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Opinion: Relationships matter
What is the value of hiring a public relations specialist? Priceless according to Nanette Collins who points out several ways in which they can help...
A recent survey confirmed what we all know and sometimes forget: relationships and connections matter, especially in business. Could it be the reason why Linkedin is a networking lifeline for business professionals?
Last November, after a clients news release announcing a new product landed in my inbox, I set out to understand how doing product launches had changed. In the past, it required a bit of long-range planning, organization and connections to a circle of influencers, formerly limited to reporters, editors and analysts who covered the industry. With todays new forms of communications and different channels, the process is not as clear or as straightforward.
A survey was in order. Bryon Moyer, an editor, a technology ghostwriter, and frequent collaborator, helped compile a list of questions and then allowed me to interview him to test out the questionnaire. His comments, of course, were included in the survey.
From there, I used my network to contact a long list of influencers that included reporters, editors, analysts and bloggers to see if theyd take time to discuss what they cover and what they need when. And, to no great surprise, connections matter. In total, fourteen of them, including Brian Bailey, editor of this DesignLine and Dylan McGrath of EE Times, agreed to be interviewed. One of the 14 has since departed his trade journal gig and is working at a semiconductor equipment company, a trend that seems to be picking up momentum with our influencers.
Each offered their needs for a product introduction, along with opinions and requirements in candid and insightful discussions on the state of the publishing industry. The semiconductor industry has far more influencers than those 14 who offered their time and opinions, but making the time to talk proved to be far more difficult than expected. We may have sizeable networks on Linkedin, but time isnt something everyone has in abundance.
It may be obvious to anyone reading this that I was able to leverage my connections and reputation as a Public Relations professional built up over many years. And, that is true. I was able to get interviews with some influential influencers, something not everyone may be able to do. Even then, Bryon Moyer came to the rescue to use his connections for two interviews that otherwise may not have happened.
I dont mean to be boastful. Instead, Im pointing out the obvious. Companies hire Public Relations professionals like me for our writing and communications skills. Most important is our network. We need to know who is influencing the industry at large, and how to reach and influence them. Influence is not pejorative.
Having regular contact with the influencers matters. Nothing comes close to having this contact with an industrys key influencers. Among other things, a credible PR person will be called by influencers when they need help. It also keeps track on whats on an influencers mind, what he or she is working on or if theyre looking for content. And, if so, what kind. PR professionals have been known to offer story ideas or information on the latest trends.
The survey confirmed what many corporate executives know already. PR is an effective and cost-effective marketing program. A well-executed PR campaign can build instant visibility and credibility, and is vital to gaining the critical edge on the competition. The cost for that? Priceless.
The semiconductor industry has a wide range of companies in all forms and sizes, many with large and capable PR departments. Typically, a small startup or emerging company does not have the budget or the need for an in-house resource or a big global PR firm.
Instead, they outsource the role to boutique PR firms and consultants to quickly establish themselves as major industry players and market leaders. With the steady guidance of an experience PR professional, a carefully crafted and focused PR program can create legitimate publicity opportunities.
Public Relations can be viewed as another sales channel, and can be treated as part of the sales process just a different audience. As with any sales engagement, it meets a company need to establish clear goals and positioning, and create ongoing relationships. Its not just a broadcast medium, either. It can provide audience feedback, especially with the instant feedback channels available to all of us today.
Knowing when to bring in a PR professional depends on a companys goals. A startup may want to promote itself to generate interest from the venture capital community if its raising funding or wants to immediately establish itself as an industry expert. Or if its hiring and needs to show candidates that its real or needs beta customers to test the product. More often, PR professionals are brought in to help with corporate and product launches.
At whatever stage a company decides to hire a PR agency or consultant, goals and objectives should be considered. That is, what do you want to accomplish? A PR consultant will offer strategic counsel and assist with company and product positioning. They will need access to decision makers to better understand the vision. A company can count on PR professionals to plan and execute a campaign and offer an evaluation.
One final note: Public Relations should be considered an ongoing process to create and sustain awareness. Optimally, its not done on project basis, but is done over a one-year period or longer to work toward gaining credibility and visibility. Educating the market and differentiating a company and its products takes time, as does changing perception.
While mass communications may be my expertise, dont ask me to design, verify or build a chip. But do call me or another PR professional if your company is in need of image building. We will make a difference.
About the authorNanette Collins started Nanette V. Collins Marketing and Public Relations in 1994. The firm creates strategic PR plans to build awareness and establish the companys credibility and visibility. Collins holds a Master of Science Degree in Public Relations from Boston University College of Communications, ground zero for the marketing and PR network to the business world, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism from Suffolk University in Boston. More details can be found at: www.nvc.com.
If you found this article to be of interest, visit EDA Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of Electronic Design Automation (EDA).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for the EDA Designline weekly newsletter just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you).


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Cross Pacific Partners: Japan's Startups, US Dollars
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REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—Life is quite regimented across the Pacific—Japanese people tend to follow a designated path that leads from primary school to secondary school, to university and a good job that will sustain you through your working years, then to marriage and children. This traditional culture puts heavy emphasis on success and is generally risk-adverse, a direct opposition to risk-taking startup culture in America.
Failure has very, very serious consequences in Japan. Japanese life has changed slightly [over the past 30 years] but most people still work for one company their whole life, said TT Chu, co-founder of image analysis software startup Brand Pit. There is basically no secondary job market in Japan. If you go and quit your job and start up your own company and fail, you cant really get back into the workforce.
Yet the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka have small, tight-knit startup scenes that heavily focuses on the Internet of Things (IoT) due to the large number of hardware engineers. Brand Pit Co-Founder May Yamaura said most of the people in the startup scene are over age 30 because innovative Japanese corporations prefer hiring young entrepreneurs.
Even though big companies try to be innovative, they have almost no way to be so because of the company structure, Yamaura told EE Times. It makes it hard for startups to try to cooperate with big companies. Thats why our government is trying to push startups.
Brand Pit received funding from the government-backed New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), which provides seed stage investment and R&D funding for Japanese startups. The two groups were among the Japanese entrepreneurs and investors at a pitch night (March 10) hosted by Silicon Valley Forum, which focused on building a bridge between Japanese innovation and the Silicon Valley way of business.
I think Japan as a country, as a government is very poor on the marketing side. People are thinking about China and maybe Brazil for innovation and Japan is somewhat always ignored, said Gen Isayama, co-founder and CEO of World Innovation Lab. Once Japan increases awareness, people will quickly realize how stable the society is and how big the country could be. If you can work through the bureaucracy and be patient working with corporations, the results could be great.
In addition to cultural barriers that make business challenging, Japanese startups face a lack of angel investors and venture funds, said Tirias Research Principal Analyst Kevin Krewell.
That said, there's a lot of great technology in Japan that could be applied more innovatively and more globally. Successful entrepreneurs from Japan should be thinking about markets outside of Japan, Krewell told EE Times.
Next Page: Global geeks

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You have a healthy idea that you want to put into action, just like WebMD's Health Heroes do. Be ready to use your heart and your head.
The experts we asked for advice put passion and planning at the top of their lists. Find something you want to do, then figure out how to do it.
"If you have already figured out what you're passionate about, you are halfway there," says Laura Turner Seydel, who chairs the Atlanta-based Captain Planet Foundation, which funds green projects in schools.
Seydel knows what she's talking about. She runs the Captain Planet Foundation, which her famous father Ted Turner founded along with producer Barbara Pyle. She also helped start Mothers and Others for Clean Air and is a trustee of the Turner Foundation, which makes grants to green groups.
Decide What You Want to Do
"It has to be something you couldn't live without doing," says Tiffany Denyer, a 2010 Health Hero who trains service dogs. "It has to be a calling.
"Figure out whether it's time, talent or treasure you can contribute," Seydel says. She believes working as a volunteer with a group is a great way to learn -- and give back -- while planning your own project.
Take the Leap
Katherine Stone, a 2008 Health Hero who started the postpartumprogress.com blog, knew there was a real need for news about postpartum depression.
"It's easy to wait around. I waited two years after recovery, when I got better from my illness," she says. "I kept thinking, 'Who am I to do this?' Don't bother asking that. You are you. You will learn more along the way. If you see a need out there, you can do something."
Know Your Strengths
Richard Siravo, a 2012 Health Hero, says your project should be something that uses your passion and your skills. Siravo started The Matty Fund with his wife, Debra. It honors their son, Matty who had epilepsy and died from a seizure. Some people want to be the public face of a cause, he says. Others want to work behind the scenes.


