text:
Upcoming Events
Events Search and Views Navigation
- There were no results found.
"Kelly had some awesome tips and is very knowledgeable on the subject. Love how she is also very down to earth and easy to talk with!"
"I think this process was very beneficial and I think we are in a position for a very strong year and the future is very bright. I was able to take account of myself through our interviews and discussions and have found many areas in which I personally need to improve. You have also given me a sense of direction going forward to be a better boss, person and mentor to our staff."
"Great to work with ! Very understanding of the initial frustration and trained/encouraged us on how to handle the change in work processes."
"I feel your visit to our agency was very beneficial. For me, it was like a therapy session and the Amnesty Day was a great idea. I feel refreshed and I have a much better attitude. The attitude of the entire agency has improved immensely. I think we are striving to work more as a team. We are trying to be more encouraging to each other and to applaud each other's accomplishments. Thanks for being a nice, caring person!"
"We are so grateful for you and all you have done to help our agency and our team. We are all now part of the big picture and it has changed the whole dynamic for the better. APP Rocks!!!!!"
"I want to thank you for stopping by the office, evaluating, listening and hearing us. I feel like the mood of the office has improved 100%. I also feel appreciated. We will have some hurdles to overcome, but I think we should get through them. The Tigger has been passed around a bit."
"I'm glad you came out to talk to all of us. It seems to have helped the attitude in the office. Still have our moments, but much better. Dan has improved, also. He seems to be listening to us more and getting our input. Thanks for your help."
Are you ready to take your agency to the next level?


text:
Gospel music is written to express personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life. It's composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, and as an entertainment.
A common theme of gospel music is praise, worship or thanks to God, Christ, or Holy Spirit.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Skip to Content
Jump to Main Navigation
Skip to Search
You Are Here: AABt as Partner
To Portal Page
The close collaboration between industry and RWTH Aachen has existed since the university was founded in the 19th century. The industry significantly financially supported RWTH Aachen in its development phase. One of its goals was to support the education of engineers for mining in North Rhine-Westphalia. As a result, distinct collaborative efforts with the industry were established at RWTH Aachen, which we continuously develop with the future in mind.
The Aachen Biology and Biotechnology department strives for the synchronization of scientific and industrial innovation processes, in order to shorten the innovation cycle. Within the different institutes, a significant emphasis is placed on applied research, built from a strong basis of fundamental science.
RWTH Aachen is a strong partner for the development of the technologies of tomorrow. Accordingly, our industry partners are well known for staying ahead of others and for remaining internationally competitive in the long run, through the help of our advanced innovation efforts.


text:
Syria – Government Declaration and Debate at the National Assembly and Senate Speech by Laurent Fabius at the Senate (September 4, 2013)
Mr. President,
In the early hours of August 21, a few kilometers from the center of Damascus, nearly 1,500 civilians, including hundreds of children, died, asphyxiated, in their sleep. Murdered by the Syrian regime, in what represents, in the early days of this century, the most massive and most terrifying use of chemical weapons.
Each one of us was able to find out about these events immediately after the tragedy, through dozens of videos. Videos shot by doctors, neighbors, relatives, who were both terrified and aware of their duty to inform the world of the horror of what had just occurred.
Each one of us could see the abominable images of the victims' agony, the rows of children's corpses. There was not a drop of blood on those corpses, not a wound. Only the silent death by gas, whose use that night is no longer being denied by anyone.
Beyond those terrifying images, what do we know with certainty?
Last Monday, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense and Parliamentary Relations, and I met with the Presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate, the relevant committee heads and the leaders of the political parties of those two bodies to provide information on this subject to our national representatives. The government is convinced: The gravity of this moment calls for transparency and republican dialogue.
We are certain of the scale of the death toll, which could reach up to 1,500 victims. This has been confirmed by independent assessments such as the one carried out by Médecins sans Frontières. By analyzing the videos, which we have had authenticated, our own personnel has concluded that all the victims were located in neighborhoods controlled by the opposition. All the symptoms observed are consistent with poisoning by chemical agents. We have evidence in our possession, and in our allies' possession, indicating that sarin gas was used.
We are certain that Syria has one of the largest chemical weapons stockpiles in the world. More than 1,000 tons of chemical warfare agents and dozens of delivery systems.
We are certain that the Syrian regime has already used chemical weapons on several occasions in recent months, on a much more limited scale, with the aim of recapturing areas held by the opposition and spreading terror there. We have recovered and analyzed samples that have confirmed the use of toxic gas in Saraqeb and Jobar. This information has been transmitted to the United Nations.
We are certain that this attack is part of an offensive to recapture a key area that serves as a gateway to Damascus. Preparations were already under way in previous days, including the movement of chemical agents from the regime's main storage facilities. After the attack, we are also certain that intense bombing operations represented an attempt to erase the evidence.
And finally, we are certain that the opposition does not have the capability of conducting such a large-scale operation. No rebel group has the necessary quantities of chemical agents, the delivery systems or the know-how to carry out such an attack.
It is therefore certain: There was indeed a massive chemical attack on August 21, in the Ghouta plain, for which the Syrian regime bears full responsibility.
We share this certainty with our American, British, German and Turkish partners. The Arab League itself confirmed it during its ministerial meeting on Sunday, evoking the regime's responsibility.
It is not the mission of the UN investigators to assign responsibility. Those investigators will only be able to confirm the use of chemical weapons.
Given these indisputable facts, what should we choose: action or resignation? Can we be satisfied with condemning them, and with calling on the international community to wake up, to finally begin the peace negotiations that have not been forthcoming?
Ladies and Gentlemen, Senators, President Hollande offered a clear response to these questions, one in line with France's mobilization since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. We were the first to recognize the Syrian National Coalition, to offer it our support, to respond to the humanitarian emergency, to promote a political solution. And we relentlessly multiplied our contacts with our European partners, our allies, the countries of the region, Russia and China, to seek solutions to this tragedy.
Not responding would be allowing the massive use of chemical weapons to go unpunished.
Not responding would be sending Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian people a terrible message: that chemical weapons can be used again tomorrow against Damascus, against Aleppo, perhaps even more massively.
Not responding would be endangering the peace and security of the entire region, and beyond that, our own security. For – we must ask – what would it do to the credibility of our international commitments when it comes to halting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons? What message would we be sending other regimes, such as Iran or North Korea?
That message would unfortunately be very clear: You may go ahead. Possessing these weapons gives you impunity and the divisions within the international community protect you.
Not responding, finally, would mean closing the door to a political solution to the Syrian conflict. Yes, the solution to the Syrian crisis will be political and not military. But let's face up to reality; if we don't put a stop to such acts by the regime, there will be no political solution. Why would Bashar al-Assad negotiate when he believes he can "liquidate"—that is his own word, which he repeated in writing early this week—"liquidate" his opposition, notably by using weapons that sow terror and death?
For all of these reasons, President Hollande has chosen to take action: legitimate, collective and considered action.
Legitimate, first of all, because the Syrian regime has violated its international obligations on a massive scale. By using chemical weapons, Bashar al-Assad has violated his obligations under the 1925 Protocol, which prohibits their use and which Syria ratified in 1968. He has flouted international humanitarian law by carrying out indiscriminate attacks, which are banned under the Geneva Conventions. He has committed a war crime. He has committed what the UN Secretary-General described as a crime against humanity.
In addition to these violations, the Syrian regime has continuously refused to cooperate with the international community. By preventing the International Commission of Inquiry access to monitor human rights. By refusing to allow inspectors to investigate the presence of chemical weapons. By dismissing the various attempts to broker a ceasefire. By increasing the number of obstacles to humanitarian action in Syria.
Of course, the explicit authorization of the Security Council would be preferable. But let's look at the reality. Russia and China have blocked any response to the Syrian tragedy for two and a half years now, including by exercising their veto three times. Our attempt a week ago to propose a draft resolution authorizing a strong response to the chemical attack on August 21 was also stopped dead in its tracks.
The seriousness of the threat associated with the use of chemical weapons compels us to take action.
The action we're proposing is considered and collective. President Hollande stated that it should be – I quote – "firm and proportionate." A one-time response with meaningful but targeted objectives. There is no question of sending in ground troops. There is no question of launching military operations to overthrow the regime.
Of course, we want to see the departure of Mr. Bashar al-Assad, who doesn't hesitate to directly threaten our country and who even believes he can intimidate the national representatives. Yes, we want to see his departure within the framework of a political solution. France will continue to take the lead in promoting a political solution.
Our message is clear: the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable. We want to both penalize and deter, to respond to this atrocity in order to prevent it from happening again. We also want to show Bashar al-Assad that the only option he has is to negotiate.
Some say that a response would further complicate the situation. But, again, I appeal to your clear-headedness. The destabilization of the countries of the region dealing with the influx of more than two million refugees is a reality. Ensuring that the Syrian regime's crimes do not go unpunished is, on the contrary, a way for our democracies to support the moderate Syrian opposition.
By doing this we will be true to our values, on which France's commitment throughout the world is based. Indeed, France has a special responsibility. It's an opportunity and a duty which contribute to the greatness of our country. Let's unite in order to be true to this vocation.
France will not act alone and will combine its efforts with those of other partners, beginning with the United States of America, with which it has always aligned itself at critical moments when the cause was just. We are also counting on the support of the Europeans and the countries of the region, notably within the Arab League. President Hollande is continuing his efforts of persuasion in order to bring together the broadest coalition possible to support this action. The G20 summit beginning in St. Petersburg tomorrow will provide such an opportunity.
Mr. President,
Next year we will commemorate the centenary of the First World War, which marked the first extensive use of poisonous gases as a combat weapon. A century later, while chemical weapons have been banned under international law, we cannot accept an appalling step backwards.
In these grave circumstances, the national representatives must be informed. That's why we pledge to continue keeping you informed over the next few days of changes in the situation, while respecting the institutional balance arising from our Constitution. In any event, the final decision can be taken only by President Hollande once the coalition has been formed, which is the only way to establish the conditions for action.
Senators, in the face of barbarity, doing nothing is not an option, in any case not for France. By not responding, we allow Bashar al-Assad to continue his atrocities, encourage the proliferation and use of weapons of mass destruction, leave Syria and the entire region to fall into chaos and give in to threats. Together with its partners, France will therefore assume its responsibilities.


