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It was hot. Forty degrees Celsius and it was only just after six in the morning. The dust was everywhere, swirling around like dirty talcum powder coating the inside of her mouth and settling on every inch of her exposed skin.
Tiggy swigged from the water in her bottle, which was already turning tepid in the heat, brushed a damp curl from her forehead and sighed. The shower she'd had ten minutes before had been a complete waste of time.
She bent her head against a sudden dust ball. Everything was the same dun colour: the tents; her uniform; the Jeepsthere were even dust-coloured tanks parked along the high walls surrounding the compound. Tiggy didn't know if that made her feel better or worse.
She must have been crazy to come. Although back in the UK they had been thoroughly briefed as to what to expectdown to practising what medical emergencies they might encounter in a mock-up of a building with soldiers acting the part of casualtiesnothing had really prepared her for the reality of living in a war zone. And nothing had prepared her for the sheer terror she felt.
Coming in to land last night on the Hercules, the pilot had dimmed the cabin lights in case they attracted enemy fire. When his words had come over the intercom, Tiggy had almost lost it.
Enemy fire? She hadn't signed up for that. She'd signed up to be looking after soldiers miles away from danger in a camp protected by soldiers.
She'd squeezed her eyes shut, not even able to force them open when she'd felt someone sit next to her. She had become aware of a faint scent of citrus.
'You can open your eyes, you know.' The laughter in his voice bugged her.
She'd opened one eye and squinted. In the dim light of the cabin all she had been able to make out had been a powerful frame in uniform and the flash of even, white teeth.
Whoever it was had been studying her frankly in return.
'For all you know, I'm having a nap,' she'd said through clenched teeth.
'I've never seen anyone nap while holding on to their seat so tight their knuckles were white.'
'God!' She gave up all pretence. 'What if they hit the plane? I'm scared to death of flying as it is.'
'Hey, relax. It will be okay. The pilots have done it scores of times and no one has shot them down yet. They just say what they do to make all the newbies cra Apologies, ma'am. To scare the newbies.'
She hadn't been sure she'd entirely believed him, but she had felt a little better.
'How much longer until we're on the ground?'
'Another twenty minutes or so.'
'Twenty bloody minutes!' she groaned.
'Why don't you tell me all about yourself? It'll help distract you.' He held out a hand. 'I'm Nick, one of the army doctors. You?'
'Tiggy. Casualty nurse.'
'Then we'll be working together,' he said with a sideways grin. 'You with anyone? Married? Engaged?'
This was not exactly the sort of route Tiggy wanted to go down. Men didn't exactly queue up at her door. Might have been something to do with the fact that her brothers appeared to think it was their duty to guard her honour as if she were some early-twentieth-century maiden, or it mightand this was more likelyhave to do with the fact that she wasn't particularly pretty or vivacious. 'No. You?'
'God, no!' He laughed.
The sound of sniggering came from the seats behind them.
'Major Casey married?' A soldier leant over the top of her seat. 'You have got to be kidding. The major barely stays with a woman long enough to'
'That's enough, Corporal.' The words were quietly spoken but stopped the soldier from finishing his sentence.
Stay with a woman long enough to what?
The plane lurched to the right and Tiggy yelped.
'You have a strong grip for such a little thing,' Nick drawled.
She hadn't realised that she'd grabbed his hand, but when she tried to pull away he curled his fingers around hers.
It was easier to leave her hand where it was. Especially when it felt so reassuringor would have if it weren't for the millions of little sparks, enough to ignite the whole plane, shooting up the side of her arm.
Adrenaline made you over-sensitive, didn't it?
'So, tell me, what made you come out here?' Nick asked.
Anyone would have thought they were on a day trip to the seaside.
'Brothers. One in Engineers, the other an Apache pilot. Thought I'd better come and check up on them.'
'I'm surprised they let you come out.'
'Let me? You mean you think I should have asked their permission?' Actually, if they had known she was planning to head out after them to a war zone, she had no doubt they would have stopped herforcibly if necessary.
They might all be adults now, but her two brothers continued to protect their little sister as they had all their lives. Although they liked to spoil her, there were disadvantages to having older brothers.
'If I had a sister I wouldn't let her come out here,' Nick continued. 'No way. Women have no place in a war.'
Even if that was almost exactly what her family thought, Tiggy wasn't prepared to let it pass. 'Oh, for goodness' sake! This is the twenty-first century.'
'Doesn't matter. Women should be safe.'
'Barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen? Please!' She had only just got started on putting him right when the plane lurched once more. She yelped again.
The I-told-you-so look he gave her was enough to make her decide that even if the plane went into a spiral she'd rather die than let him hear her scream.
Die? God, don't let her mind go there.
She took a deep breath. 'Just because I'm a little frightened of flying, it doesn't mean I shouldn't have come here.' She lifted her chin and stared at him. 'I'll be fine once we're on the ground.' At least her voice sounded reasonably steady.
He laughed. 'Good on you. Now, why don't you tell me about those brothers of yours?'
When the plane touched down with a skipping bounce, Tiggy was surprised. Despite her terror, the last twenty minutes or so had flown past. She realised that she'd told Nick about her brothers, her parents, every place her father had been posted and even the family's pet dog, Hannibal.
God, she'd been babbling so much Nick knew almost everything about her life. On the other hand, she knew nothing about him. Probably because she hadn't let him get a word in edgeways.
Her companion returned her handshe hadn't even realised she was still holding onto itand eased out of his seat.
He touched his cap in a mock salute. 'See you around, Lieutenant.'
Tired and disoriented, Tiggy had only a vague recollection of being shown to her quarters by a friendly nurse in army uniform who had greeted her sleepily, shown her to her bunk and then, with a yawn, excused herself with a 'Catch you at breakfast'.
Even if the bed had been comfortable, Tiggy doubted she would have slept anyway. The adrenaline that was still making her heart hammer would have kept her awake even if she'd had a feather mattress to sleep on. And as for the heat! She couldn't remember being as hot during the day as she had been last night. Plus she was sure her foot had been chomped to bits by some horrible insect through the night.
How the hell was she going to manage six weeks of this? She'd have to. She doubted if the British Army would put on a special plane to fly her back out.
She straightened the collar of her uniform and took a deep breath. Courage, girl, she told herself. You can do this.
The mess tent was a hive of activity and noise as soldiers and medics helped themselves to breakfast. Tiggy looked around, unsure of what the correct protocol was. She didn't want to make more of an idiot of herself than she'd done on the flight. She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat. She had never felt so lonely, or so out of her depth.
