The Movie". It was based on his real life radio program of the same name.
Adam Dusenberry
Adam has been a producer at WCAT since 1991. He has produced and worked as crew for many WCAT productions over the year. Using Shawn's design concepts and visions he built WCAT's studio B where The Night Shift records.
Adam is a Graduate of the Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in New York. He is the recipient of many national and regional awards for his projects. He currently works full time at Wakefield Community Access Television as the Technical Director and is working to start up his own independent production company.


text:
Apr 16, 2013 6:23 PM by ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTIC, Va. (AP) - NASA says a private company can conduct a test launch this week of an unmanned rocket intended to help eventual supply runs to the International Space Station.
Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles plans to launch its Antares rocket Wednesday from Wallops Island, Va., and it could be visible in cities from Washington to New York.
But NASA said Tuesday there's only a 45 percent chance weather conditions would allow a launch Wednesday. Orbital would try again Thursday if need be.
If successful in sending a practice payload into orbit, Orbital aims to send its cargo ship to dock with the International Space Station this summer on a test run.
Orbital and California-based SpaceX have contracted to make space station supply runs with NASA, which ended its shuttle program in 2011.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Offensive or inappropriate comments are subject to removal. To report a comment, please e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com, and include the name of the story and information on the comment.
Thank you! KSBY.com
6 hours ago


text:
Congenital benign tumour made of blood vessels in the skin. Capillary hemangioma (nevus flammeus, port-wine stain), an abnormal mass of capillaries on the head, neck, or face, is pink to dark bluish-red and even with the skin. Size and shape vary. It becomes less noticeable or disappears with age. Immature hemangioma (hemangioma simplex, strawberry mark), a reddish nub of dilated small blood vessels, enlarges in the first six months and may become ulcerated but usually recedes after the first year. Cavernous hemangioma, a rare, red-blue, raised mass of larger blood vessels, can occur in skin or in mucous membranes, the brain, or the viscera. Fully developed at birth, it is rarely malignant. Hemangiomas can often be removed by cosmetic surgery.
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on hemangioma, visit Britannica.com.
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Notable for Iggy Pop and Mick Jones as jurors with Mick Jones presenting a special screening of Nic Roeg and Donald Cammell's "Performance", Jonathan Caouette's production of a documentary about the making of the 15th Raindance Film Festival, and the best parties and films we have ever had.
Other hi-lights included the Live!Ammunition! event at BAFTA with Ewan Macgregor as a panelist.
The new Raindance website was launched [designed by Heenesh Patel].
Read more about the 2007 Festival


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Item: Dream Cheeky iLaunch Thunder for iPhone Price: $49.99 Shipping Options: $5 Standard Condition: New Search Amazon Search Google Previous Similar Sales (May not be exact model) 5/22/2013 - $49.99 (Woot-off) - 2 comment(s) 4/23/2013 - $49.99 (Woot-off) - 1 comment(s) 12/10/2012 - $58.99 (Woot-off) - 16 comment(s) 6/4/2013 - $50.00 (Woot Plus) 4/15/2013 - $59.00 (Woot Plus) 3/28/2013 - $59.00 (Woot Plus) 3/5/2013 - $59.00 (Woot Plus) 2/21/2013 - $59.00 (Woot Plus)
5! * 5! = 14400, but sold out within a minute =/
Already sold out. 5! * 5! = 1440 (5*4*3*2*1) * (5*4*3*2*1) 120 * 120
ARGH! The first time I got the URL correct and Board of Circuits sold out in seconds..
sidelsky18 wrote:5! * 5! = 14400, but sold out within a minute =/
a minute.... more like 10 seconds lol
THIS IS sparks
Save $55 and just use the old fashioned pea shooter.
For When A Balled Up Piece Of Paper Just Won't Do.
dliidlii wrote:Save $55 and just use the old fashioned pea shooter.
By old fashioned pea shooter, do you mean a spoon?
View All →


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Gurkha Signature Red 1887 Cigars
Gurkha Signature Red 1887
A unique blend available in just one size, the Gurkha Signature 1887 Red cigar is a medium-bodied treat that's just begging to be shared with your buddies. How you present them is all up to you. Do you tout the numerous 90-plus rating held by various Gurkha smokes over the years? Perhaps the big selling point will be the years of experience brought to the table by company owner Kaizad Hansotia, whose keen eye for good tobacco has helped his cigars to become a staple among the rich and famous. Your best bet, however, will be to point out the sultry Connecticut shade wrapper from Ecuador and how it perfectly complements both the Dominican binder and the rare filler tobaccos which hail from Peru and India.
Novice and aficionado alike will savor the crisp tobacco flavor loaded with cedar, wheat toast, and a pleasing vegetal character while the fragrant smoke enhances the atmosphere. A stout 6 X 55 Rothchild, the Gurkha Signature 1887 Red are to be found packed into beautiful 48-count crimson-colored boxes so there's plenty to go around. Once you try them, however, you may decide to horde but resist the temptation. Instead, load up the cooler full of frosty longnecks, pass out these stogies, and bask in the glow of friendly admiration.
Name | Packaging |
Brand Page - Size AttributeSize |
MSRP | Price | |


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(877) 824-7956
M-F 9am - 7pm EST
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Students earning their first business degree can find online programs that provide a solid background in business theory and practice, management, financial analysis, research and marketing and their applications to e-business. Those who currently have a Bachelor's business degree will find MBA programs with specific concentrations in e-business. Graduates at all levels are in strong demand for positions in Internet sales, marketing and advertising, information systems, human resource management and supply chain management.


