text:
See Yourself Succeed: Automating Personal & Commercial Lines
Can your current systems handle what customers will want tomorrow? StoneRiver provides P&C insurers with powerful core software systems that help achieve business objectives. Watch the 2-minute video, or choose from a link below to go to a page for a specific system.
P&C Insurance Management Systems
Policy Management System
Insurance Billing Software
Insurance Claims System
Reinsurance Software
Workers' Compensation Software
Distribution Management System
Customer Information Management - CRM for Insurance
Choosing StoneRiver
You're in good company. Hundred of P&C insurers rely on our insurance management systems for daily operation. The deep functionality you gain is based on our 30 years of experience developing software. Some reasons why clients choose us:
- Thinking ahead. Our clients take a long-term view of their system needs and select our systems because they can meet future as well as current business objectives.
- For growth. Clients are interested in operational efficiencies that will allow them to expand to new regions and offer new products.
- Easier maintenance and cost savings. Clients are frequently interested in consolidating multiple systems onto our web-based systems.
- Flexibility and broad scope of offerings. Clients wanting enterprise core systems are pleased with the scope of our offerings and the additional capabilities they gain.
- Trust that we'll help them succeed. Our professional services team members have a record of successful implementations of core systems. Our systems enhance clients' competitive status and increase employee productivity.


text:
Current Time
Notting Hill, W11
Tube: Holland Park
Tel: 44 207 727 9908
Concierge.com's insider take:
"Treasure trove" is a term bandied about all too often when it comes to vintage shops, but Virginia deserves it more than most. The presentation of exquisite women's apparel, dating from the late 1800s through the 1930s, is as impressive as the clothing itself. Downstairs has the air of a fine lady's boudoir, with fragile pieces in lace and chiffon, and tiny beaded shoes in white leatherleft as if their owner might sweep back in at any moment. Upstairs is all about impact and drama, with sequined or beaded evening dresses and colorful gowns. You won't find any bargains here, but if you're looking for an original piece that will hold its own on the red carpet, beat a path to the door.
User Reviews
write a review ›BEEN HERE? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
Be the first to write a review of Virginia and share your tips with the Concierge.com community.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Start learning with our library of video tutorials taught by experts. Get started
An inspiring conversation about creativity and learning with cartoonist Lynda Barry.
"I send my customers to you all the time to learn. If I had more time in the day I would live on your site!" —Alan B.
more from our members »


text:
Lamb Chops with Rosemary and Grapes
From Food & Wine
You'd expect to find lamb chops grilled with rosemary, but the sauce, a fruity mixture of grapes, white wine and just a touch of honey, is a delightful surprise. You'll want to choose seedless grapes for this recipe.
Be the first to rate this recipe
Save this recipe
Submit your version
You must be logged in to use this feature.
Username: | |
Password: | |
Forgot your username or password? |
Not a member? Register
Nutritional Information
(per serving)
Calories | 0 |
Total Fat | 0 |
Saturated Fat | 0 |
Cholesterol | 0 |
Sodium | 0 |
Total Carbohydrate | 0 |
Dietary Fiber | -- |
Sugars | -- |
Protein | 0 |
Calcium | 0 |
Melanie Acevedo
Serves: 4
U.S. | Metric | Conversion chart |
- 1.50 tablespoon(s) olive oil
- 8 lamb loin chops, about 1 1/4 inches thick (about 3 pounds in all)
- Salt
- Fresh-ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoon(s) chopped fresh rosemary
- 4 cloves garlic, cut into thin slices
- 2 cup(s) red grapes (from about a 1-pound bunch)
- 1/3 cup(s) dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon(s) honey
- In a large stainless-steel or nonstick frying pan, heat the oil over moderately high heat. Season the lamb chops with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Put the chops in the pan and sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons of the rosemary in the spaces between the chops. Cook the chops for 5 minutes. Turn and sprinkle the garlic in between the chops. Cook the chops until done to your taste, 3 to 5 minutes longer for medium rare.
- Remove the chops and garlic and keep in a warm spot. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan. Add the grapes and the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons rosemary to the pan. Reduce the heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the grapes soften, about 8 minutes.
- Add the wine to the pan and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and any juices from the lamb, the honey, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Serve the lamb topped with the grapes and sauce.
- Variation: In place of the loin chops, you can use lamb shoulder chops, about one inch thick (about two pounds in all). Cook them a little less than the loin chops.
- Wine Recommendation: Cabernet sauvignon is classic with lamb, but a European cabernet will taste austere against the slightly sweet sauce here. Instead, try a California or Washington State cabernet, which will be fruity enough to blend with the sweetness.
Loading photos...
Here are some alternate versions of this recipe created by our wonderful community of chefs!
More from Food & Wine


text:
Camping Out for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Premiere in NYC (Photos)
Rupert Grint |
It was hot. We were cranky. But it was awesome. There were a good 200 people, sleeping in shifts to watch everyone's things. We met fans from Chile, Peru, and France. Tom Felton (AKA Draco) paid us a surprise visit Sunday night and brought us pizza. Alan Rickman (AKA Professor Snape) showed up across the street at Lincoln Center and 40 people ran across the street at a green light to try to catch a glimpse of him in the window.
They told us the first 50 people would be getting wristbands to stand at the red carpet, and then spent all of Monday telling us we wouldn't. At long last, they showed up with wristbands that not only put us right at the red carpet, but also a surprise screening of the final movie. And yes, we did sob our way through the movie. Only they were dry sobs, because we were too dehydrated for real tears.
All photos by Maragux Herrera |
Photo by Rosie Diaz |
Sponsor Content


text:
FCPA Roundup
FCPA professor Mike Koehler provides us with a round up of all things FCPA. There's talk of Wal-Mart, recent survey results, quotes from former DOJ employees, and more.
FCPA professor Mike Koehler provides us with a round up of all things FCPA. There's talk of Wal-Mart, recent survey results, quotes from former DOJ employees, and more.
How good is your antitrust compliance program – would it be considered effective in addressing criminal antitrust risk, or what is also referred to as cartel conduct? Perhaps you have an antitrust manual and a lawyer who gives presentations about the law. Maybe this is also covered in your code of conduct. But does this meet the most widely ...
John "The Fraud Guy" Hanson answers three reader-submitted questions, providing his perspective as an independent corporate monitor.
Steve Priest reviews the lessons from the NFL referee fiasco and how it relates to the tragic flaw underlying most of our corporations, the relentless drive to improve profitability. This can be good, but sometimes, usually when arrogance overcomes prudence, people and companies do stupid things in the name of profitability.
Germany developed its first attestation standard for compliance programs, which on one hand gives guidance for a general accepted compliance program framework and on the other hand gives assurance on the program itself. Ernst & Young's Andreas Pyrcek reviews it.
The authenticity of your company's compliance regime is driven by how well your employees buy in to the concept of doing business in a compliant manner.
Baker Donelson's Doreen Edelman explains what the Office of Foreign Assets Control is, which businesses need to be concerned about its sanctions, how to comply, and what the penalties are.
Isn't it ironic, don't you think, that as the U.S. aggressively expands its Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement theories and snares foreign firms on flimsy jurisdictional theories, the U.S. continues to slide in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, a well-known index that ranks countries on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be.
Pharmaceutical and medical device companies are fast becoming the enforcement punching bag, eclipsing the long-suffering status of the oil and gas energy. LeClairRyan's Michael Volkov discusses the five top 5 corruption risks for these businesses.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore's David Stuart focuses on issues that have come up with increasing frequency in recent years – the challenges associated with conducting cross-border investigations.
© Copyright 2014 Corporate Compliance Insights. All Rights Reserved.
Website Design by: Killer Productions


