text:
"To the man above, it's not often I seek your assistance, but please hear me out on this one. You see, I am two weeks shy of getting married and it would be an awful shame if this budding bride arrived at the beautiful church in Killarney, County Kerry to meet her future husband looking like a DROWNED RAT.
"Please God, can you get out your stopper and put it to use on December 5, even if it's only for an hour, pretty please. I'll go to Mass every Sunday for a year!"
For years I've been asking friends who returned to Ireland what they found most difficult about settling back into the old country. There are always two answers – money and the weather.
Granted, I understood the money issue. Even when the Celtic Tiger was roaring loudly returning emigrants found it difficult to save.
"There is always money in your pocket in America," were the sentiments echoed over and over again.
But when they began to complain about the rain I used to shake my head and say, "But you grew up in Ireland, you should be well used to it by now."
And when I arrived on Irish soil three weeks ago I wondered what all the fuss was about. It was a beautiful crisp morning in Shannon, despite the forecasted thunderstorms. And the following two days were even more beautiful.
By the Wednesday the rain had returned but it was light showers. Granted, the showers lasted all day and night and continued into Thursday and Friday and ….
But for the first week I didn't care. Sure I grew up with this weather. Wasn't I used to it?
After 10 solid days of rain my patience began to run thin. Was it ever going to stop?
Well, it hasn't!
I now have to apologize one by one to all my friends who returned to Ireland and complained about the rain. It is well justified. It just keeps coming and coming.
However, despite the constant downpours, Irish life goes on. It has to, I suppose.
It doesn't rain as often in New York, but when it does it almost has the city at a standstill.
On many occasions the Metro North train from Woodlawn in the Bronx to Grand Central would run very late or may have been suspended because of flooding. Parkways needed to be shut down and schools were closed early. Life stood still in New York, but not in Ireland.
The rain didn't stop one of Tralee's biggest court cases from taking place last Friday in which 16 members of four traveling families were sentenced to varying degrees of jail time for feuding with each other.
In fact, some of the families of those being sentenced didn't even use umbrellas when they snuck around the back of the courthouse to chat with their incarcerated loved ones.
"What did the judge say, Francis?" shouted a busty blonde carrying a young baby in her arms through the stone bricks of the courthouse.
They weren't even wearing rain jackets. I guess they were used to such weather.
As I returned from the pet shop, umbrella over my head (I was purchasing frog food for my friend's new pets in Boston), the busty blonde was still shouting through the brick and mortar of Tralee's district court, and although I couldn't make out the answers Francis was giving her they weren't good.
The "f" bomb was dropped several times, and as she handed the young baby to what could have been her brother she slammed both her fists against he brick walls shouting, "They don't know what the f*** they are talking about. We'll get you out soon."
I later discovered that the jail cells are located at the back of the courthouse and it was a common occurrence to see families of those up in court shouting through the walls into the cells, even in the rain.
Despite the downpours people still visited the Muckross Park Gardens in Killarney in their droves two weeks ago. Albeit Irish families (foreign tourists were nowhere to be seen), they walked together around the gravel paths that lead to secret gardens and stunning lakes.
A sea of umbrellas could be seen from a distance and nobody was fazed. The rain wasn't going to hinder their mini-vacation. After all, they probably couldn't afford to go abroad anymore, so visiting one of Kerry's most beautiful sights was going to be an enjoyable experience whatever elements came at them.
The rain didn't stop college students around Ireland graduating with various certificates, diplomas and degrees last week. I attended the graduation of a deaf friend of mine at the Cork Institute of Technology, and it was a very proud day for her and her family.
Niamh, my friend, has been trying hard for eight years to achieve a higher certificate in business and finally passed all her required exams this year, so when she woke up on Friday morning to the dirty clouds in the sky it didn't dampen her spirits one bit.


text:
Tebow booked to headline Impact event in Spartanburg
Dinner will be held March 7 at Spartanburg Expo Center; tickets are $125
Published: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 9:11 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 9:11 p.m.
NFL quarterback Tim Tebow will headline the annual Impact Sports International Partnership Dinner on March 7 at the Spartanburg Expo Center.
He will participate in a moderated question and answer session, giving guests a first-hand look at his experiences on and off the field.
Tebow won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore at the University of Florida. The Denver Broncos selected him in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. In 2011, he led the Broncos to their first playoff appearance in six years.
With Peyton Manning's arrival in Denver, the Broncos traded Tebow to the New York Jets last spring. Tebow was expected to be part of the Jets' wildcat package, but ran only a handful of plays.
Tebow's memoir, Through My Eyes, was named the No. 1 sports book of 2011. He also was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2012.
Individual tickets for the event are $125, and can be purchased through the Impact Sports website (impactsportsonline.org). Corporate and table sponsorships also are available.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for dinner the day of the event. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m.
A private reception for corporate sponsors will be held before the dinner.
Impact Sports is "an interdenominational ministry whose mission is to use sports to take the gospel to places it's never been, is not allowed, or the delivery of it has been previously ineffective," according to its website. It is based in Inman.
For more information, visit impactsportsonline.org/dinner2013 or call 864-278-8006.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tall Cypress Natural Area
3700 Turtle Run Blvd., Coral Springs, FL 33067Phone: 954-357-8109 • Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
66 acres
Last remaining stands of basin swamp and pine flatwoods.
Tall Cypress contains a dense, continuous canopy of cypress trees that transitions to slash pines. Interspersed within this canopy are shallow willow and pond apple depressions, sabal palm heads, red maples, and strangler fig trees. The understory of sword and leather ferns, saw palmetto, swamp lily, soft-leaved wild coffee, beautyberry, and other basin swamp plants is so thick that it is extremely difficult to traverse this urban forest by foot.
In terms of animal species, the site is one of the most diverse purchased through the 1989 Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) Bond program. Due to the density of vegetation and the lack of disturbance, the site is ideal habitat for heavily forested woodland species. Mammals, birds, and reptiles are particularly numerous. Tall Cypress also presents an ideal habitat for resident and migratory birds, including the great horned owl, pileated woodpecker, great egret, little blue heron, cardinal, bluejay, and many species of warbler. Among the plentiful reptiles are land turtles, snakes, and lizards. The site is also home to many species of butterflies, including white peacock, malachite, gulf fritillary, and Julia.
2,090-foot elevated boardwalk with two covered overlooks, concrete trail, restrooms, interpretive signage, seating areas, an amphitheater, and parking. Wildlife observation is encouraged, although bicycles, inline skates, skateboards, and motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trails. As with all natural area sites, pets are not allowed.
Tall Cypress Natural Area was the first natural area site to feature the eNaturalist Program - a technology-based, self-guided tour of the habitat found at the facility.
Bird Walks (September through June)
These naturalist-led bird walks occur on the first Sunday of the month, September through June. Walks begin at 8 a.m. in the Tall Cypress parking lot. The first portion of the walk consists of an approximately half of a mile walk on the boardwalk of the nature center, and the second portion of the walk consists of a walk of approximately 1.5 miles (terrain in this portion of the walk is uneven and may not be suitable for young children). Preregistration is required. For more information or to preregister, call Quiet Waters Park at 954-357-5100.
Nature at Night Hikes (October through May)
These naturalist-led hikes awaken and explore your senses to reveal the site's distinctive night life. Offered on Saturday evenings. Sturdy shoes are recommended. For all ages. The fee is $5 per person. Preregistration and prepayment are required by calling Quiet Waters Park at 954-357-5100, or .
Environmental and Scouting Programs
Getting people of all ages involved in the appreciation of nature is the focus of many of the programs at Tall Cypress Natural Area. Opportunities include activities for boy and girl scouts, children's programs, school field trips, private group tours, and more. Call 954-357-5113 for more details and to make reservations.
EcoAction Days (October through May)
Volunteer workdays help keep our natural areas clear of garbage and invasive plants. They're held on the fourth Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon. Closed-toe shoes are required, and long pants and long sleeves are suggested. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves, hats, sunscreen, insect repellent, and drinking water. Ages 13 to 17 must have a parent or guardian's signature on the registration form prior to participating. Volunteers under the ages of 13 may participate, but only if accompanied by a parent or guardian. High school students can use the hours from these workdays toward their required community service hours. Check the volunteer Web page for the latest workday registration form. Preregister by calling Quiet Waters Park at 954-357-5100.
School Groups
Tall Cypress abounds with learning opportunities for students of all ages. From outdoor laboratory experiments to group-learning exercises, we can ensure students receive the information they need while having a fun experience.
A Little History
This 66-acre natural area has long been known for its richly forested resources. Owned jointly by Broward County and the City of Coral Springs, the site was once slated for development. It has been preserved through the efforts of local and county government, along with the Coral Springs High School environmental group Save What's Left.
Aerial image of Tall Cypress Natural Area The natural area is accessible from Broward County Transit Route #34.


