text:
The next morning, Wes asked the lovely proprietor of our BandB if we could eat breakfast at 7:30am instead of 8:30 so we could get an early start. She graciously agreed and than proceeded to serve breakfast promptly at 8:30. Which worked out great since Doug and I were a bit jet-lagged and it's just possible we weren't exactly ready to go right exactly at 7:30a.m.
The breakfast, however, was worth waiting for and included a delicious croissant, crusty bread, a selection of different cheeses, yogurt, granola, various yummy jams, and heated milk with SCHOvit (similar to Nesquick)
{The town's main claim to fame is that it played a significant part in the World War II Normandy landings because this village stood right in the middle of route N13, which the Germans would have most likely used on any significant counterattack on the troops landing on Utah and Omaha Beaches. In the early morning of 6 June 1944 mixed units of the U.S. 82nd Airborne and U.S. 101st Airborne Divisions occupied the town in Operation Boston, giving it the claim to be one of the first towns liberated in the invasion.}
This is where paratrooper John Steele got caught on the church steeple on the morning of June 6th, 1944. Ste-Mère-Église was the first French town liberated on D-day. There is a model of John Steele on the roof, and the stained glass in the church (blown out in the war and replaced) depicts the heroic actions of that day. (We had just watched "The Longest Day" before coming so it was neat to see this place in person!)
|Wes and Doug
|See the white thing hanging off the roof? That's a model of John!
|Stained glass with paratroopers
After walking through the church, we went into the Airborne museum across the street. They had some pretty cool stuff in there.
|(I love this lettering!)
|Dress made from parachute silk
{Pointe du Hoc is a promontory with a 100 ft (30 m) cliff overlooking the English Channel on the coast of Normandy in northern France. During World War II it was the highest point between Utah Beach to the west and Omaha Beach to the east. The German army fortified the area with concrete casements and gun pits. On D-Day (6 June 1944) the United States Army Ranger Assault Group assaulted and captured Pointe du Hoc after scaling the cliffs.}
This area is still littered with enormous bomb craters. It's hard to see how large they are in the pictures, but they were pretty impressive.
|Bomb crater
|The bombed out concrete bunkers are still there
|It's too bad more people don't realize how amazing American history is!
top for Panini's:
We didn't spend a lot of time on Omaha Beach because we had one last thing to see. The American Cemetery:
Hard to describe so I won't even try. I'll just say that I wish every single American could have the opportunity to visit.
That night we went back Bayeux for dinner. While walking around looking for a restaurant, we stopped at a little art gallery and I bought a small piece of pottery. It's very cute and joins my collection of other small pots, mostly from Japan. Maybe one day when we're rich and famous I'll be able to afford a pot bigger than my hand. Maybe.
I ordered some sort of puff pastry with chicken and apples and mustard seeds on it and, to get you out of your suspense; yes, it was delicious.
Then back to our cozy lodgings for one more night...


text:
I figured out how to make brown rice. It's perfect every time. I put it in a sauce pan, heat it until it starts popping. I add water and boil until it's al dente. Perfect.
Unless…I heat it on high and walk away for something shiny, forget the rice is on HIGH and the rice burns to the pan. I run to the stove, put the pan on the carpet on the porch thinking "hot pad." Guess what? That hot pad melted onto the bottom of the pot. All kinds of chemicals stuck to the pot. Black rice in the bottom of the pan.
I was living an I love Lucy episode. I used to watch I love Lucy when I was four. She frustrated me when she would get into trouble. I would watch wishing she wouldn't do those crazy things she would get involved in.
Me and rice are going to pay attention to each other from now on.
#inktober #inktober2018 @jakeparker @inktober #scorched

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Can you tell us about the labour television show and the audience it is targeting?
- The labour TV show is a weekly 30 minute or 1-hour show that is broadcast on Cape Town TV locally and via the DSTV satellite channel 263, reaching a national audience. Since it deals with socio-economic and political issues relevant to and from a working class perspective, it targets workers and their communities, including interested middle class people and the intelligentsia. It is mainly an in-studio panel discussion with 3 – 4 guests that is preceded by a 4-minute documentary insert on the topic.
How does the WWMP labour television show bring education and information to people?
- By focusing on key issues that the mainstream media either neglects for distorts with their own class bias and prejudice. The orientation of the show is also to provide valuable information and analysis that empowers, raises critical questions about important role-players in society, "social partners" – government, business and labour in dealing with the issue. Moreover, it encourages viewers to organise and act.
Please describe the production partnership with ITF?
- The partnership in producing the special show with the ITF was wonderful since we were able to have international guests in studio. Moreover, they could share their international experiences and insights and link these to local concerns. Underlying the show with their presence was also fulfilling our meagre efforts in previous shows to highlight an international perspective. The co-operation with the ITF was efficient, professional and mutually respectful and this only leads excellent outputs. Moreover the show was recorded and can now be used on various other platforms like You Tube, Vimeo and distributed via social media. It can also be used for a long time in the ITF's educational programmes and a record of a special event in their history and development. We are keen to have more of such partnerships in future.
WWMP encourages all to tune into the labour show by watching Cape Town TV (free access) and Channel 263 on DSTV (pay channel) in South Africa on Thursdays at 7pm, with repeats on Fridays at 10:30am and Sundays at 6pm."
Martin Jansen is Director of WWMP and Executive Director of the Workers' World Labour TV Show, Sharon McKinnon is Production Co-ordinator, Producer, ITF producers were Gemma Walker and Andy Khan-Gordon, ITF guest co-ordinator was Courtney Pesquex.
® Watch Part 1 here https://vimeo.com/WWMPITF part1
® Watch Part 2 here https://vimeo.com/WWMPITF part2
- Follow the Workers' World Labour Show on Facebook www.facebook.com/Workers-World-Labour-Show
- Learn more about Workers World Media Productions at www.wwmp.org.za
- Join WWMP on Facebook www.facebook.com/WWMP
- Follow ITF on Facebook www.facebook.com/ITFglobal
- Learn more about ITF at www.itfglobal.org/global/


text:
Kundali Bhagya 16th August 2018 Written Episode Update: Manisha takes Karan into her room
Kundali Bhagya 16th August 2018 Written Episode, Written Update on TellyUpdates.com
Sherlin asks Prithvi what e is doing at which he answers that he not doing anything and Karan will now be finished, she asks him about Preeta he gets conscious and says that is she doubting him but she makes excuses saying that it is not that, Sherlin asks him to do his work. Prithvi goes to the reporters and tells him about Karan asking them to make a news, Sherlin says that she is seriously doubting him and will now keep an eye on him.
Preeta is very angry and looking for Karan who is nowhere to be found, she then enters and sees him with Manisha near the elevators, she gets curious and says that she will let him do everything that he wants as he is enjoying himself with a girl, Manisha is with Karan saying that she is also his fan but it si her job and she must break his image as otherwise she will get out of job. Preeta feels worried regarding Karan, she thinks the reason for feeling as worried as he is enjoying himself.
Prithvi is trying to explain the reporters to make a news but they do not listen as they say that Karan is a true and honest man, he asks them to go and find it out for themselves after which they leave, Prithvi sees Sherlin and is very angry to see her there, he asks the reason after which they both start to fight and he says that's he must leave but she does not listen, she then says that she feels that they are getting apart and she must spent time with him, he then consoles her saying that he also love her a lot and she must doubt his intentions, he says that if he loves someone a lot then no force can take her away from him, she hugs him saying that she was missing this form of him, she makes a plan to celebrate but he says that they cannot and she will call them after their plan is successful.
Manisha is with Karan who is unconscious and she makes a call to Prithvi who is with Sherlin, she says that she is with Karan in the lift after that he gets angry and forces her to not take his name in front of him as he is a very clever boy and if she says their names then they will get In trouble, she asks him to send the media to the floor, he says that she must only do her work and not instruct her as he is the writer if this play, Manisha says that he must not worry as the person who cannot even stand properly cannot harm them so it is also very difficult to control him and he must hurry, Sherlin ask Prithvi about the update he says that their plan is half complete and the other half will be completed shortly. She calls the police to attempt to strangle Karan in their plan.
Manisha takes Karan to her room which is very difficult, Preeta thinks that something is very wrong as Karan never drinks so much that he cannot remember anything, she says that the girl was pulling him and he was not going by his will, she then goes to find him and sees that the elevator is on the ninth floor, Manisha is pulling Karan when Preeta sees her taking Karan into her room, she starts to walk towards the room, Manisha decides to put Karan on the bed and after that she will close the door, Preeta wonders what she will tell Prithvi who would be waiting for her, She sees that the door is opened and towards it.
Prithvi calls the police saying that he feels Karan is doing something wrong with a girl, the police asks if he is sure, Prithvi makes them feel confident that it was Karan who took the girl in room 803 and they hurriedly mobilize to get to the police station at their earliest. He says that the police will be their shortly and then everyone will rush towards them to ask them about the matter after that Karan s self-respect will be like a sand grain, and he will be not able to stand with his or any family that is close to him, he makes a plan the Karan will now fail in every war that he has with them, Sherlin says that they will now win and none will be able to challenge them.
Manisha starts to talk with Karan saying that he was not made for some ordinary girl and now she will make herself famous, Manisha then makes him lie correctly on the bed. Preeta sees Karan and Manisha together.
Precap: Preeta sees Manisha and pulls her away from Karan, she throws her out from the room, Manisha calls Prithvi and tells him everything, Karan expresses his feelings to Preeta.
Update Credit to: Sona


