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To every thing, there is a season, be it football, baseball, Easter eggs, blushing brides, or professional bowling. This season in particular, heralded by the vernal equinox, had wafted in with honeysuckle-scented breezes, daffodils in starchy yellow tutus, belligerent thunderstorms, and the annual tsunami of hormones in the corridors of the high school -- evidence of which could be found strewn along the banks of Boone Creek in the aftermath of moonlit nights. There may also have been a time to every purpose under the heaven, but it was hard to discern.
Especially for professional bowling.
I was in the front room (one of two, the other designated as the back room) of the red-bricked police department, situated catty-corner to the antiques store and with a clear view of the one stoplight in town, studying seed catalogues as if I might do something of a more botanical bent than planting my fanny in my cane-bottomed chair. Crime had skidded to a halt in Maggody, Arkansas, as far as I knew. The gingham curtains flapped sluggishly as I waged an internal debate: petunias versus marigolds, cucumbers versus zucchini. The possibilities were endless and the photographs lush. The tomatoes were worthy of excessive salivation when envisioned with four strips of crispy bacon and a generous slathering of mayonnaise between two slices of white bread. Only Yankees defile such perfection with lettuce.
My official title was Chief of Police Arly Hanks; defender of law, order, justice, the American way, and whatever else I'd been hired to do, having been the sole applicant with qualifications, or without, for that matter. My job mostly consisted of nailing speeders at the edge of town -- I run a quality speed trap -- and tracking down miscreants who failed to pay at the self-service pumps. Leaping over tall buildings in a single bound was not a challenge, since Maggody lacked them. Bank robberies were not a threat, the branch having burned to the ground a while back. Ditto the post office, as well as the Esso station out by the one-lane bridge. The block or so of what had been thriving businesses thirty years ago was now a stretch of hollow shells, the windows taped with bleached newspapers and flyers promoting events that had long since come and gone. Dunkin' Donuts and Burger King were not vying for the best location, and about all we could hope for was Toys Were Us.
There had been some bizarre moments, but these days we were reduced to Saturday night temper tantrums at the pool hall, a rare flareup on the bench outside the barbershop, and my dedicated (depending on the weather, anyway) attempts to find Raz Buchanon's moonshine operation up on Cotter's Ridge. For the most part, Maggody, Arkansas (population 755), was percolating just fine. Having come home to recuperate after a nasty divorce from a New York City advertising hotshot with silk boxers and a polyester mindset, I wanted nothing more than the opportunity to pull myself back together. And, well, a bacon and tomato sandwich, washed down with a cold beer and topped off with a slice of lemon meringue pie.
I was pondering where I might actually plant tomatoes when, to my deep dismay, the door burst open and Dahlia (nee O'Neil) Buchanon thundered into the PD. Three hundred plus pounds does thunder.
"Fire!" she shrieked.
"I don't smell smoke."
"At Ruby Bee's!"
Ruby Bee's Bar & Grill, for the unenlightened, is the establishment owned by my very own mother, whose nickname is short for Rubella Belinda, the family having an unfortunate tradition of choosing names for their melodic impact rather than pathology. The peculiar pink building is a hundred yards down the road from the PD, and the source for the majority of my carbohydrates, as well as all the local gossip, from Elsie's bunions to Mayor Jim Bob Buchanon's latest, but surely not last, excursion into infidelity.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean there's a fire, darn it! I was taking the babies for a walk, then I saw the smoke and -- "
I stumbled to my feet. "A fire?"
"I swear," Dahlia said, wiping her cheeks with a tissue she'd pulled from a pocket hidden among the folds of her dress, "sometimes I wonder if you was huntin' wiffle birds when God passed out the brains. Smoke's pouring out of the bar. Bocaraton liked to run me over driving out of the parking lot, and Estelle is there, screeching to high heavens. It seems to me you might want to look into this, it being your mother and all."
Dahlia was far from being the tightest-wrapped Twinkie in the carton, but she had a point. I went around her and out to the edge of the road, sidestepping the double stroller constraining a pair of pensive, thumb-sucking passengers. Smoke was indeed pouring out of the bar, and an impromptu demolition derby was shaping up. Estelle Oppers, my mother's best friend and coconspirator in high crimes and misdemeanors, was flapping her arms like a woodpecker that had chanced upon a nest of plump termites.
"Did someone call the fire department in Hasty?" I asked Dahlia.
"How am I supposed to know that? I was a fire-drill monitor in sixth grade until Miz Myner caught me smoking in the girls' restroom. I was always real careful to put my butts in the toilet, but she still took away my badge and gave it to pimply ol' Himroyd Buchanon. He cackles about it to this day." She put her fists on what I supposed were her hips and stuck her face in mine; it was likely that one of us was on a sugar-high, and not from gazing at photographs of sweet potatoes. "Why doncha ask him if he called 'em, assuming you can lure him out of the root cellar behind his house? What's it been now -- four years?"
I left her grumbling and hightailed it to the parking lot. There were no flames visible, but the smoke was hard to ignore, as well as the chaotic retreat of trucks, cars, and errant husbands who had no business guzzling beer at noon with their busty sweeties from the Pot O' Gold trailer park at the south end of town.
Estelle grabbed my arm. "You got to do something!"
"Is Ruby Bee in there?"
"She's in the kitchen with the fire extinguisher. I did my best to drag her out, but -- "
I yanked myself free and barged inside. The fire seemed to be contained, but I could hear Ruby Bee howling, although in outrage rather than in pain. I snatched a thick wad of napkins from a dispenser, then took a deep breath, covered my mouth and nose, and opened the kitchen door. Smoke roiled at me, stinging my eyes and seeping through the napkins to scald my throat.
Ruby Bee was wielding the fire extinguisher with the confidence of a seasoned urban firefighter, swinging back and forth as she blasted the flames licking on the stove. If she were up against a dragon, I knew where I'd put my money.
"Git out of here!" she snarled without turning around. "I already said it's under control." She added a few comments that do not bear repeating, although I will admit I was impressed with her command of four-letter words. My fiftyish mother, with her rosy face, ruffled apron tied around a thick waist, pink eye shadow, and suspiciously blonde hair, could have matched any sailor in a bar in San Diego, hands down.
Forget I said that.
The fire was pretty much gasping its last. I opened the back door and the windows, then sat on a stool and waited until she set down the fire extinguisher. She and everything else, including me, were coated with a slimy film of yellowish powder.
"Grease fire, huh?" I said.
"Guess I don't have to call in a rocket scientist after all," she said as she used her apron to blot her eyes. "What happened was I was frying up some chicken when the phone rang. Duluth was carryin' on like circus elephants was putting up tents in his backyard, then Mrs. Jim Bob came in and started yacking at me about chaperoning a field trip. Before I could get free from her, Roy knocked over the pitcher of beer on his table, Bocaraton commenced to swinging at him, and I guess I flat-out forgot about the skillet of chicken right up until the smoke started pouring out of the kitchen like Satan had been loosed from hell."
I tried not to wrinkle my nose as I took in the stench. The ceiling was black, and the burners were crusted with charcoal and solidifying spew. The infamous skillet had been reduced to an artifact that would enthrall archeologists in a century or two, presuming it was buried in the nearest landfill. What remained of the chicken was decidedly extra-crispy. "Maybe he was."
"Don't go thinking this stove ain't cleaned on a regular basis," growled Ruby Bee. "Come rain or shine, every Tuesday morning I scour and scrub until my knuckles are raw. None of this would have happened if it hadn't been for Duluth, and Mrs. Jim Bob, and -- "
"It doesn't matter."
"It does, too," she wailed, sinking down on the floor and covering her face. "The ventilators are clogged. I'm gonna have to find someone to scrape it all down. Insurance will most likely replace the stove, but the health department'll insist on inspecting everything and those folks are a sight slower than molasses in December. I might ought to just up and retire to Florida."
"And do what?" I asked as I sat down beside her. "Live off the proceeds of wet T-shirt contests?"
"I reckon I could find myself a rich old man with a hankering for cornbread and turnip greens."
I hugged her until she released a breath. "I hear the pickin's are slim. Besides, where would I have breakfast every morning and supper every evening? You wouldn't want me to subsist on chili dogs and onion rings from the Dairee Dee-Lishus, would you? Before too long, I'd be borrowing dresses from Dahlia to hide my thighs."
"What does it matter? You're not going to stay here forever, Arly. You're just biding your time before you leave again. It was real hard the first time, but I got through it 'cause I had no choice. Now I can see there's nothing for you here, nothing at all. All the young folk want to leave." She was right: the only ones that stay get married right out of high school, have babies, and scratch out a living like their folks, working at the poultry plant in Starley City and dreaming of nothing more than satellite dishes and a weekend at Branson once a year. Ruby Bee went on. "I almost understand why Diesel Buchanon went to live in a cave up on Cotter's Ridge. I'm not saying I share his affinity for squirrels and rabbits -- they're gamey, no matter how you stew 'em -- but this was all I had left, and -- "
I swallowed a mouthful of guilt. "I'll be here for the time being, okay? You may have to close for a week or two, but there's no way Stump County can function without the daily blue plate specials at Ruby Bee's Bar & Grill. There'd be no happy hour for all the hard-working souls who deserve a beer and a basket of pretzels on Friday afternoon. No line-dancing on Saturday night, no telling what out back in the Flamingo Motel afterward. You don't want those randy couples driving all the way to Farberville."
"But you're gonna leave," she said flatly.
I licked my thumb and wiped a smudge of soot off her chin. "Yeah, eventually, but not before I'm ready to go back into battle." I looked up at the ceiling, which was dripping with foam stalactites. Another few gazillion years, and Ruby Bee's kitchen could compete with Carlsbad Cavern (ten intergalactic credits for general admission; discounts for senior citizens and children under twelve). The lemon-tinted stalagmites, on the other hand, were receding with odd little fizzles and wheezes.
Do not set off a fire extinguisher in the privacy of your own home to ascertain the accuracy of all this. You'll be sorry.
I was about to add something, although I wasn't quite sure what it might be, when Ruby Bee stood up.
"I can hear Estelle caterwauling out front like a possum in heat," she said gruffly. "Go tell her to stop it before the volunteer fire department shows up and starts squirting hoses. Once those boys have tracked mud on the dance floor and soaked all the staples in the pantry, they'll expect free beer. I can't face them and their smartass wisecracks just now."
"Why don't you call it a day? I'll run everybody off and lock the door."
To my surprise, she nodded. "I reckon so. Tell Estelle I'll call her in the morning. The rest of them can swill beer at the Dew Drop Inn or that bar in Hasty. I'm too tired to deal with the likes of Duluth and Mrs. Jim Bob."
"Go clean up, then make yourself a cup of tea and spend the rest of the day watching soaps and talk shows on television. I'll call the insurance office."
"I feel so gosh darn stupid."
"You shouldn't," I said as I helped her to her feet.
"Sure, and Mrs. Jim Bob is gonna admit that she played fast and loose with the ballots for the last election at the Missionary Society. I heard tell Joyce Lambertino had quite a following, due in part to her tasty green tomato relish. She must have given me three quarts, and I ain't even a member." She forced a smile. "Guess I forgot to remind her of that."
"You need a bath and an aspirin." I regarded the damage, sighed, and added, "Don't worry. I'll track down a plumber and an electrician."
"And just what am I supposed to do in the meantime, missy? Do you think running a bar and grill is a pastime for when I get tired of trading stocks on the Internet and burying my profits in mayonnaise jars out in the pasture?"
I gave her a nudge. "Go on, Ruby Bee. I'll come by later."
She took a last look at the damage and went out the back door. I returned to the barroom, switched off all the pink and red neon beer signs, put the money from the cash register in the drawer beneath it, and locked the door on my way out.
"I can't imagine where the blasted fire department is," Estelle said, fuming as much as the fire extinguisher had. "Here Ruby Bee's being burnt to a cinder, and those ol' boys are sitting in a café somewheres, eating pie and flirting with the waitresses." Her voice rose several octaves. "There ought to be a law!"
I caught her shoulder and restrained her. "The fire is out and Ruby Bee's gone to her unit to lie down. She's not in the mood for company just now, but you can drop by in an hour. A bottle of sherry might be welcome." I handed her the one I'd filched from behind the bar.
"You sure? What if -- "
"Real sure. I was in there, and the fire's out. It's hard to assess the extent of the damage to the kitchen, but Ruby Bee's unharmed. It's over."
"I tried to make her let me help her, but she wouldn't let me stay. You know I would have done whatever it took. I was filling pitchers with water when she shrieked at me to call the fire department and get everybody out of the barroom. That ain't to say anyone lingered to help."
"It's okay," I repeated.
"So how bad is it?"
"She'll be out of business for at least two weeks."
Estelle gnawed on her lip for a moment. "This is so awful, Arly. She's been real short of cash since she paid taxes, and everybody knows those insurance folks can be tighter'n bark on a tree. When my pipes burst a while back, you'd have thought it was my fault from the way they sniffed around and asked downright insultin' questions." She paused to make sure her towering beehive of red hair was firmly pinned; I saw no reason to point out that one of her false eyelashes was clinging to her chin like a suicidal spider. "I had to explain on more occasions than I care to remember that I wasn't in control of the temperature that particular night. When my power went out and -- "
"We'll deal with it," I said. "Please wait until the volunteer fire department comes, and then send them away. My skin is crawling from the extinguisher residue. I'd really like to take a shower and change clothes."
I offered a few more words of reassurance, elicited her promise to wait in the parking lot, and headed for my so-called efficiency apartment above Roy Stiver's antiques store. Housing's limited in Maggody, and my only other option had been one of the units in the Flamingo Motel. Ruby Bee manages to look the other way, but everybody knows that the majority of customers would rent rooms by the hour if they could. Parchment-thin walls and squeaky beds might have left me counting things other than sheep.
I'd almost made it across the road when a muck-splattered pickup truck cut me off. It was, I regret to say, operated by our local moonshiner and purveyor of fetid stenches, Raz Buchanon. His beard was encrusted with the usual accumulation of crumbs and speckles of chewing tobacco, and his teeth were awaiting their semiannual encounter with a toothbrush. If that.
"Howdy, Arly," he said. "Ruby Bee okay?"
"She's fine, and thanks for asking, Raz. I'm on my way to clean up, so if you -- "
"I could see the smoke all the way from my back porch. I dint know what to make of it at first. Marjorie got to frettin' sumpthin' fierce, so I thought I'd better come see fer myself. Idalupino dun told me what happened."
"An accident," I said with a cursory grimace. "Now I'd like to -- "
"Got sumpthin' to ask you, Arly."
"Later, Raz."
He loosed a stream of tobacco juice that splattered on the pavement only a few inches from my foot, knowing damn well that I'd freeze. Seemingly oblivious to my scowl, he said, "A while back Marjorie and me was watchin' this show on the Discovery Channel about how racehorses have what they call companion animals to calm their jitters. They said how these horses are thoroughbreds, but so's Marjorie, ye know. Not ever' sow has a pedigree."
"And a very fine sow she is," I said evenly. "Enter her in the Kentucky Derby next month. Ruby Bee will undoubtedly offer a special on mint juleps, and Mayor Jim Bob can make book in the corner booth. Now, if you so much as look as though you're thinking about spitting on me, I will find a fire extinguisher and shove the nozzle where the sun don't shine. Do you understand?"
"You got no call to say that, Arly," he whined. "I was jest asking for your advice. You're the chief of police, ain't ye?"
"Thirty seconds, starting now."
"So like I said, Marjorie and me watched this show and she took to mopin' around the house, wishin' she had a companion animal like those fancy horses. I could tell right off what was ailing her, so I went into Farberville and bought her a gerbil. You know about gerbils, Arly? They look like -- "
"I know what gerbils look like."
"Well," he said, puffing up his cheek and then wincing when I glowered, "ye might say it dint work out."
"Why not?"
His squinty eyes shifted away from me. "There ain't no reason to go into that. Lately I've been thinkin' about gittin' Marjorie a mule. Perkins owns one that ain't no good for much of anything, but he sez if I so much as drive onto his place, he'll greet me on his porch with a shotgun." He glanced at me, then spat on the floorboard of his truck. "Perkins got hisself a real bad attitude."
Sweat was beginning to dribble down my face, and I suspected it resembled tar. Every inch of my body itched so intensely that I wanted to rip off my clothes and attack myself with a toilet bowl brush.
"Raz," I said, "this is a terrible dilemma. If you'll tell me where your still is, I will personally intervene with Perkins so that Marjorie can have her very own pet mule."
"I ain't got a still, and there's no way of knowin' if Marjorie'll fancy Perkins's mule. They might not be compatible."
"You most certainly do have a still, you devious sumbitch, and one of these days I'll put you not only out of business, but also behind bars at the state pen. When that happens, Marjorie will find herself with a butcher for a companion -- but not for long."
Raz gave me a deeply insulted look, slammed his truck into gear, and took off with a squeal of rubber that almost, but not quite, roused the nappers out in front of the barber shop. Dahlia waved a fist at him and mouthed what most likely were not endearments. Two boys on bicycles went down in the gravel in front of the defunct New Age hardware store, but they undoubtedly were already dotted with scabs and scratches. Growing up in Maggody will do that.
I hurried up the rickety wooden staircase on the side of the antiques store and into my apartment. The cockroaches skedaddled, the hot water heater obliged, and half an hour later, I was feeling much better. I left my hair down until it dried and I could pin it back up into a schoolmarmish bun intended to discourage unwanted attention from good ol' boys named Bubba, Bo, and Jellybelly.
I'd just started a fresh pot of coffee when Duluth Buchanon came into the PD. He was short, thick-necked, and cursed with the infamous Buchanon yellow eyes and simian brow. We'd had a couple of encounters, once when he'd driven his truck off the low-water bridge and I'd been obliged to transport him to the county drunk tank, and another occasion at the supermarket when he'd tried to shoplift a canned ham by stuffing it down his trousers, but he did better than most of his kinfolk. Some members of the clan, including the aforementioned Raz and Mayor Jim Bob, can stare down bobcats and rattlesnakes. Others, such as Dahlia's husband, lose the contest to bullfrogs, chipmunks, and broken glass glinting in the weeds. Buchanons run the gamut -- if and when they can find it.
"Coffee?" I asked Duluth.
"Reckon so," he said as he dropped into the chair across from my desk. "Ruby Bee all right?"
"She put out the fire in the kitchen, but not before a lot of damage was done. It's a real mess."
"You want I should go by and take a look at it? I can clean up, scrub the walls and ceiling, paint, replace cabinet doors, that kind of thing. I got no control over the cost of materials, but I'll give her a discount on labor."
I brought him a mug of coffee. "That'd be great, Duluth, and I know Ruby Bee will appreciate it. I was told you were upset earlier. Is there something you want to talk about?"
He took a thoughtful slurp. "Well, I suppose there is. My ex-wife, Norella, done run off."
"Norella's not from Maggody, is she?"
"Her family's mostly over in Splaid County. Her pa owned a feed store till he died of some sort of disease of a personal nature. Her and me was living at the Pot O' Gold in a real fine double-wide. Dishwasher, garbage-disposal, miniblinds, shag carpeting, everything I could give her. We had three boys in five years. I was still hoping for a little girl, but Norella went and had some operation after Jakob was born. I wasn't happy, but I sure as hell didn't make an effort to talk her out of it. When I came home from work, the trailer was always stinking of dirty diapers and vomit."
I tried to dredge up gossip that had been of minimal interest. "But you got divorced last year?"
"More like two years ago, come August. In the settlement, she was ordered to let me have the boys every other weekend and half the summer. Last fall she took to keeping them from me, saying they had doctor appointments or sleepovers with their cousins. I finally had to call my lawyer and have him file contempt charges. She countered with charges that I'd been hitting her and got a restraining order." He paused to swallow, and his eyes filled with tears from either the injustice of the accusation or the aftertaste of what I passed off as coffee. "I never laid a hand on her, Arly, not even when I found out she was sneaking around with her sister's husband. I just moved out and filed for divorce."
"This should be resolved in court."
"It would have been if she hadn't disappeared with my boys. Is there anything you can do?"
I opened a notebook and made a few notes. "Any idea what might have caused her to disappear like this?"
"Josie and me got married at Christmas. A month later, someone threw a rock through the living-room window. Two weeks back I found a pile of manure on the front porch. Right after that is when I learned she'd packed up everything and run off."
"Did you ask her family if anyone knows where they might be?"
He shook his head. "Her mother's called everybody she can think of, on account of she's as worried as I am about the boys. If you want to talk to her, she'll tell you same as I did, that I ain't ever done anything bad to Norella. I paid child support on the first of every month like the judge ordered, even when she wouldn't let me see the boys. I might not have been the best husband, but ain't nobody can accuse me of being a bad father."
"I understand, Duluth," I said, "but this is a family court matter. Norella has custody. She may have violated the visitation decree, but technically she hasn't kidnapped the boys."
"I suppose not," he said as he stood up and put the mug on the corner of my desk. "Thanks for hearing me out. Soon as I finish waiting around to talk to my lawyer in Farberville and trying to track down Norella, I'll go by Ruby Bee's and see what all I can do. I'm liable to be tied up for the time being, so you might ought to find somebody else."
I sprinted to the door. "Okay, Duluth, let me see what I can find out. Here's the key to the bar and grill. Assess the damage and get back to me."
"Norella's ma said she didn't think Norella had more than twenty or thirty dollars. None of the rest of the family's seen hide nor hair of her. I called the battered women's shelter in Farberville, but they were real tight-lipped. You might start there."
"I'll do my best," I vowed sincerely, "and talk to you later this afternoon."
His eyes may have been yellowish, but they were also shrewd as he nodded and left.
I was thumbing through the directory for the number of the shelter when yet another Buchanon intruded, confirming my view that there are entirely too many Buchanons in Stump County -- or anywhere else on the planet.
"Arly," said Mrs. Jim Bob (aka Barbara Ann Buchanon Buchanon) as she came inside and sat down, making certain to smooth down her skirt and cross her ankles. Her white blouse was so brittle with starch that it crinkled like aluminum foil when she moved.
I propped my feet on the corner of my desk. "That's my name. Need my rank and serial number?"
"No, I need a favor."
"You want I should shoot Jim Bob? I'll have to bill you for the bullet, you know, but it will be worth it. Not one soul in Maggody will skip the funeral. Afterward, we can all enjoy Ruby Bee's green bean casserole and Estelle's special snowflake salad and -- "
"Don't be impertinent, missy. We are going to need your assistance for the next...few days. I was under the impression that it was all under control, then Eula came down with a head cold and Elsie had the audacity to announce she was going to her niece's wedding in Texarkana. Millicent's rheumatism is flaring up and she can hardly be expected to come to our aid."
"As in?" I asked.
"The youth group at the Voice of the Almighty Lord Assembly Hall is scheduled to spend a week at Camp Pearly Gates down in the south part of the county, just past Dunkicker. I need a chaperon."
My feet hit the floor so abruptly that I came damn close to falling out of my chair. "What does that have to do with me?"
"The group is going the day after tomorrow. Six girls, four boys. It is imperative that they have constant supervision to prevent any sort of immoral interaction. I assume you know what that means. I'd hoped Lottie would accompany us, but she's barricaded herself in her house and refuses to answer the door. To think she calls herself a good Christian!"
"Cancel it."
"Camp Pearly Gates used to be a summer camp for children with asthma, cancer, and the like. Now church congregations all across the state have agreed to pitch in and restore it. Our youth group voted to go there instead of Branson for their spring break. I fell to my knees and thanked the Lord that all those years of Sunday school finally paid off and they're willing to make the sacrifice and utilize their youthful energy to help the less fortunate."
I really, truly hated it when she had the moral high ground. "But I don't see why you should need a second chaperon. Your presence ought to be more than adequate to keep them in line. Take hymnals and lots of marshmallows."
"Brother Verber will be accompanying us, naturally, but he and I will stay in the lodge, where we can supervise the work assignments, monitor supplies, see that kitchen chores are carried out, and lead nightly gatherings of a spiritual nature. Larry Joe Lambertino will be staying in the boys' cabin. You'll be with the girls. Between the four of us, we ought to be able to maintain discipline and prevent rampant promiscuity." She gave me the sharp look of a crow perched on a mound of putrefying flesh. "You of all people should know what wickedness these teenagers get into around here. This very morning I found whiskey bottles in the ditch in front of my driveway, and Jim Bob swears they steal so many packs of cigarettes from the supermarket that he can barely keep the shelves stocked. Just imagine what they'd do without someone to ride herd on them. I feel faint thinking about it."
She did look a bit pale, but it might have been caused by her girdle rather than the vision of couples behaving with abandon under the whispering pines.
"You'll have to find someone else," I said. "I already have a full-time job making sure the inmates don't take over the institution. If Larry Joe's agreed, why not ask Joyce to go, too?"
"I suppose she might, as long as you're willing to baby-sit their children. I happened to see them at the supermarket the other day, and it was all I could do not to rip open a box of tissue and wipe their disgusting noses. I'd be real surprised if they don't all have head lice. Joyce has never struck me as the sort to pay much attention to hygiene or personal appearance. Larry Joe's shirts look like he sleeps in them. I shudder to think what kind of example he's setting for the impressionable youth in his shop classes. I was fully expecting the whole town to come down with food poisoning after Joyce passed out jars of that repulsive green slime."
I stared at the water stain on the ceiling. "What about Ruby Bee? She might enjoy a restful week at this camp."
"And go prowling in the woods with a flashlight? How are you going to feel when she's bitten by a snake and dies? Why don't you start writing the eulogy about how you sent your own mother to her death because you couldn't be bothered? What kind of message will that send to our young people, who have volunteered to pass up waterslides and corndogs to help sick children deserving of a carefree week at camp? Some of those little children won't be with us a year from now, you know. I don't know if Jesus runs a summer camp up in heaven, but -- "
"I can't take off for a week."
Her lips curled upward. "Yes, you can. The town council voted last night."
"In a secret meeting?"
"As you well know, I am married to the mayor of Maggody, and I saw to it that you were given permission to take a week of vacation time to accompany us to Camp Pearly Gates. We're meeting at the Voice of the Almighty Lord Assembly Hall on Saturday morning at six o'clock sharp. You'll need clothing, personal items, a sleeping bag, insect repellent, and a reliable flashlight. The teenagers will be bringing their Bibles, but since everybody knows you're an atheist, we won't ask that of you."
I did not ask if it might be more expedient to bring a case of condoms.
Copyright © 2001 by Joan Hess
Maggody and the Moonbeams
- Gallery Books |
- 352 pages |
- February 2012


