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Should anyone ever be trapped in an elevator with "that guy" – the one that knows everything about everything and feels compelled to prove it – and find themselves scrambling for a way to reduce "emissions," there's an easy fix: just ask them to describe "rock and roll."
It is after all the single most vexing quandary this side of describing the taste of salt, which of course tastes, well, salty. And just to make sure that the momentary gag order doesn't become too momentary – rub a little, ahem, salt in the wound so to speak – a copy of Eve To Adam's latest indescribable album "Locked & Loaded" would be in order.
ETA has upped the ante on their game-changing fourth release by bringing in the best of the best to co-write, produce and collaborate on this sonic journey. Rock goliath Dave Bassett (Halestorm, Shinedown) co-wrote and produced the band's newest smash "Immortal" with additional production by Michael "Elvis" Baskette.
The rock and roll titans – Taki Sassaris (frontman/vocalist), Gaurav Bali (lead guitar), Alex Sassaris (drums), Luis Espaillat (bassist) and Adam Latiff (rhythm guitar) – have long been known as one of the hardest working, dedicated bands in modern rock.
And with a strong, cohesive fourth effort, ETA remains consistent in their vision, consistent in their intention, and consistent in their determination to play it forward, regardless of the current trend in fashion, style or fad of the day.
"Locked & Loaded" stretches limitations and stands the test of time. The songwriting and production represents the band's strongest and most versatile effort to date, pushing into new territory with influences ranging from heavy metal to electronica, industrial rock and pop.
ETA's animated frontman Sassaris chatted with me recently about the band's industrious brilliance and their outstanding new record. The bandleader was just as excited about album number four as he was with their musical debut.
"I don't think that ever goes away. If you're really invested in it and you've really done your job and put yourself out there, I just think that's part of being an artist, writer, performer. There's always the anxiety of the initial release and obviously, how it will be received."
"I'm so thankful that this album has been received well. We worked really hard on it, we had a lot of fun making it – a do or die kind of record for us, you know? The pressure was there - but it wasn't."
"We still had a lot of fun, a testament to working with really great people. We were able to rise up and have a lot of fun doing it. So it didn't feel like work at all, which is part of why it comes across the way it does."
The fun for the rockers no doubt began with musically mixing it up a little – or then again a lot – on the new album. "We wanted to stretch it out. Part of being in this band and why we've been doing it for as long as we have is keeping it interesting for ourselves."
"For the audience to go along on the ride, it starts first and foremost with you as an artist. If you're reaching new horizons and pushing the envelope, the audience will go along on the ride with you. It was really important for us to do some of the things that we did on this record."
"Sonically we had wanted to do it for quite some time. But due to opportunity and timing, it never really quite presented itself in the studio the way that we wanted it to go down. Working with Elvis and Eric and Dave gave us an opportunity to have a clean slate and a new canvass to paint on, a fresh canvass. So we decided to take advantage of the opportunity and push some boundaries sonically and do some different things."
"What I'm really proud of is that you can hear some influences throughout the album that you can't quite pinpoint. We didn't blatantly rip anybody off, we really just wanted to take that inspiration and put it across the way that we did."
"The album is great in the sense that it's a lot of fun to play live and it registers with the audience. We've been doing some shows and to see people really know the material, that's the greatest compliment you can have."
That people know the new material isn't surprising. Sassaris was quick to point out the biggest difference in the exceptional new record. "It's an escalation in the songwriting. I'm really proud of (2011's) 'Banquet For A Starving Dog' but that was more personal record for me."
"What we were able to do on this album is take the same inspirations but to take the material to a place where it allowed the listener to participate and to know and understand more of the experiences."
"It allows them to put themselves in it much more than in 'Banquet.' The lyrics are still extremely personal but it's a lot more universal and more approachable than 'Banquet For A Starving Dog.'"
As Sassaris also pointed out, ETA worked with several outstanding – but different – producers on "Locked & Loaded." Working with several producers on a single album might have presented challenges for a lesser band. But the experienced rockers looked at it a little differently.
"It actually was a real blessing because in the past we've always just worked with Paul Lani who is an awesome producer and really great talent in his own right. But I think having the influence of different personalities throughout the making of an album made the entire process go a lot faster."
"And it was a lot more fun because when you have the interjection of someone else's energy and personality in the music, you find yourself going to places you didn't think were possible. It became very natural in that sense. The only challenge was bringing the energy to the sessions and making sure you showed up for work – making sure you brought your best ideas forward and fought for the best material."
"I really welcomed it. I was solely responsible for motivating our management into bringing as many people as possible to work with. Change is always great and you find yourself growing through the process."
"It's really been a great experience one way or the other just to grow as writers and to challenge ourselves. Any time there's growth, there's always a positive outcome. The record is completely the byproduct of the entire experience and working with supreme talent, but also being in different atmospheres."
"We cut the record in three different places – Charleston, South Carolina, Orlando, Florida and Malibu, California. Just being geographically in different places puts you in a different mindset and allows you the opportunity to walk a different road."
Sassaris and his bandmates may have chosen to walk down a few different roads while recording the new record. But every one of those roads leads to their never changing ultimate goal, namely to "reignite rock."
"Well you know, there's a lot of road left to travel and it's a constant battle. It's show in and show out. What that really stems from is the era that we grew up on, the late '80s and early '90s of hard rock and metal. It was in the mainstream consciousness and it was pretty much the biggest medium in pop music at the time."
"What I want to do is bring back the same kind of feeling I had growing up watching Guns N' Roses or AC/DC or Alice in Chains or insert any one of these great bands into the equation – that kind of inspiration that I felt listening to these bands for the first time and seeing them live."
"This larger than life persona and presence that these bands had in that era is something that we try to embody every night. It starts with the material and then it's bringing the materials to life in a live setting."
"What I wanted to do was to write and record an album that some 15-year-old kid out there would get his hands on and feel the same way I felt the first time I heard 'Welcome To The Jungle.' What we're really trying to do is bring back that spirit of rock, a bit of the danger, a bit of that larger than life showmanship and performance value that is backed up by really great material."
"It all comes back to the songs. There's a lot of cool bands right now doing things and pushing their own respective boundaries. You can have the coolest image and the public's ear for a moment. But what really stands the test of time is the songwriting. That's the vehicle that gets you over the hump and gets you to the next level. So that was the focus for us."
"We know that we love to tour. We love being out there with our fans. We like meeting new people and getting new people introduced the sound of Eve To Adam. But if this thing was really gonna hold water, the vehicle is the songs. We wanted to make sure that we put as many great songs on this album as possible in order for us to go out and tour this for the next year and a half or two."
One more thing that'll guarantee that an album holds water? If a long, cool drink of the record tastes an awful lot like the monsters of rock. For some, the mention of the influential musical ghosts might be insulting. But the appreciative Sassaris had a separate take.
"It's a compliment. I'm a huge fan of classic rock going back to performance value and songwriting. There wouldn't be a Guns N' Roses without Queen or Aerosmith or The Who or (Led) Zeppelin. I'm glad that you picked up on that because one of the appeals of the group is that we're a fresh face on an older sound."
"We have a lot of classic rock influences and I don't think that's a bad thing. I'm really happy to see that our fan base is 15 to 60. I love being able to see dads bringing their sons to the shows. And maybe their first concert was Aerosmith back in the early '70s or seeing Pink Floyd for the first time."
"I take that as a total compliment because the bands that you're mentioning from that era were consummate musicians and some of the greatest performers to ever play an electric guitar. It's something that you don't set out to do. It just kind of happens and I'm very thankful for that."
Sassaris is also no doubt thankful for his remarkable talent for crafting a hard rock song that can grab the listener by the throat, but in a melodically controlled way – the ultimate testament to his songwriting genius.
"Yeah, it's an interesting intersection you find yourself at as a writer because you want to make sure that you embody that passion and spirit that we were talking about like the first time I heard AC/DC – that same type of grit and hardnosed rock."
"But at the same time, you want to make sure that the songs have an intelligent quality to them. They're accessible and there's content there that people can find themselves putting their own lives and experience into."
"What we have right now is this group with a sense of maturity and a sense of experience. We're a band that has been around the block a few times – the 'school of hard knocks' so-to-speak. Something comes out in writing when you have these experiences. It's one thing to read about someone else, it's another thing to do it yourself."
"You take those experiences with you and the natural thing is to pour that into the songwriting. It's about enduring and perseverance and the stories that you live. This record has a lot of resonance for people because these are my stories lyrically, my experiences."
"But the way that I've lived my life is the way that a lot of people live their lives. These stories are other people's stories also. They can relate to them because at the end of the day, all we've tried to do is persevere and succeed just like other people do in any walk of life."
"We go through this emotional roller coaster of life and we have our ups and downs and music is supposed to be a soundtrack for that experience – overcoming obstacles in your life and relishing the successes and learning from the failures."
"'Locked & Loaded' is an album that encapsulates the feeling of what it's like to be human, to go for the kill, what it's like to be defeated, what it's like to find love. I'm not reinventing anything, I'm just bringing these concepts back to the forefront – with some loud guitars and some dynamic moments."
"And that's a central quality that rock has always embodied. If you go back to the bands we mentioned before, whether it was Zeppelin or Queen or AC/DC, these bands have endured for 40 plus years now because of what they captured on those records – it was really the zest of being alive, the human experience, what it means to be a person on earth."
With four full-length albums and years of constant touring under his belt, chances are good that Sassaris knows a thing or two about the human experience. But somehow through it all, the talented musician has been able to keep his eyes on the real prize.
"It's important as a performer to keep yourself growing and to keep yourself growing you have to be humble. You have to acknowledge what your strengths are and know what your weaknesses are and work constantly on trying to improve yourself."
"You could learn something from a band that's opening for you that you've never even heard of. They could be 22-years-old and they bring something to the stage that elicits a fire inside of you. You just never really know where you're gonna get info or get that next bit of inspiration."
"So it's really important to constantly to be open and willing to accept things that you come across. And if you stay open, you're constantly gonna be willing to grow and that's important to be relevant as a songwriter, as a performer and as an artist."
"If you want to continue to inspire, you have to remain inspired. To remain inspired, you need to be active in your life and that requires humility and it requires knowing that you don't know everything."
"This was a great day, but tomorrow's a new day and you've got to push it again. There will be a new experience that could open up an entirely new horizon for you. As long as you're into the journey and it still gets you off, boundaries don't exist. It's limitless what you can accomplish."
"The quest is to be legendary, to be great. It's not enough to be good. There's plenty of people that are talented and good out there. But it's really about what you do with it and how hard you push yourself to accomplish the top of the mountain. That's really what it's about. It's always been like that for me."
"This album is a culmination of that quest. We've closed one chapter and opened a new one. This album is a new era for this group. And now that we've had a bit of a taste of it, there's no stopping."
Fasten your seatbelts music fans…
You can catch Eve To Adam on a few select February dates with Escape The Fate and New Year's Day beginning Feb. 15:
Feb. 15 Strummers Fresno, Calif.
Feb. 16 Ace of Spades Sacramento, Calif.
Feb. 17 Knitting Factory Reno, Nev.
Feb. 18 WOW Hall Eugene, Ore.
Feb. 20 Knitting Factory Boise, Idaho
Feb. 21 Knitting Factory Spokane, Wash.
Feb. 23 The Black Sheep Colorado Springs, Colo.
Feb. 25 The Rock Tucson, Ariz.


