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Certain products are definitely OK to rent. Like a car. Or a tuxedo. Or the cheapest room at a Motel 6 when you find yourself strolling down I-85 at midnight with no pants.
Things are weird at home.
But a Los Angeles-based company caught the internet's attention this week for renting something completely unexpected: wives.
Yes, the Rent-a-Wife might just be as horribly misogynistic as it sounds. Because it's pretty much what you think it is: a housekeeping and odd jobs service where renters can choose a "wife" from three pricing tiers, ranging from the Starter Wife to the Good Wife to the Trophy Wife.
The company's founder, Juliette Bresnahan, says most of her clients are actually women. So, who the hell knows?
What really matters is that, clearly, if you just surf the Web long enough, you'll find lots of really weird stuff you can rent.
So I did.
Alas, when I started Googling "rent a ..." followed by each letter of the alphabet (minus vowels and X) to see what would autofill, this is what I found:
Rent-a-Bay: A self-service garage in Kent, Washington, Rent-a-Bay is where you can work on your own vehicle with the same professional conveniences of a mechanic. It's a good idea, but there's also a 100% chance I would kill both myself and others in the process of changing a spark plug.
Rent-a-Center: This is a fairly well-known store for rent-to-own furniture and appliances. It's also not a bad rebuilding option for the Phoenix Suns.
Rent-a-Dreads: This one sort of blew me away, for it has nothing to do with leasing a temporary dreadlock weave like the words might suggest. It's actually a term used in regards to female sex tourism. In the Caribbean and Central America, male sex workers are often referred to as Rent-a-Dreads.
In America, a male sex worker is simply known as "Dave with access to Craigslist."
Rent-a-Friend: This site claims to have "Friends from around the world available for hire," perfect for anyone who just needs a buddy. Some of the activities they say people are using Rent-a-Friend for are sporting events, wine tasting and hot air balloon rides.
"Hi. I'm Gary. Would you like to ride in a balloon with me?"
"Hi. I'm Tina. No."
Rent-a-Goat: This is just what it sounds like. You rent a goat and then let it eat unwanted plants and weeds. But, really, I just want to get one for my dog.
"Mikey, this is goat. Goat, this is Mikey. If you need me, I'll be inside shopping for friends."
Rent-a-Home: A house leasing company in Greensboro, North Carolina, somehow managed to come up first in my Google search. Which isn't very exciting. But right below it was Rent-a-Husband.
Their slogan is "For those jobs that never get done!" which leads me to believe they specialize in renting out alcoholics who like watching football.
"My Rent-a-Husband was just as advertised! The garbage disposal is still busted, and he left the toilet seat up. Would definitely use again. Five stars!"
Rent-a-John: If you live in the Carolinas and need a temporary outdoor toilet that doubles as a sweat lodge, these guys have you covered.
Rent-a-Kid: This is the title of a really bad Leslie Nielsen movie from 1995 about a guy who rents out orphans. I actually found it on YouTube and watched the entire thing when I literally could've been doing anything else with my time. Like riding in a balloon with Gary.
Rent-a-List: Put that coffee down! This lead generator aims to help people in sales find potential customers to sign on the line that is dotted. A ... B ... C ... Always Be Cluttering people's inboxes.
Rent-a-Midget: Lacking morals? Having a party? Looking for alternative entertainment? You're in luck.
"Barb, I have the perfect idea for Brian's bar mitzvah reception!"

subset: commoncrawl


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- Sophos
- Person
- Tagline
Working on performance, video-art, theater and conceptual art.
- Skills
- video art, conceptual art, Perfrormance, theater
- About
Born in Altamura, in the south of Italy in 1989; at twenty years old I moved to Paris to study history of art and to begin my career as an artist. Paris makes a person feel a part of the whole world because of its cosmopolitan atmosphere. Always having been interested in arts I experimented in theater as an actor and director. In addition, I experimented with video art, painting, photography, and performance art. I have always thought of human beings as being a small part of an infinite universe but who can always be seen as a complete individual.


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NEW YORK, Dec 6- General Electric Co has agreed to pay as much as $18.25 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing it of rigging bids for municipal securities, court papers filed on Friday show.
PARIS, Dec 5- Airbus and its engine makers have acted to try to shore up the value of second-hand A340 aircraft as the European planemaker tries to reduce its financial exposure to depressed market prices of an aircraft that it no longer produces.
TOKYO, Dec 4- For Japan's electronics firms, the kitchen is the final frontier. Companies from Panasonic Corp to Toshiba Corp are diverting engineers and money away from their TV operations and into developing' smart appliances' after losing out in the living room to cheaper Asian rivals.
*Bidvest, CIH offer to raise Adcock stake to up to 34.5 pct. JOHANNESBURG, Dec 2- A Chilean group's $1.2 billion bid for South African drugmaker Adcock Ingram was challenged on two fronts on Monday, as a group led by Bidvest sought nearly a third of Adcock's shares and launched a court action against the bid.
CHICAGO, Nov 27- U.S. manufacturers are pumping money into domestic operations again, according to government figures. The figures on so-called "capex" spending from the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis offer a glimpse of the investment priorities of a sector that some argue is poised for growth after decades of contraction.
SEATTLE, Nov 27- The U.S. aviation regulator on Wednesday required U.S. airlines to inspect any General Electric Co engines on Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner and 747-8 aircraft that experience icing problems which could lead to loss of thrust and forced landings.
FRANKFURT, Nov 27- German engineer Siemens expects its Infrastructure& Cities business, which has been hit by project delays and restructuring, to reach its profitability target this financial year, it said on Wednesday.
SEATTLE, Nov 27- Icing problems that have occurred on Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner and 747-8 aircraft using engines made by General Electric Co could lead to forced landings, the U.S. aviation regulator said on Wednesday. Boeing and GE had said there were six incidents in which icing occurred, but the FAA's notice cited nine.
SEATTLE, Nov 27- Icing problems that have occurred on Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner and 747-8 aircraft using engines made by General Electric Co could lead to forced landings, the U.S. aviation regulator said on Wednesday. The so-called airworthiness directive from the Federal Aviation Administration had been expected after a series of incidents this year.
Nov 26- General Electric Co said on Tuesday it signed a nearly $700 million deal with Saudi Electricity Co to supply natural gas turbine generators. GE said it currently has more than 500 generators installed in Saudi Arabia, supplying roughly half of the kingdom's power.
The FAA also said it has been working closely with Boeing and GE to monitor and understand these events as the companies develop a permanent solution. Boeing advised airlines on Friday about a risk of engine icing problems on 747-8 and 787 Dreamliner planes with GE engines, urging 15 carriers to avoid flying them near high-altitude thunderstorms.
*Oil falls after Iran deal; energy shares slip. *Facebook and Yelp shares drop. Wal-Mart Stores Inc shares rose 0.8 percent to close at $80.43, off an all-time intraday high of $80.57 after the world's largest retailer said it has chosen its next chief executive.
*Chinese regulator not saying why Qualcomm investigated. Nov 25- Qualcomm Inc said on Monday it faces an antitrust probe in China, sending its shares lower as investors worried the investigation could hurt the chipmaker's business in the fast-growing smartphone market.
*China key growth market for Qualcomm. Nov 25- Qualcomm Inc said China's price regulator has started an investigation of the mobile chipmaker under the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law, sending the U.S. company's shares down 2.6 percent.
*Oil falls after Iran deal, energy shares may be pressured. *FDA approves Johnson& Johnson's hepatitis C drug. NEW YORK, Nov 25- U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday, suggesting major averages would extend a rally that has taken them to repeated all-time highs, though energy shares will be in focus amid a sharp decline in crude oil prices.
Eight of the most active business PACs wrote checks totaling $84,750 to 56 Republicans in the Senate and the House of Representatives after they voted against an Oct. 16 deal to re-open the government that had been shut down since Oct. 1 and avert an imminent debt default, according to a Reuters analysis.
Nabil Fahmy, Egypt's foreign minister, says business confidence will improve once the country adopts its constitution.
Sunday, 8 Dec 2013 | 8:12 PM ETMichael Spencer, chief economist, Asia Pacific and co-head, Global Economics at Deutsche Bank, explains why he's bullish on the Chinese economy.
Sunday, 8 Dec 2013 | 5:40 PM ETCNBC's latest market sentiment survey showed 53 percent of respondents expect bullion prices to gain this week.


