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By the time the FBI searched Ward WeaverÕs Oregon City home over the weekend, few people had any doubts about what theyÕd find. Sure enough, the remains of Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis, two girls who had disappeared from a nearby housing complex earlier this year, were buried there. Weaver, 39, first emerged as a suspect, not from police reports, but in the pages of the Portland Tribune. Staff reporter Jim Redden had been tipped off to WeaverÕs odd relationship to the girls after writing a couple of stories that outlined some of the problems Pond and Gaddis had experienced in their homes. On Monday Redden, a former WW reporter, talked with WW news editor John Schrag.
Willamette Week: What prompted you to jump into this story?
Jim Redden: I got a tip phoned into me that Michelle Duffey [GaddisÕ mother] and Terry Duffey [her aunt] showed up for a sentencing hearing of a convicted murderer in Clackamas County, to lend support to a convicted murderer. And this person thought this was strange, with her having a missing child that we all thought was probably dead, at that point. I started calling around and I got ahold of Michelle and she said, 'Oh yeah, heÕs a friend of the family, a really great guy and a positive influence on my daughter,Õ and I thought, 'ThatÕs really weird.
So what happened next?
I also got ahold of a law-enforcement official who was familiar with the case, who unloaded on both families. This personÕs quote to me was, "They give white trash a bad name." They had convicted felons hanging around the house all the time. These mothers are dating sex offenders. One goes to jail, they hook up with another one. This person told me about Wesley Roettger [PondÕs father] molesting Ashley and Brett McEnnany [Michelle DuffeyÕs boyfriend] molesting all of DuffeyÕs children, and blah blah blah blah. And this was right after the People magazine story had come out.
Which was a sympathetic portrayal.
Yeah. I think that was the key. That pissed off the law-enforcement people working on this case. They knew what was going on from the get-go, and here these people are portrayed in People magazine as soccer moms. I think I just hit a pissed-off law-enforcement person. I went and talked to [Tribune executive editor] Lora Cuykendall and she said, "Well, of course, anyone watching TV can tell these are not your normal families, but no one is writing about that, so go ahead."
So who was the guy at the sentencing hearing?
Brian Daniel is his name. HeÕs a meth addict, a petty criminal whoÕd moved to Oregon City and hooked up with the Duffey family and murdered a guy. Stabbed him in the stomach, took him out in a field and buried his body. Even after he was arrested, they kept in touch with him. Michelle let Miranda correspond with him in the joint. This is the kind of judgment we have with these women.
Did you think he might have killed them?
He was in jail at the time that the girls disappeared, but at first I wondered. HereÕs someone, a sex offender, whoÕs had close relations with Miranda. He could have told a cellmate about her. WeÕre talking about a nest of vipers here. ThatÕs where I was going when I got the call.
What call?
Someone close to one of the families called up and said, "Since youÕre a reporter whoÕs actually telling the truth about whatÕs going on, have you heard of Ward Weaver?" And I said, "No, whoÕs Ward Weaver?" So I go out and talk to Weaver, and he tells me heÕs the prime suspect. And IÕm going, "OK, thereÕs the prime one, but thereÕs all these othersÑget in line, buddy."
Most people deny theyÕre suspected of crimes. HereÕs a guy whoÕs insisting heÕs the prime suspect. Did he come off as goofy? Scary? Both?
No, I went out there on a Sunday morning, and he opens the door and is standing there in his wife-beater shirt and cut-off jeans. I introduce myself, and he invites me inside. He was a little nervous, but a lot of people arenÕt used to dealing with the press, so I didnÕt think it was significant at the time. What did he think of the story? He was not happy with the story. He thought I made it sound like he was complaining about the investigation, when he said he was only complaining about them crossing the line. He really wanted to come across as a stand-up guy.
Did you ever, in your gut, think there was a good reason he was the prime suspect?
I could see why he was a suspect. But did Ward Weaver strike me as a total psycho sex-maniac serial killer at the time? No. He came across as what he claimed he was: someone whoÕd been in trouble with the law but had been working hard to get his act together.
This wasnÕt the first time you were chasing an unsolved murder investigation that seemed to be going nowhere. You were the only one who stuck with the Tim Moreau murder, which years later was finally pinned on nightclub owner Larry Hurwitz.
Déjˆ vu all over again.
What was the biggest difference between the two cases?
Obviously, the biggest difference was the speed with which this one has progressed. Ten weeks versus 10 years. The other difference is that I knew Larry did it immediately. I had reported on Larry on two previous stories in which he was engaged in very sleazy activities. IÕd interviewed him and gotten the chance to size him up. So when I got the call that Tim had disappeared, I knew instantly it was Larry.
In that case, you had the benefit of being familiar with the subculture in which you were reporting. I imagine it was a bit different dropping into Clackamas County.
YouÕve got to remember, I grew up in Southern Oregon. I drove Firebirds. ItÕs not completely alien.
And yet it wasnÕt exactly a sympathetic portrait.
Oh God, no. Michelle has called up many times and screamed at us. But IÕm not the only reporter who knew this stuff. When I went down and checked out files from the Clackamas County Courthouse, I found that The Oregonian had already checked them out months ago. They knew all this stuff. In fact, if you read their early stories, they drop little hints here and there, you know, "Both of their fathers have had encounters with the law," weird shit like that. So they knew this stuff and chose not to pursue it. And the TV people know all the stuff that everybody else knows, and theyÕre reporting less than everyone else.
WhyÕs that?
I think theyÕre nervous about dealing with the unpleasant stuff with these families. And some people will be offended; theyÕll say, "How can you dare criticize these mothers, just because they made some mistakes?" But I say, "No, mixing stripes and polka dots is a mistake. Moving a violent sex offender into a house with small children ought to be against the law." I think the majority of the people want to know and need to know this stuff. They want to know that there are ways I can minimize the risks to myself and my child. I think thatÕs an important message to get across. This is a teachable moment, or whatever that phrase is. And if the press isnÕt willing to address this, itÕs lost.
Was that risky?
We took some risks in saying what we did about the families, but we did it at a time when people were groping for explanations and answers, and the coverage broke loose more information. The Oregonian has dumped on the families when it doesnÕt matter. I do feel bad about the mothers. TheyÕre victims and theyÕre really, really in bad shape right now, but I do believe people can learn from it.
EditorÕs note: This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity. A shorter print version appears in the Aug. 28 WW.


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This deal has ended.
Dell takes $240 off the Planar 27" LCD Monitor via code PFGNXK95JS4L39, dropping it to $229.99 with free shipping. Amazon charges $296.85! This monitor is big enough for entertainment, and with full HD resolution the picture is sharp for blu-rays or streaming HD content. The fast response time (2ms) means less eye strain while you work. Sales tax is charged in most states.No longer available

subset: commoncrawl


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New games hit the shelves every week and GT is here to help. See what the GT editors have to say about the latest games, which ones are worth your $$$ and which aren't even worth the rental.
January 29th, 2015
Episode 68 of 133 episodes
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Jessica Helfand and Michael Bierut explore how design works within complex organizations to shape decisions, ideas, products, and more. Guests include clients from many industries and designers in many fields. Recorded at the Yale School of Management.


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June 4, 2015 12:12 am
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The pressure is on for your agency to make its documents easier to understand. The new Plain Writing Act comes with a bunch of requirements for simplifying the way your agency writes.
The IRS has found a way to make complicated tax information easy on the eyes and mind. Its work has won top honors in a contest from the Center for Plain Language.
Jodi Patterson of the IRS Office of Taxpayer Correspondence explains how the agency weathered its way through the first several months of the Plain Writing Act.
Sponsored content: Download the latest Expert Edition on Identity Management.
Sponsored content: Download the latest Expert Edition on Identity Management.
Photos of the amazing, moving, important and amusing things happening in the federal community.
A daily update of important moments in the history of the U.S. government.