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Couples Massage Workshop
02/16/2013, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Shores Event Center
700 16th Street NE, Suite L100
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
We have had a lot of requests for couples events and we are doing our best to deliver! The beauty of the Couples Massage Workshop is that it is the gift that keeps on giving!
This couples massage class, led by licensed massage therapist, Jesse Otter, is based on simple, easy-to-learn Swedish and sports massage techniques and is designed to help you and your partner share the nurturing, relaxing, therapeutic benefits of massage with each other.
These classes are designed for couples, but other pairs of friends are always welcome.
Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing for the class. Everything else you will need will be provided including snacks.
Registration Cost/Couple: $150.00
Registration Deadline: 2.14.13
Pre-payment is required, Register online or call 319.775.5367. Or purchase a Valentine's Day gift certificate for that special someone by calling 319.775.5367.
Class size is limited so register soon!
Phone : 3195217287
Cost : $120.00


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Monthly Vertigo promo page with December checklist (9 titles), January highlights and editorial (Mike Carey).
House Advertisement for: Vertigo trade paperbacks.
Total of 15.5 one-page and 2 two-page advertisements for: Legacy of Kain: Defiance (game, Eidos), Audigy 2 (sound blaster, Creative Technology), Magic The Gathering Online (game, Wizards of the Coast), SOCOM II U.S. Navy Seals (game, Sony, 2.5 pages), Counter Strike (game, Microsoft), ATI's Radeon series (graphics cards, ATI), Bloody Roar 4 (game, Konami), Sword of Mana (game, Square Enix, 2 pages), Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (game, Konami), Alienware (computer hardware, Alienware.com), Crimson Skies (game, FASA), Spawn: Armageddon (game, Namco), Inside X (dvd, ESPN), Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna (game, Microsoft), Babylon 5: Complete 4th Season (dvd, WB), Own a piece of Wrestlemania History (pay-per-view, WWE), N-Gage (wireless multiplayer game play, Nokia).


