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Business - Commodities - ENERGY
China Gas, Sinopec near venture deals
Posted Feb 21st 2013, 12:00am by Eric Ng
... Eric Ng firstname.lastname@example.com China Gas, Sinopec near venture deals City natural-gas distributor China Gas, which fended off a hostile takeover bid last year from rival ENN Energy and oil and gas major China Petroleum & Chemical (Sinopec), has made steady progress in negotiations with Sinopec on forming joint ventures, according to its finance chief. The two firms were ...http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1154990/china-gas-sinopec-near-venture-deals
Business - Companies - TAKEOVERS
Sinopec and ENN drop bid for China Gas
Posted Oct 16th 2012, 12:00am by Sophie Yu, Denise Tsang
... hostile takeover bid for China Gas Holdings by a consortium that included the mainland's second-largest oil firm, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec), fell through yesterday. Ending ... and they chose not to go ahead with it. Instead, Sinopec formed a partnership with China Gas that will allow them to operate downstream gas supply businesses and allow Sinopec to raise its holding ...http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1062077/sinopec-and-enn-drop-bid-china-gas
Business - Companies - TAKEOVERS
Embattled China Gas in pact with Sinopec
Posted Oct 17th 2012, 12:00am by Eric Ng
... in pact with Sinopec China Gas Holdings has rarely been out of the limelight in the past 22 months, thanks to its board row, police investigations of top managers, antagonistic shareholders ... withdrawal of a US$2.2 billion unsolicited takeover bid by a consortium of China Gas' rival ENN Energy Holdings and state-backed oil and gas major Sinopec, China Gas said it had now entered ...http://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/1062625/embattled-china-gas-pact-sinopec
China Resources makes deeper push into piped-gas market
Posted Jun 02nd 2004, 12:00am by Denise Tsang
... across the country, seeking a slice of the rapidly growing and lucrative but competitive sector. Blue-chip utility Hong Kong and China Gas and smaller players such as Xinao Gas Holdings, Panva ... Denise Tsang The purchase of a 20pc stake in Zhengzhou Gas, worth about $207m, takes the red chip further away from its core business China Resources Enterprise will buy a 20 per cent ...http://www.scmp.com/article/457900/china-resources-makes-deeper-push-piped-gas-market
China Gas surges on news of GAIL stake
Posted Feb 23rd 2005, 12:00am by Denise Tsang
... Denise Tsang Shares of China Gas Holdings jumped 4.63 per cent yesterday to a 31-month high on news that India's state-owned energy firm GAIL had taken a stake in the company. After ... share. China Gas managing director Liu Minghui said the share sale would pave the way for future co-operation between the company and GAIL on the distribution of natural gas for vehicle use ...http://www.scmp.com/article/490089/china-gas-surges-news-gail-stake
China's oil and gas firms hit by record crude prices
Posted Sep 08th 2008, 12:00am by Andrea Li
... access to new oil fields, China's oil and gas players are much stronger than their counterparts elsewhere,' Mr Kwan said. With China's oil demand growing at an annual 6 per cent ... Andrea Li The mainland's oil and gas companies have reported largely weakened first-half earnings results amid soaring crude oil costs and significant refining losses. 'Earnings ...http://www.scmp.com/article/651828/chinas-oil-and-gas-firms-hit-record-crude-prices
Strong sales growth boosts Panva Gas 36pc
Posted Aug 14th 2003, 12:00am by Denise Tsang
... The figures escape the impact of the central government's new VAT policy Mainland gas supplier Panva Gas Holdings saw net profit soar 36 per cent to $83.01 million in the first six ... to piped-gas services to replace a business tax starting from January 1. Panva's counterpart Wah Sang Gas Holdings has since set aside $12 million in provisions for the VAT. 'Our auditor ...http://www.scmp.com/article/424681/strong-sales-growth-boosts-panva-gas-36pc
Beer, gas drive 93.7pc jump in Beijing Enterprises profit
Posted Sep 18th 2008, 12:00am by Carol Chan
... Carol Chan Beijing Enterprises Holdings, the investment arm of the capital's city government, expects its gas and beer businesses to maintain their robust growth after reporting ... 40 per cent-owned joint venture with the mainland's largest oil and gas producer, PetroChina, supplied 5.85 billion cubic metres of gas through the Shaanxi-Beijing natural gas pipeline ...http://www.scmp.com/article/653008/beer-gas-drive-937pc-jump-beijing-enterprises-profit
PetroChina set for big gas deal in Canada
Posted Feb 11th 2011, 12:00am by Eric Ng
... Eric Ng PetroChina is poised to make a huge natural gas deal in Canada, agreeing to pay C$5.4 billion (HK$42.27 billion) in what could be the largest acquisition in the so-called ... and gas producer, China National Petroleum Corp, said in a statement it had signed an agreement with Encana, Canada's largest natural gas producer, to buy a 50 per cent interest ...http://www.scmp.com/article/737921/petrochina-set-big-gas-deal-canada
PetroChina signs gas sales deal
Posted Oct 22nd 2004, 12:00am by Eric Ng
... Eric Ng in Beijing Agreement with BASF-YPC comes after more than a year of talks over pricing PetroChina has signed a gas sales agreement with BASF-YPC, a Sino-foreign petrochemical ... Chemical Corp, will be the largest industrial customer of gas from PetroChina's 4,000km west-east pipeline when it starts commercial operations next year. Under the contract, BASF-YPC will buy ...http://www.scmp.com/article/475032/petrochina-signs-gas-sales-deal
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Exclusive Marvel Details You Can't Miss
8 Actors Who Nailed Their Historical Roles
A New Batman and New Batmobile for 2016 Movie
Kaley Cuoco Shows Off Her Tennis Skills
The Reason Marvel Fans Deserve a Deadpool Movie
27 Fascinating Movie Facts You Never Knew
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The 5 Most Disappointing Series Finales in TV History
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Exclusive Batman Details You Never Knew
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Sizzling Footage Leaks for Avengers: Age of Ultron
See the First Appearance of Marvel's Female Thor!
What's The Deal With Jupiter Ascending?
Can't Wait for The Prometheus Sequel?
First Official Photos from Avengers: Age of Ultron
The 20 Greatest Sitcom Babes of All Time
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Photos Revealed
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subset: commoncrawl


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The Education Department at The Cummer recently participated in a professional development workshop to broaden their understanding of accessibility and arts education in children with disabilities.
ART For ALL – Staff Participates in Disability Trianing
This series will highlight 10 quick and easy facts about different cultures, artistic movements, and stylistic periods. Stay tuned for the next list in the series!
At Middle School Camp, students will learn printmaking, drawing, painting, and clay techniques while being inspired by masterworks in the galleries and the…
What are you doing this summer? CAMP CUMMER 2013
by Cummer Museum Admin, Director of Art Education in Education
The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens will be buzzing this summer with creativity and art making. Children…
The Cummer Receives NEA Grant to Support an Exhibition of Medieval Art
by Amber Sesnick, Visitor Services & Marketing in Education
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman has announced that the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is one of 832 non-profit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. The Cummer is…
Art After Hours with the Up & Cummers
by Amber Sesnick, Visitor Services & Marketing in Museum Store, Special Events, Up & Cummers
Art After Hours is a fun way to mix and mingle with friends at The Cummer, while enjoying and learning about art. For our upcoming event, we are taking the it one step further by adding shopping!
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MACULAR DEGENERATION ASSOCIATION Overview
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Phone: 941-870-4399
Opening September 5, 2012 5969 Cattleridge Blvd.
Suite 100
Florida 34242
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Florida 34242
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The Macular Degeneration Association (MDA) is a nonprofit health organization dedicated to educating and empowering age-related macular degeneration patients all across the world.
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I have had an opportunity to attend several of their programs held in Parkinson Place, Sarasota, FL. These program featured several different doctors and different subjects. I have macular degeneration and have experienced dry eyes, flashes and floaters. These were some of the subject matter covered... more »
As a doctor who has spent the last eight years of my life helping patients with macular degeneration, I know how important it is for someone to understand the disease and how we can help. The emotions that surround vision loss can be very strong and it is extremely important to understand that help... more »
I had attended the Awareness program that they hosted in Nashville, TN. I found the program to exceed my expectations. I left knowing more about this disease and the affects that it could have on my family. The doctors were fantastic. The program was one of the best that I have attended. When they ... more »
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Two interesting things happened last week that directly affected my neighbours – those whom the biblical message enjoins me to love. First, the California Affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) endorsed Proposition 19. This is a ballot initiative to legalise recreational use of marijuana. Second, the Economist magazine published an article on mass incarceration in the United States entitled 'Rough Justice,' with the subheading "America locks up too many people, some for acts that should not even be criminal."
Unrelated? I think not. The Economist revealed some startling facts: that 1 in 100 American adults is living behind bars. When we narrow the field to young black men, it's one in nine. While the Economist article only briefly mentions drug policy and doesn't mention marijuana at all, the ACLU has long recognised that prosecution of marijuana crimes is among the most successful vehicles of mass incarceration that unfairly targets minorities.
In 2008, California made 60,000 marijuana arrests, the majority of them young men of colour. In Los Angeles County the marijuana possession arrest rate of African Americans is more than 300 per cent higher than the same arrest rate of whites, although blacks made up less than 10 per cent of the county's population, according to a new report from the Drug Policy Alliance. The same report also reveals that more white youth use marijuana than black youth, despite the dramatically skewed arrest rates.
Communities of faith have long led the charge when it comes to meaningful treatment for addiction, addressing the problem of drugs with counselling and proven programs for recovery that are, at their core, rooted in the value of compassion. Yet that value is conspicuously absent from the way the criminal justice system addresses the problem of drug addiction.
Even a 'misdemeanour' marijuana possession arrest (quite a minor one) can prevent someone from obtaining a job, a home, and even educational loans. Those basic tools for pulling one's self out of the pit of addiction and into a sustainable healthy lifestyle – education and employment – can all be out of reach because of a few grams of marijuana. Often this leads to further drug use, crime, and ultimately incarceration.
"Love your neighbour as yourself" should not be seen as a personal virtue to be checked at the door of the county courthouse. While Christian communities provide perhaps the nation's largest network of drug addiction programmes rooted in compassion and love, its time they advocated for public policies that align with those same values.
California's Proposition 19 is about more than freeing up jail beds and raising tax revenue, it's about refusing to address social problems by locking our neighbours behind bars.
© James Clark is a community organiser and graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University, USA.
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I don't see Su telling folks to get Opera or Mozilla or whatever the hell the best PC browser is when someone notices something not displaying properly in IE.
At any rate, I don't see why Su has to make that comment in every single thread that mentions a Safari rendering issue.
Christ, what a condescending load of drivel.


