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Title: Multiobjective Optimization of a Public Supply Wellfield using an Artificial Neural Network and Non-Linear Programming
Focus Categories: GW, WS, M&P
Keywords: Conflict Management, Decision Models, Groundwater Management, Groundwater Modeling, Groundwater Movement, Groundwater Quality, Health Effects, Hydrogeology, Institutional Relationship, Multiple Objective Planning, Mathematical Models, Optimization, Pollution Control, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, Systems Analysis, Systems Engineering, Urban Water System, Water Demand, Water Quality Management, Water Levels, Well Hydraulics
Duration: January 2000 December 2000
Federal funds requested: $8,000.00
Non-Federal (matching) funds pledged: $27,940.00
Principal Investigator(s) name(s) and university.
Dr. Donald Davis, Professor, Hydrology and Water Resources, Univ. of Arizona
Dr. Ferenc Szidarovszky, Professor, Systems and Industrial Engineering, Univ. of Arizona
Emery A. Coppola Jr., Doctoral Candidate, Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona
Congressional district of university where the research is to be conducted: Fifth
Statement of critical regional or State water problems
Wellhead protection is a federal program (Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, June 1986) mandated to protect drinking water wells from contamination. Unfortunately, many municipal wellfields (e.g. South Tucson) are in close proximity to groundwater contamination sites.Pumping of these wells produces capture zones which often draw contamination into the water supply (EPA survey of 466 randomly selected wells found 28.0 percent of the large systems contained at least one volatile organic compound, Westrick et al., 1984). Ideally, decision-makers would like to identify pumping rates that satisfy water demands without compromising water quality. Since increasing pumping rates increases the size of the capture zone areas, the objectives of maximizing supply while minimizing public health risk often conflict. Hence, a formal method of quantifying the interaction between these two objectives is critical so that decision-makers can identify pumping polices that best serve the public interest.
The Artificial Neural Network (ANN) methodology [Skapura, 1996] developed in this research will be applied as an example to the Parkway Wellfield, which supplies Toms River, New Jersey with 30 percent of its drinking water. Different wells in the wellfield have exhibited differing degrees of contamination from a neighboring Superfund site. Both historical water quality data and numerical simulation have shown that pumping rates and variable climatic conditions, such as dry summers (lower groundwater recharge), affect the risk of contamination. Accordingly, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection would like identification of pumping strategies that appropriately balance water supply with public health objectives in real-time. This particular test case was selected because data, models, and cooperation are available. The same methodology can be applied without modification to any groundwater system that supplies drinking water, including the Tucson area.
Statement of results or benefits
The benefits will be the development and application of a methodology for effectively balancing groundwater supply with public health risk, a multiobjective goal traditionally fraught with difficulties. The common approach of conducting trial and error simulations with a numerical model does not ensure identification of even good solutions, and is limited by the number of trials attempted by the modeler. More sophisticated approaches that utilize nonlinear or dynamic programming require sophisticated algorithms that often demand significant computational capabilities. The ANN methodology significantly reduces the computational demands of conventional nonlinear groundwater optimization approaches. Although not the focus of this research, the ANN could also be trained using actual field data, precluding the need for a groundwater model, which could significantly increase the accuracy of optimization results, since the accuracy of groundwater models is limited by data availability and model conceptualization.
Specifically, the ANN methodology will quantify impacts that different pumping policies at the Parkway Wellfield have on groundwater flow direction (surrogate to potential health risk) and supply objectives. This multiobjective methodology will facilitate a risk analysis and enable decision-makers to effectively trade-off short-term benefits with long-term consequences in real-time. In addition, a long-term risk management analysis can be performed to identify effective strategies for managing worst case scenarios, before they occur. For example, it may be found that the projected well replacement costs (estimated at $1,000,000 per well) are compensated by significant long-term reductions in risk. In short, this methodology will provide a rigorous and objective assessment of how different wellfield policies balance water supply with public health concerns under both short and long-term scenarios.
Nature, scope, and objectives of the research
The nature of this research is to develop an ANN methodology that can be used to both accurately estimate the dynamics of a groundwater flow system at points of interest, and effectively balance supply with public health objectives for public supply wellfields.
The scope consists of methodology development using a hypothetical case, and then its application to a complex, real world scenario (Parkway Wellfield). Methodology development required simulating groundwater flow dynamics for the hypothetical case with MODFLOW, the USGS numerical groundwater flow code. Simulation output data was used to develop and train a backpropagation ANN capable of estimating to a high degree of accuracy groundwater dynamics. The ANN architecture was programmed into Fortran, tested for accuracy, and coupled with a non-linear optimization algorithm to determine the Pareto frontier (non-dominated solutions) for the multi-objective problem. The methodology will then be applied to the Parkway Wellfield in order to test its applicability to complex, real-world problems. In this test application, a sensitivity analysis that considers the effects of variable climatic conditions (i.e. groundwater recharge) on the solution sets will also be conducted.
The objective of this research is to develop the ANN methodology at field scale and demonstrate its effectiveness in managing a real world public supply wellfield. Both different time-scales and measures of risk will be considered, and a comparison in solutions obtained from non-linear and genetic algorithms [McKinney, et al] will be conducted.
Methods, procedures, and facilities:
In order to develop the methodology, a hypothetical, heterogeneous, unconfined aquifer with three pumping wells was modeled with MODFLOW. Three hydraulic control pairs, each consisting of an upgradient and immediately downgradient node location, were selected to monitor the hydraulic gradient along a 3,000-foot boundary in the middle of the model domain. In this hypothetical case, it was assumed that a reversal of the hydraulic gradient along this boundary due to heavy pumping posed risk to the supply wells.
In order to generate data for the ANN, a continuous time-sequence of variable pumping and recharge rates was introduced into the groundwater flow model at monthly time-steps. Forty-nine years of monthly groundwater recharge data for the Toms River basin was provided by the New Jersey Geological Survey. From this data, five yearly sequences of recharge data representing both the extreme and mean recharge conditions for the basin were culled out. This data was combined with 512 different pumping patterns for the wells; each well was simulated to pump from 125 gallons per minute (gpm) up to 1,000 gpm, with 125 gpm increments. Combining the 60 months of recharge data with 512 pumping patterns produced 30,720 unique combinations, each of which constituted a single unique monthly stress period in the model. During simulation, the groundwater heads at the end of each stress period at all node locations in the model were saved.
The resulting groundwater simulation data was split in two data sets; the first was used for training the networks and the second for validating the networks. A separate ANN was trained for each month. The purpose of the ANN is to obtain, for each month, a function that accurately estimates groundwater heads at the end of the month, given heads at the beginning of the month, as well as the monthly pumping and recharge rates. In this case, the ANN architecture utilized eighteen inputs, consisting of groundwater elevations at fourteen locations in the flow model at the beginning of the stress period, pumping rates of the three wells, and recharge over the stress period. The desired output was groundwater elevations at the fourteen locations at the end of the stress period. Six of the head locations correspond to the hydraulic control pairs used to assess risk by the value of the head differences. The accuracy of the 12 monthly ANNs were validated, and the root mean square errors (difference between the network estimated head values and MODFLOW values) were all less than one percent (0.78 percent on average for the 12 monthly networks)
Following validation of the individual networks, their functional forms were linked together (programmed in Fortran) so that the evolution of the head field over any planning horizon of interest could be simulated. The MODFLOW data was then sequentially processed through the linked ANN functions. That is, for a given year, the initial heads in January and the pumping and recharge rates for that month were processed through the January function to produce final head values at the fourteen locations. These estimated final head values were inputted into the February ANN function, along with the pumping rates and recharge over this month, to estimate heads at the end of the month. This was repeated for the remaining ten months. The average head values estimated by the ANN functions for all months at the fourteen locations were compared with the MODFLOW generated values. Of the 168 head values, 71% estimated by the ANN functions matched exactly with the MODFLOW values (recorded to the nearest tenth foot), and the remaining 29% differed by only 0.1 feet (head elevations ranged from about 80 to 120 feet mean sea level). Further, it was found that the functions could accurately estimate, on average, within 0.04 feet (absolute value of the error), the head difference between the hydraulic control pairs. Given this degree of accuracy, the ANN functions correctly predicted over 96 percent of the time whether a reversal in the hydraulic gradient between the upgradient and downgradient nodes had (risk) or had not (no risk) occurred.
A nonlinear optimization algorithm was programmed and linked with the ANN functions so that optimal pumping rates could be determined for different trade-offs. In this case, a one-year planning horizon was used, with the dual objectives to minimize supply deficit and minimize risk. Deficit was measured as the difference between some desired annual water supply and the total amount of water pumped out by the three wells over the 12-month period. Risk was measured as the total sum of the head differences between the downgradient and upgradient (under non-pumping conditions) nodes at the three hydraulic control pair locations. Positive values indicate some risk since upgradient nodes would overall have a lower groundwater elevation than the downgradient nodes, resulting in a general gradient reversal. Since the two objectives measure different physical quantities (gallons per minute versus feet), they were normalized so that they could be compared. The objective function to minimize, its individual components, and normalization forms are:
Minimize [a * Risk Normed + (1 - a) * Deficit Normed]
1 ³ a ³ 0
Risk = {(h6 h5) + (h8 h7) + (h10 h9)}
Deficit = 36,000 - Pj
Risk Normed = [(Risk - MinRisk)/(MaxRisk - MinRisk)]
Deficit Normed = [(Deficit-MinDefict)/(MaxDeficit-MinDeficit)]
Variables h6 through h10 are the head values at the three hydraulic control risk pairs (6 nodes), with the index i corresponding to months 1 through 12. There are 36 decision variables, designated Pj, corresponding to the monthly pumping rates for each of the three wells (e.g. P4 is the monthly pumping rate of well 3 in February).
In the objective function to be minimized, a a value of 1 considers only risk, a value of 0 only deficit, and values between some tradeoff between risk and deficit. For example, a a value of 0.5 treats weights both objectives equally. By selecting different a values, the Pareto frontier or set of non-dominated solutions was identified.
The generated Pareto frontier conforms to intuition. Since well 3 is furthest from the boundary and has the least impact on risk, this well will pump at an earlier month than the other wells when risk is weighted relatively high. Correspondingly, well 2, located closest to the boundary, will be the last to pump. As supply is weighted higher, wells 1 and 2 will pump earlier in the year.
Now that the methodology has been developed using a hypothetical case, the following tasks must be completed.
a) Apply the methodology to the Toms River test case.
b) Consider longer time periods, and evaluate how one year might effect the next year.
c) Consider other measures of risk. For example, instead of considering the cumulative risk presented above, an alternative measure would be worst case risk (largest gradient reversal in any single month) or the number of gradient reversal that occur over the planning horizon.
d) Incorporate risk constraints directly into the optimization formulation.
e) Perform a sensitivity analysis on climate variability (extreme recharge conditions).
f) Use a genetic algorithm for obtaining optimal pumping rates and compare results with those obtained using the nonlinear algorithm.
The Toms River study area has been modeled by the New Jersey Geological Survey using MODFLOW. The model domain has been discretized into 8 layers, each consisting of 63 columns and 81 rows. This model will be run with various combinations of monthly pumping and recharge rates. Different network architectures (i.e. number and location of selected head values) will be tried until an acceptable level of accuracy is achieved. Following this, the multiobjective optimization will be conducted, and the results verified by simulation in the groundwater model.
Because of the size of this model, it will be run on the University of Arizonas supercomputer. Much of the work will be conducted utilizing the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources computer facilities, as well as Emery Coppolas personal computer.
Related Research
Linear programming was first used to optimize water supply and remediation problems [Atwood and Gorelick, 1985]. This approach is limited by linear objective functions and constraints and its application to steady-state conditions (time-varying solutions are not found). In order to consider non-linear transient conditions, non-linear programming has been used [Gorelick, et al, 1984]. Because of the computational demands associated with linking the nonlinear program with the simulation model, others have applied control theory algorithms, such as differential dynamic programming [Jones et al, 1987; Culver and Shoemaker, 1993]. Although these methods are less computationally demanding than conventional nonlinear approaches, they require sophisticated algorithms to linearize system dynamics and compute partial derivative terms. As a way of avoiding the computational demands and difficulties of non-linear programming, genetic algorithms have been used [McKinney and Lin, 1994; Cieniawski, et al, 1995]. This method utilizes a random search procedure inspired by biological evolution where only the fittest solutions survive and propagate to successive generations. Traditionally, these algorithms have been linked directly to a numerical flow model. An exception, and the research closest to this proposal, involved linking a genetic algorithm with a ANN that was trained to identify whether different pumping scenarios would effectively remediate contamination [Rogers and Dowla, 1994]. In this case, the ANN was not trained to estimate the dynamics of the system, but simply the success or failure of different pumping strategies.
In the proposed research, the ANN will be trained to estimate the dynamics of the groundwater flow system in response to different pumping and recharge stresses. The proposed methodology vastly reduces computational demand of non-linear optimization by replacing the system of groundwater flow equations with the ANN generated functions. In addition, these functions provide insights into system dynamics, which helps in both initializing decision variable values for optimization, and verifying results.
Lastly, the most significant difference between this proposed methodology, and the ones described above, is that this ANN approach could preclude use of a numerical model and be directly applied to field conditions. Numerical models are simplifications of the real world, and their ability to accurately simulate the real system is limited by data availability and complexity of the real system. In principle, an ANN could be trained to estimate responses in the real world at points of interest, and then used for direct optimization of the system. This would be a significant contribution to water resources management. Because of model uncertainty, many municipalities (e.g. Tucson, EPA Handbook, Ground Water and Wellhead Protection) are reluctant to delineate wellhead protection areas with models, and rely instead on less quantitative methods, such as a fixed circle radius or groundwater vulnerability mapping.
Atwood, D.F., and S.M. Gorelick, Hydraulic gradient control for groundwater contaminant removal, J. Hydrol., 76, 85-106, 1985.
Cieniawski, S.E., J.W. Eheart, and S. Ranjithan, Using genetic algorithms to solve a multiobjective groundwater monitoring problem, Water Resour Res, 31(2), 399-409, 1995.Culver, T.B., and C.A. Shoemaker, Optimal control for groundwater remediation by differential dynamic programming with quasi-newton approximations, Water Resour Res, 29(4), 823-831, 1993.
Gorelick, S.M., C.I. Voss, P.E. Gill, W. Murray, M.A. Saunders, and M. H. Wright, Aquifer Reclamation Design: The use of contaminant transport simulation combined with nonlinear programming, Water Resour. Res, 20(4), 415-427, 1984.
Jones, L.C., R. Willis, and W.W. Yeh, Optimal control of nonlinear groundwater hydraulics using differential dynamic programming, Water Resour Res, 23(11), 2097-2106, 1987.
McKinney, D.C., and M.-D. Lin, Genetic algorithm solution of groundwater management models, Water Resources Res., 30(6), 1897-1906, 1994.
Rogers, L.L., and F.U. Dowla, Optimization of groundwater remediation using artificial neural networks with parallel solute transport modeling, Water Resour Res, 30(2), 457-481, 1994.
Skapura, D. M., Building Neural Networks, ACM Press Books, 1996.


