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ROCKFORD — Dozens of red roses floated down the river today, a somber gesture from families grieving the loss of a loved one to drugs.
About 100 people grieved, shared stories and offered each other support at an overdose awareness event at the YMCA Log Lodge along the banks of the Rock River.
Sunday is International Overdose Awareness Day, which "allows us to remember those we have lost and come together with a common cause of battling addiction," said Bonnie Falzone-Capriola, co-founder of Hope Over Addiction, an advocacy group that offers education and support.
Hope Over Addiction led the gathering. It also distributed free Naloxone, a drug used to counter an opioid overdose, and provided training on its use.
Access to cheap and potent drugs, especially heroin, has accelerated the rates at which people die from drug overdose. Winnebago County has had 52 through June, Coroner Sue Fiduccia said. There were 124 overdose deaths last year. Homicides and fatal accidents typically grab headlines, Fiduccia said, but it's time for people to realize the toll that drugs are taking on the community's young people.
"We have more drug-overdose deaths than we do traffic fatalities and homicides combined," she said. But statistics are not the true story of loss because they don't show the effect it has on families.
The pain is raw for family and friends of Jay Rogers, who died of a heroin overdose Feb. 21. He was 25. About 30 people were dressed in white T-shirts adorned with his photo.
Rogers was seemingly on the path to making a new life for himself, his mother, Cyndi Ilseman, said. He had been clean for more than a month and landed a steady job. Then he relapsed. It's a common narrative for overdose victims: When people take their typical amount of drugs after a prolonged break from using, it can be too much for the body to handle and lead to an overdose.
"I wish I could have known how to stop it or known when it started," said Ilseman, who had raised her son to avoid drugs and alcohol. "I'd have done anything I could to save my son."
A stigma that surrounds drug addicts is a major obstacle to change, Amy Bruyn, director of addiction services at KP Counseling, told the gathering. She even cautioned people about how their word choice can propagate the stigma and prevent people from getting help.
"I don't ever want to hear the word junkie again. I hate that word," she said. "That's a person who's suffering. That's a person who's hurting. Instead of putting them down, why don't we lend a hand and help them up?"
Ilseman and her family are still trying to make sense of the loss of Rogers and trying to find meaning in his death by working to help others in the same situation.
"Always let the person know that you love them no matter what," Ilseman said. "Just make sure you don't forget to tell somebody every day how much you love them."
Kevin Haas: 815-987-1410; email@example.com; @KevinMHaas
By the numbers
Drug-overdose deaths in Winnebago County:
2014*: 52
2013: 124
2012: 107
2011: 75
2010: 78
2009: 65
2008: 64
2007: 46
2006: 50
2005: 38
*Through June
Source: Coroner Sue Fiduccia


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KBPgb 4354 Premium BioFresh Fridge with BioFresh
Offering even more interior capacity for food storage, economy and energy efficiency, quiet operation, ease-of-use and exceptional design: Liebherr's BluPerformance appliances set both a new direction in refrigeration and freezing, and new benchmarks.
In the BioFresh compartments food retains its healthy vitamins, aroma and appetising appearance significantly longer than in a conventional fridge. Through its advanced technology the temperature is accurately kept at just above 0°C.
LED rear panel lighting
The LED rear wall lighting is integrated into the rear section of the horizontal dividing shelf. Energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and maintenance-free LEDs optimally illuminate the back section of the Fridge compartment, from top to bottom and provide high-quality illumination.
Liebherr appliances labelled with a "SmartDevice" logo can be networked to the SmartDeviceBox, which allows the appliance to access further services and be controlled remotely from a computer or mobile device. The SmartDeviceBox is available as an accessory. However, appliances with the letter i in their model name (for example: Kbi 4350) already have the SmartDeviceBox integrated as standard.
The integrated SoftSystem mechanism cushions door closure even when the door shelves are fully stocked; it ensures gentle closing and prevents bottles, jars and packets or food from falling out of the door.

subset: commoncrawl


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Gay marriage to be illegal in Church of England
The Church of England and Church in Wales will be banned in law from offering same-sex marriages, the government has announced.
Other religious organisations will be able to "opt in" to holding ceremonies, Culture Secretary Maria Miller said.
But she added that the Church of England and Church in Wales had "explicitly" stated strong opposition and would not be included.
Labour said the exemption for the established Church was "disappointing".
The plans are due to be introduced before the next election, in 2015.
Labour backs the government's decision to legislate on same-sex marriages, which will apply to England and Wales, and urged ministers not to be "too reserved" in promoting the policy.
Party leader Ed Miliband suggested that Labour votes would "ensure that this measure is passed in the House of Commons".
The Church of England and Roman Catholics, among other denominations, have voiced opposition to same-sex marriage and are expected to oppose the bill, even with its caveats.
Although Culture Secretary Maria Miller has stressed the government's determination to press ahead with this plan for gay marriage, she has unveiled a series of legal concessions.
The upshot of that, it seems to me, is that only a very small number of churches or establishments are likely to be available to same-sex couples for wedding ceremonies.
That will undoubtedly appease many of her critics, particularly on her own backbenches.
The danger with the explicit legal ban on same sex marriage in the Church of England and Church in Wales, is it will anger many supporters of gay marriage who feel she has given far too much ground.
But some religious groups, including Quakers, Unitarians and Liberal Judaism, are in favour.
In her statement, Mrs Miller promised a "quadruple lock" to protect religious freedom, involving:
No religious organisation or individual minister being compelled to marry same-sex couples or to permit this to happen on their premises
Making it unlawful for religious organisations or their ministers to marry same-sex couples unless their organisation's governing body has expressly opted in to provisions for doing so
Amending the 2010 Equality Act to ensure no discrimination claim can be brought against religious organisations or individual ministers for refusing to marry a same-sex couple
The legislation explicitly stating that it will be illegal for the Church of England and the Church in Wales to marry same-sex couples and that Canon Law, which bans same-sex weddings, will continue to apply
Mrs Miller said the Church of England and Church in Wales had "explicitly stated" their opposition to offering same-sex ceremonies, so the government would "explicitly state that it will be illegal for the Churches of England and Wales to marry same-sex couples".
She also said: "I am absolutely clear that no religious organisation will ever be forced to conduct marriages for same-sex couples, and I would not bring in a bill which would allow that.
"European law already puts religious freedoms beyond doubt, and we will go even further by bringing in an additional 'quadruple legal lock'. But it is also a key aspect of religious freedom that those bodies who want to opt in should be able to do so."
For Labour, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, welcomed the announcement, saying: "We should not stop people from getting married and getting that recognition from the state on grounds of gender or sexuality.
"And we should not here in Parliament say that some loving relationships have greater value than others."
Plans to legalise same-sex marriage have divided the Conservative Party and more than 100 Tory MPs are thought to be against the idea.
Religious freedom
One of these opponents, Peter Bone, asked the Commons: "How dare the secretary of state try to redefine marriage?"
Richard Drax said: "I would like to ask the Secretary of State and the government what right have they got, other than arrogance and intolerance, to stamp their legislative boot on religious faith?"
Another, Sir Tony Baldry, who speaks for the Church of England in Parliament, said: "For the Church of England, the uniqueness of marriage is that it does embody the distinctiveness of men and women.
"So removing from the definition of marriage this complementarity is to lose any social institution where sexual difference is explicitly acknowledged."
Some Conservative MPs grumbled during Mrs Miller's statement that promises to "preserve" marriage had been broken.
They said that when civil partnerships became law, they had been reassured that same sex marriages would not follow.
A look back at the Commons Hansard, from the second reading of the Civil Partnership Bill, on 12 October 2004, provides some evidence for their claims.
Labour's Chris Bryant, a vocal supporter of same-sex marriages, told the Commons eight years ago that he didn't want "same-sex relationships to ape marriage in any sense".
The then equality minister, Labour's Jacqui Smith, said she recognised that people felt "very strongly about specific religious connotations of marriage". She said the government was right to take a "secular approach to resolve the specific problems of same-sex couples".
Her then Conservative shadow, Alan Duncan, who is now a minister in the coalition government, said it would be up to churches to decide what happened in future on the issue of same-sex marriages.
"The clear distinction between a civil secular partnership and the institution of marriage will, in my view, be preserved," he said.
The Catholic Church stepped up its opposition, accusing ministers of ignoring a 600,000-signature petition supporting the status quo.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, and Archbishop Peter Smith, the Archbishop of Southwark, said opponents of gay marriage should lobby MPs "clearly, calmly and forcefully, and without impugning the motives of others".
In a statement, they said: "The meaning of marriage matters. It derives that meaning from its function as the foundation of the family.
"The union of one man and one woman for love and mutual support and open to procreation has over the centuries formed a stable unit we call the family."
But the Archbishop of Wales said that making it illegal for the Church in Wales to offer same-sex marriages would be a "step too far".
"In my personal opinion it's a great pity it's illegal for us not to even have the possibility to do it," said Dr Barry Morgan. "It should be left for us to opt in or opt out."
The Bishop of Leicester, the right reverend Tim Stevens, warned the issue was creating a division between the political classes and practising religious people.
He spoke out against the government's proposals in the House of Lords and said ministers needed to work towards a consensus on the matter.
But former bishop of Oxford, Lord Harries of Pentregarth, said in response that a "fair number" of serving bishops supported gay marriage but were unable to say so publicly.
Prime Minister David Cameron said last week that he believed same-sex marriages should be allowed in churches - but only if there was a "100%" guarantee that no church, synagogue or mosque would be forced to hold one against their wishes.
A number of other senior Tories, including Education Secretary Michael Gove, London Mayor Boris Johnson and former Prime Minister John Major, have also backed same-sex marriage by religious bodies.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay rights organisation Stonewall, said: "We're delighted about the government's statement today and welcome the promise to legislate for equal marriage as warmly as on the three previous occasions that this announcement has been made.
"We're particularly pleased that ministers have been persuaded to extend their original proposal in order to permit same-sex marriages for those religious denominations that wish to hold them. This is an important matter of religious freedom."
'Husband' and 'wife'
The consultation on plans for same-sex marriage received 228,000 submissions.
In its response to the consultation the government says it has no plans to change the definition of adultery or non-consummation of a marriage - which means neither could be cited as grounds for divorce in a same-sex marriage, unless the adultery was with someone of the opposite sex.
Rev Colin Coward, director of Changing Attitude, described the proposals as "disastrous"
They also dismiss the fear that the terms "husband" and "wife" could be removed as a result of same sex marriages.
The government says: "That is not the case - on the contrary these proposals will allow more people to use those terms.
"Couples will continue to be able call each other whatever they wish in their personal life, and in legal and official documents, the terms husband and wife will continue to be used."
They also say that teachers "particularly in faith schools will be able to continue to describe their belief that marriage is between a man and woman whilst acknowledging and acting within the new legislative position which enables same sex-couples to get married". BBC
all | homosexuality | England | church


