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Website: Complete Eco-Friendly Pest Control Services In Sydney.
When it comes to insects that sting, a wasp is one of the most dangerous. Wasps can sting victims over and over again. The stinger of the wasp is not like the barbed one of the honey bee. Wasp venom is extremely dangerous to those that have an allergy to it. Even for individuals that are not allergic to it, being stung repeatedly by a wasp can be quite dangerous.
Wasp nests can be found in an attic, on the roof of a porch, in sheds, and on the eaves of a home, as well as similar locations. If you begin to see a large quantity of wasps hanging near your home, it is a good idea to look around for the wasp nest and to destroy it as soon as you possibly can.
Types of Wasps
The two types of wasps that exist are solitary wasps and social wasps. The social wasp is the one that stings. These types of wasps prefer to create their nests in areas like in an attic or under a roof or on the roof peak.
Solitary wasps typically will not make a nest, but will lay their eggs in the nest of their prey. There are some solitary wasps that will attach their eggs to the larvae of another insect such as a moth or a butterfly. They do this so that when the eggs hatch they can start eating the host's flesh immediately. The solitary wasp is more compliant than the social wasp since they do not have a colony or nest that they are trying to defend. In fact, solitary wasps are often thought to be helpful in controlling pests such as aphids, beetles, and caterpillars that can destroy plants.
Getting Rid of Social Wasps
When considering wasp removal you need to find social wasps and try to destroy their nests. Most social wasps will build their nests close to places where people reside. It is important to remove a wasp's nest that is close to a home's entrance or in trees located in your backyard or in the park as they can be quite dangerous.
The best time to destroy a wasp's nest is either before the sun rises or after sunset. The reason for this is because at dusk the wasps will go back to the nest and remain there until the sun rises. Getting rid of the nest during this time will ensure that the majority of the wasps are killed in the process.
Underground Wasp Nests
If you are trying to get rid of a wasp's nest that is underground, you will want to make sure to wear clothes that are made out of rubber. The reason for this is because a wasp's stinger can easily go through cotton or woollen clothing.
Diesel, gas, or kerosene can be poured into the entry of the wasp is located underground. After pouring one of these types of gasses into the hole you will then want to cover up the entrance with towel that is wet.This will keep the wasps from flying out and the fumes of the fuel will kill them. There is no need to light the fuel on fire.
Hanging Wasp Nests
Make sure to wear thick or rubber clothes when attempting to help avoid being stung. A special pressurized bomb is the best way to destroy a wasp nest that is hanging. Make sure to follow the instructions provided on the pressurized bomb that is chosen. Make sure that you stand away from the nest and aim for the mouth of the nest. If it does not make it into the mouth of the nest, there is no need to worry as all the wasps will still be destroyed.
Home Remedies
For those that are willing to risk it, there are a few home remedies that can be used as a way of getting rid of wasps. Here are some things that you may want to try:
- Spray the nest with a wasp killing spray
- Light a small fire under a hanging wasp nest. The smoke will suffocate the wasps. Some will die and the others will leave the nest.
- Wasps like sweet things. Fill a jug with a mixture of sugar water. Hang the jug in an area near the nest. The jug should have a small opening at the top. The wasps will fly into the jug and then get stuck in the sugar water.
- Another option is to hang some beef liver from a branch on a tree. Under the pieces of liver, place a can filled with soap water. The wasps will eat the liver and then feel too heavy to fly away. They will fall into the soapy water and die.
Wasp Prevention
There are some preventative measures that can be taken in order to avoid having wasps infest your home. Here are some tips to prevent wasps from building nests:
- Make sure that your garbage cans that are kept outdoors have lids that fit tightly. Wasps like to hover near garbage cans.
- Trim weeds and keep your lawn short. Keep the outside area of your home clean. Wasps like to create their nests in areas that are overgrown.
- Always keep food covered and clean up any spills immediately.
- If you have fruit trees in your yard, make sure that you pick the fruits as soon as they are ripe and also pick up any fallen fruit as wasps will tend to hover near it.
Wasps can be extremely dangerous and it is important to get rid of them when they have created a nest near your home. If you are not able to get rid of them on your own, call Bugz Pest Control for help. Professional help is often the safest and most effective way to get rid of any type of pest infestation that you may be facing.


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Item # TBK001DItem # TBK001D
Mission accomplished.Leave your wallet at home and protect your favorite gadget at the same time from sweat and sudden storms with the convenient Timbuk2 Mission Wallet. It's ideal for dedicated cyclists, skiers, and snowboarders who don't want to risk damaging their precious smart phone when they're on the go, and has separate slots for ID and credit cards.
Compatible with the iPhone 5 (medium) and Android phones (large), this wallet has a clear TPU face that allows for touchscreen use without pulling your phone from the protective case, and a clear TPU lens cutout is compatible with the medium-sized (iPhone) case for on-bike or slopeside photography.
- Compatible with iPhone 5 (medium) and Android phones (large)
- Clear TPU face allows for touchscreen functionality
- Clear TPU lens cutout for camera use while on-bike (medium/iPhone only)
- Secure, separate slots for ID and credit cards
View more Seat Bags
Reviews & Community
Doesnt Fit
- Familiarity: I returned this product before using it
I purchased this to put on my bike, but it was too small for my handlebars. I tried it on 3 different bikes and it didn't fit any of them.
Awesome product but...
- Familiarity: I returned this product before using it
Conceptually this is a great product. I have been searching for a case for my iPhone and money/cards to use on rides. The problem for me is that I keep my phone in an Element Rogue case normally and I will have to remove that case each time I want to use the Timbuk2 case- not and easy or convenient feat. The case is well made, cushioned, and has plenty of additional pockets for cards, money, ID but I would not call it waterproof although it will keep sweat and light rain out. Real world use would determine if condensation might be a problem. If you keep your iPhone naked normally, this would be a great cycling product. I am disappointed to have to returnit

