text: 3. As of noon trading, Apollo Group ( APOL) is up $0.46 (2.19) to $21.70 on average volume Thus far, 1.8 million shares of Apollo Group exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.5 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $21.11-$21.91 after having opened the day at $21.24 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $21.24. Apollo Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides online and on-campus educational programs and services at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. Apollo Group has a market cap of $2.3 billion and is part of the services sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 7.1, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 2.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 4 analysts that rate Apollo Group a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 12 rate it a hold. TheStreet Ratings rates Apollo Group as a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its feeble growth in its earnings per share, deteriorating net income and generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself. Get the full Apollo Group Ratings Report now. Exclusive Offer: Jim Cramer's 'go-to' small/mid-cap guru Bryan Ashenberg only buys stocks he thinks could return 50-100%. See his top picks for 14-days FREE.


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It's complicatedObama's presidency imagined as a TV show
Obama's eight years envisioned as a 16-episode TV series.What happened at Gilgo Beach?
10 bodies, 5 years, 0 arrestsChris Weidman
The fighter and the father
Award-winning videos, latest documentaries
Nassau's top politician and his wife, and a town's supervisor, arrested in a case that began with a local restaurateur.
Top Lifestyle projectsLong Island's top 100 restaurants
Newsday's A-list for dining outLong Island's Cutest Baby contest
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Readers helped crown the greatest music group rocking Nassau and Suffolk
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See examples of how the proposed changes might impact people in different age groups.The impact of Long Island's 1987 garbage barge
How the infamous barge still influences waste laws today.How Long Island voted in Trump-Clinton election
See which areas supported Donald Trump and Hillary ClintonFrom Garden City to the Orlando nightclub shooting
U.S. mass shootings don't often lead to gun controlLong Island restaurateur, Nassau contracts scrutinized
Harendra Singh's connections to Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and Oyster Bay officialsTWA Flight 800 crash: 20 years later
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subset: commoncrawl


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*Though we stock barrels for builds, stripped barrels are usually drop shipped from the manufacturer in retail packaging. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the "in stock" status. We can however accept back orders but please check Faxon's website for availability.
Manufacturer Description:
Medium profile for maximum heat resistance during spirited firing. 4150 QPQ coated inside and out for amazing corrosion resistance and durability.
Faxon Firearms barrels are the pinnacle of value. Manufactured 100% in-house from cradle-to-grave, these barrels are fully stress relieved, air-gauge tested, and 11 degree target crowned to ensure superior accuracy.
Quality is imbued into our barrels from the start. We start with the best materials, either certified 4150 Mil-Spec steel or 416-R Stainless. From there, each barrel goes through a battery of tests at each operation until finished in Nitride and final inspected. All barrels are individually checked for headspace by precision custom hardened gauges.
Faxon manufactures all our barrels in Cincinnati, Ohio under our ISO:9001 and AS:9100 quality certifications.
- Barrel Material: 4150 CMV Steel
- Barrel Type: Button Rifled
- Barrel Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Barrel Twist: 1:8
- Barrel Length: 14.5″
- Barrel Profile: M4
- Barrel Gas System: Carbine Length
- Inside Finish: QPQ Nitride
- Outside Finish: QPQ Nitride
- Muzzle Thread: 1/2-28 TPI (Threads Per Inch)
- Gas Block Diameter: .750″
- Gas Port Diameter: .068″
- Gas Block Journal Length: 1.9″
- Barrel Extension: M4
- Weight: 1.54 lbs
- Magnetic Particle Inspected!
- 11-degree Target Crown


text:
Do you download and print administrator guides so you can have a standby paper copy in case of emergency? Or do you keep an electronic copy on hand?
My reason for the questions is this. I'm currently sorting through some of the binders the previous IT person had left behind. It includes paper manuals for outdated products or products we don't have anymore. For example our old SonicWall administrator's guide was something that hit my recycle bin today. I could print out a new one but that would be 600 pages of back to back printing. Is keeping a paper copy of all manuals something you do as a best practice?
Thanks for your responses.
12 Replies
Apr 7, 2010 at 8:59 UTC
Since paper and toner costs can be such an issue, I do not print out manuals. They can easily be saved to disk and backed up if you think that is necessary. Then, periodically, you can go through and archive off the ones that do not apply to your environment anymore. It makes things easier to manage and reduces costs.
Certain items, like license agreements are printed, but they are usually only a page or two.
Apr 7, 2010 at 9:00 UTC
In an emergency, it's probably faster to Ctrl-F in a PDF rather than locate and flip through a binder. Could a Sonicwall failure create an outage such that you are unable to open the PDF? Maybe you should move some critical manuals to some 'out of band' storage, like Evernote, or hosted webspace.
On a related note, is anyone looking for an old SW TZ-170? I use OpenWRT now.
Apr 7, 2010 at 9:01 UTC
I would consider having a thumb drive with a pdf copy on it. But paper printouts I have not kept, even for emergency purposes. If you don't have power to start your systems then reading the manuals don't do you much good. I figure if I have power I can at least get to one machine and open the pdf even if I can't get a net connection.
I would keep manuals of policies and procedures for DR and sequential stuff when you are coming back online, since that stuff is used prior to getting to a computer screen.
I suspect there are some requirements for some environments where paper backup is specified (banks, medical, government) but for most of us ...
Thats my two cents worth.
Apr 7, 2010 at 9:31 UTC
I think it's a great idea, but I don't do a very good job of actually doing it.
I actually made a feature request to give us the ability to print out IT Documentation from Spiceworks: http://community.spiceworks.com/feature_request/show/General/486
Vote it up :)
Apr 7, 2010 at 9:43 UTC
Niagara Technology Group (NTG) is an IT service provider.
Mostly electronic only. But once in a while I print them out. Normally for more convenient reading, though, not for emergencies.
Apr 7, 2010 at 10:25 UTC
Same as SAM.
Apr 7, 2010 at 11:50 UTC
1st Post
I keep multiple electronic copies that cover in the case of DR but also as backup to the live or archived version. Electronic is far easier to search than manual and I would also worry about security issues when admin guides are printed.
Hope this helps
Apr 7, 2010 at 12:05 UTC
Most manufactures always have them on their site. I just like pulling it up from there a lot.
Apr 7, 2010 at 12:10 UTC
My thought was it's so much easier to pull a current copy off the manufacturer's website and update as needed, and that's what I'm going to do. It's make a bit of shelf space in my office clearing out the old. Just wanting to see what you all do.
Apr 8, 2010 at 7:56 UTC
I have an access database which contains all my documentation. This is stored on our file server, and once a day a copy is FTP'd offsite. If I have to rebuild from scratch the one file I would want is that database.
Apr 8, 2010 at 9:32 UTC
I download them and store them centrally. Only on rare occasions do I actually print them out. I'm moving to ebooks/kindle now too so I can carry my library anywhere I go.
Apr 8, 2010 at 1:23 UTC
We typically store local electronic copies of any product guides we use. I only print specific sections if I want to be able to jot notes, read them away from a computer, or if I want a paper copy because I can't fit the manual up on screen while doing a task.
We do have paper copies of two internal documents: Disaster Recovery Plan and our internal IT Systems guide.
This discussion has been inactive for over a year.
You may get a better answer to your question by starting a new discussion.


text:
Morning Briefing: Four things you need to know about last night (and today!)
Digital Reporter
Tuesday, August 5, 2014, 7:34 AM - Strong storms intruded on what was a holiday Monday for many Canadians.
Massive flash flooding occurred in parts of Ontario, with powerful thunderstorms also impacting the Prairie provinces.
And to the east, Tropical Storm Bertha's potential impact on Atlantic Canada is becoming clearer.
Here's a coast-to-coast roundup on what happened last night, and what you should expect today.
Atlantic Canada
Though Bertha reached Category 1 hurricane strength on Monday morning, it has dropped back down to tropical storm status, though still packing a punch with winds of more than 100 km/h.
"Models are starting to show that it should stay off shore and not severely impact anyone," Weather Network meteorologist Kelly Sonnenburg said early Tuesday morning.
All the same, though Bertha certainly will not be Arthur Part II, its strong winds will have some impact on the region, and the Canadian Hurricane Centre has maintained a tropical cyclone advisory in effect for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
"The Avalon Peninsula will be the primary threat, with storm surge, strong winds and rain," Sonnenburg says.
The Atlantic region's weather will be unsettled throughout this week, thanks to Bertha and another system tracking not far behind it.
The Maritimes have some risk of scattered thunderstorms and showers today, along with parts of Newfoundland.
Wednesday also carries some risk, though mostly centred on Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick.
TUNE IN: Watch the Weather Network on TV for updates on these storms. If it's safe to do so, upload your pictures and videos here.
Massive flash flooding swept parts of the Greater Toronto Area, thanks to storms that drenched the region with torrential rain.
Training storms - the meteorological term for a succession of cells tracking one after another over the same area - situated themselves over Burlington and Oakville, with radar estimates of 150 to 200-plus millimetres of rain for localized areas. Roadways were closed and basements were flooded.
Floods 407 through Burlington. All lanes are closed from the 403 to Appleby. Image courtesy of kx947 #onstorm pic.twitter.com/EFHgryzRhi— Audree_BTT (@Audree_BTT) August 5, 2014
IN PICTURES: Have a look at what the flooding looked like as it unfolded.
The province saw some kind of thunderstorm event in various areas from Friday afternoon and through the long weekend, and it seems there's more risk this week.
"Showers should push into the GTA later this morning, and then by the afternoon we could see the risk of a few scattered thunderstorms through southern Ontario," Sonnenburg says."
There's more risk on Wednesday, though mostly in cottage country up to the Nickel Belt.
Temperatures are a little cooler this morning, the humidity will still make it feel close to 30.
Northwestern Ontario also has a slight risk of seeing some isolated thunderstorms by the afternoon and evening.
HOW DID THE FLOODING HAPPEN SO FAST? Watch below for a full explanation on how flash flooding happens.
All three Prairie provinces saw severe thunderstorm watches or warnings as storms fired up Monday afternoon and evening.
#abstorm @TwistedChasers Storm south of Innisfail Aug 04 2014 approx 5:30-5:45 pic.twitter.com/tCdZczrkLr— Oren (@OrenTwistedChas) August 5, 2014
On Tuesday, an upper level low will bring the risk of even more storms, with some of them isolated severe, through the central and southern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Sonnenburg says hail and heavy downpours will be the primary threats from these storms.
Wednesday could be more of the same, thanks to a low that is expected to develop and track to the northern parts of the Prairies.
"This will also affect the Northwest Territories' fires with the rain, but if thunderstorms do form, lightning will be a threat," Sonnenburg says.
British Columbia
Wildfire risk is high to extreme all across B.C., making the struggle even harder for firefighters in the province.
Tens of thousands of hectares of land continue to burn, with the largest blaze scorching a staggering 75,000 hectares.
Weatherwise, the central Interior of B.C. could see some isolated thunderstorms this afternoon, while the southern coast remains dry and warm.
"Expect the interior to be the hot spot again today," Sonnenburg says.