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When I wake at 5 in the morning, I just can't get myself up and at 'em. I am sure there are some of you already hard at work in the garden or sewing room. This morning, I checked out the other sections of the Forum, the Gallery, and Conversations. What I found was that there are not many using those areas. Do you check or even use? As well, certain threads in the Conversations section no longer have posts. Eg KOKO. Birthday blocks. So I am wondering! Do some of these activities have a certain "shelf life" and do they just naturally fade away? Or is the main area of the site being used for all posts? Another regular post seemed to be QOTD? I haven't seen that one for a while. That is my QOTD for today. Not being critical, just old age curiosity. Theresa |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by jennifer_in_va (My Page) on Wed, Jul 2, 14 at 8:45
Theresa, There's been history on the forum, years ago, where people were upset about non-quilting posts taking up room on the main page. It was difficult especially for those with dial-up. At one point, someone asked the GardenWeb people to create additional pages (Conversations, photos) so that they could be separated. Frankly, these pages just never really took off. Many folks (myself included) don't think to go to those pages to see what's going on. Everyone's since gotten used to using the subject line to identify the topic well so people can pass things over that they don't want to see. Plus, GW has added the icon that indicates photos in the post! I think this was a HUGE improvement on their part! It's so easy to see where the photos are and those w/dial up don't have to open those posts if they don't have time. I think that the forum has reached a point that everything 'works' for everyone. But there will undoubtably be something that doesn't work for everyone all of the time. |
- Posted by geezerfolks (My Page) on Wed, Jul 2, 14 at 9:35
Good morning, Theresa. I'm not a morning person either and don't usually have any get-up-and-go until late morning. I just might try to change that and see what happens. :-) As far as the forum goes, it's like Jennifer said. I tried to stay on topic in all of them, but those who seemed to cause a ruckus either got over it, don't care anymore or left the building. I still go look at the quilt pictures that were posted once in awhile, to jog my memory. SharonG/FL |
I am not much of a morning person either. I do get up early for work (gotta leave the house by 6:05) but that is the only day I get up early. Jennifer summed up the forums well. Most of us like everything handy in one place, at least till the posting really gets busy. Things have settled down and there doesn't seem to be as many posting on any of the forums. I think quilting is one of the more active ones. We have become a family and this is how we keep up with each other. After summer things will pick up. beverly |
I agree with both of you, the gripers got their demands met, and - typically - now the demanded features aren't even being used. It also seems like the people here are more laid back now, not being so rigid about the site and not trying to be the boss like in the past. I like it better now. If someone wants to talk about something other than quilting and they put OT in the subject line that should be warning enough for everyone who doesn't want to read it. The only complaint I have right now is there hasn't been a lot of posts here lately, is it too hot to quilt? It might be the time of year. Even though I have A/C, it's a little hard for me to want to handle cozy fabric when it's blistering hot and humid outside. I have a project going - a big Bear's Paw quilt. I think what's keeping me from going into the sewing room is knowing that I still have a bazillion little HST squares to press open. UGH. I have 7 blocks done and 23 to go. |
QOtD - I LOVE question of the day! I wish everyone would post questions, even if they already know the answer. It's so much fun to see the variety of answers and to get new ideas. I agree that the other pages had value in the past, but we seem to have worked out any issues over time. Maybe there aren't many people still on dial-up so the photos and slow-loading posts aren't as big a deal. Personally, I like to see photos embedded in the regular posts instead of going to another page to see them. And I have no problem with Off Topic info here on the main page, especially if they are labeled at "OT". I miss the days when there were lots more posts and more people actively involved in the forum. I'm guilty too though as I've let work take over too much of my life. If you all post more, I promise I'll respond! Even if a response is short, it let's you know people are out there reading what you've written. I think many people visit here but don't post because they think they have nothing new to add. It's not about 'new', it's about sharing and caring. Kate |
I miss the QOTD, too! I get up at 6 to get DH up and off to work, but many mornings I am a total lazy lima bean and lie in bed playing games on my iPad! :) This week I'm trying to get myself back in the habit of working out 3 mornings. If I work out on Monday I reward myself on Tuesday with getting up and sewing before work. Lately I've gotten hooked on checking the "most recent posts" list on the right of the page. Then I waste a whole bunch of time reading long threads about kitchen renovations, house plans, etc. :) Donna |
I wasn't a member of the forum back in the days of controversy over postings. Good thing. I probably would have been a violator. I rarely check the other pages; I bet it's been a year or more. I really think this group of quilters is about the greatest bunch of people you could ask for. You are all so helpful, supportive and caring. I wouldn't change a thing. It is interesting though how quiet it gets in the summer. I guess we are all busy doing outdoor stuff, so we have less time for quilting. I love the idea of a QOTD. Was there a moderator, or did random people just pose a question? We could start it up again. In fact, I think Theresa just did. |
- Posted by toolgranny (My Page) on Wed, Jul 2, 14 at 13:44
I never look at the other sections, either. But I did post there once by mistake. Then I reposted it here where it belonged. They could eliminate those choices and I wouldn't care at all. I'm the early riser, I guess. I'm up early like you, Theresa. And, I liked the QOTD postings as well. Even if they weren't always pertinent to me, I think they offered lots of valuable information to new quilters. |
Thank you all for your responses. As others have said in the past, they consider this forum their quilt guild and so do I. This is by far the friendliest quilt forum around. Again at 5 in the morning, I occasionally look in at a couple of other sites but they do not compare to GW. I am so glad I found this place. Everyone seems to know each other, probably due in part to the Retreat. But the level of personal interest shown to each member is remarkable. Glad I wasn't around when things were a bit bumpy because I might not have stayed. Time for my afternoon nap. Theresa |
- Posted by magothyrivergirl (My Page) on Wed, Jul 2, 14 at 16:31
I think the QofTD was started here by vicky4x4. It was so insightful & informative and (I think) a wonderful way to get to know some sewing secrets and habits -- both good and bad! Anyone can start the QofTD thread -- even if the question was asked a long time ago, it would be interesting to see the new answers, as we all change and evolve. I just looked at the other sections -- I never look at them here....but I do look at them on other GW forums where they are active, so it depends on the forum. This is a nice group, and hopefully everyone new & old will always play nice. I do belong to a very active Guild, but I still feel this is home. |
I haven't been visiting as often as I used to because it has been so slow. I do love to read about what everyone is doing and see the results of their efforts. This is such a nice mix of people and ideas and the QOTD was fun. Miss it and Vicky as well. I never visit the other sites as I feel as a group we do fine just posting here using the subject line and picture icon. I feel as though you are all my friends and love know about what you are doing and how life is treating you. It was sad when people were having issues. |
I also forget to check the other pages of this forum. I would love to see the QOTD revived and will try to answer when I can. We are in the process of buying a new house and then moving in July so I may not be as active in the forum as I want to be for a while. I will be back when the move is completed. Linda OH |
Did you get your house sold? Good luck with moving day! Theresa |
Theresa, we haven't sold our house yet but we will close on the new house next week if all goes as planned. Linda OH |
This post was edited by lindaoh on Thu, Jul 3, 14 at 11:40
Summer is a busy time for everyone, forget the hazy, lazy, crazy part. I haven't really been on for about a month. Last Saturday was the Garden Walk I chaired. We had 8 private homes and 2 public gardens, with 455 tickets sold. Now I am doing wrap up and visiting gardens to make the selection for next year. I really wanted to finish the fan quilt so it could hang on the porch this summer and I will still try to finish. The fan part is made and they are sewed to the base, but have to put on the top part of 24 fans. Maybe by first frost I can get it hung. LOL DD just called she has landed in Chicago. So I've got to run. Nice being back! |
- Posted by beth7happy (My Page) on Thu, Jul 3, 14 at 19:16
....forums: Where relationships are formed. (kinda like the old 'chat room' but on a slower scale!). QOFD has been really very helpful to me......love listening to the voice of experience!! |
I don't pop in as much these days as I have in the past (still working full time and moving this year) but I recall 'those days' and that's likely why I'm more of a lurker than poster. I was always afraid of being called out for posting something that SHOULD have been in Conversations. I'm very glad to hear that's not likely to happen anymore. I just finished looking at all the pet pictures in the other post and really enjoyed them. Cheers! |
- Posted by littlehelen (firstname.lastname@example.com) on Fri, Jul 18, 14 at 21:35
I wasn't around when there were specific "rules" to follow on the forum. Knowing my tendency to "draw within line", I may have backed off being active. Working full time takes my time away from my favorite activity, but I check several times a week and l thoroughly enjoy cruising through everyone posts. I don't belong to a guild, so you are my guild! Just love it! V. |
I think it's been at least 6 or 7 years since anyone was told a post should go on Conversations. In "internet time" that's practically eons! I encourage all lurkers to join in. We don't have any mean people here. It's one of the few places on line where niceness abounds. It's one of the reasons I love it here. |
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" Brand: Mothercare / Type: Stroller Attachment "
Your dooyooMiles Miles
At a Glance When you're out and about with baby, the Mothercare London Fleece Stroller Blanket is all you need to keep them warm and comfortable. This fabulously British version is perfectly patriotic. Features and benefits for Mothercare London Fleece Stroller Blanket This versatile blanket is ideal for use in a stroller or car seat The soft and cosy fleece blanket will keep baby warm in cooler weather The cotton fabric won't itch or irritate baby's delicate skin The Union Jack appliqué is adorable and very patriotic Mothercare Loves...?? The super soft and warm fleecy material, which your little one will love to snuggle into.Want To Know More?The Mothercare London Fleece Stroller Blanket is perfect for keeping little ones warm and comfortable when you're on the go. Great for use in either a stroller or car seat, the Mothercare London Fleece Stroller Blanket gives your tot an extra layer of protection against the temperamental British weather.When skies are cloudy, wrap them up warm in the Mothercare London Fleece Stroller Blanket, which is made from soft and cosy fleece, designed to keep little toes toasty. The fabric is wonderfully huggable, and won't cause any itches or irritations to their delicate skin.Decorated with a beautiful Union Jack appliquÚ, the Mothercare London Fleece Stroller Blanket will have baby feeling proud to be British!Don't Forget...Take a look at our rain covers to keep your little one dry in the rain. Fabric composition: 100% Polyester Care Instructions: Machine washable at 40?C<br/>May be tumble dryed What's in the box: 1 x Fleece Blanket


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Reader: Yelp is a "fake crock!"
Wanda James, who owns 8 Rivers Cafe with her chef/husband, Scott Durrah, isn't the only entrepreneur upset with the Yelp review filter. A couple of other restaurateurs have weighed in on Laura Shunk's story about her campaign against Yelp, including Leo:Cassandra Kotnick Bob Marley watches over 8 Rivers Cafe
I would love to join a class action lawsuit against Yelp. They filter out positive reviews for my restaurant. Their explanation just doesn't fly. Negative reviews by individuals with just 1 or 2 other posts are on my business page. Positive reviews by people with several reviews are filtered. One of my regular customers has 13 reviews for various restaurants but his positive review is filtered from my business page. Reviewers filtered on my page are not filtered on other business pages. Their process does not make sense. What it does is filter out my 4 and 5 star ratings and brings my overall rating down. This is unfair and is bad business practice. I've discouraged ALL my customers from using Yelp and have removed the link to Yelp from my website. They are a fake crock!
Sponsor Content


