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Hyde sighed, leaning over the edge of his balcony to gaze out at the rest of the city. The night was getting older, the stars struggling to outshine the lights filling the streets of the modest metropolis. Every lamp along the cobblestone streets of Lucida was aglow as the pedestrians hustled and bustled towards the main square. The luminescence all the life given off made the city seem to take on a bronze hue.
Jackal gently floated up and situated himself right on the rail next to the young boy, who gently brushed some of his brown bangs out of his eyes, and checked the clock mounted on his wall. Ten minutes to midnight. The year was drawing to a close for the people of Magnanimum, and a new one was set to begin.
"I never understood the premise of New Year celebrations." A cold, calculating voice said. Hyde looked over his shoulder back at the woman who had appeared at his door roughly a half hour before. Something about her gave off the idea that every aspect of her appearance was perfectly planned. The way her dress and hair flowed seemed perfect. Almost too natural to actually be natural. As if the very air around her was made to halt, or flow in the right way to disrupt her sleek dark clothing, so that it affected her image in only the most positive of ways.
This wasn't to say that Hyde thought her beautiful. She was. But something about the way she carried herself, that utter perfection she had, made her look almost fake. It gave the impression that beneath the perfection, there were perhaps more flaws than she would like to admit.
"It's a time to think about the year that's passed," Hyde said, gazing off at the square where all the people were headed. It was a long ways away from his home, but plainly visible by the large mound of clay which had been built up at its site, which was visible from almost every part of the city. "And to look forward to the year that's coming."
"There is no difference in doing such recollection at the end of the year than there is at any other time." Lady Ink refuted, crossing her arms and looking at the large collection of clay in the distance with some odd mixture of annoyance and curiosity. "And furthermore, your customs seem far too foreign for my tastes."
"I'd imagine." A new voice chimed in. Jackal's voice didn't sound too much like you'd expect from a small animated stuffed animal. He sounded like a boy, roughly Hyde's age. The little Jackal (aptly named) turned himself around to sit upon the balcony rail, to look directly at their inter-dimensional visitor. "From what you've told us, you're much used to meaning being given to forms. Not the other way around."
Hyde glanced back at the clock to double check the time till midnight, before turning back around to face the woman, looking up at her relatively emotionless expression.
"My life's work is to provide the base of all stories," She said dismally, not seeming to enjoy the concept of being spoken down to by an animated stuffed animal, "When I see that the product of my labor is suddenly not required it..."
"...makes you feel... useless?" Jackal commented slyly.
"...seems... meaningless?" Hyde added, smirking a bit.
There was a flash of annoyance in the woman's eyes as she glared down at the two of them, but the companions couldn't help but be pleased with themselves.When she had arrived inside their home nearly an hour before, and introduced herself as the embodiment of structure, explaining the current state of the world, it wasn't the odd predicament which fascinated them. The remarkable powers of Spark which Hyde had since birth had left his mind relatively open, leading him to believe most anything could be possible.
No, the idea that she was a being of only structure, as she insinuated, they far from believed. Hyde had read far too many books and had participated in far too many literary analyses and psych classes to know that anything with structure had a meaning and purpose. He wondered idly why this woman was hiding her emotions like that, or what had happened to make her so desensitized to things. But he didn't feel like it was appropriate to dig that deep into someones past so soon after meeting them.
Lady Ink didn't seem to have the same thought process.
"Bizarre customs aside, I require your help." She said, regaining her composure "I've found that you have been set in a plot archetype that tends to produce people of importance. Young boy, born under some bizarre circumstance which gave you immense powers - in this case the alignment of your worlds, two moons, and the sun - living with your abilities in hiding..."
"H-hey wait!" Hyde demanded, a bit taken aback by how idly the lady had brought these facts up, Jackal falling over the balcony rail, floating quickly back up once he remembered he had that power "I've lived my whole life not knowing why I had so much spark. Th... that's not something you just break to a person."
She rolled her eyes and sighed, gazing out the window like he had previously been doing, over the countless rooftops towards the celebration grounds in the distance. The homes of people looked like ants when compared to the large, misshapen mound of clay which lay there.
"I'm not really interested in another discussion about 'meaning', or the lack thereof when people are simply given the facts." She said coldly, moving towards the balcony with the two others, who turned to stare back at the center of the city as well. People were cheering, and the rancor of voices was rising. Less than a minute till midnight. "I need you to consider my proposal. If nothing is done, all my intricate structures, all my brother's meanings, and all the stories of people like yourself, everything will vanish."
Hyde regained himself and glanced back up at the women. She had gone back to seeming devoid of emotion, but he knew this was serious. He glanced back once again at his empty apartment. His wall of books. His shelves of belongings. It was a small place, but ever since he moved out of his dad's, it had seemed so huge. So... empty. The idea of independence was still a bit new to him. However, something about this opportunity called to him. Jackal was looking up at him. He could sense it too. It was time to shed his stereotypical 'lonely boy' shell and try to be something a bit more.
"Ten, Nine, Eight..."
The voices of the city rang out, cheers of exuberance gaining in volume as Hyde's attention fixated once again at the center of the celebrations. Jackal was busy looking back up at his friend. He could tell what he was thinking. Partly because he was made from his soul, but quite honestly, that meant little when compared to how much time they spent together. He would stick with Hyde regardless, not because the doll was his animation, but because they were friends.
"Seven, Six, Five..."
Lady Ink took a sideways glance at Hyde again. He was staring off at the celebration site in contemplation. For all his blathering about meanings and purpose, she knew he was full of tactfulness and wit. He didn't look the type to blindly rush into a situation with the intention of things simply working themselves out. But he had heart, and perhaps some subconscious part of her knew she served something to gain from that.
"Four, Three, Two..."
Hyde gazed up at the sky and raised an arm, along with every other citizen in the city, and Lady Ink watched with intent. As everyone cheered "One," what seemed to be electricity flowed up through the young mans arm, up to the tips of his fingers, until a single, gleaming spark floated off from them. Like a tiny speck of stardust floating away from his balcony, and towards the looming clay mountain. It was joined by many others. Twinkles of stardust rising from the streets, all over the metropolis.
An ocean of light soon was flowing through the sky, Hyde's addition less than a drop by comparison. A person viewing the event could practically feel all the hopes, dreams, and aspirations as they moved across the skyline.
Hyde and Jackal had seen the event countless times before, yet it always seemed fascinating. There wasn't anything quite like the complete unity that simply radiated down every street and alleyway as everyone in the city - no - in the world came together to cast forward their hopes for the future, and their memories of the past. He took another glance back at the woman in black. Still stern and serious. It seemed that little slip of emotion she had displayed earlier was too much by her standards. She wouldn't be having any more of those anytime soon.
The ceremonial clay mound now seemed to be the center of this entire galaxy of emotions. The specks of light swirled around it, creating a mighty whirlpool as slowly the mass at its center absorbed the light. At first it seemed to sway gently from the waves of energy which flowed into it, but before long it began to convulse and lurch about violently, the formerly motionless mass gaining a life of its own from the citizens' sparks.
The beginning seemed shockingly chaotic. From the clay emerged different figures which were quickly drawn back inside the now amorphous mass. Sharp and fearsome claws were drawn back to be replaced with an innocent pair of rabbit ears, which in turn vanished for a large pair of horns, and the cycle repeated.
Gradually a more distinct 'face' started to emerge from the mess of features, and from it, the shape became more defined. It rose up, mouth elongating into a sharp beak as an avian head began to take charge of the form. The edges of the clay mound rose up, becoming slender, slowly becoming a beautiful plumage as the emotions of the populace became the sculptors of the mighty form.
The view of the formation became obstructed as the ocean of light further condensed around it, swirling around, becoming too bright to look at directly. Hyde was forced to shield his eyes with a hand. Suddenly, a large gust of wind flew through the entire city, causing trees to shake violently and dust to be kicked up from the streets as the majestic bird flapped its wings. The wave could be felt miles away on the city's rural outskirts, even .
When everything settled down again, Hyde grunted and slowly lowered his hands to stare at the finished product. There, floating above the city plaza was a majestic clay phoenix, gently flapping its wings to keep itself in place. The air around it glistened with the remnants of the flood of light, and the onlookers gasping in awe. The mighty creation gave another large flap of its wings as it began to circle the plaza, with the onlookers jumping and cheering as it passed them by and brought in the new year. Hyde couldn't help but join in the enraptured gaze.
"...The avians are always the best." Jackal commented, staring up modestly as well, paws behind his back respectfully "Last year was a lion. Crushed a few houses on its way out of the city by accident."
Lady Ink didn't respond. Unlike the rest of the people present, she seemed to be giving the massive phoenix a more analytical gaze. It was impossible to imagine just what she was thinking.
Hyde was smirking as he recalled the incident that Jackal had mentioned. It was funny... because nobody was upset. The owners of the houses were just out in the streets laughing at the whole thing. The next day neighbors from all over were helping repair the damage as if it was routine cleanup after a party.
It was his people's way to look at the positives in life and not stress about what couldn't be helped that the boy truly respected. His smile just seemed to widen as he watched the phoenix fly off towards the horizon. Hey, there wasn't any use in him sulking about in his own world when he had the knowledge that he could make a world changing difference.
"...I'll do it." he announced triumphantly, the attention of his current two companions coming to focus on him. "No reason to sit here and do nothing anyway."
Lady Ink turned and looked over the boy once again. His demeanor was different. She could sense the confidence he seemed to have gathered from watching the event, and nodded as his little stuffed animal companion floated up to hang off his shoulder, completing the picture.
"To aid you along the way I'm going to give you a bit of my power. A construct." she said, reaching out one hand and holding it open. There was a faint glow within her palm, rising up into a sphere, and once it had disappeared, there remained what appeared to be a key. At least, an outline of one. It seemed about as two-dimensional as one could get in a four dimensional world, a black outline of what seemed to be a key. "A construct will gain its power from whatever meaning you bestow upon it. As long as it matches the form, of course."
The boy reached out and took the item in his own hand, the outline shining, before it shifted from an outline and became a more defined, real-world key... sort of. Its handle was in the design of a worn copper gear, with the actual key being an extended end of one of the gears teeth. Hyde and Jackal both stared wondrously at the object, the boy turning it about in his hand some, as if to verify that it was real.
"So... it will open doors for us?" Jackal asked, looking back to the Lady.
"It will do whatever you believe it is meant to do." she refuted, and waved her other hand, seeming to get their sendoff over with little fanfare. From the floor rose a large archway. An outline, much like his key had been, looking like a schematic for a structure, as opposed to one itself.
"Now, you merely need to will this arch to take you to the realm of stories, and it shall." she informed the two, who were gazing at the large construct in the middle of Hyde's bedroom intently. "Once you enter I won't be able to aid you. I have to trust that you two will be able to figure out what to do on your own."
Hyde looked to Jackal, who stared back at his friend confidently. He then turned his gaze to a picture frame next to his bed. The glare from the light of the city and the fireworks whizzing of in the sky blocked out the image of his mothers face. It had been thirteen years. When he thought about it, his whole situation was a rather typical one, story wise. In a way that worried him almost as much as the thought of the task he was about to undertake. If this world of stories really was becoming more of the same, he would have to be different somehow if he wanted to save it.
He shook his head, cleared his mind, and nodded. He was ready for this. He could hear the celebrations outside as the citizens rejoiced in the phoenix's wake. The arch before him took shape as he willed it to form. A beautiful curve of bronze, like his key, adorned with intricate gears upon the top, and at either side what appeared to be a pair of steam engines, which promptly hummed to life. The gears atop whirred, and in the center, sparks of electricity flew from one end to the other, at first sporadically, but picking up pace as the hum of the mechanisms grew louder. It wasn't long before the arch's interior was a solid glowing white.
He took another look at Lady Ink, and then turned back to the gateway he had given meaning to. He stepped forwards confidently, spurred on by the joyous celebrations taking place outside his window, picturing that phoenix in his mind as he vanished inside that wall of energy, and vanished.