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Well recently I managed to get my hands on Halo 4, I am about 3/4 of the way through the campaign and I may review it if I get it done this week.
First thing I am going to talk about is the armor customization Personally I don't relly like ay of the helmets…at all. It seems like they really wanted some crazy ideas and decided to look at Power Rangers for help, also prtty sad they took out my favourite the ODST helmet…but there are lots of choices for customization and unlike in Reach you can unlock armor parts apart for leveling up, you can also unlock thm by completing commendations, which was in Reach. I like the fact we have more than 3 visor colours and more arms and legs choices.
One thing I wasn't sure about when I had initially heard about it was the loadouts but surprisingly they work nicely. The primary weapons are pretty nicey balanced except you will pretty much see everyone using a DMR as it is most powerful at close range, which I find myself in a lot. I thought the BR would be my weapon of choice but after a few games I had to switch it, I just kept getting killed by others with the DMR or an assualt rifle. Thankfully at far range the BR is possibly one of the best but is out shone by the Light Rifle, which does more damage whn it is scped then when it isn't. I hardly ever find people using the Supressor or the Covenant Carbine, the latter to which I have grown to a long with the DMR. The pistols are pretty much what they have always been the plasma pistol has the EMP effect, the Magnum is a great secondary weapon and the Boltshot is really good too and like the Plasma Pistol can be charged and can cause an instakill at close range, I have seen people camping behind corners simply using it as a shotgun, it is pretty OP but it isn't at a scale which is too bad yet.
Armor abilities
This seems to be the one thing I have a lot of trouble with. I simply forget I have them and so I pay the price for it. I haven't used all the AAs just yet but I have used a few. The hardlight Shield is pretty good for when you are taking a lot of damage and your opponent is in front of you but, this could be just the timing, your shields don't seem to regenrate when you use this ability and so when the shield goes down you will too. It is probably best for acting as a distration whilst a team mate goes in for the kill.
The Auto Turret is an ability which I find pretty weak, I have ever got a single kill with the turret and it is pretty easy to destroy too. It is okay for helping weakening enemy shields in tactical game modes such as CTF and King of the Hill but I only use it for those two game modes only.
The Regenerative Shield, in my opinion, is absolutely useless. Again it could be just be my timing, but I think you could take the spot for something else instead, if it was like the drop shield in Reach, I would probably use it more often. The Thruster is an AA I have only used in the Flood mode, which I will talk about in detail later on, but this is an ability which allows you to either close the gap or even get out of a messy situation and now you know why it is in Flood mode. I think this is pretty much Evade on speed, I would imagine it would be good for avoiding getting splattered online ad getting away from grenade spams or even to get in and finish off someone who is trying to run away.
Another new AA to Halo is Promethean Vision, this is basically x-ray vision and like the thruster I have only ever used it in the Flood game mode. I imagine this is a pretty handy AA for CTF and Regicide as you now where the enemy will be coming from and you can prepare or if you are on the offensive you can try and ambush you enemies. The downside to using the PV is that on the motion sensor of the enemy you can see like a sonar ping making everyone aware you are using PV.
The Jetpack is pretty much how it was in Reach, didn't use it much then and I won't now. Active Camo is prtty much how it was in Reach too, but on the motion sensor you are surrounded by blue markers instead of red, so the enemy will know someone is around.
Another AA returning from Reach is the Hologram, I had some fun using it in Reach and I could imagine having some fun on 4 with it too, it is pretty much how it was in Reach.
Tactical Packages
There are 9 tactical packages and I haven't unlocked them all yet. The ones I have unlocked are the Shield Package and Grenadier Package.
The Shield Package allows your shields to recharge faster, this is a pretty nice package especially if you are constantly getting into fights.
The Grenadier Package basically allows you to carry an extra grenade, which I find useful of game modes like KOTH.
The other packages are the Firepower Package, whcih allows players to carry to primary weapons, I am not gonna use this package, I don't see the need to carry to primary weapons.
The Mobility Package allows for unlimted sprint, this is a package I might unlock next, having unlimited sprint will help in modes like CTF, KOTH and Oddball.
The AA Efficiency Package makes your AA to rcharge quicker, an package I won't bother with unless I find a AA I am comfortable with using.
Resupply allows players to pick up grenades from dead enemies, again I don't really see the need for this as I always find grenades which have been dropped in just waiting to be taken. Fast Track is a package which allows players to get XP faster, this one is self explanatory not gonna go more into it.
Requisition allows players to "re-roll" their ordance drops choices, I think this is a handy package, sometimes I just get weapons which I don't want. There are some more but I don't want to bore people with more of this.
Game Modes
343 are going to add more game modes as time moves along, I am gonna start with the standard Inifinity Slayer and Big Team Slayer, this is basiccaly team deathmatch and is pretty much a standard game mode, I haven't come across much problems except for some lag which is annoying.
Flood is the new infection, I have mixed feelings about this game, the AA in this make it much harder for both sides, the Flood have the AA Thruster, Active Camo and Promethean Vision, I think pretty much everyone uses the thruster pack as it is much easier to move around the maps since you can't sprint as an infected also getting kills make it much easier. You can use your thruster pack and attack at the same time and I have gotten loads of kills like this. Being a spartan isn't all bad though, you have Promethean Vision, Active Camo and the Hardlight Shield. I never see anyone use the hardlight shield, I personally prefer PV so I can know where the infected are coming from. The shotgun has a pretty long range making it easy to keep the Flood a nice distance away, however sometimes when they swing for you and you kill them first there isstill a chance you can die to after their death. The infected are also have shields which is ridiculous and makes killing them with a pistol much harder as it ill take a few shots to the head to bring them down. This game mode still has a lot of tweaking before it will be nicely balanced.
Capture The Flag has had a few changes since Reach, now when you grab the flag you also have a pistol which is an addition I love, there have been times when my team would just die and I would have to try and get the flag as close to my base a spossible, without that pistol I wouldn't make it as far as I did. When you go to the flag you automatically pick it up and you can't drop it, it is a little annoying but something I can get over quickly, just makes team work more vital. I have quite a bit of fun with CTF, just wish there were more maps to play it on.
Dat Scattershot
King Of The Hill, just expect mass grenade spamming. It isn't too bad, people mainly just spam grenades and you have no choice but to get out of the hill of try and just stay as close as you can. You cnnot use AA whilst in the Hill, which I like otherwise you would just have people hiding with Active Camo or using the Regenerative shield. I don't play this game mode much and I probably only would when there is a challenge.
Oddball is an all time favourite of mine. Pretty much like it has always been except you have the ability to throw the ball, I have never seen anyone use it yet. I have done it a few times myslef when my entire team got killed and I just throw it as far away from the enemies as I can,I think I have only passed the ball to a teammate once. A ncie feature which could work well with a team taht is communicating.
Regicide, I always feel sorry for the King, if you are the king expet to be teamed up on but it is a nice twist on the standard free-for-all. I haven't played this much but it can be pretty fun especially if you are playing it with friends.
SWAT was recently added to the list. I loved SWAT in Reach, so was happy to hear it had come back. You can use either the DMR or BR, both have the Magnum as a secondary weapon. There have been a few times when I have spawned and a second later got killed, that is my main problem with this game mode, the spawn points. This is prtty fun, head shots are instant kill and people are always running around, I mistake I make too often. If you are a DMR hater, don't play this game mode, it is all I ever see.
Dominion is a new mode to Halo, it is pretty much reminds me of Domnation in COD. 3 points on the map you have to capture them all, but once you capture a base it can be fortified with turrets and shields, and once that is done you can get supplied with weapons and vehicles, making it even more challenging. Once one team has captured all the bases the enemy team has overshields and 1 life, the opposing team must eliminate them before they capture a base, but to make things a little easier for them they have markers on them so they know where they are. This is a game mode which can last for sometime ad you can epect to be chaotic. Everyone needs to lay this mode.
There are curently 10 maps in the game excluding the forge maps. It kinda sucks because after a while you can pretty much guess where people will be camping and know which way to go gt the flag, etc. My favourite map has to be Adrift, had good times on this match in nearly all the game modes. The rest of the maps are okay but I don't like them much.
I thin I have said everything I wanted to say, if you have any questions post them below!

subset: commoncrawl


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On behalf of the Love Dogs animal therapy program and Pet Partners I was honored to be chosen Fox 5 News Shining Star for our work in the Las Vegas community. This monthly recognition of one individual is sponsored by Fairway Chevrolet and a generous award is bestowed upon the monthly Shining Star.
The evening news anchor, Olivia Fierro, came to our adopted school to film day one of our bully program, Be Cool Not Cruel. The students were excited to have her with us as well as a cameraperson but they were all so engaging and engaged in the lesson. I met with them earlier and asked them to help me keep the seven dogs calm ... by being calm themselves! It worked!
Yes we had seven Pet Partner therapy teams in the classroom and each dog had a story to tell that related to being misunderstood or bullied.
After filming the class I was interviewed in the school's lovely courtyard.
Then we were off to Fairway Chevrolet for the award presentation. And there we had 9 dogs! We packed the showroom with Love Dogs!
We had with us our largest dog, George, and our smallest, Petey and our youngest human volunteer. What a great turnout to support our team.
We invited one of our clients, Julian, and his mom and brother to join us and they had a great experience with all the dogs.
This recognition of our unique programming was greatly appreciated as our volunteer handlers and animals every single day go out into the community in educational and therapeutic settings, improving lives one paw at a time.
For more information about the Love Dog animal therapy program, visit www.lovedogadventures.com and to learn about Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society) go to www.petpartners.org.


