text:
PG&E suspends dividends over possible wildfire costs
PG&E Corp., the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., warned investors Wednesday that it will stop issuing dividends due to the possibility that the utility could be held liable for October's deadly Wine Country wildfires, which caused more than $9 billion in damage.
PG&E Corp. will suspend dividends on its common stock beginning with the fourth quarter of 2017. The company, whose most recent quarterly dividend was 53 cents per share, did not indicate when dividend payments might resume.
Although the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, has not determined a cause for any of the North Bay fires, numerous homeowners have sued Pacific Gas and Electric Co., accusing the company of improper maintenance and operations of its equipment. A fierce windstorm the night the fires began knocked down PG&E utility poles and sent trees and limbs crashing into power lines. The fires killed 44 people.
California utilities can be held liable for wildfire damage caused by their equipment even if they followed all relevant safety regulations. PG&E Corp. cited that possibility Wednesday as a reason to suspend the dividends.
"After extensive consideration and in light of the uncertainty associated with the causes and potential liabilities associated with these wildfires as well as state policy uncertainties, the PG&E boards determined that suspending the common and preferred stock dividends is prudent with respect to cash conservation and is in the best long-term interests of the companies, our customers and our shareholders," PG&E Corp. Chairman of the Board Richard Kelly said in a press release.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the utility subsidiary of PG&E Corp., has its own preferred stock and operates on a slightly different fiscal year. It will suspend its dividends starting with the three-month period that ends on Jan. 31. Those stocks, however, are not publicly traded on any exchange.
PG&E Corp. made the announcement after markets closed Wednesday. Its shares fell 9 percent in after-hours trading, to $46.50. Since the fires erupted on Oct. 8, the stock has lost roughly one-third of its value.
PG&E last stopped paying its quarterly dividend in January 2001, after soaring wholesale electricity costs and rolling blackouts plunged California into crisis. Within three months, the utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co. had filed for bankruptcy protection. Dividend payments did not resume until the utility emerged from bankruptcy in 2004.
Even the deadly 2010 explosion of a natural gas pipeline beneath San Bruno did not force PG&E to suspend its dividends, although the company did not raise them for several years.
Many of California's most destructive wildfires have been caused by power lines falling, sparking or tangling with trees during windstorms. Cal Fire investigators are exploring whether Pacific Gas and Electric's electrical lines played a role in starting the Wine Country fires. The cause of the fires may not be known until next year. The utility, however, has suggested that the largest of the blazes — the Tubbs Fire, which burned from Calistoga to Santa Rosa — may have been caused by lines installed and owned by someone else.
Cal Fire is also examining whether electrical equipment could have sparked some of this month's devastating wildfires still burning in Southern California. That equipment, however, belongs to another utility company, Southern California Edison. Some Ventura County residents have already sued Edison over the Thomas Fire, now the second-largest blaze in California history.
PG&E Corp. CEO Geisha Williams has argued that utilities should not face strict liability for wildfire damage if they follow state rules for maintaining and running their equipment. But if some or all of the Wine Country fires are traced back to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s gear, and the company is held liable, PG&E will try to pass on to utility customers any costs not covered by liability insurance.
"We fully recognize the importance of dividends and intend to revisit the issue as we get more clarity," Kelly said in Wednesday's press release. "In the meantime, PG&E is committed to working with state policymakers to address the negative investment environment that strict liability under inverse condemnation is creating for California's utilities. This ultimately hurts our customers and the state."
David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF
David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF


text: About the MSMS matching through XCMS online December 05, 2018, 03:42:23 PM Hello,I am a new user of XCMS online and I have some questions about the XCMS data processing. I used the "single function" to process 2 technical replicate MSMS files. The Putative ID's (METLIN) of the analysis log shows that the analysis "Found 178 total, MS^2 spectra to match". However, I couldn't find any information about these matches. I checked the results table as well. Could anyone please let me know where I can find the MSMS matching information in the result? Thank you very much.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Northwest welcomes first Embraer 175
Embraer has delivered the first EMBRAER 175 jet to Northwest Airlines.The airline has placed a firm order for 36
EMBRAER 175 jets. The new E-Jets will be operated by Northwest's regional
subsidiary, Compass Airlines, and will fly under the Northwest Airlink
brand name.
"We are happy to welcome Northwest Airlines and its regional
subsidiary, Compass Airlines, into the growing group of E-Jets operators,
as the EMBRAER 175 aircraft joins its fleet," said Mauro Kern, Embraer's
Executive Vice President, Airline Market. "It is a distinct pleasure to see
one of our E-Jets taking part in Northwest's plan for offering its
passengers an aircraft of superior comfort and reliability. In addition to
that, I am sure our aircraft will bring them robust performance, high
operational efficiency, and outstanding economics."
Northwest's new EMBRAER 175 will be configured with 76 seats, 12 first-
class and 64 coach. "The fuel-efficient EMBRAER 175 allows Northwest to
offer first-class seating to more customers and to open new routes that
were not feasible to operate with larger aircraft," said Neal Cohen, Chief
Executive Officer - Regional Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Inc.
The EMBRAER 175 is the second of four members of the E-Jets family, a
new generation of aircraft designed specifically for the 70 to 120 seat
segment. Adopting a clean sheet design, Embraer's E-Jets are engineered to
maximize passenger comfort with exceptional performance and superior
operating economics. The E-Jets family program started deliveries in 2004
and has accumulated more than 650 firm orders from over 35 customers around
the globe.


text:
Royal Prestige™ logo vector
Below you can download free Royal Prestige™ logo vector logo. This logo uploaded 29 May 2014. Royal Prestige™ logo vector logo downloaded 990 times. See preview Royal Prestige™ logo vector logo, download Royal Prestige™ logo vector logos vector for free, write meanings, This is logo available for Windows 8 and Mac OS. You can download vector image in EPS, AI, CDR formats
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text:
SAIL Recruitment 2020 *Latest Trainee, Junior Manager 361 Vacancy, Apply Online *www.sailcareers.com
SAIL Recruitment 2020-21 official notification out for various trainee posts. Candidates can apply online application form here at www.sailcareers.com. Steel Authority of India Limited out various notification for feeling upto 361 vacancies for Operator-cum-Technician, Attendant-cum-Technician, JM, various Posts. Below we share notification, posts detail, vacancy, syllabus, result, more updates.
|Job Opportunities by SAIL – Steel Authority of India Limited Recruitment
|SAIL Recruitment| 156 Vacancies
|Posts Name
|Operator-cum-Technician, Attendant-cum-Technician
|1OTH, Diploma, ITI
|Age limit
|upto 28 years
|Notification Detail
|Click Here
|Direct Apply Online
|Click Here
|SAIL Recruitment| 205 Vacancies
|Posts Name
|Operator-cum-Technician & Junior Manager (Safety)
|1OTH, Diploma, ITI, B.E, B.TECH
|Age limit
|upto 30 years
|Notification Detail
|Click Here
|Direct Apply Online
|Click Here
|More News & Updates
|SAIL more jobs, Exam, Admit card, Result, Syllabus, Exam date & other Updates- CLICK HERE
Check More State wise Police Jobs
SAIL Recruitment 2020-21| Job Notification
|Application Form & Official Notification Detail
|Job Location
|Burnpur (West Bengal)
|Official Website
|Posts wise Vacancies Detail
|Operator-cum-Technician Posts
|126 Vacancies
|Attendant-cum-Technician Posts
|30 vacancies
Eligibility Required (Qualification/ Age limit/ Experienced) Detail
|Job seeker who wish to do SAIL Trainee posts. They must have to full filled minimum Education Qualification & Eligibility to get selected for Given Post.
|Pay Scale Per month
|candidates who will be appointed for Operator-cum-Technician Posts salary will be Rs. 16800 – 24110/- and for Attendant-cum-Technician Rs. 15830 – 22150/- Per month
SAIL Important Dates to Be remember
|official Notification Publish date
|Closing Date to submit Application Form
|Closing Date – Application fee submission
|Exam date
|No Exam
|Admit card download date
|Result Date
|Available Soon
Application Form & Official Notification Detail
|Steel Authority of India Limited out Notification for the Post of Operator-cum-Technician AND Attendant-cum-Technician, Posts under SAIL recruitment for 156 vacancies on the regular basis. Job seeker candidates need to Download official notification pdf from the link below and Do online registration then, apply online application Form from the Link Below
|Apply online Application Form Link
|Click Here and click here
|Download Notification PDF
|Click Here
|Admit card Download link, E-call letter
|No Exam
|Syllabus Detail
|No Exam
Selection Process
|Steel Authority of India Limited inviting eligible candidates for Operator-cum-Technician, Attendant-cum-Technician, Posts. According to Notification, candidates will be selected on the basis of:
SAIL Jobs Exam 2020-21 Notification @govtjobs2019.in
In India, Everyone makes a dream to Do Jobs in Govt sector and be a part of the nation's economic development OR in state govt Sector to serve our nation. To make your dream come true, various Posts (Operator-cum-Technician, Attendant-cum-Technician, Many More job do recruitment process in Large-scale and recruiting Thousands of Eligible, well-deserved candidates in respective Steel Authority of India ltd departments for which they had Applied. Same Now in 2020, Various govt, other Sectors will again announce Time to Time bumper vacancies notification so, job seekers need to stay with us and visit our website on daily basis so, interested candidates never miss any Jobs and they applied for their dream jobs and submit application Form within Last date of closing of application registration.
Government Jobs 2020 is well known Employment Portal websites where you can get a golden chance and Many Jobs notification for which you can apply online or offline as per your Eligibility (i.e Educational Qualification, Age limit, Merit). Here you can apply simultaneously for various govt jobs and explore thousands of current running Naukri 2020 in various Department. This Page update every Hours or any time whenever we get any recruitment news so, to get First notification visit our website (govtjobs2019.in) regularly and grab every Jobs that you can apply or known Latest news regarding all Upcoming Govt Exams and Jobs Notification.


