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Posts Tagged 'Spring Training'
From todays Arizona Republic – Despite a horrid economy, there's no shortage of interest to build the Arizona Diamondbacks a new spring-training facility, expected to cost more than $100 million and possibly be shared with the Colorado Rockies……
The situation in Tucson, however, has become tense with Hall and Pima County's top executive trading barbs. After the Diamondbacks sought proposals for a new facility last month, Pima County Administrator C.H. Huckelberry wrote a March 12 letter to county officials.
Huckelberry, who could not be reached Friday, wrote it was "disturbing" that the D-Backs sought a new facility when the franchise "makes a private profit of nearly $3 million on spring training."
This week, Hall responded to Huckleberry's letter, writing that the team made less than $1 million in profits and that its facilities "have never been maintained to adequate levels" and "provided risk and caused injuries" to players.
"It is clear to us now that you have moved on and are not seeking a solution for keeping us in Southern Arizona," Hall wrote. "I also assume you have not been working with the city to help keep the Rockies in Tucson, as they continue to become more and more impatient."
A Tucson spokesman said the city had no update on negotiations with the Rockies.
What's the deal with these baseball teams. It's like each time one gets a shiny new stadium the rest of them want their multi-million dollar piece of the pie. Catch the first line of the below post….opt out of a 20 year deal! How about we all stop poaching each others teams and focus on Florida.
The Cubs could opt out of their 20-year lease with Mesa for $4.2 million and leave in 2012. The Cubs would be required to notify Mesa before spring training 2010.
The Chicago White Sox opted out of a similar agreement this year and moved from Tucson to the new Camelback Ranch Glendale complex in northwest Phoenix.
With the opt out clause looming and a change in team ownership pending, Smith said it was anticipated that the Cubs would ask for improvements. He expects to have a list in hand shortly.
Teams boost Valley's status as spring training hub
Cactus League hits grand slam with Dodgers, White Sox, Indians and Reds
Not long ago, spring training in Arizona had two strikes against it.
In 2000, the state had 10 teams to Florida's 20, and franchises talked about leaving the Arizona desert for locales such as Las Vegas.
A bid for money to prop up the league stalled in the Legislature. After some intense arm-twisting, a proposal got enough votes at the Capitol to be placed on the fall ballot for voters.Even then, prospects didn't look good. Spring-training money was lumped together with a new stadium for the then-woeful Arizona Cardinals. Then a funny thing happened.
The frugal Cardinals opened their wallets for a sophisticated advertising blitz, which emphasized the proposal's benefits to youth sports. Cardinals players went door to door asking for votes, and two days before the November election, the team pulled off an upset of the Washington Redskins.
Maricopa County said yes to Proposition 302 with 51 percent of voters' support, creating a sports and tourism authority that would levy taxes to build youth fields, a football facility and baseball stadiums.
In an economic sense, Arizona had gotten something right.
This year, as the recession hammers the economy, 1.5 million fans are expected to attend Cactus League games, the numbers to be swelled by the addition of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians. The Chicago White Sox moving from Tucson to join the Dodgers is also expected to boost attendance.
Games start Wednesday and run through April 2, and they are projected to pump more than $300 million into Arizona's economy.
The league is a far cry from what it was in 2000. By next year, when the Cincinnati Reds move in from Florida, the Cactus League will be up to 15 spring-training teams, the same as the Grapefruit League. In addition to five Florida teams lured to the Valley, the White Sox this year moved from Tucson, where two teams – the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies – still play but are considering moving to metro Phoenix.
Cactus League President Robert Brinton said Prop. 302, which helped facilities only in Maricopa County, gave a vision not just for saving the league but expanding.
"It allowed us to move from defense to offense," he said.
Brinton expects this year's additional teams, along with a longer season because of the World Baseball Classic, to boost attendance more than 15 percent from last year's record-setting total of 1.3 million visitors.
Not fully recession-proof, Brinton said the average per-game attendance may drop to about 6,900 from last year's record 7,436.
One lawmaker's impact
The recent West Valley boom can be credited to a former state lawmaker, ambitious leaders in Glendale and Goodyear, and some good old-fashioned networking on a golf course.
The architect of the sports funding measure was ex-state Sen. Scott Bundgaard, a fiscal conservative who shepherded the bill through the Legislature in spring 2000. Bundgaard was forced to use a procedural move to keep the bill alive after it initially failed in the Senate. It eventually passed that chamber and was approved in the 60-member House after six representatives changed their votes to "yes" after intense lobbying. The deciding 31st "yes" vote came when former Rep. Dan Schottel, R-Tucson, changed his vote.
"I was studying it and getting notes from everyone on the (House) floor," said Schottel, who also was encouraged to change his vote by former Gov. Fife Symington. "I think it has been good for the state, and that is what we were concerned about."
Bundgaard, who now lives in Peoria and works for an Internet startup, said he took plenty of heat in getting the measure passed.
"It was an election year, these were tax increases, and there was uncertainty to the economic impact," Bundgaard said. "In hindsight, it's wonderful to see how our community came together with a long-term vision to push something through that has been very positive."
The public vote established the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, which uses hotel and car-rental taxes and taxes generated at University of Phoenix Stadium to fund the construction of Cactus League facilities in Maricopa County, the Cardinals' new home and youth sports.
Through 2031, the authority has roughly $400 million allocated for the construction and renovation of Maricopa County spring-training stadiums. While new stadiums have lured five teams from Florida, renovations are equally as important. Upgrades are done to existing stadiums in return for teams signing long-term leases to stay in Arizona. Authority money is not used for maintenance.
Slightly more than half of the money comes from Prop 302 funds. The rest comes from the Maricopa County Stadium District, which the board of supervisors created in 1991 to help fund the Cactus League with a $2.50 surcharge on rental cars. With those funds, the county's ballparks got upgrades, and facilities were built in Peoria and the Maryvale area of Phoenix.
Some of the surcharge has been folded into the sports and tourism authority, after the two entities agreed in 2003 to have the stadium district transfer money that wasn't needed. Cities also contribute to the construction and renovation of stadiums.
Shortly after voters created the sports and tourism authority, work began on a new two-team stadium in Surprise. The ballpark opened in 2003 with two Grapefruit League refugees, the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals.
Two years later, then-Gov. Janet Napolitano formed the Arizona Baseball and Softball Commission to build on the momentum and expand the then-dozen-team Cactus League.
Glendale's expertise
Glendale got into the spring-training business after turning an alfalfa field off Loop 101 into Jobing.com Arena, a hockey facility for the Phoenix Coyotes, in 2003, and University of Phoenix Stadium in 2006.
For years, the city had wanted to add spring training to its sports portfolio, but City Manager Ed Beasley said officials waited until they saw the right teams. With the White Sox and Dodgers, he said, Glendale assured itself of drawing big crowds.
Dealings began in 2005, when the Dodgers, who had held spring training in Vero Beach, Fla., since 1948, authorized the White Sox to shop around for an Arizona city interested in building a ballpark for the teams to share.
The White Sox had moved from Florida to Tucson in 1998 to share a facility with the then- expansion Diamondbacks. But White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf lives part time in Paradise Valley and made it known he found metro Phoenix more appealing.
Glendale, riding its other sporting successes, entered negotiations, which remained under wraps until 2006. White Sox representative John Kaites said the team considered other cities but believed Glendale had the expertise to craft a deal. Representatives also liked the proximity of the football and hockey venues about three miles north.
"They had gotten it done with the Cardinals stadium. They had gotten it done with the Coyotes arena," Kaites said.
But by the time Glendale and the teams announced in November 2006 they had a deal, Goodyear was ahead of the curve. The fast-growing southwest Valley city already had submitted a proposal for funding from the sports and tourism authority.
Both proposals hinged on getting money from a limited pot, and it appeared the battle might pit the two West Valley communities against each other.
The authority, however, decided to dip into money from the county stadium district, and both projects were funded.
Goodyear's ambition
The emerging community of Goodyear had tried to host spring training since the 1990s but couldn't finance a stadium.
In 2003, it appeared the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, owned by Valley millionaire Arte Moreno, would move spring-training operations from Tempe. But the plan fell through a year later.
The possibilities of spring training had city officials hooked, and they held on to voter-approved bonding authority in hopes of enticing another team.
With that funding and money from the sports authority, Goodyear attracted two Ohio teams. But the ball only got rolling thanks to a fortuitous encounter.
On May 5, 2006, Mayor Jim Cavanaugh, who was in a charity golf tournament, started talking about baseball with an attorney in his foursome. The lawyer had previously represented Goodyear and offered to put in a call to an Ohio-based colleague who had worked for the Indians.
Within weeks, Goodyear was making a presentation to the Indians, and in September the city signed a deal with the team. The Reds followed after a connection with the Indians got Goodyear a chance to make a presentation, Cavanaugh said.
"Both teams wanted to stay in Florida. They made that clear to me," he said. "If their cities (in Florida) had treated them differently, they wouldn't be here."
At a ballpark groundbreaking for the Reds in November, Chief Executive Bob Castellini said Goodyear had gone above and beyond in attracting baseball's oldest professional team.
"Nobody cares about being treated like a big shot, but everybody wants to feel like they're wanted," Castellini said. "And we truly feel like we're wanted out here."
Future catches?
Arizona communities continue to seek ways to land spring-training tenants, although future growth remains uncertain.
The only team in Florida on a year-to-year lease is Baltimore, and Florida has invested $150 million in matching funds since 2001 to keep teams from leaving.
If other Grapefruit League teams migrate west, they won't be able to rely on the sports authority for a new stadium.
Charles Foley, the authority's chief financial officer, said all but $3.8 million of the roughly $400 million for Cactus League projects in Maricopa County is earmarked through 2031, when the funding ends.
Yet other options remain.
The Gila River Indian Community has considered building a ballpark, as has Casa Grande in Pinal County. Pima County is seeking approval from the Legislature to ask voters to build a new stadium in southern Arizona and to renovate ballparks in Tucson that are home to the Diamondbacks and Rockies.
"In 2000, we risked losing the Cactus League. Now Arizona is the dominant force in spring training," said Joe Yuhas, a political consultant who ran the Prop. 302 campaign. "I don't think the growth of the Cactus League is over. I think we can continue to grow if we have the resources available."
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Richard William Martini
Position: WR
Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 lbs.
Born: November 19, 1955 in Berkeley, CA
High School: Ygnacio Valley
College: California-Davis
Drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 7th round (190th overall) of the 1977 NFL Draft.
Weighted Career AV (100-95-...): 4 (9949th overall since 1950)
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Output includes all games from 1920 to 2015.