text:
June is Pride month, and to break from the usual political shenanigans, I thought I'd share the story of when I first came out as a gay man.
The first thing you should realise is that there isn't a single coming out for queer people. It usually involves first doing so to a sibling or best friend, before expanding that circle: coming out to your family, work colleagues, and every new acquaintance you make throughout your life. Whenever small talk gets rolling, and one is asked about wives/husbands/partners/etc, we usually have to offer a quick clarification. The most seminal moment for most people, however, remains the moment we tell our parents who we really are.
My parents are extremely liberal. We're an atheistic household, my Mum was born in Angola, my Dad's father was a political prisoner during the Fascist dictatorship of Salazar in Portugal. I grew up seeing loads of different people as their friends, including gay men (which I had no idea about, by the way). This might make you think that I had the easiest coming out in the world, no?
Well, not entirely. I was very gender-conforming growing up, and whilst I always knew that I liked other boys, I made an effort not to fall into any stereotypes that could give me away. Girl colleagues of mine would hang out during breaks, rehearsing some Britney Spears's choreography, and although I'd want to be with them, I just went away to do something else with the boys. Not sports, though, I never went that far – I was always severely overweight and vastly uninterested in anything physically demanding.
Mum and Dad had no suspicions (my Mum likes to say that she always knew, but I'm not too sure; she only started saying it after I came out, so we'll never know). Forward to a few years later, when I finally go to university, and move from the small fishing village of Santa Luzia in the South of Portugal, to Lisbon. As I became increasingly comfortable with the idea of who I was, during my first year of uni (having loads of gay people as friends helped immensely), not even my friends suspected a thing. I genuinely believe that this was to do with me being so overweight and apparently thoughtless when it came to my image, not conforming to anyone's prejudices of what a gay guy was. Zero interest in fashion, zero interest in talking about pop music (I listened to it secretly), zero mannerisms that could be perceived as effeminate. I went under everyone's radar, including my gay friends.
I should also point out that I was living in a fraternity, with about a dozen other guys, and homophobia and misogyny were rampant. Their conversations were disgusting. And I knew that I couldn't dare to come out there, because I'd face a lot of crap.
I first ended up coming out to one of my gay friends. I'd arranged coffee with him, saying that I needed to tell him something, and only then did it first click in his head. He was brilliant about it, and incredibly excited for me to tell everyone else. I'd also painted my hair blonde, by the way, and I think he was more excited about them seeing it than the fact that I was coming out. Anyway, I did, the following morning, before a uni lecture. Most of them thought it was a prank, and some didn't believe me until months later, that was how entrenched their prejudices were (none of them were ill-meaning, by the way). Yet, as the months went by, I grew in confidence, even if I never came out in my fraternity.
Before we start the following year of uni, something finally clicked in me and I started addressing my obesity. I lost weight at an incredible rate, as I was inhumanely determined to fix myself, after I'd reached a point of loneliness and unhappiness I couldn't bear any longer. I was an out gay man, and I wanted to have my first boyfriend, I wanted to dress in the clothes that I liked and not those that fitted me. I wanted to feel attractive.
As my weight almost evaporated, through a discipline and strength of purpose that I haven't been able to recapture since, I started becoming a little vain for the first time in my life. I stopped hating the person I saw in the mirror, and started seeing the potential of who I could become if I kept at it. And so I did, and I started changing my style, and then I got my ear pierced. And then I got my second one, and this is when my Dad had a strange reaction that forced me to come out.
You see, as liberal as my parents were (and are), my Dad has some weird fixations about the body. He hates any adornments, because he thinks a healthy body doesn't need anything; tattoos, piercings, even necklaces and bracelets. They're unnecessary. So when I pierced my left ear, it was kind of alright, but when he saw the first picture of both my ears pierced, as he was having dinner with my Mum and brother, he called me. He wanted to know what the hell I was thinking, and if I was unaware that having both ears pierced could leave people thinking "that I belonged to certain groups". This was a weirdly judgemental sentence for my Dad, I never heard him saying anything remotely close to that before or since. But that was the prompt I needed.
"Maybe I do belong to certain groups," I replied. "In fact, I'm gay." Slight pause. "You're what?" he asks. "I'm a homosexual. Now pass the phone to Mum." He hesitated slightly, and then I heard him tell her "Zézinha, it's better that you're sitting down for this." My Mum picked up the phone, slightly anxious by the introduction that my Dad gave her, and I told her: "I'm gay." She paused for a bit. "You're what? What does that mean?" This was so weird, because of course my Mum knew what gay meant, but I guess it was her brain telling her that maybe she misheard something. "I'm a homosexual," clarified, knowing how unambiguous that word was.
To be honest, I don't remember exactly how that phone call ended. I had left the fraternity by that time, and was renting an apartment with three other friends, and they were all next to me then. I knew I was shaking, I could feel my face burning, and then we just celebrated as I felt a huge wave of relief.
My Dad called me the next day, and we didn't talk about what had happened last night at all. It was all normal. It took me a couple of weeks to visit them, as I went back to the Algarve one weekend every two months or so. I went to have dinner with my Mum on the night I arrived, at the shopping centre of the nearby town, and she talked to me about HIV, how I should just make sure that I was safe, and then we weirdly talked about how she had cried so much when Freddie Mercury died. She also told me that she'd always known, but had waited for me to tell her. I'm sure that's partly true.
Everything was normal. My Mum told my Granny and the rest of the family (it's a small family), no one made a fuss whatsoever. Nothing changed between me and my parents, at least not negatively – if anything it just allowed me own my breath with confidence, when I was next to them. I was no longer playing any character.
I continued on my journey to lose weight, and it would actually take me a few more months before I even started looking for someone to date. It was okay, I took as long as I needed to feel comfortable enough so that I was ready to share it with someone else. I was 21 years old when this finally happened. My first sexual encounter turned out, unfortunately, to be one where I participated without consent, although that didn't scar me at all, I was simply freaked out and ran out of his flat as quickly as I could. Took me a couple more months to find another man that I felt like I could date, and it turned out to be the love of my life, the man I'm still with, since the 20th of May, 2012.
As I said in the beginning, you spend your life coming out, if you're part of the LGBTQ+ community. It's okay, we get used and better at it. And each coming out is very different. Overall, my experience was nothing but an immensely positive one. My partner, on the other hand, is still almost entirely estranged from his family since coming out. But that's his story to tell.
Love your kids for who they are. Sometimes, they don't grow up according to your expectations. It's not their fault, they never asked for those expectations. The only thing you should expect is that they live a long, healthy and happy life, and that you do everything in your capacity to guarantee that you're a positive part of it all.
And if you're reading this because you don't know how to come out, because you're afraid of being thrown out of your house or being beaten: I will not lie, and tell you that everything will be alright. Maybe it won't. Maybe your parents have been drinking from a poisoned cup for years and years, and they will react badly. But they can also surprise you. Never be too certain. The most important thing is that you are honest with yourself, and that you have someone who you can count on, come what may. If the storm gets rough, you'll need help navigating it. But you'll survive, and as you lighten your burden, you'll become stronger than you've ever known. And you'll never be alone – the LGBTQ+ community is a family, and we've all been there. We will always understand you.
The world can be a very dark place. I still experience homophobia on a more regular basis than it should be accepted. But how we react to that darkness is by making sure that we shine brightly. There's no power like owning your body and who you are.
Love is love. Happy Pride month.


text:
Make Animals Great Again and Other Creature Campaigns
Shortlisted for the 2020 Singapore Book Awards (Best Middle-Grade/Young Adult Title)
Maureen Yeo
Illustrated by Gracie Chai
🎁Recommended for ages 9 and above
Look inside the book | Get the E-book
The older animals of Singapore are worried about the deteriorating values of the Next Generation. So the Animal Council is convened and it is agreed that a new leader is needed. But who will they choose?
Some animals think leadership should be inherited (Horseshoe Crab says he is literally blue-blooded, so he should lead!), but many disagree. So a competition is held, and the insects send Weaver Ant, who thinks she can win based on strength. Other critters also step up and make all sorts of campaign promises to the kingdom. The birds send Parakeet, who just parrots the ideas of others. Will the Animal Council pick the right leader?
Make Animals Great Again follows the hilarious The Great Singapore Poo Sale, featuring the same cheeky animals of Singapore. The first book has been called "fascinating and endearing" and sold out its first print run.
About the Author
Maureen Yeo teaches English, Literature and life skills by introducing her students to Roald Dahl's great principle: "A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men." When not working, she seeks out adventures at home and abroad, especially wildlife encounters.
About the Illustrator
Gracie Chai is a self-taught illustrator and artist who has dabbled in textile fabrication and clothes making, selling her handmade dresses and accessories around the world. She has now returned to illustration—her first artistic passion.
Praise for The Great Singapore Poo Sale
"The story is fascinating and endearing. The author has so beautifully weaved in wonderful messages into the story and I believe the book can foster children's compassion for animals and nature to be more appreciative of them. Both children and adults would love reading this!"
—Jayaprakash Bojan, National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2017
"Sure to keep children and adults educated on conservation!"
—Daryl Yeo, Nature Photographic Society, Singapore
Format: Hardcover
Size: 220mm x 170mm
Pages: 48pp
Published: October 2019


text:
Budget Secretary Michael Masch said he has accepted an offer to become the district's chief business officer, a newly created post, starting July 1. He has been Rendell's top budget adviser since the governor took office in 2003.
"Governors are term-limited. I never came to Harrisburg thinking I was going to spend my whole life there," Masch said.
Masch said he was asked to take the job by Arlene Ackerman, who will take over as the district's chief executive officer next month. He will be paid an annual salary of $220,000, according to district spokesman Fernando Gallard.
His departure comes at a potentially tricky time during the state budget process. A spending plan has never been finalized before the July 1 start of the new fiscal year during Rendell's more than five years in office.
But Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said he did not expect Masch's departure to cause any problems for the administration.
"Although the record of accomplishing a timely budget has not been stellar for this administration, even if Secretary Masch leaves, he will leave behind a team of talented and dedicated professionals who will carry on in his absence," Ardo said.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.


