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CMLL (FRI) 09/14/2012 Arena Mexico [CMLL, CMLL Gaceta (4), Kaiser Sports (4), Kaiser Sports (6), Kaiser Sports (other), La Catedral, R de Rudo (6), Yahoo (photos, 1-4), Yahoo (photos, 5-6)]
***79th Anniversary Show***
1) Dalis la Caribeña, Goya Kong, Marcela b Amapola, Princesa Blanca, Tiffany
Tecnicas took 1/2. Marcela pinned Tiffany with Dalis helping Marcela with leverage. Tiffany challenged Marcela to a trios rematch next week, and Marcela accepted.
2) Ephesto, Mephisto, Niebla Roja b Delta, Stuka Jr., Valiente
Rudos took 1/3. In the third, Stuka pinned Ephesto, but the rudos beat Stuka, and then Mephisto defeated Delta for the win.
3) Ángel de Oro, La Sombra, Titán b Namajague, Shigeo Okumura, Taichi
Tecnicos took 1/3, Sombra beating Taichi in the third fall.
4) Puma King b Rey Cometa [mask]
Seconds were Tiger & Espiritu Negro. Rey Cometa dived off the stage on Puma with a tornillo before the bell. Puma still pulled out the fall with a leg hold in 1:16. Cometa went into the barricade again in the second fall, but came back to win with the 450 splash in 4:26. Rey Cometa is Mario Alberto González, 29 years old, 13 years a wrestler, from Quereraro. Both gave each other credit for their effort after the match, and Puma thanked the very supportive crowd.
5) Dragón Rojo Jr., Negro Casas, Último Guerrero b Atlantis, Mistico, Prince Devitt
Rudos took 1/3, Dragon Rojo beatting Devitt each time and setting up a title match between the two.
6) Rush b Terrible [hair]
Seconds were Toro Blanco for Rush and Rey Bucanero and Comandante for Terrible. Terrible won the first and Rush took the second in usual quick falls. Both bled were said to have bleed; Rush did so from the mouth, and Terrible's wound is not visible in the pictures (maybe a slight bit on his forehead.) Much less than Volador/Niebla. Rush finally won with the martillo negro. Fans sided with Terrible even after the match, upsetting Rush. Mistico, out to celebrate, settled down his brother, but the entire family was pelted with drinks until they left. Terrible was also sent to the back to calm down the crowd, but returned to get his hair cut (doing some himself) and thanked the fans. In the locker room, Rush said he didn't care about the boos and they just made him stronger, while Terrible said he didn't lose tonight, but just won more fans and it's not over with Rush.
Don't have an attendance number, just some guesses. I guessed 12,000 looking at the pictures around middle of the show. People who were there are saying 80%, which would put it at 14,000. There was said to be some sections that did not fill up (the blue section on the floor.) It was a not a sell out, and CMLL thought they could get one out of this show.
The actual poster for Heroes Inmortlaes is online. Somehow, I typed in the date wrong; it should be October 7th (Sunday). The Copa Pena looks like a twelve man match, not teams, but the exact format is not stated. "Tommy Boy" is a mishearing of "Atomic Boy", which makes for a really good mixed match. No mention of Sexi Star as a special referee, but no mention of referees at all so we'll see.
AAA tapes it's first show in a nearly a mouth this Sunday. It'll be nice to have something to talk about.
The Gladiatores say Latin Lover is in the hospital, recovering from an appendix removal surgery.
AAA uploaded the Copa Rio Nilo Konnan vs Perro Aguayo vs Cien Caras match that aired before TripleMania. Hopefully this will mean they'll continue uploading material.
Estrellas del Ring mentions someone is selling a near complete digital collection of Lucha Libre magazine (1050 issues) on a USB stick. I really should get that, though no price mentioned always makes me concerned.
Cronicas Y Leyendas looks back at Mil Mascaras defending his IWA titles versus Gran Markus in 1977 (which will definitely be a better match the Hijo del Solitario one) and Coloso Colosetti.
Lucha Libre in Japan
09/15 NOAH: Ricky Marvin b Bobby Fish, Super Crazy TLD Eddie Edwards.
09/15 NJPW: Low Ki & Averno [O] b Mascara Dorada [X] & Bushi
Averno & Mascara Dorada tag matches from 09/07 and 09/08 are online. Sure seems like whatever has stopped Japanese videos from turning up has started to get fixed, great news for those fans.
CMLL (FRI) 09/21/2012 Arena Mexico
1) Hombre Bala Jr. & Super Halcon Jr. vs Bobby Zavala & Disturbio
2) Triton vs Raziel [lightning]
3) Dalis la Caribeña, Goya Kong, Marcela vs Amapola, Princesa Blanca, Princesa Sugheit
4) Hijo del Fantasma, Rey Cometa, Valiente vs Niebla Roja, Puma King, Virus
5) Blue Panther, La Sombra, Prince Devitt vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Mr. Águila, Taichi
6) Máximo, Rush, Shocker vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Último Guerrero
Tiffany was pinned and made the challenge in the women's match, but is oddly not in the rematch. Overall, they decided to just go with build up trios instead of the matches they seemed to be setting up last night. Maybe they expect a drop off.
Lightning match looks real good, as does match 4.


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Wanda Fitzgerald (Character)
Created by: Todd McFarlane
1st appearance: Spawn #1, 1993
Nationality: American
Legal Status: Unknown
Height: 5'6 Weight: 125 lbs
Eyes: Brown Hair: Black
Relatives: Morena (Daughter), Cyan (Daughter), Al Simmons (Ex-Husband ), Granny Blake (Mother), Terry Fitzgerald (Husband)
Born into the Blake family which has a high probability and potential for the creation of HellSpawns. Wanda married Al Simmons who was abusive to her despite living her. While pregnant with a daughter Al punched her in the stomach and she ended up in the hospital and had a miscarriage. Unknown to her Malefic took the child and grew her to become his ultimate Hellspawn.
When Al died she got married to his best friend Terry Fitzgerald and had daughter Cyan. She was also the reason that Al agreed to become a hellspawn in the first place. Wanda would also give birth to Katie and Jake Fitgerald who turned out to be god and Satan who ushered in Armageddon which thanks to Spawn was averted.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Shelby-based Foothills Farmer's Market's manager has resigned.
The Shelby-based Foothills Farmer's Market's manager has resigned.
Donald Eslick, who announced his resignation Thursday, served as manager for two years.
�I was offered a full-time paramedic position in Charlotte,� Eslick said. �I will also still be doing Farm to Front Porch. There isn�t a negative reason. I�m really excited.�
Eslick co-founded the Farm to Front Porch business, which delivers fresh produce, dairy products and meats to the doorsteps of local residents.
The farmer's market also offers fresh food, as well as handmade crafts and home goods, and other items.
The market is open from May through early December each year, and it attracts 600 to 800 people on its busiest weeks of the season, Eslick said.
Eslick's duties as farmers market manager included setting up road blocks for the farmers market's location on uptown streets, managing social media efforts to share information about the market and generating new market vendors.
The manager also works as a liaison between the vendors and the market�s board of directors.
�(The market) has grown and gotten popular,� he said. �I�m excited to see who comes out and applies.�
Eslick said the farmer's market's board of directors will move quickly to fill the position. He said more information will be available on the market's Facebook page, Foothills Farmers' Market- Uptown Shelby , and at foothillsfarmersmarket.com.
Plans are also in the works for a new Foothills Farmer�s Market pavilion in Shelby. Initial plans called for a pavilion in a city-owned parking lot at the corner of West Marion and Morgan streets.
As of November, more than $400,000 had been raised for the project, from city and county funds, grants and private foundations, The Star previously reported.


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extreme sports
Alex Hiam Is Pretty Sick
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxSqHtOyPJk?rel=0&showinfo=0&w=560&h=315] Alex Haim does some pretty sweet ass bmx. I can barely do a bunny hop.
Wakeboarder Catches Football Mid Backflip
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkXmP3q0CSI?rel=0&showinfo=0&w=560&h=315]
Longboarder Dodges Death
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9OY5IOPVQk?rel=0&showinfo=0&w=560&h=315] Longboarder cruising at high speeds was racing down a closed road in the Philippines when a motorcyclist some how made it on to...
Scottish Cyclist Kills It
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FNwzhfPCGw?rel=0&showinfo=0&w=560&h=315] Scottish Cyclist Danny MacAskill pulls off some sweet bike tricks.


