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Not surprisingly, one of the big draws at this year's U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis has been the new Garcia Exploration 45, developed by French builder Garcia Yachts in cooperation with bluewater sailing guru, author, and ARC founder Jimmy Cornell. I'm a big fan of Garcia, which has been building boats for 40 years now, both because they build in aluminum and because they do it exceedingly well. In the last several years most of their boats have been large stratoshperic custom jobs, well beyond the reach of mere mortals with less than a couple of million to spend, so it's heartening to see them again building something a bit more accessible.
Day two of this year's test-sailing program looked to be a bit snotty weather-wise, with the forecast early on showing wind gusting to 30 knots, rain, and a good chance of thunderstorms. Great conditions, in other words, for trying out the new Garcia Exploration 45. As things turned out, the weather was actually a bit more moderate than that, but we still enjoyed sporty conditions out on Chesapeake Bay during our first test sail, with the wind blowing about 20 knots true.
Which started out with a bang yesterday, as we journos were lured to Harken's booth, where Harken's Davide Burrini (up top) introduced the new Assisted Sail Trim system Harken has developed in cooperation with Jeanneau. This is the Holy Grail of an automatic sailing system we've been hearing builders talk about for going on ten years now. Now it's happening! The boats will sail themselves! All we have to do is press buttons.
My first outing on day two of this year's test-sailing binge after the Annapolis show found me on the new Jeanneau 64, which is effectively a mini-superyacht built on a mass-production basis. That photo you see up top shows a portion of the group I sailed with enjoying the big lounging cockpit while noshing on donuts and coffee proffered by Jeanneau's Paul Fenn (he's the one gesticulating closest to the companionway). Both those cockpit tables can be set at variable heights, or can be lowered all the way to form plush cockpit berths.
Walking the docks at Newport last week I couldn't help noticing that the seemingly never-ending invasion of Euro boats into the American market continues apace. Two new brands in evidence this year were Euphoria and Azuree, both of which are creatures of Sirena Marine, a Turkish builder that previously did contract work for others (most notably building powerboats for Azimut) and a few years ago struck out on its own. Yes, I know most of Turkey is not in Europe, but still, the Euphoria 54 (see photo up top), designed by German Frers, reads as a sleek luxury performance cruiser in the best Euro style.
I knew this would be an amusing show when I quickly deduced that this unlikely looking vessel, the new Exquisite X5 catamaran from South Africa, would likely prove one of the more interesting vessels on site. Yes, yes. I know what you're thinking. I have sometimes complained, in a condescending tone, of how many modern powerboats are designed to look like running shoes, and here we have a sailboat that clearly falls into that same category. But really, I swear, this is a very cool boat.
I had a full dance card my first day testing boats last week after the show closed down, and as often happens on Chesapeake Bay, even in the fall, the forecast was for increasingly light conditions through the day and on into the next. Fortunately, the boats I was sailing also got increasingly lighter as the day wore on, starting with the Allures 39.9, a nice aluminum centerboard cruiser from France. I enjoyed an excellent sail in 9-12 knots of breeze with these prospective buyers (seen here enjoying the comfy cockpit with high-backed coamings) as well as Pete McGonagle from Swiftsure Yachts (they represent Allures in the U.S.) and one Brian, the boat's owner.
Day two of my test-sailing regimen on Chesapeake Bay earlier this month involved just two boats, both a good deal larger (50-footers) than the three I sailed on day one. The wind forecast, lamentably, was for even lighter conditions overall than the day before. This worried me a bit, particularly with respect to my first ride, the impressive X5 cruising catamaran on which I bloviated at some length in my post on the Annapolis show. We approached her via water taxi in the morning as she lay at anchor off the Naval Academy (see image up top), and I noted with dismay the mostly unruffled water on which she floated.
I can say without doubt the most interesting conversation I had while cruising the docks at Newport on Thursday was with this man, Xavier Desmarest, one of the principals of Grand Large Yachting, seen here closing his eyes and tapping his toes and wishing perhaps he were back in Kansas, or France, as the case may be. Grand Large, you'll recall, is the French firm that recently purchased the bankrupted remains of Gunboat at auction. And to give you an idea of what a quirky guy Xavier can be: immediately after I snapped this shot he popped open his eyes and asked if he should take his clothes off. Which started a whole riff between us on whether there might be a market for a photo calendar filled with month-by-month shots of naked boatbuilders, kind of like the old Pirelli calendar, only weirder.
Here's an interesting journalistic conundrum. I cover the Annapolis show for SAIL every year and judge boats for the magazine's Best Boats competition. BUT I also have (or had, as the show just closed) a boat in this year's show (as you can see in that photo up top) that is being considered in both our Best Boats program and in Cruising World's Boat of the Year program (latter banner not yet installed as of time of photo). In the trade this is called a Conflict of Interest. I actually hoped to capitalize on this and argued to the Powers That Be that I should not play the Best Boats game this year, but no… evidently my opinion is valued (though you wouldn't guess that from what I'm paid to do this), and I was told I would only be excused from judging the category (Monohulls 40-50 feet) in which my boat appeared. Fortunately, this is a large category this year and my COI did save me a fair bit of work.
Just back from test-sailing boats après-show this past week at Annapolis. Five boats in two days in fairly strong conditions, with the wind blowing 20 knots at time. Once I even saw gusts to over 30. This is ideal! Normally we get light wind, which makes it harder to get a good sense of how boats behave. My first boat on day one was the Bavaria Cruiser 46, which really is just a new updated version of the Bavaria Cruiser 45. The hull and underwater appendages are the same, but the deck and interior have been modified. As you can see in that photo up top, she has a very wide butt and an enormous fold-down transom.
It says something of the nature of these boats that my initial correspondence with Jean-François Eeman (see photo up top), managing director of Boréal Yachts, regarding a visit to their yard, was interrupted for a month while he and his family took off on a cruise to Antarctica. On a Boréal, of course. Indeed, Eeman's boat was the first Boréal 44 ever built, the ultimate product of a chance encounter on a dock in Ushuaia, Argentina, between Eeman and another Jean-François, surname Delvoye, a designer and builder with many bluewater miles under his belt who had long been nursing an idea for an ideal cruising vessel.
The basic concept here is not at all unusual. Aluminum bluewater centerboard boats, though not often found in North America, have long been a staple of the French cruising scene. Major French builders Garcia and Alubat have focused primarily on boats like this for decades, and several smaller builders have followed in their wake. Boréal, barely ten years old, is the rising star on the scene, thanks to a focus on build quality that rivals that of the early Garcias and also to some unique design features that take the concept to a new level.
In fact I have been in Treguier here in France for a week now, grappling with the project of getting to know the new Lunacy while simultaneously studying printer's proofs for the new book. The book now has been irretrievably committed to the press, and just yesterday Jean-Francois Eeman of Boreal Yachts joined me for a maiden sail on Lunacy. We had a broad range of wind to work in, from 8 to 25 knots apparent at various angles, and exercised all the sails, including the spinnaker, which has, as you can see, quite the modest color scheme.
We have discussed dinghies before, in a global sense, and I've also made it known that I personally prefer roll-up inflatables, primarily because they are easy to stow. But I'm always on the look-out for a better tender, so I spent a little time checking out these new F-RIB boats that were on display in Annapolis in the fall. They struck me as well built, neatly engineered, with impressive specs and pricing. The smallest boat in the range is 9 feet (see image up top), which is the size I always go for, and it weighs just 79 pounds and sells for $2,995.
We all knew this day was coming. With the recent launch and test-sailing of the new Neel 65 the concept of "cruising trimaran" has officially metastasized into the upper stratosphere. I was impressed with its smaller sibling, the Neel 45, when I got a chance to sail one in France a few years ago, and I'm wondering if this new beast has achieved what must be considered the Holy Grail in multihull design: over-the-top accommodation space combined with decent sailing performance.
It's over… at long last! My seventh transat done and dusted. This has been true for nearly a week now and still I'm waking up in a bed in a house every morning in a confused wobbly-footed fuzzy-headed daze feeling like I just stepped ashore.
I must be getting old or something.
This was a hard one this. For one thing it was a bigger jump than I had sketched out in my head. For some reason I had fixated on 2000 as the rough mileage between Porto Santo and Bermuda (see last blog post), but in fact it is 2,400 and change, even via a great circle route, as the chartplotter dourly informed me once I plugged in the distant waypoint. In all, due both to contrary winds and aggravating technical problems (more on that coming up), it took us 23 days and about nine hours to transit the gap, which via the meandering route we followed involved moving much more than just 2,400 miles.
Talk about shiny new. (It's a camera defect, actually, that makes the boat sparkle so.) This is us on Lunacy crossing the Bay of Biscay, en route from Treguier, France, to La Coruña, Spain, late last month. (I would have posted something about this earlier, but finding a reliable Wifi signal in La Coruña proved challenging.) This passage, a distance of 400-plus miles, took three days. Highlights included the comfortable deep broad reach you see here (a wing-on-wing-on-wing configuration, as I call it, with the staysail splayed out opposite the poled-out jib), some vivid phosphorescent water filled with spiraling dolphins one very magical night, and one very sporty night with wind howling straight on to our beam at 27-33 knots true for hours on end. The boat, flying a double-reefed main and the staysail, was much more comfortable doing this than we were.
It's hard to believe, but there just might be enough of these atrocities now that they qualify as a boat type unto themselves. They're not really motor-sailers, which have displacement hulls and are rather slow under power. Instead I've come to refer to them as power-sailers: powerboats with big outboard engines and planing hulls that can also be sailed. The latest entry into this weird niche market is the new Nuva MS6 out of Barcelona, Spain. It's got a carbon-fiber rig, a modern square-top mainsail, a retractable bulb keel, and a plumb bow, all of which makes it very much "of the moment" as a sailboat. Or you can leave the rig off altogether and just use it as a trendy-looking runabout.
I have been shy about mentioning this to people, for various reasons, but now it's time to come clean. You'll have noticed I am trying to sell Lunacy, my faithful Tanton 39 cutter of the last 10 years, and some have asked what comes next. The answer, of course, is another aluminum boat. Two of the many things owning Lunacy has taught me is once you've had an aluminum boat, or a boat with a transom skirt, there's no turning back. So, yes, the new Lunacy has both those things, though that photo up there won't tell you much about the skirt.
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The Chicago Blackhawks recently locked up their two franchise players, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, to an eight-year contract extension, ensuring that the two young players wear the Indian Head during their prime playing years. The deals, identical $10.5 million a year extensions that pay the duo until 2023, are a large chunk of change for the Blackhawks to spend on two players in their 23-man roster. Some question whether these extensions will hurt Chicago's chances to become the next great hockey dynasty, as it might limit the Blackhawks odds are picking up depth forwards in the future. While it is true that the future looks a little more murky for Chicago, there is one hard truth that lead to these extensions: A Chicago Blackhawks team with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane is better than one without.
Make no mistake. In today's NHL, depth is the name of the game. Chicago proved that in 2010, when it won the Stanley Cup with a deep offensive attack that saw the likes of Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd play on the third line. Since then, the Cup has been won by the team that could roll a more balanced attack than their Stanley Cup Final opponent. However, while the depth of the Boston Bruins, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Chicago Blackhawks contributed to their respective Cup wins, the teams did not ignore their star players. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci led the Bruins, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams led the Kings, and Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane lead the Blackhawks. It is a combination of depth and star power that leads to Cup wins. Having one or the other simply is not enough.
Look no further than the Pittsburgh Penguins. They won the Cup in 2009, when they were able to roll three forward lines centered by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal (who was drafted one spot ahead of Jonathan Toews in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft). Since then, money was spent on making the Penguins a very top-heavy team. As a result, their depth suffered. It has led to many frustrating early round losses for the Pittsburgh franchise, and has caused some unrest in Crosby and Malkin, as evidenced by last year's public shouting match with then-Pittsburgh coach Dan Byslma. The Penguins will have to rely on the slowly rising cap to build their depth, or trade one of their top-heavy contracts in Marc-Andre Fleury or Kris Letang.
With the extensions of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the Chicago Blackhawks may have to do the same. The extensions do not kick in until the 2015-2016 season, giving time for the cap to rise a bit and time for the Blackhawks to make the necessary trades. Winger Patrick Sharp was rumored to be on the trading block at the NHL draft, supposedly in anticipation of these contract extensions. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson could also be on the move in the near future, if the Blackhawks feel they need to make the space to keep their depth in-tact. The Blackhawks learned their lesson after 2010, which saw them lose many of their depth players and struggle to find the same magic in the few years that followed.
Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman was in a tough situation this offseason. He could not let his two franchise forwards leave the team, or even have that thought raised in the mind of the fans. After all, Toews has captained the team to two Cup wins, and Kane won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013. The two young players are the Chicago Blackhawks, for all intents and purposes. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place, essentially forced to give the duo a blank check, regardless of how it might affect the team in the future. For now, Blackhawks fans should be excited at the thought of watching Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane tear through the ice for years to come. As far as the depth of the team? That's for the hockey gods to decide.
Commentary by Jonathan Gardner
Chicago Blackhawks
Guardian Liberty Voice