text:
Search by tag «literature»Entries found: 1
Creative Europe Culture : Information Seminar
7 février 2017 Sites amis
Creative Europe Desk UK – England invites you to find out more about the funding opportunities for the cultural, creative and heritage sectors available through Creative Europe's Culture sub-programme. Creative Europe's Culture sub-programme supports cooperation and exchange between arts, culture and heritage organisations across different European countries. Lire cet Article
and those who work in the wider creative and cultural industries., architecture, arts networks, British Council and the British, circus, Cooperation Projects, craft, Creative Europe beneficiaries, Creative Europe Culture, cultural professionals, dance, Design, fashion, festivals, Film Institute, heritage, Information Seminar, Institut Français, La Petit Salles, literature, London, music, organisations in the creative and cultural sectors, performance, social enterprises, théâtre, visual arts


text:
I'm thinking that I may want to reconsider my position on things – it appears that the more radical and revolutionary you are, the more awards, employment opportunities, and face time you get.
Take for example Van Jones; although he was ousted from the White House for his trutherism, his radical ideological beliefs, namely being a self-professed communist, he is still receiving accolades from the liberal community. Van Jones will receive the coveted NAACP Image award this year and will also rejoin the Center for American Progress {be wary of that word Progress} a liberal "think" tank.
Van Jones calls himself an environmentalist, but more so in the sense of social justice; a term that many of us have been schooled in over the last couple of years. Social justice is just a nicer term used to confuse the masses that calls for the redistribution of wealth because of all the inequalities and unfairness in the world. Somewhere in life, I found that inequality and unfairness were part of human nature and it was up to an individual to make the most of what they were given and strive for success at every turn. I believe what I'm getting at is the "pursuit of happiness," and there is a reason that the word pursuit is in the phrase; happiness isn't handed to us – we have to earn respect and earn success.
Van Jones on the other hand, believes in the idea of welfare, hand outs and redistribution. He is a self-avowed communist who believes that nobody should be in jail, in fact they should all have green jobs to rehabilitate themseleves… something I'm more than a little skeptical of.
A little synopsis of what Van Jones is up to and some additional benefits that he is receiving:
In his first interview since stepping down as President Obama's environmental adviser on Sept. 5, Jones said that a green jobs policy represents the best chance of both aiding poor Americans and bridging the political divide.
"When the food fight is over, there's one spot of clean common ground in American politics, and that is the need for us to be leading on energy, clean energy, and for us as a country to be more secure with all those jobs," Jones said Tuesday.
Jones, who has been consulting for companies and nonprofits on environmental issues, will start teaching at Princeton University in June and is rejoining the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, next month. On Friday, he will receive the NAACP's President's Award, for achievement in public service, the organization announced Tuesday.
Not surprising, another liberal ivy league school is also patting Van Jones on the back where he will teach and commute from DC to southern New Jersey.
As another aside, the liberal think tank that Van Jones will be a part of, commonly referred to as CAP, is run by none other than John Podesta and as recently as yesterday, has given its "unbiased" review of the Obama administration favoring unionized companies bidding on federal contracts, stating that it would bring down contracting costs, which is patently false.


text:
07 December 2012 | News | By BioSpectrum Bureau
China Cord Blood subsidiary, Favorable Fort, to acquire Cordlife stakes for $8.65 million
Singapore: China Cord Blood's (CCBC) non-wholly owned subsidiary, Favorable Fort, entered into a definitive agreement with Cordlife Services, to acquire Cordlife's interest in the joint venture for a cash consideration of $8.65 million.
Cordlife has a minority interest in Shandong Province Qilu Stem Cells Engineering, the operator of Shandong Cord Blood Bank. Upon completion of the transaction, CCBC's effective equity interest in Qilu will increase from approximately 19.9 percent to 24 percent.
The incremental increase in equity ownership of Qilu is consistent with the company's strategy to expand its China presence, and at the same time, streamline the organizational structure of the company.
The completion of this transaction will be subject to approval by Cordlife's shareholders. The company engaged Roth Capital Partners to provide and deliver an opinion to the company's board of directors as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the transaction.


text:
Thank you Raquel Franco for sharing your delicious gourmet kosher fish dinner recipe with us!
"This recipe with wasabi is delicious 'n not too spicy.
Perfect change for an end of summer dinner!"
by Raquel Franco
For Wasabi Crusted Fish:
- 4 (3/4- to 1-inch-thick) skinless white-fleshed fish fillets, such as Pacific cod or halibut (6 oz each)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon wasabi paste (from a tube)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 to 1 1/4 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
For Slaw:
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 seedless cucumber (usually plastic-wrapped)
- 8 oz shredded red cabbage (4 cups; from a 10-oz package)
- Accompaniment: pickled ginger (sushi ginger)
Prepare fish: Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F. Line a shallow baking pan with foil.
- Pat fillets dry, then arrange in baking pan. Sprinkle salt all over fillets. Stir together wasabi paste and mayonnaise in a bowl, then spread tops of fillets with half of mayonnaise and sprinkle with half of panko. Turn fillets over and spread with remaining mayonnaise, then sprinkle with remaining crumbs.
- Bake until fish is just cooked through, 12 to 16 minutes, then broil 4 to 6 inches from heat until crumbs on top are golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Make slaw while fish bakes: Stir together vinegar, sugar, mustard, and salt in a bowl until sugar is dissolved. Halve cucumber lengthwise, then thinly slice. Add to dressing along with cabbage and stir to coat. Serve slaw alongside fish.
image via http://www.healthypopulation.com
this recipe is from epicurious.com


