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San Francisco's "weirdest new startup" provides "a luxury service featuring chivalrous gentlemen offering a non-sexual service." » Read More
Lady Gaga found out we have a huge drought in California while she was out here doing a music video near the humongous swimming pool at Hearst Castle.
Now she wants to Water Board you. She's working with state water boards to urge Californians to conserve.
The resulting marriage of hot fame and dry earth is, well, a bad romance.
Germans are in the throes of ecstasy after winning the World Cup. Expect raucous celebrations. And nudity.
Hey, it's summertime, the weather is warm. In Deutschland, that means it's time to go clothing-optional, at least at the beach.
One hundred years after the First World War started, and 70 years after D-Day, Americans on this Fourth of July can sit back and watch what happens when Germany tries to invade French territory again...in Brazil.
Or at least that's how ESPN may play it.
Inside the Swine Barn at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, it smells like...a swine barn. At this year's World Pork Expo, a record 4,007 pigs are registered for the show.
Outside the Swine Barn, however, it smells, well, delicious. The Expo is hog heaven for those who love the other white meat.
I've noticed an emerging trend in the marijuana industry in Colorado.
There are an awful lot of women running these businesses—whether it's retail pot shops, manufacturing edible products infused with cannabis or running testing labs.
At this week's first-ever Colorado Cannabis Summit in Denver, the entire panel of local experts on safety and technology was made up of women.
"I like to call them the marijuana mavens," said Brooke Gehring, a former mortgage banker who now owns four pot stores in Colorado.
Read MoreColorado cracks down on edible pot products
"It blows my mind, the incredible women I've met in this industry," said Genifer Murray, founder and CEO of CannLabs, a state-certified lab that tests the potency and safety of recreational pot products.
"Facebook is ancient, Snapchat's just old."
Wise words from Khalid McCaskill, a student at UCLA. McCaskill typifies today's social media user: young, engaged and showing about as much loyalty to one platform as Zsa Zsa Gabor did to marriage. (Google that one, kids.)
What do Edward Snowden, Sarah Palin and Justin Bieber have in common?
They all hate each other. Probably.
Eric Decker has it pretty rough.
He's gorgeous. He has a gorgeous wife. They just had a baby. They have their own reality show on E! Decker is a professional football player who spent three years with the Denver Broncos and has been traded to the New York Jets.
What a train wreck.
As Decker struggles to adjust to a new life in a new city with a new baby ... rolling in the money ... Ruffles has hired the wide receiver to be its frontman for a funny promotion called "Rough Life."
Here's an amazing piece of news. Many Americans think they make a fair wage.
But not everyone.
A new survey by Glassdoor.com found that nearly 2 in 5 workers say they are unfairly paid for the work they do. More women than men see a gender wage gap.
This week I got lucky. I scored a business trip to a Lockheed Martin facility where they make all kinds of warfare simulators—everything from tank mock-ups to pretend F-35 jet fighters. I got to play, but even playing was stressful.
I can't imagine how stressful it must be in real life, being a soldier on patrol in hostile territory for hours at a time.
Who is Gotham's "Funniest Person in Finance" -- a trader? a financial advisor? an IT guy? Click ahead to find out!
Former college football coach Barry Switzer has turned a man cave in his Oklahoma home into a base for Coaches' Cabana.
Apeks Supercritical sells an extraction machine for medical marijuana users who prefer consuming oils over smoking the plant.


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Butterscotch Delight RecipeRead Reviews Be the first to add a review
- 1/2 cup cold butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
- 3-1/2 cups cold milk
- 2 packages (3.5 ounces each) instant butterscotch pudding mix
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- In a bowl, cut butter into flour; stir in the finely chopped walnuts. Press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in 1 cup whipped topping. Spread over crust.
- In another bowl, beat milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes or until thickened. Spread over cream cheese layer. Spread with the remaining whipped topping; sprinkle with coarsely chopped walnuts. Chill until set. Yield: 12-15 servings.
Reviews for Butterscotch Delight
"I came across this recipe years ago from one of my taste of home magazines and has become one of my main dessert recipes for almost all holidays , especially Easter. With so much to prepare for holiday meals, I forgot to make it one time and boy did my 11 year old grandson let me know about it! He was so looking forward to it. I made it the next day and took it to him."
"This is a dessert that my mom used to make every Thanksgiving. I had lost the recipe and now I have it again. It will be just like Mom is still here."
"I used a gluten free crust from a similar recipe so I could make the dessert gluten free. I have made this with chocolate or lemon instant pudding for years, but had not tried butterscotch before. It is really good with the butterscotch pudding! It got rave reviews at a church potluck!"
"This went over well on my dessert buffet."
"My sister & I used to make this using chocolate pudding in place of the butterscotch. Never any leftovers! Also, if you're in a hurry & don't have time to make the crust, this works really well with two pre-made graham cracker crusts"

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Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone is an action-adventure video game for PC, Mac, GCN,Xbox,PS2,PS1 and GBA. Play as Harry Potter and experience his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Explore new locations, complete challenges, meet new friends,battle enemies and face Lord Voldemort.
Harry Potter And the Sorcerer's Stone gameplay. Gryffindor common room and the Library


