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2003 Ford Windstar - Consumer Review
Average Consumer Rating
Total Reviews
Base Passenger Minivan (3.8L V6 4-speed Automatic)
Build Quality
Reliability Value
Build Quality
Reliability Value
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Time to sell it before too late
By G W on
Vehicle2003 Ford Windstar 4dr Minivan (3.8L 6cyl 4A)
ReviewWe bought it used w/ @ 33,000 mi on it. The driver's side window motor went right away but the dealer fixed it under warranty. Now have @ 77,000 mi on it. Rear vent windows work & then don't, interior lights also flash on for no reason, now the head gasket is leaking- a seemingly common issue. I owned a '96 & it also was plagued w/ electrical glitches. I'm very nervous about the multiple listings of tranny failure as it has never seemed well mated to this engine - lots of downshifting when going up just moderate grades, not like the '96 but then Ford made this model @ 1000 lbs heavier. Think it's time to sell.
Best FeaturesHonestly, there's no a lot of difference between Ford and other makes of minivans. Thought the interior was pretty well appointed.
Worst FeaturesSame old American car complaints- cut corners so they just don't hold up like the imports and then don't own up to obvious design defects. This model de-evolved. They cut their own throats- no for more Fords for me.
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All Android applications categories
Saad Lamjarred is a Moroccan singer, second in the competition reality Lebanese Superstar in season 4.
- Biography :
Born in Rabat April 7, 1985 , Saad Lamjarred is none other than the son of the famous Moroccan singer Bachir Abdou and popular actress Moroccan Nezha Regragui . From a young age, he beigna in an artistic atmosphere. At his circumcision, he sang " Tal alina " iconic chorus repertoire of his dad. He was only four years. After primary school, he enrolled at the Conservatory of Music to study music theory and organ . Moderator born , he was the vocalist of the summer camps qu'organisait RTM.Il sings the first time before his father Studio 5 with Aziz Chihal.En 2007 he participated in the show Super Star (season 4) of the television Lebanese Future TV or it will be discovered by the public Moroccan and Arabic. Selected the United States, where he continued his studies from hundreds of candidates , he finally clinch second place behind Tunisia Marwan Ali .. In 2008 , he participated in " Limin al oughnia " Lebanese singing contest , with " Bihab illicit biakrahni " lyrics and composition Suhail Fares. Amateur Moroccan song, Saad Lamjarred also interprets the eastern and the tubes French and English. Pending implements its projects with Future TV , he comes to write and compose " Aziz oughali " he is about to sing a duet with her dad.
In 2011, on the occasion of Ramadan, he ended up singing in a commercial operator Inwi , who will entertain throughout Morocco . He knows that after a few mishaps and a decline in popularity for a content that is considered "poor" .
- Discography -
- Waadini
Ya - Hali Mnassini
W -Aziz Ghali - Duo with his father Bachir Abdou (coming soon)
- Sa3a Sa3ida -Duo with Sofia Mountassir
Ya Lemima
Enty -
Application Menu:
- News!
- Videos !
- Music!
- Follow the official Facebook fanpage !
- Photo Gallery
This is an unofficial application and the purpose of this application is for entertainment purposes only . This application complies with the guidelines of the law of the United States copyright "fair use " . All rights reserved by respective content owners . The content of this app is hosted by YouTube and is available in the public domain you tube api . and registered users can add the link of the YouTube video here. This application is just an organized way to browse and watch these videos on YouTube. All names copyright and images are the property of their owners and are used here for illustrative purposes in accordance with Title 17 , United States Code . This app is not endorsed , authorized or performed by the owner and such informal and is intended for informational purposes . If you feel there is a copyright or trademark does not directly follow Que Violation In the guidelines of " fair use" , please contact us
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You are welcome whatnauts
Wendy I am not naughty, I am very kind to not telling you things that would distract you from creating ideas for new artworks ;-)
Oh, Ms. Advia, you are so naughty. ;-)
This is great. Thanks.
Hi Wendy I thought you call the swirl tail. The swirl is only the last step of some others that of course I won't tell you know why ;-)
Hi Peahen you are very welcome
I love it, advia. Thanks for this wonderful puzzle.
OH, Advia! I LOVE this! I did some swirls long ago, but I'll bet this gets a lot more solves than mine did. It's WONDERFUL!


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Like the rest of the world, we're on a budget this year. So, especially on my outdoor decorating, which is done primarily for the residents of the house (since we're not planning on hosting any holiday parties this year), I'm on the hunt for budget-conscience decorations.
Here's two projects I whipped out Sunday in about 45 minutes for a grand total of ZERO dollars!
The first was just a little merrying up of the large fiberglass container that I leave out all year (don't try that with clay pots) by the front door. I waited a little long on this project, so the dirt was already frozen in there and I had to drill holes to get the greens stuck in. The red twig dogwood came from a field near my parents' house, and the rest of the greens were trimmed from our trees. It was looking a little boring so I stuck some dried hydrangea blossoms in there as well.
And here's the before and after of our little address post. I call it "The diver." Can you figure out why? Squint your eyes a little, and maybe that will help. I see two legs and a person with their arms over their head bending over to dive (like how you learn to dive as a kid). It's a driftwood find I snagged off the beach several years ago. It's not in great shape, so I know it won't last forever. The actual address plaque was made by my husband out of carbon fiber. I like the juxtaposition of the seriously rustic driftwood along with the super high-tech carbon fiber. The solar lantern at the end is something my husband added. I don't really like it, but hey ... he lives here too!
Anyway, to give it some holiday flair, I just used the same greens I used in the pot and wired them together. Then I grabbed some net-like ribbon I found in the basement (red would have been better, but I seem to be all out of it!), made a bow and stuck it on there. I like how it turned out, and when it cost nothing but a little time, I definitely can't complain.


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Written on: 15/03/2013
My wife bought these for me, totally by accident. An airgun site had recommended Milbro Caledonians for my recently acquired 1961 Mk 3 Webley.22.
But the shop didn't have them in, so sold her these. 'Think he'll be impressed' said the salesman.
Having started shooting again seriously recently I have been using cheap SMK pellets - at the plinking 20 yard range there seemed no point in spending £3 a can more.
First I tried them the RWS in my BSA GoldStar with scope,, then the Mk 3 Webley with open sights. What a difference! Once the guns were sighted in - no flyers, just shot on shot accuracy. I'm sold on them, looking forward to trying the .177 version on my new Crosman 3576 pistol & nineteen fifties Webley Junior rifle.
As rated by our community of reviewers
" Most Inaccurate Ammo " Read More
" Not impressed, for the price. " Read More
Written by Laverdabru1116
" 5.5mm wasp " Read More
Written by grumblegrunt
" My BSA loves them! (.22) " Read More
Written by Laverdabru1116
" Excellent pellet. " Read More
Written by kenmiddleton


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All about Small tug boats plans
40 – Wooden Boat Plans & Designs in behalf of Small Boat Building Projects. Place your the order of reference then and there instantly download your tug boat plans.
40' Tugboat – Take Five – Downloadable Boat Building Plans
Boat plans for the 40 "The 40' Tugboat – Take five was delivered to us in Rotterdam, Holland. We sailed the boat home to Norway crossing the North Sea.
Free Small Tug Boat Plans
In my never ending quest to hoard boat plans , I thought that I would pass this info I went to the web page and had a question but no way to contact. He says on
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mini-tug boat – Boat Design Forums
Who has drawings mini-tug boat? Please. Sam Devlin has the Godzilla 16 see: http://www.devlinboat.com/dcgodzilli.htm
Scale Tug Boat Designs – Marine Modelling Plans from Cornwall
Marine Modelling International Tug boat plan sets for building working scale model tug boats.
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Instant Access to 518 Different Plans – From Small Wooden Boat Plans To Large Sailboat Plans – Free Boat Plans


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1-28-14 Calendar
- Published in Calendar of Events
Managing Stress session lead by counselor Andrea DiDonato from Genesis Behavioral Health. 11:45 a.m. at the Tilton Senior Center. To RSVP call 527-8291.
Do-It-Yourself Publishing: Going It Alone as an Indie Author. 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Gilford Public Library.
Storytime at Belmont Public Library. 3:30 p.m.
Events at the Hall Memorial Library in Northfield. Project Teen 3-4 p.m. Nooners Book Group featuring the book "The Language of Flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
Chess Club meets at the Laconia Public Library on Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. All ages and skill levels welcome. We will teach.)
Hands Across The Table free weekly dinner at the Boys and Girls Club of the Lakes Region building on North Main Street in Laconia (formerly the St. James Episcopal Church). 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The New Horizons Band of the Lakes Region meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Music Clinic on Rte 3 in Belmont. All musicians welcome. For more information call 528-6672 or 524-8570.
Giggles & Grins playgroup at Family Resource Center in downtown Laconia (719 No. Main Street, Laconia). Free group for parents children from birth through age 5. For more information call 524-1741.