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[Windows Only] Not everyone would consider themselves nationalistic or patriotic. However, most of us do enjoy seeing our national flags flying high and rippling in the breeze of a bright day. NewFreeScreensavers is offering 12 great free animated flag screensavers with an analog clock in the center. The flags are full screen animations that should work well on any Windows display. The settings for the screensavers are simple and allow you to change the display resolution.
All of the free screensavers at NewFreeScreensavers are completely ad-free and contain no malware. There are dozens of cool free animated screensavers there that you must see to believe.
Check out the rest of the free screensavers we've talked about here at Techie Buzz.
If you have your own tips on places to find great free screensavers, be sure to comment below or email me.


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Category Name
Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard, Number Pad and Mouse
Price from: £104.95 (Ex VAT)
What our customers say
"Today Kevin visited me in Eastbourne, to set up a height adjusting desk, footstall, keyboard stand, mouse and chair. I just wanted to say how patient, and caring he was. He really helped me and I think he should be commended on how friendly, polite, informative and down to earth he was. Thank you Kevin and Ergonomics."
Lydia Harris, Student


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Petitions for South Carolina high school diplomas
Through the passage of Act 155 (now Act 207), the South Carolina General Assembly approved the removal of the high school exit exam as a requirement for graduation beginning with the graduating class of 2015. The elimination of the exit exam (BSAP, HSAP) requirement was retroactive to the graduating class of 1990.
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the change.
Here is the link to the petition form.
For more information specific to the Beaufort County School District, email Carolyn Jenkins, or call 843-322-5403.
Address: 2900 Mink Point Boulevard, Beaufort, SC 29902Phone: 843-322-2300District Office Hours: M-F 8:00 am-5:00 pmLogin


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TIPS Hotline marks milestone amid homicide spike
KC records 7 homicides in 48-hour period
In a week where Kansas City recorded seven homicides within a 48-hour period, many are hoping that calls to the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline can help lead to arrests.
The hotline is part of a Kansas City institution that is now 30 years old.
"I hope that people come forward with some information on this and stop playing hush-hush," said Lakecia Price, after a barber was slain in his Kansas City barbershop on Tuesday.
The hotline gets about 4,500 calls every year. Its managers said that those calls have led to more than 283 arrests over the past three years, many involving fugitives and drug cases.
Recently, the Crime Stoppers group said it has helped with its 600th overall arrest, one that came in a homicide case.
The hotline offers rewards for information that leads to an arrest. Callers can remain anonymous, even if they receive the money.
"There are not very many programs that can say that," said Rick Easley of the Kansas City Crime Commission. "We've given away more than $1.2 million anonymously."
Rewards are paid in cash through a third party.
"We basically have our pre-arranged locations throughout the city where we pay out rewards," said Kevin Boehm of the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline. "They show up, get their cash and drive off."
At an awards breakfast Thursday morning, a score of law enforcement agencies that included local police and the FBI, celebrated the commission's 30th anniversary.
The Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 816-474-8477.


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bab.la 例文集
bab.laのフレーズ集は多くの語句や表現を含んでいます。この文例集は 5つのカテゴリーに分かれており、それぞれ多彩な文例を含んでいます。それぞれの語句には使われる状況の説明がついているので、気軽に利用できます。
bab.laのフレーズ集は多くの語句や表現を含んでいます。この文例集は 5つのカテゴリーに分かれており、それぞれ多彩な文例を含んでいます。それぞれの語句には使われる状況の説明がついているので、気軽に利用できます。
We travel for pleasure, we study in foreign countries to gain knowledge, we move abroad to facilitate career progression; without even leaving our hometown, we end up dealing with situations in which people from different cultures to our own are involved. In order to begin a new life abroad and avoid any complications along the way, knowing some useful vocabulary and phrases may be a good starting point. Being well-informed is key to succeed in a foreign environment. When settling down in a new country, and especially in a country whose local language you don't speak or at least not well enough to get by, simple tasks require a huge amount of effort. Some of the things you'll need to consider will most likely include filling out paperwork, looking for a flat, searching for job opportunities and then making the most out of interview opportunities you are presented with. The best way to deal with these situations is to get prepared in advanced.
The bab.la phrase dictionary is intended to cover any topic in which you may need to use your foreign language skills. If you plan to move abroad and decide to test the waters by searching for job offers online before leaving your home country, you may even get some interviews over Skype. And who knows, you might even get the job before moving to your new destination! Applying for job offers online, generally requires having submitted a CV and cover letter before the Skype interview. This task may or may not be straightforward, depending on your knowledge of the language your potential employer is demanding. Either way, the bab.la phrasebook is a very useful resource to write compelling, well-structured cover letters, CVs or reference letters. For people who either work abroad or in a multinational corporation in their home countries and need to be in touch with international partners or clients on a regular basis, the bab.la phrase dictionary can be a precious resource. Learn how to prepare a team meeting or a business appointment in dozens of languages.
If you want to build an international professional career, you may choose to study abroad as a starting point. This life-changing experience is particularly valuable when you study in a foreign language. By improving not just your knowledge in your field of expertise, but also your communication and soft skills, your CV will be much more enticing for employers later on when you start applying for jobs abroad or back in your home country. Universities across the world work differently, though. The application procedure might vary significantly from one country to another, and it is important to fully understand the requirements for registering at your target school. For example, some universities request their applicants to submit a motivational cover letter or even reference letters from previous professors. The bab.la phrase dictionary works wonders when it comes to writing these things! Once you are accepted, during the course of your studies you will be asked to work on essays, team projects and public presentations, amongst other things. The bab.la phrase dictionary will come to the rescue by helping you to explain the graphs and statistics in your research in a wide range of languages. Research studies demand a high language register, which is often difficult to accomplish in a foreign tongue.
Moving abroad can be an amazing experience right from the outset. Getting to know a completely different culture is thrilling, enriching and what's more, it helps us open our minds. Socialising in your new country is also the best way to adapt to your new environment and besides, it will make you learn the local language in no time. A phrasebook like bab.la's can come in handy when venturing into your new home's day-to-day life. Leaving job-related and bureaucracy topics aside, bab.la provides you with a wide range of useful phrases, vocabulary and sayings to help you interact with the locals. For example, you can learn how to order in a restaurant, or how to flirt like a pro in numerous different languages. Sending emails, writing personal letters, or making announcements in public events are among the things covered by the bab.la phrase dictionary, which aims at serving as a multi-purpose tool for expats who have just landed on foreign soil. Learn how to properly write invitations for the parties you want to throw, or how to stay in touch with your international friends in their mother tongues.


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After two months of research, writing and rewriting, three weeks of pre-production with the designer, one month of travel within the West Bank, seven months living with a Palestinian family in a refugee camp, three months of Arabic lessons, two and a half months of rehearsals and thirty years ''impassioned by the Palestinian plight'' - a well-known British Director (who prefers not to be named) was thrilled to finally present Lost Land at The Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee camp.
The play is based on a famous French Novel, Bell & Ross Replica Le Grand Meaulnes, by Alain Fournier, written a year before the break of the First World War, recounting the lives of youth in rural France. The story unfolds around the emotions, aspirations and daily life of various characters, bursting with the underlying heavy atmosphere which is felt just before a war, and all the while emphasizing that with extraordinary circumstances come extraordinary people.
When asked why this particular novel was chosen for an adaptation to The Freedom Theatre's work, the Director explains that she felt a strong similarity and parallelism with the Palestinian situation and struggle. She felt, ''a yearning for what has been taken, destroyed, trampled upon. A people, occupied and uprooted, longing for a Lost Land,'' the play's Press Release explains. Just like the characters in the novel, Palestinians are born in a situation that leads to such courage and resilience that would otherwise not be present.
Artistic Director, Mr. Nabeel Al-Raee, said during a short interview with the Palestine Monitor that the play is an artistic expression of the loss of Palestinian land which, as he describes, was ''stolen." ''For me the problem is clear,'' he explains, ''it does not take much to see the truth... there is an Occupier - this must be stopped.''
His opinion is that, in the eyes of the international community, Palestinians seem nonexistent. ''We are ignored, sometimes even by the Arab world... the reality is that nothing happens, nothing changes... So we must be unified. We have a number of goals and we must run after our dreams in order to exist,'' he says passionately. Thus, though the land be lost physically, it remains very much alive and present within them.
The play develops around social, political and, most of all, human stories; the personal adventure of each character is intertwined with the land's fate. ''We have 65 characters in this play,'' relates Mr. Al-Raee, ''it is the first time there will be collaboration between different generations of students at our theatre, including new students and graduates.''
Apart from the symbolic significance, there is an intricate technical aspect in this particular performance, which provides the actors with an interesting chance to develop and delve deeper into their skills, and this is equally important to both the actors and organizers . The play may seem simple at first, yet there is an undoubtedly deeper complexity of character and social analysis beneath the surface, as is also explained in the play's Press Release.
13 actors will take part in Lost Land, with some 25 others involved in the play's creation, production and administration. Mr Alraee and the Director are both enthusiastic about the project. They look forward to the performances and to finally share all the team's hard work with the public. They are eager to thank their sponsors, namely the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Swedish Postcode Lottery, the Consulate General of France and the Roddick Foundation, for all the support and add that if the opportunity arises, they would be delighted to perform the play abroad. Entrance was free for anyone to enjoy during their opening performances, which ran from Thursday the 21st through Sunday the 24th of November, attracting a large audience from all over the West Bank and filling up the Theatre on all days. It was so successful infact that an additional final performance will be held on Wednesday 27th November whilst other special performances will take place later on at schools in Jenin.
On Wednesday, 20 November, The Freedom Theatre also celebrated the United Nations Universal Children's Day to remind the children and their families of their own rights. A special workshop was organized within the refugee camp where children wrote down their dreams on small pieces of paper. These papers were later attached to small lanterns and sent up into the sky, thus symbolizing and encouraging hope and unity despite the difficult situation, just like the symbolism within the play.
Through such memorable, uniting and educational events and activities, the theatre strives each day to promote and uphold its founder's wish of ''cooperating with others in generating a cultural resistance,'' as quoted from The Freedom Theatre's website. Their goal is to never to give up, to act and not just speak... to change what they can and withstand what they can't - to fight for peace through drama, song, dance, creativity and positivity - until freedom and justice can shine through even the darkest of moments, until the land is no longer lost, and the lantern dreams are no longer dreams, but reality.
Back to Top


