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Documentation |
FIR adaptive filter that uses QR-decomposition-based RLS
ha = adaptfilt.qrdrls(l,lambda,sqrtcov,coeffs,states)
ha = adaptfilt.qrdrls(l,lambda,sqrtcov,coeffs,states) constructs an FIR QR-decomposition-based recursive-least squares (RLS) adaptive filter object ha.
For information on how to run data through your adaptive filter object, see the Adaptive Filter Syntaxes section of the reference page for filter.
Entries in the following table describe the input arguments for adaptfilt.qrdrls.
Input Argument | Description |
l | Adaptive filter length (the number of coefficients or taps) and it must be a positive integer.l defaults to 10. |
lambda | RLS forgetting factor. This is a scalar and should lie within the range (0, 1]. lambda defaults to 1. |
sqrtcov | Upper-triangular Cholesky (square root) factor of the input covariance matrix. Initialize this matrix with a positive definite upper triangular matrix. |
coeffs | Vector of initial filter coefficients. It must be a length l vector. coeffs defaults to length l vector whose elements are zeros. |
states | Vector of initial filter states. It must be a length l-1 vector. states defaults to a length l-1 vector of zeros. |
Since your adaptfilt.qrdrls filter is an object, it has properties that define its behavior in operation. Note that many of the properties are also input arguments for creating adaptfilt.qrdrls objects. To show you the properties that apply, this table lists and describes each property for the filter object.
Name | Range | Description |
Algorithm | None | Defines the adaptive filter algorithm the object uses during adaptation |
Coefficients | Vector of length l | Vector containing the initial filter coefficients. It must be a length l vector where l is the number of filter coefficients. coeffs defaults to length l vector of zeros when you do not provide the argument for input. |
FilterLength | Any positive integer | Reports the length of the filter, the number of coefficients or taps |
ForgettingFactor | Scalar | Forgetting factor of the adaptive filter. This is a scalar and should lie in the range (0, 1]. It defaults to 1. Setting forgetting factor = 1 denotes infinite memory while adapting to find the new filter. Note that this is the lambda input argument. |
PersistentMemory | false or true | Determine whether the filter states get restored to their starting values for each filtering operation. The starting values are the values in place when you create the filter if you have not changed the filter since you constructed it. PersistentMemory returns to zero any state that the filter changes during processing. States that the filter does not change are not affected. Defaults to false. |
SqrtCov | Square matrix with each dimension equal to the filter length l | Upper-triangular Cholesky (square root) factor of the input covariance matrix. Initialize this matrix with a positive definite upper triangular matrix. |
States | Vector of elements | Vector of the adaptive filter states. states defaults to a vector of zeros which has length equal to (l + projectord - 2). |
System Identification of a 32-coefficient FIR filter (500 iterations).
x = randn(1,500); % Input to the filter b = fir1(31,0.5); % FIR system to be identified n = 0.1*randn(1,500); % Observation noise signal d = filter(b,1,x)+n; % Desired signal G0 = sqrt(.1)*eye(32); % Initial sqrt correlation matrix lam = 0.99; % RLS forgetting factor ha = adaptfilt.qrdrls(32,lam,G0); [y,e] = filter(ha,x,d); subplot(2,1,1); plot(1:500,[d;y;e]); title('System Identification of an FIR Filter'); legend('Desired','Output','Error'); xlabel('Time Index'); ylabel('Signal Value'); subplot(2,1,2); stem([b.',ha.Coefficients.']); legend('Actual','Estimated'); grid on; xlabel('Coefficient #'); ylabel('Coefficient Value');
Using this variant of the RLS algorithm successfully identifies the unknown FIR filter, as shown here.
adaptfilt.hrls | adaptfilt.hswrls | adaptfilt.rls | adaptfilt.swrls


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Judicial Nominee At Center Of Shoreline "Gifting" Case
by marcia chambers | Jan 30, 2013 2:41 pm
(9) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author
Posted to: Legal Writes
Thanks to coincidental timing, Shelley Marcus suddenly finds herself facing two high-profile lines of questioning at once—one involving her fitness to serve as a state judge, one involving a federal fraud court case.
Governor Dannel P. Malloy nominated Marcus last week to become a new Superior Court judge. To get there she has to be approved by the state legislature after a confirmation hearing.
Meanwhile, she has been called to testify in an unrelated case—involving her role in giving advice to a shoreline "gifting table" group.
A gifting table is described by the U.S. Attorney's office as a four-level pyramid, with eight participants assigned to the bottom row, four participants assigned to the third row, two participants assigned to the second row, and one participant assigned to the top row, the "dessert" of the dinner. Those below are "Entrees," and those below them are "Soup and Salads." The lowest rung, the eight who join by each giving $5,000 to the dessert, are known as the "Appetizers." The table is dependent upon new participants coming in and paying $5,000 to the person in the "dessert" position, thus enabling the others to move up. Those reaching the top of the pyramid got $40,000.
Two of the major organizers of one such table on the shoreline are currently on trial in U.S. District Court in Hartford. The third pleaded guilty last month and is expected to be sentenced in federal court in March.
A group of women who actively participated in the so-called "table" told a federal jury yesterday they believed the tables were legal because lawyers and accountants had vetted the group's guidelines.
The afternoon witnesses, three in all, rejected the idea that tables were based on a pyramid scheme where one main person pulls in all the money. They all referred to a gifting table guideline book that included a section entitled 12 reasons why gifting tables are legal.
Shelley Marcus and her father Ed, partners in the Marcus Law Firm, have been called by both the government and the defense to testify to their role in providing advice to the gifting table group. Several years ago he represented the women now on trial.
That both sides in a criminal case want their testimony is itself unusual. It is not clear when they will testify. There may well be other attorneys who gave advice on gifting tables over the years. The tables have been in existence for over 30 years, first starting in Canada, and during that period of time laws change.
Shelley Marcus's name came into testimony at the trial the same week as her nomination to the bench by the governor.
Her father's involvement in the case is well-documented. Her participation first came to light last week. She and 15 other nominees will participate in a judicial confirmation hearing before their nominations are approved.
Ed and Shelley Marcus are the only partners in the Marcus Law Firm, formerly of New Haven and now located in North Branford. Both live in Branford, she in short Beach, he in Stony Creek.
They served as Branford's town attorneys between 2005 and 2007 during former First Selectwoman Cheryl Morris's term. The firm has also been sued by the town of Branford for malpractice in 2008. That lawsuit is still pending with trial expected to begin in June.
Ed Marcus, former state Democratic chairman, once represented two of the women now on trial in U.S. District Court in Hartford, and they have said he told them the tables were legal. They are Donna Bello, 56 and Jill Platt, 65, both of Guilford. They are charged with federal violations of wire fraud, filing false tax returns and engaging in a conspiracy from 2008 to 2011. The trial is being heard before U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Thompson.
Ed Marcus told the New Haven Register in 2009 that "we represent several people that have been contacted by the attorney general's office." When asked if the gifting circle was legal, he said, "My position is that it is legal" and that "sometimes people are required to retain counsel to protect their position."
The Register broke the story about the alleged scam after it sent one of its reporters, Susan Misur, to gifting table events. She had been invited to one of the gatherings. She did not tell the group she was a reporter. Then-Attorney General Richard Blumenthal was also investigating the gifting tables, and eventually the U.S. Attorney's office convened a grand jury to investigate. Some of the women have pleaded guilty or made restitution.
Yesterday in court, Norm Pattis, who represents Bello, a former hairdresser, asked one of the witnesses about Ed Marcus: "Did he ever say the tables were illegal?" The witness said no.
Over the course of the day the jury learned from the defense that gifting tables started in Canada more than 30 years ago, that they are well known in states like California and Florida and New York, and that prosecutions, if any, vary from state to state. The jurors, 15 in all because three are alternates, were attentive. They include 10 women and five men.
The "Guidelines" Book
Both Ed and Shelley Marcus have apparently retreated from their position that the tables were legal, those involved in the case say. Whether attorney-client privilege will be an impediment to their testimony remains to be seen. They have said that because they have been called to testify they will not comment.
According to a report last week in the Hartford Courant, Platt's attorney, Jonathan Einhorn, said he learned of Shelley's Marcus's connection to the handbook when he visited Platt at her home. The Courant said Internal Revenue Service agent Eric Wethje testified that Platt told him that Shelley Marcus had suggested changes to a gifting table guidelines by which the club operated. The IRS conducted the investigation. Shelley Marcus has now denied her involvement, the attorney says.
The guidelines book is central to the gifting group operation. Every member gets a copy.
The handbook, which witnesses indicated yesterday is updated from time to time, maintains the gifting tables are legal and cites U.S. tax codes that say gifts to others are legal as long as they are under $13,000. The IRS, the lead investigator in the federal case, says otherwise.
According to the Courant, Bello's attorney, Norm Pattis, asked Wethje last week if Ed and Shelley Marcus were ever considered "subjects" of the IRS investigation.
At the outset of the investigation, Wethje said and the Courant reported that investigators "had to figure that out."
Pattis took the line of questioning a step further. "Did Mr. Marcus almost get indicted?" he asked. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Morabito objected to the question and Judge Thompson sustained the objection, the Courant reported.
Angela Duvall, who lives in Naples, Florida, and joined the gifting table in her state in 2007, testified in court yesterday. She said she knew Bello, Bello's sister and mother, all of whom were engaged in gifting table groups in Florida.
Duvall described herself as a "goody two shoes," someone who cares about legalities. She read the guidelines carefully and talked to many people about it. She and other witnesses rejected the idea that the tables were actually pyramid schemes dependent upon newcomers for the tables to work.
She said women across professional lines joined the tables and their presence gave credibility to the tables. At one point at yesterday's court session, Pattis asked witnesses about the legal aspects of the tables, noting along the way that a practicing attorney (from New Haven) was once part of a group. He did not name the lawyer.
In court yesterday Pattis noted with some witnesses that the head of the table "wasn't a Bernie Madoff who ruled at the top" for decades. It might take some months, but eventually the person at the gifting table top, the one who reached the grand gift of $40,000, would be displaced by those moving up.
Overall 15 women play at one table, eight were appetizers, donating $5,000, four were salads and soup, two were entrees and one was dessert. Sometimes the women joined two or three tables simultaneously. The table was dependent upon one woman bringing in two more.
"After I joined," said Duvall, we were told the guidelines were amended over the last four years to keep us legal. "We had the tax laws in front of us. They said we could give or receive $13,000 in gifts each year without reporting it to the IRS. It was legal."
The guidelines say that as of 2007 "you are allowed to give up or receive up to $13,000 from any number of people per year without incurring tax liability."
"Why did you join?" the prosecutor asked. Duvall said she was a wallflower. "They opened their arms. They embraced me." At the time she was caring for her husband's dying parents, she said, and she was so depressed she was near to suicide. She agreed when Pattis under cross-examination described the tables as "a godsend in your life."
Over four years she said she earned $22,500. Like a number of women in the tables, she gave the money to another woman who was down and out, she said.
She also said gifting tables were a hot topic in Florida and described a 9,000 square foot house with hundreds of women packed to the walls, all wanting to participate in the tables. She described a sisterhood among the women, a place where they became empowered. Other witnesses also testified they were drawn by empowerment.
Her experience with the Florida tables, including one major issue that developed when another table no longer wanted to follow the guidelines and she and others left it, was detailed to the jury via e-mails that appeared on screens for the jury to read. She said she contacted Bello seeking her guidelines, which, she said, were legal.
At the outset of her testimony Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jongbloed asked her if she had reached an agreement with the government regarding her testimony in court. She said "anything I say that is truthful cannot be used against me." She has also amended her tax returns to pay the government what she owns them, she said.
The prosecutors took the various witnesses through their experiences with the tables. They elicited the fact that they were told by Bello and others to keep their money at home or in a safety deposit box. Going to a bank with $10,000 in cash, they all indicated, would be problematic because typically bank officials ask questions about such deposits. Some said they kept their cash in safety deposit boxes. One of the defendants used her kitchen freezer.
Tags: Shelley Marcus, Ed Marcus
Post a Comment
posted by: Walt on January 30, 2013 5:11pm
Good thing I am not in the Jury Pool
I'd be rejected for service as I could not swallow a claim that these educated ladies and their attorneys ddidn'tnow that this is just another Ponzi scheme designed to bilk most participants and help only those near the top of the chain when it is formed, and that it mathematically guarantees that almost all newcomers are quickly left with empty pockets
To me attorneys who aid in tricking people into being sucked into such plans should be charged as co-conspirators and probably disbarred.
I recall some years ago , a similar Ponzi scheme by a different name operating among New Haven City Hall folks when a few founded a Ponzi deal and made quite a bundle but left others less connected, with empty pockets
No one got caught on that one . Maybe this time is different
A shame..Just an opinion. I just do not understand it if all get off without punishment. Who is guilty ? I don't know, but someone was surely out to screw a naive neighbor or friend ,
It is more a fraud case than a tax evasion case I would think, but, as in the old gangland cases, a tax- deal conviction if that is all you can get. is still good
posted by: Noteworthy on January 30, 2013 5:14pm
It is very clear to me that the IRS case is arbitrary and hangs on the definition of "gift." The code clearly allows tax free gifts. Moreover, I'm not surprised somebody said to keep the money at home - $10,000 in cash - would flag you not for the IRS but for the anti-terrorism task force, another group of federal heavy hands that take immense liberties. Every woman charged should get the same deal - if the IRS wants to change the definition of "gift" then they should all keep their money, report the income pay the tax accordingly or take it to court. This is not criminal nor is tax avoidance illegal nor is trying to avoid other federal agency problems.
posted by: Nan Bartow on January 30, 2013 6:10pm
This woman, Shelley Marcus, is nominated to be a new Superior Court judge by our governor???? Heaven help us.
posted by: HhE on January 31, 2013 1:18am
More of a pyramid scheme than a Ponzi: money gets kicked up towards the apex from a base that needs to expand rather than investments being returned as earnings. Still, high school civics is enough legal training to figure out that this is well short of legal.
On TV, judges are portrayed typically as learned jurists who struggle with tough questions, and most often get it right. From what I have seen in family court, they are always looking for the easy answer, not the right one. I'm told in criminal court it is often no better. So I guess Atty. Marcus is qualified.
posted by: Walt on January 31, 2013 9:40am
I use the term as if they were the same frauds but they are not. Similar though
As most are investing in the plans with the intention of profits, quite close in meaning
posted by: HhE on January 31, 2013 11:42am
Walt, I hope I was not too hard or gave offense—it is the curse of having an English teacher for a mother, that I have this need to "fix" words.
I have to say, if the typical lawyer was a school teacher, they would be fired before the year was out. God help them and their excuses if they were in the military.

