text:
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Shooting the Breeze
She bites his shoulder, hard enough to snap his eyes wide. He gasps, taking in a cool breathe, the noise of the city thirty stories below momentarily crashing into his consciousness. Streetlights, traffic, shops, all flow together in a glittering tableau, far brighter than the stars above the rooftop they stand on.
Twenty four hours ago they barely knew each other beyond a name, given to them by someone else. Twenty four hours changes everything.
He catches her with his eyes as she walks through the door of the restaurant. She has a rugged beauty, far from porcelain doll but not junkyard dog either. Someone that can hold there own enough, that it was hard to show up and ask for help. When he got the call this morning, they told him she was in trouble, he could see that as well.
She turns once around, measuring the crowd before finding him. She smiles, faint as if they are old friends, not a name on a piece of paper slipped to her by a housekeeper. Shoulders back portraying confidence, he knows is false, she crosses to his table taking the seat across from him.
"Hello. Are you..."
"Jason. And you are Chloe. "
"Yes. I..."
"You need help."
Dirt and pebbles burst into the air, chaotic clouds born on fierce wind washed by the prop of a helicopter roaring over the edge of the rooftop. A spotlight engulfs the couple entwined in each other, clothes akimbo, washing them white. Jason feels Chloe coil tight into him
"Step away from the girl," a disembodied voice bellows over a loud speaker from within the light.
Her blue eyes bore into his, pleading, then turn to steel as she spins away from him, slipping the gun from its place at the small of his back, swinging it toward the blinding light, pulling the trigger again and again.
Bullets slam the rear panel on the drivers side and when Jason feels the tires regain traction he releases the horses to do their job, accelerating away from the men that had been waiting on them. They knew where Chloe would retreat to for safety, time to get creative. First he needs answers.
"Why do these men want you so bad?" he asks the quivering woman in the passenger seat, slipping quickly over the edge of her sanity, "and I don't believe your story about taking money. These guys are really trying to put us down. Who did you piss off? And how?"
She tells him and everything goes from bad to worse
Chloe looks at the gun raised toward the helicopter, pulling the trigger continuously even though nothing is happening. Looking at Jason, his arms out in an open handed shrug as if to say 'sorry' before retrieving another gun from within his casual sport coat.
"It had to be this way, otherwise you might have hurt..."
"You bastard!" she screams, covering the short distance between them, raking his face with her nails. Droplets of blood patter like raindrops on the roof, collecting dust as the helicopter lands.
"He raped me," she explains, "and when he found out I was pregnant, he sent his men to retrieve me."
"He wants a son, an heir. His wife is unable to," she chokes on the remaining words.
"Ok, we wont last long in the car. They are probably converging on our location as we speak, but I have an idea."
"United States Secret Service, put your hands on your head!" the men scream over the howl of the still spinning blades of the helicopter, as it settles on the roof and they disembark surrounding Jason and Chloe.
"Hey, take it easy. I brought her in like I said I would," Jason barks back at them.
Pain amd anger snarl Chloe's face as she realises the depth of her betrayal by the man who was supposed to be helping her. By the man a few minutes ago with whom she had been making out with, convinced that they might actually get away. She sends spittle across his face as they haul her toward the helicopter.
"Can I get a ride back?" Jason asks the Agent in Charge.
"Sure, since you brought her in," the silver haired man chuckles, "and I will let you be the one that tells the President you were making out with his cousin."
Climbing aboard the helicopter, Jason smirks, "I think we both know she is not his cousin," and hands move quickly toward holstered weapons. Well passed the time for just shooting the breeze.
This is a 10DOM entry.
70 comments:
- Lorraine said...
THE FICTION OF naughty love, you gotta love it :)
- December 4, 2010 at 3:23 AM
- Mrsupole said...
You always rein us into the story and then leave us wanting more.
Just great, thanks.
God bless.
- December 4, 2010 at 3:39 AM
- TechnoBabe said...
Is he going to help her or turn her in, is he friend or foe. Great back and forth writing.
- December 4, 2010 at 3:43 AM
- Just Be Real said...
Feel like I am watching a tennis match. Blessings Brian.
- December 4, 2010 at 3:54 AM
- liza said...
I had to stop and make myself some popcorn for that one. Great imagery!
- December 4, 2010 at 3:59 AM
- sheila said...
Oh my goodness!
- December 4, 2010 at 4:55 AM
- the walking man said...
Interesting a gun fight in the confines of a helicopter. Hope He was the last on in line to get in.
- December 4, 2010 at 5:05 AM
- Jerry said...
Yikes...the humanity!
- December 4, 2010 at 5:17 AM
- Joanie M said...
Great story!!
- December 4, 2010 at 5:23 AM
- Tracy said...
This sounds like a great novel, Brian.
- December 4, 2010 at 5:32 AM
- Lori said...
Another great snippet of a novel in the making? Happy weekend to you and your family Brian.
- December 4, 2010 at 5:39 AM
- Who Is Afraid of Alfred Hitchcock? said...
Hi! Brian...
What a very interesting short story...one word... intriguing.
When I first started to read your story I must admit I didn't know which way your story was going.
Thanks, for sharing your 10Dom entry...
DeeDee ;-D
- December 4, 2010 at 5:51 AM
- Daniel said...
Kind of a James Bond-ian feel. Take what you can get when you can get it. Betrayal, intrigue, and cousins that aren't relations. Ooooh.
- December 4, 2010 at 6:01 AM
- DJan said...
I hardly know what to say, except WHY HAVEN"T YOU WRITTEN A NOVEL YET????
- December 4, 2010 at 6:16 AM
- annell said...
You never fail to amaze me. Your mind travels to unexpected places! Thanks for the post.
- December 4, 2010 at 6:29 AM
- Eva Gallant said...
Wow! This sounds like a bit from the movie with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, The Tourist. I haven't seen the movie, but I saw the previews. Well done! You definitely held my attention on that one!
- December 4, 2010 at 6:52 AM
- Kat_RN said...
Great read, you put a lot into such a short space. I want more!
- December 4, 2010 at 7:11 AM
- Becky said...
Hmm, I did have to come over for this one,lol.Blushing!ha.
I loved it!Is there a sequel????I need to know;)
Have a great weekend!
- December 4, 2010 at 7:14 AM
Wish you would spend your mornings writing a novel. You have the ability and the stories within you. With Tara working and the boys in school you have uninterrupted time to pursue this dream.
- December 4, 2010 at 7:29 AM
- Kim A. said...
Loved it! I need a bit of suspense this morning amidst the holiday overload.
- December 4, 2010 at 7:32 AM
- Susan Deborah said...
My, my that was quite a terrific write. Is winter the mischief in you?!?!?
Love this one.
Joy always,
- December 4, 2010 at 7:34 AM
- Mama Zen said...
Awesome, Brian!
- December 4, 2010 at 7:58 AM
- ModernMom said...
I can't beliece the story you can spin in such a short time!! Brilliant.
- December 4, 2010 at 8:21 AM
- ♥ Boomer ♥ said...
Breathless here!!!!!
- December 4, 2010 at 8:25 AM
- AngelMay said...
Women who spit. Not nice. ;o) There is just something about the word "spittle" that makes me want to go take a shower. (Hi Brian!)
- December 4, 2010 at 8:54 AM
- David Waters said...
what a spinner of tales my friend.brilliant
- December 4, 2010 at 8:54 AM
- Myrna R. said...
What a story. It could be a motion picture. The characters have depth and mystery. I love how you are able to conjure up these stories. You have a great imagination - and of course your writing is pretty darn good.
- December 4, 2010 at 9:12 AM
- Pastor Sharon said...
I got the visual. . .this is a movie waiting to be made.
You had me from the beginning. This story is intriguing. No real clue of what is actually going on, so I couldn't figure out where you were going with it. That is the kind of story I can get into!
- December 4, 2010 at 9:16 AM
- TALON said...
What a fast-paced and fabulous tale you wove from the prompt, Brian. Awesome! Poor guy - those face scratches are really gonna sting!
- December 4, 2010 at 9:19 AM
- Claudia said...
this was quite a rollercoaster ride you took us on...amazing how much atmosphere and character painting you can put into such a short story
- December 4, 2010 at 10:11 AM
- Madeleine said...
An enjoyable read, great imagery and voice :O)
- December 4, 2010 at 1:20 PM
- Jannie Funster said...
Geez, what a way to end a date that seemed to be going so well. :)
- December 4, 2010 at 1:25 PM
- PattiKen said...
I agree with the others. This just begs to be built into a novel.
- December 4, 2010 at 1:50 PM
- Dulce said...
Yeap! you could be a scripwriter and... of course succeed!
wow you!
- December 4, 2010 at 2:26 PM
- Baino said...
It's good, very engaging in the beginning, lost momentum a bit towards the end (By the man a few minutes ago with whom she had been making out with - little clumsy). I'd have loved it to be a little longer to build the intrigue.
- December 4, 2010 at 2:54 PM
- Pat said...
You left me wanting more; can I have more please?
- December 4, 2010 at 3:20 PM
- Nancy said...
This sounds like the opening page to a great novel, Brian.
- December 4, 2010 at 3:26 PM
- JeffScape said...
Ooh, I like. Sort of Spartan mixed with The Way of the Gun.
You're definitely getting better at action-violence.
- December 4, 2010 at 4:20 PM
- gayle said...
I would love for you to write more on this story! It's so good!
- December 4, 2010 at 4:49 PM
- Chocolate Covered Daydreams said...
You captured my attention in the first paragraph. Lots of emotion in just a few paragraphs...also questions of who, how and why. Good one, Brian.
- December 4, 2010 at 6:51 PM
- Jill said...
Come on Brian! IS that IT??? The End?
- December 4, 2010 at 7:50 PM
- Amy said...
I loved it! Full of suspense and betrayal.
- December 4, 2010 at 7:56 PM
- Reggie said...
You've got me wanting more...love it!!
- December 4, 2010 at 9:11 PM
- ladyfi said...
Thrilling stuff and a twist at the end. Superb!
- December 4, 2010 at 10:26 PM
- Joseph Pulikotil said...
Hi Brian,
Suspense,intrigue,mystery and a torrid brief affair all rolled into one short story makes a gripping, wonderful story.
Great imagination, changing scenes rapidly is truly fantastic.
Best wishes,
- December 5, 2010 at 1:42 AM
- Sumit Sarkar said...
Great story...
I am so glad to read this :)
- December 5, 2010 at 2:05 AM
- Valerie said...
I was glued to this, Brian. Enjoyed the seesaw ride through to the end. Agree with everyone else, you really should write that book.
- December 5, 2010 at 2:11 AM
- Jess Mistress of Mischief said...
These stories always lock me in and keep me moving through... and leave me wanting more :)
- December 5, 2010 at 3:46 AM
- Tom said...
pretty good take on the power gone wrong theme...
- December 5, 2010 at 4:24 AM
- slommler said...
Oh my! A movie for sure!!
- December 5, 2010 at 4:29 AM
- ♥ Braja said...
OMG you're scaring me....
- December 5, 2010 at 4:39 AM
- ... Paige said...
alrighty then
- December 5, 2010 at 5:42 AM
- Gaston Studio said...
Good one Brian 'cuz I'm all into thrillers and mysteries and there's always a bit of betrayal in both.
- December 5, 2010 at 6:06 AM
- Monkey Man said...
Quite a tale, sir.
- December 5, 2010 at 9:09 AM
- budh.aaah said...
Wow!! Great stuff Brian
- December 5, 2010 at 9:45 AM
- KB said...
Enjoyed this story Brian. Keep up the great work.
- December 5, 2010 at 9:50 AM
- Zuzana said...
I love that your stories are never predictable. They start one way and the ending is always a surprise.;)
Hope you had a great weekend dear Brian,
- December 5, 2010 at 10:13 AM
- Goofball said...
It leaves so many question marks
- December 5, 2010 at 12:54 PM
- Mmm said...
Brian, aw, your travelogue post is gone. It was such a stroke of creative genius, as indeed are you! thank you so much for coming and being the epitome of a good honourable gentleman all round...and very witty, to boot. The Christmas tea this year would not have been the same without your interactions and all your bring to the table. I raise this hot steaming cuppa to you, good man! :)
- December 5, 2010 at 7:14 PM
- Joanna Jenkins said...
I'm hoping this is a first installment... With many more chapters to follow.
Nice job, jj
- December 5, 2010 at 7:20 PM
- Cloudia said...
I hear the copter blades
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
- December 5, 2010 at 7:26 PM
- Magpie said...
You bounce us back and forth...slipping us little tidbits of information....allowing us to jump to conclusions....well done.
- December 5, 2010 at 9:49 PM
- Flea said...
Love it, well done Brian, you are a master!! I want to buy your first book!!
- December 6, 2010 at 5:29 AM
- gautami tripathy said...
Tight, fast paced, filled with suspense. And great ending.
- December 6, 2010 at 6:19 AM
- moondustwriter said...
A fast spinning tale my friend
moonie smiles
- December 7, 2010 at 1:49 AM
what a rolllercoaster ride. wonderfull piece brian.
- December 7, 2010 at 5:49 AM
- Mighty M said...
So, so good!
- December 7, 2010 at 10:02 AM
- Syd said...
So what is she then? His lover, I suspect.
- December 7, 2010 at 9:11 PM
- Marla said...
Geez Louise, my stomach is in knots.
- December 9, 2010 at 7:54 PM
- shewriting said...
awesome...glad the politicians were the bad guys...makes your story so believable :)
- December 9, 2010 at 8:01 PM