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R.C. Rutter is a proud father and consummate storyteller, so naturally the two would merge when he penned his novel, Cave of Forlorn. Currently available as an eBook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, Rutter shares the backstory to Cave of Forlorn, what inspired its conception and how he developed his craft. He offers insights into the evolution of the publishing world, advice for aspiring writers and why readers make the story world go round.
PC: As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
RC: I would really like to say that as a child, I had it all figured out. Some of my friends did. They knew exactly what they wanted to do. I had not a clue.
PC: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
RC: During my teen years, I could often be found in the backyard, up in the tree, reading a book. I had no aspirations then to write a novel but I did enjoy writing short stories. I combined my love for drawing with
writing and found myself making comic strips that I would show off to the neighborhood kids. In my twenties, I attempted to write my first novel but never had a chance to work on it much. I did complete two chapters and received great feedback from my friends. The desire to actually write a novel has been with me since then. In May of 2009 I got the opportunity to write again and I seized it.
PC: What do you think makes a good story? What elements draw you in as a reader?
RC: It drives me crazy when stories are too obvious or too convenient. I would much rather be left wondering what could possibly happen. My favorite scene is to place characters in difficult situations and have them figure a way out of their predicament. The cave is flooding, the boat is rising, and the ceiling made of solid rock is fast approaching. Yes, that is actually in the book.
PC: Would you share a little about Cave of Forlorn. How did this story come to you?
RC: From the beginning, I wanted to tell a story about a young teenage girl. I am the proud dad of two teenage girls. I wrote the book for them, to encourage and instill confidence in them. The main character had to be smart, she had to be confident. I am always encouraging my daughters and I continue that role in my book. Yes, a girl can be beautiful, smart, confident, and a warrior. The premise of the Cave of Forlorn is that the king is dying and he summons his daughter to him. She has been hidden away since before birth to protect her thus she has no idea of her true identity. She embarks upon a journey to be reunited with her dad and faces challenges along the way. I have been an avid fantasy reader since
I was very young so I chose that realm. From the beginning I had several thoughts in mind; an idyllic beginning setting for the daughter, a journey to be re-united, a battle at the end, and a detour through a cave along the way. I had no idea that so much of the story would take place inside the cave and the ending that I had already written in my mind turned out completely different in the book. The characters did not always listen to me and often did things on their own. I have often heard that characters take on a life of their own. I never really understood that until now.
PC: Will you talk a little about how much research goes into your novels – how you prepare for creating new worlds on the page.
RC: Writing a fantasy book does not require the research that would go into a non-fiction or a period book. There is a lot of flexibility in making up your own world and characters. Of course, there has to be some familiarity to the reader. A wizard is a wizard, swords are swords, a magic cape is magical. From that foundation you can add other attributes and characters that make them your own; Thorgon loves to munch on onions, Theo feels lost unless he is carrying a cane or staff; and the King can travel outside of his body. Then there is the whole matter of the kitten. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but I will tell everyone, don't mess with the kitten!
Some of my names and references come from actual ancient civilizations. The name "Shabb" literally means "walks with a swagger" and fits the character perfectly. Apsaras are small celestial creatures and I used them in the book. Both of these came from National Geographic magazine.
PC: What do you see as the influences on your writing?
RC: I have always loved a good story. From my teenage years on, I always had a book in my hand. While eating breakfast, I was reading. Lunchtime? Reading. Breaks? Reading. Evenings? You guessed it, reading. Some of the books were good, others were great. I like to think that I took the attributes of what I liked about the best books and incorporated them into my style of writing. My reviews have affirmed that I have succeeded.
PC: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
RC: Sometimes the story just does not flow. I have learned not to try to force the story. Leaving it for a few days and thinking about it at various times, will result in the issues being resolved. Yes, I have a vivid imagination and try to look at situations from different angles. This can be often viewed in my photography where I see an angle or shot that others don't. I recently hit a snag and could not see where the story was going. This went on for a week and I was getting frustrated, turning ideas over in my head. I finally hit upon one that worked. It fit the story and kept it doing in a direction that I wanted it to. Now I
am back to writing at a quick pace.
PC: How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
RC: The usually start with an idea. One of the short stories I wrote started with the line "I put the key in the lock and turned it." A line like that immediately draws the reader in. "What kind of door is it? "Where does the door lead?" "Who is holding the key?" "Is this a good thing or is calamity about to unfold?" I have no set formula other than sometimes I will write out plot points that I want to incorporate into the story at some time. If the characters are feeling generous that day, they will follow my plot. More often, they will do something totally unexpected but true to their nature. Their actions are driven by who they are, not by what I want them to do.
My characters develop out of roles I need to complete the story.
Sometimes their roles will change. When I first wrote about Edward and Arthur, I had no idea that later in the book, well, I don't want to spoil the surprise. Suffice to say, I needed some characters to fulfill a scene and they fit perfectly.
PC: How do you craft the voice of your novel? Is there any particular exercise you use to go inside the mind of your characters?
RC: The voice was defined by the characters. The king's daughter had to be smart and confident since she is serving as a role model for my daughters. The wizard had to be wise but he also needed to not have all the answers, just like any real person. True to life, he always tries his best but sometimes has setbacks. Whenever I am writing from the view of a character, I imagine myself as that character. Based upon all their attributes, how would they act in a particular situation?
PC: The publishing world is evolving. Most readers are unaware of the process. Can you take us through the steps of becoming published?
RC: First, write the book, all the way through. Don't be concerned about the layout. The story just needs to be told. If you begin by obsessing over the small details, you will never make it to the end. Once the book is written, put it away for thirty days. Take a break. Don't think about the book, don't read it, nothing. Just leave it alone. Give yourself a break. After 30 days, pick up the book and read it from cover to cover. Does the story flow? Do characters develop? Do characters appear and disappear randomly? If you left a character at the bottom of the stairs and their next scene has them in the attic, how did they get there?
Next begins the editing stage. This cannot be overlooked. Self-published authors have a reputation for shoddy work. Grammatical errors and plot errors are the most common complaints. Do everything you can to avoid falling into these categories. A professional editor can be hired to review your book and is recommended. Friends and family might be an option if they have the language and comprehension skills necessary.
Once that is done, you now have two choices: traditional or self-publishing. Traditional entails engaging the services of a literary agent. If an agent requires funds first, run! A legit agent will take a percentage of the book's revenue as payment. Anyone else is just taking your money. The agent will then "shop" your book around to the publishers. If your book is chosen, you should expect to receive an advance payment against future earnings of your book. For example, you receive $5,000 for your book. The publisher will sell and distribute your book. Future payments will be forthcoming once the publisher has made back their investment (including your advance expense and minus the cost of any books returned by the bookstores). The publisher will "own" the rights to the book for a set period of time, expect five to seven years.
The other method which is becoming quite popular is to self-publish your book. You write it, add a cover, submit it online, and market the book yourself. Your success depends upon your effort and you retain ownership and control every aspect. The rewards are greater but so is the effort required. I am self-published; I like having total control over my work, retaining ownership, and reaping the rewards.
PC: What advice would you share for aspiring writers? Are there any tools you feel are must-haves for writers?
RC: Time to write is the hardest asset to have. I would love to be able to write all day. My job interferes with my writing. Then, there is time needed for family and friends. Of course, sleep must also be factored in. I also try to write where there are no distractions. I write in my home office, in my car sitting in a parking lot, and my office at work with the door closed during lunch. The best advice for aspiring writers is to write! Take the first 50 pages; give them to friends and co-workers. Ask for constructive criticism. Find the people around you who are always holding a book. Ask them to critique your work and thank
them for their honesty. Any feedback will make you a better writer. Also keep your reader in mind when writing your book. Write what people want. Right now, vampires are very popular. If you want to write a book about the differences between spring water and tap water, understand that not many people will buy your book.
PC: Where do you hope to take your writing – what dreams do you hope, or goals
are there that you hope to achieve?
RC: My first book is almost written like a screenplay plus it has a lot of action and developed characters. It could easily be made into a movie and that is my dream. I am currently at work on the sequel and plan to have at least one more book in this series. I have other ideas for books already.My dream is to be a financially-independent full-time writer.
PC: How important are your readers?
RC: First and foremost, I am a reader. I wrote this book to appeal to myself as a reader. There are no easy answers in the book, no obvious plot lines, and I am prone to whack people when the time feels right. There are a multitude of plot lines that all weave together at the end of the book. My readers are left with questions often and I am thrilled when they tell me that they thought they had it figured out but got surprised instead. Now I am being hounded to get the sequel written so they can find out what happens next.
Visit R.C. Rutter at: http://www.rcrutter.com/index.html


