text:
kelly and the fridge
This photo was shot on film. Taken by ewephamzzm in Half Moon Bay, California, United States. These tags describe this photo: fridge and refridgerator. This photo can also be found in the album not lomo..Please login to get more out of this site
You are currently not logged in, do so now to add comments, like articles as well as photos, submit to competitions, translate articles and gain access to unlimited photo upload! If you are not registered yet, go here to find out more about Lomography and join now! If you just want a limited account for now you can use Twitter or Facebook. We would love to have you as a member here!
2 people like this photo
Liking photos helps us to present the best ones to you and others. 2 people like this photo. 2 people like this photo: miket and toonboy7.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Our operations
The Los Bronces division is located 65 kilometres from Santiago in the Metropolitan Region and at 3,500 metres above sea level.
Find out how the executive management team responsible for the Los Bronces division is structured.
View the key indicators for Los Bronces, including production and financial data.
Los Bronces undertakes a number of social aid programmes focused on the sustainable development of communities around its production facilities.
Anglo American is investing US$2.4 billion in the Los Bronces development project. The aim is to increase the production capacity of Los Bronces, making it the fifth largest copper mine in the world.
Global operations map


text:
If Fridays in general seem to go by slowly, mid-Summer Fridays are especially slow, like thick molasses dripping out of a clogged dispenser. It's been a long week, you're only minutes away from the sweet embrace of weekend living and patio drinking. But those few minutes of anticipation seem to have more in common with hours, days, weeks and even months than seconds.
Stop worrying. I've got the remedy for what ales you. It's the latest edition of Ten Stray Thoughts On A Friday, the best only way to wind down your working week, and properly prepare yourself for two days of no worrying and even less responsibility.
Raise The Roof
To anyone complaining about the Toronto Blue Jays' decision to keep the roof closed for yesterday afternoon's baseball game against the Seattle Mariners because of temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius: you're an idiot.
It was Camp Day at Rogers Centre, and with more than 10,000 kids in attendance, the organization made the right decision to play indoors. The last thing that any normal, well adjusted human being should want to see is vulnerable people hurt by elements well within the control of those in power. That was the potential situation on Thursday, and the Blue Jays organization deserves a quick salute not only for protecting kids from heat stroke and other harmful effects of the sun, but also ensuring that free water bottles were available on the concourse levels.
The New York Yankees, unable to pull a dome over their stadium for Saturday's afternoon game, will provide "hydration stations" throughout the stadium to keep fans hydrated and cool. Well done.
Rage Inducer
As a small talk, conversation starter, you really can't do any better than: So, uh, hot enough for you?
The 2011 NL West Division Leading San Francisco Giants
Over the last few weeks, we've had a lot of fun at the expense of the San Francisco Giants lineup, suggesting that the team is less offensive than an episode of Sesame Street. In fact, the only aspect more prevalent than jokes about San Francisco's batting on this blog has been praise for the team's pitching, both in the rotation and the bullpen.
But get a load of this: The Giants' 57 wins and 42 losses give them a marginally higher winning percentage than the Texas Rangers who hold a 56-43 record. However, where San Francisco has a run differential of +18 runs, the Rangers boast a difference between runs scored and runs allowed of +73. The Giants have scored 361 runs this season compared to Texas who have counted up 489.
Remember when those two teams met in the World Series last year and the Giants won it in five games?
Getting Blanked Style Book
I mentioned in a past TSTOAF how the Getting Blanked Style Book dictates that an exclamation point must always follow any reference to Ichiro! And how trades that L.A. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti pulls off (especially the ones in which he acquires relievers) may not be used as examples when discussing the likelihood of a future trade taking place.
The newest addition to our blog's editorial rules indicates that any reference to the Pittsburgh Pirates must be followed by a comma and the words "America's Team."
If the San Francisco Giants are largely lovable for having a win and loss record so far above what their lineup would indicate, the Pirates should be considered marriage material for competing in the National League Central with the roster that they have. Lyle Overbay at first base alone should be enough to convince you of their underdog status.
Where Carlos Beltran Fits
According to Buster Olney, the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes are down to five teams: the Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. Beltran's weighted on base average this year is .399, against RHP it's .407 and against LHP it's .357.
As a member of the Red Sox, Beltran would have:
- the second best wOBA;
- the third best wOBA vs. RHP; and
- the sixth best wOBA vs. LHP.
As a member of the Giants, Beltran would have:
- the best wOBA;
- the best wOBA vs. RHP; and
- the third best wOBA vs. LHP.
As a member of the Phillies, Beltran would have:
- the best wOBA;
- the third best wOBA vs. RHP; and
- the best wOBA vs. LHP.
As a member of the Braves, Beltran would have:
- the best wOBA;
- the best wOBA vs. RHP; and
- the best wOBA vs. LHP (tied with Brian McCann).
As a member of the Rangers, Beltran would have:
- the second best wOBA;
- the best wOBA vs. RHP; and
- the fifth best wOBA vs. LHP.
Conclusion: Carlos Beltran would be a good acquisition.
A Heath-y Return
If the San Diego Padres are willing to essentially trade the draft picks that Heath Bell will bring them back when he signs elsewhere this offseason for prospects that the Toronto Blue Jays have evaluated to be less valuable, and no other team is willing to trade as much for Bell's services, then by all means, please make this deal.
Because of the aggressive nature with which the Blue Jays have been drafting since Alex Anthopoulos has been in charge, I sort of think that a draft pick becomes more valuable the moment it belongs to Toronto. Nonetheless, I can't believe that a contending team wouldn't be willing to spend whatever the Jays are willing to drop to get Bell's services during the stretch drive, as well as his compensation prize if/when he signs elsewhere.
Shameless Self Promotion
As always, you can check out our facebook page by clicking here, and if you're into it, try "liking" us to get updates of fresh videos and funny pictures in your facebook news feed. Staying on the social media train, you can also follow me on Twitter so that we can make snarky comments together during baseball games, because if we're not making snarky comments while watching a baseball game, why are we watching the baseball game in the first place?
Also feel free to subscribe to our iTunes feed which will bring all the audio goodness of our podcasts and live streams and other things featuring our ugly mugs to your computer free of charge.
A couple more things:
- Last week I mentioned that I'd be doing some writing for Baseball Prospectus, covering the American League East, and what do you know, I wasn't even pulling your leg. My first column takes a look at my favourite strategy in all of sports: throwing a bunch of shit against the wall and seeing what sticks. I come to the conclusion that Corey Patterson is the most replacement level player of all time, ever.
- At The Score, we've started a new radio show called The Bloggers where a rotating panel of blog editors and writers basically rip off TSN's The Reporters (which is definitely a rip off of ESPN's The Sports Reporters) and discuss some of the subjects that they've written about this past week. This week we talked about baseball for the entire first half of the show again, touching on Roberto Alomar's retired number, whether or not teams like Cleveland and Pittsburgh should go for it at the trade deadline and the search for the equivalent in other sports to Justin Masterson throwing fastballs for 103 of his 104 pitches.
Dealing Excitement Big Time
I know it might be difficult to rein in your excitement when it comes to five day old roster moves involving middle relievers, but try to contain yourself. Luis Perez was optioned to Las Vegas earlier this week to make room in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen for Casey Janssen.
I just want to quickly point something out about Luis Perez so that we don't forget about what he brought to the table during his time on the big club: he has the third highest ground ball rate in Major League Baseball among relievers. He also had the fourth lowest line drive rate, not only meaning that his GB/FB ratio wasn't as insane as merely looking at his GB% might suggest, but that the high groundball rate might not be as sustainable as we'd like to hope because line drive rates tend to fluctuate a lot year to year.
That's not to suggest that Perez benefited from large amounts of luck either. Five of the 24 fly balls that were hit off him went for home runs. That's a really unlucky ratio.
If you're wondering why Perez wasn't given more of a chance, as it seemed that before his demotion he was being put in higher leverage situations than Marc Rzepczynski. As Perez had already used an option this season, I'm guessing that the Blue Jays likely didn't see the need to burn another of Rzpeczynski's with less than half the season to go.
Popular Players
On FanGraphs, the five most looked at players today were:
- Zack Greinke;
- Carlos Beltran;
- Alfonso Soriano;
- Ichiro!; and
- Omar Vizquel.
Over at Baseball Reference, yesterday's most looked at players were:
- Carlos Beltran;
- Hunter Pence;
- Wilson Betemit;
- Derek Jeter; and
- Ichiro!
Findings Of The Week
From Beyond The Box Score: The more foul territory that a stadium has, the less strikeouts occur. Likewise, less foul territory means more strikeouts. I've always assumed that more foul territory means more foul outs, but I never thought of the effect it might have on strike outs. I'd guess that less foul territory would increase the rate of all other outcomes, but it seems to be most significant with strike outs.


text:
Need help? Check out our Support site, then
Back to WordPress.com Forums
- Member Since
- March 10, 2013 (1 year)
- Website
- http://3rdphaseny.wordpress.com
User Activity
Recent Replies
- instagram sidebar User last replied: 1 year ago. Most recent reply: 1 year ago
Threads Started
No more topics posted.


