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Scientific Games' losses increased in Q2 as revenue fell 37.2% to $539m (£423m/€465m), but the business said its results were "better than expected" given the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
Negative attitudes towards gambling in Great Britain are increasingly prevalent, according to the Gambling Commission's Behaviour, Awareness and Attitudes Report, with 29% of those surveyed now calling for a total ban.
The GB Gambling Commission has launched a consultation on proposed changes to social lottery regulations, including a potential increase to how much players can win.
Just under one in six Australians aged 16-17 gambled in the past year, according to the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children's (LSAC) annual statistical report.
Scientific Games has reported a 4% year-on-year increase in net revenue for the third quarter after growth across all of its business segments, which saw the supplier return to profitability for the period.
Scientific Games has reported a year-on-year increase in revenue for the first six months of 2019, while the supplier was also able to halve its net loss for the period.
While casinos may not yet exist in Japan, what does the gaming market look like now? Natalie Meyer, founder and chief executive of cultural insight agency Tokyoesque, provides a breakdown on the current size and perception of the country's gambling industry.
Scientific Games has cited growth across its lottery and social businesses as key drivers of a year-on-year increase in revenue during the first quarter, while the supplier was also able to slash its net loss for the period.
Strong growth in revenue failed to offset the impact of growing costs for Scientific Games in 2018, with the gaming solutions provider's loss for the period growing to $352.4m (£269.3m/€310.1m). Revenue for the 12 months ended December 31, 2018 was up 9.1% year-on-year, with a marginal decline in gaming revenue - down 0.7% to $1.8bn - offset by strong growth in the social and digital divisions.
Company also boosted by NYX purchase as revenue climbs 7% in Q3
All-In Diversity has revealed Caesars Entertainment as a founding member of the industry-led diversity initiative
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has published new research that suggests children are experiencing gambling in situations where the risks are not always explained
OtherLevels has appointed Andy Dellbridge, formerly of Camelot, as its new head of professional services and customer success.
As 2017 gets underway iGaming Business talks to leading igaming experts to hear what they believe will be key developments for our industry in the next 12 months. See
Scientific Games has cited growth within its social gaming and gaming machine divisions as key reasons behind a year-on-year rise in revenue during the three months to September 30.
After a hugely successful launch in 2015 the iGaming North America 2016 awards were presented during a prestigious ceremony on the third day of the iGaming North America Conference to a crowd of industry executives.
Finnish online and mobile gaming software provider Finnplay has provided a gaming platform for new social lottery operator TribeLotto.
Gaming solutions provider Scientific Games has appointed former Bally Technologies executive vice-president and chief operating officer Gavin Isaacs as its new chief executive officer.
Interactive entertainment publisher and producer Atari is set to enter the real-money gambling market under a new strategic partnership with software company Pariplay.
Ahead of the iGB-Teradata webcast 'Big data, big decisions: why analytics is the future of the gaming industry', we spoke to Duncan Ross, Director of data science at Teradata, about why gaming companies are increasingly looking to Big Data to gain a competitive edge.

subset: commoncrawl


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You already know that as your luxury, cross-border personal shopping service The Luxe Link® can help you with all your USA-based shopping needs. But wait, there's so much more!
- Style Advice: Our team of luxury specialists are ready to chat with you about what's hot, what's not and what's to come. Find us on WhatsApp (+1 646 785 9848); we're happy to answer all your fashion questions, so don't hesitate to ask!
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Monsters in Living Color
Colorization of existing black and
white films is usually a terrible idea (the colorized version of It's A Wonderful Life, in particular, enrages me).
But sometimes one of the original
participants is involved in the process and offers a valid reason for altering
the original film. Ray Harryhausen, the
stop-motion animation pioneer, recently supervised Legend Films' colorization
of several of his early movies, including 20 Million Miles to Earth. The 50th anniversary edition DVD is available
now; it will be released on Blue Ray in December. Bonus features include Harryhausen's audio
commentary, an interview of him by Tim Burton and a restored black and white
According to Harryhausen, he would
have made the film in color had the funding been available. "We filmed in black-and-white out of
necessity rather than choice," he said in a 2006 interview. Now the giant Venusian creature has the beautiful green
scales its inventor intended.


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What is your "spirit vegetable"?
A new quiz, What Is Your Spirit Vegetable?, lets you discover which vegetable you are — cabbage, asparagus, beet, eggplant or some other one.
The quiz takes about two minutes and has 10 questions.
Are you asparagus? According to the quiz … "With bright green shoots shooting up from the ground in early spring, asparagus is a joyful force to be reckoned with. Standing tall and surrounded by their fellow stalks, asparagus thrives on the energy of others. These deeply rooted spears waste no time putting their big dreams into action; when they hit their stride, these puppies can grow more than 6 inches a day! Combine this can-do attitude with a joyful personality and down-to-earth sensibility — and what's not to love?"
To take the quiz, visit farmbellyshop.com/pages/what-is-your-spirit-vegetable.


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Web services timeout conditions represent one of the following conditions:
- DTCC could not connect to the customer's server to complete the 'request' message transmission successfully.
- DTCC has successfully transmitted a 'request' message to the customer's server, but I&RS did not successfully receive the expected 'response' message from the customer's server.
Perform the following internal checks to determine the reason for the timeout condition:
- Make sure that the service is up and running.
- Reference Messaging Dashboard.


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Please complete the following 8 exercises below in either Excel or a word document (but must be single document). You must show your work where appropriate (leaving the calculations within Excel cells is acceptable). Save the document, and submit it in the appropriate week using the Assignment Submission button.
Chapter 6 Exercise 2
2. Schedule of cash collections
Sugarland Company sells a single product and anticipates opening a new facility in Charlotte on May 1 of the current year. Expected sales during the first three months of activity are: May, $60,000; June, $80,000; and July, $85,000. Thirty percent of all sales are for cash; the remaining 70% are on account. Credit sales have the following collection pattern:
Chapter 6 Exercise 4
4. Production and cash-outlay computations
RPR, Inc., anticipates that 120,000 units of product K will be sold during May. Each unit of product K requires four units of raw material A. Actual inventories as of May 1 and budgeted inventories as of May 31 follow.
Chapter 6 Exercise 5
5. Abbreviated cash budget; financing emphasis
An abbreviated cash budget for Big Chuck Enterprises follows.
Chapter 6 Problem 3


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Seated Glute
- In a seated position with your knees bent, cross one ankle over the opposite knee. Your partner will stand behind you. Now, lean forward as your partner braces your shoulders with their hands. This will be your starting position.
- Attempt to push your torso back for 10-20 seconds, as your partner prevents any actual movement of your torso.
- Now relax your muscles as your partner increases the stretch by gently pushing your torso forward for 10-20 seconds.
Database Sourced From Bodybuilding.com


text:
Are your ducts operating at their best? Are your ducts providing the maximum amount of heated or cooled air, avoiding energy waste and ensuring a clean, comfortable, and healthy indoor environment? Elite HVAC, LLC makes sure of it. With a full range of duct services, including maintenance and repair, we solve all manner of problems. There's no damage to equipment or your home, no mess left behind, and we focus on cost-effective strategies. Call us at (503) 374-0571 for a free estimate in the Greater Portland Metro Area, and we'll complete a thorough inspection and offer honest recommendations.
Efficient Ductwork Repair & Maintenance Service
The performance of the duct system directly impacts the efficiency, reliability, and longevity of the entire HVAC system. Even minor holes, leaks, or flaws in the ductwork add up to major wear and tear and needless cost. It's best to act quickly and properly maintain equipment. The professionals from Elite HVAC, LLC combine seventy years of trade experience. We not only know what we're doing, we've handled every type of challenge and are outfitted with the latest innovations in tools and technology. Elite HVAC, LLC does the job right for home and business owners across Wilsonville, Tualatin, Sherwood, Lake Oswego, and Aurora, OR.


text:
Toronto home sales drop 40% compared with a year ago
A 'For Sale' sign sits in front of a house in Toronto on April 20, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
The Toronto Real Estate Board says property sales tanked 40.4 per cent last month compared with July 2016.
The drop was led by the detached home market both in City of Toronto and the surrounding areas.
The board says the Multiple Listing Service composite benchmark price was up 18 per cent on a year-over-year basis. However, the benchmark was down 4.6 per cent compared with June.
The latest data follows moves by the Ontario government earlier this year to rein in the real estate market.
Home prices have been on a decline since April, when the province introduced more than a dozen changes – including a 15 per cent tax on foreigners purchasing property – aimed at cooling the Greater Toronto Area's real estate market.
The board says foreign buyers represent a small part of the real estate market and the decline has more to do with potential homebuyers waiting to see how market conditions evolve.