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cats and my 1 dog
my girlfriend has moved in about 6 months ago she has 2 cats I had a cat and a dog which both get together fine we slowly integrated her cats with my pets and they seemed to be fine one is very shy and has just broken out into being a wonderful cat the other seemed to pick on my cat and just avoid my dog but nothing serious just in the last week or so her cat has started to lash out at the dog very aggressively to the point where well have to wrap her in a blanket to get her away my dog is very well mannered and pays no attention to the cat but the cat has been flat out chasing and attacking the dog and she trys her best to avoid contact with cat but it seems the cat seeks it out were at a loss of what to do and feel bad locking the cat up afterwards I should have mentioned my dog and cat are fixed but the cat lashing out is not any ideas would be helpfull thankyou
I'm sorry you are having this trouble and know how upsetting it is when pets don't get along.
I would suggest getting the aggressive cat fixed right away. You need to try this because kitty might hurt the dog to say nothing of how miserable it must be for the dog. When kitty is fixed, you can talk to the vet about the behavior problem to see if s/he has any additional suggestions. I would recommend that and also after the surgery, be sure kitty has toys, and play with him/her with a fishing pole toy.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
to reference this again http://stackoverflow.com/questions/501347/sql-products-productsales
how could i do something like that when the primary key is made up of two columns and not one?
so products has two columns as PK, and productsales has two columns as FK.
here is the solution with a 1-column key:
SELECT p.[name]
FROM products p
WHERE p.product_id in (SELECT s.product_id
FROM productsales s
WHERE s.[date] between @dateStart and @dateEnd
GROUP BY s.product_id
HAVING Sum(s.quantity) > @X )