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House in Alaska
Address: 99683
Approximate value $: 647000
Beautiful secluded 440 acres with a true Alaskan log cabin made from the lands own big spruce trees is awaiting you. Private with a long secluded drive that takes you home to your cabin in the big woods. Old growth forest with wildlife everywhere. Your nearest neighbors are moose, bears and other forest animals. The birds in Spring escort you down our road as they flirt with each other. The grizzly mama and her cubs or the black bear and hers are an early morning spring treat for the eyes.The nearest human neighbors that live there year around are 6 miles away. State land on 3 sides.Quiet, solitude,and breathtaking mountain views (on 3 sides) await you here. The price is for the land the cabin is a free bonus for buying the land.The unfinished cabin is a one and half story 3 bedroom with 2 bathrooms approximately 1260 sq. ft.. We live here year around .There is a water well 150 ft deep and a tool shed. There is no electricial lines . We use a generator with battery backup which goes with the cabin. There is a electric refrigerator, dishwasher and washer plus the usual electricial items. Hunt on your own land and have many square miles of privacy while you hunt.To preserve our privacy we will only show the property to quailified buyers. Only serious inquiries please. It has agriculture covenants . You don't have to farm the land but you cannot subdivide it ,except into 4 pieces. It is a beautiful piece of property. The mountain in the picture is MT. Mckinley and the mountains around her. $1470.46 AN ACRE.You are welcome to come and view the land (snowmobile all around) but you must first provide documentation that you are qualified to purchase the property.
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Details » imperia forum
- Url: http://imperiumikacore.informe.com/
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1. | Jun 28, 2014
I always enjoy Seth's ihtignss as a breath of fresh air especially with CBS embracing people like Billy Packer, whose over-stated commentary got old quickly then his replacement Clark Kellogg's his faux-Clyde routine One of the things Seth conveniently forgets is that some of the cupcake games are regionally politically correct I think that UCONN being on the bubble might be more of a reality with Coach Calhoun's medical leave of absence Coach Blainey was a genius hire but he's not Coach Calhoun I am hoping the American Sports Vatican (aka Notre Dame) falls off that bubble they need to establish a reputation of athletic excellence, not just a memory of the Digger Days !!!Glad to see someone speaking nationally about Da Hall and I agree with his evalaution !!!Lastly, I certainly hope Duke's Singler stays for his senior year it will help the team and recognize that he's not an NBA calibre player now and might never be


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So I set up the "big computer" in the bungalow and gave the 3d printer a quick go to check it still worked ok after being joggled around. Thankfully - and as Steve insists is common with UP! printers - it just worked!
great expanses of long empty shelves - won't stay empty for long!
After calibrating our laser cutter a few days ago (and finding it wasn't cutting exactly to size without a bit of tweaking) we figured it best to see how accurately the Up! Mini was printing.
Without messing about creating a 3d model and slicing it up, I just added a simple cube in the Up! Studio software and scaled it to as close to 14mm as I could get (it ended up around 14.02mm). 10 minutes later and a little white cube was ready.
Along one side and the height of cube appeared to be within a reasonable tolerance
Our printer has a resolution of 0.2mm so even at 14.14mm we're still pretty happy that the print is within our margin of error.
Measuring the height of the cube (across the banding) showed it to also be within reasonable margin of error.
At first this reading caused a little concern, as it's less than the 14mm required. But it's also within 0.17mm of the required distance - less than the height of a single layer. So it's pretty good. After all, the variation between designed and measured values were 0.17mm, 0.06mm and 0.12mm
If we'd had that degree of accuracy from our initial laser cut testing, we'd have been more than happy! So until we print something that's completely way out of whack, it look like the UP! Mini 3d printer is producing decent prints - almost straight out of the box.


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2 thoughts on "Video / Audio"
Simply Amazing! Talented beyond your years! I look forward to all that you do! Keep them coming Taylor!
For a good laugh, look at the comments on Greg's article on Slate, and search for &0;neo782#82432≾ I can't remember the last time I've seen someone so, so wrong and yet so, so confident! It's hilarious. Sad and hilarious. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.


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Award Winning
Beautifully Restored Cottages & Super Posh Glamping
Farm Accommodation
Award winning, all Drovers Rest Farm Accommodation is cool and quirky and has fantastic interiors. Switch off as soon as you turn down our leafy wooded lane – be prepared to shoo away the free ranging chickens, ducks & guinea fowls blocking your path scratching for fat juicy worms, pick up some farm fresh organic eggs and home-grown organic sausage and bacon from the farm shop, continue on past the farmhouse and your recently restored stone welsh cottage or super posh glamping tent awaits.
Choose Drovers Cottage if you want a slightly larger cottage, to be more isolated and away from it all. The Shepherds Shack if you want to be in the thick of things on the Farm Yard. Or Glamp in one of our Souped up Drovers Tents to be closer to nature. All sleep up to 4. Ask about a 3rd child. All cottages have ensuite bedrooms. And the Posh Glamping Tents have their own private underfloor heated bathrooms.
For Larger Group Gatherings we have 2 lush cottages and 5 super posh glamping tents, sleeping 28 altogether. Full packages including activities and drinks and catering options available. We have a huge chill-out barn which is perfect for group gatherings no matter the weather. Winner of Trip Advisor Best Welsh Accommodation 2017
The Shepherd's Shack
It's a far cry from the shack it used to be! But we've kept its name to remember its origins. It overlooks the farm's courtyard in the front and you will also have gorgeous views of the sheep grazed common & stream to the rear.Discover More
Drovers Cottage
The magic begins as you drive past the farm-house and across a sheep-grazed common high above the Wye. Then the roof of your cottage, a recently restored drover's home, appears – to a backdrop of the distant Black Mountains.Discover More
As you make your way to your Posh Safari Tents, you will see how substantial they are in reality. Majestically African in Looks but purely Welsh in spirit! The luxurious earthy canvas cottages (you really cannot call this camping!) thrust you into the outdoors and are set in a grassy meadow, overlooking pastures dotted with black sheep.Discover More
Group Gatherings
A special event deserves a special venue. An incredible venue can make your event truly unforgettable! Having hosted many epic group gatherings here, we can help plan your special event. Think hen dos, special birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, walking groups, fitness, yoga camps and corporate retreats!Discover More


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2.1M Folding Gymnastics Beam Faux Leather. The Perfect equipment for beginner gymnasts. Great for learning balance exercises and working on technique. Constructed from solid wood and metal. The hinge design means its easy to store. Covered in 100% Polyester with a faux leather feel to prevent slipping. Filled with a thick fire retardant foam to provide comfort under feet support.


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Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark construction plan ratified
The PM has approved the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark construction plan in the northern province of Ha Giang till 2030. Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark is located on the area of 232,606 ha consisting of four districts of Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh and Quan Ba.
As many as 283,000 local people are living in the area (in 2014) and the figure is forecasted to reach 320,000-325,000 by 2020 and 370,000-375,000 by 2030.
In 2014, the region welcomed 0.6 million passengers. The number of visitors is estimated to reach 0.7-0.8 million by 2020 and 1-1.1 million by 2030.
The Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark will be connected with other regions, including geological heritage conservation area (35,840 ha), natural reservation and biodiversity, sustainable development of natural resources region, protection of landscapes area (2,564 ha), urban development zones and tourist centers, agricultural and forestry raw materials region in association with hi-tech processing, development of rural residential area, network area, and high quality pharmaceutical development zone.
Urban areas will be constructed to become tourism centers, ensuring the connection between the internal regions and between the region and outsider.
The quality of infrastructure, urban techniques and services, public spaces and community culture for tourism and local people will be enhanced.
Four urban areas-tourism centers include Dong Van Town – historical cultural tourism center, Meo Vac Town – science, adventure and border trade tourism center, Yen Minh urban area- biological and green urban tourism center and Tam Son Town- entertainment and tourism center.


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21st October - New Chair for Bus Users
Former Under Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Norman Baker, is to be the new Chair of Bus Users.
Norman Baker said: "I am delighted to be joining Bus Users UK. I know from my time as a transport minister just what a valuable role they play on behalf of bus passengers. Bus travel is a crucial and often neglected form of public transport. I am strong supporter both of the bus and the bus passenger, and will be bringing that to my role for Bus Users."
In welcoming him as Chair, Claire Walters, Chief Executive of Bus Users said: "Norman Baker has been a committed campaigner on transport issues and brings with him a wealth of expertise and a deeply held passion for transport. We very much look forward to working with him and ensuring that policy and decision makers give greater priority to the bus and that the voice of bus passengers is heard."
Norman Baker was elected Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes in 1997 becoming Shadow DEFRA Secretary then Shadow Transport Secretary. In 2010 he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport and from 2013 until 2014 he was Minister of State, Home Office under the Coalition Government. During his time with the Department for Transport, Norman's achievements included the £600million Local Sustainable Transport Fund which saw £1billion of sustainable transport projects announced across the country.
Norman will take over from Tracy Jessop who is currently acting Chair of Bus Users. Tracy also welcomed the appointment saying: "Bus Users is entering a new and exciting phase in its work as passenger champion. The unique skills and experience that Norman Baker has to offer will add enormous value to that work. I know that Norman is highly regarded for the knowledge he has of transport and he has a strong grasp on key issues. This really is a coup for Bus Users and I couldn't wish for someone better equipped to take over the Board leadership."


