text:
Thursday 28 Afterwork drinks @ Imbibe
Thursday afterwork ai???Aperoai??? is back again this week! Sun is there, so let's enjoy the most of it and meet with friends. A pint will be perfect after work. No excuse! Again, most important thing: bring friends! So they can … Continue reading
Thursday 14 Afterwork drinks @ Gordon's wine bar
Thursday afterwork ai???Aperoai??? is back this week! This time, we're off to Charing Cross for a friendly wine bar. Hopefuly, weather will be nice so we can spend some time out on the terrace. Again, most important thing: bring friends! … Continue reading
Thursday 16 Afterwork drinks @ Pepito Bar
I know you've been waiting too long… Our thursday afterwork ai???Aperoai??? is tomorrow! Ai??Back to Kings cross for a Tapas Bar that looks amazing. Again, most important thing: bring friends! So they can meet our friends and friends of friends! … Continue reading
Thursday 12 afterwork drinks @ The Dickens Inn
Summer is back and this is the perfect time for our thursday afterwork ai???Aperoai???. A nice and quiet and quite nice terrace is waiting for us in St Katherines dock. Most important thing: bring friends! So they can meet our … Continue reading
August 26 Afterwork drinks @ Swan at the globe
After a nice party in Regent Park, it was time to enjoy the thames for the last part of summer! I found you a beautiful place along the thames: Swan at the globe! There is a nice terasse, a bistro … Continue reading
March 11th London thursday apero @ The Fellow!
We told you, London thursday apero has a second birth, and it will happen next Thursday. For the occasion, I have been told that people will come from foreign countries. Our special guest will be the Conceptor himself : Jeff … Continue reading


text:
Style Icon Thursday- Jane Birkin
Jane Birkin was a wild child British actress and singer who emerged during the swinging 60s.
I really like Jane Birkin's natural fashion sensibilities. While I enjoy done up in a polished manner, it takes a truly confident woman to make jeans and a white t-shirt look so incredibly cool.
Plus the Birkin Bag was designed and named for her.
I think she's designing with Lutz and Patmos now, or maybe that info is out of date.
ANYONE else you think I should talk about?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
When Jon Lester started on Monday, it was all about his making it back to the Major Leagues less than a year after being diagnosed with cancer.
Last night, the focus was just on pitching.
Lester was a bit more effective in his first start against the Indians, but he was good enough last night to be in line for his second straight victory until Jonathan Papelbon gave up a two-run homer to Jonny Gomes at sold-out Tropicana Field � Fenway on the Gulf.
It was Papelbon�s second blown save of the season, the other one coming on May 1.
This one sent the game to extra innings tied, 6-6. The score remained tied in the 12th.
Gomes had hit a homer earlier in the game off Lester.
Mike Lowell had three hits and David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek two apiece for the Sox.
Lester gave up two runs on five hits in six innings in his first start. Last night, he allowed four runs on six hits in 6-2/3 innings.
Two of those runs came on homers in his last inning when he seemed to be running out of gas a little bit.
Lester had better walk numbers (one vs. TB; three vs. Cleveland), but fewer strikeouts (6, 3). Of course, any comparison between the two starts has to be tempered with the fact that the Indians lineup is a bit more potent than the Rays�.
Tampa Bay starter James Shields, who had given up 10 runs against the Yankees in his last outing, allowed three runs in his five innings. He struck out seven, including the side in the first inning.
The Sox began unloading on him in the second. Drew started it by doubling off the warning track in left with one out. He came home on Varitek�s hard single to right.
After Coco Crisp bunted for a hit and Alex Cora was hit by a pitch, Shields walked Julio Lugo with the bases loaded.
The Sox added another run in the third. Ortiz pulled a double down the right-field line, then scooted home on Drew�s single to center.
Lowell followed with another hard single, and a Shields wild pitch put runners on first and third with one out. The Rays� starter got out of trouble by striking out Varitek and getting Crisp to ground out.
The Sox added two more runs in the seventh, these coming off Grant Balfour, whom the Rays had acquired in a trade Friday night.
Lugo started the action by reaching on a slow grounder to short and stealing second, his 26th swipe of the season. Youkilis walked and Ortiz grounded a single to right-center, bringing home Lugo.
Youkilis went to third on the play and came home on Manny Ramirez�s sacrfice fly to right.
The Rays dented Lester for a run in the third. B.J. Upton started the inning with a ringing single to right. Carlos Pe�a then bounced a hit over Youkilis� head, putting runners on first and third. A sacrifice fly by Delmon Young brought home Upton.
Ramirez then made a nice running catch in the left-field corner on a Gomes drive, getting a standing ovation and igniting a chant of �Manny-Manny.� The crowd was mostly Red Sox fans, of course.
The Rays added another run in the sixth. Brendan Harris pulled a ground-rule double down the left-field line, then took third on a flyout to right. He scored on Pe�a�s sacrifice fly to left.
Gomes hit a loud foul to start the seventh, then sent the next pitch into the seats in left. Two out later, No. 9 hitter Josh Paul hit a 1-1 pitch into the stands in right for his first homer of the year.
That was it for Lester who replaced by Julian Tavarez. He got out of the inning with the Sox holding a 5-4 lead.
They made it 6-4 in the eighth when Lowell lead off with a hustle double, moved to third on a Varitek single and came home when second baseman Josh Wilson, playing in, couldn�t keep Crisp�s grounder in front of him.


text:
Emerante de Pradines | 100 Women of Haitian History, Episode 8
Written by kreyolicious with
What time is it? It's time for the latest installment of 100 Women of Haitian History alias 100 Historical Haitian Women, alias 100 Haitian Women of History! Today's episode will feature Emerante de Pradines, a dancer, singer, anthropologist and actress most active in the 1940s and 1950s!
Learn more about her!
Let me know your thoughts on this video. And if there's a woman of Haitian History you'd like to see covered, let me know!
CLICK HERE to check out previous episodes! And be sure to check out other episodes to come.
Ahem, while you're at it, CLICK HERE to watch other videos on KREYOLICIOUS TV.


text:
- Estates
- Estate Planning
- Real Estate
University of Oregon
B.A. Political Science
J.D. Degree
University of Miami, School of Law
L.L.M. Estate Planning
J. Thomas Coats
Tom Coats was born in The Dalles and raised in Sherman County. After graduating from the University of Oregon he joined the Army where he served as a lieutenant in the Military Police. After his military service he attended law school at the University of Oregon.
Shortly after graduation, Tom was appointed District Attorney for Wheeler County by then Governor Tom McCall. He spent three years as a prosecutor and then resigned to attend the University of Miami School of Law, where he earned an LLM degree in estate planning.
Tom is married, and has two children and five grandchildren.
Tom has been in private practice in The Dalles since 1976, where his practice has focused on estate planning, estates, and real property transactions.


text:
Hier ist Oprahs berührende Sexismus-Rede bei den Golden Globes
Oprah Winfrey hat ihren Auftritt bei den Golden Globes in Beverly Hills genutzt, um Sexismus eine Absage zu erteilen. Oprah bekam eine Auszeichnung für ihr Lebenswerk, den "Cecil B. DeMille"-Award. In ihrer Rede dankte sie allen, die für Gleichberechtigung gekämpft haben und ihre Karriere damit erst ermöglichten.
Sie verkündete den Anbruch eines neuen Zeitalters: Eine Menge starker Frauen und auch einige Männer würden dafür kämpfen, dass in Zukunft niemand mehr "me too" sagen müsse.
Bei der Verleihung der Golden Globes trugen nahezu alle Frauen schwarze Kleidung, um den Sexismus in Hollywood anzuprangern und sich mit Betroffenen zu solidarisieren. Mehr über die Aktion:
Oprahs komplette Dankesrede (via Vox):
In 1964, I was a little girl sitting on the linoleum floor of my mother's house in Milwaukee watching Anne Bancroft present the Oscar for best actor at the 36th Academy Awards. She opened the envelope and said five words that literally made history — "The winner is Sidney Poitier."
Up to the stage came the most elegant man I ever remembered. His tie was white, his skin was black — and he was being celebrated. I'd never seen a black man being celebrated like that. I tried many, many times to explain what a moment like that means to a little girl, a kid watching from the cheap seats as my mom came through the door bone tired from cleaning other people's houses. But all I can do is quote and say that the explanation in Sidney's performance in Lilies of the Field, amen, amen. Amen, amen.
In 1982 Sidney received the Cecil B. DeMille award right here at the Golden Globes and it is not lost on me that at this moment, there are some little girls watching as I become the first black woman to be given this same award. It is an honor — it is an honor and it is a privilege to share the evening with all of them and also with the incredible men and women who have inspired me, who challenged me, who sustained me and made my journey to this stage possible. Dennis Swanson who took a chance on me for A.M. Chicago. Saw me on the show and said to Steven Spielberg, she's Sophia in The Color Purple. Gayle who's been a friend and Stedman who's been my rock.
I want to thank the Hollywood foreign press association. We know the press is under siege these days. We also know it's the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice — to tyrants and victims, and secrets and lies.
I want to say that I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times, which brings me to this. What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. And I'm especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories. Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories that we tell, and this year we became the story.
But it's not just a story affecting the entertainment industry. It's one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace. So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They're the women whose names we'll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories and they work in restaurants and they're in academia, engineering, medicine, and science. They're part of the world of tech and politics and business. They're our athletes in the Olympics and they're our soldiers in the military.
And there's someone else, Recy Taylor, a name I know and I think you should know, too. In 1944, Recy Taylor was a young wife and mother walking home from a church service she'd attended in Abbeville, Alabama, when she was abducted by six armed white men, raped, and left blindfolded by the side of the road coming home from church. They threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone, but her story was reported to the NAACP where a young worker by the name of Rosa Parks became the lead investigator on her case and together they sought justice.
But justice wasn't an option in the era of Jim Crow. The men who tried to destroy her were never persecuted. Recy Taylor died 10 days ago. Just shy of her 98th birthday. She lived as we all have lived too many years in a culture broken by brutally powerful men. For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up. Their time is up.
And I just hope - I just hope that Recy Taylor died knowing that her truth, like the truth of so many other women who were tormented in those years, and even now tormented, goes marching on. It was somewhere in Rosa Parks's heart almost 11 years later, when she made the decision to stay seated on that bus in Montgomery, and it's here with every woman who chooses to say, "Me too." And every man — every man who chooses to listen.
In my career, what I've always tried my best to do, whether on television or through film, is to say something about how men and women really behave. To say how we experience shame, how we love and how we rage, how we fail, how we retreat, persevere, and how we overcome. I've interviewed and portrayed people who've withstood some of the ugliest things life can throw at you, but the one quality all of them seem to share is an ability to maintain hope for a brighter morning, even during our darkest nights.
So I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon! And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say "Me too" again. Thank you.
Ein Unbekannter hat am Sonntagabend auf das Auto des deutsch-kurdischen Fußballers Deniz Naki geschossen. Mindestens zwei Projektile hätten die linke Seite seines Wagens durchschlagen, sagte Naki zu bento. Er sei unverletzt geblieben, habe bremsen und die Polizei verständigen können.
Die Polizei bestätigte gegenüber bento, dass auf der A4 ein Schuss auf ein fahrendes Auto abgegeben wurde, wollte aber zunächst nicht bestätigen, dass es sich um das Auto von Deniz Naki handelte. Bei dem Vorfall sei niemand verletzt worden. Es sei mindestens ein Schuss abgegeben worden. Weitere Einzelheiten – auch zum Täter – wollte die Polizei nicht bekannt geben. Die Staatsanwaltschaft Aachen ermittelt wegen eines versuchten Tötungsdeliktes. Das berichtet die Deutsche Presseagentur.
Naki hat den Schützen nach eigenen Angaben nicht erkennen können. "Ich habe lediglich einen schwarzen Kombi neben mir gesehen", sagte er. Ein Schuss sei knapp über dem linken Hinterreifen eingeschlagen, ein weiterer zwischen zwei Fenstern des Autos auf der linken Seite.