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Evans EMAD2 Clear Bass Drum Head, 22''
Evans EMAD2 Clear Bass Drum Head, 22''Details
The Evans 22" clear EMAD2 two-ply bass head contains two interchangeable damping rings that maximize attack and low-end without removing the head or reaching inside the drum.
Product Ref: 23440View Full Description
Full DescriptionView Full Description
Comments from customers who bought this item:
Evans EMAD2 series features two plies of film. The outer ply of 6.5mil and an inner ply of 10mil film provides an enhanced attack, focus and durability. The unparalleled industry standard Externally Mounted Adjustable Damping (EMAD) system allows the player to adjust attack and focus.
For over 40 years, Evans has been a pioneer of drum head manufacturing and design. Known for innovative designs such as EMAD, EC2S, and the Hydraulic series, Evans drum heads are made in the USA in a state of the art manufacturing facility. Acquired in 1996 by D'Addario and Company, the global leader in musical instrument accessories, the Evans brand is synonymous with quality and consistency.
- Bass drum head made using two plies of film. An outer ply of 6.5mil and an inner ply of 10mil film
- Externally Mounted Adjustable Damping system allows the player to adjust attack and focus
- Very versatile head for all music genres; a true working drummer's choice
- All Evans drum heads are designed, engineered and manufactured in the USA
The product price includes 2 years' warranty and 30 day money back guarantee.
However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers.
The highlights of this enhanced warranty service are:
- Warranty is extended to 2 years from the date of delivery.
- Our Money Back guarantee is extended from 30 days to 30 days (terms apply after 30 days)
- Collection and delivery costs are included for the first 2 years
- Claim 50% cash back on the cost of the policy after 2 years if it has not been used!
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Please note that this extended warranty is currently only available on products sold within the EU or EEA, and is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the extended warranty certificate provided.
For customers in outlying areas of the country, the price of the Extended Warranty may be marginally higher, due to the potential for higher collection and redelivery transport costs.
This enhanced warranty is in addition to the standard Gear4music and manufacturer warranty policies, and the Gear4music terms and conditions of trade. No statement or condition of sale contained within these terms affects or restricts your statutory rights as defined under the Consumer Contracts Regulation 2014.
Once the product is delivered, you have 30 days to decide that you definitely want to keep it. If you decide it is not suitable for any reason, you can return it back to us for replacement or full refund, including standard delivery charges.
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If you also purchase items that do not qualify for free delivery, some delivery charges may be applied to your order which will be shown in your shopping basket.


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Private sector the key to Jordan's economic future - King
Jordan's growth policy is underlined by an aggressive economic and fiscal reform programme for the next four years with the support of the IMF to reduce the budget deficit
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His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday voiced hope that the private sector will play a major role in enacting the desired future of the country, as depicted in his third discussion paper.
Addressing the second Jordan-US Business Forum, the King specified the water and energy sectors in particular as having potential for partnerships and investment companies, and said that investors based in Jordan enjoy access to regional and global opportunities.
"Jordan's geostrategic position and positive country-to-country relationships are a proven gateway to access the MENA region's business opportunities. Companies located here have exceptional access to new and expanding markets — with 350 million consumers and vital strategic resources," said the King in a speech at the event, which attracted representatives of more than 100 US companies.
Beyond the region, Jordan has significant free trade agreements allowing access to major economies, said the Monarch.
"These open markets target over a billion global consumers. We are supporting initiatives in this area with development and enterprise zones, along with transportation and communication infrastructure," said the King.
"Here again, trade and investment opportunities are rich, and deserve your attention. Opportunities are also ripe in professional services and engineering, agro-industries, tourism, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, education, transport and logistics." The Monarch, who said the forum recognises the unique ties between the two countries, added: "Jordan and the United States have stood together over decades — for peace, for development, for global stability."
"Our economies are vastly different in size and scope, but the essentials are similar. In both, people are calling out for jobs and economic security; in both, inclusive economic growth is urgent after the global downturn," His Majesty added.
In his address, King Abdullah voiced pride in Jordan's peaceful model of democratic evolution, saying: "It's the Jordan way, aimed at ensuring transparency and good governance, along with our pluralism, openness, tolerance and moderation."
"Our model aims to maintain a level playing field, safeguards for civil liberties and political rights, and measures to reinforce the separation of powers and encourage political participation. In this 'Jordanian Summer', we are developing the proper building blocks of democratic transformation and its checks-and-balances," said King Abdullah.
The King added that he was looking forward to welcoming US President Barack Obama to Jordan soon. "I hope to see real momentum in the peace process after his visit, a strategic national interest for both our countries," he said.
King Abdullah, who said he was concerned about creating jobs for young Jordanians, added: "We in Jordan recognise and respect the central role of the private sector and global partners in meeting these challenges. Your work is essential to create inclusive economic growth."
Jordan began structural reforms more than a decade ago, aiming to integrate into the global economy and support economic opportunities. Steps included national investments in training and infrastructure, growth-friendly laws and policies, new development initiatives, heightened protection for companies, both foreign and local, said His Majesty.
"Priority is now being given to an improved new generation of laws on investment and public-private partnerships," he added.
Jordan is building for the long-term, said the King, adding that economic and political reform must go hand in hand.
"We viewed the Arab Spring as an opportunity to increase our momentum. More than one-third of Jordan's Constitution was amended in 2011, we began putting new institutions and processes in place... and early this year Jordan held landmark parliamentary elections. A consultative process was launched to choose the next prime minister, and our first pilot parliamentary government will be in place soon," he said at the forum.
In a speech at the forum, which witnessed the announcement of several deals and projects, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Jafar Hassan stressed the importance of the forum, saying that it does not only emphasise the necessity of economic growth in gaining stability, but also the important opportunities for the private sector in a region under transformation.
The impact of the international financial crisis and various regional crises on the Kingdom's economy over the past three years, and especially on our energy sector, whose cost to GDP increased 72 per cent in the last two years compared to the previous decade, have undermined this momentum in development, doubled the deficit and reduced growth levels to less than half their previous average, said the minister.
To address these challenges, Hassan said Jordan has started the process for establishing its first liquefied natural gas terminal in Aqaba Port, building the first oil pipeline from Iraq, to be followed by a gas pipeline.
"Our growth policy is underlined by an aggressive economic and fiscal reform programme for the next four years with the support of the IMF to reduce the budget deficit… bringing it eventually down to 3.5 per cent by 2015," the minister added.
In his address, the minister said Jordan launched new venture capital funds and that the country is in the process of launching the first ICT start-up fund within weeks with support from the European Investment Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
Reiterating USAID support to Jordan, Maura O'Neill, USAID chief innovation officer and senior counsellor, said the Kingdom plays a crucial role in the region and a strong and prosperous Jordan is key to a safe future for MENA.
She added that strong public and private partnerships are the cornerstone for national development, noting that USAID invests about 27 per cent of its aid to Jordan in private sector development.
The US official also underlined USAID readiness to help Jordan in implementing a draft public private partnerships law that is currently at Parliament, stressing the need for the endorsement of the law as soon as possible.
O'Neill added that Cisco partnered with Jordan to launch a project to train 5,000 women on skills and technical knowledge in the ICT sector.
Several issues were discussed during the forum, which attracted participants from more than 100 US companies and local firms.
Top Headlines
- Jordan secures EU finance for socioeconomic and environmental programs
- US, EU protectionist policies may be a blessing in disguise for GCC suppliers
- Dubai to Doha: How far can you stretch your dirham?
- Tunisia 2020 investment conference: 145 mega projects on offer
- GCC tax on expats' income and remittances would be highly regressive: IMF
- WCM-Q event explores impact of new and amended laws on healthcare
- Jordan\'s king puts on disguise to check on internal revenue services
- New Jordan Valley 'Marshall Plan' brings hope for future Palestinian prosperity
- Jordan-US ready to embrace tighter economic ties
- Not politics, nor security: Jordan's troubles are economic, says King


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Oblivion mods - current selection?
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September 25th, 2011, 05:30
Yeah, I've used all the tools that help combine mods and manage them before, but even still it can take awhile, and be quite irksome if one thing goes wrong and makes the game crash. Been giving it some thought today though, and I figure with Skyrim only 7 weeks away, its probably best if I not get into a TES game right now and just wait for that instead.
It'll be a lot easier to just add a few small mods here and there as they get released or reconfigured to work with Skyrim all-the-while having fun playing through a brand new world.
Last time I modded out Oblivion I had close to 18gb of mods installed and that takes a very long time to get, especially from all the mod sites that make you watch 40sec ads before each DL.
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text: Polyvinyl's Owen may not have released anything since 2006's At Home With Owen, but that doesn't mean they (read: Mike Kinsella) can't tour. Chicago's Kinsella is continuing to tour with his solo act in an effort to remind fans that he's still around in case anyone wants to indulge their loneliness with his sad sack of songs. Owen will play most of these dates with openers Caithlin De Marrais and El May -- bands who, ideally, will be just upbeat enough to balance the evening out without jarring anyone into a happy mood.


