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Paddling with giants: Humpback whale spectacle in Monterey Bay
Humpback whales are thrilling onlookers in Monterey Bay spectacle
Moss Landing, Monterey County -- You could smell whale breath in the air. It was like a mix of fermented broccoli and rotten anchovies.
"They're here and they're close," said Giancarlo Thomae, a marine biologist and my kayak partner for the day, as we pushed our kayak from the dock at Elkhorn Slough.
It was warm and muggy, like a morning in the tropics. The air was thick with a high fog. We were paddling out to see giant humpback whales in Monterey Bay.
At the mouth of the harbor, we sighted whale spouts, which looked like little puffs of smoke rising from the sea, within a mile. A moment later, we saw a giant whale tail emerge.
"There's at least 50 whales in Monterey Bay already and the season is just starting," said Thomae, who has pioneered whale watching from a kayak out of Moss Landing and Capitola, and is a biologist for Sanctuary Cruises. "At peak season last year in late summer and fall, there were more than 200.
"In the past week, a mother and calf have come right into the harbor. People are watching from the jetty, in kayaks, (stand-up paddleboards), inflatables and on boats. Nobody can believe what they are seeing."
Social animals
The big humpbacks are the most social of all whales. When the boats, big and small, get within range of the whales - easy to find by spouts, diving birds and acres of feeding sea lions - you simply stop paddling or turn off your engine: The humpbacks often swim right up to you and put on a show.
It's like parting the curtains and getting a glimpse of a secret world. At close range, the big whales can spout, lunge-feed, spyhop, wave at you with a fluke (or tail) salute, or give you the big show with a full breach, pirouette and crash into the calm sea.
On the gentle paddle out to the harbor mouth, we saw about 50 harbor seals, 100 sea lions and a dozen sea otters, including one that swam right up alongside, and then a moment later, birds surrounded us. An estimated 50,000 terns swirled overhead. Earlier in the week, a cloud of sooty shearwaters extended for four miles along the shore of Monterey Bay.
As we hit the open water, millions of anchovies schooled for miles around us and straight ahead on the edge of the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon. Many of the baitfish were just 1 to 4 inches, so many that at times the calm surface look dimpled like a golf ball. At other times, small pools from anchovies flicking the surface made it look like raindrops.
Fertile feeding ground
The anchovies and other marine feed have lured sea creatures from across the ocean to feast in Monterey Bay. In the past 10 days, it's become one of the richest marine regions in the world.
Trips have ventured here from Santa Cruz to Monterey, but the closest launch point is Moss Landing. The Submarine Canyon starts 100 feet outside the Moss Landing Harbor, and then just a mile offshore, plunges to 800 feet deep; within a few miles, to 1,400 feet deep.
Offshore, west-bound currents hit the edge of the Submarine Canyon, and as it narrows near shore, deep, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface. The upwelling ignites the marine food chain, from tiny plankton to krill, anchovies, squid, herring, sardines and other feed, and then is crowned by the giant humpback whales that are feasting on anchovy riches. The whales dive, their tails often high in the air to help propel them to the depths, and then after an underwater loop, rocket to the surface and lunge-feed through the small anchovies.
The scene is so electric that Michael Sack, co-owner and captain of Sanctuary Cruises, spent a recent day off watching the whales from his surfboard.
"I was surfing off the South Jetty (outside Moss Landing Harbor) and the ocean flattened out and then a few whales suddenly showed up 50 yards away," Sack said. "Some pelicans started diving, and next thing I know, this mass of anchovies, about 8-foot diameter, were on the surface right next to me.
"Two, three seconds later, this giant wide-open mouth of a humpback whale came up 20 yards from me. The mouth was 5 feet open. The whale came out of the water 10 feet high, right next to me. I couldn't believe it."
'Irresistible show'
As news of the whales circulated recently, Dave Grigsby, owner of Kayak Connection at Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing, said he rented nearly all 100 of his kayaks for all daylight hours by advance reservation for the weekend. He, too, finds the show irresistible.
"My family (wife Jess and daughters Samantha and Gwen) went out in tandem kayaks inside the mouth of the harbor," Grigsby said. "Suddenly, thousands of anchovies were teeming all around us. My daughter Gwen started yelling, and then two seconds later, a mother humpback whale erupted out of the water 15 feet away.
"Gwen really started screaming," he said, grinning. "Then the calf came up right between our kayaks and its mother, right next to us. None of us could believe it. Every hair on my body was standing on end."
You can see the show by driving to Moss Landing and walking out on the North Jetty, which provides a good view of the harbor entrance and inshore coast out to the canyon. For a more formal presentation, whale-watching trips with naturalists are available on large charter boats out of Moss Landing, Santa Cruz and Monterey.
You can rent a kayak or bring your own and paddle the flat water to the harbor entrance. Those who rent kayaks are not permitted outside the harbor into the open sea, except on guided trips with professionals; you can need this level of expertise to deal with the breaking surf at the mouth of the jetty, and reading wind and swells.
