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Malt Cottage, Nayland, Suffolk
Malt Cottage - Nayland, Suffolk, England Sleeps 4
When calling please mention CountryCottagesOnline.Net
Quality Rated:
Gold Award Winner
2 Bedroom Cottage
2 Bathrooms
Pets welcome
Cottage Web SiteSave to short list Send email to owner Advice when Booking !
- We recommend that you never complete a Bank Transfer to outside of the UK or Ireland without first emailing us to verify that the bank details are the correct ones for the owner concerned. The vast majority of owners listed on our sites are based in the UK or Ireland and making a bank transfer to overseas is not standard practice. There are a few owners who live abroad so if an owner or agency requests that you make a bank transfer to a foreign account please email Countrycottagesonline.Net to verify the details first.
- Always make sure that you call and speak to the owner or agency on the phone number given before making a firm booking and to verify payment methods and details given by email.
- It is strongly recommended that you take out appropriate holiday insurance.
The owner/agency for Malt Cottage has been advertising with Countrycottagesonline.Net for more than 14 years. Read More
Accommodation Summary: Cottage sleeps 4 East Anglia.
5 star gold award winning Cottage in village setting in East Anglia.
Key Holiday Home Information:Dog-Friendly, up to 2 dog(s) welcome by arrangement.
Family-Friendly, Facilities include: Cot, Highchair.
Location: village setting.
Views: Very pretty cottage garden with sun all day.
Nearest Airport and Railway Station: Stansted Airport 45 minutes. Colchester mainline station to London (50 Minutes) 12 minutes.
Nearest city or town: Colchester, approximately 7 miles away.
Type of self-catering break: 15th Century Historical Cottage which sleeps 4.
Short Breaks and weekend breaks: Available all year
About this Nayland dogs welcome Cottage for 4
Malt Cottage is an amazing 15th Century Hall House immaculately restored using traditional methods and exhibited to great local acclaim. Sleep 4, Malt cottage is furnished to a very high standard with lovely antiques and rich textiles and Persian Rugs from the owners own shop The Rug and Carpet Studio in nearby Long Melford: guests to Malt cottage are offered a 10% discount on any purchases at the owners shop. The cottage has many wonderful and original features including a beautiful study wich open right out onto the sunny patio with views of the lovely sunny 'cottage garden' which is full of colour all year round and has some specially designed sitting out areas. At the end of the garden is a private car park just for guests. For full information, many more images and online quotes and booking please see our own website.
Facts about this holiday accommodation in Nayland.
- Lounge with: TV, DVD player, Free Internet Access
- There is a dining table to seat 6 people.
- Kitchen with: Fridge/Freezer, Microwave, Dishwasher, Washing Machine, Coffee Maker
- 2 bedrooms. Sleeping arrangements: 2 kingsize bed(s)
- 2 Bathrooms, Power Shower
- Garden: Enclosed but not dog proofed
- Parking
- Central Heating
Flexible changeover day: Yes
Recommended Attractions near Nayland: Nayland is situated just 7 miles from Colchester. All around is the stunning countryside of the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The pretty village of Dedham is well worth a visit as is the stunning landscape of Constable Country.
Good places to visit near Nayland: Lavenham England's best preserved Medieval Village, Long Melford a busy Medieval Village with 2 stately homes and where the TV series Lovejoys was based. Dedham Vale which is Constable Country and where John Constable painted 'The Haywain' Bury St Edmunds a Historic Market Town with very interesting Abbey and a pedestrian old center, the Suffolk and Essex coast for walks, Dunwich, Sutton Hoo, Orford, Aldeburgh, Minsmere, sailing and fishing.More about the Location:
Pub Nearby, Nayland & Stoke-by-Nayland, Golf Course nearby, Good area for Walking, Outdoor Pursuits available nearby: Cycling; Bikes are provided on-site and The South Suffolk Cycle Route runs past the cottage, lovely walking along The Pilgrims Way through a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty along the river Stour.
Good places to eat near Nayland: The Crown Stoke by Nayland: an award winning Gastro Pub, The Anchor Nayland : a very good Gastro pub on the river bank. The Angel Stoke by Nayland: a good Gastro pub. The Case Restaurant Assington and very many more within a 15 minute drive
Short Breaks: Yes, minimum 2 nights
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Exterior Portfolio Official Site

subset: commoncrawl


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Umbra Factory Sale
Here's a link I received from one of my favourite event planners (Simply Done Events). There's an UMBRA Factory sale happening at the Direct Energy Centre next week. I think it will be worth checking out!
For more info on Simply Done, check out www.simplydone.ca
Happy Holidays!!!


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Two people are dead in the incident that led police to shut down part of Coral Gables Friday afternoon, police said.
A man and woman were found dead inside a business at 801 Monterrey St., police said. Their attention was focused on the beige two-story building through the afternoon after the incident, which happened at about 12:15 p.m.
Coral Gables Police went to the business for a distress call and found the victims dead, and one person seen near the scene has been detained for questioning, Miami-Dade Police spokesman Det. Javier Baez said in a statement Friday evening.
Police said they're investigating the incident as a homicide. The exact cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner's office, Baez said.
Earlier authorities swept the area for more suspects using SWAT teams and K-9's, police said.
Police closed off streets including Capri to Cortez and 8th Street to Venetia, and warned residents to stay inside.
A gray BMW was cordoned off with crime scene tape in a parking lot across the street from the beige building, but police have not said what its role was in the incident.
Traffic in the area was at a standstill and cars were detoured.
Sedano's Supermarkets said in a statement that the incident "did not take place inside our store located off Granada Boulevard and SW 8th Street."
"We have been asked by authorities to temporarily close our store, and we are fully cooperating. The safety and welfare of our employees and customers are our top priority," Sedano's Supermarkets spokesman Javier Herrán said.
In a separate incident, two men were shot in Northwest Miami-Dade at 17901 NW 51st Place. Both men were taken to the hospital.
Check back with NBCMiami.com for updates.


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An attacker who smashed a victim over the head with a metal pole has been jailed for 13 years.
Amir Arfi, now aged 21, of Middleton Road, Banbury, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court last Thursday.
He had previously been found guilty of the crime – which took place on Boxing Day 2013 – following a trial earlier this year.
Arfi, who was convicted of wounding with intent, hit the 31-year-old victim over the head before another man stamped on the victim's head.
Det Con Paddy O'Grady from Banbury CID, said: "I am extremely pleased with the lengthy sentence that Arfi has received for this very serious and violent crime.
"This sends a strong message to criminals that Thames Valley Police will not tolerate violence of this kind in our community.
"We are here to protect the community from people like Arfi and a sentence like this demonstrates that we will do everything in our power to protect the public and bring violent criminals to justice."
Arfi had eight previous convictions including one for robbery in 2010.
He was also ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.


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All quotes by John Keane
(4 quotes found)
"Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. We want people to enjoy themselves and learn something about the great culture and traditions of Ireland."
"I've never had a green beer in my entire life. Oh, how I love Ireland. When she's doing well, I feel good; when she's not, I feel poorly."


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Alitalia: in January the call for bids
Rome, Italy - These the times announced by the Minister Bianchi
(WAPA) - According to the Italian Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi, within this week it will happen the advisor's choice, while the call for bids' formulation will request a couple of weeks, so it should be ready in January.
Yesterday, Piaggio's president, Roberto Colaninno, should meet in Palazzo Chigi, the Italian Premier Romano Prodi. Colanino should be indicated among the possible suitor for the airline's buyout. While the IATA Chief Executive, Giovanni Bisignani, cooled the perspectives of the possible international alliances.
Bianchi remarked his preference for an aggregation of Italian carriers, also if this hypothesis had not a lot of support into the Government, and incurred in the Anti-Trust's doubts. (Avionews)


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FireRescue1 Staff
FAIRFAX, Va. — The International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation is now accepting applications from qualified firefighters for its 2016 educational scholarships.
The scholarships provided by the IAFCF help advance firefighters in their college education to be better prepared to face the complex challenges of the fire service.
The available scholarships include:
- Chief Charles "Chet" Henry Memorial Scholarship Award
- Garry L. Briese Scholarship Award
- The Heather Westphal Memorial Scholarship Award
- IAFC Federal and Military Fire Service Section Award
- John M. Buckman, III Award
- Fire Explorers (14-20 years of age)
Anyone with a minimum of three years as a volunteer, two years paid, or a combination of three years paid and active volunteer service, is eligible to apply.
The deadline to apply is April 29. More information is available here.


