text:
Rahasia and the Demon Bottle
I wrote this in college for a short story writing class that I took in the evenings. One of the other students opined that she didn't think men were very good at writing female characters, so I naturally set out to see if that were true with me. You can decide for yourself how good a job I did. I haven't changed anything since I wrote it, way back in 1992, and looking back now I see that this like a children's story. Oh well.
(Sadly, the instructor of that course, Denise Gess, passed away at the untimely age of 57, but I'll never forget how much I enjoyed the course she taught.)
(Sadly, the instructor of that course, Denise Gess, passed away at the untimely age of 57, but I'll never forget how much I enjoyed the course she taught.)
Rahasia and the Demon Bottle
Rahasia was meant for greatness. Her mother, father, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins and grandparents all thought so, and why shouldn't they? They were all accomplished wizards, every one, and they naturally expected the youngest member of the clan to carry on the glorious tradition of the Goomdomberous family. The only problem was that she was not very good at magic; in fact, she was terrible. Her fireballs were decidedly green and only lukewarm; her illusions, tired and thin-looking; and the rabbits she produced from her hat, dead.
Her instructors (really her aunts, uncles, and older cousins) had all tried to improve her disappointing conjurations to no avail. They did not understand that she was bored with the wonders of teleportation, and that the arcane mysteries of turning lead into gold only put her to sleep. In fact, the only magic she excelled at was shapechanging. Rahasia could transform herself, with a speed and accuracy her family could only admire, into dogs, cats, birds, and even small insects. But there her magical proficiency ended, and her siblings shunned her as a pariah, except for her brother Sethan, who was all too attentive to her shortcomings. He made a point of upstaging her at every opportunity, as if the issue of who was the better spell-caster was really in doubt. Maddeningly enough, he was in a way a better shapeshifter than she, for he could become the very largest of animals, a trick that still eluded Rahasia. Once, when irritated by her quick transformation into a wolf (speed-changing was something Sethan had still to perfect), he had changed himself into an elephant and chased her all around the backyard. Rahasia could not believe such a large animal could move so quickly, and only her split-second shapechange into a sparrow had saved her from being squashed. The trumpeting laughter that had mocked her as she fluttered to safety seemed to haunt her through the frustrating days and weeks of fruitless lessons she endured.
The truth was that she did not want to be a wizard at all, but she reluctant to disappoint her relatives by abandoning the family vocation. Still, in her secret heart she dreamed of becoming a witch, a wild woman of the wilderness, who ran in animal form and practiced woodland magic, and who spoke with animals as if they were tea-companions (although she wasn't sure if witches took tea at all). Unbeknownst to her family, Rahasia had already exchanged a word or two with the local fauna (the exchange was limited mainly to concerns of food or weather), and had begun the brewing of several herbal potions, but she kept her newfound abilities a closely-guarded secret. Wizards of all types scorned witches as untutored rubes, and Rahasia honestly did not know what her family would do if they discovered a budding witch right in their midst. She had heard stories of how her great-grandfather had turned one of his own sons into a bird just for speaking with a witch, and had left him in that form for six months. She wasn't sure that this was true, but since she had little desire to join her mother's prize parakeets in the arboretum, she kept her silence.
Her days passed slowly, and her frustrations rose to a fevered pitch, until she knew that she would have to do something to change her lot or else go mad. Perhaps if she could give her family a demonstration of just how hopeless a wizard she really was they would cast her out, leaving her alone but untransformed - and free to make her own way. With this in mind, she crept into her father's study, where thick tomes sat stolidly upon shelves that groaned from their burden of knowledge. She took no particular care of the watch-imp that guarded the area, as the poor thing had lately become alcoholic and spent most of its time sprawled in a boneless, drunken heap on the window-sill (her father was aware of the imp's disability, she knew, but since good watch-imps were costly to conjure, he tolerated its excesses). Rahasia was an intelligent girl, and after a few hours of study she had found what she needed, more in fact than she had hoped. Filching a quill and a piece of parchment from her father's desk, she copied down the information she needed and crept out of the musty room, leaving the imp to its spirits-induced slumber. The next day, with a bag of stolen food slung over her arm, she set out at dawn from her family's luxurious estate for the legendary ruins of El-Eventir.
A week later, after an arduous but uneventful journey (hastened by shapechanges into various fast-flying birds), she had set foot upon the hill on which stood the remnants of the ancient
, which brooded
sternly over the surrounding countryside. Clambering carefully over a ridge,
she wiped a hank of sweaty red hair from her brown and paused for a moment to
collect herself. El-Eventir was a place of legend, a mighty tower of sorcery
where great wizards of yore had once dwelt and made magics of incredible
potency. Their time had passed centuries ago, yet it was said that the
sorcerers' spirits still dwelt in the empty shell of their stronghold, keeping
watch upon their ancient home. According to the books in her father's study,
any wizard who dared tread upon the sacred ground would be put to a magical
test by these spirits, to determine if his magical powers were worthy. Those
who failed the test were marked with glyphs that proclaimed them as failures
and frauds possessed of no true magical talents. Rahasia hoped that the book
was correct, for the wizards of El-Eventir might be her only hope of finally
convincing her family that magic was not her lot. She would surely fail any
magical test to which she was put, and would wear the onus of defeat with
pride. tower
of El-Eventir
With a glance down at her travel-stained garb (the dust-stained tunic and breeches hung loosely on her narrow, wispy frame), she resumed her climb, and in due course she came to the broken stone arch that served as gateway to the ruins. Silence lay over the hill-top like a shroud, and nothing moved or breathed in the shattered mess of stone that was once a home of magicians. She found herself wondering if anyone else in her family had ever been to this grim place. Taking a deep breath, she passed under the arch and made her way through the rubble, stepping carefully around pitfalls and crevices that scarred the area and clambering over piles of stones that lay across her path.
She came to what she guessed was the center of the ruins and stopped there, looking around and waiting for something mystical to occur. The wind had picked up a bit, and it now whistled emptily over broken rock and rustled through weeds that had grimly fought their way up between shattered flagstones. After a few silent minutes, she began to wonder what was taking the spirits so long. After a half-hour she was quite annoyed that the undead guardians of the place had not appeared to decry her as outcast (the thought that they might do far worse than that had not entered her mind). It was not as if they had anything better to do, she mused, irritably kicking at a loose stone. What else did any ghost have to do, other than to wreak havoc on helps mortals?
An hour passed, and she settled herself on a huge, flat stone, eating what was left of her stolen supplies and cursing her lot. It was just her luck that the spirits that guarded El-Eventir were foolish enough to find her acceptable, and without a test even! Perhaps new spirits were needed. After all, such an important place deserved to be haunted only by the most dedicated and qualified of undead, not any old ghost. She finished her makeshift meal and was just getting to her feet when she spied a flash of metal from under a nearby rock. Could this be an otherwordly sign? She hurried over to check, getting down on hands and knees to reach under the stone, but came out with only a old bottle. It was a fine piece of work to be sure, fashioned of some strange reddish metal and intricately engraved, but hardly remarkable in terms of supernatural phenomena. She decided then and there that she would endeavor to change to rules governing ghosts, if ever she became one. She sighed, and with nothing better to do, pulled out the stopper, unmindful of the danger that might be involved.
Glowing green mist issued from the bottle's narrow opening, and Rahasia gasped and hastened to replace the cap. But the flow was too strong to allow her to position the stopper, and the smoke continued to stream forth. She dropped the bottle and scurried behind a nearby chunk of stone, berating her own foolishness. As a child of wizards, she knew better than to fool around with unknown artifacts found in magical areas, but she had been so bored and disappointed that she acted without thought. She briefly considered casting a protective spell, but wisely decided that her own magical ineptitude might endanger her more than whatever she had foolishly unleashed from the bottle.
The glowing mist coalesced into a hideous green face, complete with fangs, horns, small red eyes and a large, bulbous nose. It turned its fearsome gaze upon her and spoke with a voice like stones dragged through a gravel pit. "Look upon me, yon tasty morsel, for here is thy doom!" it boomed. She shivered in terror, wishing that she had never come here and tempted the spirits.
"Come forward, " the huge face commanded. "Come forward where I can, er, canst get a better look at thou. Thee. Thou." She shook her head, unwilling to move even if she could have unlocked her shaking knees to take a step. "Be not afraid, scrumptious. I will not devour thine pitiful bones until thou has...hast duly and rightfully...uh...losteth my challenge."
Rahasia stopped shaking for a moment as its words sank home. "Challenge?" she squeaked, barely able to keep her voice steady.
"Indeed. I must needs...no,wait...I am duly dothly...oh, damn!" The face grimaced gigantically. "Look, sweets, let's cut to the chase. I have to defeat you in a fair contest before I can eat your delightful flesh and steal your soul. Now come out where I can see you, dammit. My eyesight hasn't gotten any better over the millennia, you know."
She emerged from behind the rock, keeping what she hoped what a safe distance from the huge, disembodied head. It seemed large enough to swallow her with one gulp, although she saw no visible stomach in which she would be digested. "Fair contest?" she ventured. "But what if I win?" She jumped back as the creature howled laughter that shook the entire hilltop.
"Not a chance!" the creature chortled, its gross nose wrinkling with mirth. "But, in the occasion that you do, which is as likely as my seeing two hundred again, I must serve you until the end of your insect existence."