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Washington (Dec. 19)
(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
Representative Florence Kahn was appointed a member of the House Committee on Military Affairs, to take the place of Congressman Frothingham of Massachusetts, who died last summer. Mrs. Kahn is the recipient today of many telegrams of congratulations on her appointment, as the Military Affairs Committee is one of the most important of the House Committees.
The late Julius Kahn, husband of Mrs. Kahn, was chairman of the Military Affairs Committee for a number of years, including the war period. The appointment of Mrs. Kahn to the committee was made yesterday, December 18, the fourth anniversary of her husband's death.

subset: commoncrawl


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Looking for a way to remove some of the fat from your stews, gravies, soups, etc.? You skim the surface with this little brush and it supposedly removes the oil. It is also dishwasher safe.
At thekitchenstore.com
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My wife and I moved into her parents' home after they passed and we had retired, and in a kitchen drawer we found an fat mop in its original black and white cardboard box, dated 1978, and apparently never used. My wife has a real aversion to fat and has tried all kinds of kitchen implements for removing same. She swears by the fat mop, but then, she doesn't start out with a lot of fatty stuff in the pot to begin with.
I agree with both of the last two posters. If you have time and the right kind of broth, it's better to use a gravy seperator or even refrigerate your dish and scrape the fat off, b/c the fat mop is a pain to clean and doesn't do as complete a job as a gravy separator. But there are some dishes that you can't put in a gravy separator and on those, this works pretty well. It is a pain to clean. I soak mine in a bowl of hot soapy water, then put it in the dishwasher and may still end up soaking it in more hot soapy water. You also have to be careful not to accidently pull the strands out of the wire loop that holds them. I got mine from a New Orleans cooking school (they should know - think rouxs!). The instructor said they're manufactured from the same stuff used to skim oil from oil spills in the ocean.
I have had a fat mop for YEARS AND LOVE IT.
i wash in dishwasher will retain a small residue of oil but it allows you to EASILY MOP OFF THE TOP LAYER OF OIL WITHOUT having to dump in conntainers etc or with out having to cool soup down.
I am ready after about 10 yrs to get a new one.
I purchased one of these and hated it. While it does take up some of the fat off the top it's really hard to clean and remains somewhat greasy and it doesn't do a great job of skimming either if you have much fat to skim. For stocks I use a glass fat separator and it's fantastic. If you had only a small amount of fat to skim this might work - but the cleaning issue makes me give it a thumbs down.
I wonder if this really works and only soaks up the fat? It would be fantastic if it did, but I'm not sure how the mop itself could differentiate the liquids? I'll give it a go though!


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Bryncrwn Cottage is a spacious conversion of a traditional Welsh farmhouse set in the hillside. Every room of this superior dwelling boasts uninterrupted views of Aberystwyth (5 miles away) and the Cambrian Hills. The detached holiday cottage has been tastefully renovated and decorated to a very high standard. The en-suite master bedroom has access onto the patio area. The cottage is ideally situated in a secluded position on a working sheep farm, only 3 miles from the coast and a short drive into the rural town of Aberystwyth. Perfectly located for discovering the beauties of both North and South Wales. Shops and pub 3 miles.
Spacious open-plan living/dining room with farmhouse-style kitchen area, wood burner and slate floor. Double bedroom with 5ft bed, door to patio and en-suite wet room with toilet. First floor: Twin bedroom. Bathroom with roll-top bath, shower attachment and toilet.


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Style: 39826003 Colour:
Retro-inspired corduroy pinafore dress.
runs big and short
I normally wear size 8 or 10 but decided to go with a 6 because I wanted more of a fitted look. This jumper runs a bit large so I suggest to go down at least a size. I'm 5'2 and this is a mini dress on me, which I like. I love the way it fits on me (makes me look more thin). However, for anyone over 5'4 I don't recommend it. I bought the black one in store and bought the green and ginger online because I loved it so much.
very cute, a little short
As other reviewers have said, this piece is a little short, but I bought a size 2 rather than my normal size 0 and found that it was still definitely wearable at its length. Very cute with a black turtleneck underneath! Would recommend going a size up if you're uncomfortable with shorter dresses .
More of a Shirt...
I had read other reviews that said this was short, but I figured I could just wear leggings under it and be fine. Not at all the case. This is actually shorter than a lot of the tunics I've purchased from FP, most of which I can wear as a dress. The material and color are great, but sadly this one goes back.
Different colors are different lengths
I ordered the rust orange and also the forest green in a size larger than I normally wear because I figured they would be short. I am on the taller side but have a shorter torso. The forest is a normal mini dress length on me, but the rust is at least 2 inches shorter & just cover my bum... I think the rust color is cut as a petite. They are both very cute on & soft, so I am just going to sew a thick prettypatterned ribbon on the bottom of the rust so I can wear it. If you are 5'4 or over, I don't recommend the rust color, unless you can sew & don't mind adding something extra to it for length.
super cute
Really great and easy piece to just throw on. Love the green color, so pretty. Doesn't really highlight an hourglass shape but I need to get out of that complex of always having a tight fit. So this piece is outside my wardrobe repertoire. I ordered a 4 since I paid attention to the other warnings saying it was super short. I'm 5,2 and the 4 fell in a good spot on me. Probably could take a size 2....but I'm gona keep the 4 cuz I want to be comfortable and don't want to risk the smaller size riding up on me
Adorable and easy to style
I'm so in love with this dress. It's simple and easy to style with a t shirt or a blouse. The fact that it has pockets however is what really won me over. It is super short, but I don't find it too big a problem. I will probably wear it with tights anyways. I would recommend sizing up if you feel it will be to short for you so it doesn't stick to your body and ride up. This dress probably fits petite women best , but honestly the material is so comfortable and flattering on your body it makes you look slim !
cute but short!
I really wanted to love this! The idea of it is very cute, but boy is it short. If I lift my arms even a little bit most of my butt is out. I wanted to love this, but it just wouldn't work for me to walk around and do stuff in. Great concept, but sadly going back because of length.


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Director: Various
Language: English
Who better to play an ego-driven, revenge-seeking Washington congressman than Kevin Spacey? And who better to launch a dark, cynical look inside the halls of power than director David Fincher? While the celebrity-director launch of a TV series is common now, Fincher handled postproduction for the entire series, maintaining his distinctive color tone and pace throughout. Best of all is Kate Mara as a blogger who forms a parasitic relationship with the congressman.