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I think what keeps fans watching a show is their attachment to the characters. The fact that they've consistently seen these people grow and develop (hopefully with decent enough writing) and really come to love them. Season 7 does Emily Prentiss as a character such a disservice, not to mention Brewster as an actress after how CBS treated her.
Besides shouldering Emily with massive amounts of guilt and blame earlier in the season, her aftermath after such a traumatizing confrontation with Doyle was almost swept completely under the rug. Save for this measly episode.
After 100, We saw the struggle of Hotch and how he had to deal with life as a single parent, still working for the BAU. We saw a little bit of Jack, and it was heartwarming and beautiful, (though, of course I would have loved a bit more, because again I am more interested in the development of these characters and the relationships between And, though Reid is significantly less skilled in compartmentalization, we got to see his struggle with the aftermath of his time with Tobias Hankel.
I was HUGELY disappointed in seeing Emily almost completely unchanged from her experience besides her profuse apologies, again shouldering some massive guilt that has been so unnecessarily put on her. She really did not seem to be suffering all that much. Her apologies sounded more like she was sorry for standing her friends up for dinner than a more heavy feeling of doing something untrustworthy for the greater good (which is essentially what the writers had her doing, though I won't even go into the plot issues with that Again, it seemed as though hardly anything had happened to her.
I did love what little scenes we got with Prentiss dealing with what happened to her even if it was only really for one good episode. The little scene with Hotch at the end made her seem a little less robotic and a little bit more like a human being who's ex-significant other/terrorist from her CIA days (which took a toll on her humanity) come back to haunt her, teasing her and threatening her friends lives before torturing her, feeling her up, branding her and then staking her, not to mention the months of isolation in Paris where she was forced to abandon her friends and identity, still constantly looking over her shoulder, waiting for Doyle to find out she wasn't dead and come kill her and most likely her team in retaliation. Oh, and the thought of Doyle possibly finding Declan now that she was no where near the boy to offer any protection.
Oh, no. That kinda thing wouldn't really shake someone up at all.
Plot holes.
Speaking of Declan, I was ready for this beautiful touching reunion with Emily and Declan, or just ... something. The boy seemed like just another kid saved at the end of the day. Prentiss risked everything to make sure Declan was safe and living a good life, and they could not write one scene in this entire season alluding to their relationship? We got nothing from Declan and Emily even though they played up her motive so much for this kid. So disappointing and again, a complete disservice to both Emily as a character and Paget as an actress.
I wasn't surprised when I learned the reason Paget left the show after season 7.
For my own selfish reasons, I really do hope she comes back because Emily is one of my favorite characters, and Paget's acting is superb (though she is candidly hilarious, I find her to be more enjoyable in dramatic roles with a bit more dry humor thrown in there).
I did, however enjoy parts of this episode
The fact that Emily saves Will is sort of this beautiful full circle moment. After JJ helped Emily in Paris, it's only fitting that Emily risk her life to keep her best friend's family intact.
JJ's wedding of course. A bit cliched but touching all the same.
Emily's goodbye was sort of beautifully simple and actually a bit tear inducing
Amazing performances by Paget and AJ
Another full circle development when we see Emily willingly opening up to Hotch in their conversation at the Rossi Mansion - "would you like to talk about it", "Absolutely"


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"A butterfly has to break out of its cocoon and a bird has to claw its way out of the shell. They don't get to the next stage of their lives passively. Change is hard, but remember—anyone can change at any time." —James Lehman, MSW
"Go back?" he thought. "No good at all. Go sideways? Impossible. Go forward? Only thing to do." — Bilbo Baggins
I saw The Hobbit II recently, and as a mom, I could really relate. Every parent is asked to go on an impossible journey. We confront angry dwarves, stinky trolls and fire-breathing dragons. And sometimes (most of the time) we feel ill-equipped to carry out our task!
And as the mom of a tween, I particularly love the above quote from James Lehman, because you can really see — and feel — the struggle your kids are going through as they grow up; it's not a smooth transition for anyone, really. As adults, we know how to handle ourselves in public (well, most of the time, in my case), control our tempers around others (ditto), and be responsible.
Related: Good Child Behavior Isn't Magic: It's a Skill
And the truth is, even though we may have told our kids what we expect of them, they don't always get it right away. Add in all the hormones and trials and tribulations of the teen years, and you've got what can feel like a task worthy of The Hobbit in front of you: to guide a not-always-reasonable, moody, child through adolescence and into adulthood — while teaching them the ins and outs of good behavior. (Imagine how helpful Bilbo's precious ring would be when our kids are screaming or arguing with us, though. Blip! Mom disappeared again! Oh well… )
The second part of James Lehman's message is what gives me hope, though — the part that says anyone can change at any time. Just because your child is driving you crazy today because he won't get off his iPod (Nope, I'm not talking about myself. Not at all. Ahem.) doesn't mean that's how he'll always behave, or how you'll always react. The beauty of parenting — and one of our greatest tools — is that when we change how we respond to our kids, they have to change, too. It's one of the laws of nature, really. Think about it — if you stop watering a plant, what happens? It "dies by neglect." So, if you stop feeding the same old power struggle with your kid and do something different (stay calm and give a consequence to him instead of nag and scream, for example), your child has to respond in a different way, too.
The truth is, you can't control how your child behaves — only how you respond to him or her, as Debbie Pincus says. It's freeing to let go of the idea that you need to control your kids' behavior, or that you are somehow the reason they are the way they are.
Related: Parenting Resolutions: A four-step plan to positive parenting
Taking a breath and thinking before responding to them (and trying to keep your perspective and stay calm in the process, even when your child is breathing fire in your direction) is one of the things I'm going to try to do more of this year. If only Gandalf would come with me…
What are you hoping for in 2014?
Wishing you and your family peace and positive change in the new year.
About Elisabeth Wilkins
Elisabeth Wilkins was the editor of Empowering Parents and the mother of an 10-year-old son. Her work has appeared in national and international publications, including Mothering, Motherhood (Singapore), Hausfrau, The Bad Mother Chronicles, and The Japan Times. Elisabeth holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine.


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Enter a magazine title or keyword
Easy Home Cooking features tips, baking secrets, shopping hints, how-to articles and photographs, menu ideas, and a question and answer column. This bi-monthly publication will give you all the help you need in order to cook like a well seasoned chef!
This is the best cooking magazine possible-- the recipes are simple and delicious. I use at least one recipe a week from the magazines I have had for years.
The Easy Home Cooking magazine is one of the best I've ever subscribed to. All the recipes are simple, and usually fast, and always taste great. The size, too, makes it handy to keep at the kitchen table or place in front of me at the counter!
Join Us:
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If you believe that there is no such thing as luck, you might be in for a surprise. From the wierd occurrence of the same person winning the lottery several times to beginner's luck that happens often to rookies to many other things in life - luck, good or bad, seems to play a major role in our lives.
Take a look at this video and you will agree that there is always a chance for things to turn better and you can feel very positive about it. The video has a nice sound track too !


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Los Angeles, May 1 (IANS) Actress Lindsay Lohan's parents Michael and Dina Lohan have publicly accepted that their own troubled relationship had an impact on their daughter and her troubles with substance abuse.
Michael and Dina, who are now divorced, discussed the heartache they feel about how their behaviour may have had a negative influence on the actress' life and choices during an appearance on the "Steve Harvey Show", reports dailymail.co.uk.
Michael said: "I think, inevitably I think we are responsible for the path that Lindsay took."
He added: "Our divorce, because of our relationship, affected Lindsay to the point where she drowned her sorrows and numbed her pain. And it breaks my heart to think that she suffered because of the way I acted. I see it everyday, and I see how people struggle with it. This kid is such a talented girl and she's come such a long way."
Dina also acknowledged that they did shoulder some of the blame for their daughter's addiction.
She said: "You know I think when she was little, she saw most of the abuse. So Lindsay did witness a lot, and I absolutely think it takes its toll on children."
Lindsay has been in and out of rehab multiple times in her life.


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A PROLIFIC burglar has been jailed after admitting more than 80 offences.
David Joseph Adams, 29, was imprisoned for three years after after pleading guilty to ten charges of burglary and asking for a further 72 offences to be taken into consideration.
His offending covered a number of counties across the south including nine in the New Forest.
Woking Neighbourhood Inspector John Davies said: "Adams' offending brought misery, distress and inconvenience to the lives of those residents he targeted. He broke into homes throughout Surrey, Dorset and Hampshire, taking thousands of pounds worth of jewellery, cash and computer equipment."
The offences took place between May 2013 and April 2014. Adams, from Wimborne, Dorset was jailed at Guildford Crown Court in Surrey.


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The striker insists that none of the unsettling stories linking him with a departure from the Stadium of Light had emanated from his camp, but admits that a move to one of the most prestigious clubs in the world would interest any ambitious player.
However, doubts that Jones is fully committed to helping Sunderland avoid a third successive relegation battle have subsided following this month's man-of-the-match performances when he's recaptured the form that made him one of the Premier League's most coveted targetmen.
Speaking at the Academy of Light yesterday, Jones was mildly irritated by suggestions he had been angling for a move and believes that when it comes to demonstrating loyalty, actions speak louder than words.
Following a report in one national newspaper last month that Sunderland had agreed to let Jones join Liverpool for the remainder of the season the Trinidad and Tobago international sought assurances about his future from Steve Bruce.
The manager spoke to me, explained Jones. The reassuring speech came out to let me know the club still wanted me.
That is always nice to hear.
But sometimes a big situation like the transfer story can make it hard for the manager to say anything. But as far as I am concerned we are all needed.
If you noticed during all of this stuff I never came out and gave any indication that I wanted to leave or I was unhappy, anything like that. For me, that assumption is a bit far-fetched.
There was a lot of stuff being said by whoever and you can't stop that.
I didn't have any part to play in that whole situation.
There were stories going back and forth that were disturbing.
There is no possible way that you can avoid reading anything in the papers but you try and lock yourself away from it as much as possible.
If one of the world's big clubs comes in for you it's understandable a player might have the desire to go to that next level.
Until you sign a contract with a new club until then it's all just talk. January was a crazy time and now I have to focus on the games ahead.
Sunderland's status just three points above the relegation zone could become even more precarious following the upcoming trip to the Emirates.
But Jones is approaching the encounter at Arsenal in confident mood and was happy to note that the Sunderland faithful continue to appreciate his efforts for their team's cause.
It's great to know that they recognise that when I wear a Sunderland shirt I give it 100 per cent,'' he said.
I don't think the fans had any reason to believe that I was behind these rumours or that I wanted to leave.
All I can do to prove I am committed to Sunderland by showing it in games and hopefully people can then see it with their own eyes.
Central defender Anton Ferdinand is in contention to face Arsene Wenger's side on Saturday after returning to full training following an ankle injury.
Source: Northern_Echo


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Golden Winter
By ButterflyDsign
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Product Information
- Type: Combo Pack
- Designer: ButterflyDsign
- Download Size: 231.3 MB (approximate)
Design Elements
- Digital Papers: 16
- Page Elements: 111
Designer Notes
This kit contains: - 16 papers. Jpg, 3600x3600, 300dpi. - 111 elements in. Png format, 300dpi


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The approach used by Thibodeau and Freier emphasizes the substantial benefits of using real-life case examples in helping to impart knowledge related to the practice of auditing. This type of approach has long been acknowledged as a superior manner in which to teach. Since the authors present the concepts of auditing using actual corporate contexts, they seek to provided students with a real-life appreciation of these issues and clearly demonstrate the value of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the post-Sarbanes technical audit guidance.
The Third Edition has been updated to reflect all of the major changes happening in today's society with actual companies such as Enron, WorldCom, Qwest, Sunbeam, that have become synonymous with the capital markets' crisis in confidence. With 45 different short cases, instructors can assign 8 to 9 different cases for each of four different semesters.


