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Welcome to my little world of art nouveau," said a beaming Ernest Marza as he swung open the door to his lavishly decorated apartment in downtown Victoria.
The 89-year-old Transylvania-born painter, sculptor, frame-maker and restoration expert, came to Canada after being imprisoned in a German labour camp. He brought with him not only a strong will to live a long and healthy life, but a passion for art nouveau.
It's an art form that sprang to prominence in the late 1890s through 1920, as a reaction to the rigidity of Victorian design - and it fascinates Marza. He is drawn to the spirals, arabesques, wave patterns, whiplashes and the many imaginative flourishes that are fleshed out in vines, flowers and sinuous bodies of young females.
Unlike art deco, which came later and presented a more hard-edged, masculine and geometric look, the nouveau forerunner is a fantasy of lilies and orchids, vines, palm fronds, exotic papyrus, seaweed, dragonflies and swans.
Marza may have trained as a nautical engineer, but he is an unabashed romantic. Stepping into his home, with its eye-popping explosion of visual embellishments, is like walking into a scene from the Arabian Nights.
Certainly the dozens of lamps in this home are worthy of study in themselves. They make up just a fraction of the interior landscape. Other highlights include more than 20 statues in his living room alone. The same room holds 14 tables and plinths displaying works of art.
Around the corner in his bedroom, the walls display 30 of his own paintings.
He reserves the living room for works by other painters from other centuries, a fine collection that he has accumulated over the decades from artists living as far away as Europe and South America.
A large part of the appeal is the ingenious way he displays his remarkable collection. For one thing, he has made almost all the frames himself.
"I used to carve them but I found it was much easier with a sand blaster," said the artist, who is a long time friend of Mel Bolen. He designed and decorated her bookstore when she moved it into Hillside Centre in 1996.
"Ernest is one of the kindest and most interesting people I have ever met," Mel's daughter Samantha Bolen said this week
Marza, she said, also did all the sign design in the store and made all the giant wooden signs - "every painting on every pillar. He also designed the stained glass for all the chandeliers. People don't comment too much anymore because they see it every day, but when we opened the store they went berserk."
'Ernest is so talented, intelligent, insightful - a truly happy person, and an important part of my life for almost 30 years. He has left my whole family and many more with a great legacy, through what he has taught us about art and beauty," Bolen said.
"And his place is incredible, an art oasis. It's not just his paintings, which are unbelievable, it's the fact he can do everything - because he's an artist and an engineer."
When Marza was in the bookstore a few months ago, Bolen mentioned a design problem she was having.
"He was back the next day with the solution. In one day, he'd solved something I'd been thinking about for six months."
He also recently created a set of tiles for her new bathroom.
Rogers Chocolates has used his paintings to decorate their chocolate boxes, and a local firm has used one of his paintings on a puzzle.
In 1984, he painted a Chemainus mural called Chinese Bull Gang, depicting 23 men bending their backs to move a huge log through a lumberyard to a sailing vessel.
Since moving to Victoria from Transylvania in 1956, Marza has studied art restoration and conservation in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and in Sonoma, California.
He surrounds himself with art - bronzes from England, silk lampshades from France, sculptures of nymphs reclining on rocks trailing their arms in pools of water.
One of his favourite creations is a series of 20 faces he made in terra cotta and mounted around the tops of several rooms, as well as over doorways. Several are also in Bolen Books.
"I saw one like it in a Gaudi building in Barcelona once, and copied it to use on some of my furniture, as well as two lamps," he said. (Architect and artist Antoni Gaudi lived and worked in Spain from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.)
Apart from a beaded curtain he found in Egypt that screens his small, modern kitchen, Ernest made every other curtain in his home.
"I found the fabric at Charles Rupert. They also have many wonderful wallpapers, which I used to have to import from Europe, but they now carry."
Some of his most exceptional pieces include:
- two gargoyle-like statues
of jesters made in bronze by celebrated American Richard MacDonald
- a bowl of glass Pâtedeverre (paste) grapes handmade by French designer Jean Daum
- a dining-room chandelier by French art nouveau glassmaker Muller Frères
- several tables by French artist Louis Majorelle, "one of the greatest furniture designers of the period"
- a medieval-style painting of a girl looking at a shield painted by W. H. Margetson
Why does he have such a passion for art nouveau?
"Because I grew up with it. At home, we had this kind of art everywhere. It was contemporary at that time," he said.
The dreamy painting over his sofa reminds him of his parents on the day they met in a Vienna café.
"That's how it was when I grew up. It was romantic, elegant. It was a different life.
"On Sunday, people dressed up. Here they dress down."
Marza is constantly honing his art nouveau collection -"whenever I discover something new, I let something go" - partly because his space is limited.
"When I was married and had a family, we lived in three houses," said the widower, whose two daughters live up-Island.
'But I like a smaller place now. This is compact. I have a studio that I live in - I keep my easel on the balcony and paint in my bedroom."
The European gentleman still paints every day, usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., depending on the light, and typically breaks for a midday meal by walking downtown for lunch.
He credits his good health to the fact he doesn't have a doctor, takes no pills and has never been overnight in a hospital.
"The secret is no stress," Marza said.
"I don't think about the war, the labour camp - those experiences during the war. The human body has a way of overcoming pressures and tensions. I don't think about the bad things and I surround myself with beauty."
His interior-design philosophy is equally simple and it applies to everything - vessels, sculptures, paintings, tea services, trays, picture frames, bowls or sculpture. "I don't think of design. I think of objects, and if you concentrate on something, it all fits."
His favourite subject in his own painting is the tango.
"I love the tango, the music. I have every recording and I love women. I grew up with dancing in Europe," he said with a twinkle, adding he used to travel every year to Buenos Aires to dance and enjoy the art. Barcelona is his favourite city, a place where he can revel in the art of Gaudi.
Marza has enjoyed much success as a painter. He sold three works to a doctor just last week. His paintings are on display at the Oak Bay Gallery.
Gallery owner Dale Shaw said Marza is "really something.
"He's a charming man who takes you back in time. I call him our resident genius because he can do everything and his home is amazing - I don't think there is anything in there that's from this century.
"And he is always busy, always creating. He says there is no time to waste."
Writer Grania Litwin and photographer Frances Litman are known for their sense of style and knowledge of outstanding design. They tour homes around the south Island, talking to homeowners, interior designers, architects and artists who influence the way we live.


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Taster's Choice
March 23–May 26, 2014
From 1967 to 1968, Richard Serra made a drawing that enumerated 84 verbs, among other parts of speech, to describe ways to create sculpture. His drawing, Verb List, makes explicit the actions that were primary to Serra's early works, such as "to roll," "to lift," "to split." Today, some emerging artists make use of a verb that was not on that seminal list: "to choose." For these artists, the act of selection allows them to engage with material abundance, and serves as a key mode of production and communication.
Taster's Choice highlights three emerging artists and one artist collective who regard choice as both the process and content of their work. They recognize what specific materials can convey: the intentionally neutral effect of brown industrial carpeting, or the aspirational nature of stainless-steel kitchen appliances. Juxtaposing materials and images, and filtering them for specific themes, the artists allude to emotional connections between individuals and objects, amplifying, distorting, and confusing the meanings that their choices suggest.
Recently, social and monetary value has been placed on the "curated lifestyle" and algorithms that predict a consumer's predilections. Whether it is a person or computer that makes recommendations, such guides and tools have assumed increasing importance in an era of big data. Methods of pre-selection are marketed not only for their utility but are bundled with the promise of expression. Choosing offers a way to speak to others, a manner of communication that lies at the intersection of communal consensus and individual regard. It allows an individual to convey qualities, desires, or aspirations that foster affinities with certain groups and distance from others.
BFFA3AE (Daniel Chew, Micaela Durand, Matthew Gaffney; founded 2007) began as an Internet surf-club blog named after the shorthand for "best friends forever and ever and ever." Working online and in physical space, the collective creates performances, videos, and sculptures that examine how the Internet has influenced social norms and mass culture, particularly the lifestyles of teens and adolescents. For Taster's Choice, BFFA3AE presents a new film and a series of sculptures examining excess, desire, and teen culture.
Zak Kitnick (American, b. 1984) creates sculptures utilizing products instead of materials. Interested in the inefficiency between our expectations for an object and an object's potential, he repurposes industrial products and procedures. For Taster's Choice, Kitnick debuts a new series of work that address the aesthetics and taxonomies of Hamilton Beach kitchen appliances. Kitnick appropriates images and graphics from the packaging of these small appliances, processing and printing the information on transparent substrates. A central concern of the work is the porous boundary between art, décor, and utility. For the artist, buying can be making—selection becomes the primary method of production—yet the products are often marked by their absence.
Nancy Lupo (American, b. 1983) highlights the emotional associations elicited by objects and materials. Her sculptures often have intentionally ambiguous forms that draw directly from quotidian life and yet pervert such notions of the everyday. From some vantage points, Lupo's floor-based works behave as small-scaled furniture— while from other views, they appear as organic abstractions. Other pieces disrupt known forms like Rubbermaid Brute containers or heart-shaped ice cube trays. Lupo juxtaposes content and form to produce disquieting works, especially by incorporating non-traditional materials like quinoa, chia seeds, nutritional yeast, and kitty litter into her sculptures. For this exhibition, Lupo presents new sculptures that have a relationship to architecture and feature surfaces consisting of ancient grains and modified nutritional substances.
Chris Wiley (American, b. 1981) has made photographs that depict vernacular architecture, particularly in the Los Angeles area. His latest series, titled Dingbats, emphasizes the physical qualities of the images by framing them in discordant materials like industrial carpeting, stucco, and vinyl flooring. Wiley draws connections between image and object while maintaining the seemingly arbitrary nature of the conflations.
Chris Wiley. Dingbat (3). 2013. Inkjet print mounted on aluminum; artist frame with Home Depot industrial office carpeting. Courtesy the artist and Nicelle Beauchene Gallery.
BFFA3AE. Live [EXPLICIT]. 2014. HD video. Courtesy the artists.
BFFA3AE. Live [EXPLICIT]. 2014. HD video. Courtesy the artists.
Zak Kitnick. Power Elite (MULTI-FUNCTION). 2014. UV cured ink, acrylic, vinyl, powder coated steel, hardware. Courtesy the artist and Clifton Benevento, New York.
Zak Kitnick. Nonstick Grids (Waffle Baker). 2014. UV cured ink, acrylic, vinyl, powder coated steel, hardware. Courtesy the artist and Clifton Benevento, New York.
Nancy Lupo. A Cherries and Nutritional Yeast Seat. 2014. Nutritional yeast, Magic-Smooth, imitation cherries. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Matt Grubb
Taster's Choice is organized by Christopher Y. Lew, Assistant Curator, MoMA PS1.

