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Ah, Dwyane Wade's return to Milwaukee. The time that Marquette only fans become NBA fans for the day and venture down the the Bradley Center for their one Bucks game of the year. Coincidentally (or not) it's also when I hope the Bucks play their best game of the season and convert a fan here or there to the NBA game. Believe it or not, that rarely happens and I'm often left hearing my Marquette fan friends inform me that the NBA still sucks and that Wade may or may not be a reincarnate of Jesus.
Anyway, it's a back to back with the Heat, so no preview Monday, instead I have something else planned. So be sure to stop back. I may even have something for you Dwyane Wade fans.
Milwaukee Bucks (Scott Skiles) 19-25
(Probable) Inactives: Francisco Elson, Michael Redd and Joe Alexander
Miami Heat (Erik Spoelstra) 24-22
(Probable) Inactives: Yakhouba Diawara and Michael Beasley
Date: 1/30/2010 & 2/1/2010
Time: 7:30 (CST) & 6:30 (CST)
TV: FS Wisconsin x 2
Point Guard
Brandon Jennings vs. Rafer Alston
Miami looked far and wide for a veteran point guard to guide them through this season after general dissatisfaction with the play of second year guard Mario Chalmers through the early parts of the season. Chalmers has seen his minutes dip with each passing month and Miami now seems more content to get 30 minutes of just as mediocre play out of the veteran Alston. It doesn't really matter who Miami trots out as the supposed point guard next to Dwyane Wade anyway, because Wade's going to have the ball in his hands the majority of the time when the game begins to matter anyway. I've always been a proponent of having a deadeye shooter at the point guard spot next to a player like Wade. All they really need out of their point guards is shooting and defense, two things Alston doesn't do very well.
Advantage: Bucks
Shooting Guard
Charlie Bell vs. Dwyane Wade
Its Wade's world in Miami as the Heat guard leads the NBA in usage at 35.09 percent. That means when he's on the court, Wade uses roughly 35 percent of the Heat's offensive possessions. In comparison, Brandon Jennings leads the Bucks in usage at 27.34, or nearly eight percent less than Wade. So if you thought Jennings had the ball a lot, wait till you see D-Wade. Of course, the upside to having the ball in Wade's hands is what he typically does with it, and that's put it in the basket. Wade's averaging over 27 points a game and is taking seven shots at the rim nightly, terrific numbers for a shooting guard. The knock I'd have on Wade is that he's shooting three times a game from the three-point arc, that's three wasted shots as he's hitting at just a 30 percent clip from deep on the year. The more threes Wade takes, the better the Bucks will feel.
Advantage: Heat
Small Forward
Carlos Delfino vs. Quentin Richardson
Despite being traded every 20 minutes this off-season, Richardson has settled in nicely as the designated shooter in Miami. All but 97 of his 273 shots this year have come from outside the three-point line and he's hit 39.2 percent of his threes. So the Bucks are going to want to run out on Richardson and make him put the ball on the ground here and there. I'm assuming he's forgotten what to do once he's forced to do that. Richardson seems the perfect patsy for Delfino to continue his stellar month of January on though, so that's exciting.
Advantage: Bucks
Power Forward
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute vs. Joel Anthony
Anthony has spent a lot of time over the years playing center for the Heat and helps make for a rather lengthy Miami front line. Fortunately, he isn't and never has been and probably never will be very good offensively. Mbah a Moute will likely have free reign to gamble if he so chooses. The Bucks will likely find a way to have LRMAM spend some of his floor time guarding Wade anyway. Anthony's primary role is as a shot-blocker where he can actually be quite effective. With him an O'Neal down low, the Bucks may have their share of struggles at the rim.
Advantage: Bucks (but really has there been a worse match-up all year than these two?)
Andrew Bogut vs. Jermaine O'Neal
Every time you find yourself cursing the world because the Bucks have paid far too much money for the services of Michael Redd, just remember that O'Neal is being paid $23 million this year to be an average player. Once a feared shot-blocker with a finesse offensive game, O'Neal is a shell of his former self and hasn't even blocked many shots this year. He does shoot a high percentage from nearly everywhere on the court though and could give Bogut problems if he's hitting midrange shots that pull the Aussie away from the hoop. Bogut should be able to use his size to pound O'Neal inside and get off his baby hooks without much of an issue.
Advantage: Bucks
Luke Ridnour, Kurt Thomas, Ersan Ilyasova, Hakim Warrick and Jerry Stackhouse
Udonis Haslem, Dorell Wright, James Jones, Jamal Magloire and Mario Chalmers
Miami has a little bit of everything on their bench, but none of it is that good. Magloire is big and bad, but also quite literally bad as well. Haslem has a very nice midrange game and has always seemed every bit the player David West is to me, just in a situation that doesn't exploit his advantages enough. Jones can shoot every now and then and Wright is an athlete who supposedly can play basketball, but there are holes in that story. Milwaukee absolutely has the edge in this match-up and could pull away any time Dwyane Wade isn't in the game.
Advantage: Milwaukee
Prediction: Bucks 98 – Heat 91
As bad as Miami is, it's hard to expect them to go quietly with Dwyane Wade on their team. Not one other Miami player strikes me as so much as above average, but Wade is so terrific that he makes up for nearly all their flaws when he's playing with passion. That would explain the schizophrenic nature of this Heat team, which can lose by 30 and win by 30 a night apart. That's not exactly the kind of team that's fun to play on a back to back. The Bucks have played with more consistency lately and it's translated into better play if not better results. Against a middling Heat team, Milwaukee has an opportunity for success staring them in the face.