text:
Our product is in order to bring the real life of people more LED light.
Xinshan professional design, development, and consistent optoelectronics, primarily for the supply of electronic LED products. We not only focus on technology, and the function of the development of LED lighting products. We combined with the needs of customers with the best innovation to realize the optimal product, whether it is a new high-end LED display vehicles or the most basic leadership consumable device. We will be excellent customer service and key technology in mount heng, to suppliers, ensure the best of the final product. In product development, we in the competition for many times, to get good grades.
We believe that customer satisfaction and trust are the two key factors to support future economic growth. Over the years we have proven commitment to customers. We has established itself as a true business partner understand the diverse needs of customers. We recommend that our customers and suppliers kpi improvement targets. We have our own QA approval to ISO 9001 and SGS certificate.
Our History
xinshan has been focused on the LED parts in China for over 20 years. We are in the form of store sales, now has become a leading supplier of LED industry in China.
Today, one of the top producers in xinshan parts quality LED products. We combined with the needs of customers with the best innovation to realize the optimal product, whether it is a new high-end LED display basic leadership consumable vehicles or equipment.
Our Factory
Xinshan is located in Shaoxing city China, South Yangtse River area. As a global supplier of LED products, xinshan is to create added value for the customers all over the world.
Our Product
Xinshan Products includes the following:
1, Garden light
2, Buried lights
3, Tunnel light
4, Street lamp
We supply LED products in the world a wide range of companies around the world, from a large multinational organization small individual companies.
Product Application
High power LED in oilfield, petrochemical, railway, mining, forces and other special industries, stage decoration, urban landscape lighting, display screen and sports venues, such as special work lamps and lanterns has wide application prospect.
Our Certificate
We always feel that all success of our company is directly related to the quality of the products we offer. They meet the highest quality requirements as stipulated in ISO9001, ISO14000:14001 SGS guidelines and our stringent quality control system.
Many times to participate in the domestic various awards and honors. On December 28, 2016, was awarded a Certificate of Design Patent. On February 22, 2017, obtain Certificate of Utility Model Patent.
Production Equipment
We can mix, produce infinite LED components, and provide some of the most advanced manufacturing capability, including custom molding and processing.
Production Market
We have customers from both domestic market and oversea market. xinshan Sales managers can speak fluent English for good communication. Our main sales market:
North America 25.00%
Southern Europe 15.00%
Our service
In addition to our existing molded products, xinshan can also according to drawings or samples manufacture LED products from our customers. We control the quality of the product key in every step of the production customized LED products. We provide technical support, is second to none.led downlight products


text:
CVS near me
CVS pharmacy is an American health care company and retail store whose headquarters is at Woonsocket in Rhode Island. The meaning of CVS is consumer value store and it was originally founded in Lowell in Massachusetts around 1963. The store sells a lot of prescription drugs together with a lot of beauty products, general merchandise and some cosmetics. Here are some of the answers on how to find CVS near me with their opening hours.
What time does CVS Pharmacy open or close?
CVS Pharmacy closing and opening hours may vary based on location but in general these hours are below shown.
There are also 24 hours CSV stores that works also on holidays like
CVS near me now – Use the Map
When in need for quality medical service provided by CVS then you have must wondered how can I find CVS near me now? Then look no further because you have come to the right place.
Please have your GPS enabled on your mobile device in order for map to function properly and to help you find closest CVS near your location now.
Top CVS near me locations in USA
Best CVS Pharmacy pictures


text:
Bonfire List 2011
2011 Bonfires in Newfoundland & Labrador
All Bonfires take place on November 5th, 2011**
(Except where noted with **)
View on Google Map
To add your community to the list email information to firstname.lastname@example.com
Carbonear (6:30 PM) in the community Recreation Complex. Hot chocolate and marshmallows will be served.
**Conception Bay South (7:00 PM, Sunday November 6) at Sargent Ned Nugents Field. Back-up bad weather date is Monday November (if still bad weather, then event is cancelled). For more information contact Justin Clark, Program Supervisor, Town of Conception Bay South at 834-6643 or firstname.lastname@example.com
**Flat Rock (November 4 @ 6:30-8:00PM) on the Beach. Contact 437-6312 for more information.
Heart's Content (7:00 PM) in the community park. For contact information call Douglas Piercey Fire chief at 583-2282 or Brian Pitcher asst. fire chief at 583-2116.
Heart's Delight-Islington (7:00 PM) The Heart's Delight-Islington Recreation Committee is sponsoring a community bonfire at the Brookcove Sports Field.
New Perlican (7:00 PM) Beach Road, hotdogs and marshmallows will be available. Can bring fire stuffs to site after Nov. 3rd.
Paradise (6:00 PM) at 68 McNamara Dr. (in back of the Community Centre). There will be 1 large bon fire and 3-4 roasting fires for families to roast wieners and marshmallows. There will also be water and hot chocolate given out.
Small Point-Adams Cove (7:00 PM) at Broad Cove Beach. Come out and enjoy the fire, sip hot chocolate, roast some marshmallows and weiners, and have a chat with friends and neighbours. And maybe a sing song around the fire. (Bring your own roasting stick! ) For Further Info Contact: Town Clerk at Town Hall Adams Cove at (709) 598-2610.
Torbay (6:30 PM) Behind Town Hall. Contact 437-6532 for more information.
Whitbourne (7:00 PM) The Town of Whitbourne will be having a bonfire at the old track near the fire hall. Weather permitting. If canceled the bonfire will be held the next nice night. There will be hot dogs and drinks for the kids provided by the Sports & Recreation Committee. For more informatin contact Crystal Peddle,Town Clerk of Whitbourne at 759-2780.
Winterton (7:00 PM) on the Kevin Powers Memorial Ball Field. A wiener and marshmallow roast will be provided for the children, just bring your roasting sticks and enjoy an evening of community fellowship. The Town will be picking up donations of wooden items for the community bonfire from November 1 – November 5. For Further information please contact Stephanie Powers Green, Town Clerk, 709-583-2010.
Burin (6:30) Behind Municipal Building.
Marystown (6:00 PM) at the track and field complex. Snacks for children will be provided.
Trinity (7:00 PM) Gravel Pit near the Fire Department. Rain date: November 6th at 7:00 PM. For more information contact Fire Chief Reg Johnson Fire Chief Johnson at (709) 464-3836.
Hermitage-Sandyville (7:00 PM) The Lions Club and Fire Dept. are hosting a fire at the Lions Club community centre festival parking lot. If bad weather fire will be held the following night. For more information contact Town Manager Josie Simms at 883-2343.
Lewisporte (7:00 PM) Woolfrey's Town Park, Pond Park Entrance. For more information contact Brenda Gerbig at 535-2737.
Grand Falls-Windsor Bonfire taking place during Red Maple Festival at Centennial Field. Contact 489-0450 for more information.
Isle Aux Morts (6:30) at Old dump sight, Route 470. For more information contact 698-3441.
Reidville (7:00 PM) Ballfield area. Marshmellow and hotdog roast provided. For more information call 635-5232.
Rocky Harbour (7:00 PM) Located at Rocky Harbour Pit off of route 430. Contact Fire Chief Wilfred Ellsworth (709) 458-7153 for more information.
Rose Blanche-Harbour Le Cou (6:30 PM) at the Slipway (behind old fish plant). For more information call Tammy Farrell, Town Clerk and Secretary for Recreation Committee 956-2540.
Woody Point and Glenburnie-Birchy Head-Shoal Brook (7:00 PM) on Main Road, Woody Point.
Wabush (6:30) The Snow Dump, near Men's Ball Field.


text:
What's your favorite sound? Seriously! Think about that for a second…what is your favorite sound? I have several…
- the congregation saying the Lord's Prayer in unison
- different languages being spoken in an international airport
- my brother laughing
- the Adhan calling the people to prayer
These sounds fill my heart until my eyes almost overflow with tears.
In January, I spent five days at KAICIID, an international center for inter-religious dialogue in Vienna, Austria, as part of their International Interfaith Fellows program. Twenty-two religious leaders, from 14 countries, representing 5+ religious traditions gathered for five days of training and community building. Diverse only begins to describe this beloved community, We reflect the breathtaking beauty of creation!
From Myanmar and Serbia, from Nigeria and Argentina, from Saudi Arabia and the United States, we learned about inter-religious dialogue as a tool for conflict transformation and peace building. had five full days of training. Sounds pretty complex. The reality is, we reminded ourselves to LISTEN! We all spoke with our own thick accents – forcing us to listen carefully whenever another spoke. We learned to listen for fact, feelings, and values. We learned to listen to body language and other non-verbal communication. We were inspired to LISTEN – with our hearts!
We have this opportunity every day at Emory University! We, too, are a beloved community reflecting the breathtaking beauty of creation! We are bombarded with opportunities to listen, to learn, and to be transformed so that we can be agents of transformation in the world.
In 2018, let's practice our listening! Listen for your favorite sound! Discover sounds that fill your heart until tears flow from your eyes. Listen to the world around you! Listen to others!. Listen to your heart! Listen for the voice of God!
Be still….
Take a deep breath….
I invite you to share your favorite sounds in the comment section. Come back and share each time you discover a new one!
Rev. Lisa Garvin
Associate Dean of the Chapel and Religious Life
Emory University, Office of Spiritual and Religious Life