subset: commoncrawl


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NICK SCHWIEN • Hays Daily News Jake Bubak leads a URSS 305 sprint car heat out of turn two Sunday at Rush County Speedway in La Crosse.
By NICK SCHWIEN
La CROSSE -- The first time, Jake Bubak learned his lesson.
Then next time, the teenager delivered one of his own.
On Sunday night at Rush County Speedway in La Crosse, the Colorado teen pulled off his fourth United Rebel Sprint Series 305 sprint car win of the season on the second night of the Bullring Nationals.
"It's great," Bubak said. "Any win is great, but a national win makes it better."
Bubak, who's in line to be the URSS national rookie of the year, started outside the front row alongside Jared Kern. Bubak led the first lap before J.D. Johnson went flying around him on the second lap.
Johnson, a regular on the NCRA 360 sprint car series, led until the halfway point. But Johnson continued to slip up in turns three and four on the dry, slick track.
Bubak nosed his car under Johnson the first time he slipped, only to have the driver of the No. 98 car edge back in front of him at the next corner.
On lap 16, Johnson's car pushed again, and this time Bubak didn't back down.
"The first time he did it, he chopped me pretty hard going into one," Bubak said. "I had to regain my composure a bit, made me a little upset. But the next time, I just didn't lift going in so he couldn't chop me going in that time. It's nice racing against guys like that. You can learn a lot from them."
Bubak led the rest of the 30-lap feature, but that didn't mean it wasn't full of excitement.
Jason Martin, who started 10th, continued his assault by marching to the front. He battled Jeff Radcliffe for third and fourth for numerous laps until Radcliffe put some space between the two by driving under Johnson on lap 22 to move into second.
"There was water going into (turn) three, and everybody kept hitting it," said Martin, who had won three of the last four races at La Crosse entering Sunday. "It was just making it treacherous. I never could get the top right. There just wasn't nothing to lean on up there, so I couldn't keep my momentum up."
Bubak continued to hold down the top spot as Radcliffe drew closer, and Martin began working to get by Johnson.
When the fourth and final caution flew with four laps remaining, Martin made his move. He was neck-and-neck with Johnson as the two crossed the line on lap 27.
In turns three and four, Radcliffe hit the slick spot and spin, collecting others running closely to him. He was able to keep his car running, but lost momentum.
That allowed Martin to move into second as several other drivers hit the brakes to avoid the spin.
Josh Fairbank, who won the night's B-feature and started 11th, got by Radcliffe into third on lap 29 as Radcliffe's car slowed due to damage from the contact in the spin. Luke Cranston, who was caught up in an early caution and sent to the back, got by Radcliffe as well into fourth.
"I saw them spinning, and I knew J.D. was on the outside of me," Fairbank said. "I knew I didn't have much room. I really thought he was going to shut it down, but he kept on it. He tagged me a little, and I hit J.D. a little but didn't do much damage. But everybody kept on going, so no harm."
Bubak had a large enough cushion, though, that Martin never really could challenge for the win. Martin took the runner-up spot, with Cranston edging out Fairbank for third at the line. Johnson was fifth, with national points leader Brian Herbert in sixth.
"The short tracks are more like what we race at in Colorado," Bubak said. "I seem to struggle with these guys because they're used to the bigger 3âÑ8ths and half-miles. This is a little more comfortable for me, more what I'm used to."
The URSS wraps up the season Saturday at Dodge City Raceway Park. Herbert is on the verge of becoming the first two-time series champ, although Bubak and Radcliffe are hot on his heels.
"We were just coming to be top 10 in (national) and top five in Colorado, and we won that," Bubak said about his first year with the URSS. "We're hanging strong. I got to know Jeff Radcliffe and Brian Herbert real well, and I like racing with those guys."
The HDNews.net/racing Channel is available on YouTube, featuring in-car camera videos and much more.


