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Canvas Pro split-sole ballet slipper features a front sole that is hand stitched and threads that are threaded from the inside of the ballet slipper. Partially attached elastic straps included. Fitting: Women order 1-1.5 sizes larger than street shoe. Men order 3-4 sizes larger than street shoe.
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Houston, Texas (Sunday, February 21, 2016)—The YES Prep Public Schools Board of Directors unanimously voted to name Mark DiBella as the sole finalist for the position of Chief Executive Officer.
Under Texas law, the Board first must initiate a 21-day waiting period before it can formally vote on a contract to hire the CEO finalist. DiBella is expected to be the third leader in the organization's history, succeeding Jason Bernal and founder Chris Barbic.
DiBella's selection was the culmination of an extensive nationwide search. The Board of Directors, along with representatives of YES Prep's senior leadership team, Principals, teachers, and central office leaders interviewed the final candidates.
"Over the last several months, we engaged in a rigorous search for the best leader to serve YES Prep's more than 10,000 students— someone with leadership experience, as well as a proven track record of promoting growth and excellence," said Chairman of the Board, Mark Gregg. "The search committee developed a diverse pool of exceptional candidates experienced in leading excellent urban charter school systems as well as managing change in public school districts, and the board conducted extensive interviews and due diligence on its finalists," said Gregg.
"After our exhaustive search, we are confident that Mark DiBella is the best candidate for the CEO position. Mark has worked for YES Prep since 2001 and has spearheaded much of YES Prep's growth and success. In his tenure at YES Prep he has worked as a teacher, principal, Head of Schools, Chief Operating Officer, and Superintendent, and thus knows what it takes in every part of our work to provide the highest quality education for students," Gregg said.
For the past two years, DiBella acted as Superintendent and was responsible for managing the organization's budget, executing the growth strategy to serve more children, and overseeing core business functions, including the management of 15 campuses, teachers and staff, system and campus-level operations and technology, district partnerships, community engagement, and state-level advocacy.
On being named the sole finalist for CEO, DiBella said, "I'm honored to have been selected. In my fifteen years with YES Prep, I have seen first-hand how YES Prep can change this city's future by proving what all children can accomplish. I have formed many meaningful relationships with colleagues, students, and families who strive towards our vision every day – to redefine what is possible when children have equitable access to an excellent, college-ready education."
DiBella is a graduate of Rice University's Masters of Business Administration program and Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program (REEP). He also holds a BA from the College of William and Mary. Mark began his career in education as a 1999 corps member with Teach For America, teaching 5th grade at Garcia Elementary in the Houston Independent School District (HISD).
During the 21-day waiting period, DiBella will meet with YES Prep's students and parents, community members, Board of Directors, and senior leadership team.
About YES Prep Public Schools
The mission of YES Prep Public Schools is to increase the number of students from underserved communities who graduate from college prepared to lead. YES Prep currently operates 15 campuses throughout Houston and serves over 10,000 students. YES Prep also partners with Aldine ISD, Spring Branch ISD, and KIPP Houston Public Schools to provide a platform to share and replicate best practices. YES Prep received the inaugural Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools for its superlative performance in closing the achievement gap for underprivileged students. It has consistently been named one of Houston's "Best Places to Work" by the Houston Business Journal, and is nationally ranked by the U.S. News and World Report, The Washington Post, and others.
Houston, Texas (Sunday, February 21, 2016)—The YES Prep Public Schools Board of Directors unanimously voted to name Mark DiBella as the sole finalist for the position of Chief Executive Officer.

subset: commoncrawl


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Health Briefs
Published on August 23rd, 2017 | by Noah Chen0
Maple Syrup Gives Good Gut
A Sweet Prebiotic
Researchers from the University of Rhode Island have discovered that pure maple syrup contains inulin, a complex carbohydrate that serves as a prebiotic. It encourages growth of beneficial gut bacteria and extends the lengthy list of beneficial vitamins and minerals contained in this natural sweet. Consume it in moderation, limited to a few times a week.


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Huffington Post contributor H.A. Goodman wants you to know that you rebel scum will never overthrow King George, so you might as well give up your dream of becoming independent colonies with liberty and justice for all:
The 2nd Amendment might state, "A well regulated Militia," but in reality it doesn't mean a way to combat the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Guns might protect one's home, or enable one to hunt, or provide a symbol of freedom, but gun ownership won't overthrow the government or change laws. What is tyrannical to you might have been a necessary Whiskey tax to George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, and what is tyrannical to me might be your desire to wage a war overseas. When the word "tyranny" is subject to so much debate, it's best to let discourse, voting, and participation in government provide a means for change in our society.
Any illusion that owning one gun, or one hundred guns, would frighten or alter the way government behaves is not only unrealistic, but something George Washington would find unacceptable. The view propagated by the NRA that gun ownership keeps the federal government "in check" is not only historically inaccurate, but also contrary to the actions of our Founding Fathers.
Mr. Goodman presumably wrote his column on April 18, 1775, as the Founding Fathers rather convincingly proved this argument wrong the next day when American militiamen rallying to Lexington and Concord came within a hair's breadth of annihilating elite light infantry and grenadiers drawn from ten regiments of the British Army, along with a battalion of His Majesty's Marine Forces who were on a gun control raid, kicking off the conflict we now know as the American Revolutionary War......


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Making the Grade for June 17, 2015
Midlander Carmen Dragun, 15, who will be a junior at Trinity School, is among 50 students nationwide who have been selected to participate in the Four Star Leadership program July 12-17 in Oklahoma City.
The camp, which was first held in 2008, is hosted by retired U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks, a former Midlander. This year's speakers include Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, retired Maj. Gen. Rita Aragon and two-time Olympic gold medalist Michele Smith.
Dragun is a member of National Honor Society, Girl Scouts, Midland Youth Advisory Council, cross country and tennis teams, is a Tall City Tomorrow Youth advocate, is involved in ACTS and is a peer minister at her church.
Program participants have the opportunity to earn college scholarships, according to a press release.
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ABILENE -- Several Midlanders were named to honor rolls for the spring semester at Hardin-Simmoms University.
Named to the Dean's List were Michael Bell, Matthew Counts, Masyn Evans and Stephanie Henry. Named to the Honor Roll was Rachel Hanna. And named to the Honorable Mention list was Maygen Hansard.
To be eligible for the Dean's List, students must maintain at least a 3.75 GPA; for Honor Roll they must maintain at least a 3.6 GPA. The Honorable Mention list is for students who completed few than 12 semester hours but who maintained a GPA of at least 3.6.
* * *
Midland Society of University Women presented a scholarship to Midland High School graduate Catherine Reber.
Reber plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in business administration. She is the daughter of Dean and Karen Reber.
* * *
Midlander Cassandra Cox recently graduated from Northern Illinois University. She received a bachelor's degree in general studies.
* * *
Midlander Rachel Wiggins has been named to the President's List for the spring semester at Mississippi University for Women.
To be eligible, students must maintain at least a 4.0 GPA.


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A British Columbia police officer bought a plane ticket with his credit card for a disoriented senior so that she could be reunited with her family.
Andre Almeida helped the woman, who was displaying dementia-like symptoms, after she disembarked from a cruise ship in Victoria and never returned.
Victoria police officers took her to the airport after talking with her family in New York, and when her credit card did not work Almeida wanted to help.
CHECK Out More Inspiring Stories About Police Officers
"It could be my mom stranded somewhere," he told CBC News.
(READ the full story from CBC) Photo via Twitter – Story tip from Julia Frerichs


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Port Tariffs
Below you will find the prevailing port tariffs as issued by the Transnet National Ports Authority. All costs charged by PAS Durban is in line with this tariff. We, as Shipping Agent, always aim for adamant transparency when dealing with our clients as regards to charges in Durban, South Africa.
If you need any additional information we will be most glad to assist. Just drop us an email at:email@example.com


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- More Information
DetailsThis GuardIT laptop bailhandle from Samsonite is the perfect companion for travelling around a large screen laptop as well as any essential day to day busy items. Benefitting from a padded laptop compartment with lockable zippers this bailhandle will carry your laptop in style and securely.Features:External constructioná500D*500D 100 Polyester17.3 screen laptopRemovable and adjustable comfort shoulder strapNeoprene lined carry handleAccent detailingPadded laptop compartmentFront organisation pocketsSlip-in tablet pocketFront zipped pocketDocument pocketLimited 2 year global warranty
- Weights & Sizes
Weights & Sizes
Capacity 15L Laptop Dimensions 42.2cm x 28.7cm x 3.8cm Weight (to 1 decimal place) 0.6 Dimensions 44.5cm x 32cm x 13cm
- Review
Feefo ReviewsConnection problem to Feefo server.
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Samsonite GuardIT Laptop Backpack Large -17.3" Laptop - 48cm
Regular Price: £53.00
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HEB in Abilene Will Save You Gas Money If You Use Their Gift Card
Texas based HEB are giving everybody the hook up to save 12 cents a gallon on gas just by simply using their gift card.
Everybody wants to save some cash at the pump, right? I know I do. Well, participating HEB's, including the Abilene location, will knock off 12 cents per gallon of gas when you use your HEB gift card that has no activation fee. You literally can just go up to HEB, get a gift card, and immediately save money at the pump.
With gas prices so high right now, it's nice to see a company like HEB stepping up to the plate to help us save a little money.
The promotion started yesterday (Monday April 1st) and will run through July 7th, so if you want to save that cash, just simply get your gas at HEB and use their gift card to fill 'er up.