A familiar smell drifted on the air. Coffee! That would make it better. She'd never be able to force solid food down her constricted throat but she'd kill for a cup of coffee. Wrong choice of words. She felt the tension in her limbs ease as a bubble of nervous laughter rose to the surface.
Someone came from behind and touched her on the elbow, and Tiggy jumped.
'You look lost.' It was Sue, the nurse from last night who'd showed her to her accommodation. Sue lowered her voice 'And absolutely terrified. Don't worry, we all felt the same way when we first arrived. In a day or two everything will seem as familiar as the good old NHS.'
Tiggy managed a smile. 'I doubt that.'
'You'll see, I'm never wrong.' Sue pressed a mug of coffee into her hands. 'Get that down you. You'll feel better. If you want breakfast, help yourself from over there.' She nodded in the direction of a counter where cheerful men in army fatigues were piling plates high with what looked like a full English breakfast. 'But I'd stay away from the scrambled eggs. They're powdered. Yuck.'
Tiggy shook her head. 'I think I'll give breakfast a miss, thanks all the same.'
Sue smiled. 'Can't say I blame you. But you'll get used to the food in the same way you'll get used to everything else. Finish your coffee and I'll take you across to the hospital and show you around. We've fifteen minutes before rounds.'
Tiggy took a grateful swig of coffee and almost spat it out. It was the worst she had ever tasted. And if Sue thought the eggs were bad She gave herself a mental shake. Where was her usual optimism? Okay, the food might be rubbish, but she was always meaning to go on a dietso what better way to give it a kick start? And if the coffee was hot, she would get used to that too.
Her mood improved further when she saw the hospital. Divided into separate sections, it had two well-equipped theatres, a resus area as well as a couple of wards and three intensive-care beds.
Looking at the facilities, she felt reassured. She could almost forget she was in the desert on the edge of a war zoneuntil the low rumble of an explosion made the building shudder. When no one else even flinched, she forced herself to concentrate on what Sue was saying
'You'll have been briefed before you came out, but it's different once you actually come here. I'm a full-time army nurse and this is my third tour. Don't worry, we're perfectly safe here. The hospital has never come under attack and even if it did, we're well protected. We nurses all take turns working between Resus, ITU and the wards. Your background is casualty, if I'm not mistaken?'
Tiggy nodded. 'Eight years in a busy city-centre A and E. I've seen most things.'
Sue smiled wryly. 'But not, I'm afraid, anything like you'll see here. And it's not just the soldiers, we get civilians too. Anyone who needs us, we patch 'em up before sending them on. The soldiers go to a military hospital in Germany or the UK; civilians we transfer to their local hospital.'
Tiggy's head was beginning to reel. Not for the first time, she wondered if she'd cope. What if one of her brothers was brought in? But then, that was why she was here. Even if, pray God, they didn't get injured, she would be able to help someone else's brother.
Sue paused in front of an open door. Inside, a group of men and women sat around joking and drinking tea and coffee.
'That's the team,' Sue said, 'a mixture of lifers, like me, and volunteers.'
Tiggy's eyes were immediately drawn to a man sitting in the centre of the group. Nick. He was laughing at something someone had said. Then he looked up and caught her eye. He pursed his lips in a soundless whistle and let his eyes roam over her body before dropping one eyelid in a wink. Whether it was the weather or something else, Tiggy felt heat race across her skin. In the dim light of the descending plane last night, she hadn't noticed just how gorgeous he was with his toffee-coloured eyes, weatherbeaten face and high sharp cheekbones.
There was something about him that was sending warning signals to Tiggy's overheated brain. Danger and excitement radiated from himalong with a casual self-assurance, as if he was used to women gawping at him and almost expected it.
She tore her eyes away. Men like him were so out of her league. And even if he wasn't, he wasn't her type. When she fell in love it would be with a decent, steady, one-hundred-per-cent monogamous man. The only type who asked her out. Not that she had managed to fall for one of those, come to think of it.
Sue tapped her on the arm and grinned at her. 'Major Nick Caseyour very own playboy doctor.' She dropped her voice. 'Let me give you a word of warning. He eats woman like you for breakfast. If you want to survive with your heart intact, keep away from him. Trust me.' Her lips twitched. 'I've known Nick for a while and picked up the pieces of his conquests' broken hearts too often to count.' Sue's grin widened. 'Thankfully I'm married and immune to his charms.'
Nick stood and held out a chair, indicating with a tilt of his head that Tiggy should take it. Acutely conscious of his eyes on her, every step of the dozen or so required felt like a mile.
'Everyone, this is our latest, crazy volunteer, Lieutenant Tiggy Williamsotherwise known as Casualty Nurse Extraordinaire,' Sue introduced her with a flourish.
Tiggy knew she would no more get used to being called 'Lieutenant' than she would get used to the army revolver she had in her possession. It was beyond her why they had issued her with one. There wasn't the remotest chance of her ever firing it. She was more likely to shoot herself in the foot.
'Good to have you with us.' Nick grinned at her. His accent, like Sue's, was an unusual mixture of Irish and Scottish.
Her heart did a crazy pirouette and it took all her willpower not to whimper. She managed a cool smileat least, she hoped it was a cool smile and not a grimacein his direction before turning to hear the names of the folk with whom she'd be working closely over the coming months.
Apart from the surgeons, there were nurses, radiographers, physios and several other professionals all involved in making sure casualties had access to the best care. The names were too many for Tiggy to remember, but she felt reassured by the warmth of her colleagues' welcome.
'If you need anything, let us know,' an older nurse called Pat said. 'There's hardly any of us women so we have to stick together. Don't mind this lot, I keep them in order.'
Nick detached himself from the desk he'd been leaning on and loped towards Tiggy. Everyone was too busy catching up with one another to notice him bending his head and whispering in her ear.
'You recovered from the flight to hell yet?' His warm breath fanned her neck causing goose-bumps to spring up alarmingly all over her body. She much preferred it when he was way over on the other side of the room.
'Good. You may have to go out in the 'copter sometimes, though, on a retrieval. You do know that?'
Although Tiggy had heard it might be a possibility that she'd be asked to accompany the medical emergency response team, she hoped to hell it wouldn't happen. If last night's flight had been scary, how much worse would it be going into an actual hot zone? She lifted her chin. 'If I'm needed, of course I'll go. I'm here to do my bit, the same as everyone else.'
'Good girl.' He straightened and once again Tiggy was aware of his eyes sweeping over her body.
'Hey, do you play poker?' one of the male nurses asked. 'I need someone new to take some money from. With the exception of Nick here, no one else will play with me any more.'