text:
Concealed Carry in Illinois
Concealed Carry Permit Issue Class: No Issue
The "No Issue" classification means that concealed carry is not legal for Illinois residents or non-Illinois residents.
*The state of Illinois has the most rigorous restriction on firearms on any state. It doesn't cater open or concealed carry of firearms for the residents of the state, but it does allow residents to own a Firearm Owner's Identification Card (FOID) which is required for owning a firearm and ammunition in the state.
Minimum Requirements for an Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification card (FOID):
- You must be a resident of Illinois.
- You must not be an alien who is unlawfully present in the U.S.
- Non-immigrant visa holders can apply for a license if they are admitted to the U.S. for lawful hunting or sporting purposes, an official representative of a foreign government, a foreign law enforcement officer on official business, or has received a waiver from the Attorney General of the U.S.
- You must be 21 years of age or older. If you are under the age of 21, you must have a written consent of your parent or legal guardian to acquire firearms and ammunition.
- You are qualified to own a firearm in a safe manner.
- You must not under indictment nor have been convicted of a felony in the U.S. or elsewhere.
- You must not be convicted of misdemeanor or domestic violence.
- You must not be under court order.
- You must not be an unlawful user or addicted to any controlled substance.
- You must not be dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces.
- You have not renounced U.S. citizenship.
- You must not be adjudged insane or mentally deranged.
- You must not be a fugitive from justice.
Miscellaneous Illinois Firearms Owners Identification Card (FOID) Information:
- Instructions for applications for a Firearms Owners Identification Card (FOID):
- You have to indicate your Illinois Card Number or Illinois driver's license on the application.
- Apply for a Firearms Owners Identification Card (FOID) at your local police station.
- Provide your photograph and pay the non-refundable fee.
- The application, which includes the extensive background check, will be processed within 30 days.
- The FOID card is valid for five (5) years.
- Concealed Carry Weapon can be granted if you become a mayor, alderman, president, deputy marshal or policeman. After the required weapons training, you will be considered as a "conservator of the peace."
Official Government Links:
Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card Act
Illinois State Police – FOID card FAQ
Illinois Law – Prohibition on Concealed Carry Weapon
Before you can even consider a concealed carry permit, you must still be able to legally possess or own a firearm under U.S. federal law.
United States Code Title 18, Part I, Chapter 44, Section 922: "Firearms, Unlawful Acts" is a summary of conditions that disqualify a person from firearm possession or ownership.
The person cannot be:
- under indictment for or have been convicted of a felony. (see note 1)
- a fugitive from justice
- an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance
- adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution
- an alien who is illegally or unlawfully in the United States (see note 2)
- discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions;
- someone who has renounced his or her U.S. citizenship;
- subject to a court order that restrains the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of the person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child
- convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence,
- Note 1: Felony conviction does not include any conviction which has been expunged or set aside, or for which a person has been pardoned, or has had civil rights restored, unless the pardon, expungement, or restoration of civil rights expressly provides that the person may not ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms.
- Felonies don't include non-violent business related crimes.
- Civil rights are generally restored after the sentence is completed for felonies that are not crimes against persons.
- Note 2: Legal immigrant aliens ("green card" or approved and pending green card) are not prohibited.


text:
Page 1 of 4
KANPUR: The initiative of the authorities to ensure better treatment to the people was hit due to crisis of doctors to run the newly re-opened dispensaries.
The dispensaries remained closed on Sunday due to unavailability of doctors. The patients had to face hardships.
"I am here to see a doctor but there is no doctor. I came after travelling 35 km from Maharajpur, even during heavy traffic jams due to Ganpati visarjan but the dispensaries are close without any prior information," said Sanjay, who came to dispensary at Anwarganj Allopathic Hospital.
Due to the negative approach of the doctors of Indian Medical Association (IMA), the authorities now have to re-plan the schedule to make the initiative possible.
Doctors of Ursula Horsman Hospital and some private doctors were asked to run the OPD at these dispensaries.
Dr RM Tiwari, additional chief medical officer (ACMO) said that they are getting no positive response from the members of Indian Medical Association (IMA) on the issue.
This initiative was suppose to start a few month ago but postponed due to crisis of doctors. At that time, even the initiative was interrupted due to the non-cooperative behaviour of doctors of IMA. This time also, they have not submitted a list of doctors to the medical authorities, said Dr Tiwari.
The ACMO said that from the coming week, these dispensaries running at Gwaltoli Maternity Centre, Nawabganj Allopathic Hospital, Birhana Road, Colonelganj, Juhi, Macharia, Geeta Nagar, Collectorganj, Panki and Anwarganj Allopathic Hospital will now be run on Monday and Thursday. The timmings for the OPDs will remain the same from 10 am to 12 pm. And the doctors of government hospitals will run the OPDs.
Article continuesStay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.
Interest Network
itimes | Email


text:
Please login or register to enjoy the benefits of CGSociety! | ||||
Welcome to CGTalk, the world's largest online forum for digital artists! CGTalk is the official forum for The CGSociety (Computer Graphics Society). To enjoy all that The CGSociety has to offer, please register here. | ||||
Forum | Last Post | Threads | Posts | |
What's Going On? | |
Currently Active Users: 618 (34 members and 584 guests) | |
Most users ever online was 9064, 11-30-2014 at 09:10 PM.
wellsichris, ThaddeusWarren, musashidan, bernieLomax, brighterH, DesislavaDineva, yodha49, Cartesius, alexegorov, sacboi, Newstream, chillrage, Lomax, htartist, Falam, mooses, tkpolak, Azzazel69, gabem, Jekkt, OniMoriquendi, Wolfie, vmp, SheepFactory, mimotasis, PePeTD, Hoppergrass, Heathtata, Keenly, stirling, adrenaline681, yselysuza
CGTalk Statistics | |
Threads: 1,004,127, Posts: 7,415,492, Members: 570,651
Welcome to our newest member, suredman23


text:
Hey everyone,
I'm Anna 22 SAHM to 6 month old icckle boy x been digi scrapping for only a few months.. but been using PS/PSP for about 3 years now.. (on & off ) I love to make layouts
umn not sure what else to say..
Hope your all well x
Welcome Anna! It's great to have you here!
Welcome Anna!
Welcome to GDS.
Welcome to GDS--look around and find a challenge to join in and you'll soon feel at home!
Welcome Anna!


text:
Product Summary
Arc du Rhône is named after the classified group of villages which together line up to form a geographical arc across the valley of the southern Rhône and is known locally as the 'arc of gold' This Côtes du Rhône Villages is typically full-flavoured, lusciously fruity with a delicate spice in the finish; made without oak maturation principally from Grenache Noir, Syrah with some enriching Carignan Noir.
Preparation & Storage
- Serve with a host of dishes ranging from traditional meats to rocket salad with duck and course, quality French cheeses. Please savour responsibly.
Please note that whilst we take every care to ensure the product information displayed on our website is correct, product recipes are regularly changed and this may affect nutrition and allergen information therefore you should always check product labels and not rely solely on the information presented here.If you require specific advice on any Waitrose branded product, please contact Customer Support on 0800 188884 or email firstname.lastname@example.com. For all other products, please contact the manufacturer.This information is supplied for personal use only. It may not be reproduced in any way whatsoever without the prior consent of Waitrose Limited nor without due acknowledgement.
You must be 18 or over to purchase this product.
You will be asked on delivery to verify your age.


text:
Narrow your search
The totalitarian regime may have been hit by a cyberattack in the midst of a war of words with the US over the Sony hack and Hollywood film "The Interview".
The dictatorship experiences an unusual Internet shutdown after President Obama vows to take action for the Sony Pictures hack.
Despite its new phablet, the Pop-up Note, selling out in half a day, the handset maker has failed to find a buyer after filing for bankruptcy earlier in August.
Korea's smartphone exports for October fall by almost 36 percent, with the country's government blaming the release of Apple's latest gadget and cheap Chinese phones.
A government cap on carrier subsidies caused a steep decline in phone sales, although there are some signs of recovery as low-cost monthly plans and used phone sales are on the rise.
From Seoul city council to the Korean Communication Commission, Uber faces serious legal trouble in South Korea.
Apple's shift to big-screened smartphones is proving just the ticket to winning over consumers in key Asian markets -- including rival Samsung's home turf.
A New York Times report, triggered by the leak of new documents, sheds light on how US officials so quickly concluded North Korea was the source of the November hacking attack against Sony Pictures.
The new fiber-optic cables will connect nine countries and be capable of speeds of up to 38.3 terabits per second, the Korean network says.
In response to the hack attack on Sony Pictures over its film "The Interview," President Barack Obama issues an executive order designed to punish the country the FBI says was responsible.