text:
'Entertainment district' would change Sarasota noise ordinance
Published: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 7:19 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 7:19 p.m.
SARASOTA - For the first time in a decade, downtown condo dwellers and the musicians and business owners who work below them have banded together to change the city's rules on outdoor music.
Sarasota's noise ordinance prohibits amplified sound — basically music — at a certain level outside of a completely enclosed building from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and 11 pm. to 7 a.m. on weekends. In a recent city presentation, that level was likened to heavy traffic 300 feet away.
Downtown Sarasota Condo Association proposal:
Push the limits back an hour – to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 12 a.m. on weekends in a certain section of downtown. The entertainment district the association proposed would run from Central Avenue to Washington Boulevard, and between Fruitville Road and Ringling Boulevard.
Next step:
On Tuesday morning, the city's Downtown Improvement District advisory board will review the condo association's ideas.
An "entertainment district" where music can be played louder and later into the night has the support of both sides, longtime antagonists in the incessant debate over how to define downtown.
In a city that is heavily dependent on tourism and markets itself as an arts and music center, the rules are blamed with shutting down music venues and even spawned the sarcastically-named Noise Ordinance music festival.
A small, powerful contingent of people who wanted a quieter downtown are credited with creating the regulations, which have pitted the old against the young.
"I think this is an example of few people controlling the destiny of the whole city," said Commissioner Paul Caragiulo, who is organizing the conversation about noise.
There is a generation gap among the people who spend time downtown, but the young and old need to come together to talk about how to make a broadly-supported change, Downtown Sarasota Condo Association President Peter Fanning said.
"We want to keep the young people in our community, they're our future," Fanning said. "We need the vitality and the youth of the generations coming up and I don't want them moving out of Sarasota because there's nothing to do."
Whether an entertainment district is created, and what the district would look like, will ultimately be up to the five city commissioners. Caragiulo says the groups hopefully will have a collaborative proposal to present to the commission by June.
The noise ordinance restricts how loud and late outdoor music can be played. The Condo Association's first draft of a plan to ease up the rules would push them back one hour and crank up the decibel level.
On what resembled an oversized patio near the heart of downtown Thursday evening, Alix Sun sang original compositions and played the keyboard. Two children danced. A dozen people sipped drinks and ate in the dimly lit backyard of Star Keeper Cafe.
It was 6:30 p.m.
"I'm sure that before the night's over there will be a complaint," John Snyder, the cafe's owner, said.
The restaurant received three complaints the week before — one every night there was live music, he said.
On Thursday, he took measurements of the noise at the property line using a handheld monitor. It was below the limit. But depending on the acoustics and air, the sound could seem louder to the condo dwellers above.
Snyder and others say the complaints they receive are not representative of how most people feel about music in their neighborhood, but from a few people who want silence. However, there is no way to determine the number of upset neighbors, as complaints are made anonymously.
Complaints will continue until callers must disclose their identities and problems can be resolved on a case-by-case basis, said drummer Claire Franklin, who has been a musician in Sarasota for 20 years.
She said when the city first cracked down on outdoor music in 1997 there was an outcry, to no avail. Over the years, the tough rules have stifled the local music scene and businesses that supported it, Franklin said.
Her concerns, and others, will be addressed at a community workshop on Dec. 19. Caragiulo organized a similar forum in October, and about 40 people showed up to discuss the ordinance.
Attendees on the 19th will talk about the Condo Association's proposal, Caragiulo said.
The commissioner, who co-owns a downtown restaurant, said he began spearheading the ordinance conversation after local activist-journalist Anthony Paull challenged him to do something about it.
If the city commissioners eventually agree to change the ordinance, they will have to take a holistic approach and edit zoning requirements as well, City Attorney Bob Fournier said. Zoning rules currently prohibit restaurants with accessory dining — like Star Keeper Cafe's patio — from having any outdoor music.
While it is too soon to know if any adjustment will actually occur, Rich Swier Jr., founder of the HuB, a downtown business incubator, said he is just happy the Condo Association came to the table wanting to see change.
"The majority has spoken and they want a better, more vibrant downtown. And to me, that's enough," he said.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Billy Jackson@mozart active 3 years, 7 months ago
Moving back permanently to London after 6 years in Phoenix, AZ and 6 months in Ireland. I am involved in the music, film, musical theatre and environmental businesses. I have assissted in the development and exposure of new environment technology. View
|About me
I am a musician, writer and environmentalist. I have traveled and lived all over the world and went to Wall St for a couple days during the first Occupy week. Was also involved with Occupy Galway until it was demolished. My skills are in music writing, playing, films, project finance and environmental technology My environmental company website is http://www.emeraldcitiesusa.com and music on http://demo.orpheuswebsites.com/orpheus-27515/ (under development)


text:
Low-Calorie Recipes
Lighten things up with low-calorie recipes packed with flavor and good-for-you ingredients. All of VT's delicious low-calorie vegetarian entrées have fewer than 400 calories, while our appetizers, salads, side dishes, and desserts all clock in at fewer than 225 calories per serving. You'll find a plethora of fresh and seasonal low-calorie recipes that will take you from breakfast to dinner (with low-calorie dessert!) without sabotaging your diet.
editor's pick
Salad of Shaved Fennel, Oranges, and Candied Pecans
Fresh fennel is popular in France year-round, but the traditional harvest period begins in November. Here, thin slices of the mildly anise-flavored bulb are tossed with baby arugula, Valencia orange slices, and red onion, and topped with candied pecans for an American touch.


text:
variety.com – Film News: Project will pick up the story line from Marvel's 'Avengers'
Created by jackiechan 4 years 20 weeks ago
About jackiechan
jackiechan has slowed down quite a bit in recent years, but when he was in his prime, he is known to submit his own headlines and not do things he's not capable of. Now in his twilight years, he's deferring to up-and-coming submitters.
Box Office
1. Suicide SquadGross: $20,855,401Total: $262,428,736
2. Sausage PartyGross: $15,485,577Total: $65,486,596
3. War DogsGross: $14,685,305Total: $14,685,305
4. Kubo And The Two StringsGross: $12,608,372Total: $12,608,372
5. Pete's DragonGross: $11,349,938Total: $42,911,207
Opening This Week
No Movies Released This Week
Next Week
No Movies Opening Next Week
Coming Soon
No Movies Coming Soon


text:
Regarding the Wood County Courthouse Fire December 11, 1878:
From Volume 1, Page 1, of the Civil Minutes of the District Court of Wood County, Texas:
January 27, 1879
"This is the first Minute Books used after the fire which occurred in the morning of the 11th of December, A. D. 1878, at about 2 o'clock in the night, and which resulted in Destruction of the Courthouse and all the papers and records contained therein, said house is supposed to have been set on fire by some incendiary, but no one has been able to trace it to the purpertrator (sic) up to this date. Great was the loss in said fire to both private individuals and the officers of this county. District Court was in session at the time." (This was from a newsletter entry labeled "Miscellaneous Tidbits from the Late Ona Wood's Notes", 1994 Volume, July Issue, Newsletter No. 35, page 50.)
Filed under: Historical Events


text:
The Nike Men's Air Max Tailwind 6 Running Shoes feature the perfect combination of cushioning and breathability, along with a lightweight and supportive fit. Heel to toe air sole units are enclosed with Cushlon foam to present a soft but responsive impact protection and a smooth transition to the footstrike. The updated midsole is light, lower to the ground, with extra flexibility in the forefoot.
Engineered foam upper moulds to the shape of your feet to offer breathability and support in the most need places. Lightweight mesh over the foam improves breathability and incredible comfort. The waffle outsole evenly distributes your weight and provides a smooth ride, it uses less rubber than standard outsoles for flexibility, durability and traction on any surface. - A.D.
Please remember to add postal time (2-3 working days) to obtain a complete estimate of delivery to your door.
You will receive an email to confirm when your item has been sent.
You can also check the status of your order and individual items by accessing your account details and following the prompts.
Please allow 10 working days from dispatch of your order before notifying us of any late deliveries.
It may be advisable to check with your neighbors to see if your delivery has been left with them, check any places it could be left such as: garage, porch, or behind garbage cans if it was too big to fit through your mailbox. Contact your local post office to see if the item has been returned to the depot as undelivered and awaiting collection.
Please see our returns policy.
There are currently no reviews.


text:
Home IT Alerts
Email Verification Phishing Attempt
Phishing attempts have been circulating within U-M users with subject lines like the following:
"VERIFY YOUR umich.edu EMAIL ACCOUNT NOW"
These emails ask users to verify their email account before it expires. No responsible organization will ask you to divulge your password. It is important to not respond to these email requests. By doing so, you could put your account at risk, or someone could open new accounts with your identity.
If you have already replied with your password, please contact the User Advocate at email@example.com. You should also change your password immediately. For more information from UM IT Central Services (ITCS) on changing your password, copy this address into your browser: www.itd.umich.edu/itcsdocs/r1162/
For more information from the Federal Trade Commission regarding these types of scams, copy this address into your browser: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt127.shtm.
Last modified: January 17 2013.


text:
The University of Kansas Master of Public Health program (KU-MPH) is a fully accredited, 42 credit hour graduate program with concentrations in Epidemiology, Social and Behavioral Health and Public Health Management. The program has been accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) since 1998 and is offered through the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita in Wichita. KU-MPH is also the only fully accredited MPH program in the state to become member of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH).
Our program mission is to provide teaching, research and service activities that prepare public health practitioners, health care providers and researchers to develop and apply population-based and individual approaches to maintaining and improving the public's health in the state of Kansas, the Heartland and the nation.
KU-MPH graduates serve in a wide variety of public health fields, including clinical medicine, research, health education, disease surveillance and the academic setting.
For more information about the KU-MPH Program, please see our About the Program page.