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In a survey conducted by the firm Edelman Berland, voters were asked to compare Democrats and Republicans across a number of brand attributes.
An overwhelming majority of respondents chose the Democrats as the party that "cares about people like me," "offers a hopeful vision" and "focuses on issues that matter to me." If a Republican presidential candidate is going to win in 2016, she or he will have to overcome this deficit. Leading Republicans such as Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana have made an effort to talk about issues of interest to middle-income voters, an area in which Republicans have been sorely lacking.
Yet Christie's willingness to distance himself from congressional Republicans gives him added credibility in selling himself as "a different kind of Republican," and it is reminiscent of the strategy pursued by then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who was sharply critical of congressional Republicans for their willingness to cut anti-poverty programs.
It is not obvious that a "kinder, gentler" Republicanism will fare well in the primary process come 2016, but it is a shrewd way to differentiate oneself from a primary field in which most challengers will be competing to demonstrate their conservative bona fides. And more to the point, a Republican nominee who manages to convey a softer, most centrist image will have a much easier time winning the next general election. That could be Christie's long game.


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Microsoft's foray into the corporate antivirus desktop space will come in the first half of 2007, company executives said Monday.
Since February, a group of about 100 beta testers have been looking at Microsoft's new Forefront Client Security product, but that group will expand significantly in the last quarter of the year, with the introduction of a public beta program, said Paul Bryan, a director of product management with Microsoft's Security, Access and Solutions division.
The fully supported product will ship by the end of June 2007, he said.
This marks the first time Microsoft has said when it will release public beta and fully supported versions of Client Security, which was previously called Microsoft Client Protection.
Microsoft is taking its time with this rollout. Client Security is based on software the company acquired in its 2003 purchase of antivirus vendor GeCAD. It also includes antispyware technology that was picked up a year and a half ago when Microsoft bought Giant Company Software.
In fact, this is not Microsoft's first shot at delivering antivirus software. The company tried unsuccessfully to break into the market in the early 1990s with software called Microsoft Anti-Virus.
Things are different this time around, however. Over the past few years, security has emerged as a top priority for Microsoft's developers, and the company has built up a team of malware experts who are chartered with responding immediately to reports of malicious software or security vulnerabilities in Microsoft's products.
And Microsoft already ships the free Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool that scans and removes viruses from PCs. With more than 270 million Windows users running this tool in any given month, Microsoft is able to get a unique picture of malware trends, executives say. On Monday, Microsoft released its first comprehensive analysis of this data, saying that it was detecting malware about once every 300 times the tool was run.
Client Security's tight integration with Microsoft's other products, including ActiveDirectory, will be a major selling point, according to Margaret Arakawa, a senior director with the Security, Access and Solutions division. "All of the IT professionals who know ActiveDirectories will understand how to deploy security policy," she said.
Microsoft has also moved into the consumer antivirus market lately, but there will be some major differences between Client Security and the consumer product, Windows Live OneCare.
For example, Client Security will not have the backup and system tuning capabilities that come with OneCare, but it will run on server software. The upcoming beta will be available for Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users. Arakawa did not know whether a Windows Vista version would be available at that time.
Having one support contract for both antivirus and operating system software is appealing, but Avnet Inc.'s Rob Kudray says he'll probably wait for the product to mature before he gives it a shot on his network.
"I would wait until the second or third generation of their product," said Kudray, a manager of messaging services with the electronics vendor in Chandler, Arizona. "I'd like to see a track record. See how they're performing, and see how their management tools come along."


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We teamed up with our legendary friends at Croakies to create these limited edition collars. When it comes to an everyday collar, you want soft, smooth and comfortable. Comfortable for your dog with Croakies webbing that doesn't pinch the skin or mat the hair; a sense of security for you-with best in class Duraflex® buckles and D-Rings. It's supple and silky for sure.
Bar Tack Stitching
We don't glue our materials together or sew like Grandma; we stitch 'em right and tight. This super strong stitch is the same one used on climbing harnesses and firefighters' gear.
Duraflex® Buckles
Buckles are one of the key safety features in any leash or collar. So when it comes to buckles, we don't mess around: We use the best ones on the market. Our Weinerlock® collar buckles can handle up to 225 pounds of pull.
Double D-Ring
Two D-Rings. What!? But why? WHY? It's simple. One ring for the tags and one ring for the leash. There's no need to reach under your dog's neck to clip the leash and then spin the buckle and tags all the way up to the top of the neck.
Sizing info
Regular: 1" wide and adjusts from 14"-21"
Small: 3/4" wide and adjusts from 12"-16"
"These designs are SO cool!"
Linda, Stunt Puppy customer


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Prince Harry -- Chasin' Vegas Bikini Babes AFTER Naked Romp
Prince Harry Chasin' Bikini Babes AFTER Naked Romp
Prince Harry was still jonesin for ladies following his naked hotel party in Vegas ... 'cause later that weekend, he was back at the pool scene flirtin' with a bunch of bikini babes.
Harry hit the Encore Beach Club at the Wynn Hotel on Sunday ... where he was playfully splashing around with one girl and high-fiving another ... while hanging in the pool with his buddies.
It's unclear if either of the women were in attendance at His Royal Highness' naked billiards tournament that went down in the Prince's VIP suite Friday night.
Prince Harry ... greatest royal ever.
Waiting for your permission to load the comments.


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Responding to the gap between occupational safety and health (OSH) requirements and workplace practice, EU-OSHA has launched a wide-ranging, three-year project (2014-2017) with the overall aim of identifying key success factors for policies, strategies and practical solutions designed to improve OSH in micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Europe. A group of researchers constituting the SESAME consortium has been commissioned to carry out the project, which has three main objectives:
to provide evidence-based support for policy recommendations, contributing to the current discussions on the OSH acquis with regard to small enterprises;
to identify workplace-level good practices in assuring good OSH management and to facilitate further development of innovative practical tools;
to inform future research aiming to expand knowledge on the determinants of good OSH in MSEs operating in a dynamically changing economy.
The following four project phases are to be carried out in pursuing those objectives:
Phase 1, 2014-2015: state of play — what we know about occupational safety and health in small companies
The findings of the first phase of the project are presented in a published report, Contexts and arrangements for occupational health and safety in micro and small enterprises in the EU, a comprehensive critical review of current knowledge on OSH and approaches to improving it in MSEs.
Phase 2, 2015-2016: the view from the workplace
Over 300 structured, face-to-face interviews with owners and managers, as well as with employees of MSEs in nine EU Member States participating in the project (1) are to be carried out. Influential factors, available resources, and drivers and barriers for efficient OSH management, as perceived by the workplaces themselves, will be identified and analysed. The results will deepen the understanding of the challenges identified in the previous phase.
Phase 3, 2016-2017: towards effective policies and good practices
This phase will involve OSH intermediaries and other important actors at workplace level to further analyse key mechanisms, benefits, strengths, success factors and areas for improvement in relation to policies, strategies and actions relevant to successful OSH management in MSEs. Focus groups and dialogue workshops organised in each country involved in the project will seek to determine the roles of different actors and the transferability of good practices for fostering preventive actions at workplace level.
Phase 4, 2017: support for policy recommendations and dissemination of good practices
The final phase aims to formulate (i) evidence-based support for policy and strategy options taking into account different national contexts, levels and actors, including national OSH authorities, intermediaries, social partners, workplaces and EU-level policy-makers; and (ii) best practices: 'what works and why it works (and in what context)', taking into account the diversity of MSEs across the EU. A programme of dissemination actions will be undertaken across the EU.
(1) Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom.


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The Secret Sits
The Secret Sits I photographed at these concerts:
- 29. October 2015 Frannz Club in Berlin *
* I haven't posted the photos on my homepage yet
© Adina Scharfenberg Photography
All photos are copyrighted material and all rights are reserved. No commercial use without prior written permission via contact.
Sharing for private use is allowed with tagging!