subset: commoncrawl


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Easy Works by Easy Street
Lyndee Embossed Mule
Details https://www.belk.com/p/easy-works-by-easy-street-lyndee-embossed-mule/2900835200002.html
Additional Information
The Lyndee Mule is enhanced with an embossed design and is a slip-resistant style with a premium removable insole and arch support. You'll feel sumptuous and seamless with every step you take wearing this fashion-forward silhouette on any occasion.
- Slip-on
- Removable insole
- Arch support
- Leather
- Imported
Shipping Details
Shipping Details
This item ships directly from the vendor, usually within 4 business days. Shipping Details
Return Details
Returns are easy at belk.com. Easy returns


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. The most relaxing spa and tranquility place ,
. Chose between the best spa selling signature and traditional treatment at the best prices.
. Take in the clean and soothing environment as you pampered by professional staffs.
. Our mission is to provide the express and sweet service naturally from the heart.
. We combined the health benefit of Massage therapies, Body treatments, Facial treatment, Hand and feet care and Spa packages.
. The Products are selected by using the highly quality of organic.
. The staffs are highly trained and professional.
. You could choose from 60, 90 and 120 minutes or spa packages depend on your wish.
Operation hour :
. Open daily from 10.00 am to 11.00 pm
. Last booking at 10.00 pm
Our location:
. Taphul Street next to the villa siem ream hotel behind Park Hyatt hotel.
. Central in town around central market and Pub street Old market, the attractive location for tourists visiting.
How to get to Devatara spa:
. We provide free pick up from hotel or other place in town.
Cancellation policy:
. for cancellation made at least 24 hours prior to activities.
Tour Information
Key Details
- Mobile Voucher Accepted
- Hotel pickup Available
- Duration: 1 Hrs
Departure Time :
- Our last booking at 9: 00 pm. - Our last departure at 10:30 pm
Departure Details :
Devatara Spa , www.devataraspa.com
Return Details :
DEVATARA SPA Siem Reap Taphul Street Nex to the villa Siem Reap Behind PARK HYATT HOTEL
Cancellation Policy : Cancel up to 2 days in advance for a full refund
Jasmine Rice Body Scrub 60 min 23 USD We used our Cambodians Jasmine rice, Black sticky rice to associated with Jasmine oil, Plain Yogurt, Honey, fresh fruit Juice function as gentle exfoliation to sooth, smooth and softening your skins in its natural way.
Know More about this tour
- Free pick up service in town
- Welcome drink, face towel and lotus flower
- Flower footpath to clean your feet before spa treatment
- Serve one plate of fresh fruit or some cookies after treatment
- . Steam and Sauna
. Bathtub
. Swimming pool
. Jacuzzi
Additional Info
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please visit our website for further information


text: We offer horse boarding with individual care on a private 80-acre farm with trails and dirt roads, conveniently located in Central Boulder County. We have an outdoor dressage arena and a private paddock for each horse. We feed (and sell) our own certified weed-free grass hay and grass-alfalfa mix. Boarding includes two flakes morning and evening and we will feed whatever else you'd like your horse to have. You can work down board by doing about an hour of barn chores a week. We have three family horses and boarding for six. If you and your horse(s) are mellow and friendly, we look forward to having you join us!


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Have you heard of the Creative Women's Circle? the:
"is a networking group for women involved in creative industries to share information, inspiration and ideas."
Last year they also published a book which is a collection of interviews with
14 creative Australia women.
Recently they hosted their first Sydney talk, it was lovely listening to the stories of Julie Paterson and how her textile business 'cloth' came to be.
Julie asked us to finger knit while listening to her collection of memories and experiences, it was a lovely way to spend a little time and get together.
That was then followed a week later by the ABCD meet up - which combined with Sydney Instagrammers! This must have worked it's charm on me as i hardly snapped any shots at all
once i entered this world! Luckily the lovely Steph has more comprehensive visuals here
once i entered this world! Luckily the lovely Steph has more comprehensive visuals here
We even had a visit from a travelling tea house thanks to Sweet Jane
While we had planned on a picnic in the park, inclement weather meant a venue change. How lucky we were to be hosted by the lovely women of Polli. I had to contain myself, being surrounded by such a variety of 'seductive' jewellery. Everyone pitched in with sweet treats to share - the mixed plate of 'leftovers' was a hit to take home too.
Steph and Lisa (make sure you check out her new look site for fabulous ideas, seriously!) both do a fantastic job of creating these meetups ensuring they work on so many levels: visual, social, satisfying + fun!
As for the instagram part - it was interesting breaking into smaller discussion groups to hear other bloggers discuss how/why they used instagram and basically chat about why we all loved it!
While lots of people these days have many facets to their lives i did appreciate the opportunity to get out from behind the screen and mingle in these circles.