text:
A college basketball player is charged with sexual abuse. The charges are dropped, but his university kicks him off the team. A judge orders him reinstated, and now the state supreme court will hear the case. There is a fascinating story playing out at Iowa State, one with no easy answers, but that goes to the very heart of college sports: Who decides who gets to play?
The case of ISU backup point guard Yempabou "Bubu" Palo has kept the redshirt senior in limbo for more than two years, and with his eligibility expiring, Palo's last hope of playing again now sits in the Iowa State Supreme Court. It's been a long and complicated path, so I'll do my best to summarize it.
- In September of 2012, Palo was charged with second-degree sex abuse, a Class B felony, in connection with an alleged incident that had taken place in May, and he was suspended indefinitely from the team.
- At the same time, Iowa State's Office of Judicial Affairs charged Palo with violating the university's code of conduct.
- In January 2013, the criminal charge was dropped and Palo was reinstated to the team in time to play 17 games.
- In May 2013, the charges brought by the university Office of Judicial Affairs were heard by an administrative law judge, who concluded that they were "not founded."
- The university filed an appeal of that decision, which was heard by Iowa State President Steven Leath. In August 2013, Leath ruled that Palo had violated the code of conduct, and he was thrown off the basketball team.
- Palo appealed to the state Board of Regents, who in December upheld Leath's ruling.
- Palo made one last appeal, to a district court. In a shock decision announced last Thursday, the judge issued a stay that immediately restored Palo's eligibility.
- Yesterday, the Iowa attorney general's office, on behalf of the Board of Regents, filed to the State Supreme Court for an immediate stay of the district court's ruling. Palo's attorneys have one week to respond.
This is an incredible situation. The state of Iowa wants Bubu Palo off the basketball team. So does his university. Even ISU's athletic director wants him gone:
"We are disappointed to learn of the district court judge's decision to reinstate Bubu Palo to our basketball team," Pollard's statement said. "We believe the university should have the sole right and responsibility to determine any student's participation in extracurricular activities at Iowa State University."
This is around the point you're wondering what, precisely, the allegations against Palo entailed, because though the school and the courts base their decisions only on matters of law, there was an allegation of sexual assault here. It'd be inhuman not to let your emotions play a role in deciding what to believe.
There are not a ton of publicly available details—unlike the Jameis Winston investigation, this took place out of the media spotlight, and featured no press conferences. According to the criminal complaint, on May 18, 2012, Palo and an associate, Spencer Cruise, offered to give a ride home to a woman, a former student who had exchanged text messages with Palo earlier in the night. Instead, she claimed, they drove her to Cruise's house. According to a search warrant issued in the case, the woman said she was sexually assaulted by Cruise while Palo wandered in and out of the room. She claims Palo then sexually assaulted her. DNA from the accuser was matched to both Cruise and Palo.
The Story County Attorney's Office did not explain when the charges against both men were dropped, but it did highlight one major inconsistency in the accuser's story. The woman turned over a blouse that she claimed had been torn in the alleged assault, then lost until December. She testified she had washed it 10 days after the alleged assault. But a forensics expert determined that the blouse had been torn after it was washed. Beyond this, Palo's attorney cited "several inconsistencies" in the woman's story.
As I said, there are no easy answers here.
What's not up for debate is that Iowa State's disciplinary board isn't held to the same standards as prosecutors, and the student code of conduct is more stringent than the law. Even Palo's attorneys haven't disputed that the university has the right to kick him off the basketball team. Instead, his appeals have hinged on what could almost be considered a technicality.
Palo's claim is that the university took too long to make a decision on his eligibility. The university president's ruling from August was handed down five days after the deadline for athletes to transfer, and by being forced to wait it out, Palo lost his chance to play his senior season elsewhere.
"If they would have moved promptly and said we don't want you, I would have understood," Palo said. "I would have gone on my way.
"With the timing of the decision, I didn't have a choice."
Palo's at-least-temporary return has been rough on the Cyclones, who have lost three straight after starting the season 14-0. He's not traveling with the team, though he did attend his first practice yesterday. Coach Fred Hoiberg had a brief meeting with Palo on Saturday, but said they haven't spoken since. A players-only meeting was described as constructive: "We just got a lot of stuff off our chest that we felt we needed to talk about," forward Georges Niang said.
Players have said that they're happy for Palo, but they'll leave things to Hoiberg. Palo, too, says he'll "do whatever coach Fred wants me to do. I don't want to come in and mess anything up." But this decision goes well beyond the coach.
Despite the NCAA having no direct hand in in this case, former compliance officer John Infante believes that it could, at least in the court of public opinion, challenge one of the NCAA's guiding principles.
For decades, courts have ruled that participation is only a privilege, thus entitling student-athletes to only minimal due process protections.
A victory by a student-athlete in a state supreme court would at the very least reopen the debate about whether athletics participation is a privilege or right. The implications, even just in one state, would be immense. Can a court force a university to travel and play a student-athlete? Could athletes sue over admissions decisions, grades, or good standing decisions? Would it expose the NCAA Manual to judicial review?
Palo's is a deeply unusual situation, with little chance of setting precedent beyond the minutiae of state oversight of public universities, and a final ruling for either side is sure to leave everyone feeling uncomfortable. If there's any lesson here, it's only that life gets messy and sports aren't immune.


text:
Canning time is upon us! My mom canned a little bit when I was a tiny lass until she had a major canner explosion and was scared ever since. So I really didn't see anyone can or preserve food when was I was younger, and didn't know anyone who did it when I became an adult. At least if they did, it was a well kept secret, and it wasn't until a couple of years ago that my good friend Tricia showed me how to do it. I had always preserved simply by freezing or drying up to that point, but now I'm a canning convert.
Canning parties are gaining popularity right now, especially with folks in the city. Canning fresh, organic foods in season is the only way to truly obtain the best foods possible for your family through the winter months. You could certainly buy foods out of season, but that also means it's been picked while green, shipped and trucked thousands of miles--using tremendous resources we can hardly afford anymore--and it's usually pretty bland in taste.( Folks who have never tasted a fresh tomatoe right out of the garden have no real idea of how a true vine ripened tomatoe tastes.) You can buy factory canned food, loaded with salt, preservatives, and other things unpronounceable, but common sense, science, and our doctors are telling us now that these processed foods are not good for us.
Before you start canning, you must know how to can. I would recommend you get the Ball Complete Guide to Preserving. If you are getting a new canner, read the guide thoroughly. If you are using a used canner, and it doesn't have a guide, please make sure you are either a seasoned canner, or you can call the manufacturer and ask for a book. If you don't know what your are doing, or you do some steps incorrectly, you can run the serious risk of hurting or making sick yourself or others you feed.
You can can and preserve with honey! Most canning manufacturers say you can substitute up to half the sugar called for in a canning recipe with honey. If you were to use all honey, which some do, it will make your finished product much darker, and can cause some issues with any pectin you are using, but you be the judge. In recipes using a commercial pectin, you can replace regular sugar with up to 1 cup of honey with good results. Otherwise, substituting honey for sugar is all a matter of taste.
Try this applesauce recipe for canning. Follow YOUR manufacturer's directions for canning with YOUR canner.
Applesauce with Honey
16 c apples- peeled, cored, cut up
1 c water
2 t lemon juice
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t allspice
Start with 3 T honey, up to 1/4 c of honey to your taste
Put apples, lemon and water in pot, bring to boil and cook until soft. Add the honey and spices at the end, cooking a few more minutes. Either smash with wooden spoon if desiring chunky, or put in blender if desiring a smoother texture. Follow your manufacturer's guide to canning. Can be frozen in containers with good results as well.
Here's a couple of recommended resources for more information: Canning and Preserving Without Sugar by Norma McRae and Putting It Up with Honey by Susan Geiskopf.


text:
National Weather Service: Connecticut tornado confirmed
EAST WINDSOR, Conn. -- The National Weather Service is confirming a tornado occurred near Windsor Locks.
In a statement released Monday evening, the service said an EF1 tornado, with estimated maximum wind speeds of 86 miles per hour, traveled 2.5 miles from Windsor Locks, across the Connecticut River and ended in East Windsor. The scale for tornadoes ranges from an EF0 to and EF5.
The tornado occurred between approximately 1:30 p.m. and 1:35 p.m. No injuries have been reported.
The NWS said numerous trees were downed, including some onto cars and houses. As the tornado traveled northeast, it ripped tobacco tents from fields. Some eyewitnesses reported seeing debris thrown into the air and hearing what sounded like a freight train.
The storm knocked down the Sports World bubble dome and overturned an 18-wheeler in a shopping center parking lot.


text:
There's been a bit of buzz about Metropolis Software's latest project in development, They. The first-person shooter places you in the heart of London in the near future and pits you against an army of invading robots. They's canned premise sounds painfully generic at first, but the title has some interesting twists in store for those looking for a good reason to pick up a gun and fight.
Right off the bat, They breaks away from the traditional shooter weapons system. You won't find new weapons as you play through the game. Instead, you'll collect various parts that can be used to tune your weapon in order to create your own custom-made Swiss Army gun.
Above: They shifts the focus from the protagonist to what matters most in a shooter, your weapon
The weapon tuning screen features slots for the upper and lower barrels, gadgets and generators. Like Ripley at the end of Aliens, you can mix and match the parts you find to create your favorite combination of weapon types with gadgets that range from scopes to improved grips that increase aiming accuracy. Plans are also in the works to include additional customization options that'll let you paint your weapon and even decorate it with your own custom designs.
Finding new parts in They to tweak your weapon feels like the shooter equivalent of upgrading an RPG character with new gear and skills. We've always had trouble identifying with the man behind the gun in most shooters, so it's interesting that They shifts the focus from the protagonist to what matters most: your weapon.
Above: They has its fair share of eye candy. It's running on a tweaked version of the Nexus Engine, which was used in Metropolis Software's last project, Infernal
But even though we didn't find ourselves drawn in by They's main character, the title's plot does have promise. You'll notice that orange ethereal entities float above some of the killer robots you encounter. These specters improve the killer robots' AI, making them m ore dangerous. When the orange spirits are pulling the strings, the robots under their control will be more likely to play it smart by taking cover and trying to flank you. You can't shoot these orange menaces and if you defeat a robot that's guided by one of them, they'll move on to the next host to cause you further grief.