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September 25, 2020
Sunday 8:00 am - Traditional
Holy Communion
Sunday 10:30 am -
Contemporary Holy Communion
Wednesday 10:00 am -
Holy Communion & Healing
Welcome to the St. Paul's website. Here you will discover how we live out the love of God as a spiritual family centered upon Christ. You have a place here, and may God's peace be with you.
- The Reverend Joseph Shepley
Our Parish Community
Come to the About Us Section to meet the staff of St. Paul's Church, and find out what we're all about!
Information Bulletin Board
Click here to read our current issue of the Sword Points (weekly).
Click here to read our current issue of the Sword of the Spirit (monthly).
Click here to listen to our rector's most recent sermon (September 20th).
Please submit any ministry pictures and upcoming events by e-mail to email@example.com for possible use in up coming web updates. Thanks.
Prayer Requests
Use the this link to submit a Prayer Request. Prayer requests will be e-mailed to members of the Prayer Chain. Also check out the prayers requests on the Members Only section of our website. God Bless.
St. Paul's Parish
174 Whisconier Road
Brookfield Center, CT 06804
(203) 775-9587
Get Directions
Members Login
Who's Online
St. Paul's "Journeys into the Bible"
At St. Paul's we love to travel. For several years St. Paul's has sponsored inspirational biblical trips to the Holy Land and other areas to deepen our faith.
Oberammergau 2022
Our 2020 trip was postponed by Covid-19. We will now go in September/October of 2022. Join us on this once in a decade experience to the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany. What is Oberammergau? Gripped by war, poverty and black plague, the villagers of Oberammergau in southern Germany vowed to put on a "passion play" every ten years.
A play of life and death, promised in a moment of mortal threat, began the history of the Oberammergau Passion Play in 1633. The villagers vowed that if their town was spared from the plague, they would perform the Passion of Christ every 10 years. The town survived, and the residents of this village have been honoring their pledge, from generation
to generation, every decade since then. In the 2020, the community of Oberammergau will perform the Passion Play for the 42nd time. More than 2,000 Oberammergau actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage technicians will bring to the stage those pivotal Christian events of life and hope during a six-hour production, which includes a dinner break. The Passion Play follows Christ from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem throughout his trial, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
We will depart for Germany on September 26, 2020. We'll spend a day in Munich where we can participate in Octoberfest and also visit the fairy-tale, Neuschwanstein Castle. Following the Passion Play, the remainder of the tour will focus on the Reformation and we will visit many of the sites important in the life of Martin Luther, including Augsburg, Heidelberg, Worms, and Wittenberg. We'll see the Castle Church door where Luther posted his 95 Theses and the church where he preached. Before returning home, we'll tour Berlin, the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, and Checkpoint Charlie. As are all of trips, this trip will be loaded with extras.
The entire trip is being coordinated by a parishioner who is an experienced traveler (Israel six times; 16 different countries total) and was a veteran (20 years) travel manager for a major professional sports team.
There are only 20 spaces available on this trip due to the number of Passion Play tickets we have reserved. They will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. The application and deposit date is October 31, 2019. However, final payment is not due until June 26, 2020.
Any questions or concerns, contact David Szen at email@example.com.
For more info click below for the various brochures:
So, take a look. Consider it. Pray on it. See if the Lord is calling you to venture forth. Join us.
England - Scotland - 2019
Our 2019 trip is set. Join Fr. Joe, Tara and the rest of us on an Anglican/Episcopal Heritage trip which includes a visit to Lambeth Palace, which is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. And Aberdeen, Scotland where Samuel Seabury was consecrated as the first US Episcopal bishop. We'll see all the other top sites as well, including the Crown Jewels and Stonehenge. This trip is loaded with extras.
For more info click below for the various brochures:
Join us for all or part of this life changing journey. Many options are available.
Check out our FaceBook group for this trip here.
Egypt - Jordan - Israel 2018
June 28, 2018 - July 19, 2018
In June 2018 we went to Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs, Jacob, Joseph and Israel, cruising the Nile as we explored the ancient Egyptian pyramids culminating on the top of Mt. Sinai. Some of us went on to see the wonders of Petra and Jordan, including going to the top of Mt. Nebo and gazing into the land promised to Moses. We then crossed into the "Promised Land" and joined others as we walked in Jesus' footsteps all the way to Jerusalem, the Holy City!
Click below for the various brochures:
The Exodus - Egypt, Jordan & Israel
Egypt & Jordan - Egypt & Jordan
Best of Israel - Israel
All of our trips are open to everyone. We enjoy traveling with new friends. All of our past tours have included family members, friends and people from other churches and countries.
If you are traveling with us and JFK is not a convenient airport for you, we have packages that don't include the airfares and you can arrange your own flights.
Israel - Jordan - Israel 2016-17
December 26, 2016 - January 11, 2017
On this trip, we walked in the footsteps of Jesus, visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. We then visited additional areas in Israel, and including a special swing through Jordan to see its fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Centre site of Petra. For those who had been to Israel before, we did a second swing where we visited many different sites not included in previous trips.
Turkey - Greece - 2015
In October 2015 we went to Turkey and Greece to follow in the footsteps of St. Paul and St. John and visit the cities of the seven churches of Revelation. It was another St. Paul's life changing adventure.
Israel - 2014
On this trip, we walked in the footsteps of Jesus, visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem
Israel - 2013
April 3 - 12, 2013
On this trip, we walked in the footsteps of Jesus, visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem
Israel - 2012
On this trip, we walked in the footsteps of Jesus, visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem
Israel - 2011
Fr. Joe Shepley and his wife Tara, and Fr. George Crocker went on this trip, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem.


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As the United Nations (UN) marks the International Day of UN Peacekeepers (May 29), Pakistanis also joined the world community to pay tribute to the dedicated peacekeepers. On Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres honored those who paid the ultimate price for peace. "[Today we] honor more than one million men and women who have served as UN peacekeepers and the ... Read More »
Tag Archives: Army
US CENTCOM Chief meets PM Khan and COAS to discuss regional security
Prime Minister Imran Khan was called on by the incoming commander of the United States Central Command (US CENTCOM), eneral Kenneth F. McKenzie, on Monday to discuss regional security and other matters of mutual interest. During the meeting, the two officials discussed Pak-US relations and the ongoing Afghanistan peace process and other matters of mutual interests. Earlier in the day, ... Read More »
Pakistan Army hands over power to civilian authorities in Swat after 11 years
Pakistan Army formally handed over administrative control of Swat to the civil government after restoring peace Pakistan Army on Monday formally handed over administrative control of Swat to the civil government after restoring peace and the government's writ in the militancy-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. "Today is our victory day and we proudly announced that now there is no presence of ... Read More »
Major reshuffle in Pakistan Army: Lt Gen Nadeem Raza appointed Chief of General Staff
Pakistan Army on Friday appointed Lt Gen Nadeem Raza as new Chief of General Staff (CGS) amidst a major reshuffle in which almost one-third of the corps commanders were replaced. The appointments announced on Friday and the upcoming changes together mean that a total of 22 positions of lieutenant generals will be affected. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), ... Read More »
Pakistan Army rescues two British mountaineers; Austrian climber killed in avalanche
Pakistan Army officials confirmed that an avalanche has killed an Austrian mountaineer, however, his two British companions have been retrieved alive by a helicopter rescue mission. The mountaineers were rescued from 7,338 meter Ultar Sar mountain located in Hunza Valley after an avalanche hit their tent. Austrian Christian Huber was killed and the two British climbers, Bruce Normand and Miller ... Read More »
Pakistan Army launches formal probe against Asad Durrani over controversial book
Pakistan Army on Monday announced the formation of a formal court of inquiry to probe whether ex-ISI chief Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani disclosed any national secrets in a recently launched book he co-authored with a former spy chief of neighboring India. A "competent authority" has been approached to add his name on the Exit Control List (ECL), the military's media ... Read More »
Pakistan Army cadet wins International Medal at UK military academy
Pakistan Army cadet Sheroz Shahid has secured the prestigious international medal at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in the United Kingdom. "The award is given for high performance in education, training and physical fitness fields displayed during the training period," said military's public affairs wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement. According to the statement, "The medal was awarded ... Read More »
Eventful life of Air Marshal Asghar Khan comes to an end
Asghar Khan was one of the world's youngest air force chiefs at 36 The first Muslim commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Marshal Asghar Khan passed away at the age of 97 after a prolonged illness in Islamabad. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi with Air Marshal Asghar Khan, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chairman of ... Read More »
Israeli youth refuse to serve in Army in protest against Palestine occupation
Dozens of Israeli youth sign letter saying: 'We Won't Take Part in Occupation' Israeli youth has sent a letter to country's leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Education Minister Naftali Bennet and Chief of Israel Defense Forces Lt. Gen Gadi Eisenkot declaring their refusal to serve in Army in protest against Palestine occupation The letter, published in one ... Read More »
PAF inaugurates new operational Air Base at Bholari near Karachi
Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman was chief guest at the occasion In a landmark event in the history of PAF, the inauguration ceremony of a newly established main operating base named PAF Base Bholari was held at Karachi on 25th December 2017. To show reverence to the father of the nation, this landmark event has been ... Read More »