text:
ESA ISS Science & System - Operations Status Report # 60
Increment 22
29 January 2010
This is ISS status report #60 from the European Space Agency outlining ESA's science related activities that have taken place on the ISS during the past two weeks for different European experiments and experiment facilities. The report is compiled by ESA's Human Spaceflight Coordination Office in cooperation with ESA's Columbus and Payload Operations Management and Mission Science teams from the ISS Utilisation Department.
ISS Utilisation Programme
The principal focus of the European utilisation of the ISS is the Columbus laboratory, which was launched and permanently attached to the ISS in February 2008. In addition to the science taking place using the internal and external experiment facilities of the Columbus laboratory, ESA also has some further ongoing research taking place inside and outside the Russian Segment of the ISS and in the US Destiny laboratory. The current status of the European science package on the ISS is as follows:
European science and research facilities inside the Columbus Laboratory
Biolab and near-term experiments
On 17 January ISS Flight Engineer Timothy Creamer took additional pictures of the adapter tool, damaged during maintenance activities on 8 January. Engineering and science teams are currently evaluating how to solve the issue and are assessing the science impact in case the Quick Disconnect at one of the Experiment Container positions cannot be recovered. A Biolab software update and flushing of the Life Support Module with gaseous nitrogen were successfully performed by Biolab's User Support and Operations Centre (MUSC) in Cologne, Germany via ground commanding on 21 January. On 27 January Timothy Creamer performed an exchange of the Biolab Life Support Modules 1 and 2. This was followed by a Life Support Modules tightness test, which was carried out from the ground. On 29 January ISS Flight Engineer Soichi Noguchi calibrated the nitrogen gas pressure regulator and successfully performed the nitrogen gas valve check. The Life Support Modules tightness test was also successfully performed.
The next run of the Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots (WAICO) experiment, which was the first experiment to take place in Biolab, is now planned after the science samples of the experiment are launched in conditioned state on Shuttle flight 19A. WAICO deals with the effect that gravity has on the spiralling motion (circumnutation) that occurs in Arabidopsis plant roots. It is suspected that this spiralling mechanism is an internal mechanism in the plant, independent of the influence of gravity.
The TripleLux-B experiment will be the next experiment after WAICO-2 to take place in the Biolab facility during Increment 23/24. The objective of this experiment is to further understand the cellular mechanisms underlying the aggravation of radiation responses, and the impairment of the immune functions under spaceflight conditions.
The ArtEMISS-A experiment will also tentatively be one of the following experiments to take place in the Biolab facility. This will be tentatively performed within a short-duration flight scenario for the up- and download part whjch is under detailed elaboration. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effect of spaceflight conditions, including weightlessness and radiation on the algae Arthrospira sp. The form, structure and physiology of the algae will be examined along with a genetic study of the organism. This data is important for determining the reliability of using Arthrospira sp. in spacecraft biological life support systems in such projects as MELISSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative).
European Drawer Rack
No activities were carried out with the European Drawer Rack in the two weeks up until 29 January. The European Drawer Rack is a multi-user experiment facility which had been continuously active and providing power, data and temperature control to the Protein Crystallisation Diagnostic Facility before the conclusion of 3½ months of successful experiment runs in July.
Fluid Science Laboratory and FASES/Geoflow-2 experiments
On 18 January, after the completion of Microgravity Vibration Isolation System activities, ISS Flight Engineer Noguchi locked the Facility Core Element to the Fluid Science Laboratory in preparation for the Soyuz 20S vehicle relocation. The transfer to the Video Management Unit and the downlink to ground of the files recorded during the commissioning activities of the Microgravity Vibration Isolation System were partially performed on 18, 19 and 26 January, and were successfully concluded on 27 January.
The Microgravity Vibration Isolation Subsystem is incorporated within the Fluid Science Laboratory. It is equipped with an extremely sensitive accelerometer that can monitor movements or vibration aboard the Station and it has been designed to isolate the core element of the Fluid Science Laboratory from vibrations of the ISS, and from disturbances generated within the rack itself.
The Flight Acceptance Review for the Fundamental and Applied Studies of Emulsion Stability (FASES) experiment has started and after the Experiment Sequence Test in the associated User Support and Operations Centre MARS in Naples, the launch of the Experiment Container is foreseen on Progress flight 39P in early September 2010. This experiment will be studying emulsion properties with advanced optical diagnostics. Results of the FASES experiment hold significance for oil extraction processes, chemical industry and in the food industry.
The hardware modifications for the implementation of the GeoFlow-2 experiment are in progress in order to launch it tentatively on ATV-2 at the end of 2010.
European Physiology Modules
No activities were carried out with the European Physiology Modules facility in the two weeks up until 29 January. The facility is equipped with Science Modules to investigate the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body. The experiment results will also contribute to an increased understanding of terrestrial problems such as the ageing process, osteoporosis, balance disorders, and muscle wastage.
No further runs of the PASSAGES experiment were carried out in the two weeks up until 29 January. PASSAGES is designed to test how astronauts interpret visual information in weightlessness: it aims at studying the effects of microgravity on the use of the 'Eye-Height' strategy for estimating allowed actions in an environment, and whether this could possibly decrease after a long exposure to weightlessness.
The Dose Distribution inside the ISS (DOSIS) experiment is progressing well. The DOSIS experiment will determine the nature and distribution of the radiation field inside European Columbus laboratory using different active and passive detectors spread around the laboratory. This is the first time that 'area dosimetry' is being undertaken on Columbus to measure the spatial radiation gradients inside the module. DOSIS will continue to record the radiation environment in the Columbus laboratory for at least one year
3D Space
No activities were carried out with the 3D Space experiment in the two weeks up until 29 January. This human physiology study investigates the effects of weightlessness on the mental representation of visual information during and after spaceflight. Accurate perception is a prerequisite for spatial orientation and reliable performance of tasks in space. The experiment has different elements including investigations of perception of depth and distance carried out using a virtual reality headset and standard psychophysics tests.
Flywheel Exercise Device
No further activities were carried out using the Flywheel Exercise Device in the two weeks up until 29 January. The Flywheel Exercise Device was launched to the ISS with Columbus in order to become an advanced exercise device for ISS astronauts and serving human physiology investigations in the area of advanced crew countermeasures.
Portable Pulmonary Function System
On 26 January ISS Commander Jeff Williams successfully completed his fourth Thermolab experiment session in conjunction with the VO2Max experiment. Thermolab uses the ESA-developed Portable Pulmonary Function System to investigate thermoregulatory and cardiovascular adaptations during rest and exercise in the course of long-term exposure to weightlessness. The Maximum Volume Oxygen (VO2 Max) is aimed at measuring oxygen uptake and cardiac output in particular, during various degrees of exercise.
The Portable Pulmonary Function System is an autonomous multi-user facility supporting a broad range of human physiological research experiments under weightless condition in the areas of respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic physiology.
Pulmonary Function System in Human Research Facility 2
No activities were carried out using the Pulmonary Function System in the two weeks up until 29 January. The Pulmonary Function System is accommodated in NASA Human Research Facility 2, which was relocated from the US Destiny laboratory to the Columbus laboratory on 1 October 2008. The Pulmonary Function System is an ESA/NASA collaboration in the field of respiratory physiology instrumentation, which analyses exhaled gas from astronauts' lungs to provide near-instant data on the state of crew health.
Wearable Augmented Reality (WEAR)
No further sessions of the WEAR experiments were carried out in the two weeks up until 29 January 2010. WEAR is demonstrating the usability of augmented reality technology on the ISS. The system will be worn by astronauts and will assist them when performing onboard tasks. When carrying out these tasks WEAR will allow the astronaut to consult procedures and manuals hands-free, with relevant information for the assigned task being displayed on a partially see-through screen before the astronaut's eyes. The astronaut will control the system via voice commands. The main objective of this experiment involves assessing the maturity, suitability and overall usefulness of the technologies used in WEAR: object recognition, speech recognition, barcode reading, augmented reality and integration of multiple data sources such as the ISS Inventory Management System. The assessment will be based in the improvement observed using WEAR on a standard Columbus maintenance procedure.
European Modular Cultivation System
On 25 January ISS Flight Engineer Creamer carried out maintenance activities on the European Modular Cultivation System in preparation for the new NASA experiment TROPI-2, which will be performed in February. Creamer installed water pump tubes on the three new rotor-based Life Support System boxes and performed a software upgrade on the European Modular Cultivation System laptop. Additionally, water pump servicing and the uplink of schedule and database files for the TROPI-2 experiments were conducted from the ground.
This space biology facility, which was flown to the ISS in July 2006, is dedicated to biological experiments such as the effects of gravity on cells, roots and physiology of plants and simple animals. It was developed by ESA and has been operated for two years under a bilateral barter agreement with NASA which is expected to be continued.
The return of EMCS to full functionality makes it possible for the following experiments to be undertaken in the facility: Tentatively in early 2010 the execution of the next NASA experiment TROPI-2 is planned. Genara is tentatively the next ESA experiment to take place in the European Modular Cultivation System and will study plant (Arabidopsis) growth at molecular level in weightlessness. This will help to better understand gravitropism and to find plant systems that compensate for the negative impact on plant growth in space. After a further NASA experiment Seedgrowth ESA's Gravi-2 experiment will be following towards the end of 2010.
Microgravity Science Glovebox
The Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument (SODI) installed in the Microgravity Science Glovebox was powered down after the 'Influence of Vibrations on Diffusion in Liquids' (IVIDIL) experiment was successfully completed on 20 January. The IVIDIL hardware was removed and stowed by Noguchi on 28 January.
In addition to the SODI-IVIDIL experiment the triple SODI experiments also includes the 'Diffusion and Soret Coefficient Measurements for Improvement of Oil Recovery' (DSC) experiment (to be launched with Progress 36 on 3 February) and the Colloid experiment, which covers the study on growth and properties of advanced photonic materials within colloidal solutions. The DSC and Colloid experiments will be launched on future Shuttle flights in the time frame until spring 2010.
The Microgravity Science Glovebox was developed by ESA within a barter agreement with NASA. The Glovebox provides the ability to perform a wide range of experiments in the fields of material science, biotechnology, fluid science, combustion science and crystal growth research, in a fully sealed and controlled environment. The Microgravity Science Glovebox has been continuously used for NASA experiments and will again play an important role for ESA's SODI experiment series.
European science and research facilities outside the Columbus laboratory in open space
SOLAR is currently in survival mode after the last Sun Observation Window ended on 17 January. The SOLSPEC instrument was temporary switched off on 21 January for power down during the relocation of the Soyuz 20S vehicle. Thruster firing and the calibration of the SOLSPEC instrument were performed on 26 January.
The SOLAR payload facility studies the Sun's irradiation with unprecedented accuracy across most of its spectral range during a 2-year timeframe on-orbit. The SOLAR facility has so far produced excellent scientific data during a series of Sun observation cycles. The detailed technical feasibility study for on-orbit lifetime extension has been successfully concluded and the science team will be able to continue gathering further science data in a period of increasing solar activity up to the maximum level in 2013.
European science inside the US Destiny Laboratory
Material Science Laboratory in the Material Science Research Rack
A software update of the Materials Science Research Rack-1 was successfully performed on 18 January. The processing of Material Science Laboratory cartridges resumed on 20 January. The processing of the CETSOL#3 Sample Cartridge Assembly was successfully completed on 22 January. Following exchange for the MICAST#3 Sample Cartridge Assembly on 27 January processing started the same day and was successfully completed by the following day. MICAST#3 was exchanged for MICAST#6 on 28 January and a chamber leak test was performed in preparation for processing next week.