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Quick View
Gorgonzola CremificatoMorning milk makes melting blues. Heavy cream and Italian cultures also have something to do with the thick creaminess of the 'sweet' gorgonzola. Serve with honeyed pears for dessert- and never look back... Read More
Quick View
Preferes des MontagnesAs close to the illicit French Reblochon as you're going to get. Innocuous, buttery goodness with just a hint of pungency. Made of cow's milk in Savoie like the real thing, but pasteurized with a generic name - Sneaky! Read More


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Mission Statement
The mission of Sally D. Meadows Elementary is to educate the total child by incorporating interactive experiences designed for the diverse needs of learners. In a positive environment where students, staff, and parents are enthusiastic about the teaching/learning process, students will strive to meet or exceed standards necessary to become productive, responsible community members.
About The School
Sally D. Meadows Elementary opened in the fall of 1964. Meadows Elementary was named for one of Vidalia's most prominent early citizens. New construction was completed in the spring of 2010. We now serve grades two through five in our building of sixty-five new or renovated classrooms. Our facility includes four grade level wings, three computer labs, a gym, music room, cafeteria, administrative suite, and media center.
Bravely Preparing Our Future
School Mascot
Indian Brave
The vision of Sally D. Meadows Elementary is to guide students toward excellence through
· a sequenced / organized curriculum of essential content which is monitored and evaluated;
· research-based instruction that supports the achievement of all students;
· a variety of assessments that produce data used to plan for continuous improvement;
· collaborative planning for instruction guided by school improvement efforts;
· a school culture that focuses on academics within a safe, productive learning environment that fosters a sense of community;
· a seamless connection between school and community;
· professional learning, involving staff and families, focused on fostering equity and high expectations for all students based on performance data;
· distributed school leadership focused on student learning and a supportive learning environment for staff;
resulting in students who strive to meet or exceed standards necessary to become productive, responsible community members.
Copyright © 2016 Sally Dailey Meadows Elementary


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There are plenty of hotels in Cavtat Your choice of accommodation for your stay in Cavtat should be dictated by your personal travel budget, but also by your own interests.
The experience of enjoying Cavtat, fine cuisine and service while surrounded by the wonders of the Adriatic makes Cavtat the ultimate destination.
Whether you're looking to rough it or relax in style, Cavtat can cater for every taste, budget and personal interest.
Cavtat is a town in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. It is on the Adriatic seacoast 15km south of Dubrovnik and is the center of the Konavle municipality. The English language pronunciation is "Tsav-tat".
The natural beauty of Cavtat's surrounding countryside and turquoise water of the Adriatic have made the city an internationally popular summer vacation destination. In Cavtat there are unique bays, beaches, submarine areas and rich vegetation.
Numerous bars and restaurants line the waterfront, offering everything from cheap pizza to more expensive local specialties: the Cavtat is a good as any, with a repertoire from simple pasta dishes to succulent fresh fish.
Due to its beauty, natural as well as man-made, its rich history and its Mediterranean climate which just invites you to ease you mind, relax and savor the moment, this little town that in supreme tranquility rests on the slopes of the southern coast of Croatia has become one of the most sought after European tourist resorts.
Text and photos partialy from Wikipedia


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CMO Today: Facebook Earnings Wow
Here's your morning roundup of the biggest marketing, advertising and media industry news and happenings. Send tips, suggestions and complaints to email@example.com.
Click here to read CMO Today in your email inbox daily.
FACEBOOK'S MOBILE REVOLUTION: It is hard to remember this, but back in 2012, Facebook's mobile app hardly worked. It didn't even carry advertising. Fast forward to the first quarter of 2014, it is a very different story. Facebook revealed on Wednesday an 82% jump in ad revenue to $2.27 billion, of which 59% came from mobile, reports WSJ. That is a lot of money (and, by the way, Facebook now has over billion mobile users). If there is anything to quibble with, it is that Facebook's desktop ad business might be slowing, reports Business Insider.
MOBILE AD GAMES: That shift to mobile from desktop might panic the average Web publisher, since mobile ads are generally sold for less money than desktop ads. But for Facebook, it is likely received as terrific news. That is because the market for mobile game ads is booming. Facebook is cleaning up in this realm, reports WSJ's CMO Today, as game companies are spending as much as 10 times more for ads on Facebook compared to most advertisers. That explains why Facebook is launching an ad network, and why Twitter, Yahoo and everybody else are rushing to get in on mobile game ads. Interestingly, the hot mobile game ad market is seen by some as holding back brand advertisers from spending in mobile, because the prices are so high.
PUBLICIS DISPLAY OF CONFIDENCE: A day after Omnicom CEO John Wren sent waves of panic through the many agencies whose fates are tied to this company's proposed merger with Publicis Groupe SA, Publicis looked to calm fears, reports WSJ. The French holding company released a statement saying "we are confident" the new company will get necessary approval from U.K. tax authorities, and that Chinese regulatory approval should be "obtained within a reasonable time period." It didn't comment on its hopes for approval from French tax regulators, however. The deal may ultimately close but after such a long delay, ongoing rumors, a confusing rationale for the delays, and a seemingly lack of unified messaging between the two parties, you have to wonder what these two agencies clients are thinking, and how confident they are in the new company's future management.
REDDIT UPS IT TARGETING CAPABILITIES: Targeting Web ads based on geography is pretty standard. But, for Reddit, where Internet privacy is a much-championed cause, it is new and a bit ironic. Reddit has never been a huge moneymaker for its owner, Advance Publications, since many mainstream brands are likely spooked by its vocal audience and odd conventions, reports WSJ's CMO Today. Targeted ads, which are made to look like other Reddit posts (i.e. native Reddit ads), could change that–at the risk of alienating users. If the Reddit community sees an advertiser either trying to deceive or exploit on the site, the advertiser will likely hear about it. Of course, if a brand does well on Reddit, the viral potential is also huge.
ELSEWHERE: Zynga founder Mark Pincus is giving up his operating role at the gaming company, which announced a 36% decline in revenue on Wednesday, reports WSJ. More than half of the people who watched the Sochi Winter Olympics on TV also consumed some Olympic content on a second screen, reports The New York Post. Apple sold 43.7 million iPhones during the first quarter of this year, reports WSJ. McDonald's has a new look for its mascot Ronald McDonald, reports ChicagoBusiness.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @wsjCMO, @digitalshields, @mvpeers, @VranicaWSJ, @JackMarshall, @nftadena, @perlberg


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Gwyneth Paltrow recently threw a big, star-studded shingdig for her lifestyle site GOOP across the pond at The Mark in London. Gwyneth donned black leather Tom Ford Triple Buckle Sandals with gold hardware at GOOP's summer launch party – she's a huge Tom Ford fan, and they've been pals since his days at Gucci. If you love Gwyneth's look, you can get these sandals in gold for $1,450 at Neiman Marcus.
Gwyneth's sandals are actually a more subdued version of the totally aggressive Tom Ford sandal-boots we spotted on Rihanna a few weeks ago. I greatly prefer the sandals to the sandal-boots, myself. They're a far more wearable, everyday look for those of us who aren't hardcore fashion daredevils like RiRi, wouldn't you agree?


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|Find the best surf spots
Saturday January 10 2009 12:00:00 PM
Surf spot: Jalama, United States of America
Session's Rate:
Wind direction: Offshore
Wind Strength: Light
Nb waves ridden: 1
Length of the surf session: 60 min
Surfboard ridden: 7.2 short
Fins: thruster
Weather and water temp: 70, 55
Waves height: 1m-1.2m / 3ft-4ft
Waves Quality:
- Powerful
Waves Shape:
- Multipeaks
Andri and I went up to Jalama, found a good spot and got a wave. It was freaking cold and shortly after we got there the tide dropped out below us and the surf got small and mushy. We tried to wait out the low tide, but the onshore wind came up and blew out allt he surf.
Created: Monday January 12 2009 11:59:11 PM
Modified: Tuesday January 13 2009 12:00:18 AM
Hits: 2412


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Croc Skin Green Flat Iron & Iron Comb Set
This professional quality flat iron comes with a Iron comb that makes smoothing hair a cinch. Ceramic heaters provide even heat distribution while smooth titanium plates glide effortlessly through hair.
Croc Professional flat irons are the #1 choice for all Keratin Treatments, heating up to 450 degrees.
Guaranteed AuthenticGuaranteed Authentic
Folica is an authorized distributer of this product and guarantees its authenticity.Close
- Smooth plates allowing effortless glide
- Fully digital 18 custom temperature settings from 280F to 450F
- Dual Voltage: 110V - 240V
- 30 minute Auto Shut Off safety feature
- Creates balanced, humidity free styles
- The professional #1 choice for Keratin Treatments
- Ceramic heaters provide instant heat recovery
- 9 ft long 360 degree swivel cord
- 1 Year warranty - See insert on how to register your flat iron within 30 days to activate warranty
|Plug Type:
|Max Temperature:
|450 Degrees Fahrenheit
|Technology :
|Auto Shut-off, Digital
|240, 110
|Cord Type:
|Swivel Cord
|1 Year(s)
|Min Temperature:
|280 Degrees Fahrenheit
|Plate Size:
|1-1/2 Inch
|Cord Length:
|9 Foot
Folica's Warranty
Folica stands behind every product we sell and we honor all manufacturers' warranties. For all electrical appliances we offer complete protection. If you experience any problem with an item purchased from us and it's still under the warranty period, all you have to do is fill out our Warranty Replacement form, send us the items plus a small shipping and handling fee and we will take care of the rest. We'll repair or replace your item with a new product or a Folica Certified Refurbished product. It's that simple.
Love My New Flat Iron Glad I Purchased It!!!I recommend this flat iron to anyone. It makes my hair look nice and shinny.
Was this review helpful?(Yes)(No)Feb 28, 2014GloriaHAIR TYPEColor Treated Hair / Fine or Thin Hair
Use this link to send this review via e-mail, Twitter, or to post to your blog.Close


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Beautiful mermaid dress in great condition. Sweetheart neckline. Added lace to neck line for a more romantic look.
Dry cleaned.
- Alterations:
- Preservation Method:
- Terms of Sale: All Sales Final
- Original Owner: Yes
- Has Original Receipt: Yes
- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Will Ship to: Anywhere at Owner Expense
- Payment Methods Accepted: Other
Please read our BUYER'S GUIDE before purchasing a dress online.