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Stranraer allow four to exit
Tuesday 17th May 2011
Stranraer have begun re-shaping their squad after failing in their quest to reach the Second Division Play-Offs after a disappointing last month of their campaign. Manager Keith Knox has released defenders Lee Sharp and Romuald Bouadji along with the midfield pair of Glen Mitchell and Kevin Nicoll.
Declan Gallagher and Antons Kurakins have ended their loan spells and returned to Celtic with defender Ryan Kennedy, brother of former Celtic and


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Room and breakfast (33 m²) for 2 persons (1 child mezzanine) on the 1st floor of a house in quiet countryside. Comfortable with shower, private toilet and adjoining kitchen. Is offered as guest accommodation with 2 bedrooms for 4/5 people Aubusson 18 km) - fenced and landscaped park. Secure parking. Availability throughout the year.
Add to my Shortlist
Know more about Saint-Yrieix-la-MontagneVirtual visit of the CreuseCreate an itinerary around Saint-Yrieix-la-Montagne
Breakfast included in prices, Sliding scale prices according to duration, Tourist tax included in prices, Down payment of 25% of the rent


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Took the stairs today? #tinywinBrought a healthy lunch to work? #tinywin!Had a donut hole instead of an entire donut? Yep, #tinywin!
Share your #tinywin and let's celebrate.
Learn More ›
Tiny Wins.
They're the little steps you take every day on that imperfect path toward a better you. Took the stairs today? #tinywin. Had dessert but shared it with a friend? #tinywin. And the most delicious tiny win of all. Low-calorie Crystal Light. It's a sip in the right direction.


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Manor House Cellar | USD 59.99 $59.99 375ml |
Vins et Millésimes |
€61.20 375ml
Orin Swift Prisoner Imperial 2006
Winemaker's Notes:
(Limit 1 per client) Pre-release order now to secure your BIG bottle for September release! TOTAL PRIVATE PRODUCTION ONLY 5 units! Imperial bottlings of fine wines available for less than $1,000 are extremely rare. Most sell for $2,000 - $3,000 making this collectors item particularly rare. Note: this is the equivalent of 8 full bottles. This hand etched, private bottling is a once in a lifetime offer for very thirsty, very special occasions. Literally, a �dream bottling� for any Prisoner fan! Prisoner Tasting Notes: "Begins with rich aromas of fresh fruit that entice you to dive into this sultry wine. Loaded with dark blackberry, plums, a plethora of exotic spices and hints of smoky oak and caramel that are perfectly balanced for a delightfully big and rich experience at a delightfully easy to swallow price. This 2006 vintage is even smoother in texture and more complex in deep, dark red fruit flavors than the previous vintages. If you liked the Prisoner blend 2005 you will ADORE this new release because it�s an even more serious and age-worthy red wine to enjoy over the next five years. Wow!� Hal Oates, Porthos.com
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Member Reviews for Orin Swift Prisoner Imperial
Add your reviewnow this is a red to get your hands around as it gets around you Good Value for the money
Medium bodied and spicy, with sweet oak. Great wine, great price! Very sip worthy.
This may just be the best wine I've tasted. Branham Jazz is right up there as well as the 2002 Silver Oak Cab but for $35-40 you simply won't find a better wine. Very rich, complex, more chocolate than fruit, simply outstanding.
Deep dark red, classic Zinfandel aromas of jam, blackberries and spice, full-bodied and smooth, dark fruits and hint of black cherry, with peppery and spicy finish, lingering warmth and light tannins.
This is my fovorite wine - no other wine seems to change so much from opening the bottle and the first pour to an hour later (or so) when I'm finishing the bottle. This wine is a regular in my celler and goes well with or without food. It's extrememly versatile in pairing with almost anything.
We first discovered this wine in a restaurant in Denver Co. What a delight! This is one of the most delicious reds I have ever tasted. Bold, full & rich in the mouth, but so smooth in the finish! A personal favorite for special gathering.
External Reviews for Orin Swift Prisoner Imperial
Napa Cellars Zinfandel 2006 and all other premium wine from Napa Cellars available at discounted prices at CheaperCigars.com. We also carry many other premium wine lables from USA and all over the world.
Full ruby. Highly complex nose combines black fruits, gibier, truffle, road tar, licorice and leather. Very intense and spicy, but still tightly wound, with a firm acid spine keeping the flavors under wraps. "Very interior wine today," notes Perrin. But one already senses the incipient complexity. Finishes with building tannins, a note of caramel and terrific persistence. This will need time.
This is a beautiful wine, holding a perfect balance between bright, fresh fruit and savory notes of leather and spice. The blackberry flavors have a cool, foresty feel; the minerality runs deep, as smooth and overt as the galets that pave Beaucastel's vineyards. It's completely welcoming right now, especially with a rack of lamb.
( 120) Vivid ruby. Spicy finely etched red berry and cherry aromas are complicated by fresh lavender herbs and minerals. The palate offers tangy raspberry and cherry skin flavors with gentle tannins adding shape. Impressively pure even delicate with outstanding finishing clarity and length. This beguiles rather than brutalizes; I underestimated it last year. Stephen Tanzers IWC.
Clean and fresh, bursting with fruit and spices. Full-bodied, it delivers some game, truffle, vanilla notes. It's distinctive and ought to reveal wonderful terroir with age, but for now it hasn't come together. Needs time. Drink now through 2020.
Ruby-red. Powerful red and dark berry aromas verge on liqueur-like but are enlivened by zesty mineral and anise accents. Lush, supple and sweet, with deep raspberry and cherry flavors, fine-grained tannins and complicating herb and smoked meat tones. Very smooth on the finish, which is sappy, deep in cherry flavor and impressively long.
All Prices
Manor House Cellar New York, NY (230 mi) |
2006 Château de Beaucastel - Châteauneuf-du-Pape » |
Vins et Millésimes Online Only |
Beaucastel 2006 »
Flickinger Wines Chicago, IL (560 mi) |
2006 Ch. de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape » |
Wine Library Springfield, NJ (210 mi) |
Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape » |
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Chateau De Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-pape 2006 » |
+ Add an Image for this wineDietary Information: Organic
Closure: Cork
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The woman taken into police custody for questioning after a man was fatally stabbed in his Richmond Hill home Tuesday night is the victim's girlfriend and has been charged with manslaughter in his killing.
Shirley Forbes, 63, lives on the second floor of 87-37 112 St., where 55-year-old Lee Burrison — who lived in the house with Forbes — was found stabbed and lying on the living room floor around 10:45 p.m. by police responding to a 911 call on April 16. Burrison suffered a stab wound to the upper chest. He was later taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Forbes was immediately taken into custody and questioned at the 102nd Precinct.
After an investigation, Forbes was arrested for his killing Wednesday afternoon and arraigned Thursday on charges of first-degree manslaughter, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and aggravated criminal contempt. Forbes, who faces up to 25 yearsin prison if convicted, was ordered held without bail and to return to court on May 2.
According to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, there has been a history of domestic incidents between Forbes and Burrison in recent years. Police have been called to their residence multiple times in the past due to domestic disturbances, and an order of protection had been issued on behalf of the victim, Burrison, on Nov. 20, 2012 and was in effect until Nov. 19, 2014, directing the defendant to refrain from assaulting, harassing, or committing any other criminal offenses against the victim.
"The defendant in this case is alleged to have stabbed her boyfriend once in the chest, killing him," Brown said. "Violence such as that which is alleged to have occurred in this case cannot be tolerated. As a result the defendant faces serious consequences for her alleged actions."
It is not known why Forbes still lived in the house, even after the order of protection was taken out against her.