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Jan 29, 2014 8:45 AM
These Ellena Fur Slipper Boots ($38) look a little like they might turn into razor-toothed monsters if you feed them after midnight. Thankfully, the only threat posed by these cuddly accessories is that they might make your feet so warm, you won't want to take them off to leave the house.
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:

subset: commoncrawl


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Please check out my gallery and comment
And if the whim strikes you devwatch me
Please check out my gallery and comment
And if the whim strikes you devwatch me
Cinema Makeup SchoolWatch depthRADIUSCinema Makeup School by techgnotic
|About|Previous Journal
By techgnotic
Mastering The Magic ofMonster Making
15.7 million fans tuned in for the fourth season finale of the AMC cable channel's hit series The Walking Dead, making it one of the most watched hour-drama broadcasts in cable history.
More than a mere gore fest, critical approval for the show has come by way of nominations from the Writers Guild of America and the Golden Globes. World War Z
Game Of Thrones: Bloody Crowns, Diaphanous GownsGame Of Thrones: Bloody Crowns, Diaphanous Gowns by techgnotic
by techgnotic
Game of Thrones spearheads resurgence in sword & sorcery fantasy art of Warrior Kings & Queens.
Game of Thronesby Asidpk
A very small man can cast a very large shadowby RobotDelEspacio
My name is Anna, and I'm currently attending Grand Valley University to earn my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jewelry & Metal smithing.
When I'm not busy with university, jewelry, and ceramics, I enjoy my hobby of photography and sewing. I work extensively in the dark room with different processes and hope to have my own darkroom some day As for sewing, I stick more toward practical items such as clothing.
If you have any other questions, or would like to see my official portfolio and artist statement, please feel free to visit my website below.
My Tumblr art blog: the-amazonian-artist.tumblr.co…


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The Eco-Friendly Enterprise with Oracle Desktop Virtualization
By Chris Kawalek-Oracle on Oct 20, 2011
One of the more exciting events for the desktop virtualization team at Oracle OpenWorld 2011 was the annual Oracle Eco-Enterprise Innovation Awards. Every year, Oracle accepts nominations for customers who have outstanding green IT initiatives and lead on environmental issues in the enterprise. This year, we are very proud to say that 3 out of the 12 winners are Oracle desktop virtualization customers! They are:
Denver Health Hospital
Gunsan City Hall (click for customer snapshot)
Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München (click for customer snapshot)
The fact that these customers use Oracle desktop virtualization in their green IT architectures is solid evidence of the ecological benefits of desktop virtualization and thin client computing. Congratulations to our customers for their forward thinking and eco-responsibility!


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Browse our articles on serving equipment and find primers on a wide variety of specific product categories, including articles on how to specify, when to replace products and much more
Hot food holding equipment tends to have two general applications: back of the house and merchandising holding.
The good news is that hot food holding equipment carries an Energy Star rating. The bad news is that this category is up for review by Energy Star and the products will need to go through a more stringent series of testing and verification steps in order to earn this much sought after rating. So the future for this product category is uncertain at the moment as foodservice equipment manufacturers continue to come to grips with the new Energy Star regulations.
In addition to stressing quantity, successful buffet and cafeteria operators continue to leverage a highly flexible foodservice equipment package to impress consumers with the quality of their product.