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2014 Competitive Soccer Tryouts For more information, click here.
Wed-Friday 2-7 pmSat- 10-5Sun-11-4Closed on Sunday 9/1 - Labor Day weekend.The last week- 9/12-9/14 hours are subject to change based on need.Closed Monday & TuesdayKombat Soccer1093 Roseville SquareRoseville, CA 95678916-865-6469This year U10 teams will need to purchase the 2012 approved uniform kit
The program,called TOPSoccer, is designed to meet the needs of children with physical and/or mental disabilities. It targets those kids ages 5-18 who would like to play soccer, but are challenged by the traditional soccer environment, including those kids with physical supports and wheelchairs.
TOPSoccer is a community-based, outreach soccer program that is run by local volunteers. Player participation and development are key elements of the program, as players are placed on teams according to ability and NOT by age. The program is designed to provide a fun and meaningful experience for the family, while also improving the overall fitness, self-esteem and social skills of the child athlete in a safe and caring environment. The program will also provide parents the opportunity to network with other families for support and information sharing.
TOPSoccer furthers US Youth Soccer's mission of fostering the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America's youth through the sport of soccer at all levels. In short, it takes kids from the sidelines to participating in the game. Just talk with the parents or participants of TOPSoccer and you'll understand why TOPSoccer exists.
EYSC participates as a host club for TopSoccer activity dates each year. The dates, locations and times will be posted in the News section of our website when those activity dates draw near. This participation provides an opportunity for local families to experience and become familiar with the program and meet the Coaches and other volunteers. TOPSoccer is also seeking adult and teenage volunteers to serve as player buddies.
"Roseville SC is excited to announce that Challenger Sports British Soccer will be running two week-long soccer camps for all players this summer on the weeks of June 24th-28th and July 29th-2nd August for boys and girls aged 4 - 12 years old. Professional British coaches will work with our players to help develop foot skills and core skills and techniques in the game to improve ball control, 1v1's, passing and shooting and defending. Over 125,000 children experienced this camp last year in the USA. All kids get a free ball and t-shirt, player evaluation and soccer poster and by signing up on-line before May 10th and June 14th for respective weeks every player will get a FREE British Soccer Jersey! Want to host a British coach for the week of camp? Call Dan James 916-596 -1694 and get an $80 camp rebate."


text:
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Bright.com is the fastest growing job destination in the U.S., with over 7 million people visiting us each month. They find us through ads, search engines, and word of mouth.
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THANK YOU to our generous donors for making the 2013 Spirit of Life Award Gala a tremendous success!
Click on the image to view photos of the Hope is in Style citizens.
Reuben Carranza
North American CEO Wella, P&G Salon Professional Division |
Jim and Cheryl Markham
Owners Colorproof Evolved Color Care |
Deborah Carver
President & CEO Creative Age Publications |
Ann Mincey Jetton
Vice President Global Communications (retired) REDKEN |
Carmen DePasquale
CEO DePasquale Companies |
Dennis O'Connor
Founder/President Solutions for Salons.com |
John Heffner
President & GM OPI Inc. |
Pat Parenty
President L'Oreal USA Professional Products Division & Salon Centric |
Eric Horn
Director, Business Development Professional Beauty Association |
George Schaeffer
CEO OPI Inc. |
Sara Jones
General Manager Joico |
Colin Walsh
General Manager Matrix USA |
Paula Malloy
DVP, DMM JCPenney Salon |
George Schaeffer
OPI Inc. |
Emmett and Beth Hickey
Spa Specialists Representatives |
Sara Jones
Joico |
Ann Mincey
Redken |
Eva Graham
NIOXIN Research Laboratories Inc. |
Jan Arnold
Jim and Cheryl Markham
PureOlogy |
Ray Mager
L'Oreal |
Bob Peel Sr.
Peel's Salon Services |
Carmen DePasquale
DePasquale Companies |
Bob Peel Jr.
Peel's Salon Services |
Leo Passage
James Emiliani
Emilini Enterprises |
Click here to download in TIFF format |
Click here to download in TIFF format |
Internationally renowned celebrity hair-stylist/ entrepreneur Jose Eber and his team visited City of Hope patients on October 1, 2012 for a special day of beauty for patients who have lost their hair. During the makeover experience patients received a brand new Jaclyn Smith wig and a special visit from the Charlie's Angels actress herself.
View photos >>
To customize your experience on our website with content most relevant to you, select a role below and your primary area of interest. You can return and change your preferences here at any time.


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Heres an Oddball from the 70's! a 1977 Dodge Diplomat 2 dr! Can't be too many of these left! 318 V-8 auto. trans. Power. steerin... More
1966 Dodge Polara 4 door sedan with rose exterior body paint and white top. The interior is cloth and vinyl in the same rose... More
1958 DODGE ROYAL LANCER 2 DR HARDTOP COUPE. When was the last time you saw a 1958 Dodge? Come see the nice example we... More
Got to be one of the most outrageously designed cars to come out of Detroit ever, 1961 Dodge Phoenix! 318 "Poly Block" V-8, high... More


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Kanye West Lyrics. All songs by Kanye West
Hi there at ringtones and lyrics website Audiko.net. Here are all available Kanye West lyrics by represented in the album order. We can offer you 31878 song lyrics including 12 by Kanye West including the latest mega hits such as Niggas in paris, Mercy (feat. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz) or Mercy. If you want to sing a song on a party you can choose among lyrics listed here. Being fans of Kanye West and Hip-Hop, we have collected and checked all available texts here at Audiko. Together with lyrics you can download the ringtone of Niggas in paris or Mercy (feat. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz) for free.