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King of Print
King of Print is a sub division of One Stop Print Shop that focuses on primarily event promotions through supporting everything with the "I LOVE" campaign signs. King of Print has been successful in associating wtih high end celebrities for their events.>> King of Print
One Stop Photo Shoot
The photo studio of One Stop Photo Shoot is in the same building as One Stop Print Shop. Both locations work closely together as One Stop Photo Shoot provides professional photography services to the photographic needs of One Stop Print Shop's customers..>> One Stop Photo Shoot
Wedding Moments
Wedding Moments is a division within One Stop Print Shop created to be dedicated to professional wedding photography, videography and printing. Wedding Moments is your best choice to capture all of your special moments during your important wedding day.>> Wedding Moments
Baby Moments
Baby Moments is a division within One Stop Print Shop created to be dedicated to professional family portrait photography & videography. Baby Moments captures the essence of your children and family throughout all the special occasion throughout the year..>> Baby Moments


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Antique Kerosene Brass Lamp/1888 Eagle Mark Lovell &Co.
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Original antique brass kerosene oil lamp without shade and with 'as found' beautiful tarnished patina. It was a product of F.H. Lovell and Company, who went into business around the time of the Civil War. They produced mostly marine lamps, but distributed (other) lamps that were actually made by the C.T. Ham Co. Lovell later bought the Dressel railroad lamp company and became Lovell-Dressel Co. in the early 20th C. This lamp has cut-out hearts around the bottom of the kerosene container and clubs around the bottom. It stands 12" high and has a diameter of 6". T is a flame spreader and a star on the cover w kerosene is poured into it. T is no star on the flame adjustor stem knob. It consists of five main parts that screw together. T is a nickel size dent on the bottom of the kerosene bowl (which can be corrected from the inside) and a smaller, faint dent to the bottom base. T is a base stabilizer (could perhaps be used on a boat) that is 'pegged' into the inner base (removable) and is pretty rusted. Otherwise, this lamp is in good overall condition. It is marked: (??)TCHCO LAMP, LOVELL & COMPANY....and has a right (?) facing eagle between 1888. I feel that TCHCO might have been a nod to the C.T. Hamm Company. A bit more investigation is necessary as t might be two faded letters before the T. Thanks for looking....and considering ... read more


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Obama Grants First Pardons of His Presidency
President Barack Obama issued the first pardons of his presidency Friday, offering clemency to nine people convicted of minor crimes who paid fines or served out short sentences long ago.
The move comes amid some criticism that the president isn't using his pardon power often enough. By waiting nearly two years to issue his first pardon, Mr. Obama almost eclipsed the record set by former President George W. Bush, who also issued his first pardons in December of his second year in office.
The crimes included possession of drugs, counterfeiting and, in the case of Ronald Lee Foster of Beaver Falls, Pa., mutilating coins. Mr. Foster had been sentenced to one year probation and fined $20 in 1963. Just three of the nine served any jail time, with one imprisoned 30 days.
"The president was moved by the strength of the applicants' post-conviction efforts at atonement, as well as their superior citizenship and individual achievements in the years since their convictions," said White House spokesman Reid Cherlin.
The White House declined to say why these people were chosen or why the pardons were issued now. Those pardoned included a Utah man who served two years' probation in 1972 for illegal possession of government property and a Georgia man who served a similar sentence in 1960 for a felony liquor-law violation.
None of those on the Obama list is well-known, and in that sense, they are typical of presidential pardons, said P.S. Ruckman Jr., editor of the Pardon Power blog. "Pardons typically go to no-name people," he said.
Of some 8,000 acts of clemency issued since 1945, 92% have been pardons, with the remainder commutations that let someone out of jail early, Mr. Ruckman said. A pardon restores rights such as voting, serving on a jury and purchasing a firearm.
Mr. Bush issued 200 pardons and commutations during his two terms, down significantly from President Bill Clinton, who issued 459.
Critics say Mr. Obama has been too stingy with pardons. The American Civil Liberties Union is seeking a commutation for Hamedah Hasan, serving a 27-year sentence for a first-time, nonviolent drug crime. She was sentenced under old federal guidelines that required stiff sentences for crimes involving crack cocaine.The administration has before it more than 8,400 applications for pardons and commutations.
—Gary Fields and Jared A. Favole contributed to this article.
Write to Laura Meckler at firstname.lastname@example.com
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September 11th, 2014, 08:23 AM #1
No Problem more with Adblocker
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Hi Community,
First of all: i don't have any experience with affliate marketing
I have a question ... Maybe anybody can help me ...
If i have found a way to make the Adblocker useless, what kind of thing can i do with this System?
Anyone knows how many Internet Users use the adblocker? 30/40%?
The Solution is not an Javascript ... it's definitly cooler
September 11th, 2014, 09:39 AM #2
That would be considered a black-hat method, and we don't condone anything that's black hat technology on ABestWeb.
September 11th, 2014, 08:38 PM #3
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Hey Jcrooks,
It's a legal method ... not any cracking or hacking ...
It's completly legal ...
September 11th, 2014, 08:56 PM #4
zcache, Just for argument's sake:
Black Hat does NOT mean illegal - it's more about personal ethics.
Again, as was said earlier:
"we don't condone anything that's black hat technology on ABestWeb"Salty kisses, Sandy toes, and a Pirate's heart...
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Mister Ed wrote:The fact that it doesn't include all three movies (assuming that is the case. Does it actually state that somewhere?) is utterly baffling to me. Wait one more year, for cryin' out loud. The Hobbit is already being stretched out unmercifully in the films, why stretch it even further for the game? I think I may just skip this, at least until they reveal how they will be handling the third movie in game form.
EDIT: Upon further research, I found that the plan is to add the third film to the game as DLC. So I'll probably just wait until the game is complete and get it all at once.
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The 10 newest members of the group of athletes and coaches to be inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame has a strong Jacksonville flavor. With such a First Coast influence, this year's induction ceremony will take place at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on April 27.
Among the group of athletes with ties to this area are Jaguars all-time rushing leader Fred Taylor; former Players Championship winner Mark McCumber; former Bolles and Atlanta Braves baseball player Chipper Jones; tennis standout Brian Gottfried; and NASCAR racing legend LeeRoy Yarbrough. In addition, longtime Bolles football coach Corky Rogers is also among the 10 new inductees.
The other four members of the 2013 class include former Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway; former Florida State volleyball player Gabrielle Reece; one of rodeo's all-time greats, Pete Clemons; and former Olympic swimmer Brooke Bennett.
Check out more photos from the announcement
The strong connection to Jacksonville helped land the induction ceremony to the city. It adds another element to the city's quest to market itself as one of the region's strong sports towns.
"This shows that the Florida Sports Hall of Fame has a vote of confidence in my vision on making Jacksonville a destination for sports," said Mayor Alvin Brown, who joined Rick Danzler, Florida Sports Hall of Fame president, and Rick Catlett, president of the Gator Bowl Association, in making the announcement Tuesday at the arena about the new inductees and the site of the induction ceremony.
"I'm excited about it when you think about those who we're honoring,'' Brown said. "It's more than about the box score. It's about how they lived their lives off the field. It's really a great honor for Jacksonville to be a part of this.
"People know these names from all around the globe. This brands our city and takes Jacksonville to the next level when it comes to sports,'' Brown said.
The Florida Sports Hall of Fame honors Florida's greatest sports figures and events and leverages this collective celebrity to promote fitness awareness, education and sports activities. The HOF has inducted 215 members since it was founded in Jacksonville by the Florida Sports Writers and Florida Sportscasters associations in 1961. It has been housed in several cities, including Lake City, with memorabilia from its individual members currently displayed at the museum preview center at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale.
"We are excited to bring the [ceremony] to Jacksonville and know this will be a wonderful experience for all of the attendees," Danzler said. "Of the 10 inductees, nine sports are represented — a testament to the diversity of the sports scene in our state."