subset: commoncrawl


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New York Times
Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers
September 2, 2018
1. Texas Ranger
James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle
Rory Yates's job and reputation are at risk when he is accused of killing his ex-wife.
2. The President is Missing
Bill Clinton and James Patterson
President Jonathan Duncan takes on adversaries at home and abroad.
3. Tailspin
Sandra Brown
A pilot investigates treacherous situations when he attempts to deliver a mysterious black box to a doctor in George.
4. The Outsider
Stephen King
A detective investigates a seemingly wholesome member of the community when an 11-year-old boy's body is found.
5. Feared
Lisa Scottoline
Mary DiNunzio and Bennie Rosato must solve a murder and handle a reverse sex discrimination suit against their firm.
6. The Other Woman
Daniel Silva
Gabriel Allon, the art restorer and assassin, fights the Russians to decide the fate of postwar global order.
7. Before We Were Yours
Lisa Wingate
A South Carolina lawyer learns about the questionable practices of a Tennessee orphanage.
8. Little Fires Everywhere
Celeste Ng
An artist upends a quiet town outside Cleveland.
9. Cottage by the Sea
Debbie Macomber
Annie Marlow forms new relationships in the Pacific Northwest as she tries to recover from tragedy.
10. Paradox
Catherine Coulter
In the 22nd book in the F.B.I. Thriller series, agents Sherlock and Savich look for an escaped psychopath.
11. All We Ever Wanted
Emily Giffin
A scandal sends members of two Nashville families into chaos.
12. The Woman in the Window
A. J. Finn
A recluse who drinks heavily and takes prescription drugs may have witnessed a crime across from her Harlem townhouse.
13. When Life Gives You Lululemons
Lauren Weisberger
Emily Charlton plans a comeback from the suburbs.
14. Cherry
Nico Walker
An Iraq veteran and his girlfriend consider taking desperate measures after getting addicted to opiods.
15. The Perfect Couple
Elin Hilderbrand
A body is found in Nantucket Harbor hours before a picture-perfect wedding.
© 2018 All rights reserved by New York Times Syndication Sales Corp. This material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner.
A version of this list appears in the September 2, 2018 issue of The New York Times Book Review. Rankings reflect sales for the week ending August 18, 2018.
Bloomingdale Public Library
101 Fairfield Way
Bloomingdale, Illinois 60108


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In explaining his new experience with the Miami Dolphins, Mike Wallace couldn't help but compare the atmosphere to the only other NFL stop on his resume.
"Everybody has a college mentality around here," Wallace said of the Dolphins after he spent four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. "It's a lot different than where I came from. Everybody's hungry. Everybody wants to get better, get to where we need to be -- that's a winning record."
This could be construed as Wallace taking a veiled potshot at the Steelers, and it was reported as such by multiple outlets. On Monday night, Wallace used Twitter in an attempt to clear the air.
I want it to be known that I have nothing but love and respect for everybody in the Pittsburgh Steelers oraganization that is a A1- Mike Wallace (@Wallace17_daKid) May 28, 2013
Organization over there those guys are my brothers for life beyond football so to all the people who think I take shots at them it is- Mike Wallace (@Wallace17_daKid) May 28, 2013
Totally misleading idk people keep making it out like I wanna bash them I am forever grateful for everything they have ever done for me- Mike Wallace (@Wallace17_daKid) May 28, 2013
NFL.com's Aditi Kinkhabwala spoke with Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, who laughed when told that Wallace said the Dolphins are a hungrier team.
"Him and my brother (Dolphins center Mike Pouncey) like to talk a little junk," Pouncey said. "We'll see on Dec. 8."
The Dolphins visit the Ketchup Bottle in Week 14.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.


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Customizable 700 Series Multi Purpose Rectangular Deluxe Hotel Banquet/Training Table with Plywood Core Top - 30''W x 72''D x 30''H
In Stock. Usually ships in 7 - 10 days
was $402.00 $211.99
Detailshttps://www.churchchairs4less.com/707-L-BKS.html Customizable 700 Series Multi Purpose Rectangular Deluxe Hotel Banquet/Training Table with Plywood Core Top - 30''W x 72''D x 30''H
Item # 707-L-BKS
About Product
The 700 Series are made for the high use areas in your company. These tables are built to withstand the constant setup and breakdown that is requires. The 700 Series will give you a lifetime of service.
Product Features
- Heavy Duty Folding Tables are built for everyday use
- Use in Hotel Banquet Rooms, Training Rooms and Seminar settings
- Fold table and store away when not in use
- Press-O-Matic Lock with Safety Catch allows easy set-up and breakdowns
- Several Sizes to Fit your needs
- .75'' Thick Tops
- Variety of Top Colors to Choose From
- T-Mold Edging: Primary or Matching Wood Grain (Wood Grain will match Laminate Top Color)
- Paint Color (Under Table): Will match T-Mold Color except Wood Grain option must be Brown
- 2.25'' semi-boxed steel apron under Top provides added support to prevent bowing of table
- 1.25'' Square Legs made of 18 gauge steel
- Fixed Height: 30''H
- Non-marring Plastic Glides protect floor from scratches
- No Assembly Required
Product Specs
- Width 30"
- Depth 72"
- Height 30"
- Weight 67 lbs
- Seating Capacity 8
- Material Laminate, Steel, Wood
- Frame Material Metal
- Table Top Material Laminate
- Table Shape Rectangle
- Base Style 4 Leg
- Folding Yes
- Suitable For Commercial Use Yes
- Brand Barricks Manufacturing Company
- Manufacturer Part Number 707-L


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Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson missed practice again on Wednesday, but coach Mike McCarthy expressed confidence that the team will be at full strength at wide receiver come Saturday's game against the 49ers.
Nelson wasn't on the field on Tuesday, either, after limping off the field late in last weekend's win over the Vikings. McCarthy said after Wednesday's practice that Nelson's been "fighting though" his injury and that he expects to get him back to work on Thursday.
Nelson has battled hamstring, ankle and knee issues at various points this season and isn't likely to be 100 percent again this season. That likely means a more limited role than he'd play in an ideal situation, but the Packers certainly have enough depth at the spot to avoid pushing Nelson too far.
Wide receiver Randall Cobb also missed practice on Wednesday. He's got the flu so was sent home to rest and there's no expectation that his status for Saturday is at risk.