text:
Before Rayburn Wright (1922-1990) founded the jazz program at the Eastman School of Music in 1970, he was trombonist/arranger for the Glenn Miller-Tex Beneke Orchestra, he wrote scores for the Joffrey Ballet, he was a record producer, and an arranger/composer for Radio City Music Hall, movies and television. The school honors Wright Friday with a concert of music written or arranged by Wright and his former students. The tunes will also be performed by Wright's former students, with the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and Eastman New Jazz Ensemble. Guests include Bill Cunliffe, Jeff Beal, Dave Glasser, Bill Reichenbach, Gene Bertoncini, and many more. Arrangers include Jeff Holmes, Fred Sturm, and Maria Schneider.
Tribute to Rayburn Wright is on Friday, October 12 at Kodak Theatre, 60 Gibbs St. 8 p.m. Free. 274-1100. esm.rochester.edu.


text:
Back to: Teacher Appreciation
Llama Love Indoor Decorative Vase
This adorable llama indoor decorative flower vase can also be used as a planter for house plants. Useful yet playful vase makes a fun and unique housewarming gift! Cast in resin and finished by hand, this vase measures 5 inches x 3.5 inches x 9.25 inches. Includes a plastic insert that can be used to hold a plant.


text:
Tour of Oman 2010, stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson>>
Edvald Boasson Hagen came the closest yet to taking a bunch sprint for Team Sky after he finished second in the opening stage's bunch sprint finish of the Tour of Oman, a 60 kilometre evening crit held in front of massive crowds on the seafront at Muscat, Oman. The win went to Frenchman Jimmy Casper (Saur-Sojasun).
>> Subscribe to Cycling Weekly this Autumn and save 35%. Enjoy the luxury of home delivery and never miss an issue <<
Already third and sixth in bunch sprints in the Tour of Qatar, Boasson Hagen was perfectly set up for the sprint by team-mate Chris Sutton after Sky had repeated their Qatar tactic of sweeping en masse to the front with just a few kilometres to go.
However, the 22-year-old Norwegian, a former winner of the Tour of Britain, ran out of gas within a few metres for the line, losing the race by a less than a bike's length.
Boasson Hagen was disappointed afterwards not to be able to finish off Sky's excellent teamwork but as team sources said, it was a great result considering he is a long way off his top form and it is his third top placing in almost as many days.
The team cars will also be well-positioned in tomorrow's first real road stage thanks to his second place, and Boasson Hagen should be easy to spot, too – he's leading the Best Young Rider's competition, and will wear the white jersey that goes with that first place.
"I yelled at Chris to go all out then went for it with about 100 metres to go," Boasson Hagen said, "but I just couldn't quite make it to the finish at the head of the pack."
"Matt [Hayman] went to the front then the rest of the team, and then with just three metres to go he [Casper] came past me, so I lost it by maybe less than a bike length. It was close."
"The whole team were there, we're working better and better and it almost worked. I'm just disappointed I couldn't quite pay them back for racing so well.."
The race itself drew massive crowds, far bigger than at the Tour of Qatar, and the seafront setting, giant television screens, low street lighting and a short, fast circuit all made for a highly atmospheric evening's racing and successful start to professional cycling's newest event.
Tour of Oman 2010: Stage one
1. Jimmy Casper (Fra) Saur-Sojasun 61km in 1-22-22
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky
3. Kenny De Haes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
4. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Transitions
5. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
6. Michael Van Stayen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
7. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Katusha
8. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) HTC-Columbia
9. Andreas Stauff (Ger) Quick Step
10. Lucas Sebastien Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank all same time.
27. Alex Dowsett (GB) Trek-Livestrong
42. Daniel Lloyd (GB) Cervelo
43. Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky
78. Roger Hammond (GB) Cervelo
124. Ian Stannard (GB) Team Sky all same time.
Jimmy Casper takes the bunch sprint ahead of Edvald Boasson Hagen
Team Sky set the pace
Jimmy Casper: Stage one victor and race leader
Related links
Tour of Oman 2010, stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson>>


text:
Tony is a teacher, writer, digital artist and kaiako (teacher/guide/mentor).
Born in New Zealand, he is of English, Dutch and Māori descent. Raised in the Christian tradition, he has trained as a teacher and professional photographer. He holds a degree in foreign languages and literature.
He has spent the last few years studying Io Matua Kore, the ancient Māori spiritual traditions with a tohunga (traditional healer) from the Tuhoe people of the Te Urewera region of the Central North Island.
Ever a Seeker, he has explored and continues to explore a range of different spiritual traditions and share his insights through his art, writing, mentoring and teaching.
He currently lives in Rawene, in Northland.
There is but One God, he says, but that God wears many faces. Like the pungawerewere (spider), I am drawn to explore all the threads which bind us, and to help people discover the radiant Divine within themselves.
It is not enough to keep the Gift to myself.
Photography is a sacred space, a campfire if you like, which provides a wonderful tool which each of us can employ to find out about ourselves and explore our own journeys. If we persevere we will ultimately come to understand ourselves and the wonder of our own Life Journeys.
In the words of the great Austrian poet, Rainer Maria Rilke:
The greatest journey
Is the journey within.
You are viewing the text version of this site.
Need help? check the requirements page.


text:
Dave Russell found himself doing some deep soul searching as the calendar turned to 2013.
Fourteen years in public office - while trying to run his business on weekends and evenings and still find time to be with his family - were taking their toll.
"Something had to give,'' Russell said.
His conclusion: It was time "to go back to having one job.''
After eight years in the Florida House and eight more on the Hernando County Commission by the time his term ends in November 2014, Russell will walk away from the public life instead of seeking a third term.
"It's been a real privilege. It has,'' said Russell, who currently is chairman of the commission. "It's been very interesting.''
He doesn't plan to let his commitment to taxpayers slide over the next year and a half. There are more tough budget battles to fight, though he's hopeful the process will be easier this year if the economy continues to improve.
"I'd like for that last budget I work on to be static so that the current revenue at the existing millage rate will equal expenses,'' Russell said. "We would create a budget based on need and not income.''
Beyond the budget, there are other issues to resolve.
From developing protocols for testing unmanned drones to revamping the county's former housing similarity ordinance to mapping out how the county will deal with its feral cat population, Russell doesn't expect too many dull moments as his tenure winds down.
"I'm in it for another 19 months,'' he said. "I'm at it 110 percent up to that last day, Nov. 18 (in 2014).''
The Russell family came to Hernando County in 1982 from Jacksonville. Russell's father, also named David, opened the county's first Pinch-a-Penny pool care business. In 1986, the governor appointed him to the County Commission, but in 1988 he lost the election to keep the seat.
David Jr. was in the pool business, too, first his father's and then his own. It remains the family business. But he also was interested in other things, like aviation. His efforts to build an experimental airplane from a kit gained him some media attention in 1994.
Russell landed on the Hernando County Aviation Authority. There, he became fascinated with transportation and how the Florida Department of Transportation worked with partners to build needed infrastructure in growing Florida communities.
"It piqued my interest, and I wanted to pursue some issues further,'' Russell said.
Enter fellow Aviation Authority member Gary Schraut. He encouraged Russell to take that interest and parlay it into a run for the state House.
Russell won his first election in 1998 and landed in the middle of the transportation issues that so interested him. Those issues and a myriad of others kept him busy for four consecutive terms in Tallahassee before term limits forced him out.
"I was turned out of the Legislature,'' he said. "I felt like I wasn't done yet.''
Even as Russell was completing his last term in the House, he was paying attention to issues back home. He was stumped by the County Commission's reluctance to consolidate emergency dispatching.
He decided it was time to join the local discussion and bring what he had learned in Tallahassee to Hernando County. He ran successfully for the County Commission in 2006.
Russell pushed strongly not just for combined dispatching, but also the merger of fire departments across the county, something that brought picketers to the front door of his pool business and critics to commission meetings.
He also wanted to see the county finally sell the old Brooksville Regional Hospital site, the maintenance of which was draining county coffers, and he pushed for the consolidation of the county's emergency management office with the Sheriff's Office.
As the housing bubble came and went, Russell and other commissioners found themselves trapped in the era of Government Gone Wild, an organized effort to take the commission to task for overspending and allowing taxes to rise with increased home values.
Commissioners cut tax rates in 2007, but still got criticized for not doing enough. In the years of declining revenue that have followed, there has been continued criticism by some of too much spending and not enough cutting.
Russell said he has tried to weigh everyone's point of view and make the right choices.
"If you know the right thing to do, you just hang on to it,'' he said.
Looking back at the last half-dozen difficult years, Russell believes the balance was struck correctly.
By cutting the property tax rate as the housing bubble burst, he said, residents have seen some $80 million in tax relief, not counting savings from falling home values.
Russell also points to savings in various county departments. There have been reduced costs at the jail because the sheriff took over the operation and savings in the Utilities Department.
By downsizing and consolidating, "we've been able to make do with less,'' he said. "I believe we're a healthier, more productive organization than we were five or six years ago, albeit smaller.''
Russell is always quick to add a caveat: "It's very similar to what has happened in the private sector.''
Schraut is disappointed by his friend's plan to leave politics.
"I am extremely unhappy with his decision," he said. "I'm going to make every effort over the next two years to talk him out of it."
But Schraut said he understood.
"You know what, you get tired," he said. "Your life is not your own.''
He termed Russell "a great legislator and a great statesman for Hernando County.''
Russell's life experience is what has helped make him so effective, according to Schraut.
"Dave is very real world. He's a guy with hands-on business experience,'' Schraut said. "When you talk to him, he gets it because he has lived it.''
Russell also brought to the table a vast list of contacts from his days in Tallahassee, something that benefits Hernando County in a variety of ways. It ranges from knowing some of the people he negotiated with recently over the new name for the airport to having good contacts at the Department of Transportation when road-building issues arise.
"Some people go to Tallahassee or become a county commissioner and enjoy the position more than the job,'' Schraut said. "Dave does the job.''
Blaise Ingoglia, chairman of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee, also lauds Russell's work.
"I want to thank Dave Russell for all his hard work and commitment to make Hernando County a better place, not just for the residents but for the business community,'' Ingoglia said.
He calls Russell a friend and said he frequently talks over issues with him.
"He's been a leader on the commission,'' said Ingoglia, who hopes strong Republican candidates will come forward to replace Russell. "Whenever a leader like Dave leaves, everyone has to step up.''
Russell, who is 57, says his post-commission life will remain busy. Already, he has rewritten the business and advertising plans for his pool company - and is starting to see some results.
He jokes that he is the "maintenance technician" for his 20-acre horse farm, a job that involves shovels and a tool kit. He and his wife, Michele, have two grown sons and three granddaughters.
"I am looking forward to spending more time with them,'' he said.
While he enjoyed his time in Tallahassee, Russell denies persistent rumors that he will run again for the state House when term limits open up Rep. Rob Schenck's seat next year.
Not only does he have no interest in starting over as a freshman legislator; Russell said he truly is ready to get back to his private life. A run for the House, he said, "that's just not in the cards.''
As for his legacy as a legislator and commissioner, Russell hopes people will say "that I've worked hard toward certain goals and I haven't let adversity discourage me from pursuing those goals with passion.''
A survivor of six election cycles, he said he wants to go out on a high note.
"It's not a bad thing to step down,'' Russell said. "There is life after politics.''
Barbara Behrendt can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or (352) 848-1434.