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Amy is a 42-year old single mother of 5 kids living in Kansas. Her days are spent attempting to maintain a home, a chaotic schedule, a never-ending to-do list, and some semblance of sanity, while her nights are spent on the computer chronicling her family's daily life on her blog, The Non-Stop Mom.
As parents, we try to come up with ways to get our kids to do what we ask. Even the most well-behaved child sometimes needs to be prodded. And as a single mother of five, I've had to get creative. My girls are 13 and 11, and my boys are 8, 6, and 5. When they're all home, life is chaotic. We're dealing with "growing pains" as they get older and become more independent. Having a teenager has made me realize that the kids are maturing — and everyone's roles and responsibilities are changing.
The girls have shared a bedroom since they were small. Two years ago we moved into a much smaller home, but they've been reluctant to part with many of their childhood "things." However, it's hard to keep a lot of "things" organized in a small home.
When Emily (11) lost a tooth after supper that night, she came to me to get her "tooth pillow" for the tooth fairy and then went to bed. Around 12:30am, I remembered the tooth and went into her room. I tripped over some of those childhood "things" before I reached her bed and found lots of little "bodies" in her bed (her sister was sleeping alongside her, along with more than a few stuffed animals). I searched under her pillow for several minutes but couldn't find the tooth pillow. I returned to the living room, and the idea for the letter came to me. I sat and quickly typed and printed it, took a picture of it, posted it on my page, and took it into their room, and put it on their mirror where she would be sure to see it.
The shares started immediately. Weeks later, I still get messages saying "hey, I saw your note somewhere else."
Generally, the reaction has been positive, but some parents have expressed disapproval. Some seem to think that my little girl will be scarred for life, or that I'm the most passive-aggressive mother on Earth. The funniest part about those reactions is they don't know what Emily did when she saw it: she read it, rolled her eyes (as only a tween girl can do), and asked if I would help get their room cleaned. Mission accomplished! I'll admit, part of the reason why their room was a mess was because I hadn't gotten around to installing shelves in their room to help organize their stuff. But it's not because I'm a "horrible mother" - I was just so busy being a mother that I forgot to do it.
My reaction to all of this has been mixed. I think it's insane that something that took 30 seconds to write has garnered so much attention. I'm flattered that people think it's great. I get annoyed with the haters, but I realize that they're making a judgment based on a single piece of paper that's been shared all over the Internet and have no idea how things really are here. All I know is that I'll keep doing what I need to do in order to be the best mother possible - whether the Internet agrees with me or not.
Do your kids help out around the house? Share your comments below!


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Ely bear cubs due any day; check out the bear cam
It's likely Lily will have cubs in the next few days. Births are typically in mid to late January. 10 (71%) of 14 females like Lily had cubs at age 3 in this study. Lily is heavy for her age, so her odds are even better.
When I visited her at her den on January 11, her genitals were swollen like I've never seen in 43 years of research--but I had never visited a bear about to give birth before. Technology is letting all of us learn together. The way Lily is rearranging her bedding has me on edge. I think it's getting close.
For more on Lily, come to the North American Bear Center in Ely, MN, and watch "Bearwalker of the Northwoods" on Animal Planet in spring.
Lily's den cam is one of the best opportunities of my career to show people how real bears behave. People are falling in love with her. Thank you for so many requests for t-shirts. The North American Bear Center will have them available online in a week. We are grateful for your desire to help the Bear Center pay off its $700,000 debt so we can do more to help bears.
You can access the camera at www.bear.org


text:
Art, Fashion, and Music Intersect in ABSOLUT Collaboration (Sponsored)
Yiqing Yin is a sculpture couturier. She's a sculptor, but instead of fashioning figures out of wood, stone, or metal, she uses fabrics and fashion to create transcendent works of art born of the tension between the stubbornness of her materials and her artistic vision.
Yiqing is one of four talented young artists that ABSOLUT has partnered with to bring about the message of transformation in their TRANSFORM TODAY video series. Other artists in this collaboration include musician Woodkid, digital master Aaron Koblin, and graphic artist Rafael Grampá.
Check out this video to learn more about the TRANSFORM TODAY collaboration and discover more at ABSOLUT.com and youtube.com/ABSOLUT.


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Don't let him in if he comes knocking!
Stupid cat. Can't even decide if he's a Jaeger or a Kaiju.
Don't let him in if he comes knocking!
Stupid cat. Can't even decide if he's a Jaeger or a Kaiju.
Akira MacKenzie says
The kitty is just doing his part to prevent the RISE OF THE ROOMBAS!
John Pieret says
Catshark? … Catshark? … Where have I heard that before?
That cat is obviously heavily sedated, or else they never would have been able to get it into, or keep it in, that suit, much less have it ride that thing into walls.
Dave W says
I just want to admire this: "Can't even decide if he's a Jaeger or a Kaiju."
Rev. BigDumbChimp says
A cat post PZ?
I don't care if it's wearing a shark outfit riding a robot.
A cat post?
what the hell is going on here?
unbound says
@2 – Not necessarily. Depends on the cat. I have 3, and 2 of them would be just fine with a costume on. One of them would definitely be fine with both the costume and riding a roomba bumping into things. He really doesn't care that much about things most of the day until breakfast and dinner.
bobbyearle says
Forgive my noobishness, but 'Jaeger or a Kaiju'?
No One says
In another video the human woman comes home opens the door and the cat is sitting on the roomba waiting. This cat considers the roomba as it's own personal seguay (however it's spelled). The cat is also some type of Siamese, so all bets are off at that point. This cat likes it.
It's a cat dreaming of being a shark, gliding over the bottom of the sea with little effort. The cat has the correct piscatorial attitude.
magistramarla says
John Pieret,
This cat has been famous on the internet for a long time. There's another video of him sans costume riding the roomba and taking swipes at his pit bull buddy. He obviously enjoys the ride.
I've also seen a really cute video of a whole family of kittens riding the roomba – too cute!
Thanks for the cute kittie video, PZ!
WharGarbl says
Pacific Rim reference.
David Marjanović says
That cat is so human!
Sastra says
Thank goodness you posted this video!
I actually thought I was the only one who dressed my cat up as a shark and let her travel around the house on a Roomba. I was starting to think it might be a little …. odd.
Nope. Turns out it's perfectly normal. Nothing wrong with me at all. Whew!
(Well, okay no — I don't do this. But I would have if I'd thought of it and it was in any way feasible in my particular house and with my particular cat.)
Rev. BigDumbChimp says
I'm not sure this will work with my 105 lbs. Chocolate Lab.
PZ Myers says
Gonna need a bigger roomba.
Jafafa Hots says
They wanted to put zoomba brains inside zambonis and create zoombonis, but the zamboni operator's union refused to wear the shark outfits.
Daz says
Doesn't drive very well, does it.
erikthebassist says
Let me add a laser to that and I'll rule the world! mwhahahahahahahah…..
Moggie says
David Marjanović:
That cat is so human!
Oh thank goodness! I thought it was just me! Tell me, where do you get your shark suits? These cheap Chinese ones don't last, and they're itchy as hell.
Sili says
Duh. They'd have to be polar bears.
Rich Woods says
> I'm not sure this will work with my 105 lbs. Chocolate Lab.
> Gonna need a bigger roomba.
Gonna need a bigger room!
davidjanes says
Silly PZ, this is obviously a JaegerKaiju and therefore superior to either.
BrianX says
Cat on a hot plastic bot. Something tells me the owner's an Achewood fan.
davidgentile says
That video was way more fun than Pacific Rim.
sharkjack says
it's pretty clear that cat is die jaeger all right, because it's definitely not das essen. with all the Attack on … parodies that have been made over the last few months, it wouldn't surprise me to see footage of this cat with Guren no Yumiya blazing in the background.
lowspark13 says
In all seriousness, any douchecanoes that think pit bulls are evil needs to be forced to watch this lady's videos. Fairly big pit bull being friends with the above cat, bunnies, chickens, an iguana etc.
Jafafa Hots says
Why did I type zoomba and not roomba?
(there is a thing called a zoomba, right? I'm scared to find out what, though.)
kittehserf says
Oh, it's Max-Arthur? He's the coolest kitty. I love this lady's videos, she has so many wonderful animals living happily together. Her pit bull is adorable. :)
chris says
I am so resisting the urge to send that video to this person: Sharky character on a Cyberpunk game.
Now I wish younger son's cat would either stop peeing in random places, or at least clean it up herself. We have learned from experience this particular cat runs away from robotic vacuums. And then pees on the floor.
astro says
the only thing marring this video is the person wearing sunglasses indoors.
I love this cat. I have one that will trot down the hill to watch highway traffic going by about twenty feet away, so I'm wondering if I should get a Roomba, too, for him. It might keep him away from the traffic.
thebookofdave says
Aiieee!!! Don't go in the kitchen!
And bring back the real PZ!


text:
ORLANDO, Fla. -
General Manager Craig Leicester said the building was completely renovated, but you will still find some original elements, like teak wood panels and terrazzo floors in the lobby. Marble near the elevators is also original.
The 110-thousand square foot building features 118 guest rooms, and sixty of those are suites.
The main draw in the lobby area is the ultra modern WXYZ lounge.
"I walk into it... I feel good. It's lively," Leicester said. "It makes people happy."
Leicester told Local 6 that out-of-town guests do make up a huge part of their business, especially among tech-savvy travelers.
The Aloft offers free, high-speed internet throughout the property, and even tables in the bar area are equipped with outlets and chargers.
"There are a lot of people shifting in their dynamic to live in a more urban environment," said Leicester. "We have a lot of young professionals who are looking for something new and exciting, and we want to be that."
Standard rooms range from about $159 to $200. For more information, click here.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
School and camps are invited to make the Westchester Children's Museum their field trip resource for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) enrichment and play-based learning. Our field trips promote inquiry-based learning and creative thinking with guided standards-based exploration of the exhibits. Activities in our 6,500 square feet of interactive galleries cover the physics of rollercoaster design to the many STEAM challenges of our ever-changing MakerSpace...
Groups may visit the Museum with prior reservation on Mondays and Tuesdays (when we're closed to the general public).
Field Trip Days: Mondays and Tuesdays
- 1 ½ hour of exclusive access to the Museum
- Guided experience of each exhibit area
- Educational programs available for additional fee.
For additional questions and bookings, please contact:
Jeanette Mirabile Manager of Early Childhood Programs at email@example.com


text:
Nintendo Wii
The MAC address of the Wii can be found by:
- From the Wii Channel menu, select "Wii Settings" (the round button on the bottom-left of the screen with "Wii" on it).
- Select "Internet," then "Console Settings."
- The MAC address of the Wii console is displayed on the first line.In order to access internet on the Wii you have to use the wireless function. To connect via a wired router you have to buy the Wii LAN Adaptor. A link is provided below with instructions on how to connect your Wii to the internet.http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wii/en_na/connectingOnline.jsp