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Mercedes-Benz has gone back to the drawing board for the third-generation A-class, unveiled on Monday prior to the opening of the Geneva motor show.
The five-door hatchback, set for European sale in September but not planned for the U.S. lineup, forgoes the tall one-box stature of its predecessor for a considerably lower two-box stature that gives it a more conventional silhouette. This puts the A-class into direct competition with the new Audi A3, the BMW 1-series, the Volvo V40 and Europe's perennial best seller, the Volkswagen Golf.
The A-class rides on Mercedes-Benz's new modular front architecture (MFA) platform that underpins the second-generation B-class. The platform is also set to be used beneath the upcoming CLC, the CLC Shooting Brake and the GLC off-roader, all three of which are set to be sold in North American.
The new A-class has been re-engineered from the ground up.
"It's completely new, down to the last detail," Mercedes-Benz CEO Dieter Zetsche says.
Previewed at last year's Shanghai motor show, the A-class adopts a heavily sculptured look. Details include a bullish front end dominated by wide, two-slat grille; angular headlamps with LED accents; and a relatively short hood owing to the transverse placement of the engine. There are prominent feature lines along the flanks, with a rising waistline and a rear end bookmarked by uncharacteristic (for Mercedes) shaped LED tail lamps and an angled rear window shadowed by a large spoiler.
Dimensionally, the new A-class is greatly altered over the model it replaces. Length is up by 19.2 inches to 169.0 inches, width increases by 0.6 inch to 79.1 inches and height drops by 6.4 inches to 56.4 inches. A claimed coefficient of drag of 0.26 puts Stuttgart's new car at the top of its class in terms of overall aerodynamics.
Together with the basic appearance, Mercedes has developed three optional styling packages: Urban, Style and AMG Sport. Among the key priorities cited by Mercedes design boss Gorden Wagener was to give the car an appearance that would appeal to younger customers. "No other car in this segment is as progressive," he says.
The A-class eschews the under-floor-mounted gasoline and diesel engines used in the first- and second-generation models. They are replaced by a range of four-cylinder engines, all offered in other Mercedes models or sourced from alliance partner Renault. The gasoline engines use a combination of turbocharging and direct injection.
A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a seven-speed dual-clutch unit offered as optional equipment. Both have automatic stop/start as part of a raft of fuel-saving features.
Alongside standard front-wheel drive, Mercedes is planning to offer the A-class with a 4Matic option. Unlike the system used in the C-, E- and S-class, it is based around a multiplate clutch system compatible with right-hand drive.
Also planned is a storming A25 AMG 4Matic model. It runs a heavily tuned version of Mercedes' turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engineered by AMG and rumored to develop in the region of 350 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The same engine will be fitted to an upcoming CLC25 AMG 4Matic model planned for North American sale.
Mercedes is also preparing at least two alternative-drive variants, but they aren't likely to go on sale until 2014 at the earliest. Included is a range extender using a 900-cc, three-cylinder gasoline engine and a lithium-ion battery pack, as well as a hydrogen-based fuel-cell model.
Underpinning it all is a newly developed suspension system also found beneath the B-class. It consists of MacPherson struts up front and a four-link design at the rear.
Mercedes is already talking up the safety credentials of the A-class, which it describes as one of the safest cars in its class. Included in the standard specification is a radar-based collision-warning system, the Pre-Safe occupant-protection system and attention assist.


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Bikocartridges.com is a Google Trusted Store.
Welcome to Bikocartridges.com's Advent Ink page. For Advent Ink cartridges that deliver more printouts than anywhere else, at incredible discount prices, make this your home! We aim to provide only the best Advent printer cartridge. Place your order with Bikocartridges.com today, save money and get the best cartridges for Advent printers delivered tomorrow at no extra cost!


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Capture Peace & Relaxation Midweek
The colors and scenery of Fall in Galena, IL and the communites of Jo Daviess County draws thousands of visitors. Weekends fill up fast so a midweek stay is a great opportunity to find peace and relaxation. Take advantage of the region and it's attractions during the week or extend your weekend getaway to avoid the crowds and enjoy the quiet beauty.
Here are a few tips to get your Fall trip-planning started!
Hawk Valley Retreat & Cottages
We are known for our unique, one-of-a-kind lodging properties. Find one that suites your needs and ask if they have Midweek specials/packages. Choose from historic bed and breakfasts, hotels with amenities or resorts for the ultimate getaway. A roadside motel or country inn with incredible views might be just the ticket for your autumn road trip. If you want to bring your friends or reunite up with family try a vacation rental home or condo.
One of the perks of visiting a small town is not having to deal with traffic, long lines and crowds. But Fall, with all it's glory, is one of our busiest times of the year and weekends fill up fast. Take advantage of the quiet days during the week.
State historic attractions are closed Monday and Tuesday, but Wednesday and Thursday are great days to explore and tour, avoiding any lines and crowds. The Galena & US Grant Museum, a trolley tour or an evening ghost tour will give you a great glimpse into the history of the area. Call one of the historical societies for an appointment or visit the library for a more personal experience. Even General Grant himself will give you a personal tour of Main St. in Galena, IL!
ELLE Day Spa & Salon
Book an appointment at a peaceful spa. Slow it down and make your visit all about relaxation. Many of our lodging properties will help you get the services you want on site too, just ask!
For a great dinner recommendation or tips on great deals in town, book a mani/pedi at one of the local salons.
Hike the trails to take in the views and snap some beautiful fall photos. Use our Outdoor Recreation section to explore all of your options. Whether you're up for the extreme or a nice, quiet overlook to enjoy the panoramic views & autumn colors, you'll find an activity that fits your definition of adventure! Chestnut Mountain Resort and Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa offer lots of options for every season and have convenient packages to make trip planning easy. Doesn't hurt to rest at a vineyard and indulge in a wine tasting while you're out exploring!
We have a lot of options for shopping in the county, and some of our small business owners have limited hours. If you run into a closed sign, give them a call and see if you can make an appointment. That's the beauty of a small town! You can find phone numbers for most businesses on their listings at galena.org. Most businesses will ship your purchases if you decide to make the trip on a motorcycle or in a convertible.
Perry Street Brasserie
Try some of the amazing restaurants and bars that fill up fast on the weekends. You'll also have more time to chat with the staff and get the local scoop! The Beer Cheddar Fondue at One Eleven Main, the flaming saganaki at Log Cabin Steakhouse, and the delicious fried green tomatoes at Fried Green Tomatoes are great ways to start your night out.
When you're out exploring, maybe following the NW IL Antique Trail, use galena.org to help you find what you need in each community. They have options that fit what you crave. If you're looking to start the day with a good breakfast, try Charlie's Place in Hanover and then walk it off at Wapello Land & Water Reserve. Otto's Place always has something fresh and delicious and the Galena River Trail is just steps away. Try a blooming flower tea and fresh bread at Stella's Cafe in Stockton or a tasty panini and homemade soup at E-Town in Elizabeth.
Get a flight of beers and chat with the master brewer at Galena Brewing Co. and linger over a cocktail after touring Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. Both are great ways to meet fellow travelers!
Check our Events Calendar for Things to Do every day of the week. Our mobile-friendly website makes it easy for you to find fun while you're out and about. You can also ask us on our social channels, we're here to help!
Click the icons on our homepage or search for @enjoygalenactry.


