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Tenth of December
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NPR Summary
Syracuse University professor and one-time geological engineer George Saunders delivers a collection of fantastical stories, including "Home," a wryly whimsical account of a soldier's return from war; "Victory Lap," a tale about an inventive abduction attempt; and the title story, in which a suicidal cancer patient saves the life of a young misfit.
Awards and Recognition
12 weeks on NPR Paperback Fiction Bestseller List
17 weeks on NPR Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List
NPR stories about Tenth of December
Need A Read? Here Are Maureen Corrigan's Favorite Books Of 2013
Rachel Kushner
George Saunders On Absurdism And Ventriloquism In 'Tenth Of December'
George Saunders Lives Up To The Hype
Fresh Air
George Saunders Lives Up To The Hype
Note: Book excerpts are provided by the publisher and may contain language some find offensive.
Excerpt: Tenth Of December
TENTH of DECEMBER
The pale boy with unfortunate Prince Valiant bangs and cublike mannerisms hulked to the mudroom closet and requisitioned Dad's white coat. Then requisitioned the boots he'd spray-painted white. Painting the pellet gun white had been a no. That was a gift from Aunt Chloe. Every time she came over he had to haul it out so she could make a big stink about the wood grain.
Today's assignation: walk to pond, ascertain beaver dam. Likely he would be detained. By that species that lived amongst the old rock wall. They were small but, upon emerging, assumed certain proportions. And gave chase. This was just their methodology. His aplomb threw them loops. He knew that. And reveled in it. He would turn, level the pellet gun, intone: Are you aware of the usage of this human implement?
They were Netherworlders. Or Nethers. They had a strange bond with him. Sometimes for whole days he would just nurse their wounds. Occasionally, for a joke, he would shoot one in the butt as it fled. Who henceforth would limp for the rest of its days. Which could be as long as an additional nine million years.
Safe inside the rock wall, the shot one would go, Guys, look at my butt.
As a group, all would look at Gzeemon's butt, exchanging sullen glances of: Gzeemon shall indeed be limping for the next nine million years, poor bloke.
Because yes: Nethers tended to talk like that guy in Mary
Which naturally raised some mysteries as to their ultimate origin here on Earth.
Detaining him was problematic for the Nethers. He was wily. Plus could not fit through their rock-wall opening. When they tied him up and went inside to brew their special miniaturizing potion — Wham! — he would snap their antiquated rope with a move from his self-invented martial arts system, Toi Foi, a.k.a., Deadly Forearms. And place at their doorway an implacable rock of suffocation, trapping them inside.
Later, imagining them in their death throes, taking pity on them, he would come back, move the rock.
Blimey, one of them might say from withal. Thanks, guvnor. You are indeed a worthy adversary.
Sometimes there would be torture. They would make him lie on his back looking up at the racing clouds while they tortured him in ways he could actually take. They tended to leave his teeth alone. Which was lucky. He didn't even like to get a cleaning. They were dunderheads in that manner. They never messed with his peen and never messed with his fingernails. He'd just abide there, infuriating them with his snow angels. Sometimes, believing it their coup de grâce, not realizing he'd heard this since time in memorial from certain in-school cretins, they'd go, Wow, we didn't even know Robin could be a boy's name. And chortle their Nether laughs.
Today he had a feeling that the Nethers might kidnap Suzanne Bledsoe, the new girl in homeroom. She was from Montreal. He just loved the way she talked. So, apparently, did the Nethers, who planned to use her to repopulate their depleted numbers and bake various things they did not know how to bake.
All suited up now, NASA. Turning awkwardly to go out the door.
Affirmative. We have your coordinates. Be careful out there, Robin.
Whoa, cold, dang.
Duck thermometer read ten. And that was without wind- chill. That made it fun. That made it real. A green Nissan was parked where Poole dead-ended into the soccer field. Hopefully the owner was not some perv he would have to outwit.
Or a Nether in the human guise.
Bright, bright, blue and cold. Crunch went the snow as he crossed the soccer field. Why did cold such as this give a running guy a headache? Likely it was due to Prominent Wind-speed Velocity.
The path into the woods was as wide as one human. It seemed the Nether had indeed kidnapped Suzanne Bledsoe. Damn him! And his ilk. Judging by the single set of tracks, the Nether appeared to be carrying her. Foul cad. He'd better not be touching Suzanne inappropriately while carrying her. If so, Suzanne would no doubt be resisting with untamable fury.
This was concerning, this was very concerning.
When he caught up to them, he would say: Look, Suzanne, I know you don't know my name, having misaddressed me as Roger that time you asked me to scoot over, but nevertheless I must confess I feel there is something to us. Do you feel the same?
Suzanne had the most amazing brown eyes. They were wet now, with fear and sudden reality.
Stop talking to her, mate, the Nether said.
I won't, he said. And Suzanne? Even if you don't feel there is something to us, rest assured I will still slay this fellow and return you home. Where do you live again? Over in El Cirro? By the water tower? Those are some nice houses back there.
Yes, Suzanne said. We also have a pool. You should come over this summer. It's cool if you swim with your shirt on. And also, yes to there being something to us. You are by far the most insightful boy in our class. Even when I take into consideration the boys I knew in Montreal, I am just like: No one can compare.
Well, that's nice to hear, he said. Thank you for saying that. I know I'm not the thinnest.
The thing about girls? Suzanne said. Is we are more content-driven.
Will you two stop already? the Nether said. Because now is the time for your death. Deaths.
Well, now is certainly the time for somebody's death, Robin said.
The twerpy thing was, you never really got to save anyone. Last summer there'd been a dying raccoon out here. He'd thought of lugging it home so Mom could call the vet. But up close it was too scary. Raccoons being actually bigger than they appear in cartoons. And this one looked like a potential biter. So he ran home to get it some water at least. Upon his return, he saw where the raccoon had done some apparent last-minute thrashing. That was sad. He didn't do well with sad. There had perchance been some pre-weeping, by him, in the woods.
That just means you have a big heart, Suzanne said. Well, I don't know, he said modestly.
From Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders. Copyright 2013 by George Saunders. First published in the New Yorker and excerpted by permission of Random House, a division of Random House, Inc.
Excerpt: Tenth Of December
Tenth of December: Stories
Random HouseCopyright © 2013 George Saunders
All right reserved.
Three days shy of her fifteenth birthday, Alison Pope paused at the top of the stairs.
Say the staircase was marble. Say she descended and all heads turned. Where was {special one}? Approaching now, bowing slightly, he exclaimed, How can so much grace be contained in one small package? Oops. Had he said small package? And just stood there? Broad princelike face totally bland of expression? Poor thing! Sorry, no way, down he went, he was definitely not {special one}.
What about this guy, behind Mr. Small Package, standing near the home entertainment center? With a thick neck of farmer integrity yet tender ample lips, who, placing one hand on the small of her back, whispered, Dreadfully sorry you had to endure that bit about the small package just now. Let us go stand on the moon. Or, uh, in the moon. In the moonlight.
Had he said, Let us go stand on the moon? If so, she would have to be like, {eyebrows up}. And if no wry acknowledgment was forthcoming, be like, Uh, I am not exactly dressed for standing on the moon, which, as I understand it, is super-cold?
Come on, guys, she couldn't keep treading gracefully on this marble stairwell in her mind forever! That dear old white-hair in the tiara was getting all like, Why are those supposed princes making that darling girl march in place ad nausea? Plus she had a recital tonight and had to go fetch her tights from the dryer.
Egads! One found oneself still standing at the top of the stairs.
Do the thing where, facing upstairs, hand on railing, you hop down the stairs one at a time, which was getting a lot harder lately, due to, someone's feet were getting longer every day, seemed like.
Pas de chat, pas de chat.
Changement, changement.
Hop over thin metal thingie separating hallway tile from living-room rug.
Curtsy to self in entryway mirror.
Come on, Mom, get here. We do not wish to be castrigated by Ms. Callow again in the wings.
Although actually she loved Ms. C. So strict! Also loved the other girls in class. And the girls from school. Loved them. Everyone was so nice. Plus the boys at her school. Plus the teachers at her school. All of them were doing their best. Actually, she loved her whole town. That adorable grocer, spraying his lettuce! Pastor Carol, with her large comfortable butt! The chubby postman, gesticulating with his padded envelopes! It had once been a mill town. Wasn't that crazy? What did that even mean?
Also she loved her house. Across the creek was the Russian church. So ethnic! That onion dome had loomed in her window since her Pooh footie days. Also loved Gladsong Drive. Every house on Gladsong was a Corona del Mar. That was amazing! If you had a friend on Gladsong, you already knew where everything was in his or her home.
Jeté, jeté, rond de jambe.
Pas de bourrée.
On a happy whim, do front roll, hop to your feet, kiss the picture of Mom and Dad taken at Penney's back in the Stone Ages, when you were that little cutie right there {kiss} with a hair bow bigger than all outdoors.
Sometimes, feeling happy like this, she imagined a baby deer trembling in the woods.
Where's your mama, little guy?
I don't know, the deer said in the voice of Heather's little sister Becca.
Are you afraid? she asked it. Are you hungry? Do you want me to hold you?
Okay, the baby deer said.
