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dog parks
News: Editors
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is proposing a roughly 90 percent reduction in its off-leash space. And we have only until May 25 to comment on this draconian proposal.
The GGNRA oversees more than 80,000 acres of the Northern California coastline, and of this, dogs have only been allowed on approximately 1 percent. Their proposed new Dog Management Plan will reduce that smidgen by 90 percent, which is a significant hit.
Although a unit of the Dept. of the Interior's National Park Service, GGNRA is in a decidedly different category than the more traditional parks such as Yellowstone or Yosemite. From its inception in 1972, it has been charged with balancing habitat protection with recreational activities that predated its creation: "To provide for the maintenance of needed recreational open space." Foremost among those activities was (and is) off-leash dog-walking. One of the groundbreaking 1970s "parks for the people," GGNRA serves a densely populated metropolitan area and is an invaluable resource for locals and visitors alike, providing access to outdoor recreation for millions of people each year.
For many of us, especially women and seniors, off-leash recreation with our dogs is our only form of exercise. We don't kayak, bike, run or cross-train. What we do—from time immemorial, it seems—is simply walk with our unfettered dogs, enjoying the regenerative benefits of spending time outside. We also acknowledge that a balance needs to be met with respect to other park users and the natural resources that we all value.
But we believe that an acceptable balance was not adequately taken into consideration during GGNRA's rule-making deliberations. Rather, opinions and desires expressed by special-interest groups such as the Sierra Club and Audubon Society and prominent donors held greater sway than those of local elected officials and the many thousands of off-leash advocates (and other park users) they represent. And because this is thought to be a precedent setting judgment, it can (and will) be used against off-leash activity is other areas throughout the country.
During two recent public meetings held by the GGNRA and chaired by park superintendent, Christine Lernertz, in response to questions about how they regard the opposition from the vast majority of residents, local elected officials and humane organizations, Lernertz brushed those questions off and referred to GGNRA's "national" status, meaning they are a park for the whole nation. (She did though reference their concern about tourists from other countries, and what would they feel about seeing dogs on beaches.) So if indeed the GGNRA is a national resource for all of us, they need to hear from all of us from both inside and outside the area.
Your comments are needed now and due before May 25:
What do I say in my comment?
· See talking points and sample comments here, or here or see the one below.
· Consider making the point, in your own words. If you are outside the Bay Area, tell them where you are located and how important the issue of off leash recreation is to you, especially in public land owned by the federal government. Your voice matters too.
How do I submit my comment?
General Sample Comment Letter
"I am writing to voice my opposition to the highly restrictive proposed rule for dog management at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). It was established by Congress as a national recreation are—not a national park. Banning dog walking recreation from nearly all of the GGNRA is a violation of public trust and the unit's enabling legislation.
These significant restrictions to dog walking are being proposed without any evidence that dog walking is causing actual impacts to GGNRA's natural resources or visitor experience.
I am especially opposed to the provision that would give GGNRA's superintendent a blank check to ban dogs without any sort of public input process and before any impacts from dogs occur.
I strongly urge the National Park Service to rethink its proposed rule for dog walking at GGNRA. Please take into account the input and concerns of the thousands of people in this country that are opposing this plan."
Also see:
Good Dog: Behavior & Training
Short and sweet if given the choice
I recently attended one of my favorite annual events—the Interdisciplinary Forum on Applied Animal Behavior (IFAAB) conference. This is a small gathering of 30 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists, Veterinary Behaviorists, Academics and Trainers who get together each year for a discussion of all kinds of topics related to Applied Animal Behavior. Every attendee gives a talk, and we discuss everything with enthusiasm from the first talk to the concluding remarks.
This year, fittingly, the first talk was about greetings. Camille Ward, PhD, CAAB, started things off with a talk called "What's Up? Dog-to-Dog Greetings." Greetings are a fascinating area of behavior because so much can happen in such a short time, and there are so many possible functions of greetings. Greeting between members of the same species serve a variety of functions from reducing uncertainty, fear and arousal to gathering information. Greetings can involve the signaling of status, increasing tolerance for being close to one another and may play a role in conflict management and reconciliation, which are important areas of behavior in social species though they have been primarily studied in primates.
Ward videotaped greetings between pairs of dogs at a local dog park in Ann Arbor, Michigan and analyzed the behavior that she observed. When she watched the behavior in the greetings, she collected data on a large number of behavioral details. (Videotaping is a common tool in behavioral research that allows scientists to gather more data than is possible when doing it live, and also takes so much time that it prevents scientists from taking over the world or even having a life because it keeps them too busy for such undertakings.)
In this study, 52 dogs were recorded, in 26 greetings. Each dog was only observed in a single greeting. Ward recorded whatever greetings happened to occur at the dog park, although she specifically avoided greetings when a dog first entered the park. She was interested in pairs of dogs greeting and when a dog first arrives, he is often mobbed by other dogs. Pairs of interacting animals are called "dyads" in the animal behavior literature, and the dyad was the unit of study in this project.
For each dyad, Ward noted which dog initiated the greeting or if it was a mutual approach. She noted the relative sizes of the dogs and whether play or aggression followed the greeting. Other data included whether each dog's overall body posture was high, neutral or low both at the beginning and the end of the greeting, and if both dogs participated in the greeting by sniffing the other dog.
One of the most interesting and practical results from this study was how short the greetings were. When dogs are off leash and free to choose, they don't hang around interacting for a long time. The greetings Ward observed were typically in the six to eight second range, which is very brief. It's certainly a lot less time than we spend talking with our human friends when we run into them on dog walks. When that happens and our dogs also greet, they are forced to be in close proximity to the other dog when that is not what would happen if they were doing things their own way. Greetings are naturally short—far shorter than just about all of us experts at this conference would have predicted! We should keep this in mind if we have dogs greet on leash and not allow the interaction to extend beyond that time frame unless the dogs progress into play.
Based on Ward's study, play is not a highly likely outcome of many greetings. Only six of the 52 greetings (twelve percent) she recorded resulted in play. Perhaps we should consider that many dogs want to meet and greet one another, but don't want to engage in play as often as many of us expect. None resulted in aggression, which is encouraging, but that rate might be higher in a population of dogs that are not at the dog park as some people wisely choose not to take dogs prone to aggression to the dog park.
Greeting were either reciprocated or unreciprocated. In a reciprocated greeting, both dogs were involved in the interaction and showed similar behavior—e.g., both dogs sniffed each other. With an unreciprocated greeting, only one of the dogs sniffed or investigated. The other dog ignored or showed little attention to the greeter.
Large weight differences usually involved the heavier dog initiating the greeting. When weights were closer between the two dogs, involvement by both dogs was more common. Over 80 percent of the greetings were initiated by only one of the dogs. This pattern suggests that dogs are using greetings as a way to assess other dogs.
If you have observed your own dog greeting other dogs, does his behavior match up with what Camille Ward documented in her study?
Dog's Life: Travel
Bozeman, Montana is home to West Paw Design one of the greenest and socially responsible companies anywhere. West Paw Design are makers of eco-friendly dog beds and exquisitely designed toys that utilize a variety of forward-thinking materials such as hemp, organic cotton and an exclusive eco-fiber made completely from recycled plastic. If you are in the neighborhood, they welcome the public to come into their Bozeman-based manufacturing facility to pick up some toys and get their suggestions about the best places to bring their dogs—including their own West Paw Dog Park at Rocky Creek Farm that's right down the street from where their facilities. Knowing their dedication to the good (dog) life, we spoke to the West Paw folks recently about some of their favorite canine destinations …
Drinking Horse Hiking Trail: This 2.1 mile loop offers scenic views and welcomes dogs. Located close to town, it offers a great moderate-level hike for canines and owners alike.
Sypes Canyon: Located in the Gallatin National Forest, this 5.8 trail through a shaded forest follows a creek-fed canyon that will quench your dog's thirst. 2 miles in there's an overlook with a great view of the Gallatin Valley. Don't be surprised to see horses on the trail.
Hyalite Reservoir: A 30 minute drive from downtown Bozeman, this getaway offers endless opportunities for hiking, breathtaking waterfalls and lakeside camping.
Pete's Hill: A quick and convenient trail for downtown dwellers.
Cooper Park: Consensus selection of the most dog-friendly park in town, located in a historic residential area.
Bozeman Pond Dog Park: Awesome beach for dogs accompanies the one-acre off-leash area. Plus, an on-leash trail nearby.
Many of the city's restaurants have outdoor seating in the summer and early fall, allowing dogs to hang with their owners al fresco. A few favorites: Naked Noodle, Plonk, Nova Café and Starky's.
Dog's Life: Lifestyle
Room to Run in Shawnee, Kansas
Shawnee Mission Park is the largest in eastern Kansas (and one of the most visited in the state); at 1,600 acres, it's more than twice the size of NYC's Central Park. A multi-use recreational space, it provides room for diverse activities such as disc golf, archery, fishing (the lake is stocked) and lots of hiking and bike riding. And, oh yes, a 53-acre off-leash dog area.
The OLA is, of course, what grabbed my interest. It's one of the largest in the nation, and so for size alone, it deserves attention in this column. But wait! It gets better. Not only do dog lovers have an ample trail-laced area for their own exercise, there's also plenty of space for their dogs to frolic and romp. All that, plus a cove with access to a 120-acre lake to practice dog paddling and ball diving. On a hot summer day in Kansas, that must be a welcome relief to both wading humans and their dogs.
According to superintendent of parks Bill Maasen, Shawnee Mission Park was created by a bond initiative and opened in 1964. The off-leash dog area was developed roughly 15 years ago, at a time when dog parks were springing up across the land. Typical of many large OLAs, it is not fully fenced, so a good recall is must here, something that's often mentioned in the rave online reviews. (Smaller dog parks and dog runs generally are fully fenced, but—depending on their location and proximity to roads—larger OLAs seldom are. As in this particular park, fencing tends to be concentrated near roadways and parking areas.)
The landscape includes prairie and woodland, and because it's bordered by dense woods, there are sightings of deer aplenty. OLA-goers need to be watchful of their dogs and follow the rules, including the requirement that "dogs must be under the control and in view of their handler at all times." A wise choice.
Maasen explained that they are undertaking improvements soon, including expanding the often-overflowing parking area by many new spaces and installing safer gates so dogs won't be able to push them open and run out to the road. They also have a large accessibility project coming up that will provide more stable paving for the quarter-mile walkway to the lake, improving its navigability for those who use wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
