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Day 1: of our 7-day Med cruise aboard P&O Cruises Oceana was one filled with mixed emotion. We were so excited to finally be on the ship, but to not have any sleep for over 24 hours because having to get up so early meant we were physically drained.
A late breakfast was first on the agenda just to try and get some much needed energy back. It certainly did the trick, and once refuelled we were able to then spend some time exploring Oceana, especially as she came highly recommend by a few friends.
We're glad to say that first impressions are very good, although we do aim to give you a more detailed review in the coming days. While some people will tell you that there are areas of the ship where she is starting to look old, let's remember that she is in line for a refit, which will help breathe new life into her.
From what we have seen so far in just a few short hours there is a lot to look forward to, although that will have to wait, as we have a Florence and Boat Ride excursion booked for tomorrow.
We would very much like to thank Michele Andjel, and also Robert Dunn for their generosity, firstly for £250 of on-board credit, some of which will help go towards Internet access. We were also given a free bottle of Champagne, a Belgian Chocolate Selection, a set of P&O Cruises bath robes, which the wife was very happy about. And, also a lovely little surprise waiting for us this evening, a selection of fresh fruit and also a plate of canapés.
Sorry we could not give you much more today, but as we said; tomorrow is a new day, and also one where we will have a lot more energy, and also a better outlook on Oceana.
Day 2: Well, we said we were tired, and the proof of that was having the best nights sleep in ages. What was so amazing was the fact that we never felt Oceana moving at all during the night, and finally woke up as the ship got into port at Livorno. Breakfast was pretty much the same as the day before, and so have made the decision to eat in the main restaurant in order to have something that is not only warmer, but a little less crowded as well – so we will let you know our thoughts on that breakfast experience tomorrow.
The excursion today was a Traditional Boat Ride, and Florence. The journey was a bit of a long one, but once there we were taken to a leather shop, which we never knew about, and so we were shown a demonstration. Something like this always happens, and while we were told we get a good discount, we cannot help but wonder how much commission the tour guide gets?
Next was the boat ride down the River Arno, and have to say was a very pleasant, and relaxing experience. After that it was 4 hours to walk around Florence on our own, and we used up some of that time to eat. What was overlooked were the long queues to visit the museums and other attractions, and so had to give them a miss.
Once back at the ship after such a long day it was nice to get back to our room. Ok, so we know that this particular cabin is compact for one with a balcony, but there cannot be any complaints because this was already known at the time of booking.
One thing we will say, do not book this stateroom if on the larger side, because the bathroom can be a bit of a squeeze, and not to lower the tone too much, but when you sit on the toilet you often feel far too close to the door.
While we have been pretty much positive, there is some negative criticism in regards to the buffet meal tonight at Plaza, as the Italian theme night was poor to say the least. Most of the food was either warm, or close to cold, and the selection of Italian food was not what we would expect.
It's for this reason why we have decided to not eat in the buffet restaurant for our evening meals from now on. We will go to the main dining room, or one of the speciality restaurants.
Thankfully, the poor food this evening was made up by some great entertainment. Headliners put on a great show this evening by bringing us some of the most popular songs from several West End Shows. This has left us wanting more, and cannot wait for the next show from them in a few days time.
We finished the day by listening to some live music and a late night snack – yes eating yet again.
There you have it, another day done, and cannot wait for Friday, as this will be a relaxing day at sea.
Day 3: It was a good start to the day because rather than the rush to the buffet restaurant for breakfast, we thought we would head to the Ligurian restaurant for a different experience. The food was far better, and ideal if you are not in a rush on a day that you do not have to worry about meeting up for an excursion. There is one issue that we have noticed throughout the ship though, and that is the orange juice, as it tastes more like water than anything else – maybe P&O Cruises are watering the OJ down to make it go that bit further?
We came back to our room to find that our Cabin Steward, Melvyn had done a fantastic job as ever with our room. We have not needed to ask him for anything or to do anything different, as it's all perfect. Our happiness did not last for very long because it was around 9 or 9:30 when we thought we would look for a sun bed, but found that most of them were occupied, although hardly anyone was on them – so a lot of towels about.
You cannot tell us that all of these people had already been on their beds, and just came away for a while; it's clear that they got up early to reserve their beds, and then went back to their rooms to get ready, and then get breakfast.
We finally found a couple of beds, and so did a couple that we had met a few times before on the cruise. The rather annoying this was, the young lady had just left her sun bed for 2 minutes to show her mother where she had found a bed, and she was given a letter saying you cannot leave your sun bed for more than 30 minutes – we feel these letters were passed around far too late, and should have kept an eye on all those empty beds with towels on much earlier.
This is not meant to put anyone off this cruise, as the time so far has been wonderful; it's just an observation. That brings us to another issue, and that is some of the toilets on the upper decks outside do not seem to be filled with soap, and some of the hand dryers are not in use. This is not an issue for us, as we always have anti-bacterial cleaner with us – but it's not a great way to promote hygiene and reducing the risk of spreading a virus.
Our day at sea has been such a great one, and because the ship has only been travelling at 12 knots, it's been a very calm one as well. It's amazing just how fast the time goes, and had to come in a little earlier to prepare for Black Tie Night, and a chance to meet the Captain and have a few photos taken in the Atrium.
Tonight was the first time we tried the Ligurian restaurant, and was more than pleased with the service and food. It really was so much better than the buffet, and so yet another reason not to use the buffet restaurant. We do not want to put anyone off, but because of the bad experience the day before, this has enforced the decision not to go there for an evening meal again.
We only wanted to do the one show tonight after dinner because of an earlier start in the morning, and so decided on Songs From 88 Notes. This was performed by the Headliners Theatre Company Vocalists, and have to say yet another wonderful performance. We really would like to give P&O Cruises a lot of credit for putting a great team of entertainers together, and cannot wait for their next show, which we believe is Killer Queen.
One thing that did drive us crazy before the performance was the fact two guys were taking up a huge seat to themselves, and also had t-shirt and shorts on. We just find it annoying that P&O Cruises give us information that they enforce the dress code, and under no circumstances can shorts be worn of an evening – and it was even worse seeing as those most men were in a tuxedo, and women in beautiful dresses – if you have such a rule please enforce it.
Tomorrow we are in Naples, and so cannot wait to tell you all about our excursion to Sorrento and Pompeii.
Day 4: Another early start this morning, as had to be at the dockside for 7:50 to go on our Sorento and Pompeii excursion. This trip was well worth the money and gave us a taster to what the region has to offer, as well as offering a history lesson.
We are still unhappy with being taken to a couple of demonstrations during the tour, as this was not done on any of the excursion on our previous P&O Cruises. The guide was very informative though, and great value for money on the whole.
Once back at the ship it was not that long until the sail away party began, so had to rush to the Lido deck. The ship was a little late leaving port, as two passengers were late coming back on, but thankfully made it. It was certainly a fun atmosphere, although i'm sure a lot of alcohol was involved where some people were concerned.
The food in the Ligurian restaurant was superb as always, and it was a nice touch to have the photographer going around, which we later went to purchase a few photos. We did have to rush a little to make the show, which was the FlyRights. We were treated to some soulful tunes from the trio, and cannot wait to see them again in a couple of nights.
Tomorrow is a day at sea, and also a black tie event – let's hope more people make an effort.
Day 5: This was another sea day, and after a little hunt around because people still put towels on beds, we managed to finally find a couple. There really is a huge issue with people saving beds at so early in the morning, yet almost an hour goes by until those people finally come back. It was a little later in the day when the staff finally removed a few towels after people had left them for too long.
We fully understand that it is hard for staff to always keep on top of this, but they do need to come round and check much earlier, because many of these beds are occupied very early, with no sign of people coming back for more than an hour. We have seen some people at the front of the ship laying on the floor with just towels because of these beds being taken up with no one on them.
With this being the second sea day we were looking forward to some relaxation, and we certainly got that thanks to calm waters, and the bar staff coming round often to ask if we wanted drinks. Another thing that we find impressive was how often they would come back to make certain that the deck was clear of any rubbish, such as empty plastic glasses, cups and food trays. If there is one thing we can say about Oceana, is that she is kept very clean, although they have still to fix a few of the broken hand dryers, and not even any hand towels. This seems more an issue in the upper outside deck on the port side towards the front.
Just as writing this there was a knock at the door, and it was kids messing about and running off. A bit annoying, although I'm sure I did worse when I was younger. Going back to today, we really do love P&O Cruises, as this is now the third cruise with them, although the daytime entertainment does seem a little stuffy and caters more for older passengers. Don't get me wrong, this is not an issue for us, seeing as though there were only two sea days, but if there was any more, it would be nice to have some other form of entertainment.
We do understand that Oceana is an older and smaller ship, and so only so much she can cater for. We have been on Azura, and she does have more to offer, and we suspect Britannia has even more, and so would love to sail on her at a later date.
Tonight was a black tie night once again, so took the opportunity to have a few photos taken after dinner, speaking of which; the wife was unhappy waiting 40 minutes for a table and then another 20 minutes just for our order to be taken. She has now insisted that we go to the buffet for the final two nights – I do not mind waiting because the main restaurant is a far better experience, but it's all about give and take.
Gong back to the entertainment, and there is no issue the evening, as tonight it was Killer Queen, which was just superb, P&O Cruises really do make an effort with these evening shows.
Well, tomorrow we are in Dubrovnik, and have decided to do our own thing and walk around the town on our own – we'll let you know how we got on.
Day 6: This was the day we have been looking forward to, and that was sailing into Dubrovnik, so much so that I got up just after 6 to see us sailing in. The scenery did not disappoint, and was one of the first off the ship to get the shuttle bus to the old town. This was the first time doing things on our own, and so things did work out far cheaper. Although, I would admit that not going on a P&O Cruises excursion meant that we had to work things out ourself of what the old town was all about.
We decided to walk the wall, and also walk down to the harbour for a boat tour, although this was not informative. Having said that, it did provide us with some stunning views.
After 5 hours we decided to come back, and the P&O Cruises team were easy to spot and guided us to our free shuttle bus back to Oceana. We then took the opportunity to use the jacuzzi at the back of the ship, and then take in the sun, seeing as though there were far less people on board. After another great sail away it was time to relax in our room, which was great timing, as our free canapés were delivered.
It was the wife's turn to choose where to eat, and she chose the buffet – which I was not happy about, as I do prefer the finer dinning. Like I said yesterday, give and take. If there is was thing that I will say about Oceana, is that here evening entertainment is superb. The first show that we saw was all about hits of the 80's performed by Headliners, and the second was FlyRight again with a different set from a couple of days back.
Tomorrow is our last day, and so will be very said to know this 7-day cruise will soon come to an end. We do have a dilemma on our hands though, and that is whether to stay out in Venice for the evening to eat, or come back to the ship to eat, and then go back out again later? We will let you know tomorrow what we decided.
Day 7: Today was a late start, and so we decided to order breakfast in bed, and certainly made a change to the often mad rush when everyone else is going for breakfast. The coffee was certainly much nicer being brought to your room, than what is offered to you in the buffet.
We then spent part of the morning preparing our cases for the flight home tomorrow, which we are both sad and happy about. We are sad because this has certainly been a wonderful cruise on the whole, but also happy because the cabin we are in while nice, is showing signs of its age, and very much in need of a makeover, as are several other areas of the ship.
Something else that has just occurred to use while sitting at one of the Costa's aboard, and that is the fact they do not offer pastries or cakes, as you get on Azura. We are not sure why this is, and so will enquire why.
Gong back to our day and we decided to pay in advance for the water taxi, which took us to where the main attractions are. P&O Cruises did a good job of letting us know how to find our water taxi again once ready to go back to the ship, which is especially good for those daunted by such a busy place. We decided to just walk about and see where we ended up, and on several occasions we found ourselves sitting down taking in the atmosphere while drinking a coffee and water.
However, this best part was a trip on a Gondola on our own – it was so nice to see other parts of Venice that cannot be seen by walking. In all we spent about 5 hours in Venice, but it was far too hot, and knowing that we have an early start in the. Morning, decided to head back about 6:00pm.
There is not really much to tell you about the evening on the ship, as we just had dinner and spent the rest of the time chilling in the cabin. Oh, we did purchase some more pictures, but feel as though the price of these have increased at an extraordinary rate. It's over £40 just for two pictures after tax, which is far more than it was 3 years ago on our 3 week Caribbean cruise on Aurora. We got six pictures today, which was just over £60.
Final verdict: This truly was a wonderful cruise, and you cannot take it away from P&O Cruises that they have a different philosophy compared to the likes of Royal Caribbean, and most people know this before booking. However, personally these older, smaller ships lack that certain something for people of a younger generation, and se we can only see ourselves enjoying the larger, newer ships, and we know by personal experience that Azura is a beautiful ship – just wish we could see what Britannia has to offer.
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Gunman kills three in Milan court as act of 'vengeance'
A man on trial for fraudulent bankruptcy opened fire in Milan's courthouse, killing his lawyer, a co-defendant and a judge before being captured nearly 25 kilometres away as he fled on a motorbike, officials said.
A fourth person was also found dead and is believed to have died from a heart attack during the shooting at the Palace of Justice.
The suspect, Claudio Giardiello, was reportedly a defendant in a bankruptcy case. He was arrested in a Milan suburb after fleeing the scene on a motorbike.
The dead are said to include his former lawyer and a bankruptcy court judge.
The shooting has prompted scrutiny of security procedures at the courthouse.
Questions are being asked about how Mr Giardiello allegedly managed to smuggle a weapon into a well-guarded building, use it several times and escape.
The suspect was arrested by carabinieri officers in Vimercate, about 25 kilometres north-east of central Milan, near the town of Monza.
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said the "presumed assassin" was now being held at a military police barracks in the Milan area.
The sound of gunfire had sparked panic inside the Palace of Justice.
Hundreds of people poured down stairways towards the exits while police and military police officers searched for the gunman.
"All of a sudden we heard at least three or four shots," lawyer Marcello Ilia told the AFP news agency outside the building.
"We tried to find out what was going on. There were suddenly lots of police officers who told us not to leave the room, they shut us in," he said.
"After a few minutes we came out. They told us someone in a suit and tie was armed and at large in the court."
The newspaper 'La Repubblica' reported that the gunman had been attending a bankruptcy hearing in relation to the failure of his real estate business when a fight broke out inside the third-floor courtroom.
He pulled out a weapon and shot the lawyer, named as Lorenzo Alberto Claris Appiani, as well as another man, who is said to have been a co-defendant in the case.
According to 'La Repubblica', Mr Appiani was a former lawyer for Mr Giardiello who was acting as a witness in the case.
The gunman then left the courtroom and headed to the office of appeals court judge, Fernando Ciampi, shooting him dead.
It is not known if the gunman had any links to the judge.
Another two people were wounded and are being treated at a hospital.
After hiding inside the Palace of Justice for more than an hour, the gunman fled on a motorbike.
Mr Giardiello was described as "aggressive" and "a little paranoid" by his former lawyer, Valerio Maraniello, in comments quoted by AFP news agency.
The court building is in the centre of Milan, only a few streets away from the city's historic cathedral.
Visitors to the Palace of Justice normally have to pass through metal detectors.
Lawyers and courthouse employees with official identification are, however, regularly waved through.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi described the attack as "a moment of great pain, of sadness".
He praised the police who arrested the man, but said it was "unthinkable" that someone could enter a court with a weapon, and promised an inquiry into the incident.
Deputy interior minister Filippo Bubbico said an investigation would determine who was to blame for any security lapse, given that the gunman was also not stopped as he moved from one floor to the next to continue the spree, and then was able to flee unimpeded.
"There's no doubt that this episode signals a non-functioning of the protection mechanisms, which must be employed daily and which have worked for years at the Milan tribunal," he told Sky TG24.
Security concerns are particularly high in Milan given the May 1 opening of the Expo world's fair. Mr Alfano was in Milan yesterday to preside over a public security co-ordination meeting for Expo when the shooting erupted.
Irish Independent