text:
First Saturday Birding and Breakfast: Join Black Hills Audubon Society for birding and breakfast. Meet in downtown Olympia and bird the area until it's time for breakfast at a local restaurant. Beginners welcome. Share what you know; no expert leader. Saturday, November 3rd, 7:30am. Bayview Thriftway, 516 Fourth Avenue West, Olympia. For more information, contact Black Hills Audubon 360-402-513.
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Ashanti Movies
Widely hailed as one of the greatest urban music discoveries of the new millennium, glamorous R&B recording sensation
entered the public eye thanks, in large part, to the efforts of record mogul
Irv Gotti
, the powerhouse also responsible for launching
Ja Rule
's career. Such albums as Chapter II, Concrete Rose, and The Declaration sold an unholy number of copies in a brief span of time, ensuring superstardom for the ascendant diva. In actuality, however, the young woman -- born
Ashanti S. Douglas
-- had already established a viable presence in a key number of theatrically released feature films and telemovies long prior to her 2002 debut album. She received her formal training in dance at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, and made one of her earliest television appearances as a dancer, at age nine, in the
Phylicia Rashad
-headlined musical update of Pollyanna,
(1989). Bit parts in feature films ensued, including
Spike Lee
Malcolm X
(1992) and
Ted Demme
Who's the Man?
's acting career received a boost from musical stardom; she landed small roles in the quasi-Bollywood comedy
Bride and Prejudice
(2004) and the TV series
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
before tackling her first lead, as Dorothy Gale, in the made-for-television special
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
then rose to higher billing with plum roles in the teen sex comedy
John Tucker Must Die
(2006) and the action-filled video-game adaptation
Resident Evil: Extinction
(2007). ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
Results per page:
Dream House
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A successful New York writer (Daniel Craig) discovers that the country holds just as much menace as the big city after moving his family to a cozy New England town and discovering that their gorgeous new home was once the site of a brutal murder. The closer the writer and his wife (Rachel Weisz) get to their new neighbor (Naomi Watts), the more that details begin to emerge about the slaying of a devoted mother and her two children. Jim Sheridan (In America, Brothers) directs a script by David Loucka (The Dream Team, Problem Child). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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Daniel Craig
Naomi Watts
, (
Resident Evil: Extinction
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Director Russell Mulcahy takes over for the third chapter in the Resident Evil film franchise, which finds genetically altered Alice (Milla Jovovich) joining forces with Carlos (Oded Fehr) and L.J. (Mike Epps) to take down the Umbrella Corporation once and for all. Upon emerging from her hideout in the Nevada desert, Alice is quickly joined by old friends Carlos and L.J., as well as survivors Claire (Ali Larter), K-Mart (Spencer Locke), and Nurse Betty (Ashanti). Now instilled with super-human strength, senses, and dexterity as a result of the biogenetic experimentation conducted on her by the Umbrella Corporation, Alice and the rest of the survivors set out to eliminate a virus that threatens to turn every living human undead, and ensure that the mysterious organization pays the price for their horrific crimes against humanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Read More
Milla Jovovich
Oded Fehr
, (
John Tucker Must Die
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Three teenagers two-timed by a local lothario decide to turn the tables on him in this romantic comedy. John Tucker (Jesse Metcalfe) is the big man on campus at his high school -- he's the captain and star player of the basketball team, he's got money, he's good-looking and charming, and he can have any girl he wants. However, the latter attribute is about to get him in serious trouble when three different girls at his school -- Heather (Ashanti), Beth (Sophia Bush) and Carrie (Arielle Kebbel) -- discover they've all been dating John at the same time. Determined to bring down the campus ladykiller, the girls devise a plan -- they pick a cute but socially clumsy girl who is new at school, Kate (Brittany Snow), and give her a crash course in stealing John's heart. Once Kate has John wrapped around her little finger, she's supposed to drop him like a bad habit and give him a taste of what heartbreak is really like. However, it seems that the early stages of the plan work a little too well, and John and Kate end up falling for each other for real. John Tucker Must Die also stars Jenny McCarthy, Penn Badgley, and Dan Payne. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Read More
Jesse Metcalfe
Brittany Snow
, (
Coach Carter
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The true-life story of a coach who tries to teach his players that there's more to life than basketball is brought to the screen in this sports drama. Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) was once a star player on the Richmond High School basketball team in Richmond, CA, and years later, after establishing himself in publishing and marketing, he returns to the school and to the team as the new basketball coach. Carter quickly sees that his work is cut out for him -- the team is having an awful season, and their fights off the court are more decisive than their play on the court. While Carter wants to make the Richmond cagers into a winning team, he also wants a lot more -- to teach the boys to respect themselves and one another, and that they must excel in the classroom as well as in the gymnasium. Under Carter's guidance, the team turns their losing season around, with the state title a genuine possibility. However, when Carter learns that a number of his players have let their grade point averages slip below 2.3, as mandated in a contract he entered into with the students, he decides to lock the team out of the gym and send them into study hall until their marks improve. Carter's plan quickly becomes a subject of controversy among parents and team boosters, and their objections are soon picked up by the local news media, many of whom are not sympathetic to Carter's belief that his players must have goals beyond college ball or the NBA. Coach Carter also features Rob Brown and Rick Gonzalez as members of the team, and R&B diva Ashanti in her film debut as the girlfriend of one of Carter's players. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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Samuel L. Jackson
Robert Ri'chard
, (
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
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L. Frank Baum's enduring fantasy story gets a new and very funny spin in this made-for-TV comedy. Dorothy (Ashanti) is a young woman who works in a diner in Kansas owned by her Aunt Em (Queen Latifah) and dreams of one day making it big as a singer. When a tornado makes its way through the trailer park Dorothy and Em call home, the young woman is spirited off to a magical land known as Oz, where she accidentally kills the most wicked witch in the land. Dorothy, however, isn't so sure she wants to stay, and sets off to find a wizard who might be able to help her. As Dorothy searches for the wizard's castle, she makes some friends along the way -- a scarecrow (Kermit the Frog, voiced by Steve Whitmire), a cowardly lion (Fozzie Bear, voiced by Eric Jacobson), a combination robot and computer made of tin (The Great Gonzo, voiced by Dave Goelz) -- but she also has to fend off The Wicked Witch of the West (Miss Piggy, voiced by Eric Jacobson), whose sister fell victim to Dorothy upon her arrival in the strange new land. Featuring most of the best-known Muppet Show characters, The Muppets' Wizard of Oz also features guest appearances by Jeffrey Tambor, David Alan Grier, and Quentin Tarantino. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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Queen Latifah
, (
Ashanti: Princess of Hip Hop/Soul
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Ashanti -- Princess of Hip Hop/Soul is an unauthorized biography of the singer. Starting with her childhood in New York and her relationship with her supportive family, the film shows how she became a show-business success. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Read More
Bride and Prejudice
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The very British sensibilities of Jane Austen are introduced to the exotic flavors of the Bollywood musical in this romantic comedy with songs from the director of Bend It Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha. Lalita Bakshi (Aishwarya Rai) is the lovely and eligible daughter of her socially ambitious mother and father (Nadira Babbar and Anupam Kher). Mother and father want to be sure that Lalita, the most beautiful of their four daughters, settles down with a man worthy of her, but she has proven resistant to matchmaking, announcing that she will choose her own husband, and will choose him for love. While mother is keen on the profoundly annoying Kholi (Nitin Chandra Ganatra), Lalita has had her head turned by a handsome vagabond from England, Johnny Wickham (Daniel Gilles). But while attending the wedding of a friend, Lalita meets Will Darcy (Martin Henderson), a college buddy of family friend Raj (Naveen Andrews) who is the son of a wealthy hotel magnate. Lalita finds that Will makes a strong impression on her -- she can't stand him, but she also can't get him out of her mind. Will feels the same way about her, and as they inadvertently chase one another over three continents, will morbid fascination grow into true love? Bride and Prejudice marked the first English-speaking role for Aishwarya Rai, who had firmly established herself as India's leading female star when this film was made. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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Aishwarya Rai
Martin Henderson
, (
Intimate Portrait: Ashanti
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: First Date
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) each step out for the evening with someone new, but both dates are full of surprise revelations. Xander's rendezvous is with Lissa (pop singer Ashanti), a lovely young lady he meets on his construction job. Buffy's, meanwhile, is with Principal Robin Wood (D.B. Woodside), her boss at Sunnydale High School. Things begin normally enough for Buffy and Robin, but a vamp attack soon nips the fun in the bud. Much to Buffy's astonishment, though, the principal more than holds his own against the attackers. Over dinner, he reveals that he's the son of a slayer and was raised by his mother's watcher after her death. Now a part-time demon-fighter, he was fully aware of Buffy's identity when he hired her as school counselor. Once again the evening is interrupted, this time by a frantic phone call that Xander needs help. With Spike (James Marsters) and Robin in tow, Buffy heads to the school just in time to save her friend from being murdered by Lissa. It turns out Xander has once again romanced a demon, this time one who wants to get in good with The First by bring another Turok-Han to earth. As Xander's rescuers defeat his duplicitous date, Spike puts on his ugly face, revealing to the disgusted Robin that Buffy is in league with a vampire. Later, the specter of Robin's mother -- actually The First in disguise -- appears to him and reveals the identity of her killer. It turns out she's actually the slayer Spike murdered on a New York City subway in the 1970s (see "Fool for Love"). Originally broadcast Feb. 11, 2003, on UPN, "First Date" marked episode 136 of the cult-favorite series. K.D. Aubert here replaces April Weeden-Washington as Robin's mother, the subway Slayer. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
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Video director Jerome Cornuau made his feature-film debut with this showbiz-themed French film. Young Alice (Ambre Boukebza) hitchhikes into the city to seek out her music-executive dad (Bernard Le Coq) but instead becomes friends with a singing star (Ophelie Winter, portraying herself), learns dancing from African trashman Rudy (Ashanti), polishes her singing skills with an assist from vocalist Nathalie (Lea Drucker), and is romanced by producer Jeremy (Patrick Forster-Delmas). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
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Ambre Boukebza
Ophélie Winter
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In this comedy, bumbling Harlem barbers Dr. Dre and Ed Lover are shipped off to the police academy by their frustrated boss, Nick (Jim Moody). However, when a crooked land developer threatens to forcibly take over their ex-boss' land, it is up to Dr. Dre and Ed to use their new-found police powers to stop him. A number of well-known rap artists make appearances in this film, including Queen Latifah, Humpty Hump, Kriss Kross, B-Real, and Ice-T. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
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There were those in 1989 who bellyached that Disney Television's Polly was a far from faithful adaptation of Eleanor Porter's classic novel Pollyanna. What they meant was that Polly did not resemble the 1960 Hayley Mills movie version of Pollyanna, which itself played fast and loose with the source material. In Polly, The Cosby Show's Keshia Knight Pulliam portrays the "Glad Girl" who brings along a satchelful of happiness and optimism when she visits her wealthy aunt one summer. Tranposing Porter's all-white story to a middle-class black community in the Alabama of the 1950s (Celeste Holm is the only white costar) isn't nearly as self-conscious or gimmicky as it seems on paper. Nor is any damage done to the original by adding musical numbers, especially when taking into consideration that the film was directed by renowned choreographer Debbie Allen (the sister of Phylicia Rashad, who plays Polly's aunt--and who in 1989 was costarring with Keshia Knight Pulliam on a weekly basis on The Cosby Show). Polly scored a boffo ratings hit, prompting Disney TV to assemble a 1990 sequel, Polly: Comin' Home! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Rolex Rankings No. 1
Rolex Rankings No. 2
Congratulations to 2013 winner, Shanshan Feng!
This week is all about...Cristie Kerr
Jordan Hardy answers 18 fun questions.
2011 Kraft Nabisco Champion Stacy Lewis was featured on Morning Drive. Lewis spoke about her grandfather passing before the event, about all the well wishes she's received and about her jump into Poppie's Pond.