text:
Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Ken Scott
Two sessions took place on this day. In the first, from 3-7.45pm, a single copy was made of the previous day's rough mono mix of Hey Jude. The previous work on the song had been done at London's Trident Studios, so this saw the first transfer of the recordings to Abbey Road. Read more »


text:
With a few key strokes at 6 a.m. Monday, a Silicon Valley engineer will open the lid on a treasure for genealogy buffs and local historians: the long-hidden personal records of 132 million Americans counted in the 1940 census.
And Nicka Smith will wake up at the crack of dawn, turn on her computer and scour the newly public online records from the National Archives. The Hayward resident is awaiting details about her father, uncle and grandmother to help document her family history.
"I've spent hours, probably years looking for people," said Smith, of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California. "And the census is pretty much one of the hallmarks of genealogy research."
Kept confidential by law for 72 years, the raw data from the 1940 census records every home in the country: who lived there, what they did for a living and how much money they made, where they came from, their education, the wars they fought in. Statistical information from the 1940 tally was used to determine congressional seats in the 1940s, calculate population trends and gauge the effectiveness of New Deal economic programs.
More than one million people who fled West in the 1930s to escape rural poverty and the Dust Bowl were first counted in California in 1940.
"It really tracks what happened after the Great Depression," said Marcy Goldstein, director of the Bay Area branch of the National Archives. "It was a time of a lot of movement."
But to protect privacy, identifying details about each household were kept a state secret for an average American's life span -- then considered about 72 years.
Goldstein expects a crowd when the San Bruno archives open at 7:30 a.m. Monday, but maybe not as many people as when the 1930 census data came out in 2002. That's because now the data is entirely digitized and available to all online. A Silicon Valley-based federal contractor was to flip the switch Monday.
"We had people lining up around the block last time. We think people may try to log on at home this time," Goldstein said.
Among the first to scour and interpret 1940 data will be self-described "compulsive" genealogist Steve Morse, who keeps reams of family records at his Russian Hill home in San Francisco.
"I'm going for it because it's another document on my family. If it exists, I want to see it," said Morse, who doesn't expect any revelations -- other than his dad's 1940 salary. The average for a man was $956 a year.
Morse will be busy, however, as the founder and manager of one of the most popular free websites for people looking up their family records.
Even the National Archives and Records Administration sends confused genealogists to Morse, whose online database helps people track down buried census data based on where their families lived in 1940.
"It's a labor of love," said Morse, who invented a famous Intel microprocessor chip before taking an obsessive interest in cataloging his family's history.
Because the census records are indexed by location, sifting through them will challenge anyone who doesn't know exactly where their relatives lived. It will take many months for genealogical companies to index the records by name, but ardent genealogists and historians will find it themselves.
"A lot of us are really, really excited," said Lorie Garcia, Santa Clara's city historian.
Garcia said the records also are a boon for anyone who wants to know more about the old homes and neighborhoods where they live -- and the people who once called it home.
"Up until now, the record really stopped at 1930," Garcia said. "All you could find after that are deeds, the city directories, but they really don't tell you much about anybody. The census really tells you who people are. You're able to take the story one step further."
The 1940 census was the first to ask about income. Far more probing than 2010s census-takers, the 120,000 census workers who fanned out in spring 1940 asked women if they had been married more than once and how old they were at the time of their marriage. They asked veterans which wars they fought in. Choices included the Spanish-American War, Boxer Rebellion and the World War, which the census hadn't yet given a number.
"People were kind of grousing about the 10 questions they had to answer in 2010," Goldstein said.
In 1940, families had to answer 65 questions -- 34 for the population census and 31 for a separate housing census. A random selection of people -- about 5 percent of Americans -- had to answer 16 supplemental questions.
People may have been unhappy about it then, but to their ancestors the supplemental answers are a gold mine, Smith said.
"That's the beauty of the census," she said. "You don't know what's going to be on there until you look."Â
Genealogy workshop at Online EXTRA
the National Archives
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
April 13
Where: 1000 Commodore Dr., in San Bruno
Online EXTRA
View a gallery of newly released 1940-era photos from the U.S. Census Bureau at http://photos.mercurynews.com.
Access Census Bureau information from the time at http://1940census.archives.gov/ .
View Census Bureau videos from the time at www.census.gov/1940census .
Live chat: Join us online at www.mercurynews.com at noon today for a one-hour live chat with experts about the 1940 census and how you can discover details about your own family history.
Featured guests are genealogist and computer engineer Stephen Morse of www.stevemorse.org, Nicka Smith of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California, Ralph Severson of the Oakland Family History Center and Marcy Goldstein, director of the National Archives at San Francisco.


text:
Nicholls volleyball coach resigns
Published: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 2:30 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 25, 2013 at 2:30 p.m.
The Nicholls State University athletics department announced the resignation of Patrick Hiltz as head women's volleyball coach today.
Hiltz has accepted the position of head women's volleyball coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
In 2012 in his first season at the helm of the Colonels, Hiltz led the team back to the Southland Conference Volleyball tournament after a one year absence, compiling an overall record of 11-19 and 6-12 conference mark. The six wins in Southland play were the most since the 2010 season, as the team finished with double-digit wins for the third consecutive season.
A search for Hiltz' replacement will begin immediately.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Definición de common en inglés:
adjetivo (commoner, commonest)
1Occurring, found, or done often; prevalent: salt and pepper are the two most common seasonings common misspellings it's common for a woman to be depressed after giving birth
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- We have taken advice from the contractors who advise there is no need to put signs up and this is common practice for public places.
- Wooden houses are common along the Caspian coast.
- Recurrent symptoms were particularly common in younger patients.
usual, ordinary, customary, habitual, familiar, regular, frequent, repeated, recurrent, routine, everyday, daily, day-to-day, quotidian, standard, typical;
conventional, stock, stereotyped, predictable, commonplace, mundane, run-of-the-mill
literary wonted
widespread, general, universal, popular, mainstream, prevalent, prevailing, rife, established, well established, conventional, traditional, traditionalist, orthodox, accepted;
in circulation, in force, in vogue
1.1(Of an animal or plant) found or living in relatively large numbers; not rare: you might spot less common birds such as the great spotted woodpecker the swordfish is not common in European waters
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- The sighting of the black neck crane and several other rare and common birds in the area kept my spirit and interest buoyant.
- Given that my horticultural expertise is limited to identifying about a dozen of the more common flowers, it's a curious choice.
- Grouse, ravens and buzzards may be seen, and red deer are common.
1.2Denoting the most widespread or typical species of an animal or plant: the common gull
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- We here in the East are limited to the common crow, blue jay and, in the western part of our state, to the raven.
- On a warm summer day, a number of butterfly species can be seen on the reserve including common blue, green veined white and meadow brown.
- The common wolf spider has no web, but the female is a gentle parent who encases her eggs in a silken bundle which she carries wherever she goes.
1.3Ordinary; of ordinary qualities; without special rank or position: the dwellings of common people a common soldier
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- Their members came from the ranks of the common people, and their worship was personal and full of emotion.
- He is Prime Minister, and therefore has a duty to rise above the ordinary concerns, fears and prejudices of the common man.
- It is, in a way, the only menace with multiple potentials to perturb the normal life of the common man.
ordinary, normal, typical, average, unexceptional, run-of-the-mill, plain, simple
1.4(Of a quality) of a sort or level to be generally expected: common decency
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- She replied bluntly, not bothering with the common courtesy Elizabeth expected.
- They depend upon the social concern and common decency of ordinary people.
- Colin suggested that Mr Kenny consider sending him on a 'crash course for basic manners and common courtesy.'
1.5Of the most familiar type: the common or vernacular name
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- In fats the alcohol is glycerol, more familiar under its common name of glycerine.
- Chances are that you found the sentence confusing, even though all the words are common and familiar.
- I am not for the word becoming part of the common, everyday vernacular, but it still is.
2Shared by, coming from, or done by two or more people, groups, or things: the two republics' common border problems common to both communities
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- All three are human systems and all three share characteristics common to human systems.
- This can only be possible if there are entry and exit points recognised by countries sharing common borders.
- Brazil shares common borders with 10 other countries in South America.
2.1Belonging to or involving the whole of a community or the public at large: common land
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- Residents who flocked to a public meeting on giving common status to land at Lowercroft dug deep into their pockets to swell a legal fighting fund.
- The first measures to divide the common lands among local communities were taken in the late 1780s.
- There would still be a public institutional complex ruling authoritatively on the common affairs of the community.
collective, communal, community, public, popular, general;
2.2 Mathematics Belonging to two or more quantities.
Oraciones de ejemplo
- In fact, there will not be a Fibonacci number as a common factor between two neighbouring Fibonacci's for the same reason.
- Two quantities are considered correlated when they are affected by a common quantity.
- Two positive integers always have a greatest common divisor, even if they have only one common divisor, 1.
3British Showing a lack of taste and refinement supposedly typical of the lower classes; vulgar: she's so common
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- It's almost as common and vulgar as chewing gum while you're serving customers.
- Any more of those f-words and God forbid they might start thinking about letting rough common children into these private tennis clubs.
- Oh, nothing would surprise them when it came to that common little harlot.
uncouth, vulgar, coarse, rough, unsavoury, boorish, rude, impolite, ill-mannered, unladylike, ungentlemanly, ill-bred, uncivilized, unsophisticated, unrefined, philistine, primitive, savage, brutish, oafish, gross;
informal plebby, slobbish, cloddish, clodhopping
British informal common as muck
archaic baseborn
4 Grammar (In Latin, Dutch, and certain other languages) of or denoting a gender of nouns that are conventionally regarded as masculine or feminine, contrasting with neuter.
4.1(In English) denoting a noun that refers to individuals of either sex (e.g. teacher).
6 Law (Of a crime) of lesser severity: common assault
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- A life is precious, and unlike a common theft, once taken, it can never be given back.
- A GMP spokesman said the crime falls under the common assault category, a conviction for which could lead up to five years in jail.
- The exceptional categories plainly apply to offences more serious than common assault, but no court has ever decided how far they go.
1A piece of open land for public use: we spent the morning tramping over the common looking for flowers
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- It will be designed to protect its amenities and preserve its open nature as a public common.
- The council is responsible for maintaining more than 100 parks, open spaces, commons and woodlands which attract around five million visitors a year.
- This statement of aims, if adopted, will greatly enhance the appeal of the commons for the public, while at the same time protecting and expanding the flora and fauna that inhabit these public open spaces.
2British informal Common sense.
Oraciones de ejemplo
- Have a bit of common.
- It comes down to being sage, and using a bit of common, really.
4 (also right of common) English Law A person's right over another's land, e.g. for pasturage or mineral extraction.
Oraciones de ejemplo
- It should follow also that the beneficiaries of the 1877 trust were also those (both present and future) who would have been entitled to the rights of common.
- Section 1 provides that, 'There shall be registered… land… which is common land or a town or village green ', and rights of common over such land.
- We can assume that in Ireland and the Welsh Marches, the indigenous inhabitants found it exceptionally difficult to assert their customary rights of common in the waste in a conquest situation.
common currency
- I should be happy to see a common currency.
- You have to make them all match up to a common currency.
- The first time the British specifically approached the question of joining a common currency was in 1979.
- At the hub is the hairdresser, doing what they love, surrounded by their friends in a world where compliments are common currency.
- Images of all imaginable sorts are the common currency of the internet-connected business place.
- Given the limitations of all terminologies in common currency there is a difficulty about how best to proceed.
common form
- What is usually done; accepted procedure: it is nowadays common form to acknowledge Pound's generosity to other writersMás ejemplos en oraciones
- The hitherto unformulated idea of a profession of journalism takes shape in clauses which assume what was then becoming common form.
- As the will has already been proved in common form, Miss Borden would have to commence a probate action to challenge it.
- It was common form to act friendly with a hidden agenda - so common that it wasn't even considered a bad thing.
the common good
- The benefit or interests of all: it is time our elected officials stood up for the common goodMás ejemplos en oraciones
- Any such move would be 'in the interests of the common good of the local community'.
- She felt, in the interest of the common good, the area should be retained as a green area.
- We must show our commitment to the common good, which is bigger than any person or any party.
common ground
- Opinions or interests shared by each of two or more parties: artists from different cultural backgrounds found common groundMás ejemplos en oraciones
- They show what could be achieved when organisations share their objectives and find common ground.
- It assumes a multiplicity of class views, not just one class view though there may be much common ground.
- What's interesting is that all these women can read the same magazine and find some common ground.
common knowledge
- Something known by most people: it's common knowledge that no one has yet found a cure for cancerMás ejemplos en oraciones
- This is hardly a revelation - his name is on the House of Commons website and his job common knowledge.
- It's not the place of this blog to reveal aspects about the lives of current, former or old friends that they may not wish to be common knowledge.
- When she was given bail, her family expressed concern that if her bail address became common knowledge she could be attacked.
common or garden
- British informal Of the usual or ordinary type: a common or garden family saloon carMás ejemplos en oraciones
- Simply take one common or garden, household bucket - clean.
- I mean, are these common or garden mildly psychotic impulses, or are they going to progress?
- If you feel that the red varieties are a bit common or garden, choose Peach Melba, which has bright yellow flowers blotched with red.
common property
- A thing or things held jointly: the atmosphere is the common property of every nation on earthMás ejemplos en oraciones
- Last, this budget would be allocated amongst the world's nations on the basis of their populations - in recognition of the atmosphere being the common property of all humankind, to which every person has an equal right.
- Shorelines, beaches, river bottoms, and navigable water - whether in the sea or flowing to it - were the common property of the nation's citizens.
- It remains part of the atmosphere, and falls partly into areas of common property, and partly into areas of national sovereignty.
- 7.1Something known by most people: the general theory of climate change has now become common propertyMás ejemplos en oraciones
- Powerful passages that keen minds have written, have become the common property of humankind, and have lived on for generations, to inspire, to provoke, to encourage, to stimulate, and of course, to question.
- In making its collections and knowledge about them common property, a museum like the British Museum realises its value.
common thread
- A theme or characteristic found in various stories or situations: a common thread through most of the stories is the support from the familyMás ejemplos en oraciones
- A lack of accountability to the people is the common thread between them.
- The blatant lack of cooperation only complicated the inexperienced Cabinet's ability to devise a common thread of economic policymaking.
- We found a focus where we identified common threads.
the common touch
- The ability to get on with or appeal to ordinary people: he was an intimate of Lord Beaverbrook yet kept the common touchMás ejemplos en oraciones
- He has that common touch that many politicians lack.
- He is a wooden, boring, uninspiring, unconvincing orator, who completely lacked the common touch or any real ability to communicate with voters.
- All were undoubtedly taken by the President's amiable nature and her remarkable ability for the common touch among young and old alike.
have something in common
- Have a specified amount or degree of shared interests or characteristics: they had one thing in common, an obsession with rock and rollMás ejemplos en oraciones
- Valerie added: 'It helps that we both play as it means we have interests in common to share.'
- At the two extremities of our continent, the Bulgarian and French peoples share common values and have many features in common.
- To our contemporary ears this list is quite various; it is hard to think that they all have any interesting characteristics in common.
in common
- In joint use or possession; shared: a sect that had wives in commonMás ejemplos en oraciones
- They share something in common - all of them are best friends and all of them keep blogs.
- One thing maybe we do share in common, coming from our part of the world, is individuality.
- We didn't share many friends in common, just some very distant acquaintances.
- Law 11.1 Held or owned by two or more people each having undivided possession but with distinct, separately transferable interests.Oraciones de ejemplo
- Bearing this in mind, we now look at joint tenancies and tenancies in common.
- If you own it as tenants in common, you can stipulate what share each party owns.
- They should arrange to own the house as tenants in common, rather than as joint tenants.
in common with
- In the same way as: in common with other officers I had to undertake guard dutiesMás ejemplos en oraciones
- Seems I've run out of things to say about events in the Middle East, in common with most people it would appear.
- Tomato leaves, in common with most higher plants, use sucrose as the major form of transported carbon.
- I must admit, in common with Britney, I've never felt sexy in any of my clothes.
out of the common
- British Rarely occurring; unusual: it is odd, yes, but not so out of the commonMás ejemplos en oraciones
- She was never at a loss for words out of the common, and an increasing deafness made her find talking easier than listening.
- I am sure it was something quite out of the common.
- But I couldn't let her go with the knowledge that something out of the common was happening.
1A system of money shared by two or more countries.
Oraciones de ejemplo
2Something shared by different groups: a shared humanity is the common currency
Más ejemplos en oraciones
- Oraciones de ejemplo
- WordCount presents the 86,800 most frequently used English words, ranked in order of commonness.
- Despite the apparent commonness of blonde hair, which accounts for a third of British women, Tobin said only about 3% were naturally blonde.
- The very commonness of assumed aliases in the data suggests that taking on a new identity was not difficult in a nation of people increasingly 'on the move.'
Middle English: from Old French comun (adjective), from Latin communis.
Palabras que riman con commonRoscommon
For editors and proofreaders
Saltos de línea: com¦mon
Definición de common en:
¿Qué te llama la atención de esta palabra o frase?
Los comentarios que no respeten nuestras Normas comunitarias podrían ser moderados o eliminados.
Muy popular en Reino Unido
Muy popular en Australia
= de moda