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A college student is out hundreds of dollars after a Craigslist deal went wrong.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Update: Man charged with capital murder in Irving baby's death pleads guilty to lesser charge in exchange for 15-year sentence
Update: Dallas County prosecutor Tammy Kemp, who oversees the child abuse and family violence divisions, said Wednesday that there were complications with the case that made a plea bargain the best option.
Kemp said defense was likely to raise the possibility that other people in the home could have hurt Giselle. This happened last week in a capital murder of a child case that resulted in a mistrial. In that case, the defense blamed a toddler's mother for the injuries.
Kemp also said there were problems with witnesses but did not go into details.
"Sometimes, it's the best result," Kemp said about plea bargains because the defendant admits what happened.
Kemp said the baby's family "was content" with the plea agreement.
The baby's mother, Maria Gallegos, could not be reached for comment.
Original post 11:37 a.m.: A man expected to go to trial this week on a capital murder charge in the death of his girlfriend's 7-month-old baby has instead pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Ruperto Florencio pleaded guilty Tuesday to reckless injury to a child with serious bodily injury in exchange for a 15-year sentence in an agreement with prosecutors, court records show.
Florencio, 35, had faced an automatic life sentence with no possibility of parole if he had been convicted of capital murder in Giselle Gallegos' death.
Florencio was charged after Giselle suffered multiple blunt force injuries and died in March 2010. The baby's mother had gone shopping and left Giselle with Florencio at her Irving apartment.
Police said at the time of Giselle's death that Florencio had called the mother and said the baby was sick and she needed to come home. They took Giselle to the hospital and she died.
Court records show Giselle had massive internal injuries.
The baby's mother could not be reached for comment.


text:
Beyonce and Jay-Z spent $200,000 on a birthday party for her daughter Blue Ivy's, who just turned turned a year old.
The celebrity couple spoiled their young daughter with a diamond Barbie doll worth $80,000. Wow!
Beyonce and Jay-Z spent $200,000 on their daughter's first birthday bash.
The couple, who were named the highest paid celebrity couple after earning $78 million last year, spared no expense when it came to their daughter's princess-themed party last Monday.
An insider said, "Nothing's been too big or expensive for their little princess. They wanted her first birthday to set the tone for the rest of her life. They work hard for their money and the first thing they want to spend it on is their baby girl. It's hard to imagine how they can top this next year — or what her Sweet Sixteen will be like."
The custom Barbie doll includes 160 diamonds set in gold jewelry, which cost around $80K.
Friends and family members attended the party at a private venue, which was decorated with $95,000 worth of pink and white roses and balloons.
The young guests of the party received "goodie bags" with jewelry, princess costumes, and playhouses. The adult guests received personalized gold pens, along with concert tickets.
Beyonce and Jay-Z have spared no expense on their little girl, who has an expensive suite at Brooklyn's Barclay Center.
A source said, "Jay rents a luxurious basement suite for $1 million a year. It has an area for Blue filled with toys."
Click thumbnails for larger pictures
Images: wenn.com/news


text:
on March 25, 2013 - 6:50 PM
, updated March 26, 2013 at 8:19 AM
BARKER – An employee of AES Somerset plant was taken to Mount St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston after he suffered minor injuries in an accident on Monday morning.
Douglas M. Ripson, 54, of Youngstown told Niagara County sheriff's deputies that a metal pipe fell from above and struck him on the head, causing him to fall down just before 9 a.m. Monday at the plant, 7725 Lake Road.
Ripson complained of pain to his head and was taken to the hospital for observation, said deputies.


text:
Police say an Oklahoma City man has been charged after his loaded gun was found at an elementary school.
Mark Brim turned himself in Wednesday, according to Cleveland County Jail website. Brim is a relative of a Plaza Towers Elementary teacher.
Brim told police that he was in the Moore school over the weekend to fix a computer and that his gun must have fallen out of his pocket.
The school was on lockdown for three hours Monday after a teacher found the loaded weapon on a chair in a classroom.
Brim's bail has already been set at $5,000. Brim has been charged with possession of a weapon on school property.