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Prices, promotions, styles, and availability may vary. Our local stores do not honor online pricing. Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Lowe's reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted.
Roses are used as cut flowers, screens, borders, containers, hedges, ground cover, wall cover, and of course, as specimen plants in the landscape. There are literally thousands of rose types. Bloom color, bloom shape, foliage, size, fragrance and plant shape are all things to look at when shopping for roses. This guide will help you sort through all the varieties of roses.
Bareroot - dormant plants sold in fall, winter or early spring.
Bud - the beginning of a new flower or leaf.
Bud union - the point where the rootstock is grafted to the flowering variety. The bud union can be seen as an enlarged area at the base of the plant, whether purchased as bareroot or in a container. The bud union is also used as a gauge to mark planting depth.
Cane - stem from the base of plant that supports foliage and flowers.
Deadhead - to remove flowers after blooming. Deadheading sends energy to new flowers, not seeds.
Disbud - to remove smaller side buds on a stem to invigorate the main bud at the end of the stem.
Grade - Bareroot roses are graded according to the quality of their growth. Grades also designate the future size and productivity of the rose. The numerical grades are established by the American Association of Nurserymen and should be noted on the plant tag.
The three grades are:
Graft - to join a scion (top part or stem) with a stock (bottom part or a stem with roots) to create a new plant.
Hip - seed pod that forms from a spent blossom. Hips provide another bit of interest in fall after the blooms have gone.
Hybrid - created by crossing two different plants to combine their most desirable characteristics. Roses are hybridized to create new colors, increase disease resistance, improve fragrance, and manipulate size.
Own root - the entire plant is of the same variety (not grafted).
Rootstock - hybrid roses are grafted onto a host set of roots. The rootstock is selected for strength and hardiness. The roses that bloom from a rootstock are not the most desirable for most rose gardeners.
Sucker - a stem that grows out and up from the rootstock (therefore not from the grafted variety). Usually coming up from under ground level, it's highly recommended that they be removed so that the plants energy is directed to the desired plant.
Look at Most Beautiful Roses for more ideas.
Since roses adapt to planting in-ground, in containers, or even in hanging baskets, they serve many purposes in the home landscape. When you go shopping at the garden center, nursery or catalog, you're going to want one of each. So before you bring them all home:
Read Plant a Rose Garden and Grow Container Roses for instructions on adding roses to your landscape.
Roses are susceptible to bugs and disease as most plants are. But roses are hardier than many people think. As with any plant the proper environment and care is critical. Give them:
One more piece of advice - you'll probably get hooked, so buy a comprehensive rose guide and join a rose society so you can share your new passion with others.


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Chris Weaver's life sounds like something out of a superhero comic: the mild-mannered geographer spends his days in mapping and data management through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia and his evenings kicking butt and flying through the air.
He has a third-degree black belt in tae kwon do and has volunteered as an instructor for the UGA Karate Club since he joined as a student in 1997. When he's not at the club, he's at Canopy Studios where he just completed his first year training in aerial dance.
Although he admits sometimes it's hard to balance his day job, his volunteer work and his aerial training, Weaver credits his work with the Karate Club for keeping him going.
"Luckily I have a great group of students who perk me up and make it worthwhile to give my time." Weaver said. "I love that I have an opportunity to give back to the club that gave so much to me while I was in school. And I get something out of it, too."
It might come as a surprise that the burly karate instructor, who can level a man with a blow, also can fly gracefully through the air on a trapeze. But tights jokes aside, Weaver thrives on challenge and brings the discipline and determination of karate to all other aspects of his life.
"Aerial dance takes the same dedication, the same perseverance (as karate)," Weaver said. "I just thought it seemed like something really interesting that would challenge me on a much different level than martial arts."
About Christopher Weaver
• Age: 33
• Profession/place of work: GIS professional with information technology outreach services at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia
• College: University of Georgia
• First paying job: Martial arts instructor
• Childhood ambition: World explorer
• Inspiration: My students
• Family: Two cats and an insanely, energetic border collie
Community involvement: Instructor at the UGA Karate Club; fundraiser and supporter of Relay for Life at UGA; supporter of Meredith Emerson Memorial Scholarship Fund at AKF-Itto Martial Arts
• Favorite books: "Harry Potter," by J.K. Rowling; "Grendel," by John Gardner; and the "The Lord of the Rings," by J.R.R. Tolkein
• Favorite pastimes: Exploring, camping at the lake and watching UGA athletics with family and friends
• Favorite movies: "Unforgiven," "The Matrix," "The Seven Samurai (1954)," and "The Princess Bride"
• Favorite musical groups: Hope for Agoldensummer, The Heap, Kate Morrissey
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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Baby Shower Clip Art, Bird Clip Art, Baby Clip Art, Royalty Free Clip Art, N01, Instant Download
Product Info
Baby Shower Clipart, Bird Clipart, Baby Clipart, Royalty Free Clipart, N01, Instant Download
This set contains 3 image groups of birds, birdhouses and flowers.
The colors are pink, blue turquoise, yellow, brown, green and red coral.
Format: Individual files (separate files).
Each in PNG (300 dpi, transparent background).
I will send the files to your email in a zip folder within 24 hours.
Your sheet will not have watermark on it.
No physical items will be shipped.
Please read Sweet Shop Design's policies before you make a purchase:
Please see my shop front page for special offer:
And please check this section if you are looking for more Baby Shower Clipart:


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Jason P.wrote a review of Yakima Universal Block Boat Carriers on April 19, 2012
Great Introductory Product
This is a great product if you are not looking to spend a lot of money. I have a 2002 Ford Expedition with the factory crossbars and it fit perfectly. The straps work well and it was easy to put together. I have used it at speed up to 80 miles an hour and the canoe (Old Town 146) did not move a bit. It only take a couple of minutes (literally 2) to unpack each time and put up on the roof.
Great buy for the money.


