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At Varanasi, they whisper to the fish and set them free in the water.
I'd come to the Ghats to watch the sunrise, an event that was turning out to be more spectacular than I had imagined. Ahead of me, the sun spilled molten gold onto the calm waters of the Ganga. Majhis (boatmen) were ferrying passengers across in similar-looking rowboats, their silhouettes adding to the drama. A million seagulls circled above the boats, their squawks accompanying the sound of temple bells and the chants of worshippers performing pooja on the stone steps. Men and women were bathing in the holy waters, their faith shielding them from the biting cold of a winter morning. Wash away our sins, mother…
From the high octagonal stone platform I was sitting on, everything seemed surreal.
A while ago, I had bid goodbye to Pooja, a young engineer from Poona who was sharing the platform with me. She had come to the ghats with her brother and sister-in-law, and was kind enough to click a picture of me for memory. We had found each other on Instagram, and parted with vague promises to keep in touch.
I sat there alone for a long time afterward, at peace with the world that was bustling around me.
As I got up to leave, I saw a couple of Muslim men – father and son, presumably – carrying transparent yellow plastic bags, making their way to where I was sitting. I noticed that the bags held water, with small, black, live fish in them. I stopped in my tracks.
"Are those fish?" The father ignored me. Talk about stating the obvious.
The son nodded.
"What are they for?"
"To be released in the Ganga," he mumbled without looking at me.
"To be…what! Why?"
"Why? Because…" He looked at his father, but the old man did not help. Then he turned and met my eyes. "...where else do fish belong except with Ganga Maiyya?"
Where else indeed.
I followed them as they went to the edge of the platform, asking their permission to click pictures. The son looked at his father again. Though the old man decidedly turned his back on me, the son did not seem to mind. I decided to take their silence for consent, but maintained an unobtrusive distance.
They sat down and carefully opened the bags. The older man took each bag separately, brought it close to his face and blew softly into it. Then both the father and the son gently took the fish one by one in their palms and dropped it into the water. That done, they got up and left.
No one gave a second glance. Except me, that is.
Later, I came to know that this is a sadka, a ritual performed by the members of the weaving community regardless of their faith. Meant to ward off evil, to protect their person and property.
Protect us, mother, protect our livelihood. You, who are all-accepting, all-forgiving. You who do not distinguish between humans and their faiths. Guard us against evil, Mother. Within and without…
A prayer or two, breathed into the slim, dark bodies of a dozen fishes. To be carried to the heart of a mighty river brimming with the desperate pleas of generations and lifetimes. Of the living and the dying, the hopeful and the hopeless.
Down there in her womb, these prayers too would feed on human sins and grow. As guardians, protectors. Shielding mortals from themselves…


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Tenmile Creek Excavating, LLC. © 2012 Terms and Condtions of Use
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Cold milling is the controlled removal of asphalt pavement to a desired depth in order to restore a pavement surface to a desired grade and slope.
Most of our milling square yardage is for surface removal of asphalt from 2" to 5" deep, however; we have the capability of milling 8" deep in one pass. In addition, we offer the specialized services listed to the right.
Utilizing our smaller milling equipment, we are able to remove small pavement areas efficiently
With our mills, we are able to cut narrow trenches in asphalt pavements for items such as edge repairs
Using a milling drum with more teeth and a tighter spacing to plane asphalt. We are able to remove pavement depths or 1" or less

subset: commoncrawl


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The Naked Truth About Celebrity Photo Spreads
It's been a hectic month and I've been behind on my magazine reading, so I was delighted to have a chance to catch up on all the fashion and beauty news during a much-needed trip to the pedicurist last week. Once comfortably situated with my feet in the bath and the chair set to "massage," I picked up the May issue of Allure. Lindsay Lohan was on the cover, complete with photoshopped freckles and the tag line "I was a Bit... Irresponsible," which was humorous considering the interview occurred last year and she was doing damage control on an event that's been eclipsed by the 12 even bigger mistakes she's made since then.
As I flipped through pages of nondescript beauty advice (Allure is the Cosmopolitan of beauty, with the same features, interviews and advice every month), I stopped short on page 231, where Vanessa William's perfectly round, smooth and naked ass appeared to emanate a soft glow. On the opposite page, Carla Gugino (yeah, I didn't know who she was either) stared seductively at the camera with her hand touching her bedroom hair, wearing nothing but a fishing net. Had I accidentally picked up the latest Maxim or GQ? What was this nudie spread doing in my beauty magazine?
I searched around for some text that might explain the purpose of such an erotic spread. I know the Europeans reading this right now are saying "what a prude!" but by American standards, this is sexually charged magazine fare. Here is a snippet from the brief introduction, written in tiny type next to a page and a half full color photograph of Kristen Chenoweth humping a log on the beach:
Try as I might, I could find no purpose to this article, except that Allure might have been hoping to encourage the boyfriends and younger brothers of their readers to steal the issue. Now, I can admire a nude woman's beauty as much as any other straight girl (I'm an art history major as well, so it's like a second job), but this spread did nothing for me. And when I flipped to the next page, where the headline "GET A BETTER BODY" screamed out at me, I even got a little angry. Was the point to make readers compare their bodies to those of Cassie, Marley Shelton and co. and then feel bad enough to buy the products advertised in the magazine, so we'll look and feel better? Thanks, Allure.
About 90 pages earlier in the issue is the "Total Makeover" feature, in which three women are followed as they undergo long-term makeovers to lose weight and improve their looks overall. Each month, they're photographed in a different outfit, next to a box featuring their before and after weight stats. But just as every magazine loves a dramatic before and after shot, all three women are pictured standing in a swimsuit at their highest weight, weakly smiling as every dimple, saddlebag and scar is present for the whole world to see. They don't appear to be wearing makeup, and have certainly never seen the touch of a photo editor's mouse. Seems a bit unfair, don't you think?


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Soylent Green is High in Protein
Global grain yields have tripled since 1950 through the use of improved crop varieties and modern crop management techniques, but elevated CO2 may put an end to this Green Revolution. In the past 50 years, atmospheric CO2 has risen from 315 to 392 ppm. If anthropogenic CO2 production continues to accelerate, atmospheric CO2 may exceed 950 ppm by the end of the century.
Many have claimed that high atmospheric CO2 will increase crop productivity worldwide. High atmospheric CO2 does increase photosynthesis which can result in greater plant growth and yield, but research from the University of California suggests CO2 fertilization could negatively impact food production.
Protein in all animal life originates from inorganic nitrogen assimilated by plants and algae. At elevated CO2, plant nitrate assimilation is inhibited. Many studies have shown a drop in grain protein content at CO2 levels of only 500 ppm. At 950 ppm CO2 grain protein content decreases could be large enough to spur a global protein crisis.
With human population expected to reach 15 billion by 2100, humans will have to turn to alternative sources of protein. Unfortunately, the decrease in plant protein content is not limited to grain crops. High atmospheric CO2 also decreases leaf protein in most plant species. This decrease in forage crop protein at elevated CO2 will negatively impact the animals humans currently consume.
As land plant and mammal protein content declines, humans in the twenty second century may have to turn to unconventional sources of protein.
Ocean farming may become a viable alternative to conventional ranching and agriculture as it does not require arable land or fresh water and algae protein content is relatively unaffected by elevated atmospheric CO2. High-energy plankton farms may be the best source of protein for future generations.
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Soylent Green is High in Protein
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Your Brain on Coffee
Dear Yoga Student,
As a former coffee junkie, I've become obsessed with researching how long-term, heavy caffeine intake affects us…
… and it's pretty interesting stuff. The reason I'm so interested in this is because it's completely socially acceptable to down 2-5 caffeinated beverages a day, and many people drink nothing but caffeine all day long.
What about just a little? Or just once and awhile? Probably no big deal except that when you don't have it, your brain LACKS blood flow.
You move faster, but your brain is only able to do simple tasks – not high level thinking. This video shows before/after brain scan to see what a coffee drinker's brain looks like when she misses her morning brew.
Stay bendy,
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
p.s. I'm really surprised at how effective Liquid Energy-B is for NATURAL energy boost.