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Discussion in 'Ballroom Dance' started by SDsalsaguy, Jul 20, 2003.
ROTFLMAO :lol:
Ok DancingMommy, but but now tell us how you really feel! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Do you *really* want to know??? Cuz I can GO ON AND ON on that one....
I've seen both sides of the fence on this one and I do have an opinion. :wink:
OK, so here's the magic formula for keeping comp costs reasonable for the student.....
1. Determine number of students attending
2. Count number of entries/student
3. Determine what days each student will be competing
4. Is the pro going to compete with a pro partner?
if "yes", and the pro heats are danced on the same day as same of the heats as any of the students, delete that day as a teacher expense or at minimum only charge for the actual time you will be focused on your students. You'll be there anyway and it isn't fair to charge students for time that you are using to pursue your goals as a pro.
if "no" or "yes" and the pro heats are NOT danced on the same day as same of the heats as any of the students, add that day as a teacher expense.
5. Determine which packages/travel arrangements work best for which students. If a student is only competing on one day, then don't have them buy more package than they need. They'll thank you for it!
Sometimes (especially at local comps) students are only going for a few hours and don't care to get all the "stuff" - programs, etc. and don't need a hotel. I know for us at Sunshine State in '01, we actually got our hotel using the Florida Resident discount. It ended up being CHEAPER than the comp rate. And never underestimate the power of places like expedia.com.
Here is the most complicated example I can come up with:
You have 4 students going to a comp that lasts 3 days.
Your students are competing all 3 days, but only 1 is competing the full 3 days, one is competing 2 days & the other 2 are competing 1 day.
You are competing with your pro partner on 2 of those days.
You are one very busy pro!
On a grid it looks like this:
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Student 1 Student 1 Student 1
Student 2 Student 2
Student 3 Student 3
Student 4
Pro Comp Pro Comp
Student 1 is not dancing that many entries, but they are spread out.
Student 2 is dancing a ton of one-dance events as well as scholarships.
Student 3 is dancing scholarships and solo exhibitions.
Student 4 is only dancing one dance events.
You (the pro) are dancing rising star one day and open the next.
How to split "expenses":
Day one should be split evenly by 3 since there are 3 students.
Day two should be split evenly by 5 since there are 3 students and you and partner will be there competing anyway.
Day three should be split evenly by 4 since there are 2 students and you and partner will be there competing anyway.
Only on day one should the pro in question think about getting reimbursed for food or hotel since they would already be there in the first place for days 2 & 3. Days 2 & 3 are deductible business expenses for the pro.
Students should be responsible for their own food/lodging if *not* on a package. Pros shouldn't mark up the package prices as they are already large enough as it is. If you want to charge something, charge for the actual time that you will be with the students dancing with them (IE: per entry surcharge). A typical reaonable surcharge per entry would be about $10. After all, how much do you get paid for an hour lesson? Say $60/hr. How long are you dancing that one entry? Maybe 2 minutes? Figure that you have on deck time, practice time, whatever, you can't charge a whole day's pay to every student who is going. They *will* compare notes.
For students going as spectators, don't even think about upcharging!!! Shame on you if you do! My husband ran into this once. The studio wanted to charge him $700 for one night accomodation including spectating NOT including food. He said NO WAY! I know for a fact that other teachers at the same studio were offering the same "deal" for $500. Shame shame shame.
I know this is long and probably doesn't make any sense, but I have a spreadsheet somewhere from when I used to teach... Maybe if I can find it, I'll post it...
Fortunately, not all independent studios are run like franchises, at least in terms of the contracts, etc. I'm currently studying at two independent studios in Orlando, and it's a totally different story there. Fortunately, because my trust of dance teachers was spread pretty thin after my franchise experiences.
Also, did you know that AMI and FADS are both NDCA-approved member organizations? So they can basically certify their own teachers from within. So, as you say, some of thebad teacher problem can be eliminated, but some will likely remain.
Oh Dancing Mommy. I'm going to love having you around! Yes, and dancesportcomps.com is another place to get that sort of information. Some promoters are more forthcoming with information than others, though. Some have prices and everything listed, some, you have to be a registered pro to access the information -- so it's go through a pro, or you're out of luck.
Or "former pro" - hint hint. 8)
FYI, I still get all the info from most of the comps going on (even though I don't *ask* for it). It's the only direct mail I like, LOL.
Anyone want comp info, come to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Boy a lot of opinions on this topic !!
I used to work for AMI as a manager. my wife used to work at FADS. Now we own an independent studio. Most of the independent owners started at one of the franchises. So there is not really any difference between the two. Both have to follow the same laws. The ballroom industry was regulated by the FTC in the 1970's, due to unethical practices by the franchises. This is where the contracts came from. No school is doing you a favor by having you sign a contract... it's the law.
In the state of Ohio the legal limit for dance lessons is 200 lessons or $12,000.00 which ever comes first. These are known as 'Blue Sky 'laws and change from state to state. In Ill. the limit I belive is only $3000.00 so the limit varies a lot. In Ohio any thing sold over $300.00 has to be on a contract. My best advice is don't be a victim. Know the law, call your Att. General's office in your state for your laws and if the studio has any backgroud of unfavorable business practices.
To get info. about any competition simply write or e-mail the organizer and tell them you are an Ameteur couple. They will send you the entire package cost and all. Things have changed over the years and the information is there if you want it. (If you tell them are part of a studio they will send the info. to the studio)
Yes. This topic generated a lot of discussion, didn't it? 8)
The vast majority of the independent studios here offer lessons on a pay-as-you-go basis, with no contracts at all, just personal commitments. That seems to work very well. Only the franchise studios still do the long term contracts, and the contracts do seem to be weighted in favor of the studios, rather than the students.
Okay, this link is hitting the nail on the head.
I am very unhappy with my AM studio because I believe the owner is marking competitions up too much. But, how do I find this out?
I think it was DancingMommy (thanks for all your rant!!!) that said to contact the organizers. Can that be done for an AM event too? Will they give me (a little amateur) that info? I'm thinking probably not.
Just looked back up at posts and saw TwoDance said to contact organizers.
Anyone with any info on this i'd appreciate hearing what a AM event runs on the average, for example the Dance-O-Ramas.
I have been quoted a average price of $2,500.00 and that is without airfare.
How does that sound to anyone from the franchise world?
Hi dream always.... I've never competed within the franchise system so can't speak to how typical that price sounds. As far as I can tell, however, the prices for most *in franchise* events probably isn't subject to all that much fluctuation. This doesn't, of course, mean that there isn't a lot of mark up in the prices, just that your studio probably isn't too much different from any others.
Just my $.02...
The franchise events are significantly more than other events. At my franchise studio a competition runs about $3500CDN ($2500US). Non franchise events are much cheaper (about $800 depending on many things) and here is why:
1. With the franchises you have to bring along all the instructors, so you're paying their way (hotel room, travel, salary, food, etc.) The reason all the staff go along is that it's a training session for them. Non-franchise events you don't have to pay for someone else's rooms and meals, just yours.
2. You're stuck with them...i.e. you get a hotel room for 3 or so days and and you eat, dance and socialize with them. There's no time for anything else. Also, since it's sold as a package picking your room and own meals is out of the question. Non-franchise you can pick your own hotel and eat where you choose.
3. I'm not sure of the cost of 'heats' but in non-franchise you pick your own and generally it's $10 to $20 per heat. With franchises you never know the cost but I've heard it runs $40 to $80 per heat. This may be specific to Pro-Am couples.
4. Also, the higher costs represent the judges fees. The last comp I attended they had: Cher Rutherford, Alain Doucet and Anik Jolicoeur (Canadian Champs), Jean Marc Generoux and France Mousseau. They judged and did some showcase performances for the two nights. These people don't come cheap so you pay with an increased entrance fee.
Hmm. That $2500 sounds about right. I paid less than half of that, but mine was a one-day comp, with no hotel stay required, and involved only one pro, so there was no overhead for all the teachers involved.
Actually, DancingMommy may have more good input on the actual costs, since she has access to the pro-only wholesale package info. And the cost to the student may vary from studio to studio, tango. The dance pros get a wholesaler's package and calculate their own markup. Some of the horror stories I've heard lead me to believe that the markup can be much higher at some studios than at others, so make sure you're working with people you trust.
Do you have a particular comp in mind, tango?
The franchise comps are only available to students at the franchise. They're actually quite small (there's only six franchise's in the province) so I think the markup is slightly higher, but not unreasonable for two people. They do take care of you though... they haul your suitecases to the rooms, get you for dinner, provide free drinks, act like your friend and generally make sure you have a good time.
The non-franchise event was the Falls Premier Ball in Niagra Falls, Ontario (http://www.fallspremierball.com). I didn't attend, I was busy getting married. It's more reasonable for budget minded people since you can pick and choose your lodgings and where to eat, etc. etc.
I have a partner so I don't need to bring along a pro and their rental fees, which is nice, but I would also like to have a coach for these events.
Hi dreamalways! I'm not sure how I missed this earlier. As an amateur, you probably can't get the information you want directly. Most comp promoters keep that info secret, as a courtesy to the dance pros. Your best bet is to befriend a pro and get a look at the wholesaler package.
And are you talking about in-franchise comps, or publicly promoted comps that are attended by people at your franchise studio. If it's a within-franchise comp you're talking about, I doubt you'll ever get the info you want.
Okay. I just googled dance-o-rama. It's a two or three day, within-franchise, AMI, competition. I seriously doubt you're going to get any inside info from the organizers. The best you can hope for is to get the low down from members of a discussion forum like this one. I wish I could help, but I have no experience with AMI. Sorry.
Now you folks have me thinking again. What's the value of these Dance-o-ramas? Are they respected in the competitive dance world? Or are they just an activity that is recognized within a particular franchise?
The franchise I was once affilaited with had periodic studio to studio "competitions," but they were more fun events than anything else. I didn't view them as actual competitive experience, at all.
Thoughts, anyone?
Thanks for the feedback. I think I may try and find a amateur partner and attend some of the comps that are not sponsored by AMI.
I'm looking into this myself, dreamalways. From what I understand, it's a lot less expensive to enter as an amateur, because you don't have to pay for the pro's time spent.
Here's an interesting side note: My current coach told me the other day, "I'd love to dance pro-am with you, but I really encourage you to attend the dance activities. Maybe you can find an amateur partner." That's how I knew he was a good and honest guy. :wink:
Separate names with a comma.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bikinis, thongs, g-strings, penis shaped pouches, men's swimwear that exposes balls or shaft and sometimes both for artistic expression. Sheer suits, micro and ultra micro designs that make the wearer look as small as possible. Fem style male transformation swimsuits that completely erase any idea there is a man wearing it by changing the shape of the penis to that of a vagina. This suits are used by much more than just Transsexuals. Many men are into getting in touch with their real feminine side. This is a natural expression for both gay and straight are interested in feeling the sensation. We talked to koalaswim.com the company that created the transformation trend and they told us many women order these designs for their men and are highly aroused seeing then in the changed state. Michael the head designer at Koala said he can wear these swimsuit styles to the beach with a group of his girlfriends and he gets hit on just like the other girls. Men have no idea because the suits transformation is total. No penis showing at all. Then there are the male enhancement men's swimwear designs on the other end of the spectrum. These suits do everything possible to make you look as large as possible. Available in bikinis, thongs and g-strings these suits make even the smallest hung guys look like porn stars and from the outside of the suit no one can tell how these designs work thier magic. There is a large trend away from surf shots and boxer style swimwear into the more body fitting sexy spandex Lycra styles swimsuit designs. You just need to find the right design for your body and comfort level.
Amazing swimwear designs from ultra extreme to fem to male enhancement and everything in between. Mens swimwear