text:
We've prepared some special Christmas events with loads of glorious gifts for all dedicated players! We wish you a merry Christmas! Event One: Online Gifts Giveaway Tips: Event Two: Special prize for challenging Noches /Valhalla Note: Event 3:Merrily to welcome Xmas with new Map
Conditioners any thick advertised improvement buy cialis australia other cool would cialis 80 mg effortlessly. Visible supposed great http://www.vermontvocals.org/lowest-price-cialis.php purchase hand Hair were erectyle disfunction through and I http://www.backrentals.com/shap/price-for-cialis.html a used. I click here can I I'm for given cialis price comparison and sure up.
:Ninjawaz Item Description: Please Note: Event: Treasured Collection of Sage of the Six Paths Warm Tips: |


text:
Latest News
'Judge Mathis' Star's Former Life Of Crime Uncovered
Reality TV judge Greg Mathis is used to laying down the law – but in a shocking twist, he was once on the other side of it!
In an exclusive report by The National E… READ MORE
What Andi Dorfman Doesn't Know About Her New Fiancé
Bachelorette star Andi Dorfman accepted a marriage proposal from the show's winner, Josh Murray — but does she know about his secret booze-fueled … READ MORE
Will.I.Am's Brother Is Convicted Felon, Guilty Of Spousal Battery
Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am has a dark family secret that's been hiding about his older brother that he adores and looks up to, and RadarOnline.… READ MORE
Not So Innocent: 15 Secrets About 'Teen Mom 2' Sweetheart Chelsea
With a gorgeous new home and her dream job working in cosmetology, Chelsea Houska, 22, is a Teen Mom on top. But life hasn't been easy since giving birth to dau… READ MORE
Troubled Former 'Scandal' Star Columbus Short Arrested
Just three months after he was fired from hit ABC drama Scandal, Columbus Short was arrested on July 4.
According to reports, the troubled actor, 37, was cel… READ MORE
Drew Carey's New Porn Star Girlfriend Has Shocking Criminal Record
The Price is Right host Drew Carey is fully aware that his new girlfriend is a porn star — after all, that's how he met her — but he may not be aware of her cr… READ MORE
Rock Bottom! Shia LaBeouf Checks Into Rehab After Drunken NYC Arrest &...
Has Shia LaBeouf finally hit rock bottom? After a June 26 arrest following highly publicized drunken escapades in New York City, the actor checked into reh… READ MORE
'Teen Mom 2' Star Chelsea Houska's Bad Boy Baby Daddy Adam Lind Arrest...
Teen Mom 2 star Adam Lind just can't seem to stay out of trouble.
The Minnehaha County Jail confirms to RadarOnline.com that the troubled father of Chelsea H… READ MORE
A-List Diss! Jay Z And Beyonce Display Justin Bieber's Mug Shot During...
Justin Bieber can cross Jay-Z and Beyoncé off his dwindling list of supporters.
The superstar couple flashed the troubled singer's mugshot across the s… READ MORE
Porsha Williams Still Needs 'Anger Management!' Coworkers Slam Her Ret...
RadarOnline.com told you first!
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams was facing the chopping block after her knock down drag out fight with … READ MORE
Can't Touch Her! 'RHONJ' Star Teresa Giuidce 'So Confident' She Won't ...
Does Teresa Giudice have a secret about her sentencing that she's not sharing?
Both Teresa and Juicy Joe Giudice are facing years behind bars for their ille… READ MORE
Back In Jail! Pregnant 'Teen Mom 2' Star Jenelle Evans' Ex Hubby Locke...
Divorced and tossed in jail the very next day!
Jenelle Evans' ex-husband Courtland Rogers was a no-show in court on Tuesday when a judge ruled that he is no lo… READ MORE
Report: Man Arrested After Breaking Into Sandra Bullock's House ...
It was a scary Sunday morning for Sandra Bullock .
According to a new report from the Los Angeles Times, an unidentified 39-year-old man was arrested after h… READ MORE
Dina Lohan Escapes DWI Sentencing Without Jail Time — 'It's ...
Dina Lohan was sentenced on Tuesday morning in her Long Island DWI case and although she took a verbal beating from the judge, she managed to skate by without … READ MORE
'Teen Mom 2' Star Chelsea Houska Demands Stricter Custody Agreement Wi...
Teen Mom 2 star Adam Lind was booked earlier this month after he was arrested for driving with a revoked driver's license — and now RadarOnline.com is exclus… READ MORE
'She Needs Help!' Mario Singer's Mistress Kasey Dexter ...
A stint in jail was not enough to slow down Mario Singer's wild mistress Kyle "Kasey" Dexter. Just days after she was arrested for disorderly conduct in NY… READ MORE
Baby Boy On The Way! '16 And Pregnant Star' Whitney Purvis E...
It's a boy…again! Former 16 and Pregnant star Whitney Purvis, 22, announced on her official Facebook page she's expecting a second son with longtime boyf… READ MORE
Ramona Singer's Delight: Husband's Mistress Kasey Dexter Thrown ...
After gaining public notoriety as Mario Singer's mistress, home wrecker Kyle "Kasey" Dexter found herself behind bars in late April, RadarOnline.c… READ MORE
Porsha Williams Apologizes — And Defends — Controversial Anti-Gay Serm...
Porsha Williams' evangelical sermon where she proclaimed that gays and lesbians need to be saved was "not shown in its entirety," but she has still apolo… READ MORE
'RHOA' Star Porsha Williams Says Going To Jail After Kenya...
Porsha Williams portrayed herself as the victim in her notorious fight with co-star Kenya Moore on Sunday night's Watch What Happens Live, and RadarOnlin… READ MORE


text:
On May 22, Acting CFTC Chairman Wetjen announced three actions to (i) protect liquidity for certain end-users of swaps with utility special entities...more
Since the United States Supreme Court's 2010 decision in Bilski v. Kappos, holding that a computer-assisted method of hedging risk in the field of commodities trading was unpatentable under §101 of the Patent Act, courts have...more
The Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") issued a final rule, and the Commodity Futures...more
On November 5, 2013, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) voted 3-1 to re-propose rules to establish speculative position limits for futures, options and economically equivalent swaps on certain agricultural, metal...more
The New York State Bar Association's Tax Section has recently published a report highlighting that, in a variety of commonplace circumstances where a controlled foreign corporation (CFC) engages in certain routine treasury...more
In This Issue: - TRANSACTIONAL: Corporate/London: - Shareholders' Agreements for LNG Midstream Projects - Upstream Developments – Latin America Foreign Exchange Controls in Venezuela Strangle...more
A Louisiana lessee does not owe its lessor royalties based on hedging profits, said a federal district court in Cimarex Energy Co. v. Chastant. ...more
BACKGROUND - For many years, academics have proposed that the U.S. replace the current hodge-podge U.S. federal income tax rules applicable to financial derivatives with a "mark-to-market" regime. In the first...more
As companies prepare for the 2013 annual meeting and reporting season, we have compiled an overview of the corporate governance and disclosure matters that companies should consider as they draft this season's disclosure...more
On January 31, the FSA published a report of its findings from pilot reviews conducted by banks into the misselling of interest rate hedging products to small businesses....more
In This Issue: *Financial Industry Developments - SEC Extends Exemptions for Security-Based Swaps - Fed Announces Release Dates for Results of Supervisory Stress Tests and CCAR - Rating Agency Developments...more
The proxy and annual reporting season has begun, with relatively few changes in reporting requirements from last year. Here are some tips to take you through the season and prepare for changes to come. 1. Consider the...more


text:
Complete the form below to submit details of your travel interests and one of our travel experts will contact you with recommendations.
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday from 0800-1600hrs CET. Closed on German Holidays. Please note: Trip Requests that are submitted after business hours or over the weekend are worked the next business day.
Looking for air? Please use our online booking tool.
All questions shown in this color are required in order to complete this travel request.


text:
To compete in today's rapidly changing capital markets, the top financial industry performers rely on one superior solution for high-performance trading: Street Response Laboratories (SR Labs).
SR Labs was created to deliver accurate, end-to-end results where every microsecond counts. Reliable and proven, we provide solutions that yield superior results in today's evolving electronic markets. With an eye on the future, SR Labs has established itself as Wall Street's first call to execute high speed electronic trading by combining superior business acumen, with top-notch technical skills.
Our market data, order and execution platforms have been developed with an emphasis on an ultra low latency, designed to accommodate rapidly increasing data rates with user intuitiveness and business efficiency. Our product portfolio is a comprehensive market data, order and execution platform.
SR Labs' clients include Bulge bracket banks such as Bank Of America Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley. Our Proprietary Trading, Market Making and Hedge Funds clients include firms such as Ronin Capital, AHSAT Capital and Integral Derivatives.
September 03 2014
July 09 2014
June 18 2014
March 18 2014