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Top Ten Tips for Better Holiday Photos
Top Ten Tips for Better Holiday Photos By BetterPhoto.com
The holidays make for fantastic photo opportunities. Even the least photographically-inclined reach for a camera to do the annual group portrait. Use these tips to make great photos of Christmas, Hanukkah, or the mid-winter holiday of your preference. This year, you'll come away from the holidays with the absolute best photographs you have ever created.
# 1 Compose Creatively and Move in Close
Whether you are photographing the symbolic subjects of the holidays or your friends and family, getting creative with your composition certainly cannot hurt. This means paying special attention to how you organize the various elements in each photo.
There are two main concepts to keep in mind when composing the scene artistically:
1. Off-center your main subject. Instead of placing your main subject in the center of the scene – with a lot of dead space around it – move your camera until this subject is off to the side. This works especially well if you can balance your main subject with something in the background, on the other side of the picture. For example, if you are photographing a beautiful candle, try placing it on the right with the Christmas tree (or an equivalent supporting element) blurred softly in the background on the left. This will result in a photo that both records the candle in all its beauty and does so in an artistic, creative way.
2. Move in close. Especially when you center your subject but even when you off-center it, moving in close is the one thing that will make the biggest difference in the success of your picture-taking. The simple fact is the audiences are always more impressed when the subject is huge and impossible to miss. Therefore, you want your subject to fill the frame. Say you are photographing the candle mentioned above, but don't have a Christmas tree (or its equivalent supporting element) in the background. In this case, you might want to instead move in as close as you can. Causing the entire frame to be filled with your subject will inevitably result in a photo that has true impact on your viewer.
# 2 For Better Family and Group Portraits
The most important thing to keep in mind when photographing groups and families is this: you absolutely must take a lot of photos.
There is often a great deal of pressure when photographing groups. People generally complain about having their picture taken and want the experience to be over quickly. They have been trained by bad portrait photographers in the past to hate both the process and the results.
So it is your job to overcome these hurdles. You need to work quickly in order to get the job done within their limits of patience. And you need to keep the experience as fun and friendly as possible, so they remember it in a positive light.
Above both of these tasks, though, you need to get the absolute best photos you can. And more than anything else this means taking a large number of photos. Since there is always someone blinking or looking off to the side or facing another member of the group, having a large number of photos will give you the best chances of catching everyone looking their best.
# 3 Shoot First, Ask Questions Later
Especially if your subject is a child opening a gift – or playing with a gift for the first time – you know that, within a split second, the scene can change. There is often just a few brief moments when that "magic spark" appears.
That's why it is so important to be fully prepared to capture that moment when it happens. Of course this means having your camera on hand and the batteries fully charged… After all, you can't capture the moment if you don't have your camera on you and ready to go.
However, even more than having your camera on hand, this equates to being assertive with your picture-taking. Be ready to press that shutter button at a moment's notice, anticipating when the magic spark will surface. If you have a digital camera that suffers from a bit of a delay when taking the picture, then you will have to become even more intuitive and skilled at anticipating the moment.
Either way, shoot quickly and shoot often. Don't be shy – getting a great photo of the right moment is rewarding and well worth the extra effort.
# 4 Don't Use Flash Indoors
The flip side to Tip #5 is to turn off your flash indoors, whenever you can possibly get away with it.
The flash can be a real lifesaver, no doubt about it. This burst of artificial light can mean the difference between a decent photo and a totally blurry, unusable image.
However, the light from flash units – especially from the tiny on-camera flash units found on most every camera – tend to produce harsh, flat, and cold light. This is rarely a complimentary way to illuminate your subject.
If you are shooting indoors during the day, make your portraits with your subjects standing near a window or door instead of relying on the flash. Get between your subject and the window – in other words, don't include the window in your composition, as this will throw off your exposure meter.
If you are shooting indoors at night, try to flood the room where you are photographing with as much light as you can – turn on whatever lamps you have at hand. This will help reduce those harsh, flashed-out subjects, as well as other problems like red-eye.
# 5 Use Flash Outdoors
Most people think that using flash is synonymous with photographing indoors at night – at a Christmas party for example.
However, flash need not be relegated to indoor, night photography. Flash can be a big help when it comes to shooting outdoors during the day. Even in bright sunlight, forcing your flash to fire can often mean the difference between a so-so snapshot and an eye-grabbing masterpiece.
The reason is that this kind of bright day flash will fill in the shadows and even out harsh contrasts.
Try it out… next time you are photographing friends or children outdoors, turn your flash on and see if it works for you.
# 6 Look for Reflections
One the quickest and easiest ways to add an artistic touch to your holiday photos is to focus on capturing reflections rather than the object itself.
Simply keep an eye out for interesting splashes of color, reflected from Christmas lights and other holiday decorations.
This is one time when rainy days are your friends – puddles in the street can be a perfect source of abstract images – photos that suggest the essence of the holidays without being direct and explicit.
You can also look for interesting shadows and other graphic elements. Or you can include out of focus Christmas lights, to give your photo an evocative, unique background.
# 7 Blur, Swirl, and Zoom Those Christmas Lights
Tired of the same old Christmas tree photos? If you want to try something new, set your camera to a slower shutter speed – anywhere from 1/2 second to 2 or 4 full seconds. Then purposefully move the camera while taking the picture. The idea here is to intentionally blur the colorful Christmas lights… and in order to blur a stationary subject, you need a slow shutter speed and controlled camera movement.
If you use an SLR camera with a zoom lens, you will have a little more freedom and speed with your zoom. Thus, you will not need as slow of a shutter speed as those using compact zoom digicams. All the same, you can create this effect with either kind of camera.
For the zooming effect to look clean, you will want to mount your camera securely on a tripod to keep it from moving while you zoom in or out during the exposure.
If you want to get even more creative, you can simple move the camera around while the shutter is open. For this technique, you can leave your tripod at home. That's right… I said it… this is one of the few times I advise you to not use a tripod.
# 8 Give the Gift of a Photograph
Whether you are a last minute shopper or not, we have the perfect gift idea for you: a family photo.
Parents and grandparents in particular love photos of the family and children as a holiday present.
This is such a cherished present, we will be offering a few of the most helpful pointers for getting great portraits in the upcoming tips. In the meantime, pick out a nice frame, get some good inkjet paper if you shoot digital, and get ready to give a gift that, if done properly, can bring tears of joy to their eyes.
# 9 Plan Ahead: Charge Batteries and Clear Cards or Buy Film
The last thing you want to have happen is to get all set up for the family portrait or holiday photo to realize you forgot to charge the battery!
In addition to making sure your batteries are charged (or you have replacements on hand), you will also want to make sure you have a place for your potential images to be recorded.
If you shoot digital, offload and archive your images so you can free up space on your flash memory card. If you use a conventional, film-based camera, be sure you have an extra roll or two of film on hand.
Here's a bonus tip for you generous gift-givers out there: before wrapping up digital camera and film camera gifts, charge up the batteries and insert the memory card or film. This will make it all the more fun for the recipient to enjoy your nice gift – right out of the box!
Either way, being prepared will make those once-in-a-lifetime moments that much easier to capture.
# 10 Don't Eat Yellow Snow; Don't Photograph Blue Snow
If you go out photographing snowy outdoor scenes, most camera meters will be fooled into underexposing your picture. Instead of nice, bright white snow, a bluish cast will give your snow scene an extra cold feel (and an unnatural look).
To remedy this, use your camera's exposure compensation feature or a manual exposure mode to force an addition 1 to 2 stops of light to reach your film or CCD. If you have a point and shoot camera or a compact digicam, your camera may not feature manual exposure but it will likely have the exposure compensation option. Look for a little +1 or +2 symbol.
If you have a film or digital SLR camera, you will likely have these +1 and +2 exposure compensation options as well as a manual exposure mode.
Little Charmer | San Diego Baby Photographer
We had the best time photographing this little charmer. I think he's probably the happiest little fellow to grace our studio. He was in the best of spirits, and played great for the camera!
We're looking forward to working with this baby a couple more times, since he's our newest Busy Bee. Our Busy Bee baby club program is the perfect way to document your baby's important milestones during their first year. Receive 3 portrait session for just $250 total! For more information, or to schedule your baby, give us a call: 858-356-5859, or contact us through the website.
And to get the latest updates and specials, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Introducing Apollo | San Diego Newborn Photographer
With the holiday rush, we've fallen waaaay behind on the blogging. But with so many adorable babies, bellies, and families, we just have to get some of these posted!
So without further ado, we'd like to introduce you to little Apollo. He was so anxious to meet the world he came a few weeks early! Such a little guy who was sooo sweet and "curly"!
Momma's Sugar | San Diego Baby Photographers
Just look at this adorable little one! Her mom calls her "sugar", which is easy to understand, because how sweet is this?! She was so observant and interested in us, and is SUCH a good little baby!
Even when we brought her out to the water's edge and put her in the tub, she handled it like a champ! Enjoy just a few of our favorites!
Have you heard about our Busy Bee Baby Club? Our Busy Bee program is just $250 and covers all 3 sessions during baby's first year! We capture their big milestones: pushing up, sitting up, and standing up. Your baby changes more during their first year, than at any other time of their life. We offer an affordable way for you to document those special moments of your baby's exciting first year! Give us a call today (858.356.5859) to schedule your baby's portrait session, in time for the holidays! To view more of our Busy Bee babies, visit our website, or click here.
Little Strapper! | San Diego Baby Photographers
Well, this little guy was 4 months, but he's a little strapper, and SO strong! And with so much personality. We start our Busy Bees (our Baby Club program) around 4 months when they start to push themselves up. This baby not only could push himself up, he could even sit on his own! Impressive to say the least. We'll have to be a little extra creative for his next session!
Here are a couple favorites so far . . .
Bright-Eyed Bean! | San Diego Newborn Photographer
So this is the little one who took her time coming out to meet all of us, and while waiting, her parents nicknamed her, "Bean". How cute is that? Well, Little Miss Bean didn't want to miss a thing, and she was so alert and observant throughout our session. At the very end, she took a cat nap, but during the session, we captured a lot of images with eyes wide open – which is always a favorite for grandparents! Enjoy the previews . . . .
Isn't she such a pretty girl?
I call this "mother's fascination". I remember those days of just sitting and staring at this little being that's yours, and the wonder of it all!
And then there's daddy who is just wrapped soooo tight around Bean's little finger!
And dad already has a "groupie"!
This is what we call a "foot-o finish"! ;-D
Cutest Little Yankee | San Diego Newborn Photographer
Introducing Riley, the cutest little Yankee – in San Diego! If you remember the parents, they're HUGE Yankees fan, so of course we had to break out the baseball and mitt for a couple of Riley's portraits.
And just to show what a cool baby, he hit us with several smiles throughout the session. Sweet!!
Welcome to the world, little guy. You've got some amazing parents!
Baby Ava | San Diego Newborn Photography
Meet Ava, our most recent newborn to hit our studio. Isn't she precious? She was so tiny and so mellow, and it was a fantastic session – even if she didn't let mom and dad sleep a wink the night before! :-) Her parents brought her in around day 8, which is perfect – she would still draw up in that cute, squishy curl, and didn't get fussy as we moved her around. Can't wait for mom and dad to see the rest of the photos – it was hard to pick just a handful for the blog!
Talk about a bundle of joy! Look at how sweet she looks curled up against mom!
Couldn't you just die over that hat?
Is there anything sweeter than a baby nesting in the crook of your neck? Nope – don't think so!
And the show stopper – look at this awesome tutu shot Nikkie got!
There's more than 1 doll in this photo . . .
We'd love to hear your comments – just leave a comment below. Did you know we have a Baby Registry for your newborn's portrait session? Makes an excellent shower gift! Call for details.
Legacy of Love
This is a great story of a legacy of love! Grandma-to-be is just so incredibly excited about the upcoming birth of her grandchild that she decided to spoil baby, mommy, and daddy by investing in our Chrysalis Collection. This collection focuses on telling that special story of each new belly to baby. Mom and Dad were absolutely awesome to work with and let's face it mom's belly is just so beautiful and tiny! Mom disagreed with the "tiny" part so of course we had to tell her to invest in glasses and a good mirror because…just look at her…she's only sporting a basket ball when I was sporting an over-sized watermelon when I was in my eighth month!
Anyway…here are a few sneak peaks for grandma, mom and dad of a few of the "less revealing" images from the day. We'll see you soon so you can check out the rest of the images from the session! Let us know what you think by leaving comments bellow!
Golden Girl
Madi Rae came back to see us, and she's as cute as ever! She whizzed through several outfit changes, and we got some really fun images! Mom was a great sport, as we all made funny faces and noises to coax a smile out of Miss Madi. Here are a handful of our favorites from the day. Enjoy mom and dad!
The Sooner the Better
So many of our expectant parents ask us when they should come in for their newborn portraits and we always reply the same way…"Meet us on your way home from the hospital." There's usually a long pause as they wait for us to say we're kidding, but guess what?…for the most part we're really not joking!
The absolute BEST time to photograph a newborn is within the first week of their precious lives, under two weeks is acceptable but is starting to push it. You see…newborn's under one week of age still sleep like the dead (not mine unfortunately, she's NEVER slept like the dead a day in her life…not even in the womb, but MOST do).
They also haven't had time to realize that they're not crammed into a tight little space anymore, so they still curl up in that adorable fetal pose. But after day ten (give or take a few days)?… you can just forget about getting that amazingly classic newborn pose without your little one putting up a fight. The secret is out and every time you try to curl them up they just can't wait to pop those tiny limbs back out again.
Also two to three weeks is about the time a lovely case of baby acne can rears it's ugly head…no pun intended. Of course we still photograph newborns that have passed the two week mark, and we still capture amazing images of these tiny new beings, it's just that the longer you wait the harder it is on both the baby and the parents.
So to summarize the answer to the question "when should we schedule our newborn session?"…the sooner the better!!!
This tiny little guy was only 10 days old, and both he and big brother did a great job in front of the camera! Mom and Dad love sepia toned images, so we put the finishing touches on a few of our favorites and here they are as a little sneak peak. Hope you love them as much as we do!
Your input is REALLY IMPORTANT to us so let us know what you think of our images by posting your comments at the bottom of each posting.
The Best of Both Worlds
La Jolla Cove is one of the most beautiful beaches to photograph at in San Diego. The incredible blues and greens of the water, mixed with the fascinating rock formations and cliffs makes for a dramatic scene. So it was an obvious choice for us when this gorgeous family requested their portraits be photographed at the beach.
Another wonderful feature of the Cove is that it borders the urban beauty of downtown La Jolla. This close proximity allows us to dramatically change the feel of our images by driving just a few blocks up from the beach to the beautiful brick buildings and chic sidewalks of La Jolla. The art and fashion district of La Jolla makes the perfect setting for a precious little girl to dance down the street in her purple tutu and jean jacket. These are a few of our favorites from the session. Hope you love them as much as we do mom and dad!
We are always looking for locations like this where we can get the best of both worlds without having to travel very far between the two. Do you have any favorite locations that you'd like to suggest we use for our portraits? Please let us know by leaving your comments here. Thanks! Nikkie of BlueFlair Photography
Our Ballerina
Alrighty – we're going to change up the blog a little, so instead of just sneak peaks, we're going to feature some contests, favorite picks, tips and tricks, and other things. We want to hear from you, too, so feel free to leave comments and weigh in on topics! We're also working to blend the blog with our Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace pages.
Subscribe if you want ongoing updates, come back often, or from time to time – we'd love to have you!
To start things off – we putting one of our popular portraits of a little peanut in the pink tutu. She's been popular on Facebook, and is just a cutie-patootie! Next month, we'll be featuring various favorites, and the one with the most comments will be deemed the winner – with that family (or couple) winning a complimentary 5×7 of the winning photo!