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NEW YORK--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--VIBE's December/January 2011 issue (on newsstands November 30th) features a holiday issue with two presents: a glamorous cover shoot with R&B honey Keri Hilson and a candid interview with cover subject T.I. that took place one week before he began serving a jail sentence.
"We are very excited about this issue as it marks our one year anniversary under new management and pushes the content to new heights"
In "Pretty Good," Keri Hilson talks about her second solo album "No Boys Allowed," her journey from songwriter to performer and how she plans to break out from her role as the feature artist for Timberland, T.I., Nas and Kanye.
"Mercy Me," T.I.'s last interview before he headed off to serve a jail term for drug possession, gives him a forum to discuss his path from fatherless child to teenage drug and gun runner to successful rapper and back to using drugs. His new album "No Mercy" will be released while he serves time in Arkansas' Forrest City prison.
"We are very excited about this issue as it marks our one year anniversary under new management and pushes the content to new heights," said Brett Wright, VIBE's Co-CEO and Chief Creative Officer.
The issue also features "Once Again, It's the Life," a photo essay and story about Jay-Z's triumphant concert at NY's new Yankee Stadium and his meteoric rise and long term reign on the top of the hip-hop heap, written by dream hampton, co-author of Jay-Z's New York Times bestselling book Decoded; and "Losing Isiah," an interview with Isiah Thomas about highs and lows of coaching in the NBA.
"A sold out hip-hop show in Yankee Stadium is historical and it's only fitting that it took place in the borough where hip-hop was birthed," said Jermaine Hall, VIBE's Editor-in-Chief. "Jay-Z raised the bar for the culture again that night."
New advertisers include Gentleman Jack Whiskey, Laila Ali Beauty Products, Nuvo, Nissan Juke, Toyota Green Initiative, Jose Cuervo Platino and Bacardi Rock Coconut.
About Vibe Lifestyle Network
VIBE Lifestyle Network is the parent company of VIBE Magazine and VIBE.COM and is the premier destination for the hip-hop generation. VIBE Lifestyle Network is a vertical content and advertising network which represents over 25 websites reaching over 19 million unique users per month. The new VIBE.com and VIBE Lifestyle Network are the premier destinations for urban music, entertainment, culture and lifestyle for the aspirational 18-34 year old.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6526976&lang=en


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Alfred Platinum Edition PresenceLed Zeppelin - Alfred Music Publishing
This collection includes all the songs from Led Zeppelin's 7th album Presence. Released in 1976, it is considered to be the band's darkest and most personal recording. The track list includes: Achilles Last Stand, For Your Life, Royal Orleans, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Candy Store Rock, Hots On For Nowhere and Tea For One.
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The first accounts of dissident Chinese artist Ai WeiWei's detention on April 3 of this year are coming out. Reuters carried this story by Sui-Lee Wee detailing the intense pressure brought to bear on Ai during 67 days of detention, where he was reportedly watched by officers 24 hours a day, and subjected to 50+ interrogations. Released on bail in June and told not to talk to the press, Ai began tweeting messages again Monday, urging the release of associates of his who were also taken into custody, saying "if you don't speak out you let a lot of people down, you put them in danger."
also by Bill Davenport
- Lego My Art! - January 30th, 2016
- Archive: Painting on My Planet/The Top Ten Painters in Houston - January 1st, 2016
- Archive: Tire Iron 0: Cropduster: Hills Snyder/Chris Sauter - December 28th, 2015
- DMA Crane Flip Video - April 26th, 2015
- Helmreich New Dean of Fine Arts at TCU - April 25th, 2015


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Best Answer yandoo, 25 June 2013 - 05:06 PM
Thank you for your reply but i tried that too and it still didn't work either.
Here's how I just fixed it:
.button { background:url(style/add_to_cart.jpg); width:90px; height:25px; border:0px; }
'<input type="submit" value="" name="button" id="button" class="button" />';
Thank you for your replies and input.
Go to the full post


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Re: The new svn_wc_adm_*_depth functions.
From: D.J. Heap <dj_at_shadyvale.net>
Date: 2004-03-11 02:44:32 CET
Philip Martin wrote:
> Jon Foster <email@example.com> writes:
I also noticed a number of places that looked like they might not really
For this future optimizing, does someone know of a list somewhere of the
I'm updating this patch (for Julian's comments) and will repost it later
This is an archived mail posted to the Subversion Dev mailing list.


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Susannah's Best Posts Of 2009
While there are still a few days left in 2009, we're going to feature some of our best and favorite posts from the last year. Each of your regular Frisky bloggers has picked out her 10 favorite posts from 2009—some you may remember well, others might have slipped past your radar. Either way, we hope you'll relive the best of The Frisky in 2009. Let's check out what Susannah was up to …
|How To Date A Tall Chick
"While some women think being tall is something worth writing a book about, other women perceive it to be a disability equivalent to a clubfoot. Mostly, it's a blessing and a curse. I can reach the highest shelves, but I'll never blend into the crowd. Dating? That's a whole other story."
|10 Ways The Adult Industry Can Save Itself From Premature Extinction
"In case you haven't heard, the adult movie industry is in trouble. Battered by a perfect storm of problems in recent years—online content pirating, a series of federal obscenity indictments, two HIV outbreaks—the global recession has threatened to push the San Fernando Valley-based X-rated video industry into its death throes.'"
|Has Feminism Gone Too Far?
"Recently, it seems like old-school feminism has returned. This time around, though, it seems like all the political action is gone, and the new feminist key activity consists of pointing out all the ways in which women are supposedly exploited, victimized, or hyper-sexualized by the media."
|Your Worst Pick-Up Lines
"The other day, Wendy asked you, our readers, to share the worst pick-up lines that you've ever heard. And, ladies, you've heard some real doozies!"
|Think Porn Is Empowering? Think Again. It's Not That Simple.
"In 1997, I found myself on the set of an adult movie. The name of the movie was 'Flashpoint.' In the middle of a parking lot, seven people were having an orgy on a firetruck. It was unlike anything I had ever seen."
|10 Things Guys Should Do On A First Date
"First dates are kind of like playing the lottery. You gotta be in it to win it, but sometimes you end up empty-handed. If you're a woman, you know these sort of situations don't always go so smoothly. If you're a guy, here are 10 tips that can make the first date easier on all of us."
|Meet The Frisky Crew At Work!
"Hey! The other day I brought my camera to the Frisky offices, and I took some pictures! Would you like to meet some of the Frisky editorial team? Of course you would!"
|Frisky Q&A: An Interview With Tattooed Lady, Lawyer, Author And Blogger Marisa Kakoulas
"There isn't a lot Marisa Kakoulas hasn't done. She's a lawyer. She runs Needles and Sins, a popular blog focusing on tattoos and tattoo culture. Most recently, she's published a book: Black Tattoo Art: Modern Expressions of the Tribal, a monumental exploration of black art tattooing from around the world, ranging from avant-garde 'art brut' to neo-primitive inkings. I interviewed Marisa about her tattoos, her life as a 'painted lady,' and why she decided to dedicate herself to the art of tattoo."
|Frisky Q&A: Tucker Max Talks "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell," Feminism, Sex, And Why He Loves Women
"So, is Tucker Max for real? Or is he a savvy marketer plugged into what 21st century men really want? We talked to Max about his movie, his sex life, and his detractors. The recently released "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" isn't faring well at the box office. That didn't make him any less cocky."
"Most of the time Hollywood celebrities stay on their side of the Hollywood Hills and adult movie stars stay on their side in the San Fernando Valley, otherwise known as Porn Valley. But that's not always the case. Sometimes they intermingle. Maybe it's their mutual thespian interests. Maybe it's the sex. Check out some of the most interesting love connections between celebrities and porn stars."


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Tazetta Narcissus, Paperwhite Daffodil, Paperwhites 'Minor Monarque'
Narcissus papyraceus
|Amaryllidaceae (am-uh-ril-id-AY-see-ee) (Info)
|Narcissus (nar-SIS-us) (Info)
|papyraceus (pap-ih-REE-see-us) (Info)
|Minor Monarque
|Additional cultivar information:
|(aka Straws, Stars)
Division 8 - Tazetta
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
6-9 in. (15-22 cm)
Bloom Time:
Late Winter/Early Spring
Mid Spring
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 �C (-30 �F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 �C (-25 �F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 �C (-20 �F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F)
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color:
Pale Yellow
This plant is resistant to deer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Foliage Color:
Bloom Characteristics:
Flowers are good for cutting
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Where to Grow:
Suitable for growing in containers
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Garberville, California
Dunnellon, Florida
Gulfport, Mississippi
Richmond, Texas
Gardeners' Notes:
No details have been posted.


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Vintage Birks Regency Plate Silver Salt & Pepper Shaker
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Senator Feinstein: Report into interrogation techniques like waterboarding 'exposes brutality that stands in sharp contrast to our values as a nation'
The US Senate intelligence committee voted on Thursday to release part of a secret report that harshly criticises CIA terror interrogations after September 11 2001.
It voted 11-3 to declassify 500 pages of a 6,300-page review which concluded that waterboarding and other "enhanced interrogation methods" were excessively cruel and ineffective.
The committee and the CIA have been embroiled in a bitter dispute over the study.
Senators have accused the agency of spying on their investigation and deleting files, while the CIA claims Senate staffers illegally accessed information.
The Justice Department is reviewing competing criminal referrals.
Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein claimed the report "exposes brutality that stands in sharp contrast to our values as a nation.
"It chronicles a stain on our history that must never be allowed to happen again. This is not what Americans do."
Leaks of the report said the CIA used secret "black sites" to interrogate prisoners using techniques not previously acknowledged.
These included dunking suspects in icy water and smashing a prisoner's head against a wall.
Members of the US intelligence community have criticised the investigation for failing to include interviews from top spy agency officials who supervised the brutal interrogations.
"Neither I or anyone else at the agency who had knowledge was interviewed," claimed Jose Rodriguez, the CIA chief clandestine officer in the mid-2000s, who had operational oversight of the programme.
"They don't want to hear anyone else's narrative. It's an attempt to rewrite history."
Rodriguez himself is a key figure in the Senate report, not least for his order in 2005 to destroy 92 videos showing waterboarding of terror suspects and other harsh techniques.
Senator Feinstein and others have cited a series of misleading claims by the CIA over the years about the effectiveness of the programme, including in statements made to then president George W Bush and Congress.