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Tim Caldwell doesn't do relationships…Not after his wife walked out on him and their daughter ten years before. He's got a well earned reputation as a Casanova Cowboy who's never met a woman he couldn't talk into bed…until Toni duBois. Disinterest isn't something he's used to. Neither is playing by someone else's rules.
Toni duBois doesn't do forever…After fifteen years away, Toni's headed home to Louisiana in search of the answer she needs and the redemption she craves. Then her car breaks down in Bluebonnet, Texas. She doesn't plan on hanging around Bluebonnet any longer that she has to and she isn't interested in a steamy, sexy entanglement. Regardless of how good looking said entanglement might be.
Rene Caldwell doesn't do step-moms…Unfortunately for both of them, Tim's teenage daughter, Rene has opinions. Lots of them. And she's feeling a certain kind of way about Toni—mostly pissed. So when she pulls out all the stops to keep Toni from getting her hooks into Tim, and Toni's dark past is revealed, no one is safe from the fallout.
Will their arrangement ever be enough?
Relationships are not a priority for restaurateur Esteban Galiano, and when he sees Sonia Kennedy at a party, he plans to make her a conquest in a long line of many. But she rebuffs his advances and forces him to adjust—determined to meet the challenge and do whatever he must to make her his.
All her life, Sonia's beauty has caused unnecessary problems, and right now she needs a job, not a suitor. When Esteban makes an indecent proposal, her first instinct is to turn him down. But soon she's rethinking her response. Maybe it's time for her to use what she's got, to get what she wants.
Avery Flynn, Robin Covington, Kimberly Kincaid, Nana Malone, Virginia Nelson, Angi Morgan, Xio Axelrod, Christi Barth, Andie J. Christopher, Kim Golden, Lena Hart, Desiree Holt, Robin Kaye, Katie Kenyhercz, Heather Long, Kate Meader, Susan Scott Shelley, Misty D. Waters
18 brand new sexy stories from bestselling authors, every one too steamy for the penalty box . . .
20% of royalties from sales of Hot on Ice will go to Homes for our Troops, a charity that builds specially modified homes for injured veterans.
Get ready to fall in love with the smokin' hot hockey players of the New Orleans Cajun Rage. After this season's Cinderella run all the way to the Finals, these heroes have won the Cup—and now your heart is the goal.
FREE AGENT, USA Today Best Seller Robin Covington – Finally out, he thought he knew his next step . . . until the man he might not be able to resist puts a sexy offer on the table.
BODY CHECK, USA Today Bestseller Desiree Holt – The Cup, the girl, and the future-could he make them all come together?
DEEP CHECK, USA Today Bestseller Kimberly Kincaid – There's no such thing as in too deep…
BLOCKED, USA Today Bestseller Heather Long – He needs to clean up his reputation . . . Can this bad boy keep the pop princess safe?
RANSOM, USA Today Bestseller Nana Malone – The last thing he wants is to be stranded in a cabin with the one girl he's always wanted.
CAGED, USA Today Bestseller Virginia Nelson – She plans to melt the ice king's heart and prove she's just the girl to go skate to skate with him, whether he likes it or not.
BREAKAWAY BROOKE, Publisher's Weekly Bestseller Angi Morgan – Can he convince this Amazon beauty to stop fighting her erotic powers long enough to play his game?
THE WARM UP, Xio Axelrod – Toss a stoic defenseman, a no-nonsense nurse, and a ward full of crafty children in a Cup and anything can happen.
CHECK MY HEART, Christi Barth – The only thing that will make him happy again is the one woman he can't have . . .
FULL CONTACT, Andie J. Christopher – This player has a bounty on his virginity. She has him up against the boards.
BLADE, Avery Flynn – Sometimes the line between love and insanity is as thin as an ice skate's blade.
UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN, Kim Golden – When it comes to the game of love, he's playing to win.
COURAGE, Lena Hart – This hot-tempered coach is fully prepared to fight for his wife—but can he win back her heart?
PENALTY BOX BLUES, Robin Kaye – The only woman who knows his secret can slam his heart against the boards with a sideways glance. He is so pucked.
BEAR NAKED, Katie Kenyhercz – When he sets his sights on a goal, it's only a matter of time.
IN SKATES TROUBLE, Kate Meader – Can a passion that started in the dark find a lifetime of love in the light?
MAKING HIS MOVE, Susan Scott Shelley – Making impossible saves is easy compared to falling in love.
CHECKING YES, Misty D. Waters – She'll send him to the penalty box, and keep him there . . . for good this time.
Haven Shaw wouldn't consider her love life a tragedy romance just . . . tragic. A disaster. A catastrophe. She wanted off the break-up and make-up crazy train that left her unable to recognize herself.
Her plan. End the ridiculousness and focus on getting control of her life.
His plan. Which one?
Love's plan. Amp up the crazy.
Love and life were about to get much more complicated.
PLEASE NOTE: A Reservation for One is a 2-Part series.. This NOVELLA is a traditional sweet romance and ends in a cliff-hanger. It is adult in nature and is for mature audiences only.
Haven Shaw learned the hard way that even after messy break-ups, broken hearts, and the loss of loved ones . . . life goes on.
She was fully prepared to meet the challenges of her future alone. That was her plan.
Too bad her plan, his plan, and love's plan were never on the same page.
Find out how it all unfolds in part 2 of the Untamed Love Series – A Reservation for Two.
For mature audiences only.
Before Lincoln Zager, I was submerged in a happily ever after, until it all came crashing down. The love of my life had gone missing and was presumed dead. That's the day I died inside.
Then Lincoln came along, and he was relentlessly determined to revive me, protect me, and own me. He offered me a second chance at forever.
Lincoln had to thaw the numbness surrounding my heart. He fought me … for me. His sexy, muscular body is blemished with scars. But he taught me that my emotional scars have enhanced my beauty.
No matter how strong Lincoln's love is, another man harbors a dangerous affection for me. I have an obsessed stalker. Like Lincoln, he also claims that he will never let me go…
Reese Dunham has two rules when it comes to men – No suits. No cops.
Evan Zaccaro is a narcotics detective on a mission to take down a dangerous biker gang, both a suit and a cop.
When Evan crosses paths with Reese while undercover, sparks fly and Reese's rules go out the window.
Despite the intense heat between the pair, there are forces keeping them apart. Reese's father was slain by the LAPD, and that's only the beginning of the secrets in her life. Next, a surprise marriage means that Reese and Evan are now step brother and sister. With the universe against them, Reese and Evan start to fall in love and fight to be together.
As Evan closes in on the gang, things take a dangerous turn and Reese is put at risk. Can Evan save her in time? And will they finally get to be together?
Note: this is a rerelease of Secrets She Keeps
After his boyfriend dumps him, Hayden is in need of a place to live. Thanks to his buddies, he has a great lead to room with a guy named Cody in Metropolis, the hottest condominium in town. But things get a little uncomfortable when Hayden shows up for the interview and discovers he and Cody share an awkward up close and personal experience from their past.
Cody doesn't have a problem living with Hayden. He's had his share of help when he was down and out, and he wants to do the same for this guy. It's not long until Cody realizes how great it is having someone around. Sometimes, they watch movies together…and other times, they help get each other off–one of the perks of living with a guy who's as laid back about sex as he is. They hit off so well Cody even decides to act as wingman for Hayden while he gets used to hitting the town again.
Before they know it, they're spending more time with each other than with anyone else. But Hayden just got out of a relationship and should be spending his nights having fun and working it around town, not jumping into something serious again. Cody's always just gone with the flow, believing if it's meant to happen, it will. But life doesn't always work that way, and if they don't fight for what's right in front of them, Hayden and Cody might be over before they have the chance to even get started.
There's never a dull moment at Metropolis…the condominium known for having the hottest openly gay tenants in town. The boys of Metropolis are always on the prowl for a good time. They like their drinks heavy and their tricks easy.
Gary should be living it up in his South Tower unit of Metropolis, but he's having a hard time adjusting to his newly single status. It's not easy to walk away from five years with his ex, who he discovered was cheating on him with some North Tower twink. After a night out partying, licking his wounds, he goes to bed alone. When he wakes the next morning, there's a naked guy in his bed. Not just any guy. A stud from North Tower. But hot as he is, what the hell is he doing in his room?
Travis doesn't get why Gary's freaking out. So he went home with Gary's roommate and accidentally crawled into the wrong bed. It's not the first time he's woken up in a strange place. Maybe Gary would loosen up a little if he gave it a try as well. Travis has more important things to deal with though…like his meeting with an investor who could give him the money to start his massage clinic.
They're both sure that's the last time they'll have to deal with each other until a mix-up leads Gary's ex and Travis's investor to think they're an item, which Gary and Travis use to their benefit by posing as a couple around town. Soon, they discover the chemistry between them is off the charts. Travis brings out a sexual confidence Gary didn't know he had–one Travis enjoys exploring with him. But as the two keep up their boyfriend hoax, Gary realizes Travis isn't as shallow as he thought. Gary's starting to develop feelings for him. But Travis doesn't do relationships, and Gary should know better, considering they're just faking it…
What was Reginald Johnson Harrison into? And did Sylvia Shannon kill him?
Those are the two questions that keep playing in the mind of Detective Vincent Kapoulous.
The best detective on the case is stumped. It doesn't help that the person of interest is one of the most beautiful women he's meet—and he's fallen for her.
But putting that aside, he has a case to solve. So using his unorthodox methods, with the help of his ride or die secretary and rookie partner, they set out to find out about missing paintings, dead bodies and possibly one of the most beautiful serial killers in the world.
Sylvia Shannon is confused, in the dark and a suspect for murder. With a stepsister she can scarcely trust and a handsome detective that seems to take more than a professional interests in her; she doesn't know where to turn.
She knows one thing however: she's not going to jail for a murder she didn't do, and if she has to solved this crime herself, so be it.
She just hopes that her growing feelings for the sexy, cool Detective Kapoulous doesn't trip her up.
Note from Author: "This is a work of fiction, created solely from my reality. Any errors regarding unorthodox or proper procedures in the legal system were done on purpose to further the storyline."
A fun read, with a lot of twists, turns and eccentric characters.
A crime suspense story with a Film Noir feel, set in contemporary times.
This story isn't a matter of who did it? But why?
You'll never look at art and a museum the same way again!
Caleb left me broken, alone, divorced and… pregnant. Finding Julián was the best thing that ever happened to me… to us.
Now all I want to do is start our lives together.
But starting over isn't always easy.
Moving back to my hometown carries a burden of the past—A past full of betrayal and heartache.
But Julián would never leave me.
He would never walk away.
He's loving, trusting, honest and honorable.
Always a man of his word,
Almost always…
When his past comes back to haunt us It's my duty to protect my son I have no choice…I have to walk away.
He isn't about to let his past keep us apart but a future together is too dangerous for my son.
But Julian is a Marine.
He doesn't give up, He doesn't walk way.
He fights for what's his, and I am his.
**This is a full-length stand alone military romance with a happily ever after and no cliff hanger**


text:
Two couples have made history by becoming the first same-sex couples married under Australia's reformed marriage laws.
Lauren Price and Amy Laker married on Saturday in front of 65 guests in Camden, Sydney.
Though weddings can officially take place from January 9, Price and Laker successfully obtained an exemption as family was travelling from Wales to be there.
The McDonalds obtained their exemption for the same reason, with family having flown in from Asia and the Middle East.
They had planned a commitment ceremony regardless but realised at the last minute that they could be granted permission to put the new legislation to good effect.
"We were always going to have a ceremony but to have it legalised is very special," Elise McDonald said.
Cas Willow and Heather Richards were expected to marry today at the hospital where Willow is being treated for cancer.
"We are thrilled to support the celebration of Cas and Heather's marriage," said Dale Fisher, the hospital's chief executive.
The couple got engaged when the legislation was passed because a commitment ceremony "just wasn't the same."
Richards said the marriage "means our relationship won't just be tolerated, it will be accepted."
© Star Observer 2020 | For the latest in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) news in Australia, be sure to visit starobserver.com.au daily. You can also read our latest magazines or Join us on our Facebook page and Twitter feed.