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MEDINA, Ohio (AP) -- A relative of a 10-year-old girl who survived a shooting by her father that killed her sister and mother says the girl is showing signs of improvement but remains in critical condition in a Cleveland hospital.
The girl's aunt, Michelle Jindra, tells WEWS-TV (http://bit.ly/JbIRsJ ) that Kayla Allen is responding to simple commands.
Police say Kevin Allen shot and killed Katherina Allen and their 10-year-old daughter, Kerri Allen, and wounded Kayla Allen in a crowded Cracker Barrel restaurant in suburban Brooklyn last week. He was then shot and killed by police.
Media outlets report that roughly 300 people attended a memorial service Thursday for the victims at a church in Medina.
One teacher at the service says Kerri Allen gave up recesses to help other kids in special needs classes.
Information from: WEWS-TV, http://www.newsnet5.com


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AppliedMicro's energy conscious processors continue drive toward low-power processing
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SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Dec. 7, 2009 -- Applied Micro Circuits Corporation, or AppliedMicro, a global leader in energy conscious computing and communications solutions, has announced energy efficient versions of the company's families of 405 and 460 embedded processors that consume up to 40 percent less power for a variety of embedded applications. The company's Power Architecture 405EX, 405EXr, 460EX, 460EXr and 460GT processors have been optimized for low-power consumption.
"Emerging data service models and exploding use of video-based applications place increasing performance demands on embedded systems, yet energy consumption is a growing concern for both systems designers and end-users as electricity costs increase and energy suppliers struggle to keep up with growing demand," said Rob Fanfelle, AppliedMicro's vice president of Strategic Marketing. "AppliedMicro's low-power Power Architecture 405 and 460 processors represent the company's focus to bring game-changing energy efficiency to embedded systems without sacrificing performance. The new versions of these processors offer identical functionality and performance with the added advantage of low power consumption to enable system designers to reduce their energy consumption and meet environmentally-conscious goals."
The new low-power processor family members offer up to 40 percent lower worst case power consumption and an improvement of about 20 percent in typical power consumption. For example, the Power Architecture 405EXr, which finds application in wireless LAN access points as well as NAS storage systems and media gateways, now offers a maximum worst case active power consumption of just over 2 watts, a reduction of almost 1.5 watts, or 40 percent.
All current AppliedMicro customers using 405EX/EXr and 460EX/EXr/GT products will be migrated to the new low-power variants. Moving forward, all new customers for these products will use the low-power version.
"End users and OEMs alike are seeing a strong market shift to systems that are increasingly energy efficient. and we have provided our customers with a solution that does not compromise performance for energy savings," said their Vice President of AppliedMicro's Consumer and Small/Medium Business division.
AppliedMicro's Power Architecture 405EX and 405EXr processors are designed into 802.11 wireless access points, WiMAX base stations and general networking and embedded systems. The 405EX offers core frequencies up to 600MHz along with a multitude of industry-standard interfaces including DDR2 SDRAM, two gigabit Ethernet, and two PCI-Express interfaces.
The Power Architecture 460EX/EXr/GT processors are designed for enterprise and carrier-class switching and routing equipment, multi-function printers and industrial applications. The 460-based devices offer speeds up to 1.2 GHz, a 256KB L2 cache, and an integrated floating-point unit. The 460EX/GT offers up to four gigabit Ethernet interfaces, two PCI-Express interfaces, legacy PCI support, two USB 2.0 interfaces, a SATA controller, hardware-RAID acceleration and Kasumi encryption/decryption. Both the 405EX/EXr and the 460 devices have a hardware-based crypto-engine for data security acceleration.
The low-power versions of AppliedMicro's Power Architecture 405EX, 405EXr, 460EX, 460EXr, and 460GT products are now available in production quantities. The data sheets for these new lower power variants are currently available on AppliedMicro's website. Please contact your sales representative for more information.


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Cascade Microtech announces a series of 200 mm semiautomatic and manual Summit Probe Stations. The Summit B series is an upgrade to Cascade's Summit 11000 and 12000 series. All Summit B stations are designed to be upgraded in the field. All Summit B series also incorporate high-force probing as standard, accommodating probe card loads up to 20 kg (45 lbs). The Summit B integrates Cascade Microtech's frost-free thermal hoses which eliminate external frost build-up on 65°C to 200°C chiller systems. The Summit B series includes features designed to make probing and wafer test quicker: a platen lift system provides increased system rigidity, easy user adjustments (compensation for varying positioner or test-head weight), and improved 'fluid feel' when contacting precision probes to the test wafer; systems with Cascade's MicroChambe(r) technology now feature larger, easy-to-use wafer access door; stations without a MicroChamber now include a new safety enclosure, with easy wafer loading access.
www.cascademicrotech.com; (503) 601-1181


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There Are 800 Hours of Justin Bieber Saying N*gger
Yesterday saw the release of another Justin Bieber video where he sits in front of a camera repeatedly saying the word nigger while not a goddamn person stops him. In one case, it sounds a hell of a lot like his own mom is egging him on which makes sense coming from a woman who couldn't believe God would send a Jew to manage her little Messiah's career. Except we're not even done yet because, according to Page Six, there's basically an entire movie of Lil Joffrey saying whatever big boy words pop into his head:
But a source tells us that further footage "explicitly shows this was more than just one regrettable joke."
The source added Bieber is shown making cracks about "black people liking watermelon" and asking a friend whether "his parents are as black as [rapper] Akon."
In the meantime, TMZ reportedly said they had the footage, but never released it because Justin was so young and impressionable which flies in the face of why TMZ even exists, so naturally Gawker found out they've been using the footage to blackmail Justin for years:
"TMZ has been sitting on this video for 3+ years," one source, who worked with TMZ at the time the video came into the publication's hands, told us, "and have been using it as essentially ransom so that Bieber and his team would cooperate with them and give them scoops. It was very close to being released initially, but his team was able to convince them not to by giving them access and compliance." A TMZ spokesperson denied that the company agreed to suppress the tape in exchange for access, calling the allegation "absolutely not true."
But we're told that the day after the site reached an agreement with Bieber's team, Bieber appeared in a TMZ Live in the Studio bit. Bieber, though not as big as he is now, was an incongruous guest for a show that tended to feature low-level reality stars. The then-16-year-old explained away his appearance saying he decided to stop by after running into "my boy Harvey" at a sushi restaurant nearby.
But weepeth not for #BBare for he walks truthfully in the light of the Lord and adorns himself with jewels like that of a bride giving a priest a robe of righteousness to bury babies in Ireland:
Phew. The kid's reading scripture. Thank God. For a second there, I thought he was going to post some bullshit that entirely excuses every single one of his actions as long as he apologizes to an imaginary friend. Could you imagine how big of a shithead that would make him? We'd all be dead within the hour.
Photos: Instagram / Getty


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Pineapple Sarong Wrap by Dora Ohrenstein
Welcome! You are browsing as a guestWould you like to see 29 projects made from this pattern and much more? create a free account What am I missing?
© Crochet Today!, 2011
© Crochet Today!, 2011
Pineapple Sarong Wrap
A pretty pineapple pattern decorates this lacy shawl that you can also wear as a sarong.
Hips 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)"/91.5 (101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142) cm
Length 16"/40.5cm
NOTE: The written directions are correct, but the chart was not quite right. Click on the errata link to get a corrected chart.


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01.Sep.2009 My 'Adventure Time' fan art comic strip
Ever since I saw the "Share Your Fan Art" button in the margin of the "Adventure Time" tumbleblog, I began plotting a super short comic strip to submit. I opted for a slightly crazed, Hulkin' out Finn… and here it is!
Remember to check out "Adventure Time," coming soon to Cartoon Network, and keep your web dial tuned to www.EnemyOfPeanuts.com!


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Cute Alert: Tiny Horse Runs Like the Wind
Don't make the mistake of calling this little guy a pony. And definitely don't call him slow. (As the announcer says, his ancestors helped build the ancient Pyramids, after all!) In this clip, at some horse show, the tiny horse is having the time of his life eluding anyone who thinks they can catch him. When you're that cute, you can get away with anything.


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The YES Network's Meredith Marakovits was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
She was just about to interview New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann after his walk-off homer lifted the Bronx Bombers over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday when Martin Prado decided to crash the party:
Brett Gardner also doused McCann with Gatorade before the hero of Sunday's game got hit with the water that soaked Marakovits.
This is what Marakovits had to say about it:
That second Gatorade cooler gets me every time…. #yankees #win #soaked #again
— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) August 24, 2014
One of the newest Yankees, Prado is no stranger to the cooler himself after becoming a victim of Brett Gardner's following his game-winning single on Friday night:
Thankfully, Marakovits was able to avoid the first dousing and most of the second on Friday, although she didn't seem to learn enough to avoid it on Sunday.
The YES reporter must not have been happy about being blasted with the ice-cold water, but she managed to maintain her composure and finish the interview with McCann.
Seeing your team play in the SuperBowl is priceless. Watching the SuperBowl live in the stands for $1 per week is beyond priceless. Find out how at TicketScore.com, the future of Championship Tickets. Tags: Baseball, Brett Gardner, Brian McCann, Chicago White Sox, martin prado, Meredith Marakovits, MLB, New York, New York Yankees