subset: commoncrawl


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SAT Spat Overlooks Real Admissions Barrier
In proposing to drop the SAT I from the University of California's admissions process, UC President Richard Atkinson implied it is the SAT that blocks most black and Hispanic students from entering the UC system.
But even if the SAT I were dropped tomorrow, the vast majority of black and Hispanic California high school students would be no closer to entering the UC than before. That's because few black and Hispanic high school students take the college preparatory courses the UC requires for admission.
To be admitted into the UC system, high school students must take the so-called A-F core academic courses. These courses include specified classes in history, English, mathematics, laboratory science, foreign language, and advanced course/elective. The percentages of black and Hispanic students who complete the A-F course requirements are tragically low.
Only slightly more than a quarter of black high school students, 26.3 percent, completed the A-F courses in 1998-99, according to the California Postsecondary Education Commission's recent publication, Student Profiles 2000. The percentage of Hispanic students was even lower, with just 22.1 percent completing the A-F courses. In other words, nearly three-quarters of black students and nearly eight out of 10 Hispanic students are, by definition, ineligible for admission into UC.
A black or Hispanic student who doesn't complete the A-F courses is not going to enroll in the UC, even if he or she scores a perfect 1600 on the SAT. Increasing the pool of UC-eligible students, including black and Hispanic students, first requires increasing the number of students taking A-F courses. Dropping the SAT doesn't change that number.
Increasing the number of students completing the A-F coursework will require years of work. It will mean offering more college preparatory courses at more high schools, especially those in poor inner-city areas.
It also means the K-8 classes for minority and low-income students must provide the academic knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to handle the tough A-F curriculum. Empirical research shows that whole-language reading instruction, fuzzy new math, and a maddening array of progressive teaching methods, all of which have been popular among California educators, have done more to handicap low-income students than any standardized test.
A Model for the State?
Bennet-Kew Elementary School in Inglewood, California, provides an example of what can be done to produce high achievement among low-income minority students. Bennet-Key principal Nancy Ichinaga says it is her no-nonsense phonics-based reading and computation-oriented math curriculum, plus the traditional instruction methods employed by her teachers, that have given her students the tools to succeed in the future.
Jack E. White, the noted liberal black columnist, opposes dropping the SAT, saying that if we want to increase black enrollment in higher education, "It's going to require, among other things, installing tougher classes, especially in math, sciences, and literature, and making sure [black] kids take them; better teachers; changes in study habits; and above all else, a new burst of self-confidence."
Lance T. Izumi is director of the Center for School Reform at the San Francisco, California-based Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy. He can be reached by email at email@example.com.


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Chico Pinheiro & Anthony Wilson: Planicie
Chico Pinheiro (acoustic guitar) and Anthony Wilson (electric guitar)
Nova (Goat Hill Recordings)
Chico Pinheiro (acoustic guitar), Anthony Wilson (electric guitar),
Swami Jr. (7-string acoustic guitar).
Composed by Chico Pinheiro.
Recorded: Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 2006
Rating: 92/100 (learn more)
Here is a case where less is most certainly more, in that the interlocked guitar arpeggios, while inspiring in and of themselves (and where the handoff of ideas seems telepathic), are not just background and structure but integral parts of the solo passages to follow. Guitars, 6- and 7-string acoustic plus electric, all seem to be living inside the same melodic storyline. There are times when the shift from one instrument to the next is so subtle as to defy reality. Imagine a beautiful chord solo (by, say, Gene Bertoncini), and then recast it with three guitars.
Reviewer: Mark Saleski
Tags: 2000s jazz · brazil · guitar
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By JOHN McCALLUMEditor
Cheney's emergency measure deals only with land use and zoning considerations surrounding legalization of marijuana
November 15, 2012 | Vol. 116 -- No. 30
By JOHN McCALLUM
Fearing what city attorney Nathan Smith termed as "unintended consequences" from the recent legalization of marijuana by state voters the Cheney City Council unanimously passed a six-month emergency moratorium at its Tuesday meeting regarding land use considerations revolving around production, processing or retailing of the drug and products associated with its use in the city.
The moratorium allows the city to put off review and consideration of the "filing, acceptance and processing of applications for new marijuana production, processing and retailing locat...
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A man who assaulted and robbed a woman as she withdrew money from a Griswold ATM last summer and the woman who drove the getaway car were sentenced this morning in New London Superior Court.
Kirk R. Frew, 44, of Norwich was sentenced to five years in prison followed by three years probation for third-degree robbery. Patricia A. Gluck-Rape, 39, of Norwich was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of probation for accessory to third-degree robbery.
The victim, Katie Vane, had just withdrawn $120 at the Putnam Savings Bank on Voluntown Road when Frew accosted her, pinned her to the wall and then to the floor and wrestled with her for her purse and the money. Kirk fled in a red Dodge Neon driven by Gluck-Rape. They were arrested a short time later in Plainfield on robbery and narcotics charges.
The victim was in court with friends, family members and her infant daughter. She said the incident, which occurred while she was pregnant, had traumatized her.
Frew and Gluck-Rape apologized.
"I just want to say I'm really sorry for what happened, and it wouldn't have happened if not for drugs," said Gluck-Rape.
During a presentencing investigation, Frew, who had a solid work history, admitted he had been using cocaine and heroin for a few years before the robbery. Judge Patrick J. Clifford told him the courts have programs to help defendants with substance abuse problems.
However, Clifford said, "When your drug problem does victimize other people, we're more concerned with punishment and deterrence," Clifford said.
Police: Speed, improperly secured coiled steel contributed to New London rollover
New London police investigating death at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital
Police: Mohegan Sun supervisor, dealer and patron collaborated to steal at least $29,000