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Drain Pump 220-240v 50hz Askoll Flap by Indesit
Save 3%!
In Stock
132 sold
Item Information
Genuine spare part for selected Hotpoint washing machines Genuine Indesit spare part
Drain Pump 220-240v 50hz Askoll Flap
- Weight
- 0.61kg
- Manufacturer Number
How to Advice
How to change the drain pump on a washing machine Ariston AIB16
How to change the drain pump on a washing machine Hotpoint WMA60P
Fits the Following Models
Choose a manufacturer to reveal the models that the part Drain Pump 220-240v 50hz Askoll Flap is suitable for.
Search our range of Drain Pump 220-240v 50hz Askoll Flap C00282341 by Indesit models by entering your model number to perform a search.
Customer Reviews
Write your own review of Drain Pump 220-240v 50hz Askoll Flap.
Drain pump
Received quite quickly, fitted an the washing machine is now working perfect.
13 Mar 2017 by Teresa
Questions & Answers
Do you have a drainage pump for a hotpoint ultima wmd740 washing machine?
14 Jun 2014 by paul
Hi Paul,
Could you please send over the product number for this model as there are a few variations
17 Jun 2014 by Anonymous
will this be suitable to replace a askoll m231,Art- rn0027, cod-160025690.00 220-240v 50Hz, 0.2a 34w cl.155
This is the detail IV taken from the brain pump from a Hotpoint washer
19 Jul 2014 by Kevin
Hello Kevin,
Could you please send over the model number of the machine, so we can see if this part is compatible
14 Aug 2014 by Anonymous
Delivery Information
For UK orders we offer a Free Delivery, Standard or Next Working Day delivery service.
We have separate delivery charges for Europe, North America, Japan and the Rest of the World based on the size, weight and destination of your order.
Please view our About Delivery page for full details.
Returns & Refunds
If an item is faulty or damaged on delivery and we are notified within 24 hours we will arrange for a replacement or a refund of the item - it needs to be within this time period for us to make claims with our couriers.
If you have simply changed your mind or no longer require the item(s), you must notify us within 7 days from receiving your order. The item(s) must be in their original unused and unopened packaging and be in a resalable condition for a full refund. You will need to pay for the cost of returning the item(s) and the item(s) remain your responsibility until we receive them.
Please view our Returns & Refunds page for full details.


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Collectibles by Leeds ~ Treasures of Yesteryear
Ramon Rivas and Jennifer Rivas (Leeds), Russell IL
This is a vintage find that I discovered yesterday at an amazing Estate Sale in the resort town of Lake Geneva Wisconsin. The estate was amazing, but more important so is this find!! This is a solid wooden shoe form or last used by cobblers to hold shoes for display. This piece has a gorgeous rich deep patina and is marked CABOT, the "lady of the home" explained to me that she used it as a display in her "guest powder room" which had been decorated in "old world French". Research shows CABOT means ""wooden shoe", which comes from the Old French cabot"". This is marked with a size of 8D both tooled into the wood and in the incredibly elegant font on the side. The name "Woodright" is on the other side with the date of Jan 9 (?) 1951 or 1961, see photos. This piece measures 10 3/4" in length, 3 1/2" wide and 3 1/2" tall, it weighs 1 lbs and 6 ounces. ENJOY!!
31 other shoppers are interested in this item
Get a mug of coffee or tea, a tall cold drink, come in and browse!! Enjoy!!
INCREDIBLE SALE!! Stop in and browse our eclectic treasure trove...."You Never Know What Treasures Await You!"


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Europe Travel Ideas (2)
Ireland Trip –Authentic, Effortless & Fun!Written by Andre
I had the opportunity to visit Ireland this past week via Brendan Tours and it was grand. This was my first escorted deluxe tour and I really enjoyed myself. No stress, great service, deluxe accommodations plus unique local experiences that Brendan Vacations offers. Every guide was educational & entertaining. I couldn't have been more comfortable in the new Volvo coach. I saw much of southern Ireland while being wined & dined. If you want to immerse yourself in a destination, having a tour director is truly an asset. Learning about Ireland without having your face in a tour book is refreshing.
One highlight of this trip was hiking the cliffs of Mohr & then driving to Dromoland Castle for the last night. (I would suggest 2 NTS here) I did the Falconry experience on the grounds of Dromoland Castle, with the leather glove & the falcon perched or flying. This hunting technique of kings may go back 15,000 years.
The Emerald Isle lives up to its name; rolling green hills, ruined castles, stone terraces, quaint towns & a very lively Dublin.
Ireland can be seen by car i.e. self- drive or chauffeured, rail and or escorted tours. You can reside in B & B's, Hotels, Manor Houses & Castles. Whatever your style, I will match the itinerary & style to your Irish dream.
The time to visit Italy is now!Written by Andre
Why travel to Italy in 2016? The dollar is strong & Italy is just too beautiful & amazing to pass up.
Most travelers to Italy visit the big three i.e. Rome, Florence & Venice. While these cities are a must on everyone's Italy itinerary smaller cities like Assisi & Orvieto, both can be considered day trips from Rome, are unforgettable. If clients have time I suggest 1 or 2 NTS in Assisi & an afternoon in Orvieto on way to Rome. Clients who have chosen this route have loved it.
Now let's hop the train or take an escorted tour & head south to Naples & the Amalfi coast –Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii & Postiano. The best time to visit is from April – October. Many hotels are closed doing the winter months. Check out this a video I found that really does the Amalfi coast justice:
For travel ideas to Italy & the best of Europe please give me a call.


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Today most businesses do not have to worry about what vendor to purchase their hardware from since it's all pretty much universal. Instead, they have to worry about which software they'll use to implement the business on that hardware. There are numerous choices, from pre-packaged off-the-shelf solutions, in-house designed and developed solutions, custom contracted designs, etc. Then there's open source – a relative newcomer to most businesses, but in particular, one that is developing in acceptance at companies around the world.
So what exactly is open source? Generally speaking, it is software that is provided under an open license – you get the source code and then you're free to do with it what you wish. You can run it as-is, customize it or use it as an integral part of another package. Businesses have warmed up to open source computing in recent years since it allows them to become more agile in choosing solutions and software that fit their business needs. They are no longer locked into one particular vendor, or locked out of software altogether, because the price tag is too high. It allows them to put a large part of their in-house programming and IT talent to work designing the specific software that holds the business rules for the business instead of redesigning common applications – like accounting packages, web servers, etc.
There's Always More About Open Source Software…
Of course, as the expression goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Free comes with drawbacks – the one of the major drawbacks for any business looking to go the open source route, is the subject of support for the system they're running. Just imagine a business using an open source accounting package and it fails – without support the level of time and potential lost revenue the business would suffer could be enormous. It is because of this that many companies, when looking at the open source route, do so not with the free price tag in mind, but instead they think about value-added support services offered by third-party companies.
While the software may be free, many companies pay for these support contracts to ensure that when things go wrong there is someone on the other side of the phone to assist them. A number of vendors have turned to this model, taking open source software such as the Linux OS, and packaging it with support services and offering that to customers. In fact, this trend of bundling open source software with support and implementation services has become so popular, that many commercial vendors that may already provide us with products such as HP servers, software, and Sun servers, have started looking at offering similar programs or revamping their product lines to take advantage of open source developments.
Other Important Open Source Software Considerations
Open source software is generally free. So is the virtual world of support through the community forums regarding software. Live assist such as forums and chat often comes with nearly every Linux software package. There are options to obtain added support with open source software. However, it is always going to be much less expensive than investing on the essential commercial software alternative. With open source software, you'll get superior software at a reduced price than commercial software, in addition to you are not being locked into restrictive software which will continually need improvements and customer back up.
It is a fairly easy decision to go with the possibility that will better go well with your personal as well as business wants by using all of the benefits of open source software over the big brand commercial software. If you ever think it isn't up to your mark, try some other program. It is possible that you may never need to handle commercial software again. There are lots of options that can answer your needs with open source software.
So is open source right for your business? That all depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Nothing is ever a perfect fit for every business. Each business must decide what it wishes to spend its limited resources on. However, for most companies, the road to open source computing is looking bright and widening by the day. Proprietary, closed software packages may one day be something we only talk about in the IT history books.


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Week 3: The magic happens. Paranoia. Maternity pills!
Week 4: I want to eat all of the things all of the time. All of them. All of the time.
Week 5: Man, my boobs are really sore. Why does the entire world smell terrible? I need chicken wings RIGHT NOW! I guess this period will be a doozy. Heh heh...heh?
Week 6: I'm pregnant? I'm pregnant! Zzzzzzzzz
Week 7: Nausea. I can smell EVERYTHING, and it smells terrible! Onions are dead to me. And eggs, and cooking meat, and pretty much anything with more flavour than boiled chicken. I hate all food. My inner foodie rocks and cries in a dusty corner.
Week 8: My body says, "suck it up! You can hate all food if you like, but now you have to eat 8 times a day, including trips to the fridge at 3:30am. And you also need to pee every hour now, so get used to it, sucker."
Week 9: Grapes, blueberries, bananas, peanut butter and sliced apple toast, chicken nuggets, and repeat. All other food is on the hate list. Also, the time has come to build a pillow fort in my bed. Danny gets lonely, especially because his beard smells "weird" and "gross" to me and I don't want to kiss him.
Week 10: Okay, add Oreo blizzards, poutine, pulled pork sandwiches, and cereal to that "safe" food list. This pillow fort is AWESOME!
Week 11: Chicken nuggets. I want them. I want them so hard. Danny's beard is back in my good books...for now.
Week 12: Surprise! Shrimpy has a growth spurt. My pants suddenly don't do up even a little bit. My zippers all beg for mercy as I try anyway. We have a party at a friend's house (thanks, Bethany) to tell many of our near and dear about our exciting news via the magic of cookies. Then, a few days later...heartbeat!!! Let's tell everyone in the whole facebookverse RIGHT NOW. We feel like celebrities.
|I ate most of these cookies within 3 days. The baby made me do it.
Week 13: My body says, "okay, I'll let you be kind of a normal human being again, but in return, you don't get to sleep anymore, even though you are exhausted all the time. HA! But I'm not unreasonable, so you get to eat eggs again. That's something, right? Right?" Attempted zzzzz.
And that brings me up to yesterday. Now I'm in my 14th week, which means I'll be 14 weeks along this coming Saturday. My little shrimp is now the size of a peach, according to the interwebs. The interwebs also tell me that I shouldn't be able to feel anything inside yet, but I swear I feel flutters almost every day, like the tiniest swimmer doing the backstroke around my little uterine swimming pool.
I also stole Danny's warm jogging pants today, but he doesn't know it yet. :)


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Episode 026: Icecream and Accidents
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSS
NSFW. Cameron and Tristan ramble on a variety of subjects, but for some reason they always revolve around toilet humour. Tristan kicks off his new musical side project, with the new Shamecast Jingle.
Tristan tells us about his hectic week, and his 'Lads on Tour' holidays. Cameron shares the pain of a root canal, and asks what happens if you're hungover when the Zombie apocalypse happens?
Cameron has numerous confrontations in bars, while Tristan acts like a VIP. They discuss the idea of having first dates at Ikea.