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Caching has brought me into God's creation more, and since I cache alone, has taken me away from the noise of everyday life. There are times when I stop and sit on a log or a bench and wait to see what the Lord is going to speak to me or surprise me with. I don't pray or think about what has happened that day or what is going to happen, I just sit and try to hear His voice.
Silence is a discipline that Christians need to practice, but today we don't practice it frequently enough. We either have earphones in our ears listening to something, or have the radio on in the car, TV on at home, or the cell phone glued to our ear.
Is it any wonder we don't hear from God? He would have to yell in order to get our attention.
I am convinced if we would turn off all of our gadgets, zip up our mouths, and blank out our minds, we would hear from Him more frequently and be drawn closer to Him.
This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, so why not take a little time out of your busy, noisy life and go somewhere, in God's creation, away from everything, and just sit and listen. Try to hear that still small voice of God wanting to tell you that He loves you and glad you are enjoying what He created.
It just may be the highlight of your weekend.
Remember Me


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- She is a leading Pakistani lawyer, advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, President Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan and human rights activist, who works both in Pakistan and internationally to prevent the persecution of religious minorities, women, and exploitation of children.
- She was the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief from August 2004 to July 2010 (first attached to the former Commission on Human Rights, now to the Human Rights Council). Previously, she served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary and Summary Executions.
- She is a founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, and has served as Secretary-General and later Chairperson of the organization.
- Jahangir and her sister, joined with fellow activists and lawyers to form the first law firm established by women in Pakistan.
- In the same year they also helped form the Women's Action Forum (WAF); a pressure group campaigning against Pakistan's discriminatory legislation, most notably against the Proposed Law of Evidence, where the value of a woman's testimony was reduced to half that of a man's testimony, and the Hadood Ordinances, where victims of rape had to prove their innocence or else face punishment themselves.
- On February 12, 1983, the Punjab Women Lawyers Association in Lahore organised a public protest (one of its leaders was Jahangir) against the Proposed Law of Evidence, during which Jahangir and other participating WAF members were beaten, teargassed, and arrested by police.
- In 1982 Jahangir earned the nickname "little heroine" after leading a protest march in Islamabad against a decision by then-president Zia ul Haq to enforce religious laws and stated: "Family laws [which are religious laws] give women few rights" and that "They have to be reformed because Pakistan cannot live in isolation. We cannot remain shackled while other women progress."
- In 1986 Jahangir and Hina set up AGHS Legal Aid, the first free legal aid centre in Pakistan. The AGHS Legal Aid Cell in Lahore also runs a shelter for women, called 'Dastak'.
- She won the Supreme Court Bar Association election by defeating her competitor Ahmed Awais and securing 834 of total votes and became the first ever women President of SCBA in the history of Pakistan.
She has recived; the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award for "greatness of spirit shown in service of the people", the Millennium prize, by UNIFEM (the United Nations Development Fund for Women) in collaboration with the non-governmental organisation International Alert, the Freedom of Worship Medal for her human rights and religious freedom activism in a ceremony held in the Nieuwe Kerk in Holland, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the second highest civilian award of Pakistan and the 2010 UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights, recognizing her efforts as a human rights defender. (via womenwhokickass)
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(Updated, Feb. 28, 11:45 a.m.)
Three more members of the R.I. Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors have announced their intention to step down, bringing to eight the number who have left or asked off the board since last spring.
By Patrick Anderson |
Roger Williams University leaders have narrowed their search for a new downtown Providence branch to five locations and hope to recommend one to trustees next month, school officials said Thursday.
By Patrick Anderson |
The New York Times published an excellent account of how Curt Schilling bilked the taxpayers of Rhode Island out of millions of dollars to subsidize his now-defunct company, 38 Studios LLC. Unfortunately, there was something missing from the story: Schilling himself, who declined to speak to the reporter.
By Jonathan Mahler |
Rhode Island may have its credit grade cut by Moody's Investors Service after lawmakers debated defaulting on $75 million in debt that brought a company started by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling to Providence.
By Annie Linskey |
Rhode Island lawmakers eased the threat of defaulting on bonds that backed former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's videogame company, agreeing to cover the debt in a step that may preserve the state's credit rating.
By Michelle Kaske and Annie Linskey |
An auction of the rights to the 38 Studios video game under development when the company declared bankruptcy, codenamed "Project Copernicus," has been scheduled for mid-November.
By Kaylen Auer |
The bloodstained sock worn by former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling during the 2004 World Series will be put up for sale next month and may bring in at least $100,000, auction organizers said.
By Erik Matuszewski |
Standard & Poor's Rating Services announced Thursday that R.I. Economic Development Corporation revenue bonds issued for 38 Studios LLC, former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's failed videogame company, will not be affected by the state's decision to openly consider defaulting on the bonds, reported Reuters.
By PBN Staff
Members of the House of Representatives will reconvene Wednesday afternoon to continue debate on a fiscal 2014 budget.
By PBN Staff
Moody's Investors Service announced that it will not downgrade Rhode Island's Aa2 general obligation debt rating in light of the General Assembly's decision not to default on its 38 Studios LLC bonds.
By Eli Okun |