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For centuries, the sunbaked southern French provinces known as the Midi eked out their living supplying the rest of France with table wines; when the grapes were poor, so were the farmers. But no more. Today, along with wine, growing shipments of melons, asparagus, peaches and strawberries flow from the Midi into Paris. Responsible for this profitable bounty is a new network of dams, canals and irrigation ditches running from Marseille westward almost to the Spanish border. Responsible for the irrigation network is a 59-year-old northern Frenchman with the incontestably Gallic name...
France: Vive Lamour
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text:
A few months ago I worked full time for a few months and with that I needed to find a way to be more organized for meal time. I guess in some ways I am a little more old fashioned. While I do really enjoy going out to eat even that gets old too.
A friend on a forum that I am a member of once said she kept menus in a binder and used that to help be organized for meals and grocery shopping. so as i thought about what to do to be more organized I came up with a version that would work for me. I am not rigid about following this but it does save a lot of time and alleviates the "what's for supper" stress.
Ok, here we go. The first thing I did was get out some index cards and then just think of some of the meals we normally eat-- nothing new and nothing fancy. I did this for 20 meals.
On the fronts of the index card I wrote the meal and on the back of the card I wrote the ingredient list. Not nearly as hard as it may sound because ,remember , these are things we have eaten over and over and over. I also wanted to do grocery shopping every 2 weeks instead of weekly.
Here are a couple of examples:
Before grocery shopping I look through the cards and pick out 10 cards. I use these to make my list. I keep the cards in a zip lock baggie hanging on the fridge. In the mornings I can get out a card for the supper meal and know that I have the ingredients and if need be start to thaw the meat.
While this may sound time consuming it really isn't-- it is a big time saver. I can made my grocery list in 10 minutes for 2 weeks of food.
This may or may not work for anyone else but it saves me a little time that I can use for fun things. And of course nothing is ever written in stone-- we may eat out or we may have something not on the cards.
If anyone has another method tha tworks for them I would love to hear about it. I am always up for a timesaver.
til later


text: What USC-Stanford Could Have Been? Posted on November 10, 2013 by Scott Wolf As ESPN announced GameDay is coming to the Coliseum it is worth noting if USC had a reliable kicking game this season the Trojans could be 9-1 with wins over Washington State and Notre Dame. Share this post:


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The Orioles begin the 2nd half leading the majors in errors. With 3/5ths of their starting rotation in the minors and without a true leadoff hitter. If that is not enough, they also play twenty games without any rest as their next off day will not occur, until August 2nd.
That does not concern Manager Buck Showalter. Buck says; "the players are all on the same page and that they know what needs to happen". This year the second half of the season might be meaningful and also special because the O's could make a playoff push for the first time in since 1997.
The Birds might be able to add a piece to the puzzle before the trade deadline-but ONLY if they are still fighting for a playoff berth. No need to mortgage the future…yet.


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Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only?
Located 200 metres away from Wenzhou Railway Station JJ Inns - Wenzhou Train Station offers budget accommodation with free internet access and cable TV. It has a restaurant and free parking yard. Wenzhou Train Station Hotel JJ Inn is 18 km from Wenzhou Airport and 13 km from Wenzhou South Railway Station. All rooms are equipped with Air-condition an electric kettle a work desk telephone and a private bathroom with hot/cold shower and other amenities. Guests can use the safe deposit box at the 24-hour front desk. Fax/photocopying services are provided at the business centre. There are also laundry and dry cleaning services. Guests have the option of dining at the hotel s restaurant.


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Throughout the challenging 2014 Freeride World Tour season, which saw the venues of three consecutive stops avalanche, forcing venue relocation or cancellation, athletes and organizers grumbled incessantly. It, sadly, devolved into a European vs. North American antagonism. The Euros grew frustrated with the absence of quality back-up venues in the case of Snowbird and Revelstoke, poor live webcast production quality, and athletes griped about uninspiring terrain unfit for FWT comps. Meanwhile, Americans defended their decisions and 15-plus years of putting on ski contests atop mountains with inhospitable locations while keeping in mind their IFSA ideals and roots. Still, though, few could have predicted what transpired last week.
In a press release with a subject line that read "Exciting Novelties for FWT 2015," the Freeride World Tour announced the 2015 competition schedule. Therein, three items were notably absent—specifically:
1. A sixth stop, as the 2015 tour dropped one event, going from six to five while adding Andorra to the list and removing Courmayeur.
2. A Lower 48 U.S. and Canadian stop. Instead, an unnamed location in Alaska with a 10-day-plus weather window.
3. At that Alaska event, only men will be allowed to compete, therefore giving women only three stops to compete before the field is narrowed for the finals in Verbier.
Drafted and sent by the European-run Freeride World Tour Management, the release caught most by surprise, none more so than Mountain Sports International (MSI), the North American FWT production company.
"It's a surprise to all of us," said MSI marketing and communications director Jessica Kunzer. "We got the release when everyone else did."
It seemed like a hostile siege of the prominent big mountain tour, with so many questions outstanding as to how FWT Management SA, who owns the brand Freeride World Tour that started in 2008 and exclusive marketing rights, could legally make these decisions without consulting their North American counterpart that has produced big mountain contests since 1998.
"We entered a phase of FWT development three years ago by collaborating with MSI towards a full merge of both companies," said FWT General Manager and Founder Nicolas Hale-Woods, who said they did indeed inform MSI of the new schedule, via e-mail from Australia. "This collaboration has not been successful to our eyes on many points, both on the operation and the communication sides, which lead us to the conclusion of organizing FWT without MSI." The two companies entered a joint venture agreement two years ago without a signed contract.
Given the new event lineup, perhaps the FWT should be renamed the FET for Freeride Euro Tour? With only one North American stop in Alaska—the FWT is prospecting three locations—the rich history of big mountain competitive skiing in North America has been completely hijacked. And although Hale-Woods confirmed that they're hedging the growth and success of the tour on high-quality webcast production rather than on-the-ground spectators (similar to surfing's Teahupoo ASP World Championship Tour contest), it robs North American FWT fans, potentially sabotages a growing market of youngsters, and, most notably, affects the current crop of North American athletes.
"Am I reading this right? Alaska is the only American stop? With no slots for women?" wrote 2013 FWT overall champ Drew Tabke in an e-mail. Tabke, who is on the eight-member Pro Freeriders Board and has taken on the unflattering role of a pseudo-spokesperson for the actual going-ons of the tour, has been quite terse with his own frustrations this winter. His European counterpart, Sweden's Reine Barkered, who won the 2012 overall tour and 2014 Xtreme Verbier, seemed to favor the news. "I just saw AK was in there and I'm really stoked," said Barkered. "But it's a bummer women won't be able to compete in Alaska and that Revelstoke is off the tour since it was such a steep venue with great vertical." As for the women, Squaw Valley's Jackie Paaso, who finished fourth overall on the 2014 FWT, chimed in all the way from South Africa. "I didn't anticipate this," she said. "I know they have been talking about adding an Alaska event and there are cost concerns associated with that, but people would be more accepting of the new schedule if women were included. Not all FWT venues are ideal, but it's important to keep the fan base happy for the health of the sport. It's disappointing, for sure."
Alas, the announcement acted as a culmination of contention. But after the 2013 merger of the North American-based Freeskiing World Tour and European-based Freeride World Tour, it seemed big mountain competitive skiing was unified and on a positive trajectory. They crowned a true world champ with a legitimate prize purse, investments were made to improve webcast production quality, and a feeder system—the Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ)—was set in place to grow the sport while also giving the FWT elite status. With the release of the 2015 schedule, it seems the FWT has taken a significant step backward.
"Obviously, tension is possible when working from different continents with different methodologies in volatile mountains," said MSI Project Manager Bryan Barlow, the man responsible for the North America stops. "But we're totally blindsided by this news made by FWT SA. After all the collaboration and compromise between USA and Europe FWT to build one system and then to wake up one day to this is disappointing, to say the least. At one time, there seemed to be a focus on building and unifying the sport of freeride, and not just about building a brand to sell. This leaves a huge void and unknown for the North and South America market and athletes, which was so key in the evolution of what freeride is today."
Barkered expressed support for one less event, noting that it would give him and others "more time for other projects" outside the FWT calendar. That played to Hale-Woods assertion that the 2015 schedule decisions are about "quality over quantity."
"Freeride World Tour's goal is to organize the best events on the best mountains," continued Hale-Woods. "In the eyes of many riders, Alaska proposes the best mountains in the USA. But Alaska will be a tough one on the logistical side since we'll be in 'remote location mode,' meaning we will need a lot of flexibility to move the group of riders and live webcast team around. This is why, for year one, we decided to go there with men only and limit the number of riders to 60 percent of the field. Furthermore, with the current financial parameters, it is not possible to organize an additional event for women only in North America. This is not the ideal set-up, but it is reality for 2015."
Although FWT still owns the rights to the FWQ and FJT (Freeride Junior Tour), it remains to be seen what will happen to the exciting skiing niche that, despite the 2014 weather challenges, seemed to be catching on, with increasing webcast and TV views. Notwithstanding, putting the cross-Atlantic conflict on the table and coming to an amenable collaboration seems doubtful, as of now, undoubtedly weakening the sport and leaving the future of North American big mountain competitive skiing with a giant question mark.
Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face 2015 Event Calendar
Date: Jan. 24, 2015; Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, FRA
Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard
Date: Jan. 31, 2015; Location: Fieberbrunn Kitzbüheler Alpen, AUT
Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard
Date: Feb 14, 2015; Location: Vallnord Arcalis, AND
Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard
Date: March 14, 2015; Location: TBD
Disciplines: Men's Ski and Snowboard
Date: March 28, 2015; Location: Verbier, SUI
Disciplines: Men's and Women's Ski and Snowboard


