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November 25th, 2009
J/111 Rocketing Out of the BlocksWorldwide interest in J's latest speedster seems to be growing exponentially every week. From every corner of our blue planet, enthusiasm for a fun, easy-to-sail 36 footer continues to grow-- and it's from all members of the sailing community. Not just J sailors. People who've sailed other racer-cruiser production boats, out-of-control over-canvassed "wedges of cheese" and everything in between. Everyone appears to be zeroed in on having a great time, with great performance and solid R.O.I --- in the J vernacular, that means FUN for the dollar! Specs and pricing will be out in December. Don't be surprised if you have a hard time getting one-- we've had overwhelming interest in the J/111-- talk to your J/Dealer now! Learn more about this exciting new sailboat.
J/95 Wins SAIL Magazine's 2010 Best Boats "Performance Sailboat" AwardThe Performance Sailboat category was populated with an excellent group of new boats, including the J/97, each of which are sporty, forward-thinking racer-cruisers. Ultimately, the J/95 edged out its competition by virtue of an interesting combination of features that combine to make it a potent sailing package-- its centerboard, twin rudders, cockpit layout and powerful, well-balanced sail plan.
Thanks to its shoal-keel, the J/95 unlocks entire areas to one-design racing that were previously unable to accommodate fixed-keel sailboats. This is beginning to happen now in such areas as the Chesapeake, Florida and the lakes in Europe. As SAIL said, "If you want a grin-inducing ride every time you go sailing, the J/95 could be the boat for you."
Learn more about sailing the J/95. SAIL Magazine Review
J Sailing Calendar Is A Hit!The reviews are in from the madding crowds at J Dealers and J Sailors from around the world-- the J Sailing Calendar is a cool, breathtakingly beautiful and very useful calendar to keep not just the parents organized, but the kids headed in the right direction and your work week organized most of the time in today's hectic schedules. And, for adult "playtime" we've added another wrinkle into the equation- an interactive version of the J Sailing Calendar. Cool, eh? The J Sailing Calendar of events, regattas, seminars, boatshows and so forth are now posted "live on-line" for you to coordinate your sailing schedules with one another. Whether you have an Apple iPhone, RIM Crackberry, Nokia Smartphone, Motorola Droid (yup, that Google Android thing) you can now download at the click of a button your sailing schedule for most major sailing events worldwide that are attended by the extended family of J sailors and friends. That's not all-- much, much more cool stuff soon! Learn more about the J Sailing Calendar
Regatta & Show Schedules:Nov. 8-29- GARMIN Winter Series (J/80, J/109, J/105)- Solent, Hamble, England
Nov. 18-21- J/24 South Americans- Porto Alegre, Brazil- Veleiros do Sul
Dec. 5-13- Paris Sailboat Show- Paris, France
Jan. 8-17, 2010- London Sailboat Show- London, England
Jan. 18-22, 2010- Key West Race Week- Key West, FL
J/Regatta News
The Sun Never Sets on J's Sailing WorldwideThe Americas and Australia continue taking a breather, especially the Americans celebrating their Thanksgiving this week. The action was way, way too windy in Europe. And, in South America, the Brazilians, Peruvians, Chileans and Argentineans sailed the J/24 South Americans in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Read on! More importantly, if you have more J/Regatta News, please email it or upload onto our J/Boats Facebook page! Below are the summaries. Photo Credit- ChapiFoto.com
Garmin Hamble Winter Series
J/109, J/105 and J/80 Fleets Postpone Sailing(Solent, Hamble, England)- This past weekend the Winter Series saw all racing canceled, postponing in effect until next week. The fleet made some spirited attempts to work around what amounted to a near hurricane, e.g. the double-red flags on the Beaufort Wind Scale - Force 10. However, the strength and the persistence of the Low was far too overwhelming to even consider venturing forth onto the infamous Solent. Can't imagine what a 6 knots current again gusts up to 60 knots might look like-- how about a webcam mounted on a titanium tripod on the Bramble Bank in the middle of the Solent-- would be kinda cool!
In short, the UK MET Office issued all kinds of dire warnings. The BBC was positively shrill...worried perhaps that train service would again cease operations because leaves blown into the air-intakes would stop the trains running again. As one of the Race Officers put it, "latest info we have is SW 25 - 30 kts, with gusts to 45 kts, increasing towards midday with averages of 35 kts with gusts to near 60 kts in thundery showers. This forecast has increased again since last night and racing is clearly impractical." Good on ya, the pubs clearly appreciated the windfall business. For more regatta and sailing info
J/24 South American Championship (Los Sud Americanos)
Argentinean Rossi and SHARK Team Win(Costa Del Sol, Brazil)- The Argentine team, led by Alejandro Rossi, won the South American Class J24 which ended on Saturday in South Sailboat In rank he was vice commander Brazilian Mauricio Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro. And the Uruguayan Diego Garcia, who began leading the competition, finished third. The three final races were very exciting with heated competition among the top five in the fleet; in fact nearly full blown match racing between the current J/24 World Champion and the ultimate race winner.
When crossing in 3rd place at the finish line of the last race, the crew of the boat SHARK celebrated their victory nearly shouting themselves hoarse. Skipper Alejandro Rossi, 34, had won for the first time the South American title after sailing for fifteen years in the J/24 class. "The Brazilian, Mauritius Santa Cruz, offered tough competition on the race course, it was important to sail with great speed and be sensitive to changes in the wind. Santa Cruz is three times J/24 World Champion, so we expected a tough battle," said Alejandro. Another element of difficulty was the weather, pointed out Mr. Rossi. "The wind streaks were complicated, with very fickle wind, both in direction and intensity and with a lot of rain."
The Mauritius Rio Santa Cruz team from Brazil sailed better in the last few races, but it was not enough for the title. Mauritius regretted having started the racing in bad form on the first day. "We lacked a bit of calmness and focus in the beginning. I sailed with a new crew. Sailing as a team is very important and we learned fast. All who were with me here are excellent," said the current J/24 World Champion. Santa Cruz said his team was Andre "Cheek" Fonseca, Marcos Grael, Georgia Roberts and Frederick Sidou.
Finishing third not too far off the pace from the two leaders, Rossi and Santa Cruz, was Uruguayan Diego Garcia, finishing with 26 points.
After the bad weather during the week, forcing cancellation of racing on Thursday, conditions were favorable for good sailing the last few days. The wind in Guaíba was east, with an average wind speed of 12 knots. This meant everyone was fast, so you had to sail nearly perfectly to maintain lanes and get the right wind shifts.
Captain of the Brazilian J/24 Class, Cláudio Ruschel said he was pleasantly surprised with the fleet turnout-- "We have a promising future", he says. Ruschel was fifth in this year's J/24 South American Championship.
The J/24 South Americans sailed nine races from Wednesday until Saturday with a total participation of fourteen boats from Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Uruguay. The 2010 edition will be held from 15 to 20 November in La Punta, Callao, Lima, Peru. For regatta, sailing, information.
What friends, alumni and crew of J/Boats are doing worldwide* Steve McManus- J/109 owner of SAYKADOO has been on an upward trajectory since getting his team rolling in the past year on his J/109. Local Annapolis papers had a nice profile on Steve and his team this past fall. It was entitled "SAYKADOO Tops Tight Wednesday Night Class" by Bill Wagner. "There are not many classes more competitive than PHRF A2 of the Annapolis Yacht Club's Wednesday Night Races. Four of the thirteen registered boats have the exact same rating (75) while several others are extremely close to that figure.
That is evidenced by the fact four different boats won a race during Series 2, which wrapped up last Wednesday. SAYKAYDOO, the J/109 skippered by Steve McManus, did not win any of the five races held between June 10 and July 29, but nonetheless wound up capturing PHRF A2 Class for Series 2.
"The whole fleet is very evenly matched. The rating band is extremely small among the top seven or eight boats", said McManus. "It was simply a matter of consistency for our boat. We weren't able to win a race, but we were always in the money." Indeed, SAYKADOO counted three seconds and a third in totaling nine points, just one better than Jeffrey Caruso's Ben 36.7 SHOCK WAVE. Only five points separated the first and fifth place boats.
"I'm blessed to have a regular crew and we do a lot of cross-training so that people can fill in other positions if someone can't make it out for whatever reason", says McManus. Dave Robinson (pit), Stuart Numan (jib, spinnaker), Bob Taylor (tactics, bow), Jack Hunt (jib, spinnaer), Don Handy (main, bow), Carl Turek (pit) and Marie Dallacqua (mast) comprise the regular crew aboard SAYKADOO, which also won Series 1. In fact, McManus is on a bit of a roll, having won Series 2 and placed second in Series 1 last year. "We've been doing the Wednesday Night Series for about six years and we seem to be getting the hang of what it takes to be successful", he said.
Competition was equally close in two other PHRF classes...with Richard Born's J/120 WINDBORN second in Class A1.
In the nineteen boat J/105 class, it all came down to the wire with the Salvesen/Lewis team on MIRAGE edging out Peter Schellie on FREEDOM in the battle of the family-based boats. In third was Jim Konigsberg's INIGO.
For the J/30s, Steve and Katherine Bardelman on VALHALLA vanquished their fleet of eight boats, leading home Bill Wallop's CANNONBALL and Ron Anderson's INSATIABLE in second and third, respectively.
The J/35s had a wonderful turnout this year with seven boats. Barry Moss's BAD COMPANY won by a landslide over the perennial competitor AUNT JEAN, ably raced by the team of Kaminer/Christofel in second and Mark McGonigle rounding out the podium in third onboard WINDEPENDENT.
* Carlos Aguilar Match Race - the event is being held in the IC-J/24s in St. Thomas, USVI. "We enjoy racing in St. Thomas. The conditions are great," said Genny Tulloch, after her team's recent victory at US Sailing's 2009 Women's Match Racing Championship, hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club. Tulloch is becoming one of USVI's biggest cheerleaders. The Californian has won two major match racing championships this year in St. Thomas. She will return to the spectator-friendly waterfront of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI to defend her title in the Second Annual Carlos Aguliar Match Race, December 2-6, 2009.
Tulloch will face stiff completion from Claire Leroy (FRA) and her 2007 and 2008 Women's World Match Racing Champion team. Women's International Matching Racing Association President, Liz Bayliss (USA) and her team are among the top ranked WIMRA teams returning to the warm Caribbean waters for one of the few ISAF Grade I Women's Match Racing events in North America. Marie Rameris (POR) and Renata Decnop (BRA), Katy Pilley-Lovell (USA), Julie Brossard (FRA) and Kelly O'Brien-Uszenski (ISV) and her all Virgin Island crew will round out the international fleet.
In the open event, Virgin Island sailing and match racing legend, Peter Holmberg has an all Virgin Islands team. Holmberg's trusted tactician, trimmer and bowman for many years, Maurice Kurg, Morgan Avery and Ben Beer, bring more local knowledge and seasoned IC 24 boat-handling skills to the team.
Holmberg won the USVI's first and only Olympic medal and continues to inspire Caribbean sailors. His proteges love trying to take races and matches off of the America's Cup skipper and former #1 match racer in the world. Taylor Canfield (USVI), winner of the 2008 Carlos Aguliar Regatta, will field a strong team to defend his title. Team COORS-LIGHT, with Frits Bus at the helm, Andrew Rapley as tactician, Chuck Pessler as trimmer and Tommy Koyskin as bowman have won many Caribbean regattas on their Melges 24 are up for the challenge as are; Juan Carlos Escobar (ELS), Collin Rathbon (IVB), Fraito Lugo (PUR), Jes Gram Hansen (DEN) and Dave Perry (USA). -- Lynn Fitzpatrick- More Match Race Sailing Information.
Featured Boat
Beautiful J/42 Ready For The IslandsMAISTRALI is a lightly sailed, beautiful J/42. Carbon mast, standard keel, B&G's, Water maker, custom canvas and all the right factory options make this a very desirable boat for you to consider for serious cruising. She is ready to go and needs nothing. The current price of $259,900 is a tremendous value in today's market. Please call Paul Mikulski direct for more
information. 410-961-5254 Email- email@example.com
Photo of Sistership- same white hull.
About J/BoatsStarted in 1977, J/Boats continues to lead the world in designing fun-to-sail, easy-to-handle, performance sailboats that can be enjoyed by a broad spectrum of sailors. The International J/24 has become the most popular recreational offshore keelboat in the world with over 5,400 J/24s cruising the waves. Today, there are 13,000+ J/Boats, ranging from the International J/22 to the J/65 and ranging in style from one-designs to racers, cruisers to daysailers and, of course, the ubiquitous J sprit boats- J/Boats' innovation in 1992 for easy-to-use asymmetric spinnakers and retractable carbon bowsprits (J/80, J/92, J/95, J/105, J/109, J/110, J/120, J/122, J/130, J/133, J/125, J/145, J/160).
J/Boats has the best track record in sailing for innovation and design as evidenced by: 11 Sailing World/ Cruising World Boat of the Year Awards in 14 years; 2 SAIL Awards for Industry Leadership; 2 American Sailboat Hall of Fame Designs (J/24 & J/35); and the three largest ISAF International One-Design keelboat classes (J/22, J/24, J/80).
Counting crew, every year there are over 100,000 friends to meet sailing J's, populating the most beautiful sailing harbors and sailing the waters of 35+ countries around the world. Sailing is all about friends. Come join us and expand your social network everywhere!
For more information on J/Boats


