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Capital Eye Opener: Tuesday, November 17
Your daily dose of news and tidbits from around the world of money in politics:
ANOTHER OBAMA BUNDLER HEADED TO TROPICAL AMBASSADORSHIP: On Monday night, the Obama administration announced its intent to nominate Beatrice Wilkinson Welters to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Welters and her husband, Anthony, an executive with UnitedHealth Group, co-founded the AnBryce Foundation in 1995, which provides academic and leadership programs for underserved youth. She is currently the Virginia-based group's president and chair. She also serves on the Library of Congress Madison Council and is a trustee at the Brookings Institute, the Aspen Institute and the National Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, she and her husband bundled between $200,000 and $500,000 for President Barack Obama's campaign last year. They personally donated $100,000 for his inauguration in January, and bundled $300,000 for his inauguration committee, according to Public Citizen. They have also been prolific campaign contributors to federal candidates and committees. Welters is now the twenty-fourth fund-raiser for Obama to be elevated for a diplomatic post with the rank of ambassador. Of the 99 ambassadors he has nominated to date, he has also tapped one former bundler for Hillary Clinton, as well as one former bundler for his GOP rival John McCain. Yesterday, Obama also nominated Scott H. DeLisi, a career member of the Foreign Service, to be the newest ambassador to Nepal. Read more of Capital Eye's coverage of Obama's ambassadors with money-in-politics ties here.
LOBBYISTS PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH: More than a dozen lawmakers used talking points on health insurance reform ghostwritten by lobbyists, according to an investigation by the New York Times. Hired guns representing biotech firm Genentech (a subsidiary of Roche Holdings) drafted the pro-industry language and shared it among allies. "We are trying to secure as many House R's and D's to offer this/these statements for the record as humanly possible," lobbyist Todd Weiss, of the firm Sonnenschein, Nath and Rosenthal, which also represents Roche Holdings, said in an e-mail obtained by the Times. As Kevin Connor at Little Sis highlights, Nick Kolovos, a former legislative aide to Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), and Jeffrey Mackinnon, former legislative director in the office of Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), have also both lobbied on behalf of Genentech this year for the firm Ryan, Phillips et al, the firm that the Times identifies as generating the talking points.
TARGETED BY THE FEDS: Former Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) garnered the distinction of earning the longest prison term of any former member of Congress when a federal judge on Friday sentenced him to 13 years behind bars for corruption. As Capital Eye previously reported, Jefferson was convicted him of 11 counts of racketeering, solicitation of bribery and money laundering — and notably hid $90,000 in his freezer. The Christian Science Monitor notes that Jefferson has until next week to appeal. On the other side of the aisle, the FBI is accusing the politically connected Florida attorney Scott Rothstein of an investment scheme fraud in the range of $1 billion, according to Talking Points Memo. Rothstein is a fund-raiser and ally of Florida Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running for an open U.S. Senate seat and facing a high-profile challenge from the conservative former Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio. TPM notes that dozens of photos of Rothstein and Crist exist, including one of the two men blowing out candles on Crists' birthday cake and another with the signed note, "Scott – you're amazing! Charlie Crist."
Have a news tip or link to pass along? We want to hear from you! E-mail us at [email protected].


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MOTORFOOT™"Get On It!"
I think the motorcycle companies are missing an opportunity.
As gas prices climb upward fuel effecient small cars become more appealing.
But most of these new small cars look as they took a front bench seat
and built a shell around it.
I think there is a market for a motorcycle class three wheeler
like the Canadian made T-Rex. The T-Rex is classified as a motorcycle
and is propelled by a 1164cc Kawasaki engine.
Car guys like looks and performance. The T-Rex provides both.
Plus, you can save some fuel too.
Problem is, the T-Rex is sold at a price point that not many can afford.
The big auto makers will not make anything like the T-Rex.
The small niche auto makers will not make anything like the T-Rex
at a price point, say, around 20K.
That leaves one solution: the major motorcycle manufacturers such as
Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki.
Let us know what you think. Email your thoughts to AutoFREQ at gmail.com.
Tags: t-rex, cirbin, trirod
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The Department of Energy is coming to Long Beach today, armed with strong assurances that the nuclear cargo it wants to ship through the city is safe.
"There has never been an accident involving a cask licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission where there has been a release of radioactivity, and (that's) a remarkable safety record," said James Gaver, spokesman for the federal agency, who will be part of an eight-person team dispatched for the 2 p.m. public meeting in the Harbor Department building at 925 Harbor Plaza.
The Energy Department has previously argued there is a 1-in-3-billion probability that an accident involving such steel-and-lead casks would cause a radiation-related cancer. In a New York City case involving nuclear cargo similar to that which would come to Long Beach, federal officials estimated that a major accident or sabotage serious enough to cause deaths and extensive property damage would occur only once in 300 million years.
Opponents have argued that similar odds were also proffered before the near-disaster at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in 1979, in which radioactive gases escaped through the plant's venting system, and that the chance of a catastrophic accident increases with every mile nuclear waste is hauled.


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Connecting with a large number and variety of individuals, interacting and sharing thoughts and ideas – all that seems to be easier now than ever before. Technology and the modern lifestyle blur the definitions of private and public spaces. Handheld devices can create a virtual bubble around their users, simultaneously connecting and disconnecting them from the wider world. How do these circumstances affect the integrity of social qualities, should we re-socialize, and if so, how?
Space-dividers such as screens, walls, fences, ditches etc. are usually seen as separations of one side from the other. However, at the same time they also define each other and create identities here and there. Our workshop is going to investigate this double-function – whether physical, psychological, acoustical, visual or even virtual. Together we will analyse our surroundings, identify the needs of individuals as well as groups, and finally invent, construct and experience exciting new solutions.
BCXSY is an Amsterdam-based interdisciplinary cooperative between designers Boaz Cohen (Israel, 1978) and Sayaka Yamamoto (Japan, 1984). Established in early 2007, BCXSY continues to carry out a wide range of projects, both in The Netherlands and abroad. Offering a balanced combination of two unique talents, the studio delivers one distinct narrative that is characterized by an emphasis on personal experience, human interaction and emotional awareness. The artful intertwining of the specific and boutique with the universal and commercial is the hallmark of the BCXSY design experience.
Over the past years, BCXSY has gained international notoriety and recognition for their dedication to socially responsive projects. Their award-winning work has been featured at some of the world's most prestigious design events and continues to capture the attention of international galleries and museums, including the acquisition of the Join screens by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the In Between glassware by the Shanghai Glass Museum, and the commissioned work, New Perspectives, by the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, The Netherlands.
With an approach that is playfully deliberate, BCXSY never fails to surprise and inspire. By collaborating with a variety of craft workshops and commercial initiatives, BCXSY creates products that are infused with context and beauty.
Through their continued participation in international workshops, residencies and lectures, BCXSY has become a leader in the most current design forums and discussions. They bring a wit, purity and uniqueness to the modern design community and continue to carve out their place amongst today's most influential design studios.
Webpage : www.bcxsy.com
Facebook : www.facebook.com/BCXSY


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Wine Cooler Fridge Freezer
We are currently in the process of trying to find a side by side fridge freezer for our newly fitted kitchen and I think this might just be the one! Particularly as it has the anti-fingerprint finish which is an absolute necessity when you have the "little people" visiting (I'm not being size-ist ; just referring to my nephews and 10 year old daughter … oh and my mother as well, standing at just under 5ft tall!). I have been known to wander around electrical appliance retailers randomly placing my hands all over their fridges and freezers to see if I leave any marks!
Its a sleek looking stainless-steel fridge freezer from John Lewis and whilst not one of the cheapest at just under £2,000, it looks just the job.
Holding upto 39 bottles in the chest height rack, this should keep me stocked up on the old vino for a few weeks at least. The fridge capacity is 330L (wine cooler being 162L) and the freezer holds up to 78L but who really cares about the freezer.
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3 reviews or comments
Neagle Says: September 9, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Simply, great! The Freezers for the vodka and ice cream!
The Wine Cooler Says: March 31, 2010 at 1:05 pm
This does look like a great fridge, but I wonder what the temps are on the wine cooler.


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Ladies Metallic Logo Burnout Tee$29.50 $19.99 On Sale
Product Description
Color: Black
Fit & sizing: Ladies Fit XS-XXL
Fabric Content: 55% Cotton, 45% Polyester
Care instructions: Wash once separately before wearing. Machine wash cold inside out gentle cycle with like colors. Do not bleach. Tumble dry low. Cool iron if needed.
Logo Shop


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The Offmat kitchen sink offers a modern design of the traditionally standard home appliance with a retractable and levelled shape that blends seamlessly into the counter. While the sink remains an accessible feature, its design does not create an obstructive dent into the counter. This allows the space to be leveraged for other activities when the sink isn't in use. To access the sink and its features, consumers simply use gesture control to send commands to the sink to lower into functional use.
The retractable sink's design was developed by Marmo Arredo and Tipic with gesture control technology to allow consumers to use motion command. The sink opens and lowers in height to with the sweeping of a hand and can even turn on without the user needing to physically touch the sink. This is ideal for maintaining hygienic use.
Retractable Sink Designs
More Stats +/-
Movement-Inspired Spa Boutiques
Student-Friendly Micro-Apartments
Flexible Baby Bath Inserts
Gender-Inclusive Kitchen Sets
Gridded Aerator Faucets
The Offmat Kitchen Sink Blends into The Counter and Opens Using Gestures
- By: Misel SabanApr 19, 2016
References: offmat.marmoarredo & apartmenttherapy
References: offmat.marmoarredo & apartmenttherapy