subset: commoncrawl


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We are calling all projects completed between 1 January 2014 and 1 November 2017 to enter for our BCO Awards 2018 competition. Our Entry Guide will take you through the submission process step by step. Please make sure you read the entry guide, to ensure that you give your project the best opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
The closing deadline for entries is Friday 24 November 2017. All projects for the 2018 competition must have been completed between 1 January 2014 and 1 November 2017.
Download the 2018 entry guide.
Please note: the BCO Awards registration is separate from the BCO website and you will need to go to www.bcoawards.co.uk and set up a new account with separate login details specifically for submitting a BCO Award.
18 Apr
London Awards Lunch
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Scottish Awards Lunch, Glasgow
26 April
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3 May
Northern Awards Dinner, Manchester
10 May
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2 Oct
National Awards Dinner, London
All winners from the Regional Awards will compete in their categories at a national level and also bid to win the property sector's respected BCO 'Best of the Best' award. The National Awards Dinner will be held on Tuesday 2 October at the Grosvenor House, AJW Marriott Hotel in London.
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When people think of music producers or audio engineers, they often picture someone mixing the latest top 40 hits and hanging with the newest pop celebrities making songs for the radio. While mixing albums and songs for radio artists and producing bands is an important and prominent part of the audio engineering business, it is only one of many facets of the industry. There is great demand for audio engineers in the job market, as every field of media strongly utilizes music and sound in its production—whether it is for radio, television, film, gaming, or all other things entertainment.
Audio production in a given field is a complicated task that requires a great degree of the collaborative skills of a few specialists in order to achieve perfection in a project such as the completion of a film, event, and studio or live album.
We will take a moment to detail the different kinds of audio engineers below.
Studio Recording
Regarding the sound production needed for the before-mentioned album recording, there are three kinds of audio specialists involved in the job.
The studio engineer is primarily responsible for mixing tracks to give them the highest sound quality. Studio engineers undertake a technical analysis of an artist, using industry standard equipment to realize their client's artistic vision, enriching tracks with a professional, polished finish.
The recording engineer works a mixing board to manipulate different sounds from music, television, and radio. They may also install sound effects and speed up and slow down tempos depending on what sound they are attempting to create. They are most responsible for adjusting the audio to please the customer.
The mixing engineer mixes and layers separate tracks together. This handles the important and delicate task of balancing the performer or speaker with the accompanying music to achieve perfect harmony. They meticulously adjust the multiple to achieve a finish that does not detract from the desired atmosphere of the media piece.
Gaming sound engineers arrange the music for video games. They are responsible for orchestrating the scores and all the sound effects that makes a game interactive and realistic. They must thoroughly familiarize themselves with the world of the game project they are working on and place appropriate sounds to correlate with any nature, dialogue, weaponry where needed. Sound in gaming has progressed to much more than the mere blips and bleeps at its inception. Gaming is a respectable growing market increasing in sophistication every year, with some games having budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Scoring a AAA video game can be as great of an undertaking as any large blockbuster film, and audio talent is sought and relished in the current market.
Live Sound
Another important aspect of audio production is mixing live sound, whether it be for concerts, conferences, seminars, or other live events. Proper management of the soundboard at a scheduled event can make the difference between a successful show or gathering verses a disappointing disaster. Live sound requires its own specialists for operations to run smoothly.
The live sound engineer has the responsibility of setting up and arranging speakers in the fitting places, operating the mixing board, and managing any audio or video required. They often work along with the performing artists and bands to actualize their vision for how they want the show to be.
Fold back engineers are important parts of live events as well. Their job is to monitor and enhance what the audience hears. They ensure that the event audience hears clearly everything that they are supposed to at the level of prominence that is most appropriate.
Additionally, System engineers oversee the layout, setup, and operation of PA systems. These systems can be very complex, requiring diligent management of all fluctuations in amplifier execution, but also requires a degree of creativity regarding positioning and display of stage set pieces.
Film and Television
Audio post engineers edit and mix any sound produced for film production, television programming, or even commercial advertising. Post engineering handles all the different sounds that are required to make the images on video seem natural and realistic. This includes the task of mastering the voice dubbing for actors or cartoon characters to achieve fluid dialogue or narration.
There are several different branches that a person interested in audio engineering can choose from, and skilled, experienced professionals may manage multiple specialized tasks at once. An aspiring audio engineer should choose which area of music production best fits his or her interests and talents for a career path. An effective sound engineer must the passionate, adaptable, creative, and competent at using a variety of modern technologies and equipment to be able to a real audio professional.