text:
The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi Tennis teams have a big weekend in front of them starting Friday, with the men facing Louisiana – Lafayette at 3 p.m. on Friday, and the women taking on McNeese State at 11 a.m. this Saturday and closing out the weekend at 1 p.m. on Sunday against Lamar.
The Islanders will have match sponsors on Friday and Sunday, with attorney David Harris sponsoring the ULL match, and Corpus Christi CrossFit sponsoring the Sunday match against Lamar.
The men's team (11-7), ranked No. 60 in the NCAA national rankings, will take on a team they have faced once before this season in Louisiana – Lafayette, with the Islanders taking a 4-2 final during the semifinals of the 47th Annual HEB Tournament of Champions. The match will be sponsored by attorney David Harris and will start at 3 p.m. on the courts at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center.
The women (12-2, 4-1 Southland) face a pair of crucial Southland Conference matches this weekend, with the team tied for first place in the loss column, with Southeastern Louisiana having the same amount of losses but also one more win after playing an extra match to date.
First up will be a tough test in McNeese State (11-7, 2-3 Southland) at 11 a.m. on the courts at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center. The Cowgirls have been a much-improved team this season under a new head coach, and come into the match having won two straight.
Saturday is also the National Student-Athlete Day Breakfast at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center, with the school providing free tacos to athletes who come out and cheer on the team.
Lamar (8-7, 4-1 Southland) is tied in the standings with the Islanders, and it will be an important match in deciding the Southland Conference Championship. Corpus Christi CrossFit will sponsor Sunday's 1 p.m. match.
Since the opening of the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center, the Islanders have had over 100 fans in 22-of-23 matches played, marking just one time in the history of the facility that the program has had under 100 people in attendance.
Live updates will be provided on Twitter (@IslandersTennis), and fans can get all the latest on Islanders Tennis by liking the team on Facebook (IslandersTennis) and visiting www.GoIslanders.com.


text:
RIPON - Police are warning residents to be on the lookout for scams after a woman reported that she sent a large sum of money to a person she met online.
Ripon police Sgt. Steve Merchant said the department is continually receiving reports of scams ranging from people posing as representatives of credit card companies to people claiming to be a relative who has been booked into jail and needs bail money wired to them in a short window of time.
Merchant said those usually targeted in scams are elderly, trusting people. He encourages people to talk to their aging parents about not sending money to anyone whose identity they cannot verify.
Merchant also said people who believe they have been solicited for money in a scam should call the department at (209) 599-2102.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
It's 2019, twenty-one years after Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters were defeated. Harry's third child is starting her first year at Hogwarts and all is well in the Wizarding World and beyond. For now...
Genre: Harry Potter, Hogwarts
Time: Post-Potter, Next-Gen
Rating: PG-13 - R
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Opened: Feb. 24th, 2011
Log In
Jen - Administrator
Shelly - Co-Admin
Emily - Moderator
Esther - Moderator
What's New?
Quick Links
Common Rooms
House Points
0 0 30 0
Earn House Points to get on here!
Chat away!
Our Button
Change to Real Time?
0 User(s) are reading this topic (0 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
« Next Oldest | FEEDBACK | Next Newest »
Free Forums. Reliable service with over 8 years of experience.
Hosted for free by zIFBoards* (Terms of Use: Updated 2/10/2010) | Powered by Invision Power Board v1.3 Final © 2003 IPS, Inc.
Page creation time: 0.3141 seconds · Archive
something wicked skinned by novia of rpg-d
House point hourglasses were made by DarkSongstress of rpg-d
Forum Markers and Sorting Hat Stamps were made by DesiTack of rpg-d
Crest Pips were made by Scaramouche54 of rpg-d
Buttons were made by Emilita of rpg-d
Word Pips were made by MEGALITTLESPARROW of POTTERWATCH
Some icons by likealight