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It's a dancing elephant of a movie. It has a few decent moves, but you'd never call it light on its feet.
It's a dancing elephant of a movie. It has a few decent moves, but you'd never call it light on its feet.
Lithgow and Danner show us characters who may qualify for Medicare but are every bit as vulnerable and as eager to matter to someone as…
Roger Ebert on James Ivory's "Howards End".
"The Ballad of Narayama" is a Japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty. What a space it opens…
An article about the reissue of "Two Weeks in the Midday Sun."
An article about Champ Clark's one-act play,"Wild Son: The Testimony of Christian Brando," currently running at Santa Monica Playhouse through May 26th, performed by John…
An article about the reissue of "Two Weeks in the Midday Sun."
Return now to those thrilling days of yesteryear.
One of our foreign correspondents looks at Cold War.
A Far Flung Correspondent takes a look at the Paul Newman classic The Hustler.
Abel Ferrara was back in Cannes with his fifth feature with Willem Dafoe.
A review of Netflix's new anthology series What/If, which premieres with ten episodes on Friday.
by Roger Ebert
Julia Phillips' famous autobiography was titled, You' ll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again. Barry Levinson and Art Linson will. At this point, if you're going to make a film about Hollywood greed, hypocrisy and lust, you have to be willing to burn your bridges. There's not a whole lot in "What Just Happened?" that would be out of place in a good "SNL" skit.
Linson is an A-list producer ("Fight Club," "Into the Wild") who wrote this screenplay based on his memoir, subtitled Bitter Hollywood Tales From the Front Line. He knows where the bodies are buried and who buried them, but he doesn't dig anybody up or turn anybody in. If you want to see a movie that Rips the Lid Off Tinseltown, just go ahead and watch Robert Altman's "The Player" (1992). Altman took no hostages. He didn't give a damn. And the book and screenplay he started with were by Michael Tolkin, who was closer to the front line and a lot more bitter. He didn't give a damn, either.
"What Just Happened?" stars Robert De Niro as a powerful Hollywood producer who has two troubled projects on his hands and a messy private life. De Niro warmed up for this film in "The Last Tycoon" (1976), in a role inspired by Irving Thalberg. That screenplay was by Harold Pinter, based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Levinson himself directed the brilliant "Wag the Dog" (1997), where De Niro played a political spin doctor assigned to fabricate reasons for a war.
David Mamet wrote that screenplay, which was astonishingly prescient. The movie, which premiered on Dec. 17, 1997, gave us a U.S. president accused of luring a "Firefly Girl" into a room near the Oval Office and presenting her with unique opportunities to salute her commander in chief. The first hints of the Monica Lewinsky scandal became public in January 1998. For the White House methods used to invent reasons for a phony war, Mamet was six years ahead of Iraq.
So what am I saying? Should Mamet have written "What Just Happened?" Why not? For Mamet's "Heist," produced by Linson, he gave Danny DeVito one of the funniest lines ever written: "Everybody loves money! That's why they call it money!" For that matter, Variety's Todd MCarthy thinks some of the characters in this film are inspired by the making of Linson's "The Edge," also written by Mamet. A pattern emerges. But everything I think of is luring me further away from "What Just Happened?"
Anyway, Ben, the De Niro character, has just has a disastrous preview of his new Sean Penn film, "Fiercely." The audience recoils at the end, when a dog is shot. The problem with the footage of "Fiercely" we see is that it doesn't remotely look like a real movie. Meantime, Ben is trying to get his next project off the ground. It will star Bruce Willis as an action hero, but inconveniently Willis has put on a lot of weight and grown a beard worthy of the Smith Brothers.
Ben is still in love with Kelly (Robin Wright Penn), his ex-wife No. 2, but they just haven't been able to make it work and are now immersed in something I think it is called Break-Up Therapy. Their daughter, Zoe (Kristen Stewart), is having anguish of her own, which goes with the territory for a rich kid from a shattered home in 90210. And Lou Tarnow (Catherine Keener), Ben's studio chief, is scared to death that "Fiercely" will tank. And the film's mad-dog British director (Michael Wincott) defends the dog's death as artistically indispensable. And the writer of the Bruce Willis thriller (Stanley Tucci) is having an affair with Ben's ex-wife No. 2.
This isn't a Hollywood satire, it's a sitcom. The flywheels of the plot machine keep it churning around, but it chugs off onto the back lot and doesn't hit anybody in management. Only Penn and Willis are really funny, poking fun not at themselves but at stars they no doubt hate to work with. Wincott is great as the Brit director who wants to end with the dead dog; one wonders if Linson was inspired by Lee Tamahori, the fiery New Zealand-born director of "The Edge," who stepped on the astonishing implications of Mamet's brilliant last scene by fading to black and immediately popping up a big credit for Bart the Bear.
This message came to me from a reader named Peter Svensland. He and a fr...
A tribute to Doris Day.


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Aluminum cables and conductors are widely used in domestic, industrial and bare overhead power lines. The electric wire or cable forms the conducting link between one electrical equipment and another; it also constitutes the internal veins and arteries of electrical equipment. It may be lightly insulated as in a bell wire which connects the bell-push with the bell and the battery, or it may be heavily insulated as in the case of an underground high voltage power cable which links the electrical generating station of a city with the suburban substation or supply center. In size it ranges from a wire much thinner than the human hair used for winding the coils of hearing aids, to a heavily armored telegraph or telephone cable running along the bed or the ocean may be bare or insulated. A bare conductor is used as overhead line for telegraphy, telephony, and power transmission. When so used it is supported by, or suspended from porcelain, glass, or other insulators attached to wood, concrete or steel poles.
An insulated wire or cable consists of the conductor which provide the path for the electrical current when the circuit is completed; the insulation or dielectric which prevents direct contact between two or more conductors or between the conductor and any other object not intended to form a part of the electrical circuit; and the preservative material for protecting the dielectric and the conductor from abrasive, corrosive or other destructive action.
Formerly conductors were generally made of copper, primarily because copper has a high electrical conductivity approaching that of silver, which is the best known commercial conductor of electricity. Copper has high ductility and malleability which enables it to be drown into wires as fine as on thousandth of an inch in diameter. It can also be joined with ease by such processes as soldering, brazing and welding and is resistant to many forms of corrosion. Because of higher cost and low availability of copper, aluminum is replacing copper in most application in this field.


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by Penny Martin .
It's Liberty on the phone
The missing piece from the Dress Me Up, Dress Me Down bonanza is the end product: what exactly will happen to the sequence of images of Liberty Ross being undress once Nick Knight captures them. Quietly, gradually, Daniel Brown has been working on a solution for us. Have a look at these tests that he has been developing for an interactive that you can play with on the site, configure your favourite image of Liberty - be it a 'moving window' imaging technique, a rotating deconstruction device, a fractured montage or a random colour generator - and then by some stroke of technical genius, download your personally customised picture of Liberty onto your mobile phone! To keep! For free!
This is purely work-in-progress, though, which can't be downloaded. Danny is being quite humble about these and has been reminding me that there is a lot of work to do to get them download-perfect!!
This is a great moment for us as it marks the first project we've worked with Danny since he was crowned Designer of the Year last year. And we're delighted.


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It was a tough night for us in the family. My family has been using Apple computer since 1978. We have never had a pc. I remember being cool in the 70's, ridiculed in the 80's, ignored in the 90s, and then cool again in the 2000's. We are in real tight with a few software manufacturers because we were one of the few businesses using their software in the 80s. I tried to get Steve Jobs' autograph for 30 years and it is the only person I didn't get an autograph from on my "people I'd like to have an autograph" list. It was easier getting three Presidents of the United States autographs than his. Apple is and will always be more than just Steve Jobs but they'll never be the same without him. Now onto the names.
InFL.com You know Florida right? Where New Yorkers go to die.
DealsGuide.com 2004 Birthday.com. With Groupon and Living Social heating up I think this one is cheap at this price. At first I thought dealguide would be better but a guide would have multiple deals.
DealPimp.com Or you could go the pimp route
LandAcquistions.com $5300 valuate. I know, I know that means squat. I like it. NOW it's worth something
600.org A whole organization devoted to the number 600, beautiful.
XBO.org Three letter dot org. Seem to be reaching $200-$400 There are 15-20 more three letter dot orgs up today.
Rubot.com 1998 Birthday. No bids for this pretty decent 5L to com.
1001MoneyMakers.com It's a brandable but at least you have an endpoint. Once you reach 1001 you can quit
Androidpads.com I know it is infringing but just pointing it out.
CloudFox.com It has the word cloud in it so it must be worth millions.
Compact.net I think the best way to use this one is for the new trend in compact cars.


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How about if you could run your finger along a line of type and hear it read aloud?
may be only a proof of concept research prototype at this point but it has some interesting capabilities. It's designed to help visually impaired users with reading texts or words and takes the form of a ring the user wears on their index finger. Inside are a camera and some haptic actuators for feedback. As the user runs their finger along a line of text on perhaps a business card, a menu in a restaurant or on a sign, the device reads the words out loud. Feedback from the device helps users keep their finger on track. While this device is designed for people with visual impairments, it could clearly be helpful for children or adults learning to read, and for people confronted with a language they don't understand. Think how useful that could be for reading print that's way too small too.
SHIP OUT OF WATER: A fully assembled oil rig can weigh as much as 110,000 metric tons. But do you assemble it at sea or find some way to transport it to its drilling destination? The Dockwise Vanguard is a huge transport vessel that can submerge itself up to 15 metres — that's enough to slide under an oil rig or ship and lift it up onto the deck. Then the Vanguard carries its load at speeds as high as 14 knots. The transport vessel's ability to submerge also means it can lift other vessels for maintenance and overhaul at sea, acting as a dry dock without the inconvenience of heading back to a port with suitable facilities. Wouldn't that be a sight to see!
AIR SHIP: European researchers are developing airbags that could help stop a ship from sinking in an emergency. They could also be used to stabilise capsized ships or lift those that have already sunk. Kevlar-reinforced balloons have cartridges attached. When triggered gunpowder oxidises an epoxy resin which inflates the balloons. A second cartridge containing compressed air helps to cool the explosion. The project is currently at proof of concept stage. Next up is developing a control unit for the whole system. Keeping a ship afloat in an emergency makes good sense.
A LITTLE PROGRESS: It's bigger than a motorbike, but only just. Toyota's 3-wheeled 2-seater i-ROAD electric vehicle will be tested out in a car-sharing programme in Grenoble, France. The Smart City car-sharing scheme is designed to reduce traffic congestion and promote clean air by encouraging people to use public transport and then switch to an electric vehicle if necessary for the final portion of their journey. Travellers will be able to pick a car up at one location and drop it off at another. That's a useful idea.
UNDER GLASS: The Mall of the World to be built in the United Arab Emirates will cover more than 4.5 million square metres — around 450 hectares. The temperature controlled facility will contain the world's largest shopping mall and an indoor theme park covered by a retractable glass dome that opens during winter months. The idea is to also include a cultural celebration district, shopping and entertainment, hotel rooms and apartments and other hospitality options. One aim of this giant pedestrian area is to draw as many as 180 million visitors per year to Dubai. There's nothing quite like a mall to draw the crowds.
Miraz Jordan, knowit.co.nz


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In this article I'm going to take you through the steps for using Amazon RDS with Entity Framework code first. I will not be covering any details related to Entity Framework. First you need to install AWS Tools for .NET. Then you will need to open up the AWS explorer from visual Studio View menu. Remember you need to have your account setup with Amazon Web Services. From this you can manipulate your AWS account.
So first I am going to create a database using the AWS RDS. Here I will be selecting the Amazon RDS (Relational Database Services).