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13 Apr 06:01 2012
Updated: cygutils-1.4.10-2
Charles Wilson <cygwin <at> cwilson.fastmail.fm>
Cygutils is a collection of useful(?) tools for the cygwin platform. This is a content update and feature enhancement. [[ compiled using gcc-4.5.3-3 ]] CHANGES (from cygutils-1.4.10-1) ================================ * fix bug where readshortcut --raw was always "on" * corrected longstanding issue with lpr printer name normalization * readshortcut now handles embedded "windows" environment variables (%foo%) correctly. PREVIOUS CHANGES (from cygutils-1.4.8-1) ================================ * getclip and putclip now support new cygwin-1.7.13+ clipboard format. * cygstart now supports file:// and mailto: URLs (Yaakov Selkowitz) * Added -R/--raw option to readshortcut (prevents expanding embedded environment variables within paths). Reported by Denis Excoffier. * mkshortcut, readshortcut and lpr now use cygwin-1.7 path conversion functions rather than deprecated ones. However, they make only minimal concessions to unicode, and operate mostly on narrow character encoded pathnames. They should now be able to handle "long" pathnames however. TODO (call for patches): ================================ * Update (some?) utilities to handle unicode filenames, similar to IWAMURO Motonori's work on cygstart. Which utilities need this? mkshortcut and lpr, probably. Any others?(Continue reading)


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BlueStacks is at it again, this time updating their application to work with Microsoft's Surface Pro, as well as Windows 8, providing the ability to run Android apps on the tablet and OS, respectively.
The latest version of their app fully supports Windows 8, right down to the charms bar and rotation support, as well as being optimized for the Surface Pro. Best of all, BlueStacks' app is free, giving you the ability to run Android apps on Windows 8 devices, or if you were lucky enough to score one of Microsoft's Surface Pro tablets in the last couple of days.
You can download the BlueStacks app right here.


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Have you heard BikeDenver's PSAs on the radio?
Submitted by Kris Thompson on
Have you heard any of the BikeDenver's Public Service Announcements yet? Radio Announcer "Brody" at Alice 105.9 did the voice for 4 of the PSA's listed below. 105.9 and 93.3 are the stations running the PSA's and Bike Denver is looking for your suggestions for future PSA's. Go Bike Denver!
It looks like you don't have Adobe Flash Player installed. Get it now.
BikeDenver - Save Your Car Door!
BikeDenver - Bike Locks Don't Expire


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Price: $12.99
A current political map that features our world in rich, earth-toned colors. Astounding detail and boardroom quality make this map excellent for reference in your home or office. Features the Winkel Tripel projection to reduce distortion of land masses as they near the poles. This poster-sized version is perfect for framing.
National Geographic is a renowned authority in cartography. For 120 years the Society's maps have helped spread geographic knowledge around the globe. A vast database allows National Geographic to combine the latest data gained by space-age technology with innovative digital mapping techniques to create state-of-the-art political, physical, and thematic maps. The Society's meticulous research and attention to detail have established a standard of achievement that is unparalleled.
(based on 7 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
4 Stars
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of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
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Reviewed by 7 customers
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Functional and attractive
By Jeather
from Mississippi
About Me Educator, pre-K though 12
Comments about World Executive Wall Map, Poster Size:
I wanted a nice looking wall map for a home office. I have been very pleased with my selection. This map is very nice looking, but still is easy to read and I can use it to review geography with my children.I had an old frame laying around, so I put this poster in it. It fit perfectly and really classes up the room.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
Map is excellent!
By Ted the Traveller
from Cape Coral, FL
Map is framed and in my office. A conversation piece for all who visit.
Good quality I recommend
By Thomas
from San Diego ,Ca.
About Me Manager
I'm going to buy a very nice frame for this well made World Map so I can proudly display it on my Living Room wall.
Very impressed!
By Val
from Sturgis, SD
This map met all of my expectations for quality and design. The map was packaged with care and arrived in perfect condition. I framed it with barn wood and it looks great!
Destroyed Through Delivery
By Unhappy
from Virginia
About Me College/university
The map itself is beautiful. How it arrived to me however... not so much.
From National Geographic:Thank you for taking the time to share your comments. We apologize that this map did not reach you in perfect condition. Our customer service department has already reached out about a solution.
Map good buy. Well shipped.
By elln
from omaha ne
Following world events
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
World Political Map
By Peggy
from Portsmouth VA
This map was purchased for my husband to hang in his office. The map is beautiful but was badly wrinkled on ALL corners due to the packaging. Very disappointed in that aspect.
From National Geographic:We appreciate your sharing your comments and are sorry to hear that your order did not arrive in perfect condition. We understand that customer service has already contacted you about a solution.


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TWO cars stolen overnight during a burglary at a house in Worcester were later found abandoned in Martley.
Detectives are appealing for information after a grey 55-plate Citroen C4 and a grey 08-plate Toyota Yaris were taken from the drive of a property in Lambourne Crescent between 11.15pm on Tuesday and 7.15am yesterday.
The keys to the vehicles had been stolen from inside the house after thieves reached through the letterbox of the front door and removed the house keys which had been left in the lock.
The car keys were among a number of items stolen from the house. The cars were found abandoned yesterday morning on the drive of a house off Hillside in Martley.
Detective Sergeant Dave Knight from Worcester CID said the cars may have been used in another crime before being abandoned.
"Although the vehicles were recovered within eight miles of where they were stolen, we need to consider that they may not have been driven straight there and the offenders could have visited other places in the cars before dumping them in Martley," he said.
"Because of this, I am keen to hear not only from anyone in Worcester or Martley who saw the cars being taken and then later dumped, but also from people in neighbouring towns who saw these cars in the early hours."
Anyone with information can call Det Sgt Knight on 0300 333 3000, quoting 30N 110412 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


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2013 South Dakota Governor's Conference on Tourism
Wednesday and Thursday, January 16-17, 2013
* Include your contact information and submit your evaluation on or
before February 18, 2013, and your name will be included in
the drawing for a 2014 full conference registration.
Maxine Shapiro
Maxine is a dynamic speaker and performer with an international demand for her keynote and training sessions. Her keynote address will kick off our conference on Wednesday afternoon. Attendees will experience the foundational components for collaboration, communication, and creativity. During Maxine's breakout sessions, attendees will roll up their sleeves and get to work learning ways to create, communicate, engage, market, and drive enthusiasm in the business place. Maxine motivates, entertains, and transforms groups through highly interactive, spontaneous, and powerful exercises.
Stuart "Twitchy" Ellis-Myers
Stuart is a dramatic model of self-inspiration and determination. When he speaks of improving lives, he speaks from personal experience. He will be presenting the second keynote address on Thursday in addition to two breakout sessions. Learn how collaborating to cross-sell South Dakota and industry partnerships can pay off for your business, even on a limited budget. Stuart will give real-life visitor industry examples to learn from and immediate tools for success. During his breakout sessions he'll cover how to get visitors off the beaten path, development tips for rural areas, and will share his A.N.C.H.O.R. philosophy.
Robert Patterson
Robert has more than 10 years of online marketing communications experience and leads MMGY's practices in social and influencers media channels. He has spearheaded social and digital strategy for MMGY's many clients. We all know that travelers are relying more than ever on insights and reviews from friends, family and even strangers when making trusted travel decisions. Robert's session will review how consumers are being influenced and provide recommendations on how to tap into the power of social media to turn consumers into visitors.
Shaun Aukland
Shaun is a DMO Marketing lead for Google who works one-on-one with destination marketers to understand the changing online landscape and develop integrated, measurable marketing strategies. Shaun's expertise in managing and optimizing campaigns ranges from search engine marketing, to display networks, to video, social and Google TV Ads. Travelers have used the Internet for years to plan their trips, but with the increasing complexity of social sharing and device proliferation, reaching consumers can be overwhelming. Leveraging unique research from the Google Travel team, Shaun reveals how to influence travelers from dreaming to booking. This session will have content suited for anyone from CEO to social media manager.
Kelly McDonald
Kelly is an expert on marketing and business trends specializing in multicultural marketing and generational insight. Now, more than ever, it's imperative to understand the changing demographics around us. How can you best serve your industry or your community if you don't know what they look like today? The new Census numbers and findings are startling and profound. Changes in demographics take many forms: racial, ethnic, gender, generational, and even life stage and level of affluence, to name a few. Diversity of thought helps destination marketers stay proactive and on the leading-edge. Learning about differences in values among different groups is the key to maximizing relationships, marketing efforts, and business opportunities.
Ted Sullivan
Ted has nearly 20 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry with extensive knowledge and experience in both marketing and understanding the travel distribution system. In his breakout sessions, attendees will learn how to avoid marketing mistakes. If no two tourism properties, attractions or destinations are alike, why do they all look and sound the same? Marketing isn't easy – and the worst mistake you can make is trying to be all things to all people. Ted will help businesses understand how their marketing can cut through the clutter and focus on the experiences that differentiate their travel business.
Connect with the Department of Tourism
Follow the Department of Tourism on Twitter
Receive the Department of Tourism's


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The Editor's View
THE pump price differential between petrol and diesel is at its widest – 8p per litre – for four years. And with diesel pump prices escalating at a faster rate than petrol the price gap could widen further. In the past week the price of a litre of diesel has risen to an all-time high in theUKand with no sign of a fall in crude oil prices pump prices are unlikely to reduce.Continue reading