subset: commoncrawl


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Element of Surprise T-Shirt
You'll discover it when you least expect it.
"Member, Joint Working Party on the Discovery of Elements" looks really awesome on the resume. These folks propose the names for the new elements. I bet they're more than a little surprised by Surprise here.
A new element is being added to the periodic table after its discovery was confirmed by a team of Russian and American scientists. The element, named Surprise, appears to point the way to still more elements with chemical properties no one can predict.
The team, based outside of Dimitrovgrad, Russia, produced the element by smashing together isotopes of thorium, a natural radioactive chemical element, with a bologna sandwich. The chief scientist on the team admitted that the addition of the sandwich was initially accidental, but added "we duplicated the results with a second bologna sandwich." The particle accelerator was rendered temporarily unusable after the byproducts of the experiment, surprise and mayonnaise, were left in it overnight.
A spokesperson for the General Assembly of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, which approves the naming of new elements, admitted, "We're just as surprised about this as you."
The symbol for the element of Surprise (Ah) graces the front of this black, 100% cotton t-shirt. How it got that many protons and a standard atomic weight of zero is anybody's guess. Oh wait. That's not zeros. That's the new mathematical constant O.O.


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Product Description
Our 25mm Urchin Grey aluminium Venetian blinds provide one of the most precise control of heat and light available in a window covering. Fully closed, Venetian blinds can reflect up to 70% of incident light and effectively darkens a room. Venetian blinds also give you the ultimate control of privacy. Aluminium Venetian blinds are simply stylish too. A timeless design that suits many decorating styles, with matt shades, vibrant gloss and wood effect you can be sure of that perfect combination.
Please note that images are for illustration purposes only and may not exactly represent the actual slat, it is always advisable to order a sample before purchasing.
SLAT THICKNESS: 0.21 microns plus paint.
MATERIAL: 100% Aluminium
HEADRAIL BOTTOM BAR: Formed steel with colour co-ordinated finishes
CORDS LADDERS:Colour co-ordinated 1.4mm 100% polyester.
TILT MECHANISM: Clear polycarbonate casing with smooth geared operation and matching wand.
CORD LOCK: Clear polycarbonate casing with brass and stainless steel barrels.
CHILD SAFETY: Polycarbonate cord equaliser safety cord tie back cleat included.


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Care homes and crèches: How children can benefit older people
The two book end generations share much in common. Unlike people of working age, who are all about squeezing in as much as they can with the time they have available, the youngest and oldest in our society are time rich and activity poor. They exist in the moment, enjoying the simplicity of tending flowers or building Lego, living in a different rhythm to the rest of us.
Despite these obvious similarities, the two generations increasingly live segregated lives. Young people at nurseries and school; older people in retirement communities and care homes. However, following several years of experiments and studies, it's clear there's a beneficial correlation between the two.
Intergenerational interactions
The concept of encouraging younger people to spend time with older people is nothing new. In fact, across the pond in the US, shared care facilities are increasingly popular with creches based in nursing homes becoming a common sight. In Singapore too, the nation is spending $3bn on co-locating elder care and childcare facilities, in order to "maximise the opportunities for intergenerational interactions".
This type of shared environment has significant economic benefits, as resources can be pooled and staff costs divided. With both the elderly care and early years childcare industries struggling to remain economically viable, this model makes sense to both groups. But what about the children and adults involved? Will they benefit from such interaction?
The benefits for older adults
Through various studies and experiments, a number of quantifiable benefits have been identified for the adults involved in these types of intergenerational projects, such as:
· Learning: Older adults can learn new technology and innovations from their young companions.
· Energy: Volunteering with children on a regular basis has been shown to burn 20 per cent more calories each week.
· Health: Older adults who engage with children regularly experience less falls, performed better on memory tests and relied less upon walking sticks and canes than before.
· Dementia: Those living with dementia had more positive effects from activities engaging with children than with non-intergenerational activities.
· Happiness: An experiment in Japan found that shared play between the generations brought more smiles, happiness and more conversation into the lives of older people.
Of course, not all of the benefits were easy to quantify, but were apparent to both older people and carers involved in the projects. Having young people around appeared to make older people feel more youthful and energetic. They were encouraged to live in the moment, instead of just watching time pass.
The benefits for children
Interacting with older people has a far-reaching suite of benefits for children too. The precise impacts from these social experiments depended greatly on the ages of the children, as well as the type and frequency of interaction. However, some generalised benefits can be pinpointed, such as:
· Reading: Children who were read to or enjoyed a book with older adults achieved higher reading scores compared to peers at other schools.
· Behaviour: Older children who are engaged in intergenerational projects are less likely to use drugs (46 per cent), less likely to drink alcohol (27 per cent) and less inclined to skip school (52 per cent).
· Learning: There is so much that children can learn from older peers. Simply interacting with someone who is completely disconnected from the text and internet based socialisation of our modern times gives kids a new perspective on relationships.
· Self-esteem: Research in both Australia and in the UK found that including children and older adults in day care together boosted self-esteem and promoted healthy friendships.
Young children are found to be far less discriminatory when it comes to forming friendships, enabling them to see past the wrinkles and hearing losses of their elder peers, and to form deep and meaningful relationships with this other generation. This can help to give them a sense of who they are, and where they come from, even if that person is not a blood relation.
Modern families are increasingly separated by distance and time, and projects such as these are invaluable for bringing the generations together. Here at Blenheim House, although not in a position to open a creche in our home, we absolutely encourage families to bring young people along for visits and interaction. We also regularly invite local schools on to the home. Talk to our team about how you can get the children in your life more engaged with your older relative, and we'll be pleased to support you.