text:
Why Haven't You Bought Windows 8
View Single Post
January 28th, 2013, 02:02
Clearly, touchscreens are the future of computing - Star Trek says so.
But seriously, I can see tablets one day replacing laptops and desktops for a lot of "consumers". Power users, developers, IT and business professionals will still need traditional interfaces for a while, until the new touch interfaces are more refined and flexible. Windows 8's metro interface is not there yet - but it's decent enough for casual computer use. And for gamers - it hardly makes a difference as games are mostly played full screen anyway.
I think Windows 8 hasn't gained traction because relatively few people own tablet PCs or touchscreens (aside from iPads and Android devices).
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text: Above is a link to my surprise. I am so Excited !!!!! My husband just ordered my this Centennial Featherweight for my birthday, which isn't until mid April. I was completely surprised, all I had done was mention them whenever someone on here got one. And it looks like he bought the best he could find. Every attachment, hand made covers, a personalized cover for it. It should be here mid week. Bernie (my Bernina) just went to the sewing machine hospital for for tension issues, and bobbin case adjustments or replacement and she won't be back until late next week if then. (Backlog at the hospital) . I plan to clean and re-arrange my sewing room to make the perfect spot for "Maggie" My husband had a grandmother named Maggie, who was an avid quilter, and I had a great grandmother named Maggie, thus the name. Woo Hoo!!!!


text:
Original JMI 60's amp handle with logo. In nice over all shape but a little damage on the end. Please see picture. 949-307-4675
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We ship most domestic items by FedEx Ground fully insured. Most smaller international items ship by US Postal Service Priority Mail International. Lager heavier international items ship by air freight. Please mail us at email@example.com for a shipping quote.
We have a 3.5% restocking fee on returns.


text:
Lots of "Top Gun 2" news has surfaced over the past few weeks. First and foremost is that it is happening at all, and on Monday Tony Scott confirmed that he is indeed on board for the sequel. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing, and Oscar-winner Christopher McQuarrie will handle the script.
The rumor is that the plot will focus on the new generation of Navy pilots, and that Tom Cruise's hard-flying, hard-loving, hard-volleyballing, Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell will return, though in a diminished role. McQuarrie himself quashed these rumors in an email to Vulture, saying that, "There is no "Top Gun 2" in which Maverick is not the starring role."
This begs the question, if the picture is going to focus on the younger pilots, how exactly does Maverick fit into the puzzle? Will he come back as a Top Gun instructor, maybe assume the roles once filled by Tom Skerritt and Michael Ironside? I could get behind him being a grizzled instructor, nonchalantly chomping on a cigar as he cuts these new-jacks down to size. Let's hope they go that direction instead of trying to do something stupid, like introducing a new, young Maverick. Maverick has to be Tom Cruise or no one at all.


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text:
Not rioting, just dreaming
After a month in Israel, I'm about ready to join a demonstration against the cost of living here myself. Even armed with pounds (admittedly not worth as much as they used to be) this is a really expensive country.
I feel constantly ripped off on small items - NIS 99 (£17) for sun-screen, NIS 75 (£13) for some water-melon and grapes (I returned the grapes). Day-care seems roughly equivalent to London, but with the average Israeli salary standing at NIS 8,700 (£1,506) a month, it must form an even bigger burden for many working parents.
Then there is the biggie - property. Jerusalem is for dollar millionaires only; the once-cheaper option for young couples, Modiin, is now equivalent to Edgware. Even smaller suburbs of the big cities, such as Tzur Hadassah, outside Jerusalem, start in the 1.5/2 million shekel range (£260,000-£350,000). Goodbye to my dream of selling up in London and buying mortgage-free in Israel.
So the hordes of Israelis protesting that they cannot make ends meet have a point. Israel's economic boom, with GDP growth of 4.7 per cent last year, a strong shekel and unemployment at just 5.7 per cent, has passed by too many middle-class people.
I have less sympathy, however, for their solutions. Here, the leaders of the revolution seem not only misguided, but dangerous- ready to risk Israel's economic miracle at a time when much of the West is facing financial ruin.
Netanayahu must not put Israel's economic health at risk
The problem is that most of those shaping the movement come from the radical left, including tiny parties such as Hadash (an Arab-Jewish faction with four Knesset seats) and Balad (three seats), and organisations such as the New Israel Fund. Their economic solutions come from the radical left as well.
The word that repeatedly comes up is "socialism". When, two weeks ago, the head of the Histadrut union mentioned "capitalism" to the Tel Aviv demonstration, the crowd booed.
What exactly do they mean by "socialism"? Do the majority of the demonstrators really hark back to Israel of the 1950s, with its food stamps and jobs for the boys - that is, Labour party members?
No, but they clearly want a much higher level of intervention and subsidies.
Many of their basic demands are utterly unrealistic: free child-care from three months upwards, for example. Nor can the government be expected to miraculously make "affordable" apartments available in central Tel Aviv.
Many of the demands seem to based on a sense of entitlement known as "magia li" - "I deserve" even if I cannot afford. No one has the right to live in the most desirable areas; few Englishmen expect to live in central London.
Most importantly, none of the demands have come with price tags or explanations of where the money - when calculated - is going to come from. The demonstrators want Israel's budget to be busted; this must not happen. And it would be equally foolish to seriously shift the orientation of Israel's economy towards middle-class benefits and intervention, when it is almost unique today in its upward trajectory.
The man who can take most credit for this is Benjamin Netanyahu, whose right-wing economic philosophy and belief in the free market has guided the economy for years.
One look around Europe, on the verge of a double-dip recession - and London's riots - shows what the future holds if they mess with the winning formula. The protestors do not realise how lucky they are collectively.
The government's Trajtenberg panel, set up to propose solutions to the demonstrators' complaints, is due to report within weeks. The demonstrators have set up an alternative commission.
It is a shame that this is shaping up to be a battle rather than a dialogue, as many problem-spots need addressing: not only the legitimate frustrations of the middle class, but also the neglect of development towns and Arab towns, income gaps between rich and poor, starving education budgets, high unemployment among Charedim and Arabs, out-of-proportion investment in settlements, et cetera.
Netanyahu must be responsive and do whatever he can. But under no circumstances should the Israeli Prime Minister risk the country's basic economic health. And if these radical parties disagree, let them win the argument through a vote - not on the streets.
- Negotiating relationships at a non-Jewniversity
Negotiating relationships at a non-Jewniversity
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Corbyn, Castro and the fraternal toleration of ...
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Having hope in Trump is naive
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Miracle MS treatment developed in Israel
- JFS inquiry into teacher's anti-Zionist comments
JFS inquiry into teacher's anti-Zionist comments
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Jewish Canadian student still missing in Peru
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The first Jewish Miss Germany?