text:
You Made It Weird #48: Chelsea Peretti #2
By Katie Levine on May 11, 2012
Chelsea Peretti, Pete's "worst best friend," comes BACK to make it weird a second time, this time playing clips of the many times Pete has mentioned her on the show before and giving her a chance to retort. This is 99% new stuff, weirdos, just with some clips to give us jumping off points. Please enjoy, especially as Chelsea gives a detailed description of how she would kill Pete (they're close friends, we swear!)
Follow @ChelseaVPeretti on Twitter!
Follow @peteholmez on Twitter and Like the show on Facebook. And buy t-shirts at YouMadeItWeird.com!
Support the show by clicking on the banner below and shopping at Amazon.com!
Special thanks to Carvin for supplying us with the equipment we need to record this podcast! Check out Carvin.com for more information on recording equipment, guitars, amps and more!
yes yes yes yes!
Dear YMIW Commenter,
Welcome to You Made it Weird, where Pete Holmes likes to get weird with his guests. He likes to talk with his guests about things that make people uncomfortable — personal histories, hobbies, and idiosyncrasies, politics, faith, religion, comedy, and in general whatever comes up. Once I even thought he was going to start making out with a guest right in the middle of the podcast. That was a really weird ep.
Yes, his laugh is very loud. Yes, he interrupts his interviewees a lot. He tells a lot of the same stories, makes a lot of the same points, and likes to talk about himself. Many of us "weirdos" find these aspects of his style hilarious, including me. But mostly Pete just tries to create a normal sounding conversation and have a great time in the process.
I know what you're thinking: "Must … write … something … hateful! Must … make … someone … feel … bad … about … themselves! Can't … stop … hating! One … small … insult for man … One … giant zinger … for humanity."
If you want to be a cliche (just another anonymous hater online), go right ahead. I'm sure it'll make for an interesting comment thread. But I think you can do better, don't you? This is nerdist.com, where you can be smart and original. Try it. Seriously, it's fun.
Josh -
@Josh why the huge spiel? The only other comment on here is 'yes yes yes yes'
Chelsea is a delight. Great ep!
@Josh, don't be so precious about the podcast/comments. Pete's an grown man who performs stand up, I think he can handle some criticism.
Okay, Chelsea's bit about dumping dirt into your open mouth and packing it down with the flat side of a shovel? I had to rewind it because I was laughing so hard that I couldn't breathe. Thank you so much for this treasure.
I have the image Josh typing that comment by rolling his flaccid noodle of a penis on his iPad like a play dough snake.
Big Josh! Josh to the stars!
now THAT'S what I'm talking about, @Billy! Great comment! Original, hysterical, salty. I like it. That's MY flaccid noodle of a penis you're making fun of, and I laughed hysterically.
Take a quick look at the Adam Corolla comment thread and you'll see why I wrote what I wrote. It's like, at some point, you have to stop reading these posts. But it could be so much more fun if we were more creative, you know? The guys over at the Nerdist Podcast were just talking about this in the "Gersberms" ep. "We just have to stop reading those comment threads" they basically said. That would be a shame if great podcasters like the Nerdist three or Petey Holmes over here just stopped reading these. Some of these posts are hilarious — a la @Billy!
Hey @Billy! Go outside, break a bottle, and scratch yourself. We can use my limp-noodle penis as a tourniquet.
Homo-erotic first aid… weird…
Haha, poor Josh tried to preempt the haters and made himself a hate target instead. HE TOOK THE BULLET
I'm looking forward to listening to this episode later tonight! Whenever I think of Chelsea Peretti I always picture her stuck behind that door by Louis CK
@ANDY YES. Agreed.
You misspelled "Pete's worst best friend". it's spelled "Pete's giant unrequited crush".
lol Just listened to the ep… ah forget it. Fire away haters!
@Liam you're funny, dude. One of the good ones!
Great ep Pete! Freakin' hysterical. That's it from me. 13 effing comments, and I'm already three of them. Jesus.
Oh MAN! Wonderful episode! But I can't believe you didn't play the clip of Pete talking about his rage over waiting for Chelsea to walk out of a party to drive somewhere together (From the Greg Fitzsimmons episode?). During *this* whole episode I was equally anticipating/dreading that ULTIMATE WEIRD moment! Was that just way too "you made it awkward?"
Thanks for putting this together!
Not gonna lie, for a second I felt bad for Pete when she did the "#extracrispy" part. I'm glad they're such close friends, because from anyone else that probably would have felt like pure ether to his soul.
Loved this episode.
Most episodes: "You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes and Chelsea Peretti in Absentia". Have her on the podcast in person as often as possible.
Listened to this episode via headphones while "working" from a coffee shop, so I was already grinning and laughing silently, and looking like a lunatic. Also, I happened to have the Wikipedia entry for Benito Mussolini up on my computer (because I like to learn), when I caught two girls a few tables away obviously making fun of me. They were nice enough to look embarrassed when I busted them, and the three of us had a moment. Ha-ha-ha-ini.
Little disappointed that Dustin left out the clip where Pete had to wait outside of a part for half an hour while Chelsea was at a Golden Globes party.. That would have been so awesomely awkward to hear Chelsea's reaction to that.
Just so you know, it is the best.
#extracrispy holy shit HOLY SHIT
Black-and-white Pete from the waist up wearing dark sunglasses and a big smile, arms crossed over the chest of his white and red striped, popped-collar polo shirt, standing at a 3/4 angle, the words I LOVE "L.A." in drop-shadowed, tangram-esque day-glo font (think L.A. Looks logo), sitting angled above his right shoulder, on a banana yellow tee.
And THAT'S the Laser Accuracy t-shirt.
Awesome episode! I literally laughed out loud several times (especially whenever Chelsea would say I feel sorry for that guest having to listen to you go on about me. so adorable.)
"We ALL know, Pete! We ALL know!" Pete berating Past-Pete
I laughed a lot. Rowdy, rowdy laughter. We got to see why you guys are besties and Chelsea seemed more comfortable/super hilarious this time around. Thanks!
Black Listener Here
Don't really comment on websites but felt I had to say something. One, I love the podcast, it's funny as hell and Chelsea is great, saw her in Vancouver during the comedy fest and she was one of the funniest comedians I saw. Just had to respond about the "civilians" comment, I know it's a joke but I feel there has been this trend in the last few years where it's totally ok to shit all over the comedy fan and I don't understand it. The people who are supporting you guys through live shows, twitter, podcasts, buying your albums, etc are smart comedy fans, we realize the difference between Pete Holmes and Dane Cook and that should be appreciated. We may not be comedians ourselves but we understand what is funny and what isn't. Getting upset with an "how dare they" attitude over comments on jokes that don't hit the mark. So what? Are we to believe everything that flows out of the mind of the comedian is pure brilliance? Even the 18 year old comedian had something to say about it on a previous episode . Really? So now a few years of amateur stand up is tantamount to stardom and no one can have an opinion on it? At the end of the day, it's just jokes, nothing to get grandiose about. Some are funny, some aren't, who gives a fuck? I'm sure soon enough the next generation of comedians will make fun of podcasts and how people actually used twitter as a vehicle for joke telling.
I love stand up, I really do but let's be honest, it is just pure ego masturbation. A comedian expects a crowd to stay focused and give them the respect to do their thing, and we do, but just as quickly we are shit on as fans they couldn't give a fuck about as soon as they step off the stage? It's even mentioned in this podcast. Anyways, not sure why I felt compelled to write this. I'm not on twitter or FB so I'm not defending the hordes of idiots that I'm sure fill inboxes with nothing but pure garbage but I am a comedy fan who wants to feel somewhat validated in giving my energy to someone who makes me laugh and I think that's reasonable. Anyways, I'm sure I'll be ripped to shreds now by everyone who reads this but this is honestly how I feel. Let the hate fly!
Pete. I was literally cringing when the clips were being played. I feel the secondhand embarrassment and weirdness. Loved it. Like the other listeners, I laughed out loud multiple times. You're the best.
PS: I love how you yell "FUCK YOU" because you yell it so emphatically and crispily.
@Chris this comment is not intended to dump on you in any way.
I think you feel hurt/have your feelings hurt. Some of what comedians say (imo) is a response to having their feelings hurt by fans, followers or audiences. So part of their aggression (or making fun of the comedy fan) comes from the same thing you are feeling, again just in my opinion.
This episode was EXTRA crispy!
@Josh: do us all a favor and get over yourself. Its the internet people are going to be dumb, and you aren't going to be able to stop everyone from posting garbage.
You'll do much better in life if you just ignore the arses and focus on the good. If you feel compelled to respond to a comment, do it. But dont write the whole message board like you are the moral authority of the internet. You just look like a pompous ass.
BTW Pete, Loved the show, could listen to a 4 hour clip show of this.
@Roman — Totally appreciate you comments buddy but I'm sorry I disagree. I don't mean to look like a pompous ass, I frankly just wanted to preempt the tone from the comment board on the prior episode. Some of that shit went way too far. Why should we let trolls take the fun out of this? And not for nothing, but part of the reason I AM so successful at my job is that I challenge people to at least be nice to each other.
Not to mention the fact that, given my line of work, it is kinda funny that you're "@Roman".
After all, if you're going to call me a pompous ass, you have to at least do it right. You have to say it like this: "Rabbi, you're a pompous ass."
That's right. You called a rabbi a pompous ass. Kinda makes you feel weird, doesn't it? Oh man, welcome to the show.
lol And how much weirder does @Billy feel, btw, given his earlier comment! You got off easy, @Roman. @Billy now knows he made a joke about some rabbi's penis.
I don't know if i ever get the opportunity to tell religious figures that they are acting pompous. Kinda like it. weird?
I think my issue is that you came across as preaching rather than discussing. I find that approach quite divisive, and it may have been why you got so much pushback on your comment.
For now on any insults going your way will include rabbi in front of it, and I hope you know that it will be for our amusement, and not personal.
I hope you have fun with your flaccid rabbi penis! zing!
Ha! Not bad, @Roman! I'll take the advise on my first comment on this thread. I actually think you're right. I'm sorry if it was off-putting! In the meantime, let's keep having fun with our posts. There's a difference between weird and insulting.
Two flaccid rabbi penis' were walking down a beach. One says to the other, "Phew! Sure is hot out here isn't it?" The other says, "AAAUUUGH! A TALKING FLACCID RABBI PENIS!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
1:37:12 laser accuracy. Hilarious, especially Pete's reaction.
[…] you are in a similar situation then I would want someone like me to tell…me that you should listen to this episode of Pete Holmes interviewing Chelsea Peretti on his podcast, You Made It Weird. It's just the funniest thing. (This week's episode features Jenny Slate, if you REALLY […]
You guys, the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is Karen O. Please know this.
Aw, this hurt to listen to. You could hear Pete's breaking heart as he was practically watching the pane of glass being placed between him and Chelsea in his studio setup. That sucks, man. You can deny it all you want, but I've been there, where you can't say anything else about it for professionalism sake but inside you're wrecked.
Haha this one is so good. And the impressions are good, including the Nick Kroll.
[…] Chelse Peretti. In which they discuss how often Pete references Chelsea […]
I will do yoga with you
Chelsea im sure you have gorgeous feet! Il Give them toes a lick I don't give a fuck. Pete will you prey that god will send me a girl like Chelsea someday? thanks