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Monday, June 26, 2006
A Historical Moment Nearly Missed at the SBC Meeting
2 comments:
- Stephen said...
While agreeing with Dr. Rice's views and sentiments (for the most part), I was left wondering why the SBC would invite such a person to speak. Sadly, isn't it often the danger that as Christian organizations gain some standing in this world, they often look to validate their credibility by worldly standards? Dr. Rice's appearance was indeed historic & memorable; her confession of personal faith was not. James 2v1-4
- FellowElder said...
Yeah, I think there is tremendous danger for the SBC and other evangelical groups in over-identifying with partisan figures (read Republican). One of the problems with that, as you allude to Stephen, is that every party is something of a mixed bag. They include some issues and figures you like, and some issues and figures you might want to distance yourself from (Truth be told, there's probably more ideological difference in the convention itself than is normally portrayed). To the extent that Christians identify with a party instead of particular positions and persons representing those positions, I think we blur the distinction between Biblical truth and partisan platforms.
What I was struck by in Mohler's piece was his calling to mind the fact that a descendent of slaves was speaking at the keynote event of the former slaveholding denomination. One could argue that a pro-slavery slave in 1860 could probably have found some voice at a convention, and perhaps Rice's politics aren't far from that (I don't hold that view), but the historic importance of the moment shouldn't be lost. Some gospel progress was on display as what once was unthinkable was welcomed--a black woman addressing the SBC.
Would that more of our churches reflected the "one new man" that Christ died to make us.


text: Surrounding every feisty woman, is her tribe- a group of fabulous, bold, daring, fun, and powerful women. As someone who lives far away from her tribe, I long for the fun nights chatting away, sharing stories of relationships, work, love and life. I long for the closeness and the camaraderie. So when I was gearing up to head back to work after my maternity leave (and knowing I would continue to have nearly no time at all to write), I reached out to the best of my tribe, asking them to speak their truths, their jokes, their insecurities or their joys- into a guest blog. The following posts are from those who jumped in, and decided to share their feisty selves. I love these women, and every word they have written.


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The Fuck Bombers is a cinema club, made up of wannabe filmmakers including director Hirata (Hiroki Hasegawa), two camera operators (one "proper" and one handheld cinematographer) and lead actor Sasaki (Tak Sakaguchi) who does a decent Bruce Lee impression. Hirata always talks about making one truly great film, rather than a series of cash jobs like most other directors. He prays to the "God of Movies" that he makes the best film ever, even if he dies making it (yeah, you can see where this one is heading). But that's the problem: he's always talking about it rather than doing it.
His chance comes when a fortuitous and extremely convoluted series of events turn in his favour. Two yakuza clans have been at war with each other for at least ten years. Taizo Muto (Jun Kunimura) is the father of Mitsuko Muto (Fumi Nikaido) who found success with a toothpaste commercial when she was young, and now as an adult is looking to break into the film industry as a lead actress. Muto promises his wife Shizue (Tomochika), who is presently incarcerated, that Mitsuko will star in a movie. Taizo's yakuza rival Ikegami (Shin'ichi Tsutsumi) was (creepily) infatuated with Mitsuko from that toothpaste commercial, and is even more so now, ten years later - hey, at least she's of legal age now, right? Mitsuko escapes from her father under the pretense of falling in love with loser Koji (Gen Hoshino), but it turns out that Koji has been in love with Mitsuko ever since he saw that ad as a young boy (less creepy than Ikegami's infatuation, but still...).
Somehow Mitsuko and Koji work out a truce with Muto and Ikegami to film an imminent raid on Ikegami's compound, with Mitsuko as the lead, but they need a proper film crew to capture all the bloody carnage. Cue the Fuck Bombers.
As you might have figured, Why Don't You Play In Hell? (from now on referred to as WDYPIH?) is packed full of characters and a packed plotline, leading up to the inevitable bloodbath. It feels so convoluted, considering that at its core this is a fairly straightforward, if heartfelt, look at the Japanese filmmaking industry. There are a whole lot of inconsequential characters, some played by Sono regulars including Hiroyuki Onoue, Tetsu Watanabe and Megumi Kagurazaka, but at its core WDYPIH? is really the story of father and daughter reconciling in the middle of a clan war that just happens to be the basis of what is essentially a snuff film. It's an intriguing concept, one that would have worked better if Sono had cut some of the extraneous characters and scenes and kept things tight. But of course that's not his M.O.
The Fuck Bombers have a tremendous enthusiasm for film - particularly "proper" film shot on 35mm that is practically fetishised here - and that translates through in WDYPIH?, in the way Sono aggressively shoots his action scenes, makes liberal use of zooms, whips and freeze-frames, and the delirious and exaggerated use of comedy. He packs in some absurdly wonderful shots, including a floor that's completely covered in blood, and in Koji's cocaine-fueled rainbow dream of Mitsuko. Unfortunately, as is the case with a lot of Sono's films, WDYPIH? is overstuffed and overlong, robbing the film of its momentum at numerous turns.
At least the final battle is worth the wait. The practical effects are good, but are undermined by a reliance on CGI blood spray, fake bulletholes and smoke. We get it, it's much easier to film, but nothing beats practical effects and squibwork, which is why only The Raid and The Raid 2 (and, arguably, Born To Fight) have ever come close to matching the delirious and awesome tactile carnage of Hard-Boiled. Apparently inspired by Bruce Lee's unfortunate Game Of Death, more people will compare this sequence to the House of Blue Leaves battle in Kill Bill Vol. 1, particularly where it uses music that is highly reminiscent of "Battle Without Honor Or Humanity" and, with its abundant limb slicing swordplay, bears more resemblance to Tarantino's film than the dodgy cut'n'paste job that represented Lee's unfinished film. Of course, given that Tarantino was referencing bloodspurters like the Lone Wolf and Lady Snowblood series as well as various Shaw Brothers productions, it's fair to say the industry self-referencing has come full-circle, from East to West and back East again.
Performances are hard to gauge in a film of such extremes. Japanese film industry stalwart Jun Kunimura does his usual tough guy shtick, albeit infused with a tenderness for his daughter. Sakaguchi is fun as a Bruce Lee ripoff, but Hasegawa goes completely for broke as the Fuck Bomber director, dialling every scene up to eleven, and Gen Hoshino plays such an annoying sad-sack character that he almost immediately becomes tiresome. WDYPIH?'s best performances come from Nikaido as the aspiring but self-admittedly dumb actress and Tsutsumi's infatuated mob boss, who's so obsessed with Misuko that he has a massive picture of her on the wall and makes the most delightfully weird faces when she's around.
SHARK WEEK (2012) DVD Review
DANGEROUS MEN (2005) Blu-ray Review
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (1992) Blu-ray Review
THE LAST WARRIOR (2000) Blu-ray Review
DIAMOND DOGS (2007) DVD Review
BONE TOMAHAWK (2015) Blu-ray Review
LET US PREY (2014) Blu-ray Review
MACHETE (2010) Blu-ray Review
THE MECHANIK (2005) Blu-ray Review
DIRECT ACTION (2004) DVD Review
NIGHTCRAWLER (2014) Blu-ray Review
MOSQUITOMAN (2005) DVD Review
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980) Blu-ray Review
POLTERGEIST (2015) Blu-ray Review
DRIVEN TO KILL (2009) Blu-ray Review


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text: Today husband and I had a visit with difficult child's neuropsychologist. We had a very good meeting and our going to have at least two more with him. We recieved the full written report-17 pages long!-he did apologize for it being so long but wanted to make sure he was encompassing everything. I mentioned that last time he doesn't have a cognitive disability but his executive reasoning and short term memory deficits are so sever and their impact in difficult child's life are so pervasive, as to warrant the diagnosis of Cognitive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. He also has a pattern of deficits consistent with sever dyslexia. He did a great job of writing up recommendations for his IEP-now hopefully they will follow them. He also wrote that he will probably need help with transitional services from high school into the world of work (still a long way off). As I said it was a very good visit. For some reason the new diagnosis of Cognitive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified made me sad even though I know it doesn't change who difficult child is or what that we've already been dealing with just not having a name for it. When you speak with him you would never guess as his verbal skills are his strength.


text:
i can read the key, but there are more designations than are on the key - specifically im looking for "C66" - is that a c school? if so which one and where? or for what? if not a school which post may it be? any help would be appreciated!
what im looking at can be found here