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It's summer season and it's time to celebrate Bar-b-cue, cocktail, sandwiches, salads and ice creams etc. if we don't care, these things can pack many Pounds weight around us. Many people are very active during this season but it may not be sufficient to burn the extra calories that are got from these fattening foods.
Image by : wikimedia
Following are some foods, which can be most fattening
Bar-b- Cue Foods
Items of Bar-b-Cue can really increase your waistline. A 20 ounce piece of meat contains 1, 540 Calories and 124 Gram of fat.
An average Cheese burger contains about 750 Calories and 45 grams of fat. The meat like Chicken Breast and ground beef contains fewer calories.
Salads with Mayonnaise
A small cup of Potato salad has about 180 Calories and 12 Grams of fat.
To make salad with low calories, try to use low- calorie Mayonnaise, low-fat yogurt, juice without sugar etc. you can also mix Vinegar in it.
If you add vegetables to the salad, it will increase Fibers and Nutrients in it.
Refreshing Ice-creams
An average cup of Ice cream has 380 Calories and 22 Grams of Fat. Chocolate milkshakes contain about 720 Calories and 28 Grams of Fat. You are not required to give up these foods; you just have to adjust them. Try to take low- calorie Ice-creams or you can also look for the desserts that are less than 150 Calories including Strawberry cakes, Fruit bars and Fruits desserts etc.
Topping of Salad
Salads are good for lunch or dinner, as they are refreshing, light and the best way to get Proteins. If you garnish your salad with high-calorie products, it would be very fattening.
High-Calorie topping like Fried Chicken Strips, Fried Vegetables, Cheese and Butter would just spoil your diet. Instead of all these things, try to top the Salad with baked chicken, eggs, Meat or Vegetables etc.
Fried Chicken
F ried chicken is really liked by everyone. It is a good meal to feed the crowd. A fried piece of chicken breast contains about 360 Calories and 12 Grams of fat where as a baked Chicken Breast piece contains 167 Calories and 7 Grams of fat.
Delicious Thirst Quenchers
It is very important in summer season to stay hydrated. You need to drink different juices for balancing the level of liquids in the body. 12-ounce of sweet tea, energy drink, juice, beer or Soda contains about 150 Calories. Milkshakes, smoothies and Coffee has much higher amount of Calories. Be careful about what you are going to drink like knowing the calories and amount of fats etc in the drink.
Foods at Carnivals
Most of the foods that are available in the food fairs and carnivals are dramatically fattening including burgers, deep fried Cheese cake, fried Macaroni and French fries etc. try to avoid such type of foods and you may go for Corns, Cotton Candy, Caramel Apple and Grilled Meat etc. they fewer Calories as compare tofried food stuff.
Snacks don't harm you much but if eat too much snacks then it would be harmful for your health. Every Ounce of Potato Chips or Cheese Puff contains about 160 Calories and 10 Grams of fat. Cheese Nachos contain about 692 Calorie and an average box of Popcorns contains 550 Grams, 31 Grams of fat and 972 Milligram of Sodium.
Try to avoid these snacks and you can enjoy fruits, vegetables and small portion of fat-free Popcorn.
Alcoholic Drinks
Alcoholic drinks also contain loads of calories in it and if you add some juice in it than it becomes richer in Calories.
Look for low-calorie wine and try to mix it with some Sugar-free drink. It will control the calorie intake of your body.
Sometimes we eat foods without knowing how much calories it has, she should have information about calories is food items we take. It will help us control our intake of excessive Calories and will prevent fattening of body.