text:
Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy appears to be at the nexus of a decision in the Hobby Lobby case, a question of whether for-profit corporations have religious freedom, analysts agree.
WASHINGTON - It may all come down to one man's vote. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy appears to be the fulcrum in deciding the Hobby Lobby religious freedom case, analysts agree. The Supreme Court's other eight justices seemed evenly split after an extended 90 minutes of oral arguments Tuesday over whether a for-profit business has protection under a 1993 bill guaranteeing religious liberty. That leaves Kennedy as the potential swing vote in a decision expected by the end of June. Hobby Lobby is among 47 for-profit companies that have challenged the Affordable Care Act's provision that their employee health plans must cover certain methods of birth control that violate their religious beliefs. At the independent SCOTUS Blog, veteran Supreme Court observer Lyle Denniston examined what appear to be twin dilemmas Kennedy is facing: "The Supreme Court, in a one-hour, 28-minute session Tuesday, staged something like a two-act play on a revolving stage: first the liberals had their chance and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy gave them some help, and then the scene shifted entirely, and the conservatives had their chance - and, again, Kennedy provided them with some support," he wrote. As an example of the latter, Denniston noted a question Kennedy posed to the administration's lawyer: "As (Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr.'s) situation worsened, Justice Kennedy moved in to wonder why it was that Congress would allow a government agency - the Health and Human Services Department - 'the power to decide a First Amendment issue of this consequence.... That is for Congress, not for an agency.' Kennedy would repeat that criticism later in the argument." National Review's Carrie Severino noted this aspect of Kennedy's argument as well: "Justice Kennedy seemed on this point to be siding against the government, particularly because the (birth control mandate) exemptions were created by a regulatory agency rather than Congress itself." Hobby Lobby was also a target for Kennedy, Newsweek reported, when the justice asked the craft store chain's counsel Paul D. Clement about the impact an exemption would have on its 13,000-person workforce: "Only Kennedy, who, judging from the oral arguments, might be the only swing vote ... considered the employees. 'How would you suggest that we think about the position and the rights of the employees?' he asked." The potential impact of a pro-Hobby Lobby vote by Kennedy isn't lost on those advocating for women's reproductive rights. ThinkProgress.org, a left-leaning blog, noted Kennedy's questioning on the abortion aspect of the case. "Your reasoning would permit Congress to force corporations to pay for abortions, Kennedy told Verrilli. This was not the Anthony Kennedy that worried about conservatives imposing their anti-gay 'animus' on others, this was the Anthony Kennedy that views abortion as a grave moral wrong. Shortly after Kennedy made this statement, Justice (Elena) Kagan's face dropped. It appeared that she'd just figured out that she would be joining a dissenting opinion." TP blogger Ian Millhiser concluded his report: "As I left the Supreme Court building, I ran into one of the nation's leading advocates for reproductive justice. We smiled at each other, and then I said 'Kennedy thinks this is an abortion case. The government is going to lose.'" Millhiser wrote. "'That's right,' she said, shaking her head. 'That's right.'" Looking forward, the Pew Research Center Religion and Public Life Project's David Masci notes the Hobby Lobby decision could influence mandate-related lawsuits from non-profits as well, specifically the case brought by the Catholic religious order, Little Sisters of the Poor. "In creating this standard, if the high court makes it easy for a person or organization to show that the government has 'burdened' their religious liberty, then Little Sisters and other nonprofits are likely to prevail when their cases are decided," Masci wrote. "If, however, the court makes it more difficult to establish this burden, it will be harder for nonprofits to win."%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D156827%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E


text:
Blog Archive
- ► 2018 (17)
- ► 2015 (26)
- ► 2014 (64)
- Hand Crafted Hoedown for the Holiday's - 2013
- 2013 Apple Pie Contest at Lapacek's Orchard Apple-...
- Caramel Apple Skillet Pie
- Apple Molasses Pie
- Prizes for 2013 Apple-Palooza
- Friday's Pie-spiration
- A Pie A Day…
- Pie-spiration Wednesday
- A Free Pie Every Month for A Year From Monty's Blu...
- Pie-Spiration Tuesday
- Monday's Pie-spiration
- Holiday Applesauce Cake
- Pie-spiration!
- Apple Pie Inspiration!
- Who's Making An Apple Pie?
- 2013 Apple-Palooza Pie Judges
- Crock Pot Apple Pudding
- Autumn at the Orchard
- Time to VOTE for your 2013 Apple-Palooza Pie Judges!
- Apple Corn Flake Bars
- Knob Hunt
- Picture Saturday
- Even in the Rain
- Kindergarten Apple Testing
- ▼ October (24)
- ► 2012 (123)
- ► 2011 (119)
- ► 2010 (95)
- ► 2009 (167)
Informative Blog Posts
Sauce-Sational: An Experiment in Applesacue
- Akane
- Arlet (Swiss Gourmet)
- Baker's Mix - August
- Baker's Mix - October
- Bella
- Bonnie's Best
- Braeburn
- Cameo
- Chenango Strawberry
- Cortland
- Cox Orange Pippin
- Crimson Crisp
- Crimson Gold
- Dandee Red
- Duchess
- Empire
- Fireside
- Frostbite
- Fuji
- Gala
- Ginger Gold
- Golden Delicious
- Golden Supreme
- Granny Smith
- Haralson
- Hazen
- Honey Gold
- Honeycrisp
- Idared
- Jonagold
- Jonamac
- Jonathan
- Jumbo
- Keepsake
- MacIntosh
- Macoun
- Melrose
- Northern Spy
- NW Greening
- Overall Summary
- Paulared
- Red Gravenstein
- Regent
- Sansa
- Scarlet
- Shizuka
- Silken
- Smokehouse
- Smoothee
- Sno (Famuese)
- Snow Sweet
- Spartan
- Sweet 16
- Tolman Sweet
- Valstar
- Wealthy
- William's Pride
- Wolf River
- Zestar!
Popular Posts
The 2018 apple season started out with not the best weather – it rained and rained and rained some more. One afternoon on a whim, my mother...
Things have been busy at the Lapacek household these last few weeks. Jared has been spending all of his spare time when he's not at his 're...
Lots has been happening at the Kroncke Road Orchard this spring. We're preparing to move the store over to our place in 2010 (don't panic…m...
Since the orchard now has ground cherries, I wanted to share this easy jam recipe. Ground cherries are delicious as a raw fruit, but they ma...
Bonnie's Best apples are an apple that were developed right here in Wisconsin. They are a great later season tart apple that are nice and c...
This really only belongs on my crafty blog but since Diane and I both created a quilt for the contest I thought I'd share it with you all o...
Facebook Badge
Our Blog List
Last market1 day ago
Hot Chocolate Bombs1 month ago
Lapacek's Orchard In the News!
Our Favorite Websites
Sunday Recipe's
- Amish Apple Grunt
- Apple Butter Madness
- Apple Cheddar Bread
- Apple Chicken Salad/Sandwiches
- Apple Cider Donuts
- Apple Crisp Parfait
- Apple Danish Pastry Bars
- Apple French Toast
- Apple Fritter Rings
- Apple Harvest Blondies
- Apple Nut Bread
- Apple Pecan Quick Bread
- Apple Pie Cake
- Apple Pie in a Jar
- Apple Raisin Loaves
- Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
- Apple Strudel Puff Pastry
- Apple Toss
- Apple Upside-Down Cake
- Apple-Jalepeno Preserves
- Apple-Pecan Cheesecake
- Baked Oatmeal
- Bavarian Apple Torte
- Blueberry French Toast
- Blueberry-Raspberry Streusel Muffins
- Brandied Apple 'N Cream Cheese Pie
- Caramel Apple Bars
- Coconut Apple Cake
- Cranberry Apple Bread
- Cranberry Apple Salad
- Creamy Apple Squares
- Crispy Festive Apple Salad
- Cucumber Tomatillo Salsa
- Dill Dip
- Dinner in a Pumpkin
- Easy Waffles
- Egg-cellent Apple Salad
- French Apple Pie
- Fresh Apple Salsa
- Great Apple Dessert
- Great Apple Dessert
- Hot Cinnamon Cider
- Hot Pirate Cider
- Kelly's Favorite Apple Pie
- Maple Roasted Acorn Squash
- Marinated Zucchini Salad
- Microwave Apple Muffins
- Pumpkin Cheese Ball
- Pumpkin Gingerbread
- Pumpkin Pie Cake
- Quick Apple Dumplings
- Scalloped Apples
- Sour Cream Apple Coffee Cake
- Spiced Apple Bagel
- Spicy Apple Pancake with Cider Sauce
- Strawberry Chocolate Mint Lemonade Cooler
- Tangy Ham in Cider
- Tomatillo Salsa Verde
- Warm Apple Pudding
- Wilted Swiss Chard with Fresh Basil
- Zucchini Bread
Where Can you Find Us?
(608) 635-4780
Even in the Rain
We are almost through with our 2013 Orchard Tours. It has been a successful year even if we did have one rainy morning! (so far…)
A good friend of mine, Lisa H, has taken over the tour portion of the orchard. When you visit with your class or daycare you're lucky to have her guide you through the orchard. She's incredible!We did have a rainy morning for a daycare. Luckily – we have a great lean area that we were able to make into an outdoor class room. We prepared some different varieties of apples that would work for an apple tasting for the kiddos. All the kids looked adorable in their fantastic rain gear!The apple crate chairs worked out great for these kiddo's! What a wonderfully behaved group.
They sat so nicely and patiently as they waited for the tasting to begin. At this point the rain was still not letting up…But the tasting went well – this was the Haralson apple – a bit tart for most kids. About half way through their visit the rain stopped and the thunder paused. The group was able to head out into the orchard for the rest of their visit. They even had time to hang out with the goats.
And of course – a few trips down the slides were in order. The kids all piled onto the bus just before the next rain hit.