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Koziolek, Anne; Noorshams, Qais; Reussner, Ralf (2011). Focussing multi-objective software architecture optimization using quality of service bounds. In: Dingel, Juergen; Solberg, Arnor. Models in Software Engineering. Berlin / Heidelberg: Springer, 384-399.
Full text not available from this repository.
View at publisher
Quantitative prediction of non-functional properties, such as performance, reliability, and costs, of software architectures supports systematic software engineering. Even though there usually is a rough idea on bounds for quality of service, the exact required values may be unclear and subject to trade-offs. Designing architectures that exhibit such good trade-off between multiple quality attributes is hard. Even with a given functional design, many degrees of freedom in the software architecture (e.g. component deployment or server configuration) span a large design space. Automated approaches search the design space with multi-objective metaheuristics such as evolutionary algorithms. However, as quality prediction for a single architecture is computationally expensive, these approaches are time consuming. In this work, we enhance an automated improvement approach to take into account bounds for quality of service in order to focus the search on interesting regions of the objective space, while still allowing trade-offs after the search. We compare two different constraint handling techniques to consider the bounds.To validate our approach, we applied both techniques to an architecture model of a component-based business information system. We compared both techniques to an unbounded search in 4 scenarios. Every scenario was examined with 10 optimization runs, each investigating around 1600 architectural candidates. The results indicate that the integration of quality of service bounds during the optimization process can improve the quality of the solutions found, however, the effect depends on the scenario, i.e. the problem and the quality requirements. The best results were achieved for costs requirements: The approach was able to decrease the time needed to find good solutions in the interesting regions of the objective space by 25% on average.
Additional indexing
|Item Type:
|Book Section, refereed, original work
|Communities & Collections:
|03 Faculty of Economics > Department of Informatics
|Dewey Decimal Classification:
|000 Computer science, knowledge & systems
|Deposited On:
|09 Feb 2012 16:21
|Last Modified:
|05 Apr 2016 15:24
|Series Name:
|Lecture Notes in Computer Science
|Publisher DOI:
|Other Identification Number:
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Last updated on April 4, 2014
2013 (Senior): Saw action in one game on Nov. 23 vs. New Mexico when he attempted on PAT.
2012 (Junior): Did not see game action.
Prior to Fresno State: Walked-on at Washington State in 2009 and redshirted ... did not see game action in 2010 before transferring to Fresno State in the fall 2011 ... walked on at Fresno State in the spring of 2012.
Personal: Born in Fresno, Calif. ... parents Ronald and Gail ... has a younger sister, Brooke... Scholar-Athlete with a 3.8 high school GPA ... economics major.
|Email this article
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On April 27, 2010 The U.S. Commercial Service of the American Embassy organized a technical seminar outlining that "Everyone can save a life with an AED", at the Marriott Hotel in Bucharest. Cardiac Science explained the benefits of its defibrillators to multiple contacts within the Romanian key sectors for a targeted audience: Prime Minister's Office, Romanian Parliament (Health Commission), Deputy Chamber (Health Commission), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Tourism, and Sport, Sport Associations, Hotel's Associations, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Transportation (Railways Dept., Airports, Bus, Taxi companies, Bucharest Underground), Ministry of Interior (Police, Fire Department, Catastrophe Protection Corps), Romanian Red Cross, Romanian Resuscitation Council, Bucharest City Hall, Drug stores chains, Malls, Gyms, Fast Foods, Romanian Chamber of Commerce (corporate sector), Press.
The event drew a large audience who came to learn more about Cardiac Science's AEDs, and how everyone can save a life in both the government and public safety sectors.
Please find below copies of the presentation in English and Romanian:
For more information please contact:
Doina Brancusi


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According to a May 11 in Daily Mail.com another church and church leader are being named in an alleged sex scandal. David Powers, a director at The Rock church in San Diego has been accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate contact by women staying at a rehab center affiliated with the church. Thus far, 6 women have come forward with allegations against Powers.
The Rock Church has been in existence since 2000. The church is pastored by Miles McPherson, and boasts some 12,000 members. The church has faced legal challenges in the past for issues related to adequate parking and improper land usage.
The church has also been praised for its diligence and commitment to community service. The church recorded almost 250,000 community service hours in 2011. In the same year, the church gave away almost 100,000 toys through its Toys for Joy program.
Sober Living offers separate facilities for men and women. It has a 0 tolerance policy on sobriety. It offers a number of sponsored events, but requires those who check in to stay for a minimum of 90 days.
One Christian viewed the church as overextended in all the wrong areas. "I am not against the church working with other organizations in an effort to advance the gospel. However, television shows and not for profit businesses leaves the church exposed and susceptible to just about anything. Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was, and they responded. If someone were to ask the church that same question, I am not sure what the answer would be. And that is because the church has too many identities"
The lawsuit, filed in San Diego church, names Powers, his wife, ABC's "Sober Living," and Rock Church Ministries.
Do the allegations against Powers change your view about the church? If asked your opinion of the allegations, what would your answer or response be?
Source: Mail.com


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Police: Millsap family and boyfriend "eliminated" as suspects
ARMADA, Mich. (WXYZ) - Investigators tell 7 Action News, April Millsap's family and her boyfriend, have been "eliminated" completely as suspects in her murder.
Earlier in the day, police said they were not being "considered suspects".
This, as friends close to the family tell 7 Action News, her parents are planning their daughter's funeral and are asking for privacy.
The news that those close to April have been eliminated from the investigation is leading many to wonder if an outsider committed this crime--and if they are safe in their small village.
Police sources close to the investigation told 7 Action News that those living in Armada should not let their guard down and should not think that violent crime can't happen in their small village.
7 Action News also learned Tuesday that the grey van police had been looking for previously is no longer a part of the investigation. The lead was vetted and it turned out to lead nowhere.
Investigators told 7 Action News Investigator Jonathan Carlson, their sole focus is now on finding any motorcycle rider who may have been on the trail at the time of April's murder. The color of the motorcycle does not matter, they now say, as they previously were looking for a specific kind.
We have also learned that more than 500 tips have come in so far to investigators since they launched their investigation.
Meanwhile, police have released a composite sketch of a person of interest in the murder of 14-year-old April Millsap.
He likely has sandy brown or reddish hair but few other descriptive details were released with the sketch.
Police would also like to speak with anyone on the Macomb Orchard Trail between 6:20 and 8:20 p.m.
Millsap's body was found in a wooded area on the trail on Thursday by joggers who alerted police around 8:30 p.m. The teenager's dog led the joggers to her body. Police say the dog may know the suspect.
According to police, Millsap took her dog for a walk and did not return home.
Family members discovered April's body had been found after noticing a police presence in the area.
An autopsy was conducted, but police are not releasing a cause of death.
If you have any information please call 1-877-616-4677 or visit www.michigan.gov/michtip .


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Dragon Warrior Monsters 2: Cobi's Journey
Your island home is sinking into the ocean and you're the one to save it! You'll need to find, train and breed an army of the coolest, weirdest and cutest Dragon Warrior® monsters to ever live inside your Game Boy!
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Edith Massey Movies and Career Information
May 28, 1918
San Francisco
May 28, 1918
San Francisco
Edith Massey was an American actress and singer. Massey was best known for her appearances in a series of movies by director John Waters. She is considered one of the Dreamlanders, Waters's ensemble of regular cast and crew members.
- Edith Massey Movies before 2015
- Polyester (1981) 1981
- Female Trouble 1974
- Pink Flamingos 1972
- Multiple Maniacs 1970
- Desperate Living


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By Margaret McKinney
Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University music faculty Linda King and Andre Garcia-Nuthmann will present a concert, Lyrical Passion, at 3 p.m. on Oct. 7, featuring the music of Schumann, Brahms and Franck.
King, a concert pianist, and Garcia-Nuthmann, a tenor vocalist, will be joined by Krzysztof Zimowki, a violinist who is the concertmaster for the New Mexico Philharmonic and the Opera Southwest Orchestra.
Submitted to the Optic
The Eighth annual Outdoor Concert for the Birds and Kids Fun in Nature Day will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, just east of the city.
There are many fun events throughout the day. This year there will be very popular hayride beginning at noon. Another event will be archery lessons beginning at 1 p.m.
Submitted to the Optic
The Fourth Judicial District Court Appointed Special Advocate program will be holding a Silent Auction from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 at the Flamingo Room of the Hillcrest Restaurant. This event is to raise money so that CASA can continue to serve children in foster care in San Miguel, Mora and Guadalupe counties.
Orthopedic surgeon Owen DeWitt, M.D., has joined the Alta Vista Regional Hospital staff and the community. DeWitt is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with 24 years of experience. DeWitt utilizes both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat bone, muscle, tendon and joint injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.
DeWitt is no stranger to New Mexico. As a teenager he worked on a ranch outside of Tucumcari and from there his love for New Mexico grew.
Copyright © 2016
The Las Vegas Optic is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in San Miguel County and Las Vegas, NM, and the surrounding area.


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Ideal for deeply cleansing the skin of impurities in a single step.
Direction: Can be used as a gentle daily scrub and cleanser but also maybe leeft on to act as clarifying mask.
Net Weight: 125 ml/4.22 oz.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Cetyl Alcohol, Kaolin, Butylenes Glycol, Glycerin, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Sodium Cocyl Wheat Amino Acids, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate, Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Parfum (Fragrance), Palmitic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pumice, Tetrasodium Edta, Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Propylene Glycol, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool, Olivine Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Metabisulfite.
Disclaimer: Ingredients are subject to change at the manufacturer's discretion. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, please refer to the product packaging.
If you need any help for applying these offers or any other issue please call us toll-free at 1-866-830-6161.