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Comparing 3D: LED, Plasma or Projector?
There's a wide variety of television technologies available for today's consumer to choose from. So, which format can offer you a superior 3D experience? From price point to specific strengths, let's take a detailed look at some of today's finest technologies.
When it comes to 3D, the consumer who enjoys the highest degree of clarity will need to make image brightness their top priority. That's why LED is likely your best option. By opting for Passive 3D over Active 3D, your enjoy an even brighter experience – and the ES8000 is the perfect TV to deliver it.
Also known as the Samsung 65" 1080p 3D LED Smart TV, the ES8000 features a significantly enhanced image thanks to its use of Clear Motion Rate technology. This DLNA, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet ready television also features onboard support for more than twenty-six languages. Add HDMI, component, and USB compatibility, and you'll begin to see why this Smart TV has become such a popular option amongst dedicated media enthusiasts.
Thanks to Samsung's Wide Colour Enhancer Plus technology, the ES80000 extends the capabilities of its contrast ratio – so you can enjoy incredibly vibrant colors, accompanied by deep and authentic on screen blacks. Accompanied by Digital Dolby Plus and Dolby Pulse support, the ES8000 succeeds in providing a top-of-the-line audio and visual experience.
Although it may not be an obvious choice when first considering a 3D TV, Plasma technology does manage to offer the consumer a fascinating grab bag of specific strengths. 3D fans will enjoy a bare minimum of on-screen ghosting, a wider viewing area to accommodate more watchers, and can be obtained for a considerably lower price point than its LED counterparts.
The Samsung 60" 1080p 3D Plasma Smart television features impressive on screen Active 3D, thanks in part to the presence of Samsung's Real Black Filter. An enhancement technology developed to present authentic, dense colors regardless of lighting conditions, it also lends itself to helping create solid and richly textured effects in dazzling 3D.
Equipped with two pairs of Active 3D glasses, this Plasma TV is internet-ready the second it's out of the box.... and with game, sports, and cinema modes, viewers are sure to be impressed by Samsung's depth of customizability and extremely pleasing price point.
If image size is your priority, than the choice for you is obvious – a good digital 3D projector packs a large-scale punch that can rival most small movie theatres... and it'll wind up costing you a lot less than you think.
Let's take a moment to explore the Sony 1080p 3D Home Theatre Projector – which is more than capable of throwing up an image measuring no less than 300 inches. With a contrast ratio of 70,000 to 1, this is the right device to fill your big screen with impressive color depth in full 1080p. HDMI ready, the projector comes equipped with a very powerful Sony lens – so you and your friends can enjoy top quality optics and an excellent zoom rate during your next 3D movie.
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We Grew Up Here
We Grew Up Here
Run Time | 86mins
Genre | Drama, Music
Director | Kevin Pickman
Produced by | A.C. Neel, Stefeni Tormanen
Written by | A.C. Neel, Kevin Pickman, Stefeni Tormanen
Cast | Erin Michaels, Ann Sonneville, Kate Schell, Ron E. Rains, Leena Kurishingal
A musician, struggling to cope with his split from his lover and muse, begins to suspect that his past is being erased in this unnerving film starring members of Chicago-based band Paper Thick Walls. As music and mementos from his former relationship disappear and mutual friends deny that they know him, the musician hits the road on a desperate journey to prove to himself and everyone else that he's not insane—that the memories he holds are real.
Chicago International Movie and Music Film Festival, Seattle True Independent Film Festival
Doors open for priority seating (Film Badges) at 8:10 pm.
Individual Screening Tickets will be released at 8:15 pm for $5 at One Longfellow Square, Portland, ME.


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Hi. I don't think I have much aptitude for Wiktionary. I hope no one is irritated by my Wikipedia-style translation articles for the 5 or 6 Japanese and Chinese words I created. Thank you. --McDogm 9 July 2005 02:45 (UTC)
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Concierge.com's insider take:
As chic as it is elite—designer Terence Conran wouldn't have it any other way—the 139-room Fitzwilliam hotel has a split personality in terms of view, so be clear what you'd prefer when booking. Out front, deluxe rooms look out onto the greenery, lake, and general tranquility (if you don't count quacking ducks) of St. Stephen's Green; out back, executive rooms flank a courtyard garden. Conran's design is baronial moderne, with a lobby defined by purple carpets, Barcelona sandstone, and a black-and-white tiled catwalk leading to a contemporary "keep" containing the hotel bar, the Inn on the Green. The style-fest continues here, with young execs and hotel guests shooting the breeze with friendly barmen over a lovely pewter counter, and in the laid-back Citron restaurant, a lively, lemon-and-lime-colored bistro on the mezzanine level (the fine dining option is Kevin Thornton's eponymous, Michelin-starred restaurant). Upstairs, the Fitzwilliam's bedrooms have been refurbished but remain the epitome of good taste. American walnut, Paul Smith fabrics, and purple satin headboards define a design environment in which everything is specced, right down to the apples in the hallways. For the big splurge, a slick two-bedroom penthouse is the city's most expensive suite, decorated with red leather furnishings, black wooden floors, and a grand piano (rock stars at Dublin's O2 venue are regular guests). A leather wall retracts to reveal an enormous plasma screen: Blofeld, eat your heart out.—Gail Harrington; updated by Pól Ó Conghaile
User Reviews
write a review › | see all user reviews ›I stayed there a couple weeks ago, and really loved the location and modern feel to the hotel. The only issue we had was with the one concierge guy not really being... more


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Course Catalog >> Workplace Effectiveness
MAP-Works 2013 Overview
Course # 676
Advertising Description:
This course is required for all experienced user direct connects who do not plan on attending MAP-Works Basics OR MAP-Works Advanced OR have not participated in a MAP-Works departmental training. Participants will learn about what is new with MAP-Works and review the expectations of direct connect for Fall 2013. This course will not provide participants with MAP-Works technical training.
Objectives: (At the end of this course participants will be able to)
- Explain the purpose of MAP-Works at Iowa
- Understand the expectations for being a Direct Connect
- Understand the MAP-Works 2013 goals
(audience course is
designed to reach)
Intended for UI Faculty and Staff who use MAP-Works.


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Drive Medical Folding Universal Sliding Transfer Bench
Item # WX2-232990
- Google+
This item is shipped directly from the factory. To see the expected shipping date, please add to your Shopping Cart. Sorry, no express shipping available. We are unable to ship factory direct items to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or APO or FPO addresses.
- Details & Specs
Drive MedicalTM Folding Universal Sliding Transfer Bench. Getting into and out of the tub has never been easier or safer.
For those who find the "scooting" required from a standard transfer bench difficult, this Sliding Transfer Bench is the safety answer. It's universal-fit, foldable for storage and transport, and stays safely in place thanks to the suction cup feet.
The whole story:- Transfer Bench slides left and right along frame for easy entry into and out of the tub
- Bench will lock into place unless the holding clip is pressed
- Folds flat for storage and transport
- Comfortable molded 23 x 19" d. seat with backrest includes a seat belt for safety
- Includes removable soap dish and safety net to prevent dropped items
- Suction cup feet keep the Bench firmly in place while showering
- Seat height adjusts from 16" to 22" via adjustable legs
- 300 lb. weight capacity
- Bench is 42" w. overall. Some assembly required.
- Reviews
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- Articles & Tips
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Buyer's Club $26.99 Non-Members $29.99 -
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Buyer's Club $17.99 Non-Members $19.99 -
Hot / Cold Compression Knee Therapy
Buyer's Club $26.99 Non-Members $29.99


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Viz Puts Early Naruto Manga on Sale Digitally
- Posted by Johanna on June 4, 2011 at 10:15 am
- Category: Digital and Webcomics
For two weeks, until Friday, June 17, Viz has reduced digital prices for Naruto volumes 1-27. Since Volume 51 comes out next week, consider this a back issue sale for a good jumping-on point.
Instead of the typical $4.99 a book, Naruto 1-27 are only $3.99 each through the Viz Manga app (available for iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch). That's 20% off. Since Naruto, by Masashi Kishimoto about a boy training to become a ninja, has already sold more than 85 million copies, no worries here about affecting print sales — digital release, especially at a discounted price, will likely only bring more readers.
What a comparison! For $3.99, you can get almost 200 digital pages of manga, or 40 pages of online superheros. The Viz app, although limiting its audience technically by not providing Android or web versions, contains over 250 volumes split over 30 series.


text: My secret santas gift arrived in the mail today, and they most definitely put a smile on my face. US related foods are hard to come across where i am (have to travel a fair bit) but now i don't have to. Something my whole family can enjoy. Thankyou Santa!


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routes du bonheur Suggestions for itineraries to discover the world
Hungary ?
1 800 735 2478Central reservation office (United States)
Calling from another country ?Click here
properties match your criteria
Hotel and restaurant in a parkView details
An extraordinary palace hotel for special moments, embedded in a wide and untouched natural landscape of the Hungarian Somogy region. This jewel of absolute privacy and an impressive historical atmosphere allow guests to live the Hertelendy style to the full. It is a real inside tip for those who are seeking for rest and relaxation in perfection. Pilots, hunters, horse lovers, gourmets, as well like golfers and for sure romantics will find their perfect "island in the green". Especially for connoisseurs with taste who appreciate the good things in life. The very well maintained airfield, where sport aviation travelers can land easily in the immediate vicinity of the castle hotel. Our restaurant offers next to traditional dishes a very well and renowned gourmet cuisine with the finest ingredients sourced in our organic garden.
Presentation | Services and activities | Discover the region | Access | Rates | Special offers
Hertelendy, the island in the green


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This DSF, Gulf News' Web News Editor Florence Pia G. Yu trawls the malls and places off the beaten track to find the best deals and bring you the quirkiest items you can add to your shopping bag
Decoding the DSF signs
- Posted by Florence Pia G. Yu, News Editor - Web
- Published 15:42 January 19, 2013
- Image Credit: Florence Pia G. Yu/Gulf News
- One of many sale signs blazing this Dubai Shopping Festival.
After spending two weeks hopping from shop to shop this DSF, let's check if you paid attention to some of the finer details of the shopping fest.
Read the signs
There will usualy be big sale signs blazing by the display window, but some shops may have low-key displays, so you may not be able to tell by first glance that they have special sale items inside.
Also, read what the signs say. If it says "sale", it means all their items are on sale. If it says "part sale" then you'll only see selected items on sale.
Look for that piece of paper
How do you know you've stepped into a participating store? Check out the Certificate of Participation. It is usually somewhere near the display window.
Check the tags
There will be red or orange tags, but DSF sale items will have the special tag that tells you how much discount you are getting for the item, the original price and the sale price to make it easier for you to decide if it's worth buying.