text:
Stef Callaghan
"My figurative work is character based. I especially enjoy the involvement and interactions of women as they proceed with their daily life.
I draw great inspiration from my experiences and observations of life in Tasmania, France and Ireland, and the rich tapestry of people who call these places home." ~ Stef Callaghan
Stef went to college late in life to study Art Theory. She started painting in 1994, and has exhibited in Perth, Western Australia, as well as in her hometown of Hobart, Tasmania. She is also a frequent visitor to Ireland, and shows her work at The Kenny Gallery in Galway.
Born in Malaysia in 1954, she and her family lived all over the world before settling in Australia. It was in Tasmania where she met her husband, George Callaghan, an accomplished artist and musician.
After several years of living in France, Stef and George have returned to Tasmania and are currently residing in Hobart.


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Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Duck Egg Blue
- Brand: Annie Sloan
- Product Code: AS023
Available Options
Duck Egg Blue : Evoking Rococo interiors, this color stems from the discovery of a beautiful blue pigment in the 18th century. Duck Egg Blue comes in a 1 litre tin ($69.00) and a 120 ml project pot ($25.00) - please select above which size you would like.
Chalk Paint® is the unique decorative paint developed 25 years ago by Annie Sloan for furniture, floors and walls, drawing on a lifetime of research and experience in working with paint and color. Chalk Paint® adheres to most surfaces and creates gorgeous results both quickly and easily. Use it for a textured finish, a distressed finish, a smooth contemporary finish or even as a wash!
1 litre is enough to cover approximately 13 square metres. After painting, seal indoor furniture with Chalk Paint Wax.
DELIVERY: This item should arrive safe and sound at your place within 5 days but there may be the occasional time an item needs to be sourced from our manufacturers or distributors in which case the wait may be a little longer. If the item does not arrive within 5 days of placing your order please do contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com. Thanks!
NON-NEW ZEALAND CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE: We do not currently offer international delivery through our website. If you love something you see here and you don't live in New Zealand, however, please do email us at email@example.com and we will see what we can do to help you.


text: Announce Your Pregnancy on Valentine's Day with These Adorable Ideas KristaJanuary 5, 2018 Are you planning to announce the pregnancy news on Valentine's Day? If you're like most people, announcing is part of the fun. There's so many great ideas out t... Read More... Announcing Your PregnancyPregnancy Announcement IdeasTelling Your FriendsTelling Your ParentsTelling Your Partner0 Comments5 min read


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Ditch the convos about money and in-laws if you want to decrease your risk of developing leaky gut syndrome.
A first-of-its-kind study has found a hostile marital relationship can seriously harm gut health and raise the risk of developing leaky gut syndrome.
Researchers from the Ohio State University examined 43 married couples aged between 24 and 61, who had all been married for at least three years.
The participants were asked about the topics that were most likely to cause a disagreement in their relationship. Money and in-laws were found to be the most sensitive topics.
Can Hugs Help Keep You Healthy?
Can Hugs Help Keep You Healthy?
The researchers then left the spouses to have 20-minute discussions on these two topics, where their interactions were videotaped to assess the arguing style.
The couples' argument style was characterised as hostile if it included certain gestures such as eye-rolling and verbal criticism.
Blood samples of the participants were also taken both before and after the interactions, where the scientists tested the samples for a marker of leaky gut syndrome called LPS-binding protein (LBP).
The results found that the couples who showed more hostile behaviour had higher LBP levels in their blood.
"We think that this everyday marital distress – at least for some people – is causing changes in the gut that lead to inflammation and, potentially, illness," explained the study's lead author Professor Janice Keicolt-Glaser.
Additionally, the results also found that those with the highest levels of LBP also had almost 80 per cent higher levels of C-reactive protein - another marker for inflammation - compared with those who had the lowest levels of LBP.
Leaky gut syndrome has been shown to cause gastrointestinal problems, inflammation, and changes to the overall composition of the gut microbiota. This in turn, can lead to a range of health conditions ranging from obesity and cancer, to depression and anxiety.
"Hostility is a hallmark of bad marriages – the kind that leads to adverse physiological changes," Kie-colt-Glaser said.
"Marital stress is a particularly potent stress, because you partner is typically your primary support and in a troubled marriage your partner becomes your major source of stress."
The results were published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.
For more on this topic, these are the 6 signs your gut health is out of balance. Plus, this is your complete gut-friendly daily meal plan.
Know someone who would find this interesting? Share this article with them!


text:
This map confuses me. I have no idea where we are. But that's not exactly new.
I finally find a street name on the map that I see out my window, but by the time I look up again, it's long gone. My dad makes an executive decision to park and just start exploring. The worthless map is left in the car; hopefully we won't be forever lost in the world of dorms and green grass.
I walk slowly. I'm telling myself it's so I have time to take it all in, but really, I'm just tired. I'm full of greasy pizza, ready to get to a hotel that I'm hoping has a comfortable pillow. I'm on my third, and thankfully last, campus, and sadly aware of how they are starting to blend.
I like Grinnell, not Knox, but the little details, the ones that seemed so important while I was there? They're fading. Already blurring with the beautiful flowers I see ahead of me. The brick buildings lining each side of the path I make my slow way down.
Greek letters adorn houses further behind me. A shiny new building catches the last remnants of the setting sun.
A long sidewalk leads me around behind a big building. It looks like the sports center, but I can't tell much from the uniform exterior. The sidewalk ends next to a busy road and a power plant. Clearly we've left the manicured side of campus, left behind the part that we, as visitors, are supposed to see.
The sidewalk feels long and slightly endless as we head back the same way we came.
Tomorrow I will see the poetry garden, with the cool shade offered by huge trees, strategically placed benches, and little gazebos tucked away. I will see the inside of the buildings, each with their own character and flair. I will talk to people who describe Beloit as the best place on earth, the perfect college.
I will smile and nod, knowing it's a sales pitch. I will be slightly turned off by the fact that I am getting a well-rehearsed show. All movements and voices carefully choreographed. I will remind myself that it is what it is, and try to focus on the positives.
The beautiful campus, the strong academics, the tales of welcoming people, the study abroad opportunities.
Yet I can't get away from the first feeling I had. That it's a great campus. A wonderful school. But it's not the right fit for me.
Friday, August 5, 2011
at 11:03 AM
Labels: college, school stuff, stories
2 comments:
- Unknown said...
Ive been there. : )
My younger brother is a Beloit graduate.
He went for one idea of a major, found great drugs and ultimate frisbee. Changed over to a creative writing major. Years later, is doing nothing with the degree and is a stand up comedian/waiter in LA.
Pricey school, but he loved it.
- August 5, 2011 at 12:35 PM
the way you write and explain a simple situation is amazing! Im definitely following!
I just started blogging myself and it would mean so much if you or anyone here could check it out! Its not much so far but I plan on writing about a variety of things including my life, teenager topics, humorous posts, trending topics, fashion, beauty and much much more!
- August 5, 2011 at 7:00 PM
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text:
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Video shooting has become an essential part of life today. The connection done during the event will ensure that quality performance has been attained. The most important thing is buying some appliances that are of high performance, and everything will be okay. The big systems needed for quality audio and vision are delivered by sellers. The access to audio, video and cinema devices has ensured that quality recordings take place. Different companies play this role of ensuring that the best results are attained on different events. Consider having the systems delivered on time and they are fitted.
The best video and audio accessories can be purchased or hired. If you need them for some business, you must get them from the approved dealers. Eastwood Sounds is one of the best dealers in these audio and vision systems. The shop has become a favorable shopping point for most firms which need this equipment. All machines sold by the company are real, and their performance is very good. You can check on the various models that have been listed on the site. It will be amazing how they will be useful in performance, and the outcomes will be more favorable.
It is vital that some fitting is done by the people who are trained in handling the equipment. The systems will have a manual on how they are used and measures that can be used in facilitating their performance. When the assembling is done well, and the systems from https://www.eastwoodsoundandvision.com/ will be working well. Consider looking for the ratings at the time of buying. Audio systems are fitted on the whole venue, and they are tested. The installation and testing ensures that performance is as expected.
Acquiring the sound and vision systems is possible today. Visit the dealers for great dealers. The equipment supplied are very new. If the system you buy fails to perform after you have bought it you can send it back to the shop where it can be checked. The new one can only be issued if the machine has not stayed past the time is given on the warrant. For more facts and information about sound systems, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_reinforcement_system.
For great audio systems, the DJ speakers have been availed in the stores. These are perfect for organizations and groups that hold concerts and other music extravaganzas. The shops allow people to place orders on the provided models in the store. The guests will be entertained well when the sound systems are great. The audio and vision systems can also be connected so that there is coordination in images and the voices. It has become very significant to use these facilities.


