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Arrives in 3-7 Business Days
Your expert guide to information security
As businesses and consumers become more dependent on complex multinational information systems, the need to understand and devise sound information security systems has never been greater. This title takes a practical approach to information security by focusing on real-world examples. While not sidestepping the theory, the emphasis is on developing the skills and knowledge that security and information technology students and professionals need to face their challenges. The book is organized around four major themes:
* Cryptography: classic cryptosystems, symmetric key cryptography, public key cryptography, hash functions, random numbers, information hiding, and cryptanalysis
* Access control: authentication and authorization, password-based security, ACLs and capabilities, multilevel and multilateral security, covert channels and inference control, BLP and Biba's models, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems
* Protocols: simple authentication protocols, session keys, perfect forward secrecy, timestamps, SSL, IPSec, Kerberos, and GSM
* Software: flaws and malware, buffer overflows, viruses and worms, software reverse engineering, digital rights management, secure software development, and operating systems security
Additional features include numerous figures and tables to illustrate and clarify complex topics, as well as problems-ranging from basic to challenging-to help readers apply their newly developed skills. A solutions manual and a set of classroom-tested PowerPoint(r) slides will assist instructors in their course development. Students and professors in information technology, computer science, and engineering, and professionals working in the field will find this reference most useful to solve their information security issues.
An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all the problems in the book is available from the Wiley editorial department.
An Instructor Support FTP site is also available.


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(From Speaker of the House Tim Jones)
House Speaker Tim Jones is asking the people of the State of Missouri to assist in deciding the next inductees into the Hall of Famous Missourians. Jones announced today that he will accept public input on potential candidates for the Hall, which currently consists of more than 40 bronze busts of famous Missourians such as Harry Truman, Mark Twain, Susan Elizabeth Blow, Walt Disney and Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Jones plans to induct three new members into the Hall in the coming year. He said the public will be empowered to decide two of the inductees while he will determine the third and final selection. Traditionally, the Speaker of the House has had sole discretion over the selection process for the Hall, but Jones said it is time for the people of Missouri to have a say in the process.
"During my time as a member of the Missouri House I have heard from citizens from all around this state who have strong opinions about great Missourians that should be included in the Hall. This is their opportunity to have their voices heard, to help us recognize the outstanding individuals who have made important and lasting contributions to society, and who truly deserve to join the ranks of the remarkable individuals already enshrined in the Hall of Famous Missourians," said Jones, R-Eureka.
Jones said Missourians will be able to nominate individuals for inclusion in the Hall through an online form located at the official site of the Missouri House of Representatives (www.house.mo.gov). Jones will accept nominations for a period of 30 days and will formulate a "Top 10" list based on the results and other important criteria as recommended by nonpartisan staff of the Missouri House. Visitors to the site will then have the opportunity to cast their votes for the final 10 nominees with the two highest vote getters being selected for induction into the Hall of Famous Missourians.
To visit the Hall of Famous Missourians inductee nomination page directly, please visit http://www.house.mo.gov/FamousMissourianSuggestions.aspx. Suggestions will be accepted until Friday, September 13. Voting will conclude Sunday, October 13.

subset: commoncrawl


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TB Alliance, a not-for-profit organization with the mission of developing new, improved, and affordable TB treatments, announces the election of Karl Hofmann, President and CEO of Population Services International (PSI), as President of the TB Alliance's Stakeholders Association (SHA), thereby assuming a seat on its Board of Directors. Mr. Hofmann brings to the TB Alliance deep experience in building partnerships and tackling global health challenges including optimizing new product introductions.
Karl Hofmann leads PSI, a global health not-for-profit organization which operates in nearly 70 countries. Founded in 1970, PSI is a leader in developing health programs that generate demand for and provide access to health products, services and care across the developing world. PSI is currently increasing its efforts and impact in delivering TB care and treatment. Prior to joining PSI, Mr. Hofmann was a US diplomat for 23 years. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Togo, Executive Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.
"I've seen how today's suboptimal TB therapies contribute to a cycle of disease and poverty in some of the least developed countries in the world," said Mr. Hofmann. "Now with improved TB drugs on the horizon, I look forward to working with the TB Alliance through my role on the Board and in leading the SHA, to help speed the delivery of promising new regimens to those who need them most."
In welcoming Mr. Hofmann, Dr. Carlos Morel, Chairman of the Board for TB Alliance and Director of the Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS) of FIOCRUZ, said, "Mr. Hofmann's appointment to the Board and his election to SHA President is another indication of how the TB Alliance and its partners are working together to improve the full continuum of TB care--from drug discovery and research to delivering affordable medicines and regimens to those people who need them. Mr. Hofmann's knowledge and experience in improving the health of people in the developing world by expanding service delivery solutions that can be scaled is a great addition to the work of the TB Alliance."
The TB Alliance's Stakeholders Association was established in 2000 with the formation of the organization. The members share a clear interest and a significant stake in ensuring the development of a faster, better cure for tuberculosis. The SHA is comprised of institutions from around the world including representatives from developing nations, government, non-governmental organizations, professional organizations, academia, foundations, and industry. Through various mechanisms, Stakeholder institutions advise, guide, and support the full range of efforts undertaken by the TB Alliance. The Stakeholder Association President also serves on the TB Alliance Board of Directors, ensuring the perspectives of the Stakeholders and the communities they represent reach TB Alliance at the highest levels of the organization.
"The Stakeholder Association is at the heart of the TB Alliance; these organizations represent the diverse groups that are crucial in helping us fulfill our mission," said Dr. Mel Spigelman, President and CEO, TB Alliance. "We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Karl's experience and skills at the helm of the Stakeholders Association at this critical juncture in the Alliance's history."
About TB Alliance:
The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding faster-acting and affordable drug regimens to fight tuberculosis. Through innovative science and with partners around the globe, we aim to ensure equitable access to faster, better TB cures that will advance global health and prosperity. The TB Alliance operates with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Irish Aid, UK aid, UNITAID, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, the United States Agency for International Development, and the United States Food and Drug Administration, and the US AIDS Clinical Trials Group. For more information, please visit tballiance.org.
About PSI
PSI is a global health organization dedicated to improving the health of people in the developing world by focusing on serious challenges like a lack of family planning, HIV/AIDS, barriers to maternal health, and the greatest threats to children under five, including malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, and malnutrition. www.psi.org
For TB Alliance:
Joanna Breitstein
(m) 646.616.8613
For PSI:
Ryan Cherlin
(o) 202.572.4512


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| Clipperlight.Com
Amazing Nautical gift Shopping on Line.
As formidable a piece of ironmongery as one would wish to encounter. In actual fact it is merely an instrument that measures the angle a heavenly body (star, planet, sun, moon) makes with the visible horizon. It derives it's name from the arc at the bottom which is one sixth of a circle. The principles of a sextant are easy to master but its use requires some skill and practice. Small errors make for large discrepancies in one's position.
Parts of the sextant
The sextant basically consists of a telescope, a half silvered horizontal mirror which the telescope "looks" through and a moving arm on which the index mirror is fixed. By manipulating this arm a star or other celestial body can be made to appear on the horizon. Accurate adjustments are made by means of a micrometer knob. The angle can then be read off the arc and micrometer. The shades are to use when the object being looked at is bright - such as the sun.
The trick is to make the celestial body just brush the horizon - and herein lies somewhat of a knack.
Principle of the sextant
The sextant relies on the optical principle that if a ray of light is reflected from two mirrors in succession then the angle between the first and last direction of the ray is twice the angle between the mirrors. And this angle can then be read off the arc.
To use the sextant the telescope must be focused on the horizon. The celestial body to be shot, found and the sextant aimed at it. Bring the body down to the horizon by moving the arm along the arc and then clamp the arm. Using the micrometer knob make small adjustments while gently swaying the instrument slightly from side to side until the heavenly body just brushes the horizon.
When this is achieved instantly make a note of the time, seconds first, then minutes and hours, then the name of the body and its observed altitude. Every second of time counts - an error of 4 seconds equates to an error of a nautical mile in the position.
Errors and adjustments of the sextant
The sextant is subject to a number of errors and adjustments. To find the true altitude of a celestial body from the observed these must be allowed and adjusted for.
Briefly these are:
Index error is an instrumental error. When looking through a sextant at the horizon the exact level horizon will seldom be seen to be at 0°.
Before every sextant session the Index error should be determined.
If the error is less than 0° it should be added to whatever reading is obtained - if more subtracted. Hint: remember Noah, if off the Ark - add, if on the Ark - take off.
Dip is an adjustment made for the height of the eye above sea level. In practice this is usually taken as 0.98 times the square root of the height of the eye in metres above sea level multiplied by 3.28.
Refraction is extracted from the Nautical Almanac. It allows for the "bending" of light rays as they travel through successive layers of varying density air.
Parallax corrections are needed if the observed body is a planet, the sun or the moon. From the Almanac.
Semi-diameter correction is needed if the observed body is the sun or the moon. In this case either the top or bottom of the celestial object (known as upper or lower limb) is made to touch the horizon. To obtain the centre of the body this correction is applied - from the Almanac.
Once all the corrections are applied we have the true altitude. And this subtracted from 90 gives us the zenithal distance to the sub-stellar point. Which means we know exactly how far we are from that elusive point on the earth which is at right angles to our observed celestial body!
The Position Circle. When an observer measures the altitude of a heavenly body he obtains from it, by correction and subtraction
from 90°, a true zenith distance - ZX in the figure. Z, therefore, might be any point on a small circle of radius ZX and centre X.
On the Earth the observer's position, z, lies on the circumference of a small circle, the centre of which is the heavenly body's geographical position. The radius of this circle is also the true zenith distance, zx, and since it is now measured on the surface of the Earth, it can be expressed in nautical miles.
This small circle is known as a position circle.
The astronomical position line is the small arc of this position circle on which the observer or navigator discovers his position to be.
If zx is very small, some twenty miles or so, the geographical position can be plotted on the chart and the actual circle drawn without loss of accuracy, but in general zx will be large, of the order 1,000 miles, and the geographical position will seldom be on the chart that the navigator is using for keeping his reckoning. The part of the position circle that concerns the navigator must therefore be found by methods that confine the plotting they involve to the neighbourhood of the ship's actual position.
The method in common use is the Marcq St. Hilaire or 'intercept' method.
Our collection of Fine Solid Brass hand crafted Sextants are probably the finest reproductions of the traditional Nautical sextants, which have been used in celestial navigation since 1757.Our Sextants are based an a design bought in by Captain Cambell, but the original Octant from which the modern sextant came was made by John Hadley about 1731.The sextants are workable but not meant to be used for serious navigation. They make ideal nautical gifts for those who love the sea, or are collectors of historic navigational instruments.