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Montréal has played a starring role in so many films that it could practically apply for its own actor's equity card. From the leafy banks of the St Lawrence River to gritty street corners with faded strip bars, Montréal can seem like a custom-built movie set. Here AnneLise Sorensen, co-author of The Rough Guide to Canada, picks some of her favourite Montréal movies.
1) Jésus de Montréal (1989, Denys Arcand)
What might happen if "the spirit of Jesus were to walk among us in these timid and materialistic times"? That's how critic Roger Ebert summed up this "original and uncompromising" film by Québécois director Denys Arcand. Fiction seeps into reality (and vice versa) as a group of young actors stage a modern take on the The Passion Play at St Joseph's Oratory, with the androgynous Daniel (Lothaire Bluteau) in the role of Jesus. As the movie unfolds, the actors' real lives begin to parallel the play – but very subtly, which is the power of the film. Arcand grapples with grand themes – the corruption of power, organised religion, hypocrisy – but again, he does so subtly, in a way that lingers in the mind long after the film has ended. The movie was nominated for the 1989 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and has twice (in 1993 and 2004) been placed on the Toronto International Film Festival list of Top 10 Canadian Films of All Time.
2) Léolo (1992, Jean-Claude Lauzon)
As his family becomes increasingly unhinged, a young boy escapes into his own elaborate fantasy world. Leo Lauzon (Maxime Collin) is growing up in a grim Montréal tenement, where instead of playing with friends, he's trying to escape death at the bony hands of his perverted grandfather, among other challenges. To cope, he spins an alternate existence, where he steps into the role of Sicilian immigrant Léolo Lozone, whose mother was impregnated by a tomato (yes, really). The film, beautifully directed by Québécois Jean-Claude Lauson, is by turns brutal and macabre, magical and yearning, resting on the exultant premise that no matter what darkness surrounds us, the mind is ours alone.
3) Montréal Main (1974, Frank Vitale)
"Brilliant yet neglected" said the reviewers of this French-Canadian film – and they're right. Set amid the wafts of marijuana and incense on the bohemian Montréal Main, the film boldly goes where few have gone before: a grown man's love for a pre-teen boy. But, as salacious as the film could be, director and star Frank Vitale instead pulls respectfully back, treating this taboo relationship tenderly, as he does the rest of the 1970s motley crew of junkies, misfits and perpetual wanderers. But, it's 1970s Montréal that's as rakishly fascinating as the shaggy-haired characters, from glimpses of the famous Schwartz's Jewish deli to the seedy Montréal Main itself, which has been described as the Sunset Strip, pre-Disneyfied Times Square, San Francisco's Tenderloin and London's Soho all rolled into one.
4) The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1964, Irvin Kershner)
The dream for a better life remains just that – a dream – in this poignant film based on the novel by Irish-Canadian author Brian Moore. A down-on-his-luck Irish immigrant, Ginger Coffey (Robert Shaw), moves to Montréal with his wife Vera (May Ure) and teenage daughter. The ginger-haired Coffey takes a job at a laundry and as proofreader at a newspaper. Even so, his paycheck can't sustain the family, and Coffey's beloved Vera leaves him. Things go from bad to worse, but in the end, while success remains just beyond reach, Vera doesn't. She returns, proving that love may not conquer all, but it does make life sweeter.
5) The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974, Ted Kotcheff)
This film may have been brushed off by Cannes when it was submitted as the official Canadian entry in 1974, but the 2013 Cannes Film Festival gave the movie its due, honoring it as a Cannes Classic. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, based on the novel by Montréal author Mordecai Richler, takes place in the 1940s in Montréal's rue St-Urbain, often called the Jewish ghetto. Keep an eye out for local icons like Wilensky's Light Lunch. The film follows the cocky Duddy, played by Richard Dreyfus, just before his famous role in Jaws. Born into a working-class Jewish family, Duddy seeks fame, fortune and, above all, land. Because, as his grandfather tells him, without your own land, you are nobody. Of course, the road to prosperity is often riddled with potholes. Duddy is a consummate hustler, but he discovers that achieving great success sometimes means alienating those who love him most.
6) The Red Violin (François Girard, 1999)
Love, inspiration, joy, betrayal, heartbreak, death, rebellion – a red violin plays an integral part in the lives of many as it travels across five countries, over a period of 300 years, in this lyrical film directed by Québécois director Francois Girard, and starring an international cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Flemyn and Monique Mercure. The violin is built in Italy, where its maker paints it in a red varnish mixed with the blood of his wife, who has died in childbirth. After this fateful beginning, the violin continues on its journey, through Austria, England and China, ending up at a Montréal auction house, where it's bid upon to bring music into someone's life anew.
7) Wait Until Dark (1967, Terence Young)
A blind heroine (Audrey Hepburn), a heroin-laced doll, severed telephone lines, and fight scenes involving smashed lightbulbs and a large kitchen knife: it's all here in this old-timey Hollywood thriller by Terence Young. The film opens in a Montréal apartment, and location scenes throughout were filmed in Montréal and New York's Greenwich Village.
8) J'ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother; Xavier Dolan, 2009)
Easily one of the most shocking titles of 2009, J'ai tué ma mère proved to be more – much more – than its sensationalist first impression. The director also turned about to be younger – much younger – than most expected. Dolan (born in 1989) is said to have written the autobiographical script when he was 16, and the film debuted at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, winning him a string of awards – and standing ovations. The film explores the bond between mother and son – a deep bond that swerves between love and hate, which ultimately seem to emanate from the same place.
9) The Score (2001, Frank Oz)
Hollywood directors love Montréal, but often as a stand-in rather than the real thing (see number 10, below.) This De Niro thriller, however, was both shot and set entirely in Montréal. The film tells the tale of aging thief Nick Wells (De Niro) who owns a jazz club in Montréal and is poised for retirement. Then along comes Max (Marlon Brando), who persuades him to do one last heist – the Montréal Customs House – with the help of a brash insider (Edward Norton). Cue the suspense soundtrack.
10) Catch Me If You Can, The Aviator and many more
And finally, there's Montréal's role as a destination double. In a large variety of films, Montréal has stood in for other cities and countries, including Munich, Nevada, Las Vegas, Beirut and, of course, France. A key reason for this is the city's age – over 400 years old – and its remarkably well-preserved European-style architecture. Several Leonardo DiCaprio flicks have filmed in the region, including The Aviator and Catch Me if You Can, where Montréal and Québec City were France and Montrichard respectively.
What are your own favourite films set in Montréal?