subset: commoncrawl


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As an outstanding provider of software solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, we offer a full realm of software that enhances our client's business operations. We have worked with numerous pharmacist and the top software developers in the pharmacy software industry to develop the DocRx program.
From system implementation and training, to outstanding customer support, our experienced team is committed to maximizing your pharmacy in profits and dispensing quality through our software program and our medications.
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Oakley Wedding Venues: Click the wedding venues listed below for detailed information and photos. And find even more Bay Area / Northern California wedding venues by region, guest count, catering options and other criteria.
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Saturday, November 17, 2007
Miss Scarlett in the Atrium with a teapot!
I had such a lovely evening. My mom and I always have such a good time when we go into complete girly mode. Our church hosts a holiday tea each year and there are probably 75 tables filled with lovely women and lovely table settings, each table is uniquely decorated by the table hostess so there is a lot of variety and tastes shown off.
My table was filled with delightful ladies and even some little girls (just seems right to have little girls at a tea party). Our servers are men from the church who put on white shirts and black bow ties and wait on us hand and foot...not bad if ya ask me ;) One of the ladies brought the english Crackers and we all popped them open, put on our crowns and read the funny jokes inside...we were the fun table!
After the night was finished mom and I headed to walmart in our dresses (and flip flops cause the heels came off at the first possible second) to buy some red hair dye! mom's a red head now and looks so pretty :)
We set the live trap in the basement and I am a little afraid to check it in the morning...there must be a chipmunk or squirrel or a rat down there...I found the wrapping paper I heard it tearing apart earlier and the teeth marks are rather large...yipes.
Miss Scarlett may kill something tonight yet! well, trap it anyways...either way!
Here are some fun pics!
My cute dad chillin' at home...
My pretty mommy!
Do I look like I posed...cause I totally posed.
Fun friends!
The napkin rings...fabulous!
2 comments:
- Burkinator said...
You posing? Never! ; )
- Lyndee said...
It was a delight! Thanks my sweet girl!
So Much to Love
I love people. I love bright eyes. I love my sons, Judah & Lucas. I love laughing. I love my ringtone. I love love. I love Jesus. I love tattoos. I love milk. I love creative expression. I love smiles. I love Philippians. I love bridges. I love my house and haven. I love a rainy night. I love doing nothing. I love almonds and banana chips. I love music. I love cowboy hats. I love Anna Maria Island. I love (diet) dr.pepper. I love a good story. I love wildflowers. I love to fly. I love rod iron. I love babies. I love going to the movies. I love midnight. I love allegra. I love sunsets. I love long kisses. I love the color red. I love starshollow. I love community. I love doing life with friends. I love witty banter. I love jessilynn.com. I love my family. I love pretty things. I love cruisin' with my girls. I love remembering when. I love authentic individuals. I love hot tamales. I love when kids giggle. I love Lance. I love bonfires. I love finding people I thought I'd lost. I love yard sales. I love tacobell. I love seeing people do good. I love violins and steel guitar. I love driving to the airport. I love seeing people around me succeed at their dreams. I love being included. I love flipflops. I love blogging. I love long talks. I love dreaming.


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Daily Archives: February 7, 2003
Remains of a Bird
While on a walk today, I noticed a two or three feathers and thought that it seemed odd to find them there. As I looked around, I noticed more and more feathers and it occured to me that perhaps a … Continue reading
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Riverside Raven
While taking a brief walk paralleling Indian River today, I observed a raven along the opposite shore walking along the edge of the water. It was headed downstream, periodically poking its beak into places, but I could not tell what … Continue reading
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Some Bird Observations
Yesterday afternoon I put Connor in his backpack and went for a walk down to the beach and then around Totem Park. Near the hatchery we saw two common merganzers, a male and a female. Earlier in the week I … Continue reading
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Trumpeter Swans
I had heard and seen pictures of trumpeter swans wintering along the shore near town, but had not seen them until yesterday. A pair of them flew a few circles around the Sheldon Jackson quad in the afternoon when I … Continue reading
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Evergreen Blueberries and Huckleberries?
I have noticed this winter that not all the leaves have fallen off the blueberry and huckleberry bushes. So far, all the ones I have seen with leaves have been quite short (a foot or less). I wonder if it … Continue reading
Posted in flora, weather Leave a comment


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Howdy, I'm Kai :P
I'm a metalhead, mainly power-, folk-, black- and anything melodic, but I like most other metal kinds aswell, aswell as a bit of rock, industrial, goa and dutch hardcore.
Apart from music I'm a pc addict, started off with loads of gaming, now I'm still gaming but also trying to emulate stuff like PSX, PS2 but also complete OS's like ubuntu and Leopard in VMWare.On school I'm following webdesign, which for now is HTML and photoshop, but will next year extend to CSS and Flash. For myself, I want to learn PHP and SQL with this.
Why did I make this account? Tnx to smetsie recommending me this site after me asking him what anime he would recommend me.Now I found my way around into the world of anime, I still return to this site not only because it was the first anime site I started using, but also the user-friendly interface and whatnot. There are, offcourse, other sites that greatly add to the data that is already on this site, but I guess I won't advertise for 'competing' anime sites.
Anyway, that's me in a nutshell, any more questions can be dumped into my guestbook.
Have a good day!Greetz, Kai
1,170 total episodes
Heyyy bro, you still Gamin' or Watchin Anime these days??
Fijne verjaardag!
Haha, onze muzieksmaken zijn net omgekeerd, ik luister vooral Rock, en een beetje medolische metal (ook wel de andere metal, maar minder)
I call it trial and error. And a damned good set of brushes ;P
Sadly not :(
Yes it is, made quite a few recently, but really liked the Clare one ^^


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Score +116
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486 Comments
I usually buy cheap cables/adapters/converters/etc from ebay. I always thought $40 monster hdmi or printer or usb cables were a scam.
It seems speaker wires do matter more though. Any advice on speaker wires- ie does it really matter with an entry level system like this? Just get a certain guage? brand? ebay ok? any cheap specific recs?