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On Tue, May 24, 2005 at 06:30:17PM -0400, Samantha wrote: > On Mon, 2005-05-23 at 21:47 -0400, Christine Spang wrote: > > > Just thought I'd note: you need the password to edit pages; if you don't > > have it, then feel free to ask for someone to /msg it to you over IRC > > (Meike or Erinn or anyone else feel free to chime in if there's any > > other means you'd like people to receive the password through). Don't be > > afraid to ask! > This is a neat idea. However, I am a bit confused about the password > requirement. I am not sure if this was mentioned on irc already (if so I > apologise)...why is there a password to edit a wiki? Doesn't that defeat > the purpose of a wiki? Because the Internet is a democratizing institution, which means that any idiot with $20/mo. to spend on a connection can be a fuckwit and wikispam you for fun and profit. Welcome to the least common denominator -- you are here. -- Steve Langasek postmodern programmer
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|Keating! The Musical
|Written by Jan Chandler
|Friday, 13 April 2007 13:11
Keating! The Musical, now showing as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, is the creation of composer, performer and director Casey Bennetto. In a previous incarnation it wowed audiences at the 2005 Comedy Festival where Bennetto won The Age Critics' Award, the Golden Gibbo and The Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show. Last year's Fringe Festival culminated with a 'final' performance of Keating! in which Bennetto played each of Keating's political comrades/adversaries. At the end of the performance, to loud applause, Bennetto ceremoniously broke the eyebrowed glasses he'd worn as Howard, saying he wouldn't need them any more!
But this was not to be the end, Keating! would not lie down. Under the umbrella of Sydney's Company B and the direction of Neil Armfield the performance took on another life. Expanded and reworked with input from the likes of the irrepressible John Clark it toured successfully through 2006 and is making a triumphant return to Melbourne. It is especially pleasing to note that, despite the more professional staging, lighting, costuming and sound, the show has lost none of its satiric edge. It is still as irreverent and raunchy as before, despite being performed within the elegant surrounds of the Comedy Theatre.
The wonderful Mike McLeish as Keating struts the stage as impressively as before, his voice equally at home with moody ballads, full on rock and classy jazz, not to mention reggae and blues. For the first time, the musical director, Bennetto, is watching from the audience as Eddie Perfect gives us his John Hewson and Alexander Downer, and Terry Serio re-creates Bob Hawke and John Howard. The musicians are an integral part of the whole adding not only their obvious musical skills, hamming it up beautifully when appropriate, but also their comic abilities. Keyboardist Enio Pozzebon is a wonderful Gareth Evans (my heart's in peril Cheryl) and Eden Ottignon (electric and acoustic bass) makes a fetching Cheryl Kernou (heavens Mr Evans). To top it all off, or should I say at the bottom of it all, the writing is witty and observant, cleverly capturing key elements that are the Paul Keating we remember - clocks, bananas, piggeries and armani suits.
Whilst it is no doubt an added delight to remember the actual events being commented on this doesn't mean that the performance lacks relevance or interest for those who maybe weren't around at the time. One young usher commented that she didn't know who the characters were and that at the beginning she thought the audience would be bored. She was surprised when, to quote her, things just got better and better. By the end she was cheering along with the rest of the audience.
Keating! has something for everyone. There is scathing political satire in the lyrics and the characterisation. There is wonderful music which runs the full gamut of musical genres from rock and reggae to jazz and blues, with a taste of everything in between. There are impressive performances from musicians and vocalists. There are great lighting effects (designed by Damien Cooper) and sound (Steve Francis). And there is a wonderful story, full of passion and hope, disappointment and loss, love and rejection, and more than a touch of melodrama. Most importantly of all, under the inspired direction of Neil Armfield, each of these elements is beautifully integrated so as to create a satisfying whole that had the audience cheering the heroes, booing the villains, and rising to their feet with a standing ovation at the end.
Keating! is an absolute delight, a totally satisfying theatrical experience, one of a kind and not to be missed.
Company B presents
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Queen Mary 2 (QM2) - Eastern Caribbean: Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Cruise Review by lusybuff
Overall Member Rating
Queen Mary 2 (QM2) - Eastern Caribbean
Destination: Eastern Caribbean
Embarkation: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
The ship, I am glad to say, is finally coming into its own. We embarked from Ft. Lauderdale on February 5, 2005, and were kindly directed to the area where the Grille passengers were to wait. There was an initial delay as the computers weren't More functioning. I would suggest that the computers be tested earlier in the day to avoid this in the future. Everything went fairly smoothly after that. The desk crew that took our info was exceptionally friendly and very helpful. We boarded the ship and entered the now familiar lobby, and I must say it felt as though we had never left. We expected to see friends that were on the last voyage to pop put from behind the corner, but it never happened.
We were greeted, but not taken to our cabin, which is a courtesy on other ships. So off we went with a basic idea of where we were going. Cabin 10081 is very nice and it had a comfortable green sofa and chair, walk in closet, full tub and balcony. The bed was not at all comfortable, it was like sleeping a slap of stone. Needless to say it was a very interrupted sleep as it was very uncomfortable. The tub is long, but very narrow. I am not fat, no matter what the furniture supplier for Cunard claimed about "obese Americans," but it was very narrow for my legs and it was not enjoyable to lay back in the tub so we opted mostly for showers. Ana Lisa, our cabin attendant, was quite friendly and very efficient. She's quite good at her job.
Dinner was very pleasant. We had several servers -- Aneke from South Africa, Dennis from Hungary and Pillai from India. They were true professionals and had sparkling personalities. The same goes for Nicolai, the assistant maitre d' -- he was wonderful. No reasonable request was refused. It was a pleasure to talk to them and get to know them. I can see them all rising within the company. Another surprise was Stephen, who was our server in Todd English on the maiden voyage. He now works in the Grille restaurant and he is still, "The best Irish waiter on the ship." The menu choices, for the most part, were good and the serving portions were large, a big step up from the maiden voyage where the choices were few and the portions small. I will say I was surprised that most of the same menu options were offered on Britannia Restaurant. You would think that with the extra cost of traveling Grille, that the menu would be different. I am glad to see that Cunard has gone a long way from offering ragout of beef and cabin biscuits to "3rd Class," but the main point is that people are paying extra for the cabin, not for the food. I think most people would elect to travel Britannia if they knew the food was, for the most part, the same. There is really no need for TWO Grille restaurants. Jim noted that it almost seems if Cunard is saying there is 1st Class and SUPER 1st Class. Why not knock out part of the wall and join the restaurants. I am sure it would also help with the flow of things. The restaurants, except for the color scheme, are identical. I guess the big "advantage" of traveling "Queens Grille" is that you have the painfully small private deck with hot tub. Does it really matter since people need to pass through it anyway to gain the upper deck?
The entertainment was so-so. Nothing really to write home about. The island ports of St Kitts, St. Thomas and St. Maarten were nice. The most fun we had was taking the lifeboat to and from the islands. It really is a nice joy ride, especially if you are seated on the top deck.
Looking at the layout, I hope they note what is wrong on the QM2 and apply a new design to the Queen Victoria. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the placement of rooms. For example, the largest suites are at the extreme bow and the extreme stern were motion is most noticeable. Why would you want one of the suites located in stern when anyone on deck could look directly into your suite? You most always have your curtains drawn. Why is the "Queen's Lounge," which is very elegant, located in an out of the way spot -- aft of the Britannia Restaurant? The G32 'disco' is actually very tasteful, but it is buried behind the "Queen's Lounge." They are two very different rooms for two very different types of people. Why are they side by side in a far off location? The hallways themselves seem to lead nowhere. One of the 4 main staircases leads all the way down, but you cannot enter any hallways on 2 or 3 deck. (This is the stairway with green carpeting.) What is the point? Even the Lobby decks have a bizarre layout as the hallways do not flow into rooms but into other hallways. I am not sure who designed the layout, perhaps Stephen Payne -- though I am not sure, but it is not passenger friendly. I would suggest Cunard look at the layouts from other ships, past and present, and ask the designer to see what will work and what will not. It's pretty obvious it was not done with this particular ship.
I am glad to hear there will be renovations to the King's Court and the Winter Garden. The Winter Garden is garish and could be pleasant if they took away some of the tacky displays, perhaps add some trellis and ivy as the Cunard ships of old used to have. The leopard spotted carpeting is also tacky as are the portraits of fruit that hang in the stairwell. I get the impression that several different people designed the interiors as it goes from sublime to subpar just from one corridor to the next. The King's Court is small and there are never enough seats. I think eliminating the specialty restaurants that they become at night might be a good idea. There is really no need for The Carvery at all. I never saw it filled to capacity and I think for what people pay to travel on the QM2, it is outrageous to ask people to pay to eat there. I can see the extra charge for Todd English, but The Carvery?
All in all, we had a good time, as the ship was what it should have been on the maiden voyage and we owe a big thank you to Princess for taking charge. We would definitely sail on the QM2 again, and am hoping that when the Queen Victoria is ready, all the mistakes that the company made with the QM2 are a thing of the past. Less
Published 05/24/05
Cabin review: 10081
Read Cruise Critic's Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Review >>
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Look who was spotted at the Mumbai airport on Thursday evening! It is Shahrukh Khan's son, Aryan. At the the age of 16, he is definitely growing up into becoming a handsome looking man. Aryan, who is presently studying in London was accompanied by his father and sister Suhana.
Check out the exclusive pics:


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Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons would like President Barack Obama to use his "loud voice" when addressing issues that affect the black community.
In speaking about the President's need to address issues specifically in the African American community, Simmons admits that the President needs to speak for not "just to black America, but to all America."
Simmons says he is worried about issues specifically affecting the black community such as mass incarceration, poor education standards, and high levels of poverty.
In his open letter to President Obama, the hip hop mogul says he is "deeply concerned about the future of urban America, specifically the plight of people of color."
In his open letter to the President, Simmons outlines the following areas where he believes the President could make a difference:
1. End the "War on Drugs." For the past forty years, we have unsuccessfully waged a war against our own people, creating a "baby to prison" pipeline that has annihilated the working population of young black and brown men. Through the use of archaic and unjust laws, we have been able to warehouse millions of prisoners, many of whom were first-time, non-violent offenders. The solution to our drug problem is not imprisoning more people, it is rehabilitation, fair laws and drug courts.
2. Continue the viscous assault on the eradication of poverty. Levels of poverty have hit an all-time high during this recession, however we have solutions that can bring these numbers down. We should continue to innovate programs for the most vulnerable, including job-training (technical skills), fatherhood classes, healthcare prevention, teen-pregnancy prevention, after-school activities (including arts and sports) and more access to healthier foods.
3. Build the best and affordable education system in the world. Your understanding of education as a path out of poverty has resonated with millions of families in this country. Your protection of Pell grants, promotion of community colleges and the "race to the top" initiative have been some of your greatest accomplishments in your first term. The 2020 goal of America having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world is attainable and we should keep fighting to reach it.
Simmons sent the letter to President Obama over fears that destitution has become the "status-quo" and not the exception. Simmons says a national emergency would be called if the same problems started to exist in white neighborhoods.
Do you agree with Russell Simmons' open letter to President Obama