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last Week in Review, I have finished three books: Getting Things Done, 22 Britannia Road and The Violets of March. Getting Things Done (review here) was an ode to my recent struggles with feeling organized. I really appreciated the practical approach that the author illustrated - I'll be spending a little more time with this book in the near future.
Right now, I am listening to The Paris Wife, which almost makes me want to do laundry and clean the kitchen a little longer so that I have more time to listen. Only two hours into the audiobook, I am loving it - such beautiful writing.
I picked up the next book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series: Dragonfly in Amber. Outlander was a fantastic read and I am enjoying learning more about the characters in this next installment. At over 700 pages, it's a bit of a chunkster, so it will probably be on my 'currently reading' list for several more days.
Move along...Nothing to see here.
No really, cooking hasn't been very exciting here over the past few weeks. Lots of old standbys and meals on the run.
Home (and Health)
The house is getting back to normal after having my parents in town last weekend. Plus, there was an influx of new toys from our daughter's 6th birthday. I really need to have a weekend set aside to sort through and set aside many MANY toys for donation.
I am now nearly halfway through Week 4 of the Couch to 5K running plan - 5 more weeks to go! I am really very proud of myself. This week has included two three minute runs and two five minute runs, which is longer than I have ever been able to run. I've been encouraged by a Twitter friend who started at the same time - it's good to have someone to encourage me, and frankly to be accountable to. I still have a long way to go, but that 5K doesn't seem too far out of my reach now.
Our daughter's birthday party last Sunday was a great success and we were very happy that my parents were in town to share the big day. I still can't believe that I have a six year old! J is already talking about when she turns 7 - I do hope that she won't force this year to fly by as fast as last year!
On Saturday, we will be packing up the car and heading to Tennessee for vacation with my husband's family. While the vacation couldn't come at a worse time for me work-wise, I am hoping for many hours by the pool, soaking up the sun with a frosty beverage and a good book. I can't tell you how much I need this time off.
How about you - how was your week?


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WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Should be Reading. To participate, simply answer the three following questions:
- What are you currently reading?
- What did you recently finish reading?
- What do you think you'll read next?
What am I currently reading?
Definitely reading a lot of books right now!
What did I recently finish reading?
Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie
(review to come soon)
The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere
A Horse Called Wonder by Joanna Campbell
Wonder's Promise by Joanna Campbell
What will I read next?
This is always a hard question for me, since I read books depending on my mood. Last time I said I was going to start A Clash of Kings....and that hasn't happened yet. These are some possibilities because I want to finish some series!


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The Inquirer and Mirror invites family and friends of Joe Lopes to share their thoughts and memories in this space.
Click here to submit your thoughts and recollections. We will post as many as we possibly can, but please be patient. It may take some time before your post appears.
� I just learned of Joe's passing. He was my second father on the island (At least that is what my dad told him to say to us in the 1970s/198's to keep a watchful eye over us). Joe was a great guy who I respected very much. Kind, friendly, sof- spoken and could handle all situations with relative ease and mobility. A true great American citizen. God speed Joe and thanks for always looking over us 40 years ago as we were having a blast on Nantucket. The Crew of Wildwood 1, 2 and 3,
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Brad White
��I first met Joe during the summer of 1971 during the amazing "hippie" decade on Nantucket. I worked for Sherburne Associates at different times and my friend Dee was a dock girl who became a very close friend of Joe's. Like many others have said, it was a gift to have Joe as a friend. He was one of the nicest people I've known and so much fun to spend time with. Dee and I visited him and Mojo at his house, went out on a fishing trip for my birthday, had drinks at the Anglers' Club, and he often came to my art shows on Nantucket. Those of us who loved him are feeling a great loss right now, but his spirit will live forever in our memories of all the years on Nantucket and the Boat Basin. It's a fair wind Joe, rest in peace.
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Jeannie Donovan
� Yes the man, the maker of the hydraulic hoses; up to 3/4 of an inch that is! Otherwise it was off to New Bedford! I remember Joe used to make them for me, whenever I had a welding job to do down at the Boat Basin. I always enjoyed talking to Joe. Back then he was Mr. Beinecke's right-hand man when it came to the Nantucket Boat Basin. Joe introduced me to Dusty (Deeley) Ramos there on the docks. You will be missed, Joe. Smooth waters my friend,
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� John Backus
� Joe�s passing leaves a tremendous void in the hearts of his many friends and neighbors. When we arrive at our Back Street home each spring, we were always thrilled to see his car parked in front of the house, knowing that he had arrived safely from Florida. I recall many wonderful times sitting on Joe�s porch or in his living room, visiting with him and Mojo, our little dog Fala�s best Nantucket friend. I will never forget sitting on Joe�s porch sipping cognac and listening to his stories as the sun slowly set. But, the sun will never set on Joe�s spirit, which will live forever in our memories and in our hearts. Fair winds and following seas my friend.
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Bob, Sheila and Fala Cross
��Just came from Joe�s funeral and grave service, what a wonderful thing to see so many people from diverse backgrounds paying their respects to a great guy. Everybody remembers Joe as the dockmaster and boating guru who always seemed to have a boat project going on in his back yard. My fondest memories were of serving with him on Nantucket�s first Shellfish and Harbor Advisory Board (SHAB) in the early 1970s. This elected board was formed to recommend what to do in the harbor and marine environment when Allen "Youngie" Holdgate decided to retire after decades of service to the town. Joe always had terrific ideas and a no-nonsense, common-sense approach and his vast knowledge was instrumental in formulating the Nantucket Marine Department as it is today. Tight lines and fair tides Joe. We will all miss your smile and sense of humor.
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� John Stackpole
� My sincere condolences to Joe Lopes' family during this most difficult time. What a truly fun time it was working at the Boat Basin in the 1970s and having Joe Lopes as my boss. You knew Joe was walking the docks because there would be a mob of people following him. From time to time Joe would stop by the wharf where you were working and visit. Before too long a crowd would gather. He was like the pied piper of the NBB. There was no other job on the island like it. When you were a dock girl you knew you were one of the luckiest people. I miss those times and will always cherish those summers and the people I met and worked with, especially Joe Lopes. Thank you Joe, for the some of the best summers of my life ! I will always remember your birthday and how you would always call me Santana. Godspeed, dear Joe.
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Santa Stone
� Joe was an inspiration to those of us lucky enough to have walked the docks with him and otherwise know him. I am so happy I was able to introduce him to my own family last year who have all heard so many stories about Joe and my days as a Boat Basin night watchman. When we arrived at his house, Joe was working in his garden listening to a Red Sox game on television through his living room window on a delightful Sunday afternoon. One more special memory of such a wonderful man.
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Bill Reeves, Tallahassee, Fla.
� Having Joe as a neighbor on Back Street was the best thing about living on Back Street. Every summer when I got to our house and dropped off our stuff I would walk across the street and give Joe a big hug, tell him how great it was to see him and Mojo and sit on his porch and just talk. I
will miss those talks whether they were in person or on the phone. I will
miss creating his yearly Christmas card of him and Mojo. Know that I will cherish those memories and your warm smile, Joe. Love you and miss you tons.
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Amy Martin
� Fair winds and fair tide, Captain Joe.
��������������������������������������������������������������������������Boat Basin "Dock-Boy,"�Michael Walker
� We met Joe more than 50 years ago, through his beloved wife Nelli, a wonderful person, as were his daughters, Jeanne and Dolly. Our condolences to his dear son Joe Jr. Fifty years ago, we spent our honeymoon in his cottage, where he taught us surf-fishing, and lent us his casting rods. In the years since then, we have never missed a visit with him (and his beloved dog, Mojo). He was at the time the island's best motor-boat engine mechanic. We have been friends and admirers ever since, and looked forward to spending time with him each year, either here in Nantucket during the summer, and by e-mail every winter.We spent many hours with him fishing from his boat and on his Back Street porch. He was a warm, loving and generous human being, a wonderful gardener, and a most cherished friend. In so many ways he was the best spirit of the real Nantucket, and will be always.
��������������������������������������������������������������������������� Mana and Bruce Marcus, Branford, Conn.
� I worked for Joe at the dockmaster's office during the summers of 1978 and 1979, two very happy summers for me. I had the 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift, handling reservations. I will always remember Joe training his binoculars out beyond Brant Point to check on the incoming boats who were radioing in, and, when he spotted the large power boats, Joe would say, "Here come the big mothers." Godspeed, Joe.
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Maia Farish
� What a guy Joe Lopes was. The memories of him will linger in this town for a very long time. A multi-talented, adaptive, self-made gentleman, Joe took up the challenge of the Nantucket Boat Basin�s management without hesitation, helping to shape it into a world-class yachting destination. With Walter Beinecke�s guidance and the day-to-day involvement of a dedicated legion of dock girls and dock boys, Joe dedicated his working days (and many nights) to the smooth running of the Boat Basin�s operations. Joe was a close friend, long-time around-the-corner neighbor, someone who always had a glimmer in his eye, a cocked hat, and a story to tell. Fair winds my dear friend.
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Jim Lentowski
� Joe was one of the best things about having a house on Back Street. Each year it has been a pleasure to sit and chat with him on his porch as our dogs played together. We will miss him greatly.
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Jane and Mark Stimmler
� I first met Joe when I worked at the Boat Basin, in the early 1980s. He was a tremendous gentleman with a ready smile, a joke and a twinkle in his eye. He and Dusty Ramos ruled the roost on the waterfront in those days, and as a result it was a great place to work. My thoughts and prayers go out to Joe's family at this time.
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Galen Gardner
� My thoughts, prayers and condolences go to Joe's family. He truly was a remarkable man. He was such a pleasure to sit and talk with, be it here or in Naples, seems like I saw him more there than here. He truly will be missed by many and was a wonderful man. He will be with the love of his life again and will be smiling down on the rest of us.
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Frances Bassett
� So many fond memories of this dear man: His twinkling eyes, sweet smile. I loved his reaction to people who were looking for favors at the Boat Basin and called him �my good friend Joe Lopez.�
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Libby Oldham


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CBS has announced the renewal of 18 shows including sitcom Two and a Half Men.
The Chuck Lorre comedy starring Ashton Kutcher and Jon Cryer will return for a 12th season, while Mike & Molly and 2 Broke Girls have been renewed as well.
New sitcom
Lorre's other venture The Big Bang Theory was previously announced to have been picked up for three further series, meaning it will remain on screen until at least the 2016-17 season.
NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles are among the dramas announced for renewal today (March 13), as well as CSI, Hawaii Five-0 and Criminal Minds.
Person of Interest, Elementary and The Good Wife will also return to the channel.
Finally, The Amazing Race, Undercover Boss, 48 Hours and 60 Minutes join the previously announced Survivor in being renewed.
CBS Entertainment Chairman Nina Tassler said: "The best way to launch new shows in the fall and throughout the season is to surround them with a strong and stable lineup of successful series.
"The shows we're picking up today cut across every night of the week and feature genre leaders, time period winners and the most-watched shows on broadcast television."