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Cayman Chemical Renin Inhibitor Screening Assay Kit is offered in a 96-well format for evaluating human renin inhibitors. The assay utilizes a renin-based synthetic peptide substrate which incorporates the fluorophore EDANS at one end and an EDAN-quenching molecule (Dabcyl) at the other end. After cleavage by renin, the peptide-EDANS product is released yielding bright fluorescence which can be easily analyzed using excitation wavelengths of 335-345 nm and emission wavelengths of 485-510 nm. The assay kit includes recombinant human renin (sufficient for 100 reactions), substrate, buffers, and complete instructions.
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The lights are on
Yesterday EA gave us a glimpse of Battlefield 3's new DLC entitled End Game with a look at some screens. Now we've got a whole trailer, which is like looking at a moving image. Our ancestors would be stunned.
End Game adds a few new locations, a new dirt bike, and lightweight AA vehicles. Capture the Flag and Air Superiority game modes also make a return. Check out the trailer:
Here's a recap of the release dates. Check the screens out here.
Email the author Ben Reeves, or follow on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Game Informer.


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Things to know
1) This comes from my pickings of different Themes & .pngs I've found. I haven't created any of the artwork. As stated above, I've been doing this for my phone. If you find a better icon, post a link and if I like it better, I'll add it.
2) I am not responsible if this breaks your phone. Make a backup first.
3) If you use LauncherPro Notifications & Preferences under the main menu are still grey (See 4th pic below) because these are controlled by LauncherPro, and if I edit that .apk LauncherPro Plus doesn't work <_<
4) The eye background is not included, but is attached to this post.
5) I don't recommend trying to use Metamorph with this. So far I haven't got it to work fully for some reason, but it works perfectly well with ZipThemer. Plus this themes files that will cause a FC loop with Metamorph.
6) If you want to use the clear Lockscreen that is in the last photo you must go to CM settings and select the "Rotary" style, I did this on purpose b/c some people would rather use the "Rotary Revamped" style.
What currently has changes
*The majority comes from sonnysekhon's Vivid Theme.
*theimpaler747's dark market
*tnpapadakos for giving me the desire to have colored menus back in the original MT3G days.
*djdarkknight96 for being an overall bad ass.
*dont panic
*The rest came from multiple people on XDA. Sorry, I can't quickly find the links for each one.
If you like what you see then hit the Thanks button below, because I don't do this for $$$.
Flashable Zips (Flash over your rom)
The zip files below have a batterymod in place to display every %, if you flash and get a red circle with a yellow triangle it means I need to update the theme. Post and I'll get it fixed ASAP.
CM7 baldwinguy kang 1-31-12 and on
CM7 baldwinguy kang 1-22-12
CM7 baldwinguy kang 1-11-12
CM7 Colorized Nightlies Nightilies 199 and until next nightly or kangs 1-11-12.
CM7 Colorized After Lockscreen mod 7.1 stable.
PhoenixBlood_V1.3 Untested
Temasek's Kang P204-49 Untested
Temasek's Kang P204-37 Untested
General Zip Should work for most roms Only indicates battery % every 5%.
Change Log 10/18/11 CM188.8.131.52 added. All current ROMs updated for their latest release. Added new bootanimation. Lockscreen Rings are now transparent. Removed zipthemer files. 10/10/11 CM7.1 added. Link currently in post 172 until the hosting site comes back online. 8/9/11 Flashable zip files uploaded for various roms. Removed the fonts and market mod. 8/2/11 Started adding test zip files for battery % to display every increment. Do note, just because this displays every increment does NOT mean the battery readings are really that much more accurate as far as the battery is actually at 20% and the phone displays 45%; that's all in the kernel / battery drivers. 7/15/11 Updated BatteryMod and ColorizedTheme files, changed the charging indicators around for a smoother animation. Added new image for the screenshot function (not my favorite, yes I know it's shifted, but it'll work for now). Added new fonts, if you don't like them then download the droidsans.zip below and push them to your phone. Removed the dark themed market so it doesn't override the new market. Bootanimation copy still doesn't work. Been working a lot on a steampunk theme, between that and school I haven't been working on this much. 6/17/11 Added Metamorph capabilities. Recommend using ZipThemer. 6/10/11 Transparent lock arc thingy added...see the 7th pic for what I'm talking about. You have to select Rotary, not Rotary Revamped in the CM Lockscreen Style settings


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Interview: March 21, 2008
March 21, 2008
Mary Kay Andrews, the author of such bestselling novels as SAVANNAH BREEZE and BLUE CHRISTMAS, spoke with Bookreporter.com's Carol Fitzgerald and Terry Miller Shannon about her latest release, DEEP DISH.
In this interview, Mary Kay explains how she developed her love for cooking at an early age and recalls meeting television personality Paula Deen while researching the production process of TV cooking programs. She also reveals the stories behind a few recipes included in the book and shares some of her favorite comfort food dishes to prepare while writing.
Bookreporter.com: DEEP DISH has two chef/cooking show hosts. Which did you conceive first?
Mary Kay Andrews: I conceived of Gina first, and Tate came up quickly after that.
BRC: Moonpie, Tate's dog, is such an endearing character. Is he based on a real-life canine?
MKA: Moonpie is based on our English setter, Wyatt, who really is my husband's sidekick on their quail- and dove-hunting expeditions.
BRC: Your books have so much humor in them. We always call them smart witty fiction. We read them and smile, thinking, "that line was perfect" as we chuckle away. When you are writing, do you laugh out loud? And do you write with the right comedic timing right from the start, or is this something you tweak over and over?
MKA: Occasionally, I'll admit, I do crack myself up. Mostly, I smile and keep going. I guess my sense of comedic timing is the result of long practice, and the sharp editing pen of my terriffic editor at HarperCollins, Carolyn Marino.
BRC: You say in your acknowledgments that you were able to watch Paula Deen "in action." We see a picture of the two of you in the photo gallery on your website. Tell us about that. Besides meeting her, have you been part of the TV audience for her show?
MKA: Watching Paula Deen's show being taped was crucial to my understanding how a television cooking show is produced, not to mention a ton of fun. She's very funny, warm, generous and genuine. In short, she's the real deal, and freely answered all my questions. I haven't been in the audience of "Paula's Party," as that show got underway after I'd finished my research for DEEP DISH.
Q: Do you watch any Food Network shows regularly? Any favorites?
MKA: I love Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, and find Rachael Ray really entertaining too.
BRC: How did you learn to cook?
MKA: I'm the second oldest of five kids, and my mother always worked outside the home, so I started learning to cook by mastering cinnamon toast, which was a staple for sick days, and from there went on to grilled cheese sandwiches and spaghetti. As a newlywed, THE JOY OF COOKING taught me a lot about technique and fancier dishes my mom never would have bothered with.
BRC: What do you tend to cook (or order) while you're writing a book? Do you have any particular comfort foods when you are writing?
MKA: When I'm deep into a book I'll do a pot roast in my slow-cooker, or ask my husband to grill something quick when he gets home from work. When I go away to write, my secret obsession is spaghetti with meat sauce. It's fast, cheap, easy to do on a one-burner stove, and filling. I'll eat it nearly every night for dinner, along with cheap chardonnay. If I make my page quota, I get chocolate!
BRC: Cooking and writing are both creative acts; we wonder if they're inter-related in your life. Do you find that one leads to the other? Or that you can't do one when you're doing the other? (For example, are you unable to cook complicated recipes while you're deep in writing a book?)
MKA: I find that when I've passed a milestone with the book, I'll go into a frenzy of cooking and baking, trying new recipes, inviting lots of friends over. But if I'm slogging along, gritting it out, I stick to quick, tried-and-true basics, or go out for a quick bite in the evening.
BRC: Are shellcrackers a real fish, and have you ever eaten them?
MKA: Shellcrackers are a freshwater panfish, like bream. My husband is the fish person in the family --- I stick to my tuna salad.
BRC: Are any of the dishes/recipes in the book yours, or do they have some significance to you or your family? Is there such a thing as Coca-Cola pot roast?
MKA: The brunswick stew recipe is mine, one I developed to use up leftover smoked pork butt and chicken. I've had Coca-Cola pot roast, but never fixed it myself. You've gotta realize, I live in Atlanta --- we put Coke in just about everything except our cornflakes.
BRC: We're so intrigued by "Reggie's Simply Sinful Tomato Soup Chocolate Cake" recipe. Where did that originate? When did you discover it?
MKA: I love those old-timey spiral-bound church and community cookbooks, and have several in my personal collection. Lots of Southern cookbooks have the tomato soup chocolate cake recipe with cream cheese frosting, and I just read in a New York Times story about James Beard that he'd included a similar recipe in one of his cookbooks. I can tell you from experience --- since four different stores have baked it for my signings, that it's pretty doggone tasty.
BRC: What are you working on now, and when can readers expect to see it?
MKA: The WIP is called THE FIXER UPPER, and concerns a young woman who loses her job at a high-powered Washington, D.C. lobbying firm when her boss is indicted along with a Congressman in an influence-peddling scheme. With no job and no money, she heads south to a small town in middle Georgia where she intends to fix up and flip her father's grandmother's family homeplace. I think it's scheduled for late next summer.


