text:
Six Episodes Debut in October 2011
NEW YORK, NY, February 24, 2011 – IFC has green lit a second season of
its original comedy series The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd
Margaret. This deal was brokered by Zodiak Media Group's international
division Zodiak Rights. Six all-new episodes will debut in October;
production begins in April. The series is created, written by and stars
David Cross (Arrested Development) as Todd Margaret, a corporate nobody
and pathological liar who bluffs his way into a senior sales position
heading up the London office for the new energy drink Thunder Muscle.
"I am excited to continue the story that was merely hinted at last
season," said David Cross. "Questions will be answered and secrets
revealed all while the mystery heads towards a deep, shuddering, and
very satisfying climax."
"Todd Margaret personifies the type of offbeat comedy IFC brings to
viewers," said Debbie DeMontreux, senior vice president, original
programming, IFC. "David is one of the pioneers of alt comedy, a genre
IFC is quickly becoming known for. Our audience passionately supported
the premiere season and we're thrilled to bring them fresh, hilarious
episodes this fall."
Clelia Mountford, Executive Producer for RDF Television added "We're
delighted to be given the opportunity by IFC to complicate Todd
Margaret's life even further."
Season one, which aired on IFC from October 1 to November 5, 2010,
featured a roster of stars including Will Arnett and guest stars Janeane
Garofalo, Amber Tamblyn and Russ Tamblyn.
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaretis a co-production
between IFC and RDF Television, part of Zodiak Media Group in the UK.
The series is co-written by Shaun Pye (Extras) and Mark Chappell.
Executive producers for IFC are Jennifer Caserta, Debbie DeMontreux,
Christine Lubrano, Evan Shapiro and Christian Vesper. The executive
producer for RDF Television is Clelia Mountford. The series is produced
by Michael Livingstone and directed by Ben Gregor. David Cross is also
an associate producer.
Zodiak Rights share worldwide rights (excluding the US) with IFC to the
new series and will be launching it at MIPTV this spring.
Dad's Garage is Moving!
Welp, We're Moving
Dad's Garage Theatre Says Goodbye to its Current Home and Hello to a Temporary One
It's official. At the ripe ol' age of 18, mom and dad are kicking us out of the house. Dad's Garage Theatre has received notice that our building, as well as the entire property at 280 Elizabeth Street, is changing ownership and will be redeveloped in the coming months. We're optimistic that we'll finish out the remainder of our season in our current space and will be performing as per usual through at least July 31st. We'll be moving out soon after and will continue performing at our new temporary home at 7 Stages in Little Five Points beginning in August. While in our temporary home, we anticipate launching a capital campaign to raise funds to build our new, permanent home.
In regard to our permanent home, we have been vetting a few spaces and while it doesn't look as if we'll be able to stay in Inman Park, we're committed to staying as close to home as possible. We have narrowed the search down to a few serious prospects and plan on making a decision very soon. That said, just like any 18 year-old, we like to keep our options open. So, if anyone has 15,000 sq. feet of space in the city with ample parking on the cheap – we'd love to hear about it.
Our facilities committee has been working hard behind the scenes to make sure we stay stable through the upcoming move, but this is still a really difficult burden for a non-profit theatre company to shoulder, and we'll need help. These are the other things we could use a hand with:
Help us fill our seats. We've loved this space for 18 years and we want to cram as much love into it as possible for the last three months we're here, so please help us (pack them out.) We've got some amazing shows coming up including:
- Apnea – April 26 through June 1 – Mike Schatz's one-man show about a life without dreams
- Improv with Colin Mochrie – May 17 & 18 – Yep, the bald dude from "Whose Line is it Anyway?" will be doing funny things on our stage.
- And a whole bunch of other shows. We do six each week. You can find the remainder of our shows on our online calendar:
Help us stay connected. We don't want to lose touch with folks, so please tell everyone you know to:
- Sign up for our mailing list: http://dadsgarage.com
- Become a fan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dadsgaragetheatre
- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dads_garage
Help us move our stuff/staff. While we do have a theatre to perform in, we'll need to find the following at low-to-no-cost to help us stay afloat. We need:
- Storage space
- Moving supplies
- Office space/meeting space for staff
- Contact Lara if you can help (firstname.lastname@example.com or 404-523-3141 x 202)
Oh, and don't worry, we'll definitely close out our time here with an epic party. Be on the lookout for details.
More about 7 Stages:
7 Stages is located at 1105 Euclid Avenue NE in Little Five Points. Their name is derived from the ancient book of I Ching, The Book of Changes (#24, Turning Point). Since 1979, 7 Stages Theatre has been bringing local and international emerging artwork of social, political, and spiritual importance to Atlanta audiences for over 33 years. Artists in performance, musical, visual and the spoken arts have found the organization a haven in the support and development of new works and methods of collaboration.
For additional information on the programs, performances and activities at 7 Stages, or to schedule an interview, please contact Charles Swint at email@example.com or 404) 522 -4755.
Comic to Comic
Comic to Comic with Rob Shapiro
I sat down with Rob Shapiro after a week on the road with the king of underground New York comedy. We were at Siberia in the heart of historic New Orleans. The tour started at Jerry Farber's in Atlanta. Jerry Farber had mistaken Rob for his brother Rick. The sibling comic rivalry has gone on since both brothers started in comedy in New York City so many years ago. Rick Shapiro has taken the fame role in this comedy family and Rob Shapiro has become the legend of underground.
With 25 plus years of a hard road-dog type career, Rob Shapiro mixes bitter times, a hardcore past and a sheer determination to be funny 'till he dies. Rob reminds me of all my relatives with his gritty demeanor and a life-doesn't-owe-me-shit outlook.
The interview starts with Rob's description of the hotel our promoter booked him in. "Crackheads man, like everywhere, in the lobby and then again by the rooms. Genuine crackheads, so genuine that they have reached authentic status." A fan and friend of 25 years walks up behind Rob and surprises him. He says that this kind of dedication to his comedy after all these years is what keeps him moving and shaking. I ask him the stock Comic to Comic question: "Rob, do you think one appearance on television can make or break a comedy career? Like back when you could go on Carson and the phone would start ringing?" He shrugs and gives the quirky grandpa-like smirk I have now seen over and over. Rob gets teary eyed and states that this question will take an hour to answer!
He rants about how the heart of comedy is gone and everyone thinks it is a get rich quick game. Rob started after his brother and saw a group of comics who treated each other like family. They would go out all night together. Rob was in his early thirties and saw the scene as a great mountain to conquer. Shapiro went the Ivy league Wall Street route prior to comedy and states that he was so jealous of Rick and the comedy scene that he had to do what he loved. There were no cliques in comedy. Everyone tried to help each other with the hopes that one would break and the rest would follow! Real comedy appears to be dead and there doesn't appear to be heart anymore. Then Rob sees guys 35 and up doing it and it rekindles that drive and he sees heart in the older determined comics. He goes on to say everyone wants to be a writer and an actor first and a comic second. The guys who want to be comics and only comics get a better result.
There is a hunger that comes from doing just stand-up, and it drives Rob. When you just want to make people laugh, you will find it while you're on stage–you learn to steer that car and hit it. You're dancing with it, you're living it, so genuine that it becomes authentic. In the old days, if a fellow comic saw you, they would say do that father joke, it kills. Nowadays a comic will say don't do that joke again, 'cause they are afraid you will upstage them. We are all in the same boat.
Marketing has become the new art. Function now follows form! Audiences have become so ready for a flashing light. You as a comic have to create a branding. Rob hates the term branding! He laughs at me saying that I was walking around the ghetto in New Orleans dressed in a black suit and Payas. Whatever it takes to make the audience take notice and give us as comics the platform to bring the funny. The audiences have become so Jimmy Falloned out of nothingness. We need our shtick since the backstabbing and nonsense between comics has become crazy! Most comics got into this business because we were antisocial and because we were hurt in life. Clubs like the Comedy Cellar in NYC or The Punchline in Atlanta have to compete now because every corner now has a club. Comedy clubs used to mean a vibrant force where they ran ads and filled the seats. They booked based on funny and to please a crowd that the reputation of the club backed.
Rob goes on and on to say most clubs will not bring in anyone, as if it was just a four wall place with a microphone. Every club owner used to be a producer and promoter, and now they forget that they sell drinks and we make 'em laugh (simple logic from Rob Shapiro). My time with Rob has been crazy and a great opportunity to learn from a legend. He has taken A Jew and a Black Guy under his wing and schooled us. My tough New York street smart mentality is influenced by the originals of the field we struggle at every day. Rob Shapiro is a true original and we will see him back in the south this summer. He is just getting started all over again!
Comic to Comic
Comic to Comic: Greg Proops!
I was able to sit down in a groovy little cove in the lobby of the W in Midtown. I had just gotten an area in mind to do the interview when Mr. Proops walks over and plants a genuine kiss on my crippled forehead. His hair was perfectly coiffed and he looked and smelled divine! Not the usual bar room comedian I am so used too. Of course, forever the comedienne, I had to ask if he had any "work done." Greg chuckled devilishly and said he had recently lost 40lbs as he got tired of being asked if he was his wife's dad. I couldn't help but laugh. as I know all too well how that feels.
Greg had a tight schedule, and I felt very fortunate that he could sit down with The Backstage Beat. He was on his way to the venue for 3 nights of standup and a Sunday night live podcast. I listened to a few of his "Smartest Man in the World" Proopcasts before meeting with him. His podcasts are hilarious!
Greg sits onstage at a modest table with a mic, a "couple" glasses of vodka, and a non gender orange cardboard kitten whose name is Kitten McTavish. He tells me McTavish's story. The kitten is a reminder to replace some of his swearing, was named by his wife, and was picked up in London at a Christmas market. Kitten McTavish has become quite the charmer, and between McTavish and Greg, they receive a lot of questions. He loves reading and answering all of his emails and has a special account for that reason. You can write him or hell even McTavish at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Greg told me he was on his way to London next and that he really enjoys a small venue. This seems to be very popular with a lot of the comedians we interview. I asked him what is his deciding factor in choosing a venue to perform while in Atlanta. Greg explained to me that he had known the club owner where his weekend performances were for the greater part of 10 years. He was told he was going to put all the "groovy comedians" in this comedy club. We both laughed hysterically because it was at that point I realized that I was not "groovy." I am indeed just an old lady living her dream.
I had to talk to him about his comedic flow. While he delivers setups, punch lines, and callbacks, it is so natural; you feel like you are engaged in a conversation with him. Yet he is the only person talking! I consider him not only the smartest man, but also the funniest man in the world. He is just naturally hilarious. Genetically engineered that way. I asked him how he prepares for a show. He says he takes a lot of notes. However, doesn't have much time to prepare. From flying, to interviews, to check in…the time is just not there.
I asked him why he chose podcast over straight stand up. Greg was very passionate with his answer and he's full of feminist history. He wants to be fair to everyone. He said with great conviction, "I get real bored with straight male comedians and my girlfriends so fat… and these bitches do that… not just white male comedians ALL male comedians. And I just get real bored with it and I don't find it amusing anymore…even moreover….and I'm not trying to take high moral grounds here…the lack of awareness in that area is what really drives me up the God damn wall! Like you're not even aware that your being an asshole. Just like all men, you walk through the world because the world belongs to you and they don't even see that. They don't even see their in a privileged position by being a man."