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About Us
Its been more than Fifty years since the
Indian Association Geneve (IAG) was established in
1947.Membership-wise IAG today is the largest Indian Association in
Aims and objectives
To serve as a
social and cultural forum for the Indian community. |
To foster friendshipwith the Swiss and International Communities
resident in |
To contribute
to the social and cultural life of the city. |
To contribute
to humanitarian causes. |
The activities of the Association are :
to hold cultural programmes including Indian musical
concerts, dance and dramas; to organize social evenings to mark important
festivals, i.e. Holi, Diwali,
and Christmas; to commemorate days of national signifcance,
i.e. Republic Day and Independance Day; to organize
Fęte Indienne periodically and to participate in fętes
organized by the International Community of Geneva and the Cantonal authorities
to raise funds for charitable and humanitarian causes; to organize and
participate in sports events; to have periodic outings and picnics.
A General Assembly consisting of all
members meets at least once a year to review annual reports and audited
accounts and decide on policy and financial matters. The activities of the
Association are organized by an Executive Commitee
consisting of 11 members (of the total number of 12 members, one became less
after the closure of the India Tourist Office in


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George's, Monty's, Joe's, Truluck's: Last Call For Stone Crabs
Categories: Deals
Flickr |
Joe's Stone Crabs |
Pegged as a "sunset soiree," the event is taking over the restaurant's terrace, cuz nothing says romance like a meal comprised of messy self-serve seafood. From 4 to 8 p.m., gorge on all the claws you can crack for $75, not exactly a steal, but the more room in your stomach, the better the deal. Traditional side offerings include smashed potatoes, heirloom tomato salad and coleslaw. For the price, you may want to just keep your eye on the prize.
Not in the mood to travel to the burbs for your crabby fix? You can always head to Joe's for the "Classic" platter ($35.95), which includes the famous hashbrowns, creamed spinach, slaw and four claws, with a slice of key lime pie for dessert.
Or head over to the newest Truluck's on Brickell, where the claws come from their very own fisheries in Naples ($18 - $54, depending on size).
Monty's will charge you whatever the hell they want to, oh the joy of market pricing. The good news is that if you head over for their generously timed happy hour today, from 4 to 10 p.m., you'll spend only $4 per claw.
Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.
Sponsor Content


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LOve love love this! Got this and cabo coral together. initially when you first open it, it's a bit waxy but once u get past the top layer, it's rather creamy. the colour itself looks a muddy rose colour in the jar but once on my cheeks, it;s a beautiful natural flush of colour...i'd say this is the colour when i blush. i use a 187 dupe to apply this. i tap it twice lightly into the product, stipple it onto the cheeks where i want it be and then buff it in. i find that this is the best way for me to apply it if i want to achieve a subtle flush of colour. it is quite pigmented, so a little goes a long way. the 188 brush can also be used but i find it takes some effort to blend with it. i apply the blush after liquid or cream foundation, before i set with powder. staying power, well...probably a few hours. but because i rinse my face with water a couple of times a day for prayers (i'm a muslim), it doesn;t really bother me much. it's also pretty on the lips, a brownish rose colour but make sure to use a balm before applying it. i also apply a clear balm over it. too bad BB is discontinuing the product though, but for the amount u get and how little you use...well...you'll probably be itching to try something else before you finish it! thumbs up!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
I bought this blush after reading all the rave reviews and I'm so glad I did. Having never used a cream blush before I was a bit apprehensive. But it's easy to apply and the Blushed Rose is such a beautiful color.
I wasn't sure if I should apply with my fingers or a brush. I decided to apply this with a regular flat foundation brush on the apples of my cheeks and the results are flawless.
I look forward to purchasing some other shades.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
This is my first cream blush and I'm quite happy with it. It does not contain any shimmer or sparkles.
I like that you just need your fingers to apply this. It easy to travel with as there is no need for a blush brush. However, I do occasionally use the Sonia Kashuk synthetic flat top multipurpose brush and it smooths out the blush so that it looks airbrushed.
A small amount goes a long way. I've used it almost daily for 3 months and have barely made a dent in the jar.
I can't comment on it's lip coloring properties as I only use it as a blush.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
This is an excellent blush with a smooth formulation. I've been using it for several years and it hasn't broken me out at all. Everything about it is great, except the color is a little too dull and neutral on my NC30 skin. It's a soft brown pink that blends in perfectly, if a little too well, into my skin. However, it's great for everyday. It's exactly the same color as my lips so it's an awesome base for lip glosses. In fact, it turns a gorgeous tawny pink when layered under MAC dewy jube lip glee. As with almost any Bobbi Brown stuff, I've yet to hit even halfway on any of their stuff despite using it religiously, so it's definitely worth the money.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
Ooooo! This is the prettiest long lasting blush ever. Just beautiful. The finish is natural and light. Perfect color all day. Rate 10 stars!
Love this blush! the texture is very unique and the color looks great on my skin! first pot rouge i bought and im going to be sure im coming back for more!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
Love BB pot rouges'! I have to admit that I tend to not use the blushed rose as much as I use the pink raspberry and calypso coral colors, but only because they do better with my skin tone (NC 20). I really like the staying power of cream blushes and the natural look they give. I think the price is fine considering how long these last, well worth it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
This is an excellent blush and lip color. It suits my cool & fair complexion very nicely and a little goes a long way so you will not go through the pot very quickly like some cremes. I generally like to use a brush as I have long nails and, with any pot product, it gets stuck under my nails - yuk - but this applies nicely with or without a brush! No streaking or sticking, very smooth and creamy and great coverage but not overbearing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
I really love this! I think this replaces Nars sin and orgasm as my favourite blush! It makes you look like you have a perpetual natural rosy flush. And it does double duty as a lip tint too! Price is abit high but a little goes a long way so it's worth it. I was a little put off by how dark it looked in the container but it blended into my skin very well. I will be using this almost everyday!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No
More reviews by loveableqtpie212
I love blushed rose. On me it's like a matte version of Nars lovejoy, a nice browned rose. It's a color I can wear year round, and is perfect for no make-up looks. It might seem pricey at first, but you get tons of product, and the screw top packaging really helps it stay fresh longer since it's not as creamy as some other cream blushes. I can imagine this color looking great on many skin tones.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Did you? Yes No


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Wireless @ Home
February 18th, 2006 at 03:15am
My 802.11g wireless router came in this week. I actually wanted to buy a Linksys router, but got a very good deal on D-Link AirPlus™ G DI-524 Wireless Router. Got it for around $9 after mail-in rebates from eCost.com. But the final price was around $17 after shipping & Handling fees, which is still much lower compared to Linksys price. Will go for Linksys in future if there is a need.
It took around 30 mins for me to setup the router. And around 15 to 20 mins to setup a secured network.
So, now its fun browsing without the wires!
Related Posts
Tags: 802.11g, broadband, cable, d-link, di-524, dlink, router, wifi, wireless, wireless router
Entry Filed under: Life,Technology
4 Comments
Hey that looks like a nice one there. Tell me something, does it work across the house or do you need to have clear space. I want to set-up the router in one room and work on a laptop in another. Will it work?
@Kapil : It works pretty well within the house. No problems at all. The signal strength is pretty good for atleast 300 feet. Outdoors its even better.
Dude, tell me something is this router for high-speed cable broadband or DSL? Is the downstream speed within the house same as the direct ethernet connection from cable modem?
I mean does it slow down after placing the wireless router let me know. I am planning to go for this one.
@Vin : It works with both cable and DSL modems. Yes. Downstream speed is same.
I could not find any speed slowdown over router.
My cable modem down stream is around 2.5 Mbps, and upstream is around 256kbps. … the router is a 54Mbps router. So, not a issue.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


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Sorry, but I thought it was amazing.
This right here is hella funny :D And at the same time... hella adorable :D
"A loving man and woman in a committed relationship can marry. Dogs, no matter what their relationship, are not allowed to marry. How should society treat gays and lesbians in committed relationships? As dogs or as humans?"
Right now, I'm (metaphorically) the one on the left... but I'm fearful that the advice I'm being given is true.
Oh. My. God.
This is adorable.
And explains my feelings on it pretty accurately.