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Wednesday Jun 29 2011
Farmers market open for season's run
By: Kim Palaferri, Special to Colfax Record
Enjoying summer's bounty
The Gold Country Farmers Market of Colfax is in its second season and is gearing up for a bountiful summer. A handful of vendors offer late spring vegetables and early summer fruits. As the summer season matures, the number of market vendors and their offerings will increase. The farmers market is open in Colfax from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, through Oct. 26, near the historic passenger depot at Grass Valley and Railroad streets. Bob Hicks, owner/manager of Gold Country Farmers Market, said, "I'm always looking for new grower and crafter vendors to participate in the Colfax farmers market." Hicks said he loves Colfax and changed the farmers market from Fridays last year to Wednesdays this year to better accommodate the town's residents. "There is great potential in the growth of Colfax and I want to see the farmers market grow here," Hicks said. Available right now are juicy strawberries from Rodriguez Berries and Vegetables from Watsonville. At the beginning of the season there was a bit of a delay in the succulent fruit because of the cool weather, but with the latest heat, they are abundant, ripe and ready to go. The family-owned farm offers organic and non-organic strawberries that can be made into jams or preserves, pies or even tossed into a green salad. And with their high volume of vitamin C and flavonoids, a cup of strawberries only contains about 45 calories. The Rodriguez Berries and Vegetables farm grows about 15 acres of strawberries and raspberries on their five separate ranches, according to Manuel Alvarez. The Rodriguez farm sells weekly at other local farmers markets in Roseville and Lincoln. Still available are late-season kale and collard greens. The Neng Xiong farm from Olivehurst is carrying freshly picked green beans that are crisp and sweet to the taste. Other offerings by the Xiong farm include broccoli, carrots, lettuce and potatoes. Also available at the Colfax farmers barket are fresh breads from Upper Crust Bakery of Davis and other vendors selling vegetables that are in season. You can also find tasty dipping and barbecue sauces from Bob Hicks' Hicksville Acres. Their sauces range from mild to spicy, and they have created a diabetic-friendly line of sauces. Vendors interested in participating should contact Hicks at (916) 663-2025. ---------------------------- GOLD COUNTRY FARMERS MARKET What: Fresh fruits, vegetables and products When: 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, through Oct. 27 Where: Grass Valley and Railroad streets, near passenger depot Contact: Bob Hicks, (916) 663-2025


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'Cameron and Clegg Have Probably Never Been Inside a Public Library'; Children's Author Philip Pullman, an Advocate of Tomorrow's World Book Night, Tells Alison Roberts Why He Is Such a Vehement Opponent of Library Cuts
Byline: Alison Roberts
PHILIP Pullman arrives at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford wearing a jaunty beret and donnish cord trousers. At 64, he looks a little like fellow-author William Boyd, or a neat, unstained version of John Bayley. We are here to discuss World Book Night, which takes place tomorrow -- the first event of its kind and the brainchild of Canongate publisher Jamie Byng -- when one million books will be given away by and to members of the public in a great and almostspontaneous celebration of the written word. Twenty-five titles will flood the streets, including Pullman's Northern Lights, the first in his multi-million-selling His Dark Materials trilogy. He is, of course, delighted by the scheme. Pullman is courteous and obliging, mildseeming; essentially a reluctant sort of soapbox activist -- yet occasionally, when he talks about the axe that hovers over up to 800 libraries, he visibly shudders with anger.
Over the past few months Pullman has become the unofficial spokesman for the campaign to save the hundreds of libraries across England and Wales threatened by public spending cuts. An impassioned speech he gave at Oxford Town Hall, in which he mocked the Big Society, has recently "gone viral" online. More than 20,000 people have downloaded it, while the novelist Joanne Harris and the actor Samuel West both immediately tweeted their bravos.
"The decision to close so many libraries so quickly by so many councils must be ideological," he spits. "It's an act of gross stupidity carried out by people who don't read very much and don't understand the value of books -- and the evidence for that is that some councils have decided not to close any libraries at all -- but it also comes from central government, from high up. From people who have gone about their business with an ideological fervour which even eclipses Thatcher. And I'm particularly angered by the Lib-Dems for supporting it."
Pullman is not unfamiliar with the tumult of public debate. In the US, His Dark Materials was condemned by a particular strain of fundamentalist Christian as anti-religious and atheistic (which it is) and therefore a menace to the nation's children. The film adaptation of the first novel -- released as The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig -- was boycotted by The Catholic League and failed to make money in the US. Last year, Pullman went one better and published his re-imagining of The New Testament minus the supernatural miracles in The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, a compelling expression of his belief in stories, and not a higher power, as the font of a collective morality.
He describes his enemy as "zealotry" -- whether religious or political or ideological.
Plus the Lib-Dems. He really hates them. Pullman voted Lib-Dem in Oxford West because he thought the then sitting MP Evan Harris had done a decent job, "but it didn't enter my mind for a single second that his party would then support the Tories and that my vote would go to a coalition government bent on such destruction". Provocatively, he states that David Cameron, George Osborne and Nick Clegg have "probably never used a public library" in their lives. "They come from rich backgrounds and live in places where there are nice bookshops and they just buy books when they want them."
Inevitably there has been a backlash.
Some centre-Right commentators have pointed out, in explicit reply to Pullman, that library use by adults has been falling (almost 40 per cent of adults have used a library in the past year, down from 48 per cent four years ago, though among primary school children it has stayed constant at 78 per cent) and that they are least used as public facilities by "deprived" communities -- the very people whom Pullman identifies as in most need of them.
"And that's a reason for taking them away?" he counters, shaking his head vigorously. "It's a reason for keeping them, and making them more available and helping people to use them, and encouraging them. …