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Supporting info for 2015 application
Abbeyleix Tidy Towns:
Submission for National Tidy Towns Competition 2015
Abbeyleix Tidy Towns Committee was established over fifty years ago in an effort to galvanise the community to work together to ensure Abbeyleix was not only a great place to live but to work in and visit also. Over the years the committee grew and forged alliances with the local town council, schools and community groups building a momentum that is in evidence today by the achievements of the local organisation (list lit of local, national, and international awards below).
We are committed to the principles of sustainable development and since 2010 our activity in this area has become more structured and formalised with the formation of the Abbeyleix Business & Community Forum (ABC). This new umbrella structure has provided the ideal vehicle to enable the Tidy Towns committee and other existing groups to harness the energy and enthusiasm which coincided with the opening of the motorway and the subsequent diversion of vehicles. The town has been reclaimed by the community from the choking traffic and this has given rise to one new initiative after another. . The following is a brief description of our community along with some detail on our overall approach to sustainability plus a list of our key achievements over the past year.
To view slideshow of above, click here...https://picasaweb.google.com/117605633462716871069/TheBuiltEnvironment#slideshow/5882788241890724146
2.1 Overall Developmental Approach 50 Marks
Involvement with the local community in activities, partnership with local businesses schools and agencies, work carried out using an up to date 3 / 5 Year Tidy Towns Plan. Quality of map supplied.
Numbers involved on the committee:
Our Tidy Towns Committee is a core member of the Abbeyleix Business and Community Forum (ABC) which is the umbrella community development organisation for Abbeyleix. We have an active committee of 10 members which are drawn from across the community.
We work closely with all the relevant groups in town and have direct representation on the following committees: Abbeyleix Heritage Company, Abbeyleix Bog Project, Abbeyleix Park Development and APEC (Community Employment Scheme). Our membership of the ABC Forum gives us direct access to all the relevant business and community groups in the town. It also ensures improves our interaction with public agencies as we can ensure that all initiatives correspond with the overall vision for the town. It also ensures that there is no duplication or indeed conflict with the work of other committees.
Level of voluntary commitment (no. of meetings, general involvement of community, etc.):
Our work in Tidy Towns continues all year round as can be seen by the attached work sheet. We meet formally for our AGM each April to review the year gone by and to formulate a strategy for the coming year. After that we now meet monthly over the summer to review progress. Should there be an issue that requires attention we have a discussion at the end of our weekly clean -ups
We also report to the ABC Forum which meets quarterly. This gives us an opportunity to coordinate well with the other initiatives that are going on in the town.
As a relatively small committee we are coming around to the conclusion that we can best deploy our time in a coordination/ facilitation role. For example our engagement on the Tus programme has brought an increased management responsibility but, on the other hand, it has relieved us of a lot of the day to day litter picking and sweeping etc.
Recently the Laois Nationalist asked us to partner for exposure in the "Get Involved" promotion to "make a difference in your community". We received a lot of dedicated help with press, reporting funding and identifying local expertise for the Abbeyleix Bog Project, Tidy Towns and our initiatives to manage biodiversity related issues and community planning.
Agencies and bodies that have supported our activities
We deploy our volunteers to achieve our objectives where possible but we are mindful of our limited resources and as a result we are very proactive in making good use of the various work schemes and grant resources that are available to us.
Work Schemes:
The Department of Social Protection provides an excellent C.E scheme without their ongoing support Abbeyleix would find it very difficult to operate. The C.E scheme maintains the large open spaces on the approach roads and the church grounds.
The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) have provided the services of a Park Ranger for the past 6 years in Fr Breen Park Abbeyleix to maintain the 11 acre site which is a key resource for our town. They also assist us with our work on Abbeyleix bog – for example the RSS workers recently assisted us to build the board walk (300 metres) and bog bridge ( 1300 Metres). The latter project required over 1500 heavy sleepers to be carried by hand onto the bog site!
Our partners in the GIY group are utilizing the Tus community work scheme to assist them in their development of the community garden.
Tidy Towns came on board with the Tus programme this year and took on two workers who have assisted us greatly in our work. Although this programme demands a degree of supervisory input it does pay significant dividends. Two (20 hour each) Tus participants are able to carry a significant portion of our workload.
Grant Funding:
Our strong track record and ability to deliver community projects is well recognized by Laois Partnership (LEADER) who are continuing to provide part-funding which allows us to take on significant projects.
The programme is closed at present but this year we completed the innovative Tree Identification Project (more later) which was that final installment of a LEADER funded project. Our colleagues in partner community groups have also been active in availing of leader funding e.g. GIY, Bog Project & ABC Forum
Local Authority
In spite of declining funds Laois County council is very supportive of our work. For example, they provide us with a small annual grant to support our work and also support us through annual events like Clean up Laois.
We maintain a close relationship with personnel at all levels in the Council e.g. horticulturalist (Maeve Flynn) and the Environmental Officer (Ann Marie Kelly)
We also work closely with the Council on a strategic level and our success in the various competitions has given credibility when approaching senior management.
Fundraising is becoming ever more difficult. In the past we have organised table quizzes and race nights to raise funds and we are now adopting more innovative approaches e.g. sale of produce at Applefest Festival.
Prizes from Competitions such as the National Tidy Towns represent a valuable source of funds and also have the added bonus of improving our profile and promoting our message. Through prudent use of these funds we are able to lever addition funding through LEADER etc.
Communication with our community
Formal and Informal
We are a relatively small town which lends itself to good informal communication and decision making. There is considerable overlap of personnel between the lead community organisations in the town, namely: Abbeyleix ABC, Abbeyleix Bog Project Ltd, Abbeyleix Heritage House, Abbeyleix GIY,
Good Structures
On a more formal level, the ABC Umbrella structure - which has representation from all sectors (arts/sports/community/ business / retail/ tourism) - has allowed a more strategic approach to community decision making and to the sustainable development of our town. We have put considerable resources into strategic planning and try to attain a good mix of planning and doing. For example, our strategic plans for the Tidy Towns and also Abbeyleix Bog. In the case of the sustainable communities plan the Department of Environment arranged for urban designers to work with us. These exercises provided excellent opportunities to stop and formulate thought through plans for the town and importantly, also provided a forum for the general public to come on board and contribute their viewpoints.
ETown Initiative
We are still progressing our Portal Website project which was mentioned last year. This ambitious project, which is led by the ABC Forum, is aiming to merge a complete business and community presence on one portal site which is being branded under the new Abbeyleix Brand
It will help to encourage the "Buy Local" campaign and will help the two way communication process with the community.
Communication Mediums
In addition to formal public meetings and AGMs etc. we communicate with our community using all available media resources. Regular updates on our Newsletter are a great way to keep the community briefed. 21st century technology in the form of the web is also invaluable and Facebook is also proving invaluable as it provides a two way communication process. We recently set up a texting system to coordinate activities on our clean up evenings over the summer.
The general Abbeyleix Facebook account is managed by a member of the ABC group. With over 2500 likes it has more or less full reach to the online community and was nominated for the Social Media Awards in 2014 (for excellent use of the technology for community development)
Website – comprehensive listing of reports and studies relevant to the community plus details of initiatives www.abbeyleixtidytowns.net
We use the "Update" parish newsletter to keep the community informed on our activities and to recruit for manpower
We are mainly communicating via the general Abbeyleix Facebook page at the moment as it has a strong reach in the community. We also manage the Tidy Towns Facebook page which we may promote stronger in the future.
Other inclusive working methods:
Given today's hectic lifestyles we are encouraging people to get involved in short-term projects rather that necessarily formally joining the committee. Facebook offers a good opportunity to communicate with the type of people and to put out call for one-off jobs that need doing.
We also use relevant community events such as the Abbeyfest Festival and the Applefest Festival to promote our work, to fundraise and to recruit help. We also arrange wildlife walks on Abbeyleix Bog as well as an annual summer picnic – this is an excellent way of getting children involved as well as encouraging parents to get on board.
The Applefest Festival offers a very good example of the positive work being done to promote heritage, environment and sustainable living in Abbeyleix.
Jointly organised by Tidy Towns, Heritage House, Abbeyleix Community Garden, and the local GIY Group, the Applefest is now an established annual event which in 2014 moved to our new community garden in Main St.
The festival aims to celebrate the local harvest, to promote local produce and to promote –in a fun way – traditional approaches to utilising our local harvest.
As with many other initiatives, this festival is the outcome of a combined effort from all corners and age ranges of the Abbeyleix community.
Engagement with local schools
Primary Schools
Abbeyleix Tidy Towns have a great association with both National Schools and we supported both schools to become involved in "The Green Schools" We were very proud when they received their Green Flags. The South National School recently received their fourth Green Flag. The South School are the first school in Laois to be awarded the energy flag for promoting physical fitness in their school.
The bog is very accessible to the schools and we have hosted a significant number of visits over the past three years. The childrens section of our website is aligned with the curriculum and has some good resources for teachers.
Abbeyleix VEC
We have recently strengthned our link with the local VEC who participated in the Fresco Project and are also in the process of installing art installation on Abbeyleix Bog.
Community benefit from involvement in the competition?
We see Abbeyleix Tidy Towns as a key contributor to the sustainable development of Abbeyleix and see our work marking a strong socio-economic contribution to the town. Working in close partnership with The Abbeyleix Business and Community (ABC) Forum and our other partner community organisations we have already achieved strong recognition for our efforts.
There is considerable momentum in the community at the moment following on from a strong performance in recent local, national and international competitions which acknowledged strong performance in community sustainability. The community gardens and allotment sites are very visible and high profile hives of activity and are a great means of encouraging more people to get involved.
The Abbeyleix Bog project (in particular the boardwalk and bog bridge projects) has elicited a wonderful response from the community who gave their time freely. This was acknowledged with our success in the "Get Involved" campaign.
The National Tidy Towns Competition provides a valuable structure and annual deadline for us to work to. Feedback through the adjudication process is useful and it provides us with a valuable outside view as well to focus our attention.
In the following section we will set out examples of some of our main activities under the various different headings.
More information including additional photographs is supplied via our website : www.abbeyleixtidytowns.net/supporting information for 2015 application
We have also added notes to the Three Year Tidy Towns Plan which is appended.
3.0 Built Environment and Streetscape 50 Marks
Buildings: Conservation and presentation of heritage buildings and quality of shop-fronts: design, sustainability and suitability of new structures to their location and environment; treatment of derelict sites and unoccupied buildings; design and suitability of civic amenity buildings.
Public Spaces: Squares, parks, streetscape, paving, landscaping and street furniture; street lighting, building facade lighting, appropriately designed signage relating to streets and place nameplates, parking locations, historical trails, walkways and access points to local amenities and facilities, way-finding and the general use of the Irish language; sustainability and access for everyone.