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Keith-Agaran to fill Central Maui Senate seat
Kahului state Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran was tapped Monday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to serve in the state Senate, filling the Central Maui seat vacated by newly appointed Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui.
Keith-Agaran, a Wailuku attorney who has served in the state House since 2009, was selected from a list of three finalists complied by state Democratic Party officials.
His appointment to represent Senate District 5 – which includes Wailuku, Waihee and Kahului – is effective immediately.
"Gil brings a wealth of experience from the practice of law and work in county and state government. His passion for the people of the Valley Isle is evident, and I am confident he will continue to serve them well," Abercrombie said in a statement.
Tsutsui accepted the lieutenant governor post after Abercrombie named Brian Schatz to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy created by the Dec. 17 death of Sen. Daniel Inouye. As state Senate president at the time, Tsutsui was first in line to succeed Schatz.
Keith-Agaran, 50, said that while he has mixed emotions to be leaving the House, he plans to get to work right away.
"It's somewhat bittersweet in the sense that I loved working with my colleagues and I had an opportunity this year, if I stayed in the House, to have a fairly important leadership position," he told The Maui News. "But I was elected by my community and my responsibility is to make sure that my community is well represented in both the House and Senate. I think this is one of the reasons I thought I had to apply for the vacancy."
Wailuku state Rep. Joe Souki, who says he has the backing to be elected speaker of the House, had chosen Keith-Agaran to be majority leader.
Keith-Agaran said he intends to follow through on priorities for Central Maui that he, Tsutsui and Souki have identified.
"I'm going to be basically following up on a lot of projects that Lieutenant Governor Tsutsui and Speaker Emeritus Souki have initiated, and bring those to a finish," Keith-Agaran said. "There are a number of projects that we started that still need someone to make sure they get constructed and put into place."
He cited as examples funding for the planned Central Maui Regional Park and Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Keith-Agaran, who previously served as chairman of the influential House Judiciary Committee, said he plans to speak with Senate President Donna Mercado Kim about possible committee assignments later this week.
"There are a number of committees I'd like to sit on, but I realize the Senate has already organized," he said. "There may be an opportunity, perhaps, to sit on Ways and Means, and perhaps others that Senate President Kim had sat on before she became president, so there may be some slots."
Kim released a statement shortly after Keith-Agaran's appointment, congratulating him and saying: "We look forward to working with him as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session," which convenes Jan. 16.
The other two names given to Abercrombie earlier in the day Monday were Natalie "Tasha" Kama – pastor, president and administrator for Christian Ministry Church – and Mary Wagner, business continuity plan manager for Maui County.
Debi Hartmann, executive director of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, described Keith-Agaran's appointment as "an excellent choice."
"I know that not only will he serve Maui extremely well, but he'll be an excellent member of the Senate. They're lucky to have him," Hartmann said.
Party district and precinct officers within the senatorial district had comprised an official nominating committee, which met over the weekend and narrowed down a list of seven applicants to the three finalists.
"We reviewed and vetted the applicants, and they are great prospects, so any one of them would be awesome," she had said before the governor's pick was announced.
Keith-Agaran was appointed to the House in 2009 by then-Gov. Linda Lingle after Rep. Bob Nakasone died. He was elected to the seat in 2010 and had again won re-election last year.
Abercrombie's appointment Monday happened to fall on the same date as Lingle's 2009 appointment.
"I don't know if it's a coincidence. . . . It was the same date," he said, noting that it also coincides with his wife, Kallie's, birthday.
"It's supposed to be her day. It really should be her day."
Keith-Agaran, a Maui High School graduate, holds a bachelor's degree in history from Yale College and is a graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California at Berkeley.
He's a partner in the Wailuku law firm of Takitani Agaran and Jorgensen.
Keith-Agaran previously held several state government positions, including as chairman and deputy director of the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources, director of Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and deputy director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
He also was a former director Maui County's Department of Public Works.
Mayor Alan Arakawa added his congratulations, saying in a statement: "Gil served as my Public Works Director during my first administration and has always proven to be very intelligent and capable. Gil was a fine representative, and I am confident he will be an exemplary state senator."
Hartmann said a nearly identical process would start to now fill Keith-Agaran's House District 9 seat, which covers Kahului, Puunene and parts of Wailuku.
"The district party chair will put out the call for candidates that would like to apply," she said. "With the upcoming legislative session, we all feel a sense of urgency to get this filled. So I'm sure we'll get the call out immediately and get the process going so that the House will have all of its members at the start of the session."
Interested candidates can visit hawaiidemocrats.org for more information.
* Nanea Kalani can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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December 7, 2006
Philosophy Department Highly Ranked: Future looks Bright
December 7, 2006
Department Chair, , was pleased to see the very positive rankings given to Bowling Green's department in the latest version of the Philosophical Gourmet report. Professor Sobel made the following comments.
"The Bowling Green State University philosophy department offers prospective graduate students and faculty a unique program focused in ethics, political philosophy, and applied ethics, while also training our graduate students in the core areas of philosophy.
We are pleased to report that our strong reputation in the areas of
our specialization has been reflected in the recent 2006-08
Philosophical Gourmet report:"
Applied Ethics
Ranking: Group 1 (1-6th)
Normative Ethics and Moral Psychology
Ranking: Group 4 (13-29 th)
Ranking: Group 5 (17-27th)
Political Philosophy
Group 4 (28-44th)
"Additionally, we are in a very strong position to improve our department significantly by hiring aggressively in the next few years. We will be hiring two people in ethics, political, and/or applied ethics this year. We anticipate hiring 4-5 additional faculty in the following 3 years."


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Of all the hard-line conservative columnists The News carries on the Other Voices pages, Cal Thomas is my favorite because he sometimes has the courage and intelligence to deviate from the standard line and say something that's truly provocative. Witness a recent column in which he wrote: "I would vote for a competent atheist who believed in issues I care about over the most conservative Christian or Orthodox Jew who lacks the experience, knowledge and vision to do a good job as president."
So, I was disappointed to read his defense of Rupert Murdoch over the phone-hacking scandal ("Glee over Murdoch's troubles," Monday). Thomas acknowledged he is a contributor to Fox News, which he said would survive and prosper regardless of what happened in Britain.
But his last sentence convinced me he is tone-deaf to the irony of his position. He said Fox News' prosperity would "be a cause for glee to those who dislike reporting that comes from a single ideological worldview."
In the dictionary of politics, next to "reporting that comes from a single ideological worldview," is a picture of the Fox News logo.


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The whispers of another Brett Favre return from mothballs are out there following recent comments from NFL.com senior analyst and former NFL executive Gil Brandt and a less-than-definitive statement from Favre's brother.
Scott Favre, the brother of the future Hall of Fame quarterback, told the Sun Herald of Biloxi, Miss., that he thinks "there's less than a 1-percent chance" Brett would come out of retirement -- again -- if an NFL team called him.
So far, no public statement from Favre himself, although he has expressed interest in mentoring No. 1 pick Cam Newton of Auburn.
Brandt interpreted the interest in working with Newton as a possible sign Favre, who'll turn 42 on Oct. 10., might be itching to give it on last hurrah.
"I think Favre is enough of a competitor that if somebody said to him, 'Come on, come on in, we can use you. You might not be a starter.' I think he would come out of his retirement," Brandt said Wednesday on NFL Network.
Favre's final NFL game took place Jan. 2, 2011, at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions.
Favre, who had hoped to play in that regular-season finale, was held out of the game because he was unable to pass a league-mandated post-concussion test. He announced after the game his intention to retire from the NFL and filed paperwork with the league office, making it official, almost two weeks later.
Of course, he could change his mind. It's not like he hasn't done that before.
At least one family member attempted to put the latest rumors involving the NFL's all-time leading passer and record holder for consecutive starts at 297, to rest about returning to the field one last time.
"I would hope he would not do it," his mother, Bonita Favre, said. "He is crazy if he does."
Yep, Brett Favre needs to listen to his mama.


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The dead walk: Our 10 favorite zombie movies
How does Brad Pitt's 'World War Z' measure up to the classics?
6. 'Re-Animator' (1985)
Stuart Gordon's background is live theater, and you can tell when you see how he stages this loose adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft story. Gordon and Jeffrey Combs are are one of those perfect matches of director and lunatic, and the script by Dennis Paoli, William Norris, and Gordon is jet-black and hilarious. David Gale gives a great performance as well, and Bruce Abbott deserves credit for offering up a somewhat sane center to a barking mad ensemble. For my money, the MVP award goes to Barbara Crampton, whose willingness to push the envelope led to one of the craziest images of the '80s. I love movies that feel like they're out of control, like anything can happen, and "Re-Animator" feels dangerous, which only makes it that much funnier.
-Drew McWeeny


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To the editor:
The Lake Linden-Hubbell Sportsmen's Association would like to thank all of the businesses in Calumet, Copper Harbor, Hancock, Houghton, Hubbell, Lake Linden, Laurium, Mohawk and points in between for their generous donations which enabled us to have a successful 40th Rice Lake Fishing Derby.
The Keweenaw deer that we help feed with the Derby proceeds also thank you. Your past support ensured their survival from this year's horribly long winter. Your help this year will allow us to continue our feeding program next winter. Also, our sincere appreciation to all our supportive community members who faithfully attend our Derby each summer.
David Saxton,
Lake Linden
Fact Box
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Letters should be signed and include name, address and telephone number. Names will not be withheld and letters should be no longer than 400 words. No personal attacks. Writers are limited to one letter per month. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length, as well as for spelling and punctuation.
Mail letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Daily Mining Gazette, P.O. Box 368, Houghton, MI 49931. Letters may also be e-mailed to email@example.com or submitted on the Gazette's Web site, mininggazette.com, by clicking on "Submit News."


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EVERGREEN, Alabama -- The Conecuh Forestry Planning Committee will host a forestry and wildlife field day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 18 at Saloom Properites, LLC in the Booker's Mill community outside of Evergreen in Conecuh County.
The event promises to present an opportunity to landowners, hunters and foresters to learn more about managing timber and wildlife in the current economic climate.
Attendees will tour the 1,762-acre property, named a 2010 National Outstanding Tree Farm, via truck-drawn trailer or bus. The tour will feature four educational stops with three speakers per site.
Beau Brodbeck with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service said speakers will address management applications and associated economic considerations.
Tour stops will include longleaf establishment, longleaf mid-rotation management, pine-straw harvesting and vendor exhibits. Expert speakers from a variety of agencies and the professional forestry community will pass on their knowledge and experience through outdoor demonstrations, Brodbeck said.
Registration is free and includes lunch. For more information, directions, and to pre-register, contact the Conecuh County Extension Office in Evergreen at 251-578-2762 or email email@example.com.


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May is Wildfire Awareness Month in King County
Wildfire Awareness Month begins May 1, and King County's Forestry Program is working with area fire districts and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to raise awareness and promote actions that keep communities safe in the event of fire.
Steps such as clearing dead leaves and needles from roofs, raking leaves, and storing flammable materials at least 30 feet from structures can prevent blowing embers from igniting homes.
Additional tips are on the King County Forestry Program website.
The Forestry Program offers free assistance to residents of rural forested areas to assess their risk from wildfire and develop and implement community fire safety plans.
Modeled after the national Firewise program, such plans prevent the loss of lives, property and resources to wildfire while encouraging forest stewardship among landowners. Contact the Forestry Program at 206-477-4842.
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DJ Soul Sister, aka Melissa Weber, spins old-school soul and hip-hop each week upstairs at Mimi's, a cozy bar in Faubourg Marigny. To date, her largest audience has been 1,000 people at the House of Blues. Between acts on the main Essence stage, she'll face tens of thousands of listeners.
"Initially I was pretty nerved out thinking about playing for so many people," Weber said. "But working with the Rehage Entertainment team has made me feel at ease about everything; they are so supportive. And I've gotten pep talks from colleagues like DJ Captain Charles and the Dynamite DJ Dave Soul. The best pep talk of all came from a woman who told me, 'Honey, don't be nervous because you'll have 50,000 women rooting for you.'
"That is what it is all about for me -- representing positive, soulful music and representing for the women. After all, this is Essence."
She'll skip the obscurities that pepper her Mimi's set in favor of classics tailored to whichever act is up next on the main stage. She'll likely usher in Jill Scott with Washington, D.C., go-go star Chuck Brown and preview Chris Brown with Michael Jackson cuts. Prior to Maze on Sunday, she'll salute such old-school deejay inspirations as Captain Charles and Slick Leo.
"I'm quite aware," she said, "that people will be ready to get their bus stop on for that set."
See DJ Soul Sister spin Friday, July 4, through Sunday, July 6, on the Main Stage at the Essence Music Festival.