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- Apr 30:
- Broncos tried to fix bad draft in 2009 with their 2012 draft
- Grading the NFL draft: Denver Broncos double down on defense
- Apr 29:
- Ronnie Hillman, Derek Wolfe, Brock Osweiler ready to help Broncos
- Derek Wolfe, Broncos' top draft pick, reaches his NFL dream
- CU Buffs' Ryan Miller, Toney Clemons selected in 2012 NFL draft
- Peyton Manning on board with selection of QB Brock Osweiler
- Apr 28:
- Wolfe's decision to wait pays off when Broncos take him in 2nd round
Conspiracy theorists figured Peyton Manning would have a say in the Broncos' draft and they were right.
"On one of the first days after we signed him, he told me after watching what his friends just went through, we have to make sure we get depth at quarterback," Broncos coach John Fox said.
Indirectly, Broncos management had Manning's blessing when they selected Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler in the second round of the NFL draft Friday.
Neck surgeries forced Manning to miss all of his final season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2011. Without him, the Colts rallied from an 0-13 start to finish 2-14.
After Manning became a free agent and signed with the Broncos, the team signed free agent Caleb Hanie to a non-guaranteed, one-year contract, then added the 6-foot-7, 21-year-old Osweiler through the draft.
Manning had no specific input on the Broncos acquiring either player, but given his age (36) and neck issue, he acknowledges a strong plan B is necessary.
Ayers, Moreno fighting for jobs
The Broncos' 2012 draft sent a direct message to the Broncos' top picks in their 2009 draft: Potential doesn't count anymore.
Running back Knowshon Moreno, the No. 12 pick in 2009, was pushed down the depth chart after his team selected speedster Ronnie Hillman early in the third round Friday. Defensive end/tackle Robert Ayers, the No. 18 pick in 2009, may lose his starting position to Derek Wolfe, who was the Broncos' second-round pick Friday. And Ayers may now have to compete with freshly drafted Malik Jackson for a backup role.
Jackson, who like Ayers played at the University of Tennessee, was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round Saturday.
In Fox's 4-3 system last season, Ayers played defensive end on first and second down, then slid inside to tackle in pass situations. The plan for Wolfe is to start at defensive end on rush downs and pass rush from the tackle spot.
Maple Leafs and Bronco blockers
Toronto: Hub of the Broncos' offensive line.
Right tackle Orlando Franklin, a second-round pick and 16-game starter last season, grew up in Toronto before moving to Florida before his junior year in high school. Guard-center Philip Blake, a fourth-round pick Saturday, was born and raised in Toronto.
How does a football player come out of hockey country?
"My mom came home from New York with the Madden football game, and I started playing it," Blake said. "From then on I fell in love with the game."
The video game had John Madden himself on the cover so it predated 1999. Blake, who will be 27 in November and Franklin, 25 in December, never ran into each other in Toronto's football circles.
Soon as the draft was finished, the Broncos started making calls to sign between 15 to 20 undrafted free agents. In recent years, the Broncos acquired nickelback Chris Harris, cornerback/returner Cassius Vaughn, linebacker Wesley Woodyard and quarterback Adam Weber from this group. And going way back, the Broncos' all-time leading receiver was an undrafted rookie named Rod Smith. ...
Brian Dawkins retired as a Bronco last week. He signed a one-day contract with Philadelphia and officially retired Saturday as an Eagle. His No. 20 also was retired by the Eagles in a ceremony Saturday.


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New Books We Loved in 2010
CLP staff recommends 2010 fiction and nonfiction we loved to read.
Handling the Undead
The author raises the bar for zombie fiction by showing the psychological devastation wreaked upon zombie's other victims, the people who love them.
The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them
A love affair with Russian literature, not only as read, but as a way of life and of looking at the world.
Sh*t My Dad Says
PS3608.A5488 Z46 2010x
So much more than out-loud funnywisdom, common sense, and a father and son relationship both entertaining and bound to inspire secret envy.
An Object of Beauty
An educational tour of the insular world of art collecting by an amoral, go-getter art dealer inspires revelations about beauty and love.
Bury Your Dead
The intricate juggling of three stories make this, the sixth in a series, the best one so far.
I Curse the River of Time
The unrelentingly grim atmosphere of a Scandinavian landscape is the backdrop for a son coming to terms with his dying mother.
Mr. Peanut
At once a murder mystery and a grotesque portrait of love and marriage.
The Lonely Polygamist
Take the trials and tribulations of marriage and raising a family, mutiply that by four and what you get is an in-depth sense of all families and all marriages. With compassion and humor, the mechanics of family is laid bare.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Cultures and generations collide when a relationship blossoms between an English aristocrat and a Pakistani widow.
The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks
RC265.6.L24 S55 2010x
The scientific journey of one woman's cells is juxtaposed with the story of her life and family, and raises philosophical questions about ethics, profit, and accountability.


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Earthquakes Canada is reporting a 3.8 magnitude earthquake happened in the Sudbury area at around 2:15 p.m. today — a magnitude that is considered "mild."
Two seismic events took place Tuesday afternoon, said Cathy Woodgold, a seismologist with Earthquakes Canada.
The events were 3.3 magnitude and 3.8 magnitude, and may not be related to mining activity.
"We presume these are earthquakes, because the magnitude 3.8 is a little too large to be a mining blast,' she said.
Woodgold noted the centre monitors mining activity, but those events usually register a magnitude of around one or two.
Sudbury Police say no injury or damage has been reported to them.
Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.


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Michael firstname.lastname@example.com(757) 385-1122
Monday, June 02, 2014 · 10:00 am
Virginia Beach, VA – For the third consecutive year, Virginia Beach has ranked among the top 10 park systems in the United States. Earning four "park benches" on the ParkScore® rating system recently released by the nonprofit Trust for Public Land (TPL), Virginia Beach has tied for 10th in the nation along with newcomer Aurora, CO.
ParkScore® ratings are based equally on three factors: park accessibility, which measures the percentage of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park (approximately a halfmile); park size, which is based on a city's median park size and the percentage of total city area dedicated to public parks; and services and investment, which combines the number of playgrounds per 10,000 city residents and per capita park spending.
Virginia Beach led all cities on the playground measurements with five playgrounds per 10,000 residents, more than double the ParkScore® city average. Data compiled through the ParkScore® ratings system reflects national, state and city public parks and open spaces. The rating system does not include privately-owned neighborhood parks, playgrounds and other recreational amenities (like swimming pools) funded through homeowner association fees.
"Placing in the top 10 out of the 60 largest park systems in the nation is a great honor," said Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Director Michael Kalvort. "Our department garners tremendous support from our Mayor, city council, city leadership, and our volunteer commissions. This ranking reaffirms our focus on our community priorities: community access, the environment, healthy lifestyles, and stewardship. We are committed to continually improve and work towards the goals established in Envision Virginia Beach 2040, a comprehensive plan for our city's future development."
TPL expanded the ParkScore® 2014 index to 60 of the largest cities in the United States, up from the 50 largest last year. For more information about Virginia Beach's ParkScore ranking, visit http://www.ParkScore.TPL.org
Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation's vision is a balanced, sustainable and value-focused system of parks, recreation and public spaces that creates a sense of community. We are accredited by CAPRA, the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association. For more information, call (757) 385-1100 (TTY: 757-711 Virginia Relay), visit VBgov.com/parks or sign up our email newsletters at VBgov.com/eNews. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/VBparksrec
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© 2011 City of Virginia Beach. All rights reserved.