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- About
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Broadway Talents Shine at Texas Musical Theatre Workshop
The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with Texas State University-San Marcos, is offering the inaugural Texas Musical Theatre Workshop, a pre-collegiate summer intensive for high school students exploring a potential career in musical theater June 10 - 30. This unique program brings New York's Broadway talent to Texas, providing students the best in musical theater training by industry professionals.
The workshop was founded by University of Texas at Austin faculty member Lyn Koenning and Texas State University faculty members Kaitlin Hopkins and Jim Price. As a collective, these artistic directors bring more than 75 years of industry experience to the workshop. Head of the Texas State University playwriting program, Price is a veteran Broadway performer (Les Misérables, The Civil War). Hopkins, a Broadway performer and director, heads the nationally renowned musical theater program at Texas State University. Koenning is an award-winning music director, vocal arranger and voice and acting coach whose students have appeared on Broadway, regional theater, television and film.
The roster of teaching artists includes Mark Hollman, Tony Award-winning composer (Urinetown); Matt Lenz, Broadway director (Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can); musical director Greg Bolin; and Broadway performers Joyce Chittick (Anything Goes, Jersey Boys), Rocker Verastique (Chicago, Miss Saigon), Danny Herman (Leader of the Pack), Natasha Davison (Beauty and the Beast), and Darren Gibson (On the Town, Fosse).
The workshop is also an incubator for the development of new musicals by professional artists. The creative team of Giant Steps: An Urbean Musical has been invited to include their new musical as part of the workshop this year. With music and lyrics by newcomer Michael Dexter and book by Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award-nominated Eric H. Weinberger, Giant Steps is a contemporary twist on the classic fairytale "Jack and the Beanstalk" that will delight young and old, alike.
Directed by Broadway star Billy Porter, the Giant Steps cast is composed of university students, alumni and community artists. A staged reading of the musical will be presented at the Department of Theatre and Dance's B. Iden Payne Theatre on June 29.
"Texas Musical Theatre Workshop is another expression of the partnerships developed by our department," said Brant Pope, chairman of the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas at Austin. "Over the last two years we have crafted working relationships with ZACH, Teatro Vívo, Austin Lyric Opera, and an extraordinary new link with the famed Seattle Children's Theatre. These partnerships will be evident in the 2012-13 season and all of them communicate our desire to be a vital member of the arts community."
For more information on the Texas Musical Theatre Workshop, please visit texasmusicaltheatreworkshop.com
For more information on Giant Steps: An Urbean Musical, please visit


text:
Visiting the city, especially at Christmastime, was an event that was anticipated with great excitement. A certain awe sprang up when you witnessed the bustling center of metropolitan life transformed into a sparkling, festive holiday wonderland.
Families traveled into the city from quiet, small-town communities, nestled among rolling hills. Often, a family's entire Christmas shopping list could be taken care of in a single visit. Children emptied their piggy banks, carefully counting and re-counting the mix of coins inside—silver dimes and copper "wheat" pennies. Housewives brought mason jars out of hiding places at the back of pantry cupboards—jars filled with single dollar bills tucked neatly inside, saved one by one.
Brightly-lit Christmas decorations adorned the high-reaching tops of light poles along city sidewalks, illuminating block after block with heartwarming symbols of the season. Horns honked, and broad downtown lanes filled with the ceaseless motion of automobiles steering over trolley tracks and past train depots.
Sidewalks came alive with throngs of shoppers—men in pants, and women in dresses. Overcoats thickened to shield passers-by against winter winds that wove between tall buildings. Autumn-colored scarves were replaced with those of red and green, displaying personal expressions of holiday cheer.
Voices filled the air, and shoppers greeted one another on crowded streets, exchanging smiles. These were "the good old days," when a gentleman tipped his hat when approaching a lady, and offered a handshake to fellows. Men held doors open for the opposite gender and pulled out chairs before women were seated.
Corner diners served pots of coffee faster than they could be brewed, and from your spot at the counter, you could sometimes catch a whiff of the sweet-smelling tobacco smoke rolling off an old man's smoldering pipe.
A quick blast of heat could be felt as revolving department store doors twirled shoppers—with brightly-colored packages tucked snugly beneath their close-drawn arms—in from the street.
Yes, what a feeling to be in the city at Christmastime! Downtown seemed a magical world that only surfaced into existence once-a-year. Christmas tunes poured from gigantic department store speakers. Signs in storefronts read "14 Days until Christmas," increasing anticipation. Families strolled along streets, walking from window to window, shopping with their eyes. Toy shops. Hat boutiques. Pet stores—with cuddly critters peeking out from behind the panes, waiting to be taken home. Children raced ahead and pressed hands and noses against the glass, surveying the wondrous scenes inside, dreaming of the special gift they were hoping to find beneath the tree—a shiny new bike with a silver bell mounted to the handlebar, or a spotted puppy.
Merchants boxed your purchases—and then wrapped your selections, too! Thick rolls of decorative paper were mounted to countertops for a complimentary service to shoppers. Excellent service extended to every department of the store, not just the check-out line. Clerks took time to measure your feet in the shoe department to ensure you were purchasing the appropriate size. Clothing departments staffed seamstresses to accommodate necessary alterations—guaranteeing a tailored-fit garment. And a visit to the candy counter meant flavorful favorites could be chosen by the piece—or by the whole handful. Lemon drops, peppermint sticks, nutty fudge, and chocolate-covered cherries were all carefully weighed on confectionary scales.
Outside, street-side movie theaters on city sidewalks displayed holiday feature film titles on lighted marquees protruding from building faces. Many Main Street memories were made in the grand theaters of yesterday for a ten-cent admission price. Several classic Christmas films debuted on the big screen in decades past including A Christmas Carol in the 1930s, It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street in the 1940s, and White Christmas in the 1950s. Films like these have become as much a part of Christmas as holly and berries, and perhaps even more so.
These were the days when movie-goers were treated to a bit of organ music from a mighty Wurlitzer prior to the start of the show. But once the reel of film started flickering, audience members knew that they had better not make a peep because ushers kept order during evening showings and afternoon matinees. If you saw their flashlight beam coming down the aisle, you knew you had better hush—or else!
Newspaper vendors could be found on busy street corners shouting, "Read all about it!" Many of these daily publications sold for a nickel or less, and annually re-printed the much-loved "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" letter to commemorate the season. Other newspapers included the best-known poem in the English language for their readers' enjoyment—"Twas the Night Before Christmas."
Street corners were shared by Salvation Army volunteers who collected donations on behalf of the down-trodden. A lengthy ringing of bells urged passers-by to be charitable with those in need. Coins dropped into the red metal kettles with a "clink" meant extra mouths would receive a hot meal for Christmas. Salvation Army bands were also a familiar institution on city corners, as well as in parades, through the 1950s, with the steady beat of their boots pulsing in sync with their instruments.
Laughter echoed from street-side parks as skaters carved circles in city ice-rinks. Couples sat on wooden benches, gazing upward at half-lit buildings against a backdrop of starry skies. Christmas decorations lined the walkways of parks, and with the help of snowy landscapes, created what seemed like a new world in which to momentarily escape daily life.
Once a year, in almost every city, came the day, or evening, of the long-awaited Christmas parade. Crowds swelled. Dozens of floats, carefully planned and decorated by commercial businesses and community organizations, gathered at an assembly point where brass bands were lined up in smart formation. Then, a whistle was blown and the parade proceeded down the center of Main Street.
High school marching bands proudly offered their musical talents behind wide banners displaying their school's mascot. Uniformed members marched in musical step behind conductors with raised batons. Trumpets sounded, and drums, too, drawing applause every step of the way.
Onlookers squeezed together along curbs lining both sides of the street, huddling close in the crisp, cold air. An ever-so-light blanket of snow would sometimes sprinkle down, decorating the tops of woolen hats with a dusting of white. Spectators could also be seen peering through apartment windows high above the lively scene below.
The fame of the annual Macy's parade in New York City superseded all parades. Mammoth balloons bobbed up and down the pavement. Countless onlookers greeted the high-flying drama with cheers as each balloon came into view. Parade-watchers in seventh-story windows along the route went eye-to-eye with these visual spectacles which were secured by long ropes held fast by men with childlike hearts.
Children along curbsides shivered with ear-to-ear smiles as they watched the procession of baton twirlers and costumed characters marching in evenly-paced steps—clowns, elves, and popular fictional personalities of the day—hoping to be given a piece of candy or two. Some youngsters were perched on top of their father's shoulders for a privileged view. The attention of children was not drawn from the lively scene—not even for a moment. Their little eyes were glued to the passing line of holiday enchantment as if real magic were taking place in their very presence, and if they were to look away—or even blink—the whole of it might disappear.
Everyone eagerly awaited the parade's perennial grand finale—the famed red sleigh carrying Santa Claus himself, safely secured to the top of a trailer. Reindeer, with branch-like antlers, were harnessed to the sleigh, adding to the thrill of wee ones lining the route. "Look, Daddy!" shouted youngsters. "It's Santa Claus!"
Old Saint Nick was certainly the ultimate crowd-pleaser and the most recognizable face of the day. A wave from the Master Toymaker's hand drew hoots and hollers—and ooooohs and aaaaahs—from the crowd, and kiddies felt Santa was waving directly at them. "He waved at me!" they shouted to mothers and fathers. "Santa waved at me!"
A few brave souls scurried into the street, arms outstretched and waving a letter postmarked for the North Pole, in hopeful expectation of hand-delivering the urgent document.
Slowly, the procession moved forward, onward to more anxious families further down the street. Eyes followed Santa until he faded from view, and the jolly sound of his "ho ho ho" could no longer be heard. At that moment it seemed to grow just a little bit chillier, as if the generous-hearted Kris Kringle had brought with him a communal warmth for all of mankind, which followed him on down the street.
Then, as the storefront lights flickered out, the crowd made its way past the misty halos of lit lampposts, back to wherever they called "home," satisfied with the night's festivities. They tucked themselves into warm beds, comforted to sleep by the feeling that is Christmas.


