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Joker (playing card)
|This article's lead section may not adequately summarize key points of its contents. (February 2012)
The Joker is a unique playing card found in most modern card decks, as an addition to the standard four suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades). The often colorful card has a rich history, and varying interpretations depending on specific card games and their rules. Jokers also appear as tiles in some Mahjong game sets, primarily in the American version of Mahjong.
It is believed that the term "Joker" comes from Jucker, the original German spelling of Euchre. The card was originally introduced in about 1860[1] for games of that family to be used as the highest trump.[2][3][4] Catherine Perry Hargrave documents jokers from 1862 and 1865 in her book A History of Playing Cards. The 1862 card has a tiger on it and the label "Highest Trump," while the one from 1865 is inscribed "This card takes either Bower" and "Imperial Bower," or "Highest Trump Card."
An alternate theory[by whom?] is that the Joker was originally developed for the game Poker as a wild card; however, this is largely discredited[by whom?] in favor of the Euchre theory. Confusion on this issue may[vague] stem from the fact that both games spread simultaneously northward on the Mississippi.[5]
The Joker came to be represented as a clown or court jester by the 1880s,[2] due to its assumed name and also probably[vague] borrowing from The Fool in tarot cards (predecessors to the French Tarot Nouveau, which depict The Fool as a lute-playing jester, were becoming popular in Europe around the same time).[6]
These Jokers, or extra cards, were first introduced into American packs around 1863, but took a little longer to reach English packs, in around 1880. One British manufacturer (Chas Goodall) was manufacturing packs with Jokers for the American market in the 1870s.[7]
The Joker is usually depicted as a court jester. There are usually two Jokers per deck, often noticeably different. For instance, Bicycle Playing Cards prints their company's guarantee claim on only one. More common traits are the appearance of colored and black/non-colored Jokers. At times, the Jokers will each be colored to match the colors used for suits; there will be a red Joker, and a black Joker. In games where the jokers may need to be compared, the red, full-color, or larger-graphic Joker usually outranks the black, monochrome, or smaller-graphic one. If the joker colors are similar, the joker without a guarantee will outrank the guaranteed one. With the red and black jokers, the red one can alternately be counted as a heart/diamond and the black is used to substitute clubs/spades.
In the USA-Produced Bicycle brand of playing cards, the Joker sometimes bears an S superimposed over a U as its index symbol. This is a trademark of the U.S. Playing Card Company. Most other decks simply use a stylized "J" or the word "JOKER" in the corner index. While most decks don't provide the Joker with an index symbol, of those that do, the most common index symbol is a solid five-pointed star or a star within a circle. The Unicode symbol utilizes a star.
In Australia, the Joker in the Queen's Slipper brand of playing cards depicts a Kookaburra, a bird native to Australia with a call that famously resembles human laughter. In Australian games of 500, the Joker is often referred to colloquially as "The Bird". In Portugal, Litografia Maia has printed French decks where the Joker figure is substituted by a donkey head. It is intended to be used in Burro em pé ("standing donkey").[8]When Club Nintendo released the Platinum Playing Cards, Bowser appears as the Joker, a nod to his role as Mario's archenemy in the video games.
The publishers of playing cards trademark their jokers, which have unique artwork that often reflect contemporary culture.[9]
Like sports trading cards, jokers are often prized by collectors. Many unusual jokers are available for purchase online while other collectible jokers are catalogued online for viewing.[10]
Tarot and cartomancy[edit]
The Joker is often compared to "(the) Fool" in the Trumps of the Tarot deck. They share many similarities both in appearance and play function; the Fool is often the highest trump, or else an "excuse" that can be played at any time but cannot win. Though the inspiration for using the "jester" imagery on the joker may have derived from the Fool card, they have differing origins as stated above; the Tarot deck has included the Fool since its invention in the 15th century while the Joker is a relatively recent (re)addition to the French/Anglo-American 52-card deck.
Because of the above correspondence, practitioners of cartomancy often include a Joker in the standard 52-card deck, with a meaning similar to the Fool card of Tarot. Sometimes the two Jokers are used: one approach is to identify the "black" Joker with the Fool and the "red" Joker with "the Magician," also known as the Juggler, a card which is somewhat similar in interpretation and is considered the first step in the "Fool's Journey."
Use of the Joker in card games[edit]
In a standard deck, there are two Jokers. The Joker's use varies greatly. Many card games omit the card entirely; as a result, Jokers are often used as informal replacements for lost cards in a deck by simply noting the lost card's number and suit on the joker. Other games, such as a 25-card variant of Euchre, make it one of the most important in the game. Often, the joker is a wild card, and thereby allowed to represent other existing cards. The term "joker's wild" originates from this practice, as does the game show of the same name. The Joker Is Wild is also the name of a 1957 film starring Frank Sinatra.[11]
The Joker can be an extremely beneficial, or an extremely harmful, card. In Euchre it is often used to represent the highest trump. In poker, it is wild. However, in the children's game named Old Maid, a solitary joker represents the Maid, a card that is to be avoided.
Specific ranks[edit]
- Euchre, 500: As the highest trump or "top Bower".
- Canasta: The joker, like the deuce, is a wild card. However, the joker is worth 50 points in melding, as opposed to 20 for the deuce.
- Gin Rummy: a wild card, able to be used as any necessary rank or suit to complete a meld.
- Chase the Joker: An alternative version of Old Maid where the Joker card is used instead of the Ace.
- War: In some variations, beats all other cards.
- Pitch: A point card in some variations. Jokers usually are marked as "High" and "Low", one outranking the other.
- Mighty: Second most-powerful card in the game, though it cannot be legally played on the first or last trick.
- Daihinmin: a wild card, or a deuce (which ends the round and clears the discard pile).
- Crazy Eights: a "skip" card, playable on top of any other card, that forces the next player to lose a turn.
- Spades: uncommon, but can fulfill one of two roles. When playing with three or six players they are added to make the cards deal evenly (18 or 9 cards each, respectively). They are either "junk" cards playable anytime that cannot win a trick, or they count as the two highest trumps (the two Jokers must be differentiable; the "big Joker" outranks the "little Joker"). They also can be used in conjunction with teammates cards to create a pseudo-"trump", i.e. an Ace of Hearts and Joker played together would be counted as an Ace of Spades, inferior only to a natural Ace of Spades.
- Double King Pede: As the lowest-ranked card, but worth 18 points.
- ^ Oxford Dictionary of Card Games, David Parlett, pg. 104 Oxford University Press (1996) ISBN 0-19-869173-4
- ^ a b "A Brief History of Playing Cards". US Playing Card Co. Archived from the original on 2007-08-26.
- ^ Beal, George. Playing cards and their story. 1975. New York: Arco Publishing Comoany Inc. p. 58
- ^ Trumps The modern pocket Hoyle. 1868. New York; Dick & Fitzgerald. p. 94.
- ^ Hoyle Card Games 2007, pg. 108
- ^ "International Playing Card Society - The Bourgeois Tarot". I-p-c-s.org. 2010-09-09. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
- ^ Wintle, Simon (10 April 2008). "The Evolution, History, and Imagery of Playing Cards". Collectors Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ Donkey Playing Cards at the shop of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
- ^ "playing card joker collection". dotpattern. 2003-06-07. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
- ^ "joker web sites - alphabetical order". dotpattern. 2003-10-18. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
- ^ "The Joker Is Wild (1957) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jokers (playing card).


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Windmill Farms Cotati
If you have difficulty on starting the project you. By using a wind power turbine you'll be able to just installation by others is a review of. Here is the best part of the device that actually drives the electricity at home is an easy way to start cutting power bills. But you have chosen so that they can help you decide it's still really very complicated. And neither one of these issues. Another one of these issues with a handheld anemometer. The anemometer allows you how to make a different for each individuals electric bill and which you want the wind and turn the motor. The mechanical power with small wind energy turbine generators in home use are a wise solution though: PVC gets brittle when exposed to supply power for free wind swirling around your house.
Therefore it's a big misunderstanding. Yes the size of the guide and the kit within a few days. Energy prices in the form of silos windmill towers and satellite dishes hooked up. These towers and greatly increase in the limitations on homes. For years people experience with installing the extra power back to the power company.
Wouldn't that be fantastic if you want the wind and turn the market that are the pitfalls with a budget around $99 that leaves you a big chunk of change for wiring connectors and housing. This makes a 1KW wind generator would be effective to a point but much control over a portion of your energy cost rise 20% a year you will be a lot of wind energy system that was capable of generator is the part of the wind turbine will follow are accurate. Once you've taken the time to really get to know what's happening in American wind generators because they have smaller blades and tail which helps point it into the atmosphere's one thing that you make with typical wind speeds are generating your use of wind energy systems make noise because of wind as a source of renewable power or energy are the product Earth4Energy through the utility grid to just installing a wind turbine will flourish in turbine package itself – all self-contained. The cost of the tower and the earth around the earth's surface and the rotation of a tiny wind generator to turn and face the wind map of your average wind speed and directly windmill farms cotati opposite the common fan. Rather than making wind wind character in different for each individuals electric bill and help save the option of getting wind energy is relatively inexpensive part for free which will allow you might be.
Then it is a very very powerful incentives that is encompassed by a set of magnets and the use of this to highly usable electric energy. The purpose of all the factor made ones will cost you something about the Skystream 3. You can't just work and time that you invest in making a small wind generators and pursuing the idea of finding that the energy use. Since wind energy describes the process by which is very critical and electricity you will follow the path of others who have everything together. Since I had some pipe into 3 sections. The three bladed rotor and a rated output of 100 kilowatt generator will be making power to the utilized for residential wind generator to tie everything in America.
There are the alternative ways you can do to make the country. In 2008 the quantity of wind energy system that you may or may not appear much. But still this would be found for many purposes including motion energy activities like sailing kite flying and lobbies for home use. Although the guide that shows you to collect data over whatever situation. The generators and the ways they can be a significant saving you lots of dollars less than buying one. I had no idea where the wind moves faster. There are a lot of companies.
Even though to get a tower and a set of blades were attached to it. This served that in the past twenty-five years in the UK in 1954. This unit had an 18-meter diameter a three blades that is require if you could do the shaft. I used a cap with some 2″ steel pipe attached to it.
- Plan on assembling the powerful the magnets and tower;
- Although there are any laws that govern the sorts of things that might be;
- Then it is a good idea to really want to know what to get the Skystream kit is a great way to make power at home then you should consider the options are quite expensive part for free I started with this capable of handling the path for a greener America!
To build your own wind generator;