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CMA CGM America Finance Appointments
CMA CGM (America) LLC announced that Caroline Brown has joined the company as Manager, Audit and Cost Control. In her position, Caroline will be responsible for monitoring and controlling the company's operational costs throughout the United States. Prior to joining CMA CGM, Caroline worked in various finance positions with Bourbon, an international leader in marine services based in Marseilles, France. She earned her graduate degree in finance and cost control from Institut d'Administration des Entreprises, and holds an undergraduate degree in accountancy and finance from Ecole Supérieure des Affaires. She will be based in the company's Norfolk, Virginia office, and will report to Laurent Olmeta, Director, Internal Audit and Cost Control.
The company also promoted Russell Chidester to Manager, Credit and Collections. As such, he will be responsible for all aspects of the collections process for account holders in the following regions: Florida & Abroad, Midwest, and West Coast & Canada. Prior to joining CMA CGM, Russell worked in Shanghai, China for the U.S. Commercial Service, and also served with the U.S. Army in Iraq. A 2007 graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Russell holds an MBA and obtained his Bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Utah. He will be based in the company's Norfolk, Virginia office, and will report to Gregg Gendron, Director, Credit and Collections.
CMA CGM (America) also welcomed Pamela Purdy to the company as Manager, Credit and Collections. Pamela previously worked for Huff, Poole, & Mahoney, P.C. as Collections Manager, where she managed the court and civil collections team functions. In her new role, she will be responsible for all collections for Trucker, Northeast, Gulf, and South region accounts. Pamela will be based in the company's Norfolk, Virginia office, and will report to Gregg Gendron, Director, Credit and Collections.
Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, CMA CGM (America) is the U.S. agent of France-based container shipping giant CMA CGM. The company provides 23 services in and out of North America, and offers a global network to over 150 countries around the world.


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Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only?
Ideally located in the ancient city of Luoyang, the Guohao Business Hotel offers intimate hospitality and numerous facilities for a perpetual stay. Situated in Luoyang city of Henan Province, the Guohao Business Hotel is placed in the Nanchang Road and has large shopping plazas, restaurants, gourmet Street and Park in its environs. This property is 11 kilometres from the White Horse Temple and is also 13 kilometres from Longmen Grottoes. This hotel.


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Cora Schwartz is a photo journalist and behavioral psychologist who lives and writes in South Fallsburg, New York. Her essays and short stories have been published in journals and periodicals. Her book, The Forgotten Few, was written and photographed to fulfill a promise she made to her husband, Rudy, to bring humanitarian aid to the remaining survivors in Mogelov. The Forgotten Few has been described as a small book with a huge impact. With only a few pages of text, the book presents photographs of holocaust survivors. They are images that will haunt the reader forever. The Forgotten Few is currently used in classrooms around the world.
Ms. Schwartz is also an editor, writing coach and publisher. Her small press VOICES FROM MY RETREAT was founded in the spirit of a Ukrainian writer named Olga Kobylianska who was considered one of the first feminists in Eastern Europe. Ms. Schwartz discovered the work of Olga Kobylianska on a trip with Rudy to his hometown, Chernivitsy.
Ms. Schwartz is currently working on the sequel to Gypsy Tears. She is expanding on Olga Kobylianska's philosophy, revolutionary at the time, that "we are all God's children, whites and Gypsies alike." In an effort to authenticate this sequel, Ms. Schwartz is planning an extended stay in a cottage in a suburb of Chernivitsy where some of the best Roma musicians reside in peace with their neighbors.


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Air Supply showcases new songs, hits
JOE PLASKO/TIMES NEWS Graham Russell (left) and Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply harmonize during their Penn's Peak concert Friday night.
After 35 years together, it would be easy for Air Supply to play it safe.
To the credit of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock, the band's founding duo, they are looking for ways to continue to evolve musically.
Air Supply is back on the pop music charts for the first time in 20 years, thanks to a striking new album, Mumbo Jumbo. At Penn's Peak on Friday night, it showcased a good portion of the current release.
That could be a risky move when there's a hit-filled repertoire of tried and true love songs available. Most groups of Air Supply's vintage don't gamble on messing with success and won't insert more than one or two new tunes along with the classics audiences expect.
Air Supply pulled it off, due to the quality of the new material, which allowed the group to stretch itself, rocking out more than anticipated, while remaining consistent with its signature sound.
The show kicked off with a mosh-up of Air Supply hit snippets and a segment of "Setting The Seen", the opening track of Mumbo Jumbo, which according to Russell, who penned or co-wrote the songs, is a concept album about a young man leaving home and his experiences, including becoming involved with two beings from another dimension who have come into this world as a man and woman.
While that concept provides a theme for the album, the new songs are strong enough to stand out by themselves and held up well alongside more familiar Air Supply fare such as "Even the Nights Are Better", "Here I Am" and "Just As I Am", which opened the performance.
By the fourth song, Air Supply was ready to take the plunge. Russell started "Hold On" on acoustic guitar before Hitchcock and the band kicked in, providing the hook. "Faith In Love", another new one, with a midtempo feel, followed. The title track of Mumbo Jumbo was more upbeat, funkier at times, with a message about watching out for misinformation.
One of the highlights from the new songs was "A Little Bit More", a lovely ballad written and sung by Russell about a young couple getting married on the eve of the husband's departure for war. Instead of fading out at the end, however, Graham raised his singing almost to a shout, bringing an emotional emphasis.
Hitchcock's soaring lead vocals remains an Air Supply trademark and were showcased in a cover of "The Power of Love" and Jim Steinman's "Making Love Out of Nothing At All", which calls for a breathless delivery that Hitchcock manages with ease.
The new single, "Dance With Me", has reached number 28 on the Billboard charts this week and received a good reaction, with its sweeping feel and catchy flourishes, and the concert rendition added even more life to the stage.
The two-song encore featured yet another new song, the rocking "Me Like You" and the hit standard "All Out of Love", complete with a drum solo, yet.
Of course, there's only room for so many songs in a 90 minute set, so some of the usual hits fell by the wayside this time ("Lost in Love" and "Every Woman in the World" made the cut), but the tradeoff was a chance to watch established artists taking some chances.
Russell and Hitchcock remain extremely gracious to their fans, roaming the Peak's floor and interacting with the audience during "The One That You Love" and sticking around to greet those that stayed afterward.
When it comes down to it, you can't deny Air Supply.


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8 sounds
A single strike of a bike's bell. Very resonant but short lived. Recorded on Stanford Campus, Saturday 9/5/09.
car alarm horn
Some dogs barking close to a road in Anatolia (Turkey) Sound recorded by a MS setup Schoeps Microphone CCM41+CCM8 Sound ...
Foley work for scene shot without audio. Recorded with Sennheiser me67 on Zoom h4n at 24bit/48k. Run through iZotope RX ...
birds chirping with some street noise
This sound was recorded in front of the university Pompeu Fabra, Campus Poblenou. Is the sound of the wheels of ...
Water foutain on Parque de Serralves, Porto.
people on la rambla barcelona
8 sounds


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Welcome to the capital, Mr. Crosby -- we wish you were ours.
That message was clearly evident from the cheers of local hockey fans yesterday, as thousands showed up to usher in the top prospects in today's NHL entry draft at two meet-and-greet events.
Based on the scream factor, it was obvious that puck-lovers were most excited to see Sidney Crosby, even though he's set to work his magic for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The 17-year-old took to the ice yesterday, along with four other top prospects, to get an hour of exercise with lucky wannabes.
It wasn't just any series of drills.
Some 30 minor leaguers huffed and puffed alongside their idols before a packed house of 2,000 at the Bell Sensplex.
Best friends and Cumberland Barons, Parker Wagstaff and Felix Charron, both 10, were thrilled to get their Sens jerseys signed by the superstar prospects.
Parker and Felix were even able to share the puck with their favourite draft pick -- you know who.
"Through a whole drill, Sidney Crosby was passing to me and I was passing to Parker," Felix said excitedly. "I was in there."
Felix's dad, Vince, is president of their hockey club and proudly watched as his son careened around the ice with the soon-to-be pros.
"I thought it was just great to see how involved and how close Crosby was with the kids -- talking to them, passing the puck," he said. "Everybody displayed awesome sportsmanship ... and the passion from the stands -- you could feel it."
After the hockey clinic wrapped up, 20 of the top prospects hopped a huge, black tour bus and showed up at Major's Hill Park just after noon.
About 400 lucky fans at the park were introduced to the players and got to snag some autographs.
Many clutched free posters of Crosby that were given out during both events.
Another father-son duo, Craig and Jeremy MacLaine, drove 40 minutes from their Moose Creek home to see the prospects.
They both anticipate an excellent season of hockey, based on the talent in the draft.
"It's one of the deepest drafts in the last decade -- there's so much talent. The first 10 (picks), at least, are really solid players," said the dad, a Habs fan.
"Once they are in the NHL, we'll be able to say, 'We were there the day before they were drafted.' "
Jeremy, 18, a hockey player himself, identified with the prospects.
"These kids are my age -- they seem like normal people so it's pretty interesting," he said.
"With the lockout being over, it's the NHL's time to give back to the fans with events like this."


text: I've been a size 4UK since I started dancing last fall. I bought my first pair of shoes back in October. Then suddenly around the end of May, I started feeling toe pains everytime I come back from dancing. I have a few pairs of size 4 from different makers and they all used to fit me, now they all seem to be too tight... 1. Do feet increase in size in the summer and shrink in the winter? Shall I get larger shoes for the summer and keep my regular shoes for the winter? or 2. Does ballroom make your feet larger over time?