We are pleased to report that the centre of our town is undergoing something of a renaissance. The positive pickup in the economy has been significant and a number of previously vacant premises/ dwellings have changed hands and are in the process of / are planned for renovation. It is very encouraging to see families moving back in to the town centre.
The traders in town have also got behind the new Abbeyleix Brand and have formed an action group which meets weekly (Monday 7:00am sharp!) to discuss and organize (business) initiatives.
Coupled with this, the town has undergone a significant painting programme. This was part due to our cajoling (and admittedly part due to the good weather!)
Projects undertaken this year 2014/2015.
3.1 House/ Premises Painting Programme June 2014 - Current
3.2 Example of excellent house renovation/ rebuild.
Jan – May 2015
House opposite Preston House on South Main Street. Excellent example of restoration work in line with Building Conservation Code.
3.3 Renovation of Old South School
Oct 14 – May 2015
The Old South School was sold for development as a private dwelling. The new owner is in the process of sensitively restoring the building according to good building conservation principles.
3.4 Street Furniture
June 2014
A new seat has been erected in Market Square to commemorate 100 years of the ICA in Abbeyleix
The lampposts (with the aid of cherry picker)and other street furniture was painted in July 2014
3.5 Innovative Tree Plaques
Attractive "Botanic Garden" style tree tags have been placed on specimen trees in and around the town centre. This innovative project was "borrowed" from Kew Gardens - April 2015
3.6 Development of Heritage Trail
An high quality online Heritage Trail was developed and Published online ( Produced by Abarta Guided trails)
Launched in Jan 2015
3.7 Upgrade of Heritage House
Heritage House in Abbeyleix has undergone a significant renovation both inside and outside. From a built landscape point of view, the restoration of the roof and the restoration of the stepped path up to the playground area are significant. Autumn 2014
Problem Areas: Current status
As buildings change hands we make a policy of approaching new owners to discuss appropriate painting etc. We have been informed that the following buildings are due to be renovated (hopefully over this summer) - former Allied Irish Bank, Capri Grill, Pembroke Hotel
4.0 Landscaping and Open Spaces 50 marks
Appropriate planning and management of open spaces, selection and siting of native trees, shrubs and flowers for year round effect and maintenance of planted areas. Presentation of roundabouts and all grass strips.
We welcome the changing focus of the Tidy Towns competition towards sustainability and continue to focus on non-showy projects which yield long term gains. For example, we favor spending our scare resources on native tree/ shrub planting over transient displays of annual flowers.
Our work in this category over the past year has focused on the approaches to the town from the Northern and Southern End (Southern Bookend Project). We are very pleased with the establishment of the Hornbeam trees in Market Square which established well and which are currently providing a welcome splash of colour to this focal point in the town.
List projects undertaken this year 2014/2015.
4.1 Southern Bookend Project Jan – Current 2015
The Southern Bookend project which was presented in proposal form in last year's submission is now in the final stages of completion. This will make a strong visual impact on the approach to the town from the Southern end (Durrow Road).
As part of the project the road verges were reprofiled following sewage works and 2000 Daffodils/ 1000 Snowdrops/ 1000 Bluebells were sown. 60 Native Oak trees were also established.
New Timber Railings and stone facing on the concrete bridges on either side of the road will soon be completed.
4.2 Landscaping of Northern entrance to Abbeyleix March 15
A local residents group have informally come together to improve the roadside area on the Northern entrance to Abbeyleix.
4.3 Visual enhancements to Abbeyleix Bog March 15
A bonus associated with all the initiatives on the bog is that it is now becoming more beautiful and attractive as an open space. For example, we have worked with the local Authority to use recycled road planings to resurface the entrance to Abbeyleix bog. The grass verges at the entrance have also been reprofiled.
The walk down the railway line is now punctuated by notice boards and there are also seats to take a rest or maybe have a picnic.
The perimeter walkway on Abbeyleix Bog was becoming mucky and damaged in parts but this issue has been solved by the construction of the new "bog-bridge" (1300 m in total) along the perimeter of the site.
4.3a Participation in Tree Week – March 2015
As part of National Tree Week we planted 20 Native Trees in the estates on the Mountrath Road, The Fairways and Balladine. These native trees were provided to community groups undertaking landscaping projects.
4.4 Development of GIY Garden June – May 2015
Work has continued and the appointment of a Tus worker on this project has accelerated the pace of work. The past year has seen the planting up of espalier fruit trees along the south facing wall and also fruit trees along installation of a community outdoor oven has also enhanced the appeal of this wonderful outdoor space which doubles as a demonstration/ teaching space. It is a beautiful open access space right in the centre of town.
4.5 Edible landscapes
As detailed in another section - Our Edible Landscapes or "Incredible Edible" project was rolled out again. . As part of this initiative our window boxes were planted up with edible herbs and pollinators friendly plants.
Again this initiative delivers on many fronts. It delivers an attractive splash of colour in the town centre while also providing habitat for insects and herbs for the table
A report on our "Incredible Edible project is appended.
5.0 Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenities 50 Marks
Raising understanding and awareness of the natural amenities in your area, including any aspects that make your area important for conservation (e.g. waterways, field boundaries, coastal features). An appreciation of how species and habitats should be best protected and managed. Provide evidence of good co-operation with expert groups and relevant authorities, especially in carrying out work in sensitive areas. Provision of access to natural areas and interpretation of key aspects.
We have worked hard this year to deliver recommendation of the Biodiversity Action Plan which was launched on 2014.
The Abbeyleix Bog Project is has gone from strength to strength and has just seen its more successful year to date. Noteworthy achievements include: construction of 1400metres of bog bridge along perimeter of site/ erection of bat boxes/ invasive species control programme/ partnering with third level institutions/ countless training & educational events/ success in "Get Involved" project etc. etc.
We have also been active in the wider town and key achievements here include the innovative tree labelling programme/ tree planting/ bird box programme
List projects undertaken this year 2014/2015.
5.1 Abbeyleix Bog – Ongoing
Bearing in mind your comments about too much detail in last year's adjudication report we are submitting a separate summary report compiling the activities on Abbeyleix Bog over the past year. This report will apply to a number of sections of the application. See below a few photos relevant to this section.
5.2 Bird Box Project
Eight board boxes erected in park in Knocknamoe and also along Main Street - Feb 2015
5.3 Innovative Tree Labelling Program April 2015
The identification plates (in the style of those found in Botanic Gardens) are mounted on tree guards where they are available and are attached with innovative tree fixings on free standing trees. This system was devised by The Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, and is an ideal way of securing labels to trees in a cost effective way without causing them any harm. A stainless steel nail is used with a phosphor bronze helical spring in front of the label, with a washer between the label and the tree. As the tree grows the nail is gradually prised out to allow for further growth. This project is innovative and we are not aware of any similar project nationally.
5.4 Development of Wildflower area on Ballyroan Road Oct 2015
An unsightly area opposite the golf course entrance on the Ballyroan road was cleared and fenced with an attractive railing. A wild flower seed mix was sown in autumn 2014. Establishment was patchy as sowing was followed by very dry period. We are confident that the area will colonise well and offer a good pollination site for bees among other things.
5.5 Establishment of Wildlife Area at pharmacy –Autumn '14
Dr Fiona McGowan (a local ecologist) was deployed to assist the pharmacist in the southern end of town to establish a wildlife area. An appropriate cutting regime has been put in place to encourage seceding of wild flowers and bulbs have been put in for interest in the spring. A sign was also erected to mark the area.
5.6 Wildlife Initiative - Ashbrook Estate Ongoing
Ashbrook Estate is a good example of a well organised estate with a good structure in place. Bird Boxes are maintained and cleaned out each autumn and the bat boxes are left to their own devices. After many years of planting and development of flower beds etc. they are now at the stage where they just need to maintain what they have in place.
5.7 Guided Wildlife Tours
There have been countless educational visits to the bog and in addition to this Dr Fiona McGowan led educational walks for both primary schools to identify the wildlife on the playground and also the species rich graveyard on the ground of St Michael's and All Angels Church (Spring 2015)
5.8 Fresco Project – Community Engagement Feb '15
This photos below show the official unveiling of the result of an imaginative project realised between the Art Department in the Abbeyleix Further Education Centre and Heritage House in Abbeyleix (a fascinating museum and interpretive centre). The project in question was the creation of an authentic painted fresco representing various aspects of the ecclesiastical and natural history in Abbeyleix. A fresco specialist, Enrico Ferrarino, from Florence, came to Ireland for a week in February to direct the process. A time consuming and highly specialised way of painting (think Giotto, Raphael & Michelangelo - fresco masters) in watercolor on fresh wet plaster so that the colours penetrate the plaster.
It includes elements of Abbeyleix's monastic history, wildlife, railway and recently opened bog boardwalk as well as the two churches in the background
5.9 Incredible Edibles Project
Detailed in previous section
6.0 Sustainable Waste and Resource Management
Describe activities on how you manage waste and promote efficient use of resources (e.g. water, energy, transport) in your community. Provide evidence of practical steps taken to prevent or reduce waste produced across your community (e.g. householders, businesses, and schools) or how you reuse your resources. Provide examples of awareness campaigns, events or activities hosted by the community (e.g. details of any workshops/demonstrations held since your last entry).
Abbeyleix Tidy Towns is committed to establishing Abbeyleix as a centre of excellence in relation to managing waste and promoting efficient use of resources. Working in close partnership with The Abbeyleix Business and Community (ABC) Forum and our other partner community organisations we have already achieved considerable recognition for our efforts in this area.
As detailed in last year's application we have recently achieved considerable success in a number of competitions which acknowledge good practice in sustainability and resource management in particular:
· Nominated to deliver a pilot sustainable communities plan
· Represented Ireland in the International LivCom competition in Abu Dhabi and achieved a silver medal.
· We made the shortlist for the Green Comunities Award (we lost out to Cloughjordan)
· We won the county sustainability award from Laois County Council
Abbeyleix has worked hard this year to develop a "buy local, consume local" ethos in the town. We released a new logo to market the town and the local traders have reformed as a business group to promote themselves to the local market. The new website – Abbeyleix.ie is being developed to encourage this.
Our GIY initiative is showing no signs of slowing up and we are currently supporting 3 significant public growing spaces.
The "Applefest" is our key public event to promote all that is good about utilising and celebrating out local resources.
Our most exciting plan for this year is the roll out of our water ram project which could probably be a national first for Tidy Towns.
Projects undertaken this year 2014/2015.
6.1 Buy local Campaign –
We feel strongly that by embedding a "think local" ethos in the town we can go a long way toward saving resources and creating a vibrant and sustainable economy.
We assisted the ABC group to organize a Christmas Market and craft farm to offer a forum for local crafts people and food producers to sell their produce and to promote the "buy local" message. This event is now becoming an established part of the Christmas calendar. Similar events are organized for St Patrick's Day and Easter Dec 2014
6.2 Public Growing Spaces/ Promotion of Grown Your Own
We now have three substantial public growing spaces: Community Garden adjacent to the post office; Allotment garden on grounds of St Michael's; Dove House Garden. There are also communal growing spaces at Gort na Noir Estate and the South School.
6.3 Community Garden Ongoing
Our community Garden is set up as a demonstration site showcasing good practice. The garden is managed organically and the group meet at least twice a week over the summer to get work down and to teach/ demonstrate organic Growing Techniques
The site boasts on site Demonstration of rainwater harvesting. Composting, community baking etc. etc.