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I'm finished!
I just got back from my last official final of my undergraduate career! Clearly, I have another semester to go, but none of my classes will be "final test" type classes- just papers or portfolios! AMAZING!
And yet, as I walked out into the street the feeling of sadness sifted through me. And I remembered that I always feel sad when I finish finals. Not that I LOVE the stress, but that I love the challenge, and that I'm reasonably good at it because I enjoy learning so much.
The triumph of being finished for a whole months certainly outweighs that faint sadness, and yet I feel it with a bit more intensity this time, knowing its the last time I'll finish THIS way- just before Christmas, bursting through the doors of the Silver Center with a cheesy grin on my face, just like I did freshman year.
I've been feeling a strange nostalgia- or perhaps its not strange- for the last few years, and yet I'm so happy to be HERE. Now. But it has hit me harder than it has before that I am going to REALLY REALLY REALLY miss this place, and this thing- College- the atmosphere. I've had so many "I love NYU" and "I love Gallatin" moments (no, really... strange, I know) the last few days, and even today, in the middle of my essay test as I was writing away, felt that swell of endearment. Gosh, I'm a nerd.
I am, though, more and more ready to be in a new phase of life. While college has been so wonderful, I'm eagerly anticipating completing it. Less than two months until my Colloquium, and just under five months until I graduate. Wow... after 22 years I think I'm ready.
I'll never be ready to be DONE with school- never reach that golden brown stage of ready-to-eat academic achievement, and yet I think a change 'll do me good.
So there you have it. Some nonsensical musings about now and then and just now and all that... I'm sure you're in for a lot more of that as the true 'end' of this stage approaches.
For now, though, I wish you all very Merry Christmases and Happy Hanukkas and Fatastico New Years and Amazing Trips to Israel or Colorado or North Carolina or California or Minnesota or Georgia or Tennessee....
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
I'm finished!
Posted by Claire at 4:03 PM 1 comments
Monday, December 11, 2006
Update: Pictorial.
Here is a pictorial update marathon! Well, really just pictures from weekend before last's good times. Friday night Staci and I went out with Josh, Laura, Laura, Brittany, and Allison! Saturday we went to the Ballet! Oh the culture!
See below for some of the pictures!
And you know everyone in that bar loved it!
Below is our picture of the tree at Lincoln Center where we saw the Nutcracker which was FANTASTIC- the set was amazing! I'll leave you with that for now- hopefully I'll come by some good pictures from other peoples' cameras from this weekend (my battery died).
Posted by Claire at 3:57 PM 7 comments
Sunday, December 10, 2006
We are officially BOOKED to go to JAMAICA for our Honeymoon!
This is going to be us!
I am so excited! Only 244 days!
Posted by Claire at 8:52 PM 4 comments
Progress Report.
Finals time. Yikes. I realized I haven't kept you very well updated, and some of you are confused at the goings on unless you talk with me daily or see me every few days- so here is the latest:
I turned down the internship- I believe this was the right decision and feel very much at peace with it. (yes (for those confused), I interviewed, was offered the internship, and then turned it down).
I am finished with Finals on Wednesday at 6:00pm (maybe earlier). Until then I'll be pretty crazed, but honestly things are going well. I have solid drafts of both papers due on Wednesday completed that need only minor changes and input. I have an Irish oral test that I'm taking tomorrow at 3:30. Tuesday is my final in piano. Wednesday I'll hand in my papers and then my last class is an essay test on Twelfth Night and King Lear. So overall, not too bad. Having last week's papers and groups projects happily behind me, the work I put in on Wednesday night, Thursday night, and Friday has really helped this week seem not at all bad. It is stressful, but knowing its the last of its kind (here I come 10 credits!!!) is a GREAT feeling.
I head home on Thursday morning- I'll be leaving the apartment around 4:45am! Woo!
So there you have it. Mostly this post was written for me to clear my thoughts, and for you confuseled kids to know what's up. And for Miss Whitney- to have a little more info on finals time so she can relish vicariously :) Holla.
Anyway. Should have some fun news coming up, and ideally some pictures. But hey, I know I'm full of promises....
Posted by Claire at 2:30 PM 2 comments
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Drowning in Jacques.
Yes. Its true. I'm drowning in Jacques le Fataliste.
And yes. That was a blatantly sad effort at procrastination.
But it worked. *
Posted by Claire at 8:19 PM 3 comments
December 6, 2006.
I have elected to stay home this evening and work on some papers.
It should be good.
I'll be wearing this, an item I receibed in class today, in order to stay focused...
Posted by Claire at 4:06 PM 5 comments
Monday, December 04, 2006
To Be or Not To Be...
An Intern.
I got offered the internship that I interviewed for on Friday. Hooray! And yet...
I would have a 45 minute (at LEAST) commute every time I went out there, another 45 back. It's not the most desirable location, nor is the office a traditional style office- it is located in a donor's apartment- this is a TRUE non-profit. It would be SUCH good experience, but I'm not sure that in the end it's what I want for my last semester here.
I'll keep you all posted, of course. Right now I've requested more info on the jobs and duties I would have as an intern, and we'll go from there.
I'm pretty tired and still have a group meeting to go to tonight at 9:15. It shouldn't be bad, but the paper I'm currently trying to outline is totally slapping me in the face and laughing at me like a frosting-faced little girl. Cruel!
Some day soon (or maybe this weekend...) I'll post more details and some pictures. In the mean time, leave me some love, wisdom, or inspiration!
Posted by Claire at 5:27 PM 4 comments
Saturday, December 02, 2006
I Do Exist.
I didn't realize it had been so long since I updated! I apologize. That's kind of what the ol' Thanksgiving break/finals lead-in will getcha!
But hey- hey, settle down! I'll be updating tomorrow, hopefully, with pictures and stories and provoking thoughts for you, so buckle in.
And just you wait!
Also, very merry December to you all!
Posted by Claire at 2:11 PM 1 comments
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Some Pictures.
Here is a collection of pictures...
These two are me and Staci at Wicked. It was raining that night and we were both pretty wet despite our jackets and umbrellas. Note: I straightened my hair that day....
And the Dash!
Gilbert sends his love!
Dash riveted by Gilbert!
Just a note here: I am reaching over my shoulder like that because Gilbert there gettin' some kitty lovin!
And there you have a few pictures to feast your eyes on.
Posted by Claire at 7:58 PM 4 comments
Thanksgiving, Ho!
Thank goodness that Thanksgiving is in sight!
It has been a long semester, and this break will (hopefully) be a truly restful one. I plan to keep hospital visits to a minimum this go round, and to EAT!!!
Just wanted to put that out there, and to invite you all to share your favorite Thanksgiving food/dish with me! Put it in the comments!
I love MAKING the stuffing (have done it every year since I was old enough to help!) and I love EATING the rolls, mashed potatoes, and pecan pie!
Posted by Claire at 7:27 PM 1 comments
Friday, November 17, 2006
So the superly awesome roomate of my, Staci, got us tickets to go see WICKED!
We went last night and saw it, and it reminded me YET again how much I love musical theater, and more so, how AMAZING that show is!
AND just guess who the lead was? Yeah- who played "Elphaba" the Wicked Witch.... ANA GASTEYER. Not crapping you, no- from SNL for 6 seasons... she was AWESOME. I had NO idea that she had a voice like that- WOW! She rocked it, and it was so exciting!
Anyway, just had to share. Wicked is on tour so if you can see it in a town near you and you like theater AT ALL... GO SEE IT! Spend the money and SEE IT. IT. IS. WORTH. IT!
Posted by Claire at 9:00 PM 4 comments
See Below.
Yes, my hair was ALL pulled back when I left work. When I arrived home it looked like THIS... and it wasn't even raining.
Pretty hilarious.
Posted by Claire at 8:56 PM 4 comments
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Pictorial: London!
Well folks! I survived the busiest international airport in the world TWICE- made it to and from London with no problems!
I left on Wednesday night at 10:30 (though my plane was late so I didn't actually get ON the plane until about 11:00) and arrive in the lovely Londontown around 12:00pm the next day. Besides the chanting coming from the seat behind me and the guy with the whopping cough in front of me, the old man spilling over into my seat wasn't so bad. Luckily the flight heading that way from here is only about six hours, and I watched "John Tucker Must Die" for free, so I can't complain.
Customs and Immigration was fine, and after six hours you better believe I went to the 'lou'. There I found this mounted on the wall, and thought it was neat so I took a picture!
I'm not going to recount every second of the trip because you don't care and I don't have time, so I'll just say what is happening in each picture. The one below is of my parents on the subway- so cute! They wouldn't sit still, thus the blurriness.
The whole purpose of the trip was to go to the We Are Scientists shows at Brixton Academy... see below!
We arrived there at about 5:00 and got to see the guys do their sound check. Then we went to catering (yep, they have the full fleet in the UK- including great catering!) for dinner. Below are Ian and Elizabeth getting in a moment in catering!
It's hard to describe, but the show was the real deal. The last time I went to a concert with this type of production must have been in my NSync days because none of the people I've seen since have done the whole lights-and-fog deal. It was SO cool. They rought the lights low and cued up Phil Collins' "Against all odds" to being... then they came out dramatically and layered over the recording until it died out and they were jamming to the balled. So. Awesome. Here you get an idea of the lights and crowd. Sadly my camera isn't the best for these kinds of pictures.
And them... they are there, Ian is on the right, Keith is left, Tapper center.
Another picture of the lights so you can get a feel for the extent of them- they really were so awesome!
A picture of the crowd. Now let me say the UK fans are INSANE. They throw beer like crazy- if you're on the floor you must be soaked by the end. They get so packed in there, and there is always a moshpit happening. Kids crowd surf like crazy, and I have a profound respect for the body guards at these shows. Kids keep getting tossed towards the front of the stage and they keep gently picking them up and setting them down in the corrale in front of the stage and crowd barriers so they can trot off back into the crowd and do it again! It's insane- and they are SO much fun to watch! I can see why bands love playing in the UK!
For their encore the boys came back out dressed in jackets and matching ties and sang "The End of the Road" by BoysIIMen-- amazing. Tapper sang lead vocals, Ian did the Barry White bass pleading with the "gurrl" with full jumping around for accentuating, and Keith added the "Hoooo"'s in his lovely falsetto. The entire crowd was SO into it- how can you resist a band with great live performance and music who isn't afraid to have FUN!!!?
The concert was great, and the touching part was when they were leaving on Friday several of the staff was in tears. I thought that was such a good indication of how they've been treating the people who work for them- I'm proud!
Below is a picture of the second gate entrance at the Tower of London- one of the main touristy things we did while there. The speared gate's edge you can see at the first inlet in the wall and it weighs over a ton-- kind of scary to walk under!
This is on the way across the London Bridge-- actually one of the least impressive bridges in the area, and yet historical. Go ahead, sing the song!
The Tate Modern Museum of Britain.. how I LOVE it! I can say that it is my favorite modern museum in the world, and probably my favorite museum of those in the.... 14 countries or whatever it is that I've visited. SO amazing. This time we only had a few minutes, but I got to see the slide installation that was there, and ride one of the slides! It was SOOO fun! I loved it, and would have spend HOURS there had we had the time!
My mom and I don the millenium bridge with the Second largest cathedral in the world-- St. Paul's-- in the background. Who can name the largest?
This is where ol' Principessa Diana and Charles got married, as well as where ol' Wills will get hitched when he comes to that point. it is quite beautiful, but my fav-o still sits in Italia.
Saturday we basically hung out with Ian and Eliz at the hotel. Ian is wearing my dads had and showing off a plate from the hotel....
And here I am with a rather dull smile on because its like 2am in the picture. I am wearing a little red poppy which many were wearing the entire time we were there to celebrate armisist day. It was cool to see the people all wearing these, and they are so cute!
Posted by Claire at 6:49 PM 7 comments


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As children we often personify our most beloved toys. We have endless conversations with them, we tell them our secrets, we cry into them soaking their fabrics with our childhood tears. Our toys are our first creature comforts. After being weened from our mothers, we learn to self-soothe often with our favorite furry stuffed toy or loving dolly. The Velveteen Rabbit is a delight! It reassures children (and our adult child inside), that the universe (nursery fairy) will care for those we have loved, long after circumstance and time have separated us or forced us apart. This is a love story of friendship growth, and letting go. Read it again as an adult; you will find the wisdom....Continua
What happens to toys once they're abandoned by their little owners, or replaced by newer items? This little story provides a particular explanation about their destiny.
The story itself is extremely simple and childish, yet I felt some melancholy at the end of the book: a few toys I really adored as a child are now prisoners inside a box in the garage, or have been passed to other children in the meantime. This is not just a story about a velveteen rabbit becoming "real", but one about the natural yet slightly sad changes we go through when growing up. Toys, in fact, are among the first things we gradually abandon as soon as we become teenagers, probably along with innocence.
"Wasn't I Real before?" asked the little Rabbit.
"You were Real to the Boy," the Fairy said,
"because he loved you. Now you shall be Real to every one."
The story must be delightful, magical to a child. When I read it again as an adult, I am a child again.
The Velveteen Rabbit is a children's book by Margery Williams which was first published in 1922. It has fascinated many children and adults of all ages since then, among which includes me and my mum.
My mum read to me this book when I was very small. After that, I have read it over and over again a lot of times. Almost for each time, I cried. I love this book very much therefore I was thinking quite naturally a few days ago, "Why didn't I write a book review about it?".
The Velveteen Rabbit is about nursery magic. The book has another name called "How Toys Become Real", which makes you go more straight forward into the theme of the story.
If you have ever had a favourite toy, you will certainly know about what is meant by "Real" in the story without further explanation. Real means not only a toy, but real—that would be the easiest definition. But for the Rabbit, he's not quite sure at first. This was the answer that the wise Skin Horse in the nursery gave him, "Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
When I read this part, usually I start to cry. I remembered that when I was in Primary Two, we were asked to bring our favourite toys to school one day. I had a Minnie Mouse doll (and it's still here now on my bed!). I thought for a long time if I should take her to school for the lesson. What I was worrying was that because Minnie's Real, would the teacher count her as a toy? The next day, back at school, I was happy that Minnie was treated as a toy. My partner said to me, "What an ugly doll", which made me really upset because I knew that my classmate was one of those people who didn't understand about nursery magic.
This is a forty-page story. It may be short, but it comes with easy but meaningful words. Margery Williams wrote it beautifully. It has already been told for nearly a century, and I am sure it is going to last forever and ever, for nursery magic never goes away from children of all times and all places....Continua