As for the lakeshore itself, instead of sand or dirt, pavers are used in what is called keystone construction: they "lock" together like Lego tiles, with pea gravel in between. The hard surface makes it easier to keep a wet dog clean after a dip and protects paws from hot sand.
Being inured to a region where park users have to beg for any kind of maintenance whatsoever at our OLA, I'm blown away by the fact that the Shawnee one closes on Tuesdays from 5 to 9 am for weekly park maintenance. Other than that, the OLA has generous opening times: summer hours are from 5 am to 11 pm, with minor adjustments in winter.
Reviewing this Kansas landmark tempts me to take a "Pete Campbell" plunge. In one of the series' final episodes, the Mad Men character was poised to trade an office on Madison Ave. for one in Wichita. For him, the carrot was access to a Learjet. For me, it would be to have a park with a management philosophy that recognizes the importance of providing generous open space for both us and our dogs, operated by people who see the wisdom of meeting the needs of this important constituency.
To paraphrase another famous Kansan, "Toto, I have a feeling we are in Kansas," and it feels good.
News: Editors
Ever think there must be more to life than your daily 9 to 5? What if money didn't matter and you could follow your life's passions—what would you do? For Matt Hein that meant quitting his job in finance and moving to Norway, eventually becoming a dogwalker.
"Portrait of a Dogwalker," by 21-year-old Norwegian filmmaker Fredrik Harper, chronicles the young Englishman's decision to leave his job and travel to the French Alps. He began dating a Norwegian woman and followed her back to Oslo. It was there that he realized his two great passions: Being outside and being around dogs.
He now spends his days walking dogs in the woods outside the Norwegian capital and as depicted in the film—he appears to be absolutely content. The seven-and-a-half minute film shows his canine charges eagerly exploring nature while Hein ruminates on the meaning of life. Never has dogwalking appeared so appealing.
"You have to get in in the morning before your boss, and you have to leave after your boss because that way your boss thinks you're working much harder than you are," says Hein, harkening back to his days in London finance. "It's a competition for who can be sat at their desk pretty much wasting their life. That's not a way to live your life."
PORTRAIT OF A DOGWALKER from Fredrik Harper on Vimeo.
News: Editors
Ever wonder how a professional athlete handles the pressure of competition and a grueling 6-month long schedule? For burgeoning NBA star Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, it's a walk in the park … the dog park. When Klay isn't in the gym or on the road, he likes to take his dog Rocco, an English bulldog, to his local off-leash area at Cesar Chavez Park in nearby Berkeley (CA). We've seen him there, playing fetch and doing what dog people do … unwinding, taking in some fresh air. "With me, my friends or my family, I can't help but talk about basketball, so this is my escape," Thompson is quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle profile.
ESPN analyst and hall-of-fame player Charles Barkley calls the 6 ft 9 Thompson the best NBA player at his position—strong praise. Thompson's team, the Golden State Warriors, apparently agrees, recently resigning their star shooting guard to a multi-year, $70 million contract. What was Thompson's response at the post-signing press conference? "We were trying to get the contract signed, and all he wanted to do was go home to his dog," mused Warrior general manager Bob Myers.
We know the joys firsthand of Cesar Chavez Park OLA, it's where the idea for The Bark was born. In fact, the 17-acre OLA overlooking the San Francisco Bay was founded by Bark co-founder Claudia Kawczynska in 2000. One of the founding dogs was Claudia's dog Nellie … named after former Warrior coach Don Nelson. A bit of history we think Klay Thompson would appreciate.
News: Editors
A couple of years ago we reported that Jackie Speier (D-Calif) deserved a Bark call-out for a job well-done for "ripping" into the National Park Service for an agent who used a taser on a man who was running with his small dogs off-leash in an unincorporated area in San Mateo County.
Now a judge has ruled that the park ranger, Sarah Cavallaro, acted unlawfully when she used her taser on Gary Hesterberg. Not only that but Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley also found that since the leash law had never been enforced at the Rancho Corral de Tierra—which had only recently been acquired by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area—that the ranger overstepped her duty that day, the first day of leash enforcement. Rangers had been instructed to take a "soft enforcement, outreach approach with regards to violations of the Rancho's new rules." This was an approach that apparently Cavallaro did not follow.
It was reported that
"After four minutes with the stun gun pointed at him, Hesterberg said he had a heart condition and again asked what authority he was being held under, to which Cavallaro answered, "the Constitution."
"That is no kind of answer," Hesterberg responded, before turning to leave. When he did, Cavallaro fired her stun gun, hitting Hesterberg in the back and buttocks, court records show.
When Hesterberg was confronted by the ranger about the leash policy, he, allegedly, was uncooperative and would not provide her with his name. So after being tasered he was actually arrested on suspicion of failing to obey a lawful order, keeping dogs off-leash and providing false information, but San Mateo County prosecutors declined to file charges.
Back in 2012, Representative Speier had noted that, "Many of my constituents are understandably angered by what appears to be an excessive use of force by a park ranger." She added, "From the information I have to date, it does not appear that the use of a taser was warranted." Speier also requested information about training in taser usage for park rangers, including the appropriate utilization and risks of tasers.
The court also found that Hesterberg, though uncooperative, never posed an immediate threat to Cavallaro or anyone else and that the ranger did not provide an adequate warning that she would shoot him with the stun gun if he tried to leave.
The judge found in favor of Hesterberg, awarding him $50,000 in damages for both physical and mental suffering.
Culture: DogPatch
Richmond, California's Point Isabel, once toxic landfill, is one of the nation's biggest and best off-leash parks
I had just let Annie and Patch out of the car at Point Isabel when a white sedan screeched up and a plump, middle-aged passenger tumbled out. She plunged toward us, beaming. "Perros o perras?" she demanded. Boy dogs or girl dogs?
Then she seized Annie's big head in both hands and, bending low over my inscrutable, fearsome-looking Akita mix, crooned, "Que linda, que linda." What a beautiful girl. Annie was delighted, thank dog.
Often called "the Point Isabel dog park," Point Isabel Regional Shoreline (PI) is actually a unique multi-use park on the eastern edge of San Francisco Bay. With camera-ready views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin County's Mount Tamalpais, it is beloved by walkers with and without dogs, joggers, birdwatchers, windsurfers, and the occasional fisherman or kayaker. Recently, a Japanese tour group even stopped to marvel (and be marveled at).
Many people, like my white-sedan lady, are there for a dog fix. Berkeley resident Katie Triest, who doesn't have a dog, delights in watching them cavort. "It's amazing how well they all get along," she says.
People of all ages and abilities relish PI, according to Jerry Yukic, a pastpresident of Point Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO). Yukic, who is 89, brings Dusty, a Brittany Spaniel rescue, to PI twice a day. "It's a very safe place for senior citizens," she says.
For decades, though, PI was a wasteland. Like much of the open space along the East Bay shoreline, the park is built on fill. In fact, Battery Point (part of North Point Isabel) was once a dumping ground for battery casings that leaked lead and zinc. It wasn't until the late 1980s that tons of contaminated waste were hauled away from North PI or buried under a clay cap. People with dogs had been roaming the area for many years, however.
In 1985, PIDO began negotiating permanent off-leash status with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). Two years later, the park district agreed that dogs could be off-leash everywhere except the mudflats at low tide (when shorebirds are feeding) and the nearby marsh. Dogs are welcome in all open space, picnic areas, even the Sit & Stay Café. Better yet, people can kick back at the café while their canines are spruced up a few feet away at Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub.
Most people don't just kick back, though. At PI, the typical companion human is getting some exercise. The roughly 50-acre park, with its 3.2 miles of pathways, is divided by a channel that drains Hoffman Marsh. Visitors can circle both halves of the park—the 23 acres of PI proper and North PI, which is slightly bigger—using loop trails. A footbridge connects the two areas.
How all this good stuff came about depends on whom you ask.
The acclaimed EBRPD, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, is known for its refreshingly progressive off-leash polices that allow dogs on much of its vast trail system. Even so, it may not have anticipated PI's popularity with dog walkers. One legend at the park district has it that Point Isabel used to be just a desolate, windy place where no one went. Then people started walking dogs there, and by the time the district realized what was happening, it was too late to stop it.
The story told by the founders of PIDO is more romantic. They say that PI was wild, weedy and frequented by drug dealers dodging the Richmond police. After PIDO organized in 1985, "the number of dogs increased, and the drug dealers, frightened by the dogs and the growing presence of dog owners, disappeared," according to an article by the late Sylvia Schild, PIDO's first president. Then the usual suspects started complaining about dogs being allowed to run free.
PIDO fought that battle and others for years, during which it developed a close partnership with the EBRPD, became a 501(c)3 nonprofit and grew from 75 to 5,200 members.
from 75 to 5,200 members. Today, Point Isabel is a runaway success and a huge boon for the East Bay's dense urban population. It is by far EBRPD's single most popular recreation spot, with well over 1.3 million visitors every year—and no doubt that many dogs, making it one of the top off-leash areas in the United States.
Not bad for an old dump.
Culture: DogPatch
We had the chance to talk with Matthew Gilbert, TV critic for the Boston Globe and author of one of our 2014 "Best Reads" about his first book, Off the Leash: Year at the Dog Park and his conversion to being a dog lover. His is a rather unique perspective because not long ago he was definitely on the other end of dog-loving spectrum.
You seem to be in a rather unique position being rather new to the dog world, you can see both sides, can't you? So from the "other" side, the non-dog-loving side of things, can you recall your reasons for not liking dogs, and are they any that perhaps make you cringe today when you remember those feelings?
The first thing I think of is the way my hand would buzz after I touched a dog, until I got to a sink to wash it. I did not like to have physical contact with dogs, or with anything they'd touched!
Good lord. Now, I pet my dog Toby 100 times a day, scratching under his chin and around his ears until he starts swooning with pleasure. I kiss his snout, I sniff and kiss his paws, I rub the boogers off his eyes in the morning. I love the tactile sense of him.
I think back on my distaste and cringe ten times over. I was missing one of the great joys of life…. Wow. I was living in a bubble, and I felt that dogs were just too spontaneous and reckless for me. I depended far too heavily on a sense of order and control, and dogs were the opposite of that.
Also, my mother was terrified of dogs, and that filtered down to me. She would not be able to relax if there was a dog in sight. Nowadays, when I see little kids at the park, I enjoy introducing them to Toby, trying to make them smile at the big lug of a goose who'll sit and give me his paw for a treat. It's very healing, unless the parent is too nervous.
What advice would you give to people who don't much like dogs but perhaps, for the sake of the children or their spouse, might be considering getting one?
It took me years to fall in love with dogs. I fell in love with a dog person, and that was the start of the change. To use a popular term, I evolved… So I don't think there's a magical solution to the dislike of dogs.
My advice would be to open up your heart as much as possible, watch the pleasure the dog brings to the other members of the family, try to appreciate that. Don't shut yourself out of the experience because you were pushed into it. Who knows, you may evolve, too, in a lovely way.