Since the "Proopcast" aired he has a lot of women that listen and write him. Women that write him that say "Thank you for mentioning this or talking about that. Like today is International Women History Day and I guarantee you NO ONE will mention it."
Greg continues with, "TV executives will tell you young people want to watch young people. And listen…they are UNBELIEVABLY WRONG about that! They don't care who it is IF they are interesting to them. I was watching Lily Tomlin at 7, and Carol Burnett. They think the young want to watch the young and they don't care at all. Network execs are obsessed with it."
We talk about that being the kind of resistance I'm running into as a comedienne starting so late in age. Greg says, "People resist." I feel relieved; at least he notices. He continues, "To make you feel bad about yourself. You're too heavy. You're too this. You're too that. I'm too effeminate. I'm too smart. I play over the crowds head. Whatever the reasons are… have glasses. We already have someone with glasses. I've been on auditions where they say will you please take off your glasses? We already have someone with glasses. Well…I WEAR GLASSES! Do you want me to walk into the rest of the cast? I'll take them off." We both discover we are not only blind but also deaf without our glasses and gnarly funny Helen Keller impressions ensue.
We get serious again and discuss how comics are treated because of our age. Especially me as a woman. He gets passionate again and states regarding Comedy Central "They would sooner kill themselves than not put on a 29-31 year old guy. DIE…DIE…DIE. They have a bunch of new shit that is better than their old shit, like Key and Peele, thank god. In general they want it to be frat boy."
Again we talk about resistance. I tell him I get discouraged. Greg adamantly says, "You're either good or you're not good. Judge me on my merit." That is all we ask for we both agree. He goes on to say, "Oh you're that…don't put a label on me before I've said anything."
He continues with an answer to the question on every comedian's mind. Greg believes you got to get out of town to "make it" in some cases. "The geography of the place dictates how ignorant and stupid and vile people can be to you. 'Well I'm from here and were shit kickers so fuuuuuck you.' Really…really that's how the world works you can't open your mind in any way because where you live people throw sticks of dynamite in a pond? So when I get on the podcast these are the things on my mind. And I try to discuss them in an intelligent way. Also political things…Generalization." Greg will go through an article that he says, "It isn't even truth…oh the Pope left. THE POPE DID NOT LEAVE! HE'S NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE! Oh it's over now? No. it's just beginning."
We get back to the comic to comic basics. Greg says he is "Making a willful effort to dig up some old stuff, beat it up, and try to re fix it." He says of the audience "They were half buying it last night," and he wants to do more freestyle.
I felt inclined to ask him if he actually drinks vodka onstage or is it water in his glass. He was more than enthusiastic when answering "VODKA." I went into my whiskey relapse story. We were both in agreement that we like to get shit faced. He enjoys doing his "Proopcast" or "vodcast" as he can just drink and talk. Greg makes me feel better about myself by saying, "All musicians and comics are drunks and drug addicts." If you can feel better about something like that.
We talked "comedian hours." Mr. Proops describes something I'm getting all too familiar with. He says, "You finish the late show at 1am after whipping a crowd into a frenzy. You spend 23 hours of the day focusing on THIS part of the day. And people don't, and they don't need to, understand the mechanics of comedy. We're speaking as comics. It doesn't matter to them. It should seem like magic. It should seem like you just thought of it. And they can be fooled. And that's okay."
"The thing is for us the doing of 'it' is 1/24th of the day. IF that much." Interviews, flying, maybe writing something. "Then when you're done, it's like let's go eat breakfast or let's go eat pizza because I can't fucking sleep."
The conversation turns to Bob Hope. Greg gives me the scoop! "He would get up between 10-11am and would make his entire family have dinner at midnight. Everybody dressed. I'm not kidding. He kept comedian hours as if he was gigging his whole life and then he got up and golfed."
I turned the conversation back to Greg's pre-show prep. He told me sometimes that he stands in the back and listens. He says, "People go, 'Do you care what topics I talk about?' I go, no. Because I learned a long time ago from a friend of mine named Will Durst… I said to him, I got this Reagan joke and I want to do it. But I know you got a bunch of stuff on it. And he goes, 'Your opening the floor and you're not doing my joke…your doing your joke.' And now the topic's been raised so when I come out I can address it as well…. And I was like OH!"
Greg continues, "You know, 'cuz sometimes people you know how they come up and go 'Don't say nothing about cats. I got cats. I do cats.' And you're like fuck you! You do cats. I do cats. Everybody does it you know." Comics take note. I say to him, "You would not believe how bad that is here in Atlanta". He belts out, "OH YEAH you're not gonna talk about trucks are you? 'Cuz I got a truck joke and I'm closing with it." I tell him I'm not even allowed to do fat people jokes AND I'm fat! He tells me, "You have a lifetime experience of it and the pettiness will go away." So that means I have hope? YES!
I end the interview with a question that we always do in Comic to Comic. Do you think one TV appearance like Carson back in the day can break a career? Mr. Proops answers, "It is the diametrical opposite of that. No! Drew Carey was the last person to get that big hit in '90 or '91. That was it. It doesn't work that way anymore. It's social media and internet. You have to hope for anything to happen."
Greg decides to break my heart. "We are not going to be on Saturday Night Live. We're too old. As soon as people hit 40 they are rejected. And that's the way the world works." So, I'm really over here crying… as I just spent my 40th birthday last Friday in rehab with a broken hip.
It seems like you don't even have to be a comedian anymore to be entertaining. Greg chimes in with "Or an actor. They're just looking for the next NeNe." I try to find solace in this. As I am reminded once again, I may have started my comedic journey too late in life. Forever the optimist…I'm going with it's still too early to call.
You can connect to Greg's Proopcast "The Smartest Man in the World" and find out everything you need to know at www.gregproops.com.
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Yet, the fact remains that except for South Africa, which is seeking large-scale Chinese investment at home, the other three do not seem invested in allowing Beijing to expand its economic influence worldwide.
In fact, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev even made a joke out of the BRICS acronym at Sanya, the Chinese island where the summit took place last Thursday, saying he did not know who had created the acronym but with the addition of South Africa, he was now calling it BRYuKI (in Russian, Yu refers to Yuzhnaya Africa, or South Africa, while the K refers to Kitai or China), the Russian word for 'trousers'.
No one else really laughed, perhaps because they were focused on their own gains elsewhere.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Brazilian president Dilma Rouseff and South African president Jacob Zuma, besides Medvedev, seemed far more interested in their bilateral meetings with the Chinese leadership - itself a sign that Beijing is beginning to wield increasing political clout worldwide - than with diluting or defying China's obvious desire to emerge as an alternative voice to reckon with, along with the US.
For example, India and China agreed to restore their defence relationship, in cold storage since Beijing refused to give a visa to northern army commander B S Jaswal to visit China, while Beijing agreed not to henceforth "staple" visas of Jammu & Kashmir residents seeking to visit China.
This agreement was reached only the night before the PM met President Hu, an indication of the intense diplomatic back-and-forth that preceded the accord.
According to highly placed government sources, Delhi held out "veiled threats" to the Chinese side, pointing out that if a senior general of the northern command - the ultimate compromise was a Major-General, instead of the Commander himself - was not given a proper visa, Delhi would retaliate by initiating direct contact with, for example, provincial military commanders from Lanzhou or Chengdu (capitals of Gansu and Sichuan provinces, respectively), instead of through the Beijing-led People's Liberation Army.
The Chinese side got the message, and during the Manmohan-Hu bilateral, both leaders referred to the welcome development.
fact, Hu also referred to the need for China to open its markets for Indian information technology and pharma goods, an acceptance of the Indian complaint that the Chinese had, indeed, been playing hardball.
As for the Sanya declaration, it was also notable for its reference to the fight against terrorism and the need to reform the Security Council, both contributions by India.
However, since the UNSC expansion clause didn't elicit the kind of wholesome enthusiasm that Delhi had hoped for, BRICS' limited ability to change the world seemed confirmed.
Sanya's most significant outcome, of course, was BRICS' decision to broadbase the international reserve currency, currently the US dollar, and initiate "Trade settlement in local currencies among the five countries (to) promote trade and investment liberalisation. (This) will lead to even closer business and trade ties," said China's assistant foreign minister, Wu Hailong.
While it is still unclear how this will unfold exactly, analysts emphasised that trade settlements between the five designated banks did not mean they would directly deal in government-to-government lines of credit.
Unlike the 2000 Chiang Mai initiative, which allowed the creation of a nearly uninterrupted economic space between China and Southeast Asia (where the yuan or the 'hua-yuan', also called the 'greater yuan', held sway), Sanya's baby step towards financial cohesion was similar to the barter trade arrangement that once existed between special allies India and the former Soviet Union, the analysts said.
According to the Sanya declaration, each country's designated bank could offer a loan to another country's bank, which could then pass it on to entrepreneurs in that country.
For example, China Development Bank chief Chen Yuan announced his readiness to extend 10 billion yuan as a loan, such as to improve cooperation with Brazil's Petrobras.
Rajiv Kumar, director-general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, who was at Sanya, told Business Standard that in the years to come, the Sanya effect would be able to underwrite large deals, like the recent $8.3-billion agreement between Anil Ambani's Reliance Power and Shanghai Electric Corporation to supply 36 coal-fired thermal power generation units over three years.
"BRICS may not be a political grouping, but if the five banks can propel investment flows, thereby generating employment in India, I'm all for it," Kumar said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Remember that one time that I didn't have a good experience? I do! And not just because it was bad- but because some of you guys then think I'm a horrible person. Always my favorite.
Oy the freak outs sometimes! My favorite response, I think, was the one from a small business owner telling me she'd lost respect for me because I had a negative experience and shared it.
And here's the thing- others of you send me emails/messages saying I only ever have positive reviews, so how can you trust me? Or that if somewhere invited me to come review it and we had a good time, that they "cheated" because they knew it was for a review.
You love it when I love something you love, you hate it when I love something you hate, you love it when I hate something you hate, and you hate me when I dislike something that you love.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
Now at the place in question (and I deleted the post, which I regret now, because I stand behind me giving honest feedback so that you guys know I'm telling the truth when I like things) I DID give real-time feedback. I did tell the waitress our order was wrong (and she argued with me), I did tell her we'd been waiting forever, and when she finally brought the check, she told me that they had only one chef today, which, honestly, she could have told me up front, she could have recommended an appetizer, heck, even bringing out crackers to the tables with kids would have been smart.
And, in my post, I made sure to mention that my husband and son said their food was fantastic! In my original reviews, I offered places the opportunity to tell me that they didn't want me to publish them when they'd invited me, and some did that. After I had it happen twice, I realized that not saying when I didn't like something was like me lying to you guys and allowing you to think I only ever like things. I'm sorry if it makes you angry, but I do give you the chance to tell me I'm wrong, I just wish you'd do it by saying things like "We go there all the time and it's awesome- give it another go" instead of telling me that I'm a horrible person.
Not a sermon, just a thought. Leave your angry responses below, I know they're coming.