text:
The Conversation
Where talk IS action
Visit our blog at www.conversationtacoma.blogspot.com
This document on the values, process, and activities of The Conversation Tacoma is offered in the spirit of a social contract describing who we are and how we operate. We will use it to stay aligned with our larger purpose and original inspiration. As we evolve, we will revisit this document, revising it as needed so that it continues to reflect who we are and how we are engaging with one another and with our communities.
The Conversation is a group of Tacoma and South Sound residents committed to building diverse, critically engaged communities of justice. We promote social justice through ideas, ideals, and action. Our goal is to model a just, open, compassionate community. Our foundational principle is "Justice for All." We are a family, an affinity group, a think tank, and a safe house. We envision a world free of racism, mistrust, and intentional harm.
We welcome people of every race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, religion, and sexual orientation and all who live with physical, mental, and emotional challenges.
Two questions guide our work together: The first is philosophical: what is the meaning of our lives – our relationship to each other, the world, the universe? The second is practical and pragmatic: What are our immediate socio-political responsibilities and how do we fulfill them in a world burdened by bigotry, hostility, and unnecessary suffering?
At the Conversation's weekly gatherings, we engage with issues, values, perspectives, tasks, and one another. To sustain genuine engagement over the long term, we are committed to four integrated processes:
We listen respectfully and talk purposefully:
share life stories
generate ideas and strategies
stretch to learn across difference
seek guidance and renewal from activists, artists, teachers, and scholars
explore wisdom texts and faith traditions
study root causes of social injustice
learn about peace and justice initiatives
We take action:
create social justice programs for the community
join local struggles for equity and peace
produce venues for artistic expression
support children, families, and neighborhoods
support the work of others in the community
We provide sustenance:
establish a safe place to explore issues misrepresented or shrouded in silence elsewhere
find our voices and renew our courage
grow, support, and nurture social activists and community leaders
strengthen bonds of friendship and trust
share information about what is happening in the community
We seek transformation:
recognize and challenge our biases
acknowledge our limits and then go beyond them
develop our resilience, power, and capacity for change
align our actions and words with our deepest commitments
celebrate our achievements
Our presentations, discussions, and actions emerge from the interests and expertise of those who attend weekly Conversation meetings. There we address moral and philosophical topics, such as the social construction of race, including the construction of whiteness; the existence of suffering; the question of evil; the production of systemic injustice. And we engage critically with specific issues, such as the legal system, wages, housing, food, healthcare, education, and economic injustice with special attention to contesting the racism that manifests within each of these areas. Our discussions interrogate personal and institutional belief systems and invite us to think, stretch, and live in new ways.
Since the inception of The Conversation in January 2006, we have taken action through programming and advocacy work. Our vision for future action includes a multiplicity of social issues, but our current work focuses primarily on education, the arts, and peace and justice, often integrating these areas in innovative ways.
The Conversation has envisioned, initiated, and brought to fruition multiple programs and events in these three areas:
1) Education
Conversation participants founded the Education Action Group, which meets bi-weekly to scrutinize Tacoma's public education policies, advocate for policy and curricular change, and address the achievement gap through on-going interactions and debate with the Tacoma School Board and local officials. This group seeks equity in education for all Tacoma children through grass-roots involvement in policy change. They maintain a web-site to keep the public informed on issues and problems.
2) The Arts
Conversation participants produce SoJust, a one-day program to promote justice through art, music, and dance, to conduct a food and coat drive for Tacoma children in need, and to share information with the local community on how to make change. This program, first created in 2007, is now an annual local event that highlights the arts as a means of inspiring progressive social change.
3) Peace and Justice
Conversation members produce "Redeeming the Vision, " an interfaith service celebrating Martin Luther King's prophetic vision, helping to educate the community regarding the full depth and significance of his liberatory message, and establishing a Civil Rights Honor Roll to honor civil rights activists in Tacoma and Washington State. First produced in 2007, this program is now an annual Tacoma event.
The Conversation also works closely with other local groups to support initiatives aligned with our vision:
1) Education
• Work with the University of Puget Sound and the Community Partners to continue the on-going initiative on education and the color line emerging from the 2006 Race and Pedagogy Conference and the 2007 Race and Pedagogy Summit
2) The Arts
• Attend and promote The New Orleans Monologues, with special attention to giving young people access to the production and supporting the performance of the Monologues at local universities, including the University of Puget Sound, The Evergreen State College, Tacoma, and The Evergreen State College, Olympia
3) Peace and Justice
• Participate in and attend United for Peace of Pierce County debates on the Iraq war
• Work with the Broadway Center, The Evergreen State College, and Temple Bethel to continue the on-going conversation about the multi-racial civil rights coalition
To envision a future, we address philosophical and practical dimensions of our work.
To respond to the philosophical question -- what is the meaning of our lives, our relationship to each other, the world, the universe? -- we will develop in these directions:
• Learn more from one another and from our various cultural perspectives
• Deepen our knowledge of the history of marginalized groups and the processes of marginalization, with a strong focus on African-American history and the history of indigenous peoples, in recognition of how integral those histories are to the rights and status of other racialized and marginalized groups
• Deepen our encounters with faith traditions and wisdom texts so that they inform our work and our relationships
• Practice forms of engaging one another that allow us to address the hard questions while keeping our bonds of friendship and trust intact
• Give each person opportunities to lead, to develop cultural competence, to become more ideologically flexible, more resilient, better prepared for hostilities we encounter elsewhere, better able to work with fear and overcome voicelessness
To address the practical question -- What are our immediate socio-political responsibilities and how do we fulfill them?– we will sustain current commitments and explore going beyond them by acting creatively in these areas:
• Develop more programming for children and youth at the Conversation and in the community, such as visual or written arts programming—including monthly classes (on hip-hop; on artist as change agent, etc.)
• Increase our presence in the community, at elections, in schools, at School board meetings, at city council, at anti-war rallies
• Serve as a community resource on racial justice: provide programming and on-line and print resource lists that engage people in the journey to justice through anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-classist practices
• Contest anti-immigrant practices, homophobia, the exploitation of race, and restrictions to the rights of the disabled
• Work with local libraries to support their acquisition of books and films aligned with the vision of The Conversation
• Become more intergenerational, more diverse, more supportive
• Develop multiple levels of leadership
• Grow our volunteer base
• Connect with our community through joint programming
• Help families and neighborhoods become centers of social justice
At the Conversation, talk is action because it provides us with momentum and direction for wise action. Action is talk because our actions communicate our values and commitments, our vision for a better world. When we enact our vision, we serve others, and we develop our own resources, physical, moral, emotional, and spiritual.
Our action focus for 2008:
Plan carefully for service and social action:
• Organize SoJust 2008
• Organize Redeeming the Vision 2009
• Extend the influence of the education action group on public education policy
• Sponsor a 2008 youth summit
• Identify and develop new leaders for the Conversation and the South Sound
• Establish a weekly or monthly Conversation youth group that meets in the afternoon
• Create a partnership with Lincoln High School or with a classroom there, working with students, teachers, and families
• Adopt a family through the program at the YWCA
• Annotate and increase the number of resources listed on the website
Attend to self- education and renewal:
• Increase the Conversation's education about racism, white privilege, homophobia, the status and treatment of immigrants and indigenous peoples, and the rights and struggles of the disabled
• Read a text together that speaks to our work and sustains our direction, perhaps inviting the community at large to join us
Establish a future for the organization
• Prepare a capital campaign, create a checking account, and establish a mechanism for securing funds to cover operating expenses
• Consider the legal standing of the Conversation, especially potential 501(c)(3) status
• Grow average attendance to 50 by October 2008
• Develop a ten-year plan for the Conversation
Our long term focus:
• Establish a fully developed program of activities to serve our entire community. These activities include, but are not limited to, advocacy for those victimized by injustices that pervade the law and the economy as well as employment, housing, food, healthcare, and education; and intervention in the systems that perpetuate those injustices.
• Increase regular attendance from 25-30 to 70-75
• Increase our diversity in all dimensions
• Adapt our schedule to balance whole group meetings with smaller action group meetings
On January 1, 2006, at the request of the leadership of Urban Grace--A Downtown (Tacoma, WA) Church--Dexter Gordon, in collaboration with Dennis Fulton, started teaching Martin Luther King's second book, Why We Can't Wait, to an adult Sunday school class. As a result of word of mouth and other publicity efforts, primarily by members of the class on their own initiative, approximately fifty people, who were not members of Urban Grace, attended all or some portions of the class.
Some participants expressed a desire to see the class continue beyond the scheduled ending time. Eventually, tensions and disagreements between the leadership of the church and the group led the group to seek a new meeting location. The group moved first to King Books, then to the Washington State History Museum, then to the YWCA, and then to its present location at The Evergreen State College, Tacoma.
• Each Sunday, doors open at 11:45am--coffee, chitchat, and settling in will occur between 11:45 and 12. The leadership team arrives by 11:45.
• We begin at 12:00.
• The Sunday program is structured as follows:
o Welcome & Introductions
o Personal Stories
o Moral Philosophical Question –Lecture
• Break
• Small Group Discussion
• Plenary Discussion
o Announcements & Closing
o Voluntary contributions to the Donation Box
The group is guided by the "V Team,"a voluntary leadership team responsible for the following:
• Program
• Calendar
• General development
• Promotion
The V Team leadership positions are voluntary, rotating and successive. When a position becomes open, the V-team approaches qualified potential applicants who would be a good match for the position and also announces the vacancy to the whole group so that all who wish to serve can apply. This process gives the V-team a role in identifying qualified applicants while also encouraging participants who wish to serve to step forward.
Each leader is at the forefront of a role for a year with a successor as an associate. Thereafter the associate takes on the leadership role, and another volunteer is invited to become the new associate. Thus part of the V-team role is to develop a successor to provide leadership in the future.
The current volunteer leadership team:
Dexter Gordon - Conversation Facilitator
Associate- OPEN
Tom Hilyard - Political Mappigator
Associate - Open
Rosalind Bell - Purveyor of Arts, Letters and Epicurean Delights
Associate - OPEN
Laurie Arnold - Town Crier
Associate- Marla German
OPEN - Media Coordinator
Associate - OPEN
Julia Harris - Finance & Budget Manager
Associate- Mona Baghdadi
OPEN - Development
Associate - OPEN
We welcome anyone interested in promoting social justice to become a part of The Conversation. We frame our relationship as a healthily functioning family--we should be able to challenge one another, ask one another the hard questions, and still love one another--still be committed to one another, just as family members are. And as a family, we strive to provide intellectual, moral, emotional, and spiritual support. We are mindful that people from different religious traditions and from no religious tradition share our commitment to social justice, and we welcome and embrace all with an awareness that our founding is grounded in the prophetic vision of liberation.
The Conversation is financed by voluntary contributions from meeting attendees.