In your book you do a very good job about what that immersion was like, but tell us what your biggest surprises were about discovering that you are really a dog lover? Any surprises about being thrust into the middle of the dog park community? What did you think it would be, and what was it really like?
I continue to feel surprised by the change, some 10-12 years into it, and I have friends from the old days who still tease me about how I once did not like dogs. When I'm with dogs now, I feel happy in a way that's hard to define, but that still feels new. It's like the presence of dogs changes everything for the better, and I relearn that over and over again.
The surprises at the park were fantastic. I thought it would be a catty (!) environment with lots of breed snobbery and competition. I thought conversations would be painfully superficial. I thought watching dogs play would be boring. But within a few months, I understood that those fears were mostly unfounded, that the relationships we form daily at the dog park can be profound, that watching dogs play is one of the best pleasures in life, that we meet great people at the park we might never have met otherwise.
I've never been so happy to have been so wrong.
Are there things about the dog park community now that make you wonder if you are truly a part of it? I realize there are all sorts of factions within any societal group, but like the bulldog meet up group who "spoiled" it for others at that one park, what are you views of that? And what, if you were able to warn enthusiastic dog people about, what would that be?
Some days, I feel like an outsider. Either there's no one to talk to, or there are people but they're in what seem like closed groupings. But I've learned to let that go, and it has been a great shedding of baggage. No friends at the park today? Wait until tomorrow.
Dogs are my role models in many ways, not least of all because they are experts in resilience and letting go.
I'm not a fan of breed "meet-ups," just because they can be exclusive. They also draw people from far away who may not much care about treating the park with respect. Still… who am I to judge any kind of celebratory gathering of dogs? Meet-ups are not for me, but any dog joy is good.
My biggest warning to a dog-park newcomer is: Don't assume all owners are responsible. We want to think the best of anyone who loves dogs, but some owners have aggressive dogs and subject other dogs to that. It's so awful. I recount an attack on Toby in my book, and I still shudder when I think of the sounds my little goose made while a whippet started snapping at him.
No one wants to be in the position of keeping a dog on leash at the park, but if your dog has been proven to have issues, you need to protect others. If you show that you want to be fair, that you are responsible, people will inevitably try to help you out. If you keep letting your dog go after other dogs, you will probably face a hard road with a lot of angry people moving away from you.
I do think that a lot of the "opposition" to dogs results from some of us being rather clueless when it concerns others and how they perceive us and our dogs. What do you think and do you want to give any examples?
Some dog lovers don't understand just how terrified of dogs people can be. But, as someone who has been on the other side, I am fully aware of it. It's not an act. A person who is afraid of dogs doesn't understand anything about breed temperament or size; all they know is they are scared. So I think dog owners need to find some patience and respect for the fearful.
We kind of need to be ambassadors of the dog world when we are among those who don't understand it. I'm not saying we don't have rights; I'm just saying a little bit of sensitivity and friendliness goes a long way. Rather than put a non-dog person on the defensive, try to cultivate them.
One other thing: Dog owners need to pick up their dog's poop, always. Poops on sidewalks and park grass are the dog-haters' best ammunition against us. Plus, no one – not even dog owners – wants to step in it.
Are there any things about raising the pup Toby that you would do differently?
We're lucky, because he's turned out so happy and peaceful. I was very gung ho about training him early on, and in retrospect, as I detail in the book, I was being too controlling. So maybe I would be a little less aggressive about teaching him commands.
Although he still won't "drop it," dammit!
Everyone seems to love to talk about the "lessons" learned from their dogs, so tell us if there are any you would like to share with us?
That's such a great question, and one I hope my book answers to some extent. The lessons include resilience, being in the moment, remembering to play, keeping joy in your daily life, not being afraid of the complications of socializing, becoming more trusting, and on and on…! I still learn new things from Toby and his friends every day.
You and your partner have a different style of dog-raising, has that resulted in any conflicts, how are they resolve? Has he ever taken to the dog park scene that you so successful have?
Tom is definitely not a dog park person. For a while, my friends at the park teased me about my phantom husband and whether I'd made him up.
He loves Toby in a more private way. He has a man-and-his-dog fantasy, and he lives it out by walking Toby around the city and on trails. Some couples come to the park together all the time, or alternate; not us.
There have been tense moments when I've had to remind him that Toby loves to be among dogs, and there have been moments when he has gotten tired of my dog park stories. But overall, we have adapted to our differing styles. We both love Toby so much; it always comes down to that.
Do you have a difficult time seeing Toby as a dog? Do you ever fear that you aren't living up to his expectations?
Sometimes, yes. For one thing, I talk to him all the time, and I give him voice, too. I have conversations with him, while he sits looking at me with his big brown eyes like I'm such a strange creature. But ultimately, I love the fact that he is a dog, and not a human being. That's one of the best things about dogs – that they aren't human!
His expectations are steak every day, cookies in between, and a constant flow of the best, most squeakiest toys. So I know I'm not living up to his expectations! But seriously, I think he's a happy dog, and I think he likes having some restrictions – say 10 cookies a day instead of 1000. I think he knows that we are madly in love with him, and that we would do anything for him. And I love that feeling. He trusts us, and that is everything.
Being a TV critic, what are the most memorable dog characters on TV now? If you were to write a TV show about your dog, what would that be?
It's not for everyone, but I love "Wilfred" on FXX. We see the dog on the show as a man in a dog suit, which is kind of twisted but a lot of fun. The writers insert a lot of jokes that only dog owners will understand. I also enjoy Stella the French bulldog on "Modern Family," mostly because of the love and humor she brings out in the humans.
My fantasy would be to see "Off the Leash" as "The Office" at the dog park, with a cast of lovable misfits and a mockumentary tone. I think that would be perfect.
Good Dog: Activities & Sports
Round two in the urban debate
This is a follow-up article to our political primer on dog park campaigning. We hope that you found some of the information helpful and that you are now ready to sit down with town planners and design that perfect dog park.
Let's start by suggesting a different term for dog park. We know it's an easy term to use, but it often evokes irate comments like: "What do you mean you want to spend my taxes on a bunch of dogs?"; "What about safe playground equipment for my kids?"; "Drinking fountains for dogs, you gotta be kidding!" Play it safe—try using terms like "off-leash" or "multi-use area," stressing the human component at all times. The acronym-clever COLA people (Citizens for Off-Leash Areas in Seattle simply call theirs OLAs (a convention we'll adopt here). In Berkeley, "multi-use area" refers to the multiple legitimate uses, including our leashless dogs, that are allowable in sections of the park. In Indianapolis they refer to their recently inaugurated area as a Canine Companion Zone.
In doing the research for this article and in talking with many of you who have contacted us for more information or to share your wisdom and experience, we realize that this material cannot be easily condensed into just two parts. So we will be turning this into a regular feature, with future reports including case studies from your parks.
A recap from last time: because most cities have leash laws that outlaw dogs running "at large," you'll need to change this policy.
But few policymakers or administrators are risk-takers; they'll need reassurances that they are not the first to be confronted by a citizenry asking to use public land to recreate with a pack of off-leash dogs. This is to be followed by gentle and constant reminders that your request isn't coming out of left field and you have the numbers to support your proposal (with signed petitions in hand), that you do pay taxes supporting everyone else's recreational activity and, lastly, that you regularly consult with your dogs before voting. By doing most of your homework online you can find many excellent examples of successful programs (see resources) to bring to your town's decision-makers. Now that you have piqued their interest, the next step is to lead them to the drawing table with design guidelines and planning criteria.
Guidelines can help move the process along but keep in mind that, as Mencken noted: "For every complex, difficult problem, there is a simple, easy solution … and it is wrong." One of the first things we learned in gathering this information is that while it is tempting to use guidelines from other cities or even from other parks within the same city, they should be used judicially and only as outlines to help shape the planning process and not as across-the-board standards. As Judy Green, a veteran of off-leash planning in Virginia, cautioned, "it is important to remain as flexible as possible," leaving room for "fine-tuning afterwards." Site-specific and community-specific needs must be addressed. A fifty-acre area within a five-hundred acre park might be too small for one city, but in a dense urban area like New York it could be positively palatine.
It is beyond the scope of this space to write about macro-level planning issues or site analyses—we all know that a city should provide a series of neighborhood parks accessible to the daily needs for all its citizens, including those with dogs, with major municipal or regional parks available for special jaunts. In the ideal world, dogs would be welcomed to share the total park experience with us, as they do in Australia, and not only be limited to permitted sectors. Taking these limitations into consideration, we'll concentrate on some guidelines for a prototypical off-leash park, if only in the abstract. Operational topics, such as sponsoring groups, user-permits and maintenance issues will be discussed in the next issue.
Some suggest that the auxiliary (i.e., neighborhood) off-leash parks be a minimum of three to five acres. Even though we agree with the larger end of this range, in many urban areas this is probably unattainable. For smaller parks or for the ones that can't be easily "divided" into specific usage zones, a "time share" arrangement might be possible, with the park available to dog use in the early mornings and early evening hours. If this is your only option, as it is for many New Yorkers, try to obtain a liberal frame of permitted times (perhaps before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.), factoring in seasonal day length changes. The town of Petaluma, north of San Francisco, reports very successful results with a time-share program that is operational in all of its parks.
We disagree with policy papers that suggest that OLAs be restricted to a maximum of five acres. The rationale behind this limit is that a larger area would make monitoring more difficult. But there is abundant and convincing long-term evidence to ameliorate these concerns, coming from larger dog-friendly parks such as Pt. Isabel in Richmond, California (with nearly a million visits a year), Fort Funston in San Francisco, Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington, Shawnee Mission Park in Johnson County, Kansas, and others. Ideally, OLAs should be large enough not only to accommodate human-with-dog recreational activities, like walking and jogging, but also to provide enough space where some of us can spend private time away from the fetch-and-chase set. Also, the larger the park the less likely that its resources, such as turf, will suffer from overuse.
Other design considerations:
• Available parking that will not interfere with or disturb neighbors
Copyright © 1997-2016 The Bark, Inc. Dog Is My Co-Pilot® is a registered trademark of The Bark, Inc