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Manta Diving Lanzarote is owned and run by James Damer,a PADI Staff Instructor, with more than 20 years of diving experience. His expertise is supported by a fully experienced staff of instructors and dive guides who have an excellent knowledge of Lanzarote's diving locations. Whether you want to experience the fantastic underwater world for the first time - train and receive PADI certification - or, if qualified, explore the rich seas around Puerto del Carmen then Manta Diving Lanzarote assures you of a warm welcome.
Contact details:
telephone: +34 928 516 815
telephone: +34 928 516 815
telephone: +34 649 121 142
go to Manta Dive Centre website
Address and location:
Juan Carlos 1, No.6, Loc.5


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She saw a deer and thought it was a homeless man. An easy mistake to make in Elizabeth, where it´s easy to assume there are no deer at all.
But Julianne Pelaez did see the doe hiding among tall bushes on a patch of ground that once was the Elizabeth reservoir, stretching east from North and Morris avenues.
"You don´t have go to Appalachia to see nature," says Julianne, the Star-Ledger Scholar for the Greater Elizabeth Area and an ardent environmentalist. "You can find it anywhere, even among the scraps of paper that litter our parks."
The top senior at Elizabeth High School´s Upper Academy is dedicated to improving the environment of cities, including her hometown, the fourth largest in New Jersey. She saw the deer while walking on the reservoir property -- now a county park.
"We got a little scared but then we saw what it was," she says.
The young woman expects to study environmental science when she enters Harvard University this fall. She also was admitted to Brown, Dartmouth, Yale, Princeton, Cornell and Johns Hopkins.
"She is the most intelligent student and the sweetest person I have taught in my career," says Rebecca Aiello, an English teacher for 35 years in the city.
Julianne comes from a family where hard work and success is expected. She has three older sisters: Yesenia, 26, graduated from Rowan; Olivia, 22, graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and Gina, 19, attends Rutgers. A brother, Fernando, is 13.
They are children of Luis Pelaez, an electronics assembler, an immigrant from Ecuador, and Hwa Cha Kwon, an immigrant from North Korea who is a manicurist. Julianne was born in Germany while her father served in the U.S. Army.
She credits the support of her parents for her academic success. Julianne was not only the top student in Elizabeth, she also scored 2200 on the SAT, two scores above 700 on SAT subject test in biology and math, and a top grade of 5 on the Advanced Placement test in biology. She edits the school´s literary magazine.
"I also have a lot of drive," she says.
It´s easy for students -- even good students -- to get lost in a big urban school system. But not if they are lucky enough to have teachers like Rebecca Aiello.
"Unlike many teachers, she didn´t just care if I did my homework," says Julianne Pelaez, "she cared about me. She cared if I seemed drowsy or sick. Or if my grades weren´t as good as they should be."
Julianne chose Aiello to honor as her most influential teacher.
Aiello understands students like Julianne. She was one herself, a bookish young woman, as interested in reading as in anything else, growing up in Elizabeth, wanting to have a career that meant something to others.
"There´s nothing more rewarding than a teaching career," Aiello says, then adds a joke: "You can have hundreds of children and never have to pay for any of them to go to college."
Aiello, who now lives in Summit, has two sons of her own, and she did put them through college. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Bridgeport, then earned a master´s degree from Rutgers University.
She teaches English, AP language arts, and philosophy. Aiello also is the adviser for the Mind´s Eye, the school literary magazine, and the Urban Garden, an environmental program.
"In the eyes of Ms. Aiello, I could do anything -- and it was so helpful to know someone believed in me," says Julianne.


