text:
he John H. Boner Community Center – your community center – serves Indianapolis' Near Eastside. Every contribution provides financial resources that enhance the Center's tools for change and growth which help inspire neighbors and partners to improve their quality of life by enhancing the Center's tools for change and growth.
The John H. Boner Community Center plays a vital role on the Near Eastside. Partner with us to improve the quality of life by clicking the button below!
Does Your Company Match Gifts?


text:
Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
Men are literally disposable in Pedro Almodóvar's Volver. But the film, particularly for fans of the gynophilic, flamboyantly color-coordinating maker of loco melodramas, is essential. The title translates as Coming Back as in "back from the dead," referring to the matter-of-fact resurrection of Irene (Carmen Maura), a grandmother who refuses to let her own demise get in the way of unresolved family matters. Always an admirer of vintage Hollywood, the Spanish director has offhandedly referred to the new movie as being a throwback to Arsenic and Old Lace, itself a casual nod to the uncanny persistence of the past.
For Almodóvar, Volver represents a return of other sorts as well: to his childhood home of La Mancha, to lighter material after his elaborately Hitchcockian Bad Education, and to All About My Mother's Penélope Cruz, who, cast here as Irene's catering daughter Raimunda, delivers her most loose-limbed and endearing performance. In fact, the film's playful ode to female resilience owes enormously to the dynamic ensemble work of five gifted comediennes, all fully deserving of their special award at Cannes. Fair warning: If you're not terribly fond of women, you probably shouldn't see Volver, a movie wherein mere mortality doesn't stop mothers from loudly smooching their daughters' cheeks, a breezy comedy in which a seemingly typical male gets stabbed, stuffed into a fridge, and buried at swamp's edge. Not amused? Almodóvar and his fans would be reasonably delighted to go about their business without you.
Suitably for a film that celebrates the supernatural strength of women's work, Volver opens on the image of ladies scrubbing headstones in a windswept cemetery as if to suggest that their scrupulous care of the departed will bring material benefits in this life and maybe the next. Almodóvar gets a gentle kick out of mixing the extraordinary and the everyday, putting otherworldly elements in the most familiar of contexts: Maura's reincarnated Irene is a bemused granny with stringy hair and a slightly ratty turquoise shawl; her first appearance, startling but hardly flabbergasting her daughter Soledad (Lola Dueñas), is on a staircase in the middle of the afternoon. Later she shows up in the trunk of Sole's car.
Dueñas, as a Madrid hairdresser with the straightest bangs on the block, adorably evokes the niña next door, whereas Cruz, even in proletarian costume, playing protective mother to fragile teen Paula (Yohana Cobo), inevitably signifies International Movie Star. Almodóvar tailors Volver to Cruz' specifications, using her cleavage as the dominant element of countless shots and temporarily halting the narrative so that she can enjoy belting out a musical number that wouldn't look out of place in a Doris Day vehicle. The reel flirts freely with the real: Almodóvar has also namedropped the eternal Mildred Pierce, though the fate of Paula's lazy, lecherous stepfather, Paco (Antonio de la Torre), more closely resembles that of Johnny Stompanato, legendarily carved up in 1958 by Lana Turner's fourteen-year-old kid Cheryl.
Red, in every conceivable shade, is unsurprisingly a key color in Volver, a movie about the towering virtues of high heels and the indomitable power of good old 35mm celluloid. (David Lynch may have gone digital, but this director never will.) About a half-hour into the film, Almodóvar's effortlessly gorgeous shot of blood saturating two sheets of paper towel you'd think you were watching time-lapse images of a rose in bloom momentarily suggests a tonal shift for the entire movie, white turning to a crimson so deep it's practically noir. Channeling Hitchcock even in this, the slightest work of his sixteen-film career, Almodóvar isn't what he used to be (who is?), but he's a master of the medium nevertheless, deploying color and light and shadow not merely to express emotions but to tap into ours, directing the blood flow of the audience as much as he directs the movie.
Volver could veer anywhere from that sopping towel, so complete is Almodóvar's control of the mood, but it's no disappointment that the movie remains in a relatively low-key register. With a corpse on ice and in need of burying, Cruz' caterer is suddenly, absurdly saddled with thirty extra mouths to feed and it's hardly a burden: In a single shot, Almodóvar follows Raimunda up the road as she meets one girlfriend and then another, easily enlisting them to supply pork and some sausages. The meatball in the fridge can be dealt with later.
Contact the author of this piece, send a letter to the editor, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
News - November 30, 4:00 AM

subset: commoncrawl


text:
It was sheer genuis -- a la Britney Spears.
Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz declared a "death to emo" of sorts when he shaved his head on stage during a gig in New York City over the weekend -- lopping off his signature dark locks that he styled and spiked with gobs of gel.
"This is the death of the emo haircut," he told fans at a show at Madison Square Garden, according to MTV.
U.S. & World
Wentz approached the microphone before his band launched into "Saturday" and said he was "going to need a drink," according to NME.com.
"So you guys know Jay-Z's "Death of Auto-Tune,' right?" he asked. "This is the death of the emo haircut."
Wentz then took a seat as Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus approached him with a razor and began to shave off the singer's signature locks.
After the show the newly buzzed bassist said the gig was "amazing."
"I'm more aerodynamic," he posted on his Twitter page.