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As we told you earlier this week, the Volunteer Action Center of the Mid-Ohio Valley is closing their Market Street offices, but not all services will end.
Including the Catholic Charities of West Virginia.
The non-profit organization provides emergency help to their clients, like paying utilities.
Volunteers also help with local food drives.
Catholic Charities has been a tenant of VAC for several years.
But now, the agency says their services are expanding and it's time to move on.
"Our program has grown tremendously over the last year. And we were considering larger space," says Deborah Shaffer, with Catholic Charities of West Virginia.
Shaffer says Catholic Charities is looking for other office space locations.
The group is hoping to stay downtown.
Shaffer says that's the best location to serve her clients.
The Volunteer Action Center of the Mid-Ohio Valley is closing, but not all services will end.
We're hearing from the group taking over one of the center's key programs.
The board of directors at the Volunteer Action Center says all operations are closing effective the end of the month, but it's not all bad news for some of their programs.
That includes the VAC's information and referral program - you may know it at home as dialing "211" on your phone - which links callers to a statewide informational hotline.
That service will now be transferred to the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley.
The United Way's offices on Grand Central already provide similar assistance through their emergency services coordinator.
So for management, the transfer makes a lot of sense.
"We're kind of a real key link in the community," says Joyce Mather, with United Way Alliance of the MOV. "And this I think will hopefully help that surface, that by stepping up to keep 211 going. That's really important."
The center's board of directors say financial problems are the main factor for their decision to close.
They say the program had a hard time attracting and retaining non-profit agencies to rent office space.
Also, they tell us they had difficulties securing grant funding.
The Volunteer Action Center launched in 1995, promoting volunteer work and working with various non-profit organizations.
Two more key programs are being transferred.
Faithlink and the Child Care Food Program will be transferred to Community Resources.
The Volunteer Action Center of the Mid-Ohio Valley is shutting down.
According to a news release from Tom Heller, vice-president of the organization's board of directors, it is closing April 30.
"The difficulty in attracting and retaining not-for-profit agencies to sublease office space and in securing grant funding were the main factors in the decision," Heller said in the release.
The VAC was founded in 1995 to promote volunteerism and help non-profit organizations link people to services.
The VAC's key programs will be transferred to other agencies.
FaithLink, in which volunteers help the elderly stay in their homes, will move to Community Resources, Inc.
The Child Care Food program, which provides financial assistance for nutritional meals for childcare providers, will also be transferring to Community Resources.
The VAC's Information and Referral program, which links callers to a statewide database of health and human services, will be transferred to the United Way of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