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Temporary accommodation
When you are offered temporary accommodation
When you are given temporary accommodation your Temporary Accommodation Officer will meet you at the property to sign the occupancy agreement to tell you the rules and check you understand everything.
You will be given a copy of your Occupancy Agreement and B&B agreement when you move into your accommodation.
You will have to sign an inventory when you move in, which will be checked when you leave. You will have to pay for breakages or damage to the property.
Refusing temporary accommodation
Should you refuse an offer of suitable permanent accommodation this can result in the Council finding you intentionally homeless, which will affect the homeless duty the Council has towards you.
If the Council believes that the temporary accommodation offered is suitable but you disagree, you have a legal right to ask for a review of this decision
The Councils duty to provide temporary accommodation can end for the following reasons:
- you do not accept the offer of suitable temporary accommodation
- you refuse your final offer of suitable permanent accommodation
- you either give up or are evicted from your accommodation
- you cease to be eligible for assistance


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March 8, 2011 by Elisabeth Roesch
|Margot Wallström (center) meets with aid agency representatives in Washington, DC. Photo: The IRC
Today, International Women's Day, Elisabeth Roesch writes about Margot Wallström's recent meeting with aid agencies including the International Rescue Commiitee. Wallström is the UN's first ever Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, tasked with leading the UN's efforts to mobilize the international community to address sexual violence.
Margot Wallström's open style, hands-on attitude and good sense of humor are refreshing for one of the most powerful women in the United Nations. Not to mention, critically important tools for someone whose job is to confront one of the toughest and most important challenges of our time: rape in conflict.
Over the last decade, the world has woken up and been moved to action by the horrific violence that women and girls often face on an almost daily basis in countries torn apart by strife and war. Wallström, a former Swedish politician, media executive and member of the European Commission, is the leader for this action. Appointed by the U.N. Secretary General as his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict a little over a year ago, she is tasked with mobilizing the international community to respond to sexual violence with the same seriousness and commitment used to respond to any other threat to our world's peace and security.
Wallström is outspoken about her belief that sexual violence is a criminal act – often a war crime – and that perpetrators should not be allowed to walk free. Proof of her seriousness has been her relentless advocacy to bring some of the worst offenders to justice. Callixte Mbarushimana, for example, is a leader of one of the main rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Accused of raping women and girls, he was recently brought to justice for his crimes. He and other offenders can thank Wallström's practice of "naming and shaming" for a portion of the international attention they have received. Yet recently Wallström met with aid agencies including the IRC in Washington, D.C., and she was candid about the challenges she faces in working toward her primary goal of ending impunity.
Wallström's office, though growing, remains small. Having recently received generous support from the US government, she now has the ability to expand her team to 9 people. But her list of priority countries is almost as long as the size of her staff – Colombia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan and Liberia. With less than a year left in her term, she will need to engage where she can have the most impact. While sexual violence in the DRC receives much attention, it will take fierce determination to shine a spotlight on its neighbor, CAR. The situation in CAR has long suffered from neglect even though the violence committed against women and girls there is equally grave. And in Ivory Coast, where a disputed election endangers a fragile peace, Wallström is one of the few voices speaking out to condemn the attacks on women and girls that have been reported in recent months. There, a critical opportunity to prevent violence is being missed. Can one person reverse the tide?
On my most optimistic days, I see Wallström as one leader in a growing movement of people that realize women's security is important for international security or, to quote the famous words of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, recognize that "women's rights are human rights". When a more cynical mood overtakes me, I wonder if world leaders have opened their eyes to the atrocities being committed against women in places like Sudan or Congo only to close them again as the same scenario plays out in other countries. It is easier to recognize a problem when it is bounded by the borders of a far-off war-torn nation. Far more difficult is waking up to the fact that violence against women and girls is global in scope, vast in scale and requires not a discrete intervention but a wholesale change in the way we respond to the needs of women and girls affected by conflict. My hope is that Wallström can leverage her time with the UN to catapult the international community to the next stage in confronting this violence. This would mean not only bringing perpetrators to justice but also changing the widespread practice of allowing the basic human rights of women and girls to be violated in silence.
Tomorrow I'll tell you about three goals that I think are critical to this fight.
Learn More
Margot Wallström writes about her recent meeting with the aid agencies and the challenge of rape in conflict in an opinion piece published today in The Huffington Post.


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I Need Something That WorksI've gotten rid of my love handles! :D
Unfortunately, I still have a little bit of a belly. I want a flat gut! >:(
Besides being annoyed over my appearance, I worry about my heart. Eight years ago I could run a mile without getting winded. No chance of that now. I don't like that I can't do what I used to be able to do. If I take better care of myself now, I shouldn't have as many problems as I could have when I'm even older.
Tis OK - I'm not trying to sell you anything... or maybe I am. I suppose I'd like to sell (or table) the idea of enjoying yourself as you are. You said that you like looking at yourself in the mirror, but I think that you were only talking about your face. Why not enjoy all of you. Don't be so hard on yourself. Unless you are trying to be a world-class athlete, a soft tummy or the hint of a love handle is not going to threaten your health. You've probably read some of my stuff so know my take on all this, so I won't labour my point...
You like the way a flat stomach feels on yourself - or on others? Or do you not make a distinction? I prefer a flat stomach for myself (and for other men), but think it looks a bit stark on a woman. Your enigmatic line in the middle (about measuring yourself by different standards) implies that you think the same way - i.e. that you like to be lean yourself, but don't necessarily appreciate the same in others... or are you indeed lying to them? Do you like other women to be lean or to have soft curves? And does it make any difference to your attraction towards them?
I started Body by Vi 6 months ago. It was the best decision I have ever made. I get to now help others get to their goals whatever that may be. Do you want to lose weight, build lean muscle, get proper nutrition, or are you training for anything. This product is great because it is for any body and any body. It is my mission to let people know that this product is out there and it can help you. I have lost 62lbs in 5 months. I also had high blood pressure and other issues. I am medicine free and have my life back. At the very least you need to go to my page and check out the videos. I wish you all luck and I love to help any way I can. We all deserve to feel great. So why wait. www.jamiefonbuena.bodybyvi.com Jamie


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The Dwell on Design expo recently filled more than 200,000 square feet of the Los Angeles Convention Center with the latest for the modern home and garden. If you weren't among the 30,000 or so people who attended the event, here are seven picks of new and novel designs. More are posted on our L.A. at Home blog at latimes.com/home.
- Berkeley designer Romy Randev lifts the handmade fused glass to reveal the LEDs that illuminate his Looma lamps, a new line of bamboo-framed light boxes built in California. They are available in three sizes and can be equipped with remote-controlled LEDs that change hues, so the color of the stripes shifts for different moods. Prices begin at $299. www.loomalites.com
- Venice, Calif., designer Ilan Dei's latest retail product is a version of white concrete Pixel planters originally created for Lemonade restaurants. The interior of the planters is made with glass fiber to reduce weight, and the exterior has been formulated in a bright white hue that retains the tactile nature of cool concrete. The planters come in two sizes, each $590, and are fabricated in Los Angeles. www.ilandeivenice.com/store
- Micah Black, founder of the Southern California firm Ply Products, shows his Ply 90 brackets that help DIYers build their own furniture. The Ply 90 is metal hardware that joins three-quarter-inch or half-inch wood. Buy and cut boards to whatever dimensions you want, then use metal connectors ($30 for pack of four) to hold the pieces together. The sample projects on the site are rough, but the concept is intriguing. www.plyproducts.com
- Kohler demonstrated its new Moxie shower head, which has a waterproof wireless speaker that attaches via a magnet. The Bluetooth speaker runs for seven hours and pulls out for charging via USB port. It comes in different colors, starting at $149 through Home Depot, Lowe's and Amazon, among others.
- We first reported on colorful outdoor furniture from MarkaModerna in our coverage of the spring International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. The designs, now available in perforated metal, were a Dwell standout. Prices fall in the $400 to $500 range, available through www.markamoderna.com and Amazon.
- The Kiga kitchen garden launched about two months ago. Each set includes four raised planters made of UV-stabilized polypropylene that won't discolor in the sun. Internal planter liners cleverly drain into the leg of each component, so water can flow out through a hidden hole in the base. Price: $299 for the set. www.hurbz.com
- The San Francisco area design firm Shades of Green showed prototypes of new outdoor stools by Ive Haugeland that blend angular aluminum bases with the soft curve of a wooden seat, made from wine barrels. The company said pricing has not yet been determined. www.shadesofgreenla.com


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N.B. The email exchange below may have been edited, e.g. to remove content not essential to the main point(s) or to standardize English spelling/grammar.
...Saying that [language X] is spoken in [area Y] is quite a geographic stretch, since [Y] is a large space and [X] is spoken only in [certain areas] which are inhabited by ethnic [speakers of X]...
... A critical observation that you seem not to have made... is that, when English speakers mention language X as being spoken in area Y, they do not mean any of:
For 'language' you may substitute 'dialect' with no change in truth value.
When we English speakers say that American English is spoken in the U.S., we do not mean that it is spoken in every U.S. locale (in some places Spanish is the lingua franca -- or Chinese, or Korean...); we do not mean that everyone in the U.S. speaks American English (many cannot); we do not mean that no American English speakers can be found elsewhere in the world (they are found all over, probably in every country); and we do not mean that no other language is spoken in the U.S. (many hundreds of languages are spoken here). Yet no one who is a native English speaker would argue with the statement, "American English is spoken in the U.S."
It is in this sense that English speakers can say "[language X] is/was spoken in [area Y]," and we will understand one another. We can also hear "[X] is spoken in the U.S." and know that it must imply some [presumably small] community of immigrant speakers of [X]; so this statement, too, is true -- only in a different way.