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2-3 Days
Looking to fill a couple of days with a perfect adventure including a night or two's accommodation then look no further....
2-3 Day Tours In Zimbabwe
Canoe down the Zambezi where it's at its most beautiful; bird watch at the tranquil pools; or maybe catch your first tigerfish. ...read more
This itinerary includes 3 nights at the 20-roomed luxury Bumi Hill Safari Lodge on the breathtaking Lake Kariba. Experience Safari Cruising, Guided Walks, Game Drives with Sundowners on the Bumi Shoreline. ...read more
Get closer to nature with Sunpath Safaris on this thrilling canoe safari along the Mana shoreline. The Mana Pools Shoreline Expeditionary canoe safari is for the guest requiring a more 'rustic' and participatory canoe safari than a fully backed-up safari. ...read more
Chitake Camp is for the lover of the wild places and who want a true 'up close and personal' wilderness experience. Chitake Springs is a unique water source approximately 45km inland from the Zambezi River. From the camp you will go on explorations to track lions, or find vantage points along the riverbed to watch the action unfold. ...read more
This tour includes 2 Nights stay at the glorious Imbabala Zambezi Safari Lodge and includes a tour of the falls on day on arrival as well as a Chobe Day Trip. ...read more
This tour includes 2 nights at the Legendary Kingdom Hotel, a Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River, a Guided Tour of the Mighty Victoria Falls, then finally a last minute activity - perhaps a scenic Helicopter Flight over the Falls, or an early morning Elephant-Back Safari! ...read more

subset: commoncrawl


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I'll tell you every single, we all have gifts you know, and like special gifts
And there's this voice inside of us that says
"Don't do that", you know, "Why you gonna get up there with that guitar?
You're gonna like like a, a hip hop folk singer
What are you, you know, what are you"And I really went through, I mean, I'm serious
I mean I can laugh about it now
But it took a long time for me to understand that
You know, what I am is what I am
And I can't be afraid to, you know to expose that to the public
You know, always get in trouble trying to make it
Tryin' to dress it up, you know what I'm sayin'?
Just tired of that, you know, just tired of that
Tired of frontin', tired of thatAnd until I find a group of people
That are as passionate about it as I am
I'll just roll alone until such time, you know
It's all good, God is faithful, y'all still get to hear it, so, you know?'Cause see that enemy he would tell me, you know
"You don't have the 20 piece band, you can't do nothin'"
I said, "Yeah, sure, keep talkin"
'Cause somebody's gonna, they gonna see me and they gonna know
"Oh I, there's somethin' that God's been tellin me to do
I can do it, too I can do what I'm supposed to be doin'
I don't need an entourage what do I need a crew for?"
That doesn't validate you, okay, let's see
Song Discussions is protected by U.S. Patent 9401941. Other patents pending.


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Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments and suggestions for losing the baby weight! It is still very much a work in progress and trying to find the time to work out while caring for a toddler and newborn is next to impossible. I am trying to stay motivated and maintain a healthy lifestyle while dealing with the craziness of it all!
I do have an EASY, DELICIOUS and LOW FAT recipe to share with you to keep your diets in check without sacrificing taste!!
My sister-in-law recommended this recipe and I am so happy I listened! It was quick easy to make and quite tasty! Jeff even gave it his approval so we will certainly be adding it to our dinner rotation this Summer. I always love a good casserole, especially one that makes enough for leftovers. Another evening that I don't have to cook is a major bonus for me right now!
I hope you love it as much as I do!
1 can reduced fat crescent rolls
Only 320 Calories per serving!
Participating in these Parties!Live Laugh Rowe -Live Laugh LinkyHere Comes the Sun - Fabulous Friday36th Avenue - Party Time!Tater Tots and Jello - Weekend Wrap Up PartySix Sister Stuff - Strut Your Stuff SaturdayToo Much Time on My Hands - Get Schooled SaturdayI Heart Naptime - Sundae ScoopCrafty Texas Girls - Cowgirl Up- Johnny In A Dress/Scissors and Spatulas - Pretty Little Things- Serenity Now - Weekend Reading - Clean and Scentsible - The Creative Spark - Stories from A to Z - Tips and Tutes Tuesday - Not Just a Housewife - Show Me What Ya Got - My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia - Tuesdays Treasures


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I have not written many words in weeks.
I am not sure why.
I feel like all the words have already been written. Sometimes I just am at a loss for words and am searching for myself.
I went to a creativity retreat several weekends ago. I wrote the most honest and for me, heart wrenching paragraph of my life. I felt all the depth of ache I had not wanted to feel about my relinquishment to adoption. I wrote the words.
Then, the words were gone
It was as if my a heart stopped. The creative drive to write ended and I closed the door on the book I was carefully crafting, on the blog I so tenderly cultivated and the multitude of planned writings waiting to happen have been thrown away.
I am not sure how to continue.
I am weary from processing my full body experience of adoption.
The past 568 days since I found and first spoke to my birth mother have been filled with the highest highs and the lowest lows.
I just wish that I could just freeze time and float until my anxiety retreats and regulation returns to my dysregulated brain life.
But, knowing I have to wake each day to serve others motivates my movements and supports mastery of my mind.
I am so strong. I amaze myself. I can do hard things.
Words will return, but for now, I care for a brain that has finally said, "enough…we need rest."
There will be light again soon.