text:
Welcome to Stock & Resources 2013!
We hope you all had an excellent beginning to the New Year! Please find below some very interesting contests, features and news.
Precut stock - all the problems :/
Precut stock is something that like Marmite, people either love, or hate. Either way it brings its own special issues to stock providers and photomanipulators alike, so I've highlighted some very important points you should take into consideration below.
Precut stock is in its very nature "EDITED" therefore its is no longer in its original photographic form and should therefore be posted to resources/clipart OR stock/premade backgrounds/.. NOT to the usual stock galleries which should be reserved for original photography that has only very minor post production edits such as exposure/brightness/contrast etc. alterations according to DA's gallery definitions.
Precut stock - like all photomanipulations and premade stock MUST CREDIT THE ORIGINAL SOURCE! If its your own photograph please state so in the description! If its not your own then you MUST provide credits.
Like all other stock and resources crediting "GOOGLE" or "THE INTERNET" or variations thereof is not acceptable or appropriate. Precut images that have been taken from Google search or any other invalid source will be removed - just like unedited stock and resources that don't come from legitimate sources.
Precut stock is REQUIRED to fulfill the MINIMUM stock and resources guidelines for size and quality. Please check FAQ #809: What are DeviantArt's stock image guidelines? if you do not know what these are. If your precut image does not fulfill these guidelines they will be moved to a more appropriate category.
Further to the statement above it is important to remember that even if the entire image meets the minimum width and height requirements it is the actual physical part of the precut image that artists are going to use that must still be larger than a minimum of 600 px width or height. IE you can not have a tiny little precut in the middle of an expanse of transparent area to meet the minimum sizes.
Using stock from very VERY dubious websites.
This one is directed specifically at our photomanipulation community. There have been over the last month or so far too many reports of artists using stock from so called "free stock websites" that are nothing more than ripped/stolen hoards of images taken from all over the internet without permission.
Stock providers who take pride in their work do everything they can to produce and share good quality stock and resources that are legitimate for you to use. There is little we can do about these so called stock sites that keep popping up other than to avoid them and if need be try and get our stolen stock removed from them.
There are a shed load of legitimate free and pay for stock sites out there without you needing to use these other completely fake sites.
Not only is it irresponsible on your part but it also perpetuates the problem of stolen stock and people thinking the internet is a free for all. The only reason these sites exist is because people won't stop and think for a moment before closing the page. Take responsibility for your own artwork and show a little restraint. ONLY use legitimately sourced stock images. No matter how pretty that image is on that fake website, no matter how much you want to use it. DON'T. Track down the original if its that important and credit the original creator. Honestly its the least you can do!
Features, news and contests
Stock and Resources DDs- December 2012:iconelandria:
Stock and Resource DDs given by Elandria
calm by LucieG-StockIce by SusieStock
Color Pencil Tutorial by VerlisaerysSuper Hero - 03 by Nemesis-19How to draw a realistic eye by StephanieVALENTIN
Wands - tutorial by majannNude Window Stock 19 by DollyPrincessGolden storm by decoybg
Santa 3 by MLeighSNantan by WinceyCrying In The Rain Walkthrough by CobraVenom
Bokeh brush set by vadimfrolov:thumb197681662:III. Skull Stock | 3/4 View by NaamahVonhell
The Prophecy - Speed-painting by Enigmatic-KiTraditional Colouring Tutorial by GreyRadian
Stock and Resource DDs given by PirateLotus-Stock
Connor's armlet pattern by Cherry-ChainAbbye HDR 3 by Wess4u:thumb309869276:
Sparkle Template or Reference by mereleiSiberian Tiger 08 by animalphotosUrarii 56 by Tasastock
STOCK CONTEST - INSPIRATIONG'day folks,
I am two days over due, but here it is. A contest ONLY for stock!
The theme is 'Inspiration'
And I can hear some of you already going... "What the??? That is a bit BROAD!"
Well there is a twist.
You need to find inspiration from another stock artist.
The idea of this is to push you outside of your comfort zone and create an stock image (or series) that you never thought you would create.
Which other stock artist do you watch and go "Wow!", I wish I could be more like them?
To be clear, this is not having you re-create their image/ series. It is about you taking inspiration from that series and putting your own spin on it
I've done it personally quite a number of times...
inspired ->
inspired ->
inspired ->
inspired ->
inspired ->
:thumb290515665: inspired -> Evil Clown 12 by kirilee
Briar is sick, so I'm doing commissions!My kitty cat is sick and his vet bills are pretty pricy. So I'm doing commissions to earn some vet money. Thank you for everything! If you have really want something, but think my prices are a little too high, let me know and I can see what I can do! I have paypal now, so everything should be fine. Thank you! Please no point commissions...
If you are interested in a commission, please note me. All commissions, depending on type of media is used should take no more than 2 days to finish and will be mailed to you within the week! All traditional pictures will be done on 5.5 x 8.5 in. sketch paper.
Digital commissions will vary.
Additional characters will vary in price, contact me!
Quotes through notes: FREE!
Sketches (Pencil and inked with sharpie) $2 (Sketches get no fine details. Everything will be simple)
Colored with simple background (using Prisma Colored Pencils) $10 (Price is with or witho
need some inspiration for 2013?need some inspiration?
perhaps those incredibly great stocks could help your phantasy run wild
no matter if you do digital painting, traditional drawing, photomanipulations, 3D works, artisian crafts or are a writer .... stocks are ressources for everyone.
Vanessa Psylocke 1a by jagged-eye Dawn call by Dewfooter Free :: Erinada IV by XxSaraiyu-StockxX Beren 4 by Jaymasee Haunted Hills 1.1 by Kuoma-stock Green and Brown ::Stock 44:: by spiked-stock Equine Fantasy Stock 028 by MeetMeAtTheLake2Nite Natures Lore 30 by Elandria Walking On Air by leeroi1-stock renfairstock_piratemansitting by PilgrimSoul KnifePlay3 by DaeStock Hit It by MooneWolfe :thumb332421944: Rohan 38 by chirinstock Snow White 26 by Kuoma-stock Winter Stock I by Reine-Haru long dress 2 by jl-modelstock
Devils in the Details 03 by Elandria MK Tom Sawyer Island 32 by AreteStock Cloister Portico by AustriaAngloAlliance Arches 2 by AdamSherratt Under Water Stock 5 by EvilHateYouAllStock Fairmount Park Cherry Blossoms 36 by FairieGoodMother Stairs by Michael-Rayne Strange Cone House 5 by FairieGoodMother landscape 1 by Drezdany-stocks
Daily Deviation Suggestion Drive!Back By Popular Demand!
In January of 2012, the community was challenged by thorns to do something about their complaints on dA. Thus was born this very group! But before the group, it was just a fledgling idea on LiliWrites's account that began with a DD Suggestion Contest. The results of that contest were overwhelming. And so, under the prodding of quite a few Community Volunteers, we're going to do it again!
UPDATE: Less than 1 week in and we've already got 100 suggested DDs and 2 accepted suggestions!! Keep up the great work guys and gals. Please remember that you need to leave a link to every deviation you suggest in this journa
Hi, I'm Jasmin! And who are You?Hi, I'm Jasmin,
and I'm not very good at introductions, but seeing as I've got plenty of new watchers, I decided to try anyway
So, who am I? Well, in this so-called real life, I am a process engineer working for a plant engineering and construction company based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. I design plants that remove certain unwanted gases (like CO2 and H2S) from either natural gas or synthesis gas streams. I live with my boyfriend in a small town just outside of Frankfurt at the foot of the Taunus.
The contrast between countryside and this skyscraper-filled city is great; and not just for taking photos.
Though taking photos is of course my most prominent hobby - that and creating photomanipulations, which you can fin
Site Update: Commissions to Beta TestersIn our continuous effort to improve the deviantART experience, we're publishing weekly Site Updates to keep members informed and to gather feedback. Below is a list of recent changes to the site, bug fixes, and feedback that was brought up by members in the last Site Update.
What's New
Commissions on deviantART (Beta Testers)
The deviantART community is full of talented artists and art appreciators looking to commission custom artwork. We're excited to announce that we're launching Commissions on deviantART to all Beta Testers, a feature that connects artists with clients, creating custom artwork in exchange for real earnings.
Please note: Currently, the Commissions widget can only be installed by Beta Testers, but everyone has the ability to request a Commission from Beta Testers during this testing p
Resources For Artists: Colour Scheme ToolsColour Scheme Tools
So I have been thinking of doing a few articles apart from feature articles to link some useful resources for artists and this is the first one of these. While this is a mini one, it's helped me a lot on several occassions.
Sometimes it gets confusing to decide which colours to choose. "'Should I go with a turquoise and a gold for the face? What about the room? I was going for a chic cool modern palette which is minimalistic!" Surely, a lot of us have gone through those decisive moments. Below are some colour scheme tools that would help you with your colour scheme choices. Click the titles or the links in asterisk to go to the following sites.
A big resource community for colour palettes*, user named
Pimps and Whoas - January 3, 2013Pimps
Official dA News
Site Update: Literature Thumbs. Sta.sh Submit
Happy Holidays from deviantART
Odyssey Propulsion 6
Commissions on deviantART
Celebratring Deviousness January 2013
Dedication to a New Year
CR Photomanip UpdatesHappy New Year!
Happy New Year from CRPhotomanipulation! I hope the coming year brings each of you peace, prosperity, and CREATIVITY!
We have lots of stuff coming up in the coming year. We're trying to organize some photomanip workshops in the coming weeks, and we are also hoping to have some more creativity challenges.
And, of course, our official photomanip contest will start on January 15th. We are still looking for prize donors and groups who might want to partner with us.
Project Newbie
As you've probably noticed, I haven't had much time to do anything with Project Newbie. When you have a lot going on, sometimes you have to prioritize, and that sort-of fell to the bottom of my many priorities. But, I've been talking with Zankruti-Murray, who has some cool ideas for getting the project off the ground. I hope that together we can make some progress on it.
Photomanipulation vs. Digital Mixed MediaWhat is this series?
The "Fix that Miscat" series has been designed to help educate deviantART members about the different galleries to which they can submit their art. Tired of submitting to a particular gallery and having your art moved to a different one? We will help minimize this occurrence by examining pairs of categories that frequently get confused and doing our best to clarify them for you.
What is a Photomanipulation?
What it is:
On deviantART, we define photomanipulation as "two or more PHOTOGRAPHIC elements that have been combined to form something NEW."
This means that:
At least 2 elements must be from photographs.
The result must be something new and different, distinguishable from the original.
What it is not:
It does not involve 3D images, even if there are also photos involved.
Soon i am back again!
Hello my friends!
I miss you all so much, and I miss to be here. I have no computer at the moment. It is on service. They will put a better processor and more working memory. I've been without a computer for a few days now, and if I'm lucky, I get it back this weekend. I really miss my computer, and I miss my photoshop! I miss Deviantart, and I miss you and your wonderful art!
For the moment I am visited my mom and I use her computer to read my email and make this journal.
I just want you to know, and I will soon come back!
How can I thank for all wonderful gifts from you my friends! You are amazing!
I have received another wonderful gift!! 1 month Sub from DeniseGarbis
Becoming a Verified Safe Stock Resource ProviderEarlier we brought up the importance of providing valid and safe resources as stock providers. We are the front lines, so to speak, on ensuring the quality and validity of our resources. We mentioned in our last blog (which you can read below) about a way to become verified safe stock providers. There was a lot of positive feedback on the idea. The question was how to prevent those who would abuse a stamp from using it.
hyenacub-stock suggested creating an alternate group that only certain members can join as a method for preventing the "posers." EveLivesey suggested the name "Safe Stock" for the project. So, by combining the two ideas, we now have a sister group called Safe-Stock-Resources. I've spent some time this evening fleshing out the group page, and I believe that it's a good start.
Safe-Stock-Resources can be that marker, the seal of approval, on great and trustworthy stock resources. If you would like to become a part of it, let me know, and I will send yo
Stock reminderI have 134 notes in my inbox.
In the first 15, there were 4 images that I thought could be DDs.
(This is highly unusual; usually it is more like 1 in 10 or 20. I can't wait to see the others!)
NONE OF THESE FOUR credited their stock.
Therefore, NONE OF THEM got DDs.
I understand that people don't feel the need to credit stock that was purchased or stock that is otherwise their own. However, unless they LET ME KNOW that the stock is legitimate (e.g. by saying "All stock mine" or "Stock purchased from Fotolia") then I don't know that it's okay and I am hesitant to give them a DD. I know people say, "I shouldn't be guilty until proven innocent!" I agree, but the truth is that a lot of people use Google images or celebrity images in their manipulations, and we have to have some way to distinguish.
Don't want to direct link? That's absolutely fine; don't. But please just give me some sign. Smoke signals perhaps?
Oh, also . . . one REALLY GREAT deviation used im
Frozen contest Features!
:iconwesley-souza: Wesley-Souza
page divider by lithiumharddrive
:iconPowl96: Powl96
Subway by Powl96 Meditating by Powl96 :thumb326586761: :thumb305691507:
page divider by lithiumharddrivepage divider by lithiumharddrivepage divider by lithiumharddrivepage divider by lithiumharddrivepage divider by lithiumharddrivepage divider by lithiumharddrivepage divider by lithiumharddrive
:iconvilva73: vilva73
Luthien - dance 2 by vilva73 Tree and River by vilva73 Ainulindale by vilva73 Hobbit - chapter 9 by vilva73
page divider by lithiumharddrive
:icondear12211: dear12211