text:
Good dog toys encourage physical activity, provide mental exercise, reduce boredom or separation anxiety, and strengthen the bond between you and your dog. We offer a wide selection of top quality dog toys with nothing but your dog's health and happiness in mind. We believe Happy Dogs make Happy Owners...Dog Toys make Happy Dogs...Dog Toys make YOU Happy!
Why Shop Alpha Dog Toys?
Variety - We started out with just dog toys and quickly we learned that you need the convenience of one-stop shopping to provide your dog with the best without interfering with your busy schedule. Now you can find dog products all over the spectrum in our store, from dog toys to clothing, from collars and leashes to dog beds and feeders, from tiny to extra-large dog toys, from whimsical to virtually indestructible, from puppy to senior, from practical to designer, from land to water... the list goes on.
We are dedicated to make your shopping experience easy, fun and
Quality - We go through a lengthy
process of selecting our products. Not only do we scour the
industry for what's unique, we attend the annual national
trade show for the best dog toys and supplies. We specifically look for products that can
improve your dog's physical and emotional health while not
costing you a fortune. We pick out some of the
finest in the industry, then we try them on our dogs
(the Alpha Dog Team). Fewer than half of the products we bring
back from the trade show for consideration get approved by the Alpha Dog Team. We
also listen to our customers closely. So please
contact us if you have any questions or
comments - we've got ears like a basset hound. We'd love to hear from you.
Speed - We pride ourselves in our
fast service. Your order is usually processed the same day or next day, depending on the time of the day we receive your order. We understand that nobody likes to wait and we want your pet to be able to enjoy our products as soon as possible.
Customer Care - We care! Your satisfaction is everything to us. We are pet lovers, and customers as well. We understand what is important to you. We are here to listen so we can make changes to better serve you. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask. If you have any suggestions or comments, please contact us. We will get back to you within 24 hours.
Other Reasons - There are many other reasons that we think would be added value to your shopping experience with us, for example, free shipping on orders of $129*, our exclusive designer collars and leads (not available anywhere else), new products added everyday, and the highest level of security for credit card transaction and personal information, we ship world wide, etc. We strive to improve everyday so you will have more reasons to shop with us.
click here for
Dog Toys |
Dog Treats |
Dog Collars, Leashes, Harnesses |
Dog Clothing and Accessories
Pet Beds, Mats, Blankets |
Pet Bowls, Feeders, Storage |
Pet Health and Grooming
Pet Outdoor Travel Gear |
Gifts for Dog Lovers |
Sale and Clearance |
Site Map |
Copyright © 2003-2008 Alpha Dog Toys Co. All rights reserved
Privacy Policy - View Cart -
Site Map -
Help - Dog Supplies - Dog Bows


text: Tom Hanks screens 'Beyond All Boundaries' 10:38 AM PST 11/6/2009 by Associated Press , AP FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME 4-D war film displayed in New Orleans museum NEW ORLEANS -- Actors Tom Hanks, Patricia Clarkson and James Cromwell walked the red carpet Thursday before a private screening of the Hanks-produced war film "Beyond All Boundaries" held at the World War II Museum in New Orleans. The film, which includes 4-D elements such as props and shaking seats, opens to the public Friday and will be shown exclusively at the museum's new Victory Theater. The theater is part of the museum's $300 million expansion project that will continue through 2015. Clarkson and Cromwell were among more than a dozen celebrities who lent their voices to the documentary. Clarkson was the voice of Marguerite Higgins, a New York Herald Tribune correspondent, and Cromwell was the voices of Maj. Gen. Alexander Archer Vandegrift and Fleet Adm. William Halsey. The film includes vintage images that chronicle WWII -- from Pearl Harbor to the Battle of the Bulge -- and took five years to make. "I'm just glad that it's here," Hanks said. "I'm glad that it's part of the bigger museum. I think things like this are natural resources for each city (in which) they exist." Hanks said the film also captures a moment in the country's history that "is now entering into the era of myth." He noted that younger generations are far removed from World War II and hopes the film will bridge the gap. "It was all heroes long ago," he said, but notes that there's still much to learn from history. "World War II was fought by a bunch of 17-year-olds who were trying to kill each other, now that's not that far away from a lot of things that are going on in the world today," Hanks said. "If this museum and we have done our job well enough, people will come and certainly take note of the past, pay homage to the sacrifice, but at the same time, walk away thinking, 'Well, what would I do if the circumstances were the same?' " Cromwell and Clarkson said they didn't hesitate when asked to be in the film. "It was an honor to be asked," Clarkson said. "It's an honor to be a part of this. It's a tribute to the people who have made the greatest sacrifice ever." Cromwell said, "it's good to give back when you're in a position where it makes a difference, so it was my pleasure." "Beyond All Boundaries" has been a highly anticipated attraction at the museum. Also opening Friday are two other museum additions -- a canteen that will showcase musical revues inspired by USO-style productions and a restaurant called The American Sector that will be overseen by chef John Besh. To mark the occasion, there will be a military flyover, procession of World War II veterans and entertainer Mickey Rooney is scheduled to perform with his band. The celebration will continue through the weekend with a Victory Stomp block party Saturday and a retrospective honoring the museum's founder, the late Stephen Ambrose, on Sunday. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Associated Press email@example.com @thr AP email@example.com @thr


text:
Holiday Inn Sturgis hotels are provided below. Search for cheap and discount Holiday Inn hotel rates in Sturgis, MI for your upcoming individual or group travel. We list the best Holiday Inn Sturgis hotels + motels so you can review the Sturgis Holiday Inn hotel list below to find the perfect place.
This site will list Sturgis, MI lodging that get similar quality scores of a Holiday Inn.Booking a group or meeting? Set up a group hotel block in Sturgis MI
How should we direct your call?
Book online or call +1-800-760-7718


text:
There are no items in your cart at this time.
We do more than shoes here at Footwear etc.! In fact, you can upgrade your entire wardrobe from head to toe when you browse our stylish women's footwear, handbag, backpacks and accessories from top designers. From UGG®, Taos, New Balance, Hobo Bags, Vionic with Orthaheel Technology, OluKai, Naot and Merrell, we have what you need for the most comfortable, fashionable experience when you leave the house. It's never been easier to find old favorites and discover new trends at the same time, all in one location!
Sign up to receive new arrival, sale & special event info from us.
Note: we do not share your personal information with anyone. Period.
"Wow! This is the first time I have ordered from Footwear etc., and I must say you have outstanding customer service, as well as a great website. Thank you very much for the rapid response, and for standing behind your word. I anticipate this will not be the last time I'll be placing an order with your company!"
©2020 Footwear etc.. All Rights Reserved. For any questions or assistance call 1-800-720-0572.