She shook her head in confusion, scarcely able to believe what she was hearing. "Well," she replied, clearing her throat nervously. "Why don't we make it easy on both of us? I'll just leave now, quietly, and you won't have to risk becoming my life slave. Deal?"
"Not a chance, luscious," the head replied, grinning wickedly. "If you try to leave without taking the challenge, I am authorized to eat you directly."
She stomped her foot angrily. "That's not fair! I had no idea what I was getting into when I opened that bottle."
Again the demon smirked. "When is life fair, my juicy? Now, select a mode of combat, while my appetite builds to full force."
"Mode of combat?"
"Oh, you know, weaponcraft, riddles, games of chance," the creature remarked casually. "That sort of thing."
Rahasia pondered, but her mind seemed to have to turned to clay; she had never been good at reacting under pressure. "Suggest something," she said finally.
"I am not permitted to make suggestions," it shot back, grinning once more.
"Why not?"
"Because that's the way it works, sweets."
"Says who?" she demanded, anger momentarily overcoming her fear. "What, does someone set the rules even for such a mighty demon-creature?"
"I don't want to talk about it!" the demon thundered, but Rahasia could sense its seething frustration. She reflected that the sorcerers of El-Eventir had been powerful indeed, to have subjugated such a potent creature. The demon interrupted her musing, adding slyly, "You have thirty seconds to decide, or else forfeit the game."
She started in fear. There was a time limit! This got worse by the minute. She started to protest, but held her tongue in the face of the demon's smug grin. She racked her mind desperately, searching for some talent or interest she might possess that the demon would not. All of her skills and experience seemed so pedestrian when faced with a creature of such power!
"Time's up, toots!" it exclaimed joyfully.
"Wizardry," she cried at the same time. "We will fight with wizardry."
The demon smiled. "Well now, there's an idea," it rasped, licking green lips thoughtfully. "I have not exercised my mind-boggling abilities in some decades; I am due for a little workout. Besides, I love the taste of wizards." Rahasia's heart sank. How could she ever hope to defeat a being of such extraordinary power, when she could not even prevail over her obnoxious brother?
"To the death?" she asked weakly, overwhelmed by the hopelessness of her situation.
The demon sniffed disdainfully. "Hardly. I am of course immortal, so you cannot hope to harm me. You however, will die immediately upon my victory, which is as obvious and inevitable as my superiority."
"And your modesty," she muttered under her breath.
"Eh, what was that," it demanded. Evidently the demon's long stay in the bottle had done nothing to sharpen its hearing. "Uh, what I said was, you have a lot of honesty," she replied.
"Umm. Well, let's get on with this," the demon rumbled, seeming put out. "As a sign of my-" it giggled evilly "-good faith, I will let you have first shot."
"Thanks," she muttered, suppressing an urge to stick out her tongue. It was bad enough that the demon was evil without also having to contend with a warped and decidedly unfunny sense of humor! Nevertheless, she set herself, breathing deeply, and searched in her mind for the most destructive spell she had ever been taught. She thought of searing flames, rending bolts, and crackling blasts of lightning and thunder, filled her mind with thoughts of power and its uses. With a final breath, she chanted arcane words and pointed at the demon, unleashing a wave of magical energy that enveloped the horrid creature before her...and turned it blue.
The demon looked down at itself, which required it to bend its entire face weirdly. It laughed long and loudly, a horrible sound of crunching glass and falling rocks that made her clap her hands over her ears. "Nice try," it mocked her, at last getting the better of its mirth. "I only wish it had been red. It's a much better color for demon sorts of things, you know. I mean, you turn the wrong color, say, pink, and soon you can't strike fear into the hearts of mortals, other demons stop respecting you, your hideous visage no longer inspires terror-"
"Can we get on with this please?" Mercy, but the creature was smug!
"Of course, my dear," the demon said patronizingly. "I was just getting to it." It blinked bulging eyes, and in an instant, Rahasia found to her chagrin that she was entirely naked. The demon licked its lips again. "Hmmm, I have not seen a more buxom dainty in three hundred years." She looked down at her modest endowment, deciding that if the demon truly thought her buxom it had definitely spent too long in that bottle. It was toying with her, she realized, rightfully unthreatened by her puny powers, and getting a good laugh at her expense. Fuming, she began another spell.
A puff of black smoke exploded around the demon, and when it cleared, she saw to her dismay that the face was unaffected, except for a profusion of bright red flowers that sprouted from the demon's blue forehead. "Very interesting," it mused, flexing its face once more to examine Rahasia's latest blunder. The flowers waved gaily from the motion. "They should prove an acceptable seasoning to the main course." It concentrated, wrinkling its flowered brow, and she felt the unmistakable tingle of magic. She closed her eyes, expecting the worst.
She realized what had happened as soon as the felt the cold air hit the top of her head, and when she opened her eyes she was able to verify that she was indeed entirely hairless. Her patting hands told her that even her head was now smooth and hair-free as a baby's.
"I always de-hair my meals," the demon explained smugly. "But don't worry, sugarhips, you'll get one more chance to win." Again, the demon greedily licked its blue lips. "After that I really must get something to eat. The ravages of hunger, and so forth." With that, Rahasia knew that the demon's next spell would be for real, and that her next move would either seal her fate or save her life. In desperation, she thought back to all her years of training, tried to remember every incantation, conjuration, or evocation that might defeat this vile enemy. The problem was that all the enchantments she could hope to carry out could never harm such a powerful opponent, but the ones that might actually do the job were far beyond her limited capabilities. She needed something else, something not even the formidable demon could anticipate.
Suddenly, she remembered her great-great-grandfather Samanious, who had lived to the great age of nearly 150 years by brewing and drinking his own youth potions. In his last years, after the potions had stopped working, he had lost most of his magical capabilities, but his mind remained keen. Rahasia had spent many hours listening to him retell the stories of the many magical duels he had fought and won, sometimes against wizards of far greater power. "I won them all, my dear," he would tell her, gesturing with a bony finger that trembled with palsy. "I won them because I knew my own strengths, and I fooled my enemies into fighting by my rules. It's the mind that makes the wizard, not the magic." These words rang clearly in her mind, and in that moment she grasped her only chance at survival.
She faced the demon, her face set, and before it could taunt her, shifted fluidly into the shape of a wolf, sleek and black-furred. The demon frowned. "Now I'll have to devour you re-haired," it pouted, mouth tight with annoyance. "But if it must be so-" It glared suddenly, and sent out its killing spell, a dart of pure energy, red as fire and pulsing with enormous power. But Rahasia was now quick and agile, and with wolfish cunning she dodged the bolt easily, growling a challenge.
The demon's frown redoubled. "Hmmm, I don't usually miss, but then it has been a while. Very well, I'll play your game, and beat you at it." The demon shimmered and became a huge black bear, which swiped at the wolf-Rahasia with a deadly claw.
But Rahasia had made her move, and was already shifting to cat-form. The claw whistled harmlessly over her head, as she was now considerably smaller than the wolf. The bear reoriented and struck again, but now she was simply to small for it to get a clear shot. The shapechanged demon rumbled angrily, already beginning another shapechange. Soon it was a dog, large and fierce-looking, but still small enough to effectively pursue the cat, which it did. But even as it moved to attack, Rahasia shimmered and became a tiny mouse, which darted in and out between the dog's sturdy legs. It snapped at her, but once again she was too small for it to attack.
The demon now became a rat, although still considerably larger than the mouse, and it leapt at Rahasia with its sharp teeth bared for the kill. But Rahasia outmanuevered it again, changing into a mosquito and buzzing up and away from the rat's limited reach. The demon-rat squeaked in pure frustration, fed up with this nonsense, and it flashed into the form of a wasp, with a long, wicked stinger. The wasp zoomed to engage Rahasia, certain at last that it would finally make the kill despite the many distractions.
Rahasia saw the wasp heading straight for her, and in at that moment she accomplished her last shapechange for the day. She snapped back into human form, and before the demon could react, slapped her palms around it, squashing it flat and grinding it with a wringing motion of her hands. "I win!" she exclaimed in elation. Of course she knew that demon had not actually been killed, but she hoped that she had indeed defeated it according to the strange rules of this game. She released the crushed remains of the insect, and even as it fell it resumed demon form. The huge face was still blue, although significantly paler than before, and she saw fear and wonder in its eyes. It gazed at her with new respect.
"Damn," it said at last, with considerably less arrogance. "I never expected such cunning from a"
"From a creature of insect existence?" she finished sweetly. It glowered threateningly at her, but she feared it no longer. If the creature truly was bound by the rules of the game, as it seemed logical to assume (otherwise it would have eaten her without so much trouble), then it was indeed under her command, for the rest of her life. But how would she command it? Nearly anything was possible with the powerful entity at her side, and her mind whirled at thought of the power she now had at her fingertips. Now she could finally seek out the witches, and leave her life of botched wizardry behind her like an unpleasant dream. Her family would damned well respect her decision, too, or else she would have the whole lot of them transformed into turnips!
The thought of transformations turned her mind to more personal considerations. "Can you show me how to transform myself into a dragon?" she asked the demon, which was still eyeing her warily.
"No problem, assuming the necessary spells can be grasped by your laughably limited mind," it replied. After a moment, it added, grudgingly, "Mistress."
Rahasia ignored the small slight as her thoughts centered on her first and most thoroughly enjoyable command for the demon: she would have it show her how to transform herself into a dragon. First, because it was a feat no wizard in history had ever accomplished; second, because it was the only creature she knew of that was bigger - and faster - than an elephant.