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Saint Michael's Master's Programs have a well-earned reputation for personal attention, excellent teaching and value in the marketplace. Click here to apply online. When applying online, all materials are processed electronically. If anything needs to be sent as a hard copy, send it to:
Graduate Education Admission
Saint Michael's College
One Winooski Park, Box 286
Colchester, VT 05439
If you have any questions about the process email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Applicants must have met these requirements:
International applicants, and applicants for whom English is not their native language, should go to the International Applicants page.
You will be informed of the admission decision, by letter, following your interview.


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Up two touchdowns early and suddenly sputtering for a second straight week, East Carolina might well have felt a familiar sinking feeling Saturday.
Instead, the Pirates rose to the occasion. And then they kept rising.
GREENVILLE � Up two touchdowns early and suddenly sputtering for a second straight week, East Carolina might well have felt a familiar sinking feeling Saturday.
Instead, the Pirates rose to the occasion. And then they kept rising.
Shane Carden threw for 308 yards and five touchdowns and ECU�s defense played in shutdown mode during a 41-7 Conference USA throttling of Memphis on homecoming at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Justin Hardy caught six passes for 137 yards and a pair of scores and Justin Jones added five grabs for 80 yards and three touchdowns for the Pirates (4-3, 3-1 Conference USA), who needed a victory to remain in short-term East Division contention.
�I was proud of the win,� third-year ECU coach Ruffin McNeill said. �Wins are hard.�
They�re especially difficult with the bitter taste of collapse fresh on the tongue. Last week at Central Florida, the Pirates led 14-0 in the first quarter and proceeded to fall 40-20 after allowing the game�s next 20 points and failing to find the end zone again.
On Saturday, again up 14-0 in the first quarter, the Pirates proceeded to overcome a case of offensive hiccups and pour it on. Beginning at the 4:31 mark in the third quarter, they scored three touchdowns in a span of about 7 minutes to completely seize momentum.
Carden, who completed 25 of 33 pass attempts, said he reminded his teammates of the previous week�s game and what can happen to leads that don�t grow.
�After losing to UCF, the whole talk was, �Don�t let one game beat you twice,� � Carden, a sophomore who completed his first seven passes Saturday, said.
�I think all around, we just came together as a unit and played really well in that third quarter. And when everyone�s playing well, it just makes my job a lot easier.�
ECU led 20-0 in the third after settling for a pair of Warren Harvey field goals to finish the first half and start the second. Carden then hit Hardy with an 11-yard touchdown pass before finding Jones on scoring strikes of 14 and 4 yards.
The Pirates started the three straight scoring drives by forcing two three-and-outs and recovering a fumble by Memphis� Keiwon Malone.
Suddenly, ECU had a commanding 41-0 lead with 12:22 left in the fourth quarter, and the announced crowd of 45,137 could enjoy a crisp autumn evening and what had by then become a laugher.
�We needed (the comfortable win) real bad,� said Hardy, a former West Craven High School star and the Pirates� leading receiver. �To win a conference championship, you�ve got to win conference games at home. That�s what we�re really focused on here.�
Vintavious Cooper carried 16 times for 96 yards for ECU, which, oddly, finished with 61 net rushing yards thanks to six sacks by the otherwise scuffling Tigers (1-5, 1-1).
The Pirates outgained Memphis 369-281 in total offense.
Jai Steib scored the Tigers� lone touchdown on a 3-yard run with 8:59 left in the game, a fact that irked ECU�s defensive players.
�When they scored that touchdown, we acted like we lost, because we wanted to shut them out,� said linebacker Daniel Drake. �That�s what I appreciate about the defense. That�s how passionate it is. That�s how much we want to succeed, and that�s really going to help us a lot in this last stretch.�
Carden hit Hardy, a speedy, 6-foot outside receiver, for a 67-yard touchdown on the game�s third play from scrimmage. He found Jones, a 6-foot-8 inside receiver and tight end, for a 34-yard score to give the Pirates a 14-0 lead with 7:30 left in the first quarter.
The complementary receivers are a budding tandem by design.
�We tell each other we need to be the best duo in the nation,� Jones said. �That�s what we shoot for.�
Tigers quarterback Jacob Karam completed 14 of 23 passes for 153 yards.
NOTES: The Pirates fumbled five times and lost two. ... ECU has beaten the Tigers seven straight times. ... Pirates linebacker Montese Overton left the game in the first half with a left knee injury and did not return.
David Hall can be reached at (252) 559-1086 or at email@example.com.


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Inflatable / January 9, 2019 / Laetitia Beauchesne
Inflatables are basically commercial signages that are filled with air. It can assume any imaginable shape-from a simple circular ball to a giant robot. Hot air balloons can also be categorized under inflatables advertising. Inflatable costumes and inflatable balloons are some of the most popular forms of inflatables. Inflatable costumes are walking inflatables that interact with audiences. This type of inflatable is mostly loved by people especially by kids. It is an effective way of making your brand closely visible to your target market and it also builds a certain personal connection with them making it memorable and not easily forgotten.
The large size buoyancy tubes provide a low center of gravity for the boats as well. These designs make inflatable boats sit flat on the water surface making inflatable boats almost impossible to flip over. For example 435ps paddle ski from sea eagle give ultimate stability. Comparing with normal paddle canoe it is mush more stable due to the two separate buoyancy tubes on two different sides. The features of inflatable boats just best suit those who like to stand up fishing and those scuba divers who need to flip backward to the water as well as pulling up themselves from water.
The next option requires a slightly bigger operation. It is the full-time event inflatables rental company for personal or business use. This inflatable company type requires you and a group of employees (or family members) to run events such as church VBS groups corporate picnics and kids events school carnivals and other such happenings. The process is similar to that of the backyard rental company except you can buy bigger and better inflatables. Ive seen these companies have everything from a giant slide to a full-scale bouncy obstacle course. Of course these events must be manned by a staff of inflatable operators to make each even possible which means employees and a different tax bracket. Also you will need vehicles to haul the heavy inflatables equipment to maintain them and process repairs advertising and marketing efforts in your area and a lot more time than a weekend or two a month. Next there are the pay-for-play companies.
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Skiing and Snowboarding
for schools and groups
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A school ski trip to remember
Whatever your priorities – the support of a dedicated rep, value for money, expertise, après ski, educational merit - you can rest assured that, by choosing PGL, your students will receive the very best in school skiing.
Are you being unfairly surcharged for your school ski trip?
Here at PGL Ski, if you are travelling to your chosen resort by coach, we won't surcharge you, provided payments are made on time. So regardless of fluctuations in exchange rates, fuel costs etc. the price we quote is the price you pay.
For trips by air, under ABTA guidelines providers must absorb 2% of any cost increases, and if costs increase by more than 10%, you are entitled to cancel or accept an alternative trip. So If you're looking for a better value ski trip and a provider adhering to ABTA guidelines, call us for a quote or get one here.
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" I am delighted we chose PGL for our first Ski/Boarding trip as all aspects of the trip were to a high standard; the safety of the pupils was paramount and the support from customer services and the PGL rep was second to none."
Wellingborough School