text:
PLEASE NOTE: "WOW... You're Hired!" is BRAND NEW and just released. Two career professionals have reviewed "WOW... You're Hired!" for the first time. You can read their comments below. We invite and welcome your comments, reviews and testimonials too. I GUARANTEE YOU this page will be FULL of amazing "WOW... You're Hired!" success stories over the coming weeks and we'd love to feature yours!
"Jimmy, this sounds almost
FREE Personal Review And Critique Of Your
'Secret Career Document' By Jimmy Sweeney!
As you can imagine, this very special bonus is ONLY being offered for a short time. Simply put: If you are reading this, I'm still offering it. But it will be taken away soon.
I will personally review and critique your finished 'Secret Career Document' and send you an email with my thoughts and suggestions. This is a $200 value.
I am offering this incredible bonus for a short period of time for two reasons.
1. My company, CareerJimmy, has just released "WOW…You're Hired!" and I want to see some of the very first "Secret Career Documents" being created.
2. It's the perfect way for me to give and receive feedback so I can continue to improve the "WOW… You're Hired!" system for you.
If this bonus alone doesn't have you racing to place your order then you might want to check your pulse!
Free Bonus Gift #2 ($39.95 Value)
I've always said, "Nothing happens until you get the job interview!"
If you're going to use the "WOW… You're Hired!" system and 'Secret Career Document' to get hired for the job of your dreams, you've got to land that all-important job interview first!
You must get your "foot in the company door."
You're about to discover seven incredible strategies most job seekers don't know (and will never find out) about how to attract job interviews like a magnet.
I reveal seven powerful secrets you can use to get the "lion's share" of quality job interviews in any field... any market… anytime… anywhere.
You'll discover how to…
Dial an interview
Think outside the computer screen
"ASK" and you shall receive
Make your "net" work
And much more!
Free Bonus Gift #3 ($79.95 Value)
Job Search Secrets.
(In a minute, you'll see why I gave it this title…)
Kevin Donlin – World's Top Resume Expert
Jimmy Sweeney – Amazing Cover Letters
Carole Martin – Monster.com's #1 Interview Coach
There's a good story behind this Free Bonus Gift. When my friend and colleague Kevin Donlin asked if I would take part in a special conference call late last year he began his email to Carole and me by writing this:
"Jimmy, Carole, would either of you be interested in recording a conference call where each of us reveals our best job search tips within our expertise? The tips must be so strong that we would only reveal these to our closest friends and family. We'd have to "kill" anyone else that found out about these secrets! Kidding aside, that's the quality of information I'm looking for here. Each of us can then use this "killer" information exclusively for our best clients, etc. Please let me know if you'd like to be part of this ASAP. Thanks." -Kevin
Kevin's sense of humor definitely grabbed our attention in this email! Carole and I both said yes. Shortly thereafter, we recorded this special conference call. Now for the first time ever, I'm including the word-for-word transcripts of this call as a bonus to all my "WOW… You're Hired!" customers.
Two resume secrets that Kevin reveals here are absolutely priceless.
NOTE: I've never shared these transcripts with anyone. You get everything. Not one word is left out. You will strike job-search gold in these pages. But please be forewarned: This is a very limited bonus that may be taken down at any time.
Click here for instant access to the "WOW... You're Hired!" System
(With the famous CareerJimmy "twist")
I want you to have complete confidence and peace of mind in doing business with my company, CareerJimmy.
Here is my 100% Risk-Free, Money-Back Guarantee:
You have a full 56 days to use the "WOW… You're Hired" system risk-free. If for some reason you feel it does not deliver everything you want and expect, or you are not thrilled with your purchase in every way, I want to know about it. Simply write an email stating you'd like your money back. I'll issue you a refund right on the spot. And here's the special twist: I will let you keep the entire "WOW…You're Hired!" system anyway! Yes, you read that correctly. PLUS, you will also keep the, "7 Little Known Secrets To Landing More Job Interviews," the transcripts of our private one-time teleconference titled "KILLER Job Search Secrets" and my " FREE Personal Review And Critique Of Your 'Secret Career Document' all as bonus gifts to you.
Why in the world would I make you an offer that seems almost crazy? Simple: I have been in business for many years and the one thing I have discovered is that most people are honest and have good intentions. So I wanted to make you an offer today that is truly irresistible. I think I've done that. You have absolutely NOTHING to lose, and the job of your dreams to gain.
Please try "WOW… You're Hired!" today and see for yourself just how remarkable my 'Secret Career Document' is at landing you multiple job offers.
When you click on the blue order link below, you'll be taken to my 100% risk-free trial order page that will summarize what you get with your order today. Once you decide "yes" you will click the order button at the bottom and be taken to a secure order page for your credit card information.
We use CLICKBANK - The trusted online retailer specializing in digitally delivered products. Your order information is completely confidential. Only CLICKBANK and your bank access the information.
Your order is processed immediately and you'll get a receipt for your $79 purchase with a transaction number. You will automatically be taken to our members-only website where you can download the "WOW… You're Hired!" system and Bonus Gifts in just a few minutes. You will have instant access from your computer 24/7.
here to order by credit card
using our secure server
Immediate Download - Instant Access!
It doesn't matter if it's 2:00 am in the morning!
Click here to use your checking account debit card
I want to thank you for visiting today. I am genuinely excited for you and would love to hear your "WOW… You're Hired!" success story. Please share it!
Warmest regards,
Jimmy Sweeney
President and Founder, CareerJimmy
P.S. – FAIR WARNING: Please do not be surprised if you return to this page and find the price has more than doubled. This will happen when we offer "WOW…You're Hired!" as a 'print' home study course for $495 plus $15 shipping and handling. Right now "WOW… You're Hired!" is being offered in digital format. You'll have instant access to everything at our members-only website for a one time payment of $79. This is the lowest price "WOW…You're Hired!" will ever be offered for.
P.P.S. Please Remember: This is a 100% risk-free offer. "WOW…You're Hired!" and the 'Secret Career Document' will get you hired or it's FREE. You're backed by a 56-Day 100% Satisfaction Money-Back Guarantee.
P.P.P.S – As of today, we are still including all 3 Free Bonuses – You get my "FREE Personal Review And Critique Of Your Secret Career Document," plus "7 Little Known Secrets To Landing More HOT Job Interviews Next Week," and the transcripts of our private one-time teleconference titled, "KILLER Job Search Secrets" all as free bonus gifts to you. Plus, FREE lifetime product updates for "WOW…You're Hired!"
P.P.P.P.S - Quickly and Easily Download "WOW... You're Hired!" to your computer. Listen to the WOW! Audio, review the step-by-step formula. Then, create your very own 'Secret Career Document' in just ten minutes flat. Use "WOW…You're Hired!" for the rest of your career. And keep in mind that your investment here today is a business purchase to help with your job search. This should be 100% tax deductible. Please check with your accountant of course, but I think you'll agree, it's a fantastic additional benefit.
here to land any job you desire by using my
amazing, customizable 'Secret Career Document' today
Job Interview Resources - Job Interview Articles
"WOW...You're Hired!" JobInterviewSecret.com
26500 W. Agoura Rd. #543, Calabasas CA 91302
Phone 818-377-4332 or Toll Free 800-850-7635
Business Hours Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm Pacific Standard Time
© All Rights Reserved Worldwide
No portion of this website's graphics or
text may be reproduced without written permission!
About Us | Contact | Order | Privacy Policy | Terms | Affiliates