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Feb 21, 2011 9:10 AM
Dedicated to going green? Bring your dog in on the fun with the Bellrock Growers Dog Treats ($8). These all-natural jerky-style treats are made from organic wheat grass, but they taste like chicken.
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:


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|NFL Football
|Player News
|Latest News
|Feb. 25, 20161:40 PM PT2:40 PM MT3:40 PM CT4:40 PM ET21:40 GMT5:40 AM 北京时间2:40 PM MST4:40 PM EST3:40 PM CT1:40 UAE (+1)16:40 ET20:40 - Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said Thursday that Andrew Luck should be healthy enough to participate in this season's offseason workouts.
Analysis: Luck missed the final six games last season with a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle after being bent awkwardly on a hit Nov. 8 against Denver. Coach Chuck Pagano said Luck was "doing great" and the kidney was "clear."
|Dec. 30, 201510:48 AM PT11:48 AM MT12:48 PM CT1:48 PM ET18:48 GMT2:48 AM 北京时间11:48 AM MST1:48 PM EST12:48 PM CT22:48 UAE13:48 ET16:48 - Colts coach Chuck Pagano said Wednesday that Luck will not play Sunday against Tennessee. It will be the seventh straight game Luck has missed as he continues to recover from a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle.
Analysis: Backup Matt Hasselbeck said he feels better than expected after hurting his throwing shoulder in last weekend's victory at Miami. He is still considered doubtful though the 40-year-old Hasselbeck remains optimistic he will play.
|Dec. 6, 20154:19 PM PT5:19 PM MT6:19 PM CT7:19 PM ET0:19 GMT8:19 AM 北京时间5:19 PM MST7:19 PM EST6:19 PM CT4:19 UAE (+1)19:19 ET22:19 - Luck will not play on Sunday against the Dolphins.
Analysis: Colts coach Chuck Pagano ruled him out as he recovers from a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle.
|Nov. 8, 20155:12 PM PT6:12 PM MT7:12 PM CT8:12 PM ET1:12 GMT9:12 AM 北京时间6:12 PM MST8:12 PM EST7:12 PM CT5:12 UAE (+1)20:12 ET23:12 - Luck finished 21 of 36 for 252 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions during Sunday's 27-24 win over Denver.
Analysis: He looked like a different quarterback than the one who threw three interceptions in Week 8. Luck's passer rating finished at a season-high 98.4.
|Nov. 3, 20159:30 PM PT10:30 PM MT11:30 PM CT12:30 AM ET5:30 GMT1:30 PM 北京时间10:30 PM MST12:30 AM EST11:30 PM CT9:30 UAE0:30 ET3:30 - Luck wasn't into discussing a report that he's been suffering from a rib injury in addition to a problematic shoulder. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback struggled again in Monday's loss at Carolina, throwing three interceptions while completing less than 50 percent (23 of 47) of his pass attempts.
Analysis: Luck did throw two touchdown passes and finished with 231 yards, so his night wasn't a disaster by fantasy standards. His third pick of the game set up the Panthers' game-winning field goal in overtime, however, and he's now tossed a league-worst 12 interceptions in six starts.
|Oct. 25, 20152:14 PM PT3:14 PM MT4:14 PM CT5:14 PM ET21:14 GMT5:14 AM 北京时间2:14 PM MST4:14 PM EST3:14 PM CT1:14 UAE (+1)17:14 ET19:14 - Luck finished with 355 passing yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's loss, but he also threw two more interceptions and completed just 52.3 percent of his attempts.
Analysis: Luck's has now thrown nine picks on the season, ranking among the league's leaders in that dubious category. Owners likely have no choice but to hope he turns it around.
|Oct. 18, 20158:38 PM PT9:38 PM MT10:38 PM CT11:38 PM ET3:38 GMT11:38 AM 北京时间8:38 PM MST10:38 PM EST10:38 PM CT7:38 UAE (+1)23:38 ET2:38 - Though he wasn't incredibly efficient, Luck had his best fantasy performance of the season in his return Sunday against New England.
Analysis: Luck was 30 of 50 for 312 yards and three TDs - good enough for only 6.2 yards per attempt, but it was an extremely productive day for fantasy owners.
|Oct. 12, 201510:24 AM PT11:24 AM MT12:24 PM CT1:24 PM ET17:24 GMT1:24 AM 北京时间10:24 AM MST12:24 PM EST12:24 PM CT21:24 UAE13:24 ET16:24 - Luck is active and expected to start Sunday night against New England. Luck missed the previous two games - the first two of his career - with an injured right shoulder.
Analysis: It appeared all week that Luck would play. During the previous two weeks, he was listed as a limited participant at practice. This week, Luck made more throws and twice was listed as a full participant. On Sunday, about three hours before kickoff, Luck was seen throwing with even more zip.
|Oct. 7, 201512:26 PM PT1:26 PM MT2:26 PM CT3:26 PM ET19:26 GMT3:26 AM 北京时间12:26 PM MST2:26 PM EST2:26 PM CT23:26 UAE15:26 ET18:26 - Luck made the trip to Houston but will not play Thursday night, according to ESPN.
Analysis: Luck was limited in practice this week with an injured right shoulder. He missed his first pro game Sunday.
|Oct. 5, 20151:21 PM PT2:21 PM MT3:21 PM CT4:21 PM ET20:21 GMT4:21 AM 北京时间1:21 PM MST3:21 PM EST3:21 PM CT0:21 UAE (+1)16:21 ET19:21 - NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that the Colts expect to have Luck back for Thursday night's game against Houston.
Analysis: Luck missed the first game of his career on Sunday with a right shoulder injury. Matt Hasselbeck replaced him and led the Colts to a 16-13 win over Jacksonville.
|Sep. 30, 20159:53 AM PT10:53 AM MT11:53 AM CT12:53 PM ET16:53 GMT12:53 AM 北京时间9:53 AM MST11:53 AM EST11:53 AM CT20:53 UAE12:53 ET15:53 - Luck was inactive on Thursday night against the Houston Texans because of a right shoulder injury. It will be the second straight game Luck has sat out after not missing a game in his career before last week.
Analysis: Matt Hasselbeck will start in his place in a matchup of AFC South foes. The 40-year-old Hasselbeck threw for 282 yards with one touchdown in a 16-13 overtime win over the Jaguars on Sunday. Josh Johnson will be Hasselbeck's backup.
|Sep. 23, 20155:11 PM PT6:11 PM MT7:11 PM CT8:11 PM ET0:11 GMT8:11 AM 北京时间5:11 PM MST7:11 PM EST7:11 PM CT4:11 UAE (+1)20:11 ET23:11 - Luck blames himself for the Colts' early woes and believes he's the one most responsible for finding the solution.
Analysis: "I've got to improve. There are no excuses," Luck said Wednesday. He leads the league with five interceptions and his six total giveaways are more than 30 of the other 31 teams in the league. San Diego also has six. Luck also is ranked No. 34 in NFL passer rating (58.9).
|Sep. 21, 20158:57 PM PT9:57 PM MT10:57 PM CT11:57 PM ET3:57 GMT11:57 AM 北京时间8:57 PM MST10:57 PM EST10:57 PM CT7:57 UAE (+1)23:57 ET2:57 - Luck finished with 250 yards, a touchdown and a career high-tying three interceptions in Monday night's loss to the New York Jets.
Analysis: Luck has gotten off to a lackluster start, throwing five picks during the Colts' 0-2 start.
|Sep. 14, 201510:43 AM PT11:43 AM MT12:43 PM CT1:43 PM ET17:43 GMT1:43 AM 北京时间10:43 AM MST12:43 PM EST12:43 PM CT21:43 UAE13:43 ET16:43 - Luck struggled Sunday against Buffalo's rugged defense, throwing two interceptions while putting 243 yards and two touchdowns on 26 of 49 passing.
Analysis: Luck faced constant pressure and didn't get much help from the running game, so owners shouldn't be too worried about his shaky performance.
|Aug. 30, 20159:33 AM PT10:33 AM MT11:33 AM CT12:33 PM ET16:33 GMT12:33 AM 北京时间9:33 AM MST11:33 AM EST11:33 AM CT20:33 UAE12:33 ET15:33 - Luck was 12 of 21 for 161 yards and a score Saturday.
Analysis: Luck notched his first touchdown pass of the preseason and helped get the Indianapolis Colts off to a fast start. The quarterback also took the blame for a lost fumble on his final play that handed over the lead.
|Apr. 9, 201511:13 AM PT12:13 PM MT1:13 PM CT2:13 PM ET18:13 GMT2:13 AM 北京时间11:13 AM MST1:13 PM EST1:13 PM CT22:13 UAE14:13 ET17:13 - Indianapolis will use the team's fifth-year option to keep Andrew Luck in town through at least 2016. Colts officials made the expected announcement Thursday.
Analysis: Team owner Jim Irsay has repeatedly said that the Colts plan to make the superstar one of the highest-paid players in the league when his rookie contract expires.