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- Bethany Cares
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Information Technology Services
Information Technology Services (ITS) provides students, faculty, administration, and the larger campus community with the knowledge, skills, and technological resources to learn, teach, work, and excel in an increasingly technological campus and world. Learn more about our mission.
Top Questions
I forgot my password. How do I get a new one?
What computer should I purchase to bring to Bethany?
What software do I need to purchase?
Your Bethany Account
Bethany provides students and staff with computer and network accounts. This includes access to storage space on the Bethany network, internet access, and more. For details, please read the Bethany Account page.
Students and staff may reset their Bethany passwords on the Password Help page. If you cannot remember your current password or have other questions, please contact us by phone or in person.
Students, faculty, and staff can use MyBLC to access course schedules, grades, class lists and rosters, and more.
Bethany Email
Bethany email accounts (students, faculty, staff, and alumni) are provided at gmail.blc.edu. Sign in with your Bethany username and password. You will not use your full email address to sign in unless visiting gmail.com directly. For additional information and troubleshooting, read the Bethany Email Account page.
Policies and Guidelines
Please review the IT Services Mission, Policies, and Guidelines page prior to using your Bethany account or Bethany technology resources.
See the Your Devices page for help with:
- Selecting a computer to bring to Bethany
- Protecting your computer
- Troubleshooting your computer
- Selecting a phone to bring to Bethany
- Selecting a tablet to bring to Bethany
If you need assistance with your device, we may be able to provide free help. Please contact us for more information.
Computer Labs
A general-use computer lab is located on the first floor of Old Main. Classroom labs are located on the lower level of Meyer Hall; these are available for general use when a class is not in session.
TV Service
Satellite TV service with approximately 50 channels is available in most lounges around campus. By default, residence hall rooms receive only Channel 3, which is produced by our own TV studio as part of the communication program. For a fee, students may receive the full channel lineup in their rooms as well. See the TV Service page for details.
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Well, here we are dolls! The finale! It has been a long, tumultuous road this season. Definitely a lot of drama, and not as many laughs. However, my bond with Teresa became even stronger and we are as close as ever. So, here it goes; my thoughts on episode 18:
To kick it off, I will say again: Teresa did not know Melissa would be set up! She did not put anyone up to anything! When Joe Gorga is calling everyone rats, maybe he should look to Bulldog's Twitter feed because he is the one who started it, not us! The rumor has been going around for years. Give it a rest already. And if I ever see Joe do an interview without knocking his sister, I would fall off my chair…
Whenever I throw a party or event, I always make sure I get to greet and mingle with all of my guests. That is what I was doing when Penny and Teresa called me over. When I was summoned you could see that I was not particularly thrilled about being brought into it. I wanted no part of it and I was no part of it PERIOD. This was in no way my battle. And when Melissa says "Teresa has a lot of control over Kim D", I think all of you have gotten to know me at this point and should understand that there is not one person on this planet who has ever controlled me…EVER. And in response to "who has the agenda to take Melissa down", what I was thinking when I look at Teresa was here we go again. Unfortunately, there are people who do want to take Melissa down, but in this particular case the proof is in the pudding. The Gorgas should see that and once and for all stop blaming Teresa.
I will get more into this later because believe me, I HAVE A LOT TO SAY, but to address Caroline's interview statement: "You know this whole thing I'm watching it play out and I realize that the common denominator is always Kim D. For years, and years, and years her hands have been dirty. You know it's just ugly, it's just wrong." First of all, "YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS?!" Boy, that sounds like a lot of time! I have known Caroline for five years, and that's it. I am a business owner. I have events all the time. I invite everyone who supports my business, whether they be family, friends, or clients. I do not disinvite people who shop at Posche just because they do not get along with other people who are attending. It's my opening so that automatically puts me at fault because it's taking place in my establishment? Come on…
For the record, I told Penny to tell John not to come. I did not think it was the time and the place for everyone to confront each other at my opening. If you heard earlier in last week's episode, Melissa asked Joe if Johnny was coming. He replied saying he hoped so. Jacqueline and Chris also mentioned they too were hoping he was there so they could speak to him. It was clear trouble was brewing. That is why when John walks in you hear me say: "Oh God, oh God, oh God." I was nervous because I immediately felt the aggression in the room. I always own it when I had something to do with something, and I can say that I had absolutely NOTHING to do with this.
Joe Gorga of course has the right to defend his wife. This situation has been building up for two years since the Posche Fashion Show in 2011. I will say that I know Teresa and she would never talk about her parents to anyone. She is very protective of them. As I feared, things went from bad to worse. The incident that happened that night was like nothing I had ever seen before. Much worse than the christening. I will agree with Caroline that it was exactly like a tsunami. Within seconds my boutique was leveled, not to mention the brand new porcelain sinks the Moxies had just installed. Everyone was not only in shock, but scared for their lives. Instead of taking the confrontation outside, the men put their wives and a room full of what was primarily women, in utter danger.
Now, with regards to Caroline's literally off-the-wall reaction to the events, this is what I have to say: Firstly, I do not appreciate having a finger pointed in my face. If everyone remembers back to the Season 1 finale, Danielle told Caroline the same thing. It is very degrading. Secondly, am I-iiiiii "happy"?! I will quote myself, I WAS "NOT F*CKING HAPPY!" My brand new clothes were destroyed, my cuffs were broken, not to mention the back of my dear friends' salon was practically demolished. Why on earth would I EVER want that? Thirdly, what I "did to a family"?? So, apparently the whole debacle is to be blamed solely on me because I threw a party to celebrate my opening. My mistake. And not to mention the fact that I made up with Joe and Melissa earlier this year BECAUSE Teresa is such a good friend and we wanted to put an end to any animosity. While Caroline was jumping up and down like a human jack-in-the-box, apparently going for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar, my own "army" was rallying around me flabbergasted by such ludicrous accusations. It was beyond disrespectful, and right in front of my mother nonetheless? Disgusting. Fourthly, the "moron" comment…I KNOW she was not talking about me. I really appreciated Jamie (owner of the Moxie) jumping in front of me and telling Caroline to "get out". She really had my back and was not going to stand for her screaming in my face for no reason. Not to mention, this fight was absolutely none of her business! Thank goodness I was being held back for fear of my safety because I do not take too kindly to being verbally attacked. I feel Caroline has been bullying people for years. She has called people names like "garbage" and "clown", not to mention said she would "burn my store down" if she was Teresa. She has always shopped at my store and been nice to my face. Our families go way back. Much to my dismay, I had no idea whatsoever that she felt this way about me. Now I guess I know where we stand.
In conclusion, this season started with the perfect storm and ended with the perfect storm. Having personally experienced and lived through Hurricane Sandy, it was truly devastating for the state of New Jersey. Millions were left without electricity, gas lines were 5+ hours long, not to mention all the people who lost their beautiful homes. I think it's safe to say that Sandy was the real home wrecker this year. It really puts things into perspective. In the grand scheme of things, all of these little tiffs and idle gossip, are really very trivial. Life is too short and I remind myself of this every single day.
I will be back next week to share my thoughts on the Reunion: Part 1! Hope you all enjoyed the first week of Fall! And tickets for the POSCHE Fashion Show are almost sold out! It's going to be the best one yet, so if you'd still like to join us call to get yours! We promise you a fabulous time as always!
Kim xo


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HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS — His demeanor has shifted. The smile is gone.
The gravity of what Brandon Jennings and his Milwaukee Bucks are facing, down 3-0 to the defending champion Miami Heat in their first-round playoff series, seems to have set in for the brash young point guard.
That funny math he used to predict the "Bucks in six" has crumbled over the past eight quarters of this series. It's no longer a laughing matter, not when your season and potentially your career in Milwaukee is potentially coming to an end.
Jennings has vowed to play until the final buzzer in Sunday's Game 4, hoping to stave off elimination for at least one more games. But it's hard to ignore the fact that this series is every bit the mismatch most of us thought it would be on paper. And it's even tougher to avoid the obvious question that will linger between now and free agency for Jennings and the Bucks. Do they stick together after four extremely productive years for Jennings, a restricted free agent at season's end?
He's helped the Bucks to the playoffs twice, his rookie season and this one, and he's shown his many critics that his decision to bypass college for a one-season detour in Italy did nothing to damage his NBA stock. But in a league filled with as diverse and talented a group of point guards as its potentially ever had, where exactly does a player like Jennings fit?
"Great question," an Eastern Conference general manager said. "His rookie season I felt like he was going to join that group of elite point guards, especially after what he did to the [Atlanta] Hawks during the playoffs. He showed off playmaking skills and scored at will in the postseason, doing things you don't normally expect from a rookie. And he's been solid ever since. But I don't know that he's moved into that tip tier of point guards. He's not there, not yet."
Jennings has averaged an impressive 17.0 points, 5.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 291 career regular season games. Considered more of a scorer than a facilitator, Jennings has proven himself capable of handling both responsibilities for the Bucks. Still, there is some uncertainty about his desire to stick around in Milwaukee during what could be a complete rebuilding situation this summer.
His backcourt mate Monta Ellis can opt out and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. And Samuel Dalembert, Mike Dunleavy, Marquis Daniels, J.J. Redick and Joel Pryzbilla will all be unrestricted free agents this summer.
The Halloween deadline for Jennings and the Bucks to agree on an extension of his rookie contract passed without either side admitting that they were even close to getting something done.
That's one reason why this series against the Heat is such a showcase event for Jennings. It's his final platform before free agency to remind the league that he's a player a franchise can build around. The upset guarantee and his 26-point effort in Game 1 was the ideal buzz and result for Jennings early on.
But he's managed just 24 points in the two games since the opener, shooting 8-for-30 from the floor and 1-for-14 from beyond the 3-point line. The Heat have stymied the Bucks' offense late in all three games, eliminating the pick-and-roll as an option for Jennings and Ellis when the game is one the line.
"One of the problems we have with that is our size in the backcourt," Bucks coach Jim Boylan said. "We're not a big team. So when they are out there trapping and staying with the ballhandler like that, they are putting a lot of pressure on you, first of all. Secondly, they have good size. It's easy for me stand up in the huddle and say 'we've got to make a quick pass, we've got to move that ball and take advantage of them double teaming.' But sometimes it's hard to do. They are flooding the strong side and cutting off passing angles and it makes it difficult to find the right man, the open man, with a pass. It's usually a cross court pass and those are always dangerous because of their speed and activity."
This is one of the premier defensive teams in the league we're talking about in the Heat, who boast quality perimeter defenders in not only LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but also Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Ray Allen.
Chalmers and Cole have taken a particular interest in limiting Jennings, both of them no doubt smarting from the brash attitude and words Jennings has been sure to share with the world.
"They are really getting physical," Boylan said. "It's playoff basketball. So there is a lot more contact than in the regular season. And anytime we use any sort of pick-and-rolls, they are double-teaming him and putting pressure on him. That combination is difficult. And they are focused in on both [Jennings] and Monta. They did what they needed to do, be physical, be big and cut off those angles for finding people."
At 23, Jennings is probably done growing. So there is nothing he can do about that size disadvantage and the fact that the Heat are executing flawlessly in wearing him down. But he has at least 48 minutes left to prove that his skill set can best whatever advantage the opposition brings to the show.
That Bucks in six stuff is obviously history.
Whether or not Jennings' time with the Bucks is, however, … well, only time will tell.