The big humpback whale show started three years ago in late summer and lasted into fall. Last year, the whales moved within two miles of the harbor, and in October, often closer just off Moss Landing and Capitola near Santa Cruz.
"Here it is the start of August, and it's already full on," Thomae said. "They're even closer to shore than last year and more are arriving every week."
As we paddled out, I dipped a hand into the sea, where little anchovies darted around just under the surface. I was stunned at how warm the water felt, another harbinger that an El Niño is taking shape on the Pacific Coast. "It was 68 degrees at the Monterey Weather Buoy, 10 miles out," Thomae said. "For Aug. 1, it's usually like 59, 60 here."
Whale-watching essentials
For those coming to watch the whales, polarized sunglasses are a good way to cut the ocean glare. In addition, a wet suit and personal flotation device are necessities in a kayak on the ocean. With temperatures in the 60s, and muggy conditions from tropical flow, wear shorts, Under Armour, sandals and a wide-brimmed hat.
Sea kayaks are stable yet sleek, allowing users to propel themselves forward quickly with each paddle stroke. In a half-hour on the open ocean, as we ventured toward the spouts and tail sightings, we were above the southern edge of the Submarine Canyon. At one point, the water was 1,200 feet deep directly beneath our small boats.
In the span of a minute, an acre of sea lions, amid a massive school of anchovies, swirled directly ahead of us. About 75 yards to our left, a whale spout shot 15 feet into the sky, and a moment later, the whale's tail rose high into the sky.
"Stop paddling," Thomae shouted. "Watch what happens next."
'Size of a Greyhound bus'
As we floated, the sound of a whale exhaling, a loud, sustained whoosh, broke the silence. Whale breath enveloped us. To our left, 20 yards off, a giant humpback whale, 50 feet and 40 tons, emerged on the surface. The whale seemed to look at us for a moment, and then gave us a fluke salute.
A moment later there was another whale, which did the same. The spray of its blowhole nearly hit us.
"They come right up," Thomae shouted again. "Wildlife ethics say you can't do anything to change their behavior. You have to keep a respectful distance. They are playful, curious animals and they can be fascinated with us. They are the size of a Greyhound bus and they swim right up. It's incredible."
In the next two hours, we sighted more than a dozen whales, saw 100 tails, hundreds more spouts, and moments where the backs of whales emerged high above the sea surface nearby. In a dozen encounters, the whales chose to circle in an arc just ahead of us.
Then, just off to our left, one of the humpbacks rocketed out of the water at 45 degrees, cleared the sea in a full breech and then landed with a giant crash. In the wake, the sea foamed bright white.
Inexpensive adventure
People pay thousands of dollars for whale encounters along Alaska's Inland Passage or on Mexico's whale breeding grounds. Yet here at Moss Landing, you might have the same experience for roughly the price of a restaurant dinner.
As we paddled back to the harbor, an easy trip with an incoming tide and the Moss Landing power plant towers onshore guiding the way, I asked Thomae how long these humpback encounters could continue.
"As long as there is food to eat, the whales will stay here," he said. "The best is yet to come, in late summer."
Last year, peak sightings were from mid-September to mid-October. And mother humpback whales and their calves stayed in Monterey Bay into early December.
"Many biologists believe so many are also being sighted because there is a significant increase in the population of humpback whales across the Pacific," Thomae said. "Their population is coming back, big-time. With such a rich marine food chain set off by the Monterey Submarine Canyon, we think it is possible that humpback whales could stay in Monterey Bay year-round."
As we docked our kayaks at the harbor, Thomae smiled and said, "I can't think of anywhere else in the world I would rather be than right here for the next three months."
Keep in mind
Safety: Do not venture into the open ocean in a kayak or any boat from Moss Landing unless you are an expert paddler with a seaworthy craft or with a local professional guide to keep you safe. Though calm this past week, the mouth of Moss Landing Harbor can turn treacherous; an outgoing tide and an onshore wind can create large standing waves that can swamp small boats.
Ethics: Your behavior should not change the behavior of wildlife you hope to view. In the vicinity of whales, most easily found by whale spouts, feeding and hovering birds, and masses of sea lions, allow your craft to float (turn your engine off, whether hand-powered or gas-powered), and the humpbacks often choose to swim within close range.
If you go
Whale watching boats: Sanctuary Cruises, Moss Landing, (831) 917-1042, www.sanctuarycruises.com; Monterey Bay Whale Watch, Monterey, (831) 375-4658, www.montereybaywhalewatch.com; Santa Cruz Whale Watching, Santa Cruz, (831) 427-0230, www.santacruzwhalewatching.com; Princess Monterey, Monterey, (831) 373-2203, www.montereywhalewatching.com; Blue Ocean Whale Watching, (831) 600-5103, www.blueoceanwhalewatch.com.
Kayak rentals: Kayak Connection, Moss Landing (also a location in Santa Cruz), (831) 724-5692, www.kayakconnection.com; Monterey Bay Kayaks, Moss Landing (also a location in Monterey), (831) 373-5357, www.montereybaykayaks.com; Blue Water Ventures, (831) 345-2417, www.bluewaterventures.org; Venture Quest Kayaking, (831) 425-8445, www.kayaksantacruz.com; Fast Raft, Monterey, (800) 979-3370, www.fastraft.com.
SUP rentals/whale tours: Sup Shack, (831) 464-7467, www.supshacksantacruz.com.
Whale photography: Giancarlo Thomae, firstname.lastname@example.com.
San Francisco: Oceanic Society, (415) 256-9604, www.oceanicsociety.org.
Tom Stienstra is The Chronicle's outdoors writer. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @StienstraTom