Rainwater harvesting at Community Garden
Compost – Demonstration Facility
6.4 Community Oven
We are very excited about our new community oven which was completed in July 2014.
The oven was largely created from salvage materials and is wood fired.
The oven is a great tool for promoting the "think local - eat local" and even the "Slow Food" ethos.
We are hoping to establish a baking club in due course
6.5 Junior GIY Initiatives
Margaret Jacob of the GIY group has engaged with both local primary schools as well as the Jellytots crèche. The schools and the crèche now maintain vegetable beds which are shared between the community garden and the allotment garden. Ongoing Project
6.6 Allotment Garden
The allotment garden by St Michael's is entering another summer production and is a wonderful resource for residents of the south of the town in particular
6.7 Establishment of WEEE bring centre summer 2014
A member of our tidy towns committee has generously allowed the establishment of a WEEE bring centre on the property directly adjacent to the community garden. You can see a water harvesting demo setup beside the bring centre as well.
6.8 Festival to promote sustainability/ engage public Oct 2014
We have utilised our community festivals to communicate environmental best practice to a wide cross section of our community. Although our Arts festival (Abbeyfest) has taken a rest for a second year (key committee members minding twins!) we have extended the remit of the Applefest to incorporate a "buy local" and food sustainability sub theme. Last year's Applefest produced 1500 kgs of apples - which would otherwise have gone rotten - pressed to produce over 600 litres of apple juice and to promote local food producers. October 2014
6.9 Recycling
We are committed to waste minimisation and recycling. The town is served with a door to door recycling collection service (alternate weeks - cardboard, plastics etc.) and also has 2 bottle banks & clothing banks. The door to door service was expanded in 2011 to include a brown bin collection (alternate weeks), for the collection of compostable waste. This additional service, which is available free of charge, marks a significant improvement to the environmental performance of the town.
The stats for our bottle bank for 2014 are as follows:
Note: Stats for Calendar year 2014
Water conservation
Scoil Mhuire NS which has a green flag has installed water hippos to reduce water consumption. This continuing initiative yields estimated water saving of 133,956 litres of water in the school year – ongoing
Master Composter Training
A member of our committee attended the 5 week Master Composter training course which was run by Laois County Council. We promoted the training to our local community
6.9a Green Transport Initiatives Ongoing
We attended meetings on the Local Authority led walking and cycling strategic plan initiative (Feb, March 2015) which is still ongoing. We also spoke last year about the proposed greenway project on the disused railway line between Abbeyleix Bog and Portlaoise. The initial feasibility study was completed in March 2014 and since then we have been assisting the working group to approach landowners with a view to getting them on board with the initiative. Although this initiative is at an early stage we see a great opportunity here to promote carbon free travel opportunities. Jan 2014 – May 2014
Bike Week June 2014
Through our involvement with the ABC Forum we delegated the soccer club to take on the task of participating in bike week for 2014. We had a very strong response for the cycle to Durrow on the NRA designed bike corridor
6.9b Electric Charging point summer 2014
An electric Charging Point has been placed in the town (by Knocknamoe House). We are not aware if we have any users yet but are glad that this infrastructure is in place to support the technology down the line.
6.9 c Incredible Edibles Project Summer 2014/ 2015
Our Edible Landscapes or "Incredible Edible" project was continued last year to great effect. As part of this initiative our window boxes were planted up with edible herbs and pollinators friendly plants. We have since developed this theme further and
A report on our "Incredible Edible project is appended.
6.9d Smart sustainable planning for sports facilities
Fr Breen Park under the auspices of the Park Development Committee continues to be developed as a multi- use sporting facility. This facility is a model in sustainable planning - situated as it is in the centre of the town and within walking distance of the majority of the town's residential areas. This facility which is shared among several sporting disciplines (GAA, soccer, tennis, hockey etc. ) has very small footprint and avoids the issue of replicated facilities (e.g. separate dressing rooms/ floodlights/ car parking etc. for each discipline) which tends to be the case in many areas. The latest development is a full perimeter walk which provides and excellent safe and well lighted walking route for locals.
Have a look at the photo below which emphasizes the efficient and intensive use of this area.
Forthcoming events:
Water Conservation Project
We are excited about the proposed Water Harvesting Project (hydraulic ram technology) which we intend to roll out this summer. This ambitious project will provide a free and sustainable source of water to the allotment garden on the grounds of
Michael Malone a local engineer with an expertise in this field) has agreed to coordinate the project.
We were unsuccessful last year in getting SEAI funding for the project as the Local Authority could not provide the necessary match funding. Given the innovative nature of the project we decided to "beg, borrow and scrape" to get this project over the line.
The ram will be placed in a public and accessible portion which means that it will serve well as a demonstration project. We have also arranged to bring the Portlaoise Men's Shed on board with the project so that they can become familiar with the concept and possibly replicate the project elsewhere.
Bike Week
As part of this year's National Bike Week we are targeting the 4 Crèches in town and will be encouraging cycling to our younger citizens.
7.0 Tidiness and Litter Control 90 Marks
Tidiness: General lack of clutter, blocked footpaths, redundant poles, unsightly overhead electric cables, absence of graffiti and fly-posting, and evidence of control of weed growth at kerbs. Absence of unsightly and / or inappropriate advertising, such as that on gables of buildings and mass produced advertising banners in shop fronts. Please note that although general tidiness is evaluated and marked in this category, tidiness is also considered under other categories including the Built Environment & Streetscape, Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes.
Litter: The adjudicator will assess the absence of litter and dumping, evidence of litter control strategy, including regular litter patrols, segregation of collected litter during clean-ups and promotion of anti-litter awareness throughout community.
As highlighted previously, we have made good progress on painting shop fronts and dwellings in the town centre. We have continued to bang the drum on promoting litter control and collection of dog waste through our internet/ social media and poster campaign. We also organize daily litter collections. Our main breakthrough in the past year was the engagement of two Tus work participants who provide a combined total of 40 hour's work each week. This has resulted in a much cleaner town centre and has taken the pressure of us on out Monday and Tuesday night cleanups and – as detailed earlier – has given our core committee more time to commit to organizing and facilitating other projects.
List projects undertaken this year 2014/2015.
7.1 Engagement with Tus Work Programme Ongoing
As mentioned earlier we have entered into the Tus work programme and have taken on the day to day supervision of 2 Tus participants. While this is a big commitment in terms of supervision, it is paying big dividends in terms of tidiness and litter control.
7.2 Removal of Clutter Oct 2015
We have cooperated with Laois County Council to allow community access to the Signage Frame at Southern end of town. This frame can accept standard size corriboard signs which can now be cheaply produced by graphics companies. Festival groups for example can create corriboard signs of the appropriate size which can be neatly placed in the frame. This has been successful in reducing untidy placement of signs around the town.
We may lobby for another sign at the northern end of town
7.3 Clean Up Laois April 2015
We participated in the "Clean Up Laois" campaign and used the opportunity to kick off our "tidying up" season in earnest. This well publicised event is a good opportunity to get the public on board
April 2015
7.4 Removal of litter From Bog Ongoing
Fly tipping on parts of Abbeyleix Bog continues to be a periodic problem. We try to quickly remove waste to prevent it becoming an established problem
7.5 Communication of Litter Message
A Local graphic designer has volunteered to provide us with specially designed posters to encourage tidiness participation in Tidy Towns Jan 2014
Some of the tree guards are very significantly damaged and the costs of replacement/ professional repairing are exorbitant.
We have managed to lobby the County Council to provide a street sweeper on one occasion. If this service was provided say monthly it would take great pressure off our volunteer sweepers/ litter pickers.
8.0 Residential Streets & Housing Areas 50 marks
Residential streets that include Town Houses are integral parts of towns and villages and should be treated in a similar fashion to public and private housing developments. Consideration is given to proper presentation and maintenance of all properties with due cognisance given to maintenance of frontages, boundary and gable end walls. Gardens, where applicable, should be presented to a good standard. In housing developments green areas should be cut regularly. Children's play areas to be considered with equipment maintained to best standards. Where possible individual estates should have suitable name signs - stones, plaques, sign posts, etc. preferably bilingual. Unfinished estates will not reflect badly on the efforts of any community but examples of how the community is addressing this issue should be highlighted.
Although we do have some issues, Abbeyleix did not suffer significantly as a result of unfinished estates. A significant proportion of De Vesci Hill is still unoccupied but it has good security provision and is relatively well maintained.
The small estate beside Dunne's Hardware on the Mountrath Road has some issues but we are finding it difficult to contact the owners.
List projects undertaken this year 2014/2015.
The majority of our estates have formed residential committees to look after their area and this approach has largely worked well. For example, the line of new lime trees which at Abbeyleix Crescent which we highlighted last year are developing beautifully.
Ashbrook Estate is a very good example of an estate which constituted a residents group and developed a simple but effective management plan which catered for improvement in landscape (e.g. heritage apple trees), biodiversity (e.g. Bird and bat boxes) and energy use (energy audits).
We are pleased to note that Grallow Hill estate is now largely occupied and the appearance of the estate has improved dramatically as a result.
We have encouraged two residents groups to take on projects slightly outside of their immediate area (Balladine/ Gort na Noir & The Tiles) and we are very pleased with the results. We will endeavor to continue with this theme in the coming year.
9.0 Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes 50 Marks
Appropriate presentation of approach roads, including the roadside verges and their boundary treatment. The appearance of town and village streets, connecting roads, laneways, bridges and cycle lanes. Provision for inclusive access and pedestrian connections.
We have focused this year on the Southern approach (from Durrow) and the Southern Bookend Project was out showpiece project in this category. We are also pleased with the fact that we have also mobilised two community groups to look after their respective sections on the Northern Approach (From Portlaoise and the Western Approach (from Mountrath)
List projects undertaken this year 2014/2015.
9.1 Southern Bookend Project Jan – Current 2015
The Southern Bookend project which was presented in proposal form in last year's submission is now in the final stages of completion. This will make a strong visual impact on the approach to the town from the Southern end (Durrow Road).
As part of the project the road verges were reprofiled following sewage works and 2000 Daffodils/ 1000 Snowdrops/ 1000 Bluebells were sown. 60 Native Oak trees were also established.
New Timber Railings and stone facing on the concrete bridges on either side of the road will soon be completed.
9.2 Western Approach – Balladine Feb – Current
The recent sewage works in the Balladine area left the area in a poor visual condition. The Local residents have taken on the task of planting bulbs and reseeding the area and also planting native trees.
We have also arranged funding for them to place a stone face on the (concrete) bridges which were poorly finished as part of the sewage works (see photo left)
9.3 Northern Approach –
Residents on Portlaoise Rd have "adopted" their stretch of the road and are working with Maeve Flynn (County Council horticulturalist) on landscaping and tree planting in this area
9.4 Improvement to entrance to Abbeyleix Bog Feb 15
The highly visible entrance to Abbeyleix has been landscaped and is now visibly improved. The placement of road planings has significantly improved the surface condition at the entrance at the entrance and the verge areas have been graded and seeded.
An eye catching wooden sculpture is in planning for this area.
Upcoming projects:
We plan to screen off the Stone Arch (opposite to entrance to Abbeyleix Bog) over the summer period.
We plan to upgrade the triangular area opposite the Garda Station on the Eastern Approach (Carlow Road)