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This recipe comes courtesy of Sandra Lee. I don't care for many of her recipes but this one I do enjoy. Delicious and easy. I would imagine you could play around with the pudding mix and chips and substitute different flavors. Very simple and kid friendly!
We are having great weather here lately. It is going to be 78 today and hitting 80 the next two days. I think we will all be spoiled by this weather and not want it to cool down at all. I know that I would love it to stay like this. The older I get, the warmer I like it!
2 cups milk
1 box (3.4-ounce) instant butterscotch pudding and pie filling mix
1 box (18.25-ounce) German chocolate cake mix
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips
1/4 cup shredded carrot
Vanillla ice cream or whipped cream frosting (1 cup heavy cream whipped till stiff peaks form)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes; let stand for 3 minutes until thick.
In a large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl; beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Stir in butterscotch chips and carrot. Pour batter into prepared dish. Pour pudding over batter; spread evenly.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Serve cake warm with ice cream or cool completely and frost with a whipped cream frosting.


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Bliss and Remorse
Chapter1: Just another day, only different.
It wasn't fair. This was just unbelievable.
I was crying. With my hair flying through the strongest wind yet, I ran from the clinic and straight to the inn where I live. I was running from the clinic because a very special friend I knew died. He wasn't like the normal friends you have; in fact he was like something else. Like a grandpa. His name was Mr. Harvest, but my father and I called him Tony. He was one of the kindest people in the village. He would always stop by our house and give me a little present when I was younger. Now he is dead. Just a few minutes ago he died at the clinic of a horrible illness.
The minute I touched the door with my wet fingers that I had wiped my eyes on, I realized I wanted to see his farm one last time. I dragged my body in that direction.
As soon as I got there, I opened the unlocked gate to his farm. Right there, where the magic red flower I had planted this spring was, I saw a dead, withered flower covered in frost. I hadn't taken a notice before, but the first few snowflakes had fallen. Then I knew it was officially winter. I cried out and picked the flower out of the ground, walked mournfully back to the inn, and ran up to my room. I placed the dead flower, still covered in frost, into the loveliest vase and grabbed a camera. As I pressed the button on it, it flashed like a crash of lightning. I smiled. Now I would always remember it.
Tony, too.
End of flashback
It was July and I was walking to the goddess pond. Ever since Tony died, I vowed to myself I would never pass through his farm again.
But one thing stopped me, and its name was curiosity.
I was walking along while I was reading and unexpectedly kept going straight when I was supposed to make a turn. All of a sudden, I bumped into a sign. I looked at it curiously. To my surprise, it read:
*~MoonDrop Farm~*
"I only said I wouldn't go into Tony's farm." I said to myself. "It's not his anymore. Even the name is changed." I walked into the path of the farm.
Then as soon as I entered the farm, I looked at it in shock. It wasn't the change in it, or the neglect. In fact, it wasn't neglected at all; it looked wonderful! Here's what I saw: The weeds were gone, there were two chickens in a fence made of lumber, tilled soil with turnips and other plants sprawling from the ground, and the sun shown like a glossy myth instead of a dulling pain of darkness. I looked more carefully. Suddenly, I gasped and stared in amazement. What I saw was different from everything else.
There was a guy on the farm.
He was the one watering the plants. I watched him for a moment. What was he doing here? I thought. Even though I sounded angry, I couldn't help admire his qualities. He looked so pure and… well actually…kind of cute? Cute didn't seem right. He looked too peaceful to be cute. Admirable? Good-looking? Beautiful? Those didn't seem right, either. But he did look nice. He also looked very much like he enjoyed animals. I always like other people who like animals. But deep inside I felt confused and maybe even a little angry. He took Tony's farm, after all.
He must've heard me, because he shouted, "Hello?" I just stood there. For a moments time, I decided I had better do some explaining and said, "Um, hi. I-I work at the inn. I needed to pick up some eggs. I thought…" The boy spoke up. "Oh, my grandpa was Tony. He… you know…"
"He died…?" I asked being careful not to cry.
"You know him?" He said, reading my mind. I nodded. All of a sudden he gasped. "I've heard of you. You won at the cooking festival, didn't you? I've heard you are a tremendous cook." I blushed furiously. "Anyway," He continued. "The mayor immediately looked for someone to take over the farm. It took only a weeks time until he found me. I was unsure, because I've never lived on my own before, but I accepted his question. I lived in the city, so I wasn't used to this kind of stuff, either." I stared at him for a moment, trying to picture him in the city. Then I replied, "Well, I really have to go… um… I don't want to be rude…"
"I understand."
"…Well, good-bye." I started to walk away. The boy spoke up. "Wait!" He said. "I forgot to give you my eggs. How many do you need?"
"Uh, only two."
"All right, I'll be right back." He picked up two pretty-looking eggs and handed them to me. I looked at them, and then the boy.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Oh! No-nothing. It's fine. In fact, I just think it's actually better than even the poultry farms' eggs." The boy looked flattered.
"I hate to go." I said. "But I have to meet someone at the water fall."
"Oh, that's fine." I nodded and walked off.
All of a sudden, I painfully hurled my toe into a sharp rock. For a blinding moment, I lost control of my body and fell into something warm and rough. I looked up and saw the boy helping me out of my arms. I looked up at him in horror. I must've fallen into his arms. "Whoa!" he replied. "Careful! Here-"
"Um, thanks." I sputtered. "I better go…"
"Wait!" He shouted. "What's your name?" I stopped suddenly and looked back at him. "Ann." I replied sounding a bit surprised.
"Hi, Ann." He said. I melted when he said my name. "I'm Andrew."
"H-hi, Andrew." I said. "Well, um… thank you for the eggs."
"You're welcome. Bye, Ann." I walked away and waved at him. I was shaking. Andrew…Andrew… I said in my mind over and over. What a perfect name for him. Andrew…Then all of a sudden I bumped into an unpleasant voice. "A-a-Ann! You're late!" It was Popuri. "You simply don't know how long I've been waiting! Enough. It's ten thirty, I'm going home." She stormed down the steps and shoved me out of her way. As soon as she was gone I walked over to the waterfall and stroked the water. I wondered if I wanted to go through his farm again…
Chapter2: The egg
I woke up that very next morning finding the voice of my father to awake me. "Ann! You've overslept! Come help me wash the dishes, we have customers waiting!" I ran to the bathroom next to my room and took a very quick shower. After putting on my cleanest, prettiest clothes, I ran to the door and slammed into it. "Dad! Sorry, I was dazed all day yesterday. What time is it?" I said loudly as I got behind the counter where my dad is. "Ann!" My dad barked. "You know not to shout while we're open, and especially when we have customers. I was trying to talk to Jeff." He sighed. "You have lot's of work to do, and it's almost nine. You won't be seeing Popuri today. Go wash the dishes from last night and make Jeff an egg and sausage sandwich, then you can go. Be back by noon when it gets busy. And don't you think I'm not disappointed with you young lady." He said sternly.
"Right, dad." I said wearily. I walked back and opened the door to the kitchen. As I washed the dishes I thought up an excuse I would tell Andrew about why I came there. I didn't want him to know I just came to visit. I thought for a moment. Maybe I could say I was going to the hot spring to get some bamboo shoot for one of my recipes for the inn. That's it. I continued washing the dishes and making the food.
A half an hour later, I walked out of the kitchen and handed the sandwich to Jeff. I turned to my dad. "Uh…umm…" I muttered. "Yes, Ann?" He asked annoyed.
"I'm going to cook my bamboo rice tonight as a specialty, I just need to go to the hot spring to get some. That all right, dad?"
"Sure, Ann, don't be long." He answered. I smiled at him and ran out the door.
When I got to the gate I looked for Andrew. I saw him come out of the chicken house looking worried. "Andrew!" I shouted running up to him. All of a sudden I fell in the muddy grass. I kept on running. "Hi." I said panting. Andrew laughed. "Hi, Ann." He said. "Do you need those eggs today?"
"No. I just… I need to get some extra bamboo shoot for my special recipe bamboo rice that I'm going to cook tonight."
"Oh, really? I love bamboo rice. Maybe I'll go to the inn tonight. Umm, here." He said looking shy. "You can keep these anyway if you want. They're spa-boiled eggs." I just stared at them. These were some of my favorite things. "Wow! I really like this! Thank you!" I said. I ran off so I could put them in fridge. Then I turned back. What am I crazy? I can't let him suspect I wasn't really getting bamboo. "Uh, sorry I ran off like that." I said blushing. "I-I just really like this. Hey! Maybe that can be a new ingredient! I'll see if it works. Thank you so much!" I said continuing to run toward the inn.
"Uh, Ann?" He said suddenly. "Don't you want to go the other way so you can pick your bamboo?"
"Oh!" I said startled. "Uh, yeah…right." I started to run the other way wondering why I was being so light-headed.
That night after I tried out putting the eggs in the bamboo rice (And discovering that it was terrific!) I was a nervous wreck. How was I supposed to visit with Andrew while being at least nine people's waitress? I ran into my room and brushed my hair and changed my clothes and things like that. Then all of a sudden a door opened. I jolted up from my bed and quickly ran out of the door to the restaurant part of the inn. I ran to see who it was and sighed with relief. It was only Duke. "Hi, Duke." I said cheerfully.
"Ann, hi. You look tired, have a hard day?"
"Yeah. Did you hear about our new specialty? It's bamboo rice; I had to go to a lot of places to get the natural ingredients." Duke looked confused. "But I thought there was only one natural ingredient."
"Yeah, but I have added a few more." I said. Suddenly I saw Karen and Rick come in. "Hi, guys." I said walking over to them. They greeted me and I told them about the specialty. They ordered an orange shake and a small grape wine. I walked into the kitchen and back out to give it to them. When I came back I saw two more people. They were Andrew and Saibara. I rushed over to Saibara first. "Hello." I said. He sat down. "Do you want to start off with a drink?"
"I'll have a cranberry juice." I got him some cranberry juice and walked over to Andrew. "Hi, Andrew." I said. "You can choose where to sit. Have you been to anything like this before?"
"No." He said. "It's empty here." I wilted. He hated it!
"I like that, though." He added quickly. "Usually where I lived it was totally packed with people. I like how the people are so nice here, too." Sighing with relief, I said, "Do you want anything to drink?"
"Sure." He replied. "What do you think goes good with bamboo rice?"
"Oh! Umm… probably one of our hot sodas." I said.
"Okay, I'll have that." I walked off and prepared the hot soda.
When I came back I saw Cliff and Basil sitting at the table. I gave them their drinks and ran back over to Karen and Rick. "Are you guys ready to order anything?" I asked. "Yeah, we're going to share a turkey sandwich combo." I got it for them and ran over to Duke and gave him his drink. Then I went to everyone else and walked over to Andrew again. "Are you wanting to have that bamboo rice now?" I asked. "Okay." He said. "Oh, Ann?" He added. "Can I stay a couple minutes after the inn closes so I can tell you something?"
