text:
I am in the biggest romance reading slump I've ever been in, and it's lasted longer than any slump I've ever had. Yesterday I took two huge boxes of unread books to the UBS to trade because I doubted I'd ever read them. I got a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach because it's such a drastic step to take.
When I awarded Desert Isle Keeper status to Anne Gracie's Tallie's Knight a couple of months ago, I was thrilled because it was the first romance novel in more than a year that I'd absolutely loved. I've gotten used to awarding only two or three romances DIK status per year, but having had more than a year go by without one was truly frightening. Had it not been for the non-romance DIK I awarded to Joy Fielding's The First Time late last summer, I'd have felt even worse about the state of my reading.
Yes, there have been more than a handful of good romances read in-between, but my attention has been diverted for too long by non-romance novels not to get worried. Why, just a couple of weeks ago I inhaled Morgan Llywelyn's The Wind from Hastings - it's an historical novel with a strong romantic component about a real historical figure, but since it flaunts the romance convention of an HEA, it certainly doesn't have me less concerned about my slump.
This year has been the most difficult for me personally since my father died fourteen years ago. A series of close personal crises forced me into having to act totally like a grown-up, and in one instance, to take the lead, long-distance, on an event that I hope no one else ever has to live through. I'm not surprised, really, therefore, that I took the fork in the romance road in February, and began to read the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton - I really needed to read about a woman who takes no prisoners. While none of the individual books were DIK's for me, taken as a group, this series has been amazing to read, and I continued to stray from the romance genre by glomming several Joy Fielding suspense novels. Only one was particularly good, but I realized all of them were quicker to read than most of the romances I was reading at the same time. Don't get me wrong - I have read more than a few good romances this year, but all of them were flawed in some way, some more than others. Not only that, but a couple were tremendous stinkers, beginning with a release from next month - Maybe Baby by Elaine Fox.
The cover quote on the first contemporary release by this author comes courtesy of Nora Roberts, who is one of my own favorite authors. If this is the type of romance considered good these days, I'm in serious trouble. Maybe Baby is a secret baby book built on a series of lies so contrived that rather than being clever, they are simply stupid. And the heroine's behavior never comes out of character - it is solely driven by the plot, a sure book-killer in my eyes. Let me tell you about it.
After a one-night stand with Jack Shepard and a failed condom, Dr. Delaney Poole becomes pregnant. Even though she knows he's a high-school teacher, a profession most people grant a certain amount of responsibility, she assumes he's nothing but bad news. So when she returns to the small town of Harp Cove, Maine to assume her position as town doctor, she plans to pass herself off as a divorcee. Why not just make it easy and be a widow? Either way, the husband would be out of the picture, but why be logical when a plot is at stake, particularly when - you've guessed it - Jack turns out to be Delaney's new landlord.
All of a sudden, Delaney isn't divorced at all. She and her "husband," whose name is either Jim or Joe, are simply living apart for the time being. And the lies begin to pile on and continue to pile on, and this supposedly intelligent scientist instead is small-minded and basically not only too stupid to live, but too selfish to live as well. At one point in the story, Delaney's baby's favorite day care worker at an overly-crowded day care center leaves and Jack offers up his aunt, an ex-nurse and long-time baby-sitter. Although mothers will do anything to assure their children are properly taken care of, Jack has to fight to convince Delaney that his aunt will be an improvement; her first instinct is to leave the baby where she is even though she knows the care won't be particularly good. Roberts' cover quote that these are "characters you take into your heart" didn't help matters much; in fact, reading that has me quite concerned that maybe I can't tell good from bad any more when it comes to romance novels.
As I mentioned earlier, my romance slump has caused me to stray more and more from the genre. In the interim, I've enjoyed historical fiction, fantasy fiction, and mainstream/women's fiction - Dorothea Benton Frank's Plantation, which I read this spring, was a very good character-based book. On the other hand, highly-touted romance authors like Lori Foster have failed to intrigue me in the least. Foster's Sex Appeal had such a lame ending I was sorry to have wasted 200+ pages leading up to it.
I haven't tried some earlier "tried and true" methods of getting out of my slump because I'm frankly too desperate. What if I pick up a book everyone has raved about and I don't love it? Those "insurance reads" may have worked in the past, but I've got my head under the covers right now, afraid of the monster under the bed. About the only thing I haven't tried is re-reading a favorite romance; that will come next.
Even going back to earlier releases hasn't necessarily helped. After enjoying a reissue of T.L.C. by Barbara Delinsky, I bought several other Delinsky reissues. The Outsider, written in 1992, was quite enjoyable and very inventive, but 1982's Search for a New Dawn was horrendous, as was Jayne Ann Krentz's Man with a Past, written in 1985, and tied as the worst JAK I ever read. If you've never thought it possible that Krentz could write a raping hero, this one comes thisclose.
Among other romances I have read and enjoyed so far this year are:
With the exception of Phantom Waltz, none of these books came close to being spectacular - they were more or less B/B- reads. As you'll notice, the list contains very few historicals and quite a few series titles, although I didn't give you the list of romances I didn't like, which contains even more historicals. All of which leads me to believe I'm burned out on, at the very least, historical romance. What's happened - is it me or is it the authors I've come to rely upon?
When was the last time Julie Garwood wrote a spectacular historical romance? I think the last one was Saving Grace, published back in 1993. Mary Jo Putney? Her last truly great historical, for me, was written back in 1996. Catherine Coulter, whom many of you have already given up on, has written some good books recently, but her last great one for me was written back in 1992. Lisa Kleypas has apparently returned to her previous state of excellence, but I wouldn't know after having been burned too many times in recent years after having fallen in love with her in 1993. There hasn't been a great Amanda Quick or Judith McNaught in several years either (most readers I know consider Perfect, published in 1993, to be her last great book. And for those who love Jude Deveraux, it's the same story, although her allure has always escaped me, so picking the book when she "jumped the shark" is more difficult. (Jumping the shark is the defining moment when a favorite television show peaked, named for that Happy Days episode when Fonzie waterski-jumped a shark.)
These are just a few big historical authors who are no longer auto-buys for me. Patricia Gaffney has gone the way of women's fiction (for that I'm actually thankful - I very much like her voice in women's fiction), and Laura Kinsale, whom I don't read, takes years between books. Other authors whom I've never particularly cared for, but whom have been reader favorites of many in the past have also, seemingly, passed their prime, including Karen Robards, Virginia Henley (although her new book did just receive a B- from us), and Bertrice Small, among others.
Let's go through some other major authors and see what's up with them:
There are newer stars like the ones we mentioned earlier this year in our column about buried treasures, but the old reliable authors just don't seem to be there anymore - at least not for me. It seems they've all moved on and left me behind. Some brand new authors have entranced me, but recently I heard that a favorite author of mine is without a contract for the first time in 12 years. She is one author who continues to put out terrific books, but she is by no a superstar, and to hear about her loss while forcing myself to slog through Maybe Baby was incredibly disheartening.
I think it's time for a shift for me - since the old "auto-buys" are no longer there for me, I must find new "auto-buys." I've tried to do that in a limited sense, but not whole-heartedly enough, apparently. The consistency I crave just isn't there. How has this been with you? Do you need to make a shift as well? How can we go about making this shift? Do we first need to simply come out and ask which romance authors have "jumped the shark," and which books took them on that fatal ride? Did Julie Garwood do it with Prince Charming in 1994? Did it happen with Mary Jo Putney before or after One Perfect Rose? Or at all?
The major sort of shift I'm talking about is made more difficult when going by synopses of books on sale; it seems the story lines and characters are getting more and more narrow. My co-columnist, Robin Uncapher, mentioned how many recent romances seem to pick and choose from a limited choice of options, like numbered dinners at the Chinese restaurant you ate at when you were a kid. So, where's a romance reader to turn?
For me, it's time to stop being, as my husband calls it, "a whiny tittie baby." I've simply got to accept that my old favorites just aren't writing favorites for me any more, and if I want to continue to read romance, it's time to clean the slate. I think I'd rather not read "the next Julie Garwood;" I'd rather read someone who seems completely fresh and new. Again, that's easier said than done - it seems to require starting all over again on the genre and basically forgetting what has come before. Does it need to be that drastic?
One of the forks in the romance road that I've noticed belongs to what our readers have termed "Brit chick lit." I read Bridget Jones's Diary earlier this year; it's the book many point to as the start of a new sub-genre to feature 20 to 30-something women and a strong dollop of romance.
With the recent success of the movie version of BJD, a thread to our Potpourri Message Board takes on particular resonance at this time. Reader Kimberly, who is excited about our upcoming ATBF (look for it on August 15th) devoted to Jane Austen as a branch of our romance family tree, asked the following:
"In the last decade we've seen several film and literary adaptations of Austen novels. The publishing of BJD, its sequel and the recent opening of the film adaptation has created an influx of Brit chick lit, much of which borrows liberally from Austen plots and characterization and indeed makes subtle and sometimes blatant allusions to the novels themselves.
"I must say that I've jumped on the bandwagon with this Brit chick lit craze. In the last week I've read Bad Heir Day by Wendy Holden, Making Minty Malone by Isabel Wolff, and Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. I've also read Amanda's Wedding by Jenny Colgan and Jemima J. by Jane Green. Although BJD still remains my favorite in the genre, I enjoyed the Kinsella and the Colgan very much.
"What I'm getting at here with this sampling of recent additions to the BJD variety of lit is that this publishing phenomenon has signaled both a retreat to the romantic ideals, and shall I say the quietly feminist ideas, of Jane Austen and a nod to the neurosis and angst of the modern woman.
"I somehow wonder if over the last two centuries whether or not her brand of feminism has been lost in the romanticized versions of her novels. For example, Bridget Jones in the film adaptation has trouble with her career and the hero is instrumental in providing the necessary assistance to pull them out of it. I suppose that in these modern Austenian tales the heroine is saved by the hero with the promise of a HEA and a career! The Austen heroines settled for the HEA and the lucky ones a nice estate to run.
"How does this popular new literary fiction (if loosely defined, that is) effect the average romance readers like us? I'd like to think that it simply offers us more variety. I'm very happy to have found this wealth of books to sample. It also reflects the here and now daily anxieties and romantic yearnings of many twenty-somethings (like myself) and thirty-somethings. Most contemporary romances - I'm thinking Nora Roberts to some extent and most category titles - don't have the pop culture references we find in the new chick lit novels. I suppose this makes them timeless in their own right.
"I, personally, find it easier to identify with the average chick lit heroine than the average contemporary romance heroine. The Mark Darcys and the Luke Brandons in the British chick lit are terribly appealing, however much they subvert the feminist message of the novels they appear in. I mean, really, did Prince Charming off Snow White the option of a career before they rode off into the sunset? No, that's the whole point. It's a fairy tale. And I'm willing to admint as a professional rare book librarian dedicated to my career that part of me is waiting for my Prince Charming (who looks and speaks something like Colin Firth, of course!) to sweep me of my feet. But I can make or break my own career, thank you very much!"
While I've not read many of these "Brit chick lit" books myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the "love triangle," as it were, between Bridget, her boss, and her very own Darcy in BJD. The ending, in fact, and I hope this isn't a spoiler at this point, when Mark comes back and sweeps Bridget off her feet after disappearing to apparently save the day, is incredibly romantic. It is also very similar to the wonderful ending of Tallie's Knight.
Rene, another reader who is not only a Pride and Prejudice but a BJD fan as well, responded to Kimberly by bringing up the HBO series Sex and the City, a show I've been hooked on since the very first episode. Mark�s helping Bridget�s career in the movie doesn�t bother Rene. As she sees it, "the fact that Mark Darcy helped her career is more a reflection on him as a character rather than her reliance upon it. Lets face it, even with his aid, her career is still not that great."
While Rene doesn't compare Brit chick lit to Sex and the City, she does point out that none of the four characters on that show need men to boost their careers, although three of the four are consistently looking for Mr. Right and an HEA. She likes the show but finds it sad that there is such an equation of men and happiness. She admits this is rather an odd comment coming from a romance reader, but adds, "heroines in romance novels usually don't have that edge of desperation."
Personally, I like the show for its irreverent outrageous attitude. Whenever Samantha, who uses men and spits 'em out like many men who are serial daters do, says or does something really outlandish, the interplay between her character and Charlotte, who is the most traditional of the group, is guaranteed to be lively. I find Carrie's character perhaps less interesting than Miranda's because Carrie seems to be able to land any man around without any effort at all. Miranda, on the other hand, is a very successful and abrasively cynical lawyer who a couple of weeks ago went on a relationship strike and ended up eating chocolate cake out of the garbage can. She seems more endearing to me than her three friends because she loses at love more often than anyone else. In this year's season opener, for instance, she attracted a hunky guy at her gym when she was all grunged out and they had a great first date. He thought her insecurity was sweet and sexy, but when they had their second date and she was confident because of his compliments, he got turned off.
In Rene's post, she also mentioned that Harlequin is apparently interested in the new sub-genre of fiction we've seen so often in England over the past few years, siting their upcoming "Red Ink" line. Red Ink is described thusly at Harlequin's web site:
"Urban women 20-something and up who are discovering themselves, sharing apartments, meeting men, struggling with jobs. These books are pragmatic, relevant, and have a unique tone: They show life as it is, but with a strong touch of humor, 'hipness,' and energy. Red Dress Ink books are about how single urban females really are. We see life in all its messy details - meddling moms, rivalries at work, unfaithful boyfriends. But driving the story is the heroine's development into a strong woman, supported by close friends. And if she finds love along the way, what a bonus! The style of writing is light, highly accessible, clever, funny, and full of witty observations. The dialogue is sharp and true-to-life. These are characters you can immediately identify with in a story you just can't put down!
"These books are Ally McBeal meets Sex and the City, Bridget Jones's Diary meets The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing."
There have been some interesting threads on our message boards and canwetalk discussion list about the state of romance novels this year. It seems I'm not alone in being in a slump, although slump levels vary widely. The questions are - are we stuck back in the mid-1990's or have the authors lost it? Have they moved on and left us behind? Do we need to "get over it," as we often want to scream at heroes who continue to look for betrayal because of one bad experience, and find new authors to love? How do we go about doing that? Has there been a paradigm shift of major proportions, and do we, as readers, need to make a similar shift? Should we simply spend more time looking at off-shoots of traditional genre romance, such as Brit chick lit to satisfy our cravings?
Not long ago I realized in horror that there were tiny holes in several of the stacks of books I keep by my bed. Our new kitten, Baby, had apparently been teething on them. For someone who keeps her books in perfectly pristine shape, this was an awful discovery and Baby got in big trouble.
As a confirmed bookaholic, I'm used to my own odd behavior when it comes to books. I cringe whenever I watch my husband crack the spine of whatever paperback he's reading, and have lectured my daughter numerous times about not losing the jackets hardcovers come in. If you saw what she had done with the first four volumes of Harry Potter, you'd cringe too - I finally gave up and bought a second set which I am hiding in a closet, to give her as a gift many years in the future. Books are meant to be cherished, cared for, and look as though they've never been read, as far as I'm concerned. They should never be dog-eared, left open on the floor or table, or taken anywhere near water, unless they are a second or third copy, picked up at the UBS.
When I first started reading romance several years ago, I was oh-so-meticulous about organizing my books. Everything I bought was entered onto a database I created. I included a field for the title, the author's name, the publisher, the year published, whether or not it was part of a series (and I used a romance reference book for that), and what sub-genre it fit into. Then I would put the book away in alpha author order in the "unread" section of my personal library. When I finished the book, I added a grade, the date I'd read the book, and whether or not it was a keeper. The book would either then be put away in the "already read" section of my personal library or taken to the UBS for trade.
Every month when the new Romantic Times came out, I would pick which books to buy, check them against my database and reference book to make sure I didn't already have them or that they were or were not part of a series I was collecting, and then would create a computerized list to give to the bookstore for ordering.
I'm reminded of Phil Hartman's hilarious Anal Retentive Chef/Handyman skits from Saturday Night Live when I think about this, but, hey, everyone deserves at least one obession, right?
All this, of course, was what I used to do when I had the time to do it. Because I don't have that time anymore, things have gotten messy. Rather than one alphabetized library for my unread books, I have several, which makes looking for books difficult. With close to a thousand books unread and shelf space for only a third that many books, I have to stack them, one on top of each other instead of standing next to one another, which means that to do properly get things in order would take time I simply don't have. The result? I've bought some reissues at least twice, and have not bought some other titles because I kept thinking I'd already bought them.
About the best I can manage these days is using BYRON for the books I've already read. After I finish a book, I enter a grade for it on BYRON, and also indicate whether or not it's a book I'm keeping or trading. I also indicate the year I read the book - just because. Then the book either goes into the closet in my study, where my "already read" library is kept in alphabetical order or into a bag to be brought to the UBS for trade.
Because I am in a slump, I'm going to take some uninterrupted time - hey, I'm not reading anyway - to get my books in order. Having them every which way makes me feel uncomfortable, and if you knew my housekeeping skills, that would shock you. I am someone who invites people over to the house every month or so just because it forces me to straighten things up - other than that, it's pretty much "anything goes." But while you might find mismanaged mail in my kitchen or dustbunnies the size of puppies under my couch, you won't find mistreated books - well, except for those that Baby munched on. Whenever I take a sack of books to the UBS, the owner never fails to remark on how nice my books are. For some reason, I take great pride in that. We won't even get into why I keep all my Julie Garwoods in a decorative hatbox, although I have shared before that I keep a second set of certain favorites so I can lend them out without fear of them being kidnapped for good.
AAR Reviewer Jennifer Schendel was glad to know she's not the only anal romance reader around. She admits that some of her books are so well read that they fall open to certain passages while others are held together with rubber bands and tape from so many re-readings, but she tries valiantly to keep her books in mint condition. No dog-eared pages or notes in the margin for her. She struggled mightily in college when she had to underline textbooks. She groups books on her shelves by author and in chronological order.
While I'm not sure where my anal book behavior comes from, Jennifer can trace hers back to the first grade where it's tradition at Crest Hill Elementary the first week of school to take each new class to the library. The librarian would bring out a new book and an abused book and lecture the impressionable little kids on how to treat books. While Jennifer can't remember the librarian's name, she remembers her voice to this day - it was one of those that never had to be raised, that could make you feel guilty without much effort.
Jane Jorgenson, another AAR Reviewer, and one who also happens to be a librarian, says that she is another condition-obsessive reader. She admits to never lending a book to anyone unless she doesn't care how it comes back, and when she buys a book, she carefully examines several copies to determine that she's getting the "best" one. With well over a thousand books in her personal library, though, she's given up trying to truly organize them. AAR pollster Shelley Dodge, on the other hand, won't give up on this; she's saving for a new shelving system and looks forward to the day when she can "cuddle and organize all my books."
We have several librarians on our staff, including Rachel Potter, Nora Armstrong, and Ellen Micheletti, and if I could invite any of them over to my house for the weekend to help get my library in shape, I would! Rachel stands at the ready; she recently shared that she's not only obsessive about her books' condition, but their order as well. Apparently she's had her books in alphabetical order or by topic since she was a small child. She shudders when she visits her parents' house. They have a lot of interesting books but are stored by what her father calls the "cram method." She's offered to separate and classify them numerous times, but they have yet to take her up on her offer.
AAR Reviewer Maria K, on the other hand, fessed up to being a resident book-abuser, although she's not proud of it. She's a margin scribbler and has never figured out how to read a paperback without breaking the spine. She usually leaves them open on the floor, has been known to bend covers, and - horror of horrors - has allowed some of her books to get wet. She adds, "If books are holy to me it's because of the content, and it does not affect my enjoyment of the written word if the cover is bent. But I do hide the books in bad condition in the rows behind the visible rows on the bookshelf." And Mary N, who calls herself an "AAR heretic," is another book abuser among us. She loves to read in the tub and says that all of her favorites are waterlogged. Then there is Andrea Pool, who recently signed off in this way, "Hi, my name is Andrea, and I abuse books."
What are your own book obsessions? How big is your TBR stack? Do you treat books with a reverent touch or do they have that well-loved appearance of the Velveteen Rabbit? Do you keep track of the books you read, and, if so, do you use a high-tech or low-tech method? And, how many experiences have you had like the following: someone comes into your house, takes a look around, and with eyes as big as saucers, asks, "Do you really read all those books?"
You may have noticed that this is the shortest ATBF we've had in a long time. Since I'm not only burned out in terms of reading romance but am burned out writing about it, it seems the perfect time to talk about what I'm going through and leave it at that. We have a lot of good stuff coming up here - Robin will continue the discussion of romance slumps and wherein the true problem lies the next time around, and on August 15th you can expect our Jane Austen ATBF. There may or may not be an August 1st issue of ATBF - we haven't taken a break from this column at all this calendar year, and hopefully absence will make all your hearts grow fonder. And, hopefully, by the time I'm back from my vacation to England and Wales in mid-August, I'll be out of my slump and ready to go again here. If not, we'll see; my trip diary may be the last bit of writing you'll see from me for some time to come.
Time to Post to the Message Board
Here are the questions we'd like to have you consider this time:
Romance Reading Slumps - What's the longest and/or biggest romance reading slump you've ever had? How did you get out of it? Did being in a slump frighten you? Are you in one now? If yes, how long has it lasted? Are Your "Auto-Buys" Still Worth It? - Have you noticed, insidiously, that some or many of your automatic buys haven't really been worth it lately? Have you found new auto-buys to replace them? Who has fallen off your list and whom have you added? If you haven't added replacements, why do you think that is? Brit Chick Lit - Have you gotten caught up in reading Brit Chick Lit like many of our readers and review staff? Though it doesn't follow all the rules of genre romance, is it filling a void for you? What do you like about it? What is lacking in it? Time for a Paradigm Shift? - Are those of us who are longing for old favorites simply being whiny tittie babies at this point? Do we need to give up on favorites who haven't been in reality favorites for some time? Do we need to clean the slate and start completely over? Is reading "the next Julie Garwood" really as good as reading Julie Garwood originally was? If we want to continue to read romance, should we simply change our expectations? Jumping the Shark? - Which romance authors have "jumped the shark," and what book took them on that fatal ride? Are others in danger of getting on that waterski with Fonzie? If so, which ones are close? And, are there any which have jumped and yet managed to come back? The Anal Retentive Romance Reader - Do you cringe in horror if you see someone crack a spine of a book or turn down the corner of a page? Do you rejoice in a well-read book? Are you an anal retentive romance reader or a book abuser? Share your crimes and/or obessions with us. Readers Rave About Their Libraries - How do you keep track of your books - either unread or already read? How many books do you have to be read? How do you store your books? As we first did back in 1997, let's rave about our libraries!
Here are the questions we'd like to have you consider this time:
|Post your comments and/or questions to our Potpourri Message Board