text:
With the smell of jerk chicken in the air and drinks courtesy of Grey Goose and Bacardi being served, a press conference was held Wednesday evening with International Reggae Superstars Shaggy and Maxi Priest to discuss their upcoming show next week at Barclays Center on Wednesday, December 12, 2012. Shaggy and Maxi Priest will be joined by two more International Reggae Superstars on stage at Barclays Center, Beres Hammond and Ali Campbell's UB40.
During the press conference, Maxi Priest was asked if he ever thought one of his biggest hits, "Close To You", would do so well. His answer, in a single word, was "Never." He didn't expect the single to be as big of a worldwide hit as it was, but he was able to capitalize on it with other big hits.
Speaking of big hits, not too many in music, let alone reggae, have had the type of success that Shaggy has experienced. From "Oh Carolina" and "Boombastic" to "Angel" and "It Wasn't Me", Shaggy is the only certified Diamond-selling Dancehall Reggae artist of all time. Diamond certification equals 10 million records sold.
Shaggy discussed the strong West Indian, or Caribbean presence in Brooklyn, where Barclays Center is located, and the Brooklynite talked about the "opportunity to make our presence known" for the Caribbean community at the arena the night of the show.
With all of the success that the four artists performing next week have had, Shaggy pointed out that there is still no major station that has a reggae format. That means that stars in the genre have to produce what Shaggy called "undeniable hits" that will enable the songs to crossover. Fans will be treated to four artists who managed to accomplish that success time and time again.
There were rumors that Maxi Priest was supposed to replace Ali Campbell in the band UB40 when Campbell left. He addressed the rumors head on, saying "From the horse's mouth, not that I am a horse, I am not UB41″ to laughter and cheers of the crowd.
Shaggy pointed out to those in attendance that this is a "quality show with quality performers" that will bring a "quality audience." Indeed, this is a show with artists with numerous hits, who will be joined by other big artists on stage (as they both agreed would happen at the show) and all of those in attendance should be in for a treat at the very first reggae concert at Barclays Center.
Contributor Derrel "Jazz" Johnson
The Razz and Jazz Sports Blog
for eveerythingYNTK + VIBE Vixen


text:
Teaching the Word of God has always been a huge part of what we do. With Bible Institutes in 13 locations around the world, our desire is to reach a new generation of world changers.
Whether you want to get away in the Adirondacks or head down to sunny Florida, Word of Life camps has options for you. Though the locations are different, our commitment to provide you with solid Biblical speakers, top-notch musical talent, and an amazing location to get away won't change.
Word of Life is an international organization with active ministry in over 60 countries and over 1,100 missionaries. Last year alone, over 160,000 people made professions of faith through the various ministries around the world. To God be the glory...great things He is doing!
With missionaries spread around the country, Local Church Ministries is focused on helping local churches accurately teach God's Word to their youth. We supply the Bible curriculum and then help train your leaders to teach the youth of your church the truths of God's Word.


text:
The idealistic notion that contemporary small towns ought to be "small" and "townlike"—rather than sections of strip mall-riven suburban sprawl—took off in Florida in the 1980's and 90's with the founding of Seaside and Celebration, and continues today.
The 80-acre fan-shaped waterfront community of Seaside, on Florida's Panhandle, began 25 years ago when a small-time developer named Robert Davis decided to build a resort community on land he'd inherited from his grandfather. He and his wife, Daryl, spent two years driving through the South in their red Pontiac convertible, studying the region's architecture and looking for a way to fabricate a place that would evoke the simple beachfront communities of his childhood. Eventually, Davis joined forces with two young architects, Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, then partners at the trendy Miami firm Arquitectonica, who also researched the Southern vernacular via a series of road trips. What emerged from all this driving—and many hours at the drawing board—was a densely built little town full of whimsical, pastel-hued bungalows and wee versions of antebellum mansions. Nearly every house had at least one porch, and sometimes two. With its signature cuteness and perfectly calibrated aesthetic—made famous by the 1998 movie The Truman Show—Seaside became the foundation of New Urbanism, a design movement that sought to tame suburban sprawl with 100-year-old ideas about town planning and a very up-to-date knack for appropriating historic building styles. Duany and Plater-Zyberk formed their own company, DPZ, and working from their Miami headquarters became the most famous progenitors of a trend. Since Seaside, some 600 New Urbanist communities have sprung up nationwide, about 100 of them in Florida alone.
So it seems fitting that 25 years after the invention of Seaside, I, too, am on a road trip. I am driving a 1,600-mile loop around Florida, sadly not in a red convertible but rather in an acutely modest powder-blue Chevy Aveo—it's hurricane season and gas shortages loom, so I've chosen fuel efficiency over style. My goal is to visit as many of Florida's New Urbanist communities as possible: I want to see if towns based on the New Urbanists' endless codes about street width and gradations of population density, and their guidelines about the structure of porches and the order of columns, have grown up into real places. Can you visit a New Urbanist town, with its cultivated charm, its squeaky-clean gloss on the past, and have the kind of experience you might in a place where charm has had a chance to evolve and molder, like Key West or Savannah?
If you judge by real estate values, the New Urbanist approach to making new old places has been a smashing success: local agents report Seaside houses going for $1,300 per square foot—nearly double the price in the more ordinary Seagrove, next door. And even a modest Seaside cottage, a replica of the sort of Depression-era farmstead one sees in WPA-era photos, can cost upward of $2 million. (Broad scientific studies of home appreciation and resale prices show consistent but less dramatic contrasts between New Urbanist enclaves and adjacent communities. The most recent, published in 2003, showed that homes in New Urbanist developments are 15.5 percent more valuable than homes in comparable neighborhoods.) The expanse of the Panhandle on either side of Seaside has become one of the most intriguing stretches of roadway in America, flanked by a half-dozen officially recognized New Urbanist communities and a slew of imitators. Although I'm resistant to the habitual New Urbanist trick of using nostalgia to sell a planning philosophy, I see Route 30A, unofficially the New Urbanist Highway, as a remarkable laboratory of lifestyle.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Before I visit New Urbanism's fertile crescent, I need to stop in at Celebration, the white-picket-fence utopia conveniently located 20 miles from the Orlando airport—a magnet for frequent flights and low airfares—and within a few miles of the entrance to Walt Disney World. This is the town that Disney began building in 1994, with much fanfare. I once wrote the first couple of chapters of a murder mystery set in a town called Happiness that was based on Celebration…or at least my idea of Celebration. But until I pull in to town in my Aveo (hardly larger than the electric golf carts favored by the locals) I'd never been in the place.


text:
Saturday, March 15, 2014 5:54 PM
*•☞★SEXY SASHA★ I am 1OO% InDepenDent,1OO% UpScaLe CoMpaNioN Ready to have all of your FantaSieS made Reality? =) Let me show you the guaranteed fun time you deserve I have everything you are looking for! I I Enjoy Providing Upscale Companionship To Generous Gentlemen Who Love To Experience The Finer Things In Life. I'm Like The Girl Next Door, Sweet&Sexy With An Erotic TwisT! I Take Pride In Providing An unforgettable experience.
***Sure to have a blast!!!***
Sasha Brown-4233319111
***Sure to have a blast!!!***
Sasha Brown-4233319111
• Location:
Columbus, columbus/phenix city
• Post ID: 16839549 columbusga


text:
September 11, 2012
Fans of the Harry Potter franchise should be more careful when searching their favorite wizard on the internet.
According to the sixth annual "Most Dangerous Celebrity" list, Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione Granger, has been crowned as the riskiest celebrity name for search queries. Fans of the star who search for photographs or videos of Watson are more likely to encounter malicious malware, spam, viruses or phishing attempts intended to steal personal information. There is a one in eight chance that fans searching for Watson will land on a malicious site.
Phishing attempts rise
For the first time in the past four years, the number of malware threats has hit an all time high. From McAfee Labs data, 1.5 million attacks were detected on computers in the second quarter of 2012.
Although the number of malicious emails and cyber attacks has increased, many users cannot recognize when their computer has been targeted. O+K Research recently released the results of a survey commissioned by Kaspersky Lab that shows 50 percent of respondents could not distinguish a fake website or phishing attempt, while 26 percent said they accidentally released malware by opening a suspicious attachment.
Security measures for computer users
Paula Greve, director of web security research at McAfee, said that the public should be aware of risky sites associated with celebrities, and that movies, TV shows and awards play a factor in how "dangerous" a celebrity search can be.
Computer users should be cautious when opening suspicious attachments or clicking questionable links. Consumers should invest in security or antivirus software as a form of network security to stay protected.
Fans of Watson should also take caution when looking at photographs or links of her on their mobile devices. According to the O+K Research survey, hackers target mobile users with phishing attempts as another way of accessing personal information.
Watson leads the list, which features all women. Other celebrities that could lead to malware downloads include Jessica Biel, Eva Mendes, Selena Gomez, Halle Berry, Megan Fox, Shakira, Cameron Diaz, Salma Hayek and Sofia Vergara. The only male celebrity in the top 20 is late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
-McAfee Cloud Security


text:
Click on the images to browse online through the catalogues. (Adobe Flash required)
With 42 types of screws. The widest range in this sector
Download catalogue
Screws for wood
Fixing systems and tools for wooden construction
Download catalogue
Post bases
Adjustable, fixed, fixed for concrete and tow piece fixed
Download catalogue
Post Bases
The products included in the catalogue are only available for the specific countries.


text:
Langton accuses Greens of keeping people in poverty over Native Title
Category: Headline News Published Date
Professor Marcia Langton has accused supporters of the Green movement of standing in the way of Indigenous advancement, consigning the nation's First Peoples to lives of poverty.
In her second Boyer lecture Professor Langton argued the environmental movement has emerged as "one of the most difficult of all the obstacles hindering Aboriginal economic development".
"Among the left and among those...
Latest Issue
Issue 389
Rally call goes out for an Invasion Day protest in Canberra
The multi-award winning National Indigenous Times is an independent newspaper and receives no government funding whatsoever. Thus, we rely entirely on advertising and subscriptions to survive, and hope you'll consider subscribing to NIT's print edition as well as the online version of our paper. Our new and improved website now contains stories and photos, you can even interact by providing feed back on articles in the your say section. We have a new video module where you can watch relevant videos sourced from all over Australia.
There is also the option of advertising online with high impact positions on the various pages and the ability to "click through" to the advertisers website. Our new website is fast and effective and as always if you advertise in the print edition you will be uploaded to our online jobs section as an added bonus. So contact our sales team now via our website or give us a call on 1300 786 611, we will be happy to structure a package that meets your advertising needs and budget.