text:
Book your room at Trulli e Puglia
Apartment with a complimentary breakfast, in Alberobello (Trulli of Alberobello)
Collect 200 points
Simply enter your Nectar card number when prompted. Your points will be credited 30 days after you return from your trip.*Offers may apply
This apartment is located in Alberobello (Trulli of Alberobello), close to Oil Museum, Craft Museum, and Casa Pezzolla Territory Museum. Nearby attractions also include Trullo Sovrano.
Property Features
A complimentary continental breakfast is available. Trulli e Puglia also features a train station pick-up service, complimentary wireless Internet access, and a rooftop terrace.
Room Amenities
Guestrooms include kitchenettes, complimentary wireless Internet access, and refrigerators; bathrooms feature rainfall showerheads and bidets.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. Public areas are equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. For a surcharge, the property provides a roundtrip airport shuttle (available on request), a beach shuttle, and a cruise ship terminal shuttle. This Alberobello apartment also offers a rooftop terrace, tour/ticket assistance, and multilingual staff. Limited onsite parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis (surcharge).
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- Total number of rooms - 12
- ATM/banking
- Free breakfast
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- Front desk (limited hours)
- Cruise terminal shuttle (surcharge)
- Beach shuttle (surcharge)
- Free WiFi
- Grocery/convenience store
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Laundry facilities
- Multilingual staff
- Parking (limited spaces)
- Valet parking (surcharge)
- Rooftop terrace
- Picnic area
- Luggage storage
- Area shuttle (surcharge)
- Free train station pickup
- Self parking (surcharge)
- RV, bus, truck parking (surcharge)
- Free parking nearby
- Shopping on site
- Number of buildings/towers - 7
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Self parking (surcharge), Valet parking (surcharge), RV, bus, truck parking (surcharge), Parking (limited spaces), Free parking nearby
Room Amenities
- Coffee/tea maker
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Air conditioning
- Climate control
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Bidet
- In-room massage available
- Shower only
- Rainfall showerhead
- Television
- Stovetop
- Free WiFi
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Cribs/infant beds (surcharge)
- Down comforter
- Individually furnished
Where to Eat
A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Mountain biking nearby
- Bicycle rentals on site
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 1 PM
Check-in time ends at 8:00 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is 10:30 AM
Payment types
Pets allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
Service animals exempt from fees/restrictions
No rollaway/extra beds available
No elevators
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 0.80 per person, per night. This tax does not apply to children under 10 years of age.
- Airport shuttle fee: EUR 80 per vehicle (one way)
- Self parking fee: EUR 5 per day
- Valet parking fee: EUR 5 per day
- Pet fee: EUR 5 per pet (varies based on length of stay)
- Crib (infant bed) fee: EUR 10 per day
- Rollaway bed fee: EUR 20 per night
We should mention
Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 999.99, due to national regulations. For further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation. This property offers transfers from the cruise terminal, airport, and train station (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. The property allows pets in specific rooms only and has other pet restrictions (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section). Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.