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The Illinois Attorney General ("AG") filed a Complaint and Motion for Preliminary Injunction against TrueFlo Solutions LLC ("TS") in White County Circuit Court in Illinois in regards to an oil spill that allegedly...more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is poised to approve North Dakota's application for primary enforcement authority over the underground injection of CO2 for geologic sequestration in that state. Nearly four...more
Sierra Club v. Chesapeake Operating LLC et al is news more shocking than "Man Bites Dog"! A federal court has acknowledged that others are better equipped to address certain issues than the judiciary!...more
On April 4, 2017, a federal district court dismissed a citizen-enforcement action under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act that could have profound impact on fracking suits against the oil and gas industry.
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma has dismissed the Sierra Club's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) citizen suit, filed against several oil and gas producers seeking declaratory and...more
A reported in a prior blog post, the Western States Petroleum Association ("WSPA") sued the California Department of Conservation and the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (jointly, the "Department") in Kern...more
On January 21, 2017 the California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources ("DOGGR") issued a Notice of Pre-rulemaking Public Comment Period for the development of updates to the regulations...more
As an update to our prior blog post, on January 17, 2017, the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources ("DOGGR") released a letter sent to notify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") of...more
On January 19, 2017, three oil industry trade groups filed suit against the California Department of Conservation and the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources ("DOGGR") (jointly "Department") in Kern County Superior...more
December 31, 2016 marked a deadline for oilfield operators to comply with the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources' ("DOGGR") Aquifer Exemption and Compliance Schedule Regulations. Operators were required to either...more
The District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) on Oct. 28, 2016, published final rules governing the construction, maintenance and abandonment of wells. The new regulations became effective immediately...more
As reported in a previous blog post, Earthjustice, on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity ("CBD"), filed a lawsuit against the California Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources ("DOGGR") in May 2015. The...more
Fracking Insider Readers: We are pleased to bring you Volume 48 of our State Regulatory Roundup, including updates in California, Colorado, and Kansas. As we explained in earlier volumes, we designed the Roundup to provide...more
Environmental and Policy Focus -
BNSF to appeal ruling blocking California rail yard -
Wall Street Journal -
Aug 2 -
BNSF Railway Co. and the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday appealed a court ruling against...more
What is EOR and where is it used in the United States?
(This article is the first in a periodic series exploring legal issues relating to CO2 enhanced oil recovery and serves as an introduction to the process. Our next...more
Stanford University released a study this week stating that California has three times more useable groundwater located in deep aquifers than previously estimated. This might come as welcome news to a state that continues to...more
Yesterday, Judge Scott Skavdahl of the District of Wyoming held that the Bureau of Land Management did not have authority to regulate the environmental impacts of fracking. I think Judge Skavdahl probably got it right, but I...more
June 3, 2016 was the final deadline for oil- and gas-related bills introduced in the 2015-2016 legislative session to move through their house of origin. Below is a summary of those bills, many of which relate to natural gas...more
On May 4, 2016, the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), National Resources Defense Council (NRDC); Earthworks; Center for Health, Environment and Justice; and three other environmental groups (hereinafter collectively...more
The purpose of the rulemaking is to modify and update existing requirements related to surface activities associated with the development of conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells....more
A Federal Magistrate Judge in Pennsylvania has ruled that an oil and gas exploration company may challenge a township ordinance that makes it unlawful to deposit flowback water into underground injection wells within the...more
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has restricted injection well activity over a combined zone of nearly 10,000 square miles—approximately the size of Massachusetts (Exhibit 1). In Central Oklahoma, the OCC seeks to reduce...more
The Sierra Club has filed suit against three oil and gas companies operating in Oklahoma, alleging that the companies' wastewater injection practices were behind the recent uptick in earthquake activity in the state. The...more
EQT Corp. won a temporary victory in its continuing effort to defend against the potential shutdown of its 200 oil and gas wells and one wastewater injection well in Fayette County, West Virginia, after the District Court for...more
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Madoff Trustee: JPMorgan Owes $19B
Irving Picard, the man tasked with seeking damages for the victims of Bernard Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme, has filed a claim for $19 billion in damages from JPMorgan, Madoff's former bank. The $19 billion figure is triple the number Picard previously sought, and the amended complaint also includes a jury demand. These damages are in addition to the $1 billion sought in fraudulent transfers and equitable claims. In the complaint, Picard called the bank "thoroughly complicit" in Madoff's Ponzi scheme. JPMorgan has not commented yet.


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Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez to receive highest honor Sept 22
By Manny Lopez | GSD Reporter
San Diego Democrats for Equality announced Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez as this year's A. Brad Truax Human Rights Award recipient, to be handed out at the Democrat's annual Freedom Awards on Sunday, Sept. 22.
Each year the award is presented to a person who has helped make significant and sustained strides toward the advancement of LGBT equality. The 2013 Freedom Awards will be held at the home of Lambda Archives of San Diego board President Maureen Steiner and Camille Davidson in Coronado, Calif.
"I am deeply grateful to be receiving the Brad Truax Human Rights award," Pérez said via email. "Our community has made tremendous progress over the last few years. Certainly, having our marriage rights restored was a powerful victory for our community, but California is leading the way forward on other issues of equal importance."
Doug Case, president of San Diego Democrats for Equality, said Pérez was chosen for the award because in addition to having an outstanding record on LGBT and progressive issues in general, he is the highest-ranking LGBT official ever in the history of California.
Case said that throughout the Assembly Speaker's career, Pérez has been supportive of labor issues, and a strong participant in the Democratic Party and LGBT caucus.
"John's role in the LGBT movement has primarily been as a role model. It's not as unusual [now] or as trailblazing as it was, having an LGBT elected official," Case said.
"When Christine Kehoe became the first LGBT-elected official in San Diego, it was big news and it was groundbreaking, and that was what the story was all about," Case said. "These days when [someone like] Todd Gloria, David Roberts, Bonnie Dumanis or Carl DeMaio gets elected to office, their sexual orientation is more of a footnote and not a major story."
Pérez was elected in 2008 to represent the 48th Assembly District, located in Los Angeles. In 2010, he became the first openly gay person in the country to ever be elected as Speaker of a state House or Assembly.
Among his accomplishments is his election to serve as president of the National Speakers Conference, a non-partisan organization of those holding the position of Speaker in a state House or Assembly. He was also appointed by former-presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to serve on the President's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.
Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins, a past recipient of the award, will present the Human Rights Award to Pérez on Sept. 22. About 100 people are expected to attend the ceremony.
The award is the highest honor given by the nonprofit. It is named for Dr. A. Brad Truax, a physician and early president of the LGBT Democrat group, which was previously known as the San Diego Democratic Club. Truax advocated for laws protecting people with HIV and AIDS from discrimination.
"Speaker Pérez is one of the toughest, smartest, most strategic political leaders I've had the honor to work with," Atkins said. "He is also a good friend and a perfect choice for the Brad Truax award."
Atkins said that as the nation's first LGBT Speaker, Pérez has moved LGBT rights forward and brought LGBT elected officials to the table in an unprecedented way. She said that under his leadership, the California legislature has passed groundbreaking laws to advance LGBT equality, especially for LGBT youth.
"We were the first state to ban the abhorrent practice of conversion therapy, and other states are following our lead," Pérez said. "I am very proud of the groundbreaking protections the legislature has passed for transgender students in California's classrooms. We clearly have more work to do, but the victories we have won on behalf of our community are a powerful affirmation of justice and human dignity, and I am deeply grateful not only for this award, but for the work activists in our community do across the state every single day."
Other honors presented Sept. 22 include the J. Douglas Scott Political Action Award to Don Mullen, the Gloria Steinem Communications Award to Lambda Archives, the Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award to Connor Maddocks and the R. Stevens Pope Award for Volunteerism to Phyllis McGrath. Special Recognition will be given to the San Diego Democrats for Equality Transformation Task Force and the President's Award will be announced at the event.
Tickets for the Freedom Awards are $50 for members, and $60 for guests. For more information on the San Diego Democrats for Equality, visit democratsforequality.org or email email@example.com.


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Set in a remote corner of the Roman Empire during a period of political unrest and spiritual uncertainty, Testament is a timeless story of how the holy man we know as Jesus alters forever the course of human history.
We come to know Jesus through the eyes of four dissimilar people. First is Judas, a committed political fighter who is invigorated by his discussions with Jesus about a sovereign nation for the Jews -- a place Jesus imagines as a philosophical rather… (more)
Publisher: Mariner Books (April 14, 2004)
Format: EPUB
Page count: 464 pages
File size: 344 KB
Protection: DRM
Language: English
Awards: Trillium Book Award 2003 winner


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Photographer's Note
Completed in 1846, "[the Notre-Dame Cathedral] Basilica is the oldest and largest church in Ottawa and the seat of the city's Catholic archbishop." (Wikipedia)
This view was taken in Major's Hill Park in downtown Ottawa. The National Gallery of Canada is at the northern end of the park. Although the gallery itself is not visible, if you look closely you can see one of the gallery's most famous sculptures, a large bronze spider that sits outside in front of the main entrance.
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Critiques | Translate
cargus (11167) 2012-11-18 21:45
Colour, light and contrast excellent, good together in a successful picture.
macjake (77819) 2013-07-03 17:02
Hi Caleb
Oh how i miss Ottawa! I lived here for 4 years, but that was 20 years ago now, and i havn't been back.
this is a beautiful autumn scene, especially with the elegant Cathedral standing tall into the distance.
wonderful shot
Photo Information
- Copyright: Caleb Ficner (kwekwekan) (1078)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2012-10-08
- Categories: Architecture
- Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS8
- Exposure: f/5.0, 1/500 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Date Submitted: 2012-11-18 18:44