text:
Buffalo Bills
Panthers checked off boxes in NFL draft, addressed needs
By Steve Reed Apr. 27, 2019 06:19 PM EDT
Bills close draft addressing depth needs with final 4 picks
By John Wawrow Apr. 27, 2019 06:15 PM EDT
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills completed the NFL draft by selecting four players, starting with Florida linebacker Vosean Joseph in the fifth round. ...
Titans will need patience as they await Simmons' recovery
By Steve Megargee Apr. 27, 2019 06:03 PM EDT
Browns stay defensive on third day of NFL draft
By Tom Withers Apr. 27, 2019 02:52 PM EDT
Apr. 26, 2019 09:25 PM EDT
Raiders wheel and deal then draft Clemson cornerback Mullen
By Michael Wagaman Apr. 26, 2019 08:04 PM EDT
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — At the national championship game nearly four months ago, Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said he was told by an NFL scout that if...
Cardinals banking on Kyler Murray to start a new era
By John Marshall Apr. 26, 2019 08:01 PM EDT
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Apr. 26, 2019 05:16 PM EDT
Rays at Red Sox 4/26/2019
Apr. 26, 2019 12:50 AM EDT
Falcons select 2 offensive linemen on first day of NFL draft
By Paul Newberry Apr. 25, 2019 10:29 PM EDT
Redskins get QB, draft Ohio State's Haskins with 15th pick
By Stephen Whyno Apr. 25, 2019 10:10 PM EDT
Buccaneers select LB Devin White in 1st round of NFL draft
By Fred Goodall Apr. 25, 2019 09:58 PM EDT
Jaguars pick up 5th-year option on star cornerback Ramsey
Apr. 25, 2019 04:49 PM EDT
Falcons sign 6-year veteran safety J.J. Wilcox
Apr. 22, 2019 05:48 PM EDT
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Safety J.J. Wilcox, who started 35 games in four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, has signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. ...
Reggie Cobb, former NFL back and Volunteer star, dies at 50
Apr. 20, 2019 05:13 PM EDT
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Former NFL running back and University of Tennessee star Reggie Cobb has died at 50. His death was announced Saturday by the...
Jaguars' Khan wants 'creative solutions' to improve stadium
By Mark Long Apr. 18, 2019 04:38 PM EDT
Rams ponder options for first 1st-round pick of McVay era
By Greg Beacham Apr. 18, 2019 03:39 PM EDT
Browns enter NFL draft as outsiders without 1st-round pick
By Tom Withers Apr. 18, 2019 02:56 PM EDT
Large free-agency haul leaves Bills with many draft options
By John Wawrow Apr. 18, 2019 02:17 PM EDT
Jaguars will use draft to add pieces for QB Nick Foles
By Mark Long Apr. 18, 2019 02:19 PM EDT


text:
A run-away psychic. A blood-thirsty vampire. And an ancient prophecy that threatens to destroy the world…
Tessa has special powers. She is a psychic. After a harrowing vision, an unworldly prophecy forces her to shudder in fear. This time her visions won't be enough save her as her world as she now finds herself the target of a powerful supernatural force.
Kristian blood-sucking tendencies may have placed him at odds with humanity. He has banished himself from the world. Although when he crosses path with a young psychic everything changes in a blink of an eye. He must fight his vampire urges to protect the newfound hero. Kristian wants nothing more than to go back to his deadly ways.
But when a coven of powerful witches seek to awaken an ancient prophecy, Kristian and Tessa must not only fight for the survival of themselves and each other but the world as they know it.
Categories: Urban Fantasy / PNR
Tags: author martha woods, kiss of a vampire, kiss of a vampire amazon, martha woods


text:
On the evening of Sunday, August 14, 2016, our services were called upon in which we witnessed the signatures for a South Carolina resident on the transfer of title of her vehicle to another party, a resident of North Carolina.
In most cases, a notary isn't needed for such transactions. However, in some states, the notary's sworn statement is written on the title transfer section to be completed with stamp/seal. When the title is void of this language, such with this case it is necessary to attach an Individual Acknowledgment. An individual Acknowledgment is a notarial form that verifies that a person or persons appeared before the notary or acknowledges that they did indeed sign said document.
This vehicle title transaction took place in Mauldin, SC.


text: Da Vinci This is a bit of a Red carpet stunner. Cut to show your curves in a Vintage beaded lace with soft tulle godets in the skirt and train. Remove the high neck jacket that fastens with buttons down your spine to reveal a sassi new look full of glamour for the evening.


text:
Playground PervertFavorites [+]
Pay-Per-Minute Viewing
You can now enjoy this movie on your iPhone®, iPad®, or compatible Smart TV & Android devices.
Purchase Options
Pay-Per-MinutePurchase Minutes
Streaming Rentals
Available MP4 sizes:SD 480p (0.56 GB)
HD 720p (1.05 GB)
HD 1080p (1.55 GB)
DRM-free downloads offer content that is not limited by standard Digital Rights Management (DRM) access technologies. These technologies allow hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to limit the usage of digital content.
When you purchase DRM-free downloadable content, that content is available for you to download on any computer and save to a disk whenever you like. You can also download to multiple computers. There is no timeframe associated with your purchase and the content will not expire.
Running Time: 35 minutes
Released: 03/2013
Studio Name: Hot Clits Video
Director: Carl Hubay
Categories: Amateur Small Tits All Sex Upskirt High Definition
Description: Carl is shooting upskirt photos of a girl on swing and invites her to his house. Carl takes advantage of her and fucks her mercilessly until she's worn out.
2 Scenes from Playground Pervert
Playground Pervert: Scene 1 Free Preview
Starring: Carl Hubay Amanda Smith ... More Details
Stars: Carl Hubay, Amanda Smith
Sex Acts: Vaginal Sex, Handjob, Masturbation, Oral Sex
Positions: Standing Doggy Style, Standing, Laying, Reverse Cowgirl, Cowgirl
Settings: Living Room, Outdoors
Studio: Hot Clits Video
Playground Pervert: Scene 2 Free Preview
Starring: Carl Hubay Amanda Smith ... More Details
Stars: Carl Hubay, Amanda Smith
Sex Acts: Rim Job, Vaginal Sex, Creampie, Masturbation, Oral Sex
Positions: Standing Doggy Style, Side Saddle, Spoons position, Missionary, Laying, Reverse Cowgirl, Piledriver, Cowgirl, Kneeling, Doggy Style
Settings: Bedroom
Studio: Hot Clits Video
Recommended Movies


text:
HOT WATER Juniors' Ocean Ave Soft Tab Bikini Bottoms
Style# 2028486
$24.99 $4.97
Style# 2028486
$24.99 $4.97
- Size: Size Guide
- Color:
Product Actions
Additional Information
Print this tab
Spend your afternoons by the pool in these cute and supportive bikini bottoms. With a hipster cut, its solid-color design offers just a bit more coverage, while shirred tabs add accents to the sides.
- Made out of an 82% nylon/18% spandex blend
- Fully lined
- Shirred tabbed sides
- Low-rise hipster cut offers a moderate degree of coverage
- Hand wash and dry
- Imported