text:
Full detailed profile on Lucas (Roberts) Horton Played by Bryan Dattilo on Days of Our Lives Daytime Soap Opera.
Bryan Dattilo (NBC)
Birthday: July 29, 1971
Sonny returns to his apartment and Lucas and Adrienne take off. Sonny gets a call about his new club. He needs more money to bring it up to code and says he needs 48 hours to get it to them. He logs into his bank account and transfers money out of his and Will's joint account. Will then arrives home and secretly slips his wedding ring back on. Will sees something is troubling Sonny, but Sonny says it's just been a long day.
In Horton Square, Lucas and Adrienne discuss Sonny and Will. Adrienne thinks they are okay and she was reading more into them than needed. Lucas thinks her situation with Justin influenced her too, but she swears things are fine. She tells him to have fun in LA and have a Merry Christmas.
Outside TBD, Adrienne thinks Lucas must be happy since Will and Ari are home. He had no idea. Adrienne feels bad. Maybe it was supposed to be a surprise. Inside, Sonny replays his conversation with Paul about his life being a mess. His mom interrupts and asks him to pry her foot out of her mouth. She explains the conversation with Lucas and learns Sonny still hasn't talked to his husband about the issues with the new club. Adrienne says she tracked Justin down and they want to write him a check to help him out. He doesn't want that. Lucas walks up and assumes Sonny knew and is upset about Will being replaced in L.A. Sonny didn't know but covers and acts as if he did.
At TBD Sonny gets a call from Will and they agree to meet in the park. He runs off and Lucas and Adrienne worry about the new club and whether or not Chad is taking advantage of Sonny. Lucas gets a text from Sami all in caps asking Lucas not to tell Sonny that Will was fired. Lucas cringes. He already did.
At Club TBD, Adrienne tells Lucas that Sonny and Will haven't spoken in three days. She thinks Will is dropping the ball; she's concerned. Lucas doesn't think Will's been fair with Sonny either, but doesn't want to get in his marriage. Adrienne thinks Lucas should find out what's going on with Will.
In the square, Lucas reassures Adrienne that Will will call Sonny. Adrienne needs her husband to come home, but is glad she and Lucas could save their sons. Once alone, Lucas hopes Will will pick up the phone and call Sonny.
At TBD, Sonny tells Ben that he and Chad want him to manage the new restaurant but Ben says school starts in January. He should put Tad in charge. Outside, Lucas has returned from Los Angeles and tells Adrienne the kids are well but he didn't see much of Will who was putting in 18 hour days at the studio. Adrienne passes judgement and Lucas shuts her down. They head in to greet Sonny and look at photos of Arianna. Lucas goes and Adrienne shares that Will's been working a lot. Sonny reminds her dad's been gone a long time. Her face falls. She apologizes. This is why she judged Will. She misses Justin and doesn't want anything to come between Will and Sonny.
Lucas shows Kate photos of the kids in the DiMera library. Sami is taking over the studio, Lucas says. She shows up with notes for production and wants to improve marketing. Kate misses working with her. Lucas is surprised but Kate says they were a good team. Things have changed.
Lucas drops by the mansion and goes to Allie in the garden while Sami signs over DiMera Enterprises to Kate. Sami jokes that Kate will probably tear down their portrait and put up one of just her. Kate says this one has grown on her. Sami says she hated Kate for years for giving her grief but Kate taught her how to be tough and fight for herself. Kate tears up and Sami asks Kate to promise not to stop until she has destroyed Stefano for good. Kate doesn't want her to worry. She should take care of herself and the children. They cry. Roman and Marlena arrive. Roman was about to bust her chops about leaving but says Marlena talked sense into him. Marlena and Kate leave the room and father and daughter share a tender moment. Outside, Allie says she'll miss her dad. They talk about staying in touch and Lucas calls her the most important thing in the world to him. She cries in his arms. Eric arrives and Roman heads into the garden and tells the tyke to keep an eye on his family. Abe arrives and hands Johnny EJ's watch. He'd have wanted him to have it. The men tell Johnny that his father would have been very proud of him. Johnny wants to be just like his father. Inside, Sami tells her twin about her visit with Nicole and Eric brings up Sydney trying to stash the Japanese Fighting Fish into her backpack. They laugh. Eric gives Sami an old photo of them as kids. She's touched. She calls him kind and asks him to protect himself. She tears up and tells him she'll be "back in a flash" if he needs her. They hug as Marlena walks in. She tells them the kids are talking about something hush hush. "Fish," Eric and Sami yell. Eric runs to the kids and Marlena starts to cry. They flash back to old times and Sami says she's sorry for how difficult she was. "You never gave up on me." The kids rush in with Theo. Outside, not wanting to say goodbye, Will and Sonny hug. They kiss and Will tears up. It's only six months. Sonny worries Ari will be as big as Sydney when she comes home. They make out. Later, they've packed the car and Sami returns for a photo album. She leafs through it happily and cries and says one last goodbye to everyone before leaving.
Lucas finds Abigail at TBD. They catch up and make idle chit chat about Ben being a good guy before Lucas gets a text and has to go.
« Back to Lucas (Roberts) Horton profile