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Reviewed by 1 customer
Displaying review 1
Comments about Majestic Athletic Detroit Tigers Replica Home Jersey:
I have not recieved my item. it was sent to a different adress. It was returned to the UPS store (tracking #1z883f23p202464757). They said they returned it to you. how do I go about getting my jersey?
Displaying review 1


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Once again, you've nailed it Doug!
In the lead up to the 2008 election, I repeatedly made the comment that the Republicans and Democrats were simply two factions of the same "country club".
Nothing has changed.
That is, unless and until ALL of these clowns are thrown out of office and replaced with a completely new set of entirely new faces, everything else will simply be another useless exercise in "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic". We will go on trading one set of corrupt politicians for another.
Right now, we have too many lawyer-politicians writing too many self-serving laws supporting and enriching too many entrenched, self-serving (spelled "horrifically corrupt") special interests.
And nothing is going to fundamentally change in Washington unless and until we start electing people of integrity who absolutely can't be bought.


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Chris Isaak Shares Intimate Details of "Wicked Game" Music Video
Public Enemy's Chuck D. and the Rap-Thrash Metal Gamble
2015 Grammy Awards Deliver Surprise Rock Hall Connections
Essential Eddie: Van Halen's Greatest Guitar Solos
Is this the Greatest Photograph in Rock History?
5 Unbelievable Facts About Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"
Henry Rollins Weighs in on Cleveland's Punk Rock Past
5 Must-See Items in the Rock Hall's New Paul Simon Exhibit
What are Paul McCartney's Favorite Ringo Starr Songs?
Rock Hall 2015: Who's Getting Inducted, How to Get Ceremony Tickets and the New Exhibit in Cleveland
Rock Hall's Education Manager Discusses Tuesday's Teachers Rock Event
It's hard to watch Girls Rock!, the acclaimed documentary about the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, and not be moved. As a woman, I saw myself – every ...
Categories: Education, Event


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Counselman Family in AlabamaUpdated September 5, 2000 |
Horace Gene Counselman
8080 Jack Williams Rd
Wilmer, AL 36587
334-645-0395 |
I am searching the COUNSELMAN family from Braden,Germany that settled in Clarke County,Alabama at Coffeeville in or about 1852.Phillip Kuntzleman age 38 with wife Eva age 44 had four daughters and a son. Theresa 17,Catherine 12,Mary 10 and son Andrew 8. Andrew was born at sea. These are the ages in the 1860 census. Counselman,Kountzleman,Kuntzleman,Councilman,Kautzman,Kautzmann Also looking for the CLECKLER family from Chilton county Alabama. |
Edit Your Page |
The content shown on this page has been submitted by a Genealogy.com customer, and is not subject to verification by Genealogy.com. Neither Genealogy.com nor its affiliates are responsible for the accuracy of any information contained on this page. The opinions expressed on this page are the author's alone and not the opinions of Genealogy.com.
© 2009 Ancestry.com |