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Original Air Date: Aug 23, 2015
Masters and Johnson are interviewed by 'Newsweek' as they take on an exotic new patient. Meanwhile, Dan Logan tries to read Virginia. Plus, Libby and Paul deal with the fallout of exposed truths.
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"This episode of Masters of Sex, aptly titled "Monkey Business" features probably the weirdest scene between a human and a gorilla on cable television yet."READ MORE AT Entertainment Weekly
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Drifting A Rothmans Porsche At The Snowy Nürburgring Is A Frosty Dream
Here's Patrick Simon driving the Rothmans Porsche 911 SCRS at the snowy Grand-Prix circuit of the Nürburgring. The lucky bastard.
Here's Patrick Simon driving the Rothmans Porsche 911 SCRS at the snowy Grand-Prix circuit of the Nürburgring. The lucky bastard.
The 2014 round of the 24 Hours of Le Mans starts next weekend, and it will bring Porsche's return to the legendary track. While I haven't seen their latest poster yet, in the meantime, here are the ones from 1970 to 1998.
Last year, Chicago-area builder Autowerks sold a detailed replica of the 1980 Porsche 911 Rothmans rally car for $70,000. Now they're back with a replica of the '84 911 Dakar-winning car, seen here hanging at Cameron Frye's house.
The Porsche Cayman Interseries is one of our favorite small racing programs because it requires its obnoxiously wealthy owner/drivers to use preselected classic liveries. Rothmans! Gulf Oil! Marlboro! How many can you spot?
We wish we could say we remember fondly seeing Jackie Ickx and Derek Bell tear Silverstone a new Priory in a turbocharged flat-six-powered Porsche 956. Or paid more than a passing attention to the 9iner's Le Mans rule from 1982 to 1994. Or watched as the late Stefan Bellof, teammate of Jacky Ickx, set the N rburgring…


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Harry Potter Wizard's Collection Blu-ray puts a pricetag on my love of the wizarding world
I love the Harry Potter movies. But do I love them enough to spend $350 on them? The answer for me is no, but for some other hardcore fans with cash to spare, the Harry Potter Wizard's Collection (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) might be for them.
The collection, which can be preordered now from Amazon for $349.96, is listed for $499.99. So you're actually saving $150.
What are you getting for your money? You get a limited and numbered 31-disc collection that includes the eight Harry Potter movies in multiple formats, with more than 37 hours of special features that include previously released materials and more than 10 hours of new-to-disc bonus content, and five hours of never-before-seen material. You also get 3D versions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Parts 1 and 2.
In more detail, some of the special features of the Wizard's Collection include:
- Harry Potter Wizard's Collection Bonus Disc - Nearly four hours of features including: All New! "The Harry Potters You Never Met" - Watch how thrilling stunts from the films were performed, and learn about the tricks behind the major stunts in the series.
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 Bonus Disc - Over two hours of features including: "Creating the World of Harry Potter, Pt. 7: Story"
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 Bonus Disc - Over four hours of features including: "Creating the World of Harry Potter, Pt. 9: Growing Up" and the all-new extended "A Conversation with JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe" with 15 minutes of new footage.
- Label Collection - This 32-page, 5" x 7" perfect-bound collection of prop labels from the films was designed exclusively for this collection by MinaLima Design. The book includes labels from potions, memory vials, Honeydukes and Wheasley's Wheezes.
- Harry Potter Catalogue of Artefacts - This 48-page rigid book was created by MinaLima Design: Eduardo Lima, Miraphora Mina and Lauren Wakefield, former graphic designers on the Harry Potter films. Filled with their favorite props from the films desgined in "shadow boxes," this stunning catalogue can only be found in the Harry Potter Wizard's Collection.
So yea, that's a lot of stuff. It's the pefect collection of everything Harry Potter and should make the biggest Harry Potter fans "Expecto Patronum" all over themselves.
The Harry Potter Wizard's Collection releases on September 7, 2012, but you can pre-order it now from Amazon and save $150.
You can follow Movies and Culture Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ


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Chris Brown to be forced to spend 30 hours, or more, a week at home
This petition has been created to legally bond Christophoros Brown to spending 30+ hours a week at his own home. We have recently seen a drop in his time spent at 8 Lily Avenue and forecast a negative linear correlation to occur, thus creating a distinctly adverse standard of living for the tenants involved.
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5 years agoLouise Kidd United Kingdom5 years ago


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X-rays on Kubel's wrist come back clean
X-rays on Kubel's wrist come back clean
MINNEAPOLIS -- Jason Kubel had an X-ray and an MRI on his left wrist on Friday morning and neither test showed any structural damage. It was good news for the Twins, who have been plagued by their fair share of injuries recently. "Our worst fears were that something was broken in there and you miss him, too," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "So it's good to hear that he's doing fine."
Kubel had the wrist wrapped on Friday afternoon, and he had already taken some swings in the cage, his first since he was hit in the wrist by a pitch from Tigers left-hander Phil Coke on Tuesday night. He planned to take a few more in the cages during Friday's game and then take batting practice with the team before Saturday's contest. If everything goes well, Kubel said he hopes to be back in the lineup for Sunday's series finale with the Rangers. The Twins also got good news on two of their other injured players -- Jim Thome (back) and Orlando Hudson (right ankle) -- as they both were back in the lineup for Friday's contest.