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A Message from the President of the Medical Staff
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the South County Hospital Find a Doctor service. Choosing the right physician is an important personal decision and we want you to have the information you need to make it.
The South County Hospital medical staff is made up of expert physicians representing 40 specialties. Here you will find the physicians listed alphabetically and by specialty. There is a listing of primary care physicians accepting new patients, as well. And we encourage you to use our Physician Finder line at 401 783-5544, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We are proud of the standards of excellence required for physicians to be admitted to the Medical Staff and to practice at South County Hospital. We also take pride in our rigorous biennial re-credentialing process that ensures only the highest level of care for our patients.
We are men and women from diverse backgrounds and areas united in our commitment to our patients, to the Hospital and to the communities we serve. South County Hospital's guiding values -- caring, respect, integrity, collaboration and excellence -- are also the defining principles of the members of the Medical Staff at South County Hospital.
We are committed to your care.
Aaron Weisbord, MD, FACC
President of the Medical Staff
South County Health
Seeking a South County-based physician? Use our physician search tool or order our directory.
The South County Medical Group is a comprehensive network of expert specialists and primary care healthcare providers. Find out which services comprise this group.
First hospital in N.E. to achieve Pathway designation


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Hello world! I am Jessica. I was previously known to the rescue world as "Baby Jessica" when I was first found just over a year ago. I was adopted but my new family could not give me the care that I require so I am back in the rescue world looking for "the one".
I have a condition where the hip joints in my back legs are missing, so my rear leg mobility is a bit "stiff". I am a happy go lucky girl; the handicap as others call it does not slow me down one bit! I am able to run and play with big and small dogs, at my foster moms home I had 3 bigger playmates and a few smaller ones too I did magnificent with them all. I don't like to see my stiff legs as a handicap; I have just as much love to give as the next dog, just need a breather here and there.
The vet says currently there is nothing they can, or need to do for my "condition". As I mature and get older a cart might be needed to help with my old bones, but that's a long ways away! I am barely a year young and got the energy to prove it. I need a loving family that understands my breed's ways, and that can keep up with my puppy energy and teach me right from wrong. I am eager to please, but my attention span is rather small so you may have to bribe me with a few treats! I am spayed, up to date, and microchiped. I do good with dogs of all sizes, cats and kids. Though between you and me I could knock the tiny ones over and they might hurt me hanging on my back end so older children are best.
Please help me find my forever place!
If you are interested in me send an email to katesrescue.org with the header "Jessica" and a rep will contact you with plenty of questions to make sure you are right for me.
The adoption process is a 2 part process, the initial step is to complete the adoption application, located on our website. A Kate's Rescue representative will be in contact with you shortly after receiving your application to clarify any questions & explain the adoption process with you.
Thank You!
Your message has been sent to Kate's Rescue for Animals.
You'll receive a copy, too, at to help you keep track of which pets you've inquired about, and which shelters and rescues you've emailed.
NOTE: Some shelters have physical locations you can visit; some of these shelters may only have pets for a limited time, so please do not wait for a reply—just go visit the shelter! Other organizations are rescue groups run by busy volunteers who may take a while to reply. You can find information about the shelter or rescue group caring for this pet, and their adoption procedures, on the pet's details page on Adopt-a-Pet.com.


text:
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Property Location
With a stay at Kasan Resort in Gobleg, you'll be in the mountains and within the region of Gitgit Waterfall and Lovina Beach. This resort is within the region of Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club and Bali Eka Karya Botanical Garden.
Stay in one of 5 guestrooms featuring LCD televisions. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries.
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Grab a bite to eat at the resort's restaurant, where you can take in a garden view, or stay in and take advantage of room service (during limited hours).
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Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. A roundtrip airport shuttle is available for a surcharge.
You must present a photo ID when checking in. Your credit card is charged at the time you book. Bed type and smoking preferences are not guaranteed.Your reservation is prepaid and is guaranteed for late arrival. The total charge includes all room charges and taxes, as well as fees for access and booking. Any incidental charges such as parking, phone calls, and room service will be handled directly between you and the property.


text:
Pawan Kalyan is the current topic with date for pre-release event of Khaidi No. 150 approaching fast. Everyone is looking forward for this Powerful hero to make his presence felt at the event.
Already Allu Arvind confirmed that Pawan Kalyan isn't attending the event due to lack of dates. At the same time Ram Charan stated that he will give the invite but Pawan's arrival is not in his hands. Update is that none other than Megastar Chiranjeevi's wife Surekha is going to invite Pawan now.
Pawan always maintains that Vadinamma is his mother, and we have to see how he reacts now.


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Bacon and Eggs with Polenta-Veggie Stacks
Turn bacon and eggs into something special by serving them with crispy polenta rounds and sauteed spinach and plum tomatoes.
- Servings: 4
Photography: Andrew Purcell
Source: Everyday Food, September 2012
- 8 slices bacon
- 1/2 package prepared polenta
- 4 chopped plum tomatoes
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 8 eggs
- 2 teaspoons bacon fat
Cook bacon until crisp in a nonstick skillet. Slice polenta into 8 rounds. In 2 teaspoons bacon fat, cook polenta until crisp. Saute tomatoes until collapsed, then add spinach and wilt. Poach eggs. Top polenta with bacon, tomato mixture, and eggs; season with salt and pepper.


text:
Kenbridge Virginia Golf Courses
|Lunenburg Country Club
Additional Golf Course Reviews:
|Cedar Point Club -- Review of Cedar Point Club
|Review by: Linda Martinson
|This is a private course. It just reopened as it had been closed for major renovations. It is a lovely course with interesting holes and fast greens. It has some challenging holes. I always enjoy playing it. The clubhouse serves good food and makes a great marguerita to go!
|From Suffolk, VA USA


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Author | exchange4media Mumbai Bureau | Monday, Jan 29,2007 7:50 AM
Kishore Biyani, CEO, the Future Group, and Chairman, Fashion Alliance, was adjudged the Images Fashion Retail Icon of the Year at the finale of the Lycra Images Fashion Forum 2007 held in Mumbai recently.
Several well-known figures from the Indian fashion and retail industry were honoured for their contribution to the business of fashion at the event.
Madura Garments won the Most Admired Fashion Company of the Year. The company also won the trophy for Van Heusen shirts, Allen Solly won a trophy for its women's wear, while Louis Philippe bagged a trophy for formal wear.
Shoppers' Stop won the title of Fashion Retailer of the Year, while Sanjiv Mohanty of Benetton India won the Fashion Brand Professional of the Year.
The Most Innovative Lycra Brand of the Year trophy went to Park Avenue for excellence in product innovation, brand communication and retail expansion in 2006.
The Lycra Images Fashion Forum 2007 celebrated achievements of fashion and lifestyle brands, retailers and professionals who have done exceptionally well 2006 on all deliverables, constantly reinventing themselves to keep pace with the dynamics of the fashion industry and to remain forerunners in shaping the future of fashion in India.
"LIFA recognises the true worth of brands and retailers among consumers as they are based on the verdict of thousands of brand conscious consumers," Amitabh Taneja, Chief Convenor of LIFA said.
Over 2,000 leading global and Indian names from the world of fashion branding, retailing, merchandising and the entire gamut of fashion retail support organisations ok part at IFF '07.
Programming HeadRadio Mango


text:
Turkish parliament approves reduction of president's term
The Turkish parliament's General Assembly accepted the fourth article, proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), local media reports.
The article dictates that the presidential elections and general elections be held together and the elections be held every five years.
The article was voted in favor by 343 deputies out of 486, with 139 against it, the Daily Sabah reports.
Vestnik Kavkaza
on FacebookSubscribe