text:
Washington DC
From the White House to Our House
There are two AVODAH batim in Washington, D.C., about a twenty-minute walk from one another. They are both in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Northwest Washington, off 16th St and three miles north of the White House. Although geographically close to downtown, the area is much further away culturally. Until recently Columbia Heights was a primarily low– and middle–income African-American neighborhood. However, beginning in the 1980s, a large influx of Central American immigrants began to move in and transform the area. The AVODAH Corps members live near the heart of the Latino community and are surrounded by pockets of other immigrant groups—Ethiopian, Vietnamese, and others. Now the area is facing yet another influx, this time from affluent homebuyers, commercial development, and gentrification. Though still largely a working-class neighborhood, more houses have been spiffed up by and for new buyers, new luxury condos are going up, and the neighborhood is becoming as economically diverse as it is ethnically.
The Columbia Heights batim are within a 30-40 minute walk of a Adas Israel (Conservative), Tikkun Leil Shabbat and DC Minyan, two traditional, egalitarian minyanim that are very popular with twenty-somethings in town. Within a short bus ride or 45 minute walk are the DC Jewish Community Center, DC's small 14th St. theater district, and the popular Dupont Circle. The popular Adams Morgan area is about a 20 minute walk from the houses. The neighborhood immediately surrounding the houses offers a supermarket, a number of smaller groceries and bakeries, a pharmacy, banks, and a number of restaurants. Along with gentrification has come commercial development and the neighborhood now has many major chain stores, like Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Best Buy.
View a listing of Washington, DC placement organizations.
- Program Sites
View list of Current Placement Agencies
- Avodah Updates
Sign up for updates via email
- Testimonials
AVODAH has been an intense, challenging, and rewarding year of service and friendship in Washington, D.C. I have learned so much about myself, social justice, and domestic violence, and I look forward to putting these skills to use in future educational and work plans."
Lauren Weiss2010-2011 Corps Member


text:
Conway rookie Locke now third in the MLB in ERA
CONWAY - Conway's Jeff Locke pitched another seven innings of shutout ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night and just missed picking up his seventh win of the season.
Post a comment
You must sign in before you can post comments. If you are experiencing issues with your account please e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Oct 23, 2011
CORPUS CHRISTI – Just over a week into the 2011-12 preseason, GoIslanders.com caught up with the lone senior on the Texas A&M – Corpus Christi men's basketball team, Chris Hawkins-Mast.
Hawkins-Mast, who, joined by Terence Jones, forms the only two regulars back from last year's roster, averaged 5.0 points per game off the bench a year ago in 27 contests. He was fourth on the team with 65 rebounds last season.
See what the Washington, D.C., native has to say about the 2011-12 team by viewing the interview below.


text:
'Cajun Justice' is no justice to us
Published: Friday, June 8, 2012 at 9:19 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, June 8, 2012 at 9:19 p.m.
This is a letter that deserves to be printed. I have always been very proud of our community, always defended my heritage. It is amazing what someone will do for money — even trash our law enforcement and make fun of our people. I was so embarrassed to see how they portrayed us.
I decided to watch this program to see what kind of good things our Sheriff's Office had to say about our community. Instead I was completely appalled to see and hear what nonsense was being shown on national TV. No wonder they call us a backward state.
Sheriff Bourgeois was a disgrace to the office. I am sorry I voted for him. He made us look dumb and stupid, just like the alligator show, "Swamp People," does.
If anyone agrees with me please let the media know.
I am saddened by our elected official Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois and what he has done to our community.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Ala. governor to sign private school tax credits
Published: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 12:26 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 12:26 p.m.
Gov. Robert Bentley is ready to sign legislation providing tax credits to parents who move their children from failing public schools to private schools.
Republicans in the Legislature passed the bill on a party-line vote Thursday night, but the Legislature can't officially deliver the bill to the governor until Tuesday afternoon. Bentley says he will sign it after getting it. He calls it one of the best pieces of legislation passed in years.
The Alliance for School Choice says Alabama with become the 12th state with a tax credit program.
The executive director of the Alabama Education Association, Henry Mabry, said the teachers' organization is looking at ways to challenge the legislation in court.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
You had to feel a little sorry for Bryan's brother Terry Murray and his Los Angeles Kings coming into Tuesday night's game.
The Kings are in the midst of a stretch where they play 8 of 9 games on the road and are fighting hard for a playoff spot.
Ottawa was supposed to be their soft touch in between games at Montreal, Washington and New Jersey.
Then Terry's brother went and fired Craig Hartsburg the day before which virtually guaranteed the Senators would come out super-charged against the Kings. No opposing coach likes to face a team fresh off a coaching change.
And just like predicted, the Senators came out strong and won the majority of battles in both ends of the ice. But the Kings played a patient road game and just waited for their one chance to make a difference and they got it late in the third period when Michael Handzus slipped a wraparound through Brian Elliott, who otherwise had a stellar game in the nets.
That's a tough loss for Cory Clouston and the Senators but there are some positives that they can take from the game.
For starters, I don't remember the last time Ottawa had so many scoring chances. Their forechecking (which was somewhat non-existent under Hartsburg's conservative system) directly caused two egregious giveaways by the Kings defence and Dany Heatley hit a post on one of them.
The Senators had a modest 29 shots but a good many of them were quality chances.
Overall, the boys looked energized and more dangerous as a whole while not sacrificing any of their defensive play. If anything, they looked even more focused in their own end, perhaps because they were spending less time there than in the past.
As for Clouston's first game behind the Senators bench, TV reporter Ian Mendes told the Sportsnet audience that the new coach was significantly louder than Hartsburg and was seen walking the length of the bench to give Chris Kelly a pat on the back for a good play. Mendes used the term "positive reinforcement" when describing Clouston's style and that seems like the proper starting point for this team's rebuild.
Clouston has already stated that getting the players to believe in themselves again is one of his primary goals here and tonight was a good start in that direction.
As goal scorers often say, as long as they're getting scoring chances, they know the goals will come eventually.
Bryan Murray and the legions of frustrated fans certainly hope that mantra rings true here in Bytown.
A must-read article by James Duthie reveals how the Senators players really felt about Craig Hartsburg:
"The problem many Senators had with Hartsburg was his stubbornness. He implemented a system in training camp, and refused to budge from it. Nary a tweak. The players say when things went bad, Hartsburg always believed it was because of "a lack of effort". There was never any other explanation.
Specifically, the one-man forecheck drove many players nuts. They believe they are at their best as an aggressive team, with 2 men always going hard into the opposition's end, the way they did during the Cup run two springs ago. Having that second man hang back left them "standing around an awful lot." Yet they never strayed from it.
The other main beef with Hartsburg was his negativity. Oh, he had plenty to be negative about with this team, that's for sure. But there were moments where the Senators were desperate for positive reinforcement, and never got it.
They point to a stretch before the All-Star break where they went 3-0-1, and showed signs of making a run. Yet several players say even after the wins, Hartsburg would come into the room and pick out only the mistakes, further eroding their already shaky confidence."
That is the type of thing that you wish the local beat writers from the Sun and the Citizen would pick up on but they are too busy mailing in their easy-as-pie "coach killer" articles and lambasting the team for not playing hard enough.
It's sad that it takes a TV host to get the real story from the players instead of the writers who spend everyday with the team.