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Download Gekijouban Date A Live | 劇場版 デート・ア・ライブ 万由里ジャッジメント
Type: Movie
Episodes: 1
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Aug 22, 2015
Producers: None found, add some
Licensors: None found, add some
Studios: Production IMS
Source: Light novel
Genres: Comedy, Romance, School
Duration: 1 hr. 12 min.
Rating: R – 17+ (violence & profanity)
The movie adaptation announced at the end of the final episode of Date A Live II.
Encoder: Rezeroth | Fansub: DxoP | Source: BD | Resolution: 1280×720, 8-bit video
Download Links
Use Kawaii Codec Pack for best quality and performance.
::+:: Complete Series ::+::
Thank you for using Anime2Enjoy to suffice your anime needs.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Megastar Chiraneevi's comeback film Khaidi No 150 is now being shot at a brisk pace. This is his film which is coming after a big gap of nearly 9 years! The movie is aiming for a release during the Sankranthi 2017 festival even as the movie's producer, Ram Charan is all set to target


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Update: The Senate today passed a 60-day extension of the National Flood Insurance Program. There's still a chance for a hiccup. The House must accept the Senate's 60-day extension bill before it goes on recess next week. Otherwise, the program will shut down.
The day before, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) struck a deal about the program, that among other things, allows a five-year NFIP reform bill to come to the Senate floor in June.
Reid noted the effect on the housing market when he announced the Senate would take up a five-year bill. "We can't have these short-term extensions that don't allow people to do what they need to do," he said. "Forty-thousand homes a day go through a process where they have to have flood insurance."
Last Thursday the U.S. House approved yet another short-term extension, through June 30, for the National Flood Insurance Program, which would be the 18th such extension since September 2008.
Unless the Senate approves the House-passed 30-day extension, the program will lapse, jeopardizing tens of thousands of home sales and some 21,000 U.S. communities that rely on it. Lenders are legally obligated to require that home buyers purchase flood insurance in FEMA-designated areas before they can get a federally backed mortgage.
How ironic that we're facing yet another lapse just as we approach the official start of hurricane season: June 1.
If you've experienced a flood or live in one of the 21,000 communities (every state has experienced flood disasters!), you likely know that the uncertainty surrounding the national flood insurance deadline is Congress's cruelest form of déjà vu.
When there's a lapse, there are housing market repercussions. In June 2010, 47,000 home sales were delayed or canceled, according to NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® survey data.
But it's not just the fact of a lapse itself that's unsettling — it's that there might be a lapse. There are already reports that some lenders are refusing to make some mortgages and that some policyholders are receiving notices alerting them to the potential coverage lapse. The continuing uncertainty of month-to-month extensions — will they extend? won't they? — disrupts the housing sector.
Our housing market and economy can't afford this drag as they move toward recovery. Congress should pass a five-year solution to protect home owners and restore faith in the housing market.
What's happening in Congress?
According to the Wall Street Journal, the House is now putting pressure on the Senate to pass the short-term extension so that both houses can also agree on support for a five-year reform bill — something they can revisit when they return from their recess.
At a time when, home sales are up and poised for recovery, thanks to low mortgage interest rates, home affordability, and a smaller share of foreclosure inventory, short-term one-offs aren't "a responsible way to run the [flood] program, especially since 5.6 million home and business owners rely on it," says NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® President Moe Veissi.
To maintain the momentum, consumers have to believe they can rely on consistent access to flood insurance.
Do you think that Congress will finally pass a long-term reauthorization?


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18 November 2016 - 26 January 2017
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Hanna Toumajean Spring 2015 CollectionWednesday, January 07, 2015
Coming from a family of couturiers, Hanna Toumajean was exposed from a young age to refined technique and elegant design. Hanna Toumajean is a third-generation couturier, his father Gebran designed ready-to-wear since 1969 in Lebanon. His grandfather, for whom he is named, owned a textile factory in Turkey.


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|Dad's annual project, minus the star on the peak.
Mom insisted he stop climbing three stories high
by the time this photo was taken.
Happy times with loved ones rank at the top of my list of personal treasures. Among those the holidays figure prominently, since they present the opportunity to gather more of the family together.
I was lucky enough to know Mom's parents and Dad's mother throughout my childhood. Improved longevity allows even adults the benefit of sharing good times with grandparents these day, but by the time I was fifteen all three grandparents were gone. They provided a lifetime of memories in those short years.
|Grandma and Grandpa,
Martha and George
Thirty years ago I wrote a story about one Christmas Eve in the 50's when they provided my most memorable holiday ever. I wrote about it as a gift to Mom and Dad and shared it with my siblings. Since then a Christmas never passes that I don't relive that night through those words. I'm indulging myself by sharing them here, hoping to inspire other grandparents to try something similar with your own wee ones.
Catching Santa
by Sandy Brehl
Christmas Eve had always been the longest day to wait
For children sure that Santa Claus would never dare be late
The big day started early, all the gifts were wrapped and tied,
And those with our names on the tags were rattled, sniffed, and pried.
While Mom was baking pumpkin pies and cookies were still hot
We iced each one and sprinkled bits- we never missed a spot.
Then Dad would bundle, head to toe, to check the outdoor lights,
And even when it took him hours he always got it right.
Besides the windows' candle glow the trees and shrubs were gleaming.
Up on the roof a lighted star would set us all to dreaming
Of manger scenes and shepherds, too, of Peace, and Joy, and Love,
Of elves, and snow, and "Ho-Ho-Ho", and reindeer high above.
Our wait was nearly at its end once aunts and uncles came.
While Grandma bustled, Grandpa napped and baby did the same.
Then sunset found us seated 'round the table, candles flickered.
While Dad would say a prayer of thanks, we prayed they'd all eat quicker.
At last the meal was over, coffee drained from every cup.
Each belt was loosened up a notch and Grandpa's feet propped up.
Then, starting with the youngest, on to each and every one,
The family gifts were opened until Grandpa, too, was done.
Then we passed around the cookies, but the best were first unpacked
To be set aside with carrots and cold milk for Santa's snack.
By then it was past bedtime for the youngest of us all,
And the rest were getting sleepy when "To bed!" we heard Mom call.
But we had hoped for just one peek, our eyes forced open wide.
"A little longer, PLEASE!" we begged, and that's when Grandma cried,
"You've never seen that jolly elf or caught him by your tree?
We'll fix all that this Christmas Eve, just leave it up to me.
"In houses without chimneys how he'll come is hard to say
So Pa will guard the kitchen door if Santa comes that way.
So Pa will guard the kitchen door if Santa comes that way.
"And I will watch the hallway door, it's closer to the tree.
I'll hear those hoofbeats on the roof before he can spot me!
"I'll hide myself completely in that corner by the chair,
And I will be so quiet that he'll never know I'm there.
"We'll watch and wait and listen for a sign that Santa's near.
Then Grandpa's famous whistle will wake you while he's here.
"We'll catch old Santa in the act when he comes by tonight.
Just close your eyes and say your prayers when your folks turn out the light."
With Grandpa settled near the door and Grandma's watch begun,
It wasn't hard to fall asleep to dreams of Christmas fun.
It seemed no time 'til we awoke to Grandpa's whistling tweet.
Then we heard Grandma cry, "Come quick!" and sounds of stamping feet.
We didn't pause for slippers as we tumbled down the stairs
Where we saw Grandma pointing past two scattered kitchen chairs.
"Pa almost had him! Go, you'll see!" We heard some bells a-jingling.
Out to the snowy porch we ran, our bare toes fairly tingling.
And there stood Grandpa, hands on hips, a smile from here to there.
"I almost had that slippery elf!" His words puffed frosty air.
"Look up now, past the rooftop. He took off 'round that tree!"
The oldest shouted, "There he is!" We short ones couldn't see.
How close we'd been! Yet back inside our toes told us to go,
But not before we spied his tracks- deep bootprints in the snow!
Beneath the glowing Christmas tree were presents piled up high.
But dolls and cars and games galore still left us with a sigh.
If only we could all have seen St. Nick as he stood there,
As close as Grandpa by the tree and Grandma in her chair.
To see him close enough to touch that red suit, soft and furry.
To see his smile, his snow-white beard… oh, why must Santa hurry?
But Mom and Dad reminded us how far and wide he'd roam
Before his Christmas rounds were through and Santa could head home.
Reluctantly, we turned for bed, and that's the moment when
We saw the empty glass and plate where cookies once had been.
No doll or dress or bicycle, no toy from Santa's pack
Would ever thrill us half as much as spotting Santa's tracks.
If Christmas is for children, as so many people say,
Then there's nothing like a grandma and a grandpa on that day!
* * *
Grandma Brehl generated memories, too, but they'll be shared some other time. For now, here she is pictured at the center of our lives. Dad and Mom are directly behind her, Uncle and Aunt to the sides, and baby sister in Mom's arms. The squirt in the dark plaid jumper is yours truly.
Can you imagine anything further from the images of Billy Crystal and Bette Midler in the recent release, PARENTAL GUIDANCE? I haven't seen the movie, but it sounds like a story of modern day memory-making. Times change, but it's still true...there's nothing like a grandma and a grandpa at Christmas!
Happy holidays, everyone.