text:
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/12/2016 (241 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A wreath was placed Friday at the site of the city's worst firefighting tragedy, where four firefighters lost their lives 90 years ago.
"This is a very serious but special day for us," Alex Forrest, a fire captain and president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, told the crowd that had gathered at the corner of Adelaide Street and Notre Dame Avenue.
At that location, just before 10 a.m. on Dec. 23, 1926, four firefighters were killed after entering the burning Winnipeg Theatre to look for anyone trapped inside. The fire department was told there may have been an after-hours Christmas party in the theatre the night before. When they were inside, the walls of the timber-frame theatre that had a brick veneer began to buckle, and the firefighters were ordered to get out. Before they could escape, part of the building collapsed, and the four men — all veterans of the First World War and fathers with young families — were killed. Many other firefighters were injured, including nine so badly hurt they never returned to work, Forrest said.
At that time, there was no workers compensation. Winnipeggers, he said, rallied to help the families and raised $20,000 — almost $280,000 in today's dollars. A joint funeral was held for Donald Melville, 41, of Langside Street; Robert Stewart, 37, of Seymour Street; Robert S. Shearer, 33, of Ashland Avenue and Arthur Smith, 38, of Strathcona Street.
"Every day, our firefighters and paramedics show up, and every day, they face that risk — that hasn't changed," Mayor Brian Bowman said at the sombre gathering.
Their memories will be honoured with a plaque at the site of the destroyed theatre this spring. That's when Manitoba Hydro expects to complete a $62-million substation that is under construction at that corner.
"It was necessary to find an appropriate way to honour these firefighters," Manitoba Hydro president and chief executive officer Kelvin Shepherd said at the wreath-laying ceremony.
Shepherd said they learned of the Winnipeg Theatre tragedy when they were researching the history of the property. The plaque at the substation will give passersby an opportunity to stop and read about that tragic day in Winnipeg's history and the firefighters who died in the line of duty.
The site of the old theatre that burned down in 1926 is next to today's Towne Cinema. The Winnipeg Theatre was built in 1883 as the Victoria Theatre and was the city's first large meeting place that could seat up to 1,400, a 2015 Free Press article states. For a time, the theatre was leased to fill in as Winnipeg's city hall when the building housing civic offices had to be torn down and until the "gingerbread" city hall opened in 1886.
The Victoria Theatre was sold in 1897 to owners who updated it with a full-sized stage, sloping floors and seating for 800. They renamed it the Winnipeg Theatre, and it became a hub for vaudeville acts passing through town.
In 1903, a fire at a Chicago theatre killed more than 600 people. Theatres built around the same era — including the Winnipeg Theatre — were being identified as fire traps. In 1926, the City of Winnipeg upgraded its building bylaw so theatre owners would have to include new fire protection measures, such as sprinkler systems and fire alarms.
On Dec. 8, 1926, a representative for the owner of the Winnipeg Theatre went before the civic safety committee to argue the seldom-used facility should be exempt from the new bylaw because it hosted only occasional events. Two weeks later, on Dec. 23, the fatal fire occurred.
Three separate investigations into the cause of the fire were held, including one by the fire commissioner, a coroner's inquest and a city operational review. The cause of the theatre fire was never determined.
Building codes, bylaws and fire prevention equipment have changed over the last 90 years, but the bravery of emergency responders — who run towards danger when others are running away from it — has not, Bowman said.


text: Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link. All three major indices are trading down today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) trading down 27 points (-0.2%) at 15,858 as of Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, 11:55 AM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 997 issues advancing vs. 1,953 declining with 153 unchanged. The Financial sector currently sits down 0.2% versus the S&P 500, which is down 0.5%. On the negative front, top decliners within the sector include Rayonier ( RYN), down 3.3%, HDFC Bank ( HDB), down 3.2%, KKR ( KKR), down 2.8%, Woori Finance Holdings ( WF), down 2.6% and Nomura Holdings ( NMR), down 1.9%. Top gainers within the sector include Visa ( V), up 1.9%, Annaly Capital Management ( NLY), up 1.8%, Boston Properties ( BXP), up 1.0%, Host Hotels & Resorts ( HST), up 0.8% and Blackstone Group ( BX), up 0.6%. TheStreet would like to highlight 5 stocks pushing the sector lower today: 5. Prudential Financial ( PRU) is one of the companies pushing the Financial sector lower today. As of noon trading, Prudential Financial is down $0.94 (-1.1%) to $87.74 on light volume. Thus far, 514,509 shares of Prudential Financial exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.2 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $87.65-$88.78 after having opened the day at $88.68 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $88.68. Prudential Financial, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers in the United States and internationally. Prudential Financial has a market cap of $40.7 billion and is part of the insurance industry. Shares are up 66.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate Prudential Financial a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 6 rate it a hold. TheStreet Ratings rates Prudential Financial as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, increase in net income, expanding profit margins and growth in earnings per share. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated. Get the full Prudential Financial Ratings Report now. STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12-months. Learn more.


text:
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It appeared the Richmond Lady Spartans were on the verge of advancing to the Class 3, District 6 semifinals, not once, but twice Wednesday at Lawson. For the second year in a row, St. Pius ended the Lady Spartan softball season with an 8-5 victory. The fifth-seeded Warriors rallied twice to knock off the No. 4 seed.
St. Pius erased a 4-1 Richmond lead with a 3-run rally in the top of the sixth to tie the game. However, the Lady Spartans regained the lead with a run in the home half of the inning on a single by Jamie Anderson and a two-out single by Ashley Williams. St. Pius then put together 4 runs in the next inning for the win.
The Warriors loaded the bases on a walk, catcher's interference and an infield single with no outs in the seventh.
It appeared the Lady Spartans would get out of the jam, but with two outs, an error and a double in the gap by Hayley Burgess spoiled the evening for Richmond. The Lady Spartans were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh as Richmond ended the season with a 7-18 overall record.
The Warriors, who advance to meet top-seeded Platte County in the semifinals, grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first, but Richmond came back with a run-scoring single from Stephanie Williams to tie the game in the home half of the frame. Chelsea Hook's single plated another run in the Lady Spartans' 3-run fourth inning.
Haley Padgett led off the inning with a walk, followed by a single from Jamie Anderson. MacKenzie McGill added a two-out single to help Richmond take a 4-1 lead into the sixth.
Stephanie Williams, McGill and Anderson had two hits each for the Lady Spartans, with Ashley Williams, Padgett and Hook collecting one apiece. Richmond stranded five runners on the game.
Adrian Tackett pitched a complete game, surrendering 4 earned runs on 4 hits, 4 walks and a pair of strikeouts.
On Tuesday night, the Lady Spartans dropped their regular season finale to visiting Knob Noster 11-4. The loss ended Richmond's MRVC East campaign with a 2-8 record, while the Lady Panthers finish 5-4 in league and 6-5 heading into district play.
Three Richmond seniors, Stephanie Williams, Alex Phillips and Hook, were playing their final home game.
A walk to Ashley Williams, a double by Stephanie Williams and a single by Padgett gave Richmond a 2-1 lead after spotting the visitors a run in the top of the inning. A triple by Phillips in the fourth helped the Lady Spartans to a 3-1 lead, but Knob Noster rallied in the fifth for 9 runs.
The Lady Panthers sent 14 batters to the plate as they collected 5 singles, a double and a pair of walks while Richmond was charged with 3 errors. A walk to Hook led to the final Lady Spartan run in the home half of the seventh.
PHOTO: Richmond third baseman Stephanie Williams scoops up the throw that arrives too late to get the St. Pius base runner during Wednesday's district contest at Lawson. (Photo by Russ Green/The Daily News.)
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text: Airsweb recognised as offering Enhanced User Engagement by Independent Analyst Firm Monday January 18, 2016 By Leslie Duroe } share The recent release of the Green Quadrant® EHS & Software 2016 (Global) report, published by Independent Analyst Firm Verdantix, has recognised Airsweb as providing a very intuitive user interface and Business Intelligence tool. Airsweb will be attending the Verdantix EHS Summit in Houston, May 15-17 2017 The report recognises 22 of the most prominent EHS software suppliers globally and documented Airsweb's EHS, Risk and Compliance Software Solution as: User Interface A highly flexible solution for its user interface and very configurable. Offering users 'click on and drill down' into dashboards at any level of organisational hierarchy. Providing a straightforward approach for users to change forms, metrics, and business rules plus manipulate workflow and revise terminology to fit the specific organisation. Incident management and business intelligence With data visualisation key for end user engagement, Airsweb's slick charting, reporting and benchmarking tools is supported by Logi Analytics BI and provides a very capable platform for users helping to stimulate end-user engagement. We have been recognised in the findings as; providing customers with a flexible, user-friendly solution to manage EHS risks. Building on our core capabilities in safety and incident management expanding into environmental management. The Airsweb system is a configurable and flexible solution that has helped gain a strong foothold in construction and materials, food and beverage, and travel and transport industries. Carl McIver, Gist, IM Manager 'Keeping it easy means people can't ignore it. When systems are cumbersome and difficult to use, they just won't use them....they don't have that excuse with Airsweb.' About Airsweb With a client portfolio of leading global brands, our 'best of breed' software provides the ideal framework to deliver an effective Environment, health and safety management system. As a web-based, modular and scalable solution it is used by more than 300,000 users in over 117 countries working in over 20 languages. Airsweb® also has the capacity to grow with your business. We pride ourselves on the long term relationships we have nurtured with our clients, working with them to support their commitment in the safety of their employees and meet their corporate, social and legal requirements. To ensure successful integration our full remit of services includes full support to implementation, consultation to cloud based solutions, e-learning and training. Find out more or request a brochure: Email firstname.lastname@example.com Call us on 0151 289 6811 Read More 0 Comments Add a comment Comments closed