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Hi! My name is Smoky
I am Domestic Shorthair from Haiku, HI
Nicknames: Mokie,pokie
Age: 16 years old
Gender: M
Coat: short haired
Education: yes i have delivered count-less amount of birds to my owner....i hope she likes them..
My favorite tricks and treats are: HMMM I CAN SLEEP!!! and Hmmmm.... my belly rubbed.
Where I hang out: ummm i would say i love hanging out on the porch or anywere in the yard as long as someones a around
My favorite grubs: I love F-I-S-H!!!!
My pet peeves: I pretty much dont have any peeves ...im up for anything.
What I love about my owners: the way they always love me no matter what i do.....
My cat hobbies: i love hunting ...and hanging out with my family in the yard when we cook out so ...every day!! hehehe....
Pet motto: Im just a sweet heart.
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My owners were mean to me so I found a house down the street full of loving kids and ive never left them so far ive moved 3 times with them...chheee!!- !
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New York City-based defense contractor L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL ) shares rose in midday trading Tuesday trading, following a Q3 2013 earnings report that blew away analyst expectations for profit, despite missing the mark somewhat on revenues.
Earnings per share at L-3 amounted to $2.23 per diluted share, 13% above last year's level, and significantly ahead of analysts' estimated $1.95 per share. Much of the earnings beat owed to the fact that L-3 recorded a $0.26 tax benefit during this year's third quarter, but even without it, L-3 would have topped expectations by a couple of cents. Revenues, meanwhile, fell just short of $3 billion, and failed to satisfy analysts' consensus expectation that they would exceed $3 billion.
L-3's revenues for the quarter were down nearly 9% in comparison to last year's Q3. Yet even so, company CEO Michael T. Strianese expressed pleasure at the results in a "challenging" business environment, noting that despite lower revenues, the company managed to produce "higher operating margins, EPS and solid cash flow."
Operating profit margins at L-3 grew 40 basis points over Q3 2012 levels. The 10.5% operating profit margin reported was also ahead of the curve for how L-3 performed earlier this year, helping to lift the company's profit margin to 10% year-to-date.


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A little unprofessional but understandable. As soon as I saw Pav do the toe drag I thought Smith was done. He wasn't. He made a ridiculous and spectacular save. If it was my job to do homer commentary for the Yotes I definitely would've been tempted to say something like that.
Definitely unprofessional. Would have been great if Bert had heard that and then after completely undressing Smith with his spinorama, looked up to the broadcast booth and say, "Now what were you saying, Tyson?"


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After months being not-so-secretly surveilled by the Bump Patrol, No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani announced today via Instagram that she and husband Gavin Rossdale are expecting their third child — another boy.
"I was ready to hand over the crown. but I guess I am still queen of the house," the 44-year-old singer and designer writes, announcing the sex with the hashtags #itsaboy and #surroundedbyboys. The couple's oldest son Kingston James McGregor is 7 and Zuma Nesta Rock is 5. Rossdale, the lead singer of Bush, also has a 24-year-old daughter, the model Daisy Lowe, from a previous relationship.


text: Never had to buy one since my motherboards came with them. :) For the NICs I can recommend going with a good brand like Intel. The previous test I mentioned was using these on each host http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106015 and vmware's software iscsi adapter, sata2 7.2, sata3 7.2, and sata3 ssd targets. On 02/16/2013 08:32 AM, John Aldrich wrote: > On Fri February 15 2013 7:48:45 PM Matt Keys wrote: >> These are perfect for personal/lab use and really cheap : >> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833118144 >> >> I've got a few of them around the house that are in "harsh" environments >> (crawl space/attic) that have been running for about 2 years solid w/o >> probs. I also use them for iSCSI testing; with jumbo frames and >> multipathing I got rates around 70MB/s. >> > Thanks, Matt... and very reasonable price too. Any suggestions for a USB 3.0 > adapter? :D > _______________________________________________ > Chugalug mailing list > Chugalug at chugalug.org > http://chugalug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/chugalug >


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The U.S. Senate is now considering a series of so-called "fixes" to the new health care law.
The measure will eliminate a special Medicaid deal for the state of Nebraska, known as the "Cornhusker kick-back."
It will also offer more generous drug coverage for seniors and provide larger subsidies for lower-income people.
The fix-it bill is likely to pass the Senate by the end of the week as it only needs 51 votes.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are using the debate to add amendments in hopes of derailing the process.
"I know we can't fix it really because it's such a terrible bill," Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H, said.
"I think the new slogan will be 'repeal and replace.' Repeal and replace." Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, added.
If so much as a comma is changed, the bill will have to go back to the House for another vote.
However, the administration seemingly unfazed by GOP threats, has already turned its attention to selling the plan to the American public. President Obama is scheduled to kick off the public relations campaign in Iowa on Thursday.
Obama Signs Health Care Reform into LawHealth Care Passes, Abortion Debate ContinuesStates Threaten Lawsuit over Health Care OverhaulHouse Passes Historic Health Care Overhaul
Voters Protest Sunday's Health Care Vote
Health Care Reform
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Are you seeking answers in life? Are you hurting? Are you facing a difficult situation?
Find peace with God, discover more about God or send us your prayer request.
Call The 700 Club Prayer Center at 1 (800) 823-6053, 24 hours a day.
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
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On Tap for Today: Sun, jazz, opera and techno-art
Our weather forecast says 70-something, 70-something, 70-something all week long. That's enough to inspire a lead about the weather, normally considered a cliche and a no-no.
It's also inspiration for reacquainting yourself with the outdoors. So slip on some headphones on your lunch hour, get a good walk in and stream some entertaining and provocative radio about the state of jazz in Milwaukee. The Disclaimer promises to bring a few perspectives into the studio at noon. »Read Full Blog Post
A year's reading: 101 books
I'm happy to report that I surpassed my goal of reading at least 100 books in 2013, completing 101. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
Skylight Music Theatre gets ambitious with 'El Cimarrón'
Like Tina Turner, the Skylight Music Theatre never does anything nice and easy.
As Exhibit A, take "El Cimarrón," which opens Friday in Broadway Theatre Center's intimate Studio Theatre, 158 N. Broadway. The late Hans Werner Henze called his composition, for a bass-baritone singer, a flutist, a percussionist and a guitarist, a recital for four musicians, and that's how it's often performed. »Read Full Article
2014 Wish List: 30 things we hope will — or won't — happen in the new year
Christmas is over, but we're not done making our wish list.
With a new year comes a fresh start, and hopes and dreams for what might be in 2014. Emmy love for an oft-overlooked show. A shake-up in country music. A restraining order preventing Miley Cyrus' foam finger from entering the BMO Harris Bradley Center for her March 9 show. These are just three out of 30 things we hope will happen — or won't happen — in arts and entertainment in 2014. »Read Full Article(1)
Reading the John Updike stories: 'Intercession'
I'm reading and commenting on a story from The Library of America's recently published 'John Updike: The Collected Stories' each Wednesday until I finish the collection or give up.
"Intercession," published in The New Yorker in 1958, was the first of Updike's many published stories and essays about golf. In a 2009 tribute piece Golf Digest (for which Updike wrote a number of essays) wrote: »Read Full Blog Post
On Tap Today: A New Year
Hello 2014. Nice to see you. Be nice, please.
So, what's going on today, this first day of a new year in Milwaukee. Well, there is the traditional (read: crazy) Polar Bear Plunge. Any event which incidates a "sleeping bag is highly recommended" has got to be a little extreme. That happens at Bradford Beach at noon sharp. If you're going in, read this first for your own health. »Read Full Blog Post


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Top Definition
To masturbate. To stroke one's own penis. To jerk off.
After Sara turned out to be a bitch and he realized Heather was a gold-digging whore, Al stayed home, glumly fiddling the ferret to porn he found on imagefap.
di Blenderhead91 07 settembre 2010
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UFC 158 took place on Saturday night as Georges St-Pierre once again showcased his dominance in victory by defeating Nick Diaz by unanimous decision.
As always with any UFC show, the personality of the fighters shows through in their bouts, but sometimes just as much in the music they select when they walk out to the cage.
Some choose songs to get them pumped up and ready to fight while others will just select a random track.
At UFC 158, the main card fighters had a unique selection of tracks from St-Pierre's signature French hip-hop to Carlos Condit's standard Rage Against the Machine tune.
These are the songs that made up the soundtrack to UFC 158
(Please note: Some songs have explicit language and are considered NSFW)