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Magic Man, an electric pop rock group, recently performed at Boston Calling Music Festival in May 2014. Members include Alex Caplow lead vocalist, Sam Lee guitar, Justine Bowe keyboard, Joey Sulkowski drums, and Gabe Goodman bassist.
Magic Man began as a duo and has emerged into a dynamic five piece band. "Before The Waves", their latest album, provides an addicting and explosive sound that is essential for every summer playlist. Magic Man discussed their recording process, touring, and advice they would give to aspiring musicians.
How has your songwriting/recording process evolved over time?
Sam Lee: The first Magic Man songs are actually some songs that Alex and I started writing on my laptop with Garage Band and had built in software and built in mics. It was very low-fi and the reason we were doing that was that we were traveling at the time the summer after our freshman year of college. So we just had some free time and started working on some songs, ended up really liking what we came up with and that sort of ended up developing into Magic Man.
We came back and put out a self-released record, started playing live, and transformed from a laptop duo to a five piece band. The sound is actually really influenced by the means that we had to record at the time, very low tech and simple.
Do you think it was easier to become a five piece band rather than the other way around? Or if you had to simplify versus expand would it have been more difficult?
SL: It kind of goes both ways because in some ways you're expanding and bringing in a band but on a computer you can make as many layers as you want so a lot of times while you're expanding the sound, you make it bigger and more energetic. You have to simplify to make it translate live.
Besides hard what advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Joey Sulkowski: Practice. Practice a lot. Always be better at your instrument than your friends. Be better than everybody. Be open-minded to what you're playing. As a young punk rock kid I would play punk rock music but it wasn't until I opened up and listened and played other types of music that I started having more fun playing and enjoying it more.
Has anything crazy ever happened on tour?
Justine Bowe: Our lives move so quickly and we're in such a vortex of basically survival. We have to make sure we sleep, make sure we eat, go on stage and repeat. I think that sometimes we don't really decompress or debrief.
Alex Caplow: At one show a pyrotechnics explosion happened on stage during one of our quieter songs. It was the first song we played, very chill, and then all of a sudden these smoke cannons went off on stage. It was an incredibly loud explosion and we had no idea it was coming. We had to play it cool and look at each other for a little bit and continue through the song. It probably just look like we wet ourselves in fear and surprise.
We had some fun when we were on tour with Walk the Moon.We would storm the stage during the last song of their set a couple of times and they did the same for us. We would dance together on stage.
If you could have any band cover one of your songs who would it be?
AC: I would love to hear a weird St. Vincent cover so it's different because she would be adding the crazy sounds that she makes.
SL: Slayer.
JB: Our former bassist has a country folk band that he left to go pursue that and it would be so fantastic if he could give us a little encore. That would be great. They're called The Novel Ideas.
Gabe Goodman: My answer will be Photocomfort. That's Justine and I's side project and we had never really played a live show as a duo and in January we were tasked with playing a show. With limited songs we chose to play a Magic Man song.
JS: I think I would want New Politics to cover our song "It All Starts Here". On our tour together Lou, their drummer, would come up on stage and play the drum part, which is kind of intricate, to the end of that song and surprised all their fans.
It was really an exciting moment. He and I would play together and some of my favorite memories of that tour were looking over at Lou playing drums with me, and him smiling, and both of us having the best time playing with each other. I would love to be back on tour just to see him smile and play that song again.
If you could take any one of your songs and retroactively apply it to any soundtrack which one would you choose?
GG: I would just be so delighted to have any song associated with the "Friday Night Lights" television show in any capacity it would have made my life. Can't happen though since the show's over.
JB: I second that.
JS: Any "Can't Hardly Wait" style house party theme I would love for a Magic Man song. Like for us to be the band and everyone partying around us, and we get one close up and it just goes away and our song is playing in the background.
SL: I definitely would have liked to have performed at the end of "Rat Race". When they burst onto the stage, in my mind it's always been Magic Man playing.
AC: I was going to say "The Breakfast Club" or one of those '80s movies that everyone looks fun and young and are dancing.
Where can fans listen to your music and follow you online?
magicmanmusic.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Bre Blair Movies and Career Information
Apr 29, 1980
Apr 29, 1980
Bre Blair, is a Canadian actress, who currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Her birth name is Sarah Brianne Blair. Her first major role was portraying Stacey McGill in the 1995 movie The Baby-Sitters Club. Blair appeared in an episode of Love, Inc., as the character Claire. She has also appeared in the Psych episode Shawn vs. the Red Phantom, on Nip/Tuck as Janet, and in the The O.C. episode The Shake Up as Carrie Spitz. She also appeared in the comedy drama What About Brian as Lisa B. In 2008, she appeared in an episode of Grey's Anatomy titled "Brave New World". From 2008 until 2009, she portrayed Joss Morgan Grey in the fourth season of The Unit. In the Fall of 2012, she completed filming for the movie Last Vegas in which she plays Michael Douglas' fiancé.
- Bre Blair Movies before 2015
- Mercy 2010
- Stripped Down 2009
- Baby-Sitters Club 1995
- Quarantine 2: Terminal
- ToY


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This past weekend I ran my first half marathon. It was a great experience! Training for it did so much more than prepare me to run the distance physically.
I learned to work with my body in ways I never had before. This summer, training for the half marathon, I gained a respect and appreciation for my body that I have never had before. My body became my greatest ally, a friend and supporter of my ambitions.
One of the mantras I try to live my life by is "Everyone and everything can be your teacher. Some teach you how to live, some how not to but if you are willing, every situation and encounter is a teaching moment"
So, what did training for my half marathon teach me?
1. Positive encouraging self-talk is hands down a better motivator than self-bullying.
2. Some days I ran like I was on fire, limitless. Other days felt more like a drag, a slow choke. To draw a conclusion about how I was doing solely based on either days provides an unrealistic assessment of reality.
Life has it's ups and downs. It is best not do judge all of life on it's highs and lows.
3. If you have a string of bad runs it's a sure signal that it is time to sit down and evaluate what is going on. Consistent bad runs always happen for a reason. To ignore this signal and push on ends in burnout or injury
When life feels 'off', there is a reason and it's a good idea to sit down and ask what needs adjustment. Perhaps it's time to make a change, try something new, slow down, or take a break completely.
4. Following a training plan too strictly inevitably leads to under- or overtraining at points. The training plan is there to serve you, not you it. You do best when you allow for a bit of flexibility. Let your body lead every once in a while, it will surprise you.
"You are you, that is truer than true" (Dr. Seuss) so let go, relax your strict rules and standards every so often and surprise yourself with the unknown.
5. It is good and necessary to push yourself out of your comfort zone sometimes for growth to occur.
6. Allowing yourself to slow down before you hit the point of exhaustion is crucial. Doing so ensures you are able to catch your breath and continue going without it affecting your overall time too greatly.
It is perfectly ok not to do everything humanly possible in all areas of your life all the time.
7. Everything begins to suck when you get so focused on performance evaluation that you miss the joy of running. When you stop marveling at the strength of your body, the beauty of nature, etc and become a hyper focused performance machine, you're on the path to self-destruct.
Life is a great balancing act. Live in this moment. Never stop marvelling at the greatness of life.
8. It is never wise to ignore or neglect your body. Without providing for it's needs, without adequate rest and nourishment, you will simply not perform at your best. Pamper it, be attentive to it, and it will reward you! Your body is not a machine. It is a living, intricate part of you that you need more than you realize.
"The most intensely personal relationship you'll ever have is with your body. It is a lifelong relationship that's well worth investing in and nurturing the same way you would a loved one." -Amy Angelowicz and Winoma Dimeo-Ediger
9. Time is not everything. Yes, improvements in performance are rewarding but the underdog, consistency, will bring you to your goals.
Life is a journey, not a race. We grow along the unglamorous road of making mistakes, getting back up, and keeping on going.
10. Wear a comfortable outfit. You will regret wearing what doesn't fit!
Allow yourself to be you. Trying to fit into a mold that fits someone else makes life painful and harder than necessary.