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Distance Between Amarillo, TX and Knoxville, TN
How many miles? 1115 Miles or 1794 Km
How much does it take? 16 hours 4 mins
|Travel With
|Mile Distance
|Km Distance
|1115 Mi
|1794 Km
|16 hours 4 mins
|1008 Mi
|1622 Km
|2 hours 39 mins
Distance, Gas Consumption and Emission Notes
Distance from Amarillo, TX to Knoxville, TN is 1115Miles or 1794 Km. You can get this distance about 16 hours 4 mins. If you want to planning travel with plane for 1008 Miles or 1622 Km, You can get this distance about 2 hours 39 mins .
A car with an average MPG will needs 51.62 gallons of gas to get the route between these points.
The estimated cost of gas to get between Amarillo, TX and Knoxville, TN is $117.18.
During the route, an average car will release 1011.34 pounds of CO2 to the atmosphere. Your carbon footprint is 0.91 pounds of CO2 per mile.
* Average US MPG used for calculations is 21.6 MPG.
* Average US gas price used for calculation is 2.27 per gallon.
Most Searched About Amarillo, TX
|Amarillo, TX to Austin, TX
|496 Miles
|Amarillo, TX to Dallas, TX
|362 Miles
|Amarillo, TX to Albuquerque, NM
|286 Miles
Most Searched About Knoxville, TN
|Knoxville, TN to Cleveland, TN
|84 Miles
|Knoxville, TN to Spring Lake, NC
|366 Miles
|Knoxville, TN to Asheville, NC
|115 Miles


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A Los Angeles police sergeant who was involved in the controversial detention of a "Django Unchained" actress earlier this month told the LAPD's civilian overseers Tuesday that the department's disciplinary system was deeply flawed and defended his own response to the incident.
In a rare move for an officer under investigation by the LAPD, Sgt. Jim Parker spoke during the public period of the weekly Police Commission meeting and said he averted a potentially volatile racial controversy by contacting celebrity news site TMZ, which published his recording of the Sept. 11 detention.
The LAPD launched an internal affairs inquiry after actress Daniele Watts and her boyfriend publicly alleged that Parker and two other officers unjustly handcuffed Watts after she refused to identify herself to police.
"I had to make a decision. We were facing another racial, tumultuous incident in L.A.," Parker said. "I said, 'This has to stop right away.' I drove to my work station, grabbed the recording and called TMZ. It stopped the next day."
"Is it against department policy? Yes," Parker said. "Is it the right thing to do? Yes."
Parker called on the commission to look closely at the way officers are disciplined and not rely for information on weekly briefings from department brass. He described Chief Charlie Beck as "one head of a multi-headed snake on this department."
"If you want to be a commission member to make a difference, you need to make a difference in our discipline system," Parker told the commission. "That's where the issue is.... It is just pathetic what is happening to our people out there."
Parker said the ongoing internal affairs investigation had taken a toll on him.
"I cannot sleep because of what's happening to me with Chief Beck," he said.
Parker said officers were so upset by how they are treated that many were unsurprised by last year's rampage of ex-Officer Christopher Dorner, who accused the LAPD of unfairly firing him. Dorner killed four people, including two on-duty officers, and wounded several more before he was fatally shot in a gun battle with police near Big Bear.
The LAPD initially drew criticism following the Sept. 11 stop of Watts and her boyfriend, Brian James Lucas. Lucas wrote on Facebook that police acted as if the couple was engaged in prostitution because Lucas is white and Watts is black.
Lt. Andrew Neiman, a department spokesman, said officers contacted Watts and Lucas in Studio City after receiving a 911 call complaining that a couple were having sex in a car parked on Studio City's Radford Avenue. The 911 caller described the couple as a black woman wearing a shirt and floral shorts and a white man with a black tank top, Neiman said.
A 24-minute audio recording obtained by The Times captured the encounter.
The LAPD opened an internal investigation into the actions of Parker and the two officers, even though the couple had not filed a formal complaint.
In emails obtained by The Times, an internal affairs investigator told Parker last week that although "no official allegations have been framed yet," investigators were looking at a list of possible misconduct: biased policing, conduct unbecoming, unlawful detention, unauthorized use of force and neglect of duty. "Media" was noted as one of the examples of possible instances of misconduct.
In past interviews with The Times, Parker said he was commended privately by many people, including those within the department, for how he handled the detention and the aftermath.
The union that represents rank-and-file officers released a statement Friday calling the department's internal investigation "unwarranted."
"The investigation into this incident brings into the open what many LAPD officers have long claimed; the LAPD disciplinary system is arcane, unfair and needs to be reformed," the statement said.
LAPD Sgt. Albert Gonzalez, a department spokesman, declined to comment on the specific investigation involving Parker. But he said in general, the department did not prohibit officers from speaking to the Police Commission, though they were asked to make comments while off-duty.
Gonzalez said civilians did not have to file formal complaints for the department to initiate an investigation into an officer's actions. He stressed that an internal investigation did not mean an officer was guilty of misconduct.
"The fact that we take a complaint is not an assertion that an officer is guilty," he said. "It's just a reaffirmation that we conduct thorough investigations."
Generally, he said, officers are prohibited from releasing confidential department records -- including audio recordings. He said the rule was designed to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations.
Watts has defended her behavior, writing in a Saturday L.A. Times op-ed that she and Lucas had been stopped four times by law enforcement since late spring.
"Would someone have called the police if it had been a white couple?" she wrote. "Would the sergeant have been so zealous in "investigating" what was clearly not a crime? Does bias have something to do with how and why Brian and I have been stopped this year? I think it probably does."
Beck expressed support for the sergeant and officers earlier this month. The chief cautioned that he had not made a final decision about the matter but said he believed, based on an initial review of audio recordings, photographs and witnesses' statements, that the officers acted within their legal authority.
"It appears to me that they acted in exactly the manner that I would expect a Los Angeles police officer to act: They respond to a complaint of a crime by a person in Los Angeles, and when they get there, they do an adequate investigation," Beck told reporters. "And then, based on that investigation, they take action. And that's what they did in this case."
Follow @katemather and @LAcrimes for more LAPD news.


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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
New Idle Warship x Mick Boogie - Party Robot mixtape
Note from Idle Warship about their new mixtape:
"Idle Warship welcomes you to our first full length offering, Party Robot. This started out as a path to musical freedom. When we established Idle Warship, we did it for us. Now that we are giving you this music, Idle Warship no longer belongs to us, it belongs to the world. We don't believe in labels for music. Labels make stop you from hearing something before you listen to it. We appreciate those who have taken this journey with us without judgment and enjoyed the ride. To everyone who purchased our music on iTunes and anyone who has bought a ticket to an Idle Warship show, this is for you. All my party robots stand up!"
Download the Idle Warship x Mick Boogie - Party Robot mixtape HERE | download link HERE for the mixtape with alt. artwork
Idle Warship is Talib Kweli, Res and Graph Nobel.
Idle Warship - myspace | Year of the Blacksmith
Labels: Graph Nobel, Idle Warship, Mick Boogie, mixtapes, Res, Talib Kweli


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The Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the promotion of over 12,000 primary and secondary school teachers in the State. A breakdown of the figure shows that 10,046 primary school teachers and 2105 secondary school teachers benefitted from the promotion exercise.
Similarly, civil servants due for the next tranche of promotions are writing the qualification examinations prelude to the oral interviews. The developments came as the government announced plans to boost the Clean and Green programme with 30 RoRo bins and 10 compactors.
The Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed
Speaking in Ilorin following the promotion, Governor Ahmed said the teachers were promoted to motivate them to higher performance as well as a boost their economic welfare with enhanced pay. Stressing that the two levels are critical to the attainment of qualitative education and human capital development in the state, he pledged the state government's commitment to the enhancement of the civil servants' conditions of service in line with Performance Contracting.
Mr Ahmed urged the newly-promoted teachers to reciprocate the gesture by redoubling their efforts to provide qualitative education to their students, adding that civil servants who excel in their appraisals will be duly promoted.
In its reaction to the development, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in a statement signed by its Kwara State Chairman, Farouq Akanbi and Assistant General Secretary, Wale Oyeniyi described Governor Ahmed's gesture as a humane posture as it will boost the morale of the teachers.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government is to boost its Clean and Green Programme with 10 additional compactors and 30 RoRo bins in order to cope with the expanding population of Ilorin, the state capital, and attendant increase in volume of waste.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Anthony Towoju, who made the disclosure in Ilorin, said the additional equipment were being procured due to increased volume of waste generation and the attendant pressure on the government's environmental programme, Clean and Green. Speaking further, Barrister Towoju said the new compactors and RoRo bins will significantly enhance the government's capacity to keep Ilorin and other parts of the state clean and sanitary.
"Ilorin has recorded increased population in recent years and this has increased refuse generation but we are taking proactive steps to cope with the situation. Last year, we refurbished 30 RoRo bins and an additional 30 and have placed an order for another 30 which will be delivered shortly. We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that we sustain the Clean and Green Programme in line with our policy thrust and principle of continuity."
The Commissioner also announced plans to engage more private refuse collectors to support those already operating in those areas of the Metropolis such as GRA and Tanke where RoRo bins had been withdrawn under the Ministry's Public Private Partnership scheme. The scheme, he said, was designed to tap into private sector expertise in refuse collection and disposal to ensure that Ilorin's reputation for cleanliness under the Clean and Green Programme is maintained.
Source: Naija.ng


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Is your investment history peppered with disappointments? Many investors make profits from stock investing, but few people really know how to successfully replicate this over the long term. Keep reading to learn more about stock market investment and increasing your income.
Investing in stocks requires you stick to one easy principle: keep it simple! Keep your investments strategies such as examining data points, making predictions and trading real simple to help ensure you don't take on too many risks on companies or stocks without having market security.
Set realistic goals when you begin to invest. It is generally understood that success does not happen overnight without taking on inadvisable high risk investments. By knowing this, you can stay away from costly investment mistakes.
Before you sign up with any broker, or place any investment through a trader, take the time to find out what fees you are going to be liable for. Look for exiting as well as entry fees. The fees can add up to a significant portion of your profit.
Investments should be spread throughout several markets. When you focus all your money on any investment you feel is a surefire win, you're in prime position to lose everything. If you have everything you've invested in a single stock and it flops, you'll be in a lot of trouble.
It's crucial to re-evaluate your investment decisions and portfolio frequently, every three months or so. This is because the economy is an always-changing entity. Some sectors are going to perform better than others, while other companies could even become outdated. With some sectors, it is best to invest at specific times of the year. Keep a close eye on your portfolio, making occasional adjustments so that it continues to meet your financial goals.
If awol academy wordpress blog you desire the best of both worlds, consider connecting to a broker that has online options as well as full service when it comes to stock picking. You can split the work between yourself and your broker. Using this method, you have a certain amount of control, but also professional assistance when you need it.
Remind yourself that success will not come overnight. In many cases, even the most valuable stocks can take a long time to show positive results. This frustrates many novice investors and tempts them to abandon their investments. You must be patient.
Stay with what you know when it comes to stocks. If you are going into investing alone then make sure that you know all that you can about the companies you plan to invest into. If you have first hand knowledge of your landlord's company, it can be useful information for determining future profits, but an oil rig may be beyond your understanding. If you wish to invest in a company you know nothing about, consult an adviser.
With all that you learned you should have a good idea about what it takes to make smart investments and become successful in the game. Put this advice into practice in your own investments and build a portfolio to be proud of. Set yourself apart from other investors by earning a lot of money.