ESA's Material Science Laboratory is the primary research facility located in NASA's Materials Science Research Rack-1, which was launched together with a total of six sample cartridges for NASA and for ESA's MICAST and CETSOL projects on STS-128/17A under a cooperation agreement with NASA and is now installed in the US Laboratory on the ISS.
CETSOL and MICAST are two complementary material science projects, which carry out research into the formation of microstructures during the solidification of metallic alloys. The goal of MICAST is to study the formation of microstructures during casting of technical alloys. In space, buoyancy convection is eliminated and the dendritic solidification of the alloys can be quantitatively studied under purely diffusive conditions. The objective of CETSOL is then to study the transition from columnar growth to equiaxed growth that occurs when crystals start to nucleate in the melt and grow independently. Results of these experiments will help to optimise industrial casting processes.
European science inside the Russian ISS Segment
In its experimental set up the Matroshka experiments consist of a simulated human body (head and torso) called the Phantom equipped with several active and passive radiation dosimeters. The Phantom will be relocated to the Japanese Kibo laboratory and equipped with a set of new passive dosimeters which were uploaded on the Progress 35P flight, which docked to the Station on 18 October. JAXA have already confirmed the technical accommodation feasibility assessments conclusion and now concrete implementation steps and bi-/trilateral agreements with JAXA and Russia can be envisaged for another experiment run until mid 2010. Roscosmos concurs to the proposed trilateral agreement and also JAXA's concurrence has been received. In the long-term Matroshka may again be accommodated on an external ISS platform to measure cosmic radiation levels in Low Earth Orbit which are of relevance for EVA activities.
GTS-2 (Global Transmission Service)
The Global Transmission Service was temporarily deactivated on 31 May though negotiations with Russian representatives are ongoing for reactivation of the instrument and continuation of the so-called test mode. GTS will be tentatively a cooperative European-Russian experiment on ISS. This experiment is intended to test the receiving conditions of a time and data signal for dedicated receivers on the ground. The time signal distributed by the GTS has special coding to allow the receiver to determine the local time anywhere on the Earth without user intervention. The main scientific objectives of the experiment are to verify under real space operation conditions: the performance and accuracy of a time signal transmitted to the Earth's surface from low Earth orbit; the signal quality and data rates achieved on the ground; measurement of disturbing effects such as Doppler shifts, multi-path reflections, shadowing and elevation impacts.
Additional European science outside the ISS in open space
The Expose-R facility, which was installed outside the Zvezda Service Module during the Russian-based spacewalk on 10 March 2009, is operating nominally and science acquisition is on-going. A tentative return of the sample trays is foreseen for autumn 2010 which allows a scientifically beneficial extension of the open space exposure period of 50%.
Expose-R hosts a suite of nine new astrobiology experiments (eight from ESA, one from IBMP, Moscow), some of which could help understand how life originated on Earth. This suite of experiments was transported to the International Space Station on Progress flight 31P, which docked with the ISS on 30 November 2008. The experiments are accommodated in three special sample trays, which are loaded with a variety of biological samples including plant seeds and spores of bacteria, fungi and ferns, which are exposed to the harsh space environment (Solar UV, cosmic radiation, vacuum), for about one and a half years.
The individual Expose-R experiments are as follows:
- AMINO: Photochemical processing of amino acids and other organic compounds in Earth orbit
- ENDO: Response of endolithic organisms to space conditions
- OSMO: Exposure of osmophilic microbes to the space environment
- SPORES: Spores in artificial meteorites
- PHOTO: Measurements of vacuum and solar radiation-induced DNA damages within spores
- SUBTIL: Mutational spectra of Bacillus subtilis spores and plasmid DNA exposed to high vacuum and solar UV radiation in the space environment.
- PUR: Responses of Phage T7, Phage DNA and polycrystalline uracil to the space environment.
- ORGANIC: Evolution of organic matter in space.
- IMBP: Exposure of resting stages of terrestrial organisms to space conditions.
Expose-R complements the exobiology science package that was performed in Expose-E, a twin facility which had been in operation on ESA's EuTEF facility outside of Columbus since February 2008 until EuTEF's return to Earth with the STS-128/17A Shuttle Flight in September.
Non-European science and research facilities inside the Columbus laboratory
Human Research Facility 1
ISS Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Creamer's started another week-long session of the NASA SLEEP (Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight) experiment on 18 January.
Human Research Facility 2
The Human Research Facility 2 was activated in the last two weeks to support blood operations related to the new Vascular Blood Collection protocol and NASA's Pro-K experiment, which is aimed at evaluating dietary countermeasures to lessen bone loss of the astronauts. On 27 January Creamer changed the calibration gas bottle of the Gas Delivery System, replacing it with the original bottle.
ISS general system information and activities *
Columbus laboratory
In addition to the Columbus experiment facilities mentioned above, the Columbus systems have been working well. Some regular maintenance activities have been executed by the crew and the Flight Control Team on top of the regular conferences of the ISS Crew with the Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Main points of interest are as follows:
Smoke Detector
On 19 January ISS Flight Engineer and NASA astronaut Tim Creamer inspected and cleaned a Return Grid Sensor Housing and replaced a failed Smoke Detector mounting clamp with a spare. The following day Creamer inspected and cleaned Optical Smoke Sensor 2.
Batteries replacement
ISS Flight Engineer and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi successfully replaced the batteries of the Portable Workstation 2 and Fluid Science Laboratory laptops.
Post Russian EVA 24 activities
On 17 and 18 January ISS Flight Engineers and Roscosmos cosmonauts Maxim Suraev and Oleg Kotov performed final EVA close-out activities to re-integrate the Progress 35P cargo ship, docked at the nadir port of the Pirs Docking Compartment, with the ISS. Activities included: installing the quick disconnect clamps of the docking and internal transfer mechanism, installing the ventilation and heating air duct, and dismantling the docking mechanism between the cargo ship and the Docking Compartment.
STS-130/20A Mission EVAs
On 18 January Noguchi and Creamer started preparations for the upcoming STS-130/20A Mission EVAs. Activities included, among others, the recharge of batteries to be used in the EVAs, and the configuration of tools and equipment for the EVAs.
Minus-Eighty Laboratory Freezer for the ISS (MELFI)
The European-built MELFI freezer was used in the last two weeks to store blood and urine samples related to Timothy Creamer's Nutrition/Pro K protocol, as well as blood samples from William's new Vascular Blood Collection protocol. Also, Creamer's hair samples were stored in MELFI, as part of the first onboard Hair Experiment performed on 19 January by Creamer and Noguchi.
Soyuz TMA-16/20S relocation
The Soyuz TMA16/20S vehicle was successfully relocated from the Service Module aft port to the Mini-Research Module 2 "Poisk" Module on 21 January. ISS Commander Williams and ISS Flight Engineer Suraev successfully completed the relocation in 22 minutes. This was the first time that a vehicle has docked to the new Russian module that arrived at the ISS in November. Prior to the relocation a hot firing test of the Soyuz Motion Control System thrusters was performed on 19 January, and the onboard Internal Wireless Instrumentation System was reconfigured on 20 January to monitor vibrations during the relocation. Structural dynamics data and the photo/video recordings of the activity were downlinked on 22 January.
ISS Reboost
The ISS successfully performed two reboosts on 22 and 24 January using the Service Module Main Engines. The combination of the two reboosts will set up phasing for the Progress 36P launch and for rendezvous launch opportunities for the Shuttle STS-130/20A mission.
Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 Relocation
ISS Commander and NASA astronaut Jeff Williams and ISS Flight Engineer Timothy Creamer, assisted by ISS Flight Engineer Noguchi successfully relocated the Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 from the Node 1 port-side docking mechanism to the European-built Node 2 zenith (upper) docking port on 23 January using the Station's principal robotic arm. This was in connection with the upcoming installation of the European-built Node 3 on the port side of Node 1. Preparatory activities carried out on 22 January included the installation of the Pressure Control Assembly at the Pressurized Mating Adapter 3, as well as depressurization and leak checking of the Pressurized Mating Adapter 3.
Vozdukh CO2 Removal System
The Russian Vozdukh CO2 Removal System failed on 22 January. Troubleshooting activities were performed by Suraev and the system was recovered on 29 January after replacing the vacuum Pump Control Unit.
Shuttle R-bar Pitch Manoeuvre Preparations
On 22 January ISS Flight Engineer Suraev carried out his first R-bar Pitch Manoeuvre training session taking images of the ground with a digital still camera with a 400mm lens. This exercise is in preparation for photographing the STS-130/20A Shuttle during its pitch manoeuvre during rendezvous and docking. During the manoeuvre at a distance of about 180 m from the Station, the photographers will only have around 90 seconds to take high-resolution digital photographs of all thermal protection tile areas and door seals on Shuttle Endeavour, to be downlinked for launch debris assessment.
Dragon Grappled Free Flyer
On 25 January ISS Commander Williams installed and checked out the communication equipment in preparation for the arrival of the Dragon Grappled Free Flyer vehicle at the ISS later this year.
US Lab Thermal Control System
ISS Commander Williams installed an Antimicrobial Applicator module in the Internal Thermal Control System Moderate Temperature Loop in the US laboratory on 25 January. Once activated, the module introduced an antimicrobial agent into the loop's coolant. The following day Creamer removed the module and took a sample of coolant from the Thermal Control System for analysis.
Progress 36P
On 26 January ISS Flight Engineers Suraev and Kotov checked out the TORU manual rendezvous and docking system, used as a backup to the automatic Kurs system, in preparation for the upcoming arrival of the Progress 36P logistics vehicle.
Oxygen Generator System
On 26 January Tim Creamer purged a hydrogen sensor of the Water Delivery System, which forms part of the Oxygen Generator System Rack. Hereafter he reconnected the hydrogen sensor for Water Delivery System activation. Two days later Williams purged an uninstalled hydrogen sensor.
Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly
Jeff Williams and Tim Creamer carried out maintenance on the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly in the Kibo laboratory on 28 and 29 January. The astronauts removed the Assembly from the Atmosphere Revitalization rack and replaced an absorbent bed.
Water Processor Assembly
Despite further attempts to recover the system in the previous weeks, the Water Processor Assembly is still malfunctioning due to a possible blockage in the line. In the last two weeks the Water Delivery System was connected to the Potable Water Dispenser to continue providing water until the Mostly Liquid Separator can be replaced and a new filter installed after the arrival of Shuttle Flight STS-130/20A. However, during the two-week period, the Potable Water Dispenser stopped dispensing water, possibly due to the presence of air bubbles in the system lines. The crew will use Russian potable water until the system is restored.
Air Quality Monitor
Williams and Creamer completed several sampling sessions with the Air Quality Monitor in the last two weeks. This device is being used for identifying volatile organic compounds in the ISS cabin atmosphere. This new technology is being evaluated over a period of several months.
Earth Observation Activities
In the last two weeks, during Crew Earth Observation activities, the crew took photographs of the Haiti disaster area.
Other Activities
Other activities that have taken place in the two-week period include: replacing the water-conditioning unit of the condensate water processor in the Service Module; supporting troubleshooting of the Space Station Remote Manipulator System Hot Backup; prepacking return cargo for Shuttle Flight 20A; carrying out a new run of the Russian/German Plasma Crystal-3 Plus (PK-3+) experiment; routing and installation of a contingency secondary electrical jumper to provide power to the US Airlock shell heaters during the 20A mission; relocating the Mobile Transporter from Worksite 5 to Worksite 4; investigating hard line communications issues between the Soyuz TMA-17/21S vehicle and the Zarya module; and the crew carrying out their first joint on-board fire drill training.
(*)These activities are highlights of the past two weeks and do not include the majority of standard periodic operational/maintenance activities on the ISS or additional research activities not mentioned previously. Information compiled with the assistance of NASA sources.
Martin Zell
ESA Head of ISS Utilisation Department
Markus Bauer
ESA Human Spaceflight Programme Communication Officer
Weekly reports compiled by ESA's Human Spaceflight Coordination Office.
Fill in your name and email address below to receive a notification when the latest status report is made available online.