text:
Huawei is granted "EXCELLENT TELECOM CLOUD SOLUTION PROVIDER OF THE YEAR" in 2012 by Frost & Sullivan
26 Nov, 2012, 04:22 GMT
SHANGHAI, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- According to professional research and analysis on the telecom cloud market, the growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan held the award ceremony –Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards on November 13 and presented Huawei with "EXCELLENT TELECOM CLOUD SOLUTION PROVIDER OF THE YEAR". This award honors the company's distinguished achievements in the telecom cloud market developments.
The rapid development of cloud market is really dramatic. According to the related data provided by Frost & Sullivan, the market size in 2011 approached to 11.4 billion US dollars worldwide, increasing by 20.4% compared to 2010. The market size is forecasted to be 14 billion US dollars in 2012. As the fastest growing segment, telecom cloud market size reached 3 billion US dollars, with an annual growth rate of 21.4%. Up to the end of 2012, the market size is expected to be 3.7 billion US dollars.
Entering the field of cloud computing in 2008, Huawei is maintaining more than 10,000 dedicated R&D and service staff. As early as 2001, Huawei has started its research on servers, in which its X86 series is among the top in 81 functional criteria according to SPEC. In 2007, Huawei and Symantec established a joint venture, and in 2012, Huawei did the buy-back successfully, which greatly improved Huawei's capabilities in storage and safety. By the end of 2012, Huawei has delivered more than 260 data centers in which 35 are cloud computing data centers.
Huawei's telecom cloud solutions have also been successfully applied to many leading global operators. In cooperation with China Mobile, Huawei plans to construct the world's largest telecom cloud data center which has 1.3 million square meters for international information harbor, to centralize the telecom cloud computing operation support system of China Mobile; the cloud solutions helped Singapore-based Starhub to achieve the commercialization of public cloud service, meanwhile, they enhanced the informatization development of the Singapore government and the SMEs. Huawei provided Sinotrans, the largest Chinese integrated logistics company, with IT transformation and managed service with data center consolidation from 30 locations into 2 cloud-based data centers and reducing O&M personnel 64 to 4. The industry experience for years let Huawei have the ability to provide the end-to-end IT service and solution for operators and Huawei is truly a telecom cloud expert and practitioner recognized by the market.
- About Best Practices Awards
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Each year, the awards Frost & Sullivan establishes are presented to the company with outstanding performance in various industries. Winners not only have strategic advantage in production innovation, but also have obtained maximum market share through effective marketing strategy in the past two or three years.
- About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation, and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages nearly 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses, and the investment community from 40 offices on 6 continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.
Zhenhua Chen
Corporate Communications – China
E: email@example.com
SOURCE Frost & Sullivan


text:
So far, so good.
There's a canvas, it's called silence. Where do you want to make your mark? A little dab here? And don't forget, don't cover the whole canvas — we don't want a Rubens here!
I don't wave a flag for anything. I'm a musician.
To learn the blues, it takes a while, and you never stop. What did I learn? I learnt how to learn the blues, but I ain't stopped.
As you get older, younger people think you know where it's at. But it's a forlorn hope. Because everybody's growing up at the same time, you know?
Somebody who's 50, by the time he's 55, he's done a whole lot more shit. That's what I've realised — Jesus Christ, these people think I know what I'm doing.
OK, I'll fool them! But at the same time, you know it's a bluff. The important thing is what comes next, and are you ready for it?
Some of it, you really want to unlearn.
Chuck Berry is food — the man who brought you "Sweet Little Sixteen", "Too Much Monkey Business", "Roll Over Beethoven".
Unfortunately, his biggest-selling record was "My Ding-a-Ling". But that's his own preoccupation; I don't want to go there.
Rock'n'roll's great weapon is humour.
I love to play lead, too, but I like to sneak in, which is why I love to play with Ronnie [Wood].
With a quick nod and a wink, we can switch over in what we call "the ancient form of weaving". It's a Druidic sort of thing, we like to think, very mystical — ha!
I'm an unpure purist, something like that.
Electric is another instrument. Yeah, it looks the same and you've got to make the same moves, but you have to learn how to tame the beast. Because it is a monster.
Drugs, I think people make far too much of it.
When I was doing drugs, it would be the finest stuff you can get. If I was doing opium, it would be good Thai opium.
When I did smack, it would be pure, pure heroin — no street shit. I wasn't undiscerning, except when I got desperate.
There's this perennial thing that people have — how do you do it? Why do you do it? Like it's —what do you do? How do you go to an office everyday? Compared to that, my job is easy.
I learnt how to puke properly. First, find a receptacle if you can — that's rule number one. You eject it in a stream — a Technicolor yawn, parking a tiger.
At the same time, you're taking a crap. Which is kind of difficult to do. If you can do that, I'll put you in Cirque du Soleil.
Unless you really want to do this all the time, don't jump in the pond. There's piranhas in there, for Chrissakes.
Women are a beautiful complication, and I look forward to far more beauties and far more complications.
I've done a lot of dadding. Whoo, I tell you what — it grows you up pretty quick when that little bugger starts waking up.
Suddenly, there's this little cute ball of stuff yelling its head off — boom! Snap to! Oh, man, I better take care of this.
Daughters are far easier to bring up. My first [child] was Marlon, my son, and he gave me a good fight, man. He would drag my ass sometimes, before I could talk to him and instill the wisdom of not doing that.
I occasionally borrow pot from my kids. They do a little weed occasionally. "Here, Dad," or more likely, "Dad, have you got any?"
Poison's not bad. It's a matter of how much.
To me, smack is the big deal. That is such a cheeky, cheeky, cheeky little drug. That one can get you right by the tail before you know it, man.
It's a real leveller. I'm a fucking superstar, but when I want the stuff, baby, I'm down on the ground with the rest of them.
Your whole lifestyle becomes just waiting for the man and talking to junkies about whether the shit's good or not — "It's not as good as the last lot, is it? I'm not going to pay him then."
And guys pulling shooters on you: "Give me your stuff!" and all that.
You just become a wreck. Which is kind of disgusting in a way, but at the same time, I can't say I regret going there.
Quite honestly, you're probably in a den of madmen. For some weird reason, we've been given extra leash.
You can't believe how great this job is. I'll do it as long as people want to listen to it.
Some guys have a hard way of saying I love you.
Been there, done that.
Jack Nicholson
Willem Dafoe
Alan Partridge


text:
MLB trade rumors: Dodgers, Brewers balking at Orioles asking price for Manny Machado
The Dodgers and Brewers have yet to meet the Orioles asking price for Manny Machado.
Baltimore wants the Brewers to include right-handed pitching prospect Corbin Burnes in a deal for the 26-year-old star, according to a report from the Athletic. The Orioles are seeking 20-year-old infielder Gavin Lux from Los Angeles, the report says.
Both teams have so far been unwilling to make those prospects available in a potential trade, according to the report, which cities unidentified league sources.
The Dodgers and Brewers are frontrunners to land Machado, while the Yankees have also shown interest, the report says.
The Diamondbacks, Phillies, Braves, Indians and Cubs have also inquired about a potential deal for Machado, according to a report from the Baltimore Sun last week.
Machado has registered a .309/.379/.555 slash line and hit 21 home runs so far this season.
Machado, who will be a free agent following the season, was named to his fourth All-Star team Sunday. He has also won two Gold Glove awards in his seven-year MLB career.
The Orioles are in last place of the American League East standings with a 25-66 record.


text: Yes - the Guidance Department was amazing throughout the whole university process. One of our daughters will be attending college in the US and the application process to US schools is much more complicated and detailed than the Canadian application process. Guidance was on top of everything - starting long before the girls even knew where they were applying. They are knowledgeable and help the girls navigate the different websites, standardize tests and application requirements. The Guidance Department ran several meetings with Grade 11 and 12 parents to educate us on the process and met throughout the year with the girls to make sure they were being followed throughout the process so that nothing slipped through the cracks. For both of my girls, this process was seamless.