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Police Blotter for March 24
New York State Police
Saturday, March 23: Edvin Hadzic, 23, of Utica, was charged with second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree aggravated harassment.
Friday, March 22: Emmanuel Gomez, 25, of Deerfield, was charged in March with possession of marijuana.
Friday, March 22: Theresa W. Jackson, 32, of Woodleaf, NC, was arrested as a fugitive on a warrant for extradition in the town of Lee.
Friday, March 22: James E. Heath, 47, of Hubbardsville, was charged in Brookfield with having a controlled substance in a non-original container, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and a speed violation.
Friday, March 22: Ryan A. Ingalls, 20, of Madison, was charged with third-degree criminal sex act and endangering the welfare of a child.


text:
Epic! That's what the boys reckon. I thought it was awesome. It has everything you could ask for and more! A demanding and remote adventure with absolutely stunning waterfalls and abseils, pristine creek walking, an optional side trip to Danae Brook, the best walk out ever and a great open fire cook up with a few glasses of plonk on the banks of Kanangra Creek. But seriously very hard - Kanangra Main is a Picnic in comparison.
K2K ina day! Yay! Well, technically, as we finished at the Golden Stairs we didn't complete the walk - only 870m short of the official finish which is the Old Climbers Carpark at Narrowneck. But, if you have an engineering background as I do, as opposed to a theoretical mathematician's, you'll know that close enough is good enough!
A challenging bushwalk in the Kanangra region. Originally I had planned to do a three day walk from Kanangra to Katoomba for the Silver Qualifying Walk but alas the logistics of the car shuffle proved to be too complex so I settled for a three day circuit starting at Kanangra Walls, down the Gingra Ridge to the Kowmung River, up to 100 Man Cave via Compagnoni Pass and the Ti Willa Plateau


text:
pretty straight questions:
1. What is the cause of mindfulness?
2. What is the cause of a lack of mindfulness?
3. How to establish mindfulness?
I had a look at the Girimananda Sutta, but it's formulated similar in the anapanasati sutta, too.
So, establishing mindfulness is a precondition for anapanasati and I notice it's not mentioned for every other contemplation in the Girimananda Sutta. I hope someone can answer my questions (preferable by an explanation the Buddha gave and not so much speculation).(10) And what, Ānanda, is mindfulness of in- and out-breathing?
Here, Ānanda, a bhikkhu, gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty place, sits down, having folded his legs crosswise, sets his body erect, establishes mindfulness in front of him, just mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out.
Best wishes,


text:
James 'Whitey' Bulger Appears in Boston Court to Face Charges
Officials find guns in hollowed-out books and cash stashed in apartment walls.
June 24, 2011 -- James J. "Whitey" Bulger, a suspected New England organized-crime boss arrested in California this week with his companion, Catherine Greig, finally faced a judge in Boston's federal courthouse this afternoon after being on the run since the mid-1990s.
Balding, bearded and dressed in a sweater and white shirt, Bulger, now 81, remained stoic as the judge discussed the charges against him, answering, "Yes, sir," in response to questions. The hearing over Bulger's continued confinement lasted 10 minutes with the judge ruling that he should remain in custody.
There was debate at a second 10-minute hearing, at which a different judge presided, over whether Bulger should have a court-appointed lawyer. The prosecution alleged Bulger had "another stash," referring to the $800,000 in cash found hidden at his California home. The judge did not make a decision.
Bulger's hands were shackled behind his back as he entered and left the court.
Three courtrooms, including the one in which Bulger appeared, were overflowing with spectators. Outside the courthouse, a crowd numbering about 100 included a mix of the media and curious onlookers.
FBI Tip Leads to Bulger Arrest
Bulger, and Greig, 60, were arrested Wednesday night after the FBI received a tip from a publicity campaign it had launched targeting Greig. They appeared in a federal courtroom in Los Angeles Thursday and ordered shipped to Massachusetts.
The FBI lured the reported one-time leader of the Winter Hill Gang out of his nondescript California apartment near the Santa Monica pier by telling him that someone might have broken into his storage locker.
Once they nabbed the man allegedly connected to at least 19 murders, they found $800,000 in cash stuffed in his apartment walls and 30 weapons stored in hollowed-out books. There was also a packed bag to make for an easy getaway.
FBI officials have yet to release details about who gave police the credible tip and won't say whether the person will receive the $2.1 million reward offered for the capture of the couple.
"I can't go into details about the source of the tip that we received other than to say it was received as a direct result of the media campaign which the FBI Boston division, in coordination with FBI headquarters, launched this past Monday and Tuesday," said Richard DesLauriers, agent in charge of the FBI's Boston office.
Law enforcement officials told ABC News that it didn't surprise them that Bulger was hiding in plain sight.
"Sometimes, it's very simple to deceive when you make yourself to be a very average looking, average couple together and you just kind of, sort of blend in with the community -- and I think they were able to do that, especially as a couple and so it was very difficult," said Carmen Ortiz, U.S. attorney for Massachusetts.
DesLauriers today emphatically rejected rumors that the FBI knew of Bulger's location before publicity campaign's launch.
"Any claim that the FBI knew Mr. Bulger's whereabouts prior to the FBI's publicity efforts this week are completely unfounded," DesLauriers said in a written statement. "When we learned his location, he was arrested promptly."
Bulger and Greig had been living under the false names Charles and Carol Gasko, officials said, and appeared to have lived in the Santa Monica home for some time. Two property managers at the Santa Monica property told the Associated Press the fugitive pair, using the Gasko name, moved there in 1996.
One neighbor described Greig as a nice person.
"My sense is that she was a very kind and lovely person and he was a bit of a lunatic," the neighbor said. "I sensed a violent nature."
Neighbors said Bulger never left the house without a hat and sunglasses. He fed squirrels outside his apartment and went for walks on the beach twice a day, at sunrise and sunset.
Bulger chuckled in a California court Thursday as he appeared in public for the first time in 16 years.
"There's a lot of media here to see you," a marshal told Bulger, according to a federal official there. The shackled Bulger just laughed.
When the judge asked Bulger during the short hearing if he had read and understood the charges listed against him in a 200-plus page indictment, Bulger said he hadn't read it all but knew what was inside.
Bulger could face life in prison for the charges against him in Boston and possibly the death penalty for charges filed elsewhere, if he is convicted, Ortiz said. Greig could face up to five years in prison for harboring a fugitive.
Greig's twin sister, Margaret McCusker, told ABC News the arrest came as a shock.
"I am very emotional about all this but I have to say I am happy my sister is going to coming home," she said Thursday. "I talked to her the first couple of years but I haven't talked to her since. It's been a very long time. ... I didn't know if she was alive or dead, and suddenly it is within my grasp."
ABC News' Enjoli Francis, Jessica Hopper, Lee Ferran, Michael S. James and the Associated Press contributed to this report.


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Fishing StylesbyPublished on 17-09-2015 03:49 AM
BEACH FISHINGAustralia is fortunate in possessing some of the finest beaches in the world, and with them, excellent fishing. The ever changing formation of our beaches due to natural forces provides both shelter and food for a variety of fish. By learning to "read a beach, you can locate all the popular angling species such as Tailor, Salmon, Flathead, Mulloway, Trevally, Dart, Bream and Whiting.
THE GEAR SUCCESSFUL SURF FISHERMAN USES: ...byPublished on 17-09-2015 03:52 AM
ROCK FISHINGRock fishing can produce some excellent sport for those who are proficient at it. It must be stressed that this is not for the rank amateur. Of all the types of fishing styles, it is the most dangerous. There is some hard and fast rules ...byPublished on 17-09-2015 03:53 AM
The large number of rivers, estuaries and lakes along the Australian coastline and the variety of fish species that frequent them, offer the main source of recreational fishing for the angling public. As with all types of fishing the choice ...byPublished on 17-09-2015 03:56 AM
The upsurge in trailer boat popularity along with the ever improving boat and motor design has seen the offshore reefs come well within range of boat fishermen. Electronic navigation aids such as GPS and LCD fish finders have opened up a new world for the reef fisherman. The safety aspect has been improved by the formation ...byPublished on 17-09-2015 03:58 AM
Freshwater angling over the last few years has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity, due in the main to the stocking with native fish of impoundment's and rivers. Most of our apparently barren ...