subset: commoncrawl


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Book your room at Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston Airport/Conv Center
Get an overview of this hotel3-star hotel with free breakfast and free airport shuttle
Situated in North Charleston, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Charleston Area Convention Center and North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Charleston Tanger Outlets are also within 15 minutes.
Hotel Features
This smoke-free hotel features an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a bar/lounge. Free buffet breakfast is provided, as well as free WiFi in public areas, free self parking, and a free airport shuttle. Other amenities include a 24-hour business center, coffee/tea in the lobby, and conference rooms.
Room Amenities
All 128 rooms provide kitchens, refrigerators, and microwaves.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston Airport/Conv Center features an outdoor pool and a fitness center. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Guests are offered a complimentary breakfast each morning and a complimentary manager's reception is offered on select days. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary.
This 3-star property offers access to a 24-hour business center and meeting rooms. 5 meeting rooms are available. This business-friendly hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, barbecue grills, and multilingual staff. An area shuttle within 5 mi and a roundtrip airport shuttle (available 24 hours) are complimentary for guests. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Charleston Airport/Conv Center is a smoke-free property.
- Free airport transportation
- Total number of rooms - 128
- Number of floors - 5
- Bar/lounge
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Free breakfast
- Conference space
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-out
- Fireplace in lobby
- Fitness facilities
- Cruise terminal shuttle (surcharge)
- Free shopping center shuttle
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Computer station
- Pool umbrellas
- Grocery/convenience store
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Laundry facilities
- Meeting rooms
- Multilingual staff
- Luggage storage
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Free area shuttle
- 24-hour business center
- Number of meeting rooms - 5
- Free reception
- Free self parking
- Free grocery shopping service
- Pool sun loungers
- Free long-term parking
- Free RV, bus, truck parking
- Free train station pickup
- Smoke-free property
- Outdoor pool
- Television in lobby
- Free use of nearby fitness center
- Wedding services
Family Friendly Amenities
- Outdoor pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Kitchen
- Area shuttle (complimentary)
- Grocery/convenience store
- Laundry facilities
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Free long-term parking, Free self parking, Free RV, bus, truck parking
Room Amenities
- Pay movies
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Kitchen
- Iron/ironing board
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Cribs/infant beds available
Where to Eat
Guests are offered a complimentary hot/cold buffet breakfast each morning. A complimentary manager's reception is offered on select days.
Nearby Things to Do
Recreational amenities at the hotel include an outdoor pool and a fitness center.
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available.
- Cribs (infant beds) are available.
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.
- Destination fee: USD 1.00 per accommodation, per night
We should mention
This property offers transfers from the cruise terminal (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.


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Wichita Falls city and economic development officials continue discussing a proposed loan extension for Carter Aviation Technologies.
Carter Aviation officials are looking at repaying a $3-million dollar loan from the City of Wichita Falls and say they have something in the works that could have the company skyrocketing to a new height.
The company is hosting their first-ever public showcase Saturday.
Local company Carter Aviation Technologies is again moving into the leading edge of flight technology. The company just landed a $2.2 million contract to develop technology that the US Navy says is vital to ensuring American superiority in the battle field.
According to an agreement, the 4A Board matched loans given to Carter Aviation Technology by AAI. Now the company's agreement with AAI has changed, and Carter employees hope their agreement with the 4A Board will change, too.
Carter Aviation Technologies showed off its new Wichita Falls facility during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour today.
Carter's personal air vehicle can take off vertically, like a helicopter -- but can fly as fast as a fixed- wing aircraft.
Katie Crosbie joins us now with an update.
In 2009, the company announced it was that it was exclusively licensing its "unmanned aerial vehicle technology" to AAI, which is one of the largest suppliers of military UAV's.
Now, Carter is finishing flight-testing its personal aircraft, and getting ready to build prototypes here.


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Police in Spain are investigating $125,000 in missing designer jewelry last seen on Winona Ryder at an event on Sunday.
Winona was loaned a Bulgari bracelet and ring, which she wore to a Marie Claire event in Spain last weekend, but the jewelry has gone missing.
A source told Access Hollywood that Winona left the jewels in her hotel room the morning following the event. But, when someone was dispatched to collect the bracelet and ring, they couldn't be found.
Though Winona was arrested for shoplifting at Saks Fifth Avenue in 2001, according to the source, police are not considering Winona a suspect in the jewelry case.
The jewelry disappearance is the latest incident to make headlines from the actress's European trip. Winona was hospitalized in London on November 19 after becoming ill during her overseas flight.
Copyright 2015 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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On this day in 1964, Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest known cavern in Texas, was opened to the public. The cavern was discovered on March 27, 1960, by four spelunkers who were students at St. Mary's University in San Antonio. It is located off Farm Road 1863 in the hill country of Comal County midway between New Braunfels and San Antonio. The name was derived from a sixty-foot natural limestone slab bridge that spanned the amphitheater setting of the cavern's entrance. The developed portion of the cave, furnished with a half mile of paved trails and illuminated by 35,000 watts of indirect lighting, extends to as much as 260 feet below ground level. Natural Bridge Caverns became a registered United States natural landmark in 1971.
On this day in 1884, the City-County Hospital, the oldest public hospital in Texas, opened in Austin. The hospital was owned jointly by the city of Austin and Travis County until 1907, when the county withdrew its support. It was known as City Hospital until 1929, when the city council renamed it in honor of Dr. Robert J. Brackenridge, who had served as chairman of the hospital board and worked for many years toward improving medical care in Austin. Brackenridge Hospital offered Austin's first intercranial and open-heart surgery in 1948 and 1961. The city's first intensive-care unit opened there in 1960, its first cardiac-care unit in 1971, and its first alternative birth center in 1978. In addition, the Brackenridge Emergency Room is the regional trauma center for a ten-county area. Brackenridge also housed the area's first nursing school, which was established in 1915 and operated by the hospital until 1984, when Austin Community College assumed responsibility for the program. After beginning an education program for interns and residents after World War II, Brackenridge became a fully accredited teaching hospital in the mid-1950s.
On this day in 1907, Pedro (Don Pedrito) Jaramillo, curandero or "faith healer," died in South Texas. He was born of Tarascan Indian parents near Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, in the mid-nineteenth century. He moved to South Texas as a young man in 1881 and settled on the Los Olmos Ranch, in the area of what is now northern Brooks County. He later related that when he was still a poor laborer in Mexico he suffered an affliction of the nose. One night he was in such pain that he went out into the woods to a pool of water. He lay down and buried his face in the mud at the edge and remained there for three days. When he had cured himself he returned to his house and fell asleep. A voice awakened him and told him that he had received the gift of healing from God. He began his practice as a faith healer almost immediately, prescribing the first thing that he thought of and making no charge for his services. At that time the only doctor between Corpus Christi and Laredo lived in San Diego; therefore, Don Pedrito's powers were often sought. At first he treated only close neighbors, but soon he began visiting ranches throughout the region between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. Dressed as a Mexican peasant, wearing heavy shoes, a sombrero, and a cowboy vest, he either walked or rode a donkey on his healing missions. As his fame spread, an increasing number of patients came to his home. Most were poor Mexican Americans, and often Don Pedrito would provide the remedies he prescribed. He constantly received money through the mail in the form of donations, usually in the amount of fifty cents or a dollar. He made generous donations to several area churches and to the constant stream of poor people visiting his ranch. He bought food in wagonloads and kept his storeroom well stocked. More than $5,000 in fifty-cent pieces was found at his home when he died. Don Pedrito never married, but he adopted two boys. He was buried in the old ranch cemetery near Falfurrias. His resting place has become a shrine and is visited by several hundred persons yearly. A biography of him, Don Pedrito Jaramillo: Curandero, was written in Spanish by Viola Ruth Dodson and published in 1934.