text:
Abbot Oliba was a Benedictine abbot, Count of Berga and Ripoll (998-1002), Bishop of Vic (1018-1046) and Abbot of Santa Maria de Ripoll and Sant Miquel de Cuixà (1008-1046).
He also founded the Monastery of Montserrat and restored the towns of Manresa and Cardona and, as impulsor of the Assembies of Pau i Treva or Peace and Truce, was one of the most influential political figures of his time.
As Abbot of Ripoll, whose Scriptorium was a major centre of learning,Oliba greatly influenced Catalan culture of the day and he was also a patron of Romanesque art and architecture.
Abbot Oliba was born in Besalú in 971 and died in Sant Miquel de Cuixà on October 30th 1046.
Born in 971 in Besalú, Oliba was the third son of Count Oliba Cabreta of Cerdanya and Besalú and Ermengarda of Empúries, which means he was the great-grandson of Count of Barcelona Guifré el Pilós.
In 988, his father retired to the Benedictine monastery of Montecassino and whilst his brother Bernat inherited Besalú and Guifré inherited Cerdanya, Oliba inherited Berga and Ripoll, which he renounced in 1002, when at the age of 31 he joined the Benedictine order in the Monastery of Ripoll.
In 1008, following the death of Abbot Seniofré, Oliba was elected abbot of Ripoll and a few months later he was also chosen as abbot of the Monastery of Sant Miquel de Cuixà.
His effective leadership led him to becoming abbot of Sant Martí del Canigó, Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Sant Sadurní de Tavèrnoles over the next few years and in 1011, he went to the Vatican and met with Pope Sergius IV, who issued a series of bulls in his favour.
At the time, Catalonia was the frontier between the Christian and Muslim worlds and the scriptorium at Ripoll became one of the most important centres in Europe for introducing Arab ideas such as Arabic numbers and the concept of zero and technology like the astrolabe.
At the end of 1018, Oliba was named Bishop of Vic and he began the construction of a new seat for the dioces at the Cathedral of Sant Pere in Vic.
In 1020, he became personally involved in the reconstruction of Manresa, which had been destroyed by the troops of Abd-al-Malik in 1003, and in 1025, he founded the Monastery of Montserrat.
However, his long-term legacy was really his participation in the Assemblies of Peace and Truce from 1010 onwards, which were a successful attempt to curb the violent behaviour of the nobles of the day.
The Peace of God established sagreras or refuges around churches where people could escape from violence and the Truce of God forbade violence from Saturday evening until the end of Sunday.
Do you have a great information to add or an opinion to express about on this topic? Share it!


text:
Women in energy: UNECE supports strengthened capacities and knowledge among officials and stakeholders from Central Asia
What are the interlinkages between Sustainable Development Goals on sustainable energy (SDG 7) and gender equality (SDG 5)? How can improving understanding of gender dimensions within the energy sector and promoting women's participation in energy-related decision-making drive progress in both goals?
As part of UNECE's work to promote women in energy, a workshop held on 1 October in Astana, Kazakhstan, focused on how promoting clean and affordable energy can empower women. This provided an opportunity to build capacities and raise awareness among Government officials and key stakeholders from Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries across a range of areas for advancing women's role in the energy sector, including:
- Enhancing knowledge of the differentiated access to energy resources and use of energy services by women and men in rural and urban settings;
- Mapping gaps in women's participation in energy-related decision-making and in the energy sector more broadly, including in planning processes;
- Developing gender-responsive policy recommendations to ensure gender equality in access to sustainable energy, to increase women's participation in decision-making and management of the energy and related sectors, and in opportunities for jobs and career development;
- Improving coordination and collaboration among government institutions and agencies, civil society, academia and other stakeholders to empower women in the energy sector.
The workshop was hosted by UNECE in cooperation with UNDP and KAZENERGY as part of the World Petroleum Council Meeting.
Opened by Ms. Byrganym Aitimova, Chair of the Parliament Committee on Social-Cultural Development and Science, the workshop also provided a valuable platform to learn from different countries' experiences of promoting women in energy.
For example, a gender/energy study for Kazakhstan presented energy-related challenges for women in different regions of the country, while an expert from the USA highlighted the benefits of gender inclusion in the utilities sector, also outlining the current state of women's participation in energy around the world and strategies to improve gender equality.
Representatives from KAZENERGY Women Association, Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, national energy companies as well as representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan shared insights into national goals and challenges. These include fighting stereotypes, addressing gender roles in the household, developing women's leadership, expanding women's professional opportunities, implementing mentoring development programmes for girls, and enhancing girls' involvement in science and technology.
Across all sectors, gender equality is fundamental to sustainable development. Find out more about UNECE's support to advancing gender equality: https://www.unece.org/gender.html


text:
Registrations open for the September 2017 Quarterly API Call
- September 26, 2017, 3:00 p.m. British Time | 4:00 p.m. Central European Time
- September 27, 2017, 11:00 a.m. U.S. Pacific Time
Registration link: Click here for the session on September 26th and here for the one on the 27th.
Please join our PM team to learn more about several exciting new API features which are coming soon! We will explore many features currently available as well as a few that will be piloting and released in the near future.
New features coming soon:
- Bing Shopping Campaigns updates
- Hotel Ads
- Bing Intent Ads
- U.S. County Targeting
- Updated Geo Locations file
- Expanded Text Ads updates (countdown, keyword default value, length check change)
- Upgraded URLs new value tracking parameters
- Offline conversions
Updates on previously discussed features:
- API v9 and v10 sunset
- Labels
- Automated bidding
- Price Extensions
- Account-level extensions
- In-market and Custom Audiences
- Campaign and ad group language targeting
- Sunset of content network
This 60-minute webcast will provide you with a clear understanding of upcoming features and the value they can bring to your search advertising campaigns. Along with a view of the Bing Ads API roadmap, we'll also provide an estimated timeline as to when features will become available, to provide you with the building blocks needed to develop the solution that works best for you.


text: New for 2016 at Kuchenworld we have the York German kitchen range. With the York German kitchen, Nobilia has designed a modern cottage styling which is in great demand, being a modern and contemporary twist to a popular kitchen style. The trend for neutral, natural tones in the kitchen remains extremely popular and the York kitchen is on trend; natural wood is lacquered to a satin finish in soft grey. Defined shapes, smooth lines and natural colour schemes are the characteristics of the modern cottage kitchen style. The York German kitchen from Nobilia has a number of charming cottage feature options such as wickerwork basket pull-outs, framed glass doors with antique inlay or bottle racks creating an authentic modern cottage kitchen. Thanks to our innovative kitchen technology, this results in a successful union of the traditional genuine wood and the modern lacquered satin grey finish for the York German kitchen.


text:
Tom Hall and Brenda Brathwaite Kickstart Turn-based Oldschool CRPG
Visit our sponsors! (or click here and disable ads)
Tom Hall and Brenda Brathwaite Kickstart Turn-based Oldschool CRPG
Information - posted by Crooked Bee on Wed 3 October 2012, 12:15:59Tags: Brenda Romero; Kickstarter; Tom Hall
Okay so Tom Hall (Anachronox, Doom) and Brenda Brathwaite (Wizardry, also John Romero's wife) have turned to Kickstarter to fund an "oldschool CRPG" for the PC and Mac -- or, if they reach $1.9 million, two CRPGs, one designed by Brenda and one by Tom. (Spiritual successor to Anachronox anyone?)
There's a lot of video game celebrities endorsing this Kickstarter already, from MCA to Notch. I haven't been able to ascertain from the Kickstarter page just what kind of CRPG this is going to be (first person or isometric for starters), but I'm gonna quote the list of game's features for you:
As Ian Bogost says in his endorsement, "Only you can prevent Brenda and Tom from making another Facebook game." So be sure to study the Kickstarter page carefully. $15 gets you a digital copy of the game for PC or Mac.
- Characters: Create a group of up to 4 characters, choosing from multiple races and professions.
- Skills: Balance your characters' strengths, weaknesses and skills, knowing each of them affects play.
- Progression: Gain experience and gain levels to hone your characters to your exact liking.
- Recruitable Characters: Hire NPCs to work with you, if you trust them, or allow them to hire you to be their guide.
- Character Extensions (Stretch Goal): Wrestle with the old-school favorites from back in the paper days - alignment, age, rank and randomly-rolled temperament.
- Exploration: Explore a richly detailed world, home to unique, dangerous and sometimes crafty creatures who may be friend or foe.
- Treasure: Loot castles, caverns and dungeons and defeat hordes of creatures in a world where your skill and cunning are key.
- NPCs: At least five known NPC races call this world home. Forge alliances with them and do their bidding - or be their undoing.
- Quests: Solve hundreds of quests on your way to discovering and uncovering the secrets of the world.
- Multiple Endings: The smallest of intentions sometimes matters far more than you know. It is a world alive with memories.
- Multiple Beginnings (Stretch Goal): The endings in one game affect the beginnings in another. Import your characters from one world to another.
- Combat: Turn-based combat harkens back to the days when spells and swords hit hard and last-second healing spells saved the day.
- NPC Enemies (Stretch Goal): What once was a relatively peaceful world becomes much more dangerous not only for you, but for those who live there. New NPCs come complete with an expanded game area and quests.
- Super Hardcore Mode (Stretch Goal) : Challenge yourself with Permadeath mode, no-save option and some optional but barely beatable bosses with the loot to prove their worth.
- Pen & Paper RPG ($60 Reward Tier): Gather around a table and enjoy playing Old School RPG the seriously, really old school way.
- Two Games, One Kickstarter ($1.9M Stretch Goal): Brenda and Tom make different, separate RPGs with unique worlds, quests and characters.
There are 626 comments on Tom Hall and Brenda Brathwaite Kickstart Turn-based Oldschool CRPG


text:
test post please ignore is one of the best known Reddit comments of all time and was #1 of all time on Reddit for over 6 years with 21898 upvotes. It was posted by Redditor /u/qgyh2 in the default subreddit /r/pics, it received Reddit Gold five times.
Redditors refusal to do what this poster requested (ignore the post) took on a life of its own as they were determined to make this top post of all time.
The highest rated comment within this post is:
Don't tell me what to do! Upvoted.
this comment had 6344 upvotes itself, which is a very large number of upvotes even to this day.
the response to the above comment was:
This must become the highest rated test post of all time.
Later edited with the following:
Edit: Holy fuck, I think we did it.
Hilarity ensued as they set out to make this the TOP POST of all time and refused to accept the OPs (original posters) request to ignore the post. They kept a running tally of how many upvotes it had recieved throughout the day and into the night. They celebrated with " WE DID IT REDDIT" comments as they achieved their goal of making "test post please ignore" #1 of all time.
This post created a meme frequently used, even to this day, on Reddit (perhaps elsewhere?) "test comment please ignore" - "test idea please ignore" etc.
This post has been seen by millions and referenced thousands of times
You can find the post and the comments within here:
Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.
Sign up
Need help? email@example.com


text:
November 24 2005
Wonderfalls Marathon on LOGO cable channel today. From 2pm - 10pm on Nov 24th, the LOGO channel is showing a marathon of Wonderfall episodes, including the ones guest starring Jewel Staite.
So funny this was posted now.... my sister and I just spent our Thanksgiving watching the entire marathon. I miss Wonderfalls. Another wonderful show cancelled before it's time.
AND Jewel is amazing !!!!
AND Jewel is amazing !!!!
This thread has been closed for new comments.
You need to log in to be able to post comments.
About membership.