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Sepia "Quaker Farmer" Chinese export porcelain dish
Advertisements for specific products, services or destinations on this website are for the information of the public, and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by this institution, its officers, employees or agents.
Sepia "Quaker Farmer" Chinese export porcelain dish
Date:c. 1810
Content Description:
Chinese export porcelain dish in the "Quaker Farmer" pattern, painted in sepia and gilt with scene of a farmer leaning on his bull in a field of leafy trees, with a small dog at their feet.
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Dish, Eating
Location:2715 Q St. NW,District Of Columbia,Washington,20007


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Simply stunning Chinoiserie fabrics at this wonderful Etsy store, including the Bob Collins Bamboo and Birds that so many of you emailed me that you missed out on. Hurry!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Fabulous Chinoiserie Fabrics
Posted by Beth Connolly at 9:40 AM
Labels: Bob Collins, Clarence House, Etsy, fabrics, Schumacher
2 comments:
- Karena said...
Just gorgeous Beth!!
Art by Karena
- March 17, 2011 at 10:10 AM
- The enchanted home said...
All beautiful but that last one is a showstopper!
- March 17, 2011 at 11:42 AM
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Hanson in sharp form heading into Mouse HouseNovember 8th, 2009, 10:57 am by KEVIN FLINN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
In the spring of 1997, as a high school senior eagerly awaiting graduation, I was unfortunately without a car. My friend Rick drove a used Chevy Blazer (and therefore me) and owned one CD: the single version of Hanson's "MMMBop," which he played continuously.
Rick had purchased the disc after hearing the song on the radio, but once it became a No. 1 smash in almost a dozen countries -- and the moppety mugs of Isaac, Taylor and Zac were plastered all over TV -- Rick "lost" the CD, eventually claiming he'd never even owned it.
This backlash was all too common in the late '90s and early '00s, and while it may never be cool to listen to Hanson (or at least cop to listening to Hanson), the three-piece from Tulsa never really went away — the band of brothers is currently putting the finishing touches on its as-yet-unnamed eighth LP (due in 2010) and touring the U.S. behind a mostly-acoustic EP titled Stand Up, Stand Up.
On Saturday, the group's Use Your Sole Tour bopped into L.A. Live's jam-packed Club Nokia (it stops Wednesday at House of Blues Anaheim), and while Rick was noticeably absent, the adoring legion of Hansonites were out in force to support the band that most of them never stopped supporting.Read the rest of this entry »


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Kukla's Korner Hockey
Lundqvist Joins Ovechkin At IMG
by Paul on 07/24/12 at 02:07 PM ET
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from IMG,
IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, announced today (July 23rd) that it has signed the popular NHL New York Rangers All-Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist exclusively for representation in marketing, speaking and broadcasting.
This past season, the 30-year-old Swedish born Lundqvist won his first Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's best goaltender, became the only goaltender in NHL history to record 30 wins in each of his first seven seasons, led the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals and was named First Team NHL All-Star.
"Henrik is a very special athlete and we are honored that he has selected IMG to manage the business side of his incredibly successful NHL career," said Sandy Montag, Senior Corporate Vice President, Managing Director of Clients at IMG. "His reputation far exceeds the boundaries of hockey and his potential off the ice is as great as his accomplishments on it. He helped Sweden win Olympic Gold in 2006 and has established himself as one of the all time New York Rangers greats. He's a genuinely terrific human being whose interests from rock and roll to fashion and now fatherhood have made him popular in New York and around the world."
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This was a huge week in college football. The BCS standings came out, number 1 Ohio State was upset, Auburn proved that they are the real deal, and Oregon jumped to number one in the AP and the coaches polls without even playing this week. There is a lot to discuss after this last Saturday, so sit back and enjoy this weeks edition of Rumblings and Grumblings.
College Football Week 7: The Oregon Ducks and Other Rumblings and Grumblings
By Tyler Robinson ,
Oregon had the week off and still "Won the Day." For the first time in Oregon history, the Ducks are ranked number one. I know that they are number two in the BCS, but anything/anyone with a pulse has the Oregon Ducks in the number one slot.
Oregon controls their own destiny from here on out. The Ducks have one of the toughest remaining schedules in all of college football (LSU and Auburn could argue that they have brutal schedules as well). If Oregon can continue to dominate the way that they have been, then they will play in the national championship without a doubt.
The buzz surrounding Oregon's squad hasn't been this loud since Dennis Dixon was around.
Let's take time to thank the Washington Huskies for defeating the Oregon State Beavers. Why? A week ago,ESPN had projected Boise State to be number 1 in the BCS and TCU to be number 3. Both schools' "bigger" victories of the season came against the Beavers, and had Oregon State beaten the Huskies, the Broncos and Horned Frogs would probably be higher in the BCS.
Nobody wants to see Boise State or TCU in the National Championship game; it's just flat out bad for college football. These two schools beat up on bottom feeders for most of the season and then expect to play in the big dance. Are the two schools good programs? Sure. Would they go undefeated playing a SEC or Pac 10 schedule? No way. And you're kidding yourself if you think they would.
Boise State will probably continue to slowly move down in the rankings as the other big schools will square off against other formidable teams throughout the rest of the season. Boise State's only "show me what you got" game the rest of the season is against Nevada, and they lost to Hawaii this last week. Boise State will run the table again, but they shouldn't play in the title game and here's why.
Here are the remaining schedules for the teams that could contend for the title:
1. Oklahoma: No. 11 Missouri, Colorado, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, and No. 14 Oklahoma State
2. Oregon: UCLA, USC, Washington, California, No. 18 Arizona, and Oregon State
3. Boise State: Louisiana Tech, Hawaii, Idaho, Fresno State, Nevada, and Utah State
4. Auburn: No. 6 LSU, Ole Miss, Chattanooga, Georgia, and No. 8 Alabama
5. TCU: Air Force, UNLV, No. 9 Utah, San Diego State, and New Mexico
6. LSU: No. 4 Auburn, No. 8 Bama, Louisiana Monroe, Ole Miss, No. 23 Arkansas
7. Michigan State: Northwestern, No. 15 Iowa, Minnesota, Purdue, and Penn State
8. Alabama: Tennessee, No. 6 LSU, No. 24 Miss State, Georgia State, No. 4 Auburn.
Every team in the top eight except the Broncos will be challenged several times throughout the rest of the season. Is an undefeated Broncos team more deserving than a one loss Auburn or Bama team? No way, look at the competition each team plays.
Boise State claiming to be number one is like watching Chihuahua's bark at Rottweilers.
The SEC is without a doubt the toughest conference in college football. No. 4 Auburn, No. 6 LSU, No. 8 Alabama, No. 21 South Carolina, No. 23 Arkansas, and No. 24 Mississippi State all reside in the SEC. And those are only the ranked schools; Kentucky and Florida are also still pretty good programs.
Each week, college football fans get the pleasure of watching these teams compete with one another. There is not any clear favorite in the SEC. Right now, Auburn and LSU are in the drivers seat being undefeated, but one of them will fall next week as the two play at Auburn this Saturday. You could argue that the winner of their showdown should be number 1 in the country.
Alabama is still very alive in the title chase and has yet to play LSU or Auburn. If they can run the table the rest of the way, then Bama could argue that their season was more impressive than other teams who went undefeated.
We've also seen that South Carolina, Arkansas and Mississippi State can compete with anyone on any given Saturday and could upset these title contenders later in the season.
The teams in the SEC never get a break (actually in week 11 they all play week schools, but not other than that), they are constantly challenged week in and week out.
The SEC is tough, period.
We had three top 10 teams go down this last Saturday. No. 1 Ohio State was upset by No. 18 Wisconsin, No. 5 Nebraska was upended by Texas and No. 10 South Carolina was defeated by Kentucky. This was the second week in a row that the number one team in the country went down.
This week, No. 1 Oklahoma travels to Missouri to take on an undefeated No. 11 Tigers team. Could we see a number one team fall for the third week in a row?
The Heisman is now a three man race: Cameron Newton, LaMichael James, and Kellen Moore, and it's Newton's to lose.
Cameron Newton had another monster game in Auburn's 65-43 victory over Arkansas this weekend. The quarterback was 10-14 for 140 yards and a one touchdown to go along with 188 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Newton has come up huge in every big game that Auburn has played in this years.
Here are his stats in games against his tougher competition.
In a 35-27 victory over South Carolina: 16-21 158 yards 2 touchdowns passing. 25 carries, 176 yards and three touchdowns.
At Kentucky in a 37-34 win: 13-21 210 yards passing. 28 carries, 198 yards and four touchdowns.
Last week in a 65-43 victory over Arkansas: 10-14 140 yards and one touchdown passing. 25 carries 188 yards and three touchdowns rushing.
Newton has been at his best when it counts the most. Auburn takes on LSU this upcoming weekend, and Newton will have another opportunity to show the nation that he is college football's best and most exciting player.