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Adrian Wistreich, Ceramic Artist: After more than 20 years of corporate life in London, working as a publisher and research consultant, I left the rat-race to pursue my ambition of becoming an artist and teacher. I completed a diploma in Ceramics and Design at Hackney College of Art, London, moved to Kinsale with my family and set-up this school.
My desire to teach comes from my experience as a communicator, I have learned to find and stimulate the artist in us all, regardless of our experience of art. I tend to be sculptural in my own work drawing on a love of form and texture through smoke-fired abstract ceramic pieces and studies of people. I have increasingly brought color to my work developing my own stoneware glazes, which are available for students to try out. I want to break down the barriers between traditional craft skills and the apparent inaccessibility of fine art.
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The IC.IDO solution incorporates real-time physics simulation, which, says ESI, realistically reproduces the behavior of virtual objects, such as cables, hoses and kinematic chains. Users also benefit from an immersive user interface that lets them intuitively engage with a virtual product, according to the company. The new version reportedly brings significant enhancements to this user interface, offering improved usability, agility and optimized workflow. Additionally, ESI reports that users can now build and manage libraries of reusable elements that can be easily shared between teams.
The new IDO.Illuminate module allows users to experience their scenarios under realistic lighting conditions, without sacrificing interactivity or reducing available features, the company says. Complex 3D environments can be created, edited and activated to directly appreciate the visual appearance, showing operating conditions more realistically and to better assess the manufacturability or serviceability of a product. Rendering performance is optimized during runtime.
Also part of this release is a new module called IDO.Process that allows for the interactive and collaborative planning and validation of an assembly process. IDO.Process, says the company, introduces a new paradigm within IC.IDO to flexibly orchestrate and manipulate processes defined by distinct product and resource configurations. In combination with IC.IDO's immersive experience, explains ESI, IDO.Process addresses the demand of industrial engineers and service managers for an agile and robust planning and validation environment of their respective processes.
For more information on IC.IDO 10, visit ESI Group.
Watch "CFD Simulation Results in a 3D Environment."
Watch "Virtual Assembly / Disassembly Validation with IC.IDO."
Watch "Virtual Service & Maintenance with IC.IDO."
See why DE's editors selected ESI Group's IC.IDO version 10 as their Pick of the Week.
Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.


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Local governments have been looking to save money anyway they can in recent years. In October, the City of Fort Worth turned to its employees on the front lines for ideas on how to improve the city's bottom line with the Big Idea Challenge.
Tuesday morning, during city council presentations, the mayor awarded six employees with $5,000 prize money for their ideas that could end up saving the city money.
"Obviously the city doesn't want to ask taxpayers for any more money that it has to and our employees are front line people," Mayor Betsy Price said. "We want to empower them to think outside the box and tell us what we can do to help make their job easier as well as save money."
The Six Winning Ideas
Outside of City Hall the parked city vehicles may not strike you as anything but normal, but if occupied they would likely be running. Firefighter John Bell pointed out that the city has no policy against idling city vehicles when no work is being done.
That idea is one of six that split a $5,000 donation from Community Trust Bank.
Another prize winning idea, came from Greg Nelson, a civilian who works for the fire department.
"Just to have the fire protection plans picked up instead of mailed out, just to save some postage," Nelson said.
Nelson admitted he was surprised his idea won, but its something Mayor Price said during the council meeting presentation to the employees she helped implement when she was the Tarrant County Tax Collector-Assessor.
Those little ideas can add up and another employee had a similar suggestion and split the prize with Nelson.
"The old adage, watch your pennies and the dollars will watch themselves and these are all great ideas," Price said.
Other ideas included making all city facilities tobacco-free and requiring future employees to be tobacco-free as well.
Another idea would give employees the option of donating vacation time to their retirement account. That would potentially save the city in retirement contributions.
The last idea would remove a limit on how much developers can contribute to roadway improvements. An idea Price said could save millions.
All of these ideas, city staff points out, are still ideas that have to be vetted before they can be implemented. But Price hopes this is just the start in making city government run more effectively.
"What we want to do is starting breaking the mold and breaking the silos and start thinking real creatively," Price said.
The city and Community Trust Bank plan to continue the Big Idea Challenge next year and beyond in hopes the $5,000 donation will be well worth what the city can save.


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Foreign military support for the Afghan government of Pres. Hamid Karzai peaked at about 150,000 troops during 2010, but insurgent attacks increased in intensity and extent. Afghan support for foreign troops faltered, however, when civilians were killed, and NATO shifted its strategy from counterterrorism, which focused on destroying the enemy, to counterinsurgency, which aimed at protecting civilians and depriving the insurgents of support. U.S. Pres. Barack Obama promised that some U.S. forces would begin to be withdrawn in July 2011. In February 2010 NATO launched an offensive centred on a Taliban stronghold in Helmand province. Taliban control was weakened, but the goal of establishing effective government institutions there remained elusive. In September another NATO operation succeeded in reducing Taliban activity in and around Kandahar. Drawing on its experience of fighting in Iraq, the U.S. proposed arming villagers in areas beyond government control to form village police units to deal with local threats. President Karzai at first opposed the idea, but by summer the plan had been approved, and the first units had been deployed by autumn.
In the ninth year of fighting in Afghanistan, it was widely recognized that a purely military solution was unlikely, and resolution of the conflict required other approaches as well. At a conference in London in January 2010, Karzai presented a program for reconciling with and reintegrating insurgents. Those who renounced violence, refused to support al-Qaeda, and accepted Afghanistan's constitution would be welcomed with aid and jobs. The idea was endorsed by the international community, and in June Karzai summoned a meeting of 1,600 leading Afghans to offer advice on reconciliation. One result was the appointment in September of a 70-member High Peace Council. Pakistan insisted on participating in any negotiations, but some Afghans distrusted that country because of its close links to the Taliban and looked instead to Saudi Arabia to play an important role. Reports of secret talks involving Afghan, UN, and U.S. officials and Taliban representatives were denied by Taliban spokesmen, who publicly rejected all offers of reconciliation. Human rights activists worried that a deal with the Taliban might come at the expense of hard-won rights for Afghan women.
Following the massive fraud that occurred during the 2009 presidential election, the demand for government reform increased, both inside and outside Afghanistan. Entrenched corruption, especially among police and government authorities, turned Afghans against their government and made NATO's counterinsurgency mission more difficult. The international community had come to see President Karzai as the main obstacle to reform, while Karzai accused non-Afghans of interfering with and ignoring Afghanistan's sovereignty. He objected to NATO operations that caused many civilian casualties and chafed when pressured by foreigners to adjust his government to accommodate their interests. He also said that aid that donor countries spent without Afghan government oversight was the cause of corruption and, in the case of private security firms contracted by foreigners, a source of violence. In a July conference, Karzai's finance minister, Omar Zakhilwal, asked that at least half the aid to Afghanistan be channeled through Afghan ministries, and in August Karzai decreed that all private security firms, domestic and foreign, would be banned. Confrontation with Karzai became so serious that some in the U.S. administration felt that a focus on eliminating corruption might conflict with strategic U.S. interests.
Elections for the lower house of Afghanistan's parliament were due in 2010, but the taint of fraud on the previous year's presidential election put a fair vote in doubt. Karzai insisted that the election be held by May, as the constitution required, but many international leaders demanded a delay, citing the need for electoral reform. In late January Karzai reluctantly agreed to postpone the vote until September 18. The balloting was to be run by an Independent Election Commission (IEC) and a separate Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC), including non-Afghans, to adjudicate fraud cases. In February Karzai moved to take control of the ECC. The lower house blocked that attempt, and, under pressure from his Western allies, Karzai backed down.
By June there were 2,577 candidates, including 405 women, standing for 249 seats. Several candidates and their supporters were killed while campaigning, and security concerns kept almost 14% of polling stations closed, but 5.6 million Afghans defied Taliban threats and voted. Thousands of complaints were filed, and the IEC disqualified nearly one-fourth of the ballots while the ECC disqualified 19 winning candidates. The final results, announced in November, showed that the Pashtun contingent had lost about 26 seats, prompting fresh claims of vote rigging. In December Karzai established a special tribunal to investigate the complaints.
|Quick Facts
|652,864 sq km (252,072 sq mi)
|(2010 est.): 26,290,000 (excluding Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran)
|Head of state and government:
|President Hamid Karzai