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Study Blames Freedom & Liberty for Gun Violence
John Locke, the Father of Classical Liberalism, formulated the concept of natural rights later enshrined in the Declaration of Independence.
Peter Squires┬Āof the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom told USA Today that ŌĆ£privacy and individualism is where some of the causes of crime and revenge can be foundŌĆØ and only collectivism and ŌĆ£informal social controlsŌĆØ presumably enforced by the state prevent violence.
// ]]>
The philosophy of American individualism is founded on natural rights going back to antiquity but more recently defined by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. The ideas set forth by Locke shaped the thinking of Thomas Jefferson and the founders and are at the heart of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and eloquently enumerated in the Declaration of Independence.
According to Squires and the collectivists, the end result of natural rights ŌĆō what many now call individualism ŌĆō is violence and chaos. For the collectivist, the individual has no rights and may be sacrificed to the whims and prerogatives of society and the state. Under collectivism, the state holds a violent monopoly on power and the individual is a slave.
Thus it stands to reason that the most populous authoritarian and collectivist nation in the world, China, would call for all Americans to be disarmed:
ŌĆ£The state news agency in China, the official voice of the government, has called for the United States to quickly adopt stricter gun controls in the aftermath of the shooting rampage in Connecticut that left 28 people dead, including 20 schoolchildren,ŌĆØ reports the┬ĀNew York Times.
Collectivist authoritarianism, however, is largely incapable of preventing violence by individuals. Last week in the village of Chengping in Henan Province a knife wielding man┬Āwounded 22 children and one adultoutside a primary school in central China as students were arriving for classes.
Lost in the debate and Mr. SquiresŌĆÖ study is the indisputable fact that the collectivist state is the most vicious perpetrator of violence. Millions died under the Red Terror and Great Purges in the Soviet Union (more than40 million┬Āalone under Stalin) and MaoŌĆÖs Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution (nearly┬Ā80 million killed).
Privacy and individualism are not ŌĆ£where some of the causes of crime and revenge can be found.ŌĆØ
That distinction is reserved for the state and its organized mass murder.
December 18, 2012