text:
Flower Delivery in Drumsna
Feehilys Florist deliver flowers in Drumsna for all occasions. Perhaps for an Anniversary or maybe a Birthday, which ever occasion our Drumsna flower delivery service is available. Order your flowers online or call us directly on 071 9170000.
Same Day Drumsna Flowers delivered
We offer same day flower delivery in Drumsna, Monday to Saturday, excluding Bank Holidays. We also deliver same day flowers in: Aclare, Aughamore, Ballina, Ballinafad, Ballinamore, Ballinfad, Ballinode, Ballintrillick, Ballyfarnon, Ballymote, Ballytivnan, Beltra, Bundoran, Calry, Carraroe, Carrick-on-Shannon, Carrowgobbadagh, Carrowmore, Cashel, Castlebaldwin, Cleaveragh, Cloonacool, Cloonamahon, Cloonsheerevagh, Coolaney, Corhownagh, Culleenamore, Curry, Dowra, Dromard, Dromore West, Drumcliffe, Drumfin, Drumshanbo, Dunally, Enniscrone, Fenagh, Fivemilebourne, Geevagh, Glencar, Glenfarne, Gorteen, Grange, Hazelwood, Highwood, Jamestown, Keshcarrigan, Killarga, Kiltyclogher, Kinlough, Knocknarea, Leitrim, Leitrim Village, Lissadell, Manorhamilton, Maugherow, Monasteradden , Mullaghmore, Ransboro, Rathlee, Riverstown, Rossespoint, Scardenmroe, Sooey, Templeboy, Tourlestrand, Tullaghan and more.


text:
Call us today before 2 p.m. & we'll be to your home promptly for Syracuse wasps control & Syracuse wasps extermination service. Call now for a free quote.
Wasps can look different, depending on their species. However, they are distinguished by their two sets of wings and thinner abdomen. Wasps can vary in color from black, yellow, to even a greenish tint. Most are primarily black. Some wasps live in colonies, while others live in solitude. Some wasps will create nests made of mud, located usually on the side of a wall. Wasps can also make nests in trees. Wasps that do not construct nests will often live in holes that are already created. These holes could be in trees and rocks around houses. Wasps will lay their eggs during the summer months in whatever nest they have inhabited and will then leave the eggs to hibernate during the winter. Queen wasps usually only live for about one year.
Unlike bees, wasps are capable of stinging multiple times. Wasps are mildly aggressive, and they will sting if they are provoked. Unless the person stung is allergic, most wasp stings will only cause minor pain and discomfort. Initial signs of a wasp sting are redness, swelling, and itching at the sting site. A welt will often appear at the site. If an allergic reaction occurs, advanced medical attention is advised. Because of the risk of being stung, Syracuse wasp removal is best done by a professional wasp exterminator with the proper equipment. Fox Pest Control offers the best in Syracuse wasp control. We use professional grade products to exterminate the wasps and remove the nest when possible to reduce the risk of future wasp problems. Call today to schedule your free wasp inspection and estimate.
All Phone Calls Answered By Live Operator 7am – 10pm, Monday – Saturday
Same Day Service At NO EXTRA CHARGE
Evening and Weekend Appointments Available At NO EXTRA CHARGE
Free Inspections & Estimates
Prompt Service, No Extra Charge
Results 100% Guaranteed
Locally Operated
Emergency Service Available
Fully Trained, Licensed Staff
When your doorbell rings, you can be confident that the person Fox Pest Control has sent to your home to take care of your Wasps control and extermination is a true professional. We carefully screen, background check, and conduct lengthy interviews with prospective employees. Fox Pest Control technicians also undergo extensive training, both in the classroom and on the job with a mentor, before they are allowed to work on their own. You can rest easy knowing that your Wasps problem is in good hands with Fox Pest Control.
With Fox Pest Control you'll know who is coming.
We had a wonderful experience with our technician. Weston was easy to talk to and explained everything well. Josh, who sold us the service, was very kind also. Not pushy at all. And very informative. Thank you. We look forward to working with you in the future.
My experience with Fox Pest Control has been the best experience I had with a pest control company. Technician, Harry, did a good job of going over the process thoroughly, ensure that I understood everything going on. I would recommend them to anyone looking for good, quality, fast, friendly, and affordable pest control services.
Fox Pest Control is beyond amazing, they are always there when you need them and their employees are super helpful! If we need them they come right away. They are very informative as well, they will explain everything that they are doing and why. If you need an affordable pest control service Fox is the way to go!
At Fox Pest Control our guarantee to you is 100% satisfaction. That's why we created our robust Wasps home protection plan. The barriers that we put into place to protect your home or business against pests naturally break down over time. Over the course of the year, we reapply treatments to maintain those barriers. If for whatever reason any new pest problems do arise, call us and we will take care of the problem immediately and at no additional charge. Immediately means just that, immediately – not when it's convenient for us.
Your home is your largest investment. Let Fox Pest Control protect it against pests in Syracuse!
Fox Pest Control is a Syracuse locally operated company; we take pride in servicing the community that we live in. We value your time, so when you call we'll schedule an inspection or service time that is convenient for you.
Our technicians are thoroughly screened during our interview process. We only hire professionals we would want to service our own homes. We background check all employees and make new hires go through extensive training both in the classroom and on the job before they can service a home or business alone. We also believe in and practice continuing education, ensuring our technicians are always providing the best service possible. You can rest easy knowing that when your door bell rings Fox Pest Control has sent a true professional to resolve your Syracuse pest issue.
Fox Pest Control provides a zero obligation free inspection and estimate in Syracuse. Our technicians will take the time and care to thoroughly explain the treatment options best suited for your particular problem. Our professional service is convenient as well as effective.


text:
Events featuring authors and poets are scheduled this spring and summer. Here are some highlights:
Neil Gaiman
International best-selling British author of fantasy, whose work includes the comic book series "The Sandman" and novels "Stardust," "American Gods" and "Coraline," among others, will appear at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, on June 3 at 4 p.m. to sign copies of his latest novel for adults, "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" (Morrow, $25.99). Admission to the signing line is a copy of the book purchased at the bookstore that day or pre-purchased there. Information: 203-245-3959 or www.rjjulia.com.
The 2014 Student Stowe Prize Big Tent Jubilee
June 5, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., on the lawn of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest St., Hartford. The national competition honors outstanding writing by U.S. high school and college students that inspires positive social change. A free program, Inspiring Action: Real Stories of Social Change, will take place from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at nearby Immanuel Congregational Church. The $150 ticket includes cocktails, a picnic supper and the awards presentation. The $250 ticket also includes a cocktail reception with U.S. Rep. DeLauro, honorary chair of the event. Tickets and information: firstname.lastname@example.com or 860-522-9258, ext. 305.
Dan Brown
mega-best-selling novelist who gained world-wide fame with "The DaVinci Code" and whose latest, "Inferno," was Amazon's No. 1 bestseller last year, will speak June 7 at 8 p.m. at The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford, in conversation with WNPR radio personality John Dankosky. Tickets are $25 to $75, and VIP tickets are $250, which includes a pre-event reception at The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Information and reservations: 860-987-5900 or bushnell.org.
The Annual Sunken Garden Poetry Festival
This festival features nationally acclaimed and locally honored poets and musical performances June 11-Aug. 6. It kicks off with National Book Award finalist Kevin Young and V. Penelope Pelizzon of Willimantic and will take place every other Wednesday through Aug. 6 on the grounds of the Hill-Stead Museum, 35 Mountain Road, Farmington. Pulitzer Prize nominee Frank Bidart will appear June 25 with Benjamin S. Grossberg of West Hartford; poet and critic Alicia Ostriker with John Stanizzi of Coventry on July 9; Jeffrey Harrison and Sunken Garden Poetry Prize winner Ted Lardner on July 23. Prize-winning poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Hill-Stead's Fresh Voices Poetry Competition student winners and CT Poetry Circuit student poets will close the festival on Aug. 6. Gates open 4:30 pm; pre-performance talks 5 p.m.; opening poets 6 p.m.; music 6:30 p.m.; headlining poet 7:25 p.m. Tickets: $15; free for those 18 or younger; free parking. Bring seating, picnics or buy food there. Information: 860-677-4787 or www.hillstead.org.
The 58th Annual Wesleyan Writers Conference
Offering seminars, workshops, readings, panel discussions and manuscript consultations with a distinguished faculty, the conference runs June 11 to 15 on the university campus in Middletown, with classes on novels, short stories, poetry, nonfiction, memoir, biography, journalism, and writing for film, TV and new media and about food, travel, science and medicine. Faculty includes Salvatore Scibona, Amy Bloom, Roxana Robinson, Lis Harris, William Finnegan and many more. A one-day program June 14 includes seminars, talks, publishing advice and lunch and dinner. Tuition is $850 for the full conference and $225 for the one-day event. A food plan and lodging are optional. Information and registration: 860-685-3604 or firstname.lastname@example.com or www.wesleyan.edu/writing/conference .
'Nellie Oleson' at Twain House
You know her as Nellie Oleson, the devious diva of TV's "Little House On The Prairie" and other shows, but Alison Arngrim also is a a stand-up comic, AIDS activist and author, and she will talk about her memoir. "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" (It Books, $25.99), on June 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mark Twain House & Museum Center, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford. Tickets are $20. Information: 860-280-3130 or www.museumtix.com.
One Big Sizzling Summer Night
This annual fundraiser for the Hartford Public Library, 500 Main St., Hartford, takes place June 12 at 5:30 p.m. and features gourmet food and a talk by Ruth Reichl, the James Beard Award-winning author, former New York Times food critic and editor-in-chief of Gourmet Magazine, whose latest book is "Delicious!" (Random House, $27). It is a novel about a young woman who goes to work for a famous food magazine and finds an unexpected treasure. Tickets: $150 or $200, which includes a VIP cocktail reception, preferred speaker seating and preferred parking. Information and reservations: www.hplct.org or 860- 695-6300.
Rachel Swarns
A columnist and reporter for The New York Times, Swarns will give a free talk on her book about First Lady Michelle Obama's black, white and mixed-racial ancestry, "American Tapestry" (Amistad, $16.99), on June 17 at 7 p.m. at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest St., Hartford. Swarns' book provided information about her family that Michelle Obama herself did not know. Swarns has covered such areas as domestic policy, national politics, immigration, the presidential campaigns of 2004 and 2008 and the First Lady's role in the Obama White House. Reservations: 860-522-9258, Ext. 317.
Connecticut Authors Trail
A group of libraries in Eastern Connecticut will present the 6th Annual Connecticut Authors Trail, at which authors who live in the state or write about it give free talks from July 8 to Sept. 4. "Passports" are stamped at each event, giving participants a chance to attend the closing event on Sept. 4 at Mohegan Sun casino. Wally Lamb gives the first talk on July 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Janet Carlson Calvert Library, 5 Tyler Dr., Franklin. Information: 860-642-6207 or connecticutauthorstrail.org/libraries.
Amy Bloom
A best-selling Connecticut author beloved by readers and critics alike will give a free talk on Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. at R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road, Madison, about her new novel, "Lucky Us" (Random House, $26). It's the story of two teenage half-sisters who travel America in the 1940s, looking for fame and fortune and finding a lot more. Bloom has won many prizes for her short stories, novels and nonfiction, which include "Away," "Come to Me," "Love Invents Us" and "Normal," among others. Reservations: 203-245-3939 or www.rjjulia.com.