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One of the biggest celebrity power couples it calling it quits after more than a decade together.
On Tuesday, actress Gwyneth Paltrow posted a joint statement entitled "Conscious Uncoupling" on her lifestyle newsletter website Goop announcing that she and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin are separating. The statement reads, in part:
"It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate. We have been working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much we will remain separate."
Paltrow, 41, went on to say that she and Martin, 37, "are parents first and foremost" and ask for space and privacy during this time. They have two children: daughter Apple, who was born in 2004 and made headlines with her extra-unusual celebrity baby name, and son Moses, born in 2006.
E! News notes that last year Paltrow told Glamour UK about the ups and downs of her relationship with Martin, saying "It's hard being married. You go through great times, you go through terrible times. We're the same as any couple."
She also told Good Housekeeping, however, that marrying Martin was the "best decision" she's made in her life so far. The statement on Goop said that "in many ways [they] are closer than [they] have ever been."
The couple first met backstage at a Coldplay show in October 2002 and marked 10 years of marriage on Dec. 5, 2013.


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You decided to organize a little contest on your blog and you're looking for a simple yet efficient service that allows you to extract random numbers to choose the winners? Do you want to draw the participants for a school project using the computer but you don't have the will nor the time to install programs on your PC? I've a pair of solutions for you.
If you want to know how to generate random numbers with the computer, you only have to follow the indications I'm about to give you. I've two fantastic online free services to suggest you. They will create a combination of random numbers personalized as you want without installing anything on your computer. Let's see how they work.
The first online service to generate random numbers that I suggest you to use is Random.org, through which you can set the quantity of numbers to extract and the range of values.
It's so intuitive that is nearly pointless explaining how it works. Anyway, you only need to write the quantity of numbers to extract into the Generate field, the range of values in the fields Each integer should have a value between and the number of columns that you want to use for the output next to Format in.
Finally click on Get Numbers and it will extract random numbers. Easy, isn't it? You can also extract one single number per time using the top-right space inside the main page (put the minimum and maximum values into their respective fields and then click on Generate).
Another website that you can bookmark to generate random numbers is Stat Rek, whose functioning is very similiar to Random.org's one. In order to use it, simply visit its main page and fill out the field situated in the middle of the screen to get the random combination of numbers.
In the field How many random numbers? you have to point out the quantity of numbers to extract, in Minimum Value and Maximum Value the minimum and maximum values, using the Allow duplicate entries function (available from the drop-down menu) you can decide to either show or not the same numbers more than once.
In order to get a random combination of numbers, just click on Calculate and wait a few seconds. The extracted numbers will appear on the bottom of the page.