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2010 world vault champion Thomas Bouhail (France) publicly accused doctors of medical negligence, nearly six months after the Christmas Eve accident that may have cut short his brilliant gymnastics career.
On Dec. 24, Bouhail suffered a broken tibia and torn knee ligaments in a fall off high bar. He held a press conference Friday afternoon, speaking publicly for the first time about the incident that nearly cost him his left leg.
"I was taken to the hospital at noon but operated only on at 9 p.m.," he said. "After that I felt pain in my left foot. But they told me that it was post-operative pain. On Sunday and Monday, I felt completely abandoned by the doctors. As much as I cried I was hurting, nobody came to help me."
Instead of his leg healing, the tissue began to die — a process known as necrosis — due to a critical lack of blood supply to the cells, he said.
"I had a Doppler scan on Tuesday, and immediately I was operated on again, twice," Bouhail said. "By Wednesday I knew my injury was very, very serious. The doctors told us they were going to try to save my leg. It almost got amputated as a result of these two days of abandonment."
Bouhail said he spent a "horrible four weeks" in the hospital, undergoing multiple surgeries to save his leg. Assisted by crutches, the 25-year-old Bouhail still is unable to walk normally today.
"I almost lost my leg," he said. "It's a miracle it was saved. I've undergone 15 operations and they've taken a lot of my muscle. Today, I still cannot lift my foot."
Bouhail's lawyer, Jean-Christophe Coubris, said the staff at hospital Bégin in Saint-Mandé was lax due to the Christmas holiday.
"The leg was not vascularized during the first 48 hours [leading to the necrosis]," Coubris said. "Examinations that should have been made were not, except for the Doppler scan. It is extremely questionable. Even though it was a Sunday and Dec. 25, it should be treated like any other day. Thomas Bouhail now wants an explanation. He's filed a case to the regional commission for conciliation and compensation of medical malpractice."
Coubris said the hearing will take place in approximately two months, when Bouhail had expected to be preparing for his second Olympic Games. A board of experts will determine if there is sufficient evidence for a lawsuit, the lawyer said.
Bouhail is France's only world champion in modern gymnastics history. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, he tied Poland's Leszek Blanik for the high score in the vault final, but was bumped to the silver medal because of tie-breaking rules. He won vault at the 2009 and 2011 European Championships.
Bouhail said he has been in "shock" over the developments, but he's now ready to share the extent of his physical and emotional suffering.
"It's been a terrible shock," he said. "When I came back from surgery and I saw that I still had my leg, it was a relief, yes. But I felt very depressed. I had to seek help from a psychologist. Today I felt ready to talk, but the words are very difficult to get out. Because of this negligence, this is the end point of my career. Even if, deep down, there is still some hope."
Said Bouhail, "Today, I'm not training to be an Olympic champion, but trying to teach myself how to walk normally."
External Link: Thomas Bouhail Official Website | Official Facebook Page
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The leftist USA Today reports on Obama's tough response to terrorist attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota.
A high-level presidential directive signed Wednesday puts climate change at the center of decision-making on national security, requiring agencies to consider current and future climate trends in all "relevant national security doctrine, policies, and plans."
President Obama has long argued that climate change is a national security issue, and the White House trumpeted the memorandum as an "historic step to address the national security implications of climate change."
But the policy changes are mostly evolutionary, following no fewer than three executive orders directing federal agencies to take climate change into consideration when adopting policies.
The eight-page presidential memorandum carries the same force of law within the federal government as an executive order, and its policies will carry over into the next administration unless explicitly rescinded by the next president. In fact, the first agency implementation reports required under Obama's order aren't due until February — the month after Obama leaves office. It also sets up a panel, headed by the president's national security adviser and chief science adviser, to catalog data on climate change and its effects — and giving intelligence agencies more of a role in analyzing climate data.
We have real problems with real Islamic terrorists, and the President is concerned with global warming. I guess Obama's top campaign donors didn't get enough taxpayer money from "stimulus" grants to their (now bankrupt) green energy companies (e.g. – Solyndra) the first time around. I can tell you this: when I go to a shopping mall or walk around downtown, it's not the global warming monster that I am afraid of: it's the radical Islamic terrorists. Why doesn't our government understand this?
Other countries DO understand this, though.
When the UK sees terrorist attacks, they do their job – protect the public from terrorist attacks.
The UK Telegraph reports:
Britain's top spy has warned that terrorist groups like so-called Islamic State pose a "persistent threat" that is set to last a "professional lifetime".
It comes as intelligence agencies are set to recruit more spies, with MI6 said to be getting another 1,000 staff over the next five years.
In a rare public appearance, Alex Younger, the head of MI6, insisted Britain had made significant improvements in the way it tackles terrorism but admitted there was little sign of the "enduring" danger disappearing soon.
[…]Asked if the terror threat from groups like IS and al Qaida had reached its apex, Mr Younger said: "I would like to be optimistic about this but we have got quite long experience of this phenomena now and I see it very much as the flip side to some very deep-seated global trends, not least of all globalisation, the reduction of barriers between us.
"It's a function also of the information revolution and the capacity for ideas to travel. It is fuelled by a deepening sectarian divide in the Middle East and there are some deep social economic and demographic drivers to the phenomenon that we know as terrorism.
"Allied with the emergence of state failure this means that, regrettably, this is an enduring issue which will certainly be with us, I believe, for our professional lifetime."
Last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review said £2.5bn was being invested in security and intelligence agencies with an additional 1,900 staff to ensure they have "the resources and information they need to prevent and disrupt plots against this country at every stage".
I wouldn't have a problem paying taxes to a government that actually believed that it was important to not let terrorists kill me. But clearly my taxes are being wasted by this administration. They have been so clouded by fanciful faith-based ideology that they are incapable of doing their jobs.


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The UN Treaty Series Collection (UNTC) online is now be accessible without subscription. The UNTC homepage now offers access to all the databases via a single generic username/password.
Username: treaties
Password: 12345
This collection includes the following categories of treaty-related data:
* Status of Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General
* Depositary Notifications (CNs) by the Secretary-General
* Certified True Copies (CTCs) of Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General
* The United Nations Treaty Series
* The
* Texts of Recently Deposited Multilateral Treaties
* Photographs of Treaty Signature Ceremonies
* Titles of the Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General in the UN
official languages
* Summary of Practice of the Secretary-General as Depositary of Multilateral Treaties
* Treaty Handbook
* Handbook of Final Clauses
* Monthly Statements of Treaties and International Agreements
* United Nations Treaty Series Cumulative Index
* Notes verbales from The Legal Counsel relating to the depositary practice and the registration of treaties pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter


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Batman in Chiba Prefecture : Chibatman!?
The video of Batman in Japan, posted on SNS, has gone viral. Batman rides his custom built tri-motorcycle and shows up around the streets in the Chiba prefecture. His video has not only became popular in Japan, but also oversees. The international media has also featured "Chiba Batman" on their news programs. Here are some videos of Chibatman bringing smiles to the locals of the Chiba prefecture!
ChiBatman in Chiba, Japan
Meet Japan's Batman – Chibatman a real life Dark Knight- BBC News
Batman Japan – Meet Chibatman, Japan's Dark Knight!


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Building a home is certainly a daunting task. It can take up a lot of your money and time, and you need to make sure that all things are available right on time so that everything will go on smoothly. Building a house is certainly not an easy job, but it is not an impossible thing to do. If you have everything planned and sorted out, you will be able to complete the entire process easily without any problem. We have made things easier and have broken down the steps for building a home.
Get the right location:
One of the first things you need to be concerned about is to get the right location. You need land to build your house. There are many things you need to consider before buying property. You need to remember that you are going to be building your dream house in that land and thus you need to think about certain factors like climate, surroundings, availability of utilities, community structure, connectivity etc. Check if you will be able to construct a house in that piece of land without any issues.
The next step is to design your house. You can design your house by yourself or hire an architect to do it for you. Most architects will have years and years of experience in this field, and they will be able to help you out in the design phase of the house. It is better to hire an architect if you are not a professional and if you are having doubts about the scale to production connection you might want to consider hiring an architect or get help from someone who can guide you in designing your house.
Most areas require a building permit for construction. To get the permit you need to provide the details of the design of the house, the engineering load your home is going to take, and you also need to obtain an electrical permit, septic tank permit, plumbing permit etc.
Plan your budget:
Building a house can take up a lot of your money, and you will never know where all your money went if you do not have a proper plan. Plan out your budget and make sure that you have a constant money flow so that all the construction work happens smoothly. Without having a proper budget, you will not be able to do anything on time.
Once you have done all these things, you are ready for building a house. If you think you need a professional to build your house, you should hire them as they will know how things work and they will also have people under them who will do the construction for you and you can concentrate on other things.


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Letters displayed here were written by, or in regard to, Willis A. Drew, Jr. to the Bryant College Service Club.
Mr. Drew was a member of the Bryant College Class of 1940 and graduated with the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Records indicate that, after graduation, he worked for the Wetherill Engineering Company of Providence, RI. He served in the Army Air Corps.
Submissions from 1942
Letter Written by Mrs. W. A. Drew, Sr. to the Bryant College Service Club Dated June 15, 1942, Mrs. W. A. Drew, Sr.


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Anti Ageing Eye Cream
Anti Ageing Eye Cream (15ml)
Buity Skin Care's Anti Ageing Eye Cream has been carefully blended to nourish and moisturize the damaged or aging skin around the eyes in order to reduce the visual appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as restoring a health glow to that area of the face. The Therapeutic Grade Oils used in our Eye Cream will help to reduce the inflammation around the eyes and reverse heavy and tired looking eyes.
*Vitis Vinfera (Grape) Seed Oil
*Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
*Mangifera Indica (Mango) Butter
*Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Wax
*Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil
*Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Butter
*Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Butter
*Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil
*Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil
*Vitamin E, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit
*Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea)
*Calendula Officinalis Flower
*Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Liquorice) Root
*Hibiscus Rosasinensis (Hibiscus) Flower
*Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Leaf
*Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil
*Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Oil
*Citrus Limon (Lemon) Oil
*Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil
*Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil
*Chamaemelum Nobile (Roman Chamomile) Oil
*100% Natural
*No Artificial Fragrances
*No Mineral Oils
*No Petroleum-based Ingredients
*No Preservatives/Parabens
*For Topical/ External use only
*No animals were harmed or tested upon in making this product
Dab a small amount of Eye Cream onto your fingers and apply gently around cleansed and toned eyes. Use in the morning and at night for best results.
CAUTION: It is important to always read our ingredients before ordering and using Buity Skin Care Products, especially if you have allergies. If irritation or sensitivity occurs, discontinue use immediately. Our products are handcrafted from high quality ingredients, but as with any product we suggest to always patch test on a small area of skin for sensitivities and allergies prior to use. If you are pregnant, nursing or have health conditions, please seek medical advice before using. This product does not have to be stored in the refrigerator, however it should be kept away and direct sunlight.
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Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Happy Birthday 2 U!
8 comments:
- Valerie-Jael said...
Lovely card and Jess is gorgeous, what a little cutie! Give here a pat from me! Valerie
- 14 August 2013 at 22:05
- Margaret said...
Great card Aileen. What are we going to do with these 'age' cards?? :0)
Jess is absolutely gorgeous!!
Margaret x
- 14 August 2013 at 22:09
- Bonnie said...
I love the movement of the numbers, Aileen! A fantastic card!
- 15 August 2013 at 00:35
Great card Aileen-and what a fabby idea for the LIM challenge :)
Nessa xx
- 15 August 2013 at 09:25
- Victoria said...
I'm not surprised Jess got a lot of attention! She's lovely! Great card. I came up with an idea for this challenge (in a dream, no less) but then realised upon waking that it isn't one-layer. Ah well, I still intend to make it anyway!
- 15 August 2013 at 17:06
- Gay Peplow said...
Wonderful number card Aileen, always thinking outside the box when you're crafting that's the way to do it :D
Jess looks gorgeous, so shiny and healthy what a lovely little lady, have fun my friend, Gay x
- 15 August 2013 at 17:21
- Darnell J Knauss said...
I agree, Aileen. You've done a fab card mixing the old with the new! Love the great photo of Jess, too! I can see why she would be a big hit; she's smoochable!!
- 16 August 2013 at 18:03
- Jen said...
i love these sets aileen
So sorry for my late visit. Thanks for joining us
Jen x
"Less Is More"
- 17 August 2013 at 08:05