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CHICAGO, June 2, 2013— Who can forget Mellissa Harris-Perry's over educated know nothing's despicable rant about the "community" owning our children, as if they were slaves of the collective.
"We have never invested as much in public education as we should have because we've always had kind of a private notion of children: Your kid is yours and totally your responsibility. We haven't had a very collective notion of these are our children. So part of it is we have to break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents, or kids belong to their families, and recognize that kids belong to whole communities. Once it's everybody's responsibility, and not just the household's, then we start making better investments."
SEE RELATED: BELLA: Rahm Emanuel vs. the Chicago school system
Children belong to their families until they are adults. They are totally the family's responsibility. The community, village, government, states, or whatever has no proprietary interest in our children. This is not some kind of private idea. The communal or village ownership of children is a primitive idea notion. We are not primitive villagers.
It does not take a village to raise children. It takes families.
Investments? We are already spending or wasting too much money on education as it is. The problem is not how much money is spent or allocated. The problem is all that money is spent. Most money for education is wasted on useless bureaucrats who inhabit the Education Industrial Complex. The children are short changed.
Of course Melissa Harris-Perry was allowed to get away with her nonsensical and insulting drivel because she is a celebrity entertainer on MSNBC. Celebrity news entertainers are allowed to say anything, no matter how ridiculous, egregious, or stupid, and get away with it.
SEE RELATED: Lois Lerner: stupid is as stupid does
Melissa Harris-Perry is on a ranting roll, again. She pointed her frothy soup coolers at Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in an open letter format. You can like or dislike Mayor Emanuel. You can agree or disagree with his governance of Chicago and his policies. There is a lot to love, hate, agree and disagree with, just like with all elected officials. At the very least, you should be informed.
It would help if Melissa Perry-Harris was from Chicago, lived here for a while, or had a scintilla of knowledge about Chicago's history, especially its political history. Perry-Harris is a member of the entertainment news media. In the entertainment news media ignorance is bliss. The less they know the more blissful they are.
Melissa Harris-Perry knows nothing about Chicago. She does not live here, never lived here, and apparently never studied its history. She knows nothing of its neighborhoods, people, culture, or anything else for that matter. What she does know how to do is craft babbling broadsides putting her cluelessness on display.
Her appalling lack of intelligence was revealed in this statement, "And students are not the only ones who suffer when a school is closed. It also robs a neighborhood of an institution that is often the heart of a community…"
SEE RELATED: Oklahoma tornado saves President Obama
Chicago public schools have never been the heart of any community, unless there was a large Chicago Park District park next to or surrounding them. The parks were the heart of the communities. Chicago Public Schools were never meant to be hearts of communities. This talking point was recently fabricated by the Chicago Teachers Union. It is called the Village People Theory.
Schools are designed to educate children. They are not and never have been community centers, social centers, gathering places, or village squares. From Chicago's track record, the public schools cannot even educate children. The graduation rate is the same as it was five plus decades ago. The functional illiteracy rate is the same too.
Worse, Melissa-Harris-Perry could not help playing the race card, dealing it from the bottom of the deck. The race card is all know nothings have when making scurrilous accusations.
The schools Mayor Emanuel closed are in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. This was not a racial or racist decision. The under performing and under utilized schools just happened to be in those neighborhoods. If there were poor schools in other ethnic or racial neighborhoods they too would have been closed. What Melissa-Perry-Harris left out is a few of the best and over utilized schools just happen to be in those same neighborhoods. Some are public, some private, and some charter.
What she also left out is the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public School System refuse to learn how private and charter schools can get great results while spending less money. Harris-Perry is from the school of replicating failure instead of imitating success.
Chicago is a segregated city. The reason for segregation is not racism and has not been for decades. Middle class Blacks and Hispanics can move anywhere in Chicago they choose to. If they choose to live in segregated communities they are to blame for segregation, not the mayor, not the useless aldermen, and not other people.
What Ms. Perry-Harris left out was the total lack of leadership of Chicago's Black and Hispanic politicians and so-called civil rights leaders and political preachers. They are to blame for segregation in Chicago too. They preach segregation. They make it politically palatable and correct. They keep people where they want them. "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever", is their power and financial base.
If Blacks and Hispanics dispersed and assimilated to other parts of the city the useless Black and Hispanic politicians, so-called civil rights leaders and political preachers would have nothing.
Since 1955 Chicago mayors have tried to reform public education. It has been a monster roller coaster ride. They have fought the political special interests, the unions, and other groups who profit financially or politically from the failing school system. In Chicago there is only one political concept- power and money.
Now, it is Rahm Emanuel's turn. It took courage to do what had to be done. It took fearlessness to act where others were too cowardly. Emanuel was frank, blunt, and to the point in his words and deeds. He did what he believed he needed to do.
Emanuel may not be the first Chicago mayor to tangle with the complex, but he is the first to use words and actions to put children first and the adults where they belong, at the back of the line. He deserves his chance, for better or worse.
"Because the people of Chicago need a mayor who is a fighter–just one who's fighting for, not against, them."
What the people of Chicago do not need is a babbling dithering bobble head with nothing to offer except a pretty face and the ability to read scripts telling Chicago's mayor what Chicago and its people need. Melissa-Harris-Perry should stick to what she knows if she ever figures out just what that is.
By the way, her village called. They want their idiot back.
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Click here for fullscreen. Use your Back button to return to this page. |
Drawing Account (1941)Behind the scenes in a 1940s animation studio, showing the making of a Chevrolet advertising cartoon.To Download or Embed this video, go to this link. Back to the Reality Specials Library back to Uncle Earl's Classic TV Channel |