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Author: Edward Marston
Original language: English
With the nation a-flutter in the run up to this national event, a disembodied head is discovered on a passenger train at Crewe; the first in a murky course of events that takes in murder, fraud and race-fixing. Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and his assistant are assigned to the case and are soon snarled up in a web of skullduggery stretching across the country. They are forced to ask themselves, just how much is someone prepared to hazard to win?


text:
MMT or the oddly translated full name (deep breath) incredibly bad relationship where there once upon a time Thanks for coming for the princess and the twin tail. Which as you can guess I wont be saying again, is a cutesy platformer that uses the pick up and throw mechanic of Doki doki panic or Super Mario Bros 2 in the west. But where as before we had a fat plumer and his crew or a family of turbin wearers in MMT, doujin been doujin, you will control a cute girl who fights lots of other cute girls by pulling even more cute girls out of the ground and like in Doki Doki Mario throw said cute girl and enemy cute girl. As I said this is doujin and males in these games are an endangered species.
Since the game has a intro and generic before boss battle cut scenes there must also be a story and a plot but since its all in Japanese I cant read squat. From what I can gather you are a princess or witch that lives in a land where people have planted themselves into the ground (weird I know), and you're fighting against your twin sister and later on another magical girl. As to why your fighting your guess is as good as mine. Luckly for us the story is unimportant and you not knowing how to read kanji has no bearing on you playing the game as normal.
Gameplay is quite simple you walk from left to right jumping on to differing platforms or using a second button to pick up plant people or enemies and lob them at other enemies. If you hold down the pick up/ throw button you can throw a charged shot which depending on what you're throwing will make various attacks. The different types of girls you can pull out of the ground all have special charge attacks: Green girls are normal striaght shots, red girls will propel you forwards destroying most things you attack with that single hit, blue girls will make a simlar attack but propel you upwards. There are more plant girls but they're pritty rare until the later stages so you will mostly be using those 3 basic charged attacks. The later 2 been great for getting to platforms you otherwise could'nt reach.
The game has 5 long stages that are ok to play though but for me the best parts of MMT are the end of stage boss battles. The bosses on your 1st attempt are quite hard to beat, I found I had to continue the game once or twice to get past them, with the last boss by far the hardest nut to crack imo.
Another good aspect of MMT is there are lots of secrets to find, with many hearts and lives hidden behind false walls or seemingly out of reach platforms. MMT does have a lot of replay value if you're into finding secrets. The best items to find are keys. Each stage has a key that is hidden, if you manage to find one the game will always remember how many you've collected in total, plus will show you in the main menu. I havn't collected every key but I'm guessing that if you collect all of them, the hidden option in the main menu will be unlocked. What that option does is a mistery, although I've seen a video called Neo MMT, a demo that is in hard mode. Since there is no option available to change difficulty then the hidden option may have something to do with it.
Negative Aspects
Playing on Win XP with the Japanese Language Pack installed I came across only 1 bug, that is when you're fighting the bosses and you keep on dieing, for some strange reason the timer isn't reset. So that for every 3 or 4 lives lost fighting a boss you'll lose a life to time out. After which you will restart with a imo lowly 150 seconds. Its not a too big a pain in the arse though since you can amass lots of lives and you do get unlimted continues aswell.
Compared to other platformers the game is a little too simple especially playing the earlly stages. Things definatly pick up half way through the game when you reach the castle, stage 1 on the other hand is very boreing and you'll find yourself racing to get to the end of level boss and the fun. Although ive seen many worse examples then this, a major design flaw many bedroom game makers do is to have the stage 1 gameplay way to simple and boring and expect the player to be still playing the game when the good parts starts. This might have been ok 10 years ago but todays gamers including me are less willing to put up with shit game design.
As I said the stages do pick up when you reach the castle but this is mostly to do with the host of stronger enemies that you face and generally not because the platforming aspects of the game are done better. Infact if you were expecting jumping / platforming to be on par with Doki Doki Mario you will be disapointed. MMT more of a beat em up with some platforming added on. Treating the game as such makes for a much more enjoyable game.
For what it is, MMT isn't a bad game just not a great game either. Many people will only complete it once (or possibly give up at the last boss) and never pick it up again. Still if you want to try to collect all the hidden keys and unlock that option, then MMT looks a much better prospect. The game was released by the doujin circle Daisessen at C72. If you look around you might be able to grab hold of a copy. 3.1 out of 5