text:
Antenna Kits at CB World
Kits make things easier!
It is nice to get all of the items you need all packaged together and ready to install. We offer several different types of kits such as mirror mount antenna kits, gutter mount antenna kits, trucker antenna kits, magnetic antenna kits, side mount antenna kits, no ground plane (NGP) antenna kits, trunk mount antenna kits, and base station antenna kits!
Please visit our Help Center for guidance in selecting the best equipment for your application.
Remember: CB Antennas need to be tuned to their application. This is VERY important! Tuning your antenna will help to optimize your antenna system performance and help to ensure that you won't potentially damage your CB radio. Here are some links to our Help Center to assist you with this:
We appreciate your business!


text:
Berber carpet is a popular choice of carpeting for high traffic areas thanks to its durability and stain resistance.
Today, "Berber" is a term often used to describe any loop carpet. The term Berber technically describes a certain type of loop carpet with a thick yarn and flecked color scheme (usually a light tan color with darker accents). These carpets originated in North Africa, where tribes used wool and camel hair to create rugs, carpet and cloaks.
Today's loop or Berber carpet is most commonly made from nylon, wool or olefin fibers. Because of its low pile and dense loops, Berber can withstand heavy traffic and still look great. Learn more about nylon carpeting. Discover features and benefits of wool carpeting.
Loop carpets can come in a variety of different looks….solid color and all one length loops, multi-colored and multiple length loops (creating a great pattern or textured look) and anything in between. Years ago, loop carpets were generally relegated to basements and indoor/outdoor settings. Today, with all the fashion-forward loops, and thanks to some real advancements in softer carpet fiber technology, loop carpeting is showing up in bedrooms, family rooms and every other type of room where carpet is generally used.
With so many styles, colors and patterns available, if you are looking for a loop or Berber carpet…give us a call. Your design associate at Floor Coverings International in East Cincinnati, OH, is trained to evaluate your space and figure out the right color, pattern, and texture for your space.
The installation team will make sure that key considerations like seam placement (where the seams are positioned in the room) are taken in to account and your new carpet looks perfect.
For more information on Berber carpet, or to compare varieties, contact the experts at Floor Coverings International in East Cincinnati, OH, today.
You might also be interested in:


text:
If you're in D.C. on July 10, I hope you'll join us for the following panel discussion (noon-2pm in Room 208 at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center), which I'll lead as moderator:
Proposals to regulate advertising and data collection on the Internet, mobile phones, and interactive television, hold the promise of enhancing consumer privacy. On the other hand, "smart advertising" allows more relevant advertising to be targeted directly to individual consumers, making markets more competitive, significantly increasing the funding available for creating free content and services, and increasing the effectiveness of all forms of free speech. These issues and more will be discussed at "Regulating Online Advertising: What Will it Mean for Consumers, Culture & Journalism?" a congressional seminar hosted by The Progress & Freedom Foundation.
A panel of experts will discuss such topics as the cost of regulation to consumers, its impact on journalism and other non-commercial content, and First Amendment issues concerning the future of culture and political discourse.
Please RSVP here.


text:
A little over a year ago I was invited to be a regular contributor to the MurderSheWrites blog. I was happy to join this group of talented, hard-working women and to stay abreast of what everyone was doing and thinking and add to the conversation about writing and life and our mutual interest in, um…murder . (I'm relatively sure Homeland Security has all of us on a list somewhere.) I still enjoy this group SO much, but my life has gotten a little too crazy lately, so it's time for me to streamline my obligations.
This will be my last regular blog on MSW…which is a lot of pressure, I must say, because I'd like to leave you with a kernel of something…well, good.