"Okay." I said alarmed. I opened my mouth to say something but closed it and turned away to see Basil. "Can I have some red pepper sauce, Ann?" He asked. I got him some red pepper. "Um, Ann, this is barbecue sauce."
"Oh! Sorry, my mind has been all blurry lately." I went to the kitchen again to get the red pepper and gave it to him. "Thank you." He said to me. I ran around to cook and get everyone else's food and drinks and to check up on them until it was ten after twelve. Andrew was still there talking to my dad and offering to help clean up. I escaped for a minute to wash my hands and brush off all the food and stains. All of a sudden I heard a door open. "Ann?" Said a familiar voice. "Can I came in right now?" I peeked out of the kitchen and saw Andrew. I got all shaky. "Uh-huh." I faltered.
"Can I ask you something… about the twenty-fourth of this month? Um, well, Ann, can you go to the fireworks display with me? I just have no one to ask to go with me and I just really-"
"I'll-I can come with you." I said shakily and blushing. I was probably really really turning pale later on, too.
"Ann, I just- I don't know-"
"I'll come." I repeated. "I'd love to come. I've only been there a few times with my dad when I was little, though."
"Great." He said with a small laugh. "I've never been to a fire work show at all. I've only seen them on football games and concerts and things like that."
"All right. What time is good for you? It opens at six and goes on all night long."
"Well, is the inn busy that night?"
"Yeah." I said with a huff. Why did he have to bring that place up? "Why don't we go at ten thirty? I can cut out some of my work and leave it to my dad." I said hopefully.
"Okay. If not then at twelve." We smiled at each other. "Well, bye, Ann." He said putting his hand on me. I stared at him as he left the room.
Chapter3: The fireworks display.
I was trying to leave some of my work that noon to get ready for the fireworks display, but there were so many things to do! "Dad, can't I just take a day off?" I wailed.
"No, Ann." He said to me sternly. "You need to do your work today. You may only leave at eleven thirty." I sighed. This thing Andrew and I had planned was working out hopelessly. I continued working on cleaning the tables and helping with the mayor and the policeman.
As soon as it was ten minutes before twelve, after taking a bath and putting on a bright green leather top and a pair of black jeans and messing with my hair and all of that other stuff, I ran down and opened the door to the front of the inn. "Good luck, Ann." Said my dad. I thanked him and walked to Mineral beach. I looked at Rose Square. It was so dark and shadowy. Then I walked down the steps to the beach.
I was so shaky I was afraid I would fall. When I saw Andrew sitting on the dock and watching a green fire work looking a lot like my shirt, I walked up to him. "H-hi…Andrew." I said as he turned around and looked at me. "Oh, hi, Ann. You… look nice. Want to sit at the dock? That's where you get the best view."
I sat down and watched with Andrew. All of a sudden a giant, deep red fire work burst into the starry sky. "I wonder how I would feel if I were a fish and there were fire works everywhere. I would be scared, but not run away, I might probably watch them no matter what I was." I said. We watched for a moment again. Andrew turned to me. "Ann, I… I've wanted to tell you… I really like you. I mean…" He looked deep into my eyes and held my hand. I turned to look at him. His eyes were so deep and brown. He looked so perfect. I leaned over…
And then we kissed.
We kissed for a long time and he held me tight. A firework burst in the sky. It was a beautiful color. It stayed there for a long time and then faded away as Andrew and I stopped kissing. Still holding my hand, Andrew continued what he was saying. "I love you, Ann." He breathed. I stared at him without knowing what to say. Tears fell in my eyes. "I love you, too." I said yawning. That broke the love scene. We laughed and watched the fire works. I yawned again and lied down on the dock. I was becoming pretty tired. The fireworks should be over soon, if I just take a snooze that would be okay… I thought slowly falling asleep.
I woke up with a start. I was asleep longer than I thought, because everyone but Andrew had left. He was asleep, probably not knowing what to do with a sleeping girl on his lap, I guessed. For a startling moment, I moved over to get up but something horrible, terrible, scary, and exiting happened. I rolled off the dock and with my fingers slipping quickly off of the edge of a pole, tumbled into the deep water. I screamed but no sound came out. Trying to swim a little, I grabbed onto a steaming boat. I was too tired to think a steaming boat was a sign it was going to leave very soon. I screamed again, this time with only a little sound coming out. Then it happened. The boat started leaving. It was a very fast boat. I let go but to my horror my shirt got a hole in it and a large piece of wood was sticking out of it. I tried to pull away and I swam wildly around, but that just gave me a deep scratch in my stomach. I screamed as loud as I could. This time it was loud. Andrew, back on the dock, woke up with a start. He heard my screaming. "Ann!" He yelled. "Don't worry!" He dived into the ocean head first and swam as quickly as he could. Catching up with me he looked at me up and down and found the wood in my shirt. Blood was trickling down my stomach and coloring the water. "Here-" He said yanking the piece of wood and breaking half, making the sharp part scratch me but come out of my shirt. He took hold of me and swam back to the dock. "Ann, are you all right?" He asked frantically. All I could do was cough and pant. When I caught my breath, I said, "Andrew… you saved me." He looked at the blood all over me. "We need to get you to the clinic, that's a really bad cut." He said.
"No…no, that's okay, I'll be fine. Do you have any bandages at your house?"
"Yeah, but… your clothes are all wet, too. You go back to your house and put something warm on, and then meet me at my house… or I should probably wait for you instead and then walk you to my house." I nodded and we walked back to the inn, where I put a nightgown on instead of clothes since it was so late. Then I met Andrew outside and we walked back to his house.
When we got there Andrew sat me on his bed. "Here- I'll go get the bandages. Maybe I should wrap them around your stomach instead of just putting then on, because it looks like the wood had slid around and cut half your stomach." He cleaned off the blood and put on the bandages. I looked at his puppy, and I couldn't help notice it was really cute when it was asleep. "I'll let you sleep in my bed and I'll call your dad in the morning to tell him what happened. I'll sleep next to the television with my sleeping bag."
"No. You don't have to-"
"That's all right. Just go to sleep, okay?" He said. I looked around the bed and noticed that on his clock it was three in the morning. Then I fell asleep.
Chapter4: The picnic at the goddess waterfall.
After the beach episode my dad was scared to death but grateful that I was with Andrew. He was always inviting him to the inn and asking when I was going to get married.
That winter it was a dreary but joyful time. I would see Andrew all the time and we would do lots of stuff together, but it was always the same thing. Nothing exiting happened except for the dog race and when I saw Gray purpose to Mary. The wedding was next month.
I was walking along when I bumped into Andrew in Rose Square. "Oh, hi, Ann." He said.
"Hi." I said. "I was just looking for something to do, what about you?"
"That's exactly what I was doing." He said. "Do you want to do something with me?"
"Sure." I said. "Why don't we have a picnic somewhere? You can choose."
"How about the goddess waterfall?" He asked.
"That's a perfect place. I'll get my dad to pack us a picnic. Meet me there at twelve o clock." We smiled and split up.
When I was done getting the food ready I walked up to the waterfall where Andrew was. "Hi, Ann." He greeted me. "What are we eating?"
"Oh, umm…" I peeked inside the basket. "String cheese, tons of assorted sandwiches, some milk and a chocolate cake." I said with my mouth watering. We started eating when I noticed Andrew wasn't eating much. He was all pale and sweaty like he was scared to do something. "Are you all right?" I asked. He looked at me.
"Yeah! I'm- I'm fine." I looked at him.
"Okay." I said and continued eating a highly seasoned turkey sandwich.
"Hey, Ann?" He spoke up. "If I don't die, I want you to be married to me." I looked at him. He said it as if something were to happen. I wonder what that means, I thought. He slowly started pulling something out from his pocket. I eyed it and gasped. "Ann." He said. "Will you marry me?" I stared at the feather. "I-…well… yes." I said. I trembled as I took the feather. "Andrew, yes." I repeated. "I've just- oh Andrew…" I swept him into my arms and kissed him. He was finally proposing to me. I would have a perfect life and a wonderful… what about that thing he said? I still wondered what that meant in the midst of it all.
Chapter5: The magic red flower.
I was so happy. As soon as I told my dad he became wild with joy. I was secretly planning my wedding dress in my diary; it was a pale, pale, blue and it was satin with little lace flowers on the skirt. My sleeves were peasant-style and it was so beautiful. I would have to go out of the village for the first time to get things for the wedding.
Then things changed.
It all started when I was walking to the supermarket to pick up some flour for a cake when Lilia rushed over to me. "Ann, you have to come to the clinic quick! Something terrible happened!" She said wildly. I jumped. "What happened?" I nearly shouted.
"Come on!" She said again. I ran to the clinic and burst in the door. I turned as pale as a ghost.
It was Andrew.
He was lying in the clinic bed and was coughing and he looked really pale. He was almost unconscious. I screamed and ran over to him. "Andrew!" I shrieked. I flew by the bed and buried my face on the cover next to him. I put my hand on him. His body felt stiff and cold. I shrieked again and burst out in tears. Everyone in the clinic backed away and left me with him. I got up and collapsed on the floor. I cried for a long time until the doctor came in and ordered me to go out for a while. I yelled at him and burst into my house and ran into my room. There I sat on my bed. I stared at the wall when I noticed the magic red flower I picked from his farm when it belonged to his grandfather. I took it and went back to the clinic. The doctor was talking with Elli about the medicine for him so I went over to his bed. "Here." I said to him not expecting a reply. "Have this magic red flower I planted last winter from Tony's farm. When he died I picked it to remember him by." I gasped immediately. Andrew's eyes were flickering open. "Thank you." He said. I started crying again. He continued to talk weakly. "I forgot to tell you… my grandpa had a bad disease… that got passed down to me… my father has it, too… I expect him to die soon…" I cried and put the flower on the table next to him. The doctor and Elli rushed over. "He's speaking!?" Elli shouted. I nodded. The doctor tried to wake him up again. Andrew woke up and tried to walk. "Lay down!" Elli ordered. He listened and lied down. "Thank you, Ann, everybody." He said.
"Please stay for two more days." Said the doctor. "You will be fine."
I cried out in joy and hugged the doctor, who looked quite flustered. "Uh, thank you… Ann… he will be fine now… go on…" he said. I ran out of the clinic to go to the goddess pond.
Four weeks later we got married and had a wonderful life. (We went to Mary and Grays wedding, too). Soon Karen and Rick got married.
One day in summer I went to the clinic because I was feeling funny. Soon the doctor came out. "Congratulations, Ann, you are going to have a baby."
"I'm pregnant?!" I shrieked.
"Yes." He said. I ran out to tell Andrew and my dad.