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|White wine
Sieur d'Arques - Ancestrale - Suave et Fruité
Vinexus - Infinity of Wine Duitsland
The cooperative winery regularly distinguishes itself in the production of blanquette méthode ancestrale, fruit of a rich tradition and savoire-faire combined with the best that technology has to offer. The bouquet consists of apple compote and honey with a hint of rose";" very delicate on the palate, this wine is reminiscent of cider, making it an excellent accompaniment for crepes with apples. Naturally sweet, still a mystery... According to the legend, in the year 1531, over a century before wine bubbled in Champagne Province, monks from a sleepy abbey near the French hamlet of Limoux invented the art of double fermentation. Although still mysterious the process is completely natural. The only elements entering into play are the sugar content of the Mauzac grapes at the moment they are picked and the climatic conditions. The must ferments until it contains 3 % alcohol. It must be bottled during the month of March, always under the last crescent or waning moon. This way the wine ferments in the bottle and reaches an alcohol content of 5,5 % - 6 % by volume. Soil type : Heavy clay / Limestone. Climate : Oceanic but tempered by the nearby Mediterranean. Harvest : Mauzac grape. Hand-picked. Soil selection. Vinification : Entire harvest is pneumatically pressed. The juice is clarified by cold treatment and the must is then fermented until only 100 g/l of sugar remain. At this point, fermentation is halted by drawing off the juice and putting it through several filtration processes. The partially fermented must is then bot-tled and a second fermentation then commences due to the increase in the surrounding temperature. Once a perfect balance of pressure, alcohol and sugar is achieved, the fermentation is stopped completely by cold treatment and the bottles are disgorged. Colour : pale yellow. New technology and treatments have enabled us to produce a clear wine while still embracing the original Méthode Ancestrale but occasionally some natural sediments may appear. Nose : Reminiscent of Reinette apples. Taste : Very crisp and fruity. Due to a combination of good acidity balance and sparkle together with a delicate natural sweetness it is very easy to drink. A slight sediment in the bottle is quite normal due to the natural and ancestral method of fermenting;


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By CAROLINE MURRAY
MAYFIELD -- The Mayfield Volunteer Fire Department got help from five other departments in battling a massive forest fire off of Berry Road Tuesday.
Fire Chief Phlan Hart said the fire was not suspicious and no injuries were reported.
Hart said around 2 p.m., he investigated an area about a quarter of a mile off of Berry Road where he saw a large amount of smoke.
The fire spread approximately 4 acres, and took four hours to control.
"It was a good one," Hart said.
Hart said five other departments responded to the scene, including Broadalbin-Kennyetto Volunteer Fire Department, Berkshire Fire District, Northville Volunteer Fire Department, Meco Volunteer Fire Company, Pleasant Square Fire Department. Edinburgh Volunteer Fire Company was on standby.
Three members from Fulton County fire coordinator's office also assisted in putting out the forest fire.
Hart said the departments found the rough area where they assume the fire started.
The fire came at the heels of the end to the state wide burn ban which concluded May 15.
Hart said state environmental conservation officers investigated the scene. The origin of the fire was determined unknown.


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January/February 2006
With Billie
Three decades ago, obsessive Billie Holiday disciple Linda Kuehl set out to write what she believed would be the definitive biography of Lady Day--a project involving dozens of interviews, hundreds of rewritten pages and at least two prospective publishers--that utterly consumed and likely killed her. Enter Julia Blackburn to pick up the scattered pieces. But what seems an intriguing idea is scuppered by Blackburn's journalist sloppiness amd what seems to be a complete lack of knowledge of jazz and its vernacular.
What voices are resurrected here from Kuehl's interviews tend to be those of secondary figures who existed at the periphery of Holiday's troubled life. Nor does Blackburn make much of an attempt to fill the gaping holes left in Kuehl's vast but hardly comprehensive research.
Holiday deserves a great new biography. This slipshod volume doesn't even approach fair. Better to unearth Donald Clarke's 1994 book Billie Holiday: Wishing on the Moon, which also drew on Kuehl's files but in an intelligently judicious way.


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'Two And A Half Men' Recap – A Straw In My Donut Hole
This must be a dream. Alan's returned from hospital to find a 'Welcome Home' greeting from his friends and family at the Beach House. Surely, we're looking at a Two and A Half Men apocalypse.
In the last episode, Alan reacted to Walden's decision to have Zoey and Anna stay at the Beach House by having a minor heart attack. Walden felt so guilty that he paid for Alan's hospital stay, and allowed him to live with him for as long as he needed.
This week, Walden is being very solicitous of Alan, carrying his bags, and worrying about Alan's health. When they return home from Alan's second trip to the hospital, he's greeted with a surprise welcome party, and immediately has another heart attack. Except that he's just joking – which starts Zoey wondering about his other attacks. She's not at all happy that he's back.
Berta's so pleased to see him that she calls him 'Alan' instead of 'Zippy.' She says she never makes fun of someone who could come back and haunt her. Lyndsey treats him with tender care, and Jake says that he aced all of his final exams. Oops, that wasn't true, but it was a nice try.
He's grateful for the attention, but just wants to lie down. Walden walks him to his room, where Walden's bought him a new adjustable bed, and a big screen TV, complete with satellite channels and a full sports package. Alan hints that he'd like the movie package added. Oh, and the adult channel package as well.
Walden insists that Alan needs to rest, even if he's not tired. Walden's had several family members meet nasty ends, right after saying that they were 'fine.' He's promised himself that no one else dies on his watch. So he's being very good to Alan. Alan realizes that Walden is carrying a lot of guilt – and he can exploit that.
Zoey doesn't understand Walden's concerns for Alan; she thinks he'll outlive them all, like a cockroach. Walden doesn't find her attitude attractive, but she says she seed this kind of scam pulled all the time, and thinks Alan's taking advantage.
At that moment, Alan calls out from his bedroom. He's hungry, and Berta's got his dinner ready. Zoey can't believe that Alan's even getting room service.
Alan relaxes on his custom bed, enjoying dinner on a tray while watching TV. Berta arrives with his favorite dessert. Ex-wife Judith drops by to say that he needn't continue with child support payments, and to offer him use of her condo in Palm Springs. She even apologizes for treating him so badly in the past.
Later, as he enjoys dessert and porn, Lyndsey arrives to comfort him. All he has to do is lie back. She'll do all the work. It's the best day of his life.
So, of course, this state of affairs is bound to end. At his doctor's (guest star Jason Alexander) office, Alan is told that he's in good shape. It's like the heart attack never even happened. He tells his doctor that he's been showered with love and attention since his illness, and he doesn't want it to end. The doctor, who's sleeping with his receptionist and two pharmaceutical reps, says Alan would be an idiot to tell people the truth about his health. Alan agrees.
He starts by telling his mother, who's taken him to the appointment, that he's had bad news. She responds by taking him shopping to cheer him up.
At home, Walden's installed an electric stair chair to take Alan upstairs in comfort, despite the fact that he never goes upstairs. Walden thinks Alan should have use of his upstairs whirlpool tub, to help with his circulation and bed sores. Zoey can't believe how far Walden is going, and thinks he should tell Alan to get out of bed.
Alan arrives home in a new suit, bolo tie and cowboy hat. He tells Walden that the news from his doctor is not good, and he may need a transplant. Alan gets onto the stair chair, saying that he'll just have a whirlpool before his masseuse arrives. Walden's hired a masseuse for Alan, to help prevent blood clots.
As Alan enjoys a massage, Zoey brings him a banana smoothie. She tells him that he may have everyone else fooled, but she knows he's faking it. What he does with his family and girlfriend is one thing, but he must stop taking advantage of Walden. He's been warned. When she leaves, Alan says "that bitch has got to go."
Soon, Alan is again greeted by friends and family, but this time, no one's smiling. Zoey had one of the private investigators from her firm follow him for a few days. She has videos of his 'therapeutic walk on the beach,' which actually involved him playing a highly energetic game of beach volleyball with several bikinied women. He struggles to find an explanation for his behavior, but, surrounded by angry faces, sees no option but to fake another heart attack. This time, however, no one buys it. Even Walden just steps over his body, and leads everyone into the kitchen for dessert.
Much later, as Walden prepares to go to bed, he finds Alan still lying on the floor. Alan intends to stay there until the shame passes. Walden rides the electric stair chair upstairs, as Alan sings "Memories" from his position on the floor.