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Skybox Mini Bluetooth Speaker
Product Details
The Skybox Mini is a portable and lightweight Bluetooth Speaker that packs crisp, clear Hi-Fidelity sound into a tiny box. The Skybox Mini is only 1.8" square, and provides superior sound quality and clarity without distortion, even at high volume. Super lightweight and ultra portable, you can take the Skybox Mini on the go around the house, to the office, in the car, or outdoors on a bike ride, to the beach or on a picnic - the Skybox is lightweight, small and easy to carry in your pocket or purse. Get crisp and clear Hi-Fidelity sound without all the bulk or high cost of other portable speakers. The SKYBOX is also a speakerphone and allows you to answer calls while you listen to music. Connects to any Bluetooth enabled device. Go ahead, play it loud.
Details and dimensions
- ColorBlack/Green
L W H1.8 1.8 1.8 inches4.57 4.57 4.57 cm
Shipping + delivery
- Shipping Policy Standard
- Shipping Availability USA
- Estimated Delivery Feb, 07 - Feb, 09


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Congratulations to the following giveaway winners:
Wags & Wiggles - Amanda #18
Inspired by Elizabeth - stepperB #100
Natural Fitness - Nancy #86
Ocean Spray - shana #17, Michelle #51, Kristie #73
**All winners have been notifed through email. Please check your junk/spam folder! If no response is received within 2 days, a new winner will be chosen. Random.org is used to determine all winners.


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MADAM – Here's an insight into my week. Tuesday: I receive my copy of Antiques Trade Gazette. I read it fairly thoroughly, often starting with Bid Barometer. Then with trepidation I move onto Letters, this week almost entirely devoted to ivory.
Wednesday: draft letter to ATG. I hope it's relevant to what I have just read. Thursday: tear up letter in agony, resignation or depression.


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New resort Cheval Blanc Randheli is asserting its cultural clout by unveiling a series of Vincent Beaurin artworks throughout its villas
It may be the smallest nation in Asia in terms of population (fewer than 400,000) and distance (less than 190 miles), but when it comes to luxury hotels, the Maldives punches well above its weight. Already more than 90 of its 1,190-odd islands are private resorts, and the coming months see more key openings. The first is Cheval Blanc Randheli, which opens in the Noonu Atoll on November 15. A 45-minute flight from Malé, the resort is reached by its own liveried Twin Otter De Haviland seaplane.
The hotel is the second to open under the auspices of the newish Cheval Blanc hospitality brand, operated by Louis Vuitton Möet Hennessy Hotel Management. The company is named after the rare and revered St Emilion premier cru, so of course all the usual attributes of a very expensive, very exclusive island paradise are in place.
Each of the villas, designed by the Belgian-born doyen of Asian-influenced hotel design Jean-Michel Gathy, has its own 41ft (12.5m) pool. Yannick Alléno, who held three Michelin stars when he oversaw the dining room at Le Meurice in Paris, was initially slated to take charge of the kitchens; his successor has yet to be named but will no doubt be of similar calibre. There are tennis courts, a golf simulator, a Guerlain spa, a yacht, a dhoni… Everything is in the best possible taste, except perhaps the pointlessly pretentious decision to call the concierges "alchemists" and the butlers "majordomes" (sic).
So far, so irresistibly lovely. But what raises the hotel above the ordinarily glorious is a substantial body of work it has commissioned from the French artist Vincent Beaurin. Asked to produce a work – a soaring copper arch – to mark the entrance to the property, as well as a series of pieces to hang one apiece in each of the 45 villas, his thoughts turned to the landscape, but the Maldives' Islamic culture meant his creations could not be too figurative. "I found the need to avoid anything figurative challenging but also liberating," he told me in Paris last summer at an exhibition of this body of work shortly before it was shipped east. "In Islam, they discovered abstraction in the seventh century. In the occident, we had to wait until the 20th." The other challenge put to him was a demand that each work be visible from a distance of 91ft (28m) – the length from the door of each villa to its back wall.
His solution was to produce a series of raised rounds, 11 inches (28cm) in diameter, that protrude from the walls rather as the island rises above the ocean. Each was carved by hand from polystyrene, a material he likes because "it looks very heavy, but is light". Then, one by one, he painted them in epoxy resin, and sifted, using a domestic sieve, a mix of ground marble and quartz sand that had been tinted an array of colours. Each shade was applied individually, and the effect is mesmerising - photographs do them no justice. Each displays a range of colours that at their simplest level recall the Maldivian landscape but at their most complex speak of Goethe's colour theories and the spectrum that makes up light.
Beaurin, incidentally, was commissioned by the modish Parisian curator Hervé Mikaeloff, whose clients include the Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton and the Art District gallery at the Raffles-run Royal Monceau in Paris. But let's hope Cheval Blanc keep him busy too. The first hotel of this name may have opened in Courchevel (you can't miss it; it has a huge a mirrored horse sculpture by Bruno Peinado by its entrance) in 2006, but a further three are in development. It would be great if they were to take their art as seriously as this one has.
Rooms at Cheval Blanc Randheli start from $1,300 (£810) a night
Cheval Blanc Randheli Maldives Resort Reservations


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High Quality Items custom made oil supplies you'll love
New Releases
About Us
Holistic Oils was started less than 2 years ago because saw a need for a high quality essential oil supply store that fit the needs of fellow essential oil lovers. We wanted a space that fellow essential oil users could find products that they loved, at prices that were fair and shipping that was fast! We are a young company, but we love our customers and all of the positive reviews we receive on a daily basis!
Roller Tops - new & improved!
Love rolling on your oils? Check out our custom made roller tops -- available only available here! With these exclusively made roller tops you can turn your bottles into your own roller bottles! This 12 pack of steel rollers and lids will be a huge hit at home and while taking your oils on the go. These steel roller bottles and caps fit perfectly onto your essential oil bottles.


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Effortless deep cleaning experience in my fight against slime
This post is sponsored by O-Cedar for the Mom It Forward Influencer Network. All opinions stated are complete and 100% mine.
How's summer going? Anyone looking forward to school starting back? :) I've spent my summer trying to keep my floors mopped which hadn't been on my top fun things to do until lately. It's been one of the stormiest summers I can recall. When Peanut isn't tracking in, the kids are. And because it's been storming, I've had to get creative this year with finding things for the kids to do when they can't go outdoors. They've become really good little slime monsters. So between the rain, mud, and slime, I've been a mopping fool.
I decided I needed to change my way of thinking about mopping by getting myself a new mop. And not just any mop, I got a new EasyWring™ Spin Mop & Bucket System. I always have more fun with a new toy and all household products are like fun new toys to me. That being said as soon as my mop arrived, I got busy and started mopping. And I haven't stopped yet. For once, I don't think of mopping as a dreaded chore, but instead, I embrace it as a fun new activity. So bring on the rain (it's raining while I'm typing this) and the mud and even the gallons of slime the kids have made because mama's got a brand new toy. As much as I love my new toys (Susie homemaker in disguise, sad but true, I'm a mean, green, cleaning machine) I equally enjoy sharing information about my new toys with all of you, so be sure to click on my links to learn more about this mop and to see where you can purchase your own.
Cleaning up after messy summer crafts, like DIY slime, can be a pain to tackle, from sticky glue to spilled glitter, my floors are usually left looking like a disaster. Luckily, for me even the kids love mopping the floors with my new EasyWring™ Spin Mop & Bucket System. And believe me, that's a good thing. It's such a fun and effortless way to tackle any deep or quick cleaning floor tasks. It's especially helpful because I don't have to bend over to use it. The hands-free wringer needs a simple press of the foot pedal to control the amount of water you use, meaning faster drying floors. Anything that will save me from an increase of back pain is a good thing. The exclusive spin bucket design with a built-in wringer controls the moisture level of the mop, making it safe to use on all hard floor surfaces like my tile and it even works on the hardwood!
Not only does O-Cedar sell this wonderful little mop, O-Cedar has a full range of household cleaning products that can help tackle above the floor messes too. With O-Cedar little effort brings big results. The EasyWringTM Spin Mop & Bucket System is $39.99 and is available at retailers nationwide.
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I so need this mop! It would so come in handy. Especially at my job. I work with kids. Imagine mud for 2-3 kids times 1500. It would be a dream to have.
I seriously need this for my floors!!! I have been using swiffer wet jet but this looks so much more effective!
I really hate mopping so anything that makes mopping a breeze is something I would like to get for myself.
Cleaning can be a pain, but wringing out a dirty mop is worse. Love that it's an Easy Wring Mop!
I just bought this mop and I am in love with it! My kids are fighting with me over who will use it first. HAHA! Win for me!
I don't always use the "real" mop every time I mop our floor. I use the wet jet unless the floors need to be deep cleaned. This mop would help me since I have a bad back, no bending down trying to ring out the silly mop.
This looks really handy. I want one! I like the built in wringer feature.
This is a great review. I've heard so much about the O'Cedar mop. This will make cleaning easier for me.
This mop looks amazing! It will be on my Christmas wish list. I have a similar one, but this one looks like it's made better.
I have an O'Cedar mop and I LOVE it!! It's not like this one but I love the shape of this one, it will really get in all the nooks and crannies!!
Love this review! I need to get myself an OCedar Easy Wring mop ASAP! This looks so easy to use and we have all hard woods floors and tile!
I have this mop and I loved it. It saves time and efforts.
This spin mop looks like it would truly clean the house well!! I love the extra power of the spin and how easy it is to wring out!
OK I need this product in my life! I'm so bad about cleaning and anything to make it easier is good with me!
What a great mop! It looks like it can keep up with the toughest messes. I think most parents are looking forward to their children going back to school and regaining control of their house.
This looks like a great product. Keeping my house clean is a struggle, and we have a lot of tile floors. I can't seem to keep up with it and I have resorted to wiping down the floors with old rags because I don't have a mop and sponges seem to get gross too fast.
We actually have one of these spin mops. It is so awesome. I love how easy it is to wring, and it helps keep the floor from getting too wet.