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The Chicago Bulls came into this game against The Washington Wizards seeking some sort of revenge. They had just lost to the Wizards earlier in the week, so the bad taste of that loss was still lingering in their mouths. But the Bulls just couldn't execute down the stretch and lost to the Wizards once again, 96-93.
This game was much closer than the previous one where the Wizards won 102-88. This was a back and forth, playoff atmosphere type of game. Both teams were trying to reach .500, and the Wizards played much better at the end of the game. The Bulls were held to one field goal in the final five minutes and missed eight of their last nine shots. On the final play of the game, the Bulls had a rough time getting a quality shot. The play was designed for Mike Dunleavy Jr., but he couldn't get it past John Wall. Then Jimmy Butler tried a three-pointer but was blocked by Nene. The Bulls have to find a way to be more consistent on these type of plays.
Despite the fact of the struggles in crunch time, the Bulls displayed a solid performance. They were coming off a triple-overtime victory over the Orlando Magic and came into this game with some confidence, winning six of their last seven. Kirk Hinrich, who still hasn't found his rhythm, led the Bulls attack with 18 points. DJ Augustin continued his brilliant play chipping in 16 points. It just wasn't enough to take down the tough Wizards team.
The Bulls had a chance to reach .500 for the first time since Nov. 27. This is the type of game where they can use another scorer who can knock down shots in the clutch. They have to continue to find ways to win these close games and it has to be a collective effort.


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"It chops, it slices, it dices!"
How can you forget that catchy line from the TV's first infomercials in the 1960s and 70s? Pitchman extraordinaire Ron Popeil used the airwaves to sell millions of Veg-o-Matics, Pocket Fishermen, and Mr. Microphones.
"But Wait … There's More!" opened at the Elmhurst History Museum last month and continues through September 18. The exhibit tells the story of the Popeil family – beginning as peddlers in Asbury Park, NJ; moving to Chicago to operate their own manufacturing plant; and inventing everything from the Giant Auto-Grate to the Slice-a-Way to the iconic Chop-o-Matic. Did you know that Popeil invented a trash compactor? Put the trash in the device, affix the lid, and sit on it. One wall of the exhibit is devoted to LP record album covers of "greatest hits" anthologies.
My husband and I drove to Elmhurst last week in part to see the Popeil exhibit. We went upstairs in the history museum to see the permanent exhibit, "By All Accounts." It is an interactive journey through Elmhurst's history, from the native Americans to the first European settlement in the 1830's. (Like Zion-Benton, York Township's early farmers were Yankees and Germans who bought land for $1.25 per acre.) Photos, video interviews, and hundreds of artifacts document the past 175 years.
Elmhurst boasts two other not-to-miss museums which we enjoyed on our day trip.
The nucleus of the Elmhurst Art Museum is a house designed by modernist architect Mies Van der Rohe. Wings have been added to accommodate a variety of exhibits. The featured exhibit this summer is Playboy Architecture, 1953-1979. It explores the role of modern architecture (interiors, furniture, products) that made up the Playboy image of suave, sophisticated mid-century masculinity. (The same time period but a social world away from Popeil gadgets!) Trivia tidbit: Hugh Hefner's famous round bed had a spread made out of Tasmanian opossum pelts.
The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art is a true gem. Founder Joseph Lizzadro was a lapidary hobbyist who began collecting jade carvings in the 1930's. The pieces on exhibit are exquisite. In addition to Asian jade there are European cameos, an array of snuff bottles, and dioramas featuring animals made out of carved and polished rocks. A permanent exhibit on the lower level provides the geological background with maps showing the sources of different minerals and rocks around the world.
|Guan Yin (goddess of mercy)
Elmhurst is just 55 miles from Zion. It's close to home and worth the visit!
For more information:
http://elmhurstartmuseum.org ($7/adults)
http://lizzadromuseum.org The Lizzadro Museum participates in the Museum Pass program. Check out a pass at the Zion-Benton Public Library for half off the second ticket when one is purchased. Free admission to all on Fridays.
http://elmhursthistory.org Free admission (donations welcome).
|Breakfast: all the "food" is rocks/minerals


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Home & Garden
1 reviews from the community
Review of "waxworkshop.co.uk"
"Wax Workshop is a good place for candles"
Just before Christmas, I purchased a lot of candles as presents due to the whole family liking candles of some sort or another. I bought floating, sented, tea lights and more of the ornamental candles. I was very pleased with the response that I got from the company as I placed an order and I did not specify a colour of a candle for some reason. They sent me an email stating what colour I wanted and said that as soon as they received the repliy, they would send the goods.I half expected a small box that the postman would bring, but I was totally wrong. I got given a big box. One small box with bubble wrap inside of a big box with extra packaging. I was very suprised with what I saw. The second thing that I was suprised about was that it was delivered by Parcel Force so I got it the day after. The overal service that I received was exceptional.
The candles on the otherhand were all intact with no breaks or cracks on them due to the amount of packaging. The added packahing did not go to waste as that was also used in order to wrap the candles as gifts.The poastage and packaging is also very good as if you spend over £5 or £10 in anyone order then the postage and packaging is free plus you get a complimentary gift. For me it was one of these bum bag things.
The price for this efficient service was quite reasonable, except the tea lights can be found cheaper elsewhere like Asda or Ikea, although these candles dont seem to last as long. The candles from waxworkshop do last for a while. You are looking at about 6 - 8 hours, so more than likely you are paying for the quality more than anything else.There is a range of choice to also choose from on the actual site of candles, from different stlyes, to sizes, to sents, to everything else you would expect from a candle place.
This site is really for those that do spend a lot on candles, as the more you buy, the less you pay, which is well worth the money in the long run, but if you buy a lot of the candles, then you have to store them somewhere.I am sure that there are many more candle sites to go for online, but I have only used two upto now. One was waxworkshop and the other is EasyWaehouse.com. Personnally I would go to www.waxworkshop.com but I will leave that decision upto you, but the site is still worth a try.
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CherryBlossom published 11/09/2002I love candles so I must have a look at this place. ~Sharon
LostWitness published 15/01/2001Good review - sounds like good service.
leannewhite published 15/01/2001I just love candles, I'll take a look at this site. Thanks for a useful opinion. Leanne
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Product Information : waxworkshop.co.uk
Manufacturer's product descriptionHome & Garden
Product Details
Type: Home & Garden
Domain Extension: .co.uk
Listed on Ciao since: 15/01/2001


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Added to Cart
Lavera Sun Sensitiv Sun Spray SPF20 (125ml/4.1oz)
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Lavera Sun Sensitiv Sun Spray SPF20 (125ml/4.1oz)
- A natural, easy-to-use sunblock spray
- Features a gentle, lightweight & waterproof formula
- Contains organic sunflower oil to enhance skin's water storage capacity
- Loaded with organic calendula for rebalancing, soothing & regenerating benefits
- Infused with 100% mineral UV filters to offer reliable sun protection
- Leaves skin soft, moist & nurtured
- Suitable for babies, children & allergy-prone skin
- To use: Shake well before use. Apply generously to skin before sun exposure. Re-apply frequently to maintain protection, especially after sweating or swimming
Due to the nature of this product, we are unable to accept a return under the terms of our Returns Policy for 'change of mind' purposes or sizing errors.
Returns for these products will only be accepted where the goods are deemed faulty under the terms of our Warranty Terms & Conditions .
This Product is offered and supplied by Kogan HK Limited pursuant to the Terms and Conditions.
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Posted 20 Jun 2012
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Posted 22 Jun 2012
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Thats it, save your project and run it. From now on, the control will be using your custom template and your text.
Good Luck!
Posted 25 Jun 2012
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You can also take advantage of the localized resources in the RadUpload. This articles will help you get started with the localization in this control:
RadControls Localization
Explore the entire Telerik portfolio by downloading the Ultimate Collection trial package. Get it now >>


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Confused Between Candy Melts/thinned Icing/chocolate
Sugar Work By bloch Updated 8 Sep 2012 , 11:22pm by cakefan92
Candy melts are expensive in India. So I am confused as what to use for cake pops. Should I use thinned icing cause I saw it on the wilton website or chocolate with cocoa butter in it and if someone can please tell me how much cocoa butter to put in like in a 100/150 gms of white chocolate. Im ordering candy molds also so will I be able to get the same effect through chocolate. Please help !!!
If you can get chocolate chips or block chocolate, you can use this as well. Just stir in a couple of tablespoons of butter to about 12 ounces after it is melted. The same for white chocolate.