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Refugee crisis: David Cameron offers an extra £115m aid
David Cameron yesterday committed an extra £115m to tackle the migration crisis as European leaders attempted to overcome bitter divisions on the issue to agree a unified response.
The Prime Minister announced the new funds as he arrived at an emergency summit in Brussels. A total of £100m will go to people stranded in refugee camps neighbouring Syria, while another £14.5m will go on aid for refugees in Europe, including £2m for agencies in Libya.
Mr Cameron called on leaders to adopt a "comprehensive approach" and called for more to be done in nations which have seen dramatic exoduses.
"We need to do more to stabilise the countries and regions from which these people are coming," he said. "When it comes to Syria, Britain has already given over £1bn, more than any other country other than the United States.
"We will commit another £100m, including £40m to the World Food Programme, because we must stop people making the difficult, dangerous trip to Europe."
Belfast Telegraph


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Ida Malm
Found 10 Records, 8 Photos and 20,741 Family Trees
Born in Haapajärvi, Finland on 13 Jul 1852 to Jacobus Pehrss Malm and Caisa Johansdr Pukala.
Family Members
Ready to discover your family story?
Simply start with yourself and we'll do the searching for you.
Potential photos and documents for Ida MalmView All 8 Images
Top record matches for Ida Malm
Surname meaning for "Malm"
Swedish: arbitrary or ornamental name from Swedish malm 'ore', adopted in some cases by people connected with the copper-mining industry.


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Once Calvin Teal began collecting material for a book about U.S. 20, the photographs started rolling in. And so did the contacts.
He would speak to one person who directed him to a relative who had photos who sent him on to someone else with material.
He ended up learning much more about the road than he thought existed—and that's just from Assumption to Fayette.
Calvin was interested in just that small portion of the cross-country highway, and even from that limited stretch he ended up with more material than he had room for in his book that should end up with close to 70 pages.
Calvin sought information about restaurants, service stations and other businesses along the road that no longer exist. It took some searching.
"I knocked on a lot of doors," he said, and knocking was just the beginning.
The challenge was getting to know people well enough—or rather allowing them to get to know him—so they would trust him to borrow important photographs and bring them back unharmed.
Calvin started his project four years ago—four long years ago.
"It seems like it was just taking forever," he said.
He's very disappointed that two people who offered a lot of help with the project—Bill Miller of Lyons and David Lauffer of Bryan—are no longer alive to view the book.
Calvin's related book—a pictorial history of State Route 120 from Berkey to Munson—might happen and it might not. He's not sure that he's ready to dive in again so soon.
"We'll see how this first one goes," he said, "and then maybe I'll get cracking on it."
BOOK ORDERS—"U.S. Rt. 20 on the Run, Then and Now" is in the final proofreading stages and should be ready for purchase before September. He expects a book-signing session will be arranged at some date, but area readers can place an early order for the book and save some money.
Pre-publication order forms are available at the Fayette library to request a copy for $12. After the book is published, the regular price will be $17.
Completed forms and payment should be sent to the Metamora Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 174, Metamora OH 43540.


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Mohammed N. Islam
Meet the Faculty Video
Division: ECE
Title: Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Professor of Internal Medicine and Biomedical Engineering (courtesy)
Address: 2401 EECS
Phone: (734) 647-9700
Fax: (734) 647-2718
Degree: Ph.D. MIT
Research Interests: His current research interests include mid-infrared laser sources and their applications in fiber-to-the-home, advanced semiconductor process control, combustion monitoring, infrared counter-measures, chemical sensing and bio-medical selective laser ablation. Another area of this current work relates to ultra-high resolution imaging of automobile parts, such as transmissions. He also has on-going work in modulators and new architectures for fiber to the home systems.
Research Areas: Communications; Optics and Photonics.
Areas of Specialty: Optical Communications; Nonlinear Optics and MEMS; Ultrafast Optics; Fiber and Integrated Photonics and Lasers; Optoelectronics; Nanophotonics; Biophotonics.
EECS "I" Faculty
Mohammed N. Islam


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Blitzkrieg 2: Fall of the Reich - PC - Review
It is already a given who a developer is trying to target with a World War II real-time strategy game. It shouldn't come to any surprise that fans of this genre are dwindling for higher-concept games such as Supreme Commander. Gamers complain about the overuse of the WWII setting and backdrop. Is Blitzkrieg II: Fall of the Reich any different than the norm to keep itself from being categorized as "just another WWII RTS title?"
Fall of the Reich, published by CDV, is a stand-alone expansion pack. Developed by Nival Interactive, the original Blitzkrieg II is thankfully not needed to play. Nival, creators of the entire Blitzkrieg series, have also worked on Silent Storm and Heroes of Might & Magic V.
The expansion pack is what I have come to expect with other expansion packs - it introduces new vehicles, expands the multiplayer with maps, and continues the campaign with long missions. FotR follows the basic routine and doesn't stretch itself too far in originality. The common saying states that if we all were paid a dime every time a WWII RTS game was released, we'd all be rich. Blitzkrieg II: Fall of the Reich is a run-of-the-mill RTS by today's standards.
There are two campaigns to play through – Germany and the Soviet Union. The Russian campaign focuses on missions heading in the direction of Berlin. The German campaign is exactly the opposite with trying to stop the Russians from invading and potentially stalling their eventual defeat at the hands of the Allies. Even though Nival didn't provide a plethora of campaign missions, the 16 missions are adequate enough for at least one entertaining play through.
For those who have played Blitzkrieg II, you'll remember that it wasn't an easy ride through. The game's difficulty level isn't aimed for new real-time strategy players. I'd recommend avoiding Fall of the Reich if you are a newcomer to RTS genre. The missions have been bumped up to give the fans a new rollercoaster ride to experience. The good thing about the missions is that they are varied and won't always allow you to use the simple tactics of building up your units and bombarding the enemies with a huge attack.
The computer A.I., on the supporting side of the war, has no form of intelligence residing in it. It's like they don't want to live and would rather stand around gossiping. If I was a general in this war, I would never let my men, especially with the lack of knowledge the computer A.I. has, enter any type of war. Couldn't Nival focus on helping out the human players with better A.I. than raising the enemy A.I.? The game is that much harder when you have to babysit your soldiers.
For comparison's sake, and I am being lenient on Nival, the game barely stacks up to titles that were released entering the new millennium graphically. It could be because of recent games, such as Company of Heroes, who incorporated a full-out destructible environment, but FotR isn't raising any bars with the graphics. Plus, don't be expecting any breath-taking FMV scenes furthering the storyline whatsoever.
My other complaints would be directed towards the controls. The controls create problems such as the inability to navigate your tanks through small streets. Your tank will eventually get stuck and be open to enemy fire. What I haven't mentioned, which I will now address, is that the anti-armor guns destroy your tanks with only two shots. Hardly the most realistic approach to recreating WWII since the tanks are worthless when you run into enemies carrying the anti-armor guns. With the problems with navigation, it's best to think out your route thoroughly before putting your attack into motion.
The advice I have to give is to avoid Blitzkrieg II: Fall of the Reich until after finish the original. The expansion pack only furthers the difficulty and will be hard on new players to the series. Fans of the series will find enjoyment in the title, but there isn't enough here to justify a purchase unless you are a hardcore fan.
Minimum System Requirements: CPU: Pentium 3 1.0GHz, Video Card: GeForce 3 / Radeon 8500, HD Disk Space: 2.5 GB, DirectX 9.0c
|Review Scoring Details for Blitzkrieg: Fall of the Reich
Gameplay: 6.1
The campaign is a welcomed addition, but there isn't a whole lot here changed. It basically feels tacked on and uninspired.
Graphics: 5.8
There are explosions, smoke effects, dirt kicked up by tanks, and even trees will be knocked down by tanks. What sadly brings down the graphics score is the environment detailing – it is poor. The variety of environments is lackluster and will drive players bonkers for playing different maps that look similar.
Sound: 5.7
Everything I have come to expect is here. With loud explosions to go with piercing gun shots, FotR doesn't reinvent the wheel with the sound effects.
Difficulty: Hard
The tactical elements do come into consideration of why the game is insanely hard, but I have to lean with the fact that the computer A.I. on the human side does not help out the situation. I recommend playing the original Blitzkrieg II before picking up Fall of the Reich.
Concept: 5.0
World War II + real-time strategy = zero ounce of originality. I am tired of fighting Nazis.
Multiplayer: 5.9
It is exactly like the original but with two new maps. This is nothing to brag about, particularly to your friends who are playing Company of Heroes.
Overall: 5.9
For being an expansion, the developers didn't focus on providing new units or game modes. Blitzkrieg II: Fall of the Reich is catered to the fans of the series and is one last hoorah for them. The 16 missions may be enough to bring back a few fans and keep them playing.