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Previous media releases
Results of the Annual General Meeting of UBS AG
At the Annual General Meeting on April 14, 2010, UBS shareholders re-elected the members of the Board of Directors, elected Wolfgang Mayrhuber to the Board, and approved the creation of conditional capital as a component of contingency planning. The Annual General Meeting was attended by 4,728 shareholders, representing 1,688,613,239 votes.
At the Annual General Meeting on April 14, 2010, the shareholders of UBS AG approved the Annual Report and Group Financial Statements for 2009, agreed to offset the loss for the year against reserves and reaffirmed Ernst & Young, Basel, as auditors. Shareholders also agreed to adapt the Articles of Association to the new Swiss Intermediary-Held Securities Act.
In a consultative vote, shareholders ratified the 2009 Compensation Report with 54.72% of the vote. They also discharged the members of the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Board for 2008 (77.37%) and 2009 (85.13%), but not for 2007 (52.75% voted against).
Elections to the Board of Directors
The Annual General Meeting re-elected Kaspar Villiger (96.08%), Sally Bott (90.98%), Michel Demaré (97.25%), Rainer-Marc Frey (96.22%), Bruno Gehrig (92.03%), Ann F. Godbehere (97.10%), Axel P. Lehmann (97.25%), Helmut Panke (91.70%), William G. Parrett (97.08%) and David Sidwell (97.05%) and elected Wolfgang Mayrhuber (89.24%) to the Board.
Kaspar Villiger retains his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Michel Demaré was appointed as Vice Chairman and David Sidwell as Senior Independent Director, as envisaged by the Board in the event of their re-election.
Detailed CVs of all the members of the Board of Directors are available at www.ubs.com/bod.
Conditional capital
Shareholders approved the creation of conditional capital in a maximum amount of CHF 38,000,000, as a component of contingency planning and capital management in line with recent regulatory developments.


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Load is not a single moment in time — it's an experience that no one metric can fully capture. There are multiple moments during the load experience that can affect whether a user perceives it as "fast" or "slow".
First Contentful Paint (FCP) measures the time from navigation to the time when the browser renders the first bit of content from the DOM. This is an important milestone for users because it provides feedback that the page is actually loading.
To speed up First Contentful Paint, speed up the download time of resources or do less work that blocks the browser from rendering DOM content.
- Minimize the number of render-blocking external stylesheets and scripts upon which the page depends. See Render-Blocking CSS and Loading Third-Party JavaScript.
- Use HTTP Caching to speed up repeat visits.
- Minify and compress text-based assets to speed up their download time. See Optimizing Encoding and Transfer Size of Text-Based Assets.
- Optimize JavaScript bootup and reduce JavaScript payloads with tree shaking or code splitting. The goal is to do less JavaScript work on page load.
Tracking FCP in the real world
To measure when FCP actually occurs on your users' devices, see Tracking FP/FCP. The code snippet describes how to programmatically access FCP data and submit it to Google Analytics.
See Assessing Loading Performance in Real Life with Navigation and Resource Timing for more on collecting real-user metrics.
More information
See First Contentful Paint for an exact definition of what types of content trigger the First Contentful Paint milestone.