text:
GAO: Fed Data Mining Extensive
Just as the General Accounting Office released a report Thursday surveying the extensive amount of data mining conducted by federal agencies on individuals, a government watchdog group released its own report suggesting three steps the government could take to limit the invasiveness of such activity.
Data mining is the practice of using database software to compile and sift through large amounts of data, often of a personal nature, for the purpose of producing profiles of people, analyzing activity and deducing patterns in the information.
The GAO investigation (PDF), which covered only unclassified data mining, found that the practice was pervasive throughout the government and identified 52 agencies that had 199 data mining projects active or in the planning stages. Of those, the GAO found that 122 used Americans' personal information.
Of the agencies involved, the Defense Department had the largest number of projects, not all of which were aimed at finding terrorists or criminals. Some were designed to track the performance of military or government personnel or their departments. Other departments used data mining to find fraud, waste and abuse or analyze scientific and research information. The report found that the top reason for conducting data mining was to aid agencies in improving service or performance. Analyzing intelligence and detecting terrorist activity accounted for the least number of data mining projects.
The report also uncovered 54 projects with data supplied by private companies, such as credit reporting agencies and credit card issuers. Of those 54 projects, 36 involved personally identifiable information such as names, Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers, raising concerns about the unregulated nature of government data mining.
Federal agencies shared information with each other in 77 data mining projects, 46 of which involved the use of personal information such as bank account numbers and tax ID numbers taken from sources like student loan applications and tax filings. In the latter case, for example, an Internal Revenue Service project was designed to ferret out potential fraudsters based on red flags found in their returns.
Data mining can be useful, say privacy watch groups, when it's conducted with privacy safeguards in place.
To that end, the Center for Democracy and Technology and the Heritage Foundation released their own report on Wednesday offering some guidelines for developing and using data mining technologies in ways that would preserve the privacy of the people.
To be most effective, the proposals would work best in conjunction with legislation regulating government data mining, the organizations said.
The report (PDF) calls for three solutions: to apply anonymization techniques so that commercial data miners can share information with authorities without disclosing the identity of individuals or supplying information of non-suspects; to build authorization requirements into government systems for viewing data to ensure that only those who need to see the data do; to build audit logs into the computing system to identify and track inappropriate access to information and misuses of information.
The first proposal, perhaps the most difficult to accomplish, would require a third party between the commercial database producers and government agencies. It's based on methods used in e-mail privacy or Anonymizer. The commercial database producer would send a database to the third party server, which would encrypt the data to conceal identifiable information, perform search requests from government agencies and then decrypt and send the agency only the information the agency needs. The scenario requires a large degree of trust that the third party would not misuse the data or miss information that the agency needs.
CDT Executive Director James Dempsey said the anonymization technique doesn't solve every problem.
"We're just saying there is promise here," he said. "Where the government has a list of suspects they are trying to locate or has a list of suspects they're trying to compare with a list of airline employees, it could be useful," without exposing the data of a lot of people who aren't suspects.
While anonymization is still in the research phase, the other two proposals could be implemented now. Programmers could build authentication systems to allow only authorized agents to view the data, and the system could tell agents whether they need a supervisor's approval or a court order.
"Health providers have this kind of system for accessing medical records, and it works well," Dempsey said. "They have different categories of users who are authorized to access data at different levels. And all of that is logged in the audit trail. That's the kind of thing that should be built into government databases."
Dempsey said the government could start by building safeguards into the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System, or CAPPS II -- the airline database program that later this year would let authorities check people's backgrounds and assign them a color-coded security score.
Dempsey said that it's important to remember that technology can be used not only for invasive purposes but also to protect privacy.
"Technology need not only erode privacy," he said. "We can use technology to protect privacy as the government acquires more and more data and more data analytical capabilities. Let's build privacy into the design of these systems from the start."
A federal advisory committee chosen by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is expected to report to Congress on Thursday advising the legislators to pass laws that would regulate government use of databases to preserve the civil liberties as the government searches for terrorists.