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Union High (UHS) Class of 1928 Alumni List
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Why do New Yorkers RUN when they get off the train?
I always heard that New York City ran at a different pace than most.
I fought it in high school and in college, when I didn't live there.
I always heard: "People from the Northeast work faster than most." I hated that thought. "I am just as productive as those f-ing New Yorkers," I thought. And I probably was.*
But I've lived in New York for a few years now. And it's not that New Yorkers are faster, or better - it's that they have to try harder. They have to take the dirty-ass subway in the morning - with people who look like they'd rather be looking at a corpse than you - and show up with a smile on their faces. They have to avert their eyes (to avoid looking like a creepy onlooker); they have to seem occupied. They have to gamble that they'll be on time, based on the whims of the unruly train service.
So, I appreciate New Yorkers. And there may be many reasons for their strange behaviors, but the fact remains: New Yorkers at rush hour sprint when they get off the train.
*I was probably more productive than when I was living in New York.


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From a young age, I've had a deep love for music. I started with piano lessons at age five, and a year later, began to study classical music theory (yes, I got a jump start). I started playing trumpet in grade school and then, in college, studied guitar, flute, voice, bass and drums, performing in several local bands. This working knowledge of so many different instruments, greatly enhanced my performance and composition skills and broadened my perspective on how each element of an orchestra or band has its own unique voice.
In 1984, while still in college in New Mexico, I opened a small recording studio, helping local musicians record and produce their own projects. Thus, began Synoptic Sounds.
In 1987, I attended the College For Recording Arts, in San Francisco, CA, graduating magna cum laude. The coursework included Audio Engineering, Music Production, Studio Electronics, Music Law, Synthesizer Principles, Sound Reinforcement and Audio Visual Production. While still at CRA, I was offered jobs by some of my instructors who owned recording studios in the Bay Area. I soon found myself in high demand as an audio engineer and joined the Audio Engineering Society in 1988. I make it a point to attend seminars and conventions in order to stay current with the rapidly changing field of audio engineering, as the art of music continues blending with new technology.
Then, in 2006, after years of researching equipment & technology, Synoptic Sounds took a quantum leap into the field of HD video production, and changed names to Synoptic Productions.


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"... amazing dialogue and fun, exciting character interactions with a complicated, heartbreaking but also heartwarming story that was full of surprises." - Craves the Angst
SERIES: (A standalone)
AUTHOR: Penelope Ward
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: February 19, 2018
InkSlinger PR
COPY PROVIDED BY: Author
RATING: 4.5 Stars!
CLIFFHANGER: No
From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new, sexy standalone novel.
Growing up, the three of us were friends.
He was the nerd.
I was the playboy.
She was the beauty.
He was the nerd.
I was the playboy.
She was the beauty.
Deep down, I only ever wanted her. I kept it inside because Rory and I made a pact that our friend, Amber, was off-limits.
He lied.
I went off to college, and he got the girl.
Amber never knew how I felt.
They were together for years—before he broke her heart.
Amber never knew how I felt.
They were together for years—before he broke her heart.
Through it all and across the miles, she and I casually stayed in touch.
When my job sent me to Boston for a three-month contract position, Amber let me stay in her spare room.
When my job sent me to Boston for a three-month contract position, Amber let me stay in her spare room.
Still reeling from her breakup, she'd sworn off men.
One night, I opened her computer to find the shock of my life. She'd hesitantly contacted a male escort company. Afraid to date and get her heart broken again, she was looking for sex with no strings.
Every emotion imaginable ran through me: protectiveness, jealousy—curiosity.
Amber had chosen Gentleman Number Nine and sent him a message.
Amber had chosen Gentleman Number Nine and sent him a message.
She opened up to him, confessing, among other things, her physical attraction to her friend—me. But she considered me off-limits—and she thought I was a manwhore. (Ironic, considering the circumstances.)
Eventually, she set up a date to meet Gentleman Nine at a hotel.
When she showed up several nights later to meet him, she got the surprise of her life to see me standing there—with an offer I hoped she wouldn't refuse.
REVIEWER'S NOTE: I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars!
The Review:
This was such a fantastic read! I'm a big, HUGE fan of friends-to-lover romances but they've become a little stale lately with recycled stories and plots. However, in true Penelope Ward fashion, she threw in a few surprises, a huge twist and took this read from ordinary to extraordinary! It quickly became a phenomenally written second chance romance that explored three intertwined lives who ultimately had to follow their hearts and accept what fate threw at them.
I can't wait for a reread!
In the past ....
Three best friends. One secret pact.
Channing and Rory are in love with the same girl, but both agree to not pursue her in order to preserve their friendship. However when Channing goes off to college, he comes home to find that Rory not only broke the pact, he also made Amber fall in love with him, leaving Channing without the girl he loved and both of his best friends.
In the present (8 Years later) ...
Heading into town where Amber lives, Channing contacts his friend and asks if he can stay with her during a three month work contract. Amber agrees though just hearing his voice stirs up memories and a buried longing and desire she thought she left behind years ago.
When Channing arrives, his long time friend is suffering heartbreak after their friend Rory broke her heart. And though they both start out with the best of intentions on keeping their friendship strictly in the friendzone, one unintendedly read message changes everything. Channing can't believe Amber would contact a gentleman's service and in an effort to protect her, decides to take on Gentleman Nine's persona and offer her the chance to explore their hidden desires with each other.
Well, this is usually the spot where sexy times happen, love blooms and maybe a little bit of conflict ensues but then they live happily ever after, right? Well, things aren't as simple as that and when the conflict happens, I can honestly say, I didn't predict this one at all. AND I LOVED THAT! Too often in romance, you see the conflict coming a mile away but I was pleasantly surprised by the turn this book took ... and then I was heartbroken. When all the secrets came out, my chest panged, my stomach dropped out and much like Amber, I was floored. The situation was more complex than you'd think and I was conflicted on how I wanted it to end. There was no simple answer. There was some serious sorrow and angsts going on and you couldn't help but be twisted up on who to cheer for.
But the author gave us an absolute perfect ending. I'm a huge fan of this author's work. She always brings the feels and she always gives us amazing characters we can relate to and connect with. This read was no exception. Channing was hot, romantic, sweet, caring and absolutely endearing. Everything about him was just so adorable! Amber was a lovely heroine you can't help but care about. There was a reason why two men loved her so completely. As for Rory ... I can't say to much without giving away the twist, but I will say that I loved him, too.
Told mostly in dual POV's between Channing and Amber, I was surprised when Rory's voice made an appearance, but seriously happy! The author made the right call in giving him his own voice because it opened my eyes to the entire story and I was thankful we got to know him better.
The Wrap Up:
This read started out a bit slow. I was pretty sure I knew where it was headed and I kept reading because I'm a huge fan of this author and knew the story would be good. But boy was I surprised. The conflict was painful to read and in the end, the book turned out fan-freaking-tastic! On a side note, I will say I was a little disappointed by the lack of depth in the sexy scenes, but it was an amazing read and entirely unpredictable, which made up for anything it might have lacked in that department.
Gentleman Nine had some amazing dialogue and fun, exciting character interactions with a complicated, heartbreaking but also heartwarming story that was full of surprises. I LOVED the story, I LOVED the characters and I LOVED the perfect ending.
Purchase now at ...
Amazon | iBooks | Amazon Paperback |
Nook | Kobo | AUDIO Amazon | Audible
Amazon | iBooks | Amazon Paperback |
Nook | Kobo | AUDIO Amazon | Audible
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Posts tagged with 'Father's Day'
Days out for dads
15 June 2017 by Jennifer Grindley
Looking for inspiration for a fun day out this Father's Day? We have plenty to keep dads happy and the whole family entertained at our museums and galleries.
Here's our top five things to do this Sunday:
Have a happy Father's Day at National Museums Liverpool!
15 June 2016 by Laura
Dads can be so difficult to buy for. Three times a year – birthday, Father's Day and Christmas – I find myself agonising over what to get the man who says he doesn't actually want anything anyway.
Our venues have some cool gift ideas but if you're also looking for some inspiration on how to spend the day, then look no further, we've got a few suggestions! Read more…
Father's Day gift guide – our top 6 picks
8 June 2016 by Lisa
From traditional brass calendars to funky patches, we've got quirky Father's Day presents covered in our gift guide for this year.
Find out our top six gifts and see which one would suit the superhero in your family…
Happy Father's Day!
31 March 2015 by Megan
To celebrate Father's Day we have a special blog on George and Emma Holt.
Emma Holt was the only child of George and Elizabeth Holt, born in 1862. The Holt family settled at Sudley House when Emma was 21, where she remained for the next 60 years of her life. Read more…