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Hundreds of Kids Look For Eggs on Stonewall's Lawn
Written by Your 5News Team
Last updated on March 30, 2013 @ 10:55PM
Created on March 30, 2013 @ 10:10PM
This year's Easter weekend came a little earlier than usual. So naturally, there's been a lot of activities going on for kids and families. Stonewall Resort in Weston held a huge Easter egg hunt for the little ones.
This is only the second year the egg hunt and the turn out was even better than last year. Over 400 people came out to hunt thousands of eggs that were scattered across the resort's lawn. There were also sack races, a duck pond, and lots of other games.
"This is one of our favorite events because it brings the community out. This is our annual Easter Egg event. We had about 400 people here today. But it's much more than that because we have have face painting and a balloon artist whose making animals. We try to make it an event that people will actually stick around and enjoy the day," said Mike Heath, Recreational Services Manager.
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We often are asked various questions about feltmaking techniques so here are some of those questions answered and some 'tips' for those who've just started having a go at wet felt making and needle felting. These are just some of the things we have learnt along the way, and we hope they are useful to you...
First, a couple of notes about wool tops (or roving). Your wool should be stored and handled carefully. To felt wool, bascially all that is required is moisture and agitation, so if your bag of wool becomes damp and is handled roughly, it will soon become matted and hard to use.
When pulling off a tuft of wool to use, keep your hands about six inches apart. If you hold too close to the point where you want the fleece to part, it will prove very difficult.
Never cut the wool – a blunt edge is difficult to felt in.
Wet-felting tips
Colour & Texture
Rather than just using the dyed wool straight out of the packet, try combining two or three colours together. Pull off one tuft of each colour then lay them one on top of the other. Grasp the ends and gently pull apart. Lay the two pieces one on top of the other and repeat until you get a mottled effect. Stop before it goes muddy!
Try including fancy yarn, silk tops or scraps of material into the top layer of your felt (lay your inclusions on the top layer of wool before you start to felt it.) Remember that manmade fibres will not felt – they have to be 'trapped' into the wool. If the fabric scrap is open weave, the wool will trap it quite easily and if the fancy yarn has a fluffy look, again the wool will trap it easily – experiment to see what works. Some materials will need a few wool fibres laid over them to trap them into place.
Try embellishing with some hand or machine embroidery. When the felt is dry, place the wrong side onto a piece of calico then run some machine embroidery stitches over the right side – amazing what happens! The texture of the felt combined with the stitching can be quite magical.
You could also try needle felting some detail or stitching on beads. Let your imagination run...
Does your finished felt look a bit lumpy?
Make several fine layers rather than a few thick ones. Try working with cool water and do not reheat your work to hurry it along. Manipulate it less with your hands and more by rolling. This all helps to slow the fulling which results in a much smoother finish.
Is your wool sliding around and not felting?
Only have enough water to thoroughly wet the wool and get rid of any excess (you can use a sponge to mop it away or if the felt is beginning to hold together, you can roll it up and gently squeeze the water out). The slippage can be caused by using too much soap.
How do you know when it's felted?
Use the 'pinch test'. Pinch your thumb and index finger into your felt and if you can pull two layers apart, then it's not felted yet – you need to roll it some more!
Do you have trouble getting rid of the soap suds?
Soap is useful for getting your wool to absorb water (have you noticed how water-repellent the wool is?) but use too much and the wool just slips around instead of felting and it's really difficult to remove at the end. You can use any soap, but soap made from unrefined olive oil with no artificial colours or perfumes, is low sud and makes felting easier.
Why do some colours of wool felt easier than others?
Sorry, this remains a mystery to us. We have sometimes found reds and purples difficult to felt. They will felt in the end, they sometimes just need a bit more patience and extra rolling. Once your felt is holding its shape sometimes a dash of really hot water can help.
How can you replicate a piece of felt that turned out wonderfully?
It's a good idea to make notes as you go, e.g. the colours of the wool used, how many layers, the size of the piece before felting and the size after (to determine shrinkage), what inclusions (fancy yarn or silk) you used etc.
Are you happy with the final shape?
When you have finished your piece of felt, especially if you are making a 3D piece, you can change it quite dramatically by literally hitting it into shape. Use the bowl of a wooden spoon or your hands or a palette knife and whack it into shape. If it's a flat piece of felt, then you can carefully pull it into shape. You can create frilly edges by pulling and teasing the felt.
The felt will keep whatever shape it dries in.
Needle felting tips
What's the best way to learn to needle felt?
Really the best way is to just have a go! As with wet felt making you will find what methods and techniques work best for you. The basic principle is simple - by jabbing the barbed felting needle through your wool it gradually felts together by pulling fibres from below back up through the fibres on top. You will be making simple patterns and beads in no time but to make more complex items will take a lot of practice and learning from experience.
Do I have to use a base material?
No, you can needle felt wool into any shape you want just by needling it on top of a dense foam pad or special needle felting brush or polystyrene pad. Corsages could be made this way – or decorations to attach to handbags etc.
You would needle felt directly onto material if you wanted to decorate a jumper, scarf, cushion – the list is endless!
If you like to make wet felt, needle felting is a good way to decorate it.
How do I know which needle to use?
For tough work (perhaps needle felting onto a heavy, closely woven fabric) you need a thick needle and for fine detail you need a thinner needle. The lower the number of the needle the thicker it is.
Needles have small barbs that catch fibres to push/pull and entangle them. They come in different shapes and sizes – triangular needles have fewer barbs than star needles.
For beginners, a 38 triangle is a good all-purpose needle to use and if you want a smoother finish, use a 40 triangle in the final stages.
How do I get a fine, delicate looking piece of needle felt?
Use a 40 triangle needle and work with fine, wispy layers of wool.
Don't over felt – make it tight enough to hold but loose enough to be delicate.
Why do my needles keep breaking?
Felting needles can easily break – never bend your needle while felting. Always poke the needle straight into the wool, and pull it straight out again at the same angle.
Always work on a dense foam pad or special needle felting brush or polystyrene pad so that the needle has a soft landing!
My piece of needle felt has gone too hard!
The more you work on an area of wool, the more the fibres become tangled and dense therefore making it hard. When you are building up a pattern, try not to over felt the under-layers - just needle it enough to make it hold.
Is there an easy way to needlefelt shapes onto fabric?
A quick and easy way to do this is to felt inside a cookie cutter. Put your cookie cutter on to your fabric and then gently push 2 or 3 layers of teased out wool top into the cookie cutter. Now begin jabbing the needle around the inner edge of the cookie cutter and working inwards. You should get a nice crisp shape. This can work equally well with your own template cut from thick card.
How can I stop my felt sticking to the pad?
Every so often, carefully peel your needlefelt off the pad and needle the back a little before replacing on the pad.
I've made some petals to form a flower but I can't needle felt them together!
When making pieces that will need joining together, always leave the area to be joined very loosely felted (or leave loose fibres hanging) so that the fibres get a chance to entangle at the join.
How can I make my needle felted flowers more attractive?
Sew a few seed beads onto them – not too many and the key is to try to be random with the placement of the beads. Silk top inlaid into the felt also gives flowers a nice finish.


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Register for CommunityOne East (March 18-19, New York, N.Y.)
By GD on Feb 17, 2009
On March 18, come to CommunityOne in New York City: a day filled with technical sessions, hands-on demos and a free exchange of ideas. The event is free, but spaces are limited, so you must register.
On March 19, come to the Technology Deep Dives and advance your development skills with expert-led half-day sessions from Sun Learning Services. Details are on the CommunityOne East site.