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|Happy Independence Day, Philippines! :) Thanks for the doodle, Google! ♥
1. The Filipino has a home for its family and people, a country so naturally rich and beautiful.
2. The Filipino brings hope to humanity. The Filipino heart is one of the biggest, one of the honest and most upright among mankind.
3. The Filipino is part of the solution to the world's problems. It contributes to the advancement of human civilization.
4. The Filipino brings life to the world. He is one of the happiest and friendliest peoples of the earth.
5. The Filipino has a culture of heroism, the Bayanihan.
6. Filipinas are among the most beautiful, free and highly accomplished women in the world.
7. The Filipino is among the most respectful and tolerant of religious, cultural and political beliefs.
8. The Filipino is among the most creative, talented, and skillful human beings in the world.
9. The Filipino can understand and speak the language of the world.
10. The Filipino has a wonderful sense of family.
11. The Filipino is innately a peace-loving, non-violent, and freedom-loving person.
12. The Filipino is a person of faith. He brings other people to God.
Happy Independence Day! ♥
And speaking of freedom, I came across this article on Storypick: 16 Awesome Reasons Why It's Totally Fine To Not Get Married Now
Of all the reasons listed, I only agree with #16. :)
There's no such thing called "an appropriate age" to marry. All you need is an appropriate person.
Until such time. Happily unmarried! ♥Enough said. :)


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Jamaican Sentences Broken Down into their Individual Words, and Phrases
Learn Patois jargon:
Frah wha – from what
pawt – part
yuh deh – you from
example: Frah wha pawt yuh deh? – Where are you from? / From what part are you?
suh – so
yuh – you
nah guh - not going
badda – bother
example: Suh yuh nah guh badda guh – So, you are not going to bother going
cho – an exclamation meaning wow, DARN ! etc.
ah weh - to where
eem – him/her (usually "him" in most cases)
tink eem ah guh – thinks is going to
duh – do
example: cho! ah weh eem tink eem ah guh duh? – DARN ! What's does he think he is going to do?
ah sake ah – it's because of
ar – her
mek eem – why he
nah lef – not leaving
yah – her
example: ah sake ah ar mek eem nah lef yah – it's because of her why he's not leaving here
dah – that
breddah – brother/man/guy
deh – right there (optional because this sentence would still make sense without it)
mout ah massy – chatterbox / talkative
eeh! – isn't he/do you agree
example: dah bredda (deh) mout ah massy eeh! -that man (right there) is talkative, isn't he?
cooh deh! – look at that!
deh ah – they are
galang lakka seh – behaving as if
dem – they
nuh ha nutten – do not have anything
example: cooh deh, dem ah galang lakka seh dem nuh ha nutten – look at that! they are behaving as if they do not have anything
gimme -give me
ah bulla – a ginger cake
as brawta – an extra for free (in Jamaica they sometimes offer an extra 1 of something for free if you have already bought something)
ah fawty dolla wut ah – and forty dollars worth of
callaloo – spinach
caw – because
ah frah mawning – since this morning
mi nuh nyam – I have not eaten
example: gimme ah bulla as brawta ah fawty dolla wut ah callaloo, caw ah frah mawning mi nuh nyam - Give me a ginger cake (for free since I've bought one) and forty dollars worth of spinach, because I have not eaten since this morning.
Click Here to learn even more Jamaican vocabulary using audio


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University of Pennsylvania – Master of Architecture – Lou Kahn Studio
University of Minnesota – Bachelor of Architecture
Gustavus Adolphus College – Liberal Arts
Lee Tollefson, FAIA, has over 42 years of design experience and his design work on buildings has been recognized regionally and nationally with numerous AIA Design Awards. He is a licensed Architect in 5 states, a Certified Interior Designer in the State of Minnesota and is registered with National Council Architecture Registration Board. Lee is also a member of the American Institute of Architects, AIA – Minnesota, and past President AIA Minnesota 2005. His work includes predesign, design, programming and masterplanning of religious and educational facilities. This design work includes six different science facilities in recent years. He has a 27 year relationship as a design consultant for Saint John's University. Lee has been an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota for 38 years and received the Ralph Rapson Distinguished Teaching Award in 1997. He was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 2003.


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This issue has variants.
Contents page with illustration.
Editorial text with mirror image of illustration from contents page.
Excerpt from the book published by Harry Abrams (same book "family" as "Faeries" and "Gnomes").
Includes a ten-years-later introduction.
Part 2 of 3
A look at the darker side of the Gnomes' world with illustrations.


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The Zoostorm™ Evolve range of home desktop PCs deliver reliable performance that's perfect for everyday computing.
This Zoostorm PC is designed to bring people together. Spend time with the people who matter most in your life: whether they live in your town, country or a faraway continent. Uninterrupted face to face video chat streams into your home and makes you feel your loved one is right here in the room with you.
Select your best photos and create a special occasion photo album. The DVD-CD writer will copy it for you to share and you can keep a back-up or send it to print.
When it comes to homework, expect top marks for the interactive presentation you can produce on this family system.
There is plenty of room for all your family to store photos, videos, homework, presentations, assignments and more. When it's time for entertainment, the young (and young at heart) members of the family will like the gaming they can do on the Evolve (courtesy of the in-built graphics card).
All this activity is powered by the Intel i5 processor and 8GB RAM which is built for creating presentations, editing home videos and touching up photos as well as writing emails, reports and all the multi-tasking your family expects without the system slowing down.
Windows 10 Home makes it easier to keep to hand the apps and files you use the most. The built-in personal assistant helps you search and find what you're looking for, leaving more time for games on the Xbox app.
Before long, the Evolve has become the hub of family life.
Red, white, matt black or blue, choose your Zoostorm Evolve in a colour to match your room.
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- Product Description
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- Processor
- 1 x Intel Core i5
- Hard Drive
- 1 x
- Networking
- GigE
- Manufacturer Warranty
- 3 Year On-site Warranty
Detailed Specification
- Type
- Personal computer
Processor / Chipset
- Intel Core i5
- CPU Qty
- 1
- Max CPU Qty
- 1
- Chipset Type
- Intel H110 Express
Hard Drive
- Capacity
- 1
- Monitor Type
- None.
- Data Link Protocol
- Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
- Device Type
- Power supply
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support
- 3 Year On-site Warranty