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Our story begins with a simple desire for handmade, high-quality boots that don't break the bank.
We love great cowboy boots. But we were tired of the usual ways to buy them: $1,000+ price tags, overwhelming store experiences, and lack of trustworthy online shopping options.
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Classic Styles
We favor simple, timeless designs that never go out of style. Our aim is to make boots that are as in style today as they will be 30 years from now.


text:
Research Repository
Recent Advances in Whale-Watching Research: 2007-2008
Scarpaci, Carol, Parsons, Edward Christien M and Luck, M (2008) Recent Advances in Whale-Watching Research: 2007-2008. Tourism in Marine Environments, 5 (4). pp. 319-336. ISSN 1544-273XFull text for this resource is not available from the Research Repository.
Official URL: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/tme/2008...
|Item Type:
|Uncontrolled Keywords:
|ResPubID17081. whale watching, whale catchers, regulations, management, protected areas, whalewatching
|Current > FOR Classification > 0502 Environmental Science and Management
Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > School of Engineering and Science
|Depositing User:
|Date Deposited:
|24 Jan 2012 02:47
|Last Modified:
|23 Mar 2015 05:03
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Business Plan & Pitch Deck for Online Renting Platform in India was prepared by PlanThyBusiness.com team. Check out our Business Plan and Pitch Deck preparation services. Contact Us now to know more about what we delivered as a part of this project and how we can help you.
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Santa Moonlit Arrival Needlepoint Stocking Liz Dillon Susan Roberts LGDAXS246. Subject: Handpainted canvas designed by Liz Goodrick-Dillon for Susan Roberts (signed lower right corner). This canvas has plenty of spacing on top for personalization. Image Size: 13.5 by 21 inches.
Full merchandise value is declared. Please request an invoice before paying to ensure your savings! Immediately so we can make it right! Try as we might, we are human and mistakes happen.Powered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution. The item "Santa Moonlit Arrival Needlepoint Stocking Liz Dillon Susan Roberts LGDAXS246" is in sale since Thursday, May 24, 2018. This item is in the category "Crafts\Needlecrafts & Yarn\Embroidery & Cross Stitch\Hand Embroidery Cloth & Canvas\Plastic Canvas". The seller is "fact" and is located in Vernon-Rockville, Connecticut.
This item can be shipped worldwide.


text:
LUKE CAGE RETROSPECTIVE September 26, 2016 – Posted in: Uncategorized – Tags: Staff-Picks
Created by Archie Goodwin (writer) and John Romita Sr. (artist)
Also Known As:
Power Man, Mark Lucas, Hero for Hire, Ace of Spades.
Real Name:
Carl Lucas – Changed legally to Luke Cage
First Appearance:
Hero For Hire (1972)
Steel-hard skin that cannot be cut by the sharpest of blades.
Super Strength that allows him to lift up to 25 tons.
Recovery time caused by Injury or trauma is one-third that of a normal human.
from Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Competent hand to hand combatant.
Superb Athlete.
Self Educated in Law and can speak several languages.
Rogues Gallery:
Chemistro – former chemist who uses the 'alchemy gun' capable of transforming matter.
Shades- a clever criminal who knows how to play 'the game' to get what he wants.
Cheshire Cat- scout who has the ability to go invisible, become tangible and teleport.
The Purple Man- Mind Controller, can get people to do anything he says.
Cockroach Hamilton- Mob enforcer who has a powerful shotgun he calls Josh.
Cold Fire- Luke's Brother James who becomes a protoplasmic being who can compose white-hot flames.
Tombstone- Hitman for the mob.
Moses Magnum- Terrorist capable of generating earthquakes and shockwaves.
Mr Fish- radioactive half man, half fish, gang leader.
Group Affiliation:
Secret Defenders.
Heroes for Hire.
Fantastic Four.
1972- The first black superhero to receive a solo series in Marvel Comics.
1978- Iron Fist joins his series as its renamed Power Man and Iron Fist.
1992- New solo series call titled Cage
2005- Joined The Avengers
2006- Married Jessica Jones
2016- Netflix Series
First comic story: Hero for Hire
Luke Cage (then named Carl Lucas) is seen as a prisoner. We see him just leaving Solitary confinement. It's clear even early on that though Lucas joins teams later in his crime fighting career he has always been comfortable alone. So when some prisoners pressure him into creating a riot, he refuses.. expressing that he is nobody's puppet.
A similar event happens when the prison guard/temporary warden named Rackham orders Lucas to act as a snitch and report on everything involving the prisoners. When Lucas refuses, the warden throws him back into solitary confinement and gives one of the guards authority to assault Carl. However given his respect for authority, Carl refuses to fight back which only taunts both the guard and Rackham even more.
It's at this time that the New Warden appears. He had purposes arrived at the prison unannounced to see how the prison ran. Now seeing the disgusting way in which Carl was treated, the new warden fires the prison guard on the spot. Rather than firing Rackham though, the new Warden puts him back to work as a prison guard and orders him to obey the rules accordingly.
Lucas gets his wounds healed by a Doctor named Burstein, who tells Carl that he would like to work with him. Burstein has a science project and needs Lucas's help to bring it to fruition.
Its now we get a flashback and a good look at Lucas's origin story.
Carl Lucas was born and raised in Harlem. Spending most of his youth in a gang called the Bloods he made good friend's with a boy named Willis Stryker. In and out of Juvenile Homes through his teens, it wasn't until he saw how much his actions were hurting his family that he decided to better himself. While Carl was working in a legitimate job, his Friend Stryker was going up the criminal ranks. At one point Stryker was badly beaten by a mob and it was only thanks to Lucas that he was saved. Willis's girlfriend now afraid of the life Willis was involved in decided to break up. Considering her closeness to Carl, Willis was convinced Lucas had stolen his girlfriend and out of jealousy and rage he planted heroin in Carl's apartment. Falsely convicted Carl was thrown in Seagate prison.
Fast forward now to Doctor Burstein's science proposition to Lucas.
The request was that Carl volunteer to have experimental cell regeneration. It was based on Super-Soldier serum Doctor Burstein had previously used on Warhawk.
Lukas agreed and the process began.
Lucas was placed in a electrical field conducted by an organic chemical compound. Just before the procedure, Doctor Burstein left the area unattended. former warden Rackham noticed what was going on and messed with the experiment control's to try and to kill Lucas. However the process was instead exaggerated and granted Carl with a range of enhancements including Super Strength and durability.
Trying to grasp his new abilities, with his new found powers Lucas was able to escape Seagate and made his way to New York.
It doesn't take Lucas that long to realise that his enhanced abilities could be used to bring in profit.
Changing his name to Luke Cage he begins his career as the Hero for Hire.
Written by Tyrone Burns