text:
Job Seekers, Welcome to RIVMA Career Center
The job you tried to view is no longer active.
See similar jobs below or perform a new job search.
See similar jobs below or perform a new job search.
Sort By
3,545 'associate OR veterinarian OR STATECODE:"OH"' Jobs
All About PetCare
1 Week Ago
All Creatures Animal Hospital
3 Weeks Ago
Maumee, Ohio
Veterinary Emergency Center
1 Week Ago
Apple Creek, Ohio
Country Road Veterinary Services
4 Days Ago
Kettering, Ohio
Bigger Road Veterinary Center for Pet Health & Enrichment
1 Week Ago
Big Creek Pet Hospital
1 Week Ago
Stark Animal Hospital
1 Week Ago
Willoughby, Ohio
Pet Hospital of Willougby
1 Week Ago
Canal Winchester, Ohio
Diley Hill Animal Emergency Clinic
1 Month Ago
Powered By


text:
Today, character arcs and making things worse.
Thanks to Dallan!
Today's fat orange cat: get someone drunk.
Download the .mp3 here, or subscribe via RSS, find us on iTunes, YouTube, Tumblr, Facebook or Stitcher — or, of course, right here on StoryWonk.com!
Our theme music is by the fantastic Josh Woodward. StoryWonk NaNo is a StoryWonk production by Alastair Stephens, and is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Sharealike license.
Thanks for listening!


text:
Inter-agency Coordination Mechanisms
The Chief Executives Board and its subsidiary mechanisms take into account the many coordination and inter-agency networks already in existence. These groups do not fall under the hierarchical structure but may be classified by their sphere of activity.
The Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum) is a global on-line community facilitated by the Food and Agriculture (FAO).
The UN System Network on Rural Development and Food Security is a global partnership approach towards tackling rural development challenges at the country level. Established in 1997 by the UN Administrative Committee on Coordination (today UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination).
The IASC Taskforce on HIV in Humanitarian Situations was established in March 2007. The Task Force is composed of UN agencies, NGOs consortia, IOM and the IFRC and meets on a quarterly basis. It is co-chaired by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and a rotating representative of the non-UN membership.
The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) was established in July 2005 pursuant to the Security Council resolution 1612 (2005).
The Task Force on Children and Armed Conflict is an inter-agency mechanism that fosters discussion, collaboration and cooperation to advance the children and armed conflict agenda. The Task Force consists of the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Department of Political Affairs, the Office of Legal Affairs, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN... [More...]
The United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD) is a network consisting of UN entities, represented at the headquarters level, whose work is relevant to youth. The aim of the Network is to increase the effectiveness of UN work in youth development by strengthening collaboration and exchange among all relevant UN entities, while respecting and harnessing the benefits of their individual strengths and unique approaches and mandates. In the framework of the World Programme of... [More...]
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts. The UN General Assembly endorsed the action by WMO and UNEP in jointly establishing the IPCC.... [More...]
The EMG was established in 1999 pursuant by General Assembly resolution 53/242 as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report on Environment and Human Settlements (A/53/463). It is chaired by the Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and supported by a secretariat provided by UNEP. The Terms of Reference (TOR) of the EMG were approved in 2000 by the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), which has since been replaced by the Chief Executives Board on... [More...]
UN-Water, which was established in 2003 by the United Nations High Level Committee on Programmes, has evolved out of a history of close collaboration among UN agencies. It was created to add value to UN initiatives by fostering greater co-operation and information-sharing among existing UN agencies and outside partners.
UN-Energy was established to help ensure coherence in the UN system's multi-disciplinary response to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and to ensure the effective engagement of non-UN stakeholders in implementing WSSD energy-related decisions. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), decisions taken at CSD-9, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and Agenda 21 serve as the basis for action on energy. In August 2007, the group elected Kandeh Yumkella... [More...]


text:
We recently saw an issue after a fail over of our router where our Windows 2008 Boxes didn't start talking to the primary router after fail-back.
When we did some digging they still had the ARP entry from the secondary router. According to the TechNet Blog this is by-design:
First, a Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 will not update the Neighbor cache if an ARP broadcast is received unless it is part of a broadcast ARP request for the receiver. What this means is that when a gratuitous ARP is sent on a network with Windows Vista and Widows Server 2008, these systems will not update their cache with incorrect information if there is an IP address conflict.
Secondly, it appears that the windows neighbor-cache (arp-cache) is only updated if the machine can no longer talk to the machine that is in it's cache currently. It does not send out occasional ARP requests to make sure the cache is not stale. While this isn't an issue during the initial fail over, during fail back when both boxes are alive this causes windows to keep talking to the secondary box.
Is there any way to force Windows 2008 to accept Gratuitous ARP requests?


text:
The 10th Annual Big Apple BBQ Block Party: Still Worth The Lines
Nursing a smoked meat hangover, I collapsed into a seat at the air-conditioned trailer tucked into a corner of the Big Apple Barbecue. Inside, food scholar John T. Edge was passing out bundles of bacon-studded popcorn and curating documentaries on the subject of the day.
The twenty-minute loop of films by Joe York recounted stories of whole hogs, pit masters, and a party that has grown from five cooks on the sidewalks of 27th St. to the engorged tenth-year anniversary sprawling across three city blocks.
"Madison Square Pork," York's retrospective on the Block Party, was a welcome respite from the crowds just outside the door. Several cooks had remarked that the first day of the event had drawn more hungry New Yorkers than ever before, and while the weather was surprisingly mild, just looking at the line for Ed Mitchell's whole hog sandwiches was enough to cause a pork-scented panic attack.
That moment, however, never came. Instead, in the final scenes of the film, 10-year Block Party veteran Mike Mills nailed the reason the Block Party works with trademark charm:
"I've watched this year after year. They stand in line. They don't shove. They don't push. They talk to each other. During that period of time, their whole life transcends. I've watched this just transcend from the hustle and bustle to 'let's enjoy life.' It's kinda like smoking the bee hive. In order to make the bees docile, so you can go in and work with them... you smoke 'em."
Maybe the masses he described are a self-selecting group, incredibly patient when promised pork seven ways. Maybe Danny Meyer's crack team of event coordinators has figured out all the secrets to stemming all-out pandemonium. Maybe Mills was right: a good barbecue is the original Disneyland, turning the act of waiting into eager anticipation in the fattest, happiest place on earth.
At the Big Apple Barbecue, all lines were long. But no line was without its showman, no corner was left without an ear to live music, and no one could escape the aromas of smoke and meat floating over every inch of the park.
The quality of the food certainly helped, and all of the usual suspects were smoking, grilling, and serving with full force this year. Ed Mitchell's whole hog, balancing juicy, porky flavor and the tangy heat of vinegar and pepper, was as good as it's ever been. Rodney Scott's whole hog, packing a stronger punch of spices, was more of a mixed bag; the good bites, though, brought me back to that afternoon in Hemingway, when South Carolina's barbecue blew my mind.
Ribs from 17th St. and Pappy's Smokehouse were exceptional this year—the former nailing the porky, woody backbone of flavor that makes Mike Mills' cooking so memorable, the latter using brown sugar and black pepper to make their own distinctive mark on a rack of baby backs. The Checkered Pig's St. Louis-style spare ribs, shepherded personally by Pit Master Tommy Houston, were the definition of a good barbecue spare rib: meaty, moist, and slightly smoky, with a balance of flavors just addictive enough to keep you reaching for one more piece.
Up Madison Avenue, New York's premier pit masters held up their end of the Party. The brisket from Hill Country New York was as juicy and flavorful as ever. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que's pork shoulder surpassed its own high standards thanks to a little extra love from pit master John Stage (who somehow surpassed his own high standards for making the act of brushing meat with barbecue sauce look incredibly badass). The biggest line for pork shoulder, though, was for Big Bob Gibson's now infamous sandwich—possibly better at the Block Party than it is in Decatur, Alabama.
As always, good vibes extended from the cooks just as much as from the food. At the Ubon's tent, the founders of fan-club-turned-competition-team Jubon's had quit their New York jobs to become full-fledged members of the crew. Rodney Scott, a newcomer to the roster, bumped his own soundtrack (thanks for the P.Y.T. fix) and greeted guests as if it were everyone's tenth year anniversary. Southern cooking and New York crowds merged into a seasoned, smoky romp as a raucous R&B rendition of Wilco's "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" sounded from the stage.
There are ways in which this event could be more enjoyable. I wish the lines could somehow be shorter than they inevitably are. I wish there were more diversity in regional styles and more variation in the yearly lineup. But most of all, I wish we didn't have to wait another year to have another weekend like this one in the heart of New York.
Click the slideshow for all the 'cue at the party »
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
Park City Girl is hosting a virtual Quilt Festival, asking folks to post a photo and the story behind their favorite quilts. My Kowabunga quilt has to be in the top 5 of my favorites - you can see I even turned it into my blog banner!
In 2006, I gathered some terrific orange fabrics which were so completely out of my comfort zone. I started searching for the perfect pattern to use with them, and decided on a pattern called Zuzu's Petals, designed by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. Putting the scrappy orange and white blocks together was so much fun, and the colors just made me smile the entire time I worked on it. There are some really sparkly orange fabrics in it too, and I really love the added pizazz (like an orange quilt needs extra pizazz!!).
I found a wild surfboard fabric for the border. In retrospect, I think it detracts a little from the orange and I wish I had stayed with something more subdued, but I tend to overthink these things.
When I finished the quilt in early 2007, I emailed a picture of it to Carrie Nelson. Later that summer, I was lucky enough to take 2 classes from Carrie at the Buggy Barn in Reardan, WA. One of the participants asked her how she felt about different interpretations of her pattern designs, and she began to tell a story about a wonderful quilt she had seen made from her Zuzu's Petals pattern in wild oranges and pinks. It took me a few minutes to realize it was my quilt she was talking about, and I've never been so flattered.