text:
Vision Shine InfoTech offers C++ Language Training/coaching classes in Rohtak.
C++ is an object oriented programming (OOP) language, developed by Bjarne Stroustrup, and is an extension of C language. It is therefore possible to code C++ in a "C style" or "object-oriented style."
C++ offers classes, which provide the four features commonly present in OOP (and some non-OOP) languages: abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.
C++ Programming Language Course Syllabus
Absolute basics
Flow control and more data types
Accessing data and dealing with exceptions
Fundamentals of the object-oriented approach
Class hierarchy
Classes – continued
Exceptions – dealing with expected and unexpected problems
To know more about for "C++" programming course & fees detail:- Contact Us


text: Gator 470 Report post Posted February 14, 2018 I saw this picture in the "Used Machine" section. It was submitted by "MaryB", who sold her machine. I thought the batting roll holders were interesting. Should be simple to make. Quilters are so inventive! 3 1 lisae, Mary Beth, dbams and 1 other reacted to this Quote ConniePort Huron, MI 48060APQS Sales Rep and EducatorMillennium with Intelliquilter (IQ)"Be a good listener, your ears will never get you in trouble" Frank firstname.lastname@example.com://www.yoursite.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Quite apart from being my Birthday, the piece of news that hit me right between the eyes was Westpac's decision to LIFT its 2 year fixed loan rate from 4.99 percent to 5.19 percent.
If you have a mortgage, maybe its time to speak to your Bank. And while you're there, ask to see copies of your loan documentation, to see if it matches the ones you signed!


text:
Of course, doctors have plenty of trouble tracking masses of test results on faxes and paper, too. The research letter does not address the rate at which providers missed or overlooked test result information when using solely paper records for patients.
But still, 87 percent of the health providers surveyed said they found the number of alerts to be "excessive." And about 70 percent said they were getting more notifications than they found manageable, according to the research letter.
And those providers who said they received more notifications than they could handle were more likely to report missing some test results.


text:
Face Lift – All This Skin's Gotta Go.
Face Lift – A face lift (or rhytidectomy), is a surgical procedure that is the most comprehensive approach to treating deep facial wrinkles and dramatically loose, deflated sagging skin caused by aging.
I know that as you age, your skin gets thinner and droops in a way that could make anyone scream. But I also know (my friends and I always talk about it) that the problem isn't just the curse of gravity. It could be heredity. Could be. But it could also be how you've lived. I admit it; I was a sun worshipper — baby oil and no SPF anything. Now, SPFs are going through the ceiling. So I got way more than a healthy dose of damaging rays. Now it's like my whole face has deflated. My husband says he doesn't see it. "You look fine." Fine? Maybe that's why they say love is blind. Time to visit Dr. Narsete about a Face lift.
"Whhaaat?" Did some unknowingly cruel Millennial just call me "ma'am"? My heart sunk. I got home and flew to the mirror, rose colored glassed tossed to the floor. What's wrong with this picture? I smile and the wrinkles deepen. I try to laugh about it, but my laugh lines make me want to cry. And stress? It's impossible to hide your emotions; you just got divorced, maybe lost your job, your son moved halfway across the country taking the loves-of-your-life grandchildren. You do look like a ma'am. You feel like one. No one wants to age, but the point is, our faces tell a different story. If that's the case, I want my ending to be a happy one. No, ecstatic.
Why in the world don't people get it that men age, too.? That we look in the mirror and don't recognize the person with the sagging skin looking back at them. My skin sags, my ego sags with it. If I tell anyone I'm thinking of getting a face lift they think I'm crazy. Which make me crazy. My daughter is getting married and I don't want to walk her down the aisle looking like the Grandfather of the bride. And have you ever looked at those wedding albums? Not flattering. Age really stares you in the face. "Alexa…play my 'young' mix, and while you're at it, take some years off, will ya?" If only.
I hate when people telling me I look tired. They say there's nothing a good 8 hours won't do for you. I can get a solid 10 and wake up looking like an insomniac. I certainly don't look relaxed, refreshed or rested. I just look old, my old tight skin and contours gone. Even though I hate it, I'm realistic about it. I'm never going to be 20 again…or 30…you get the idea. It's just that I look a lot older than I feel. Young? I'd just go for more youthful. What I desperately need, is an outlook upgrade. The lift you get from having a facelift. I've seen what a good one can do, and I want it. For me. Believe it, this isn't the face I want to face the future with.
O.K. The decision is made. I want to get a facelift. But the real decision is the plastic surgeon I want to do it. Face lift surgery Is a complex procedure that requires extensive knowledge in facial anatomy, a very specific skill set of surgical techniques, and a highly-developed eye for aesthetic detail. Which narrowed it down to Dr. Thomas A. Narsete. When I went in for a consult (and in truth, I went to get several others) I knew he was the surgeon I could trust not to make my face scream "Face lift!" He explained the differences between fillers and face lifts (believe me, I asked) and answered all my questions. The biggest of which, was "When?" I scheduled my surgery immediately.
Call for an appointment now. Your beautiful "after is waiting.