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Shooting Victim Extremely Grateful to Have Bulky Old-School Cell Phone
If it weren't for the device, this morning's fight with his super could have turned out differently.
A fight between a tenant and a super up in Harlem this morning turned particularly sour when the building employee pulled out a gun and shot the tenant in the groin. Neighbors rushed to the scene as the victim screamed, "He shot me! He shot me!" The escaping super was caught on tape and is currently being hunted down by police. Meanwhile, the victim suffered only minor injuries, as the bullet was blocked from penetrating his skin by the cell phone that was in his pocket. Think about that, iPhone users. That little wafer-thin piece of metal and plastic isn't doing anything to protect whatever part of you is right behind where you store it.


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A group of us were in the Monkey Bar being stung the price of a cup final ticket for a bottle of fairly ordinary merlot when Keith Richard strolled past.
The smokers spotted him, ambling by with his daughter when they popped outside for a cough and a wheeze.
The following night Jessica Simpson sat a few tables away at Jean Georges, and in the morning in the lounge at Plaza Athenée, a waitress told me I was sitting in Sir Paul McCartney's favourite seat.
All a bit pretentious, to be honest. But this was Manhattan and they drop names here like they do their aitches in Dagenham. I even had to negotiate the men in black at my hotel because Bill Clinton was giving a speech in the ballroom.
But this is a film set where the city's the star and the rest of us, well-known or not, are mere extras who live, work or, like me, simply pop by for a walk-on part. And you don't even have to do the Sex and the City tour to feel part of it. You just have to turn up and pay attention.
There's lots to get you into the spirit: the steam does rise from the manholes over the subway; the cops, big as bears in boiler-suit blue, do say "have a nice day" and Yellow Taxi drivers are up for following that cab, partly because they're nothing like our own black cabs, who know where they're going.
The only things missing are the "Walk", "Don't Walk" signs that featured in everything from Kojak to Manhattan. Sadly, all 85,000 have gone, replaced by images of striding matchstick men and big red hands.
The key to doing Manhattan is to stay on set. You can walk everywhere and the cabs are as cheap as they are small and cramped. A stroll from Central park to Ground Zero, trust me on this, took two hours — and cost as little as $16 (£9.95) to return by cab.
This even allows for minor diversions to take in some seriously recognisable backdrops: Bloomingdales (The Mirror has Two Faces), Tiffany's (Breakfast at Tiffany's) the Empire State Building (King Kong), Macy's (Radio Days), not to mention the fact that, if you stick to Fifth and Broadway and make your way down through Soho where the atmosphere grows distinctly less Sex and the City and more Friends.
Of course, it helps if you get your personal location right. And if you're looking for a movie star hotel, the Pierre on Fifth Avenue is a good start. It was in that Clinton's ballroom that Al Pacino danced the tango in Scent of a Woman and, more recently, where Alec Badwin celebrated a prince's birthday in 30 Rock.
Better still, it's where Mad Men's Jon Hamm discussed Jewish views on Israel for an ad campaign, which was fitting, given that this was one of was the first hotels to offer co-op apartments to New York's Jewish community.
The nearby Plaza Athenée on East 64th Street also played host to the Sex and the City cast in the final few episodes. Sarah Jessica Parker may have lamented her ill-fated romance in the sister Paris hotel, but the bar scenes were shot in New York.
This Spring, a bit of Hollywood history will be brought back to life when the former Lambs Club reopens as a baby grand hotel in the form of the Chatwal on West 44th Street. The Lambs was America's luvviest venue when it opened in 1874 backed by the likes of Cliff Robertson and Gene Autrey. It even banned theatre critics.
This could be the real show-stopper, given the luxuries offered to guests. There's a hotly-awaited 90-seat restaurant, ablaze with red seating and white linen, all club-like, with booths befitting any Holywood setting.
There'll even be homages to the original architect; one of the landmark suites has been named the Stanford White Studio, after the legendary lothario who had a red velvet swing in his apartment for use by scantily-clad girls, including actress Evelyn Nesbitt, America's first It-girl. He was later murdered on the roof of Madison Square garden by her jealous boyfriend.
They're all part of a hotel and dining revolution that's revitalising the Upper East Side following a blip in the culinary landscape that saw nightlife take a step downtown last year.
The trendy Manhattan magazine had put the hippest restaurants and bars south of 14th street after top uptown chefs migrated to venues such as the Waverly Inn, Soho's Balthazar and Minetta in the Meat Packing District.
But that's all changing thanks to some serious competition from New York's version of London's Le Caprice, whose revolving Fifth Avenue doors opened in November to reveal potentially the longest and most stylish bar in the city.
Part of the Pierre, and designed by Martin Brudnizki who carved his name on The Club in London's Ivy, it is fast becoming the place to be seen. Crisply finished in fabulous movietone black and white, with loads of gleaming glass and polished silver, those who know these things agree that it sets a seriously new standard in style.
Boss Jesus Adorno has bought his top team — and some kitchen specials — from London and even has 60s snaps of Jean Shrimpton on the wall, courtesy of David Bailey.
The Pierre itself also has its own restaurant called 2E, a darker, more snug and informal bar-like area with low chairs and small scattered tables inside its more discreet East Street entrance.
It's recently undergone a $100-million facelift to reassert itself as the flagship of the Taj Hotel group. The rooms have been seriously upgraded and a new lounge and restaurant have been added to complement the Grand Ballroom which was completed two years earlier.
The suites are all period-style furniture, Indian artwork, leather headboards and flat-screen TVs in every room. The bathrooms are Turkish marble with glass-walled showers and steam-free shaving mirrors. Some of them include separate soaking tubs — and TVs you can watch while you soak.
It's what I'd call international/traditional: attendants in white gloves even whisk you through the 41 floors in leather-padded lifts.
It's one of those places the horse-drawn carriages that skip through Central Park look designed to pull up outside.
Now is a good time to visit. The sales began on Boxing Day and will last until the end of February. Expect discounts of 30-60 per cent at high street stores and up to 80 per cent in warehouses.
Barneys Warehouse on West 17th Street, hacks masses off labels such as Prada and Chloe.
Scoop, at 532 Broadway, is good for Earnest Sewn jeans and Sigerson Morrison shoes, I'm told. For non-designerwear, Saks, with its improbably vast shoe department, and Bloomingdales cut the mustard but, be warned, Macy's, so female friends tell me, can be chaotic at this time of year.
And when you're loaded with bags, expect to be seen by the Orthodox — especially on important Jewish holidays.
For this is a very Jewish city. On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur they blow the shofar for you as you emerge from the subway. On succot, they will get you to shake the lulav and the etrog or just want you to put on tefillin. It's for you. But it's also a mitzvah for them, of course.
I learned this over lunch in a small cafe at the side of Bloomingdales.
Having already enjoyed the best service the Upper East side has to offer, I pushed my luck with the waiter when I asked if it was possible to "rustle up something a little different".
He shrugged and said: "What we got is on the menu. I'll come back when you've read it."
Thanks a lot. An hour later, I handed him a large note, expecting change. Without a backward glance, he trousered it and disappeared.