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Motherboards: Power at the Right Price
Asus P5N-E SLIPCWorld Rating
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MSI P965 Platinum Motherboard (Intel Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Duo/Pentium EE/Pentium, Socket T, P965, ATX, 8GB DDR2, 1066MHz)PCWorld Rating
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MSI K9A Platinum Motherboard (Athlon 64/64FX/64 X2, Socket AM2, nForce2, ATX, 8GB DDR2, 1000MHz Bus)PCWorld Rating
Asus CrosshairPCWorld Rating
Sapphire Pure CrossFire PC-AM2RD580PCWorld Rating
A new motherboard can provide cool new technologies that your PC might be missing: faster, second-generation SATA connections, which currently reach 3 gigabits per second (gbps); gigabit ethernet; high-definition audio; and even dual-card graphics (SLI or CrossFire).
We evaluated 14 standard-size motherboards by building systems using each board, running our Windows XP-based WorldBench 5 benchmark, and then installing Windows Vista Ultimate to check for compatibility problems.
Rather than make an apples-to-oranges comparison between AMD- and Intel-equipped motherboards, we split our roundup into two groups: seven boards based on AMD's socket AM2 (for use with AMD chips requiring DDR2 memory) and seven boards employing Intel's socket LGA775 (for use with that company's dual-core and quad-core processors). The Intel boards' WorldBench 5 scores were nearly 15 percent better than those of the AMD group, thanks to the advantage the Core 2 Duo CPU holds over the Athlon 64 X2 processor running at the same clock speed, though the Intel chip we tested costs around $200 more. Performance within each group varied little, however, so once you decide whether to choose an AMD or an Intel CPU, selecting a board largely comes down to assessing its features.
See our chart, "Features Set Motherboards Apart."
Our Best Buys
Our top pick among the Intel-based motherboards is the $149 Asus P5N-E SLI. The only model we looked at featuring nVidia's nForce 650i SLI x8 chip set, it did just about everything well. It still has a few minor weaknesses, however; for instance, it provides only three one-eighth-inch analog outputs on the back panel, limiting you to 5.1-channel sound (instead of 7.1) unless you use the rear-panel digital coaxial connection or internal analog audio header. The second-ranked ECS nForce 570 SLIT-A (v5.1) impressed us with a very attractive price ($95), but it uses an older nForce 570 SLI x8 chip set and is the only board in our roundup that lacks FireWire ports of any kind.
In contrast, the $249 Asus P5N32-E SLI, using nVidia's nForce 680 SLI x16 chip set, missed a spot on our chart largely because of its relatively high price.
Among AMD-based boards, Gigabyte's $170 GA-M59SLI-S5 won our Best Buy nod, combining state-of-the-art and legacy peripheral ports with a nice price. A pair of AMD-based boards failed to rank. The $165 Asus M2R32-MVP's performance numbers were a hair slow in a field of fast competitors. And DFI's $190 LanParty UT NF590 SLI-M2R/G, while an excellent overclocker's board, just missed out because it allows a maximum of only 4GB of memory and lacks legacy ports (which may not be a big deal, but other boards continue to offer them).
Power users with AMD leanings should note that overclocking is the raison d'
Despite not making the chart, the Intel DG965WH remains a very good choice for a budget system, where overclocking and high-end graphics aren't as great a concern. The board's integrated GMA X3000 graphics chip ran Vista's Aero interface satisfactorily, and it saves you the expense of buying a graphics card.
Choosing a CPU
Previous testing has shown that Intel's Core 2 Duo has shoved AMD's chips into the backseat in performance. (See "Intel's New Core 2 Duo Processors Run Blazingly Fast in PC World Tests.")
For our tests we used an AMD 2.6-GHz Athlon 64 X2 5200+ that costs about $300. Our Intel test bed used an approximately $500 2.66-GHz Core 2 Duo E6700.
If you want maximum performance, buy a top-of-the-line Core 2 Duo or perhaps a quad-core chip (see "Quad-Cores Need Multithreaded Apps"). If you don't want to pay Formula 1 prices and you're content with mere NASCAR get-up-and-go, opt for an AMD processor or a cheaper, second-tier Intel CPU.
Greater Graphics
If you're a high-resolution-gaming fan, graphics support should weigh heavily in your motherboard buying decision. Ten of our test models have two PCI Express x16 slots, which together will support two graphics cards. However, the x16 slots on the nVidia 570- and 650i-based boards function at only x8 when operating in dual-graphics-card mode (SLI in this case). Caveat: For a single-card setup, you can use any brand of PCIe graphics board in these systems; but when doubling up, you must use only nVidia cards in SLI motherboards and only ATI cards in CrossFire boards. Dual-card graphics are overkill at 1280-by-1024-pixel resolution or less, but they improve 3D graphics performance as you increase the resolution beyond that. In our test group, the four boards with Intel's P965 chip set all have a single PCIe x16 slot.
Intel's DG965WH is the only motherboard in our roundup with integrated graphics (we tested it, and all boards, with a GeForce 7800 graphics card to level the playing field). Though we recommend getting a discrete graphics board for gaming, integrated graphics are adequate for most other uses. Just make sure you opt for a motherboard that has a PCIe x16 slot so that you can add a graphics card later if necessary.
Shifts in Storage
Every motherboard in the roundup has a floppy-drive connector, and many of them include drivers on floppies. Parallel ATA (PATA) drive support is also universal, though only Asus's P5N-E SLI offers more than one connector. PATA support persists despite Intel's decision to drop it from the P965/ICD8DH chip set--which overlooked the fact that the majority of current internal CD/DVD burners are PATA-based. Not only does no performance advantage accrue from replacing a PATA burner with a same-speed SATA drive, but vendors have been slow to introduce SATA burners. Dropping PATA simply forced P965 motherboard vendors, Intel included, to add an auxiliary PATA controller.
State-of-the-art 3-gbps SATA is universal in the boards in our roundup, as is RAID hard-drive support. Every board offers both RAID 0 (in which data is split, or striped, evenly across drives for increased performance) and RAID 1 (in which one drive's contents are mirrored on another drive). Each motherboard also supports either RAID 5 (data striped across at least three drives, with parity protection) or a combination of RAID 0 and 1 (a striped and mirrored pair requiring four drives).
Most of the motherboards include at least six internal SATA ports. In addition, some boards come with an external SATA (eSATA) connector--a handy feature that lets you hook up an external SATA drive (which is still rare despite being faster than USB or FireWire types). The Asus P5N-E SLI and M2R32-MVP and the Abit AB9 Pro each feature a single back-panel eSATA port, while the Asus Crosshair and the Asus P5N32-E SLI offer two. Of course, each board in our test group allows you to connect eSATA drives using internal SATA connectors with an expansion bracket (such as those that Gigabyte bundled with its boards), but dedicated rear-panel ports save you the hassle.
Different Boards, Similar Chords
Though each motherboard in our roundup uses PCI Express, with its greater data throughput and better bandwidth sharing, all of the motherboards we tested still support the older PCI technology as well. Every board provides four memory slots split between two channels, plus support for up to DDR2 800 memory, except the ECS nForce 570 SLIT-A, which tops out at DDR2 667.
As you might expect, USB 2.0 is ubiquitous: Every board has the capability for at least eight USB 2.0 ports, and most have ten. Generally, half of a board's USB and FireWire ports are externally accessible on the back panel, and the other half are provided in the form of headers (arrays of pins) to which you can attach either expansion brackets or leads for connections that are built in to your computer case.
Several models in our review lack legacy ports (parallel and serial connections) for attaching older printers, PDAs, and scanners. The Abit AB9 Pro and Asus P5N32-E SLI, however, provide serial-port headers. The Asus P5N-E SLI and Intel DG965WH boards couple serial-port headers with back-panel parallel ports.
Gigabit ethernet is universal on all of the motherboards, and half of the models--Abit's AB9 Pro and Fatal1ty AN9 32X, Asus's Crosshair and P5N32-E SLI, DFI's LanParty UT NF590 SLI-M2R/G, Gigabyte's GA-M59SLI-S5, and MSI's K9A Platinum--offer two LAN connections, providing the capability either to connect to two networks or to double the bandwidth. (The nVidia-based boards supply DualNet channel bonding, providing features such as load balancing and TCP/IP acceleration for faster Web browsing.)
Every one of the motherboards we tested delivers extremely high-quality sound, because they all implement Intel's High Definition Audio standard. Hardware that conforms to the standard can produce up to 7.1-channel, 24-bit output (32-bit internal processing) and 192-kilohertz sound. Compared with the older AC'97 specification's maximum output of 20-bit, 48-kHz audio, the newer standard provides substantially better audio quality. To take advantage of the more advanced audio capability, or course, you need to have content that has been encoded at the higher quality level--for example, songs on DVD-Audio or DTS audio discs--as well as software that can play it.
Though all of the boards support the standard, we noted some minor differences in implementation. The Realtek 885 or 883 chip found in the Abit AB9 Pro, the Asus P5N-E SLI, the DFI LanParty UT NF590 SLI-M2R/G, the ECS nForce 570 SLIT-A, the Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5, and both MSI Platinum boards is rated at an excellent 106-dB signal-to-noise ratio. That ratio is a very good indicator of the overall quality of the digital-analog/analog-digital converters; a high number means you'll hear less background noise during quiet musical passages or when cranking the line or input volume. The ADI1988 chip in the Asus Crosshair and M2R32-MVP boards provides a signal-to-noise ratio of 105 dB, while the chips in the other boards are rated at 95 dB. (Note that those numbers are for playing 24-bit audio--expect about 6 dB less during normal 16-bit usage.)
If you peruse our chart, "Features Set Motherboards Apart," you might notice the low number of slots, especially PCI ones. With multichannel audio, FireWire, and SATA now integrated onto most motherboards, the need for slots has diminished. The average user will probably never install anything beyond a graphics card or a modem, and the latter is readily available in PCIe x1 form. That said, numerous advanced audio, video-capture, FireWire 800, and other specialty cards are still PCI-based, so if your needs are fairly high-end, keep the number of PCI slots in mind.
All of the boards also provide extensive BIOS overclocking features, except for Intel's DG965WH. Intel marks its CPUs and buses at the speed it wants them to run, and if you want guaranteed stability, you should probably run them at those specified speeds. All of the other boards have such overclocking options as the abilities to run the CPU and bus faster, and to increase voltages to keep components stable at the faster speeds. The Abit Fatal1ty AN9 32X and the Asus Crosshair offer exceptional tweakability--the Crosshair even has a fan-speed boost.
Working With the Boards
In our tests Windows Vista ran successfully and the Aero interface functioned perfectly with all the boards. Asus's Crosshair and M2R32-MVP, however, each required a BIOS update to alleviate long periods of seeming inactivity as we installed Vista.
Under Vista, we also experienced some minor "unknown device" issues--mostly with some boards' Advanced Configuration and Power Interface, which controls hibernation, sleep, and other power-management features.
Utility and tweaking software was another sticky issue under Vista. The majority of the bundled Windows-based monitoring and overclocking apps wouldn't install or run on our test systems. The Sapphire had no Windows-based utilities, while Asus's Probe II monitoring and AI Boost overclocking programs ran well, even though the main setup program didn't (we had to install the utilities manually). Motherboard-tweaking software often undergoes a lengthy revision process before all the bugs are worked out.
One noticeable trend with the more expensive boards is the use of heat-pipe cooling, which draws heat away from critical components and toward additional heat sinks strategically located near the CPU fan. By avoiding the use of multiple fans, this method offers a clever way to reduce noise and still keep components cool. The Abit Fatal1ty AN9 32X, the Asus Crosshair and P5N32-E SLI, the MSI P965 Platinum, and both Gigabyte boards feature this innovation.
Our complaints about board layout are minimal, and most relate to one-time setup chores. The IDE connectors on the MSI K9A Platinum and the Asus M2R32-MVP and Crosshair sit near their 24-pin power connectors, which makes inserting both cables hard. Cables connected to the Asus Crosshair's PATA port and two of its SATA ports interfere somewhat with the insertion of long PCIe graphics cards such as the GeForce 7800 we used in our lab tests.
We were of two minds about the floppy-disk and internal SATA connectors on the DFI LanParty UT NF590 SLI-M2R/G. They lie parallel to the board, extending off the edge. This orientation made attaching the cables a bit of a trick, though once connected the cables are tucked nicely out of the way. The Asus P5N32-E SLI incorporates a similar design with its six SATA ports, as do the Asus P5N-E SLI and the Sapphire Pure CrossFire PC-AM2RD580 with their IDE connectors. The ECS nForce 570 SLIT-A's front-panel header (for connecting USB ports, for example) lacked any indication of where to attach the power and reset buttons, activity LEDs, and so on. The worst design flaw we spotted, however, was the Sapphire's use of first-generation, rimless SATA connectors; they produce a worrisomely loose connection compared with the rimmed types used on every other board.
If you're into bling or cool workbench diagnostic features, several motherboards stand out. The Abit Fatal1ty, the Asus Crosshair, and the Sapphire Pure CrossFire PC-AM2RD580 are all decked out with LEDs that gleam in the dark. The back-mounted blue LCD of the Asus Crosshair presents BIOS messages and other information, and is very snazzy, as are the backlit reset and power buttons on the board itself. That board also gets major props for lighting the labels of the back-panel USB, eSATA, and other ports, which makes connecting peripherals in the dark much easier. The DFI has similar controls, though they're not as spiffy looking. Asus also offers a nice touch with all of its boards: The QConnector is a removable adapter that you can pull out of the case and hold in your hand while you attach power, reset, and speaker wires and plug the adapter into a motherboard header. It's much easier than fumbling around inside a dark, cramped case.
While you're examining motherboard options, also consider what other system parts you'll need in order to upgrade or build your own PC. For step-by-step guides and details on all of the major system components, see "Best PC Upgrades."
Quad-Cores Need Multithreaded Apps
For maximum performance when multitasking or when using demanding, multithreaded applications, quad-core CPUs such as Intel's Core 2 Extreme QX6700 or the more consumer-oriented Core 2 Quad processors offer some performance benefits. Quad-core chips, for example, enable video encoders to process multiple frames simultaneously.
On the other hand, if you tend to spend your day simply switching between tasks that don't use the CPU concurrently--say, sending e-mail and trolling eBay--PC World's lab tests reveal that four cores offer no real advantage over two; even two cores help only in certain cases, such as when you're backing up a hard drive or burning a DVD in the background while word processing.
For anyone playing games or manipulating audio or video on a regular basis, however, having four cores can potentially deliver real benefits. We qualify that statement because, aside from a few forthcoming games such as Unreal Tournament 2007, the list of optimized applications is short, dominated by expensive offerings such as the latest versions of Adobe's Premiere Pro and Encore DVD, Autodesk's 3D StudioMax, and Steinberg's Cubase 4. Nevertheless, additional multithreaded software titles are on the way, and eventually every activity that can benefit from multiple-core processing will do so. Intel's current quad-core desktop chips work quite nicely in any LGA775-socket-based motherboard, including all of the ones in this roundup, so you can upgrade at any time. Unfortunately, AMD has been mum on its plans for supporting socket AM2 (the current AMD motherboard socket for its DDR2-based CPUs) with single-die, quad-core CPUs.
What AMD has announced and shipped is a quasi quad-core product known as Quad FX, which is really two dual-core Athlon 64 X2 CPUs on a dual AMD socket 1207 motherboard using a slightly revamped nVidia nForce 680a chip set (such as the Asus board pictured above).
Our WorldBench 5 suite of tests doesn't currently include enough apps that take full advantage of a quad-core CPU for this technology to affect test results significantly, but WorldBench 6, now in beta, will. The Quad FX generally fared no better than a similarly configured PC using AMD's Athlon 64 FX-62. See "AMD Releases Its 4x4 Platform, New FX CPUs" for more details.
For the time being, quad-core sounds sexy, but dual-core is the sweet spot for the majority of users. Early adopters can elect to buy quad-core processors now and see better performance with the few optimized applications.
Asus P5N-E SLIPCWorld Rating
ECS (Elitegroup Computers) nForce 570 SLIT-A (V5.1)PCWorld Rating
MSI P965 Platinum Motherboard (Intel Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Duo/Pentium EE/Pentium, Socket T, P965, ATX, 8GB DDR2, 1066MHz)PCWorld Rating
ABIT Abit AB9 ProPCWorld Rating
Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5 Motherboard (Athlon 64 FX/ Athlon X2, Socket AM2, ATX, 16GB DDR2, 1GHz Bus)PCWorld Rating
ABIT Fatal1ty AN9 32XPCWorld Rating
MSI K9A Platinum Motherboard (Athlon 64/64FX/64 X2, Socket AM2, nForce2, ATX, 8GB DDR2, 1000MHz Bus)PCWorld Rating
Asus CrosshairPCWorld Rating
Sapphire Pure CrossFire PC-AM2RD580PCWorld Rating