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- "You always wanted one of these when in high school - and now you can have the car that tells everyone yes, these are implants - on your head and in that dizzy tart next to you. Boom. You go, tiger."
- ―Legendarymotorsport.net description.
The Pfister Comet is a sports car that appears in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, and Grand Theft Auto V.
3D Universe
The Comet is based on the Porsche 911 and best resembles the 911SC Targa from the late '70's or the early 1980s; however, like newer 911 models, it has an all-wheel-drive configuration. The car features a targa top similar to the Targa 911s; however, the fastback profile the Comet sported in GTA Vice City was dropped in favor of a backwards-slanted standalone C-pillar until GTA IV. On the Xbox and Mobile version of GTA Vice City, the fastback profile of the car is non-existent; instead, it shares the same back as the GTA San Andreas and GTA Vice City Stories Comet. GTA III era renditions of the Comet are front-engined, unlike the real Porsche 911, which is famously rear-engined; this led to speculation that the Comet was inspired by a Datsun 240Z. The headlamps may also have been inspired by the 1966-1969 Alfa Romeo Spider.
HD Universe
GTA IV's Comet, manufactured by Pfister, is available only in hardtop coupe form. It now largely resembles a Porsche 996 Carrera 4S. The Comet features large, cross-drilled disc brakes all around. Inside are two sport seats in black leather resembling Lamborghini's seat design. Similar to the Grotti Turismo, the Comet also features a front-mounted, carpeted boot with space for luggage. Unlike its predecessors, GTA IV's Comet is very rarely encountered on the streets, and is more common in Party Mode where two parked Comets can be seen and driven. Like the real 911, the GTA IV Comet is rear-engined, however, it has a V8 engine rather than a flat-6 of most Porsches, indicating that it was partly based off the Ruf RGT-8, a specially-tuned version of the Porsche 911. In No.1, Niko Bellic races other opponents with a yellow Comet and has the ability to keep it.
For GTA Chinatown Wars, two variants of the Comet are available, a regular Comet being similar to GTA IV's Comet, as well as a highly modified racing variant owned by the Jaoming Family, featuring a purple-and-red paintjob, a bodykit, and a white neon underglow that turns on at night.
In GTA V, the Comet is similar to the GTA IV model, but has been updated featuring rear quarter ducts as well as a standard rear deck spoiler. It now resembles a Porsche 996 GT2 with minor influences from Porsche 996 GT3.
Special Variants
3D Universe
With its AWD powertrain, grippy tires, and poweful engine, the Comet in GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories is one of the fastest and best handling sports cars in the game. The Comet's handling limits and grip levels are extremely high. The car remains completely stable even when cornerning at full speed without any power oversteer or loss of traction. In fact, it is virtually impossible to drift with the Comet even in slippery conditions (such as on rainy roads or grass). The Comet's turn-in is very sharp, though there is a bit of understeer present. With its unflappable handling and near elite-level speed and acceleration, the Comet is an excellent car to go racing with.
In the GTA III era, the Comet's top-down convertible nature allows the protagonist to jump over the driver's-side door, facilitating a more rapid takeoff.
HD Universe
The Comet's performance is strongly based on the Porsche 911 Turbo.
The GTA IV rendition of the Comet is the fastest car in the game, with a top speed of 215 mph (347 km/h). All wheel drive ensures good standing-start acceleration, and high power ensures a top speed similar to that of exotic sports cars in the game. However, this car does subtly demonstrate a lack of torque; this is noticeable on hills when at low revs. This problem is minor, because Liberty City is mostly flat and street-constructed. Tirespin and burnouts are very common with the Comet, because traction control is completely turned off.
High-speed cornering results in massive understeer in the Comet, but the car does have potential lift-off oversteer, or oversteer at lower speeds. The Comet also suffers from a weak suspension construction. The wheels are prone to buckle into the chassis after striking a curb laterally with less force than expected, making the Comet one of the more fragile sports cars.
The Comet is not necessarily superior in multiplayer racing; the Comet is lightweight and relatively unstable, leading to the car being rammed off-road by the other vehicles, or being launched into the air off of hills and losing control, unless you are a good driver.
The conventional Comet in GTA Chinatown Wars retains its sporty performance, but is now ranked below higher end sports cars in the same, although its handling and braking are considerably good. The modified variant of the Comet is superior in speed, but is otherwise similar in performance to a standard Comet.
The Comet in GTA V is fairly similar to the Comet in GTA IV. The top speed and acceleration have been changed, however, and the most notable difference is that the GTA V version is rear-wheel drive, as opposed to a relatively uncommon all-wheel drive drivetrain in GTA IV. In GTA V, the car has fairly average performance for a sports car, but the traction is better than most of the sports cars. However, the car is very light and backheavy, so many players may find the overall handling undesirable, compared to similar cars that have better handling, such as the Feltzer and Elegy RH8.
GTA: San Andreas
The Comet can be modified at TransFender:
|Car Color 1
|$ 150
|Car Color 2
|$ 150
|2x Nitrous
|$ 200
|5x Nitrous
|$ 500
|10x Nitrous
|$ 1000
|$ 820
|$ 770
|$ 1000
|$ 620
|$ 1140
|Off Road Wheel
|$ 1000
|$ 1030
|$ 1230
|$ 1200
|$ 1560
|$ 1500
- The TransFender in Las Venturas charges 20% more for every modification except colors.
Notable owners
- 3D Universe
- Mrs. Dawson was driving a yellow Comet in the mission Waste the Wife.
- Reni Wassulmaier had a red Comet with a yellow landau top in the mission So Long Schlong.
- HD Universe
- Stevie had an orange Comet in GTA IV, but the car belongs to Niko at the end of No.1, but later, Stevie will request Niko to steal a unique mauve coloured Comet.
- Bernie Crane had a silver Comet with red luster effect, in the mission "Hating The Haters".
- Patrick McReary drives a red Comet in "Ladies' Night" in The Ballad of Gay Tony, bought with the money from a bank robbery.
- Chan Jaoming owns a Triad's Comet.
- Wu Lee uses a bright yellow Comet as a getaway car in the mission Salt in the Wound.
- Isiah Friedlander owns a red Comet seen during the mission Reuniting the Family and outside his house during each therapy session.
- Lenny Avery owns an unique light green Comet seen in the mission Closing the Deal.
- Tyler Dixon owns a red Comet parked at his home during Vinewood Souvenirs.
- Huang Lee
GTA Vice City
- In front of the Leaf Links Golf Club.
- Inside the garage in a house on Starfish Island, just north of Vercetti Estate.
- Common in Ocean Beach, Downtown and on Starfish Island.
GTA San Andreas
- Occasionally seen driving around Las Venturas.
- Can be seen rarely in Vinewood, specifically in Richman and Mulholland
- Rarely found near Easter Bay Airport.
- Parked in the parking lot nearby the tennis court at the Avispa Country Club, San Fierro (only when wanted for Exports and Imports).
- Available for import from Easter Basin docks, San Fierro after second list completion, for $28,000 on Friday.
- Occasionally seen driving near the golf courses in the state.
GTA Vice City Stories
- Parked under a building near Bryan Forbes' apartment.
- Parked along the road that extends from Malibu Club to North Point Mall.
- Inside an garage north of Lance's apartment.
- Parked near an apartment at Vice Point, before the bridge leading to Prawn Island.
- A uniquely-colored one is featured in the mission, 'So Long Schlong', and is easily obtained by killing Reni.
- Parked in a parking lot by Escobar International Airport in Viceport.
GTA IV + Episodes from Liberty City
- Obtained in the mission "No. 1" (given by Brucie Kibbutz), where the player must race others using a Comet from Brucie's friend, Stevie. After winning the race (and the mission), Brucie will allow the player to keep the Comet as a gratuity. This Comet has a unique rich gold color, much darker than a normal yellow Comet.
- The Comet will be always seen during the mission "Payback". While the player is chasing the Pavanos, a Comet is seen getting into a car accident; the player can stop to take this car, although doing so is likely to lead to mission failure.
- Very rarely spawns in Algonquin, Liberty City.
- Parked in the beginning of Bernie Crane's mission, "Hating the Haters". The player may park this Comet at a safehouse for safekeeping, and continue the mission in another car. In some cases the Comet is available in a very unusual dark grey color which appears red in certain angles, more specifically in the bumpers and skirts.
- Parked again in the beginning of "Union Drive", there may be a Comet near where you start the mission and Bernie tells you to get a car; however, a Turismo may spawn instead.
- If you are driving a Comet around South Bohan, you may find bunches of Comets parked in rows.
- The Comet is one of the target cars to be stolen for Stevie in Stevie's Car Thefts. The car is parked in the Golden Pier parking lot in Westminster, Algonquin. The player can drive the target Comet to a Safehouse and store it; another will respawn in the same place it was found, and this Comet can be delivered to Stevie. This Comet comes in a unique plum color.
- In Brucie's Races, sometimes an opponent or opponents will spawn in Comets, which can be stolen (although this will forfeit the race).
- The Comet can be spawned by dialing (227)-555-0175 on the cell phone. This cheat code does not affect saved games.
- May spawn while riding a Sanchez .
The Lost and Damned
The Ballad Of Gay Tony
- The vehicle is now extensively available and can be found driving around the streets of Algonquin.
- A unique cream colored Comet, which looks pink in some angles, can be obtained in Triathlons.
GTA Chinatown Wars
- A modified Comet is parked on the northeast corner of Chan Jaoming's garage in East Island City, Dukes.
- The modified Comet may be purchased at the Auto Merchant in BOABO, Broker.
- Isiah Friedlander's red Comet is usually parked outside his practice in Pacific Bluffs. (Only until Abandonment Issues)
- Seen around Rockford Hills.
- Can be bought for $85,000 ($100,000 In GTA Online instead from Legendarymotorsport.net.) from Southernsanandreassuperautos.com.
- Can be spawned with the cheat code button combination
- In GTA San Andreas, Carl Johnson always hops in the car without opening the door when getting in on the driver side; however, if the Comet is locked, CJ will not get in the car and the "jump in the car trick" is disabled, unless the player puts it in a garage, therefore unlocking it.
- In some of the games in the series, the Comet's radio is set to a certain station, by default. They are as follows:
- GTA San Andreas: CSR 103.9.
- GTA Vice City Stories: Fresh FM.
- GTA IV: Electro-Choc or Radio Broker.
- GTA V: Non Stop Pop FM.
- Comets in GTA Vice City Stories often fail to stop in time when approaching a traffic light. This will usually result in a collision if there is cars in front of the Comet.
- The Beta version of the Comet featured a bigger Pfister logo on the hood.
- As the Comet's engine is rear designed, if a person is seen checking the engine of a Comet (due to it having black smoke come out of it) they will check the front where the trunk is and act like it's the engine.
- After collecting all thirty cars for Stevie, he agrees to purchase cars from Niko Bellic. The Comet will fetch up to $11,000.
- The plum colored Comet that Stevie request can sometime turn out bronze.
- In GTA V, Southern San Andreas Super Autos shows the Comet at the website's wallpaper in both GTA V and GTA Online. However, the car isn't purchasable Online
- In GTA Chinatown Wars, during the mission Yu Jian, if the player follows the yellow pathway, you can see a purple-and-red modified Comet being chased down on the Broker-Dukes Expressway by two Police Patrol at top speed. It is also possible that the driver might be Chan Jaoming, as Chan also possess a similar Comet.
- The Comet in the HD Universe has its name badging font similar to the popular font in GTA V, which is the Freestyle Script.
- If looked closely with a Sniper Rifle, the speedometer of the Comet is actually a low-quality version of a 2007-present Nissan GT-R R35 Speedometers.
See Also
- Penetrator, Porka, Porka Turbo and Speeder, various GTA 1 cars based on Porsche models.


text:
White Sox youth has Konerko recalling '99-00
Captain sees similarities as 2014 squad cycles through reshaping process
CHICAGO -- During his 16 seasons with the White Sox, Paul Konerko has seen it all.
Konerko has witnessed a World Series championship, three division titles, a pair of 90-some-loss efforts and a number of near-misses. He has watched a packed U.S. Cellular Field erupt in euphoria when Scott Podsednik hit a walk-off homer in Game 2 of the 2005 World Series sweep, coming two innings after his go-ahead grand slam. Konerko heard the collective groans and boos last year, when one defensive miscue followed another.
The White Sox captain has played with Hall of Famers and can't-miss prospects. Konerko also has watched as a few of those can't-misses come up a little short in the expectations department.
There is nobody better to analyze the current state of the organization as the team revels in its 5-3 Opening Day victory over the Twins. After all, Konerko has been part of youth movements, the go-for-it decade and now the reshaping program adeptly engineered by general manager Rick Hahn.
In Konerko's estimation, this addition of youthful energy is necessary for the White Sox.
"It feels to me like it's the first year of something new, and how quick this cycle goes, it depends on how everybody executes and comes along and works," Konerko told MLB.com during a recent interview. "We have some of the same faces from previous years, but it's in different roles, too.
"This feels like it's a new thing. Anyone who watched last year, obviously that's a good thing.
"Hopefully this next block of time. … Things do go in cycles in this game. People age and move on and this and that. A lot of reasons," Konerko said. "This feels like the first year of the new thing, so hopefully we take a nice step forward and there's no telling how quick it will come."
For a frame of reference, Konerko pointed to his White Sox squads of 1999 and 2000.
That '99 campaign marked Konerko's first with the White Sox and featured other young players such as Carlos Lee, Magglio Ordonez, Bob Howry and Keith Foulke mixed in with younger veterans such as Frank Thomas, Ray Durham and Mike Sirotka. They finished 75-86 and second in the American League Central after winning their first two games -- a prelude to winning the division with 95 victories the following year.
"We were way younger than this team, and we hung in there," Konerko said. "The next year, boom, it happened. But definitely that '99 team was a break from, I was part of that. It was a new thing.
"So this kind of feels like a new thing here. It feels like we have kind of moved forward. … We just have to know that it's good, but when the season starts, that's when it truly counts. By the end of the year, hopefully great things have happened, and at the very worst, hopefully it's a big jump forward."
Through six weeks of Spring Training and one regular-season contest, two words come to mind in the White Sox reshaping generation: energy and competition.
Energy comes from newcomer Adam Eaton getting on base at the top of the order but also running full force down the first-base line, taking that big turn at first and making the outfielders think he might do something more. It also comes from a major free-agent acquisition in Jose Abreu, who ripped a double over the right fielder's head in his first at-bat, drove a single to left his next time up and then laced a pair of long fly balls to center to complete his afternoon.
And the competition comes from a once relatively thin Minor League organization now having options for manager Robin Ventura and his staff to turn to if things go awry at the big league level.
Last year pushed the White Sox in this direction.
"We've sprinkled in some young guys in other years," Konerko said. "But with the young guys we've put in this year, just kind of guys that, not to knock anybody else we've had here in the past, but we've got some guys that are really talented guys comparative to everybody else in the league as well.
"You see horses like Avisail [Garcia], Eaton -- guys that you see can be a centerpiece of a really good team. It's fun to see that.
"As a fan, I've been here a while, and it's exciting to see," Konerko said. "We've had guys we've thrown that on in the past, and I'm not sure it was warranted as much for whatever reasons or different reasons. We have some guys [now] that are going to be the guy at what they do, All-Star-type players."
John Danks hasn't quite seen as much as Konerko as the second-longest-tenured member of the White Sox. He has been part of one of the franchise's greatest moments in the 2008 Blackout Game and seen the depths to which the team can drop.
Much like Konerko, Danks thinks highly of the way this present cycle is turning.
"Obviously, we are going in the right direction," Danks said. "We have some young guys that are going to be around a while that are very talented and give us a chance to win, not only this year, but for years to come.
"You know, we never saw what happened last year coming. It is a rebuild. You can put fancy words on it, but it is a rebuild. It's gearing up for the future, but I think Rick and [executive vice president] Kenny [Williams] did a good job of not only setting us up for a long time, but giving us a chance to win now."


text: Guys & Gals ~ Many of you know far more about contracts, how they effect the cap, etc than I do so I wanted to pose the question as to whether or not it would be a good time to start seriously thinking about locking in a couple of our restricted free agents? I'm thinking Manny Sanders more than anyone else but McClendon has also played well, are there others? Maybe a three year deal for both guys at a decent but not ridiculous amount? I'm not sure how it works or where we should start. Or do we typically do this directly after the draft?