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|Strategic Plan
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Mission Statement:The mission of the Tennessee Library Association (TLA) is to promote the establishment, maintenance and support of quality library services for all people of the state; to cooperate with public and private agencies with related interests; and to support and further professional interests of the membership of the Association.
Vision Statement:
To guide Tennessee librarians and staff to be highly respected professionals and to help Tennessee libraries provide the best possible information resources and services to the people of Tennessee.
Download a complete copy of the current Strategic Plan below.
TLA Advisory Council/Executive Board


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Sen. Paul blasts both parties on spending
- Paul warns %27path we are on is not sustainable%27
- Kentucky GOP senator was elected in 2010 with Tea Party support
- Paul%27s remarks are in addition to official Republican response by Sen. Marco Rubio
WASHINGTON -- Saying "the state of the economy is tenuous," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., on Tuesday night issued a Tea Party critique of President Obama's State of the Union address and called for smaller government, deep federal spending cuts and congressional term limits.
"The path we are on is not sustainable, but few in Congress or in this administration seem to recognize that their actions are endangering the prosperity of this great nation," Paul warned in remarks delivered minutes after the president spoke and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio offered the official Republican response.
STORY:Rubio: Obama is failing the middle class
The Kentuckian's address was his most visible to date, delivered on a national stage not only as an answer to Obama but also as a possible prelude to a White House bid in 2016.
Rubio, also in the Tea Party wing, is another potential presidential contender who was featured on the cover of Time magazine this week as "The Republican Savior."
Elected to the Senate in 2010, Paul's iconoclastic relationship with Washington was on full view in his speech as he criticized his party and the Democrats and urged Americans not to accept the status quo. He delivered his remarks from a room at the National Press Club, two blocks from the White House.
Paul reiterated his criticisms that Washington spends too much, blaming both parties for "protecting their sacred cows ... (and) backroom deals in which everyone up here wins, but every taxpayer loses."
"It is time for a new bipartisan consensus," he said. "It is time Democrats admit that not every dollar spent on domestic programs is sacred. And it is time Republicans realize that military spending is not immune to waste and fraud."
Although defense industry officials and heads of social service programs are warning of massive job layoffs from automatic spending cuts (called the sequester) scheduled to start March 1, Paul defended the reductions.
"Not only should the sequester stand, many pundits say the sequester really needs to be at least $4 trillion to avoid another downgrade of America's credit rating," he said. "Both parties will have to agree to cut, or we will never fix our fiscal mess."
"I thought I knew how bad it was in Washington," he added. "But it is worse than I ever imagined, Congress is debating the wrong things. Every debate in Washington is about how much to increase spending -- a little or a lot; about how much to increase taxes -- a little or a lot."
Americans should demand that Washington change its ways, Paul said.
"If Congress refuses to obey its own rules, if Congress refuses to pass a budget, if Congress refuses to read the bills, then I say: 'Sweep the place clean. Limit their terms and send them home.' " he said.
Paul also reached out to Latino voters who have all but abandoned the GOP over the immigration issue.
"We are the party that embraces hard work and ingenuity, therefore we must be the party that embraces the immigrant who wants to come to America for a better future," Paul said. "We must be the party who sees immigrants as assets, not liabilities. We must be the party that says, 'If you want to work, if you want to become an American, we welcome you.' "
This was the third year that the GOP's Tea Party wing offered a separate response to the president's annual address.
Businessman and presidential hopeful Herman Cain gave the Tea Party response last year. In 2011, the response was delivered by Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., also a 2012 GOP White House candidate.
Paul was asked to speak by Amy Kremer, chairwoman of Tea Party Express.


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The year is 2142 and the dawn of a new ice age has thrown the world into a panic. The soil not covered by ice can only feed a fraction of the Earth's population. The maths is simple and brutal: some will live, most will die. In Battlefield 2142, players choose to fight for one of two military superpowers - the European Union or the newly formed Pan Asian Coalition - in an epic battle for survival.
hate when that happens
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.


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Preservation and growth of invested capital, tax planning and wealth transfer are common wealth management goals of high-net-worth wealth owners. Integrated wealth management employing the collaborative efforts of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) of professionals (investment advisory, tax, estate planning, philanthropy and risk management) can achieve efficiencies and increase the probability of reaching these goals in the oversight and management of a client's wealth.
In our previous postings, we discussed the value of trusts (with a focus on GRATs) and high-end tax planning. In this installment, the last in a series on how an MDT can provide integrated wealth management to HNW clients, we will focus on wealth transfer strategies.
Why Adopt a Wealth Transfer Plan Now
Wealthy families are well advised to adopt a wealth transfer plan to minimize the large bite of transfer taxes (gift and estate taxes). Estate taxes are levied on the transfer of wealth at death and gift taxes are payable on lifetime transfers of wealth. Strategic use of exemptions granted under the law and employment of a systematic approach to wealth transfer planning can achieve favorable results if adopted early and monitored closely. An MDT employing an integrated approach to wealth management can help to ensure success of the plan.
The 2012 federal estate tax applies at a rate of 35% to estates in excess of a $5.12 million exemption. If Congress does not act to change the expiration of the Bush tax cuts before the end of 2012, the exemption will fall to $1 million and the top tax rate on estates and gifts will increase from 35% to 55%.
The first $13,000 of gifts per calendar year to any donee (the "annual exclusion") is exempt from gift tax; gifts above that amount use some of the exemption described in the preceding paragraph otherwise available to shelter estate transfers at death. Aggregate transfers in excess of the exemption require the payment of gift or estate tax.
Key Transfer Strategy 1: Gifting Plan Basics, and 529 Plan Specifics
The most basic gifting plan should employ a program of regular annual exclusion gifts each calendar year. The $13,000 annual exclusion amount—doubled if gifts are made by both husband and wife—can be removed from the transferor's estate and set aside in a trust for each junior generation family member if the trust contains "Crummey" withdrawal provisions allowing the beneficiary the right to withdraw the gift from the trust during a limited window of time, typically 30 days following its transfer into the trust.
Alternatively, Section 529 college savings plans can also be funded using annual exclusion gifts; a special tax law provision allowing a donor to pre-fund up to five annual exclusion gifts to a 529 plan account in a single tax year can be a simple, yet very effective, use of the annual exclusion. Each annual exclusion gift removes those assets from the taxable estate of the donor and saves as much as 55% of the value of the gift (including post-gift appreciation or earnings on the gift) from future estate taxes.
The MDT can assist the HNW client in carrying out an effective annual exclusion gifting plan in the following ways:
- The investment advisory professionals on the MDT complete account forms, obtain signatures and file paperwork to set up trust accounts or 529 plan accounts for junior family member recipients of gifts. These professionals on the team can also facilitate transfers of cash, securities or other assets from the senior generation to these recipient accounts.
- As new junior family members are born or adopted, the MDT can repeat the process of setting up accounts and ensuring that maximum use of annual exclusions is employed.
- Care should be taken to track pre-funded annual exclusion gifts to 529 plan accounts so that unintended duplicate annual gifts to the same recipients are not made. Annual gifting can be commenced again for beneficiaries of 529 plan accounts once the five year pre-funding has been amortized over the four years following the year of the pre-funded gift.
- Calendar ticker systems should be maintained by the team to ensure that annual exclusion gifts are made timely each year and that they are cataloged to be reported on each annual gift tax filing of the senior generation members.
Key Transfer Strategy 2: Family Limited Partnerships
Family limited partnerships (FLPs) are a commonly used estate planning tool to transfer wealth in the form of non-marketable limited partnership (LP) interests to junior family members (or trusts.) FLPs are attractive because valuation discounts applicable to gifts of LP interests allow "leveraging" of gift exemptions, while still affording control over the FLP assets to be exercised by the senior generation through retention of general partner interests. The MDT can assist with FLPs in the following ways:
- Investment advisory professionals select assets in the portfolio best suited for funding of the FLP, set up custody accounts, and implement transfers of assets into the FLP accounts.
- Tax/accounting professionals obtain tax identification numbers for the FLP and calendar estimated tax payment dates and amounts, then coordinate cash flow needs for tax payments.
- Income tax professionals prepare and file annual income tax returns for the FLP, issue Forms K-1 to the partners and, if engaged to do so, prepare tax returns for the individual partners.
- Large lifetime gifts of LP interests in an FLP can be made from the senior generation to junior family members (or trusts) to leverage the use of the lifetime exemptions. The MDT can assist with obtaining appraisals, documenting transfers and preparing and filing gift tax returns to report these transfers.
- Annual gifts of LP interests from the senior generation can be coordinated by the MDT by first obtaining appraisals of interests constituting the annual exclusion amount, assisting with the preparation and execution of transfer documents for the senior generation to complete the gift transfers and preparing and filing gift tax returns to report the transfers. Gifts made at the end of a calendar year can be coupled with similar gifts made at the beginning of the next calendar year using the same appraisal minimizes appraisal costs by requiring one appraisal every other year rather than annually.
Key Transfer Strategy 3: Intrafamily Loans
Wealthy families often make loans among themselves for various purposes. The senior generation might loan funds to children, grandchildren and trusts for the benefit of family members to purchase homes, enter into businesses or simply to make investments. An MDT can assist with loan transactions in the following ways to assure IRS compliance, avoid potential problems and enhance the wealth-shifting effectiveness of such loans.
- Opportunities to shift wealth by structuring low interest rate intrafamily loans can be overseen by the team.
- Documenting loans with promissory notes and maintaining tickler files of interest rates, payment due dates and note maturities should be a regular item on the client advisory team's agenda.
- Opportunities to refinance higher rate notes at lower rates should be a regular review item for the MDT when prevailing minimum intrafamily "applicable federal rates" decline.
- Regular reviews among the tax, investment advisory, bookkeeping, accounting and estate planning personnel on the MDT will assure that interest is properly paid or accrued and correctly reported on family members' tax returns and that any necessary gift tax returns are prepared and filed, particularly in the case where gifts might be made by the senior generation through debt forgiveness.
In conclusion, an integrated approach to estate planning and wealth management, employing a multidisciplinary team, can help HNW clients realize their wealth transfer goals early enough in their lifetimes to enjoy their wealth, pursue philanthropic goals and leave a larger charitable legacy at death.
For more on how to advise your HNW clients what not to do, we invite you to watch this Bloomberg TV video featuring Mr. Cody.—Ed.
To view all three articles in this series, please view our Proper Path to Integrated Wealth Management homepage.