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Former NIRVANA drummer and FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl has posted the following semi-denial of his purported "open letter" to METALLICA:"Just wanted to write a quick note to clear up this whole 'Open letter to Metallica' fiasco... For the record, I never 'wrote' anything to METALLICA. I was asked by a journalist, at the end of a long interview (about the FOO FIGHTERS), to give a quick message to METALLICA in the studio. So, I rattled that quote off the top of my head. No biggie, right? Somehow it became my 'open letter' to the band, and now it's been picked up by everyone from Blabbermouth to Rolling Stone (as if anyone really cares!). Now, it's true that I've been a loyal fan of this band for 25 years, and I can't wait to hear the new shit, but an 'open letter' to the band?!!?? Nah. Not my style. I'd rather just text 'em..." In the aforementioned message, which was originally published by Metal Hammer magazine, Grohl wrote: "Dear METALLICA, Hey, it's Dave! Remember me? Yeah, I'm the guy that's been listening to your band faithfully since 1983. I bought your first album 'Kill 'Em All' from a mailorder catalogue called Under The Rainbow, I think. Actually I can't remember. It was 1983 for Christsakes! But that album changed my life and I've been listening to your albums ever since (even 'St Anger'!). I can't wait to hear the new shit, and no matter what you guys do I'll always be first one at the shop waiting to hear it. I'm sure you'll come out and blow everybody's fuckin' minds, because you're fuckin' METALLICA! Good luck. And don't release it until it's kick-ass. Yours, Dave Grohl. P.S. Are you finished recording the drums yet?"
DAVE GROHL Says His Message To METALLICA Wasn't Meant To Be 'Open Letter'
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United Nations, French Development Agency sign partnership accord to speed fight against povertyApr 21, 2012
New Partnership Agreement seeks to accelerate progress on remaining unmet Millennium Development Goals before 2015
Washington – With the clock running out on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and l'Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the French Development Agency, signed an agreement Saturday pledging to work more closely together to speed up progress toward the anti-poverty goals.
The new agreement brings the two organizations closer to forge solutions in the areas of the fight against climate change, youth employment and the promotion of public-private partnerships for the provision of essential services.
"The world's population today is healthier, wealthier, and better educated than ever before, yet many people still live in extreme poverty and insecurity," said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark. "I hope that by joining UNDP's and AFD's efforts, and capitalizing on our respective experiences and comparative advantages, we will be able to promote and achieve sustainable human development enjoyed by all."
"Formidable challenges like climate change, meeting the MDGs or food security cannot be addressed alone. The Agreement with the UNDP reflects this conviction. Building on our respective mandate and expertise, we look forward to fruitful dialogue and successful operational collaboration with UNDP in the future," said AFD CEO Dov Zerah.
The MDGs comprise eight targets agreed by all United Nations member states. They include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, empowering women, and reducing child mortality by the year 2015.
The Agreement is part of the broader cooperation between France and UNDP, and it identifies a set of priority sectors for collaboration.
A centerpiece of the job creation component is a shared commitment to enhance and promote dialogue among public authorities, civil society, and the private sector to facilitate the professional insertion of unemployed youths, particularly women. A specific focus will be placed on the Middle East, a priority for both institutions.
In recent years, UNDP and AFD have developed a productive dialogue on climate finance. Building on their technical experience and prior involvement in countries vulnerable to climate change, the two institutions hope to intensify their partnership, including in the design and implementation of Low Emission Climate Resilient Development strategies.
Finally, both institutions have committed to maintain a regular dialogue in the future and to review these priorities on an annual basis to take into account past achievements and emerging concerns.
UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and AFD CEO Dov Zerah signed the agreement while in Washington DC for the 2012 spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.Contact information
Washington: Sarah Jackson-Han, UNDP: email@example.com, +1 202 331 9130
Geneva: Adam Rogers, UNDP: firstname.lastname@example.com; +41 22 917 8541
Paris: Laure Weisgerber, AFD: email@example.com ; +33 1 53 44 30 57


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17.3 hand TB gelding came here with a body score of a one! A year later, and the hard part is over, he is now thriving! He needs someone to finish his journey. Has been ridden about 5 times no buck or bolt, ridden in an indoor walk trot, didnt mind leg on him, and even let me mount from the ground, and it was not pretty! But he didnt move, he is sweet and kind looking for a new career. Sire-Comic Strip Dam-Dyna flo
Boarding, training, lessons. We also do layups and foaling on case to case basis.
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Will little North West be an only child?
According to a new report, Kim Kardashian and hubby Kanye West "are having constant fights over the timing of having another baby," an insider told RadarOnline.com.
While the reality star, 33, "has made no secret for her desire to get pregnant right away," her rapper beau, 37, is hesitant because of work obligations.
"It's just too much chaos for Kanye to handle. ... He loves being a dad to their daughter, North, but having another baby would just push him over the edge," the source said.
North turned 1 this summer.
Despite West's reluctance, mama Kardashian "is absolutely determined to get pregnant," the source said.
"And Kanye can never say to no to her in the bedroom," the insider dished about West and the curvaceous Kardashian. "Their sex life is over the top, and Kim is boasting it's only a matter of time until she is pregnant again, so stay tuned."


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Pre Written Best Man Speeches
Speeches are often used to highlight special events. This is very true especially when it comes to wedding celebrations. If you happen to be the best man who is having trouble coming up with the best words to say, there is no need to fret. You can always seek the aid of pre written best man speeches to help you. A good way to start is by simply searching for them online. Grab those that will suit you the most and learn from them as you go on with writing your very own unique speech.
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It can be quite a privilege to be invited as the best man of any wedding event. And the best way to return the favor to the groom or perhaps both the special couple is by coming up with an outstanding speech that everyone will love. If you seem to be having some difficulties as to what to include in your toast, looking for pre written best man speeches can always bring some light. By simply reading some examples you could find out of your search, you will easily grab some interesting pointers to keep in mind and how to handle the pressure of speaking publicly.
There is simply no need for you to experience quite the trouble for trying to pursue an award winning speech. Should you want to impress everyone, most especially the newlyweds, the use of heartfelt and honest words could already serve the purpose. However, this does not totally mean coming up with a very serious and dramatic speech that can only bore the crowd.
As a matter of fact, best man speeches are often expected the funniest among the rest. If you are not well equipped with the jokes and funny lines to include, you can always refer to some funny pre written best man speeches that you can find online. This way you will no longer have to crack your head for thinking too much on how to make yourself humorous yet still the very respectable person that you truly are.
Preparing for an outstanding speech that everyone will love may not be that easy. However, this does not totally mean you have to be a professional writer to be able to create an award winning toast of your own. With the help of pre written best man speeches, you can always write with ease and lessen the time you spend for doing so. Now, all that is needed from you is to practice your lines.
Funny Father Of The Bride Speeches
Simple Best Man Toast
Pre Written Best Man Speeches
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This colt will be around 15 hh when full grown. This will be a very cowy colt make a super heel horse type. We have ridden this colts mother in all aspects of ranch work and she never made a bad move. This is a colt you wont regret.
Walker Ranch is located in the Bull Mountains of Montana. We have been raising Quarter Horses for 35 years and take pride in our horses. We offer a nice set of colored colts every fall hope you enjoy them.
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Hand-held point-of-view cameras capture the mundanity of daily life for two young cops in Los Angeles where even the most seemingly innocuous call can lead to a house of horror.
Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala (Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña) break the routine by filming one another – and the people they happen across – as they tour their beat.
There's a fire and a rescue of children. They find noisy kids gaffer-taped in a closet. A house full of emaciated people. A cellar full of death. And in amongst all of this madness Taylor and Zavala draw the murderous attention of a drugs cartel. "You just tugged on the tail of a snake," warns a special agent. From then on life becomes a lot more complicated.
A buddy movie in which the Riggs/Murtaugh double-act is replaced by hard-nosed policing and a stark reality check, End of Watch is at times a remarkable portrait of comradeship. Gyllenhaal and Peña enjoy a genuine chemistry as they tour the mean streets of the City of Angels. It might resemble a video game but this is deadly stuff. No superheroes here.
Writer/director David Ayer has enjoyed a respectable track record as the creator of a string of intelligent cop-orientated movies that have included Training Day, Dark Blue, Street Kings and Harsh Times. End of Watch is the latest in this series and it shows the evolution of his theme. It enjoys a plausibility that so many other over-cooked, high-octane, loud and flashy flicks fail to deliver.