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|Major Groups > Gilled Mushrooms > Pale-Spored > Amanita > Amanita rubescens
Amanita rubescens
[ Basidiomycetes > Agaricales > Amanitaceae > Amanita . . . ]
by Michael Kuo
This beautiful amanita is widely distributed and common in eastern North America. It can be distinguished by its indistinct stem base (which lacks a prominent, sacklike volva or other distinguishing features); its brassy yellowish to dull brownish cap, which is adorned with warts that are yellow at first, but turn grayish to tan with development; and its tendency to discolor pinkish red to rose (which is why it is sometimes called the "Blusher" in field guides). Another common "blushing" Amanita species in eastern North America, Amanita flavorubescens, has a brighter yellow cap surface, with warts that remain yellow throughout development. Amanita rubescens var. alba has a whitish cap. The western version of Amanita rubescens is Amanita novinupta.
Our eastern North American version of Amanita rubescens is probably not really the same, phylogenetically, as the original Amanita rubescens of Europe. Actually there may be several unnamed eastern North American species; a detailed study of this group is needed.
To see what happens when Amanita rubescens is attacked by aliens from outer space, see Hypomyces hyalinus.
Ecology: Mycorrhizal, primarily with oaks; growing alone, scattered, or gregariously; summer and fall; widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains.
Cap: 4-15 cm; convex, becoming broadly convex or flat; dry or slightly sticky; adorned with with numerous felty warts that are bright yellow and densely packed at first, but soon spread and fade, becoming pinkish, grayish or dull tan; surface dull brassy yellow to dull brown when young, becoming flushed with red shades, and eventually turning reddish brown to tan or brown; the margin typically not lined.
Gills: Free from the stem or narrowly attached to it; white, sometimes discoloring reddish; close or crowded; short-gills numerous.
Stem: 5-18 cm long; 1-3 cm thick; more or less equal, or sometimes slightly enlarged toward base; the base indistinct to bulbous; generally without universal veil remnants; without a rim; white at first, becoming stained pinkish to dirty red; bald or finely hairy; with a fragile, persistent ring.
Flesh: White throughout, discoloring slowly pale pinkish red, especially around worm holes.
Odor: Not distinctive.
Chemical Reactions: KOH on cap surface negative.
Spore Print: White.
Microscopic Features: Spores 6.5-10.5 x 5-7µ; smooth; ellipsoid; amyloid. Basidia 4-spored; without clamps. Pileipellis a cutis or ixocutis of hyphae 2-7 µ wide. Lamellar trama bilateral; subhymenium cellular.
REFERENCES: Persoon, 1797. (Fries, 1821; Saccardo, 1887; Kauffman, 1918; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1979; Weber & Smith, 1985; Jenkins, 1986; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Metzler & Metzler, 1992; Horn, Kay & Abel, 1993; Barron, 1999; Roody, 2003; McNeil, 2006; Miller & Miller, 2006; Binion et al., 2008; Tulloss, 2013.) Herb. Kuo 06239502, 08300211, 07070711, 06221011, 06231302.
Amanita expert Rod Tulloss has provided preliminary documentation for an eastern North American version of Amanita rubescens provisionally named "Amanita amerirubescens"; this entity may (or may not) correspond to the species illustrated and described above.
Further Online Information:
Amanita rubescens at Roger's Mushrooms
© MushroomExpert.Com
Cite this page as:
Kuo, M. (2013, May). Amanita rubescens. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_rubescens.html


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Apr 22, 2010 8:50 AM
This Earth Day, we're proud to bring you the Rolls-Royce of recycling receptacles. The Mode™ Premium Home Recycling Center ($250) has everything you need for optimal recycling. No more excuses kids. You're having a hard time remembering recycling pick-up day? No problem, this bad boy has a reminder with date and time. You don't like the smell? A carbon odor eliminator masks those funky smells! Can't carry all those recyclables outside? Nesting compartments stack on top of each other for easy portability. There's also a foot operated compaction system - but we think you're already sold!
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Has poke_princess_v73 taken you back yet?
Has poke_princess_v73 taken you back yet?
"I'll go," said Chagataev. "But what will I do there? Build socialism?"
"What else?" said the secretary.
I was certain this was going to be a thread to tell him to stop posting, but alas
if he was having sex with pokeprincess, he wouldn't be posting as much
When the Devil is too busy
And Death's a bit too much
They call on me by name you see,
For my special touch.
You'd be surprised...
dont suprise me. Keep on having rough and wild sex. Get your self exhausted and take a nap
When the Devil is too busy
And Death's a bit too much
They call on me by name you see,
For my special touch.
What do you do, have sex over webcam
Never tried cyber sex...
it's not like he has a likely chance of getting her pregnant anyway without some sort of medical intervention, so I say, have sex all you want, eddy boy
Are you implying that you've already drained Ed dry walrus?
No, I'm implying that males with CF are almost always infertile.
Well in that case...
A tear shed for his blight
what the holy FUCK?!
IVF, beatch.
I have a theory.
The Editor is an internet paedophile.
I see...
When I say "I see...", it means that I think that's just stupid, which in effect denies it.
No, it doesn't deny it, asshat. It's a passive statement that neither confirms or denies the statement.
You people don't know me very well.
Chill. It's just walrus, I'm pretty sure she didn't mean anything offensive.
How was that unrelaxed?
I just saw it like you were defending/on the verge of defending yourself.


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A COUPLE of mums stepped into the breach and decided to organise a "non-prom prom" after their children were left heartbroken when told their school would not be staging one.
Some of the year 6 girls at Littleworth Grange Primary Academy had started looking at potential prom dresses last September when they began their final year at primary school.
By spring some had bought dresses and some boys had ordered suits to be hired for the night.
But then at Easter came the news none of the 10 and 11-year-olds or their parents expected- this year there was to be no prom.
Mum Emma Darby, from Harold Avenue, Lundwood, said: "We were told the staff did not have time to organise a prom.
"But there has been one every year for the past six or seven years, so all the kids just expected this year would be the same."
Emma says her daughter Nikita and her best friend Chloe Hawcroft were so upset by the news she and Chloe's mum Wendy decided to organise a prom themselves.
So they booked the Rigby suite at the Metrodome and 38 youngsters enjoyed a fun filled evening.
"The school did tell us we were not allowed to call it the Littleworth Grange prom, so we called it the non-prom prom," said Emma.
A spokeswoman at Littleworth Grange said: "When we asked the children this year if they wanted a prom or another activity more than half of them said they would prefer something else.
"The majority of pupils said they wanted a barbecue and so that is what we arranged and they all enjoyed it."
i didn't have a prom at primary, it's not the end of the world. and whats with the limo? they'll only want something bigger for their prom leaving secondary school
Totally agree with BarnsleyLad. Its just something else thats been adopted from America. Fair enough, a prom for secondary school leavers, but primary school? who started that off?
Like BarnsleyLad says, parents are then going to be under pressure to make the secondary school prom bigger and better. Still, if people are daft enough I'm sure they'll bleat all over this post.
Didn't have one at primary either, think its daft, prom is all over the top for youngsters, why don't they just stick to one when they leave high school, when prom actually makes sense...celebrate end of exams etc..
excellent idea to cancel all these stupid prom nights... we never had them nor needed them in the last century. They are a great concern financially to hard pressed parents and to kids who don't conform to the artificial standard of beauty and grooming set by their peers. An excuse for bullying must be stamped out
It was the bestprom ae ever wantedso I don't care if you are mad about
It was the best prom ever I dont care if you hate but we was heartbroken even my freind nicolewas we had to orgonise one cos we paid lots of money for the dresses
I agree with chloe even though I didn't have 1 either but they are youngsters let them enjoy if they wanted one the other option was their parents orgonise one


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Woman convicted of killing husband in nursing homethe associated press | July 19,2014MONTPELIER Officials say an 81-year-old Vermont woman convicted in 2006 of beating her husband to death has been released to a nursing home because of a terminal or debilitating illness.
Hope Schreiner is the states oldest female inmate and its second-oldest inmate in custody.
Dean George, chairman of the Vermont Parole Board, said the Department of Corrections made the decision to grant Schreiner medical furlough.
Seventy-eight-year-old Robert Schreiner was found dead in his West Townshend driveway in June 2004. Prosecutors say Schreiner killed her ailing husband because she was tired of caring for him and wanted to start a new life. Schreiner said she found her husbands body after returning home from a morning of running errands.MORE IN Vermont News
BARRE — A Barre woman pleaded not guilty Friday to threatening Department for... Full StoryMONTPELIER The state has issued a request for proposals to study the beleaguered Vermont Health... Full StoryMONTPELIER A bipartisan deal has been reached by two key members of the U.S. Full Story
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Price: $79.00
In Guatemala's western highlands, many Maya women hand-weave traditional brocade blouses called huipils. A good huipil can last 30 years, but many women weave new ones for special occasions and sell hand-me-downs to other artisans. Our cotton bag is one example of this creative reuse of vintage materials. Sewn in a family-run studio in Panajachel, Guatemala. Patterns will vary slightly.
Made in Guatemala. 16"W x 16"H x 1"D. 26" leather strap.