text: Do I sleep? July 14, '06 Comments [10] Posted in Musings Sponsored By Strangely today two separate (and presumably unrelated) bloggers questioned whether or not I sleep. posted on it and . However, I must say, I do have quite a fondness for (). "The book deals with the issues of genetic modification to unborn babies and problems that may arrive within society from such technologies. Specifically, the book examines a genetic modification that renders the babies capable of never having to sleep. This allows the babies, as they grow, the chance to accomplish much more with their freed up time as well as a collection of secondary genetic traits. The books charts the reactions of society to the 'Sleepless' from the viewpoint of the 'Sleepless' group as they struggle to find a place in society and battle against the prejudices they face. The book's protagonist, Leisha Camden, is a sleepless person who comes from an extremely rich family and whose life is paralleled and compared to that of her twin who is born without the genetic modification for sleeplessness." One sure could get a lot done if they didn't sleep. Do you sleep? 河北快3In other news, (my personal ) has proceeded to register Hanselmetric.com and is (very likely) proceding to build a (top secret) search populated entirely by things I've got in my house. Here is his exceedingly thoughful business strategy: "What the world needs now is love sweet love, and a website that aggregates the Hanselman product testimonials scattered around all the various websites so that we can plan our future purchases accordingly. Googling "scott hanselman testimonial" simply isn't accurate enough when arriving up the end of the month with a couple extra bucks in my pocket and a burning desire to spend . Dammit, I want to know what other products satisfy the Hanselmetric that I haven't been made aware of, and until I do, I just feel sort of empty inside. The Hanselmetric represents the pinnacle of an aspect of contemporary cultural evolution, and I just don't want to be left behind." Madness! Hm...maybe we can make some kind of cooperative crossover affiliate work. Let's focus first on getting me on Oprah. Or at least some kind of local cable network or QVC. Give me a call ScottB! ;) « A new day, two new browsers compared - F... | Blog Home | ScriptBlock and Runspace Remoting in Pow... » About Scott Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author. Newsletter Sponsored By Hosting By Comments [10] Share on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or use the Permalink


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b-boy: an art show
You thought that Ottawa was it for now. Not so. And you thought that I'd be doing a big Ottawa wrap-up, right? Well, all in due time, my friends. First things first and this is it for me right now:
The grassy knoll gallery presents:
b-boy — Ward Jenkins
Exhibition Dates // October - November, 2008
Artist Reception // Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
6-9 PM, free, open to the public
Breakdancing Performance // 7-9 PM featuring:
Randm-1, Impulse, and Skywalker of Portland's
Moon Patrol Crew and guest DJ Computer Fam
Grassy Knoll Gallery //
123 NW 2nd Avenue, 2nd floor
Portland, OR 97209
Contact // Renee Marcotte
Artist statement //
"b-boy" is a tribute to the early boogie boys of the Bronx, the original poppin' & lockin' dancers who kept the parties live back in the day, back when hip-hop was in its golden, embryonic stage. Using various 'lo-fi' materials and surfaces, such as found cardboard, wood, and linoleum, Ward harks back to the essence of the early ingenuity and innovation of hip hop. During the 70's and early 80's, kids used a wide variety of surfaces to dance on and perform stylized acrobatic moves. Using what was available, they proved again and again that the brightest sources of creativity often come from the most humble of places. "b-boy"is a tribute to the beginnings of that movement, before the uninformed media brought it to near-fad status.
All you Portland and/or NW peeps: hope you can make it! It'll be fun to finally meet you all. Don't forget, it's next Thursday!
9 comments:
so awesome! Am a fan of both your work and your blog! I hope you post pics of some of the pieces in this show. word to your mutha...ReplyDelete
(oh wait.. that was the early 90's wasn't it?)
Hey Ward I'm actually in town that night for a college fair around the same time, so I'll try to drop by!ReplyDelete
See ya!
Congratulations on the show!ReplyDelete
Hmmm...might have to check and/or clear my schedule. Will keep you posted. :)
awww man, wish we lived near portland :)ReplyDelete
Sweet. Moving to Portland is starting to pay off.ReplyDelete
Damn this 2500 mile divide!! I so wish i could be at the opening. So glad you went ahead with it all and hope you are all doing famously. AimeeReplyDelete
Ill Be there ! Im looking forward to meeting you Ward :)ReplyDelete
I wish i was in Portland for this awesome event, i've been breakdancing for a looooong time in Atlanta, and i just wounder what the b-boy scene is like in portland.ReplyDelete
Trade ya a Jawa postcard for one of those show postcards.ReplyDelete


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Top 10 Most Extravagant Car Options
CARS.COM — For every buyer who is satisfied with an average, ordinary family sedan in subdued "greige" paint, there is a customer out there who wants something special in the car he or she drives.
Related: Top 10 Features Drivers Don't Need
That's especially true the higher you go on the automotive spectrum toward the high-dollar luxury cars, where you'll find that just about anything can be had — for a price. That said, some automakers offer unusual options for things you might not even know you need, but that are available if you want them (and want to pony up for the cost of them).
1. Mercedes-Benz Airscarf
The car: Mercedes-Benz E350 Convertible, $3,270*
The best part about owning a convertible is enjoying motoring in the open air, wind tousling your hair, the warm breeze on your neck. The worst part, at least for much of the country, is not being able to use that top-down feature for much of the year. But fear not — now when the air turns a bit chilly or the setting sun has cooled things off, you can stay toasty warm in the cockpit of your convertible Mercedes-Benz thanks to Airscarf. The optional system places air vents in the seatbacks behind the passengers' necks and blows warm air onto the occupants to keep the environment comfortable. Put the windows up, crank up Airscarf, and you'll be pleasantly motoring alfresco well into autumn.
2. Auto-Closing Sedan Doors
The car: BMW 740Li, $4,800*
Slamming doors in an expensive car is so vulgar. Better to just softly close them until you hear a click and then allow the car to close them for you the rest of the way. In most cars, if you close the door too softly, you have to open it and close it with more gusto — but not in many luxury brands' offerings, which feature a system that gently secures the door for you.
3. Selectable Cabin Fragrance
The car: Mercedes-Benz S550, $350*
Eventually, all new-car smell wears off — leaving odors of all sorts to replace it depending on your hygiene habits. Not so in the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which features an aromatherapy system that ties into the climate control. Owners can choose between one of four scent "moods": "Nightlife," "Downtown," "Fireside" and "Sport." The system then occasionally wafts some scent into the air for a subtle cabin freshening.
4. Illuminated Star
The car: Mercedes-Benz E350, $550 (includes installation)
Mercedes-Benz features prominently in this top 10 list, and for good reason — the brand is offering some of the more wild and eyebrow-raising options for its luxury cars these days. Among those: an illuminated three-point star nestled into the grille of a number of cars beginning with the 2014 E-Class but available for a number of late-model Mercedes-Benzes through dealers. Unlock the doors at night and along with the headlights, the central star lights up using LEDs and conductive piping. Currently, it only works when you're stationary; the light goes out when the car is in motion. According to a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson, though, the company has been given federal clearance to allow the stars to remain lit while driving. That ability will become available soon.
5. Magic Sky Control
The car: Mercedes-Benz SLK350, $2,500
Available on the Mercedes-Benz SL and SLK roadsters, this is a glass retractable roof that, at the touch of a button, goes from transparent to mostly opaque. Instead of a sun shade to keep the interior cool, simply push a button and an LCD sandwiched between glass panels in the roof darkens. It doesn't work quite as well as an actual fabric or plastic retractable shade, but it certainly scores on novelty points.
6. Active Seat Bolsters
The car: Mercedes-Benz E550, $660
This is another Mercedes-Benz invention, and they can be found in a number of the brand's high-end offerings: inflatable bladders in the front (and now rear seats in the S-Class) inflate and deflate as you turn corners. The idea is to help brace you in spirited driving, but opinions are mixed as to their usefulness.
7. Stryker Red Paint
The car: Dodge SRT Viper, $14,600
Lots of automakers offer special colors from the factory. You can get a number of new cars in special matte or satin finishes, which used to be a rare luxury option but is now available even on Hyundai models. But the most extravagant paint option we've come across recently is on the new 2013 SRT Viper: A remarkable hue called Stryker Red is a $14,600 option; that's enough to buy a new Kia Rio. SRT says that the three-step painting process takes seven days to finish and that the factory paint shop allocates one day a week to process nothing but Stryker Red cars. The result truly is one of the most stunning shades of red available anywhere.
8. Massaging Seats
The car: Audi A8, $4,000*
Make no mistake, this isn't a big, reclining Brookstone-style rolling shiatsu chair massage. The seats don't even vibrate; most of the time they just slowly poke you in the back at various points. Mercedes-Benz even goes so far as to call its seats a "hot stone massage." Still, combined with seat heaters, the luxury automakers from Audi to BMW that offer these massaging seats seem to be finding buyers for them.
9. Custom Interior Parts
The car: Porsche 911, $165 to $2,570
Ever taken a look at the options list for a Porsche 911? It's a little crazy and a lot lengthy. In addition to expected options like $1,145 adaptive sport seats, you can get nearly any part of the car's interior in leather or body-color paint. For $860, you can choose one of four different colors for your gauges. Want more leather? How about $165 for a leather fuse box cover, $365 for leather-covered defroster vents, $1,180 for a leather headliner or $2,570 for leather speaker grilles? Perhaps you'd rather have painted parts, color matched to the exterior color? Try $550 for painted interior door handles or $2,225 to paint a good portion of the dashboard. If you have the money, Porsche offers the ability to truly make your car your own.
10. Reclining Rear Executive Seats
The car: Lexus LS 460 L, $16,400*
Lay back, relax, have a quick nap Mr. Chairman; it's about 30 minutes to the airport. Push a button and extend the retractable ottoman to rest your feet, recline the rear seatback, maybe use the remote control to surf the latest real-time stock quotes on the screen in front of you. Every high-end luxury automaker peddling a full-size sedan has an executive seating package for rear-seat passengers, and some are truly extraordinary, offering everything from shiatsu massage to power recline. Most executive rear-seat equipment groups come as part of an expensive package, but isn't the boss worth it?
* Package price, includes selected feature.
Cars.com's Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com's long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don't accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com's advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.