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Cabrini is one of a select number of colleges and universities in the state approved to offer the Pennsylvania Teacher Intern Certification Program.
Cabrini offers this program for Secondary-Education certification students.
This program allows individuals to begin teaching in secondary schools without a state teaching certificate. Interns teach in their own classrooms, earn a significant percentage of the salary for teachers at their school, and progress through graduate school toward teacher certification in the process.
There are several requirements of intern candidates, including one semester of course work, before the internship begins. When intern candidates complete the initial requirements for the internship, they receive a Letter of Intern Candidacy that allows them to seek and secure teaching positions in school districts or schools in need of teachers.
Intern students have three years to complete their coursework and student teaching. Students may also begin interning while in the midst of their academic program.
Requirements include but are not limited to:
A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher
Admission to the appropriate Cabrini graduate Education program
No other Pennsylvania educator certification
Passing all appropriate PECT tests
An undergraduate degree in the subject area being sought for certificationFor example, a prior English major may seek certification in Secondary English.
The intern certificate is issued for teaching positions only, and does not include other education areas such as specialists, administrators, or supervisors.
School districts consistently in need of teachers often include, but are not limited to, the City of Philadelphia, Upper Darby, and the Norristown Area School Districts. Some private and parochial schools also accept intern teachers.
For further information on the Graduate Intern Certification Program, please refer to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website, www.education.state.pa.us.
© 2012


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Kyjen Dog Games Extreme Hide-A-Squirrel is a rubber puzzle that provides a challenge for your dog during play time. This durable puzzle toy encourages dogs to find the proper configuration to retrieve the soft, squeaky squirrel that's inside the rubber "tree".
This safe, fun puzzle dog toy will keep your dog engaged and thinking for hours!


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Chris Assenheimer
The Gazette
CLEVELAND — The scuffling Indians made plenty of mistakes Friday night — as they were prone to do for much of the first month of the season. Only this time, they were able to hit their way out of all of them.
Equalling its highest run output of the season, Cleveland slugged its way to a 12-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game Central Division series at Progressive Field.
"It was a good night offensively for us, and we needed it," said manager Terry Francona, whose team snapped a six-game skid, using a five-run first inning to ignite the offensive fireworks. "We answered tonight. When they scored, we answered. We kept at them offensively. We had a real good approach early. They kind of got right back in the game, but then we kept swinging it, and we did some really good things offensively."
The Indians outhit the White Sox 13-10, with four players — Mike Aviles, Yan Gomes, Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana — recording multihit games.
The offensive output made a winner for the first time out of right-hander Danny Salazar, who allowed five runs (3 earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out six over five innings.
Defensive miscues, something the Indians have produced often thus far, made things difficult on Salazar. Second baseman Elliot Johnson dropped two throws at second base and Gomes had a passed ball that allowed a run to score.
"I thought he did an outstanding job of damage control," Francona said of Salazar. "A couple leadoff walks and a couple balls we didn't turn at second, and once he had his hands full, I thought he really threw the ball well. There was one inning where, bases loaded, nobody out, 3-0 count and he ends up pitching out of it. That takes pretty exceptional stuff to do that.
"That's the good part. Throwing that many pitches in that few innings, some of it's walks, some of it's deep counts, some of it's we didn't make the plays."
The Indians batted around against Sox starter John Danks in the opening inning, then added single runs in the second and third after Chicago scored three times in the second.
Santana belted his fourth homer in the second after driving in a run with a double in the first.
"He's such a good hitter, and the good part is when he gets hot it's not just singles," Francona said. "He'll hit the ball out of the ballpark, he'll hit the ball in the gap. He'll still take his walks, but he can be a big run producer for us."
Brantley hit a solo shot in the fifth inning, then added a two-run single in Cleveland's four-run sixth for a 3-for-5 night. He leads the Indians with five homers and 23 RBIs.
"I've always loved his approach," Francona said of Brantley. "I just think he's maturing. I think his lower half might be a little stronger, his base. Coming into the year just allows him to hit the way he's always hit, but some of those balls are going a little farther. He knows the league, knows himself, knows the situations. His approach has always been really good."
Prior to the game, Indians pitchers Cody Allen and Corey Kluber wore chicken outfits while shagging balls in the outfield. If it played a part in shaking the losing funk, Francona is on board.
"I don't care what takes credit. It was nice to shake hands," he said. "We needed that. If we're gonna win again, they can all show up and wear chicken outfits."
Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or email@example.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @CAwesomeheimer on Twitter.


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Financial Assistance
Now you can get a £1,500 grant to assist you as an employer with the training costs of taking on an apprentice.
The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has set up its AGE 16 to 24 scheme (Apprenticeship Grant for Employers), that gives employers support and encouragement to take on an apprentice.
The £1,500 is in addition to the training costs of the apprenticeship framework which are met in full for young people aged 16 to 18 and 50% for those aged 19 to 24.
Are you eligible?
Eligible employers are those who have never employed an apprentice before or who have not been in a position within the last 12 months to commit to employing an apprentice again.
Very large employers (more than 1,000 employees) are not eligible for support through this initiative. But we do want to encourage take up within their supply chains.
Subject to budget availability and the employer's commitment to support the apprentice to the end of their programme, up to ten grants can be made to any one employer. However, the employer must commit to the total number of apprentices they wish to take on through the grant at the upfront agreement stage.
To check eligibility and to apply for AGE 16 to 24 you can:
- complete the online web enquiry form (an advisor from the NAS will contact you to discuss the support available in more detail);
- call NAS on 08000 150 600. An advisor will contact you to discuss the support available in more detail;
- contact your local trainer direct - search for a Training Provider.
Visit National Apprenticeship Service for further information and to view/download the latest fact sheets, guides and presentation on the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year-olds.