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Home > NRC Library > Document Collections > NRC Regulations (10 CFR) > Part Index > § 63.151 General requirements.
Subpart H--Training and Certification of Personnel
§ 63.151 General requirements.
Operations of systems and components that have been identified as important to safety in the Safety Analysis Report and in the license must be performed only by trained and certified personnel or by personnel under the direct visual supervision of an individual with training and certification in such operation. Supervisory personnel who direct operations that are important to safety must also be certified in such operations.
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, August 29, 2017


text: The new Nike store the V&A Waterfront will make sure you have the perfect gear to enhance your run, and aims always to bring to you the best innovations in the world of running. NIKE continues to be an inspiration for every athlete. Nike V&A is the place to get motivated and equipped for running – the highly trained staff will be able to give you expert advice to ensure you are running in the perfect footwear for your running style. Come to the store to learn more about NIKE's apparel technologies that will enhance your running experience.


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Interview: The Science Behind Brandwatch Search With Aykut Firat
By Phill AgnewSep 28
Combining high-quality mobile survey technology, a robust polling methodology, and expert data analysis,
our bulletins will be essential reading to get the pulse of the nation
Holiday travel, as we all know, can be overwhelming and it's no surprise that online conversations across social media about the topic often skyrocket.
Social media has become a part of every industry across the world and travel is no exception.
Social media has become a seamless part of a traveler's experience – from researching their trip (best airlines, hotels, etc.), to engagement throughout the duration of their travel and even post-trip reviews and feedback.
Travelers are becoming increasingly influential thanks to social – meaning poor customer service will be heard.
The travel industry doesn't have a choice anymore. Those companies must listen to their customers and they have to provide a positive experience throughout a travelers whole experience, or else will fall far behind.
Over the holiday season we tracked conversations across the top ten airlines, as well as particular issues that we thought would be discussed by the many travelers during their trip. The issues we tracked were baggage, customer service, delays and cancellations, and TSA and security lines.
There's no question that everyone at some point in their life has experienced difficulty with these issues, and when you're rushing home to celebrate the holidays it's definitely an added stress.
The top 10 airlines we tracked were: AirTran, Alaskan Airlines, American Airlines, United, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest, and Virgin Airlines. Delta was the most discussed out of all of them, but that – interestingly enough – was not due to holiday travel, but was due to a booking error that was providing tickets to customers for as little as $20 (there was a computer glitch).
Delta responded by honoring the reduced ticket fares, and the story had already quickly spread wide and far, thanks to the instant nature of Twitter.
Below also shows the gender breakdown. No major surprises here; it's evenly split between males and females.
Of course it doesn't stop at airlines – think hotels, transportation, attractions, restaurants, etc.
While most of the conversations remain neutral and are centered around Twitter, it's necessary for the whole travel industry to be paying attention to their brand as well as the reputation of their competitors as well.
Social media monitoring and listening provides the travel industry with the important insights they should be listening to.
Social media has caused an immediacy requiring immediate and authentic responses. If brands don't focus on these kinds of words, they have no chance in success when it comes to social media.
Combining high-quality mobile survey technology, a robust polling methodology, and expert data analysis, our bulletins will be essential reading to get the pulse of the nation.
Adapt and win with Consumer Research, our new digital consumer intelligence platform.
By Isabel PeláezSep 23
From May 8th, all Crimson Hexagon products are now on the Brandwatch website. You'll find them under 'Products' in the navigation. If you're an existing customer and you want to know more, your account manager will be happy to help.


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The end of the road for XP. End of Life on 8th April 2014.
Microsoft is ending support for Windows XP and Office 2003 on the 8th April 2014. This means that there will be no more updates and any security holes found after this date will go unpatched and unprotected (though Microsoft's Security Essentials will continue to receive updates until April 2015).
According to netmarketshare.com however, XP still accounts for just under 30% of all desktop machines which as windowsitpro notes,
…if Microsoft's estimate of 1.5 billion active Windows users is correct, there are over 510 million PCs still running Windows XP on this planet. 510 million.
In all likelihood, the bad guys have been stockpiling security flaws for XP in the hope that what isn't found by April won't get fixed. This potential flood of exploits has become known, charmingly enough, as the XPocalypse.
If you are one of the 30%, there are a number of possible solutions to this problem.
1. Treat your current machine to an Operating System upgrade.
If your machine supports it, ebuyer.com (and others) has stock of Windows 7 install discs and licenses from ~£70. The ever evolving Linux Mint is, of course, a free Operating System which supports a wide range of hardware. If you're going to learn a new operating system, Linux could be the perfect choice for extending the life of older systems.
2. Replace your XP machine with something running a more current operating system.
eBay has a wide range of used machines running Windows 7 or take a trip to your favourite online retailer and buy something shiny. I would suggest those coming from XP try to get a Windows 7 machine. Windows 8.1 may still yet be a step too far for many.
3. If neither of these appeal, you should, at the very least, ditch Internet Explorer. Both Firefox (my personal preference) and Chrome will continue to provide updates for their browsers on XP.
For those with Office 2003, take a look at Open Office and Libre Office, free office suites with all the functionality you would expect.
If you have an XP machine and would like some help, get in touch


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LKV7600 Component video to VGA Converter
This product converts Component video to VGA, allowing connection of X-Box, Wii, Apple TV, Vudu Box, or Netflix Roku Player to a computer monitor, projector, or other display that supports VGA. It is plug and play and with portable size.
Interface specifications
⑴ Y-Pb-Pr: To connect Y-Pb-Pr interface of the input device;⑵ L/R: Stereo Audio Input;⑶ Audio Input: Connect Audio from PC;⑷ Audio Output: Connect sound box;⑸ LED: Red LED: PC Host input; Green LED: Component Video input;⑹ Menu/Up/Down: Function Key ⑺ DC/5V/1A: Connect power supply(8) VGA-IN: Connect PC host (9) VGA-OUT: Connect PC Monitor or LCD


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New Year…New Team?
What Abby Lee Miller says, goes and when she says, "Everyone is replaceable," she means it!
For the fourth season of Lifetime's hit docuseries "Dance Moms," Abby will take to the road with a national scouting tour in search for the country's most elite young dancers. With the threat of new dancers coming into the company, the dance moms will stop at nothing to make sure their girls have a place to shine on stage, even if it means going up against Abby. The new season of "Dance Moms" premieres Wednesday, January 1, 2013, at 9pm PT/ET, with new episodes airing Tuesdays at 9pm ET/PT.


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It's the Perfect Time to See Some Animals
Now is the time to take a wildlife-watching hike. Grab your camera and hit the trail.
Autumn colors will make your photos brighter and more interesting. The light in the fall is excellent, and the wildlife is in prime condition.
You'll see elk and deer with full antler racks, black bears hunting berries and getting ready for their winter naps, mountain goats in their summer snowy coats. Throughout the Northwest and beyond, you'll find sunny days for hiking, biking or paddling and cool, bug-free evenings for long campfire conversations.
Another plus to looking for wildlife in the autumn: It's easier to spot bear, elk or deer as the foliage thins and lowland forests become brighter. Remember, too, to keep a lookout for smaller critters in the woods.
You might not see a deer or mountain goat, but don't miss that ground squirrel or blue grouse just begging you to take their mug shot. Wildlife doesn't need to be big to impress the camera.
You'll be sharing the woods with hunters in the fall, so consider wearing bright colors, such as "hunter orange" if you're hiking in a national forest or in state wildlife areas. The safest bet is to head for a national park, where hunting isn't allowed and where the animals don't disappear from the opening to the closing day of hunting season.
Below you'll find some suggestions for places to see wildlife around our neck of the woods and beyond. Wildlife-watching season should last through mid-October, perhaps a little later.
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier National Park is a great spot for wildlife watching in the autumn. Try the Sunrise area on the northeast side of the mountain, which is very impressive this time of year.
Since that side of the park is open only during the snow-free months, wildlife might be a little less timid than on the Nisqually side, which is open year-round. Stop at the big switchback on the way to sunrise and look toward the rocky northwest ridge for mountain goats.
Another spot for mountain goats would be on one of the Burroughs Mountain peaks above Sunrise. That's a great place for watching one of the tiniest critters at Rainier, the pika.
Elk herds frequent the Nisqually River Valley on the south side of the park, where you'll also spot deer and perhaps black bear. The West Side Road, just east of the Nisqually entrance to the park, is a good hike for wildlife watchers.
Olympic Mountains
If you've only one weekend for a wildlife-watching expedition, the best pace to go would be Olympic National Park at our back door. Try the Staircase area, above Lake Cushman, where a resident elk herd wanders the forests, often along the lowlands downstream from the Staircase campground.
Hikers in good shape who are willing to pack a camera on a strenuous hike might spot a mountain goat on the rocky crests of Mount Ellinor. The Dosewallips Road — both below and above the washout — is a good place to spot Roosevelt Elk. Make certain the road has reopened above the washout; it has been closed because of fire danger.
Farther afield, Hurricane Ridge is a good spot for deer-watching. Look in the steep meadows below Hurricane Hill for black bear.
Other likely Olympic wildlife-watching spots: Dungeness spit for waterfowl, Elwha and Hoh River valleys for elk and deer, Sequim valley for the resident elk herd.
Central Washington
A good opportunity to see mountain sheep is along the Umtanum Canyon Trail off the Yakima River. The trail is about 2 miles long, one-way, and not too difficult. Sheep can often be seen in the rocky hills above the canyon.
Elk and deer can also be found around the White Pass area in the fall as they begin their migration to lower country for the winter. Drive the White Pass Highway 12 — and for a pretty forest drive — get there by following the Skate Creek Road from Highway 706, east of Ashford. The forest road heads south from Highway 706 to connect to Highway 12 in Packwood.
For a surefire look at elk, wait until the winter feeding station opens at Oak Creek, off Highway 12 west of Yakima. Though elk and mountain sheep tend to congregate around the station earlier, things really don't get interesting until late December and January.
Farther Afield
The Nisqually and Ridgefield National Wildlife refuges off I-5 are always good bets for wildlife watchers. After all, they're reserved for wildlife.
Another area: is the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Spokane. Elk, moose, bear, and more than 200 species of birds call the refuge home.
You can drive through the refuge, where you'll be asked to pay an entry fee. Or you can hike along the new Columbia Plateau Rail Trail into the north end of the refuge from the Cheney Trailhead.
Go North, East
The Canadian Rockies serve up some excellent wildlife-watching opportunities, and you can avoid some of the tourist crowds by heading to less popular Canadian national parks, like Yoho or Kootenai. If you've a week to spend in the autumn, consider heading north.
Another good wildlife-watching vacation might be Glacier National Park in Montana and its neighbor to the north, Waterton National Park in Canada. Both are in wolf and grizzly bear country.
Finally, if you've the time, Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in Wyoming and Montana are sure bets for seeing wildlife like wild bison herds, elk and deer. Your chances of seeing moose, grizzly bear and wolves are good, too.