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Backstreet Boys
Client Biography
Sterling harmonies, impassioned vocals, irresistible songs and flawless, funky performances have helped BACKSTREET BOYS win fervent international acclaim reminiscent of Elvis, the Beatles and Michael Jackson. But what does an award-winning, record-breaking quintet do after selling over 55 million albums worldwide in less than three years, and embarking on an historic North America tour that sold-out mere seconds after tickets became available?
Indeed, what's left for the biggest pop group in the world who've dominated the pop charts around the globe? What does such a group do for an encore after winning two consecutive Diamond Award certifications in the U.S. for album sales each exceeding 10 million copies, and their creative endeavors result in complete domination of the 1999 Rolling Stone Readers Poll, including honors for "Artists of the Year," "Album of the Year," "Single of the Year" and "Best Video"?
If you're NICK CARTER, HOWIE DOROUGH, BRIAN LITTRELL, AJ MCLEAN and KEVIN RICHARDSON, you deliver a hotly anticipated third album that surpasses all expectations and pushes your creative limits to the popping point.
Their new BLACK & BLUE album--the group's fourth release--sold more than five million copies worldwide in its first week of release, setting a new first-week record in international sales. At the same time, in the U.S., BACKSTREET BOYS set a new precedent by becoming the first artist in SoundScan history to ever achieve million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums. BLACK & BLUE, released November 21, sold more than 1.6 million copies in its debut week of release. This follows 1999's MILLENNIUM album, which moved more than 1,134,000 copies in its opening week.
Featuring 13 songs--including five compositions co-written by the group plus two songs written solely by BSB--BLACK & BLUE marks the biggest step thus far in the BACKSTREET BOYS' creative evolution. Co-produced by the Cheiron team (Max Martin, Rami, Kristian Lundlin, Jake, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger); Babyface; Rodney Jerkins; Timmy Allen; Franciz & LePont and Larry "Rock" Campbell, BLACK & BLUE's combination of funky pop and romantic balladry raises the standard for contemporary music. Indeed, in its first week of release the album's first single, "Shape of My Heart," was added to 170 of the 171 Top 40 stations in the U.S. Overseas, the song became an instant Top Five hit in Sweden (#1), Norway (#1), Canada (#1), Germany (#2), Switzerland (#4), Austria (#5) and Holland (#5).
The new album is testament to BACKSTREET BOYS' dedication, integrity and creativity. Far from coasting on their laurels, BLACK & BLUE finds the group singing and composing with fiery intensity. From the funky strains of "The Call," "Get Another Boyfriend" and "Shining Star," to the poignant harmonies of "Yes I Will," "I Promise You (With Everything I Am)," and "How Did I Fall In Love With You," every verse, ad lib and harmony is performed with unparalleled passion. When the quintet sings "I never want to play the same old part" on the gorgeous "Shape of My Heart," the sentiment doubles as a romantic expression and an artistic statement. After four years of undisputed global dominance, BACKSTREET BOYS remain the most industrious and ambitious pop group on the planet.
The group's creative intensity is evident in the songs they composed and co-wrote for BLACK & BLUE. On the relentlessly funky "Shining Star," NICK CARTER and HOWIE DOROUGH team with tunesmiths Franciz & LePont for a pungent slice of hardcore R&B. "Time"--composed by BACKSTREET BOYS and produced by Babyface--beguiles listeners with its ethereal harmonies, old-school R&B melody and introspective lyrics. Yet another group composition, "The Answer To Our Life" is pugnacious funk with an engaging pop twist. Collaborating with writers Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz, AJ McLEAN demonstrates his auspicious songwriting abilities on "Yes I Will," a ballad highlighted by sweet fingerstyle guitar and an endearingly devotional lyric. The album concludes on an exquisite, heartfelt note with "How Did I Fall In Love With You," a collaboration between HOWIE DOROUGH and songwriters Calum MacColl and Andrew Fromm. This lushly orchestrated ballad boasts caressing vocals that rank among BACKSTREET BOYS' finest performances.
In all, BLACK & BLUE is the artistic achievement one would expect from the world's most popular singing group. As their burgeoning trophy case attests, BACKSTREET BOYS are as popular with the music industry as with their devoted fans. In 1999, the group captured five Grammy nominations, four Billboard Music Awards, including "Album of the Year," "Artist of the Year," "Albums Artist of the Year" and "Albums Artist Duo/Group of the Year." Also in 1999, the group nabbed an American Music Award ("Favorite Band, Duo or Group"); an MTV Music Video Award ("Viewer's Choice Award"); a People's Choice Award ("Favorite Musical Group or Band"); two Blockbuster Music Awards ("Favorite Pop Group," "Favorite CD"); and a Juno Award (Canada), among countless other 1997-1998 honors and citations. In addition, "I Want It That Way" was voted #10 in the Rolling Stone/MTV list of the "100 Greatest Pop Songs."
BLACK & BLUE arrives hot on the heels of Millennium, BACKSTREET BOYS' record-breaking 1999 sophomore U.S. release, and their third international disc. Millennium entered the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at #1, having sold 1,134,000 copies in its first week of release and shattering the previous Soundscan record held by Garth Brooks for single week record sales. Millennium landed the top spot on the charts in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Thailand. The album sold nearly 500,000 copies alone in first day in release in the U.S., is already certified 13-times platinum in the U.S. and remains a fixture on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart.
Unlike many pop sensations that struggle yearly for critical respect, BACKSTREET BOYS' albums and tours have been greeted enthusiastically by fans and scribes alike. In an effusive album review, Rolling Stone wrote that Millennium "digs melodic claws into your skull on the first listen--it's the swooniest blending of the five vocalists' timbres to date, and mighty pretty besides." In addition, Rolling Stone featured the group the cover three times in 18 months from May 1999-December 2000. And People magazine added "these lads can sing...the Boys do possess distinctive voices...they are adept at vocal interplay, creating harmonic magic as those voices soar and intertwine." Critics were similarly flattering about the "Into The Millennium Tour." The Washington Post described the group's performance as "two hours of infectious dance pop and sweet ballads," while the New York Daily News raved "... The Boys' 'Millennium' tour at the Meadowlands proved these guys to be tops at their trade...The Boys feature the snazziest show, the most earnest singing, and songs only a brain surgeon could wipe from your mind."
According to conventional wisdom, such critical enthusiasm is only given to journeyman rockers and obscure independent artists, but the BACKSTREET BOYS have always enjoyed the support of fans and the media. The group's self-titled 1997 debut album remained lodged on the Billboard album chart Top 20 for over two years. The disc received gold and platinum awards in 45 countries with more than 28 million albums sold worldwide. They scored 5 Top 10 singles; released a multi-platinum full-length video, ALL ACCESS; and performed on scores of major television programs, including their own pay-per-view concert special in 1999. The quintet were nominated for a "Best New Artist" Grammy Award and named among Entertainment Weekly's "Best Entertainers of 1998." They were also among People magazine's 1998 "Men We Love" and "25 Most Intriguing People of the Year."
The BACKSTREET BOYS' incredible ascent to superstardom begins in Orlando, Florida in 1993. AJ MCLEAN, HOWIE DOROUGH and NICK CARTER encountered each other at local acting auditions. Inspired by Boyz II Men and Color Me Badd, the three young students formed a singing group. A mutual friend introduced the trio to KEVIN RICHARDSON, who at the time was performing at Walt Disney World. After an Orlando talent search proved unsuccessful, KEVIN convinced his Kentucky-based cousin BRIAN LITTRELL to relocate to Florida. With the crucial final piece in place, BACKSTREET BOYS began the opening chapter of their amazing story.
Initially, BACKSTREET BOYS performed cover tunes, including Shai's "If I Ever Fall in Love." But as the group quickly cultivated its own unique style, they became determined to secure a record contract. Towards that goal, BACKSTREET BOYS resorted to such extreme tactics as performing a capella in the foyers of local record label offices. Within six months of forming, the group was one of Florida's hottest live acts, performing at high schools, Sea World and even an opening slot for R&B songstress Brandy.
With an indie single "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming" and a whole lot of stage experience, the BACKSTREET BOYS entered the next phase of their unpredictable and exciting career. The group's former manager was friends with A&R executive David McPherson (who was at Mercury Records at the time) and in a canny move, called him on her cell phone from one of their live shows so McPherson could experience the pandemonium the group incited. Soon after that fateful phone call, Jive Records signed BACKSTREET BOYS.
In 1995, the group released "We've Got It Going On." Composed by Denniz Pop and Max Martin, the song charted in England and throughout Europe. A second single "I'll Never Break Your Heart" began to climb the charts. Its success lay the foundation for the tidal wave that was about to come.
BACKSTREET BOYS won a 1995 Smash Hits Award in London for Best New Tour Act and performed the gold single "I'll Never Break Your Heart" on British TV's Top of the Pops. In early 1996, the group was voted #1 International Group by TV viewers in Germany. "I'll Never Break Your Heart" went gold in Germany and topped the charts in Austria. By February of 1995, the track had become a hit in Quebec, BACKSTREET BOYS were selling out shows and the group had become a phenomenon throughout Europe and Canada. In Spring of 1996, the group released their full-length album in Europe and Canada, supporting the disc with a sold-out, 57-date summer headlining tour. By fall, "Backstreet Mania" had also swept Asia, the Pacific Rim and Australia. Then came news that the group's debut CD had gone six times platinum in Canada and topped the charts. The quintet's 32 Canadian performances sold out in under 20 minutes as the intensity inched closer to the U.S.
By the end of 1996, BACKSTREET BOYS had completed a second European tour and earned the coveted 1996 MTV Europe Viewers Choice Award--beating out the Spice Girls, Oasis and Jamiroquai--and had sold nearly 10 million records worldwide. All this success was only the groundwork for what was yet to come--a triumphant homecoming. In early 1997, the group returned to Orlando and began collaborating on new tracks for their U.S. debut. Released August 12, 1997, the self-titled album included all the BACKSTREET BOYS international hits, plus new songs recorded with some of the biggest names in music, including Robert "Mutt" Lange (Shania Twain, AC/DC, Def Leppard) and PM Dawn (a remarkable interpretation of "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss").
The BACKSTREET BOYS' debut album spread as quickly across the U.S. as a prairie fire, spawning mega hits and instant classics like "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart);" "As Long As You Love Me;" "Everybody (Backstreet's Back);" "I'll Never Break Your Heart;" and "All I Have To Give."
But U.S. fans weren't the only ones. The media couldn't get enough of these five charming young men from Orlando. The group's domestic television schedule included performances and appearances on Saturday Night Live (twice), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, MTV "Live", The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Nickelodeon's "All That," ABC-TV's The View, "The 25th Annual American Music Awards," "The World Music Awards," "VH1's "Storytellers with Tony Bennett," the Disney Channel's "In Concert" series, "The 1998 Billboard Music Awards," "Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve 1999," and "Shania Twain's Winter Break Featuring Elton John and the BACKSTREET BOYS."
In addition to their ever-escalating touring and promotional schedule, the BACKSTREET BOYS also met with a very real and potentially tragic crisis in 1998 when BRIAN underwent heart surgery to correct a congenital defect. He has since completely recovered.
While their place in music history is already assured, NICK CARTER, HOWIE DOROUGH, BRIAN LITTRELL, A.J. MCLEAN and KEVIN RICHARDSON continue to perform and compose with unparalleled intensity and exuberance. In the wake of BLACK & BLUE, BACKSTREET BOYS have again achieved critical acclaim:
USA Today: "...the guys are exerting more creative control. Five of the album's songs were co-written by Backstreet members...(and) including two penned entirely by the five singers. The brisk, shimmering "The Answer of Life," one song that the Boys wrote on their own, is among the album's best tracks; "Time," another Backstreet-composed effort, has the sweetly soulful vibe of a lost Boyz II Men single."
Billboard: "'Shape Of My Heart,' an unshakably catchy ballad...It's one of several wonderfully engaging slow jams-the best of which is 'Time,' a lovely group composition produced with soulful precision by Babyface. Beyond ballads, Black & Blue crackles with funk-infected uptempo ditties that are notable for their rough edges. 'Shining Star,' another strikingly good group composition, stands out for its seductive vocal growls and producer Rodney Jerkins' sharp hip-hop beats."
US Weekly: "...the delicate 'Shape of My Heart' and 'More Than That' are sumptuous ballads in the vein of the group's chart-topper 'I Want It That Way.' 'Time' pairs their strong harmonies with production from the master of the modern R&B ballad, Babyface. 'How Did I Fall in Love With You?' echoes Vanessa Williams's 'Save the Best for Last,' and the McLean-penned 'Yes I Will' conveys a pledge to 'someday start a family with you.' ...they once again deliver a record brimming with supremely crafted ballads and up-tempo jams."
To celebrate the release of BLACK & BLUE, the group visited six continents--Europe (Stockholm), Asia (Tokyo), Australia (Sydney), Africa (Cape Town), South America (Rio) and North America (New York)--in 100 hours. At each stop along the tour, the group visited local landmarks, held press conferences, met fans and performed brief a capella versions of the album's first single "Shape of My Heart."
With their astounding new album, BACKSTREET BOYS triumphantly answer the challenge global fame has imposed on them. Judging from the performances and songs featured on BLACK & BLUE, the group's musical reign has only just begun.


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I have read the
Privacy Policy and hereby authorize and give my consent for Anderson Group BPO, Inc. to collect, record, organize,update or modify, retrieve, consult, use, consolidate, block, erase or destruct my personal data as part of my information. I hereby affirm my right to be informed, object to processing, access and rectify, suspend or withdraw my personal data, and be indemnified in case of damages pursuant to the provisions of the Republic Act No. 10173 of the Philippines, Data Privacy Act of 2012 and Regulation (EU) 2016/679, General Data Protection Regulation, whichever is applicable, and its corresponding implementing rules and regulations."