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I've only skimmed a few of them, can others do the same and point out what may be coming. Some speculation, some obvious and already predicted by others:
Webkit applications coming for the PS4, PS3 and other Sony products. Many Sony applications will be server based with minimal local presence (so they can run on limited resource platforms).
PS Now will include services and NEW games (It's not just older games as a BC service) that will be run on PS3 and/or Amazon Web servers). Sony is "Collaborating with stakeholders of multiple worldwide business units". This may mean that PS Now will be partner services, owned in part by third parties in countries like China which requires majority ownership.
Each paragraph below is form a different job posting.
Game Consoles to replace Cable boxes and the connected home starts in 2014
The WebKit team at SNEI develops and maintains the platform at the heart of the PlayStation User Experience. We have an open position for a talented Sr. Software Engineer with a passion for contributing to world class open source software for the hugely anticipated PlayStation 4.
Sony seeks a Software Engineer II in San Diego, CA to be responsible for the design, development, implementation, unit testing and automated testing of interactive web-based applications and services.
As a Sr. UX Designer, you will work to define the user model and user interface for new and existing SNEI products and services. You will develop high level and/or detailed storyboards and wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to effectively communicate interaction and design ideas.
We are currently searching for Hadoop Administrator to join Data Analytics and Services (DAS) team in San Diego, CA. We are looking for a highly energetic Administrator with Hadoop Admin Experience to support Data Warehouse solution and administer/ support Cloudera Hadoop Clusters on AWS. {Amazon Web Services}
You will be part of a team responsible for developing the automation of core infrastructure components that are responsible for the operations for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and future flagship Sony devices and services.
The Sr. Software Engineer will design, and develop cloud-based network software services for the PlayStation® and other applications/devices. S/he will provide strong technical leadership in cloud based software development and scalable API designs for the implementation of commerce and social features of PlayStation® Now, Sony's cloud-based gaming initiative.
You will drive development projects from inception through deployment on a worldwide scale across device platforms. Programs will impact how millions of customers will play games on their PS4, TV, Vita, Mobile and other devices. Collaborating with stakeholders of multiple worldwide business units and 3rd parties to clearly identify, explain, and communicate their project involvement, goals, expectations, and tasks
Sony partnership with Shanghai Oriental Pearl (Group) to launch PlayStation in China
New PS4 and PS3 Models Revealed by Certification Request Filed by Sony
Many PS4 apps and UI elements built in WebGL. Window 8 uses OpenGL for the UI and browser and DirectX for games.
Edit: It's not just about PS Now.
Moved to this first post from page 2. If it's not in italics it's a quote.
And yet even more news for companies preparing for what's coming. Google just announced Android TV.
Google targets Amazon's and Apple's set-top boxes with Android TV platform
It runs apps from other content providers like Netflix, of course, and allows you to pump live TV (OTA for ATSC 2.0 and Cable TV (No DVR but PS4, XB1, network drives or Windows 8.1 is available)) through the interface SiliconDust's TV tuners will work. HTML 5.0 (Cable Labs recommendation to the W3C) and Android L will both support Silicon Dust HD Homerun tuners.
Android TV will be in Sony, Sharp and Philips TVs next year
While its new Android TV flavor of Android L will hit the streets in set-top boxes aimed at game consoles and media streamers, it announced that next year smart TVs from Sony (all of its 4K and smart TVs), Sharp and TP Vision/Philips will ship with the OS.
everything needed to handle video from HDMI, TV tuners or IPTV receivers is now natively included in Android L.
Razer's making a gaming 'micro-console' with Android TV, available this fall
The micro-console can "stream movies, music and other apps for large-screen entertainment," says Razer, "with an emphasis on gaming." Sounds a lot like Amazon's Fire TV, no? The difference here is that Razer's also promising "hardcore" gaming, Sounds like AMD's Mullins with modules connected with DockPort. ...... Mullins shown at CES 2014
HTC vows to bring Android L to One M8, M7 soon. Android L would update the Phones to support the whole home Tuner/DVR (both cable and OTA).
Timing is "Soon", this fall and included in next year's Smart TVs. Each will be advertising their products and what they will do. Buzz words will be coined and the public educated starting this fall.


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Originally published April 10, 2013 at 5:04 PM | Page modified April 11, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Gary Payton discusses induction into basketball Hall of Fame
Former Sonics great Gary Payton reflects on his career and what it means to make the basketball hall of fame, where he'll be inducted on Sept. 8.
Seattle Times staff reporter
Gary Payton, one of the most notorious trash talkers in NBA history, was speechless.
It hasn't happened often, but it happened last week.
"I got a call on the morning of April 3 from John Doleva from the Hall of Fame committee," the former Sonics great said Wednesday. "He called. He was like: 'Gary, this is John C. Doleva from the Hall of Fame. I want to inform you that you made it. Welcome to the family. Congratulations, and it was well deserved.'
"I just sat there for a minute. He said, 'Do you have anything to say?' And I couldn't say nothing because it's a shock. It's a shock that I made it."
Perhaps more shocking is Payton, who has always been brash and boastful, had doubts about whether he deserved to be considered among the greats in the game.
The Sonics selected the 6-foot-4, 180-pound point guard out of Oregon State with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft.
At the time, Payton had modest expectations.
"Coming from Oakland, Calif., I never thought I'd be a Hall of Famer," he said. "I wasn't thinking about basketball like that. When I made it to the pros I wanted to be a guy who could stay in the league, be OK, do whatever I had to do to make some money and do what I do.
"As the years started coming, I started getting better."
Nicknamed "The Glove" because of his defensive tenacity, Payton retired after the 2006-07 season as the only player in NBA history to accumulate 20,000 points, 8,000 assists, 5,000 rebounds and 2,000 steals.
He won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S. national team.
He starred 13 seasons in Seattle, where he led the Sonics to the 1996 NBA Finals, became the only point guard to win the NBA defensive player of the year award and was a nine-time All-Star.
He won an NBA championship as a reserve with the Miami Heat in 2006.
Payton also played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers during a 17-year career in which he averaged 16.3 points, 6.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals.
Admittedly, everything Payton accomplished on the court pales in comparison to being selected to the Hall of Fame.
"It has to rank as No. 1 because this certifies my basketball career," he said. "It announces officially that I was one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
"I don't have to say that. This says that for me."
After the announcement, Payton began to realize things were different when his childhood heroes Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar called him a Hall of Famer.
"At first it was Gary Payton the basketball player," Payton said. "I went to the Lakers game (Wednesday) at Staples Center and it was Hall of Famer Gary Payton. That's going to take some getting used to."
Payton, 44, admits he may have to curb some after-hour activities. "I'm going to have to watch myself a lot more with the things I do," he said. "How I make my appearances. I know that's going to have to happen and I just have to accept that."
Over the next several months, Payton plans to work with writers on the speech he'll give at the Sept. 8 induction ceremony in Springfield, Mass. Hall of Famers George Gervin and John Stockton will introduce Payton.
"I'm going to try to make it a very happy experience," he said. "I don't want people to cry. But I know once I see my mother and my father start to tear up, I know I'm going to break down.
"My kids are going to be there. My ex-wife is going to be there, which is a big thing that we can have a friendship like that. It'll be different. When I look in their eyes and if they tear up, I know I'll break down at one point. I'm going to try to keep focused on what I need to do and the people I need to thank."
Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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Hump plea for duet with Tom Jones
Chart veteran Engelbert Humperdinck is trying to persuade The Voice coach Sir Tom Jones to record a duet with him for the first time.
He wants to team up with his fellow hitmaker to work on a tribute to the late manager who kickstarted both their careers.
Gordon Mills worked with both stars in their early days, changing their names to the ones under which they found fame.
Mills - also a songwriter - died from cancer in 1986 at the age of 51.
Humperdinck, whose 1960s hits included The Last Waltz and Release Me, sent his plea to Sir Tom via Twitter while working on an album of duets, which will include collaborations with acts such as Willie Nelson and Sir Elton John.
The 77-year-old said: "Hey Tom, I think we should put our differences aside and record a duet in honour of Gordon Mills. What do you think?"
Humperdinck - who represented the UK at Eurovision last year, finishing second from last - has still to receive a response from his fellow ageing heatthrob.
He later added: "Tom WTF haven't you answered my Tweet from last week? I miss you mate."


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They'll bring along their favorite hot beverages with personalized panache thanks to you. This lovely travel tumbler is available in four colors and can be personalized with the name of your choice.


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I read that in 1948 George de Mestral was out on a hike. As he returned home he noticed his pants were covered with burrs from Burdock plants. Being an avid inventor he began to look into the burrs stuck in his pants. Under the microscope he found his answer.
He saw that the burrs had many stiff hooks. These hooks in turn hooked themselves on the loops of the fabric of his pants. Eureka! From there Mestral had the brilliant idea of designing a two-sided fastener. One side full of hooks while the other had soft loops just like the fabric of his pants.
He named his new invention Velcro, coined from the words velour (soft woven fabric) and crochet (a hooked needle). Today Velcro is used for just about anything. From garments, sports, travel, aerospace, engineering, medicine, education, the applications are endless.
Church planting is very much like Velcro. Church planting helps those with tender hearts to be hooked in right relationships helping them walk strong with God.
Vital hooks/relationships God uses in a church planter to be faithful and fruitful include:
- God and His Word
- Your wife (if you're married)
- Your children (if you're a parent)
- Churches
- Lost people
- Local pastors
- Mentors
- Coaches
- Your local Baptist association
- State conventions
- Church planting networks
When planting, a church thinks relationships.
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12