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Following the unveiling of Community Professional Loudspeakers' new brand identity at InfoComm in June, Phil Ward assesses its European and global implications.
It's a classic trajectory. Late '60s America. The counterculture. Flashing lights and long hair. Touring with Jefferson Airplane. Making better speakers than were available. Building up a touring brand to rival JBL, Electro-Voice and Altec. This was Community Professional Loudspeakers founder Bruce Howze's entrance to the world manufacturing stage.
Over time, the long hair turns grey and Howze becomes one of the small army of pro audio eminence grises who seem able to turn their experience to every decade, no matter what. Now the wheel turns again and, whether this wheel's on fire or not, it's still bang on course.
Howze is now president. For him, the whole nature of the business has changed since he began it.
"In 1968, pro audio was a few manufacturers, numerous small tour sound companies and related garage operations," he says. "In the intervening 46 years, it's evolved into a real industry. Fortunately, during that evolution it has still retained its charm – it's just as much fun now as it was then."
Steve Johnson took over as CEO a year ago; previous CEO Timothy Dorwart had passed away in July, just at the beginning of several innovations – and, as in all successful dynasties, a ready and appropriate successor was soon found. It's now Johnson's mission to roll out the new agenda.
Internally the business is conceived as embracing three application groups: outdoor; distributed; and engineered. "We have been pigeonholed as an outdoor specialist, which is fine, but we do so much more," points out Johnson. Reinventing itself in response to "changing customer needs, global market forces and technical advances in the industry," according to corporate statements, a new era beckons for Community with the arrival of Steve Johnson complemented by the appointment of British veteran Max Lindsay-Johnson as international sales manager. Taking these criteria one by one, Johnson explains the company's responses in more detail.
"We have speakers out there that were installed 20 years ago and still work fine, but our customers' tastes and expectations have changed in that time. We've revisited classic designs like the R Series and added higher performance offshoots, if you will. They still offer the same pattern control, long-distance throw and such, but they do it more musically – and that comes down to people's expectations. They're no longer satisfied just to sit in a stadium following what the announcer is saying – our products have always excelled at that. They also now want to hear high-quality music between plays, and that's what our new products additionally deliver."
This is exactly how the installation business has been such fertile ground for brands with credible audio heritage, presenting countless environments in which those who know how can deliver a higher level of performance. As for global market forces, Johnson singles out competition first and foremost. "It never sleeps," he says. "It used to be indigenous to your own country, but nowadays it's global. Not only are the existing brands manufactured everywhere, but new brands crop up in places you've never heard of, ready to take their slice of market share. Like anyone, Community cannot rest on its laurels. It's important not only to maintain the awareness of your heritage but also to increase its relevance.
"Sure, we used to be big in both touring and MI but, quite naturally, we haven't made a carpeted speaker in years! We made a conscious effort to evolve away from that. Other manufacturers are now better-suited to making the lowest-cost options, but that's not us. We have installers with very specific needs, and they will reward us with a purchase if we meet those needs."
It's also relevant that a brand once associated with touring is now applying that experience to installation, a market once associated with more primitive solutions. It's happened to plenty of other big names, and the world of station platforms, funfairs and malls has only benefited. Technical advances in this direction can be freely assumed, of course, and Johnson begins with the impact of DSP.
"Even at a basic level, DSP will be involved today," he says, "to respond to the needs of the room, for example, or to get the most out of the transducers. For many years, we perfected the transducer-level, out-of-the-box performance with no enhancements, but now we need to make sure that performance is guaranteed whether it's our processor or someone else's. I believe we are brand-agnostic when it comes to processing: anything that an installer or consultant wishes to use, we'll provide the necessary presets. It is a total system solution, and if we provide only certain components of that system we need to be a part of it and satisfy the demands of the whole situation."
The proprietary offer is dSPEC, optimised for Community landscapes (if not every large-scale possibility). More powerful generations are on the way, currently under the R&D tarpaulin, while the ageless art of electro-acoustic voicing remains a house speciality. "Most of my career has been with transducer companies," Johnson continues, reflecting on time with Shure, Bosch and Harman. "With Shure we were taking sound and turning it into electricity; here we're taking electricity and turning it into sound. I really think that's where the magic happens."
The new brand identity also wishes to express "fresh and contemporary industrial design," as reflected in the industrially chic I Series unveiled at InfoComm – another indicator, Johnson believes, of changing customer expectations. "The look of technology can be what first intrigues people, especially since the iPod," he says. "The first thing you encounter is the physical, and that can win or lose interest. The brand has to really communicate what it stands for, and to appeal to an ever-broader audience – perhaps audio has to escape its esoteric trappings and step into the limelight a little more. To survive today, you have to draw people's attention."


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Hilton Waikiki Beach is close to many local attractions including International Marketplace, Honolulu Zoo and Kapiolani Park. Explore the numerous shops and restaurants within walking distance from the hotel, or relax on the beach, located only a block from the hotel. The Waikiki Trolley and the bus also have stops in front of the hotel if you wish to travel a further.


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If you want a reliable bail bondsman in city, PA, look no further than the professionals at Bail Shop, LLC. Our staff is committed to bailing you out of jail quickly and at a fair price, no matter what charges or bail amount you have. Contact our bail bondsmen 24/7 at 888-224-5711 for fast, professional bail services in Pennsylvania.
Bail Bonds We Provide
At Bail Shop, LLC, we are happy to any any type of bail bond you require, including appeal bonds! As long as you are eligible for a bail bond, you can get help from a bail bondsman in city, PA and save money. We work efficiently to reduce paperwork and get you out of jail fast so you can return to the comforts of your own home. Call 888-224-5711 to speak to one of our bail bondsmen if you need quality bail services, including:
- Appeal Bail Bonds: When you have been convicted and are awaiting an appeal, talk to our friendly bail agents about your eligibility for an appeal bond.
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No matter what kind of bond you need, the team at Bail Shop, LLC can assist you, including specialty bonds. Most crimes in Pennsylvania are designated as a misdemeanor or felony, though there are additionally summary offenses and some other categories. It is rarely simple to figure out your potential penalties because the severity of the crime, your age, and other factors can influence punishment, as well as bail prices. Though most charges are eligible for bail, some extremely violent crimes may result in your being jailed without bail. If you want help from a bail bondsman in city, PA, contact Bail Shop, LLC anytime for:
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Helping You Post Bail
In addition to financial aid, your bail bondsman is also available to address your questions and will remind you of your court dates. No matter the time of day, our bondsmen are here to help you navigate the confusion and complexity of the bail system. Even if you have been through the bail process, new questions may arise and we are happy to assist you. Dial 888-224-5711 to speak to one of our professional bail bondsmen to find out more about our services and bonds:
- Cash Bonds: You may be ordered to use a cash bond in certain circumstances, such as multiple past offenses or high flight risk.
- Failure to Appear: Jumping bail or missing court is a bad idea, and a bench warrant will likely be issued for your arrest.
- Surety Bonds: Surety bonds and bail bonds are often used to mean the same, but a bail bond is a specific surety bond.
Contact Us for a Quality Bail Bondsman!
When you want assistance and to get your questions addressed, come to Bail Shop, LLC for a professional staff and friendly service. Our agents always keep up with the most recent changes so our team can serve you with the best bail bondsman in city, PA. If you require a small or large bail bond, our agents at Bail Shop, LLC will take the time to ensure you completely understand the agreement and feel comfortable. Call our agency anytime, 24 hours a day, for bail assistance throughout the state at 888-224-5711.