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Trekker - Trekkie - Star Trek Fan - Just my name is fine
Started by TimBrazeal, Jan 27 2007 03:59 AM
61 replies to this topic
Posted 04 December 2011 - 03:11 AM
Posted 19 December 2014 - 01:20 PM
I prefer Trekkie because i am a huge Star Trek fan. I remember every episode,i like to read books which made based on Star Trek.
My favorite books is Star Trek: Typhon pact,Star Trek:Voyager (Battle lines). My favorite Star Trek movies are Star Trek:First contact and Star Trek:Insurrection.
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Are you addicted to reality TV? Do you watch all the shows from Britain's Got Talent to The Apprentice? Can you name every contestant ever to walk through the doors of the Big Brother house? Then The Reality Television Quiz Book is definitely for you. Who can forget Jade Goody, Peter Andre and Jordan, Leona Lewis or Paul Potts? They are all inside in this book alongside the many memorable characters who have become household names by appearing live on our television… (more)
Publisher: Apex Publishing Limited (July 15, 2011)
Format: EPUB
Page count: 153 pages
File size: 2 MB
Protection: DRM
Language: English


text:
No longer only plain vanilla, men's wedding rings today come in a wide range of styles as unique as you. Stylish men have discovered that a wedding band design with gems, interesting texture, or meaningful symbols expresses your own personality. Gemvara's wide selection of men's yellow gold tourmaline wedding rings means you can find the perfect style. Gemvara selects the finest possible materials to make one of a kind men's yellow gold tourmaline wedding rings to order, just for you. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. The gem of creativity and innovation, tourmaline has the power to inspire artistic expression. Available in a rich palette, there is a tourmaline for every jewelry design. Gemvara offers tourmaline in a warm pink and a lush green. Tourmaline is an October birthstone and the 8th anniversary gem. Warm buttery 14 karat yellow gold provides the classic golden glow. Gemvara also offers every gold piece in luxurious 18k yellow gold which has a richer color and higher gold content for even more lasting value. Gemvara's beautifully custom-made men's yellow gold tourmaline wedding rings are handcrafted to order, just for you, by skilled craftsmen in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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Aqua Allegoria Cherry Blossom Perfume
By Guerlain for Women
Aqua Allegoria Cherry Blossom Perfume by Guerlain, Guerlain has designed this gorgeous summer fragrance . This perfume for women is called aqua allegoria. It makes use of vivid and beautiful fragrance notes. The delicate scent is floral and very fresh, which leaves the wearer feeling good and clean. A first, the scent tends to take one by surprise but later its subtle fragrance stays on the skin. The strength of the perfume is good so longevity is rated at approximately 6 hours. The fragrance ... Read More ... Read More notes are peach, tea, bergamot, almond and cherry blossom. This eau de toilette has one feeling that it's springtime whenever it is worn. It is truly a beautiful fragrance. All products are original, authentic name brands. We do not sell knockoffs or imitations.
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History and background of Guerlain. Entering the Guerlain universe means crossing the threshold into an exceptional world where respect for tradition and a feel for innovation weave the most beautiful creations. Guerlain has been in existence for nearly 170 years and for a company so firmly anchored in history, the challenge has always been to reconcile the richness of tradition with a sense of innovation Read more about Guerlain
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... Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria Cherry Blossom is a light, fresh scent that bespeaks to this Canadian gal of the promise of Spring!
... now that I have found my scent ... Mother Nature ... I'm ready when you are!
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Regards, Michael
Last edited: 2015-02-25T17:29:14
Disappointed Wrote:Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Funny thing is, I researched for a long time before I bought my IWC pilot XVI watch and truth said, I still don't like anything else more...... just frustrating event on top of a bad couple weeks at work. The watch has been there for a while and sadly I am contemplating a steel band while it is there but don't want to slow down the process..... Again I appreciate your cogent comments. Take care.


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Tools you will need
-the original apk u want to modify +plus backup of it :P (framework apk & system ui.apk)
-system ui.apk located in system/app folder of any gb rom!!!!
-framework apk located in /system/framework folder any rom including cm7 -froyo miui ics so on lol...
-you will also need this zip which will be attached to the bottem of the post.
-also java sdk- properly setup will not go into this on this thread as it goes over -the scope of what im trying to show this is for people that already know and or -have some understanding of how to thme / modify a rom
-notepad++ for windows users
First off yor going to want to copy the contents of said zip into your framework apk
the location they need to be copied is /res/drawable-hdpi
all 3 files this will give u a transparent glass effect which will be what we are using :P
second off you will need apktool or equivalent but for this guide ill be going over how to use apktool to decompile and recompile it :P
copy your system ui to your apktool directory then open a command prompt in windows and navigate to that directory please refer to windows if you do not know how to change directories :P
apktool d systemui.apk ./systemui
you will see the progress
baslmaking.... copying resources xmls smali etc
you may get some ping 9 errors thats ok as we wont be using the modified apk just some of the files out of it once done :P
ok now you have your new shinny folder
navigate to res/layout
the file that needs modification is
status_bar.xml---OPEN THIS IN NOTEPAD++ OR YA MANY SPECIAL THINGS WILL HAPPEN
the second line should read or something similar
com.android.systemui.statusbar.StatusBarView androidrientation="vertical" android:background="#F0000000" android:focusable="true" android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants"
you need to change it to this
com.android.systemui.statusbar.StatusBarView androidrientation="vertical" android:background="#77000000" android:focusable="true" android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants"
most notably the #77000000
that will make your statusbar transparent
save your work!!!!!
take your systemui.apk and make a copy of it somewhere just in case :P
actually make 2 :P
then rename the systemui.apk thats in the apkfolder to systemui.bak so it does not get overwritten!!!
then from your command prompt type this:
apktool b ./systemui systemui.apk
hit enter :P
it should now say smaling... rebuilding resources bla bla bla
and then after you have a shinny new apk :P
adb push that back to your device or flash via cwm :P
wala!!! if you loose your status bar after this happens lol it can happen
take the status_bar.xml out of the new systemui.apk and copy it into res/layout on one of the backups :P (hence why i said make a backup lol :P and flash that!!!
wala you should now have transparent status bar in your rom once its booted
(also note you may not see it if your launcher does NOT SUPPORT transparent status bars!!!!!) ADW IS NOTORIOUS FOR THIS....
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NEWARK, N.J. — When the New Jersey Devils fell behind the Los Angeles Kings three games to none in the Stanley Cup Final, the series looked to be over. But after the Game 3 loss, goaltender Martin Brodeur spoke up.
"He was so calm and just telling everybody that we can still it get done," defenseman Mark Fayne said. "When you hear it from a guy like that, you really believe it."
Even if the Devils didn't really believe it then, they are now after a 2-1 victory in Game 5 on Saturday night at Prudential Center that forced a return trip to California and kept this season alive.
"We feel good. I mean, we're back in this thing now," said captain Zach Parise, who scored his first goal of the Final. "We're making it a series. We're making it interesting."
New Jersey coach Peter DeBoer contends that he didn't think the series was that lopsided, even when his team was in a 3-0 hole. Two of those first three games were decided in overtime.
But it looked painfully obvious that the Kings were skating on a different plane, and it looked like they would roll down Imperial Highway with the first title in franchise history. Not so fast.
Game 4 was the Devils staving off elimination. Game 5 was a chance to prove something.
"We're still alive. We have a chance. It's not a difficult thing to get yourself ready for games like that," said Brodeur, who finished with 25 saves. "Now it's been two in a row. It drains you a lot. It takes a lot out of you. But it's worth it."
Just keep plugging away has worked for the Devils. Perhaps it's possible that the bounces that weren't going their way earlier in the series are simply starting to now.
"A bounce here or there. It's weird this time of year. If we get one early in one of those earlier games, in 2, 3 or 4 there, who knows what the outcome is. It's behind us," defenseman Andy Greene said. "We try to stick with our game here and just keep pushing. You never know what's going to happen."
It was hard after Game 3 to know that this was going to happen. New Jersey is just the third team in Cup Final history to force a Game 6 after facing a 3-0 deficit, and the first since 1945.
While momentum in a playoff series is often overblown, planting the seed of doubt for the Kings was another byproduct of this victory.
"Elimination games, they're going to have four of them, or hopefully have four of them. It definitely can wear on you if the first one doesn't go your way," Fayne said. "Tonight was such a close game that hopefully they start to doubt themselves."
Even though Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter said there's no extra pressure on his team now that the series is shifting back to Staples Center on Monday, there are certainly more people believing now that this is a series.
"We always believe. That's why we're here. We don't have anybody who quit or said we can't do it," Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk said. "We just take one game, one shift at a time and we got out there and try to play our best game."
If New Jersey's best game happens Monday, the Cup will rack up 3,000 more miles on a flight back to Newark for Game 7. But that's not something the Devils are letting themselves think of just yet.
"That's all we can do right now is just keep fighting and just worry about Monday," Greene said. "We're prepared. It's exciting. It's a good feeling, obviously, instead of packing it in. That's all we have left. That's all we can do right now."
Copyright © 2017 The Washington Times, LLC.