text: Home- Offices and Services- Environmental Health and Safety- Occupational Health and Safety Occupational Health and Safety In addition to meeting regulatory compliance requirements, the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is dedicated to providing a safe work environment for all faculty, staff, and students. Menu Menu The Colgate University occupational safety program is based on occupational hazard assessments, associated injury prevention programs, and health and safety training for the entire university community. All reported accidents, injuries, and illnesses are investigated by EHS in a timely manner to ensure that no unsafe conditions exist. Training Management System Colgate's online training management system (TrainCaster) ensures regulatory and university training requirements are properly maintained and recorded. TrainCaster also provides an online training library for faculty, staff, and students. For further support, contact EHS at 315-228-7994 or via e-mail at email@example.com. Respiratory Protection Program The Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) establishes respiratory protection requirements at Colgate University and describes all aspects pertaining to the safe use and maintenance of university-issued respirators. All respirators are issued through EHS (following a respirator medical evaluation and respirator fit test). Hot Work Program Colgate University has established a Hot Work Permit Program to (1) minimize the potential for a fire incident due to hot work on campus and (2) comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.252 Welding, Cutting and Brazing standard, New York State (NYS) Fire Code Chapter 26 Welding and Other Hot Work, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 51B Standard for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and Other Hot Work. Eye and Face Personal Protective Equipment Program The Eye and Face Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program is designed to ensure all Colgate University staff and students have the appropriate level of protection during activities that present a potential eye and face hazard. The program sets forth use requirements and provides resources to appropriately identify and select eye and face protection based on the specific hazard source. All protective eyewear must meet the ANSI Z87.1-2003 standard. Confined Space Program A confined space, as defined in 29 CFR 1910.146, has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (Ex. tanks, vessels, silos, vaults, pits, and storage bins) and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. An inventory of all confined spaces at Colgate University has been compiled to provide potential hazards, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, and entry procedures for each identified space. Confined Space Inventory Map Material Safety Data Sheets Colgate University's Online MSDS Library Incident, Injury, and Illness Reporting Work-related accidents, injuries, and illnesses should be reported as soon as possible via the forms provided below. Upon receipt, EHS will investigate the incident within 24 hours to ensure that no unsafe conditions exist and, when necessary, implement corrective actions. Employees are required to fill out an online employee incident report. Students are required to fill out a student accident / injury report and submit it to Environmental Health and Safety. Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Employees are at risk of contracting infectious diseases each time they are exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Colgate's policy is to prevent exposure incidents whenever possible. To protect workers and to comply with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, the university has established an Exposure Control Plan. The purpose of the Exposure Control Plan is to identify occupations, tasks, and procedures where exposure to bloodborne pathogens may occur and to implement controls that will reduce the risk of infection. The Exposure Control Plan also includes provisions for affected employees to receive Hepatitis B vaccinations, training, and, if necessary, confidential medical evaluations. Hepatitis B Vaccination Declination Form Hepatitis B Vaccination Consent Form Bloodborne Pathogen Post Exposure Forms Offices and Services Accounting and Control Campus Safety Commencement Communications Office Counseling Center Dean of the College Dean of Faculty/Provost Document Services Emergency Management Environmental Health and Safety Chemical Hygiene and Laboratory Safety Driver Safety & Motor Vehicle Use Incident Reporting Occupational Health and Safety Waste Management Equity and Diversity Facilities (B&G) Finance and Administration Grants Information Health Sciences Advising Health Services Information Technology Institutional Planning and Research International Student Services Libraries Mail Services Purchasing Registrar RELATED LINKS


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I have been richly blessed by my association with all of you. —Bruce Lindsay
Related list: 10 memorable stories covered by Bruce Lindsay
SALT LAKE CITY — After a 38-year career in broadcasting, award-winning KSL news anchor Bruce Lindsay has signed off for his last time.
Lindsay, 61, anchored his final show at 10 p.m. Wednesday, ushering out decades of meticulously produced reports and newscasts which ultimately defined him and his craft.
"Life comes at you fast," Lindsay told colleagues during a farewell gathering Wednesday.
After seeing clips and bloopers from his time spent at KSL — aired in the days leading up to his last at KSL — the broadcasting icon admitted he didn't appreciate "every wonderful minute" as much as he should have along the way.
"I have been richly blessed by my association with all of you."
The emotional send-off was filled with words of thanks from Lindsay, and respect from his colleagues and friends earned from years of rigorous mentoring and hard work, and the broadcaster's dedicated passion for storytelling.
"To this day I struggle to write a piece of copy that Bruce will read word-for-word on the air," fellow KSL anchor and reporter Keith McCord said, joking about Lindsay's meticulous attention to detail.
KSL's Carole Mikita, another fellow anchor and broadcast journalist, said the two "laughed as much as we worked," telling her long-time friend and colleague, "there is no one in this market who doesn't believe you are the best."
Lindsay isn't planning on taking it slow upon retiring from KSL. In July, he and his wife, Shari, and their son Rob, will head to Australia where Lindsay will serve as president of the Australia Perth Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Deanie Wimmer, Lindsay's co-anchor on various shows for the last 12 years, said she is happy for him, but sad for those he is leaving behind.
"Bruce is moving on to something exciting for him, a challenge, and something he is looking forward to," she said. "I can't help but feel happy for him." She said the two have talked about his retirement since it was announced in January, but its arrival is "surreal."
"I've sat next to him every night. I can anticipate the changes he will make in the newscast and I know how he is going to react to things," Wimmer said. "I can hear him read over the scripts and I pass over my chocolate to his desk. It's going to be a tough spot to fill."
Lindsay has worked as KSL's lead anchor for much of his tenure at the station and has left an impression that is "impossible to replace," said Tanya Vea, executive vice president of news and cross platform development for KSL.
"He is the consummate professional, who was never interested in being the star himself, yet became an institution in this market," she said. "And you can't replace that."
Vea credits Lindsay for years of hard-earned trust in the market, as he stayed with KSL even when others courted him. Lindsay did leave KSL for a short time to work in Los Angeles after his start in the Salt Lake City market in 1974.
"When you think of KSL, there are certain things you think of and Bruce Lindsay is one of them," Vea said. "The impact he's had is not just on the station, but on the community and on broadcasting in this market. He is the face of this station."
Bob Evans, an anchor for a competing Fox News local affiliate, called Lindsay "the Godfather or patriarch of local TV news."
"He is the epitome of a TV journalist," Evans said of Lindsay. "I've always looked up to him and enjoyed his work."
Deseret Management Corp. CEO Keith McMullin said Lindsay has been precise, versatile and adaptive to the many changes in the industry throughout his career.
"You have had an entire community in your hands for the last three-plus decades and now you're going to have 150 to 200 young men and women of tender years … under your charge," he said. "It is with gratitude that we bid you farewell and issue a Godspeed, and say to you now, the most important and challenging part of your life awaits you."
Moving forward, Vea said KSL is taking a new direction with its evening news programs. The different format will include two new anchors alongside Wimmer: Dave McCann, the voice of the Cougars on BYUtv and recent news anchor in Las Vegas, and Mike Headrick, who previously worked in the Salt Lake, Texas, and Ohio markets, most recently anchoring a morning news program in Denver.
"Just as Bruce led a successful era, we are looking forward to creating the next era of KSL," Vea said.
KSL's mainstay Nadine Wimmer and Headrick will co-anchor the weekday 5 p.m. news, while McCann and Wimmer will appear weekdays at 6 p.m., and the three of them together will host the 10 p.m. news programs Monday through Friday.
"KSL has always been a top-notch organization and my goal is to help us get even better," Headrick said. His first day on the air with KSL will be May 29.
Related list: 10 memorable stories covered by Bruce Lindsay
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: wendyleonards


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#1 'Lucky' make-up bag
Let me tell you, this make-up bag has been through it all: been on countless floors, chucked in an out of my bags and still has to be one of my treasured possessions! To be honest it was originally my mums, but when I first laid eyes on the rose gold finish I knew I had to have it! Although it's slightly tattered now, it has seen me through tricky situations and for that I think I'll hold on it a while longer (that's if it doesn't fall completely apart by then!).
#2 'Trusty' Concealer
This is the NARS radiant creamy concealer- honestly the best concealer I've used in a long time! The consistency is great (not too thick or too thin) and basically brightens and colour corrects at the same time, which is perfect for keeping the 'I stayed up all night and have panda eyes' look at bay.
#3 'Miracle' Mascara
When I last visited MAC for an eyeliner, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a mini sample of this mascara! Having nearly used it up, it is honestly REALLY good and definitely does what it says on the tin. It adds length but you don't have to constantly pump the brush to get product onto your lashes, so a little goes a long way. The consistency is good as high end mascaras go, and one of the major plus points is that it doesn't clump up on the lashes and the black pigment makes your lashes look really thick.
#4 'On-point' Brows
Everyone and their mother were raving about the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow pomade (and rightly so all her products are great) but I needed something to tame my brows and give definition and at a more economical price point; after searching high and low for the perfect one, my eyes clapped on this one from NYX. I have to say it's definitely good value for money, its extremely pigmented so applying it with a light hand would definitely be the way to go if you're after a natural brow finish and it actually lasts and doesn't transfer which is a major thing considering I have really oily skin.
#5 'Moisturising Matte' Lip pencil
In the beauty world the long lasting trend that is matte lips shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, especially because of the popularity of the Kylie lip kits, Stilla liquid lipsticks and these NARS lip pencil beauties. I was keen to get my hands on these after looking at sooooo many positive reviews and the large colour range on offer, so I took the plunge and bought the pencil in the hypnotic deep aubergine colour. The formula is definitely moisturising, but honestly speaking, I think due to the colour it doesn't apply evenly, and I found myself applying several times to get close to an even finish. That being said, it's a gorgeous colour and would make for a striking winter lip colour !
#6 'Perfect Finish' Brush
This brush certainly packs a punch: it's multipurpose, has THE softest bristles and leaves your skin with the perfect even finish. I mainly use it for the odd touch up here and there (especially if my face stops co-operating and starts shining like a beacon!) with my Bobbi brown translucent powder and it also doubles as a great blusher and highlighter brush (just pinch the sides of the brush) if you're on the go and need to quickly apply your make-up!
And finally, the 'piece de resistance' my favourite everyday bag...
The 'Handy' Handbag
This hands down has to be one of my most used bags! It's really versatile and goes with most of my clothes (despite the noticeable snake-skin print) and it has multiple compartments so it definitely holds its own against the bigger bags in my collection. I bought it in the Mango sale last year for £17.99 but the faux leather finish and the hardware makes it look way more expensive!
Those were my handbag essentials, but I'd love to hear what yours are and which bag you wear the most! Comment down below