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Columbia VA Health Care System
Work Status for Employees
Situation Update
As of Thursday, October 11, 2018 1:20 PM EDT
Director statement regarding reporting for duty:
EMPLOYEE STATUS: All employees are to report to work as normal.
During a VA-declared emergency:
VA Employees should return to this page for updates. For more information about this emergency, go to our main Emergency Information page.
During a VA-declared emergency:
If you cannot make it to work and are unable to contact your supervisor, then please go to the VA Employee Emergency Information web site to post information about you and your status in this emergency. VA Employees should return to this page for updates.
VA Employee Helpline:
During emergencies, VA employees may call (866) 233-0152 for assistance and information about VA facilities.


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Two specators are called to assist in this effect. First you show two wooden boxes. One is shaped like a heart andthe other is shaped like an oval. A ring or coin is borrowed and placed inside one of the boxes. Let's say the spectator places the ring in the heart shaped box. The box is then placed in a cloth bag and held by a spectator. The second box (oval shaped) is closed and placed in a separate cloth bag. After a magical gesture the assistant holding the heart shaped bag is asked to open his box. The ring is gone! The spectator holding the oval shaped boxopen his box and the ring is inside.
This is an amazing transpostion because the boxes are of different shapes.The ring clearly vanishes from one shape box and re-appears in the other shaped box.
Do you own this product? Write a review.


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Big news: I am going to be on Craftsy!
A little bit about Craftsy :
"Our hundreds of classes in quilting, sewing, knitting, cake decorating, art, photography, cooking and many more categories, bring the world's best instructors to you. Learn at your pace with easy-to-follow HD video lessons you can access on your computer and mobile device anytime, anywhere, forever.
You can even bookmark your favorite techniques to return to as often as you'd like with just a click. Plus, ask your expert instructor questions for all the personalized guidance you need to succeed!" –Craftsy.com/about
In my Craftsy class, I will teach you how to use my easy techniques and complete 3 projects! I will even show you how to use the AccuQuilt Go! to do traditional piecing!
Crafty and I would love to giveaway my very first class to you! Make sure that you have entered that giveaway. You can enter by following this link: http://www.quiltinaday.com/specials/craftsy/default.asp
The set was darling at Craftsy. I took some pictures, but they are not the best. I am still trying to get used to using this new phone.
Working with Crafsty was really fun. I flew to Denver and checked into the old Magnolia Hotel. Right away they told me they didn't have any clean rooms for me. After checking, they found a suite..Wow. I was in heaven. They have great breakfasts…and cookies and milk at 8PM. Patty was also in Denver, which never happens, and she joined me for one evening. We said we would talk about that suite the rest of our lives.
When I first sat in my sewing chair, I was sitting so low, I could hardly see over the top of the machine. I volunteered to stand while I was sewing, and that's how I did all the techniques. It was easy to sew on the Craftsy set because Teresa and I spent two weeks getting my steps ready. At QIAD, we spend only a day or two getting ready. If I forget something, I just walk across the building to pick it up.
The hardest thing for me was the countdown by the producer. When I work on the QIAD set, camera men and I are in our places at countdown. I go at one! At Craftsy, there is more waiting at one – but I went at one – and messed it up every time! Production crew was very forgiving.
Anyhow, my Instructional Producer was Rebecca Olson, the lady in the photo. They served us lunch in the building which was very eclectic with all the artwork from the owners wife. Rebecca took me out to dinner in the same building the last evening. I really enjoyed myself.
My limo back and forth to the airport was also great fun. Becky teaches quilting to children when she is not driving, so we had good conversations.
We will be launching my class to purchase in just 2 days! Make sure that check back with Craftsy to watch my class!