text:
Last week I wrote about The Often Overlooked Humor of Jesus. I've adapted this idea into my latest monthly "In Good Faith" column. This version is shorter and more suitable for my column — the point of which is to bring faith into everyday life and reach out to people who don't necessarily attend church. […]
Last week I wrote about The Often Overlooked Humor of Jesus. I've adapted this idea into my latest monthly "In Good Faith" column. This version is shorter and more suitable for my column — the point of which is to bring faith into everyday life and reach out to people who don't necessarily attend church.
Divine Comedy
Jesus is hilarious.
Okay, that�s not a sentiment you hear very often. You won�t see a Comedy Central special called �Joking with Jesus!� And too many of us have encountered humorless Christians over the years. You know the type — tight lipped, judgmental, unsmiling, puritanical. People who�view frivolity as sacrilege and humor as heresy.
But this understanding of the Christian life is incomplete. A more nuanced reading of Scripture leads us away from an attitude of holier-than-thou solemnity and Jesus himself points the way. Jesus uses humor to teach, heal, convert and, ultimately, redeem. Seriously. And he does this while modeling the fact that�laughter and profundity are not mutually exclusive.
The humor of Jesus is subtle, nearly imperceptible at first glance.�The Sermon on the Mount, for instance, doesn�t begin with a joke to warm up the crowd. But throughout his ministry Jesus displays great wit, command of the language, a gift for irony and word plays, and impeccable timing — all hallmarks of great comedians.
The gospels aren�t funny in the traditional sense. It�s not slapstick comedy; there are no pratfalls.�They�re passion narratives, not anthologies of �The Wit and Wisdom of Jesus Christ.�
Yet when you dig a little, you start to see that Jesus had a wicked sense of humor. Which makes sense — a master storyteller would never forsake humor as a means to reach an audience. Jesus, who spent much of his ministry breaking down barriers between people, knew that humor does exactly this. Humor disarms and unites; it sets people at ease and leaves them receptive to the speaker�s message. He understood that laughter is simply good for the soul and that humor allows us to confront the�darker sides of life with grace and composure.
The examples of Jesus� irony and wit are plentiful. Perhaps we can view the humorless Pharisees as the ultimate straight men for Jesus. Throughout the four gospels the joke, it seems, is on them. Their somber rigidity is paralyzing; their hypocrisy and self-righteousness keep them from true relationship with the divine. They are the perfect foils to Jesus� message of love as he continually meets their scorn and contempt with quick wit and perfect timing.
The encounters with the Pharisees are full of brilliant one-liners. �Render to Caesar the�things that are Caesar�s, and to God the things that are God�s� (Mt 22:21) is a perfect response dripping with irony. The blind leading the blind is, of course, a comical visual image and a pointed commentary on the religious leaders of the day (Mt 15:14). And think about the hilarious image of straining out a gnat while eating a camel (Mt 23:24). His hearers certainly chuckled at this purposefully ludicrous image. And it invariably stuck with them.
There are hosts of other wonderfully amusing moments in the gospel accounts. There is irony and humorous exaggeration, phrases that would have brought smiles to the lips of his hearers, if not full belly laughs. Explaining the efficacy of prayer he asks the Apostles, �What father among�you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If your son asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion?� (Lk 11:11-12) �It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich person to�enter the kingdom of God� (Mk 10:25). That�s a memorable image.
Unfortunately we lose the facial expressions and tone of voice so crucial to�successful comedy. David Letterman can make us laugh with a smirk or the inflection of his voice. A manuscript of his show wouldn�t be nearly as amusing as seeing it live. So it�s a shame the gospels have been handed down to us as manuscripts and not YouTube videos.
The point here is not to place Jesus in the Comedy Hall of Fame. Rather it�is to encourage us to see and hear the message of our Lord with fresh eyes and ears, to discover a new aspect of his divine brilliance and to meet him with renewed joy and laughter in our hearts. Above all, Jesus encourages us to take our faith but not ourselves too seriously.


text:
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — The municipal bond arm of OppenheimerFunds warned investors Wednesday of risks from the Puerto Rico debt it holds, publicly acknowledging concerns that led to steep investor redemptions and a year of losses in Puerto Rico debt.
Oppenheimer Rochester, a division of OppenheimerFunds, which is in turn owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, has one of the highest relative exposures to Puerto Rico bonds of all municipal bond fund complexes. Over 17% of the $26.91 billion in assets under management in Rochester's 20 funds are invested in Puerto Rico debt, according to Morningstar data through the end of last year.
That bet has become increasingly fraught in recent months as prices on the debt have dropped on fears over Puerto Rico's financial health. All three major rating agencies cut the bonds backed by the Commonwealth's taxing power to junk in the past two weeks, which could cause even more price volatility as investors exit the market for Puerto Rico debt. In the last 12 months, Standard & Poor's Puerto Rico muni index dropped 21.3%, rare losses for the municipal bond market, which is often sought for its perceived safety.
Amid the commotion, Rochester has stood by Puerto Rico, emphasizing the government's strong willingness to make good on its bond obligations and the attractive yields it provides. But investors haven't shared that confidence. Investors pulled $6.20 billion from Rochester's 20 funds last year.
Rochester late Tuesday attached supplements to its prospectuses, warning of risks related to Puerto Rico. It also published two articles to its website Wednesday explaining its views on the ratings downgrades. The firm noted that it isn't required to sell Puerto Rico debt as a result of the downgrades, but those funds that have a capped exposure to junk-rated bonds cannot purchase more junk debt until its holdings are trimmed to meet requirements.
"We are well aware of the market dynamics and the large amount of attention that the fiscal situation in Puerto Rico has garnered, which is likely to affect market behavior," Rochester said in one article.
The disclosures follow an investigation into Puerto Rico bonds launched last fall by Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Galvin. The inquiry sought information about whether investors were made aware of the risks related to Puerto Rico. Fidelity Investments, OppenheimerFunds, and UBS AG were all sent letters by the secretary. In October, a spokesperson for OppenheimerFunds told the Wall Street Journal the firm "is cooperating fully" with the inquiry.
The $6 billion Oppenheimer Rochester Fund Municipals
Puerto Rico has roughly $70 billion in bonds outstanding backed by a patchwork of different pledges and revenue streams. The bonds have long been used to line municipal bond portfolios because of the yield premium they provide, as well as their exemption from federal, state, and local taxes.
But the tide began to go out for Puerto Rico as investors focused on the island's struggling finances in the wake Detroit's historic bankruptcy filing last summer. Though the commonwealth has taken aggressive steps to cut its legacy costs and balance its budget, its large debt burden and sluggish economy prompted the rating agencies to downgrade its general obligation debt, as well as other related Puerto Rico obligations. Now, investors are looking to a forthcoming bond sale to see if the island is able to access the market to assure liquidity.
The Rochester fund complex has nine funds that are among the 10 with the most exposure to the commonwealth's debt, by percentage of holdings tied to Puerto Rico, according to Morningstar data through the end of last year. Sixteen of its funds are among the 19 with the most exposure.
The fund with the most of its holdings in Puerto Rican debt is Franklin Double Tax-Free Income fund US:FPRTX , with 60.77% of its assets tied to the island.
While fears grow about an inability to repay the debt, some bonds, such as debt backed by sales taxes known as COFINA sales tax bonds, are considered safer, and have managed to retain investment-grade ratings.
Nonetheless, U.S. municipal bond funds have been pressured to sell their holdings of Puerto Rico debt over the past year, according to Yuriy Layvand, director of fund and asset management at Fitch Ratings. Layvand conducted a survey of 92 closed-end muni funds across six asset managers, which showed that they cut their Puerto Rico exposure by 65% between May and December of last year. For funds that continued to hold Puerto Rico bonds, holdings of COFINA debt dropped.
"This suggests that US funds chose to sell COFINA bonds instead of realizing losses on the more depressed GO and other GO-linked credits," Layvand said in a Wednesday report.
More on bonds:
One reason to question the most widely used stat on bond auctions
T-bill yields sink on coming debt-ceiling vote
Pimco's Crescenzi: Here's the jobs report stat the bond market should be watching