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Charging for Online Content Gets CloserJon Fine
Expect the ecosystem of the Web to start feeling a little different once the summer slips away. Publishers, stung by an economic downturn and ongoing disappointment with online ad revenues, will begin charging for at least some of their Web content. Eager to help make this happen are two proposed e-commerce systems, Journalism Online and ViewPass, which are developing technologies to enable publishers to sell their wares. Gordon Crovitz, a co-founder of Journalism Online, says "we expect a very large number of news sites will have some elements of paid content beginning in the fall." Crovitz, a former Wall Street Journal publisher, says that a number of companies have already signed on with his service. He won't identify them, but one executive familiar with the situation says some may be announced by early July.
A key point, one that is often overlooked when people react to the prospect of such changes, is that hardly anyone has serious plans to wall off the entirety of their free sites. The preferred terms du jour describe "premium" offerings, or even, forgive them, "freemium," given the blend of free and paid. The dream dancing through some executives' heads involves a hybrid model: maintaining much or all existing free traffic while charging some subscribers fees for certain offerings, then using data from these users' browsing habits to help sell ultra-targeted—and thus higher-priced—advertising.
Too good to be true? Quite possibly. But given the state of things in certain precincts of the media world, there isn't much choice but to try.
Still, support for changing the free content model now comes from some surprising quarters. In late May, NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker said that the free Web video site Hulu, which his company partly owns, would consider selling some form of subscriptions. In mid-June, I interviewed IAC (IACI) CEO Barry Diller onstage at a conference and came away surprised by the vehemence with which he favored charging users. "People will pay for content. They always have," he said. "I absolutely believe the Internet is passing from its free phase into a paid system."
Not that there is anything resembling consensus on the way forward. It is not hard to find executives dubious virtually any plan to sell content online will succeed. (It is hard finding publishers willing to discuss these issues on the record, since talks are ongoing and many plans are far from firm.) Others, though, are banking on it. Given the stressed state of their industry, newspaper publishers are at the forefront of current discussions. Among those proposing to charge users for some content are top executives at MediaNews Group and Lee Enterprises (LEE) CEO Mary Junck. MediaNews, which operates 54 newspapers including The Denver Post, expects to launch revamped sites that include pay-only areas before the end of this year. (A spokesman for Lee, which owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and 48 other U.S. dailies, said there were no current plans to make its online audience pay.)
Meanwhile, Journalism Online and ViewPass are busy building their products. ViewPass is the brainchild of former newspaper executive and Silicon Valley CEO Alan Mutter and serial entrepreneur Ridgely Evers. When completed, ViewPass will work on multiple sites. Aside from giving publishers the ability to charge for certain offerings, it will capture data about users' online behavior to enable participating sites to sell much more targeted and tailored ads. (Journalism Online shares some of these capabilities.) The Associated Press is mulling backing some of ViewPass' developmental work, individuals close to the companies confirm, though neither ViewPass nor the AP will discuss it.
Will any of these moonshots actually work? For the ViewPass strategy to work, publishers would have to agree on a platform, consumers would have to use it, and then, most importantly, companies would have to buy ads. This is a complicated approach for an online environment that has typically rewarded simplicity. But we're well past the point where simple solutions would get the job done.


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Permits require work to meet the City of Titusville's Adopted Standard Codes.
Permit procedures ensure that a project is in compliance with City Zoning Regulations, City Engineering requirements, and that it meets the Water and Sewer Department regulations.
If you are not sure when a permit is required, call the Building Department before starting your project. Failure to do so may result in a delay of your project as well as additional costs.
Why do you need permits?
A permitting system protects the following:
Permits require work that meets the City of Titusville's Adopted Standard Codes
Permits - Required Permits
Permits are required whenever an owner, agent, or contractor proposes the following to the occupancy of a structure:
Other permits that may be required:
Permits are also required when you are going to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, or move the following:
The required permits may include building, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits can only be issued to licensed contractors.
In certain cases, other permits may also be needed:
State Building Permit Surcharge
The Florida Legislature passed House Bill 663 in the 2010 legislative session. This bill included changes to the state building permit surcharge provided for in Florida Statute Chapters 468 and 553. The current surcharge of $0.01 per square foot of new construction or alteration to existing construction under roof will be replaced with a new surcharge to be assessed on all building permits issued.
The following are key points of the changes:
Permits - Applying for Permits
Permits are issued in the name of the applicant. For that reason, it is recommended that the contractor, rather than the property owner or lessee, apply for the permit. This will insure that the contractor is held responsible for correcting any code violations. Commercial projects must be permitted by a Florida licensed contractor, registered to do business in the City of Titusville.
Small Jobs:
Small jobs, such as residential additions, remodels, and re-roofs can be permitted by the contractor or the homeowner (owner-occupied structure).
When applying for a permit, the following is required:
Large Jobs:
When applying for a permit, the following is required:


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ENGLEWOOD, N.J. (AP) — The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey will hold a solidarity rally for Israel.
The rally will take place Thursday night at the Bergen Pac in Englewood.
Speakers will include religious and political leaders.
The rally comes as Israeli forces and Hamas militants fight over the Gaza Strip.
Bags will be checked at the door and people are encouraged to leave them at home.


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Author | exchange4media News Service | Monday, Aug 05,2013 9:27 AM
HS Paul of Daily Excelsior-Jammu has been elected President of the Delhi Advertising Club, while Kailash Arora of Tarun Bharat, Goa & Dainik Janambhumi, Jorhat has been elected Hony. Secretary. The AGM and elections were held on August 2, 2013. VK Chopra conducted the elections as Election Officer.
Other members elected are:
Two Vice Presidents - Vijay Chopra of Interads Advertising and Subhash C Vatsain of The Hitavada –Nagpur
Two Joint Secretaries - Jatinder Pal Singh of Charhdikala and Annoop Joshii of SAIL
Hony. Treasurer - KK Malhotra of K's Advertising
Eight Executive Committee Members are: Arun Kumar Soni of MPG, CS Paul of Kashmir Images, Naresh Sachdeva of Niyati Communication, Rohit Inder Singh of BHEL, T Sriram Gopal of Alaknanda Advertising, Vivek Srivastava of Innocean Worldwide, SK Babbar of LNJ Bhilwara Corp, and Surinder Rana of Shakti Bhog Food.
Immediately after the election was over, DAC President HS Paul and board members co-opted four members – Tarun Nigam of Starcom, Mukesh Gupta of Graphisads, Naresh Khetrapal of Span Communication, and Gaurav Chopra of Bombay Samachar – as Executive Committee Members.
The Board also nominated and requested VK Chopra to be the Chief Patron of the Club, which he accepted.
Programming HeadRadio Mango


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work: 2197 3390 9538 9540 9540b c0801
John Hejduk
The Architect can create illusion, which can be fabricated. --John Hejduk
Since Hejduk is called an architect of illusion, he can in a sense be described as an architect of the visionary and the fanciful. This description is substantiated by the fact that since 1953 not one of his plan projects has been realized. Mention of architectures of the visionary immediately brings to mind a group of great men- including Étienne-Louis Boullée and Claude-Nicolas Ledoux-who have captivated people from the classicists of the eiqhteenth century to the flag bearers of the brilliant and glorious art movements of our century. But there is something decidedly different in Hejduk that sets him apart from these men. In Hejduk one cannot see the arbitrary and overwhelming consumption of passionately abandoned and hedonistic architectural forms that are found in he works of Ledoux and Joseph-Jacques Ramee. In these men the forms were born of a way of life. Hejduk's forms are more subtle, refined, and controlled. They are more the results of continuous ascetic dedication than of daring flights of the imagination. In the vast cities and buildings drawn by Boullée and Ledoux, humanity is shown as stringently controlled by the overwhelming and crushing obsession with size. It is size, indeed, that symbolizes the works of these men. Though he works on residential design, from the moment he begins an idea, Hejduk adheres consistently to a main theme. Human beings are seen nowhere in his sketches, which give no indication that they depict places where people might dwell. Boullée and Ledoux create architectural forms that ought to be devoted to the service of society under a new system; they develop a monumentalism of death and nihilism. Hejduk, on the other hand, devotes himself to formal theories that have distance and are abstract. His works are imbued with a lyricism of life. This lyricism, which proves that he is an architect, is the basic meaning of what he calls the poetics of architecture. His illusion is a three-dimensional expression of poetics, and it is in this sense that Hejduk can be called an architect of illusion.
--summary of "Special Feature: John Hejduk" in a+u Architecture and Urbanism (1975.05).
According to Adam, the architectural schools of the Renaissance, Mannerist and Baroque periods had fossilised the rules and standards implicit in the masterpieces of classical Greece and Rome. These theorists, by codifying the artistic laws of the ancients, had removed the sense of freedom and liberty of expression which, in Adam's view, were essential to the creative process. In turn, this rigidity had resulted in the perpetuation of designs which were at once uninspired and monotonously heavy. "The great masters of antiquity," he wrote, "were not so rigidly scrupulous, they varied the proportions as the general spirit of their composition required, clearly perceiving that, however necessary these rules may be to form the taste and to arrest the licentiousness of the scholar, they often cramp the genius, and circumscribe the ideas of the master."
--Robert Oresko
Haus der Kunst as a further development of the Hejduk House 10: Museum. This then opens the way to further "Hejduking" the design development of Haus der Kunst.
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Canon Pixma IP6220D
Buy Now...
It is a small and smart enclosure at 42x26x15 the latter increases by another 15cm when paper is stored in the 'sit up and beg' vertical position at the rear of the unit.
This is a four ink - two cartridge - solution and that makes the printing quality and speed even more unusual.
There are four printing modes, best, normal, fast and custom, the latter produces a faster - albeit greyer - draft mode, however as the adjustment between speed and quality is then tweaked fully to the speed size the custom mode can produce just about whatever you require.
Doing the standard 200 word document test produced 10 PPM in fast mode however in custom fast this is increased to 12PPM, neither mode was that fast and certainly bore no relation to the claimed speed and in case the output was grey and only really suitable for checking.
The more normal layout with 1500 words spread over four pages produced 6.5PPM in the custom fast mode, not really that good and of course the output was grey not black.
So far apart from the styling not a lot to recommend this unit however ask it to print photos and this Jekyll and Hide unit really shines. I am not that concerned with speed of printing in photo mode - only quality - well this unit is rapid. Printing an A4 borderless sheet in either a single image or four close to 15x10cm images using the supplied Canon Easy Photo Print software took between 140 and 145seconds to print a page. Not just print it but have wonderful depth and sharpness, a lot better than a number of four and six cartridge offerings I have reviewed.
By coincidence I am reviewing an excellent Canon Ixus pocket camera and some of the images came from this, however, a lot of my test images are stored to use with each printer and the results also retained with the printer used written on the rear.
This unit certainly came in high up the list against far higher specification units that also cost a lot more. With plain paper I use a range of weights of paper mixed, a good way of finding any weakness and likelihood of paper jam. With Photo Paper I tend also to print with HP, Epson and Canon offerings mixed just to check that the output is just as good, clear and sharp, even though manufacturers would like you only to use their inks and paper - it is where they make profits - I would certainly recommend to use the manufacturers own ink but whichever brand of photo paper is on special will probably fulfil the needs.
The printer can print from most card types directly by opening a door on the left side of the unit to reveal the card slots. It also has a Pict Bridge USB slot to print direct from a range of cameras. Images can be displayed on a 5x4cm screen on the printer. This screen can be pulled forward by around 35degrees to help with difficult light. The inbuilt knowledge of the unit allows manipulation of images.
The software supplied is top notch, as stated Canon are the only manufacturer that allow printing of four very close to 15x10cm images borderless on a A4 sheet.
If you want to print photographs then this printer should certainly be on any - very -short list, I would suggest for text that it is only for occasional use, perhaps a laser for text, this for photos would be an ideal solution. Best price of £69.99 from link below. If this was only a photo printer I would certainly recommend the 5x5 award.
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The ancient Egyptians left us hieroglyphics that show how they lived, but these hieroglyphics tell a different story. All of our modern time travel devices have found their way into the past and the Egyptians seem to be taking it all in stride, except for the poor DeLorean.
Product Page ($15)