subset: commoncrawl


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Most Popular "Singing" Titles
- Movies or TV
- Genres
- Keywords
- IMDb Rating
- Instant Watch Options
- In Theaters
- On TV
- Release Year
1. Pete's Dragon (2016)
PG | 103 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
The adventures of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon.
Director: David Lowery | Stars: Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford, Oakes Fegley, Oona Laurence
Votes: 4,561 | Gross: $54.72M
2. The Jungle Book (2016)
PG | 106 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan forces him to flee the jungle, a man-cub named Mowgli embarks on a journey of self discovery with the help of panther, Bagheera, and free spirited bear, Baloo.
Director: Jon Favreau | Stars: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba
Votes: 121,103 | Gross: $363.22M
3. Brooklyn (2015)
PG-13 | 111 min | Drama, Romance
An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance with a local. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.
Director: John Crowley | Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent
Votes: 75,897 | Gross: $38.32M
4. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
PG-13 | 111 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.
Director: Stephen Frears | Stars: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson
Votes: 3,904 | Gross: $16.85M
5. The Lobster (2015)
R | 119 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
In a dystopian near future, single people, according to the laws of The City, are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in forty-five days or are transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods.
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos | Stars: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman
Votes: 80,464 | Gross: $8.67M
6. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)
R | 92 min | Comedy
When their new next-door neighbors turn out to be a sorority even more debaucherous than the fraternity previously living there, Mac and Kelly team with their former enemy, Teddy, to bring the girls down.
Director: Nicholas Stoller | Stars: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Chloë Grace Moretz
Votes: 35,975 | Gross: $55.29M
7. Captain Fantastic (2016)
R | 118 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent.
Director: Matt Ross | Stars: Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso
Votes: 4,754 | Gross: $4.69M
8. Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
PG | 94 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Manny, Diego, and Sid join up with Buck to fend off a meteor strike that would destroy the world.
Directors: Mike Thurmeier, Galen T. Chu | Stars: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Chris Wedge
Votes: 10,793 | Gross: $60.83M
9. Pulp Fiction (1994)
R | 154 min | Crime, Drama
The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis
Votes: 1,330,043 | Gross: $107.93M
10. Family Guy (1999– )
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
In a wacky Rhode Island town, a dysfunctional family strive to cope with everyday life as they are thrown from one crazy scenario to another.
Stars: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis
Votes: 239,648
11. Green Room (2015)
R | 95 min | Crime, Horror, Music
A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar.
Director: Jeremy Saulnier | Stars: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Patrick Stewart
Votes: 32,026 | Gross: $3.22M
12. Train to Busan (2016)
118 min | Action, Horror, Thriller
While a zombie-virus breaks out in South Korea, a couple of passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan.
Director: Sang-ho Yeon | Stars: Yoo Gong, Dong-seok Ma, Woo-sik Choi, Yu-mi Jeong
Votes: 2,741 | Gross: $1.53M
13. Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
R | 117 min | Comedy
A group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.
Director: Richard Linklater | Stars: Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin, Ryan Guzman, Zoey Deutch
Votes: 19,006 | Gross: $3.37M
14. Straight Outta Compton (2015)
R | 147 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The group NWA emerges from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes Hip Hop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.
Director: F. Gary Gray | Stars: O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr.
Votes: 121,749 | Gross: $161.03M
15. Glee (2009–2015)
TV-PG | 44 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A group of ambitious misfits try to escape the harsh realities of high school by joining a glee club, where they find strength, acceptance and, ultimately, their voice, while working to pursue dreams of their own.
Stars: Lea Michele, Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Cory Monteith
Votes: 116,860
16. Sing (2016)
110 min | Animation, Comedy, Family | Completed
A koala named Buster recruits his best friend to help him drum up business for his theater by hosting a singing competition.
Director: Garth Jennings | Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Matthew McConaughey, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll
17. Gladiator (2000)
R | 155 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by an emperor's corrupt son, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed
Votes: 986,869 | Gross: $187.67M
18. Dirty Dancing (1987)
PG-13 | 100 min | Drama, Music, Romance
Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances "Baby" Houseman falls in love with the camp's dance instructor, Johnny Castle.
Director: Emile Ardolino | Stars: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes
Votes: 142,232 | Gross: $63.89M
19. Sing Street (2016)
PG-13 | 106 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A boy growing up in Dublin during the 1980s escapes his strained family life by starting a band to impress the mysterious girl he likes.
Director: John Carney | Stars: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jack Reynor
Votes: 14,389 | Gross: $3.22M
20. The Colony (2015)
R | 110 min | Drama, Romance, Thriller
A young woman's desperate search for her abducted boyfriend that draws her into the infamous Colonia Dignidad, a sect nobody has ever escaped from.
Director: Florian Gallenberger | Stars: Emma Watson, Daniel Brühl, Michael Nyqvist, Richenda Carey
Votes: 18,204
21. The Departed (2006)
R | 151 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg
Votes: 877,409 | Gross: $132.37M
22. Django Unchained (2012)
R | 165 min | Drama, Western
With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington
Votes: 960,105 | Gross: $162.80M
23. Stand by Me (1986)
R | 89 min | Adventure, Drama
After the death of a friend, a writer recounts a boyhood journey to find the body of a missing boy.
Director: Rob Reiner | Stars: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell
Votes: 273,248 | Gross: $52.29M
24. Youth (I) (2015)
R | 124 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A retired orchestra conductor is on holiday with his daughter and his film director best friend in the Alps when he receives an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to perform for Prince Philip's birthday.
Director: Paolo Sorrentino | Stars: Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Jane Fonda
Votes: 42,217 | Gross: $2.70M
25. Fury (2014)
R | 134 min | Action, Drama, War
A grizzled tank commander makes tough decisions as he and his crew fight their way across Germany in April, 1945.
Director: David Ayer | Stars: Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña
Votes: 305,177 | Gross: $85.71M
26. The Notebook (2004)
PG-13 | 123 min | Drama, Romance
A poor yet passionate young man falls in love with a rich young woman, giving her a sense of freedom, but they are soon separated because of their social differences.
Director: Nick Cassavetes | Stars: Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling
Votes: 397,994 | Gross: $0.06M
27. Superbad (2007)
R | 113 min | Comedy
Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.
Director: Greg Mottola | Stars: Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader
Votes: 423,880 | Gross: $121.46M
28. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
PG-13 | 102 min | Drama, Romance
An introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world.
Director: Stephen Chbosky | Stars: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd
Votes: 352,989 | Gross: $17.74M
29. Cinderella (I) (2015)
PG | 105 min | Drama, Family, Fantasy
When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her scheming step-sisters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger.
Director: Kenneth Branagh | Stars: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter
Votes: 104,486 | Gross: $201.15M
30. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
R | 99 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.
Director: Wes Anderson | Stars: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody
Votes: 478,956 | Gross: $59.07M
31. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
PG-13 | 112 min | Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Scott Pilgrim must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil exes in order to win her heart.
Director: Edgar Wright | Stars: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Alison Pill
Votes: 275,089 | Gross: $31.49M
32. This Is the End (2013)
R | 107 min | Comedy, Fantasy
While attending a party at James Franco's house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the apocalypse.
Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen | Stars: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel
Votes: 311,773 | Gross: $101.47M
33. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
X | 136 min | Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi
In future Britain, charismatic delinquent Alex DeLarge is jailed and volunteers for an experimental aversion therapy developed by the government in an effort to solve society's crime problem - but not all goes according to plan.
Director: Stanley Kubrick | Stars: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke
Votes: 560,866
34. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
PG-13 | 201 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Gandalf and Aragorn lead the World of Men against Sauron's army to draw his gaze from Frodo and Sam as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.
Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom
Votes: 1,220,515 | Gross: $377.02M
35. There Will Be Blood (2007)
R | 158 min | Drama
A story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson | Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciarán Hinds, Martin Stringer
Votes: 374,806 | Gross: $40.22M
36. The Hollars (2016)
PG-13 | 88 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A man returns to his small hometown after learning that his mother has fallen ill and is about to undergo surgery.
Director: John Krasinski | Stars: Sharlto Copley, Charlie Day, Richard Jenkins, Anna Kendrick
Votes: 223
37. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
G | 149 min | Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Humanity finds a mysterious, obviously artificial object buried beneath the Lunar surface and, with the intelligent computer H.A.L. 9000, sets off on a quest.
Director: Stanley Kubrick | Stars: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter
Votes: 429,460 | Gross: $56.72M
38. The Giver (2014)
PG-13 | 97 min | Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.
Director: Phillip Noyce | Stars: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift
Votes: 86,891 | Gross: $45.09M
39. Ted 2 (2015)
R | 115 min | Comedy
Newlywed couple Ted and Tami-Lynn want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he's a person in a court of law.
Director: Seth MacFarlane | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Barth
Votes: 119,323 | Gross: $81.26M
40. Into the Woods (2014)
PG | 125 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
A witch tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree.
Director: Rob Marshall | Stars: Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt
Votes: 101,745 | Gross: $128.00M
41. The Aviator (2004)
PG-13 | 170 min | Biography, Drama
A biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes' career from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly
Votes: 265,205 | Gross: $102.61M
42. Into the Wild (2007)
R | 148 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama
After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.
Director: Sean Penn | Stars: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, Marcia Gay Harden
Votes: 428,260 | Gross: $18.35M
43. The Deer Hunter (1978)
R | 183 min | Drama, War
An in-depth examination of the ways in which the U.S. Vietnam War impacts and disrupts the lives of people in a small industrial town in Pennsylvania.
Director: Michael Cimino | Stars: Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Cazale, John Savage
Votes: 233,482
44. Step Up (2006)
PG-13 | 104 min | Crime, Drama, Music
Tyler Gage receives the opportunity of a lifetime after vandalizing a performing arts school, gaining him the chance to earn a scholarship and dance with an up and coming dancer, Nora.
Director: Anne Fletcher | Stars: Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Damaine Radcliff, De'Shawn Washington
Votes: 91,332 | Gross: $65.27M
45. Top Gun (1986)
PG | 110 min | Action, Drama, Romance
As students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.
Director: Tony Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise, Tim Robbins, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer
Votes: 219,800 | Gross: $176.78M
46. American Hustle (2013)
R | 138 min | Crime, Drama
A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso, who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia.
Director: David O. Russell | Stars: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence
Votes: 359,617 | Gross: $150.12M
47. Juno (2007)
PG-13 | 96 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.
Director: Jason Reitman | Stars: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman
Votes: 415,639 | Gross: $143.49M
48. Bridesmaids (I) (2011)
R | 125 min | Comedy, Romance
Competition between the maid of honor and a bridesmaid, over who is the bride's best friend, threatens to upend the life of an out-of-work pastry chef.
Director: Paul Feig | Stars: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Terry Crews
Votes: 219,394 | Gross: $169.08M
49. The Night Before (2015)
R | 101 min | Comedy
On Christmas eve, three lifelong friends spend the night in New York City looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.
Director: Jonathan Levine | Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Jillian Bell, Lizzy Caplan
Votes: 33,089 | Gross: $43.04M
50. Fargo (1996)
R | 98 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.
Directors: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen | Stars: William H. Macy, Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare
Votes: 456,282 | Gross: $25.88M