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Football fever overshadowing IT security support
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Football fever overshadowing IT security support
Tufin Technologies
: 28 May, 2009
(Technical Article)
According to Tufin Technologies, IT support personnel will be glued to the UEFA cup final, the closing moments of which will not be a good time to suffer a security incident
A survey has shown if you're unlucky enough to suffer a major security failure during the last 5 minutes of a major football match like tonight's UEFA champions league, 39% of IT professionals say the problem will have to wait until the footie is over! That's according to a survey conducted at Infosecurity Europe, by Tufin Technologies, the leading provider of Security Lifecycle Management Solutions who interviewed 151 IT professionals. On the flip side that does leave an incredibly loyal 61% who would right their company's IT problems before watching the footie!
The survey was commissioned to find out attitudes into "Firewall Management & the Security Implications" and focused the survey at mainly IT security managers and technical staff from multinational organisations and government departments employing 1000 to 5000+. The key finding of the survey has found that 51% of IT professionals believe their corporate firewall base rules are in a mess.
The survey also found that 1 in 5 IT professionals admit that either they or a colleague has cheated to get an audit passed and a staggering 9% have avoided having any audit conducted on their firewall base rules. 63% only check and audit their firewalls from anything between 3 months to a year.
This does beg the question: are the billions of pounds that companies spend on firewalls actually doing what they are supposed to do to keep out the infiltrators?
Ruvi Kitov, CEO at Tufin Technologies said "If your firewall rules are out of synch, then it's almost impossible to police and to gauge who has access to your network. Managing and configuring firewalls can be a nightmare without the right automation tools, which is why it's no surprise to us that people are admitting that their firewall rules are in a mess and some are even cheating to get them through the audit process."
The survey also found that 22% of firewall audits take anything from a few weeks to a few months, with 70% saying that their audits take a few days.
"From a security perspective with audits not being undertaken frequently and with many taking time to conduct, it can mean that many companies have firewalls that at best are running under par, and at worst, contain shadowed or obsolete rules that introduce unnecessary risk to the organisation such as potential violation from infiltrators who look for anomalies that they can break through," said Kitov.
Tufin also found that more companies than ever before are buying IT hardware off e-bay, a discovery that a Tufin Sales Director found when he visited one of the biggest metal manufacturers in the world, who admitted to buying the majority of their IT products over auction sites such as e-bay. The Tufin survey found that almost a quarter of companies (24%) would buy from e-bay if it meant that they would save money.
"With the growing demands of compliance (PCI, SOX, Basel 11 etc) CISOs are finding compliance a labour intensive activity and a threat to the overall IT goal of reducing OPEX. With this in mind it's interesting to see the growing number of companies who are prepared to buy second hand security equipment if they could save money and reduce costs," said Kitov.
Clearly the area of cost savings are a high priority to all companies in the current economic climate, however in the area of IT security and compliance, 52% of companies have revealed that their organisation has not made them focus on cost cuttings as security and compliance are still a priority that budget will be allocated to, so that they will continue to meet all the growing compliance requirements.
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text: Diamonds. Diamonds are the premium currency in ShadowBound which are acquired through spending (real) money. Diamonds are used to purchase things from the shop, speed up cooldowns, buy astrals and talismans, and much more. Retrieved from "http://shadowbound.wikia.com/wiki/Diamonds?oldid=4645" Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you've made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Categories: Items Add category Cancel Save


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Nate McDowell of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Climate Research Lab, will give a talk on the "Effects of Climate on Plants," at 7 p.m. at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, 3540 Orange St. The talk is free and open to the public.
Poetry gatherings, 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs rotunda of Mesa Public Library.
The Los Alamos Genealogical Association will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. in Room 3 of the Mesa Public Library. There will be a discussion and sharing of "Roadblocks in our Genealogy Research." Everyone is asked to bring their research roadblock to share. The public is invited. For more information, call Jodie Frye at 662-3381.
Before Friday night's home football game, students and faculty cut the ribbon at Sullivan Field. The Toppers went on to beat Bernalillo.
SANTA FE — Public Regulation Commissioner Jason Marks says New Mexico's political parties can play a role in reforming the troubled regulatory agency, which has seen two of its members forced from office since last year.
Marks wants to change how candidates for the PRC earn a spot on the primary election ballot, and he proposes requiring them to earn the support of party activists at pre-primary nominating conventions. That's already done for candidates running for statewide offices and Congress.
Council meeting
The County Council will hold a work session at 7p.m., Oct. 18 for a special session in council chambers.
LTAB meeting
The Lodgers Tax Advisory Board will meet at 1 p.m. , Oct. 18 in the chamber conference room.
PEEC talk
Nate McDowell of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Climate Research Lab, will give a talk on the "Effects of Climate on Plants," at 7 tonight at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, 3540 Orange St. The talk is free.
Bond issue
As the first fall freezes begin to settle in the area, Acting Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Brian Nickerson shares some safety steps to take before lighting home heaters and fireplaces.
"Creosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns, builds up in chimneys and can cause a chimney fire if not removed through cleaning," Nickerson said. "Homeowners should always have a professional inspect, and when necessary clean their chimneys at the beginning of each season."
A sturdy fireplace screen increases family protection when burning fires, he said, adding that wood is the only thing that should be burned in a fireplace – never paper or pine boughs, which can float out the chimney and ignite the roof or a neighboring home.
The Charter Review Committee (CRC) returned to the issue of the County Sheriff's role at Tuesday's meeting. The CRC voted to leave the sheriff's duties unchanged and to simply clarify the language of the charter. The current charter assigns only civil duties such as serving court papers to the sheriff, with all law enforcement responsibilities assigned to the LAPD.
WASHINGTON - The congressional "super committee" assigned to identify avenues for reducing the nation's deficit by $1.2 trillion should consider cutting tens of billions of dollars intended to maintain and modernize the country's nuclear weapons complex, a senior House lawmaker said on Tuesday.
"America needs a new nuclear weapon as much as Lady Gaga needs another new outfit," Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said at a Capitol Hill news conference.
Markey, along with 64 other House Democrats, on Tuesday sent a letter urging the 12-member, bipartisan committee to look at a major atomic arsenal rollback, saying that the country could spend more than $700 billion on nuclear weapons over the next 10 years.
Help is on the way for some children that attend Los Alamos Public Schools and qualify for free and reduced price lunches, but not everyone who qualifies will be able to take advantage of the program.
At least not yet.
During the Tuesday Los Alamos Board of Education meeting, and supported by Mountain Elementary Principal Gerry Washburn, board members voted 5-0 in favor of starting a free and reduced price lunch pilot program at Mountain.
The discussion originally focused on what it would take to bring the program to all LAPS schools; however Chief Financial Officer John Wolfe told board members that a lot of work would need to be done if they decided to roll out the program district-wide.
There are promoters — people pushing substantive projects with capital in the bank. Then there are promoters.
I grew up around the latter kind with the smoke, the mirrors, the hustle and the hot checks. I remember one attempt to build a stock issue around a $350 copper lease.
In economic development, hopes and dreams play big roles.
So headlines about the latest "next big things" should bring caution.
As context for big announcements, complaints float that Gov. Susana Martinez has done little to produce jobs in New Mexico. True enough, I think.
But the other truth is that governors can do little to "jump start" an economy.
DENVER, Colo. — The University of New Mexico Lobos were tabbed fourth in the Mountain West Conference women's basketball preseason poll.
The Mountain West announced its 2011-12 preseason women's basketball poll and all-conference team Tuesday at its Basketball Media Day held at The Mtn. Studios in Denver, Colo. The voting panel consisted of the league's eight head coaches and select women's basketball media.
New Mexico garnered 74 points in voting to nab the No. 4 spot, and junior Sara Halasz earned a spot on the 2011 Preseason All-Conference team.
The Lobos finished behind third-place Colorado State (106 points), second place San Diego State (127 poins) and the preseason favorite Horned Frogs of TCU.
Copyright © 2017
The Los Alamos Monitor is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Los Alamos County and Los Alamos, NM, and the surrounding area.