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Criminal Law
Criminal Law Questions? Ask a Criminal Lawyer.
Either expunging or sealing records in Illinois is very limited.
Based on my reading of the law, this offense would not be eligible for expungement or sealing. Here's an outline of who is eligible under the law.
1. Your record can be expunged of municipal ordinance, misdemeanor
and felony charges IF:
2. If you were sentenced to supervision for certain misdemeanors, AND
discharged, AND
supervision was discharged.3. If you were sentenced to probation for certain misdemeanors, AND
probation, AND
probation was discharged, and there are no charges pending
against you.4. If you were released without conviction following a sentence of
supervision for certain offenses - EXCEPT DUI and any sexual
offenses committed against a minor younger than 18 - AND it has
been two years since successful discharge and dismissal from
supervision.5. If you were convicted or found guilty AND EITHER
authorizes an expungement*, OR
attack, and the court "determines by clear and convincing
evidence that the defendant was factually innocent."


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UPDATE: I-94, Hwy. 65 crossing reopened after roadway repairs
Interstate 94 was fully reopened at 5:52 p.m. Monday at Roberts after a 100-foot plus stretch of pavement had been temporarily repaired by St. Croix County Highway Department crews and inspectors had pronounced the Hwy. 65 overpass safe for traffic.
Firefighters and investigators were at the scene until about 10 a.m., trying to determine what caused a semi- fuel tanker to strike a support on the north side of the overpass, overturn and burn, killing the driver.
In a DOT release, Lt. Jeff Lorentz of the State Patrol said the truck carrying 7,500 gallons of fuel was traveling eastbound about 5:25 a.m. when it left the roadway, crossed the median and struck the north side of the Hwy. 65 bridge pier. The rear of the trailer separated from the cab and an explosion occurred that destroyed the semi and killed the lone occupant.
In a subsequent press release, Lorentz said the truck was owned by Kane Transport Inc., Sauk Centre, Minn. He said the driver, from northwestern Wisconsin, had just departed the Twin Cities area and was en route to central Wisconsin with a load of fuel.
The Patrol was assisted by St. Croix County sheriff's deputies and firefighters from Roberts, Hudson, River Falls and New Richmond as well as Roberts police and the St. Croix County Highway Department.
Both east- and westbound I-94 were closed between Hammond and Exit 4 were closed early Monday as firefighters allowed much of the spilled fuel to burn off.
St. Croix County Highway Department workers, under the direction of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials, began emporary repairs late morning and it's hoped both westbound lanes will reopen later Monday afternoon.
Weight limits on Hwy. 65 will also be posted at 40 tons, according to Chris Ouellette, regional communications manager. The bridge is structurally sound and was not compromised, however it is being replaced as part of an already scheduled improvement plan that will construct a new interchange at the location beginning this summer, she said.
Randy Gunderson, patrol superintendent with the St. Croix County Highway Dept. said the truck's impact chipped concrete from a bridge piling but a state inspector and another from his department said its integrity wasn't affected.
The highway pavement was another story.
Extreme heat from prolonged burning "baked the oil out of the blacktop" for about sixty feet, Gunderson said. Because there are no hot mix plants in the area currently operating, St. Croix Highway workers are scraping away damaged overlay down to sound pavement, after which a contractor will use a milling machine to "taper" good pavement before and after the burned area so vehicles can move through the depression it highway speed.
Once warm weather arrives, the area will be repaved.
An environmental clean-up firm was also on-scene, removing earth contaminated by spilled fuel. Once they'd finished, highway crews were to haul in clean fill and black dirt to restore the damaged median, Gunderson said.
He was hopeful most of the work would be completed by nightfall, Monday.
Meanwhile, both east- and westbound traffic continued to be rerouted off of the interstate at milepost 10 exit ramp and then back down the entrance ramp.
About 4 p.m., an accident involving a single vehicle driven by a woman with a young child was reported on the westbound detour around the crash scene. Emergency crews were called to free them from their crashed vehicle. Further details were not available.


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October 20, 2010
YMCA YFS Earns $15,000 Sam's Club Grant
Gift is part of $1 million national charitable giving initiative to support national urban education and outreachYMCA Youth & Family Services, the social service department of the YMCA of San Diego County, has received a grant of $15,000 from Sam's Club to enhance programs designed to help teens prepare for and achieve higher education. The award is part of a $1 million gift to YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the resource office for the nation's 2,687 Ys, for placing first in the education category of the Sam's Club "Giving Made Simple" online campaign, conducted earlier this year.
The gift to Y-USA is supporting national urban education and outreach initiatives, including YMCA's Achievers, an academic achievement and college readiness program designed to help teens set and pursue high educational and career goals. At YMCA Youth & Family Services, the funding will be used to provide additional academic support to foster youth and homeless youth as they work to attain their high school degrees and move on to higher education.
"We are grateful that YMCA Youth & Family Services was selected to receive funding from the Giving Made Simple campaign and we want to thank Sam's Club and all of its members and associates who voted for the Y," said Kim Morgan, Executive Director. "This gift will help to support our ongoing efforts to bring the vital work we do with youth and teens to the forefront of our community."
Through YMCA's Achievers and other youth development initiatives such as Youth in Government and College Goal Sunday, Ys across the country provide youth with opportunities for academic enrichment, college access support, adult mentors and leadership skills. YMCA Youth & Family Services is one of 60 Ys selected to receive $15,000 grants from the Giving Made Simple campaign.
Giving Made Simple was designed to support educational programs aimed at empowering the nation's youth to ensure they succeed in the future, and small business and entrepreneurial programs that help business owners launch, sustain and grow their businesses. In April, Sam's Club members and associates were encouraged to log on to the company's web site, or use the social media sites Facebook and Twitter, to vote for one of eight participating non-profit organizations – four in the entrepreneurial category and four in the education category. Y- USA placed first in the education category. Sam's Club also accepted votes in its stores nationwide on one designated day.
"Giving Made Simple is an exciting addition to our charitable efforts and complements our core business strategy that puts our members first in everything we do at Sam's Club," said Brian Cornell, President and CEO. "We believe that by supporting organizations like the Y that are dedicated to preparing children and teens for life-long success – we are making an investment in the communities and people we serve."


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Valk/Sword Strap/empty/Black Tathlum
Turban/Pcc/Brutal/Merman's (Active minuet when need acc)
Aurum Cuirass/Homam/Rajas/Toreador's
Cuchulain's(Forager)/Vbelt(1/2 on drop ^^)/Homam/Homam
I swap cuch/forager based on my current hitrate and food. I have a pizza build and a meat build. Obviously forager in pizza and cuch in meat.
As far no assault earring, Active minuet > assault in uncapped acc situations. Merman > assault in capped acc situations. That being said, i don't see the need to shell out additional cash.
I'm up next for love torque, besides that, I'm pretty happy w/ my tp build.
As far as the sword strap is concerned, I have enough stp to keep my 6hit, at which point it becomes better than sword strap.
Drakesbane (neds work)
Valk/Sword/empty/Black Tathlum
Askar(Ohat)/Gorget/Brutal/Bushi(Minuet, active)
Ohat/askar are depending on my hitrate, same w/ bushi/minuet
Cuch is more of a dDex thing if I have enough for the dex to be worthwhile then go w/ it if its a mog w/ rly high agi then I opt for the forager.
I'm 2/3 on ares legs, need the 25.
I'd post a penta build, but honestly anywhere that I'm going to be using penta, I'l be on sam/war.