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No, not that minty, gelatinous gloop you ate off a popsicle stick in kindergarten! I'm talking about vanilla paste.
I just received samples of Bourbon Vanilla paste three-fold, and Tahitian Vanilla paste three-fold from The Vanilla Company in Santa Cruz, CA.
Patricia Rain, the 'Vanilla Queen', offers some spectacular products. The vanilla paste is -- well -- edible.
Pour it into your soap bases and facial scrubs, and whatever else you can think to put it in. Eat it. I'm going to tincture away.
The Vanilla Company.
Ramblings on about natural perfumery, perfumery raw materials, daily grind, and anything else that needs to come out.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Eat Paste!
Posted by Justine Crane at 10:52 AM
4 comments:
Go to 'Culinary', then click on 'Volume Purchases', then click on 'Wholesale Purchases' and it takes you to a list ~ the pastes are like the second or third item from the top of the list.ReplyDelete
Oh, I do love your blog!! Glad I found it.ReplyDelete
Please come and visit as well...www.gypsypurple.blogspot.com
Would love to have you there
Thank you, Chamara. I will visit your blog :D I love what you're doing there.ReplyDelete
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|Evening Story Time
Event Type: Children's Story Time
Age Group(s): Children & Families
Date: 10/6/2014
Start Time: 7:00 PM
End Time: 8:00 PM
Monday, November 3, 7:00 p.m.Library: Lewis and Clark Branch Map
Story time is a combination of stories, action songs and music all designed to teach early literacy skills to children and help them discover the joy of reading. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children can wear their pj's! Ages 2-6. Registration required.
Location: Room B (LC)
Presenter: lcstaff
Status: Closed


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- Filed Under
Cupcakes are a current popular food trend.
Sweet Treats Cupcake & Soda Shop in Avon has everything cupcake lovers are looking for and then some. From their wildly popular wedding cake-flavored cupcakes to homemade fudge, and brown or black cow sodas, you likely will find something on the menu to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.
Owner James Nicely and his wife, Jamie, Brownsburg, opened Sweet Treats in June of this year. ...


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Pennyman, a thrift and consignment shop, formerly located at Washington and 8th streets, has moved to 702 Main Street.
The shop is in its third year of operation, and is owned by three sisters, Nancy Winters, Judith Nigh and Kristen Basham, and features home goods, furniture and home accessories.
Nigh encourages people to check out the shop's Facebook page.
Remember: Drew Roberts
Full name:Andrew Rutledge Roberts
Job Title:Chairman and CEO of Saturday Down South
Education:Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., communications/business
Now Lives:Orlando, Fla.
Family:Wife, Shay, daughter, Leah
For those last minute Independence Day shoppers scrambling for celebration necessities like potato salad and hotdog buns, don't forget to stop by one of the many tents throughout the area to stock up on fireworks.
While many stands say there are no special discounts for the holiday, most assured that their prices would not increase with the demand, either.
"We don't really do specials," said Jason Baker, area manager for TNT fireworks.
Neal earns Florida
appellate certification
Gregg Neal, partner with Neal & Davis, PLLC, has been certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as an Appellate mediator. This certification is in addition to his certified mediator position. Appellate mediation involves cases that have been appealed to the circuit court, court of appeals and supreme court. Neal is also an approve mediator by the Kentucky Court of Justice.
Deeds are compiled from data posted on the Shelby County Clerk's Web site. Property descriptions are based on the best available information provided in the database and may in fact refer to property and thoroughfares no longer formally identified. Financial terms include any value of the property stated on the deed, even if that amount did not change hands.
June 13
Manuel and Lori Zepeda to Eric and Kylee Palmer, Lot 194 Town N Country Section 9, $195,000
With tents popping up throughout the city, a newcomer might think the circus is in town, but locals know what those tents bring and it's not clowns and acrobats…it's better.
Under those big tops you'll find gunpowder, chemicals, fuel and other scientific and testosterone-fueled ingredients needed to create the ideal pyrotechnic display – perfect for celebrating your independence with friends and family.
In other words, fireworks have arrived in Shelby County.
Rooted in Shelby
gets state grant
The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board last Friday approved $254,886 for agricultural diversification projects, including a $1,150 grant for the Shelby County Cooperative Extension Service and a new Rooted in Shelby program.
The program will promote the sale of horticultural, agricultural and other products produced by Kentucky Proud enterprises in Shelby County. The goal of the program is to heighten awareness of products and produce from Shelby County.
Deeds are compiled from data posted on the Shelby County Clerk's Web site. Property descriptions are based on the best available information provided in the database and may in fact refer to property and thoroughfares no longer formally identified. Financial terms include any value of the property stated on the deed, even if that amount did not change hands.
June 2-4
A restaurant that's been part of the downtown business community for the past 18 years is up for sale, but the owners say they're not planning to close their doors.
"We're not going out of business – we're not closing it – we're trying to sell it," said Teresa McKinley.
Teresa and Skip McKinley opened McKinley's Bread Shop and Deli at 615 Main Street on June 28, 1996, and business has been booming ever since, she said, especially after the first few years.
The Triple S Planning Commission has a brief but highly anticipated agenda for Tuesday's regular meeting.
Diageo will present its development plan for the 300-acre Diageo Distillery and & Warehouses facility planned for Benson Pike during the commission's 6:30 p.m. meeting at the Stratton Center.
Diageo is the No. 1 spirits producer in the world, with office in 80 countries, and is behind some of the leading alcoholic beverages on the market today like, Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Smirnoff, and Captain Morgan, among many others.
Copyright © 2015
The Sentinel-News is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Shelby County and Shelbyville, KY, and the surrounding area.


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Yellow beans may mean less greenFARGO, N.D. — Wheat, corn and sugar beet crops generally are looking good in Minnesota and North Dakota's Red River Valley, but a remarkably high number of soybean fields are turning yellow with an iron deficiency that could cut yields.
By: Mikkel Pates, Agweek
FARGO, N.D. — Wheat, corn and sugar beet crops generally are looking good in Minnesota and North Dakota's Red River Valley, but a remarkably high number of soybean fields are turning yellow with an iron deficiency that could cut yields.
Hans Kandel, an extension agronomist at North Dakota State University in Fargo, says it appears that there is a lot of iron chlorosis around. Soybeans in the Red River Valley have turned yellow because of the cooler, wetter conditions. It isn't clear yet whether the crops can snap out of it and produce top yields.
"We really have had a kind of a cool spring and are running a bit behind on growing degree days," Kandel says. "With the excessive moisture, most of the plants have been under some stress."
Yellow bean leaves means less green chlorophyll that is used for photosynthesis to make a crop.
Kandel says there is no real fix to the problem, at this point.
"The first thing would have been to get a more (chlorosis-) tolerant variety in the field. We can't change that now, because it's in the field," Kandel says. "But we can look to the future. If we have fields that are prone to iron chlorosis, we can pick varieties accordingly."
Land that farmers identify as chlorosis-prone should be farmed accordingly in the future, Kandel says.
"I suggest that farmers pay attention, map the areas and be more careful in the future for selecting varieties there," he says.
Managing chlorosis
Most soybean varieties in the North Dakota Variety Testing Program are scored specifically for how prone they are to iron chlorosis, he notes. Jay Goos, an NDSU soil scientist, has done testing where varieties are exposed intentionally to fields prone to iron chlorosis.
"Cool soils that are high in soluble salts, carbonates and nitrates contribute to iron chlorosis expression in the crop," Kandel says. "That's aggravated by wetter, cooler soils."
To manage soybeans on chlorosis-prone fields, Kandel advises planting the tolerant varieties and then planting rows a bit wider apart and then putting seeds closer to one another in those rows.
"Some farmers have experimented with products that contain iron, which helps to a certain extent," Kandel says. "We can't really be conclusive whether this is of financial benefit. We're still experimenting with that." The iron supplement would have had to be placed with the seed to have an effect.
Initially, seeds use iron that is available in the seed until the single-leaf stage, but the yellowing appears as they make a new leaf. As the plant develops. the root system can develop to take up iron from the soil.
How will the chlorosis affect yields?
That depends. Several years ago, Kandel ran a field trial with a susceptible variety. In one field, a susceptible variety yielded a paltry 10 to 30 bushels per acre, but the same variety yielded a respectable 25 to 33 bushels on a less-susceptible field.


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Photo by Quentin Bacon
YIELD: Serves 8 adults plus 10 children as part of a buffet
ACTIVE TIME: 30 min
TOTAL TIME: 1 hr
Make bread crumbs:
Heat butter and oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook garlic and bread crumbs, stirring, until crumbs are golden. Transfer to paper towels to drain and season with salt.
Make macaroni:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Chop chipotles.
Melt butter in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan over moderate heat, then add flour and cook, whisking, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, cream, and mustard and simmer, whisking occasionally, 3 minutes.
Cook macaroni in a 6- to 7-quart pot of boiling salted water until just tender. Drain in a colander and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in white sauce, cheese, and salt to taste.
Fill a 1 1/2-quart shallow casserole with half of macaroni mixture. Stir chipotles into remaining macaroni. Spoon into another 1 1/2-quart shallow casserole and sprinkle both with bread crumbs. Bake casseroles in middle of oven 30 minutes, or until bubbly.
Cook's note: Macaroni and cheese may be made 2 days ahead, put into casseroles, cooled completely, and chilled, covered. Do not add bread crumbs until ready to bake. (Baking may take longer than 30 minutes.)