text:
Paper cord / ribbon
Paper and raffia cords have a wide variety of uses that includes: - Making paper flowers - Making bag handles - Making decorative knots - Weaving basket and hats
View product video
Categories - Paper cord / ribbon
View video of products in this category.
Below are photos highlighting features of these products.
Click on the photos below to enlarge


text:
Lena Dunham's life has changed quite a bit in the year since her breakout hit "Girls" first made its way to premium cable. It should also go without saying that an overnight fan following is something that takes an adjustment period.
"I don't mind it but I always think its funny when someone approaches you at your exercise class. It's literally the worst moment to be seen," said Dunham at the HBO- and Cinema Society-hosted premiere of the show's second season on Wednesday night. "It's like, 'I'm already feeling as though I might die. I'm fluorescent red but, yes, I'd love to take a picture with you.'"
Dunham, who wore a Valentino jumpsuit, joined cast mates Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet and Jemima Kirke for the screening, held, fittingly, at New York University's Skirball Center. Curious college kids stood behind barricades, iPhones in hand, trying to catch a glimpse of the cast making their way down the carpet. A handful chain-smoked cigarettes nearby and pretended not care.
"I had these other shoes on earlier. I took one step in them and I was like, 'Nope, there's just no way,'" said Williams, who shined in an embroidered bustier top and seamed skirt from Altuzarra, shortly before filing into the theater where guests were treated to season two's first three episodes. "Comfort is paramount."
After the screening, partygoers — including Elettra Wiedemann, Solange Knowles, Jonah Hill, Terry Richardson, Lily Kwong and Nora Zehetner — headed over to Capitale, where they were greeted by a Brooklyn Bridge installation, indicating entry into "Girls" turf.
Moroccan poufs were scattered about; vintage chandeliers dangled above, couches were topped with pillows covered with Flight of the Conchords and Passion Pit T-shirts and a bar stationed at the back was constructed out of old school speakers. "It's official: we're in Williamsburg," one partygoer said with an eye roll.
Each Girl held court, in her own corner booth, heavily guarded by HBO staff. One young fan diffidently approached asking for a photograph with Dunham. "Oh my God, sure," the starlet piped up. "Are you kidding? Of course." What a girl.


text:
New Catholic Dictionary – Saint Catherine de' Ricci
(Alessandra Lucrezia Romola) (1522 – 1590) Dominican nun of the Third Order, born Florence; died Prato, Italy. She entered the Dominican convent of San Vincenzio, Prato, 1535, of which she was prioress or sub-prioress until her death. She is famous for the "Ecstasy of the Passion" into which she was rapt every week for 12 years from Thursday noon until Friday at 4 p.m., and during which she went through the stages of Our Lord's Passion showing all that the Blessed Mother suffered in witnessing it. Emblems: a ring, crown, crucifix. Canonized, 1746. Relics at convent of San Vincenzio, Prato. Feast, 13 February.


text:
Tim Reynolds
Two stand-out seniors go through their final days as Ithaca College students, and their first moments as alumni.
ICView followed two seniors in the days leading up to graduation: Bailey Reagan and Tim Reynolds. Bailey was senior class vice president, and Tim raised more than $100,000 for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital through Up 'til Dawn, the...


text:
Jump to navigation
The Hagley Digital Archives provides online access to selected items from the Hagley Library's collection of images, documents, and publications related to the history of business, technology, and society.
Passenger steamer, District of Columbia hull # 392 under construction
Contract 1028. Built for Norfolk and Washington Steamship Company.
Pusey and Jones Company
SteamboatsPassenger shipsPassenger ships--Design and constructionSteamboats--Design and constructionShipbuilding industry
Wilmington (Del.)
photographic prints
still image
1 photographic print : b&w
Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library
Pusey and Jones Corporation photograph collection (Accession 1972.350)
[Description and dates], Hagley ID, Box/folder number, Pusey and Jones Corporation photograph collection (Accession 1972.350), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807
Access to this item is provided for educational and research purposes only. The user assumes responsibility for obtaining permission from the copyright holder to publish or distribute this image. If you would like more information, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Facebook Surpasses 1 Billion Monthly Users (Update 1)
Updated from 9:04 a.m. EST to provide analyst comments regarding the milestone in the seventh paragraph.
) -- Even though some question the usefulness of social media, that's not stopping people from joining.
(FB) - Get Report
it has reached the 1 billion people milestone.
On Facebook's blog, CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote that he was proud of the achievement, and wants to see more:
"This morning, there are more than one billion people using Facebook actively each month.
If you're reading this: thank you for giving me and my little team the honor of serving you.
Helping a billion people connect is amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life.
I am committed to working every day to make Facebook better for you, and hopefully together one day we will be able to connect the rest of the world too.
Facebook noted the top five countries for users are Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the U.S. Topeka Capital Markets analyst Victor Anthony was surprised that the U.S. was included, as it "...partially refutes a bear thesis that growth has reached a saturation point in the mature markets. The 1b user mark is also significant in that Facebook is reporting this figure even while cleaning up the user base for fake or duplicate accounts." Anthony rated Facebook shares buy with a $36 price target.
Despite the problems with
, the share price and concerns over whether Zuckerberg is fit for the job, users are signing up for the world's largest social network.
The company also posted a fact sheet on the blog, detailing some of the more interesting metrics about its 1 billion users, which the company hit Sept 14 at 12:45 p.m. PST.
Since February 2009, the company has seen over 1.13 trillion 'likes," which some believes is the company's most important stat, and could drive significant revenue over the longer-term. There were over 140 billion friend connections and 219 billion photos uploaded as of Sept. 10, when the data was pulled.
Included in the 1 billion users is 600 million mobile users, which the company has said it is focusing its future on. At a
CEO Zuckerberg said the company will ultimately be judged by how well they do on mobile. He noted six months ago the company did not run a single ad on mobile.
"People are underestimating how fundamentally good mobile is for us," Zuckerberg said during the presentation.
Facebook shares were falling Thursday, losing 1.52% to $21.50.
Interested in more on Facebook? See TheStreet Ratings' report card for
this stock
Written by Chris Ciaccia in New York
>Contact by
Follow @Commodity_Bull