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Just found out I'm pregnant, 7-8 weeks. My dr can't fit me in for 3 weeks. Should I see another dr.
Everything I'm reading syas I should be seen at 6 weeks so I thought they would squeze me in but they won't. They claim its ok to wait till you're 10 weeks?
Posted: 08/31/2007 by a BabyCenter Member
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Im currently 17 weeks. Ididnt see a doc until 14 weeks. Imade sure to take prenatal vitamins.. when i saw the doc she actually told me the baby was a little bigger than we thought. and suggest flinstone vitamins if the prenatals made me sick. you should be fine waiting.posted 11/13/2010 by a BabyCenter Member
I went at 12 weeks... I called at nine weeks, insurance issues, and it took 3 weeks to get in... The first appointment is longer so it may take a few weeks to get in... When I went in I thought I was 14 weeks but I was only 12... It really isn't a big deal... Just take your vitamins...posted 01/09/2011 by Mynameaee
My first pregnancy i found out i was only 9 weeks along. My dr. couldnt even find the baby. Alot of drs. dont see you till at the least 11 weeks in order to first hear the heart beat you have nothing to worry about :)posted 01/04/2011 by julibear2010
All depend on your age and if you have a high risk pregnancy. If you had a miscarriage before you will be treated as high risk pregnancy and they will be seeing you every two weeks. If you don't bleed and have sharp abdominal pain don't worry and enjoy every minute of this wonderful experience ....Congratulatios!!!!posted 11/26/2010 by cellacarras
It is alright to wait especially if everything is ok. If they would end up doing an ultrasound for you it would be vaginal, because your little peanut is very small. Congrats!!!!!!! If you do get any major cramping contact your ob and also go to the ER.posted 12/08/2010 by jmassillon
I am now 25 weeks and i didnt get into the doctors until i was 10 weeks, my pregnancy is going really well.. i would worry or stress about it unless you notice something going wrong. Good Luck!posted 12/08/2010 by brookeg157
I've heard usually pregnant women are seen by 8 weeks since by then embryo is big enough to see in an ultrasound. I went in when I first found out I was pregnant. Went back a few weeks later and had an ultrasound to see how many I had and if it looked okay. I was told I was 7 weeks 3 days then. Next appt I will be 11 weeks 2 days. If I were you, I'd just wait 3 weeks unless you have some complicates.posted 12/02/2010 by a BabyCenter Member
i don't know about waiting. if you can, see another doctor to just confirm and prescribe you your pre-natal vitmins, see if their is a heartbeat.and to see if he preganancy is a in-utuerin (sp?) pregnancy. I went to my dr right away. something like this, you should goposted 03/30/2010 by Elove930
I'm pg with my first. I called at 5 weeks to make an appt - and the office said that they usually wait until 8-10 weeks. But I had some bleeding at week 6. I called and they had me come in right away.posted 11/14/2010 by a BabyCenter Member
The womens center I am going to said they don't start seeing women until the 10th week. Unless you have some complications I would think our bodies know what to do without the doc right away :)posted 10/04/2010 by Tari3
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Welcome to the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Del Rio.
Discover an abundance of options in Del Rio, from unique shops in downtown Del Rio to several historical museums including Laughlin Aviation Museum, George Paul Museum and the Whitehead Memorial Museum.
The brand new Holiday Inn Express is located in the heart of Del Rio. Only six minutes from Del Rio International Airport and eight miles from Laughlin Air Force Base. Explore the Amistad National
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The brand new Holiday Inn Express is located in the heart of Del Rio. Only six minutes from Del Rio International Airport and eight miles from Laughlin Air Force Base. Explore the Amistad National Recreation Area, about ten minutes from our hotel. Experience some of the best bass fishing in the country at Lake Amistad. Our friendly upbeat staff can help you take advantage of our numerous local sights.
We are passionate about creating the best experience for each of our valued guests. Our staff will go above and beyond to accommodate your needs. Enjoy a complimentary full hot breakfast each morning. Don't feel like going out for dinner? Enjoy the option of having your dinner delivered straight to your room from one of our local restaurants. With refrigerators and microwaves in each room, we are the only all-suite hotel in town.


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Browse Collection
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Spoon and fork
Apparently silver-gilt
Origin: Probably Italian
Date: Late 16th century or 19th century
15.8 cm length of spoon; 16 cm length of fork
Provenance: Soulages collection; John Webb
Bequeathed by C.D.E. Fortnum, 1899; WA1899.CDEF.V425
T. Schroder (2009), no. 576
The design of these pieces clearly dates from the mid-sixteenth century and is closely related to a drawing after Franceso Salviati (1510-1563) in the Victoria and Albert Museum. However, the date of their manufacture is less certain. The Soulages collection was one of the most celebrated collections of decorative art in the nineteenth century. Formed by French lawyer, Jules Soulages (d.1857), it included 700 pieces, mostly of the Renaissance period, collected between 1830 and 1840.
Information derived from T. Schroder, British and Continental Gold and Silver in the Ashmolean (2009)
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I have 3 other children and just got a BFP last week. I'm due sometime in August but don't have my first dr. appt until Jan. We are not going to find out the sex this time.
We already have Claire, Kate and Henry.
Our favorite name is Caroline. Is it too close/too much with Claire and Kate?
Here are our other girl names: Sadie, Sophie, Sarah, Lillian, Grace, Audrey
Here are our boy names: Richard, Michael, John, Paul, Harris
Thanks so much


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- Galapagos Sky
- Dive Boat
- 16 Capacity
- 8 Days
- 2016
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Summary : Discover an underwater diver's paradise surrounded by sea lions, manta rays (Dec - May), turtles, and colorful reef fish with perhaps even whale sharks (May - Nov) and mola molas! Enjoy approximately 17-19 dives (includes check-out dive, plus a night dive!) accompanied by a dive master with essential knowledge of the dive locations such as legendary Wolf and Darwin Islands. On land, explore Bartolome Island, spot giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and learn about the human history of the island at San Cristobal's Interpretation Center.
We strongly recommend two pre-cruise nights and one post-cruise night in Quito or Guayaquil. Please inquire about adding these or other services to your trip.
Activities : Birding, Diving, Hiking, Photography, Snorkeling
Prices from
$5,695 to $5,895
Arrive at San Cristobal's airport where crew will personally greet you, help with luggage, and escort you to the expedition vessel. Cruise to Los Lobos for your check-out dive with playful Galapagos sea lions and fur seals. Later in the day, discover the myriad of diverse land formations while cruising the Galapagos Islands.
Bartolome is a lovely dive spot at Cousins Rocks boasting a variety of colorful fish and unique photo opportunities. Travel along a beautiful coral wall discovering frog fish, sea horses, and octopus. Enjoy sea lion companions on your safety stops.
Enjoy a hike to a favorite hilltop with breathtaking views. Conditions permitting, snorkel in crystal-blue water with the possibility of penguins as companions.
Spend the next three days diving (3-4 dives per day) spectacular locations at Wolf and Darwin Islands including The Arch, considered by many as the best dive site in the world. Experience Darwin Island and observe hammerhead sharks, bottle-nose dolphins, octopus, flounders, rays, turtles and multitudes of tropical reef fish found nowhere else in the islands. Whale sharks are common from June through November. The presence of occasional tiger sharks, black and blue marlin, and killer whales adds to this amazing diving experience.
Discover Wolf Island's splendor and observe a plethora of shark species. This is the place for schooling hammerhead sharks, large aggregations of Galapagos sharks, and occasionally whale sharks. Seeing dolphins, large schools of tuna, spotted eagle rays, barracudas, sea lions and sea turtles is common. The bottom is covered with hundreds of moray eels, many of them free swimming. On a night dive, enjoy watching red-lipped bat fish walk along the bottom of the sea!
At Cape Douglas, on the western side of Isabela Island, you will do one dive Friday morning. Here you can expect to see penguins, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, sea lions, seahorse, sea turtles, horn sharks, red lipped batfish, and occasional hammerhead sharks and white tip sharks. Also keep an eye out for chevron barracuda, snappers, yellow fin tuna, rainbow runners, and wahoo. There are also a lot of smaller fishes like creole fishes, parrot fishes, scrawled filefishes, pacific box fishes, and tiger snake eels.
Visit Punta Vincente Roca for up to 2 dives and a Panga ride. Diving here is chilly, particularly below the thermocline, but not to be missed! Discover a steep, deep vertical wall covered in soft coral, sponges, and endemic black coral. Observe mola mola, sea horses, horn sharks, red-lipped bat fish, various shrimp and many more marine invertebrates. After the dive, photograph penguins, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, sea lions, blue-footed and masked boobies, magnificent frigates, and noddy terns during the panga ride back to the ship.
Pinzon Island provides opportunities for encounters with a variety of species of sharks, sea lions, mantas, eagle rays, and moray eels. Enjoy one dive here observing many fish species including yellow tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish, moorish idols, steel pompanos, snappers, grunts, creole fish, and barracuda.
After the dive, visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to observe Galapagos Tortoises. Explore the coastal town of Puerto Ayora before heading back to the yacht.
In the morning, visit the Interpretation Center to discover the natural and human history of the islands. After your visit, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the mainland.
This itinerary is subject to change. ExpeditionTrips.com is not responsible for itinerary changes. Read this itinerary as a guide only, as the exact route and the wildlife you encounter may vary.
Diving in Galapagos IS considered ADVANCED diving as it occurs in the presence of strong currents, cold water and at times limited visibility. Diving from tenders/pangas (small inflatable boats) is also the rule and not an exception in this World Renowned destination. Recommended requirements include 50-100 open water dives, experience in currents, ability in removing gear in water and ability in getting into small boats in choppy seas.
Rental Dive Equipment: BCD; regulator and gauge; computer; underwater camera; wetsuit, hoood, mask and snorkel, and fins/booties. Please contact ExpeditonTrips for details. Limited sizes and quantities available. Please make sure to reserve in advance.
Cabin accommodations; meals aboard yacht including beer and wine with dinner; non-alcoholic beverages including filtered drinking water; service of naturalist guides/dive masters; transfers and baggage handling in the islands between airport and ship; diving equipment: filled tanks, weights, weight belt; free nitrox fills; up to 4 dives per day over 5.5 days; 3 land excursions. Subject to change without notice.
Not Included:
Airfare; hotel nights before/after cruise; transfers in Quito or Guayaquil; Galapagos National Park entrance fee; Galapagos Transit Card; gratuities to guides and crew; purchases in onboard boutique; traveler's insurance*; hyperbaric chamber fee; dive gear and equipment rentals; fuel surcharge may apply.
We are happy to add hotels, air and land arrangements as requested, and you will be quoted for services.
Airfare between Quito/Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands:
The flights between mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) and the Galapagos Islands are an additional cost. To secure your seats on often overbooked flights, ExpeditionTrips must reserve these flights for you at the time of cruise booking. Approximate cost (including service fee): $450-$600 per adult.
*Cruise Interruption and Cancellation Insurance:
We strongly recommend that all passengers traveling on Galapagos Sky invest in comprehensive medical, accident, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance at the time of your reservation. This investment will protect you and your financial commitment in the event of unforeseen travel delays, airline cancellations, weather, personal or family illness or injury which may not allow for you to make your scheduled cruise. We also strongly recommend diving accident insurance such as coverage provided by Divers Alert Network.
Photos © Philip Hamilton