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ALT Linux repos
Group :: System/Servers
RPM: vixie-cron
Main Changelog Spec Patches Sources Download Gear Bugs and FR Repocop 4 may 2008 Dmitry V. Levin <ldv at altlinux.org> 4.1.20060426-alt4
- crontab: Skip the top few comments in "list" mode,
based on patch from Slava Semushin (#14751).
- Corrected License tag.
- Hardened /etc/cron.d access permissions to 0700.
- Hardened /etc/pam.d/crond access permissions to 0600.
- Hardened system crontab files access permissions check to
"st_mode & 07533 == 0400".
- Hardened spool crontab files access permissions check to
"st_mode & 07577 == 0400".
- Restricted link count check to spool crontab files.
- Updated to OpenBSD CVS snapshot dated 2006/04/26.
- Changed crontab to use $TMPDIR for creating temporary file.
- Fixed build with --as-needed.
- Rebuilt for new style PAM dependencies generated by rpm-build-4.0.4-alt55.
- Applied few corrections to owl-alt-linux and owl-crond patches,
as suggested by Jarno Huuskonen.
- Fixed children handling in crond.
- Enabled setproctitle.
- Updated to OpenBSD snapshot 200409162011, based on ISC Cron V4.1.
- Updated patches.
- crond, crontab: do not call setlocale(3).
- Updated to OpenBSD snapshot 20040604, with all
non-linux-specific fixes applied.
- Updated patches.
- Restore default action for SIGPIPE and SIGUSR1 right before
user scripts execution.
- PAMified crond.
- Fixed bugs found since -alt1 release.
- Updated to vixie-cron-4.0b1 with patches from OpenBSD-3.5 and Owl,
which also provides "at" functionality.
- Applied patch from Jarno Huuskonen (Owl) for cleaner build on linux.
- Updated ALT patches.
- Keep "crontab" and "at" at mode "restricted" in the package, but
default it to "public" in %post when the package is first installed.
This avoids a race and fail-open behaviour.
- Moved control files to separate subpackage.
- Daemonize properly (#0002546).
- Clear environment at startup.
- Use proper default PATH value.
- Rewritten start/stop script to new rc scheme.
- crontab: added /etc/crontab.template support.
- Rediffed our unified patch.
- Compiled with -DLINT, to ignore rcsid[] stuff.
- Added control support for crontab.
- Provides: /etc/cron.d
- Ensure all files are closed in crontab(1) when the editor is run.
- Set default crontab(1) editor to vitmp(1).
- Use service macros.
- Fixed tmp files handling in crontab.
- Made unified patch.
- Added shadow-utils to prereqs.
- Skip junk files from /var/spool/cron and /etc/cron.d
- Add new patches from MDK and Owl.
- Fixed build with glibc-2.2.2
- Fixed some strcpy calls.
- Enhanced error reporting.
- Account for shifts in system clock (rh).
- Added PreReq on initscripts.
- RE adaptions.
- force crond to use syslog.
- Macro's
- /etc/rc.d/init.d --> /etc/init.d
- Geoff <email@example.com> no we actually use _initrddir ..
- remove useless man-pages compression and let spec-helper work
- changed way manpages are compressed, use find instead of for
- Fixed group
- Added PPC patches
- non root build
- Move some to from %postun to %preun.
- Merge with redhat patchs.
- Mandrake adaptations.
- add note to man page about DST conversion causing strangeness
- documented cron.d patch
- improved cron.d patch
- added cron.d patch
- clean up log files on deinstallation
- logrotate changes
- auto rebuild in the new build environment (release 28)
- build for glibc 2.1
- translations modified for de
- reset SIGCHLD before grandchild execle (problem #732)
- enhanced initscript
- translations modified for de, fr, tr
- added a patch to get rid of the dangerous sprintf() calls
- added BuildRoot and Prereq: /sbin/chkconfig
- fixed cron/crond dichotomy in init file.
- fixed bad init symlinks
- force it to use SIGCHLD instead of defunct SIGCLD
- updated for chkconfig
- added status, restart options to init script
- built against glibc
- Switch conditional from "axp" to "alpha"