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Didnt Adrian look like this:
Or is ittanker helmet?
I am a French Student in Architecture, member of the french team Cont@ct ! on Forgotten Hope 2 and Co-Admin of the French Hope Project, the French Army for Forgotten Hope 2.
Didnt Adrian look like this:
Or is ittanker helmet?
Here it is ! The Adrian Helmet you're showing is the standard Adrian Helmet Mod26. The Mod35 and variants are for tankers, bikers etc...
oh, I see. so the one I posted is for basic infantry.
Casque Adrian Modèle 1935/37
By CptBocquier.
Status : WIP
Unexported, untextured, uncoded and untested.


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Last year, a big block of shareholders in Bellevue-based Concur Technologies did not concur with how it paid executives.
Nearly 40 percent of votes in the March 2012 say-on-pay ballot went against the company — even though the board had already slashed CEO Steven Singh's $500,000 base salary to $1 the previous month and deemed him ineligible for a cash bonus.
Concur, which sells travel- and expense-management services, reacted to the investor uprising by deciding to hold all executive salaries flat in 2013.
The board also adopted a policy to align the CEO's targeted total pay with the median pay of CEOs in a peer group. In the past, the board had pegged the CEO's pay to the 90th percentile of a peer group.
- Seattle City Council kills sale of street for Sodo arena; Sonics fans despair
- Former Skyline High QB Jake Heaps signs with Seahawks
- 9 arrested, 5 officers hurt as May Day anti-capitalist march turns violent
- Sinkhole forms above Sound Transit light-rail tunnel in Roosevelt area
- High court rejects franchises' challenge to Seattle's $15 wage law
Most Read Stories
And the board decided to link stock awards to "economic value added," as measured in revenue and new customer contracts.
After the say-on-pay vote, Concur also embraced compensation practices favored by large proxy advisers, including:
• Caps on payouts to executives for meeting targets
• No automatic cash payments for severance or a change in control of the company
• Not paying "dividend equivalents," or credits for dividends on unvested equity awards
• No special perks, including paying taxes on compensation.
In a letter to shareholders this year, Singh described the past year as "a tremendous success."
Revenue grew 26 percent, pretax earnings per share was $1.39 and "new customer bookings were the highest in our history," he wrote.
That, and Concur's changes to its pay practices, still weren't good enough for some stockholders: This past January, 18 percent of votes cast were against the executives' pay.
Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or firstname.lastname@example.com On Twitter @sbhatt


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MBS aren't sticking it to Treasuries quite as badly as they had been this morning, but at the very least, they're not underperforming. Indeed, MBS are in positive territory on the day while 10yr Treasuries aren't quite there yet.
There's really not much to say about today's market movement. Once again, a range boundary was tested, and once again, rates remain in the range. Today's lows in 10yr yields are a bit of a dark horse in that race though... They line up with yesterday afternoon's lows and potentially could act as resistance if they're not broken on this rally into the afternoon (2.619-ish).
We'll cross that bridge if we come to it in terms of negative implications on the MBS Rally. For now, 3.5s are at their best levels of the day, and Treasuries don't currently look like they're eager to bounce hard at 2.619.
More from MND:
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Authorities say the former Forest Service worker who admitted starting Colorado's largest wildfire surrendered Monday to begin serving a six-year federal prison sentence.
Officials say 39-year-old Terry Lynn Barton was sentenced February 21st on federal arson charges. She turned herself into the Federal Medical Center in Carswell, Texas. Medical centers take prisoners with serious medical or mental health problems.
Meanwhile -- federal prosecutors filed a motion in the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals to preserve the right to appeal a judge's denial of assigning restitution in the case. The federal government had requested $14.7 million dollars to cover firefighting costs and restoration of the Pike National Forest.
Barton also has been sentenced to serve 12 years on a single state arson charge but her public defender has appealed the state sentence because the judge may have been personally affected by the fire.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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You know that spring is in site when the Virginia Beach amphitheater announces its Country MegaTicket lineup. So we're getting there.
The venue, recently renamed the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, made the announcement today - 11 big country shows that can be packaged together for one reduced price. Here are the shows:
Friday, May 20 - Miranda Lambert with Kip Moore and Brothers Osbourne
Thursday, June 9 - Luke Bryan with Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch
Thursday, June 23 - Kenny Chesney with Old Dominion
Friday, July 8...


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Reviews by markinator
Great fun, same like the first Borderlandsmarkinator | Nov. 21, 2013 | Review of Borderlands 2 Overflow 1 - PC
I really liked Borderlands 2. Even more than I did enjoy the first Borderlands. The graphics and gameplay is pretty much the same, but that doesn't take away the amount of fun you'll have in this game. Though I recommend playing this with a friend or even friends, because the experience will be much more pleasurable. The game also has a fairly amount of difficulty, which makes it more fun and challenging. So, if you liked the first one and like fps rpg kinda games, you should definitely but it, certainly when there's a sale on.


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Welcome to Parkland Learning Center
We are pleased that you have chosen Parkland Learning Center as your "partner" in the care and education of your child. Like you, we are interested in your child's whole development. Our commitment is to provide you and your child with the best in child care and education. We accept children ages 6 weeks to twelve years, and we are open Monday-Friday from 6:00am-8:00pm.
7462 Penn Drive | Allentown, PA 18106 | 610.841.3522