text:
For Your Consideration...By: Jeff Cioletti |
Category: General Blogs | Tags: beer, brewing, alcohol, spirits
We tend to use the term "Emotional roller coaster" so much in our every day lives, both personal and professional, that we've become numb and oblivious to just how much of a cliché it's become. But there really is no better way to describe major global beverage alcohol news from the past month and a half or so. Reading the headlines of the past six weeks has been akin to watching all of the most hackneyed cinematic clichés play out on screen.
There's the tragic romance in which the overtures of a much more well-to-do suitor (SABMiller) are ultimately rebuffed by the object of affection (Heineken). Of course, that unrequited pursuit may have been in defiance of a forced marriage (AB InBev).
Then there's the tale of the rebellious, sardonic hipster whose tough, above-it-all exterior really hides a delicate vulnerability (Pabst). That all comes to the surface when the rebel falls for an exotic stranger from a faraway land (Russia).
And, especially this time of year, there has to be plenty of Oscar bait. And who doesn't like a good, sweeping epic? It's the story of a nation in conflict (Scotland) and the common hard-working folk (The Scotch whisky industry) just trying to get by as the world around them is nearly torn at the seams. I say 'nearly,' as at the 11th hour, that world was forged back together.
Okay, I should get serious for a bit, put on my movie critic's hat, and tackle each of these in reverse order.
The Scotch Whisky Association sees last month's "No" vote on Scottish independence as the dodging of quite a bullet. If Scotland had left the United Kingdom, uncertainty and instability in the Scotch market would prevail. Whisky exports already have been falling. If the industry suddenly faced new tariffs as it tried to ship to its biggest markets in the EU—which it would have to go through a potentially lengthy process of rejoining as its own entity—it wouldn't bode well for the bottom line.
On the Pabst development, I was surprised (well, not really) at how many people expressed shock that the brand that's enjoyed a renaissance at the hands of American hipsters would be (*GASP*) foreign-owned (and by investors in Mother Russia, no less). To that, I say, "Get over it." Pabst has been playing ownership musical chairs for years. It's essentially a trademark holding company, as it doesn't operate its own breweries. Drinkers shouldn't get too upset about something as abstract as a trademark. It'll be business as usual.
As for the AB InBev-SABMiller dance and the SABMiller-Heineken dalliance: That's a little more serious. If a merger between the two biggest brewers were to take place, it'd essentially create an entity that's responsible for nearly a third of all beer volume in the world and closer to 40 percent of its revenue. That's pretty intimidating. But I wouldn't get too scared because there are far too many regulatory hurdles to jump before such a combination could become a reality. As for Heineken, my hat's off to the family for, well, wanting to keep it in the family (at least for now). Though, it would've given SABMiller a solid and rapidly growing Mexican brand (Dos Equis) with which it can compete directly with the Modelo business that AB InBev now owns.
But I've had enough of these manipulative, heart-string-tugging films. I'm in the mood for a feel-good comeback story. And that's exactly what's happening in Kentucky. If there's ever been any doubt that the bourbon renaissance is here to stay, just look at what Diageo's been up to over the past couple of months. The company broke ground on its $115 million Bulleit Distilling Co. distillery and cut the ribbon on the visitors' center at the rejuvenated historic Stitzel-Weller facility. When the world's biggest spirits market gives the Bluegrass State and its distilling heritage that much of a vote of confidence, it makes me eager to get off that chaotic emotional roller coaster in favor of another cliché: raising a glass.


text:
Click Here for Replacement Product - Now with PVR !
The Blaupunkt 32" TV features LED Backlighting to deliver brighter, crisper pictures for your viewing enjoyment. It includes an integrated Freeview tuner and great connectivity options - making it ideal for any room.This TV features LED back lighting to deliver a brighter, clearer picture quality. LED TVs create greater contrast ratios - making blacks appear blacker - leading to a sharper image. In addition, they also consume less power than similarly- sized LCD and Plasma TVs and are mercury free.
An integrated Freeview tuner will allow you to watch all your favorite shows from over 50 TV and 24 radio stations across the country - without the need for an additional set-top box. All you need to do is simply plug your TV into an aerial and scan for channels. You'll also have access to `red button' interactive services such as extra sporting coverage from the BBC and teletext, as well as accessibility features such as subtitling and Audio Description. A Slim LED style to this TV gives a more stylish look than the bulky LCD style. There are even TV's that are LED that also can have that unattractive bulky side to the TV. However this Blaupunkt TV will really add to the look of your latest tech products with the slimmer style frame.
The USB slot can also be used for looking at your photos , playing music and playing many videos ( dependent of file type) Being HD Ready, this TV will display crisp HD entertainment when connected to an HD source such as a games console or DVD Player when connected via an HDMI cable(sold separately).
Three HDMI inputs ensure you'll have enough ports to allow you to connect a couple of AV sources to your TV such as a home cinema system, games console, Blu-ray player/set-top box or a laptop. You'll also be able to switch between sources in an instant via your remote.
For those who like to get fully immersed in the action or tend to watch TV or play games late in the evening there is a handy headphone port for you to connect any standard headphones saving you from disturbing the rest of the room. If you want to connect your laptop to your TV in order to watch a movie, surf the web in style or showcase a presentation for work, you can easily use this TV as your PC/laptop monitor. Either connect your laptop via the VGA or HDMI port on the TV and sit back and enjoy your media on the big screen.
- Diagonal Size (inches)
- 32 in
- Technology
- HD Standard
- 720p
- Digital TV Tuner / Digital TV Tuner Type
- Aspect Ratio
- 16:9
- Native Resolution
- 1,366 x 768
- Television / Progressive Scan
- Progressive scanning (line doubling)
- Freeview Bult In
- Freeview
- Interface
- Component, Composite, HDMI, SCART, USB, VGA
- Television / Combined with
- USB Media Player
- Television / HDMI Ports Qty
- 3
- Television / HDCP Compatible
- Yes
- Television / Viewing Angle
- 178 degrees
- Television / Brightness
- 300 cd/m2
- Audio Output / Output Power / Channel
- 9 Watt
- Television / Dynamic Contrast Ratio
- 1000000:1
- Remote Control / Type
- Remote control
- Audio System / Sound Output Mode
- Stereo
- Audio Output / Speakers Configuration
- Stereo
- CE System / Parental Lock
- Yes
- TV Tuner / Teletext
- Yes
- Power / Energy Class
- Class A+
- Dimensions & Weight / Height
- 45 cm
- Dimensions & Weight / Width
- 73.8 cm
- Dimensions & Weight / Depth
- 8.5 cm
- Dimensions & Weight / Weight
- 8.4 kg
Customer reviews
Write a review for the Blaupunkt 32" LED 720P 3 HDMI TV here!
Good value for price of TV
Reviewed by Alan Wilson. Review Posted 20/12/2013
Excellent picture quality
- Overall
- Ease of use
- Value for money
The opinions expressed in this reviews section are those of our customers and not of BT Shop. Nothing contained herein amends BT Shop's terms and conditions.


text:
Both drivers were injured in a collision at 4:35 p.m. Friday, April 5, in rural Ralls County, Mo.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported Shana L. Franklin, 35, of Perry, Mo., was driving a 2006 Ford F150 on Missouri 19 one half mile west of Perry.
Officers said she attempted to make a left turn onto Missouri 154 and failed to yield to a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by William D. Greever, 58, of California, Mo. After the collision, both trucks stopped on the road.
Franklin had minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene.
Greever suffered moderate injuries and went by ambulance to Hannibal Regional Hospital.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW) -- It's been one year since 16-year-old Kyle Royal was shot and killed outside a nightclub and his case still remains unsolved. On the anniversary of his death, his family is still looking for answers.
Kyle's sister Chasity Royal remembers it like it was yesterday.
"It was about 4:58 in the morning and I received a phone call from my dad stating that it was a family emergency," she said.
That's the moment she found out her brother had been killed.
"It didn't really hit me until the day of his funeral and I was like, wow this is real, I'll never see him again," she said.
One year later, it still hasn't gotten easier.
"Not being able in the future to look for his first graduation or his first day of college, his first child, my first niece and nephews really hurt," she said.
Early in the morning of Jan. 16, 2012, Kyle was with his friends at Magic City nightclub. He was shot and killed outside the club and was later found in the backseat of a car. His shooter has never been caught.
"We still can't get justice," Chasity said. "Logging into Facebook, logging onto the news channel and seeing all these cases solved, but my brother, his case still isn't solved and I would like that for him."
Investigators have worked leads, interviewed dozens of people and -- for the first time ever -- even posted billboards throughout Augusta.
"It's a little disheartening that somebody didn't call about it, but hopefully we'll just try something new and try to generate something," said Sgt. William Leisey, an investigator on the case.
They say it's not considered a cold case.
"We'll work it just as hard tomorrow as we did last January," he said. "Doesn't matter how much times gone by if you get that right piece of information it's just like it being the first day again."
It's that piece of information that might finally give this family some answers to the questions they still ask every day.
"I just don't understand the event itself," Chasity said. "Why did it take place? How did it take place?"
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information in the case.