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Day 6 Wednesday April 4th 2012.
It was James' turn today to twist his own knobs after twisting Claytons for the last 3 days. It's slightly unconventional to record the guitars before the bass but it works for us. As you know James has a massive set a tone balls on him so it makes sense to lay down the rhythm guitars first, get them sounding good then slot James in his own space. If we play live and use sound engineers that we haven't worked with before we always say "Don't think of James as a bass player, he's just a guitarist that happens to play the bass". People get it after that.
We set a goal of recording 5 tracks today and messed around as usual with the amps available to us. We bought a Jansen Bassman 100 and Mesa Boogie 400+ down with us but once again it was the Hiwatt that created the snarling gank we're after.
James ripped into it and got on a roll doing great takes of Dune, Caul of Time, Imperium, Shadow King and Tower of Skulls. You may of read in an earlier post how some of the guitar takes are just 1 guitar going to multiple amps and speakers simultaneously to create a big sound. Usually you may overdub the guitar multiple times and pan them left and right but this time we James was the one doubling his bass tracks. The sound of a roaring bass in each ear and are ripping singular guitar down the middle was quite spectacular.
It was Clayton's turn for dinner so him and Matt visited a fantastic local fish shop and picked up some Groper, a fresh squid and a dozen Bluff oysters. We had a delicious "whores" pasta for dinner with pan fried fish, salt and pepper squid and the oysters.
Another thing about recording here in Dunedin is that the weather has been absolutely stunning. We're actually getting some sun which is a huge difference from how we were freezing our tits off on the last album. And over all the music is feeling different. There are more 'metal' sounding songs but also as James said last night "the not so metal songs are sounding so much heavier than the metal stuff".
After dinner we ticked the last rhythm guitar track of the list with Blood Becomes Fire and Matt finished the last of his guide vocal takes. We ending the night with some guitar overdubs adding texture to Tower of Skulls with a beautiful 12 string electric Rickenbacker but unfortunately a pretty important piece of gear decided to stop working so we had to call it a night early. I wonder if it has anything to do with what Dale said a night or so ago. "I know it sounds good because I can smell my gear working".
Hopefully we'll have this fixed in the morning and be able to continue on with the bass tracking.
Day 2 Saturday 31st March 2012.
Had a good listen back to yesterdays drum takes and happy with everything apart from Dune so we went back down to the basement studio and gave it another go. Nailed it the second time through and knocked out Caul of Time and Realms. A couple of songs we had planned to leave to recording later in the session ended up being recorded too. Slow burners Rivermen (a new arrangement of a song the we had recorded for the last album which was close but didn't quite make it) and one that at this stage is called The Sleeper, the name pretty much sums up the vibe of that one. The feel was right and the Vistalite drumkit is singing in the concrete room. I have thought of started a swear jar for every time the word "Bonham" pops into my head.
Dale cooked us a great pasta for dinner then we got picked up by Steve the Feastock organiser for our set at Refuel for the afterparty. It was pretty insane turning up and playing with no soundcheck after recording all day with such a focus on "perfection" and then just smashing it all out in front of a few hundred people.
Such great fun being in this band.


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Advocacy is a way of protecting your rights and getting help when dealing with organisations. It is founded on the belief that people are of equal value regardless of ability, wealth or status and therefore should get equal rights.If you find it hard or do not have the confidence to ask for appropriate services or make a complaint, advocacy services can help. They can:
Public Access will be unavailable on Sunday 5 October from 10am until 1pm due to essential work. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Official local authority website for Leeds providing information on local services.
© LCC Leeds City Council | 2013


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mastermenchi said...
Here is my problem with the event. Everyone saysit was an amazing feat of mmo gameplay etc, etc citing it as the best event the mmo industry has ever had.
The idea was a good one, i'll give it that. It however was poorly executed not because it didn't let players avoid it but because of the fact it penalized players for wanting to be the good guys and rewarded those that wanted to greif.
Zombies, could explode, infect, etc etc ultimately making them very powerful making everyone turn to zombies. Players who fought back got nothing out of it, there was no quests to defend their cities, no items to allow classes that couldn't stave off the plague to do that. And Shat was just plain broken to those of us that wanted to defend as you couldn't attack player zombies or cleanse guards. I mean seriously what was up with that?
If you're going to design an event that effects the entire world give people a reason to partake in both sides. Me as a player who had no interest in being a zombie and griefing was forced to leave towns/quest hubs for the simple fact that there was no reason to stick around. Why fight the zombies if the end result was nothing more then to be turned into one.
Also the community ruined the event for me as well. I had death threats, tells to f off, and other such equally pissed off players who felt it was their god given right to be a zombie and kill npcs and lowbies but when a 70 shows up who can cleanse disease and kill them to play out the good guy it is a horrible offense.


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I'm kind of sad that this is the end of Halloween Week. I really liked doing these recipes! I may have to spill over into next week a bit since I have a few more Halloween-y recipes left to try.
These little broom sticks were just too cute to pass up. Of course, mine don't look near as good as the source photo, but you get the idea.
Jesse loved them. He came down from his playroom, grabbed one and ran off. 3 minutes later he came back down and said "Mama, I'm just gonna take this whole plate to my room, ok? Thanks." And they were gone. He ate all 4. Of course he wanted no part of dinner an hour later, but whatever.
Ok guys, have a great weekend! We've got nothing going on (at least I don't think we do), so it should be nice and relaxing. SHOULD be...we shall see ;)
'Broom Sticks'
Source: Adapted from Be Different Act Normal
3 sticks of string cheese
6 pretzel sticks
Fresh chives
1. Using kitchen scissors, cut the ends off each string cheese stick (about 2 inches long).
2. Cut one end of the cheese into strips, being careful not to cut all the way to the top. Fan out cheese strips as best you can.
3. Take one side of the scissors and gently stick it into the uncut side of the cheese, to make a little hole for the pretzel. Slowly twist the pretzel stick into the hole, careful not to tear the cheese.
4. Tie a string of fresh chives around the top of each cheese piece. Enjoy!


