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Two bronzed children take turns pulling a well-worn Radio Flyer down the narrow sandy path bordering a wide swath of boulevard, cars and bicycles passing at a (mostly) leisurely pace. Inside the wagon is a slick tangle of bodies and legs, scrambling and scratching at the metal sides. It has been a particularly productive afternoon, and there will be crabs for dinner.
This is a snapshot, as described to me, of my husband's idyllic childhood summers—spent not in some quaint New England seaside town, or by the Chesapeake Bay, but on the Jersey Shore.
This may come as a surprise to those of you whose relationship with the Jersey Shore was forged against a backdrop of partying as Snooki, "The Situation," and the rest of the gang on the MTV show "Jersey Shore" took over the town of Seaside Heights for four hot summers.
I confess that, like many New Yorkers, I was a bit of a Jersey snob before meeting my husband, who grew up on the outskirts of Paterson. And after one too many doses of "reality" watching "Jersey Shore," I was pretty confident it was the one of the last places I'd ever want to spend my summers.
But it took just two visits with my husband's family on Long Beach Island to put me firmly on the path of conversion from skeptic to evangelist.
LBI (as anyone who has been there more than once refers to it) is a long slip of an island off the New Jersey coast. It's 18 miles from north to south, and half a mile across at its widest point (one fifth at its skinniest). Less than two hours from New York City, it's flanked on the East by stretches of fine white sand and on the West by the clear waters of Barnegat Bay.
People head to LBI to relax and spend time with friends and family, to grill every night and watch the sun set over the bay from their roof decks, a beer or a gin and tonic in hand. By 10 o'clock at night, the island is mostly winding down so that everyone can rise early for a morning jog or bike ride before facing another extremely tough day of sand and sun and deciding which good things to eat.
So you too can feel like you're part of the extended family, I compiled eight food-related things I love about the Jersey Shore—and specifically LBI. I guarantee you won't get any of these tips on MTV.
On LBI, there are docks jutting out into the bay every seven blocks or so. If you're serious about fishing, you can drop a line for fluke or sea bass. Like my husband and his sister did years ago, kids still dangle strings baited with bunker from the docks into the water below, nets and buckets at the ready to scoop up any curious blue crabs that come begging.
LBI rivals any beachfront community of its size in sheer number of venues where you can either play mini golf or eat ice cream (or both). Most of the scoop shops import ice cream from the mainland, but all suppliers are not created equal. We've learned from experience to look for the signs that advertise Arctic Ice Cream. This Trenton-based company has been making ice cream for more than 80 years; strawberry, black raspberry, and chocolate peanut butter are particularly good—as is the passion fruit sorbet and the rainbow sherbet.
Our best dining experiences on LBI have been those hosted by our own local firehouse or some other civic organization. We've been to the annual striper tournament/fish fry, Oktoberfest celebrations with beer and live music, chicken dinners, and even a pig roast. The food is usually great, the company even better, and your meal ticket goes towards improving municipal services. Look out for signs as you drive up and down the boulevard, or pick up a copy of the SandPaper for more information.
If you're "down the Shore" at the height of summer, there's no reason to buy anything other than local varieties of these three things at one of the many farm stands and farmers markets that pop up just for the season. Try the Surf City farmers market, the Manahawkin farmers market, or head to the Country Corner Farm Market in Ship Bottom—yes, that is the name of a town—and Foster's Farm Market in Beach Haven.
Every place that cares about food has something to say about doughnuts, and LBI is no exception. There's a long-standing rivalry between Shore Good Donuts (with two locations in the south and center of the island) and Marvel's, both experts in the art of the cake doughnut: light and airy, crisp, and small in stature. Shore Good rolls warm doughnuts to order in your topping of choice, while Marvel's keeps a curated selection of flavors on hand. I won't try to sway you with my preference—instead, I recommend that you try the powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar varieties at both shops to make it a fair test.
Up at the north end of the island, just below the town of Barnegat Light, is the marina where all the fishing boats dock with their catch. Cassidy's—arguably the island's best fish market—is located right next to where the boats come in, so they get first dibs on the daily haul. You can even call ahead to find out what's just come in, and ask them to save you a fillet or two.
You'll hear the jingle of bells announcing the arrival of ice cream trucks all day long from the beach. A small fleet of drivers constantly patrols the island, taking one street at a time; they leave the truck idling at the base of the dune, jog up the sandy path to the tallest point overlooking the beach, and ring a bell to announce their arrival. Kids and parents peel themselves off their towels and shuffle over to buy a Firecracker or a Drumstick or—in the case of my 4-year-old—a Sponge Bob pop with bubble gum eyes.
This one is news even to most locals. Forty North Oyster Farms recently began seeding Barnegat Bay with oysters in an effort to revive a previously vibrant population decimated by over-harvesting and disease. My favorite of their varieties, called Rose Coves, have a clean, briny flavor due to their proximity to the ocean, with a little sweetness from the algae they feed on. Ask for them at local fish markets and anywhere they have a raw bar.
If you're going to the Jersey Shore for the food and you're willing to look past the touristy shops hawking fudge and salt water taffy, there's a lot to be found off the beaten path.
If you're going for the parties, I'm afraid I can't help you there. Sorry, Snooki.
A New Way to Dinner, co-authored by Food52's founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, is an indispensable playbook for stress-free meal-planning (hint: cook foundational dishes on the weekend and mix and match 'em through the week).
See what other Food52 readers are saying.


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Police shoot 2 pit bulls, kill 1
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale Police shot two pit bulls, killing one.
The shooting happened in the 1800 block of SW 22nd Street about 12:15 p.m. Friday.
It's unclear what led up to the shooting.
Copyright 2013 by Local10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Writes like a pen and paints a like brush!
Swirls, doodles, fine lines, and broad brush strokes are possible with this flexible brush-tipped pen. Pigma Brush is comfortable to hold and responds to instant changes in pressure or direction.
Vivid, fresh color enhances hand made compositions and conveys personality, style or emotion. Illustrators, manga artists, cartoonists and hobbyists can put pen to paper and leave a mark that will last a lifetime.
Sakura Color Products invented and patented PIGMA ink in 1982. This special formulation of pigment based ink is more complex and stable than dye based inks. Pigma ink has become the standard for what is defined as reliable, permanent, archival quality ink. Learn more about Pigma Inks.
flexible tip allows for different widths with varying pressure
opaque, waterproof ink, beautiful colors
can be layered with watercolor Alexis Moore (Miami, USA) on 29 Aug 2016
They are well made and come in great colours. The brush nib is lovely to use. Kate Woodman (London, United Kingdom) on 12 Dec 2016
great colours Clare Tyler (Newton Abbot, United Kingdom) on 9 Jan 2018


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Buy Now
Get the latest products here. With our wide array of seller products, now available with product sizing and color options, you can definitely find what you are looking for. Buy now and take advantage of the options we have, just for you. Also, it is easy to see the availability of the products that you are looking for just by checking the stock list. Buy now and enjoy the wide selections that will perfectly fit your preference. For the seller, product attributes such as "sizing" and "coloration" make your postings that much more effective and efficient to manage throughout the product selection and checkout process.
By getting the items that you want wholesale, you will be able to avail of discounted prices by purchasing in bulk. This will give you the opportunity to get more items for less. Also, you will be able to keep track of the number of items available for the said product. Wide our wide array of options, you can certainly find what you are looking for. You also have the option to see what colors and sizes are available.


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Your smile is one of the most valuable natural assets that can create a massive impact on your social, professional and personal life. Moreover, one of the most integral parts of hygiene maintenance and basic health happens to be you dental health.
It is for this reason that apart from brushing and flossing you should also go for regular dental check-ups. This way your teeth will not only get regular check-ups and you will get valuable advice regarding how you can deal with a particular problem and take the best care of your pearly whites but also any ailment or oral issues can be detected early because of your regular visit to the dentist.
But for that you first need a competent dentist. It is a daunting task to find a good dentist. But who you choose as the dentist can impact your overall health to a great extent and the effect can be both positive and negative. It is an important decision and that is why you should choose wisely after taking your time.
So here are a few tips that will help you to find the right dentist who has ample knowledge as well as quality experience to cater to your every oral need. Just read on.
- Do Your Research and Read Reviews – The quality of treatment should always be the top priority at the time of choosing a dentist. This cannot be determined beforehand unfortunately. However, you can do some research and check the online reviews. Check the reviews from the repeating patients and if you find they are appreciative of the dentist time and again you can rest assured that the dentist is consistently delivering quality service.
- Ask Your Family, Neighbours and Friends – If you move to a whole new place, you can ask the neighbour about which dentist they see. Moreover, you can also ask your friends and family regarding their dentist. Their recommendation are usually unbiased to a great extent and you will be able to get an honest review about the dentist.
Ask the Dentist if He Belongs to Any Professional Organisation – This question is essential as it helps you to understand whether the dentist is certified and whether he still strives to stay updated with the latest developments in the field. That is why this should be one of the first few questions that you need to ask the dentist in your very first appointment.
- Keep the Convenience Factor in Mind – You should see how long it takes to reach the office of the dentist from your house. You should also see how far it is from your office or kids' schools and whether it will be possible for you to go to the dental office after going there. Good dental care is of pivotal significance. But it is also essential to keep the convenience factor in mind.
- Find the Multi-specialty Dental Office – In today's hectic schedule it is a huge plus if you can find a general dentist, an implant specialist, a dental hygienist, paediatric dentist, an implant specialist along with all the upgraded technology all under one roof. This way it becomes the one-stop destination for any oral or dental issue for your family and you. This will save a lot of time which is highly coveted these days. That is why it is always advisable to go for a reliable multispecialty dental office where you will get each of these without any trouble.
The above are some of the essential tips that you can use to find an efficient and reputed dentist and the best dental clinic in New York so that you and your family do not have to give any thought about your oral health and can flaunt your million dollar smile whenever you want with confidence.


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Join Brandt (the reluctant alpha), Brennan (the hopeless romantic), and Bo (the womanizing playboy) as they search for love and happiness in Alaska. While they've stayed hidden for centuries, their world is about to change, and each brother will need the strength of a mate by his side to survive.
The box set includes: Obeying the Bear, Releasing the Bear, and Catching the Bear. If you love dominant grizzlies, alpha males, and shifter romances, this box set is the one you need.


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Apprentice of War
Den barmhjertige terroristen
Apprentice of War
In the autumn of 1028, the Norwegian king is forced to flee. The Danish king, Cnut the Great, runs Olaf Haraldsson out of the country. Olaf travels east to Russia accompanied by only his most trusted men. His younger half-brother, Harald, remains at home. So does the severely injured Rane Kingsward, once the most feared of all Vikings. The old Viking teaches the stubborn young boy his weaponry skills. When the old berserker sets out on horseback from the estate, it is with Harald chained to the back of another like a slave. Thus begins a long journey for the obstinate apprentice and his unyielding master.
For Harald it is a journey that has just as big an impact on his unformed mind as the Battle of Stiklestad (1030) that makes his brother Saint Olaf. After the battle it is Harald who must flee. He is now heir apparent and in great danger.
"Apprentice of War" is the first book in a series THE LAST VIKING KING, based on Harald Hardråde's adventurous life. In the second volume, "The Devil's horseman" (2018) Harald goes to Konstantinopel, where he joins the imperial guardsmen as a viking warrior. According to the historic sources Harald fought 80 battles for the emperor before he returned to his home country to become king of Norway. "Imperial Mercenary" is the third volume (2020).
Utländska förlag:
http://www.gyldendal.no/" class="green-link" target="_blank">Gyldendal
Cicero/Rosinante & Co (Den), Heyne Verlag (Germany)


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Leah Duncan has created her own lifestyle brand — centered around her beautifully illustrated textiles. Having worked as a graphic designer for advertising firms and screenprinting companies, Leah changed direction in 2008 and decided to pursue a career in illustration. Starting with an online Etsy store selling artwork, she has since become a creative force — designing her own home goods line and collaborating with brands such as Schoolhouse Electric, O'neill, Land of Nod, and Urban Outfitters. In her interview Leah discusses her innate draw to be an artist/creator, how she has developed a business/brand around her illustration, and she even gives a nod to Etsy's positive influence on her career. Thanks Leah for giving us this view into your life as an artist and designer! -eden
Where are you based?
Austin, Texas
What three words would you choose to best describe your artwork?
organic, quirky, soft
Have you had a formal art education?
I am completely self-taught, besides working as a graphic designer after college where I was able to pick up illustrator and photoshop skills.
Was there a specific moment when you knew you wanted to be an artist?
No specific moment. I feel like it's one of those things you're just born to be. You're drawn to it for some reason and love it so much it's hard to focus on being anything else.
What was the first piece of art that you sold? How did the sale come about?
Oh, gosh, I can't exactly remember! It was a print on etsy, but I can't remember which one. I do remember that I had a brief stint as a mixed media artist and it was terrible. I'm glad I found my way and started drawing instead.
Tell us about what inspires your work.
Nature, color, and the small moments.
When you feel a lack of inspiration, how do you find it again?
Most days I'm a sponge who is constantly absorbing new ideas, but there are definitely times when I feel completely deflated from a lack of inspiration. I've always found during those moments it's best to walk away. Sometimes that means going for a walk, other times it means sitting down to dinner with my husband, and other times it means just curling up on the sofa to relax. This allows me to come back again for a fresh start.
How do you make money through your art? Please explain what works for you and why. (For example: selling originals or prints online or in galleries, doing commissions, working with major brands, etc.)
I sell my work online as well as have a wholesale line of textiles and home goods that I sell to shops. I also license my work to brands for various uses like bedding, linens, wall art, and clothing. I also have several fabric collections that I release twice a year. It's a tough balance but I feel very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I'm slowly finding my way and would like to start narrowing things down so I don't always feel so scattered.
Do you "make a living" as an artist? If not, how do you primarily support yourself?
What have you found to be the most successful way(s) to market your art? Do you have any tips to share?
Etsy opened a lot of doors for me and helped me connect with my demographic and get my work out there. It hasn't worked so well for everyone I know, but I think it's a great start. I've been very lucky to have the right people find my work and feature it in magazines and on blogs. I think the most important thing you can do as an artist is have a very clear voice and aesthetic so people recognize your brand and come back to it.
How would you describe the "business" of being an artist?
It's tough! I'm not going to lie here. Being a business woman and thinking with a business sense has been my biggest fault. The good news is I've learned a lot along the way and each day I grow more confident and savvy when it comes to negotiating contracts, being firm, and making tough decisions. It's been a challenging journey that I wouldn't trade for anything.
What is your favorite thing about being an artist?
Being in control of my "talent" I guess. Being able to make sure I reach my full potential and am doing what I was meant to be doing all along.
Who have been your biggest supporters?
My husband has always been there for me and been my biggest supporter through all of my doubts and fears. I've also met many fellow artists, designers, and small business women along the way and am lucky to now call friends.
Do you collect artwork from other artists? If so, whose art do you own?
(Please limit your list to 5 names.)
I collect a lot of work because I've befriended so many fellow artists. Just looking around the room I see Ana Raimundo, Abby Powell Thompson, Michelle Morin, Berkely Illustration, and Keiko Brodeur of Small Adventure.
Do you have any current obsessions, art or non-art related?
peperoncini peppers : )
What piece of advice would you give other women who are pursuing careers in art?
Love it. To make it work it truly needs to be your passion, because it isn't the easiest path. That said, things that are scary in life are usually worth doing. Those of use who have succeeded are the ones who just never stopped trying.
Buy Her Art
On her site: shop.leahduncan.com
♥ Her, Follow Her!
On Instagram: @leahduncan


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Daily Deals for January 31st 2015
Batman The Jiro Kuwata Batmanga… (
$15) $6.99
Predator ReAction Closed Mouth Predator… (
$10) $4.99
Star Wars TP Vol 01 In the Shadow of Yavin… (
$20) $4.99
Star Trek Skele-Treks Kor Vinyl Toy… (
$14) $5.99
*Forbidden Planet's DAILY DEALS are updated every morning. Prices are valid in-store til the shop concludes its business day (10pm or 12am, depending on the day) and online for roughly 24 hours. Prices are valid while in-stock supply lasts.


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Are you sick of hot air?
Can you humor me?
One of my top values is humor.
Ever see a home based business ad
or one of those spam mails that say:
"I am looking serious business people"
Serious business people, huh?
Guess that means, suit, tie and frown, huh?
Or what about this one:
"This is a Fun business!"
"Join our Fun team!"
Yak, yak yak, don't keep telling me how "fun" you are!
Show me!
And my personal favorite:
"Something lucrative came across my desk that...."
Oh really, ran across your desk?
Did you squish it?
I bet you don't even have a desk !
Building an online business is not about repeating dumb
sayings that everyone else not making money uses.
Are you relieved? :-}
Is this a lucrative Business?
well, yeah, how else do I afford living on Maui! :-}
Is this a fun business?
You bet!
I am going to show you, too!
Not just alot of "hot air" either.
Writing Ezines like this one is part of making money on line.
Anyone can do it.
Look, I was surfing around and reading a favorite magazine
on line. Not normally humorous, kind of scientific and dry.
The British Journal of Medicine or BMJ
Except this time, I found an article I thought was hysterical.
The Brits can be pretty amusing.
In fact, it is about " Hot Air" sort of.
You tell me what You think? :-}
BMJ 2001;323:1449 ( 22-29 December )
Hot Air?
"It all started with an inquiry from a nurse,"
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki told listeners to his
science phone-in show on the Triple J radio
station in Brisbane. "She wanted to know
whether she was contaminating the operating
theatre she worked in by quietly farting in the
sterile environment during operations, and I
realized that I didn't know. But I was
determined to find out."
Dr Kruszelnicki then described the method by
which he had established whether human flatus
was germ-laden, or merely malodorous. "I
contacted Luke Tennent, a microbiologist in
Canberra, and together we devised an
experiment. He asked a colleague to break wind
directly onto two Petri dishes from a distance
of 5 centimeters, first fully clothed, then
with his trousers down. Then he observed what
happened. Overnight, the second Petri dish
sprouted visible lumps of two types of bacteria
that are usually found only in the gut and on
the skin. But the flatus which had passed
through clothing caused no bacteria to sprout,
which suggests that clothing acts as a filter.
"Our deduction is that the enteric zone in the
second Petri dish was caused by the flatus
itself, and the splatter ring around that was
caused by the sheer velocity of the fart, which
blew skin bacteria from the cheeks and blasted
it onto the dish. It seems, therefore, that
flatus can cause infection if the emitter is
naked, but not if he or she is clothed. But the
results of the experiment should not be
considered alarming, because neither type of
bacterium is harmful. In fact, they're similar
to the `friendly' bacteria found in yogurt.
"Our final conclusion? Don't fart naked near
food. All right, it's not rocket science. But
then again, maybe it is?"
Reprinted from the Canberra Times, 17 July
2001; spotter, Michael Doyle.
Submitted by Simon Chapman department of public
health and community medicine, University of
Now, by this time you either hate me and my humor
and have deleted me,
You are amused.
Here's the cool part.
You don't have to tell people you are fun!
You have some fun then show them!
Do they have to be "serious"? :-{
Got it?
Ezine 101, your half way there to earning a
great income from home on line!
One last thing before I go.
In case you may think you have to be one of those
"Airy Fairy" types to do this business,
All that great stuff about "Dream Big",
"Help people"
"You can do it!"
Rah Rah rah!
Well, I don't take it all that serious!
Look here's a great card I found
It's totally " Anti Airy Fairy"
Click it! It's called
Like that! :-}
"You can't build a reputation on what your GOING to do."
~ Henry Ford
You can discover more about a person
in an hour of play
than in a year of conversation.
- Plato
You are getting this Ezine because you asked me
to send you some " GOOD STUFF "
Marcy From Maui
Marcy Koltun-Crilley
Kihei, HI 96753
Ya gotta see my pictures!
Who is this Marcy From Maui, Anyway ?
How Does She Sponsor Like Crazy On Line?
Click here for the Ezine
Go right to the website
Copyright © 2001 by Marcy Koltun-Crilley. All Rights Reserved.
You may send to friends in it's entirety.
In other words Share, but "Don't Steal My Good Stuff"
Fair enough?
To subscribe click and send below
Or send an email to :
THE GOOD STUFF is my way of helping the 1000's of people who have
sent me email or called asking me to literally to send them some
"Good Stuff!"


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Allergies are reactions to certain substances called allergens.You can drink the curative juice for allergies described here to fight against the allergens.
1/4th inch ginger piece
1 beet root
Half apple
4 carrots
• Run all these through a juicer and mix well.
• Ginger is a good source of zinc which is important in healing of wounds, inflammation control and tissue regeneration.
• Apple is a good source of chromium that improves glucose tolerance levels and enhances insulin sensitivity.
• Carrots are a good source beta-carotene, an antioxidant which helps in allergies.
Return to curative-juices from juice for Allergies
Return to Home
Cancer Fighting Foods
Anti Aging Juice
Curative Juice for Epilepsy
Aromatherapy during Pregnancy
Benefits of Physical Fitness
Juice for Weight Loss
Timing of Protein Intake
Healthy Vegetable juices
Andropause - Male Menopause?
Keep Your Heart Healthy
5 Components of Physical Fitness
Special Diet for Diabetics
Banana Nutritional Value
How Nutrition Affects Your Pregnancy ?
Sign up and get the
Monthly Diet Plan Newsletter
It's absolutely free!
Nutritional Benefits of Carrot
Organnic Foods
Figs Health Benefit
Aromatherapy for Cellulite
Prostate Cancer Risk
Heart Rate Monitoring while Exercising
How to choose Healthy Drinks?
Read More....
Health Articles and News Blog....


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Wednesday – December 11, 2019
Contact: Ginny Gnadt, Public Relations Coordinator
(414) 297-6770, firstname.lastname@example.com
Career and Technical Workshop for Educators to be Held at MATC's Mequon Campus June 14-16
May 19, 2016
Milwaukee Area Technical College will hold a three-day "MATC Career and Technical Workshop for Middle and High School Teachers and Counselors" Tuesday-Thursday, June 14-16, at MATC's Mequon Campus, 5555 W. Highland Road. The free camps will highlight the current and projected growth of middle-skill jobs. Educators will learn more about technical education and MATC academic programs and services to share with their students.
Camp will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Participants will earn 24 DPI clock hours and must register by June 10.
Sixty-five percent of all jobs now require a two-year degree or less of education, but only seven-nine percent of high school students attend two-year colleges. Employers are searching for workers with technical degrees. At the same time, college debt in the U.S. is $1.3 trillion and growing. Much of that debt is held by students with higher-level degrees. Camp participants will learn more about these trends.
Day one focuses on career and technical education (CTE), MATC's academic programs and student support, career tools and learning about careers in high demand. Day two offers hands-on career experiences in welding, automotive work and environmental health/water quality. Day three will include field trips to companies in a variety of career clusters. Participants should bring their own lunches. For more information, call Steve Burleson at (414) 297-7262. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/hkdk3h9 or call Sandra Webster at (262) 238-2205.
The camps are funded by an MATC Faculty Innovation Grant.


text: quiznos00 531 Report post Posted March 6, 2015 +1 for the level you want to heal, -2 for the level you want to hurt. A level will be eliminated from the round when it hits 0.Copy and paste the latest post reply, then make your changes with +1 and -2 to your choices and numbers.Rules - No double posting! Wait until at least three different people after you have responded minimum before you post again!NOTE - If a level you want to give a -2 score to has only 1 remaining, the -2 vote must be shared with another level. Round 1 Key Pyramid [10] Slip and Slide [10] Present Company [10] Block Party [11] +1 Facades [8] -2 When Insects Attack [10] Under Pressure [10] Switcheroo [10] Swept Away [10] Graduation [10] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Also See
To most people, U.S. real estate still stinks. More than a third of all mortgages are under water, with their holders owing more than their houses are worth. Home prices continue to fall in many areas of the country, and thousands of foreclosed homes are still waiting to be sold. Yet an investor no less than Warren Buffett recently said that if he could, he would buy up a couple of hundred thousand single-family homes.
To Buffett and others with short memories or long time horizons, the investment opportunity created by the housing bust is just that great. Buying up subdivisions full of houses isn't quite practical, so instead, many savvy pros are scooping up real estate investment trusts, home-builder stocks and even a physical house here and there. Economists point to several indicators that suggest their confidence could be well-placed. Mortgage delinquency rates fell to 2008 levels in the first quarter, housing starts are improving, and bidding wars are breaking out in certain cities. "The housing crash is over," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys.com.
Smart Picks
Some investors are ready to get back into real estate investing, using REITs, home-builder stocks or exchange-traded funds.
The firm's malls and outlet stores helped generate, on average, $546 in sales per square foot, surpassing precrisis levels. It also recently bought French firm Klépierre and has partnered with a Brazilian firm to develop outlet malls. Simon increased its dividend three times in the past year.
Mortgage REITs are a bet that the cheap-interest-rate environment will continue. Jason Brady, a Thornburg income-fund comanager, says Annaly has one of the sector's more experienced management teams and has done a good job amid recent market volatility.
This apartment REIT benefits from fairly strong job markets in Dallas and Houston. Camden has "high quality" multifamily properties and a management team to take advantage of them, says Rick Romano, comanager of the Prudential Global Real Estate fund.
The world's largest commercial real estate services firm, CBRE often acts as a broker in transactions and operates commercial real estate. It benefits from consolidation in the industry, as well as from more corporations outsourcing the management of their facilities, says John Miller, portfolio manager of the Ariel fund. About 10 percent of CBRE's revenue comes from investing in real estate itself.
With REITs doing well, financial planner Debbie DeMatteo has turned to the stocks of home builders for her clients. Many of the stocks have risen significantly, but DeMatteo says they are still 50 percent below precrisis levels. To reduce the risk of picking the wrong name, DeMatteo sticks with ETFs to gain exposure not only to home builders such as Lennar and PulteGroup but also to housing-related plays like Home Depot and Williams-Sonoma.
At least some investors believe in the recovery: They've poured $1.7 billion into global real estate funds this year, even as stock funds continue to experience outflows, according to Morningstar. Apartment REITs have been among the big beneficiaries of new money. Home ownership is down four percentage points—to 65 percent—nationwide from the mid-aughts, and more people are living in rented apartments. "These REITs are the primary beneficiary of all things bad in single-family housing," says Jim Sullivan, managing director at research firm Green Street Advisors in Newport Beach, Calif. Landlords are raising rents and there isn't much new construction in most markets. Apartment REITs are generating profit growth not seen in years. Despite the 15 percent gain the group has logged over the past year, Rick Romano, comanager of the Prudential Global Real Estate fund, still favors such REITs because there are few signs that renters are about to buy new homes en masse.
Some managers, meanwhile, are looking for ways to play real estate without betting on a nationwide robust recovery. Mortgage REITs such as Annaly Capital Management are "less a bet on property values and more on companies taking advantage of an attractive funding market," says Jason Brady, comanager on several income-oriented funds for Thornburg Investment Management. For investors with some extra money, upgrading existing homes or buying other properties is becoming an increasingly attractive option. Debbie DeMatteo, cofounder of the Goshen, NY.–based advisory firm 10-15 Associates, recommends investors nab a mortgage at historically low rates, even if they already have cash. Some pros also are adding home-builder stocks, on the bet that hammers will have to be picked up at some point to meet demand.
To be sure, residential real estate isn't roaring back, and economists say there could still be more price declines. Commercial REITs have had a strong two-year run and aren't dirt cheap. Analysts say a global economic slowdown could halt both recoveries quickly. In short, REITs are hardly foolproof. During the downturn, many such trusts even cut or eliminated dividends. Nevertheless, the investment opportunities look too good now for some pros to pass up. Dean Catino, cofounder of Monument Wealth Management in Alexandria, Va., allocates about 20 percent of his clients' portfolios to real estate. "We are leery of the general bond market and think real estate is a good hedge," he says.


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|Top Online Data Backup Rankings
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LOUSIVILLE, KY – October 30, 2015 — /BackupReview.info/ — Industry experts agree, there's no way to avoid technology in today's businesses. From emailing receipts to customers to payroll management, many businesses rely on their computer to do much of the work for them. When there's an issue with the technology the business is using, it can spell disaster.
According to statistics, a large number of small businesses do not have a backup in place that could protect them in the case of an emergency. Nearly 60% of companies that lose their data will end up going out of business within six months. Nearly 6% of all computers will experience loss at some point within a year's period, while other businesses may be the victim of a fire or large disaster that destroys their office and the data they have saved. This could mean a large number of companies will go out of business because of data loss.
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Andrew McIntosh, spokesperson for SKYE Technologies, confirmed, stating, "We respond to 98% of calls within 60 seconds, ensuring our clients get the help they need fast. The client will be directed to a technician who can help them solve any problems with their current setup."
SKYE Technologies offers help identifying weak areas within an IT setup and solutions to fix those issues. Their certified technicians are available to answer any questions the client may have. The company offers their services in a flat-rate subscription structure so there's no question about the cost or the services the client will receive month after month.
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From all-creatures.org
Action Alerts
Moo-ving people toward compassionate living
Your letters and calls do help!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world" ~Mohandas Gandhi
"Our lives begin and end the day we become silent about things that matter" ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Originally Posted: February 26, 2013
Please call Mayor Norm Rosenblum and tell him to cancel the mean-spirited plan to slaughter Canada geese. Remind him that goose roundups are monstrous—USDA agents typically enter the pond area during early morning, roughly separating goslings from parents, and then stuff the bound, panicked geese and babies into crates. Next, the geese are gassed or shot to death.
Ask the Mayor if he imagines such immorality is preferable to cleaning the grass and modifying some habitat and landscapes.Mayor Norman S. Rosenblum
The town of Mamaroneck, NY located in Westchester County on Long Island Sound, announced it's hiring USDA agents this summer to annihilate Canada geese who reside in Harbor Island Park, the town's largest park, and other areas. USDA's "Wildlife Services" will also destroy eggs in nests, in addition to rounding-up and killing adult geese and goslings starting in June 2013.
Mayor Norm Rosenblum, who ordered the killing, claims goose droppings are too numerous — charging ahead with an intolerant, misguided assault — even though Mamaroneck purchased a $30,000 "Toro Rake-O-Vac" machine to effectively remove goose droppings from grassy areas and parks. Go figure.
The Mayor needs a different mindset, and plan to use the machine recently
purchased with tax dollars to clean up goose droppings in parks. Officials
must make it a policy to clean up waste matter instead of saying all geese
within town limits must die. Posting signs and enforcing no-feeding and
littering rules are also sensible steps.
Mayor Rosenblum told News 12 Westchester that Mamaroneck paid for dogs to chase the geese away but "it didn't work." Friends of Animals could have predicted that. Harassing geese from areas won't work because if flat, grassy areas remain unchanged. Geese will move in when others leave, occupying those areas for nesting, especially in the summer.
Habitat and landscape modifications are environmentally sound, long-term ways to deter geese from areas where they are seen as problematic — clearly what's needed in Mamaroneck. Co-existence with geese and other wildlife neighbors is required as a part of evolved suburban living. Is Mayor Rosenblem prepared to spend the residents' taxes each year to kill geese instead of implementing the effective strategies Friends of Animals endorses?
Geese are attracted to areas with short, mowed grass with open sight lines as safe nesting areas. Growing grass longer in areas, planting native shrubs and trees to block sight lines (geese like to watch for predators), will deter geese from ponds, shores and parkland — reducing the time they spend in any one spot — especially for the 6 week period in summer when they're moulting.
Friends of Animals produces a Canada Goose Habitat Modification Manual detailing this process, and hopes to meet with Mayor Rosenblum to present him with the manual. We'll urge him to implement the changes and spare the geese.
Thank you for everything you do for animals!
Other information you may find useful for your activism
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Samsung has now launched a new pair of bendable headphones. It is called the Samsung U Flex. Apart from its bendable character, the earphone is capable of launching the Bixby Assistant, thanks to the presence of a physical button.
The Samsung U Flex is a wireless headphone that comes with Bluetooth capabilities. It sports a neckband like design. The basic structure is made out of a flexible rubberized polycarbonate, thereby allowing the earphone to bend up to 100 degrees. This gives it a robust form factor and inspires enough confidence to carry them around in jeans pockets. Samsung has made use of a P2i nano coating technology to protect the earphone from splashes of water. That said, the coating doesn't give water proofing capabilities to the U Flex. So don't go for a dive with the Samsung U Flex on your neck.
Internally, the Samsung U Flex uses a two-way speaker unit. This is composed of 11-millimeter woofers and 8-millimeter tweeters. Samsung believes that the U Flex has the ability to offer a premium sound experience to its users. Furthermore, Samsung has included its proprietary Scalable Codec technology into the earphones. The feature is, however applicable only for smartphones running on Android Nougat or higher. The Scalable Codec technology increases the range and the strength of Bluetooth signals and reduces Wi-Fi interference. The Samsung U Flex can vibrate for calls and notifications too.
The wireless earphones from Samsung get a dedicated Active Key for Bixby. The Bixby activation features are however applicable only for Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ users. Those using other smartphones can remap the Active Key for any other function ranging from activating clocks to opening Samsung Health. That said, you need to download the Samsung Level app for remapping the Active Key. The wireless earphone also comes with the set of buttons consisting of play or pause, volume controls, and power button. It also has a microUSB port for charging. Samsung claims that its U Flex can survive up to 10 hours on a single charge.
The Samsung U Flex comes in three color hues namely Blue, Black and Ivory. Samsung hasn't announced the pricing and the availability of the earphones yet. The Korean electronics maker is expected to bring it to most of its international markets. The U Flex joins Samsung's ever expanding line up of wireless earphones. Samsung currently sells its Level U headphone in India.


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The author has previously seemed rather childishly perturbed that, when examining the demo Planet Invasion a few posts ago, your correspondent didn't "give a flowchart or list even one Machine Code/Assembly Language, or Commodore BASIC V2 instruction showing how this demo was programmed". Your correspondent doesn't feel any need whatsoever to pander to the author of course – it really wouldn't be worth the effort on anybody's part – but did find himself wondering about how interesting it would be to take things just a little further… and, since C64CD has a shiny new Github account, there's no need to stop at mere snippets of code!
So instead we have Clone Invasion, a new demo for the C64, which started as a reasonably accurate copy of the Harlow Cracking Service's program and… [ahem] grew a little! It was put together from scratch in a leisurely twelve-ish hours by your correspondent over the course of a day off work. The source and binary files required to assemble the working program (apart from the ACME cross assembler and Exomiser file compression tool which are called from the build.bat script) are all available from the relevant Github repository along with some of the workfiles; the character set and sprite files were put together with Char Pad 1.0 and Sprite Pad 1.8.1 respectively.
This little demo takes just over 16K of memory uncompressed and runs entirely from raster interrupts which are triggered at five positions during each frame – there are constants at the top of the code called raster_1_pos and so on which govern these positions – so, since those are where the meat of the code lies, here's a quick summary of what each interrupt routine does:
This is the first interrupt at raster position $00; it sets up the border and screen colours, points the VIC-II towards the character set at $2000 and then positions the hardware sprites for the upper border's scrolling message – some of the registers like sprite X position, colour, expansion and so forth aren't set here because the values are the same as set by IRQ_ROUT6 so, since the border won't be open until the second frame anyway, it's more efficient not to bother.
The code then settles into a forty scanline high loop, writing one byte of character data per scanline to the "ghostbyte" (the last byte of the current video bank) for the first layer of parallax scrolling; this finishes on scanline $31 where the screen colour is changed and the first row of hardware sprites for the main screen are positioned.
One feature to watch out for in this and the other three routines dealing with the sprites within the main screen area is that there's some indirection happening; the sprite data pointers and colours are stored in an eight byte table and any instance of an object is reading the same byte for data pointer and colour as the others. This is a bit trickier than merely having thirty two bytes of data pointers and colours but makes updating the objects faster.
This interrupt occurs at raster position $58 and, along with moving the hardware sprites down for the second row (as well as changing their data pointers and colours), it also calls the music routine – the positions for this and the next split have been widened to leave some extra space for the music driver.
The next stop is scanline $9c where the positioning for the third row of hardware sprites happens, followed by the code to update the scrolling message and, where needed, fetch a new character from the text.
This is the final hardware sprite positioning split for the main screen and is triggered at raster line $c8 – once this is done the sprite animations and positions of the four roaming sprites are all updated.
Finally we get to the final interrupt at raster line $ee which shifts the sprites for the lower border scroller and then waits until the end of the screen to "trick" the C64 into not closing its lower and then upper borders. After that there's a second loop hammering at the "ghostbyte" (which also rather sneakily updates the data it uses so the area is ready for the next frame) and, since the screen has finished when that loop is done, the definitions of the three characters being used for the on screen parallax effect can be updated as well.
The program itself isn't particularly complex, doesn't rely on any "naughty" self-modifying code (which is usually something of a "trademark" in your correspondent's work) and features significantly more documentation in the comments than your correspondent would usually provide, but it still requires at least a basic working knowledge of the C64's video registers or at least the C64 Programmer's Reference Guide open at appendix G to be understood. Generally speaking, this shouldn't be considered as something for a beginner to learn from and there are some parts which are probably somewhat "quirky" despite attempts to sanitise everything for public consumption, but your correspondent is happy to answer questions that may arise!
[1] And the odds of a flowchart appearing for anything other than "comedic effect" on this blog are so infinitesimally small that most computers simply don't deal with that many decimal places.


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2014 Division Pinot Noir 'Trois'
2014 Division Pinot Noir "Trois"
Temperance Hill
Eola-Amity Hills AVA
The Willamette Valley is typically one of the coolest and wettest major wine growing regions in the U.S, which clearly favors the delicate, but seemingly boundless potential of the Pinot Noir grape that seems to show its best on the fringes of suitable grape farming climates. While 2014 was not a cool and wet year, it was one of those extremely rare vintages where we experienced enough warmth throughout the season, as well as harvest time dry weather to bring in really amazing high quality grapes at the optimal moment!
And what a year for us to start what we hope to be a long and amazing adventure with storied and pedigreed Temperance Hill Vineyard. First planted in 1980 on what is believed to be the remnants of an active volcano, this Certified Organic vineyard is situated between 660 and 860 feet in elevation on Nekia, Jory and Rittner soils. The elevation aspect lead to warm and sunny days and very cool evenings, which helps the Pinot Noir from Temperance retain its legendary acidity while still demonstating intensity and complete phenolic ripeness. Temperance Hill is farmed by Dai Crisp, one of the best viticulturists in Oregon, or in the U.S. for that matter, with impeccable care and dedication - we are amazed by him. In other words, this is a seriously spectacular vineyard that we are honored to be making wine from.
Our block at Temperance is the called the "Upper Bench", which was planted in 2002 and is located near the crest of the original planting of Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer. We went with a favorite combo of the elegant and red fruit oriented Dijon 777 anchored with the earthy and rustic Pommard clones. The co- fermented lot was fermented by utilizing a pied de cuve build up from the native flora on the site picked a week for before harvesting the blocks. A small portion of whole cluster, less than 25%, was layered in the ferment to help add more savory aspects as the warmer year tends to show for fruitiness. Our harvested grapes were beautiful and picked at what we believe was a perfect moment at 23.5 brix and 3.25 pH with nice ripe phenolic flavors and softening skins.
We aged the two barrel blend for 16 months in a combination of a one year old and a neutral barrel, which was then racked for two months of tank ageing. The result is perhaps our most intense and austere Pinot Noir. The initial aromatics are pure Pinot Noir traits with deep black cherrys and fresh dried tobacco leaves. This ruby colored wine is all cherry and intense mineral on the palate that has soft coating tannins that fit perfectly with the textual components. This is definitely our most complex Pinot Noir to date and a wine worth holding for sometime as there is still much to give!
Vineyard - Temperance Hill (Organic) - Eola-Amity Hills AVA Harvest – September 27th, Brix 23.5
Fermentation/Ageing - 75% destemmed and chilled prior to pied de cuve inoculation. All French Oak ageing in two barrels. This wine was neither fined, nor filtered, and received 40ppm total so2.


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OHCEF concerned about effect of proposed PPA on Ohio taxpayers
(Columbus, OH, December 8, 2015) – The Ohio Conservative Energy Forum today expressed concern with the recent power purchase agreement between FirstEnergy and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, saying that it is counter to the work by the General Assembly and the Administration to create a better business environment and reduce tax burdens on Ohio families.
"State leaders have done exceptional work on behalf of Ohio businesses and families through income tax cuts, eliminating tax burdens on small business, elimination of the estate tax, and other efforts," said Mike Hartley, the group's executive director. "As a result, Ohio is a more predictable and more attractive place to live, to work, and to do business."
Hartley said the OHCEF does not want to see an Ohio company struggle, but there are more innovative, forward-thinking ways to advance the energy industry in Ohio. He encouraged state legislators to take a close look at the power purchase agreement.
By conservative estimates this deal will cost 2 million Ohio ratepayers an additional $3.25 a month, or more than $400 million over the next two and a half years – but some analysts predict it could cost into the billions. Those ratepayers, Hartley pointed out, are Ohio's small businesses that create jobs and drive the economy, in addition to individual households. The OHCEF recognizes the power purchase agreement includes energy efficiency and renewable energy provisions. Unfortunately, these provisions are unenforceable.
"This is a high price for Ohioans to pay to keep two outdated power plants afloat, when better, cleaner, more efficient options exist," Hartley said. Hartley compared the deal to the current alternative energy rider levied on ratepayers. According to the Energy Mandate Study Committee report, the rider varies anywhere from 27 cents per month to $1.31 per month depending on the service provider – at least one-third the cost of the proposed power purchase agreement.
Alternative energy development helps put the state on a path to energy security and independence, and continued economic growth through energy innovation. These are key reasons the OHCEF supports an all of the above approach to energy reforms. In contrast, the proposed power purchase agreement does little to advance Ohio's energy position, rather it levies additional costs on Ohio taxpayers simply to maintain the status quo.
"As conservatives, we're advocating for common-sense solutions to energy security that reduce financial burdens on taxpayers while strengthening our economy and energy independence," Hartley said.


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Madonna: MDNA World Tour
Madonna has been a hot ticket this summer world wide. When I heard she was coming to Ottawa, I was excited and really wanted to get my hands on some tickets for a girls night out. Unfortunately, the tickets went on sale and we couldn't get through on the phone lines or on-line…the show sold out in just a few minutes, the Scotiabank Centre was packed, with no room for us.
My girlfriend Suzie and I weren't quite ready to give up though, so the following week when tickets were going on sale for her show in Quebec City, we said "It's only a 5 hour drive – this could be fun!". We got ourselves tickets to the outdoor show that was to be held in the Plains D' Abraham, the home of a very famous battle from the Seven Years' War over 250 years ago. From the very beginning this particular event inspired controversy across Quebec. The Plains d' Abraham have always upheld a strict policy when it comes to what activities they allow and the circumstances surrounding such events. Paul McCartney's 2008 performance for Quebec City's 400th anniversary was free to the public, and stars like Elton John played for non-profit festivals that demanded no direct entry fee. Never before has there been a for profit commercial concert held on the grounds, until September 1st, 2012 when Madonna wanted to host a giant dance party. What made this even more controversial was that the parks commission didn't even charge her for the use of the park or a take a cut of each ticket (a practice very common with various parks commissions to go towards the upkeep of the park). So not only did they break their own written policy outlined in the National Battlefields Commission, but they gave it up to the Queen of Pop for free. You can imagine that not everyone was behind this plan.
I have no doubt that the concert brought a massive amount of economic benefits to the city however. A week before the show, it was near impossible to find a hotel for under $200/night and everywhere we went the streets were bustling for the long weekend. The concert in Quebec City ended up hosting over 72,000 people. All tickets sold were general admission, but there were 3 different areas sectioned off. Suzie and I were in the largest mass of people, packed in like sardines for several hours before the show was set to start.
Looking forward to the stage waiting for the opening act:
Looking behind us at the crowd – take a look at the people all the way up the hill:
It had been a long hot day and when it was finally time for the DJ Paul Oakenfold to take stage…he was late. And when he finished, it was at least another hour before Madonna decided to join us all. The concert was slated to start at 8pm. She made her appearance at 10:30pm. After having been standing for several hours…herded like cattle with thousands of other people and then sitting down on the cement for several more hours to hold our place…I was not impressed that she couldn't even be on time. I would've BOO'ed her, had I known how to BOO in French.
In case you are wondering if she played your favourite Madonna song, take a look at her set list for the 2012 MDNA Tour:
- Opening Prayer /Girl Gone Wild
- Revolver
- Gang Bang
- Papa Don't Preach
- Hung Up
- I Don't Give A
- Best Friend / Heartbeat (Interlude)
- Express Yourself / Born This Way
- Turn up the radio
- Give Me All Your Luvin'
- Open Your Heart
- Masterpiece
- Justify My Love (Interlude)
- Vogue
- Candy Shop
- Human Nature / Erotica
- Like A Virgin
- Nobody Knows Me (Interlude)
- I'm Addicted
- I'm A Sinner
- Like A Prayer
- Celebration (encore)
I was lucky, she did play my favourite "Like A Prayer" in her 90 minute show even though there was a heavy focus on her new album MDNA (her 12th studio release).
The only intelligible part of any of my videos is the small portion that was a cappella with the crowd singing…the rest of the time there was so much bass my recordings are a total mess, but I thought this might be fun for some.
I think I would've enjoyed the actual show a lot more without the ordeal of a general admission outdoor concert. If I had a seat, in a stadium somewhere, it wouldn't have been nearly as infuriating that she was extremely late…because we would've arrived at 8pm, not 3:30pm. (Even worse for other people who arrived at 10am when the gates to the waiting area opened). And after it was all over, I'm sure you can imagine over 72,000 people all trying to make their way out of a park and to the street at the exact same time. Wading through ankle deep garbage was less than ideal…by the time Suzie and I made our way back to our hotel we were completely and utterly exhausted and drained, with aching feet and blisters. The process of it all was just too much. If I could do it all over again…well I wouldn't, not under the same circumstances anyway.
The content of the show itself was violent at times and always overtly sexual, mixed with impressive choreography and visual displays. The 90 minute set worked its way from darkness to light. Having just turned 54, Madonna still moves really well and strives to entertain. The New York Times wrote, "Madonna and her team do know how to dazzle." While New York Daily News called the show "an idea-intensive, message-packed riddle wrapped in an enigma that must be seen to be believed," arguing that the show's risky artistry "deserves praise."
So if you are holding a hot ticket for one of the many cities she has left…here is my advice:
- Be open minded and be ready for anything (she is a wild one and always has been)
- Prepare yourself for lots of leather, push up bras, a strip tease and a whole lot of pelvic thrusting. Not young child appropriate.
- Don't expect her to be on time, you will likely be disappointed
- Wear some fun make-up, after all, it is Madonna!
What was the best concert you've ever been to? Who/what band would you go through all of this for???
If you saw Madonna on the MDNA tour, I'd love to hear what you thought below!
22 responses
All you did in this ridiculously detailed blog was complain. Was there anything you actually enjoyed?
September 11, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Hey! Thanks for writing! I'll be at that concert here in Brazil in December. But it'll be in a stadium and I got a sitting place…. 🙂
Miss you!! Beijos
September 12, 2012 at 5:47 am
I just don't understand why you would write a blog simply to complain. The whole point of a road trip is to make the best out of the unexpected that comes your way. Your blogs are not pleasant. I'm sorry I came across this while searching. Don't be to be snooty. Take care! Maybe I'll come across you again sometime with more interesting subjects.
Ciao ~
September 12, 2012 at 11:08 pm
I also kept in mind your blogs are awful and you're a real snob. 🙂 let's see if you post that!
September 13, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Glad we agree.
September 13, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Wow what a bitch. Shannon you handled her negativity spectacularly, Brava!
October 5, 2012 at 9:38 pm


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Video: Interview with Matthew Lewis – Part 3!06/29/2010
Click 'read more' to see part 1 and 2 if you missed them!
Costume sketches from costume designer Helen Roundhill for the characters of The Sweet Shop06/28/2010
Location Look: The 'actual' Sweet Shop06/25/2010
As you might have guessed, "The Sweet Shop" had one location that was perhaps more important than all the others. Finding the right sweet shop however, proved to be a difficult task. Those of you who have followed the blog from the very beginning may have seen our location scouting video, but that only told a small part of the story. We scoured the country, looking at literally dozens of potential sweet shop locations, before we found our perfect village sweet shop.
Sweet Memory's – located at Bourton on the Water, Gloucestershire
"Sweet Memory's" is a fabulous old fashioned sweet shop in the heart of a gorgeous Cotswold village, run by lovely helpful people who were so good to us, so as you can imagine we couldn't have been happier with our choice. We often shot as early as 4am, as Bourton is a busy village and we sometimes needed to avoid the crowds – and the wonderful people who run "Sweet Memory's" were great about us taking over their shop for a few days – and yes, we did buy lots of sweets! We would recommend a trip to Bourton and a visit to "Sweet Memory's" to anyone who loves sweets and a great day out, and our thanks go to the great people at "Sweet Memory's" and the community of Bourton-on-the-Water. P.S. the spelling of "Memory's" does make sense – but you have to think about it…
A look at shooting a scene06/23/2010
Many people have got in contact asking for a bit more of an inside "look" at shooting a scene from The Sweet Shop. Well our "making of guy" Will Riddell has put together a little teaser for those interested! Thanks for this Will – introducing Matthew Lewis, Susan Hoecke and Seb Hurtado in – Scene 53 (catchy name huh!)
50,780 people can't be wrong!06/21/2010
Just a quick, short happy message! We are ecstatic to announce that even before the movie is born to the world we have over 50,000 registered fans from around the world! We still have some very exciting opportunities to come over the next few months and we are sure you'll enjoy them as much as we enjoy finding them!
So hold tight, the journey begins, again again! (if you know what I mean)
…On the International Movie Database (IMDb)06/19/2010
We are happy to announce "The Sweet Shop" is now up and running on the International Movie Database (IMDb). IMDb is used to index all films and allows people around the world to keep track on the developments …. although with the updates on this blog, why on earth would you go elsewhere? 😀
We are also happy to release the first Sweet Shop movie poster which can be viewed below! For those who are interested you can check out our entry on IMDb here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663692/ – we will be updating details on IMDb (as well as here) as they come in! If you have Facebook feel free to "like" the movie on the top right!
And here is the poster:
Internal Publicity Day06/17/2010
In the midst of shooting "The Sweet Shop", the cast and crew have taken a break from filming to carry out an internal publicity day. This saw the major cast members get together to sign limited edition t-shirts (for future competitions) and posters, have "poster photos" taken, radio interviews and lots lots more (including munching on a wide variety of food it turned out). For those interested in seeing Gemma Atkinson, Susan Hoecke, Matthew Lewis and Vanessa Haywood strut their stuff, click play below!
Video: Interview with Gemma Atkinson on set for The Sweet Shop – Part 2!06/15/2010
If you missed part 1, you can check it out here
Video: Interview with Gemma Atkinson on set for The Sweet Shop – Part 1!06/10/2010
Part 2 coming soon!


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Hate to see you go, but it's time to move on to greener pastures. A farewell to Authorization Manger aka AzMan
Hi all, Jason here. Long time reader, first time blogger. AzMan is Microsoft's tool to manage authorization to applications based on a user's role. AzMan has been around since 2003 and has had a good run. Now it's time to send it out to pasture. If you haven't seen thisarticle, AzMan has been added to… Read more
- Tags: ADFS, Authorization, AzMan, Claims


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By registering as a sole trader or as part of a partnership you are allowing your new company the room to grow before tying it down to a business form which could limit you at such an early stage.
Setting up a new business as a sole trader or partnership couldn't be easier; all you need is your name, date of birth, address, national insurance number, start date and to decide whether you're starting as a partnership or as a sole trader. Then you're ready to start trading.
Sole Traders
A sole trader is an individual who is self-employed. As a sole trader your business might involve some personal financial risk; if the business fails, you are liable to pay the debts incurred. If your start-up company is low cost then registering as a sole trader is probably the best option as there is little hassle associated with it.
Some business types require a licence or permit from the local council before they are allowed to set up and begin trading so always check first before proceeding with setting up your business. There is help available should you require information regarding the legal procedures and conditions surrounding the registration of a sole trader. TheHMRC website and their helpline for the newly self-employed is a place to find good, accurate information but there are a number of different sources of information.
With similar features, advantages and disadvantages to being a sole trader, a partnership is for those people looking to offer services alongside people that they know well. They are a common extension of the sole trader business model and often include husband and wife teams or two individuals who come together in order to build a business.
Partnerships offer flexibility and when it comes to decision making and administrative tasks there are two heads and pairs of hands to cover everything. Also, if one person is either ill or away on holiday the business can still continue without too much undue stress and strain.
The only legal requirement of a partnership is the same as a sole trader business, except that both individuals must be registered as self-employed and must fill out a separate tax return. Agreements have to be made regarding the splitting of liabilities, ownership and profits and also the eventualities should one partner decide to leave the agreement. In a partnership you are liable for any debts incurred by any partner so it is good to be sure of whom you go into a professional partnership with.
Benefits of Being a Sole Trader or in a Partnership
Setting up as a sole trader or as part of a partnership is quick and easy; involving no cost. All you have to do isregister with HM Revenue & Customs as soon as possible in order to ensure you only pay the right amount of tax and don't get fined.
Your accounts are straightforward to prepare and setting up as a sole trader or partnership, does not prohibit a later change if you wish to become a limited company at some point in the future.
You have sole decision making powers and have complete vision over where the company will go. Either as an individual or as part of a two person team this can be really freeing and offers you the chance to sculpt your own future in a way that working as part of or owning a larger company might not allow.
Disadvantages of Being a Sole Trader or in a Partnership
There are disadvantages to being a sole trader that you can overcome. Having sole decision making powers can bring a lot of pressure as does having to deal with all aspects of your administration (filing, invoicing, ordering materials, engaging with customers etc.), finances (ensuring you pay the right level of tax and national insurance for each financial year – and if you employ people as a sole trader business, paying the right amount of tax and national insurance for your employees as well).
These are all concerns that can be effectively dealt with and there is assistance for them all, in the shape of accountancy firms, business start-up advice services, an answering service or personal assistant; maybe even a virtual office to help you handle the administrative side of your business affairs.
It is essential that you don't put yourself under unnecessary stress, so look for help and build a structure and support network around you that will help your new business thrive for not just the short term, but with a longer term outlook.
Going it Alone or in a Pair – An Exciting Venture
If you've made the decision to start your company as either a sole trader or as a partnership there are exciting times ahead for you.
Bear in mind that there is a lot of help that can be found to ensure you have a fulfilling start-up business experience and can lay solid foundations for a bright future. From personal assistants, virtual office to telephone answering services, find the right solutions that allow you to focus on your product and service.


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Body+Soul has added more feathers to Pregnancy Massage Australia's cap with a wonderful article featuring the benefits of pregnancy massage and labour pain management.
Massages helped my body prepare for giving birth
Hayley Kringas, 37, is mum to Harper, 18 months.
"I had massages throughout my pregnancy to release tension in my lower back and help my body be as prepared as possible.
"During my massages I'd picked up some techniques that I shared with my husband so he could massage me while I was giving birth.
"Using circular motions, he massaged my lower back to reduce the pain. He also massaged my neck and shoulders to keep me calm. When he wasn't massaging me I had a heat pack on my back to stop tension building. I also sat on a Swiss ball and rocked back and forth – a sort of self-massage.
Being massaged by my husband was not only relaxing, it was comforting to feel him with me, which in itself helped a lot with managing the pain.
"Massage is a very simple technique which really helps with pain management and is very easy to learn. I'd recommend it to anyone."
Hannah Dahlen, an associate professor of midwifery at the University of Western Sydney and spokeswoman for the Australian College of Midwives, says: "Massage is a great way to reduce labour pain. It stimulates other nerves, so it takes your mind off the pain of birth. It also produces pain-busting hormones called endorphins."
Read the full article on the Body+Soul website here.
These pregnancy massage services were provided by Pregnancy Massage Australia. PMA specialise in pregnancy massage and partner training, and teach supportive massage techniques for labour with a focus on pain management and relief. A well- trained partner will have a wonderful supportive role during the pregnancy and labour. A lot of time is spent preparing the nursery however reflective time needs to be spent preparing the body for the changes through pregnancy and the birth itself.


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Reverse Engineering: Discussion about its Validity and Legality
Reverse engineering Discussion on validity and legality of this practice
Reverse engineering
This article discusses the controversial role of reverse engineering in the computer industry, among others. To this end, it borrows examples from the software industry, high-tech hardware production and the pharmaceutical industry, all these practical examples of the advantages and disadvantages of using this controversial practice.
It is primarily the determination of the concept of reverse engineering, its most significant practices and results. Reverse engineering aims to take ownership of new strategic concepts from the deconstruction of ready-made models or solutions.
This practice can be considered as the process of analyzing a physical or virtual product, such as devices, computer programs, or even business models, including the details of its operation, usually with the intention of constructing a clone with the same Without actually copying anything from the original.
Objectively reverse engineering consists of, for example, disassembling a machine or decupping a computer program to find out how it works.
According to Ricardo Drizin "Reverse engineering in the case of hardware requires a much higher level of knowledge, and is much more expensive than Software. A manufacturer, for example, wants to know how the competitor's processor works, can buy it, reverse engineer it, and create a similar processor. In general, Reverse Hardware Engineering uses electronic measuring tools, such as a multimeter, oscilloscope, and a device programmer. "
On the one hand, we can see immense progress in the massification of the use of technologies that began with the use of reverse engineering as the starting point of the production in scale, citing here the classic case of the creation of the first Compaq PC-compatible personal computer that employed reverse engineering on equipment originally produced by IBM.
On the other hand, this practice is also put at the service of the so-called "cracker culture" and its harmful practices to consumer society, the right to intellectual property and the right to authorship. In this article, we will use the term 'cracker' as the individual belonging to a specific community of programmers, also known as 'hackers', however, their intentions depend on activities considered illegal in the community where they operate. It is important to discriminate more clearly the individuals working in the so-called 'open source' or 'open source' development community. They make their knowledge available for technological development, developing new features to pre-existing systems or creating new systems and are known as hackers. In contrast, there is the individual who, for the most part, is treated as a ward by this community, because , generally put their skills at the service of a petty project and of questionable ethics, by creating malicious systems by legally and morally violating cybernetic systems, these individuals are the crackers.
The discussion raised here, regarding the positive and negative aspects arising from reverse engineering application may shed new light on the moral, ethical and legal limits of this practice and alert systems developers on how to guard against this practice.
Reverse engineering software
The software area, despite the fact that's already part of our everyday life, by striking and direct presence in our professional, personal or educational activities, or by indirect presence through the many technological solutions embedded in our vehicles, electronic equipment or appliances called 'last generation' also raises serious doubts in the majority of the population "not started" on their secrets.
The creation of a new technology does not automatically guarantee the right to your property or even the copyright. In order for these rights to be recognized, it is necessary to proceed with the legally appropriate means of recognizing these rights, and even the financial fruition of creation.
After the established legal procedures, an object can be recognized by the person or organization that created it as not profitable enough to justify its commercial exploitation. In this case there are some possible options to be adopted by the holder of the rights in question such as: 1) he can abandon the object rejecting any disclosure or access to it; 2) may make available the general purpose end product as a freeware that is the free distribution of its creation, however, there may be some restrictive license to its use, distribution and modification; 3) may make it available in the form of shareware which is the free distribution of the software, however, there are restrictions on some of its features and (or) for a fixed time use, in order to provoke the use experience and create the need for Acquisition of the full version; Or 4) may make available the full version of the product accompanied by its development codes, so-called 'source codes', allowing future users to use, copy, study, modify and redistribute without any restrictions, this mode is known as' Software Free'.
According to Prof. Rodolfo Politano in his article for the Journal UNIEMP Innovation "Another important aspect is that the protection is linked to the way that the new design materialized – and not the idea itself. Mechanisms of internal masking algorithms to ensure prevention of reverse engineering. "
The use of reverse engineering in the development of new applications is legally accepted when applied to software abandoned by developers, such as Cosmo Player (software for virtual reality environment in navigation originally developed by Computer Associates). At first the company sold this product in the traditional bases of the software trade, however, this practice did not produce sufficient returns to justify the effort of maintenance and marketing. Under this scenario, the company decided to discontinue its production and support and provided the full software for widespread use without compensation. Some years passed and when a group of developers was interested in acquiring the rights to the original proprietary software claimed that the documents and sources were no longer locatable and authorized the code breaks. The process of reverse engineering could aid in the recovery of the source code that has undergone improvements and new developments provided by a global development consortium that formed the basis for several products marketed independently.
One of the companies that participated in the consortium to exploit the tool is the Brazilian P3D Engenharia de Software Ltda. This company, which until now distributes the Cosmo Player for free with its education software, received funding from FINEP's grant program in 2007 and is completing the development of its own virtual reality player, based on the characteristics of the original software. This product will hit the market in 2009 if forecasts are confirmed.
Reverse engineering is also considered to be an effective tool for assuring the security of highly critical systems, because through its techniques it can explore the code of the programs in order to check for malicious code, to verify if the original code of a software has not undergone changes like injection of hidden routines or if there are development codes forgotten by the idealizers.
The reverse engineering techniques can also be useful in disaster recovery with data. For example, an encrypted file system can be understood and its decoding key to recover lost data.
In some reverse engineering practice countries it is illegal and some practitioners interested in gaining unauthorized access to software features not offered free by the holders of the commercial product rights. This practice is called cracking.
Legal applicability of reverse engineering
The question of the legality of the breach of a functional process, applicability and business model can be widely discussed, but it is precisely in the patents, copyright and property law that the questioning about the validity of the use of reverse engineering is massively opposed.
In contrast, certain applicability of reverse engineering are considered perfectly valid and even elevated to the category of "best practices". We can cite as welcome examples of the use of this practice, classified by some "war" against computer viruses, military research and aspects of national or government security audit and security among others.
The war against computer viruses seems to be endless, but without reverse engineering it could be considered lost. According to Ricardo Drizin, "Antivirus companies usually have specialized teams to receive infected files (users and developers) and analyze them so that the next version (signatures) antivirus there is a new virus detection. Modern viruses use the same encryption technology that packers and therefore reverse engineering can be used to study a virus that uses the same techniques for cracking a program. ".
The budgets of Government and military for a safe stay in the virtual world have increased dramatically. In 1999 Bill Clinton announced $ 1.46 billion to improve the security of government computers and this was just the beginning. No reverse engineering such values could be multiplied many times and with an expectation of efficiency far below the currently found.
How to ensure the safety of trillions of dollars of public and private capital traveling in an increasingly globalized and connected world? The pursuit of relative tranquility desired by financial institutions to ensure the security of your data is echoed in the audit of the main software they use. When the source code is available, it goes through a security audit, which will assess the risks involved. When the source code is not available, it is customary to use reverse engineering to certify the safety and software behavior.
Questions regarding the copyright protection
It should be noted the motivation that leads to protection of an intellectual product. For Prof. Dr. Rodolfo Politano in his article for the newspaper Orbit Ipen "There is a concern regarding the circumvention of intellectual property. An innovation that ceases to be protected is like a good material that is exposed carelessly. Others can make use of this innovation without the inventor (and institution) receive any financial reward. – And worse, without any legal mechanism that may require this retribution. " So we can consider an applicant's obligation to a copyright make use of all forms in their power to hinder the practice of reverse engineering, if this your intention.
The DMCA is a US law that criminalizes the production and dissemination of technology that can circumvent measures taken to protect copyright, and increases penalties for copyright breach on the Internet. The breach of copyright is not the object of this article, but the production and dissemination of technologies or knowledge.
Ricardo Drizin cites in his writings, breaking the DVD encryption format. "The DeCSS program to decrypt DVDs, was written by a 16 year old in Norway, and therefore was not subject to US law (DMCA). However, he was tried for copyright infringement on your own, and your program is prohibited from being hosted on American websites. The teenager's lawyers argue that the DVD decryption was not to make copies of movies, but to be able to create software that touch DVD on Linux, which until then did not exist. ".
But a copyright can be broken or bypassed. For this there is a methodology called 'clean room design'.
A case of clean room design that was practiced by Compaq in 1982 is treated as classic. The previous year, IBM had entered the personal computer business with its IBM PC. The BIOS of the IBM machines was owner code and, as such, protected. On the wave of success of IBM Compaq produced the first PC, called the "PC compatible". According to a court decision, Compaq could not directly copy the BIOS from IBM, but could reverse engineer this and create your own BIOS using the clean room design.
Ulysses Buonanni defines Clean Room Design as "A method which can be used reverse engineering to understand the operation of a software and clone it from the team that makes the clone encoding has contact only with the system specification, made by team that made the reverse engineering. Thus someone who had contact with the original code can not participate in the direct development of the clone, only the detailed specification. ".
It was from the Clean Room Design, and Compaq initiative, which emerged the industry of PC clones and popularization of these systems that underpinned the so-called 'culture of information'.
News widely disseminated in the Brazilian and international press report that in 2001 the Minister of the Brazilian government's health determined the first break of patent medicines of Brazil. Nelfinavir drug, manufactured by Roche, had broken his patent due to the high price for the consumer. Each tablet of the drug cost the equivalent of US $ 1.36. In Brazil, this medicine is used by 25% of patients with AIDS. The public laboratory Far-Manguinhos, Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation) began producing generic of Netfinavir not exclusively. The laboratory could produce the drug for 40% lower than the amount charged by the holder of the right to manufacture of nelfinavir. This represented a savings of $ 88 million per year for the country.
A copy of this molecule drug substance was obtained from the technical reverse engineering and bioequivalence testing.
To justify the procedure, the Brazilian government used Article 71 of the Patent Act, which reads "Art. 71 – In cases of national emergency or public interest, declared by the Federal Executive Branch, since the patentee or his licensee does not meet this requirement may be granted legal, compulsory, temporary and non-exclusive license to the exploitation of the patent, subject to the holder of the rights.
Sole Paragraph – The license granting act will establish its term of validity and the possibility of extension "and thus provides for compulsory licensing in cases of emergency. The government claimed it would be difficult to maintain free distribution with the high cost of imported product.
Who certainly did not like the unilateral termination of the Brazilian government was Roche, manufacturer of the product and victim of reverse engineering. As an immediate measure, the industry cut its research budget on new drugs claiming that the costs for development of new molecules were considered guaranteed investments by law, which now became uncertain.
Other laboratories, before the break of patents carried out by countries like India and Brazil established a reverse incentive policy for its researchers. This policy consisted of an award to the researcher who close down the research of new drugs if detected the possibility of imminent failure. That is, the breaking of the patent guarantees discouraged the longest and uncertain research having as a direct consequence not the launch of a truly innovative molecule by the pharmaceutical industry worldwide for over four years.
The practice of reverse engineering, when treated as a phenomenon without ideology, is an effective tool for technological development and the adoption of safer practices for day-to-day organizations and society. It is undeniable that the reverse engineering accelerates the development process and encourages the popularization of technologies through cost reduction and consequent reduction of the final price of the products developed, but what we think is the social cost ethical and hidden moral in the adoption of this practice justify the immediate savings obtained.
Encouraging the creation and invention can not be obscured by more convenient practices or the lack of investment in research centers by institutions or countries unprepared to act in the knowledge era.
Definitely, reverse engineer lives in a permanent seesaw between legality and illegality, the validity and conviction and its practitioners, by association, they may be considered gurus encouraging the knowledge or sailors pirates technological ocean.
Eduardo José Stefanelli
Ricardo Infantozzi
Miltom Mansilla Vargas
Dr. Rodolfo Politano


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Last week a small MX team headed down to local university, Brigham Young University, for a coding event for students. Our MX team was able to interact with a small group of students from the Computer Science program. Our MX Engineering team spent a few hours with students talking through process for an event that will surely leave a lasting impression. With pizza for fuel, the students went to work writing a program to drive the Roomba. With many worthy attempts by the students, we had five winners take home prizes!
Students were instructed to use a simulator to code a robot designed from a Roomba, whoever codes the Roomba to safely make it through the PVC pipe maze, wins the jackpot! (or $100).


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This Model A3 Steinway in the Louis XV style is an exceptionally rare piano. It is incased in a beautiful mahogany cabinet and comes with a matching Louis XV style artist bench. It will be completely restored using authentic Steinway parts and refinished in a stain of your choice. Once restored it will look similar to the following piano - Restored Steinway Model A
|Serial #:185329
|Length: 6'4"
|Style:Louis XV
Once your piano is delivered, we give you 30 days to play it and make sure everything is exactly as you wish. If not, simply let us know, and we will pick up the piano and give you a full refund. Additionally, when you buy a restored piano from Lindeblad you can, at any time in the future, exchange that piano for another of our pianos and apply the full price you paid to the exchange.
Shreveport, LA | Chickering The first song I played was "Amazing Grace" because I kept thinking it's like amazing grace that we found these people. Watch Video
East Orange, NJ | 1912 Steinway D I went to the factory. I saw what they do—the work they do. My Steinway D was a complete rebuild, and it's just incredible. I've got to find some more superlatives: "incredible, great, amazing!" Watch Video


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A combination of measures were implemented by a group of neighbouring families in the middle hills of Nepal to mitigate the problems caused by landslips, gully formation, and stream bank erosion problems in a local area. These processes were affecting the stability of adjacent agricultural land and causing problems downstream. Small-scale farming is dominant in the area surrounding the treated land which belongs to the government but is used by these families.
This pilot technological package is proving suitable in Nepal for steep/very steep slopes under humid subtropical climates within the altitudinal range of 1,0001,500m. This type of intervention, combined with the active involvement of stakeholders (who contributed three-quarters of the costs), was introduced to Nepal under a watershed management programme co-funded by the European Commission (see Integrated watershed management QA NEP11).
WOCAT database reference: QT NEP11
Location: Sakhintar, Kathmandu/Bagmati watershed, Kathmandu district
Technology area: 0.14 km2
SWC measure: Structural and vegetative
Land use: Wasteland (before) agrosilvopastoral ( after)
Climate: Humid subtropical
Related approach: Integrated watershed management, QA NEP11
Compiled by: Dileep K. Karna, Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management, District Conservation Office, Kathmandu, Nepal
Date: November 2003
light green: districts in 2007


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