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The Battle of Bull Run: The End of Illusions
Both North and South expected victory to be glorious and quick, but the first major battle signaled the long and deadly war to come
- By Ernest B. Furgurson
- Smithsonian magazine, July-August 2011, Subscribe
Cannon boomed, brass bands serenaded and ladies tossed bouquets as Jefferson Davis arrived in Richmond on May 29, 1861, to make it the capital of the Confederate States of America. He had set out from the original capital at Montgomery, Alabama, soon after Virginia seceded from the Union six days earlier. Along the way, jubilant well-wishers slowed his train and he crossed the James River into Richmond far behind schedule. It was a scene wholly unlike President-elect Abraham Lincoln's arrival in Washington the previous February, when he sneaked into the city at dawn in a curtained sleeping car because of threats of assassination as he passed through Baltimore. Richmond welcomed Davis as if he personally were going to smite the Yankees and drive them from Virginia soil.
To a cheering crowd, he said, "I know that there beats in the breasts of Southern sons a determination never to surrender, a determination never to go home but to tell a tale of honor....Give us a fair field and a free fight, and the Southern banner will float in triumph everywhere."
Unlike Davis' Mississippi and the other cotton states of the Deep South, Virginia, the most populous state below the Mason-Dixon line, had been reluctant to leave the Union of its fathers. The Richmond convention that debated secession leaned strongly against it; a country lawyer and West Point graduate named Jubal Early spoke for the majority when he warned that the convention could decide "the existence and the preservation of the fairest fabric of government that was ever erected....We ought not to act in hot haste, but coolly deliberate in view of the grave consequences."
But after the first guns at Fort Sumter, when Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to put down the rebellion, the convention reversed itself. Opinion swung so sharply that the result of the May 23 referendum confirming the convention's decision was a foregone conclusion. More than five months after South Carolina became the first state to depart the Union, Virginia followed. As a result, the proud, conservative Old Dominion would be the bloodiest battleground of the Civil War—and the first and final objective of all that slaughter was the capital, the very symbol of Southern resistance, the city of Richmond.
At first, there had been brave talk in Dixie of making Washington the capital of the Confederacy, surrounded as it was by the slave states of Maryland and Virginia. Federal troops had been attacked by a mob in Baltimore, and Marylanders had cut rail and telegraph lines to the North, forcing regiments headed for Washington to detour by steaming down the Chesapeake Bay. Washington was in a state of nerves; officials fortified the Capitol and the Treasury against feared invasion. Richmond was alarmed by rumors that the Union gunboat Pawnee was on its way up the James River to shell the city into flames. Some families panicked, believing an Indian tribe was on the warpath. Militiamen rushed to riverside and aimed cannon downstream. But the Pawnee never came.
North and South, such rumors pursued rumors, but soon the preliminaries, real and imagined, were either resolved or laughed away. The stage was set for war, and both sides were eager for a quick and glorious victory.
The society widow Rose O'Neal Greenhow was well known for her Southern sentiments, but in her home just across Lafayette Square from the White House she entertained Army officers and congressmen regardless of their politics. Indeed, one of her favorites was Henry Wilson, a dedicated abolitionist and future vice president from Massachusetts who had replaced Jefferson Davis as chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs. Greenhow, sophisticated and seductive, listened carefully to everything her admirers said. Soon she would be sending notes across the Potomac encoded in a cipher left with her by Thomas Jordan, who had resigned his Army commission and gone south.
As summer began, Jordan was adjutant of the Confederate Army under Brig. Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, a dashing Louisianan. Beauregard, who had become the Confederacy's premier hero by commanding the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April, was now gathering brigades to protect the vital rail junction at Manassas, little more than 25 miles west-southwest of Washington.
Subscribe now for more of Smithsonian's coverage on history, science and nature.
Related topics: Military Leaders American Civil War Virginia
Comments (11) |
This may be an interesting article, but I must admit I couldn't get past the caption under the photo on the first page. "Scores of high-spirited civilians carried picnic baskets and champagne to the battlefield to watch what would turn out to be the first major land ..." Surely experts at the Smithsonian are aware that no spectators or picnickers made it onto the battlefield. The closest they came was to disembark on the high point of Centreville, VA where they could see the smoke from the guns and some of the troop movements. I hope that the rest of the article does not carry similar myths that are being perpetuated through the years. Also, as to the naming of the battlefield.~~ In all official papers it is referred to as Bull Run or in some cases, Bulls Run. Decades later, a group of Manassas citizens bought up the land, and offer it to the National Park Service. They had several conditions attached to the donation, which included--the Park must be referred to as Manassas National Battlefield Park, and a statue of Stonewall Jackson had to be erected on the battlefield. So it was not named Manassas because they won the battle, but because the donation of the land dictated the name. I just want to set the record straight on the above points because today is the anniversary of the day, 151 years ago, that my young ancestor, Cornelius Sullivan, lost his life somewhere in the vicinity of the Stone House. RIP to him and all of those brave men who fought and lost their lives on that battlefield.
Posted by Jan Cunard on July 21,2012 | 05:17 PM
civil war rocks
Posted by jasmine on May 24,2012 | 06:08 PM
During the War's centennial, writers perpetrated errors. As the sesquicentennial begins, this article repeats two. Such mistakes ill serve readers with only limited knowledge of the War. Bull Run was popular during the centennial when most referred to Monitor vs. Merrimac (omitting the "k," which the Navy Historian notes is an error) instead of Monitor vs. Virginia. Smithsonian should help the centennial's more glaring errors fade, not perpetuate them to 2061. Use proper names for events. Bull Run may have been popular in 1961 because it was easy to spell & for editors it can wrap to the next line. It fit in the title box on the first page of your magazine, whereas Manassas wouldn't. The National Park Service calls the battles First & Second Manassas. http://www.nps.gov/mana/index.htm The accepted convention is victors name battles. The South won, so its name for this battle wins. The author & Smithsonian are in Washington, DC, & should know the name of a site within 30 miles. Your magazine's sketch of Stonewall Jackson in gray uniform with plumed hat & Confederate Battle Flag (CBF) reflects 2 errors. Artist Henry Ogden was only five in 1861, so he couldn't have made his sketch during this battle. is closer to the truth what Jackson wore: a pre-1861 blue uniform & hat. The author should have stated that Gen. Beauregard & Johnston approved the CBF later because of confusion between the 1st National & US flags during 1st Manassas. The caption could have noted both errors.
Posted by Michael Shumaker on August 4,2011 | 11:55 AM
I just finished reading Ernest B. Furgurson's summary of the first Battle of Bull Run (Manassas). I felt compelled to read it and found it interesting. But, I am haunted by a lingering question: What is there in the American Psyche (including my own) that makes us want to read about war battles? So many deaths, incapacitating injuries, orphans, widows, PTSD! Is this desire(liking?)found in all world cultures? Now that would be an article worthy of the "Smithsonian".
Posted by Martin Sanden on August 3,2011 | 03:19 PM
Reply to Dan Fischer from Ernest Furgurson, writer of "The End of Illusions" --
Among the many Southern remarks about taking Washington was the Richmond Examiner's April 26 assertion that "Washington should be the capital of the Southern Confederacy....If we attack her we shall meet with little opposition and much aid from her citizens." General Scott took such threats seriously: "They are closing their coils around us," he said, and fortified the Capitol, City Hall and the Treasury building. General Beauregard himself wrote of urging the concentration of Confederate forces "so that the moment McDowell should be sufficiently far detached from Washington, I would be enabled to to move rapidly round his more convenient flank upon his rear and his communications, and attack him in reverse, or get between his forces, then separated, thus cutting off his retreat upon Arlington in the event of his defeat, and insuring as an immediate consequence the crushing of Patterson, the liberation of
Maryland, and the capture of Washington."
Posted by Reader Services on July 13,2011 | 05:10 PM
I had always been taught that the 'capitol' of a state or nation is spelled with an 'o,' not an 'a,' 'capital' being reserved to describe fiduciary matters. Mr. Furgurson and the Editors seem to have let that one go.
Posted by Joseph Salata on July 11,2011 | 11:50 AM
well written and balanced. familiar with battle area since my son lives in Centreville Va. Sam Croot
Posted by sam croot on July 8,2011 | 04:17 PM
It sure would be nice if The Smithsonian Magazine would show many more photos, and in good quality resolution, so that we can better enjoy the articles.
Posted by Ike Cabase on July 6,2011 | 05:47 PM
The article "End of Illusions" had as a headliner "Confederates thought they would quickly capture Washington D.C.". That is completely untrue.
In fact Jefferson Davis proclaimed many times that was not the Confederacy's intention. After Lincoln called for 400,000 troops to punish the Confederacy, and the Northern newspapers blaring "On to Richmond, on to Richmond" and the Yankees invaded Virginia, Gen Beauregard did say that if the North penetrated too deeply that he could move in behind tham and capture Washington, but this was miliary defensive move and not a strategit objective, and not the obejective of th Confederate Executive Branch.
The article is obviously too biased to be a credible documentation of history, as was the previous month's Civil War article.
Posted by Dan Fischer on June 28,2011 | 01:12 PM
If you want to zoom in on over 230 Civil War Battle locations in an interactive Google Map that enable you to zoom in on the actual battlefields and forts in both satellite and terrain mode. It comes complete with links to Wikipedia descriptions and battle maps of each battle location, National Archive photos, and battle animations from CivilWarAnimated, then check out the Civil War Google Map at MyReadingMapped:
This interactive map can also supply directions, hotel and other points-of-interest information.
Posted by PragmaticStatistic on June 26,2011 | 07:51 PM
Can anyone tell me what the two very tall structures in the rear of the ruined Manassas railroad station are? The picture is on page 62 of the July-August Smithsonian Magazine. It is also viewable in the 'View More Photos' frame, button #10.
Posted by Larry Dykas on June 25,2011 | 09:21 PM


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Robert L. Lewis at work in the window of Antique Boutique |
A big 'thank you' to Robert L. Lewis, one of the last original Highwaymen painters for his amazing and inspirational demonstration at The Antique Boutique.
What a blessing it was to have him grace us with his amazing artistic talent during Tarpon Festival Weekend, May 19 and 20.
For those who don't know, the Highwaymen were a group of painters who re-created Florida landscapes on canvas and sold them to tourists throughout the 1960s and 70s on the sides of Florida highways. Originally these paintings sold for $20 to $30, but now are highly sought after and are worth thousands of dollars.
Mr. Lewis, a retired teacher, has recently won "best of show' at the Cedar Key Art Festival, been featured at the Dade City Art Festival, just to name the most recent.
He was inducted into the Artists' Hall of Fame, and lectures at many colleges across the country.
Presently he owns a gallery in Cocoa Beach where he resides, which is operated by his son, Robert L. Lewis III. The gallery features Lewis' paintings, along with those by other Highwaymen.
If you had the opportunity to see him at work in the window of our store on Saturday, May 19, you would understand why his work is displayed in many museums. He effortlessly painted a scene of the St. Johns River while sharing stories with the people who came in and talked to him.
Congratulations to all who acquired a piece of his work!
I would also like to thank Alex, owner of 3rd Street Cafe, for the most charming 'meet and greet', which he hosted at the restaurant with Mr. Lewis later that afternoon. The wine was great, and the conversation and the company were unsurpassed.
If you were unable to see this great man at work, the painting Mr. Lewis created that day will be on display at the 3rd Street Cafe.
Chelsea Combrink
Antique Boutique