text:
Skip navigation
Dear visitor, welcome to WesWorld. If this is your first visit here, please read the Help. It explains in detail how this page works. To use all features of this page, you should consider registering. Please use the registration form, to register here or read more information about the registration process. If you are already registered, please login here.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012, 4:32pm
Wednesday, February 8th 2012, 7:29pm
Wednesday, February 8th 2012, 8:12pm
This post has been edited 2 times, last edit by "BruceDuncan" (Feb 11th 2012, 5:42pm)
Friday, February 10th 2012, 8:39pm
This post has been edited 6 times, last edit by "BruceDuncan" (Apr 30th 2013, 10:22pm)
Wednesday, December 26th 2012, 8:24pm
This post has been edited 4 times, last edit by "BruceDuncan" (Nov 1st 2013, 8:15pm)
Tuesday, October 21st 2014, 1:11pm
Tuesday, March 22nd 2016, 10:12pm
Forum Software: Burning Board® Lite 2.1.2 pl 1, developed by WoltLab® GmbH


text:
Mission Statement
Our organization is dedicated to the purpose of supporting the education and the educational experience of the children of Fairview Elementary School. To fulfill this purpose, our organization shall:
Raise and expend funds to enhance and improve the educational quality of Fairview Elementary School, including, but not limited to, financial support to classroom teachers, purchase of books and materials, procurement of educational assemblies and development and promotion of after-school enrichment programs.
Organize projects and events for the benefit of Fairview Elementary students and the families of Middletown township through such events as the Great Race or assistance in the event of a natural disaster.
Strive to achieve a closer working relationship between teachers, parents and the Middletown community so that parents, administrators and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of the students.
Keep abreast of local district objectives, and be better informed regarding local school issues.
Bring areas of concern to the principal and/or Middletown School Board and administration.
Encourage a positive, supportive learning environment and community atmosphere in our school, our district and our homes.


text:
Selection of the bed for room is one of the difficult jobs because you have to consider the size of the room in comparison of bed. You must have heard of single, double, queen size and king size beds; these are in fact beds differing in size. So what you have to do is go in detail of dimension and other features before making purchase. Also selecting a bunk bed is the best solution for saving space because everyone is aware that how much it cost for every single square meter of space and not scarifying the space for every small activity is only possible with single bunk bed.
Why should you buy single bunk beds?
Well, buying a bunk bed solves many problems and provides us ample space for other activities. Along with it is available in different designs and styles. There are endless designs but the purchaser need to know the kind of bunk beds before buying. Also the designs matter in space saving and allowing space for activities within premises. When you are buying a bunk bed it could be one of the following: Single over single, single over double, double over double and single over futon. So among all of these designs the best to save space and bring aesthetical beauty to the room is with single over single or simple single bunk bed.
Considerations for buying single bunk bed
Mentioned earlier single bed is best among all; there are certain things you need to know before you shop. You should know that what the material of the bed is; i.e. it can be wood, metal or combination. Also among wood it can be of maple, oak, walnut, rubber wood, pine, MDF etc.
The material chosen has certain effects on the bed because you have to deal with them. For instance; every kind of wood has different features like its sturdiness, strength, heaviness, resistance to wear and tear, easy to clean and attractive etc. All these things matter while moving, cleaning, and placing. Maple is mostly preferred by customers because it is sturdy and durable but its maneuver is somehow not easy because of its heaviness.
Safety measure
We know the bunk beds are best in term of use for saving space but there are some safety concerns as well. If it will be used for kids more measures need to be taken before buying which include:
- There should be no gap in-between the frame and mattress
- There should be guardrails on every side
- The mattress should be in accordance with the size of the guardrails
Ergonomic Bi-level Computer Workstation | Amazon.com: Davinci Signature 4 | Infans - L Shaped |


text:
November 3, 2017 | #4718
Season 47 Episode 4718 | 27m 46s
The panel discusses the debate in the house over no-fault car insurance. The guest is Rep. Tim Greimel, (D) Oakland County, who is at the forefront of the no-fault insurance debate. Emily Lawler, Kyle Melinn, and Rick Pluta join senior capitol correspondent Tim Skubick.
Aired: 11/02/17Video has closed captioning.