text:
Brown Egg Blue Egg
Helping Chicks Hatch
By Alan Stanford, Ph.D.
Brown Egg Blue Egg
After 24 hours you can help if you want. Some will die but you can save some.
The first thing to remember when helping is to watch for blood. If bleeding starts (not just the small blood in the membrane), STOP right then and there. Put the egg back and wait a few hours before again trying to help.
Once you start helping a chick, it often won't be able to finish by itself. That is because when exposed to air the membrane dries out and gets tough. The air also signals the membrane's blood vessels to shut down and that is good.
The easy ones to help are the eggs where the chick has cracked all around the egg. Sometimes at this point the membrane dries out and gets too tough for the final exit. Just gently split these eggs open.
The hard cases are the ones with just a pip. Start at the blunt end of the egg and fold the membrane down over the chick. In the ideal case you end up with the membrane rolled back to the chick's butt. At this point you can put the chick back in the incubator/hatcher if the egg sack is still not absorbed or if the chick is very weak.
Be careful when putting a chick back. At this stage some can be very sticky and will glue itself to the wire bottom in the incubator. If the chick feels sticky, put it on a piece of wax paper.
Brown Egg Blue Egg
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text:
Time May Change Me
by William King
Chapter 1
Jake's Back
The whole weekend I'd been thinking about them. About them and about myself. Should it concern me what other people think? They can draw their own conclusions about me, but they don't know me, they don't know me at all. Everybody has a past they carry around with them, I was no exception, but something had changed when I picked up Alex.
Yes, 'picked up' that's the right term. When I threw the note to him on the bus it was like bait for a fish, he would either bite or not. And if he didn't take the bait, well, like always, I'd wait for the next time.
That was me then, but not now. Standing here today, key in hand, outside my own front door, is the new me. I could hear music coming from inside and I smiled, because that meant only one thing, it meant Alex and Matty were there.
You see it all became more complicated when Alex introduced Matty, I know you maybe don't believe it, I found Matty very attractive, but at the same time I wasn't about to dump Alex. Then there was the fact that Alex was in love with Matty, his best friend. It was kind of unique, I wanted both of them, but it wasn't just sex, I had after all told them both stuff about myself I'd never told anybody before.
Why had I done that, all this had been going through my head the whole weekend away. It was confusing because the sex was mixed with these new feelings, nothing was straightforward.
I hesitated a moment before taking the key from my pocket, inserting it in the lock and opening the front door.
We never heard Jake arrive, Matty and I had been enjoying Sunday afternoon together in the apartment. He had given us the key and we weren't about to let the opportunity pass by unused.
Turn and face the strange,
Just gonna have to be a different man.
Time may change me,
but I can't trace time.
There we both were dancing round the bed, Matty had nothing on but his underpants and I had only my jeans. Bowie was playing quite loud and we were jubilant, crazy happy, in love.
I stopped moving, shocked to see Jake standing in the doorway smiling, Matty never realised immediately.
I watch the ripples change their size,
but never leave the stream,
of warm impermanence and...
Then Matty too turned and was looking directly at Jake. If Jake had been my parents I would have died, but he wasn't. I turned to look at Matty, he was standing next to me now, he put one arm around my shoulder. Jake dropped his bag, walked a couple of steps to stand in front of us, then put one arm around each of us and pulled all three of us into a group hug.
He raised his head, brought his mouth close to mine and kissed me on the lips. Then he turned to Matty, and I turned to watch, as he kissed him.
Dropping his hold on us he stepped back, "I've missed you guys," he said.
Maybe I'd lost all my inhibitions or I was simply lost in the euphoria of this day alone with Matty, all I know is that the presence of Jake in the room sparked a feeling in me that I couldn't ignore because I responded instantly to his kiss.
I sat back down on the bed, leaning back looking up at the two of them standing there. 'Did Matty feel the same' I wondered, 'could you share what we had between three people.' I looked at Matty, he looked back and smiled, then before I had time to think anymore he pulled Jake with him down onto the bed.
I couldn't help myself, I learned over Jake who was lying between the two of us, I kissed him, a long deep kiss, my tongue touched his, I looked right in his eyes. I pulled back and saw Matty was watching us, his eyes sparkled, how I loved those eyes!
I climbed half over Jake and pulled Matty in towards me and kissed him, long, deep, my tongue now found his, my hand rested on his crotch, he was already hard and if I wasn't mistaken so was Jake.
I let go of Matty and moved off Jake to lie back down watching the two of them next to me, admiring the bulge Matty was showing off, he didn't try to hide it, I smiled, glanced at Jake. His hand went over to rest on Matty's stomach, then slowly, very slowly, inched down towards his now super hard cock.
I had a hard on of my own and I knew Jake did, it was exciting, there was definitely something new here, watching, watching was turning me on. Then Jake let go of Matty, pushed himself up on the bed and sat up.
"That's a great welcome home," he said. "I can see you two have been enjoying yourselves."
"When the cat's away," I replied with a cheeky smile.
I watched as Matty got up off the bed and went to pick up his jeans. Was that a look of disappointment I saw on his face? Maybe, just a hint. So he really did feel like I did about Jake, or was it only because he was hard again?
He had told Jake that he liked him before he left for the weekend, but he hardly knew Jake, not like me. But Jake had kissed him just now, when he got here, and well, Matty never objected. He never said anything when Jake's hand wondered across his stomach, he didn't seem embarrassed either about showing his hard on, although it would have been difficult to hide. I made up my mind to talk to Matty about things when we were alone.
"Do you want your key back... now you're home again, I mean?" Matty was putting on his jeans. Jake and I were watching him. I don't know what Jake was thinking, maybe he was admiring Matty's cute little arse like I was. Just the idea of that sent a shock wave to my cock.
"Why d'ya ask that Matty?" Jake replied.
"Oh, I dunno... I just thought... I..." Matty fell silent.
"Listen Matty," Jake was looking at him and Matty was avoiding his gaze. "I want you guys to keep the key. If you want some place to be together, I mean when I'm not here, well you got it."
Matty was shuffling his feet around and picking up his T shirt, the one that said 'Beautiful. I was made this way.'
"I don't mind if you're here," Matty looked over at us. "I just thought maybe if you was here with someone, well... you know... you don't want us barging in on you."
"There isn't anyone Matty," Jake replied.
"Oh... I thought," he slipped his T shirt on, pulling it over his head. I could see that Matty was getting into his usual thousand questions routine, but I had to admire his subtle approach. I said nothing, just laid back watching it unfold. "Well... just that, you went away to visit someone. A boyfriend maybe?"
I didn't think Jake had a boyfriend hidden away somewhere else, in another part of the country, but it seemed Matty thought that might be a possibility, or maybe he just needed to know.
"I told you I was going to visit my parents." Jake was taking this all in his stride, he wasn't getting annoyed... yet!
"Oh yeah, that's right," Matty said. "I forgot that."
Now I knew that nobody could really think Matty forgot what Jake said when he told us we could have the key because he was away for the weekend.
Matty stood there looking sheepish, like he'd been caught out. Jake jumped up off the bed grabbed him around the waist and pulled him back down on top of both of us. All of a sudden Matty was lying across Jake and I was almost face to face with him as he looked up at me, a bit surprised maybe.
"Don't be acting the innocent, naughty boy," Jake said laughing. Then he smacked his hand down on Matty's arse, playfully.
"Ouch!" Was Matty's response, as he squirmed over onto his back still lying on top of us, and he grinned up at me mischievously.
"I think that maybe..." Jake's hands went one each side of Matty and started tickling him under each arm. "Maybe, this naughty little boy is ticklish."
Matty squirmed this way and that, then I joined in, and he started giggling. We were rolling around on top of each other trying to tickle one another, giggling and screaming like lunatics, until finally Matty called a halt saying, "OK, OK, I give up," but he still couldn't stop the giggles.
Jake and I relented and he managed to get up off the bed and went to sit down on the little desk chair. He brushed his hand through his hair, looked across at Jake and me, and said, "You two are mad! Mad, mad, mad!"
"Be careful what you say young man!" I told him, wagging a finger at him.
"Or..." he teased.
"Or, I might just put you back across Jake's knee," I had a huge grin on my face, and a picture of Matty's cute little arse lying over Jake in my mind.
"Haha," he mocked. "You wouldn't dare."
"Hmm... don't be too sure," I replied.
Jake got up from the bed, I think he was really enjoying all this. "Drink guys?" He asked.
"Yes please." Matty and I replied almost in unison, which made me smile even more.
Matty then, of course, decided it was time to roll out some more questions. "So where do your parents live?"
"Up North," Jake replied.
"Is that where you're from then... up north?" Matty said the 'up north' bit at the end with a feigned northern accent.
"You're a real case," Jake replied, ignoring his question for the moment, "you know that, don't you?"
"Only if you say so Jake," Matty giggled. "So are you?"
"Am I what?" Jake looked at me and winked. I could see he was playing the game for as much as it was worth.
"You know...," Matty wasn't giving up easily, "are you from the north?"
"Well yes, I guess," he replied, "at least that's where I've just come from."
"Alright, you win... aaagain," Matty said. "I just wanted... you know... to get to know you a bit more."
"My parents moved up north when I was 14 years old, so I'm not sure what that makes me exactly." Jake gave Matty a big smile.
"It makes you one of us," I said, hoping to cut short any more of Matty's questioning.
"Yeah... one of us," Matty repeated, glancing in my direction with the expression on his face that told me, 'yes, I know you want me to shut up.' We could read each other so well it was virtually impossible not to know what the other was thinking.
We hung around at little bit longer chatting together about this and that, but nothing in particular. It was a nice way to end a Sunday afternoon, but eventually we both had to get home and tomorrow was school. I loved Friday afternoons and hated Sunday evenings, but decided not to think about it.
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Quality multi-camera video footage of HUNTRESS's April 13 performance at Marquis Theater in Denver, Colorado as part of the "Paganfest America Part III" tour with TURISAS, ALESTORM and ARKONA can be seen below.
HUNTRESS's debut album, "Spell Eater", is being released in Europe on April 27 via Napalm Records.
"Spell Eater" track listing:
01. Spell Eater
02. Senecide
03. Sleep and Death
04. Snow Witch
05. Eight of Swords
06. Aradia
07. Night Rape
08. Children
09. Terror
10. The Tower
11. The Dark
HUNTRESS singer Jill Janus told AOL's Noisecreep about the "Spell Eater" artwork, "The album cover captures the beauty and brutality of HUNTRESS. Vance Kelly is a warlock and he took our vision and created a magical illustration that breathes glory into the old crone. We contemplated having either a sultry sorceress or decrepit forest witch as our cover babe. Ultimately, the crone won because she is the true Huntress."
According to a press release, "Janus is an operatic banshee with an unparalleled four-octave range and lust for the occult. Born and raised in the Catskill Mountains of New York, she toured Europe as a teenage opera starlet. Upon her return to the States, Janus embraced Manhattan nightlife, creating Felliniesque cabarets and parties in a nihilistic club scene. Years later, Janus moved to Los Angeles and began the gestation period of HUNTRESS. In 2009 she met underground metal band PROFESSOR. The universe spread her legs and delivered HUNTRESS to Janus, combining former members of PROFESSOR, DARK BLACK and SKELETONWITCH."
HUNTRESS is currently supporting DRAGONFORCE on a North American tour.
HUNTRESS is:
Vocals: Jill Janus
Lead Guitar: Blake Meahl
Rhythm Guitar: Ian Alden
Drums: Carl Wierzbicky
Bass: Eric Harris
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/huntresskills.


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George Bush vs Pink "hard work"
Well in capitalism "hard work" translates as YOU work MORE for LESS PAY.
Even better: you work WITHOUT ANY PAYMENT AT ALL.
Would you do that?
Of course not – you would defacto enslave yourself and society would be catapulted back into Roman midevel times where slavery was "normal".
Investor Carl Icahn: "We have this tremendous wealth gap that will lead to a populist movement"
"corporate America is really like feudalism – it is much more similar to feudalism than a democracy. They even use metaphors for it"
"think of the CEO and the board as the feudal lord – they surround themselves with mercenaries (lawyers) to protect them – barons (investment bankers) "
What is Feudalism?
"Feudalism was a combination of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries.
Broadly defined, it was a way of structuring society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour." (src: Wikipedia)
Hard work is good if it actually helps you towards YOUR goal.
But if the goal of others are:
- to enslave you
- keep the value of a FIAT (printed colorful paper and digits on harddisks) currency such as USD and EUR UP (no intrinsic value, only psychological value)
Instead of working for money to buy food – access to land assumed – you could grow it directly.
At some point of exploitation – this will be less work than via the monetary system – despite the monetary system having all this hyper efficient machines and automations plus: it gives you true INDEPENDENCE.
About Carl ICahn:
Jan 7, 2019: "i said this for 20-25 years – do something but corporate governance – make corporations accountable – if you put the right guys in these companies – i think it would solve many problems – productivity – wealth gap"
ps how to tell if someone is rich?
ask him/her when was the last time you cleaned your own bathroom…
how to tell if someone is filty rich?
ask him/her when was the last time you cooked a meal?


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Did you know that you might have discriminatory beliefs without you even knowing?! Learn more about such invisible, unconscious beliefs (cognitive biases), their impact, and exercises to demonstrate the result, impact (and more) in this episode of the Growth Philosophy podcast.
What you will learn:
- What are cognitive biases
- How you might be biased without knowing
- My personal experience of discrimination/racism
- What 95% of people said when they were asked to imagine a typical drug user (research)
- What thinking well is (not) about
Post your questions & comments here, or on my twitter.
Note: There is a blooper! But since the aim is to do one-take shows, it's left there. What do you think, does it make any major impact on the podcast, and your enjoyment of it? Let me know.
Also published on Medium.