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Google to buy 'direct marketing skills' rather than technology of Groupon
Reports on Tuesday suggested that Google's bid to acquire collective-buying site Groupon now stands at $5.3 billion compared to earlier estimates that quantified the deal at $2.5 billion.
All Things Digital reported that Google has offered $5.3 billion to acquire the collective daily deal provider Groupon, to capture the hottest company on the web. An earlier report that originated from Vator.TV had valued the deal at $2.5 billion.
At $5.3 billion Groupon would be the most expensive buy for Google this year.
It is perceived that Groupon's buy can compliment Google's Place Search which clusters search results around a location and also its Product Search feature which it recently updated with a feature that lists local stores where products are in-stock.
However, the acquisition also raises questions as to how the companies' conflicting business models will merge. As Google relies on automated and algorithmic architecture to generate ad revenues through Adwords and Adsense while Groupon uses a host of salespersons to quantify deals with merchants.
Groupon sends local Deal of the Day coupons to members of the site via emails. However, the deal is only triggered when a critical minimum number of users have applied for the deals. The onus of creating a viral effect falls on the user thus diverting promotion costs away from merchants. Also merchants have a better hold over break-even decisions of the deal. Groupon reaps commission-based revenue from merchants.
Also since Groupon takes payments upfront from users and then deducts its commission and pays the merchant it has negative working capital advantage. For struggling merchants its great tool for marketing compared to putting up an ad and waiting for users. As the deal is only for the day there is a sense of urgency among users which results in viral marketing benefits.
However, Groupon has to generate excellent deals constantly to keep a flow of users which it actualizes through sales-persons sans technology while Google relies on technology to generate revenues.
Google has been attempting to acquire the local social space and has launched a flurry of services, the most recent being Boutiques.com. Also in the fray are Google Places and Product Search which it recently spruced up to categorize product search based on inventory in specific locales. However, all the above measures are still algorithm-based and lack a tinge of direct marketing which local businesses favor.
Thus Google would acquire troop of sales people versed in the art of direct marketing from Groupon rather any specific technology. Google's own attempts at direct marketing like its Nexus One Android phone formula have flopped while Apple has scored over Google in marketing through its Apple Stores.
Also Google is eyeing Groupon as it currently leads the collective-buying space though competitor LivingSocial is close on its heels. Google avails an established merchant-relationship as it is key to winning in this segment. Not to mention it also gets a business with an established revenue model reported to be at $50 million every month. Thus unlike its strategy whereby Google devises a product and then looks for a fitting revenue model Groupon offers a set revenue model.
Though Groupon is also part of its stack of websites like Angstro, Slide, Jambool and Like.com, which Google acquired this year in an effort to build its counter Facebook offer.


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"Lynch Receives Letter from Federal Government Postponing Real ID," Boston Globe, March 27, 2008.
"New Hampshire Joins Montana in Real ID Victory," Wired, March 27, 2008.
"Lynch: NH Near Agreement on Real ID,"Union Leader, March 26, 2008.
"State Right to Refuse to Adopt Real ID Licenses," Concord Monitor Editorial, March 25, 2008.
"Lynch Tells Feds Not to Impose Real ID Requirements on N.H. in May," Associated Press, February 26, 2008.
"Lynch Protests Real ID Law," Cabinate Journal, February 25, 2008.
"Lynch Will Request Delay in Real ID Law," Nashua Telegraph, Februay 22, 2008.
"Lynch Drafting Letter to Delay Real ID Enforcement in N.H.," Associated Press, February 21, 2008.
"ACLU presses candidates to repeal Real ID card law," Union Leader, December 17, 2007.
"New Hampshire Blocks Real ID," Concord Monitor, June 28, 2007.
[Please note, articles from the Manchester Union Leader that are more than 3 months old are archived and available for purchase on the Union Leader website]
"Rebuff Real ID: NH Gets a Second Chance," Union Leader Editorial, April 4, 2007.
"Legislature Should Reject Real ID Act," Concord Monitor Editorial, March 25, 2007.
"N.H. Committee Backs Real ID Ban," Associated Press, March 20, 2007.
"N.H. Considers Rejecting Real ID," Associated Press, March 16, 2007.
"National Identification System Needs More Work," Concord Monitor, March 12, 2007.
"Lawmakers Renew Push for Greater Privacy," Associated Press, January 28, 2007.
Tom Fahey, "Executive Council Contest is a Battle of Polar Opposites," Union Leader, October 30, 2006.
Meg Heckman, "Libertarians Try Out the Big Tent," Concord Monitor, October 29, 2006.Opposition to Real ID has become a rallying cry across party lines.
Erik Moskowitz, "Lynch, Council Doubt Real ID," Concord Monitor, August 24, 2006.
"Lynch, Council Uneasy about Real ID," Associated Press, August 24, 2006.
New Hampshire Bill on Quitting Real ID Shows Act's TroublesThe State Senate narrowly defeated a measgure that would have rejected the Real ID act. Passage would have seriously disrupted the unified national identity card system that proponents are hoping to create. Nevertheless, while Real ID continues to cling to life, having dodged a bullet in the Granite State, the Act is still troubled and will remain so despite having survived its latest crisis.
Read the full statement of ACLU Technology and Liberty Project Director Barry Steinhardt here.
"Candidates for Governor Have Qualms About Federal ID Requirements," Associated Press, July 16, 2006.
Sen. John E. Sununu, "Real ID: Unnecessary, Unfunded, and Unlikely to Make You Safer," Manchester Union Leader, May 17, 2006.
"A Missed Chance: Real ID Deserved Rejection," Union Leader Editorial, May 15, 2006.
"Real ID Battle Takes on New Face in the Senate," Union Leader, May 5, 2006.
"Real ID Opponents Face Tough Senate Test," Associated Press, May 4, 2006.
"Real ID has Backing – Big Vote Tomorrow," Concord Monitor, May 3, 2006.
"ID Law Stirs Passionate Protest in N.H.," Washington Post, May 1, 2006.
"Real ID Resistance Strikes a Blow for Freedom," Concord Monitor Opinion, April 30, 2006.
"State House Dome: Senate to Have Its Say on Real ID," Union Leader, April 30, 2006.
"State Should Contest National ID Card Law," Nashua Telegraph Editorial, April 28, 2006.
"Senate Panel Unanimous Against Real ID," Union Leader, April 27, 2006.
"Real ID Protest is Right Stand to Take," Concord Monitor Editorial, April 26, 2006.
"Gov. Lynch Says He Will Sign Bill Opposing Real ID," Associated Press, April 26, 2006.
"Real ID Dealt Another Defeat in Legislature," Union Leader, April 26, 2006.
Karl Beisel, "New Hampshire Can Stop the Coming Federal Police State," Union Leader Opinion, April 25, 2006.
"Real ID a Sign of the Apocalypse?" Concord Monitor, April 23, 2006.
"They Really Don't Like Real ID," Concord Monitor, April 23, 2006.
Declan McCullagh, "The Real ID Rebellion," CNET, April 17, 2006.
"New Hampshire May Buck Feds Over National IDs," GovExec.com, April 13, 2006.
"Our Secret Identities: NH Should Reject Real ID," Union Leader Editorial, April 13, 2006.
"Say No to Real ID, Senate Urged," Union Leader, April 11, 2006.
Melissa Ngo, staff counsel for Electronic Privacy Information Center, discusses Real ID on New Hampshire Public Radio, April 10, 2006.
Jim Harper, "NH Can Set a National Example by Opposing the Federal ID Card," Union Leader, April 4, 2006. Online at cato.org >
Joel Winters, "Should New Hampshire Issue its Citizens a National ID Card?" Keene Free Press, March 20, 2006.
Bill forbidding New Hampshire from participating in Real ID passes House"This small state cannot be coerced or bribed into abandoning the principles embodied in its state motto," said Neal Kurk, one of the bill's Repbulican sponsors. He urged lawmakers to fire "a shot that will be heard around the nation." Online >
National survey of motor vehicles administrators uncovers deep concern over Real ID across the nation. New Hampshire officials' response to the survey is available here.
"National ID cards: REAL ID goes too far" (Union Leader Editorial, September 20, 2005)"If the Real ID Act were such a great idea, why did Congress attach it to a military spending bill and pass it without public hearings?" asks the editorial page of The Union Leader. The answer is that it is not a great idea. In fact, the de facto national database of personal information created by Real ID is "a hacker's dream come true." (Archived article available for purchase).


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HTI Misc Tool v1.5 is out!
HTI Misc Tool v1.5 is out! Added AT&T iPhone Factory Unlock.
HTI Misc Tool v1.5 Release Note
- Added iPhone Factory Unlock.
Note that you'll need HTI credits in order to use the service. No activation is required.
Credit Consumption Policy
- 20 HTI credit for each AT&T job/IMEI submitted. Unlocking time - up to to 24 hours.
Refund policy: if the service was not able to unlock the phone, you will get a refund.