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Plot: After his mother is murdered by a demonic street gang, a young man (Jim Sturgess)- whose face is disfigured by a large heart shaped birthmark, walks the streets of London looking for revenge. His quest soon brings him face to face with a mysterious figure called Papa B (Joseph Mawle), with whom he strikes a Faustian deal, which allows him to be beautiful and to experience love, but at a hefty cost.
Review: HEARTLESS was one of the films I was most looking forward to seeing at Fantasia. It's gotten a lot of good buzz since coming out in the UK a few months ago, and it marks the return of director Philip Ridley (THE REFLECTING SKIN) who hasn't made a feature film in fifteen years.
As you can no doubt tell from the plot outline, HEARTLESS is a modern day spin on Faust- updated to the urban hell of 21st Century East London- which was also the subject of the recent Michael Caine revenge thriller, HARRY BROWN. Like that film, this also deals with street gangs, although here they're given a more supernatural bent.
Jim Sturgess, a hot young actor probably on the verge of making it big after star turns in ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, and 21- plays our disfigured hero, and he gives an excellent, nuanced performance. In many ways, he reminded me a bit of Jude Law in THE ROAD TO PERDITION, in that- like Law, Sturgess is something of a pretty boy, but here his looks are significantly downplayed (at least in the first half of the film)- which results in a much darker performance than we're accustomed to seeing him deliver.
HEARTLESS is probably the best role I've seen him in thus far (although he was also excellent in FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING), and bodes well for his upcoming slate of big films. As long as he doesn't get typecast as the pretty boy, we can expect big things from him- and this is a big step in the right direction.
In many ways, HEARTLESS reminded me of the first (good) CROW film. Now, HEARTLESS isn't as action packed as this, but it's given the same rich, Gothic feel from director Ridley- and his take on the age old-Faustian tale is visually stunning (minus some dodgy CGI, which belies the film's low budget). In addition, Ridley's also surrounded star Sturgess with a top notch supporting cast- including two old English pros, Eddie Marsan, and Timothy Spall. Marsan- plays the "Weapons Man"- an emmisary of Satan who assigns chaotic tasks to those who've made a demonic pact, and Spall, pops up in a few scenes as Sturgess' deceased father. We also get Clemence Poesy, of IN BRUGES, as the eventual love interest- that, rather than save Sturgess' soul, might infact propel him further into the abyss.
However, the most memorable performance has to be from Mawle, who plays the satanic Papa B. He's extremely unsettling in the role, partially due that in contrast to a lot of other big screen devils, he underplays the role. It's extremely effective, and his performance will definitely be one of the things that will stay with you after the film.
I'm somewhat surprised that one of the big genre studios like Lionsgate, Rogue, or Screen Gems hasn't picked up HEARTLESS, as it's something I could easily see a lot of horror fans embrace, if they were given the chance. While it's a little more deliberately paced than other recent horror offerings, it packs a punch, and a must see for serious horror fans- especially if your idea of true horror is more something like ANGEL HEART, than SAW. Catch it if you can.
Grade: 8/10


text:
Good day all!
I'm looking to find old prism threads, the search bar and advanced search only have a couple pages of results, but when I go into a user's posts there are great threads cerca 2005 that I can't seem to access via search.
What am I missing to be able to find old posts, perhaps without thread tags?
p.s. It's only a rumor I have read through several member's entire post history in this search.


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GHA Opening Means Nerves and Laughter
The Greenfield Hebrew Academy has started off the new school year with excitement, enthusiasm, and a brand new electives program in the middle school.
GHA's recent back-to-school-event and open house in early August was a great opportunity for students and their families to meet new teachers, check out new classrooms, sample treats from the school lunch program, buy used and new uniforms, and reconnect with their GHA family.
The following day, Aug. 12, was the first day of school.
While some of the younger, newer students may have been a little nervous, the older, more experienced students were glad to make all "newbies" feel right at home.
In the middle school, fifth and sixth graders got used to their lockers with a "Locker Race," and the whole middle school heard about the new elective classes, spanning topics from engineering to psychology – and lots more in between.
Students stayed busy – learning, playing and meeting friends – and the first day was an exciting beginning to what will certainly be a special and wonderful year at GHA.


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