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New Articles
Carrollton Ranchview HS
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Ranchview Wolves players run out of the tunnel before their game against prosper on Sept. 3, 2010 at Prosper's Eagle Stadium.
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Definition of Deng Xiaoping in English:
Deng Xiaoping
(also Teng Hsiao-p'ing)
(1904–97), Chinese communist statesman; vice premier 1973–76 and 1977–80; vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party 1977–80. Discredited during the Cultural Revolution, he was reinstated in 1977 and became the leader of China.
For editors and proofreaders
Syllabification: Deng Xiao·ping
Definition of Deng Xiaoping in:
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text:
Why sunscreen is necessary 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Many women believe that they don't need to wear sunscreen if they're not planning to spend the day outside. When it's still dark out on your morning commute, you're sitting in an office all day and you leave when night has fallen, it might seem like the sun's not an enemy. However, Allure Magazine points out that UVA rays are more prominent than you think.
The sun has two types of radiation: UVB and UVA. Unlike UVB rays, UVA rays can travel right through windows, whether in your car, office or house. So, even if you think you're protected by that pane of glass, you could be soaking up these cancer-causing rays that also promote premature aging.
It's important to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen on a daily basis – even if it's raining outside. Slather on a product like Colorescience – Sunforgettable SPF 30 Mini Orb on areas of your body that aren't covered by clothing, like your forearms and décolletage. Then, use a facial sunblock like Murad – Perfecting Day Cream SPF 30 underneath your makeup. You'll be protected from those pesky UVA rays.


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"Peace, love & respect from Canada. Thanks for your support, Trey. Excellent songs, heartfelt & so easy to relate to. You've got the gift."
"You have a beautiful voice, like your lyrics and i read your bio, wow one talented man being able to play so many instruments. Wishing you continued success"
"hi Trey, stopping by to show support this evening... keep shining!"
"Greetings from Dallas! I really like your voice and songwriting. Great traditional C&W sound and lyrics. And I love the accordion on "South Texas Border." xox- Laura A."
"Trrey, your lyrics for Just put your head on my shoulder, are so romantic! Soulfully written & sung. You sound wonderful! -Christy"
"Trey great voice and tracks, music is classic, Thumbs up buddy"
"Strong performances and material, Trey - I really like "Just put your head on my shoulder" - very comforting!"
"I am listening to "Trials of Life." Very truthful and inspiring lyrics that tell a great life lesson. Sincerely, Shane"
"Well I just wanted to say you have an awesome voice and so enjoyed listen to you.."
"Hi Trey Hooten! Great music! God Bless you! Happiness!!! Success!!!"
"Excellent songwriting sir!"
"Trey, beautiful music! Inspiration and Success to you!"
"Excellent works of art! Wishing you the best in all that you do!"
"Hi Trey, Thanks for the fan add, I enjoyed listening to your music.. all the best : )"
"I think You're right every woman wants that affection to be shown. A lot of woman will relate to this. Great lyrics and sound. Very sexy as well."
"Elisa Miconi Keep on loving your style! Stay connected, I'm working on my first album ;) best of luck, a guitar girl"
"Thank you for your support! Great sound and songs you've got here!"
"Enjoyed listening to "Trials of Life". Love your vocals. Thanks for your support and I wish you much success."
"Thank you for your support! Awesome tracks! Enjoyed your great vocals, lyrics, and instrumental talent! Thank you for sharing your talent! Best wishes! --Slam Horse"
"Beautiful authentic country tunes! Great arrangements and your voice is golden..."
"Your tunes are sweet and mellow, your lyrics are honest, and touching — you're an excellent songwriter, Trey; thank you for sharing. Keep releasing these hits!"
" I love your songs. They are well-crafted. I love your lyrics. They are honest and moving"
"had a fantastic time listening to these warm, smooth country sounds..just loving that voice and it works so well on the soulful and honest "what would I do without you"..beautiful song!!"
"Thank you very much for listening to my music and for becoming a fan! Means a lot to me! Very touching! Keep up the good work! All the best! /Stephan"
"Loved "Just put your head on my shoulder" !! Great lyrics!"
"Thanks for supporting! Best wishes~ CelinaLINA.com"
"Enjoying your awesome music Trey. Wishing you the best"
"'Those Little Love Notes' sounds great! Laurie"
"Love your songs Trey."
"Love the traditional country sound! Keep it up"
"You have some very excellent music here Trey, my best, BUDD"
"Thanks for the friendship Trey. Diggin' "South Texas Border""
"You're a talented musician!!!! Very well done!!!"
"I love to hear positive, supportive, upbringing music & words - it helps us all - thank you for your songs and how they can help lighten our burdens"
"Wow, very incredible! Fantastic job!"
"Dear Trey, Thank you so much for sharing beautiful music, great vocals, Light up my day! Absolutely fantastic! Nice to meet you! Ryo,"
"Awesome music Brother. This is real country music"
"Trials of Life", "The Colorado River", "That Ole Tune",... awesome songwriting & performances, sure gonna be back for more!
" Great vocal passion on "Trials of Life" Trey!"
" Awesome! Great sound. Thx for the support. Greetings from Brazil"
" Hey Trey, Loving your work! Pleasure to be your fan. Listening to your tracks today"
" "This Workings Not For Us" is excellent, impeccable vocals and instrumental accompaniment! Pete"
" Love your song; Just put your head on my shoulder; great song--voice--band"
" Very beautiful country tunes! 'Just put your head on my shoulder' and 'South Texas Border' are my favorites!"
" way to go, love just put your head on my shoulders, really good job, keep up the fantastic work god bless"
" some real country here, i like it alot"
" Trey, Great heartfelt Country songs that melt the heart!!! -Kevin"
" Just put your head-good song!"
" Shared South Texas Border. Awesome music"
" Those Little Love Notes has great lyrics, music and vocals. Keep up the good work and best wishes with your music in 2013.."
" Great writing, music, & singing !!!!"
" Great lyrics,,,,,,,"
" " south texas border " is pure classic country music !! great music ... all the best to you !!"
" Hey Trey, loving the deep tones and sweet sentiment ..."
" Excellent country music and performance on "Just put your head on my shoulder " Much success"
"Hey Trey!! I LOVE your AWESOME Traditional sound!!! FABULOUS!! xo Payton Taylor"
"Lord knows that there are some people that have the gift of telling a story in a song, and sing it very well. You all have that!! Put Your Head on my Shoulder is as perfect a song can get. Wonderful Wonderful music. Your Fan Kit Mann"
" Well-written country songs performed by a Texas treasure!"
" Great songwriting skills. I love songs that tell a story and JUST PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER is wonderful! ~kc"
"Greg Ledder Hey Trey!! It's a pleasure to listen to your great music - definitley a George strait thang going on there....very smooth!! Best wishes from the UK, Greg."
"The Live in Texas CD is out now. This CD contains original songs recorded over the years and new songs by Trey recorded live and features Hall of Fame Musician Jim Flynn on steel guitar and Don Melton and Paul Racicot on the guitars."