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Saint Louis' Alli KLUG SELECTED TO COACHES ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM
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ST. LOUIS -- Saint Louis sophomore defender Alli Klug (Webster Groves, Mo./Nerinx Hall H.S.) has been chosen to the NCAA Division I women's soccer All-America third team by the United Soccer Coaches, formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Klug becomes the second student-athlete in Billiken women's soccer history to earn an All-America nod from the nation's coaches. Goalkeeper Meghann Burke was named to the second team in 2002.
The All-America announcement comes just two days after Klug was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region first team. Earlier this month she collected Atlantic 10 first-team All-Conference plaudits as well as the league's Defensive Player of the Year award.
Klug's performance along the back line helped lift Saint Louis to the top of the A-10 in goals against average (0.49) and shutouts (13, including seven vs. A-10 opponents). The Billikens were 10th in the nation in both categories. Her 1,716 minutes (85.8 per game) ranked second among Billiken field players, and she played every minute in 16 of SLU's 20 games. Klug and her teammates allowed just 8.5 total shots, 3.9 shots on goal and 2.6 corner kicks per game.
Klug earned an A-10 Defensive Player of the Week award, and she also


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Skip Hop Stroll and Go Hand Muff
- Select Color
Size ChartAll sizes are US sizes.
- Select Size
Additional Information
- stroller hand muff with soft fleece lining
- clear zip phone pocket lets you see calls and texts come in
- snap-together tabs attach to any stroller
- port for headphones
- phthalate-free
- size (inches): 19l x 3w x 11h; (cm): 48l x 8w x 28h
We ship orders within the Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii & its territories. Shipping charges are flat rate based on service level. Find more shipping details.
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Outdoor Indiana - January/February 2014 - Featured Stories
From the Director
Time Warp
Brown county State Park
Skiing away stress at Indiana Dunes State Park
From the Director
Becoming an outdoors mentor
Director Cameron F. Clark
I was fortunate to have a father who taught me to fish at a young age.
I was equally fortunate that one of my father's best friends taught me about pheasant hunting. It was magical watching the dogs work the brushy fields on a crisp autumn morning, trying to locate birds and provoke an explosive flush of wing and feather.
My deer and turkey hunting passions are derivatives of that early introduction and friendships made along the way.
The point here isn't about personal hunting and fishing experiences but instead to underscore the importance of mentoring. Who knows if I'd be a hunter today if someone hadn't taken an interest in sharing their outdoor experiences with me?
The DNR has a number of organized programs that fill this role, beginning with Hunter Education courses that teach not only safety but also conservation and hunter ethics. Our Division of Fish & Wildlife puts on "field to table" deer and waterfowl workshops for first-timers, and offers dozens of youth events at state fish & wildlife areas. Indiana Conservation Officers lead youth camps like the Karl Kelley Camp in West Lafayette. The annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekend, held in the same area, continues to introduce the outdoors to more than 100 women each spring.
Recruitment programs like these have helped Indiana stem the decline of hunter numbers seen in some other Midwest states.
But is that enough?
Finding time in a young person's busy school schedule can be challenging, but introducing them to a healthy outdoor lifestyle is a far better option than the sedentary choices of 400 TV channels or handheld video games.
So, I encourage you to take someone outdoors this year, be it your son or daughter, niece or nephew, a friend looking for a new hobby or someone in your neighborhood. Make it your New Year's resolution. Show him or her how much fun it is to get outside and experience nature through whatever happens to be your passion—bird-watching, hiking, camping, fishing or hunting.
Trust me. They will cherish it for a lifetime.
Time Warp
Plating past with present
By Nick Werner
Photography by Frank Oliver
In an ice cream parlor older than aviation, a military pilot and his family downed root beer floats.
Michael Hale lives in Colorado Springs, Colo. He flies Chinook helicopters for the Army. The technology that pays to feed his family was unimaginable when three brothers opened Zaharakos confectionery in 1900 in downtown Columbus.
Zaharakos predates fixed-wing flight by three years, rotary-wing flight for 'copters by more than 30 years and manned spaceflight by more than 60.
Sandwiches and sundaes are on the menu.
But what Zaharakos really serves customers is history ….
Zaharakos may be one of a kind, but no matter where you are in Indiana there's probably a restaurant nearby with authentic charm that only age can offer. The state boasts dozens of restaurants that are recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.
Cutline: Customers browse through Zaharakos and its soda fountain history collection in downtown Columbus. Zaharakos is one of dozens of Indiana eateries on the National Register of Historic Places.
To read the rest of this article subscribe to Outdoor Indiana or pick up a copy at most Barnes and Noble bookstores, and state park inns. To subscribe, click here or call (317) 233-3046.
Brown county State Park
Just plain more
By Marty Benson
Part of a series
An old Hoosier comic strip character once said, "By cracky, it's sum travelin' ter git ter Brown County."
That was before most cars could cruise at 70 mph, before there was a state park in these hills or anywhere else in Indiana.
Even with modern transportation, if the same fictitious gentleman visited the park named for the county today, he might offer a similar quip. Something like "it's sum travelin' ter git around this place."
Brown County State Park spans nearly 16,000 acres, dwarfing Indiana's next-largest by roughly 10 grand. Its roads are neither straight nor exempt from inclines for more than a blink. Some call the area the "Little Smokies" because of the likeness to the national park a few states southeast.
Upon entering one of the park's three gates, the northernmost of which is prefaced by the oldest covered bridge in the state, getting around takes time.
Cutline: A family gathers to take in fall beauty. The park's numerous vistas make it a destination for leaf peepers but in the early 1920s, the hills were nearly bare.
To read the rest of this article subscribe to Outdoor Indiana or pick up a copy at most Barnes and Noble bookstores, and state park inns. To subscribe, click here or call (317) 233-3046.
Skiing away stress at Indiana Dunes State Park
By Jessica Leigh Rosier, interpretive naturalist
When lake-effect white stuff falls on northwestern Indiana, a snow globe environment is born.
Better known for its warm sandy beaches, Indiana Dunes State Park shines during cold weather too, particularly when a natural white blanket covers the sand and sets the stage for cross-country skiing. For many, gliding through the marsh to the rhythmic swishing of ski pants is a peaceful break from whatever's causing stress.
Cutline: Penny Starin of Chesterton skis through Indiana Dunes State Park. The lake-effect snows in northwestern Indiana make the park an ideal place for winter activities.
To read the rest of this article subscribe to Outdoor Indiana or pick up a copy at most Barnes and Noble bookstores, and state park inns. To subscribe, click here or call (317) 233-3046.


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The beta for the new IconPackager 10 is now available for current Object Desktop members. After being gone due to incompatibilities with Windows 8 and Windows 10 it's back and we welcome you to try it and provide feedback before the full release.
With a new, modern user interface, IconPackager works with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and even integrates with Start8 and Start10.
The IconPackager 10 beta is only available to Object Desktop members right now, so now is a great time to become a member if you're not already!
Get Object Desktop now
Current owners can download it now from their Stardock account.
DL page<.................................................................... ...................................<
I can see starkers high tailing it over to the store now.
If anyone has any feedback, please let us know at http://forums.stardock.com/478218
Oh lordy lord...
I'd been using the 'Plump' icons for such a long time. Thank you for making it possible to rid my desktop of the shit Win10 icons finally and have these back again...
Tim!!! Hey man!!
To the patient come all good things.
We just moved so I don't have my rigs set up yet but you better believe this will be going on my new dedicated(non-dualboot) ten rig.
Looks like there are two threads regarding IP.
Good Lord! How awesome to see you again Tim!
All it took was an IP release to bring you home? We should have done this earlier!
One's 'News' [this one] and one's IP-specific ...
There's also a dedicated 'bug report' one...
NO F'ING WAY!!!! This is awesome, amazing. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!