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To the Editor:
On April 15, Rep.Dan Maffei proposed a plan to stimulate small business. He used feedback from 150 local business owners and economic development leaders. His proposal included a rebate on payroll taxes for each new employee hired for one year, a one-year holiday from "non-essential'' government paperwork, and start-up businesses being eligible for Roth-like IRAs. It's encouraging that our representative is trying to help business. I'm amazed that nobody suggested that we should consider cutting taxes.
It also seems unlikely that you could talk to a number of business people without any mention of Obamacare as a problem.
If we could defer any paperwork, why shouldn't it be eliminated?
My takeaway form his proposal is that he is convinced that the government is the answer. Throughout our country's history, business has flourished when taxes are low, regulations are minimized and the government gets out of the way. For these reasons, I'm not looking for anything good coming out of his small business plan.
John Rosser


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Teaching Interrupted
Do Discipline Policies in Today's Public Schools Foster the Common Good?
Teachers and parents say too many students are losing critical opportunities for learning -- and too many teachers are leaving the profession -- because of the behavior of a few persistent classroom troublemakers. Teachers in particular complain about the growing willingness of some students and parents to challenge teacher judgment and threaten legal action.
Like our resources? Consider donating $20 to help us provide them for free to the public. Every dollar counts!
Download this PDF now.


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Road Trip: Clayton Library, Center for Genealogical Research
My road trip this quarter (on 20 August 2011 to be exact) was to join other family historians for an orientation of the fourth largest genealogy library in the United States — the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. Let me say that this wasn't my first visit to the Clayton Library. Before United States … [Read more…]


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Don't mess with Texas
JR Garcia
1965 Chevrolet C-10
Irving, Texas
We have seen trends come and go in the custom truck scene throughout the years. A recent trend that's been catching on in the custom truck world is taking an older truck, modifying the frame, slammin' the stance with a 'bagged suspension and tucking tall wheels and tires deep inside the wheel wells. It's also becoming common to drop a crate engine between the frame rails, or some customizers remove the engine and disassemble it then have it cleaned, measured and machined. Some will assemble it themselves, others have it assembled with all new internal and external performance components. Then they bolt up a later generation transmission, automatic or manual. The body receives no cosmetic pampering, all of the dents and imperfections are scars from its past and are proudly worn for all to see. The original naturally patinaed paint is left alone or scuffed and sprayed with a couple of coats of primer then finished with a flat or satin finish. The "left alone" interior receives only mild vinyl or leather, no-frill gauges and rattle-can paint. Audio is very basic, maybe a cassette or CD head unit—no Bluetooth—and a couple 6 x 9s. It's all about projecting a bad-ass attitude.
JR Garcia, who calls Irving, Texas, home, works as a diesel mechanic. He can be seen prowling the roads and boulevards in his '65 Chevy C-10 long bed. While in high school, JR's means of transportation was a '65 C-10 that he street raced for extra cash.
He's always felt nostalgic about his high school days, so he decided to build another '65 C-10. He picked up his latest ride for five Franklins, $500 bucks. He always wanted to build a truck with an intimidating attitude, and his efforts are a prime example of this current trend.
The truck was delivered to Art Busche Designs in Irving where the bed, front fenders, grille and bumper were removed to make the frame and suspension more accessible. The rear frame rails were step notched to allow the GM 12-bolt rearend that was narrowed 2 inches then stuffed with 3:73 gears and Moser 31-splined axles. After rebuilding, reshoeing and painting the factory drum brakes, they were pressed back into service. The rearend was anchored with a 4-link with a Watts link added later. A pair of Dominator 2600 airbags gives the rear suspension its deep squatting ability. The front frame rails were cut just in front of the firewall, raising the frame rails 2 inches, allowing the truck to lay frame. The factory upper control arms were rebuilt with new bushings, while the factory lower control arms received airbag pockets. A pair of 2-inch drop spindles was sandwiched between the control arms. Dominator 2600 airbags were installed between the control arms and contribute to the front suspension's lay-low attitude. The airbagged system inhales and exhales with dual Viair 444 compressors and SMC manifold and valves. The air was linked to the four airbags through 3/8-inch-diameter hard lines. JR's green machine rolls on a set of GM 15 x 8-inch steel wheels consumed in G78/-15 Coker, Century Cushion Ride wide white tires.
The 350-ci engine was pulled out of a '78 El Camino. As a diesel mechanic JR knows his way around a machine shop, so he was able to disassemble the entire engine himself. He decided to stroke the 350 ci to make it a 383-ci mouse motor. To that he bored the factory 4.000-inch cylinders 4.030 inches, ordered up an Eagle 4340 forged steel 400 crankshaft fit with Clevite bearings and Eagle 6-inch H-beam connecting rods with JE forged aluminum pistons and Speed-Pro rings. To achieve an intimidating rhythm JR installed an Isky camshaft, and a Moroso electric water pump to keep things cool. The original cast iron cylinder heads' valve ports were opened up, the intake ports were bored to 2.02 inches, and the exhaust ports to 1.94. Comp Cams push rods, roller rockers, valve springs and valve keepers were also installed. Chromed tall valve covers with breathers create a hot rod look. The engine's attitude and intimidating sound come from a pair of long-tube Hooker headers that were mummified with header wrap and collect into a 2 ½-inch-diameter exhaust before flowing into a pair of Flowmaster 40 mufflers. Mounted between the cylinder heads is a Weiand aluminum intake manifold capped with a Holley 650-cfm carburetor. To make sure no impurities are inhaled, JR mounted a small K&N air filter atop the 6-inch velocity stack. A GM HEI distributor and ignition system were linked with MSD 8.8mm ignition wires. A 1994 GM 700R4 was rebuilt, along with an Art Carr shift kit and a 3,000-rpm stall torque converter. A custom driveshaft links the 400-plus hp to the rearend.
JR's idea was to leave the C-10's body scars and imperfections alone in order to show off the truck's true character. He scuffed the original paint then laid down a couple of coats of primer before spraying PPG Acetylene Green. JR wanted to match the green color of his buddy's acetylene bottles, ECO drab green. Raising the front frame rails at the firewall created a clearance issue with the radiator and hood, preventing it from closing. Rolling hoodless does lend itself to the bad-boy attitude JR was going for with his C-10.
Opening the doors reveals the handy stitch work of Carlos and his crew at Carlos's Upholstery in Irving. After removing the broken-down factory bench seat, Carlos replaced with it with a 1994 Chevy Silverado rebuilt bench seat covered with peanut butter-colored leather. JR removed the factory black face gauge panel and painted it white for a unique, clean look. A Viair pneumatic gauge allows JR to check the airbag system's air pressure. For a better look and feel, a Lokar gas pedal assembly was installed, along with a Lokar swan neck shifter. JR's brother Alex installed the JVC head unit that is powered by an 800-watt JVC amp with two 6 x 9 JVC speakers that Alex mounted out of sight under the seat.
JR drives his '65 Chevy daily. Its longest trip has been a 40-mile run to Ft. Worth and back, making it 80 miles round trip. It's definitely a low mileage ride that takes JR back to his high school days. Citizens of Texas are allowed to carry guns in the open, so JR has mounted his two rifles in the rear window of the C-10. He's hoping to letter the doors with the words "Border Patrol." His buddy, who is a border patrol officer, is checking into the legality of branding his doors.
Text by Bob Ryder
Photos by Jason Mulligan
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400 North Capitol Street, NW
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Washington, DC 20001
Government goes to those who show up. FreedomWorks makes it easy to hold your elected officials accountable in our fully interactive Action Center.
Want to see how your legislators voted on key FreedomWorks issues? You can use our key vote scorecards to see how they measure up.
Knowledge is power. It makes sure people understand what is happening to their country, and how they can make a difference. FreedomWorks University will give you the tools to understand economics, the workings of government, the history of the American legal system, and the most important debates facing our nation today. Enroll in FreedomWorks University today!
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking contractors for its latest ObamaCare-related endeavor, a massive data warehouse for storing consumer information. The Weekly Standard reports that the agency is building a database designed for "capturing, aggregating, and analyzing information" related to ObamaCare enrollees and Medicare recipients.
District judge Ronald White of Oklahoma ruled in line with the Halbig D.C. Circuit Court over the ObamaCare subsidies dispute.
On Thursday, the D.C. Circuit court voted to withdraw a previous ruling and rehear Halbig v. Burwell. The next hearing will be in December.
Click here for the Full-Size Comic
Whenever President Obama is in a bind, he turns to his celebrity supporters. They prop him up when he's wavering and help remind everyone how "cool" he is and that he's part of their team. With Obamacare implementation due to begin this fall, our government is bringing in the National Football League and its stars to bolster enrollment in the unpopular program.
Another day, another scandal (or three). Whether the issue is investigating reporters, fumbling Benghazi or harassing Tea Partiers, people across the political spectrum finally are challenging the once-Teflon Obama administration. His groupies in the press are loath to criticize him directly, but the president's "no drama" public façade is crumbling faster than a Kardashian marriage.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has run afoul of the law again, urging companies whose future she controls to donate to do work her agency lacks the funds to do. Congress has asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate.
Author, comedian and podcaster extraordinaire Adam Carolla stumbled upon an important business insight: "I don't think I've ever seen pie advertised," he said. "That's how you know it's good. They advertise ice cream and other desserts. They advertise the bejeezus out of yogurt, but I haven't seen one pie commercial."The dirty little secret about advertising is that, in general, the better the product, the less you have to advertise.
On Wednesday, The Hill reported that the Obama administration had begun to implement the individual mandate at the heart of Obamacare. Noting its unpopularity, rules have been written by the IRS and Department of Health and Human Services that "downplay the scope" of the mandate and emphasize the exemptions. As a curious blogger, I wanted to see for myself the fact sheet that was disseminated.
The FreedomCast: Episode 2 - Dean Clancy on Obamacare and the Debt Crisis
Today, Dean Clancy VP of health care policy and legislative affairs at FreedomWorks joins me to discuss the debt crisis, Obamacare, and patient center health care as the key to our rising health care costs.
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen has ushered in an era of deception and lawlessness.
Tell Republicans to end the special ObamaCare exemptions for Congress!
Download a print-ready PDF of the latest FreedomWorks Investor Impact Report.
Download a print-ready PDF of the latest FreedomWorks Foundation Impact Report.