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Studying in Canada
Our student body is diverse,
representing countries from
around the world.
Studying in Canada
Upon acceptance to Adler University, international students must obtain a study permit. This official document, issued by an immigration officer, allows someone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada to study in Canada. A study permit also allows you to work on campus if you are registered in full-time studies.
To obtain a study permit (or a letter of introduction authorizing the issuance of a study permit at a Canadian port of entry), visit the closest Canadian Embassy or Consulate. Remember to apply early; Canadian representatives in some countries have a deadline for processing student applications to study abroad, and the entire process can take weeks or months. Do not leave home until you receive your letter of introduction confirming the approval of your study permit from a Canadian Embassy or Consulate.
The Protocol Division of Foreign Affairs issues an acceptance to everyone who has diplomatic, consular, or official status in Canada and their family members. If you have this approval, you do not need a study permit to take courses in Canada.
Adler University Vancouver Campus's Designated Learning Institution (DLI) number is O19394452198. You may be asked by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to provide the DLI number when you apply for a permit or a visa.


text:
Walker confident mining bill will pass
Gov. won't sign bill he believes would hurt environment
MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker said he is confident the Republican-controlled Legislature will pass a mining bill next year, but he won't sign anything he believes will hurt the environment.
Walker told The Associated Press in a Monday interview that he believes the June recall election against him made it more difficult for the mining bill to pass this year.
Lawmakers could not reach a compromise on the bill despite pressure from a company looking to open a new iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin near Lake Superior.
Walker said he would look at a bill that would do away with the state's 15-year-old "moratorium" on mines that produce polluting acids, but he doesn't want anything that would jeopardize the state's tourism and agriculture industries.


text: My personal journey into motherhood has been the culprit for many unforeseeable blessings that I could never account for. After the birth of my son in 2012, I had such a wonderful and empowering experience, I have made it my mission to empower women and families to make their own birth choices. I work as a Birth and Postpartum doula in the Orlando area. A doula is a trained professional birth and postpartum support person. I also guide Pre/Post natal yoga in Lake Mary. Much of the inspiration that I draw from is from my yoga background. I focus mainly on connecting to breath and the hundreds of different physical positions to cope with labor. My postpartum services are blended with Ayurvedic (ancient sister wisdom to yoga) philosophies such as applying warm lavender scented sesame oil onto mom as she moves through the


text:
Toc Toc Woodman is a hilarious game suitable for anyone. A children's game that can be enjoyed by adults? A party game that's suitable for kids? Either way, the game can be played by any and everyone.
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text:
(CNN) - President Barack Obama called late Tuesday for Congress to employ "a little less drama, a little less brinkmanship and scare folks a little less" in future fiscal dealings, as he and Congress consider the prospect of working together again to avoid future economic crises.
"While I will negotiate over many things, I won't have another debate with this Congress on whether they should pay the bills we racked up in the past," he said.
Obama spoke at the White House shortly after the House passed a scaled-back deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. The deal was passed earlier by the Senate and goes next to Obama's desk.
A full transcript of his remarks is after the jump.
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President Barack Obama: "A central premise of my campaign for president was to change the tax code that was too skewed towards the wealthy at the expense of working, middle class Americans. Tonight we've done that. Thanks to the votes of Democrats and Republicans in Congress, I will sign a law that raises taxes on the wealthiest 2% of Americans while preventing a middle class tax hike that could have sent the economy back into recession and obviously had a severe impact on families all across America. I want to thank all the leaders of the House and Senate. In particular I want to thank the work that was done by my extraordinary vice president, Joe Biden, as well as Leader Harry Reid, Speaker Boehner, Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell. Everyone worked really hard and once again, Joe, I want to thank you for your great work.
"Under this law more than 98 % of Americans and 97% of small businesses will not see their income taxes go up. Millions of families will continue to receive tax credits to help raise their kids and send them to college. Companies will continue to receive tax credits for the research they do, the investments they make and the clean energy jobs they create. And 2 million Americans who are out of work but out there looking pounding the pavement every day are going to continue to receive unemployment benefits as long as they're actively looking for a job.
"But I think we all recognize this law is just one step in the broader effort to strengthen our economy and broaden opportunity for everybody. The fact is the deficit is still too high. And we're still investing too little in the things that we need for the economy to grow as fast as it should. And that's why Speaker Boehner and I originally tried to negotiate a larger agreement that would put this country on a path that paying down its debt while also putting Americans back to work, rebuilding our roads and bridges and providing investments in areas like education and job training. Unfortunately there just wasn't enough support or time for that kind of large agreement in a lame duck session of Congress. And that failure comes with a cost, as the messy nature of the process over the past several weeks has made business more uncertain and consumers less confident. But we are continuing to chip away at this problem step by step. Last year I signed into law $1.7 trillion in deficit reduction. Tonight's agreement further reduces the deficit by raising $620 billion in revenue from the wealthiest households in america and there will be more deficit reduction as Congress decides what to do about the automatic spending cuts that we have now delayed for two months.
"As I've demonstrated throughout the past several weeks, I am very open to compromise. I agree with Democrats and Republicans that the aging population and the rising cost of health care makes Medicare the biggest contributor to our deficit. I believe we've got to find ways to reform that program without hurting seniors, who couldn't on it to survive. And I believe there's further unnecessary spending in government that we can eliminate. But we can't simply cut our way to prosperity. Cutting spending has to go hand in hand with further reforms to our tax code so that the wealthiest corporations and individual can take advantage of loopholes and deductions that aren't available to most Americans and we can't keep cutting things like basic research and new technology and still expect to succeed in the 21st century economy. So we're going to have to continue to move forward in deficit reduction but we have to do it in a balanced way, making sure that we are growing, even as we get a handle on our spending.
"Now, one last point I want to make. While I will negotiate over many things, I will not have another debate with this Congress over whether or not they should pay the bills that they've already racked up through the laws that they passed. Let me repeat: We can't not pay bills that we've already incurred. If Congress refuses to give the united states government the ability to pay these bills on time, the consequences for the entire global economy would be catastrophic, far worse than the impact of a fiscal cliff. People will remember back in 2011 the last time this course of action was threatened, our entire recovery was put at risk. Consumer confidence plunged, business investment plunged, growth dropped. We can't go down that path again. And today's agreement enshrines, I think, a principle into law that will remain in place as long as I am president: The deficit needs to be reduced in way that's balanced. Everyone pays their fair share. Everyone does their part. That's how our economy works best. That's how we grow. The sum total of all the budget agreements we've reached so far proves that there is a path forward that, it is possible if we focus not on our politics but what's - but on what's right for the country.
"And the one thing that I think hopefully in the new year we'll focus on is seeing if we can put a package like this together with a little bit less drama, a little bit less brinksmanship, not scare the heck out of folks quite as much. We can come together as Democrats and Republicans to cult cut spending and raise revenue in a way that reduces our deficit, protects the middle class and provides ladders into the middle class for everybody who is willing to work hard. We can set this will debate or at the very least into the allow it to be so all consuming all the time that it stops us from meeting a host of other challenges that we face, creating jobs, boosting incomes, fixing our infrastructure, fixing our immigration system, protecting our planet from the harmful effects of climate change, boosting domestic energy production, protecting our kids from the horrors of gun violence. It's not just possible to do these things, it's an obligation to ourselves and to future generations, and I look forward to working with every single member of Congress to meet this obligation in the new year.
"And I hope that everybody now gets at least a day off, I guess, or a few days off so that people can refresh themselves because we're going to have a lot of work to do in 2013. "
A shoved through bill that adds to the debt. BIG SURPRISE.
Now It's Obama's turn to deliver his parties solutions to the spending cuts republicans will be looking for in return for the open floor vote.....interesting times and Obama's legacy will be determined over these next few months. Appears the extreme right and left are not happy with what has come to pass and the will to keep compromise alive is needed now more than ever.
I agree with the President. It's ridiculous how our congress works. We elect them to work in the best interests of the nation – yet they seldom do. The republicans are particularly guilty – their pledge to grover norquist over the best interests of the nation and the rest of us is disgraceful.
Great job, Mr. President I was really impressed when the President said and repeated, he will not debate with congress about paying bills they have already racked up. He set the tone and gives some insight, that he is serious and if the GOP want, and if congress refuses,... well then they will have to face and explain to all their wall street buddies.
Grover Norquist has to eat his own excrement that he created; LOL
Get it Congress? Less Drama, more work, more compromise. Do your jobs and do them well. Stop pandering to lobbyists and ALEC and the far right and left and take care of the business of the people on time with humor and seriousness and sincerity and you just might save your jobs because we are more than disappointed, we are angry.
Yay! Both parties finally came together. Now let's just do this without the vitriol for the next 4 years. We can if we want to.
Goodbye jobs.
I sincerely wish the Republicans would stop their constant forecast of "gloom and doom" for our country. I've heard this for the last 4 years and quite frankly I would prefer they work with the President, after all he did win the presidency. Stop listening to Fox news and all of their one sided views. There is nothing wrong with putting a deal TOGETHER, working TOGETHER, its called comprise. And in our democracy that is the way it is supposed to work. After all that is the reason we vote these politicians in office and they must always remember this country is a government of the people by the people and for the people.
I think most of americans agree with the president on this one. Maybe not the top 2% of Americans that the republican party seems to be working for the most. If the republicans keep this up I think the next major election will reflect their cluelessness. I know it takes two to Tango but from what I have seen there has been more deals going the republicans way getting shot down. My prediction is the House will go back to the Democrats if they don't nock those chips of their shoulders soon.
We seem to go into recession and debt every time the republicans have power in the White house. It's proven that raising taxs on the top 5+% work. Look at the Clinton years. Republicans love to try to scare and lie to Americans about the facts. Were not stupid and until they get that through their heads their not going to have control of the White House again.
I thank God that in the struggling to maintain a stable economy, the Black and White keys have blended in perfectly and a deal has been reached. The sky is never the last frontier.
Obama is the MAN! And Congress seems to have grown up and gotten back to work (maybe). Time will tell...
If I have the data correctly the sequester original demanded 494bn of cuts in spending bt dems and the same out of defense by republicans.
The democrats and Obama need to put out a plan that saves that 494bn and then challenge to the republicand to cone up with it out of defense and tax increases on corporates by closing loop holes and eliminating out of date tax breaks.
I do want one thing to stop the constan t cry from republicans for obama to be the legislator its not the presidents job. Thats mainly re spending up to the House and McConnel especially needs to shut up on this tack as the Americans i know think he's nuts with the multiple variations of this line that he has espoused over and over again.
Wonderful job Dems, and all the Republicans that FINALLY acted responsibly, for compromise in the interest of the health of this country and this economy. Nobody got everything they wanted, but we moved beyond this crisis and hopefully the US markets will continue to prosper as they have under Obama. Enjoy the rest of your vacation, Mr. President. May we all have a wonderful '2013 with continued progress and bipartisanship.
He really isn't very bright is he?
It's too bad that the vision of most politicians extends only to the next election. The electorate has a right to expect those who are elected and appointed to govern do so in a responsible and business-like way. The current piece-meal,combative, kicking cans down the road is a disgrace and makes our country a laughing stock around the world. Perhaps a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution would help, one that withholds pay and allowances from Congressional members until they do their job. Replacing the insane tax code is essential, with a flat tax for individuals with no deductions and perhaps a few wrinkles for business and industry to encourage investment and growth and protect those that lose money. One objective would be to put most of the professional tax preparers out of business and save the average taxpayer a lot of money. Something that seems to have been forgotten in all the squabbling is that an important function of government should be to create a positive climate for private investment. Investment hates the uncertain climate prevailing in government today.
It will be the same mess in 2013 than it was in 2012!! I have finally lost confidence in all of them!! – @Marita.
Something was passed. I hope that there is more communication between the Republicans and the President in the up coming Congress. I would hope that there is less of this last minute foolishness.
obama is a peaceful man them white house leaders an them republicans was trying to break obama kool they didnt thats why all of them is mad at obama hes a laid back and a peaceful man an them republicans nor them white house leaders couldnt push obama bottons hes still smiling