text:
My dad died last Saturday the 18th. He died peacefully and I'm glad for that, prayed with all my heart for it to be painless and am glad it went that way. I keep thinking I should say something to those here who don't know yet, but what should I say? Should I just say I'm okay? I'm okay.
Shouldn't I feel really sad and a huge loss? It was only 9 days ago that I was with him in my parents house, now he's gone. This is not how I felt when The Cowboy left, I missed how he made me feel from the day he left. I mourned loosing him for years. Did I finish mourning the loss of my dad years before he died? Maybe it will hit me some other day or week. My father is gone and I want to miss him too.
I'm glad he was good to my kids and I hurt for them, my youngest is devastated and it hurts to see her suffering. I can understand the sense of loss that my cousins and some of his siblings feel. I forgot he was good to a lot of people but now I'm reminded. Out of sight, out of mind.
It's all very strange and now I'm getting condolence calls. I keep forgetting not to sound cheerful when I answer the phone. I just did it again and the kind caller was taken aback, I was just thrilled to hear his voice and was already in a happy mood.
I forget I'm supposed to sound like I'm suffering. But I don't feel like I'm suffering. I feel free from pain. And, for 8 days I've been free from fear and anxiety.
There were two beautiful things that happened in the last week or so before he died. I'm still aborbing it all. Maybe I'll write about it and maybe I won't. I wish I missed my father, it all feels surreal, like I'm suddenly living in an impressionist painting. Maybe I'll flip out, fall apart later, or something.
I'm sorrowful that my girls are hurting. I'm glad my father died peacefully and mercifully not in pain. Maybe I'll think of the right thing to say later on, for now, this is all I've got.
mom died. big deal. she wanted to. she drank herself to
encephalopathy of liver failure brought her to a nice place
oddly enough. she kept saying,
'i wanna go to school! i wanna go to school!"
in her comatose state, i would (to my sisters' distress)
pry open her eye lids so she could see me.
i spent weeks by her bedside.
shooting the shit.
believing maybe...she would recover/...???///.....
she had tricked death many times.
not this time
bang she was gone.
"I forget I'm supposed to sound like I'm suffering. But I don't feel like I'm suffering. I feel free from pain. And, for 8 days I've been free from fear and anxiety."
pretty much how things worked out for me.................
Sorry that your girls are hurting. Interesting that he was good to them , and not to you or your mother. I wonder why that was, but of course ... It's none of my business ;>(
Keep writing. I think it might help. I'm convinced it lessens the load .... just a little.
Kim, it's wonderful to speak the truth. You have a gentle but clear way of putting things. I needed to hear that, thank you.
Maureen, good thoughts are a gift, thank you.
nanatehay, you're always insightful. It was like trying to fill a bucket from an empty well.
Thinking of you and of your feeling free ...
thinking of you with love.
Today is not the day I want to read your whining or give you a nice battle. Go away.
And for what it's worth, I am the biological off spring of an ass hole CEO and have met many other CEOs during the 25 years I spent in manufacturing. So I know a thing or two about persona. I dare say Trig is nothing like them and stand firm in that belief, no way no how.
Maureen, you sweet woman, sigh. I had to stop reading your posts because I related too much, I'm sorry. I'm a big soft chicken. How's that for honest?
Phyllis, we're going to make it. I just wish it was easier.
Scanner, you're always understanding, I appreciate it. It's good to have friends like you.
anna1liese, thank you. It was a long time coming. I'm finally free and so is my mother, I'm breathing so easily now.
Sheila, you're right, it's a different loss but a loss no less. Thanks for a reminder.
I eventually did grieve, not for what was, but for what should have been, and the finality that now it never would be. Over 20 years, and I still roll it over in my mind on occasion.
. I am so sorry Doris.. nothing but love to you..
Embrace it and sing, sister, if that's how you're feeling. Time enough for other feelings if and when they come and embrace those too, but that you feel free right now is worth celebrating, even if you choose to do that away from the mourners...
That is my humble opinion anyway.
If anyone expresses condolences, just tell them you are grateful for their good wishes. Again, that has the advantage of being perfectly true (I assume).
Best wishes to you.
May YOU have peace.
I felt like I kept it real enough by responding (under somewhat similar circumstances) with something to the effect of, "I'm happy he was able to be good to you." It was kind enough to them and true enough for me. It might work for you, too.
Remember-breathe in peace now, bleue. Deep peaceful breaths.
On Open Salon Feed
I remember a this from
Ralph Waldo Emerson
His son died and he grieved.
He wondered if he was wrong.
He felt he did not grieve long.
He seemed to accept his death.
R.W.E. questioned his reaction.
Yes . . .
We don't know what to say. Pause.
Kokei Sochin wrote ref: those deaths.
For over sixty years
I often cried Katsu! to no avail.
And now, while dying,
Once more to cry `Katsu!
Won't change a thing.
(We all die some day)
Empty-handed I entered the world
Barefoot I leave it.
My coming, my going -
Two simple happenings
That got entangled
He died sitting `Upright.
He lived upright. Then -
He died sitting `Upright.
That poem makes sense.
Take care. We do grieve.
No grief is the same-same.
I grieved pre parents dying.
I made my Mother's coffin.
I spent time with my Father.
I still grieve. But it's different.
I remember. They live within.
I recall many wonderful times.
Of course, we can feel sad too.
This is a very somber morning.
I hope you write it all out and find peace with who, with how he was. I am so sorry for your loss.
Erica, I guess he was never capable of what I hoped for. Now I'm free from pointless hope and I can move on. Thank you for your thoughts.
Candace, there isn't a good way to say these things so thank you.
jlsathre, thank you.
Poetess, well I will may write about the beautiful healing between us. For now, I want to keep it like a precious treasure. Love heals everything.
trig, I now feel guilty about one thing about my father's death. I failed to say you have my father's worst traits and not a single one of his good ones. I'm filled with deep sorrow that I didn't have the same relationship with him so many others did. A barbarian like you is unable to consider that was painful for me. I realize it's too hard for you this late in life to learn to consider the feelings of others.
The truth is, you're a spoiled mean little boy trapped in an old man's body. Sorry but I'm continually repulsed at your shameless enjoyment of being alternately cruel and vulgar, openly and privately. The things you've said to me in private over the past few months have made me see you as little more than a dirty animal. It stuns me that you have a different view of yourself. I can't imagine where you got the impression you were any better than how you act. You should move on, I'm always going to base my opinion of you on how you act, not on your childish fantasy of how incredible you are.
Kai, that's it, the sorrow I feel is for what should have been. I'm starting to see that not feeling a loss is normal when the person only makes you miserable.
Linda, this is one you know but I was very blessed before the end. Love to you sweet heart, and thank for for the many hugs.
Christine, I had to stop faking everything two years ago to survive and I started to heal. Thanks for saying don't worry about it, I don't need any setbacks.
Tink, yes! I survived being hurt and sad for so long and now, it's wonderful to be okay! Thank you.
Patrick Hahn, wonderful response, I'm writing it down. I'm always grateful for good wishes. Thanks.
Patrick Frank, you're right, it feels incomprehensible right now. I'm starting to realize I just suck at emoting and I especially dislike how chaotic it often feels.
AJ, it's funny but I've felt like it's easy to breathe all week. I feel a peace coming and going I've never felt before. Maybe God or some angel is sheltering me with Love. I feel a little wrong (or odd or delusional) about how peaceful I feel.
I love what you offered, it's true, I'm really happy he was good to other people, it would have been much worse if he was terrible to everyone. Of course I never let him be unkind to my children in his moods, I'm grateful they had good relationships with him. I'm grateful I don't have that to feel bad about.
Art, how beautiful. I'm so grateful he drifted out peacefully, he fought so much in his life. When I was little he sang to me every night, every word of those songs lives in me. He really only sang to me, he was so happy when he sang and I will miss his singing the most. He is just gone from here, he is not gone from everywhere. Thank you for coming here to write poetry today.
I'll have to finish tomorrow, got a late start here again and my head is fuzzy from needing sleep. Busy taking care of things and one of the things on my list is me. I'm okay.
I was weary as all 'get-out' yesterday. Exhausted.
Ponderous. If I'm 'Bummed-Out I go ` Sit in P.U..
My pickup truck is one sacred-Cubicle to`Reflect.
Some eves I can hear my own heart heave `Groan.
Moan. We sentient creatures can actually `Rebirth.
Image . . .
If I'm Pissed?
I toss `bouts.
newly pissed
gently placing
gizmo in pot
huh . . . toss
gadget on a
huh . . .
can take time
and we do refine
never perfect
and changing
I just wait, sit
Post pain
I anticipate
some relief
It seems to work some.
I'll no say `It's so easy.
We have unique trials.
Struggle is part/parcel.
We share unique grief.
Life can be very harsh.
I am just appreciating.
I get dizzy like fernsy.
What day is this one?
We best live this out.
Am I married or not?
Do I sip gin or a beer?
Am I saved and lost?
Both . . .
We can delve `Love.
Love remedies`Stuff.
Night/Day. Ay`Light.
I mean men Travail. Women labor. Tend `Life Force.
Words can fall short. Bad/Good day? I no`Judge day.
When my inner`Spirit is in enormous Anguish I`Sits.
It amazes me how much strength you display here,reason for me to get to know you.
Your attitude about dealing with death is remarkably clear,and I am impressed by your honesty.
The occurence of death leaves us remaining in an emotional bubble for awhile,a protecting shield until we are ready to be confronted with the loss-especially of a parent-to cope with.
Sometimes,the grief starts much earlier than at the moment of death.I think you know about this.
I have to go back to one of your posts in order to understand what you have to go through.
Children feel the loss too,but they have the protection of being young and at the beginning of their lives.They take life and death as facts;they'll be OK.
Love and blessing to you
it is
never wrong
(or odd
or delusional)
to allow
a place
to come.
May you HAVE peace. Always-one breath at a time.
Jonathan, ever an understanding person. Thanks.
rita, love is always appreciated, thank you for the kind thoughts.
fernsy, I'm sober most of the time too. One day I'll write that post, the things I learned in the last two years.
Lunchlady, sad or not we got what we got. It's wonderful to finally discover that it was them that couldn't give and not because we didn't deserve it. Thank you.
LammChops, thank you. I love my father very much, I will not miss the way he treated me or made me feel. Now I can remember the way it was 50 years ago.
alsoknownas, thank you.
Jan, what a remarkably insightful way to speak of the hole people leave when they go. I've felt something similar moving away from friends I love and after two of my divorces. I continue to pray they will be well long after and it comforts me to know they are well even if far away. I have been fortunate that this is the first person I am close to that I've lost to death. I fear that deep longing that comes in waves, but I will find out soon enough how this feels too. Thank you for the insight.
FWIW I never cried for my Dad when he passed. We were close when I was young but his second wife kept us at a distance for years so him dying didn't change things much. He had been gone a long time already. I DID however finally weep and mourn when I blogged the story of his passing, which was four years after the fact.
Yours truly, old man tr ig
Art, thank you for lovely words again, my spirit is restless today. The hospice nurse at the end said the same thing, that death looked like the opposite of birth. She said she'd witnessed many deaths and often the person tried to get out of bed or take off their clothes, as if the soul struggles to leave the body.
So often I sense I was born saved and when I arrived in this harsh place, I got lost. My father has simply found his way home. Peace and comfort to you my friend.
Heidi, thank you very much. Strength comes from overcoming adversity. We all have 3 choices when faced with adversity, overcome it, lean on others or succumb. I haven't had many to lean on, and refused to die so I picked overcoming. I'm not unique, I've just had more adversity and less help than most people. On the upside, I learned to take care of myself and others, and lean on God.
I'm not good at the technicalities of blogging and forget not everyone knows my history and I don't set pieces up like a writer. I should have said my kids are adult women, the photo doesn't show how grey my hair is. God bless all the children, each one will have the same 3 choices when faced with adversity.
AJ, wow! That's a huge insight. Thank you for a Blessed gift.
Trig, what would have made me feel better was if the many times I said you were being hurtful you had stopped, or even been remorseful about hurting my feelings. It's too bad for you that you can dish it out but you're too much of a weakling to take it. You should learn to suck it up like others suck it up when you're mean, instead of being such a thumb sucking baby. Put your big girl panties on and get over it.
PattyJane, thank you. It's good to see you here again, it made me smile!
Barbara, thank you for your good thoughts.
Gary, thanks, it got to the point where it was speak the truth or suck the gun. To hell with the negative force that wants us to suffer in silence, or suck the gun.