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Last night's conversation about the Chex contest led to another discussion about favorite recipes – specifically, ones you consider your own. My friend told me she had this amazing brownie recipe. She'd been making it for years and it even won a brownie baking challenge at work. I had to have this recipe (of course) and asked her for it. "It's on the Hershey's website." She said. "It's called Deep Dish Brownies". And I could tell by the tone of her voice that it was a waste of breath to even tell her about any other great scratch brownie recipes because for her, this was *it*.
Today's been an extremely busy day, but somewhere between teaching crafts at a camp and my across-town doctor appointment, I found time to bake these. Prep time was about 7 minutes, but bake time was 42 and while my friend likes hers hot out of the oven, I prefer brownies cooled and set. So many hours later, after all my tasks were complete, I tried a brownie. Maybe it just tasted good because I was de-stressing from a busy day, or maybe it really is just a solid recipe. The brownies are not too fudgy, not too cakey and quite tall but not awkwardly so. They held together nicely and tasted great. I used Hershey's cocoa since they are the original source of the recipe, but if you acquire some super high end expensive cocoa, this recipe would be a good one to try it in. This could become a go-to recipe in terms of convenience and cost.
- 1 1/2 sticks (6 oz /170 grams) melted butter
- 1-1/2 cups (10.5 oz/294 grams) granulated sugar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract (7 ml)
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (3.4 oz/95 grams)
- 1/2 cup HERSHEY'S cocoa (40 grams) – I used natural style
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (2 ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (use a scant teaspoon if using unsalted butter or butter sticks)**
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (176 C). Line an 8 inch square metal pan with foil and grease only the bottom. I like the method of greasing only the bottom of brownie pans because the brownies seem to stick to the sides and bake up more evenly rather than pull away. Hershey says to grease the whole pan.
- Combine melted butter, sugar and vanilla in bowl. Add eggs; beat well with spoon. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture, beating gently until well mixed – don't overbeat or the brownies won't be as tender. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
- Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until brownies appear set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. About 16 brownies.
Note: My friend used to live in Mexico and when she baked the brownies there, they always sank in the middle. When she moved back to Texas the recipe worked just fine, so if you are at a high altitude, make sure to adjust accordingly


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When Formula E was announced in 2013, motorsport fans were quick to judge.
"You mean there's no noise?" was the most prevalent skepticism. "They change cars during pitstops?!" was a common condescension. Yet, last July the second championship concluded, and I dare reckon to say the sport is quickly becoming a favorite to watch.
For those unfamiliar with the details of the series, I'll try to simplify it all into a couple nifty paragraphs for you.
In an effort to be more conscious of our environment and to potentially help develop new technology for the burgeoning electric car industry, the FIA created Formula E — the world's first all-electric racing series. The cars in the first season were Frankstein-esque creations that involved the McLaren P1's electric motor, a battery developed by Williams, and a chassis designed by Dallara to be built by Spark Racing Technologies and Renault. Races are mostly held on city center street courses, with locations ranging from London and Berlin to Miami, Long Beach, and Buenos Aires. The two practice sessions, qualifying, and the race are held all in the course of a day, rather than the traditional race weekend schedule. The points system is similar to other FIA series — 25 points for first, 18 for second, 15 for third, and so on. Three points are given to the pole sitter and two points are given to the driver who sets the fastest lap of the race.
The ePrix itself lasts around 50 minutes. At the moment, the batteries do not last the duration of an entire race, so instead of a pit stop for fuel and tires, the driver physically gets out and climbs into another car with a charge that'll last the second half. The Michelin tires are grooved and capable for both wet and dry running, with each car limited to just one set for all sessions. But the tires aren't the only element drivers have to manage.
"It's as much about endurance as it is about overall pace," says Thomas Biermaier, motorsport director for ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport. ""Here we have to play with the energy. We have to lift for 25% of the whole lap to survive with the amount of energy available in the battery." It's no wonder that around half of the drivers that race in FE currently share their driving responsibilities with a team in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Nobody knew what to expect from the new championship, so each race was a surprise in the first season. In the first race we learned how safe the Spark-Renault SRT_01 racecars were when Nick Heidfeld was thrown into a barrier at high speed courtesy of Alain Prost's son, Nicholas. Then there was the moment Nelson Piquet Jr. won at Long Beach, 35 years after his father claimed an F1 victory at the same venue. There were seven different winners - a far cry from modern Formula 1. Then the championship came down to a nail-biting finale when Sebastian Buemi lost the championship by one point to Piquet Jr. The season came off as a success with even the CEO of FE, Alejandro Agag, admitting that they were lucky to have a compelling maiden season. The pressure was then on for the second championship, and thankfully the FIA decided to make some changes to spice it up further.
For the second season, power was increased by 20kW, but the most exciting modification was that manufacturers were allowed to create their own drivetrains: the e-motor, inverter, transmission, and cooling system. As a result, eight of the nine teams developed their own drivetrain, with transmissions ranging from one-speed to five-speed based on engine efficiency. This evolution eliminated the spec-racing element of the series to create something more dynamic like F1. But would the championship be as exciting as the first?
Sebastian Buemi in the Renaut e.Dams car struck first at the series opener in Beijing, capturing pole, setting fastest lap in the race, and winning the ePrix — the first a driver to do so in the series. Then Lucas DiGrassi in the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport car won the next race, and a championship battle was underway.
Throughout the season the two drivers traded wins with textbook driving performances. Three other drivers scored victory: DS Virgin Racing's Sam Bird, American team Dragon's Jerome D'Ambrosio and Buemi's teammate, Nicholas Prost (son of 4-time F1 champ Alain). Every race had moments of great wheel-to-wheel racing and dramatic accidents that kept the racing fan glued to their seat.
Come the last race of the season, both Buemi and Di Grassi were equal in points, with the advantage going to Di Grassi having had more podium finishes. At the beginning of the race, in an echo of Senna/Prost's 1990 Japanese Grand Prix, Di Grassi collided with the back of Buemi's car, momentarily handing him the championship. However, both drivers limped their cars back to the pits to swap into their second cars. Because of the premature swap neither car would have enough energy in the battery to finish, so both drivers were pushing hard for the crucial two points given for fastest lap. Buemi's fastest lap proved to be the quickest and he won the championship by just the three points allotted for fastest lap.
Next season brings some new enhancements. Battery weight will increase to allow for more energy as the series plans to have cars capable of withstanding the whole race without the need for a car swap by season five. While the battery weight increases, the overall weight of the car will be decreased by around 17 pounds. Power output will stay at 200kW for next season, but will be increased to 220 for season four, and 250kW in season five.
Arguably most exciting, Jaguar is entering professional motorsport after a twelve-year absence, by fielding a factory works team in FE.
"It is my belief that over the next five years we will see more changes in the automotive world than in the last three decades," said Nick Rogers, Group Engineering Director for Jaguar Land Rover in a press release. "The future is about being more connected and more sustainable; electrification and lightweight technologies are becoming more important than ever as urbanization continues to increase. Formula E has recognized and reacted to these trends and the championship's exciting and pioneering approach is the perfect fit for our brand."
This investment in the series by another big manufacturer will hopefully open the doors to others (Tesla, Toyota?) as a means of developing road-relevant electronic technology on the track. In recent times, BMW and Nissan are rumored to be showing interest in the near future.
While the sport is appealing, other manufacturers may just be waiting in the wings for the time being, until the technology is ready for road-use application.
"We started from new. We're learning and learning," says Biermaier in regards to the tech needed to run in FE after much motorsport success in other racing series with ABT. "In five years time we can take parts from these cars and put them into cars for the road. But right now it's too early."
The sport has also brought ex-F1 racers back into open-wheel racing after a long absence. Jacques Villeneuve raced in the first three rounds of the second championship, while Scott Speed returned for two races in the first season, finishing second in his first race.
"It's certainly a very exciting motorsport right now because it's so different and new," says Speed. "New manufacturers are getting involved and parts are open to development. It's been fun to follow."
Speed even admits to having a slight itch to return to the series.
"I still do the occasional test-drive and who knows, maybe in the future I'll end up running in it," says Speed. "It's certainly still on the radar very much. With Andretti Autosport having a team (Speed currently races for Andretti in Red Bull Global Rally Challenge) it makes it very easy to stay involved from an arm's length."
If the last two championships have been nail-biters without the rule changes being made for future seasons, the next seasons of FE could very well prove that it's the racing series of the future.