text:
Scrabble word: ABLE
In which Scrabble dictionary does ABLE exist?
Scrabble (US/Canada)
(6 pts)
Scrabble (UK)
(6 pts)
Official Scrabble (OSPD)
(6 pts)
(7 pts)
Words with friends
(8 pts)
Hanging with friends
(8 pts)
(4 pts)
Lexulous (US)
(6 pts)
Definitions of ABLE in dictionaries:
- adj - (usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
- adj - have the skills and qualifications to do things well
- adj - having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity
- adj - having a strong healthy body
- Having sufficient ability or resources.
- The construction able to ascribes to its subject the ability to accomplish the action expressed in its complement: The troupe was able to get a grant for the project from a large corporation.
- adj - having sufficient power, skill, or resources
- noun - a communications code word for the letter A
There are 4 letters in ABLE: A B E L
Scrabble words that can be created with an extra letter added to ABLE
All anagrams that could be made from letters of word ABLE plus a wildcard: ABLE?
Scrabble words that can be created with letters from word ABLE
Images for ABLE
Other Resources
SCRABBLE is the registered trademark of Hasbro and J.W. Spear & Sons Limited. Our scrabble word finder and scrabble cheat word builder is not associated with the Scrabble brand - we merely provide help for players of the official Scrabble game. All intellectual property rights to the game are owned by respective owners in the U.S.A and Canada and the rest of the world. Anagrammer.com is not affiliated with Scrabble. This site is an educational tool and resource for Scrabble & Words With Friends players.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Duane G. Hansen Museum was a five year project that was completed in 1972 and deeded to the City of Logan. Since then, it continues to offer many cultural and social opportunities. The Plaza was officially dedicated on April 10, 1973 and is located at 110 West Main Street in Logan, Kansas. It is open from 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm on weekdays, from 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm on Saturdays and its even open on Sundays and holidays from 1 pm to 5 pm. The museum features history rich displays of Kansas and offers classes, art exhibits and workshops throughout the year. Check out what's happening now!
Dance lessons for beginners and advanced are being offered throughout January and February. The instructor is Kerry Ferguson of Kensington, KS.
Painting, quilting and water aerobics are offered throughout the year.
Various art and quilt exhibits are presented throughout the year.
For more information visit their website at http://www.hansenmuseum.org or call 785-689-4846.