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Syria calm after UN truce deadline, but troops defy some of Annan's demands
BEIRUT – A fragile cease-fire brokered by the U.N. took hold in Syria on Thursday with regime forces apparently halting widespread attacks on the opposition but still defying demands by international envoy Kofi Annan to pull troops back to barracks.
If the truce holds, it would be the first time the regime has observed an internationally brokered cease-fire since Bashar Assad's regime launched a brutal crackdown 13 months ago on mass protests calling for his ouster. The opposition called for peaceful protests on Friday to test the government's commitment to the accord.
There was deep skepticism that the regime would halt its fire for long, given that Assad has broken promises in the past. Also, the regime said Wednesday, on the eve of the truce deadline, that it reserves the right to respond to any aggression, potentially a pretext for breaking the truce.
Annan's plan calls for the deployment of international observers and talks on a political transition once a truce is in place. The initiative has broad international support, including from Assad allies Russia, China and Iran, and is widely seen as the last chance for diplomacy to end the violence. The increasingly militarized uprising has been veering toward an armed insurgency.
The West and its allies doubt the sincerity of the regime's pledges to comply with the truce plan, which calls on the Syrian government to allow peaceful protests. A prolonged cease-fire could threaten the regime by encouraging large numbers of protesters to flood the streets, as they did at the start of the revolt against the four-decade rule of the Assad clan. The government met those demonstrations with a harsh crackdown, and more than 9,000 people have died since, according to the U.N.
Burhan Ghalioun, head of the opposition Syrian National Council, urged Syrians to demonstrate peacefully on Friday. Protests are common on Fridays after Muslims crowd mosques for noon prayers.
"Tomorrow, like every Friday, the Syrian people are called to demonstrate even more and put the regime in front of its responsibilities -- put the international community in front of its responsibilities," he said.
Analyst Salman Shaikh, director of the Brookings Doha Center, said while the cease-fire is fragile, the apparent halt in government attacks suggests Assad's allies are pressuring him for the first time, after shielding him from international condemnation in the past. Annan has visited Russia, Iran and China in his attempt to get the broadest possible backing for the plan.
Annan is to brief the U.N. Security Council by video conference from Geneva on Thursday afternoon.
Both the government and the opposition have said they will abide by the truce, which began at 6 a.m. Thursday.
All the flashpoints of the uprising were reported quiet in the hours after the truce took hold. The central provinces of Hama and Homs, the northern regions of Idlib and Aleppo, the capital Damascus and its suburbs, as well as Daraa to the south and Deir el-Zour to the east were all calm, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
However, troops, tanks and armored personnel carriers continued to patrol several opposition strongholds, including Damascus and the city of Homs, activists said.
"There have been no withdrawals from checkpoints but calm is prevailing in all areas in Syria," said Rami Abdul-Rahman, who heads the Observatory.
Another activist group, the grassroots Local Coordination Committees, said regime forces carried out arrests in the Damascus suburb of Maadamiyah shortly after reinforcements entered the area. It also reported anti-regime protests at universities in the southern city of Daraa and the eastern city of Deir el-Zour, and a protest march in the northern village of Tamanaa.
The regime ignored a Tuesday deadline for withdrawing troops from population centers, prompting renewed demands by Annan that forces return to their barracks.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu demanded that the Syrian troops withdraw, saying that "keeping the cities under pressure is not meaningful."
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey could seek NATO's help in case the Syrian troops violate its borders again. Syrian forces opened fire across the Turkish border on Monday, killing two people in a Turkish refugee camp.
Assad apparently is unwilling to ease control over opposition areas for fear of widespread anti-government protests.
A major test could come on Friday. Since the outbreak of the protests in March 2011, thousands have taken to the streets every week after Friday noon prayers in the mosques.
The military crackdown over the past year succeeded in preventing protesters from recreating the fervor of Egypt's Tahrir Square, where hundreds of thousands of people camped out in a powerful show of dissent that drove longtime leader Hosni Mubarak from power.
The government denies that it is facing a popular uprising, claiming instead that terrorists are carrying out a foreign conspiracy to destroy Syria. In pledging Wednesday to observe the cease-fire, the government set a major condition, saying troops reserve the right to defend themselves if attacked.
Syrian troops have been on a major offensive since late January when they attacked rebel-held areas around the capital Damascus. During the first week of February, Assad's forces began a major campaign to retake the Baba Amr neighborhood in the city of Homs that fell in the hands of the regime in early March.
Since then, Assad's forces have been retaking major rebel-held areas including the city of Idlib as well as many towns around the country. Troops also now control much of the areas that border Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq making it more difficult for refugees to leave the country. Despite the regime gains, rebels still held some areas, including spots in the province of Homs, Hama, Daraa.
The White House cautioned Wednesday that the Assad regime has reneged on promises to stop the violence in the past.
"What is important to remember is that we judge the Assad's regime by its actions and not by their promises, because their promises have proven so frequently in the past to be empty," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters in Washington.
Western powers have pinned their hopes on Annan's plan, in part because they are running out of options. The U.N. has ruled out any military intervention of the type that helped bring down Libya's Muammar Qaddafi, and several rounds of sanctions and other attempts to isolate Assad have done little to stop the bloodshed.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have called for arming the rebels, but even if they follow through there is no guarantee that such efforts could cripple Assad's well-armed regime.