text:
The Eee PC has proven immensely popular, but it may have broken the Linux GPL
I dont know what youve been looking at, but at university i have seen dozens of laptops of all kinds that have functioned correctly (sleep and hibernate)Originally Posted by Phil Rhodes
I have never seen any laptop other than an IBM Thinkpad correctly sleep or hibernate under Linux and that makes it effectively unusable for laptops in general.
Originally Posted by IanW
DXR_13KE: The Eee is available in black if you shop around.
BitFenix Aegis Review
25th March 2015
OCZ Vector 180 Review (240GB, 480GB & 960GB)
24th March 2015
Gigabyte BRIX S GB-BXi5H-5200 Review
23rd March 2015


text:
Foley recording of a woman coughing and blowing her nose.
Middle-aged woman coughing and sniffing
A standard cough. Could be used during an awkward silence in a concert hall.
A high-pitched female cough. Could be used during an awkward silence in a concert hall.
Distant sound of a normal pulse monitoring system
Room tone in a small (3x4x3m) room in a stone house. MORE IN THIS PACK. The wind is blowing around ...
slamming door
Metal door slamming shut in a concrete-walled hallway.
A door slamming inside a house. ALH
Door slamming in the distance.
A few takes of door being slammed.
machine gun firing with the sound of a pistol in between its shots are diffrent as a sound they tend ...
Medium to large crowd in a London pub, some indistinct music on the background, occasional dish/mug/chalice clinging
I made mass recordings with a group of about 40 people. This is a pub sound with some reverb applied. ...