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Elections workers are trying to settle a tight local race, which could deliver a serious blow to state Republican leadership.
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Please visit my BLOG to see my full trip report. We flew BA 278 LAX to LHR then BA 344 LHR to NCE, took the TGV from Aix-en-Provence to Paris, BA 344 CDG to LHR, then BA 001 LCY to JFK via SNN.
We actually missed BA 001 at 1 PM because we miscalculated the time required to get from London Eye to LCY pre-Olympic the day the "Olympic Lane" went into effect. However, we were able to get on BA 003 that left at 4 PM. I'm not much of a writer or professional photographer but I hope you'll enjoy the pictures nonetheless. Any comment or question is welcomed...but please be nice.
Please click on the pictures for bigger versions.
Click HERE for the full report.
[Edited 2012-08-15 18:48:25]


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English Club's social network
428 members233 Comments 187 Likes
142 members19 Comments 47 Likes
543 members140 Comments 181 Likes
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My favorite stuff at this lovely site
The Lovely Idioms
The Lovely Slangs
Any other favorite links of mine
Learning Chocolate
The New Hero Grammarman
Talk English
Exam English
Achan Malaka has not received any gifts yet
Posted on March 22, 2012 at 7:32 37 Comments 18 Likes
Do you know why I am always happy?
It is because something you have…Continue
Posted on March 21, 2012 at 15:00 11 Comments 4 Likes
Well...After taking a long hiatus (lol)..I would like to post the latest Wordless Wednesday of mine..This post is waiting for your lovely captions and comments ;)
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 16:30 5 Comments 0 Likes
Well, I believe that it's already been a long time since I posted a non-poem blog. This time, I'd like to tell you a story, a story about two angels who inspire me so much.
And…the story begins…
A few months ago, I joined a programme called Kuliah Kerja Profesi Guru or The Practice of Teacher Profession (the…
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 13:30 7 Comments 3 Likes
Hi, my lovely friends..I've just got this nice picture a few days ago. These guys are my nephews.Hope you like it ;)
As usual, your commentary and caption are required :)
"Tell me you love me or else!"...the winning caption was submitted by Tara Benwell. Well, thanks so much…Continue
I couldn't find her here, too! That was long time ago. It is saddening, brother, isn't it? She is a great sister!
Brother Achan! How are you? When will you be active again? You have kept us waiting here for a very long time.
I hope everything's great at your side.
Thanks for visiting your sister, always.
Keep in touch and never forget. Thank you so much!
She really looks like a sun :)) Life is beautiful and you never know what great people you will meet tomorrow. And it's really a present if them are so intelligent and cute as your friend)))
That girl with you is very beautiful:)))
Hiiii, Achan! How are you these days???
Hello Achan! I hope you are well. I see that many friends from before are gone or inactive. It is nice that you are still active here.
Hi Achan,
It's my pleasure to see your comment. It's a dachshund breed and they are shorter in height. A full-grown standard dachshund averages 15 lb (6.8 kg) to 28 lb (13 kg) as according to wikipedia.
Also, this picture is included in the thread. I think she is her mother picture. So it should be look like this in future. I can just assume as not a dog specialist.
Have a nice weekend Achan, It's an honour to receive comments from a Star Members.
Many thanks!


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Ondrej Nepela Trophy 2013: Oct 2-5 [Bratislava, Slovakia]
Links to Entries/Starting Orders/Results/Time Schedules:
Entry lists (older links):
- http://nepelatrophy.webs.com/competitors (Thx to IleK for the link ... which later seemed to become defunct??)
- http://nepelatrophy.webs.com/ONT%202...petitors-5.pdf (PDF version)
Live streaming (Thx to CaroLiza_fan for all the information):
Live broadcast will be started 3rd of October 2013 at 1:30 pm CET. Follow this link:
Some of CL_fan's other helpful posts (disclaimer: not necessarily an exhaustive list):
- Time zones: post # 17 on Page 2 http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/sho...l=1#post768042
- Streaming schedule: post # 19 on Page 2 http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/sho...l=1#post768070
U.S. Figure Skating has announced its Nepela entrants:
- Gao
- Miner
- Donlan/Speroff
- Aldridge/EatonETA, Denney/Frazier were later added.


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HYPERTHYROIDISM is rare in childhood but occurs occasionally in children from 10 to 15 yr.1 Girls are affected about seven times oftener than boys.2 The course of childhood hyperthyroidism may be benign or severe. The disease develops more rapidly in children than in adults, but it is usually milder in form.
The earliest signs of thyrotoxicosis in children are usually emotional disturbances accompanied with motor hyperactivity. The child becomes irritable, excitable, cries easily, and loses or fails to gain weight. The thyroid gland is often visibly as well as palpably enlarged, and bruits may be heard over it. Exophthalmos is noticeable in the majority of these children; the skin is smooth and flushed, and sweating is excessive. Progressive muscular weakness develops as the disease continues. Tachycardia, palpitation, and dyspnea cause discomfort, and cardiac enlargement and insufficiency may actually endanger the child's life. These children are usually tall, and
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Hennepin County, MN official reports show that a suspect of unknown age, Chadd Andert, was jailed.
Based on Minnesota records obtained by Local Blotter, Andert was detained Monday on unclassified charges.
Every effort has been made to ensure the integrity of these data, however, Local Blotter makes no claims of guarantee surrounding the accuracy of such alleged facts, as all suspects are to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Redactions/Corrections: See our FAQ for help submitting change requests.


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Get an overview of this hotelIn Paris near Moulin Rouge
Collect 200 points
Simply enter your Nectar card number when prompted. Your points will be credited 30 days after you return from your trip.*Offers may apply
Located in Paris' Montmartre district, Chat Noir Design Hotel is steps from the Moulin Rouge, Lepic Street, Café des Deux Moulins, and Place du Tertre. The hotel is also just 0.5 km from Basilique de Sacre Couer and 2.5 km from the Louvre.
Multilingual staff
In addition to a concierge desk and complimentary wireless Internet, Le Chat Noir Design Hotel features multilingual staff, a daily buffet-style breakfast, and air conditioning in public areas. Childcare is possible at a surcharge.
Free Internet
Le Chat Noir Design Hotel offers 39 guest rooms with climate control. Room amenities also include LCD televisions with cable channels, free WiFi, complimentary newspapers, and safes. Rooms also include soundproofing and irons/ironing boards can be provided on request.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Le Chat Noir Design Hotel68 Boulevard De Clichy Paris Paris 75018
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
A former Parisian cabaret turned enchanting accommodation, Le Chat Noir Design Hotel features whimsical interior decor. Frequently appearing images of a black cat punctuate the color scheme of red and white. Everywhere you look, there's the "chat noir" of the hotel's name... lending the halls, the lobby, and even the dining room an unmistakably feline mystique.
This smoke-free 4-star property provides free WiFi access. It's Paris, so of course, there's a concierge, ready to assist guests in many languages. Le Chat Noir Design Hotel offers air-conditioning, a 24-hour front desk, and a buffet breakfast is served every day.
- 24-hour front desk
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Number of floors - 8
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Luggage storage
- Total number of rooms - 39
- Offsite parking reservations required
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Television in common areas
- Elevator/lift
- Multilingual staff
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
Family Friendly Amenities
- Free Wi-Fi
- Soundproofed rooms
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Self parking (surcharge), Offsite parking reservations required
Room Amenities
- Free newspaper
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Shower only
- In-room safe
- Free WiFi
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Soundproofed rooms
- Daily housekeeping
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Cable TV service
Where to Eat
Le Chat Noir Design Hotel serves a buffet-style breakfast (surcharge) each morning in the hotel breakfast room.
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
To make special requests for accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- No onsite parking is available.
No rollaway/extra beds available
No cribs (infant beds) available
24-hour check-in
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 2.48 per person, per night
Optional extras
- Fee for buffet breakfast: EUR 15 per person (approximately)
- Self parking fee: EUR 25 per night
Hotel Name
- Chat Hotel
- Chat Noir Design
- Chat Noir Design Hotel
- Chat Noir Hotel
- Hotel Chat Noir
- Le Chat Noir Design
- Le Chat Noir Design Hotel
- Le Chat Noir Design Hotel Paris
- Le Chat Noir Design Paris
- Noir Design
- Chat Noir Design Hotel Paris
- Chat Noir Design Paris
We should mention
One child 2 years old or younger stays free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.
National Rating
This hotel has received its official star rating from the French Tourism Development Agency, ATOUT France.


text: Do you think you've had bad luck being squeezed between two obnoxious air travelers? Imagine what it was like in the 15th century to be forced to take a religious pilgrimage to Rome with your boss (a fervent woman who screams her prayers out loud) and a fierce man from your English town who threatens you daily. Plus, after an arduous day climbing mountains and fording dangerous rivers, the other pilgrims demand that you cook their evening meal (dried peas, anyone, or how do you skin a rabbit?) Afterwards when the pious folk are resting by the fire, they send you out to do their washing in the nearest frigid stream.