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Name: Nanami Abe
Japanese: 阿部 菜渚美(あべ ななみ)
Birthdate: April 13th 1996
Bloodtype: O
Star Sign: Aries
Nickname: Nana, Abe-chan
Siblings: Older brother
Pet: Cat
Born in: Chiba-ken
Height: 167.5cm
Good point: My pace, optimistic
Bad point: No sense of direction, easily gets dazed
Favourite book/manga:
Favourite brand: CECIL McBee, LIZ LISA, INGNI
Favourite artists: AKB48
Favourite subjects: Arts, PE
Least favourite subjects: The other five subjects
Charm point: Dark eyes
Favourite food: Sweets, cotton candy
Disliked food: Eggplants, hot foods
♥ Jun 9th at 8PM / tagged: Nanami Abe. Seventeen Japan. profile. / reblog / 1 note
- fuckyeahseventeenjp posted this


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I\'ve been limited to a mouse gun (.380) in front pocket carry because I wear a dress shirt, tucked in, with no suit coat. I had tried a good tuckable IWB holster in the past, with no success.The problem i have, is that i cant find the right holster system for any of those guns.
i cant take off my jacket when it gets hot .
So please any suggestions would be very much appreciated
However, I decided to pick up a few sweater vests to see if it would work concealing IWB. I bought them slightly larger than I would have otherwise so that they hang loosely and extend lower, so that if I bend the vest does not ride up and expose the holster.
Now I\'m just using an inespensive IWB holster, carrying my Beretta Cougar .40, with the sweater vest covering and concealing it nicely.
I know others who wear a sweater vest under a suit or sport coat, so that when they take off the coat their IWB is still concealed.
If one of the good IWB rigs mentioned here or elsewhere solves your holster problem, the sweater vest as coverage might be an option.


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Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste, uses misleading facts and figures in his attempt to downplay the positive news in the recent "National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report." If Mr. Murray was genuinely interested in reducing waste, he would help recycling efforts by promoting the opportunity to recover recyclable household items such as toilet-paper wrap and bread bags — thanks to the infrastructure provided by retailers across U.S. to collect bags.
The annual recap of top trends and future outlook for the plastics caps & closures market features interviews with industry thought leaders and Bill Wood�s economic forecast of trends in growing end markets. You will also gain insight on trends in caps design, materials, machinery, molds & tooling and reviews of mergers & acquisitions.Learn more
Our special market report provides in-depth analysis of current trends and their financial impact on the pipe, profile and tubing extrusion industry in North America.
Economics editor, Bill Wood, forecasts market growth and industry thought leaders offer competitive insight on key issues and trends impacting PP&T processors.
This in-depth report analyzes economic and market trends, legislative/regulatory activity impacting supply and demand, business opportunities and threats, materials pricing, manufacturing technology, as well as growth strategies being implemented by thermoformed packaging companies.Learn more
January 14, 2015 - January 14, 2015Plastics in Automotive
February 4, 2015 - February 6, 2015Plastics News Executive Forum 2015More Events


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California Addiction Network provides personalized addiction treatment programs that are both effective and affordable. We focus on creating a private, individualized recovery program that's designed meet our client's specific needs.
With multiple locations throughout California, we are better able to identify and place our clients into customized treatment programs, addressing the unique challenges they face as they work towards recovering from various addiction issues.
Do You Need an Intervention?
If needed, we recommend and oversee professional interventions. With our caring staff of interventionists, we help to prepare a family to organize a successful intervention which will end with a client agreeing to enter into our detox and/or private addiction treatment program.
Do Need Drug and Alcohol Detox?
Depending on the substance(s) being abused, there may need to be a period of time needed for detoxification. It is important for drug and alcohol withdrawal to be supervised, because under the guidance of medical professionals a person can go through the detox process effectively and safely. We offer a safe and comfortable detoxification regimen which is facilitated by medical professionals who specialize in different types of addiction.
Individual and group therapy is the core of any person's recovery from addiction and it is how the process of change begins. Whether someone has an addiction to drugs or alcohol or an eating disorder is of no consequence, because the root of these issues are important and must be discovered in order to start the healing process. A client will learn to modify their behaviors and be able to make better choices and decisions. Through adopting new strategies for life, increasing one's self-esteem and raising self-awareness, counseling is at the core of treating any type of disorder. We can treat dual diagnosis, eating disorders, alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual addiction, gambling addiction, trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
In Treatment, Together We Heal
Before starting your rehabilitation program, together we will conduct a thorough assessment to ensure all your needs are met while in treatment.
During your assessment, together we will look at:
Circumstances or situations leading to addiction
Degree of dependence on the substance(s)
Triggers that push you to drug use
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After your rehabilitation counselors have a clear understanding of your needs, together we will carefully craft a treatment program that includes detoxification if needed, one on one therapy, group counseling and other activities to help you recover physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
It is very important for you to remember change does not happen quickly. It begins with seeking treatment and continues after you leave treatment, because each day you make a critical decision to lead a clean and sober life. The California Addiction Network helps to bridge the transition from addiction and helps a person return to society as a functional and healthy being. The road to recovery is long and filled with its challenges, but with our help, you can recover and go on to earn back your family's trust and have the meaningful and productive life you want.
Learn more about our different types of addiction treatment.