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Dear [Name of Employer or Graduate School Committee]:
I am pleased to write a letter of recommendation for [name of student]. I highly recommend [name of student] to your organization for the position of [job title].
I have known [name of student] for the past [number of months, semesters, years] as [he/she] has taken the following courses that I teach: [list courses, give brief description of content of course]. As [his/her] professor, I have had an opportunity to observe [his/her] participation and interaction in class and to evaluate [name of student]'s knowledge of the subject matter. [He/she] is an outstanding student in all respects. [Name of student] has proven that through hard work, follow through, and team work, [he/she] can accomplish tasks in a courteous and timely manner.
[Give one or two specific examples of the student's performance. Also, list other activities that the student is involved with at the university and outside of the university. Point out the areas in which this individual has learned and had the chance to grow with these opportunities.]
[Name of student] is well equipped to grow from challenges that [he/she] is presented with. [His/her] [list three key traits (examples: patience, teaching ability, strong computer programming stills…)], prepare [him/her] beautifully for your [company/organization/school/program]. I strongly endorse making [name of student] a member of your team at [list company name/school/program].
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Rejuvenated Stars, called "Blue Stragglers," in Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae (left)
The core of globular cluster 47 Tucanae is home to many blue stragglers, rejuvenated stars that glow with the blue light of young stars. A ground-based telescope image (on the left) shows the entire crowded core of 47 Tucanae, located 15,000 light-years away in the constellation Tucana. Peering into the heart of the globular cluster's bright core, the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 separated the dense clump of stars into many individual stars (image on right). Some of these stars shine with the light of old stars; others with the blue light of blue stragglers. The yellow circles in the Hubble telescope image highlight several of the cluster's blue stragglers. Analysis for this observation centered on one massive blue straggler.
Astronomers theorize that blue stragglers are formed either by the slow merger of stars in a double-star system or by the collision of two unrelated stars. For the blue straggler in 47 Tucanae, astronomers favor the slow merger scenario.
This photo is a three-color composite of Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 archival images taken with ultraviolet, blue, and violet filters. Green, blue, and red colors were assigned to the filters and scaled so that the red giant stars appear orange, the main sequence stars are white/green, and the blue stragglers are appropriately blue.
The ultraviolet images were taken on Oct. 25, 1995, and the blue and violet images were taken on Sept. 1, 1995.
R. Saffer (Villanova University), D. Zurek (STScI) and NASA


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Girls Rooms and Nurseries | Pictures
35 Gorgeous Rooms to Inspire Your Little Girl's Nursery
35 Gorgeous Rooms to Inspire Your Little Girl's Nursery
There's no mistaking all that pink: these spaces are all about the girls. From boho-chic to vintage-glam, bold and beautiful to sweet and serene, the following 35 little ladies' rooms and nurseries are beyond inspirational. Created by some seriously stylish mamas and professional designers, these gorgeous rooms are the stuff little girls dream about. Keep clicking to check them all out and choose your favorite!
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FiTech to Present "The Fintech Revolution" at CBAI Group Meetings
CBAI leaders and executive staff are visiting 11 locations on the 2016 Group Meeting tour this spring. Bankers from more than 200 banks typically participate in these enjoyable and informative events each year. Consisting of an optional golf outing and a dinner meeting, Group Meetings also provide an excellent opportunity to get the latest information on key banking issues and catch up with friends and peers. (Note: The Group 1, 2 & 3 meeting will include a lunch, meeting, and golf outing.) This year's after dinner presentation is "The FinTech Revolution," presented by Michael Peterson, manager of financial institution sales at FiTech in Fort Worth, TX. Find out how community banks fit into and compete in the evolving payments landscape. Make plans now to attend! See 2016 Group Meeting Schedule.


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EZMirror(Miracast) Support of EZCast Dongle with HTC New One
Here below are some illustrations of EZMirror(Miracast) support of EZCast WiFi display dongle with HTC New One Android Smart Phone. There comes over 1000 models of Android 4.2 and above device in the world that it is impossible to show all of them here, but any of such devices should be supported and the operation steps are similar.
See more illustrations and examples of EZMirror(Miracast) for Android smartphones and tablet PCs.
Related links:
Illustrations and examples of EZMirror/Miracast in Windows;
Illustrations and examples of EZAir/Airplay for iOS, and for Mac OS;
Illustrations and examples of DLNA support for Android, for iOS, for Windows, and for Mac OS;
User's Manual for EZCast for Android, for iOS, for Windows, for Mac OS


text: Sijun Forums :: View topic - Oh, yes!!!!! I can feel it.....oh........yes.......i can Log in to check your private messages Sijun Forums Forum Index >> Work in Progress View previous topic :: View next topic Author Topic : "Oh, yes!!!!! I can feel it.....oh........yes.......i can" dr . bangmemberMember #Joined: 07 Apr 2000Posts: 1245Location: Den Haag, Holland Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2001 4:44 pm ......feel the music!!!!!!! OH YEA!!!! I spend a lot of time on this pic, i'm pretty tired and dont want to work on it any more so i decide to put it up here. Critics are always welcome!!!!! Back to top NexmemberMember #Joined: 25 Mar 2000Posts: 2086Location: Austria Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2001 4:58 pm looks like you need some guitar reference: www.takamine.com could help Back to top dr . bangmemberMember #Joined: 07 Apr 2000Posts: 1245Location: Den Haag, Holland Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2001 5:04 pm Sadly, i have a guitare and used to play it. And i'm too lazy to get up and take a look. Back to top Giant HamstermemberMember #Joined: 22 Oct 1999Posts: 1782 Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2001 12:50 am if you make him look a bit more asian, its bruce lee! "Guitars...dont hit back" ------------------ -JameZ the Giant Hamster- The Hamster Alliance AIM: Gianthmstr Multimedia Producer/designer/all of the above.,overall guru :)...and music music music! weee!! Back to top gseegertGuestMember # Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2001 12:37 am Erase that crowd behind him and put him in a bathroom stall. Just kidding, nice pic! Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Sijun Forums Forum Index -> Work in Progress All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Digital Art----------------Digital Art DiscussionWork in ProgressGallery/Finished Work Miscellaneous----------------Random MusingsArchive : Sep99 - Dec00 You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Powered by phpBB © 2005 phpBB Group


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Add a bit of luxury to your outdoor living experience with these fantastic waterproof seat pads.
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List your opportunity for internships and full time positions on the Bridge.
It's password protected and available 24/7 to students! When you list your opportunity on the Bridge, students apply per your instructions. You follow up with candidates at your convenience or schedule a campus interview. Powered by Symplicity.
Looking for experienced candidates?


text: Just heard this recently and it's actually pretty nice. Maybe it's just the weather/time/place/people/thoughts/feelings in life at this moment, maybe not. You guys like it? I couldn't really get into Kissing and Dancing. White Flag was pretty alright and I really liked Black Velvet even though a lot of the lyrics are kind of nonsensical. Dunno, cool little album though.


text: For those of you wanting something different we have a Christmas skin you can use on the forum. Go all the way down to bottom left of page and you'll see a "Select Style" drop down arrow. Just click the arrow and click Christmas and you'll be able to use the skin.


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1) An progression of the minimal techno scene of the mid-to-late noughties (see ILX's annual minimal house bobbins threads and I think there were equivalents here too). I remember hearing Richie Hawtin adding Alva Noto to his sets back in 2007/8, and the likes of Donato Dozzy and the Mnml SSGs crew always straddled the space between minimal techno and ambient - Dozzy's 2008 Labyrinth set being a good example. Right now Giegling (RA label of the year) are actively mixing ambient and minimal-ish techno and house in their releases and events. From a personal/anecdotal perspective, the folks into the 2000s minimal scene at its peak are now less likely to frequent clubs - ambient is probably better suited to headphone listening on a commute or at work.
2) Vaporwave fans looking for more depth and higher production values. I agree with Tea - some of the stuff on Dream Catalogue is very ambient-y, 2 8 1 4 etc.