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Donald R. Carter
TIFFIN A Fremont man who was running a barbecue stand at the Seneca County Fair was arrested Thursday night and charged with selling crack cocaine from his food stand.
Donald R. Carter, 44, was charged with trafficking in crack cocaine after officers with the Seneca County Drug Task Force-METRICH Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant on D-Ray s Barbecue Chicken & Ribs at the fair.
Cash, drug paraphernalia, and criminal tools were seized in the raid.
Undercover agents with the task force said they had successfully purchased crack cocaine from Mr. Carter while he was running from the food stand at the fair.
Detective Charles Boyer, unit coordinator, said the incident was "unique" at the fair and only involved the one vendor.


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La Crosse County residents woke up Tuesday morning to a virtually unrecognizable landscape outside their windows following the latest round of summer storms.
West Salem resident Todd Kendhammer spent the day treading through his wet neighborhood. Even in his own backyard, there are some parts he can hardly recognize.
"[The storm] picked up our chairs, tore our patio awning off, uprooted everything at our house," he ticks off a list of damages done by the storm's raging winds and rain. Across the street, his neighbor's home was hit hard, as well.
Across the county, La Crosse residents woke up to the sights and sounds of the storm, too.
"I heard the first one come down," resident Rick Fuller said as crews cleaned up what was left of a fallen tree. "I did what you're not supposed to do - I went to the window. And that's when the other big one came down and hit the house."
Downed trees and branches littered city sidewalks while crews worked to clean a path throughout the day. County workers say by late afternoon they'd received at least one call for structural damage, and a couple dozen calls on fallen trees and downed power lines.
Despite the mess that spans county lines, crews say the area is lucky this summer story didn't leave more destruction in its wake.


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Karma is the star of this smallish site. While you won't see her getting naked in many scenes, she is able to entice us with her cute face and outgoing personality. This innocent brunette has just turned 18 so she promises to get even naughtier as she gets older. The problem is that she isn't updating so it's not really worth joining now, nor will it ever be.Full review
- $24.99/30 days
Abbie Bueller is a cute blonde who likes to get off on camera. She sometimes keeps things tame, simply showing off her body, but she can also get naughty when she wants. Her hottest vids and pics show her giving blowjobs and having sex. This amateur babe puts on a hot show, but her site is small and she's not doing anything you probably haven't seen before.Full review
- Trial: $2.99/2 days
Kitty Karsen is the cat's meow and she gives you the purrrr-fect mix of innocence and naughtiness. The content on her website shows her posing, stripping, masturbating and having some lesbian fun. It's been a long time since anything was added to the site, but she has left us with a decent amount of good-quality content. You might want to check it out.Full review
- Trial: $1.00/1 day
Melanie is a bit of a German reality TV star who has also done porn under the pseudonym "Scarlet Young." No matter where you recognize her from or if it's your first time seeing her, her sex appeal is obvious. It's too bad that her site is tiny, but at least you'll see her play with her pussy, give blowjobs, ride dick and even taste some cum, all in crisp HD.Full review
- $19.95/30 days
Trixie has been running and operating her very own website since 2002. She takes care of her members and does her best to give them a wide variety of great-looking content. Masturbation, strapon fucking, hardcore sex and softcore posing are just some of the things you can see in her vids. If Trixie is your type of gal, you'll want to join her sexy site.Full review
- $24.95/30 days
Jeska is a sexy punk with a gorgeous body, lots of tattoos, a few piercings and a love for getting herself off while alone and when she's with horny guys and dolls (although her small site is just focused on her solo and lesbo work). This inked hottie could use a speed up in updating, though, as well as a boost in quality to really pull more people in.Full review
- $29.69/30 days
What do a lamp, latex, sexy underwear and a cat-of-nine tails have in common? These are some of the hot props utilized by this sultry blonde 18-year-old gal to arouse nasty thoughts in her members. This hot German honey also likes to stick her fingers deep inside her wet pussy or even have lesbo sex - but with only one vid and 88 photo sets it ain't worth it.Full review
- $19.95/30 days
Nelly's a sexy Russian babe who gets off on teasing her admirers. Her personal website isn't all that big at the moment, but it is growing. The videos found on it are hot and they're all made available to you in an HD format. Another great thing about the movies is that they're all exclusive to the site, so you won't ever find them elsewhere on the Internet.Full review
- $19.95/30 days
Cherry Potter is a sexy French Canadian gal who always says "oui" to kinky anal sex. On her personal site, you can watch this nubile brunette try out all kinds of naughty deeds from lesbian strapon fucking to hardcore threesome action. The problem is though, that there isn't much content and she isn't updating either. At this point it's just not worth it.Full review
- $19.95/30 days
- Save 33%
She's blonde, skinny and has made several naughty videos of herself. Her name is Paris, but not as in Hilton. This cutie loves to give you a glimpse of her sweet pussy and perky boobies. She'll strip down and pose for you, flash you her hard nipples and even let you watch as she gets a massage from a cute friend and eats whipped cream off her tasty breasts.Full review
- $17.87/30 days
- Save 28%
Those of you who want a beautiful blonde with perfect perky titties, a winning smile, a wonderfully round and petite ass and a sunny disposition will love Lia and her awesome softcore scenes regardless of whether she's posing by herself or with a gorgeous friend. Shee stopped updating and it's all in parts, but hundreds of high-quality scenes await you.Full review
- $24.95/30 days
Sexy Alyssa's content is softcore, so she shows off her sexy body with those full breasts and hot ass, but her pussy remains a hidden secret. She loves to play with balloons and also poses in wet T-shirts. She always has a smile on her pretty face as the video camera rolls, so it's no surprise that the still camera clicks away with the focus being all on her.Full review
- $24.95/30 days
Shelby goes from innocent and playful to horny and sexy. One minute she is jumping on a hotel chair playing peek-a-boo and the next she's sitting with her legs spread, fingering her sweet, wet pussy. In another scene she plays with paddle ball then puts it down to show off her ass. So it's too bad that she hasn't added one of her great-quality videos in ages.Full review
- $24.95/30 days
This tiny blonde bombshell shows off her sweet smile, hot boobs and the cutest little butt on a good-looking site that's part of a network of coed sites. With an adorable face and a body built for naughty things, this nubile cutie bares all. She even plays with her pussy and enjoys lesbian hookups. However, this site is too small, nor is it currently growing.Full review
A cute German chick poses in softcore, semi-nude pics and videos. She has a slender body, long, brown hair and pert boobs. She poses in many sexy getups, including fetish gear, fishnets and thongs showing some skin, but her pussy is always hidden, even if her wee titties are exposed. The content looks great, but there's not enough of it to recommend you join.Full review
- $24.95/30 days
Who is Angie? Angie is a hot blonde chick with big tits and a sexy ass and she likes to take big cocks in every hole. Her site includes masturbation, group sex with guys and gals, and lesbian play. The thing is, you'll have to be into pics, since she doesn't offer any video footage. And the real bummer is that the pics aren't all that high in quality.Full review
- $24.95/30 days
She's call herself pale, but in the end it will be you who looks pale as a ghost if you check out how much she's charging to join her site. It's too bad, because this beauty offers some high-quality content that doesn't simply portray solo action. She hook ups with her boyfriend on camera and not only gets fucked, but she also fucks his ass with her strapon.Full review
- $149.97/90 days