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The Wall Street Journal reports that the cinematic return of the biblical epic is at hand . Russell Crowe will star in Noah , with a 148-foot ark, copious animals, and a $125 million budget. Steven Spielberg is in talks to direct Gods and Kings about Moses, Warner Bros. secured a script about Pontius Pilate, and 20th Century Fox is having Ridley Scott direct Exodus . Sony is developing The Redemption of Cain , while Lionsgate will distribute Mary, Mother of Christ , promoted as a prequel to the highly-successful The Passion of the Christ . Why?
There are compelling economic reasons for Hollywood to embrace the Good Book. The studios are increasingly reliant on source material with a built-in audience, something the Biblethe best-selling book in historycertainly has. And like the comic-book superheroes that movie companies have relied on for the past decade, biblical stories are easily recognizable to both domestic and the all-important foreign audiences. What's more, they're free: Studios don't need to pay expensive licensing fees to adapt stories and characters already in the public domain.
With floods, plagues, burning bushes and parting seas, Bible movies make great vehicles for big-budget special effects, a key selling point for a wide swath of audience members. Paramount is hoping "Noah" will connect with religious Americans who "may not necessarily go to more than one or two movies a year," said Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore.
Hollywood has been stagnant for some time. Many have observed that the more interesting creative stuff has been happening on cable and subscription television, pointing to series like the Sopranos , Dexter , 24 , Breaking Bad , and Mad Men . Why the box office blues? The usual reasons are probably the correct reasons: Tickets and concessions are too expensive, especially in this economy; studios are risk-averse, given the immense amount of money it takes to produce a film; people would rather stay home in the comfort of their own entertainment dens; and many young men in particular get their thrills gaming now that games are as intense (and more interactive) than most action films.
TV also has the advantage of being able to do more in terms of story for less money. A successful series might run anywhere between 50 and 150 episodes for that many hours of TV. It also has the advantage of regularity: each and every week there's an installment. This regularity is also why (many claim) NASCAR and the NFL are so popular. And episodes are sometimes available online legally at a network's website, at Amazon streaming, or on iTunes mere hours after they air.
So will Biblical epics save Hollywood, or (rumors of its demise being greatly exaggerated) at least give it a shot in the arm? I'm dubious, for a couple reasons.
First, as The Passion of the Christ showed, practicing Christians of whatever stripe will pour into theaters to see a film that endeavors to present the story seriously and respectfully, whatever shortcomings scholars, theologians, and critics perceive. Conversely, there's Evan Almighty , the Steve Carrell flop about Noah's Ark. Those associated with the film came across in interviews as unserious, more New Age than Christian (or observantly Jewish), while the film itself took high tragic drama and turned it into farce, and poorly. Rotten Tomatoes thus records a score of 23% for it . And so whether or not Russell Crowe's Noah film enthralls audiences and turns into box office boffo will depend on how well the film presents the drama of the biblical narrative. And it's a brutal narrative; God Almighty drowns everyone and everything save Noah and his family and enough animals to start over. The temptation to present the story in more palatable ways will be substantial, and even if it were done in subtle ways, through oblique commentary here and there, the practicing Christians who would otherwise support the film can sense politically correct moves a mile away. (It's not a biblical epic as such, but remember Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven ? Don't worry; no one else does either.) As the article notes:
The potential downside is significant, said Jonathan Bock, president of Grace Hill Media, a marketing firm that has helped several Hollywood studios target religious audiences. "You do it wrong, and not only are you not going to get your wider audience, but you're not going to get your core," he said.
Second, I'm not so sure we're in a cultural moment where, as the article states , "biblical stories are easily recognizable to both domestic and the all-important foreign audiences." I suppose most people know the basics of the story of Noah, but as a teacher of Bible who pays attention to wider cultural trends, I'm dubious that the broader population today knows and is interested in the great biblical stories anywhere near the same degree as the generation that first saw The Ten Commandments or Ben Hur or Quo Vadis .
But maybe I'm wrong; maybe Hollywood will score big with these films, while they provide Christians with an opportunity for witness and evangelism. Indeed, in the midst of the hand-wringing over The Passion of the Christ several years ago, in " Holy Hypocrisies, " a piece written before Mel Gibson's more recent meltdowns, Richard Corliss at Time defended the film and suggested Hollywood follow Gibson's lead and turn to the Bible for cinematic inspiration:
Decades ago, Hollywood regularly produced religious films: The Song of Bernadette , The Bells of St. Mary's , The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima . The bosses who financed these pictures may not have liked them or shared the beliefs expressed in them, but they had their reasons for greenlighting them. One is that they often made money. Another is that the mood of the country was more pious. Today, a fervent Christian conviction—so often aligned with belligerent conservatism—is, to many in the media, a threat or a joke. They don't understand religious devotion, at least in the less attractive sense of the term. They are much more comfortable producing anti-religious entertainment (all the comedies that make mock of God, Jesus and the clergy) than some sweet sappy Nun's Story .
The attitude goes beyond religion. For better or worse, the current tone is skeptical, derisive and gross. Years ago, American Pie replaced American piety. A lot of movie people don't respect Gibson's obsession with his Passion project; they are offended by it; fear it. And I'll bet, since the movie could earn huge profits for Gibson and his distribution partners, they resent it.
It happens that I like R-rated movies, South Park , certain naughty songs and dirty jokes — and, with some strong reservations, The Passion of the Christ . And I don't feel threatened that a lot of people who don't ordinarily go to movies have flocked to Gibson's film. Neither should the studios. Religious films could be a tattered genre Hollywood could revive, making a few bucks and a lot of converts to the old magic of movies. At least, it would indicate that liberal Hollywood isn't afraid of serving up the occasional helping of traditional values alongside its usual smorgasbord of guns, fists, tits and smirk.
( Cross-posted at LeroyHuizenga.com )


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I can only hope that this year will be as adventurous as the last! I do have hopes that things will continue to sit right with me. So far this year I've already stuck to my work out plan for two days! Way better than previously! I've also managed to save a bit of money so far into the month when I am usually broke ( we will see how this goes). The beginning of the new term at school has started as well and I have already checked into my online class! Score! Ariel: 3 Laziness: 0.
Anyways! Enough about me, let's move on with this post. Below I decided to post the song "Alive" by Krewella because it has been my theme song for the second half of last year, and I want these feelings to keep going and carrying me through the new one. I still can't get enough of this song, it always gives me chills and I think it's a good song to start the new year off with.
I wanted to dress fearless and like I was ready to party in the New year. So here is my Bubble goth/ Fairy Kei look for the 31st/1st!
Dress: Taobao
Shoes: Demonia
Hairbow: DIY
Accessories: Chocomint, Daiso.
Now, Onto Photos from the NEW YEARS PARTY that I had at my place with my lovely, lovely, friends.
I don't know if you can tell, but it was a blast. Thanks for sticking through this entire post! I hope you enjoyed the photos and please continue to follow my blog and hype me on lookbook! I really appreciate it.