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Rating: Oh, um, a lot. More. A lot more.
Song: This chapter exists as it is b/c of the song "Blue Jeans" by Lana Del Rey. Fuckin' sexy. Lyric title from Counting Crows.
Notes: I can't believe I wrote a scene where Jeff Winger is kinda bad at sex. Let's never do that again! I've given up on predicting how long this will run. Thanks for sticking through the dark times, and I appreciate every single comment! Some of my more perspicacious reviewers have asked why they didn't run away last chapter.
Long Answer: Jeff and Annie have been subjected to imprisonment and injury to a point where they were unable to control their lives, and as a result they've become psychologically conditioned to respond to implied threats as strongly as literal threats. So Jeff realizes that rather than run away and fear reprisal, he'd choose to spend his time having life-affirming sex as an emotional reaction to the brush with mortality.
Short Answer: One can only inject so much realism into a "fuck or die" prompt.
Bonus: If you read carefully, you'll learn what that word meant that Loki said to Natasha in The Avengers.American ratings censors just didn't know how dirty it was.
folded and unfolded and unfolding
When the food came, Jeff was willing to forget about everything for a moment just to stare. Too much for the kitchenette counter, half the sprawling feast was left on a mobile serving tray they could wheel around the room. Every appetizer on the menu had been fetched from the bowels of the Hotel d'Awkward: steak strips in a marinade, glazed nuts with sweet pear slices over mixed greens, shoestring onions sprinkled with truffle shavings, a caprese tomato salad, and French onion soup with rolls. There were four choices of entrees, because other than chicken fingers Jeff had no idea what meat she preferred. An ice bucket held a bottle of champagne, and a cabernet sauvignon stood to one side.
The fruit tray, now half-picked apart, was a teaser to give the kitchen time for this meal. Jeff shot a glance at Annie to gauge her approval, congratulating himself on ordering all this before they... experimented. Thankfully, Annie had the presence of mind to have their clothes picked up and laundered, so whenever they got out of this bizarro world they wouldn't be leaving in stolen robes. The clothes would come back sometime tomorrow, and until then the menu was ready to be plundered.
Despite their civil exchanges, he was a little mad at her right now. No one likes to be faked on, least of all a professional faker. Inventing a bogus class was one thing, but sex—Jeff had to draw a line somewhere. And he acknowledged that he was probably not as disappointed as Annie had to be underneath all those Shirley-smiles. After three years of build up (his fault), the lovely Miss Edison deserved mind-blowing sex more than any woman Jeff knew. Their first time might have been mishandled (also his fault), but she hadn't thrown him out so the situation could still be rectified. Until then, if Jeff knew anything after thirty-five years of mothers, girlfriends, and mornings after, it was that you never went wrong with a woman by feeding her. He eyeballed Annie from his peripheral vision.
Lured to its exquisite variety and price-tag-free shamelessness, Greendale's brightest student approached the feast like a lady in love. "Oh wow!" she said in a melding of squeal and gasp that charmed Jeff right to his murky, embittered soul. With two fingers, Annie plucked a ribbon of steak up by the toothpick and brought it to her lips. She swallowed it whole like a cat, and when she chewed the expression on her face drifted from anticipation to practically orgasmic. "Oh my god, Jeff," she purred. "That's amazing."
Annoyance hit him in a double strike with humiliation. Getting upstaged by food was a new personal low for Winger. If she'd bothered to open her eyes, Annie would've also noticed he also had the beginnings of a hard-on. It was like this girl had no idea what she was capable of.
"Eat up!" he urged, hoping he hadn't completely spoiled any sexual regard she may have once held for him. On his plate, Jeff collected a bowl of soup and, because it had been so long, a bread roll too. He deserved to have something go right today.
Annie was over the moon when she found the BBC channel, so they watched a rerun of Cougarton Abbey and two episodes of Top Gear.He still didn't buy this cheerful attitude, but a glass of red wine and some food had gone a long way to softening the hardness beneath her surface expression. When the tall Brit finally won the junker race, Annie brought her plate to the kitchen, and Jeff switched the TV to a soft music channel and lowered the volume to background noise.
Across the room, she stood in front of the cleared table, cloaked in a terrycloth robe with her hair in a messy pony tail. As he watched from the bed, Annie stretched her spine and then ran one hand over her neck. With her hands raised the sleeves of the robe dropped, revealing creamy white arms and the memory of soft skin.
Sliding from the bed, Jeff crossed the space till he stood behind Annie. Carefully, he set one hand on the center of her back. She gasped and jumped, but he 'shhhhsh'd her as his other hand replaced her arm at her side. With the utmost gentleness, Jeff began to massage her shoulders through the robe. Any hesitance fluttered out of Annie, and she sunk into the feeling of his fingers coaxing her muscles. The robe slipped a little, revealing the nape of her neck, and when he dragged his thumb down it her breath caught.
"Jeff," she murmured. It was a question and a statement together.
"Annie," he replied, voice low. The only sounds were the music drifting from the television, and their own breathing. His hands traveled from her shoulders down to her arms, petting the cloth as he slid his body flush with hers. He leaned down and touched his lips to the spot where her hair tapered.
"What's the, um," she licked her lips and Jeff wondered if her heart was beating fast as fast as his. "What's the goal here?"
"Let's see," he drawled, and as he said the word he took her hands and placed them on his body: one stretched up to his neck; one reaching back to his bare, muscular hip. Between them, the fabric of her bathrobe magnified their body heat. "I think I owe you something."
"How's that?" Her fingers squeezed his thigh experimentally.
Jeff chuckled against her ear. Now he knew she would play, and her feigned ignorance was cute. He moved the palms of his hands over her ribs, slowly bring them to the place where her robe joined. He pulled at one tail of the knot, and it slipped open.
"You haven't been honest, Annie," he whispered against her neck. "I messed up, and you didn't tell me."
"That's not," she panted as his hands claimed her breasts, "That's not true. It was good." Jeff grinned where she couldn't see it, and grazed her earlobe with his teeth. His touch never stopped, never lingered on one part of her body.
"Hm," he said, and slid the base of his palm over her mound, quick and hard. Annie jerked back against him, her round butt cheeks pressing on his erection through the thin hotel robe. He dove for her neck, kissing the creamy skin and worshiping every fluttery breath she released. Effortlessly, he slipped one finger inside her, then another. Already wet, Annie gave a moan utterly unlike any sound she'd made two hours before. This was pure hunger, and Jeff would never mistake it again.
When he dragged his fingers in and out, in and out, she pulled his head down over her shoulder for a scorching kiss. He pushed into her back, letting her feel how much he wanted her, and his fingers moved inside her slick entrance in a steady rhythm.
"Jeff." She whispered his name as she bucked against his hand and his hard, broad chest. "More," she panted, and he touched her clit with his thumb as she writhed. "I'm close."
It took all his self-control not to carry her backward to the bed, but this wasn't about him. Jeff had something to prove, and he wanted Annie to benefit from it. His fingers pumped faster, hitting the places that made her shudder in his harms.
"What do you want, Annie?" Her eyes were closed as the feeling took her far away, all her concentration centered in one spot. The sight of her black eyelashes against her cheeks as she squirmed and moaned was better than pornography.
"I want to feel it," she said. Her robe was halfway to the floor, caught between them by the long sleeves still on her elbows. Distracted, she wiggled to shrug them off, desperate to keep his rhythm at the same time. Freed, her hands climbed back up to his neck for purchase, and the fabric fell at last. He immediately closed the last breadth of space between them, letting his warm body capture and support her from behind. Jeff leaned them both forward, placing her hands on the tabletop and helping her knees spread apart. His hand still moved inside her, harder and faster. With every plunge Annie's breath became gasps.
"You lied," he said in her ear. Annie tried to push back against him and down to his hand at the same time. "You didn't come before, did you?"
She whimpered, "Stop teasing," and opened her legs wider. Together, they were bent nearly prone over the surface of the table, only Jeff's free hand to hold them up. Their mirrored reflections were visible through the open door of the bathroom: his taught back and her wanton face. Jeff asked her again, burning the words into her skin.
"What do you want, Annie? Tell me, so I can give it to you."
Smacking her hand on the wooden surface, Annie let loose a noise that mixed pleasure with the intense exasperation only he could evoke: "I want to come, Jeff!" Her voice croaked on the words. "I want you to fuck me like you said you wanted in the cell. I want all of that."
"Fuck," he whispered, taken back to the image of her sucking his cock and swallowing all of it. "Fuck, Annie." He used his fingers to open her folds and then with a thrust he was inside her. They moved together in hard waves, braced against the table of a stranger's the hotel room.
Her cunt was as achingly hot as he remembered, but Jeff went deeper now, and every sensation was magnified. He took Annie from behind, one hand braced on the wood while the other stayed at her clit, rubbing it mercilessly as he ravaged her quim from this desperate angle.
Spoken words abandoned him as they rocked against each other. His mouth grazed her neck and shoulders, hot little touches against the raging sensation of finally being here. Even if they'd had sex just hours ago, it seemed a hazy daydream compared to the torrent he felt now. This was one of his oldest fantasies brought to life: after-hours in the empty cafeteria at Greendale. As his reward for passing the Spanish final he bends Annie over their favorite lunch table, and screws her eighteen-year-old pussy until she begs.
"Please," Annie moaned, and Jeff thrust harder. This is better, he thought. This was so much fucking better.She wasn't a kid and she wasn't a delicate piece of lace. Annie pushed back just as rough, and her breasts heaved attractively with each roll.
Mind spinning from the heat of her sex, he tried to picture himself from a week ago, a month ago: from any time before he knew what it felt like to be inside Annie. If Jeff hadn't squandered so many precious encounters, this could've happened somewhere safe. It might have been the boys' apartment, in that little imaginary room where dreams are real. After the glee performance Jeff could've invited Annie back to his place, watched her strip the Santa outfit off her milky breasts, and taken her to bed. Or what if he had seduced her into a supply closet when they played at being lawyers, palms catching her small buttoned wrists against the door? Jeff wondered if Annie would still moan his name when they fucked, or made love, or did whatever the hell they wanted.
"Jeff, fuck—oh, my god," panted Annie, thrusting to meet his cock with every pump. When she moved, a bead of sweat trickled down her spine. He caught it with his tongue, kissing its path up her back. Wherever they went now, he would want Annie again. No setting was off limits after tasting her. While Jeff lacked the power to go back in time and scream at his idiot self to seize every wasted moment, he had to believe those chances still existed.
It took no strength at all to pull her back against him, upright and barely standing. Mouths meeting, Jeff wrapped one arm beneath her breasts to keep her there. With the other he rubbed her little knot of nerves as fast as he could. His cock slid in and out until it was all too much and she reeled against his kiss, shuddering as her muscles thrummed over her whole body and her heartbeat skyrocketed. Annie slumped, breathing out, her toes still brushing for purchase on the floor, and he grabbed her tight and close.
He pumped into her two more times. "Jeff," she whispered. His face screwed up and his nose tucked into the curve of her neck while his body shook.
Annie murmured, "Jeff, Jeff..." Everywhere he felt her hands: curling against his side or touching the hollow of his neck. She kept repeating his name but her voice was a universe away.
He staggered back a couple steps to the wall, where his legs gave out. As he slid down the beige surface and collapsed, he gathered Annie shakily into his lap, winding long arms around her shoulders and her knees. Jeff sensed himself softening against her hip after they came apart. They were done, finished and spent, but his limbs couldn't stop shaking.
In the cell, in the van, or against the table, nothing changed.
Give us a stage, we'll give you a show.
Little earthquakes jumped down his spine and tremors shook his fingertips, while Annie cupped his cheeks and murmured promises. As Jeff rocked back and forth on the carpet she hugged him, ready to be the fiercest shield. There was moisture where his face pressed into her shoulder, and her small fingers made trails through his hair.
"Shh, I've got you. I got you."


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01. Band of Horses - "For Annabelle" (Infinite Arms)
02. The Kooks - "She Moves In Her Own Way" (Inside In Inside Out"
03. Devendra Banhart - "Baby" (What Will We Be)
04. Fun. - "Walking The Dog" (Aim And Ignite)
05. Miniature Tigers - "Cannibal Queen" (Tell It to the Volcano)
06. Foster The People - "I Would Do Anything For You" (Torches)
07. Band of Horses - "No One's Gonna Love You" (Cease To Begin)
08. Coconut Records - "West Coast" (Nighttiming)
09. Freelance Whales - "Hannah" (Weathervanes)
10. Meiko - "Piano Song" (Meiko)
Some of my favorite songs, hope it was what you were looking for! :)


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Another month, another damning report on British banking.
This time, the bank in question, Barclays, asked for it. In the wake of the scandal over the rigging of the inter-bank lending rate, which resulted in a £290 million fine and the departure of the chief executive Bob Diamond, Barclays commissioned a review of its operations by Anthony Salz. Its publication yesterday made "uncomfortable reading" for the chairman, Sir David Walker, but there would have been little point in the £17m exercise if it had not done so.
In many ways, the Salz report is a re-telling of an old story we know only too well in relation to RBS and HBOS: rapid expansion in the years leading up to the financial crisis produced cultural change. As a result of business practices which rested on uncertain foundations, there was an over-emphasis on short-term financial performance, reinforced by a bonus and pay culture that rewarded money-making over serving the interests of customers and clients. Similar conclusions about the running of HBOS are expected from the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards investigation into its failure. Severe censure of the former chairman and two former chief executives, who many feel have so far escaped too lightly, is anticipated.
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Mr Salz's report, which is highly critical of Barclays, will be welcomed by bank customers because it links pay and the behaviour of some individuals. It finds: "We could not avoid concluding that pay contributed significantly to a sense among a few that they were somehow unaffected by the ordinary rules. A few investment bankers seemed to lose a sense of proportion and humility." This shows there is a problem with bonuses and public criticism is not merely the result of envy but concern about financial stability. Mr Salz clearly identifies an urgent need to change the culture so that risky behaviour and inappropriate sales are not rewarded to restore trust. This challenges the claim by bankers that a curb on bonuses will cause banks to leach their top talent: at Barclays, the top 70 executives receiving up to 35% more than their peers at rival banks. The reward system must be overhauled at every level and in every financial institution.
Barclays says business practices adopted earlier this year are substantially aligned with the Salz review's recommendations but this sounds hollow following the news last month that 428 staff received more than £1m in 2012. This is a reduction from the 728 who were previously paid bonuses of this scale but there appears to be a reluctance to completely jettison the high-reward culture, with an indication only last month that long-term incentives are to continue.