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By ROBERT E. LIND
In the Book of Mark there is an interesting story about Jesus going back to visit his home. He took his disciples with him.
The account says, on the Sabbath Day Jesus went into the local synagogue and began to teach. His family was there along with a lot of his former neighbors. When he began to speak the former neighbors were amazed. They were not amazed at his great wisdom and mercy and power. They were amazed that this former kid who used to live down the block from them was now claiming to be the Son of God.
Apparently they were jealous. Why suddenly was this son of a carpenter better than their own children? Had they not all been raised together? Had not their children done as well as this Jesus did. "Where did he get all this?" they asked each other.


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Toll Free: 1-877-482-0722
When you identify Indigenous ancestry, we learn more about our students and develop appropriate programs that reflect First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures. Students benefit from learning about indigenous perspectives via:
We encourage First Nations, Métis and Inuit students to voluntarily self-identify their Indigenous ancestry. The following options are available to parents and students:
The following are community programs available for Indigenous students.
|January 26, 2019
|Big Drum Social
Carea Community Health Centre
12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Admission is free
For questions or more information, call our Indigenous Education consultant at 905- 576-6150 ext. 22291.


text:
|2009-10-23, 09:28
|Link #2203
✖ ǝʇ ɯıqnɾl ☆
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mortuary : D
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I'd stare too long
I'd probably break down and cry
Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by
Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Sweet child o' mine
|2009-10-25, 03:47
|Link #2213
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Japanese DJ/Music Producer Extraordinaire Satoshi Tomiie's Dance Classic "Tears"
Presented by US legendary house music figure Frankie Knuckles, the 1989 seminal underground dance hit "TEARS" first brought to international prominence Japanese DJ and music producer Satoshi Tomiie (富家哲, Tomiie Satoshi). It is generally considered one of the all-time classics of house music.
FRANKIE KNUCKLES presents SATOSHI TOMIIE / TEARS
|2009-10-25, 16:40
|Link #2218
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
-"Lion" by May'n & Megumi Nakajima and to the extension "Nyan Nyan Special Service Medley (Tokumori)"
-"Don't say ''lazy''" by Yoko Hikasa with Aki Toyosaki, Satomi Satou and Minako Kotobuki
-"Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari " by supercell
|2009-10-25, 16:47
|Link #2219
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Japanese Artists Sing Disney Tunes
Ayuse Kozue serves up an electro version of the "The Mickey Mouse March" opening theme song for the Disney 1950s television series, The Mickey Mouse Club:
The Mickey Mouse March / Ayuse Kozue
Lead singer Oikawa Rin (及川リン) of Q;indivi provides the English vocals for this electronica version of Ariel's song "Part of Your World" from Disney's 1989 theatrical animated feature, The Little Mermaid:
Part of Your World / Q;indivi
Ariel's Japanese dub voice actress (seiyuu) Suzuki Mayumi (すずきまゆみ) sings two different versions (two different sets of lyrics) of "Part of Your World" from Disney's The Little Mermaid:
Part of Your World / Ariel (Suzuki Mayumi)
(1989 Japanese Dub Version of Disney's The Little Mermaid)
Part of Your World / Ariel (Suzuki Mayumi)
(1999 Japanese Dub Version of Disney's The Little Mermaid)
|anime, dye fantasy, music video
|Thread Tools