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Job Posting Management - Activate / Deactivate a Job |
After you have posted a new job, this job posting will be at JobsDB's Job Search Engine for 30 days (Active Posting Period). After the Active Posting Period, this job will be take out from the Job Search Engine automatically and is said to be expired.
In some cases, you may want a particular job posting to be taken out from the Job Search Engine before the expiry date. One of the reasons may be that you have received enough resumes or you have hired an appropriate candidate for this position and don't want to receive more resumes. In this case, you can DEACTIVATE the job.
Sometimes, after you have deactivated a job, you may want to put the job back to the Job Search Engine. This may be because your shortlisted candidates have not shown up and you want to receive more resumes for this position. In this case, we recommend you to REPOST the job so that it will be put on the top of the Job Search Engine again and will be in the next batch of JobsDB's Job Alert Messages to be sent to the job seekers. However, reposting a job will result in deducting one point from your Job Posting Balance. In some cases, you may not want to be deducted one point. Then, you may want to ACTIVATE the deactivated job again.
To activate a deactivated job, click to highlight your job and click the Activate menu item on the Job Listing page.
To deactivate a job, click to highlight your job and click the Deactivate menu item on the Job Listing page.
The Activate menu item can also be used to post a draft job posting. In this case, one point will be deducted from your Job Posting Balance.
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NCPF Announcement
It is with great regret the NCPF Executive Committee must report that Clive Moth has found it necessary to resign from his position as NCPF Secretary. The Committee wish to thank Clive for his service, and give thier best wishes for the future.
Due to the imminent NCPF AGM, it is a matter of the utmost urgency that the Secretary's position is filled. Would anyone interested in taking this critical position contact Cliff Banks (President) or firstname.lastname@example.com
Several other positions are also currently vacant, most notably we also require a Portfolio Secretary.
Judges Seminar
A judges Seminar is to take place at Clara Vale Community Centre on Sunday 22nd February 2015.
In addition to presentations on good judging practice, the seminar will debate issues raised in Mr Richard Speirs article which will be appearing in Northern Focus titled "Judging the judges". Further details to be announced.
RPS Lightroom Workshop
Adobe Lightroom Workshop
with David Mallows
Sunday 1st February 2015
10.30 to 16.00 Backworth Hall
Backworth, Nr. Newcastle.
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE27 OAH
Read more
Congratulations to Carmel Morris on her ARPS
NCPF International Exhibition Circulation 2015/16
Here we have a list of the Clubs and dates at which images from the NCPF International Salon 2015-2016 are to be shown.
Ian McGowan FRPS At Stokesley
Ian MCGowan FRPS is to appear at Stokesley Town Hall at 7.30pm Thursday 29th January 2015, presenting "Straight from the Garden Shed"
Ryton CC win South Tyne PDI Competition
On Tuesday 25th November 2014 the South Tyne area Projected Digital Image Competition took place, the competition was hosted by South Shields PS, and judged by Trevor Roxby of Washington CC.
Wear area battle
Once again Washington Camera Club hosted the Wear Area Battle on Friday 21st November. There was an audience of 75 with a total of eight clubs taking part and with each Club having representatives attending this Annual event. Every Visitor complimented Washington Club on their hospitality and buffet at the end of the Judging.
Northern Area PDI Knockout Competition
The Northern Area Projected Image Knockout Competition between the seven Northern Area Clubs was held on Sunday 16th November 2014. This event was hosted by Morpeth Camera Club.
Dave Coates Awarded ESFIAP
As one of his other rolls in organised photography Dave Coates ARPS ESFIAP EFIAP/p APSA EPSA MPAGB APAGB is the FIAP Liaison Officer for the PAGB, and in this capacity he recently attended the biennial FIAP
Beamish Trophy Results
This year's competition was hosted by Winlaton CC, and saw the introduction of pdi into the competition for the first time.
Northern Area Interclub Print Competition
The Northern Area Interclub Colour & Monochrome Print Competition between Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Blyth, Cambois, Morpeth and Wooler was held on Thursday 16th October 2014.