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Rough Loop – Hip-Hop Style. Good for creating tension.
Original file will loop seamlesslyKeywords
aggressive, hard, low, distorted, sawtooth bass, atmospheric, urban, street, gang, criminal, crime, police, alarm, anger, fear, pain, thick, concrete, lo-fi, suspense, intro, scene, loading screen, blood, disturbing, sickness, brutality, sound, unclear, situation, interpersonal,inter personal, fight, argument, conflict, battle, hate, action, dramativ
feel free to contact me through my profile,
best regards


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Intel BOXDZ77GA-70K Intel Extreme Motherboard - ATX, Socket H2 (LGA1155), Intel Z77 Express, 1600MHz DDR3, SATA III (6Gb/s), RAID, 10-CH Audio, 2x Gigabit LAN, USB 3.0 (BOXDZ77GA70K)Item#: I69-2229 | Model#: BOXDZ77GA70K
Currently Out Of Stock!
Intel DZ77GA-70K Intel Z77 Extreme Motherboard Product Details
Upgrade your system's performance and flexibility with the INTEL DZ77GA-70K SOCKET LGA1155 MOTHERBOARD. Set a new performance standard that gamers, overclockers, digital media enthusiasts, and ultimate multi-taskers need the most. It offers easier control of animated visual controls and data graphics with the Intel® Visual BIOS technology and supports the fast computing of any Intel® -K processor and DDR3 memory modules. For improved graphics, it supports ATI CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI multi-GPU setups. The design of this motherboard also integrates Dual Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, RAID storage, and super-speed USB connections. For optimized performance, build your PC with the INTEL DZ77GA-70K SOCKET LGA1155 MOTHERBOARD.
What It Is And Why You Need It:
- LGA1155 socket; delivers performance from any Intel® -K processor or any 2nd and 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i3, i5, or i7 series processor
- Four 240-pin DIMM sockets; support DDR3 memory modules with a total of 32GB capacity and up to 1600+MHz speed
- Two PCI Express 3.0 x16 connectors; fits an Intel® HD Graphics, and supports RAID configuration and ATI CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI multi-GPU setups
- Dual Gigabit LAN ports; connects your computer to the web with 1000Mbps speeds
- Eight USB 3.0 ports; provides eight super-speed connections
Manufactured by: Intel
Warranty provided by: Intel
UPC No: 735858244275
Mfg Part No: BOXDZ77GA70K
Box Size:
( Length:13, Width:11, Depth:3)
Shipping Weight: 3.4000 pound(s)
Click here for full warranty and support information
- Intel logos are registered trademarks of Intel. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


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Scroll left & right on chart for additional pricing
Reward your star performers with our blue and gold Service Star Pin. This pin features a blue enamel background, bright gold plating, and is coated with a protective epoxy varnish. Each pin includes a standard clutch back and is individually poly bagged.


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Highlights for trospium
trospium Side Effects
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
- allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
- blurred vision or difficulty focusing vision
- breathing problems
- confusion
- difficulty passing urine
- hallucinations
- severe dizziness
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
- constipation
- drowsiness
- headache
- indigestion or stomach upset
- nausea
trospium May Interact with Other Medications
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
- dofetilide
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
- digoxin
- metformin
- morphine
- pancuronium
- procainamide
- some medicines for colds, hay fever, or allergies
- tenofovir
- vancomycin
How to Use trospium
Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take this medicine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- difficulty passing urine
- glaucoma
- intestinal obstruction or constipation
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- an unusual or allergic reaction to trospium, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- breast-feeding
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
You may need to limit your intake tea, coffee, caffeinated sodas, and alcohol. These drinks may make your symptoms worse.
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your doctor if the problem does not go away or is severe.
This medicine may cause dry eyes and blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses you may feel some discomfort. Lubricating drops may help. See your eye doctor if the problem does not go away or is severe.
Avoid extreme heat. This medicine can cause you to sweat less than normal. Your body temperature could increase to dangerous levels, which may lead to heat stroke.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
How Much Does trospium Cost?
We've partnered with GoodRx so you can compare prices, find discounts and save up to 80% on your next prescription. Check out the low coupon prices below — no insurance required.
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Lowest price for trospium
|Sams Club
Last Updated: August 1, 2012
Copyright © 2005 - 2016 Healthline Media. All rights reserved for Healthline. Healthline content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. See a certified medical professional for diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy


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You'll find several elements which result share selling prices. On the other hand, a lot of newcomers are focusing excessive over the external factors than what can materialize from accounting standpoint.
Dividend Effect
I love dividend just as much while you do, but apparently, it does not comes for free. Just because, the share price drops in the same price as the dividend paid out after the ex-date. As an illustration, if Wal-Mart Merchants Inc. chose to distribute $1 for each share as dividend to its shareholders, its stock price tag will frequently drops from $49 to $48 per share following the ex-date.
Bonus Challenge
Reward concern is supplemental shares offered via the firm to its existing shareholders. By doing this, the corporation is in a position to reinvest the dividend hard cash for better earnings progress. Actually, this really is yet another way to the firm to keep up its rate at less costly charge with out splitting the stocks. Ideally, the inventory cost drops the identical ratio of reward issued. For example, should the business is offering just one new share for each 4 shares have because of the shareholders, the price will fall by 20%.
Warrants Workout
With warrants, you've got the best to purchase shares from the organization after the physical exercise date at specified price. Because of this, its earnings will likely be diluted as additional shares are sharing the identical earnings pie. In general, the share cost drops the same proportion in the selection of exercised shares. As an example, when the exercised share is 10% with the existing range of shares, the stock selling price will generally drops by 10% likewise.
Regretably, not like inventory break up, these aspects are diluting the earnings per share (EPS) on the stock, which subsequently will adjust its selling price accordingly. Though long-lasting investors tend not to treatment significantly about this, stock traders (esp. swing traders) need to consider these aspects significantly. You could determine much more variables affecting inventory costs at http://www.Stock-Investment-Made-Easy.com/what-moves-the-stock-market.html


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Inspiration Brands
Brands for the future under one roof
Excellence since 1958
Innovation for Everyone, Everywhere
Global Partner
Providing Brand Experience to Consumers Worldwide
We pride ourselves in being a fast innovator: a company that is always amongst the first to introduce new technologies and innovative ideas to the marketplace. While we are often the first to market, we also subscribe to the fast adopter model.
Binatone has developed a broad portfolio of brands. Feature house brands: Binatone, iDECT, Voxtel and Appstar and we are also the official licensee of a number of international brands. Binatone is the official licensee of Motorola and AEG.
With a vast manufacturing network in South East Asia and strategic alliances with key component suppliers we are able to gain an advantage in the market through the economy of scale.
Millions of families rely on the MBP36 Video Baby Monitor to keep them connected to the the ones they love.
Remember Gordon Gecko, or Zack Morris and their iconic phone? Well.. We've brought it back!.
Apps monitor your pet from anywhere – SCOUT on the news!
Kind und Jugend 2013
Motorola MBP36 Wins the Mother & Baby Magazine Award Again!


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Www.bobibanking.com is an official website of Bank of Baroda. In our life computer has become an important device with the fast development of Internet. Many of fields have decided to give online services as many people are learning and using the internet. The most popular products and services will be founded online by taking a panoramic view of the situation. Now, Lots of products and services will be gotten from different e-banking, but it is not belonged to the banks. Bobibanking.com is a website of BarodaConnect.
Home page of official website of Bank Of Baroda
Most probably, the customer welcomes online banking services than other large collection of services. The personal information of their account can be checked by customers. And customers are also able to transfer money to other bank accounts with limited fees of transaction. All the customers should necessarily register their mobile number and e-mail address at base branch. If he/she will not do so then, customers are not able to transfer funds to third party.
Following is a process of the login or sign in for Bank of Baroda Net Banking
The Bank of Baroda established Bobibanking. In India, Bank of Baroda is one of the best banks because it has great network of branches. Bank Of Baroda has also a nice goodwill at global level. Therefore if you would like to have your finance operated in a much easier and better way, it could be a wise choice to join Bobibanking.
First step towards BOBibanking.com Online banking
First step is to create a personal account at Bank Of Baroda. Customers have to submit some private things like full name, gender, birth date, job category, mobile phone, location, email address, etc. If once customers had created an account at this bank then, they will enjoy many kinds of financial services with their private account.
At right side on top selection of Location and below the title "Know How It Works" options like retail users or corporate users are given to choose the category. Then customers will get large collection of Baroda connect Retail and Corporate EBaking Demo about how to use their account. By clicking on Retailer User and Corporate User, customers arrive directly towards login page of Retailer and Corporate.
Features of Bank of Baroda which is as follows:
People set up their account in Bank Of Baroda because mainly they used to pay for various matters on the net, such as the commercial taxes in Indian states, direct tax, indirect tax, etc. People can make reservation of the railway tickets here because BOB has a cooperative relationship with IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Travelling Corporation).
Certainly, some common banking services like deposit and loan/credit card application can be enjoyed by the customers with their online account.
Not only ordinary persons are benefited by this bank, but also the business operators have many advantages of this bank. If once they create commercial accounts in BOB then, this bank would help them in dealing various financial transactions on the net.
If once customers have selected the services of Bank of Baroda then, they have nothing to worry about on their finance
For more information, customer can also Contact at email addresses of BOB and by using phone numbers to get the solution of their problem easily.
Email: email@example.com
Toll Free No: 1800222227