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Retail tobacco licence
In order to sell tobacco products by retail within South Australia, a person must hold a retail tobacco merchant's licence under Part 6 of the Tobacco Products Regulation Act 1997. All applications for licences will be assessed prior to any licence being issued. Circumstances that may prevent a licence being issued (or renewed) could include factors such as:
- primary client/customer base being minors under 18 years of age
- compliance history
- ability to comply with other related requirements (such as enclosed area laws).
Conditions of holding a licence
Holders of a Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence must adhere to the relevant sections of the Tobacco Products Regulation Act 1997, the Tobacco Products Regulations 2004 and the licence conditions.
The conditions for holding a Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence include, but not limited to:
- one licence per outlet
- display of the Licence and Prescribed Sign
- the number of points of sale where tobacco can be sold from is limited
- restrictions apply for temporary stalls
For more detailed information on these conditions, see Requirement for license tobacco premises page.
Apply, renew or transfer a Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence
All forms regarding tobacco licencing are to be submitted by:
- email - firstname.lastname@example.com
- postal address - Public Health Services, PO Box 6, Rundle Mall, SA 5000
Note: Credit card payments will no longer be accepted
Applying for a new licence
To register for a new Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence, please complete the Application form (PDF 120KB) and submit to SA Health's Public Health Services.
Note: It takes approximately 14 days to process a tobacco licence, but may vary depending on circumstances relating to the application or business.
Once approved, a Tax Invoice for the current annual fee of $283.00 will be posted to you. The methods of payment are provided on the Tax Invoice.
Upon receipt of the payment, a Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence will be posted to you.
Renewal of existing licence
A Tax Invoice for renewal of a Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence will be sent to licence holders approximately 45 days prior to the expiry of the current licence.
Transfer of ownership
To transfer ownership of an existing Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence, please complete the Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence Transfer of Ownership (PDF 94KB) and submit to SA Health's Public Health Services.
There is no fee to transfer ownership of a Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence
Updating information
If the details of your existing Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licence have changed, please contact SA Health's Public Health Services on (08) 8226 7100.
Further information
For further information on Retail Tobacco Merchant's Licensing, contact SA Health's Public Health Services on (08) 8226 7100.


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So when Steven Weiss from the Beadsmith approached me to participate in a "beading tournament"- (later to be known as "The Battle of the Beadsmith"), let me say I was less than enthusiastic. The idea of pitting a design of mine directly against another beader's design did not appeal to me at all. It also just scared me! I envisioned huge cat fights, snarky remarks, and all around bad feelings. No thanks! Why would I want to open myself up to that? Just plain scary!
First of all, the contestants are all amazing beaders. If you don't believe me, check out the work on this page. Battle of the Beadsmith Facebook page Steven adds more pictures almost every day- one more impressive than the next. Be prepared to spend a few hours drooling over some dynamite work! You can also check out how this whole thing is set up- and join the group while you are there!
So why is it that I am participating in this "battle"? Not quite sure. Everybody seems so nice and friendly, and frankly, supportive of each other. The snarky remarks are few and far between, and poor Steven, who has been doing a wonderful job promoting and organizing this whole thing, has had to absorb most of them. I guess with this many people, you are bound to nerk off somebody! But as a general rule, everyone has been great. So I said yes in a moment of weakness- cuz really- it sounds kind of fun! And honestly, I am really honored to be asked!! Challenging yourself is good, right?!
I have always relied on competitions to push me into trying things that I would not otherwise try. You know- think outside the box. We (I) often get caught up in making things that I know will sell, not stretching my abilities. I don't like spending too much time on one piece, because I know I will not be able to sell it for enough to pay for my time. And the quickest way to work, is to do something you already know how to do.
But with contests, all bets are off. I try to do something original, whether it will be salable or not. I do not keep track of how much time I have invested, which in itself is pretty freeing. But this risk also means there are flops. Valuable time spent on things that don't work out. So be it.
Usually with a contest, you can quietly send in your submission, and if it isn't accepted, nobody even knows unless you tell them. Here, it is right out there in front of everyone- if you are "voted off the island" in the first round- everyone knows it! Yikes!
But OK, enough whining. I'm putting on my big girl pants and getting to work. Not sure what I am doing yet- I have a couple of ideas, but they keep changing. I wish I was one of those people that make beautiful sketches of their designs, and know exactly what their inspiration is. Not me! I sit down with a big pile of beads and components, start arranging and beading, and see what comes to me. Not very efficient- but it works for me. If I try to force myself to stick to a vision I have- it never works out...and it isn't as much fun! One of the things I enjoy most is just seeing what a final piece looks like. It is always a surprise.
Oh, yeh- I have my partner for the first round. (notice: partner not competitor- trying to stay calm here!) Her name is Elka Leonhardt Rath. I was not familiar with her work ,so it has been nice to learn a little more about her. She does excellent beadwork. When I found out she was my partner, I immediately messaged her and introduced myself. Turns out she will be at the Bead and Button show, and we have arranged to meet there. I love that!!
So I have to get back to staring at my pile of beads, hoping for inspiration. I have my first show of the season this weekend, so I won't be getting too much past the thinking stage I'm afraid- too too busy!
Here is the list for the 1st round:
1) Jacquie Champion-Canada vs Irina Chikineva-Russia
2) Anastasia O'sarantseva-Ireland vs Annie Hatvani-Hungary
3) Lea Palickova-Czech Republic vs Alla Maslennikova -Russia
4) Christina Neit-USA vs Christine Boyer Maj-USA
5) Hannah Rosner-USA vs Kassie Inman-USA
6) Olga Haserodt-Germany vs Melissa Ingram-Australia
7) Ulyana Rakcheyeva Seryankina-USA vs Joanne Browne-Australia
8) Mouna Marini-France vs Nancy Dale-USA
9) Nella Moskvichjova-Russia vs Linda Roberts-USA
10) Denise Kangas-Czech Republic vs Ibolya Ingesne Barkoczi-Hungary
11) Heather Kingsley Heath-United Kingdom vs Katherine Gezey-Ukraine
12) Alla Vizir-Ukraine vs Sandra Dokter van Esveld-Netherlands
13) Olga Shumilova-Russia vs Patrick Duggan-Australia
14) Ella Des-Belgrade Serbia vs Neva Brown-Australia
15) Christian Rodriguez-USA vs Marta Koudelova-Czech republic
16) Ann Braginsky-Israel vs Edgar Lopez Disenos-Dominican Republic
17) Susan Brackett-USA vs Callie Mitchell-USA
18) Jill Thomas-United Kingdom vs Maryanne Villalba-Australia
19) Tammuna Lezhava-Georgia vs Kinga Nichols-USA
20) Iva Jar-Czech Republic vs Olga Petterson-Sweden
21) Guzialia Reed-Japan vs Katka Vaclavikova-Czech Republic
22) Marsha Wiest Hines-USA vs Eva Dobos-Hungary
23) Orsolya Fuzesi-Hungary vs Cynthia Newcomer Daniel-USA
24) Betty Stephan-USA vs Elka Leonhardt Rath-Germany
25) Eva Csizmadiz Lajosne-Hungary vs Mikki Ferrugiaro-USA
26) Jennifer Chasalow Van Benschoten-USA vs Ekaterina Kalinina-Russia
27 Sharayah Sheldon-USA vs Miriam Cielo Shimon-Israel
28) Sue Horine-USA vs Misan Tejre-Sweden
29) Anneta Valious-France vs Lynn Day-United Kingdom
30) Alexandra Sydorenko -USA vs Katalin Budaine Nagy-Hungary
31) Rosita Pisarchick-USA vs Helena Tang-Singapore
32) Dini Alves-USA vsLaurence Dethier-Belgium
33) Nausikaa Gahllof-Sweden vs Eliana Maniero-Italy
34) Rachel Belson Smith-USA vs Amy Katz-USA
35) Kathy King-USA vs Karyn Healy White-Australia
36) Roxan O'brien-USA vs Julia Turova-Russia
37) Marina Nosova-Russia vs Lauren Macregor-Australia
38) Anna Bystryk-Ukraine vs Terri Richards-USA
39) Sigifredo Contreras-Mexico vs Anna Lindell-Sweden
40) Noel Wyres-Australia vs Carol Dean Sharpe-USA


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BAGHDAD — Dozens of Sunni worshippers were killed during a militant raid on a rural mosque in central Iraq on Friday, an attack that security officials said had followed the attempted assassination of a local Shiite leader.
It was not immediately clear who carried out either attack or whether they were even linked, but the violence still stoked sectarian recriminations and threatened to complicate efforts by Iraq's newly designated prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, to form a government to run the country.
Iraq has been struggling with a new wave of violence and political turmoil since extremists from the Islamic State group seized territory in the country's north and west, including its second-largest city, Mosul.
The United States has called the formation of an inclusive government a key step toward dealing with the Islamic State group and suggested that it could lead to greater U.S. aid to the Iraqi government and its armed forces.
In a statement, Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman, condemned the attack on "innocent men, women and children."
"This senseless attack underscores the urgent need for Iraqi leaders from across the political spectrum to take the necessary steps that will help unify the country against all violent extremist groups," she said.
The Friday attacks affected a group of villages near Hamreen Lake in Diyala province, 100 miles northeast of Baghdad, where Shiite Kurds live among a majority of Sunni Arabs.
The area's tribes have long had tense relations, with intermittent violence going back years. But as the area has become a front line for government forces fighting the Islamic State group, the Shiite militias that support the Iraqi army have empowered and armed the local Shiites, residents said.
Security officials said three roadside bombs exploded Friday, planted in an apparent effort to assassinate the head of the local Shiite tribe, Sheikh Abdel-Samad al-Zarkoushi. Al-Zarkoushi survived, but others in his group were killed.
Soon after, two masked gunmen stormed into a mosque in the Sunni village of Beni Weis and fired on worshippers with automatic weapons before escaping on motorcycles, security officials said. Video broadcast on an Iraqi television station showed the apparent aftermath of the attack — women screaming and lifeless bodies scattered about the mosque's red carpet.
Security officials said at least 43 people were killed, although some reports said the death toll exceeded 60.


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Jarvik approached the object cautiously. The surrounding flames had long died down, leaving a gaping, blackened rent in the object's surface as the primary evidence of the recent crash. Jarvik had to assume it was a crash – the object's fall had been far too controlled to represent any natural phenomenon. With the planet of Bekhal being so close to the asteroid belt, those kinds of strikes were inevitable. As a result, Jarvik was all too familiar with meteorites and their propensity to strike from nowhere.
A faint trailer of smoke rose from the rent in the object, with occasional lights erratically flashing in the dark interior. Jarvik sniffed warily, but was unable to sense any poison in the air – just a strong whiff of ozone, as though lightning had struck circuitry. He pulled out his handheld and captured several images of the object – he knew that this was a momentous occasion, but he figured if nothing else he wanted to be able to hold the images over the heads of his friends.
The ground was warm, the grasses blackened in a ring around the object. Jarvik didn't know much about spaceflight, but he remembered reading that movement through the atmosphere created a lot of heat due to friction. He stepped gingerly, wary of finding a stray bit of molten metal but operating as though the main danger had passed. Before long he was at the side of the object, peering into the gash at the dim interior. Strange protrusions and oddly lumpy objects were bathed in a harsh red light, taking on sinister aspects as their shadows loomed at odd angles against the skewed walls of the craft.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Jarvik stepped inside. It took him a moment to stabilize himself on the sharply-sloped floor of the object, but before long he was able to move around relatively freely. He said a silent prayer of thanks to the gods for his love of mountain climbing that allowed him to move around such a precarious environment, and began to explore.
His eyes scanned the compartment, taking it all in. On the other side of the rent was a featureless wall, appearing to be made out of some kind of metal. There were oddly-shaped pieces of furniture stranded about the cabin, looking as though they were built with an eye for comfort on top of their intended function. Jarvik surmised them to be chairs, though the physiology they were designed to support was completely foreign to his eyes. It didn't take long for him to find one of the creatures, lying in the corner. Even though this was his first sight of an alien creature, he could tell that the beast was obviously broken. Limbs bent at awkward angles, and the entire body appeared to be folded around some kind of container. Jarvik contemplated getting closer, examining the creature, but he had no idea how this being would react while hurt.
Jarvik continued his examination, but there wasn't much else around to see. He had seen popular depictions of the interiors of alien spacecraft before, but those were largely designed with contemporary preferences in mind. He looked back at the broken alien, seeing all of the equipment surrounding it, and realized exactly how primitive his culture's understanding of technology was. He surmised that these beings communicated with their ship using their minds exclusively, negating the need for controls or displays of any kind. Of course he had to account for the fact that the displays may be there and were simply shut down due to the crash, but looking at the smooth surfaces surrounding him he saw no marks or depressions that could indicate some kind of conventional screen.
Jarvik found this exceptionally strange. With no visual or tactile displays, how did these creatures interface with the craft – provide information to passengers or engineers working on repairs? He knew that he would not find answers here, but he found the simple thought exercise engaging. What would an alien creature consider standard in a craft such as this? What was the purpose of the craft, anyway?
A slight scraping sound alerted him, and Jarvik turned quickly to watch. The rent in the wall appeared to be closing itself, the metal seemingly knitting itself together before his eyes. Not pausing to think, he made a dash for the hole and tried to force himself through. It was a tight fit – he had half of his body out of the opening when the repair process caught up to him. He braced himself for the inevitable pain of piercing jagged metal, but was surprised when the surface smoothed itself underneath him. He took only a second to ponder this before pulling himself the rest of the way out. He looked over his shoulder to spy the hole in the side – much smaller now, and with a body-sized portal in the center – and realized that the ship had reacted to his presence, the hull forming itself around him and recognizing that he was not to be harmed.
As the rent closed and the enigmatic ship returned to a dormant state, Jarvik could only sit and marvel at the mastery of technology necessary to accomplish such feats. He looked at his handheld almost with scorn – how could such pedestrian technology ever compare to the true marvel before his eyes? Shaking his head ruefully, he put the handheld back into his pocket and headed back into the forest, towards a home that suddenly seemed much, much smaller.


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Warmer weather is coming and the new CERT classes have started (54 & 55). Real people give realistic training, soooo, it's time get get those grungy clothes and come out to the Fire & Rescue Academy for a little acting. Remember current CERT's---this counts towards your annual refreshers. The dates at the Academy are:
March 15 & 17 8pm to 10ish
March 22 & 24 8pm to 10ish
April 12 & 14 8pm to 10ish
And don't forget the BIG ONE! The final exercise at the Lorton Prison;
Saturday April 23 (details to come) We are trying to beat our victim record and are looking for 135 actors!!!
Email firstname.lastname@example.com to sign up for your spot and details.


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Other than the introduction of rated battlegrounds, PvP hasn't changed much in Cataclysm. Arenas still mostly rely on players adopting and adapting to the strongest class combinations. Outdoor PvP is still mostly irrelevant. While some minor tweaks were made to the points system, rated battlegrounds are really this expansion's only claim to PvP fame.
Honor and Conquest Points
Cataclysm's gear system is still governed by a two-tier point system—honor points for starter gear, and conquest points for the end-game. Arena points were renamed to conquest points because they can be obtained from both arenas and rated battlegrounds.
One major change to the points system is how they are earned. Instead of earning your points at the end of the week, you now earn them on a per-win basis. There is a cap on the number of points you can earn in a week, determined by what your rating was the previous week, assuming you played enough games. The higher your rating, the higher your cap will be.
Ratings requirements on gear were relaxed. Only high-rated weapons have a higher item level than their lower-rated counterparts. Having a higher rating results only in cosmetic changes for your armor.
In 4.2, a soft cap was added for weapons. You must now earn a set amount of honor or conquest points in an individual season to purchase them. All this really does is force people to buy some armor before the weapons. I'm not entirely sure what the intention is with this design. Its impact is extremely minor, and not worth analyzing further.
If you ask me, the current system is preferable. I never liked that a team twenty points above the threshold could have such a huge gear advantage over a team just twenty points below. Their ratings are so similar, gear should not be a huge factor. If you give someone with a high rank a substantial handicap, it simply distorts the correlation between a team's rating and their skill level.
I hope Blizzard keeps this system for a long time.
A Word on the Honor Grind
At the beginning of Cataclysm, the honor grind was atrocious. It was about twice as long as it needed to be. Blizzard fixed this issue in 4.1, but it could have been fixed earlier. A couple months after release would have been nice.
As it stands, it's now at a good point. The grind won't bore you to death, but it's long enough to make sure people don't have a free pass.
Arenaing in Cataclysm is generally the same as it was in Wrath, so I don't have much to say about it. The class balance is a bit different, but that's to be expected. The other difference was the temporary absence of the Ring of Valor (often maligned by the community). But it has since made its way back into the rotation, albeit with a couple tweaks.
About the only negative criticism I really have is that Blizzard could do better to pay more attention to how different arenas can affect the balance of classes and specs. For example, the fewer all the maps have adequate ledges, the weaker moonkins become in arena, since they are so dependent on knocking people off ledges with typhoon. I'm perhaps tooting my own horn with that example, but similar issues, regardless of the class or spec, need to be monitored and addressed more than they are currently.
Rated Battlegrounds
In order to fully appreciate where we are today with rated battlegrounds (RBGs), I think it's important to consider the history of battlegrounds.
A Little Bit of History
Battlegrounds have undergone a strange evolution in WoW. When vanilla first hit the shelves, they didn't exist at all. If you wanted to PvP, you had to go searching for it out in the world zones. After several months, Blizzard finally implemented Alterac Valley (AV) and Warsong Gulch (WSG). But you didn't queue for them, and you could only fight people of the opposite faction on your own server. There was no ratings system like there is today. You earned honor, and it wasn't subject to a weekly cap. The amount of honor earned each week would determine your rise in the ranks. The first several ranks were linear in progression, but the final ranks were competitive. There could only ever be one Grand Marshal (GM) or High Warlord (HWL) at a time on each server. The ranks existed to determine your eligibility to purchase gear (with gold). GM/HWL gave you access to all the weapons. The few tiers below that gave you access to epic armor. And the rest of the tiers gave you access to superior armor. The armor had set bonuses like what you see on any PvE tier set. For example, the druid bonus made you run much faster in travel form, making them the flag runners of WSG.
It's important to note there was no such thing as resilience in vanilla, meaning PvE gear was incredibly good. It also meant burst and escape tactics were more important than the strategies you see today (though you do technically have to escape from smoke bomb, and short-term burns mimic the way burst tactics worked, in a way).
In TBC, the old honor system was scrapped. Battlegrounds were now cross-server (confined to a battlegroup), and entirely point-based. They no longer offered the best gear you could obtain. Instead, the new arena system served this purpose. However, you could still queue as a group, meaning organized battlegrounds still persisted to some degree. But organized play became increasingly rare as the expansion went on and all of the serious PvPers began to focus on running arenas. As a result, battlegrounds became PUG fests. Furthermore, the introduction of resilience changed the style of play dramatically.
In Wrath, battlegrounds stayed very much the same as they were in TBC. However, the ability to queue as a full team was removed entirely. Organized battlegrounds practically died, only existing by the grace of a small percentage of holdouts using mods to simulate group queuing (it was extremely primitive, and you often had to spend a lot of your time dropping the queue and trying again to get in as many people as possible).
Finally, after six years of the above, Cataclysm has brought us the RBG. RBGs were needed long ago, and I much appreciate the effort to bring them to life. But they are also not without their problems.
The Good
There isn't too much that needs to be said in praise of RBGs. That they exist at all is what's good about them, especially because organized and competitive battlegrounds had not really been supported since vanilla. For four years, many of us went without our preferred style of PvP, and reminisced about the good old days of vanilla—about free action potions, about removing PoM before the pyro resolved, about epic two-hour long battles between the top WSG groups on the server, etc. Of course, we also reminisced about the bad things—the long and terrible grind towards Grand Marshal, and the competitive aspects of the old honor system. In some ways, what we have now is better, because the grind isn't so terrible.
For the most part, the basic premise of the RBG system is good. It's not like it was in vanilla, when you needed to play something like 80 hours a week to get to the top. Hell, on many servers, you didn't even need to be particularly good, you just needed to grind out as much honor as you possibly could for as many hours each week as you could handle. There was a druid on Proudmoore who conscripted his own children to complete the task for him. When he was at work during the summer, they'd be toiling away in WSG or AV, earning him honor. While he was cooking dinner for them, one would most likely be running around literally spamming moonfire every game. And when he finally had some free time for himself, he'd step in to play. And this got him to GM, even though he wasn't exactly the best druid in the world.
With RBGs, there is still some level of a grind to get every piece of gear. But it's not terribly long. Of course, if you want to be the best of the best, you're better off practicing as much as possible to stay at the top of your game, but you don't need to play more than several hours a week to keep pace with the conquest cap.
The Bad
This is where things get a little ugly. RBGs were and are not without their problems. Their initial design was rushed, meaning systemic flaws came with them at release, and these flaws still reverberate today. The way the graveyards work in some of the RBGs have also created more problems than they've solved. And I still think the whole idea of clicking nodes to cap is misguided for some battlegrounds.
They Were Rushed
There's no question the design of the RBG system was rushed. It was opened for testing during beta only a month before Cataclysm's release. And since Blizzard had to begin prepping for the expansion's release for part of that month, that meant they only had a couple weeks to make any major changes to the system, regardless of how absolutely necessary they may have been.
As a result, major problems immediately found their way into the system. One of these problems was the way the ratings system worked (particularly the matchmaking ratings, called "MMR"). Initially, you had to try really hard before you'd start losing points as a result of a loss. Because of this, anyone who played in the first few months was treated to having inflated ratings (both their BG rating and MMR). Sure, you still had to at least play reasonably well, but you didn't have to achieve excellence to do well. Blizzard eventually realized their mistake, and made changes to the MMRs for RBGs. Unfortunately, they decided not to reset people's ratings when this change was made, meaning the loss and gain of points was seemingly inexplicable and distorted.
Now, I haven't played since 4.2 came out, so I don't really know to what extent this issue has been fixed. Reading some threads on the AJ forums lead me to believe the MMR system has been improved in some ways, but it's still not without its problems. (See this thread for more information.)
Another problem was the initial mistake of alternating 10- and 15-man RBGs each week. At release, you couldn't play 10-mans every week, nor could you play 15-mans every week. You were forced to either sit people during the 10-man weeks, or skip every other week to focus on one type of RBG. This rotation caused some teams to dilute their skillset, as they'd feel compelled to rotate people in and out to get their conquest points on a weekly basis. The teams that chose to skip every other week often found their players getting bored during the weeks a large portion of the team had to rotate.
After a while, Blizzard chose simply to drop the 15-mans altogether, as the majority of RBG teams were running 10-mans. Any teams attempting to focus on 15-mans had to downsize their roster if they wanted to continue. And anyone who preferred the 15-man RBGs to the 10's was out of luck. Honestly, I wish Blizzard would have at least tried to separate each into two different brackets. Instead, they didn't even give that a shot, and immediately dropped the larger bracket. Who knows if the 15-mans would have gained in popularity if people had a chance to run them week-by-week, or if there would have simply been at least enough people doing them to justify leaving them in the game. I really liked rated Strand (despite my distaste for getting it when I random queue), so I was personally disappointed in losing that RBG specifically.
The biggest thing that bothers me is how the initial rush has caused reverberating effects. A lot of people who were initially excited for RBGs simply gave up and quit due to their poor implementation. This left teams on servers with small PvP communities starving to fill spots on their rosters as the available pool of players rapidly shrunk.
Clicking for Node Capture Doesn't Always Seem to Be the Best Option
Initially, I was pretty warm to node-based RBGs where you had to click and channel a flag to cap each node. This is because the concept was proven to work in Arathi Basin, and still works in the current style of competitive RBGs.
But then the Battle for Gilneas came along. I've played games in Gilneas where the teams literally duke it out at the Waterworks for over half the match before someone caps the node. Sometimes my team would be dominating our opponents in terms of kills, only to be foiled by people returning from their resurrection cycle, because it takes so long to clear people out these days. Had the nodes worked more like Eye of the Storm, this wouldn't have been an issue. We'd slowly push the progress bar towards capturing the node, because we'd have a constant one- or two-man advantage in presence at the node. But because all you need to do is hit someone to keep the team from capping, that means people can stack a small part of the team to be extremely difficult to kill, meaning they can work an advantage in terms of interrupting node capture. This causes the matches in Gilneas to become frustrating and the conditions for winning seem more based on who is better at capping and interrupting than at actually playing their class to the best possible degree. While being able to manage the battlegrounds features should be important, they shouldn't absolutely dominate the factors that contribute to victory.
The worst part is that Blizzard really hasn't even considered at least trying other designs for Gilneas. Who knows if the old Eye of the Storm-style capture would work or not. For all we know, it could be so much better in practice at the higher levels of competition. But we'll never know if it isn't tried on live servers.
Graveyard Mechanics Are Designed Sloppily
One of the problems with a lot of the RBGs is the sloppy graveyard mechanics and design. Twin Peaks and Gilneas exhibited this problem the most.
In Gilneas, at release, because people would resurrect at the node closest to where they died, it was incredibly easy to take a node and hold it. So comebacks were nearly impossible, no matter how much better you played in the latter ninety percent of a match. In 4.1, the graveyard mechanics were slightly changed, such that if you died at the Waterworks, you wouldn't resurrect there. This made node defense a tad more difficult. But because it was so difficult to fully clear out people, teams could still rez and ride their way back to the node no problem.
In Twin Peaks, the issue is simply where you respawn. At release, if you died defending your flag carrier (FC) while you were in your base, you'd quickly come back to the aid of your defense, because you'd respawn near your flag room. Likewise, if you were on offense, you'd spawn mid-field, which wasn't too far to rejoin your offense quickly. Of course, in 4.1, where you resurrected was changed. If you died on defense, you'd spawn midfield. But midfield isn't much further away than your home graveyard, so the impact of this change is very minimal. Also, if you die on offense, you now spawn all the way back at your base. The negative impact this has is that people who die on offense can quickly come to the aid of their defense. So killing people other than the FC (in either design) often has a very minimal benefit. Sometimes it's advantageous, if killing them weakens the strength of the defense enough to allow you to kill the FC with much greater ease. But this isn't always the case, since some teams stack healers up the ass for defense, and killing one out of four does very little to increase your chances of killing the FC before they make their way back into the room from the graveyard. You're better off waiting for your smoke bomb(s) to come off cooldown, and forcing the FC to use their escapes before combining a smoke bomb with a solar beam or silence/interrupt/CC chain.
Part of the graveyard design issue is caused by the fact that graveyards work on a static rotation. You do not always have to wait a minute or 30 seconds before you're resurrected. Sometimes, you can get a "good rez," and you'll have to wait only a few seconds before you repop. But if you die when the graveyard has a full cycle to complete, you'll be at a disadvantage. I'm not sure if one exists now, but I would definitely have wanted a mod capable of keeping track of the rez timers for each and every graveyard. This way, you could time your deaths or kills based on what would be most advantageous to you.
Graveyards simply need a comprehensive redesign for the RBGs most susceptible to the problems they create. This means I don't think AB should be touched, but I definitely think WSG, Twin Peaks and Gilneas need to be reconsidered (even with the tweaks that have already been made to them). Personally, I think resurrections should be based on time of death. When you die, you have to wait X seconds before you're resurrected. Of course, this would cause graveyard camping issues, since respawns would be scattered, making it easy for the other team to farm fresh repops. To solve this issue, you'd implement immunity at the graveyards, but position them so the resurrecting team couldn't exploit the immunity. In other words, make it so people spawn in a purgatory room, and force them to take a one-way teleport to re-enter the match after everyone repops (that way everyone can take the port all at once, so they're not fodder for farm, but can't exploit the immunity area). This design would make killing people more worthwhile, since they'd have to wait a full cycle before being resurrected. When the team is at a full minute or 30 seconds worth of being a man down, that's much better than someone resurrecting after three seconds with full mana and a new lease on life (for both them and any teammates they can assist).
Class Balance and Class Abilities in PvP
You'll notice I didn't include discussion about class balance as either a positive or negative in RBGs. That's because, at a competitive level, class balance is never really an issue, since most of the top teams will adopt the best combination of classes and specs to compete and keep the balance of power roughly equal. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't think Blizzard should at least try to balance the classes and specs, so the more casual players can at least viably farm some level of conquest points and have a fun without feeling as though they need to play a different class to PvP. But expecting perfection in class balance is simply unreasonable, especially when you have 30 different talent trees, and over 30 possible builds.
The one thing I do want to mention is how I think Blizzard could do better to drop its hesitance in making abilities work differently in various areas of the game. Yes, it's an admirable design intention to want to have the abilities work as similarly as possible across different playstyles. But sometimes this design concept is impractical given specific cases, and I don't think Blizzard acknowledges this enough. Sure, they may have changed CC to work differently in PvE and PvP, and made some spells work a tad different between PvP and PvE, but they should really consider making more tweaks than they have. And they should also be open to considering differences in the way abilities work between RBGs and arenas, as well.
For example, I'm not sure if it was changed at all in 4.2, but smoke bomb was so powerful in RBGs that rogues were the must-have class for them. If you didn't have one, your ability to kill a FC or to decimate a healer or dangerous DPSer at a heavily-contested node was much more difficult than it needed to be. This is because you often had such a large force of DPS in any given area, that smoke bomb would increase the likelihood of killing an individual by probably a thousand percent (and maybe more). That's an amazing advantage! But its strength in arena is much more moderate. It's definitely useful, but it doesn't have the same impact it does in RBGs. Of course, smoke is only one ability. There is a myriad of abilities and ability combinations to consider in RBGs and arena. It is not a simple issue for Blizzard to consider or fix, even if I think they could be doing more to resolve it.
In short, Blizzard should try to balance the classes as much as possible, but we shouldn't expect perfection. I would like to see them be a little more open to making changes in the way abilities work in different areas of the game, and that includes making abilities work different in RBGs and arena, when applicable.
Other than on these points, I think Ghostcrawler and his team do a decent job of trying to keep the classes balanced.
Tol Barad
Tol Barad is to Cataclysm what Wintergrasp was to Wrath. It is this expansion's outdoor PvP zone. And it is full of nothing but problems. Unless your faction gets the jump on the defense at the very beginning of a match, it's almost impossible to win.
The problem is simply that it is way too difficult to take all three nodes when the defense is mobilized. Once two nodes are taken, the defending faction will simply roll into the node with the least defense and steamroll anyone there to keep them from capping. So it becomes an endless cycle of capping and losing a node, until the offense runs out of time. If the offense is organized, it can certainly win, but Tol Barad is almost exclusively a pick-up group, since it randomizes who gets to enter a match.
The scenario just isn't very well-designed for a match between two sides of mostly random people. And even though it deserves nearly a complete overhaul, Blizzard doesn't seem to care about it.
How General Game Play Affects PvP
At a basic level, I don't think PvP is all that bad in Cataclysm. It's a simple concept putting two groups of people against each other, both with access to practically the same resources. You can't really go wrong with this formula. The experience is automatically dynamic, because people are facing player-controlled opponents. And it is relatively balanced based on community adoption of the best compositions at the higher levels of competition.
Rather, the biggest issue is the fact that WoW's engine has become archaic. In an era where a lot of competitive games have some awesome and fun mechanics that don't rely merely on class or class-like functionality, WoW is missing a lot of these. Sure, we have CTF and capture-the-node style battlegrounds, but these are overly simple. You're not hopping into a tank to cut a hole your opponent's defense. You're not activating your surface-to-air missiles to bring down a chopper. You're performing simple tasks that add to the experience to (usually) only a minor degree.
Consider Team Fortress 2. If you're playing a demoman, you can bounce your grenades off the walls and hopefully hit your enemies. This turns the concept of LOS completely on its head. Likewise, if you're a demoman, you have to worry about killing yourself when using your grenade launcher in close proximity duels. A bad bounce off the ground or a wall can kill you, even if you do end up killing your opponent. As an alternative, you can switch to your shank. But whether or not that's viable depends on the class trying to get all up in your grill.
WoW doesn't really have too many scenarios like these, nor ability mechanics that are fun to kill and be killed by. I remember having a throwaway clan in an indie game called Nox where our sole purpose was to suicide as many times as possible in a match, all because it was hilariously fun. WoW is sort of missing that element of play.
I must also talk about crowd control and ability interruption. When these and dispels are the linchpins of PvP, the game ceases to reach its potential for fun. To me, there's nothing exciting about getting interrupted every other cast when I'm around a shaman. There's nothing exciting about getting trapped in a CC rotation lasting 15 some-odd seconds. The design should be re-focused on making the abilities used to kill, heal and (possibly) soak or avoid damage truly unique and entertaining.
This isn't to say WoW doesn't have such spells at all. They do. Thunderstorm, typhoon, heroic leap and leap of faith are all good examples. But the number of such spells are limited, and the impact of each is often situational. Also, some of the abilities lose their sense of uniqueness in simplicity. Take heroic charge, for example. You select someone and you charge them. You don't have to aim your charge. You don't run into a wall and stun or daze yourself if you miss. Your character automatically charges at your target, and you stun them for a short while. That's really not that exciting to me, both as the person charging, and the person being charged. I don't have to aim or carefully time my charge. Nor do I have to reactively dodge it, if I'm on the receiving end. You simply stun them, or you eat the stun. That's it.
To complicate matters even further, what fun spells do exist often have numerous bugs. I can't count the number of times I've fired off a typhoon, watched it pass through someone, and counted off "one one-thousand, two one-thousand" before it actually affects that person with the knockback. (I'm also sure people can't count the number of times I've complained about this.)
While PvP is fun to some degree, it should be better than it is. But WoW's engine is old. It would be incredibly difficult for Blizzard to fix the mechanical bugs, and expand the library of spells that are truly unique and fun to use. If they really wanted to do this, I imagine an engine re-code would be in order, and the server architecture and latency handling would also have to be revamped. There would also be a heap of balance issues to consider, and you would run the risk of making relatively new encounters obsolete if you want many of the new mechanics to also work in PvE.
I think the best Blizzard could do now is reconsider crowd control and ability interruption. But that would result only in minor improvements.
The addition of rated battlegrounds has been needed for a long time. That Cataclysm includes them at all is a godsend, despite their problems. But the game is coming closer and closer to being archaic in its design. At some point, there won't be much more Blizzard could do to improve the experience, without redoing major parts of the engine and the game's server architecture. And while that may prove to be impractical for Blizzard (especially because Blizzard seems intent on putting a lot of the revenue generated by WoW into other projects), there are still some things Blizzard can do. They can make some much-needed tweaks to the crowd control and interruption mechanics in PvP, and they can still increase the enjoyment factor for some spells and abilities. They can also create new spells and abilities (or vehicles or other systems) that would turn PvP on its head, without removing the spells that ensure PvE remains operational. But whether or not Blizzard is willing to make these changes, much less do them extremely well, is left to be seen. One thing's certain: Cataclysm didn't add or change enough for PvP to meet my expectations. And I didn't exactly set them very high.


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The axiom "if it's in your mouth it's in your body" holds true even more so during pregnancy. Did you know that neglecting your teeth and gums during pregnancy can lead to periodontal disease, and some research even links this disease to preterm labor, preeclampsia, and low birthweight babies?
No wonder both the American Academy of Periodontology and the American Academy of Dentistry recommend that moms receive dental care before, during, and after pregnancy. We're busting the myth that you can't have dental work done during pregnancy. In fact, your pregnancy can actually make the need for dental care even more important due to the changes underway in your body caused by the hormones of pregnancy.
In early pregnancy you may notice that your gums bleed easily when you brush your teeth, which makes you produce more saliva, which makes you nauseated. Who can face minty toothpaste when you can barely face food in general? To alleviate these symptoms, avoid brushing as soon as you wake up and right after eating to help reduce the nausea and gagging that frequently occurs.
Go gentle on your pearly pinks and whites: use a soft toothbrush and gentle strokes when brushing to avoid damaging your gums. Any bleeding will usually stop quickly and you can rinse or use mouthwash to get rid of the taste.
Scheduling a dental check-up early in your pregnancy can identify any problems such as periodontal disease, cavities, or the need for extractions. Contrary to popular belief, you can have cavities filled and even have teeth removed during pregnancy. Your dentist and healthcare providers will consult with each other to provide the appropriate form of anesthesia and pain relief. If an x-ray is really necessary, your abdomen can be shielded with a lead apron that will prevent the radiation from reaching your baby.
The best time to start thinking about your oral health is before you become pregnant. Schedule a dental examination and have any issues corrected; make a plan for regularly scheduled visits. Smile and look forward to a happy, healthy pregnancy!
Report any of the following warning signs as soon as you notice them to your dentist:
Why Do I Need a Pap Smear? Pap smears screen for cervical cancer. Here's why and how often you need a Pap.
Conceive a Perfect Pregnancy Follow these 10 top research-proven tips to conceive the healthiest pregnancy possible.
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Washington: Iron buildup may be a suitable marker of cardiac risk as it is much more prevalent in the kind of plaque in the heart artery which is more likely to promote an attack - and possibly sudden death.
A team of researchers has found that Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) and 3D computerised tomography (CT) micro-scans can detect excess iron in plaque, according to a Mayo Clinic statement.
It opens the way to a scanning device that might be able to non-invasively detect dangerous plaque formations in patients.
"We know that 70 percent of heart attacks are caused by unstable plaque, so what we really need for our patients is a way to identify the plaque that turns evil and puts them at jeopardy," says cardiologist Birgit Kantor, who led the study at Mayo in the US.
"The scans we use now just show narrowing of heart arteries from plaque buildup but that doesn`t tell us if the plaque inside those vessels walls is imminently dangerous."
"We think it is possible, based on these findings, to use iron as a natural marker for risk," she says.
Kantor predicts that probably five to 10 years will pass before novel diagnostic scanners to identify these plaques become available in cardiology clinics.
The findings were presented at the American Heart Association`s Scientific Sessions 2010 in Chicago.


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Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon (1886 - 1967 / Kent / England)
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Two Hundred Years After
Trudging by Corbie Ridge one winter's night,
(Unless old hearsay memories tricked his sight)
Along the pallid edge of the quiet sky
He watched a nosing lorry grinding on,
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Covenant High School seeks to cultivate a nurturing community where students are cared for and can flourish.
CHS is intentional about making sure that every student is nurtured and cared for. Year after year, students rally around those who are going through a difficult time, and seek to encourage one another spiritually.
Our teachers have a heart for their students. Whether taking a small group out for coffee, meeting with students individually, or assisting them with an assignment after-hours, our teachers form real relationships with their students.
CHS strives to be a safe place for students, where they will find positive and meaningful friendships, caring teachers, and a loving community that nurtures them through their high school years.
"The energy and attention that CHS faculty invested in me has been unmatched in my academic career ever since." – CHS graduate


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Lately, I have been filled with so much worry. I have been trying very hard to cast all of my cares and not carry these burdens. I truly think that there isn't one more thing that I can bear, but just when I think that I can't handle anything more, God gives me grace and strength to make it through. I don't know why there are seasons in our lives when it seems like it is one struggle after the other, but, I do know through it all I am becoming stronger and drawing closer to the Lord.
A month ago, I went to the public library in the town that I live in and opened up a library card account. Growing up I never enjoyed reading and it was something my parents had to force me to do. But, within the last number of years, I really enjoy a quiet afternoon or evening reading a great book. On this trip to the library, I checked out two books. Each one had a unique story line and seemed interesting enough. Well...to be honest, I gathered that information only from reading the back of the book. For I never opened it once in the month that it was in my possession.
I returned those books this afternoon, ashamed that I never cracked it open. I went on a hunt for another one with hopes of really getting into my choice. I stumbled upon a book written by a Christian author name Karen Kingsbury. I've read many of her older work and I am very familiar with her style of writing. I chose her book "Divine", and decided to read the first chapter there at the library. Within the first few chapters, I was amazed and blown away that God was speaking directly to me in this fiction Christian novel. Like it became magnified, bold, and clear just for my eyes to see. "For I know the plans I have for you...." There was that verse again. It was a reminder that no matter what, God has my back! I don't have to worry, analyze, try to create an opportunity, whine, complain, cry, pout, be anxious, or fear. God knows what He is doing and He has everything under control.
So...what are you dealing with today? What is plaguing you mind? Whatever it is be encouraged and know that He has great plans for your life. All you have to do is trust Him and let Him do what He does best! Umm...He is God!
Just a thought!


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Cherry Cheesecake Brownies
A lil bit o deliciousness
So I have made these a few times and love them so much I thought I'd share the recipe.
One box of Brownie mix (I used Betty Crocker this time)
One can Cherry Pie filling
One 8 oz Cream cheese
One egg
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease cake pan -or- line with nonstick aluminum foil like me.
1) Make the brownies per the box directions, or if you are super fancy you can make your own but I cheat.
Plop into greased/lined cake pan and spread evenly.
2) Mix cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla until completely smooth-no one wants chunks of straight up cream cheese in their brownie. Drop on top of the brownie mix in globs.
3) Crack open that can of cherry pie filling and glob on top of the cheesecake/brownie. Take a knife and swirl it around a little.
4) Bake for about 40 minutes.
TRY to let it cool enough before eating so you don't burn the craples out of your mouth:)


text: Planar Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ:PLNR) a worldwide leader in specialty display solutions, today launched a new website planardigitalsignage.com that provides an interactive experience for integrators, architects, interior designers and AV specifiers looking to incorporate innovative digital signage solutions in their projects. With features including interactive architectural application sketches, inspiration galleries, design concierge, American Institute of Architects (AIA)-credited online continuing education classes, case stories and downloadable tools (including CAD files), planardigitalsignage.com provides a one-of-a-kind, collaborative view of the myriad of architectural display solutions Planar offers, from media walls, to touch screens to large-format LCD displays. "At Planar we pride ourselves on being the most comprehensive manufacturer of custom signage and digital display solutions in the industry," said Jennifer Davis, vice president of marketing for Planar, "We've designed planardigitalsignage.com to showcase how Planar's breadth of display technology solutions transform and impact innovative spaces, and to provide the product information and tools that enable integrators, designers and architects to incorporate Planar's solutions into their projects and enable them to create digital canvases." Designers and architects can utilize Planar's unique offerings in retail, hospitality, education and corporate environments as well as in museums, sports venues, and a host of other project applications to create an impactful visual experience. Planar's digital signage products have been used in some of the most innovative and evocative designs in the world, providing on-demand information including way finding, self-service, information and advertising. Planar's distinct offerings for digital signage and architectural applications range from large-format flat panel displays to embedded screens used in kiosk displays, to interactive touch screens to media walls, including the market leading Planar Clarity® Matrix™ LCD Video Wall System. Visit www.planardigitalsignage.com for inspiration about creating innovative spaces with architectural display and to connect with Planar about how to integrate digital signage solutions into your next project. About Planar Planar Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLNR) is a global leader of specialty display technology providing hardware and software solutions for the world's most demanding environments. Hospitals, space and military programs, utility and transportation hubs, retailers, banks, government agencies, businesses, and home theater enthusiasts all depend on Planar to provide superior performance when image experience is of the highest importance. Founded in 1983, Planar is headquartered in Oregon, USA, with offices, manufacturing partners, and customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.planar.com.


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I've been so poorly this week and the cold has finally come out and bed ridden me. While watching DVDs I was browsing online and as I haven't looked at the ASOS Jewellery for ages I decided to see what's new. Massive mistake as there's loads of new stuff I want!
River Island Perfume Bottle Pendant £6 link
ASOS Cat Ears Watch £20 link
Disney Couture Exclusive to ASOS Believe ring £20 link
ASOS Bird Bowl Ring Dish £8 link
ASOS Jewelled Bunting Necklace £10 link
ASOS 'Necklaces' Hook £12 link
Disney Couture Believing Is Just The Beginning Ring £30 link
Disney Couture Tink Necklace £75 link
Disney Couture 7 Dwarves Ring £45 link
ASOS Pearl Bow Hair Barrette £6 link
Total: £232Just a bit much eh. I would love a Disney Couture piece in my life and although I always lust after them I've never actually bought one as I usually never pick. I have my eye on the Believe wrap ring as I really like those types of rings so will think about it. I really want the bird ring dish as my ring drawers are now full and I need something else to sit on my dressing table. What do you like?


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I've not been able to summon any enthusiasm for anything I have on the go. Since I stopped going over to New Buckenham to play, I have done no painting at all. The problem is, its just too far to go! Petrol costs, and the thought of a long drive, especially after a trying day at work, just does not appeal. Add to that, the fact that I never really contribute, figure wise to games there, and have nothing of note worth taking over, does make me feel a bit out of the loop.
So, painting, ditched it, armies, yep ditched them too……..making stuff, now I've not ditched that, yet!
And I'm making one of these, well its sort of one of these!! Its a project for Ian at Fenris games, to go with his APEX investigators, god only knows what horrendous pile of poo will emerge from the rubbish littered desk of doom.
I shall attempt to keep you all posted
In the meantime, HAPPY YULETIDE WINTER FESTIVAL CHRISTMAS THINGYS to you all.


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Rotisseries are powerful of cooking silage by radiating steam onto the opencut and allowing it to enter. The matter is conventionally settled on a skewer or a ness that rotates preceding a heat energy beginning look-alike calefactory coils or fire. They are utilized usually for cooking meats like chicken, lamb, and cows. Older models were turned beside clockwork mechanisms or foot cranks, but up to date ones use electric motors.
Horizontal rotisserie
There are rotisseries that have skewers horizontally placed done the warmth origin and those are best-known as the horizontal models. They are utilised for cookery biggest pieces suchlike sides of beef and meat or larger-than-life chickens. You can buy them in distinct and multiple-spit models, next to the latter routinely expected for commercial use. However, the substance requests to be without a flaw harmonious on the dribble so it can revolve usually.Post ads:
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Vertical rotisserie
These have status skewers that revolve in fascia of the steam rootage. The substance is heated head-on from the loin in furthermost models, but any use convection grill for heating the silage from the bottom upward. This form of rotisserie is just right for cut meats used generally in steak sandwiches, tacos, and kebabs since they do not postulate equalized balance. That element besides makes them easier to use compared to horizontal ones.
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Choose rotisseries next to a radiant or convection bake derivation so the silage cooks little by little but equally. For faster cookery with a smoke-filled flavor, plump for the coal-heated or flaming archetype. You can as well plump for a rotisserie near physical science heating, which provides more than legalize on catering modern times and temperatures.
Check the controls
Your rotisserie should permit you to set the turn tempo and physical property so deciding one beside mechanical shut-off and timers to prevention strength particularly for steady and yearlong gastronomy. Remember to appearance for index number lights so you can be alerted when gastronomy is finished or when the physical property reaches harsh levels.


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Re-Cap of the Diana Mini: Mon Amour workshop at the Lomography Gallery Store LA!2 Share Tweet
Lomography LA took half-frame format to another level during the Diana Mini: Mon Amour workshop. Believe it or not, 72 frames was not enough as our LAmographers tried every half-frame combo in the book and even came up with some of their own!
The sleek and stylish Diana Mini was the center of attention at the Diana Mini: Mon Amour workshop. After going over the wonders and capabilities of this petite power-house, everyone was itching to try it out!
Half-frame was the name of the game at this particular workshop and the combinations were endless! We tried endless panoramas, diptychs, portraits, landscape shots, and all other sorts of half-frame combos! Our attendees even came up with techniques of their own! They were pushing the half-frame limits and a single roll was not enough for all the shooting that was going on. See all the creativity we came up with bellow!
As always, don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and become a fan of our LomoHome!
Lomography Gallery Store LA
7998 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 301.1414
Open Hours
Monday – Saturday: 10:30 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
2011-07-29 #news #workshop #los-angeles #half-frame #diana-mini #losangeles


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With the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia starting next week, Hillary Clinton is narrowing her search for a vice presidential running mate and a decision is expected as soon as Friday.
While the process has been kept under wraps with only Mrs. Clinton and her close advisers in the know, a likely short list has emerged, consisting of former governor and current Sen. Tim Kaine (D) of Virginia; Tom Vilsack, secretary of the US Department of Agriculture; and Tom Perez, US Labor Secretary.
The selection of a running mate is more than just a strategic move, it is the first time the American public can observe Clinton's decisionmaking as a presidential nominee, as The Christian Science Monitor's Francine Kiefer reported earlier this month.
The prevailing question is, "Would this person be a good president?" Clinton told Charlie Rose of CBS News and PBS on Monday night. "You know, I am afflicted with the responsibility gene, and I know what it's like being president. I've seen it up close, I've worked for one, I've had that experience. So for me there is nothing more important than my rock-solid conviction that the person I choose could literally get up one day and be the president of the United States."
Senator Kaine has emerged as the forerunner in the vice presidential bid, thanks to his experience in presidential battleground state of Virginia as governor and senator. Additionally he has served as the Democratic National Committee chairman and worked on fair housing and civil rights issues while practicing as a lawyer. His time as a Catholic missionary and fluent Spanish could also be useful to draw in votes from disparate demographics. And he has never lost an election.
Kaine could help to underscore some of the qualities that Clinton has been trying to emphasize throughout her campaign, as the Monitor reported:
Were she to settle on Senator Kaine, it would underscore her pragmatism and emphasis on experience, the very qualities she's been trying to highlight from the beginning of her campaign. Though he humorously confesses he is "boring," he is well-respected by Senate colleagues, and brings a wealth of governing experience.
Kaine has been described as being very Obama-like, and was an early Obama supporter in the 2008 election.
"He is this progressive Catholic. He's like an Obama Catholic," one senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to comment frankly about the president, told The Washington Post. "He has thought a lot about these things and can interpret Obama."
Secretary Vilsack who, like Kaine, has experience as governor – in Iowa, has the advantage of a close personal friendship with the Clintons. Clinton was a key supporter in Vilsack's gubernatorial victory in 1998 and his brother-in-law worked with the presidential candidate in the 1970s. This isn't the first time Vilsack has been looking at a place on a presidential ticket. John Kerry considered the former governor for a running mate in 2004, and he launched his own, unsuccessful and short lived, presidential campaign in 2008.
Both Kaine and Vilsack are likely to deliver their home states, but in this respect Vilsack has the advantage. Iowa is a swing state, while Virginia has voted for the democratic candidate in the past two presidential elections.
"He's not a lot of bling and glitter; he's just Iowa solid," Bonnie Campbell, an Iowa Democratic strategist with longtime ties to both Clinton and Vilsack, told The Washington Post.
Secretary Perez is a progressive powerhouse and highly respected within the White House for his policy skills. As the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, he could unite Latino voters who have turned away from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump because of his anti-immigration stance. He has also headed the civil rights division of the Justice Department, served as the a federal prosecutor, and worked as an aide to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D) of Massachusetts.
According to Democratic Party representatives who spoke with The Washington Post, it does not appear that Perez is being considered quite as seriously as Kain and Vilsack, but is a promising third choice.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) of Massachusetts, who was a favorite among liberal voters (particularly the Bernie Sanders supporters) Clinton needs to unite the party, has not been officially ruled out, but is not expected to be the final choice, despite the tantalizing prospect of an all-female presidential ticket, according to the Associated Press.
Clinton's decision is expected to come during her time campaigning in Florida this weekend, either at a rally scheduled to be held at the state fairgrounds in Tampa or Saturday at Florida International University in Miami.


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The furnishings are curved to make the space appear larger, and a hide rug is on the living room floor. Barrett removed the top cabinets in the kitchen to add space and a place to showcase her dishes. The kitchen is walled in white tiles.
The garden can be seen from Barrett's bedroom, and she stays outside as much as possible, especially when she has guests for dinner.
House Beautiful August 2011