text:
I should preface this article with a couple of important items. First, I challenged U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions in the 2010 Republican Primary, an era when even the local Tea Party leadership still thought Pete's record was palatable. Second, I am supporting neither candidate in this year's Republican Primary as I believe one to be a horrible Congressman and the other to be grossly under-qualified for the position.
I have been commenting on both candidates as I see deep flaws with each. This article is a continuation of that practice and is directed at the Congressman. Rep. Sessions has been accused of living in "a dilapidated apartment" and some of his supporters claim no evidence of this exists.
Well, being that the Congressman moved in across the parking lot from me at The Village Apartments, I can, indeed, confirm that the Congressman resides in an apartment so far as his voter registration is concerned.
However, when I went scouring my Facebook account and my smart phone I was unable to find the photos on either. And while I determined that I snapped the photos before acquiring my smart phone, that still doesn't explain why the photos are no longer on my Facebook account. I'll take that up with Mark Zuckerburg tomorrow--perhaps a case of NSA spying gone awry?
This issue, in my opinion, is really a stupid point to be spending so much time on. So I believe that supporters of challenger Katrina Pierson should begin preparing themselves for the likely defeat of their darling in the upcoming primary. If a nearly 20-year record cannot provide enough information for her supporters and campaign to take offense to and they must instead concentrate on a divorced man's address of residence, I'm sorry--that does not bode well.
Further, there has been a significant amount of intellectual dishonesty or downright ineptitude displayed by supporters of both candidates. And if there is one thing that really gets under my skin it is intellectual dishonesty. So let's clarify a few things.
First, Sessions' first wife divorced him in 2011 following rumors of infidelity on the part of the Congressman with multiple women outside their marriage. I went on the record as stating at the time, "I wouldn't wish divorce on my worst enemy much less my sitting Congressman. Rep. Sessions has enough trouble doing his job effectively without this to contend with. My best wishes to the Congressman going forward." Something to that effect. Not terribly supportive of him politically or personally, but recognizing that I did not want one of my elected officials to be dealing with such distractions but instead seeking to be effective elected officials.
Following their split-up, their $1.3 million home near White Rock Lake went on the blocks so the Congressman needed a new residence. He selected The Corners East apartments in The Village. I know this because he quite literally moved in directly across the parking lot from my apartment. In fact you can see his bedroom window from my front door.
I was able to confirm this with security personnel with the community. And then I went about steering clear of the Congressman. He obviously didn't move in knowing that I lived there. And he obviously would not have had he known I did. And I figured that he didn't want to deal with me or come home to me sitting on his doorstep, taking exception to his duties as Congressman.
He followed all of this up by marrying a former Congressional candidate from Florida whom he had supported while Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Now, let's finish up with the apartment first. This is a non-issue. Period. I lived in an apartment when I challenged the Congressman. Big deal. Are Republicans seriously going to make the point that one must live in a $1.3 million home to represent a district in Congress?
Now, is there an issue here? There certainly is. And the fact that nobody has answered my question yet is a bit concerning. Because if there is no issue in the following matter then there is a very simple answer to a very relevant question and that's all there is to it. Open, shut, over and out.
But Sessions' Campaign Manager and former Dallas County Republican Party Executive Director Kim Locus has thus far refused to provide an answer to this. Mrs. Locus is a friend of mine, so I'm being very patient. But I'm reasonably certain Pierson's supporters won't extend my political friend the same courtesy.
The question here is, has Rep. Sessions taken any trips to Florida since 2009? Pete became Chair of the NRCC for the 2009-2010 term which included the 2010 Primaries. In addition to facing a challenge from me in his home district, he also met his future second wife, Karen Diebel, whom he subsequently married in mid-2012.
Trips taken to Florida during his two terms as NRCC Chairman during the 2009-2010 term and 2011-2012 term would have necessarily been paid for by NRCC funds. Although I'm sure he would also have to justify his schedule and support for Florida Congressional candidates for such trips--no trips to see his new friend and now second wife on NRCC funds.
The truly interesting situation would be the 2013 calendar year. Has Pete been to Florida in the last 13 months? And if so, who paid for his travel?
Congressmen are able to have travel between Washington, D.C. and their home districts reimbursed by taxpayers as official travel. Private plane travel, likewise, may be reimbursed at a similar rate but only between D.C. and the Congressman's home district. And Florida doesn't count in that regard.
Has Pete taken trips to Florida? Apparently so--he has a photograph accepting a jersey from the Orlando Magic with the name 'Sessions' and the number 32 on it. Who has paid for these trips? Has Pete, who likely now has alimony payments to his ex-wife of 28 years? Not to mention having to maintain residences in both D.C. and Dallas. That stretches even a $170,000 salary pretty thin given that places him in the top tax bracket to begin with--40% right off the top!
But let's drop the issue of his residence in Dallas. Yes, he lives in one of the finest apartment communities in the nation. Lincoln Property Company maintains The Village--it's flagship community--immaculately. The Village routinely is named the top multi-family community in the nation. It's landscaping--maintained with private funds--provide the model for the City of Dallas for communities like Oak Cliff as the City attempts to turn the corner in attracting private development to the southern sector (in my opinion).
Perhaps not the prototypical property one would expect to find a Congressman in. But if this is all the challenger has--given all of the things I mentioned in my own campaign just a few short years ago--she'd better pack it in and withdraw. This is childish.
How I discovered the Congressman had moved in?
You can stop reading here unless you want a funny aside. The following is irrelevant to the current challenger's efforts but uproariously funny when considering that a sitting Congressman moved into an apartment complex across the parking lot from his former challenger!
The Village maintains the original Village Country Club facilities in the center of the development including a workout center for residents' use. I'm walking back to my apartment from the gym one night in approximately mid-2011, just after the Congressman's divorce was announced. White Rock Lake house went on the market, Pete had to find a new place. Where else does a single man in Dallas go looking? Plenty of "action" at The Village, so that's where he went.
I see a unique license plate on a typical pickup truck in the parking lot one evening: CD 32. "Not too many of those around," I think to myself! And they don't just issue those to wives, girlfriends or lovers. I'm thinking worst-case scenario: "Pete's visiting his girlfriend--getting some nookie!"
Well, obviously I wasn't too far off in that analysis, given his divorce and rumors of his multiple infidelities. But it turned out this was just his new home in the District.
I snapped a couple photos of the license plate, the truck and the truck with the apartments in the background. I also snapped a few photos in subsequent months when I noticed the truck around, just to show that the Congressman was coming and going. Passed the Congressman's truck coming and going a time or two.
The night I discovered my new neighbor I actually almost ran into Pete--literally. I'm walking back to my apartment after snapping a few photos and pass his breezeway as he is exiting his new apartment. He drops his keys facing away from me and bends over to pick them up as I pass, otherwise we most likely would have made eye contact and seen one another.
Folks, this is really funny. As the saying goes, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
But if a campaign is relying on this to run on it had better grow up quick--this isn't effective campaign fodder. Political humor? Sure. Stand-up comedy? Absolutely.
Zero campaign-worthiness whatsoever.