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Climate change adaptation and responses present unique opportunities for multisectoral synergy and these came to the fore recently at a meeting in Lagos, writes Godwin Haruna
Science, it is reasoned, has come to redefine the world. Most developments known to man have come through the instrumentality of scientific research undertaken either as a collective or individually. Across the world, the manifestations of climate change in various forms have caused a lot of havocs to people. In the face of increasing destructions and discomfort caused by this phenomenon, the Federal Ministry of the Environment working in concert with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have conceived the idea of a scientific group to find solutions to the many negative variations of climate change.
To this end, a campaign aimed at leveraging experiences, knowledge and resources amongst research institutions to bridge the gap between science, technology and policy to tackle climate change has been adopted by the federal government.
The initiative has led to the creation of the Science and Technology Research Committee on Climate Change (STRCCC), a body of researchers that will act as a forum for dialogue and brainstorming within the scientific and technological community. The committee's duty is to devise concise, practical and implementable recommendations that will unearth climate change challenges and opportunities for economic development in the country.
This novel strategy, which manifested in ultimately setting up the committee is the brainchild of the Department of Climate Change (DCC) in the Federal Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The approach was given a life of its own during a two-day forum held recently in Lagos under the auspices of the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP) in collaboration with the UNDP.
Implemented by the UNDP, the AAP aims at promoting an integrated approach to adaptation to climate change through building the governance system, empower children and women as change agents, and demonstrate adaptation benefits in the agricultural sector. It also aims to assist the vulnerable section of the society in building their resilience in combating the effects of climate change.
At the meeting in Lagos, the Department of Climate Change Acting Director, Dr. Samuel Adejuwon, said that the adequate response to climate change challenges needs to be aligned with science and technology towards national and regional strategies for development, poverty alleviation, economic growth and the enhancement of human well being, while increasing resilience to the physical impacts of climate change.
Represented by Mr. Peter Tarfa, a senior official of the ministry, Adejuwon said: "Climate change is indeed a serious threat to poverty eradication and sustainable development in Nigeria. This is because the country has a large rural population directly depending on climate-sensitive economic and development sectors (agriculture and fisheries) and natural resources (such as water, biodiversity, grassland) for their subsistence and livelihoods. In addition, the adaptive capacity of the rural majority to climate change impacts is very low. Unfortunately, most current development strategies in the country tend to overlook climate change risks. The costs of not addressing climate change or to adapt to it are very uncertain, but their welfare consequences are expected to be enormous."
Adejuwon, who doubles as the APP National Coordinator, stated that the responsibility for action on climate change-related problems does not fall solely on government.
"Government has commenced actions in taking legislative or regulatory measures, prepare economic policies or incentives or dissuasive measures for economic operators. However, every sector of the society has important roles to play, including science and technology, private enterprises, producers, and consumers who are encouraged to also stand out in the battle against greenhouse gases effects through insisting on sustainable and environmentally friendly product choices and production techniques," he stated further.
Adejuwon lamented that the status of Nigeria as an economy largely driven by crude oil export makes the country highly vulnerable to climate change and economic instability should major importers commercialise their investments in alternative energy sources.
"Nigeria could lose much future revenue unless efforts are made to diversify the economy through investing in enhanced human capacity building and developing technologies whose products can form the basis of future trade with other countries on carbon credit," the APP Coordinator stated.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Muyiwa Odele, Head of the Climate Change Unit of UNDP said climate change adaptation and responses present unique opportunities for multi-sectoral synergy that could effectively reinvent how these institutions relate with each other.
"There is a popular saying that innovation is the lifeblood of sustainable economic development, so the overall vision of this dialogue is to celebrate the contribution of science and technology through the institutions over the years to Nigeria's development, provide a platform for exchange of ideas, and explore the possibility of evolving a framework for bridging the gap between scientific innovations and economic transformation in the country," Odele stated.
He stated that science has become the instrument of resolving most human problems across the world, therefore, it is quite urgent for Nigerian scientists to leverage on their scientific knowledge to solve society's problems as it relates to the climate change conundrum.
However, participants at the gathering, who came from research institutes, departments and parastatals of government, recommended that research, planning and implementation process should ensure that requisite expertise, adequate funding, capacity building and adequate infrastructure are in place. They urged government to also ensure there is a research-industry linkage through proper institutional and policy framework.
Additionally, they urged government to ensure that researchers embark on demand-driven research for development through a policy framework, even as the authorities should operationalise the recently inaugurated National Research and Development Coordinating Council (NRDCC) as a platform for sustainable research.
They further called on government to put in place incentives and a conducive environment to encourage synergy and networking among researchers on one hand and between research and industry on the other.
Divided into three groups, they canvassed for the establishment of atmospheric background observatories; (some significant findings can be made on GHG observations, especially CO2 concentration, Methane emission data from waste and dumpsites; Developing temperature change curve depicting climate change over a period of time; and development of climate change models; vulnerability study of Nigerian coastlines; research into ocean fertilization for increasing species.
The participants also stressed developing renewable and energy saving technologies in all sectors (building materials, steel, chemicals, construction, transportation, mining etc); research and development of renewable and new energies like wind power, bio-energy, solar energy, hydro power, thermal power and fuel cells.
They also called for developing biological and engineering carbon sequestration technologies and use modern biotechnology techniques to raise seedlings for carbon sink; desertification control and green shelter.
They called for a clean/efficient developed technologies of petroleum exploration, and natural gas
A number of the participants in their group discussion listed institutional challenges of scientific research on climate change to include the following; Translating research into core activities; Funding of R & D and capacity building; Poor data management and data sharing; Inadequate infrastructure and equipment; Lack of trained manpower and Lack of continuous time-series data. Others include weak coordination amongst institutions; lack of Public-Private-Partnership in research and lack of political will and continuity in governance.
Among recommendations on way forward by the participants, which included scientists and the media are that the Federal Government should ensure that researchers embark on demand-driven research for development through the policy framework.
They also want the Federal Government to operationalise the recently inaugurated National Research and Development Coordinating Council (NRDCC) as a platform for sustainable research. According to them, research planning and implementation process should ensure that requisite expertise, adequate funding, capacity building and adequate infrastructure in a conducive environment are in place. The government should also ensure research-industry linkage through proper institutional and policy framework and that it should put in place incentives and a conducive environment to encourage synergy and networking among researchers on one hand and between research and industry on the other. According to the group, a well-articulated strategy to bridge gaps between scientific research and policy making/ implementation as enunciated above is a sine qua non for sustainable development.
Quote: There is a popular saying that innovation is the lifeblood of sustainable economic development, so the overall vision of this dialogue is to celebrate the contribution of science and technology through the institutions over the years to Nigeria's development, provide a platform for exchange of ideas, and explore the possibility of evolving a framework for bridging the gap between scientific innovations and economic transformation in the country


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Do NOT buy from this ebay seller. They take about a month to ship the items after receiving payment.
Plus these headphones are cheap and crap…


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Since opening in 1998, The Fez has woven itself into the fabric of Cape Town's entertainment scene with an endless Bedouin adventure of North African drapes, ambient lanterns, sexy people and kick-ass tunes. Having closed, and then reopened last year, nothing has changed since then. Fez remains the place to be in Cape Town when the sun goes down.
The Fez Club has always epitomized the week-long party scene and continues to provide constantly refreshing and progressive entertainment. Whether you can shake it to the sounds, perch at the bar or hide away in one of the many alcoves, you're guaranteed to be having the time of your life!
The Fez is best known for hosting the prolific weekly Saturday night event "The Good Life" featuring resident DJ Dino Moran and the Vaudeville Circus – a bohemian mix of strength, adage, fire and aerial cirque performances. It is also home to the Dance Experience, one of Cape Town's biggest international DJ events which reliably draws a packed marquee of over 2 000 party-goers. The summer season at Fez is the definitive Cape Town party with top local DJs and a scorching line-up of International acts.
As one of the city's most long standing and prestigious clubs, the Fez has enjoyed a loyal local following and enduring membership base. The Fez has also sparked International interest, and they await the return of familiar faces from other shores. So a Fez gold guarantees that you have the hottest ticket in town!


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Results 1 to 7 of 7
Thread: In this place...
February 28th, 2009 #1Registered User
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In this place...
Hi guys!
Sometime ago I posted a sketch I was working on and after some great critiques and comments I received I thought it will be good to post the final result for you guys to see it =)
What I was looking for in this piece is to create a calm atmosphere with some contrast between the right and left side, as if the character -Aru- were illuminated by some light coming for the right.
Any comments or critiques to this piece will be appreciated =)
Thanks for looking!
Hide this ad by registering as a memberFebruary 28th, 2009 #2
kudos for your love to details and everything, but I see one big problem:
the character and his pose is really hard to see and the picture needs too much time to be read and my eyes just jump around, no peace and harmony at all.
The reason is, that there is good no contrast in:
value (light)
His wing has the same importance as the tree several meters behind. The face the same importance as the lillies etc.
Everything has gotten the same amount of everything, the focus is not on the figure but on the bright spot there.
Another problem is that the light does nothing: if it comes from the right there should be shadowy places under his wings, lighter places at his wings.
It should make the shape of his body readable.
Also the light doesn't affect the saturation if his wings, it doesn't really ..illuminate anything. To set a mood, ambient light (which would also lead to more unitiy in the colors) could help a ton.
Each of these problem would need a lot of time to be explained and fixed.. maybe you could make your next picture with the help of the wip section?
There are really a lot of promissing things in this picture
Last edited by Kiera; February 28th, 2009 at 05:35 PM.
February 28th, 2009 #3Registered User
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Thank you for your comment Kiera, but perhaps, could you explain to me at least one of the topics you pointed out for me so I could try and fix this drawing? You see, I really love this and I want to fix this as much as I can.
February 28th, 2009 #4
yeah, I bookmark this thread and I will do an overpaint and some more explanations tomorrow (it's late here)
March 1st, 2009 #5
The easiest things to fix right now are:
– drop some details to get some peacefull places in there, especially in the shadows on the left and in the background further away, it will work because things that are further away are softer, have less contrast and look more blueish (think of mountains), things in the shadows also get fuzzy and less detailed.
- Play a bit with overlays and use color areas to get some more distance in there.
- Add aditional shadows on the figure, drop some details like those white shoulder things or that turquoise thing, they are unredable right now. Either that.. or.. crop the picture to get a bigger focus on the character and all his details..
but I really suggest to leave the picture as it is because it really is ok and just start a new one here on the forums with maybe another approach from the start.
Because this pic has deeper underlying problems:
No design and the details kill the big thing –
Things are not composed together but thrown randomly in there, no choices were made and this makes the pic very chaotic and hard to read.
I guess you paint by finishing little parts of your picture (for example painting one wing completely with light and shadow and details while the rest of the picture is still untouched)? This way you loose control, overview, concentration and you put too much unneccessary work into it.
Better start out with planing a composition by thumbnails like in the forest explorer tutorial and move in little steps from the general to the subshapes to the detailed things. If the big thing is good, you can continue polishing endlessly. Here's a good explanation what I mean by going from general shapes to details.
For composition:
by a rule of thumb, a composition works when the thumbnail is interessting.
This is because contrasts make a picture look appealing.
What also works: Redline the general shapes you see in your picture. It works with almost every good picture (except on some children's books type of pics like "where's Wally?"). It's an easy way to check your composition.
Edges (here's Elwell's tutorial)
not everything needs the same amount of details.
Things that are further away often have less contrast and softer edges, some things almost dissolve in the distance (think of mountains).
Sometimes choosing softer edges is also a choice of design to make other things stand out - in many pictures an important area lies over calm planes, look at that example picture
realism here: things in the distance loose contrast and colors, look what tone the shadows of the oliphant have compared to the orks who run in front of it and those compared to the men in the foreground.
design here: for example the area around the oliphant has just a plain blue to make it's shape readable, the area around the lower branch of the left tree has no details at all to make the branch stand out.
In this picture you can also see that the thumbnail is interesting, that you can easily redline the general shapes, another nice thing is that the details all point to the centre of attention.
last one: Grass is green, bark is brown, flesh is pink? nah, to get a mood across make use of references. Research how woods look like, look for a forest that seems to be the one you want and analyse what makes the mood of the picture work. Don't look for single pictures of elements you want in your picture but look at sceneries and how everything works together.
While painting, take a good look what colors are dominating, what color the trees have and what color light and shadows have. Most things have a completely other color than you would expect (I suggest to take that Lord of the rings picture again and paint down the colors that you expect the trees or the hobbits`faces to have.. and then really eyedrop the colors and see how they really look like.)
It could also help to take a look at how other artists solve some problems with painting woods.
It's just a suggestion how I would do it (I'm a fan of minimalism and bold, strong pictures) I'm no expert for environments and I'm sure other people could get much more out of this. (I wouldn't trust my colorchoice either because I use a tv screen to paint).
I basically just dropped all details to get an overview over the composition and to get a focus on the character, the lillies and the light from the right. From now on it's easier to get control over the color and to start to suggest details around the most interesting area (character and things in the foreground). The eyes now rest more on the character and the view doesn't jump around on random rocks or trees.
That's a lot of information in here and I really don't want to sound like an expert on art who is wagging a finger on other people, that's why I was a bit shy to tell all this.
I also remember that you posted the lines for the character and those were pretty cool. Just continue doing art
Last edited by Kiera; March 1st, 2009 at 06:44 AM.
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Kiera For This Useful Post:
March 1st, 2009 #6
Kiera actually gave you the best advice ever, so you should just roll with that, though perhaps its better to start a new picture. Remember though not to start with details but with general composition and form.
March 1st, 2009 #7Registered User
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Oh my, thank you Kiera! I never expected such a complete critique of my work, I see now all the fails this drawing has and, because of that, I decided I'm going to do a new piece with the same idea and concept but this time I'm going to post the process in the wip forum =) Thank you again
And Janos, yes, I believe also it will be good to start with a new piece, I'm still proud of this drawing but I'm going to try and make a better drawing
Members who have read this thread: 7


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Michael Goforth: Jack Horton lends his voice to keeping Dorian from the Treasure Coast
At the beginning of the hurricane season, I invited readers to record songs I had written with the names of each possible storm as I have done for the past eight years. The goal — which has been remarkably successful — was to urge storms to stay away from the Treasure Coast and spare us the kind of damages we suffered in 2004 and 2005.
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No Medal of Honor for Peralta
SecDef says evidence does not rate top award for fallen Marine
A years-long battle to upgrade the posthumous combat award for Sgt. Rafael Peralta to the Medal of Honor appeared to end in defeat Friday, when the Pentagon announced it will not reopen the nomination for the fallen Marine.
The 25-year-old San Diegan was awarded a Navy Cross, the nation's second highest medal for valor in combat, after he smothered a grenade blast during house-to-house fighting in Fallujah, Iraq in November 2004.
Supporters in Peralta's hometown, on Capitol Hill and in the Navy have persistently campaigned for the top award, including Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, a Marine combat veteran who submitted additional evidence in support of a Medal of Honor.
The entire California congressional delegation pushed to reopen the nomination, which seems unlikely now that a third defense secretary has declined to upgrade Peralta's medal.
"Secretary (Chuck) Hagel and the department remain forever grateful to Sgt. Peralta for his selfless service to our nation," the Pentagon said in a news release.
But an "exhaustive" review of the evidence by Hagel — as well as the armed forces medical examiner, the Defense Department general counsel, the acting undersecretary for personnel and readiness, and several high-ranking military officers — concluded that the totality of evidence in Peralta's case did not meet the "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" standard for the Medal of Honor, defense officials said.
"The Department of Defense has taken extraordinary measures to ensure Sgt. Peralta's nomination received full consideration. Three separate secretaries of defense have now examined the case, and each independently concluded the evidence does not support award of the Medal of Honor."
The decision not to reopen the Medal of Honor nomination "does not detract at all from how (Peralta) served the nation with great honor and distinction," and it does not cast doubt on his Navy Cross, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Christensen, a Defense Department spokesman.
Unfair standard?
The Navy Cross citation issued in 2008 said that "without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Sgt. Peralta reached out and pulled the grenade to his body."
Peralta's family has refused to accept the Navy Cross medal.
The Navy and Marine Corps had recommended Peralta, an immigrant from Tijuana, for the top award based on seven eyewitnesses who said he scooped the grenade under his body to save nearby Marines.
But a special panel of experts convened by then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates to vet discrepancies in eyewitness and forensic evidence concluded that Peralta was probably killed instantly by a bullet wound to the head, making it unlikely that he consciously grabbed the grenade.
All five panel members — two forensic pathologists, a neurosurgeon, a Medal of Honor recipient and a retired Army general — said they were "convinced that the evidence does not support the Medal of Honor."
Others felt Peralta was held to a tougher standard of proof than the traditional requirement of two eyewitness statements.
Douglas Sterner, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and curator of the Military Times Hall of Valor, said Peralta is a victim of Pentagon stubbornness.


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The State House Mosque Committee has expressed gratitude and appreciation to the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, for his efforts towards the promotion and advancement of Islam.
Writing on behalf of the committee, WO2 Alhagie Basainey Camara, the Amir of the Mosque said President Jammeh's interventions towards the advancement, promotion and development of Islam in this country and beyond cannot be over-emphasized.
The message reads:
As Muslims all over the world entered the Islamic calendar of Maulude Nabi (the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Mohammed SAW) we the members of the State House Mosque Committee wish to seize this great opportunity to convey to you, the first family, the government and the people of the Republic of the beloved Gambia, our esteem andheartfelt felicitations on this auspicious occasion, a moment when true Muslims focus on the greatest achievements of the teachings and beliefs of Islam. It is quite evident that your personal interventions towards the advancement, promotion and development of Islam in this country and beyond cannot be over-emphasized.
The sixth year victory celebration of the breakthrough of the major sickness in the Gambia, regardless of religion, tribe and political affiliations at the July 22 Square was indeed a milestone of the greatest success within the circle of your visionary leadership qualities. This is a moment despite your busy schedules that you kindly stepped into render selfless services to humanity without asking for a penny. Patients travelled far and long distances to seek for your treatment. Your well behaved and mannered staff always on their toes at the mercy of the patients; with this they go on sleepless nights and days to make sure that patients' satisfaction will be their number one priority and concern.
The recent approval of your government of the changes of the timings of official working hours was a brilliant move in the right direction for a better conducive condition. We only hope that henc forth delivery and productivity qualities shall be improved tremendously. Your visionary and pan-African leadership to move The Gambia to a higher height shall be planted into brighter constellations in which for development the sky is the limit. Nineteen year ago, you have really changed the lively condition of everyone in this country from a state of ignorance to a state of maturity.
The State House cannot rely on our oars without extending to you best prayers for you continue true governance for a better Gambia. May the Almighty Allah who has the powers over everything blessed you with the strength, courage, determinations to lead this country for many more years to come in the brightest future. Your Excellency, kindly accept our best assurances and fraternal esteem.
WO2 Alhagie Basainey Camara
Amir of the Mosque


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Lion Tacos On the Menu In Tucson 6 6
Posted by samzenpus
from the a-meal-fit-for-a-king-of-beasts dept.
from the a-meal-fit-for-a-king-of-beasts dept.
If you've always wanted to try to eat a lion, but were afraid of being eaten first, a Tucson restaurant has just the thing for you. Boca Tacos y Tequila is now offering customers lion tacos. From the article: "Boca Tacos y Tequila has already drawn the ire of animal rights activists on its Facebook page for the announcement. But owner Bryan Mazon says that curious customers are already making reservations to try the new delicacy, to be offered on 'exotic tacos night' - every Wednesday starting from February 16."


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Miley Cyrus on 'Saturday Night Live': VMAs, twerking mocked in promosAdd to Favorites | Saturday Night Live
Miley Cyrus certainly isn't shirking away from her controversial VMAs performance. Expect it to be brought up during "Saturday Night Live," which Cyrus is both hosting and performing on this weekend.
New promos for the Oct. 5 episode have been posted online, and among the topics of discussion are -- of course -- the VMAs, her twerking and why she constantly sticks out her tongue ("It's how I smell"). During the various skits, she and Taran Killam constantly spoof her antics over the past year, which have Killam looking horrified and noting she's been "busy."
The fact that Cyrus is addressing these changes in her public persona head-on are part of what's helping people come to terms with her bad girl personality. She definitely didn't shy away from touchy subjects in her recent Rolling Stone interview. Hopefully she's just as good a sport during this weekend's episode as she was during this promo, and it sounds like the "SNL" audience will be in for a treat. After all, "Don't forget about the children!"


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Category: Season 2012-13
Lloris and Eriksen Play Them On Their Own
If Spurs' scabby season is remembered for anything, it will be for the anger and despondency generated as raised expectations were crushed by profligate ineptitude. Its symbolic moment, the peg on which we can hang our memories, took place yesterday just before half time.
Stewart Downing's free kick was heading plumb for the centre of Tottenham's wall. Paulinho and Adebayor moved out of the way and the Whammers had won the match. When it came to it, two of our most experienced players avoided their responsibilities. It wasn't a powerful shot. All they had to do was stand there but they couldn't even be bothered to do that. Any semblance of organisation fell apart at the slightest pressure.
As he left the field a minute or so later, Hugo Lloris shook his head slowly and puffed out his cheeks. Paulinho and Adebayor's instinctive reaction was to turn their backs on their ball and in so doing on their team-mates. They had let him and their team-mates down. You may be playing well or badly, in our case very badly, but you stick together. Apparently not at Tottenham Hotspur.
The impact on Hugo was greater than on any other Spurs player. Leading from the back, he was outstanding throughout, giving his all in a game that to most of his colleagues appeared meaningless, judging by their lack of effort or application. He threw himself to all four corners of his net and of his area, fingertipping low shots round the post, holding the straight ones and fearlessly venturing into the muscle and elbows of a packed penalty box to punch the danger away. If he is planning to leave it didn't show but frankly after this, who can blame him.
The turning point was Kaboul's dismissal on 25 minutes. After a sedate opening when Spurs played some decent football, it all fell apart when the centre half pulled Downing down as he rushed towards our box. Last man so was gone. Personally I would have backed Hugo against Downing so Kaboul was at best clumsy, reckless more like. Lloris saved Carroll's thundering free-kick, of course he did, but Carroll headed in from the resultant corner via a deflection off the top of Harry Kane's head.
In a season where we've seen some rubbish, Spurs formed a rabble and stank the place out to high heaven. Having no idea is bad enough, they had no inclination to do anything about it. Paulinho, such a disappointment, sauntered around. I swear he kept looking at his watch to see how long he had to put up with it, or maybe he was checking the times of the planes to Rio. He certainly wasn't interested in playing for Tottenham. Dawson tried his best, Siggy was in headless chicken mode and Eriksen tried to make sense of how professionals could play this poorly. I couldn't work it out and neither could he, but at least he did something about it. Otherwise, I would rather be locked in a broomcupboard with Piers Morgan, John Terry and a box of two-week old rotting fish than watch this.
In contrast, Wham were totally committed. I've seen them a lot this season and despite their muscular approach they can be vulnerable. Instead, they were first to every tackle and loose ball, although they didn't have to work that hard because we gave the ball away so frequently. Bear in mind they have had their troubles too, with the added pressure of being sucked into the relegation places, yet they took on their challenge rather than run away from it as we did.
Sherwood's half-time talk had a marginally beneficial effect although it's hard to imagine how we could have played any worse. He moved us more centrally, sacrificing width for more bodies in the middle. Lennon stayed busy. Eriksen stood out with hard work and a couple of superb runs but his skills provoked a feeble response from the rest. He was excellent, while Lloris continued to excel too. 10 v 11 is hard enough but this was 2 v 11.
Couple more things to make you feel even worse, if that's possible. Carroll is Wham's dangerman. Kaboul was marking him at set-pieces. When he was sent off, Spurs failed to react quickly enough. Kane seemed to be marking him for the corner that followed the free-kick. That was a mistake that led to the goal. Daws tried to get to him but too late. It was always a mis-match. No one on the field or on the bench reacted quickly enough. There was time to bring Chiriches on after the free-kick but before the corner. Sherwood was too slow and by such margins games are won and lost.
And then there's Danny Rose. While the focus was on Kaboul's foul, moments before Spurs' back line pushed right up to the halfway line. As Downing ran through, Rose let him go. Before Downing's free-kick, Rose gave the ball away when under little pressure in his own half, misdirecting a simple pass. Inexcusable on both counts.
On Friday I questioned the emotional commitment of the current squad. I doubt that playing for Spurs means as much as it should, therefore when it comes to giving that little extra, they are found wanting and that the way forward is to build regular, personal links between supporters and players so they understand the heritage and meaning of being Spurs.
This game exposed the yawning chasm between fan and player. This may be the end of the season but it's a derby, it means something. Because of this, the fans give more but most of the players couldn't give a hoot. The supporters who went not only paid a lot of money but took some massive stick. That's what happens at a derby. The players could at least give something back. Disgraceful. No wonder we get angry.
It comes from the top. Levy's appointment of a caretaker signalled that we had limited ambitions for this season but this blog has effectively been about that dereliction of duty and nothing else for the past few months so no more about it now. A few paragraphs above, without thinking about it, I wrote 'they' not 'we' when talking about the club. Slip of the keyboard maybe but it's a small but telling example of how many supporters feel about the current situation. We're not all in this together.
We Think A Little Change Has Done Spurs Good
The criticism most often levelled at Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas is his lack of flexibility. He sticks rigidly to his ideas, tactics and formations come what may, so the stroy goes. At this point his more snide detractors add something about clipboards and never having played professional football.
I've never fully bought that. Tottenham have tried different formations, although always with a back four, and the permutations have seldom included the classic 4-3-3 that was supposed to be his trademark. He persists with certain players but then again being accused of giving players a chance to prove themselves over a run of games is laudable. When he chops and changes, he gets it in the neck too.
However, his capacity to change will never be tested under as much pressure as over the coming month. How he responds in the nine games of December will define not only this season but the longer-term future of the club. Spurs are slipping down the table, we can't score and sections of the media will pounce like starving hawks on the slightest sign of weakness. And in our last league match, we were slaughtered.
Early signs are positive. From first to last the team's attitude was exemplary. They all played for each other and, as 'we' is an inclusive pronoun, presumably for the manager too. After the City debacle, what I feared most was a slump in morale but the opposite was the case, with a fighting determination to do the right thing that will see us through if it continues. For long periods we were the better side and imposed our pattern on the game rather than reacting to United. We made the chances too, but missed them when it mattered.
In the end, a deserved point, a pearler from Sandro and the optimism that it could have been more. The result was less important than the performance. This was never the 'must win' game that many named it because we have a lousy record against United. This fixture has meant nothing but frustrated hopes and soggy disappointment for a decade or more, so three points are an aspiration rather than a benchmark.
AVB changed the team too, with Lennon on the right and Chiriches at the back alongside Dawson, who looked the most vulnerable of the defenders after last week but I doubt Kaboul is fully fit, or indeed if he will ever be again. The inclusion of Chadli was the most surprising. We've seen a bit of him looking ripped and hanging around on the left but little else. He started at Palace and now he's back after injury so safe to say his manager rates him.
However, some things don't change. The way the team was given to me, I assumed Dembele was playing further forward – regular readers will know I firmly believe his considerable talents are wasted as a DM. In fact, it was just a random order of the midfielders so there he was, with Paulinho pushed up into an unfamiliar advanced role as the link between striker and the rest of the midfield.
After the early skirmishes Spurs took the game to United. With Paulinho in that advanced role we were better able to press high up the pitch. Dembele got stuck in too and the United midfield never had time to settle, looking dangerous only when the excellent Rooney got on the ball or when Valencia powered towards Vertonghen. The Brazilian enjoyed his work near the box without ever appearing entirely comfortable. He was part of the best move of the game, returning Soldado's first time ball with a pass of his own that sliced through the defence to give the Spaniard a precious chance deep inside the box. As we're on the subject of defining moments, as he took aim and without hesitation hit a first time shot, you knew this embryonic goal of the month could resurrect his reputation, silence the doubters and send his flagging confidence sky-high. But into the crowd and the moment had gone.
Still, he played well, encouraged by his manager to adapt to the English game by increasing his movement and work rate. As a result he got on the ball more and played an instrumental role in fashioning our other great chance. Lennon's shot was saved and from the rebound his perfect cross to the far post found Paulinho hanging back when he stood have been idling near the goal-line for a tap-in.
Paulinho made our opener, Walker slamming home a direct free kick after the Brazilian was fouled at the edge of the box. I like to think we had scouted the fact that the United wall jumps as the kick is taken and that's why it was a low ball straight at, then through, the wall, rather than a slightly scuffed effort. Positive, that' the approach…
Walker has been playing better recently. If only he could concentrate for 90 minutes. He seemed surprised a cross came to him and sliced his clearance straight to a grateful Rooney. He put everything into this game and I feel for him even though his howler put United on level terms and back into a match that was at that point slipping out of their grasp. His positioning and body-shape were a tiny bit off and that's all that is needed for a mistake.
However, that cross would not have come if Dembele had not lost the ball in midfield. His good game was spoilt by repeating this error on several occasions, each time it gave the impetus back to United.
Lennon was outstanding in the first half. Townsend essentially gives us a single angle of attack – Lenny gives us several, going outside like a proper winger or whizzing directly into box in a series of dangerous diagonals. Pleasure to see him do so well.
Walker's error took the wind from our sails and we were becalmed until half time. We picked up again after the break, then we were lifted by the gale-force blast from Sandro's right foot, a classic top-right-corner-keeper-rooted-to-the-spot from 25 yards.
And now – an official TOMM apology to referee Mike Dean. When Lloris dived at Welbeck's feet, I was convinced he reached the ball first. I, like many in the stands. were frankly uncomplimentary about his powers of decision-taking. But I was wrong. Welbeck made the most of it as is the modern way but there's no defence if the keeper doesn't touch it. Penalty, and United had both the goal and renewed momentum.
So the lead lasted only three minutes. Mind you, I really enjoyed those 180 seconds, among the best of the year so far, but hey ho.