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Missed the live Ask the Expert event?
Not to worry. Check out the archived thread of the Q&A with Ken Hutcheson, President of U.S. Lawns, and the LawnSite community in the Franchising forum .
Echo PE 200 & SRM 210 Low Compression
Discussion in 'Mechanic and Repair' started by Oli, Apr 13, 2014.
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Police departments in Kearny, Hoboken and North Bergen and the Hudson County Sheriff's Office are among more than 170 law enforcement agencies across the state that have received grants to get drunken and impaired drivers off the road from now through Labor Day.
The state Division of Highway Traffic Safety has allotted $750,000 for the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, a crackdown that will include "roving DWI patrols," according to last week's announcement.
Each agency will receive $4,400, officials said. The campaign will be in effect today through Sept. 3.
Sgt. John Taylor of the Kearny Police Department said Kearny's grant will pay for "officers to go out on rover patrols."
North Bergen Police Detective Frank Mena added the grant will help pay for extra patrols, especially on weekends.
"Many people believe that after a few drinks they're still safe to drive," Gary Poedubicky, acting director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, said in a statement. "Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself but everyone on the road in danger."


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First they came for the cigarettes and I said nothing. Then it was the foie gras and now the soda? Sure, the USA is growing ever fatter, but I'm not sure it's anyone else's business what someone eats or drinks.
Don't tread on me...or my Pepsi
Drew Sheneman | The Star-Ledger By
on September 30, 2009 at 7:00 AM
on September 30, 2009 at 7:00 AM


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Johnny Depp's The-More-Layers-The-Better Look
Johnny Depp visits "Late Show With David Letterman" on Dec. 7, 2010, at the world premiere of "The Tourist" on Dec. 6, 2010, and spotted in New York City on Dec. 6, 2010.
Photo: WireImage/Getty Images
While promoting his new romantic caper movie The Tourist this week, which he stars in with Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp has dressed like, well, a tourist. Check out his layers (a tee, a button-up, a vest, an overcoat) because you know how cold it can get in first class; his transition lenses because who wants to pack multiple eyewear?; his wide-brimmed hat just in case it rains unexpectedly; and his trio of scarfs because one is never enough. This isn't the first time Depp's personal style has been inspired by his movie roles. Remember the pirate ensembles—beads, bandanas, and long beards—he wore while promoting the Pirates of the Caribbean movies? Yeeeaahhh...
Johnny Depp visits "Late Show With David Letterman" on Dec. 7, 2010, in New York City.
Photo: WireImage/Getty Images
+ Do you like Johnny Depp's tourist style?


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(MGN Online)
If getting a new job is on your New Year's resolution list for 2013, you may be in luck.
CareerBuilder, along with Economic Modeling Specialists (EMSI), has released the top 18 job fields with significant growth since 2010. The study uses a labor market database from EMSI, which utilizes 90 national and state employment resources and includes detailed information on employees and self-employed workers.
"Where the U.S. will produce the most jobs in 2013 is likely to follow growth patterns of the last few years," said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder. "It's no surprise that technology and engineering occupations comprise six of the top ten positions on our list, but workers should also see more opportunities in production-related fields, marketing, healthcare, and financial services. The competition for educated, specialized labor has intensified as market demands increase in both the manufacturing and services sectors."
Click through the photo gallery to see which occupations that require bachelor degrees have produced the most jobs post-recession.
For more information, please visit www.careerbuilder.com.
What are your thoughts CLICK HERE to leave us a "QUESTION OF THE DAY" comment.
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By THOMAS GUARIANO
Thank you, Assemblyman Lou Tobacco. It's about time someone stood up to this corrupt Port Authority and demand these characters on the board show the books and need for all these high tolls.
Now, let's demand the same of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels, another shoddy agency.
We, the public, also demand this or then let's get rid of these agencies once and for all.
Enough is enough.


text: U.S. Government Printing Office Contract Appeals Board Appeal.of Studio Printing, Inc. Panel 84-8 February 24, 1986 THOMAS O. MAGNETTI, Chairman JACK ISEMANN, Member CHARLES L. RITCHEY, Member PRELIMINARY STATEMENT Studio Printing, Inc. (hereafter the contractor) has appealed the rejection by a Contracting Officer of the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) of a monetary claim for work performed under two print orders of Program A-589-S. The contractor appealed the rejection of its claim in a timely fashion and in accordance with the "Disputes" clause of the contract. See Article 2-3, Contract Terms No. 1, GPO Publication 310.2, revised October 1, 1980. The contractor requested a hearing which was held on September 19, 1984. At this hearing, the contractor argued that it had performed color operations for which it was not adequately compensated. In accordance with Contract Terms No. 1 and GPO Instruction 110.10B, entitled "Board of Contract Appeals Rules of Practice and Procedure," the GPO Contract Appeals Board had jurisdiction over the matters raised in this appeal. The decision of the Board is based solely on the appeal record which consists of the exhibits accepted into the record and the testimony of the witnesses at the hearing. As agreed to by the parties, no transcript of the testimony was taken. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. By Purchase Order 27243, dated February 8, 1983, the GPO awarded the contract to produce a pamphlet entitled Army Logistician to the contractor. Exhibit 7. 2. The specifications for this contract required the contractor to produce the pamphlet with separate 4-color process covers. Exhibit 2. The operations included were composition, color separation, film making, printing, binding, packing, and distribution. Section 4 of the specifications required that each prospective bidder provide a price which would include the cost of all required materials and operations for each item listed. 3. According to the specifications, an illustration charge was allowed for an element that was not furnished in position on the Government furnished material and/or required a separate exposure. The price quoted had to include the cost of all proofs, materials, and operations required to produce the illustration in its final form as an integral part of the basic trim/size film. Exhibit 2, p. 14. Timework was defined as operations which could not be properly classified under any other item. The GPO reserved the right to determine the acceptable amount of time to be allowed for such charges. Id. 4. According to these specifications, each bidder was directed to provide a price per set of flat tones, duotone halftones and Color Corrected Four-color Process films of Illustrations. The contractor bid on those items as follows: (b) Line per illustration $3.00 (c) Square-finish halftone per illustration $6.00 (d) Combination line and halftone per illustration $12.00 (e) To 25 sq. in. image per set $125.00 (f) Over 25 to 50 sq. in. image per set $125.00 (g) Over 50 to 75 sq. in. image per set $150.00 (h) Over 75 to 100 sq. in. image per set $150.00 (i) Each additional sq. in. over 100 sq. inches per set $2.00 Exhibit 4. 5. The list of bidders indicated that although the contractor was the lowest overall responsive bidder, other contractors provided lower bids on the operations priced in the items set out in Finding No. 4. Exhibit 5. 6. In September 1983 and again in November 1983, the contractor complained that it had performed work on Print Orders 502 and 503 for which it had submitted invoices for payment but had not been paid. Exhibits 10 and 11. 7. By letters dated November 9 and 26, 1983, respectively, the contractor's claims for four combination line and halftone illustrations for the pamphlet covers for Print Orders 502 and 503 were denied by the contracting officer. Exhibits 12 and 13. 8. By letter dated January 24, 1984, the contractor appealed the denial of its claims, arguing that it had to perform operations connected with four color process printing for which it was not being compensated under the contract. Exhibit 1. This work was in fact being performed for the contractor by subcontractors. 9. By letter dated September 25, 1984, the contractor submitted the amount in dispute. The contractor claimed that while it cost $442.15 to produce the cover for Print Order 502, it was compensated only $177.00 by the GPO. In regards to the cover for Print Order 503, the contractor contended that its costs were $495.00 but that it was paid only $175.50 by the GPO. According to the contractor, its total claim for.these two Print Orders was $584.65. DECISION The issue to be resolved in this appeal is whether the contractor should have factored into its bid price the cost of color processing operations which the contractor claims it performed but for which the contractor was not compensated. In its appeal, the contractor has alleged that in producing the color work on the cover for Print Orders 502 and 503, the contractor was required to perform operations which should have been considered "timework" and billed separately from the work billed under the specific Illustration items set out in the specifications. At the hearing, the Government contended that the specifications, if properly interpreted, required a prospective bidder to submit a bid for the Illustration items which would include the costs for all operations required to produce the illustration in its final form. Further, according to Paul Barlow, the Government's witness, to permit the contractor to charge this work under timework would in effect allow the contractor to bill the Government twice for the same operation. The contract clearly provided that the bid price for illustrations should include the cost of all proofs, materials, and operations required to produce the illustration in its final form. The operations which were performed by the contractor or its subcontractor were operations which were required to produce the cover in its final form. As these operations could be classified under the illustration item charges, they cannot be construed as "timework." The specifications were clear enough to put a reasonably prudent bidder on notice of what a bid for an illustration item should include. Therefore, based upon the evidence of record, this Board rules that the contract required all bidders to include in their bids the cost of all operations necessary to produce the illustration in its final form. Consequently, the contractor was bound by its bid for these items. Accordingly, the contractor's appeal is denied in its entirety.