text:
Track & Field Set to Participate in Eagle Invitational
April 12, 2012
CHICAGO - The UIC men's and women's track & field teams will continue their spring seasons Saturday, when the Flames travel to Lisle, Ill., to take part in the Eagle Invitational, hosted by Benedictine.
A full slate of running and field events are on tap, beginning at 10 a.m. CST. The men's heat for each event will be held first, and be immediately followed by the women's heat. The hammer throw will get the field events started, followed by the discus throw, long jump and pole vault.
The running events will also begin at 10 a.m., with the men's and women's 5,000-meter runs. The remainder of the running events will resume at 11:30 a.m., starting with the 400-meter relay. The rest of the events will be held in the following order: 3,000-meter steeplechase, 1,500-meter run, 110/100-meter hurdles, 400-meter run, 100-meter dash, 800-meter run, 400-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash and the 4x400-meter relay.
"Coming off good performances at the Chicagoland Championships, I expect our athletes to continue to step up and produce great performances," said head coach Jim Knoedel. "There are 20 schools attending, so there will be plenty of competition in every event.
"Matt Zaluckyj and Ariel Kirby are continuing to chase the school records in the 800-meter, and are ready to accomplish their goals. Justin Higginbotham is looking to surpass the 15-meter mark in the Triple Jump while Kellie Schuh, currently ranked 38th in the NCAA West Region, is looking to leap over 40 feet in the women's competition."
Last weekend, the Flames competed in the Chicagoland Championships - the women's team finished third overall, while the men's squad took fourth. The women recorded four first-place finishes, including a meet and stadium record in the 4x800 relay. Junior transfer Ariel Kirby also captured the individual title in the 400-meter (56.46 seconds), while Sharon Mwale finished first in the high jump, leaping 1.57 meters for her first career title. Kellie Schuh won her second-straight Chicagoland Championship in the pole vault (3.65 meters), while also finishing second in the triple jump (12.05 meters).
On the men's side, the 4x800 meter relay team, made up by freshmen Cody Lee and Gunnar Sterne, along with sophomores Angelos and Photis Karkalis took home medalist honors, crossing the finishing line in 7:51.36.
Additionally, both Brandon Gale (13.62 meters) and Matt Marzahl tallied runner-up finishes in the respective triple jump and decathlon. For his efforts, Marzahl was named the Horizon League Male Field Athlete of the Week.
The Flames own three-of the Horizon League's top-four times in the men's 400-meter run this season, led by Matt Zaluckyj's performance at the Chicagoland Championships (48.71 seconds), which represents the second-best time in the League this season. Zaluckyj also boasts the League's top-time in the 800-meter (1:52.55 at the Raleigh Relays). Justin Higginbotham's leap of 14.45 meters in the triple jump (Mike Poelhein Invitational) is the second-best mark in the conference.
On the women's side, Kirby owns the Horizon League's best time in both the 400 (56.46) and 800-meter runs (2:11.73), while Kellie Schuh's leap of 3.75 meters in the pole vault at the Raleigh Relays represents the League's best jump in the event this season.
Last year's Eagle Invitational did not include team scores due to the event being weather-shortened, but the Flames' men's squad won the team title in 2010.


text:
The Old Town boys basketball won the first ever high school basketball tournament game played at Cross Insurance center.
Not many thought the Coyotes would be the last Eastern Maine team playing a game at the building for this tournament season.
That is exactly what will happen when Old Town takes on Poland in the class B state title game on Saturday at 8:45 p.m. Click here for live stats.
Garvey Melmed came up big for the Coyotes in their 43-41 overtime victory over Caribou in the regional final.
Eric Hoogterp scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the Coyotes 57-44 quarterfinal upset victory over MDI in the first game in the new building. Adam Richardson scored the first tournament point at CIC.
Old Town (17-5) is currently on a nine game winning streak.
Melmed was named BDN class B Eastern Maine tournament MVP.
The Coyotes are not the only Cinderella story here.
The Knights from Poland also were a number six seed in their regional tournament.
Poland (13-8) trailed top seeded Greely 23-4 early on in their Western Maine championship game.
The Knights could have done their Denver Broncos impersonation at that point and said , "we had a great season, nothing to hang our heads about."
They were down big, and lost by 23 to Greely earlier in the regular season.
That is not what this group did.
They battled back and got a stunning 63-59 victory.
Caleb Martin scored 26 points in the regional final victory for the Knights.
The Knights also defeated third seeded Spruce Mountain and second seeded Morse in the regional tournament.
Poland is on a seven game winning streak.
Martin was selected to the class A/B McDonald's all star team.
Suggested Links
- Old Town upsets MDI in first tournament game at Cross Insurance Center
- MDI and Lake Region to meet in class B state final
- Class A powers from Hampden and Portland to meet in state final
- Houlton and Waynflete to meet in class C boys state title game
- Hodgdon and Valley to meet in class D boys state title game


text:
First things first, BP.
Plug your gushing oil well, then the bad ink spill will take care of itself.
Believe me. We're ready to report good news. Make some good news happen and we'll be all over it like oil on a pelican. I promise.
Register now for free, or sign in with any of these services:


text:
Skydiving.com now has a network skydiving location serving Udell and Appanoose County in Iowa. Call Skydiving.com at 1-800-617-7948 for details, free information and specials on skydiving in Udell, IA today!
Popular Tags for Skydiving Udell:
Skydiving Udell, Skydiving in Udell, Sky Diving Udell, Skydive Udell IA, Skydiving 52593, Udell Skydiving, Skydiving Udell Iowa, Skydiving near Udell, Skydiving in Udell Iowa, Udell Sky Diving, Skydive 52593, Skydiving Udell IA, Skydive Udell, Skydiving Appanoose County, Skydive in 52593, Skydiving IA, Sky Diving Udell IA, Udell, Iowa
Sign up for our newsletter and receive updatesand specials on skydiving across America!


text:
In most circumstances, students need to be members in good standing and be participating
in both the Fall and Spring semesters. Please talk to Dr. Cate Arroe for specific
requirements and expectations.
The scholarships are awarded as 'Activity Based Scholarships' by the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. A maximum of $1,500 can be awarded in a single year, and specific rules govern their being awarded.
Please see the Guidelines for Awarding Activity Based Scholarships for other details and requirements of Activity Based Scholarships for the FSU Choir.