Here came the hunter now, dragging the deer's mother by the antlers. Her guts were completely splayed. Jeez, that was nice! She covered the baby's eyes and was like, Don't you have anything better to do, dank hunter, than kill this baby's mom? You seem like a nice enough guy.
Is my mom killed? the baby said in Becca's voice.
No, no, she said. This gentleman was just leaving.
The hunter, captivated by her beauty, toffed or doffed his cap, and, going down on one knee, said, If I could will life back into this fawn, I would do so, in hopes you might defer one tender kiss upon our elderly forehead.
Go, she said. Only, for your task of penance, do not eat her. Lay her out in a field of clover, with roses strewn about her. And bestow a choir, to softly sing of her foul end.
Lay who out? the baby deer said.
No one, she said. Never mind. Stop asking so many questions.
Pas de chat, pas de chat.
Changement, changement.
She felt hopeful that {special one} would hail from far away. The local boys possessed a certain je ne sais quoi, which, tell the truth, she was not très crazy about, such as: actually named their own nuts. She had overheard that! And aspired to work for CountyPower because the work shirts were awesome and you got them free.
So ixnay on the local boys. A special ixnay on Matt Drey, owner of the largest mouth in the land. Kissing him last night at the pep rally had been like kissing an underpass. Scary! Kissing Matt was like suddenly this cow in a sweater is bearing down on you, who will not take no for an answer, and his huge cow head is being flooded by chemicals that are drowning out what little powers of reason Matt actually did have.
What she liked was being in charge of her. Her body, her mind. Her thoughts, her career, her future.
That was what she liked.
So be it.
We might have a slight snack.
Un petit repas.
Was she special? Did she consider herself special? Oh, gosh, she didn't know. In the history of the world, many had been more special than her. Helen Keller had been awesome; Mother Teresa was amazing; Mrs. Roosevelt was quite chipper in spite of her husband, who was handicapped, which, in addition, she had been gay, with those big old teeth, long before such time as being gay and First Lady was even conceptual. She, Alison, could not hope to compete in that category of those ladies. Not yet, anyway!
There was so much she didn't know! Like how to change the oil. Or even check the oil. How to open the hood. How to bake brownies. That was embarrassing, actually, being a girl and all. And what was a mortgage? Did it come with the house? When you breast-fed, did you have to like push the milk out?
Egads. Who was this wan figure, visible through the living-room window, trotting up Gladsong Drive? Kyle Boot, palest kid in all the land? Still dressed in his weird cross-country toggles?
Poor thing. He looked like a skeleton with a mullet. Were those cross-country shorts from the like Charlie's Angels days or quoi? How could he run so well when he seemed to have literally no muscles? Every day he ran home like this, shirtless with his backpack on, then hit the remote from down by the Fungs' and scooted into his garage without breaking stride.
You almost had to admire the poor goof.
They'd grown up together, been little beaners in that mutual sandbox down by the creek. Hadn't they bathed together when wee or some such crud? She hoped that never got out. Because in terms of friends, Kyle was basically down to Feddy Slavko, who walked leaning way backward and was always retrieving things from between his teeth, announcing the name of the retrieved thing in Greek, then re-eating it. Kyle's mom and dad didn't let him do squat. He had to call home if the movie in World Culture might show bare boobs. Each of the items in his lunch box was clearly labeled.
Pas de bourrée.
And curtsy.
Pour quantity of Cheez Doodles into compartmentalized old-school Tupperware dealie.
Thanks, Mom, thanks, Dad. Your kitchen rocks.
Shake Tupperware dealie back and forth like panning for gold, then offer to some imaginary poor gathered round.
Please enjoy. Is there anything else I can do for you folks?
You have already done enough, Alison, by even deigning to speak to us.
That is so not true! Don't you understand, all people deserve respect? Each of us is a rainbow.
Uh, really? Look at this big open sore on my poor shriveled flank.
Allow me to fetch you some Vaseline.
That would be much appreciated. This thing kills.
But as far as that rainbow idea? She believed that. People were amazing. Mom was awesome, Dad was awesome, her teachers worked so hard and had kids of their own, and some were even getting divorced, such as Mrs. Dees, but still always took time for their students. What she found especially inspiring about Mrs. Dees was that, even though Mr. Dees was cheating on Mrs. Dees with the lady who ran the bowling alley, Mrs. Dees was still teaching the best course ever in Ethics, posing such questions as: Can goodness win? Or do good people always get shafted, evil being more reckless? That last bit seemed to be Mrs. Dees taking a shot at the bowling-alley gal. But seriously! Is life fun or scary? Are people good or bad? On the one hand, that clip of those gauntish pale bodies being steamrolled while fat German ladies looked on chomping gum. On the other hand, sometimes rural folks, even if their particular farms were on hills, stayed up late filling sandbags.
In their straw poll she had voted for people being good and life being fun, with Mrs. Dees giving her a pitying glance as she stated her views: To do good, you just have to decide to do good. You have to be brave. You have to stand up for what's right. At that last, Mrs. Dees had made this kind of groan. Which was fine. Mrs. Dees had a lot of pain in her life, yet, interestingly? Still obviously found something fun about life and good about people, because otherwise why sometimes stay up so late grading you come in next day all exhausted, blouse on backward, having messed it up in the early-morning dark, you dear discombobulated thing?
Here came a knock on the door. Back door. In-ter-est-ing. Who could it be? Father Dmitri from across the way? UPS? FedEx? With un petit check pour Papa?
Jeté, jeté, rond de jambe.
Pas de bourrée.
Open door, and—
Here was a man she did not know. Quite huge fellow, in one of those meter-reader vests.
Something told her to step back in, slam the door. But that seemed rude.
Instead she froze, smiled, did {eyebrow raise} to indicate: May I help you?
Kyle Boot dashed through the garage, into the living area, where the big clocklike wooden indicator was set at All Out. Other choices included: Mom & Dad Out; Mom Out; Dad Out; Kyle Out; Mom & Kyle Out; Dad & Kyle Out; and All In.
Why did they even need All In? Wouldn't they know it when they were All In? Would he like to ask Dad that? Who, in his excellent totally silent downstairs woodshop, had designed and built the Family Status Indicator?
Ha ha.
On the kitchen island was a Work Notice.
Scout: New geode on deck. Place in yard per included drawing. No goofing. Rake areas first, put down plastic as I have shown you. Then lay in white rock. THIS GEODE EXPENSIVE. Pls take seriously. No reason this should not be done by time I get home. This = five (5) Work Points.
Gar, Dad, do you honestly feel it fair that I should have to slave in the yard until dark, after a rigorous cross-country practice that included sixteen 440s, eight 880s, a mile-for-time, a kajillion Drake sprints, and a five-mile Indian relay?
Shoes off, mister.
Yoinks, too late. He was already at the TV. And had left an incriminating trail of microclods. Way verboten. Could the microclods be hand-plucked? Although, problem: if he went back to hand-pluck the microclods, he'd leave an incriminating new trail of microclods.
He took off his shoes and stood mentally rehearsing a little show he liked to call what if . . . right now.
what if they came home right now?
It's a funny story, Dad! I came in thoughtlessly! Then realized what I'd done! I guess, when I think about it, what I'm happy about? Is how quickly I self-corrected! The reason I came in so thoughtlessly was, I wanted to get right to work, Dad, per your note!
He raced in his socks to the garage, threw his shoes into the garage, ran for the vacuum, vacuumed up the microclods, then realized, holy golly, he had thrown his shoes into the garage rather than placing them on the Shoe Sheet as required, toes facing away from the door for ease of donnage later.
He stepped into the garage, placed his shoes on the Shoe Sheet, stepped back inside.
Scout, Dad said in his head, has anyone ever told you that even the most neatly maintained garage is going to have some oil on its floor, which is now on your socks, being tracked all over the tan Berber?
Oh gar, his ass was grass.
But no—celebrate good times, come on—no oil stain on rug.
He tore off his socks. It was absolutely verboten for him to be in the main living area barefoot. Mom and Dad coming home to find him Tarzaning around like some sort of white trasher would not be the least fucking bit—
Swearing in your head? Dad said in his head. Step up, Scout, be a man. If you want to swear, swear aloud.
I don't want to swear aloud.
Then don't swear in your head.
Mom and Dad would be heartsick if they could hear the swearing he sometimes did in his head, such as crap-cunt shit-turd dick-in-the-ear butt-creamery. Why couldn't he stop doing that? They thought so highly of him, sending weekly braggy emails to both sets of grandparents, such as: Kyle's been super-busy keeping up his grades while running varsity cross-country though still a sophomore, while setting aside a little time each day to manufacture such humdingers as cunt-swoggle rear-fuck—
What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he be grateful for all that Mom and Dad did for him, instead of—
Cornhole the ear-cunt.
Flake-fuck the pale vestige with a proddering dick-knee.
You could always clear the mind with a hard pinch on your own minimal love handle.
Hey, today was Tuesday, a Major Treat day. The five (5) new Work Points for placing the geode, plus his existing two (2) Work Points, totaled seven (7) Work Points, which, added to his eight (8) accrued Usual Chore Points, made fifteen (15) Total Treat Points, which could garner him a Major Treat (for example, two handfuls of yogurt-covered raisins) plus twenty free-choice TV minutes, although the particular show would have to be negotiated with Dad at time of cash-in.
One thing you will not be watching, Scout, is America's Most Outspoken Dirt Bikers.