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Slovenia's EuroBasket Roster to Include NBA Star Dragić
Phoenix, 1 February - Following a nod from Beno Udrih of the Milwaukee Bucks, the head coach of Slovenia's basketball team Božidar Maljković has received confirmation that he can also count on Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragić for the European Championships in Slovenia in September.
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Ohio's Issue 2 will create a redistricting commission that will "have a blank check to spend our money."
-- Ohio Republican Party
A frequent criticism of Issue 2, the redistricting reform proposal before Ohio voters on Nov. 6, is its cost to taxpayers.
The Ohio Republican Party played that card when it sent out a campaign flier Sept. 11, 2012, with a warning about the 12-member redistricting commission that Issue 2 would establish. Its claim:
"They'll have a blank check to spend our money."
The claim is a common theme used in the campaign against Issue 2. PolitiFact Ohio decided to check it out.
You can see the full story there.
Then come back here to comment.


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When you buy jeans online…
….you save money, you save time and you get a bigger selection. If you're not sure what style or brand you're looking for, browse the menus to the side. If you know what you want, below is a list of the best places to buy jeans online.
Amazon Denim Shop
Why buy jeans on Amazon? Amazon generally has the best price on jeans, but price is only one part of your final cost. In addition to low prices, Amazon does not charge sales tax and they offer FREE shipping on any jeans purchase as well as FREE and easy returns, within 30 days. Other sites may be similar in price, but once you add up all the costs of buying jeans online, Amazon is usually the best deal. Add in a wide selection of men's and women's jeans, and Amazon is our #1 recommended place to buy your jeans.
They carry a huge list of brands including: Levi's, Paige, Joe's, Jolt, Lucky Brand, True Religion, 7 for all Mankind, Diesel, Lee, Carhartt, !iT, Quicksilver,Dickies, G-Star, Southpole, Black Orchid, AG Adriano Goldschied, Christopher Blue, Earnest Sewn, Jag Jeans, William Rast, KUT from theKloth, Calvin Klein, and Not Your Daughter's Jeans.
Amazon carries each of these brands in a wide variety of styles, colors and sizes. Most mall stores can only carry one or two colors per style, but on Amazon you will find the most popular styles come in pver 30 different colors. You no longer have to get the exact shade of blue everyone else is wearing.
Quick Tip:
Purchase only from online retailers that offer you FREE RETURNS. If your jeans are delivered and they just don't fit right, you can quickly and easily return them and get all your money back, with no deductions for return shipping.
If you're going to be buying clothing and shoes online, invest some time and learn about Zappos. You may not have heard about them, but this is all you need to know: they are totally oriented on you having the best consumer experience online. Its not just talk, they back it up with great perks like FREE NEXT DAY SHIPPING on clothing. Order your jeans before 4pm EST, get them the next business day – for free. That is awesome.
They also have a generous 365 day return policy and offer free shipping on returns as well. And unlike just about every other online retailer, they will not show a product on their site if it isn't in stock. They don't want you to be disappointed or have to wait. Zappos also provides far more detailed information on their products then the average site. They are competitive on price and are often lower then department store prices.


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Home » Nat Geo WILD™ » Wild Hatchers™
Wild Hatchers™
Watch an animal hatch from its egg! Just place the egg in water, and wait for the shell to crack. Then watch as the animal hatches and grows up to four times its original size!
Collect them all: sea turtle, penguin, and cobra!
- Easy to hatch! Just place the egg in water.
- Starts hatching within 24 hours.
- Animal grows to 4X its original size.
Additional Information
- Each animal is sold separately.
- For ages 4 and up
- Adult assistance recommended
- WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.


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Especially after you spend 30 hours in an airport/on an airplane, only to spend 3 days at your destination, and then turn around and spend 12 more hours traveling home -- Aye yigh yigh! I'm afraid my once firm and bubbly bum is now as flat as a board from all that constant sitting I did. (I kid, I kid. Firm? Not so much.) But you heard me, right? THIRTY hours. In
Anyway, we arrive at the Hard Rock hotel at about 10 p.m. Exhausted doesn't even begin to cover it but again, free trip, whose complaining. We get up the next morning and head straight for the pool. This place is an all inclusive, and you better bet that we were going to take advantage of those pool side drinks.
Oh yeah, for my birthday, my mom got me this awesome digital camera. I was so happy to have a brand new camera to take on vacation to capture those oh-so-awesome vacation moments.
We make it to the pool, have our drinks, meet some cool new people and start having a pretty good time. Of the 11 pools they have on the resort, we chose the "party pool." You know, the one where they have employees walking around on microphones, pulling people out of the water, making them play silly drinking games, etc, and of course in true Hard Rock fashion, there is rock music blaring from the speakers. Pretty much having a pretty good time. However, I don't think not one time did I ever get the correct drink that I ordered (language barrier). But again, whose complaining?
This good time turns into passing my brand new digital camera around and asking people to take pictures. We met a pretty cool crew of people and a few times, asked the bartender to take our picture, all 15+ of us, with our glasses in the air, giving a cheers. Of course I would review every picture after it was taken and if I do say so myself, there were some pretty awesome pictures on that camera! Rob even got called up to participate in a pretty funny game of "stick a quarter between your legs and walk 10 feet and try to dump it in a little plastic cup." Which you could only imagine would make for some pretty hilarious pictures, which of course, I documented.
Around 4 p.m. we head back to our room. We were still tired from traveling and were pretty worn out from all the sun and fun. Couple hours after we get back, I realize "oh s&%$!" Camera is nowhere to be found. And well, neither are my brand new Rock & Republic sunglasses. Positive me is thinking, I'm sure someone found them laying by the pool and turned them in. I mean, that's what I would do. Go back to the pool, ask around, nothing. No one knows anything, no one has seen anything, all they tell me is the check lost and found. So I do. I call lost and found in vain. Probably about 10 times before we departed the hotel to go home. No one turned them in. I was soooooooo disappointed. So upset. This free vacation was turning out to be anything but.
If you know me, you know I can't go anywhere or do anything remotely exciting without bringing along my camera. I need to have pictures to document the experience. So first thing in the morning Rob and I head to the main building and go to their drug store to purchase a few disposable cameras. First things first: I understand we are in a different country and I understand we are at a resort. So I also understand that they need to mark their merchandise up just a little. Just a little. Just a little. HA!
So...yeah. No awesome brand new digital camera (click here for my camera drama) but alas, we can buy a disposable. Can't believe they still make those, but ok, thank God at this moment that they do. So I go into the drug store and pick up 4 Kodak disposables and 1 Kodak underwater disposable. I think to myself, "wow! pretty dang cool. even these disposables have a flash." Again, HA! Price for the disposables are $30 a piece. In my mind, I know it's a bit high but I'm no expert on disposable cameras so I fork over the $150 for all 5 cameras. (Hey, they only had a limit of 27 photos on them. I needed more than one. I needed more than 4, ok?) I walk out of the drug store knowing I paid too much, but also knowing that it was a resort in a different country and of course they were going to jack up their prices.
It wasn't before I got back to the United States and saw the exact same cameras for sale at Albertsons when I realized they sell here for $5.47. They are worth five dollars and forty seven cents. And I paid $30 each. EACH!!! I smell a Mastercard "priceless slogan" commercial coming on here...
But again, it was a free trip, so whose complaining?
So there we are, Rob and I, at the beach. Enjoying our time, playing in the ocean, relaxing, hanging out. And it was nice.
You know those people in Mexico who panhandle all over the beaches asking you to buy this, buy that, can I braid your hair, do you want this flag, etc., etc.? Same story here. So here Rob and I are, coming in from the ocean, and this guy with a big camera asks if he can take our picture. Well sure! I always love getting my picture taken. So he snaps our pic, we walk in and he shows us what he snapped.
"Cute!" I exclaim. And then. OH and then do I make the mistake of saying, "I love that picture! I just lost my digital camera and all I have are these dumb disposables so I love seeing a pic of us with a real camera."
Oh did he take that and run with it.
All of a sudden it was "ok let me take picture of you over there, put your arm around his neck and look into his eyes, ok kiss now! that's great, now get down on your knee and you, yes you wife, lean behind him and slowly caress his neck with your hand."
Um, kiss? You want us to kiss? Wait, you want me to kiss my husband for this cheesy picture? (Side note: we are so not that couple. That couple that takes romantic pictures at the beach? Embraced in each others arms? Kissing for the camera?? SO NOT US!)
Done with the couple pics. Ok good. I was pretty uncomfortable with that. Oh but wait. Said photographer corners me. "Let me take picture of you? Only you? Please? Just one, I promise, just one. Please?!" And once again, if you know me, I am that person. The girl that can't say no. Especially when someone comes at me all sweet-like, it's so hard for me to say no. So I say yes. BIG mistake. BIG. (Name that movie.)
Anyway, he snaps a few pics, and then asks me to lay down on the sand like this. And when I say like "this", I mean he shows me an example of what he wants me to do. And the example was sort of like Victoria's Secret meets Frederick's of Hollywood meets call girl on Sunset Avenue. Uh, come again? And then he asks me again. And again. And finally, once again. He really wants me to pose like this. Like that. And I just can't say no. So I do it. I do the poses he is asking of me. Begging of me. I lay on the beach like I'm Heidi Klum (only 6 inches shorter and 30 lbs heavier), I put my fingers through my hair, I look "that way" as if I'm gazing into the distance at a 20 foot yacht with my prince charming aboard coming to rescue me.
This is SO embarrassing. This isn't a private beach in my backyard. No no, this is a public beach, with hundreds of people around, on the island of the Dominican Republic. With a guy who I don't know from Noah asking me to pose in all sorts of quasi-provocative positions. I know, I know...I should have just given him the cold shoulder and said no. But I didn't. Because I have a really hard time saying no to someone who is being really eager and nice to me. Never mind the fact that said person is only being really eager and nice to me because he is really eager to rip me off up the yingyang, but still. I obliged. After all the picture taking was done with, he said he would "find us tomorrow and show us the pictures." Ok, well that's easy enough. We will just sit in a different spot than yesterday and hopefully he won't find us.
He found us.
He pulled out the envelope of developed photos and handed them to me. I pulled them out and looked them over. There were fifteen 5x7 photos. Printed on flimsy photo paper that you can buy for 6 bucks a package at Office Depot. He says he to me "All pictures for $120."
Come again? What? 120 dollars?!? Um, yeah but no. So I say, "$120? Are you serious? I just want a few of these here pictures." And photographer says to me, "no no, I pay for all these pictures to get printed so you buy all pictures." So that's how it works over here.
I pick up Rob's wallet (he was out swimming in the ocean at this time and not here to help me out unfortunately) and all I had was $80. And I made the misfortune of telling photographer that.
"Ok then, I make you good deal. $80 for pictures. That is great deal."
I'm not stupid. I wasn't born yesterday and I know that you probably paid $12 or less for those photos. But I was alone on my beach chair with this guy standing over me and I felt just a tad uncomfortable, so (gasp!) I forked over the 80 bucks. I debated whether or not to retell this story on the web when once I do, it is engrained here forever. But I decided that I needed to if not only to remind myself how silly I was to involve myself in that transaction. (And yes, I am being very, very generous in calling myself "silly" in this situation, thank you).
So I give you, ladies and gentleman, the photos from that day. The cheesy, wedding-esque, super silly, super embarrassing, hilarious and did I mention cheesy photos? Seriously, they look like a photo package you would have purchased along with a room at a motel where you put coins in a slot machine to get the proper toiletries that you need for the night. And I put them in collage form so you wouldn't be subjected to seeing them in all their blown-up glory. I also did not include the super sexy (ha!) poses that would make the models of a Frederick's of Hollywood knock-off jealous. You're welcome.
Go ahead, have a laugh. I sure did. Cheesy, no?
Now if you will please excuse me, I need to go develop the film from my disposable cameras. Here's hoping with crossed fingers that at least a few pictures turn out semi-decent. And that the naughty pictures that were stored on my stolen digital camera don't turn up on youtube.
This isn't really happening, is it? But again, whose complaining?