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The N.D. Lottery is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Do you play?
Mar-25-14 10:19 PM Agree | Disagree
"Democrats are responsible for every decent thing."
2 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
ronaldo: the b52 is one example. started in 1947 and still flying today. The sight of which is shock and awe to many of those who wish ill will upon us.
1 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
PJ16: if our handouts include the operation of minot, gf AFBs' and the corps operations at lake sakakawea--your position is null and void.
2 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
I have only played Powerball with Powerplay & when its over 50 Mil.
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
I feel that one day, that we will get enough moochers/takers in ND in order for us to elect the people that implement things like Obamacare/PutinCare....
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
PreJuduce16.....we were told at one time that Obamacare....soon to be PutinCare.....was not a 'tax', but to get it legal after it passed and we saw what was in it, that it was indeed a 'tax'....but that's ok...we must do whatever it takes to move forword...
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
PJ, if you live in ND, you should feel right at home. You are one of the biggest loud mouth moocher around here.
4 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
All of the time Poeticjustice16 displays his posted IQ and once again pounds the moochers the takers those greedy North Dakotans who want twice as much as they pay right into the dirt.
You would think that such a person would have more of a life other than pointing out, time after time, that those lazy good for nothing North Dakotans are always standing there with their hand out.
You would think that any thinking fool would want to maybe stop just for once, but it is there day after day, incessantly relentlessly never ceasing droning of the same old tired nonsense about North Dakotans taking twice as much as they give.
Nice try, but not even close.
As for the state gov, local govs, county govs, well that is the case.
They want twice as much and return half as much as they really should.
Start there. That's where the story begins.
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
There are 8 levels of control that must be obtained before you are able to create a social state. The 1st is the most important. Saul Alinsky
1. Healthcare – Control Healthcare and you control the people.
2. Poverty – Increase the Poverty level as high as possible, poor people are easier to control and will not fight back if you are providing everything for them to live.
3. Debt- Increase the debt to an unsustainable level that way you are able to increase taxes and this will produce more Poverty.
4.Gun Control -Remove the ability to defend themselves from the Government, that way you are able to create a Police State.
5.Welfare- Take control of every aspect of their life (Food, Housing, and Income).
6. Education- Take control of what the people read and listen too – take control of what the children learn in school.
7. Religions- Remove the belief in the God in Government and schools.
Maybe playing the lotto could be included?
3 Agrees | 2 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Taxed? That's the biggest, sickest joke of all coming from the land of the moocher hooples.
REALITY CHECK: You put in ONE dollar of taxes, but take out TWO.
In truth . . YOU HAVEN'T PAID ANY TAXES FOR DECADES.
It's one thing that you people take and take and take -- it's quite another that you then feel you have a right to complain.
3 Agrees | 6 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
What is the Record of Acomplishment with Tax Dollar Revenue?
0 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
I can't afford to play the lottery any longer....after I was 'taxed' to subscribe...
7 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
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About the Trumpet
The Trumpet is a Classic Instrument.
Trumpets are made out of brass tubing that is bent twice to form its shape. Sound is produced when your lips fit inside the mouthpiece and produce a "buzzing" noise. Most trumpets have three valves or pistons that changes the way air is directed through out the horn. These valves make the instrument chromatic: allowing all the notes to be played. The tuning slide on the trumpet will raise or lower the pitch so it can be matched to other instruments in the band. The Bb trumpet is the most common. Other horns that are similar include the piccolo trumpet, the cornet, the bugle, and the flugelhorn. There are many different sounds that can be produced with the trumpet when you change what your tongue and embouchure is doing. For instance, you can double tongue, flutter tongue, growl, glissando, and vibrato. These advanced techniques will set a player apart from the rest and enhance their solos.
Take lessons and watch as you learn a new instrument


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Inside the Alliance
Our beginnings
When the organization emerged in 1985, it was called Inherit New Hampshire (INH). Many landmarks were threatened and rapid growth was beginning to erode New Hampshire communities and landscapes. A task force of business and civic leaders saw the need for an active, statewide force to advance preservation policy and address the needs of local communities and individuals, and created INH with a "common goal of encouraging respect for the special character of New Hampshire vested in its buildings, towns, landscapes and local history." Similar to other statewide organizations that formed around this time, it was buoyed by national historic preservation legislation in the 1960s and a growing environmental awareness and the nation's bicentennial in the 1970s.
While it is difficult not to acknowledge each individual who helped shape the organization, all agree that the early years owe much to INH's first board chair Chick Colony, the first Executive Director John Page and to Martha Fuller Clark who has remained a steadfast supporter, advisor and champion.
As INH approached the new millennium, it had raised its profile throughout the state, professionalized operations and grown its membership considerably. At this time, INH became the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance to underscore both its historic preservation mission and alliance function. As the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance membership base grew, so too did the organization's impact with programs and services to serve constituent needs. For a more detailed account of the organization's history, please click here.


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A War Within The Mind
Man's Best Friend To The Rescue When Lifelong Dream Became Real-World Nightmar
Harley (left) basks in the sunshine Nov. 2 outside the Harrisonburg American Legion. Like his master, who serves as the chaplain, Harley is a full-time member of Post 188. (Photo by Samantha Cole)
Bruce Webb stands with Harley, his therapeutic service dog. The pair make a dynamic duo, as the bullmastiff is attuned to the senses that might trigger a PTSD attack and can support Webb in ways humans not suffering from PTSD may have trouble understanding. (Photo by Samantha Cole)
An Army man. That's what four-year-old Bruce Webb wanted to be when he grew up.
"An Army man," he repeated, punching out the syllables with a boyish gung-ho.
He grew up to lead a…
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We thoroughly enjoyed the trip. David the Driver/Guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. Everything ran to plan and on time.
Great trip.
The tour guide David was very knowledgeable on the things we saw. I would definitely recommend this tour to all.
Wendy H Australia
This is a beautiful trip on a very small road due to its heritage listing. suggest travel calmThe alpacas are beautiful the tree top walk wonderful. Yes I would do it again just be a little more prepared.
excellent tour. drivers were helpful and knowledgeable.
Excellent scenery, variety involved on tour. Knowledgeable guide. A very pleasant day out.
We had a great day visiting the Tambourine Mt and Lamington National Park. Our guide/driver was excellent and extremely knowledgeable which made the day even more enjoyable.
S and P
New Zealand
Highly recommended. We gad a fantastic guide for the day. Transfers to /from were on time, no hick ups. Views from Tambrine Mountain were fabulous and enjoyed the shopping in the village there. Recommend the Glass Castlr Jenny Chong, Jewellery Maker on Gallery Walk Unit 3 159 Long Road beautiful glass wear especially her jewellery. After that we went to O'Reillys. Walks through the rainforest were easy but adventurous, especially the high path in the tree canopies. Feed the birds after lunch, very popular before heading back. Loved it.
Great trip. Guide was great. Lots of beautiful sIghts. O'reillys was great with options such as hiking or canopy walk.
Even though it was a rainy day, we enjoyed the tour through the rainforest. A visit to small town was most interesting. We enjoyed the llama farm and seeing the wallabies along the way. Our tour guide, Dave, was great.
excellent tour guide service
Had a great time ! Excellent tour guide.
The tour was great. Both Daves ( tour guides were very knowledgeable, helpful and congenial. We highly recommend this your to anyone wanting to get a good introduction to Lamington Patk and surrounding area.
Our guide David is very knowledgable and friendly. It was a lovely experience for all of us.
Elbie South Africa
Very interesting and enjoyable. Guide had very good knowledge.
This was an excellent tour -- the tour guide was VERY knowledgeable. The small group worked well. and the weather cooperated as well. We got to see things we'd not do on our own. The forest was awesome as were the various views along the way. Lots of photos. We'd willingly do this one again.
I enjoyed this trip
Great experience, can recommend this tour
Interesting programme, highly proficient guide; we enjoyed the tour a lot
Leanne G Australia
Excellent tour although it rained for most of the day, our tour guide Dave was very informative and made a very wet day as pleasant as he could.
The original date we booked was cancelled due to insufficient number. The inconvenience was more than made up by our wonderful driver/guide. He was friendly, informative and very knowledgeable. We had enjoyed our day. I definitely recommend this tour.
This was a great tour to O'Reillys, and our guide was awesome. A quick visit to the alpaca farm was fun, and had opportunity to see the most gorgeous views of the mountains. Lamington Nat'l Park is absolutely beautiful. A must see !
Very enjoyable!
Nice laid back trip - plenty of free time to take at your own pace. Good variety with shopping, walking, lookouts and alpaccas.
hi, we realy enjoyed the day trip driver was great, very helpful. last 30 klm. up to o'reilly's was not good for pam as she always drives. to wards the end she was starting to feel bit off but keeped eating barley sugar. views were fantastic. tree top walk great. lunch great.birds beautiful. realy great day.


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Rodney Bruce Vandervort, age 60, died May 13, 2011.
The oldest child of Charles and Joyce (Runkle) Vandervort, he was born on November 16, 1950. He graduated from Elkhart High School with the class of 1969.
Bruce's Father died when he was only 11 years old.
He married Patricia Jean Dougherty on November 18, 1972.
He is survived by his wife, Pat of Elkhart, Ks; three daughters Shalah Rall and husband, Jeff, and son Evan, Brewster, Ks; Jara Malchow and husband Jason, and children Kaeden, Wyatt, Emerson and Lydia, Everly, Ia; Tra Grice and husband Bob, and daughters, Samantha and Ella, Amarillo, Tx; parents Joyce and Gene Cyr, Garden City, Ks; one brother, Randy Vandervort and wife Kellie, Kansas City, Ks; one sister, Charla Collinsworth, Park Hill, Ok; stepbrother Doug Cyr and wife Chris; stepsister Anita Ankerholtz; stepbrother David Cyr and wife Janice; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceeded in death by his father, Charles Vandervort in November 1961 and brother-in-law Rodney Collinsworth in January 2011, and many four-legged best friends.
Bruce was a very quiet laid back man, until you started talking about his grandkids or scuba diving. He was very proud to have had three college educated daughters and the opportunity to walk all three of them down the aisle. He always said he couldn't have picked better son-in-laws if he had chosen them himself. Upon becoming a grandfather, you could always find one of the grandkids in his arms. He has a large group of close friends and he enjoyed going to the lake fishing , scuba diving and traveling with. He and his wife Pat were looking forward to an upcoming trip to Italy with friends. Bruce could always be found hanging out on the back porch or at the man cave.
Memorial service will be held Monday, May 16, 2011 at 10:30 AM at First Church of God in Elkhart, Kansas with Pastor Christopher M. Fincher officiating. Memorials may be given to the Elkhart Middle School in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.
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