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MORE editor Susan Swimmer plays trivia game show host on the TODAY show, and discusses what you probably don't know about sex after 40 with Kathie Lee and Kardashian mom Kris Jenner. Who do you think knows more?
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Dec. 13, 1999
PULLMAN, Wash. - Paul Mencke was already a slash -- quarterback/tight end/receiver. Now you can add two more words to that title -- guard/forward. Mencke, a two-time Greater Spokane League MVP, has joined the Washington State basketball team, head coach Paul Graham announced, and had his first practice with the team on Monday.
"We are happy to have Paul Mencke join our program," Graham said. "We would also like to thank Mike Price for giving his approval and letting a valuable member of his football program also be a part of our basketball program. Paul is a good athlete and is someone who we feel will be a positive addition to the team."
During his junior year, the Spokane native was named MVP of the GSL and led Lewis and Clark High School to its first state tournament appearance in 32 years. The 6-5, 229-lbs., Mencke averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior and repeated his GSL MVP honors. Playing for coach Glenn Williams, he led the GSL in scoring in back-to-back seasons.
"In high school, I always thought I would be playing basketball and not football," Mencke said. "That was before Washington State came along. I've always loved the game of basketball and I'm very thankful that coach Graham and coach Price have given me this opportunity.
"Coach Price has been most supportive of this. He thinks it will be a really great thing. In fact, when I approached him about playing basketball, coach Price walked me down the hall and introduced me to coach Graham."
Mencke, who will wear number 24 ("I wanted to wear number 12, but it was too small," he said.), will travel and dress for WSU's game versus Portland State on December 20. Mencke will also have a homecoming of sorts on January 5 when the Cougars open the Pac-10 season versus USC at the Spokane Arena. It will be the first time in four years that Mencke will play in the Lilac City.
"I think we could be a team that could surprise some people," he said. "The one thing I've noticed is that we play extremely tough defense and if you do that well, you have a chance to beat people. I don't know what my role on the team will be, I'm just happy to contribute. Right now I've got to concentrate on the fundamentals and get back in basketball shape. I'm a little rusty."
Like he was in football, Mencke is a redshirt junior and has this season and next season of eligibility remaining. Following basketball, Mecke will re-join the football team for spring drills and then stay with football through the fall. If all goes well this season, Mencke will play basketball again next winter following the conclusion of the 2000 football season.
Mencke will become the first football-basketball two-sport athlete at WSU since former NFL player Kitrick Taylor, who lettered in football in 1982-83 and 1985-86 and in basketball in 1985 and 1987.
Paul Mencke's updated football bio:
Earned varsity letters in basketball, baseball and football, the latter for coach John Hook...during JUNIOR season was the co-MVP of the Greater Spokane League in basketball while leading the league in scoring...basketball team captain...as a SENIOR, threw for nearly 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns in only season as a starter...All-GSL third team quarterback...captain of both football and basketball teams...football team MVP.
FRESHMAN (1996-97): Redshirt season...earned offensive scout team award for week of Temple game.
RS-FRESHMAN (1997-98): Appeared in three games (Boise State, Southwestern Louisiana and the jayvee game)...completed one of two passes for five yards against Southwestern Louisiana...carried the ball twice for seven yards.
RS-SOPHOMORE (1998-99): V-letter...played in the last 10 games of the season after sitting out the opener against Illinois...started three late-season contests against USC, Arizona State and Arizona, but played in each of the other seven games...against Oregon completed 11 of 20 passes for 99 yards, no interceptions and no TD passes...in final season game against Washington hit on 12 of 20 passes for 156 yards, with one interception...threw three touchdown passes at home against ASU and had three at Stanford...tied a school record with six interceptions against USC, four in the fourth quarter...also had three interceptions at Stanford...longest pass a 75-yard scoring toss to Jason White...threw two TD passes to Nian Taylor when the latter tied a WSU record with three scoring receptions against ASU...also threw two scoring passes to Jason White at Stanford...his favorite receiver was Taylor, who hauled in five touchdown receptions...ranked 10th in the Pac-10 in total offense at 116.7 yards per game...earned the following game awards: Offensive Big Play - Oregon.
RS-JUNIOR (1999-00): Played in 10 of 12 games, with action as both a quarterback and wide receiver...picked to the GTE/CoSIDA Academic second team for District 8 as a wide receiver...a Pacific-10 Conference all-academic honorable mention choice...battled Steve Birnbaum and Jason Gesser for starting QB role, but came out third before opener...for the first four games saw action as a receiver, but none at quarterback...when Gesser was lost after the Arizona game, moved into the number two spot at QB, but still continued to see receiver duty...only QB action came against Louisiana, when he hit three of eight for 48 yards, and then substantial duty at Oregon, where he hit 12 of 20 passes for 157 yards, one score and one interception...caught three passes in the first three games, then finished strong with a pair of catches at Washington and four for 35 yards at Hawaii.
Paul Mencke...born 7-27-78 at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany...parents Dan and Lue Mencke...member of National Honor Society with a 3.55 GPA in high school...won Rotary Club leadership award...Inland Empire Scholar-Athlete winner by the sponsoring National Football Foundation...older sisters, Kerri and Kammi, also attended WSU...working on a secondary education major.


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Things to see and do - L'islet-sur-mer
Leaving for Canada
L'islet-sur-mer :
Unmissable tourist sites
Where to sleep?
L'islet-sur-mer Travel guide
L'islet-sur-mer : Michelin's recommendations
Built along the banks of the St. Lawrence, L'Islet-sur-Mer originally consisted of two seigneuries conceded to the Couillard and Bélanger families by Frontenac in 1677. Since the 18C, the community's economy has thrived on maritime activity. The excellent Maritime Museum here is well worth a visit to soak yourself in regional maritime history.
Tourist attractions L'islet-sur-mer : Things to see and do
Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Church
15 r. des Pionniers-Est CDN - Islet-sur-Mer G0R 2B0
The fieldstone church was built in 1768 and enlarged in 1884, when the façade was refurbished and twin steeples added. The statues in the niches of the façade, representing St. John the Baptist on the left and St. Francis of Assisi on the right, are ..
Maritime Museum of Quebec
55 chemin des Pionniers-Est (200m apr. l'église) CDN - L'Islet-sur-Mer G0R 2B0
Dedicated to the memory of Capt. Joseph-Elzéar Bernier (1852-1934), a native of L'Islet-sur-Mer who was a navigator and a pioneer of arctic exploration, the museum focuses on the maritime history of the St. Lawrence River. The collection includes ela..