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January 22, 1999 MEDIA CONTACT: Sue Hinz, 509/335-3583, firstname.lastname@example.com Roslyn Wise, 509/335-1910 WORK OF ALLAN, HUDSON, WILEY FEATURED IN WSU MUSEUM OF ART EXHIBITION AT WSU TRI-CITIES TRI-CITIES, Wash. -- Works by three former Richland residents will be on exhibit Feb. 9-27 at Washington State University at Tri-Cities. The WSU Museum of Art, in cooperation with WSU Tri-Cities, will present "From Familiar Terrain: William Allan, Robert Hudson, William T. Wiley" in the Consolidated Information Center gallery at the WSU campus in Richland. The exhibition celebrates the connection between the three artists and the Tri-Cities community, and marks the first outreach program from the Museum of Art to the Tri-Cities area. Now northern California residents, Allan, Hudson and Wiley share a friendship that began in the early 1950s while they were students of art teacher Jim McGrath at Richland's Columbia High School. Since then the three artists have established significant careers individually. Allan creates sweeping landscapes depicting surreal incidents. Hudson creates sculptures that juxtapose found objects with colorful, complex geometric forms. Wiley paints detailed works combining handwritten texts and messages with energetic drawn and painted images. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the three worked together to create collaborative pieces combining their unique styles. "From Familiar Terrain," featuring 15 recent individual works by Allan, Hudson and Wiley, is presented concurrently with an exhibition of the artists' works, "Collaborations: William Allan, Robert Hudson, William Wiley," organized by the Palm Springs Desert Museum and on display through Feb. 21 at the Museum of Art in Pullman. The gallery at WSU Tri-Cities is located in CIC, Room 102, 2770 University Dr., Richland. Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Parking is available in front of the CIC. Questions about the exhibit can be directed to staff at the Museum of Art, 509/335-1910. The exhibition at the Tri-Cities campus is part of a larger plan to present Museum of Art programs to branch campus locations throughout the state. "We want to bring the branch campuses closer to their communities with shared programs that will provide quality exhibitions and speakers," said museum director Dyana Curreri-Ermatinger. "This collaboration will provide enrichment for thousands of students, teachers, collectors and the general public in outlying areas throughout Washington state." The WSU Museum of Art is funded in part by WSU and the Friends of the Museum of Art. A portion of the museum's general operating funds for the fiscal year has been provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that offers operating support to the nation's museums. shrw102-99
Office of News & Information Services Washington State University | Pullman, WA 99164-1040 Phone: 509/335-3581 | FAX: 509/335-0932 | E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Discussing: July 2006 Birthdays, Take 3
July 2006 Birthdays, Take 3
Message: 47833
22 Jul 06 9:57 PM
Original Post
General Audience
Welcome to all. The wheel of time turns and half the year is vanished like dust in the wind. If you have a July birthday, please post your request. Birthday folk, please visit the workshop and put your story in it.
If you have questions, please ask.
Gandalfs apprentice
2nd, TariElfLady: I would love to receive anything about Legolas.
4th, Teleri: For a drabble, I love anything, but I would greatly enjoy a piece dealing with Arwen and the effects of mortality.
9th, Rous: I did not remember to ask for stories for my birthday. If anyone cares to write one, I like elves. However, I will read anything. (Yeah, I am that desperate.) Any rating.
12th, Marta: I want stories on quests and journeys. Give me your favourite character(s) getting ready to leave for a journey. Or wanting to take one. Or about to say good-bye to someone else who's about to leave. Or welcoming someone for the first time, after a long absence. Anything like that. I like my drabbles canon-based but a bit obscure, and if you can manage Harad and/or Doriath, I will be doubly pleased.
18th, Mirwen Amruniel: So... request time: Predictably, knowing me as you guys do, I would like anything pervy and elfy (read: Legolas. Legolas at a workout? Legolas at workout in leather?? Legolas in leather, working out and bare-chested?! GAH... down, Cheryl down.). I'll drool at A/L slash too. lol.
25th, Vilwarin: I wish for Aragorn. It can either be with Halbarad (I find slash quite acceptable this year), any other ranger or with Arwen. I feel quite a bit naughty this year, so the rating may go up to adult, both with slash or het. But it need not be, I find everything acceptable.
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Take 3
For Marta
Late, yes - but late presents are fun, too! Hope your day was great, Marta!
Time to Go
"She kicked me," Théodred said, mildly incredulous, "then crawled under the bed and tried to bite my hand when I was foolish enough to reach for her."
Théoden rubbed his forehead. "It is not as if we can leave without her," he said wearily. "Keep trying – she is just frightened and upset."
Éomer slipped away unnoticed by uncle and cousin and made his way into the hall. He lay on his stomach and peered into the darkness under his parents' bed. "Éowyn," he whispered, "they're waiting for you. We have to go."
"Why?" she demanded, and she sounded like she'd been crying. "I don't want to go! I want to stay here."
"But we can't," Éomer told her, sighing. "We have to go live in Edoras now. Uncle is Mother's brother, and we have to go stay with him til we're old enough to take care of ourselves."
Éowyn was sobbing now. "I want Mother and Father to take care of me."
Éomer fought off the urge to burst into tears himself. "They're gone, min sweostor," he replied softly. "Uncle will take care of us now – and I will take care of you."
She slid across the floor until she could look Éomer in the face. "Will I take care of you?"
He reached under the bed, and took her hand. "You will."
When a resigned Théodred re-entered the room, he found Éomer sitting cross-legged on the rug with a dusty, tear-streaked Éowyn in his lap. The boy looked up, and Théodred's chest tightened at the grief on his young cousin's face. "We're ready to go now."
Re: For Marta
Oh, no, that was so sad, and so beautiful at the same time. They first lost their parents, and now their home as well!
"She kicked me," Théodred said, mildly incredulous, "then crawled under the bed and tried to bite my hand when I was foolish enough to reach for her."
Ah, that sounded so Éowyn-like, always the fighter.
Éomer sitting cross-legged on the rug with a dusty, tear-streaked Éowyn in his lap.
When I read this, I wanted to take both of them into my arms.
Happy birthday, Vilwarin!
No slash or het, but here's a triple drabble featuring Aragorn and Halbarad for you, Vil.
Trade in Kind
"There's no journey without a hitch," the older Rangers say. "There's always something—just hope it doesn't kill you or anyone else."
Aragorn and Halbarad have faced bandits, orcs, payment reneged, floods, and one time even fire when a summer thunderstorm set the plains between Mirkwood and the High Pass alight. That had nearly been the end of them; it had certainly been the end of the goods they had been guarding.
This time, it's a broken cart—Southern measure doesn't fit the ruts in the Road near Bree, and the axel had given way, taking much of the undercarriage with it. Halbarad had run ahead to town to bring help, while Aragorn had stood guard with the cursing merchant.
Eventually, help had come: a cart to match the ruts and carry the goods, and draft horses to drag the wagon back to town, whence it was sent to the smith and carpenter. Aragorn and Halbarad, off duty now, go with it nonetheless to watch as smith and carpenter take off dented wheels, break out the old axel and its damaged fittings, make a new one, replace the chassis, fit the cart with iron-capped wheels broader in the rim than the ruts.
"Are you any good at carpentry?" Halbarad asks.
"I can make a bow. Or a spear," Aragorn replies.
Halbarad grunts. "Too bad," he says. "Sometimes, I wish…"
He doesn't finish, but he doesn't need to. Young as they are, they've been on the Road long enough now to know their proper craft—to know that it's no 'craft' at all, as the smith or the carpenter or weaver or even merchant measures the meaning of that word.
Thus as the smith and carpenter shake hands, Aragorn murmurs wistfully, "Me, too." He ducks his head and sighs. "Me, too!"
Re: Happy birthday, Vilwarin!
Thank you, Dwim. I really liked that one, this is so realistic and so businesslike.
payment reneged ? Uh, just show them the sharp end of your sword and they pay whatever you want. Hehe
This time, it's a broken cart Oh, what a bother, that one, standing in the middle of the road with your goods all over the place. The merchant running back and forth and you having to keep a cool head, not so easy.
Southern measure doesn't fit the ruts in the Road near Bree Southern, low quality. That makes me compare a city car to an off roader.
An honest, respected craft, we all wish that.
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Take 3
Yes, it was so, and it will be! I can create a July Challenge, of course. But unfortunately only three of the July babies (you, Marta, Rous) have set up their workshop stories, so all the other birthday gifts cannot be entered in the challenge.
One of my goals as Birthday Drabble Assistant is to get those workshop stories going! Please help, everyone!
Gandalfs apprentice
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Tari ElfLady
2nd, TariElfLady: I would love to receive anything about Legolas.
Happy Birthday, Tari! (at least I'm still in the right month with this one)
Taking Stock
From the high parapet, Legolas inspected the distant forests of Ithilien half hidden in the afternoon haze over Anduin. He would go home - no, north was home no longer – to recruit elves to settle in Ithilien. There was much to plan.
The thought stopped him. Content to observe his father manage a kingdom, and with no expectation such tasks would fall to him, he had planned only war.
Ithilien was fair. It would be fairer still, and, though he had not expected it, he found the thought of lordship there intriguing enough to mute the cry of the gulls.
Hope it wasa very happy day!
Re: For Marta
Re: Happy birthday, Vilwarin!
You're welcome!
payment reneged ? Uh, just show them the sharp end of your sword and they pay whatever you want. Hehe
Arrr, we've gone into tha piratical, now, have we, maties? ;)
outhern, low quality. That makes me compare a city car to an off roader.