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See our list of Recreational Vehicle and Parks Program Staff
Manufacturers and converters of recreational vehicles must register with the Division if they produce or intend to produce two or more recreational vehicles per year that require an Oregon insignia of compliance. See our Information for Manufactures and Converters page for more information.
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Somalian al-Shabab claim French agent's 'fate' decided
Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab has said they have decided the "fate" of a French intelligence agent they have held since 2009.
They claim the agent is still alive despite Paris claims that he was killed in a botched rescue operation.
On its Twitter feed, the group said details of its "unanimous verdict", as well as background describing the chain of events leading up to Saturday's "failed rescue operation," would be published "in the coming hours." It did not give an exact time for the release.
Paris holds it likely that Denis Allex died in the raid, but the al-Shabab claims – without having provided any proof – that he is still alive and that his fate remains in the group's hands.
Denis Allex – a French agent for the DGSE foreign intelligence service and whose name is likely a pseudonym – was captured on July 14 2009, in Somalia's capital Mogadishu.
The failed attempt to free the agent, who was likely killed by his captives during the raid, also led to the death of two French soldiers, the French defence ministry said in a statement.
Longest held French hostage
A source familiar with the case, told AFP that the body of one of the two killed soldiers had been left at the scene as his comrades were not able to recuperate it.
Also on Monday, the al-Shabab published a photo on their Twitter account depicting a photo of a white man surrounded by modern military material and which they claimed was a French commando chief killed during the operation.
Denis Allex is the longest held French hostage overseas since French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt, who had been held for more six years by Colombian guerrillas until being rescued by Colombia's security forces in 2008.
In October, a video showed a fatigued and pale Allex, requesting the help of French President Francois Hollande for his release. – Sapa-AFP.


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The U.S. market, long in need of an affordable, compact, rear-wheel-drive sports car, allowed the hype to initially take hold. The Scion FR-S's best ever month was its first full month of availability – June 2012 – when 2684 copies were sold.
But in the second-half of the FR-S's first full year in the U.S., FR-S volume slid 4%.
• FR-S accounts for 24% of U.S. Scion sales
• Scion accounts for 2.4% of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. volume
• Subaru sold 25,492 WRX/STi Imprezas in 2014
The numbers weren't terribly low. 18,327 FR-Ss were sold in the U.S. in 2013. But they weren't terribly high, either. Nissan, for a reference point, sold 36,728 350Zs in 2003.
Regardless, only 18 months into the car's tenure, monthly declines became notable because of their severity and consistency. (Read More…)


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LORD AYYAPPA, whose earthly abode is in the sacred hill-temple of Sabarimala, is one of the most powerful and benevolent deities of HINDU Religion. The Sabarimala temple, HIS eternal resting place, is situated on a hill, flanked on the four sides by dense forests of the Sabari Hills of the whole southern peninsula of India. Lakhs and lakhs of pilgrims from all parts of India come to Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa or Dharma Sastha (Dharma denotes benevolence). Sabarimala is the only pilgrim centre in India where language, dress and culture become one and where caste and creed are forgotten. Here there is no difference between the rich and poor. The pilgrims call one another as SWAMI by which they proclaim their equality. People from all walks of life move shoulder to shoulder in an undistinguished crowd.
It is after 41 day's penance and self-purification that each pilgrim walks his way to climb up the holy hill to worship at the shrine of their GOD and receive HIS blessings. The period of penance is ear marked with the wearing of a necklace of rudraksha beads tipped with a locket like idol of AYYAPPA at one end of the string and of substituting coarse brown (kavi), black or blue dhotis and shirts for the usual refined dress. A pilgrim need to be an ascetic at least for the 41 days of his penance, a vegetarian in his diet, austere in moral principles and always chanting the slogan, SARANAMAYYAPPA. When he starts his pilgrimage, he has to carry on his head or shoulders the Irumudi (a two pronged linen bag, containing rice, a coconut filled with ghee to anoint the holy idol and few coconut fruits). The Irumudi is both a means for his sustenance on the way and a tenure-house of his humble offerings to the LORD. Uniformity in the dress, the Irumudi and the chant of Saranamayyappa are the symbols of purity, devotion and self sacrifice. The unique feature of the pilgrimage, more than anything else, is the spirit of equality, brotherhood, communal harmony and oneness among all castes, colours and creeds within the Hindu religion. Ayyappa's pilgrim, whatever be their social position and status in their material life, is alike in mind and thought, so they are HIS pilgrims. They bathe together, eat together, chant together and walk together barefooted to reach HIS holy presence. There are no rich and poor among them, no haves and have-nots, all are equal, alike with one body and soul. It was to instill this sacred principle of equality, fraternity and unity that LORD AYYAPPA took HIS incarnation and had his brief but fruitful sojourn among mankind. The various myths and legends regarding HIS birth bear testimony to this fact.
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Making the Grade
Why are Utah's roads, bridges, and buildings in better shape than any other state's? The following link will take you to a table that shows 2008 state apportionments pursuant to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act in 13 categories.
Bush Loses Backing
The EPA is considering whether an additional 104 contaminants and microbes should be evaluated for possible drinking water restrictions.
Going Green? Go Electric
Bird Control
For tips on finding a pest bird control professional, visit the National Pest Management Association.
To download a free copy of Managing Canada Geese, a Cornell University Cooperative, Department of Natural Resources publication, visit the National Pest Management Association.
For information on cleaning up after birds, download a free copy of Health Hazards From Pigeons, Starlings, and English Sparrows. Note: You will be required to register on Bell Bird Control's site.
Capture, convert, cash in
In addition to listing participating projects in the EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program, this Web site will help you determine if your operation is a candidate for conversion.
Association Renames Conference to Reflect Changes in the Workforce.
Fleets, Trucks and Accessories
Caterpillar has added the model 300.9D VPS (Versatile Power System) to the Cat range of...
Infrastructure Projects
Public works agencies among the many that want national leaders to recognize the...
Public Outreach
Krausz USA introduced its HYMAX Clamp which quickly and easily repairs holes and...
Salt Lake City, UT
Protected intersections fully comply with existing design standards. "The Manual on...
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The Bradley University Braves Mascot Committee is moving ahead with the process of searching for a new mascot. More than 300 emails, letters and phone calls were received with ideas for the new mascot. The committee has evaluated every entry based on the established guidelines and looked at the number of mentions a particular potential mascot received, the rationale for the suggestion, the uniqueness of the mascot and the ability to successfully implement the idea. After this review, seven mascot options will continue to be considered along with the option of having no mascot. To review the summary of the rationales for each of these mascot concepts and complete an online survey visit bradley.edu/bravesmascot.
Bradley Athletics Mascot Suggestions: Braveheart, Clock, Firefighter, Gargoyle, Military Figure, Squirrel, Superhero or no mascot.