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Jack White has announced that his next album entitled Lazaretto will be released on June 10. He also posted a new instrumental song from the upcoming LP called "High Ball Stepper." This will be White's follow up to 2012's successful Blunderbuss. The new album will also be released by Third Man Records as a limited edition split-color blue and white vinyl with exclusive album art. Included in this edition are a photo and a 7-inch single featuring two demos of the songs "Alone in my Home" and "Entitlement," which are also on the upcoming release. The tracklist has yet to be released.
Jack White recently released a new single with his band The Dead Weather. Regarding his other band The Raconteurs, Brendan Benson claimed a reunion would not happen. For more on Jack White and to listen to his new song, visit his website.


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China's swaps end 3-day decline
China's interest-rate swaps halted a three-day decline on optimism that government measures to spur spending are quickening a recovery in the economy. Initiatives announced since May are "effective" and "ample" in stabilizing growth, according to an unsigned front-page commentary in Financial News.
Expansion slowed in each of the last seven quarters and the government accelerated approvals of infrastructure projects to spur spending at home as Europe's debt crisis hurts exports, it said.


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December 11, 1998
PULLMAN, Wash. - The 1999 Cougar Boys Basketball camps will be held June 13-17, and June 20-24, 1999. Camps are open to boys ages 10 to 18. The cost of the camp is $200 for commuter campers and $295 for overnight campers.
The basketball office is currently offering a special Christmas discount.
All orders placed before December 31 will receive $25 off the cost of tuition.
For more information on the 1999 Cougar Boys Basketball camps, contact the WSU basketball office at (509) 335-0240.


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Keeping fit and healthy during pregnancy can have a lot of benefits, for both you and your baby. You will find it easier to lose that baby weight after the pregnancy, as well as ensuring your baby is the healthiest it can be.
Some women are worried about trying to diet or exercise while they are pregnant, or are unsure of how to do it the right way. Let's look at the right type of exercise, diet and supplements that will help you and your child stay completely fit, healthy and happy.
The more active you are during pregnancy, the better your body will react to the changes and deal with childbirth. It will also become easier to shed any weight gain once your baby has been born, without any fad diets.
Exercise is not dangerous for your baby, in fact most evidence says the complete opposite. This means you should keep up with your normal exercise routine until you no longer feel comfortable doing so.
Exercise tips:
• Yoga is one of the best exercises for those who are pregnant. You can find special yoga pregnancy classes or attend a regular one, which will work just as well! These are also great places to meet women who are also experiencing pregnancy.
• Avoid contact sports or exercise with a risk of falling. This includes things such as squash, horse riding, ice hockey, gymnastics and cycling.
• Always warm up and cool down, before and after exercising. This will help keep you and your muscles limber.
• Drink plenty of water and other fluids when exercising. Also, avoid too much exercise when the weather is particularity warm.
Dieting During Pregnancy
A healthy diet is not just for you during pregnancy, it is for your baby too. Eating healthily when you are pregnant can help your baby develop, as well as making you feel fit and happy. Fad diets should be avoided at all costs, especially those which tell you to avoid a certain food group.
Make sure you get a variety of different foods during your pregnancy, in order to give your baby the nutrients that he or she needs. You will need to increase your calorie intake by an average of 200 calories per day, especially in the third trimester of your pregnancy.
Healthy eating tips:
• Eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. It can be fresh from the local market or frozen in your freezer, as long as you get your 5-a-day!
• Eat wholemeal carbohydrates instead of white. Swap your white bread, rice and pasta for a wholemeal alternative.
• Only eat a small amount of foods that are high in sugar, fat or both. You don't need to cut them out, just ensure you keep them to a minimum.
• Research into the foods that you need to avoid when pregnant, before putting together a healthy eating plan.
Getting Your Vitamins and Nutrients
Hopefully, if you are eating healthily, then you should be getting a good amount of vitamins and nutrients in your diet. However, as a pregnant woman there are some that you will need more of than before. Make sure you are getting enough of the following in your diet, or through supplements:
• Vitamin D – For strong teeth and bones
• Vitamin E – Helps the baby form and helps red blood cells
• Vitamin C – Builds up a healthy immune system
• Folic Acid – Helps support the placenta and can also help prevent birth defects
• Iron – Reduces the risk of premature delivery or low birth weight
These are just some of the vitamins that you should be getting more of, on a daily basis. You may find a multivitamin especially for pregnant women is the easiest way to achieve a higher intake. Or perhaps you may want to take these nutrients separately.
Staying fit and healthy during your pregnancy can ensure that everything runs smoothly (or as smoothly as can be)! Keep a note of these top tips and feel free to add your own to the list.


text: Best Vaccines for a Kitten by Petfinder Print Tags: Adoption, banfield-kitten-vaccines, cat-health, Cats, Health, Kittens The following article is courtesy of our partner, Banfield Pet Hospital. Used with permission. Q: "I just got a new kitten. What is the best vaccine to get?" A: The age of your pet, his needs and the area where you live can greatly influence the types of vaccinations your cat receives and how often. Thinkstock Vaccinations are typically started at 6 weeks of age, and the length of completion can vary based on the size of your pet and what vaccinations he is receiving. Vaccines are boosted every two to four weeks until the pet is protected and then boosted every year. Take your pet in for a veterinary exam and your vet can start your new kitten on a good schedule. Share this Article: Print