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We are the official distributor of the company's highly-acclaimed ultra-precision products which are now sold in over 120 countries across the globe.
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We are pleased to announce the completion of this spectacular glass staircase which float around a 4 meter diameter fish aquarium.
A true masterpiece in modern day luxury living, the 20,000ft² project includes a three storey high halogen- lit aquarium.
The Aquarium runs through the core of the house with the cantilevered glass helical staircase wrapping around it.
With sweeping balconies around the upper levels, the building offers 360˚ views of Gleneagles' Queen's Course and the countryside beyond.
The epitome of cutting edge, contemporary design set in rural tranquillity.
Please click on the link below to view further images.


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Steps to Apply For Jobs In Baltimore, MD
Founded in 1729, Baltimore City is the largest independent city in the United States of America. Although Baltimore City's population has been decreasing steadily since the 1970's, the population is still hovering at around 621, 000 and about 2.7 million in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. The city of Baltimore is named after Lord Baltimore who was the founding proprietor of the Maryland Colony.
Baltimore, like come states in the Mid-West once used to be a major industrial city but with deindustrialization, many of those jobs are lost and gone forever. Baltimore is now a service oriented city, which provides health, financial and business services. Companies like Johns Hopkins Hospital, Legg Mason and T. Rowe Price call Baltimore their home.
Finding a job in Maryland can be very stressful. However, it is easier because of the ease of access that the Internet provides. It used to be that the Baltimore Sun was the primary source of finding jobs but today there are many places where you can look for jobs. This guide will help you find Baltimore jobs hiring both currently and will list Companies in Baltimore that you can apply to who may not currently be hiring. This list will be updated regularly with job links and news about upcoming career fairs in Baltimore.
The job search can be distressing and touch but if you keep at it, you will find something. Keep in mind that it may not be your dream job, but once you get your foot in the door, you can position yourself to get into your dream position. A good way to get into a company is to go to their Human Resources and ask to volunteer in order to learn. Yes, I said volunteer, especially for those who are unemployed or on unemployment. If you volunteer at a company, when a position opens, they would consider you before they consider someone from the outside. I've landed a couple of great jobs this way. However, you've got to think outside the box in order to get where you want. You might consider it "giving your time away for nothing," however, the short period of time I spent volunteering my time was paid three and four times over when I landed good paying positions. It is a good way for you to see if it is a company you would like to start a long term relationship with and it is a great way for the company to know what they are getting before they pay for it.
It is a easy way to put your foot in the door. Companies usually hire from within before they take outside application. Though you are not officially on the payroll, your considered "within" the company. Hospitals, Offices and Services Orientated places are great places to volunteer your time.
If you do not already have a resume, make sure you make one. There are free online sources that will guide you on how to write your resume. Also, make sure you have at least one good suit to wear to interviews. You can always dry clean it, but you should have at least one good suit or suitable attire for interviewing.
Next Career Fairs For Baltimore Jobs Hiring:
Baltimore Career Fair
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Doubletree by Hilton
890 Elkridge Landing Road
Linthicum, MD 21090
***Always dress in proper business attire when going to a job fair and bring a resume.***
Baltimore Jobs Hiring:
Local Resources
SuperAds Classifieds
The Daily Record (Mostly Legal Jobs)
Baltimore Guide
Baltimore News Channel 2 Job Listings in Baltimore
Maryland Online Classifieds
Government Jobs With Baltimore County
Jobs For Babysitters and Nannies
Baltimore Orioles Jobs/Internships
Baltimore Jobsite
National Job Sources
Natioanally Recognized Companies
Baltimore Jobs Hiring For KMART
Pizza Hut Jobs In Baltimore
Baltimore Career Fairs (Usually Hundreds of Companies Represented)
Baltimore Employment Guide- Job Fairs
Job Fairs in Maryland
Department of Labor-Upcoming Job Fairs
Choice Career Fairs
Check back regularly for updates
Other Job Related Articles
3) Is Filling Out a Sears Job Application The Same As Filling Out A Kmart Job Application?
4) Heartbreak Hotel Employment Application Online
5) How To Get A Job Without A College Degree
7) Blank Online Job Application: Should I Fill Out Applications Online?
8) University Of Phoenix Online Employment Opportunities


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Video trailer
Mighty Eagle (voice)
Red (voice)
Matilda (voice)
Chuck (voice)
Bomb (voice)
Stella / Eva the Birthday Mom (voice)
Minion Pigs (voice)
Helen the Lunch Mom / Yoga Instructor (voice)
Tiny (voice)
Judge Peckinpah (voice)
An island populated entirely by happy, flightless birds or almost entirely. In this paradise, Red, a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck, and the volatile Bomb have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it's up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to.
Original title The Angry Birds Movie
IMDb Rating 6.4 12,586 votes
TMDb Rating 6 208 votes
no link's


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The first official TABS book of Igor with highly accurate transcriptions published by Hal Leonard feat. 18 of his most popular covers on Youtube. Order it now from the store
In collaboration with Hal Leonard we are excited to announce that we will release Igor's first official TABS anthology which will be released in print and digitally. Stay tuned for more info and release date.


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This piece caught me mostly due to light and sound. It's short and sweet, but does a great job of showcasing how a surface of LED can be illuminated when touched by water. What I noticed about this piece right off the bat was the sound. There seems to be an example of the "stereo effect" going on that's especially noticeable at the beginning, with the sounds bouncing between the left and the right speaker. The music is electronic and interesting, just as the subject matter, so it seems fitting.
Shooting in the dark always seems daunting to me, but since the focus of this piece is the process of using paintbrushes or water atomizers to create light paintings on the LED walls, it's a good choice to showcase the light. In shots like that of the children and patrons "painting" the wall, it casts light on their faces allowing us to see the people while still enjoying the bright lights of the light graffiti. Other times, people serve simply as silhouettes against the designs. Shooting this piece in the dark helps make the beautiful light creations the centerpiece of the production, as they should be. Perhaps shooting in the dark isn't so scary after all!
Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Fourneau, created in the Digitalarti Artlab from Digitalarti on Vimeo.


text: Choose A & B Movers to find the right Movers to get the job done. They have customer service reps available to answer any questions you might have so feel free to give them a call. Get your moving needs taken care of today with A & B Movers located in Austin, TX. If you need to reach them with any questions just call 512-992-7283.