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Saudi prince arrives in Pakistan to hunt endangered bustard
Islamabad: A prince of Saudi Arabia's royal family has arrived in Pakistan's Balochistan province to hunt the Houbara bustard, days after the country's Supreme Court lifted a ban on hunting of the endangered bird.
The Houbara bustard. Pic/AFP
Prince Fahad bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, who is also the governor of Tabuk province in Saudi, arrived in his special flight at the Dalbandin airport.
The prince visits Dalbandin and other areas of the Chaghi district every year for hunting of the endangered species in the months of December and January.
The visit by the prince is apparently the first after the Supreme Court recently lifted the ban on hunting of Houbara bustard on January 22.
The ban on the Houbara bustard, about the size of a chicken, was imposed by former Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja on August 20 last year. Khawaja also ordered the cancellation of all existing permits issued by government to Arab rulers.
The federal and provincial governments in October had challenged the ban, pleading that sustainable hunting should be allowed.
A five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali lifted the ban in a verdict on the review petitions.


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Photography Challenge Day 4
Day 4: Something Green
Photo taken July 12, 2007 on the marsh boardwalk at Point Pelee National Park of Canada.
Point Pelee is the southernmost tip of mainland Canada (at the same latitude – 41.6N – as Rome, Barcelona, and northern California).
This post is part of the October 30 Day Photography Challenge


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" Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Author: K.J. Parker / Mass Market Paperback / 720 Pages / Book is published 2006-01-05 by Orbit / Alternative title: The Engineer Trilogy: Devices and Desires "
* Prices may differ from that shown
Devices and Desires in the first part of a trilogy by fantasy writer KJ Parker and sets out to tell the tale of an engineer called Vaatzes, the engineer is a Mezentine. Mezentine is a kind of Roman style society in which as the dominant country have set themselves up as the controlling country in there part of the world. They have taken the love of mechanisation and machines to new heights and believe everything is controlled by the rigid retention to dogma set down by the various city guilds. When one of the guilds members is arrested for a petty offence, in which he makes a toy without any practical use he is sentenced to death. Vaatzas the engineer in question is a man in a rigid society who has an inquiring mind and using the knowledge of angles, leverage and force manages to escape his prisoners.
Vaatzas now on the run meets up the defeated Eremenian army which had been routed by the Mezentines the day before, captured as a spy he informs the Eremenian duke that with the use of his engineers skills he can turn them into a force which could withstand Mezentia. The books central core is now set, Vaatzas is the main character and his actions are those which dictate the novel; however, others also become important characters there is the duke of Eremenia Orsea, his friend the Ducas Miel and the chief falconer Jalcon.
They all return to the Eremenian capital and the engineer persuades the council to allow him to develop weapons which could withstand the oncoming Mezentine invasion. The three main characters Vaatzas, Orsea and Miel now await the invasion and their focus is on surviving the attack.
This is the core of the novel and as you know this is the first part of a trilogy, you can guess that the events are going to go badly for the main characters. Indeed, the novel becomes a little bogged down for the middle third of the novel because in truth the main events are at the beginning with Vaatzas' defection and the final third which is Mezentine's invasion. This middle third tries to fill in many of the details about the contrasting lifestyles of the Eremenians and the Mezentines, one are largely rural and the other hugely mechanical. They could be viewed in a certain view as England pre and post Industrial revolution. Firstly a society dominated by class, wealth and suppression of minorities and then a hugely industrial country which maintains its dominant world position by maintaining a huge technological advantage. This is fully explored as the engineer introduces the backwards not just to military technology but any technology at all, the need to show that Mezentine is bad and Eremenia is good does rather grate when the Eremenian way of life is so dominated by a very select elite.
KJ Parker as with all his novels peppers the book with very real feeling technology, this does feel like a fantasy novel which has pulled itself out of the classic dark ages sword and sorcery epic into a fantasy story in which technology is king. Here we have invading armies not carrying glowing flames and shouting spells but with huge seige equipment, cannon, arrow throwers and proto gunpowder. This is fantasy for those heading towards the horror of mechanisation, this is fantasy leading to the killing fields of Flanders and this is fantasy in which spells have been subverted by guns and gunpowder.
This is as I said the first in a trilogy; the book does read well and unlike most books in a trilogy could be read as a standalone novel but like a decent TV pilot episode leaves the ending open for further episodes. The main characters all change their positions by the end and it adds extra dimensions which encourages the reader to go and read the next in the series.
This is a fantasy book for those who are bored with boy wizards or pale vampires and want a bit of social realism away from the classic fantasy setting.
Book Series: The Engineer Trilogy


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Originally posted by Memphis9er:
Of course this could be a Kap confidence thing too, he definitely doesn't spread the ball around as much as he should. I forget sometimes that this kid is only in his second year and is still learning.
he had nobody to spread it around to before. now that won't be an excuse if he continues to not pass it to people like manningham or macdonald because the defense won't be able to key in on vd and boldin like they have been for the first 8 games.
we shall wee.
and since this is an eric reid thread, i hope that eric reid continues being arrow up and makes some unbelievable plays in the near future.. i can see that happening.