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Young People Spend Most of Their Lives Online
Think about how much you use your BlackBerry to send e-mails and text messages and browse the net and multiply that by let's say 10. That's how much your kids are using their smart phones, computers and mp3 players. NYTimes.com reported that the Kaiser Family Foundation found that young people between ages 8 and 18 spend more than seven and a half hours every day on line--that's excluding computer class. Worried about this new Internet savvy generation hacking into your identity? Here's some ways to upgrade your Online security. As we move from traditional media to the Internet, the online TV show trend is growing. Check out Tatyana Ali's new Webisodes.
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is the book thief suitable to read to my 11 year old?(9 Posts)
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We reported yesterday that several important pieces of blue chip art valued at over 10 million dollars were stolen from a house in Santa Monica California. The case has now had a happy conclusion and the works belonging to Jeffrey Gundlach, the Chief Executive Officer of Doubleline Capital LP have now been recovered. Several major pieces including paintings by Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly, Richard Diebenkorn and Piet Mondrian were taken along with a Porsche, several watches and other valuables. Mr. Gundlach had offered a very handsome reward of $1.7 million for information leading to the return of the property stolen. It is not known if the reward triggered the tip off to police and the recovery of the art.
Amongst the pieces stolen was a work created by Piet Mondrian. This was the centrepiece of Mr. Gundlach's collection. He told an American newspaper that he fell in love with Mondrian after a visit to the Tate Gallery in London, a number of years ago. Mondrian was a Dutch painter who shaped the face of modern painting by contributing work to the 'De Stijl' movement which translates to "The Style". Founded by Theo van Doesburg in 1917. The work had a large impact on the art movement known as neo-plasticism. The style created by Mondrian is largely non-representational and consists of a white background upon which the subject is modified and reduced to create a grid of black vertical and horizontal lines, placed with the use of primary colours. Another important painting in the collection was by the American painter and printmaker Jasper Johns. Johns is best known for his works depicting the American flag, in Pop Art brilliance. Other works taken were created by the sculptor Joseph Cornell who is often classified as a neo-Dadaist. His work includes the use of contradiction, paradox, inspired by surrealism, which he contrasts with the strict rigidness of constructivism and Cy Twombly an American abstract painter, who died last year.
Police in Santa Monica have arrested two suspects connected to the crime, and Gundlach said that at least one of the pieces was stopped from being sold. The break came on Wednesday when Pasadena police officers received a call that the stolen art was being held at a car stereo shop. The Officers raided the Al & Ed's Autosound store on South Rosemead Boulevard, recovered all but one of the stolen paintings and arrested the store's manager Jay Jeffrey Nieto, 45 on suspicion of possessing stolen goods . A second suspect, Wilmer Cadiz, 40, was arrested nearby at his home on suspicion of possessing stolen property and grand larceny . The other painting was recovered at a residence in nearby Glendale. The person holding the work of art has not been arested but is assisting the police with their enquiries.
Gundlach, the founder of DoubleLine Capital, said the recovery marked a "great day for the art world and all those who seek order and justice in our society. My gratitude goes out to Detective David Haro and the entire Santa Monica Police Department for their skillful, tireless and respectful attention to apprehending the criminals and recovering all of the artwork stolen," he said in a statement. "I would also like to thank the many well wishers who offered support and whose optimism over the last two weeks proved accurate." He added; "If the people that turn in the tip were part of the burglary they will not receive a single penny," according to Gundlach. "However, if they were righteous people, they will receive every penny."