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Obesity Trends in the U.S.
Obesity itself has existed for as long as people have existed, though the stigma attached to it is a fairly recent, Western phenomenon. In many cultures, both ancient and modern, obesity is seen as a sign of health, fertility, and attractiveness. Where obesity was once a symbol of opulence and wealth, with an increased understanding of the causes and effects of obesity, most people have come to see it as an undesirable condition to be avoided.
An increasing number of critics have challenged the very idea of an obesity "epidemic" and have sought to redefine the terms of the discussion of obesity. Many people feel that obesity is inextricably linked to behavior, but that the behaviors that lead to obesity are established during childhood by misguided authority figures; one of the more popular outlets for this sort of ire is the decline in physical education in schools. Critics of this line of thinking have pointed out that there has been no scientifically proven connection between school physical education and body weight, physical activity, or overall health. Much of the criticism comes from the fact that statistics never tell the whole story, specifically, they say nothing about the cause of obesity.
Over the previous 20 years, obesity in the United States doubled among adults. Furthermore, the number of children above normal weight has doubled, and the number of adolescents above normal weight has tripled. Many plausible causes for this increase have been suggested, including lack of activity, cheaper food, increased food production, as well as numerous social factors, but there is no real consensus on the reason for this extraordinary increase in obesity, and it is likely a combination of several or all of these. Additionally, there are some medical conditions that can lead to obesity, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
The two major positions on obesity are "personal responsibility" and "public interest," with the former encouraging obese people to accept the problem as one of their own making, and thus curable only through their own efforts, and the latter pushing for governmental regulations akin to those applied to tobacco products. The personal responsibility attitude is the more prevalent in American culture, and is reflected in policy. In 2004, however, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services retracted its official position that obesity is not a disease, stopping short of positively declaring it a disease, but creating the possibility that obesity-related conditions could be covered by insurance. The public interest view advocates for regulations against entities, such as fast food restaurants, that they claim contribute to the obesity "epidemic," pushing for both better consumer education and stricter penalties for companies that promote unhealthy lifestyles.


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Hear all that shattering glass? That's David Shuster's house. The MSNBC host threw his latest rock when he snidely thanked Samuel Wurzelbacher, Joe the Plumber for a "lesson in tolerance" during the 11:00 hour of MSNBC's live news coverage on May 5.
Shuster reported:
And now a lesson in tolerance from Joe the Plumber. In an interview with Christian [sic] Today, he says we're supposed to love everybody and accept people, even has some friend who are gay. But he says he doesn't let his gay friends, quote, anywhere near his children. Oh, and according to Joe, queer is not a slur. It just means strange and unusual. Thank you, Joe the Christian.
Christianity Today asked Wurzelbacher about his views on same-sex marriage at a state level and he responded:
At a state level, it's up to them. I don't want it to be a federal thing. I personally still think it's wrong. People don't understand the dictionary - it's called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It's not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we're supposed to do - what man and woman are for. Now at the same time, we're supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I've had some friends that are actually homosexual. And I mean, they know where I stand, and they know I wouldn't have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they're people, and they're going to do their thing.
Shuster, as we all know, is incredibly tolerant of people who hold beliefs he apparently does not. Look how he treated Miss California Carrie Prejean following the media frenzy sparked by her spoken belief in marriage as between one man and one woman during the Miss USA pageant. As CMI noted, Shuster sent a Twitter message (a Tweet) to celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton stating, "Your view of Miss CA's intellect (and lack thereof) is spot on."
Hilton stated in a now infamous video blog post, "Miss California lost because she's a dumb b----." The next day Hilton told Shuster's colleague Norah O'Donnell, "I called her the b-word and hey, I was thinking the c-word and I didn't say it."
O'Donnell failed to express any outrage over Hilton misogynic characterizations of Prejean.
Just last week Shuster invited Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization of Marriage, to apparently discuss same-sex marriage. Rather than act like a professional, Shuster reverted to shouting at Brown and asked if his opposition to same-sex marriage stems from a fear that he's actually "attracted to the gay couple down the street and that will somehow effect your marriage?"
Naturally Shuster picked the most inflammatory comments from Wurzelbacher's response to ridicule. He didn't bother mentioning that Wurzelbacher said same-sex marriage should be left to the states.
Does Shuster really want others to talk about "tolerance?"


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Warning: The cast list currently lists *all* characters, major and minor alike. At this point in time, the only major characters are GASP, Mike, and Bob.
GASP is a sentient console. At times he's displayed a disturbing lack of respect. In sharp contrast, he's been known to be utterly obedient. Little of his origins are known (see comic 1). What follows is logical assumption - not fact:
GASP is -presumably- thus named thanks to a few brilliant marketers from wherever (and whenever) the GASP console hails from. It first received the name GAmeSPhere, being for games and shaped as a sphere, a term soon shortened to GASP.
It's hard to define Mike's character as he's a rather complex person. Despite being a genius (test-proven), he typically displays a lack of understanding concerning social rules, manifesting in inappropriate behavior. While he may tease Bob and GASP, occasionally losing sight of boundaries, he nevertheless appreciates his (few) friends, however hard it may be for him to show it.
While he displays signs of being an evil genius, he's a good person at heart who would sooner build an eight seated home theater on his secret moonbase than a destructo-ray to hold earth's major cities ransom.
Bob is your average, normal guy. Well, as normal as a nerd/geek can be while still being able to hang out with Mike and GASP all day.
Renton is an Australian that lives down the hall from Mike and Bob. Little is known about him, although he seems nice. Despite Mike's suspicions, we're pretty sure he doesn't fly giant robots.
Kessi is Renton's sister (although it is unclear whether they are blood relatives); As such she shares his australian accent and heritage. She's quite protective of Renton and puts to use all her considerable talents to making sure no harm comes to him.
Kyle is a ninja-wannabe for hire. He'll go to extreme lengths to get a job, and take even more extreme measures for some weed, man.
Bubba strong. Bubba big muscles. Bubba take home foxy lady...


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Holy sweet fucking God! I'm just going to sit here for a minute while appreciating my non-destroyed testicles. Continue after the jump for last night's scores, because we might as well talk about hockey as long as we're here. Oh, and a big thanks to Enrico at the 700 Level for making this the first thing I watched this morning.
• Patrick Thoresen (the poor bastard from the video) was taken to the hospital, but his balls aren't out of the woods yet. The Philly left wing might have to have one of those testes excised, and I can safely say that the prayers of every man in the world are with him. In non-nut crushing news, Alex Ovechkin scored the game winner because he's significantly better than all of the other men on skates. Mike Green scored two for the Caps, who take the series lead behind a 5-4 victory. Mister Irrelevant has further video highlights.
• Other teams won. And they include the New York Rangers (over the Devils), the Pittsburgh Penguins (over the Senators), and the Minnesota Wild in overtime (over the Stars), donchaknow.


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Major League Baseball reportedly will increase the minimum salary for minor league players.
The Associated Press, citing a memo sent from the commissioner's office to all 30 major league teams, reported the pay hike will affect players at all minor leagues levels, with increases ranging from 38 percent to 72 percent.
The report said Triple-A players' minimum weekly pay will increase from $502 to $700. Double-A players will go from receiving $350 weekly to $600. Class-A players will be bumped up to $500 from $290. Players at rookie and short-season levels will receive an increase to $400 from $290 weekly.
The major league minimum salary this season reportedly is $563,500.
Minor league salaries have been a hot topic since 2018, when MLB successfully lobbied Congress to exempt minor league players from receiving salaries tied to the federal minimum wage. MLB maintained minor leaguers were seasonal workers and shouldn't be protected by minimum-wage laws.
The reported boost in minimum salaries comes after recent news concerning minor league pay. Before last season, the Toronto Blue Jays increased the salaries of their minor leaguers by 50 percent at every level. Also, a group of minor leaguers has sued MLB claiming their pay was in violation of the law.
The news regarding salaries comes after recent reports saying MLB wants to drastically reduce the number of affiliated minor league teams.
--Field Level Media
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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It is no surprise that rustic wedding venues are increasingly popular nowadays as a growing number of brides and grooms come to appreciate the charm and beauty of rustic elegant weddings. If you're considering a rustic venue for your dream wedding, continue to read on, to learn how to create the day you've always dreamed of.
Benefits of Rustic Weddings
Barn weddings aren't for everyone, but a rustic wedding theme could be perfect for you if:
- You want to show your cowgirl side… The biggest day of your life should be a reflection of the things you're most passionate about. Maybe you grew up raising horses. Perhaps you love walking in nature. Even if you just think cowgirl boots and country music are the best things in life, a rustic barn wedding is the perfect way to show this side of your personality.
- You want wedding pictures in a natural setting. The juxtaposition of your wedding dress against an open pasture or hay field could be just what you want in your wedding photos. A rustic barn setting makes the perfect backdrop while you say "I do."
- You want a large flexible venue. Countryside barns are known for their large, open interiors, which you can use any way you wish. Think of the rustic charm, the big wooden doors wide open, and the warm soft glow of the evening's sunset setting over your reception party.
How to Have the Perfect Rustic Wedding in Houston TX
There's so much involved in planning a wedding that it's easy to forget the little details if you're not careful. As you become more involved in the planning process, make sure you consider the venue carefully. Here's what to keep in mind:
1. Tour potential venues in person. The last thing you want to discover on your wedding day is a venue that doesn't match what you envisioned. Touring a few venues before making your final selection gives you a chance to ask questions and make sure the site meets your expectations before it's too late to change your mind. Make sure you talk with the wedding planner and that you are comfortable sharing your wedding plans with her.
2. Make sure the barn is heated and air conditioned. Some barns are so authentic they don't have heating or cooling. This could spell trouble in the hot and humid Houston summer climate. Therefore, while touring your shortlist of venues, double check that the barn is equipped with central air and heat. This will ensure that you and your guests enjoy your special day to the fullest.
3. Choose a venue with all the amenities you want. Many times the wedding party may need more than just a facility to tie the knot. As a bride, are you also looking for a bridal suite with vanity stations or perhaps a groom's quarters where he can relax with his groomsmen?
4. Ask about all inclusive wedding packages. When you have limited time and want your day to be as stress-free as possible, seriously consider rustic event venues who offer all inclusive wedding packages. These packages may include catering, photography, DJ, flowers, cakes, china and linens, hair and make-up, wedding planner, and day-off coordinator. Since this day only happens once, talk to your wedding planner to verify what's included in your contract and let her help you to personalize your all inclusive wedding package.
5. Keep your budget in mind. Though you may wish you had an unlimited budget to plan your wedding, most brides-to-be have a set budget to work with. And set budgets invariably lead to compromises. For example, if you want to get married at a more expensive venue, you may need to shrink the guest list. If it's more important to you that all family and friends are invited, you may need to choose a less costly venue. Also take in to consideration that items such as your dress and gifts for the wedding party are generally not covered in an all inclusive wedding package. Working closely with your wedding planner and keeping track of your expenses in a spreadsheet will go a long way in helping you to stay within your budget.
Have more Questions?
Should you have any questions about Moffitt Oaks premier event venues please do not hesitate to call us now: 281.370.6616.
To schedule a complimentary private tour with one of our event coordinators please complete the form and we'll connect with you to set up your tour.