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Several days after, Albus, Aria and Rose were in the train, Aria and Rose trying to find Teddy. Albus found a free compartment, but he only found one with a boy in it. Guess who?
"-Can I stay here? Everywhere else it's full. The blonde boy didn't answer, just shaking his head in approval. My sister and my cousin will come later as well, I hope you don't mind. I'm Albus by the way…
The boy watched his hand with an eyebrow raised but he took it anyway.
He returned to his sweets. There were at least 6 packs of different sweets on the seats.
– No, you can't have one. He said not even looking at the other boy. Albus grumbled something, when the door opened and Rose showed up.
-Here you are! Can I sit down…?
Albus couldn't answer.
-No. Scorpius said.
Rose raised an eyebrow at him and sat down anyway.
-Can I have one of…
-No. He said again. Rose took one anyway. Scorpius was annoyed as well. Albus tried to distract Rose's attention.
-Where's my sister? Don't tell me you left and let her alone…
-Oh, she'll be fine…
-I'm not worried about her, but for the rest of the train! Albus said with a grin. Rose agreed but didn't do anything else.
-Your sister…? Scorpius asked a few minutes later.
-My twin sister. Her name is…
-I've searched for you the whole train, for Merlin's sake! A shout came when the door opened again.
-Can anyone let me finish my sentences?! Albus said in annoyance while the short girl entered the compartment.
-Well, it's not like you would have something interesting to say. She said looking at her brother. She noticed there was someone else in the compartment as well so she turned around at looked at the boy. The next second she was hugging him under the confused look of her brother's face. As for Rose… she didn't really mind but she was curious to find out more. She cleaned her throat loudly with a big smile on her face.
Aria closed her eyes and grumbling some bad words that she wasn't supposed say at her age, from Rose's point of view.
Scorpius pushed the sweets away to let Aria sit down next to him.
-Show me your wand. It sounded like an order.
-If you eat all of these you'll get diabetes. Better give me half don't you think. He rolled his eyes and gave her one big chocolate. Aria opened her backpack and pulled out the long wand. Scorpius whistled and then he became serious.
-Should I be impressed, because I'm not. He said in a playful tone. Aria laughed, while Albus and Rose looked at eachother not understanding the joke.
-Sorry to interrupt, how do you know eachother?
Both of them raised an eyebrow in the same time.
-We're like…best friends, Albus. Aria said, like it was an obvious thing.
-And you say he's your twin sister, Aria? He doesn't look like you…
-Of course, he's not a girl, I suppose… She laughed and Scorpius smiled, not used to make this jokes with someone else in the room, especially the one they're talking about. At one point Aria realized that, and looked at her brother instead of an apologize.
An hour later, the door was opened again and Teddy entered the compartment as well.
-Didn't you forget something, Aria? He said taking out from his shirt pocket the little creature. The gray cat looked frightened and Aria took it in her hands.
-Kitten! Couldn't you just come after me before? Why would you wait so much?
-It doesn't look like you realized is missing. Besides, we had great fun, didn't we? He said with a finger on the cat's head. She was scared. After Teddy left, Aria put her on the coach next to her. Scorpius looked amused.
-Kitten? Nice to meet you, interesting name, by the way. Scorpius said amused.
Aria frowns.
-Shut up."


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Srtike plate needed for Larson Storm door.
A quick learner from USA says:
October 19, 2015
Hi, could you help me to find a strike plate for my Larson screen door. The plate is 7inch. long, 3/4 width and 6 5/8 from center to center on the screw holes. Sending you some pictures.
Dave Sr. from SWISCO responded:
October 21, 2015
I don't think we have an exact match for this but look at our 40-197 and let me know if you could use this as a replacement.
A handy person from Michigan says:
April 18, 2016
I have the same strike plate breakage with a Larson screen door. I used the 40-197 with excellent results. The length is slightly longer but everything else lines up. Only requires moving one screw hole.


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Beards: awesome since man took his first steps.
There's truly no better way to display your masculinity these days than a full, powerful beard. Since ancient days, beards meant you were a real man. In fact, the Spartans (of 300 fame) used to punish cowards by cutting off parts of their beard.
In 2015, proudly displaying your beard makes you a badass. It shows the world you know how to change a tire, and maybe you've cut down a tree or three. Maybe you just knocked it down with your bare hands. Gillette claims they're "the best a man can get," but companies like them help you lose a beard, not keep your majestic beard tip-top.
What's a beard-having gentleman supposed to do?!
Luckily, Dollar Beard Club is here to save you from the beardless masses!
Dollar Beard Club is coming on to the bearded scene, ready to keep your beard looking amazing with little effort on your part. With over 18,000 Instagram followers and a massive Twitter contingent, they have already built up a lot of buzz in the beard world. They're ready to take their support from the online beard community to real world beard assistance.
They've done painstaking research and hand-selected beard oil, waxes, balms, shampoos and a ton of other products to help keep your beard smooth, healthy, and smelling like clean but untamed manliness.
Look at this.
Seriously. LOOK AT THIS.
How much does all this cost? Everyone knows you don't skimp on beard maintenance, so what's reasonable, $100 a month? Nope. Dollar Beard Club wants you to share your beard glory with the world. This service will only cost:
$1 a month. That's right.
The guys at Dollar Beard Club put together a hilarious video to showcase just how amazing their company is. Check it out below!
Dollar Beard Club even provided a sneak of their goods to Elevated Media Productions. With this amount of beard related swag, we can't wait to get our hands on this stuff, and then get our hands on our beards!
Click here to check out Dollar Beard Club and get in on the ground floor of beard greatness!
That's the stuff.


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Combine cake mix, 1/2 cup melted butter, water and eggs in large bowl; beat at medium speed until smooth. Let batter rest for 30 minutes.
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Drop batter by slightly rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto parchment-lined or lightly greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle each cookie with sea salt. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Transfer to wire cooling rack.
Place 1 cup butter in medium bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low; gradually add powdered sugar. Beat until well mixed. Add caramel sauce, 1 teaspoon sea salt and vanilla. Beat until well mixed.
Pipe or spread rounded teaspoonful filling onto bottom of 1 cookie; place second cookie, bottom-side down over filling. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling.
Letting batter rest allows batter to rise and increase volume of whoopie pies. To make ahead, bake cookies as directed. Cool completely. Place cooled cookies in single layer in resealable plastic freezer bag. Freeze up to 2 months. Let stand at room temperature until thawed. Prepare filling and fill cookies as directed.


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A manila envelope sat on Sandy Waite- Lopez's desk in room 21 for two weeks. Throughout the day, a student would stroll up, open the envelope and stuff in some loose change. This went on in two other fourth-grade classes at Foothill Elementary School. By Dec. 6, the three classes had collectively raised $393 for UNICEF's Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Disaster Relief Fund.
But, it got even better. An anonymous donor agreed to match the funds dollar for dollar, bringing the total amount to $787. No one was more pleased than the boy who spearheaded the whole effort.
"We were watching the news–my mom and I–and I thought, why not do a fundraiser at the school?" Marcus Kuo recalled. "I just felt I wanted to help them, because it was really big. Lots of people were in need."
Marcus, who is vice president of his school's student council, wasted no time in getting the fundraiser going. He set a timeline of two weeks to raise as much as he could. To get the word out, he made a speech in front of his class and then enlisted the help of his friends, Nika Bagherian, Preston Fu and Nikhil Kapasi, who made similar speeches in front of their classrooms. The speech was short and to the point: "We want everybody to donate $1 to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan. If you want to donate more, please feel free to."
Initially, people were hesitant to support the fundraiser, Marcus said. His teacher, Waite-Lopez, speculated that one reason might have had to do with competing activities on campus. Eventually, the money did start coming in, to everyone's pleasant surprise.
Donations were made mostly by the students in Waite-Lopez's class, as well as those of Sia Marks and Tracy Barley, the teachers of the other two fourth-grade classes, along with contributions from the kindergarten classes. In her classroom, Waite-Lopez posed challenges to her students that encouraged them to complete certain tasks in lieu of her donation.
"If everybody got their planners signed, I'd donate $5," she recalled. "They did it."
Some of Marcus' initial targets did not pan out. He'd wanted to involve the entire school but found that was more difficult than he'd thought, so he focused on just the fourth-grade classes, which have a total of about 80 students.
Marcus had also wanted to donate the money to the American Red Cross, but that organization had just switched to a general disaster relief fund. Not long after, Marcus found a perfect match in UNICEF, which will be using the funds to provide safe drinking water and measles immunizations to people affected by the disaster, including 6 million children, according to Marcus' mother, Corina Kuo.
Both she and Marcus' teacher said they were proud of him and his classmates.
"I think the important message is that kids can help," Waite-Lopez said. "Every little bit helps."
For his part, Marcus said that despite the challenges, he'd be open to doing another fundraiser in the future. "It was fun doing it."


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Israel News
Middle East
American Politics
Edition française
Green Israel
Naftali Bennett 370.
(photo credit:Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
The diplomatic agreement Israel reached with the Palestinians in Oslo 20 years
ago and the concept of creating a Palestinian state are dead, Bayit Yehudi
leader Naftali Bennett wrote on his Facebook page late Tuesday
night.Bennett recalled his shock when he heard as a soldier that
then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin had shaken hands with then-Palestinian leader
Yasser Arafat. He said that the past two decades had proven that Rabin made a
grave mistake.
By Gil Stern Stern HOFFMAN
By Gil Stern Stern HOFFMAN
Sponsored Content
By YONAH JEREMY BOB
By HERB KEINON
Please insert a valid email address