text:
March 4, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format
Date: Saturday, March 5, 2011
Time: Noon MST
Location: Olson Court, McKale Center (14,545), Tucson, Ariz.
Radio: IMG College/Wildcat Radio Network (Brian Jeffries/Matt Muehlebach)
TV: CBS (Spero Dedes/Bob Wenzel)
Game Data: No. 18 Arizona (24-6, 13-4 Pac-10) closes the regular season with a high-noon affair Saturday vs. Oregon (14-15, 7-10 Pac-10) in McKale Center ... The contest can be seen over most of the nation on CBS-TV, the network's first McKale Center telecast since Feb. 14, 2009 ... Based on results Thursday, Arizona clinched a share of its 12th Pac-10 regular season championship and locked up the top seed at next week's Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament in Los Angeles ... A win today would give Arizona a spotless record at home this season, it's first since 1998-99 ... If the Cats win today and move to 14 Pac-10 wins, it would be the biggest one-season victory gain (+4) since the 2004 and 2005 campaigns when the program went from 11-7 to 15-3.
The Rankings:
Arizona Head Coach Sean Miller . . . is in his second season at the University of Arizona and his seventh overall as a college head coach with a record of 160-68 (.702) and 40-21 (.656) at Arizona ... Appointed April 7, 2009, Miller came to Tucson after five successful years at Xavier University, where he amassed four 20-win seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances ... His clubs won the last three Atlantic 10 regular season championships (2007-09) and the 2006 Atlantic 10 postseason tournament title ... During his time at XU, the Musketeers won better than 71 percent of their conference games, including an .813 winning percentage (39-9) in his last three seasons ... Miller has made 14 trips to the postseason in his 17 seasons as a head, assistant or associate head coach (8 NCAA/6NIT) and has a 6-4 (.600) NCAA Tournament record as a head coach ... He took two Xavier teams to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 (2008, 2009) with his 2008 club advancing to the West Regional final ... His 2007-08 team set a Xavier record for wins in a season with 30, helping him claim Atlantic 10 and NABC District 10 Coach-of-the-Year honors ... Since becoming a head coach, all 17 players to complete eligibility under Miller have earned their degrees ... A standout guard for the University of Pittsburgh (1987-92), Miller was the Big East Freshman of the Year in 1988, won a gold medal on the 1991 U.S. World University Games team and was a member of his alma mater's all-centennial team in 2005 ... Miller, 42, earned a degree in communications from Pitt in 1992 ... He is assisted by Archie Miller, Emanuel Richardson and James Whitford ... Miller is 3-0 vs. Oregon as a head coach.
Last Time Out: On the strength of a Derrick Williams double-double and solid shooting in the second half,
The Series: Today's game is the 68th meeting of the two schools with
Last Meeting:
Senior Class:
The Endcap: Over the last 27 years,
On Quite a Roll: Arizona head coach Sean Miller and the Wildcats clinched at least a share of the Pac-10 regular season championship Thursday, which marked the fourth regular season title (or share) for a Miller-coached team in the last five seasons. The only blip was last season's 16-15 (10-8/4th Pac-10) debut at
What's at Stake: By virtue of its win over
Almost There: For much of the season Derrick Williams has led the nation in free throw attempts, and the 6-foot-8 sophomore painfully close to sole possession of the school records for free throws made and attempted in a single. Currently, Williams' totals of 198 made and 264 attempts rank second and tied for first, respectively, with Khalid Reeves, who made 211 of 264 (.799) charity tosses in 1993-94. No player in
Not Even Close: Through 30 games,
A Dickensian Effort: So it was quite, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," but
On the Verge of Something...Noteworthy:
Seeking Balance: The Wildcats placed four players in double figures Thursday, marking just the sixth time this season that
Forcing the Issue: The
Doubling Up: Forward Derrick Williams recorded his 10th double-double of the season Thursday with 15 points and 12 rebounds against
Assisting the Cause: Junior guard Kyle Fogg continues to prove is worth in a number of different areas. No only did he knock down a game-high three treys Thursday, but he also passed out a game-high six assists against just one turnover in a season-high 33 minutes. The 6-foot-3
Quick Hits: It's worth noting that Thursday's win clinched a season in which the Cats will have less than 10 losses, snapping a streak of five straight years with 10+ losses ... Saturday's game will be the final Pac-10 Conference game in McKale Center, as the league expands to 12 teams next year.
Scoring 80:
Early Signees: The
Up Next: Following today's game, the Wildcats head to


text:
Love Hope Strength Foundation offers concert at 14K feet this Saturday to benefit Cancer Survivors
This weekend, treat yourself to one of the most beautiful concerts you'll ever see. Chris Carrabba, lead singer of Dashboard Confessional will be performing atop Pikes Peak on Saturday, July 31st to benefit the Love Hope Strength Foundation. The concert, dubbed 'Pikes Peak Rocks 2010' brings together cancer survivors, supporters and musicians to benefit global cancer care and nationwide bone marrow registration to help locate matches for patients with Leukemia and other blood disorders.
The event, part of an ongoing series of concerts in idyllic locations like Mount Fuji, Machu Pichu and Mt. Everest, is a special opportunity for outdoor and music enthusiasts to enjoy their passions while supporting a fantastic cause. To participate in the event, or make a donation, visit: LoveHopeStrength.
Those making the trek to the summit will be treated to musical performances along the way. Miles Zuniga, of Grammy nominated, Fastball, solo artist Nathan Croswhite and home grown John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light will be performing along the Barr Trail. The hike culminates with Chris Carrabba performing at the summit (14,110 feet).
Donors and hikers participating in the pilgrimage will then head down to the second most beautiful concert venue they'll visit that day - Red Rocks Amphitheatre, where they'll be treated to a private concert backstage with Brett Dennen before settling into VIP seats for the Michael Franti & Spearhead set.
Last year, LHS became the first organization to hold a benefit concert atop Pikes Peak and raised international awareness for the event that featured The Bacon Brothers, The White Buffalo, and Cy Curnin of The Fixx.
With temperatures expected to be a comfortable 80 degrees on Saturday, with mostly sunny skies, the day is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. It's not too late to jump on-board for this amazing benefit concert.
To learn more about the Love Hope Strength Foundation, visit their website here.


text:
Yes, this may be a late reaction. I only Googled "James Soriano + article" after being privately messaged by my good friend and former Brain Train colleague Engr. Jennyl Estil, asking what my reaction to the piece is. In case you still haven't read it, I'm quoting it (copy-pasted from pinoymoneytalk.com). It originally appeared on Manila Bulletin but was later removed from its website. Here it is and my two cents about it. [Read more…]
Archives for August 2011
Reaction to James Soriano's "Language, learning, identity, privilege" aka "Filipino is the language of the streets"
Brave Baby Boy
Raviv had a fever on Wednesday afternoon, hours after his third PCV shot. We took it in stride, thinking that the fever was because of the shot. But it went on until nighttime until the following day. We of course got worried, especially with the daily "Dalawang bata nanaman ang namatay sa dengue ngayon". For several weeks now, that kind of news signals that TV Patrol is about to start. It also jumpstarts my fears for my baby. Add to that the fact that two of our household help had dengue simultaneously. And so on Raviv's 2nd day of fever, had went to the hospital lab to get a complete blood count with platelet. At the hospital:
Pregnancy Pamahiins
There are so many sabi-sabi's when it comes to pregnancy. As someone who doesn't really believe in such, my husband and I would often shrug off practically anything that oldies and non-science people say. I've been trying to debunk scary myths even when I was about to get married; for example, I was warned not to try on my wedding gown prior to my getting married but then I did, several times pa! And our wedding pushed through. I also did not offer eggs to Sta. Clara despite the pleas of my wedding coordinator. So my point is that I am very anti-pamahiin. But to my amazement, some pamahiins did make sense to me…they may be mere coincidences but I admit I think there is a grain of truth to these sabi-sabi's. I'm going to list down the pamahiins I heard when I was pregnant, and which ones I may now believe in and which ones are purely bull. [Read more…]
Happy Birthday Hubby!
Today is my husband's birthday. I originally planned to make a poem for him, but the plan got lost along the way (no excuses!) Thus, I'm just going to make an impromptu essay about him.
I've never said this "out loud" about any of my exes because 1.)
I want others to say it for me, and 2.) because I had doubts. But I am going to say it about my husband because I honestly think that my husband is, HANDSOME. There I sad it, my husband is handsome! But that is just icing on the cake. He is so much more. In fact, every time I "stumble upon" (hehe, hindi ako stalker 'no!) the FB profiles of my exes or former crushes, I utter a prayer of thanks that they were a-holes (or that I was an a-hole then) when we were dating…otherwise I might have ended up with any of them. But thank God I didn't. Thank God I'm with a man who may not have been ideal in the beginning (because of circumstances brought about by a mistake he made more than a decade ago), but he stuck to his word when he told me to be patient and stick with him because in the near future, "They will envy us." [Read more…]
Don't Call Me "Misis"!
I never had qualms about getting married especially to someone "worthy of me" and someone I love. I was already 22 years old then and settling down was not far from my mind, especially because Randy and I have been a couple for four years (22 years old is actually still too young, but then if you know me, planning a wedding would take YEARS thus it wasn't that early; I actually got married at 24, a few months shy from my 25th birthday)…that is, until one fateful day in the office. [Read more…]
When Fetus Ladaga Became Infant Ladaga Part 2
continued from When Fetus Ladaga Became Infant Ladaga Part 1
December 25, 2010
- Off to give birth at the Asian Hospital
- Thank God I was giving birth at the Asian Hospital!
- Sakit ng labor o sakit ng bulsa?
The nurses and the attending physician asked whether I wanted an anaesthesia, but when they asked that question I was between contractions and not in pain. I was well aware that the services of the Asian Hospital were expensive, and so I thought that I'll do everything in my power not to incur unnecessary expenses such as anaesthesia. The doctor and nurses were encouraging me to get anesthetized, as they've seen how I winced earlier. I told them I've read somewhere that getting anaesthesia increases the risk of CS, and I think they disagreed with that. They said that when I have already decided I want to, let me just tell them. And so they left me and Randy alone for a few minutes. During that short period, I whispered to Randy that he should ask how much the anaesthesia would cost, as it would help me decide whether to get one or not. He said, "Ay naku! Baka sabihin pa tinitipid kita nahihirapan ka na nga! Kung gusto mo magpa–anaesthesia ka." Then the nurses and the physician returned. This time, I was already having contractions and then I said, "Sige na sige na anaesthesia na!" They asked me when my last meal was, and then I told them about the Cinnabon. They seemed surprised that in my labor, we still stopped at SLEX to buy Cinnabon. I told them that I ate but a few bites (apparently, you can't have anaesthesia if you've eaten plenty within the last few hours). They then called the anesthesiologist. On their way out, I heard them talking about craving for Cinnabon. The anesthesiologist, who happened to be male, came and injected me with the anaesthesia at my back (I thought it was going to be somewhere in my groin!) When I felt the anesthesia entering my back, it felt funny–funny as in my back felt itchy, like ants were crawling in. The nurses said that that feeling was normal. But oh, what a relief!!! I could no longer feel the contractions and the pain was non-existent! I was glad I had it. The attending physician even said, "O di ba ang sarap ng feeling? Usually ang mga pasyente best friends with Dr. [name of anes, which I forgot] after niyang turukan." I couldn't agree more. When I had my 3rd lesbian experience for the day, 5 cm pa lang din daw. And you know what? It was my 1st lesbian experience that wasn't painful!
When Fetus Ladaga Became Infant Ladaga Part 1
December 24, 2010Randy and I walked our dogs (2 mini poodles and 1 dobermann) around UP campus at about 7 a.m. I was feeling very lethargic on this day, not to mention sleepy. But I thought I was just extra lazy.
After our dogwalk, we proceeded to South Supermarket to buy ingredients for the Noche Buena handa. South Supermarket was soooo crowded! Randy requested to leave me because there was a scheduled Miami Heat game at 11 a.m., and he knew staying at South with me will make him miss the start of the game. I begrudgingly said, "OK fine!" He sent over our male helper Buboy to fall in line with me and bring me home.
Upon arriving home, I felt soooo sleepy. I slept for hours, and woke up when my Tita Cristy came to fetch TJ (brother) and Ruth (sis-in-law) to bring to Tiaong, for their child (Yoona) will be christened the following day (Christmas). I told them I'll just go there on Christmas in time fior Yoona's christening.
[Read more…]
Reminiscing My Hell Months as a Pregnant Woman
NEVER, EVER get pregnant again (yes, that's how bad it was). I even guiltily remember how I wished the baby in my tummy would just vanish (Raviv, I'm so sorry for ever thinking that…I love you so much baby that I'd gladly undergo even double or triple what I've gone through just to hold you in my arms).
Just how bad was it? Girls, read on so you'd know what you'll be getting yourselves into and really prepare. I've made a list of the things that made pregnancy such a chore: [Read more…]
Recycled Blog Entry: WARNING: The Pains of Pregnancy are Underrated
[Originally posted on Facebook Notes on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 5:05pm]
If only teenage girls know exactly what I'm experiencing right now, parents need not worry about their girls having sex. They'd abhor what I'm feeling and will be afraid of sex forever.
I'm on my 10th or 11th week (I lost track), and still sufferring (oops, just puked, really). Being on my first trimester, I'm one of the 50% of unlucky pregnant women who suffer from morning sickness (morning sickness is a misnomer! I feel sick at the wee hours of the morning, after lunch, in the evening, and everytime I smell or even think about deodorants and garlic! Oops, I've thought of them…barf again!). Tv and movies often exaggerate so many things, but they have downplayed pregnancy! I used to think that, when one is pregnant, she'd barf a couple of times and then she can resume her normal life. How little did I know!!! [Read more…]
Recycled Blog Entry: My First Love Letter to My Son
[originally posted on Facebook Notes on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 10:41am]
Dear Bryce/Rajah/Gilas*,
I am very impatient for you to come out and for me and Tatay to be able to hug and kiss you. OK, so those aren't my only motivations…honestly, your presence in my womb has caused me major discomforts. Did you know that in your 2nd and 3rd months residence in my womb, you made me lose a whopping 12 lbs? That's a feat, because major dieting makes me lose only at most 3 lbs. You made me lose that much because the nausea your presence made me vomit and made me hate (yes, HATE!) almost all kinds of food. I was also subjected to being confined at this hospital where the private room's bathroom stinks and the midwives are rude and insensitive (I swear you'll never be born there). On the up side, my suffering made me and your Tatay closer to each other (not physically though, because your Tatay had to sleep on the floor as his scent made me vomit too)…he was at my beck and call, and when I realized how patient he's been to me, I loved him even more. I took more effort to be nicer to him, and he reciprocated it by being sweeter to me. [Read more…]