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Latest News
Nusra Front militia's control of Syrian city gives it economic clout
Sitting at the edge of a vast and barren desert in Syria's gas and oil production region, Ash Shaddadi, a city of 70,000, has become the nightmare that many fear if Syria's radical Islamist forces triumph in this country's civil war.
Since mid-February, the city has been under the control of the radical Islamist militia known as Jabhat al Nusra, or the Nusra Front, which has pledged allegiance to al Qaida. The spoils of conquest include much of eastern Syria's petroleum resources: a major natural gas plant here, many oil wells in the countryside of Deir el Zour province to the south and much of the production of grains and cotton.
Nusra, which the U.S. government has branded a terrorist organization, captured Ash Shaddadi from forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad with the help of the pro-Western Free Syrian Army rebels. But the better-equipped Nusra – many of its fighters veterans of battles against U.S. forces in Iraq – took the lead in the four days of fighting, capturing weapons, ammunition and government property.
Today Nusra runs the town. It controls the grain silos, the cotton warehouses, and most important the region's gas and oil output. Yet the biggest windfall from victory may have been the proceeds from the sale of some 400 major construction vehicles, which they captured when they overran state facilities in January. The sale of the equipment netted 4 billion Syrian pounds, almost $40 million at the time, according to local Free Syrian Army commanders.
Townspeople have taken to the streets repeatedly to protest Nusra's inability to provide basic services and its claim to piety and religious values while it seizes public property for use as it sees fit. But the protests haven't shaken Nusra's hold on the area, and because Nusra is self-sufficient in Ash Shaddadi, its fighters say there's no way for outsiders to shut down support.
With Assad's forces ousted from the area, the United States is their primary foe, Nusra fighters say.
"America is our enemy. They must get out of Iraq, Afghanistan and Egypt, and they must put pressure on Israel," said Abu al Walid, 21, a student of petroleum engineering who's now guarding the Ash Shaddadi gas plant.
How powerful Nusra and similar groups are as a force in the anti-Assad movement is hotly debated in the United States amid concerns that the sudden collapse of Assad's government would end up placing al Qaida-affiliated fighters in charge. U.S. Secretary of States John Kerry, in testimony before Congress when the administration was pressing for authorization to launch a strike on Syria, said they made up only a small part of the rebel movement and that moderate rebels, with democratic instincts, were in the ascendancy.
But there's no doubt that Nusra runs this region and has no moderate rival for influence – and no plans for moderation.
Receiving a McClatchy reporter at the gas plant, Walid and his colleague, Abu Nawaf, 23, gave an unvarnished, if unofficial, description of how Nusra runs the area and what it plans for the future.
Walid said Nusra in Ash Shaddadi consisted primarily of local residents, apparently built on a base of conservative Islamists known as Salafists from a nearby village. Ten percent of the Nusra members here are non-Syrian, mainly Yemenis, Tunisians and Iraqis.
Nusra has been pressing the local population to be more serious about religious observance, Walid said. People "were far from religion because of the regime," but now they're attending mosque more often, "and we have an office to teach and advise them. We are giving courses on the Quran."
As for democracy, he said Nusra was opposed to elections and that if townspeople insisted on them, Nusra wouldn't take part. But the movement is willing to allow girls to attend school, including higher education, provided they're separated from boys.
The gas plant, which appears to be about 20 years old, has been closed since February for technical reasons, but Nusra intends to controls the entire mineral wealth of the region. Walid said the movement would use the proceeds to pay the salaries of movement members, as well as to donate to the poor and internally displaced. Nusra controls about 10 percent of the oil wells in the region, with the rest in the hands of the Free Syrian Army and local tribes.
"We will not give it up. We will keep it," Walid said. The exception is if the townspeople of Ash Shaddadi adopt Shariah law for daily life. "If the new government will apply Islamic law, we will share it. Otherwise, we will keep it," he said.
That approach is different from what's taking place in Deir el Zour, about 80 miles to the south, where the Free Syrian Army accepted an arrangement under which gas is shipped to the Syrian government, which distributes it throughout the country. The government, in turn, pays the salaries of the employees who keep the plant going.
Nusra has no such plans in Ash Shaddadi. "We will not send any gas to the regime. The fighters here will not accept it," Walid said.
It isn't clear whether the regime, which is paying the salaries of engineers and technical experts here, will go along.
The plan here is to bottle much of the gas and sell it – at cost, Walid said – to residents for cooking and other household uses. The rest will be shipped to Deir el Zour to power an electricity plant that will provide power to Hasaka province, where Ash Shaddadi is located.
Oil and gas aren't the only businesses Nusra intends to pursue. The group controls the grain silos in two towns south of here, and it bought a flour mill in Turkey and had it installed in the Syrian town of Margada.
The Syrian government's attitude toward that control is ambivalent, Walid said. It continues to pay the salaries of specialists who manage the silos even as warplanes bomb the sites an apparent effort to destroy the food supply. Walid said that after regime aircraft bombed a silo at Margada in late spring, government experts advised on how to prevent mold or disease from ruining the wheat stored there.
Nusra is charging a minimal amount for the bread – eight flatbreads for 25 Syrian lira, about a penny a loaf – and fears that it cannot raise the price. "Nowadays, people are used to their freedom. If we charged more, people would demonstrate," Walid said. He noted that there'd been protests over Nusra's failure to provide electricity. "We fixed it. It's on now," he said.
Cotton, on the other hand, is staying in the warehouses. "We are storing cotton. We are thinking of next year," Walid said.
Nusra has a difficult relationship with the population. There have been repeated demonstrations about Nusra's management of the city, which Syrian citizen journalists, at some risk to themselves, have reported in social media. Demonstrators called Nusra "an agent of the Syrian regime" during protests July 15 and demanded that its fighters leave the town. A blogger, Huda al Hassan, reported that Nusra activists had arrested and whipped several demonstrators, among them a boy of 15. In mid-August, Nusra killed two demonstrators, according to reports from the town.
Tensions are just below the surface and can burst forth at unexpected moments. A McClatchy reporter and photographer were sitting in a parked car near the entrance to the main military compound housing the Nusra staff when a middle-aged man drove up on his motorbike and started to declaim.
"I want the whole world to hear us. You, Nusra, you are not elected. You are stealing all that we have," he said. "We have nothing, no electricity, no running water. And tonight we will demonstrate against you."
A Nusra officer barked back at him: "We will shoot you."
A few minutes later, Nusra militants in plainclothes yanked open the doors of the journalists' car and seized a camera, complaining that the photographer had taken a photograph of a child soldier without permission. They also seized the reporter's cellphone and an interpreter's laptop, as well as a pass from a senior Nusra commander asking all checkpoints to let the group travel freely. After escorting the journalists at high speed toward the city limits, the local authorities finally returned the camera, then ordered the group not to show up again.
Special correspondents Zakaria Zakaria in Ash Shaddadi and Paul Raymond in Istanbul contributed to this report.


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Now In StereoApril 06, 2006
During the recent SXSW conference in Austin, I had a chance to sit down with Scott Fegette of Adobe and answer a few questions. The resulting interview is now up at Odeo, and I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything too terribly controversial… but you tell me.
Also from SXSW: coverage of our 'CSS Problem Solving' panel. (scroll down)
And if this is your sort of thing, there's an online seminar coming up next week that I'll be involved with. I suspect the format will preclude any in-depth Q&A; it'll more likely see me covering some basic CSS-based layout ground that many of you are probably familiar with already, and then segue into implementing that with Dreamweaver.
Thanks for letting me mike you up, Dave! I'm pretty sure you avoided controversy- but I may not be the best judge of that either. ;-)
(and thanks for the link to your panel session vid, I'd wanted to track that back and relisten- that was one of the best panels I hit this year.)
Dave, a little critic: You speak too fast!, I don't speak English very well, but it's imposibble for me follow you :(.
Should be a great seminar to watch was so steamed I was not able to make this years event. I love the Odeo channells they work well with my new ipod. Just got my copy of Studio 8 today and have been playing with it since I got it outta the box, seems alot easier to keep up with the CSS then MX 2004, you sound great on the mic and unlike juque I am able to follow everything you talk about pretty well. Anyways look forward to maybe meeting you at the next event and listening to more thoughts down the road.