*snork!* That wasn't my intention, but I can see how that would seem. I was thinking of this random 'factoid' that the standard measure for the width of the wheels on a cart in the ancient world was some really odd, irregular standard, because it was designed to match the Roman chariots, which always had just enough room for the backends of two horses. Any narrower, and the danger was that on a well-rutted road, the cart would actually break because it would slide in and out of the ruts instead of staying neatly within them.
Happy early birthday!
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Tari ElfLady
I like that observation, Gwynnyd - this would be a huge and unforeseen step for Legolas. That the promise of trying his own hand at governance in a strange new (and fair) land is what helps keep the birdcalls at bay is an interesting idea.
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Tari ElfLady
I like that observation, Gwynnyd - this would be a huge and unforeseen step for Legolas. That the promise of trying his own hand at governance in a strange new (and fair) land is what helps keep the birdcalls at bay is an interesting idea.
Why, thank you, Dwim! What exactly does it mean to be a king's son, when the king expects to live forever? And yet, he is his father's son and the 'kingly traits' are in his blood. Given the chance, I can see why he wanted to try his hand at running things.
Re: For Marta
Re: For Marta
I really appreciate all of the lovely drabbles you have written. I have read them as they came in to my inbox (bless HASA's email alerts!) but I want to re-read them before I comment.
If you haven't already please make sure you put them into my story. I will re-read all of the ones their and hopefully comment over the next few days. Again, thanks for the fun reads.
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Take 3
I have created a July Birthday Challenge for the wonderful collections that have been created for the July babies. Please enter your workshop story in the Challenge, and let's go public!
Gandalfs apprentice
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Take 3
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Take 3
Birthday Drabble Instructions
Hi, Teleri
You are supposed to set up a story in the HASA Birthday Cards workshop.
The purpose of setting the story up in the workshop is it then allows the drabblers to enter their stories as chapters in YOUR story. You then enter your story in the Challenge.
If this seems impossible to understand, try Instructions for Birthday Drabbling: complete and easy to follow instructions..
Let me know if you need more help.
Gandalfs apprentice, Birthday Challenge Maven
Re: For Marta
> "She kicked me," Théodred said, mildly incredulous, "then crawled under the bed and tried to bite my hand when I was foolish enough to reach for her."
Lol! This is so typical!
I find it very amusing and at the same time very moving that it is his promise that she can take care of him in return that makes her comply.
And Éomer is a wonderful big brother!
Drabble for Vilwarin
I'm sitting on this drabble for over two weeks now, and I'm glad I can finally present it to you - happy Birthday!
And Thought How Blessed He Was
It had been so long a wait.
Aragorn, finally feeling the reality of her smooth skin under his fingers, her lips melting under his own, hearing her breathing quicken and deepen, could not prevent the single tear from falling.
It was too much, too overwhelming all of a sudden.
Arwen smiled up at him, loving, flushed and bright-eyed.
She reached out, following the shiny track with a finger. She caressed his eyes, his lips, the tip of his tongue: tingling, tantalising, arousing...
Trailed her fingers lower down his body...
And whispered, "Let go. Let go now, Aragorn. You are home."
- The title and Arwen's words are (adapted) quotes from "Caprice and Rondo", by Dorothy Dunnett.
Re: Drabble for Vilwarin
Re: Drabble for Vilwarin
Re: Drabble for Vilwarin
Hi, Laureleaf!
I love your drabble--very tasty, especially for a first!
But you don't need to set up a special story for it. You can enter it as a chapter in Vilwarin's own birthday story in the workshop. There you can click on "add chapter" and you will be able to enter your gift with all the others she has received.
The purpose of having birthday stories in the workshop is to allow all the various writers to do this. Please give it a try--if you have any problems, contact me or Gwynnyd, the workshop manager.
Thanks for joining the birthday drabblers!
Gandalfs apprentice
Re: Drabble for Vilwarin
Re: Drabble for Vilwarin
Thank you, Laureleaf. I loved it and I could imagine perfectly what he is doing. I think only feeling and not seeing makes it much more intense. he is so lucky, is she not?
Happy Begetting day. For some reason it always makes me laugh when I read it. An interesting little bit of canon.
Ok, i updated the workshop, so do I go back and delete it from my stories?
Yes, it is enough if you post it in my birthday story.
Re: For Marta
July Birthdays Will Be Over Soon
Hello, birthday folk and drabblers,
July has been a remarkable month for the creativity and number of requests and contributions.
The July birthday challenge will be closing soon. Please remember to set up your birthday story in the HASA Birthday Cards workshop, and enter that story in the July Birthday Challenge, so that we have all the July birthday stories in one place.
Please contact me if you need assistance.
Gandalfs apprentice
For Marta, belatedly
When the seamstress saw the Queen was distracted she said: "Your Majesty?"
Melian shook off the distraction, "Nothing… a disturbance … Yes, the darker fabric is better."
She did not have to rush the seamstress who wanted to ply her needle. Soon she was able to sit quietly and deal with the disturbance to the Girdle she kept
'Goodbye mother, I still love you.'
around Doriath. Protection for everything except
'Goodbye Luthien, daughter, love'
what she loved most. She knew that Luthien leaving with Beren would bring, and her heart began to break.
Years later when Thingol died under the axes of the Dwarves without her even talking mind to mind, the breaking was completed. She had obeyed the Valar, what they told her in dream. Let her loved ones be destroyed so their deeds would rebound to the glory of Iluvartar's creation. Now she could journey home and forget.
Re: Drabble for Vilwarin
You're very welcome!
You showed Aragorn's feelings so well. It really must be a very special moment after so many years of pining and suffering.
Thank you. I thought so,too ;).
Arwen's words fit so well.
Yes. I'm very grateful to my muse for letting me think about those quotes.
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Vilwarin
25th, Vilwarin: I wish for Aragorn. It can either be with Halbarad...
I've been toying with this idea for some time now, but it finally jelled.
I've always wondered why Aragorn took Halbarad with him when he used the palantir in Helm's Deep and not Gandalf, or the twins, or any of the Fellowship. Here's my answer. (Ah, in Gwynnyd!verse, teenage Halbarad spent his summers in Rivendell... someday I'll finish those stories.)
I hope your birthday was happy!
The summer they were fourteen, the Dark Lord died every day; the morning's elaborate, cunning strategies always ending in a furious sword fight. Sauron had only one hand, and they fought as a strong, valiant team. How hard could it be once they confronted him? Halbarad, supporting Aragorn as he wrested in truth with the Dark Lord high in Helm's Deep, had a moment of nostalgia for his lost naiveté.
Aragorn's hands gripped the table, pressure crescents of red and white showing through the dirt on his nails. The bright currents within the ball reflected the hilt of Andúril, then hid, then flared against the flint-hard brightness of Aragorn's eyes. His face was set into stern, proud lines, lips moving in an occasional soundless mutter, looking as if they would snarl had their owner less control.
Aragorn had the right to use the palantír, and the strength. His need was great, and the consequences of failure, dire.
"I have never been a fool, Hal," he'd said as they entered the room, enigmatic cloth-wrapped lump held close. They had both recognized the flare of fondness for the impractical schemes of their youth. "I trust you with this, as I'd trust no other."
When Halbarad understood what Aragorn wanted, he had gripped Aragorn's shoulder. "I promise to do it, but I will not have to. You will not fail."
Watching Aragorn, he still believed that, although the confrontation raged on. Halbarad felt the tension build to a nearly unendurable peak. Soon, Aragorn would either wrench the palantír to his own uses or Halbarad would have to fulfill his promise and prevent Aragorn from revealing any secrets. He took a firmer grip on the bit of rough sacking in his left hand and stole a fleeting glance at the knife in his right.
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Vilwarin
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Vilwarin
(Apparently my last reply got caught in the server crash. I hope it wasn't *because* of my reply. Let's try this again.)
This is very good, Gwynnyd! I like how the story slowly builds up from the innocuous memories of adolescence to the present dark reality. And the ending - absolutely brilliant.
Thank you!
He did know an awful lot that Sauron shouldn't learn and he took the 'friend and kinsman' with him, not the older brothers. I can't see him trying such an endeavor without backup and a plan B. The consequences of failure were too high.
Glad you liked it!
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Vilwarin
Another Marta drabble
Aragorn likes to jest that every journey ends in disappointment. The world does not repay imagination, forever violates its vision. For vision cannot imagine, say, the heat of Harad, nor the winter squalor of Bree, the muddy way up to Edoras. It loves to eclipse the existence of sunburn and blisters.
Yet visions splintered on such pains grow light with time and lift the heaviness from facts. There's something edifying in cold's bitterness or the awful emptiness of Rohan's plains—they are real, they have touched and changed him, made vision a little clearer: journey's end is but the beginning…
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, Vilwarin
I don't think I mentioned how much I liked this one, Gwynnyd! That last ditch option, to prevent a greater betrayal, is chilling, but one I suspect must have come out at some point between Aragorn and Halbarad, given the risks involved. Halbarad's trust that it will remain an unused option is exactly what I'd expect of him.
Well done!
Re: July 2006 Birthdays, for Teleri
4th, Teleri: For a drabble, I love anything, but I would greatly enjoy a piece dealing with Arwen and the effects of mortality.
More than drabble, but less than a novella! I hope your birthday was happy, that the year since then has been good for you, and the rest of the year will be wonderful.
Happy birthday. Go read "The Lap of Time", at 3542 words it's too long to paste in here.