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Editor-in-Chief, West Virginia Watchdog, Charleston, 29
On his first paying job:
"My first paying job was at the St. Marys McDonald's. I worked there for three years. … The fast food environment is a very stressful environment. If you do one thing wrong … two pickles instead of three, or if you put too much ketchup or too little ketchup, people will either yell at you or they'll throw it at you. … It taught you how to deal with people."
Steven Allen Adams has made a name for himself by keeping a close eye on the political players of West Virginia.
As editor-in-chief of West Virginia Watchdog, Adams covers a wide-variety of stories from Charleston. He was recognized by a Washington Post writer as one of the 50 best state-based reporters, and Reuters trusts Adams to regularly provide freelance work for its news wire service.
He also was staff writer and city editor for the Marietta Register and the Parkersburg Register, and he worked at the Tyler Star News, collecting more than five years of journalism experience.
"When you're all by yourself you have to be inventive in the way that you do things," Allen said. "A lot of things that some news agencies are doing in this city and around the state, in many ways, if I can be somewhat bold, come from some of the things that I've done — doing video early on, some audio work, blogging, using Twitter, things like that. It's great to see everyone is discovering those are really great tools for notifying people what is going on."
When he's not at work, Adams works on giving back to his community in Charleston's East End. He serves on the social media committee for East End Main Street where he has promoted the organization for the past year.
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Vanilla Scented Travel Candles
(OUT OF STOCK, Available 12/8)
Item Number:
Customer Rating:
Estimated Delivery:
Mon. 12/11 - Mon. 12/18
Flat Rate Shipping:
Looking for a fresh idea in favors? Our scented candles are sure to fill the air with an aroma of sweetness!
- 2" diameter
- Metal case
- Vanilla scented candle
The Vanilla Scented Travel Candles are a sweet way to celebrate. Whether they're putting a fresh scent in the air of their hotel room or lighting up an impromptu sunset picnic on the beach, your guests are sure to love these candle wedding favors. Our delightful travel party favors come with a vanilla scented candle and each of the Vanilla Scented Travel Candles is designed to be convenient for travel, featuring a tightly fastened clear lid and a metal case.
Please note - this product is currently out of stock. If you place an order, we will ship it as soon as the new stock arrives , on or about December 8, 2017 . Please call us at 888-933-3286 or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com if you have any questions.
Available 12/8/2017
This product will be shipped from New York. See below for transit time (in business days) for UPS Ground Service. Transit times do not include order processing time. See shipping info for details.
Total Reviews:
Write a review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Average Rating:
Great packaging, smells nice, perfect size 5
Emily (Okc, OK), 7/21/2014
"After looking for days, I finally found favorfavor.com and the perfect sized (and priced) candles for our wedding favors. We ordered personalized stickers with matching matches from another website, along with personalized cigars. The stickers will go on the candles and will be the perfect size as a wedding favor! The smell is decent, and I could smell the candles before I even opened the box! They come packaged very nicely in separate boxes of 50, each in their own plastic wrapping. You honestly can't beat the price and quality..! Thank you so much! I will be using favorfavor.com again and will recommend to friends."
Great Product! 5
Tejal (Greenville, RI), 5/27/2014
"We ordered these as a gift for our business. We printed out 1" logo stickers to put on the lid, and it looked great. The tin was of good quality and the scent was pleasant. It has a high-quality appeal with low cost."
Great deal! 5
Monica (Austin, TX), 11/29/2013
"These candles are very reasonably priced. The item is exactly as described. It was very easy to print my own labels to put on top and use these as wedding favors. The item shipped super fast."
Very Pleased 5
Becky (Mount Pleasant, MI), 12/13/2012
"I ordered these candles and although the measurements were listed, they are bigger than I expected, which is a good thing. The scent is nice (I have not burned one) but quite fragrant. Great price and appears to be good quality"
Great candle/great price 4
Cami (Charlotte, NC), 5/3/2012
"Good price for the candle with fast delivery. Nice cent (vanilla) and good quality for the price. Would order again."
candles 5
"Very cute. Put them in our gift bags for our guests at out wedding along with other goodies."
Just wonderful favors 5
Diane (South Bristol, ME), 10/18/2010
"Thank you so much for providing such a high quality product. I ordered these for my daughter's baby shower and placed a label on top and with some tulle and ribbon they were perfect. The scent is very pleasing, it got rave reviews from all who participated. The price,,,,couldn't be beat, delivery was very prompt. Thanks so much, Diane"
travel candles 5
stephanie (tallmadge, OH), 9/7/2010
"Candles were perfect all tins in great condition"
Travel Candles/Matchbooks - Neat Combo! 5
Jen (Stillwater, MN), 8/29/2010
"We love to travel and we love candles. So we thought we'd share a bit of us with our wedding guests. We ordered travel candles (and will apply our own labels that match our invitations and program) along with the ivory matchbooks with gold script. We are then putting them in mesh bags in our wedding colors. They are a hit with us...I am sure they will be with our guests too. Service from Favor Favor was wonderful!"
awesome candles 5
Jodi (westland, MI), 4/13/2010
"LOVE the candles"
Great! 5
Sandra (Newark, DE), 2/25/2010
"I bought personalized stickers to put on top to use in the out of town bags for my daughter's wedding. They look fabulous!"
Review of vanilla scented candle tins 3
Linda (Orangevale, CA), 12/24/2009
"BAD NEWS: Some of the candle tins were dented, some had tops that were too difficult to open and to close. But most importantly, the candle's vanilla scent is not nearly as pleasant as that of my first 5 orders. None of this is a reflection of Favor Favor-it is product defect. However, delivery time was longer than expected. GOOD NEWS: The product price is competitive with that of other distributors. Response to my inquiries were prompt and polite."
smell great 5
Jason (Sheboygan Falls, WI), 12/4/2009
"The candles arrived all in good condition, smell great and are a nice size for a favor. Wrapped in tulle they look very nice. Pleased with purchase."
I'm going to keep all the leftovers for myself!! :) 5
Heather (Santa Rosa, CA), 8/20/2009
"I love these! They're bigger than they look in the picture and they smell great! They'll be great for all the guests who are staying in hotels for the wedding because they can go back and light them in their rooms! And of course for the people who aren't in hotels too... But since my fiance and I travel a lot, I'm excited that we'll have some leftover for our travels as well! One of my bridesmaids and myself are going to tie the candles with some matchbooks with colored ribbon for the guests and I think they're going to look great! If only I liked the color of the matchbooks.... And the price was THE BEST I found online!! I was able to keep the order of 150 candles (I'm pretty sure that's how many we ordered- something around that number) right around $100 which was my goal! I'm so happy I found this website!!!"
perfect favor idea 5
mm (nashville, TN), 8/13/2009
"I will use for a bridal shower I am throwing. They are perfect size, have a reasonable price, & vanilla scented for the guest to enjoy."
perfect for me! 5
Sara (Louisville, KY), 7/7/2009
"These candles are perfect! They have a nice, but not over-powering smell. They are exactly what I need for my small destination wedding. I also printed personalized stickers to put on the candles to make the perfect favor for my guests! It's also nice not to have to order 1000 of them. As I said, I am having a small wedding and I couldn't have found a more perfect favor!"
happy & very pleased. 5
Sarah (Winston-Salem, NC), 7/1/2009
"Larger than I expected, and smell great. I haven't lit any of them yet since I'm saving them for my part of my wedding favors in September, but everyone I've showed them to have thought they were lovely. I plan on making DIY 1.75" stickers to put on top. They're perfect, really."
vanilla Travel candles 4
Marcia (Chesapeake, VA), 6/19/2009
"I bought these cute travel candles to go with personalized match books, to go inside Hospitality bags (along with other items) for out of town guests traveling to my son's wedding. They smell lovely and are just the right size. I did note that the clear lid is very thin plastic, and in some cases, the lid fell inside toward the candle once I removed the lid for the first time. I couldn't get some of them to sit flat back inside the lid. I bought personalized labels with a lovely monogram to go on the top of each of these candles, so had to be very careful to assure the plastic lid part would not cave in. They looked beautiful in the bag with all the other special things the guests had to look forward too."
Exactly what you see 5
Elizabeth (Brooklyn, NY), 4/19/2009
"They smell nice before burning. The tins are cute. You get what you pay for. I'm very satisfied with them! I will put stickers on the top or sides and they will go perfectly with the matchbooks I ordered for the room gift bags!"
Customers also shopped for these favors...
Matte Silver Mint Tin - Round


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Stock Graphic >> Illustration - Bird Pie 3989 by DearthCo @ CreativeMarket
File Size: 327.19 KB; DPI: 300 DPI; Dimensions: 1200 x 891 px.
I only see four blackbirds, where are the other 20?! Oh, well. Don't let that dissuade you, this still one heckofa pie for the price. This 1200 X 891, 300 dpi, avian pastry watercolor is fit for a king.
Keywords: food, pie, blackbird, nursery rhyme.
Download Link


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Find Awesome Games
Select the tags you're interested in to get a personalized feed of games.
Review of Outwitters powered by the Slant community.
Outwitters is a turn based multiplayer strategy game that is free to play and includes in app purchases that range from $1.99 - $7.99 per item.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pro Asynchronous online multiplayer
Up to four player can compete in a match online, each taking turns asynchronously. This makes for a great way to causally play an online game as turns can be taken at leisure with no rush.
Pro Cross platform with iOS
Players can compete in matches cross platform with iOS users.
Pro Pass and play
Outwitters has a single device multiplayer mode where two users can pass around a single device taking each players turn in a multiplayer match.


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Pasadena, CA (PressExposure) December 03, 2009 -- Pasadena Dental Implants announces their acquisition of the i-CAT® 3-D dental imaging machine. To the knowledge of lead periodontist Peter Cooper, DDS, this is the first i-CAT machine at any dental practice in the San Gabriel Valley.
"I-CAT is the leader in cone beam 3-D dental imaging, and we're pleased to be among the first in the area to offer it as a diagnostic tool," Dr. Cooper said. "We believe that introducing the most complete 3-D imaging system for diagnostic treatment planning will result in quicker and more comprehensive care for our dental patients."
The practice purchased the next generation i-CAT, which offers a more ergonomic design, groundbreaking performance advancements, and a wealth of new and improved features. It provides a full continuum of services, from diagnosis to treatment, with significantly reduced radiation than other imaging tools.
Functions of the i-CAT system utilized by dental practices include gathering information for:
- General dentistry
- Oral surgery
- Implantology
- TMJ analysis
- Periodontics
- Orthodontics
- Impaction
Dr. Cooper believes that the sleek redesign, enhanced features, and heightened accuracy will ensure improved treatment planning and surgical success at Pasadena Dental Implants.
The i-CAT 3-D dental imaging machine is a product of Hatfield, PA-based manufacturer Imaging Sciences International, a global leader in advanced dental and maxillofacial radiography products. About Pasadena Dental Implants