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YAY for The Card Concept as it (you/they) celebrate their 2nd Anniversary! Two years is a goodly long time in terms of being a card challenge – so many come and go – such a happy event worthy to be rejoiced along with! I created my card with the theme of being soft and feminine, using text and using the tiny flowers.
Here's the image we are offered for The Card Concept 52 – isn't it sigh-worthy? I was not certain I could live up to it but I gathered some supplies I thought might work and jumped right in.
I fell in love with these little crochet flowers when I saw them on a hairband in the thrift store. What – for a whole 15 cents I managed to salvage a dozen or so flowers and leaves. I carefully soaked them and cleaned them and set them aside for just such a day as this. I came across this paper a bit ago too, and caught the flowers out of the corner of my eye (I tend to leave a few supplies that inspire me laying right near at hand while the artistic inspriation is upon me) and when this challenge came up I just knew this was the day to bring it all together.
I trimmed the designer paper (sorry no ID on this one) to just smaller than my cardstock face. In the meantime I soaked the ribbon lace strip in some weak tea to age it. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the top of the sentiment and trimmed it to fit. I stamped the sentiment on – an Ali Edwards Technique Tuesday stamp. I bumped up the sentiment layer using foam tape then began glueing and arranging flowers. In the end I added some more "aging" using a Tim Holtz distress ink in Tea Dye.


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Mark Zuckerberg pleads for patience at inaugural Facebook shareholders meeting
Those who own a part of Facebook gathered Tuesday at the company's shareholders meeting to ask about the future of the company, the direction of Facebook's stock value, as well as other concerns. Co-Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed concerns about the company's stock, asking for patience from shareholders who bought stock during the company's initial public offering (IPO).
Several of the investors who spoke at Tuesday's inaugural shareholders meeting were unhappy with the way that Facebook's stock has performed since launching at $38 per share.
Here's how Facebook's stock has performed in the last year, courtesy of Google Finance. It has been a rollercoaster ride since the IPO, and shareholders let Facebook know Tuesday that they aren't happy about it.
Zuckerberg (as well as Chief Financial Officer David Ebersman and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg) tried to calm investors down. He understood their frustrations, noting that it's a feeling shared by the company, and urged shareholders to remain patient:
We understand that a lot of people are disappointed in the performance of the stock, and we really are, too. It's our job here to build a great company that's going to not only achieve the mission but also be a great financial return for all of our shareholders, and we take that responsibility really seriously. We're disappointed with the performance of the stock over the last year.
The real question is, "What are we going to do about it?" We've always taken a pretty long-term view of this. It's taken us more than 9 years to build out the network to the point where it's at right now. We expect that there are going to be fluctuations in how the public thinks that we're doing. We think that as long as we stay focused on the strategy of building a network and getting more people to use Facebook (and more than 200 million people have joined in the last year) … we think that over time, we're building an asset and a network that's increasingly valuable in the world. We believe that in the long term, we will generate the most value for shareholders by doing that.
Shareholders' frustration was palpable. Some discussed how they bought large portions of stock when the company went public, only to see it dip to roughly half its value before building back up. Zuckerberg noted that the company has been trying new ways to gain revenue, but these things take time and won't make the company instantly more valuable.
Even as some investors asked for advice on what to do with their shares, Zuckerberg advised shareholders to be patient as plans come to fruition.
Facebook is growing in leaps in bounds in terms of mobile, as Zuckerberg noted that roughly 30 percent of the company's revenue comes from its mobile applications, compared to basically nothing at this time last year. As more and more users around the world start using Facebook's mobile apps, and advertising becomes more mobile-friendly, that number will likely rise.


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What is Gaelic Football
Gaelic Football is a dynamic team ball game that requires great athleticism and skill, and is the most popular sport in Ireland in terms of attendence. It's origins date back to medieval times and is played with a large round leather ball (circumference of 68-70 cm, weight 500 grams) in which players can use both their hands and feet to outscore their opponents.
Like Hurling, Gaelic football is played with a team of 15 players on a rectangular grass field that is twice the size of a standard soccer field. The scoring principles are the same as Hurling also, with H shaped posts as targets for kicking either over the crossbar for a point and into the net for a goal which is worth three points.
The physical nature of the sport is attractive to supporters and similarites to Australian Rules Football have seen the introduction of an International Rules Series in which Ireland play Australia every year.


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Catholic Parliamentary Advocacy in Africa
'It is not to promote the interests of the Catholic Church as an institution. But to promote the common good through advocacy which is based on the values of Catholic Social Teaching, especially the preferential option for the poor'
Some years ago, a bishop in one of Africa's smaller countries remarked that he lived on the same street as the head of state. If he needed to speak to the premier, he could simply walk down the road and have a chat. From time to time one reads similar stories regarding some of Europe's traditionally Catholic countries. If a matter of policy or legislation arises that is of concern to the Church, the head of the bishops' conference arranges a meeting with the government, or just makes a phone call, and attempts to resolve the issue.
These informal and high-level approaches have their place, and no doubt much can be achieved this way. But if the Church really wishes to promote the common good by influencing the decisions taken in parliaments and the policies adopted by governments, then a more structured approach is necessary.
No individual bishop, or even a whole conference, can be sufficiently aware of the various political and legislative developments in a modern state, and few bishops have the necessary legal or professional training to deal with such matters. In any case, bishops have many other responsibilities, and they cannot devote their time to interactions with the political world.
To be informed
It was in this context that the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference decided to open a Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) in 1997. The bishops wanted the local Church to be in a position to contribute to the establishment of a democratic ethos in South Africa following decades of apartheid rule. One way of doing this was to maintain close communications between Church and the newly emerging State through a dedicated structure.
The mandate of the CPLO is to carry out research on legislation and public policy, to keep the Bishops and others in Church leadership informed and up-to-date, and to make formal submissions to Parliament and to government departments on behalf of the Church. We say that the CPLO exists to be a bridge between the Church and the political world, and our task is to see that the traffic of ideas, values, insights and expertise flows across that bridge. Over the last 17 years CPLO has published over 340 briefing papers on a wide variety of legislative and public policy topics; it has made over 70 submissions to Parliament; and it has organised numerous meetings between the bishops and Church departments on the one hand, and government officials and Members of Parliament on the other.
After CPLO had been in existence for a few years, the idea of such an office began to spread to some other African countries. First in Zambia, and then in Zimbabwe, local bishops' conferences began to set up similar facilities. In 2007 the South African CPLO decided to offer an annual training course to cover the basic functions of parliamentary advocacy and liaison work. Invitations were extended to episcopal conferences around Africa, and a number responded positively. Since then, 17 countries have sent representatives to the course.
Not all of these conferences have successfully established CPLOs, but many have, especially in countries with a history of democratic politics, such as Kenya, Zambia, Uganda and Ghana. Of course, the key factor is commitment from the bishops themselves; if they do not see the need for a liaison office then it is unlikely to succeed.
Fortunately, the idea of Catholic advocacy was firmly endorsed at the second African Synod in 2009. Proposition 24 of the Synod states that 'The Synod Fathers urge Episcopal Conferences at all levels to establish advocacy bodies to lobby members of parliament, governments and international institutions, so that the Church can contribute effectively to the formulation of just laws and policies for the people's good.' And the continent-wide association of Bishops' Conferences, SECAM (The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar), has expressed the wish that the Church in each African country should try to establish a structure for interaction between Church and State.
So far, there has been no attempt to measure the impact of Catholic parliamentary liaison offices across the continent as a whole. However, as part of the training offered by the South African CPLO, we conduct follow-up visits from time to time, and we have generally found encouraging evidence of progress. Of course, in some countries there is no culture of civil society involvement in political affairs, and this makes the work of a CPLO very difficult. However, it is always possible to make a start as, for example, in Ethiopia, where the first step has been to identify Catholic members of parliament and to find ways of supporting them in their work.
Other countries have more open parliaments, such as Namibia, Zambia and Kenya, and there it is a more straightforward task to establish a presence, to make submissions, and to engage with politicians and their support staff.
It is important to understand that the work of CPLOs is not to promote the interests of the Catholic Church as an institution. For this reason, we do not speak of 'lobbying', which suggests an attempt to pressurise the secular authority to grant some form of special treatment to the Church. Instead, we focus on promoting the common good through advocacy which is based on the values of Catholic Social Teaching, especially the preferential option for the poor.
We also focus on promoting good governance and proper democratic practice. Very few African countries can be described as 'mature democracies' and the threat of military coups or other forms of dictatorship is ever present. It is therefore an important part of our work to help to strengthen genuine democratic institutions, to assist them to become open and transparent, and to encourage them to work for the interests of their people as a whole, rather than just the ruling elite.
The network of CPLOs in Africa is still in its early stages. Ten bishops' conferences have so far managed to establish offices, and a few others have tried and failed. (In Europe, by comparison, only two episcopal conferences, Germany and Scotland, have offices dedicated to parliamentary liaison.) There is clearly much more work to do, but we take heart from the fact that we are establishing a new kind of witness for the Church, and we are doing it in the poorest and least developed continent, the place where it is perhaps most needed.
Mike Pothier
Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, Cape, Town, South Africa.


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People can take everything away from you.
People can take everything away from you.
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It's official! Britney confirmed her new unisex fragrance titled Prerogative today with a series of sexually-charged videos.
See what Exhale is saying about this!
Several online retail stores posted the product last week, cluing fans in ahead of schedule. In the new clips, Britney seduces a man in a latex ensemble and sprays him with the new perfume, which she describes is "a fragrance for all."
Here's a product description:
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Combining the fragrant top notes of Pink Pepper, Goji Berries, Apricot Nectar, mid notes of Red Calla Lily, Latex Petals, Espresso Foam and base notes of Smooth Sandal, Amber wood and Saffron Cream, Britney Spears Prerogative is a fragrance that sets no boundaries. This simple, yet layered, rounded fragrance features an oriental woody amber scent that encourages you to release yourself from expectations, labels and judgements. Be whoever you want to be. It's your prages you to release yourself from expectations, labels and judgements. Be whoever you want to be. It's your prerogative.
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The datasheet of the Iteaduino BT contains some errors which disables standard usage of the arduino clone.
When uploading a sketch to the Iteaduino BT please ensure the communication jumpers are NOT connected (neither in the A nor the B position). If you leave the jumpers in place you may misconfigure the bluetooth module during the upload because the binary sketch will be interpreted as commands. This should not happen if the CMD switch is in the DATA position but it's always better to have the connection disabled during code uploads.
Because almost no documentation is available for the Iteaduino BT I had to search for datasheets of the used blueetooth module.
This document describes the whole family of bluetooth adapters (in the Iteaduino BT only the HC-05 module is used) but contains a bunch of information I found nowhere else.
The AT command set used for configuring the bluetooth module is documented with some examples and a description of every possible option.
Contrary to all information I found on the internet my Iteaduino BT was delivered with a default baud rate of 38400 in both modes (CMD and DATA). Resetting it to factory defaults also sets the baud rate to 38400 and not 9600.