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A wireless chip technology shown off at CeBit in Hannover, Germany, today could spell the end of cable-connected virtual reality headsets.
The technology, developed by Hong Kong-based ViShare Technology Limited, uses two chips – one at the source end and one at the output end – to wirelessly stream video over Wi-Fi at up to 4K resolution, effectively functioning as a wireless HDMI.
As a result, it can be used for both virtual and augmented reality, as well as in drone FPV headsets, wireless projectors and as a replacement for HDMI for wireless gaming and video streaming.
The technology, which was demonstrated at CeBit, works well enough that it was impossible to see any difference between a 4K source video and the wirelessly streamed version, even with the huge numbers of wireless signals within the venue. According to ViShare, it has only a 5 millisecond latency, making it a reliable and appealing option for a host of applications.
While other wireless streaming solutions are available, these largely rely on 60GHz transmission, which comes with a number of issues that have presented significant roadblocks to widespread adoption.
60GHz has a relatively short range, limiting its use to fairly compact spaces, and requires line-of-sight, meaning that it can easily drop if an object or person gets in the way. As a result, it is fairly poor for virtual reality, and will only suit pretty specific setups for standard video streaming.
By contrast, ViShare's solution has a far longer range – the same as the Wi-Fi network being used – and does not require any line of sight, making it far more suitable for applications such as VR, as well as normal home environments.
However, as fantastic as the technology is, it is not yet ready for consumers to plug in and use.
At present ViShare is showcasing a prototype version of the chip, which works perfectly but is without housing and a little large – about the length and width of a small paperback book – to be used for some applications.
Nevertheless, the technology could find its way into consumer hardware before long. ViShare is looking to partner with a solution house to turn the chip into a plug-and-play dongle, and is also keen to work with VR developers to integrate the technology directly into virtual reality headsets.
And with such a strong technology, and a clear demand from consumers, we'll be very surprised if the technology isn't embraced by major hardware companies.


text: Frank 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) Here is a nice Ken Quilt model 622 longarm sewing machine for sale. This one owner quilter comes with a 12 foot table. It includes patterns for you to use and even has the owners manual! This is a free motion quilter with stylus. Offered for only $500 dollars, its a great deal and you could be quilting tomorrow! In Annapolis MD. Edited December 3, 2018 by Frank lower price Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Description & More Info
Take a trip back to the 80s when the local mall was the coolest kids hang out in town. Taking inspiration from the latest installment of the Netflix sci-fi series, Stranger Things, this mug features the Starcourt Mall logo. Featuring in Stranger Things 3, this place really does look like a total dream come true with snazzy neon lighting, a plethora of groovy shops and an ice cream parlour. We're lapping it up!
- Stranger Things Starcourt Mall Mug
- White mug with printed design
- Made from ceramic
- Presented in a branded box
- Standard size mug: 110z/315ml capacity
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
- 100% official Stranger Things 3 product


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Music therapy is the use of music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of a group or individual. It employs a variety of activities, such as listening to melodies, playing an instrument, drumming, writing songs, and guided imagery. Music therapy is appropriate for people of all ages, whether they are virtuosos or tone deaf, struggling with illnesses or totally healthy.
Music therapy touches all aspects of the mind, body, brain and behavior. Music can provide a distraction for the mind, it can slow the rhythms of the body, and it can alter our mood, which in turn can influence behavior.
They often work with people suffering from emotional health issues such as grief, anxiety, and depression. They also help people address rehabilitative needs after a stroke, a traumatic head injury, or with chronic conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.
Music therapy sessions are designed with a number of factors in mind, including the clients' physical health, communication abilities, cognitive skills, emotional well-being, and interests. After weighing these factors along with the treatment goals, the therapist decides to employ either the creative or receptive process. (Note that you do not need to have musical abilities to benefit from either process. The music therapist will ensure that the activities address the needs and abilities of the client!)
In the creative process, the music therapist works with the client to actively create or produce the music. This may include composing a song, engaging in music or song improvisation, or drumming. In the receptive process, the therapist offers music listening experiences, such as using music to facilitate a client or group's relaxation. Clients or groups may then discuss thoughts, feelings, or ideas elicited by that music.
Beyond the explanation above, i've been a musician all my life and used it for my own healing as well as the healing of al manner of people, both young and old in all forms of situations. Writing songs is a very powerful way of telling your story. If appropriate we write together, and create piece of music or a song that speaks your story. Even if you have never sung or played. Until it becomes your beacon and personal sign.
Arkesie runs several music workshops one to one or with small groups. Find out when our next one is happening and join us.


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Summarize, in 3-4 pages, this assignment that provides information from Weeks 1 to 4.
In addition to the work you completed in the last four weeks, your assignment should also:
On a separate references page, cite all sources using APA format.
No submissions yet. Drag and drop to upload your assignment below.
Upload Submission
Drop files here, or click below!
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Reflect in ePortfolio
Task: Submit to complete this assignment
Due March 24 at 12:59 AM


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+++ Course canceled due to coronavirus +++
Are you keen to improve your intercultural competence? Are you interested in discovering ways of getting in touch with students here? Would you like to be more relaxed with exams? Are you surprised by how homesick you feel? Or are you simply interested in getting to know new perspectives?
If your answer to any of these questions is "yes" – you are not alone! This course offers the opportunity for you to share experiences and find new approaches to challenges together with other international students in similar situations. In the process you get the chance to enhance your skills in intercultural competence through specific exercises that draw on participants' personal experiences.
for: international students, limited to 12 participants
dates (six): March 24 and 31, April 21and 28, May 5 and 12 2020; Tuesdays from 4 pm to 5:30 pm
costs: free of charge
registration via E-Mail until March 9 and in person after you received confirmation with further information


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No min qty Email: email@example.com Watsapp to: 91716463
Wedding Cake Candle WCF-03
S$2.20 Regular Price
S$1.80Sale Price
© 2020 by Mommy Eyvon. All rights reserved/ This is a self built website dedicated to the darlings of my life, my best friend, hubby Jeffrey, my gorgeous cheeky daughter, Leann Faith and my most trusted furry buddy Xiao Bao. I'm truly blessed to have you guys standing by me always!


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The Cedar Hill Independent School District is holding a health forum Wednesday, April 19, to provide an update on the mumps outbreak in the district.
So far this year 33 cases of mumps have been reported in Dallas County, 27 of those at Cedar Hill High School.
The forum will include a panel of physicians and health experts representing Dallas County Health and Human Services and is open to parents, teachers, students or any other member of the community. It'll take place at Hawkins Hall inside Cedar Hill High School from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The latest news from around North Texas.
During the event attendees will be able to submit written questions to the panel, the district said.
Texas health officials say the state is experiencing its highest incidence of mumps in more than 20 years, including cases possibly linked to the popular spring break destination of South Padre Island. The Texas Department of State Health Services said Wednesday that Texas has had 221 cases of mumps so far this year, the largest total since there were 234 cases in 1994.
The Cedar Hill event is free and no registration is required.


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Posted: Apr 08, 2016
AMHERST, Mass – The Amherst College softball team extended its win streak to three after beating Hamilton College, 10-2 in game one of the three-game NESCAC West set Friday afternoon at the Amherst Softball Field.
Hamilton (8-9, 1-1)
Amherst (12-4, 3-0)
GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Amherst 10, Hamilton 2
- The first two innings remained scoreless for both teams before Amherst put up four runs in the third while Hamilton answered back with one. With a pitcher's duel for the next three innings allowing no runs on either side, the Purple & White broke it open in the top of the seventh scoring six runs before the Continentals scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the seventh.
- First-year Sammy Salustri reached first on a one-out walk in the top of the third before senior Brianna Cook reached on a fielder's choice. With back-to-back singles from classmates Alena Marovitz '17 and Lauren Tuiskula '17, Cook scored to put the first run on the board.
- With runners on second and third, Annie Murphy '19 launched a three-run home run to left center to put Amherst up, 4-1.
- In the bottom half of the inning, Jodi Weiss reached when she was hit by a pitch before Liz Brautiga cracked a two-out triple to right center to drive in the run.
- A leadoff walk by Kyra Naftel '19 in the top of the seventh frame started the six-run rally for the Purple & White. Salustri reached on an error that advance Naftel to second. Cook ripped her second base hit of the night to score Naftel before Marovitz reached on a fielder's choice. Tuiskula then walked to load the bases for Amherst. A sac fly to left field by Murphy allowed Cook to score for her fourth RBI of the night. Annie Apffel '17 notched a two-run double to left before first-year Julia Turner switched places with Apffel on second to help the Purple & White take a commanding, 10-1 lead.
- For the Continentals in the last of the seventh inning, Caroline Chivily reached on Amherst's error and advanced to second. An Ashleah Yraguirre single scored Chivily for Hamilton's second run of the game.
- Jackie Beuchler '17 earned her first win of the season allowing just one run in six innings with no walks, striking out six.
- Naftel continues to excel at the plate, extending her hit streak to 16 games.
- Apffel led the Purple & White at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored. Cook added two singles for Amherst going 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI
- The Amherst softball team notched nine hits for 10 runs in the victory.
- With the games originally scheduled to be played in Clinton, N.Y. but moved to Amherst because of unplayable field conditions following this week's inclement weather, the Purple & White batted as the visiting team, while Hamilton was slotted as the home team.
- The Purple & White will continue to bat as the visiting team during tomorrow's doubleheader, while the Continentals will continue to serve as the home team. Game times are slated for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the Amherst Softball Field.