text:
Audit (A-04-08-06002)
Review of Ryan White Title II Funding in Florida
Executive Summary
Florida did not always comply with Federal requirements in administering funds provided under Title II of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990. Title II grants fund the purchase of medications through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and other health care and support services for people who have HIV/AIDS and who have no health insurance or are underinsured. For the period April 1, 2003, through March 31, 2006, Florida (1) did not fully comply with the requirement that Title II funds not be used to pay for drugs that are eligible for coverage by other Federal, State, or private health insurance and (2) did not always use Title II funds for clients whose files contained the documentation needed to determine eligibility for the ADAP. Based on our sample results, we estimated that Florida claimed $4.4 million in unallowable Federal funding.
We recommended that Florida (1) refund $4.4 million to the Federal Government; (2) follow its procedures for billing HIV/AIDS drugs to the Federal, State, or private health insurance plans with primary payment responsibility; and (3) follow its procedures for documenting clients� eligibility for ADAP funds. Florida said that refunding the money would have a devastating effect on ADAP clients but did not directly address our other recommendations. Florida did not provide any additional information that would cause us to modify our findings or recommendations.
Complete Report
Download the complete report (PDF)
Adobe® Acrobat® is required to read PDF files.
Copies can also be obtained by contacting the Office of Public Affairs at 202-619-1343.
Let's start by choosing a topic
Priority recommendations summarized.
Work Plan
OIG planned projects.
Semiannual Report
Significant OIG activities in 6-month increments.


text:
Good black levels
Slim, energy efficient, environmentally friendly and, allows for a thinner enclosure.
Well-designed widescreen monitor.
Well-designed and slender display.
Range of power-saving features
'This 23.6 inch full HD monitor manages to stick out from the crowd and does not skimp on too many features. '
'For scaling though it allows full screen stretch, 4:3 and overscan. '
'Touch buttons are not very responsive.'
'The stand is built to make tilting and swiveling easy.'
' The Dell UltraSharp U2211H is a 22in LCD monitor that boasts sharp image quality, an attractive bezel and an asking price that represents excellent value. '
'The Dell UltraSharp U2211H is a 22in LCD monitor that boasts sharp image quality, an attractive bezel and an asking price that represents excellent value. '
Best Value DisplayPort monitor
'No portrait-mode software.'
'Highly flexible'
'Like most TN (twisted nematic) panels, viewing angles aren't great, with noticeable vertical colour shift. '
'frustrating menu buttons'
'Stand isn't very sturdy, can't be wall mounted, touch-sensitive controls can cause frustration, no DVI input. '
'viewing angles aren't great, with noticeable vertical colour shift.'
'Energy efficient'
CCFL backlighting - not as slim or environmentally friendly as LED based displays
'sharp text'
'There's no screen height adjustment, rotation, or pivoting..'
'Poor stand - monitor wobbles easily.'
'reasonably wide contrast range'
'Compared to other flat panel monitors on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $110.'
'Speakers have too much hiss at high volume. '
ReviewGist helps you find the best products to buy by making sense of online reviews.
We are currently aggregating 376,500 reviews
covering over 29,483 products.
© 2019 ReviewGist.com. All Rights Reserved.


text:
An adult male Royal Bengal tiger was hacked to death in a village near Jorhat in upper Assam on Thursday.
Officials said that this was done after the big cat attacked three persons during the day at Baghmora in Namdeouri area.
Jorhat Divisional Forest Officer Sapon Saikia said that angered by the attack on three persons, people hacked to death the tiger suspected to have come out from Molai Kathoni forest.
Eye witnesses said machetes, spears and knives were used in killing the tiger and its tail, skin and paws were taken away by the people.
"The tiger had first reportedly attacked a person in the morning. A couple of hours later a second person was attacked. Around noon it picked up a third person by the neck and carried it away for quite a distance after which angry villagers armed with machetes and spears chased it and finally rounded it up in a paddy field where the animal was killed," Jorhat additional SP Gunindra Deka, who is holding charge as SP, said.
The three persons injured by the tiger were undergoing treatment at Jorhat Medical College Hospital.
Environmental activist and forestry worker Padmashri Jadav 'Molai' Payeng single handedly created Molai Kathoni forest in Jorhat by planting trees there for a span of over 30 years.