text:
Leung defends request to Beijing for views on residency
Chief executive says gaining clarification from NPC will address 'root of the problem' and says city must tackle legal issues
Related topics
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying yesterday defended his government's controversial decision to ask the Court of Final Appeal to seek Beijing's opinion on the city's residency laws.
He suggested this would address "the root of the problem" of pregnant mainlanders coming to the city to give birth.
In a radio programme, Leung did not comment explicitly on court cases which involve two right-of-abode cases.
But he said: "I have managed to stop private hospitals taking in mainland mothers giving birth. Now how do we address the root of the problem? We have to work on the legal aspect."
The other case involves foreign domestic workers seeking permanent residency, to which they are not entitled under current law.
Leung did not seek to explain the Department of Justice's submission to the court last week.
But his comments were seen as a clear reference to its request to the court to seek clarification from Beijing of its 1999 interpretation of the Basic Law's provision for permanent residency.
The clarification is being sought because the NPC's 1999 interpretation was not followed by the top court in its judgment in 2001 which granted residency to children born to mainland parents in Hong Kong.
The decision to request the court seek a clarification is controversial because it brings into question the independence of Hong Kong's judiciary from both the Hong Kong and mainland governments, and more broadly whether the city will retain its relative autonomy in domestic affairs.
But Leung said: "We respect judicial independence and this is one of Hong Kong's core values."
A ban on maternity wards accepting reservations from non-local mothers starts on January 1. Critics said Leung's comments took into account the sensitive timing of the request to the court.
Liberal Party lawmaker James Tien Pei-chun said: "The administrative measures could be challenged in court. This is, I think, the biggest reason why the government resorted to asking for [Beijing's clarification]."
Law professor Eric Cheung Tat-ming, of the University of Hong Kong, said the recent administrative measures adopted against pregnant mainlanders appeared to be a success, raising questions as to whether it was worth risking damage to the city's rule of law by seeking a National People's Congress ruling.
"This shows the government is determined to have the 2001 judgment overturned, one way or another," Cheung said.
Meanwhile, migrant workers denounced the attempt to obtain Beijing's intervention on their residency claims. During a protest in Central on labour rights issues, Dolores Balladares, of the Asian Migrants Co-ordinating Body, said: "We are surprised at the action ... It's the issue of the fundamental rights of all people in Hong Kong ...Why not wait for the Court of Final Appeal?"
Most Popular
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Ava Addams is the Perfect Housewife!
You can call me sexist, but if you're a guy, you know I'm right when I say that Ava Addams would be the perfect housewife! She has big tits, she made roast beef, she brought a glass of beer and she will suck your dick while you eat and drink it! PERFECT!
Pictures from: Naughty America
Click here for INSTANT access to this episode and many more fantasies at Naughty America!!


text:
Asif A.
Lahore, Pakistan, 54590
Joined on February, 2011
Gender: Male
Average Rating:
Any day after 9PM
Lives Near:
Can Meet:
Up to 15 minutes away at my regular hourly rate
EducationUniversity of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
BS Mathematics CGPA 3.56, Univetrsity of the Punjab, Lahore, Master of Public Administration,CGPA 2.67
ExperienceFive years experience of teaching.
I am faculty member of Virtual University of Pakistan, Department of Mathematics.
HobbiesSurfing internet to explore more knowledge.
Preferred Subjects
Mathematics, Science, Physics, to O'Level, Matric, F.Sc., Math
Inquire about this tutor
The tutor will respond if they are available/interested.


text:
Housten. If you want speedy back up, I can only reccomend that you consider having all your system and programme files on the C: drive and have another, Data, partition with all (or most) self generated data. I do this, and used more or less the old XP filing system but on W7 - ie I created a master folder: My Documents, then sub folders like Word Doc, Music, Pictures etc etc, all with their sub folders in turn with their sub folders. I included Outlook in this. After a virus and malware scan I make daily Mirror copies with either Synch Toy or Freefilesynch of this "My Documents" master folder - very quick as it only alters changed files. I make the mirror or echo copy to a second drive in a removable caddy. For System, about the same size as yours, I acually use ATI. I do a verified image about once a week, on to a external HD and a clone about once a month of the whole disc to yet another caddy mounted HD. The images take about 40 mis but also another 30 for verification. I only use Easus for Partition management so cannot comment on its back up performance.
The data is the thing that changes most frequently and the method above is quick indeed;only a couple of minutes.


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Stock Graphic >> Icon - Simplistic Flat Web icons 308611 by vasabii @ CreativeMarket
File Size: 81.94 MB; Layered: Yes; Vector: Yes.
Vector set of 300 simplistic flat web icons.
Icons are presented in 3 styles - long shadow, round icons and isolated on white.
Archive contains easy to edit .eps and .ai vector format and high resolution 5000X5000 .jpg images for each icon pack.
Collection covers following themes .
- SEO and Development
- Creative Process
- Business and Finance
- Office and Business
- Security and Protection
- Shopping and Commerce
- Education and Knowledge
- Technology and Hardware
Checkout this collection if you are interested in buying individual icon pack.
Buy Now ~ $34
Simplistic Flat Web icons.
by vasabii
Keywords: business, finance, shopping, commerce, technology, internet, network, online, hardware, design, development, web, website, seo, marketing, education, knowledge, science, digital, icon.


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Nov 19 2016
Canon PIXMA G2400 Driver
Canon PIXMA G2400
G2000 series Full Driver & Software Package (Windows)
This is an online installation software to help you to perform initial setup of your product on a PC (either USB connection or network connection) & to install various software.
File version: 1.0
File name: win-g2000-1_0-mcd.exe
Release date: 08 January 2016
Compatibility Systems
Windows 10 (32-bit)
Windows 10 (64-bit)
Windows 8.1 (32-bit)
Windows 8.1 (64-bit)
Windows 8 (32-bit)
Windows 8 (64-bit)
Windows 7 (32-bit)
Windows 7 (64-bit)
Windows Vista (32-bit)
Windows Vista (64-bit)
Windows XP (32-bit)
File Size: 48.01 MB
1 Comment
Other Links to this Post
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI


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Ed Olczyk Chicago Blackhawks SIGNED Puck W Inscription
Sold for:
Start Free Trial
or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Sold Date:
- Source: eBay
This is for a Signed Eddie Olczyk Blackhawks Logo Puck. Eddie included the inscription "STOP IT RIGHT HERE" Which is his most common saying while doing his announcing duties. Ed signed the puck at our public signing in June of 2010 in Silver paint. You will recieve my coa with matching tamper proof holograms as well as a photo of Ed signing the puck. Shipping will be 6 dollars and payment must occur within 7 days or unpaid item dispute will be open
Posted with eBay Mobile


text:
GraphicRiver City Surrounded by Nature Landscape 6601821
Stock Vector \ Objects \ Buildings
Landscape \ Nature \ Surrounded \ VectorVector \ Street \ Travel \ Including
Stock Vector - City Surrounded by Nature Landscape 6601821 by Jupea @ GraphicRiver
Stock Vector \ Objects \ Buildings
Vector city surrounded by nature landscape. ZIP Including Illustrator 10 EPS, JPEG (5000×4250)
Layered: Yes; Graphics Files Included: JPG Image, Vector EPS; Minimum Adobe CS Version: CS.
Soccer Ball on a Green Field; Road Through the Countryside into the City; Cartoon Modern School Building; Rubber Tire Icon; Road into the City Through the Landscape; Scary Halloween Background Scene ; Computer Screen with Address Bar of Web Browser.
Keywords: architecture, building, city, cityscape, country, downtown, environment, field, hill, house, illustration, land, landscape, meadow, megalopolis, natural, nature, outdoor, road, scene, scenic, sky, skyline, skyscraper, street, town, travel, tree, urban, vector.


text: I know, not everyone uses iTunes, but for my wife it's really important that she doesn't have to use another program (iSyncr, doubleTwist) to get her songs on her phone. I set up doubleTwist last night and tried to configure everything to be as automatic as possible (just plug it in and wait) but it's cumbersome and slow. iTunes syncing would be a gem. Now obviously after the Palm fiasco with them and Apple going back and forth about the iPod emulation, I just figured that other smartphones wouldn't try out of fear of being removed from the USB committee (or whatever), but does HTC have something in the works? Official: HTC rolling out Android 2.2, 720p video, iTunes sync to unlocked Euro Desires this weekend -- Engadget Looks like HTC Hero users in the UK will get some kind of iTunes syncing capabilities! Is there any hope of this getting yanked from one of those ROMs and made available for other phones like the Incredible? Or does this involve some nonsense middle application like doubleTwist?