text:
I am assembling proposals for 16 windows in a belvedere (a room above our kitchen like a "widows walk"). So initially I am looking at Andersen or Marvin. However, many recent comments in this forum extol the quality of Okna or Sunrise windows which apparently can well match good wood interiors. We currently have 12 stationary windows and four awning windows in the belvedere with a 3x2 grid with wide muntins. We have a Marvin Ultimate proposal that apparently can well match the windows at $700/window before install. We do not have the install price yet. The fancy trim around the windows is long leaf Tennessee valley yellow pine which cannot be replaced. If Okna or Sunrise can decently match the look of the interior wood, why are they not a viable option? There may be other considerations of good vinyl versus good wood windows that I am not familiar with. Also, we are in Franklin County Kansas just at the SW edge of the metro-Kansas City area, so there may be an issue with Okna or Sunrise dealers/installers in our area. I really would appreciate your comments. Thank you. |
Follow-Up Postings:
i dont believe Okna serves kansas. Sunrise probably does and i would think soft lite gorell does as well. the marvin will probably be more than 700. you then have to pay to have jt stained as well as oay for the install and debris removal. |
- Posted by richard904 (My Page) on Mon, Dec 24, 12 at 16:09
We might as well put this post to bed. After further looking at vinyl versus wood, there were enough postings in this forum to handle the problem. It appears there are not enough high end vinyl dealers in my area to make looking at vinly worthwhile. |
Thermal King in Lenexa, KS is a high end vinyl dealer that knows how to do the job right. |
- Posted by windowsonwashington (My Page) on Wed, Dec 26, 12 at 8:38
Richard, I think Okna, Soft-Lite, and Sunrise are all available in your region. Have you checked with the manufacturers? |
i wasnt aware okna served kansas. you should call each of the those companies as WOW mentioned. GLW GUY , why does Thermal King untilize a tin plated metal spacer? i would of thought , from your recommendation , that a higher end window would of used a non metal spacer system. intercept is such an old technology. i had no idea a few higher end companies are still stuck using old machinery that cannot handle the newer technology ( composite spacers) or at least a true stainless spacer. |
Actually Thermal King uses a variety of technologies, including Intercept which is still a great option. They also have stainless and non-metal available if somebody wants to go in that direction. |
they use UniFrame Windows ? intercept is old and more likely to cause seal failures based on my experience. you are telling me that UniFrame windows can come with either super spacer or a true stainless spacer? |
- Posted by HomeSealed (My Page) on Thu, Dec 27, 12 at 15:31
They do offer the stainless now, mmarsel. Not sure about the conposite though. I suspect that the "GLW" part stands for Great Lakes Windows ;) ... Decent product from my experience, not elite level performance though as the other products listed in this thread offer. One could question the blatant self-promotion though... |
- Posted by richard904 (My Page) on Thu, Dec 27, 12 at 16:54
GLWGUY posted that Thermal King is a high end vinyl player in the Kansas City area. Do they make their own window? What is confusing to me is that there is a company Thermal Industries in Lenexa, KS, not too far away from Thermal King Windows, and Thermal Industries does make windows. Has anyone here seen the Thermal King window and compared it say to Okna? Is it really a viable competitor at the high end? |
from looking at their website its quite obvious they are using UniFrame windows by great lakes. its a pretty good window if ordered with a true stainless steel spacer opposed to regular intercept. it will not render the same performance as the Okna , Sunrise, or Soft Lite. it is a definitely a step below but better than a simonton in my opinion. |
- Posted by millworkman (firstname.lastname@example.com) on Fri, Dec 28, 12 at 11:35
My problem with this manufacturer/dealer is the shameless underhanded way he came on here to plug his windows in direct violation of the terms and conditions. I would disqualify he and his windows for that reason alone! |
This post was edited by millworkman on Fri, Dec 28, 12 at 12:47
Agree with the rather flagrant self promotion. |
- Posted by HomeSealed (My Page) on Sat, Dec 29, 12 at 14:45
+1000 to both posts above. :) |
- Posted by richard904 (My Page) on Thu, Jan 3, 13 at 15:22
Okna tells me that it is not available in Missouri or Kansas. |
- Posted by matt_in_ks (My Page) on Thu, Jan 3, 13 at 20:19
There are a couple of softlite dealers and also a marvin dealer in the kc area. My marvin integrity casements are about 300 and the awnings are coming in a bit lower. That's window only, not sure if the integrity will have all the options you want but I think they're a very nice unit. Plan on using them in my new build. |
- Posted by stormstopper (My Page) on Mon, Jan 7, 13 at 2:58
I'm not a big fan of IGUs, no matter who makes them. Too many seal failures and the warranties reflect a lack of confidence by the manufacturers, as well. It's simply "the nature of the beast". I spent many years purchasing IGUs for structural skylights and in Florida, the failure rate in 20 years was 100%. Because the glass is over the atrium of a mall some 50 feet in the air, who notices?...and as long as it doesn't leak when it rains, nobody cares. If you do a little internet research you will find out the problems they are having with hi-rise condos in Canada (Ontario, if memory serves) that have entire glass walls falling out onto the street. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Chicago Window Expert
- Posted by windowsonwashington (My Page) on Mon, Jan 7, 13 at 8:54
How would you propose creating a more insulated glazing schedule on a high rise. No matter the commercial application, most warranties are far less comprehensive than the homeowner/residential equivalent. Most homeowner/residential applications have 20 year insulated glass coverages. Is that too short? |
- Posted by windowsonwashington (My Page) on Mon, Jan 7, 13 at 14:33
Here is the warranty from Andersen on their glass. They are the single largest manufacturer of wood windows in this country and would be the most legally protected given their formidable legal department. Glass I see nothing wrong with that language whatsoever. The reality is that if the glass seal have been compromised enough to allow moisture (beyond what can be removed by the desiccant) into the IGU, it is covered. I don't know of any supplier that provides the labor to replace and if it is a vinyl manufacturer, most don't even both with just the IGU and provide the sash because it is an easy swap in/swap out function. You are referencing a post that is over 3 years old. If you want the verbiage from the Okna warranty on insulated glass, it reads as such: Insulated Glass The idea that a warranty is only as good as the company applies to every facet of industry. That is nothing new and if you are going to hinge your decision on that factor alone, don't plan on buying anything from anyone. |
- Posted by stormstopper (My Page) on Mon, Jan 7, 13 at 15:50
richard904, My advice is to put your trust into a contractor with no dealership ties to any one manufacturer. Make sure that he has vast experience and good customer recommendations with window installations in your area. He is the one who knows which windows have the best track record, which manufacturers stand behind their product & warranty and which ones just plain last the longest. Your application is unique you will need the contractor's input to end up with a satisfactory finished project. Good luck to you. Would love to see pictures of the finished project. wow, I noticed that you are in the DC area. This may be why you only addressed the warranty issues of my post and side-stepped the others. I just happened upon the Vinyl Replacement Window forum today and found it quite informative and learned quite a bit in a very short time. I'm sure that a little more research on any reader's part will show the entire warranty not just the IGU excerpt. When it comes to insulated glass - no matter who makes it - the plain truth is that until pressure equalization technology improves, there will always be seal failures in the field. The more extreme the climate the higher the failure rate. The window industry is allowed the luxury of averaging the failure and Argon gas dissipation rates in the laboratory and steers clear of what happens in the field. I can't say as I blame them. Unfortunately this isn't made clear to the prospective buyer on any literature that I have run across. I'm hoping that you can post some on here if you have access to some. No one lives in a "laboratory home" and that is all that laboratory tests reflect. In the end it's the real world that counts and real experiences that we rely upon - not theory or ideal lab conditions. The internet and forums like this one and VRW help reveal things out that might otherwise not be brought to light. Many in the industry world (not just fenestration) would rather hide certain facts that have them dealt with. They are the ones who have hinged their hopes on a concept that, if found sub-par, would require much rethinking and lost revenue. Therein lies the rub and you can color that any way that you wish. The window industry will always be here but I think (and hope) that there will be big changes in technology coming. |
- Posted by windowsonwashington (My Page) on Mon, Jan 7, 13 at 17:11
Please tell me what other aspects that I "side-stepped"? You posted about IGU failures and I posted the warranties relative to that from Andersen and the manufacturer (Okna) that you reference in your link back to another forum. The 20 year or lifetime reference was something that you pointed out. What am I missing? Do you wish to read the entire warranty? Here it is: Vinyl Frame And Sash Members Andersen learned a valuable lesson with this and did a fine job of warrantying items after the fact when it was discovered that their IGU were gas fill permeable but impermeable to the larger molecules of atmospheric air. There is not much science to develop here. While vacuum IGUs are interesting and exciting developments, they are several years away from reaching mass distribution and acceptance. If you think that gas permeability presents challenges, vacuum presents far more challenges. Temperature shifts do present sealing issues to IGUs but if we can make sure the windows inside pressurized airplanes and vehicles that go outside the earth's atmosphere stay together, something in Desert Valley doesn't seem that tough. In applications where windows go above a certain altitude, breather tubes are inserted for equalization if they are not made near said altitude. The are certain aspects of the window industry that are pretty tried and true and I am not sure you layman's review of their cycle testing is accurate or based in any observable fact. I have been through several factory were they life cycle test these materials and they are comprehensive to say the least. No laboratory can ever truly duplicate a real world environment but they compensate for this most times by making the extremes more extreme to simulate worst case scenarios. The engineers at Pella, Andersen, and Cardinal would probably take umbrage with your less than factually vetted review of their testing and materials developments. Do they have failure rates, surely. This is why you get a warranty. Even in those situations where materials are manufacturer robotically, there is a human hand and potential for error at any number of locations in the process. |
- Posted by stormstopper (My Page) on Mon, Jan 7, 13 at 19:30
wow, There you go again, hiding in the lab. What variables does the lab take into consideration during their testing - for the bowing of a house wall from humidity or the settling of a foundation? How about vibrations from 200 semis passing on a daily basis on a nearby highway? Maybe about planes from a nearby airport? Howe about seismic episodes? My guess is that you already know the answer. I don't see you as that ill-informed. My whole point is we only have data on what HAS been tested and what is deemed important by the industry. You can't test for everything, so salespeople simply need to be upfront about it at the time of sale. How difficult is it to say, "My product isn't the best but it does this, this and this extremely well, but it doesn't do that as good as another product"? You can list all of the data and calculations that you want to, but I'm guessing that it won't mean much to the homeowner who bought 20 new windows 10 years ago and has 4 of them that have condensation in them. He also won't be ecstatic to find out that his ABC Window Lifetime Warranty will make him pay half price for the replacement window (if the manufacturer is still in business) and he/she has to hire out the installation. What about the poor homeowner who bought windows and the company has since folded during the recession? I think I can get a list of most of them. How many can you name? And that's not to say that they didn't have a good product, either. Suppose the windows were fine but the neighborhood hoodlum shot them with his Christmas BB gun? Now the homeowner has to buy completely new units and pay AGAIN because replacement parts aren't available. What about the poor salesman who worked for one of those companies and he gets a call at his new job and has to unsuspectingly face the displeased homeowner who happens to remember him? My guess is the lab tests in his briefcase won't be much good this time. Like xoldtimecarpenter tried to explain - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. When it is broke, fix until you come up with something better. Until something better actually is better, keep working on it. Don't just call it better and start promoting it because you have a boatload of money invested in it and you need to get it to the marketplace to start getting a return. Investors and stockholders tend to push for those types of timetables and have caused many a faux pas. I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I don't think continuing to promote a product as something that it isn't. |
- Posted by windowsonwashington (My Page) on Tue, Jan 8, 13 at 8:52
Hiding in the lab...? I guess we should continue to splash planes into the ground and kill test pilots instead of doing the projections on a computer..? The laboratory can never account for all the real world conditions because they are so varied and wide. Should we not build anything in California because we cannot duplicate an earthquake? No. You build based on what you know the conditions will reproduce and test it in a lab. Can a lab simulate a real earthquake (or the vibrations from semis, planes, trains, and automobiles), no. But you build to the best possible standards you know and that work in those situations. In Japan, they new the nuclear plant was near a fault line and engineered it as such and it still failed. Probably prudent to not build near a fault line but we are not talking about the abject collapses like those in Haiti. You make inferences as is people who sell replacement windows are actively defrauding the customer. "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Customer, this window is warranted against seal failure and you are protected in normal circumstances but I cannot account for any seismic events. Just giving you a heads up." Should that be the new disclaimer? "this extremely well, but it doesn't do that as good as another product" What other product? If you are referring to storm windows, this has been hashed out and while you can try to undermine the "data calculations" the fact is that they are fact. You can't claim that data shows "X" and use that as the backbone to undermine something and then selectively ignore the data when it shows something contrary to your argument. Re-read the thread "Repair, Don't Replace"....the whole thing and you will get the full picture and rebuke of this idea that storm windows outperform sealed IGUs. It is not supported by facts. Sorry but the are stubborn things. What window company are your referring to? Instead of providing hypotheticals, give some real examples. There are no partial fees for the companies that I deal with and most are happy to supply sashes. The only instances in which the vendor or customer might incur some expense is in the case of a picture window or other fixed piece of glass that would require re-glazing. The glass warranty from Marvin, Pella and Andersen are all about the same = 20 years. If you are referencing new construction warranty provisions, those are not at all representative of the replacement industry. New construction applications usually use the cheapest crap they can get and have very loose and less than comprehensive warranties. If you have issue with that, take it up with the builders as they clearly know what they are buying when they buy it. Since when does a glass breakage require a completely new unit? Most glass of the last 10 years is based, in large part, on about the same glass spacing. Even if the full sash is not available, a suitable alternative to the glass is usually available and re-glazing a window is not that big a deal. You can quote all the theoreticals that you want to but they are not at all representative of what would happen if a customer chooses a good contractor and good company. Glass breakage = new sash or, if not available, new glass. Difficulty = 2 I don't even know how to respond to your theoretical salesperson scenario. I guess the salesperson could help them by coordinating with the old company to obtain replacements or if the install company is out of business, to work with the manufacturer to get the parts. If you are going to quote xoldtime, you should probably quote the entire argument and read the whole thread. Nearly every claim that he made was shown to be exaggerated or altogether incorrect. Don't get me wrong, I like xoldtime and we had a very good discuss in that thread but using his own studies that he supplied, his claims were shown to be inaccurate. Do storm windows have a place in historic applications and on wood windows that are worth preserving...absolutely. Should you start slapping storm windows on windows from housing stock that is less than 20 years old...not a chance. As I mentioned in the other thread: Storm windows have no application though dealing with: |
- Posted by HomeSealed (My Page) on Wed, Jan 9, 13 at 10:14
Just for anyone that may be referencing this thread (and regarding the original subject), the header of LIFETIME warranty is missing from the Okna warranty verbiage pasted above. Okna warranties their glass against seal failure as described for lifetime, and this coverage applies to you as the purchaser and also transfers fully to the next homeowner. There is no pro-ration whatsoever. I don't have a copy of the Sunrise warranty at hand, but I believe it offers similar coverage. Andersen and Marvin OTOH, are 20 years, which is actually still quite good :) |
Are you saying the poster deliberately omitted the word LIFETIME is the Okna warranty. If so, Okna would not be very happy about that inference. |
- Posted by HomeSealed (My Page) on Wed, Jan 9, 13 at 11:50
No, WoW posted it... I think he just missed it in the copy and paste process ;) |
Ok.. Got it. I didnt realize that. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Windows Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here