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How To Start a Compost Heap
Many of us recycle and reuse, but there's something vaguely intimidating about making the move to composting. I'll admit that I was guilty of hesitation, worrying about the smelliness of the endeavor and never entirely sure of what can and can't be composted in the first place. But after a bit of investigation and minimal effort, I've realized that composting is really easy, affordable, useful, and sustainable.
It promotes soil fertility, playing a key behind-the-scenes role for those vibrant and verdant outdoor spaces we all love, and it significantly reduces waste, making me feel much better about my ecological footprint. So if you're anything like I was, and you have doubts about the process or just don't know where to start, here are some tips to get you started.
Why: The purpose is to convert organic materials into compost for garden beds and potting soil. Composting recycles kitchen and yard waste, diverting up to 30% from the trash and consequently reducing landfill waste. Compost adds nutrients and introduces beneficial organisms to the soil, and helps promote plant growth.
Where: The first thing to do when starting a compost heap is to select a good location for it. You want to choose an area that's fairly level with good drainage (so the pile doesn't sit in standing water when it rains). Avoid windy areas, and try to find a location with half-day sun. If the heap gets too much direct sunlight, it will dry out, but if it's in heavy shade, it might not receive enough rain water, or it might remain over-moist. For your convenience, try to keep it close to a water source and at a convenient distance from the house, so you don't have to walk too far every time you want to add kitchen scraps. Finally, keep it away from dog areas, since pet waste can contaminate the heap, and don't place it in contact with wooden buildings, since the process of decomposition will attack the walls just as readily as the materials in the pile.
What: A good compost heap strikes a balance between nitrogen-rich green matter and and carbon-rich brown matter, all kept barely moist (a squeeze test should yield a few droplets of water, but no more). If a compost pile has too much wet, green vegetable matter, it can get rather smelly, and if it has too much dry, brown matter, it takes longer to decompose. Some composters recommend an even ratio of brown to green matter, while others recommend keeping the balance at 1/3 green matter, 2/3 brown. You can tweak the balance as you see fit, and sometimes it will vary depending on season.
What to compost:
• coffee grounds
• used tea
• leaves and stalks
• vegetable/ fruit trimmings
• grass clippings
• weeds
• straw or hay
• shredded paper
• manure (from herbivores)
• hair and fur
• wood chips
• dryer lint
• nut shells
• fireplace ashes
What NOT to compost:
• meat, fish, and their scraps and bones
• oily or greasy food and paper
• dairy products
• pet waste
• plants treated with herbicides
• coal or charcoal ash
• black walnut leaves or twigs
Materials will break down at a faster rate if the pieces are relatively uniform, so break any larger pieces of wood, etc., into smaller bits before adding them to the pile. Smaller particles also improve the pile's insulation, which will keep the core temperature warm enough to encourage maximum decomposition. The core of the pile can reach 140ºF because of microbial activity, and optimal decomposition occurs between 110º and 160º.
How: Once you've selected your location, start with a layer of straw or twigs, and then alternate moist and dry layers. Add a nitrogen source (like manure or clover) to activate the pile and to speed its decomposition process. When getting started, keep the layers relatively thin and uniform. Once the pile is active, you can add materials by burying them in the center or just incorporating them more fully when you turn the pile, but to get started, try to disperse the elements fairly evenly, as in the diagram below.
Covering the heap with pieces of wood, plastic tarp, or old carpet scraps will help it retain its moisture and heat, and it can also protect it from elements that might upset its balance (like too much rain).
To maintain care of your pile, water occasionally, or let the rain take care of it if you live in a place with sufficient rainfall. Again, you want to keep the pile barely moist, not soaked. Every week or two, give the pile a turn with a pitchfork or shovel to aerate it. If you aren't adding new material very frequently, you can turn it once every four or five weeks.
When: The time that your compost will be ready depends on the particularities of the heap, but generally, it's ready when the material at the bottom of the heap is dark and rich. With a pile started in the spring, it's probably safe to say that some compost would be ready by the fall.
For more in-depth directions, scientific information, and troubleshooting guidelines, here are a couple of helpful links:
• The United States Environmental Protection Agency
• University of Illinois Extension: Composting for the Homeowner
(Images: 1. Shutterstock, 2. University of Illinois Extension)
16 Comments
awesome and informative! for city-folks without the space for a compost pile of their own, here's another little compost trick: http://www.readingmytealeaves.com/2012/04/two-fifty-life-in-tiny-apartment.html
One key point often missed:
Do NOT compost oranges or lemons. They contain natural chemicals that will kill the bacteria you want in you compost heap. If you've been doing this, notice that the rarely if ever break down? That's why. These are actually bad for the heap.
Really well "working" compost piles steam. I only had this happen once. My former yard had tons of oak trees, and trying to compost those is a real pain. One time I got a huge mound of fresh grass clippings (we used a mulching mower, so I had to get them from a neighbor) and I soaked the leaves and mixed about equal amounts of grass and well watered "dry" oak leaves to fill a compost bin about 1 cubic yard. I threw in some yard fertilizer and dirt, mixed well, and waited. The quantity, moisture level, nutrients, etc must have been in balance, because that time it worked great.
Usually, though, it didn't work so well and the leathery oak leaves lasted year to year un-decomposed. Maple works better.
Another tip for urban folks: check with your city's environment department for programs that offer rebates on compost bin purchases. For example, the City of Chicago has a Sustainable Backyards Program which offers rebates for compost bins, rain barrels, native plants and trees. Happy composting!!!
Or you can just do what I do and take everything out there and throw it in!! I don't turn, I don't layer, I don't baby. Anything that's compostable is thrown in a pile. We used concrete blocks to form a bin so the dog doesn't view it as a giant dog dish. We probably have animal visitors at night but since I don't see them, I don't care. No it doesn't break down as quickly as one that is tended properly but I don't have the time to do everything the books say I should. Eventually I get enough compost to mulch around my plants and shrubs and it works for me. Plus I'm keeping compostable materials out of the landfill.
For those who are new at it, don't worry, it smells NICE! Yes, if done as mentioned in the post, it should smell sweet and earthy, like pine needles. I find that I don't even have to water mine as refrigerated veggies and fruits have lots of water in them already. I thought I would feel like I had done something nice for the planet after starting my compost pile, but it goes way beyond that. I have fallen in love with the damned thing.
Egg shells! A good source of Ca++ for the garden.
My DH is a life-long composter, and like Emmi, he loves our pile. Last summer I got chickens, and he never loved them so much as seeing how their dropping make the compost pile steam and produce lovely soil.
The most important part of layering is to prevent the heap from going anaerobic. We occasionally have problems with this if we put in too many grass clippings.
Sherrybinnh, what if you run over the oak leaves with your mulching mower? You probably have too many, but half of composting is getting the elements you put in small enough.
My own problem is keeping it moist enough, since I live in the desert. We finally figured out that we should put a dripper on it.
I am officially inspired!
I do have a silly question though. What kind of wood do I need to use to close the pile in? Also, the pile is flush against the ground right? It's not, ie. a raised bed you're using here?
Thanks for not laughing me off of here.
Like rntravelgnome I more or less ignore my compost and it doesn't smell too bad. It is under a shady tree about 12 feet away from our patio table and I can't smell it sitting there, even on a hot day. I toss in all sorts of forbidden items like citrus. I do have a magic bullet though - chicken poop and pine shavings from their nesting boxes. Ummmm...nitrogen. So, if you're thinking of giving it a try, know that you can be really lazy and still get good compost, it just takes longer. One thing I would warn against is adding mature weeds - their seeds won't break down and will sprout new weeds when you add it to your garden.
@ Girlblue, I think you can work with whatever resources you have at hand.
At my previous hand (with a huge back yard with tons of maple leaves that yielded over 80 brown bags of leaves each fall) I smartened up after a couple of years and I built a compost from scrap fence posts (which were sitting in metal spikes, so no digging) and scrap boards. The posts and the boards were used to create a rough frame and I ran plastic mesh (with about 1/2" eyelets) around it. Second layer was landscaping fabric (basically just to keep the all the stuff in one pile). THe front was had horizontally positioned boards that I could slide out (for an easy access). I used some screws and the mesh and the landscaping fabric were just stapled to the frame (My right hand hurt for about 3 days from all the stapling). It served me great for the remaining 3-4 years I stayed in the house and it turned most of the maple leaves into a wonderful compost. I basically used nothing but maple leaves and here and there some birch leaves.
Great tutorial, thanks. My family is excited about working on our gardens this spring, and a compost heap would be a good addition. We also have a good place to put one -- out of sight behind the garden shed.
Thanks! I have an old firepit that is dug into the ground but that we are no longer using. I have been stumped with ideas for how to re-purpose it. Problem is that It is about 5 feet from the corner where we let the dogs do their business. I am not sure if that is far enough? Any thoughts?
Do they attract critters? I imagine that skunks and raccoons must be very interested in compost piles...
By keeping dairy and meat out of the compost pile, you will make it less appealing to critters. And if the skunks and raccoons offer to turn your compost pile for you...
If you don't have yard space, there is now an indoor composter available that uses earthworms and is actually cute. It's called the City Bin. They are raising money on IndieGoGo now to go into production. I got one and can't wait to get it!
Here is the IndieGoGo site http://igg.me/p/84405/x/273821


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that is the thing i thought was fitting at that time. i guess its not very fitting now though. but it was... then. or it still could be fitting depending the context its read in. or if the time is still right. or not. but i still like it. so it is and always will be it.
Stuff I like
- Photo via lookbookdotnuPhoto via lookbookdotnu
- Photo via americanapparelPhoto via americanapparel


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Hi There!!
My Precious Daughter Princess.. She Has Been Through So Much Already And Has Still Came Out With Such An Outgoing Personality.. She Is Absolutely Beautiful In Every Single Way.. God Bless Her!!
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Ok, I'm going to explain this one more time:
There is no danger of a "false positive" in testosterone testing. This discussion is specific to Ryan Braun, but it's also the case in all modern sports testing. I thought I'd detailed this enough in my recent SI piece, but I guess it's worth making even more clear.
The initial testing done is a simple ratio. Anything over 4:1 of testosterone to epitestosterone triggers the second, more accurate and precise test. The ratio test isn't very accurate, which is why it is no longer used as a standalone. It used to be, until the secondary test (gas chromatography and isotope ratio) became widely available. But having a high ratio proves NOTHING; it simply triggers the more accurate test.
So why do the ratio test at all? The GC-IRMS test is expensive and time consuming. You (and the lab techs in Montreal) don't want to do hundreds of them. The ratio test is simply a way to spend time and resources on the cases that need that kind of time and attention.
So to summarize: T/E ratio is pretty accurate, but not to be relied on. Good enough to use as a trigger. Second test? Very, very, very accurate. False positives, like masking agents, remain one of the red herrings of drug testing.
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Police in Ferndale arrested a man they believe is tied to parking meter thefts in Northern Michigan.
They say 63-year-old Douglas Hastings had outstanding warrants from Traverse City and Petoskey.
Hastings is accused of breaking into meters in both Northern Michigan communities.
When police arrested Hastings, they arrested 48-year-old James O'Neil and 28-year-old Terry Craig for breaking into meters in Ferndale.
All three suspects are from Jackson.