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Image Archive
Detailed Record
Title: Whaling schooner Era frozen in ice, Hudson Bay, Canada, 1897-1905
Accession Number: 1963.1767.117
Category: PHOTOGRAPHS - GLASS NEGATIVES
Type: glass negative
Maker: Comer, George (Capt.)
Place: Canada, Hudson Bay
Date: 1897-1905
Materials: glass
Description: Glass negative by Capt. George Comer, taken in Hudson Bay, ca. 1897-1905. Depicts whaling schooner ERA frozen in the ice. Information from original envelope identifies this as Photo 107. Number 53 is etched into emulsion on lower part of plate.
Mystic Seaport Image ID m169205 Information regarding reproductions


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Product Information
Google Nexus K008 2nd Gen 7in Tablet WiFi 16GB
Google Nexus 7in Tablet with 16GB Memory (2nd Generation) (2013) - BlackEnjoy your media on the go with this Google Nexus 7 tablet, which features a 7" 10-finger capacitive touch screen with IPS technology that simplifies navigation and delivers vibrant images. Wi-Fi makes it easy to surf the Web.Features:Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating systemAlong with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 8064 processor with a 2MB L2 cache and 1.5GHz processor speed allows you to stay connected and productive on the g
SHOP.COM ReviewsWrite a Review
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Consistently Ranked Among Top 10 Investment Banks 2014
Best Project Finance House in North America 2013
Americas Bank of the Year 2013
#1 Trusted Investment Bank Globally
#2 Expertise and Skills Globally
Canada: Safest Banking System in the World 2013
Best Bank in Canada and North America 2013
Best Bank in Canada 2014
One of the top 20 Safest Banks in the World, 2014
Helping build a more sustainable future
RBC Capital Markets is a leader in U.S. Municipal Finance. Leveraging the size and strength of RBC, for the past 75 years we have provided products and services to hundreds of municipal issuers across a broad range of sectors.
Headquartered in New York and employing over 330 banking, sales, trading & underwriting professionals in 29 cities, we have one of the largest U.S. Municipal Finance practices in the country. We have provided municipal financing assistance to thousands of clients and underwritten tens of thousands of bond issues. Our national footprint includes long-term clients who have utilized the firm's services for decades, as well as newer clients in search of stability and commitment in a constantly changing market environment.
© RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 2001, 2003, 2010 rbccm.com is an online information service operated by RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and the other businesses and legal entities operating under the brand name RBC Capital Markets.


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Grooming Stool Box
This Grooming Stool Box is a durable storage tote with non-skid top that doubles as a step stool. Lift the lid to access two pull-out storage trays that keep small items tidy. Read more...
The Grooming Stool Box is a handy item for any groom or busy barn to have on hand. This extra-tough grooming storage tote has a non-skid top that doubles as a step stool. Two pull-out trays neatly store all your essential grooming tools. It features a hasp-style clasp and a carrying handle that tucks away to provide a flat standing surface. 7"L x 12"W x 12"H.
Overall Rating: 5 StarsAverage Based on 1 Reviews Write a Review
This grooming stool is very sturdy and sells on other sites for alot more! Great item to buy
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed - Your Money Back Any Time, for Any Reason.
Smith Brothers is proud to offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our products. We stand behind the quality of our products, and should you not be satisfied with your purchase, simply return it and we will refund, replace or exchange it for you.


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Anyone certain that the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office probe into the handling of initial allegations against Jerry Sandusky would turn up intentional investigatory wrongdoing or evidence of politically influenced decision making came away disappointed on Monday.
While the probe was critical of what was described as an "inexcusable lack of urgency" in prosecuting the former coach for serial child sex abuse, it found no evidence that the delay was precipitated by an attempt to protect then-Attorney General Tom Corbett's ultimately successful 2010 campaign for governor.
Acting too hastily might have jeopardized successful prosecution of the case.
The Kane investigation's findings provide a sense of reassurance and relief about Corbett's performance and decisions regarding the former Penn State assistant football coach while serving in the position Kane now holds. It also provides reassurance and confidence in Corbett's responses after the case burst open before the public in November 2011, less than a year after he became the state's chief executive.
Corbett remains an ex-officio member of the PSU board of trustees.
It is unfortunate that the specter of politics has continued to hang over the Sandusky case so long after Sandusky was found guilty and imprisoned for what apparently - and deservedly - will be the rest of his life. Kane, a Democrat, promised the just-completed probe during her successful election campaign as a successor to Corbett, a Republican.
It was not an empty promise.
On Monday, even Corbett commended the probe's "professional approach," although saying in a prepared statement that it was "difficult to see (the prosecution's) motives and professionalism called into question."
What the Kane probe in fact did was cement the fact that, while some things could have been done better or more efficiently, the intent never was to delay Sandusky from facing the justice that he continues to deserve.
This was a case that never could have been fathomed, and any initial skepticism was understandable, considering the respected, well-run institution of higher learning that Penn State always has been, as well as the respect Sandusky had garnered up to that time.
The initial investigation of Sandusky languished until a tip from a Penn State assistant coach, Mike McQueary, was received. Before that, investigators were reluctant to rush headstrong into something they felt they lacked the evidence to prove.
If Kane erred in any way, it was in telling a Scranton newspaper that initial delays involving Sandusky were "probably" political. She could have - and should have - said instead that the probe she was promising would in part ascertain whether or not politics played any part in the decision making that preceded Sandusky's arrest.
The specter of politics hanging over a tragedy in which politics has no justifiable place was troubling.
Although the probe exonerated Corbett and other investigators of wrongdoing, one particular opinion of Special Deputy Attorney General Geoffrey Mouton, who headed the investigatory legwork, remains important. It is that arguments that the case initially was too weak don't hold up when considering the availability of evidence that would have made the case stronger.
That's an important lesson.
Kane's investigation shouldn't have been necessary, but its findings are a source of relief rather than anger, disappointment and eroded confidence in the justice system.


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24 Simple Scrapbooking Layouts
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When to say No in Business
By: Maria Nerius, FaveCrafts.com Resident Craft Expert
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Sometimes "No" is the most profitable thing you can say or do. Too many of us are your typical "Yes" people. We try to please everyone and often end up overworked and overscheduled. Saying Yes all the time can tire you out. I have a large sign above my office phone and it simply reads, "NO!" It's a reminder to me that I shouldn't get into the Yes mode without thinking all the opportunities through.
Here's an example: I was offered a book deal a few years ago. As most writers, I wanted to say "yes" immediately and I did. After reviewing the contract (a very, very complicated contract), I figured out I was going to earn about one penny a word. I had to make the decision to either let my ego say "yes" so I could have another book under my belt or to say "no" to an opportunity (this opportunity) that, in the long run, would end up costing me money as I'd be stuck writing the book while other more profitable opportunities would have to be turned down.
With pain in my heart, I did say "No." And I'm very glad I did, as another opportunity came my way that was much more profitable. I learned over time to stay calm, keep a poker face, and delay any impulsive decisions. Always remember that time and energy are worth money. Don't waste either on jobs or offers that don't pay you what you are worth!
One of my creative friends recently turned down a job saying that a week off to renew and rest was worth more than what the job offer was paying. As small businesses, we must always look ahead as well as engage in the present task. And sometimes saying, "No" is the best thing to say.
Interested in learning more about running your craft business? Make sure you're subscribed to our free weekly newsletter Creative Income. Sign up today!
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IEA Report Highlights Sweden's Progress Towards a Low-Carbon Economy
5 February 2013: A review of Sweden's energy policy published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicates that Sweden's trajectory towards a low-carbon economy is on track, although challenges remain. The review recommends that Sweden should, inter alia, develop an action plan to realize the 2030 target for achieving a fossil fuel-free vehicle fleet and increase investment in clean energy technologies, including smart grids, biofuels, and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Sweden is cited as one of the leaders amongst IEA member countries in terms of renewable energy in the overall energy supply with strong advancement in biomass and onshore wind. The report notes that Sweden's export-oriented manufacturing and engineering base, although a driver for economic advancement, is very energy intensive.
It calls for emissions reductions in the 2030-2050 period to entail energy efficiency increases in industry and buildings, as well as reductions in energy-intensive sectors. Notably, the report underlines that Sweden has increased deployment of energy technologies, including smart grids and second-generation biofuels. These achievements have been made through special demonstration funding, a soft loan programme and the new CleanTech Strategy that supports innovative enterprises, innovation clusters and technology incubators.
The report recommends that Sweden: develop an action plan to realize the 2030 target for achieving a fossil fuel-free vehicle fleet; develop a shared vision for decarbonizing the Swedish economy through the implementation of a long-term pathway analysis for the 2050 vision of zero net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; remove barriers to participation in the retail electricity market through the use of effective electricity pricing, third-party meter data and information management; increase energy efficiency by encouraging renewable energy use in buildings, promote energy savings in industry and energy efficiency in the heating sector; and increase investment in the clean energy technologies, including smart grids, biofuels and CCS, through research, development, demonstration & deployment (RDD&D) support, cooperation and joint planning at regional level. [IEA Press Release] [Publication: Energy Policies of IEA Countries - Sweden - 2013 Review]


text:
Located in beautiful Victoria, BC we are a group of people from all walks of life who share a passion for the art of photography. We wish to share our knowledge, learn together and in the process make friends, have fun, and help each other realize our creative potential. All levels of experience welcome!
10% off a variety of products.
Terry is offering 10% off printing to group members.
Discounts on photographic gear and workshops. Call for details.
Discounts for Luz workshops. Request at: email@example.com
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