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DWTS Season 10, THE FINALE – Dancing by the numbers
Random Musings
Oh dear, just as I was afraid – too many high expectations which lead to disappointment on many fronts. I personally wasn't too disappointed, mainly because my boy Derek retains his standing as King of Choreography, win or lose. 😉
At the risk of sounding biased – and acknowledging that I said in advance this would happen so I shouldn't be surprised – the underscoring of both Nicole and Evan (and the extreme overscoring of Erin) was ridiculous. There is no way in hell that Erin deserved a 29 for her Samba, while Evan and Nicole both get lower scores. Maks has this tendency to waste too much time at the beginning and ending of the dances and neither dance was particularly "clean". Nicole's rumba was amazing – the core strength at the end when she wraps herself around Derek deserved a 10 on all on its own (and I wonder how they discovered that move 😉 ) – and Carrie Ann's lift rule is ridiculous at that point in the dance. Pretty sure she let Louis and Maks BOTH get away with something similar last season, in addition to letting Mark get away with it at least twice, once this season. I believe her words were "it was at the end and it fit so beautifully" when he did it with Shawn. I don't have a problem with the rule in general – but they don't actually apply that one evenly. No wonder Derek was up in arms. That said – Maks should take a cue from Derek. Protest, then apologize and take responsibility. Very mature, Derek. Or canny. Or both. 🙂
I was tempted to save this comment for the Cheesecake awards, but I can't wait – did you all see the look on Len's face while Carrie Ann was talking about lifts?? LOL – it was freakin' hilarious. He was looking at her like she had three heads. Of course, Len was on crack too, but I was glad to see he agreed that the dance was over when the lift happened and said so. His face was priceless though.
LOL – just saw Maks claim on Twitter that you know you've been a part of something special when you're part of the most talked about Freestyle of the season. Um, Maks, you do realize that it's not all GOOD, right?? LOL – is this like the Supreme Court Justice thing?
Freestyles? Derek and Nicole came out on top –but I have to say that, while I didn't care overly much for Evan's, a 24 was ridiculously low. The judges are trying to make this into a horse race and I predict that by the end of dance three it will be a three way tie. Ridiculous. Who are they trying to kid, here? Are they consciously storyboarding the finale or is it an unconscious thing? Whatever, it worked – lots of media asking the question "Can Erin Win?" They got what they wanted, but at their own expense (again). I saw a comment on Twitter that Erin technically works for ABC as an ESPN Reporter – true? I also saw a reference to Derek's freestyle choreography being "ripped off" Mark's – I suggest these people go back and watch Mark's again both with Kristi and Shawn (like the cross promo, John? 🙂 ). Note where Mark uses a Derek/Julianne move at the beginning of his dance with Shawn. The only similarities are Derek's pants and the energy level. Kristy does hip hop/mambo routine, while Shawn does Jaberwockies/gymnastics, while Nicole does a range of quickstep/jive/lindy hop/salsa.
You know, I say these things every season and yet I continue to be surprised and annoyed by it. I must be a dork. 🙂 I also, every season, try to figure out if the Judges know the vote tally going into the finale or if that is kept secret from them. It would explain a lot. Imagine this headline "Lowest Scored Dancer Going into the Final Night WINS" – meaning Evan. Huge press, the media idiots completely buying into the storyline. Even better "The Two BEST Dancers LOSE DWTS!!!" – more huge headlines and a smidge of credibility, erasing the stain of "ringer" and "Olympians always win". Since I consider the second one fairly unlikely, I almost expect to see Evan scored harshly again tonight, so they get their big story when he wins. Only thing is, you can't really know how the votes are going. Plus, they would have to be extraordinarily mean to overcome the relatively minor difference in scores from last night.
The Math
It's almost pointless to actually do that math, seeing as how the scores are so close and will change before they announce third place and the winner. But, anyway:
Dancer/Total Score
When you add up the total points awarded and divide into the individual dancers total score, their percentages are as follows:
If there were no other dances to be scored, this would mean that Evan only needs 18,501 more votes than both Erin and Nicole per 1 million votes cast in order to win. Piece. Of. Cake. Of course, there's a rub. Evan and Erin both have celebrities pimping votes for them. Nicole is not as well placed as those two. But do you vote for whoever your favorite celeb tells you to vote for? I sure hope most people don't – that's so sheep-y. 🙂 On the other hand, all three fan groups were voting maniacs last night. Judging by my tweetdeck only (and this is not the least bit scientific, only annecdotal), Nicole and Erin have the edge in power voters. Thanks to crazy ass scoring by the judges, this could turn into a horse race – but I still think it's a race between Evan and Nicole. I could be wrong. Dial Idol has Erin in last place and they are calling her third – but you know that I don't think that site works for DWTS. They said she was going home last week. Still, two weeks in a row in last place – a certain degree of repetition in even the most flawed polling has to make one wonder.
But that's all that – there IS still one more dance before third place is decided. All three dancers chose Argentine Tango, AND if they do it like they've done it in some years past, they completely reverse the dance order. If they do that, Nicole will be first and Erin will be last, with Evan still in the middle. I don't think this benefits Erin – if they actually judge the dances side by side, Erin's has the lowest degree of difficulty. If all the dances are good, with no obvious flaws, and Erin scores even with the other two, I call foul. But that's probably what they will do. 🙂
So, here's my guess. I predict that the last dance will either be scored such that there is a three way tie OR scored such that nothing changes in terms of difference between the dancers. I'm going to stick with my original prediction of Evan as the winner with Nicole a close second and Erin in third place. I hope I'm wrong – I think Nicole deserves the mirrorball.
What do you guys think? Do you think they (the judges) know that that 3 points ain't no big thing for an Olympian and know they can score him lower and get a good story? Or do you think they are really punishing him for a poor dance? Are they storyboarding? Or wussing out?


text:
Thursday, 21 January 2010
The Giggler, The Mouse and The Marathon.
10 comments:
happy to hear about the great people that make up your life :)ReplyDelete
They sound great! YeyReplyDelete
Oh yay! I am inspired now to do this myself :)ReplyDelete
Sounds like a great group of ladies by your side - yay!ReplyDelete
I can't believe you thought they might say NO to being your Bridesmaids!?!?ReplyDelete
Loves it. I actually wrote a post similar to this one. But I have not posted it. I am living vicariously through you. So just post about them when I post about their gifts. Ie: stingrays and other wonderous things. ;)ReplyDelete
Blogger keeps swallowing my comments grr....ReplyDelete
Was here yesterday with a big hip hurrah for your wonderful Anna team. x
what an adorable post! xoReplyDelete
yay for the girls! this was so sweet. sounds like you'll be surrounded by good company :)ReplyDelete
The girls sound awesome, Anna!!ReplyDelete
So, I really love all the sweet and/or informative comments that you lovelies leave. Yet if you feel the need to be unnecessarily rude or offensive I will delete your comment and not feel bad about it. So just be constructive alright! Hugs to all you wondrous others.


text: CDD> Zoning and Development> Special Permits> Completed Special Permits Map Completed Special Permits Map This map shows location of special permits for which construction is complete. Select a permit to learn more and find links to related documents. Please note that documents are not available for all older permits. To find the locations of pending special permit applications, permits granted within the past two years, and older permits that are still active use the Active Special Permits Interactive Map. Go here to review documents associated with Special Permit applications submitted after January 1, 2011. Please note that many of these files contain plans and drawings and are large, taking significant time to download onto a computer. This map was last updated on July 1, 2017. For More Information For further information about these permits, please contact Liza Paden at 617/349-4647 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
BOSTON Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev has been buried in an undisclosed location outside the city of Worcester, police said after a frustrating weeklong search for a community willing to take the body.
Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev has been buried in Virginia, his uncle says.
Ruslan Tsarni said Friday that the body was buried with the help of a "faith coalition". He would not say where in Virginia the remains had been entombed but reports said it was at a Muslim cemetery in Doswell, Virginia.
The burial this week ended a frustrating search for a community willing to take the body, which had been kept at a funeral parlor in Worcester, Massachusetts, as cemeteries refused to take the remains.
Tsarnaev was killed April 19 in a getaway attempt after a gunbattle with police. His younger brother, Dzhokhar, was captured later in the day and remains in custody.
"As a result of our public appeal for help, a courageous and compassionate individual came forward to provide the assistance needed to properly bury the deceased," Worcester police said in a statement yesterday.
Tsarnaev's body had been at the Graham Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors. Director Peter Stefan had said he could not find a community willing to take the body, including Cambridge, where the family had lived for a decade.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, ethnic Chechen brothers from southern Russia and living in Massachusetts, are accused of planting two shrapnel-packed pressure-cooker bombs near the marathon finish line, killing three people and injuring about 260.
Dzhokhar, who was captured hiding in a tarp-covered boat outside a house in a Boston suburb, was charged with using a weapon of mass destruction to kill. Their mother has said the charges against them are lies.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in a getaway attempt after a gunbattle with police. His body was released by the state medical examiner May 1 and had been in limbo since.
Katherine Russell, Tamerlan Tsarnaev's wife, had wanted his body turned over to his side of the family, which claimed it. Nineteen days after his death, cemeteries still refused to take his remains and government officials deflected questions about where he could be buried.
On Wednesday, police in Worcester, west of Boston, pleaded for a resolution, saying they were spending tens of thousands of dollars to protect the funeral home where his body is being kept amid protests.
"We are not barbarians," Police Chief Gary Gemme said. "We bury the dead."
An expert in US burial law said the resistance to Tsarnaev's burial is unprecedented in a country that has always found a way to put to rest its notorious killers, from Lee Harvey Oswald to Adam Lanza, who gunned down 20 children and six educators at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school last year.
Peter Stefan, whose funeral home accepted Tsarnaev's body last week, said on Tuesday that none of the 120 offers of graves from the US and Canada has worked out because officials in those cities and towns don't want the body.
In Russia, officials aren't commenting after Tsarnaev's mother said authorities won't allow her son's body into the country so she can bury him in her native Dagestan.