text:
Search Education Northwest
The idea for the early warning system (EWS) work came out of a meeting I had with superintendents and other leaders from the AA districts of Montana—the seven largest districts in the state. What I heard over and over was, "We have students in our districts who are struggling, and we're providing
As most folks know, Montana is geographically large. As a result, it's not always easy to attend conferences across the state. For that reason, many districts provide practical and closer-to-home options for employees to obtain training to fulfill their required in-service hours. Several years ago


text:
Up through SQL Server 2008 R2 database mirroring has been limited to a single mirror for each database. While that does work well for many companies, as you become larger and more dependent on your computer systems, there is a need to have multiple mirrors.
Often someone wants to failover to another database on the same network for capacity reasons if there are minor issues. Moving all clients to a secondary data center is not something you always want to do, especially as the secondary data center might not include the same level of bandwidth and may cost more.
In SQL 11, there is work underway to implement HADR, high availability and disaster recovery, which is an enhanced database mirroring. In this new technology, multiple mirrors are possible, allowing you to have multiple up to date copies of your data in separate locations. These are now called "replicas" and you get up to 4, according to Brent Ozar (HADRON Rocks). I didn't see that listed, but I'm sure Brent knows more about this stuff than I do.
The other nice things is that you can failover multiple databases together, which you put in an "availability group" and configure together. This is good since many applications might require multiple databases, and it could be important that all databases move to the same server at the same time.
Overall this is cool, and I am looking forward to this technology being deployed. Only one replica works in CTP1, so we can't really see this working, but it could be an amazing edition to your DR strategy in the future. One note is that this is built on Windows clustering, which no longer requires shared storage, but might require Enterprise Edition, so that will limit how widely this is deployed.
I'll write more on this later, but the ability to have multiple mirrors, and have multiple databases failover as a group, is something that DBAs should look forward to.


text:
Wilder Garden Tropical Pyjama's - Vintage Pink
Thes Pyjamas are soft and comfortable and with 5 different colourways / designs you can have your kids matching or mix and match.
Made from amazingly soft organic cotton and 5% elastine.
Designs based on the original watercolours by Becky Olivier in our previous collaboration.
Designed in NZ made in China.
These pyjamas are made to be form fitting for saftey standards.
Tested as a low fire danger knit fabric under the NZ / AUS consumer safety standards


text:
Team USA Olympic Schedule and PreviewTeam USA will begin Preliminary Round play at 10:15 on Sunday morning (Eastern Standard Time) versus host country China as Group B play opens. Jason Kidd recently said that this contest will be like "game seven times seven" because it may be watched by more people than any basketball game in history but the reality is that from a competitive standpoint it will be very anticlimactic. Although China has three players who are at least seven feet tall who are current or former NBA players (Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhi-Zhi), their "triple towers" will hardly be invincible for two reasons: the FIBA game with its trapezoid lane is not geared toward post up play and Team USA's defensive pressure--spearheaded by Kobe Bryant--will make it difficult for the Chinese guards to get the ball up the court, let alone set up the seven footers in their comfort zones. Look for Team USA to get a lot of early deflections and steals en route to a blowout win.
Team USA's second game will be on Tuesday versus Angola, an African basketball powerhouse that will be completely outmatched by Team USA's size and speed.
Team USA will face its first challenge in this year's Olympics on Thursday when they battle Greece, the team that stunned Team USA 101-95 in the semifinals of the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Bryant was not a member of that version of Team USA and you can bet that he will consider it a special challenge to make sure that Team USA avenges that loss. It will be interesting to see which player Bryant is assigned to take out defensively--point guard Theo Papaloukas or shooting guard Dimitris Diamantidis. The Greeks play together very well but I expect Team USA to win by 15 points.
On Saturday, Team USA will play Spain, the team that won the 2006 FIBA World Championship. The Spanish team is loaded with talent, including the two Gasol brothers, Juan Carlos Navarro, Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa and exciting young point guard Ricky Rubio. Even more than the game with Greece this contest will really be a measuring stick for Team USA's chances to win the gold medal. If Team USA plays the way that they did in their final exhibition game versus Australia then Spain could beat them but I think that Team USA will win, though I would not be surprised if the game is competitive well into the second half.
Team USA wraps up Preliminary Round play on August 18 with a game against Germany, a team that features a pair of NBA seven footers in Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman but is not good enough or deep enough to beat Team USA.
All that matters in Preliminary Round play is to win enough games to advance to the quarterfinal round. At that point, the event is an NCAA Tournament-style one and done affair. The top four teams from Group A will face the top four teams from Group B. To win the gold medal, Team USA will have to win three games in a row. The teams that will most likely be standing in their way at that stage include Spain, Greece and Germany from Group B plus Argentina, Croatia, Lithuania and Russia from Group A. Since the most important thing in the Preliminary Round is not to win every game but simply to advance to the medal round, it is possible that certain teams will save some wrinkles in their offensive or defensive schemes in order to spring them on Team USA in the medal round.
The semifinal round game has been Team USA's undoing in their past two major international competitions: they lost to Greece in 2006 at the FIBA World Championship and they lost to eventual Olympic gold medalist Argentina in 2004. The most important thing for Team USA, particularly in medal round play, will be to play stifling perimeter defense, shutting down the opposing team's three point shooters without allowing players to waltz down the lane for layups. Team USA may not dominate on the glass but they will not lose any games due to rebounding. Whether or not Team USA shoots a great percentage from the three point line will not be of primary importance, either.
Carmelo Anthony will probably be Team USA's leading scorer during the Olympics, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant following (not necessarily in that order) but Bryant's defense will be the most important factor for this team. James' improved defense and strong all-around game will be the second most important factor. One interesting storyline to follow will be the point guard situation. Jason Kidd will be the starter but he did not play a lot of minutes during the pre-Olympic exhibition tour, leading some people to believe that he is being phased out. That may be true or it may be that Coach Mike Krzyzewski was simply saving Kidd for the games that count. We will not really know which answer is correct until Team USA is seriously challenged, which will probably happen for the first time in the game against Greece. Look to see which point guard is on the court in money time in that game and which point guard gets the most minutes if the game does not become a blowout. I suspect that Kidd will play a more important role than a lot of other people seem to think that he will.
I expect Team USA to win the gold medal, Spain to capture the silver medal and Argentina to claim the bronze medal. Team USA will win most of their games by double digits but will have more than one game that is either decided by fewer than 10 points or is closer than 10 points well into the second half.
Labels: 2008 Team USA, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James
posted by David Friedman @ 4:26 PM