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Friday, December 17, 2010
Blog Hop
10 comments:
Lol, I think it's ok not to be able to choice. It wasn't right or wrong question :pReplyDelete
Thanks for visiting our blog and if you're my neighbor I would have kidnapped your cat!
I prefer both too, but I will have to pick plot if I am forced to choose. The story is what gets me hooked.ReplyDelete
My hop is at Coffee Table Press
Thanks for coming over to my blog. Really good books have to have both, plot and great characters. But I go with character first all the way. (I love your book buying guide. Great choices!)ReplyDelete
Stopping by to say Hi! I agree that this was a difficult decision. In the end I choose plot, but went back and forth about twenty-seven times. By the end of the hop I might change my mind again… Stop by and say hi when you get a chance!ReplyDelete
Hi hope you have a Happy Holiday. I agree you need a bit of both to make a good book. But then been changing my mind for hours now lol.ReplyDelete
My Follow Friday/Book Blogger Hop
This might be the best Book Blogger Hop question I've seen to date.ReplyDelete
So what's the answer? Plot! Hop over to my blog and let me tell you how a good plot rescued bad characters from bad book oblivion.
Howard Sherman
*Hops around* Thanks for hopping by on our blog! I'm a new follower. ^_^ReplyDelete
The Deranged Book Lovers
Hopping by from the blog hop.ReplyDelete
Lots of good answers to this week's tough question.
Stop by my blog to see my answer to this week's question.
Also check out a design site I found...pretty neat home decorating ideas...it is in the right side panel on my blog.
Happy Holidays!!
Hey! Hope you had a good hop :)ReplyDelete
Have a good week and holiday ahead!
I think saying both is a great response, because it's true!! The best books are both! Hope you enjoyed the weekend!ReplyDelete


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May 13, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir received phone calls from his counterparts in South Sudan and Uganda inquiring about his health after undergoing knee surgery last week.
- Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni (L) and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir (AFP/ file photo)
In a statement toSudan's state media, Bashir thanked South Sudan's Salva Kiir and Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni for their well wishes.
Museveni's call is significant given that late last month his country accused Sudan of resuming its support for the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)rebels.
Kampala and Khartoum have, in the past, traded accusations of supporting rebel groups. Sudan government says Uganda hosts Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebels.
Last week, Sudanese ambassador in Kampala Kamal Osman Ali said that his government has petitioned both the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over what it considers Uganda's subversive activities.


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- Mobile Prices in Pakistan
- Nokia Prices
- Samsung Prices
- Q mobile Prices
- Used Mobiles
- Mobile Wallpapers
PEC 5th Class Result 2013 BISE Gujranwala Board
Gujranwala Board PEC 5th Class Result for year 2013 has been announced. According to news by Punjab Examination Commissions, 5th Class Result 2013 for Gujranwala District has been announced. ... Continue Reading →


text: James Corden Tries to Solve Katy Perry and Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" in Primetime Special 8:03 PM PDT 5/22/2017 by Jennifer Konerman FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Courtesy of CBS The 'Late Late Show' host promised to get to the bottom of the supposed feud in his latest "Carpool Karaoke." James Corden is back on primetime, and he's bringing a few of his pop-star friends with him. The Late Late Show's second primetime special aired on Monday, featuring a new "Carpool Karaoke" with Katy Perry, "Toddlerography" with Jennifer Lopez and, of course, a bit inspired by Broadway. Before he tried to solve the infamous Perry/Taylor Swift feud on his way to work, Corden's special started off with a CBS version of "Skid Row" from the musical Little Shop of Horrors, led by Corden and Reggie Watts, complete with a trio of backup singers who followed the host as he walked "downtown." "I'm on primetime, like those Blue Bloods guys. Primetime, like all the CSIs," Corden sang to the tune of "Skid Row." "On primetime, where they advertise for real dough.... My primetime show..." Lopez's "Toddlerography" taught her how to dance to her own music and prepare for her upcoming show World of Dance, courtesy of young instructors, who mostly jumped and twirled, until play time, which involved a ball pit. Then, during Perry's "Carpool Karaoke," the singer joked that she was "on a budget" and just needed a ride before the duo sang a medley of "Firework," "Dark Horse," "Bon Appetit," "Swish Swish" and "Roar." Corden then asked her about "the beef," meaning the perceived "Bad Blood" between Perry and Swift. "She started it, and it's time for her to finish it," Perry told him. "I tried to talk to her about it and she wouldn't speak to me." "It's all about karma," she explained. "I think personally that women together, not divided, with none of this petty shit, women together will heal the world." She also "revealed" that she modeled her new haircut off Corden's look: "I actually went into my hairdresser and pulled out a picture of your hair and said: James Corden, he's my fashion inspo," she joked. The special also included some of Corden's favorite moments and clips over the last year, including Bruno Mars' "Carpool Karaoke" and his Beauty and the Beast musical performed on a crosswalk. The special comes about a year after Corden's first Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special, which featured Lopez in the "Carpool Karaoke" segment and won an Emmy for best variety special. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Jennifer Konerman firstname.lastname@example.com JenniferTalksTV


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Our PAT testing is very affordable and includes visual inspection and test, we aim to make your PAT testing very affordable.
Our PAT testing is very affordable and includes visual inspection and test, we aim to make your PAT testing very affordable.
We are Professional, reliable, fully insured, totally independent, family run, friendly and we don't charge a fortune.
Lennon Electrical
67 Lindisfarne Road
Dagenham, Essex
Lennon Electrical
Covering Romford and surrounding areas
Phone:07368 200 566
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Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.


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A woman on the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill campus was caught on video stealing a sign from a pro-life protester who signaled a nearby police officer, resulting in the woman's arrest.
The feminist took the sign from Austin Beigel of pro-life group Created Equal and ran off, but an officer quickly responded and stopped her from getting away.
"Why'd you rip it out of his hands?" asked the officer.
"Because," the woman said, tapping on the sign, "this restricts women's rights."
Trying to leave, the woman complained, "I can't believe y'all protect them," but the officer held her up, saying, "Nope. You're not going anywhere. Right now you're being detained."
"Detained for what?" pleaded the woman.
"Uh… larceny. You stole his sign," the officer responded.
At this point, the woman's facial expressions completely changed as she realized the officer wasn't going to let her get away with bullying the protesters and taking someone's property in broad daylight.
As she began tearing up, the woman claimed, "This is why women have such a problem getting abortions in North Carolina and y'all just let them get away with this s***."
"Put your arms and hands behind your back. You're under arrest for larceny," the officer ordered.
The shocked woman then claimed she was "going to give it back to him" and asked, "Is there something else I can do?"
Explaining that he cannot "un-arrest" her, the officer then cuffed the woman and escorted her off campus.
The Emergency Election Sale is now live! Get 30% to 60% off our most popular products today!


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Noonan: Damage Control at Fortress IRS
The agency crisis could permanently harm Americans' faith in government.
In all the day-to-day of the IRS scandals I don't think it's been fully noticed that the overall reputation of the agency has suffered a collapse, the kind from which it can take a generation to recover fully. In the long term this will prove damaging to the national morale—what happens to a great nation when its people come to lack even rudimentary confidence in the decisions made by the revenue-gathering arm of its federal government?
It will also diminish the hope for faith in government, which whatever your politics is...
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Okay, I tried to get out of it, but I promised everyone a picture me and my friends dancing at the Samhain party at RWA nationals. The good dancers next to me are Lisa Kessler and Jill Sorenson–the same awesome women who danced the night away with me at RT 2011. I'm the one whose hand is poised under her derriere, doing a totally cool and original dance move!! (One I'm sure you've never seen before and–hopefully for you–will never see again!) You may think Lisa and I are talking over something important while we dance, but in the interest of full disclosure…we were probably singing–LOUDLY.
And now that I've tarnished my dear friends' reputations by putting them on them web dancing next to me, I should probably also show you how beautiful and normal they are when not dancing. 😀
Have a great weekend, everyone!