text:
Good Enough to Be Good Enough
There are two sides to every story. Either the story being told by those either employed or indebted to the Dodgers propaganda machine as well as the notion "it's their time" or the alternative.
I've witnessed the Dodgers' front office fumble and bumble their way since coming into power, doing very little, or worse, making boneheaded gaffs. The results some cheer about, but to others, myself included, they are the same, no better, than the results from the past.
The Dodgers can't help but being in the thick of things. They have Clayton Kershaw, after all, and had Zack Greinke and other arms. They have Kenley Jansen. They have Corey Seager. You add up the parts and no matter who is running the show on and off the field, the Dodgers assemblage of talent is enough to be at or near the top of their division. They have been finished first or second 10 times in the past fifteen years. They have won 0 championships during this time, and 0 championships in almost three decades.
I have tried to say, much to the dislike of many, that this is all well and good but the steps forward are not great. If being at or around the top of the National League West is the goal, things are going fine. I don't see how the current front office or ownership should be given credit, however, as the end results are no greater than usual. You can even point to the win/loss record, which shows a nominal decline in victories the past three seasons.
Dodgers fans are rabid and that is a wonderful thing for the Guggenheim Group and current Dodgers front office. The team, in some ways, is in poor shape if you consider availability to the large marketplace. The only way to see Dodgers games is if you attend them – at great cost – or if you happen to be in a portion of the greater Los Angeles area who gets the new-ish TV channel. The historic organization's games are not readily available to most of the populace.
In 2016, the Dodgers won the West and advanced to the NLCS vs. the Chicago Cubs, the team who ultimately won the World Series in a thrilling 7-game series vs. Cleveland. While the Dodgers record of futility neared three decades, it was nowhere near that of either the Cubs or Indians. Thus, the baseball gods determined it was destiny, and the Dodgers never had a chance.
Still, supporters of this front office and ownership group would argue, they "could have won". Well, in some world I suppose they could have. Teams with little starting pitching and little relief pitching seldom win championships. The Dodgers, in my opinion, were very lucky in 2016. I would credit the front office for patching together an eyesore and getting a lot out of the pieces they had. It does not appear to me a sustainable plan, if winning championships is your end goal.
It was painful to watch Kershaw pretty much go it alone, and Jansen doing the same from the backend of the bullpen. The other starters were hurt or gassed and could barely muster three innings at a time. The bullpen, overworked all season due to the shortcomings of the starting five, did the best they could on heart and whatever talent they had. The better team won, as usually is the case.
Knowing how Moneyball general managers operate, I did not expect changes in the off-season. In fact, because their high school chemistry experiment "worked" – to some degree – it no doubt would validate their hypothesis that they were on the right track.
It was interesting how they and their disciples continued to point to the Cubs as a "similar" team, although the construction was not at all alike. Theo Epstein, who has Moneyball roots, after all has changed quite a bit since moving to the big stage, first in Boston, then in Chicago. With deep pockets backing him, Epstein loads his rosters full of great professionals, as well as farm bred talent. Pitching depth, position depth, stars, great role players… he does not leave things to chance. As a result, his Boston teams have won and now his Chicago team.
The winter shopping season is one the Dodgers front office usually ignores, as is the mid-season trade deadline. They seem to look at these peak times as pedestrian. "Anyone can shop during these times; we'll show them." They sit idly by while starting pitchers move from team to team, as well as proven relief pitchers. Speedsters are never a consideration since the only reason to have any speed at all on a Moneyball team is perhaps moving from first to third – interestingly, a skillset rarely to be found in Los Angeles baseball these days.
I was not surprised that the 2017 team went to spring training not altogether different from the 2016 team that ended the year, losing in Chicago. A few guys left, a few came in, but the same issues that cost the team in 2016 are still those weaknesses as the new season gets underway.
The writers and announcers who cover the team and want access to the clubhouse are painting a rosy picture that this looks to be a world beater. Many have said the Dodgers will not only be in this season's Fall Classic, but win it. I can only assume this is because they feel they are due, not because of big acquisitions made, unless you count Logan Forsythe as the difference maker.
Personally, I don't see it. I do see a Dodgers team that will be around the top, as they always are, but not necessarily in first place. Last season, part of the Dodgers luck was the complete lack of fortune for the San Francisco Giants, whose second half was dismal. The Giants bullpen was a disaster and they acquired a closer this winter to rectify that. Still, being held to a budget the Dodgers are not, they still have some problems in their pen, though they have more reliable innings in the rotation. At any rate, however that comparison pans out, it seems unlikely the Dodgers can count on the Giants taking half of the year off again.
With the Giants therefore improved and the natural development, possibly, of the rest of the West – most particularly Colorado – the Dodgers must be a bit better in 2017 than in 2016. With 81 games against the West, just by virtue of the Giants adding a closer and the Rockies talented offense and young pitchers developing a bit more, that should be more of a challenge.
In a perfect world, the Dodgers get health they did not get in 2016. As I pointed out, it's unrealistic to hope that all the many (often desperate) moves the front office employed is a repeatable formula. So, Kershaw being Kershaw for six months and Rich Hill, an older player who has no track record to illustrate he is a regular rotation piece, much less a #2 starter, is imperative. Kenta Maeda, who was wonderful for most 2016, needs to get stronger during his second season in the big leagues and be there at season's end, which he was not at all last year.
The bottom of the rotation is the same collection of injured and suspect parts, mostly due to the front office wasting money on players such as Brandon McCarthy, who any honest person knew was a bad signing from day one, to Scott Kazmir – like Hill, a player who was out of MLB and toiling in the independent leagues. Both pitchers, like Hill, received $48M contracts. When you have so much money invested in players, you are hand tied to use them, thus additional arms were not added.
So, the Dodgers need Kershaw not to have a flare up of his back problems, Maeda to remain reliable (just stronger) and Hill to overcome the odds at age 37. Then between frequently injured Korean warrior Hyun-Jin Ryu, McCarthy, Kazmir and young Julio Urias, who has been pushed to develop quickly but is not ready for a full season workload, the front office hopes for two starter spots to be filled. It's a lot to ask to go right, given reality and the health and circumstances of most of these pitchers.
There are also players such as Alex Wood, Ross Stripling and Brock Stewart who supporters point to as the remarkable depth the front office has acquired but the truth is most of the players to be counted on were here before they arrived. I'd also add that depth is an interesting word that is bandied about by Dodgers writers and announcers as if it's unique to the team. Every team has minor league rosters to call upon and additional players set aside as contingency plans. Perhaps the Dodgers depth is more in the spotlight since the health of the regulars is so poor.
In closing I will say that the Dodgers should be near the top once again – with such a large payroll and the Kershaw, Jansen and Seager alone, they have a chance based on that alone. I think the Giants will be very much a factor and at some point, the front office should admit their faults and add quality innings from somewhere. Perhaps they do get good fortune with some of the walking wounded the past couple years, as well as unexpected success from journeymen like Hill, McCarthy and Kazmir.
Personally, I'd put young Urias in the pen since innings are innings, after all, and why waste his down in the minors? I'd put those innings to better use, shoring up an average bullpen and then when the innings count made sense, stretch him out for the rotation, if needed. At any rate, the bullpen would be that much better while the MASH unit of pitchers gave their all once again.
I'm not sure what to make of the outfield, which is Joc Pederson in center, forever to be platooned, and similar platoons everyplace else. Yasiel Puig seems to forever be tainted by being tantalized by Hollywood too soon, Andre Ethier continues to have health issues and Andrew Toles, a player with exceptional athletic ability, has defensive limitations and is told not to steal bases – perhaps one of his biggest plusses.
The infield is solid, though not spectacular. It does have the chance to be very good however if Adrian Gonzalez can somehow turn back Father Time and Forsythe continues to develop. The latter is in the right place as the mandate for a Dodgers offense is to swing for the fences and his 20-homerun power seems to be ideal for the Moneyball Dodgers. Justin Turner's knees must hold up once more at third base. Seager is remarkable but had a spring with back issues, who like Kershaw, you have to wonder about. All in all, the offense of the Dodgers runs through the infield.
I am not a fan of Yasmani Grandal, though I know many are. Grandal, a former PED user, is also tailor made for this front office as his strength is trying to hit home runs. I prefer catchers who field first primarily and make contact. Maybe this player is Austin Barnes, who won a roster spot as all Andrew Friedman Miami acquisitions do. It will be interesting to see what happens at catcher if Grandal gets hurt, as he does. He's being asked to play more than ever in 2017.
The Dodgers have enough talent on the roster and coming up through the minors to be near the top once again. It would be nice if they started to take real steps forward and understand they have the financial wherewithal, not to mention the prospects, to acquire players more guaranteed than what they tend to count on. The trademark of the front office seems to be trying to make it to the top by taking the harder route. Reliable innings in the starting rotation, strong setup men at the back of the bullpen, shortening games, is for chumps. Complex trades, working the disabled list like a traffic cop and platooning across the diamond seems immensely more satisfying to these smarties.
The method may be madness, but it has its fan club. Certainly, those on the Dodgers payroll, or who like access to the players and free pre-game meals. World Series winners in 2017? I don't see it but anything is possible. It has been about thirty years and the payroll is the largest in organized sports. Maybe they are right, maybe they are due.
Three Decades and Counting
Happy Opening Day, everyone. Today the Dodgers have as good a chance as anyone of winning their division, the pennant and even the World Series. Enjoy it while you can; tomorrow's another day.
The Dodgers open the season against the lowly, also Moneyball-inspired, San Diego Padres. Two dogs playing at Petco; apropos. It's nice the Dodgers and ace Clayton Kershaw face off against the Friars, one of two teams in the West they should finish ahead of. Should.
Fans likely will be impressed by Kershaw's mastery tonight and if you bet on sports, betting on a Kershaw start would seem money in the bank. Expect the Twitter-verse abuzz with boasts and trash talking in a classy manner becoming of Dodgers fans in recent years. Then the rest of the week there will be excuses, as there always are, for the losses, errors, left runners, injuries, and perhaps even that ownership doesn't care enough to let 70% of fans in the Los Angeles marketplace see the team's games on TV.
The other day I jokingly (sort of) remarked how in some ways the Guggenheim ownership group is as bad as the Frank McCourt reign of terror. Immediately simpletons attacked me for suggesting the smiling Magic Johnson fronted group could be anywhere near as bad as the tragedy of the Botox'd regime of old. Umm, that's the problem – in the Dodgers fan world and America as a whole – stupidity is abundant.
I would say as a fan there is very little difference between a Boston parking lot heir ripping off the fans for his own personal gain and what's happening now. Each side has left unspeakable scars in Dodgers fans consciousness. Whether it's McCourt going cheap on stadium security and allowing fans to get hurt or Guggenheim pocketing money while fans are left to imagine what Vin Scully's years might look and sound like, same bullshit, different day. Both owners also employed Moneyball nerds to dismantle rosters of professional baseball players and insert players no one knows who probably were driving a Sparkletts route a few months previous (no offense to Sparkletts drivers – I have more respect for you than I do sleazy executives and rich investment bankers).
The Dodgers new owners are repeating the sins of the previous – as in America, apparently no one learns from history. When Paul DePodesta destroyed a solid Dan Evans built roster for his own ego – only to appear clever – it was criminal. Guggenheim came in and after quickly giving up on a new direction under Stan Kasten, went the same route McCourt did and hired cost-cutting Sabermetrics guys. The rosters, then and now are sprinkled with unknowns, while in this case, still maintaining a NL high payroll. It's quite an achievement to have little talent on the field yet spend well over $200M. The 2016 Dodgers have a payroll about $100M higher than the World Champion Kansas City Royals, with a fraction of its talent or heart. One should award the two-headed snake called Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi executives of the year for this feat alone.
The Dodgers spring training was a series of injuries that left the front office dropping the D word ("depth") every chance they could. They made it sound like it was good players were getting hurt as it tested them even sooner than they imagined. Fans meantime were left scratching their heads and surprised all this great talent Friedman/Zaidi added was hurt – and so fast. Well, when you sign mediocre, often-injured players they tend to be hurt. I've said it for years and each season some new bully on Twitter calls me out for being "negative." Truth = negativity, if it's not their truth.
It still amazes me that Dodgers fans – way too many of them – side with a front office and ownership team that obviously doesn't give a rat's ass about them. For Guggenheim, they gladly doubled the estimated $1B sale price many financial experts assumed they'd have to pay McCourt for the team since they knew full well the TV deal with Time Warner Cable would net $8B, or $6B in immediate profit after paying off McCourt. Add to that baseball's best gate, merchandise, expensive beer and hot dogs, parking, etc. and it's quite a nifty payday. Yet, like lemmings, the Dodgers fans cheer and plan their day at the park, angry at anyone who dares question why a team with a near 30 year championship drought would opt for marginal minor league utility players in starting roles. As Jerry Seinfeld famously said, "Fans root for laundry."
These are not the Dodgers I grew up with, rooted for, and this includes even more recent Dodgers teams. I loved Dan Evans' underfunded, huge hearted teams, and to a slightly lesser degree the teams Ned Colletti put together that featured smart big league players and were always a player short (since the owner needed daily hair styling at his mansion). But as I witnessed Paul DePodesta destroy a solid roster, I've seen it happen again. While I feel sorry for Kershaw and Adrian Gonzalez, I feel sadder for the idiots who dedicate more than just their summers – perhaps every day of their lives – to a team that stopped being the Dodgers of old long ago.
Instead of smart, motivated players the fans are supposed to pay for (live, you can't watch on TV) jokesters and career minor leaguers, or castoffs from other organizations. The saving grace is kids – the farm Logan White and Colletti cultivated, mostly. I have always been a big fan of the prospects, and still am, so I'm very excited to see how Corey Seager's career goes, as well as some of the others, but I'm sorry, in a market as large as Los Angeles, with that aforementioned near three decade drought, to construct a team around kids is sad. With the always talked about wherewithal of Guggenheim, there has to be a bigger sense of urgency than to wait to see if the kid pitchers in the system pan out. As I've told people for years, prospects are currency – not each makes it, and as often as they bolster your big league roster directly, equally they are there to be used in case of need to acquire great big league players in trade. Anyone who covets prospects to the extent they assume each will be an impact player on the roster is fooling themselves. Their value means more in smaller markets anyway, where money isn't plentiful. The fact that Plan A is the kids is telling. Guggenheim wants to extract far more than $6B out of fans in Los Angeles.
This isn't meant to attack the kids – the Dodgers have good ones and they are probably the lone reason for excitement in 2016 and beyond. As good teams got better over the winter, the Dodgers famously did nothing. Then the spring injuries, with 10 players starting the season on the DL. Friedman/Zaidi apologists will have you believe this is a freak occurrence, but they're not. Like last season, I called this in the winter. If you build your team like DePodesta or Friedman/Zaidi have, this is what you get. The only time this philosophy should be your go-to is if you are in that tiny market that financially has no other way to compete. Friedman has brought his Tampa mindset to Los Angeles, and don't think that's by coincidence. Just as McCourt brought in Oakland celebrity DePodesta in to cut costs, Guggenheim has with Friedman, and then Zaidi.
The fans will need to decide what they want to do. Will they continue to go along with this odd method of spending a lot of money on random pieces while cutting obvious good ones, or will they boycott? It took some time for fans to stand up to McCourt and maybe the same thing needs to happen again. Could the Dodgers win the West? I would say no, but I suppose it's possible. But does it matter? The Dodgers won three Western titles in as many years and still can't win in October. With a thin rotation and marginal pen, I can't imagine October success even if the opportunity arose. The Moneyball faithful would say, well, this is by design – playoff baseball is too hard to predict from a data perspective. I would counter with that's why good teams build teams like Dan Evans did, and even Colletti did – getting as many good or at least proven players as they can.
I don't think it's a coincidence you look at the top contending teams and see known names, talented players, and a lot of them, on the rosters. Then you look at the Dodgers roster and outside of a few names, you are left with unknowns, question marks, injury risks and the aged. The only way to celebrate this brand of Dodgers baseball is if you're either delusional or brainwashed. Anyone who would take the Dodgers current roster over the Cubs, Cardinals, Royals, etc. is stupid or so in love with the cleverness of Moneyball they're ripe for Scientology membership.
We will see how 2016 shapes up. I sense it will be a very painful season for Dodgers fans who honestly feel we deserve better. For the apologists, the possibly mentally ill, it will be a celebration of numbers and math that has no basis of fact. While the top teams move into October and play for a World Series ring, the Dodgers fans will be snapping at one another about what changes need to be made and how to get more very average minor league players from other organizations into the Dodgers lineup and rotation. Three decades and counting.