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Author: Jan Smith,Roman Joost
Publisher: Apress
Category: Computers
Page: 352
View: 3681GIMP for Absolute Beginners gives us an easy way to use the power of GIMP, and enjoy digital photography and graphics without worrying about application features. GIMP is a powerful open source graphics and digital imaging application with almost all the features of its proprietary counterpart, Photoshop. But many of us are photographers and artists first, and we like to use our tools without having to think about them too much. GIMP for Absolute Beginners gets us to this stage without patronising users who haven't used GIMP before. But what can we actually do with photos and graphical images? These questions are answered in a photo projects chapter as well as a chapter on digital painting: Starting with making small changes to photos and adding information to them to creating paintings and drawings without photographic input. GIMP for Absolute Beginners covers the newest version of GIMP, version 2.8, so you can be sure the book covers the latest GIMP features. **The print version of this book is black & white, but the ebook version is in color on color-enabled devices. ** What you'll learn Learn how to install GIMP and navigate its interface Improve image quality with GIMP Increase your design prowess Have fun with digital painting projects Who this book is for Hobbyists, occasional designers, enthusiastic photographers, graphical design amateurs, and beginning illustrators. Table of Contents What is GIMP? Finding and Installing GIMP Getting to Know the GIMP Work Area Basic Computer Graphics in GIMP Editing the whole Image Improving Photos—Working on Parts of an Image Photo Projects—Adding to Images Installing a Graphics Tablet in GIMP Digital Art Hints, Tips and Further Help


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Abstract Paintings
When we surround ourselves in the great outdoors, we absorb the beauty of the unique sights and sounds that allow us to be present in the moment. Their impressions, though blurry in our memories, stay with us long after our return to our familiar homes. My abstract landscape paintings aim to bring the soothing, healing energy of these special places to the viewer through rich and vibrant colors, pooled together abstractly and blended together in unique and dynamic ways.
Growing up in Maine afforded me a rich environment of mountains, fields, lakes and ocean from which to explore and draw inspiration. These beautiful vistas have become impressions of color and light in my brain, creating a mood and feeling that I want to translate into fine art and share with you, the viewer. It's never about representing a scene exactly as I saw it. As I strip away the excess, what is left is the very essence of a place in time, a jewel for your wall, that can be reflected upon and enjoyed over and over again.


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'Underwater' mortgage-holders seek a lifeline
BRIDGEPORT -- Diana Byrd finds herself underwater after fighting a tide of job downsizing and devalued housing.
But the Bridgeport woman said Monday that she wants to stay in the condo she bought in the North End eight years ago, even though it has lost half its value.
"It's in a nice area and they just redid our whole street and sidewalks. Everybody keeps up their yards," she said during a roundtable discussion at the Housing Development Fund downtown, which helps those with low or moderate incomes own homes.
Byrd and several others who have worked with counselors at the agency to fight foreclosure and short sales say that there should be more options to help people stay in their homes.
"I love my apartment, but I'm paying $1,600 a month for a mortgage, and there are common charges on top of that," said Byrd, a part-time computer sciences instructor. "I bought it for $160,000 in 2006, at the height of the bubble, and it is listed for $98,000 now.''
Byrd's situation is common in Bridgeport, where 42 percent of mortgagees owe more than their home is worth, according to a survey by The Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at the University of California at Berkeley.
That puts Bridgeport in 10th place nationally for the percentage of mortgaged homes "underwater." Hartford leads the nation with 56 percent.
"We've done a lot of work with individual clients, but we need a wholesale solution to stabilize neighborhoods," said Housing Development Fund President Joan Carty.
Loan modification, in which the interest rate is lowered and the term of the mortgage extended, helps to keep owners in their homes, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said during the discussion, but getting lenders to lower the balance owed would be more helpful.
"Principal reduction is the quickest and easiest way to help someone get back on track and stay in their homes," Murphy told the group. A bill he proposed would make it easier for lenders to lower balances and would also correct a policy that treats the amount saved as taxable income.
Byrd told the senator that if her monthly payments could be cut in half, to $800, she could afford to keep up.
Carty said mortgages are often packaged and resold, or lenders retain other companies to service the loans, making it difficult to find the right party to negotiate with.
"It's like playing dodgeball sometimes," she said.