text:
Offense squanders golden chances behind Volquez
Padres go 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position; righty fans six
SAN DIEGO -- One way or another, the Padres were going to feel the void left by suspended shortstop Everth Cabrera, their offensive catalyst this season.
They probably didn't think it would happen quite so soon.
In the first game since Cabrera was suspended for the final 50 games of the season for violating MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the Padres' offense showed little spunk in dropping a 4-1 decision to the Orioles in front of a crowd of 28,055 at Petco Park on Tuesday.
Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones had four hits, including a home run, and pitcher Bud Norris allowed one run in six innings as the Orioles won the first game of the two-game Interleague series.
The Padres had just two hits through the first five innings before avoiding being shut out with a run in the sixth. San Diego stranded a runner at third with no outs in the first two innings and went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
"Our situational hitting was not good tonight," Padres manager Bud Black said. "There were a couple of at-bats that weren't very good. We had some pitches to hit and either took them or fouled them off. We've got to do a better job."
Cabrera, suspended on Monday, has left a noticeable void at the top of the Padres' lineup and defensively at shortstop. Logan Forsythe got the start at shortstop against the Orioles and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
The Padres certainly could have used Cabrera's bat, one that produced a .283 average and a .355 on-base percentage before the suspension. But the way Norris was throwing, it might not have mattered much.
"For the most part, [he was] doing a good job locating his fastball, he was working quite quick. I think his secondary stuff was pretty good, too," Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso said. "Today was one of those days where he had all his pitches going and it was a battle."
Norris, in his second start since being obtained from the Astros last week, allowed two hits in the first five innings, though the Padres (52-61) certainly had their chances.
"To me, that's the game," Black said of his team's offensive struggles.
Norris allowed a leadoff triple in the first inning to Will Venable before retiring the next three hitters as Venable remained at third. The Padres got the first two hitters on in the second inning, but Norris got Nick Hundley to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Venable then walked with one out in the third inning and stole second base. But Norris struck out Chris Denorfia and got Chase Headley to ground out.
The Padres finally got a run in the sixth, though the damage against Norris could have been much greater.
Denorfia and Headley singled and Alonso did the same, which allowed Denorfia to score as the Padres cut the lead to 2-1. But Norris got the next three hitters -- Jedd Gyorko, Alexi Amarista and Forsythe -- to end the inning and minimize the damage.
"I think we had our chances today and we just couldn't capitalize for some reason. [Norris] made some good pitches when he had to and we got to learn from that and keep going," Alonso said.
Chris Davis gave the Orioles (62-51) a little insurance in the eighth when he went down and got a slider from Padres reliever Luke Gregerson, lining it into the right-field corner. For Davis, it was his 103rd RBI of the season. The Orioles added a run in the ninth inning with closer Jim Johnson getting the last three outs for his 39th save.
San Diego pitcher Edinson Volquez (8-9) had a few vexing moments sprinkled in with a handful of stretches where his secondary pitches, his curveball, in particular, looked devastating. He allowed two runs on six hits in six innings with two walks and six strikeouts.
"The curveball was good for him, he got a lot of outs on the curve," Black said. "He got a lot of swings and misses."
Volquez allowed a double on the first pitch he threw, as Nate McLouth lined a ball into right field. Two batters later, and now with two outs, he allowed an RBI single to Jones.
It was Jones again who had a big swing in the fourth inning when he jumped on a first-pitch changeup for a home run into the first deck of the Western Metal Supply building in left field. Volquez bounced back by striking out the next three hitters -- Davis, Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy -- on curveballs.
"He's a great hitter. First-pitch swinging and he just hit it out, so the homer there was nothing you can do. He put a good swing on the ball and hit it out," Volquez said of Jones.
Jones, who went to nearby Morse High in San Diego, said he was just trying to square up a good pitch from Volquez. It just happened to be the first one he saw.
"I never sat on any other pitch than a fastball and he didn't throw many fastballs to me, anyway," Jones said. "I was just trying to see something up and it was a strike and stayed right there. I hit it off the end, but I was able to stay behind it just enough and get it out."
Norris wasn't so much a mystery to Black and the Padres, as they saw him four times from 2010-11 as a member of the Astros. In fact, Norris was 2-1 with a 3.13 in those four starts, including one where he tossed seven shutout innings in a win at Petco Park on July 3, 2010.
Norris allowed one run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.