text:
Hope you are looking forward to our final poll and quizzes as I am :D
Season 5 here we come!
Music Links
"Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas
(plays during "The Road So Far" recap of events; also played in 1.21 Salvation, 2.22 All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two and 3.16 No Rest for the Wicked)
"Patty Cake" by Juliana Wimbles(sung by Cindy McLellan)
We start with Azazel possessing a priest, killing all the nuns. It is later, after Sam's torture scene with the nurse demon, that we find out Azazel got a personal message from Lucifer encaged underneath. Lucifer tells Azazel that only Lilith can break the seals but a special boy is needed for the cause. This is 1972 (11 years before Sam was born - May 2, 1983). So we can assume that Azazel went around making deals with moms for a year before finding Mary.
One nun (maybe it was the same that Lucifer made talk for him later) knew exactly what was going on. You can see a tear roll down her face and she is praying frantically as Azazel talks.
Cut to Sam and Ruby by a teeny yellow car. Sam is "brooding" according to SuperWiki. He looks like he's trying to convince himself he is doing the right thing. Ruby senses this I'm sure. She is worried that Sam is not committed quite yet. She tells him that Dean should not have said what he said.
SAM:No, he was right to say it. I mean, I don't blame him after what I did.
She suggests they can patch things up when it is all finished but after drinking a load of demon blood Sam feels so much evil inside of him that he feels there is no going back. He also feels that he is dangerous and wants Dean to be as far away from him as possible so that he doesn't get hurt. This scene moved me especially after watching the first couple of episodes of Season 10. Very similar feels.
SAM:I can feel it inside me, Ruby. I've changed... for good. And there's no going back now.
RUBY:Sam --
SAM:Look, I know what I gotta do. It's okay, I'm just saying, Dean's better off as far away from me as possible. Anyways. Doesn't matter, let's just get this done with.
He also believes that he is doing this for the good of human kind and he is prepared to sacrifice his life for the cause as he told his mom in the hallucination last ep.
Next we have Dean and Bobby. Bobby is trying to convince Dean that he should not give up on Sam. But Dean is devastated. It's Sam leaving him to go off to college all over again. After rewatching this scene I understood a bit more why he had said those words at the end of last episode. It was exactly because he was remembering that day. The pain he went through believing that Sam did not care about him. And now it's the same thing all over again.
DEAN:No, damnit! No. I gotta face the facts. Sam never wanted part of this family. He hated this life growing up. Ran away to Stanford first chance he got. Now it's like déjà vu all over again. Well, I am sick and tired of chasing him. Screw him, he can do what he wants.
BOBBY: You don't mean that.
DEAN: Yes I do, Bobby. Sam's gone. He's gone. I'm not even sure if he's still my brother anymore. If he ever was.
The line - "I'm sick and tired of chasing him" makes me remember how Dean went to find Sam in the pilot. How all through Season 1 he tried to convince Sam to stay with him. He's always felt this to be a bit of a struggle aye? And now that Sam's left him again, it's just hard to try again.
I've focused more on Bobby's little speech in the past but this time, I was moved by Dean's despair more and felt close to tears. These two scenes - Sam feeling the evil, wanting Dean to be safe and wanting to do the right thing, Dean feeling abandoned and unloved are what I based my banner on for the poll. But of course Bobby's speech is also important because it wakes Dean up to the fact that can't just let Sam go darkside.
BOBBY:You stupid, stupid son of a bitch! Well, boo hoo, I am so sorry your feelings are hurt, princess! Are you under the impression that family's supposed to make you feel good?! Make you an apple pie, maybe? They're supposed to make you miserable! That's why they're family!
BOBBY:You sound like a whiny brat. No, you sound like your dad. Well, let me tell you something. Your dad was a coward.
DEAN:My dad was a lot of things, Bobby, but a coward?
BOBBY:He'd rather push Sam away than reach out to him. Well, that don't strike me as brave. You are a better man than your daddy ever was. So you do both of us a favor. Don't be him.
I do have some problems with Bobby's interpretation of what happened between Sam and John and whether John really pushed Sam away or not, but in any case the speech makes Dean think. While he is turning away toward the window to think though, he is suddenly transported to the "waiting room" so that when he turns around he is no longer with Bobby.
We will never know how Bobby reacted to this. He may have thought, "Huh, I guess the angels took him. Nothing I can do now." Or, he could have gone crazy with worry. Dean spends some time looking at the various room fixtures while Cas comes to tell him "it's almost time" and just disappears on him again(I'm not sure of the reason for this appearance).
We have a scene of our demon gourmet chef, taking a baby for Lilith and getting caught by Sam and Ruby.
SAM:So. We need to talk.
(I love the way they use those shots of Sam coming in through the side. They did it in On the Head of a Pin, and also do it in a later scene here.)
Then back to Dean. When Dean turns around toward the table he finds that the previously empty bowls are full of those hamburgers from his childhood memory of a seaside shack in Delaware and his favorite beer. Zach arrives with Cas.
Cas is in the back, the good little soldier, silent. Dean tries to get answers but Zach is being hedgy.
ZACHARIAH:Have faith.
DEAN:What, in you? Give me one good reason why I should.
ZACHARIAH:Because you swore your obedience. So obey.
Sam is torturing the "chef" for information.
And Dean is fingering his cellphone. Does this remind you of scarecrow?! He finally decides, to heck with it, and dials Sam.
DEAN:Hey, it's me. Uh...Look, I'll just get right to it. I'm still pissed... and I owe you a serious beatdown. But... I shouldn't have said what I said. You know, I'm not Dad. We're brothers. You know, we're family. And, uh... no matter how bad it gets, that doesn't change. Sammy, I'm sorry.
Sam finally gets the information he needs by promising to kill the demon if she talks. Ruby is of course not happy with that. When he gets ready to carry through, she stops him because he needs more blood to kill Lilith. The demon does something no other demon was smart enough to do (or maybe none actually had a live person). She lets the human woman take the reins, knowing that Sam would be bothered by this.
Ruby also knows that she is in a bit of trouble now. Sam is not evil - despite all the evil blood in him - which is very important to remember. He is drinking the blood because he thinks he is saving the world (maybe due to his addiction) and he feels that killing an innocent human is not good. Of course he had conveniently forgotten until now that every time he drank the blood of a demon-human, he was actually drinking the human as well. This reminds him.
We have the Azazel scene I mentioned here (so now we know Sam is the special boy and he has something to do with getting Lucifer out of the cage...)- then back to Sam.
Sam is doing research while Ruby looks like she is packing. Sam has found out about the murder in '71 and who did it. Ruby makes a demon joke -
RUBY:What's black and white and red all over?
SAM:That's not funny.
And we have a wonderful demon smirk by Ruby. Love how evil she is!
Before they leave, Sam shows how uncomfortable he is with the idea of bleeding a human being and suggests they find another demon. Ruby reminds him he's done it before, what's the difference. Sam doesn't like it as he struggles to get Cindy the girl into the trunk of the car. He is definitely having second thoughts.
Dean is getting quite frustrated and feeling the urgency of finding Sam. A message doesn't seem to be enough. He feels he needs to make things right with Sam - possibly because he thinks he is going to be fighting Lilith soon. He calls Cas. I guess it takes a while for Cas to arrive and Dean starts destroying the art pieces as he waits.
Cas won't take him to see Sam (anywhere but there) and he shows Dean that he is basically trapped with no way out.
Back to Sam. He is in the car with Ruby with his second thoughts. We hear Cindy screaming for help and it is obviously really bothering him. He also has a message from Dean on the phone and he is wondering if he should listen to it or not.
Now my theory here is that either Ruby changed the message here or she knows that it has been changed.
RUBY:What are you -- a 12-year-old girl? Just play it already.
SAM:Mind your own business.
We can tell she knows because of the way she reacts later while Sam is listening to the message without actually hearing it herself. And since it is unlikely she has contact with angels, she may have changed it herself. But then we have that cryptic line by Zach later about fixing things a bit to cement Sam's resolve so I really don't know. Anyway, knowing about the changed message, she urges him here to listen to it. She wants Sam fully on board and she thinks this is the way she can get that. Unfortunately for her, Sam refuses and instead wonders outloud if Dean might have been right... about everything.
Dean is trying to break his way out of the room when Zach appears again. He finally tells Dean that he is not going to kill Lilith.
ZACHARIAH:Lilith's going to break the final seal. Fait accompli at this point. Train's left the station.
DEAN:But me and Sam, we can stop... You don't want to stop it, do you?
ZACHARIAH:Nope. Never did. The end is nigh. The apocalypse is coming, kiddo, to a theater near you.
When Dean asks about Sam, Zach tells him rather cryptically that Sam has a part to play.
DEAN:What about Sam? He won't go quietly. He'll stop Lilith.
ZACHARIAH:Sam... has a part to play. A very important part. He may need a little nudging in the right direction, but I'll make sure he plays it.
There it is. Do you think Zach was in contact with Ruby?? That they actually worked together on this?
ZACHARIAH:Sam, Sam, Sam. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. Forget about him, would you? You have larger concerns. Why do you think I'm confiding in you? You're still vital, Dean. We weren't lying about your destiny. Just... omitted a few pertinent details. But nothing's changed. You are chosen. You will stop it. Just... not Lilith, or the apocalypse. That's all.
DEAN:Which means?
ZACHARIAH: Lucifer. You're going to stop Lucifer. You're our own little Russell Crowe, complete with surly attitude. And when it's over... and when you've won... your rewards will be... unimaginable. Peace, happiness... two virgins and seventy sluts. Trust me -- one day, we'll look back on this and laugh.
DEAN:Tell me something. Where's God in all this?
ZACHARIAH:God? God has left the building.
DunDun. Dean (and we?) find out for the first time that God is not calling the shots at all.
Next is Lilith, coming to the church to prepare for the "orgy."
Then back to Dean. He is trying to call Sam but his phone doesn't work this time. I guess the angels had to make sure he wouldn't get a hold of Sam and ruin their work. Cas has come back to apologize for it having to end this way and Dean's not taking it.
Dean punches Cas and Cas' head turns to the side like some robot. Obviously he doesn't feel a thing. But Dean's fist is killing him. Rather cute scene.
It's Armageddon, Cas. You need a bigger word than "sorry."
CASTIEL:Try to understand -- this is long foretold. This is your...
DEAN:Destiny? Don't give me that "holy" crap. Destiny, God's plan... It's all a bunch of lies, you poor, stupid son of a bitch! It's just a way for your bosses to keep me and keep you in line! You know what's real? People, families -- that's real. And you're gonna watch them all burn?
Such an important bit by Dean here. There's been a lot of references to destiny in the past seasons. Starting with Sam's destiny with regard to demons - I especially remember them in the car after Hunted, "I don't believe in that destiny crap" "you mean you don't believe in my destiny." and recently in It's a Terrible Life, "it feels like I should be doing something else. There's just something in my blood. Like I was destined for something different." "Don't believe in destiny. I do believe in dealing with what's right in front of us, though." And of course Bad Day: "It's God, Creedy. He led us here for one reason. To do His work. This ... is destiny." "Nope, just a rabbit's foot" Hehe!
He almost gives in - to destiny - in Season 5. And I guess you could say he almost does at the start of this ep as well. But his love for Sam, his only living family is enough to get him back in the game.
CASTIEL:What is so worth saving? I see nothing but pain here. I see inside you. I see your guilt, your anger, confusion. In paradise, all is forgiven. You'll be at peace. Even with Sam.
Considering that Cas had been willing to help Dean stop it before, I feel like this argument is something that the higher-up angels gave him. It sort of reminds me of Dean's conversation with Anna too. Except at that time Dean was envious of the angels for not having pain, guilt, anger, confusion. It was Anna that said it was still worth it.
DEAN:You can take your peace... and shove it up your lily-white ass. 'Cause I'll take the pain and the guilt. I'll even take Sam as is. It's a lot better than being some Stepford bitch in paradise. This is simple, Cas! No more crap about being a good soldier. There is a right and there is a wrong here, and you know it. Look at me!
You know it! You were gonna help me once, weren't you? You were gonna warn me about all this, before they dragged you back to Bible camp. Help me -- now. Please.
CASTIEL:What would you have me do?
DEAN:Get me to Sam. We can stop this before it's too late.
CASTIEL:I do that, we will all be hunted. We'll all be killed.
DEAN:If there is anything worth dying for... this is it.
Cas is torn. It seems he still has those feelings of doubt. They had just been suppressed. But, going against the angels would mean certain death and Cas has to make his choice. It's too much for him here. He shakes his head and Dean dismisses him. This is very similar to the Dean/Bobby scene isn't it? They have to keep trying, fighting against destiny and that this is worth dying for.
Sam is on his way to the convent. They've stopped at the sign, possibly to drink the demon/Cindy's blood. He is full of doubt. Here he is prepared to listen to Dean. To turn back. He opens his phone and listens to the message.
DEAN'S VOICE:Listen to me, you bloodsucking freak. Dad always said I'd either have to save you or kill you. Well, I'm giving you fair warning. I'm done trying to save you. You're a monster, Sam -- a vampire. You're not you anymore. And there's no going back.
And Ruby smirks behind him. Finally he has heard the message that will bring him over to her completely. There is speculation as to whether Sam actually found out that this message was fake or not. It think it is very possible that Sam and Dean talk about this later. Dean would have told Sam about what happened to him in the room and Sam would have been curious as to why Dean - who in the message said he was going to kill Sam because he was a monster - would have come to help him at the end.
At this point though, the message makes Sam harden his resolve and ask Ruby to get "Cindy" ready for consumption.
Dean is getting hungry as well, and being unable to get out, he takes a hamburger for a bite. Suddenly Cas is behind him. He flings him to the wall, putting his hand over Dean's mouth until Dean nods that he won't make a sound.
Then he cuts his own arm and starts making the sigil to blow Zach away. Zach notices something strange right away and is there a moment later. But it's too late. He's gone. Cas then tells Dean that he doesn't know where Sam is, but he knows who does and zaps them both to Chuck.
Chuck, poor guy, is calling a call girl service for some fun before the end of the world. But we know from Season 5 that he didn't have the whole rest of the story in his "prophesy." He had probably left Dean at the waiting room, and written about Sam's eyes turning black and killing Lilith and possibly opening the cage but that had been it. So he is very surprised to see Dean and Cas. As they talk, the archangel(s) notice what is happening and start their attack -the prophet is not in danger but their plan is.
CASTIEL:It's the Archangel! I'll hold him off! I'll hold them all off! Just stop Sam!
Cas zaps Dean to Sam and stays with Chuck to foil the angels. He must have been prepared for this all along. It is an incredibly moving moment as they stand there together. Chuck as God - feels proud of Cas here I think. He is proud of this one angel that dares to doubt and even give his life for the humans in his charge. The hand he puts on Cas' shoulder ... does this sound strange?... it just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Cas is surprised by it and he looks at Chuck. Chuck/God draws his hand away apologetically like a father scorned by a son and feeling his own inadequacies.
Back to Dean and Sam. Dean is in that hall of the convent. He sees Sam facing the alter with Ruby beside him. Ruby turns around and sees him, smirks and slams the door shut.
Dean is pounding on the door, calling to Sam. Sam stops when he hears Dean, but we can hear his heartbeat as it must have sounded to him, booming loudly as Ruby shouts at him to hurry up and kill Lilith. Lilith realizes what is happening and she purposefully seals her fate. She came here knowing she was going to die for Lucifer to begin with. She laughs at Sam.
LILITH:You turned yourself into a freak. A monster. And now you're not gonna bite? I'm sorry, but that is honestly adorable.
A freak, a monster - always those words trigger something in Sam because he feels it too and he hates it so much. It reminds me of the moment in AfterSchool Special as much as Dean's words in the last episode. I talked about Sam's anger management issues in ASS, how he seemed to be able to manage it plenty. That was obviously not the issue. It was all about how he felt the freak because of the demon blood. Here again, those words trigger Sam's anger and his eyes turn black as he kills her dead.
Then Ruby and Sam see something strange.
The blood from Lilith's mouth starts winding its way around the room to make a big circle - a door to Lucifer's cage. Sam is bewildered and Ruby is delighted (and we have that side entrance of both of them as they watch the blood flow. Ruby finally tells Sam the truth.
RUBY:You opened the door. And now he's free at last. He's free at last!
SAM:No, no, no. No, he -- Lilith -- I stopped her. I killed her!
RUBY:And it is written that the first demon shall be the last seal. And you bust her open.
Now guess who's coming to dinner.
SAM:Oh, my god.
RUBY:Guess again.
Ruby is full of herself. Elated. Finally after those years of preparation, manipulation, Sam has fulfilled his "destiny."
Sam tries to kill Ruby with his power, but it's all gone. Depleted from killing Lilith.
SAM:The blood... You poisoned me.
RUBY:No. It wasn't the blood. It was you... and your choices. I just gave you the options, and you chose the right path every time. You didn't need the feather to fly, you had it in you the whole time, Dumbo! I know it's hard to see it now... but this is a miracle. So long coming. Everything Azazel did, and Lilith did. Just to get you here. And you were the only one who could do it.
So this is interesting. It's almost like she's saying that he could have killed Lilith without the blood, but then the later episodes with Pestilence and Lucifer don't really make sense if that is true... do they? Is she maybe saying that the blood didn't make him decide to kill Lilith? Poison him like he said into making the wrong choices? This reminds me actually of what Sam said way back in Simon Said. "Right circumstances, everyone's capable of murder. Everyone. You know, maybe that's what the demon's doing. Pushing us. Finding ways to break us."
SAM:Why? W-why me?
Sam's without the strength to even stand. And Ruby comes up to him and almost seems to comfort him.
I don't know how Dean breaks in finally. Maybe Ruby releases her hold on the doors. Dean barges in and comes straight for her, stabbing the knife straight into her stomach and twisting it for good measure.
Sam wakes from his stupor to help Dean by holding Ruby in place. As she falls to the ground, Sam looks at Dean -
Dean makes the most interesting face here. It is not sad or mad, maybe a bit of horrified, but still it is him and Sam against the world. He tells Sam they should go as the light starts pouring out of the gate but Sam can't tear his eyes away from what is happening before him. It's like he is fascinated by it.
Then they are consumed by light - just as Cas and Chuck were before them. And on a first watch we don't really know what happened until season 5 when we find out that God has zapped them to safety. Do you think God would have done this if Sam had been on his own there at the convent? If we think of Chuck as God, then the answer to me is no. If Chuck had not experienced first hand the actions by Cas and Dean, he would very probably have let destiny fall in place. And what would that have been. Would Sam have said yes to Lucifer right away out of despair from being rejected by his brother? I can very much see Lucifer convincing Sam some way or other. And Dean, if Cas had not helped him get to Sam at the expense to his life... would he have said yes to Michael right away? He may have if he knew that Sam had given in...The world might have ended quite soon after. Or he could have become the soldier he was in The End and the world may have been taken over by Lucifer. Very interesting to contemplate.