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Sat, Mar 12, 05 at 9:26
I saw this fantastic plant with curling pistils at the Mt. Holyoke College greenhouse in Massachusetts. There was no ID marker. Can anyone tell me the name? Also, can anyone tell me the humidity levels this plant likes? |
Here is a link that might be useful: Photos
Follow-Up Postings:
Looks like Anthurium scherzerianum. Anthuriums like high humudity and a well-drained soil mix. |
This species can be grown as a house plant, however. I had one years. |
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Sun, Jan 30, 11 at 11:39
A well-known painting contractor in my area approached me regarding painting my 90 year old wood house. Part of his sales pitch was that he applies linseed oil to the exposed wood prior to applying latex paint. Can anyone tell me more about this? |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by sombreuil_mongrel (My Page) on Mon, Jan 31, 11 at 12:20
If it's exactly as described, no; bad idea. If he actually means a primer doctored with additional oil, well, ok maybe. Sometimes I double prime: a doctored primer diluted with extra oil and turpentine, then a coat of regular oil primer, then acrylic finish. This can sometimes help paint stick to very dry wood, but the surest treatment is to sand off the weathering, then prime normally. Really deteriorated stuff has to be epoxy-treated or replaced. Sanding can help winnow out the worst spots. Surface treatments are not a cure-all. Applying finish paint directly over wood that has been treated with pure linseed oil is not a recipe for success, IMO. Casey |
Thanks for the explanation. This was a relatively brief front porch conversation, and he may have left some information out. I've been dabbing paint samples on the walls, which has made me very popular with the trades - LOL! |
Hey Gray! Most Linseeds are VEEeeeeeeeeeeRRRRRYYY slow drying oils. As Sombreuil gets at...if the wood is sketchy, SAND IT, and remove dust. NOW you've got a sound base that'll hold paint. How's the insulation-level and vapor-migration in your house? Faron |
I don't know, Faron. There are plenty of air leaks in the house, but I don't get a sense it's through the walls. It's at the floor and around doors. I saw your other thread on this subject - lots of good info there. Thanks! |
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TERRORISTS, fugitives, drug smugglers and illegal arms dealers are among those using passports stolen in their millions across the globe to assist in their criminal activities. Ronald Noble, Secretary-General of Interpol, the world's largest international police organization, once called passport fraud the "biggest threat facing the world." Thailand has unfortunately gained a reputation as one of the major centers for the forgery/alteration and trade of stolen passports. A number of foreign syndicates based in Thailand are buying and selling stolen passports – both altered and unaltered – for use mainly by criminals based in other countries. The syndicates set up shop here because until recently this very profitable enterprise has been given little attention by the Thai authorities. |
Tinawut Slilapat, who leads the unit, said: "The syndicates are well organized and sophisticated, so it's important to have a law enforcement agency whose personnel are able to gather accurate intelligence which can suppress their networks. With the formation of the TCIC, passport syndicates who have been active in Thailand for decades might now be spending decades behind bars."
High-profile arrests Mr. Tinawut and his team have gained international recognition for cracking some major passport cases. The most high-profile of these resulted in the arrest and conviction of Muhammad Ather Butt, known as Tony, a Pakistani national. Also arrested were his wife and two other Pakistani nationals. Mr. Butt was the leader of a gang which had operated out of Thailand for 10 years, supplying passports and fake documents to terrorists and other criminals. He and his Thai wife were arrested in Nong Khai on November 30, 2010, as they were about to cross the border into Laos. It was a routine trip for the pair as they normally went to Laos once a month to deliver passports to customers. The operation, called Operation Alpha by DSI, created headlines around the world after the gang was linked to terrorist groups in Spain responsible for several bombing and arson attacks, including the 2004 Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people. The gang also allegedly provided forged passports for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, which has been accused of plotting the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 10 militants killed at least 164 people and injured more than 300, and to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam separatist group in Sri Lanka. "Mr. Butt was labeled as the 'kingpin' of the trade and he was the biggest operator in Thailand," said Mr. Tinawut. "His business expanded year after year until he was the most famous passport forger in Thailand. Everyone in the business admired and feared him because he developed contacts with some influential Thai officials and had a lot of money. |
Mr. Tinawut said.
"Among the seizures were over 100 passport-size photos of people who look like they are from the Middle East. These photos were sent to him by post and by other means, probably to insert into stolen passports.
"He selected Thailand as a base because it is easy to enter and leave and, more importantly, some officials don't regard passport forgery as a serious offence. Their attitude is, 'they are dealing only with foreign passports, but not Thai, so why should we worry.'
"Mr. Butt had been doing this business for 10 years, so you can imagine how big his network was and how many customers he had. Hundreds of people in many countries, including in the Middle East were involved with his group, which comprised about 10 people," Mr. Tinawut added.
On June 13 this year Mr. Butt was convicted and sentenced by the Criminal Court to 31 years in prison, but as he confessed to his crimes the sentence was reduced to 15 years and 6 months. His two accomplices received 24 and 21 years in prison but because they also confessed, their sentences were similarly reduced. Mr. Butt's wife has made no confession and her case will go to trial.
The TCIC led the investigation of another recent major passport fraud bust -- a joint operation also involving the Pattaya Tourist Police, Special Branch police and the Narcotic Suppression Bureau, with the assistance from the Canadian Border Services Agency. The collaboration resulted in the arrest of Iranian national Seyed Ramin Paknejad in Pattaya on June 8. Mr. Seyed was high on the wanted lists of international law enforcement
According to Mr. Tinawut, Mr. Seyed is suspected of being the leader of a syndicate that has been forging and selling passports on a large scale for eight or nine years. His illegal activities enabled hundreds of cases of illegal migration and human trafficking from Thailand to many destination countries, including EU, US and Australia.
Computers seized from his condominium in Central Pattaya and a small house he rented in Naklua held a database of thousands of people who had already been issued passports. Police also discovered counterfeiting equipment, bio-pages for passports, visa stickers and other forged documents.
Also seized were a shotgun and a brown powder believed to be heroin. Police suspect that Mr. Seyed provided passports to foreign drug couriers and that he had been involved in passport fraud in Thailand for almost a decade.
Much to the surprise of the DSI and other law enforcement agencies involved in the case, Mr. Seyed was granted bail by the Pattaya Provincial Court on June 13.
Rapid response to transnational crime The TCIC is a small and highly specialized division of the DSI, formed to respond rapidly to highly sophisticated transnational crimes, especially those involving migration offences. Its parent organization, the DSI, which was set up in October 2002, is a civilian law enforcement agency under the Ministry of Justice and modeled upon the US-based Federal Bureau of Investigation, with a mission to investigate complicated and sophisticated crimes. Mr. Tinawut served with the Special Branch police before joining the DSI in 2004, and has been investigating mainly passport fraud since 2008. He is confident that TCIC will be an effective deterrent against the passport syndicates. With a couple of successful operations besides the two mentioned above already under his division's belt, the confidence seems justified. |
"The TCIC is divided into three sections: Intelligence Administration and Coordination; Data Management and Network Systems Development; and Operations.
Each section will eventually be assigned five investigators.