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Although I was introduced to Adam Glass through his fearless handling of Harley Quinn and King Shark in SUICIDE SQUAD, many know him for SUPERNATURAL episodes, like the recent "As Time Goes By"—widely seen as a new beginning for the still-popular television series. At the DC booth over Comic-Con weekend, Glass could hardly be found without two men by his side: Robbie Thompson, fellow writer for SUPERNATURAL, and Aidan, Glass's enthusiastic son.|
Famous Monsters. I'm going to ask the predictable question first. Having written in both mediums, how does writing for comics differ from writing for television, and do you prefer one over the other?
Adam Glass. I think telling a good story is all that matters. The only difference is in the pacing. In some ways, comics and TV are very similar because you're telling the story in a certain amount of time. An issue is like an episode. So when you're doing a story arc, you give a little bit but stretch it out over the course of the book, just like you would on a TV show. I dig both a lot. I like both a lot.
Robbie Thompson. What he said!
FM. Fair enough. Any plans to return to comics any time soon?
RT. Yes, please!
AG. Only if it's a Robdam comic.
RT. I would love to. I've only done a little bit in comics, but I'm trying to peer pressure him into it. I like reading his books.
FM. As do I! I thought your run on SUICIDE SQUAD was great.
AG. Thank you so much. I think I'm at that point in my life when I want to enjoy my kids as much as I can, and I would do a comic if it were a character that we loved! [to his son Aidan] If they came at me with Batman or Daredevil, it'd be hard to say no. But I'd have to love it.
FM. I remember we had a conversation once about dealing with fangirl anger over the whole Harley Quinn hooking up with Deadshot thing. As we all know, SUPERNATURAL fans are just as crazy!
AG. Crazy cool…
RT. Passionate! I say passionate. We don't want them to come after us. [laughs]
FM. What's your attitude in approaching storytelling, knowing that you're taking on these characters that people are so invested in? It probably doesn't scare you at all, does it?
RT. Personally, I think it's inspiring. You want to write something that people care about. In the case of SUPERNATURAL, people just love the show. Sometimes you write something and you're like, wow, they are definitely going to react… either positively or negatively… but their reaction to watching means they're invested. I find it inspiring. It's exciting.
AG. It just shows how much the fans care. If they care that much, be it positive or negative, the fact that they're still reading or watching it means something. I agree with Robbie on that.
FM. Cool! So I have a note here. Someone I know is obsessed with SUPERNATURAL, and she told me to ask about the "Samulet".
RT. [laughs] Excuse me! I think you mean the Robulet, because I am now in possession of it.
AG. He's wearing it right now!
RT. I'm wearing it. I can't show it to you for legal reasons. [laughs] … and for reasons.
FM. For reasons!
RT. We get a lot of tweets about bringing the Samulet back. And I personally would like to see the Samulet back. It means a lot to the brothers themselves. Whether or not we have anything actively in the works, well, we can't give away any spoilers, but… we've talked about it, and that was this year.
AG. Behind every symbol like that is a great story.
RT. So if we find a great story for the Samulet, then yes. Better known as the Robulet, of course. We will then make something happen. We're aware of how much it means to people, and it means something to us, too. But it's like what Adam said—we have to make it a story, otherwise it's just a scene where one of them is like, "Oh hey, I found this. Moving on…" You want to make it worth the wait.
FM. Totally. SUPERNATURAL is coming up on its… ninth season? Super impressive!
AG. Yes! Especially after the first three or four years—Eric Kripke would say that every year they thought they were going to get cancelled. We don't have a for-sure tenth season, but if I were a betting man, I would say yes. We have a good chance.
RT. There's a very good shot.
FM. You have your core fanbase, now.
AG. Yep, it's the fanbase. They show in the numbers. If we continue to get good ratings, I don't see any reason to stop the show, personally. Even at the signings today, so many fans showed up. That's what's so awesome about doing SUPERNATURAL. I went to Singapore and did a signing there. To be part of something like this is really special. We're trying to realize that in the moment while we're living it, not later when we look back. We both feel very lucky. And now if they'll just invite us to Supernatural conventions…
FM. [laughs] You've never been invited to conventions?
RT. No, we never have.
FM. I'm amazed that it's big enough to actually have its own conventions.
RT. It's crazy! They have a bunch of them, and they're really amazing. We hear all about them on Twitter!
FM. Can you tease anything about the upcoming season BEFORE the panel happens?
AG. Anything to tease. Um… the brothers… will fight evil. Drive a hot car. And probably deal with demons and angels and monsters.
FM. That's so shocking! I never would have expected that.
RT. There will be… supernatural elements. [laughs] That's above my pay grade. I can't give any spoilers.
FM. You guys here for the whole week? Just hanging out?
RT. I got here yesterday. I'm leaving tomorrow after the panel. It's been great.
AG. I got here Thursday night. And it's been great. Just been swimming and hanging out with this guy. [points to son Aidan again]
FM. [to Aidan] You having fun?
Aidan Glass. Yep!
FM. What's been the most fun thing so far?
Aidan Glass. Well… coming here to Comic-Con and swimming at my hotel!
AG. There you have it.
RT. I don't know why I didn't do that today.
AG. Hey, Aidan. What's the best show on TV?
Aidan Glass. SUPERNATURAL!


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Girls Who Smile Are Down to
Every month, I share in the blessing that is my roommate's subscription to Psychology Today. Just like the popular undergraduate major, the magazine is a potent mixture of pseudo-science:
and hot girls:
This month's psychological musings include a handy guide to figuring out which girls are slutty. Great. I love psychology.
"Is a short skirt just a welcome [...]


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The term 'Student Shakespeare' can strike fear in the most hardened of theatre-goers. Too easily can the jokes be lost, the language mangled, the script simply misunderstood. But with Hannah Boland's As You Like It, all fears are assuaged when the play kicks off and the fun begins. This is a good show. A very good show.
As You Like It is not the most serious of Shakespeare plays. The main plotline centres on the spontaneous romance between Orlando and Rosalind, with the latter finding the urge to dress as a man and seduce her lover as a pageboy. Yeah, I know. Along the way we meet a plethora of comic characters in bizarre situations, and nobody really has a clue what is going on. I like to imagine Shakespeare put an excessive amount of comic conventions in a blender and put the setting on maximum, before I realize a) Shakespeare displays a lot more skill than this and b) Shakespeare probably didn't own a blender. Still, this is a lazy play by the Bard's standards, which dispenses with all realism to showcase the action, music and comedy.
Thankfully, the production revels in this insanity. Boland masters her space with wonderful set design and sumptuous costumes. It's difficult to believe she's a first-time director, such is the skill of innovation on display. Character-wise, all the actors are brimming with energy. Paul Obi Jr. and Harriet Scopes are a commanding presence as the lead couple, both looking and sounding beautiful. At times they are threatened in terms of stage presence by the countless other characters that appear throughout the show – a hilarious motley crew, ranging from camp courtiers to simple country folk, that keep the pace and the jokes flowing. This is definitely an ensemble piece – picture Ocean's Eleven in Tudor clothing (without a massive con at the end, unless you count the lack of a credible conclusion). No person can be singled out due to the consistent strength of the cast. However, I can't help but highlight the show's ridiculous climax, thanks to the appearance of Hymen (or rather, 'High-man', as I will now forever know him as), with the delicious Peter von Zahnd making a stoned cameo as the great God of Marriage. I hope he rolls his joints like he rolls his 'r's.
It's refreshing to see a cast not simply speak the words of Shakespeare, but understand them and play with them. Everybody in the show was enjoying themselves, and this feeling of good humour was infectious. That's a rare gift that Boland brought out of her cast, and she should be commended for it.
I'm often sceptical about my Shakespeare, but this one was a riot. Get yourself down to the Byre, grab a drink at the bar, and prepare to have a good old laugh. As You Like It? As I LOVE it. (I was working on that one for a few hours. Thankfully, Shakespeare's jokes are better.)