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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – If President Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner really want to reduce federal deficits, they're doing a lousy job of it.
Rather than focusing their negotiations on specific and achievable savings that would stabilize our debt for a decade or more, the two leaders have instead been talking about areas of the budget in which there's almost no common ground.
Instead of reaching a reasonable compromise, each party is insisting that the other surrender unconditionally. The Democrats and Republicans alike would rather win a bloody political victory than achieve a negotiated peace.
For Democrats, the only goal of the fiscal-cliff confrontation seems to be raising tax rates and getting more revenue from the wealthy. For Republicans, it's shredding the safety net for seniors and the working poor.
They're ignoring the most obvious solution: Eliminating unproductive and unnecessary federal spending and tax expenditures, especially corporate welfare that only benefits special interests. If even we didn't have a deficit problem, we should eliminate or minimize this kind of wasteful spending.
And, contrary to what you've been told, there is plenty to cut.
We know why no one is talking about this solution: The corporate interests who feed at the public trough control the politicians and the media who have worked themselves into a frenzy over the debt and the fiscal cliff. You'll never see a group of CEOs, like Honeywell's David Cote or Jim McNerney of Boeing, come to Washington to lobby to have their subsidies eliminated, but you will see them ask for old and sick people to bear the costs of deficit reduction. Read more about the CEOs lobbying in Washington.
Republicans have been berating the president for not offering specific spending cuts, but the Republicans haven't been specific either.
That's why Obama ought to offer a specific plan to reduce spending, without lowering benefits from Social Security and Medicare. At some point, we need to put those entitlement programs on a sound footing, but there's no urgency. Read about how to fix Medicare the right way.
Obama doesn't have to run for office again, so he's free to say what everyone already knows: We don't need to subsidize farmers, or energy companies, or defense contractors, or pharmaceutical companies, or the real estate business, or banks, or hedge funds. Corn and coal and sugar and 30-year mortgages don't need to be subsidized.
It's possible to achieve all the budget savings we need for the next 10 years simply by cutting the fat out of discretionary spending programs and tax expenditures, without raising tax rates on the wealthy or cutting the safety net at all.
All we need to do is look at the recommendations of such good-government groups as the Government Accountability Office, Taxpayers for Common Sense, or the Cato Institute.
Here's my list of $2.6 trillion in savings over the next 10 years. It doesn't cut education, or research into green energy, or reduce benefits for retirees. It doesn't just transfer our federal problems onto the states' treasuries.
Eliminate unnecessary military spending: $675 billion in savings. Most of the savings would come from eliminating weapons we don't need — such as the F-35, the Osprey and the next generation bomber — and from slowing the growth of outsourcing at the Pentagon and the national security aparatus. We could also save a bundle by removing our troops, bombs and planes from Western Europe. Read all the recommendations of Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Reduce the mortgage-interest deduction by a third: $650 billion in savings. Replacing the deduction with a refundable tax credit would lower the tax bill for most home owners and would raise revenue for the Treasury, the Congressional Budget Office has said.
Eliminate certain corporate tax breaks: $300 billion in savings. Industries such as timber, mining, movies and auto racing receive special tax breaks that cost billions. There are special breaks for overseas operations, inventories, research and manufacturing that can be eliminated or tightened up.
Reduce the tax gap (the difference between what taxpayers owe and what they pay) by 5%: $175 billion in savings. Hiring more investigators and requiring greater disclosure of income sources could reduce the tax gap. Tax cheaters shouldn't be protected. Read the GAO's recommendations on duplication and waste.
Require competitive bidding on federal contracts, and coordinate purchases between agencies: Estimated $150 billion in savings. Most federal spending goes through a competitive bidding process, but about a third doesn't. In addition, the government often wastes money because it doesn't manage procurement the way large private companies do.
Require Medicare to negotiate prices for drugs: $150 billion in savings. Medicare doesn't get the best price from drug makers because Congress won't allow it.
Eliminate subsidies for energy companies: $150 billion in savings. The coal, oil and gas, and nuclear industries get substantial subsidies and tax breaks. Oil companies don't pay as much for federal oil as they should, ethanol producers get a hefty subsidy, and nuclear power plants get free catastrophic insurance from the government.
Consolidate federal data centers: $150 billion in savings. The federal government operates thousands of separate data centers, many with spare capacity. IT experts from the private sector concluded the government could save $150 billion to $200 billion over 10 years by consolidating.
Eliminate agriculture subsidies: $125 billion in savings. Agribusinesses get federal subsidies to grow corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat and rice. And sometimes they get paid for not growing a crop. The government also subsidizes crop insurance, foreign and domestic marketing programs, and even subsidizes removal of the BS that inevitably collects at feed lots and stockyards.
Eliminate 10% of the improper payments in Medicare and Medicaid: $60 billion in savings. Reducing improper and overpayments by 10% would save $60 billion.
Other savings: $50 billion and up. The government subsidizes lots of other economic activity, from airports to water canals. It replenishes beaches, and subsidizes flood insurance. It builds lots of roads and bridges that aren't justified except as pork-barrel projects.
If there were ever there were a time to eliminate unproductive and unnecessary federal spending, you'd think this would be it. It's one thing to allow such waste when no one is paying attention to the budget. But now, when everyone is supposed to be doing their part to bring us back to fiscal sanity, there's no excuse to continue most of these programs.
If Grandma has to tighten her belt, then maybe Exxon, Boeing, Cargill, Disney and Merck should too.


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[img credit: Shopbop]
Preppy, boho, or lady-like? No matter what your style is, 2011 is a new
To Enter:
1) Follow CFON on Blogger OR on Bloglovin OR on Twitter
2) Leave your Name in a comment on this post.
Enter by: Monday, Jan 24th, 2011.
Open to ALL and the winner will be randomly drawn on Tuesday, Jan 25th.
Good Luck!