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Arsenal Leading The Race In Signing Liverpools Target Julian Draxler
Goonersden brings you news from top football news sites from the likes of ESPN, SkySport, Daily Mail, Daily Star and Metro… We also Analyse football, player, transfer and predict Arsenal starting line-up.
Unai Emery has talked up the quality of Julian Draxler to Paris St Germain, dealing Arsenal and Liverpool's hopes of signing the attacker a blow.
The German star had been universally considered surplus to requirements in the French side following the transfers of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar over the summer.
The Stories suggested head coach Unai Emery even told Draxler he had no future at the club. B
But, he's become frequently involved with the first team as the current campaign has progressed and put in some impressive performances.
Emery now claims Draxler, who only moved to Paris in January, is an essential footballer for the club. "He's in constant evolution, and he still has a lot of energy," – Emery told Sky Sports.
"At PSG, Draxler is in very good hands, he's a great contributor to our game, he's learning a lot. I talk to him a lot, and I'm very demanding with him, and he's one of those very ambitious players, and he shows that with good performances, also for the national team, and he's a very important player for us."
Premier League pair Arsenal and Liverpool have both been linked with Draxler, however, the possibilities of PSG after him to leave now seem remote.

subset: commoncrawl


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- My Rating: [A-], I gave it a (4.0 of 5) on Ratebeer.com
Dubaï Pillée (Extra Strong Invasive Beer, IIPA)- Le Trou du Diable, 9% ABV, 600ml., (Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada)
on the back label:
"In 1954, Dubai was invaded and looted of its alcohol by extraterrestrials. Unfortunately, very few realize that the stocks are constantly diminishing… Their return is imminent.
Thus, we present this offering consisting of a beer with a white, lasting head, from which emerge fine exotic bubbles filled with predominant aromas of mango, passion fruit and apricot. Initially fruity, this beer features a well rounded and smooth a palate, punctuated with an alcohol warmth and a pronounced bitterness, which are both engaging in an ultimate conflict, therefore convincing the sceptics [sic] that the Great Invasion is coming."
Ingredients: water, malted barley, hops, yeast.
- Style: Imperial India Pale Ale (IIPA)
- Taste: toffee malt sweet slight apricot heavy alcohol
- Where I got it : High Point / Vancouver
- How much: $8.90 (after 20% off) – 600ml., October 2016
- Do I love this enough to drink it again: no
- Would I recommend this to beer aficionados: not in particular
- What made an impression: overbearing alcohol
Visual: (Their own bottle for their brewery, raised lettering and devil on the bottom, odd size 600ml). (Cellared for 1 year). Pours rich golden orange with a fine 1mm lasting head, sticky lacing, very tight clustered micro active streams.
Nose: honey biscuity toffee barley malt, chamomile. (lvl-8)-pungency
Attack: soft crisp-thicker, heavy malt with alcohol impression
Mid-palate: honey toffee malt, (lvl-7-sweetness) with some alcoholic heat, chamomile, tangy apricot
Finish: woody honey exhale, residual malty bittersweet
Summary: Drinks good at 17.5°C. Good body and flavour, but the alcohol detection is on the invasive side, making it too heavy after multiple sips. Not quite as tropical as the description.


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HA NOI (VNS) — Belgian author Nicolas Ancion published a novel he wrote in under 24 hours in Vietnamese and French.
Titled "Un leger vent de panique" (A Slight Panic), the book tells the story of a Belgian man who runs a business in Ha Noi and falls in love with a Vietnamese woman.
Ancion, whose books for adults and children are popular in Belgium, finished a novel in 24 hours without any sleep twice before – in Brussels in 2010 and New York in 2013.
Last year Ancion visited Viet Nam and repeated the endeavour. He wrote for 12 hours in Ha Noi and 12 hours in HCM City. Translators Phung Hong Minh and Le Tuyet Nhung worked with the writer to translate the story into Vietnamese.
Ancion published the chapters online as he finished them. Thousands of Vietnamese and French-speaking readers around the world had the chance to follow the writing process as they read the updates.
Nhung said translating the book chapter by chapter was an interesting experience, thanks to the attractive content and author's humorous writing style.
"Translating at the same time with the author's writing process was a big challenge for me, but it also gave me an unforgettable memory," she said. "I laughed a lot during the translating progress, because Ancion writes about many interesting characters, inspired by Vietnamese people he met, including Dao, an officer of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation, my colleague.
"I found it amazing reading about a person I know described in a humorous fashion as a durian seller."
The writer and translators worked together for several months afterward to edit the story and release a final version.
The Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation presented the bilingual book, highlighting it as an example of cultural exchange between Viet Nam and Belgian, said Christian Bourgoignie, head of the delegation.
The story shows Ancion's humour and adventurous attitude, which he also expressed in his previous books.
"We don't want the story to end after 24 hours – we want the adventure to continue," Bourgoignie said. "Nowadays we talk much about cultural diversity and cultural exchange. By publishing this book in two languages, we honoured the two countries' cultural diversity."
The Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation in Ha Noi is offering the book for free. Anyone interested in owning it should contact the delegation. — VNS


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Robert Wagner to Blame For Death of Natalie Wood?by Free Britney at .
L.A. County Sherriff's Office investigators' decision to reopen the Natalie Wood case after three decades has raised suspicions of her husband, Robert Wagner.
The captain of the boat that Wood, a major movie star at the time, mysteriously vanished from in 1981 is now blaming veteran actor Wagner for her death.
The Tinseltown starlet died off of Santa Catalina Island in California after partying on a yacht one night with hubby Wagner and actor Christopher Walken.
At the time, police said Wood, 43, accidentally fell overboard and drowned. Now the boat's captain, Dennis Davern, is telling something of a different story.
On Today, Davern said Robert Wagner, now 81, asked him not to take steps to find his wife. It was a matter of "We're not going to look too hard," he said.
"We're not going to turn on the search light, we're not going to notify anybody right at the moment," said Davern, who admitted that he lied at the time.
"I made some terrible decisions and mistakes," he said. "I did lie on a report years ago. I made mistakes by not telling the honest truth in a police report."
Asked if Wagner was "responsible" for Wood's death, Davern said, "Yes I would say so." Lana Wood, Natalie Wood's sister, also spoke out about the case:Lana says she never believed Robert Wagner's version of the events that led to Natalie's death, and believes Robert wasn't honest with investigators.
She says she's not buying the original story that Natalie was trying to secure a dinghy and fell overboard because she was deathly afraid of water.
Natalie wouldn't even go in her own pool, according to her sister.
Lana Wood says Sheriff's detectives interviewed her and specifically wanted to know if the relationship between Natalie and Robert was "volatile."
And, Lana says, if Wagner or anyone else is found to be responsible for Natalie's death, they should be punished, despite the fact it's 30 years later.
Wood (1938-1981) and Wagner were married in 1957, divorced in 1962, then remarried in 1972. They have one daughter, Courtney, born in 1974.
Despite the accusations of the captain, it is not known specifically what caused officials to reopen the case, and Wagner has never been a suspect.
Wagner's publicist, Alan Nierob, issued a statement saying the actor's family "fully support the efforts of the LA County Sheriff's Department."
The actor, who has a recurring role on NCIS, "trusts they will evaluate whether any new information relating to the death of Natalie Wood Wagner is valid."
Nierob said no authorities have contacted Wagner about the case.