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The NFL has seen better times; like a few months ago when they were playing football and not locked out.
With the lockout, we are left to debate how funny it is that Louis Murphy got caught with Viagra, how serious Joe Flacco's contract dilemma is, and if Tom Brady is becoming too feminized under the watchful eye of his wife, Giselle Bundchen.
Seriously, I think Brady is wearing makeup now. If he is, that is just not right.
The real Tom Brady news is that he was photographed throwing the ball in Los Angeles without the walking boot on, but since he played through the 2010 season on a stress fracture, throwing without the boot on really isn't news.
Unless we still are in a lockout.
Yep, the lockout still is on, I just checked.
So thanks for stopping by as I run down all the day's headlines and try and have some fun in the process.


text:
News at WMHS
Save the Date! Sept. 19 Breast Health Event20th Annual WMHS Golf ClassicWMHS Seeking Hospice VolunteersUrgent Care Services - New Hours
August Change to Win Weight ManagementAugust Weekday Wellness at Rocky GapMini-Meditation Sessions in AugustWMHS Farmers Market: Every Wednesday
© 2016 Western Maryland Health System. All Rights Reserved • 12500 Willowbrook Rd • Cumberland, MD 21502 • Phone: 240-964-7000 • Site by DH WEB, Inc.


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Share Photo
It CAN actually happen in San Diego. In January of 2007 there was a cold stretch that left icicles hanging from the trees along Interstate 15 south of Highway 52. It was kind of cheating though, since the water was from a wayward CALTRANS sprinkler, but the freezing temperatures overnight were for real.
— John Gibbins


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9.86 out of 10 (what is this?)
Press & News
The Digital Bits - Celebrating Film In The Digital Age
Underground Film Links: June 19, 2011
Remembering Bill Hunter, Donald Krim, Bruce Ricker
Cannes 2011. Weekend News Roundup
Possible Links
Alternative Names:
alexandre jodorowsky
alexandro jodorowsky
Alejandro Jodorowsky (born 17 February 1929) is a Chilean-French filmmaker, playwright, actor, author, musician, comics writer and spiritual guru. Best known for his avant-garde films, he has been "venerated by cult cinema enthusiasts" for his work which "is filled with violently surreal images and a hybrid blend of mysticism and religious provocation".


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- Report: #480690
Report - Rebuttal - Arbitrate
Complaint Review: Mike Asodi
Mike Asodi2324 East County Rd Ozark, Alabama United States of America
Mike Asodi - Mapson Freight Xpress, We worked for him for one month and he owed us 3000 MORRIS, Illinois
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This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 08/16/2009 12:47 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Mike-Asodi/Ozark-Alabama-36360/Mike-Asodi-Mapson-Freight-Xpress-We-worked-for-him-for-one-month-and-he-owed-us-3000-M-480690. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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Patio Furniture
Beautiful patio furniture! The material is strong, but light at the same time. It fits perfectly into smaller spaces. I'm very happy with my purchase!!
- How did the color on site compare with the actual product? The color is very accurate
- Please tell us about the quality of the product. The quality is excellent
- How accurate was the on site description of the product? Very accurate
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Very nice
Easy to put together; color of fabric is gorgeous; cushions are nicely firm; ensemble is sturdy and looks great.
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I love sewing, embroidery, quilting and in general, anything fabric!View all patterns by designer (2) »
Instant Download!...This pretty Embroidery Stabilizer Keeper is perfect for every sewing room. It is easily customizable for any number of stabilizer rolls and any space requirements. It will keep your stabilizer dust free and always at your fingertips. You'll always know just which type of stabilizer you have!
You can make this for yourself or it will make a unique gift!
This pattern is very well illustrated with many photos and graphic drawings, with step-by-step instructions that are very easy to follow for all levels of sewing experience.
If you purchase this pattern, I would love it if you would leave me a comment and tell me where you heard about it!! Thank you!


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Southern soul band The Gold Magnolias will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Boiler Room at Hawley Silk Mill.
The band consists of Hudson Mueller, guitar and vocals; Evan Felts, keyboards and vocals; Daniel Foose, bass; Jeff Barton, drums; and Ryan Anselmi, tenor sax. The band also features Rich Polatchek, trumpet; Malec Heermans, trombone; and Andrew Hadro, baritone sax.
The band's influences range from Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Otis Redding to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton.
Tickets are $16 in advance or $20 at the door. To purchase tickets, visit silkmillharmony.com.
For information, call 570-588-8077 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Location, ST | website.com


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- Report: #1008738
Report - Rebuttal - Arbitrate
Complaint Review: Max Chilson
Max ChilsonInternet, Florida United States of America
Max Chilson Jacob Goodman He bad mouths his suppliers to intimidate them to provide more product. Internet, Florida
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He uses 2 names that we are aware of: Max Chilson & Jacob Goodman.....there may be more.
If you are a vendor, he is one customer you don't need. He is just nothing but grief!
We are preparing a federal lawsuit and have turned our findings over to the proper authorities.
Avoid this character like the plaque!
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/04/2013 03:49 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Max-Chilson/Internet-Florida-/Max-Chilson-Jacob-Goodman-He-bad-mouths-his-suppliers-to-intimidate-them-to-provide-more-p-1008738. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report.
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- Do not include ".com", "S", "Inc.", "Corp", or "LLC" at the end of the Company name.
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- Only search one name at a time if Company has many AKA's.
Advertisers above have met our
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Current time: 0:00Total duration: 4:59
0 energy points
East Pediment sculptures, Parthenon, including Helios, Horses and Dionysus (Heracles?)
Phidias (?), Sculpture from the East Pediment of the Parthenon, marble, c. 448-432 B.C.E., Classical Period (British Museum, London). Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris, Dr. Steven Zucker. Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.


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With Instructables you can share what you make with the world, and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.
I like Leevonk's PIC development board; here it is re-done in Cadsoft Eagle, with a couple other modifications to make it simpler/cheaper
There's not a lot TO this instructable; it's pretty much just CAD files for a modified version of Leevonk's instructable.
PIC development/testing boardby leevonk
Intro to PIC Microcontrollersby leevonk
Sine wave frequency measurement using pic microcontrollerby tanveerm
PICBasic serial interrupts with PIC16F877by leevonk
Build yourself flashing message on PIC16F877A with assemblerby arick
Join 2 million + to receive instant DIY inspiration in your inbox.
Download our apps!
© 2016 Autodesk, Inc.