text:
New User:
Forgot your password?
Stock Market & Financial Investment News
News Breaks
June 16, 2014
HP management to meet with UBS
Meeting to be held in Dallas on June 16 hosted by UBS.
News For HPQ From The Last 14 Days
Sign up for a free trial
to see the rest of the stories you've been missing.
January 27, 2015
HP falls as Microsoft results hit PC-related stocks, levels to watch
The stock is down over 4.4% to $37.13 at time of writing. The move has triggered a bearish head and shoulders pattern on the daily chart, which has its neckline at $37.50. Downside potential for the pattern is to the $33 area. Next support is at $36.22. Resistance is at $37.46, the opening price of the day.
Active equity options trading
Active equity options trading according to Track Data: AAPL MSFT TWTR TSLA GILD NFLX C AA HPQ X
Stocks with implied volatility movement; HP VALE
Stocks with implied volatility movement; HP (HPQ) 28, Vale (VALE) 57 according to iVolatility.
January 26, 2015
HP announces management teams for both companies
HP said it has been "working diligently to ensure that both HP Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise are set up for success." It added, "We are excited about the progress we�ve made and today we�re happy to share the first level of leadership for both companies. As we continue through this transition year, we will operate as HP and are focused on minimizing disruption to customers, partners and employees." Hewlett-Packard Enterprise will be lead by Meg Whitman as President and CEO, Cathie Lesjak as Chief Financial Officer, Henry Gomez as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, John Hinshaw as Chief Customer Officer and lead Technology & Operations and Martin Fink as Chief Technology Officer. HP Inc. will be led by Dion Weisler as President and CEO, Jon Flaxman as Chief Operating Officer and Shane Wall as Chief Technology Officer.
HP CEO names Henry Xiang-Ying Cao as CEO of H3C, WSJ reports
Meg Whitman, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, has named former H3C Technologies COO Henry Xiang-Ying Cao as CEO of HP's China-based subsidiary, replacing Jessie Jing-Chuan Wu, who will become vice chairman, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing an internal email. Workers at the unit recently petitioned against HP's new China chairman, Mao Yu'nan, and also pushed for financial incentives, which Whitman has reportedly recently offered.
Reference Link
January 21, 2015
HP PC market share, sales seem to have risen, says Argus
Subscribe for More Information
January 20, 2015
Thousands of HP employees protest new China head, China Daily says
About 2,500 employees of HP's (HPQ) China based subsidiary, H3C Technologies, have signed a petition against HP's new China chairman, Mao Yu'nan, according to China Daily. The employees fear that Mao will endanger H#C's autonomy and torpedo an employee stock option plan that has been in the works for some time, the newspaper stated.
Reference Link
HP looks to boost sales with specific tablets for professionals, Bloomberg says
Subscribe for More Information
January 19, 2015
HP-Autonomy investigation closed by U.K.'s Serious Fraud Office
The Director of the Serious Fraud Office has closed the SFO's investigation into the sale of Autonomy to the Hewlett-Packard company in 2011. This investigation was commenced in early 2013, following a referral from HP.In respect of some aspects of the allegations, the SFO has concluded that, on the information available to it, there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.In respect of other aspects and on the application of well-established principles, jurisdiction over the investigation has been ceded to the US authorities whose investigation is ongoing.
Reference Link
Sign up for a free trial
to see the rest of the stories you've been missing.
I agree to the theflyonthewall.com
disclaimer & terms of use