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Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall was recently recognized for both patient experience and physician engagement by Press Ganey. Named a 2018 Guardian of Excellence Award® recipient, these awards highlight the culture found throughout the hospital and the commitment to quality, safety and strong relationships which serve as cornerstones of care. As a result, Texas Health Rockwall found itself included amongst top-performing health care organizations achieving the 95th percentile or above in performance in the awarded areas.
Additionally Texas Health Rockwall received the Pinnacle of Excellence for Physician Engagement which recognizes those organizations who have consistently exhibited a high level of excellence.
According to hospital president, Cindy Perrin, FACHE, these awards represent the best of health care evident throughout the hospital. "When I speak to patients and visitors I am often moved, but not surprised, by the many stories of kindness and exemplary care our hospital family provides. It takes a great team to do great work and I am thankful we have such devoted caregivers and physicians working together for our community."
Texas Health Rockwall has continually sought to provide the highest standards of care. Key to their success has been a strong belief in cooperation and participation. Hospital leaders are accessible and present to patients, caregivers and physicians; and listen keenly to their feedback and recommendations. "This open door philosophy has been present from the first days of our hospital" added Mrs. Perrin. "And I'm very proud that each of us are focused on doing what is right for the patient because we know that can be a transformational moment for many."
Press Ganey partners with health care providers nationwide with a focus on patient experience and improving the delivery of care. Their awards, presented annually, honor providers who achieve excellent patient experience score through their dedication to the communities they serve. Learn more about the awards and recipients at http://www.pressganey.com/about/client-awards-program


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Gunmen in Afghan military uniforms shot dead two Nato soldiers on a base in the country's south on Wednesday, the coalition said, in the latest insider attack on foreign troops.
So-called "green-on-blue" attacks – when Afghan soldiers or police turn their guns on international troops – have been a major problem during Nato's long years fighting alongside Afghan forces.
Wednesday's attack in the volatile province of Helmand is the first such incident since April, highlighting long-simmering tensions between Afghan and foreign forces.
"Two Resolute Support [Nato] service members died early this morning when two individuals wearing Afghan [military] uniforms opened fire on their vehicle at an [Afghan security forces] compound in Helmand province," a Nato statement said.
A Pentagon spokesman confirmed to the Associated Press that the deceased soldiers were American.
"Resolute Support service members returned fire and killed the shooters."
The Taliban did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack. Western officials say that most such attacks stem from personal grudges and cultural misunderstandings rather than insurgent plots.
The killings have bred fierce mistrust among local and foreign forces even as the rate of such incidents has dropped in recent years.
Nato ended its combat mission in in December 2014, pulling out a bulk of its troops although a force of 13,000 that remains for training and counter-terrorism operations.
One of the worst insider attacks took place in August 2014 when US Major General Harold Greene was killed, becoming the most senior American military officer to die in action overseas since the Vietnam war.
In April an American soldier was killed in a firefight between US and Afghan troops in eastern Afghanistan, the first apparent insider attack since Washington announced a delay in troop withdrawals from the country.
The US defence secretary, Ashton Carter, said at the time that the US soldier's killing showed that work remained to shore up Afghan forces in the "dangerous" country.
Nato troops have adopted special security measures in recent years to try to counter the threat. The Afghan military, built from scratch since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, has also struggled with insider killings, high casualty rates and mass desertions.
Stretched on multiple fronts as the insurgency expands, Afghan forces are facing their first fighting season without the full support of US-led Nato forces.
The Taliban are stepping up their summer offensive, launched in late April, amid a bitter leadership dispute following the announcement of the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar.
Mullah Akhtar Mansour, Omar's longtime trusted deputy, was named as the new Taliban chief in late July in an acrimonious power transition.


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-Deliveries to other European countries take 4-6 working days and will be done by UPS.
-For more Information about delivery costs and worldwide shipment you will find here.
Free returns: (Germany only)
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The story with raspberries is rather funny. It happened in February 2015. We found Juhani, the owner of Veskikoni farm through the web. He was the only person selling frozen organic raspberries in the amounts we needed. Where else can you buy 20kg?
Juhani is between 70-80 years old, and is almost twice bigger than an average person, both in height and width. We were driving on a highway trying to locate the farm and unfortunately exactly at that day nobody had Internet on the phone. The old man stayed about 10-15 minutes outside waiting for us and all I heard in the phone was cursing. It was around -10C outside. One of us (or probably all) made a note that we shouldn't buy from him anymore.
Eventually we received the best raspberries we've ever seen. Seriously, the smell is fantastic! The taste is superb. Couple of hours later we were happily driving back home. For the next batch we'll probably buy from him again.
You can also read the full story here.
It's quite hard to find blackberries in Estonia. In fact the only place selling them is Mesi Talu (or Honey Farm) located in Saku parish. The head of the farm, Aino, is an extremely friendly and lovely person. Recently her children bought few of our honey delights without telling her, and gave it as a present. She then called us in the evening and we talked for 15 minutes about everything.
Aino grows lots of other fruit and vegetables on her far. She also has chicken and alpacas!
We used ripe berries harvested in August 2015 for us. Later in October we combined these berries with raspberries and our creamed honey to make you a wonderful raspberry and blackberry honey delight.


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The Working Group on Myocardial Function provides a platform for both basic and clinically-oriented scientists with interests in any aspect of myocardial function to meet in a friendly and stimulating atmosphere.
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Day Trip from Barcelona to Montserrat: Reach New Heights in Catalonia
You would never guess of Montserrat's august presence when passing by train. Nestled on a misty mountaintop, it's an enchanted monk's town surrounded by a nature lover's paradise.
Whoever discovered the shelf on which the monastery and surrounding buildings sit must have been a particularly adventurous soul. Without a cable car or rack railway to assist in the climb, an ascent would be quite the tribulation.
Lucky for me, many years of improvements have made this is an easy day trip to make from Barcelona. I'm going to give you a simple rundown of how to get there, what to do there, and gush about how much I enjoyed it. Cool?
First, why do you want to go there? A few reasons may apply:
- You like the idea of taking an epic cable car ride into the mysterious mist. Definitely DO look down, if you're not afraid of heights.
- Seeing a piece of history in a beautifully preserved monastery appeals to you. If you're in Europe, surely you've got an old church fetish already.
- Appreciation of nature (and particularly mountains) is your jam. Miles of mountaintop paths offer views of Catalonia in near entirety.
Getting to Montserrat from Barcelona
From Barcelona, take the metro. I recommend buying a T-10 ticket for your in-town needs – 10 rides (including bus) for €10, transfers included. I've included a map below of where you need to go to start your day trip – the Espanya station, circled in a thick red line. Most notable metro lines will connect at this one, so it should be easy to find.
When you step off the train (or enter the station on foot) look for the R5 line to Manresa. Some signs clearly indicate this will take you to Montserrat, and are adorned with this logo:
Once you find the appropriate location in the Espanya station, you'll find machines and an information desk where you can buy combination tickets to Montserrat. I opted for round trip train + cable car ride for around €22. You can also opt for rack railway if extreme heights aren't your thing, but maybe you shouldn't go to a giant mountain in the first place if that's the case!
For cable car, your train stop is Montserrat Aeri. Should you choose the rack railway, get off at Monistrol Montserrat. From these stations follow the crowds to ascend the mountain and begin your day of wonderment! While you wait for your ride, get a Sunny D from the vending machines if you want to pretend you are a child from the 90's like me. I couldn't help myself.
Touring the monastery
When I arrived up top, I was immediately awestruck by both the views of nature and of the town itself. Early in the morning, this scenery comes in and out of focus through the drifing fog. As the clouds dissipate, the crowd thickens – best come early for a truly special experience.
I would recommend checking out the interior of the monastery first, going through the line to visit the famous "Black Madonna", and spending the rest of your day admiring the campus and trails. This way you'll avoid standing in the longest lines at the church when the tour groups arrive.
The monastery interior is beautifully ornate. I was particularly impressed with what amazing condition the sculptures were in. While I've seen more impressive altar arrangements at Notre Dame and the like, the adornments along the sides and front are nonetheless nice to look at.
While I was aimlessly wandering, I went through an unmarked wooden door and up some stairs, where I accidentally disturbed a real life monk. He seemed friendly enough while he played Catalan and/or Latin charades to shoo me the hell away and back to the tourist enclosure.
Hiking the mountain
Next, I went for a funicular ride. Yes, a funicular. It has FUN in the name. Time to party.
There are two of these little green babies, and they'll get you to the most scenic parts of the mountain. A combination ticket for both will cost you around €15. Unless you're a serious backpacker I would recommend paying for this, as the climbs can be quite steep.
Funicular de Santa Cova descends a bit from the monastery where you can walk some beautiful cliffside trails – allot 30-40 minutes for this. The story of Jesus is told in sculpture along the way, if you're into that sort of thing. Even if you're not, some of the art is really wonderful to look at. You'll also have a nice view of the side of the mountain you ascended from earlier in the day. Eventually, the end of the trail takes you to the very first dwelling built on the mountain – a small chapel which looks like it has a giant goiter coming out of it. Tasty!
Next, head to Funicular de Sant Joan. It's on the same pathway as the first one and takes you to the real main event if you're a hiker. Several paths diverge and vary in length from a 30 minute walk to a full 2.5-3 hours. You'll want to make it up here as early as possible if you want to make the trek and be back to Barca in time for some octopus.
I myself was running short on time and thus opted for an easier route, but it was nonetheless chock full of panoramas of many a Catalan town. I deeply regret not allowing for more leisurely exploration up top. Next time!
I don't really know how to explain better than these pictures can. But there you go! Montserrat. It's lovely.
I will say that I expected to walk around for two or three hours, and ended up spending more like six. This is the rare attraction that delivers much more than promised.
Pit stop on your return trip
On your way back down, you may miss the train to Barcelona – it runs once per hour. If so, kill some time at the tiny bar that has signs posted in the station. I believe it was called Bar El Rincon. It's just off the tracks and has great €2 sangria. The food looked and smelled good, but I didn't try any. All the people were happy and a dog greets you with lustful barking. What more could you want?
I'll leave you with a panorama from the top of Montserrat, and another from Parc Güell in Barcelona because you'll probably go there too. Soak it in, make your plans, and tell me if this guide helped you! Any further suggestions welcome in the comments section.


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Understanding Philly
Dave Hardy hits on a piece from a local paper that describes a situation not uncommon in our fair city, and speculates it might be a symptom of why the city has a crime problem:
a gun dealer has a stolen gun, it's recovered in a drug bust. The arrested guy has a long record. He's let out after posting a $100 bond, and charges are later dropped. The dealer requests return of the gun and is told he must file a motion and appear in court. "So the guy they caught with Crane's stolen gun doesn't have to appear before a judge, but Crane does."
I congratulate DH, a resident of Arizona, for having a better grasp on the city's crime problem than its politicians do. The sad thing is, the guy will probably not easily get his stolen gun back. Pennsylvania law is clear on this issue:
§ 6111.1 (b) 4. The Pennsylvania State Police and any local law enforcement agency shall make all reasonable efforts to determine the lawful owner of any firearm confiscated by the Pennsylvania State Police or any local law enforcement agency and return said firearm to its lawful owner if the owner is not otherwise prohibited from possessing the firearm. When a court of law has determined that the Pennsylvania State Police or any local law enforcement agency have failed to exercise the duty under this subsection, reasonable attorney fees shall be awarded to any lawful owner of said firearm who has sought judicial enforcement of this subsection.
Yet the City of Philadelphia routinely fail to return firearms to their lawful owners. At least they'll have to pay this guy's court costs when all is said and done, but personally, I think there need to be criminal penalties in regards to some of these sections, because Philadelphia cares not a whit for state law. The equation is very simple:
Spending sparse city resources to harass lawful gun owners = Good
Spending sparse city resources to harass criminals = Bad
And to think, we elected one of these boneheaded city politicians as our Governor!
No Responses to "Understanding Philly"
- Snowflakes in Hell » A Fisking - Philadelphia's Violence Problem - [...] a pretty effective solution. But police resources are scarce, possible because the city is wasting money hiring lawyers to…


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Improving Efficiency in a Nonprofit
This content was COPIED from BrainMass.com - View the original, and get the already-completed solution here!
Sam wanted Joanna to analyze his Donor Services Department, because he'd received complaints about its efficiency. Since he'd been told that his office needed to double in size, he wanted to get all the bugs worked out beforehand. Joanna agreed to gather information and compile a report. The work of a Donor Services Department consists of translating letters, preparing progress reports, and answering donor questions. It handles the paperwork associated with enrolling new families, reassignments, and special gifts. Having accurate enrollment figures is crucial because the money received is based upon these figures. There is a significant level of conflict which reduces efficiency and effectiveness in the Donor Services Department.
1. What is the main issue in this case?
2. How can the Donor Service Department become more effective?
3. Describe intergroup conflict in the Donor Service Department?
4. How could empowerment change the situation at the Donor Service Department?
Solution Preview
The main issue in the Donor Services Department is one of reduced efficiency and
productivity. while conflict is a cause of this challenge, the end result is a department that does
not run as smoothly as it can and is not as productive as it should be. Efficiency and productivity
are important. However, accuracy is also crucial, as funding relies on the number of
enrollments. Those who track enrollments and document the processes must be able to produce
high quality work that is accurate and do so in a timely manner, so that numbers remain current.
Regardless of why the conflict exists, it reduces the effectiveness of a department and the
friction of conflict can lead to distractions and errors. To reduce conflict, the department must
develop a program that involves all staff, to address the conflict issues. To do this, Joanna must
first find out why the conflict exists, so she can provide an accurate assessment of the situation
and make recommendations that address the specific issues. To conduct a ...
Solution Summary
This analysis looks at the various challenges a specific nonprofit agency faces. It addresses the issues of conflict and the issue of inefficiency, with viable solutions for each challenge.


text: 3 BEDROOMS + LOFT, 1770 SQFT LIVING AREA, BUILT IN 2007, 3-CAR ATTACHED GARAGE. This desirable front unit townhouse is newer built and very well-maintained. It's nestled in the city's prime location close to all necessities: Freeway 10, schools, supermarkets, restaurants, fitness centers, movie theater, and much more. Features & amenities include elegant wainscoting in the living room and dining area, wood flooring, brand new Berber carpet, beautiful wrought-iron staircase, plantation shutters throughout, crown moldings, and granite countertops. The living room is bright, and features a fireplace. The open kitchen is highlighted with granite countertops, ample cabinets for storage, and is adjacent to the formal dining area. The spacious master suite offers a dual sink vanity, spa tub, shower stall, walk-in closet, recessed lighting, and balcony. This unit is in a small gated community of only 6 units with plenty of guest parking spaces. The low $182 monthly HOA dues cover trash, landscaping, and common area maintenance. This address is within the boundaries of the sought-after Mark Keppel High School.


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St. Philips Episcopal Church, Marysville, WA
Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
Readings - Episcopal Church
First reading 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
Psalm 20
Second reading 2 Cor 5:6-17
Gospel Mark 4:26-34
Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Sermon - Fr. Dan Duval, OSF
When Rev. Rebecca asked me to preach this weekend, my quick response was "of course". Then I started my research and found that I would be preaching on Father's day about mustard seeds." Hmmm, anyone want to talk about barbecues?
As the week has gone on and the news has entered my reality, I have heard people saying, "I can't listen, read, see anymore of this." And the world goes on.
Jesus lived in a time and place that was filled with hate and violence. His ministry was about bringing justice as the result of love to all people of society. Jesus used parable and metaphor to teach this seemingly impossible lesson. The greatest metaphor, or the one that took the most, is that God is our Father. As with all of the bible, that word was used in the context of what being a father meant in the time and place it was written. In that time, lineage was important and children took the names of their parents as last names. Yeshua bar Joseph is how Jesus would have been known. (Our Jewish friends with tell us there is no J or soft G sound in Hebrew so Jesus never heard himself called Jesus. Also in Hebrew Bar means son of and bot means daughter of)
As you carried the name of your family and possibly your tribe your actions reflected those whom you were related to and the group with which you belonged. Your behavior was a reflection not only on yourself but upon your family and wider circle.
With Jesus saying that God was Abba, he was saying that we reflected the Divine and carried the Divine with us as we carry our parentage; AND we are responsible for how we live that parentage in the world, the parentage of the Divine. We are responsible to our family, our group, our tribe, our world, in how we live out that Diviness . We are responsible to our brothers, sisters and other siblings of the world as we all come from the Divine and Universal parent. Our actions reflect on our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors. Our actions reflect on our common groups such as our church, our school, and even our BINGO group.
Then Yeshua tells us that the Kingdom of God, the Divine, Our Abba that we reflect and represent, is like a mustard seed. This kingdom he says starts out just as small as the tiniest of seeds and ends up taking over the whole hillside. In that part of the world, a seed has to be small enough to penetrate the packed earth and then strong enough to withstand drought and high heat in order to grow. This tiny seed not only grows in those conditions, and most others, but thrives and provides shade and protection from those harsh elements.
How do we take in those smallest of seeds that we are given and allow them to grow within the hardest parts of ourselves and multiply into our communities? Yeshua does not say we need to cultivate the kingdom of God, we only need to allow it to do its own thing within us and it will flourish. The Kingdom seed is within us and it will grow and our task is to live in such a way that we do not bring dishonor to those around us. By living for another, that Kingdom grows without needing to be nursed and nurtured. It is the easiest thing in the world.
But, somehow, we get in our own way. We believe it has to be more complicated than it really. is. We try to force the seed to be something else. We do not trust that seed within ourselves or others. We forget to live for each other and become frightened that we may not have enough. We fail to recognize that there is plenty for everyone and try to hoard extra for ourselves.
Part of the Franciscan charism or way of life is recognizing that we all come from that same Divine source and our hospitality is open for all, no questions asked. If I can get out of the way of that mustard seed and allow it to do its thing, I will be a presence and reminder of that same seed in everyone. Francis of Assisi is attributed with saying often, "preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary". Francis understood that our actions meant more than words and it is by our actions that others are welcomed and healed.
Clare of Assisi, Francis' lesser known companion spent her entire adult life, most likely starting around the age of 15 in a cloistered convent. Clare did not go out as Francis did and live among the poor or wash the sores of lepers. Clare remained within the walls of the San Damiano compound with abut 50 other nuns. San Damiano was a small church and the walled off area around it was perhaps about a half acre. Suffice it to say, Clare did not get out much and was not worldly. However, Clare became the quiet force behind the continuation of the Franciscans after Francis died. Clare believed with all of her being that treating those around you well mattered, not only to those in the small enclosure with her, but that the ripples of such living would be felt in the broader world.
Clare would spend a good part of her days praying in front of the San Domino Cross, which is depicted on the cross I wear with my habit. Clare gazed upon the suffering of Yeshua and found the suffering of the world. As she contemplated that deep pain and suffering, she did not turn her head as so many of us are wanting to do these past few days. Clare bravely looked into the pain she saw and allowed that mustard seed in her to grow into huge bushes of compassion. I am not sure where I read recently that the one possible reason for suffering may be that those who are not suffering at the moment can develop compassion. The more suffering we allow ourselves to encounter the deeper our compassion may develop and the greater love we then experience.
So, how do we listen to, read and watch the stories of families being torn apart, babies being taken from their mothers while breast feeding, a father dying by suicide after his three year old son is taken from him, and not turn away? How do we not feel helpless? How do we let our hearts break with theirs and know that by living as a representative of and one in the lineage of the Divine and being compassionate and loving toward the person sitting next to us here today, that our love will grow and spread as the mustard seed and our lineage "Bar Abba" will spread to those in pain and suffering to offer perhaps the slightest comfort.
So, today, on this day to remember and embrace our heritage and those from whom we originate, let us be mindful to live in such a way that our own Abbas would be proud to say, their goes my child.
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January 2019


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Eye Care
As a result of eyes are rarely hurt even there has disease, it is very easy to neglect the health of your eyes. Therefore, it is very important to take care of the wellness of your eyes. The vital nutrients of Lutein, Zeaxanthin, β-carotene and Vitamin A can help keep your eyes healthy and bright.
Febico offers the maximum support with our super 5-in-1 phytochemical formulation in the eye care. It contains Febico patented Spirulina extract (Apogen) and rich source of fish oil EPA and DHA which can help absorption with Lutein. The abundant nutrients can help adults and children maintain their good vision every day.
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Get the latest on our COVID-19 (Coronavirus) response and travel information. Learn more
Montera Plaza
Read more about this Hotel
Hotel Montera Plaza is located in Los Barrios benefiting from an outdoor swimming pool, a children's pool and a playground. The on site restaurant specialises in local cuisine and facilities also include a bar, fitness centre, parking, laundry service and currency exchange.
How far is the nearest beach?
This hotel is located 6.7km from the beach.
Distance from Airport
This hotel is located 22km from Gibraltar airport and 104km from Jerez airport.
All rooms benefit from air conditioning, a balcony, telephone, TV, minibar and desk.
Food & Drink
The hotel has a restaurant specialising in local cuisine.
Sports & Entertainment
Free wifi is available throughout the property.
- 24 Hour Reception
- A la Carte Restaurant
- Air Conditioning
- Air Conditioning in public areas
- Bar
- Buffet Breakfast
- Cafe/ Snack Bar
- Currency Exchange
- Internet Access
- Kids Pool
- Laundry Service
- Lifts
- Minibar
- Reception
- Restaurant
- Room Service
- Safety Deposit Box
- Satellite TV
- Sunbeds
- Swimming Pool
- Terrace
- Wifi


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Hoop Earring Metallic Silver
A little something for your ears .... Harthorne wood and fabric circlet hoop earrings. Each pair is lovingly handmade from fabric, unfinished Tasmanian oak and high quality medical stainless steel.
Clean lines and a simple closure make these earrings easy to wear.
They each measure 5cm (2") in diameter and are almost weightless to wear.
Only sustainable woods are used for all Harthorne pieces.
MATERIALS: fabric, cotton, wood and fabric, stainless steel, unfinished wood, Tasmanian oak, oak wood.
NOTE: Each piece is lovingly handmade, therefore, no two items are exactly the same. Placement of printed fabrics may be slightly different to that shown in the photos.
Measurements are taken of garment laying flat.
Please double all measurements for actual round measurement.
Please be aware that the measurements above are a guide only.
Actual garment may vary as all garments are handmade.


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- Code: 1481
- Type: Apartments
- Bedrooms: 1
- Bathrooms: 1
- Floor Area: 55 m 2
- Stories number: 1
- Year Built:
- District: Son Tra
1-bedroom River-view Apartment For Rent (Code 1481)
Tran Hung Dao Area – Son Tra District
Located near the beautiful and romantic Han River. The 55sqm apartment includes a separate bedroom, living room with kitchen and bathroom.
On the beautiful road of the city, in front of the building is the spacious park to walk and see the beautiful sceneries. The cool windy bedroom, overlooking the city center. There are 2 cable TVs, internet: 1 TV in the bedroom, the one in the living room.
Simple but functional kitchen, clean bathroom and neat laundry area. Airy living space, more natural light, fresh air, quiet and private area. It is suitable for individuals, couples or small families.
Below is a cafe, parking area, elevator in the building. Tenants will self-clean the room, if necessary, the homeowners will support. Water fee is 100,000VND/room. Electricity fee is 3000VND/kwh. The others area free.
Rental Price: $441/month – Appx 10 mil VND/month
[River-view Apartment For Rent] Tour Video
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Thank you, Vincent!


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How Weather.com Is Building a Social Media Weather Alert System
Forget the screeching emergency tone that interrupts TV and radio shows during severe weather. The Weather Channel wants to build a weather alert system based on social media, and it's started laying down that framework with a site redesign that launched Wednesday.
The redesign, among other updates, lets users tweet weather warnings or post them to Facebook.
Weather Channel VP of Web Products Mike Finnerty calls this social media implementation "phase one." The channel is working with Facebook on "phase two," which involves incorporating weather warnings into Facebook's open graph.
In the future, Finnerty says, you'll be able to see weather warnings that affect family members or friends in your Facebook network while you're on the site. You'll be able to post those warnings directly to their individual Facebook walls.
"It takes that annoying tone you get on radio or TV and makes it really, really personal," Finnerty says.
While the National Weather Service (NWS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have traditionally relied on television and radio to broadcast severe weather warnings, websites such as Weather.com could play a big part in pushing those warnings out through the most recently mainstream form of media.
According to comScore, The Weather Channel's website, Weather.com, is the 20th most trafficked website in the United States — ahead of Twitter, LinkedIn and Yelp.
In March, it had about 54 million unique visitors. The next biggest weather site, WeatherBug, had about 22 million unique visitors in the same month.
Meanwhile, social weather reports are becoming something of a trend. Startup weather apps such as Weathermob and Ourcast, for instance, focus on social aspects. Both allow users to share, comment on and report the weather.
In August 2011, the Weather Channel partnered with Twitter to launch 220 local weather Twitter feeds for cites with populations of more than 100,000. Though Twitter is not currently involved with the Emergency Broadcast system, Finnerty says, "that may change."
In addition to taking its first steps toward social media weather warnings, Weather.com also revamped its website. Its forecasts now tell you when it will rain or stop raining in your area within 15-minute increments.
Personal features — such as suggested activities from Weather.com's content partners based on your interests and the weather — also make their debut, and you can now change The Weather Channel logo to read "[Your Name]'s Weather."
How would you prefer to get your weather alerts? Let us know in the comments.


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A huge decision – which coat to get for autumn and winter.
This is the key piece in any man's wardrobe in the colder months, and versatility is critical. Whether you're walking in the countryside, seeing mates in the pub or commuting to work, your coat needs to remain suitably chic.
As the weather turns here in the UK, bitterly cold mornings and freezing nights are upon us, so I've outlined some options that fit a variety of scenarios.
1. Superdry military jacket
What I love most about this coat is the collar, which just grazes the bottom of my ears, offering a cool, mysterious look. I also adore its subtle, slightly unusual shade of green which makes it stand out next to a normal green parka. Finally, the coat isn't too chunky, so it's ideal to layer with this winter.
2. Selected Homme wool overcoat
The above coat was initially bought as a piece for a good friend's October wedding last year… But it quickly turned into my go-to-coat for all sorts of occasions and everyday wear.
The key to this coat is its fit and its quality. The wool fibre has an elasticity to it, which hugs the body, giving a flawless fit. The sleeve-length is another crucial aspect to your winter coat, and you want the sleeve to stop an inch or two above the start of your hand.
Style Tip:- Try to invest in quality materials as they will last, meaning you can build up your coat collection slowly but surely over time.
3. Vintage sheepskin sherpa
Sherpa jackets are super-popular this season, and you can pick one up in most high-street stores such as Topman or Urban Outfitters – or check out vintage stores for something slightly different.
The shorter fit gives a more caj feel compared to the longer coats, so this can be ideal for going to meet your mates for a drink or nipping out to the shop on a Saturday morning. To complete the look and add some chic (giving your best James Dean impersonation), flick the collar.
4. American Apparel drawstring coat
I love the cream colour of this coat, making it stand out from the neutral grey and black coats. Let your winter coat make a statement – don't be afraid to stand out – even if it is only through a slightly unusual colour. I also like the drawstring waist of the coat which gives a snugger fit compared to many overcoats. This can be ideal if you have a slight figure, and don't want the coat to drown you.
One reason this coat won't be coming out of my wardrobe as much as the others this winter is because of its slightly-too-large fit. As I've emphasised before, fit is the crucial aspect to any garment and, in this case, the coat seems to be wearing me rather than the other way around.
Style Tip:- The fit of the coat is all important. Firstly check the fit, then the style, colour and functionality.
I'll be back again soon with more options for the colder seasons, so watch this space!
Other pieces worn in shoot: Blue turtleneck jumper from Next / Pitney brogues from Clarks / Slim-fit trousers from Next
All images taken on an iPhone by Charlotte L Owen


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Ford Servicing & Repairs in Petrie
As prescribed by Australian Consumer Law you DO NOT need to take your Ford back to a dealership for servicing.
If you're hoping to uncover an alternative, dependable log book service for your Ford - pop in and see Petrie Mechanical Repairs in Petrie and instruct us on a few details of your Ford (for example - its model, year and date of last service) to permit us to construct a competitive quote today.
Hesitant about invalidating your statutory warranty?
There's simply no need – All Petrie Mechanical Repairs service team members are fully trained and qualified. We will use only appropriate quality parts as defined by the manufacturers specifications to complete log book service on a wide range of makes and models, including the following Ford vehicles;
Mustang, Ecosport, XTWagon, GT, Xr8, Ranger, Courier, Explorer, Pinto, Transit, Kuga, Fiesta, Territory, Thunderbird, Tourneo, Ka, Fusion, Bronco, Cortina, Taurus, LTD, Orion, Ghia, Capri, Fairmont, Galaxy, Econovan, Focus, Zodiac, Sierra, F250, Laser, Escort, Futura, Flex, Exhibition, Falcon, Mondeo, Festiva, Escape and Edge.
Ensuring a regular service is the best way to keep your Ford in the best state possible.
As a vehicle owner you are accorded the right to make a choice of which mechanic you want to service your car.
The reality is you SHOULD NEVER feel forced into returning your Ford to the dealership that sold the car for handbook servicing. Petrie Mechanical Repairs CAN service your Ford vehicle as per the manufacturers specifications, preserving your statutory warranty.
You have the right to decide who will service your car without voiding either the manufacturers warranty or your rights under the Consumer Guarantee.
Petrie Mechanical Repairs can perform log book service and repair on a wide range of vehicle types, makes and models in our Petrie service centre.
You have the right to choose a mechanic for car service. Simply book a service for your Ford or contact Petrie Mechanical Repairs, tell us about your car and your last service and we can give you a quote today.


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Temple Termagant
Posts: 14
Joined: Saturday, 22nd October 2011, 18:52
Destroying Wands
It would relieve tedium if one didn't have to do this each time, and there was some facility to "Break Wand."
I suggest this feature for wands only. Wands are smallish sticks that are able to be broken in real life and in other rogue-likes. I do not suggest this feature for, say, discarded weapons or staves.
So odd that many of the responses are "Don't drop wands." Or, "hold onto the wands and then drop them when the level is clear." That's the point. You already have a full pack of 52 items. You find a medium strength wand you cannot use. So, you have to shoot it 15 times to expend it. It's boring. It's tedious.


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Screw Machining
Slidematic Precision Components Inc. is proud to announce the acquisition of Seward Screw Products Inc, a screw machine and turned parts company. The purchase will further strengthen both companies and their ability to create value for our customers by aligning services, diversifying capabilities, and sharing of best practices.
"The completion of this acquisition is an exciting time for all of us; we have the ability to take two privately held organizations with similar histories and direction. Bring them together, learn from one another and continue to drive increased value to our customers. The processes these two companies have complement each other and we look forward to what lies ahead," Randy Baker, President of Slidematic.
Seward Screw Products Inc. as of 06/01/2016 will continue to operate under the name Seward Screw LLC. Seward will remain, where it has been supporting customers for over 60 years, in Seward IL. The product mix Seward supports is achieved by specializing in various machines: multiple spindle, rotary transfer, 2 Axis, single spindle, and chuckers to name a few.
Please visit www.sewardscrew.com to learn more about Seward Screw LLC and their offerings. We look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead and learning how both organizations can support your needs.


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- New York-based Third Avenue Real Estate Fund has purchased $US10 million in shares in JBG Smith, a Maryland-based real-estate investment trust (REIT).
- Third Ave reportedly told investors in a letter that the REIT's shares will "likely be worth a lot more than our current estimates" if Amazon chooses the Washington, DC area for its second headquarters.
- Evidence is piling up that the tech giant will pick Northern Virginia as the location of its new $US5 billion campus.
Out of the 20 North American citiesAmazon shortlisted for the site of its second headquarters, three finalists are near the US capital.
A major real-estate fund is betting that the tech giant will pick a site in Northern Virginia, specifically an Arlington neighbourhood called Crystal City. According to Bloomberg, Third Avenue Real Estate Fund has bought $US10 million in shares in JBG Smith, a real-estate investment trust (REIT) working on a massive redevelopment in Crystal City.
The New York-based fund reportedly touted in a letter to investors that if Amazon chooses the Washington, DC area, the REIT's shares "will likely be worth a lot more than our current estimates." Bloomberg reports that the fund has arranged to buy JBG shares at $US30.50 and $US31, and estimates that they could be worth more than $US40 apiece if Amazon picks Crystal City.
JBG Smith owns two dozen Crystal City office buildings – many of which are vacant and older – totaling more than 7 million square feet, according to The Real Deal. The REIT's revitalization plan includes 120,000 square feet of retail, including a 50,000-square-foot movie theatre and a grocery store. The redevelopment could also add up to 3,300 residential units.
Built in the 1960s and 1970s, Crystal City is a semi-planned community near Reagan National Airport.
In January, Amazon announced that it would build a $US5 billion headquarters, dubbed HQ2, in a mystery North American city. The project promises 50,000 jobs over the next two decades, and many of the finalist cities are offering large economic incentives to the company to land it.
There is now mounting evidence that Northern Virginia is a top contender. As BI's Hayley Peterson previously reported, Amazon has quietly been expanding its presence in the area. The company recently put a new headquarters for its fast-growing cloud service, Amazon Web Services, close to a proposed HQ2 site – about 25 miles northwest of Crystal City.
The site is also within a 10-minute drive of where Amazon plans to build corporate offices as well as a 600,000-square-foot data-center campus.
Known as Data Center Alley, the area features a high concentration of data centres, including ones owned by Amazon Web Services. Approximately 70% of the world's internet traffic flows through Data Center Alley, and a big share of that passes through Amazon's centres.
By constructing HQ2 in Northern Virginia, Amazon could tap into its data-center network, bringing more efficiency to the internet connection at the headquarters. Plus, it would be a stone's throw from CEO Jeff Bezos' new $US23 million mansion, also near DC.
Third Avenue certainly seems optimistic.
"Washington DC seems to rank near the top of the list," the fund said in the letter to investors. "Should it ultimately be selected for its second headquarters, JBG Smith is likely to be a big winner as its Crystal City and Pentagon City locations are natural candidates for Amazon to utilise as it initially relocates employees to the region."
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Tue, 23 September 2014
Please join Winn Feline Foundation in a Winn produced podcast interview with Dr. Craig Webb, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Colorado State University. Our Executive Director, Dr. Vicki Thayer, questions Dr. Webb about his very interesting research into the use of stem cells for the the treatment of chronic intestinal disease in cats. The interview was held at the 2014 conference of the American Association of Feline Practitioners in Indianapolis. As a Winn-funded researcher, Dr. Webb was a Winn-sponsored featured speaker at the conference and a huge hit with the audience of cat-loving veterinarians.
Direct download: Dr._Craig_Webb_on_Stem_Cell_Therapy_and_Chronic_Intestinal_Disease_in_Cats.mp3
Category:Feline Health and Research -- posted at: 1:56pm PDT
Thu, 11 September 2014
Dr. Leslie Lyons,renowned geneticist from the University of Missouri, is interviewed by Dr. Vicki Thayer of the Winn Feline Foundation. Dr. Lyons and her team have recently found four mutations in cats. Dr. Lyons describes the mutations and the importance they have for cat health or phenotype. Join Winn and Dr. Lyons to hear about these exciting new findings. The interview was conducted at the recent International Cat Conference held at the Center for Companion Animal Health, part of the University of California-Davis.
Direct download: Dr._Leslie_Lyons_Interview.mp3
Category:Feline Health and Research -- posted at: 11:12am PDT


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The Role: Premier Project Manager
The Premier Lift Group is seeking to recruit a talented and proven Project Manager for our Kent office. This individual will have a strong technical understanding of both lift and construction industries, and report to our Head of Operations. They will be experienced at working on high-value projects and blue chip clients within the commercial and private residential sector.
Key responsibilities:
The Project Manager will manage relationships with clients and key stakeholders, both on and off the project site. They will have a commitment to excellence and will be comfortable working to the highest industry standards. They will engage on a daily basis with high net worth individuals, leading architects and designers. They will work alongside the mechanical and electrical Design Managers to deliver projects on multiple sites.
The Project Manager provides a vital interface to the customer and their representatives as well as retaining accountability for delivery of each project to budget and programme. The Project Manager will also be accountable for the overall financial completion of the projects and as such will be required to forecast and provide reports accordingly.
The Project Manager is responsible for directing and supervising an extensive portfolio of projects within London and the home counties area, extending into the Midlands as required from sales handover to final project handover to the client, and so some travel is required. This person will also be responsible for planning and organising the delivery and storage of materials and tools to the sites. The role will require attending operations meetings monthly in our Cheshire office.
- Proven experience in the sector
- Excellent communicator, both written and verbal
- Strong technical understanding
- Financial forecasting and reporting
- Full clean driving licence
How to apply:
Please send an up-to-date CV, and cover letter detailing your experience, relevancy for the role and availability, to [email protected] Premier Lift Group is an equal opportunities employer.
Deadline for applications: 28th February 2018


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It's Nutella, marshmallow fluff, graham crackers and Seattle's Best in a cup, because as so truly preached by recipe designer Lindsey at Pardon the Dog Hair, "Sometimes you just need a fancy cup of coffee."
Prep time: 5 mins. Total time: 5 mins. Serves: 1.
- 1 cup Seattle's Best Vanilla coffee (or your coffee of choice)
- 1/2 cup 2% milk
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp Nutella
- 15 ice cubes (or so)
- 1 tbsp half & half
Marshmallow Whipped Cream
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tbsp marshmallow fluff
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Chocolate sauce
- Graham Cracker crumbs
- Combine ingredients for the coffee in a blender and pulse until cold and smooth.
- In a small bowl, beat cream, marshmallow fluff, and sugar until firm, about 2 minutes.
- Pipe whipped cream on top of coffee. Sprinkle with graham crackers and swirl with chocolate.


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The default WordPress username is "admin". Hackers know this and apparently the current wave of brute force attacks on WordPress installations around the world is using this knowledge to try and crack your login and take control of your site. In other words if you use the default "admin" username then the hacker only has half the equation to try and crack.
An essential step to secure your WordPress site is to use a different user name, and in doing so make it that much harder for hackers to do their thing.
But what if you already use "admin" as your username? How do you change it?
You *could* wade through the database for your site and try to change it that way, but the following steps are much simpler and probably faster…
- Login using your admin user account. I'm presuming here that your "admin" user account has administrator privileges.
- Once logged in goto Users > Add New – fill in all the details for a new user account. Choose a non obvious username and set the privileges for this new account to Administrator as well.
- Once that new account is created, log out of your "admin" user account and log back in using your new user account that you just created.
- Once logged in under the new user account, goto to the User list in the admin and delete the old "admin" account. When you do this WordPress will prompt you to reassign all the posts associated with "admin" to another account. Choose your new account from the drop down list.
- Once you have completed the step of deleting your own "admin" account all the posts previously posted under "admin" will be associated with your new account and you are no longer using the default username.
A simple step that might just help prevent an intrusion by an unwanted 3rd party.
If you are using "admin" as your login user name, please change this now.


text: Pubdate: Sun, 01 Jan 2006 Source: Statesman, The (India) Copyright: 2006 The Statesman Contact: http://www.thestatesman.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3261 Author: Pjo Taylor Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) SPICE OF LIFE - CANNABIS Almost a forbidden subject these days, but the stuff has such a long history that I feel justified in touching on the subject. The argument nowadays is whether it is a medicine or a harmful addictive drug, and if you go back into historical record you'll find there has always been this dual role, this struggle between good and evil. I first came to hear of it when studying the medieval Latin text known as the "Itinerarium". This was the very detailed account of the journey of King Richard I of England (otherwise known as the Lionheart) to the Holy Land at the end of the twelfth century, in what came to be known as the Third Crusade. I'll not go into detail on the crusades: they are a very controversial issue and would take many pages to explain, but I'd like to tell you of an incident that befell the King: or, to be more accurate, of something which the sycophantic monk who wrote the Itinerarium chose to include in his story of the King's adventures. He said that Richard went alone into the hills of northern Syria, and by appointment met one Hassan, (otherwise known as the Old Man of the Mountains) the leader of a band of desperadoes known as the Assassins (hence the word?), who had the most miraculous power over his followers who believed he held the key to Paradise. To prove his power to Richard, he called up his second in command and gave him a simple order -- to jump off the edge of the precipice, to certain death on the rocks below; the man did not hesitate, but jumped at once. Why? Because Hassan had used a most unusual method of indoctrination in the initiation ceremony that all his followers had undergone. The man had been given vast quantities of hashish (again a verbal connection, for the plural of hashish is hashashin?), and had awoken to find himself surrounded by beautiful young women by a stream that ran not with water but with wine. When he'd slept that off he found himself back on the mountain with the boss. Do you believe it? No, nor do I, But Hassan was an historical personage, and the suggestion is there that hashish, marijuana, cannabis, grass, gunjah, hemp, call it what you will, was around at least eight hundred years ago and was recognised as being pretty powerful. So powerful in fact that in India in 1894 it was described as "known as one of the most potent and maddening intoxicants, influencing the moral and social well-being of the people to a degree equal to if not beyond that of opium". It seems that the Indian variety of cannabis was infinitely more powerful than that grown in Europe. It is not easy to trace the very earliest use of this drug. Its history is lost in obscurity. The Greek writer Homer refers to "nepenthes" which "drowned all pain and suffering", and that might mean cannabis; certainly the father of medicine, Galenus, seems to have been well acquainted with its narcotic power. A Chinese physician, living around 1,800 years ago, used cannabis on his patients to produce insensibility when performing painful operations; the Persians used it to excite the fanaticism of their soldiers, producing a pugnacity that struck terror into Muslims and Christians when opposing them. It was first introduced medicinally in Europe around 1850, but never really took on. There has been a revival recently of interest in its use to allay pain in sufferers from arthritis I believe; so much so that it is actually being grown under licence and strict control in the UK at some unknown site. But in general terms it has had a bad press, and in most countries of the world it is classed as a prohibited drug; even the possession of a small quantity of the stuff, let alone its use, can attract very severe penalties -- death in some countries. But in the West it continues to be used, though what the attraction is I fail to see: when I was young we got our kicks from a cup of coffee, and a laugh with our friends. But then it's all very well to condemn when you've never been tempted. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath


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Hipotronics CF Series test systems for fault locating of primary cables, available from Macey's Electrical , consist of a dc proof tester, a burner and a capacitive discharge fault locator (thumper).
These self-contained, portable cable fault locating units are rugged, reliable and compact making them suitable for field use. The CF30-8 has a continuously adjustable impulse rate from three to thirty seconds.
Test ratings are a 30kV dc proof test voltage, a 50mA burn current and a 0-15kV dc capacitive discharge (thumper) voltage.
The cable fault locating units can be used with a high voltage coupler (4100 series) and a time domain Reflectometer (TDR) to quickly provide a specific distance to the fault in feet or meters.
This combination of equipment can reduce the amount of high voltage (number of thumps) the cable resulting in reduced damage or degradation to the cable under test.
For additional pinpointing, the HSDAD acoustical detector can be used in conjunction with the CF30-8 to pinpoint the exact underground location. While the CF 'thumps' the cable the user 'listens' to the thumping using HSDAD and can pinpoint where to start digging to repair the fault.
Product features:
- Self-contained unit features proof tester, burner and thumper in one
- Burn currents to 50 mA
- Impulse energies of up to 900J
- Automatic and manual thumper mode
- Operable from line voltage or generator
- Single HV output for all modes
- Zero start interlock
- External interlock
- Mode indicator lights
- Electrically operated shorting solenoids with mechanical ground assurance
- Accurate fault identification and location
- One unit for all URD cable maintenance testing
- User safety - visual verification of grounding status through face panel window
- Repeatable impulse level
- Variable impulse rate from 3 to 30 seconds
- Electrical utilities
- Test companies
- Petrochemical facilities
- Facility maintenance