text:
Archive for Christian-Democratic Policy
Archive for Christian-Democratic Policy (ACDP)
The Archive for Christian-Democratic Policy (ACDP) has the task of documenting and researching Christian Democracy's historical development. The Historical Archive, Library and Documentation departments form a centre of information and communication which through its services for political education and research contributes to the propagation of historico-political awareness. It is the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's central contact-point – accessible to everyone – in the field of contemporary history.
The ACDP is in charge of the records of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), its leading representatives, committees and organisations. It also collects records and other documentation of the Christian precursor parties and of the parties that have merged with the CDU. By taking over the archive and library of the East German CDU in 1990 the ACDP has assumed a significant role in researching the GDR's history. Moreover the records of the international Christian democratic parties, especially the European confederations, are also collected as they arise.
At present the archive collection runs to 16,000 metres of files as well as extensive stocks of photographs, posters and audio-visual material. In addition to the historical archive a documentation which collects news and commentaries from the print media and television as well as publications by state institutions, political parties, organisations and the churches is at the user's disposal. A specialised research and reference library is also available with about 176,000 titles on politics and contemporary history.
With its double function as archive and research institution, the ACDP provides a constantly broadening memory capacity for Christian democracy and contributes as a store of learning both to the creation of identity and orientation and to the propagation of historico-political awareness in our society. Hence the ACDP's publication strategy combines academic and editorial articles with books and brochures which serve the presentation of academic research for public, media and educational work. In addition the ACDP supports the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's politico-educational mission with its own exhibitions, conferences and series of events such as the "Colloquy on the Kohl era" which has been taking place since 2000.
Hanns Jürgen Küsters
Department Head, Archive for Christian-Democratic Policy (ACDP)Hanns Jürgen Küsters
Phone +49 2241 246-2240
Fax +49 2241 246-2669
Kerstin Klenovsky
Sekretärin/SachbearbeiterinKerstin Klenovsky
Phone +49 2241 246-2241
Fax +49 2241 246-2669
Franziska Block
Sekretärin/SachbearbeiterinFranziska Block
Phone +49 2241 246-2243
Fax +49 2241 246-2669


text: Puzzle Hustle gamesBookmark the permalink. Release date: Nov 11th, 2009 Price: 0.99 Version: 1.0.0 Seller: Inode Entertainment Buy Now STP SCORE: Not yet reviewed Description Related Games Fallen Lords Dream Quest Naval Tactics: Captains of the Spanish Main Godzilla – Smash3 Talisman Hitman Go Monument Valley Threes! The Room Two Lords of Waterdeep


text:
Conversion & Intermarriage
Can a person be too evil to convert to Judaism? (Forward)
Says Julie Wiener, "I, a liberal intermarried Jew feel ambivalent about intermarried rabbis." (Jewish Week)
Jay Shofet is upbeat about non-Orthodox conversion, arguing "We are witnessing the beginning of the end of Orthodox hegemony." (Ha'aretz)
Reuven Hammer makes the case that the strict attitude toward conversion presently followed in Israel is contrary to Jewish tradition. (Jerusalem Post)
5,321 people converted to Judaism in Israel in 2008, compared to 7,280 in 2007, a 27% drop. (YNet)
Related Posts
Note: The opinions expressed here are the personal views of the author. All comments on MyJewishLearning are moderated. Any comment that is offensive or inappropriate will be removed. Privacy Policy


text:
ShopAtHome.com will help you save more every day, guaranteed.
$68 million earned rewards
1000s of coupons - updated daily!
Make sure you are alwayssaving the most with our Mobile App and Browser App!
National is made for a woman's comfort and style. National has everything a woman's wardrobe needs; apparel, loungewear, intimates, hosiery, footwear, accessories and more. more... Find the right look for business, casual or other events you may be attending. National has everything you need to make your seasonal outfit complete. Dress for less every season with great prices on styles you'll love. Shop National for comfort, style and great prices. less...
By Joy109 on 1/15/2014
By rosefmc on 1/15/2014
I buy nearly 100% of my clothes at Shop National with wonderful success.


text:
PlantFiles: Withe-rod Viburnum, Appalachian Tea, Blue Haw, Shawneehaw, Possum Haw, Wild Raisin Viburnum
Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides 'Buccaneer'
Family: Adoxaceae (a-dox-AY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Viburnum (vy-BUR-num) (Info) Species: nudum var. cassinoides Cultivar: Buccaneer Hybridized by Roy Klehm; Year of Registration or Introduction: 2005 Synonym:Viburnum cassinoides Category: Height: Spacing: Hardiness: Sun Exposure: Danger: Bloom Color: Bloom Time: Foliage: Other details: Soil pH requirements: Patent Information: Propagation Methods: Seed Collecting: | Click thumbnail to view: By ViburnumValley |
1 positive
No neutrals
No negatives
Gardeners' Notes:
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Poplar Grove, Illinois
Clermont, Kentucky
Georgetown, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky


text:
Atlanta, E. J. Cottrell Memorial Library Offers Support for Postal Services
Print version
About 50 people, including representatives from the Postal Service in Buffalo and local politicians, turned to cut the ribbon for the first library in New York State to offer support for postal services. Library Director Brenda Yeoman, third from left, said "The library will sell stamps, receive prepaid packages for mailing, and have on hand the "if it fits, it ships" boxes for mailing items. Our local Post Office has been reduced to 4 hours a day, so our ability to supplement their services will be a great benefit to the community especially as we share a building."


text:
When searching for a phrase, put the phrase in double quotes.
Not a member yet? Register Now!
Forgot Password?
Already have an account? Login
If you forgot your password, please enter the email address under which you registered, and we will send you an email to reset your password.
Never mind, I just want to login.
This is a Special Event Posting to meet Shire business leaders, employees and hiring managers. Click the Apply Now button to register to be pre-screened to attend the Shire Career Event hosted by BioSpace in Waltham, Massachusetts on March 31, 2015...


text:
#1 Defense By Smoke & Mirrors
View Single Post
Join Date:
Sep 2011
Mansfield, Ohio
Member Number:
Thanks: 2,176
Thanked 5,339 Times in 2,226 Posts
My Mood:
Re: #1 Defense By Smoke & Mirrors
Originally Posted by
I will not apologize.
I am happy with the win but I will not let that sway my opinion of the direction this defense has gone this year. I would be somewhat impressed if this defense played that way last night against a below average offense, but it did not. It did it against the worst offense in the league.
It did it against an offense that would struggle to score points in the arena football league. It did it against an offense that turned the ball over more than 4x a game before last night, and the only turnover the defense could force came in over time. The game never even should have made it to overtime, but our 4th quarter defense showed up late in the game again.
You guys might think the defense showed up and played lights out, and that's okay. I think they did exactly what an average to below average defense would do against the worst offense in the league on a rainy night that receivers struggled to catch the ball.
Huh? The offense put up SIXTEEN points and you're bitching at the defense? The offense deserves more shit than the defense! Surely. The only reason i'm NOT bitching about it is because Ben went out early in the second half. The DEFENSE took over from that point and put the game away. They made BIG PLAYS when they NEEDED to, and if you can't you see that, there's no point in me even trying to argue.
I made the mistake of believing for a second that this game would be a blowout, overlooking past history: The Steelers, even under Cowher, played down to the level of lesser opponents. This includes the defense. ESPECIALLY the defense. Any given Sunday. You see the worst team in the NFL and the Steelers see a threat in the way of a Super Bowl championship run. The defense flat out won the game last night in relief of Ben Roethlisberger, and they'll probably need to do the same thing next week.
No one is asking you to apologize, but when the DEFENSE makes a game-winning play, credit is due. The offense didn't win the game, the defense DID.
"Either you're playing dumb, or it's not an act". -Judge Judy
No need to drive me crazy. I can walk from here.
View Public Profile
Send a private message to Bayz101
Find More Posts by Bayz101


text:
Alisha K. Duckett
- Instructor
- Woodwinds Natural Care Center
firstname.lastname@example.com -
Appointment Scheduling:
Special Interests
- Pain management
- Healing touch
- Relaxation massage
I am a nationally-certified massage therapist at the Natural Care Center at Woodwinds.
My goals are to assist people in their unique healing process and provide assistance in pain management through a therapeutic massage experience. My hope is to offer people comfort with the use of energy-based modalities and address their individual health needs with therapeutic massage modalities.
Often, my client's treatment includes a combination of therapeutic massage techniques with energy-based modalities. I am trained in Swedish relaxation massage therapy, deep tissue and trigger point therapy, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, prenatal massage, and healing touch.
- Certificate in Massage Therapy, 2004
- National Certification in Therapeutic Massage, 2012
- Healing Touch Practitioner, 2013
- CPR/AED certification, 2015
- Bachelor of Arts - The College of St. Catherine, 2000


text:
Product Releases
Li-Ion/Li-Polymer Chargers Have Auto USB or AC Power-Source Selection
Mon, 04/07/2008 - 10:14am
The MCP73837 and MCP73838 dual-input, high-current Li-Ion/Polymer charge-management controllers are available. The single-cell, fully integrated chargers enable charge currents of up to 1 A from an AC power source, plus charging currents of up to 100 or 500 mA from a USB port. They have several on-chip safety features and are available in 10-pin MSOP and 3 × 3 mm DFN packages, to enable smaller, faster, and safer battery-charger designs. The devices feature auto power-source selection from either a USB port or AC adapter, which provides an automatic charge from a PC's USB port when no AC power is available.