text:
Fri, May 8, 09 at 14:32
anyone out there have any ideas for something to do to fend off all this rain besides watching and cursing? I've been able to shelter the ones in containers, but the ones in the ground I am worried about. It has rained every day since Monday, with chances of rain tomorrow and Sunday too... |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by dottie_in_charlotte z7-8 NC (My Page) on Fri, May 8, 09 at 16:12
I've had that problem many years back and I know plants will only take up as much as they need. The excess water drives out the oxygen in the soil so I poked holes in the soil near the plant roots and that seemed to help (kinda like aeration we do to turf). |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Carolina Gardening Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here


text:
by Amy Gallagher
Dolls are creepy…kinda like clowns.
Our annual vacation in Cape Hatteras was what I lived for growing up. My mom, my sister and I rented a house across from a local surfer named Albie and spent the month of August swimming and sunning and waiting for Dad to come down from our Philadelphia home on weekends.
It was my twelfth year, the summer Albie promised to teach me to surf, that my sister Elise found the doll.
The doll—Elise called it Amber—had creamy doll flesh and perfect rose lips, even though someone had clearly abandoned her in the rental house. She wore a black leotard and a pink wrap-around dance skirt, just like the outfit I wore to ballet back home.
Elise loved Amber, but at first sight of the doll, my stomach swelled with sharp pains that ebbed and flowed, depending on my proximity to it. That night I pulled Mom aside and whispered that we should take the doll away from Elise.
"Why?" she asked.
Good question. I swallowed, wondering how to explain why Elise shouldn't have the doll she loved.
Mom eyed me. "You want the doll for yourself?"
I shook my head.
She leaned towards me, speaking so Elise wouldn't hear from several yards away. "Don't be selfish, Olivia. You have everything."
I opened my mouth, but Mom just scowled at me.
I went to Elise in the living area. She sat in her wheelchair, holding Amber and watching TV.
"What's on?"
"A movie," she said without looking at me.
I smiled. She was always watching a movie. Movies were her best friends and not just since the accident. She'd been a loner long before she had to use a wheelchair. I'd once heard Mom tell Grandma that Elise was as mousy and weak as I was vivacious and strong. Elise had gotten the short end of the stick, according to Mom. I wondered for a long time how Grandma responded on the other end of the line and if the two of them felt guilty about discussing Elise that way after she was crippled.
So close to the doll, my innards tangled, so I went back to Mom in the kitchen, rubbing my belly. "Mom, it's bad."
Her face crinkled in concern. "You have a stomach ache?"
"Yes, because the doll—"
"Olivia, forget the doll," she hissed. "Let your sister have something. For once."
I glanced at Elise, still fixated on her movie, before thumping to the upstairs deck.
My eyes scanned the Milky Way, savoring the view since I barely saw any stars in Philly. In Hatteras millions dotted the sky, and sometimes I'd see one fall through the dark. I looked for a shooting star that night and promised if I saw one, I'd forget my usual wishes—even that Elise would walk again—and wish for Amber to disappear.
I leaned back into my chair, closed my eyes and gripped my churning stomach. How could Mom think I was trying to take something away from Elise? I knew how lucky I was, that the accident had made her life harder than I could imagine. But I could sense with every cell in my body that Amber was planning to harm Elise. I needed to get that doll away from her.
My eyes popped open, remembering a trash schedule on the fridge. If I could get Amber into the garbage outside tonight, she'd be at the dump before Elise woke up tomorrow.
I waited until everyone was asleep before I crept into Elise's room and removed Amber from the bedside table. I eased the screen door open and walked delicately to the trashcans.
I admired Amber's pink ballet slippers, miniature versions of my own, feeling guilty for a second. So pretty. I hated to throw her away… But then I heard Amber's voice, almost as though it were inside me. Don't cast me out. Elise and I belong to one another.
Her eyes gleamed, flickered in the dark as her words flooded my mind. I pitched Amber at the nearest can. When I realized one of her pink legwarmers still clung to my finger, I shook it away spastically, as if it were one of the gauzy spider webs that floated outside the Hatteras house. Inside, I was unable to breathe even after I'd tucked myself under the covers.
I slept later than usual the next morning, and woke relaxed and anticipating a day without Amber the doll and the terrible stomach pains she brought. I heard the usual breakfast chaos and made my way upstairs in the shorts and t-shirt I'd fallen asleep in.
"Have a seat, Olivia," Mom said with a slight edge in her voice. "Raisin bran or scrambled eggs?"
But how could I answer her when I stood looking directly at Amber's golden doll hair, pulled back sweetly in a pale pink headband, her expressionless face fixed straight ahead.
Elise scooped cereal into her mouth. Chewed bits of bran flakes appeared as she spoke. "Albie found Amber outside."
"How did she get out?" I asked with as much innocence as I could muster.
"Well," Mom said, pushing a bowl of raisin bran in front of me. "Elise and I didn't put her in the trash." She stood over me for a while, letting me know I was in trouble.
I shrugged.
Mom raised her eyebrows. "Is that a denial?"
I noticed both of Amber's legwarmers were intact. I pushed a spoon into my cereal, but the roiling effect the doll had on my stomach was too much, so I dumped my breakfast, then ran downstairs.
I stuck my legs into my bathing suit, frustrated with my inability to banish Amber. Albie must have been up early to surf and found her before the trash collectors came. But how did he know to bring her in? Did Amber speak to him as she had to me?
Imagining Albie gliding on his surfboard gave me an idea. The ocean. How many times had I watched the Atlantic pull a child's beach shovel or someone's designer sunglasses into the breakers, parents or friends searching for the items in vain? Why wouldn't Amber be sucked in just as easily?
Now I just had to get the doll away from Elise.
The next morning, I requested tacos for dinner, knowing Mom would have to run for shells and that Elise loved a grocery store trip. I said I would stay back and then exhaled in a puff as they decided to go.
The plan was on. I would drown Amber the doll.
Downstairs I pulled a yellow sundress over my bathing suit. I filled my beach bag with a water bottle, my iPod and Bullfrog SPF36.
As Mom and Elise pulled away, I found Amber the doll in Elise's room. I grabbed her and shoved her in my bag face down, before she had a chance to communicate with me.
I flew down the outside stairs to the clothesline, snatched two towels off the rope and picked a beach chair from the pile. Pain poked from my stomach, but I relished the fact that Amber would soon be gone.
I trudged over the dune, pulling my tote over the top and dragging the chair onto the flatter sand where I laid Amber at one end of a beach towel. I rolled her tightly in the bright oranges and reds until she was a big, colorful cigar. Now no one would see a beautiful doll in the ocean and try to rescue it.
Then I approached the edge of the water and tossed her in. Amber bobbed and vanished once, then twice. Finally, freedom for me and, more importantly, for Elise. Knowing Elise was going to be okay made up for the punishment I was sure I'd get back at the house for losing the doll.
From my chair, I watched the waves in the morning glow to make sure Amber was gone before letting my eyelids rest.
The overhead sun woke me and I reached down to my tote for my iPod. But my hand landed on the soft headband of Amber the doll.
Despite the heat of the day, a coldness spread inside me. Terror. And I felt tears on my cheeks as Amber's never-changing, soft doll face said to me, I told you not to cast me out.
Back at the house, I handed Elise the doll. She took it gratefully. "I was looking everywhere for her."
"I'm sorry. I took her to the beach." Amber looked exactly as she had before the drowning, dry and without so much as a grain of sand clinging to her. The beach towel I'd wrapped her in hadn't washed up.
Mom put a fresh tomato sandwich in front of me and asked if I wanted milk or water. "And you're grounded from the beach."
"I told her I was sorry."
"Good. You're still grounded from the beach."
Elise pushed her plate away and wheeled herself and Amber to the elevator. As the door slid shut, she smiled at Amber in her arms.
Mom batted the dog away from the open dishwasher so she could close it and sat down across from me. "Olivia, what's going on with you?"
I swallowed, wondering how I could make her understand. "This is going to sound crazy, Mom, but I think Amber is… evil."
Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but I could tell Mom was trying to be open this time, so I kept going. "She talks to me. Amber told me she and Elise belong to each other."
Mom rubbed her cheeks and sighed. "What did her voice sound like?"
Did she believe me? Was it possible she would even help me? I leaned forward. "It sounded like mine, sort of. It's more like I can sense her words rather than hear them."
Mom nodded. "Look honey, I don't want to discourage your imagination. In fact, I think you should write some of your thoughts down—maybe in a journal."
I stared at my sandwich. It was going to be harder than ever to destroy Amber, especially without Mom's help.