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Tonga - Four men linked to the fatal shooting of an Mpumalanga police constable appeared in the Tonga Magistrate's Court on Monday.
The matter was postponed to February 3 as the presiding magistrate was not in court.
Constable Sfiso Mtshweni, 27, who was once a member of the SA National Defence Force, was shot dead at his home in Langeloop, south of Malelane, on November 8, 2013.
Mpendulo Makamo, 21, Absalom Nkosi, 25, Soneni Mhlabane, 27, and Innocent Lucas Ngomane, 30, were arrested in connection with the crime. They have yet to plead.
They are expected to apply for bail when the case resumes next month.
Mtshweni's murder outraged local police leaders. At his funeral, they vented their anger at those who failed to protect the police.
"People have turned into animals. How can we kill each other like this? We know some community members knew about the plan to kill Mtshweni, but they kept quiet," Komatipoort Community Police Forum chairman Stanley Madonsela said at the time..
"We have seen a lot of outbursts by the public when people were killed by the police, and people forget that police are also human beings, not born in a tree. Where is the national media now?" he asked.


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New Delhi, Sep 7 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday predicted that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will go mad in the next few days trying to chase down his dream and ambition to become the country's Prime Minister.
"Narendra Modi will go mad in the next few days. He is mad in his desire to become the Prime Minister of our nation," said Yadav.
"His dream was fulfilled today at fake Red Fort," he added, while taking a jibe at Modi, who addressed a rally in Chhattisgarh earlier this evening with Red Fort replica in backdrop.
Yadav described Modi as a communal and fascist leader.
"He is maligning the Prime Minister's image. He is making fun of our democracy
He should take medicines or else he will go mad," he added.
Attempting to reach out to the ruling party at the Centre, the RJD chief said
Congress is an umbrella of secularism, and added that everyone has to come under it.
Modi earlier in the day continued his barrage of criticism against the UPA Government and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
The BJP's poll panel chief raked up the Telangana statehood issue, and alleged that the ruling Congress Party can turn gold into sand.
Modi alleged that there is bloodshed everywhere following the UPA Government's nod for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
"Look at the way the Congress government created Telangana. There is bloodshed everywhere," he said.
Modi lauded former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee under whose rule Chhattisgarh was formed.
"Whenever I think of Chhattisgarh, it reminds of me of Vajpayeeji's decision. When Chhattisgarh was formed, Madhya Pradesh was also distributing sweets. When Telangana was formed, curfew has been imposed. This is the Congress 'ki karya shehli'," said Modi.
"Raman Singh has never depended on New Delhi for Chhattisgarh's development. Chief Minister Raman Singh has kept fighting with Delhi, and has not sat back. The Congress can turn gold into sand," he added.
The BJP's 2014 campaign committee chief also used the occasion to target the UPA Government over the deteriorating Indian economy and the decline in the value of the rupee.
"There is a Singh in Delhi (referring to Dr Manmohan Singh) and there is a Singh in Chhattisgarh too. Manmohan Singh is also a doctor and Raman Singh is also a doctor. The Singh in Delhi has destroyed the rupee," said Modi, while addressing a rally in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh.
"Manmohan Singh is the doctor of the rupee and Raman Singh is the doctor of the people out here. Dr. Manmohan Singh may be the rupee's doctor but that rupee today is fighting for its life," he added.
Modi had earlier challenged the Prime Minister on August 15 - first saying that his address in Gujarat would draw as much attention as the latter's Red Fort speech, and then making a surprisingly political speech tearing into Dr. Manmohan Singh.
The Gujarat Chief Minister further said the 'arrogant' Congress Government at the Centre does not want to reply to the people of this country, who are dying with price rise.
"The Planning Commission comes up with figures that a family can live a day at a certain amount. The government in Delhi is not even aware how much the poor needs to spend a day," said Modi.
"They are not even aware as to how the poor of this country are living on what grounds," he added.
Modi alleged that the UPA Government sitting in Delhi is 'inhuman'.
"You can't even get two cups of tea in Rs. 32, forget a meal. Some people are shielded from even heat and dust, unaware of the living condition of the poor.
They think poverty is a state of mind," he said.
Modi, who was in full election mood, further said even the Supreme Court of India has negative things to say about the Congress Government.
"Raman Singh's initiative of giving food to the poor was praised by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had backed the Chhattisgarh programme and asked the government to learn from the Chhattisgarh model," he said, while lauding Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh.
"Power is not a tool for political game. The BJP governments serve people selflessly. I am sure the people of Chhattisgarh will back Raman Singh and elect him for another term," he added.
The BJP's poll panel chief also used the occasion to reach out to the youth of this country.
"We want to give opportunity to India's youth," he said.
Modi, who sought a third consecutive term for Chief Minister Raman Singh, had earlier this week said that he does not dream of being the country's Prime Minister.
Modi is considered by many to be the BJP's face for the next general elections.
The BJP has, however, not officially endorsed his candidature yet. (ANI)


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CONROE, Texas - Investigators are still searching for a man who crashed his car then fled the scene, leaving an injured 5-month-old baby behind.
The crash happened just after 10 p.m. Sunday on East Williams Road near South Williams Road. The man lost control of his car, flipped it several times and the baby boy was ejected from the backseat. DPS troopers said there was a car seat in the vehicle but the baby was not properly restrained.
Witnesses told Local 2 the infant was ejected from the rear window.
"The baby was bleeding," said David Davis, a witnesses who lives nearby. "The baby was scarred on his face and had road rash."
Davis said the baby was so still that he didn't cry. He said he thought it was a doll until he saw him blink his eyes.
"(He was) docile, just laying there. He didn't even move," he said.
The driver of the car, who has not been identified, took off running from the scene, according to investigators.
"I see a guy running in front of my shop with a red hoodie on," Davis said. He saw the man take off through the woods and told Local 2 he was identified at the scene as the baby's father.
DPS troopers have not said if the driver and the baby are related.
"The mother showed up about 5-10 minutes after the crash in a different car," Davis said. "At first she told a multitude of stories; one of them was that the car was stolen at the gas station with the baby in the back seat. She finally ended up telling them the truth."
The baby's mother reportedly told police she and the baby's father had been arguing and that he took off with the infant.
According to investigators, the driver was speeding when the crash happened.
The baby boy was flown to the hospital, where he is expected to make a full recovery.
Charges are pending against the driver of the car.
Copyright 2014 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Cabbage, onion or seed corn maggot?
Posted: April 19, 2012
These maggots attack seeds and small seedlings. While cabbage maggot and onion maggot attack only the seeds and seedlings of their namesakes, seed corn maggot will attack many plant species.
Why are they early this year?
The flies over-winter in the soil as pupae. Insect life cycles speed up with warmth and adults emerge from the soil after sufficient heat units or degree days have accumulated. For example in Easton PA the seasonal accumulation of degree days is 607 already (base 40). Onion maggot first peak flight is at 700. Usually we would not have this many degree days until mid May. See Tom Butzler's recent article on early insect emergence.
Cabbage, onion, or seed corn maggot – they are all the same right?
When you see little wrigglers in your plant roots it is disheartening and you might not care which maggots are causing the problem. In general you are right. A maggot is a maggot. But there are a few differences that may make it worth figuring out which problem you have. Cabbage and onion maggot stick to their namesakes. Cabbage maggot attacks all mustard family crops (cabbage, broccoli, mustards, turnips, as well as weedy crucifers) and onion maggot attacks alliums. When overwintering pupae emerge as adult flies they look for their host and lay their eggs at the base of the plant. Cultural controls such as rotation and floating row cover may work for cabbage and onion maggot. In contrast seed corn maggot has a wide host range and seems to be attracted to freshly turned organic matter. Seed corn maggots might already be there waiting when you transplant. Historically we have seen significant damage from seed corn maggot in sweet corn and beans planted from seed, and muskmelon placed in the ground as transplants.
Is your planting at risk?
Monitoring: Check to see if the adult flies are in your field. They look like houseflies, but about one-third the size of houseflies. The flies are much easier to identify and monitor than the eggs or maggots. Flies are attracted to bright yellow colors. Yellow sticky cards (3X5 inches) are inexpensive and easy to use; you can purchase small wire stakes made for this purpose, or clip to a wooden stake. Place near the soil. Check and change traps twice weekly to record changes in fly activity. Leaving them for a whole week usually results in a card and flies covered with blown soil, and is a less accurate measure of flight activity (sources: Great Lakes IPM, Gemplers). Yellow pan traps filled with water and a drop of soap also work.
Using Growing Degree Days: The beginning and peak of each fly generation can be identified using Growing Degree Day (GDD) accumulations. To check for ongoing GDD updates, visit the Northeast Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA). PA is not in their model. To calculate local growing degree days go to http://www.weather.com/outdoors/agriculture/growing-degree-days/ select Jan 1 to current date and base 40 F for seed corn maggot (50 for cabbage and onion). You can also see a map of base 50 GDD in Pennsylvania at PAPipe. Compare your local GDD to projected flights (NEWA & below). For example peak flight for seed corn maggot is 360 GDD (base 40 F) [1].
- Wait for green material to decay. If you are incorporating green cover crop let it sit as long as possible. That way the maggots can feed on the green material first.
- Row cover can exclude the flies. But if the problem is corn seed maggot, they might already be there feeding on decaying organic material. Use in a rotated field, as flies overwinter in soil.
- Avoiding damage by later planting. The first flight and egg-laying period is generally the most intense. After the first flight is over, and as soils heat up, perhaps fewer eggs are laid and those that are laid are less likely to survive. Also, plants that are growing rapidly, in warm soils, have a much better chance of out-growing feeding . You may want to watch the growing degree days and wait to transplant till the first flight has peaked. This is often later than optimal planting time. This year with early flights it may be worth it to hold some back [2].
- Monitoring cabbage for eggs. If you have transplants hardening off in a cold frame or outdoors, flies may find them and lay eggs in the flats. To check for eggs in the field or in flats, look for the 1/8-inch long, torpedo-shaped white eggs that are laid along the stem, or on the soil next to the stem of young transplants. Often eggs are laid in neat rows, or inserted into the soil. They may be under a small clod of dirt near the stem. A pencil point or knife helps stir the soil to look for them. A reliable field scouting method is to check 25 or more plants, in groups of 2-5 plants, scattered around the field. If you find an average of 1 egg/stem or more, it is likely to be a damaging population and a banded soil drench is recommended. Eggs may be more abundant in wetter areas of the field. Egg numbers may build up rapidly after the first eggs are seen [3].
- Soil Drench. Check the Commercial Vegetable Production Guide for products labeled for the crop you are working with. Note Lorsban has documented resistance in many fields in New York according to Dr Brian Nault, Cornell. As a foliar Lorsban is labeled but often has low efficacy according to Nault.
- Nematodes for biological control. One alternative method that has shown promise but has not been widely field-tested is soil application of entomopathogenic nematodes, especially Steinernema feltiae [4, 5]. It is important to match the life history of the nematode with the pest. For example Steinernema feltiae are "cruzer foragers" says UC Davis nematologist Amanda Hodson. They forage right at or below the surface, unlike other nematodes that will stay on the soil surface. Hodson recommends applying infective juveniles in the irrigation (drip or microsprinklers). "Apply them in the morning and evening when it is not too hot and irrigate to keep soil moist," she says. Another common method is application to transplants before planting or in the water wheel transplanter. Carol Glenister at IPM Laboratories cautions that "the nematodes die in sunlight within 30 minutes, so need to be trenched or washed down into the soil." They have hand over a than a decade of satisfaction using Steinernema feltiae on cabbage maggot. Due to similar biology corn seed maggot may also be controlled. But her customers have not had success on onion maggot. They recommend 25 million infective juveniles for a transplant dip (@200 trays) with perhaps another 25 million in the water wheel transplanter. Rates of 100,000 to 125,000 infective juveniles per transplant have been shown to be needed to achieve reduction in damage.
|1st Peak
|Onion Maggot Flight Peaks
|Flight Peak
|Accumulated Degree Days
|Based on Growing Degree Days base 40 F. From NEWA.
|1st Peak
|2nd Peak
|3rd Peak
|Accumulated Degree Days
1st Emergence
|25 percent
|50 percent
|75 percent
|95 percent
|Overwintering generation
|After completion of spring emergence, accumulated degree days need to be reset to zero. Degree days necessary to complete F1, F2 and F3 generations are shown below. After each generation, the accumulated degree days need to be reset to zero.
|Accumulated Degree Days
Based on Growing Degree Days base 40 F. From NEWA.
- 1.Cullen, E. Threshold Temperature and Heat Unity Accumulation. University of Wisconsin.
- Hazzard, R. Cabbage and Onion Maggot Flies. UMASS.
- Hazzard, R., Emergence of Spring Maggot Flies is Approaching. UMass Pest Alert, 2012.
- Chen, S.L., X.Y. Han, and M. Moens, Biological control of Delia radicum (Diptera : Anthomyiidae) with entomopathogenic nematodes. Applied Entomology and Zoology, 2003. 38(4): p. 441-448.
- Schroeder, P.C., et al., Greenhouse and field evaluations of entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) for control of cabbage maggot (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) on cabbage. Journal of Economic Entomology, 1996. 89(5): p. 1109-1115.