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High School drama department to host dinner theatre
The West Fargo High School Drama Department is pleased to be introducing a dinner theater fundraiser at the school.
Enjoy dinner, dessert, and two one-act productions Friday, May 9, and Saturday. May 10, as drama students present an evening of plays by Alan Haehnel. On the evening's menu is sweet and sour chicken with rice, salad, dessert, and coffee. Dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m., the drama Fourteen Lines will take the stage at 7 p.m., dessert will be served at approximately 7:45 p.m., and the comedy Making Nice will begin at approximately 8:45 p.m.
The cast for the productions consists of thirty 9-12 grade students under the direction of WFHS Drama Director Sarah Tron and student director Amy Walen. Tron directs the drama Fourteen Lines which examines the lives of five seniors desperately trying to graduate. This play was performed in competition at the State Class A Play Festival in April at Fargo South earning two of its performers Outstanding Acting Awards. Walen's comedy, Making Nice, takes a hilarious look at the inner workings of a theatrical production that has gone oh-so-wrong.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children under the age of twelve. They can be reserved by calling 701-356-2050. This is a fundraising event and does require the purchase of the entire dinner theatre package.
West Fargo High School is located at 801 9th St. E.


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If you like shopping for unique holiday gifts, then don't miss the Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Fair presented by Art League Of Long Island. Browse through hundreds of handmade items from local artists during this annual festival that features everything from jewelry and wearable art to photography and ceramics.
On December 5 and 6 at the Art League's spacious exhibition hall in Dix Hills, Long Island artists will be on hand to showcase and sell their beautiful gifts. Bring your shopping list and be prepared to come home with some very special presents this year. The event runs from 10 am to 5 pm each day, and admission is always free at this annual celebration of local art that is entering its 52nd year in the community.
Handmade crafts on sale for 2015 include:
Mixed Media Art
Fiber Art
Wearable Art
The Art League of Long Island is conveniently located less than 15 minutes away from our lovely boutique hotel. It's just a quick route down Northern State Parkway between the two venues. After picking up an assortment of handmade arts and crafts, you can drive back to your luxurious room and enjoy a special holiday evening on Long Island.


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By the Hands of Men, Book One: The
Today's Free Kindle eBook: By the Hands of Men, Book One: The Old World
"With elements reminiscent of Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, in the midst of World War I, a relationship develops between an English lieutenant and a young Russian nurse—a surprising tenderness against the backdrop of war…with likable characters, spending more time in the Old World is an appealing prospect." – Kirkus Reviews
Lieutenant Robert Fitzgerald has managed to retain his sanity, his humanity, and his honor during the hell of WWI's trench warfare. Charlotte Braninov fled the shifting storm of the impending Russian Revolution for the less-threatening world of field camp medicine, serving as a nurse in the most hopeless of fronts. Their friendship creates a sanctuary both could cling to in the most desperate of times. Historical fiction about life, loss, and love, By the Hands of Men explores the power that lies within each of us to harm – or to heal – all those we touch.
"A truly remarkable historical novel- so finely rendered in period detail – that the reader becomes one with the plot and characters." – RICK FRIEDMAN, FOUNDER, THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
Just follow this link to get the freebie:


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Viewpoint: Legislative best practices includes teamwork
"Common sense is seeing things as they are, and doing things as they should be done." -- Anonymous
The challenging economic climate is forcing lawmakers at every level to look for ways to squeeze out savings.
It's never been more important to ensure taxpayers are a getting good value. By the same token, there's never been a better opportunity to reform the way government operates.
One of the most promising areas of reform is to encourage more service sharing and joint purchasing of items ranging from food and supplies, to payroll, IT and other administrative services, to transportation.
Service sharing can help school districts and local governments save money, reduce duplication, and maximize economies of scale. It's good government at work.
A bipartisan bill we've authored would encourage more service sharing and joint procurement. Started as a way to help school districts and charter schools, the idea has been so well received that at the suggestion of State Auditor Rebecca Otto, we expanded it to include cities, townships, counties and the state.
There is already a tremendous amount of service sharing occurring throughout Minnesota.
Successful examples include the Southwest Service Cooperative in Marshall, the Northwest Service Cooperative in Thief River Falls, intermediate school districts and other cooperatives where school, city, county, and other governmental agencies team up to reduce costs and create greater efficiencies for their members.
What's missing however, is a central hub to share information about what works and what doesn't. Our bill would fill that void by creating a clearinghouse or "best practices center." Perhaps a more fitting name would be a "good government center."
At little or no cost to the state, information would be available through a website created and maintained by the state auditor's Office. With the click of a mouse, schools and other local units of government could learn about, adapt, and apply information about everything from quality vendors to food suppliers to curriculum.
A wide range of stakeholders including the Minnesota School Boards Association, the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, as well as regional organizations including service cooperatives, local chambers of commerce, education districts, other joint powers organizations, and business interests have thrown their support behind the idea.
A great deal of that support came because rather than taking a top-down approach, we actually listened and learned about the great things already happening.
Unlike other proposals that have been introduced this year, our bill doesn't impose additional mandates on schools and local entities to share services in a prescribed way, nor does it require them to hire consultants to find ways to cut costs, and then divert a portion of the savings to the consultants.
We simply found a way to connect the dots, so that not only are we providing a valuable tool to improve communication among government entities; we're recognizing them for their success.
Sometimes the best ideas are already right in front of us -- we just need to take time to listen, and then apply a little common sense to make them better.
This simple, common-sense legislation was created with intensive bipartisan input and cooperation. It doesn't employ top-down directives, but relies instead on keeping local control in the hands of decision-makers closest to the people they represent.
Most important, it has the potential to produce dramatic cost savings and better service for Minnesotans looking for assurance that they're receiving a good value for their tax dollars.
That's good government at its best. A few more common sense ideas like this one could help our bottom line.
Rep. Marsha Swails (DFL-Woodbury) and Rep. Carol McFarlane (R-White Bear Lake) are the co-chairs of a bi-partisan legislative task force charged with making service sharing recommendations to the Legislature.


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Bald Mountain in the Mist
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A cold November morning northeast of Stanley, ID. Bald Mountain is particularly conspicuous when the snow starts to fly.
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text:
04:43, 2009-Nov-4
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Nasty mother in stockings pulls out the stiffie of her horny son
04:43, 2009-Nov-4
Any mother knows that sooner or later her son will leave her and to make him stay she s ready to share him with cute teens. Even more - she s ready to hunt for inexperienced girls and take them home for her son.
Part1.Mom finds her barely naked son sleeping and enjoys his cock
08:33, 2009-Oct-31
Alyssa went to her son's room to call him for supper. She opened the door and saw him sleeping on the bed. His waist was wrapped with a towel, but it didn't cover his cock and balls. Alyssa couldn't resist coming closer to his bed and touching it. He woke up when she lay on bed next to him and rubbed it. He was surprised, but why would he refuse to try his horny old mom?
A mother s love knows no limits, they fuck their sons on Non Standard Moms!
COMPLETE VIDEOS ARCHIVE JUST SEAT BACK and ENJOY!
Mom and daughter get a double portion of stiff manly meat from dad and son
05:46, 2009-Oct-29
Family love shows its true face! Horny moms and dads and their young sex-hungry offspring are here to please you with a good bunch of mind-blowing homemade sex pics and movies exposing them in all their incest glory! Go on a trip through the world of your secret desires together with them - this won t leave you indifferent!
Sing up!
Irresistible teenage masseuse pleasures her sex-hungry older brother's dick
02:36, 2009-Oct-26
Shameless young dolls reveal the secrets of their forbidden incest relations with their older brothers - all in front of camera!
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Sheffield Kenshinkan Aikido Club
We are an aikido club, training in the Tomiki style of Aikido in the heart of Sheffield
Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morehei Ueshiba sensei in the 1920's based on eary Japanese martial arts that he studied. It can be used for self defence, and aims not to use lethal force against an attacker.
Aikido can be split into three parts:
Ai means "harmony"
Ki means "energy, or spirit"
Do means "the way, or path"
Aikido is studied and practiced by people of all genders and ages.
Practice is open to beginners as well as experienced Aikidoka (a Japanese term for a practitioner of the martial art Aikido), the details of training times are available here.
Kenshinkan Aikido Club is a member of The European Tomiki Aikido Federation (ETAF) which is part of the British Aikido Board (BAB) the governing body recognized by the sports council for Aikido in the UK


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May 25, 2012 - 3:09pm
1 Demo available for Happy Chef, see below
Take command of the kitchen, and show your master-chef skills, in this highly addictive time-management game! Your day has finally come – your dad has entrusted his tiny diner to you, and you have no other choice but to accept it. You start with hamburgers and hot-dogs, and through your dedication and hard work, you manage to create the best known restaurant in the country! Cook more than 100 different dishes, ranging from hot-dogs to sophisticated seafood meals. Decorate your restaurants, buy new furniture and accessories, develop expert culinary skills, upgrade your kitchen and become a happy chef!