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Personal Injury Law Firm in Mesa, Arizona focusing on Auto Accident cases.[/caption]
Protecting Our Community in Mesa is a Priority!
If you've been seriously injured or lost a loved one in an accident, you need a lawyer who is prepared to take on corporations and insurance companies, who needlessly endanger the public. Through the actions we take on behalf of our injured clients, we force these companies to change their ways — and this, in turn, helps make everyday life safer for us all here in Mesa.
At Lazzara Law Firm — a Paradise Valley personal injury law firm with a national reputation — our attorneys have a proven record of holding insurance companies and big corporations accountable. We believe that by pursuing proper compensation for injured people, we are helping to make our communities a better place.
To schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable Paradise Valley Arizona Personal Injury Attorney, contact us today.
The Mesa auto accident attorneys of Lazzara Law Firm are committed to obtaining results for our clients. We have a statewide reputation for success in complex, high-profile personal injury cases throughout Arizona.
Personal Injury is a broad term, encircling a wide variety of accidents. Our breadth of experience enables us to provide superior representation for people injured in a number of situations. For further details, please navigate through our site or call us today.
While car accidents make up a significant portion of Arizona personal injury and wrongful death claims, they cannot be considered routine. Each accident must be investigated individually to establish case specifics.
Our experience in Arizona auto accident litigation is extensive. The Mesa auto accident attorneys of Lazzara Law Firm are adept at assessing the physical principles of the accident, the medical evidence used to evaluate injuries, and the economic and accounting principles required to evaluate losses. We provide the strongest possible representation.
Victims of car accidents are entitled to compensation for property damage, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and for permanent injury or disfigurement. Please be aware that adjusters and insurers may try to take advantage of victims who are not represented by an attorney experienced in Arizona accident law.
Do not count on the insurance company to look out for your best interests. It's rare that an accident victim will "come out ahead" in an injury settlement without consulting a lawyer from the phoenix auto accident attorneys of Lazzara Law Firm.
If we handle your case, there will be no advance fees or other advance payments required. If you recover nothing, you owe us nothing.
The law firm of Lazzara Law Firm – phoenix auto accident attorneys – has years of experience in litigating car accident cases. We invite you to call us today or contact us through email for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident.
In addition to accident cases, the phoenix auto accident attorneys have a great deal of experience in litigating cases involving seat belt and air bag malfunctions. It often requires biomechanical engineer to determine whether or not a defect in the seatbelts or airbag resulted in far greater injuries than would have otherwise taken place. Our lawyers have demonstrated their technical expertise for years.
If the driver who hit you has no insurance or is underinsured, you may be able to pursue a claim with your own insurance company. Although the insurance company may have an obligation to pay benefits, the process is often difficult, and claims are frequently underpaid, delayed, or wrongfully denied.
As the leading Mesa injury attorney, Lazzara Law Firm are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality of professional services.
There are a number of ways that you or a loved one could suffer a major injury. In these cases you may be entitled to compensation for you or your loved one's personal injury. These damages are most often caused in a vehicle accident. As the leading Mesa personal injury attorney, we are committed to protecting our clients. Although these types of events are more often than not random, they could happen to any individual. You could have an accident a work or at home; no matter what you're doing you risk the chance of an accident.
When these tragic accidents do occur, the outcomes are frequently shattering. There are many issues from these tragic accidents that could cause an individual to suffer for a lifetime. When this damage takes place, the victim or their family is eligible for compensation for personal injury. Lazzara Law Firm are committed to helping you reach a settlement as the Mesa injury lawyer.
After you've suffered a disastrous injury, it can be extremely troublesome to live your life as planned. It may also cause a burden for family members who are caring for you. After these injuries many victims find is extremely difficult to concentrate on any other subject than the accident and nominal damage they've suffered. As the leading Mesa injury attorney, Lazzara Law Firm are committed to the care of our clients.
Dealing with these types of damages may involve surgery and/or rehabilitation via physical therapy. It may also lead to law counseling as well as emotional counseling to get over your suffering. This is why individuals should seek compensation for personal injury and take the necessary steps to file their damages claims. Hiring an attorney may help you to cope with the difficult law aspect of the injury so that you can concentrate on the trivial matters. As the leading Mesa personal injury attorney, Lazzara Law Firm are always available to our clients.
As we all know, tragic injuries can be so aggravating, it's pretty much standard procedure for an individual to contact a law attorney. A personal injury lawyer will fight for your rights as a citizen and help you to recover the compensation for personal injury that you are entitled to. The damages caused from such an accident can lead to you missing pay from your job. Less fortunate individuals experience damages that cause them to depend on others to take care of their day-to-day activities. These victims are definitely entitled to compensation for their injury. Lazzara Law Firm are devoted to helping our clients reach a settlement as Mesa injury lawyer.
A personal injury attorney may be exactly what you need to assist you take care of the legal and help you gain the compensation for personal injury that you deserve. With a law counselor assisting you with your legal issues, you can focus on getting your body healthy again.
If you or a friend has been injured, do not hesitate to get in touch with an Mesa injury attorney from Lazzara Law Firm. It is vital that the proper steps are taken in order to manage your case effectively.
Lazzara Law Firm, PLLC, is a top rated personal injury law firm in Mesa, Arizona. For years, our leading Mesa personal injury attorney, Larry Lazzara, has helped clients recover millions of dollars for personal injury and wrongful death claims. Mr. Lazzara has also been honored for his award winning services as a leader in the personal injury lawyer realm. He has been featured on the cover of Arizona Attorney at Law Magazine, having been honored as Attorney of the Month. He was also featured on the cover of Valley Lifestyles Magazine, having been named an east valley top personal injury attorney.
The main focus of the firm is to represent victims who were injured in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and wrongful deaths victims. As a Mesa auto accident lawyer, Mr. Lazzara is responsible for ensuring that his clients are fairly compensated for the losses they suffered at the hands of another. His goal is to bring fast and exemplary results, which adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards.
If you or someone you know has been in an Arizona car accident, then call us for a free consultation. 480-456-3080.


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To calculate lineal feet of trim, (e.g. base, quarter round) simply measure each wall in the room and add up the lineal feet. For ease of installation use whole pieces where ever possible. Allow extra for cutting each corner and splicing pieces together.
To determine the square footage of a square or rectangular room, measure the length and width of the room in feet or inches and enter the values in Area 1 of the calculator below. For irregularly shaped areas or multiple rooms, it is helpful to draw a diagram and divide the room up into sections. Treat each section as a separate area, as in this illustration. Input the measurements of each area below to see the total SQFT needed.
R.L. Colston
3/4" x 3-1/4" Hickory Unfinished Solid Hardwood Flooring
R.L. Colston- 3/4" x 3-1/4 Hickory Unfinished Square Edge Solid Hardwood Flooring
R.L. Colston & Sons offers traditional 3/4" unfinished solid hardwood floors in a variety of species in 2-1/4" to 5" widths.
- No Warranty
Hickory greatly separates itself from other wood species by its great color variation which begins from light tan to reddish/ dark brown tones with dramatic grain patterns.
Its unique rustic appearance, the combination of its hard density and moderate coarse open grain, make it just as appropriate in a contemporary high rise loft as it is in a log cabin.
It is also ideal for high traffic areas and kid's rooms.
Please note unfinished flooring is sold in open, strapped bundles and not sold in boxes. This product must be purchased in bundles. Bundle size may vary.
What is "Natural Grade?"
Natural Grade has some color variation, mineral coloring and small knots. It can also be referred to as #1 or 2nd grade.
Call 1-800-FLOORING to speak to one of our flooring experts.
- Brand: R.L. Colston
- Trade Name: Hickory
- Marketing Name: Hickory
- Janka Rating: N/A
- AC Rating: N/A
- Grade: Natural
- Color Shade: Medium
- Width: 3 1/4"
- Thickness: 3/4"
- Construction: Solid
- Installation Type: Glue, Nail, Nail with Glue Assist
- Sq. Ft. Per Box: 1
- Hardness Rating: N/A
- Waste: 10%
- Weight per box/unit: 2.76


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Call for Papers
Museums play a key role in creating and representing the shared cultural heritage of various communities. What is to be said about the stories museums facilitate? Why is something remembered and something else forgotten? What is highlighted, what hidden? What does restrict museums' freedom to act and/or do we restrict ourselves? What are the roles of public and local societies for
museums? Are museums prisoners of their own familiar practices and processes?
Six national committees of the International Council of Museums - ICOM Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany - jointly invite contributions to a conference addressing demanding issues for today's museums and museum professionals. The conference will gather a large group of experts from these countries, where commonly shared culture and history reflect the ways we
approach, collect and present cultural heritage.
Papers are particularly invited - but not restricted - to the topics such as
- The role of politics for museums' freedom and choices,
- Awareness and choices on what to be remembered, forgotten or hidden,
- New challenges for museum professionals while working as societal actors,
- Questions on (de)accession, preservation, and ownership of museum objects.
The conference language is English.
Please submit paper proposals by April 1, 2017 using the EasyChair Submission page: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=dim2017
The submission page opens January 15, 2017, 00:00 GMT and closes April 1 2017, 12:00 GMT.
You will find help in submitting your text using EasyChair here.
The abstracts must be written in English and must contain the following information: 1) author(s), 2) organization(s), 3) email address(es), 4) title of abstract, 5) body of abstract (max. 400 words), 6) 3-5 keywords The regular presentation time at the conference is 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for discussion.
In addition, a small number of shorter presentations are chosen of 5 minutes with 5 minutes discussion. Please indicate on your proposal if you would like to present in this shortcut-section of the conference.
When submitting the abstract you will be asked for a permission to publish the abstract in case of acceptance on the conference blog and programme (both online and in print) and your paper in the conference proceedings. Details will be
announced at a later date.
Successful applicants for the Call of Papers will be notified by June 1, 2017.
Papers selected for publication have to be submitted by November 1, 2017 using EasyChair.
For more information about abstracts and papers and the conference please visit www.icom-helsingborg-2017.org.
In case of any remaining questions contact firstname.lastname@example.com (Call for Papers and conference programme) or firstname.lastname@example.com (general conference information).


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ID Verification
ID Verification – Our next-generation identity verification solution that brings enhanced address data and scoring to the table resulting in more approvals and less cost.
Traditional identity verification products attempt to answer the question of identity by "matching" a person's identifying attributes such as social security number, date of birth, name or address. But what happens when they don't match? What if your definition of a "match" differs from your vendor's definition? ID Insight goes beyond the traditional methods of simply matching and solves these problems with enhanced data coverage, predictive scoring, and configurable match and alert criteria.
Some of the largest financial services companies in the country rely on ID Insight as their trusted identity verification solution. By deploying our ID Verification solution, our customers are able to significantly reduce their manual review costs as well as being compliant with various Know Your Customer regulations.
Key Uses
- CIP / Bank Secrecy Act / USA Patriot Act Compliance
- Fact Act – Red Flag Compliance
- New Account Fraud Strategy
- Automated Customer Due Diligence
Industries Served: Banking/Deposits, Lending, Ecommerce, Health Care


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Tony Nachampasack
Related posts
13 Comments
Helen Yu
I like this video! Not only because Tony did a great job on telling us what video communication is all about, but also because I could see Celanese employees in different sites, events, functions, regions…I got a feeling by just watching the video that we are truly a big global company, but on the other hand I feel we are a small cozy community that everybody can connect to each other in some way. Good job, Tony!
Mark Oberle
Great job – this really highlights the "new thoughts" that are going into the communications process to help share the CE story with a broad group – internal and external.
Frenze Taut
This is great! I hope to see a lot more of those cool videos!
Teresa Smith
Thanks for pulling us all together and connecting us across the world through video.
Margie Dolch
Well done! Video is an effective and positive addition to the way we globally communicate. Thanks for sharing your story.
Dana Smith
Really enjoyed watching this video! I am happy that Celanese is using video more and more now to communicate with employees. It helps paint a clear picture and adds a personal touch. Keep them coming!
Petra Czugler
Great piece of work Tony, very nicely done! It"s awesome that we use more and more videos to communicate internally as well as externally. I can"t wait for the next surprise coming from your desk 🙂
Liana Scott
I really enjoyed the video and seeing our colleagues globally in various activities. It shows our diversity and community.,,with a personal relaxed approach. Glad to know I don"t need fancy equipment to shoot video!
Jason Estes
The 2:48 mark is pure video glory. Nice job on the video Tony, I was glad to be your guinea pig.
Travis Jacobsen
Nice job Tony. Great look into the life of our favorite video producer.
Patrick B.
Nice job Tony! Really enjoyed the video, and the music got my toe tappin".
gloria athanis
Go Tony! …nice work 🙂
Maria Ciliberti
Nice video! Shows that there is a lot of thought to the process of making a video. And the use of videos is great, especially when someone was not in person for an event and yet feels like they are a part of it after watching a video! Super work, Tony!
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| You scored as Engineer. Military Engineer. Your job is usually overlooked, but without you nothing gets done. While you sometimes annoyed at this, and you know the only time people come to you is when there's something wrong. You understand that you are the heart and soul of any organization with honesty and nice work ethic to boot.
"I need more Duct Tape!!!"
Which soldier type are you?
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text: nathanleslie 19 Report post Posted October 12, 2016 Just brought my first Broodmare with colt foal at foot by Shamoline Warrior Mares name is Endless Gossip. Not sure on a Stallion to send her too.Any Help would be Appreciated . Dont Have a Large Budget . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Man & Machine, Inc., ("MMIâ€) an international provider of cutting-edge computer accessories, introduces the "CoolMIRâ€, the only secure direct-wired external keyboard for Research in Motion's BlackBerry Handheld Personal Digital Assistant.
The CoolMIR is a sleek, flexible, compact, water-resistant keyboard that permits such fast and accurate typing on the BlackBerry that long documents and emails are easily accomplished and a laptop is no longer crucial. The CoolMIR offers road warriors, even those adept at thumbing BlackBerry entries, a lightningquick way to maximize user time. A lightweight travel companion, this portable keyboard is compatible with most BlackBerry models through the BlackBerry's USB port for secure, confidential typing. Complete with familiar BlackBerry icon application keys, the flexible 10″ standard layout keyboard rolls up to fit in a pocket, rolls out to fit on an airplane tray. Its rugged construction, designed to withstand spills, can be washed clean with soap and water. A rechargeable battery delivers 15 hours of continuous usage.
"No one will benefit more from the CoolMIR than the Professional Road Warrior" says Clifton Broumand, MMI's lighthearted founder and CEO, who bills himself as the company's "Big Cheese." "Business executives who spend a lot of time away from their office are our number one market."
Assembled in the U.S., the CoolMIR keyboard has been years in the making. This ideal companion to the BlackBerry has excellent tactile feedback for comfort and accuracy. It also features noise-free keys. The CoolMIR is available in the U.S. and Europe. It comes with a one year replacement warranty. The CoolMIR keyboard has a list price of $189. and is available for immediate sale on the company's website, http://www.man-machine.com.


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Home > Oxfordshire > East Challow
Lost Pubs In
East Challow, Oxfordshire
Coach & Horses
Do you have any anecdotes, historical information, updates or photographs of closed or lost pubs in
East Challow? Become a contributor and submit them here.Like this site? Recommend us via the social networking share button on the left hand side of the page, or follow us on


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We are delighted to announce the addition of Colin Williams to our Midlands Team.
Colin joins our Midlands Team which is now four strong as Business Development Manager, and comes with fantastic credentials and is very well known and respected within our industry.
Take a look at Colin's Profile Below
2003 – 2004 – Commercial Director, Personal Support Services
2004 – 2011 – Managing Director, Movement 2 Ltd
2011 2015 – Training Manager, Prism Medical Ltd
We all look forward to working with Colin


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Water Heater Repair in Kansas City
Prompt Service for Water Heater Issues
If you notice problems with your hot water, it may be time to have your water heater repaired or replaced. The professionals at A-1 Sewer & Septic Service are trained to resolve both traditional and tankless water heater issues. Ample hot water is vital to our daily lives which is why A-1 strives to provide prompt service to restore your hot water.
Signs Your Water Heater Needs Serviced
If you notice any of the following signs in your home or business, it may be time to call for service on your water heater:
- Inadequate hot water supply
- Leaks from the water heater
- Noises coming from the water heater
- Discolored water
- Bad odor from faucets, tub spouts or showerheads
- Mineral deposits/corrosion on fittings above the water heater
If you notice any of these issues and have an electric water heater, it would be best to turn the unit off until repairs are made. You can turn off the unit directly or by accessing the electric breaker panel, which can prevent further damage to your unit.


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According to X17 (via Celebuzz), Lindsay Lohan just might have a new fella in her life!
Meet 21-year-old Henry Hopper. He just finished shooting a movie called Tar. He is French Stewart's stepson. And! He is Dennis Hopper's son. I know!
Unfortunately, Lindsay claims there is no truth to the rumor they are an item. Furthermore, she would prefer that I not re-report that a liquor store clerk TOTALLY saw her kissing Henry Hopper.
Lindsay acknowledges she was at the party at the Chateau Marmont—where she's living since moving out of her beach house—in Hollywood Sunday night.
However, she insists she was sitting with Alan Cummings the whole time and only drank water. As for Henry Hopper, she says the two are just friends.
Lohan is pissed over reports about a recent gas station makeout session with Dennis Hopper's son, where she allegedly purchased Red Bull and vodka.
Sources close to LiLo say the only items she bought that day were soda, chips, and cigarettes, and that she and Henry have never once hooked up.
See, I would love for this to be true, actually. I think Lindsay has done herself a real disservice by running with an older crowd. Maybe she needs a nice young dude in her life.
(Image gallery via Celebuzz.)


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During the Golden Age of movies, Clark Gable was the biggest movie star in the world. In the 1980s, without a doubt, the star of the Golden Age of Video Games was Mario. Is is just coincidence that two charming, mustached leading men helped usher their craft to a new level? Maybe.
Real ladies men: dashing, charismatic and hopping from place to place in search of a girl.
Most hardcore videogamers agree that the Golden Age of Video Games existed in the 1980s. If you disagree, remember this was an age of emerging technology. Games had just evolved from squares and bleeps. Programmers were actually learning how to make video arcades do amazing things. Mall-based and stand-alone arcades were pilgrimages that required rolls of quarters and entire Friday nights. This was the first generation of video-game consoles, when Mario and his 80s pals dominated arcades and home televisions. Characters like Pac-Man and Q*bert. Don't remember them? It's okay; we do:
Centipede (1980)
"You can't hide! I'm coming to get you!"
Players used a roller-ball controller. The distinctive sound of the game's centipede sprinting across the screen could be picked out of an arcade full of noise.
Frogger (1981)
"Go Froggy, go, you got to keep hoppin' til you get to the top!"
The frog that became an arcade icon. The goal of Frogger was simple: guide the frog across a busy street and river. The game even inspired a classic episode of Seinfeld.
Galaga (1981)
History in the making: The shooter that stole a million quarters.
The sequel shooter to the arcade dud Galaxian. Challenging stages and tractor beams make this classic still one of the most popular classic arcade game on console services like Xbox Live.
Tron (1982)
The lightcycles were controlled with a glowing joystick.
Based on the Disney movie of the same name, this game was like Star Wars, because it was one of the first video games to truly transport you into the world of the film. Playing a random round of lightcycles made gamers feel directly connected with the very pixels they controlled.
Burgertime (1982)
Sure, it looks simple. That's part of the problem.
The goal: make hamburgers by climbing a multi-leveled playfield. Gamers would walk over sandwich ingredients, dropping them in order to build a burger and (at the same time) avoid getting destroyed by the dreaded pickle, hot dog or eggs. This game devoured quarters.
Super Mario Bros. (1985)
"He's on fire!" Boy, was he ever! Mario has sold more video games than anybody.
Like Gable was the grand marshall of his industry for a time, Mario was the ambassador for his, too – and the Nintendo Entertainment System. Mario also did a short stretch as an arcade hero. This isn't a full list, of course, but a partial list of stand-outs. We left out Mappy, Donkey Kong, Pole Position and so many more. What video-game developer made your favorite game from the Golden Age of Video Games?
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When Activision and Infinity Ward released the reveal trailer for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, it took just two weeks for the trailer to become the second most disliked video in YouTube history. Justin Bieber's music video for "Baby" remains the top most disliked video ever. Infinite Warfare's reveal trailer, however, has an 85% dislike percentage compared to Bieber's 56%. I'm pretty certain that the game's trailer got so much flak because it revealed Modern Warfare Remastered as an exclusive extra to the more expensive Legacy Edition. Whether it was gating a remaster of a beloved classic, or the radical new direction that Infinity Ward was taking Call of Duty that was responsible for the vehement loathing is up for debate. A cursory glance at the video's comments would seem to indicate the latter.
Every time I sit down to begin reviewing a video game, I have a notebook and pen with me that I use to jot down thoughts and opinions as they formulate during my play through. The notes become the skeleton of the review and generally reflect my final opinion way before I've even started typing. If one takes the YouTube reveal trailer backlash into consideration, then my notes for Infinite Warfare appear to be for a completely different game. Nearly every single note that I took for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare reflects overwhelming positivity; for the campaign at least.
I am by no means a Call of Duty devotee. I've played the vast majority of them and I've mostly enjoyed their over-the-top, military blockbuster campaigns. I do not, however, eagerly anticipate the next title and I certainly don't rush out to buy the latest iteration on day one. Still, I do have a sincere respect for the franchise. Call of Duty is practically synonymous with video games. It is so deeply entrenched into gaming culture that it almost seems impossible to think that there are video game players out there who haven't played at least one of the games in the series.
Infinite Warfare's campaign is superb. It is, however, undoubtedly a Call of Duty campaign with all the grandeur and whizz-pow that can possibly be mustered. In that regard, the Call of Duty campaigns haven't changed much. Every year since 2005 the series' campaigns have been flashing, neon-lit marks on the industry's release schedules. They're safe bets treading the same narrative beats and set piece destruction that keeps people coming back again and again. By this stage in the franchise's lifespan, the Call of Duty campaigns are highly polished, super-slick experiences, and Infinite Warfare's is no exception. For me personally, however, I found Infinite Warfare's to be the most memorable campaign in years but that's very much thanks to the fact that I'm a bit of a sci-fi dork. While Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare flirted with science fiction themes, Infinite Warfare is full-on sci-fi complete with space combat, multiple planets, and wisecracking robotic squad mates.
You play as Commander Nick Reyes, a pilot in the Special Combat Air Recon division of the Solar Associated Treaty Organization (SATO). We're far enough into the future that Earth's resources are depleted, which means most of what the planet needs comes from mining colonies on asteroids and planets across our solar system. Earth is held together by the United Nations Space Alliance, and SATO defends Earth. But, the hostile faction known as the Settlement Defense Front (SDF) declares war on SATO and invades Earth. The SDF is led by Salen Kotch, who is voiced and mo-capped by Kit "You Know Nothing Jon Snow" Harington.
The plot is rather straight forward and nothing too inspiring, but it's bolstered by science fiction themes that definitely bring a breath of fresh air to the Call of Duty franchise. Reyes falls into the "strong, serious silent-type" cliché insofar as playable characters go, but he does show some growth towards the end as he has to put aside long-time belief systems in favour of literally saving the planet. Joining Reyes is his wingman Nora Salter, who is a fantastic, strong female character who never slips into typical female sidekick roles. By far the most memorable and enjoyable character, however, is the robot squad mate E3N, or "Ethan". I was really quite impressed by how much detail had been added to the game's cast. For the first time in a Call of Duty game I found myself genuinely liking the characters that were appearing onscreen. It's not surprising seeing as Naughty Dog's narrative design lead Taylor Kurosaki joined Infinity Ward as the studio's narrative director in 2014.
Very early on in the game, Reyes finds himself getting promoted to captain of a warship called The Retribution. The ship becomes a hub world of sorts that you can walk around between missions. It's a nice touch having little details and passing conversations change as you return from each mission; crew will say new things or maybe comment on the job you've just completed. The Retribution feels alive with constant activity and incredible details. I enjoyed ambling around the interior, and in a lot of ways it reminded me of walking around The Normandy in Mass Effect, just without dialogue trees and alien sex.
Another nice feature of The Retribution hub world is that you get to pick which mission you want to undertake next. There are a handful of optional side missions to do that are either space combat missions or traditional, FPS-based missions. The side missions often appear pretty dull when reading the preamble, but they always satisfy as they follow the traditional Call of Duty mantra of "more explosions more often".
Space combat is, unsurprisingly, new to the series, and it's a lot of fun. While you are flying through space and shooting down enemy spaceships, this is definitely not a space simulator. If you're worried that Infinity Ward got too much Elite: Dangerous or Star Citizen in your CoD then stop worrying: this is as close to a realistic space sim as Call of Duty is as close to a realistic military simulator. Which is to say, not at all.
The space combat is not on-rails, so you're free to fly around combat zones and pick the targets you want to blow up. Once you've locked onto an enemy however, the game takes over piloting your ship for you allowing you to concentrate on shooting the target, so there are some on-rails elements at times. Naturally you get to outfit your Jackal (the spaceships you're flying) with various weapons and improvements, and you get to unlock different decals to decorate your ship.
While you do get a spaceship to play with, there's also a ton of really fun science fiction weapons to unlock and use. I particularly loved the Seeker Grenades, which are basically little four-legged robots packed with explosives that scurry across the battlefield to jump onto and hug the nearest bad guy they can find. Panic generally ensues, as does a red mist. While the vast majority of the game's guns are grounded in some form of reality, you do find the occasional limited use weapon that's firmly rooted in science fiction; like the gun that vaporises people.
I thoroughly enjoyed Infinite Warfare's campaign; it's without a doubt my favourite CoD campaign to date but I will admit that that's because I love my science fiction. I loved having to take off and land my Jackal at the beginning and end of each space combat mission; I loved all the dorky science fiction tech chatter about making drops in and out of hyperspace travel; I loved having a robot teammate who got a kick out of teasing humans who were upset that they were on a team with an AI; I loved that while the enemy was trying to kill you in space, so too was space trying to kill you with its vacuum, freezing temperatures and lack of oxygen. Infinite Warfare offers such a refreshing Call of Duty campaign and definitely one that I needed to get me to pay attention to the series once again.
The multiplayer component for Infinite Warfare remains as competitive and violently unforgiving as it has in previous iterations of the franchise. Naturally the game's single-player additions to gameplay and aesthetics make it across to the multiplayer elements, so expect wall-running, some neat sci-fi weaponry, and robotic playable characters. Not much else has really changed though with the exception of being made to choose a Rig (read: your specialist role of either fast melee, general machine gunner solider type, heavy weaponry support bloke, and so on). Each Rig gets a unique power-up that you can activate once you've murdered enough enemy forces.
Supply Drops are back, CoD Points are back (gross), and empty lobbies are back. There are 10 game modes to play, but just as I moaned about in my Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare review, good luck finding a game for any game type other than Team Deathmatch. All I want to do is play some Hardpoint; why doesn't anyone want to play Hardpoint with me?
I get that multiplayer is the be all and end all of CoD for the vast majority of the series' fanbase, but the entire experience has become embarrassingly bloated, inaccessible and overly convoluted in its quest to iterate and remain fresh. The years and years of "HOT NEW FEATURES" have piled up, resulting in something that's borderline terrifying for somebody who hasn't picked up at least the last three to four iterations of CoD multiplayer. There's too much to keep track of: CoD Points, Supply Drops, weapon rarity, seven billion different unlocks, load outs, load out slots, specialist customisations, Pick 10 systems (or however many we're picking for this year), levelling up your mission team, multiplayer challenges, the list just goes on and on. The endless quest to keep things fresh has left us with a multiplayer helping that's totally overloaded. It's like trying to cram every item of food at a buffet onto a small side plate: you're theoretically getting your money's worth, but you're eating a total mess.
The Zombies component has benefitted by some severe colour pallete saturation and some genuinely funny playable characters. It's hair-teasingly 80s, and it has an unlockable David Hasselhoff. Plus there are zombie clowns, and it's all set in a retro space-themed amusement park that's also weirdly the set for some oddball horror movie director that's kind of making a movie but also kind of just using it as an excuse to watch you get murdered by the undead. Basically, it's weird as hell, but in a good way, especially because you can slaughter endless ranks of zombies while Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Relax" plays in the background.
I've always loved this mode and I continue to love this mode. It's definitely more fun playing online with a group of good friends, as I found I just ended up pissing off online strangers when I joined their games, because I wasn't following whatever well-thought-out plan they'd formulated for surviving all the waves of zombies. Or maybe I'm just really, really bad at this? It's probably that.


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Just when we thought it was safe to turn the television back on, Bieber`s back if your on twitter then you have already heard, its official guys Justin Bieber has been chosen to be Calvin Kline new pants man, its ironic as his songs are pants any way, It's for Calvin Kline spring & summer collection, all I can say thank you for ruining my summer, yes there will be pictures of Mr Bieber strutting his package on billboards, the shoot was shot in New York, It was done in true Calvin Kline style black & white glossy pictures, it was done by Mert Alas if you know this guy take him off your Christmas list this year.
Yes Summer 2015 has been cancelled
There is an up side to this story, they did decide to cast some one else with Mr Bieber, yes we have Dutch Model Lara Stone, they are shot together in certain positions we will say no more wearing certain pieces from Calvin Kline denim & underwear collection, but most of the pictures are of Mr Bieber strutting his package & wash board abs, "only if every man looked like that", so good news for die-hard Bieber fans, not so good for the people who were looking forward to a great summer, any way if your after some nice underwear the Calvin Kline SS15 will be out soon , lets hope Mr Bieber does not release his pants song Baby feat then it will be a very pants SS15.
Lara Stone in Calvin Kline denim collection for SS15
Mr Bieber Looking a prized "package" in Calvin Kline SS15 underwear collection
I would like to apologise if I have caused you to spill your coffee or shout out certain words that you would normally used in the men`s locker room, Calvin Kline is a iconic brand & their style is truly amazing putting Mr Bieber to one side.
Bob Redfern


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Someone once said (to me) that they crave monotony and so they would hate to do what we are doing. This has played on my mind a bit, and led me on to thinking about contentment.
On the spectrum of monotony vs novelty (I spent some time wondering what the opposite of monotony was. This is my best guess so far.) I reckon I fall on the side of novelty, but not near the extreme end. Change can be good, it can be fun to try new things. But if life is in a comfortable place it can be a change for the worse. Hard to know until the change happens. I would say, I like my novelty in bite sizes portions. When we discovered we were having Birch we both thought of all the changes this would bring, including moving house. It was much more manageable in terms of brain power to decide to manage one change at a time. Turns out we were right about all the changes that would follow, but one at a time is enough.
It is probably a good thing that Ben loves novelty and change. When I told him about the monotony conversation he was pretty much aghast. Crave stability, certainty, consistency, but not monotony! Another word for boring. Music without tune or harmony. Not really music at all.
I think what change brings, and what not changing protects against, is not knowing how you're going to get through the day. One of the biggest challenges when I had Red as a new baby was not knowing when he would sleep (not really ever), when it would be possible to both boil a kettle and drink a cup of tea. There was nothing predictable in our day so it was really hard to pace myself, navigate a route from beginning to end. Before a big change, it's a bit the same, you don't know the shape of your day so it's hard to envisage getting safely through it. However, since having Red we have moved house four times so far. What you learn is that there is no escaping monotony. There's no running away from it. Whatever place you're in, there will be the same jobs to do, the same routine. It takes a few weeks of heavy sat nav use to find your way around and then the roads are familiar, the coffee tastes the same.
There is importance in noticing these things. If we were doing this to escape monotony we will fail to escape. If we think this path in and of itself leads to contentment we will find we are wrong. This is excellent news. Contentment is a decision which can be taken at any point. We don't need to finish in order to get there. If we wait until then, it will elude us. If we can achieve it now, it will travel the road with us.
For contentment to travel at our side we need to accept the monotonous and provide the harmony for ourselves. This is something Ben is really great at. It is something to strive for and to enjoy as a choice.


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Carahsoft, in conjunction with its vendor partners, sponsors hundreds of events each year, ranging from webcasts and tradeshows to executive roundtables and technology forums.
Eclipse Foundation | Red Hat Open Source Developer Webinar
The Eclipse Foundation - the steward of the Eclipse IDE platform, and Red Hat, Inc. - the leading fully open source enterprise software company, partnered together to host this webcast.
The Eclipse Foundation presented:
Red Hat presented:
Fill out the form below to view this archived event.


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- Click on Documents on the left pane then on Line Diagram to view an auto-generated electrical single line diagram.
- Move any piece of equipment freely by clicking and dragging
- Right click on components to adjust settings
- Use the feature buttons on the right side to:
- Run the grounding algorithm for EGC/GEC.
- Add elements: text box, rectangle, or line.
- Take a screen shot or download a .dxf file.
Right click on a text box to change its properties.


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"It's time to get OUT!" screams the Reelout Queer Film Festival.
In its 18th installment, the festival brought nothing short of groundbreaking films to the Kingston community last week.
Originally established in 2000 by OPIRG, Reelout is a collective arts project that seeks to celebrate gender and sexual diversity in Kingston.
This year's lineup hosted a wide array of genres from comedy to romance, and filmmakers from a variety of backgrounds, giving the festival an in-depth and intersectional approach to diversity.
We reviewed a couple of films and shorts from the festival, some of which made us laugh, while others made us cry. Nevertheless, the films left us with a unique perspective into these LGBTQ+ communities.
Read the reviews at www.qjlongform.com
When commenting, be considerate and respectful of writers and fellow commenters. Try to stay on topic. Spam and comments that are hateful or discriminatory will be deleted. Our full commenting policy can be read here.


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Pastor Sirhamza is a born again child of God; accepted the Lord whilst he was drunk, asleep, mid-night and his life was changed.
Mpilo Tholuvuyo Sirhamza, born on June 20, 1975 in Bizana, Eastern Cape. He served within the Baptist church and grew there as his home church. By the time he was serving within the Baptist church, the Lord used him in a very powerful way in changing people's lives in deliverence, healing, building broken families.
As a gifted child of God it was clear to him that his gift can not be limited in one place, so he had to start what God had laid in him, so he left the Baptist church.
He is a pastor, mentor, leader and a visionary man. God's vision in him is growing in an amazing way and he has a great impact in Queenstown where he started the ministry, Christ the Rock Ministries. He is so humble with a Christ like character, and God is raising him up to become one of the strongest moral men. He is known as a friendly man to people, filled with God's love, lovely to all age groups of people.
He has a heart to win the souls for Christ, and has become the spiritual father to many people who are not born again. He also has a heart to see people progressing in their lives when they are in Christ.
He is happily married to his lovely wife and co-pastor, Wendy Sirhamza, and they are blessed with two Kids, Linamandla and Lidwala Sirhamza.
Co-Pastor Wendy
Born in Keiskammahoek, Rabula location. Her development years revealed a love for the things of God and the ability to excel in academics.
Wendy grew up at Sunday school and accepted Jesus Christ as a saviour of her life while she was a teenager, and her spiritual foundation was developed and fortified under the watchful eye of her pastor, the late Bulldozer Evangelist Pastor David Mantsanga at Gilead Baptist church.
In her youth she was crazy in love with Jesus, and living a holy life in her youth days in fullness with Christ and God blessed her with a charismatic, apostolic God fearing husband, Pastor Mpilo Tholuvuyo Sirhamza. They are blessed with a son Linamandla and a daughter Lidwala.
They are the founders of Christ the Rock Ministries, and their ministry has been both challenging and rewarding.


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HÀ NỘI — Argentina's U20 squad will play two friendly matches in Việt Nam next month, Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) general secretary Lê Hoài Anh confirmed yesterday at a press briefing in Hà Nội.
The former world champions will take on the host's U20 team on May 10 at HCM City's Thống Nhất Stadium and the U22 side at Hà Nội's Mỹ Đình Stadium four days later.
These games will serve as warm-up matches for all three teams, as the first two are going to compete at the FIFA U20 World Cup in South Korea next month and the latter one will play the Asian U23 Championship's qualifier at home in July and the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia in August.
Following the list sent to VFF, all 21 Argentinean players under coach Diego Romagnoli who will participate in the Korean event will arrive in Việt Nam on May 8.
"They are the best Argentina has at present. A match against them will be a huge test for Việt Nam prior to the World Cup, a competition that we have reached for the first time in history," Anh said.
"We hope to play good matches so that Việt Nam becomes a destination for international teams in the future," he added.
Among the visiting players, the most wanted is undoubtedly 20-year-old Ezequiel Ponce, who is competing for Spanish La Liga's Granada FC.
Ponce made a huge bang in the transfer market with the announcement of his signing with Italian Serie A's Roma FC from local Newell's Old Boys for a fee of 4.2 million euros (US$4.5 million) in 2015.
In his first season with Roma, he played in the youth squad, winning the title of the youth league and scoring nine goals in 10 matches.
He is now on loan contract to Granada for one year.
Lucas Rodriguez is another player to watch.
The 19-year-old, playing for Estudiantes de La Plata FC, is known for his skillful technique, such as dribbling, through ball and defensive contribution. He has a keen sense of the competition and often scores as a midfielder.
Marcelo Torres, a Boca Juniors player, is a sharp striker. He has scored seven goals in nine matches for Argentina during the World Cup qualifier.
Argentina are considered a powerhouse in the world -- not just the senior team, but also the youth squad.
They have taken part in 14 U20 World Cups since 1979 and brought home six trophies.
Through these competitions, many legends have been discovered, such as Diego Maradona (Most Valuable Player of the 1979 World Cup), Javier Saviola (MVP and best scorer of the 2001 Cup), Lionel Messi (MVP and best scorer of the 2005 Cup) and Sergio Aguero (MVP and best scorer of the 2007 Cup).
On the host side, Việt Nam's U20 team are undergoing their two-week training course in Germany where they will also play matches with local clubs' youth squads. They will return home next week.
The U22 team will gather on May 3. They will have 10 days to prepare for the friendly match.
Information of the live broadcast and ticket prices will be announced at a later date. — VNS


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Essence Digital Audio Amplifiers For Hi Res Playback
Of all the components in an audiophile system, the amplifiers draw the most electricity and cost the most to use. Class A amps are always running at full power, drawing 4 times their rated power to reach spec. That means a Class A solid state or vacuum tube amp rated at 100 watts per channel will draw 800 watts continuously, dissipating 600 of those watts as heat. Class A tube amps are the least efficient amps on the market and deserve careful thought before purchase, those 800 watts can cost about $75 per month on your electric bill. Do they sound better than other types of amps? Some audiophiles think so but when we compare the total harmonic distortion between a tube amp and one of the new Essence™ digital amps, the Essence distortion spec is 1000 times lower and they are much less expensive to operate.
In the 1960's, engineers pioneered the first solid state amps for hi fi applications, known as Class AB. These amps are 50% efficient, meaning half their output power is dissipated as heat and 50% is turned into watts to drive your speakers. Instead of being on at full power all the time like the Class A types, the Class AB amps are switching their transistors on and off to increase efficiency and lower distortion. If you have a Class AB amp rated at 200 watts x 2, it takes 800 watts of utility power to meet spec. When not in use, even if they're on, they consume no power at all, lowering the power bill per month for just the amp to between $25 and $50, depending on how much its used.
Class AB amps are materials intensive, they require a large chassis with plenty of heat sink and fan cooling, one reason for their high cost is the packaging to make them work. All that weight adds to the freight costs that increase the carbon costs too.
Now we have the next generation of amps, called Class D, which some people think stands for "digital". Its a convenient way to think about how Class D amps work, they certainly are not analog, they use Pulse Width Modulation method to amplify analog signals, faster than any other type of amplifier now on the market. These are the first amplifiers that increase efficiency to 90%, meaning only 10% is wasted. These are the least expensive to operate ($10 per month) and you get a lot more power for your money at a much lower level of distortion. Because they are efficient, they run cool and dont need huge heat sinks or fans, their chassis can be much smaller and lighter, lowering the production cost.
They also have the lowest distortion (typically .002%) in audio history and are completely silent, two features audiophiles hold dear. As an analogy, Class AB amps are like the incandescent light bulb, Class D amps are like LED lights. Due to climate change and global warming, everybody, including audiophiles, needs to reconsider the use of in-efficient, high carbon cost power amps. Modern thinking people wont hesitate to upgrade to digital amplification; its cheaper, cleaner, and eco-friendly.
Essence™ has a digital amp in production now, shipping in September. Preliminary specs are 125 watts x 2 into 8 ohms, 250 x 2 into 4 ohms, and 500 watts bridged for mono into a 8 ohm load. THD is rated at not more than .02% from 20 Hz to 20 KHz and is down to .003% across most of the audible band. Separate gain controls are provided for each channel along with balanced XLR inputs and single-ended RCAs. Deluxe 5-way binding posts connect the amp to your speakers.
Essence™ is committed to an all digital system architecture for hi res playback. The amps join the our 24/192K HDACC Preamp and Essence Electrostatic speakers to form a digital playback system that according to Wikipedia will reproduce hi res content that's 200-300% cleaner than conventional speakers, with superior stereo imaging, clarity, and resolution. Live your life in Hi Res with Essence™, nothing makes more sense now.
As Robert Harley concluded in his Absolute Sound report on Class D amps "certain sonic qualities — dynamics, bottom-end weight and control, transparency — seem to come much more easily to Class D than to linear designs. This is somewhat true in an absolute sense, but startlingly so when Class D amplifiers are compared to similarly priced linear models. At a given price level, Class D outperforms conventional designs in some performance parameters.


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Promises gush, but fountain repairs a trickle
BRIDGEPORT -- School bells started ringing this week, but the damaged Nathaniel Wheeler Memorial Fountain, fashioned by the famed sculptor of Mount Rushmore, continues to deteriorate -- despite a mayoral promise months ago.
"The fountain is going to be beautiful once again. By the time the school bells are ringing in the fall, the water will be trickling in the fountain once again," Mayor Bill Finch declared in May at a rally organized by the West Side/West End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone.
The announcement came moments after members of the NRZ handed Finch a petition signed by 700 people demanding the city restore the long-neglected fountain. The rally was held at St. John's Episcopal Church, across from the busy downtown intersection where the historic fountain sits at the center of Park Avenue, John Street and Fairfield Avenue.
Neighborhood residents expressed disappointment this week at the continued state of disrepair of the 97-year-old fountain, which was assembled and erected in 1912 by Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of the iconic Mount Rushmore monument in South Dakota.
"I think we are somewhat frustrated as an NRZ because we've been meeting for three years and nothing has been done. However, we are supportive of the administration. We are walking that line," said Frank Borres, president of the West Side/West End NRZ.
"We are going to remind him (Finch) and we hope to hear from his office personally as to the status" of the fountain restoration, Borres added.
The fountain's three shell-shaped bowls -- one of which has been missing since February 2008, when a car rammed the monument -- were installed in a triangular formation around a 15-foot-tall sea nymph, which clutches an infant to her breast with one arm and holds a lighted torch with the other.
Finch's spokeswoman Elaine Ficarra blamed the delay on the lengthy request for proposal process. "The work on the fountain was put out to bid on July 6; bids were received on July 23, but were over budget, so a summary bid was sent out on July 28 and those bids were opened on Aug. 4," she wrote in an e-mail.
The city had estimated the fountain could be restored with just over $100,000 from city capital improvement funds.
Finch, in a statement prepared after the Connecticut Post asked about the lack of repairs, said: "We expect to be announcing the successful bid winner in a few days. The process has taken a bit longer than usual since we are trying to ensure that the fountain is restored to its original condition and grandeur. We anticipate starting work on the restoration by the end of September."
The Rev. Geoffrey Hahneman, rector at St. John's and vice president of the NRZ, said the group had tentatively planned an October celebration to rejoice in the fountain restoration. But, "if they have not started work on it by then, I think it could easily turn into a protest," he said.
The NRZ has also been waiting nearly two years for the city to install trash receptacles around the neighborhood.
"We can't be happy with the speed at which City Hall runs. It seems ludicrous. But we can't do it without the city," Borres said.


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Mt Manaslu is located in Manaslu region in Central Nepal and was opened to trekkers in 1991. But lots of mountaineering expedition teams had access for long time. In 1950 a group headed by H.W. Tilman trekked this area for the first time and ever since this area has been quite popular among tuff trekkers. This area is still restricted to a limited number of groups and only organized trekkers in groups can trek in this area. Manaslu region is very remote and rescue is very difficult. This is possible wilderness area to live leopard of snow. Yet the trek is geographically spectacular and culturally fascinating. Lots of people residing in this area especially in the upper Budi Gandaki (river) Valley are Tibetan.
Set in the northern Himalayan range in the Gorkha District of Nepal, Manaslu is a serrated "wall of snow and ice hanging in the sky". The three sides of the mountain fall in steps to terraces down below, which are sparsely inhabited with agricultural operations practiced on the land. Apart from climbing Manaslu, trekking is popular in this mountain region, as part of the Manaslu Circuit, a notable path by trekkers in Nepal.
Mt. Manaslu Expedition requires more time than other 8000m Peaks in Nepal due to long approach to reach to the base of the mountain. However, we can use a helicopter to make an expedition shorter. This Manaslu Expedition is one of the most dangerous mountain climbing activities and hence we suggest to choose this trip only by the experienced climbers.


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GetApp recently published its quarterly ranking of the top survey solutions on the market and we are delighted to announce that SmartSurvey is named in the Top 10 of the best survey tools available.
The ranking report aims to recognize the top solutions for SMBs and is based on five unique factors:
- Reviews
- Integrations
- Data security
- Mobile platforms
- Media presence.
There are more than 92 solutions listed on GetApp, so being recognized in the top 10 survey solutions is a huge achievement!
"SmartSurvey makes its debut at 9th place in GetApp's new Category Leader ranking for Survey software. Impressive scores of 14 for its reviews and 12 for its security features greatly contributed to its strong overall score of 39 points. An additional 9 points for its software integrations helped solidify SmartSurvey's place on the Survey leader board for this newly launched ranking," says GetApp researcher Suzie Blaszkiewicz.
GetApp's Category Leader rankings showcase the top cloud-based business apps for 27 different product categories, including survey solutions. Whether you are a first-time survey software user or a business looking to make the switch from one product to another, Category Leaders gives a comprehensive list of the top solutions using a unique, five-factor scoring methodology.
Each factor is worth a maximum of 20 points, for a total potential score out of 100.
- User reviews – based on the number, average rating, and recency of reviews.
- Integrations – based on native integrations listed on GetApp, the availability of an API, and Zapier integration.
- Mobile – based on the mobile responsiveness of its web app.
- Media Presence – based on the number of followers on Twitter and fans on Facebook.
- Security – based on a security survey developed by GetApp, modelled on the Cloud Security Alliance self-assessment form.
This scoring system ensures that the ranking is completely independent of any commercial relationship with software vendors.
Additional data for the Top 10 Survey Solutions
Starting in Q1 2017, GetApp added additional components to its scoring methodology to provide even more valuable data to the ranking.
- Reviews: Constant software updates mean that reviews don't have an infinite shelf life. The more recent product reviews are, the better the score will be.
- Integrations: A component to the scoring has been added giving weight to integration with popular integrations platform Zapier, as well as an additional point for having an open API.
- Mobile: Five points for software with a mobile compatible site has been added.
Using this list as a point of reference, software buyers and small business owners can get a good sense of the market landscape for whichever software they are looking for.
We are pleased to be named in the Top 10 Survey Solutions, thanks to the hard work of the whole team here at SmartSurvey. We are proud to help customers create cost-effective, professional online questionnaires with our easy-to-use survey software. Please contact us for any further information or to arrange a 14-day free trial.
Get started and create your first survey
Request a demo from one of our friendly team members or call us on 0800 0937 822.


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When I think of Spring produce, fresh asparagus, peas and lemons always come to mind. Add that with a pinch of dried tarragon, and you have a perfect risotto to welcome the warm weather with.
This vegan, gluten-free dish has only a slight after hint of lemon, so if you like it a little stronger, just add a little more of the juice. I would suggest adding both the tarragon and fresh squeezed lemon juice a little at a time to fit individual tastes. For example, I like it a little more lemony, but the rest of the family doesn't.
Serve with a light, refreshing glass of white wine.
Lemony Spring Vegetable Risotto With Tarragon
by Michelle Maskaly
1 pound asparagus
1 cup fresh peas
2 cloves garlic
1 small onion
1 small lemon, juiced
1 cup aborio rice
1 cup white wine
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cups vegetable broth {you might have a little leftover}
dried tarragon
Cut the tips off the asparagus and blanch them. Then, blanch the peas. Set both aside. {This link will show you how to blanch the asparagus)
Bring the vegetable broth to a boil and then lower to keep hot. Peel and chop the onions and garlic.
In a large pot, heat the olive oil, and then add the garlic and onions. Saute about a minute. Add in the rice, and stir until it's coated with oil and the onions and garlic.
Add in the wine, and mix on medium to high heat until it is mostly absorbed. Add the vegetable broth to the rice one or two ladles at a time, making sure you're continuously stirring the rice and broth mixture. When the rice absorbs the broth add another ladle of it. Continue until the rice is plump and soft, and the mixture has a creamy consistency. Remember the key to a good risotto is constant stirring!
Once the risotto is almost complete, add in the peas and asparagus. Gently stir. Add in the lemon juice and a small pinch of tarragon.