text:
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text:
I grew up on comic books. My brother and I were allowed to purchase one comics digest every two weeks when we did the grocery shopping. It was a very big deal and we always went for the biggest bang for our buck - highest page count vs lowest price. As we got older and exchanged comics with friends we branched out into the X-Men, Spiderman, Avengers and all the DC titles: Batman, Superman and, of course, Wonder Woman.
While I can still certainly appreciate all the Amazon drama that comes with Wonder Woman, there are a lot of other super heroines that I have followed much more closely. (And yes - I still buy comic books each and every month.) I fell hard for Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl who continued to remain powerful through her vastly superior intellect even after she was shot by the Joker and left paralyzed from the waist down. I can't get enough of Storm (who was woefully underused in the X-Men movies) and Catwoman (who is a heroine as much as a villain and really the love of Batman's life) and Spiderwoman and Kitty Pryde and Jean Grey and Jessica Jones, who's much lamented private detective series Alias (the better Alias in my opinion) is sorely missed, and then there's my absolute favorite: Power Girl.
Plain and simple, Power Girl rocks.
As much as I enjoy the superheroes (and also "non cape" comic books and graphic novels), I've always been bothered however by how many of the heroes are male and Caucasian. One of the reasons I enjoy Justice Society of America (as opposed to Justice League) is that there are a ton of female characters and the group is also more multi-ethnic than about any other book. (They also are led by Power Girl!) So does it matter if girls only have Wonder Woman to read about as a major super heroine and that all the other women are relegated to "supporting" status? Are we missing something important or is this just all too testosterone fueled anyway? Do girls even want more super heroines?
I turned, as always, to our panel for some answers. This week we welcome Neesha Meminger, author of Shine, Coconut Moon, to the group. It turns out Neesha has blogged about this very same topic in the past and points us to her lj entry from last year on rewatching Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman a couple of decades later - the show doesn't exactly hold up.
WAGW regular Zetta Elliott also sent along a link to this post on the Black superwomen in comics - a lot of folks I'm not familiar with but happy to hear about, that's for sure! Now here's the question I sent out for this week:
Are girls missing out on something by not having a kick butt heroine to look up to? Is it all just testosterone for boys and girls don't need it? Should we find our heroes elsewhere? Am I wrong to pine for a world where girls can have a superhero birthday party with only female characters and everyone knows their names?
Kekla Magoon:" I am not a comic book reader, but I do love superheroes. Comics were never part of my childhood experience, and I don't know how much gender has to do with that. Maybe everything. Comics simply weren't introduced to me--books were. But the few I've tried to read more recently have shown me that the graphic style of storytelling just doesn't resonate with me, for whatever reason. I love the stories themselves, though. My brother used to watch the X-Men cartoon on Saturday mornings, and I would pretend to grumble, but watch out the corner of my eye because it was awesome. When I found out Storm was supposed to be black (yeah, sorry, but I didn't get this by looking at her) I was so excited because she was already my favorite.
Today, I'm still a sucker for superhero stuff, when it's in non-comic book form. I like X-Men and Superman best, but I learned their stories through TV and movies. I like the social commentary, and the subversiveness that is inherent in some of the storylines, and the secret identity business is off the hook. We definitely need more girl heroes, though! And I hate to say it, but I wonder if it's too late. Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Hulk...they're legends, magnified by time. I don't think anybody who comes new on the scene is going to be able to compete with their iconic status. Wonder Woman doesn't even stand out in my mind, in comparison. Maybe she needs a comeback! Or maybe our best bet is superhero teams, like X-Men who feature the likes of Jean Grey, Storm, Rogue and Mystique, holding their own with the menfolk.
As I said, my frame of reference is the movies, and I wonder if Hollywood slips on its gender goggles before making superhero flicks. I watched the X-Men series thinking that some un-cool gender stuff played in. Rogue is portrayed as your typical damsel in distress, and is further defined by the fact that she can't touch other people, just in time for puberty and her awakening sexual interest. Jean Grey is so powerful that she has to have her mind controlled by an older man who knows best. Storm seems with it, but is basically a background character. Mystique gets her very awsome shape-shifting power revoked by Magneto, who then casts her aside as useless. Even before that, he treated her like a pet. Some of that doesn't sit well with me, even though I easily get sucked into the action. Since everyone here keeps mentioning Buffy, I want to watch her series because I do think we need more butt-kicking women out there as role models to counteract all the "girly" stereotypes. Girliness definitely has its place, but we need to show young women (and men) the full spectrum."
Sara Ryan: "It's easy to remember the superheroes that meant a lot when I was a little kid. One of my earliest journal entries relates with alarm that "Bruce Wayne is capchurd and Robin is going to be diceed". Somewhere there's a photo of a seventies Halloween party featuring Batgirl (me) and two Batmen. And I am a member of the Superfriends generation: "Wondertwin powers: activate!"
But once I got past childhood TV memories, I was drawing a blank. Surely, there were stories with kickass female characters that were meaningful to me. Surely, I hadn't gone through adolescence and young adulthood devoid of larger-than-life fictional role models. I started muttering out loud, trying to return to my past self, as I have so often when responding to Colleen's great questions in this series.
Come on, picture that first group house you lived in when you moved out of the dorms, early freshman year. Hasper the Friendly House. Okay, I see it. One housemate is in the kitchen, doctoring Ramen. Another is bent over the coffee table, making chain mail. And there I am in the papasan chair, and what am I reading? "Oh my God. Sword and Sorceress."
Sword and Sorceress, in case you don't know, is a long-running anthology. It was created and originally edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley that began in the mid-eighties, specifically designed to address the lack of strong female characters in sword-and-sorcery fantasy. And for a while, it was my highest literary ambition to get a story into one of its volumes.
So why was it so hard for me to remember S&S, as I used to affectionately abbreviate it?
In short, because soon after that I learned to be ashamed of my affection. Series fantasy was irredeemably cheesy, higher-brow pals explained. "And have you noticed," snickered a friend who worked at Borders, "that all the Mercedes Lackey fans have weight problems?"
Fat acceptance was a foreign concept to me then. So was the idea of embracing any and every kind of story that spoke to me, regardless of whether or not it came from an Approved Genre. Mentally, I put S&S into a box and shoved it so far away from my self-concept that it nearly took a regression exercise to get it back. Now I'm thinking I should take another look.
I did recall, easily, one authentic comics superheroine, though she certainly won't be showing up in middle or high school libraries any time soon. I discovered Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist in my early twenties.
I remember showing an issue to my comics-loving boss (who has since gone on to write many excellent graphic novels, btw). He flipped through it with interest, handed it back with a smile, and said cheerfully, "That was not designed for me!" He was right, it wasn't. Hothead lives up to her name. If men invade her personal space, for instance when she's riding public transportation, she responds by chopping off their encroaching limbs. Hothead does have calmer moments -- relaxing with her cat, Chicken, or listening to the spiritual insights of her lamp, Lampy. (Lampy is actually a deity who also answers to "Donna Summer.") When the female characters in mainstream superhero comics get you down, Hothead is an excellent restorative." [See a Pop Matters review of Hothead Paisan - CM]
Neesha Meminger: "I absolutely think we need superheroes for girls. They act as role models of sorts. I have two daughters, ages eight and five. I've watched them both transform from knowing exactly what they like and want into not being sure if what they like and want is "acceptable." And by "acceptable," I mean "lovable." Then I've had to sit back and watch them pretzel themselves into blonde, white Barbies or Disney princesses (while there *are* -- two? -- brown Disney princesses, the "popular" ones are always Snow White, Belle, and Princess Aurora . . . and sometimes, Ariel).
This infuriates me on so many levels. Through these myths and archetypes, my girls learn that the way to love and acceptance is to be a woman who is (a) focused on physical beauty, (b) waiting for rescue and (c) passive and acquiescent.
Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author of the best-selling Women Who Run With the Wolves, retold traditional tales from all over the world, then picked them apart to look at the social/psychological lessons these parables and tales impart to little girls. Psychological studies have proven that myths and archetypes are powerful behaviour modification and learning tools. That's why storytelling is so powerful, particularly in the form of myths and tales that are passed down from one generation to another. It engages one on many different levels simultaneously. The fact that Disney princesses are introduced to young girls so early in the developmental process is distressing because those stories have deep, lingering impact to girls as they become women and learn how to navigate the world.
If, instead of the princesses waiting for their princes, we were to populate the worlds of young girls with stories of female protagonists who rescue themselves, speak powerfully and with authority, work collaboratively and interactively to nurture Nature and one another, pay as much attention to strengthening their bodies and souls as to their appearances, become leaders as well as followers . . . what kind of a world could we be living in?"
Zetta Elliott: "I didn't read many comic books as a kid—I'd sometimes look at my big brother's Spiderman comics, but mostly I remember Archie trying to choose between Betty and Veronica; I think there was a black girl in Josie and the Pussycats, but in terms of powerful women, I didn't see that in the comics I read. I did, however, grow up watching The Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman on TV, and the Star Wars films did have one feisty female character (all of them were white, of course). Today I'm a fan of some speculative fiction (namely Octavia Butler's novels) and I'm still interested in films that explore power, privilege, and deviance. Butler's novels are compelling because it's always the most vulnerable woman who's destined to lead others to create a new kind of community; her black female protagonists are marked as deviant in some way, yet what others see as pathology, Butler transforms into power (or its potential).
Black feminists of the '70s saw the future in a similar way: those at the very bottom of society have the most to gain by restructuring social relations. Though I never read the comics, I do love the X-Men films (Wolverine—he's Canadian!) in part because they're based on that same idea: the persecuted and marginalized are deeply invested in, and best suited to effect, social change. Jean Grey's return as Phoenix in the third film absolutely captured my imagination—what happens when men try to keep a woman from fully knowing her own power? TOTAL ANNIHILATION! The downside of comic books is the hypersexualization of women's bodies; the upside is an alternative way of thinking about biological difference. Interestingly, most of the female heroes I admire don't really have a choice when it comes to their "special gift," and they aren't always fully in control of their own bodies. Perhaps that's part of the appeal—and what makes them recognizably human.
Loree Griffin Burns: "I was surprised at this question, and at my own answer. It brought me immediately back to my childhood, to those days when outdoor imaginative play was everything. I have incredibly vivid memories of playing superheroes with the neighborhood kids, pretty much all the time, but especially on weekends after we'd all had our fill of the Hanna-Barbara cartoons. As the oldest girl on the block, I was always Wonder Woman. (My kid sister would team up with one of the boys and be the girl Wonder Twin, but I couldn't even remember that purple kid's name. Wikipedia to the rescue: Jayna.) Anyway, those were heady days of crazy good-versus-evil fun, and the memories are shockingly bright.
I hadn't thought much about any of this until you asked this question, Colleen, but guess what? Being Wonder Woman was incredibly powerful for me. I remember being invincible (not feeling invincible, mind you, but BEING invincible). And I remember thinking it was spectacular, just absolutely delicious, that the coolest Super Friend—by far—was a woman. I was grateful I was a girl, in fact, because to be a boy would mean having to choose between a mere man of steel and the king of fishes … and that would be a real drag. Blech. Never once, not then or later, did it occur to me that we women had been gypped in the super heroes department. I guess Wonder Woman—with her bullet-deflecting bracelets and invisible jet and kickin' boots—was enough for me.
Which has, of course, got me thinking…
I've seen so many female firsts in my lifetime: the first American woman in space (Sally Ride), the first female Supreme Court justice (Sandra Day O'Connor), the first female vice-presidential candidate (Geraldine Feraro), the first female US Secretary of State (Madeleine Albright) … and many more. Of course we need more than the first, of course we need more female super heroes. These women change how girls think about themselves. They—from Wonder Woman to Madeleine Albright—changed how I thought about this world and my place in it. Everyone needs to see themselves in the real world ... being successful, working with leaders of the free world, beating the bad guys, flying an invisible jet into the sunset. Good grief, where would we be without these role models? Where would I be without Wonder Woman?"
Lorie Ann Grover: "I was not a comic book reader growing up. At the most, my mom would buy one for us before a summer road trip, and it was usually Archie, I guess. Which I didn't actually enjoy. As an adult, I don't even read newspaper comics.
So, I definitely didn't grow up with female superheroes, aside from Wonder Woman on TV. I despised her costume but thought it was cool that she was so tall. In some measure she gave me reassurance for my body type. I remember glimpses of Cat Woman, but something told me never to trust her. I still don't.
How interesting that there is a vacuum of female superheroes in teen lit. Every time I think I've thought of one, I realize that they don't truly have super powers. They are just super smart or strong. I'm thinking of Kiki Strike and Cammie of the Gallagher Girls series. It's almost as if this generation's superheroes wear urban fantasy masks: Aislinn from Wicked Lovely, Kaye in Ironside.
As a YA author and reader, I do get the same kind of reading enjoyment through fantasy characters that I get from male superheroes on screen. I will say it's a blast to have a true female superhero like Claire in Heroes!
I think we girls will always demand character depth and growth in our superheroes, Powers just aren't enough. But it can be done. So maybe Colleen is on the cusp of a trend that might start right here... "
Beth Kephart: "Do we need superheroines? Do we already have them? Do I actually have an answer for this? I am a failure at fantasies, preferring to dig around in the ether and nether of real life, which is fantastical in its own way and which produces (and we do not need to look too far) girls with strength and verve, girls with power. We had the Pink Power Ranger in our house not long ago, protecting the world from Rita Repulsa; I wasn't nearly as invested in the outcome as perhaps I should have been. I thought Lynda Carter and her Wonder Woman bangles were fine enough when I was a kid; I am not sure I grew up a better person because she fought the Axis on our behalf.
I recognize all of this as a failure in myself. I suspect I'd be more plot heavy and plot talented in my own work if only I'd paid more attention to all those nefarious goings on (not only that, but I'd be able to follow along with all my husband's favorite movies without having to squint at the TV wearing my making-mental-notes face). I also suspect that I would throw better parties, and maybe I'd have a better sense of humor, and maybe even a
better figure. I know that I'd have better jewelry.
But alas. I am just who I am. Looking for everyday heroines in everyday life, and loving them most when they arrive unannounced in T-shirts and jeans.
Melissa Wyatt: "I'm afraid I have never been a big superhero fan. I like my drama mortal-sized, so I never read superhero comic books and therefore, never really noticed or reacted to the lack of female superheroes.
But I will say one thing: If there are going to be more female superheroes, I'd like to see their....superheroness have specifically female qualities to it. The main problem I've always had with the kick-butt girl archetype is that she so often achieves kick-butt status by acting like a guy. Maybe it's the fact that I have little upper body strength myself, but I've never bought into the riot grrl characters who have a purely physical approach to problem solving. Especially since they also have to look hot in a skin tight outfit while doing it. Would a female superhero burly enough to convince me that she could take down a man really find a market? A further annoyance is the fact that these girls are then often emotionally clueless.
It bothers me when the qualities we are asked to admire in a kick-butt girl are masculine qualities and feminine qualities are seen as a hindrance.
I don't know. I dislike confrontation and physical activity in general, so I'm probably the wrong person to ask about this!"
[Post pics: Wonder Woman, Rogue (X-Men), Hothead Paisan, Storm (X-Men), Jean Grey (X-Men), Power Girl (JSA), Claire from Heroes, Birds of Prey cover - that's original Batgirl now Oracle with the laptop in the center - and Buffy, Season 8 - because she's superheroine enough for all of us.]


text:
Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes into Parked SUV
EL PASO — Police suspect a woman was driving drunk when she crashed her vehicle into a parked car in East El Paso.
The wreck happened shortly after midnight Monday on Stephanie Dr.
Police said the woman had a small poodle in her lap when she lost control of her vehicle and slammed into the back of a Lincoln Navigator that was parked along the street.
The owner of the parked SUV said he was getting ready for bed when he heard the loud crash and ran outside. He said he tried to ask the woman if she was hurt and told her not to move, but said she seemed disoriented and got out of the vehicle anyway.
The man said the woman was also uncooperative with paramedics on the scene. She was eventually taken to the hospital, and police said she would later be arrested for DWI.


text:
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