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The couple headed for the journey of their life. Shot on #Nikon P900 at Nagarhole National Park, Kabini, Karnataka, INDIA. June 2016.
The couple headed for the journey of their life. Shot on #Nikon P900 at Nagarhole National Park, Kabini, Karnataka, INDIA. June 2016.
The wooden bench opposite our tent at Kabini River Lodge, Kabini, Karnataka, India. Picture clicked on #Nikon P900. June 2016.
The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions – the little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look or heartfelt compliment. ― Samuel Taylor Coleridge
"The sunlight claps the earth, and the moonbeams kiss the sea: what are all these kissings worth, if thou kiss not me?"
― Percy Bysshe Shelley
"What would you do if I kissed you right now?"
I stared at his beautiful face and his beautiful mouth and I wanted nothing more than to taste it. "I would kiss you back."
― Michelle Hodkin, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. ― Ingrid Bergman
"We kiss all the time." I clear my throat, then add, "We just…do it in private."
"A smug expression crosses his face. "I don't buy it for a second, 'cause if you were my girlfriend and a stud like me was livin' in your house, I'd kiss you in front of the guy every chance I got as a reminder."
"A reminder of w-w-what?"
"That you were mine."
― Simone Elkeles, Rules of Attraction
"Laugh, even when you feel too sick or too worn out or tired.
Smile, even when you're trying not to cry and the tears are blurring your vision.
Sing, even when people stare at you and tell you your voice is crappy.
Trust, even when your heart begs you not to.
Twirl, even when your mind makes no sense of what you see.
Frolick, even when you are made fun of. Kiss, even when others are watching. Sleep, even when you're afraid of what the dreams might bring.
Run, even when it feels like you can't run any more.
And, always, remember, even when the memories pinch your heart. Because the pain of all your experience is what makes you the person you are now. And without your experience—you are an empty page, a blank notebook, a missing lyric. What makes you brave is your willingness to live through your terrible life and hold your head up high the next day. So don't live life in fear. Because you are stronger now, after all the crap has happened, than you ever were back before it started."
― Alysha Speer
* Pictures clicked at Qutub Minar, Delhi premises with #Nikon #P900.
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Kate Winslet: «I am sincerely grateful for my buttocks»
A career spanning 20 years that has gained her what no other actress ever dreamed of: six nominations for the Academy Awards and one Oscar. And all this before she turned 37. After her great year in 2009, her over exposition at the latest Venice Film Festival in September 2011 (Carnage, Contagion and the tv series Mildred Pierce) and the new 3D-converted release of Titanic to celebrate the fifteenth year of the famous movie, this may be the reason why we won't see much of her this year. A kick back, but perhaps also the chance for a first, small, look back on life. Kate Winslet talks about this to Vanity Fair, which dedicates her the cover of its May 30th issue.
Is it really so? Are you kicking back for a while?
I always try to take one year or more off between one movie and the next one, in order to let things cool down, to slow down a little bit.Foto: Rafael Stahelin
You are often talking about your "ordinary life"; is such a life actually possible?
I have always lived an ordinary life, and always will. It's who and what has to do with my job that makes it "unordinary". I cook, go to the supermarket, pick my children up at school. You have surely read something about it regarding my life.
Foto: Rafael Stahelin
Yes, I actually have. About your being normal and ordinary, a full literature has been written.
And it's all true. I am aware that, since my career started so early and was lived so publicly, there are people who don't stop wondering about me and how I actually lead my life. How does she deal with her children? Where do she leave them? My children are with me all the time. Period.
Another Kate Winslet classic: her fight in the name of all the women who do not wear XS. Bored of talking about it?
Better say that I'm bored of what it means that we are still here talking about it: it means that nothing has changed. Otherwise, no, I believe it is important to go on insisting that normality is not what we are exposed to. Honestly, among my acquaintances there is no woman wearing XS. No, sorry, there is one: my daughter. The point is that Mia is 11 years old.
Foto: Rafael Stahelin
Do remarks on your weight bother you?
No more. It's one of those things I learned quickly to ignore. Once it was different, it hurt me. When I was twenty I pretended it didn't bother me, but I felt very bad, I did. In front of journalists and the public I acted superior, but I was dying inside. Now everything is different. It takes time, but you can learn it.
And how did you learn?
I took the hardest way: smashing my face against it.
For a woman who has been fighting with weight all of her life, it's harder.
I know what you mean, and it's true that you need much time to get rid of the fat girl you once were, but – you know – I am sincerely grateful for my buttocks. Wow, isn't this a wonderful line?
Foto: Rafael Stahelin
Foto: Rafael Stahelin
Foto: Rafael Stahelin
1/ | Continua
Shakira balla la Waka Waka incinta
La popstar si scatena sul campo sportivo di Baku nella serata conclusiva della Fifa Under 17 World Cup in Azerbaijan. Nonostante il pancione di sei mesi
Adele, l'annuncio più bello: «Sono incinta!»
La cantante, 24 anni e da un anno fidanzata con l'imprenditore Simon Konecki, rivela sul suo sito di essere in dolce attesa
Cameron Diaz e Gwyneth Paltrow, sexy rap a 40 anni
Le due attrici, coetanee, improvvisano un ballo per il nuovo studio della conduttrice Tv Chelsea Handler
Justin Bieber minacciato dopo il furto del pc: «Pubblicheremo le tue foto intime»
Dopo essere stato derubato del computer durante il concerto a Tacoma, gli atti intimidatori dei ladri su Twitter. La popstar: «I miei fan non mi lasceranno»
Timi detective: «A letto? Io non cerco, trovo»
L'attore gira I delitti del BarLume, la serie Tv di Sky risposta toscana al Commissario Montalbano. E racconta anche molto altro
Ben e JLo: «Ritorni di fiamma? Meglio l'amicizia (con il tuo ex)»
Jennifer Lopez e Ben Affleck sono solo una delle tante coppie di ex (famose) che dopo la rottura sono diventati ottimi amici. E a te, è mai successo?


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"Mario and Anthony did a fantastic job. Turned up when they said they would, worked extremely hard and completed the work for exactly what they quoted. The final result has transformed the front of our house. We have used many tradesmen over the past 3 months and none have been as professional and polite as Driveway + We would have no hesitation in recommending them."
"This job was completed within the time line I had been given. The workmen were all polite and respectful to myself and neighbours (who were impacted upon by the work). The site was left clear of rubbish every night and on completion day they even cut my lawn, leaving the garden and new fencing looking stunning. This is the second time I have used these guys and am really pleased with the work they have done. Happy to recommend. I will be using them again."
"Very happy with the service provided. An excellent job was done on my drive, the people who came were polite and friendly. I was able to call the business after the work was completed and advice I needed was given without any hesitation."
"Very polite company, efficient and did exactly what they said and quoted for. Will definitely use again."
"Very polite and hard working men. Nothing to much trouble. They did a great job. I would recommend them to anyone who wants a honest job done for a good price."
"Mario and Anthony understood what my vision was, they talked me through what options I had and how I could achieve this vision in a cost effective and timely fashion, they were very easy to talk to and constantly kept me informed on when they would arrive and when they would leave and about what they were doing on the day. I trusted them to get on with the works."
"The work was carried out in an efficient manner to high standards. Staff very helpful and courteous."
"We were delighted with the work done by Mario and Anthony. 4 of our neighbours have used them since, which speaks volumes for their work."
"Brilliant job. Would not hesitate to recommend. Have asked Marko and the boys to do more work as a result"
"The guys have made our driveway look great. It looks brand new and have improved the appearance massively. Makes our building stand out in the industrial estate now."
"Excellent work at reasonable price, friendly and helpful."
"We would certainly use him again."
"Nice guy and reliable. I have been using him for a while and will be happy to recommend him to others."
"Friendly service."
"Very pleased with the work, thank you Mario."
"He is a very nice chap."


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Working for The Islands Of The Bahamas, it should come as no surprise that we have our own bucket list for our 16 major islands. Today, we're focusing on Abaco. Stay tuned to our various social media throughout the summer as we attempt to document every adventure listed!
1. Visit Hole in the Wall Lighthouse - Abaco is known for the iconic candy-striped Elbow Cay Lighthouse and why shouldn't it be? But the Hole in the Wall Lighthouse is the first lighthouse built in the Abacos and unlike the Elbow Cay Lighthouse, it's operated automatically. But the most exciting part is the journey there; don't say we didn't warn you.
2. Enjoy Fried Cheesecake at the Abaco Beach Resort - This is a thing in Abaco; your visit isn't complete without sampling the fried cheesecake.
3. Snorkel with the Turtles or Feed Them at Coco Bay in Green Turtle Cay: Everyone is familiar with the Swimming Pigs at Big Major's Cay in the Exumas, but did you know Abaco is known for its hundreds of turtles? Turtles are to Abaco what Pineapples are to Eleuthera, it just works! In Little Harbour, there are so many turtles swimming, you have to be careful that your boat doesn't hit them on the way in.
4. Explore the Sand Bars at Tilloo Bank: Rent a boat if you know what you're doing or get someone to captain one for you. Whatever you decide, find your way to Tilloo Bank which is south of Hope Town and enjoy the extensive sand bar which extends off the southern end of Tilloo.
5. Try the Flavored Ice at Thirsty Cuda on Tahiti Beach in Hope Town: There's something in the waters at Tahiti Beach, other than the usual suspects. Tahiti Beach is home to a floating bar and restaurant called Thirsty Cuda. Their opening time varies, be sure to check their Facebook page before you head out.
6. Inhale the History on Man-O-War Cay: This cay is virtually untouched by rampant modern development as the citizens work hard to maintain their cay as it was in past eras. You absolutely cannot leave the Abacos without visiting Albury's Sail Shop. Not only will you witness the making of most of the boats that you see around Abaco but you will learn the history of the "ditty bags" that have gone on to be world famous.
7. Party with the Locals at the Cheeseburger Party on Fiddle Cay - If you're ever in the Abacos the last week of June or the first week of July, plan to party with the locals and visitors from all over the world at the Cheeseburger Party on Fiddle Cay, which is north of Green Turtle Cay. The best party of the summer is also a charity event, as the money raised goes to the Amy Roberts Primary School, the Volunteer Fire Department, and the Historical Foundation, all of which are located right on Green Turtle Cay.