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First of all, let me wish you all a "super great SKEET season 2016" with high scores ...with many 25/25 !?
Now that you've already done it last year ...it would be great if you could the same for next season...
Would it be possible for you to please pay in advance directly on Bank Account BE 88 2710 4710 4141 before :
April 15th for the Challenge SK 92 N° 1 in Chérimont May 1st = 50 €uros
June 1st for the Challenge SK 92 N° 2 in Bouvignes June 12th = 50 €uros
July 12th for the Challenge SK 92 N° 3 + Belgian Championship SK 92 in Chérimont July 21st = 60 €uros
August 1st for the Challenge SK 92 N° in Bouvignes August 14th = 50 €uros
August 1st for the Coupe de Belgique SKEET OLYMPIQUE / Belgian Cup OLYMPIC SKEET in Bouvignes August 15th = 65 €uros
Françoise Dollinger


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It's already December 2012. We're still working on recovering our very old data back from our old server. Mike, the old server's tech, said that there's a slight chance that they can recover the data from the old hard drive where our site was previously hosted. But the chance is pretty small. It will cost around $3500 USD for data recovery and not all data can be recovered, just some. Too bad I didn't have a daily backup of webpagememories.com back then.
Anyway, I'm still thinking whether to get all the data back from that hard drive or just rely to the Way Back Machine and just copy paste my old posts from my old website into this spanking new WordPress site.
Years ago, every time I update my site, I need a notepad and an FTP client. Every time I post something new, I edit it locally, then upload it to my server. There's no PHP, not MySQL, no dynamic site stuff. Just plain old HTML. That hard drive that contains all my HTML pages are also gone. My old laptop where I have a local backup of my HTML files are also gone.
I wish that a few years ago, there are cloud storages like InSync, Google Drive, and Dropbox where I can just store my files in the cloud and by worry-free about it. Too bad, those services weren't available back then. I should have a backup of those precious files or wait for a time machine to be invented that I'll just travel back through time to get all those data that I lost back then.
I just want anyone to know that I'm still alive and I'm doing my best to pump-in oxygen to this blog and bring it back to life!


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Thursday, March 31, 2016
Rain Today
Steady rain all day. After a delightful concert by Les Songes I walked in the rain. Drops hung on branches like little jewels.
Montreal has many underground passageways joining buildings but also letting people get to the metro without having to go outside. It let me have a respite from the rain. I'm always delighted to hear some classical music being played in public spaces. This violinist, I discovered plays both classical and pop (rock?) as well as world music. You can hear her playing with Nomad'Stones.
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stamp & create love is in the air
Stamp & Fun Vintage
Oh la la us an heart
Stunning creation Ginnyx
gorgeous heart Tania.
gr karin
This is BEAUTIFUL!!!!
AMAZING job!!
Have a wonderful day,
*Crafting With Creative M*
Fantastic Tania
Janet xxx
Hi Tania loving the heart hun - have a great day xxx
This is so beautiful, the black and white has such impact! Beautiful image -stunning project!
Hi Tania, fabulous creation, love the pretty image and design.
Hugz, Lorraine xx
How pretty this is, Tania! Wonderful blog. I am your newest google follower! hugs, de {Creative Smiles}
Wow I love this I have just bought that stamp. xx Jan
A gorgeous board love the stamped image it looks painted on. xxxx
I love the striking white on your blackboard paint! Not sure if you've seen it done before but another lady I follow always stamps her images on blackboard paint twice, one just a little off of the other one. It really gives it a chalk board kind of look. Wonderful project,
{Hugs} Barb
Thanks for Sharing with us at SFC!
Hugs Andrea
Wow, such a stunning project, love it! Thank you for playing with us @ Ooh La La this fortnight :)
What a fabulous creation, I didn't realise you could emboss on chalk board. Thanks for sharing with us at Ooh La La. Michelle x


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Carol Marinelli - Heart of the Desert, International Giveaway
Meet Carol Marinelli:
She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.
Carol first tried to write for Harlequin Mills & Boon while doing her nursing training in London. It was merrily rejected and she was devastated. Rejection became a regular friend over the next few years and she amassed quite a collection. Still, as the years moved on the rejections became more detailed and instead of weeping over them and scorning them, she finally read them. Properly.
In 2000 her first romance was accepted for the Medical Romance line and she lived happily ever after. Well, that's what she thought would happen but actually, no, it was then that the hard work really began!
Once published she discovered the Romance Writers of Australia—it would, she now knows, have been far easier on this journey to have discovered them earlier. Attending her first conference she realized that she wasn't the only person who lived with a constant cinema happening in her head—in fact they were all THE SAME! Different but the same and many wonderful friendships were made.
Carol now writes for both the Medical Romance and Presents lines and loves them both.
Back of the Book
Sheikh Prince Ibrahim refuses to bow to the duty that has destroyed his family, by locking away his emotions and shunning his royal responsibility.
Georgie is just the kind of woman duty demands he should avoid—streetwise, troubled and not interested in being queen—exactly the challenge Ibrahim seeks.
Trapped among the swirling sands, in the burning heart of the desert, Georgie finally surrenders to the brooding rebel prince—yet the law of his land decrees that she can never really be his.…
Where you can find Carol:
Carol at Facebook:
Carol's Website:


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I'm now on twitter. So tweet with me if you'd like! I'd love more miniaturist tweeters.
This is a links post. What I'd like you to do is... link away! Link to interesting posts you have just made, your websites, things you recommend, etc.
It doesn't have to be miniatures related.
In return I'd love it if you'd consider mentioning this blog in your own blog or on any other websites you know of. If you can't, don't worry about it, you can still link.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Link Post Time
Labels: information
3 comments:
- Rozzie Jewelry said...
Hey we met in the Etsy chat a little bit ago!!! will come back to read more when I don't have to catch some zzz's ;)
- January 25, 2009 at 5:25 AM
- beadworkbyamanda said...
This is an interesting idea! you can visit my blog at http://beadworkbyamanda.blogspot.com to see the materials I use!
- January 25, 2009 at 7:43 AM
- Erin Bowe said...
Please check out this talented writer's fabulous blog for a chance to win one of my copper pendants:
And here's my blog as well:
- January 25, 2009 at 8:33 AM
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Chad Reynolds' chapbook, Victor in the New World, with illustrations by Robert daVies, is now available for purchase. $12 includes shipping.
Victor in the New World was printed in an edition of 144, of which the first 12 are signed by the author and artist.
The cover was printed on Canson MiTientes on a Vandercook SP-20 with handset metal type and polymer plates from Boxcar Press. The interior was printed with archival ink on French Co. paper at Square Root Imaging. The text is Adobe Caslon Pro, based on William Caslon's original typeface and drawn by Carol Twombly in 1989.
Thanks to Catherine Bourassa-Hebert, Robert Charlton, Mike Dacey, and Nathan Demant.
Hurry! The first 12 signed copies will be the first to go.