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The Guild Wars 2 Secrets Guide has closed it's doors. If you still plan to get your hands on a comprehensive GW2 Guide, we highly recommend to take a look at Jeff's Zhaitan Guide
Guild Wars 2, set in the fantasy world of Tyria, has developed into one of the most popular MMORPG ( Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) seen in recent years.
Players have been drawn to the game because it offers them a unique challenge with its depth and intricacy.
Indeed, if there is any drawback it is that many players new to the game find it difficult to grasp its many complexities and can struggle to advance.
Clearly what has been needed is a step-by-step Leveling guide to help those rookie players, and save them both the time and frustration of trying to gain an understanding of the complex rules.
Click here to visit Jeff's Guild Wars 2 Zhaitan Guide
Learn From A Pro Gamer
What those new to Guild Wars 2 really needed was the opportunity to learn from a professional gamer who has hundreds of hours experience with the game.
The good news is that one such pro has created just that. Guild War 2 Secrets Guide has been created by top gamer Brad Johnson.
As more and more people sought his advice on how to play the game, he realized he was in a unique position to help others achieve the same enjoyment he got from Guild Wars 2. His in depth Strategy guide gives players of any skill level the opportunity to benefit from his own comprehensive knowledge.
So what can you expect to gain from this guide?
Find your Profession
Firstly let's have a brief overview of the game itself. As a new player you will choose a character from the eight professions and five races available. Each profession and race with offer the player both benefits and drawbacks when advancing within the game.
The Secrets Guide offers detailed information on each profession and provides tips and insider knowledge on the pros and cons of each one.
By having a deeper understanding of each profession, through the Guild Wars 2 Secrets Guide, you will have the chance to properly identify with your profession of choice and enhance your enjoyment of the game.
The Secrets of Dynamic Events
Once, with the guides help, you have established your chosen profession you can begin to participate in dynamic events. These are the equivalent of quests and help to increase skills and move you through the levels. However, for the new gamer deciding which dynamic events to participate in can create problems.
You may find yourself jumping from one event to another as you attempt to move through the game. The Guild Wars 2 Secrets Guide helps the gamer to systematically organize his strategies for choosing a dynamic event.
This will help to speed up your process through the game and save you wasting time on every level.
Even more Unique Features inside The Guild Wars 2 Secrets
Because of the complexities found in Guild Wars 2, Brad Johnson has included other unique features in his guide that will quickly help turn you from green newbie to seasoned pro. They are:
The Gold Gatherers Bible: This gives those new to Guild Wars 2 a good grounding in the economics found within the game.
At the same time it will also reveal the best way to collect the gems and credits found in the game. You will also discover the places containing these items and the strategies you should employ in order to obtain them.
Power Leveling Guide: This could well be the most important section of the whole guide. Of course everyone who joins the game is looking to move up the levels as quickly as possible.
This section of the guide will offer some of the "tricks of the trade" and show you how to unlock the skills needed to level successfully.
Leveling can be tough because it is different for each profession. Here you learn what you need to know for your own specific profession, over the long run this can save you an incredible amount of time.
All in all this Guild Wars 2 Manual contains 80,000 words and has everything the ambitious new player needs to advance. It also includes graphics and maps that help you easily grasp the concepts being explained.
It contains a mass of tips and strategies all designed to help you move through each level and quickly become a serious player. For those who hate to waste time figuring everything out and want to progress quickly, this guide is a must have addition to your library.


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Beginning at 6 a.m. this morning, eager residents hit polling locations all across the township, from 36 different districts, to cast their vote in local and state races. Those working at the polls have said people come in drips and drabs throughout the day to cast their vote. So far, we've checked out Adamsville Primary School and the People Care Center, and, although turnout has so far been small, there are still people coming with opinions about the importance of voting.
Bridgewater resident John Best said he votes in every single election, and doesn't understand those who don't. He said he does, however, expect to see a slightly larger turnout this year than most because of the state of the economy.
"I think government control is getting out of hand," he said. "So I vote for whoever looks to not increase government, both in Congress and locally."
Gabe Didario, of Bridgewater, said he came out to vote for whoever was running against Republican Congressional incumbent Leonard Lance because he doesn't like how Lance is spending money.
"I wanted to vote for someone who I think could save us money," he said. "I don't like our taxes going up so high."
Didario said he likes what Gov. Chris Christie has been doing, and does not believe Lance holds the same views.
"I don't think Lance is in the same boat as the governor," he said. "And I like what the governor is doing."
Check back continuously for updates from other polling locations around the township.


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Utilities Lawyers and Law Firms in Milan, Italy
Utilities Lawyers
Bonelli Erede Pappalardo
Italian Business Law Firm+39 02 771131
Bonelli Erede Pappalardo offers a full range of legal services that includes: Corporate, Banking, Tax, EU and Domestic Antitrust/Competition, Energy, Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Administrative Law, Domestic and International Litigation and Arbitration, and, Labor/Employment.
Law Firm's Overview
DLA Piper
Global Law Firm+39 02 806181
DLA Piper became one of the largest legal service providers in the world in 2005 through a merger of unprecedented scope in the legal sector. While large in scale, the merger strategy was simple – to create an international legal practice capable of taking care of the most important...
Law Firm's Overview
Canella Camaiora Studio LegaleMilan, Italy
Intellectual and Industrial Property Law Firm in Milan, Italy+39 02 97383076
Pedersoli e AssociatiMilan, Italy
Coprorate M&A, Litigation, Private Equity, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Antitrust, Tax+39 02 30305 1
Pedersoli e Associati law firm was founded in the late 1950's by Alessandro Pedersoli and has over fifty years of history within the Italian legal market. The Firm has always been recognised as a leading Italian independent law firm capable of offering an effective combination of high quality legal...
Puopolo Geffers & PartnersMilan, Italy
International Corporate & Renewable Energy Law Firm+39 02 76013359
Puopolo Geffers & Partner(PGP) is an international independent law firm providing legal and consulting services to corporations in Italy and abroad. Our multi-practice team offers a full range of advice in finance, commercial transactions, corporate law and dispute resolution. The international...
Studio Legale Pecoraro-TravostinoMilan, Italy
Providing National and International Legal Services+39 27 631 6623
Studio Mazzoni e AssociatiMilan, Italy
Full-Service Law Firm in Italy+39 (02) 7602-5707
The practice of Studio Mazzoni e Associati is principally devoted to Italian and international corporate and business matters with special emphasis on banking, finance and insurance, EU and domestic media and telecom law. The Association has also an extensive litigation practice and a securities...


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By MSN NZ Money staff
Thousands of people's credit card details have been stolen by thieves who hacked into cash machines at a carpark in Auckland.
Thieves have targeted the Downtown carpark for a long time, possibly even years according to the New Zealand Herald.
Tens of thousands of credit cards could have been placed at risk and need to be replaced.
It is unknown whether the thieves are local or from overseas as they could have attached a skimming device to the payment machines or hacked into the devices' credit-card database internally from anywhere in the world.
Police were alerted to the illegal operation when banking systems picked up that the Auckland City Council-owned carpark was a common point of purchase on fraudulent card transactions.
Westpac Bank is investigating the fraud and media relations manager Craig Dowling said potentially affected cards were being proactively replaced as a precautionary measure.
"Should any credit card holders notice any irregular credit-card transactions on their account, we ask they contact their bank directly," Mr Dowling said.
Generally, banks and credit card companies do not make customers liable for fraudulent transactions.
The council has stopped accepting payment through the machine credit-card facilities at the Downtown carpark, as well as the Victoria St and Aotea carparks, which they also own.
Drivers can still pay by credit card at the cashiers' booths.
Westpac, Mastercard, Visa and other service providers are dealing with the issue.
Only 10 days ago the Auckland City police financial crime unit warned users of cash machine to watch out for another round of "skimming" as three incidents where devices were attached to ATMs and security details of customers had been acquired were reported.
The ATMs were in Ponsonby Rd, Karangahape Rd and in the Hamilton suburb of Dinsdale.
Tips to avoid credit card fraud
1. Don't let your credit card out of your sight watch the transaction take place
2. Never give your card to anyone who calls and asks for it or never respond to emails that request you provide your credit card info via email
3. Don't give out your details on a website that isn't a secure site
4. Never leave your card unsigned sign it as soon as you get it
5. Don't write your PIN number on your credit card or carry it in your wallet
6. Shield your credit card number so that it can't be copied or captured on a mobile phone
7. Only carry around cards that you absolutely need
8. Scrutinise all bills and make sure charges are correct and immediately report any you don't recognise
9. If your credit cards are lost or stolen, contact the issuer(s) immediately
10. Never lend your card to anyone
Read more: business news
' +


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Dennis Laborada asks:
I had plastic surgery on my nose about 7 or 8 years ago. Would I be able to have another nose job again to have my nose reshaped to my liking without any complications?
On: 11/29/2012 01:56 pm
To doctors from: D.C.
Category: Face
DrCsabaMagassy on 02/15/2013 04:37 pm wrote:
Dear Dennis: A secondary rhinoplasty is very doable..Just make sure you chose a plastic surgeon that is very comfotable with the procedure....Acces my web site for more info...


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Wow! What a fine couple of weeks we have been enjoying. Storm after storm pummeled the west ridge resulting in over 100 inches and whopping huge smiles. All our favorite zones are open at Alpine Meadows, filled with deep powder. Even as temps start to rise, there is still plenty of fine powder available. Thanks Mother Nature and Alpine Meadows for one of the best Decembers ever!
See you on the hill.


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- Can I buy books and materials for my home group from Recovery Superstore?
Of course. We carry conference approved literature for a large variety of 12 step groups at great prices. Plus, we ship same day on most orders!
- I represent a Treatment Center /Sober Living Facility / Institution. Can I use a purchase order?
Absolutely. We offer terms to our institutional clients. Feel free to call our credit department at 1-866-526-1777 to learn about the process.
- Will you special order materials for Treatment Facilities / Sober Living Facilities / Institutional Clients?
Yes. We set ourselves apart with our commitment to providing the best service, discounts, and shopping experience for our Institutional Clients. We strive to serve the needs of these clients in every way possible. We will make every effort to keep those materials in stock for future purchases as well.
- I do not see a specific title I am looking for. What should I do?
Email us with the title and author name and we will do our best to fill your request.
- I know someone with a drinking problem / affected by someone else's alcoholism. What book would you recommend?
If you have visited our 12 step fellowship category and are still unable to determine the best selection, feel free to call us at 1-866-526-1777. We would be happy to make a recommendation based on your needs.
- If I join your mailing list will you share my information with others?
Absolutely not. Anonymity is good for everyone. Those who subscribe to our email list will receive periodic updates on new books and products, new site features, and valuable discount coupons. We do not share or sell our client's information to 3rd party companies.
Don't see the answer to your question? Feel free to email us.