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Nicolas Cantu
Sofia the First Season 4Eps18
IMDb: 7.4
23 min
After a secret meeting of sorcerers, Cedric has to choose between taking over the kingdom and his friendship with Sofia.
Actor: Sara Ramirez, Ariel Winter, Travis Willingham, Nicolas Cantu, Jess Harnell, Tim Gunn, Jim Cummings, Michaela Zee, Jeff Bennett, Mitchell Whitfield, Keone Young, Billy West, Nika Futterman, Darcy Rose Byrnes
Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures Season 2Eps5
IMDb: 8.0
4 min
The series stars the Freemakers, a family of scavengers who build and sell starships from the scoured debris of space battles strewn throughout the galaxy. ...
Actor: Vanessa Lengies, Nicolas Cantu, Matthew Wood, Eugene Byrd, Trevor Devall, Grey DeLisle, Matt Sloan, Dana Snyder
Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures Season 1Eps13
IMDb: 7.6
23 min
Rowan meets a Jedi named Naare and learns of the Kyber Saber.
Actor: Matt Sloan, Trevor Devall, Greg Baldwin, Michael Daingerfield, Vanessa Lengies, Grey DeLisle, Matthew Wood, Nicolas Cantu, Eugene Byrd


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Welcome to Key to the genera of Doryctinae of the world
The site is newborn and mainly under construction for the moment. Please apologize for that.
This site is created to offer a platform for taxonomists working on this group. We would like to share infos about taxonomy, biology, (and other) of the genera of the Doryctinae of the world. Discussions about characters used, placement of taxa, ... will be also welcome. And last but not least, a character project will allow the cooperative works among specialists of this subfamily. As a result, an interactive key will be also produced and made available as soon as possible.
The taxonomy follows mainly Yu et al. 2012 (see also the website "Home of Ichneumonoidea") in addition of the more recent publications.
The identification of the subfamily Doryctinae could be done, among other, using the "On-Line Illustrated Key to all Subfamilies of Braconidae".
Recent Media galleries
yves BRAET - 2014-04-18
A gallery containing illustrations of various morphological characters used in this site.
yves BRAET - 2014-04-09
Recently Added Literature
Molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological variation point to taxonomic problems among four genera of parasitoid doryctine wasps (Hymenoptera : Braconidae)
yves BRAET - 2017-10-19
Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical species of the braconid wasp genus Pedinotus Szépligeti, 1902 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae)
yves BRAET - 2017-10-08
Acrophasmus sp. parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) attacking Tetrapriocera longicornis (OLIVER) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae: Bostrichinae) in the forest reserve El Montuoso, Province of Herrera, Panama.
yves BRAET - 2017-09-17


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"I was a bit of a tomboy when I was a lass...dreaming of the Jolly Roger, and pirates plundering the Caribbean! I used to sneak out of bed late at night, way past my bed time, to watch the late show on T.V., especially to see Errol Flynn, or Tyrone Power, in their swashbuckling Hollywood roles! Movies like "Captain Blood", "The Sea Hawk", and "The Black Swan", were my favorites! It wasn't easy to tip toe past my parents room, as my mother was such a light sleeper. I had to keep the T.V. volume so low, and try not to act out the sword fight scenes, in the livingroom...and it was even harder when my little brother started joining me in my late night viewing!
I realized when I had my own children, just what we had put my mother through, while we were growing up...my brother and I, had made very pointy wooden pirate swords to have sword fights in the yard!
I've always luved pirate memorabilia, and almost let out a whoop, when I found some vintage 1950's pirate drink glasses, at a local estate sale! I'm always looking for nautical vintage / antique items, and was pleased to also find a Pirate Cookbook, and these 1950's boys pajamas with sailing ships! I know little boys, and girls, used to enjoy the pirate films of the old days, but now I think they do again...thanks to Johnny Depp's brilliant portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies! In the latest sequel of Pirates of the Carribean...On Stranger Tides...which features Penelope Cruz as the swashbuckling female pirate, and BlackBeard's daughter, little girls now have a female role model who is confident, daring, and ambitious! I'm sure that little boys, and girls, will have sweet dreams of adventure on the high seas! :O)
Vintage 1950s Saks Fifth Avenue Boys Sailing Ships Pajamas Size 14
This latest Pirates movie is the best one yet, and extemely well done in Imax 3D! My hubby and I thought it was well worth the higher admission price, as all the audience was enthralled. Sitting next to us was a young couple with two small boys. The littlest one, wearing his Pirates t-shirt, with his huge 3D glasses barely staying in place, scarcely made a peep! Go see it while you still have the chance! :O)


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Hi everybody!
For today's post of a creation to inspire you we invited Susan Renshaw, who's a Design Team member on our sister site, the Dragons Lair Designs Challenge Blog, to be our guest here on the DLD Inspiration blog.
After years of living in various locations around the world, Susan is now living in Derbyshire, UK. You can read more about her and see her varied work on her blog - Here!
Susan was given a selection of items from the Home Tweet Home Collection to work with and decided to make a little tissue packet box.
She started off by choosing items from within the mini kit she was sent and printing them off.
She cut out and scored the little box.
After constructing the box she decorated it.
Here's the finished item -
You can see Susan's own post about this creation on her blog - Here!
Please do come back regularly over the next few weeks to have a look at the new creations made by the Design Team Members. I'm sure you'll be inspired to craft when looking at their creations.
Dragons Lair Designs Links:
We'd love to have you join us in our Fan Group and
post up some pictures of any creations you make using DLD items - there are even a few items available for free to Fan Group members..


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GDE Forum - Home for the best in diesel powertrain tuning
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Does ECO Tune take care of CCV issues?
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20/01/2012 14:40:24
Does ECO Tune take care of CCV issues?
Joined: 18/01/2012 10:00:03
Messages: 1
I am new to the Liberty CRD. I actually just bought one and haven't even got to pick it up yet...I have an 04.5 cummins though so I am not completely diesel dumb...
I have been doing some reading here and also on LOSTJeeps and see a lot of talk about the ECO tune, which I will probably get, but also a lot of talk on an EHM mod or CCV mod where you run a hose to the ground to avoid getting oil in your intake. Do the GDE ECO tunes eliminate having to do this or is it still a good idea to do this modificiation for longevity and overall health of motor and mpg?
Thanks, and sorry if this isn't the right place for the question.
21/01/2012 07:17:23
Re:Does ECO Tune take care of CCV issues?
Joined: 10/07/2009 07:25:47
Messages: 374
Location: Southeast Michigan
The CCV is a "dumb" system and the engine tune will have no effect on it. The core issue with having the CCV plumbed to the clean air duct is the oil being recirculated through the engine and contaminating the rubber boost hoses. The stock hoses weaken with exposure to oil over time and they will eventually rupture. We opted for installing SAMCO boost hoses that have silicon in them to prevent oil bleed through. With strong hoses the oil harmlessly flows through the engine. With a stock tune the oil will still mix with EGR soot in the intake manifold and cause more sludge buildup. However, with a GDE tune the soot no longer enters the intake manifold and the oil now coming through acts as a detergent to slowly break down the soot currently inthe manifold. Do not expect it to clean the manifold, but at least will will not worsen. Thanks, GDE
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text:
The photo Woman on Bondi by Marco Bok is a text that visually represents the human potential for experiencing moments of true happiness and bliss. It also brings into light certain stereotypes that have been put forward by society and challenges them, such as the valuing of only superficial looks and a slender body for females.
Marco Bok has employed several visual techniques in order to address and highlight these issues. The photographer has chosen a low-angle point of view for this photo which emphasises her massive size. Her expression is one of utter happiness and joy, with her smile being one of the most salient features of the photograph. These two techniques result with us perceiving the woman as lacking the self-consciousness that is usually associated with obesity, creating a carefree semblance very similar to that of a child.
Bok also uses a close-up focus, resulting with the foregrounding of the subject, and the blurring of the city.
This places major emphasis, again, on the woman and her size. However, the blurring effect employed on the city creates a sense of distance and insignificance, as if the woman is no longer bound by societal norms.
Framing and placement have been used in conjunction to present the subject as though she was one with nature. The placement of the woman on the edge of the water synthesises her figure into the natural, rolling motions of the waves, with her curved body adding to this effect. Bok has also used framing to achieve a similar result, to associate the woman with nature, particularly with the presence of such natural elements around her. Furthermore, the vector line created by her leg draws our eyes to her left hand which is earthed in the sand; a symbolic representation of her merge...


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比较初级的 3ds MAX 教程,光盘镜像,quicktime 文件格式。
Learning 3ds Max 6 with George Maestri is a movie-based workshop developed to help users become comfortable with the basic features and techniques of the Windows-based software and to build a strong foundation in the principles of designing in 3D. The title begins by introducing 3ds max's interface and application workflow and advances to cover important features such as polygonal modeling, texturing, animation and rendering. Exercise files for the Windows platform accompany the title, allowing you to follow along and learn at your own pace.
Running Time: 7 hours
更多相关资源 >>


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Water Damage Restoration Chicago
Ronne Mantzur the owner of 911 Restoration Chicago knows everything there is to know about water damage in the Chicago area. Sometimes all too well too.
This is because it is something no one can handle quite like him. Water borne troubles, and flooding can erode a property when it occurs, but it can also tax the patience of those whom it occurs to.This form of natural water damage and all of the incidents that it brings about almost defy belief.
For those times of total shock and awe, Ronne and his teams are here to save you and your home from the effects or water damage and they will do so as quickly as possible. Fast action like the 45 minute response time that Ronne brings to the table is crucial in preventing the effects that water can cause.
Ronne and his water damage restoration Chicago teams have been solving all different manner of problems for people of the Chicagoland area, and providing quality restoration work and capabilities the entire time. When residents of the area want to get a problem solved quickly and efficiently, they call Ronne and his crews.
This is because they are the best, and when water damage happens in your home, you'll expert nothing less.
Ronne and his team are different from other restoration companies because:
- They are totally connected to the customer's needs on every job.
- Ronne and his crews will be on-site within 45 minutes of a call.
- These pros work non-stop 24/7/365.
- Ronne wants to make your water damage troubles a thing of the past quickly.
Ronne is an extraction master and realizes that most people aren't ready for any type of major water event taking place in their home. This is why they are ready for you around the clock. For any type of emergency that springs up, if you want an expert on dial to prevent this type of issue then give Ronne and his 911 Restoration Chicago crew a call now!
Ronne Really Loves Restoration.
Many people like their jobs, but Ronne and his teams truly love what they do. This is because they get to save people from natural disasters and restore their homes to what they looked like, or better so that homeowners can get back to living in them worry-free.
When it comes to restoring businesses after disasters, Ronne and his highly trained IICRC certified specialists feel completely connected to the work.
This is because they are bringing back businesses from the brink so that the community can live on and prosper as quickly as possible after any event.
Restoring property is just the start of what Ronne does. After he gets to work doing water extractions, he then starts the job of restoring the emotional stability of the property owner as a whole.
A Story of Change:
Ronne and the best crews in the business know from lots of experience that there are two jobs they do on every project they start.
The first is to take care of the excess water and all of the extraction work needed to dry things out.
The second is the mental status of the individual who is in a state of chaos due to their home being inundated with damaging liquid from any source.
Ronne and his teams go to great lengths to make sure that not only is the mold taken care of, but also that the individual owner is in the right state of mind after all is said and done.
This highlights the extraordinary level of professionalism that Ronne and his teams bring to every job they work on.


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SuperiorKyara TaikanKYARA KONGOJINKOH JUZANMAINICHI BYAKUDAN KOHDEN
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The following video is part of our "Motley Fool Conversations" series, in which Motley Fool senior technology analyst Eric Bleeker and chief technology officer Jeremy Phillips discuss emerging trends in technology.
Neither Eric Bleeker nor Jeremy Phillips owns shares of any companies listed here. The Motley Fool owns shares of Google. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Google and Amazon.com. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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High-street stalwart and last-minute birthday present saviour Argos has announced that it's to begin offering same-day delivery in the UK. It's the first high-street retailer to do so, squaring up against Amazon and its Prime premium delivery service in the lucrative run up to Black Friday and Christmas sales.
Argos's Fast Track same-day delivery service goes live from today and is available on 20,000 products for a flat fee of £3.95. That's not quite as fast as Amazon's one-hour Prime Now service, but nor does it require a yearly £70 subscription or a more expensive £6.99 per-order fee.
You'll be able to pick between one of four daily delivery slots with the new Argos scheme, with 6pm the cut-off time for orders arriving at the final 10pm slot. Fast Track is available seven days a week all year round, with the exception being Christmas Day.
Argos has created 3,300 new delivery jobs in preparation for the roll out, working out of 170 larger stores and warehouse centres.


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I am not good at winter. It always takes me by surprise when I need to start wearing more layers, and I bristle with annoyance and spend a few weeks shivering before I relearn how to keep myself warm. I can enjoy the autumn colours, the smell of a hazy morning and the start of the changing season, but then once we move into November the dark mornings and evenings start to take their toll. Getting out of bed becomes ever more difficult (and so does leaving the house). I start wanting to take care of myself by doing nothing but eating and sleeping, and hibernation is just impossible when I've got the rest of my life still going on at the same pace.
I have a sunlight lamp - I call it my false sun god - and I spend time each day with it pointing obnoxiously brightly at my face to help me feel a bit more alive. I try to get up and exercise each day - and in my new house I'm a mile away from my office and town, so I walk at least two miles a day. I can still feel depression creeping towards me though, in an exhausting game of 'keep-away' where I tot up each small victory as proof that I am still functioning and fending off the seasonal blues (I often work off to-do lists. When I am doing well, the items I plan include reading whole books, reorganising my desk, planning papers and suchlike. On a bad day, I get to tick off eating meals and washing up). This year is worse, I think, because I am in a new place with housemates I very rarely see (we are all busy students, in different fields) and just starting PhD study.
This stretch heading towards midwinter is better than afterwards though. I know that very soon the christmas lights will come out, and I need to start planning and putting time into preparations for holiday events and gifts. It might be dark at four in the afternoon, but lights in windows (and on roofs, and all over town, and frankly being really tacky in a lot of places) and the building anticipation help my mood enormously. The really difficult bit is post-holiday, when new year jubilance fades but it is still dark and all you can do is wait for the light to slowly come back.
In the meantime, I am going to go eat some soup and light candles.


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That was not long after the stage began. Look at those wet streets! I knew we would be too fast today. Froome was offered some champagne to toast his victory (click on the image for a larger view).
The poor people running the cameras could barely keep their lenses dry! Despite the rain, who could possibly complain about weather while riding through Paris (click on the image for a larger view)?
Now I can't wait to get back there! Because the streets were so slick, race organizers called for all cyclists to get the same time with 68.5 km (42.6 mi) to go. The screen capture I grabbed below shows the moment when Froome actually won the Tour de France (click on the image for a larger view).
Even though rain really slowed riders, we still got to enjoy a great sprint at the very end. Who else but André Greipel was going to show the world who the best sprinter is? He had himself perfectly situated for the final surge and powered his way past France's Bryan Coquard (click on the image for a larger view).
It was close, but the Gorilla always seems to be in first! He now has four stage wins this year and ten overall. He's the best sprinter in the world! Below is a comparison between reality and our prediction.
- Stage 21: 2h 49' 41" (actual), 2h 35' 06" (prediction), 14' 35" fast (-8.59% error)
More than being annoyed with the weather and how it affected our prediction, I was hoping to see faster racing on the ten loops in Paris. It was still a wonderful sprint, though. Greipel's average speed is given below.
- Stage 21: 10.76 m/s (38.72 kph or 24.06 mph)
That is really slow for the final stage. Thanks a lot, rain! The weather didn't dampen the celebration as Chris Froome won his second Tour de France (click on the image for a larger view).
Froome completed the 3360.3-km (2088.0-mi) race in 84h 46' 14", which gives an average speed of 11.01 m/s (39.64 kph or 24.63 mph). One has to go back to 2010 for an average speed that slow, and this year's race was the shortest since 2002. Those mountain stages were truly brutal! Froome was just 72 seconds faster than Nairo Quintana (left in the above image) and 05' 25" faster than Alejandro Valverde (right in the above image). I loved seeing the kids on the podium!
This has been an incredibly fun Tour de France to watch. My research student, Chad Hobson, made the science we pursued intellectually stimulating. Just 342 days until the 2016 Tour de France begins!


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Born Again Non-theist
5/03/2010 | Share this article: View CommentsBy Marianne D.
I was always very religious, or perhaps spiritual is a better word. From a very young age, I had a mystical bent, tended to daydream, and thought deeply about life and love and people and the natural world I loved so much. It is no understatement to say that I have spent a life in conversation with God, thanking God and appreciating God's world, on a daily -- even hourly -- basis.
No personal, creator God. No invisible friend. The daily talks, the hourly thoughts of the divine, suddenly...gone. It is so new to me that I have to remind myself: "Oh yeah, you let that go." After which I tend to smile and look around myself and feel a sense of awe and peace.
I had tried to consider it several times before. I was very drawn to Zen Buddhism, and other Buddhist thought, and immediately recognized the logic and truth in every written offering by this non-theistic philosophy of life. But then the idea of "no God' would get too scary, I'd feel something along the lines of a panic attack, and discontinue that line of thinking.
I know now that that was simply running from truth out of fear. I ran for so long!
Let me go back to my youth for a minute.
My parents were fallen-away Catholics due to the excesses and injustice of 1950s Catholicism, but they still shared intense belief in the Judeo-Christian version of God. Nonetheless, they encouraged us children to seek our own path.
Now, every day I wake up with a sense of wonder, like a little child, enjoying things anew, living in the moment. Seek I did -- and still do! I became an expert on world religions, even writing about them professionally. At some point, I practiced most of the major faiths. I was Hindu, Islamic, Fundamentalist Christian, Liberal Christian, and Catholic. But try as I might, I never could settle on one. I enjoyed them all to some extent and found some wisdom in each. I cursed the fact that I could not advance due to my inability to choose one path and follow it. But I would necessarily move on to the next faith experiment when my strong tendency to be very pragmatic and rational simply would not allow me to actually believe that faith's particular set of fairytales.
For the past two years, I returned to the faith of my youth, Catholicism. I found a more intellectual and open-minded group than I had among evangelical and other fundamentalist Christians. I also found good fellowship, and kind, less judgemental people. I really had no reason to suddenly wake up from it, actually.
But I did.
The Bible is what started it. I have always had my doubts about the importance and trustworthiness of this book, so contradictory, so obviously full of myth, misogyny, and the victor's version of history. But in the desire to keep my world organized and my life meaningful, I tried to convince myself that the book contained "mystical truths," although it could not be taken literally.
Anyway, on this particular day a few weeks ago, I heard something horrible and disturbing involving misogyny and harming children on the news. As always, it made me cry. ( I don't watch TV, so I tend not to be as desensitized as most Americans). So I reached for the Bible, prayed, and randomly opened it. As OFTEN happens, I got a reading from the old testament about how God is going to kill and torture people. But this reading was worse. The prophet/writer was praying to be saved from his enemies, and then that they would be tortured; that even their children would go hungry and that no one would have compassion on them.
I closed the book, and out loud said "What the f*** was that? That's bullshit!"
In my blasphemous outburst, I felt somehow empowered to think clearly. I spent that evening listening to podcasts of Zen thought. No creator God.
NO God. I had the panic feeling, but I felt compelled to persist in my thoughts and research. The yucky feeling of uncertainty and fear lasted a few days. This was very instructive in helping me to understand why Christians of every ilk panic when faced with facts. They are afraid of the whole world turning upsidedown, and losing all meaning.
I understand and have compassion for these people because I felt very scared for several days. But then something amazing happened. I did not fall apart. The world did not crumble. I did not become a bad person. I still felt my marriage was valuable, sacred, and that adultery was wrong. I had no desire to become money hungry, but still felt compelled to do good and live simply.
Then something MORE amazing happened.
I saw that I was responsible. I saw more beauty than ever. I was nicer to my family. I was more compassionate. Most importantly, I was far less neurotic. No scary God, no punishments, no guilt, no trying to wrap my head logical around the illogical, cannibalistic last supper recreation I attended every week, or the idea of how one man died to save us all, or the idea that this perfect, merciful God killed his son, or the notion that God punishes us for all eternity because a woman was charmed by a creature he created to be charming, and because she wanted to seek knowledge!
Now, every day I wake up with a sense of wonder, like a little child, enjoying things anew, living in the moment. I always thought that all of my issues, or worries, or whatever problems that we all have, would be – or should be—solved by God. In fact, I am beginning to think that neurotic problems have their root in my strong reliance on this concept of the Judeo-Christian God!
I'm not exactly sure what comes next. I don't know if I find the real mystical essence of the universe now, or none at all. But I know for sure that now that I know the truth, there is no return to willful ignorance.
Is my search over? I do not know, but I know I had to kill this perverse God I have been brainwashed to believe in order to discover the truth.
Whatever happens, I, quite ironically, feel reborn. Life feels amazing! All praise life, and people, and this whole world in all of its amazing glory!
Filed Under: Testimonials


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Thursday, July 02, 2009
28 Taliban killed in clash with Kurram tribesmen
* Tribesmen appeal for troops' help amid intensifying battles
* Seven tribesmen also killed in gunbattle
PARACHINAR: Tribesmen attacked Taliban hideouts in Kurram Agency, killing 28 Taliban on Wednesday as the intensifying battles prompted them to ask for army troops to help, said a local lawmaker.
At least seven tribesmen were also killed in the clash in Kurram which was the latest in two weeks of battles between the Taliban and tribesmen there that have killed 141 people – including more than 100 Taliban, said two government officials.
Sajid Hussain Toori, a lawmaker from Kurram, said the Taliban were moving into Kurram from the Swat valley. He said hundreds of tribesmen took part in the attack early on Wednesday, triggering a gunbattle that killed 28 Taliban and seven tribesmen.
"Kurram is an important place because the Taliban can cross the Afghan border from here easily," said Toori. "The lashkar is facing these armed Taliban, but we request that the government send troops to Kurram to fight the Taliban as quickly as possible." ap
SOURCE: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C07%5C02%5Cstory_2-7-2009_pg1_6
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Welcome to The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge Application Process!
The application process is now closed.
Please take a look at resources for songwriting and stay connected with us for next year.
The Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts partnering with the American Theatre Wing and in collaboration with Playbill, Inc. and Disney Theatrical Productions. The Songwriting Challenge is a national competition for high school students who have a passion for writing songs that could be part of a musical theater production. This program offers six semi-finalists mentorship opportunities with professional songwriters and musicians and the opportunity to have an original song performed by those musicians.
The National Champion will be awarded a scholarship of $25,000 and all six finalists will have their song published by Samuel French. The application portal opened on October 2, 2017 and closed January 12, 2018.
Click here to find out more about the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge.


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OMB Dir. Mulvaney Defends Budget Blueprint That Won't Balance
The following is an excerpt from KAILANI KOENIG | March 19, 2017 | msnbc.com |
WASHINGTON — President Trump's Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney on Sunday defended the administration's budget blueprint for not reducing the federal deficit — despite his past reputation as a deficit hawk member of Congress.
"Keep in mind, the administration is different than members of the Hill, the members of the House and the Senate," Mulvaney told host Chuck Todd on "Meet The Press."
"Every House member, which I used to be, has a constituency," said Mulvaney. "We have a group of people we represent. Senators represent the whole state. There's also a lot of special interests, a lot of lobbying involved. The president's not beholden to any of that. The president represents everybody."
Mulvaney estimates that if the president's budget were to be approved by Congress, that the deficit would remain the same as it is now. On the campaign trail, then-candidate Trump repeatedly promised to balance the budget "quickly," and at one point, even made a pledge to get rid of the federal debt in eight years.
For more visit: msnbc.com


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Whether you are single and going out to a fun dinner with the girls or have been married for some time and have a romantic dinner planned, everyone needs a fabulous Valentines Day outfit. Here are my top picks for you to fall in love with this Valentines day. ❤ Masha
Casual yet sophisticated dinner…tuck in a fun colorful shirt like one of the two below into a black pencil skirt like this one from the Kardashian Kollection at Sears. This is a great wear to work outfit as well if you are celebrating Valentines day this Tuesday and won't have time to run home to change after work.
To take this outfit from day to night add a long statement necklace like this one from Express
Romantic dinner with that special someone… To add some sparkle to your evening pair this with gold or silver sequin pumps …


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So, my girlfriend is coming home a few days from London on Tuesday and she wants to take me to dinner as I am a laid off slob. She and I eat out quite a bit and have been around the "food block." Where is a great place for quiet conversation, fabulous food & wine, in the price range of say, Dine and Delfina?
Both places are way too loud for what I am looking for. Anyone know about Cafe Jacqueline and the souffles?


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Cheerleader of the Month: Chandler Smith
For Chandler Smith, it's more than just cheerleading; it's a way of life. It's where she met some of her best friends and made some of her favorite memories. It's helped her develop important life skills like hard work, perseverance and commitment, which have enabled her to excel both on and off the mat. "I have been cheering ever since I can remember," said Chandler. "I can't imagine my life without it!" Luckily, she doesn't have to.
Chandler started cheering as a PeeWee cheerleader for little league football in second grade. As a young girl, she loved watching the cheerleaders at games, so it was an easy decision to join her friends on the squad. The more games she cheered, the more she fell in love with it. In fifth grade, Chandler made the jump to competitive cheer, and she hasn't looked back since. She started at Spirit Xtreme in Southlake, Texas, where she competed for five years. Two years ago, she joined Spirit of Texas in Arlington. She currently cheers on the Senior Level 4 team. "My teammates at Spirit of Texas are from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area," said Chandler. "I have developed lifelong friendships with girls I would not have met otherwise. We love traveling together for competitions and socializing outside of the gym. It's like having a second family."
Some of Chandler's favorite memories have come from cheering at Spirit of Texas. She credits much of her strong work ethic to her experiences as an all star cheerleader. "My favorite competition was The Summit," said Chandler. "Practices in the weeks leading up to The Summit were grueling, all while trying to focus on school and everything else going on in our busy lives. We worked so hard as a team. We really came together to focus on our goals. Traveling and enjoying that time together was an incredible bonding experience."
In addition to all star cheerleading, Chandler has been cheering for her school team since middle school. She has been nominated as an NCA All-American four times and has been chosen as an NCA All-American Team Member for the past three years. She is currently a junior and varsity cheerleader at Southlake Carroll Senior High School and is loving every second of it. "My favorite part of cheering at Southlake Carroll is getting to cheer the boys on at the football games," she said. "There's really nothing like cheering under the Friday night lights!"
And what cheerleader wouldn't love to cheer on such a prestigious high school football program? The Southlake Carroll football team is consistently one of the top-ranked teams in the state of Texas. Dragon Stadium, where they play their home games, holds up to 12,000 fans—a truly electric game day experience that every school cheerleader craves!
Cheering for your school AND on an all star team would keep any cheerleader plenty busy, but this year Chandler added something new to her cheerleading resume. In September, Varsity All Star Fashion announced a casting call for current all star cheerleaders to feature in their upcoming design book. Over 600 applied, but only a few were selected as Varsity All Star Fashionistas. Chandler traveled to Dallas to participate in the photo shoot, and throughout the year she gets to update followers on the Varsity Fashionistas' Twitter & Instagram pages! (You can follow updates from Chandler & all of the Varsity All Star Fashionistas @VASFashionistas.) "It was so much fun hanging out with everyone during the photo shoot and getting to represent Spirit of Texas," said Chandler. "And I think it is so cool that I get to update everyone about Varsity through social media!"
On top of all of her time devoted to cheerleading, Chandler is involved in several activities outside of cheer. She has served as a Student Council representative since fifth grade, including serving as Student Council Secretary her sophomore year. She also works with HOPE, a group at her school that supports special needs students. Outside of school, she volunteers for the Special Olympics as a Life Skills Teacher's Aide and also for Relay For Life.
Having so much on her plate is certainly time-consuming and can be overwhelming at times, but is also rewarding. Thankfully, Chandler doesn't have to look far from home for her inspiration. "My role model is my mom and working women everywhere," said Chandler. "They are busy caring for their families and volunteering with outside organizations, keeping things together like booster clubs and parent-teacher organizations. My mom has a dozen things pulling at her at any given moment, but that doesn't stop her from reminding me how much she loves and supports me. She is truly my number one cheerleader. One day I want to be just like her."
The future is looking bright for Chandler Smith, who plans on continuing her cheerleading career & school involvement. She has set her sights high for 2014 and is excited about the year ahead. "My goal is to always be the best person and cheerleader I can be," she said. "In cheerleading I aspire to win an NCA title, earn another Summit bid and win at The Summit. Outside of cheer, it's important to me that I maintain high grades and stay active in my school and community."


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Budget boost for fracking revolution
BRITAIN'S shale gas revolution is finally set to light up this year, spurred on by Budget proposals to ease tax burdens and train thousands of new workers for the industry.
Chancellor George Osborne wants to ramp up domestic energy production as part of a plan to defend the nation's energy supplies from global disruptions such as the Ukraine crisis.
He announced changes to onshore allowances that will reduce the tax rate on part of shale gas explorer profits on projects dating from December 5, 2013.
EY energy tax services director Robert Hodges said the changes would help stimulate investment in this "new and nascent industry".
He added: "It will be welcome news for the shale gas industry which needs to commit significant investment to prove commercial reserves in the UK."
The Government also vowed to work with the industry to ensure the UK has the right skills and supply chain in place to benefit from the huge potential of our oil and gas reserves.
According to the Institute of Directors the shale gas industry and resulting supply chain could create 74,000 jobs in the UK.
Ken Cronin, chief executive of the UK Onshore Operators Group, which along with EY will report on skill needs at the end of next month, said: "We know there is a skills gap but we are trying to put some meat on the bone. We will definitely need geologists, land experts and geo-physicists. We will also need apprenticeship schemes and skills academies. The Budget shows the Government's commitment in helping support this training."
According to the British Geological Survey there is 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in the north of England alone of which 130 trillion is said to be recoverable. To put that in context the UK consumes three trillion cubic feet of gas a year.
It will be welcome news for the shale gas industry which needs to commit significant investment to prove commercial reserves in the UK
Small explorers such as Cuadrilla Resources, looking for shale in Lancashire and Sussex, and stock market-listed IGas Energy looking in Cheshire and Lancashire have emerged.
Major operators are also keen, including British Gas owner Centrica which has taken a 25 per cent stake in Cuadrilla's shale licence in Bowland, Lancashire, and French giant Total looking for shale in Lincolnshire.
But campaigners concerned about the potential environmental damage from fracking have along with planning concerns stalled development.
Cronin says the Budget will change that with frackers sharpening their drill bits. He said: "This provides a foundation of certainty for investors. Operators will now start to make announcements about where they are going to drill."
UK Onshore Gas, a possible Aim candidate, is poised to start drilling six wells in South Wales which it claims has a potential capacity of well over 50 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Chairman Gerwyn Williams says there will be enough to export. He said: "If it can happen in the US, it can happen here."


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|Use this URL to cite or link to this record in EThOS:
|Water use by pigs managed under various conditions of housing, feeding, and nutrition
|Gill, Bhupinder Pal
|Awarding Body:
|Polytechnic South West
|Current Institution:
|University of Plymouth
|Date of Award:
|Availability of Full Text:
This study investigated the water use of lactating sows (experiment 1), suckling piglets (experiment 2), weaned piglets (experiments 3, 6 and 8) and growing pigs (experiments 4, 5, 7 and 9), according to 3 specific objectives which assessed the effects of: age, live weight, feed intake and physiological status on water demand (experiments 1 to 3); different types of drinker on water use (experiments 4 to 6); dietary mineral content on water demand (experiments 7 and 8). For all classes of pig, feed intake explained between 53 and 83% of the variation in water use (P < 0.001). The relationship between stage of lactation and live weight (experiments 3, 6 and 7) was confounded by feed intake. In sows water use increased linearly in the week before farrowing (P < 0.001) which then decreased from 12.3 ± 1.10 1 the day before, to 9.3 ± 0.84 1 the day of farrowing (P < 0.001). Water use averaged 18.9 ± 0.27 1/day in a 21 day lactation. With suckling piglets, provision of water and/or creep feed between days 8 and 21 did not influence growth ( P > 0.05). Provision of creep feed reduced water use (0.22 ± 0.019 v 0.53 ± 0.035 1/litter day; P < 0.001), but water provision did not influence feed intake (34.7 ± 3.4 g/litter day; P > 0.05). Early weaned piglets (21 d) showed a disturbed pattern of water use in week 1 and water use averaged 0.94 ± 0.050 1/piglet day between weeks 1 and 3. In growing pigs, water use per unit of feed intake decreased linearly from 17 to 81 kg W and water use averaged 5 ± 0.16 1/day. Type of drinker influenced performance immediately after weaning (P < 0.001), but results with growing pigs were less conclusive. Water use from the Mono-flo nipple drinker was about twice that from 5 other types of drinker (P < 0.001). Dietary potassium (K) increased the water use of growing pigs by 1 1/day for every 1% increase in K between 7 and 15 g/kg feed (P < 0.05) , but performance was not affected (P > 0.05). With piglets water use and performance were not affected by variations in dietary K and Cl contents between 6.7 and 15.6; 1.4 and 3.0 g/kg feed respectively (P > 0.05). Growing pigs fed liquid diets utilised a supplementary water supply even though the water added to the meal exceeded ARC (1981) recommended allowances (experiment 9). Daily weight gain and conversion of dry matter improved as the moisture content of the liquid diets was increased from 67 to 88% (P < 0.05).
|Not available
|South West Water Authority
|Qualification Name:
|Thesis (Ph.D.)
|Qualification Level:
|EThOS ID:
|Not available
|Pigs' demand for water


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PHOENIX — The Colorado Rockies needed somebody to break their fall. That somebody turned out to be starter Kyle Freeland, who pitched six strong innings Friday night as the Rockies beat Arizona 3-1 at Chase Field.
For those inclined to keep track of late-April standings, the victory moved the Rockies (15-9) a half game in front of the Diamondbacks (15-10) for first place in the National League West.
A trio of relievers — Chris Rusin, Adam Ottavino and closer Greg Holland — blanked the D-backs for three innings and Holland picked up his 10th save.
Arizona entered the game with an 11-3 record at Chase Field this season, tied for the best home start in franchise history. But Freeland wasn't intimidated. The rookie left-hander performed like a veteran ace, restoring order after Washington scored 46 runs off Colorado pitching in a four-game series at Coors Field. He limited the Diamondbacks — who entered the game hitting .320 at home — to one run on six hits.
Freeland's primal shout as he left the mound summed up his performance, as well as his great escape, in the fifth inning. With men on second and third after two singles and a double steal, Freeland got the dangerous Paul Goldschmidt to pop out to shortstop Trevor Story, then coaxed Yas-
many Tomas into an inning-
ending groundout to second baseman Pat Valaika.
Charlie Blackmon, who entered the game with a .356 career average against Arizona, extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an opposite-field RBI single down the third-base line in the seventh, scoring Valaika, who led off with a walk. It was a big run, putting Colorado more comfortably in front, 3-1.
Colorado struck first, combining a Nolan Arenado ground-rule double into the left-field corner with an RBI single by Carlos Gonzalez to stake a 1-0 lead in the first.
Story's 426-foot solo homer to dead center off starter Robbie Ray extended the Rockies' lead to 2-0 in the third. Story has made the Diamondbacks pay at Chase Field before. In the 2016 season opener here, in his major-league debut, Story hit back-to-back homers off Arizona ace Zack Greinke.
Goldschmidt, who has now reached base against the Rockies in 31 consecutive home games, cut the Rockies' lead to 2-1 with an RBI single in the third, driving in A.J. Pollock.


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The Celestial Court is an ancient and powerful group of angels who represent light and positivity. Contrary to popular belief, angels can not and do not interfere directly in the lives of others, unless it is absolutely necessary. Long ago, the Court imprisoned the phantoms into the Dark Dimension. Eventually, they were released after Elena used her power. In Destiny Rising, it is revealed that the Old Ones and the Guardians had a very turbulent and hostile past, to the point that the Principal Guardians are the only ones capable of defeating them.
The Celestial Court is to the south of the Dark Dimension and corresponds to Heaven. Its architecture, predominantly white and blue, is full of minarets. It has been stated that the angels protected Elena during the car accident that tragically killed her parents when she was younger. After Elena dies years later, she becomes a Guardian and embraces her destiny as a Earth Guardian.
The Return: MidnightEdit
After the incidents and destruction caused by kitsune, the leader of the blonde guardians of the Celestial Court reveals that Elena was originally destined to become a Guardian. The Celestial Court agrees to reverse what was done in Fell's Church and erase the events and the memories of all that happened there. Elena can return to her home of Fells Church, as if she had never died, and Stefan will be accepted as the love of her life. In Midnight, Vickie Bennett, Sue Carson and Mr. Tanner are all resurrected, but nothing can be done for Damon, who had died. Angered, Elena begins to unleash her Wings of Destruction, but a soldier named Lenea stops her. The Three Guardians of the Celestial Court decide that Elena is unfit to wield the wings, so they clip them off. Elena's wings and telepathy (with everyone but Stefan) are lost, and she is practically fully human again.
The Hunters: Destiny RisingEdit
Tree of the GuardiansEdit
The Celestial Court | ----------------------------------------------------- | | | Idola Ryannen Susurre | | | Red Guardians Blondes Guardians Brown Guardians | | | ----------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | Andrés Montez Javier Mylea Elizabeth Gilbert Elena Gilbert (novel)|Elena Gilbert]] Margaret Gilbert Other Guardians (Half Vampires, Fallen Angels) | ----------------------------------------------------- | | | Sage Katherine von Swartzschild Devil
- Idola: She is the Supreme Judge of the Red Guardians and the leader of all of the three judges. Idola has red-hair, she is quite rude most of the time and is very feisty in personality. Idola is also inconsiderate, independent and she doesn't need saving or protecting.
- The Red Guardians: These Guardians have short hair with almond green eyes. They are severe and intransigent. They are the typical Guardians of the Celestial Court.
- Ryannen: She is the Supreme Judge of the Blonde Guardians, and the more resentful one within the Court. She is described as sweet, but because of her dedication and devotion, she becomes cold and cruel with vampires because of Elena's refusal to be part of the Guardians. Of the three judges, Ryannen is the most hated by the protagonists. She has fair hair which is almost white. She is not very patient and is very organised but also very bossy.
- The Blondes Guardians: The Guardians have blonde hair with blue eyes and a thin constitution, which oversee the City of Darkness. They hate the delays and only think about work.
- Susurre: She is the Supreme Judge of the Brown Guardians. She has long dark hair, and personality wise, and she is really kind. Susurre is not like the other Guardians in terms of temperament and personality. She is calm during a crisis and she could be considered as the peace keeper. Susurre has patience, is very organised and is very warm and welcoming.
- The Brown Guardians: These Guardians have black skin with curly hair and a lithe physique. They are the kindest and they oversee the Underworld.
- Andrés Montez: He was a human Earth Guardian who lived in Costa Rica. He eventually befriended Elena and helped Elena control her powers. He died during the events of The Salvation Series.
- Javier: He was a Guardian.
- Mylea: She is one of the Principal Guardians. She is a member of the blonde guardians, and as the supreme blonde judge, Ryannen, Mylea shows hatred and contempt for Damon Salvatore.
- Elizabeth Gilbert (nee Morrow): Elizabeth was the wife of Thomas Gilbert and the mother of three daughters, Katherine, Elena, and Margaret. She was an angel or Guardian, but eventually, she decides to live amongst the humans. She protected her daughters (Katherine, Elena and Margaret) and her husband (Thomas) before she tragically died in a car accident.
- Elena Gilbert: Elena was chosen by the Celestial Court, as a form of replacement of her late mother who was a Guardian, Elizabeth. Elena is half human on from her father's side and half angel from her mothers side. She has two sisters, Katherine and Margaret, with the former being her maternal half sister. Elena is currently fulfilling her destiny and living on Earth as an Earth Guardian, protecting humanity from darkness and evil beings. Elena's mission is to fight and destroy all evil on Earth, including destroying evil influences and supernatural beings that are poisoning Earth. Elena is a loyal and loving Earth Guardian with many friends and family.
- The Devil: The Devil was formerly an angel, but his selfish and evil nature caused him to be exiled from Heaven. He now lives in the darkest parts of the Dark Dimension, being Hell and the oposite od the Celestial Court - The Infernal Court.
- Sage: Sage is the son of The Devil, who was formerly an angel before being exiled out of Heaven and a unnamed French woman, who was presumed to have been mortal. He is half angel and half vampire, as well as a loyal Guardian to the Court. He is a close friend and ally to Elena, Stefan and Damon.
- Katherine von Swartzschild: Katherine was born in Germany during the fifteenth century. Katherine is the daughter of Baron von Swartzschild (a human German man of nobility) and Elizabeth Gilbert (an angel/Guardian), therefore, Katherine is half vampire, half angel. She is the maternal half sister of Elena and Margaret Gilbert. Katherine was a very fragile and weak child and therefore, she got sick rather frequently as a human. She was turned into a vampire by Klaus back in the fifteenth century. Katherine was corrupted by Klaus, the most evil, corruptible and dangerous of the Old Ones, and this caused her to never use her benevolent power. She returns to life, and helps Elena, Stefan, Damon, Meredith, Alaric, Zander, Bonnie, Matt, and the Original Pack to defeat the Old Ones: Klaus, Davos and Celine. Unfortunately, Katherine died during the events of The Salvation Series.
The Guardians can recruit adepts among human beings, though endowed with certain qualities. This is the case of Elena. When she was 14, while she was in the car with her parents, the Guardians were invisible to human eyes, to kill the young girl and bring them to the Celestial Court. Elena, however, saw them and pointed to her father, who then became distracted, therefore, causing the accident that killed her parents. Because of their dedication and their nature, the Guardians can be corrupted by their own personality and desire. This was in the case of an angel who desired more power and turned manipulative, cruel and evil. This individual is now known as The Devil.
- Ryannen is a variant of Riane (Irish) and Ryan (Irish, Gaelic). The meaning of the name is "little king".
- Susurre is a term relative to "whisper".
- Idola is a name of Greek origin. The meaning of the name is "vision".
- The Old Ones: Not much is known if in the past, the Celestial Court and the Old Ones had an altercation, but it is known that the Guardians can not revive and intervene in the fate of the vampires. The clearest example of the conflict between the two groups was the appearance of Klaus in Fell's Church. Although not mentioned, the Court intervenes with the return of Elena in the final battle and the invocation of the ghosts of the Civil War to destroy the Old Ones. Later, Elena is brought back to life by the power of Guardians. In Destiny Rising, there is mention of a legend about the ultimate weapon that could be used against the Old Ones, the sacred blood of the Original or Principal Guardians. The Guardians mention that the Old Ones are extremely powerful, and that they threaten the Celestial Court as well as the entire planet.
- The Devil: He was one of the angels, but because of his personality and desire, he turned evil, cruel and manipulative, to the extent that the Court had to exile him to another world in order to prevent further damage and corruption in the Dark Dimension. After the exile, the fallen angel wanders on Earth, where he met a young mortal French woman. They fell in love and had a son named Sage. Some time later, the woman died but her spirit or soul was condemned to Hell because of the great love she had for the fallen angel. The fallen angel called himself "The Devil" and at some point after the death of his beloved, The Devil met one of the ancient Old Ones, Klaus, who ended up making a deal to oppose the Guardians.
- The Kitsune: Not much is known about the relationship between the Kitsune and the Angels, but the Court completely disapproves of the actions of these deities in the human world, to the point of intervening, and turning back time. Initially, they lived in the Dark Dimension, but after the Elena returned from the afterlife, some of the kitsune decided to move to Earth and capture the new Guardian. The consequences of their actions was the destruction of the entire species.
- The Phantoms: The phantoms are the evil counterparts to the angels/guardians and they are adversaries of the angels/guardians. The Phantoms are the essence of evil and therefore, are in constant conflict with the angels. A long time ago, the guardians and the phantoms had a huge turbulent confrontation, ending with the imprisonment of the evil beings into the Dark Dimension's moon. Later, a new guardian (Elena) faces the kitsune, causing her power to break the seal that held the evil beings imprisoned. This resulted in freeing the Phantoms, which ended up invading Earth.
Powers and AbilitiesEdit
They have special abilities and auras. The powers have made it blood irresistible to vampires and other supernatural creatures.
- Superhuman Senses: They have learned to control their senses of hearing, vision, taste, touch, and smell.
- Telepathy: They can communicate non verbally, using their mental senses.
- Time Manipulation: Guardians can go back in time, causing the resurrection of the dead, memory loss, and the physical restoration of the damaged.
- Wings Of Power: Guardians have several different wings which all have specific powers and functions given to them from the afterlife. These are the different kinds of wings:
- Wings Of Protection : These wings are strong and, like the name, are very useful in order to protect themselves and whomever is there with them.
- Wings Of Purification: These wings are white in colouring. They have the ability to remove all sins of an individual as well as their memories.
- Wings Of Remembrance: These wings are violet-blue in colour. They can restore someones memories.
- Wings Of Redemption : These wings are rainbow-colored. They can redeem people of their sins.
- Wings Of The Wind : These wings are gold in colour. Their function is to create wind. These wings also help Guardians to fly.
- Wings Of Destruction: These wings are used to destroy anything that stands in a Guardian's way, including obstacles or possible dangers.
- Sacred Blood: The blood of a guardian is the ultimate weapon that is used to destroy all of the evil creatures of the Universe. It's the only thing that can destroy the Old Ones, and prevent their resurrection.
TV SeriesEdit
- The Celestial Court does not appear in the show, but the spirits or Nature could possibly be the counterpart to the Guardians in the novels.
- The spirits have control of the Other Side. They usually act through other beings, and their actions are mostly neutral to extreme.
- Nature is the most powerful identity or consciousness as well as the creator of matter and energy of the entire planet. It is consistently mentioned as being manipulative, overprotective, neutral, extremely intelligent and calculating.
- The Celestial Court and the Guardians (from Dark Dimension and Earthly) are the opposition of The Infernal Court, The Original Phantoms and Normal Phantoms, the last opposition against The Old Ones. This is confirmed by the new angels.
- The Infernal Court is literally the antithesis of the Celestial Court. Both courts are the representatives of Chaos and Order respectively. They maintain the balance (One won't exist without the other).
- The Phantoms are opposed to the principles and foundations of the existence of the guardians. They corrupt the human essence, causing the condemnation and destruction of immortal essence.
- The Old Ones are opposed to peace, good, order, and the cycle of existence (life and death). They "stop" the process of life and death, causing "stagnation" in the existence of humans.
- The guardians are described as dedicated and extremists.
- The Celestial Court can not intervene in the fate of the vampires.
- In essence, the angels have no gender, but in the novels, it is possible to assume that the three leathers of guardians are three women.
- The Principal Guardians are the first angels in history, and may be the equivalent of the archangels in the reality.
- In the books, it is not mentioned what kind of angel the Devil was, but it can be assumed that he was part of the Red or Blonde Guardians.
- In the reality, most of the angels and all of the archangels end with the "el" suffix. In the novels, the Guardians don't have this characteristic in their names.
- "El" means "in God/Deity" and the first half of the name means what each individual angel specializes in.
- There is also a Celestial Court, in the Mortal Instruments book series.