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Friendship is the Key
Chapter 1: Shadows Gather
by Appending_fic
"Twilight?" The soft voice, though nearly inaudible, was enough to draw Twilight's attention from her books. Twilight had learned to respond to the voice, even if others around it were far louder; even if Fluttershy didn't have anything important to say (although she often did), Twilight knew it was important that her friend always know she would be heard.
The pale yellow pegasus stepped carefully into the library, steps more nervous than normal. Twilight watched her carefully, knowing that whatever it was, Fluttershy would get to it in time.
Fluttershy stopped next to Twilight's bookstand before she looked up from her hooves. She took a deep breath.
"Twilight, remember when you were telling us the sun is a star?"
"Of course," Twilight replied. "Why? Do you want to know more about the sun and the moon? They're fascinating magical artifacts-"
"No, not about the sun. I want to know about...stars. Do they all shine down on worlds like ours?"
Twilight started and stared at Fluttershy. "I don't...I've never read much about that," she said. "But I think...it makes sense, certainly. Not exactly like our world, of course. If they're far away, they could be any sort of place. Why, it's a wonderful idea, going there and meeting people from another world-"
"Twilight, please." Again, Twilight broke off at Flutteryshy's quiet words. "I...do you really think every star has its own world?"
"Why do you ask?" Twilight said, already distracted by the thought that one of her books might have the answer.
"Only...some of the stars have been vanishing," Fluttershy whispered. "And if they're all a part of another world, then that means-" She broke off, the implications too upsetting for Fluttershy's gentle nature, Twilight suspected.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," Twilight replied. "Stars move around a lot during the night. Plus, with clouds and everything, anything could have just hidden them from view."
"Oh," Fluttershy said. "Well, then thank you. I'm glad to know it's nothing to worry about."
But Fluttershy's concerns niggled at Twilight for some time. There might not have been anything to it, but no one had thought there was anything to Twilight's worries about Nightmare Moon (except Celestia, of course, who knew pretty much everything).
Twilight eventually set aside one of her tomes and climbed quietly up to the observatory so as not to wake Spike. She began scanning the night sky. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, until she passed over the constellation of the Manticore. The star that made up the tip of its tail wasn't visible.
"Odd," Twilight muttered to herself. She was about to turn away to take notes when another nearby star, the central star of the Crown, flared almost painfully bright and vanished.
Twilight gasped and backed away from the telescope. She tripped over a book and fell with a clatter that roused Spike.
"Twilight?" He scurried up the stairs and stared at her worriedly as Twilight tried to sort out her limbs. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Twilight muttered. "I just...I think something is terribly wrong. Spike, take a letter."
"What? No, it's late, and I hate getting mail before sunrise, you know that!"
"It's important, Spike," Twilight said, stamping her hoof.
The baby dragon scowled and crossed his arms. "Fine."
"Dear Princess Celestia. A strange phenomenon has recently come to my attention, and I wanted to consult with you. A friend of mine came to me worried that the stars seemed to be disappearing from the sky..."
Twilight was in a right state, Applejack knew. She'd been pacing and startling for three days, and wouldn't explain what the matter was. All the pacing was upsetting Fluttershy, who was ever quieter and more nervous than usual (although it was hard to tell).
So Applejack at last cornered Twilight in the library.
"Twilight, I've got a bone to pick with you," Applejack announced. "You've been making a right nuisance of yourself, and making Fluttershy worry."
"I didn't do that," Twilight muttered. "She's worrying on her own."
"Then why won't she talk to anyone about it?" Applejack demanded. "And what's got you in such a snit?"
"It's nothing," Twilight said quickly. "I don't want to worry anyone."
"Well, you're doing a fine job of it, driving us all up the wall with your nerves," Applejack said. "You can tell us anything, Twilight. You know that."
"I know, but this is..." Twilight fidgeted, shaking her head. "Do you remember when I was writing to Princess Celestia about Nightmare Moon?"
"Of course I do," Applejack retorted. "But isn't Princess Luna...good now?"
"It's got nothing to do with her," Twilight said. "But it's just as serious, so I didn't want to worry anyone needlessly."
"It's a little late for that," Applejack said. "And in any case, we stood at your side against Nightmare Moon; I think we deserve to know what's going on."
Twilight sighed. "But that's the problem, Applejack. I don't know what's going on. I wrote to Princess Celestia for advice, but I haven't heard back from her yet. Do you think she's ignoring me?"
"Don't worry yourself, honey," Applejack said. "You said that last time, Princess Celestia gave you just the advice you needed to fix things. I'm sure she's giving it all the attention it deserves. And if it's not a problem, she'll tell you."
"I'm sure you're right," Twilight said. She gave an uncertain kick of her hoof. "But what if it's a real problem?"
"Then she'll tell you if she needs your help."
A sudden clatter drew both of the ponies' attention. Spike had fallen from a stack of tomes, a smoking letter clutched in one claw.
"A message for you, Twilight. But it's not from Princess Celestia - it's from Princess Luna."
"Okay, quiet, everypony," Twilight said imperiously. The five assembled ponies fell silent, although Twilight could see it was hard on Pinkie not to be asking every question on her mind. "I'm sure you all know I've been...a little out of sorts, lately. I've been worried about something, and I wrote to Princess Celestia about it-"
"It's not Nightmare Moon again, is it?" Rainbow demanded. "Because we can kick her rump from here to Canterlot!"
"Rainbow Dash, I'm surprised at you!" Rarity snapped. "Princess Luna's gone through a lot, and it's uncharitable to assume she's making trouble again."
"Tch!" Rainbow scoffed, tossing her head. "Whatever. Just tell us what's going on."
"Well..." Twilight frowned. "It's...a little hard to explain."
"No, it isn't," Spike insisted. "You told me earlier it was just an evil shadow eating whole worlds!"
The other ponies let out a collective gasp.
"W-worlds?" Fluttershy stammered.
"Thanks, Spike," Twilight muttered, giving him a brief glare. "That's not...well, it's not that simple. Fluttershy saw a star disappear out of the sky, and I wrote to Canterlot for advice. Princess Luna wrote us a reply."
"How does she know anything? She spent a thousand years in the moon," Rainbow said.
"I don't know," Twilight said. "But she did say she wanted to see us. All of us."
"Why d'you think she wants to see us?" Applejack asked.
"Somehow I doubt it's to tell us not to worry," Rarity said. "She could have written that in a letter."
"I don't know, but I want to find out," Twilight said. "How about it?"
"Sounds exciting!" Pinkie declared.
"I suppose I can't let you go on your own," Applejack said.
"Do you think it's going to be dangerous?" Rainbow asked, her voice bright with excitement.
"I couldn't imagine not joining you," Rarity said. "And what about you, Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy, who had folded in on herself when Spike had mentioned the hungry shadow, spread her wings and stretched herself up. "Something made a star vanish, and if Spike's right, that means it made a whole world disappear. If I can do anything to help, I'm going to do it!" The vehemence in Fluttershy's voice sent even Rainbow skittering back a step.
"That's the spirit!" Twilight said. "So let's get going!"
It was hardly that easy; each pony had to pack, and Spike had to collect every book Twilight thought she might need for the journey. Spike had catalogued three entire bestiaries, two grimoires, and half a dozen books in languages he couldn't read, before Twilight let him take a break.
"If I'm packing the books, what are you doing?" Spike demanded.
"Researching," Twilight replied around a mouthful of salad. "There aren't a lot of references to the stars in Equestrian history, but what are there pretty much confirm Fluttershy was at least half-right. I've been reading up on what sort of worlds we might come across."
"Like dragon worlds?"
Twilight's mouth twitched up at the edges, but she nodded. "Although I wouldn't expect every world to have some sort of 'theme'. It's a bit much to expect. Nevertheless, the books you're packing will make sure we don't run into anything unexpected."
They were to leave shortly after lunch, so Twilight helped Spike gather a few more essentials (food, Spike had to remind her) before hustling him out the door.
The rest of the ponies were gathered outside the library, so they were ready to leave almost immediately. Spike seized a place on Twilight's back and settled back to snooze the way to Canterlot.
His plan was immediately thwarted when the fillies set out at a steady canter that required him to dig his claws into Twilight's gear just to stay on. "Hey, whay's the big idea?"
"Sorry, Spike," Twilight said, "but Luna said we needed to come as fast as possible."
"And she didn't have enough chariots to send to pick us up?" Spike grumbled. He clenched his claws a little tighter and resigned himself to a tough ride. He was sore when they slowed to rest for the evening, and slumped to the ground with a quiet grunt no one seemed to notice.
Most of the ponies were stretching and groaning themselves, few save Applejack used to the constant exertion. So Spike tugged a branch to the center of their little camp and set it ablaze.
Rainbow was first next to it, flopping onto her back and twisting at irregular intervals to catch the heat all over, while Pinkie Pie was close at her hooves, sticks and marshmallows at the ready.
It was almost cheery, settled around the fire.
"Ooh! I've got a great song to sing around the campfire!" Pinkie declared.
Correction: it was going to be cheery if it killed them.
Spike drifted off halfway through the first verse of "There was an Earth Pony Who Wanted to Fly", waking only to Twilight's insistent shaking.
"Wake up, Spike," she said.
"Still dark," Spike muttered, shoving her away.
"No, that's just the clouds," Twilight said. "Come on; we've got to be going."
The other ponies were rousing with approximately the same enthusiasm as Spike managed as he stumbled to the remains of the fire. He spat, but even his starter felt damp.
Rainbow Dash glowered at the sky, her wings drooping.
"All right, that's it!" she snapped, and took to the air. She kicked at the clouds ineffectively, as the dark grey fog clung to her hooves rather than dissipating. After a minute, she dropped back down to the ground, still glowering.
"Are you finished, sugarcube?" Applejack asked.
"For now," Rainbow said with a sharp look upward.
Spike took his place back on Twilight's back, and soon they were were cantering along. After about an hour, Rainbow Dash made another attempt to clear the sky above them, to the same effect.
It was dark and dank enough that Spike normally would have felt worn-out, but something about the air...there was a chill to it that made him wary of even a brief nap, and the air sometimes seemed to brush against him with an irregular, heart-pounding rhythm.
The fillies must have sensed it, too, because they began to gradually speed up, and by Rainbow Dash's third failed attempt at clearing the sky, they were galloping.
They stopped by a river at what Spike assumed to be noon. The ponies were all gasping and panting from the exertion, and Spike was almost chilled to the bone.
"I don't get it," Rainbow Dash complained. "I've never seen clouds this bad!"
"I don't like the looks of them, either," Twilight said. "They remind me of the day Nightmare Moon came back."
"Yeah, it's making my tail twitch," Pinkie complained.
Twilight froze mid-step before darting off of the road to take cover under a bush. A moment later, a tremendous thunderclap shook the air, dislodging an equine form that slammed to earth where Twilight had been standing. Fluttershy whinnied in surprise as the rest of the ponies froze. It took just a moment, however, for Applejack to close in on the pony, a young colt who seemed more dazed than hurt by the fall.
"Are you all right?"
"Course I am, Kai-" The colt glanced up and his eyes widened comically; he tried to stand and back away from Applejack at the same time, but only unded up tripping over his own hooves, landing in an undignified blue heap. His eyes, a mild ice blue, were still wide as he stared at the ponies. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"I'm Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie declared. "This is Twilight Sparkle, that's Applejack, Rarity's over here, and Fluttershy's hiding over there behind Rainbow Dash. Who are you?" The colt tried to scramble again, possibly because Pinkie had ended with her face inches from his own, and he was already skittish. His mane, an even paler blue than his coat, flopped over his face as he fell down again, too-long legs tangled oddly beneath him.
"Riku," he muttered, clearly trying to edge away from her.
"Calm down, Pinkie, and get out of that poor pony's face," Twilight said.
"I'm not a-" The colt glanced down at his flank and let out a terrified whinny. A moment later, he leapt to his feet and shot forward, closing in on Twilight. "What did you do to me?"
"Me? I didn't do anything!" Twilight protested.
"Well, you did get out of the way," Pinkie said.
"I've never seen anybody move that fast when Pinkie gets one of her senses," Applejack mused.
"That's because you didn't spend a whole day getting hit with every little twitch and shiver she gets!" Twilight retorted.
"Hey. Hey!" The ponies turned to Riku, who was glaring at them with a ferocity he'd lacked when confused and dazed. "Can you just tell me where I am?"
"About halfway between Ponyville and Canterlot," Rarity said. "Where'd you come from?"
"Ponyville?" Riku asked. "That's - I came from the Destiny Islands."
"I'm never heard of those," Twilight said thoughtfully. "Does anypony know about them?"
The assembled fillies shook their heads, and a transformation came over Riku. While he'd started scared, and gone to belligerant, he was now watching them with a look of awe.
"You're - this is really -" He spun in an excited circle, trying to take in his surroundings and the details of his flank all at once. It gave the fillies a moment to take in his appearance as well.
The colt didn't look much older than them, and was a medium shade of blue with almost silver hair. His cutie mark was an image of a pointed key. He was still awkward in his movements, but when he straightened to grin at the fillies, there was a brash confidence there.
"So, what are you...girls up to?" Riku winked.
Twilight sighed and pushed through the other fillies. "Look, I'm sure you've got an interesting story, but we're on an important mission right now."
"Mission?" Riku asked. "You don't look like much. Maybe you need a little help."
"Help?" Rainbow demanded. "Maybe you need a good kick in the rump! I can handle anything!"
"Calm down, Rainbow," Applejack said placidly. "He's obviously not from around here, so give him some slack. How's he supposed to know about how we beat Nightmare Moon?"