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There are so many great risotto recipes whether cooked on the stove top or in the microwave. Try our delicious chicken risotto, mushroom risotto and pumpkin risotto recipes.
Half the world's people rely on rice as their staple food. Rice offers B vitamins and some minerals; its protein features a good balance of amino acids.
As classically Italian as you can get, this unadulterated risotto is made in the traditional way and simply flavoured with porcini mushrooms, white wine, butter and Parmesan cheese.
A great vegetarian dish that is reeaalllly filling...! Can take some time as the liquid needs to absorb bit by bit to get the creamiest result without burning the bottom of the pot. So make this when you have a bit of time. I also buy pre-sliced mushrooms to save on prep time.
If you are looking for a new flavour for your risotto try this version that includes chicken and asparagus; perfect for a midweek meal.
Freshly toasted walnuts are added to a tasty mushroom and Arborio rice risotto. This makes a delicious dinner on its own or a tasty gourmet side dish.


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BURGLARS emptied two little girls' jewellery boxes while they were away watching Disney on Ice as part of a family treat.
The raiders plundered the "ballerina'' boxes at the family's home in The Pippins, Halstead.
The family-of-four had decided to stay over in London after watching the show at the O2 Arena.
They arrived home to discover their back patio door smashed and a number of irreplaceable heirlooms and gifts had been taken.
The 36-year-old dad, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "What is particularly distressing is that they targeted the children's bedrooms.
"The violation is immense, they were going into children's rooms and they were clearly girls' rooms.
"If we could get anything back, it would be the girls' Christening presents.
"The sentimental value is far greater."
"Never before have I appreciated the stress, the shock and the worry put upon families, particularly young families, by breakins.
"I feel helpless and just out of control of my family's protection and, as a father, you don't want to feel any of these things."
The burglars escaped with silver bangles, crosses, St Christopher pendants and napkin rings, which were Christening presents.
The haul included a locket passed down from a grandmother, a Christening necklace given to the man's wife and a Playstation 4.
The raiders also fled with costume jewellery and 12 sets of cufflinks, which had been passed down from a late, great-uncle and uncle.
The victim added the police had been good in handling the case.
Two PCSOs were at the scene within minutes of the break-in being reported.
Anyone with information about the burglary, which happened between 11.20am on January 2 and 8.30pm on January 3, is asked to call Braintree police station on 101.


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The husband of the former Premier Anna Bligh, Greg Withers, has resigned from his job in Queensland's public service but the LNP government has said he was not pressured to do so.
Mr Withers tendered his resignation this morning and today will be his last day in the office.
He was the Director of the Office of Climate Change and after the March 24 election Premier Campbell Newman ordered him to wind back green energy programs he had helped to create over the past four years.
A spokesman for the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell said there was no pressure from the government and Mr Wither's decision to resign was a "personal" one.


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'Serial Killer', 'Summer of Sam', 'Ooh Baby' and 'Ghetto Baby' are the newly-unveiled songs which will be included in the 'Paradise' version of Del Rey's debut studio album.
Four never-before-heard tracks by Lana Del Rey have just surfaced online. They are "Serial Killer", "Summer of Sam", "Ooh Baby" and "Ghetto Baby" which are expected to be featured in the "Paradise" version of her album "Born to Die".
"Serial Killer" is a percussive, beat-driven and dramatic track, while "Summer of Sam" is a bouncy track with a hip-hop beat. Del Rey shows her sexy side and sings a bit more nasally than usual in "Ooh Baby", and offers her own take on the song she wrote for Cheryl Cole in "Ghetto Baby".
The "Paradise" version of Del Rey's first studio album has been said to feature seven new tracks. It is due in the United States in November.
In addition to gearing up for the re-release of the album, the "Video Games" singer is set to take the stage at the upcoming iTunes Festival at the Camden Roundhouse in London. She will headline one of the final shows on September 25.
"Serial Killer":
"Summer of Sam":
"Ooh Baby":
"Ghetto Baby":


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Excellent cruise on the NCL Jade: Norwegian Jade Cruise Review by vtgumby
Overall Member Rating
Excellent cruise on the NCL Jade
Destination: Europe - Eastern Mediterranean
Embarkation: Other
The Jade was lovely and much like its sister ship Gem...nice layout and a nice spreading out of all the people onboard.
GREAT food and amazing quality at the buffets with a nice international flair.
The specialty restaurants we tried, Papa's and Le Bistro and Cagneys were all quite good with excellent service and a nice ambience, worth the extra cover charges we felt but having said that, the 'free' food is really good at both the two dining rooms and also the buffets.
We've cruised many times with NCL and the whole freestyle thing is why they get our business, so easy to eat when you want and not to have an assigned time or table. Plenty of opportunities abound to meet others if you wish so it works for both social and asocial folk.
ELEMENTS was an excellent show so don't miss it, the last night at sea.
We only did a few other shows and they were all very good so if you don't have the More opportunity to see shows you should make the attempt.
Happy hour at the bar was a nice drink price reprieve and you meet other folk there too!
Regarding our balcony room, excellent size and our steward Clark kept it clean and anticipated our needs (glasses for wine/port) and kept us happy.
Completely happy with our cruise and hope NCL adds Egypt back to their itinerary because it was completely safe and they need our tourist money. We found them to be very pro-America and for Cairo, a city of 20 million, there will be some troublemakers but it isn't the way the country feels (every country has its nuts and haters) and we shouldn't be scared to travel there. The Pyramids and Sphinx alone are worth the trip, an amazing and only remaining ancient wonder of the world, not to be missed. Less
Published 11/15/12
Cabin review: BA9120 Mid-Ship Balcony
Mid ship and perfectly located to elevator/stairs. Nicely sized room with a fabulously comfortable bed. Balcony was nicely sized and good chairs but suites have MUCH nicer furniture both inside and out! Need to update to flat screens and also provide a menu to access the movie schedules on your tv instead of coming into the middle/end of them.Read All Mid-Ship Balcony (BA) Reviews >>
Port and Shore Excursions
Cairo Day Tour
Archaeological Site of Ephesus
Church of St. John
House of Virgin Mary
Read Cruise Critic's Norwegian Jade Review >>
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