text:
|editBlue B [1]
|ブルービー Burū Bī
|Everyone of Team 7!!, Killer B and Motoi
|Killer B and Motoi
|Appears in
|Anime, Manga
|Voice Actors
|Tailed Beast
|Gyūki (Forms)
Blue B (ブルービー, Burū Bī) was a high-ranking Kumogakure shinobi as well as the predecessor of Killer B as the jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails.
While an excellent shinobi, Blue B didn't have complete control over the Eight-Tails, a fact he lamented while on a mission with A, Killer B, and another unknown shinobi. He stated that neither him, nor his uncle or father could subjugate the beast due to "incompatibility".[3] He hoped, however, that B, should he be chosen as the next host, would be able to successfully control the beast.
As A wondered if B would have enough control to be able to suppress the beast, Blue told him of the darkness and loneliness that was part of being a jinchūriki. A protested calling him a man of great talent, virtue and lineage, which Blue said none of that mattered and what a jinchūriki truly needed was something to give them strength and fill the void that would be created after the beast was sealed into them.[3]
Some time later, in the anime, he was sent on a mission with A and B where they confronted several Iwa ninja, after defeating them Blue B explained to an exhausted B where A's strength came from.[2]
At some point after this, he lost complete control of the beast and it killed eight Kumo ninja, including Motoi's father who was a member of the subduing team. The Third Raikage subdued the Eight-Tails by sealing it into the Kohaku no Jōhei, resulting in Blue's death. In the anime, it was Orochimaru who caused the events leading to Blue B's death by posing as his doctor and giving him genjutsu-inducing pills to paralyse him and proceeded to use the Five Elements Unseal to draw out the tailed beast. Later, during the battle that followed, Orochimaru retrieved traces of the Eight-Tails' severed horn along with Blue B's DNA in it.[2] The villagers later lamented Blue B being a failed jinchūriki at his funeral while B paid his respects.[3]
Blue B strongly believed that once a person became a jinchūriki, their life would be full of darkness, fear and overwhelming loneliness. He also believed that what a jinchūriki truly needed was to have something that filled the void in their heart and give them strength. The prejudice that he was shown after having the beast sealed into him led him to lose his will to live at first due to the overwhelming fear and loneliness he felt. Blue B was even willing to accept the fact that he himself was incapable of controlling the tailed beast within himself.[3]
He had known B and Motoi since they were young, and while finding B's rhyming sub-par he firmly believed B was the best suited to become Gyūki's next jinchūriki. In the anime, he was shown to be visibly saddened to learn that eight of his fellow Kumo ninja had died trying to stop his rampage, and apologised to Motoi after being informed his father had been among them, showing that he took responsibility for his actions. Blue B was glad to realise B had found the "something" a jinchūriki needs to be happy, and congratulated his successor for succeeding where he had failed.
Blue B had long bi-colour hair (half green half white) with matching eyebrows along with heavy-lidded eyes that give him the appearance of being very tired. He had a purple mark in the shape of a diamond down the right side of his face. He wore the standard attire of the Kumogakure shinobi including a flak jacket, over a long-sleeved v-neck outfit with bandages underneath and carried a fairly long sword strapped to his back. After being reincarnated, he looked like he did while alive with the exception of pupil-less eyes and grey sclerae.[2]
Although nothing has been seen of his abilities in the manga, the would-be Fourth Raikage hailed him as a highly skilled shinobi with a natural aptitude for ninjutsu.[3] He was also presumably skilled in kenjutsu as he carried a sword around with him. In the anime, his talents as a shinobi and jinchūriki were great enough that Kabuto Yakushi chose to reincarnate him for the Fourth Shinobi World War. He was also shown to be a sensor-type ninja, able to detect Gyūki's chakra within B despite his successor not accessing the tailed beast's chakra at the time.[2]
In the anime, Blue B demonstrated considerable unarmed and close-ranged fighting prowess, able to easily fend off multiple Iwa ninja. After being reincarnated, he was able to fight Killer B to a standstill and use the Lightning Release: Lariat with enough power to match B's own while they were both in their Version 2 state.[2]
Jinchūriki Transformations
Main article: Jinchūriki Forms
As a former jinchūriki, Blue B possessed immense reserves of powerful chakra. While never obtaining complete control of Gyūki's power, Blue B was known for his impressive use of it. When he was alive he was able to use partial transformation by manifesting one of Gyūki's tails. In the anime after being reincarnated, while having lost access to Gyūki specifically, Kabuto used Gyūki's genetic material, which was harvested through Orochimaru's experiments, to restore most of Blue B's previous jinchūriki powers, becoming in essence a pseudo-jinchūriki.[2]
Blue B was shown to be able to access his chakra shroud at will, entering an eight-tailed Version 2 form while still retaining his personality. While in this form, Blue B becomes noticeably more muscular, the blue diamond shape on Blue B's eye can be seen, and the left horn is coloured green. He could also manifest a bone structure to aid him in performing the Lightning Release: Lariat and attack his enemies from a distance by extending chakra arms. His might in this form was enough to fight on par with Killer B, Gyūki's current jinchūriki, as well as easily resist strong electrical blasts. Blue B could also perform the Tailed Beast Ball as well as rapidly fire them without fully transforming into the Eight-Tails. He could also communicate telepathically with other jinchūriki.[2]
Part II
Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation
In the anime, seeing an opportunity to capture Killer B, Kabuto summoned Blue B to the battlefield. After being summoned, Blue B was surprised to see how much B and Motoi had grown. He was told about his final rampage as a jinchūriki, sincerely apologising for killing Motoi's father. Unable to control his actions, Blue B surprises his former allies with his intact ability to use Gyūki's chakra. Upon entering "Version 2", Blue B quickly showed off his prowess as a jinchūriki, forcing B to enter "Version 2" as well. When Gyūki insisted on knowing how he could still have access to its power despite no longer residing in him, Blue B revealed that the Eight Tails' severed horn was a medium that restored his jinchūriki powers while also revealing that Orochimaru is the one who masterminded the rampage thirty years ago.
While B and he were equal in raw power, Blue B's reincarnated body gave him the edge with B forced to retreat. Motoi attempted to hold off Blue B, only to be quickly defeated. Seeing his friend in trouble, B ceased his retreat and counter-attacked. Surprised at how passionately B wished to help Motoi, he realised that B had found friends very special to him, to which B told him that he also is one of those dear to him. Finding peace that his successor found that missing "something" in life as a jinchūriki, Blue B is able to break the summoning contract and return to the afterlife.[2]
- In the anime, he was named "Fukai" (フカイ, Fukai).[2] In the fourth databook, however, his name was officially given as Blue B.[1] This is due to the anime naming him before the official name was revealed in the manga.
- "Fukai" (深い) means "thick", "deep" or "close".
- Seeing how every Raikage was given a partner named "B",[4] it's likely that Blue B was the partner of the Third Raikage, Killer B and the Fourth Raikage after them.
- When written as ブル, buru would translate as "bull". Coincidentally, Eight-Tails, Blue B's tailed beast, is based off of an Ushi-oni, which is a Japanese yōkai with the horned head of a bull.
- (To A) "Something to fill up that hole in their heart… Anything!!! If they can just find something… something to give them strength… help B find that something."[5]
- (To B) "You found them. Lots of special friends, that "something" to fill the hole in your heart."[2]