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NIU's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program once again received top marks in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of graduate schools. The MPA program was ranked sixth in the nation in the specialty field of city management and urbanRead more
Click! College of Ed online graduate program ranked No. 5 in nation
For the fourth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the NIU College of Education's online graduate program among the country's best. The COE program was ranked No. 5 out of a field of 188 competing programs offered by institutionsRead more
Hat Trick
The Northern Illinois University College of Education is upholding its nationally celebrated tradition of excellence in online graduate programs, according to new rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report. Honored among the nation's Top 4 for the third consecutive year,Read more
Click this: College of Ed tops U.S. News ranking
NIU is the best place in the nation to earn online master's degrees in education. So says U.S. News and World Report, which today released its third annual rankings of online programs – the only ones published that compare data of onlineRead more
Business up 47 spots in U.S. News rankings
The Northern Illinois University College of Business is among the top 30 percent of business schools in the nation, according to rankings released last week by U.S. News and World Report magazine. The college ranked number 119 on the list of BestRead more
NIU among top 50 engineering schools
U.S. News and World report has once again named the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology as one of the top 50 engineering programs in America, where the highest available degree is a bachelor's or master's degree. The college ranks 45thRead more
NIU Public Administration celebrates 50th year
The nationally ranked NIU Division of Public Administration is celebrating its 50th anniversary with three upcoming events, including an educational conference that will focus on the importance of training professionals to deliver high quality services in local government. The 50th Anniversary EducationalRead more
College of Ed meets online program demands, upholds quality, standards of campus delivery
Education and the ways teachers learn and then lead their own classrooms is in a constant state of change.Read more
U.S. News & World Report lauds College of Ed, online graduate program ranks fourth in nation
U.S. News and World Report Magazine has ranked online graduate programs in the NIU College of Education as fourth best in the nation. The magazine ranked 208 schools that met the criteria for all-online graduate programs, and each was measured in fourRead more
College of Ed 'at the forefront of online learning'
U.S. News & World Report this week ranked the NIU College of Education's online graduate program fourth in the nation, testimony to the college's commitment to providing innovative solutions to students' ever-evolving needs. This year marks the first time the magazine hasRead more
U.S. News: Grad programs in city management, public finance at NIU rank among nation's best
NIU's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program once again received top marks in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings of graduate schools. The MPA program was ranked fifth in the nation in the specialty field of city management and urbanRead more
History Ph.D. boasts U.S. News' Top 100 nod
Northern Illinois University's Ph.D. program in history has earned a prestigious Top 100 designation by U.S. News & World Report, ranking 92 among the nation's history programs. "Doctoral students must have a master's degree to be admitted to our program, so theyRead more


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I spoke to My little sissy faggot in training again tonight. He is cumming along very well! I really enjoy it when he calls Me for sissy phone sex, because I can really wrap him around My pretty little finger. It's really hot for Me when I get him soooo hard for being a cock whore that he can't contain himself anymore and he squirts his panties full of cum!
So anyway, this girly bitch knows that he needs to be a pretty sissy girly boy and that he needs big cock in his ass pussy and in his faggot mouth. He told Me about his new rule: NO masturbation unless there is a butt plug stretching out his ass pussy. Lol.
Then he told Me that he is getting closer and closer to sucking a REAL cock! He has already figured out how to get a nice big cock to service as soon as he is ready. It's funny though – he told Me that he wants to get fucked in his ass pussy at the same time as when he sucks his first cock. At first I was going to say that it might be too much for his first real cock. I was thinking that maybe he should take it slow and really enjoy sucking his first cock like a good little faggot, and wait to get his pussy fucked until next time.
But then I realized exactly what he was thinking. Hee, hee. The little gay bitch knows that once he gets a real cock in his faggot hands and in his faggot mouth, he is going to need to be fucked in his gay ass pussy so bad that he won't be able to resist. Hee, hee – I think his training is going very well!
I love listening to his soft girly voice getting hotter and hotter as I tell him all about what is going to happen when he gets his first real cock. I drove him crrrrrrazy tonight. It was great!
8 Responses to "Sissy Cock Whore Training"
I like the idea of the butt plug. It reminds me of what I'm good for and my true existence. I may take it up a notch. I suck cocks with a butt plug and when I go shopping for slut panties and slutwear I must wear a butt plug.
I went out and tanned this week. I wore a butt plug while laying out for a few hours . I wore a bikini top and bottom. Now I have severe tan lines so all can see. I have to go now to shave my body and boy clit.
Princess Jewel
We haven't spoken. I searched for a blog this one and found you. I'm aguy pretending to be a man. I secret I have been sucking cock, eating cum and getting buttfucked. I need this humiliation to expose who and what I am.
I am a enfem sissy needing cock in all my holes! I need humiliation/exposure and drain all cocks dry of cum!


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In 2013 North Carolina approved legislation to assign performance grades for all North Carolina public schools. The legislation required the Department of Public Instruction to assign letter grades (A,B,C, D and F) to each public school (see methodology) . The intent of the bill was to provide parents with more information and enhance transparency. School grades were to be based initially on a 15 point grading scale defined as A = 85-100;, B=70-84; C=55-69; D=40-54 and F < 40. Beginning in the fall of 2015-16 academic year, school grades would be based on a 10-point grading scale with an A =90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F <59.
Last week State Rep. Linda Johnson introduced legislation (HB 358) that would keep schools using the 15-point scale until the fall of 2016-17 school year.
There are plenty of problems with how grades are developed and how growth and achievement are measured. I discuss some of those issues here and here. Under the current plan, 80 percent of the school grade is based on achievement and 20 percent is on growth. Under the more generous 15 point grading scale, 29 percent of schools still received a D or F designation.
Based on changing sentiment, there seems to be a good chance that the percentages used to calculate growth and achievement will be revisited.
That doesn't change the fact that the 15 point scale is still a bad idea. Simply stated a 15 point grading scale defines down failure and lowers academic standards. It papers over a serious problems and gives parents false information about schools. Extending the 15 point grading scale is a gimmick that puts off tough decisions with no guarantee that we'll have a better way to grade schools. It's a move that says North Carolina lacks true leadership and is not serious about school reform.
It a move we can live without.


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The Fort Myers Film Festival concluded with an exciting champagne and dessert celebration of all filmmakers accepted in this year's programming at the Broadway Palm Theatre Sunday, March 12. It also awarded films, giving away some hardware in seven categories. And the winners are:
Best Documentary:
"Women of Maidan" by Olha Onyshko
Women of Maidan tells the story of the women's life-supporting force, unity, courage and sacrifice during the 2013-2014 Ukrainian Revolution. Sometimes standing behind a cause takes as much courage as dying for it.
Best Feature:
"Good Bones" by Tim Bohn
Danny O'Brien dedicates one last summer to his family's Hamptons real estate company, and to his father Joe's seemingly obsolete values: poetry, integrity and community.
Best Short:
"Horseshoe Theory" by Joe Toronto
A weapons deal between a white supremacist and a member of the Islamic State blossoms into more.
Best Short Short:
"Invisible Point" by Tanin Torabi
Dance is prohibited in Iran. While it is told to be a sin, still there are many dancers dancing with passion and have not been seen, they bear the restrictions and still are dancing.
Best Local Film:
"Paradise Reef" by John Scoular
This documentary film follows a visionary's quest to secure BP disaster funds, rally community support, and deploy 18,000 tons of concrete to create 36 artificial reefs along Florida's Paradise Coast.
Best Student Film:
"641 Muriel Court" by Kyle Jones
A documentary film recounting the chilling unsolved triple-murder of the Sims family that has haunted Tallahassee, Florida since 1966.
Audience Favorite:
"Three Wishes" by Curtis Collins
Three friends stranded on an island, discover an artifact that grants them each a wish, but they should be careful what they wish for.
The Fort Myers Film Festival is an intelligent independent filmmaker's preferred event to create, unite and showcase the finest artistic cinematic works. The Fort Myers Film Festival is known for world-class swagger and support of local filmmakers. The festival offers 'the most vibrant intellectual and edgy crowd to grace Lee County—ever.'
In their seventh year, they've featured dozens of local filmmakers, while programming the best films from all over the world. It is a must attend for cineasts who love indie film and film festivals living in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. That's right, Fort Myers has a very exciting and film festival now, so be sure to come out for the fun. Next year's dates will be determined soon. Keep up with all of our events, films, videos and interactions on our website! Cheers, FMFF


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Following construction of a CRCP, a number of mechanisms influence development of stresses in the slab and thus the formation of cracks. During the early age, temperature and moisture fluctuations induce volume changes in the concrete that are restrained by reinforcement and base friction, leading to the development of stresses.
Because concrete is weak in tension, whenever the stresses that develop are higher than the tensile strength of the concrete, transverse cracks form to relieve the stresses. Reinforcement serves to keep cracks closed as keeping the cracks tight is essential in maintaining load transfer through aggregate interlock. This, in turn, reduces pavement flexural stresses due to traffic loading.
Tight cracks are also beneficial to avoid water infiltration and intrusion of incompressibles through the cracks. Subsequent drops in temperature and the effect of drying shrinkage in the concrete tend to reduce the transverse crack spacing further. Externally-induced stresses due to wheel loads, and subsequent seasonal (climatic) changes, further reduce the crack spacing over time, but at a much slower rate. Overall, it has been observed that the crack spacing decreases rapidly during the early age of the pavement, up until about one or two years. After this stage, the transverse cracking pattern remains constant until the slab reaches the end of its fatigue life.
The primary early-age pavement indicators of performance on CRCP include crack spacing, crack width, and steel stress, each of which is discussed in more detail below.
Crack Spacing
CRCP slab segments distribute traffic loads in the longitudinal and transverse directions. In the case of short transverse crack spacings with poor load transfer, however, the slab can act more as a beam with its longer dimension in the trans- verse direction. Significant transverse flexural stresses due to traffic loading can then develop. As a result, longitudinal cracks may subsequently form, progressing into a distress condition commonly known as a punchout. On the other hand, larger crack spacings can result in wider cracks that have lower load transfer and are more prone to spalling. Evaluation of long-term performance of CRCP reveals that CRCP with adequate subbase support, and with widened lanes or tied concrete shoulders, provided excellent long-term performance. It appears from these more recent observations that crack spacing does not appear to have as significant an impact on punchouts or other distresses as was previously believed.
To minimize both of CRCP distresses, the AASHTO-86/93 Guide recommends controlling crack spacing to fall between 3.5 and 8 ft (1.1 m and 2.4 m).(1)Guide for Design of Pavement Structures (AASHTO 86/93) It has been found, however, that crack spacings of less than 2 ft (0.6 m) have performed well under good soil-support conditions. An analysis of LTPP data has shown some trend for a higher probability of punchouts when crack spacings are present less than 3 ft (1.0 m).(2)Characterization of Transverse Cracking Spatial Variability: Use of LTPP data for CRCP Design The LTPP analysis is based on a limited number of sections, however. Ultimately, control of the number of short slab segments can be achieved through adequate materials selection and the use of good design and construction practices. Because of variability, it is also recommended that crack spacing be characterized in terms of both its average value and its distribution. For a given crack spacing distribution, the percentage of crack spacings that fall outside the recommended range should be determined, as this may be more indicative of the potential for distress during the pavement life.
Although the designer has some control over the crack patterns through the selection of the quantity of reinforcement, there are confounding factors cannot be as readily controlled during the design stage. These include the selection of materials, climatic conditions, and construction practices. It is therefore important that the highway agency ensure that the assumptions made during design are adhered to during the materials selection and construction process. This can be accomplished through use of targeted specifications or special provisions.
Finally, it should be noted that with respect to crack spacing, cluster cracking and Y-cracking are a unique case of short crack spacing that can be problematic in terms of their contribution to localized failures including punchouts. These types of cracking are generally more construction related, however, and not as much a design issue. They are often caused by localized weak support or because of inadequate concrete consolidation.
Crack Width
Crack widths have a crucial effect on CRCP performance in several ways. Excessive crack widths may lead to undesirable conditions such as infiltration of water that could later result in corrosion of the reinforcing steel and softening of the support layers. Incompressibles can also enter into wide cracks, and since the pavement is subjected to contraction and expansion as well as traffic loading, this can in turn lead to excessive bearing stresses at the cracks. If unchecked, these stresses can cause crack spalling. Furthermore, wider cracks mean that less contact exists between the faces of the crack, resulting in poor aggregate interlock. The consequence of this is an increase in slab deflections and flexural stresses that, in turn, lead to additional spalling, faulting, secondary cracking, and punchouts.
The AASHTO-86/93 Guide recommends limiting the crack width to 0.04 in. (1 mm) at the pavement surface to avoid spalling.(3)Guide for Design of Pavement Structures (AASHTO 86/93) However, a crack width of 0.024 in. (0.6 mm) or less has been found to be effective in reducing water penetration, thus minimizing corrosion of the steel and maintaining a high load transfer efficiency.(4)Design of CRCP for Highways (NCHRP Project 1-15)(5)Evaluation of the Performance of Texas Pavements Made with Different Coarse Aggregates (TX-01/7-3925-1) As is done to control crack spacing, the designer may select a reinforcement percentage that achieves a desired crack width. However, it is ideal if the highway agency further ensure that assumptions made in design are adopted during construction.
In general, a higher percentage of longitudinal steel leads to smaller crack widths. The results of field performance evaluations have found that an adequate amount of longitudinal steel in the range of 0.6% to 0.85% effectively keeps crack widths reasonably tight throughout the pavement life.
The depth of the reinforcement is another important factor in controlling crack width. Major experiments in Illinois show that when reinforcement is placed above mid-depth, the cracks are more narrow leading to fewer punchouts and repairs over the long term. For reasons of adequate cover, reinforcement should not be placed closer than approximately 3.5 to 4 in. (89 to 101 mm) from the surface of the CRCP.
Reinforcement Stress
The level of stress that develop in both the concrete and reinforcement will also influence CRCP performance in the long term; the reinforcement serves to restrain volume changes in the concrete, keeping cracks tight. Consequently, significant stresses develop in the reinforcement at the crack locations. Reinforcement design has to consider possible fracture and/or excessive plastic deformation at these locations. Excessive yield or fracture of the reinforcement may lead to wide cracks, corrosion, and loss of load transfer that may later result in undesirable distress.
It is common for a limiting stress criterion to be used for reinforcement design. This is often selected as a fixed percentage of the ultimate tensile strength, thus avoiding fracture, and allowing only a small probability of plastic deformation.(6)Guide for Design of Pavement Structures (AASHTO 86/93)(7)Limiting Criteria for the Design of CRCP (FHWA/TX-79/21+177-17) It should be recognized in design that slightly wider crack openings may result when permanent deformation is allowed to occur.
References [ + ]


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Reuse or Replace: What Becomes of Religious Structures When Congregations Move On? -- Sightings
The church I pastor once sat on Piety Row (Woodward Avenue) in Detroit. When the church became too small to inhabit the cathedral-like building they sold it to a large African-American Baptist church, which continues to own it. But not all buildings on Piety Row were so fortunate. Some are gone and some lie vacant, crumbling into decay. Robert Powers asks the question what happens to such structures when congregations move out and are not embraced by a new congregation. Some fall into ruin, while others are torn down to make way for something else. He asks the question -- why can't these often grand buildings be used for something else so that the building can be preserved, even if used for a different, non-sacred purpose? Take a read and consider the question of post-sacred uses of religious edifices.
Sightings 2/2/2012
Reuse or Replace:
What Becomes of Religious Structures When Congregations Move On?
-- Robert Powers
In late December, the City of Chicago issued an emergency demolition permit for the Anshe Kenesseth Israel building, a grandiose former synagogue in the city's downtrodden west side. Built in 1913, Anshe Kenesseth rose in a well-to-do neighborhood with a strong Jewish presence. By the early 1960s, however, the neighborhood's demographics had shifted. The Jews had moved out, and their building was sold to the Friendship Baptist Church, one of a handful of Chicago churches to open their doors to Martin Luther King, Jr. The Friendship congregation eventually built their own church, and passed the AKI building to the Shepherd's Temple Baptist Church in 1983. Unable to afford the massive and aged building, that congregation left in 1997.
Now severely deteriorated after fourteen years of vacancy, AKI faces demolition. It will leave behind only a vacant lot—an all-too-common fate for urban churches in America. The restlessly mobile nature of American society has created a slew of cast-off religious buildings over the decades, raising the question of what should be done with vacant religious structures.
Many congregations opt to find buyers who will convert their former churches to new uses. In Chicago, numerous church buildings have had new floors inserted to convert them into apartment buildings. In St. Louis, the Catholic Church has disposed of its unneeded buildings in a variety of ways, selling them off as retirement homes, rehearsal spaces, theaters, and banquet halls. Many were sold to new congregations.
But when a church goes on the market, it becomes real estate, and location, as the cliché tells us, is everything. Though church buildings are commonly occupied by new congregations, they are rarely in the same economic strata as their predecessors. These churches of lesser means often inherit a building in need of extensive and costly repairs.
A structure like Anshe Kenesseth Israel, standing in Chicago's largely impoverished North Lawndale neighborhood, does not have much of a fighting chance on its own. Derelict neighborhoods in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago, and St. Louis are dotted with magnificent churches standing vacant and abandoned, some to the point of collapse.
With abandonment being such a common problem for older churches, one might expect that outgoing congregations would be eager to see their buildings put to new use, but memory and money often dictate otherwise. In 2005, a lovely neighborhood church in St. Louis was demolished so that housing could be built on the site—and so that former parishioners would not have the memory of their church sullied by seeing it put to some other use. And last year in this column, Martin E. Marty gave an account of the preservation battle over Union Avenue Methodist Church in Memphis, whose dwindling numbers could no longer support their sizeable turn-of-the-century building; it was sold to CVS, who razed the building and replaced it with a common corner drug store.
Amid discussion of preserving or demolishing Union Avenue Methodist, there was no mention of what seemed to me the most obvious solution: putting the CVS in the church building. The wide-open floor space of a church sanctuary could easily accommodate the retail store. The neighborhood would have retained a local landmark and gained the services of the convenience store. The drugstore would get a monumental presence and the goodwill of the locals, as CVS did in Chicago when it opened a location in a grand and historic banking hall.
With so many churches endangered by sheer lack of resources, it can be disheartening to see others lost to economic demands or a distaste for repurposing a former religious space. Monumental religious buildings are integral parts of their community, shaping neighborhoods for the better, and remain a vital presence even after their congregations have departed—and so I continue to hope that Anshe Kenesseth Israel may yet be granted a reprieve.
Photographs of Anshe Kenesseth Israel, the Chicago synagogue threatened with demolition, can be found here.
More information on St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church in St. Louis, demolished for housing in 2006, can be found here.
Martin E. Marty, "Memphis Church Preservation," Sightings, January 24, 2011.
Robert Powers documents and writes about historic architecture on his website Built St. Louis and on his blog A Chicago Sojourn. He received his Masters of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Sightings comes from the Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago Divinity School.