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GBP's Turn In The Doghouse
What's to love about GBP? Not much. The UK has an economy that can't recover for any length of time, credit rating downgrades are almost a dead certainty and worst of all there's a risk of a vicious downward spiral if investors lose confidence.
If it wasn't for the fact that much of the rest of the world looks pretty bleak there probably would have been a run on GBP a while ago. Such are the scale of the UK's economic woes that GBP may now replace JPY as the dog currency on Forex markets over the coming months.
It is quite possible that GBPUSD will be test support around 1.5400-1.5350, levels last seen in the Summer of 2012. Over the longer-term, if few improvements show up, GBPUSD could even break through 1.4000, last pierced in 2009. Worryingly for GBP the current risk-off rally driving equity markets seems to have passed it by completely despite being seen as a 'risk' currency. The next catalyst for GBPUSD could come as early as Friday Feb 1 with the release of US non-farm payrolls. A good number is likely to be bullish for USD.
Q4 UK GDP actually fell 0.3% and there are a number of technical arguments to suggest the decline isn't as bad as it looks, but overall 2012 was a weak year for the British economy as have been the last five years. But, a weak domestic economy is often compensated by a fall in the value of the currency – that's happened in the UK with declines of 25-30% – followed by a pick-up in exports and less imports. That rebalancing hasn't happened and the UK's current account deficit is now around 3.5% of GDP, compared with 1.3% in 2011.
So in effect trade is also subtracting from the UK economy and if the current account deficit carries on worsening, not only will it weigh on growth, but it is bound to have a depressing impact on GBP. A lower GBP will also feed inflation via energy and food imports, so would further dent already hard pressed consumers with earnings growth around 1.5% and inflation at about 2.7%. And going by recent form there probably won't be any dramatic pick-up in exports on GBP weakness either, though it should provide some help.
Too much Europe
In terms of the UK's trade performance one of the problems seems to be its heavy dependence on Europe. Accounting for the Rotterdam effect – where UK goods are shipped to world markets via North European ports – Europe absorbs just over 40% of UK trade. The impact of austerity measures in peripheral Eurozone countries have naturally led to declines in import volumes with Spain for instance shifting from persistent large current account deficits to steady surpluses. This is mirrored by the UK's current account deficit with EU countries doubling to 4.5% in just five years.
So in a sense GBP, and the UK in particular, are a victim of these savage austerity programmes across much of the Eurozone.
Meanwhile, the UK's trade with the non-EU world saw a 65% rise for goods exported and a 35% increase in services sold abroad between 2006-2012, so the dependence on European markets is slowly diminishing in favour of still growing emerging market countries, North America and Australasia.
The other factor hampering the UK's cherished rebalancing towards exports and investment is the fact that it's manufacturing base has withered to just over 12% of GDP, though that is slowly recovering. However, manufactured goods contribute just over half of the UK's exports with aerospace and automotive performing particularly well. By contrast in Germany, manufacturing accounts for about 20% of GDP and therefore that country makes a broader range of products to offer on world markets. Indeed, growth areas driven by emerging markets ranging from infrastructure related goods, machine tools through to luxury items have not benefited the UK nearly as much as Germany due to the former's much smaller industrial base. Many emerging markets have not yet grown to levels of prosperity where they require services – an area the UK is strong in.
Some reasons for optimism
But it's not all doom and gloom.
The UK's unemployment rate has been falling and stands at 7.7%, despite cuts in the number of public sector workers. The other factor is that the UK has a flexible economy and there is a growing number of start-ups across the country spurring innovation, job creation and should contribute to economic growth.
GBP's fall against the EUR may help exports to healthier parts of the Eurozone, but what's really needed is a recovery in demand in countries such as Spain, Italy and even France and there are tentative signs that some peripheral Eurozone economies might be close to bottoming out.
But whilst this painful rebalancing of the economy takes place GBP is likely to see prolongued spells of weakness, punctuated by sharp relief rallies in what is otherwise probably a long-term bear market.


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|Lower Gwynedd, Pa.
|High School:
|Gwynedd Mercy Academy
|Political science
2011 (Senior): Ended career 10th on Yale's career goals list (23) ... Second team All-Ivy League ... Tied for fifth in Ivy League with a pair of game-winning goals ... Tied for sixth in Ivy League in goals and tied for seventh in goals per game (nine in 17 games, 0.53 goals per game) ... Tied for second on team in goals ... Also had a pair of assists ... Appeared in all 17 games for the fourth straight season, making 12 starts ... Earned Major Y.
2010 (Junior): Started all 17 games ... Five goals, five assists.
2009 (Sophomore): Honorable mention All-Ivy League … Third on team with six goals … Also had one assist … Scored five of her six goals in the season's final seven games … Extended streak of consecutive games started to 34 … Earned Major Y.
2008 (Freshman): Started all 17 games … Scored three goals and had two assists … Made debut Sept. 7 at Providence … Scored first career goal and had first career assist in 3-2 win at Dartmouth Oct. 18 … Had eight points in the season's final seven games … Scored game-winning goal in overtime at Penn for 3-2 win Oct. 25 … Scored game-tying goal with 2:50 left, helping Yale to 2-1 win, at Columbia Nov. 1 … Earned Major Y.
High School: Team captain in 2007 ... First team all-state as a senior, second team all-state as a junior ... PA Field Hockey All-Academic team 2007 ... All-Intel (all-area) 2007 ... Philadelphia Field Hockey Senior All-Star 2007 ... Three-time Athletic Association of Catholic Academies Field Hockey All-Star (2005-2007) ... Led team in scoring three times ... Won team's coach's award 2007 ... Team was district semi-finalist in 2007 and district qualifier in 2006 ... AACA playoffs in 2007 ... Also captained lacrosse team and won team's Monarch (Coach's) award ... Lacrosse team was three-time district semifinalists (2005-2007) ... Earned four varsity letters in field hockey and three in lacrosse ... Was a Gwynedd Mercy Academy Ambassador ... Member of the Student Council and Spirit Club.
USA Field Hockey: Trained with U.S.A. Women's National Indoor Team in winter of 2011-12 ... Five-year USFHA Futures participant ... Won two gold medals playing for the WC Eagles at the National Festival tournament … National Indoor U16 pool winner in 2006, National Indoor U19 "A" Pool winner in 2007, National Indoor U19 "A" Pool second place in 2008 with WC Eagles ... Also won gold medal at 2007 Disney Showcase with WC Eagles.
Notes: Member of Timothy Dwight College.
Why Yale? I chose Yale not only for its rich tradition, excellent academic opportunities and diverse community, but also for the knowledgeable and experienced coaching staff.


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Bail Bond Agent
The California Department of Insurance licenses bail bond agents. Bail bond agents are permitted to solicit, negotiate and effect undertakings of bail on behalf of any surety insurer. Bail bond agents are granted power of attorney by the court to process bail for individuals who are released from jail pending court appearance on a stipulated date. When individuals post bail, they are required to pay 10% of the bail amount established by the court. By posting bail, the individuals are promising that they will, based on their own recognizance, appear and answer to specific legal matters.
Department of Insurance
Licensing Bureau
320 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
(800) 967-9331
Register complaints:
Department of Insurance
Consumer Services Division
300 S Spring Street, South Tower
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(800) 927-4357
(213) 897-8921
Other Referrals: Regulations Governing Licensing: California State Insurance Code Chapter 7, Part 2, Division 1, Regulations Governing Bail Bond Agent; California Code Insurance Codes Section 1800-1823.
Consumer Resource & Referral Guide
Directory of State Agencies
Directory of Federal Agencies
Return to DCA Home Page


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This springy stick thing is a hair remover:
All you have to do is curl the ends over so it looks like a U shape then run it against the hairy area. It isn't recommended for eyebrows but is for moustaches. Fact – it didn't work on my moustache or anyone elses (female that is) because the hair is way too fine to be pulled out. You need chunky hair for this.
I tried it on a few areas:
Moustache (didn't work)
Upper Brow (I break rules – didn't work)
Boyfriends arm (worked, but he hated me afterwards)
Boyfriends toe (worked, he's a wimp)
Megans leg (she doesn't have any hair yet)
Mother's leg (she's a bit numb methinks)
Anyway, nearly everyone complained and said it was too painful and told me to stop. There is something a bit raw about rubbing a piece of metal across your skin whilst it yanks your hair out – because everyone, including myself are too scared to use it, I have to declare this tool a bit fat fail.


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In a showdown between team names like the Lady Bisons and the Bears, it's no wonder things got a little wild and physical. In a game that saw loose-ball battles all over the floor, the Lady Bisons stamped their way to a 54-47 victory over Mercer Thursday night at Allen Arena.
Stingy defenses from both sides led to a low-scoring start, as neither team shot above 30 percent in the first 20 minutes. Lipscomb managed a five point lead at the half.
"The Atlantic Sun officials have let things get very physical under the basket this year, and we've got to adjust to that," said Lipscomb coach Frank Bennett.
The Lady Bisons did adjust in the second half, scoring points in the paint despite contact. But Mercer wouldn't give up without a fight, and though Lipscomb led for the entire second half, the Lady Bisons weren't able to relax until the buzzer sounded. Mercer never trailed by more than 10 points.
"I was really proud of how we stepped up and finished like champions," said Lipscomb Coach Frank Bennett. "We hit our free throws and handled their pressure, and that's good to see."
Junior Katie Beth Pate pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for the Lady Bisons. Sophomore Penny Jones, who plays forward and center, led the way for Lipscomb with 10 points in 16 minutes on the court. Jones, who sat out last season after transferring from the University of Hawaii, has added invaluable depth to an already-talented low-post game.
"That combo gives us a very productive post position," said Coach Bennett. "Penny is a very skilled player. She's still working on her confidence, but we're pleased with what she's been able to do this season."
The Bears' Jessica Miller led Mercer with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Miller, who had 13 of her team's 21 points at the half, managed only 6 points in the last 20 minutes. She left the game with 43 seconds remained after received an incidental elbow to the face.
The Lady Bisons improved to 12-10 on the year, and are now 9-6 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Mercer fell to 9-14, 7-9 in the A-Sun.
Lipscomb takes the court next against Georgia State University on Saturday afternoon at Allen Arena. Tip-off is set for 2 pm.