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I'm not all about the resolutions but a new year does seem like a good time to take stock of what's important to you. (At this point, I'm hoping to get it done prior to the end of January and that's looking ify.) What do I want for myself, for my family and for the future in general? So I'm starting my list and see how it goes.
1. Deliver a healthy and happy baby girl. Work out a routine that's good for all 3 of us (and the fur babies)to keep everyone fed, clean, sheltered, etc.
2. Do a better job of keeping connected with friends and family. These are all people I love and care about so I should let them know and do my part in continuing to maintain the relationships.
3. Spend more time in the kitchen and housekeeping in general. I'm not wanting to become a domestic goddess but I'd like to be more aware of what we're eating, keeping the house clean (especially with the new baby) and what we use to keep it clean for everyone's improved health.
4. A little more spinach reading to go along with all of my fiction. I've collected a fair amount of non-fiction that I'm always meaning to get to but I want to make an effort to actually work some in. I recognize this is a little crazy with a new baby but I live in hope.
5. De-clutter, de-clutter and then de-clutter some more. I want to clear out all of the old and make room for new in the house. Also, it keeps everyone a little more settled when the house is clean and relatively clutter free.
6. Making a priority of healthy eating and exercising. Post-baby I want to work hard to get back to the progress I was making in terms of maintaining my weight with steady loss and improved exercise. I never thought it would happen but I miss jogging on the treadmill. I'm pretty happy that I have not overly enjoyed my pregnancy (as Dr.Garner puts it when folks over indulge) and have gained a healthy and realistic amount of weight. I've added in a little more chocolate to my everyday meal plan but also more awareness of snacks and healthier eating which sort of offsets the additional dessert.
7. Optimistic and sunny are not words that are generally used to describe me but I'd like to be a little more positive in my approach to the world. I don't want to raise a cynical and jaded baby right from the start so it's kind of exciting to start looking at things from a new perspective.
8. Figure out what makes me happy and do more of that. Fairly straight forward once I decide what I really like vs what's just become a decent routine. Much to my husband's dismay reality TV may stay.
9. Better control on our finances including a real budget. We've already made some pretty good strides here but I see a few more cuts in our future. I watched one of Suze Orman's shows (limited options at 2am) where she told a couple they should pay for their child's college but don't let the child know this is an option. They have to work and show they're serious and at the end just pay off her student loans. I kind of love this approach and want to be in a position to do that.
10. Make more art. Any kind of art. I think this will be a great time to bond with the kiddo once she's old enough to hold a crayon. There were always craft projects in our house and makes you a little handy when you grow up and would love to have that with our daughter. I would also love to work in some art classes/retreat but will need to figure out how that works with the baby and the budget.
11. Budget in some serious travel plans for the family. We both love it and don't do enough but we definitely want to make it a priority and would love to do some RV trips to some national parks. These may be pre-planning for beyond 2012 but it makes me bizarrely happy to read travel books, maps and plan itineraries.
12. Remember to be grateful. No matter how bad the day gets, there is a lot for me to be thankful for everyday. Fantastic husband, baby on the way, great family and we both have good jobs with benefits, etc. It's easy to take it all for granted but I don't want to and I want to do more to give back since we've been seriously blessed.
I'm going to call it a day at a list of 12 since this post has dragged on for nearly a month and already feels crazy ambitious but this year is already pretty awesome as we're now seriously approaching delivery day.
I hope you guys are still working on your resolutions or just have amazing weekend plans!
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
2012... the Mayans can suck it
Posted by Amy Huff at Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Labels: Musings
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The Crew's Statement
Following up on the video from the Crew-Revs match, Columbus has issued this statement:
"We appreciate the energy and support we receive from our fans and understand that emotions run high during games, but there is no excuse for the reprehensible behavior exhibited by the fan heard in the video clip that has surfaced. That kind of behavior has no place in our stadium, or in our society, and we strongly condemn it. Safety and fan experience have always been top priorities of both our organization and Major League Soccer, and we will continue to evaluate and enforce safety and sportsmanship policies at Crew Stadium."
MLS announced earlier today that it will investigate the incident.
Steve Goff
May 27, 2008; 5:49 PM ET
Categories: MLS
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Posted by: 135 | May 27, 2008 5:54 PM | Report abuse
BS !!!! they can ban the dude from the stadium for life but Dube or what ever his name is will never forget the words that were said to him!! That Sucks!
Posted by: 135 | May 27, 2008 5:56 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: 135 | May 27, 2008 5:57 PM | Report abuse
At least they addressed it and didn't try to pull the typical MLS "sweep it under the rug".
Posted by: Kenobi | May 27, 2008 6:00 PM | Report abuse
C-bus' management said what they had to, and it sounds good right now. The proof will be ongoing, as we see what sort of enforcement takes place. Now that one idiot has immortalized his stupidity, surely others will try to copycat in the future.
And ya know, this is all because of those @#$@ streamers, right? ;)
Posted by: we'll see... | May 27, 2008 6:01 PM | Report abuse
I am glad that they are taking a strong stand. It is vile and has no place in this (or any other game)
Posted by: Tammyinlalaland | May 27, 2008 6:01 PM | Report abuse
you can't allow any of that. someone even threw their beer at Joseph i think. if it happens again, the Crew should play in an empty stadium.
Posted by: andrew | May 27, 2008 6:08 PM | Report abuse
The guy who posted it has a big soccer profile under a similar handle, and the video appears to have been shot from right near where I was standing. I was pissed about Shalrie flipping us off but now that I hear what someone said, I have no problem with it at all.
trust me, it's not just the team and MLS trying to figure out who it was, the supporter's groups are looking into it hard. We don't want that sort of stuff in our section.
Posted by: gary | May 27, 2008 6:10 PM | Report abuse
It's a good statement from the Crew.
Posted by: Evan | May 27, 2008 6:15 PM | Report abuse
Dock points! They don't need 'em!
Posted by: bob | May 27, 2008 6:20 PM | Report abuse
when something like this happens they should take 3 points from the offending team and give the points to the last place team...
Posted by: Anonymous | May 27, 2008 6:37 PM | Report abuse
I sent an e-mail to Dispatch soccer beat writer Shawn Mitchell a little earlier, along with the Insider link.
He was completely unaware, he said. He's posted something in his blog now:
Posted by: SportzNut21 | May 27, 2008 6:38 PM | Report abuse
Whoever said this would be pretty stupid to show up to another game in the first place since people could point him out and have him ejected, but a formal ban would be appropriate.
Posted by: AM | May 27, 2008 6:41 PM | Report abuse
I hope this is something you and your fellow Supporters can root out of your Section. I'm sure 99.9% of Crew fans are disgusted by this crap. MLS fans policing ourselves could and should be the best deterrent for idiots like this, rather than the League punishing everybody for one loser. Name and Shame this jack-ass
Posted by: Christian | May 27, 2008 6:45 PM | Report abuse
I sent an e-mail to Dispatch soccer beat writer Shawn Mitchell a little earlier, along with the Insider link.
He was completely unaware, he said. He's posted something in his blog now:
That is pretty lame. He didn't know about a newsworthy incident in his own backyard until nearly 48 hours had elapsed, and only after it was brought to his attention that a reporter for a newspaper over 400 miles away was on top of it? When I lived in Columbus many years ago, the Dispatch was colloquially known as the Dogpatch, or alternatively, the Discharge. (Its now-defunct rival, the Citizen-Journal, was known as the Citizen-Urinal.) Perhaps not much has changed.
Also, if you look at his blog in general, it is just so dead compared to this one.
Posted by: tri-village | May 27, 2008 6:55 PM | Report abuse
The guy who posted it has a big soccer profile under a similar handle, and the video appears to have been shot from right near where I was standing. I was pissed about Shalrie flipping us off but now that I hear what someone said, I have no problem with it at all.
trust me, it's not just the team and MLS trying to figure out who it was, the supporter's groups are looking into it hard. We don't want that sort of stuff in our section.
Posted by: gary | May 27, 2008 6:10 PM
If you check out the profile of the guy who posted the video on youtube, one of his "favorite" videos is titled "Up Yours N*#%#R." Granted the clip is from Blazing Saddles but still, c'mon dude.
Looks like a really down-to-earth guy.
*sarcasm alert*
Posted by: Chief Clancy Wiggum | May 27, 2008 7:03 PM | Report abuse
from the dispatch:
"The brief feedback I've gotten from the club about Saturday night is that the section will be called upon to do a better job of self-policing. That's a good tact, but I wonder how effective it will be. The section was too much of a teeming mass on Saturday to single out every knucklehead."
Posted by: bleu cheese | May 27, 2008 7:05 PM | Report abuse
Actually, his exact words were "I had no idea this was out there..."
But, yeah, I am seriously surprised that no one else (even from the Insider's devotees) actually tipped him off about this beforehand.
I sent him the e-mail at 5:20.
His blog post is at 5:37.
I got his response at 5:45.
I wonder if any of the Dispatch's sports-department heavyweights will opine on this? Stay tuned...
Posted by: SportzNut21 | May 27, 2008 7:10 PM | Report abuse
Anyone watch PTI today? Has there been any word about this?
Posted by: CACuzcatlan | May 27, 2008 7:12 PM | Report abuse
Forgive me, but I just can't resist the urge to wonder whether "Dispatch's sports-department heavyweights" is an oxymoron.
Posted by: tri-village | May 27, 2008 7:27 PM | Report abuse
docking points seems a bit harsh. The league officials need to meet and set out crowd standards, along with appropriate punishments. I am glad the league is investigating this incident but unfortunately incidents like this will occur again. Therefore, a general policy is necessary. I would suggest two things. 1) Unfortunately, all streamers, tp, confetti needs to be prohibited from being thrown into the field of play except during goals. As someone who watched this game on HDNet. When Ralston was bombed with beer and beer bottles it has been shown that the problem has gone to far. Soon we will have a bloodied faced player as a result of a bottle or coin. Think this is bad PR for the soccer haters in America just wait till this happens. 2) Any raciest remarks need to have a guideline of their own. I would suggests ban of individual for life and a fine on the club for first time offenses. A second incident should result in closed stadium matches and a third incident should be docked points. I would also suggests this penalty structure for the objects on the field. (One problem with closed door matches would be can a MLS financially take a loss of such revenue?)
Posted by: DC Fan stuck in St. Louis | May 27, 2008 7:33 PM | Report abuse
No word on PTI. Personally, I think this demonstrates a lot of strengths of the US soccer community. First the outrage on soccer blogs for this, the statement of Crew supporters outraged by this and subsequently by the Crew organization and MLS. A terrible situation, but appears to demonstrate the true nature of the US soccer fan, which I am proud to be.
Posted by: Dominick | May 27, 2008 7:36 PM | Report abuse
Did anyone watch PTI? Does anybody give a hoot if the boobs on PTI discussed this?
Posted by: I swas PTI once, It was enough | May 27, 2008 7:40 PM | Report abuse
No way can you dock points for this isolated incident! I'm not a Crew fan, but I don't see how you can find fault with the Crew organization for one fan's actions, unless they do not react appropriately. It seems as if they have reacted in a proper manner.
This does not resemble problems in Europe one iota! In Europe, they have had entire supporter sections that hurl racial taunts.
Posted by: Crew sympathizer | May 27, 2008 7:54 PM | Report abuse
BTW - Why does it take Soccer Insider pages 2 minutes to load these days? Methinks it is the popup ads although I have set my browser to accept them. Steve, could you please have someone in IT take a look.
Thanks !
Posted by: Anonymous | May 27, 2008 7:56 PM | Report abuse
2) Any raciest remarks need to have a guideline of their own.
Posted by: DC Fan stuck in St. Louis | May 27, 2008 7:33 PM
See the "Johnsonville Sausage" comments in the previous post for today's "raciest" remarks!
Posted by: edgeonyou | May 27, 2008 8:05 PM | Report abuse
Goff, Bruce Johnson is reporting on his blog that the DC council is set to vote on the United stadium issue next Tuesday (6/3) with Barry, Alexander, Grey and Evans as sponsors.
Any more insight into this???
Posted by: NattyBo | May 27, 2008 8:15 PM | Report abuse
Columbus really can't do anything more than this. Being an "ultra" doesn't give you license to be an a$$hat; the discipline and responsibility to behave properly belongs to the fans. Management and stadium security only can clean up the mess some knucklehead makes after the damage has been done.
Posted by: griffin1108 | May 27, 2008 8:35 PM | Report abuse
self-policing has to be important at these games. at one of the home dynamo games i was at, some moron threw something on the field right after we conceded a goal, and ppl all over the stadium were all over his ass telling him to stop etc
Posted by: andy | May 27, 2008 9:04 PM | Report abuse
This does not resemble problems in Europe one iota! In Europe, they have had entire supporter sections that hurl racial taunts.
Posted by: Crew sympathizer | May 27, 2008 7:54 PM
We are fortunate that it doesn't resemble the worst case scenarios in Europe and MLS should not wait to achieve that level of abuse before acting.
I'm in favor of docking points, even one. If the team and fans collectively bear the burden, then "self-policing" will be more rigorous.
And folks, cut the Dispatch reporter some slack. He's no Steve Goff, but the Dispatch is no Washington Post either. The dude is probably covering prep sports, dog shows, and a whole bunch of other stuff while wondering when the publisher will replace him with AP wire reports. At least he posted it rather than ignoring it.
Posted by: I-270, Exit 1 | May 27, 2008 9:21 PM | Report abuse
BS !!!! they can ban the dude from the stadium for life but Dube or what ever his name is will never forget the words that were said to him!! That Sucks!
Posted by: 135 | May 27, 2008 5:56 PM
Isn't the guy from South Africa... I'm not entirely sure how far outside of this country our racial insults go... Would he definitely know what it meant if you said it to him?
Posted by: Phillip | May 27, 2008 9:58 PM | Report abuse
Phillip, it wouldn't matter if he didn't know. It doesn't make it right, but since you asked here is his info.
Kheli Dube is from Zimbabwe, but he went to college in the American South (Costal Carolina University in South Carolina) so I'm pretty damn sure he knows what that means.
Posted by: CACuzcatlan | May 27, 2008 10:17 PM | Report abuse
FIFA has threatened for a long time to punish teams whose fans behave poorly during World Cup games. The problem is that it is very difficult to follow through with the threats because if you do, all you're really encouraging is for people to show up wearing the opposition's jersey and yell horrible things at their own team in hopes of getting the other team punished. I know most people wouldn't do that, but the point is how do you know if the offending person is the real deal or just someone who is trying to get the other team in trouble?
Posted by: Jon | May 27, 2008 10:59 PM | Report abuse
would the Barra Brava turn in one of their own if one of their members shouted racial slurs?
Posted by: alejandro | May 27, 2008 11:20 PM | Report abuse
would the Barra Brava turn in one of their own if one of their members shouted racial slurs?
Posted by: alejandro | May 27, 2008 11:20 PM
I know I would and I think most of us would be smart enough to get Oscar or the police Captain to toss this guy
Posted by: BBFunnyMan | May 27, 2008 11:55 PM | Report abuse
ONe thing I notice that I like is BB telling their goons to shhhhsh.
A little responsibility can go a long way and is very profound when controlling the mob.
I am from the west coast and in a club that over the years has gotten bigger, and badder, and to be honest more watered down, but the one thing that is constant is the nucleus. It may change a bit but keeping everyone in check is something to be proud of all itself.
In Seattle we had trouble every so often amongst our rivals, but all it mostly ever took was a little guidance from cooler heads.
The flags, banner, and video from this last weekend is a true testament to how important all the supporters of DC United are.
Oh yeah in case you were wondering I am full color Dead Baby Bikes. check it out on deadbabybikes.org.
Choppers and talls...
Now movies.
Posted by: Dadryan | May 28, 2008 1:26 AM | Report abuse
Dispatch columnist Michael Arace, from Monday's paper, talking about the Crew ultras, and making reference to the events at the end of the game:
But now I'm wondering how the beat guy could be caught off his line as badly as Kevin Hartman was by David Beckham. Like I-270 said up there, Shawn Mitchell is no Steve Goff, but speaking as a former sportswriter, the beat writer should be aware of things.
Posted by: SportzNut21 | May 28, 2008 3:57 AM | Report abuse
Seeing how we in the Barra have over 30 countries represented and a large number of black fans I think we can handle stuff like this ourselves IF someting like it arose. I would like to think our diversity brreds understanding and tolerance. We just hate NY.
Posted by: BarraBoliviano | May 28, 2008 7:00 AM | Report abuse
C'mon folks - docking points for what ONE guy said? How hypocritical can you guys be - RFK was the place where a BOTTLE ROCKET was fired into the opposition's bench area. And in virtually every TFC game I've seen on TV this season, I've seen cups of beer come flying out of the stands during opposing teams corner kicks.
This has been blown completely out of proportion. It's ONE guy who said something completely inappropriate and maybe a handful of idiots throwing non-streamer items on the field. Identify those responsible, and ban them from the stadium. This hand-wringing is totally overblown - if you think this is the first incident involving (a) items thrown towards/on the field, or (b) racially inappropriate language, you're being naive. This one just happened to be caught on video.
Stamp out the racism. But let's not pretend this was Inter fans chucking scooters off of balconies or anything.
Posted by: Brian | May 28, 2008 7:17 AM | Report abuse
BS !!!! they can ban the dude from the stadium for life but Dube or what ever his name is will never forget the words that were said to him!! That Sucks!
Posted by: 135 | May 27, 2008 5:56 PM
What's the remedy? That memory erasing stick from Men in Black?
Posted by: Anonymous | May 28, 2008 8:14 AM | Report abuse
Thank you Brian for bringing sanity to the gross overreactions of some posters. All sports teams at every level should do all they can to catch and banish abusive fans, but some of the further penalties being proposed are ridiculous. Some people believe things happen for the very first time just because they've seen them on YouTube. Try keeping your ears and eyes open at other sporting events (or everyday life for that matter).
Posted by: BillyBob | May 28, 2008 8:20 AM | Report abuse
What's the remedy? That memory erasing stick from Men in Black?
The technique used in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind should also be considered.
Posted by: tri-village | May 28, 2008 9:06 AM | Report abuse
Slightly off topic - who cares about PTI? I'll never undertand some soccer fans obsession with this show - good or bad!
Posted by: Bob | May 28, 2008 9:07 AM | Report abuse
Here's a quote from the Arace column in the Dogpatch--oops, the Dispatch:
"Toronto and Columbus have taken the lead in importing European and Latin styles of support."
Oh, really? I suspect that people associated with SE/BB/LN may have something to say about that.
Just out of curiosity, do the members of La Turbina tend to come from any particular part of the city (or suburbs)? When I lived in Columbus 30 years ago, there were no neighborhoods with a distinctly Latino identity. I guess things have changed since then.
Posted by: tri-village | May 28, 2008 9:15 AM | Report abuse
What a bunch of whiney babies crying about someone who said something perceived by some as racist.
Just ignore it and move on. The more attention you give to the person(s) involved the more they win.
You want freedom of speech? Then have the balls to understand that some may say something that you may spend an entire lifetime standing up against.
Posted by: charlton heston | May 28, 2008 9:39 AM | Report abuse
"Perceived as some by racist"? That's a pretty high (low?) bar you're setting there!
Posted by: John | May 28, 2008 10:57 AM | Report abuse
Eh, typo. The point stands, though. By all means, make your First Amendment argument (which is, BTW, inapplicable here) but don't lead with the truly preposterous suggestion that calling a black man a 'n***er' may present nothing more than a *possible* instance of racism. Sheesh.
[BTW the Post's software appears to block posts containing certain words that aren't disguised by asterisks - who knew.]
Posted by: John | May 28, 2008 11:06 AM | Report abuse
Posters without a blogging license will not be allowed to post. Until we develop licensing procedures all "commenting" will be banned.
Any disent will be classified as Hate Speach and punishable by a life ban from all blogs.
Posted by: Big Brother | May 28, 2008 2:09 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.