Riku's expression darkened briefly. "Then maybe I ought to tag along, anyway. I've never been here before, and this...Canterlot sounds likes somewhere I can get some answers."
"Not for a strange colt who literally fell out of the sky," Rarity said. "Darling, we might be friendly fillies-" Pinkie giggled, and Rarity pushed on, "but we're hardly dragging you into the palace on five minutes of acquaintance. For one thing..." She glanced up. "Your Destiny Islands - how did you get here from there?"
"And what's your purpose here?" Rainbow snapped, stepping up and pushing her face nearly into Riku's. He stumbled back, hooves scrambling on the turn. "Are you a spy?"
"Who'd he be spying for?" Applejack asked.
"I don't know," Rainbow said, sitting down hard, folding her front legs petulantly. "But he'd better answer our questions!"
Riku sighed. He sat down, too, awkwardly trying to curl into a ball. "I came here because I was sick of the islands. And..." He looked up at the dark sky. "I guess I...flew?"
"Well, either you did or you didn't, sugarcube," Applejack said. "What'd you do?"
"Nothing!" Riku snapped, shooting to his feet. When he realized he was the center of attention from all six ponies and dragon, he ducked his head, blue hair drooping over his slim face. "I'm lost, okay? I got...lost running away from my home. I don't know what happened, but I think it was something bad, because I couldn't find it again. So I want to go with you. I want to see if there's someone who can help me at your...Canterlot."
"Well, if that's what you want," Twilight said uncertainly. "But you need to stick close; things could get ugly before you could say 'Equestria'."
"Equestria!" Pinkie Pie declared. The other ponies all stared at her. "What? I wanted to see what would happen!"
Rainbow Dash glanced back, frowning when she saw Fluttershy at the back of their group, practically trailing behind them, eyes fixed on her hooves.
"Keep your eye out," she instructed Applejack before sweeping back to where Fluttershy was walking. Rainbow slowed her wingbeats so she was just keeping pace with her friend. She remained silent, until Fluttershy glanced up and yelped.
"Jeez, Fluttershy," Rainbow said. "It's just me. I might be amazing and all, but you know that already, right?"
"Yeah," Fluttershy said. "Um..."
"Look, are you still worrying about what Spike said?"
"Aren't you? It's horrible thinking about something eating worlds..." Fluttershy shuddered.
"Ah, come on, Fluttershy. Where's the brave old Fluttershy who yelled down a dragon? Stared down a Cockatrice?"
"It's not that I'm not...brave," Fluttershy said. "It's just terrible to think of all those poor people...and animals. What happens to them?"
Rainbow laughed. "I bet they've got people like Celestia to help everyone get away. You're just feeling bad over nothing, Flutter."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
Rainbow grinned and dropped to the ground, nudging Fluttershy enough that she started, staring at the brightly-maned pony. "Don't apologize, Flutter. Just try to cheer up."
"I'll try," Fluttershy said, voice a tiny bit stronger than it normally was.
"Great!" Fluttershy took on a more normal speed, and Rainbow trotted along with her. "So...what do you think Princess Luna wants to talk to us about? I've heard she doesn't see just anypony."
"She's obviously decided we were the choice candidates to deal with...whatever this whole mess is about," Rarity said haughtily. "Not that I blame her. I mean, we did show her a thing or two the last time we met, what with Nightmare Moon and everything."
Rainbow gave an amused snort. "Yeah, we totally did."
"What's with this Nightmare Moon thing?"
Ranbow shot a glare at Riku; something about the colt set her off, and she wasn't going to play nice, even if Rarity seemed perfectly willing to, as she launched into a dramatic description of the whole affair.
"Oh, it was terrible. Ages and ages ago, the Princess Luna tried to plunge the world into eternal night, so her sister locked her away forever and ever. And then she escaped, and Nightmare Moon tried it again. All hope seemed lost, until I...and my friends," she added gracefully, "gathered the mythical Elements of Harmony and defeated Nightmare Moon once and for all! It was quite an accomplishment, you know." She fluttered her eyes at Riku, who managed to look moderately impressed.
"You said Princess Luna, and then Nightmare Moon. Are they the same person?"
Rarity opened her mouth, and then glanced at Rainbow Dash in confusion. "I've never...it never really came up."
"Don't look at me," Rainbow declared. "I don't worry about that sort of thing."
"Princess Celestia told me something about it, once," Twilight said. "She said all the anger and bitterness in Luna's heart built up so much that it..."
"Collapsed in on itself," Riku said. He abruptly broke into a gallop.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Applejack shouted as the colt bolted past her.
"We've got to get to the castle and find this Luna before it's too late!"
"Too late for what?" Twilight shouted after him. But Riku wasn't paying attention, and Twilight sped into a canter to keep up with him. The others followed suit, and Rainbow, never one to give up an opportunity to race, took to the air.
At this speed, it took just a few hours to reach Canterlot. The sky, however, remained dark and ominous, and Rainbow, already irritable, felt like kicking something that wouldn't just stick to her hooves. Pinkie, however, seemed unaffected. When they closed on Canterlot, Rainbow slowed when she realized something had changed.
"Girls? Something weird is going on..."
"The castle's in such disarray!" Rarity said. "The guards are-"
"Halt! In the name of the Lady Celestia!" Riku skidded to a halt and collapsed in front of a pair of unicorn guards. The other ponies slowed and stopped significantly more gracefully. "State your business!"
"I'm Twilight Sparkle," Twilight said, stepping forward. "I'm Princess Celestia's protege, and me and my friends are here to see Princess Luna."
"Well, I'm afraid you're out of luck," the guard said. "You're not going to see her."
"She specifically asked us to see her!" Twilight protested.
The guard snorted. "Good luck."
A beam of light swept over the group, and the guard looked up in shock "Ma'am!"
"You can let them in, Ironhooves," Princess Celestia said gently. "I was expecting them."
"Your Majesty," the guard deferred.
Princess Celestia looked at the assembled group and gave them an approving nod. Her eyes stopped when she saw Riku, however. "Is this another of your friends, my faithful student?"
Twilight glanced at Riku, gritting her teeth in obvious embarrassment. It had been bad enough when she was introducing her actual friends to Princess Celestia, Rainbow supposed. Trying to vouch for somepony she'd never met was probably driving her halfway crazy.
"This is Riku, and...he sort of...dropped in?" she said uncertainly. "I'd actually planned to duck into the library to see if I could help him find his way home. He can wait out here if things are too hectic inside-"
"No," Celestia interrupted. She wasn't looking at Twilight, which seemed odd. Every time Rainbow had seen the princess and Twilight Sparkle in the same room, they'd tried to pay attention to each other. But the princesses' eyes were fixed on the dark sky. "I don't want anypony out here alone if I can ensure otherwise. I think we can find an empty room to keep him in until we're finished."
"Finished with what?" Twilight asked.
The princess tilted her head at her student. "I have important matters to discuss, and out here is not the place."
Rainbow scowled at the prospect of more talking, but trailed after the other ponies dutifully. Riku was the last to move, leaving him and Rainbow walking even. She slowed, trying to keep behind him, but he slowed, keeping pace with her.
"So, what sort of stuff do you do around here?" Riku asked.
"Drop it, colt," Rainbow said. "You're not my type."
"I - what?" Riku asked. "I was just trying to be friendly. I've never been around here before. Jeez, got much of an ego on you?"
"Of course I've got an ego - you don't get to be the best flier in Equestria without one!" Rainbow retorted. She wondered if anyone would notice if she shoved Riku off a cliff. "I bet you can't match that."
"With what wings?" Riku demanded. "And I happen to be the best fighter I know."
"Well, that just makes you a one-trick pony, because I can fly, fight, and kick the heck out of stormclouds!"
"You can't cook, though," Pinkie pie interjected. "Or draw-"
"I don't think Riku needs to hear the few things I can't do perfectly," Rainbow interrupted. "I think he wants to know about the mysterious goings-on which have nothing to do with my insignificant flaws!"
Riku was smirking; Rainbow took a deep breath to subsume the urge to hit him. But they were inside, now, stopped by a sitting room. Princess Celestia smiled at Riku and gestured to the door with her head. The guards hovering in the background seemed slightly less friendly, but that was just their job.
"Can't I go with you?" Riku asked Twilight.
"I'm sure you understand why we're hesitant to allow a stranger to be privy to my private discussions," Celestia said gently. "But I'm certain Twilight Sparkle will be able to help you get home after we're finished."
"I don't care about home," Riku snapped. "I've seen something like Nightmare Moon before. If she's back, this whole world is in danger!"
Celestia narrowed her eyes, and Rainbow wondered if she was going to banish Riku to the moon. Nopony'd been brave enough to bring up Nightmare Moon in Celestia's hearing since the...incident. She'd been resisting the urge to kick Riku for the sake of Twilight for nearly ten minutes, so she was going to watch if Celestia was going to punish him for his arrogance. But then Rainbow saw a tiny reflection on the princess' cheek - a tear - and her heart sank. This couldn't be even remotely good.
"Maybe you're right," Celestia said softly. "But I have to hope..." She stared at Riku for a long moment, and the colt shifted uncomfortably under her gaze before the princess relented. "Well, if you've entered my student's good graces, perhaps you might be allowed to hear this." She stepped int the sitting room herself, and gestured for the others to follow her. They trailed in, one by one, until they were sitting in a circle and Celestia firmly closed the door behind them.
"Ladies...and gentlepony," Celestia said quietly. "I'm glad you're all here. Even though I didn't expect some of you, and the circumstances could be far better."
"Not to offend," Rarity said, "But we were intending to meet with Princess Luna. She said she knew something about the disappearing stars."
"She said much the same to me," Celestia said, "before she disappeared sometime last night."
"Last night?" Twilight asked. "She told us to come here just a few days ago!"
"She sought me ought last night to speak to me, and never appeared to make the moon set. She's gone, again, and with the strange clouds, I'm worried about her."
"You don't think she's Nightmare Moon. So what do you think happened?"
Celestia glanced at Riku, eyes wide, but she didn't say anything.
"Princess?" Fluttershy said. "Are you all right?"
Celestia bowed her head, and when she spoke, it was as soft as Fluttershy's own voice, and directed at the marble floor. "She left without explaining, much as she did when she became Nightmare Moon. But she left a note for me. And I agree it was a warning, of sorts. It's why I let you in here, Riku. You think you know what happened to my sister?"
"Not..." Riku shifted under the weight of the divine gaze. "I met a man who told me about Darkness. It's looking for a way in."
Celestia's gaze bored into the colt, but he didn't seem any more discomfited, so Rainbow thought he might actually be telling the truth. "She told me to send my student away from here, Riku. She said to find a door the shadows can't use. Does that sound familiar?"
"I don't know!" Riku snapped. "I just thought - I've seen the stars disappearing, and I know it's nothing good. So don't...I don't know any more than you. Something bad's happening, and I want to stop it."
"The stars, yes." Celestia glanced away, towards a window and the shaded sky. "The stars are my sister's, the same as the moon. But she told me, once, that she didn't make them, just shared the night with them. My...mother spoke of a time when stars vanished from the sky. It was nothing like this, though. It was a war, and everypony knew where they stood." She sighed and drooped. "I wish Luna were here."
Rainbow glanced away. She felt they hadn't been meant to hear that, as even Twilight was shifting nervously from hoof to hoof.
"Maybe we're supposed to find her," Rainbow said. "She asked you to send us away." She walked closer to the monarch, stopping when she was still a length away from Celestia. As much as she was trying to cheer up the princess as she might one of her friends, it wouldn't end well if she actually touched Celestia. She ducked her head down, though, grinning when she caught Celestia's eyes. "And even if she didn't, we can find her anyway."
Celestia blinked at Rainbow, and she was smiling again. Sadly, but she wasn't crying any longer. Rainbow let her grin widen. She could be an awesome friend, to princesses and regular ponies!
"I don't think...Luna will be found easily, if she doesn't want to be. But it is well you find something to occupy yourself with, Twilight Sparkle, if I am to listen to my sister's plea. And your friends, as well, because I doubt even Nightmare Moon would imagine Twilight would go somewhere the rest of you wouldn't follow." She smiled at each of them in turn, although Celestia paused when she looked at Riku, obviously still worried about his appearance, or history, or something more subtle. "If you are to leave here, Twilight, you must study what is happening to our world, to the stars. Learn. We cannot hope to do anything about it if we understand nothing about it."
Riku jerked away from the princess, stumbling again. He just smiled weakly when Rainbow stared at him. Rainbow narrowed her eyes at the colt; there was something about him she just didn't trust. That boy was trouble, she'd bet her wings on it. She resolved not to let him out of her sight.
"That's all well and good, but how are we supposed to go where shadows can't follow?" Pinkie said. "Unless we're supposed to go somewhere really bright. Except you'd still have a shadow. Goodness, this is a hard riddle."
"Maybe we ought to just sleep on it," Riku suggested.
"You're welcome to stay here," Celestia said. "But please try to stay out of the way; there have been some worrying reports from the Everfree Forest and Untamed Desert, and the guards have been on high alert."
"Sure," Applejack said. "You'll barely know we're here."
"The door to this world is yet sealed to us."
"Hmph. I don't see why we have to go around waiting for someone to let us in, like some sort of...servants."
"We are no one's servants. But there are laws by which we are bound. Laws that will fade, soon enough. And then...the world will be our oyster."
"Not that world. The walls are too strong. The key too well hidden."
"Don't worry yourselves. We've got a man...pony...on the inside. After all, we may be stuck outside like servants, but that never makes us...common."
AN - Hey, all. You'll notice I've done a little re-organizing. I'm a little happier with how this chapter flows than how it originally did. Taking a small break from actually writing this weekend, though, though I hope I get back to it soon. I am having fun writing it, at least.