text:
Los Angeles Preps: Jimmy Clausen
L.A. North: Five things from the weekend
October, 17, 2011
By Tim Haddock | ESPNLosAngeles.com
- Even though Sherman Oaks Notre Dame lost its Serra League opener, 28-26, to Crespi, the Knights can look to some positives from the game. First off, Notre Dame outgained Crespi in total offense, 212 yards to 164 yards. Neither team was able to move the ball much on offense, but Notre Dame running back Khalfani Muhammad made his presence felt. He rushed for 92 yards in 26 carries but didn't find the end zone. Secondly, Notre Dame picked off two passes and turned them into touchdowns. Kevin Carrasco's interception return in the second quarter gave Notre Dame a 10-point lead, 17-7. Nick Holland's pick six in the fourth quarter put Notre Dame up 24-21. Finally, Notre Dame's Sam Robinson matched Crespi's Chris Harper for most acrobatic touchdown catch of the game. Robinson made a diving catch for a touchdown that tied the score, 7-7, in the second quarter. Unfortunately, Notre Dame doesn't win games with style points. Now, the Knights find themselves in a must-win situation against Loyola on Friday night at L.A. Valley College. Notre Dame needs a win to get back in the Serra League championship hunt. Loyola is playing its Serra League opener after having a bye last week. It will be another tough one for Notre Dame. Crespi, meanwhile, plays Bishop Amat, which lost its Serra League opener to Alemany.
- Two school passing records were broken over the weekend. Canyon quarterback Jonathan Jerozal set the school mark for career touchdown passes in the Foothill League opener against Saugus. Oaks Christian quarterback Brandon Dawkins broke the school record for passing yards in a game in a 50-0 shutout against Royal. Jerozal threw three touchdown passes in his team's 51-28 win over Saugus. He has 62 career touchdown passes and broke the record set by Nate Longshore, who went on to play at Cal. Dawkins passed for 387 yards against Royal and broke the record set by Jimmy Clausen, who passed for 367 yards against Santa Paula in 2006, and went on to play in college at Tennessee. It might be the first of many school records for Dawkins, who is only a sophomore.
- Some of the biggest rushing games on Friday night came out of the City Section. Kawan Rally from El Camino Real rushed for 319 yards and four touchdowns in his team's 48-7 win over Woodland Hills Taft. It wasn't only a huge night for Rally, but for the El Camino Real program. The Conquistadores beat Taft for the first time since 1991. Birmingham's Isaiah Hastings rushed for 248 yards and two touchdowns in his team's 35-16 win over Chatsworth. Both his touchdowns came in the second half, one on an 86-yard run in the third quarter. Arleta's Dejon Coleman didn't have eye-popping numbers on the ground, but he scored four touchdowns in his team's 49-6 win over Poly. He scored two rushing touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass and intercepted a pass for a touchdown. Coleman gained 91 yards on nine carries and caught five passes for 75 yards. Brian Sanchez from Granada Hills rushed for 213 yards and scored three touchdowns in his team's 38-13 win over Cleveland of Reseda.
- Another game, another rushing record for Zander Anding from Burroughs of Burbank. He rushed for 394 yards and scored six touchdowns in his team's 70-34 win over Glendale. It was Anding's third 300-yard rushing game in a row and the third time he has broken his own school record for rushing yards in a game. He scored on runs of 39, 75, 5, 47 and 41 yards and caught a touchdown pass. Way out in the high desert, Quartz Hill's Osirus Burke rushed for 242 yards and scored four touchdowns in the Rebels' 27-21 win over Palmdale. Burke scored on runs of 6, 1, 13 and 11 yards.
- Pasadena Poly won the Oxnard water polo tournament, beating Rio Mesa, 15-7, in the championship match. Rio Mesa reached the final of the Oxnard tournament for the third year in a row. The Spartans won the tournament in 2009 by beating Pasadena Poly. Rio Mesa lost to Crescenta Valley in last year's championship match. Rio Mesa beat Malibu, 13-9, in the semifinals. Rio Mesa's Joe Yamamoto scored five goals against Malibu and had four goals in the championship match against Pasadena Poly.
L.A. North: The Top 10
October, 16, 2011
By Tim Haddock | ESPNLosAngeles.com
Only one team in the top 10 lost last week. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, the No. 10 team in the L.A. North, lost to Crespi, 28-26, in the Serra League opener. It was a close game and another tough loss for Notre Dame, which dropped its second in a row.
Enter Thousand Oaks at No. 10. The Lancers can make a mess of the Marmonte League if they can figure out a way to beat Oaks Christian on Friday night.
Four teams remain undefeated, including top-ranked Westlake. St. Francis needed a last-second field goal to beat Harvard-Westlake and stay unbeaten. Canyon got a record-breaking performance from quarterback Jonathan Jerozal in its Foothill League opening win over Saugus. Ventura scored just enough to beat Dos Pueblos in the Channel League opener for both teams.
Here's a look at the top 10:
- (1) Westlake (6-0) -- Dashon Hunt scored three touchdowns in Westlake's 45-14 win over Simi Valley. He scored two rushing touchdowns and intercepted a pass for a touchdown.
- (2) Crespi (5-1) -- Crespi's offense was far from crisp in a 28-26 win over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Special teams, on the other hand, came up with some huge plays. Crespi had a kick-off return for a touchdown and a blocked field-goal attempt for a touchdown. A blocked punt set up a third touchdown for the Celts.
- (3) Alemany (5-2) -- The Warriors started Serra League play with a huge win over Bishop Amat, 26-21. Coach Dean Herrington won his 50th game at Alemany. Quarterback Devon Dunn wasn't spectacular but threw a touchdown pass to Jerico Richardson and rushed for a touchdown.
- (4) Chaminade (5-1) -- After playing some of the top teams in Southern California, Chaminade had a bit of a cakewalk against St. Paul, the No. 1 team in the Southern Section Western Division. Chaminade, the No. 2 team in the Western Division, beat St. Paul, 31-6, in the Mission League opener. Looks as if there will be a new Western Division No. 1 on Monday.
- (5) Oaks Christian (4-2) -- Sophomore quarterback Brian Dawkins threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns in his team's 50-0 shutout over Royal. Dawkins broke Jimmy Clausen's school record for passing yards in a game. Clausen threw for 367 yards against Santa Paula in 2006.