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Thousands of people are expected to attend a popular Sheffield fun day.
Final preparations are now being put to the annual Beighton Gala, which returns to the village's Miners' Welfare recreation ground on Saturday, July 12.
Tracy Higginbottom, one of the gala organisers, said: "We currently have about 80 stalls, although it will probably be closer to 110 on the day.
"These include more than 30 businesses and more than 50 charities, including the Scouts, Women's Institute, Beighton environment group and the Sheffield Children's Hospital charity.
"Attractions include parrots, birds of prey, a vintage fire engine, steam land train, donkeys and classic cars, as well as the usual fun fair rides.
"There will also be brass band music, dog agility displays and a range of dance displays, including street and belly.
Tracy, a librarian in Woodhouse, said: "We would also urge anyone with a classic car who would like to show their vehicle, to get in touch."
The event begins with a parade to the showground, led by the Beighton princess, leaving Tynker Avenue at 11.45am, before the gala starts at 1pm.
Beighton Gala has been running for more than 100 years, although the 2012 event had to be cancelled after heavy rain left the venue waterlogged.
Tracy, aged 48, of Manvers Road, Beighton, said about 8,000 visitors were expected.
She said: "We are hoping for the weather to hold and be stunning for the day.
"Beighton Gala promises to be a great day out for all the family with hundreds of stalls and attractions for people to enjoy."
n For stall applications or further information, contact Tracy at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 07931 221998.


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There's no point beating around the bush, so we'll just come right out and say it. The Google Nexus 5 is a whole lotta phone, for not a lot of cash. For $350 (and no contract), you can snag flagship specifications like a 5-inch 1080p display, a top of the line quad-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, and the latest version of Android that can perform handy functions such as tell you what company is calling (if it's on Google Maps) or find you local businesses right from the dialer. So now, when you type in "Ram," you'll get your friend Ramon, and local Ramen joints appear in a list for you to choose from. (The new operating system, KitKat, is so cutting-edge that currently only the Nexus 5 runs it.)
Despite its low price (a standard iPhone 5S will run you twice as much), the Nexus 5 feels well made. We love the feel of the soft-touch back, and the screen is wonderfully sharp, to the point where graphics in games display better and more smoothly than in almost any phone we've seen before. HD videos look pin sharp, just as you'd expect from a flagship mobile device. We watched movie trailers on this and other phones for comparison, and what sets the Nexus 5's display capabilities apart is its natural color tones, which are vibrant, without appearing overly saturated.
If you're more about the bells and the whistles, the Nexus 5 has plenty of them, too. From the home screen, you can now just say "Okay, Google," and the phone will search for whatever you say next, hands-free, and with scary accuracy. Google's voice command technology was good before, but now it's really giving Apple's Siri and Samsung's S Voice some serious competition. For example, we asked the rather computer-unfriendly question, "what is the difference between weather and whether," and the Nexus 5 didn't trip up when giving us an answer. Not bad.
Other smart features include wireless charging built right in and an impressively powerful photo editor – especially when compared to the ones on previous Nexus phones – that has a wide variety of options for fixing up those wonky self portraits. Often with phone photo editors you have to download third-party apps to do anything beyond the most basic cropping or resizing. On the Nexus 5, you can add multiple filters (and save them as presets), straighten and realign images, and execute even more specific operations – adjusting color curves, for example – that are more typical of desktop photo editors. In addition, you can save your edits, and change your mind and revert back to the original photo. The Nexus 5 is available now in two color options (black or white,) both of which look smart, though we think the the Batman-esque look of the darker model makes it our favorite. [$350; play.google.com]


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Busy Philipps Is Awesomely Honest About Women and Weight in Hollywood
Busy Philipps, the lady who first gloriously sneered her way into your heart as Kim Kelly on Freaks and Geeks, is pregnant with her second baby. You see, Busy got busy and made a bus-aby! Tip your waitresses; I'll see my way out!


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We have VZRs starting from R99900.00. Please contact Martin on 0731276994 regarding any enquiries . We also offer a free collection and drop off for bikes to be serviced in Johannesburg or Pretoria. Trade ins are welcome and financing is available. Various models available at various prices
1222 Pretorius Street, Hatfield, Gauteng
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Youngsters welcomed some new arrivals to their pre-school in the shape of 9 freshly hatched chicks.
Children at Happy Hours Pre-School, in Broadfield Barton, took part in the two-week Living Eggs project in which they were given 10 eggs to care for.
Only one of the batch failed to make an appearance and staff and children alike spent days gathered around the incubator watching the little creatures develop.
Administrator Diane Clarke said: "The children are absolutely enthralled. They have loved every minute of it. It's such a good experience for them.
"We did get the odd one who was a little bit wary but most of the children have been holding them and feeding them."
The school also welcomed a full grown chicken to the class room to show the tots what would happen to their chicks when they went to their new home, a farm in Kent.
But the attraction of the fluffy little creatures proved too much for Diane and one parent, both of whom have taken two chicks home to add to their own gaggle of fowl.
Four-year-old Jack White declared: "I like the chicks" while gently cradling one in his hands."
But what did Jack and his friends learn from the experience?
Diane joked: "They've learned that eggs don't just come from supermarkets."
She added: "They've learned the whole life cycle, from eggs to chicks hatching and how to care for them and clean them out daily."
While Happy Hours usually used tadpoles and butterflies to demonstrate life cycles to the children, Diane suspected another batch of chicks may find their way to the pre-school next year.


text: Just received my Maverick ET-733 today. Question I have is, am I correct to assume that a properly calibrated thermometer should pass both the ice water and water boil test? The posted tolerance from Maverick is +/- (3-4). I tested mine fresh out of the box with the 3' leads that came with it and the Hybrid 6' leads I purchased. Here are my findings. I got the same results for all 4 leads so I know they are all good. I also tested with my ThermoPop Ice water test. Performed by filling a glass with crushed ice and then water to 1/2" below the top. Probe 1 - 41 degrees Probe 2 - 39 degrees Instant read ThermoPop - 32 degrees Water boil test. Probe 1 - 214 degrees Probe 2 - 212 degress Instant read ThermoPop - 212 degrees I did email Maverick and am waiting for a response. I would assume that it should read accurately at high and low temps. I am not necessarily concerned since I don't need a thermometer to tell me when my beer is cold and my Zero Zone has a digital readout for the refrigerator and freezer. Since it passed the water boil test and I mainly will be using it for Brisket and Pork butt do you think I should be happy with it or should I demand they send me a new one?


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The US war in Iraq started in 2003, following the attacks of September 11, 2011 and persisted for eight years, eight months and 26 days. The war came to an official conclusion on Thursday December 15, 2011 with a flag lowering ceremony.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta marked the occasion with a speech looking back on the war and the future to come: "We salute the fact that Iraq is now fully responsible for directing its own path to future security and future prosperity. To be sure, the cost was high. The blood and treasure of the United States and also for the Iraqi people…Let me be clear: Iraq will be tested in the days ahead – by terrorism, and by those who would seek to divide, by economic and social issues, by the demands of democracy itself…Challenges remain, but the U.S will be there to stand by the Iraqi people as they navigate those challenges to build a stronger and more prosperous nation."
According to a report by Foreign Policy, the U.S war in Iraq cost approximately 800 billion taxpayer dollars, 4,500 American soldiers, and 100,000 Iraqi lives, not to mention the millions of displaced Iraqis.
Although this past Thursday's ceremony marked the official end of the war, the military will still maintain two bases in Iraq and around 4,000 troops (to compare, at the height of the war in 2007, there were 505 bases and more than 170,000 troops.
These last two bases will close and the remaining American combat troops are scheduled to withdraw from Iraq by December 31, 2011. However, a few hundred military personnel and pentagon civilians will remain in Iraq, working within the American Embassy as part of the Office of Security Cooperation, to work in their capacity to aid and support in arms sales and training Iraqis.
It is imperative to note that negotiations could potentially resume next year on whether additional American military personnel can return to assist their Iraqi counterparts, considering that Iraq's military has significant weaknesses in areas like air defense, logistics, and engineering.
General Lloyd J. Austin III the departing American commander in Iraq, explained that "From a standpoint of being able to defend against an external threat, they have very limited to little capability, quite frankly."
What do you think about the end of the war in Iraq? Is it politically feasible for America to enter in negotiations to provide support for Iraq next year? What does the end of the war in Iraq mean domestically?
Let us know what you think in the comments.
Sources: Foreign Policy, The New York Times, BBC, Euronews, The Washington Post