text:
A fine, but not-quite-perfect boat, says Warren Steptoe, that nonetheless satisfies the Australian obsession with tinnies.
One of the few things the financial downturn didn't change about the Australian boating scene is the fact that an 18ft cuddy-cabin will always be a very versatile boat. They're big enough for serious offshore fishing, and equally capable of comfy cruising around the many picturesque bays and estuaries that Australia is so blessed with. They have ample room for social family boating or blokes-only fishing expeditions. They can also take on our nasty coastal bars with a degree of safety, yet they're not so big as to make launching and retrieving awkward for a couple.
For the Noble Boats International 5.8 deep-vee Cuddy Cabin this is a very accurate description. Add to that the fact it's strong as an ox because it's constructed from plate-aluminium, and this boat will happily satisfy our national tinnie mania.
There are, however, two significant differences between this boat and your average tinnie - especially plate-tinnies which, while most of them would hardly wear a scratch if used to knock down your average brick outhouse, invariably ride choppy water like one too.
The Noble deep-vee hull has been around long enough to have silenced any doubts about its innovative design. This hull has indeed proven to offer a superior roughwater ride compared to other plate-aluminium boats, although it's perhaps not quite up there with the best 'glass hulls. Even so, it's at least as good as run-of-the-mill ones, and is still every bit the tough tinnie we're so in love with (justifiably, as it turns out, given the lousy ramps and bad roads that come part and parcel in boating across much of Australia).
The other significant difference is that Noble boats are now built in China, thus the "International" moniker.
Precious little else seems to have changed. I guess I've been something of a fan of this design since it first saw the light of day some years ago in Dave McKenzie's "Sportfish" workshop on Brisbane's Redcliffe Peninsula. Some finetuning to the original design followed during the years it was built in the Noble family's shipyard in Brisbane, although not much changed over the last five years or so. The end result is that the boat you see here is quite refined, and few people would change much about it.
Still, Noble Boats International, in the best plate-aluminium tradition, is prepared to tinker with a few things, albeit within reason.
There were in fact two things I'd change. The first is the helm position. I'm 170cm tall so the screen frame was right in my line of sight while at the wheel, regardless of whether I was seated or standing.
For me, the otherwise snug and comfy deep-bucket helm seat needed raising for my line of sight to be either over or under that frame. My view of the water in front of the boat was definitely compromised so I was constantly craning my neck to see. This is not a position I would like to be in for the time that it might, for example, take to cross northern Moreton Bay.
The helm seat is on a slide so my gripe about the seating ergonomics was all about my eye height as it related to the windscreen frame. Similarly, when standing at the wheel, I'd need my eyeline raised at least 10cm so I could again see over the frame. I assume the easiest way to achieve this would be to raise the deck below the helm.
They're fairly simple modifications, although quite important ones if I were to own one of these boats.
Not so simple was the cabin's bunk - it was simply too short for me to sleep on comfortably. Changing this would be a relatively major exercise, and if this was a boat I was looking at buying - and given its many other attributes and the places I'd want to take it - I'd want to sleep aboard sometimes.
Fortunately, the cockpit in this cuddy-cab configuration is spacious, so perhaps a few centimetres could be sacrificed for customers who agree with my sentiments. Other than that, you'll find precious little else on the negative side of this boat's balance sheet - and a far longer list of positive attributes.
Our test boat had just been fitted with an outboard and controls, so it lacked many of the things you'd fit before taking it out on the water. These included important items like a bimini top, as well as fishfinding and navigation electronics. In both cases many people want to choose their own, so Noble's philosophy of leaving you the choice is a sound one.
Otherwise, the standard equipment list is comprehensive and includes a folding rocket launcher/rod rack, a transom door, a big fishpit belowdecks in the cockpit, a plumbed livewell in the port side of the aft covering-board, and a float switch-activated bilgepump.
It also has side-windows and a hatch for the cabin, a glass windscreen, stowage lockers mounting deep-bucket seats for helm and passenger with waterproof hatches, plus two more to access the oil bottles and batteries inside the aft bulkhead.
Add to that a baitboard/workbench on the aft bulkhead, three rodholders aside in the sidedecks, and a ladder with non-slip surfaces to board through the transom door.
Other standard fittings that many boatbuilders include on their options list include the bowrail, bowsprit, well-sited grab bar on the passenger side of the helm area, footrests, and an enormous anchorwell - I kid you not, at one stage I stood in it to take photos and it reached my thighs.
There are a few options, and their attractiveness will depend on how seriously you take your offshore fishing, and where you intend to fish. Things like upgrading the standard 180lt fuel tank to 240lt, a hardtop, an electric anchorwinch and maybe an icebox or two behind the bucket seats are about it.
I guess this boat by its very nature appeals to us serious fishing types, and while few buyers wouldn't have fishing on their mind, it would only take the addition of an aft lounge and perhaps some removable shade for the cockpit to make the Noble 5.8 Cuddy Cabin suitable for social boating too.
Performance-wise, the 140 Suzuki on our test boat was satisfying rather than scintillating. Top speed with a straight out-of-the-box motor and none of the gear required for offshore fishing was (a satisfactory) 30.4kts. And yet, while the Suzi hardly set the 5.8 Noble's world on fire at the top end, it had plenty of low-down grunt to get the hull planing cleanly at a mere 5.7kts. This certainly augurs well for trips home on those days where the fishing distracts you long enough for the afternoon sea breeze to get up and make things bumpy.
Despite all that (and without mentioning that this motor's reliability, economic operation and wide torque spread has made it so popular among fishing guides), you'd be a fool not to consider it. It'd certainly be interesting to compare its performance and fuel efficiency with one of the 150hp four-strokes, though. My thoughts on the hull's rating from 90-150hp are that I'd definitely be looking at motors closer to the upper end of the rating.
All in all, this is a great boat, and anyone looking at an offshore fisher in this size should consider the Noble 5.8 Cuddy Cabin. The only other advice I'll offer on that score is to also take a look at Noble's 5.8 Centre Cabin - another fine vessel.
Softest-riding plate-tinnie in the business
Quality construction throughout
Complete inventory with short options list
Bunks could be longer
Windscreen frame height
Specifications: Noble 5.8 Cuddy Cabin
Price as tested: $61,000
Options fitted: VHS, compass, bimini top, front side-clears, safety gear including EPIRB, registration
Type: Monohull cuddy-cabin
Material: Plate-aluminium
Length: 5.8m
Beam: 2.4m
Deadrise: 24°
Hull weight: Approx. 580kg
BMT weight: Approx. 1900kg
Fuel: 180lt (240lt and additional
180lt tanks optional)
People: Four
Min. HP: 90
Max. HP: 150
Make/Model: Suzuki DF140
Type: DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder
Rated HP: 140
Displacement: 2044cc
Weight: 186kg
Gearbox Ratio: 2.59:1
Cunningham's Marine,
Snook St,
Clontarf, Qld, 2093
Phone: (07) 3284 2342
Web: www.cunninghamsmarine.com.au
Noble Boats International,
Tianjian, China
Web: www.nobleboatsinternational.com.au
Originally published in TrailerBoat 257
Find Noble Boats International boats for sale.
Want the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the free TradeBoats e-newsletter.