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Is your child recognized as gifted and applying their full potential? Are you, as a parent, ready to take action? You can learn and make an impact and I would be honored to help. Together, we can have your child live a more fulfilling life. I have a flexible schedule including availability on week-ends. We can meet in person and also talk electronically. I look forward to meeting you.
I have worked as a school psychologist in many public, private, and parochial schools for over 40 years and with gifted students, PreK-12, for 40 years. I am providing the following services to parents or schools in the field of gifted education
Psychological Assessment
- Intellectual
- Academic
- Learning Styles
- Social Maturity
- Individual Learning Plan
- Creativity
- Study Habits, Attitudes and Skills
- Educational Preference
- Emotional Status
- Self Confidence
- Verbal Learning
- Classroom Observation
- Visual - Spacial
- Communication Skills
- Adaptive Behavior
- Pre Vocational and Vocational Interest
- Early Entrance
- Executive Functioning
- Forms of Assessment
- Gifted Identification
- Academic Coaching
- School-Parent Relations
- Implementing Learning Plans
- Classroom Modifications and Adaptations
- Integrating Gifted and Special Education Services
- Reviewing School Assessments
- Counseling Gifted
- Forms of Acceleration
- Teacher Selection
- Learning Styles
- Working with Parents and School Staff
- Reducing Stress and Perfectionism
- Highly Gifted
- Social and Emotional Needs
- Underachievers
- Teacher Inservice
- Learning Teams Telephone Consultation
A good time to seek counseling for a gifted child is when he or she has a change in their educational program. This change may occur when the child transitions from elementary to middle school or from middle to high school. It could also happen when the child has a change in their program of acceleration or a change in teaching style. Counseling can also help when a child has a problem such as anxiety, poor interpersonal relations, or sadness that lasts for more than a few weeks. Most parents agree that it is very helpful to get a professional measure of the severity of the problem, reasonable expectations of the child, and recommended treatment of the problem.
However, it is difficult to find a therapist who is knowledgeable about gifted and talented children. I have a great deal of experience working with gifted children in the areas of assessment, program planning, staff and parent consultation, research, and counseling. I have recently completed a 40 year survey of gifted children I have assessed which was presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the Minnesota Council of Gifted and Talented. As a Licensed Psychologist, I am also experienced in counseling children with a variety of problems including adjustment reactions, anxiety, depression, ADHD, interpersonal relations, and "stressed out" feelings.
When you do seek counseling, you can tell your child you are getting professional help in planning so as to make family and school experiences more enjoyable. You may indicate to your child that the family has concern rather than labeling the child with a problem to be remedied. I will ask parents and the child to fill out questionnaires or take brief psychological tests to help understand the issue. In most cases, I will also ask the child's teachers, with parent permission, to fill out rating forms. A treatment plan will be developed if counseling is needed. Parents will be kept informed and often included in counseling sessions. I will suggest specific behaviors or techniques for your child to try at home and/or at school.
My preferred counseling technique is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). CBT combines the effective strategies of cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy teaches your child how certain patterns in his or her thinking are causing your child's symptoms such as sadness, anger, or worry. Behavior therapy helps your child break the link between problem situations and his or her usual reactions to them and to teach your child to calm his or her mind and body. Gifted children are excellent thinkers and will be able to use CBT in order to think more clearly, feel more satisfied, and make better decisions. Extensive research by psychologists and other mental health professionals have shown that CBT has been very effective and a preferred treatment technique for many problems gifted children experience. Research in the field of gifted children's services finds that counseling during several stages in the child's life are well worth the benefits.
Parenting a Gifted Child
I have spent a great deal of time consulting with parents of gifted children and meeting with school staff members. Over the years I have learned how to help parents who are concern about three following problems relating to their gifted child:
- How to deal with behavioral or emotional issues
- Deciding on services and programs to meet the gifted child's needs
- Responding to school staff who do not encourage acceleration
- Building positive relations with school staff
- Exploring options for gifted services
- Locating contacts and programs outside of school
- Implementing effective discipling strategies
- Guiding improved peer and sibling relationships
- Teaching skills in organizing, planning ahead, persevering, managing time, completing assignments, and self regulating behavior
- Motivating the child to work up to their full potential
- Coping with others' negative opinions about giftedness
- Assisting with home or extracurricular learning activities
- Advocating to see needed services, materials, and programs
- Obtaining important information to make proper decisions for the gifted child
- Effectively communicating with staff during school conferences
- Supporting the gifted child with issues of self esteem associated with feeling "different"
- Managing uneven development of abilities such as high reading skills and lower fine motor skills with can result in frustration for the gifted child
- Balancing the needs of the gifted child and those of the other family members as the compete for attention
- Building independence and self help skills as the child becomes older
- Comping with emotions and adjustments associated with the child's giftedness and behavior
- Coping with frustration when the school excluded the gifted child from needed services
- Adjusting to the child's different learning styles, specific learning differences, or a "poor educational fit"
- Dealing with bullying
All of the above problems are issues that may be solved successfully. Parents do not need to go it alone, since there is help available. Although others can be supportive, you would benefit from professional help to work through the complex realities of having a gifted child. I have many years of experience working with issues my own children presented as well as the hundreds of parents who discussed the concerns that are listed above. The emphasis will be on praise and positive reinforcement and there will be a wide range of strategies employed. Since each child and family is unique, the focus will be tailored to each individual's needs.


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Rosemary Wallin
Published date
19 Jun 2018
Sustainable heritage and innovation for future luxury
Central Saint Martins
Through practice-based research I will investigate new meanings of value for luxury goods. Utilising the notion of a journey between London and Venice as a metaphor, I will explore three areas: digital technology, craft and sustainability. I aim to identify commonalities between these three areas, which are usually seen as inimical, in order to arrive at a new model for sustainable luxury design.
I will use this model to create luxury goods that combine notions of emotionally durable design and interaction design, to posit new definitions of value within the luxury sector.