text:
Meliá Hotels International - Cuba
33 Hotels and Resorts in the top destinations in Cuba
Meliá Cuba features 33 hotels in 10 destinations within Cuba. Meliá Hotels in Cuba showcases a renewed portfolio of brands that offers products for all types of guests including luxury brands such as the renowned Paradisus Resorts with its Royal Service for adults only and its Family Concierge; the superior brand with Meliá Hotels & Resorts and its The Level upscale packages as well as the mid-scale segment with the Sol and the TRYP hotels, loved by families.
With exceptional service to offer guests the best hotel experience, Meliá Cuba hotels have something for everyone.
Royal Service
Enjoy an unforgettable vacation staying in the luxurious Royal Service rooms. An exclusive boutique hotel within the hotel, designed with superior comfort and extra privacy to create a unique travel experience. Designed for adults-only, it is a true sanctuary for the most refined tastes. An attentive butler service offered in room, at the pool and at the beach will ensure a highly personalized service that caters to every whim, wish and desire. New experiences for the most demanding palates, outstanding food and impeccable service in the private restaurant of the Royal Service, exclusive bars with premium beverages at the beach and swimming pools are all offered in an intimate and welcoming atmosphere and with superior service at all times. This new concept set a new benchmark for food and beverages within the all-inclusive segment and is demonstrative of the Paradisus brand becoming synonymous with exceptional cuisine, standards and service. An exquisite culinary experience, exciting flavors and mouth-watering aromas await you.
ROYAL SERVICE, the ultimate expression of luxury by Meliá in Cuba.
The Royal Service is exclusively available at:
Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & Spa
Paradisus Varadero Resort & Spa
Paradisus Río de Oro Resort & Spa
Paradisus Los Cayos
YHI SPA, the Meliá Hotels International brand for well-being, is named after the native goddess YHI, who appeared in a world of darkness and filled it with light. At YHI SPA, we are committed to your well-being. We offer beautiful spaces and treatments thoughtfully designed to deliver a spa experience that encompasses body, mind and soul. An oasis to awaken the mind and revitalize the body, set in the midst of tropical gardens. Submit yourself to a wide selection of sophisticated treatments applied by expert hands using high quality products, adding Cuban flavours and aromas. Our mission is to introduce you to a new sense of well-being and serene tranquillity surrounded by luxury and exquisite attention to details. Once you enter YHI SPA, you are immersed in a sanctuary of aromas and sounds that awaken the spirit.
We have selected special treatments with the most prestigious products to nourish, rejuvenate and relax your entire body. Experience our exclusive YHI SPA collection of facial and body treatments in the exquisite atmosphere of a world-class spa. You can even treat yourself to one of our mother-daughter spa treatments at Paradisus Varadero and share this wellness experience together!
Meliá Hotels International manages 7 YHI Spas in Cuba:
Paradisus Princesa Del Mar Resort & Spa
Paradisus Varadero Resort & Spa
Meliá Internacional
Meliá Marina Varadero
Meliá Buenavista
Meliá Cayo Santa María
Paradisus Río de Oro Resort & Spa
With over 33 hotels on the beautiful island of Cuba, Meliá Hotels International offers an infinite world of romance to celebrate the wedding of your dreams! Let Meliá Hotels, the wedding and honeymoon specialists in Cuba, take part of your amazing journey together! From adults-only to family-friendly properties, our wide choice of hotels will allow you to select the perfect setting for this special day. Planning a wedding with us is very simple and done prior to your departure! Once on site, our wedding coordinators will look after all your details and ensure a worry free ceremony! This will allow you to fully enjoy this memorable day and amazing time with your guests! Over the years, we have carefully selected 20 properties for our wedding collection, each chosen for its special location, romantic setting and amazing value!
If you travel with a group of friends and family members, you will be given one of the most comprehensive Free Wedding packages available! For those seeking luxurious accommodations at outstanding facilities, stay at one of the 3 upscale Paradisus Resorts in Cuba with 10 guests or more and your Free Wedding package will include not only the notary fees and your room upgrade, but also musicians during your ceremony, your rehearsal and wedding dinners as well as a late check out and much more! If you choose a Meliá Hotel, our most famous brand for weddings, your Free Wedding package will include many items above and beyond what others can offer. Ten of our Meliá resorts are chosen each year by hundreds of couples worldwide! Even if you choose to travel alone or with a few guests, we have created affordable and very complete Wedding packages that you can choose from.
In an absolutely romantic setting, let us guide you to a world full of emotions!
Meliá Cuba Wedding & Honeymoon Collection Hotels include:
Paradisus Varadero
Paradisus Princesa del Mar
Paradisus Río de Oro
Meliá Las Américas
Meliá Varadero
Meliá Las Antillas
Meliá Península Varadero
Meliá Marina Varadero
Meliá Buenavista
Meliá Cayo Santa María
Meliá Las Dunas
Meliá Cayo Guillermo
Meliá Cayo Coco
Meliá Jardines del Rey
Sol Palmeras
Sol Cayo Largo
Sol Cayo Guillermo
Sol Río de Luna y Mares
Children are welcome at a selection of 17 Meliá Cuba properties where they'll find an array of exciting activities that will ensure a holiday experience that everyone will remember! At our all inclusive resorts, adults and children alike will find their favourite activities to enjoy day and night, surrounded by a friendly atmosphere. Our Cubamigos program ensures a wide range of activities, always supervised by qualified staff who will ensure the safety of our smallest guests. Our mascots become your children's best friends during your stay with Meliá in Cuba. Kids will have an unforgettable vacation and will experience the thrill of sports activities, the magic of amazing shows, the fantastic children's clubs (baby, mini or teen clubs) and the outstanding personalized service.
Budget plays a big part when selecting hotel for a family vacation. We invite you to get to know firsthand our best hotels devoted especially to families where our youngest guests can take part in different sports, art and crafts and cooking activities with their families and with our highly qualified team of professional bilingual monitors. With over 15 resorts catering to family travel in Cuba, choosing a Meliá hotel makes sense!
Hotels recommended for families:
Paradisus Varadero Resort & Spa
Meliá Internacional
Meliá Marina Varadero
Meliá Peninsula Varadero
Meliá Varadero
Sol Palmeras
Sol Sirenas Coral
Paradisus Los Cayos
Meliá Las Dunas
Meliá Cayo Santa María
Sol Cayo Santa María
Meliá Cayo Guillermo
Sol Cayo Guillermo
Meliá Jardines del Rey
Tryp Cayo Coco
Sol Cayo Coco
Sol Río de Luna y Mares


text:
Track my order(s)
Cart is empty
Serial LCD Character Displays, 16 x 2 Characters
Serial LCD 2x16, Black Characters, Amber Backlight
Serial LCD 2x16, Black Characters, Yellow/Green Backlight
Serial LCD 2x16, White Characters, Blue Backlight
My account
Customer Service
Stay Connected
Enter your email address to receive special offers and promotions.
All Prices shown exclude GST (info).
© 2004-2020 Modtronix Engineering. Located in Sydney, Australia.
(Your location: US)


text:
- This event has passed.
Mobile Food Pantry at Dar Al-Farooq
April 3 @ 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 12:30 pm on Friday, repeating indefinitely
Our mobile food pantry allows us to bring fresh produce and other healthy foods directly to people in our service area.
We are at Dar Al-Farooq every Friday from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.


text:
The Max Party Bag
From £1.80
To £2.60
All our party bags arrive unassembled. This is to ensure that they do not get damaged whilst in transit so they are in perfect condition when you receive them. The party bags are very simple to assemble
We offer the following delivery options for UK Mainland
|Royal Mail Tracked 48 (3 days)
|£4.49 / Free on orders over £50
|Royal Mail Tracked 24 (2 days)
|DPD Next Day Delivery (Mon-Fri)
|£8.99 (Order before 12pm noon)
|Royal Mail Saturday Delivery by 1pm
|£17.99 (Order before 12pm noon)
Please see our delivery page for further details on Scottish Highlands, UK Islands and other remote postcodes.
Saturday Delivery is not available for these locations


text:
Ishianti says: "This is my baby half angora ferret Toushi. He loves to wash his paws while I hold him in my arms."
Of course, he's got to know he's the center of your attention. A little vain, aren't we? But so squee!
-Sally Squeeps
Do you have a squee pet that you want to share with the world? Send us your pet pictures and stories, and they could end up on Daily Squee!


text:
Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith in open marriage?
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have an open marriage, Pinkett Smith has pretty much admitted.
Hey -- isn't he pretty close to John Travolta?
Nevertheless, in an interview with HuffPost Live, 41-year-old Pinkett Smith addressed the speculation about the pair having an open marriage.
"I've always told Will, 'You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be OK,'" she said. "Because at the end of the day, Will is his own man. I'm here as his partner, but he is his own man. He has to decide who he wants to be and that's not for me to do for him. Or vice versa."
Uh-huh ... "vice versa." That may be the key.
The couple married in 1997 after meeting on the set of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and have two children, Jaden, 14, and Willow, 12.
Speculation of the pair having an open marriage began in 2008, when tabloids claimed the "I Am Legend" star said his wife could be with another man if she felt she needed to. Rumors also swirled -- because that's what they do, they swirl -- that Pinkett Smith cheated on Will with Marc Anthony.
Whatever the deal is at the Smith house, Pinkett Smith said friendship is the basis her the couple's bond.
"I don't think it's easy to be married to anyone," she told Hill. "I think that you have to go into a relationship knowing -- especially when you're dedicating yourself to someone for the rest of your life -- this is a life partnership. He's my best friend. He's been by my side through some of the most difficult parts of my life. And so that's something you can never take away."
Smith told People magazine in December that his wife is "... just absolutely hard core, like she absolutely is unfazed by the weight and the pressures of life. She is so calm and cool and easy in any situation. She can bear anything, and I just love that about her."