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text:
Frogs' chorus leads to discovery of new species in US
Scientists have confirmed that a frog found living in New York City wetlands is a new species.
Jeremy Feinberg, of Rutgers University in New Jersey, who led the study, first reported the discovery when he heard their "very odd" chorusing call.
Teaming up with genetics experts to confirm the finding, Mr Feinberg has now published the discovery in the journal Plos One.
It is the first new frog species found in the region for nearly 30 years.
Mr Feinberg told BBC News he knew he might be on to something when he heard a group of them calling in chorus at a wetland study site on Staten Island.
"Frogs have very stereotyped calls within a species, so I knew this was different," the ecologist told BBC News.
"But it took me two years to find someone to partner with me on the genetics side."
He believes the frog, named Rana kauffeldi - a leopard frog - probably once inhabited Manhattan, so it had been seen before. But it was assumed to belong to a similar-looking, previously known species of leopard frog (so named because of its spots) found in the same area.
Mr Feinberg's familiarity with the known species meant that its call finally gave it away.
When his colleagues tested samples of tissue taken from the frogs, they confirmed that he was right - this urban-dwelling amphibian was a genetically distinct species.
'Double whammy'
It is a rare finding in North America: the continent's frog species are well documented.
"This is only the third new species of frog to be discovered north of Mexico since 1986," said Mr Feinberg.
"What also makes this crazy is that it's in a urban area - [that's] what makes it a double whammy."
But he explained: "You wouldn't find it hopping around Times Square" - or even in the ponds in Central Park.
"[These frogs] probably require wetland areas of something on the average minimum of 10 acres or more," said Mr Feinberg.
"If I took you to this site on Staten Island [where he found the frogs], apart from the fact that you could see the Manhattan skyline in the distance, you wouldn't know you were in the city."
Dr Gerardo Garcia, a specialist in conservation of rare amphibians and reptiles, based at the UK's Chester Zoo, described the discovery as "big news".
"[This] comes thanks to the combination of new technologies and advances in techniques in genetic analysis," he said.
"Elsewhere though, in places such as Madagascar, taxonomists and conservationists are racing against time to describe species before they become extinct.
"There is a huge backlog of species to describe and find out about that we do already know of, but sadly we're late because the speed of extinction is faster than the capacity to protect them."
Mr Feinberg said that the species' need for expansive wetland habitats in such a developed area could make it vulnerable.
"This frog is entitled to live. and we're entitled to our houses, too," he said. "So I think we have to consider that this is a planet that we share."
He added: "Imagine we moved forward 50 years and this frog had never been discovered. We might have destroyed its habitat and never known it was there.
"But this gives me hope that the species could be protected."


text:
How do you handle unwelcome guest at your house?
By Cheryl Coull in Advice | 0 comments
Question: How do you handle people who invite themselves over to your home? Especially ones who do not call first?
Answer: It can be annoying to have people drop in unexpected, especially depending on what you were doing before the interruption! However, how you deal with it depends on why you're irritated: is it because they've dropped in and you're busy, or because you simply hate spontaneous drop-ins?
If someone drops by unannounced and you don't have time to socialize with them, it's perfectly fine to say, "I'm sorry but I don't have time to hang out right now, let's make a plan for next week (or whenever)." People understand being busy; we all suffer from it. Some people (like myself) come from the type of family where the "pop-in" (as cointed by Seinfeld) is totally acceptable and not a problem. They may not realize that you're not a pop-in type of person, and that they're encroaching on your personal space. If this is the case, be careful not to invite them in (or they'll never leave), but chat for a minute or two in the hallway/foyer before apologising about having to get back to whatever it is you were doing.
Conversely, if it is the actual unannounced doorway appearance that irks you, you have two choices: you can directly tell your friends and family (as they show up, or altogether, your choice) that you don't appreciate spontaneous visits, or you can take a deep breath, relax, and go with the flow. What do you do currently? Do you let them in, or do you stand in the doorway? Whatever you're currently doing isn't working, so you have to decide what it is about the pop-in that drives you crazy, and come up with a solution. I wouldn't recommend a mass-email complaining about company, for example; you'll wind up looking like an ego maniac complaining you have too many friends. If you seriously want to put a stop to these pop-ins, it will likely take some time. Each time someone shows up, you'll have to explain that you're busy and you don't have time to see them; make it clear you want them to call or email first. Be careful though, or you could come off as extremely pretentious. Or, like I said, you could choose to relax a little bit, and recognize that there are people in your life who enjoy spending time with you, invited or not. Either way it's up to you, but I think you can guess which one will make you seem like the ultimate grouch.
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text:
Christmas has come and New Year is approaching~
For exactly 2 months I did not update my blog and that makes me feels bad~
Hopes that my visitors are still here for me~
Been busy learning to cope with my new 'life'~
and now I'm back~
before I start to update bout my new 'life' in my upcoming post~
I would like to wish everyone~
Merry Christmas! HoHoHo!
signed off at 4:38 p.m.