text:
We met at the circus
By DAVID GREEN
My wife and I returned from a rather harrowing experience Saturday night in Toledo. We went to the circus, or actually, le cirque.
We've heard about Cirque de Soleil (Circus of the Sun) for many years, but never made it to a performance. I don't know if the group has ever performed in Toledo in the past, but our daughter, Rosanna is a follower. She's attended four of the various shows that travel around the world.
When she noticed that Toledo was on the schedule, she knew the perfect anniversary gift awaited. She, Ben and Maddie went together to send us to the circus for our 30th anniversary.
Cirque de Soleil describes itself as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." There are jugglers, acrobats, incredible rope jumping, high wire performances, a mime and more. It started off with a pair of street performers in Montréal in 1984 and from there advanced to a most amazing level of skill.
Maybe I should have read a little about the show before we went. "I" should have read, not "we." For Colleen, it was a complete surprise. We drove to the Huntington Center and there were no signs outside announcing what was going on inside. We walked through the doors and still no posters about anything but the Toledo Walleyes hockey team.
It wasn't until I handed over the tickets at the entrance that Colleen discovered what was ahead and she nearly wept with joy. This was a special treat.
If I had read ahead of time, I would have discovered that our show, "Quidam," is about the imagination and daydreams of a young girl whose parents are too busy to pay her much attention.
Quidam features an overhead rigging system that allows performers to suddenly appear high in the air. The show moves from city to city in 50 trucks carrying equipment, the band that performs with the group, a school for the performers' children and a restaurant with its own French chef.
This is one of seven shows touring the U.S. There are other groups traveling around the world and there's also a handful of resident shows in locations such as Las Vegas, Disney World and New York City. It's grown into a large organization with more than 4,000 performers.
Quidam was a combination of amazing and funny until the first aerial act began. I remember thinking to myself, "What a way to earn a living." A woman was high above the stage with two long, red ribbons dangling from the rigging. It was just her and the ribbons.
She would wrap them around her legs, let go with her hands and start in with the acrobatics. I can't describe how frightening it was; you had to be there. It was the first of many aerial performances. Picture someone hanging from a hoop only by the back of their head. No hands, just their head bent back a little.
I don't think our small crowd was appreciative enough. What we saw was really astounding.
During the intermission, we walked outside the arena and I suddenly stopped Colleen and said, "There's Fred Sneider." Remember the Sneider family that lived in Morenci in the 1980s?
I wasn't quite sure enough to go up and talk to him, but after we sat down for the remainder of the show, I told Colleen that we just walked past Pam Sneider to get to our seats. And then, at the end of the row, I noticed the woman who stood up to let us pass was the mother of the kids, Dorothy.
Soon Veronica returned to her seat in front of us and then Angie was back in the row behind us. We were deep in the Sneider section. I reminded Angie that exactly 20 years had passed since Morenci's girls track team placed second at the state meet, and Angie was Morenci's only performer. She still has a few records remaining.
Angie's feats from the past were impressive, but soon the acrobats were back at it. They were launching each other across the stage. A man stood with a man on his shoulders who had another man on his shoulders and soon a woman was flying through the air to be caught by the man on top.
That's enough of that. Let's bring the entertainment back down to the stage. Someone's going to get hurt.


text:
Clarion Partners has acquired 1600 Seventh Avenue, a 32-story, 598,000-sq.-ft. office property in downtown Seattle, Wash. for $137 million. The purchase was made on behalf of a separate account client of the firm in an off-market transaction.
Clarion acquired the building from CenturyLink, formerly known as Qwest Communications. CenturyLink and its predecessor companies have continuously occupied the property since it opened in 1976 and will remain as a tenant in approximately 260,000 sq. ft. A Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross team, led by Victor Frandsen, Tim Harrington and Alan Polacsek, represented CenturyLink in the sale, in conjunction with Eastdil Secured. The NFK team also represented CenturyLink in the new lease negotiated with Clarion Partners.
Simultaneous with the purchase, Clarion announced that Nordstrom, Inc. has committed to a long-term lease for over 300,000 sq. ft., bringing the occupancy of the property to 88 percent. The company expects to start moving into its new location starting next fall. Urban Renaissance Group LLC represented Clarion in the transaction and will serve as the local operator of the asset going forward.
Following the acquisition, Clarion and Urban Renaissance Group plan a significant renovation of the property, updating the common areas, including the main lobby, and adding ground level retail and underground parking.
"We are thrilled to have been able to secure such high-quality companies as Nordstrom and CenturyLink as tenants," Stephen P. Latimer, Managing Director at Clarion Partners, said in a statement. "We look forward to rejuvenating the building with the renovation and bringing in additional retail uses in this key location in the city."
Located in the heart of the central business district, 1600 Seventh Avenue is easily accessible by public transportation, sits two blocks from the downtown Seattle Nordstrom store and Nordstrom Rack store and is within walking distance of many of the city's leading retailers, restaurants, and hotels, as well as the Washington Convention Center.
This marks the second acquisition by Clarion in the Seattle area this year, following on its $31 million purchase in January of Covington Esplanade, a Home Depot-anchored shopping center. Clarion now manages over $1 billion of real estate in the Seattle area.

subset: commoncrawl


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Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.2 – 4.2 (32.7 – 56.0 US mpg)
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Why should I donate my body to USA's Anatomical Gifts Program?
The donation is a generous and unselfish act for those who wish to be useful to the living after death. The donor will help those in the medical field further their learning and research.
Will I be paid by USA for my body?
No. USA does not buy bodies nor do other medical schools in the U.S. However, donation will relieve the family of many of the expenses involved with a traditional funeral.
What happens after the body goes to the Anatomical Gifts Program?
The body is retained for approximately 1-1/2 to 2 years. After studies are completed, the body will be cremated and the ashes interred by the University in Pine Crest West Cemetery. You may request to have your ashes returned to your family by checking the appropriate box on the donation form. The ashes will be returned by priority express return receipt mail to the person who is designated on the donation form to receive them. Costs incurred after the body has come to the Anatomical Gifts Program are paid by the Anatomical Gifts Program. The only exceptions are certified copies of the death certificate and burial costs after the ashes have been returned to the family.
Is this the same as an autopsy?
No. An autopsy determines the cause of death in a short period of time. Anatomical dissection requires detailed examination of the entire body, with emphasis on normal structure. No reports are furnished to the donor's family.
Will my body be treated with respect?
Yes. Students are aware that the body from which they learn is a generous donation. No disrespect is permitted. All use of the body is closely supervised, and the identity of the body is known only to a few faculty and staff members. Bodies are not displayed to the public.
Does my religion approve of body donation?
Most religions approve, but if you are unsure consult your minister, pastor, rabbi, or priest.
Are bodies ever rejected for donation?
Yes. We are unable to accept bodies of individuals who had an infectious disease (HIV, AIDS, TB, Hepatitis, MRSA, etc.), suicide or autopsy.
Can my family still have a funeral if I wish to donate my body to the Anatomical Gifts Program?
Yes, however, if the body is to be present at the service, it must be conducted within 24 hours after the time of death. You should discuss this with the funeral director of your choice.
Do I have to make prearrangements with a funeral home, ambulance service, or transport service?
We recommend the donor discuss his or her intended dedication with a local funeral director, ambulance service, or transport service so that his or her wishes are properly carried out after death.
If the donor is transported to a funeral home, will the Anatomical Gifts Program pick up the cost of the ambulance and funeral home?
No. The Anatomical Gifts Program, although created by state law, receives no financial support from the State and has no funds to cover the cost of any procedures done by funeral homes or transportation to the College of Medicine. Therefore, the donor should make arrangements from his or her estate, or under the provision of the Federal Social Security Act, for coverage of this cost.
How much will the funeral home, ambulance service, or transport service charge?
Costs of different funeral homes, ambulance services, and transport services vary depending on the amount of services rendered.
What happens if the donor moves to another state?
We suggest that you contact the local agency in your new state to make similar arrangements so as to comply with the local laws. We can assist you in finding another program if you contact our office.
What death benefits may be available?
There are several government and private benefits that may be applied directly for funeral and burial costs. Social Security may pay for some funeral costs. Veteran's Administration benefits may also provide some funds for funerals, for cemetery plots, a U.S. Flag, and a grave marker, if needed. State Compensation provides burial expenses and survivors benefits for employment-related deaths. Other sources to check are: insurance policies, credit or trade unions, fraternal or professional organizations, railroad retirement benefits, pension funds and medical benefits.
May friends and/or relatives make financial contributions to the Anatomical Gifts Program?
Yes. Gifts will be acknowledged to the donor and to your family. Funds from such gifts will be used only for medical education and research.
What happens if death should occur at a great distance, or if USA is unable to use the body?
If death occurs a long distance away from the University, we recommend the executor of the estate donate the body to another medical school that is closer. We can provide the executor with information on how to contact other programs. However, many families still desire to send their loved one here. Delta Airlines will transport a body at a reasonable rate. If we cannot use the body for some reason, we will still honor our commitment and accept the body and have it cremated at our expense. We can either bury the ashes in our cemetery plots or if desired return them to the family.
Does the Anatomical Gifts Program accept out of state donations?
Yes. However, the estate is responsible for transportation. We receive many donations from Mississippi and Florida. In fact, donations made to USA from places like Biloxi and Pensacola, are less expensive than donations made to the medical schools in those states.
If people donate usable organs, can they still donate their body to the Anatomical Gifts Program?
Yes, under certain circumstances.
What happens if the person decides to withdraw from the program?
They simply send a letter to our office and we will remove their paperwork from the files. The forms do not finalize the donation. The donation is not final until the executor of the estate initiates the donation at the time of death.
Can people donate the body of a family member?
The executor of the estate, usually a family member, may donate the body after the person has died. Approval by the Anatomical Gifts Program is required.
What happens if death doesn't occur at the hospital?
The coroner will have to release the body before we can take possession of it. Following release by the coroner, the body will be transported to us by the transport service, ambulance service, or funeral home of the family's choice. The cost of transport must be covered by the donor's estate.
© 2018 USA Health


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Steve SingletonMinnesota Twins
Shortstop | Ht: | Wt:
|Twins | Non-roster invitees to big league spring training camp announced
Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:01:37 -0800
MLB.com's Kelly Thesier reports that the Minnesota Twins have invited the following non-roster players to major league spring training camp: Ps Jose Lugo, Mike Maroth and Kyle Waldrop, Cs Jair Fernandez, Danny Lehmann and Danny Rams, 1Bs Chris Parmelee and Brock Peterson, SS Steve Singleton and OFs Brian Dinkelman, Juan Portes, Ben Revere and Rene Tosoni.
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|Twins | Singleton goes deep Monday
Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:48:09 -0800
Danny Wild, of MLB.com, reports Minnesota Twins SS Steve Singleton hit a two-run home run in the Arizona Fall League Monday, Nov. 9, and has eight RBIs in his last nine games. He has two home runs in the AFL.
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|Twins | Singleton has three hits Wednesday
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:57:45 -0800
MLB.com reports Minnesota Twins SS Steve Singleton went 3-for-5 with his ninth RBI in as many games in the Arizona Fall League Wednesday, Nov. 4.
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New twist in Auburn illegal dumpingBy BENJAMIN C. KLEIN
Union Leader Correspondent
September 10. 2013 10:48PM
AUBURN — Police Chief Edward Picard said he will follow the Board of Selectmen's suggestion and submit his investigations into illegal dumping in town to the Rockingham County Attorney's office this week.
"This way an independent outside agency can look at everything," Picard said after meeting with selectmen.
The matter involves illegal dumping at the old landfill, illegal dumping and excavating done at resident Geraldine Silva's property, along with Road Agent Mike Dross's potential involvement.
Dross said he had no comment about the investigation or the dumping.
Picard also told Selectmen he believes five loads of material were dumped at the department's shooting range. Asked by Selectman Paul Raiche how Picard thinks the trash got there, Picard responded, "I assume it came from people working up at that landfill."
He added, "This is the range we qualify our people on, land which was designated to us by the board, and has been rendered useless because five dumps of refuge (have) been dumped there. This is childish junior high school crap," Picard said.
After the meeting, Dross acknowledged that he dumped the material there, but said he did so in order to separate old rusted culvert pipes from gravel that could be used as usable material. He said it came from a road job.
"All (the police) had to do is ask me and I would have cleared it up in five minutes. You can go up there now, it's all gone," Dross said.
Picard told Selectmen the department's investigation into allegations of illegal dumping and excavating has stalled.
"We need your assistance," Picard told board members, "some people in town are not cooperating, including at the landfill."
At a previous Police Commission meeting, police officials stated they are frustrated that Dross has been evasive when interviewed by police regarding the dumping. Picard said that if those involved in the investigation don't start cooperating, he would ask that a grand jury be convened so they can be summoned to answer questions there.
Picard said the lock to the gate at the old landfill has been changed, and the heavy equipment stored at the landfill has been placed along the access road to the landfill to prevent police cruisers from passing. Dross and former Town Road Agent John Rolfe store heavy equipment at the old landfill.
"We have literally been locked out of the landfill, which is town property," Picard said. "We sent a letter to the (Board of Selectmen), which said we wanted a key after the lock was changed, and we never got one."
Board of Selectmen Chair Russell Sullivan said it was ridiculous that the police department does not have access to the old landfill, and directed town administrator Bill Herman to provide police with a key to the new lock as soon as possible.Picard also took the Board of Selectmen to task over their handling of reports of illegal dumping and excavating at the property of Geraldine Silva. The board maintained throughout the meeting that Silva's issue was a Planning Board matter.
"I don't see it that way; it's a town issue that needs to be addressed, and expediency should be on the forefront," Picard told the board.
Members of the public also took the board to task during Monday's meeting regarding the road agent's budget, which has more than doubled since 2005, the year before Dross was elected.


text:
|2012-07-16, 01:54
|Link #1064
Join Date: Aug 2010
Spoiler for 'Taka':
Kodaka didn't get stronger. He got weaker, at least according to himself.
|2012-07-16, 03:07
|Link #1065
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
I am sorry! I must have misread it. I had the pages scanned with OCR and tried to translate them with Google Translator and I have gone through it some days ago so at least I could squeeze out some information out of it. Mostly it's just rubbish and not clear and the order of words of the translation were hard to understand. Some sentences however were just clear (for example the last sentence about replying the confession).
About Sena's feelings after the confession:
Last edited by mironicus; 2012-07-16 at 04:56.
|2012-07-17, 09:12
|Link #1067
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Spoiler for Response to Taka Spoiler:
That being said, this dimension of Hagani is very interesting - rarely do harem protagonists reflect at how improbable and unworthy they are of being one. That alone raises Kodaka above the hordes of generic male Harem leads.
It is interesting that Rika reaches out to him in the most blunt of fashions. At the same time, I wonder why Sena's interactions with Kodaka seems the most natural and spontaneous out of the entire cast. I think it eats Yozora inside.
Is it coincidence that the Hagani PSP game seemed to delve into the outcome of the Rika route that elaborately? Seriously, if Rika had controlled her more bizarre fetishistic urges, she'd be ahead of Sena right now.
Last edited by novalysis; 2012-07-21 at 05:44.
|2012-07-17, 12:54
|Link #1068
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
If he chooses a girlfriend from the group it is important for him that no one has a problem with it (so he also needs Yozora's approval).
Kodaka accepted Sena right from the very beginning. She never had to do anything special to get close to him, just being herself. While the other girls are quiet confused and are always trying to find out how to approach him, Sena doesn't even have to care about that. She also has much luck - like in the King Game where they were about to kiss (Kodakas willingness to kiss her without any resistance speaks for itself). And also their shopping date where Sena was alone with him was just pure luck.
If Sena approaches someone, she comes very close to you and looks straight into your face and in your eyes (look at Episode 3 right before the swimming date). That is Sena's special ability to easily gain trust from others and that worked flawlessly on Kodaka. Her father Pegasus is also like this (seeks closeness). Sena's and Kodaka's fathers are best friends, and so they inherited some of their abilities so it seems just natural that there is a good chemistry and no much barriers between them. If Kodaka talks to Sena she always gives him her full attention - as long as Kobato is not around (look at the chapter "Born princess"). Sena is able to adapt towards Kodaka because he let her come closer to him. At the shopping date he answered all her questions about Kobato and then he redirected the topic and started to talk more about himself. He really seems to be interested in her and he wants her to give him more attention - instead of always thinking about Kobato.
For a loner to accept another person there are much obstacles to take because there is always the question "Can I trust her?" in his mind. Kodaka does not accept other people so easily (he is friendly, but also distant). He does not accept Rika's approaches as long she does not change her behaviour (just changing her outfit doesn't help) and starts to adapt towards him. Rika however does not want to change her behaviour for him because she is proud of it and so they don't fit as a possible couple. It can take years before a loner starts to accept a partner fully.
Last edited by mironicus; 2012-07-17 at 13:52.
|2012-07-17, 22:29
|Link #1069
The Last Frontier
Join Date: Apr 2004
Sena gets along well with Kodaka cause she's the most outgoing of the entire cast and most semi-normalish. She also genuinely wants to have friends as seen by how she's the ONLY person who actually joins the neighbors club for that reason, another sign of her outgoing personality. Everyone else was basically "meh, it's fine being by myself"
Another thing I want to point out is that during the shopping date, notice how it's Sena that Kodaka asks 'so...how do you(neighbors club) feel about yozora being my childhood friend?'. It's got some potential romantic subtext in it as well and can be taken as 'how does sena herself feel about it?'
|2012-07-19, 00:30
|Link #1070
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Last edited by azziz; 2012-07-19 at 06:15.
|2012-07-19, 04:03
|Link #1071
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
About "raising flags" - just think the other around which girls raises the most Kodaka flags.
While Sena faced Yozora in Vol. 7 that she should finally get over her past, she also raised some flags, because Kodaka don't have the guts to confront Yozora himself. While he always runs away from his problems, and pretend not to hear and not to see, Sena is straight and comes to the point. She actually faces problems and tries to solve them. This is the reason why she can lead a carefree-life for the most time.
She has traits that Kodaka lacks of and he admires her for that (those later chapters of Vol. 7 are not translated yet). In a possible partnership she will always kick his butt to come out of his shell (and cheer him up if he feels down) and she won't tolerate his attitude to run away from problems.
|2012-07-21, 03:18
|Link #1072
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Vexed released another chapter of Haganai "The second time". That's exactly the chapter I was talking about in my recent post.
Last edited by CrowKenobi; 2012-07-21 at 19:28. Reason: Letting others know the chapter is out is fine, but please don't link to BT.
|2012-07-21, 10:08
|Link #1076
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
|2012-07-21, 12:13
|Link #1077
The Last Frontier
Join Date: Apr 2004
Again, I hope not because that's a really horrible execution of the plot. Yozora should be mentally healthy AND happy. Kodaka choosing her will not help her in any way. Ideally, Yozora should become like the one in the plus manga, where she grows up and goes "Kodaka, you're my bro. I'm behind you all the way" as a FRIEND instead of being clingy. And yes, I think she's clingy especially after the latest chapter that was just released.
It's very telling that Yozora thinks of the neighbors club as "two + lots of other people" ; the two being her and Kodaka of course. I don't know, it feels like she doesn't even think of them as friends and it might be her that has the most difficulty making friends in the end.
|2012-07-21, 12:44
|Link #1078
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Maybe it's the combination of both that will help her: Sena actually approaches her problems directly, and that gives Kodaka the opportunity to talk about it with Yozora. The last scene between them felt like a parent talking to a stubborn child.
Last edited by mironicus; 2012-07-23 at 06:42.
|comedy, friendship, harem, light novels, love decisions, school life, shounen
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One week after the Hanukkah fire that decimated more than one third of the Carmel Forest, ambassadors from 21 countries and a representative of the Palestinian Authority planted saplings at the Carmel Mountain Hotel with Keren Kayemeth LeYisrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) world chairman Efi Stenzler and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Over the next 12 months, about one million additional trees will be replanted in public recreational areas of the scorched bio-reserve, says Yisrael Tauber, director of KKL-JNF's Afforestation Department.
Natural regeneration is the byword for the rest of the forest, which lost about five million pine, oak, cypress and pistachio trees along with countless plants and creatures.
The work of natural healing will be carefully monitored by KKL-JNF forest rangers and volunteers. New tree growth must be thinned to lessen the competition for scarce water and encourage biodiversity, explains Dr. Omri Bonneh, KKL-JNF northern region director, adding that "Natural selection favors pines, which are the quickest to grow, but we are interested in forests with a wide variety of trees."
Protecting the unburned parts of the forest is another priority. Workers will thin and prune the trees, remove wood residue and tree branches that could ignite and create firebreaks – tree-free areas that act as a barrier to slow or stop a wildfire.
Concern for the Aleppo pine
While natural regeneration is considered the best course, it is slow. Following the last major fire on the Carmel, in 1989, it took 15 to 20 years for the animal life and vegetation to fully recover, says Prof. Ido Izhaki, director of the Carmel Research Center at the University of Haifa.
The good news is that if additional fires can be prevented, even more species of wildlife and vegetation are likely to appear, he adds. But that's a big "if," considering that since 1978 the range has suffered 500 small and medium fires, as well as nine large ones.
Izhaki tells ISRAEL21c that certain species on the Carmel have developed resilience to fire and some have even become dependent on it. The Aleppo pine is a prime example. Its cones crack open to release their seeds only under intense heat.
"After this enormous fire, the Carmel will be covered with pine buds," Izhaki predicts. "That is what happened after the 1989 fire."
The Aleppo pine is especially important to the Carmel, which has the only woodland forest of such trees on the eastern Mediterranean coast.
"We don't know how many adult pines are left now," Izhaki says, "Many of them are gone. We hope we have enough to keep this species alive."
Help for Carmel wildlife
The devastation was not, of course, limited to trees. The deadliest fire in Israeli history, ignited the morning of December 2, by a careless teenager from the Druze town of Ussafiya, claimed the lives of 44 people. More than 17,000 people had to leave their homes as Israeli and KKL-JNF firefighters battled the blaze for five days with the help of personnel and equipment from 18 countries.
Millions of dollars worth of damaged infrastructure must be rebuilt in and around the Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Druze towns and cities in the vicinity of the 80-square-mile Carmel mountain range, the only Israeli biosphere reserve designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The forest's many animals also suffered. Though some fled on their own and others were helped to safety by rangers and volunteers, many weren't so lucky. Porcupines, jackals, foxes, wild boars, songbirds and snakes were among the creatures burned to death.
"Many animals were killed in the fire, but even if they managed to survive, their habitat is gone," says Michael Weinberger, KKL-JNF forest supervisor for the Western Galilee and Carmel Mountain.
"I saw a deer that came back to its territory, a beautiful green forest that was now black and red from the fire retardant sprayed by the fire planes. The poor thing had such a look of shock and disbelief in its gentle eyes. And there was a goldfinch that stood staring at the burnt forest, incapable of moving even when people stood right next to it. These are memories I will never forget."
At Hai Bar Nature Reserve, fallow deer were led to a safer spot and breeding raptors were transferred to a nearby facility till after the fire was out, but the flames damaged the vulture cage and the fence around the deer enclosure.
Hai-Bar is among the places targeted for assistance by a Plant and Animal Rehabilitation Committee launched by various governmental ministries in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Ministry, the Nature and Parks Authority and the KKL-JNF.
In addition, Jewish relief organizations across the world launched major campaigns to raise millions for rehabilitating the forest and offering assistance to residents of affected communities.
Caring for Carmel residents
Many of the people evacuated were able to return home within a day or two, but the government had to provide mobile homes for the occupants of about 250 destroyed houses and sent emergency allocations to the social welfare departments in Ussafiya, Tirat Hacarmel and the Carmel Coast Regional Council area to cover clothing and footwear, medicines and food.
Prime Minister Netanyahu announced his intention to dedicate a memorial on the first anniversary of the disaster at Kibbutz Beit Oren, one of the communities hardest hit by the blaze along with Ein Hod Artists Colony, Yemin Orde Youth Village, Nir Etzion and Ussafiya.
Volunteers headed to these areas in the aftermath of the fire and continue pitching in to repair damage and replace possessions. Just one example is a patchwork blanket project by a quilting group in Mevasseret Zion for the benefit of hundreds of Yemin Orde children who lost everything in the fire.
As one way of preventing future disasters, the KKL-JNF's Bonneh plans to meet with residents of these communities to explore how they can strengthen their bond with the forest through environmental education and "adopting" sections to care for.
The Center for the Study of the Carmel will focus on improving the relationship between the Druze population and the biosphere, particularly in Ussafiyah.
"People are blaming the entire Druze community for the fire, and we must find ways to help them live in peace with the reserve," states Izhaki. Residents will learn how they can benefit economically from their surroundings, such as developing businesses based on eco-tourism.


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The Modern Reader Bookcase in Snow with Espresso is the perfect accent to your sophisticated nursery. Fixed interior dividers create contemporary lines and tiered shelving for both style and function. Both single and double bookcases rest on a sturdy, solid, ash-wood base. This style compliments and compliments the Perrimore Nursery Collection but its design is so clean and versatile that it can work in any room in the home.
Would you like us to help you find a similar item? Talk with our Design Consultants toll-free at1-800-927-5164.
*Shipping transit time varies based on destination. Free shipping offers are limited to the 48 contiguous states of the USA.
International Customers (including Alaska and Hawaii) please contact a Customer Service Representative if you have any questions about placing an order with PoshTots.
Some assembly required. Assembly service available upon request.
Promotion codes cannot be used for sale item purchases.
*Free shipping offers are limited to the 48 contiguous states of the USA.


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Watch Jimmy Fallon Audition for 'Saturday Night Live'
If one were to make the argument that Jimmy Fallon is currently the best late night TV host, one would certainly bring up his amazing impressions, musical or otherwise.
Fallon's skills at impersonation have always been a big part of his appeal. In fact, when a young Fallon auditioned for 'Saturday Night Live' his material was basically a parade of celebrity impression.
Or should we say a walkathon. And one including the voices of everybody from John Travolta to Jerry Seinfeld to Bill Cosby to Chris Rock to Gilbert Gottfried.
The biggest laugh Fallon got during the opening walkathon bit was his send up of baby-voiced 'SNL' alum Adam Sandler. Later in audition, which snagged him a spot on the show, Fallon takes out his guitar and spoofs '90s musical acts like The Counting Crows, The Wallflowers and Alanis Morissette.
As you can see in the audition video, Fallon's celebrity voices weren't always necessarily spot on when he was in his early '20s. (His Seinfeld and his Cosby have both gotten better over the years.) But his timing is pretty impeccable. And, when it comes to comedy, timing is just about everything.


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This track is available as part of my Scary Music Pack
Classic horror/slasher movie suspense and terror music. Eerie and unsettling opening, gives way to abject terror and unrelenting madness in the final half. Great for unleashing cinematic psychos and whack jobs on your disposable cast members. Goes well with chainsaws, drills, lawnmowers – whatever weapon of choice your villain decides to unleash.


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Nuno talks about his amplifier and how he uses it.
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A VAN laden with £5,000 of booze was seized after the driver was suspected of smuggling the alcohol.
The van was stopped by Essex Police's comercial vehicle unit at the Moto Services on the M25 at Thurrock as part of a crackdown on comemrcial drivers flouting the law.
Police found the van, which was heading from East London to Suffolk, was overloaded by more than two tonnes and was packed with booze for which it is believed no excise duty was paid.
The driver had also been stopped twice previously for attempting to avoid paying tax on alcohol.
The man was fined £600 for having an overloaded vehicle and the alcohol and van were seized by Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs.
During the stopchecks, codenamed Operation Mermaid, last Thursday, police also made a Romanian lorry driver take an enforced nine-hour break and fined him £200 after he was was to have failed to complete his driving hour records for carrying a load from Spain to Cambridgeshire.
Thirty six other commerical drivers were found to have flouted restrictions on their driving hours, two cars were seized for having no insurance, three vehicles had no MOT and a lorry driver was fined £60 and given three penalty points for using a mobile.


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Kendra, You Should Take Notes From Victoria Beckham On How to Comfort Your Guy After a Big Loss!
Now that your man is a Super Bowl loser, Kendra, you should take a page out of Victoria's book. She knows a thing or two about how to handle her soccer stud hubby's misery after his team loses a big game
Feb. 7 was a sad, sad day for two particular sports players: Hank Baskett's team, the Indianapolis Colts, lost miserably to the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV, while David Beckham's AC Milan soccer team tied 0-0 in a match against Bologna. But after 10 years of marriage and dozens of losses, Victoria Beckham knows just the thing to boost her husband's mood. Re: take note, Kendra Wilkinson – your hubby, Hank, is definitely going to need some cheering up!
The former Spice Girl, 35, along with her three sons — Brooklyn, 10, Romeo, 7, and Cruz, 4 — spontaneously flew from England to Milan and quickly hopped in a car so their mere presence would brighten up David's day.
Halfway across the world in Miami, the former Girls Next Door star was actually on hand to witness an onside kick bounce off of her husband's helmet and into the hands of a Saints player. But unlike Victoria, Kendra, 24, went about supporting her man in the entirely wrong way: she reportedly retreated into a back room and refused to speak to anyone. Hank, 27, was so upset he didn't answer any questions after the game.
We don't envy your position right now, Kendra – consoling a devastated athlete has got to be tricky. Although you've only been married for less than a year, and your baby boy, Hank Baskett IV, is still a newborn, you've still got time to learn how to become an athlete's significant other. Really, we highly advise you have some tea time with Victoria – after all, after 10 years with David, she knows a thing or two about playing the game of consoling wife.
Get More Super Bowl party gossip:
- EXCLUSIVE! Kim Kardashian Didn't Want To Take Attention Away From Reggie Bush On His Big Super Bowl Weekend!
- EXCLUSIVE! Audrina Patridge Fell Out Of Her Super Bowl Party Dress — And Told 'The Hills' Cameras To Keep Rolling!
- HollyWho-Knew? Rihanna & Jennifer Lopez Are Total BFFs!
- HollywoodLife.com Goes To The Super Bowl! Get All The Hot Party Details Here!
- EXCLUSIVE! Katie Cassidy Admits: 'I Don't Follow Football Or Watch Television!'


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When Air Force One touches down in Massachusetts Wednesday, it will be in area code 508.
President Barack Obama, slated to be the commencement speaker at Worcester Technical High School's graduation Wednesday, will land at Worcester Regional Airport and proceed by motorcade to the DCU Center, officials said this afternoon.
"It's a great thing for the city, it's a great thing for Worcester Airport," said City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr., who helped coordinate President Bill Clinton's 1998 visit to the city.
White House planning officials are in the city Thursday, doing advance work for Mr. Obama's 4 p.m. address to Worcester Technical graduates.
U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, said he advised the White House to have the city's own airport be the destination for Air Force One, as opposed to landing at Logan International Airport in Boston.
Worcester Regional Airport, which is operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority, languished for several years after losing commercial passenger service. That changed last year when JetBlue launched twice daily service to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. JetBlue said more than 60,000 passengers have since used the flights.
"All systems are go for the president to land at Worcester Airport," said Mr. McGovern. "This is a regional airport that is making a comeback. Symbolically and practically it makes sense."
MassPort Chief Executive Thomas P. Glynn said any remaining airport skeptics should take notice of President Obama's visit.
"This is a first class airport," said Mr. Glynn. "The White House could have gone to Logan. I think it's another milestone in the legitimacy of Worcester Airport in the minds of the traveling public."
News of Mr. Obama's travel plans came as city, JetBlue and MassPort officials gathered at the airport this afternoon to honor valedictorians from schools in Worcester, Auburn and Leicester. The valedictorians each received two round-trip JetBlue tickets in recognition of their academic achievements.


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Not all first-person shooters are created equal, there are some that rise above the pack. Games that outclass the competition and make their way into the annals of FPS legend unchecked.
These are not those games.
These are the most overrated shooters we could scrounge up, games that have been given the utmost praise with nobody pausing to ask the most important question; "Is this game really that good?"
Resident Evil 4 is overrated? Wow. I love how they end the vid by practically labeling anyone who disagrees with this list a "fanboy" too. Yet another website to abort.


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Spencer T. Kelly, a former hairstylist who owned and operated Spencer's Salon and was a combat veteran of World War II, died Aug. 8 from complications of dementia at the Pickersgill Retirement Community in Towson.
He was 92.
The son of farmers, Spencer Thomas Kelly was born and raised in Harmans.
In his youth, he was a member of Uncle Jack's Kiddie Club and regularly performed at the Hippodrome Theatre.
Mr. Kelly was a graduate of Southern High School and the Marinello School of Beauty in Baltimore.
Mr. Kelly, who had enlisted in the Army during World War II, served in the tank corps with the 1st Army and later with Gen. George S. Patton Jr.'s 3rd Army. He participated in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp.
After the war, he returned to Baltimore, where he established Spencer's Hair Stylists in the 200 block of W. Saratoga St. in 1946. He operated it until retiring in 1998.
The former longtime resident of East Belvedere Avenue enjoyed attending the theater and was a fan of classical music. He also liked working in his vegetable and flower gardens.
Mr. Kelly was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, 5407 N. Charles St., Baltimore, where there will be a celebration of his life at 2 p.m. Sept. 8.
Mr. Kelly donated his body to the Maryland Anatomy Board.
Surviving are his wife of more than 60 years, the former Millicent Teague; a son, Edwin Thomas Kelly II of Charleston, W.Va.; a daughter, Jenny Kelly Lalov of Hunt Valley; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.


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My 2 week old son and I are having a few problems with our latch. Everything looks right -fish lips, lots of nipple in his mouth, temples moving etc. But, my nipples are SORE and are lipstick shaped when he's done so I guess the latch is too shallow?. They were covered in tiny blisters for a bit too. Also, he makes a gulping noise each time he swallows. He spits my nipple out frequently -I did have a bit of oversupply at the start, but that's dropped right down now -almost so there's not enough now, his weight gain has slowed down too. I can also easily slip my nipple out of his mouth while he's feeding, there is no vacuum at all.
Any ideas? I have already tried all the different feeding positions and wait till his mouth is wide open before attempting to latch on.


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San Diego, CA -- Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, commented today on the news that the parental notification measure in California has qualified to be on the next election ballot.
"Parents should be informed when their minor-age daughters seek an abortion. Abortion advocates always speak about how agonizing this decision is, yet oppose efforts to bring these agonized young mothers out of their isolation and into the care of their own parents.
"Now it will be up to the California voters to enact this commonsense legislation, already in effect in so many other states and supported by strong majorities of the American public. I call upon pastors to preach vigorously, to conduct voter registration drives, and urge their people to support this measure when it comes time to vote."
Priests for Life has offices in San Diego and a strong outreach throughout California. For more information, see www.priestsforlife.org


text: New PénélopeFantaisie series clever use of classic black lines and bright indigo collision, so that both sports and fashion bag models this markedly luxurious texture. Inspired by Klein and Buren two masters of art: in this top Spanish small public cowhide trim package, the package belt and tassel design aspects of the use of the graphic modern art, highlighting its sporty styling, highlight fashion and leisure the perfect fusion. New Pénélope ultimate achievement timeless classic series of fantasy!


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Dave D'Onofrio's Patriots' Notebook: Realizing what they can be
September 30. 2013 5:56PM
AFTER three wins over what are thought to be inferior foes, only time will tell how good a victory the Patriots' 30-23 triumph over the Falcons on Sunday night really was. With the defeat, Atlanta dropped to 1-3 on the young season, and something seems to be missing from the squad that finished last year with the NFC's best record. If they never find it, and the season becomes a struggle, having beat the Falcons won't seem like a such a notch on the belt of these Patriots as it does today.
But, then again, by the time that determination would be made, it might be irrelevant. By then the Patriots might not need any such validation. Because by then there may be no question that New England belongs among the league's best.
They're not there yet — consideration for the level of competition and the flaws that have been exposed in these early weeks combining to trump the impressiveness of a 4-0 record and rank among the five NFL teams still unbeaten through the first quarter of the season. Rarely more apparent than when they almost gave away a 17-point lead with six minutes to play by botching an onside kick and fumbling a snap on fourth-and-short, the Patriots are still very much a work in progress.
But progress is indeed being made. And being made in ways that bode well for what this team could become.
The young players are beginning to figure out the finer points of life in pro football, as evidenced Sunday night by the contributions coming from the Pats' sizable class of rookies. Most impressive was the star turn receiver Kenbrell Thompkins took en route to six catches for 127 yards and a spectacular touchdown, though there were several others that shouldn't be overlooked. Jamie Collins, the team's first draft pick in April, did good work alongside captain Jerod Mayo in jamming tight end Tony Gonzalez on the red zone stand that saved the game in the final seconds. Cornerback Logan Ryan, their next selection in the draft, was assigned to cover superstar receiver Julio Jones on the Falcons' play from the Patriots' 7 yard line.
And when Vince Wilfork went down with a season-ending tear of his Achilles heel on the game's opening series, undrafted rookie Joe Vellano stepped into his spot along the defensive front, played well, and registered a 13-yard sack. New England's other sack came from a rookie, too, courtesy of Michael Buchanan.
Meanwhile, second-year players Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower and Alfonzo Dennard have all continued to emerge as major factors for the defense, and it appears as though the Patriots' coaches on both sides of the scrimmage line have started to figure out how to get the best out of that talent as they become more familiar with the players.
New England's coordinators orchestrated an excellent game plan for Sunday, and the players executed. Josh McDaniels used a run-heavy first half (Tom Brady was just 5-for-9 before intermission) to set up things up for the passing game later (Brady threw for 220 yards after the break), while Matt Patricia's defense kept the Falcons to 27 yards or less on five of six series over the middle of the game. The Atlanta running game (58 yards) was virtually nonexistent all night, and Matt Ryan wound up with 421 yards passing, yes, but 182 of that came after the Pats went ahead 30-13 with 6:18 remaining.
The Pats let the Falcons back into the game at that point, but still the night's entire body of work presents the best evidence yet that things are starting to come together in every area for Bill Belichick's team — despite dealing with plenty of injuries and inexperience.
"I think the most important thing for our team is to continue to improve," Belichick said Monday. "We're not where we need to be as a team. We're making progress. We're certainly doing some things better than we did four games ago, or a month ago, but still a lot of things we can improve on, a lot of areas that we need to work in. That's the next step."
It's a next step they'll take without Wilfork, and that's a big loss. His size, strength and consistency keys a lot of what the Patriots do up front, and he won't be easy to replace. Vellano and Tommy Kelly will likely both see their responsibilities increase, and there will obviously be a new body brought in to help, too.
That addition could be as simple as elevating Marcus Forston or A.J. Francis from the practice squad. It could be revisiting an old friend who left on not-so-good terms, such as Richard Seymour or Kyle Love. It could be another player off the street. Or it could be made via trade. Whatever they do, and whoever they find, he'll either need to make an impact or the defense will need to change some of its fundamentals. Wilfork is that much a cornerstone of the foundation.
But, then again, he played only 10 snaps Sunday night. The Pats pressured Ryan on each of the first two plays after he left, forcing throwaways, and making the Falcons settle for a field goal. Including those, New England subsequently surrendered 200 yards from scrimmage on their first 50 snaps without Wilfork, that average of 4.0 yards per play essentially rendering Atlanta equivalent to the second-least efficient offense in the NFL.
It's silly to think that's sustainable, and sillier to think the Pats won't miss Wilfork — but they can survive his absence by continuing along the same road they've traveled the past couple of weeks. Belichick structures his system with the goal of his team getting better as the season drags on, which is why they've lost just one second-half game in the last three years, and which is partially why both of the previous seasons that started 4-0 under Belichick ended in the Super Bowl.
The first resulted in a 14-2 regular season, the second a 16-0 campaign, so to have that sort of head start again is a terrific sign, particularly after getting there with a victory like Sunday's.
A victory that looks impressive now — but could ultimately be looked back upon as the night New England began to realize what could become of this season.
Dave D'Onofrio covers the Patriots for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. His e-mail address is email@example.com.


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Sabre has announced the release of their new premium "High Times" collection. Featuring special metal detailing, French comotec hinges and fashion directional styling, Sabre will be releasing the collection internationally in limited numbers. Look out for a release in the near future.
Detailed images of the complete upcoming range of Sabre "High Times" Sunglasses follow after the jump.


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Josh and James surprised me Saturday morning with a call from James's school. They were at the yearly Fall Fest event and one of the vendors was a dog rescue group. After a brief call and some back and forth texting, I told Josh to go for it and to adopt this fellow. What made up my mind was watching a little video of James walking Basil on a leash--as you can see below, he is extremely rotund, and he waddles more than walks!
Josh instantly started him on a reduced calorie diet with a majority of cooked green beans, carrots, beats, or kale along with a portion of healthy dog food without fillers like corn and soy. Within a few days I noticed a difference in Basil; he was happier, moved around so much more, and he actually could run!
Well, it was more of a waddle-lope, but it's definitely progress:
We lost our greyhound, Jinjo, in 2010. The memory of losing Jinjo is still painful for both Josh and myself, and it's hard to even link to the post about her loss.
Basil is similar to Jinjo in many ways, although clearly not in weight! They are both very laid back, low maintenance dogs, and they both sleep and lie around for the majority of the day.
Basil has nearly one acre, completely fenced in, to explore and go on scent hunts. And James has made it a routine every evening to give him a run before he gets his dinner.
So that's it about our new dog! He is an older dog at eight years old, just as Jinjo was when we adopted her at five. We hope to enjoy many years with him just as we did with Jinjo.


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Learn it. Love it. Live it!
The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies offers these majors: outdoor adventure leadership, recreation management, and therapeutic recreation. Distinctive features of the department include:
- Many opportunities for experiential learning
- Low faculty-student ratios
- A liberal arts education blended with a professional degree
- Nationally and internationally recognized faculty
- Fully accredited curriculum
Outdoor Adventure Leadership – Outdoor adventure leadership majors develop skills to help others appreciate, respect, and enjoy their natural environment while leading safe and enjoyable adventure experiences. This major is designed for individuals who are enthusiastic about activities such as hiking, backpacking, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, and alpine travel, as well as those who would like to use these skills as a catalyst for growth in themselves and those they serve. Students embark on a semester-long experiential wilderness adventure to develop a personal ethic toward wilderness, professional competence, and transferable leadership skills.
Recreation Management – Recreation is an important, cultural, and economic force that influences well-being and quality of life. Recreation managers work in a wide variety of venues - from public parks and recreation agencies to campus recreation and private for-profit recreation businesses such as clubs, resorts, and ski areas - to help promote personal growth, fitness, and wellness through recreation, and to provide healthy leisure choices. As a recreation management major you will study management, administration, programming, and leadership theory in the classroom and apply it in a number of hands-on learning experiences. NOTE: Fall 2014 is the last semester students will be admitted to the recreation management degree program. The recreation management program will maintain COAPRT accreditation until all students graduate from the program.
Therapeutic Recreation – Therapeutic recreation specialists use recreation as an intervention to promote independence, quality of life, and functioning for individuals with disabilities and other health conditions. Therapeutic recreation specialists assess physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual needs, strengths and aspirations and, with this information, develop individualized treatment plans and intervention strategies to support the individual's goals toward health and wellness. Therapeutic intervention is delivered through the full range of recreational activities including the arts, aquatics, horticulture, interaction with pets, sports, games, adventure recreation, and stress management, among many others.


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Monster Introduces New Speed-Rated HDMI Cable Line
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, HDTV, Home Entertainment,
Monster has just announced their new HDMI cable line, and this one looks to be a doozy. Looking to stay ahead of the curve, Monster has introduced a total of five different speeds for their HDMI offerings. Those would be Standard Speed (2.23 Gbps), High Speed (4.95 Gbps), Advanced High Speed (6.68 Gbps), Ultra-High Speed (10.2 Gbps), and Ultimate High Speed (14.93 Gbps). Now you might be wondering to yourself why any of this is even necessary. In our own opinion, it isn't. Monster could have cut two of those speeds out of the equation and had a lineup that would still meet the needs of pretty much every consumer. The reason they went this way, however, seems to be so that customer can buy exactly the cable they need without having to spend more on one that might be overkill. Hear me out.
The Ultimate High Speed cable hits 14.93 Gbps. If you are just pushing 480p signals in your home entertainment system, you don't need that, and therefore can spend a lot less on the Standard Speed. However, if you are doing 720p/1080i, the Standard won't be enough, and you should then bump up to the High Speed cable - Advanced High Speed would be overkill unless you have devices that send and receive 1080p signals. Starting to make sense?
Click to continue reading Monster Introduces New Speed-Rated HDMI Cable Line
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4/5 (80 %), 1 vote
Store located in Shopping mall/center : The Promenade
Store brand name : Caryl Baker Visage
Address & Location : 1 Promenade Cir, Thornhill, Ontario, ON L4J 4P8
State : Ontario
City : Thornhill
Phone (The Promenade) : +1 905-764-0020
Your satisfaction : Write a review
Caryl Baker Visage in Thornhill, Ontario - Save money and don't miss sales, events, news, coupons. Caryl Baker Visage is located in The Promenade, Thornhill, Ontario - ON L4J 4P8 Canada, address: 1 Promenade Cir.
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2015 Statutory Holiday Openings & Hours:
Family Day - Monday, February 16th 11:00am - 6:00pm
Good Friday - Friday, April 3rd11:00am - 6:00pm
Easter Sunday - Sunday, April 5th CLOSED
Victoria Day - Monday, May 18th11:00am - 6:00pm
Canada Day - Wednesday, July 1st 11:00am - 6:00pm
Civic Holiday - Monday, August 3rd 10:00am - 6:00pm
Labour Day - Monday, September 7th 11:00am - 6:00pm
Thanksgiving Day - Monday, Oc-ber 12th 11:00am - 6:00pm
Remembrance Day - Wednesday, November 11th 10:00am - 9:00pm
Black Friday - Friday, November 27th 7:00am - 9:00pm
Christmas Day - Friday, December 25th CLOSED
Boxing Day - Saturday, December 26th 8:00am - 8:00pm
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Caryl Baker Visage (The Promenade) - Thornhill Area, Ontario Canada ON L4J 4P8. Click on the button and get directions to Caryl Baker Visage. Store is also displayed on the map with gps for your navigation.
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A former lead singer of the soul music group "The Spinners" has died in Orlando.
A statement released Monday by the manager of the rhythm and blues group said Bobbie Smith passed away Saturday morning due to complications from pneumonia and influenza. He was 76.
The statement says Smith had been diagnosed with lung cancer in November.
Smith was the group's original lead singer and was the voice on their first hit "That's What Girls Are Made For." Also called the "Detroit Spinners," the group earned nearly a dozen gold records and half a dozen Grammy award nominations.
The group's biggest hits in the 1970s included: "I'll Be Around," ''Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" and "Games People Play."


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The Leavenworth County Port Authority is changing how it does business after losing funding from county government.
The Leavenworth County Port Authority is changing how it does business after losing funding from county government.
LCPA Board Chairman Terry Andrews said the economic development organization will no longer consider projects requiring financial incentives of more than $10,000.
He said these projects will be forwarded to Leavenworth County government for consideration.
Andrews said the Port Authority will continue to consider projects involving financial incentives of $10,000 or less.
Because the Port Authority is scaling back the projects it will consider, the board will start meeting on a quarterly basis instead of monthly.
"That's our plan," Andrews said.
He made the announcement Wednesday during a Port Authority Board meeting. He said the decision came after he was informed the county won't provide direct funding to the Port Authority for a second year in a row.
The Leavenworth County Port Authority is a quasi-governmental economic development agency with a board appointed by the city of Leavenworth and Leavenworth County.
County government provided funding to the Port Authority in the past, but the organization received no direct county funding this year. The county also did not provide direct funding to the Port Authority's partner organization, the Leavenworth County Development Corporation.
The county's 2015 budget, which was approved earlier this month, also does not include funding for the Port Authority or LCDC.
But, Commission Chairman Bob Holland has said commissioners will work with the organizations to provide financial incentives for specific projects.
Andrews said he would like to meet with county officials to discuss long-range planning. He said by the end of the year, there may not be any industrial park space available for future projects in the Leavenworth area.
As the Port Authority draws down its reserves, Andrews said the most critical expense is maintaining staff. The Port Authority does not have its own employees, but utilizes the LCDC staff.
Holland attended Wednesday's Port Authority Board meeting. Also in attendance were representatives of the cities of Leavenworth, Lansing and Tonganoxie, as well as members of LCDC's Board.
LCDC President Blaine Weeks questioned why the county stopped funding the two organizations.
"I'm not sure what was wrong with what we were doing before," he said.
Holland said he had wanted to be more involved in what the organizations were doing and see how the county's money was being spent.
Weeks said the commission can stay informed of how money is spent by attending board meetings.
Leavenworth City Manager Scott Miller said the five members of the Port Authority Board were approved by the Leavenworth City Commission and Leavenworth County Commission. He said county commissioners could have vetoed any of the appointments.
"These are your representatives," he said.
Andrews said the reality is the County Commission has become the Port Authority.
Port Authority Secretary Ed Chapman, Jr., said county officials should have come to the Port Authority regarding problems they had with the organization.
"That did not occur," he said. "Suddenly, the money is gone."
Holland asked if there is something the county can do to help the organizations right now.
"Write a check," Port Authority Board member Greg Kaaz said.
Holland raised the idea of the county turning over money that's been collected for economic development purposes to the Port Authority and LCDC. This is something that has not been voted on by the County Commission.
During the meeting, the Port Authority Board approved $5,000 in funding for The 27 Committee, a group that focuses on economic development related to Fort Leavenworth.
Miller said the city of Leavenworth also is providing $2,500 to The 27 Committee this year and has committed $5,000 for the organization next year.


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Altruistic Sports necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 72 diseños de 7 diseñadores freelance.
Altruistic Sports, Inc. A Non-Profit Company
Altruistic Sports is a non-profit organization looking for a creative, clean, and simple website design with an incredible look and feel.
Site Purpose:
1) Give the ability to purchase customized products that shows they support their teams
2) An online donation system for Sports Organization and Teams to easily, conveniently, securely, and safely fundraise the money they need to support their young athletes.
Our Mission:
Together with organizations, teams, parents and young athletes, Altruistic Sports fosters a life-long pursuit of excellence and positive experience in the sporting community. By enabling the cultivation of prideful contributions and the significance that ensues, Altruistic Sports encourages increasing opportunities in youth development, integrity, growth, fair and equitable athletic competition.
We are targeting two sets of people:
1) Parents of young (under 19) athletes to buy customized sports products and make donations
2) Sports Organization and Team Leaders (Directors, Coaches, Team Mom's, etc.) to use as a platform for fundraising.
1) Landing Page
• Please use wireframe (LandingPage1-Wireframe.jpg) as a guide.
• The top section (light-blue and white gradient) should be an image carousel [NO CODE REQUIRED] (Example of carousel at http://www.dailyburn.com)
Sites we like that capture the simplicity and clean look we want to see for the landing page:
• http://www.dailyburn.com (dailyburn.com.jpg)
• http://www.intuit.com (intuit.com.jpg)
2) Home Page
• Please incorporate the elements (content) from the header.jpg but please make it simple and smooth. Bottom-line this wireframe is ugly, be imaginative. PLUS add a menu item for Org. Leaders & Team Coaches (similar to http://www.limeexchange.com "I'm a…")
• Please incorporate the elements (content) from the footer.jpg. MUST include all elements but be creative with layout, font, colors, etc.
• Include a Facebook and Twitter logo similar to http://www.99designs.com buttons/images
• Include an image carousel with 4-5 images rotated that would display: products, specials, announcements, etc.
Sites we like that capture the simplicity and clean look we want to see for the Home Page:
• http://www.prosper.com/
• http://www.intuit.com
• http://www.skygolf.com/
• http://www.limeexchange.com
3) Logo
Our logo sucks! Just looking for a basic logo, don't need to spend a lot of time on this part.
Designs should be visually optimized for a screen resolution of 1024 X 768. However, essential elements (navigation, main content, etc.) must be no wider than 760 pixels.
We are open to smooth layouts and style, colors, fonts of your choice… we will give you prompt feedback.
File Output: PSD (NO CODE REQUIRED)
Let the creativity flow!


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Rothley Court, Westfield Lane, Rothley, Leicestershire, LE7 7LG
Room Reservations: 0845 6086040
Restaurant & Events: 0116 237 4141
Email: email@example.com
Rothley Court, Rothley
A beautiful 16th century manor house hotel with fantastic stained glass windows and traditional oak panelling throughout, this 16th-century manor house hotel is elegantly English. The building history has strong links to the Knights Templar and William Wilberforce's work to abolish slavery in the 1700's.
An impressive 30-bedroom building, surrounded by 10 acres of private ground, Rothley Court is an ideal wedding venue for up to 85 guests, with its own chapel, babbling brook and rose walk.
A perfect retreat to enjoy our seasonal menus, with dishes such as our British Beef and Old Speckled Hen ale pie or Black Angus steaks for the grill, perfectly accompanied with our cask ales, premium beers including Greene King IPA or Peroni and our fine wines.
Rothley Court also hosts three function rooms, with free Wi-Fi which is perfect for business trips and corporate meetings.
With Rothley Park Golf Club, De Montfort Hall and The National Space Centre close by; why not make Rothley Court your first choice when planning your next trip away.
Food served 7am–10pm Mon-Fri, 8am–10pm Sat-Sun
This hotel is dog friendly – in the bar area and standard rooms only
Last check in is 11pm
Double x 11
Family x2
Single x1
Superior x 7
Twin x 5
Bradgate Park – 3 miles
National Space Centre – 5 miles
New Walk Museum – 7 miles
De Montfort Hall – 7.5 miles
Leicester Cathedral – 6.6 miles
Rothley Park Golf Club – 0.3 miles
Fosse Park shopping – 12 miles
Leicester City football club – 7.7 miles
Leicester Rugby Club – 7.7 miles
East Midlands airport – 14.6 miles
Donnington Park – 16.2 miles
Leicester Train Station – 7.2miles
Postcode: LE7 7LG
On leaving the A6, turn left at the lights and left again at the next crossroads, following the road for half a mile – and the hotel is on the left
Free parking is available
Special offers and promotions
Find us on TripAdvisor
Customer Testimonials
"a very interesting historical building full of character and old english charm"
"stunning location, lovely building."
"It was very good value for money."


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Movie Description(Click Here To Hide)
Based on real events, this action-drama/thriller depicts the story of John Matthews (Dwayne Johnson), a father who's willing to risk everything to save his teenage son after he gets set up distributing drugs, Now, with his only child facing a lengthy minimum prison sentence, John makes a deal with the U.S. Attorney to work as an undercover informant with the DEA. His plan: infiltrate the drug cartel responsible for his son's demise while protecting his own life and the life of his family. Co-written and directed by Ric Roman Waugh, the film also stars Susan Sarandon, Benjamin Bratt & Jon Bernthal.
Snitch Reviews
2013-03-04 18:00
MRR Review: "Snitch"
-- Rating: PG-13 (sequences of violence, drug content)
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People Directory : Sheri N. White
Sheri N. White
Senior Engineer
Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering
Office Phone: +1 508 289 3740
WHOI Mailing Address:
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
266 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1050
Ph.D. MIT/WHOI Joint Program, 2000, Marine Geology & Geophysics
B.S. Purdue University, 1993, Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering
Research Interests
Development of in situ instrumentation for making geochemical measurements in the deep ocean (particularly at hydrothermal vent sites); primarily interested in optical techniques such as Raman spectroscopy.
Research Statement
I am currently involved in the Ocean Observatories Initiative Program, as a part of the Coastal/Global Scale Nodes (CGSN) Team. We are working to develop and deploy a number of moorings, gliders, and AUVs in open ocean and coastal regions.
IEEE; Society for Applied Spectroscopy; AGU


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03 November, 2009
U2 is the opening act in San Francisco 3They were the support act for J. Geils Band -remember "FREEZE-FRAME"?- and I knew who they were because I had the OCTOBER album and loved all the British sound. This was my first OFFICIAL date with my future husband #1 and he and I hung around with a very PUNK and British sounds crowd in the early 80s in Berkeley, CA. Interestingly, this is the ONLY time I have ever seen U2 and now I get to see them again in 2010 with my current British husband #2. Life coming full circle. These 2 shows were huge for J. Geils so U2 had a great big audience in 1982. I knew every song and they were soooo young. I also worked in a record store at the time so we played all the cool new British invasion. They were almost like seeing a really kick-ass bar band or high school band because of their behavior onstage. Bono invited his little kid sister (somebody in U2's sister) onstage to sing along and they ran out of material and said so and started replaying the entire set list AGAIN! The audience was WILD for them and wouldn't let them off the stage. They were too much of an Irish good time!! Foreshadow of things to come. I was really impressed with their attitudes. How different the Oakland, CA 360 Tour will be in scale! Also, been to Dublin, IRE and it's kick-ass!


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The James Gang's Jimmy Fox Recalls Meeting Joe Walsh
James Gang drummer and founder Jimmy Fox recently recalled how he first linked up with guitarist Joe Walsh in an on-air interview with WCNX. Fox gave the guitarist his start in the power trio, so he effectively discovered Walsh in terms of a national audience.
Fox joked, "He would not go away! I looked through peephole in the door to my apartment at Kent State, and he would not go away." Fox hired Walsh to play in The James Gang and the rest, as they say, is history.
Fox said that since the Eagles are still active, Walsh is busy and it's one of the reasons they haven't toured together recently. But there is hope. "We all have good intentions about doing it, and if the stars
line up, we'll get to do it again," Fox said. Good to know there's a chance we can see the James Gang play together again in the future. Fingers crossed. (Walsh told us the same thing recently in our exclusive interview)
The ever-gracious drummer also reflected on how fans have held The James Gang in high regard after all these years, humbly saying, "We must have done something good, since people still want to hear it." That's a good indicator! He also said that hearing his songs on the radio is a feeling and an experience that never, ever gets old! You can check out WCNX's entire interview here.


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By Ryan Mauro
American Muslims for Palestine has added four more Islamists to their lineup of speakers for their conference near Chicago on November 22-25 (not to be confused with the another Islamist conference, the 11th annual convention of the Muslim American Society and the Islamic Circle of North America in Chicago on December 22-25).
The program for the event also reflects an Islamist agenda, including a session that legitimizes Palestinian terrorism. And most disturbingly, there's a session about how to teach these beliefs to children.
AMP recently condemned Israeli strikes on terrorist targets in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and demanded an end to U.S. foreign aid to Israel, but did not even mention the more than 200 rockets and missiles that Hamas has fired at Israeli cities since November 10.
The original lineup included at least nine Islamists that RadicalIslam.org reported earlier in our article Brotherhood/Hamas-Linked Activist in Illinois for Extremist Event.
The additional four are as follows:
Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, who unsuccessfully sought the Egyptian presidency. He wanted the constitution to have Sharia and its principles as the main source of legislation, though he said this may not include its criminal law. Fotouh was a Muslim Brotherhood member since the early 1970's, serving in a senior leadership capacity from 1987 to 2009 in the Guidance Bureau. His membership was suspended when he ran for president against the Brotherhood's wishes. At the time, the Brotherhood said it would not seek the presidency but later reversed course and won.
Abdelfattah Mourou Abdelfattah Mourou is a co-founder of the Islamist Al-Nahda political party of Tunisia. Another founder is Rachid Ghannouchi, a supporter of Hamas with a history of very extreme preaching.
Imam Zaid Shakir Imam Zaid Shakir is no stranger to readers of RadicalIslam.org. We've documented his ongoing extremist preaching. He says that Hezbollah's bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983 was not a terrorist attack, writes anti-American poems and told the New York Times in 2006 that "he still hoped that one day the United States would be a Muslim country ruled by Islamic law." In one lecture, he legitimized a potential hijacking of airplanes transporting U.S. soldiers.
Shiekh Mohammad al-Hanooti Shiekh Mohammad al-Hanooti was President of the Islamic Association of Palestine from 1978 to 1990, an organization that was a Muslim Brotherhood front that rallied support for Hamas. The Investigative Project on Terrorism reports that he attended a secret meeting of Brotherhood and Hamas supporters in Philadelphia in 1993 that was wiretapped by the FBI. Al-Hanooti was named a "possible unindicted co-conspirator" in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and also was an imam at two other prominent mosques linked to Hamas and the Brotherhood: The Islamic Center of Passaic County (1990 to 1995) and Dar al-Hijrah (1995 to 1999).
The recently published AMP program shows numerous Islamist themes. One session claims that the Arab Spring was inspired by "decades of Palestinian resistance." Critics of the Islamist network in America are attacked in a session about "Islamophobia."
The conference also ridicules U.S. counter-terrorism efforts and blasts "U.S. policies that are working to reduce Palestinians as a people, both physically and morally." The program claims "solidarity work for Palestine is being criminalized more every day," a reference to the prosecution of Muslim activists like Sami al-Arian and the five Holy Land Foundation officials for their involvement with Palestinian terrorist groups.
One session, titled, "The dialectic of occupation and right of resistance," sounds like it will be a legitimization of terrorism disguised as an intellectual discourse. It will feature activists engaged in "peaceful resistance" and experts who will "put this into context of the greater picture of the internationally guaranteed right to resist occupation."
Read more at Radical Islam
The AMP's conference is being held (Nov 22-25) at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort in Oak Brook, IL. Americans who want to contact the hotel to express their opinions regarding its hosting of this conference can do so at the following telephone 1-630-850-5555 or fax 1-630-850-5569.


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The fast and furious lifestyles of rappers, DJs, producers, their teams, journalists, and others in the music industry don't leave a lot of time for focusing on good health. Lately, the pressures of the industry have been taking a toll on some of the top names in the game, and hopefully, scaring the rest of us into paying more attention to diet and physical fitness.
Just last week, Rick Ross, leader of the Maybach Music Group (MMG) movement, suffered two seizures in the same day aboard two separate airplanes. While rappers like Ross may seem invincible on the mic, the realities of managing health concerns, especially those that disproportionately affect Black men, hit them hard, sometimes in the primes of their careers.
AllHipHop.com asked MMG rapper Wale recently about the difficulties of balancing hard work and hard partying with healthy decisions on a daily basis:
AllHipHop.com: When it comes to rap artists, how do you or should you take care of your health?
Wale: There's no format to it. I think that's the bad part. A lot of entertainers don't really know how to take care of themselves. Nobody really showed us to do it the right way. Everybody is not so good with going to the gym or to the doctor. A lot of us as artists are not really people-persons; a lot of people take a lot of drugs or smoke a lot to deal with it. A lot of rock n' roll people, they took a lot of drugs because it's a lot of questions and a lot of pressure and a lot of repetitive interviews. It's a lot sh*t you gotta put up with.
Having a show every night, and having the same energy and the same vibe to perform the same show that you have been performing 40 nights in a row, a lot of people can't do that sober. That's why a lot of artists don't follow a template. We have a different lifestyle than the average person, and it gets difficult sometimes.


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While that may be something they have in common, their aims for the season are completely different. Micky Adams has guided his Port Vale side to the top of the division and after a 2-1 win over second place Gillingham in their last game they now have a seven point cushion in the automatic promotion places.
It may come as a surprise then, that Vale are available at 19/20 (1.95) with bet365 to win this match, especially considering they have won four of their last five matches and it's a price that many may consider good value but the home side have improved of late.
AFC Wimbledon are more concerned with preserving their Football League status and are now on a three-match unbeaten run, with much-needed wins over Torquay and Rochdale meaning they are now just a point off safety.
They are an industry best 3/1 (4.0) with bet365 to claim another three points while the draw is a 14/5 (3.80) play with the same firm, neither of those bets appeal so it's best to look for value elsewhere.
That mini revival in Wimbledon's results, although encouraging, shouldn't deter punters from backing Port Vale to continue their good goalscoring form. Adams has brought in Lee Hughes from Notts County and although he is now 37 years of age, he adds more firepower to a forward line that already contains League Two's top goalscorer, Tom Pope.
The best bet here is to back Port Vale to score two or more goals at 5/6 (1.83) with Bet365. Vale have been rampant in front of goal for most of the season and this bet would of landed in four of their last five matches.
This market appears to offer even more value when looking at this season's results against sides currently in 18th place or below where the league leaders have been nothing short of prolific.
Of the seven games that Port Vale have played, they've only failed to land this bet once, in the other six matches they scored at least three times, twice scoring four goals.
With that in mind and for those in search of a bigger price, it seems logical to take Port Vale to win the match and over 2.5 goals to be scored at 7/4 (2.75).
Wimbledon have played nine matches against teams in the top 10 of the division, managing only one draw and losing the other eight. While they may have shown signs of life in recent weeks which may mean they can contribute at least one goal to the tally, Vale should be too good for them and are good value get the better of a high-scoring encounter at a decent price.
|Best Bet
|Value Bet
|Port Vale to score over 1.5 goals at 5/6 (1.83) with bet365
|Port Vale to win and over 2.5 total goals at 7/4 (2.80) with bet365
Sign up with bet365 for up to £200 in free bets
Jim Knight is Betting Editor at Goal.com and has been tipping football games since he was old enough to place a bet. He is a Leicester City fan, writer and member of the We Are Going Up Podcast
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It's been brought to our attention that several members have taken a transaction issue overboard and started using avatars featuring pink cookies as a way to mock this member.
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All members are being asked to remove the pink cookies from their avatars and/or signatures within the next 24 hours, or strikes will be given and avatars/signatures removed by administration.
Please re-familiarize yourselves with the Rules and FAQ's regarding offensive avatars, the Rules and FAQ's regarding name-calling and the rules and the FAQs regarding attacking fellow Diaperswappers members.
While many members have just jumped on the bandwagon by adding cookies to their avatars, it is important to stop and think about how your actions could make other members feel. How would you feel if dozens of women openly mocked you and, in effect, ganged up on you because of something you said in PRIVATE messages? It's rude, hateful...and just plain mean.
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The Transportation Department warns that automatic budget cuts would mean furloughs for air traffic controllers, along with other complications for travelers.
By Robert Schroeder
WASHINGTON — Travelers should expect flight delays of up to 90 minutes at major U.S. airports if the automatic budget cuts known as the sequester are allowed to take effect, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned on Friday.
LaHood said the government would, beginning in April, have to furlough Federal Aviation Administration workers one or two days a week as long as the sequester lasts, slowing down work at airports.
"It's not possible to continue the same schedules with less people," LaHood told reporters at the White House.
The transportation chief also said that air traffic control towers at more than 100 regional airports from Alabama to Wyoming could be closed if the cuts — totaling $85 billion across domestic and military programs in fiscal 2013 — go into effect on March 1.
Congress has until March 1 to replace or postpone the sequester, which was originally due to kick in at the beginning of the year. The cuts for fiscal 2013 were delayed by last year's fiscal-cliff agreement. Overall, the sequester calls for $1.2 trillion in cuts from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2021.
LaHood said that his agency would need to cut about $1 billion in 2013, $600 million of which would come from the FAA.
Lawmakers are due back in Washington next week and are expected to work on bills to replace the sequester. President Barack Obama plans to travel to Newport News, Va., on Tuesday to discuss the impacts that the cuts would have, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Friday.


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Death Star
The Death Star was the Empire's ultimate weapon: a moon-sized space station with the ability to destroy an entire planet. But the Emperor and Imperial officers like Grand Moff Tarkin underestimated the tenacity of the Rebel Alliance, who refused to bow to this technological terror…
Soundboard //
Soundboard //
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, with assistance from the Geonosians, had plotted to build the first dreaded Death Star -- a weapon unlike anything the galaxy had ever seen. Palpatine, secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, had his apprentice Darth Tyranus (also known as Count Dooku) deliver the plans from Geonosis to Coruscant at the start of the Clone Wars.
Even as the Clone Wars raged, the Death Star secretly took shape in space above Geonosis. Access to the former Separatist world was restricted, with very few in the Imperial hierarchy allowed to know about the battle station's construction.
The Empire initially appointed Vice Admiral Rancit to supervise the network of bases protecting the Death Star, an effort overseen from the remote Sentinel Base. Rancit's replacement, Wilhuff Tarkin, faced a host of challenges, from delayed shipments and raw-materials shortages to missed engineering deadlines and attempts at sabotage. Tarkin proved a capable commander, and Palpatine rewarded him by making him a Grand Moff with greater control over the project. Tarkin would become the battle station's greatest champion, seeing it as the key to vanquishing all resistance to Palpatine's rule.
The Empire completed construction of the Death Star, but Rebel Alliance spies managed to steal data tapes containing its schematics. Their goal: to find a weakness within the superstructure and exploit it. Darth Vader, an Imperial enforcer serving the Emperor and Grand Moff Tarkin, led an Imperial hunt to recover the plans. While he proved unsuccessful on that front, the Sith captured Princess Leia Organa, a suspected Rebel sympathizer. In a display of the Death Star's might, Grand Moff Tarkin used the space station to destroy the Princess' home planet of Alderaan, killing billions.
After the Princess' rescue, however, the stolen plans -- which Leia had hid in the droid R2-D2 -- were finally delivered to the Alliance. It was discovered that a proton torpedo, shot precisely into a small exhaust port, could trigger a reaction that would destroy the Death Star. The Rebels launched a desperate attack, and a young pilot named Luke Skywalker -- strong with the Force -- flew an X-wing down the Death Star's trench, making the impossible shot. The space station was destroyed, and Tarkin with it. Darth Vader, however, absconded in his TIE Advanced.
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Grand Moff Tarkin
An ambitious, ruthless proponent of military power, Wilhuff Tarkin became a favorite of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and rose rapidly through the Imperial ranks. Shortly after the Empire's creation, he was put in charge of the construction of the Death Star. Tarkin saw the Death Star as a way to crush all dissent to the Empire's rule -- fear of the station's planet-killing superlaser would keep the galaxy's star systems in line. He demonstrated the station's power by destroying Alderaan, but died soon afterwards when the Death Star itself was destroyed.
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker was a Tatooine farmboy who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest Jedi the galaxy has ever known. Along with his friends Princess Leia and Han Solo, Luke battled the evil Empire, discovered the truth of his parentage, and ended the tyranny of the Sith. A generation later, the location of the famed Jedi master was one of the galaxy's greatest mysteries. Haunted by Ben Solo's fall to evil and convinced the Jedi had to end, Luke sought exile on a distant world, ignoring the galaxy's pleas for help. But his solitude would be interrupted – and Luke Skywalker had one final, momentous role to play in the struggle between good and evil.
Darth Vader
Once a heroic Jedi Knight, Darth Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force, became a Sith Lord, and led the Empire's eradication of the Jedi Order. He remained in service of the Emperor -- the evil Darth Sidious -- for decades, enforcing his Master's will and seeking to crush the fledgling Rebel Alliance. But there was still good in him…
Stormtroopers are elite shock troops fanatically loyal to the Empire and impossible to sway from the Imperial cause. They wear imposing white armor, which offers a wide range of survival equipment and temperature controls to allow the soldiers to survive in almost any environment. Stormtroopers wield blaster rifles and pistols with great skill, and attack in hordes to overwhelm their enemies. Along with standard stormtroopers, the Empire has organized several specialized units, including snowtroopers and scout troopers.
Rebel Pilots
The Rebel Alliance's starfighter corps was one of its greatest assets. There were nearly as many stories as there were pilots: Rebel starfighters were flown by Imperial defectors, reformed mercenaries, adventure-seeking farmboys, and daredevils who only truly felt alive in a cockpit. Regardless of their backgrounds, Rebel pilots learned to work together, relying on their wingmen as well as their training in countless battles against the Empire.
Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
Scheming, powerful, and evil to the core, Darth Sidious restored the Sith and destroyed the Jedi Order. Living a double life, Sidious was in fact Palpatine, a Naboo Senator and phantom menace. He slowly manipulated the political system of the Galactic Republic until he was named Supreme Chancellor -- and eventually Emperor -- ruling the galaxy through fear and tyranny.


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The in-house SEO Mixer at Pubcon Vegas is now an annual unofficial Pubcon Party, a tradition we grabbed hold of after in-house an SEO vet kicked it off several years ago. (yay!)
Here's the skinny: Great conversations. Make new peeps. Exchange cards. Stay in touch. Our events inspire connection and create amazing industry friendships.
Date: Tuesday October
16, 2012
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Treasure Island, Kahunaville


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Most automakers turned to SUVs and crossovers to carry a load of people and their possessions because most people want a machine far more stylish than a station wagon.
Yet BMW never stopped offering these chariots—and was even able to convince Cadillac, over time, that wagons are so desirable that the General Motors luxury division will bring out a midsize CTS version in May.
We tested the 2009 BMW 535i xDrive Sport Wagon to learn what's the charm.
The 535i wagon comes with a beefed-up, 300-horsepower 6-cylinder engine boasting twin turbos for BMW's trademark performance soul.
The wagon also comes with an array of technological magic so complex that the owner's manual devotes 23 pages to mastering the iDrive system that brings it all to life. While wagons generally are aimed at a crowd whose VCRs blink "12:00," BMW equips them with iDrive that caters to the microprocessor crowd.
The wagon excels at carrying people and cargo while being easier to maneuver and much easier to park than a minivan, sport-utility and some crossovers.
But it falls short in fashion. Recognizing this, BMW puts its performance stamp solidly behind the distinctive twin-port grilles.
The 3-liter, twin-turbo, inline 6 guarantees plenty of zip without lag when leaving the light or pulling out to pass. The guts of a sedan, though not the glitter.
With xDrive, plus standard stability and traction control, the wagon is secure on wet or dry pavement and on the straightaways or in the corners and twisties.
One problem, however, is how much 300 h.p. puts performance ahead of mileage: 16 m.p.g. city/24 highway. 'Nuff said?
The cabin is designed for comfort on trips short or long. The center console/armrest separating driver/front passenger stands tall to help hold each in place in aggressive motoring. The rear seat offers good room in all areas but one—tootsie space under the front seats for those in back.
Neat touches include a ski-bag holder and pass-through between rear seat and cargo hold ($900), quick-folding rear seat backs and power tailgate (part of a $2,500 package).
A section of the cargo floor lifts to expose a divided area to keep packages in place, while the cargo wall has pull-down grocery bag hooks, power plug and compartment for first-aid kit. A pull-out shade hides cargo, and a pull-up net slips into roof holders to provide a haven for your pet. Attach the net only from the rear of the wagon—and win entry into the Guinness Book if you do it in one try.
Other goodies include a cell-phone cradle and iPod/USB adapter ($400) under the center armrest and cupholders that slip out of the dash at the push of a button (only one did). Oh, and when the car is locked from the outside, buttons to unlock it are disabled inside, so a thief who manages to get in can't use the door to get out.
The wagon starts at $55,800 with power sunroof, AM/FM stereo with CD/MP3 player audio system, rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth phone technology, anti-lock brakes and iDrive.
Then get out your checkbook for the host of options: night vision to show anything that gives off heat—animals, people or other vehicles—in or along the road at night or in rain/fog ($2,200); lane-departure warning that beeps if you wander into another lane ($950); active cruise control that beeps and applies brakes as you close in on the vehicle ahead ($2,400); navigation system ($1,900); head-up display that projects vehicle speed and distance to major crossroads in the windshield ($1,200); park-distance control with ultrasonic sensors in front/rear bumpers to beep when cutting it too close when parallel parking ($750); and multicontour seats that adjust side bolsters to occupants ($1,200).
The wagon could do with fewer of these costly options and a few more buttons/knobs to replace iDrive, which makes the simple things too complex.
Read Jim Mateja every Sunday in Rides. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com