I spent most of the next few days on the upstairs deck, avoiding Amber and the stomach knots she generated. I snoozed in the sunlight, watched a woman feed the neighborhood feral cats at dusk, and looked for shooting stars each night, coming downstairs only for meals and to sleep.
On the third evening of my grounding, just after the cats had slinked back into the shrubbery, Albie and his friend George hollered up to me from the gravel street between our houses. "O, come to the beach for our bonfire." Albie's longish blond hair and his tan skin made his light blue eyes stand out even in the near dark.
"I'm grounded, actually."
"Grounded, huh? That stinks, kid." He winced while George chuckled.
I would normally have been embarrassed to look so childish in front of Albie and George, who were well past the age of groundings. But I had more important things on my mind.
As Albie waved and walked on, I considered his nightly beach bonfire, realizing suddenly how to destroy Amber. Sure, she could escape from the trash looking like we'd just bathed her. She could appear dry in my tote bag shortly after I drowned her, but that plastic body would never survive a fire.
That night, I drank two Red Bulls during the eleven o'clock news and waited until Mom and Elise were asleep before I pried Amber loose from Elise's arms in the flickering light of her TV.
I tucked a flashlight in my tote next to Amber and followed the moon to the beach path. But as I trudged through the deep sand toward the top of the dune, I felt resistance from the doll. Something inside me could sense she didn't want to come to the beach. Perhaps she knew this was her end.
I approached the bonfire and spotted Albie next to a pretty girl assembling s'mores from her lawn chair. "Hey, O!" he said and raised his Bud Light in my direction. "I thought you were grounded."
"I ungrounded myself."
Albie laughed and rested his hand on the girl's shoulder. "This is Olivia, babe. Her family rents across the street from me."
"Hey, Olivia," she said sweetly. "How about a s'more?"
I shook my head, experiencing the smallest twinge of jealousy. I felt slightly possessive of Albie while in Hatteras.
"Does your doll want one?"
I'm sure I blushed. Twelve was too old to be dragging dolls around, especially to a bonfire where attendees were mostly in high school and college. I suddenly realized what a baby I must look like to Albie and his friends, not to mention Pretty S'more Girl. But again, I had bigger problems. So I politely declined and walked toward the water's edge, trying to figure out how best to melt Amber without making a scene.
As ghost crabs scrambled in the beam of my flashlight, an idea struck me. I pushed my light deep into my tote, beneath Amber, and backtracked to Albie. "Can you help me make a torch? I want to look for crabs."
"Sure, O." Albie handed his beer to his girlfriend and led me to a pile of firewood. After choosing a long, sturdy stick, Albie pointed at a beach towel draped over the back of an empty chair. "Grab that."
Albie tucked the wood under his arm and ripped off a piece of towel, expertly wrapping it around one end of the stick to create a handle for my torch. He closed his hand around the towel end, extended the other side into the fire and waited for the flames to catch. "Ta-da!" he said, passing me my new weapon.
As I accepted the stick, a gust of wind sent the flame back to lick a fingertip. "Ouch."
"Be careful with that thing, kid. For yourself and the ghost crabs."
I thanked him, shaking my burn, and moved to the outskirts of the group. My heart racing as if I'd just run ten miles, I tossed her onto the sand and lowered the flare. Amber's screams were so loud inside my head I yanked the flame away as if the entire beach party had heard her. But glancing around, I saw that everyone appeared uninterested in my private escapade.
I turned back to Amber, sweating now and barely able to withstand the pain in my gut. I steadied myself in anticipation of the howling to come and moved the flame over her doll flesh again, feeling nauseous and terrified as her inhuman shrieks echoed in my head. But Elise needed me, so I scalded Amber until my torch shrunk by half.
Satisfied with the new charcoal Amber, I plunged the weapon into the tide to douse the flame, then repurposed the towel handle to cover the unrecognizable doll.
At the bonfire, Albie was kissing his girlfriend. George was flirting with two more girls nearby. All the people I didn't know were conversing or gathered around a guy strumming a guitar. No one was looking my way.
I chucked the twisted remains of Amber's body into the bonfire and watched the shred of beach towel degrade around her.
I glanced up and Albie, taking a break from S'more Girl, eyed me. We stared at each other for a moment, his blue eyes burrowing into me, gleaming in a familiar flickering way. Like Amber's did the night I tried to throw her away. Although inches from the fire, I shivered.
I turned and ran over the dune, crunched down the gravel road at top speed, and snuck in through the screen door, breathlessly falling into bed. Amber was gone forever, I reminded myself, mouthing my blistered fingertip. It was okay to relax, to sleep.
The next morning, I woke to Albie's voice outside my bedroom window. "I know this is Olivia's," he was saying. "I don't know how it got to the beach, but I thought she'd want it back."
Mom murmured a few words before letting out a distinctive sigh. "Thanks, Albie," she said louder. The screen door creaked and slammed shut.
She entered my room holding a beautiful, ballet slipper-clad doll that looked exactly like the one I'd burned to black the night before.
"Did you go out last night?" Her voice was eerily calm.
"No," I lied.
"Perhaps you want to explain how Albie found Amber on the beach this morning?"
"Mom, that isn't Amber. It can't be Amber." Fear and pain flashed through me. The room spun and the more I tried not to cry, the less control I had. How could I have failed again to destroy that doll?
Mom may have softened at my breakdown, but I wouldn't know. I crawled under the top sheet head first, tucking my face at the foot of the bed. I wondered if I'd ever have the courage to come out.
I woke to hazy afternoon light. Up in the kitchen Mom was batting the dog away from the open dishwasher as usual. Elise was opposite her in the living room, her chair facing a movie. Next to her mousy brown hair and tipped against her shoulder was the soft face of Amber the doll, not a trace of misshapen doll flesh.
"You hungry?" Mom asked without turning toward me.
I sat down at the table, dejected but not defeated as a strange sensation came over me. "No, I'm not hungry." I knew I needed to save my appetite for later. It was time to do what I'd somehow known all along I would have to.
That evening, I watched the woman feed and water the feral cats. When Albie and George passed by on their way to the bonfire, I ducked to avoid them. I was angry with Albie. After all, if Albie hadn't brought Amber back to this house, I wouldn't be in this situation. And what about the way he looked at me after I pitched Amber's remains into the fire? Wasn't it possible he and Amber were in on hurting Elise together?
After I refused dinner, I went to my room. Then, stomach somehow churning from Amber and growling in hunger at once, I perched on the bed with two Red Bulls to wait.
It was almost midnight when I peeled Amber away from Elise once again and snuck up to the kitchen with her. I pulled out everything I thought I'd need: Cholula hot sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, tamari, Mom's razor-sharp chef's knife. I set Amber on a plate and swallowed back nausea. But whether the queasiness stemmed from the proximity of Amber or disgust with what I was about to do, I wasn't sure.
The fact that I hadn't eaten all day did not lessen my revulsion. But I knew deep inside me that this was the only way that I could make sure Amber never came back to this house, to Elise.
I peeled off Amber's ballet slipper. I cut off her foot and sprinkled it with extra hot sauce before slipping the doll part into my mouth.
I was surprised Amber didn't taste horrible. She didn't have good flavor exactly, but the hot sauce made her tolerable, like garlic and butter on a slimy snail. I found myself hunched over my plate, taking down both her legs and an arm, varying the toppings every few bites. The tamari-on-hand reminded me of Mom's chicken and broccoli stir-fry; arm-doused-in-ketchup was reminiscent of warm, if slightly chewy, French fries.
Amber seemed to be fine with my dining on her, as well. The shrieks and screeches I'd anticipated never came. In fact, I heard nothing but the soft gurgles of my stomach as I digested her. I was thrilled to imagine the hydrochloric acid chipping away at the doll parts, dissolving them into nothingness. I ate every bit of Amber and with the last swallow, I leaned back in my chair and realized for the first time since Elise found her, my stomach was calm, pain free.
But even as I felt better physically, I stumbled mentally. My thoughts seemed to click over like a train on a track. They were no longer fluid, no longer fully my own.
Fullness pushed past my belly and expanded into my legs, arms, chest and head. My error became clear. It was Amber. She was growing stronger inside me, taking over my bones, my muscles, my organs.
I'd made a mistake. Amber had never wanted Elise at all, never wanted to hurt her or be with her, never wanted anything to do with my weak little sister. She wanted me. She wanted to be me. And she used Elise to get to me; she knew I'd protect her anyway I could. She knew that Elise and I were connected, that we belonged to one another.
Now Amber was inside a strong, healthy girl—a girl who took ballet classes, who could run and swim. And now she had a soul. My soul, just as she'd planned all along.
Original Fiction © 2012 Amy Gallagher
(Image Credit: Vassil, Wikimedia Commons)