text:
Wednesday, May 15th 2013
Hornøya's Seabird Colony
From June 10th to July 12th, you can follow a live show from a bird cliff on an island called Hornøya, in the distant north-east of Norway. About 100,000 sea birds are nesting in the steep mountainside at Hornøya, near Vardø in Finnmark.
For more information about the project, location, seabirds, and for all the links to the live streams, click here!
***To visit The Mooney Show website, click here!***
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rtenature
Twitter: @naturerte
Derek Mooney with his unique mix of conversation, information, advice and entertainment
He did it! Last night, Ryan Dolan sung his heart out for Ireland to secure a place in the final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest. In our final live programme from Malmö, Sweden, we get all the reaction to Ryan's powerhouse performance in the Malmö Arena!
Eurovision courtesy bus operated by Stromma DK
Leroy Ladeji, Courtesy bus driver
Radio portacabin at Eurovision 2013
Mooney team at Eurovision
In the green room: Paul G, Michele Browne & Katriona McFadden
Eddie Rowley (Sunday World) with Eoin Murphy (Irish Daily Mail)
The golden (pink) ticket to the green room. Spot the mistake on the date... Monday, May 14th 2013? It's Tuesday, May 14th !
Montenegro fans arriving for Semi Final 1
Derek, Paul G, Michele and Katriona in the green room!
Ireland before the results of the vote
Alex Liapis (Greece), Irene Mahia (Spain) & Martin Phillips (UK)
Eddie Rowley joins Derek and Paul G in Malmö to tell us all about forty years of the Sunday World, and their new website - visit www.sundayworld.com!
Derek looks back at the last night's Eurovision Semi-Final 1, in which Ryan Dolan qualified for Saturday's final, in the company of Paul G, Marty Whelan, Eddie Rowley, Eoin Murphy and Paddy O'Connell, whilst Katriona McFadden catches up with Ryan and his parents Josephine and Gabriel!
Last night, Brenda Donohue attended a Eurovision Semi-Final party that was held at Dublin's The George Bar, and reports on what the enthusiastic and exuberant crowd there made of Ryan's performance!
Three Eurovision fans, representing the UK, Spain and Greece, take on each other in a Eurovision quiz to win return flights to Ireland, and a stay at the Morgan or Beacon Hotel!
Derek chats to Leroy Ladeji, who is driving a Eurovision courtesy bus in Malmö (Leroy is from Liverpool, but living and working in Copenhagen, as his wife is Danish)...
RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external websites


text:
I'm an experienced PvP Player looking for someone to do 2v2's with.
I play a Holy Spec'd Paladin (Dwarf). My gear's pretty much absolute Best In Slot for PvP. Comps that I can play with are of course Warrior-Paladin firstly, but I might also consider an SL/SL Warlock and/or a Hunter, depending on skill level.
I've got retail arena experience from TBC up to, and exceeding, 2000 Rating, and I'm aiming for the top.
Requirements I have for my partner:
- Possibility to use Skype/Ventrilo
- Mature attitute
- High rating arena exerpeince
- Active
- Looking for some fun.
- Fluently english or swedish speaking