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Placer County DUI task force plans holiday crackdown
Three steps to stay safe and out of trouble
1. Plan ahead. If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Designate a sober driver or find another safe way home.
2. If you are impaired, find another way home. Use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member or use public transportation.
3. Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let them get behind the wheel. If you see an impaired driver on the road, report them - call 911.
enforcement schedule
Avoid the 7 Placer County DUI task force is announcing its upcoming enforcement operations for the winter holiday DUI campaign.
Dec. 17-23: Participating Avoid the 7 Agencies will conduct DUI saturation patrols in their jurisdictions.
Saturday, Dec. 22: DUI/drivers license checkpoint, City of
Dec. 24-30: Participating Avoid the 7 Agencies will conduct DUI saturation patrols in their jurisdictions.
Friday, Dec. 28: DUI/drivers license checkpoint, City of
Dec. 31-Jan. 1: Participating Avoid the 7 Agencies will conduct DUI saturation patrols in their jurisdictions
This time of year means holiday parties and celebrations, and local law enforcement aims to keep those memories merry by keeping drunk drivers off the road.
The Placer County Avoid the 7 DUI task force, comprised of seven local law enforcement agencies, is launching its "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown to stop impaired drivers and save lives.
The Placer County Avoid the 7 task force announced that officers and deputies will be aggressively looking for impaired drivers and will arrest anyone caught driving under the influence. Enforcement efforts will include multiple DUI/drivers license checkpoints, local DUI saturation patrols, a multi-agency DUI task force strike team patrol and a DUI warrant/probations sweep.
The California Highway Patrol will deploy all available officers during two maximum enforcement periods – Christmas and New Year's weekends. The special enforcement crackdown runs through January 1, 2013.
"Lots of folks will be out during this busy holiday season, enjoying themselves and the holiday festivities, and we want everyone to be safe on our roadways," Auburn Police Chief John Ruffcorn said in a press release. "That's why we will be stepping up enforcement to catch and arrest impaired drivers. Please be forewarned. If you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested. No warnings. No excuses."
During 2010, more than 10,000 people were killed nationwide in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving an impaired driver, and in Californian 791 people died. There were 10 individuals killed in
The holiday season is a particularly dangerous time. During December 2010, 30 percent of all fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involved alcohol-impaired drivers. Data also shows that among those alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities, 71 percent occurred when drivers had nearly twice the legal limit blood alcohol concentration of .15 percent BAC or higher.
"No one ever thinks that their holiday celebration will end in jail, or worse, in a hospital or the morgue," Ruffcorn said. "But for those who include alcohol in their celebrations and then get behind the wheel, this is too often the case."


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DOC: 4 Perryville prison inmates transported to hospital after smelling gas odor
GOODYEAR, AZ - Arizona Department of Corrections officials said four Perryville Prison inmates were taken to the hospital after they became sick from a strong gas smelling odor Wednesday night.
DOC spokesman Bill Lamoreaux said the gas was shut off and three buildings were evacuated while the Goodyear Fire Department assessed the situation.
Fire and Southwest Gas crews were unable to find any readings of natural gas or any other toxic fumes in the area.
Lamoreaux said the inmates were awake and alert when they were transported for evaluation.
Authorities said they are still trying to determine what caused the odor.


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New Zealand singer Hayley Westenra is engaged to long time partner French sound engineer Arnaud Sabard pictured above on the cover of reputable magazine Womans Day. It is a sad day for so many New Zealand males who thought she was still single with her glamourous looks and voice of an angel. Westenra gained notoriety for singing at the Rugby World Cup 2011 final and her most recent New Zealand tour which went down like a lead balloon.
The greasy Frenchman and sound engineer Arnaud Sabard and her singing career are no doubt two reasons for spending most of her time in Europe these days.
Christchurch songbird Hayley Westenra is engaged to marry her longterm partner, according to a British report.
Westenra, 24, has been dating French sound engineer Arnaud Sabard for years, and the technician reportedly proposed to Westenra on a recent trip to New Zealand.
A family friend tells London's Evening Standard newspaper: ''Hayley and her Frenchman, Arnaud Sabard, came to stay for a couple of days and, exciting news, they became engaged.''
About to embark on her Paridiso tour in Britain, Westenra tweeted a photo of herself in a London studio laying down tracks today.
She has just returned to her London base after spending Christmas in Christchurch with her family.
Westenra was in Westfield Mall for the two strong December 23 earthquakes and tweeted ''2nd floor, Westfield Riccarton Mall: not the place to be in an earthquake!''.
She has not tweeted news of her engagement.


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Eastern's website overflows with praise for the history and personalities of the original Eastern, but the two airlines really share nothing beyond the name and logo. Old Eastern was one of the pre-deregulation "big four." Conversely, the new Eastern will probably start out by flying charters to nearby beach destinations for big tour operators in the East and Midwest.
What's with this recycling the names of failed giants, anyhow? During a previous such attempt, one industry pundit quipped, "Naming a new airline 'Pan American' makes as much sense as naming a new nuclear power plant 'Chernobyl.'" Accordingly, "Eastern" is a strange choice. In terms of customer appeal, the original airline was the Spirit or Ryanair of its generation: At one point, an organization called the WHEAL (We Hate Eastern Air Lines) Club had thousands of members.
Prognosis: The new Eastern can probably carve out a modest niche providing regional lifts for tour operators. But growing to legacy status or even approaching the reach of the original? Meh.
Let the travel experts do the work—get the best deals sent to you!
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Call Toll Free: 1-866-413-7273 Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm PST, Sat-Sun Closed
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Contemplating Bernstein's 'Mass' the morning after
There's so much more I wanted to say about last night's Baltimore Symphony Orchestra production of Leonard Bernstein's Mass, but in the deadline rush to get a review in today's paper, I'm afraid I expressed myself poorly. Not that this morning's reflections will be any more coherent. But here goes.
Since experiencing the piece in 1971, when the ink was still drying on the score (I was fortunate to be at the first public preview), I've had a soft spot for it. The combination of music and theater in Mass left an indelible impression, partly, I suspect, because of the excitement of being among the first audience to get inside the Kennedy Center (Washingtonians had been putting up with Constitution Hall for an awfully long time), and partly because of the times. The Vietnam War still going its awful way, and I had just become vulnerable to the draft. The many references in the text that conjured up images of protest and pain could not help but leave a mark. But, ultimately, what I got caught up in was the sheer audacity of the work, the abundance of great melodic hooks and brilliant instrumental coloring. It was, in the dreadful tag of that era, a happening.
I didn't have another Mass encounter until ...
There are many other examples of how the words still have a point, from "sex should repulse unless it leads to results" and "we're meek once a week" to the lines that Paul Simon contributed as a gift to Bernstein for the project: "Half of the people are stoned and the other half are waiting for the next election." And, of course, that incredible finale, with the lyrical, enveloping "Lauda" and the exquisite hymn, "Almight Father." I also love the way Bernstein sneaks some Jewish musical styles into the piece, not just for colorful effect; in the Sanctus, the Latin text contains a Hebrew word, providing Bernstein a perfect entry point into the rich Kadosh section.
Throughout last night's performance at the Meyerhoff, conductor Marin Alsop, surely the world's most ardent champion of Mass today, ensured that the biggest emotional moments registered and the most lyrical passages had plenty of heart. I'm sure the remaining concerts will be tighter in terms of coordination and articulation, but this was still a poweful night.
I did have a few reservations about Kevin Newbury's stage direction (the production turned out to be a lot more theatrical than originally advertised by the BSO), but only regarding some seemingly strained attempts at creating dramatic action. In the end, however, Newbury achieved a remarkable fluidity and tension that counted greatly in the overall strength of the venture.
But top honors have to go to Jubilant Sykes, whose riveting performance of the Celebrant made me hear that role in a whole new light. Although he does plenty of classical singing, his voice takes on pop stylings naturally, more naturally than the more operatic Alan Titus, for example, who originated the role, and that made a world of difference. His tender falsetto and easily communicative phrasing added layer after layer of nuance to the music, and his acting likewise revealed a disarming reality.
I wish the amplification had not swallowed up some of the text and caused odd discrepencies between the miked voices and the valiant Morgan State Choir in the back of the stage, but those were minor details.
All in all, Alsop's embrace of Mass yielded a significant achievement for the BSO and all the others involved. Although it may not make believers out of everybody in the audience (I spotted a few folks heading early for the exit last night), it's bound to wear down some of the resistance. Unfortunately, from the latest box office reports, you may need a miracle to get a ticket. But, hey, you just need a little faith, right?
BALTIMORE SUN PHOTO/Elizabeth Malby


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CFP: Supernatural Panel, SF&F Area, SW/TX PCA/ACA (11/15/10: 4/20-23/11)
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Call for Papers: Supernatural Panel SW/TX PCA/ACA
In Supernatural's season 5 episode "The Real Ghostbusters," Eric Kripke started us off with "Frightened Little Boy: The secret life of Dean Winchester" and "Homo-erotic subtext of Supernatural." If you're anything like us, that line of dialogue offered a clear, albeit sardonic, invitation to write and share some of those analyses that are begging to be explored. Over five seasons, we've seen this intriguing show take on issues of family, religion, good versus evil, destiny versus free will, what it means to be human, and other subjects rife with complication and ready for analysis and interpretation.
Join us in a panel that addresses any aspect of the television show Supernatural. We are looking for papers that offer critical and intellectual engagement with the subject. The topics and approaches are not limited. We ask only that you focus your analysis on Supernatural—episode, season, character, story arc, film making, fandom, how the show speaks to today's world, etc.—and that you take a scholarly approach.
Deadline for abstract submission: November, 15, 2010. Earlier abstracts are welcome. The registration deadline for the conference is December 15. You must register by that date or will not be permitted to present or appear in the program.
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Teach a New Bike Rider
Kiddie Commute
3 / 5
Plan an outing by bike. It could be as simple as riding over to a friend's house or pedaling to the local coffee shop for a snack. Check with your local zoo or theme park to see if they allow bicycles on their grounds and bring along the bike instead of the stroller. If your city or town promotes bike-friendly events like Ciclovias, Sunday Streets, or Healthy Saturdays, take advantage of those to experience a different riding environment and strengthen the message that your community moves by bike and not just car.
Copyright © 2016 Rodale Inc.