text:
I woke up on a mission this morning to finish what I started,….in 2014! 😦 Admittedly, procrastination has been an issue for me of late but I'm determined to spend the 1st few days of this New Year finalizing projects and other "to-do's" that were left in the incomplete files from 2014. 1st up is posting a few pics from my #3IslandsIn3Days trip last month with Sandals Resorts:
- Great Exuma, Bahamas
- Turks and Caicos
- St. John, Antigua
In that daily order starting out on Saturday, December 6, 2014 on an early morning Charter Flight from Charlotte-Douglas Airport with Sandals Resorts as our training hosts! My 3 Day Itinerary with Sandals #CloserYouLook #MegaFAM begins Saturday: 12/6/14 thru Monday: 12/8/2014 : First stop- Sandals Emerald Bay :
2nd stop on Day 1 was to Beaches Turks and Caicos for a 2 night stay.
Final stop on Day 3: Sandals Grande Antigua:
An exhausting 3 Caribbean Islands in 3 Days familiarization trip -aka- "The Closer You Look, The Better We Look" training with tour hosts Sandals Resorts that I can say, with almost 100% certainty, "I WILL NOT be doing this again" but I also must add, I wouldn't have missed this opportunity to "Go See for myself" for anything! Thanks Sandals and Beaches Resorts for your generous hospitality! I indeed learned a lot more information about Sandals and Beaches Resorts, especially those 3 properties, than I knew prior to this adventure trip!
SN: Resort reviews will be posted later on TLC Knows Blog.


text:
Service Supply a return for a house-to-house collection
Before supplying your return please read our information about charitable house-to-house collections
How to supply a return
Once you've carried out the house-to-house collection you'll need to fill in and send us a return form giving an account of the monies raised.
You'll need to do this within one month of the collection.
You can apply online. We'll need to know:
- the name of the charity or fund which is to benefit
- the place of collection
- the proceeds of collection
- expenses and application of proceeds
An accountant will need to give a certificate to confirm that the return is a true account of the collection.
There is no cost for giving the return.
Start the journey
More info about the journey
You'll need to know how much money was raised and how much any expenses came to.
You don't need to do anything else but please do email or telephone us if you have any questions about your collection or the return.
If you want to carry out another collection you will need to apply for another permit.
You can fill in a paper version of the return form and send it to us in the post or bring it into our office within 28 days of the collection.
If you want to come in to our offices and speak to a licensing officer then please telephone first to make sure that someone is available.


text:
Makes: 6 servings at $2.01 each. Prep Time: 10 minutes. Cook: about 35 minutes.
1. In large skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add Cornish hens, skin side down; brown 4 minutes. Turn over; brown 4 minutes. Flip; cook for 2 minutes. Remove to platter. Reduce heat.
2. Add garlic and onion to skillet; saute, scraping up any brown bits, 3 minutes. Add wine; cook 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, olives, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper flakes.
3. Place Cornish hen halves back in skillet on top of sauce; pour in any drippings from platter. Cover skillet tightly with aluminum foil; cook over medium heat 15 minutes. Remove foil. Instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast should register 160 degrees F (if not, cover hens and cook a little longer). Remove hens to clean platter. Continue cooking sauce over high heat for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Pour over hens.