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International Journal of Endocrinology
Volume 2014, Article ID 715029, 3 pages
Application of Technology in Endocrine Disease
1Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, ASL RMH, Rome, Italy
2Interventional Radiology Unit, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust (Northwick Park & St. Mark's Hospitals), Harrow, London HA1 3UJ, UK
3General and Endocrine Surgery, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA
4ENT Clinic, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
5Department of Metabolism, Nutrition and Wellness, INRCA-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Received 24 December 2013; Accepted 24 December 2013; Published 12 February 2014
Copyright © 2014 Patrizio Tatti et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
We live in a period of rapid change, in which many new technologies appear and are diffused through medical meetings, the Internet, specialized journals, the lay press, and media. While these innovations may bring a substantial improvement to the quality of care, sometimes, due to commercial pressures, technology can enter the market without adequate evidence of true benefit and without an analysis of the cost/benefit ratio. The converse is also true. Other potentially useful technologies can be underestimated due to insufficient commercial interest preventing further investment and development.
The present issue presents a selection of papers about the application of newer technologies in endocrinology. There have been numerous Special Issues devoted to the important topic of the application of information technology in clinical diabetes care [1–12], but to our best knowledge no attempts have been made at compiling a special issue regarding the application of technology in endocrinology.
The paper "B-Flow twinkling sign in preoperative evaluation of cervical lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma" by G. Napolitano et al., from the Department of Health Science, University of Molise, Contrada Tappino, Campobasso, Italy, describes a new technique, B-flow imaging (BFI), to evaluate the presence of metastatic disease in lymph nodes. The authors report 99.7% specificity and 80.9% sensitivity for this technique which may be helpful in the preoperative planning of the intervention, prognostic staging, and individual therapy selection for patients.
The paper "How to estimate fat mass in overweight and obese subjects" by L. M. Donini et al., from the Medical Physiopathology Division, Food Science and Endocrinology Section, Food Science and Human Nutrition Research Unit, Experimental Medicine Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, is of value to advance the understanding of the pathophysiology of obesity. This paper helps to make clear that body mass index (BMI), at the present state of our knowledge, is not more than a cursory evaluation, and not so useful to understand the pathophysiology and individualize the most appropriate treatment strategy. At the same time the report highlights the role of the other available techniques, including dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), body impedance analysis (BIA), and even the simple waist circumference () measurement. It is suggested that the widespread adoption of low-cost methods like BIA and , in fact, could considerably help clinicians.
The paper "Peripheral arterial tonometry to measure the effects of vardenafil on sympathetic tone in men with lifelong premature ejaculation" by D. Francomano et al., from the Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, describes the use of peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) to study the role of adrenergic overtone in men with lifelong premature ejaculation. This technique, coupled with intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), demonstrates a role of adrenergic hyperactivity, which can be reduced by the use of vardenafil on demand. This may be a helpful contribution to future research into this problem.
The remaining papers in the special issue focus on diabetes.
The paper "Dynamic interactive educational diabetes simulations using the world wide web: an experience of more than 15 years with AIDA online" by E. D. Lehmann et al., from Imperial College, University of London, UK, describes the development of a web-based version of the widely available downloadable http://www.2aida.org/ AIDA educational simulator of glucose-insulin interaction in diabetes. This utilizes a server-based architecture with HTML FORM commands to submit numerical data from a web-browser client to a remote web server. AIDA online, located on a remote server at http://www.2aida.net/, passes the received data through Perl scripts which interactively produce 24-hour insulin and glucose simulations. AIDA online allows users to modify the insulin regimen and diet of 40 different prestored "virtual diabetic patients," on the Internet, or create new "patients" with user-generated regimens. Multiple simulations can be run, with graphical results viewed via a standard web-browser window. One of the relative strengths of AIDA online is that being totally Internet based; it can operate from any computer, anywhere, provided it has an Internet connection and a graphical display. This has led to widespread usage of the online simulator. To date, over 645,000 diabetes simulations have been run at AIDA online, from all over the world.
The remaining papers in this special issue deal with a nutritional algorithm developed by a group of experts that should gain wider acceptance. The algorithm supports the use of nutritional supplements in diabetes. This is a critical point because it is known that the diabetic population has subclinical or clinical malnutrition, correlated with the degree of hyperglycemia, the duration of the disease, and the medications used [13, 14].
This algorithm has a high degree of flexibility and the two papers in this issue show its applicability to different populations and dietary patterns. Transculturalization, as mentioned in the title, relies on the identification of appropriate, flexible guidance, which is available in the form of clinical practice guidelines (CPG). These guidelines, once reviewed for relevance and applicability by international experts, are abstracted and simplified in content and then condensed into a usable format. This process was applied to CPG in diabetes from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), and other international organizations. The use of this technique should help dealing with an epidemic that could affect more that 300 million people in the world in the coming years, causing an unsustainable social and economic burden. The numbers are staggering. The world prevalence of diabetes is approximately 6.6% and in some countries exceeds 10%. Total financial liabilities related to the disease exceed US$370 billion globally [15].
Complicating matters are various cultural, clinical, and financial issues that prevent simple solutions and mandate an individual approach to patient care. Despite stemming from this same cultural and ideological root, the final two papers in this issue have different scope and focus.
The paper "Transcultural diabetes nutrition algorithm: a Malaysian application" by Z. Hussein et al., from the Department of Medicine, Hospital Putrajaya Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Putrajaya, Malaysia, describes a comprehensive management strategy to try and improve glycaemic control, which includes medical nutrition therapy (MNT). This report is mostly tailored to the needs of a population with a different standard of diabetes treatment and an Eastern diet, and may represent a paradigm for other populations with similar characteristics. The authors highlight that evidence-based recommendations for diabetes-specific therapeutic diets are available internationally. However, Asian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), including Malaysians, have unique disease characteristics and risk factors, as well as cultural and lifestyle dissimilarities, which may render international guidelines and recommendations less applicable and/or difficult to implement. With these thoughts in mind, a transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (tDNA) was developed to account for cultural differences in lifestyle, diet, and genetic factors. The initial evidence-based global tDNA template was designed for simplicity, flexibility, and cultural modification. This paper reports the Malaysian adaptation of the tDNA, which takes into account the epidemiological, physiological, cultural, and lifestyle factors unique to Malaysia, as well as the local guidelines and recommendations.
The other paper dealing with diabetes in the special issue, "The transcultural diabetes nutrition algorithm: a Canadian perspective" by R. Gougeon et al., from Crabtree Nutrition Laboratories, McGill University Health Centre/Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC Canada, describes the Canadian version of the transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm which supports and targets behavioural changes to improve nutritional quality and to promote regular daily physical activity consistent with the Canadian Diabetes Association's CPG, as well as supporting the concomitant management of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and dysglycaemia in primary care. This report is evidently addressed to a Western population with high sanitary standard and deals mostly with the topic of the Glycemic Index.
It has not been possible to cover all relevant technologies in this special issue. As promising as all these reports are, all novel technologies must be evaluated, and beneficial effects scientifically proven. A future special issue may usefully address the formal validation and evaluation of such new technologies. Also diabetes/endocrine technology topics that could usefully be addressed include, but are not limited to the following.Endocrine(i)New technologies for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules (e.g., the role of 3D ultrasound).(ii)New technologies for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy (e.g., electrical stimulation for gastrointestinal paresis).(iii)New diagnostic, noninvasive techniques for neuroendocrine tumors.(iv)Evaluation of nanotechnologies.(v)New technologies for the treatment of obesity.Diabetes(i)Evaluation of the technology for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.(ii)Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea and impact on metabolic disorders.(iii)Meters with artificial intelligence for improved dosing recommendations and also artificial intelligence modelling, and educational and advisory software.(iv)Blood glucose meters, including invasive and noninvasive devices.(v)Communication protocols and systems for implementing a robust and effective telediabetes infrastructure.(vi)New developments in continuous glucose monitoring with special focus on new sensor technologies.(vii)Insulin delivery systems, including pump technology.(viii)New tools and software for the "closure of the loop" in type 1 diabetes.(ix)Methods which combine a continuous BGL sensor, insulin pump, and control algorithms for creating an artificial pancreas.(x)The role of applications (apps) for smart phones and handheld devices in ambulatory diabetes care.(xi)Diabetes management systems for transition from home to hospital and from hospital to home.
We, the guest editors, are grateful to all the reviewers who took time to assess the submitted papers. Their hard work has contributed greatly to ensuring that the final published papers have conformed to the high standards expected of this journal. We also thank the authors who have revised and improved their papers in the light of suggestions from the referees, resulting in clearer publications for journal readers.
Patrizio Tatti
Eldon D. Lehmann
Annabel E. Barber
Desiderio Passali
Felice Strollo
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In order to offer the Right Light in Time, Right Light for Task and Right Light for You we take the ingredients of natural light. With our Active Light we offer a holistic lighting ecosystem to bring the benefits of natural light indoors.
Every day, we encounter a huge variety of visual stimuli in the office. Perfect light is just as essential for handling the respective work task as is our health, motivation and productivity. Light influences various vital processes in many ways – and accordingly also our physical and mental wellbeing.
Zumtobel pioneered in collaboration with Gruppe Nymphenburg Consult in looking deep into the impact of what light can do on people in an working environment, measuring objectively implicit processes in the body. In short, quantifying emotions. The study confirmed that the Active Light Solution with tunableWhite and higher lux levels results in a strong decline of stress levels, in a sharp increase of the concentration ability and in a heightening of the overall wellbeing.
Human Centric Lighting is the inclusion of visual and non-visual (biological) needs of humans in the design of lighting applications. The ATKearney study aimed at delivering arguments for the use of human centric lighting. In most segments, benefits for owners and investors dominate, however, additional social and public benefits can also justify Human Centric Lighting markups.
The Area Control Centre of the Vorarlberg State Police Headquarters operates around the clock. The implementation of a modern lighting solution to test a dynamic lighting concept had the aim of making the night shift more comfortable for the members of staff. UCT Research, an interdisciplinary research center for user centered technologies at the FHV technical college in Vorarlberg, had the task of programming various lighting scenarios and then evaluating these as part of a pilot study.
The aim of the user study initiated by Zumtobel and implemented in cooperation with Fraunhofer IAO, is to describe the current lighting situation in offices. The results of this study show the potential of user-oriented and application-based lighting in offices. Individually controllable light that focuses on the users, increases their wellbeing and promotes their health.


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Dear Customers,
Below are a list of upcoming group hands-on cooking classes. Classes are small (approximately 12 students) as our goal is to provide you with an intimate learning environment. Please look over the classes and feel free to email any ideas for future classes or any suggestions! FYI, with advance notice we can accommodate vegetarian diets.
To sign up please email me at firstname.lastname@example.com
Gilt Customers please provide your voucher number in the body of your email!
Note: All Details regarding classes, address, cancellations are located at the bottom of this page!
2012 Calendar of Events:
Remaining October Classes:
Please note that due to Hurricane Sandy and transportation closures today's class is cancelled. We hope to reschedule, new date is currently TBD, but should be posted by the end of this week.
Tuesday, Oct 30th Trick or Treat, A Halloween Menu! 6-9pm
Come in costumes if you wish but either way join us in making: Deviled Eggs, Coffee Rubbed Ribs; Red Wine Risotto; Cauliflower, Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Sweet Potato Medley and Chocolate Molten Cake!
November Classes:
Friday, Nov 2nd Thanksgiving Side Dishes! 6-9pm--Sold Out!
Learn to make traditional Thanksgiving holiday sides: like Creamy Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes; Orange-Scented Cranberry Sauce, Cornbread Stuffing with Pecans; Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Lemon; Wild Rice Pilaf and Creamed Spinach; Carrot Cake Cookies
Friday, Nov 9th Easy Holiday Appetizers 6-9pm--Sold Out!
Hummus & Basic Crudite Platter; Gougeres (Cheese puffs); Bacon Wrapped Dates; Caramalized Onion & Cherry Tomato Puffs, Creamy Artichoke Dip, Chicken Liver Crostinis, Sun Dried Tomato Spread
To be placed on a Wait-list please email firstname.lastname@example.com
General Information:
Where:The Church of St. Paul St. Andrew/lower level 263 West 86TH Street; New York, NY 10024 (#1 train to 86th Street Station)
Cost: $95 per person or $175 for 2 people
Time: Classes are approximately 3 hours start to finish (includes lesson/prep of meal & sit down dinner)
Other Info: Classes are BYOB! and Bring Your Apron!
Wait List? Email email@example.com if you wish to be placed on a Wait List for any of our classes.
Cancellation & Other Policies:
*Classes without sufficient enrollment will be cancelled, all students will be notified and a full refund will be given.
*There are no refunds or credit issued when fewer than 48 hours notice from the class start date is given.
*GILT customers if you are signed up for a class and need to reschedule, a FIRM ONE WEEK NOTICE (7 DAYS) is necessary. We wish to accommodate all our customers and anything less than a week is not enough time to make anyone on a wait list aware of the new opening!
Until then stay well and Happy Cooking!
Chef Raquel