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The Organic Pharmacy
Antioxidant Face Gel 35ml
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Antioxidant Face Gel is light and rich in herbal extracts and cosmeceuticals that not only lift and minimize pores, but also restore tone, elasticity and radiance.
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text:
Another Perspective
Don't Count on a Housing Rebound Any Time Soon
Even if you're qualified to buy now the banks couldn't care less.
I've been looking at the housing market lately from a different perspective -- that of a hopeful buyer. I can tell you, despite whatever exhortations are coming out of Washington, it's going to be a long time before this market recovers.
You'd think we would be great buyer material. In the town we live in, just 12 miles north of the George Washington Bridge, practically every third house is for sale, some on the market for two or three years. One place we looked at sold for $1 million seven years ago. They're now asking $500,000 with no takers. As the real estate agents keep telling us, "You couldn't find a better time to buy."
With the proceeds of a house sold a month before the 2008 crash, we're also in position to make a sizable down payment. Interest rates are hitting new lows every month. What could be more to our advantage?
Well, first there's something called a "short sale." You may not know the term, but it's enough to strike fear into the heart of any real estate agent.
A short sale is where the owner has stopped making mortgage payments but the bank has not yet foreclosed, meaning the bank is still carrying the property on its books without making any money. You'd think the banks would be dying to sell. Well, apparently they are.
The first short sale we looked at -- the former $1 million property -- aroused my curiosity. It seemed like such a great bargain. Why had it been on the market for two years?
"None of the prospective buyers were able to respond quickly enough to the bank's demands," our realtor informed us. "They all had houses they had to sell first. When the bank accepts an offer, it wants to close within weeks."
Hmm, that's nice to know. Since we've already sold our house and are ready to buy right now, we may have a big advantage. When another short sale comes up within our price range, we make an offer only $25,000 below the asking price. It seems like a slam-dunk.
That was seven weeks ago. We haven't heard anything since then.
It turns out that although banks want you to act with great dispatch when they finally make up their minds, until that point it may take them forever to respond. Banks, after all, are bureaucracies and your offer may be sitting on someone's desk for months before anyone takes notice. We do some Internet research and find there are what amounts to support groups for people in short sales. It's not unknown for such transactions to take two years.
"What's going on?" we ask our realtor.
"Well, the problem seems to be that all these mortgages are insured by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or the Federal Housing Administration," she tells us. "The banks know ultimately they're not going to lose any money. So they don't mind fiddling around waiting to see if prices go up again. It's only when they decide to accept your offer that they want you to act immediately."
So we wait. Now we're starting having a problem with our rental. Our lease expires in September and the landlord says he doesn't want to have to show the apartment during the winter. If we haven't left by September, he wants us to sign another year's lease. All this seemed inconsequential back in May when we put in our bid, but now it's mid-July and nothing has happened. I start checking out motels and storage lockers just in case.
"It's only going to get worse," our realtor tells us. "Dodd-Frank is just going into effect and the banks are going to be dealing with a whole new set of regulations. It will slow things down even more." The object, of course, will be to prevent the banks from making any more of those high-risk loans that the government forced them to make for two decades under the Community Reinvestment Act.
Then of course we have to get a mortgage. Our bank does a credit check and finds we score below 700, the dividing line for acceptable customers. It turns out I had a cell phone bill sent to a collection agency four years ago. I don't even remember but I think it happened when I forget to put in a change-of-address after we moved. Also, it would help if I had more credit cards. Frugality doesn't necessarily pay off in the credit world.
As you might expect, however, there are entrepreneurs who can handle all this. For $1,000 we hire a credit doctor who promises to get our score above 700 within a few months. All they do is get on the phone and harangue the credit agencies until they cry uncle. It sounds a lot like Washington lobbying but seems fair. After all, one phone bill shouldn't ruin our reputation.
The real problem arises because my income is freelance. Banks have a hard time handling that. Last year I was writing speeches part-time for a U.S. Senator but now my income is all 1099s. "If you still had that W-2 income, it would be much easier," the bank officer tells me. "These freelance things can end any time."
"Yes, but my W-2 income did end unexpectedly, while my freelance jobs are still there," I tell him. "You're freelancing, too, you know," I add. "You just don't realize it."
He is impressed but says he will have a hard time convincing his superiors.
Nevertheless, after a month of gathering letters from my freelance employers swearing they will keep giving me assignments forever, we are finally ready to move forward. My wife and I attend a bank seminar for mortgage applicants along with a dozen other first-time buyers. We get a huge packet of user-friendly information explaining all the differences between fixed and adjustable rates, 15 versus 30-year payouts, and so forth. Our mortgage officer has a computer app that shows the assessments for all the properties in town. He does a run-through on the property taxes and shows us our monthly payments will be well within our means -- a lot cheaper than we're paying to rent, in fact. Now all we're waiting for is to hear from that damned bank.
That's when I start reading about the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau just gearing up down in Washington. This is Elizabeth Warren's brainchild -- the federal agency that has been given direct access to the Federal Reserve so it will never have to worry about Congressional oversight again. (It's probably unconstitutional but Chief Justice Roberts may come up with a new interpretation.) As the New York Times tells us:
As part of a continuing overhaul of the home mortgage market, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau [recently] issued proposed rules to bolster fairness and clarity in residential lending, including requiring a good-faith estimate of costs for homebuyers.
The proposed rules have two central elements -- the loan estimate and the closing disclosure -- that would provide would-be homebuyers with a simple accounting of likely payments and fees to prevent costly surprises.
Is there anything new to this? We've already been overloaded with information. But now the dynamic has changed. With the federal government sitting in as a third party, the banks will become supercautious, even more wary of lending. Instead of risking civil suits from customers, they will be facing federal regulators ready to "crucify" any bank in sight just to set an example -- as the EPA administrator recently described it. And if the EPA can impose $35,000-a-day fines on hapless property owners (see recent Supreme Court case), just think what a truly unfettered federal agency can lay on a few jittery banks.
Oh well, we may squeeze through all this just under the wire. If this stupid foreclosing bank comes through before the CFPB swings into full action, we could be making our first monthly payment before Christmas. As for a full recovery of the housing market, however, in this highly overregulated environment I'd say forget about it.


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Katana Model
Samurai Shishou(Samurai Master) is a 3rd person fighting game based on the samurai stories.For that,we made an original one for our game.
Katana Model
You have several very dark renders of weapons.
I recommend getting a closer view of the model and place some sort of back drop, and get some proper lighting.
Also, you can put all the weapons into a single image and save yourself the clutter of having a bundle of images.
Once we can clearly see the weapons, then we can comment on what could be improved. :)
I will try next time change the background color and make them in one image.
As I promised,here are the main weapons in the game.They will be used by enemies as well but maybe other textures.
I will add to the Yari(Spear) a flag with the Shogun's seal,the three leafs for the enemy guards.