text:
Hello There !
Welcome to my page <3
My name is Bloo, I am a 17 y/o Dutch girl and I like weird things, maybe not just weird things though xD. Some things I like; Assassin's Creed, Sherlock, Once Upon A Time, Coffee, food with silly names, anything with silly names.. yeah..
A Random Quote To Sound Inspirational.
Art Status
(Point)Comms : CLOSED
Art Trades: CLOSED
Collabs: CLOSED
Requests: NO.
Please don't come begging me for points /money /art /features.
Art featured in this box are by
hondjes and TimidCoyote


text:
we are sorry ,, saudi arabia like israil
If selected for publication, it will appear as soon as possible on Haaretz.com.
Mossad chief Meir Dagan visited Saudi Arabia recently, if unofficial reports published over the weekend on the WorldNetDaily website are accurate. The Internet news site attributed the story to Arab sources.
According to the reports, the talks conducted in Saudi Arabia with the head of Israel's espionage agency dealt with Iran and its nuclear program. The account follows a series of recent reports on increasing secret cooperation between Israel and the Saudis, including defense coordination on matters related to possible military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.
Two months ago, the Times of London reported that during the course of a Saudi military exercise, air defense system operations were halted for a few hours to rehearse a scenario whereby Israeli fighter planes would cross Saudi Arabian air space en route to an attack on Iran.
Arab and Iranian media outlets have also reported Israeli air force planes and helicopters landing in Saudi Arabia for the purposes of positioning equipment there.
Three weeks ago, it was reported that the United Arab Emirates' ambassador in Washington said at a conference that the consequences of nuclear weapons in the hands of the Iranians would be more serious than an Israeli assault, because a nuclear Iran could not be tolerated. His remarks reflect a common concern felt in Israel and the Persian Gulf states over nuclear weapons in Iranian hands.


text:
Play with Tampon string
the next periode
Babe takes it from ass to mouth
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Analyse King Orgasmus Orgie69
Sexy girl who wants you to use the back door
Hard Ass-Ride
Steamy Cum All Over a Sexy Face
Slutty Girl Loves When You Go In The Back Door
Slutty foot freak
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text:
Intek valve issue
I have an MTD tractor with a Briggs 14hp Intek OHV on it. Customer gripe is hard starting/only runs on choke. OK, carb problem, right? Wrong. It has almost 100 psi compression, but when you crank it you can hear the air in the carb intake getting sucked in, THEN being blown back out some. It seems that the intake valve isn't closing quickly enough before the compression stroke. On the old L-heads, you just grind the valve, but how do you adjust the valve to close quicker on an OHV? Valves are in spec now.
Something you want to remember here, the Compression Release works on the Intake Valve. The INTAKE Valve is bumped or held slightly open late into the compression Stroke to relieve some compression. How much leak back is normal and how much is excessive is something I can't tell from here.
Walt Conner


text:
For those of you who don't know, I'm a huge Trials fan. I'm not the greatest , but I've put dozens of hours ..
If there's one man who knows the madness that is Saints Row: The Third, it's Scott Phillips. As the game's ..
As Netflix scrambles to stay focused on the future, Redbox is thriving in simplicity. After the introduction ..
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet came out last month to positive critical and commercial succes, (you can see our review ..
One of this year Summer Uprising games that stands out from the crowd of games that generally either feature ..
Today we interview the developer behind the lead XBL Summer Uprising game, T.E.C 3001. For those of you that ..
Indie developer Evan Miller talks artistic games, and his most ambitious project yet.
Today I sit down with one of the men in charge of Discord Games, the developer behind the anticipated Xbox ..
Sheldon Pacotti, best known for co-writing the first two Deus Ex games, is currently developing the game Cell: ..


text:
Academics . Animation . Courses
BMA: Advanced Problems, Concepts, and Media
Course No. BMA 354 Credits: 3.0
Faculty Thomas Nowacki
In this course the student will continue investigating complex concepts and techniques in Biomedical media and apply them to advanced visual communication problems. The focus will be on developing conceptual visual story-telling skills (First in sketch form/storyboarding for client proofing, then rendered digitally for final art) Students will learn to take complex information presented by biomedical subject matter and simplify it to solve visual communication problems effectively for the target audience. Advanced digital illustration techniques in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and the integration of flash will be used as the basis to solve illustration problems. Students outside the major will learn techniques and concepts in visual communication to for editorial and narrative based projects. Offered spring.
Animation Career Review names CIA's Animation and Game Design programs as fifth best in the Midwest, noting our vast classroom/studio space.
2011 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient Kasumi is internationally celebrated as a leading innovator of a new art ...more
While at CIA, you'll learn from the masters through our rigorous, world-class curriculum and connect with working professionals to begin your career.


text:
Boost for Wye and Usk Salmon Catches
The rivers Wye and Usk have recorded substantial increases in catches of salmon in 2012. Anglers and river owners have so far reported well over 1,250 salmon from each river, representing a 64% and 51% increase when compared to their respective 5-year average catches. In the case of the Wye, it is the highest number of fish caught since 1996. ... Full story
Salmon Farming Comes Ashore in Canada
Twenty-three thousand Atlantic salmon smolts will arrive at the 'Namgis First Nation's salmon farm in January, just a fraction of the millions of similar fish that grow to maturity each year in B.C. What's different about these fish is that they will never swim in the ocean, never come in contact with wild salmon and never be treated for sea lice. ... Full story
Passing the Salmon Conservation Torch
St. Andrews, NB , Canada…The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is pleased to announce that Christopher H. Buckley Jr., a resident of Islamorada, Florida, assumed the chairmanship of the organization's US Board of Directors at a meeting in New York City on November 15. ... Full story
Ponoi River Fishing Museum Completed
It is true that all great salmon rivers have great histories. It is also up to us to preserve this sporting heritage, which is why, after over a year of diligent work, the Ponoi museum in Ryabaga Camp officially opened this past September. ... Full story
Fishing Days at Farlow's and Sportfish
As part of their regular series of events covering destinations and fly fishing around the globe, Farlow's and Sportfish are pleased to welcome Andrew Rushton, owner of the Kalum River Lodge in British Columbia and Stjani Benediktsson and Bjossi Runarsson who are two top fly fishing guides from Iceland. ... Full story
Devastating impact on Wild Salmon populations from Sea Lice
Inland Fisheries Ireland has collaborated in an international study to examine the impact of sea lice on the marine survival of Atlantic salmon. In a newly published report, results reveal that that on average 39% of salmon mortalities were attributable to sea lice which impacts wild salmon numbers and therefore wild salmon fisheries. ... Full story
New Sealice Rules Proposed for New Brunwsick
The New Brunswick government is proposing changes to the province's Aquaculture Act that would require companies to report on their sea lice treatment and monitoring programs. ... Full story
Giant Snakeheads on the Fly
Adventure fishing for exotic species does not get much better than in the jungles of southeast Asia where guide Jean-Francois Helias continues to put his anglers onto some amazing fish. In this case fly angler Richard Hart from Orlando has recorded some great catches of Giant Snakehead on the fly recently. ... Full story
Security Council accepts the Salmon Challenge
The Russian Security Council has decided to confront Norway with the damage its commercial salmon fishing industry is doing to the future of Russia's wild Atlantic salmon stocks. The Russians have decided to make the issue a priority for discussion at the March 2013 meeting of the Norwegian-Russian intergovernmental commission. ... Full story
Atlantic Salmon Trust Highlight Three Key Salmon Survival Issues
Melfort Campbell and Tony Andrews, the Atlantic Salmon Trust's Chairman and CEO, recently visited New Brunswick, discussing alternatives to the destructive and unsustainable open cage method of salmon farming currently used in Scotland and Canada. Details will be released soon of the outcome of their discussions. ... Full story


text:
Al-Qassam To Halt U.S. Banking DDoS Attacks Due To Video Removal
The Al-Qassam cyber fighters group has claimed that they will temporarily cease their series of DDoS attacks on U.S. banks following the removal of a video trailer that gives an offensive depiction of the Prophet Muhammaed.
"This is a clear indication of progress and establishment of logic instead of obstinacy. This positive move is a humanitarian effort and in line with paying respect to divine religions which has made billions of people love them; and it's a becoming and proper action," al-Qassam posted in a statement on Pastebin.
The group cautioned that the attacks could continue if other copies of the video are not removed.
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text:
Originally Posted by Justin Maramba
For lith developing, I'm using Fotospeed Lith Developer. I found that Ilford lithed slowly without a great range of tone, so I've switched over to Arista FB VC. Anyone have previous experience with this paper?
Yes, it does not have much color and is very, very grainy. Great for the right image, but not so good generally. If you are looking for a general purpose paper that liths well, try a warm tone paper other than Ilford (Foma, Kentmere are favorites).