text:
Columnea medicinalis
Does anyone grow Columnea medicinalis syn. Dalbergaria medicinalis? I was wondering just how large this plant grows and if it can be expected to do well in conditions I provide for a mixed collection of Hoyas and orchids? Does it need very high humidity to do well?
I have recently began growing some Gesneriads and so far my Kohleria, Petrocosmea and Chirita are all doing well. The Dalbergaria group of Columneas are more attractive to me than many of the other members of the genus but there is little info available other than some good photos on the Gesneriad Reference Web. I would be ordering seed from the Gesneriad Society when it becomes available.
I was able to find a great series of photos from the University Of Alabama website. One photo on page 4 shows a mature plant which appears to be quite large.
I would still like to hear from anyone who has grown this plant or other similar species.
Here is a link that might be useful: Columnea medicinalis
Mike -
seems like it is a monster.
Why don't you ask John L. Clark himself - his email is on the bottom of the page you put a link to - if it is available. He probably made these pics in Equador jungle. It seems to me that they have it in Smithsonian collection.
there is another species - Columnea orientadina - former Pentadenia - that has similar red blotches on the leaves plus it makes really attractive pale pink berries. It is of a much smaller scale and probably would fit in your collection better. It is available at Violet Barn.
Here is a link that might be useful: LARGE
Thanks Irina and yes it does look like a bit of a monster.
I have seen photos of the others in this group of species with the red leaf markings, they are nice plants but the floral bracts of Columnea medicinalis are just fantastic. I do also have an interest in Ethnobotany so the fact that this plant is used in herbal medicine also appeals to me.
I have never done well with the South American orchids that grow in mist forests, Pleurothallis and Masdevalia so hopefully this Columnea can tolerate higher summer temperatures than the orchids.
I will have to look into some of the smaller growers but in relation to size some of my shrub type Hoyas look to be about as big when mature. When seed comes available I will have to give this one a try.
Here is a link that might be useful: Some interesting Ethnobotanical info on another similar Columnea.
For anyone that is interested in some of the lesser known Columnea species the image library I linked to before has some wonderful photos. If you click Image Library at the top of the page you can also see other genera from the Gesneriaceae.
Here is a link that might be useful: Clark Lab Image Library Columnea
I have never really equated the Gesneriaceae as being a family of plants often used in an Ethnobotanical sense. Apparently the most common use of this family of plants is in treating snakebite. The use of Columnea ericae is what I would equate with the use of Hemostatic or Astringent herbs used to stop bleeding or hemorrhaging but with larger prolonged doses resulting in female sterilization.
There is an older book called Witch Doctors Apprentice about the author Nicole Maxwell's research and discovery of the use of a rush species in Peru that was used as a permanent or reversible birth control agent. After all the research the info was purchased by a pharma company and then shelved after being patented. Why sell a single dose answer to a problem when the hormone based pill has to be purchased consistently over a woman's reproductive life. Still the book is a great read and if you can find it at a used book store you will not be disappointed.
Ethnobotanical uses of Gesneriads.
Here is a link that might be useful: A refrence to Gesneriads in Ethnobotany


text: How to prune From the beginning, trees are trained with a central leader that is then developed into a vase shape as the tree continues to grow over the years. Year 1 Plant out grafted trees in spring. Just before the leaves drop (about October in New Zealand, though this is dependent on the variety), prune the main shoot to about 80cm above the ground. After the leaves have dropped, each bud will produce an upright and a horizontal shoot. Choose one strong upright shoot that will form the main leader and pinch out the horizontal shoot from the same bud. The remaining shoots will form fruiting arms for which the process is reversed and any upright shoots are removed, producing branches with strong crotch angles (60º90º) that are perfect for fruiting. Pinch out shoots while theyre still small and green (but only from the main leader), which will prevent greater damage being done later. Bigger limbs need to be removed or they may break off leaving a big scar which could possibly unbalance the tree. Several fruiting limbs should be in place on the first level of the main leader by the end of the first year. Year 2 When the leaves have dropped prune all limbs back to 40cm in length to promote new shoots on each branch and another layer of fruiting shoots on the main leader. Dont prune the limbs too hard or the tree will develop excessive and wasteful vegetative growth, although if the shoots are not pruned enough the terminal buds will grow leaving an unfruitful space in the centre of the tree. Pinch out any upright shoots from the main leader. Before the next pruning, trees at the end of the second year should be about 1.5m tall and have a well-balanced shape. Year 3 After the leaves have dropped, prune any limbs that grew last season back to 30cm in length. By now the main leader should be less dominant and generally becomes a main fruiting limb. As growth takes off again, a number of flowers should appear that may develop into fruit, and if the tree has been managed correctly about 15 fruit should easily be carried until harvest at no expense to the trees growth. By the end of the third year, the basic shape and structure should be in place for producing good crops. Year 4 onwards For this and all following years prune the previous seasons growth back to 1520cm in length. This is how much the tree size will increase by each year until the optimal size is reached. By pruning the shoots to this length the tree will produce enough floral buds and vegetative growth for fruit protection and also encourage growth from the centre of the tree. Hard pruning will produce excessive growth at the expense of flowering and fruit production. Over time, branches will require thinning due to overcrowding, or if the fruiting wood is growing too far away from the trunk and becoming flimsy. Prune back to a new vegetative shoot. Remember to remove any diseased, dead or damaged wood during pruning. A nicely pruned tree Fruit thinning


text:
Get LISNews via email! Enter Your Email Address:
Privacy Policy Example Unsubscribe
'50 Shades' another brick in the wall between fans and critics
While the erudite have derided the best-selling books as poorly written and unimaginative, fans of the soft porn/romance novels don't care about sentence structure, believable dialogue or character development. Not everybody wants a daily dose of Dickens or the latest Robert Caro book on LBJ.
"This stuff we consider 'bad' is considered bad if we look at it in terms of the criteria set for old-fashioned art," says pop culture expert Robert Thompson of Syracuse University. "We also have to recognize that some of this stuff that is 'bad' is really good at being 'bad.' Therefore the word 'bad' kind of ceases to have any kind of meaning."
Confessions of (Another) Book Reviewer
I think of the reviewer's role now as being more about providing context for a book, tracing its lineage in the tradition and locating it in the literary topography of the present, and all that touchy-feely sort of thing. The critics I love these days do something slightly different from what they used to: they don't just judge, they open up that weird, intense, private dyad that forms between book and reader and let other people inside. They tell the story, the meta-story, of what happened when they opened the book and began to read the story.
Could the Internet Save Book Reviews? The digital age has transformed the physical act of reading and will alter journalistic literary criticism as well. According to a Pew Research study published in 2010, over half of all Americans obtain news and information—including book reviews—on digital platforms: online editions of newspapers like the New York Times, email, Twitter, RSS feeds, etc. (The number is even higher among people with post-graduate degrees and those who are in their 20s and 30s.) The full effect of these changes will have on book reviews isn't clear, but they're already shifting in ways that would both please and alarm Orwell.
Review of "The Lonely Book" by Kate Bernheimer, illus. by Chris Sheban; Schwartz & Wade (Random House).
This particular book has spent a lot of time at the library, but it still has a lot to look forward to. Fresh off the presses, a beautiful green book is sent to a busy library, quickly devoured by adoring young readers. The book is happy to be checked out often and loved by so many children. Time goes by, and newer books take its place. Gradually, it gathers dust and is taken out less and less often. Then, one day, when it thought it has been abandoned, a little girl named Alice discovers it where it has been left carelessly on the floor. It's love at first sight for the little girl, and she takes the book everywhere. Once again, the book is happy and content.
But when Alice, in a moment of forgetfulness, neglects to renew the lonely book, it is again relegated to a dusty shelf. Stay tuned for more...
Author faces six figure legal bill after unfavourable Amazon reviews case is struck out An author who tried to sue a father of three from the West Midlands over comments made in a series of unfavourable reviews on Amazon is facing a six figure legal bill after a judge struck out his case.
The judge ruled that although a small portion of Mr Jones' words might be deemed libellous by a jury if it went to a full trial, there was little point pursuing that avenue because the potential damages would be slight compared to court costs and time.
Article in the NYT Sunday Book Review: Why Won't They Listen?
Book discussed in the article: The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
Birdbooker Report 214Compiled by an ardent bibliophile, this weekly report includes books about human evolution, wildflowers, polar bears and much more that have been newly published in North America and the UK
NYT "Room for Debate" piece -- 'Riveting!': The Quandary of the Book Blurb
"A Faulkner for our time!" "Can't put it down!" "An up-all-night thriller!" At some point, you have to wonder: if so many books are being commended, are they all commendable? It's the perennial question of whether the blurbs on book covers are still meaningful or have become just background noise. After all, Kindle Singles are doing just fine without covers — and cover blurbs.
Do book blurbs serve readers? Do they help writers?
Stephen King and others weigh in on this topic.
Daily Dispatches from the Internet's Worst ReviewersLeastHelpful.com collects the worst book reviews the internet has to offer! [Via Mefi]
Book by author Robert Levine - FREE RIDE: How Digital Parasites Are Destroying the Culture Business, and How the Culture Business Can Fight Back
Review by Jeffrey Rosen in the NYT
Excerpt: "The real conflict online," Levine writes, "is between the media companies that fund much of the entertainment we read, see and hear and the technology firms that want to distribute their content — legally or otherwise." By delivering content they don't pay for, or selling content far below the price it cost to create, Levine says, information and entertainment distributors like YouTube and The Huffington Post become "parasites" on the media companies that invest substantially in journalists, musicians and actors; the distributors drive down prices in a way that sucks the economic lifeblood out of those who create and finance the best achievements of our culture. The result is a "digital version of Wal-Mart capitalism," in which free-riding distributors reap all the economic benefits of the Internet by cutting prices, and culture suppliers are forced to cut costs in response. This dynamic, Levine argues, destroys the economic incentive to create the kinds of movies, television, music and journalism consumers demand, and for which they are, in fact, quite willing to pay.
Hosted By ibiblio XML Twitter!