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Since the first wind plants over thirty years ago, there have been scarce educational and training opportunities for those considering work in the wind industry. The California Wind Energy Collaborative hopes to support the industry by meeting the classroom needs of the technicians, operators, engineers, and administrators of tomorrow's wind plants and business offices. The course detailed here is nominally for technicians but is appropriate for business office personnel, decision makers, or anyone seeking a better understanding of the technology and science driving the wind industry.
Given over two full days, Wind Energy: A Technology & Industry Primer provides a comprehensive, technical foundation for those currently working or considering future work in the wind industry. Instead of replacing or duplicating on-the-job training, this course augments it by focusing on core fundamentals that traditionally aren't covered, including aerodynamics, structural loads, and the engineering of power electronics and control systems. Topics such as grid integration of wind energy, environmental issues, and design of modern wind turbines will also be discussed. We believe that understanding these fundamental topics makes better technicians who are more aware in their working environment and more invested in their industry.
Basic prior knowledge of the wind industry or with wind turbines and electrical systems is assumed. However, this course is also appropriate for anyone seeking a better understanding of wind energy.
No classes are currently scheduled for 2012. Please check back in 2013 for more information.
The course is structured into the fourteen sessions outlined below. The sessions are taught by experts from industry and academia. Instructors include Mike Behnke (BEW Engineering, a DNV Company), Kevin Jackson (Dynamic Design Engineering), Eric Jacobson (Pacificos Energy), C.P. van Dam (UC Davis), and Rob Kamisky (UC Davis). Fifteen minute breaks are scheduled between each session, with a one hour break at midday for lunch. Lunch will be provided. Each student will receive a reader that includes the material presented in the course.
The completion of this course does not make you a certified technician. You must be present to receive the reader material.
Talks will begin at 8:00am. The order of the presentations is subject to change. Please check back periodically for updates.
Time | Day One | Time | Day Two |
8:00 - 8:30 | Welcome & Introduction | 8:00 - 9:00 | Operations & Maintenance |
8:30 - 9:00 | History of Wind Energy | 9:15 - 10:15 | Safety & Training |
9:15 - 10:15 | Wind Characteristics & Resource Assessment | 10:30 - 11:30 | Electrical Systems 1 |
10:30 - 11:30 | Aerodynamics 1 | 11:30 - 12:30 | LUNCH |
11:30 - 12:30 | LUNCH | 12:30 - 1:30 | Electrical Systems 2 |
12:30 - 1:30 | Aerodynamics 2 | 1:45 - 2:45 | Environment & Site Issues |
1:45 - 2:45 | Structures & Loads 1 | 3:00 - 4:00 | Grid Integration |
3:00 - 4:00 | Structures & Loads 2 | 4:15 - 5:00 | Wrap-Up & Discussion |
Each topic will be addressed in a straightforward manner, with an emphasis on practical information, examples, and illustrations. A brief summary of each topic is given below.
The history of wind utilization is reviewed to develop an understanding of the different types of machines that have been developed to harness the wind, and how wind technology evolved from early medieval windmills and water pumps to modern utility scale turbines.
An introduction to meteorology as it pertains to wind turbines will be presented. This includes topics such average wind speed versus gusts, turbulence and how the wind behaves in mountainous terrain. How anemometers measure wind and maintenance of common meteorological equipment will be discussed.
This topic explores how the wind interacts with a turbine rotor to turn a generator. Basic concepts such as lift and drag of an airfoil, and the amount of energy available in the wind will be considered. Pitch versus stall regulation of rotor speed will be discussed, as well as items such as the effect of blade contamination on rotor performance.
The source and magnitude of the structural loads on the different components of a wind turbine will be explored, from the rotor to the foundation. Both steady and cyclical forces will be considered, as well as concepts such as resonance, gyroscopic forces, and the sizing of wind turbine system components.
This hour will explore the engineering rationale behind maintenance procedures and will include a look at the tools used for plant and wind turbine operation and performance analysis.
This hour will introduce site safety topics and also give an overview of other wind energy training options.
The electrical path from the generator to the power grid will be explained, including generation of electricity, power conditioning and conversion, SCADA, transformers, and high voltage connections. The interaction between the power grid and a turbine's generator, and phenomenon such as turbine overspeed when disconnected from the grid will be discussed.
With the cost of wind energy going down, more and larger wind plants are going up. This hour looks at the most contentious issues confronting the growth of the wind industry today: how wind generated electricity fits in with the rest of the electrical grid and the issues that keep grid operators up at night as they try to keep our lights on.
Protecting equipment from wildlife, and wildlife from equipment, will be discussed including birds. The permitting process for a California wind farm will be explored, as well as issues such as noise and visual impacts of turbines. Issues such as exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR), aviation lighting requirements and lightning protection will be included.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
The California Wind Energy Collaborative is a partnership of the University of California and the California Energy Commission. This course is supported by the Energy Commission's PIER program.


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Kansas City, Kansas | / change city » | Post FREE Ad | Login / Edit Ad | Register | Help |
Rapidly growing company is seeking online referral agents.11.9.2012 Agents average $100 to $175 a day after training and setup. Must have basic computer skills and Internet access. Training and support provided. Get Paid WEEKLY! | |
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I'm trying to ask a question about XML and would like to include a sample document so that my question is clear. Before I can ask my question, I need to figure out how to type xml in here and and have it displayed. I've tried every combination of pre, blink, quotes slashes... and looked through the formatting help but haven't had any luck. How can I display my XML in a stackoverflow question?
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A garage fire in Wausau is under investigation.
The call came in just before 6:30 p.m. on Monday. One of the people renting the home on South Second Ave. reported the garage fire after hearing a boom sound from inside the home and then seeing flames.
Fire crews say the garage is a total loss, as well as the car that was inside and a truck that was parked just outside of it.
No one was injured.


text: Cryptococcus albidus (Saito) Skinner var. albidus, anamorph (ATCC® 34140™) Strain Designations: CR-180 / Product Format: freeze-dried General Information Characteristics Culture Method History Documentation Print Email Share Share this product Facebook Twitter Google+ Permits and Restrictions View Permits Strain Designations CR-180 Application Biomedical Research and Development Material Biosafety Level 2 Product Format freeze-dried Type Strain no Preceptrol® yes Comments Identification Medium ATCC® Medium 200: YM agar or YM broth Growth Conditions Temperature: 24.0°C Name of Depositor GD Roberts Isolation clinical specimen, Minnesota References Roberts GD, et al. Evaluation of the API 20 c microtube system for the identification of clinically important yeasts. J. Clin. Microbiol. 3: 302-305, 1976. PubMed: 1270593 VITEK YBC. bioMerieux. Permits These permits may be required for shipping this product: Customers located in the state of Hawaii will need to contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to determine if an Import Permit is required. A copy of the permit or documentation that a permit is not required must be sent to ATCC in advance of shipment. Basic Documentation Product Sheet Certificate of Analysis MSDS


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Anteadote is pure, unsweetened tea, made with fresh tea leaves, not concentrate. Unlike the bottled teas found in your grocery, Anteadote contains no additives or preservatives. Filtered water, tea leaves, and vitamin C are its only ingredients. The results are pure refreshment and an abundance of health benefits. If you are looking to increase your consumption of tea, Anteadote is the answer: Health benefits and great taste in one convenient package. Available in four varieties: Green, Black, White and Jasmine.
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International World Water Day is held annually on March 22. The purpose of the event is to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
Cute Kids Gone Adorably Wild!
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Toxic Chemicals Found in Costume Jewelry
The Ecology Center released a study performed by HealthyStuff.org (an arm of The Ecology Center) on March 13, 2012 finding high levels of toxic chemicals (such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic) in low-cost costume jewelry.
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April 18, 2013 - Arcata, CA - The rugged landscape of California's Gold Country has been sought after for centuries, but its enchanting features have also obstructed 21st-Century Internet access.
March 25, 2013 - Arcata, CA- Carlson Wireless today announces the launch of the first TV White Space (TVWS) trial in South Africa.
Contact: Kim Miyade
Arcata, Calif., August 22, 2012—TV white space presents many opportunities that never existed before, including expanding broadband capabilities in areas that were previously underserved.
LAKE MARY, FL and ARCATA, CA— June 12, 2012— Spectrum Bridge, Inc. today announced a partnership with Carlson Wireless to expand adoption of TV White Spaces, in order to meet the growing demand for broadband coverage across rural America.
ARCATA-- TV White Space is making big news. It is an untapped resource that offers abundant amounts of unlicensed spectrum whose signal can penetrate almost any obstacle, from trees to walls, which is especially important in rural areas. Due to its outstanding propagation characteristics, line of sight is not needed, and utilities can count on superior coverage.
"Everyone in the industry has been anxiously awaiting this ruling." --Jim Carlson
In a strong show of support for making unlicensed spectrum available to the public, the FCC today updated the rules about the use of TV white spaces, the unused channels in the TV spectrum in the VHF/UHF range. The new rules pave the way for the future development of this breakthrough technology.
Arcata, Calif. & Cambridge, England, March 26, 2012 - Carlson and Neul today announced the launch of RuralConnect, the first commercially available radio networking system to deliver the full promise of TV white space broadband to WISPs (Wireless Internet Service Providers).
Arcata, Calif., February 7, 2012 – Rising tech entrepreneur Jim Carlson will discuss the disruptive potential of TV white space technology at Pacific Crest Securities' 9th annual Emerging Tech Summit in San Francisco Feb. 14.
ARCATA-- So much is happening in the TV White Space world it's almost hard to keep up. Even companies on the front lines like Carlson are operating at lightning speed to stay on top of it all.
In fact, this week, Jim Carlson, CEO of Carlson Wireless, is attending the highly anticipated Cambridge Trials as a resident expert and purveyor of the leading white space radio product.
Kim Miyade(310) email@example.com
Jim Carlson - Bio
Company History
Carlson Blog
Company Brochure
YouTube Channel