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Luxury Travel In Kenya
In many ways Kenya is the ultimate African destination, and luxury travel in Kenya provides travelers an intimate window into the heart of Africa. Whether you would like a front row seat for the greatest show on earth–the great migration–or are seeking an authentic connection to local Maasai culture, Kenya is an extraordinary place. Kenya has a multiplicity of distinctive environments and diverse ethnic groups, as well as a famous range of wildlife that our Kenya tours bring you close enough to fully experience–without the crowds.
Masai Mara is widely recognized as the finest reserve in Kenya with tours renowned for exceptional populations of lions, leopards, and large herbivores. If you schedule your luxury travel to Kenya in July and August, the Great Migration floods the the region and your luxury Kenya vacation will be exalted by the influx of zebra and wildebeests, as well as the larger predators these animals attract. In the north, more game opportunities abound as permanent waters lure a plentiful array of wildlife and Lake Nakuru sets the backdrop for one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world.
Luxury Travel In Kenya
Private luxury travel to Kenya offers more than superior safaris however; on the coast, Lamu Island combines white sand beaches and archeological sites that examine pre-colonial African history. The cultural background of Kenya is intriguing and the country offers a colorful array of traditional art, dance, and music. Hand-woven baskets, beaded jewelry, and carved wooden sculptures are commonly found artifacts on Kenya tours, and Kenya's gastronomic options also showcase a palette influenced by a wide breadth of cultures.
Kenya Tours
Absolute Travel has long been a friend and fan of the African nation of Kenya. On tours of the country we always encourage a stop at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, of which we are avid supporters. The Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction into the wild of orphaned elephants and rhinos. A visit to the nursery is a great feature for all luxury travel in Kenya and provides not only a heartwarming experience, but a connection to the country and the Kenyan people.
Absolute Travel is the best option for luxury travel in Kenya, and there is a lot to discover on one of Absolute Travel's Kenya private luxury tours. Speak to one of our luxury travel specialists and start your journey today.
The Absolute Kenya Experience
Your journey will be private and customized based on your schedule, budget, and interests.
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Our handpicked preferred properties include exclusive 19th century Kasbahs, luxurious seaside spa retreats, endlessly charming boutique properties and the world's most over-the-top glittering skyscrapers. Explore our curated selection and let us know if you'd like to incorporate one or a few in to your next trip.
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Gregory S. Lisi
Gregory S. Lisi, Esq.
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Gregory S. Lisi (Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia, J.D., 1992) is Head of the Firm's Employment and Labor Department concentrating in the areas of labor and employment law, sexual harassment and discrimination law, overtime and wage law, immigration and naturalization law, corporate law, commercial transaction law and real estate law. He has represented Plaintiffs, Defendants, publicly traded and private companies, the United States Government and New York State government entities.
Mr. Lisi was a contributing author to the treatise,
Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Work Place
, Solotoff and Kramer, Law Journal Press, and authored a note published in the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal entitled,
Intracircuit Nonacquiescence by the INS
5 G.I.L.J. 325 (1991). Further, Mr. Lisi has lectured extensively on Labor and Employment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Wage and Hour, Equal Employment Law, Immigration and Federal Litigation topics.
Mr. Lisi is currently on the Board of Directors of the Nassau County Bar Association and is the past Chair of the Nassau County Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Committee. He is a former Regional Counsel of the United States Customs Service where he defended the United States Government before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as well as in labor/union matters. He is currently a member of the New York State Bar, Washington, D.C. Bar, New York State Bar Association, National Employment Lawyers Association, New York State Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Committee, Nassau County Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Committee and Immigration Committee, and the Anti-Defamation League's Civil Rights Committee.
Mr. Lisi is admitted to practice law before the courts of New York State and Washington, D.C., the United State Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the federal courts of the Eastern and Southern Districts of the State of New York. Mr. Lisi has further practiced before the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, New York State and Nassau County Divisions of Human Rights, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, labor and corporate arbitrations and mediations and the Courts of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties.
Mr. Lisi received his Bachelors,
Magna Cum Laude
, from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Practice Areas:
Employment & Labor Group
Real Estate
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Over two hours of running time, the most extravagant costumes, eye-catching opulent sets, elaborate fight choreography, and currently the most famous Chinese actress in the world as your star. And yet, director Xiaogang Feng's "The Banquet" still managed to dull the senses, rot the emotion, and make one pray for an ending — any ending, as long as there is an ending. Which isn't to say "The Banquet" is a bad movie; it's just a terribly long, uninteresting, and highly predictable affair, and most definitely undeserving of the attention and money spent to make it, and now, to market it.
It has been widely publicized that "The Banquet" is a Chinese re-imagining (at least in framework) of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (with more than a little dash of "Macbeth" thrown in for good measure), and as we all know, the Bard wasn't exactly known for writing plays that were barrels of laughs. Buoyed by tremendous production values and a lengthy (and at times, delayed) shooting schedule, it is amazing how lacking the final product is. Surely, one can't be blamed for expecting something grand considering all the money sunk into the production and the talent the filmmakers had at their disposal.
"The Banquet" is a Mainland Chinese film that stars Zhang Ziyi as Empress Wan, who as the film opens, is a widower after her husband, the Emperor, was killed under mysterious circumstances. The Emperor's brother Li (You Ge) quickly usurps the throne, leaving Wan to plot revenge — but for whose benefit? Meanwhile, the dead emperor's son (and Wan's older than her by three years son-in-law) Wu Luan (Daniel Wu) is in the woods practicing performance arts. A melancholy fellow, Wu Luan doesn't accept his father's untimely death well, which may explain why Li has already dispatched assassins to deal with this potential headache. Wu Luan escapes assassination, thanks in no small part to Wan's interference, and returns to the Palace in search of justice.
From there, "The Banquet" proceeds at a snail's pace, and seems content to concern itself with the motivations — hidden, layered, and secret — of its characters. Empress Wan's many plot machinations, in particular, takes up much of the film's focus. Does she truly love Wu Luan, or is this about ascending to the throne herself? This question, and others, continue to be investigated throughout "The Banquet's" two-hour plus running time, leading to various manipulations of various people, including the long-suffering Minister Yin (Jingwu Ma) and his hot-tempered son, General Yin (Xiaoming Huang). Further complicating matters is the Minister's daughter, Qing (Xun Zhou), who was originally promised to Wu Luan before his little sojourn into the woods.
It quickly becomes obvious that the reports of "The Banquet's" ties to Shakespeare's works were in good faith, as the film certainly takes its cue from those tragic tales for much of its subplots. As a result, there is little reason to expect anything at the end of "The Banquet" (the events culminating during the titular banquet, of course) other than the expected deaths, double crosses, murders, and various deaths by poison. Predictably, this is very much the case. Which leaves the audience to enjoy the "getting there" part, since the "there" part has already been figured out before the opening titles even roll onscreen. Unfortunately for Feng and company, getting to the end of "The Banquet" is a tedious task, with pointless forays into the household of Minister Yin and his odiously pure — nay, unfathomably perfect — daughter.
"The Banquet" was directed by Xiaogang Feng, a noted and commercially successful Mainland Chinese director with a number of domestic hits to his credit. "The Banquet" marks Feng's first attempt at international recognition, and he has chosen wisely in the subject matter. With the recent successes of Chinese period actioners like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "Hero", and "House of Flying Daggers", "The Banquet" would seem the perfect choice to make one's international debut. Unfortunately, while "The Banquet" has its share of elaborately choreographed martial arts sequences (once again provided by action master Yuen Woo Ping), none of it seems "right" for the film. And given the film's singularly moody tone, the action is akin to throwing a rowdy bar fight into the middle of a stage play. Even when the swords come out, Feng maintains such a low level of intensity throughout that even the ridiculous spray of fake CGI blood come across as impossibly muted.
The cast of "The Banquet" does well given the material, with Mainland star You Ge ("A World Without Thieves") giving an intriguing turn as the ambiguous, seemingly erratic Emperor Li. Hong Kong star Daniel Wu seems out of place with his contemporary good looks, and the actor is terribly burdened by superficial characterization that renders the part of Wu Luan mostly lifeless, made worst because the character wears masks for half of the film. One gets the feeling that any number of Hong Kong heartthrobs could have stepped into the role without missing a beat. As the film's undisputed star power, Zhang Ziyi doesn't have the gravitas for the role, and one imagines that someone of Gong Li's stature could have been twice as effective as the Empress Wan. To her credit, Zhang brings an intense erotic quality to the film that makes the nearly motionless first hour easier to stomach.
With its visually stunning aesthetics and overwhelmingly tragic atmosphere, "The Banquet" should do reasonably well with international arthouse viewers looking for a big budget Chinese melodrama to sink their teeth into. Those seeking high adventure on the scale of "Hero" or "Flying Daggers" will be disappointed, as although Feng and company takes time out for swordplay, this is not a movie about swordplay, and the brief action only serves as momentary diversions from the film's linear march toward its inevitable conclusion.
Xiaogang Feng (director) / Gangjian Qiu, Heyu Sheng (screenplay)
CAST: Ziyi Zhang …. Empress Wan
Daniel Wu …. Prince Wu Luan
Xun Zhou …. Qing Yin
You Ge …. Emperor Li
Jingwu Ma …. Minister Yin
Xiaoming Huang …. General Yin


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"At best, this study is irresponsible," says TIME medical contributor Dr. Ian Smith. "It's really terrible, and sends out the wrong message to women who may be wondering about having a mammogram." Dr. Smith and other critics of the study point out that the researchers used no original data, and instead combed through other, established studies and reevaluated the statistical evidence with a clear objective in mind. "There's a saying in research: 'If you torture the data long enough, it will confess,'" says Dr. Smith. "And that's exactly what these guys did."
Despite the attention being given this study, women shouldn't worry that their breast cancer screenings are at risk of being tossed out the window; advocates of mammograms have a great deal of documentation to support their position. The medical community long ago established the benefits of mammography, says Dr. Smith; since the introduction of the technology in the late 1960s, there has been as much as a 30 percent decrease in the number of deaths due to breast cancer. And while that decline can be traced to a number of factors, including new treatment options, there is little doubt in doctors' minds that by revealing cancer in its early stages, mammograms are critical tools in fighting the disease. And with the knowledge that despite all these medical advances, 41,000 lives are lost to breast cancer in America each year, it's hard to know what these researchers could have been thinking when they embarked on their study.