text:
whistler biodiversity
Our Favorite Snack: Ants on a Log
A nutritious alternative here are some tips for Ants on a Log:
Ants on a log are a timeless classic that have recently been enhanced with advances in nut butters and chunky versions; different flavors of chocolate (white, milk, dark), butterscotch and carmel chips; and, other topping technologies such as chocolate sauce, whip cream, butterscotch, honey and more. Here is our favorite version with some nutritional information:
1) Cut large, organic, slightly under ripe Banana Into Flat Pieces.
Tips on Banana's, the glycemic index and our health:
It is a myth that bananas should always be kept at room temperature and not in the refrigerator, where there is also less of a risk of Fruit Flies laying eggs. Although the skins will turn black in the refrigerator, the fruit will spoil less quickly, and under ripe banana's have a lower glycemic Index due to the resistant starches our bodies lack the enzymes to digest. This being said, although the sugar levels and glycemic indexes vary, all banana's are a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and manganese. More here: http://www.glycemicindex.com/
2) Spread Chunky Almond Butter Evenly Over Banana Pieces.
3) Insert Dark Chocolate Chips. And:
4) Enjoy!!
Canadian Green Building Council Letter
Critter Get Ritter
PO Box 754,
Whistler, BC V0N 1B0
January 13th, 2014
Canadian Green Building Council
47 Clarence Street, Suite 202
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9K1
Dear Sir/Madam:
Congratulations on developing and contributing to the conservation of our environment and your recent accomplishments including rapid cumulative growth during the past four years, as well as awarding the skilled local contractors over the major corporate big city contractors. It is also great that your organization and green building designations achieved great recognition when Vancouver achieved the 'Best Green Building Policy' in the world Greenest City 2020 Action Plan World GBC Government Leadership Awards. We commend your designated achievements and look forward to hearing more about the council in the future, nice work!
Our Canadian similarities are futile compared to the USA Green Building Council and LEED, including other international developing green building groups and UN associations. We know more could be done to develop an iconic vivid heritage that has ensured our survival during our country's past 300 years during our growth and development. What is the Canadian Green Building Council doing differently to keep our iconic Canadian culture and heritage alive, functioning, conscientious, alert and unique in their own building and manufacturing practices? What is done differently that justifies your organizations current growth?
We seem misdirected moving away from the simple building materials, including those reused or derived more sustainably from forestry, and mining, especially where shut down and in operation during the past. It is an embarrassment that iconic Canadian building standards like wood and solid fuel burning; as well as cultural heritages and history of: fisheries and oceans; agriculture and farming; and trapping, hunting and fur trading are not mentioned on your website, reports, and certifications. It is sad and disappointing that more Canadian organizations, industries, and councils such as yours are not getting more involved in this, and that our future generations cannot wake up and not see what it might have been to be a Canadian a hundred years ago, or more. Too many are already experiencing what is not truly iconic or a part of our traditional heritage and culture and your organization is doing little to nothing about it.
What can be done to revert our great nation back to the international recognition it deserves, as a country of survivors and pioneers who thrived on survival and self-sufficiency in our cold and remote climates? Canada is not the source of "Arctic Cold" but of rich resources and independent spirit that can be built upon using the tenacity of natural materials, and continuance of organic skills and experiences. Historically we have achieved this and created our identity as a nation of haves, not dependant upon greater industrialization but our interdependent survival aptitudes.
As a committed, young, experienced entrepreneur and professional, the quality and type of the ingredients makes the best flavor: a willingness to serve others, communicate and recognize customers, communities, countries and those from overseas thus ensuring needs are met and exceeded by the preeminent. Without distinctive partisan leadership and action, including diligent and energetic staff desiring to lead and construct a truly Canadian Green Building Council your future may yield frustrations, and defeat. Your organization can provide endless potential, but we demand your ability to construct uniquely Canadian structures and identities derived from our heritage and culture thus truly enjoying our green iconic identity where communities can thrive and survive in there own natural environments. Survival through endurance bonds a unique prosperity others will only desire when we can build upon and share.
Thank you,
Tristan Galbraith
Critter Get Ritter
(604) 902-7417
-- Tristan Galbraith Critter Get Ritter (604) 902-7417