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Night Owl Optics presents their 2008 line of Night Vision Binoculars providing premium performance and modern design. Model NOB5X includes a 50mm lens and 5X magnification that proves to be ideal for camping, hiking, wildlife, hunting, and security.
Electronics, Computer & Photo > Home Audio & Theater > Audio Video > Cameras & Optics > Binoculars/Monoculars


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A novel by Mick Cochrane
Mick Cochrane follows up his critically acclaimed debut novel Flesh Wounds with Sport, the story of a boy's search for order and belonging in a world where the rules keep changing.It is 1967. Harlan Hawkins is a wise and wily kid with a passion for baseball. He plays first base on his summer league team, obsessively collects baseball cards, and avidly follows the fortunes of his beloved hometown Minnesota Twins. And then, his world is suddenly, inexplicably shaken when his mother is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and his hard-drinking, explosive father abandons them. The Hawkins family quickly descends into a kind of awkward suburban poverty. Sport charts the boy's struggle for survival, for love and safety, for belonging and self-knowledge, through a series of adventures that are sometimes terrifying, sometimes funny, often both. At the center of Sport is the boy's mother, shrewdly, crankily intelligent, full of defiant wisecracks and bitter wisdom, driven by her fierce love for her son. She introduces him to the pleasures of dangerous fun and implores him to swing from the heels and hit away, to make his mistakes loud and large.He is cautiously befriended by George Walker, his baseball coach and neighbor, who does what he can to bring a measure of stability to the boy's life. And when Mr. Walker offers him what looks like a way out, the boy must take stock of what he's learned and make a decision regarding who he is and where he belongs.Sport is about the tension between two worlds: the world as we wish it to be, and the world as it is-frail and broken, dangerous and doomed, terrible and beautiful. Sport is about learning to love the broken world.
Similar Books by other authors...
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Used availability for Mick Cochrane's Sport
See all available used copies of this book at Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
December 2000 : USA Hardback
|Title: Sport
Author(s): Mick Cochrane
ISBN: 0-312-26994-3 / 978-0-312-26994-4 (USA edition)
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA
Paperback Editions
January 2003 : USA Paperback
|Title: Sport: A Novel
Author(s): Mick Cochrane
ISBN: 0-8166-4085-8 / 978-0-8166-4085-0 (USA edition)
Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press
Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA
Genre Pages


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Perfection Nachos
Recipe by jusme
My husband and I have perfected the Nacho! This recipe is the result of many trials and errors, and somewhat nasty nachos. NOTE: The spice quantity added to the beef is VERY approximate; I just sprinkle on the spices until I think it tastes good. We like it spicy, and not salty, like the packaged taco seasonings. I hope you enjoy this as much as we do!
Top Review by steve in FL
I didn't think the meat mixture was too spicy at all - must be a subjective taste I guess.. Anyhow - I loved these nachos! I much prefer the cheese sauce over melted cheese, which hardens quickly and leaves you with one big welded nacho.. Velveeta is the best! I also used my own fresh-fried corn chips, which I suggest people do to get the most wonderful nacho ever. (Just slice up some fresh corn tortillas and deep-fry till crisp).. My toppings were diced tomato, green onion, sliced black olives and pickled jalapeno slices.. guac and sour cream. Delicious.
See Discussion:2 Reviews
Ingredients Nutrition
For Beef
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced dried onion
- 1⁄2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 dash hot sauce
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano (Mexican oregano is the best, but Italian works, too)
- 1⁄2 tablespoon ground cumin
For cheese sauce
- 1⁄2 lb Velveeta cheese, cut into small cubes (this is approximate depending on how much yummy cheesiness you want)
- 1 cup salsa (also approximate. add enough to spice up the Velveeta)
- sliced green onion, both white and green parts
- sliced black olives
- guacamole or sliced avocado
- sour cream
- tortilla chips (We use Mission triangle chips because they're durable)
Directions See How It's Made
- Brown beef in skillet with all of the spices. Adjust spice according to taste. Drain fat.
- Combine Velveeta and salsa in a bowl. Microwave, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.
- Arrange a layer, or mound, of chips on a plate, and top with meat first, then cheese (acts like glue so meat doesn't roll off the chip when it's on the way to your mouth), then toppings.


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Breakfast has been had and it's now time to pack our rooms away. The children aren't too happy about the packing side of things, as you can see, and they are excited but a bit sad to be coming home as they've had such a good time.
Child: Miss McLaren, my clothes don't fit in my case.
Miss McLaren: Did they all arrive in that case?
Child: Yep.
Miss McLaren: Then they do fit in the case. Have you folded them or crammed them in?
Child: (turning pink) Crammed.
Miss McLaren: (Teacher look.)
Child: (Turns and silently returns to dorm.)
The children will be spending some time having a debrief with their instructors and then a spot of lunch before we leave at 12pm. We'll see you soon!


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Organisation: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: FAO Representative
Vacancy Announcement Number: FRUGA/01/GIO/347/UK
About US:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has a global mandate to improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, raise the standard of living in rural populations and contribute to global economic' growth. Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts - to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
Job Summary: The National Consultant - Monitoring and Evaluation will be responsible for establishing a fully functional monitoring system for the Uganda land component of Output 3.1 of the project GCP/GLO/347/UK (Supporting Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests) at field level, district and at national level in Kampala.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Work in liaison with Makerere University's School of the Built Environment (College of Engineering, Design and Art), and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development (MoLHUD), conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the work completed so far under Phase 1 ("Project 1) of the project which ends in May.
- Based on the results from the evaluation, and in close consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, develop a plan for the rollout of Phase 2 of the project covering the issuance of 500 new Certificates of Customary Ownership (CCOs) in Kasese
- Develop a logical framework and M&E plan for Phase 2 (mentioned above) outlining the process and result indicators that should be measured as part of the M&E process for Output 3,1 of the project in Kasese. The M&E system would be tested in Kasese during Phase 2 and would later serve as a basis for M&E of future districts where CCOs will be implemented.
- Develop a detailed workplan and Gantt chart covering and sequencing all the tasks, resources and estimated duration of the processes and actions that will be required to establish a fully functional and progressively self-sustaining monitoring process for that project component.
- Contact and consult with all the relevant stakeholders engaged or involved in the project (including national institutions like MoLHUD, Uganda Land Commission (ULC), Makerere University, and at district and community levels) and communicate this workplan and the support and collaboration required of them during the subsequent stages of establishing the M&E system.
- Work in close consultation with the M&E Unit and the Admin/ Finance, Operations and Procurement offices in Kampala, mobilize the resources required to implement this M&E workplan, including organizing consultative meetings/workshops, generating travel and procurement requests, identifying and assembling enumeration teams, and administratively facilitating and technically supervising any fieldwork involved.
- Develop a database, and organize and lead the process of identifying data sources and collecting/ compiling the data for measuring the stated indicators in a cost-effective but accurate manner including, if necessary, conducting rapid assessments and studies involving beneficiaries, key informants and other stakeholders. Ensure the database is updated with these data.
- Use the compiled data and/or evaluation statistics to develop a baseline of the quantified state of the indicators that will serve as a benchmark for comparative analysis at the end of the project and that will be adopted for districts willing to engage in the exercise in the future.
- Compile and submit a status report of the developed M&E system and ensure that a8 the requisite data and reports, as well as any docunentation of the M&E system (including databases) are shared with the project management team and the M&E Unit of FAO
- Perform any other duties as requested of you by the FAO Representative in Uganda.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) National Consultant - Monitoring and Evaluation opportunity should hold a University degree in Agriculture (with Economics specialization), Economics, Statistics or Social Sciences. Possession of an advanced qualification (Masters or Post Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management, M&E, or Economics).
- A minimum of five years of professional experience in M&E for a private or public organization, preferably with land, natural resource, food security and/or agriculture focused programmes.
- Broad knowledge on the technical aspects of developing and/or conducting M&E in agricultural, food security, land or natural resources management fields.
- Excellent communication and report writing skills
- Working experience with FAO and other UN agencies is an advantage
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified Ugandan candidates are encouraged to send their applications together with detailed curriculum vitae and copies of certificates in a sealed envelope, quoting Vacancy Announcement no. addressed to: The Country Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization in Uganda. The envelopes should be registered at reception and placed in the box at the reception of the FAO offices at Plot 88 Buganda Road, Wandegeya, Kampala.
Note: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. FAO does not charge applicants any fees at any stage in the recruitment process.
Deadline: 29th April 2016
For more of the latest jobs, please visit http://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline