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GorMedia Webcam Software Suite 3.20
The only webcam software all worlds which can split webcam and add webcam effects directly with no virtual webcam needed; <p> It is a freeware tool for users want to use webcam in CamFrog and Skype, or any other video chat program simultaneously.
If user has a webcam device, then NO "fake" webcam will be added to bother user (however, it add a virtual webcam for user if user has no webcam device); <p> With GorMedia Morecam, user can also add funny effects to webcam easily with no fake webcam needed. Still add effect to yourself ONLY? With GorMedia Morecam, user not only adds video effect to themselves, they can also add effects with friends together. <p> Provide capture tool to easy capture: jpeg, MP4 video, animate GIF, MP3 audio; <p> Feature list: 1. Split webcam and add effects to webcam directly with no virtual webcam needed; 2. Add effects to friends while video chatting with Skype; 3. Add virtual webcam automatically for users have no webcam device; 4. Compatible with Skype, MSN, Camfrog ICQ,AIM,ManyCam, youCam, ,Movie Maker... 5. Use an image file or video file as webcam stream source 6. Easy jpeg capture and MP4 video record; 7. Support capture webcam to animate-gif -----(new); 8. Support record audio from microphone to mp3 -----(new); [www.GorMedia.com]


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Counter Terrorist Magazine
America's premier informational journal for law enforcement, intelligence and special operations professionals; our mission is to provide operators relevant information in order to combat terrorism at home and abroad. See why The Counter Terrorist is already the favorite journal for many of your teammates.
This magazine brings you writers with operational experience covering topics such as:
- Terrorist tactics, techniques and procedures
- Terrorist organizations and individuals
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- Policing and security operations
- Border security
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- Emergency and medical services
- Technology and science
- Propaganda

subset: commoncrawl


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This post is to try to ascertain how many Royal Highlanders Warrant Officers were awarded the MC.
Does and member know if a photo exists and in particular a birthplace for the following Great War Soldier 9497 WO1 John Mitchell , 1st and 8th Battalion Royal Highlanders. who was very highly decorated in the First World War ,his awards are
Military Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal. 1914 Star and Bar Trio ,Defence Medal and GV1V Special Constabulary medal .
John Mitchell served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion, Royal Highlanders in the French theatre of war from 13 August 1914. He was wounded in 1914 and returned to Hospital in the UK. He transferred to the 8th (Service) Battalion, and served with them as Company Sergeant Major, 'D' Company, in France from May 1915. Mitchell advanced to Regimental Sergeant Major, and the Battalion served on the Somme from 1 July 1916 onwards. They were engaged in the battles of Arras, Passchendaele and during the German Spring Offensive from March 1918. Mitchell was wounded in action, 23 March 1918.
This is an ongoing research project as far as I can see no service papers exist for him other than the Medal Index Card ,Medal Roll and notification of the Gallantry medals awards. A birthplace will unlock the door on this research.
Does anyone else know of any Royal Highlanders Warrant Officers who got the MC in the Great War
Thanks for reading this.


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Bomb plot fizzles out?
So was there a serious plot by four teenagers to blow up Western Albemarle and Albemarle High schools? Judge Susan Whitlock ruled March 28 that the public doesn't need to know, presumably to protect the privacy of the teens– even though their identities are pretty widely known.
After the hoopla of a February 3 police press conference announcing the alleged threat, authorities remained mum on exactly what evidence led to the arrests and filing of felony conspiracy charges against three teens. A fourth– an eighth grader at Jouett Middle School– was arrested at school February 15, and all boys have been incarcerated at Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention since.
Police cited chat room chatter, and the confiscation of three computers, two guns and other materials, which one of the parents of the boys said included firecrackers and kitchen matches that were kept in his locked gun safe.
A 16-year-old Western Albemarle student pleaded guilty to two felony counts and will be sentenced April 5. But the 15-year-old from Albemarle High and the two 13-year-olds from Jouett Middle School were waging a defense against the charges in the daylong trial Tuesday that appeared to have concluded, based on reports that closing arguments were going on late in the afternoon.
Were they found guilty? Did authorities overreact in the post-Columbine world where kids pointing fingers at each other and saying "bang" can be kicked out of schools? Were they just being stupid kids mouthing off? Is this really the best time to gag the flow of information?
1 comment
quote: "Were they just being stupid kids mouthing off?"
I've suspect that's all it was from the very beginning.
Other than the one who entered into a plea agreement or whatever, I doubt you will ever hear the outcome of the other charges.
The funniest thing about the cases was the fact they confiscated a father's gun, matches and fireworks. That certainly made Albemarle County a safer place to live. :D


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If your 360 avatar is in need of some over-priced, officially-licensed attire to help ring in St. Valentine's Day, Microsoft, 2K and THQ have you covered with some BioShock 2 and Red Faction: Guerilla clothing purchases.
They're your standard fare, a mix of game-themed t-shirts and replica costumes from the titles themselves.
I still don't understand why these aren't free; surely wearing this stuff serves as advertising for the product in question, so the more people out there wearing it the better?


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A mysterious force binds Meg Riley to the dark, mysterious werewolf Caleb Hallow. Can they put aside their differences and give themselves over to their union, or will their pasts destroy them?
Caleb Hallow doesn't need anyone. All he needs is to dominate in the MMA cage and become world champion. His plans are derailed when he wakes up with a mysterious tattoo of his ancestors after a one night stand with his opponent's ex-girlfriend, Meg Riley. Sharing the mark with her joins them as mates for eternity. Can Caleb deal with Meg for the rest of his life? Can he keep her safe from his past as he falls deeply in love with her? And will she stay by him when she finds out he is actually a werewolf?
It was just a fling, a chance to get revenge on her cheating ex. At least that's what Meg Riley tries to convince herself. But the indescribable pull that draws her to the dark, dangerous Caleb Hallow tells her differently. Although she is furious when she finds the strange tattoo on her back after their night together, and even though he tells her some convoluted story about him being a werewolf, she can't stay away from him. She can't stop herself from falling for him. When her ex threatens Caleb's life, how far will Meg go to save him? Will she be willing to sacrifice her life for his?
Buy Links
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Meg stared, breathless, as Austin's opponent ascended the stage, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. Thick, black hair. An angular face. A full tattoo sleeve was inked into each arm. His muscles rippled with each step he took. His stride was smooth, quick, and predatory. Guys like that normally didn't catch Meg's attention. This one did. The mysterious force that stopped her from leaving tugged at her. It demanded that she stare at this man, take him in. She felt like a moth to the flame. She shook her head to get herself back to her senses and then pushed the margarita away. She motioned to the bartender. "Rum and Coke please."
Caleb stopped toe-to- toe with Austin and glared him down. Austin was six feet tall. Meg had memorized his stats. This guy was at least three inches taller than him. Austin ripped the microphone from the announcer. "You need to learn some respect, little boy. I'm gonna give you a lesson in respect." Caleb chuckled. "I didn't realize winning was disrespectful. But then I'm often accused of being a prick. My apologies for kicking your fucking ass in three months."
Meg pulled her mouth away from his. "Explain it to me, Caleb. Why am I here and not with him? Why is it when I look at him I'm no longer interested?" He knotted his hand in her long hair and tugged it back. His hot breath roamed her neck as he nipped at her flesh. "You don't listen to me, do you? We're mated." "How are we mated? What does that mean? I want you but I'm not sure I like you."
"Mating is not a curse, Caleb," Littlefoot chided.
"It is to me."
"How is having Meg as your mate a curse?"
Caleb stopped and turned around. "Because I think I'm falling in love with her. And that can't happen.
I've already fallen in love once and she died because of me. So find a way to release it or I will."
Author Bio
Tricia Andersen lives in Iowa with her husband, Brian and her three children – her sons, Jake and Jon, and her daughter, Alex. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in English and from Kirkwood Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Communications Media/Public Relations. Along with writing (which she loves to do), Tricia practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, coaches and participates in track and field, reads, sews and is involved in many of her children's activities.
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VANCOUVER — Henrik Sedin's NHL ironman streak is over at 679 games and almost 10 calendar years.
The Vancouver Canucks captain did not practise Monday and did not make the trip to Edmonton where the Canucks play Tuesday night.
He has a suspected rib injury suffered last Thursday when he was cross-checked in Phoenix by the Coyotes' Martin Hanzal. Henrik has also been playing with an injured left pinky finger. He last missed a game on March 19, 2004 in Chicago when he had an abdominal strain.
Henrik's streak is the sixth longest in NHL history and does not include playoff games. With playoffs, it's an even more impressive 754.
"His status is day-to-day but he will not play in Edmonton," Canucks assistant coach Mike Sullivan announced Monday following practice. "His streak is a testament to how tough he is. That's the way I look at it. He and Daniel both play in the hard areas of the rink on a consistent basis and, because they have the puck so much, players lean on them.
"The fact he's been able to play that many games consecutively is just a testament to his determination and his conviction and, quite frankly, how tough he is."
Daniel Sedin called his brother's streak amazing.
"Ten years, that's a long time," said Daniel. "You have to be a little bit lucky and play through some things, too, of course. It's pretty neat. I think anyone would be proud to play that many games. It's pretty amazing. He plays to help the team and, if not, he's not going to be there. He would never be out there to risk it."
Based on practice Monday, Daniel will play against the Oilers on a line alongside Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows. The first-unit power play featured those three with Alex Edler and Yannick Weber manning the points.
"You have to have a lot of guys stepping up in his place, that's what we're going to need," added Daniel. "I think we should be able to do that. It will be interesting."
Henrik, 33, played two periods in Saturday's 3-2 shootout victory over the Calgary Flames but didn't come out for the third. Head coach John Tortorella later explained: "He tried but I wasn't going to put him at risk anymore. I had to tell him to take his stuff off."
Henrik was not made available to reporters Monday but talked Saturday morning about the possible end to his streak.
"I've been very fortunate to be healthy for almost 10 years now," he said. "But the streak doesn't really mean anything to me. If you're good enough to play, you'll play. If you're not, you're not going to play. "
Henrik leads the Canucks in scoring with 40 points, based on nine goals and a team-leading 31 assists.
IN THIS CORNER: Canucks rookie Kellan Lain appears to have set a record for fastest fight at the start of an NHL career — two seconds.
It's one of those unofficial marks but, as far as anyone can tell, Lain beat the previous "best" of 12 seconds set by John Ferguson Sr. in 1963. (Fergie fought Ted Green of the Boston Bruins.) Lain dropped the mitts with Flames ruffian Kevin Westgarth as part of Saturday's line brawl at the opening faceoff.
Lain's stats from the game went like this: two seconds played, five minutes for fighting, game misconduct.
"I mean, it wasn't how I pictured it would be," Lain said Monday. "But it was exciting and something I'll never forget. I've never been a part of something like that, especially in your first shift in the NHL. But that's hockey. You never really know what's going to happen. It's part of the game. Everything happens fast. It is what it is and you maybe get some confidence out of something like that."
Lain, 24, flew his parents and older brother in from Toronto to witness his debut, which lasted just the two seconds. Nevertheless, he had no regrets.
"They didn't picture it that way either," Lain said, smiling. "I'm really glad they were able to make it. No matter how it played out, I'm glad they were here."
Lain, 6-6 and 222 pounds, is in his first full season of professional hockey after being signed out of NCAA Lake Superior State as a free agent last March. He appeared in 13 games with the AHL's Chicago Wolves in 2012-13 and was a regular this season with the new Canucks farm team in Utica. He leads the Comets in penalty minutes with 84 so, clearly, he is no stranger to tough hockey.
He had lined up to take the opening faceoff against Westgarth but was then shooed out of the circle by Kevin Bieksa, the latter trying to protect his new teammate. As it unfolded, the move was in vain. Lain still appreciated the gesture.
"It was a class act by Kevin," said Lain. "He realized what position I was in, first game, first shift. He was just being a leader and looking out for a younger guy. I respect that a lot.
"I wasn't sure if it was going to result in a 5-on-5 fight but when Kevin went in and took the draw, everyone started going. I was kind of looking to see whoever was left and it happened to be Westgarth."
ICE CHIPS: Centre Jordan Schroeder (ankle) and defenceman Ryan Stanton (also ankle) both practised with the full team Monday and made the trip to Edmonton. Based on Monday's line rushes and drills, neither is expected to play against the Oilers. "They're certainly really close," said Sullivan... Goalie Joacim Eriksson was returned to the Comets on Monday.


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Listen free for 30 days
The Cosmic Computer
Editor reviews
The Cosmic Computer, originally titled The Junkyard Planet, is one of Henry Beam Piper's stories set in the alternate "Future History" of the 6,000 years following the year of the first nuclear chain reaction, 1942. This entry takes place in a distant, chaotic era of Piper's detailed universe where many planets and human institutions have fallen apart. The audiobook's protagonist, Conn Maxwell, returns to his particularly hard-hit home planet, what Maxwell refers to as a "junkyard of empire", aiming to raise hopes and funds with the promise of a legendary lost supercomputer hidden on a literal junkyard planet. Jeffrey Kaffer's hard and tough performance enhances the sense of Maxwell as an assertive leader navigating a harsh but strikingly and exhaustingly described future.
Conn Maxwell returns from Terra to his poverty-stricken home planet of Poictesme, "The Junkyard Planet", with news of the possible location of Merlin, a military super-computer rumored to have been abandoned there after the last war. The inhabitants hope to find Merlin, which they think will be their ticket to wealth and prosperity. But is Merlin real or just an old rumor? And if they find it, will it save them - or tear them apart?
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- Jenny Everywhere
- 28-01-17
Good, but reader should have looked stuff up.
My biggest problem with this reading was that the reader should have looked up how to pronounce "Poictesme". It's not "poyk-TEZ-mee", it's "pwah-TEM". It's a portmanteau of two French city names. The rest of the reading was okay, but every time I heard that mangled planet name, it jarred.
This is not an unreasonable expectation, for a reader to check the pronunciation for unusual words.
3 people found this helpful
- A User
- 26-02-15
What disappointed you about The Cosmic Computer?
The performance.
What was most disappointing about H. Beam Piper's story?
Ugh. A bunch of post US civil war frontiers men with about the same political views, walking around toting guns, starting companies left right and centre for every purpose other than to prospect the darn computer. The attitude towards women is pretty offensive too, and about as dated as the paper-tape spitting cosmic computer that has an interface taking hours to decipher.
What didn't you like about Jeffrey Kafer's performance?
It sounded like he was sight reading. The prosody was off-kilter and difficult to follow -- I have heard better from text-to-speech systems.
What character would you cut from The Cosmic Computer?
They're all so slow witted.
Any additional comments?
Don't buy it. It's probably better to read it yourself, if you're interested in antiquated guesses about the future with antiquated political and social views. I was glad to finish it and disappointed that they didn't all wipe themselves out.
1 person found this helpful
- Londell
- 17-03-16
Excellent storytelling
I simply love the major theme of this book. Everything needed to get the planets economy up and running was right in front of them the entire time. Merlin wasn't necessary.
- Katherine
- 27-02-14
There's a lot going on in this short SF quest
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.
Conn Maxwell is returning to his impoverished backwater home planet, Poictesme (a nod to James Branch Cabell), after years at the university where he studied computer science. The leaders of Poictesme sent him to school so that he could learn about MERLIN, a legendary supercomputer that is thought to be located somewhere near their planet. They believe that if they can find MERLIN, they will have the information and guidance they need to raise the economic power and status of Poictesme back to its former glory. It used to be an important military outpost but it was abandoned by the government when the war ended. Some farmers remain (they produce a highly prized brandy) along with all the stuff that the military left behind.
Now that Conn has returned, the search for MERLIN can begin. But there are people on Poictesme who don't believe in the legend. There are others who don't want to find MERLIN — they are afraid of what a supercomputer might do to them. And there are still others who only want to find MERLIN for themselves. Conn must work with all of these people — and some of them are his own family members — to try to do the best thing for his planet. And that might mean telling a big lie!
The Cosmic Computer, also published as Junkyard Planet, is the third book in Piper's TERRAN FEDERATION series, but it can stand alone. (I have not read the previous novels, Uller Uprising and Four Day Planet.) The Cosmic Computer is a fun science fiction quest story that has a lot going on despite its short length. There's plenty of science and technology — robotics, engineering, astronautics. Some of this is quite dated because the book was published in 1963, but one of Piper's female characters is a roboticist (the "real" women don't like her, of course). There's also lots of business, economics, sociology, religion, politics, and psychology. Plus, space battles!
It's a little hard to believe that the people of Poictesme couldn't figure out another way to make their planet prosper (it will be obvious to any reader). The reveal at the end is really hard to swallow, too, but this is still a nice adventure story with an interesting premise, some exciting exploration, and a couple of unexpected plot twists. The Cosmic Computer has some obvious parallels with Asimov's ROBOT and FOUNDATION stories.
The Cosmic Computer is now in the public domain. I got the Kindle version for free and then purchased the audiobook for $1.99 with Amazon's Whispersync deal. Jeffrey Kafer's narration is quite nice.
3 people found this helpful


text: News Illinois education board asks for more funding By Alex Rusciano • Mar 12, 2013 A week after Governor Pat Quinn suggested lawmakers slash the state's education budget -- Illinois school officials are asking them to instead increase spending on schools. IPR's Brian Mackey has more: Listen Listening... / 0:57 The chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, Gery Chico, says public schools can't afford any more cuts. He says they're already eliminating extracurricular activities, getting rid of staff, and shortening the school day. Region could form natural-gas buying group By Alex Rusciano • Mar 12, 2013 The same consultant that helped establish a regional power-purchasing program for electricity is gauging interest in a similar program for natural gas. Peoria Public Radio's Alex Rusciano reports: Listen Listening... / 1:00 Charles de Casteja is the Managing Partner of Good Energy. He says the company is working with the Illinois Commerce Commission to put a referendum on next year's spring ballot for a new gas-purchasing program: Environmentalists pressure advocates on fracking issue By Alex Rusciano • Mar 12, 2013 A coalition of environmental groups accuse other advocates of selling out when it comes to the drilling technique known as "hydraulic fracturing." IPR's Amanda Vinicky has more. Listen Listening... / 1:00 Environmentalists have warned of the dangers of "fracking" - a process that extracts natural gas or oil by pumping millions of gallons of water and chemicals deep underground.That's why it was a big deal a couple weeks ago that the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council stood with business leaders to announce they'd reached an agreement that could pave the way for fracking in Illinois. Group explains Illinois' lagging economy By Deborah Oldenkamp • Mar 12, 2013 Illinois' economy usually rises and falls with the rest of the country. But a government forecasting group says as the nation slowly emerges from the recession, Illinois isn't. IPR's Chris Slaby reports. District 150 supports sales tax increase for facility upgrades By Alex Rusciano • Mar 11, 2013 Peoria School District 150 says it wants voters to consider a one-percent sales tax increase on some retail sales. Peoria Public Radio's Alex Rusciano reports the District says new revenues are needed amid shrinking property tax and state aid funding: Listen Listening... / 1:06 District 150 is expecting a $10 million decrease in general state aid next school year. District 150 also lost nearly four-million-dollars in property tax revenues the last two years. Officials say that means less money for roof repairs, technology upgrades and health-life safety projects. School Board member Rick Cloyd says he supports asking Peoria County voters to consider a one-percent sales tax increase: Illinois, SEC reach settlement By Alex Rusciano • Mar 11, 2013 Illinois has reached a settlement with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, which accused the state of misleading investors about the depth of its pension problems. Quinn's budget at odds with General Assembly spending cap The top leaders of the General Assembly are sending strong signals they won't go along with key parts of Governor Pat Quinn's budget. They're insistent Illinois spend less than the Governor has proposed. Department of Public Health renewing emphasis on HIV awareness The Illinois Department of Public Health says when it comes to HIV awareness, sexually-active women and young girls are often overlooked. The Department putting a renewed emphasis on teaching women to protect themselves, and how to get tested. AFSCME's agreement treats new employees differently If Governor Pat Quinn's agreement with AFSCME, Illinois' largest public employee union, goes through, new employees will be treated differently than those already on the payroll. Union members get pay boosts the longer they work for the state. Quinn's Chief of Staff, Jack Lavin, says it will take longer for new hires reach those step increases, and he says they'll start off making less too. "And new, to achieve the top of that job classification it was previously eight years, now it'll be 11 years. Peoria looks to attract new call center By Deborah Oldenkamp • Mar 8, 2013 Peoria officials are working together to attract a new call center business to the city. Mark Rothert is assistant Peoria County Administrator for Economic Development. He says the company would create about 200 jobs if it locates in the area. "Right now, immediately, if the company were to expand into Peoria, they could fill about 50 jobs immediately. So, with that potential of 200 jobs, this is a good project to be working on to help spur on our economic development," says Rothert. Progress on Peoria's Warehouse District improvements By Alex Rusciano • Mar 8, 2013 Peoria's Warehouse District is moving forward. Local, state and federal officials gathered in downtown Peoria for a symbolic ground-breaking. The event kicks off the Warehouse District and Washington Street improvement projects. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined Mayor Jim Ardis, former Mayor Dick Carver and others to kick-off the $30 million effort. Out and About - March 8, 2013 By Nathan Irwin • Mar 8, 2013 This week, we're talking with Ryan Campen, the director of "Frost/Nixon," which opens this weekend at the Corn Stock Winter Playhouse. The play tells the story of the 1977 interviews between former President Richard Nixon and British television personality David Frost. Campen talks about his working with his cast to create portrayals of such iconic historical figures, and about his decision to incorporate live, audio-visual elements into the production. IL House continues to address state's pension problem The Illinois House continued test votes on measures to address the state's pension problem, and after a series of failures, one finally passed. But as IPR's Brian Mackey reports, most Republicans are still boycotting the process. Quinn to address innefficient boards and commissions Illinois Governor Pat Quinn may have a hard time getting most of his budget through the General Assembly, but he is expected to act Friday on one proposal that doesn't require getting legislators' approval. Prosecutors detail possible motive in Leuthold murder By Alex Rusciano • Mar 7, 2013 The Peoria man who allegedly murdered his wife on Valentine's Day was seeing a young Lithuanian woman in the United States. Multiple media outlets are reporting that was the message during a 20-minute bond-hearing for Nathan Leuthold. Prosecutors say Leuthold met the woman in Chicago about 20 times and also bought her clothes. A Peoria Police Detective also reportedly told prosecutors that they found a handwritten note believed to be from Leuthold's wife, Denise. The note said she knew he wanted her dead and running around with a 20-year-old was making her look bad. March Madness in Peoria By Tanya Koonce • Mar 7, 2013 The I.H.S.A. March Madness Boys Basketball Tournament kicks-off Friday at the Peoria Civic Center. The March Madness Experience runs alongside the tournament. It features more than 15 games and other attractions to entertain kids and families. The I.H.S.A. tournament is one of the largest annual convention attractions hosted in the Peoria area. Don Welch is the C.E.O. of the Convention and Visitor's Bureau. He says its a great two-weekend event for the region. "It brings a lot of economic impact, about 5,000 hotel rooms. It fills all the restaurants and hotels. Komatsu fined for violations that led to worker death By Alex Rusciano • Mar 7, 2013 The Komatsu facility in Peoria has four federal fines related to the death of an employee last summer. A Komatsu employee was injured, and later died, after testing hydraulic cylinders for leakage when an equipment failure released hydraulic fluid. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says Komatsu failed to develop and train employees on understanding machine energy control procedures. OSHA says it found similar violations at the Peoria facility in 2011. It also says the company failed to correct repeated failures of machine parts or document annual inspection reviews. Counties focus on mental illness, gun access By Alex Rusciano • Mar 7, 2013 More Illinois counties are complying with a law intended to keep guns away from people with mental illness. IPR's Chris Slaby reports: Listen Listening... / 0:58 An audit last year found only three county court clerks reported people with "disqualifying mental health conditions" to the Illinois State Police. Now, that number's up to 27. Jessica Tramme is chief of the firearm services bureau for the Illinois State Police.She says a change in January means judges MUST order court clerks to notify the State Police when people are found "mental defective" or "intellectually disabled." Quinn submits budget to General Assembly Illinois pensions would eat up about a fifth of state spending under the budget Governor Pat Quinn proposed Wednesday. As IPR's Amanda Vinicky reports, Quinn say it's the most difficult budget he's ever submitted to the General Assembly. Gov. Quinn highlights contract deal with government-employee union Governor Pat Quinn's budget speech highlighted his administration's recent contract agreement with AFSCME, the state's largest government-employee union. State Senate moves forward with gambling expansion Days after Governor Pat Quinn vetoed a measure that would authorize a major expansion of gambling in Illinois, the state Senate is moving forward with new legislation that would expand gambling even further. Seven surprises from Gov. Quinn's budget address There were few surprises Wednesday in Gov. Pat Quinn's budget address in the Illinois General Assembly. He called it a "difficult" proposal, with steep cuts in spending on education. So we challenged Statehouse reporter Brian Mackey to find seven things that were surprising about the governor's speech. Schock, Braley legislation aims to boost rural health care By Alex Rusciano • Mar 6, 2013 Congressmen from Iowa and Illinois want to improve health care in rural parts of their states. Wednesday, democrat Bruce Braley from Iowa's First District and republican Aaron Schock from Illinois' 18th district introduced the Rural Health Clinic Fairness Act. Braley says Medicare currently has an incentive program, with grants up to 44-thousand dollars, to encourage hospitals and other health professionals to transition to electronic medical records. Their bill would make rural health clinics eligible for these grants. Animal rights group protests at Peoria Walmart By Alex Rusciano • Mar 6, 2013 Mercy for Animals brought its national tour to the Walmart on University in Peoria. The group is traveling the country protesting the living conditions of pregnant pigs at pork suppliers for Walmart. Members of Mercy for Animals displayed a 10-foot inflatable pig in a narrow crate as part of its protest. Phil Letten is with Mercy For Animals. He says the display aims to highlight how pregnant sows live at some suppliers: Quinn urges pension action, calls for education cuts By Alex Rusciano • Mar 6, 2013 In his annual budget address Wednesday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn laid the blame on the General Assembly for forcing him to cut spending on schools and other key state priorities. Quinn says the cost of pensions is "squeezing" Illinois' finances, to the point that he's calling for a $400 million hit to education. IPR's Amanda Vinicky reports: Governor Pat Quinn unveiled a budget that spends around $35 and a half billion dollars from the state's main checking account.One fifth of that would go toward the states' public pension systems. Review - "A Raisin in the Sun" By Nathan Irwin • Mar 6, 2013 Lorraine Hansberry's play "A Raisin in the Sun" tells the story of one African-American family in the early days of the civil rights movement. A production is now on stage at Bradley University. Reviewer Douglas Okey says the play has as much to say today as it did in 1959. He has this review for Peoria Public Radio and the Live Theatre League of Peoria. Opinions expressed are those of the reviewer, not those of Peoria Public Radio or the Live Theatre League. Peoria Police arrest husband for Denise Leuthold's murder By Tanya Koonce • Mar 6, 2013 The Peoria Police Department arrested Nathan Leuthold Wednesday morning for the murder of his wife, Denise Leuthold on February 14. Peoria Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard says his department arrested the 37 year-old Leuthold in Pekin during a traffic stop they initiated. He says people have shared information that's helped his department meet the probable cause standard to make Leuthold's arrest. But Settingsgaard says detectives are still actively following-up on details. Preview of Gov. Quinn's budget address Illinois' finances were already bleak when Pat Quinn became governor in 2009. Despite heavy cuts and an end to the national recession, they remain so. Listen Listening... / 4:31 IL remembers first woman elected to statewide office The first woman elected to statewide office in Illinois has died. Dawn Clark Netsch was 86. In January, she revealed she had ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. East Peoria to get new residential cable option By Alex Rusciano • Mar 5, 2013 East Peoria residents will have another cable provider to choose from this summer. Peoria Public Radio's Alex Rusciano reports the City Council approved a franchise agreement with ITV-3: Listen Listening... / 0:49 The agreement means Comcast won't be the only residential provider of TV, internet and phone service in East Peoria. ITV-3 is owned by the same family that owns Family Video rental chain. Levi Dinkla is Vice President of ITV-3. He says the agreement means more healthy competition: Pages« first ‹ previous … 464 465 466 467 next › last »


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Taylor Swift will launch a North American tour in March in support of her just-released album, Red. The announcement was made Friday night (Oct. 26) during an ABC special, All Access Nashville With Katie Couric — A Special Edition of 20/20.
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will be the guest performer on the 58-date tour of stadiums and arenas in 45 cities in the U.S. and Canada. He and Swift recorded "Everything Has Changed," a duet on her new album.
Swift's 2013 concert schedule includes nine stadiums, including shows at Ford Field in Detroit, Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium near Boston and Soldier Field in Chicago.
The first round of tickets goes on sale Nov. 16. Additional information is available at Swift's official website.
Here's a list of the tour dates for the Red tour:
March 13-14: Omaha, Neb.
March 18-19: St. Louis
March 22: Charlotte, N.C.
March 23: Columbia, S.C.
March 27, 28 and 29: Newark, N.J.
April 10: Miami
April 11-12: Orlando, Fla.
April 18-19: Atlanta
April 20: Tampa, Fla.
April 25: Cleveland
April 26: Indianapolis
April 27: Lexington, Ky.
May 4: Detroit
May 7: Louisville, Ky.
May 8: Columbus, Ohio
May 11-12: Washington, D.C.
May 16: Houston
May 21: Austin, Texas
May 22: San Antonio
May 25: Dallas
May 28-29: Glendale, Ariz.
June 1: Salt Lake City
June 2: Denver
June 15: Toronto
June 22: Winnipeg, Manitoba
June 29: Vancouver, British Columbia
July 6: Pittsburgh
July 20: Philadelphia
July 27: Foxborough, Mass.
Aug. 1: Des Moines, Iowa
Aug 2-3: Kansas City, Mo.
Aug. 6: Wichita, Kansas
Aug. 7: Tulsa, Okla.
Aug. 10: Chicago
Aug. 15: San Diego
Aug. 19-20: Los Angeles
Aug. 27: Sacramento, Calif.
Aug. 30: Portland, Ore.
Aug. 31: Tacoma, Wash.
Sept. 6: Fargo, N.D.
Sept. 7-8: St. Paul, Minn.
Sept. 12: Greensboro, N.C.
Sept. 13: Raleigh, N.C.
Sept. 14: Charlottesville, Va.
Sept. 19, 20 and 21: Nashville


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So I consider myself a Level 2 node.js/CoffeeScript beginner. I'm learning out in the open. Some of the things I come across are interesting from the perspective of someone climbing the learning curve. To gain experience, I wanted to share some things I've learned about one of the most basic functions of any web server: Serving static files.
Serving static files is something you might take for granted if you come from a background where the "website" is hosted on top of IIS or Apache. I never really gave it a lot of attention, but whatever framework I was using was silently, faithfully, serving up all my images, icons, style sheets, and scripts.
Node gives you pretty low-level access to the HTTP server. So when you make an HTTP application in Node -- you're technically writing the server. So this means you have to be responsible for handling all aspects of the web request and every web request including all those cool static files.
Writing it All from Scratch
So you might start the Node server up in the typical fashion.
http = require 'http' ... server = http.createServer serve_file port = 3000 server.listen port console.log "The static file server is on port #{port}"
The function
serve_file is the callback that will handle the request.
serve_file = (request, response) -> console.log "Serving #{request.url}" context = { request, response } fs.readFile 'public' + request.url, after_file_is_read(context)
The first thing the static file server has to do is actually read the file. We use the asynchronous version of the standard
readFile method. I'm bundling up the
request and
response objects into something I'm calling
context. You'll see how I'm handling this object (notice I'm intentionally not using the word class) in subsequent method calls.
after_file_is_read = (context) -> (error, data) -> console.log "The requested file has been read" context = context extends {error, data} respond_with_file(context) or respond_with_error(context)
The method
after_file_is_read isn't the actual callback. It's a method that is invoked immediately passing the context and returns a function (the real callback) and captures the current context in a closure. This helps prevent the Christmas tree effect with nested anonymous callbacks. Essentially the sequence can be followed by looking at functions defined on the left side of the code.
I'm probably being a little too clever (and maybe not in the good way), but something that is just too cool to pass up (during my experimentation phase) is to use the
extends keyword to add the additional values of
error and
data into the "context". Essentially,
extends adds two additional properties (
error and
data) onto the exsisting object that already has a
request and
response properties.
Now here's where it get's really clever. I call into the
respond_with_file function. But what if there's an error? Shouldn't I be protecting the call to
respond_with_file with an
if statement and calling
respond_with_error in an
else block?
respond_with_file = (context) -> if context.error then return undefined console.log "Responding with the file" {response, data} = context response.writeHead 200, {"Content-Type":"text/html"} response.end data @
I could, but instead, I'm turning the more conventional approach inside out. I'm making the absence of an error a pre-condition for executing the main body of the
respond_with_file method. The function returns
undefined if the precondition is not met. This let's me compose the functions using the
or operator as I've done.
Notice the "Content-Type" header. There's a bug (a.k.a. an unimplemented enhancement) here.
respond_with_error function does what you might expect. Based on the error received from
readFile, it returns either a 404 or 500 response with the error message.
Now start the application up and browse on over to http://localhost:3000.
Ugh error! Sorry no default handling for index.html. Ok, browse over to http://localhost:3000/index.html.
Success!! We're serving up a static HTML page!
With the source I included an image. Browse on over to http://localhost/bunny.png
Ummm...that doesn't look anything like a bunny. Remember the "Content-Type". Well, you have to deliver the right one based on the media type you're serving. Otherwise, the browser has every right to be confused.
Now the Easier, More Powerful, More Complete, More Extensible Way
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a library already built that let us do all that web server stuff? But it can't get in the way like some BAFx would. Well there is of course. ConnectJS.
All that code turns into this:
connect = require 'connect' server = connect() server.use connect.static('public') port = 3001 server.listen port console.log "Connect is listening at #{port}"
The primary difference being that now it's a much more complete and robust solution. Browse over to http://localhost:3001/bunny.png
It works by adding a concept Connect calls middleware. I think of middleware as a plugin. Essentially, all the middleware objects that are attached to the
connect() object are run, and when one of them handles the request it stops. There is existing middleware for a lot of things including authentication, logging, and many many more. In the code above you can see we're attaching the
static middleware that serves up static content in the 'public' directory.
What's more, middleware in the context of Connect isn't some heavyweight component technology. It's simply a function and a callback. Very elegant. Very powerful. Very simple. Writing a connect compliant middleware component is for another time (but it won't be a long post).
The source for these examples is on GitHub and the annotated source is the GitHub page.
What's NextI got plenty of XP from this exercise, but not quite enough to level up. Still need to tackle:
- Talking to a persistence store
- Handling authentication of users
- Logging
Two out of three are handled by standard Connect middleware.
Then I might be ready for level 3. Just enough to start fighting some of the bigger monsters, and getting into bigger trouble.


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Have you ever been in the closet? Because if you have been, you'd know how much effort goes into hiding your sexuality. And speaking as someone who has only ever gone femshep, I don't really see what all the fuss is about, its the writers' story, not yours, all you are is along for the ride, you might get to choose your path, but its their junctures, not yours. If you want something different, ship it.
I don't think it's any more shallow than having the heterosexual romances (which were, admittedly, quite shallow as well).
As for the last part, it depends how you played Shepard. I know a lot of people who played a male Shepard and made him gay (and quite frustrated, naturally). I also know people who characterized their Shepard as a Kirk-like fuck-anything-that-moves sort of person. If you did not do that with yours, no one is making you make your Shepard gay now.
Besides, I think it's equally bad writing to have a lesbian romance in the first one (yes, Asari are technically mono-gendered and no, that is no more convincing now than it was then) and then no such options in the second (and Jack, at least, admitted to swinging both ways).
A mere mention would be a couple of sentences, this was the whole episode describing (in a great amount of detail) sex. I'm pretty damn sure that if this episode was heterosexual or inter-special themed it'd be age restricted just like this one.
I remember talk of forcing the player to experience a complete "chapter" of the game dealing explicitly with homosexuality.
Also, Turrians were birds, so would Garrus taste like chicken?
Not that I want to taste him or anything.
As usual, wonderful video.
I think Jim addresses the matter adequately. I didn't know some fans were actually raging at the inclusion of a gay romance option and the very idea that some of them were raging about that makes me want to pull off a pretty massive facepalm.
Grow up, folks. Homosexuality isn't a disease and BioWare isn't contaminating your hobby of choice with "teh gay". If you played your Shepard as a hetero, then simply ignore the man-on-man content that's pressed on the disc. If, on the other hand, you went FemShep+Liara and have the gall to throw up a shitstorm for this, then you're a hypocrite. Plain and simple.
I'm sorry but in terms of story telling 'he was in the closet and was hiding it all along' is about as hackneyed as you can get.
Just because it's someone else's story, doesn't mean I can't criticise it. Please don't dissolve this into 'let's see you do better'.
Please explain how you can make a character gay if there are no gay options in the two games.
You could only pretend he was gay, but there was no way to actually make the character gay.
And as there was no way to make the character gay, it seems like poor writing to suddenly decide he is 3 games in.
If you wanna grasp onto whatever flimsy straw you can to have this not seem like a last second add-on, go right ahead. I'm not. Also if continuity doesn't matter, then why have the ability to transfer saves from game to game, having decisions from the last affect the outcome of the next?
Okay, let's really examine this point. In Law Abiding Citizen, Gerard Butler plays a loving family man who uses his tech knowledge wreak havoc not only on the murderers of his wife and daughter, but pretty much every legal and political official in the city of Philadelphia. Now what if it was decided that that backstory was too boring, so let's say the decision was made to liven it up by having him periodically beat his wife and rape his daughter before their murder. And hey, since Jamie Foxx is playing the lawyer that screwed him over in the case, let's make him a racist too. Now imagine all of this was done without Gerard Butler knowing it. This was all done with dialogue that was dubbed in by a sound-alike in post production editing. They even threw in a couple of scenes with acting doubles for him and Jamie Foxx talking about how the Emancipation Proclamation should be repealed. And he doesn't find out until he sitting at the premiere of the movie with the same wide-eyed expression of shock on his face that the rest of the audience has when they see and hear this. Now I can safely assume that Gerard Butler is not a racist, wife-beating pedophile. But you know what? He also didn't agree to play one in this movie either.
I highly doubt that, Bioware has always made the cheesy romances optional. In ME1 I think I tried to have a three-way with Ashley and Liara, but failed, that was funny.
I never said that. I'm merely pointing out a double standard that exists in society.
Did I say that? Yes you can criticize the game, hell, if you don't like this decision, DON'T BUY THE GAME. If you do buy it, you basically have little to no right to complain. Seriously though, the segments might be well written for all you know, and you might never encounter those moments, but I'd imagine that there are some players out there who played Shepard as a rather flirty gay male, but never got to explore that further.
Jim's voice has the same effect on me as thinking of my grandmother. *Shutter* I can't think of a worst way to make a point, maybe if he masturbated on the screen the whole time as well. Congrats your argument is worse off now then when you started. I would have supported your ideas but after watching this, you have turned me to the other side.
Oh my god, that was brilliant. Thank god for jim.
As a gay friend said "even to be gay you need balls", and in conservative enviroments you need to be a man among men to be an open gay dude. That said, fuck retconning Shep into gayness! Mhee, screw ME in general, I want to see sometihng new from Bioware.
Nahh, not social pressure for that, my mother however asks me about a grandchild every once in a while, once a month if I am not going steady with someone... damn her. It's just that i like to get out of my confort zone as much as i can, try new stuff, live new experiences; so far the gay side however hasn't happened yet.
Sup m8! Gonna dream with Jim whispering to your ear tonight? Jk, nway good 2 c u.
I love discussions. However, they too often turn into mindless arguments with all the same points being abused over and over.
Simply put, I see no reason to bash the option for homosexuality in ME3. They wanted to put it in the previous two games too, but unfortunately, we live in society where homosexuality is frowned upon. I don't think it's an issue with writing or retconing; it's an issue with our society. Finally, they decided to say "Fuck it, we're doing it this time" and put the option in the game, where it should have been since the beginning. Sure, it would've been better if it was there from the start (I'm sure some people were disappointed for not having a gay option), but they had to scrap that idea for various reasons. I am not bothered by it though, as I don't see it as that big of an issue. You can play a consistent Shepard and not change anything at all in all three games. You can also decide that it was boring to be paragon and choose to be renegade. Or change your face or your class. There's no viable explanation for that, in-game, and your squadmates are going to address you all the same even if you suddenly went from being a noble soldier to some full-biotic douche, or you had a complete face change surgery. So, why is homosexuality such a problem? If I can completely change the look and morals of my character, I should be able to suddenly decide that my Shepard wants man sex (or woman sex). Or I could just pretend that s/he was gay from the beginning and it was other people who were not, so I couldn't indulge in my desires. Or I could completely ignore this option and play as I played until now. I have three Shepards, neither of them is gay and neither of them will suddenly become gay, because I want to finish relationships with the ones I romanced in ME2. But I could make a new Shepard, romance no one in ME1 and 2 (or romance someone just because I can) and then romance my true and only love in ME3.
There, here's a discussion.
I find it rather odd that sex makes you uncomfortable, care to explain why that is?
Woah hold up there partner.
On one hand you're saying I can't know for sure whether or not the writing will be good or not until it comes out and I play the game for myself.
On the other you're saying I have no right to complain about the writing if I buy the game.
So can I not criticise the game unless I pirate it or something?
How on earth can you play Shepard as a flirty gay male, when neither of the two existing games contain any flirty gay dialogue? Are you expected to imagine a back-story where he chats up Edwardo while on shore-leave?
Ohh gods
someone making a well thought out and reasonable post?
I though it was impossible.
Interesting. I think this friend of yours and I would probably get along quite well. And I sort of agree, while the content creators should have free reign, it is rather fan servicy.
Also, I know that feel bro, from the female side mind, I get nagged constantly.
Jim raises an excellent point, I narrowly avoided catching teh gay from a previous Bioware game - Jade Empire. Curse you Sky you handsome rogue with your tempting wiles! As gamers, we'd best be on our guard for any other encroachments of equality or diversity.
Spot on satire Jim. Probably your best episode to date.
You're misinterperting me, I'm saying that you can criticize, not complain. There is a difference, critizism tends to be more in depth and constructive.
Were there's a will there's a way. It could be the way your character moves when around other characters. Honestly, there's more to a character than just the dialogue.
Saying a great deal of what has already been said. Apologies, for the recap.
-Good satire.
-The age check shouldn't be necessary, but it is wise to avoid legal complications for potentially sensitive content.
-The DSM dropped its definition of homosexuality as a disorder in 1973 which in terms of progression in clinical psychology is a lot more recent than many of you would like to believe.
-Society is only recently getting comfortable with homosexuality. There are those groups who are not comfortable with this increasing comfort.
-There is no such thing as "appeasing" a market. You are opening doors to interested parties, which is good business.
-It is not shallow to include homosexual relations in a game. It is shallow to include any sexual relations in a game.
Very good points. Expressed it far better than I did.
I'd play male Shep as a homosexual, because it does interest me greatly, however I cannot stand male Shep's voice acting. Perhaps if a cock were shoved down his throat the entire time I could actually manage a playthrough as him, though...
That's a wee bit 'No True Scottsman'. Sexuality is a core component of human relations, and as such, sexuality can and should a part of more adult games that talk about the human condition, like Mass Effect. Hell, even TES and Fallout have sex, just heavily implied.
Which is pretty much what we have been discussing for the last 3/4 pages.
My argument is that the amount of effort adding a gay relationship into the series this late isn't worth it. The development time could have been better spent on additional general content, especially considering the small amount of development time (2 years, which is pretty tight for an RPG, especially one which prides itself on choices).
Not only that but a staple of good writing is foreshadowing and hinting. Making Shepard gay this late in the series seems much more like pandering rather than adding anything meaningful to the story.
Remember the controversy surrounding the first game? All the brainwashing alien sex turning players into guaranteed deviant sex offenders? Now it's GAY alien sex! You won't be able to drive your car on the road for men fondling each other...
No offense, but I'm going to pick apart that last sentence of yours. Why is not thinking about sexuality, one of the baser component of human psychology, which the repression of has been proven to be harmful, a bad thing? What is so bad about thinking about one of the fundamental concepts of life itself, procreation, seen as a dirty thing? Aside from the obvious, religious reasons, of course.
okay, that made me lol, kuddos!
"50 Penn Gilletes" I luaghed so fucking hard at this video, shine on you crazy fuck.
I don't think it was the fans (except for those fans that will complain about absolutely anything) I think it's more to do with the media (I smell Fox News' stink all over this). But you know how people are... just because the option exists, it means the game straps you down Clockwork Orange style and makes you watch Garrus pound maleSheps' ass for 5 hours...
Complaints are just negative criticism.
What does that even mean? Awkwardly and repeatedly bumping into them from behind? It's pretty hard to show subtle body gestures in a shooting game with stock animations.
What is lust, but love of a different form? Regardless, sex does have discussion value, its like any sort of excersize, sport or profession.
Complaints tend to be more general, whereas criticism tends to be more fine in its details. And it could be simply moving slower and pointing the camera at them more often, initiating dialogue with them more frequently and taking them on missions. Also, not every gay guy is constantly shoving his pelvis into people, regardless of what 90s TV says.
Yes, sexuality is a core component of human relations, but that doesn't mean it's handled well. I'd argue that sex in general has not been handled well or meaningfully in Mass Effect. I'd honestly prefer if it was just excised completely (though if it's in the games at all, I'd like them to be both straight and gay).
Eh, the quality depends on what you've experienced before and your personal tastes, so that's hardly a good argument.
EDIT: Not that I'm saying your point isn't valid, some devs need to grow the hell up.
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Just like my yarn ornament tutorial showed, you can start with a simple glass or plastic ball ornament, fill it with scrap yarn and add some acrylic paint.
- yarn or fiber fill stuffing
- acrylic paint in selected colors
- small paint brushes
- plastic or glass clear ornaments
For these ornaments, I used my scrap yarn leftover from my dandelion pom poms to fill the ornament. I also chose metallic acrylic paint for the penguin.
The penguin is very simple. First, paint the back solid and bring around to the front. Arch just past the metal closure and end at a point (around where you want the eyes).
Next, choose black paint and dip the handle of your paint brush to make the eyes. Dip a small paint brush in white for the dots of the eyes.
A small yellow or orange triangle, painted upside-down, makes a simple beak.
Add a wider triangle for each foot.
And that's it!
I also made a snowflake using simple lines and adding different sizes of dots on each line.
These make great last minute stocking stuffers! I'll be posting more simple tutorials for ornaments and other holiday decor over the next couple of weeks. Most will be made with fewer than five supplies or stuff you may already have lying around the house! Stay tuned!
Pin It


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Wine & Dine
Q: It's football season and I'm having some friends over for a barbecue. I'll have some beer on hand, but can you make any suggestions for a wine that pairs well with a casual meal?
Wine & Dine
Q: It's football season and I'm having some friends over for a barbecue. I'll have some beer on hand, but can you make any suggestions for a wine that pairs well with a casual meal?
A: For a barbecue, there are two types of wine that are ideal to serve: First, a crisp, cold, refreshing Vinho Verde — a low alcohol and inexpensive Portuguese white wine — is the ideal white wine to serve with salad or appetizers while you're sipping away during a cool fall evening. It might not stand up to a big hamburger or steak, but it does go well with chicken and is the perfect quaffing wine before switching to red meat. Second, when pairing wine with barbecued meats, I say go with a zinfandel. Zinfandel is a big, zesty, flavorful wine that won't be overpowered by the sweet and spicy barbecue sauces.
-- Brad Prescott, owner, IntoWine.com
Family Issues
Q: We've been back to school for just two months and I'm tired of making school lunches. I know my kids are throwing away good food. Any ideas?
A: This is one battle that doesn't have to be a choice between what's good for you and what's fun. A turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread is an all-American favorite. Instead of pre-packaged lunches, which are loaded with fat and sodium, try making your own. Use a mini cookie cutter for extra-thick slices of low-fat deli meats and cheeses and serve with crackers. Apples are easy, but fruit kabobs alternating cantaloupe and grapes with mini marshmallows are inspired. Or try the "Color Code" invented by cookbook author Jyl Steinbeck that encourages children to eat at least one orange, red and green food each day. Sometimes kids are more receptive to eating fruits and veggies if they helped make the selections.
-- the experts at FamilyEducation.com
Fashion Matters
Q: I'm in a fashion rut. What are some must-have fall fashion choices?
A: Great news: This year, fashion and real life have converged to bring us fall trends we can actually afford. In fact, you probably already have many of these pieces from years past and should be able to do much of your shopping in your closet. Old-fashioned but classic silhouettes make pencil skirts and sweet blouses perfect for a polished look. Necks are a focal point, wrapped in high ruffles, scarves or loose bows. Fans of jeans will want to choose a more trouser-like cut, and booties of all colors will continue their dominance.
-- Dannielle Kyrillos, editor-at-large of DailyCandy.com, the free daily e-mail covering food, fashion and fun
Life Lessons
Q: All my kids are in school full time. After enjoying the freedom for a while, I now want to re-enter the job market after years off. Where do I start?
A: Going back to work can be tough after you have been away for a while. First, it is important to think about your motive for going back to work. Do you need the extra income? Or do you have a passion that you would like to pursue? Think about your talents, skills and abilities -- most of the time this will help guide you to your ideal job. Will you need to go back to school or get any type of accreditation for what you want to do? Next, think about your tools and resources. Who do you know that you could network with? And certainly be sure to polish up your resume. Go forth, be great!
-- professional life coach Shannon Graham, www.321lifecoach.com


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On the way to our last ski-trip in Austria earlier this month, we spend a night at the capital of Bavaria, Munich.
The Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works), better known as BMW, have their headquarters in the South German city, next to the 1972 Olympic village. Beside an enormous showroom called BMW World, there is also an excellent BMW museum.
Even though we did not have the time to do the full museum, one can see quite a few old and new cars before the ticket counter. Some of them can be found here.
The whole area is full of amazing modern architecture which is a must see if you are in the area! The image above is the BMW office tower on top of the museum.
Image details:
Nikon P7000
ISO 100, f4, 16mm, 1/160s
RAW development with Lightroom 3
Black & White conversion with SilverEfex
Click that shutter,
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Pool kits include: pump and filter, 2 return jets, 2 bottom suctions, automatic time clock, basic connecting piping (flexible PVC), winter cover and bags, solar cover, mandatory pool alarm and an automatic chlorinator. Maintenance package included.
- Gas heater
- LED Lights
- Salt Generator
- Handrails
- Custom Safety Covers
- Fastlane Swim Current Machine
- After Factory Waterline Tile Installation Price available
About Installation
Pool kits can be installed by homeowner or local contractor using the provided installation instructions. Technical support from Glimmerglass is always available.
In areas not serviced by Glimmerglass, we offer pools as kits to the homeowner.
- Kit: $20,850
- NYS Assisted Install: $23,350
- Made by: Dolphin Industries
- Width, Length & Depth 14′ x 31′ x 6'4″


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UPDATE: We asked, you answered! We collected all the results from the vote on our Facebook page, and now here they are for your perusal. Hint: Anne Hathaway did NOT win.
When it comes to ferocious femmes, Catwoman is pretty much as iconic as they come. While The Cat (a literal cat-woman) appeared in the first-ever issue of DC Comics' Batman all the way back in 1940, Selina Kyle in her modern iteration has been a big-screen staple since Julie Newmar clawed her way into the role (sorry, couldn't help it) in the '60s.
Since then, all sorts of big-name actresses have portrayed her, achieving varying degrees of sexiness, cattiness, and, well, success. From a bodacious Halle Berry to a smirking Michelle Pfeiffer and now, the lady of the moment, Anne Hathaway, the manifestations of this femme fatale — like her feline counterparts — come in all shapes and sizes.
As one of the most iconic female comic heroines out there, this cool cat is sometimes described as "the love of Batman's life" (depending on the version/canon) and the ultimate in complex, moral ambiguity. More than just that, however, the role promises wild action scenes, blockbuster name recognition, obsessive fanboys, and of course, the ultimate badass costume. So, it's no coincidence that the biggest of names flock to play the part, but we can't decide who did it best. And that means we're turning to you. See our picks and then vote for your favorite on our Facebook page – we'll update this post with the results on Friday! Claws out, because it's time to battle it out to claim the Kitty Pride (whoops, wrong comic book).


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- Click the menu button and choose Add-ons. The Add-ons Manager tab will open.
- In the Add-ons Manager tab, select the Extensions or Appearance panel.
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- Click Restart now if it pops up. Your tabs will be saved and restored after the restart.
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- On your browser, click menu .
- Select More tools > Extensions.
- To turn off an extension, uncheck the Enabled box. Check the box to turn it on.
Learn more about modifying Chrome extensions here.
Solution #3 – Make sure 7Search.com is not being blocked by your computer.
- If using any adware removal programs (e.g. Spybot Search & Destroy), please make sure they did not add [7search.com] to the Restricted Sites list. (Learn how to remove all sites from the Restricted Zone)
- Browser cookies must be enabled and not blocked by any personal firewall.
- Make sure that [7search.com] is not listed in the "Restricted Sites" under Internet Options->Security tab of Internet Explorer and not in the "Cookies Exception" list in FireFox.
- In Internet Explorer: Add [7search.com] to the "Trusted sites" zone under Tools->Internet Options->Security->Trusted sites->[click Sites]->[type 7search.com]->[click Add]
- In FireFox: Add [7search.com] to the "Allowed Cookie Exceptions" list under Tools->Options->Privacy->Security- >Exceptions->[type 7search.com]->[click Allow]
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Related entries:
- How does 7Search protect me (the advertiser) against Click Fraud?
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- How do I modify my default URL information?
- Why do I need an Authorization Form?
- How do I Update Bids on Existing Keywords?
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Although 2012 was marked by many wonderful moments, it was another year in which football lost some of its most iconic figures, from players and coaches to officials and journalists. FIFA.com paid tribute to each of them when the sad news of their passings first broke but, as the curtain falls on another 12 months, we remember some of the most celebrated.
The game bade farewell to several coaches this year, including former Yugoslavia and Real Madrid tactician Miljan Miljanic, who also served as President of the Yugoslavian Football Association and, between 1993 and 2001, the FA of Serbia and Montenegro. He passed away aged 81 in January, a month before Sylvestre Mbongo died at the age of 70. The President of the Congolese FA from 1979 to '87 and again from 1992 to 2006, as well as a member of CAF's Executive Committee, Mbongo was considered 'a baobab of Congolese football' in Africa.
Former USA (1983-85) and Greece coach Alketas Panagoulias also left us this year at the age of 78, and 2012 likewise saw the passing of Frenchman Antoine Redin. In charge of Nancy between 1970 and '80, Redin launched the career of current UEFA President Michel Platini.
One of the foremost figures in Egyptian football, Mahmoud El-Gohary died this year aged 74, having led the Pharaohs to the 1990 FIFA World Cup™ after a 56-year absence from the global showcase. In a similar vein, Pape Diop, who died in September, ended 18 years in the wilderness for Senegal when he steered the Lions of Teranga to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 1986. John Bond, who passed away at the age of 79, coached Manchester City after 16 years and played over 400 matches as a defender for West Ham.
A long list of players featured in obituary columns this year and, tragically, some of those were still active at the time of their deaths. That was true of 25-year-old Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, who collapsed half an hour into a game against Pescara and could not be revived. As for 29-year-old Swedish footballer Victor Brannstrom, he had just scored for Pitea in a second-tier meeting with Umedalen when he fell to the pitch; like Morosini, he succumbed to a cardiac arrest.
Goalkeeper Miguel Calero, meanwhile, died as a result of cerebral thrombosis aged 41. Capped 50 times by Colombia, he will be remembered as a legendary figure at Mexican club side Pachuca, with whom he won ten titles between 2000 and 2011.
In terms of former players, the sport said its goodbyes to Polish legend Wlodimierz Smolarek in 2012, the 54-year-old having disputed a pair of FIFA World Cups. There was much mourning also for 78-year-old Spanish defender Marcos Alonso Imaz, nicknamed 'Marquitos', an iconic figure for Real Madrid in the 1950s and 1960s who helped the club win five consecutive European Champion Clubs' Cup titles.
He was joined a few months later by his team-mate and fellow defender Rafael Lesmes, who died aged 85, and an opponent in two of those European Cup finals, Stade de Reims striker Armand Penverne. Elsewhere, German football lost Helmut Haller, who contested three FIFA World Cups and scored the first goal in the 1966 Final before later handing the match ball to Geoff Hurst to commemorate his hat-trick. Former Brazil goalkeeper Felix – full name, Felix Mieli Venerando – tasted victory at the 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico and died aged 74 from complications caused by pulmonary emphysema.
As for many of those players, success was also familiar to powerful Italian forward Giorgio Chinaglia, who clinched the Serie A crown with Lazio in 1976 and left to join Pele at New York Cosmos at the height of his powers. He died at 65 years of age.
Two more legendary strikers were mourned this year as African football lost a pair of high-profile servants. Firstly, Rasheed Yekini passed away in May as the record scorer for the Nigerian national team, firing 37 goals in 58 appearances. His efforts helped the Super Eagles claim the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and book their first ever ticket to a FIFA World Cup finals that same year.
Three days later, Senegal's Jules Bocande then died following surgery for a heart complaint. He registered 20 goals for the Lions of Teranga in 73 games between 1979 and 1993 and also coached the side from 1994 to 1995, leading them to the quarter-finals of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.
In terms of officials, the game said farewell to Gerard Enault, former general director of the French Football Federation (FFF). In addition to his work for the FFF, he served on the FIFA Marketing and TV Committee from 1998 to 2005, and the FIFA Media Committee from 2008 to 2009, playing a key role in the promotion and development of football and its values. Meanwhile, England's Jack Taylor passed away aged 82 and having refereed over 1,000 matches, including the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final.
Lastly, France lost their most loyal and passionate supporter in the form of television commentator Thierry Roland. He died at 74 years of age, and 14 years after exclaiming on the night that Les Bleus defeated Brazil in the FIFA World Cup Final: "After seeing that, I can die in peace."


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Classes are currently being taught online. All physical facilities are closed to the public at this time, and employees are working remotely.Please visit
dcccd.edu/coronavirus for additional information and to
find contact information for various departments.If you need additional assistance, please visit
My Community Services and our
Community Employment Resources.
Note: This is a text version of the graphic above.
"There's more at risk for Dallas than just the well-being of its citizens who are trapped by poverty. Such high rates of persistent poverty will eventually push the best employers away from the city. That could send the city into a decline that everyone, rich or poor, will feel.
"I've said before we life in this barbell economic system in Dallas. We've got 18 billionaires — and let's not even talk about half-billionaires and quarter-billionaire. We have a ton of those. And then 39% of our population are asset poor? That's a big, big issue." — Mike Rawlings, mayor of Dallas
Poverty in Dallas County is no longer isolated to certain communities in the county. In 1980, poverty was largely in the black community in South Dallas. In 2010, however, poverty is spread throughout Dallas County, though it is still more prevalent in the black and Hispanic communities.
Poverty in Dallas has persisted in the face of enormous growth, right in the heart of a metropolitan area that has been among the nation's most prosperous and fastest growing.
From 2000-2012, there was a 5% growth in the total population of Dallas. In the same timeframe, there was a 41% growth in the poor population of Dallas.
Dallas residents are more likely to be impoverished than those in any of America's biggest cities except in Detroit, Memphis and Philadelphia.
$8.80 per hour = poverty line for a single adult earner with two children.
$23.07 per hour = living wage for a single adult earner with two children.
Typical Costs of Living
There are 189,600 unemployed workers in Dallas.
The unemployment rate in Dallas in 6%.
"A staggering 127,000 people across Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and southern Denton counties are employed but still live below the federal poverty line." — as reported by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Want to share our "Poverty Issues in Dallas County" infographic on your website or blog? Just use the code below or share it with your webmaster.


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Train Chatellerault → Bordeaux
Duration 2h14 - From NZ$49
- Arrival station : Bordeaux st jean (Rue Charles Domercq 33800 Bordeaux)
Chatellerault, a nice place for your holidays If you are looking for a little haven during your holidays, you picked up the right place. Located in the centre-west of France, Chatellerault is a 33 000 inhabitants town, crossed by the Vienne river, which gives its name to the department. Learn more about Chatellerault
A "Grape" place to taste the good life
Bordeaux, gateway to vineyards Bordeaux is located in the heart of the Aquitaine region and is only 3 hours away by TGV from Paris. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, it is the epicurean French destination par excellence. Bordeaux has over a hundred thousand hectares of vineyards and 10,000 grape growers. The city produces large quantities as well as some of the most expensive wines in the world. From Bordeaux, you can take the train to Saint Emilion, one of the world's most famous vineyards, or opt for a guided tour in a vineyard to taste one of the famous vintage wines of Margaux, Pauillac or Saint-Julien. Learn more about Bordeaux
Book your journey from Chatellerault to Bordeaux From NZ$49 NZ$54
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Raise a glass and drink to love! This intimate anniversary card says it all. Red roses, packages wrapped up tight, and sparkling champagne - all the ingredients for romance. Let your love shine this anniversary and don't forget to send a loving card to your soul mate and special someone. Have a little bubbly, toast to each other, and laugh over all the good times you've shared. This is your special day. Make the most of it.
It's your ultimate love day! Don't forget to send a heart-filled anniversary card to your loved one. Red and white balloons fill this bright and thoughtful anniversary card. Wish a happy anniversary to your beloved to let them know you care this day and every day. Celebrate your love for each other with an anniversary card as vibrant as your love for each other.
Love is out there! Don't forget to celebrate the anniversary of your friends and family! This beautiful anniversary card boasts big blooms of pink roses. A breathtaking anniversary card is a thoughtful way to wish a wonderful day to a special couple. Let them know you are thinking of them and wish them all the love in the world with this pretty-in-pink anniversary greeting card.
This simple, elegant anniversary card is a great option for anyone celebrating a 10th anniversary. The gold and red make this anniversary card pop, and the simplicity allows you to customize the card for whoever it may be for.
Is there a couple in your life who has made it to the incredible 50th anniversary milestone?! This anniversary card is the perfect choice. Though real fireworks may not be an option, celebrate your favorite couple with this exciting anniversary card and the same sentiment!
You can't even try to pretend you've seen a better and funnier anniversary card than this one! Dogs in their wedding outfits?! Absolutely precious! This is a must-have anniversary card for your dog-loving guy or girl. The "furrever" pun makes it all the more adorable and memorable.
Is there anything sweeter than two adorable puppies... besides, of course, your significant other? This is the perfect choice for the dog-loving love in your life. The photo is sweet, the background is fun, and the emotion is sincere.
Pink and red cut-out hearts make this one zesty anniversary card! Do you like a minimalist look that still spells heartfelt love? This anniversary greeting card is for you! Send it to a couple you know who is celebrating their anniversary. Wish your friends or family a happy anniversary with warm wishes to enjoy their special day. Isn't love fantastic? Tell them so! Send an anniversary card today and spread the love.
It is important to let him know how much you love him on this special day for the two of you. Send this anniversary card to celebrate the relationship you have built with him. Show your love and appreciation to him.
Some couples don't need to say much to show how much they love each other. This card is for those who prefer simple anniversary wishes. The heart on the card will deliver your strong love to him. Deliver your heart as an anniversary celebration!
Women want to know how much they are loved. Send an anniversary card to tell her of your love. This elegant anniversary card is perfect for any woman who loves roses. Say you love her with roses.
An anniversary should be unforgettable, shouldn't it? Send our anniversary cards to make the day even more special. A rose is the traditional flower for expressing love. Send this anniversary card with a lovely message.


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ADOT DBE System requires your DBE login (username/password)
The ADOT DBE System is part of the AZ UTRACS Transportation Business Portal. The ADOT DBE System allows firms to report or verify contract payments, monitor contract compliance, and submit or renew DBE Certification applications. Check out the new and improved AZUTRACS which now hosts the Firm (DBE) Search Directory.
Arizona Department of Transportation DBE Program Management System allows for fully streamlined DBE reporting for contractors and consultants as well as automated tracking of DBE participation. The system is design around the way you work, which will make your job easier without upsetting familiar routines.


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DM: What attracted you to crime fiction?
DM: Do you see a correlation between the merging of crime and horror with the increasingly Gothic narratives about crime in the news media?
'In the past few years Twisted Tales has become a major force in the promotion and appreciation of horror fiction. As well as putting on author readings and signings at bookshops it has expanded into organising larger events, bringing authors and critics together for discussions of the field. I've been involved in quite a few of both and have found them hugely enjoyable and stimulating - I believe the audiences did as well. May Twisted Tales continue to grow and prosper! If you love the field, support them! I do.' - Ramsey Campbell
'Twisted Tales consistently produce well-organised events for writers and readers of horror. What really distinguishes Twisted Tales for me is the intelligent themes and investigations they pursue, and the high quality of the discussions they always stimulate. As an author I've been invited to three of their events and have been pleasantly startled, to near shocked, by the attendance levels - two out of three were even sold out. I salute anyone who contributes so much to the literary and cultural life of horror fiction.'- Adam Nevill
Comments on this blog are moderated. We will have them posted up as soon as possible, thank you for your patience.


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One-Minute Burpee Exercise
Try This One-Minute Challenge For 2013: Burpees
Burpees may be an exercise everyone loves to hate, but they are certainly effective. This move works your entire body as you jump, squat, plank, push-up, and repeat. How many burpees do you think you can do in a minute? Take our fitness challenge and see. Press play and follow along as we count down the seconds along with your reps.
Let us know how you do in the comments section below.
Want more healthy living tips? Enter our Get Fit For 2013 contest. You'll receive healthy living tips (like this one!) straight to your inbox, and you'll be in the running to win a prize package that includes a trip to Mexico, $500 worth of Zobha fitness clothes, a Vitamix, and more!


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Clay Sannar, a 42-year-old father of six boys, was doing administrative paperwork on Sunday between services when a man came in and asked for a leader of the congregation, said church official Ralph Jordan. The man was directed to Sannar and fatally shot him, said Colleen Mestas, the police chief in Visalia, southeast of Fresno in California's Central Valley.
Then, someone called police and identified himself as the gunman. When police arrived at the church, they confronted the man and exchanged gunfire, said Mestas.
The gunman was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at nearby hospital, Mestas said. No police officers were injured.
The man, whose identity has not been released, did not seem to know Sannar and is not a member of the church, and no one at the church recognized him, said Jordan. Police have not disclosed details about a motive.
"We have several detectives out actively investigating this so we can come up with answers, especially for the family," said Mestas. "It's just tragic."
Sannar was the general manager of Soil Basics, a fertilizer company in Visalia, according to the company's website.
Other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation described Sannar as a well-loved family man. One of his sons is less than 6 months old.
"We're devastated," said Scott Henriksen, 47, a church member. "There's only one word: shocked. This is something that should not happen."
Henriksen told The Visalia Times-Delta that he had known Sannar for about 18 years, and he was "very good, hardworking. A great family man."


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'CEO Wanted': Lululemon's Top Job Requires Yoga Skills, Sanskrit Fluency
"You report to no one, you are the CEO (duh)," Lululemon's playful post states.
June 15, 2013 -- Lululemon is on the hunt for a new CEO to take charge of its "fun and irreverent brand," but its cheeky job posting may prove to be a tall order for those who aren't fluent in Sanskrit or define work-life balance with downing wheatgrass and tequila shots on Fridays.
The high-end yoga and active apparel company took to posting help wanted ads in storefronts around the country and on Facebook for a new chief executive officer after it announced that CEO Christine Day would step down when a successor was named.
Lululemon Stock (LULU) Plummets After CEO Announces Departure, Workout Pants Recall Hits Profit
"You report to no one, you are the CEO (duh). You are passionate about doing chief executive officer type stuff like making decisions, having a vision and being the head boss person," the company's job posting states.
Additional qualities desired for a new company-wide boss include being able to hold a headstand for at least 10 minutes, serious yoga proficiency and having celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey on speed dial.
The company "love(s) that our stores and social media teams are not afraid to spark a conversation in our communities," Lululemon said in a statement. There have been 160 replies to the ad, Lululemon spokeswoman Alecia Pulman told the Associated Press on Friday.
Since the company announced the Day's departure on Monday, the Canadian company's stock plummeted approximately 20 percent.
Under Day, Lululemon suffered a public relations nightmare that forced them to pull their $100 a pair yoga pants from shelves for being too sheer when wearers bent over.
The March recall cost Lululemon approximately $60 million in lost sales and threatened the brand's reputation for quality apparel. The company has started to restock its shelves with a re-engineered version of their Luon pant that spawned so many devotees in the first place.
Lululemon Expects Shortage of Luon Pants
Day, 51, joined Lululemon in January 2008 and oversaw the company as its annual revenue quintupled to $1.37 billion.
"This was a personal decision of mine," Day said during the question-and-answer portion of a conference call with investors Monday about its first quarter earnings. "And, look, it's never a perfect time to leave a company you love. I've had a great run."
ABC News' Susanna Kim and the Associated Press contributed to this report.


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2014 MTV VMAs Red Carpet + Show Photosby PopCrush Staff | PopCrush
It's that time of year again: The 2014 MTV Video Music Awards are upon us!
Over the years, we've seen some of music's most outrageous moments happen during the VMAs, and just as exciting as the show itself is the fashion worn by our favorite stars.
The MTV VMAs have traditionally given artists the freedom to be more daring and outrageous compared to other music awards shows, so we'll be watching closely to what everyone is wearing on the red carpet and on the show.
Check out the photo gallery above to see what some of your favorite stars are wearing at the VMAs, including Amber Rose's revealing outfit, Nicki Minaj's snake-like dress, Demi Lovato's sultry red gown and more.
Also check out photos of your other favorite stars, including Miley Cyrus, Iggy Azalea, Taylor Swift and Beyonce! We will be adding photos to this gallery throughout the night.


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(If you're 5 years old)
1.)Whine at your mom for 20 minutes until she
gives up, finishes, drags herself out of a nice, warm shower all soaking wet and shivering, and pulls the bread down from the inconveniently high cabinet.
- Or you could just let mom finish her shower and drag a chair (on wheels...chairs on wheels are the best for this task) into the kitchen, climb up to the cabinet, and knock out every item on the shelves to get to the bread.
2.) Repeat the same process for the peanut butter. Let mom get all the way back into the shower and then complain that you wanted crunchy peanut butter...noooott the creamy kind.
3.) Ignore exaperated pleas from your mom to let her at least wash the damn shampoo out of her hair and demand a knife. Accept the plastic substitute, because there is no way in heck your mom is going to give you a real one. But complain loud, and very whiny, that you want a REAL one.
4.) Open the refrigerator so hard that the milk comes flying out and falls to the floor, popping the little plastic top off so that all the milk flows to the floor.
5.) Say just barely loud enough for your mom to hear, "Uh oh," and ignore her when she says from the bathroom, "What do you MEAN, uh oh???? What dd you do??? Did you break anything?"
6.) Leave milk on floor and cover it with a paper towel.
7.) Get jelly out of the refrigerator. Grape jelly only. Apple jelly is yucky. Your mom will eat it. Leave refrigerator door open.
8.) Stand on the chair (the one on wheels), and proceed to smear the peanut butter onto every surface in the kitchen. Bonus points if you can do it without leaving the chair. Don't forget to get it into the toaster.
9.) Repeat process with the jelly, but this time, make sure to get the jelly all over the burners on the stove so that it catches on fire the next time your mom turns it on. Think of it as a jelly surprise, or a jelly candle.
10.) Leave all ingredients on the counters...or floor.
11.) Sit in front of the TV and ignore your mom when she comes out of the bathroom, walks into the kitchen, and screams.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
How To
Posted by Shauna at 3:04 PM 0 comments
Thursday, July 16, 2009
An open letter...
Dear Ms. Cashier-at-the-gas-station-lady,
I have seen you in this gas station every single day...well, Monday through Friday anyways...for the last 6 months. You are not new. As per your bragging to another customer a few weeks ago, you have been doing your job for 2 years. So, why do you ACT like you're new??
Why do you have to call your manager to ask how to print a receipt out? You would think that all you have to do is print the "Receipt" button. It's on the register. I've seen it. I'm just sayin'. It's not that hard.
And another thing about that receipt. Sure, I may need to pump my gas before you give me a receipt, but there isn't any reason I can't tell you in advance that I'm going to need one. I did the whole gas station thing back in college. I know how it works. I know that you can't print a receipt for a purchase that happened prior to the most recent 3 purchases on that model of cash register. So, when I tell you I need one, when I'm done pumping and the thingy beeps at you, just print my receipt. Pretty please??? And no attitude. It makes you look like a fool. I'm just sayin.'
I could always start using the gas station across from you that has the fancy pumps that print your receipt right at the pump while you're still hanging the damn thing up. And the machines have yet to sprout annoying gum-chewing habits that sound like a cow chewing cud.
And machines sure don't hold up lines with incessant chatter to the customer at the register that just succeed in holding up the line. Want to know why? They don't talk. You don't need to say anything either other than "Have a nice day. Come again!" At 7:00 in the morning, I'm not much of a conversationalist anyways. I'm just sayin'. I really, really don't want to hear about the boil under your arm that you just got lanced, and not it keeps leaking pus, so you're going to go back to the doctor and make him clean it, and give you antibiotics, because your absolutely sure that you're going to get an infection and die, and then your husband would sue the crap out of the doctor, because obviously he doesn't know what he was doing, and he is way too young to be a doctor anyways. What's with all these young doctors today anyways? How is it possible for them to be legal? They're too young to have even just begun med school much less being ACTUAL doctors. Why, back in your day, all the good doctors were much older than you were....
You see where this is going? Yeah. Listening to that kind of stuff every morning is kind of annoying, so Ms. Cashier-at-the-gas-station-lady, can you just please, please, PLEASE just shut-UP??!!
Posted by Shauna at 3:51 PM 0 comments
Friday, July 10, 2009
Little piggy
My youngest, who is now almost 14 months old, is (obviously) growing and picking new things up on a daily basis. I sometimes refer to him at Satan's spawn (mainly because he has the most devilish personality and attitude
sometimes occasionally all the time), but to me, he and his brother are my WORLD!
Even with him being impossible at times, he is cracking me up SO hard!
Case in point:
The other day, I noticed him shoving waffles down his gullet as fast as he could. Since I had not given him any waffles, I was kind of curious to how in the hell he got them. I watched him toddle over to the printer (Yes, the ACTUAL printer hooked up to the computer), flip the lid down, pull out waffles, and shove them in his mouth!
Yeah. Now, I've heard of kids hiding toys in just about anything (my brother even made the drawer under the stove his toy box), but hiding food???? In the printer???? He's special. That's all I have to say.
He's also FASCINATED with water! All kinds. He's a regular water baby. He even automatically starts kicking his legs and frogging his way in the pool when I hold him in the water on his stomach. But in the bathtub, he's thrilled with playing with the water as it comes out of the spout. A few days ago, he even started leaning down, turning his head, and drinking out of the spout. Like a dog. Yeah, he's special.
He's also an expert at playing peek-a-boo. It's the most adorable thing I've ever seen, but he has his own special version. This is how you play: Grab mommy's head with both your fists. Hold REALLY tight and dig in your fingernails. Now put your head on the side of her head (ear to ear). Now really fast, swing your head so that you are now forehead to forehead, and grin like crazy and drool on her.
He also like to play torture-my-brother. He thinks it's hilarious to eyeball my oldest while he's watching his favorite show, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, slowly walk or crawl to the TV while still watching him, and then jump in front of the TV and bang on it (often changing the channel) usually during an "exciting" moment in the show. Makes Dalton squeal and scream every time!
He also is a very crafty, sneaky child. He will walk or crawl to the door when I have it open smoking on the porch. I always tell him "No-no" when he tries to cross the threshold, and he is really good about stopping. He shoots me exasperated, dirty looks from time to time, but he does stop. Now, he will grab a toy (usually a ball) and try to chunk it out the door. His theory is if he throws something, I'll let him go outside to retrieve it. Every time, he will throw and then immediately go crawling after it. I've gotten really good at frisking him for toys and taking them away from him before he gets close to the door.
But NOW, he tries to fake you out. Seriously. He will take 1 ball and wave that all around to get your attention and then try to chunk it out the door. I grab it, turn and throw it back into the house, and he IMMEDIATELY takes the ball hidden in his other hand (See! I told you he's sneaky) and throw that out the door while you're occupied. If numerous people haven't seen this for themselves, then I would think it was a "one time" thing.
He is keeping me on my toes, for sure!
Posted by Shauna at 3:30 PM 0 comments
Thursday, July 9, 2009
One-track mind?
So, a while back I posted this about a chick I work with (who isn't with the company any longer.) Turns out she's...um...knocked up, and decided that she needed to make sure she would have enough money for when the baby arrived, so she quit.
That weird face you just made?
That was my reaction too. I'm not sure she's aware that she won't HAVE any money, if she's not working, but the link to that other post gives you an idea of how...odd...she is.
Anyways, I digress.
The whole reason for this post is because my stepdad texted me yesterday with, "I have been reading your blog. Please send pictures of the blow up doll. Your mom says ok. Honest."
Creepy, no?? Well, I thought it was hilarious, and if I HAD any pics, I'd share. Of course, I'd blur out the face and stuff so as not to embarrass her, but the whole point of that last post was to get across that the girl has no brain cells! It wasn't so much supposed to be about her looks, but apparently men have one-track minds. I thought it was interesting. lol And funny. So I had to share!
Posted by Shauna at 4:03 PM 0 comments