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Start learning with our library of video tutorials taught by experts. Get started
Award-winning photographer Jim Sugar shows how to shoot outdoors during twilight, balancing strobe output with natural light.
Demonstrates the use of off-camera wireless strobes to light a product shot, and provides tips that apply to product shots of all kinds.
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British Broadcasting CorporationHome
|Clip description
An insight into the value of the English language to Indian school pupils
Duration: 03:14
The value of the English language in the Indian education system including the access it gives pupils to a successful career.
BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.


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By Luxpresso | February 2, 2013, 10:11 am IST Art & Culture
Alila Diwa Goa isn't conducive to any form of stress or worry, but if there are any remnants of such, then the skilled team at the spa will knead it out of you. Guests can customise treatments including massages, facials, body wraps, body scrubs and a choice of Asian and Western therapy techniques. We'd definitely recommend the Balinese body massage which uses products made from Bali's fruits, herbs, spices and indigenous plants.


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State senator renews push for Sunday liquor sales
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Duluth lawmaker is pushing a bill that would legalize liquor sales on Sundays, even though he admits its chances are slim.
Sen. Roger Reinert says consumers have wanted the change for years, the Star Tribune ( http://bit.ly/11Gi44R ) reports.
The bill's opponents, including the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, say the change would cause problems for liquor stores.
Are you a newspaper subscriber but you don't have a Digital Access account yet? https://secure.forumcomm.com/?publisher_ID=40&event=subscriber/lookup.
You will need your subscription account number and phone number. Not sure if you have an account? Email us at email@example.com and we can help you.


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Out-dated business models create waste
Look out for the organizational pitfalls that diminish profit and productivity in today's business world
By Chris Majer
Contemporary management theory and practice have ill prepared us to calibrate our enterprises to be competitive in the modern business world, which has been undergoing major tectonic shifts in recent years. Sadly, most business leaders are meeting these changes with puny, incremental or entirely misdirected responses.
One critical thing that modern leaders must do is develop a new way to think about waste – that it is not a thing, but an interpretation. In other words, waste is not trash to be thrown out; it refers to the phenomena that diminish our capacity to do what matters to us. In the business world, waste kills productivity and profitability. What constitutes waste is situationally defined at specific points in time. What was wasteful yesterday may or may not be wasteful tomorrow. The wastes that have concerned the business world for the last 50 years (e.g., wasted movement, wasted time and wasted resources) are products of the traditions of the Industrial Revolution, particularly mass production. We no longer live in that world. We must now focus our attention on eliminating six "modern" wastes, the new pitfalls we must avoid to achieve productivity and profitability.
Pitfall 1: Degenerative moods
A mood is a predisposition for action. As human beings, moods are an inescapable aspect of life. Our moods are the bases upon which we assess the world, and from which we move in the world. All the variations of moods fall into one of two categories: generative and degenerative. Moods either do or do not generate possibilities, but it is in the world of possibilities that new futures are invented. Today, however, too many organizations are in the grip of degenerative moods. The workplace culture is often marked by some combination of distrust, resentment, resignation, cynicism, arrogance and/or complacency. Degenerative moods can lead to a wide range of unproductive behaviors, which, in turn, waste vast quantities of resources while leaders are forced to work around or attempt to correct them. Degenerative moods are tremendous, yet invisible, killers of productivity and profitability. People simply cannot, or will not, perform to potential when their work environments are negative, unhappy places. Contemporary management theory rarely recognizes the importance of moods and the impact they can have on productivity and profitability. Much has been written about morale, but current corporate wisdom has little to offer beyond citing motivation and engagement at work, strategies that have proven to be largely ineffective. Data from Gallup indicate that a whopping 71 percent of American workers are "not engaged" or "actively disengaged" in their work. This means they are unhappy with their organizations, emotionally disconnected from their workplaces, and less likely to be productive. Gallup reports that employee disengagement costs American companies about $350 billion annually. Mood isn't the only thing affecting workplace performance, but, if you don't get this right, nothing else you do is going to matter. No other structural change can overcome deeply entrenched, degenerative moods.
Pitfall 2: Listening vs. hearing
To truly listen does not mean merely hearing or paying attention. Listening is a type of active interpretation that shapes our realities. The often unrecognized skill of listening is critical in the new business world. By creating and/or tolerating workplace conditions in which people cannot effectively listen to one another, we kill productivity and profitability. The lack of listening can be the result of degenerative moods, in addition to technology (which can make it difficult for some people to actually talk to others), or just a lack of competence in verbal skills. Whatever the reason, when people do not listen to one other, it becomes all but impossible to accomplish anything significant or make effective changes. According to the International Listening Association, more than 35 studies have shown that listening is a top skill needed for success in business. Yet, less than two percent of professionals have had formal training related to improving their listening skills. Too many organizations today have nurtured a range of practices in which creativity, innovation and the open expression of our thoughts and feelings about our work and futures are ignored or spurned. Thus, lack of listening is a tremendous source of waste.
Click here to read this story in our Digital Edition


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CHICAGO (AP) - A.J. Burnett pitched into the ninth inning and Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin homered to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.
Burnett (4-6) gave up four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 8 1-3 innings to improve to 5-0 at Wrigley Field.
The Pirates tagged Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (3-7) for eight hits, including Alvarez's two-run home run in the fourth, his team-high 13th of the year. The right-hander struck out seven in six innings.
Martin's homer in the eighth off reliever Hector Rondon was the 100th of his career.
Alfonso Soriano hit his 379th career home run for the Cubs, tying him with Orlando Cepeda and Tony Perez for 64th on the all-time list.
Follow @fox32news
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Home > Our Issues > Health Care & Reproductive Rights > Health Care Reform > Expanding Health Coverage > We've Got You Covered: What Women Need To Know About Health Care Enrollment
We've Got You Covered: What Women Need To Know About Health Care Enrollment
September 20, 2013
The health care law—sometimes called Obamacare—will make health coverage more affordable and easier to obtain for millions of American women. Starting in October, millions of American women will be able to enroll in new, affordable insurance, with coverage effective as early as January 1, 2014. In each state, women will be able to choose a high quality plan that covers important health services like maternity care, prescription drugs, and preventive health services. These resources provide women and their families with information about the new health coverage options available through a Health Insurance Marketplace in their state.
FAQs & Fact Sheets
- New Health Coverage for Women
- We've Got You Covered: FAQs on Health Care Enrollment
- We've Got You Covered: FAQs on Health Care Enrollment (In-Depth Answers)
I Am a Woman Profile Series
- I'm an Uninsured Woman
- I'm an Uninsured Woman with a Pre-Existing Condition
- I'm a Young Uninsured Woman
- My Family is Uninsured
- I'm a Woman Who Has health Insurance, But It's Too Expensive or Inadequate
- I'm a Woman Who Buys My Own Insurance
- I'm a Woman Who Owns a Small Business
- I'm a Woman Insured Through an Employer
Toolkit for Advocates
New Health Coverage Options for Women in Your State
Click on the map to find out about how the law will impact your state.


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Photos: 10 things to do in New Orleans
Ravens and 49ers fans are ready to rush New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII, emptying their pockets for tickets to the big game and scrambling for a seat on an available flight. With travel packages going for thousands of dollars, you'll want to make your stay in the Big Easy well worth it - that means seeing something beyond the inside of the multimillion-dollar refurbished Mercedes-Benz Superdome. We've come up with 10 things for football travelers to see and do in New Orleans.
For more information on lodging, restaurants, attractions and Mardi Gras, go to neworleanscvb.com. For details and schedules on the Super Bowl, go to neworleanssuperbowl.com.
-Reuters and Tribune Newspapers contributed to this article.
Image 9 of 10
Frenchmen Street( Chris Granger, New Orleans CVB Photo / August 30, 2011 )
Forget Bourbon Street. Ask anyone here who knows anything about music and they'll tell you to head to Frenchmen Street (and the surrounding area) and its warren of live-music clubs. It's about a 15-minute walk from Bourbon Street, but it is light-years away. You'll find rockabilly, bluegrass, R&B, jazz, blues, Latin music, hip-hop, rock 'n' roll and more in the numerous venues that line a two-block stretch. Well-known musicians, including Ellis Marsalis and Charmaine Neville, show up regularly. The drinks are cheap and cover charges minimal.
Above: A band plays at the Spotted Cat, one of several clubs along Frenchmen Street in New Orleans.