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Tag Archives: Cooper
Commenter Cocktails!
Tomorrow is National Martini Day! Because the "M." in Michelle M. sometimes stands for Mixologist, I created the following cocktails in honor of my favorite bloggers/commenters. Please drink responsibly.
The C&Rmy – Coke and rum and a splash of Berenger's zinfandel. Garnish with cheeseball.
For Craig: The Dancing Monkey – Curacao, banana rum, pineapple vodka and cream of coconut.
For Mush: The Goblin Box – Green Goblin apple cider and boxed wine.
For Tam: The TaM/Mtini – Red vodka, Meyer's Lemon mix and Maple syrup.
For The Kid: It's not my job to corrupt the kid (that's all on Adam). So it's juice for her.
But she can put it in a Solo cup if that helps her cred.
For Nathan: The Nathan – Canadian whiskey and Kool – Aid.
For newlywed Talita: The Glamourgirlie – Pink vodka, Nuvo sparkling liqueur,
Chambord and pink sugar for the rim.
For john: The Boozy Bunny – Orange tequila, triple sec and carrot juice.
For Paul: The Swirl – Bailey's Irish Cream, Kahlua, Chambord, raspberry
and chocolate syrup and whipped cream.
For Chris D.: The Enforcer – Irish whiskey, coffee, donut vodka.
For Enrico: The Hotel Tuesday – Pineapple juice, tears and a maraschino cherry.
For josh: The Trashytini – Citrus vodka, orange and lemon-lime Flavor Ice.
For Ryan: The Skinny Cupcake – Skinny boy margarita and water.
For fdot: The Green Squirrel – Frangelico hazelnut liqueur, peanut vodka,
Nocello walnut liqueur, pistachio liqueur.
For Ty: The Ty One On – This potent potable contains Bulldog Strong Ale,
Bulldog gin and Bulldog rootbeer.
For Mr. Sombrero: The Sexy Sombrero – Sombrero tequila and ginger ale.
Because he has to deal with Adam, I recommend multiple shots.
For TwoPi: The TwoPi – 3.14 oz. Vanilla vodka, 3.14 oz. Apple beer and a splash
of pumpkin spice liqueur. Top off with Cool Whip.
For Jere: The Blind Mascots – Iguana beer, Flying Dog pale ale, Moosehead lager
and a splash of champagne to celebrate graduation from law school.
For Polt: The Purple Passion – Kurant vodka, curacao, grenadine and passion fruit liqueur.
For David P.: The Someone in a Martreeni – Acai vodka, wheat grass and spinach.
For Justin: The Asterisk – Dark Chocolate liqueur, maple liqueur and and an *endlessly* flowing keg of beer.
For Vuboq: The Vuboq – V is for vodka (pear), U is for umbrella, B is for bitters,
O is for Orangecello and Q is for quince liqueur.
Fat Betty: The Blambablam – Whipped cream vodka, caramel vodka, chocolate liqueur,
white chocolate liqueur, cappuccino liqueur, vanilla ice cream, chocolate shavings
and Reddi Whip (to top off drink or to spray directly into mouth).
For Dr. Para: The Dr. Para – Pour all drinks above in a Big Gulp cup, toss in some gummy bears and enjoy!
*Cooper's cocktail will be featured on Cooper's Corner Tuesday.
So how will you celebrate National Martini Day? What's your alcoholic beverage of choice? How does it feel to have a beverage named after you? Did I forget anyone? Let me know in comments!
Happy Birthday Michelle M.!
Today is a very special day … it's Michelle M.'s Birthday!
From all of your friends, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
A Limerick:
We all know her as Michelle M.
We think her to be quite the gem.
But I have been told
She's getting quite old,
So it's time to start calling her "ma'am."
– Jere
Wishing you a mouth-watering birthday!
-David P.
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people ever, Cooper's mom and Wonder Women fan….
Michelle M.!!!! I hope you have the most awesome Birthday ever because you deserve it!!
– TJ and the doggies (Cooper's Compadres)
Happy Birthday! From X-Heather and TwoPi
A Haiku About Michelle
The best in our books
Happy Birthday To Michelle
Hail Wonder Woman
– Kristen
Ode to Her Awesomeness
By Craig
What could one possibly say,
About the delectable Michelle M?
If she were a dessert,
She'd be la crème de la crème.
She lives in California,
All the way on the West Coast.
She's the Cocky & Rude writer,
That us readers love the most.
She never met a head,
She couldn't put on another body.
Don't let her sweet looks fool you,
For her mouth is quite a potty.
With those flowing golden locks,
Like a superhero's cape.
It begs that age old question,
Does the carpet match the drapes?
Her husband is a sexy beast,
Who likes pizza and canned beer.
There's not a single gay around,
Who doesn't wish that he was queer.
Wonder Woman is her idol,
And Cooper is her bird.
I don't know who she loves most,
But Harry's definitely in third.
So today is her birthday,
Hope she have lots of fun.
Happy Birthday Michelle M!
Congrats on turning twenty one!
Dear Michelle,
I heard it was your birthday so I wanted to send you a short note. I hope you have a wonderful day and that you don't divorce your husband so you can marry a politician and then your ex marries a skinny little waif and then you can't stop eating because you hate your life and you are fighting with your kids and your mother-in-law thinks you are useless and then you become the fattest woman in Westchester and then you can't wear any of your clothes and then you feel so worried that you will eat up all your kids and then you will worry that Gene might be too small and gamey to be palatable and then your daughter hates you because you want to go skiing and she goes to her dad's and get's her period and then she comes back to you and whines and you are thinking "hurry up and have a baby so I can eat it." Can I eat your cake?
Love, Fat Betty
From Mikey & Ty
Happy birthday to the most creative, talented, elfin proportioned person I know!
Happy Birthday Michelle!
Have a great day and best wishes for the coming year! -John
Ok, I know that Harry and Craiggers are gonna get real jealous here, but I got only one question for Michelle M.:
I Wonder Woman, are you my kinda woman?
Wit a back like that you fly like jets
Are you my Wonder Woman?
te quiero,
mr. sombrero
Happy Birthday Michelle M.!!! I decided to celebrate your birthday by mixing
my two favorite things: you, and my favorite albums!!! -Enrico
My week.
Harry had hockey, so Cooper and I watched The Muppets. My favorite muppet is Floyd. He's so cool and laid back – the opposite of me! Cooper's favorite muppet was the little girl giving Walter the side-eye. Cooper is also a big Chris Cooper fan.
Did I have a soda, candy and popcorn while watching the movie? No. I had celery sticks, apple sauce and water.
I checked in on the roses. After finally getting rid of whatever was eating holes in the leaves, our five rose bushes came down with powdery mildew. And just when they were looking so healthy and lush and were starting to bloom. I had to cut them all back. Boo.
I did my ironing. I hate ironing. Here is a shirt that is supposed to be "no iron". Grrrr.
Wednesday we got in the car and headed to Temecula's wine country (about an hour north of us). Last year Harry gave me a horseback ride and wine tasting lunch for my birthday. We finally got around to doing it. My horse's name was Rusty and Harry's was Quincy. It was super hot, and my horse kept fighting me to be in front of the guide, but it was fun!
After our ride we went to Wilson Creek Winery for our wine tasting. Woo hoo!
Then we had lunch. The restaurant was outdoors. They had misters which was lovely on such a hot day. The rolls had cheese on them (yuck), but the crackers were pretty good. I had a (steak) salad.
Thursday was the last day of my painting class. Some of the students brought in snacks. One of them brought chocolate cupcakes. I took one because it would have been rude of me to refuse.
Here is the painting I've been working on. It's Franz Marc's Red Horses. It's a little off because the dimensions of my canvas are different from the original. And I still have a lot yet to do. I'm the queen of unfinished projects, but hopefully I'll keep working on it.
After dinner at a Mexican restaurant with friends (I had 2 daiquiris, peach and strawberry), Harry and I decided to go to the local dive bar to drink some more. He had beer and some kind of cinnamon shot thing. I had 2 rum and cokes. They have a neat jukebox with bajillions of songs.
We killed zombies, played air hockey (Harry won) and pool (Harry won – maybe it's because I played this way…).
We went to our local farmer's market. We got some fresh, organic California strawberries.
Then we took the car in to Pep Boys because the air conditioner broke. This would be their second go round trying to fix it (this isn't our first experience having to bring the car back for a re-repair). After we got there they told us to bring it back another day (after just telling us on the phone to bring it in). After we get it fixed we shall never, ever return. Manny, Mo and Jack can suck it.
We decided to have lunch in Hillcrest. We went to Freebirds World Burrito. It's kinda like Chipotle, but with more options. Check out my huge burrito:
We sat outside and guess what music was playing? "Black Betty". I kid you not. Also, I totally didn't have a brownie or cookie. Willpower!
On the way home we saw this bar. It reminded me of Adam.
I didn't do much. I can't find my brand of shampoo anywhere anymore, so I used this brand for the first time. It smells like flowers and fruit salad.
I also read, played on the computer and watched tv. Then I worked on Cooper's exciting post for Monday.
Check out Cooper's Corner for a very important announcement: http://cooperscorner.info/
So how was your weekend? And who is your favorite muppet? Let me know in comments!
Who are you? FIND OUT!
What does your pet say about you?
Some claim that the pet you choose can reveal a lot about your personality.
Is it true? Let's find out…
Mikey & Ty: English Bulldog
"People who owned utility dogs, like English bulldogs …[are] more conscientious and extroverted." (source)
Adam: Cat
"…A sensitive fella! And he's not only sensitive, but just loves to send you photos of his cat all day long and post them on Facebook and Twitter. I'm not sure why this is, but guys with cats are prone to such things." (source)
Mel: French Bulldog, 3 cats (also: 2.5 alpacas and 2 Shetland sheep)
"The owners … are expressive and full of personality. These people are often overachievers because they like a dog that is a bit of a challenge." (source) "Cats inexplicably make you stand out as more and more insane with each additional feline you possess." (source)
Michelle M.: Parakeet
If you "…fancy a smaller variety such as a Parakeet or Canary,
you tend to be softer-spoken with a gentle demeanor." (source)
VUBOQ: Cat
"You are easy going, but independent just like your cat; however,
you do enjoy a little snuggle time from time to time." (source)
Craig: Wants a cat
Cat people are "more likely to be open… Open people tend to be:
curious, creative, artistic & nontraditional thinkers." (source)
John: (had) Rabbits
"The reason your man would have a pet rabbit is because he never had one when he was a kid, and now that he's living on his own, he's going to finally fulfill that dream. The rabbit's name is probably something like "Rambo"or "Killer" to make up for the fact that he's a dude who actually owns a fluffy bunny." (source)
Tam & The Kid: 2 Cats & a Rabbit
"If you get stressed out easily, you may be a cat person. Cat people were, as a group, 12% more neurotic than dog people. Neurotic people are: easily stressed, anxious & worriers." (source) Rabbit owners are nice, active and are great with long-term commitments. (source) (Note: I couldn't find a photo of Tam's pets)
Josh: Cat & Dog
"If he owns a dog, your man is loyal and can actually commit, because owning a dog is as close to having a child as it comes." (source) "Cat people are loners who are less religious than non-cat owners, want instant gratification, are satisfied with their jobs and are socially conscious." (source)
Mama Polt: fluffy little dog
"…You have a desire to nurture your tiny pets. You tend to enjoy accessorizing and your pet can be an extension of that quality. Maybe you just really love cats but are in denial. In any case, you love that you can take your small pooch with you almost anywhere. You are probably as cute and lovable as your puppy, but sometimes might be considered annoying." (source)
Second to the right, and straight on 'til morning.
It's with a heavy heart that I make this announcement: I have decided to end Cocky & Rude.
After two years, 894 blog posts, over 10,000 comments, and just under 100,000 all-time views; Mikey, Michelle M. and I have decided to call it quits.
This decision was not made lightly. Over the past two years, Mikey has gotten engaged, Michelle M. has adopted Cooper, and I have stuffed my face, drawn a cartoon version of fecal matter, and have hosted a hit game show from the 1970s.
Cocky & Rude is something that we've all loved to do over the years, but sometimes life just gets in the way. More and more, we've each struggled to bring you quality blog posts while juggling life, work, family, laziness and television viewing.
But don't worry, we're not leaving your lives completely. We will still see you on Facebook, Twitter, in the comment sections of other blogs, and maybe even in person from time to time.
Please accept my heartfelt thanks for making the last two years of Cocky & Rude a fun stop on the interweb!