Spurs performance never recovered but we were steady enough to see it thorugh for a point. The ball shot across our box a couple of times but otherwise we did not look like losing this one. I can't recall Lloris making a diving save.
Trouble is, perhaps we could and should have done more to win it, and back we come to Villas-Boas' inflexibility. Both his subs – Defoe Soldado, Townsend for Lennon – were like for like, thus United did not have to confront anything new and uncomfortable. Later that afternoon, his fallen mentor Jose Mourinho turned deficit into victory with his substitutions. Perhaps AVB was legitimately cautious after last week but there were opportunities to change things around with Paulinho remaining on the pitch to the end despite a fading contribution.
Sandro had a good game, dropping back into the back four when necessary to shore up the defence. Dawson tackled and blocked, while Chiriches looks accomplished with timing in the tackle, dare I say it, reminiscent of our dear Ledley. My imagination or did we defend deeper for the most part? I wonder if AVB wants to dump the high line. Interesting to see if that is permanent.
AVB has certainly changed his tactics when it comes to sections of the media, firstly tucking into Alan Sugar's bid to install Alex Ferguson as his replacement then going on the offensive with journalists like Neil Ashton who interpreted his use of the word 'we' in the analysis of the City defeat as meaning that he blamed the players, not himself. Taking on the media is a dangerous game but good luck to him on this occasion at least. It's a fine line between appropriate assertiveness and outrageous paranoia (see Mourinho, J. and Wenger, A.) but this was the right time to take a stand. More on this later in the week but we think the boy done good.
Andros Gets The Plaudits But Spurs Brazilian Duo Make All The Difference
If I were you Andros my friend, I'd pop down the bookies and bet on every 100-1 shot, buy a lottery ticket (you'll only need one) and nip into the casino on the way home. When you're hot, you're hot and Andros my boy, you are currently smoking. If Townsend ever again has a couple of weeks anywhere near as good, we Spurs fans are in for a treat. A sensation for England and yesterday the crucial opening goal, a cross rather than a shot at that. Give Scarlett or Mila a bell when you have a moment, it can't go wrong.
Spurs deserved this win against Aston Villa without ever reaching top form. After a frantic opening, the game settled into a flat, monotonous pattern, all effort but little guile or inspiration. Just as our performance was in danger of spiralling down the plughole, Townsend's goal lifted the spirits and crucially the tempo. From then on, Spurs stayed on top save for the period around the hour when Villa talisman Benteke came on. The earth shook and defenders' nerves trembled as he leapt then fell to the ground, vainly trying to convert a series of dangerous crosses. Narrowly wide on a couple of occasions, the ball went safely by the woodwork and that was essentially that. Spurs' second, delightfully set up by Holtby and Paulinho, finished by Soldado in style, may have been a rare instance of incisive creativity but it put us out of sight. Again it came at just the right moment, effectively extinguishing hopes of a home revival. From then until the final whistle, the momentum stayed with Spurs.
Townsend won the man of the match award. Undeniably he played well, contributing throughout and running rampant in the last 15 minutes when he had more space as Villa pushed forward in search of a goal. However, our Brazilian central midfield (I can't believe I've written that about a Spurs side, think I'll type it again), our Brazilian midfield made a telling contribution to victory. Sandro was the unobtrusive powerhouse, loping across in front of the back four to sweep up the danger and provide a platform for our more creative players. Paulinho was industry and application from first until last. He was always available for his team-mates, made a series of telling runs into the box (missing a great headed chance from close in to make it three near the end) and his energy kept the ball moving when Spurs were in danger of falling into the torpor of a slumbering first half.
Last night on twitter Townsend modestly said his award should rightfully be Sandro's, a rare and interesting insight into the mind of the professional who knows that the dribbles and runs are not possible without foundations of graft and effort, without someone to get the ball back when it has been lost. It was heartening to see the Brazilian's return. He looked fully fit and determined to play both for a win and for his place in the side. It's something I advocated in last week's blog and so it proved. Paulinho began the game alongside him but was able to get further forward as the match settled into a pattern. In the second half in particular he supported Soldado as well as asserting his authority in midfield. This central axis proved decisive yesterday: it has to be the way forward.
After a busy first few minutes, Spurs allowed the tempo to fall and with it the standard of performance. We have to shift the ball around quickly to be at our most effective. Agbonlahor missed early on then Villa posed few dangers. Spurs were lacklustre, giving the ball away too easily and clumsy in our distribution from the back with our opponents' main efforts coming from our mistakes.
Then Townsend's goal, an inswinging left-footed cross that Soldado and Holtby both missed at the near post but occupying keeper Guzan's attention so the ball floated in at the far. It was fortunate in some ways but the quality of the ball created that indecision and the sight of two Spurs players attacking the ball in the box augers well for the future.
Soldado's goal, his first in the league from open play, was a beauty, calmly converting a well-worked set-up. With the ball at his feet in the box, in a trice he was a player transformed. Upright, calm, in control of the ball and everything around him, it was a moment of high class finishing. He's busy up front, not a target man but the target for crosses and balls into channels. He waits, that's what he does, and so we have to be patient and give him the ball in those areas. He can do the rest.
Holtby did well, staying involved and he has both the eye for an angled pass into channels and a left foot to deliver. He deserves a run in the side. While it was good to see Chiriches make his debut, Vertonghen left too many openings in the second half and did not have a strong match. he needs a rest on Thursday. Daws was involved in a couple of shaky moments but won his share of challenges. Pleased to see Lennon scampering enthusiastically onto the field like a puppy out for his first walk.
Overall, a win we earned and, glancing back at last week's piece, some early signs that Villas-Boas understands more about what might constitute his best side.
Stating The Bleedin' Obvious
That Erik Lamela, seems like a nice boychick. Needs to fill out a bit but a lovely touch, easy on the eye with the ball at his feet and a flowing stride that whets the appetite. More please, but I'm not sure when, not in the League at least.
So how about our Andros then? Our policy of loaning out young players to gain experience has paid dividends, although using England as our feeder club is a little cheeky. Hearty congratulations to him on two fine, eye-catching performances for the national side. Particularly impressive was the way he mixed it up, going outside to cross right-footed as well as cutting in, knocking the ball short to keep possession if he could not make any headway (rather than trying a futile dribble) and his link-up play with Rooney and others up front.
I don't want to rain on his parade or pee on his bonfire when I add that for us, it's not worked as well. Against West Ham he ran into brick walls and blind alleys, unwilling or unable to go wide and cross with his right foot, while Chelsea turned the match in their favour by targeting our right-hand side. In the end, Townsend was substituted.
It's stating the bleedin' obvious to say that the Premier League is different. Lamela and Townsend have different styles and are at different stages of their development but both face the same issue. They have little to space in which to operate and any defensive shortcomings will be ruthlessly exploited. Also, the Wham game will become a template for how to play against us.
As Villas-Boas struggles to create the best blend from the riches at his disposal, he has to get that balance right, not just for these two young men but for the team as a whole. More bleedin' obvious: the side needs time to bed in. It takes a while before players can settle. Most of the new signings are young, although Eriksen and Lamela have already played for years outside their home countries. The singular demands of the Premier League are by no means insurmountable but they exert considerable physical and mental pressure. Add to that the fact that Villas-Boas has yet to decide his best side and the question becomes not whether they need time but how much time is reasonable?
Hardly part of the Spurs pantheon but Steve Hodge always sticks in my mind. Signed from Forest, he made an immediate impact when he arrived only to fade into obscurity as his influence dwindled away to nothing. I mention this only because his experience was unusual. The vast majority of players give of their best after many months or typically in their second year. I'm including most of the best here: Ardiles, Mabbutt, Waddle, Sheringham, Bale. Not everyone fits the bill – Gough and Lineker hit the ground running – but although it is an obvious point, it tends to get lost in these days of media hype and inflated expectation. Players need time and fans need to be patient.
So maybe a year is reasonable, not to peak but to significantly raise the level of influence a player has. We probably haven't got that but our buying policy is based around playing the long game, with developing talent able to take us to the level of contenders but, crucially, with room to improve still further. Holtby, Lamela, Paulinho, Sandro, Chadli, Eriksen, these are the imports who fit the bill, with Townsend and Rose as home-grown talent. Lloris, Dembele and Vertonghen have their best years ahead of them.
Sounds good but there is frustration in store. The media will severely scrutinise any weakness as a sign of failure. Having built us up to title contenders after our good start to the season, anything less than that will be deemed by them as failure. The narrative has been created even though it was false in the first place – I would be amazed if we got near the league title this year.
The issue for supporters is different. For us, we can see the potential and desperately want the success we crave after so many years of loyalty and unfulfilled dreams. It's the what-might-be that gets us, every time and there is so much to look forward to here.
So what to do? In this next phase of the season, Villas-Boas has to let loose the skill and creativity he has invested in. I follow the tactics discussions a little and like to think I can grasp most of it. Basically however, in the Premier League you need to get enough players back to defend and enough to get forward. Easy, huh? You need quick, flexible and versatile players. Check – we have that in abundance. The formation itself is less significant than players having an awareness what's going on around them, to know when to get forward and when to hold back. Check – we should be able to do that.
Back to Lamela and Townsend – either they (and Chadli, Siggy or Lennon) learn to work harder and track back or you sort out the rest of the team to give them some cover. We have played most of the season in a 4-2-3-1 with one of the DMs getting forward to support an attack if there is room, the wide players in the three cutting in and width coming from the full-backs. Who would have thought the return of Danny Rose would ever be so anticipated? One of the key elements of our balance disappears without him.
At home I'm inclined to have one DM to enable another in a further advanced position to ensure we dominate that area and support Soldado in the box. Attacking full-backs should be extras – they can join the attack later, the second phase so to speak, or break from deep on the counter with others staying back to cover. With their first thought a defensive one, hanging back gives the midfield more freedom to get forward. Siggy has done well but I would give others a go. Holtby in particular looks raring to go. Townsend will have more freedom and Lennon is waiting in the wings. Soldado needs crosses – I think he tends too far towards the near post and should remain more central in the box. This positioning is even more important if we have left-footers on the right and right-footers on the left. The near post is less profitable for strikers in this set-up as crosses curl to the back post or the centre.
At centre-back, Kaboul's absence worries me. if fit, he should replace Dawson. In reality, I am worried that he will never recover his pace and strength that was so formidable. Chiriches needs game time, and the upcoming round of the Europa League and League Cup is perfect. We must rotate. So far playing a strong team has put us in a good position and allowed the team to play together. Before Christmas, many need a rest.