text:
Recent fatal bus crashes over the past five years in Texas
Published 5:30 am, Saturday, August 9, 2008
Photo: MATT SLOCUM, ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
Here's a look at fatal bus wrecks over the past five years in Texas:
Aug. 8, 2008• At least 15 people died after a charter bus carrying a church group from Houston to a religious festival in Missouri slammed onto its side and then skidded off a freeway in Sherman. More than 40 were injured.
Jan. 2, 2008• One person was killed and dozens were injured when a charter bus from Mexico to Houston crashed onto its side near Victoria and then was hit by a pickup truck.
March 30, 2006• Two members of a Beaumont high school girls soccer team were killed after their bus rolled onto its side on the way to a game. The team was traveling to Humble for a playoff game when the bus crashed on Highway 90 near Devers.
Aug. 25, 2006• Two people were killed when their pickup truck slammed head-on into a school bus in Southeast Texas near the Louisiana border. The crash happened on Texas 63, about five miles east of Burkeville in Newton County.
Sept. 23, 2005
• A bus carrying 44 Brighton Gardens nursing home residents and staffers fleeing from Hurricane Rita was rocked by several explosions after one of its wheels caught fire on Interstate 45 near Dallas on Sept. 23, 2005. In 2007, the National Transportation Safety Board faulted a now-defunct bus company and a federal vehicle-safety agency in the fire, which killed 23 residents of the Bellaire nursing home.
Oct. 25, 2005• A tour bus driver was killed after a tire blew out and caused the bus to cross Interstate 35 and hit two 18-wheelers in San Antonio. Two other bus passengers and the driver of one of the 18-wheelers were hospitalized.
May 24, 2004• A chartered casino bus returning to Texas from Louisiana collided with a tractor-trailer rig on Interstate 10 in Anahuac, killing one woman and sending numerous others to hospitals in Southeast Texas.
Feb. 14, 2003
• A bus chartered by a Temple church group was south of Waco when it crossed the median and collided with a sport utility vehicle. Five bus passengers and two in the SUV died. Dozens were injured.


text:
Battle Canoes
Intramural Sports is excited for the spring edition of Battle Canoes on April 25th, 2017. This thrilling event consists of six (6) teams of three (3) individuals placed in canoes whose goal is to be the last team standing. Teams attempt to sink their opponents by filling their canoes with water.
The event will begin with four elimination rounds. The last team standing at the end of each elimination round will advance to the championship round. Teams will be comprised of 2 attackers and one defender. Attackers will be provided buckets to fill their opponents canoes with water. The defender will be provided a shield to repel an opponent's attack. Teams may propel their canoes by using their hands or buckets.
TO REGISTER: Registration runs April 17st – 23rd. Registration for Intramural Sports is now available on-line only. Spots are filled on a first-come first-serve basis (event is limited to twenty-four (24) teams). Click Here for complete sign-up information including rules, policies, and a link to the sign-up form.


text:
A formal methodology for aggregating multiple market views
We describe a formal aggregation procedure that allows investors to combine disparate market views, including the reasons that support them, to produce a single collective view. The methodology uses a many-valued logic to represent individual chains of reasoning and the sum absolute difference as a way of measuring disagreement between individuals. Group level views are derived by selecting the individual views that have the lowest sum absolute difference from the other views. In cases where more than one individual view possesses the minimum sum absolute difference, a variant of the game-theoretic solution concept known as the Shapley value is employed as a way to generate a compromise between the candidate views. In this way a single group-level market view can always be derived that is both formally consistent and a genuine balance between individual judgements.
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As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version under "Related research" (further below) or search for a different version of it.
Volume (Year): 22 (2012)
Issue (Month): 14 (July)
Pages: 1175-1179
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text:
|Find the best surf spots
This is an interactive map! Use controls to pan and zoom this map.
Datum: WGS84 [ Help ]
Latitude: 3° 54.322' N
User rating (8)
Wannasurf.com is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in this guide. You use this guide at your own risk.
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Your favourites and future surf spot lists
Go to buenaventura, 3 hours away from Cali, take a boat to juanchaco 1 hour away
DistanceSurf trip
Easy to find?Easy to find
Public access?Public access
Special accessBy boat only
Wave qualityWorld Class
ExperienceExperienced surfers
FrequencySometimes break
BottomSandy with rock
Normal lengthNormal (50 to 150m)
Good day lengthVery Long (300 to 500 m)
Good swell directionNorth
Good wind directionEast
Swell sizeStarts working at and holds up to
Best tide positionMid and high tide
Best tide movementRising tide
Week crowdEmpty
Week-end crowdEmpty
- Man-made danger (buoys etc..)
your car you have to leave it in Buenaventura
You can only get there by boat or plane, no crowds at all, so bring your friends if you don t wnt to surf alone. It does not break very often, but with a nice swell you can get rides of 350 mts.
don t expect big hotels
good green buds all over
friendly people but watch out because the political situation in colombia is not easy.
ask for Tabo and Tocayo the two only locals they can help you
Colombia is in a hard situation all over the pacific coast due to the paramilitars, and the lack of help from the gobernment, people here are very humble so dont epect a trip like costarican style, here is another situation, status of war
Author: Anonymous Contributors (2) They surfed this spot ! (3)
No video available
|No surf session
|No surf trip
By Anonymous , 01-10-2006
40 years ago - I lived in columbia about 40 years ago. My dad worked there. We live in Buenavantura for about 2 years, we used to go to Juancho every other weekend. There was only one large hut for meals and their was about 6 small huts for us to sleep in. I was not very popular back then. We used to have camp fires on the beach every night that we were their. The air strip was not even their it just in the being thought about. I would love to take my husband their for him to see what it was like back then. It sounds like it has become a popular place to visit now.
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text:
Mises Wire
The Leveraging of Corporate America
A new NBER paper documents a strong, secular increase in US corporate borrowing during the Keynesian era.
Unregulated U.S. corporations dramatically increased their debt usage over the past century. Aggregate leverage – low and stable before 1945 – more than tripled between 1945 and 1970 from 11% to 35%, eventually reaching 47% by the early 1990s. The median firm in 1946 had no debt, but by 1970 had a leverage ratio of 31%. This increase occurred in all unregulated industries and affected firms of all sizes.
Not surprisingly, this change reflects government policy:
Changing firm characteristics are unable to account for this increase. Rather, changes in government borrowing, macroeconomic uncertainty, and financial sector development play a more prominent role.
Further evidence for the long-term lengthening of the economy's capital structure, not from technological improvement, but from the government's policy of always keeping interest rates below their market levels.
Image source:


text:
Read Your Bible with Fr. Adam OSB
Read Your Bible with Fr. Adam OSB
This talk is from the Simple House winter retreat 2014. Fr. Adam Ryan is a monk at Conception Abbey, and he is the long time retreat master for Simple House volunteers. Please forgive the audio (we will get better)!
These talks are very popular with former volunteers, and we will be posting as many Fr. Adam talks as possible.


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Written on: 02/09/2013 by aisle-seat (0 reviews written)
I have long wanted an induction hob and the latest house move provided the opportunity to abandon gas in favour of electricity.
I removed a SMEG 90 cm Range Cooker and filled the gap with a 90 cm wide SMEG single oven + the latest Multi Zone SIM942B Induction Hob from SMEG. It is a great specification and was chosen as much for the fact that I could create a suitable recess by fitting 2 x strips of granite into an existing granite worktop to allow me to use this new induction hob from Smeg. There are few induction hobs large enough to allow this.
It was easy to install - requiring only a 32A supply via a 40A MCB at the consumer unit.
Now that I am using the induction hob to cook with I am very impressed. I was advised to buy good cookware from Le Creuset and glad that I did.
Never imagined that I could bring a saucepan of new potatoes to the boil in 30 seconds. Must take care not to use boost or I can cause discolouration of the pans because of excessive heating.
Have used NEFF and Miele before but in this kitchen it is all Smeg - single built in oven and dishwasher.
I like the designs and am confident of reliability (or after sales service if something 'happens')
As rated by our community of reviewers
" Waste of money " Read More
" Broken " Read More
" Cato gas cooker " Read More
" Fabulous cooking experience " Read More
" Best oven yet " Read More