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Etobicoke, Mississauga, March 23 2019
Home Instead Etobicoke and Mississauga invited our CAREGivers to our bi-annual CAREGiver meeting.
Our Eductional Coordinator, Jennifer Churchil conducted educational sessions, complemented with games and fun.
The CAREGiver meeting is an opportunity to share stories about caregiving but also to have a good time and make some new friends.
We at Home Instead want to thank all our CAREGivers for their hard work, dedication and professionalism.
We look forward to our next meeting
Snapd Etobicoke
Home Instead offers free monthly newsletters with tips and advice for caregivers of elderly loved ones. (Privacy Policy)


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Amazing Book
I also have Quantum Eating, which I am reading for the second time. That book is amazing - one which I need to read many, many times to understand more fully all of the layers contained within its pages. Thank you for writing that book and putting it out into the world!!
Rosemary (November, 2014)


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Event Services
Professional event photography services with a fast turnaround for Corporate, Business Conferences, Private Parties, Trade Shows, PR Events, Red Carpet, Fund Raisers, Holiday Parties, Product Launches, and Charity Events.
Please contact Kelly @ (214) 803-0666 for event rates. Standard event coverage includes:
- On Location event photography services
- All edited and enhanced high resolution images from the event
- Private on line gallery for sharing images with others
- A reproduction release form to use your images as you like
- Print options are available for purchase
How Does Event Coverage Work?
- First, we discuss the type of event, location, date, hours of coverage, images you would like captured during the event, and any special requests. If you already have sample ideas or a list of images you would like captured, please email.
- You reserve a date and time for the shoot that works best for you or your company's schedule. I provide all lighting and a backdrop if applicable. Quotes/invoices are provided in advance, and if it is a larger event, you will also receive an agreement with coverage details. Payment is due by the day of the event. Check, cash, or credit/debit via PayPal are all accepted.
- I typically arrive 30 minutes early to greet, set up equipment and scout the location.
- Proofs are available in a private online gallery within 2 days of the event, and I will email a link with instructions when ready to view. If you need proofs quicker, please let me know.
- Once images are reviewed to determine if you would like any retouched or printed, all finals long with a reproduction release form are sent within 2 days uploaded via Dropbox or via a mailed DVD.
Kelly Knight Photography
5456 Richmond Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 803-0666


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In our weekly series we introduce our latest obsessions straight from Credo HQ.
Introducing this week's #credocrush featuring W3ll People, Lilfox, and Maya Chia.
Expressionist Liquid Eyeliner | W3LL PEOPLE | $18
Why we're crushing:
Master the perfect cat eye with this easy-to- use felt tip liquid liner. This formula is no nonsense: no flake, water resistant, and smudge-proof.
Camomilla Infusion Makeup Remover | LILFOX | $28
Why we're crushing:
This little miracle bottle contains three of our favorite ingredients, jojoba, frankincense, and chamomile, for the ultimate cleansing experience. It penetrates deep into pores to remove even the most of makeup and debris, while calming and nourishing the skin.
Eye Achiever Multi-Correction Eye Serum | MAYA CHIA | $70
Why we're crushing:
This overachiever (aka Eye Achiever) will revitalize, brighten, and restore firmness while moisturizing and protecting the delicate skin around the eyes.
Do you have a #credocrush? Tell us below in the comments!


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- Format: 3DS
- Unleashed: Out Now
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Intelligent Systems
- Players: 1
- Site: http://papermario.nintendo.com/
Those bored with pop-up books of the paper variety will be delighted at first to flip open their 3DS and be greeted by the stylish cheer of Paper Mario: Sticker Star's wafer-thin world. Leafing through its digital pages is a delight rife with the series' trademark enthusiastic charm, but smiles fade as the game's flimsy mechanics unfold. Baffling design decisions that crumple every good idea prompt a question all developers should fear: what were they thinking?
Sticker Star raises this question at the most fundamental level: the basic systems of play underlying its clever jokes and snazzy scenery. Much is borrowed from its predecessors, throwing Japenese-style role-playing and Mario's penchant for explorative jumping together to make what should be delicious results; the oddball recipe has worked remarkably well so far. However, Sticker Star does away with much of the former, streamlining itself into a patchwork puzzle-platformer that forsakes stats for stickers. Branching hubs and overworlds have given way to a world map dotted with linear levels, and while the series' semi-active turn-based combat of timed button presses remains, it peels away layers of complexity until only the most basic remain. This shift would've been more reasonable if the new sticker system had more fun than frustration, but bogglingly broken combat and bogglingly boggling puzzles dash this wistful hope.
The stickers themselves descend upon the Mushroom Kingdom through the mystical Sticker Comet, a celestial rock that's rumoured to make wishes come true. But Bowser will have none of it. Or, rather, all of it, as he makes a dash for the comet, splintering it into seven Royal Stickers that scatter across the kingdom's seven world, giving him and his minions devious amounts of sparkle-speckled power. This spells trouble, and the ladylike sticker Kersti enlists Mario's help to combat Bowser's devious minions and regather the Royal Stickers. Unfortunately, Kersti serves as little more than an empty cipher for words the mute Mario can't say; a tool that provides only the most basic means of story progression. Much like the game's plot itself, in fact. Sticker Star's story is not only utterly rote, but almost entirely absent. Actual storytelling is bookended at beginning and end, with nothing but blank pages between. For a series prized for its narrative romps, it's a disappointing, even perplexing, oversight.
The stickers do more than create a rote basis for story, however; they create a rote basis for combat. Paper Mario's traditional trifecta of attacks, special attacks and items has been swapped out for the sole mechanic of stickers themselves, which basically operates by reducing everything to a single inventory. The touch screen becomes your album, displaying the variety of jumps, hammers, and mushrooms that make up the meat of your inventory. Though each can only be used once, there are enough pasted across the levels that the problem quickly shifts from filling your album to managing its limited space. Tapping out attacks is amusing enough, but absent complexity and effortless button prompts keep it from rising above novelty. Some variety comes in the form of oft-oversized stickers created from random things (called, appropriately, Things) found strewn throughout the kingdom of mushrooms, be it a pair of scissors, a refrigerator, or the odd giant goat. (And really, it's odd.) But while their animations are endearing and lovingly crafted, like much of the game, their similar effects add little to what's, ultimately, a dreadfully dull way to do battle.
This could've been a forgivable offence; plenty of RPGs are choosing to streamline, and one as kid-friendly as Paper Mario is especially entitled to such a shift. However, the combat's not only shallow; there's no actual reason to do it at all. Apart from the few mandatory bosses, every fight in Paper Mario can be avoided, or at worst, fled from. Previous games have handled this by incentivising you to fight, be it through character progression, greater convenience, or barriers to retreat. Sticker Star uses none of these. Instead, with leveling and experience points taken entirely out of the equation, battles reward you solely with stickers and a few coins (with which to buy more stickers; a deviously one-sided economy). These make somewhat useless rewards, since you'll have plenty of each either way. Simply tapping the always-available 'run' button is the far more inviting option, which is consistently successful the first or second try. Add on top of this that it carries no penalty beyond wasting a turn and it effectively removes combat itself as anything more than an entirely optional, and unfortunately dull, distraction.
With goomba-stomping out of the picturebook, Sticker Star leaves you with its unorthodox combination of fixed-perspective jumping and item-based puzzling. The game's platforming doesn't stray far, or even at all, from its roots, which means it's… fine. Not interesting, or even very enjoyable on its own, but fine. Merely a simple way to jaunt from point to point, weaving between two-dimensional vagabonds until progress is blocked by another of the game's sticker-centric innovations: the puzzles. Kersti grants Mario her unique ability to Paperize, allowing him to step outside the world to peel and plant stickers at particular spots. This mechanic is the basis for most of the game's environmental head-scratchers, and also for its most maddening frustrations.
The most aggravating of these is the game's use of Things as their solutions. A given quandary will often require a specific Thing, which could be just a screen or two away, or in another World entirely. While we admire the game's unconventional thinking when it comes to solution and direction, rather than just guiding the player with a patronizing, yet charmingly cute hand, clues tend to range from nonsensical to non-existent. The answer could hide among any of the dozens of side-paths and secrets littering Sticker Star's abundant levels; worse, even testing a sticker will use it up, discouraging any experimentation, as you'll need to trek all the way back to find it yet again should you need it later. Minutes can stretch into hours as a given string of searches drags on until the game feels more padded than the cell you'll inevitably find yourself within by the end. It makes the reasonable length (upwards of twenty hours) something of a farce. It's truly a shame to see an attempt at defying linearity and the "plays itself" mentality muddle itself so thoroughly; a shame heightened by just how lovable Paper Mario: Sticker Star is.
Even when hating it you can't help but to love it. While not so ridiculously creative as instant classics like 2004's Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Sticker Star doesn't skimp on its clever wordage and vibrant personality. Its cast of near-identical toads surprise and delight with their vast vocabularies and distinct outlooks, spouting a good share of laugh-worthy lines incidental to the disappointing plot. Though usually focused in the game's capital of Decalburg and a few outlying towns, welcome character occasionally spruces up the all-too-generic levels themselves. The world's blandness is further lessened by the series' trademark art, bursting with colorful cut-outs. Though showing a choppier frame rate than its predecessors, 3D is handled with the perfection one would expect from such a suitable showcase for its eye-popping tricks. However, what's most noticeable, and laudable, is Sticker Star's energized and exceptionally-produced soundtrack.
Those despairing of Mario's slide into musical mediocrity should be as delighted as we were to hear the jazz-infused genius of Sticker Star's abundant melodies. Each echoing snare and slap of bass rings with heart and style, bringing even the drabbest desert or jungle gleefully to life. Even long-overplayed remixes are revived with a meticulous balance of new and old. The game isn't shy about embracing its stellar backing, either. Bosses clap along, mariachi guys (of the shy guy variety) add their strummings, and certain songs blend and form to match your surroundings, carrying the proud tradition of such musical wonders as Banjo Kazooie years before. While no soundtrack is perfect, Sticker Star's comes dangerously close, simultaneously innovating and superbly capturing an already well-established series.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star does so much right, but gets too much wrong. A sound premise and lively presentation are ultimately unsupported by their paper thin foundations. What few pages of depth exist are revealed to just be stuck together, and by the time the painful process of peeling them apart is over, you'll wish they'd just been ripped out to begin with.