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It has been lauded. It has been vilified. And it has barely gotten off the ground yet. But although many of its provisions haven't yet kicked in, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)—or Obamacare, as it's popularly known—is already having a profound effect not just on how health care will be provided, but also on how business will be conducted, especially in real estate.
Several of the Affordable Care Act's provisions are well known, particularly the employer and individual coverage mandates and the creation of state-based health insurance exchanges. But lesser-known aspects of the legislation also could have a big impact on a company, its owners, and its investors. Below is a brief look at two of them, and options available to assess—or even blunt—that impact.
Limited Liability Companies
For many years, limited liability companies (LLCs) have been the legal entity of choice for real estate businesses. Among other advantages, they provide a great deal of tax flexibility, limit personal liability, and can be set up more easily than other types of entities.
But a health care reform–related tax that took effect this year casts LLCs in a new light—one that could dim their previous luster. As of January 1, 2013, a Medicare surtax of 0.9 percent applies to wages and self-employment income in excess of $250,000 (for married taxpayers filing jointly) or $200,000 (for single filers), bringing the total Medicare tax rate to 3.8 percent for earners above those thresholds.
Does this mean that continuing to run an active business as an LLC is costing more in taxes? The answer may be yes.
The question, then, is: What generates self-employment income from an LLC? It's a long list, but the key triggers are:
- working more than 500 hours per year;
- having manager designation; or
- guaranteeing partnership debts.
Trying to reduce participation in the business—thus avoid self-employment income—would not help, since company owners could be hit with another new tax, the net investment income tax (NIIT), which is also at a 3.8 percent rate. But what about converting the business to an S corporation?
S corporations are pass-through entities with a single level of tax, just like LLCs. S corporations have their own limitations, such as restrictions on eligible shareholders, a single class of stock, pro-rata income and distributions, taxable distributions of appreciated property, and no step-up of assets inside the entity, to name a few. But in light of the new Medicare surtax, S corporations have certain advantages. For one thing, Medicare taxes apply only to wages, and the remaining flow-through income isn't considered self-employment income and thus isn't subject to self-employment taxes. The one thing to keep in mind is that wages from S corporations must be "reasonable," according to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Impact on Partners of a Typical Firm
Consider this example: Joe and Jane own a real estate development LLC as 50/50 partners. The LLC has various employees, subcontractors, and land. Joe and Jane are married, are actively involved in the company's operations, and earn guaranteed payments of $125,000 each; remaining flow-through income is $1 million. Joe and Jane will pay the 3.8 percent Medicare tax on the flow-through income, totaling $38,000.
If Joe and Jane's LLC were instead an S corporation that paid each of them $125,000 in annual wages, the Medicare tax would not apply to the flow-through income of $1 million. This would represent a tax savings of $38,000 a year.
This is just one scenario, of course, and converting to an S corporation may not be the magic answer for all LLCs, but the potential tax savings make it certainly worth considering. So, how easy is it to convert? Some states allow a simple one-step (or "formless") conversion. The assets and liabilities of an LLC can also be transferred to a new corporate entity in exchange for stock and distribute the stock to its partners in liquidation.
However, one of the easiest routes to conversion is through the federal check-the-box election. This allows the firm to choose how the LLC will be taxed (as a partnership or a corporate entity) and provides an administratively easy way to do the conversion. Midyear conversions are permitted; both the check-the-box election and S corporation election can be made retroactive by 75 days. The conversion from LLC to S corporation will be tax free as long as certain requirements are met.
With a check-the-box election to tax the LLC as a corporate entity with a simultaneous S corporation election, the entity continues to be an LLC under state law. However, for federal tax rules only, the entity is taxed as an S corporation. Because nothing changes under state law, the LLC continues to operate as-is. There is no need for the company to change contracts, agreements, business cards, invoices, bank accounts, or loans. However, the business will file an S corporation federal tax return instead of being taxed as a partnership, and the owners will need to be paid a reasonable salary instead of draws.
Legal counsel should review the LLC agreement to ensure that the language conforms with S corporation requirements, in particular to see that income allocations and distributions are made according to ownership interests.
The Medicare surtax introduces a new wrinkle to the tax landscape for LLCs, and regardless of which avenue is taken—or even if the firm ends up deciding to do nothing—now is a good time to review entity structure as part of 2013 tax planning.
The New Investment Income Tax
Are you really a real estate professional? The IRS is increasingly auditing taxpayers with rental real estate activities in an attempt to reclassify associated losses as passive, which can generally be used to offset only passive income. This can lead to a large tax bill if you are faced with an audit. However, you can avoid this if you qualify as a "real estate professional"—that is, if you meet the IRS's criteria to validate your status for tax purposes.
Deducting losses is not the only reason to take a hard look at the real estate professional status and passive-activity regulations. They are also applicable to the new 3.8 percent net investment income tax (NIIT) under the Affordable Care Act—imposed on income from a "passive" business—in effect for the 2013 tax year. The problem is that these regulations are a minefield for the average taxpayer.
To be classified as a real estate professional, you must spend more than 750 hours during the tax year in a "real property trade or business," such as property development, construction, or rental business. You must also show that more than half of the personal services you performed during the year were in a real property trade or business.
To satisfy the time requirements, you must provide evidence of participation, usually in the form of a time log. The regulations don't require a contemporaneously prepared log; however, the IRS and the courts increasingly disapprove of taxpayers who do not provide one. For this reason, it is critical to maintain a log or be able to create one using reliable sources such as calendars and appointment books.
Once you qualify as a real estate professional, you must still "materially participate" in the rental real estate business to avoid having the income or loss classified as passive. There are seven tests under the regulations that satisfy the material participation requirement, the most common of which requires you to have spent more than 500 hours participating in the business during the tax year.
The trap in meeting the time requirement for material participation, as opposed to real estate professional status, is that the material participation tests apply to each separate rental activity. Fortunately, you can elect to group all related activities into a single activity—with one caveat: Rental real estate activities cannot be grouped with other real estate activities. To be valid, this grouping election must be made on a tax return (filed on time) for the tax year it is to be effective.
While these rules have primarily been a concern for those with rental real estate losses, the newly enacted NIIT has made them a concern for those with gains as well. The NIIT will apply if your adjusted gross income crosses the applicable threshold amount, but only if the rental real estate trade or business is a "passive" activity.
To avoid passive classification, the rental real estate activity must qualify as a trade or business under Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code, which can be difficult to establish. Assuming the activity constitutes a trade or business, you still must prove that you materially participated in the rental real estate business to avoid falling subject to the new 3.8 percent tax on passive income.
The average taxpayer's ability to navigate these new regulations is dubious. The IRS is planning to provide new guidance that will help determine whether the NIIT applies, but what in its opinion constitutes a trade or business—which is critical to perform proper tax planning—is still fuzzy. And most of the guidance the IRS has issued on the subject to date appears to limit a taxpayer's ability to avoid the NIIT.
Whether you're thinking of converting your LLC to an S corporation or you want help understanding whether your business activities afford you "real estate professional" status in the eyes of the IRS, seek tax help. Because of the complexity and interplay of these regulations, it is critical to consult with experienced tax professionals and, in certain cases, with legal counsel.
Carleen Snyder, Karina Stadelman, and Greg Martin are partners with Moss Adams LLP, an accounting and business consultancy firm. They can be reached at www.mossadams.com.


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Format: A4 (210x297 mm)
Pages: 36
Language: English
And also....
Feedback from the Jacksons:
Austin: Looks realy nice! Jackie: It looks fantastic, you did a great job, we love it!
Taj: I finally got the magazines... They are really incredible. Thank you sooo much. I love them.
Genevieve: I love the magazin!!!! It's amazing!...Thank you Janneke
Alejandra Jackson: Wow you did a wonderful Job...We love it. Congratulations!


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This video helps to explain Shimano's new D.R.D. optional standard. According to Shimano, this new standard helps provide crisper shifts, greater durability and easier wheel removal and installation.
One of the main points that Shimano wants to get across with the D.R.D., is that they are not forcing this standard on the industry, and will still be making standard-mount Shadow Plus rear derailleurs. Also, the bike manufacturers offering D.R.D.-compatible frames will, in most cases, just use a different-shaped (replaceable) dropout or derailleur hanger to accommodate the standard.