text:
ARA News
HASAKAH – The Kurdish-Arab alliance of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported new gains in the southern suburbs of Hasakah, northeast Syria, at the expense of the extremist group of Islamic State (ISIS), heading towards Shaddadi, the second key bastion of ISIS after Raqqa in northeastern Syria, military sources reported on Monday.
Shaddadi, located at a distance of 46km south of Hasakah city, and its environs have been under ISIS control for more than a year and a half.
Speaking to ARA News in Hasakah, Kurdish member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Jivan Hasan said their units were able to recapture areas in the vicinity of Rusafa and Qana villages, after seizing the Hasakah southern dam (25 km south Hasakah).
The source pointed out that the joint forces approached the village of al-Daham (6 km south Hasakah) that is located near the ISIS-held district al-Arisha.
"The advance of the SDF forces towards the ISIS's major stronghold of Shaddadi slowed down due to the land-mines planted by the terror group in the area," the Kurdish fighter told ARA News.
Last week, the Kurdish YPG forces have fully retaken the military base of al-Melabiya in Hasakah province subsequent to days of clashes with ISIS militants.
Before its withdrawal from al-Melabiya, ISIS has reportedly transferred a large deal of its weapons from the base to the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, an informed source told ARA News on the condition of anonymity.
Fighting continues between the U.S.-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance and ISIS extremists on several fronts in the countryside of Hasakah to the south, east and west. The SDF launched an extended anti-ISIS campaign in Hasakah nearly one months ago, and it has been so far able to recapture more than 210 villages and towns in the province.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) include Kurdish forces of the YPG and YPJ, the Syriac Military Council, the Arab tribal group of al-Sanadeed, al-Jazeera brigades, Jaish al-Thuwar group, and of Burkan al-Furat battalion.
Reporting by: Qehreman Miste
Source: ARA News
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text:
All quotes by Kenyon Martin
(63 quotes found)
"People see what I did: walk off the court. I snatched my back brace off and threw it. I'm frustrated. We're losing. I'm frustrated. Whatever it is, people are going to assume. ... It is what it is."
"We have to come together. We've lost four straight. The last thing we need is people talking that Kenyon walked out on his teammates. That's small compared to what we're trying to accomplish: win games. If we win games, then everything's all right."
"If I'm down, he'll tell me not to let people steal my joy. Early in the season, with my (surgically repaired left knee hurting), he'd always ask me how I'm doing. . . . Just a little comment goes a long way."
"I know the person [who went into the stands], but I didn't direct nobody to go into the stands. I was watching the game."
"I think I did, didn't I? I know I can play basketball, my teammates know I can play, and that's the only thing that matters at the end of the day."
"We wanted to run. They traveled last night, played yesterday. So we just wanted to come out in this altitude. It's not the easiest place to play."
"I didn't direct nobody to go into the stands. I know the guy, but I didn't direct nobody to go in the stands."


text:
Inside the world of the 'boleteros'
Here's a term to add to the political lexicon: Boletero.
The Miami Herald's Marc Caputo sheds light on the ballot-brokers of Miami-Dade, the "boleteros" who hustle for absentee-ballot voters. Like other election practices elsewhere such as "walking around money" or "vote hauling," the ballot-brokering work is legal, though there are some shadier aspects attached to it.
From Caputo's report:
For an elderly political junkie who needs money on the side, it's the perfect job with an exotic-sounding name: Boletero.
It literally means "balloteer," but the post carries the Spanish nickname in deference to the dozens — if not scores — of paid small-time operatives who find ways to turn out or collect absentee mail-in votes in Miami-Dade.
It's a shady world, as the case of 56-year-old Deisy Cabrera in Hialeah shows.
Cabrera was charged Wednesday with a state felony for allegedly forging an elderly woman's signature on an absentee ballot, and with two counts of violating a Miami-Dade County ordinance banning the possession of more than two filled-out absentee ballots.
"The 'boleteros' hover on the edge of the letter and spirit of the law," said Christian Ulvert, a top state Democratic campaign consultant who has run races in Little Havana and Miami Beach.
"These boleteros in Miami Dade have become like some political consultants," Ulvert added. "You don't want them working for you. But you don't want them working against you. So some candidates figure you just have to pay them."
The story is a reminder that even at a time of increased attention on election reforms, across the country at the local level there are still any number of questionable practices that could use the disinfectant of sunlight.


text:
Lodge Resource Pak - Program Resources
The Lodge Resource Pak, previously mailed to each lodge as DVD and later online as a resource, contains the OA calendar, the annual OA Lodge Resource Book, applications to high adventure camps, OA Videos and additional resources that you will surely find interesting.
The Lodge Program Pak Ads are resources to use by sections, lodges, and chapters to promote the upcoming national events and programs. Use these ads on the web and print publications.
Download copies of these important resources here!
NOAC 2015 Promo Videos
NOAC 2015 Promo Video (570 MB, ZIP)
Last revised on


text:
Business Centre
The latest business news, reviews, features and whitepapers
Tivoli Audio's SongBook portable radio is aimed at professional travellers. It has a great quality AM/FM tuner and excellent sound quality for its compact size, but it lacks DAB or DAB+ digital radio and is very expensive. It's a pretty product that should fit nicely in a jetsetting executive's briefcase.
The Tivoli Audio SongBook is a premium radio — it has great sound given its size, it's well built and we think it's attractive — but it comes with a seriously premium price tag. At $399 it's not going to be a product you pick up in the department store when your old radio breaks, but we can see it being taken out of the box for an executive's picnic trip.
The SongBook is, for a transistor radio, quite tall but reasonably slim — it is roughly the same size as a thick paperback. Its telescopic aerial slots into the body at the top, and all the buttons on the front are clearly labelled. You've got five presets for AM stations and five FM ones, and the radio has clock and alarm functions. If you don't mind its size (it will easily fit into a day-pack or briefcase), it would be a nice hotel-room companion on a domestic or international trip.
The Tivoli Audio SongBook is well constructed, with a high quality glossy painted finish on its fascia. It feels dense and not at all cheap — although tipping the scales at 810g with batteries loaded it might be a bit heavy for lightweight jet-setters. It's water-resistant, with the side-mounted audio input, headphone jack and DC power socket protected by rubber plugs, although Tivoli doesn't go so far as to suggest it's waterproof. It's important to note that the Tivoli Audio SongBook does not have DAB+ digital radio compatibility — it's just a good ol' analog radio, albeit one with a high price tag.
Like with the Tivoli Audio Model One, the SongBook extracts excellent audio from a small speaker — we measure it at around 2.5in, but it has simultaneously warm mid-range and very clear treble. This pleasantly musical sound persists from low volumes all the way to moderately loud — only at maximum volume, which is surprisingly loud, does the SongBook's sound quality start to become slightly unhinged and harsh. Unless you're listening in a large room, or outdoors more than a couple of metres away from the radio, you won't need to hit maximum volume. For almost all users the Tivoli Audio SongBook will have more than adequate sound quality — it's possibly the best we've heard from a portable radio.
As well as tuning in (with the help of the digital tuner which lets you hit station frequencies spot-on, rather than an analog dial) to AM and FM radio, the Tivoli Audio SongBook has an auxiliary input port on the side to which you can connect any 3.5mm-compatible device. We used an Apple iPhone 4 for most of our testing, but you could also hook up an MP3 player or portable media player — the SongBook acts as a useful portable speaker to boost your music player's sound output, even if it is a bit bulky for this purpose.
The price is what holds the Tivoli Audio SongBook back from being an easy recommendation. If it were $100 or $150 cheaper we'd have no hesitations in recommending it to mainstream buyers, thanks to its impressive sound quality. At $399, it's restricted to buyers with deep pockets.
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Sharp PN-40TC1 Huddle Board
Brainstorming, innovation, problem solving, and negotiation have all become much more productive and valuable if people can easily collaborate in real time with minimal friction.
Brother QL-820NWB Professional Label Printer
The print quality also does not disappoint, it's clear, bold, doesn't smudge and the text is perfectly sized.
Sharp PN-40TC1 Huddle Board
The Huddle Board's built in program; Sharp Touch Viewing software allows us to easily manipulate and edit our documents (jpegs and PDFs) all at the same time on the dashboard.
Sharp PN-40TC1 Huddle Board
The biggest perks for me would be that it comes with easy to use and comprehensive programs that make the collaboration process a whole lot more intuitive and organic
Brother PocketJet PJ-773 A4 Portable Thermal Printer
I rate the printer as a 5 out of 5 stars as it has been able to fit seamlessly into my busy and mobile lifestyle.
Brother PocketJet PJ-773 A4 Portable Thermal Printer
It's perfect for mobile workers. Just take it out — it's small enough to sit anywhere — turn it on, load a sheet of paper, and start printing.


text:
Amid change, we still need a sense of right and wrong – Raymond Zhou
The New Year bells had hardly stopped tolling, when something outwardly tragicomic but inherently disturbing happened in Chengdu, Sichuan.
On Tuesday (1/2) morning, a young woman was contemplating jumping off a six-story building. It took the police and firefighters five hours to talk the emotional distressed out of it and move her to safety.
But that made some people very unhappy — some onlookers who had gathered on the street to witness the crisis. According to press reports, many of them "held out their necks as if they were ducks dangling from someone's hands."…[Full Text]


text:
You iPhone gives you a lot of options when it comes to making phone calls, and it makes it easy to access the Phone app when you're most likely to need it. Here are some of the fastest ways to call.
Add a phone number to your Favorites list:
The Favorites list acts like a speed dial system on other phones. You can use it to store your most frequently used numbers, and even add e-mail addresses for contacts you want to use FaceTime with. You can add numbers to your Favorites list as follows:
- From Contacts: Open Phone >Contacts, go to the desired individual, tap on the Add to Favorites button at the bottom of the screen.
- From Favorites: Go to Phone >Favorites and tap on the "+" sign in the top right of the screen; this brings up your contacts list. Find and tap on the desired individual, the select Voice Call or FaceTime from the pop-up menu.
- From Recents: Open Phone >Recents and find the call you want to add to Favorites. Tap on the small blue arrow to the right of the call and select the Add to Favorites button from the Info screen.
Place a call using favorites
Open Phone >Favorites and tap on the name or number you want to call.
Call back a person who left a voicemail
The iPhone's Visual Voicemail feature lets someone leave you a message if you don't answer his or her call. When you're checking your voicemail on your iPhone, you can call the person back very quickly. Simply tap on their message and then tap on the Call Back button at the bottom of the screen.
Tap on a phone number in Web pages, e-mails, etc.
The iPhone converts all phone numbers displayed in Web pages, texts, or e-mails into hot links. Simply tap on the number to place the call.