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Crazyfudge's FML badges
Hard at Work
Voting on an FML from the Work category on a Monday between 8 and 9am, how ironic.
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You have left your thumbprint on 2500 comments.
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Your FML was denied. We had to at least give you a badge to cheer you up a bit.
Crazyfudge's favorite FMLs
Today, I was babysitting an 8-year-old boy. He was playing with play-doh and made a sculpture that resembled a penis. I tried to cover up and asked if it was an action figure. He looked at me like I was an idiot and said, "It's a DICK." FML
by hot sweet.... not / 02/23/2014 at 5:27pm / United Kingdom (Renfrewshire) / Kids
Today, my boyfriend let me be the first one to read the novel he dropped out of college to write. Turns out it's titled "A Brief History of Ass" and is an incoherent ramble about every time we've had anal sex. FML
by Anonymous / 12/11/2013 at 7:51pm / United States (New York) / Intimacy
Today, as a science teacher, I did a science experiment in front of a class. One of my students asked me if it was "photoshopped." He was being serious. FML
by jdawn99 / 10/22/2013 at 10:24am / United States (Kansas) / Kids
Today, I went on a date with a very cute girl. It went well, until I accidentally called the blueberries in her dessert Oran Berries. I sheepishly explained that they're a berry from the Pokémon universe, at which point she excused herself, never to return. FML
by Brock / 02/02/2013 at 4:20pm / New Zealand (Auckland) / Love
Today, I bought a coral colored hooded sweatshirt, which my girlfriend told me was "hot". I wore it to a baseball game tonight. When it got cold I put the hood over my head, only to hear everyone behind me laugh. The back of the hood said "Boy crazy". It was a teen girls sweatshirt. FML
by khood / 04/14/2009 at 1:10am / United States / Love
Today, I finally had my tongue piercing heal up so I decided to try oral on my girl. Unfortunately, she has a hood piercing that got caught on my tongue ring, and neither of us could get them apart. We had to call my mom in to solve the problem. FML
by Truan / 03/25/2009 at 5:04pm / United States (California) / Intimacy
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HARTFORD, Conn. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration here has proposed fines of $133,000 against C&S Wholesale Grocers for alleged "repeat and serious safety violations" at its warehouse in Windsor Locks, Conn. According to OSHA, the wholesaler was fined for three repeat citations, including metal storage racks that were unstable; open-sided work platforms lacking railings; and ungrounded metal dock lights. C&S was cited for the same ...
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About SirAnon : Hey guys and gals. Came for the fml's, stayed for the comments. Have a question? Feel free to inbox me :D
SirAnon's FML badges
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You wanted you know what the top of the flops of all time was, and now you know.
I'm your new creative director
You had to give your opinion on this new "piece" that the whole world is talking about.
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You like to live life randomly, and we salute you.
SirAnon's favorite FMLs
Today, some assface hacked my recently deceased friend's Facebook account. The person changed my friend's location to "Hell", then posted a status saying how hot the weather was, and replied "I wish :'(" to someone who'd said my friend was in a better place now. FML
by he's not the one going to hell / 09/12/2014 at 5:11pm / Australia / Geek
Today, I discovered my wife has a YouTube channel dedicated to 20 second videos of her wearing a fake mustache and making weird sounds. FML
by wtfiswrongwithher / 05/07/2011 at 9:56am / Australia (Queensland) / Love
Today, my girlfriend was giving me a hand job. As I reached my climax, she thought it would be funny to turn my 'weapon' against me. Boom, headshot. FML
by SkinsCastSelection / 01/17/2011 at 4:53am / France / Intimacy
Today, I found out my little sister was a stripper. At the same time, she found out that when I said I was having a "quiet birthday with some friends," what I really meant was "hiring a stripper to jump out of a cake." FML
by Jon / 01/18/2010 at 3:26pm / United States (Oregon) / Miscellaneous
Today, my soccer team got our warm up t-shirts that say "You can hit on us, but you can't score." After the game, a guy behind my friend asks, "Hey what does the front of your shirt say?" I replied for her, "You can hit on us." He looked at me and my friend and said, "No thanks." FML
by Anonymous / 05/03/2009 at 1:46pm / United States (Virginia) / Miscellaneous
Today, I went on a date with a guy for the first time. We went to Starbucks and got coffee. We talked for a while, and we were joking and having a good time. Suddenly, he put his hand on my stomach and said, "Soon, this will be plump with my seed." FML
by creepermagnet / 04/06/2009 at 3:39pm / United States (Maryland) / Love
Today, I danced with a girl until the bar closed. We went back to my place. She had a penis. FML
by Noname / 01/22/2009 at 6:27pm / Canada (Alberta) / Love
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DELAWARE, Ohio — Two Lewis Center men were indicted yesterday, accused of handcuffing a 20-year-old man, holding a knife to his throat and forcing him to perform sex acts.
Harry Fox, 60, faces three counts of kidnapping, one count of abduction and one count of complicity to commit rape. His 43-year-old nephew, Larry Fox, faces two counts of rape, three counts of kidnapping and one count of abduction. All the charges are felonies.
The two are accused of raping the man on Oct. 16 at Larry Fox's home at 5240 Maple Court, in the Worthington Arms mobile-home park.
The alleged victim knew the Foxes, a spokeswoman for the Delaware County prosecutor's office said. The Dispatch generally does not name victims of sexual assault.
The spokeswoman, Traci Whittaker, said she could not say how the man knew the Foxes but said he was not related to them.
Harry Fox was arrested on Oct. 18; Larry Fox was arrested the following day.
Both men are being held in the Delaware County jail. Bail for each was set at $100,000.


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How can we help you? (432) 221-1111
The Orthopedic Neurosurgery and Neurology department is located on the 8th floor of Midland Memorial Hospital's Scharbauer Tower. The 24 bed unit specializes in the care of post surgical patients who have undergone brain surgery, spine surgery or are recovering from injury caused by trauma. Therapy is a vital part of the patient's plan of care and the nursing staff work in conjunction with the therapists to help patients down the road to recovery.
Posterior Lumbar Innerbody Fusion (PLIF)
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
Posterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (PCDF)
Musculoskeletal Trauma
Head or brain injury
Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF)
Foot or ankle surgery
400 Rosalind Redfern Grover Parkway | Midland, TX 79701 | (432) 221-1111
©2016 Midland Memorial Hospital |


text: Kragthorpe: Tournament celebrates Larry H. Miller's love of the gameMiller Memorial Pioneer Days Men's Fastpitch Tournament will be staged Friday through Sunday at the softball complex on 13th East that now bears his name. Miller in the rafters of EnergySolutions Arena. The same number adorns his locker in a corner of the… (more)Source: sltrib.com


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Oh, my goodness! What a difference! I think my old yarn winder had something broken in it and now that I've used the new one, I know the old one just wasn't right.
The movement is smooth – no jerking and backlashing.
The cake comes off evenly wound and not too loose or too tight.
I should have ordered a new winder a long time ago.
The yarn is wound for my Camp Loopy project, which starts on May 27th. Good thing I checked because in my head, I was thinking the 28th!


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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has tweaked the Ability-to-Repay rule to make extending and getting credit less of a hassle by creating specific exemptions and modifications.
The revised rule, which governs small creditors, community development lenders and housing stabilization programs, contains specifics on how to calculate loan origination compensation for certain purposes. The CFPB's Ability-to-Repay rule was finalized in January of this year.
"Our Ability-to-Repay rule was crafted to promote responsible lending practices," said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. "Today's amendments embody our efforts to make reasonable changes to the rule in order to foster access to responsible credit for consumers."
Consumer protections
The Ability-to-Repay rule established that most new mortgages must comply with basic requirements that protect consumers from taking on loans they do not have the financial means to pay back. Lenders are presumed to have complied with the Ability-to-Repay rule if they issue "Qualified Mortgages" (QMs).
These loans must meet certain requirements including prohibitions or limitations on the risky features that harmed consumers in the recent mortgage crisis. If a lender makes a Qualified Mortgage, consumers have greater assurance that they can pay back the loan.
What they do
The newly-approved amendments:
- Exempt certain nonprofit creditors: The final rule exempts some nonprofit and community-based lenders that work to help low- and moderate-income consumers obtain affordable housing.
- Facilitate lending by certain small creditors: This amendment makes several adjustments to the Ability-to-Repay rule in order to facilitate lending by small creditors, including community banks and credit unions that have less than $2 billion in assets and each year make 500 or fewer first-lien mortgages.
- Establish how to calculate loan origination compensation: The Dodd-Frank Act mandates that Qualified Mortgages have limited points and fees, and that compensation paid to loan originators, such as loan officers and brokers, is included in points and fees. This cap ensures that lenders offering Qualified Mortgages do not charge excessive points and fees. Today's amendment provides certain exceptions to this Dodd-Frank requirement that loan originator compensation be included in the total permissible points and fees for both Qualified Mortgages and high-cost loans.
Consumer kudos
The final rules "strike the right balance," according to a leading consumer group. "They safeguard consumers from abusive practices while helping lenders comply with new mortgage lending standards," said Kathleen Day of the Center for Responsible Lending .
"The rules address two key issues related to the Dodd-Frank Act's mandate that lenders assess a borrower's ability to repay, particularly the standards a loan must meet to qualify as a 'Qualified Mortgage (QM).' First, they properly prohibit mortgages with higher fees from gaining Qualified Mortgage (QM) status. Second, they tailor the QM standards for small lenders who hold mortgages in portfolio and for other community-based lenders.
The amendments will take effect with the Ability-to-Repay rule next January.