text:
St. Louis/Springfield, IL
July, 2007, conventional DSLR and Kodak HIE exposures... The HIE negatives were scanned RGB, hence the tint which I let remain in places. [All images are watermarked and registered with the US Copyright Office. They are for viewing only through the normal browser process, and may not be otherwise downloaded, reproduced, disseminated or used by any means, now or hereafter known, in any manner without the copyright owner's express written permission. All rights reserved.]Read More
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Tim Lincecum pitching to Yadier Molina
St. LouisSt. Louis CardinalsYadier MolinaScott RolenSan Francisco GiantsTim LincecumBusch StadiumMLB


text: I am always browsing and have decided that I am going to start posting just about anything new that I come across that I find on the web. This will mean that I have a place that myself and others can come and find out what is new to web developers like myself out there. Here is a cool script to create a set of buttons that can be used either as navigation or to create a web based tool bar. The buttons you can create can have up to four states: none, over, down, and up. This makes the button feel more real than a simple mouseover. In addition, the different button states are all part of the same background image.


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Doll Clothing. White Tights. Stockings. American Girl Samantha. SIX PAIR.
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- Source: eBay
This auction is for SIXFIVE PAIR of Doll TIghts. Even though the pictures just shows almost four pair, there are SIX pair and they are all identical and in very good condition. The measurement with garments UNSTRETCHED and lying flat are 13" long, 3" from side to side at waist so 6" all the way around waist and hips and each leg is an inch across from side to side when lying flat. These fit the american girl doll Samantha and other american girl dolls or any doll composition, bisque or leather that is the size of an american girl doll the size Samantha. They are all like new. Appear to have been unused. No holes or stains. Comes from a smoke free, pet free environment. Each item is described to the best of our knowledge and truthfully. So....look at the picures. Ask questions. I will be happy to answer all questions. BUYER PAYS all shipping and insurance costs incurred by this sale. Shipping without insurance is not an option. We do not ship without insurance. PLEASE do not send your payment UNTIL we have sent your INVOICE personally. The invoice that comes automatically from Ebay may be leaving off the insurance and cause need for another small amount to be sent. Please pay AFTER we send the invoice with insurance amount on it. Thanks. We ship WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES ONLY........NO EXCEPTIONS. We accept payment... read more


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In a blow to as many as 16,000 formerly homeless people, a state judge ruled Tuesday that the Bloomberg administration has the legal right to end a rent subsidy program after state and federal budget cuts left the city as its lone funder.
The decision on the Work Advantage Program was "bad news, but the legal fight is still not over," says Coalition for the Homeless senior policy analyst Patrick Markee.
The Work Advantage Program helped formerly homeless people rent apartments by providing up to two years of subsidies. In this year's state budget, Albany withdrew its one-third share of the $200 million annual funding for the program, a move that also eliminated federal support for it. The Bloomberg administration then stopped adding new renters to the program and planned to stop payments for people already participating. Advocates went to court to block the move, and a judge ordered payments to continue while the case played out.
But in Tuesday's decision Judge Judith Gische ruled that the city's program was a social benefit that can be withdrawn at the city's discretion, not a binding contract between the administration and the renters it has supported.
Read the decision below, or here.