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Take a sneak peek at the new NIST.gov and let us know what you think!
(Please note: some content may not be complete on the beta site.).
Hybrid Materials News
(showing 1 - 3 of 3)
Hybrid Memory Device for Superconducting Computing
Release Date: 01/23/2015
A team of NIST scientists has devised and demonstrated a novel nanoscale memory technology for superconducting computing that could hasten the … more
Welcome Guests: Added Molecules Allow Metal-Organic Frameworks to Conduct Electricity
Release Date: 12/05/2013
Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Sandia National Laboratories have added something new to a family of … more
New NIST-led Consortium Aims to Improve Process for Making 'Soft Materials'
Release Date: 07/11/2012
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is launching a new consortium that will take the measure of a growing and increasingly … more
Related Links in:Material Measurement Laboratory
ContactGeneral Information:
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1070
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070


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- August 27, 2013
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Comments (54) (Please sign in to comment)
I'm guessing she doesn't .
Thank the moon gods, MM.
Wait, why didn't MM recognize Sparkle when she was on the farm? Or did their paths not cross?
Good morning, all!
I think Sparkle did not see who knocked her out, anyway, and the treathening note was blown away…unless someone picks it up. If truth came out, things are going to get awkward! And as for Moon Maid's identity, I think she's an organic AI construct with an implanted memory pattern built around a genetic matrix. But anyway, I like the story, my compliments to Mike and Joe and all at DT staff for a great work!
"Wait, why didn't MM recognize Sparkle when she was on the farm?"
She recognized her all right, just won't admit it. That look of anxiety on her face is pretty amusing.
Sparkle doesn't remember it now, but that doesn't mean she won't have a flashback in the future. Anything can happen in the world of Dick Tracy. (And I hope they keep it this way.)
Sparkle got a shock to her system, her brain as one finds using brain shock therapy. She might not ever remember.
in the 3rd panel MM IS JUST TOO CUTE!
So, MM is telling what she knows, but not to the point that she would incriminate herself. She even wants people to believe that she didn't recognize Sparkle. I guess that's the only way she can maintain her innocence. I don't expect Sparkle to remember anything, but that is unpredictable.
So I guess Jr. & Sparkle are getting "reacquainted" with each other off-screen?
To: Clone-Moon Maid
From: (Disembodied Voice)
The weed of crime bears bitter fruit!
Crime does not pay!
The Shadow knows!
Tell the Truth now,
or become so tangled in your lies that you will go down no matter who or what you really are. It's not nice to fool the MCU!
I think Tracy is suspicious…..
I expect someone is picking up that note MM2 wrote just about now….
Good morning all…
a great comic strip today and every day!
MM's remark, "So that's who Gertie really was" should set off warning bells for DT and crew, because they know that MM and Sparkle knew each other, and were even friends.
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Interactive Seating Charts
Unfortunately, we do not currently have
a seating chart for Austin's Fuel Room.
Austin's Fuel Room481 Peterson Road
Libertyville, IL 60048
Upcoming Events
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text:
A Covert Affair
Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS
by Jennet Conant
- #52 in Nonfiction, History, Modern, 20th Century
- #841 in Nonfiction, History
- #1290 in Biography & Memoir
Get eBook
- Your price$11.99
You'll see how many points you'll earn before checking out. We'll award them after completing your purchase.
Bestselling author Jennet Conant brings us a stunning account of Julia and Paul Child's experiences as members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in the Far East during World War II and the tumultuous years when they were caught up in the McCarthy Red spy hunt in the 1950s and behaved with bravery and honor. It is the fascinating portrait of a group of idealistic men and women who were recruited by the citizen spy service, slapped into uniform, and dispatched to wage political warfare in remote outposts in Ceylon, India, and China.
The eager, inexperienced 6 foot 2 inch Julia springs to life in these pages, a gangly golf-playing California girl who had never been farther abroad than Tijuana. Single and thirty years old when she joined the staff of Colonel William Donovan, Julia volunteered to be part of the OSS's ambitious mission to develop a secret intelligence network across Southeast Asia. Her first post took her to the mountaintop idyll of Kandy, the headquarters of Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the supreme commander of combined operations. Julia reveled in the glamour and intrigue of her overseas assignment and lifealtering romance with the much older and more sophisticated Paul Child, who took her on trips into the jungle, introduced her to the joys of curry, and insisted on educating both her mind and palate. A painter drafted to build war rooms, Paul was a colorful, complex personality. Conant uses extracts from his letters in which his sharp eye and droll wit capture the day-to-day confusion, excitement, and improbability of being part of a cloak- and-dagger operation.
When Julia and Paul were transferred to Kunming, a rugged outpost at the foot of the Burma Road, they witnessed the chaotic end of the war in China and the beginnings of the Communist revolution that would shake the world. A Covert Affair chronicles their friendship with a brilliant and eccentric array of OSS agents, including Jane Foster, a wealthy, free-spirited artist, and Elizabeth MacDonald, an adventurous young reporter. In Paris after the war, Julia and Paul remained close to their intelligence colleagues as they struggled to start new lives, only to find themselves drawn into a far more terrifying spy drama. Relying on recently unclassified OSS and FBI documents, as well as previously unpublished letters and diaries, Conant vividly depicts a dangerous time in American history, when those who served their country suddenly found themselves called to account for their unpopular opinions and personal relationships.
People who read this also enjoyed
eBook Details
- Simon & Schuster, April 2011
- Imprint:
Simon & Schuster
- 9781439168509
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- English
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text:
Liverpool Message Board
LFC_Armchair_Supporter LFC_Armchair_Supporter Jun 4, 2012 11:37 Flag
will we ever win a EPL title?
With the likes of Chelsea & Man City spending huge sums on players..
How can we ever hope to win a title?Sort: Newest | Oldest | Most Replied Expand all replies
dsteer_lfc_68 dsteer_lfc_68 Jun 4, 2012 13:47 Flag
Yes we will
- 1 Reply to dsteer_lfc_68
Never ever, not even in 150 years when aliens and humans are friends..
Yes if have a much bigger capacity stadium and get in the top 4 to generate more money and attract better players AND only if Uefa have the guts to enforce their fair play rules.
- 1 Reply to Delphi
LFC_Armchair_Supporter LFC_Armchair_Supporter Jun 5, 2012 18:03 Flag
So Delph do you feel it's a tootless rule?
The sooner the stadium is built the sooner we'll get competing so thats up to FSG..
You could win the championship
Tony Moorhead Tony Moorhead Jun 5, 2012 18:37 Flag
With determination anythings possible, who cares what Chelsea and City buys at least we have history and we also have the twelfth player. We should now get behind the manager and hope he can get the team to work together on the same page and hopefully get some new players worth having in the squad. Chelsea are beatable as we have shown.
By getting more points than them. Rather simple really


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I am trying to connect my WP-Print and WP-Email links with my own icons, instead of the default links. I have a list of social media icons at the bottom of each post. I have the icons for "print" and "email" in my Photobucket account, ready to go, and WP-Print and WP-Email plugins are installed, but I am having trouble working it so that the links are attached to my icons at the bottom of my posts. See here: http://www.glutenfreelyfrugal.com/
I am running WordPress 3.3.1 on Genesis. Any help is appreciated!


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you are viewing a single comment's thread.
True, and the EDS outsourcing was a few years ago so I am not writing about anything new. The subject was, by order from Kraft, fairly tight-lipped. So I am surprised by even one response here. I once met a retired engineer from Kraft who just rolled his eyes upward for divine guidance, enough said there.


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Charleston, W.Va. (AP) -- A Kanawha County circuit judge has upheld the conviction of a Charleston bar owner on two misdemeanor charges of flouting the county's smoking ban.
Judge Charles King upheld a magistrate's February conviction of Blackhawk Saloon owner Kerry "Paco" Ellison.
King ruled that Ellison broke the law by distributing ashtrays and allowing patrons to smoke in the bar.
King's order was issued earlier this month and released by the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department on Monday.
The department wants the State Alcohol Beverage Control Administration to revoke Ellison's liquor license.
Ellison says he plans to appeal King's ruling to the State Supreme Court.
(Copyright 2009 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)


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Sorry if this is the wrong forum :X
Anyway I found a "bug". I followed this guide (http://codex.wordpress.org/Giving_WordPress_Its_Own_Directory). After that I used the wp-admin/media-upload.php to add an image. The image was uploaded to public_html/wp-admin HOWEVER the
<img src= was from my wordpress directory.
Naturally this led to the image not displaying. :]


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i love P2, but (and prob not in the spirit of p2) is there a way to remove Watcha Doing and Recent updates? I am no good at CSS, i saw where you can change the words "watcha doing" but not sure what to comment out
plus, i'd love to add a header image, lightweight as the blog title, just point to the css and i'll thrash it, i mean try it!
thank you, it is a lovely theme and incredibly efficient too :)


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The West Advisor articles have answered boaters' questions and provided solutions to boating problems for more than 20 years. West Marine has compiled one of the Web's most comprehensive collections of technical boating information articles.
Reviewed by 1 customer
Comments about Uniden Li-ion Battery Pack:
Still is an ongoing problem. Although the employees try to make it good, the radio unit is a dud.