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Known for her steamy eyes and perfectly disheveled hair, the Camille Rowe Madame Figaro photoshoot brings out the model's effortlessly seductive allure.
There is no need for skin tight mini dresses to enhance Camille Rowe's sex appeal; this model could make you melt just by looking at you with those steamy eyes of hers. The photoshoot has her wearing cozy fall and winter attire, including oversized knit sweaters with high turtle necks and richly embellished blazers that have studded shoulders or a leopard print pattern. The casual attire is carried through with low-heeled boots and brogues that have a sophisticated metallic touch to them.
The casually seductive Camille Rowe Madame Figaro photoshoot, shot by photographer Eric Guillemain, is perfect for fall.
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The Camille Rowe Madame Figaro Photoshoot is Casually Cozy
- By: Gil HaddiNov 11, 2012
References: 2bmanagement & designscene.net
References: 2bmanagement & designscene.net


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Sometimes facts become fiction, and sometimes fiction becomes facts. This seemed to be the case in China when Chinese police busted a drug gang and discovered a former chemistry professor as the "cook" of the gang.
A 50 year-old former university professor named Lu had "a set of recipes for producing methcathinone", a drug similar to methamphetamine, which he provided to dealers for sale throughout China. This has amazing parallel to the TV show "Breaking Bad" where the main character, Walter White, was...a former professor who cook and sold "crystal meth",
No word yet on whether Lu was inspired by Walter White, but considering how close they mirror each other, maybe Chinese producers will be rushing to produce the hit show. Hell, they can even put "based on real life events" on it!


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Hi Everyone,
I'm back with my second Stained Glass Card that we did at my class on Monday. Don't you love the striking look of the Daffodil Delight Yellow and Black? I just love clean and crisp and fresh looks like this for spring. I hope you do too. I featured the Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set on this one. I'm still deciding on what I want to put on the inside….maybe the tall grass form Inspired by Nature….hmmmmmmmmm….what do you all think I should do? I'd love to hear. I will put a saying on the outside as needed. I love to leave the option open for when I need it.
Here is a close up of the Stained Glass Flower. Hope you enjoyed it.
Don't forget to stay tuned for a Tutorial that is coming for this technique soon.
Thanks for stopping in and if I can help with any of your stamping needs just let me know.


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Not being a fan of Faith No More - although their version of DK's 'Let's Lynch the Landlord' was bloody genius - I was totally stunned on first hearing this album.
I know Roddy Bottum was (is, aren't they back together?) merely the keyboard player in that monster nu-metal outfit, and keyboard players don't tend to be the most conspicuous within metal bands, but the difference in sound - and attitude - between Bottum's day-job band and this, his hobby band, is immense.
Strapping on an electric guitar and fronting a rock band can do wonders for the ego.
And as long as one can avoid the phallocentric urge, there is no better way to express raw, authentic emotion.
Roddy Bottum it seems had a lot to say.
Existential lyrics emerge from crisp, percussive riffs.
His words are playful, spiteful, provocative and funny.
Nearly every song has a hit the button moment.
That moment when the guitar player pushes the pedal switch.
That moment when you feel the rush.
The crush from behind.
And from within.
With a female rhythm section (and that's more Freudian than I intended) and old friend Will Schwartz helping out with guitar parts, Bottum appears to keep it real; his vulnerable delivery creates instant empathy, and the way the listener is compelled to join in with the lasting refrains creates an immediate bond.
Queer sensibility or not.
Imperial Teen - Seasick (1996)
Imperial Teen
Water Boy
Pig Latin
Blaming the Baby
You're One
Tippy Tap
CD rip to mp3s
Get all emotional here
Monday, 8 February 2010
Posted by roy rocket at 17:20:00
Labels: imperial teen
1 comment:
- -d said...
Thanks as always....
- 9 February 2010 at 01:22
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Kays Jewelry
Posted: 29 Jun 2011 10:20 PM PDT
Every time we buy something as precious, we always want to make a supplier, the quality and durability of us will buy. This is also true for our jewelry. Of all the shops that deal with jewelry Kays jewelry is still beating. This activity in this area over the past 90 years, more and therefore would be at their own risk and peril of losing their experience.
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At Kays will find a wide selection of jewelry for many different occasions such as weddings, gala dinners and other parties. It will also give a catalog from which you can try the different designs that you like. You can also check online time, you should go to save the shop. Once you click it, choose what you want, decide, then you can decide if you want, but online or in store, so that you can try your jewelrywhile still in the shop. With Kay jewelry, you can be sure your friends will envy.
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a black, hard wood, brought by the merchants from India to Tyre ( Ezekiel 27:15 ). It is the heart-wood, brought by Diospyros ebenus, which grows in Ceylon and Southern India.
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. "Entry for Ebony". "Easton's Bible Dictionary".


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Sydney Biniak
Howard, hitter, senior
As the engine behind the No. 3 Lions' offense, the 2012 All-Howard County first-team pick will be counted on to deliver the kills that the team needs to compete in a very tough league. Biniak finished with 166 kills last season, and she also had 27 blocks and 168 digs.
Madison Carter
South River, hitter, junior
A great athlete who has already verbally committed to Penn State for lacrosse, Carter provides the power for the No. 11 Seahawks' offense. Dominant at the net, she finished with 137 kills last year.
Allie Orr
Arundel, hitter, senior
Known for her upbeat personality, Orr leads by example and will be counted on — along with her twin sister, Brittany — to tutor younger players this season. Her blocks and kills will be key for the No. 1 Wildcats to remain the Baltimore area's top team.
Brittany Orr
Arundel, setter, senior
Wildcats coach Ashley Yuscavage said Orr's a great leader because she has an edge to her game. Her sets — 477 assists in 2012 — have been a major reason for Arundel's success in the past two seasons.
Rachel Pierson
South River, setter, senior
An opposing coach said this summer that Pierson is the best high school setter in the state. The Seahawks will rely on the veteran to captain their high-powered offense this season as they look to take the next step in Anne Arundel County.
Jillian Randolph
St. Paul's, hitter, junior
A Division I prospect, the 2012 All-Metro second-team selection is the undisputed leader of the No. 2 Gators this season. A complete player, most of the offense will flow through Randolph as St. Paul's seeks its first IAAM title since 2007.
Amanda Rodriguez
Bel Air, setter, senior
An All-Metro first-team pick last season, Rodriguez will aim to captain a young team to a second consecutive appearance in the state playoffs. Walter Bondarenko, the No. 8 Bobcats' new coach, already appreciates her work ethic.
Moriah Savage
Mercy, hitter, junior
With the interest of some Division I programs, Savage is arguably the best player in the IAAM B Conference this season. The left-hander's leadership is crucial as Mercy looks to repeat as conference champion.
Tori Smith
C. Milton Wright, hitter, senior
Generally acknowledged as the best offensive player in Harford County, Smith's leadership and net play will be key to the Mustangs' performance this year.
Nicole Venturelli
Liberty, hitter, junior
Long known as one of the better club players in the Baltimore area, Venturelli may be the best performer in Carroll County this season. How well she adjusts to new coach Michael Rainbow will tell how well the No. 15 Lions finish.
Other notables
Milan Amos, Dulaney
Mallory Baldwin, Mount Hebron
Alyssa Berke, Archbishop Spalding
Natalie Bockmiller, Catonsville
Kendall Burdette, St. Paul's
Anna Carmen, Notre Dame Prep
LeAnne Collins, Hereford
Cassidy Crossland, St. Paul's
Julia del Carmen, Chapelgate Christian
Jeni Ford, Seton Keough
Braedyn Gallagher, Francis Scott Key
Katherine Gilbert, Notre Dame Prep
Kara Glynn, Severna Park
Megan Herholtz, Liberty
Sophie Hoekstra, Severna Park
Anna Holehouse, Fallston
Dallas Jasper, Broadneck
Meghan Kelley, Centennial
Kayla Larie, Mercy
Jessie Link, Centennial
Cori McCray, Archbishop Spalding
Shalea Nichols, Poly
Alexandra Petenbrink, Francis Scott Key
Hannah Pinion, Reservoir
Haleigh Plummer, C.Milton Wright
Keana Richards, River Hill
Kristen Ritchie, Centennial
Celeste Roland, Bel Air
Megan Ross, Mount Hebron
Cara Stine, Severna Park
Darla Svoboda, Dulaney
Annie Tavera, Mount de Sales
Hailey Thrift, Century
Hanna Webster, Howard
Maja Wichhart, Catonsville