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Hey guys, I have a few pics I wanted to upload.
The other night, I made a "Brie en Croute" for the very first time. I've had brie before, but this was my first time doing the making. I love puffed pastry (as well as phyllo dough) so I wanted to give it a shot. I added dried cranberries on the bottom and it added a nice touch. As for the rind, I didn't really know what to do with it so I left it on. I know a lot of cheese has mold involved but didn't know penicillin was the culprit for this case. After checking out some info about the rind, it was too late to take it off (baked and out of the oven already) so Mumzi, who has a penicillin allergy, just peeled it off. A lot of people with the allergy, it turns out, can eat brie rind with no issues but I wanted to be safe and not risk it. It looked so pretty with the pastry decorations and I really didn't want to cut it open! Even the inside looked festive!
For dinner last night, I made a yummy "spoon bread" to go with our white chicken chili. It was delicious!
Spoon Bread with chilies and cheese:
16 oz. Cream
3/4 C. Milk
1/3 C. Shortening
1 C. Corn Meal
1 C. Flour
2 Eggs
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
4 oz. can Green Chilies
1 1/2 C. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Combine all ingredients, pour into a greased cake pan and bake for 45 minutes at 400*. Plate and enjoy!
(I also ended up adding 1 C. of Whole wheat flour to my batch)
The night before Thanksgiving, Archie and I spent the evening at my sister's while he fixed her computer. She and I spent our time in the kitchen with the boys making and decorating some delicious lemon sugar cookies. We made penguins, snowflakes and other Christmas related shapes. The boys (when taking a break from being rambuncious) helped spread icing and sprinkle them with some of decorations I brought. All in all, they had fun…And I still have a ton of cookies to make!
As for the baby shower I went to on Sunday, she loved the cake (so did most guests). I was really excited about how it turned out! Pretty and super PINK! =D