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Life goes on. Amenities are a part that can even be compromised. Nature is something what, where life ends. The nature has covered all the amenities and luxuries inside. The best place having all the beauty of nature and other accommodations besides is El paso. The city known for its true beauty in every aspect, having all the luxuries for the people in living and entertainments. The luxuries of living includes its apartments, that are true in making the lives of the people filled with all the reliabilities. People moving from one place to another or the people arriving for having their best time, demand of a place rich in all the reliabilities and accommodations in and outside. Searching out for the best apartments for rent in el paso tx having a perfect location in town with all the faci...Read More
Imagine walking on the shore of the beach holding the hand of your loved ones, spending the best time after being in a relationship! The best part in the life of the people travelling from one place to another is the place of living. Having all the luxuries and accommodations. People travel from one place to another having different reason, including migration, education, business or vocational trips. All these perspectives demands of a place of living having all the possibilities of joy and entertainment. The best place that meets the demands of the people are the El paso apartments. Fulfilling the desire of the people, what they need! The apartments are the best part in the life of the tourist and the people living in
Selecting the best apartments is itself the most hectic task...
Plans to move to a place having all the reliabilities and luxuries? Well! A place known for its beauty and luxuries towards life comes with a name called El paso, located on the ocean side of Texas. The city is known for its beauty in every aspect. People from all over the world come and have their best time ever. Moving a place outside somewhere needs some better plans. Plans to live in, plans to eat, according to the budgets. Living outside somewhere is not an easy task. Renting the apartments for living not an easy task for everyone. One has to take some serious steps for the prosperity of his journey. Most of the people prefer discussion among the people getting reference of different places to live in.
Beware of the tenants and brokers! As they provide you with fake information and gu...
Renting an apartment having all the accommodations in and around is what the true luxury is! A place to live in with all the possibilities of joy and entertainment is what the desire of every citizen. People from all over the world need a place of living with all the possibilities of joy and entertainment. The best place to live in with all the possibilities of luxury and reliabilities is El paso. Due to its replenishing beauty on the shore of the ocean, the city has been named as the El paso. People from all over the come and have their best times ever.
Selecting the best place for the journey does not mean the start of the journey! But living in a place outside somewhere is also a part of the journey...Read More


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Liv's Crafty Colorful Office
Name: Liv McMillan
Location: Long Beach, California
Size/Room: Approx. 200 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, 9 months
Welcome to the colorful, crafty home office of Liv McMillan. Early this month we got to tour her baby Elsa's nursery and her husband Jeff's art studio. One of my favorite rooms in their home happens to be her craft room, which doubles as her workspace.
When Liv is not at work, she loves to enjoy working on art and design projects. She has a fully stocked craft closet which includes sewing and textile accessories. One of the roomier spaces in the home, she has a full table and chairs, a small library of books and even Elsa's toys!
I always admire those who make creative workspaces work for multiple uses. I love that Liv gets to enjoy comfort of home and has merged her new role as a mother into her workspace. It's a great office with plenty of room for Elsa to grow into and enjoy as a toddler.
My style: I'd like to say mid century modern minimalist, but that's a pipe dream with a husband, baby, and two cats. We're pretty eclectic and colorful in our style, and favor vintage over new.
The inspiration for my home office: This room started out as my craft room when we first moved into the house. I worked full time at an office and didn't really need a work space at home, so my sewing and craft supplies took over. When I got pregnant with my daughter, I was lucky enough to work from home a few days a week, which I continued after my maternity leave. It's been great. My husband takes care of our daughter during my work hours of around 7:30-3:30 when I'm working from my home office, and then we switch off and he goes into his studio to work while I take care of her. I love being able to spend that time that I would have spent commuting with them instead.
Favorite element in your space: I love the huge window behind my desk overlooking our backyard, and the sliding door that I usually keep open for fresh air. It's so much better than the fluorescents and air conditioning I'm used to at my other office.
Biggest challenge in designing my space: It's definitely a mixed-use space, so I've had to be creative in fitting everything in. It's our "library", my sewing room, Elsa's playroom, the cat's sunroom and of course my office. That's a lot to fit into one room! I have to keep it hyper-organized so I can stay focused on my job during those working hours. If all of my fabrics and craft supplies are out and in view, I'll want to do that instead.
What friends say about my space: I'm usually told how lucky I am to have a room to myself, for working and crafting. Believe me, I appreciate it!!
Area where there is room for improvement/future projects: My desk is Jeff's old dining table that he brought with him into our marriage. It's the perfect size and I like the lines of it, but it is in desperate need of a paint job.
Proudest DIY (do it yourself) project: The floor. We ripped up the carpet that used to be in the room and replaced it with IKEA laminate floors. They are SO much easier to clean and they really brighten up the room. I'll get in trouble too if I don't say that it was really my husband and our friend Jerod that installed the floors. I just swiped the credit card at IKEA.
Biggest indulgence with respect to my space: It's all mine!! I share a little of the bookcase with Jeff's art books, and baby Elsa has her swing and control station in there so she can play while I work and keep an eye on her, but 85% of that room is mine. We don't have a huge house so that's a big indulgence.
Best advice about organizing or incorporating tech into the home:
I have a wireless all-in-one scanner/printer/copier which in my mind makes it an "office". My mouse is wireless too and whatever cords I have are bundled. Everything is within arm's reach, so I don't have to keep getting up to look for a power cord, a file, a notebook or my camera. It's the same with my sewing station. I have all my tools in my kit and on the pegboard behind my sewing machine. You're so much more efficient when you have what you need right there.
Dream source for stuff: The Apple store. I'd love a wireless keyboard for my laptop, an iPad, and a MacBook Air. Ooh, and Design Within Reach for an Eames Management desk chair. That'd be awesome.
Tech Hardware:
•Epson Stylus NX430 printer/scanner/copier
•MacBook Pro laptop
• Dell keyboard
•Logitech wireless mouse
•iPhone 4S
•Casio Exilim camera
• Husqvarna Viking Huskystar sewing machine
•Sewing table- vintage Frem Rojle teak dining table with nesting chairs
• Blue metal cabinet- vintage from a UC optometry research lab
•Bookcase- IKEA Expedit
•Cabinet with glass doors- IKEA. Desk- vintage
•File cabinet- CB2. Fabric storage boxes- IKEA.
•I have so many little things!
•The laptop desk is from IKEA
•the ceramic berry container is from Anthropologie
• the white vases are from IKEA... actually, most everything is from Anthropologie or IKEA. Can you tell I like those stores?
•Wood Chandelier: Urban Outfitters (no longer available)
Organizing Tools/Accessories:
•Thread spool racks- JoAnn Fabrics
•Desk tray and organizer- IKEA
•Fabric bins- IKEA
•Pegboard- Home Depot
•White ceramic pots on pegboard- IKEA
Additional Elements:
•Sasquatch print by Jill Bliss
•Horse Paint-by-Numbers: Vintage
•Siamese Cat Drawing by Jeff McMillan
•Sew For Victory Poster from Zazzle.com
•Friendly Yeti by Jeff McMillan
•Zwicky Cat and Yarn Poster: Reproduction
•Cat painting on circle ornament (over desk) by Nathan Spoor
Thanks: Liv!
Images: Bethany Nauert