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Spain's Fight to Maintain Market Confidence
Spain announced an austerity budget that has won plaudits for the country's prime minister Mariano Rajoy. But the spending cuts could well be the country's undoing. Heard on the Street's Simon Nixon has been looking at the risks. Photo: Reuters
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the the ... has won plaudits the country's prime minister ... Mariano the whole ... the spending cuts that will be the country's unduly Simon Nixon has been looking at the risks on ... some and ... twenty seven billion euros the spending cuts and tax increases in a country that already but still it's nice ... to get the picture ... but not a pretty picture tool and a ... of but im matter always going about this in the right when he thought ... that that that the bulk of the fall such as torture spending cuts from tax hikes on and that the that ... that that the hype is about movies ... that on ... the beach for it to see this kind of very very tough ... job for the Spanish government that because of the real ... ID Riewoldt ... bracelet doubts about whether the Government's one point seven sec growth target for this year is really cheap ... that's interesting thing has achieved the sort of ... Dato is the economy shrinking ... and are expected to produce a continued based in Eugene that the publications I was growing ... but at the same time also this squeezing the banks ice imagine that the two things ... it looks is if it's pretty ... pretty likely that ... things will ... go smoothly ahead without the B of A sons ... what a study of arthritic on the bikes a subsidy for school to support for the the the banks of ... all ... still in the end of the beer facing a lot of difficulties and I think one of things that ... I would products that last week we sort of takeover by the biggest buying pressure Frank over its whole barring Banca Civica ... about the buying of book value of thirty two point eight billion euros ... the car survived as with the goal ... of a store that you know that what with the coach price effect he said is ... that whatever the government says is this talk of financial reform of the financial sector ... the reality is is built up a little bit of what to write that wiped out in total book value by ... certain that the fears of ... the action the banking sector is still ... massive young recapitalize Melissa something we recognize the bikes the so-called supply credit because this is really can expect a lot will onto the seeds of some buses acquisitions the size I can on the ball was seen what looks to me sane ... three ready to see Yemenis is made up of a lot of activities taking place ... but the one additional right but to my job column today is that ... a lot of the recapitalization of the China banking system is shaping ... up ... is coming from the prison system so the baking sold these exotic capital instruments which are now being turned into equity ... and so so what you're Chanel how ... is that the Spanish but costs was astonished by some of very very significant shareholders in the Spanish banking system which trades issues of Elpida surround how much of that says you can inflict on the equity ... without speaking to customers in some ways is to give its name in the study of on on about ... whether they get a little ... anyone here whips office official weigh in but it does go public was the point of view that rates of office ... it is critical situation because you that ... you need to be careful ... about what you are you treat those double those of you because you might ... hear about my courage ... is just the plain that Simon is that ... you've already got the banking system ... on an exit ... we continue to use an austerity budget ... always good to make matters worse on the back so soon but also the cost of what it is reduced interest rates this ... is very very descent incredibly difficult situation but you need for the country needs to address this ... this enormous deficit but not with the construction preventers I was so tax revenues and a one-year current spending or after to stop ... the Saints on the banking system ... is more recap was the arch recap was about his is ... a good recap of crisis of ... the state offers housing costs a small ... Bodie recapitalizes by the system yet not straight singing ... and ... a big problem for a boy seat Royston ... to steer this country out the mess ... Simon thank very much and is


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AAH Easter, when Spring returns and the Lent season ends. What's not to love about this gentle and hopeful holiday? You can buy all sorts of interesting candy that is not available at other times of year. One of my favorites is the Cadbury easter egg. This lovely confection is made of chocolate in the shape of an egg. The foil wrapping is pretty easter pastel colors. The middle of the egg is sweet and sugary and made to look yellow like a yolk. In the last few years Cadbury has come out with different flavors for these eggs. If you've never tried one I encourage you to get one! Another candy you can find only this time of year is chocolate rabbits. Kids love them. They are usually plain, cheap chocolate, some of them aren't even solid chocolate. If you really want to get something nice for the season try See's candies, or even better rich Godiva chocolate. It's more expensive by the pound, but you don't need a pound. It's so rich half a pound will do. What ever you bring home you'll end up eating, so think about how much you want around the house. If you have relatives, female ones, who demur and want to avoid chocolate you can still brighten their day by bringing them Easter flowers. You can go on the internet to Flowers.com and have them delivered, or stop by your local florist and pick out the flowers yourself. If you are lucky enough to live in Hawai'i you can get a lei made. What a nice thing to wear to church on Easter Sunday! Speaking of Easter Sunday, not a few Christians attend church only on two days a year: Christmas and Easter. Of the two, Easter is so much nicer and low key. You don't have to get any more wrapped up in the gift giving than you want to. People don't freak out like they do over Christmas. Honestly, it's kind of crass the way Christmas has gone so mass market. One wishes the capitalist holiday might be celebrated on a slightly different date than the Holy Day. Easter marks the end of Lent. If you were not aware of Lent, it's a fabulous chance to give something up. You can give up a food you like in the spirit of sacrifice. (You can give up a food you don't like, if you don't want to try to hard.) Or you can up the ante and give up a behavior. Like how about you give up nagging for a season, or whining? You may find you don't even miss it by the end of the season. Several years ago I gave up having the last word. I find I don't even care anymore. It was the most freeing thing to give up. Another year I gave up having to be right. You know what? Once we have more information, we are entitled to change our minds!
Next >> How to Pray: A Beginner's Guide