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|2012-12-03, 19:43
|Link #38483
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Crossover list for Assassins Creed. It isn't good vs bad, but order vs freedom. Both sides make a point.
Canon cast
Assassins: Ichika, Rin, Kanzashi (Somewhat), and Charlotte.
Templars: Tabane, Tatenashi, Laura, Cecilia, Squall, and Autumn. The entire Phantom task
organization counts as well.
Neutral: Chifuyu, Houki, Maya, Dan, Ran and most of the minor cast.
Original Cast (Including from ofher authors)
Assassins: Irish, Kazuma (Clone), Saito (Full member, unlike his mother), Zero!Madoka, Yuuki Rito, and Lala Devilluke. Various unnamed members.
Templars: Karon (Along with her idol friends), Ichika's third sibling (Who Zero proposed), Inami Arisawa, Kyuukai Tokiwa, Tsurugi, and Aria (Saito's twin).
|2012-12-03, 20:56
|Link #38486
I am no one
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Inside your head
I'm doing another AU of some sort, as I said, and the concept is laid even thicker now. the theme is as follow
"What kind of sacrifice you will make to attain great power?"
- Chifuyu Orimura, Commander of the Valkyries
"To be a valkyrie, a single emotion will randomly drained from you, good or bad. You will not realize it soon, but the incompleteness will eat you if you caught off guard. So stay tuned and hone your soul, yay~"
- Tabane Shinonono, the founder of Neo-Valkyrie system
"My only wish, is to break that forsaken barrier"
- Ichika Orimura, Valhalla Energy Device Amplifier Test Type Unit 000, also known as VEDA Type 0
Ichika's 'sacrifice' is Lust, go figure.
|2012-12-03, 21:16
|Link #38489
I am no one
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Inside your head
Ichika is an anti-villain protagonist of sort, he helped the heroines in fighting the demons, but he has his own agenda that clashed with them sometimes, such as wanted to breach the Barrier of Eden himself (what kept the monsters from invading Valhalla, demons often appear whenever a crack on the dimensional wall appearing)
His very existence though, is a bane for some of the fanatical devout in Valhalla. Because guys aren't supposed to be able to wield Valkyrie power permanently like he is.
The mythology root is not necessary accurate (and sometimes, it's as messy as a kitchen sink), Tabane just want to make stuff symbolically because she thought it'll be fun.
@ Demi
yes, I am.
|2012-12-03, 21:43
|Link #38492
Titans Test Team Pilot
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Elysium
|2012-12-03, 22:24
|Link #38493
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
@ Spear - Assassins are characterized by not having ties to the army or government. Besides, Templar's have really good points. Somalia would be the perfect example of "Absolute Freedom", and yet I wouldn't exactly call it paradise.
Notice how most of the good guys fall under Templars, while chaotic individuals fall under Assassins.
@ Senpai - Later It should be just a short one.
|2012-12-03, 23:59
|Link #38495
Titans Test Team Pilot
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Elysium
It's good, it's good. I just read up on the wiki about Templars and Assassins, how both are working for the good of humanity but in opposing ways compared to each other.
My memory's a bit fuzzy on how the conversation went between Ichika and Houki when the former tried to defend the lone trawler from Gospel's fire but eeh...
Spoiler for Gospel:
|2012-12-04, 03:45
|Link #38496
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Alright, I just finished reading chapter 11 of Prototype Spartan.
It does give a "disclaimer" about certain parts of it, but they weren't as bad as I thought they were going to be. And it seems that the main OC shares a much similar past to one of my characters...
But if I were to continue my fic, it would seem that I would be copying from Prototype Spartan. Despite that I practically had it set since this past January...
|2012-12-04, 04:06
|Link #38497
Titans Test Team Pilot
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The Elysium
If you put it in that sense, wouldn't some of us be guilty of copying as well seeing as we have OCs using powered armors?
It won't matter, most readers are in for the story, not being donkeys and nitpicking on details just because other stories have it.
|2012-12-04, 04:52
|Link #38499
Some say I'm the Reverse
Join Date: Jul 2006
Writing = nothign done. Writer's block thicker than Ichika's skull.
ESPECIALLU when listenign to music that SHOULD inspire me to write more but isn't doign anything...
|fanfic ideas, fanfiction, ff.net, harem, is fanfic, warning fanfic spoilers, wincest
|Thread Tools


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Hilton Head Island is the ideal seashore vacation spot; a charming mix of "Old South" ambiance, luxurious accommodations, hundreds of shops and boutiques, as well as some nationally known stores, over 200 restaurants offering international cuisine to local seafood, all presented in an elegant yet casual, laid-back atmosphere. Hilton Head Islands Golf and Tennis are the major games of Hilton Head Island; In addition to those seen on TV, there are over 30 golf courses on or near the island. And there are more than 300 tennis courts and several racket clubs, 4 of which are in the top 50 nationwide. Sailing, water-skiing, wind-surfing, fishing, small boat rentals - all the water sports you can imagine - are available at the island's several marinas. And the 12-mile beach awaits for swimming or soaking up the Carolina sun. The list goes on - riding a bike on the beach or the miles of bike trails, exploring the Sea Pines Forest Preserve on horseback, touring the nearby antebellum cities of Charleston and Savannah, and much more.
ASK US ABOUT OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW villa AT PALMETTO DUNES RESORT.
This Bright Beautiful Condo at one of FORBES MAGAZINE 10 best beach resorts is the perfect vacation spot for ANYONE looking for a great beach, tennis or golf vacation. The resort has gated 24 hour security, a beautiful oceanfront pool and kiddie pool, playground for the children,10 lighted tennis courts,with free court time for renters,pro shop, bike and roller blade rental on premises. (try biking on the beach)fishing, in season childrens activity program,convenience store,boardwalk pub, oceanfront pool bar serving breakfast and lunch in season,coin operated laundry facilities on premises, and more The condo is equipped with a full kitchen, color t.v.'s 2 vcr's and stereo. We have beach chairs, boogie boards and an umbrella for the use of our guests. We are centrally located to 23 championship golf courses and are minutes away from a wide variety of restaurants.
OUR PALMETTO DUNES VILLA: 2 br/2bth/ is 1500 sq. feet that sleeps 6 and is perfect for larger families or 2 groups of adults wanting space and privacy.The master bedroom has a king bed and the 2d bedroom has a queen bed.
PALMETTO DUNES VILLA; This villa is also fully equipped with the added benefit of being almost twice the size , and all on one ground level and very quiet and private and spacious.
Palmetto Dunes does allow dogs and if you'd like to know more about our pet policy and rates contact us directly.
|Map Legend
|ATTENTION: Beach Tennis, & Golf Lovers
40 Folly Field Rd, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
|Harbor Town
|5 miles
|Savannah Ga
|35 miles
|The Jazz Corner
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|walking distanc
|Palmetto Dunes 3 golf courses
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|Easter Week Special 2010