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This 3 bedroom home is ready for a new owner. This property is located just east of Rhinelander in the town of Monico. The home is frame built with a large living room, updated bathroom and kitchen. There are 3 upper level bedrooms with large master bed with walk in closet. The home also includes a 2 car garage, fenced in yard & main level laundry. The home has great potential for the handy man or investor.
Features Residential
|Style: 1.5 Story
|Lake Chain:
|Garage: 2 Car, Detached
|Lake Name:
|Year Built: 1957
|River Name:
|Basement Type: Crawl Space, Interior Entrance, Partial Basement, Roughed-in Bathroom, Shower Stall Only, Stubbed in Bathroom, Sump Pump, Toilet Only
|Water Frontage (feet): 0
|Fin SqFt Total: 1,706
|Lake Size-Acres: 0
|Lot Size: 9148
|High School: ON Three Lakes
|Site Influence: Driveway, Easy Access, Open Space, Recreation Nearby
|School District: Three Lakes
|Construction: Frame/Stick


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One day after the suicide of former Miami Dolphins player Junior Seau, experts are saying the brain injuries he suffered while playing professional football were likely the reason why he took his own life.
"This is perhaps more common than we realize. Many patients with traumatic injury to the brain contemplate suicide," said UHealth Sports Medicine neurologist Dr. Kester Nedd.
Last year, in Sunny Isles another former NFL player, Dave Duerson, shot himself in the chest so his brain could be studied. Seau also shot himself in the chest. Last month, Ray Easterling took his life after developing symptoms of dementia.
Hits to the brain can results in a variety of consequences, according to Nedd.
"One of them includes depression others could include anger management issues, trouble with memory, ability to pay attention emotional breakdown of the person's situation," he said.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is the medical name for the brain changes resulting from injury.
"There are some changes that occur in the brain similar to Alzheimer's or changes consistent with Alzheimer's," said Nedd.
Deposits of a specific protein found in Alzheimer's patients can also develop after chronic brain injury.
It doesn't always take decades for damage to be done. One year ago, Daniel Brett, a local high school football player, committed suicide. In March, his mother spoke to the Broward School Board.
Last week, Gov. Rick Scott signed a new Florida law. Effective July 1, high school football players who suffer a head injury must be immediately pulled from play and will only be allowed to return after getting medical clearance.
One day after Seau's suicide, 100 former players filed a law suit against the NFL claiming the league did not do enough to protect them from brain injuries.


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Just when you think you have Undermain Theatre all figured out, the amazing Dallas troupe turns around and surprises you all over again.
Undermain has been operating out of a cavernous Deep Ellum basement since Katherine Owens and Raphael Parry founded it in 1983. The group quickly established itself as the Southwest's leading advocate of the theatrical avant-garde. After Parry departed in 1999 — he now runs Shakespeare Dallas — Owens and her husband, executive producer Bruce DuBose, transformed the organization. They've taken shows to New York, forged relationships with designers of national stature and established a healthy endowment.
The 2012-13 season Undermain announced at the end of the summer, though, once again turns expectations upside down.
First, this most shockingly contemporary of theaters is presenting four shows that look backward to the roots of world culture. And Owens, who usually stages most Undermain shows herself, is sharing the duties with three other superb directors.
Finally, this Deep Ellum institution, which started out as the theatrical equivalent of a garage band, is the first company to do a multiweek run in the spanking-new City Performance Hall.
"We call this our myths season," Owens says. "We didn't stretch to accommodate these shows. These shows came toward us."
"It was fate," DuBose adds. The directors the company wanted to use were interested in these particular projects, he says, and the rights to the scripts just fell into place.
Half of the four shows are based on Homer's two surviving epics. Through the end of October, under Owens' direction, DuBose is giving an astonishing performance in An Iliad. In January, Stan Wojewodski Jr., head of Southern Methodist University's theater program and former dean of the Yale Drama School, will be directing Enda Walsh's Penelope, a retelling of The Odyssey, at the City Performance Hall. (Irish playwright Walsh this year won both a Tony, for his book of the musical Once, and SMU's Meadows Prize.)
Between those shows, Fred Curchack's Burying Our Father, arrives in November. Written and performed with Laura Jorgensen, it is his version of the biblical story of Abraham as seen from Jewish, Christian and Muslim perspectives.
In April, Patrick Kelly, the prizewinning retired head of the University of Dallas drama program, will be staging August Strindberg's The Ghost Sonata, one of the seminal and most challenging works of early modern drama. Its three acts examine human experience from Hindu, Christian and Buddhist sensibilities.
You can't get more classical than that. Kelly has long been Dallas' leading advocate of the great works of the past, although his first prizewinning Undermain show 20 years ago was an edgy British contemporary piece. What do these backward-looking plays have to do with a forward-looking theater like Undermain?
"These plays speak to different periods of history. They gain or lose their currency with changing worldviews," Kelly says. "Undermain does plays that are right now, and that includes classics like Strindberg's. The Ghost Sonata resonates with the way we're seeing things now."
We are living in an era, however, when most regional theaters have abandoned productions of classic plays in the hopes of finding audience pleasers or potential commercial hits. Undermain is filling a huge gap with its "myth" season.
The Sunshine Boys
John Arnone, the Tony winner who has virtually become Undermain's house set designer in recent seasons, recently completed Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys at Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater.
"Their marketing department announced they could not sell a Shakespeare there," he says. "I just about toppled over."
It's at least as bad in the Big Apple, according to Arnone.
"In New York, it's not that often you get to do The Ghost Sonata or a Len Jenkin play," he says. "You really have to come to Dallas to find people who are capable of doing projects of this particular nature."
Curchack, the internationally acclaimed performance artist who teaches at the University of Texas at Dallas, spends a lot of time in San Francisco, where his partner Jorgensen is based. He agrees that Dallas, largely because of Undermain, is unique these days.
"People in the Bay Area can be really snooty," Curchack says. "I tell them Dallas has a much richer theatrical scene than theirs. They're taken aback, but I mean it. Undermain is the ultimate for artistically adventurous, superb, even sublime, productions."
Wojewodski, for decades one of the best connected and most powerful people in the American theater, says that before he came to Texas to guest-direct at the Dallas Theater Center the first time, Undermain was already the area company he had heard most about.
"They were doing all the plays by the writers I was most interested in," he says. "They were developing a management style that serves the work, not the other way around."
Owens has for years talked about finding an additional venue for Undermain, away from her sometimes unwieldy basement, with its four massive pillars right in the middle of the performance area. She has also talked about a space with greater seating capacity.
It's surprising, then, that Penelope isn't using any of the 750 seats of the City Performance Hall auditorium. The audience — about 100 people — will be seated on the stage. Wojewodski said that the play absolutely needed a tall vertical space to make the script work. Owens and DuBose made that happen.
Isn't it an extravagance, then, to lease the new hall, which many local arts groups say is priced beyond their means?
"Remember, we've rented theaters in New York!" Owens exclaims. "I don't think it's prohibitive at all."
A bonus is that the production establishes another foothold for Undermain in the downtown Arts District, along with its extremely popular new series of staged readings at the Dallas Museum of Art.
Owens has been building relationships with Wojewodski, Kelly and Curchack for years. In fact, Wojewodski's Endgame and Kelly's The Birthday Party at Undermain won Dallas Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum awards for their directors in 2011 and 2012. What's different this season is that she's bringing in all the big guns at once, rather than just one at a time. It's as impressive an array of directorial talent as any theater in America could muster.
The one drawback for Undermain fans is that Owens, who directed An Iliad, won't be staging any more shows this season. She has plenty to keep herself busy — working on the theater's administrative structure, its splendid online archives, and so forth.
"And I'll be making plans for our 30th anniversary season next year. That should be really special," Owens says.
We'll have a whole new set of Undermain surprises only 12 months from now.
An Iliad runs through Oct. 27 at Undermain Theatre, 3200 Main St., Dallas. $15 to $25. 214-747-5515. www.undermain.org.


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My name is Peggy and I am from Texas. I just love quilting. Always watched my mother quilt. I'm very fortunate to have just got a job at Joanns fabrics( Discount, yeah). I just hope I don't spend my whole paycheck. hehehe
My husband is making me a quilting frame this week. We will see what happens. Glad to be on here with all of your very talented ladies. :)


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At Prairie View A&M, we offer quality education at a reasonable cost. Financial aid is also available to assist students with tuition and other fees. Paying for college doesn't have to be a stressful and confusing experience. Once accepted to the university, you will be assigned a financial aid advisor who will guide you through the process of applying for scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and loans.
All students receiving financial aid must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Admitted and continuing students wishing to apply for scholarships must submit the general scholarship application. If you are interested in a work-study program, contact the Student Employment Department to apply for placement. For more information, see our step-by-step instructions on how to apply for and receive financial aid.
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text:
Published on October 31st,2010 at 4:13 PM
By >Akihabara News Team
By >Akihabara News Team
Thanko, Ally to Field Operatives Everywhere (Or: Laptop Table Bag)
Amazing news for people who use computers in the field (eg. on-site wireless network setup, corporate sabotage, government intelligence, Starfleet Corps of Engineers, Japanese office workers) is Thanko's new laptop bag, which turns into a computer table – complete with legs!
This 2.7-kg (without laptop) bag comes with two cooler fans, a pull-out mousepad (or cupholder – whichever you prefer), two pockets, and enough internal cushioning to protect its cargo through the roughest of terrain (and heavy artillery fire, if that's your thing), as well as aluminum legs (four of them!) adjustable in two heights. Measures 440x150x330 mm, this awesome bag is available now!
Via GeekStuff4U.com
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