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In the bazaars and back streets of central Baghdad, a new palette of noises colours the air. Hammers and drills resound through scarred neighbourhoods in need of a facelift.
As recently as six months ago, some of the darkest moments of Iraq's slide into anarchy were played out in these streets. Locals had become accustomed to an altogether more sinister soundtrack; guns, explosions, screeching brakes, the rumble of tanks and the pervasive whine of ambulance sirens.
Baghdad's outdoor book bazaar was particularly badly affected, becoming a virtual no-go zone for the intellectuals and writers who liked to gather each Friday to exchange ideas and leaf through weathered foreign titles, strewn across tattered tiles.
A car bomb last year killed more than 60 shoppers and sellers. Armed men at entrance points ensured they did not return. But the people are back now and builders are busy repairing the Ottoman-style buildings that once made the book fair one of the Middle East's most renowned cultural sites.
Secondhand-book seller Salah Zeidan used his favourite book to explain the transformation of his surrounds. "Maybe you have heard of Animal Farm?" he asked as he displayed his dusty magazines and dog-eared novels. "Terrorists come and terrorists go, there really is no difference," he adds, essaying an analogy between the novel and the way Sunni locals turned against the al-Qaida militants they once supported.
"We were forced to do what we did not want to do," said Zeidan, hinting he played at least some role in the insurgency that held Baghdad and much of Iraq to ransom, until al-Qaida overplayed its hand.
For at least two years al-Qaida ran Baghdad's centre, including the district of Harahi, leaving residents at their mercy. A walk to a produce market meant an encounter with death squad members who ran roughshod over areas that neither the Iraqi police, nor army, nor US military would enter.
An extended stay in any public spot was courting death at the hands of a suicide bomber.
"They were killing people without trial," said Bekr Khaled, who identified himself as a spokesman of the local Awakening Council. "Al-Qaida ruled everything here. They were all Iraqis and it was a very bad time. During Ramadan last year, we won this neighbourhood back."
Asked if a western face would have survived 20 minutes standing on the spot where we met, he replied "you would not have been here for five minutes", slicing his hand across his neck. "Killed."
Now swaths of Baghdad are coming back to life. The local "uprising", which started in Anbar province, then spread throughout the Sunni Muslim areas of Iraq, forced al-Qaida north.
Into the vacuum came the coalition troop surge. Violence still pulses, and rarely a day goes by without someone being killed in a bombing or attack. But it is minimal compared to how things were.
"I was standing there," said vendor Rhassain Nassir, pointing to the spot he said marked ground zero of the 2007 car bomb. "My friend called me over to see him. He died and I lived. This is life here."
Another of Baghdad's institutions, the Souk al-Ghazal bird market, is brimming with activity, five months after suicide bombers tore it apart. Now the horrors are a dim memory for the buyers and sellers who haggle over small green birds in chicken wire cages and weary-looking pigeons of all shapes and hues. Nearby, giant carp gasp in large foam boxes carrying just enough water to keep them alive until they are sold. (For them, alas, there has been no security improvement.)
"There were five explosions here," said Ali Zamar, as he displayed his prize pigeons in the bird market. "Now it is better because the army controls it. But the Mahdi Army [a Shia militia] is still over the fence and things could easily get bad again."


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At this point anyone that knows me already has heard about my upcoming wedding. My love life and relationship with Brian has been followed by many. To no ones surprise we got engaged right before last Christmas after being together for almost 3 years at that point. It was one of the happiest moments in my life.
So in the midst of all the wedding planning I should have some fun blogs for you! Working on some fun stuff now!
No need to click read more, that's it!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
I'M GETTING MARRIED! (unless you live under a rock you already knew this)
Posted by Lucy Vonne at 10:54 AM
Labels: Brian Street Team, Relationships, Wedding
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It's time for your Myrtle Beach Vacation! The Grand Strand has been delighting travelers for over 70 years. Featuring not only pristine white sand beaches, unparalleled natural beauty, and warm temperatures, there are hundreds of unique shops, restaurants, and attractions. Not to mention, Myrtle Beach is the golf capital of the world! It's easy to see why visitors keep coming back year after year!
There's plenty to do, no matter the season. Take in a show at the world-famous Alabama Theater, get your fill of crab legs at Benjamin's or Captain George's, or browse the many shops at Barefoot. Looking for kid-friendly activities? Test your skill at one of the hundreds of miniature golf courses or cool down at an exciting water park like Myrtle Waves.
If Myrtle Beach nightlife is more your scene, you'll love the fun restaurants, clubs, and bars of Broadway at the Beach. Of course, there's always getting your toes in the sand and relaxing by the gentle surf of the Atlantic Ocean!
Palmetto Vacation Rentals has been offering the finest Myrtle Beach Condos for over a decade! Choose from gorgeous Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach condos or spacious villas, perfect for any group or family.
We make finding and booking the perfect Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach vacation rental easy. As the top experts of all things Myrtle Beach, Palmetto Vacation Rentals can help accommodate families, couples, golf groups, and more.
We understand that your vacation time may be limited, so we are here to make the entire process of booking, check-in, and beyond seamless and a piece of cake! Our courteous and efficient staff is here for you should you need anything, 24/7. Trust your stay to the definitive Myrtle Beach,SC vacation authority, Palmetto Vacation Rentals.
Palmetto is also the leading experts with Myrtle Beach Winter Rentals. Our Snowbird friends love the fantastic rates and excellent service. We even offer some pet friendly properties, so Fido can also enjoy the awesome Myrtle Beach Weather.
We also love our biker friends! Beautiful Myrtle Beach Resorts like Kingston Plantation offer onsite 24-hour security for bikes and we always have the best deals for Memorial Weekend.
Visitors can always count on Palmetto Vacation Rentals to deliver the best rental experience in a clean, modern condo with terrific amenities. Don't rely on a basic Myrtle Beach Hotel or North Myrtle Beach Hotel for your vacation enjoyment! Stay in an updated oceanfront resort complete with pools, lazy rivers, and easy beach access. You'll definitely feel at home with big screen televisions, fully stocked kitchens, and hi-speed internet in the absolute best Myrtle Beach rentals.
Call us today at 888-808-2788 and we can make your Myrtle Beach, South Carolina vacation dreams a reality!


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What Does a Mortgage Loan Processor Do?August 25, 2015 12:00 am
Fairway believes that having the best team to support your loan makes all the difference. While your mortgage loan is... View Article
Fairway believes that having the best team to support your loan makes all the difference. While your mortgage loan is... View Article
As you likely know, the implementation date of the TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosures rule (TRID) is October 3rd, 2015. Fairway has... View Article
The kitchen is the heart of your home, so when you are searching for your home, it can be easy... View Article
What is TRID? TRID is the TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule that will be taking effect on October 3rd of this... View Article
Nationwide, home sales are having their best year since 2007. Low mortgage rates and a stronger job market are luring... View Article
Big news in lending! The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced yesterday, June 17th, a proposal to delay the effective date... View Article
Beginning August 1, 2015 the TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosures rule, or TRID, will go into effect. The changes are meant to... View Article
We are very pleased to announce that Mortgage Executive Magazine has named Fairway Independent Mortgage the #1 BEST mortgage company... View Article
Finding the right Mortgage Planner is no different than hiring someone for a job. We tend to think about the process more... View Article


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Safe Haven: Lasse Hallstrom on Balancing Romance & Thrillsby Joel D Amos at . Comments
Safe Haven director Lasse Hallstrom knows a thing or two about crafting timeless romances. The Swedish helmer was the man behind Chocolat and The Cider House Rules, with the latter earning him an Oscar nomination.
As we state in our Safe Haven review, Hallstrom had the challenge of bringing Nicholas Sparks' latest page-to-screen effort alive with its new element for a Sparks story. He had to balance a thriller, all while still giving the romance aspect of the story all the beats it needed to be effective.
"It's a balance act when you are balancing two genres like that," Hallstrom said in our exclusive interview. "Giving these two stories their due, we really didn't figure that out until the editing process."
As teased in the Safe Haven trailer, the film stars Julianne Hough as a woman escaping a violent past who finds herself in a sleepy seaside North Carolina town. There she meets widowed shopkeeper Josh Duhamel, and the two fall for each other, all while this menacing force is seeking Hough's character out to destroy her.
"We had material in both worlds that we were juggling around. It's hard to get a strong sense on the page in the script for how it works because it's about the timing and the screen time you give the different things," Hallstrom admitted. "You have to ask, 'How long does this particular scene hold up for?' It was an editorial weighing of the material."
No romance film, much less a Sparks (he of those stellar The Notebook quotes) flick, will work unless there is chemistry between the two leads. The moment that Duhamel catches Hough's eye in the film, there is an instant buzz. It is not something Hallstrom noticed until a week into filming... and then it hit him like a ton of bricks.
"I hadn't gotten that strong sense yet as filming began. Josh didn't come up for a couple days after Julianne had been there. So, I was working with her on her own and she really surprised me with her range and a depth. I enjoyed working with both of them. There was a loose improvisational there, and we had a healthy disrespect for the written material," Hallstrom said and laughed.
"It is a challenge to tell a story about a romance in small and subtle increments. It's hard to capture how people fall in love. It's not easy. It's tricky. You want to be real with it and not sentimental. But, you're straddling a line."