text:
Hand Carved Wooden Angel Night Light
This angel is a beautiful hand-carved piece made from fine oak wood. It is a night light also. It measures over 1 foot tall and is approx 8" at the tip of the wings. It would make a great gift for the holidays or a comforting night light in a bedroom or hallway. $40.00
Feb 2 -
Kiowa - Everything else
● Folds flat for easy storage.
● Fits any countertop or is easily wall mounted with screw hooks.
● Strong, durable, vinyl clad steel. Rustproof.
Brand: AMCO Houseworks
Model Number: 656
Material: vinyl clad steel
Dimensions: 18" length ...
Mar 26 -
Denver :
Denver - Everything else
CASTLE of the PINES Retreat
Castle Pines, Colorado 80108 $1,490,000
Upscale Neighborhood, Property and Build could be used for Memory Care Unit, Assisted Living and/or Skilled Nursing
1 Unit is already built and ready for 8-15 Patients
potentially can ...
Mar 22 -
Denver :
Castle Rock - Business & industrial
This deluxe phone has 1 line, 4 voice mail boxes, speakerphone, and many other features detailed below.
Includes: OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Phone, Adapter, User Manual, Original Box.
Model Number: 1825
Made in Mexico
Mar 2 -
Denver :
Denver - Everything else
Hunt ID: SD-WDeerPheasantsTurkeyAll-Semi-Guided-OB-Oakley
Now is the time to line up a South Dakota DIY or Guided Mule Deer or Whitetail Hunt. To Soon well at least blow 45 and put in for a point you will need it to draw next year for a whitetail or 3 pointd for a Muley ...
Feb 16 -
Denver :
Longmont - Sporting goods
We'll be sending text message alerts for your subscription to


text:
Exterior Door Plans
I would like to build an entry way exterior door.
Can anyone point me in the right direction ?
I've searched the net and came up empty.
In my spare I do woodcarving and build jewelry boxes.
I can make the door with cedar, pine, walnut, cherry, mahogany....etc.
Is plywood a requirement or can I laminated pieces together ?
I appreciate any and all comments. Thanks !
I haven't built one, but they're basically frame and panel constructions when they're solid wood. The corner joints are sometimes big mortise-and-tenons, sometimes just dowelled with really big dowels. The panels are sometimes set in grooves like a cabinet door, and sometimes set in a rabbet and held in place with a tacked-in molding, which of course makes the initial glue-up less frantic. I'm thinking of older doors I've seen and read about -- not sure how (or if) they address insulation issues these days. The old Fine Woodworking "On Joinery" book, probably available on ebay if it's not still in print, has a good article on this topic.


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Friendly staff of The Darling greet you when you walk into the foyer and you feel an element of designer chic appeal... but once you recieve your key and open the door to your room/suite it's a whole other feeling. You turn the key, the lights turn on to reveal mood lighting with the ceiling high curtains opening up to your view of Sydney, while your tv welcomes you personally with options to control the rooms composition.... and thats just after you've put the key in and taken a step into the door. AMAZING! The directional furniture and style of the rooms interior are like you're on the set of Vogue Living and the bath products, purple and camel robes and thick bath slippers get you ready for relaxation, especially after your vichy shower experience. The best moment comes when you lie in the most comfortable bed and pillows you have ever experienced in your life... and dont forget that you can design how you want to wake up all through your tv... windows to open at 6am with specific lights coming on over a 10 second time period and the tv turning on at the same time to reveal your morning news program... no worries!!! This is Luxury, and with Adriano Zumbo's dessert station open late (that's right like a sushi station but with dessert) and the 24 hour casino with boutique shops like chanel and gstar and delicious restaurants at your door step, I cant think of anywhere else in Sydney to stay! I had an amazing stay! xx
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Welcome to The Darling. 171 rooms and views from the Sydney Harbour to the Blue Mountains, Sydney's most lovingly detailed hotel is now open at The Star.***Named one of the Top 60 Best New Hotels in the World by Condé Nast Traveller******Winner of Best New Hotel Construction and Design 2012 at the Asia-Pacific International Hotel Awards***DISTINCTIVELY DARLING FEATURESFloor-to-Ceiling GlassOur rooms feature floor-to-ceiling glass and windows that open to showcase what are possibly the best views in Sydney.The Darling BedOnce you've slept on a Darling bed, you'll be reluctant to leave it. Every one features a customised 1000 spring mattress, 400 thread count 100% Egyptian cotton bed linen and a goose down comforter. A menu of 12 luxury pillows is offered for your comfort.Molton Brown ProductsEvery bathroom contains a range of Molton Brown products, exclusive in Australian hotels, to The Darling.Rain ShowerheadsEvery bathroom comes with a relaxing rain showerhead and a European wand.Control Four Integrated SystemComplete control is at your fingertips. One touch of a button and you can do anything – from lower your blinds to adjust the air temperature.EXPERIENCE THE SPA AT THE DARLINGOur spa has 16 private rooms – including an intimate couples suite – and every one of them is devoted to making you look incredible, and feel even better.We offer signature Asian and European treatments, a hamam and a level of pampering that is unparalleled ... more less
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Recipe by BREAKSTONE'S
"Cauliflower and broccoli florets are cooked in a creamy blend of cream cheese, BREAKSTONE'S Sour Cream, and Cheddar cheese, then topped with crushed Ritz crackers. Yum!"
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1 pound
large cauliflower florets
1 pound
large broccoli florets
1/2 cup
4 ounces
PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed
1/4 cup
1/2 cup
BREAKSTONE'S Sour Cream
1 1/2 cups
KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
RITZ Crackers, crushed
3 tablespoons
KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
Absolutely awesome. I made this recipe for 4 servings, and it was only enough for 2. I eliminated the RITZ crackers as I didn't feel the need for them, and also didn't use the cauliflower (just briccoli). Other than that I stuck to the recipe as closely as I could. Overall, it was extremely tasty. I wouldn't call it au gratin, but I will definetly make it again. My wife and I loved it.
was looking for a new broccoli and cheese recipe and came across this one. This tasted just 'ok' would have been happier to create the sauce on the stove top and probably would take out the sour cream if i made again.
10 Ratings
Awesome! Entire family had 2nds!
Good. I finished it under the broiler so the top got crispy. Best way to eat cauliflower!
This recipe sounded great...right up until I got to the part where you microwave everything. Microwaving isn't cooking, and i won't even try this recipe unless it's rewritten for conventional cooking.
Used a Normandy blend of vegetables. It went over very well at our family reunion. So good and easy, too!
Delicious! Wonderful & Easy side dish for dinner, goes great with Tilapia! Thank you for this recipe! :)
Always looking for low carb recipes that are tasty and this one is great!! It makes eating veggies seem like a real treat. We have this as often as we can, and with low carbs, it is great for my diabetes! A keeper for sure!
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Easy Cauliflower and Broccoli au Gratin
Serving Size: 1/10 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 10
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 177
Calories from Fat: 112
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