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Pet Professions You Didn't Know Existed: Pet Law
In the third article in our summer series of extraordinary pet professions, we're going to explore "pet law"– and why it's important to remember your animals when going over your legal docs.
*DISCLAIMER*: This article is NOT meant to serve as legal advice and should be used for informational purposes only. Please consult an attorney before making any legal decisions.
by Caroline Wilson, owner/head editor & writer of /redpen
Any pet parent's worst nightmare is the neglect of their family – whether they're furry, feathered, scale-y or spiky. However, it is often our animals that are forgotten in legal affairs–namely, in the writing of a will.
Though it's difficult to think about, we have to face the fact that we one day won't be around to feed, walk and play with our animals. The heaviness of this topic often leads to neglect of the conversation and as a result, confusion when it comes to a pet's well-being. "(Some pet owners) just assume some well-meaning friend or family member will take over care without even the briefest conversations about the topic." says Christopher Parrucci, Esq., an attorney for Pet and People in NYC. One of his focuses is pet law, a field that used to be considered a joke in the legal world. Within the past years, this field has grown to be incredibly popular.
Pet law is far more than estate planning and pet trusts (a legal document that places your pet in someone else's care–we'll talk about that soon). It also involves governmental protections regarding various animal rights. Topics within the animal rights law realm include puppy mills, roadside zoos and even farms. While there are some legal protections of animals (the most notable of which is the Animal Welfare Act, first enacted in the mid-Sixties), there are still leaps and bounds to be made in the safeguarding of animal rights. Thankfully, household pets have now secured a place in the legal world.
Back to owner-pet law: pet trusts are becoming more and more common than putting animals in wills–in fact, every state in America has a law addressing them. What's the hype around pet trusts, and what makes them better than the traditional will?
Traditionally, animals have been seen as property in the eyes of the law. This makes the money left in a will for a pet or its caretaker far less secured. Courts cannot control how the person left to care for the animal will spend the money. Our furry family can get lost in the shuffle and be subjected to inadequate care. By creating a pet trust, this becomes preventable. This legally binding document provides care and maintenance for animals, as well as funds to do it, in the case of the owner's passing. Caretaker(s) and Trustee(s) (those who care for pets and distribute the funds for doing so, respectively) are held far more accountable for the animals and money left in their hands.
Though these services are increasingly in demand, they are not popular enough. Christopher says that the biggest challenge–and most important aspect–of his work is educating the public. "Most of my clients are coming to me specifically because they know I love animals and will be welcoming and encouraging of their choices to include their companion animals in their estates. But there are still so many people out there that can learn that this is an option." Though it's a tough subject to broach, it's one that can be made accessible to everyone through awareness and education.
For those of you interested in creating a pet trust, there are a few things to consider. Arguably the most important consideration is who the future caretakers and trustees of your animal(s) will be. Christopher, along with other industry experts, says that you should start by talking to your family and loved ones, particularly those who already know your pets. Similarly to traditional estate planning, designating substitute caretakers and successor trustees is essential. If you don't have anyone to name a caretaker, many animal care and shelter organizations will place pets in homes through foster-care programs. These programs typically require contributions and advanced enrollment. Another consideration is the amount of money you'd leave for the care of your furry friend. This truly depends on your pet. A good start to this step is to keep track of how much money you spend on pet care in the course of a year, in order to help you determine the cost of care for your pet over its lifetime.
Like anything regarding your pet's health and wellbeing, consult a professional if you're unsure–don't make serious legal decisions based off of information you found online.Many attorneys will even do initial consulting for free so you can get a feel for their service. Finding the right lawyer or attorney means finding someone who cares deeply about the well-being of their clients, whether furry, hairy, scale-y or otherwise!
In our next (and final) article of this series, we'll be discussing pet trainers and the importance they have on your furry family's manners.
About our professional:
Christopher Parrucci, Esq., is an attorney in New York City. He specializes in estate planning for everyone–including pets. Starting his career as a high school social studies teacher, he originally began studying law to better himself as an educator. In doing so, he discovered that animal rights were underprotected by the law. This, combined with his desire to make estate planning services accessible to people other than the wealthy, made him create his practice. He lives in the city with his wife and 14-year old rescue cat, AnaCapri.
Stay Vigilant – Protect your Pet from Summer Pests!
by Cyndie Anderson
Summer means hotter temps, longer days and of course BUGS! Yes, lots of 'em. Even as summer draws to a close, it's crucial that you protect your pets from pesky seasonal pests (try saying that five times fast!). There are several different kinds to be concerned with but luckily – various ways to protect your dog or cat from the risks!
I'll begin with everyone's number one pest fear: fleas. Fleas are notoriously difficult to stamp out. This is because of their various life stages that can last for months or even up to a year. Flea larvae and pupae sit around just waiting for the right conditions to hatch into the next life stage which eventually results in a new generation of fleas. Fleas can transmit tapeworms to pets as well as various diseases to humans, including typhus. They can also carry cat scratch disease and feline anemia.
A close second are ticks. Ticks tend to drop off of plants and trees on to your pet. Brushing up against shrubbery or walking under low hanging trees puts your pet at high risk for ticks. The most dangerous among them are deer ticks that spread crippling Lyme disease. While Lyme disease is treatable, it is most often not caught until symptoms appear and by then the treatment may not be effective. Ticks can also carry bacterial illnesses like Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Fortunately, there are multiple ways to protect your pet from pests. Most popular these days are topical or oral preventatives. Topical preventatives are usually applied monthly between your pet's shoulder blades. Oral preventatives are also an option, usually given once a month by mouth and designed to seem like tasty treats to pets. Your vet can recommend and prescribe the appropriate product and dosage for your pet.
Some folks are using more natural remedies these days – including essential oils and diatomaceous earth. There is always the long-standing flea and tick collar. All these methods repel pests before they infest your pet and home.
Make sure your pets are protected this pest season and consider preventative measures to keep them safe!
About the Author:
Originally from the Shenandoah Valley, I have been in Northern Virginia for 21 years. I left the corporate world in 2000 to stay at home with my two stepdaughters. Having gone back to work part-time after becoming an empty nester, I finally felt like I wanted to do something different. There are two things I am really passionate about: music and dogs. I decided to take my love for dogs and start Pooch Pros Pet Care Services. Having previously worked for a pet sitting service, I knew this would be a perfect fit for me. Currently, I am mama of two fur babies: Target, a 14-year-old mixed breed and Jeeves, a 9-year-old Maltese. I look forward to meeting you and your pet and providing you with excellent care and service
Additional Links:
Pooch Pros Pet Care Services LLC
Pooch Pros Pet Care Services on Petmasters
Better Photos of your Pet: Tips from Nina Parker
by Nina Parker, Professional Pet Photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia
There's a saying about photography: "The best camera for the shot is the one you have with you." You may own a classic 35mm, an edgy mirrorless camera, or a tricked out point-and-shoot model, but where is it? If the answer is in a drawer somewhere, then it can't be producing great pictures. For many people, the camera they have with them nearly all the time is…a smart phone. (more…)
Rest assured! All you need to know about Pet Insurance
You wouldn't think twice about having insurance for your car or home – but what about for your pets? As pet parents, we never want to think about our furry, feathered, or scaled family getting sick or injured. Yet it's always good to be prepared in case the unthinkable happens, a.k.a. that time Fido's sock-eating habit turned into emergency intestinal surgery. Want to determine whether pet insurance makes sense for your family? We've covered some of the top-asked questions here, including a helpful plan comparison chart to weigh your options! (more…)


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Bishop Names New Assistant, Two Superintendents
By Jackie Campbell
Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton has named two new district superintendents and an assistant to the bishop for the 2014-15 Conference year that begins July 1.
The Rev. Patricia Nelson, associate pastor at Butler First UMC, will serve as superintendent of the Greensburg District, replacing the Rev. William B. Meekins, Jr., who will become assistant to the Bishop after serving the maximum eight years as a superintendent. The Rev. Paul Taylor, pastor of Bethel UMC in Lower Burrell, will become superintendent of the Pittsburgh District, where the Rev. Don Scandrol also has served eight years.
Bishop Bickerton said his appointees all display "strong spirituality, commitment to the United Methodist connection, good relational skills and have a proven track record as leaders."
In addition, the Bishop said he celebrates the increased diversity that the appointments will add to the Cabinet. "It's provides a depth of inclusiveness that we have not had," he explained. Both Meekins and Taylor are African-American and Nelson will add a second female presence among the 10 superintendents.
Rev. Paul Taylor and Rev. Patricia Nelson
Nelson served as pastor of Harrisville, Somerset First, and New Wilmington UMCs before she was asked to move to Butler First as associate pastor with responsibility for pastoral care and coordination of congregational care ministries. She also has served for several years on the Board of Ordained Ministry, coordinating licensing school and certified lay ministry training.
Meekins, a district superintendent since 2006, has served in numerous other Conference leadership positions, including being a part of Western PA's delegation to General Conference. In 2012, he was nominated by the annual conference as a candidate for bishop.
Both Meekins and Bishop Bickerton said the duties of the Bishop's assistant will be somewhat different from those of the late Rev. Robert Higginbotham, who died Sept. 29, 2013, after serving in the role since 2008. However, Meekins said that, like Higginbotham, he expects to be involved in ecumenical relations and the Zimbabwe Partnership Committee in addition to issues related to clergy.
Although the appointments become effective July 1, the new superintendents will attend Cabinet gatherings beginning in January whenever possible.
"They have agreed that they will do double duty over the next several months," said Bishop Bickerton. "When they officially begin in their new roles, half of our Cabinet will be new. With that massive amount of transition, it's important that we build teamwork and trust."
Last July, the Revs. Jim Pond and Joel Garrett began terms as superintendents. On Sept. 1, 2013, Washington District Superintendent Eric Park left the Cabinet to begin serving as senior pastor at Butler First UMC, a post left vacant by the death of the Rev. David Panther. The Rev. Brad Lauster was then appointed as Washington DS. Higginbotham died in late September and Conference Treasurer Pat Morris retired in October. Larry Bridge is handling the treasurer's duties while a search for treasurer candidates is underway.


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i know, i know . . . i've been a slacker with keeping up with blogging lately. mea culpa.
anyhow, i have been busy.
a couple of saturdays ago, i showed a friend how to make a zipper pouch, using noodlehead's open wide pouch tutorial. while she made 1, i made 2, a small and a medium, to take with me on my upcoming trip to Turkey. i lined the smaller one with clear vinyl, which was a huge PITA and i won't be doing that again! i did modify the size a bit to make my pouches taller than the pattern called for.
i also whipped up a baby quilt for M's niece, Amanda, who's due with a baby boy next month. i used jeni baker's Giant Star tutorial, modifying it to be about 1/3 smaller since it's a baby quilt. the top whipped up super fast. unfortunately, i decided to use straight line quilting, about 1/2" apart, on the four main quadrants, plus each corner. um, yeah, not so quick. i think i spent over 8 hours on the quilting!
by the way, that's my mom as the quilt zombie in those pics!
i also finished the last seven of these blocks:
so now i have 49, enough for a 42" square baby quilt. i'd like to get the papers all ripped off the back and the top pieced this week, but i'm not sure how feasible that is.
at any rate, i've gotten a fair bit accomplished lately, although some projects i'd intended to finish got put on the back burner. with a full day garment sewing class on Saturday, a wedding out of town the following weekend, our tax return to prepare, and our two week vacay only three weeks away, i don't anticipate getting much done for the next month!