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Sight, Place, and the Presence of God
A great debate and controversy over what is proper worship before God is going on in our time. As I have wrestled with this question, I keep going back to the Old Testament. I know this is a dangerous practice …Read More
A Mere Shadow
The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed more than a third of the city of London including the famed St. Paul's Cathedral overlooking the Thames. The earliest sanctuary on the site had been erected sometime in the first decade of the …Read More


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Don't get Randal Charlton wrong. The executive director at the TechTown business incubator in Detroit is thankful for a recent announcement of $5 million coming his way to help graduates of his FastTrac business training program launch their companies. But, he says, look at it this way: The money, granted by the New Economy Initiative, a Detroit-area philanthropic partnership, is not being thrown at comfortable entrepreneurs. This is, essentially, aid to the unemployed. And, as such, $5 million barely scratches the surface.
Many of the entrepreneurs to be helped by the First Step Fund, the entity created by NEI's $5 million investment, are not launching startups because it seems like a promising thing to do. They have nowhere else to go, Charlton says. Their former jobs in the auto industry are gone, never to return. Their choices are to leave the state or try to create their own jobs in Michigan.
Howard Lovy


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The last, best hope for GOP hawks?
Listening to Tom Cotton, you might think the Bush era never ended.
A few months into his first term in Congress, the 35-year-old Arkansas Republican and veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has distinguished himself as his party's most aggressive next-generation advocate for military action overseas.
Story Continued Below
And Cotton's positioning is more consequential than the average Capitol Hill maneuvers of a determined first-term lawmaker. Not only is Cotton seen as his party's strongest recruit to run against Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor in 2014, but for a generation of hawkish Republican elites and executive-branch alumni, he has quickly been embraced if not as their last hope, then at least as their best hope for bringing the party back toward its post-Sept. 11 consensus on foreign policy.
( PHOTOS: Senators up for election in 2014)
To the community of policymakers and elected officials who care passionately — and even exclusively — about a forward-leaning American national security posture, there is no Republican under the age of 40 with more riding on his career than Cotton.
At a moment when the Republican visions of national security policy can be reduced to few TV-ready slogans — variations of "Stand With Rand" and "What About Benghazi?" — Cotton has staked his young political career on a staunchly assertive, activist view of American military power. An angular soldier-politician and media sweetheart seemingly destined for higher office, he may be the closest real-life analog to the "Homeland" character Sergeant Brody (with, fans will note, one or two important differences.)
After the bombings at the Boston Marathon this month, Cotton lashed the Obama administration for "failing in its mission to stop terrorism before it reaches its targets in the United States." In one of several Sunday-show appearances this year, Cotton defended George W. Bush's unpopular intervention in Iraq as a "just and noble war." He told an audience at the 2013 CPAC gathering that fate of the equally unpopular Afghan War would come down to whether America has the raw will to win.
And at a closed-door March gathering hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, sources said that Cotton tangled with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz over the GOP's orientation on national security, answering a Cruz discourse on drones with what one attendee called an "impressive critique of the Rand Paul position and what would happen if the party went down that road."
( PHOTOS: New Congress members)
All of which has helped burnish Cotton's aura as a GOP up-and-comer. Cotton says he hasn't yet decided on a Senate bid, though Republicans close to him believe he is more likely than not to run. Leading Republicans are cheering him on with both short- and long-term political motives in mind.
Arizona Sen. John McCain and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the Senate's leading GOP hawks, have both reached out to Cotton to urge him into the 2014 Senate race, sources said — as have a dozen-plus other members of the chamber. (McCain spokesman Brian Rogers declined to comment on the recruitment efforts but wrote in an email: "Senator McCain has the highest regard for Tom Cotton.")


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New Year's resolutions – many of us make them, a few will keep them, but many will fall to the wayside sooner than we'd like. If you've made a resolution to get your finances on track, we have some tips to help. And if you haven't – why not add financial wellness to your list of goals for 2017?
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Make them wash their own clothes and teach them to cook from basics! A student cook book is a really good idea. Make them budget from a young age. It's not just pocket money - it's financial planning. My eldest had pocket money from the age of 4 and we had a rule that he could have anything he wanted if he had the money for it, but when the money was gone he had to wait till next pocket money day. He had a few occasions early on where he'd spent up then wanted something but we always stuck to the rule and he soon learned! His younger brothers also had the same and now at 21, 19 and 17 each is really good with money and budgeting.( I think the youngest has more money than me!) They've been taught to be independent from an early age too, use the bus, bike or walk to school and can plan journeys easily. I'm very proud of the way the older two settled into university, the transition from home was easy for them - which made it easy for me too, knowing that I'd done a good job of creating an independent citizen.
How do I prepare my child for college?
College is more than just books and class. There are many challenges your child will face when they go off to college. How do you get them ready?
Alison definitely said it well. I would also add that you also have to allow them to make mistakes. Teach them to talk to adults and to fix their own problems. At school, don't jump in immediately and solve all of their problems. If they are having an "issue" with a teacher, make them try to resolve it first. If they are not able to come to an understanding with the teacher on their own, then you can step in. I made my children do that from about 5th grade on and it makes a big difference. Once your child goes to college you can not call the school and fight their battles for them (nor should you) so they need to learn to problem solve when you can step in and give them a hand IF they need it. This builds their self esteem when they are able to resolve conflicts with adults on their own.
Start early. Give them chores. Let them make mistakes as they grow. Love them, guide them, trust them, and when they reach 18, they will act like adults. Also see Allison Williams answer. She said it well.
I agree with Allison. My youngest just graduated from high school, and he's not quite ready to be that independent yet. My inconsistency shows, as does my allowing the older siblings to care for "the baby" in this case. My two older daughters are doing well, and my oldest just started his own family. I have to say this: Teach your child(ren) how to be good roommates, and they will do well in college. Common courtesy, such as picking up after themselves, cleaning the kitchen when they use it, learning to use it, and doing their own laundry are REALLY important. When my children reached the ages where all were tall enough to load the top-loading washing machine, I lifted the lid and asked them to read it. "Mom, that's really simple," they said. I grinned and said, "Yes! And if you can follow these directions, you can do your own laundry." They didn't like that at first, but they really appreciate it now. Everyone takes one or two nights a week where they cook for the family, while they live at home. It's working pretty well, and they're building confidence to be on their own.
Preparing your child for college starts with setting expectations that there are options for post-high school education and experience. Make sure your child understands that he/she will be supported in their decisions about what to do after graduation. College isn't for everyone and there are viable options and paths to success. Work with your child at an early age to define what success means as an adult.
that's a tough question if their graduating this year from high school. should at least start talking about it before freshman year in high school. one key word is responsibility, make them aware of the time and habits required for their field. another thought would be to make them get a job through high school, for 2 reasons, one to show how hard you have to work for meager pay to live on. second to teach them in a way, whether they want to use their backs or their brain to make a living. some families insist they pay their own way, that way losing their own money if they don't try hard.
Make sure they know how to study. University is a lot harder than high school.
Something that helped me was setting up an appointment with the school counselor, and I went over where she stood today and where she needed to be in a few years.
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Henry Shaw
Each monthly issue of the Henry Shaw Cactus Digest includes club updates, columns and articles by members on their favorite aspects of cactus and succulent culture. Follow the link below this item to read select Digest articles -- or join HSCSS to receive every article in the print version of the Digest.
In Memoriam: Chuck Hanson


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How many cars do you usually leap over at one time, when you do that? British long-jumper and Olympic hopeful J.J. Jegede can clear at least three, as he demonstrates in this video shot near the Tower Bridge in London. (A nifty time-lapse picture of Jegede's 6m jump lives here.) Jegede's personal best is 8.04 meters — still not enough to qualify for the Olympics, but there's still time.
If you'd like to compete in next year's Olympic long-jumping contest, you'll have to be able to jump over at least four cars. They can be Mini Coopers or something else — it really doesn't matter. If you can't afford your own practice cars, just go to the nearest mall parking lot and train there. Nobody will mind if you tell them you're doing it for America.


text: She's cooking and baking for her family and friends. She finds grocery shopping therapeutic, always takes the longest time in the Asian section and debates with herself whether she needs that extra pack of instant ramen. A lover of sweets, she dreams of owning a patisserie and publishing her book but most of the time, she's just really thinking of what to eat for breakfast the next day.