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Distinguishing Mental Illness from Incivility in the Classroom UTSA Libraries – Faculty Services
10 - 11:30 a.m. | JPL 4.04.12C | Faculty Center Conference Room, Main Campus
The presentation will discuss the prevalence and types of Mental Illness typical among college students including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Information regarding typical signs of mental illness, and how they may differ from Incivility in the classroom will also be provided. Existing resources on campus for seeking help in supporting students, managing classroom issues, and insuring safe learning environments for everyone will also be discussed.
📌 Add this event to your calendar
Dr. Mary McNaughton-Cassill
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Dr. McNaughton-Cassill's research interests involve stress and coping in modern life, and how people can better cope with both media induced and personal stress and trauma. She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Texas and works both in private practice and doing disaster mental health work.
Dr. McNaughton-Cassill holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UCSD/SDSU, and B.A. & M.S. in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara.


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The Wood Marketing Federation has reduced 41 entries to a shortlist of 20 for Wood Awards Ireland (WAI) 2016.
This is the second competition which promotes wood usage to designers, architects, engineers, craftspeople and other specifiers.
WAI is compatible with the aims and objectives of the sponsors and with the Federation's mission to promote wood as a renewable, sustainable and versatile natural material.
Specially commissioned sculptures by Michael Warren will be presented to the overall and caterory winners. The categories are:
- Large-scale buildings
- Small-scale residential buildings
- Restoration and conservation
- Structural – timber bridges boardwalks, shelters, decking, etc.)
- Furniture – bespoke and production
- Innovation and other including three subcategories: 'Wood Local', 'Wood Innovate' and 'Woodwork'
- New entrants, aimed at start up businesses or enterprises.
- International wood award under categories 1-8 supported by Enterprise Ireland.
The WMF acknowledges generous funding and sponsorship from:
- COFORD – National Council for Forest Research & Development, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- AHEC – American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)
- Coillte
- Enterprise Ireland.
Sculptor Michael Warren (left) discusses his plans to design main award and category winner sculptors the for Wood Awards Ireland with Donal Magner, secretary WMF.
Ciaran O'Connor (left), State Architect and chair of Wood Awards Ireland judging panel with fellow judge Des O'Toole, Coillte.
Download Brochure
WMF is delighted to announce support
from the following organisations:
Wood Awards Ireland 2014 winners
Ballyogan building wins overall wood award comprising building,
conservation, furniture, international and innovation categories
The Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council operations centre in Ballyogan, Co. Dublin is the overall winner of Wood Awards Ireland (WAI). The awards were presented by Tom Hayes, Minister of State with responsibility for forestry who praised the overall and category winners for using timber sourced in Irish and international sustainably managed forests. WAI was organised by the Wood Marketing Federation and supported by the RIAI.
The project was sponsored by COFORD (National Council for Forest Research & Development), Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine, AHEC (American Hardwood Export Council), Coillte, and Enterprise Ireland. Overall and category winners received specially commissioned awards created in yew and elm by the award winning sculptor Michael Warren, Honorary Member, RIAI.
The WAI jury arrived at a shortlist of 18 projects from 64 entrants in the following categories:
- Large-scale public buildings
- Small-scale private buildings
- Conservation
- Furniture
- Innovation
- International
Large-sale building – Ballyogan
Three buildings were shortlisted in the large-scale public building category. These were Ballyroan Library, Airfield Evolution and the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. (DLRCC) Maintenance Centre.
The Award went to the DLRCC building which also won the overall award. "The 3,700m2 office building uses timber in a holistic way exploiting its versatility for a variety of end uses from structure to windows to achieve its environmental design goals," said Ciaran O'Connor, chair of the WAI jury and State Architect. " This is the work of an innovative and knowledgeable designer in whose hands wood finds its full expression," he said. "This is essence over image." European larch, Scots pine and Norway spruce were the main timbers used.
Small-scale building – Double House
A 400-square metre house in the Dublin Mountains and an extension to an old farmhouse entitle 'Old House New House' near Loughrea, Co. Galway were frontrunners in the small building category. 'Meath House' near Drogheda using American ash interior and Siberian larch external cladding impressed the judges, as did a small extension to semidetached house in Dublin using Douglas fir. 'Cottage Cubed' a conversion of a derelict fisherman's cottage in Bray using birch plywood made the most out of a small space.
The award went to the Clancy Moore designed 'Double House' built in a disused quarry in a conifer plantation in the Dublin Mountains. "The site had been skilfully and respectfully altered to make a unique setting for a special building", said O'Connor.
Conservation – Dublin Dental Hospital
There were contrasting entries in the 'Restoration and Conservation' category, including a major conservation project in the Dublin Dental Hospital, refurbishment of a Georgian house and the restoration of the waterwheel in Kilbeggan Distillery.
In their 'Wainscoted' project, Lawrence and Long Architects sensitively restored the Georgian building. The developed the idea of traditional wainscoting, walls using 2.2 metre high European white oak panelling to provide four apartments within the Listed Building..
Sheehan's Sawmills combined with the Industrial Archaeologist, Dr Fred Hammond & Athy Foundry to bring the waterwheel back to its former glory in the Westmeath village. The sawmill used homegrown European larch and oak for the floats on the waterwheel and the sluice gate.
The conservation category award was won by McCullough Mulvin Architects for their restoration project in the Dublin Dental Hospital. The architects combined American white oak with existing pine floorboards in five protected buildings in the Trinity College complex.
In his citation, the State Architects said: "Creativity and respect combine with site specific inventive thought and different levels of intervention and restoration to such a degree that the new whole is more than just the sum of its historic past."
Dublin Dental Hospital – winner WAI restoration award
Furniture – Dell Building
In the 'Furniture' category, a clever machined birch plywood bookcase entitled '8 by 4' caught the eye of the judges. Designed by Eamon Peregrine and Tom Maher, the pieces can be slot jointed together without the use of fixings.
The award went to "Tree" which was installed in the Dell offices in Mahon Point, Cork. The magnificent structure oscillates between a piece of furniture and an artwork installation. "Some 400 separate yet interconnected elements of white oak climb 15 metres in a four storey atrium," claimed O'Connor. "This is a timber installation of great technical skill and bravado."
Tree. This structure spans four floors of an atrium with a total overall height of approximately 15m. Best described as a 'tree', it comprises over 400 separate and individually unique timber elements in American white oak veneer on an MDF core, with solid oak edging all around.
Innovation – Mater Hospital
The three front-runners for the innovation award were: Contemplation Space', 'Pallet Open Air' and 'Garden of Plenty'.
'Contemplation Space' located in the foyer in the new Mater Hospital, Dublin won the award. It was designed by Garvan de Bruir, Laura Magahy and Michael Goan with John Sisk Training and Education Centre providing the structural work. It used American ash to provide a unique resting and meditation space in the busy hospital foyer.
Contemplation Space. The space was conceived as a free-standing sculptural form inserted into the main foyer of the new Mater Adult Hospital Development. It provides a retreat for reflection away from the busy processes and interactions associated with the functioning of a large hospital.
International – Vessel, Venice Biennale
The 'International Award' was narrowed down to two exhibitions, which attracted huge attention at the Venice Biennale. John Mc Laughlin Architects and Gary A. Boyd created a demountable pavilion to house and frame an exhibition of Irish modern architecture spanning a century at the 2014 Biennale. Glulam spruce was the main structural material.
The international award went to 'Vessel'.by O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects. This wood-stack temporary structure was designed and built as a special installation for the international exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale, 2012 and it is planned to erect it in Ireland.
The structure was meticulously assembled from 5,250 pre-sawn lengths of Sitka spruce sourced in Coillte's forests and sawn by Glennon Brothers. Gen Joinery in Longford carried out the detailing. "This soaring installation is for the imagination – it is large yet incremental in scale," said O'Connor.
Vessel. Vessel with its 9-m high sculptural light funnel rising from a 4m x 4m floor plan was a pivotal element at the Venice Biennale and was seen by 178,000 visitors.
Timber for all projects was sourced in forests throughout the world from Ireland to the US and from Europe to New Zealand. The only stipulation was that all timber had to be sourced from sustainably managed forests and in accordance with the EU Timber Regulation, which counters the trade in globally illegally harvested timber.