text:
Travel.State.Gov > Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Poland Intercountry Adoption Information
Exercise normal precautions in Poland.
Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page.
If you decide to travel to Poland:
Poland is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Hague countries is done in accordance with the requirements of the Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA's implementing regulations, as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Poland.
To bring an adopted child to the United States from Poland, you must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements. USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law.
Additionally, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa.
In addition to the U.S. requirements, prospective adoptive parents need to meet Poland's requirements to adopt a child from Poland:
Because Poland is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Poland must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the adoption may take place only if the competent authorities of Poland have determined that placement of the child within Poland has been given due consideration and that an intercountry adoption is in the child's best interests. In addition to Poland's requirements, a child must meet the definition of Convention adoptee to be eligible for an immigrant visa that will allow you to bring him or her to the United States.
At the present time, Polish law requires both adoptive parents to have met the child prior to adoption.
Only adoption centers authorized by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy can evaluate a Polish child's eligibility for intercountry adoption. At present, only the Mazowieckie Regional Adoption Center (former Public Adoptive-Guardian Center - Publiczny Osrodek Adopcyjno-Opiekunczy) has such authorization. The Mazowieckie Regional Adoption Center maintains a database of all children residing in children homes or foster families in Poland who are available for international adoption because their parents have died, have relinquished all rights to them, or their right were involuntarily terminated.
Poland's Adoption Authority
Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
Department of Family Policy
11 Nowogrodzka Street
00-513 Warsaw, Poland
Tel: +48 (22) 529-0666 or 0665
Fax: +48 (22) 429-0661
Email: email@example.com
Internet: pips.gov.pl/en/intercountry-adoption/information
Because Poland is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adopting from Poland must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention's requirements. A brief summary of the Convention adoption process is given below. You must complete these steps in the following order so that your adoption meets all necessary legal requirements. Adoptions completed out of order may result in the child not being eligible for an immigrant visa to the United States.
The recommended first step in adopting a child from Poland is to select an adoption service provider in the United States that has been accredited or approved to provide services to U.S. citizens in Convention cases. Only accredited or approved adoption services providers act as the primary provider in your case. The primary adoption service provider is responsible for ensuring that all adoption services in the case are done in accordance with the Hague Adoption Convention and U.S. laws and regulations. Learn more about Agency Accreditation.
Agencies that want to operate in Poland must receive an authorization to do so from the Polish Central Authority (Ministry of Labor and Social Policy).
There are three adoption centers in Poland that are authorized to qualify foreign prospective parents for adoption in Poland and match them with children available for intercountry adoption. These centers, all located in Warsaw, are: the Mazowieckie Regional Adoption Center (formerly known as the Public Adoptive-Guardian Center), the National Adoptive-Guardian Center of the Children's Friends Society, and the Catholic Adoptive-Guardian Center. The Hague-accredited U.S. adoption service providers may submit dossiers to these centers only.
Polish adoption law does not explicitly forbid directed or private adoptions. However, Polish law only allows intercountry adoption of orphans listed by the Public Adoptive-Guardian Center. This Center will only list orphans for intercountry adoption for whom no adopting Polish family can be found. In practice, it is extremely difficult to arrange a directed adoption between a birth parent and prospective adoptive parent without violating Polish law.
Before considering "direct" or "private" adoptions in any country, please contact the Office of Children's Issues, Department of State.
After you choose an accredited adoption service provider, you apply to be found eligible to adopt (Form I-800A) by the U.S. Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn how.
Once the U.S. Government determines that you are "eligible" and "suitable" to adopt, you or your agency will forward your information to the adoption authority in Poland. Poland's adoption authority will review your application to determine whether you are also eligible to adopt under Polish law.
If both the United States and Poland determine that you are eligible to adopt, and the Polish adoption authorities have determined that a child is available for adoption and that intercountry adoption is in that child's best interests, the adoption center that you have chosen to work with in Poland will provide you with a referral for a child. The referral is a proposed match between you and a specific child based on a review of your dossier and the needs of a specific child in Poland. The adoption center in Poland will provide a background study and other information, if available, about the child to help you decide whether to accept the referral or not. Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs and provide a permanent home for a particular child. If you accept the referral, the adoption service provider communicates that to the chosen adoption center in Poland. Learn more about this critical decision.
After you accept a match with a child, you will apply to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for provisional approval for the child to immigrate to the United States (Form I-800). USCIS will make a provisional determination as to whether the child meets the definition of a Convention Adoptee and will be eligible to enter the United States and reside permanently as an immigrant.
After provisional approval of Form I-800, your adoption service provider or you will submit a visa application to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw is responsible for issuing immigrant visas to children from Poland. A consular officer will review the Form I-800 and the visa application for possible visa ineligibilities and advise you of options for the waiver of any noted ineligibilities.
WARNING: The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an "Article 5 Letter") to the Poland's Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Poland where all Convention requirements are met and the consular officer determines that the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform the Poland's Central Authority that the parents are eligible and suited to adopt, that all indications are that the child may enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.
Do not attempt to adopt or obtain custody of a child in Poland before a U.S. consular officer issues the Article 5 Letter in any adoption case.
Remember: The consular officer will make a final decision about a child's eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.
Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in Poland
Remember: Before you adopt (or gain legal custody of) a child in Poland, you must have completed the above four steps. Only after completing these steps, can you proceed to finalize the adoption or grant of custody for the purposes of adoption in Poland.
The process of finalizing the adoption in Poland includes the following:
In some areas of Poland, adoptive parents may also be financially responsible for the housing costs of the child in the orphanage, from the time n adoption is finalized through the child's removal from the orphanage. It is customary, but not required, for adoptive parents to make donations in the amount of 500-1,000 PLN to the adoption center that assisted in the adoption processing.
Now that your adoption is completed, there are a few more steps to take before you can head home. Specifically, you need to apply for three documents before your child can travel to the United States:
Birth Certificate
If you have finalized the adoption in Poland, you will firstneed to apply for a new birth certificate for your child so that you can later apply for a passport.
With the final court decree, you may apply to the civil registry for a complete birth certificate ("zupełny act urodzenia") with the child's new name and listing the adoptive parents as parents. This document is typically ready within one to two days. Applications should be made at the office where the child's birth was originally registered.
Polish Passport
Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Poland.
After receiving the new birth certificate, the parents must apply for a child's new identification number, or "PESEL". Once it has been assigned, both parents may apply for a Polish passport from either the local passport office where the child was adopted or the main passport office in Warsaw. The PESEL number, birth certificate, parents' passports, passport application and fee will be required. Within seven days of application, adopted children are generally issued a temporary Polish passport with a one-year validity for travel.
U.S. Immigrant Visa
After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you also need to finalize your application for a U.S. visa for your child from the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. After the adoption is granted, visit the U.S. Embassy for final review of the case, issuance of a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate, final approval of Form I-800, and to obtain your child's immigrant visa. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the consular officer must be provided the "Panel Physician's" medical report on the child if it was not provided during the provisional approval stage. Read more about the Medical Examination.
For adoptions finalized abroad prior to the child's admission into the United States: An adopted child residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence generally will acquire U.S. citizenship automatically if the child otherwise meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, including that the child is under the age of eighteen.
U.S. citizens are required by law to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports.
Getting or renewing a passport is easy. The Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print—all in one place.
American citizens traveling to Poland do not need to obtain a visa.
Before you travel, it is always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The Department of State provides Country Specific Information for every country of the world about various issues, including the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.
When traveling during the adoption process, we encourage you to enroll with the Department of State. Enrollment makes it possible to contact you if necessary. Whether there is a family emergency in the United States or a crisis in Poland, enrollment assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you.
Enrollment is free and can be done online via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
One year after a finalized adoption, a written report must be submitted to the Polish adoption center that processed the case. Your adoption agency will assist you with preparing and submitting this report to Polish authorities in accordance with the terms it has established with the Polish Central Authority. Typically, such reports are prepared by a licensed social worker to describe the child's well-being, including relevant medical, emotional, residential, and educational information as well as current photos of the child. We strongly urge you to comply with Poland's post-adoption requirements in a timely manner. Your cooperation will contribute to that country's history of positive experiences with U.S. citizen parents.
Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. There are many public and private nonprofit post-adoption services available for children and their families. There are also numerous adoptive family support groups and adoptee organizations active in the United States that provide a network of options for adoptees who seek out other adoptees from the same country of origin. Take advantage of all the resources available to your family, whether it is another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.
Here are some places to start your support group search:
Note: Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents.
U.S. Embassy in Poland
IV Unit/Adoptions
12 Piekna Street
00-540 Warsaw, Poland
Tel: +48 (22) 625-1401 or +28 (22) 504-2106
Fax: +48 (22) 504-2088
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: https://pl.usembassy.gov/
Poland's Adoption Authority
Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy
Department of Family Policy
11 Nowogrodzka Street
00-513 Warsaw, Poland
Tel: +48 (22) 529-0666 or 0678
Fax: +48 (22) 429-0661
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: mpips.gov.pl/en/intercountry-adoption/information/
Poland's Authorized Adoption Centers
Mazovian Provincial Adoption Center
ul. Nowy Zjazd 1
00-301 Warszawa
Tel/fax: +48 (22) 621-1075
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: adopcjawarszawa.pl/p-international-adoptions.html
National Adoption Center of the Children's Friends Society
(Towarzystwo Przyjaciol Dzieci – TPD)
Ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 6
00-325 Warszawa
Tel: +48 (22) 425-4677 or 4688
Fax: +48 (22) 827-7813
Email: email@example.com
Internet: osrodekadopcyjny.pl/about_en.html
Catholic Adoption Center (Katolicki Osrodek Adopcyjno-Opiekunczy)
Ul. Ratuszowa 5
03-461 Warszawa
Fax: (48)(22) 818-5430
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: adopcja.org
Embassy of Poland Consular Section
2224 Wyoming Av. NW
Washington, D.C. 20008-3992
Tel: (202) 499-1930
Email: email@example.com
Internet: waszyngton.msz.gov.pl/en/waszyngton_us_a_en_consular_information_2/
Poland also has consulates in: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.
Office of Children's Issues
U.S. Department of State
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: adoption.state.gov
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC):
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1-913-214-5808
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
For general questions about immigration procedures:
USCIS Contact Center
Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov
You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.
Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.
You are about to visit:


text:
A fair price in seconds, mechanics you can trust, next-day service at your door
Excellent rating - 9.3 out of 10 (4300+ reviews)
Up to 50% cheaper than franchise dealers
Instant fixed price quotes
(no hidden estimates)
Fully vetted & qualified mechanics
1 year parts & repairs warranty
Next day bookings at your home or office
Get your car repaired at your home or office
BMW Mechanics
26Total expert BMW mechanics operating in Hove
Number of Ratings
131Total number of reviews for BMW bookings in Hove
Average RatingAverage user rating for BMW bookings in Hove
Mobile mechanic serving Hove, 22 years of experience
JON, Brighton
BMW 3 Series • Diagnostic Inspection
CHRIS, Horsham
Garage serving Hove, 25 years of experience
PAUL, Brighton
BABOUCARR, Brighton
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter • Front brake pads (all) replacement
Mobile mechanic serving Hove, 33 years of experience
STEVEN, Brighton
BMW 3 Series • Water pump replacement
MILLIE, Hove
Vauxhall/Opel Combo-C • Diagnostic Inspection
BMW 3 Series • Brake discs and pads replacement - front (both)
Mobile mechanic serving Hove, 20 years of experience
LEE, Lancing
BMW 3 Series • Standard Pre-purchase Inspection
WILL, Havant
Ford Fiesta • Front window regulator replacement
Get an instant quote, then book a vetted mechanic to fix your car at your home or office.
These recent quotes were taken from our quote engine which uses third-party industry standard data on repair times, along with a live parts retailer, and a regional labour rate to build an accurate free quote. We are constantly improving our quote engine, so please let us know if a price seems incorrect.


text:
Contouring isn't just for cheeks y'know. Eye contouring is a great way to get statement, smouldering lids – and ZOEVA's Contour Shader Brush (235) does most of the legwork for you. With a specially angled brush head, it allows you to accentuate the shape of your eye and create 'wings' of shadow from the outer corners of the lid. We recommend using it with a dazzling golden cream eyeshadow, for a sultry, spellbinding stare à la Beyoncé.
This specially slanted eyeshadow brush follows the contours of your eyes to ensure application is spot on. The design features a chic black wooden handle, metal ferrule and vegan taklon bristles. ZOEVA's collection of brushes are beloved by professionals and make up devotees alike, each one delivering a flawless finish so you can boss even the trickiest of make up techniques.
Perfect for precision application of cream shadow.
Synthetic-taklon bristles (vegan friendly)
View our Shipping Policy here
Need help? Contact us referencing product code ZOE068
You must be signed in to leave a review
By creating an account with our store, you will be able to move through the checkout process faster, store multiple shipping addresses, view and track your orders in your account and more.
Email sent...
If there is an account associated with this email address you will receive an email with a link to reset your password.
Once you have created your new password, you may sign-in.


text:
I have designed my website with the consumer at the forefront. It discusses all facets of the Edmonton Real Estate Buying and Selling Process. I have been selling Real Estate since 1998 and am familiar with all areas of the City of Edmonton and Surrounding. Whether you are looking for a condominium, home or business, my experience will allow the process to remain hassle free. Being a member of the Realtor's Association of Edmonton has provided me with access to valuable information that I am able to pass on to the consumer. Feel free to call me at 780-431-5600 or e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com. I have resided as a Edmontonian since 1970 and feel this is one of the best places to live in North America...
Buying a home?
Your satisfaction is my top priority! I will take the time to listen to your needs and desires and help you find your dream home.
Selling your home?
I will get your home sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. My online and offline marketing programs give me the edge needed to make this possible.


text:
CLEARANCE SALE! These are the last few seersucker hats we have in stock, and we will not be getting any more in. They are now 30% off until all are sold. (Regular price, $21)
*Please remember to type your monogram initials (Last name in the center) and thread color in the text box in your shopping cart before proceeding to payment. Thanks!!*
- 100% cotton striped seersucker
- Adult size
- Back closure is a seersucker strap with metal buckle. See 5th photo!
- Hats are extremely soft, lightweight, and comfortable, and they definitely help to stay cool in the heat!
- Hat shown in main photo is yellow cap with navy thread, fancy embroidery font
- Blue hat is out of stock!
***When ordering, include these TWO things in the message to seller text box in your shopping cart:***
1- Color(s) of thread for embroidery
2- Initials to embroider in the order of first name, last name, middle/maiden name... be sure to *Clearly* specify which letter is the LAST name, which goes in the middle and is larger.
For example: Jane Marie Doe... jDm... first initial, last initial, middle initial. If you're not sure, just write out full name. Thanks! :)
**I do NOT embroider Greek letters for sororities at this time!! These logos are registered and trademarked. Remember to always check with your embroiderer to make sure they're legally embroidering your Greek letters and paying a percentage back to your organization!**
If you'd like a quantity of more than one hat, just purchase them right from here. If I don't have the quantity you need, send me a convo, and I'll add stock!! I will credit the difference in shipping for a quantity of 5 hats or more.
Any other questions? Send me a message before ordering!
For more info, please read my shop policies before making your purchase!
To see other great items from Fine Thread Art and to keep up with our day to day, check us out around the web:
2-3 weeks
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Request a cancellation within: 24 hours of purchase
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
You'll type everything I need in the text box in your shopping cart. Please remember all info that I'll need in order to embroider your item so that it is not delayed! I'll need:
1- Thread Color
2- Font Choice
3- Name or Initials (Please be clear on which initial should be the center/larger letter)
4- Applique Fabric (if applicable)
5- Size/Color of item if you haven't already chosen from the drop down menu.
It all depends on the amount of work we already have in line. Please send a convo to ask about turnaround time if you need your order by a specific date. I'll let you know right away whether or not I can accommodate your request. Priority Mail should always be chosen for any early order.
Traditionally, a ladies' monogram will have her last name in the center. This is our most common monogram option. The easiest way for both you and I to know what order you'd like your initials it to type them this way: Jane Elizabeth Smith, monogram: jSm. I'm totally okay with you just typing out the full name as well so that there's no confusion on how the monogram will be sewn.
If you'd prefer a monogram with the letters all in the same size and in the first, middle, last order, please just leave a note explaining that you'd like them that way. Thanks so much!
No, not necessarily. If we already have the stock in our shop for everything that you'll need, you can go ahead and just add everything to your order on your own. If you get charged too much shipping, we always send a refund of the amount of postage that is not used, don't worry!
We can embroider either initials or a name on pretty much anything we sell as well as mini designs. We do not embroider any Disney items, team names or logos, fraternity/sorority letters, or any other licensed or trademarked logo or word as these are someone else's intellectual property. We do not sell anything with these designs on it. Also, please note that we will not embroider or include any type of profanity or inappropriate language on your item or in your package, including gift messages. Thanks for your understanding!
More than likely, YES! Send a message, and I'll let you know for sure. We love customizing products though like matching hats for Mom and Baby or matching designs for baby, kid, and adult hats for a group.
I will try to get in touch with you shortly after your order is placed if you forget a thread color, font, initials, etc. Please make sure your notifications are turned on, check your inbox, and make sure your e-mail is up to date! If I don't hear back from you after 3 failed attempts over the course of one week, I will do one of the following:
1- Go forward with the info that I do have and use my best judgement.
2- If I'm missing a thread color only, I'll use the same color that's on the main photo of the listing.
3- If I'm missing pertinent info like initials or a name, I will cancel your order and refund what was paid. You may re-order, but I will only proceed if I have 100% of the info needed for me to embroider your order.
Jul 17, 2019
Jun 9, 2019
Aug 25, 2017
Excellent customer service, I was able to get exactly what I wanted. Would definitely shop here again.
Jul 21, 2016
Love my monogram hat!! It's perfect and was delivered earlier than expected!
Jul 5, 2016


text:
Columbus Travels Myanmar ( Burma )
Compiled here is a itemizing of forty five brief-lived and probably easily forgotten 70's tv collection. Providing up pictures, trivia, plot strains, cast lists and extra we will take a fond look again at reveals that simply didn't catch the viewing audience's consideration for one motive or another: poorly solid, improper time slot, unbelievable plot strains and more.
Travel Republic Restricted is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Restricted which is authorised and controlled by the Financial Conduct Authority (their registration quantity is 313486) and which is permitted to advise on and organize basic insurance contracts. of Sciences, in addition to the ingenuity and dedication of Tanya and her subject crew. Tanya, a researcher at the Institute of Volcanic Geology and Geochemistry in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, spent a month in Washington State in 1997, hosted by Brian Atwater (USGS, UW) and myself, so this was a return exchange. The show's focus wasn't really about drugs, it was about individuals and their struggles.
Have you ever ever seen views like this wherever else in the world? The previous city of Dubrovnik is something out of a storybook, and strolling the partitions you are offered with gorgeous views of each the town and the Adriatic. The stroll takes about 1.5 hours and you won't want to forget your digicam. There are far too many further features for me to say, so click on to view the Amazon product page for an in depth rationalization of all the things you get with this awesome tablet.
The first thing I always inform individuals is to stay in a hostel. Put your self on the market to meet folks and just be your self. Don't fret about the little things that may go mistaken. It is going to be filled with ups and downs, but will probably be among the best damn occasions of your life! In northern Israel, contact the Consular Company in Haifa The after-hours emergency quantity is (972)(3)519-7575. Accommodations: we almost all the time use Airbnb (hyperlink gets first-timers a $40 credit score) and discover it cheaper and enjoy the expertise extra. Links to our accommodations are in the itinerary beneath. I think I would be pretty joyful spending eleven months of the 12 months at house and 1 month each year in New York Metropolis (we do this by means of exchanging homes each year.) The reality is, I am just about a homebody-typically not leaving my home for days. Korea is a know-how powerhouse, it makes sense that they are ahead on internet speeds.
For instance, walk right into a hostel, meet a nice group of individuals and say YES" to once they ask you to affix them for sightseeing or an evening out. You should be very sociable when traveling by your self, unless you actually want to see and do every thing by your self. I desire to meet new people and being alone provides you that extra push. There are times when it may be laborious though, perhaps the hostel is empty or folks just should not pleasant or inviting. Belief me it will happen, however 90% of the time (if you're attempting) you will meet some amazing folks! One in every of my largest tips about traveling alone is to plan as little as attainable. This manner in the event you meet an incredible group of individuals, you may be part of them and never have to stay to your predetermined itinerary.


text:
ruby-throated songbird
sings of daybreak
pecks my slaughtered heart
Poetry Month continues, and this is Day 6 of NaPoWriMo for me. Today's prompt was to write an Aubade. Of course, I added my twist and used the Haiku format.
30 poems in 30 days. Do you dabble in word play as well? Let's create 30 in 30.
Love and Ink,


text:
Accounting Apps 749 Apps found. category: Accounting × version: 10.0 ×
Professional Report Templates: Purchase Order, RFQ, Sales Order, Quotation, Invoice, Delivery Note and Picking List
Professional Report Templates
This module allow to manage loan of your Customers/Suppliers/Partners.
Customer and Supplier Loan Management
Provides Authorize.net API for credit card payments in Odoo backend.
Payment Authorize.net Backend (Coming Soon)
Account Customers statement & Supplier statement & overdue statements
Customer / Supplier statement & customer overdue payment reports
Import Customer Invoice or Vendor Invoice Based on Image or PDF. OCR will auto scan your hard copy invoice and convert it to soft copy and auto enter in odoo OCR scanner, OCR based import, Import invoices
Import Invoice OCR scan and import
Balance Sheet & Profit and Loss Reports, Financial report, Dynamic Report, Odoo Accounting
Dynamic Financial Reports
Multiple Write Off Lines in Register Payments
Multiple Write Off Lines in Register Payments(Advanced) - Writeoff
This module allow you to do followup on your customer unpaid invoices.
Customer Payment Follow-up Management
This module allow you to create Job Estimate from Job Cost Sheet.


text:
January, 29 2018
6 – 10 February 2018
Stand A 10:15
Seletti, the most pop and democratic brand in Italian design, participates in the Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair for the first time with its sensational and unconventional products.
The brand enters the temple of Scandinavian design par excellence with a display stand focused on lighting, one of the most interesting sectors for the brand for some years now and therefore a source of experimentation both through new technology as well as partnerships with some of the most sensational designers on the international stage. The latest news in this area includes forays into the furniture and art de la table sector, with proposals that are cheeky and pop.
The stand at the Stockholm Fair will be an explosion of shapes, colors, and inspirations all centered on the marriage, essentially indissoluble for Seletti, between design and accessibility.
The biggest novelty is the Felix lamp, the latest wacky creation by the Studio Job duo, now among Seletti's strongest partnerships: a magical cat that illuminates its surroundings with its bewitching eyes, available for preview at the Stockholm fair.
Then there is the now famous Banana Lamp, and the collaboration with Marcantonio, who designed the bestselling Monkey Lamps – now also in white for outdoor use –, and Mouse Lamps in a gray version with colored light bulbs. In the catalog are furniture, small armchairs, and cushions designed by TOILETPAPER magazine, the editorial project consisting of only images created by Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari and finally, again designed by Marcantonio, the Luminaire collection that combines lighting and decor.
Among the bestsellers is the now famous Letters, consisting of luminous letters that have become a true symbol of creativity for the company.
"Being in Stockholm is a great opportunity for Seletti", says Stefano Seletti, art director of the brand. "This fair has become a point of reference for international design over the years. There is excitement, curiosity, innovation, and the beginnings of a desire to break out of the traditional Scandinavian design schemes and open up to new aesthetic thinking".
FELIX – design: Studio Job
Felix the cat may not purr, but it compensates for this with intense and inquisitive eyes that illuminate its surroundings, creating an enchanted atmosphere. Felix is the fruit of a new collaboration between Seletti and Studio Job, part of the BLOW project, the new design brand that combines the imagination of Studio Job and the know-how of the Italian brand.
Made in 1: 1 scale, inspired by Job Smeet's cat and perfect in every single detail, Felix is available in three different colors: white, black, and bicolored. The alert tail reveals a backside with a USB charger – a universal socket for all voltages – and switches/dimmers that are positioned, poetically, as the genitals of the feline. Felix is equipped with a battery that lasts for 9 hours, and thus allows the lamp to be moved around the house without difficulty.
The cat's coat perfectly reproduces the texture of fur, for an even more realistic effect.
BANANA LAMP – design: Studio Job
Studio Job's Banana is now a symbol of ironic design, a perfect representation of the designer's relationship with a unique brand like Seletti.
The idea behind the project is to give design enthusiasts access to a project that was created as a limited edition: Studio Job and Seletti find a way to reduce the price while maintaining the aesthetic value. Hence the idea of unlimited editions, which also includes the Tiffany Tree Lamp, Hot Doga sofa, and Hamburger chair in addition to mirrors, neon lights, dishes, and folding chairs.
Banana lamp is available in 3 table versions – Huey, Dewey and Louie – and in the new appliqué version that looks perfect on the wall, almost like a piece of pop art.
Made of glass and resin, Banana Lamp is a new status symbol that is accessible, democratic, and imbued with the crazy and decorative imagination of Studio Job.
TIFFANY TREE LAMP – design: Studio Job
A sculpture lamp that gives a nod to the classic Tiffany style, with a crazy and visionary touch typical of Studio Job. Made of resin, the Tiffany Tree Lamp replicates an actual tree with light bulbs hidden under the foliage. The trunk, crafted precisely to mimic the texture of wood, hides the switch, and a curious bird on the top scrutinizes everything that happens around it.
Like the Banana Lamp, Tiffany Tree Lamp is inspired by a limited edition of Studio Job made accessible by Seletti's experience in affordable design.
GREY MOUSE LAMP – design: Marcantonio
The invasion of Marcantonio's mice continues and seems unstoppable. The nature-based inspirations of the designer/artist have allowed Seletti to transform the home into an enchanted world, with fairy-tale animals that become unique and functional objects.
The white Mouse Lamps are already an integral part of the brand's lighting catalog and the white version is now joined by a gray version: playful mice holding colored light bulbs as if they were on their way to a party. Suspended between dream and reality, Mouse Lamp once again finds its way into the homes of fans.
MONKEY LAMP OUTDOOR – design: Marcantonio
The monkeys reclaim their natural environment, leaving the house to explore the gardens and jump around freely. The Monkey Lamp, a symbol of Seletti's most recent experiments in lighting, is now available as an outdoor version in white. This provides a different use for this zoomorphic sculpture, now in the most glamorous houses on the planet and, starting today, even in the most luxuriant gardens.
LUMINAIRE – design: Marcantonio
The collaboration with artist and designer Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba continues.
The Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair takes the opportunity to unveil Luminarie, a dreamlike and unconventional project that brings together furniture and lighting. Three mirrors – small, medium, and large – and a headboard for the wooden bed, irregularly shaped and decorated with numerous small lightbulbs that, in addition to providing illumination, add a dreamy touch. In the words of the designer "The idea of Luminaire comes from a trip to Salento where I fell in love with the lights that the Salentini people use for the village festivals. On these occasions, the streets are decorated with elaborate wooden structures surrounded by myriads of small colored lights. I emulated these structures by drawing primordial forms like those drawn by a child and, through the light bulbs, I tried to create a precious effect of amazement and surprise".
Seletti wears TOILETPAPER – the armchairs and the cushions
This line, created in collaboration with TOILETPAPER magazine (the editorial project by Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari), is the emblem of how design and art can come together, giving rise to an original and over-the-top imagery. Now added to the rich catalog of objects is its first product in the world of upholstery; the new armchairs evoke the traditional look of chairs in the 50s, with sinuous shapes and brass feet, but are then distorted by an upholstery of surreal images: a cat surrounded by pills, a tropical island dominated by a volcano, a rude mouth, or hole-riddled flowers.
TOILETPAPER also spreads into a series of cushions that become small works of art, available in 30 different patterns, to break the rules in even the most formal living rooms.


text:
Driving from Cheyenne to Fort Collins today and found my mind wandering a bit from here to there about a couple of things. Like what we long for at the core of ourselves; what we cry out for in our very private hearts: I believe that above all things we long to be seen. I think that's why it is so absolutely fabulous to fall in love – we begin to believe that someone finally sees us, deeply, for who we are – and they like what they see!
The problem, of course, is that we aren't built to see truly into the heart of another person. We are flawed, and we are individuals who have opinions, and who are so fragile in so many ways.
The first people in our lives who are supposed to "see" us are our parents. I think that in a perfect world, this would happen in such a way that we learn to value ourselves, to "see" ourselves in a real and meaningful way, so that as we grow we are not dependent upon others' view of us for our sense of value. Well, none of our parents are perfect in this world so we all have issues we have to work through, but I begin to believe that in a home where chaos is prevelent (like in a home with an alcoholic parent), that special "seeing" gets lost along the way. We don't learn to see ourselves, to value ourselves, to just be content with who we are. Part of chaos is the random, fluctuating ups and downs, the crisis, and the calm – there is not enough quiet and peace necessary for "seeing" deeply into another person; particularly a child's heart. So we learn at an early age to doubt ourselves – we find ourselves unable to grasp that spark inside our hearts that makes us worthy of regard from others.
So we punish ourselves, and we wonder why we can't get what we need from ourselves or from others. We either throw ourselves into becoming perfect enough for someone to love us, or we sell ourselves for the lowest common denominator. Maybe it gets externalized and becomes very visible to others – like alcoholism, drug abuse, or other socially stigmatic problems; maybe it becomes internalized as perfectionism, depression, or workaholism (if that is an actual word) – which ironically enough are usually applauded by society as a whole.
Then miraculously, we grow up and someone falls in love with us. They see our faults and "quirks" and they want us anyway, so we hold on tight and don't let go. Over a period of time, sometimes short, sometimes long, we realize that they don't really see us as we need to be seen, and that unexpected joy of falling in love turns to ashes in our hands. Then we have a choice – we either learn to "see" ourselves and find our own value, or we give up in despair. The sad reality is that we often don't have the capability of "seeing" our spouse the way they need to be seen either. Both parties can end up being hurt, disappointed, and left with the feeling of being found wanting in some fundamental way.
I'm learning to see myself, and to love what I find there inside of me. It is not easy, and it is a long struggle. Jesse, if you are reading this – I see you, my love.


text:
For the upcoming lesson plan, I am asking for community input. One of the lesson plan options will be to look at the history of Tremont from about 1900 to the present. The other option is a lesson plan that focuses on various aspects of Irishtown Bend, including its history based on archaeological findings and potential modern reuses. I will include a poll below that will run through April 3, and the lesson plan should be completed by April 8.
Also, I wanted to share an article that I thought was interesting. Crain's Cleveland Publisher & Editor Elizabeth McIntyre wrote an article discussing the need for a change to the regional term 'Rust Belt'. The link to this article is located below. Although I am guilty of using this term, I agree that it needs to change to a term that identifies the positive aspects of the region rather than the negatives. From now on, 'Rust Belt' will no longer be used on this site to describe the geographical region that includes cities such as Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Buffalo.
"Time for the region to shake off the rust"


text:
The Dutch smartcard company Gemalto NV has developed an application that embeds Facebook on SIM cards, letting GSM phone users stay connected on Facebook without data plans. This move... Read more »
Facebook was showing the love this Valentines Day – giving all its users a nice tight hug letting us all know we are safe and secure ! As we... Read more »
New layout & photo gallery functionality released for Facebook page administrators. http://facebook.com Read more »
This week, Facebook announced HTTPS support for all communication between its servers and end users' web browsers. This is the right thing for Facebook to do in light of... Read more »
In October 2010 Facebook adjusted some privacy features and one of these changes was an amendment to the Groups function. Traditionally there are 3 types of groups available to... Read more »