text:
Hi All,
my MAC running OSX10.8.2 cannot run PMS 1.72/1.71 but can run PMS 1.40. PMS 1.72/71 will start up but automatically quits after about 30 secs. I can run PMS1.40 without any issues.
Also any tips on setting up video streaming to PMS? I apologise if this has already been answered in another thread but I am looking with boys eyes. I wont to stream to my ps3 bigpond Sport and general AUS/UK TV.


text:
Buquet Distributing wins honor
Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 11:23 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 11:23 a.m.
A local beer-distributing company was honored for its community service by the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce during a Tuesday ceremony attended by hundreds.
Buquet Distributing Co. was named the inaugural Community Champion during its 84th annual banquet at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.
"It is quite an honor to be recognized. I just hope we lived up to giving back," said J.J. Buquet, president of Buquet Distributing and a past chamber board member. "It's humbling. We do what we do because giving back is always what we've done. It's a philosophy that my father and mother instilled in me and my sisters."
The Community Champion award recognizes a chamber-member business that actively contributes to the community and supports issues and activities promoted by chamber-member nonprofits.
Nominations came from leaders of those nonprofit organizations, said incoming chamber Chairman Jennifer Armand.
Buquet Distributing was recognized for its involvement in all aspects of the community including education, health care, coastal restoration, storm protection, cultural events and its generous financial donations, Armand said.
The company belongs to organizations like the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence, Best of the Bayou Festival, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and others.
"This company embodies the type of community spirit that allows the community to prosper," Armand said in presenting the award.
Glenny Lee Buquet, J.J.'s mother and former state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member, said she was shocked to hear the company's name called.
"I had no idea," she said. "We've been in business for 60 years and to have our family here with us, it was a very special night."
Glenny Lee said the family made the decision to give back to the community when her husband, James Buquet Jr., and his father, James Buquet Sr., started the company in 1953.
He would be very proud of this moment," she said of her late husband.
The Buquet family has grown the company from two employees to about 80, and both Glenny and Buquet said winning the award would have been impossible without them.
"We are able to do what we do and have a thriving business because of what our employees do. It is not only an accomplishment for our family, but an accomplishment for them as well. I never want to lose sight of that."
Staff Writer Sable LeFrere can be reached at 985-857-2204 or at sable.lefrere
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to end bulk collection of Americans' phone records by the National Security Agency, despite objections from leading Silicon Valley companies and privacy advocates who said last-minute changes could still enable widespread collection of Internet users' data.
Critics said the bill's intended reforms were "severely weakened" by amendments negotiated in private by the Obama administration and the House Republican majority. A coalition of major Internet companies that includes Facebook, Google and Apple pulled their support earlier this week, saying the changes created "an unacceptable loophole" that moved the bill "in the wrong direction."
Backers described the measure as a significant step forward and perhaps the best chance for Congress to restrict NSA abuses that were revealed by former contractor Edward Snowden and news reports over the past year. Critics vowed to work for stronger reforms in the Senate, although the White House and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, have both reportedly endorsed the outlines of the House bill.
The bill known as the USA Freedom Act, which passed on a bipartisan vote of 303 to 121, is "a workable compromise that protects the core function of a counter-terrorism program we know has saved lives around the world," Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who chairs the House intelligence committee, told The Associated Press.
As it stands, the legislation follows through on President Barack Obama's proposal for ending the NSA's practice of collecting telephone calling records of virtually every American. It would shift that role to telephone companies, while requiring them to provide records to the NSA in response to a court order.
But critics denounced amendments sought by the Obama administration. Although one key change was seemingly technical, involving the addition of a few words, tech industry and civil liberties advocates said it made a tremendous difference.
"The ban on bulk collection was deliberately watered down to be ambiguous and exploitable," said Harley Geiger, senior counsel at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a Washington-based group that advocates for Internet freedom.
Specifically, one change added wording to a section that was intended to limit the kinds of data the NSA can obtain. It adds the phrase "such as," which critics view as open-ended and potentially allowing types of data that aren't specifically listed. It also uses the words "address" and "device" without defining them, which critics said could allow the agency to obtain data from broad geographic regions or categories of computers, such as smartphones.
"Congress has been clear that it wishes to end bulk collections, but given the government's history of twisted legal interpretations, this language can't be relied on to protect our freedoms," said the Electronic Frontier Foundation, another advocacy group. It said the changes "severely weaken the bill."
Tech companies used language that was only slightly more measured.
"We're pretty disappointed in the USA Freedom Act," said Elliot Schrage, vice president for communications and public policy at Facebook, in response to a stockholder's question during the company's annual meeting Thursday. "It's been really frustrating for us."
The amendments "would expand the scope of permissible government intrusion," Schrage said. While Facebook understands the need to protect national security, he said, "We think the dial has been turned much too far" toward security and away from Internet privacy.
Google, Yahoo and Apple had no comment Thursday. But their coalition withdrew its support for the bill Wednesday, saying in a statement that "the legislation has moved in the wrong direction. The latest draft opens up an unacceptable loophole that could enable the bulk collection of Internet users' data."
Critics also objected that an earlier change dropped the idea of an independent "public advocate" to review and potentially oppose NSA requests at the government's secret intelligence court. In addition, the EFF complained the bill didn't allow Internet companies to report on the exact number of demands for information they receive from U.S. authorities.
Instead, the bill codifies a deal the Justice Department negotiated with tech companies earlier this year, which allows them to report on information demands that used to be kept secret but requires them to characterize the numbers in a broad range instead of exact figures.
Silicon Valley's congressional representatives, including Democrats Zoe Lofgren, Mike Honda, Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo, all voted against the bill. But its chief sponsor, GOP Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, urged House members to vote yes while conceding he wished it did more.
"Those who say this bill will legalize bulk collection are wrong," added Maryland Rep. C. A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger, the ranking Democrat on the intelligence committee, according to The Associated Press. "They are trying to scare you by making you think there are monsters under the bed."
Follow this reporter at Twitter.com/BrandonBailey or google.com/+BrandonBaileyOnline or on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/ULIOfb.
How they voted
House members from the Bay Area were divided in Thursday's vote on the USA Freedom Act:
Voting to approve: Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael; Jerry McNerney, D-Stockton; Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco; Mike Thompson, D-Napa.
Voting against: Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto; Sam Farr, D-Santa Cruz; Mike Honda, D-San Jose; Barbara Lee, D-Oakland; Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose; George Miller, D-Martinez; Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin; Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo.
Source: U.S. House of Representatives


text:
Campus Wide
Tue, Nov 12, 2013 (All day)
Wed, Nov 13, 2013 (All day)
Thu, Nov 14, 2013 (All day)
Fri, Nov 15, 2013 (All day)
Continuing Student Registration for Spring 2014 classes begins. Starting date to register is dependent upon how many credits you have accumulated before the fall semester.
Completed Credits
First Date to Register (does not include current semester)
Tuesday, Nov. 12 40+ and ONLINE
Wednesday, Nov. 13 24+
Thursday, Nov. 14 12+
Friday, Nov. 15 0+
Monday, Nov. 18 Open Registration
Pay $100 Advanced Tuition Deposit at least 24 hours prior to registering.
Please check your PRISM account to find out when you may begin enrolling for Spring 2014 classes.


text:
FoodFacts.com has followed a lot of information that's come to the forefront about artificial sweeteners and diet soda. We know that artificial sweeteners are chemical concoctions that serve no purpose nutritionally and have been linked to cancer. Interestingly, in the last 12 months, studies have linked drinking diet soda to diabetes and weight gain, negating their original purpose in the food supply.
Today we came across a new study that sheds new light on why artificial sweeteners may be adding to the obesity crisis. Carbonation, an essential component of popular soft drinks, alters the brain's perception of sweetness and makes it difficult for the brain to determine the difference between sugar and artificial sweeteners, according to a new article in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.
"This study proves that the right combination of carbonation and artificial sweeteners can leave the sweet taste of diet drinks indistinguishable from normal drinks," said study author, Rosario Cuomo, associate professor, gastroenterology, department of clinical medicine and surgery, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy. "Tricking the brain about the type of sweet could be advantageous to weight loss – it facilitates the consumption of low-calorie drinks because their taste is perceived as pleasant as the sugary, calorie-laden drink."
The study identifies, however, that there is a downside to this effect; the combination of carbonation and sugar may stimulate increased sugar and food consumption since the brain perceives less sugar intake and energy balance is impaired. This interpretation might better explain the prevalence of eating disorders, metabolic diseases and obesity among diet-soda drinkers.
Investigators used functional magnetic resonance imaging to monitor changes in regional brain activity in response to naturally or artificially sweetened carbonated beverages. The findings were a result of the integration of information on gastric fullness and on nutrient depletion conveyed to the brain.
Future studies combining analysis of carbonation effect on sweetness detection in taste buds and responses elicited by the carbonated sweetened beverages in the gastrointestinal cavity will be required to further clarify the puzzling link between reduced calorie intake with diet drinks and increased incidence of obesity and metabolic diseases.
FoodFacts.com has never been a fan of soda consumption. Sugary sodas and diet sodas alike are chemical formulations in cans and bottles. They do nothing to fulfill our nutritional requirements and replace better beverages in our diets. The allure of zero calories for consumers is quite powerful and often people believe that as long as something is "diet" it's a better choice. We are hopeful that information regarding the many downsides of artificial sweeteners helps consumers to understand that these beverages are not healthier options. While we certainly don't need the equivalent of a little over 10 teaspoons of sugar in the average can of soda, we also don't need an artificial substance replacing that sugar – especially since it appears that in the long run, people can gain weight just as easily relying on zero calorie sweeteners. Let's help others in our network become more nutritionally aware of the health effects of diet sodas!