text:
We are fortunate to be working in an industry where even though people don't always see eye-to-eye, almost everyone is pretty sincere about the choices they make. It's for this reason that when Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company (SWDCC) became a fully independent enterprise a few years ago, we decided to make sure that our corporate behavior was in-line with our employees' values and met the expectations of our customers. We started off with what you might call a "sustainability audit", where we looked at everything we were doing in the plant and in our offices, to see how sustainable our daily actions were (see checklist). But what, exactly, does "sustainable" mean? According to Webster's dictionary, it means "to keep up or keep going as an action or process". Sustain also means to supply with food, drink and other necessities of life. All of these definitions apply to our industry.
Of course, you can define sustainable in a lot of different ways to a point where you can't elucidate it any further, but basically you want to ensure that you aren't harming your working environment. If anything, you're serving to improve upon it. Here, the word "environment" is purposefully used in a general way, to remind us of its many applications. We're not just talking about the local air and water quality, but ensuring that as much as possible is being recycled. For example, you want to make sure that you are assisting your vendors and suppliers in finding ways to work efficiently. Sure it will save money, but you will also use as few natural resources as possible. In the case of SWDDC, this meant seeking both the highest cost efficient and environmental conscious methods, since our customers physically transfer their coffee to us to be decaffeinated, and we in turn return that coffee back to them.
So, while you may start by looking at the obvious things, such as the effects your procedure is having on your immediate vicinity, you also want to anticipate and make sure that you source all the products you use in a responsible way. Also, understand the ways you interact with your customers and suppliers to ensure that the influence that you're exerting is a good one.
An outstanding example of sustainability in action comes from Minneapolis-based, Caribou Coffee Company, the nation's second largest non-franchised coffeehouse chain. Caribou has created a plan, projecting that by the end of 2008, half of all the coffee purchased by the company will come from sources that are certified by the Rainforest Alliance. An international not-for-profit and third-party certifier, the Rainforest Alliance provides its certification seal to farms meeting the highest standards for the conservation of natural resources, and the rights and welfare of workers and local communities. The company's c.e.o., Michael J. Coles says, "Caribou Coffee strives for excellence in all aspects of the coffee business - from tree to cup. This includes looking out for both the farmers who produce the coffee, and the environment in which it is grown. Our partnership with the Rainforest Alliance allows us to take our agricultural and social commitment of coffee sourcing to another level." Indeed, by supporting and encouraging farmers in achieving the Rainforest Alliance certification, Caribou is helping to conserve wildlife and wild lands, and improve the lives of farm workers, their families and surrounding communities. They are also collaborating with the Rainforest Alliance to identify new farms interested in complying with the group's sustainable standards. Caribou Coffee is currently supporting their Guatemalan suppliers in achieving certification. In June 2005, a farm in the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala, became the first Caribou supplier to achieve Rainforest Alliance certification. Several more of Caribou Coffee Company's coffee supplier partners continue their work toward certification. Furthermore, Caribou will join the Rainforest Alliance on the organization's first mission to Indonesia, to support the extension of Rainforest Alliance's certification to Asian countries. Caribou, which has always focused on corporate social responsibility, is now raising the bar for the entire U.S. coffee industry.
Another exemplary company from the other side of the Atlantic is Matthew Algie. Founded in 1864, Matthew Algie is the U.K.'s largest independent roaster, supplying coffee principally to the foodservice market, with Fairtrade currently an integral part of their business. From 1997, when they launched the UK's first Fairtrade espresso blend, their volume and product range has grown every year, and this year will account for around 25% of the company's output.
Born from a desire to better understand their supply and value chain, in 2000 they kicked off the mammoth task of reviewing and relocating nearly all of their green coffee. First off, they rationalized their broker base to work with those who were genuinely committed to providing traceability, such as D.R. Wakefield in the U.K., before embarking on a worldwide search for farms and producer groups willing to work with them and meet their quality and social requirements.
Ewan Reid, technical director at Matthew Algie, outlined the basic tenets of their approach: "For coffee products that we roast ourselves, we only buy from fully traceable sources. All of our green coffee supply chain is audited to the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI Base Code, largely based on ILO conventions, see www.ethicaltrade.org). We do this to guarantee the basic human rights that are taken for granted in the developed world. This covers working conditions, freedom of choice, and health and safety standards. We pay for the ETI audits and carry these out even where producers are Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certified. That way, we have access to the audit reports and have a better understanding of their operation. We work with coffee producers to resolve non-conformities with ETI standards, but will remove the supplier from the list where serious non-conformities are reported, or where issues cannot be resolved within an agreed time scale (typically 12 months)." Reid continues, "To provide farmers with stability, we trade with suppliers who meet our quality standards on an ongoing basis. We only market products as ethical, where we believe they meet the various social and environmental concerns that consumers have. To this end, we use multiple certifications for 'ethical' products, including Fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance. We are committed to selling more certified coffee every year, and we have achieved this goal each year since 1997."
Are you encouraging the importers, exporters and farmers you work with to be looking out for the environment? It's okay to ask for certificates and seals, some which are very important, but sticking seals on bags of coffee is no replacement for actual engagement with and commitment to your suppliers. The benefits of this approach go beyond just understanding where your coffee comes from. The improvements in quality alone, more than justify this approach. Reid goes on to explain, "For example, in Ethiopia we have worked with the Killenso Mokonisa Co-op, which is part of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Union, to obtain the Sidamo cup profile we were looking for. We use this coffee as a component in our Tiki espresso blend, which is our triple-certified coffee brand, comprising a range of espresso, filter and decaf products." Looking to toll decaf-traceable coffee from their own sources led the company to work exclusively with Swiss Water. "The reasoning behind this decision was largely due to SWDCC's organic certified plant, which allowed Matthew Algie's Tiki blend to preserve its organic identity and triple certification as a decaf," Reid adds.
Yet, another company concerned with sustainability is H.A.Bennett & Sons. They have been trading coffee and tea in Australia, as well as internationally since 1918. The company's Scott Bennett states, "We not only value our impact on the immediate environment by making environmentally aware choices for our office practices, but we also believe that the ongoing sustainability of our company is through the value we put on three points. The first are our customers. The education of our customers is paramount to the ongoing sustainability of ourselves and the roasters themselves. If the roasters don't promote and market the products, then demand for specialty coffee will drop. If the roasters aren't educated on all the different types of specialty coffees available, how are they going to be able to sell the products to the consumers? For example, H.A.Bennett & Sons holds cupping information evenings for all interested parties, using it as an opportunity to introduce them to different coffees. We also offer as much background and P.O.S. available on our individual products to encourage consumer education."
Bennett continues: "Second: our suppliers. Having spent years building relationships with suppliers from around the globe, we welcome companies approaching us with new coffees and updated information on industry initiatives. We know that our cupping reports are used as feedback to suppliers and producers on what standards and values we are putting on their beans. Through the process of joint education and knowledge sharing, we give our suppliers and ourselves the benefit of growth and further development. We understand the issues relating to the coffee growing communities, and work hard to offer those coffees that will benefit a community or environment, like Fair Trade, Café Feminino, Rainforest Alliance and Grounds for Health. Without the support of the coffee buying community, these farming communities will not be sustainable. Third: our quality practices. We believe our quality control processes should be second to none. H.A.Bennett & Sons has implemented the HACCP-9000 quality assurance and management program, our facilities are organically accredited, and we have accreditation as a Fair Trade approved importer/trader. These accreditations are regularly audited, including our shipping, warehouse and management processes. All imports adhere to AQIS regulations and legislation."
Finally, no business is succeed if it can't sustain its profitability and ensure that its products and services offer value to its customers. Every business has owners, whether it's the entrepreneur just starting out with a 12-kilo roaster and seating for 10 in his shop, or a publicly held company. It's important that the enterprise and its owners interact honestly and constructively to ensure that a company is truly sustainable in its profitability. In this vein, Bennett adds, "To continue our company's growth, we must support the communities that support us, by making sure that the growers who supply our coffees are paid a fair price and that our roasters are given every opportunity to experience new and different coffees. Ultimately, it is consumers who contribute to the sustainability of not only our company but also the industry in general. As consumers become more educated, the desire or demand for ethical, environmental and sustainable products proves to be a strong influence on purchase choice."
To help ensure that your company is as sustainable as possible, check the "sustainability audit" list, which we use at SWDCC. Although several of the points have been discussed in detail, the outline offers a point-by-point arrangement to assess more aspects of a company's sustainability issues. And while you may personalize to include your preferences, at least some -- if not all -- of the points on the checklist should apply to your company.
Terms and Conditions of Website Use.
Privacy Policy.


text:
Energy Sistem EP212 In Ear Monitor Earphones
" Comparing the new Energy Sistem E214 vs SoundMagic PL-30 vs Meelectronics M6-Clear (Westone UM3x also commented on) According to the company's website, this new IEM comes in various colors. The Black model is the E212, Blue is the E214 and so on. All the Energy Sistem models in this line look to have the same components, just made with different color bodies, and different colored..." --willyc32
Nike HJ020 Flight Sport headphones
These Sport Headphones are specifically designed for runners and riders. The behind the head design with rear cable exit improves stability and comfort. They feature soft, sweat resistant earpieces. plus they sound great.
Nike HJ080 Skylon Flight Metal 3-way Sport headphones
Skylon flight metal 3 way adjustable Sport headphones, have a radical new design aimed at athletes and Audiophiles. All metal, lightweight, 3-way adjustable for different size ears.


text: Contribution: I've kompiled a KDF for WinVNC under WindowsNT Embedded. See the KDF and the repository under http://www.lins.at/KDFs I first have been using NTE's "Graphical remote administration" to connect to a headless NTE machine and have a GUI. This basically is a componentized version of Netmeeting's Remote Desktop Sharing (RDS). It works fine in the standard NTE. Then I switched to the SP6 versions of the NT files, and RDS stopped service (MNMSRVC.EXE - Application Error). I tried to find out how Netmeeting's RDS works on top of a standard NT 4 SP6, and implemented this on a NTE SP6, same result. So I decided to quit using RDS and switched to good old VNC. I have not tested the above KDF extensively, but it seems to work. Comments / bug reports are welcome. ------------------------------------------------------------- Mag. Wolfgang Lins eMail: wolfgang.lins "at" PDTS.at PDTS - Prozessdatentechnik und Systeme Gesellschaft fuer industrielle Datenverarbeitung Ges.m.b.H A-1150 Wien, Moeringgasse 20 Tel.: +43 (1) 526 17 57-239 Fax.: -199 --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send a message with the line: unsubscribe vnc-list to majordomo "at" uk.research.att.com See also: http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/intouch.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------


text:
Taylor Hawkins, drummer for the Foo Fighters, will release a debut album with his side-project The Birds of Satan. The album is slated for an April 15 release with Dave Grohl guesting on one track. Aside from sitting behind the drum kit, Hawkins also provides vocals and piano playing on the upcoming LP. Along with Grohl, Pat Smear, Drew Hester, and keyboard player Rami Jaffee will also appear on the album. A full tracklisting can be found below. The Birds of Satan are Taylor Hawkins, Wiley Hodgden, and Mick Murphy.
'The Ballad of the Birds of Satan'
'Thanks for the Line'
'Pieces Of The Puzzle'
'Nothing at All'
'Wait Til Tomorrow'
'Too Far Gone to See'
To learn more about the band and to pre-order the album, visit their official website.


text: Feb 26, 2014 22:42 No injuries in well blowout in Acadia Parish No injuries in well blowout in Acadia Parish The Associated Press Feb. 26, 2014; 6:58 a.m. Comments EUNICE — State Police Haz-Mat crews remain on the scene of a gas well blowout near Eunice in Acadia Parish. Troopers say La. 13 south of Eunice is closed and 12 nearby home evacuated. Troopers say employees with Black Creek Drilling were drilling a natural gas well Tuesday when they lost pressure, creating the blowout. No one was injured. Crews from Texas-based Wild Well Control are expected to arrive Wednesday to cap the well. Get The Advocate in your inbox Subscribe


text:
Valparaiso University annually offers a number of spring service trips that take place over the two weeks of Spring Break. This year we have provided six unique opportunities for students to serve in areas all over the country. Registration for these trips is now closed, but please check back here next year to learn about the next Spring Service Trip destinations.
2015 Spring Service Trip Descriptions:
Camp Restore in New Orleans, Louisiana
-Departing from North Union Door (Cafe) 8:30am Saturday, February 28th
-Traveling with New Orleans Team to Memphis for overnight stay at Immanuel Lutheran Church
-Will arrive back in Memphis on Friday March 6th and then depart for Valpo following morning
-Returning to Valpo Saturday, March 7th, time to be determined by Team
Focus Area: First Year Students
This trip will provide many opportunities to learn more about the communities, history and people of the New Orleans area. Camp Restore partners with a large number of local not-for-profits so there will be a wealth of different service experiences available to students.
Christian Appalachian Project in Martin, Kentucky
-Departing from North Union Door (Cafe) 9am Sunday, March 1st- Arrange for Extended Housing
For More Information Regarding Spring Service Trips:


text:
This year, five-time Italian champion Carolina Kostner feels well trained, comfortable with her programs and ready for the competitive season to begin. Last year it was quite a different story for the European beauty.
The 2008 World silver medalist opened the 2008-09 season at Skate Canada with a sub par showing. Kostner was seventh after the short program in which she had several costly mistakes, one on a simple element. In that portion of the competition, she fell while stroking just before what should have been a double Axel attempt. She then tried to add the jump in at the very end of her program but went down again. She rallied in the free skate to place fourth overall. "It was not the beginning of the season I had hoped for," Kostner said.
Kostner opens up the 2009-10 Grand Prix season at Trophée Eric Bompard in Paris. The event begins today and concludes on Oct. 18. "I am excited to start and get into the new season," she told IFS.
The competition will be the first one Kostner has coach Frank Carroll at her side. "Everything will be new," she said. ""I haven't competed with Frank yet so that will be an adjustment. I will see how it is with him and I. I will see how he reacts."
Kostner had spent eight years working with Michael Huth in Oberstdorf, Germany before changing coaches to Carroll over the summer.
The shaky start to last season put a negative spin on the entire year for Kostner. "I had a bad feeling in the beginning and I could not get rid of it. At Cup of Russia, Italian nationals, and the Grand Prix Final I had a few good skates," said Kostner who won Cup of Russia and claimed the bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final. "I put a lot of pressure on myself."
Kostner finished in second place overall at Europeans. She had won the title in 2007 and 2008. "At Europeans I had a good skate but not good enough to win," she said. (See the Nov/Dec. 09 issue of IFS for a full interview with Kostner).
Kostner will have her work cut out for her in Paris. Also in the ladies field is reigning World champion Yu-Na Kim and 2008 World champion Mao Asada. Asada placed fourth at the 2009 global event but won the Grand Prix Final in December of 2008. Kim was second at the Grand Prix Final last season. Yukari Nakano is also in the field in Paris. She placed fifth at last season's Grand Prix Final. Sasha Cohen was given a spot at the competition but pulled out due to injury. She returned to competition this season after a three-year hiatus.
The men's field at Trophée Eric Bompard features Brian Joubert, Nobunari Oda and Tomáš Verner. In pairs, World champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Gerrmany are the headliners while in ice dance Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (the 2009 World bronze medalists) are the top team in the field.
See the ISU website for the event for the complete list of entrants.
The prize money on the line at Trophée Eric Bompard is U.S. $180,000 (U.S.). The money will be awarded to the winners and those skaters/couples who place 2-5. The breakdown is as follows: men, ladies, pairs (per couple) and ice dance (per couple):
1st place: USD $18,000.00
2nd place: USD $13,000.00
3rd place: USD $ 9,000.00
4th place: USD $ 3,000.00
5th place: USD $ 2,000.00
An exhibition fee will be paid to skates/couples who are not awarded prize money. The exhibition fee set at $200 (U.S.) for single skaters and USD $300 (U.S.) for pairs and dance couples.
In the Unites States, the competition marks the first time in six years a Grand Prix event — with the exception of Skate America —will be seen on network TV. NBC Sports will present coverage of the first stop of the 2009 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series on Sunday from Paris, France.
Coverage on NBC Sports begins Sunday at 1 p.m. ET and coverage on Universal Sports begins Friday at 5 p.m. ET.
NBC Sports' broadcast will feature coverage of the ladies and men's free skates and Universal Sports will carry coverage of the pairs and ice dancing finals and the men's and ladies short programs.
NBC Sports' ladies' coverage highlights reigning two-time World junior silver medalist and 2009 U.S. bronze medalist Caroline Zhang competing against 2008 U.S. Junior gold medalist Alexe Gilles of France. On the men's side 2007 U.S. silver medalist Ryan Bradley and reigning two-time World Junior champion Adam Rippon compete. Bradley won the silver medal at 2008 Skate Canada and finished fourth at the 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Andrea Joyce and four-time World and U.S. champion and 1984 Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton will call the coverage for NBC Sports from the Universal Sports studios in Los Angeles. They will be joined by 2002 Olympic gold medalist David Pelletier who will report from Paris.
The cable channel Universal Sports will broadcast more than 50 hours of Grand Prix coverage, including live and near-live taped programming and rebroadcasts of the featured programming that appears on NBC Sports.
For a complete list of NBC and Universal coverage of the Grand Prix Series, click HERE and scroll down to the bottom of the page.


text:
The First State Animal Center-SPCA (FSAC-SPCA) asks that dog and cat owners who keep their pets outside provide tips for caring animals during cold weather.
"Ideally, when the winter temperatures plummet to the 30s, 20s and teens, and with wind-chill temperatures being even less, the animal should be kept indoors," Kevin Usilton, executive director, said.
Usilton said that dogs, such as short-haired breeds, that are not acclimated to the frigid outdoor temperatures may not be kept in an outdoor facility unless the practice is specifically approved by a licensed veterinarian.
The following tips are as follows:
- All outdoor housing facilities for dogs should be structurally sound and safe for the animal, and the housing facility should fit the dog securely and restrict other animals from entering.
- The facility, or dog house, should preserve body heat, and keep them dry during the snow. Additional bedding needs to be provided for the animal when the temperature falls below 35 degrees or less.
- If a dog owner has to keep the dog outside during bad weather, the owner must check regularly the dog's water dish, to make sure the dog has access to fresh, thawed water, and additional bedding, which must be wood chips or straw, NOT blankets- the use of blankets is also against the law.
Page 2 of 2 - For more information: fsac-spca.org.
Location, ST | website.com


text: Philosophy & Training Model The program provides training for the professional practice of psychology as a counseling psychologist, and awards the Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology (Psy.D.). The program's philosophy and model of training are grounded in its identity both as a practitioner oriented program which offers the Psy.D. degree and as a program which trains professionals to function in the role of a counseling psychologist. The Vail Model and the NCSPP The Psy.D. is a professional degree which prepares individuals for careers as licensed psychologists. At the Vail Conference in 1973, the APA endorsed the Psy.D. for the training of individuals who offer direct psychological services. Consistent with the Vail Model, the program adheres to a practitioner-scholar model of training. The Psy.D. prepares graduates for the independent practice of psychology with individuals, couples, families, groups and organizations. Psychological services include assessment, evaluation and diagnosis; intervention with individuals, couples, families and groups; professional consultation and program development with individuals and organizations; supervision of individuals providing psychological services; and assessment of outcomes of counseling psychological services. As a training program in professional psychology, the curriculum is based on the training model developed by the National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology (NCSPP). Counseling Psychology as a Specialty Counseling psychology is a specialty within the broad framework of the professional practice of psychology. Counseling psychologists facilitate personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns. Through the integration of theory, research, and practice, and with sensitivity to multicultural issues, this specialty encompasses a broad range of practices that help people improve their well-being, alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises, and increase their ability to live more highly functioning lives. Counseling psychology is unique in its attention both to normal developmental issues and to problems associated with physical, emotional, and mental disorders.


text:
Dec 7, 2012 11:05 AM
Christmas morning means combining three things that were never meant to be put together: us, pajamas, and photography. The reject workout gear we usually wear to bed leaves us looking like underdressed homeless people in those holiday memories. It's time we invested in something a little cuter, like these Madewell Printed Sleep Shorts ($40).
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
Squirrel Under Glass Feeder
"This product is great! I bought one for my mom's garden and she just loves it! The squirrels are in and out of it all day, and they actually leave her other feeders alone more because they have their own. My mom says thanks for the great product!"Andy, MI
Triple Tube Wild Bird Feeder
"Thanks for another great product, Drs. Foster and Smith! I ordered this feeder a few weeks ago, and since I have had it, my living room window has been surrounded by feathered friends. The squirrels around my house have tried a few times to get into this feeder, and as of yet they have not been able to! Thanks again!"Jesse, MO
Start here:
Vaccinate your pet at Home and SAVE!
Watch 100s of expert How to's & reviews.
Browse our library of pet care articles.
Sign up for FREE pet care emails.
Request your FREE pet supply catalogs.
Fun games & pet info just for kids!
*FREE economy ground shipping to 48 connecting states only on orders $49 and over. See full shipping rates here.
Copyright © 1997-2016, Petco Wellness, LLC. All rights reserved. 2253 Air Park Road, P.O. Box 100, Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501
Terms of Use|
Privacy Policy|
Your CA Privacy Rights|
Copyright Claims|
Pet Medical Records Policy|
Social Media Policy


text:
Program CostsTuition rates are determined by and paid to Florida State College. Mayo School of Health Sciences does not charge any additional fees for the clinical rotations.
You are responsible for providing your living accommodations. You may hold outside employment during the program, if it does not conflict with your program responsibilities.
Costs are subject to change by Mayo School of Health Sciences and its affiliates.


text:
Wedding dress style Peony by Monique Lhuillier in Ivory. Made of silk jacquard, trumpet/mermaid style, with a sweetheart neckline. Features two crystal butterflies on the back right side of the dress (can be removed by your seamstress if that is your preference).
I wore the dress for my wedding ceremony in September 2013. I changed into a second dress for the reception to preserve the integrity of the dress and thus the dress was only worn for about 2 hours total. I will also include the veil (fingertip length, 2 layer) that I wore with the dress. The veil originally cost $300.
- Alterations: Originally a size 8. Alterations made to the front of the hem to fall to the floor on a 5'9 tall person (I'm 5'5 and I wore 4 inch heels). The waist was taken in to around 27 inches. A french bustle was added. Everything else on the dress was left in original condition. I imagine that the measurements on the dress are approximately 36-27-38. There is a small area (size of half a penny) on the bottom of the dress where the silk looks "thinned". I think the cleaners tried to get out a small grass stain there and the material got thinned out. It is very small, barely noticeable, and it is so close to the edge of the hem that if can be altered out if you wish. I can provide a picture if you like. Otherwise, the dress is clean and in excellent condition.
- Preservation Method: Professionally dry cleaned.
- Terms of Sale: All Sales Final
- Original Owner: Yes
- Has Original Receipt: Yes
- Location: , MD
- Will Ship to: Anywhere at Buyer Expense
- Payment Methods Accepted: Escrow.com
Please read our BUYER'S GUIDE before purchasing a dress online.


text:
Kent Angelo Hill
Position: G-T
Height: 6-5 Weight: 260 lbs.
Born: March 7, 1957 in Americus, GA
High School: Americus
College: Georgia Tech (school history)
Drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1st round (26th overall) of the 1979 NFL Draft.
Weighted Career AV (100-95-...): 59 (981st overall since 1950)
5-time Pro Bowler (fine print)
Promote your website or business by sponsoring this page for $5 on Pro-Football-Reference.com. Your message will replace this ad.
1981 Game Log: Regular Season · Playoffs · vs.


text:
May 23, 2011 11:41 AM
It seems like every time we're in the kitchen we need measuring cups, and that usually ends with a handful of muttered profanities while we dig through the drawer of spatulas, teaspoons, can openers and other kitchen accessories. The smart thing would be to get some measuring cups like these cool blue Sea Measuring Cups ($19) that are pretty enough to leave out on a shelf. Not only will they be easier to find, but maybe the soothing color will help us keep our cool while we're cooking. Maaaaybe.
See more measuring cups.
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out: