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Maple Ave Restaurant
147 Maple Ave W
Vienna VA 22180
(703) 319-2177
We're open:
Monday – Thursday
11am – 9pm
11am – 930pm
10am – 930pm
10am – 8pm
lunch menu
11am – 2pm (Mon – Fri)
brunch menu
10am – 2pm (Sat)
10am – 2:30pm (Sun)
happy hour menu
2pm – 5pm (Mon – Fri)
dinner menu
2pm – 9pm (Mon – Thur)
2pm – 930pm (Fri)
2pm – 930pm (Sat)
2:30pm – 8pm (Sun)
Have a question or comment for the Maple Ave Restaurant staff? Would like to make a catering or large party request? Please fill out the form below and we will do our best to accommodate you.
To purchase a gift certificate please give us a call at (703) 319-2177 with credit card ready and we can either mail it to the recipient or email it to you.


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House in Las Casuarinas, Lima Peru
Lima-based architectural practice, Artardi Architects, have designed the House in Las Casuarinas project. This property is located on the side of one of the hills of Las Casuarinas, Lima, Peru.
The land, with a steep slope, is in a privileged position with impressive views of the city of Lima and can be accessed from the upper part and the lower part from a park.
The luxury Lima property includes a complex housing programme that includes typical environments (living room, dining room, bedrooms and so forth) and uncharacteristics such as a gym, sauna and so forth, as well as a mini-apartment on the top floor.
The project solves the task from a conceptual planning viewpoint that organises the programme into three boxes joined together three dimensionally at 90 degrees. The first contains the main vertical circulation, the second, parallel to the street, the bedroom and family room, while the third, perpendicular to the land, contains the main room and projects outwards to the front space of the home. The rest of the program has been arranged into a sort of background wall and other secondary volumes.
From the images you can see that the house is of a volumetric composition that contrasts with the natural topography of the site, an architectural object that is a viewpoint for the capital city.
Images courtesy of Alexander Kornhuber
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September 10, 2013 | Property | View comments

subset: commoncrawl


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Center Cemetery
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Location Information
The land for Center Cemetery was donated by Mr. Dick McCauley. It is
believe that Nancy L Ridling was the first person buried here. She
was the daughter of Moses Lemuel Ridling.
According to a family Bible owned by Janice Watkins Kelley, in 1983, the Watkins and Watkins are relatives. Some changed their name to Watkins.
There are about sixty unnamed graves in this cemetery.
|Please visit the Polk County Library. There is a genealogy section at the library. Or, check www.FindaGrave.com as the Polk County Genealogy Society (Mary L Broderick) is attempting to put all of this information on the FindAGrave site along with the Markers for the Graves. It is a massive undertaking.
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New York, NY (PRWEB) December 23, 2014
Today, Living in Digital Times announces the finalists for their two lifestyle technology awards. Last Gadget Standing and Mobile Apps Showdown, longtime CES favorites, honor remarkable innovation in the hottest new gadgets and most likely to succeed mobile apps technology at this year's International CES®. From a 3D printer that prints with recycled bottles to a pocket-sized molecular sensor, Last Gadget Standing finalists show true innovation, while Mobile Apps Showdown finalists bring app development to a new level from an app that helps users become a pastry chef to a total solution for online security.
"The press are always sharing their opinions but it's the public that really knows a winner," said Robin Raskin, founder and president of Living in Digital Times. "Last Gadget Standing and Mobile Apps Showdown are designed to be the people's vote."
What's happened so far:
Finalists for each award were selected by an expert panel of judges, including journalists, engineers and developers. At the live show, once again hosted by Jon Hein of Howard Stern's "The Wrap-up Show," an audience of over 500 CES attendees will vote using a sound applause meter for a winner for each award. There's also an online vote which is open now through January 8, 2015 at 9 a.m. PST at http://www.lastgadgetstanding.com and http://www.mobileappsshowdown.com. Two winners for each award, the live vote and online vote, will be announced at the live events.
Last Gadget Standing finalists will demo their new gadgets on-stage on January 8th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC), North Hall, Room N255. Finalists include:
EKOCYCLE Cube from Cubify. 3D printers are now common, but the EKOCYCLE is the only one that prints using plastic filament, made in part from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. It combines the maker spirit (actually, the re-maker spirit) and the environmental spirit in a single breakthrough product.
FLIR FX from FLIR Security. If it were just a Wi-Fi camera, it would be one of many, but the FLIR FX can be a wearable action camera or a dash-cam with built-in four hour battery. The camera's Wi-Fi hotspot lets users access live video and operate the camera even if their away from the Internet.
Petziconnect from Petzila. Smartphone are now treat phones. With Petziconnect, users can see and talk to their pet when they're away from home, and they can even dispense a treat.
Phorus PS5 Speaker from Phorus. The PS5 is a wireless speaker, but it's so much more. It supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, streams from one's own network media player or from online services, multiple units can be coordinated, and lets the user's smartphone serve as a remote. It's the wireless speaker, reimagined. Oh, and it sounds great, too.
Ring Video Doorbell from Ring. Doorbells just went worldwide. With the Ring Video doorbell, users can see and talk to the person at their door, using their smartphone, from anywhere.
SCiO from ConsumerPhysics. SCiO is a pocket molecular sensor, which means users can point it at something, such as a food item, and it will tell them about the item, at a molecular level. Is that turkey or tofurkey? SCiO knows.
Singtrix from Singtrix. Karaoke from the makers of Guitar Hero. Vocal effects, mic, stand, and controller, a full studio designed to make everyone sound great.
V.ALRT from VSN Mobil. The V.ALRT is the only non-subscription wearable personal alert device. Users can summon help using a button on the device, plus it will summon help automatically if one falls. The V.ALRT communicates via Bluetooth with their smartphone, which automatically sends the help request.
There are also two embargoed gadgets that are sure to wow to crowd. They'll be unveiled for the first time at CES.
Mobile Apps Showdown finalists will present their new apps on-stage on January 8th from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC), North Hall, Room N255. Finalists include:
Blur from Abine. Blur is a total solution for online security. Like many apps, it can manage passwords, but it also can mask user's email, credit cards and phone number, and stop online trackers. It lets users decide who gets their personal information.
Breathometer from Breathometer. The Breathometer app, in conjunction with one of their two inexpensive breath measurement devices, can measure one's blood alcohol content (BAC). Safe to drive? Ask Breathometer.
Fitnet from Fitnet. Fitnet videos are nice, but with the Fitnet app, users also get feedback on their training, as it analyzes their workout using their phone or tablet's camera. Finally, a great use for selfie cams.
Hi.Q from Hi.Q. Hi.Q is a health and fitness app that tries to make users more knowledgeable about health and fitness. It uses quizzes to both help users learn, and help the app assess their level of knowledge. It also features community input to add to the engagement.
Lyve from Lyve Minds. Lyve helps users consolidate all their videos and photos in one place, using one of their two hardware storage devices. It also has sharing features, works with social media, and makes it easy for one's cell phone pictures and video to become part of their permanent collection.
Perfect Bake from Pure Imagination. Smartphone or tablet in the kitchen while baking, usually a big mistake, but with Perfect Bake the tablet becomes the aide-de-chef and users can cook with more precision and better results. The system includes a scale, three mixing bowls, oven thermometer and of course the recipes.
SHAREit from Lenovo. With SHAREit, no cellphone is an island, it's media kept entirely to itself. SHAREit lets Android phones become a part of the main, and easily share things, fast and convenient.
SPOT-ON from Wajam. SPOT-ON is a game that lets users play eye-spy with friends. Given a photo, players identify as many things in the photo as possible, and the best spotter wins.
Yuggler from Yuggler. Yuggler is all about kids activities. Users can share info about their own, or discover what others in their area are doing. Is the beach crowded, or maybe it's a better day for the zoo?
uCiC from uCiC. The uCiC app lets users reach out to others, based on their location, and get photos back from them, showing what's going on there, right now. Or ping someone, asking for a photo of something their near.
Follow Last Gadget Standing and Mobile Apps Showdown on Twitter @GadgetLast, "like" Mobile Apps Showdown on Facebook and use the hashtags #LastGadgetCES and #MobileAppsCES.
About Living in Digital Times
Founded by veteran technology journalist Robin Raskin, Living in Digital Times brings together the most knowledgeable leaders and the latest innovations impacting both technology and lifestyle. It helps companies identify and act on emerging trends, create compelling company narratives, and do better business through strong network connections. Living in Digital Times produces technology conferences, exhibits and events at the International CES and other locations throughout the year by lifestyle verticals. Core brands include Digital Health Summit, Fitness Tech Summit, Lifelong Tech, Kids@Play Summit, Family Tech Summit, TransformingEDU, MommyTech TV, Wearables and FashionWare runway show, Mobile Apps Showdown, Last Gadget Standing, Battle of the Bands, and the KAPi Awards. The company also works with various foundations and manages the Appreneur Scholar awards program for budding mobile entrepreneurs. For more information, visit http://www.LivinginDigitalTimes.com and keep up with our latest news on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
About CES
The International CES is the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for more than 40 years—the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. As the largest hands-on event of its kind, CES features all aspects of the industry. And because it is owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the technology trade association representing the $ 211 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry, it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers to a forum where the industry's most relevant issues are addressed. Follow CES online at CESweb.org and through social media: cesweb.org/social.
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The LS 412 is a compact unit combining a laser-diode controller and processing laser which supplies laser powers of up to 700 W at a wavelength of 808, 940 or 980 nm. The LS 412 simply plugs in to the electricity supply, and a suitable (optical) fiber forms the connection to the laser head [more].
The housing of these ultra-compact devices is smaller than a paper-back book and they produce power ranging up to 7 kW. In the various housings, laser diode bars are powered by up to 250A CW or 800A in pulse mode.
For single emitter laser diodes they supply appropriately high-resolution currents at up to 80V. CM100 devices are available as air-cooled models or with integrated water cooling.[more].
The LS 453 is a device of the LS 400 serie from AMTRON. The LS series devices integrate the laser diodes from renowned manufacturers in user-friendly systems for the direct machining of materials or as intelligent pumps for solid-state lasers. TEC air cooling (TEC Thermo Electric Cooling) enables the laser temperature to be regulated precisely and is maintenance free. [more]
CS400 series devices supply constant current at up to 300 A and pulsed current at up to 2000 A with a pulse width as of 10 μs. With innovative functions such as broken fiber detection and power regulation, these devices monitor and protect the complete processing procedure of CW and pulse lasers. [more]
At the Laser World of Photonics China 2008 in Shanghai on March 18 20, 2008 Amtron presents the PC 200 series, a new power meter system for simple and continuous monitoring of laser power directly at the point of processing [more].


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A Proficiency Guide to Obtaining Thicker Skin When Your Friends and Family Don't Support Your Ideas
3 minute read Sometimes our closest people tend to cut our wings. But there are many valid reasons for them to do it. Their beliefs, their fears, anxieties, lack of faith or too much preocupation could cause them to... Continue reading →


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ALBANY — Angered by the defeat last year of a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry, a group of well-financed gay rights advocates has started a political action committee to take aim at state senators who have opposed same-sex marriage.
The first person the committee will single out is Hiram Monserrate, the Queens Democrat who has filed as a candidate in a special election to reclaim the seat he lost after the Senate expelled him this month.
The campaign against Mr. Monserrate, which will initially rely on the Internet and direct mail to reach voters but may expand to phone banks and e-mail, could exceed a cost of $100,000 — a significant amount for a legislative special election that is less than three weeks away.
In total, the political action committee, called Fight Back New York, is prepared to raise and spend in the high six figures range in the State Senate races this year, according to people involved with the committee.
Financing and organization will come, in part, from some of the most politically sophisticated and financially powerful gay rights advocates in the country. Tim Gill, a philanthropist and former software developer who has backed many gay rights initiatives nationwide, is a major player, along with some of his top associates and donors to his causes.Continue reading the main story
"Politicians who deny gays and lesbians basic equality should be thrown out of office, starting with convicted criminal Hiram Monserrate," said Bill Smith, an adviser to the committee and deputy executive director of the Gill Action Fund, Mr. Gill's political organization, which is based in Denver.
The committee will start going after Mr. Monserrate, who was convicted of assaulting his female companion in a confrontation that left her requiring more than 20 stitches, by mailing fliers this week to voters in his district. The flier shows still frames of a surveillance video that shows him dragging his companion, Karla Giraldo, through the hallway of his apartment building in Jackson Heights, Queens. He was acquitted of a felony assault charge by a judge, who convicted him of misdemeanor assault.
"He brutally assaulted a woman and tried to cover up his crime," the flier says. "Now he has the nerve to run again. Many of us have voted for Hiram before. But we cannot vote for him again."
In the three weeks that remain before the election, Fight Back New York expects to send out at least five different fliers, upwards of 100,000 pieces of mail. The district's population is around 300,000, but voter turnout in special elections is typically quite low.
Mr. Monserrate, who would run as an independent, is facing Assemblyman Jose Peralta, a Democrat supported by the party and many leading Democrats.
The political action committee's Web site, in both English and Spanish, takes an even harsher line against Mr. Monserrate. It is scheduled to go live on Thursday and describes him in bold print as a "criminal" and "incompetent." The site will also be used as a fund-raising tool to solicit and accept donations.
The Gill Action Fund and many of its donors were significant players in the 2008 legislative elections, helping to funnel around $1 million into local races in anticipation of same-sex marriage legislation. Senate Democrats picked up two seats, capturing the majority for the first time in a generation, but that was not enough to prevent the chamber from rejecting same-sex marriage.
While Fight Back New York has not decided which senators it will single out this fall, the group's organizers plan to focus on races where they believe the incumbent has a challenger who strongly supports gay rights.Continue reading the main story


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Below is the description for book 1 in this series. For a description of this book 2, please click on the Goodreads link in the below post.
London. 1880. In the
slums of Spitalfields apprentice blacksmith Luke is facing initiation
into the Malleus Maleficorum, the fearsome brotherhood dedicated to
hunting and killing witches.
Luke's final test is to pick a name
at random from the Book of Witches, a name he must track down and kill
within a month, or face death himself. Luke knows that tonight will
change his life forever. But when he picks out sixteen-year-old Rosa
Greenwood, Luke has no idea that his task will be harder than he could
ever imagine.
Published: 5th June 2014
Publisher: Hodder
Author Website: Click here
Goodreads : Click here
Series: Book 2, Witch Finder
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
Review: 5 out of 5
My Review
What I loved about this story....
I am really loving this story so far. Of course, as this is book 2 in a series there is a lot that I cannot go into in this review without spoiling the story. In this book we have old characters and new characters both of which are really enjoyable to follow. I definitely did see myself routing for certain characters in both good and bad ways lol!
To pick one thing that I am absolutely loving about this series so far is the feel of history to the story. You can read some books and you wouldn't even realise that you were reading a book that was based in the 1880s. With this book, I could definitely feel the history in the story and in the air around me when I was reading. I was completely immersed in this story from start to finish. LOVED IT!
What I was not fond of with this story...
Being completely honest, there wasn't anything that I didn't like with this book and really could not say a bad thing about this series so far. I can't wait for the next instalment...
About the Author
(from her website)
I was born and brought up in Sussex on the south coast of England,
and I spent most of my childhood in the town of Lewes; a small town with
a long history.
I grew up on a reading diet of my mum's classics (Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre), my dad's sci-fi and fantasy books (A Wizard of Earthsea, Flowers for Algernon) and the Jilly Cooper novels passed around school at break time.
Now I live in North London in a house full of boys, and I work as a publicist in the day, and a writer by night.
I am the author of the Winter Trilogy (A Witch in Winter, A Witch in Love and A Witch Alone) and a new forthcoming series set in Victorian London, which starts with Witch Finder, due out in January 2014.


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Board of Directors
- Board Chair: Ted Moyer
Ted Moyer has been involved in the service industry since 1988. His college education includes Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine at Temple University. Ted launched his entrepreneurial career in 1988 and has built and sold companies for over 25 years. His main focus was developing high efficiency systems, including productivity and team development particularly in the service industry. He has served as an advisor to companies in the size range from 10 to 250 employees. For over 15 years Ted traveled extensively speaking to business, governmental and clergy leadership groups including, Africa, Russia, India, Indonesia, Central America, Mexico, the U.K. and Belgium as well as extensively throughout the US. In 2009, Ted worked as a consultant to companies purchasing Health Insurance.
- Board Vice-Chair: Ed Donahue MA, ICCDP-D
Ed is a healthcare professional and college professor and have been working in the substance abuse and mental health field for the past 20 years as a clinician, care/case manager, and clinical director/supervisor. Ed also is a consultant for a 72-bed recovery house organization and teaches at 2 local universities and one community college.
Ed has worked in the healthcare field at all levels, both as a leader and teacher in the inpatient level of care and the outpatient level of care. Ed is currently part of a local community group, Crisis Intervention Taskforce (CIT), a crisis intervention and jail diversion program, working with police officers and first responders to educate them in working with individuals that may have a substance abuse and/or mental health issues.
- Board Treasurer: Rhonda Leimbach
Rhonda is a Branch Manager of Univest. Rhonda leads the teams for delivery of services to the customers. Rhonda previously worked with National Penn and at Willow Grove Joint Reserve Base Child Development Center as a preschool teacher.
Rhonda also serves on the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and participates widely on Chamber committees and activities. She is also a committee member for Penn Foundation annual event planning.
Rhonda has spent the last 27 years married to her husband, who recently retired from the U.S. Air Force. She is the mother of two children and enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren. She currently resides in Red Hill Pennsylvania.
- Board Secretary: Mary W. Long
Mary was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and has lived in the Philadelphia area since age five. She values family and is a wife, mother of four children, grandmother of four so far, and has a thirteen year old dog named Marley. Mary enjoys photography, gardening, cooking & baking, swimming, skiing, travel/cruising.
Mary's passion is Healing in all areas: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Her motto is bringing Hope through encouragement and opportunities for growth to fulfill each individual's destiny on this earth. "Where there is Life, There is Hope!" Isaiah 40:31 (Bible) is her life verse. Mary's mission is to love, serve, and encourage others as they move forward in healing and wholeness.
Mary has had life experience in dealing with PTSD, Depression, Suicide, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Medical issues, Alcoholism, and Substance Abuse.
Mary's work history includes working in an out-patient mental health office, many years of customer service experience, community work, instructing youth with special needs, volunteering in Central Bucks Schools and a business background. She is currently a member of the Voice and Vision Regional InReach Team which brings Hope each month to Norristown State Hospital residents.
- Board Member: Elaine Goldsmith
Elaine is a Certified Peer Specialist and Certified Recovery Coach in the Mental Health field. She is currently working at Lenape Valley Foundation. She holds an Associates of Arts Degree from Bucks County Community College in Paralegal Studies. She has served in the military (Air Force National Guard) and is a veteran. She has previously worked for Voice and Vision and has participated in the College Plus Program. Elaine currently resides in Levittown, Pennsylvania.
- Board Member: Deborah Sheesley
Deborah spent much of her life overseas and in several of the States. Her family has experienced serious mental illness and several of her family members are advocates for people with mental illnesses. She settled in Bucks County in 1981. Deborah is a retired university librarian and professor. She is an active volunteer of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and helps teach computer skills to retirees at Delaware Valley College.


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Is nothing sacred any more? In its 50th year, Match of the Day will feature Russell Brand as a pundit.
- Jack Wilshere, Michael Dawson And Scott Parker Appear On Mastermind For Sport Relief
- Sport Relief 2014: Jo Whiley Falls Off Treadmill During 26-Hour Challenge (VIDEO)
- Match Of The Day's Demise: Do The BBC Care About Sport?
Yes, it's for Sport Relief and will raise money for charity. Yes, he could be an upgrade on Alan Shearer, but isn't there another way?
Couldn't Brand do a sponsored silence locked up in a dark room with no windows? People would pay in support of that.
Anchor Gary Lineker has already branded Bland (that's deliberate) as a "pundit messiah", and the scary thing is, knowing how insular they are in those leather chairs, he is probably not being sarcastic.
The worst edition of Match of the Day, which aired in November last year, had its highest audience appreciation of the season and 4.4 million viewers. "Ta," Lineker smugly tweeted.
So, will you watch it?
Chuffed that @rustyrockets is making a guest appearance on MOTD tomorrow as part of a @sportrelief special #punditmessiah— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 21, 2014
Don't miss #MOTD on Saturday, 22:30 @BBCOne -@whufc_official fan @rustyrockets turns pundit for @sportrelief #SR14 pic.twitter.com/dxiYJ9ubzR— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 21, 2014


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GHI West at the University of California, Berkeley
GHI West is the German Historical Institute's branch office housed on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. Acting on the recommendation of the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat), the GHI opened the office to facilitate expanded cooperation with scholars and institutions in the western U.S. and Canada. GHI West is also envisioned as a resource for German scholars in the humanities and social sciences, for whom California is an increasingly important research hub.
GHI West will organize programs in all of the research areas the GHI supports. Moreover, it will also coordinate the development of a research network that will bring together scholars working at the intersection of migration history and the history of knowledge. The opening of the branch office is part of the strategic development initiative of the Max-Weber-Stiftung. It will also raise the profile of the GHI Washington, which, under Director Simone Lässig, has placed the history of knowledge, along with digital history, at the center of its activities. Through target cooperation with other institutions, GHI West will give new impulse to international and interdisciplinary exchange in research on migration, not least by facilitating dialogue between European and North American scholars and their colleagues in Latin America and the Asian Pacific region. A central focus for the "Migration and Knowledge" research network will be migrants as conveyors and producers of knowledge. Special attention will be given to the role of migrant children and young people as mediators or "translators" between cultures.
Related Events
Of Pathogens and Humans. A Cultural History of the Policies on Epidemics in the Nineteenth Century
The Securitization of Migration and Racial Sorting in Fortress Europe
Entangling Pacific and Atlantic Worlds: Past and Present
German History in a Fractious World
In Global Transit: Forced Migration of Jews and other Refugees (1940s-1960s)
Histories of Migrant Knowledges in and across the Transpacific: Agencies, Scales, Translations
Histories of Migration: Transatlantic and Global Perspectives
Heike Friedman
Program Coordinator -
GHI West
GHI West - Pacific Regional Office of the German Historical Institute Washington DC
Institute of European Studies
249 Moses Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-2316
(510) 643-4558


text:
They are on the display racks already this year. Otoshidama, the Japanese New Year's Money Envelopes, will be flying off the shelves from now until the holidays end.
Hello Kitty and some character named Stitch seem to be the most popular in my neck of the woods.
Kitty-chan was easy for me to figure out. The thing opens up just like any other envelope.
Stitch, almost got destroyed by me trying to figure out where you stuff the money.
There, I snapped a photo so you don't have to drive yourself crazy looking.
Lucky for me, some kid was walking down the street and I asked him how you open the thing.
Walt Disney, or somebody, put these stickers in with the card. So, I thanked the kid for helping me and gave him the stickers. Kids love stickers. Beats telling them to scram.
I'm busy.
Here are three more, traditional New Year's Money Envelopes.
These are inexpensive, a ten pack goes for about 100 Yen ($1.25 or so) and you can find them at super markets, book stores, gift shops or convenience stores from November through New Years.
Children, if you haven't already guessed, are who receive Otoshidama money for the New Year.
The amount you spend on the envelopes isn't what matters; it's what goes inside.
Pocket change isn't what you stuff in them.
Crisp, brand new bills, neatly folded, are what you place in these envelopes.
Every kid in Japan, from newborns to High School graduates, that knows you, expects to see you giving out Otoshidama sometime in the first week of the New Year !
After you place the folded Yen notes in the envelope, your name goes in the block on the left, the child's name in the block on the right side.
Really, I'm a busy man.
Didn't want to tell that kid to scram.
Something to do with a bank.
I have to plan.
Soon, it'll be Otoshidama time of the year, again !


text:
A bipartisan group of legislators from around the country has introduced a bill designed to reduce methamphetamine addiction.
The Methamphetamine Education, Treatment, and Hope Act calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to take over the screening and treatment of methamphetamine addiction, and award grants to treatment centers in underserved or rural areas. The bill also calls for the development of treatment programs for pregnant women and mothers, and for prevention programs for youth.
The bill was originally proposed in 2009, but failed to make it through the Senate, The Hill reports.
"Meth abuse is one of the most serious issues in northern California and across the country. It affects families and our community, and needs immediate action," bill sponsor Jerry McNerney of California said in a news release. "It is imperative that we address crime in our region and increase public safety. This bill will help keep our families healthy, safe and drug-free. When we see crime rates drop, especially usage of drugs like methamphetamine, our entire community benefits."
The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 banned over-the-counter sale of cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, which can be used to make meth.
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FREE Go Veggie Cheese at Kroger + Moneymaker
(Sale Ends 6/14) Kroger's Mega Event is back! You'll instantly save $5.00 off when you buy 5 participating items. Included in the Buy 5 Save $5 sale are Go Veggie! Sliced or Shredded Cheese on sale for $1.49! Use this $1.00 Off One Go Veggie Product Coupon and a $1.00 Cash Back Offer from Ibotta to get them for Free! Here's the deal: ► Buy (1) Go Veggie! Sliced or Shredded Cheese (7-7.3 oz) = $1.49
(price when you buy 5 participating items)
Use (1) $1/1 Go Veggie! Product = -$1.00
Pay: $0.49
Submit for: $1/1 Go Veggie Ibotta Cash Back (x6/11)
Final Price: FREE + $0.51 Moneymaker Kroger Affiliate Stores Are : Kroger, Ralphs, Smiths, Fred Meyer, QFC, Frys, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Gerbes, Bakers, Hilander, JayC Food, Pay Less Food, Scotts. They all tend to have similar sales, although the pricing may vary by region. When we refer to "Kroger" we are referring to all Kroger Affiliate stores in general. Check your local affiliate store for pricing.
* Check out more Kroger Affiliate deals here.
Just follow this link to get the freebie:


text: This is a magnificent quilt in person. The colours are stunning .It was a pleasure to quilt. This is a 21st birthday gift. I used Anne Brights Asian Fans in the borders. The outer border has dragonflies in the fans the inner sashings are plain fans with ribbons. I finished it off with stippling in the upper half of the blocks.


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I'm back and sorry that I have not posted this week after the surgery. With the big guy laid up on the second floor, it was my job to run errands, feed him, and keep up with the enormous amount of trash that accumulated from his granola bar and rice krispie treats wrappers. Oh yeah....breakfast is always a fresh bagel, egg, and cheese. Lunch consists of a chicken cutlet hoagie, and dinner is whatever I have the energy to make. Oh yeah, let's not forget....I have to work, too. Tink has been wonderful and is spoiling him. Me? Not so much...after two days, I was ready to move him to the first floor, which he balked at for some reason.
I sort of get it. He has to be in a CPM machine for 6 hours a days while lying in bed. Therefore, he cannot move, weight bear on his right leg, and is stuck in a hip brace that looks like a torture device. His next appointment with the surgeon is on Friday when he gets further orders as to his rehab. Until then....he does not walk, drive, or hobble to the first floor. I have been able to get him out of the house a few times, otherwise, he sits in bed or watches ESPN in my bedroom. He also has an odd reaction to his pain medications and literally becomes loopy.
His loopiness means that I want him on the second floor until the medication wears off since there is no way that I can catch him safely if he falls on the stairs. And so...we wait....talk about rehab...plan for more baseball in Seattle....watch football on ESPN, and feed him.....I have to go to the food store at least once a day since he is immobile. He claims that the first thing that he will do when he can drive is to drive to the Wawa (our convenience store) and buy a barbecue chicken hoagie. That's all this guy wants for now....a trip to Wawa....
As far as other news is concerned, we had planned a big surprise party for Dr. G's birthday. The secret was safe...until....yeah...until......a colleague of his texted him on Friday afternoon (mind you, this colleague is a doctor) and told him that he was sorry that he could not make his party that night. Dude! Didn't you read the invitation that specifically said "SURPRISE PARTY"!
Oh yeah, as I drove him, Lil A and Tink to the party, it was Tink's job to text Scooby to tell her that we were two minutes away and get the gang ready to shout 'surprise'.
Imagine my surprise when he walked into the room and no one noticed nor shouted 'surprise!' Apparently Scoob did not receive the text so......no real surprise....just a party....which was still a great deal of fun.
Now that that is over, I have to concentrate on work. Like the rest of the world, I have to perform certain tasks to be paid.....although, there are days when I am at work that it does not seem like work. In other words, it is more of a lifestyle.
I do tell dad that I would LOVE to retire to try my hand at something else. However, I am not sure what I would do. But there has to be more out there where I can do something, be paid (or not), and feel fulfilled....Who knows. Until I find that elusive job, I will continue to teach, grade, and share our adventures on the road to the majors....oh yeah....and drive to the food store for more bagels, hoagies, and rice krispie treats.


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Veolia and Renault partner in Tangiers
Collaboration to build the next generation of car plantTogether Renault and Veolia have constructed the world's first zero carbon emission and zero industrial liquid discharge car manufacturing plant.
Working with the Moroccan government to build sustainable industries Renault and Veolia together set out to build the world's most sustainable car production plant and the first with zero carbon emission and zero industrial liquid discharge. The first approach involved reducing the facility's consumption by leveraging Veolia's environment expertise and co-engineering with Renault on manufacturing processes.
More information> Read the news "Zero carbon + Zero liquid discharge, an example of environmental excellence presented at MEDCOP21"
> Watch the video "Renault - Tangier plant sets new standards"
> The resourcing machine
> Article :" Renault Tangier plant: successfully meeting the "Zero carbon emission" challenge"
> Article : "Olive cake : the biomass solution"


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Our Mission. Through "Artists 4 Amy", A 501(c)3 foundation
"Helping sick kids, One family at a time"
The Artists 4 Amy Foundation
Our Mission: through the Artists 4 Amy Foundation, a charitable nonprofit we endeavor to: Assist the families who are caring for seriously and terminally ill children with their day to day financial short comings.
If you are or know a family in need, please fill out the contact form and we will respond promptly. If you would like to make a donation of money or service, please fill out the contact form as well or click the Donate button on the right side of the page.
Breaking News!
The Artists 4 Amy Foundation now has it's own performance venue. As many of our supporters know, A4A raises most of it's funds through concert events. We now have a beautiful state of the art, 4000+ square foot fully furnished performance venue complete with stage, truss, lighting and awesome sound. Our standing capacity is 245, arena seating is 240 and our dinner seating is 185. It is appropriately named Amy's Place and is the primary fundraising arm of the Artists 4 Amy Foundation
Located in the 10,000 s.f. Shooting Star Productions complex, we can now host events from dinner theater to concerts. We are in the process of putting together a country, classic rock, smooth jazz and gospel concert schedule. Since we are directly adjacent to the Brooklyn Heights Recreation Center we will be planning a springtime glow run, a major artist acoustic show and much more.
Amy's Place is also available on a rental basis to the public. We have hosted everything from Bridal Showers to Dinner Theater to Church Services
Please follow us on facebook and this site for more information.
We will be planning a naming and dedication event for Amy's during the spring!


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Step 1:
Download and run the installed the Rust installer from the following page: http://www.rust-lang.org/install.html
When you running the installed accept the default installation folder.
Also accept the installer offer to add that installation folder to the system PATH environment variable.
Step 2:
Start Zeus and use the Tools, DOS Command Line menu to run this command:
Running that command should result in output something like this:
Code: Select all
rustc.exe --version
If you do not see this output it means the previous installation step has not worked.
Code: Select all
rustc 1.15.1 (021bd294c 2017-02-08)
Step 3:
Inside Zeus and create a simple c:\temp\test.rs file:
Step 4:
Code: Select all
fn main() {
println!("Hello, world!");
Use the Compiler, Compile menu to compile and link that file.
Then use the Macros, Execute Test.exe menu to run the executable and you should see this result:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Because the Rust compiler uses the AcquireSRWLockExclusive Win32 API function found in the KERNEL32, it needs Windows Vista or better to run.
Code: Select all
Hello, world!


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Testing LLDB
The LLDB test suite consists of Python scripts located under the test directory. Each script contains a number of test cases and is usually accompanied by a C (C++, ObjC, etc.) source file. Each test first compiles the source file and then uses LLDB to debug the resulting executable. The tests verify both the LLDB command line interface and the scripting API.
Running tests
Running the full test suite
Windows Note: In the examples that follow, any invocations of
should be replaced with
python_d, the debug interpreter, when running the test
suite against a debug version of LLDB.
The easiest way to run the LLDB test suite is to use the check-lldb build target. By default, the check-lldb target builds the test programs with the same compiler that was used to build LLDB. To build the tests with a different compiler, you can set the LLDB_TEST_C_COMPILER or the LLDB_TEST_CXX_COMPILER CMake variables. These variables are ignored unless the respective LLDB_TEST_USE_CUSTOM_C_COMPILER and LLDB_TEST_USE_CUSTOM_CXX_COMPILER are set to ON. It is possible to customize the architecture of the test binaries and compiler used by appending -A and -C options respectively to the CMake variable LLDB_TEST_USER_ARGS. For example, to test LLDB against 32-bit binaries built with a custom version of clang, do:
> cmake -DLLDB_TEST_USER_ARGS="-A i386 -C /path/to/custom/clang" -G Ninja
> ninja check-lldb
Note that multiple -A and -C flags can be specified to LLDB_TEST_USER_ARGS.
Note that on NetBSD you must export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$PWD/lib in your environment. This is due to lack of the $ORIGIN linker feature.
Running a specific test or set of tests
In addition to running all the LLDB test suites with the "check-lldb" CMake target above, it is possible to run individual LLDB tests. For example, to run the test cases defined in TestInferiorCrashing.py, run:
> cd $lldb/test
> python dotest.py --executable <path-to-lldb> -p TestInferiorCrashing.py ../packages/Python/lldbsuite/test
If the test is not specified by name (e.g. if you leave the
-p argument off), LLDB will run all tests in
that directory:
> python dotest.py --executable <path-to-lldb> functionalities/data-formatter
Many more options that are available. To see a list of all of them, run:
> python dotest.py -h
The dotest.py script runs tests in parallel by default.
To disable the parallel test running feature, use the
--no-multiprocess flag. The number of
concurrent tests is controlled by
LLDB_TEST_THREADS environment variable
or the
--threads command line parameter.
The default value is the number of CPU cores on your
The parallel test running feature will handle an
--test-subdir SUBDIR arg. When
specified, SUBDIR is relative to the root test directory
and will limit all parallel test running to that
subdirectory's tree of tests.
The parallel test runner will run all tests within a given directory serially, but will run multiple directories concurrently. Thus, as a test writer, we provide serialized test run semantics within a directory. Note child directories are considered entirely separate, so two child directories could be running in parallel with a parent directory.
Running the test-suite remotely
Running the test-suite remotely is similar to the process of running a local test suite, but there are two things to have in mind:
You must have the
lldb-serverrunning on the remote system, ready to accept multiple connections. For more information on how to setup remote debugging see the Remote debugging page.
You must tell the test-suite how to connect to the remote system. This is
achieved using the
--platform-working-dirparameters to
dotest.py. These parameters correspond to the
platform selectand
platform connectLLDB commands. You will usually also need to specify the compiler and architecture for the remote system.
Currently, running the remote test suite is supported only with
dotest.py (or
dosep.py with a single thread), but we
expect this issue to be addressed in the near future.
Debugging test failures
Non-Windows platforms
On non-Windows platforms, you can use the
-d option to
dotest.py which will cause the script to wait
for a while until a debugger is attached.
On Windows, it is strongly recommended to use Python Tools for Visual Studio for debugging test failures. It can seamlessly step between native and managed code, which is very helpful when you need to step through the test itself, and then into the LLDB code that backs the operations the test is performing. A quick guide to getting started with PTVS is as follows:
- Install PTVS
Create a Visual Studio Project for the Python code.
- Go to File -> New -> Project -> Python -> From Existing Python Code.
- Choose
llvm/tools/lldbas the directory containing the Python code.
When asked where to save the
.pyprojfile, choose the folder
llvm/tools/lldb/pyproj. This is a special folder that is ignored by the
.gitignorefile, since it is not checked in.
- Set
test/dotest.pyas the startup file
Make sure there is a Python Environment installed for your distribution. For example, if you installed Python to
C:\Python35, PTVS needs to know that this is the interpreter you want to use for running the test suite.
- Go to Tools -> Options -> Python Tools -> Environment Options
- Click Add Environment, and enter
Python 3.5 Debugfor the name. Fill out the values correctly.
Configure the project to use this debug interpreter.
- Right click the Project node in Solution Explorer
- In the
Generaltab, Make sure
Python 3.5 Debugis the selected Interpreter.
- In
Debug/Search Paths, enter the path to your
Debug/Environment Variables, enter
VCINSTALLDIR=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\
If you want to enabled mixed mode debugging, check
Enable native code debugging(this slows down debugging, so enable it only on an as-needed basis.)
Set the command line for the test suite to run.
- Right click the project in solution explorer and choose the
- Enter the arguments to
dotest.py. Note you must add
Example command options:
# quiet mode
# Path to debug lldb.exe
--executable D:/src/llvmbuild/ninja/bin/lldb.exe
# Directory to store log files
-s D:/src/llvmbuild/ninja/lldb-test-traces
-u CXXFLAGS -u CFLAGS
# If a test crashes, show JIT debugging dialog.
# Path to release clang.exe
-C d:\src\llvmbuild\ninja_release\bin\clang.exe
# Path to the particular test you want to debug.
-p TestPaths.py
# Root of test tree
# Required in order to be able to debug the test.
As copy-pastable command line:
-q --arch=i686 --executable D:/src/llvmbuild/ninja/bin/lldb.exe -s D:/src/llvmbuild/ninja/lldb-test-traces -u CXXFLAGS -u CFLAGS --enable-crash-dialog -C d:\src\llvmbuild\ninja_release\bin\clang.exe -p TestPaths.py D:\src\llvm\tools\lldb\packages\Python\lldbsuite\test --no-multiprocess
- Right click the project in solution explorer and choose the


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Mobile Viewpoint is an innovative new smartphone app, developed with input from the BBC's news gathering department, that is designed to offer exceptionally reliable and useful live streaming tools designed specifically for use within the context of mobile journalism.
The app is capable of automatically taking video from smartphone cameras and encoding it with H.263 video and AAC audio, with the encoding adapted depending on the bandwidth available. The resulting content is then decoded by a server and readied for use by news stations.
Modern journalism is becoming increasingly reliant on mobile photography, which is being used by a growing number of journalists to capture multimedia content on the go. Mobile content generally isn't the same quality as content generated using professional equipment, but this will not be as much of an issue anymore thanks to Mobile Viewpoint.
Multimedia-Encoding News Apps
More Stats +/-
Curated Morning News Apps
Competitive Gaming News Apps
Virtual News Apps
Dialoging News Apps
Personalized News Apps
The Mobile Viewpoint App Helps Journalists Share Quality Content
- By: Rahul KalvapalleMay 18, 2016
References: mobileviewpoint & tvbeurope
References: mobileviewpoint & tvbeurope


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Sport Press Releases
Start Training for Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 2017.
With around 170 days left to get ready for New Zealand's largest cycle event, the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 2017, it's time for Aucklanders to get on their bikes.
Outstanding Results from NZ Special Olympics Team
Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner say the New Zealand Special Olympics team should be extremely proud of its outstanding results at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Graz, Austria.
Northland to be part of Largest U-16 Triathlon Series
Northland children are set to benefit from a new partnership between Sport Northland and Sanitarium, one of the country's largest health food manufacturers, who will bring a new sporting event to the region.
New Zealand's best players target Auckland for SKYCITY Super League Darts
Radio Hauraki and Radio Sport are proud to present New Zealand's premier domestic darts competition, SKYCITY Super League Darts which begins on 10 July. Eight of New Zealand's best players will compete against each other in a tournament unrivalled in New Zealand.
Tennis elbow clinical trial at the Dunedin School of Medicine, patients and funding wanted
Globally, 3% of the population suffers from a Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis) inflammation. A highly successful experimental device has been recently tested in Germany using a very densed acoustic pressure which loosens both inflammation and scar tissue in only 24 hours. An exclusive clinical trial will be conducted at the Dunedin School of Medicine. For this clinical trial we need both patients who have suffered more than 12 months as well as funding.
Worlds' First Olympic Games Cricket scoring system developed in New Zealand
Auckland based LED sign company Signopsys Electronic Signs Ltd (Signopsys), a 25 year supplier of Cricket scoring systems and LED screen hardware to ICC Cricket World Cups internationally, has been contracted by Korean IT giant Ssangyong Information and Communications Corporation (SICC) to provide the world's first Olympic Games Cricket Scoring software system for the Incheon Asian Games beginning next week in Korea.
Run For Your Freak'n Life in Auckland
More than a thousand people will run from the clutches of flesh-hungry zombies in the upcoming 5km obstacle race- Run for your Freak'n Life at Spookers Haunted Attraction Theme Park.
Rugby News Print and Digital Assets Change Hands
Media Titles Group Ltd has sold the iconic title Rugby News, along with its other print and digital consumer rugby publications, to Auckland based publisher Mark Calverley.
YMCA Ellerslie Open Day
The YMCA Ellerslie Recreation Centre welcomes local residents and communities to join us in their open day on Saturday 1st of February. It will be a fun day filled with activities for the entire family including Zumba, Spin, kids gymnastics, bouncy castle and animal balloons.
Gold Standard 100% Whey Nominated as Bodybuilding.com Supplement of the Year
Gold Standard Whey, available at SportsFuel Supplements, continues to be recognised as a leading supplement in the world of professional bodybuilding.
Frog Rock Mountain Bike Ride in North Canterbury
Registrations are open for the 5th annual Frog Rock mountain bike challenge on Saturday 9 November, 2013.
World Class Dodgeball in our own Backyard
I am very excited to announce that on September 27th this year, Dodgeball New Zealand will be hosting the 2nd annual World Dodgeball Federation Invitational at the Queenstown Events Centre.
Bodyline Wetsuits – The sudden closure in July 2013
Seventhwave Wetsuits moves to reassure customers of former fellow Kiwi wetsuit manufacturer Bodyline that it will be able to look after their wetsuit needs following the sudden closure of the long-running Tauranga-based company.
John Key Supports Ice Fernz
To help the Ice Fernz make New Zealand history we've asked a number of well known people to take a photo of themselves, wearing our scarf, to show their support for the team.
Waikari School Fundraiser – Frog Rock Mountain Bike Ride
On Saturday 10th November, The fourth annual Frog Rock Mountain Bike Ride is being held in North Canterbury by Waikari School.
New Video – Seventhwave: The Inside Story
With epic surfing, kiteboarding and bodyboarding from a few of the Seventhwave team, and picturesque New Zealand surf scenery, 'Seventhwave: the inside story' is a behind-the-scenes peek into the world of Seventhwave Wetsuits
New ebook 'How to be happy in cold water' runs hot
Water sport enthusiasts everywhere will be excited to know that pursuing their passion has just got easier. Seventhwave Wetsuits, an ever informative company based in Christchurch, New Zealand, have just published an ebook outlining all the ways to be happy in cold water.
Procter & Gamble Launches Global Thank You Mum Campaign
Procter & Gamble Launches Global 'Thank You Mum' Campaign in Celebration of 100 days to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games
Indian Community and Sports Awards (ICSA) announced
SPROUT will host the inaugural Indian Sports & Community Awards ceremony on 26th May 2012 at the brand new 4 star Sudima Hotel near Auckland International Airport.
Summer Camp start of School's Hockey
St John's College Hockey 2012 itinerary for the year starts with a summer boot camp at Pheasant Tail Lodge in the Bay of Plenty, and ends with a trip to Melbourne to the Champions Trophy.


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A modern square design which features a stunning halo effect around the fitting. Available in natural white LED, this fitting is suitable for any type of kitchen design, and can be recessed or surface mounted. Our Halo collection is currently the brightest 12Vdc/24Vdc multi point LED on the market, being 60% brighter than others currently available.
Power supply 12Vdc Cable length 1.5m Number of hours 30,000 Colour appearance Natural White Luminous efficacy 48 lm/W Wattage 3W IP Rating IP20 Mounting Surface or Recessed (Spacer Included)
Requires power converter SY9980A/MF (runs up to 2 lights) SY9739A/MF (runs up to 5 lights) or SY7350A/MF (runs up to 6 lights)
For switching, dimming & sensor options please click here
Extension cable available


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Tobias Wolff is best known as a memoirist both for This Boy's Life and In Pharaoh's Army, as well as a fine short-story writer. Old School, his first novel, though clearly labeled a novel, takes the form of a first-person memoir about a schoolboy's encounters with books and their authors.
Indeed, the story is neatly divided into chapters, each of which centers on a different famous American author. Each is a guest invited by the headmaster to address the prep school assembly and favor with a personal audience the student whose written work, poem or story, takes the writer's fancy. Since literature is king at the school, the competition for such a boon is fierce among the all-male student body.
My first two reactions, as I read, were that this was really another memoir disguised as a novel and that Wolff's choice of authors simply mirrored his adolescent literary development. But on unexpectedly hearing him interviewed on NPR recently, I realized that I was wrong and that he had chosen his genre with care and deliberation. For one thing, Ayn Rand, the most explosive of the invitees, never made it to his own school; his schoolmates, moreover, are largely composites; and, finally, as he ruefully admitted, his own adolescent experience was not nearly so complex as his narrator's.
But for all that, the novel is still a bildungsroman, a young man's story of growing up with a secret in an alien world where he needs to win the top prize, an hour with his—and just about every other 1950's schoolboy's literary hero—Ernest Hemingway. On the way to that transcendent goal our hero has several setbacks, starting with an unfortunate tune he innocently whistles within hearing of an outraged Jewish staff member, the Nazi "Horst Wessel Song." Ironically, the one thing he won't reveal, but that would clear him of evil intent, is his own carefully concealed Jewish background.
Before the story ends there will be another, deeper deception that will alter his life and, paradoxically, link him more closely to the school and one of its most beloved masters, who has his own Hemingway secret. Not surprisingly, these connections also involve books and their authors. In the meantime we are treated to cameos of Robert Frost and Ayn Rand, each of whose visits sparks off a flurry of composition by acolytes eager to bask in their reflected glory. Frost comes across as a genial curmudgeon devoted to poetic form and contemptuous of "modern poetry," while Rand anoints herself as the only serious novelist around, heaping special scorn on Hemingway. Such lèse-majesté shocks our hero out of a temporary infatuation with Rand, but even more, it allows him to see—and reject—some of his own arrogance.
Determined to win the Hemingway interview but unable to get anything down on paper, he starts typing out Hemingway stories in the hope that will stimulate his own creative juices. In desperation, the night before the story is due, he flips through other schools' literary journals and comes upon a story of a poor girl surrounded, like himself, by the rich and confident, who must use subterfuge and disguise to secure a place. Identification and need sweep him away, and soon he is typing out her story, changing only the pronouns and other identifying markers. Papa picks the purloined story, the deceit is discovered, and our hero is cast out of paradise—but not forever. Like the prodigal, he will make his return, in time, as a successful and legitimate writer.
Wolff's portrait of the "Old School" captures its appeal for a bright young scholarship student but also limns its unspoken prejudices and self-satisfaction. Ideas count and wit is prized, no matter the source, but the gap between the trust-funded and the strivers remains unclosed. But his largest risk-taking involves the story's turning point. Can we accept our hero's acceptance of his plagiarism—that his intense identification with the story makes it his own? Only, I think, if we can accept the power of fiction to change our lives so dramatically that we can imagine identifying completely with the life of another. It is this confrontation of morality and imagination that gives Wolff's first novel its peculiar power.


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|Chin chin, old boy. Edwardian Gentleman by Emil Fuchs
You've decided to set your work sometime in the first forty years of the 20th century, either in the Edwardian era or at some point between the wars. Your hero is a British gentleman, your heroine a woman of pluck and spirit. Plot and story possibilities abound: The British Empire spans the globe, offering tempting settings and venues from Dorsetshire to Delhi to Durban. Victorian notions still govern interactions between women and men and between gentry and working classes. However, dark clouds that threaten both your characters and social order loom in the guise of bomb throwing anarchists, conspiratorial Bolshevik agents provocateurs setting labor on a collision course with capital, colonial liberation movements, an emerging women's rights movement and, depending on when your novel or screenplay is set one of two incipient world wars. Amidst the turbulent tides of time stands your hero (or, I suppose, your heroine), battered but defiant, staring death in the face and brandishing…Wait a moment, what exactly is our plucky hero, Richard, the twenty third Earl of Warfelnutterstone Manor brandishing?
|Frederick Selous, one of the last "Great White Hunters"
The difficulty attendant to properly outfitting an upper class British hero with a firearm has much to do with contemporary British attitudes toward firearms, which are, to put it mildly, negative and restrictive. The pervasive nature of these attitudes in modern English society might lead one to think that firearms were never a significant part of English culture. This is not only historically incorrect, it is a complete volte face from the attitudes of the Edwardian and interwar eras, when gentlemen (and that group included men who made their fortunes in industry in addition to those with inherited titles and wealth) were expected not only to own a number of guns, but to also use them regularly to hunt everything from doves in the English countryside to stags in Scotland, tigers in India and elephant and Cape buffalo in Africa. That being the case, let's take a few moments to explore what Sir Richard might retrieve from the gun room upon hearing mischief upon the moor at night.
It is unlikely that Sir Richard's gun room would contain much in the way of military style firearms. The standard British infantry rifle of the period, the Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, or SMLE, was a well designed battle implement that served His (and Her) Majesty's forces from its
|Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield
introduction in 1904 through two world wars, and in a somewhat modified form, as a sniper rifle until the mid-1990s. It was less than ideal as a hunting rifle (which doesn't mean it wasn't used for hunting), being both heavy and long for its caliber. Instead, he would probably have an assortment of English "doubles," and "magazine rifles" for use on terrestrial game as well as one or more shotguns used as fowling pieces.
A double is a double barreled rifle, with the barrels next to each other in a side by side configuration. Most were made by one of the masters of the English gun trade in either London or Birmingham. It should be noted that at the turn of the twentieth century, there were literally thousands of gunmakers in Britain. Many of these have been lost to time, forced out of the industry by death, bankruptcy, consolidation and an increasingly hostile legislative climate. A few names remain well known. These include the London firms of (the legendary!) Holland & Holland, W.J. Jeffery and John Rigby & Co., famous Birmingham companies such as Westley Richards and W.W. Greener and George Gibbs of Bristol.
|Holland and Holland Royal Grade Sidelock Double Rifle
Doubles are found in two main varieties, sidelocks and boxlocks. Both operate in a similar manner (and, indeed, take advantage of the same invention, the Anson & Deeley boxlock, covered by British patent number 1756): When the action is opened, internal hammers are automatically cocked, cartridges are inserted, and the action closed and locked. Two triggers are supplied, one for each barrel, with the front trigger firing the left barrel, and the rear trigger the right barrel. Sidelocks (the "lock" is the gun's firing mechanism) are the older of the two and are a carryover from the days of flint and percussion muzzleloaders with exposed hammers. With the advent of breech loading metallic cartridge ammunition, the hammers were brought inside the frame. The boxlock appeared in 1875. The difference between a sidelock and boxlock is that the sidelock carries the hammers, springs and sears on two sideplates. The boxlock hinges all the working parts - the tumblers (hammers), sears and their springs - within the action, and the back of the exterior of the action is square to the stock. Of the two, the boxlock lends itself much more readily to mass production, and as a result, there have been more boxlock doubles produced than sidelock, and their cost is significantly less.
|William Evans Boxlock Double Rifle. Note difference in receiver shape.
Lower cost is a good thing, because, as John "Pondoro" Taylor, the famous British elephant hunter pointed out in his seminal work African Rifles & Cartridges, doubles are "infernally" expensive. Their great cost – and, thus, their position as status symbols in the hands of peers and the wealthy – was entirely due to the extraordinary amount of labor that went into their production. Sir Richard didn't simply promenade into Holland & Holland's premises in Mayfair, pick up a nice looking double and say "See, here, my good man, please have this wrapped and sent to Warfelnutterstone Manor, along with the bill. Thanks ever so." Not on a bet. Buying a double was much more like being fitted for a custom suit.
|Holland & Holland "Try Guns" for the Fitting Process
Having made up his mind that a new double was called for, Sir Richard would make an appointment with Holland & Holland or Rigby, and call at the specified time. He would be interviewed by a gunmaker, who would inquire as to what sort of game Sir Richard expected to be taking with this rifle, where he anticipated using the rifle, and at what distances. Based on this, the gunmaker would recommend a small number of cartridges, loads and bullet types. Between the gunmaker and Sir Richard, a single load would be selected. This process was critical when buying a double as the rifle would be made for – and permanently regulated to – a single cartridge/projectile combination. Sir Richard would then be measured. The size of his hands, the breadth of his shoulders, the length of his arms – all of these dimensions were of critical importance. For a hunting piece in general, and a large bore, heavily recoiling rifle in particular, a proper fit meant the difference between a rifle that could quickly, comfortably and accurately be brought to bear, and one that was clunky, uncomfortable and unpleasant to shoot. The dimensions would then be given to a master stockmaker, who would, one shaving at a time, convert a block of English walnut into an exquisite and perfectly proportioned gunstock that fit Sir Richard perfectly.
The most expensive part of making Sir Richard's double would be regulating the barrels. On first blush this seems like a simple affair – they're just two parallel tubes, and all that's needed is to braze them together, right? Nothing could be further from the truth. The barrels aren't parallel. They are assembled so that shots from either will converge at a fixed distance from the muzzle. To achieve this, the barrels are taken to the range, and assembled with wire and clamps. Each is fired in turn, by an experienced shooter, and subtle, almost imperceptible adjustments are made to the clamping mechanisms. When the regulation process is complete – and it can take many hours or days – both barrels are shooting to the desired point of impact with the desired load. At this point, they are soldered to the central rib.
Finally, the rifle is exquisitely finished, inside and out. Interior finishing is intended to make sure that the piece is utterly reliable in almost any condition. External finishes may range from simple rust bluing to highly engraved and inlaid metalwork. When it is complete, Sir Richard will have a one of a kind piece made just for him. And he will have paid for it. To give an idea of cost, a new (2012) sidelock double rifle from Holland and Holland will run between $100,000.00 and $150,000.00 (yes, the commas and decimal marks are in the right place). A comparatively inexpensive boxlock double can run anywhere from $45,000.00 to $100,000.00.
"Magazine-rifle" referred to a bolt action repeating rifle with an internal magazine holding anywhere from two to four cartridges. Almost universally these rifles are based on the Mauser 98 action. The Mauser 98 dates from 1898, and has yet to be improved upon when it comes to bolt action rifles. It was to form the basis of the rifles used by both Germany and the United States in both world wars as well as a very large percentage of contemporary hunting rifles found in the United States. Mauser rifles and actions were initially brought to England by Mauser-Werke's agent in London, the John Rigby & Co. Rigby took advantage of the Mauser's great strength and multiple shot capability by
|John Rigby & Co. African Express Rifle, .416 Rigby
introducing a proprietary big game cartridge, the .416 Rigby, designed expressly for use in a custom Mauser bolt action rifle. Other companies followed suit. Gibbs came out with the .505 Gibbs, Jeffery with the .404 and .505 Jeffery, Westley Richards with the .425 and Holland and Holland with the legendary .375 H&H Magnum. The Mauser action was more than amply strong to handle all of these huge cartridges as well as their more conventional (and smaller) brethren. Importantly, a Mauser actioned magazine rifle could be had at a significantly lower cost than a custom (or even a used) double. For cost comparison, the suggested 2012 retail price for a factory Mauser in a magnum cartridge such as .505 Jeffery or .375 H&H is between $3,000.00 and $4,000.00. A custom rifle may cost between two and three times that much – expensive, to be sure, but far less than a double.
|Mauser-Werke, Oberndorf am Neckar, 1910
A large part of the cost savings comes from economies of scale. During the first part of the 20th century, factories in Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Czechoslovakia (to name a few) were churning out Mauser actions as fast as they could. While these were primarily intended for military markets, the large production volume helped keep costs low. The other factor contributing to the Mauser's low cost was the fact that it had a single barrel, thus obviating the need for the huge skilled labor costs associated with barrel regulation. This didn't mean that a magazine rifle was cheaply or poorly made. The fitting of a custom stock was largely the same. Additionally, the rifle's magazine box, which was absolutely critical for reliable feeding, was generally hand fitted for the specific cartridge. At Sir Richard's request, his magazine rifle could be as plain or ornate as he desired. Naturally, the more ornate the embellishments, the more expensive the rifle.
All of this brings us back to the original question: With what are we going to arm our plucky British hero? Double or magazine rifle? Sidelock or boxlock? The short answer is "with whatever you like." Sir Richard wouldn't be poorly, or historically incorrectly armed on his coffee plantation in Kenya with a Rigby magazine rifle in .416 Rigby, on a tiger hunt in India with a boxlock double in .450 Nitro Express or standing on the moor, in the middle of the night, alert and prepared with his .577 Nitro Express Holland and Holland sidelock double at the ready. It all depends on how wealthy and how much of a "sportsman" you want your character to be.


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Square Enix's CoreOnline makes console games 'free' online
Developer Square Enix has launched a service allowing gamers to play high definition full console-quality titles through their web browser.
CoreOnline streams games from the firm's back catalogue for free, with users encouraged to watch advertising in order to "earn" more playing time.
Titles that are on offer include Hitman and, soon, Tomb Raider.
The launch followed news that OnLive, another streaming service, was struggling.
The company was forced to sell its assets to a venture capital firm - a controversial move which wiped out investors' stakes and staff's share rights.
OnLive's founder, Steve Perlman, later resigned.
Another service, Gaikai, offers demos of high-end titles, and was recently acquired by Sony.
Tomb Raider
Square Enix is currently offering streaming of titles which have already been available on consoles for a considerable amount of time.
While OnLive operated by using a monthly subscription charge, CoreOnline will instead allow gamers to play the game for free for a limited time.
"Square Enix is at the forefront of experimentation of new business and services models in the game industry," said Yoichi Wada, Square Enix's chief executive.
"Through our CoreOnline technology service, users can access our content easily through the browser."
Video advertisements can be watched in order to gather more minutes to continue playing. Alternatively, gamers can pay a fee to unlock segments of the game.
At launch, the service only offered two titles - Hitman: Blood Money, which was first released on consoles in 2006, and Mini Ninjas, which hit shelves in 2009.
Refreshed titles
Dan Pearson, deputy European editor for GamesIndustry.biz, said the idea was a shrewd method of re-energising the firm's strong back catalogue.
"I'd be very surprised if we saw any of their new games debuted here, or even put up a year after their release," he told the BBC.
"It's an alternative way of consuming their back catalogue.
"If anyone's buying a two to three-year-old game, they're going to be buying it second hand - so the publisher doesn't see any of that money."
Mr Pearson added that a "happy side benefit" of the service would be to help curb piracy - a huge and growing issue in gaming, particularly on the PC platform.
Another publisher, Ubisoft, has said its own "internal estimate" suggested PC piracy rates were at between 93-95%. Like Square Enix, Ubisoft is experimenting with so-called free-2-play, or F2P, online models.
However, these titles are games specially created, or at least adapted, for online play - such as id Software's QuakeLive product.
Square Enix's moves in this area will be followed with some interest, Gameindustry.biz's Mr Pearson said.
"I think a lot of other publishers will have a close eye on this.
"Once someone has set this kind of precedent, there's no reason why others won't follow suit."


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The Best Free Software of 2012
- The Best Free Software of 2012
- Anti-Malware & App Launchers
- Archivers & Audio
- Backup/Sync
- Bittorrent & Blogging/Journal
- Browsers, Calendar/PIM & Clipboard
- Communication/ Conferencing & Disk Utilities
- Displays/Desktops
- Ebooks, E-mail/ Collaboration & File Transfer
- File Viewers/Converters
- Finance & Fun/Home
- Graphics
- Instant Messaging & Media Managers
- Media Servers, Mindmaps & Networking
- Office
- Operating Systems & PDFs
- Printing, Remote Access, & RSS Newsreaders
- Search, Security/Encryption, & Social Networks
- System Utilities
- Uninstallers & Video
- Virtualization, VPN, & Web Editors
86. Calibre
Windows | Mac | Linux
If you've got a lot of ebook files, Calibre is the tool you need to organize them. It also converts files into different formats, so you can use ebooks on many different devices, which it will also sync with. Check the list of supported devices.
87. ComicRack
A Windows-only digital comic reader, ComicRack will read scanned images stored in ZIP, RAR, and 7z archives, keep comics in collections you can access over the home network on other PCs, and even export them to read on other devices.
88. Kindle
Windows | Mac | Web | Mobile
If you own a Kindle ebook reader (or even if you don't!) you can still read Kindle books anywhere. There are desktop apps for Windows and Mac, the Cloud Reader for reading in your browser, and lots of mobile options. Buy once, read everywhere.
Read PCMag's news about Kindle Cloud Reader.
89. Nook
Windows | Mac | Mobile
Barnes & Noble also knows that selling an ebook for just one reader won't fly. You can download apps for the major OSes to read books on almost any computer or smartphone. Plus, go shopping for more in the B&N store.
90. eM Client
The free version of this fast email client only works with two email accounts and lacks VIP support; otherwise, it's a feature-laden client that works with any kind of email, including webmail like Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail, complete with contact imports, calendar, and instant messaging.
91. Evolution
Windows | Linux
Evolution, long the darling of Linux distros everywhere, is also available on Windows. It's enough of an Outlook clone that it also will work with Exchange servers to access corporate mail.
92. MailStore Home
Windows | Portable
MailStore isn't an email client for sending and receiving; it's a backup tool for storing copies of all the messages from your POP, IMAP, and WebMail accounts, so you never lose another message.
93. SpiceBird
Windows | Linux
Mozilla Thunderbird is the basis for this app that integrates email, IMs, tasks, calendars, and Google Gadgets.
94. Thunderbird
Windows | Mac | Linux | Mobile | Portable
Mozilla's email client extraordinaire has jumped to version 10, and it still has all the features that made it great: account setup wizards, hundreds of add-ons, a tabbed interface, great search, junk mail and phishing tools, and more. Migration from previous versions is a breeze and worth it.
95. Zimbra Desktop
Windows | Mac | Linux
Zimbra Desktop makes it easy to get offline access to your online accounts from Zimbra, Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, even Facebook, be it emails, calendar events, contacts, or stored documents.
96. droplr
Windows | Mac | Mobile | Web
Drop a file on droplr and you get a link that makes it easy to share a file (25MB or smaller with a free account). There are apps for desktop OSes and iPhone, or just drop it on the website. Register to keep files active or they're deleted after seven days.
97. FileZilla
Windows | Mac | Linux | Portable
Open-source FileZilla began life as a computer science class project and is now a premiere FTP client for uploading and downloading from the Internet. There's a free server version available, too.
98. FluffyApp
Install the FluffyApp app and drag files to the app icon in the system tray. When you do that, lo and behold, FluffyApp uploads the file instantly for you to the CloudApp service and gives you a URL to share, so you can send it out to whomever you want.
99. FTP Rush
Windows | Portable
If you're uploading or downloading files via FTP, SFTP, TFTP, or FXP server to server, you want to grab FTP Rush. It's small, fast, and portable (on a USB drive), and has a fully customizable drag-and-drop interface.
100. TeraCopy
The default progress bar Windows provides when copying files isn't enough for a power user. TeraCopy gives you a better look at progress, and it promises to speed up transfers over a network, skipping bad files and resuming after you pause a transfer in progress. It's even ready for Windows 8.
>>Next : File Viewers/Converters


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What's the best spot along Padre Faura Street in Manila? I bet you would not pick what I have in mind.
The best spot occupies only around 3 sq. m. with no signboards or anything to identify it as a commercial establishment.
It's a mobile book cum DVD store — the most mobile store there is. The store is manned by at least 2 guys. Their merchandise are spread on cheap rugs and boxes. But their book and dvd collection is far from cheap. It's amazing! Those guys really know well their merchandise and their market. They have a stash of books whose authors include Harper Lee, Ernest Hemingway, Og Mandino, Dante, Ayn Rand and classic DVDs ranging from Woodstock concerts to Academy Award-winning movies.
The prices are reasonable and you may give those guys your wish list of book and DVD titles. Give them a few days and, voila!
I bought from them, for starters, Shōgun by James Clavell and To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
I've searched everywhere but it's only at Padre Faura where I found those books.


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- First time readers – are you keeping up okay? Is everything fairly easy to follow so far, or are there things that need clarifying?
- Also for first time readers – what could be keeping Gandalf? Any ideas or thoughts on why he hasn't shown up again yet?
- Re-readers – Frodo's dream in Crickhollow. I think the last time I read this, I was high on Silmarillion and had convinced myself that he was talking about Elwing's tower lighthouse instead of Tower Hills. Now I can't remember why I was so sure. Thoughts?
- Old Man Willow – related to Ents, Huorns or neither? Why?
- Um, did anyone else [fistpump] when they read this? : "We are horribly afraid, but we are coming with you." Man, these little hobbits. I get emotional every time. Am I the only one?
|I bought this cheap copy when I was a poor
college student. Please don't hate.


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NC Snow 2010
The Princess & The Dragon
We were bored one weekend and I decided to take my kids on a ride through the entire production process. They wrote the script themselves. We shot the footage on a blue wall in their bedroom, recorded a voice over and added special effects. They got to see the entire production process on a small scale. It was a lot of fun… it looks like there might be a sequel. Enjoy!
School's Out!
It is officially Summer in our world. We definitely didn't think we'd still be living here by now, but we're having fun in the meantime.
Here are some pictures of from Olivia's Field Day.
We sure are going to miss all of the sweet friends she made this year.
She'll be gone before we know it. Trying not to blink until then.
Way to go, Kindergarten Grad!
Waiting. . . .
We are pretty consumed by our circumstances right now, so we haven't thought much of blogging.
We are planning on moving to Raleigh as soon as this house sells (or burns down, whatever).
Josh is still working at the church (until the 15th) by day and burning the midnight oil with all of his contract work.
I'm staying one step behind the kids to keep the house "ready to show" and researching the schools in Wake County to see where we want to live. (which changes everyday as do the school districts, apparently)
In the meantime, here's what we've been up to:
Fun in the snow at Mimi's house.
Charlotte turned. . .
Got some presents.
Olivia was slightly less than amused.
Banana Splits for the Birthday breakfast.
Had a party with our friends.
Creighton reached cake Nirvana.
And then, Olivia's school had a Family Dance.
We were instructed not to dance.
(I tried anyway)
Group hug with the besties.
Horsing around with Dad.
and an inflatable sea serpent.
Successful first quarter at Peters Inc.
I'll post all of the Easter pics soon. Off to enjoy all the yellow-coated goodness outside in the sun.
Some things never change. . . . .
Away In A Manger
The girls performed "Away In A Manger" at the Christmas Eve service at Whitley Memorial United Methodist Church, with their Poppy. Honestly I was worried during the rehearsal the day before, since they didn't know the lyrics… but they are true professionals and they turned it on the night of the service. They were awesome!


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A Headbangers JourneyReviewing: Warner Home Video Dvd | Rating:
I'm a huge metal fan and have been since I was about 10. I'm also a fan of documentaries. Recently on VH1 there was a Metal Documentary called "Metal: A Headbangers Journey" that I sat through and realized...the two together...equals one amazing movie.
Sam Dunn is a 30 year old anthropologist who has been a big fan of metal ever since he was a kid. Throughout his life, he's had to defend why he loves his music so much and has always wondered why it's been stereotyped and dismissed as not music for so many years. So he sets out to make a documentary on metal, metal fans, musicians...everything. This is the simple story behind this movie.
Sam Dunn does his research thoroughly and covers it from top to bottom. Starting with metals first big names such as Sabbath and Zepplin, moving to today's big metal acts such as Slipknot, Lamb of God, and Shadows Fall. Through the whole movie, Sam interviews some of the biggest names in the metal industry, such as the likes of Alice Cooper, Tony Iommi, Ronnie James Dio, Dee Snider...just to name a few. He really present his information well and credible. I mean how much more credible can you get than straight from the horses mouth?
The movie is extremely informative. You'll learn lots of stuff about bands you didn't know, and even bands you'd never heard of that were the inspiration for the big acts today. Also, Sam goes into depth of explaining where each genre came from and branched from, and even charts out all of it so you can track it. If you buy the DVD, on the second disk, you can view the whole chart and study it for yourself.
There is, however, a weak point to all the information, and that comes in the Norwegian Death Metal scene. Sam Dunn shows Norway in the light that it's notorious for, Satan worshipping, church burning, evil people. It seems the whole chapter on Norway's metal scene was the convince you these guys are insane and will kill you. Sam received a lot of flak for this and went back to Norway to do more research on the Death Metal scene there, creating a whole mini-documentary for people to watch, which is on the second disk of the DVD. Even after he does his research again, it still comes out as everyone in Norway hates God, and will kill you. Though it appears to be true, I just think the view and opinions of the Norwegian people were not really shown in order to scare you.
Lastly, though the documentary is kind of on the long side( an hour and 36 minutes), but, it feels like its not long enough when you think of all the information he would have to cover. He leaves out a lot of the genre's and a lot of the things going on today in the Metal scene that is just as important as the past. But, you'd have to make this thing a mini series to cover everything. And as much as I'd love that, he didn't do it, so this feels like a short documentary because a lot was left out.
Overall, this documentary is a must watch for any metal fans or music historians. It's also a good watch for those who denounce metal as music and bad mouth it all the time. Sam Dunn has really done his research, and it shines wonderfully in this awesome movie.


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8 Hilarious Protests One Million Moms Launched This Year
One Million Moms, the American Family Association project of literally hundreds of moms, is infamous for its unintentionally hilarious morality protests over TV shows, advertisement campaigns and, in particular, entertainment shows supporting LGBT rights. Here are just eight protests that the Moms launched this year that made us chuckle.
1. Glee "Mocks" Christianity by Being Glee
While it may be the season to be jolly, the Moms certainly aren't thrilled with Glee and its "Never Aired Christmas" episode. The Moms write in a breathless missive:
The show featured the transgender student, Unique, portraying the Virgin Mary in their high school's nativity scene and acts out giving birth to the baby Jesus. The doll representing Jesus wore a sequin diaper and was thrown from singer to singer while they sang "Love Child, Never Meant to be." Baby Jesus is tossed around like a rag doll and shown no respect.
In another scene, a bisexual "Sexy Santa," gets two female characters and the show's gay male character drunk before robbing them blind – all this after making out with and tying the male character up in bed.
Transphobia, check. Biphobia, check. Also, complete lack of a sense of humor? Definitely, check.
2. Macy's too "Kinky" for Holiday Parade
Macy's recently put on a fantastic Thanksgiving Day parade float, featuring performers from the hit Broadway production and LGBT-affirming "Kinky Boots." Social conservatives began hyperventilating, and the Moms were no different.
I'll let the Moms tell you what they found so disagreeable:
"Raise You Up" was not suitable for families for many reasons. The inappropriate act starred Kinky Boots, referencing a musical written to celebrate the differences in each other and included: (all) the men and women in thigh-high boots [mostly red pleather while others were sparkly "hooker" boots], a man in boxer shorts and men in burlesque and Moulin rouge costumes prancing around expressing themselves, RuPaul (famous drag queen) along with several men dressed in drag, transgender and transvestites, singing and dancing as an expression of "diversity" and honoring whatever sexuality you want.
So, just to summarize, expressing yourself is forbidden.
This protest is worth including, not just for the hysteria evidenced above, but the way the makers of the show answered this pearl clutching: the performers all went to Macy's a few days later and shopped while wearing their thigh-high boots.
Here's the performance everyone was talking about this year:
3. Dracula is Dracula, so Protest!
The Moms were furious at NBC this year for many reasons. In particular, they showed their fangs for NBCs "Dracula" which apparently was just too, well, Dracula-like for them to stomach:
Warning! NBC's "Dracula" season premiere is set to air this Friday, October 25 at 10:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. CT with a TV-14 rating. The gory series will air on weekends when children and teens potentially stay up later. As another program to warp the minds of our youth, it will likely give children nightmares.
Why children would be watching it at 10:00 pm is anyone's guess. Anyway, as proof that the Moms would go on a broad banning crusade if they could, here's what they object to about the show:
"Previews of this program also included: terrifying screams, a rotted corpse, death, murder, a woman burned alive while tied to a stake, spirits, satanic and occult elements, homosexual content, tons of blood (mostly on Dracula's face and victim's necks) and other gore, including decapitated heads in boxes and pools of blood."
My advice: Moms, don't ever pick up an Anne Rice novel!
4. Ahhh! Two Moms on a Kid's Show. The Horror.
We already know the Moms don't like gay people. They've been known to protest homosexual superheroes, advertisements featuring gay people, and even national treasure Ellen Degeneres.
When it was announced that the last series of the show "Good Luck Charlie," a Disney Channel production aimed at older children, would broadcast an episode featuring a child with two moms, the Moms reacted with typical venom:
Just because something may be legal or because some are choosing a lifestyle doesn't make it morally correct. Disney should stick to entertaining instead of pushing an agenda. Disney decided to be politically correct versus providing family-friendly programming. Disney has a choice whether to produce a program with certain fictional characters; the storyline could be re-written or changed. Conservative families need to urge Disney to exclude confusing topics that children are far too young to comprehend.
Apparently, love is confusing to children.
5. Hide the Joe! Hide the Joe!
It really must have been a slow week at Mom HQ when they decided to protest this one. Kmart, wanting to flog us some new pants, recently came out with a cheeky take on Jingle Bells entitled "Show Us Your Joe."
Here it is:
And here's what the Moms had to say:
The title of the current ad is "Show Your Joe," and Kmart includes sexual content during a Christmas hand bell choir performance. The commercial focuses on several men wearing Joe Boxer underwear thrusting in a sexualized way to the tune of Jingle Bells. They start gyrating and shaking themselves instead of the hand bells, intending to make their "bells" ring in song – which is highly inappropriate.
If that was "thrusting in a sexualized way," I think the Moms have been going wrong somewhere.
Next Page: Bestiality, the Beast and Nudity!
6. Remember When We all Thought Bestiality was OK Because of Geico?
Another series of ads that the Moms want to shield us from includes those featuring Maxwell the Geico pig. In previous installments, Maxwell has been pulled over by police and even went on a date.
The ad to cause a particular stir is one where Maxwell's date suggests they pass the time waiting for a tow truck in a slightly suggestive way. She is, as the Moms note, apparently "turned on" by the pig:
I don't know about you, but I didn't immediately think of bestiality. I was more impressed by the dexterity of the pig's trotters. Nevertheless, the Moms were not happy :
Geico has succeeded in offending its customers with this inappropriate advertisement. One Million Moms has received numerous complaints because Geico's new commercial plays with the idea of bestiality. Parents find this type of advertising repulsive and unnecessary. Airing a commercial with an animal in it will surely grab children's attention, but this is a horrible commercial for families to see. Geico does not have our children's best interest in mind.
Given how chaste the Geico pig behaves in this ad, I'd think the Moms would be more likely to approve of it as an example of their abstinence-only beliefs. That or protest it because the pig is talking. That's obviously witchcraft.
7. NBC Airs the Number of the Beast!
As I said earlier, the Moms aren't thrilled with NBC — especially when NBC is airing a show like "666: Park Avenue." Said the Moms:
To paraphrase the description of the program given on ABC's website: The show is about a young couple who find what they think to be an amazing apartment when in fact it is haunted. Those who live in the building seduce others to get what they need and want. But how far will they go to get what they want? The finest living in the city comes at a cost.
The evil owner of the apartment building in the show portrays characteristics of the devil himself. Previews include terrifying screams, death, spirits, satanic symbols, mark of the devil, and souls bought for a price.
A landlord who is Satan himself. Are we sure this isn't a documentary?
8. Afraid of the Naked
We all know that the Moms aren't too keen seeing even an inch of skin, so imagine how they felt about the Discovery Channel's reality TV program "Naked and Afraid."
Here's the trailer for the show. If you are offended by blurry nudity, then you shouldn't watch:
In July of this year, the Moms began their long running protest against the show in typical anxiety-ridden style. While there might be a number of reasons to be down on this show, comparing it to "soft-porn" wasn't on my list:
The two survivalists are n*ked, not only to make it more difficult to stay warm when it rains, but also to make them as uncomfortable, vulnerable and miserable as possible while they survive in the jungle for 21 days. The two humans selected, one male and one female, are to work as a team but they have never met before in their lives. This is awkward for them and for viewers. A couple of episodes have aired which show them uncovered, blurring out frontal body parts but never blurring out their backsides. One episode showed the female making clothes for them to cover the front on the second and third day and continuously replacing these items after they wear out. These articles of clothing made from leaves and vines do not cover completely because the network has to continue to blur out body parts that are revealed from time to time.
Even though the frontal body parts are blurred out, having so much skin showing is considered soft p*rn.
Sometimes, I think these TV types are just trying to upset the M*ms — and long may it continue.
So thank you One Million Moms for helping us stay on the straight and narrow and providing us with entertainment the whole year through.
Here's to an outrageous 2014 that will provide you with plenty of poorly thought out complaints.
Photo credit: Thinkstock.


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