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The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, in full cooperation with the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Music Council, founded the Latin American Center for Graduate Studies in Music (informally called the Latin American Music Center, or LAMC) in 1984.
The LAMC aims to promote the study, research, and development of Latin American music. This includes compiling and maintaining a complete and specialized library of scores, books, and recordings of Latin American music and fostering the exchange of ideas among students, scholars, performers, composers, musicologists, and music educators.
The core of the LAMC collection is the music collection donated in 1984 by the Organization of American States (formerly Pan American Union) with a 2008 addition of the music collection from the Brazilian American Cultural Institute (BACI). Donations have been accepted from composers, performers, publishers and arts organizations and continue to be gratefully received.
The Music Catalog of the LAMC contains a brief listing of nearly 2,000 scores by Latin American composers, including both commercial publications and reproductions of composers' manuscripts provided by the composers themselves. The material is housed in the Latin American Center for Graduate Studies in Music and may be consulted there or in the Music Library.
In addition to the LAMC Music Catalog, a significant portion of books and scores with a Latin American focus are housed within the collection of the CUA Music Library and may be found in the WRLC Catalog.
- Information on gift-giving may be found by clicking on this link.
- For the non-cash appraisal form, click on this link.
- Emma Garmendia Finding Aid is available. Please click here to view.
- The Latin American Pedagogy Collection Finding Aid is available. Please click here to view.


text:
Three years ago today I lost my Mother to lung cancer.
The saddest day of my life.
It's not been easy at all, but somehow, someway you learn to cope with the loss. And through tragedy I found love, hope and peace with LW. Six months after I lost my Mom, LW walked into my life and never once looked back. For he too can relate....he lost his Father, in a terrible car accident, 44 years earlier. While he never got to know his Father (he was 1 when he passed), there's nothing like an empty space in your heart.
I'm not going to be sad today. I know my Mom would not want that. I will quietly remember her and be grateful for the time I did have with her.
I know she knows...I'm gonna be alright.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Three Years Ago
Three years ago today I lost my Mother to lung cancer.
Posted by Danica at 8:34 AM 5 comments
Labels: Mom
Monday, December 27, 2010
2010 In Review
I have to say, it's been one very crazy trying year....emotionally and physically.
Having my hysterectomy in January was the most difficult decision I have ever made. There's nothing that can or ever will take away the pain of not being able to have children. I'm grateful to be pain free in my abdomen area, but there's nothing worse than an eternal broken heart. I know my friends and family probably think I'm okay with not being a mother, but I'm not. Most days I fake it, some days I ask myself why me, but I will never second guess my decision to be pain free. I haven't felt this good physically in years! I guess I just didn't know what a true broken heart felt like.
But I'll be okay. In the new year I'm going to focus less on what I don't have and look to what I do have. Be grateful for having a loving man and two beautiful step daughters, who hopefully appreciate all that I do for them.
Once I was settled and physically healed from surgery, which seemed to take forever, I was on the road to happier times.
LW and I got engaged in May, which was a total suprise! I mean I knew he would eventually ask me, just not in the manner in which he asked and just not at the time he asked me. He caught me completely off guard. I love that about him. He's always surprising me with his love. I can honestly say, I've fallen deeper in love with him this year. Yes we had a difficult summer with his oldest daughter moving home, but we pulled through and came out pretty strong in the end.
Lauren moving home was hard, but we managed and are coasting along just fine now. It was hard for me to adjust to another woman in my house...let alone, someone I would eventually be a step mother too. We don't see too much of her now as she's busy with her life and I know it saddens LW. We need to make a better effort in the coming year to create family time. We can't expect her to want to spend time with us, if we don't try to do the same.
All in all it was a trying year...filled with happy times and sad times, but as the year wraps up, we came out a much stronger family. Our love for each other will pull us through the challenges ahead. I have much to look forward to next year....a wedding, a honeymoon, our first family vacation with Lauren, Lauren moving to her own place...we have loads to be grateful for. I need to get better at reminding myself of that!
Here's hoping each of you have a blessed New Year!
Posted by Danica at 11:22 AM 2 comments
Monday, December 20, 2010
Blue Monday
This post is in honor of my blogging friend LaVoice, who every Monday hosts "Blue Monday". LV is such a wonderful, caring, compasionate lady. She's over 80 years old and amazes me every day with her blogging and camera skills. I couldn't love her anymore if she were my very own grandmother. Such a treat to know her....even if it is only through blog land.
Friday I came home from work and in my mailbox was this beautiful ornament LV had gotten for me.
I must say it brought tears to my eyes, as it was the most thoughtful, spontaneous gift I have ever received from someone I have not met in person. It honestly reminded me of something my Mom would do for a stranger. My Mom was always the giving type, even when she had nothing to give.
So thank you LaVoice. From the bottom of my heart. I will treasure it always just as I treasure you!
And here is the ornament proudly displayed on my Christmas tree.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by Danica at 10:01 AM 4 comments
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Wedding Dress
I couldn't wait to show you all my dress so I will show you the picture of the dress from the bridal website.
My dress, however, will NOT have a train and where you see 'tan' on the dress, I will have orange. :-) I'm a lover of all things orange.
I ordered it the week of Thanksgiving so it will take another two months for it to come in. It was a special order.
And here is my Matron of Honor's dress. She will look so beautiful in it. Her dress has already arrived and is home safe and sound with her. She will be wearing a watermelon color (not pictured). which is actually a hot pink color.
We have yet to order the dresses for the girls. Kassidy picked a new color (lime green) that will not be available until January so we had to post pone ordering her dress. And since we posted poned Kassidy's we post poned Lauren's because she wanted to see what new strapless styles are being released in January as well. She has picked a royal purple color.
I'm so excited to see how all of the colors are going to flow together. It's going to be a very bright summer wedding!
Let the planning begin!
LW will be wearing an orange tie to match me and the best man will be wearing watermelon to match the matron of honor.
Posted by Danica at 12:10 PM 1 comments
Labels: wedding
Happy Holidays
It's been awhile since I have last posted. Sorry about that.
Life has just gotten in the way! I'm busier (in a good way) then I ever dreamed possible. There's not been much time for lounging....and when that time comes, I'm usually fast asleep as I'm tired as all get out.
I've been working out on a regular basis. I've lost inches, not weight, but I've gained some pretty good muscles. I will rock that strapless wedding dress (I'll post pictures when the dress comes in - takes about three months and I ordered it at Thanksgiving). My arms are thinner, my thighs are thinner, my waist is smaller and my endurance is longer. I'm getting the shape back I had when I was 30. I know it was only 7 and a half years ago, but I seriously did let myself go for awhile there. I think I sank into this deep depression when I got divorced and my Mom died. I'll never fully admit that, but I was a different person then. But now I'm happy, healthy and living life.
The anniversary of my Mom's passing will be here before I know it. December 29th will mark three years I've been without her smile, guidance, and love. Some days are harder than others. There's no lying about that. It's hard when your parents die. A little piece of you goes with them. We've placed a wreath on her grave every year she has been gone and this year all four of us (my siblings) are placing special pine cones on her wreath on Christmas Eve. It's kind of a neat way to keep her in hearts this holiday season. Christmas was my Mom's favorite holiday.
Christmas will be a busy one for us! With two kids home, I hope I can make this a holiday they will never forget. I can't wait to see their faces Christmas morning as they walk down the stairs to see their pile of gifts. And more importantly, I can't wait to see, what is now my family, sitting together, in the livingroom, with the fire going, opening up presents and laughing and crying. Watching LW with his girls will be the best part. He hasn't spent Christmas with the two of them together in about 4 years, so this year will be extra special for him.
I'll leave you with the photos we had taken of the girls in October. Some were Christmas presents, some were placed in our Christmas cards.
If I don't return this week to blog land, I hope each of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'll do my best to get to each and everyone of your blogs to wish you a Happy Holiday season.
Posted by Danica at 11:12 AM 3 comments
Labels: Christmas
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
I'm here!
Things have been good, but busy at home.
Kassidy and Lauren are hanging in there.
LW is busy with basketball.
And me....work is kicking my tail. I've also signed up with a personal trainer a couple of days a week. I can honestly say it's made a difference in my attitude and how I feel about myself. I'm stronger physically, then I ever thought I was. I WILL look awesome in that wedding dress!
But as promised I said I would post pictures of some of our adventures over the summer.
LW and I went skydiving with friends. We had a fabulous time!
We had a graduation party in mid July for Lauren.
We headed to Georgia for LW's family reunion. While we were there we took the girls to the Georgia Aquarium. Such an amazing place!
I took Kassidy to a Justin Bieber concert with friends (and gave Lauren tickets to the Rascal Flatts concert to go with two other friends).
Kassidy played volleyball this fall. I'm so proud of her. She did such an amazing job and has improved greatly. I felt like a proud momma sitting in the stand. There's something so amazing about watching your children grow up and excel in their activities. I only wish she had more confidence in herself.
So as you can see, we've been busy. Now that the wedding planning is in full force I'll be sure to come back and post a picture of the dress, invites, Save The Dates, etc. I can't wait to share everything with you.
Until then....I hope everyone has a great week!
Posted by Danica at 9:19 PM 6 comments
Labels: Family, Georgia, Kassidy, Lauren, volleyball
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
I'm here!
Life sometimes just gets in the way! I've tried to keep up with blogging but it's been difficult!
Some things the family has been in to:
....Kassidy is finishing up volleyball. She's been amazing! I haven't missed one game and I have yelled and screamed for her and taken a gazillion pictures! What proud momma wouldn't??
....Lauren is doing well in college. She's been sick the last couple of days. Infact at one point or another the entire house has been sick!
....LW has been busy with officating volleyball and now that he is almost finished with that, he'll be off to officiating basketball. Love that I have a man who actually has hobbies!
Me, well I've been up to a lot:
....working on my holiday crafts
....signed up with a personal trainer. Working on day two tonight!
....socializing with friends
....went sky diving this summer
....planning a wedding
....planning an amazing honeymoon
....working off and on insane hours
....working out as much as I can
....trying to find an inexpensive family vacation for next year. The rule in our house is every year we have to get together as a family and do something. Doesn't have to be fancy, but we have to spend more than three days together having fun! I want to keep this rule for when the girls grow up and have their own families.
....attended an OSU game (no comments on that bad loss last week - ha)
....had a scavenger hunt for my friend's 30th birthday (now that was fun!)
....got a new computer at home. We went cheap, but it's working fine, so I couldn't be happier! Just working on rebuilding and restoring the stuff I lost.
....attended a graduation party for a friend who graduated with his masters degree
....had a few of LW's basketball official friends over for a cookout
....attended an autism speaks walk and after party
....took Lauren and Kassidy to have pictures done
I know I'm leaving a lot out! But now that I have my computer fixed at home, I'll try to get on this week and post our life in pictures from the summer!
And I will do my best to get to each of your blogs this week as well.
Happy Tuesday!
Posted by Danica at 12:01 PM 3 comments
Labels: update
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Some Things Just Happen
It's no secret (well maybe it is to my blogging friends) that LW and I struggled over the summer. Most of it me, alot of it him. Just so you know I'm not pointing fingers here.
I won't lie. It was a rough summer, probably my worst on record. But in my defense I had a lot thrown at me within the first 6 months of the year.
- I had a complete hysterectomy at 36 years old.
- His oldest daughter came for a visit only a week after I returned to work from my surgery.
- His oldest daughter moved in with us in June.
- Kassidy moved in for the summer.
That's a lot to handle for a girl who always wanted to be a Mom but never could biologically. Lots of raw emotion was spent this year. And by summer's end, I was spent. I was dried up from all of the tears. I was exhausted. I needed a break.
The very day that Kassidy went back to home to her Mom's for the school year I had my melt down and asked LW and Lauren to leave for a few days. Technically I asked him to move out, but he did the smart thing and just packed a few things and left. Those three days, as hard as they were, were LIFE changing for our family.
LW and I were able to see how strong our bond of love for one another truly is. And I'm happy to say, I've never ever been this in love. My heart ached while he was away. I know without a doubt that he is my soulmate.
But what I didn't expect to grow, was my relationship with Lauren. About a week or so ago, we actually sat down and had a heart to heart. Something we needed, but were both too engrossed in our daily lives to take the step forward to do. But the opportunity presented itself and we took advantage. LW was away so it was Lauren and I, at the kitchen table, for two hours, talking, crying, getting it all out.
This summer caused us all to experience things we have never experienced before. It took each of us out of our comfort zones and taught us all a very valuable lesson. Love, if it truly exists, can get you through the toughest of times. And that is exactly why, today, we are a better family for those struggles. We never gave up and through it all continued to love one another.
It's not perfect, but it's better. Time spent with LW is now more precious than it was before. And time spent with Lauren is equally as special, for now, she knows, the lengths we can go as a family to make this work.
Our journey is not over. But I'm happy to say, it's one journey I'm finally ready to take and for that I am ever so grateful. God gave me a purpose with LW and his girls and that purpose is to bring them all together as a family.
One of the last things Lauren said to me that night was in regards to how, for the first time in her life that she can remember, she finally feels like a real family. And that right there makes this family worth fighting for.
We'll weather this storm....together.
Posted by Danica at 12:09 PM 6 comments
Labels: Family
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Hanging in There
Sorry it's been so long since my last post. Lots of things have been going on that have prevented me from being able to post and/or read blogs.
- I'm stuck in a conference room at work with about 9 people so I have no Internet time unless I try to get on at lunch (which I'm doing now).
- Kassidy started volleyball so our Saturday mornings have been hectic (that's a lot of the time when I would try to read blogs if I couldn't get to them during the week).
- Our laptop at home is acting weird, thus we can't connect to the Internet. Supposidly I need to reinstall IE and I just haven't had the time.
- We've all been sick. All four of us are fighting a cold. Lauren is better finally though.
But all is well.
Lauren starts college tomorrow! YAY She seems really excited about it. As far as I know Dad and her got everything set yesterday.
Kassidy is fantastic. Her volleyball team is 1-1.
LW is great. He's been really busy officiating volleyball and taking Kassidy to her volleyball practices (we all go to the games!).
I'm doing good. Work is kicking my tail. I need to take some vacation days before the year ends so I'm looking forward to some time off alone. I need I recoup day.
Hope all is well!
Posted by Danica at 11:58 AM 7 comments
Labels: Family
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Still Here
Wow I just realized it's been FOREVER since I last posted. Sorry for the delay. It's been beyond busy at home. Between work, studying for a certification for work and home, it's been one hectic summer.
Kassidy went home to her mom's for the school year last week.
Lauren is starting college in 20 days or so.
LW and I while, we suffered a really horrible rough patch, have learned to start to piece our life back together. It's not going to be easy, but I love him enough to work through our struggles and apparently he loves me enough to do the same.
I'd have to say it's been one of the worst summers on record. I'm definately looking forward to the fall and looking foward to college football, cold weather, and family time during the holidays.
I'll do my best to post a little more frequently. I hope everyone is doing well. I'm off to get caught up on my blog readings.
Peace love happiness!
Posted by Danica at 9:16 PM 10 comments
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
So I've been a bit down lately. Things have been ubber stressful and since my surgery I'm having a hard time balacing things. I feel somewhat 'lost' in my thoughts...like I can never remember what I said, or what I promised. Therefore I'm struggling with balancing work, kids, cleaning the house, yard work, and so on.
So today, when the four of us got together to take LW to an early birthday dinner, I must say the laughter was good for me. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard I cried. And I can't remember the last time the four of us laughed so hard we couldn't talk without laughing.
After dinner we headed home to cut the cake the girls had made for LW. The laughter started as soon as I cut the cake. Lauren forgot to grease the bottom of the pan, so the cake stuck to the bottom. So there we all sat....giggeling hysterically. Then the next thing I know, Kassidy is telling us how she clogged the toliet in their bathroom. Mind you, it was 10 minutes later that she's telling us this. LW thought it best to have Lauren teach her how to plunge the toliet. So standing in the middle of the kitchen, demonstrating plunging a toliet, is Lauren. And we laughed and we laughed and we fell off of our chairs we laughed so hard.
Lauren then took Kassidy upstairs, unwillingly but LW said since she did such a good job demonstrating, that she could surely show Kassidy how to do it in real time. The sounds coming from the bathroom were hysterical "Kassidy you have to move the turd out of the way. Kassidy not like that, like this. Kassidy WHAT are you doing?" OMG LW and I started walking up the stairs to witness the mass confusion, but we couldn't make it up the stairs we were laughing so hard.
And all night we laughed.
Lauren eventually went out with friends and Kassidy and I went on a walk with LW, where LW proceeded to pull his shorts up to his chest and then down past his hiney (his shirt was covering everything so have no fear he wasn't flashing the neighbors) and we laughed some more.
We laughed so long and so hard that Kassidy, bless her heart, fell asleep in the middle of the floor in the den while I was on the computer.
The high light of my evening.....walking with Kassidy and having her grab my hand and LW's hand.
From that moment on we felt like the perfect family.
I love my life. Through all of our struggles (because let me tell you raising someone else's kid isn't easy) I feel LW's love. It's been a tough few months (heck a rough few days) for us for reasons I can't discuss. In one moment life can change. And when Kass grabbed my hand, all in the world was right...if only for a moment.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
I've been so behind. Perhaps it's summer....perhaps it's that I now have a teenager and a pre-teen living in my house...of which I am FINALLY use to. Every day is a different, challenging day, but I'm no longer having crying, stressful fits. I'm learning to let go of the things I can't control.
To say our summer has been busy is an understatement. We've been doing so much it's hard to remember exactly what day of what month it is!
For the 4th of July we went with one of my BFF's to her parents house in DC for the holiday. It was fantastic. I felt like I was with my family and I honestly, with all my heart, adore my BFF and her family. Crystal and I met online a couple of years ago or so but didn't really get to know each other until probably last year. As she said the other day "you're my thick". And she means it. And I have to say, there is only one other person in this entire world who knows me as well as Crystal does. She's been my rock, my best friend and someone I adore with all of my heart. She is my "thick".
So here we are with her family for the holiday weekend.
Crystal is in the middle with her dad and mom to her right and her daughter and her sister to her left.
Of course LW and I are here with Kassidy. I think I'm trying to pull off a sexy pose here!
Crystal and her daughter Chaya and her husband Darren.
Crystal with her dad and husband.
Me and Crystal....aw
Of course no trip is complete to Washington without going to DC!
Also this summer we had Lauren's graduation party in Ohio. We picked a super hot day to have an outdoor party, but it was fun and the kids all seemed to really enjoy themselves.
Posted by Danica at 8:07 PM 15 comments
Friday, July 23, 2010
Foreign Language
If you write in it, I can't understand it.
I won't translate it.
Therefore your words are lost on me....blog follower.
Posted by Danica at 12:11 PM 5 comments
Labels: language
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
It seems these days I can't keep up with blogging or even reading blogs. I'm at a busy spot at work, and with two kids at home, the last thing I want to do when I get home is sit in front of a computer all evening.
The kids are great.
Lauren got a job and started this week. She'll be working at the local mall in the Abercrombie and Fitch store. I can't wait to use her discount! She's on track to start college at the end of September. So all in all, Lauren is doing great living back in Ohio.
Kassidy has been so fun this summer. We've kept her busy with a week at Grandma's and this week she is at an over night camp. From what we can tell from the camp's website, Kassidy is having a blast and making new friends. We've been able to see pictures of her. Ah the technology!
Wedding planning is **trying** to come along. We thought we had a reception place nailed down, but then I happened upon two other locations that will need less work to decorate and cater than the original place, so we're setting up meetings to over over everything with the other locations. We have an email into the cake lady, a date set up to speak with the photographer, a DJ already booked and an appointment with the travel agent to discuss the honeymoon. So plans are progressing.
Work is insane. I'm the test lead for 9 people, and every last one of them are keeping me on my toes. I've worked late evenings, I've worked weekends, I've worked from home. I'm spent. But it's been good for me to be in this leadership role. And I'm blessed to have a job.
Yesterday marked 6 months since I've had my hysterectomy. I actually took some time to reflect on the changes that have occured. The bad: I'm ubber sensitive, I'm hot all of the time, I'm irratible a little more than normal, I have crazy headaches but the good: I'm PAIN FREE and it feels terrific. I'm doing things that may have held me back 6 months ago. I have more energy than before. I feel terrific! I still get a little down when I think about not having my own children, but having LW's girls home, has made me realize that I AM a mother. Even Lauren told me Sunday that I make a better mother than most Mom's she knows. She always reminds me that even though she's not mine, that she loves me and that I am still her mom. And every now and then when she calls me Momma D or calls me her parent, I get chills. It feels good to know that a Mother doesn't have to give birth to her children to know that she's a mother. And gosh darn it, I'm a mother and I'm good at it. And every day I will remind those girls how much they mean to me. And every day I will do what's best for them. And every single day they will know I am here for them for as long as humanly possible, for I am THEIR mother.
So life is good. Just busy!
Google Wednesday will be back I promise!
And the next time I post, I hope to post pictures from Lauren's graduation party we had in Ohio for her and our 4th of July pictures from our trip to D.C.
I'll be back my bloggin friends!
Posted by Danica at 12:45 PM 4 comments
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Google Wednesday
So last week got away from me, therefore there was no Google Wednesday! So sorry to disappoint.
I didn't forget as much as I just got busy and haven't had the time these days. I've been busy balancing my new home life and working on a very large project at work.
But have no fear....I'm back this week!
This week I decided to Google.....
Lately I've been focusing on wedding cake designs. Since we're getting married in the month of June I figured we needed to get started on planning and booking places as the summer tends to fill up fast. I have an idea on the kind of cake I would like: four tier, round, purple, lime green, hot pink and bright orange ribbon at the base of each tier, and possibly some kind of design on the cake. I also would like a silver "W" for the top of the cake. The cake will sit on a bright orange table cloth with nothing else. Very basic. Clean.
At the end of July we actually meet with a baker to start taste testing our cake. I can't wait. I love that part of wedding planning! Nothing better than yummie cake.
I'm not sure what it is about wedding cake, but I could care less what kind of food we serve just so long as the wedding cake tastes amazing! There's something so deliriously tasty about wedding cake.
I can't wait to dive right on in.
Posted by Danica at 4:33 PM 8 comments
Labels: Google Wednesday, wedding
Monday, July 5, 2010
It's been awhile since I last posted some of the cards I have made. I've been successful thus far this year hand making all of my cards for friends and family for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Most often too, I am getting the cards out on time! Now that takes planning!
Posted by Danica at 9:35 PM 11 comments
Labels: cards
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Google Wednesday
Today's post is in honor of the concert I attended this weekend with Kassidy, my BFF and her daughter and another friend of mine and her daughter.
Do you know him?
Justin Drew Bieber born March 1, 1994 is a Canadian pop-R&B singer. His performances on YouTube were seen by Scooter Braun, who later became his manager. Braun arranged for him to meet with Usher in Atlanta, Georgia, and Bieber was soon signed to Raymond Braun Media Group (RBMG), a joint venture between Braun and Usher, and then to a recording contract with Island Records offered by L.A. Reid.
His debut single, "One Time", was released worldwide during 2009, and charted within the top 30 in over ten countries. It was followed by his debut release, My World on November 17, 2009, which was certified platinum in the United States, which at the time gave Bieber the highest debut by a new artist in the year, and made Bieber the first artist to have seven songs from a debut album chart on the Billboard Hot 100. His first full studio release, My World 2.0 was released on March 23, 2010 and has since received similar success; debuting at number one and within the top ten of several countries and was certified platinum in less than two months of release in the United States. It was preceded by the international hit song, "Baby"
I should say the concert was okay. It wasn't over the top great, but it wasn't the worst concert I had ever been to. The highlight of the evening was looking over at Kassidy and the girls, watching them in awe as their idol danced around and struted his stuff (grabbing himself one too many times for my taste). For in that very moment I felt like a Mom would did something wonderfully giving for their child. And I can honestly say, it was all worth it to hear how giddy she was about the whole thing.
As of today she's still telling everyone about the concert.
While I don't think his music is the best, it isn't horrible either and I must say he has a few catchy songs. I did catch myself singing with him from time to time.
There were three opening acts, which was kind of strange. I've never been to a concert where that was the case before. The best and final opening act was Sean Kingston. I found myself singning and screaming more with and about him than I did with Justin Bieber. But again, I'm not a giddy, hormonal 11 year old.
I'm just me. And just me did a wonderful thing for a child who hopefully one day will appreciate the deepth of my love for her.
Happy Google Wednesday!
Posted by Danica at 8:24 PM 8 comments
Labels: Google Wednesday
Sunday, June 27, 2010
I'm emotionally and physically swamped these days.
Brief re-cap:
Lauren moved home. She's been great. She's trying to find a job but in the mean time she's watching Kassidy and a friend during the day while we're at work. She starts college in the fall and is even thinking of trying out for the basketball team. Love that girl.
Kassidy is at our house for the summer. It's been challenging because we all know how difficult the pre-teen years are, but I hope she knows we love her and are here for her.
Work has been crazy. In fact I'll be logging off of here in a minute to log into work. Lots of overtime in the next month...ugh. But I'm blessed to have a job, so I will not complain.
LW is great. Busy as well. He just got home from a camping trip with some friends, so I'm anxious to hear how it went. He's sleeping right now!
Wedding planning is coming along. I'll post all of the details as they start to be nailed down.
I'll do my best to get better at posting. My life has been about the kids lately and I'm so high strung that I can't keep it all organized very well!
I will say I took Kassidy to the Justin Bieber concert last night with some friends. The girls had a blast. The adults...well...we were there to support our girls love of this baggy pants wearing, kid who I thought was 12 but is really 16. HA
Have a great week everyone. Stop back in for Google Wednesday!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Google Wednesday
This week I Googled....Dr. Sheldon Cooper.
Because seriously he cracks me up...like no other human being can make me laugh! I am completely and utterly obscessed with that TV show (The Big Bang Theory); although not to the point of how obscessed I am with Roseanne....not yet anyway. Heck I own the first four seasons of Roseanne. After that is when it started to go down hill, but I still loved the show anyway.
But I digress.
If you can believe it, Wikipedia even has information on the fictional TV character!!! Love.It.
Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by actor Jim Parsons.
A Caltech theoretical physicist, Sheldon is Leonard Hofstadter's (Johnny Galecki) roommate and colleague. They live across the hallway from Penny (Kaley Cuoco).
Sheldon is distinct for his overtly intellectual personality: he is calculating and cynical, he exhibits a strict adherence to routine, a lack of understanding of irony, sarcasm and humor, and a complete lack of humility; these characteristics are the main sources of his character's humor and the center of a number of episodes. He has been described as the show's breakout character.
Jim Parsons's character is named in honor of actor/producer Sheldon Leonard.
Every week I tune in just to see what new, zanny, brainy, wild, weird, t-shirt he'll have on. It's not like I find him attractive, though he does have this midly attractive, geeky aura about him...I just find him breath takingly funny. Like in an "OMG he's a nut" funny. In fact I even have LW watching the show....and that says a lot because he loves crime drama more than comedy. Score.
I'm sad it's off for the summer, although the re-runs still manage to keep me entertained....which isn't difficult to do with the summer line up that is typically on TV.
Seriously if you have not seen this show, now is your time to catch up before the fall line up begins in a few short months. Season Four here I come!
Posted by Danica at 12:45 PM 5 comments
Labels: Google Wednesday
Monday, June 14, 2010
More Senior Pictures
Here are a few more of Lauren's senior pictures I'd love to share with you. Remember they are unedited. I definately need to find a way to edit them so I can print more! They are all just so amazing. She's just absolutely beautiful.
Posted by Danica at 10:16 PM 7 comments
Labels: Lauren


text:
Today is my younger son's birthday. I'm away at a conference in Florida and so won't celebrate with him this day.
Yesterday, someone said to me that he ought to write his memoirs.
Shouldn't we all?
Or, as writers, don't we, already?
How many times have you written an incident that's happened to you? Or used a trait of a relative to define a character? Or made the neighbor next door a peripheral character in a book?
Come on, confess. I'll start. I made my in-laws major characters in one of my early books. Here's the thing. Members of my family read the book and nobody recognized them.
Really. There was also a cousin, a neighbor, people I'd worked with — not so you'd recognize them, but I'd written to their personalities or family history, or something in their current livesused
My husband and sons — I won't go there. Maybe, maybe not. But the cat — I featured our Calico cat in one of my books because I promised her, before she died.
And aunts and uncles — fair game, where I could reorder life with them to my taste and say what I should have said thirty years ago.
Writing, as it were, pieces of my biography entwined with fictionalizing them.
I shouldn't write my memoirs. I should say, read my books. There, you'll learn all about me.
Beyond the Night, the sequel to The Darkest Heart is available now as a Pocket Star eBbook.


text:
I had a feeling they were going to lose as soon as San Jose took their first shot. 2-0 and I knew it was over. 2-1 and it was still over. The 3rd goal just made my decision easier. They were up 4-1 before I was even out the door. Why sit there and be miserable and ridicule the team further when I can go out and watch a movie with my wife?Strangelove wrote:The other day I jokingly referred to a dream I had about Sedins racking up 5 points between them.Meds wrote:I don't know what the fuck you dream about Doc.....but if it was that shit I don't see how you can give other people shit about their dedication and belief.Strangelove wrote:
Tonight is the night that dream comes true!
As for dedication, well some fans watch every second of every playoff game their team plays.
Some fans leave mid-game to watch Iron Man 3.
Just sayin.
I want them to win as much as anyone here does, but I don't subscribe to blind faith. Hank put it out there and made it really easy to understand when he said that as soon as the team is down a game everyone thinks they are done. Maybe that's because they have only ever battled back to win a series after once after losing the first game.....and they have squandered several series leads. I wonder why nobody actually thinks this Sedin captained group can actually get it done?


text:
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