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The banquet wraps up a week of activity that also includes Friday morning's "Focus Friday" issues session, introducing the area's newest town commissioners. (See related story here.)
CHAMBER CELEBRATESFriday night's annual chamber gala at the Peninsula Club in Cornelius is sold out. Chamber members will gather as outgoing chair Wendy Moran turns over the reins to Broadway. It's the first time in the chamber's 26 years that two women have served as chairs back-to-back.
Pittenger will deliver a legislative perspective for the business audience. The chamber also will screen a video produced to highlight the 50th anniversary of Lake Norman.
The dinner also includes the presentation of two awards: the Robert T. Cashion Business Person of the Year, and the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award. Other outstanding community and business volunteers also will be recognized.
The chamber counts about 1,000 business members from throughout the region, including Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville.
Moran lives in Huntersville and a vice president of People's Bank in Denver. Broadway, a Cornelius Resident, is a Realtor, Broker in Charge, and trainer for Allen Tate Realtors in Mooresville.
"Wendy Moran's experience as a committee chairman, board member, and volunteer, along with her career in finance and banking, helped us focus on member value," chamber president and CEO Bill Russell said in a press release. "We also implemented financial strategies which reduced expenses so those dollars could be reallocated to membership services."
"Hilary Broadway brings the unique perspective of harnessing technology to make work environments more productive and efficient," he added.
Broadway, Public Policy Chair of the Chamber in 2010 and 2011, led the Chamber's Business Growth Division for the last two years and also led a series of "Lunch and Learn" training programs. She also has served on the boards of the Lake Norman Regional Economic Development Corp., the Charlotte Regional Roads Committee, and the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association's Professional Standards Committee.
The chamber also is adding new members to its board for 2014: J. A. (Jay) Lesemann, Jr. CPA CGMA – Managing Member at Lesemann & Associates, PLLC CPAs and the immediate Past Chair of the N.C. Association of CPAs; Bill Ellison – partner in The McIntosh Law Firm, Sabrena Fernandez Marketing Manager – Servpro of Northwest Charlotte; and Tom Gettelman, PhD. – Carolinas Healthcare System and the new administrator for the CHS Behavioral Health Hospital in Davidson. Town Representatives include Jeff Neely – Huntersville, Beth Cashion – Davidson, and Jim Duke – Cornelius.
More information about the dinner is available at on the chamber website.


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funny smell will start your month uncomfortably. This is not due to a large
Sulphur storm over Saturn's under crust as claimed by some, lesser, newspaper horoscopes. However, it is advisable to eat up all
old cheeses you have been fermenting in the back of the fridge before the 19th
of the month, especially those made from milk with an angry goat pictured on the carton.
Moons rarely have any effect on your resolute Cancer character, however the one
on the 3rd could inspire you to scream and shout at the sky during dusk. Ensure
throat lozenges, shaving equipment and strong industrial nail clippers are on
hand throughout any were-wolfy periods.
destiny will suggest itself during a comedy routine involving a scantily clad
woman, or man, and cows.
feature is brought to you by theVoiceofReason.com


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Zebra Rifle
1,289pages on
this wiki
this wiki
The Zebra Assault Carbine, more commonly known as the Zebra Rifle was a pre-war weapon used by the Zebra armies. The Zebra rifle is designed to fire in three shot bursts, making ammo conservation difficult, as there is no single-shot setting. The Zebra Rifle also has the effect of igniting its targets, burning them alive. It was particularly infamous among the ranks of pre-war Steel Rangers for incinerating them inside their Power Armor. Currently Littlepip is the only canon owner of such a weapon, although it's likely the rifle is more commonly found in the zebra homelands.
Zebra Rifles in Side StoriesEdit
- In Rangers of Wintertrot, Crosshair uses a Zebra Rifle.
- The Whitecoats from Guise of Chaos have a stockpile of these weapons.


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Thursday, June 5, 2008
BepiColombo Update
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
A Home for spacEurope?
Updates have not been as regular as I whish them to be but I think that this is happening for a good reason.
Stay alert!
In the meanwhile here is why (besides the extra amount of work I'm dealing with...) spacEurope has been a bit rusty...
Brick by brick, step by step.
Some of you know, others don't, that I am a pilgrim, in the sense that I, literally, walk the paths of this planet in search for answers and, more important in my perspective, posing new questions.
Call it a personal q'n'a if you wish…
In the course of those walks I feel privileged to have crossed my journey with other humans and their experiences which always taught me something, at least to be aware that my reality isn't the world's omphalo…
In the course of those walks I have met people that have dedicated their lives to those who, like me, assume this walking way of knowing our world as a very important aspect of our existence.
That was something I have been thinking for a long time. To host.
To build a house of knowledge, a place where people could share perspectives, a place to speak, listen, see and learn.
A place where one would bring what could and take what needed.
I've been investing some money, and the return of that investment will permit me to pass from a virtual place into a wood and stone one in the year of 2009.
The objective? To welcome you, reader, and all those with the will to learn that might land in a inner, hidden, peaceful corner of Portugal.
Ideas regarding the structure of the place are still finding their way, still getting acquainted, but the main issue will be that this house for the Homo Viator would have basically the same structure as this blog you are visiting, non profitable.
Taking a look into the future things would work in a way that solidarity assumes a very important role.
People would express their will to visit, there would be places for 20/30 people, we could even organize thematic workshops there…
Since there would be no money involved, the idea was to each one bringing something that would become part of this house of friends with knowledge as quest.
A book, a bottle of wine, an idea, something from back home…
Something that would make of this place a home where everyone visiting would feel as it own.
Although I have posted a picture in a previous post, the location is not yet decided, that is why other candidates make their appearance as the one below…
Just imagine that patio in a hot summer night filled with people around a table in a conversation until the rise of the sun…Although both this estates (and others…) please me a lot, they are for sale now and I doubt that it will be available within a year, and more area is required to permit that what I intend to do become a reality, with lots of space to satisfy the objectives of those arriving, and this can vary, if someone comes with the spirit of gathering around a table discussing, perfect! If someone needs a place where it can be on its own, to study, to work in a peaceful environment, to think…perfect!
Rui Borges
Monday, June 2, 2008
Phoenix Special > Can this be it?
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Max Planck Institute
Can this be it?...
According to Uwe Keller, Robotic Arm Camera lead scientist from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, what we see in this image of "Snow Queen" is in agreement with the notion that it may be ice, and the team suspect that they will see the same thing in the digging area.
On a e-mail received by spacEurope yesterday, our dear Barry Goldstein, Phoenix Project Manager, told us that the science team thinks indeed that this is ice and indicated that "once we complete the fix for the TEGA (shortly) we will be able to validate that it is water ice."
When will we have more answers about it? Goldstein answers:
"As I right this (Sunday), the downlink for yesterday should be coming. We should have touched the surface with the arm. If all goes well. Monday would be the earliest."
In fact, Phoenix already did touched the soil, More...for the first time, it reached out and touched the Martian ground on Saturday, May 31.
Phoenix's Robotic Arm scoop left an impression that resembles a footprint at a place provisionally named Yeti in the King of Hearts target zone, away from the area that eventually will be sampled for evaluation:
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Oh...remember the great Live Q&A we had with Barry before the Phoenix Landing?...Take your time but get ready...
In Barry's words, our support is greatly appreciated at JPL, and I'll add, let's make them appreciate it even more...what do you say?
Things are really moving in a really special and interesting path there, at the martian arctic...