text:
Pony parties
Not ready for the expense and committment of owning a pony? Why not give your child a pony party instead.
Pony parties can be arranged through any of the riding schools and will be led by experienced staff.
The ponies can be decorated to match suit any theme.
How to book
We have five riding schools to choose from. To book a pony party, simply visit one of the riding schools page to find contact and booking information:
- Papillon Riding School
- Budapest Riding School
- Centennial Stables
- Eastside Riding Academy
- Sydney Horse
Alternately, to find a riding school who can provide the service you need, click the following button:
The Stable Door Stabling info and forms for
new and existing clients
new and existing clients
Vet services
Centennial Park Veterinary Practice is a specialist equine practice ideally situated within the Centre.
Agistment services
John Leckie has been providing agistment and livery services in Moore Park for over 30 years.


text:
Forwarded message:
Date: Mon, 8 Apr 1996 12:58:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: "OSAP Research Asst." <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Subject: Adhocritecture
(Link inactive 8 April 2004)
Here at "Adhocritecture", we hope to help fulfill a percieved need in the
architectural community for a forum for the discussion of key issues to
young architects, designers and students. Since we are to be the shapers
and makers of our world, we are constantly searching for new ways to
improve the human condition through design.
We aim to address problems found in architectural education, both with
schools and students. We intend to further the pursuit of creating an
environmentally and socially sustainable world. We wish to serve as a
medium for the expression of alternative opinions about the existing
situation in the design world.
We hope to serve as a rallying point for concerned designers in order to
consolidate and get together in order to exchange ideas and build off of
each other's strengths.
Robert Asher


text:
All Titles
A Programmer's Guide to C# 5.0 4 Edition
A Programmers Guide to C# takes you deep into the C# language, showing you the details of how the language works and explaining why it works the way it does. -
A Programmer's Introduction to C# 2nd Edition
This comprehensive reference to the C# language is designed to help you get up to speed on C#.
A Programmer's Introduction to C# 2.0 3rd Edition
A Programmer's Introduction to C# 2.0, Third Edition is a critical update to the highly successful second edition. It covers the elements of C# 2005 that you'll soon embrace. It is sure to be a key resource for all C# programmers! - Accelerated C# 2005 is the fastest path to C# mastery for anyone familiar with object-oriented programming.
- C# 2008 offers powerful new features, and Accelerated C# 2008 is the fastest path to mastering them, and the rest of C#, for both experienced C# programmers moving to C# 2008 and programmers moving to C# from another object-oriented language.
- C# 2010 offers powerful new features, and this book is the fastest path to mastering themand the rest of C#for both experienced C# programmers moving to C# 2010 and programmers moving to C# from another object-oriented language.
Advanced .NET Remoting 2nd Edition
This book features in-depth coverage of the .NET Remoting Framework. - Applied WPF 4 in Context shows developers that applications don't exist by themselvesthey sit in the real world, with its attendant business challenges and requirements. This book shows how WPF technologies and best practices can be drawn together effectively to create powerful and elegant Windows applications.
- ASP.NET MVC Framework Preview is a first look at the ASP.NET MVC framework's main features, designed to give you a head start getting to grips with this powerful new technology.
- ASP.NET Web API 2 Recipes gives you the code and the confidence to work with the Web API successfully in any .NET environment.
ASP.NET Web API 2: Building a REST Service from Start to Finish 2nd Edition
Learn how to leverage the features and capabilities of the ASP.NET Web API to build a RESTful web service from start to finish. This book will first explain the REST architectural style, and then build on that knowledge, the ASP.NET Web API, and some helpful patterns, tricks, and techniques, to go from a blank slate to a fully functional, secure REST service.
Beginning .NET Game Programming in C#
This long-awaited title provides a clear introduction to game programming for you, C# programmers! Microsoft insiders have written an easy-to-read guide, so you can start programming games quickly. This book even includes an introduction to Managed DirectX 9, and other advanced .NET features, like animation and sounds.


text:
Sullivan City Begins Search for New Police Chief
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - 8:46am
SULLIVAN CITY — Sullivan City has begun it's search for a new Police Chief and City Manager Judy Davila says they already have a few applicants, but that they plan to choose carefully when it comes to filling the position, "Someone that has a passion for public service and law enforcement, bachelors degree will be preferred and leadership experience is a must." The city will accept applications over the next three weeks and the city will be named soon.
Comments News Comments
Post new Comment


text:
mute_soul wrote:Wait a sec, so is Kathryn just going to be there and not fight? Or was that in referrence to Music's new person?? I'm confused...
UniversumProfugus wrote:i think no one ever looked at the drawing i made of Ms.omnos xD
NOX wrote:Captain's Log - 9/7/2009
Pandora's box was not filled with candy.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
Current Time
user posts + reviews
Posted on: September 10, 2009 at 12:48AM
Chicago is a great mix of everything you could want in a summer vacation, from the lake front to the sports venues and culture as far as the eye can see. Make sure you make it in the summer you won't be disapointed. report a problem