"After we recruit more specialists, we will expand from migration crimes to other transnational crimes. As for the former, we now have a lot of valuable information. We are involved in migration fraud that includes forgery and alteration of passports and other identification documents.
Most of our work deals with organized crime involving foreigners and requires cross-border investigation.
"Terrorists, drugs or weapon smugglers, or people committing other crimes obviously don't want to use their own identification documents. We are focusing on syndicates who have the resources and manpower to commit serious crimes, not on one individual who decided to
commit a crime.
"We are also cooperating with about 10 foreign law enforcement agencies and a number of local ones. International cooperation is very important and crucial to put a stop to these kinds of criminal activities. According to the Special Case law, the DSI can request assistance from any Thai government agency. I must say that we are receiving excellent cooperation from all Thai government agencies.
"Migration fraud is usually complicated and cases require a lot of time to crack. We are looking for the kingpins, and not out to arrest a courier or a worker. Normally it takes six to eight months to conclude an operation."
Mr. Tinawut said intelligence gathered by his division indicates there are about 20 foreign groups that deal mainly with passport fraud in Thailand at this time, and they are spread all over the country.
"Nationals from South Asian and Middle Eastern countries are most likely to be involved in passport fraud, and to lead syndicates," said Mr. Tinawut.
He added that some of the leaders of these gangs came here 20 years ago or more and started legal enterprises such as jewelry shops, tourist agencies, import-export and garment businesses, which became fronts for criminal activities.
"We have six cases at this moment. We are constantly collecting intelligence from local and foreign sources. We have seized over 1,000 passports, some already altered, from 10 countries. About 90 per cent are stolen, but some are sold by the owners."
The gangs supply passports to customers inside and outside Thailand. Clients often travel here to purchase passports or they are delivered by couriers. With few exceptions the passports are used to commit crimes outside of Thailand. Sometime passports are stolen abroad and sent to Thailand for alterations, such as replacing photos, said Mr. Tinawut. Counterfeiters will also supply other fake ID items such as drivers' licenses.
"It is hard to identify which people come here with bad intentions," said Mr. Tinawut. "Most foreigners arrive here on tourist visas and it is hard to check the criminal background of every foreigner at the immigration checkpoints. Tens of thousands of people arrive, transit or depart everyday at airports and other checkpoints.
"Secondly, it is easy for criminals to find a Thai partner and use them as an assistant, for example to open bank accounts in order to conceal assets obtained by committing criminal activities. When the police arrest the criminal they can't seize his or her assets immediately because they are in the name of a Thai person who usually has no legal connection to the criminal, even though they may be living together.
"Finally, it is easy to buy any kind of sophisticated equipment in Thailand to make forgeries. All you need is money, and we are talking about a very lucrative revenue source for criminal organizations.
"One stolen passport, if in good condition and with three to five years left before its expiration date, sells for US$1,500 to $3,000, with extra charges for changing photos, adding counterfeit Schengen stickers, rubber stamps, etc."
Criminals adopting 'imposter' strategy
Mr. Tinawut said the syndicates don't just sell counterfeit passports, as they did in the past, but often add only some counterfeit parts. What's more, stolen passports are increasingly sold without the syndicates changing anything. In such a case the passport will be used by a person of similar appearance, an imposter who hopes to fool officers at immigration checkpoints, whether departing, transiting or arriving.
"In these cases the passport gangs don't change the photo or any other information," said Mr. Tinawut. "They just look through their stock of passports and select a suitable one to fit the customer. So the passport is genuine in every way. It is the person using it who is the fake," said Mr. Tinawut.
This development makes it very difficult for law enforcement agencies. "If you have another person's passport in your pocket, I can't arrest you because I have to first prove the passport was stolen, altered or counterfeited. Only the embassy can confirm that and this is logistically impossible find out on the spot. It takes time. The criminals know this.
"The bosses behind the transnational crime syndicates are professionals. They know the weak points of law enforcement, the gaps in the law, and the limits of our regulations, and they know how to exploit them.
"The technique of law enforcement today should be to develop intelligence. We never enter the wrong premises when making an arrest or a search because before we go we know exactly who is there and what kind of illegal items we will find.
"After we make arrests and seize evidence, we will examine everything, check all phone numbers and email addresses that have been used. They can lead us to other members of the syndicate or to other syndicates. The people behind passport fraud are all connected in some way. We never throw anything away. Our unit ideology is 'intelligence leads the way.' We keep every piece of information because it can be useful in other cases.
"For various reasons, Thailand is still the best place for foreign syndicates to operate passport fraud, and they cooperate with each other. There is a big demand for passports, and identity fraud is a tool to support other criminal activities.
"When we started to go after the syndicates for the first time in 2008, we sent a strong message to them. The syndicates now know very well that we are after them, but the money is too good for them to stop. That's why they don't care that their products will get into the hands of terrorists and other criminals. They cause big damage to the reputation of Thailand," said Mr. Tinawut.
"Our message to the syndicates remains the same: 'The DSI won't allow you to do business in Thailand as you did in the past. We will watch you and it is only a matter of time before we arrest you. And we are not alone in this pursuit – we have the cooperation of many international law enforcement agencies as well.'"
Origin of passport fraud in Thailand
THE forging of passports in Thailand started in the early 1980s to cash in on the influx of foreigners carrying traveler's cheques (TC) and credit cards (CC). Because many tourists carried them on their person or in their luggage, or left them in hotel rooms, this opened up a whole new industry for Thai criminals. Several gangs employed prostitutes, hotel staff, tour bus attendants and others to steal or otherwise fraudulently obtain TC and
CC. The big problem the gangs had with TC and CC was finding a way to use them; most of the cheques and cards were made out to foreigners. At about that time several gangs that employed mostly foreigners came on the scene, and worked with Thai gangs to cash the TC or use the CC. These people were called "drivers," and the Thai crooks who recruited them taught them to forge signatures so they could countersign the cheques and use the credit cards.
However, most reputable businesses also required supporting identification, and this is where the forging of passports and other official documents began. The forgers changed photos and altered the original signatures (where possible) and gave the altered passports to the drivers, who used them to cash TC at banks, money changers, hotels, shops, etc, as well as buy items in shops with CC. These forgeries were much less sophisticated than the ones produced today, but they were often good enough. Sometimes the Thais would give the driver supporting documents like counterfeit student ID cards, international driving licenses, etc.
In the late 1990s when TC became almost obsolete in favour of CC (which had better security), the Thai gangs began to focus on passport fraud, which was showing great money-making potential. They got in touch with foreigners who were looking for stolen passports. Some of these foreigners are still here and running the passport fraud gangs.
Today the way the business works is that thieves steal passports from tourists and sell them to Thai or foreign criminals. Some lost and stolen passports are sent from abroad to the foreign gangs. The worldwide demand for fraudulent passports means that these gangs will continue to operate in Thailand as long as they can evade international and local law enforcement agencies.