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These microscopic life forms are blooming as a result of the oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico from the Macondo 252 deep-sea well
August 18, 2010 | 21
The article states:
"But the microbes will eventually devour all of BP's Gulf of Mexico oil spill—no matter where it ends up—except the heaviest, nastiest stuff: asphaltenes and other big-chain hydrocarbons that go on to form the millions of tar balls dotting the world's oceans."
Yes, the main question is how long microbial consumption will take and what the hydrocarbon's environmental impact will be for the duration of that time. All is not well in the meantime.
gee, hope these microbes dont get down into the wells ??? !!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisgeeee, I really hope these microbes dont actually get INTO our wells....!!!!!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe article states
"the microbes' speed is limited...by the availability of various nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus that wash into the ocean via rivers carrying sediments from the continents."
In other words, we need more of those nutrients, drained off commercial farmland, that are blamed for low oxygen dead zones near the mouth ot the Mississippi river.
Yeah, the article was rather cryptic about the nutrients in the dead zone, the location of the oil eruption. Does the author suggest that more nutrients are needed to speed up the process? I hope that the bugs will mitigate the oil along with the excess nutrients and that in time a brief period of 'normal' water chemistry will occur; at least until next spring when the Mississippi melt water replenishes the nutrients creating another dead zone.
While this is an excellent opportunity to study such bugs in a food rich environment, my vote goes to no more tragically catastrophic oil eruptions, less nutrients, and a more stable marine environment. The Gulf seeps enough oil naturally, and rigs and vessels spill enough low volume petroleum products to keep the critters around without blowouts.
I heard one comment on the radio that caught my attention: "This disaster is too big to waste". I can only assume that they were refering to what can be learned to prevent such events in the future.
Then I just heard today a report of up to 75% of the oil is in the form of microscopic droplets throughout the water column, not on the surface. The article of the link below indicates that most of these bugs require oxygen to do what they do and in the deeper more anaerobic zones the process could take a long time. In the meantime, local and pelagic macro-species continue to suffer.
It is good to clean the water from oil.
That the supplementation with nitrogen and phosporus is even suggested is simply appalling: does anyone who so suggests has any idea what the systematic release of those nutrients in the oceans will trigger...? Anyone who has ever kept an aquarium is well versed in the dangers of excess nitrogen and phosporus in any aquaeic environment.
And prey tell, whre are the lovely oil eating microbes going to go once they devour all the carbohydrates of the spill...? Where are they going to find more to sustain them?
That's fine, though. As long as BP and whoever else can wash their hands of the environmental catastrophe. Who cares further environmental destruction will be unleashed...?
Fishy is not the word here - it's more like stinking!
Oh yeah, and I had forgotten about the surfactants!!!
And don't marine life just love to breathe in some soap!!!
I do not like nothing of this. Now we are sure BP has spend too many million dollar in buying media to present a better face of the spill. I think the only solution is to finish all the oil tech and
go to solar energy, aeolic energy or alga's energy, and forget all
dirty tricks of oilmen.
Not for a moment do I believe the oil has been eaten by microbes. Who in the world is buying this nonsense? Read the USF findings that is the real story:
Who is buying this nonsense? Microbes really? Maybe in a 1000 years...read the USF findings:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBE CAREFUL. IF THE MICROBES SOMEHOW GO IN THE OIL WELLS THEN IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO CHECK THE GROWTH AND THERE WILL BE HUGE LOSS OF AVAILABLE OIL.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe real juggernaut in all of this is the mis-information on the issue of degradation. 1. Technology exists and is in use today that simply breaks the hydrocarbon chains, making them completely digestible by local biota. 2. The off-gas of this process is oxygen, so the DOC is actually increased, not decreased as in the current crap model using Corexit 3. Anyone who would advocate adding nutrient load has lost their flippin' mind and has no concept of the current phosphorous and nitrogen loads we're dealing with concurrently. 4. Introducing any species to a marine environment that is not native to that environment is akin to bringing more Zebra mussels into the Great Lakes. 5. BP has not engaged the scientific community, but the public relations community instead. 6. If in-situ conservation was really the goal of BP's "research" then the real-world solutions would have already been deployed in the nearly 7,000 dead fields currently under their stewardship.
The oil was chemically dispersed (thanks for nothing, Dawn) and so can be trapped in thermals out of sight. This is the over-arching solution for corporate oil. Out of sight- out of mind. So much for stewardship of the planet. NOTE to BP: You really think the American public is buying your PR campaigns?!! And, these are the "brightest minds in the world"? Pullleeasaseee!
Can the microbes eat scum and dirt like what we have in Washington?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisbioremediation is the process of using bacteria (or other organisms) to clean up our messes and restore things to a more natural state, not "boosting microbial activity by ensuring a steady supply of such nutrients"
-5 pts
Oil is broken down very readily by consortia of microorganisms. Many 454 bacterial sequencing projects have identified thousands of species in ocean waters and in subsurface reservoirs. The natural gas by-product of the biodegradation of hydrocarbons has been shown to be biogenic in many different areas due to enhanced C-13 ratios of the carbon in methane. This ratio occurs due to the biological preference for smaller carbons that exists in known methods of bacterial and archaeal metabolism. Given that the natural process has evolved over millions of years, it will be hard for anyone to determine the optimal pathways of biodegradation of hydrocarbons. Different microbes will have different niches - the pathways for n-alkane degradtion and o-methoxylated aromatics require different metabolic strategies and different syntrophic partners.
It is a very tough systemic web to study and usually all the attention goes to organisms that have been cultured. Potentially more important are those microbes that are unculturable and require a close syntrophic partnership with other bacteria to live.
Quite possibly, the best approach may require metagenomics and to treat the whole system of bacteria as a big bag of genes that can be turned off and on. These genes are where the functions are - and that is what is important if you are trying to optimize a bacterial system to accomplish something. Random pumping of nutrients will simply enhance all bacteria functions - not necessarily the ones you are trying to optimize.
you are so right. this fishy coveer up- STINKS! do not believe the oil men!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs a Consultant Environmentalist with sound background in Microbiology and Biotechnology, i see the super rod-shaped bacterium as a solution to the problems on ground. Professionally, i seem to question the thought of having a genetically modified version of the freely existing super cell. Why not do an improved pack cell generation, good enough to degrade the oil? This is very possible and can be done in the most economical means. In-depth studies can be commissioned on the use of consortium or best fit combination to tackle the spill problem. If it was clearly observed to catalyse the Alkane moiety of the oil, and can also produce metabolites to enhance the growth of other hydrocarbonoclastic cells, then its a good start towards composing a consortium for a better oil eat-up process. Alcanivorax Borkumensis can be used in its wild form instead of its modified form. I fear the possibility of having another strange cell in the world. Let us also know that environmental pollution also include the introduction of strange cells into a strange habitat. All spills in the world today can be taken care of. It all about the methodology, cells and management plan.
These are just little out of my pool of ideas. Peter A. John: Port Harcourt - Nigeria: +234-803-9693897
those guys are fantastics!!!! i hope they will clean up the mess!! XD
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this EMULATING MOTHER NATURE
We need to first explain what happens In Mother Nature when a hazardous
material is spilled. (Note that the key words used here are set in bold and defined in a simple glossary on the last page.)
There is a myriad of bacteria everywhere on the planet. Where a toxic spill comes in direct
contact with bacteria, that bacteria is killed or dies off. Bacteria that is proximal [near] to the spill but not in direct contact, reacts in several ways:
• First, the bacteria separate themselves far enough away so as to protect themselves from the toxicity of the spill.
• Second, the bacteria then releases enzymes and biosurfactants to attack the
• Third, the biosurfactants emulsify and solubilize the spill.
What this means is the biosurfactants will break up and partition the spill into a manageable consistency. In other words, it is breaking down the molecular structure of the spill or detoxifying it, so it can be used as a food source.
The enzymes then form binding sites on the emulsified or solubilize spill and
this is where the bacteria will initially attach themselves and start the digestive process.
There have to be large amounts of bacteria for this process to take effect, and, if left solely to nature, it is a long process for bacteria to acclimate themselves to a spill. It then takes further time for the bacteria to release enzymes and surfactants.
One of the limiting factors is the number of bacteria present to produce and release enough enzymes and surfactants to get the process started.
This is why you hear scientists talk about adding nutrients to jumpstart the rapid growth of bacteria so enough enzymes and biosurfactants can be released to affect the mitigation of the spill.
However, nutrients alone have limited uses because of concentration requirements which are compromised in various environments--washed away or diluted by wave motion—and that, compounded with the time it takes to grow a large population of bacteria, reduces their effectiveness.
Wouldn't it be nice if there were a means of emulating Mother Nature while at
the same time, speeding up the process to mitigate in hours, days or weeks what Mother
Nature takes months and/or years to handle on her own?
There is such a solution: OIL SPILL EATER II
OIL SPILL EATER II (OSE II) contains exact proportions of enzymes, bio surfactants, nutrients and other necessary constituents for complete life cycles and biodegradation.
When OSE II is added to a spill, it is not necessary to wait on the proximal bacteria to release enough enzymes or bio surfactants since they are already supplied by OSE II. Therefore, the minute you apply OSE II, there is sufficient biosurfactants to start the emulsification and solubilization process. This process generally takes just a minute or two, or possibly several more minutes depending on the consistency of the spill. As the bio surfactants do their job, the enzymes are attaching themselves to broken down hydrocarbon structures, forming digestive binding sites.
Note: Once this process has occurred, several important changes take effect:
1. The fire hazard has diminished.
2. The toxicity of the spill is rapidly diminished.
3. The odor or smell is almost non-existent.
4. The oil or spill will no longer adhere to anything.
5. The spill is caused to float, OSE II will prevent the oil from sinking.
If the spill has not reached a shoreline yet, but does so after application, it will not adhere to wildlife, sand, rock, wood, metal, or any vegetation.
If the spill has already attached itself, once application occurs, the spill will be
lifted from sand, rock, wood, metal or vegetation and wildlife. OSE II is the perfect solution for cleaning up oiled wildlife and marine life because it works so swiftly and is non-toxic, causing the oil to just easily slough off once sprayed on. This causes less trauma for the animal being cleaned and a much faster and easier cleanup process.
The spill is detoxified to the point that indigenous bacteria (natural to a given environmental location) can now utilize the oil as a food source. This also diminishes toxicity to marine organisms, birds or wildlife.
OSE II causes the oil to float on the surface of the water, which reduces the impact to the sub-surface preventing secondary contamination of the water column or tertiary contamination on the floor of the body of water associated with the spill area. The spill being held on the surface will make it easy to monitor.
OSE II also has an extremely efficient nutrient system which is activated once you mix
the product with natural water--water native to the spill environment.
While the spill is being broken down and detoxified, the indigenous bacteria already living in the natural water used to mix OSE II starts rapidly colonizing or proliferating the growth of large numbers of indigenous bacteria.
Once the bacteria run out of the OSE II's readily available nutrients, they convert over to the only food source left: the detoxified oil spill. The spill is then digested to CO2 and water. In some cases you can see bacteria growing on the spill; however, in a short period of time, the oil will be digested to CO2 and water before your eyes on a contained spill. In laboratory tests, once you see the water in the test beaker or aquarium become turbid, you know it is only a matter of time before the contaminant is remediated to CO2 and water.
Unlike mechanical cleanup, which cleans up a maximum of 20% of the oil spilled, OSE II will actually address 100% of a spill. This information is substantiated by the EPA's listing of OSE II on the National Contingency Plan for oil spills referred to as the NCP list, which contains the efficacy test performed for the EPA at LSU University. This documentation can be examined at: http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/ncp/products/oseater.htm.
Glossary of Key Terms:
Bacteria: are one-celled organisms with a simple cell structure. Some are helpful, some are harmful. Bacteria are probably the most numerous of all organisms. They can be found almost everywhere. Bacteria are important to the cycling of chemicals in nature. Without the good bacteria, the soil and water would soon become poor in nitrogen and all plants and animals would die.
Biosurfactants: are surface-active substances synthesized by living cells; they are generally non-toxic and biodegradable. Biosurfactants enhance the emulsification of hydrocarbons, have the potential to solubilize hydrocarbon contaminants and increase their availability for microbial degradation. The use of chemicals for the treatment of a hydrocarbon polluted site may contaminate the environment with their by-products, whereas support of the natural process of enzymes and biosurfactants will efficiently destroy pollutants, while being biodegradable themselves. (See: Wiki details http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosurfactant#Biosurfactants )
Emulsify: An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids which are normally immiscible (un-blendable). Hence surfactants emulsify and solubilize (make a substance soluble [able to be dissolved] or more soluble) e.g. oil and water are blended.
Enzymes: the chemical substances produced in the living cells of all plants and animals that act as catalysts in the regulation of biological processes. Some enzymes break down complex substances into simpler ones. All enzymes are proteins with a prosthetic group attached. The prosthetic group of an enzyme is the part of the molecule that catalyzes (causes or speeds) the chemical change.
Soluble: designed to be dissolved in water. Solubilize means to make something dissolve in water.
Turbid: not clear or transparent because of stirred-up sediment or the like; clouded; opaque.


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Swan Center Outreach would like to thank the wonderful Elks Lodge in Silverthorne and all the guests and contributors who helped make the 10/21 breakfast & silent auction fundraiser a great success! The funds generated that day will go a long way in supporting the rescued animals and wonderful programs of Swan Center Outreach.We would like to extend a big thank you to the volunteers of the Elks Lodge, who are so generous to share their wonderful home-cooking and special recipe bacon! Also to our many guests - thank you for coming!We also want to thank all the SCO volunteers who shared their love of horses through great team-work and assisting our guests to make it a great event.Thank you to all the businesses who donated items and services to the Silent Auction including: Beaver Run Resorts, Alpine Mountain Recreation, Breeze/Antlers, Christy Sports, Copper Creek Golf, Keystone Nordic Center, Storm Enterprises, and many other local businesses and individuals. Swan Center Outreach provides leadership and self-awareness programs with rescued horses that empower and support youth and adults in the achievement of their life goals; while demonstrating the educational, therapeutic and spiritual value of a loving relationship with animals. For more info, go to www.swancenter.org or www.facebook.com/swancenteroutreach.
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