text:
Inside the Mansion—and Mind— of Kim Dotcom, the Most Wanted Man on the Net
- |
- 6:30 am |
- Permalink
But the police were having a rather difficult time locating Kim. They knew there was a safe room—somewhere. But they didn't know exactly where the door was located. So the special forces men zeroed in on a dumbwaiter.
Gonglike booms echoed through the mansion as the police labored against the metal doors with sledgehammers. Finally a member of the house staff opened the dumbwaiter from the kitchen. Kim wasn't inside. The elite antiterror squad was losing a game of hide-and-seek against a giant computer nerd. The man supposedly armed with the doomsday button had been missing for a full 10 minutes.
Tempero had heard the commotion when the first helicopter landed. He headed outside and was met by a guy in black tactical gear who put a gun in his face. "That's good as gold, mate," he said, and got on the ground. He was still there when the police came back to question him. Tempero was worried for his boss. He showed them the hidden Red Room door. It was still unlocked.
Kim says he was kneed in the ribs, punched in the face, and his hand was stepped on until his nails bled. (Police dispute this.) He was then laid out and briefly cuffed before being led back to the main stairwell. When he passed the windows, Kim finally grasped the full scale of the operation.
Cops were everywhere. In uniform, out of uniform, some with body armor, most with Bushmaster rifles or tactical semiautomatics. They had a dog unit and guys on the roof with binoculars. There were so many people involved in the raid that the cops had brought in chemical toilets and a craft services truck. Kim couldn't believe it. Guys were hanging around, having coffee and sandwiches, high-fiving.
The impound inventory would read like a Robb Report shopping list, including 15 Mercedes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, two Mini Coopers, a '57 El Dorado, the pink Series 62 Cadillac convertible, a Lamborghini LM002, a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, Harley and Von Dutch Kustom motorcycles, eight TVs, and works of art of obvious value—including a towering Planet Hollywood-style statue of the Predator.
But the real prize would be the cash—millions from more than 50 bank accounts around the world. If the Mega-Conspirators were going to defend themselves against the might of the US legal system, they'd have to do it on credit.
Police led Kim to the lawn, where most of the household was gathered. "I was so worried about Mona—she was pregnant with the twins. I kept asking where she was, where the kids were." Kim couldn't see the kids, but he saw Ortmann. He and Batato had flown in for the birthday Kim shared with his son, Kimmo. It promised to be an epic event, complete with A-list entertainers from the US. The bouncy castle hadn't even been blown up yet.
The police found Batato by the back of the house with his laptop; he was still in his robe. Ortmann was in bed when the tactical team burst in. He looked freaked out and shattered. He wasn't the sort who pretended at the gangsta stuff. He didn't even play shooter videogames.
Kim asked a police officer, "What are the charges?" He imagined that, with more than 50 staff members from around the world, maybe one of them was mixed up in something.
The answer surprised him: "Copyright infringement."
As the cops led him to a police van, Kim passed Mona. She seemed frightened. "All this for copyright?" he said to her. "Bullshit."
In the police van, Kim was given a copy of the charges. He saw the copyright infringement and, more surprisingly, conspiracy to commit money laundering. The first charge on the list he didn't understand. "Racketeering?" he asked an officer.
"That's a criminal organization charge, like Mafia," came the reply.
That didn't sound right. Kim had a license plate that said mafia—but then he had ones that said god and police and evil too, and they didn't accuse him of being those. There had been some sort of mistake. They'd spent a lot of money and time to understand every facet of the business—including the DMCA. "That's why we bothered putting servers in Virginia," Batato says. "To be protected by safe harbor." They were prepared for all sorts of claims in civil court. But they'd never prepared for criminal charges, or jail.
The Megaupload boys were brought down the road to the North Shore Policing Centre for processing, then driven to the Mount Eden Corrections Facility. It was nearly dark by the time they entered the induction unit. Kim's cell had a concrete-block bed with a 3-inch mattress. "Which, for me, with my weight, it's nothing," he says. Within a few days he was immobilized with back spasms. They gave him ibuprofen and a wheelchair and put him on suicide watch. "The shrink had talked to me. He asked, did I feel like killing myself, and I said no. I didn't, you know?" Kim says. "But they put me on the watch list anyway, so they could come back to my cell every two hours, see if I moved."
The Mega crew were all on the same cell block. During open cell hours, they could sit together and pore over the indictment. The more Kim read, the more bullshit it appeared.
They'd win, Kim promised. Then they'd get their lawyers to recoup every penny taken from them, every penny of lost revenue, and even more for pain and suffering. He told Ortmann, "I'm going to name my boat Paid For by the FBI."
The Americans were the enemy here. Hollywood had backed Obama; maybe the mega-takedown was mega-payback. Trying to make a difference in the election would be part of their comeback, but as hackers they needed something bigger. Hollywood hadn't taken the hand Kim had offered them. Now he would offer something else.
Hollywood had busted them as pirates on the grounds that they were aware of and responsible for what their Megaupload customers uploaded and downloaded. But what if they created a cloud storage locker that nobody—including themselves—could look into? That would be the ultimate safe harbor. And it would entirely change the conversation about data policing.
Once again, jail forced Kim to think creatively. He sat with Ortmann, van der Kolk,
and Batato in a cell; they puzzled over the problem, building a new technology from scratch in their heads. The idea was simple: One click and a file would be encrypted and uploaded. Only the uploader had the key to unlock the file. If the uploader shared the key, that was his business. Because the data was encrypted, you couldn't search it. Even if you raided the servers, they'd be meaningless without the key. Welcome to the newest gray gray area on the planet.
They called it Mega. Like Megaupload, it would combine off-the-shelf technologies into a user-friendly app. It might not enrich them quite as much as Megaupload had, but they still believed that corporate subscriptions would make it a profitable business. More important, it promised to offer Internet citizens an unprecedented level of private data-sharing while sparing the provider most legal headaches and liabilities. In other words, Mega was beyond takedown.
Kim had been worried about Ortmann. He'd seemed so fragile when he entered jail; now he seemed energized by the challenge. The tough talk wound up all the Mega boys, and Kim was genuinely enthusiastic about their new project. But privately he feared that the larger dream was dead. He might become a dotcom millionaire again. But he'd never be a dotcom hero.
As I wait for Kim on my seventh day at the estate, Saturday morning becomes afternoon becomes evening, and frost reglazes the sweeping lawn. Finally, there is a tweet, then a text. "Come." It's 9:45 at night and Kim is having breakfast.
When I arrive in the kitchen, one of the Filipinas has laid out waffles, pancakes, fruit, sliced bologna of various types, as well as pickles, fruit juice, and a glass of Fiji water, which she refills from tiny plastic bottles.
"I'm going to give all this food up soon," Kim promises, smearing steak tartare across another hunk of bread. "Either I lose 30 kilos or I lose the case." This was Kim the motivator, imagining himself transformed for his American debut in a tailored black suit. It was a nice image, like being dressed well for your own funeral.
Kim is a large man, but tonight he seems as vulnerable as a child beyond rest. He's in a reflective mood and wants to talk, long into the night. He remembers so clearly how difficult it was to rise again after his takedown in Germany, the effort it had taken to emerge with a new dotcom business and a new Dotcom name. Megaupload was to be a dynasty for Kim Dotcom's children to build on; Kim.com would provide the legacy of Kim Dotcom himself. He'd rekindle the ashes of Kimble.org to debut a site that revealed Kim as a self-made Ozymandias of a digital empire, an inspirational builder of worlds. After years of work, his mega-monument was nearly complete.
"But what sort of inspiration could I be now?" Kim asks. He will win the case against him and get his money back too. And then?
His wife is young and beautiful. "And me?" Kim says. I'm …" He gestures to himself. If the case drags on, if they are stuck for years in this dull empty mansion, Kim worries about the strain on his marriage. He isn't so keen on his prospects either.
He's 38 years old. His kneecaps are shot, his back is in spasm, and he's perhaps 150 pounds overweight. He's exhausted. It would take a decade to build another empire with the next Big Idea. He doesn't think he has it in him.
"But the mistake I made in Germany was, I gave up," Kim says. It cost him his name. He wouldn't make that mistake again. There would be no plea deals. He'll stand and fight the DOJ. Even if it costs him everything.
It is 5:30 in the morning, and Kim Dotcom is just getting started.
Kim sleeps through the next day, resting up for three days of hearings. By midday Monday I find him at breakfast already on his new health regimen—500 milligrams of vitamin C, fruits and berries, eggs and yogurt. His wife sits next to him looking calm and radiant, her long dark hair freshly washed. "OK," Kim says. He slips on the blue-tinted Cartiers and a scarf laid out for him on the counter. "Let's kick some ass."
The courthouse is a simple brick civic building near the park. There's a metal detector nobody is much bothering with and a few TV crews waiting with fuzzy microphones. Mona and Kim file into the benches with his American lawyer, Ira Rothken, and codefendants Ortmann, Batato, and van der Kolk. Tempero and another security man wait protectively behind them.
Kim takes the stand, telling the story of the raid. "Our beautiful home was turned into a haunted house," he says. Across the courtroom, reporters bend to their notebooks. That sets the tone. "I want to go again!" Kim says during a recess. He balls his fists like a kid at an amusement park. "That was so much fucking fun!" Over the next two days the raid will be dissected in detail, and judge Helen Winkelmann will interrupt the officers frequently. In New Zealand, police usually don't even carry guns; the raid was viewed as an unprecedented use of armed antiterror forces on a civilian home, based on a faulty search warrant and misleading intelligence. On the stand, the head of New Zealand's anti-organized crime agency is asked whether the Dotcom Mansion was being monitored by any other agencies not yet disclosed to the public. He answers no. Unfortunately, that wasn't quite true.
In fact, the compound had been under surveillance for weeks by New Zealand's spy agency. What exactly they tapped—email, phone calls, text messages—remains a secret, but there is no gray area in the law. The Government Communications Security Bureau is forbidden from spying on legal residents. In the coming weeks, Kim Dotcom will become the center of New Zealand's own Watergate. Even New Zealand's prime minister will issue Kim Dotcom a flat-out apology.
This court will eventually give Kim some of his money back—$4.8 million for his legal defense and living expenses. But before that decision can be rendered, there is evidence to go through. Some video. A bailiff dims the lights and starts showing footage.
It's from one of the police helicopters, a beauty shot at dawn on January 20. We rise over the green New Zealand hills, over power lines, over a last hill, and, as police chatter comes crackling across the microphones, we see the Dotcom Mansion, a regal white U against the green lawn, where the helicopter lands, and we see the legs of armed men, running to the front door before the helicopter lifts again to circle.
"The media will be presented with a copy of this recording," the judge promises. But how, she wonders, will they be able to distribute multiple copies at once, so that each TV station and paper has an identical copy at the same time?
Across the courtroom, the Megaupload boys begin to giggle.
Charles Graeber (charlesgraeber.com) is the author of The Good Nurse: America's Most Prolific Serial Killer, the Hospitals That Allowed Him to Thrive, and the Detectives Who Brought Him to Justice, which will be published in March by Twelve Books.