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All ideas expressed in this blog are temporal and any resemblance to manifested reality are purely co-incidental. The forgoing is a casual musing from a fellow coder, not an iron clad promise of features and products - The Law
Friday, 3 October 2014
Final Week Day On Performance
Also been experimenting with quality settings, with the above showing a quality setting of 2.0 and the one below showing the setting at 0.5.
The effects are so subtle I decided to change the default lightmapper to 1.0 for the moment and come back to the degree of effect the quality value provides.
I have also added a new PRE-BAKE vs REALTIME slider panel drop down box which lets me bounce from these two modes, and I invite you to guess which one is which between the one above and the one below.
Perhaps a little unfair as I still need to line up the intensities of the scene, but I am planning something very specific in this respect mid-October. Still plenty of performance work I 'COULD' do to the engine, but my week is up and I will be making a case at the next strategy meeting to do some MORE performance work, especially on the GPU side using the GPA Frame Analyser, and perhaps a little NSIGHT as well. My task list still shows render ordering and object occlusion work as priority items, but it looks like I have run out of time this week. I still have two more days next week before the meeting so more progress on performance still to come. Pretty happy with this weeks work however, from all the team, and quite buzzed to repeat this next week too!
Until then, enjoy your weekend and if the sun is shining, try to pry yourself away from the keyboard and go for a nice walk. At least that's my advice to me, whether I take it or not is another matter.
14 comments:
I think the bottom image is the prebaked version. I assume this purely because it has AO baked in and as you have already stated, the AO is cranked up, so, you can see it working. Good work so far Lee (and the rest of the team).ReplyDelete
The bottom image looks superior. The performance increases sound great and I encourage you to continue to squeeze more and more out of the engine. It's starting to look comparable to other engines as far as basic lighting goes.ReplyDelete
I agree.The top image looks closer to what we get now, the bottom has way more shadows off the straps and such.ReplyDelete
I wonder how much FPS is saved or not if you do a test run with say 50 trees? How will animated trees be handled? I guess they still need to use the real time shadowing to work.
I'm looking forward to testing this version out when it's released.
Good work, Lee! I would vote to continue optimising performance until all avenues have been exhausted. Optimise that engine 'til she cannid be optimised any more (Scotty from Star Trek)! I think the visuals are going well but still have a way to go.ReplyDelete
My personal view is that character AI should be optimised before you get too bogged down with multiplayer because I think AI is fundamental whereas multipayer (whilst important in the longer term) is really not - it's a feature rather than a basic requirement.Replies
I could not agree more! After completing my competition level, the single most obvious and difficult thing to contend with was the AI. After winning second place and maxing out Reloaded, I realized that I could indeed create a complete midcore game with this amazing software if only the AI would make any sense. Right now it is almost unusable for more then a very small level. If AI was 100% scriptable with a ton of animation and behaviours to choose from I could start building a full game today. Please: advanced AI first!Delete
200% agree! Multiplayer sounds good on paper but it's really not a priority right now. Give us a good singleplayer experience first!Delete
Great work! I agree performance all the way just put your foot down ;)ReplyDelete
Bottom image looks better but the shadows are maybe a little too strong. Looking good though.ReplyDelete
As far as I see it as I have said before - both the screen shots are OK and preference over one is relative to me. Inside a game to me first impressions as with many things is what counts in the first instance and general environment is initially at least more impressive than small details. Thus the overall appeal of both the game and gameplay is a winner over - smaller details of game environment and gameplay. Main core items like stability, performance and gameplay quality and game, dynamics, AI are king and general environment is fairly low down. You can have a great game with main items and gameplay enjoyment and get away with the lesser eye candy but very difficult the other way around in my opinion.ReplyDelete
And to the point in the two shots in the range of differences are fixed either way then thats bad - if both visual types across the range shown are possible then that ideal.
i.e. both visuals will fit different scenes and neither will fit the other at these extremes.
My thought is that one will fit in well with a day with little bright sunshine (overcast type of environment) and the other will fit well perhaps in bright baking sunshine which not all games and scenes may need or want, In each case one may be equally accurate to the other relatively speaking.
Question therefore is to successfully match a full range range for any type of scene and environment from cold/dark/dull/cloudy/rainy/snowy to immensely hot/bright scenes and or games at the other extreme of the range - will either do that successfully.....
Do and or will users have the ability to manipulate themselves the overall scene and control the strength of light and shadows we see in each of the scenes across the light range.....
Can we adjust the strength and position of the Sun (thus shadows)? so that we can have a choice of either visual effect as shown. Apart from any placed lights?
From what I read it seems that we will need two separate systems to do that if that can be done at all? and one of the system choices wont be able to match the range. If thats not the case and say the AO can then why do we need the old system presuming that somewhere along the line duplicates of anything in the engine (having two things for the same job) must presumably have a cost.
If I had a preference for only one of the screen shots I would prefer the first old duller shot as its kind of mid range and adding some lights may help there. The second bright shot though looks great is less suitable across a range of game types as its far to contrasting for many game environments and the variations between light areas and shadows are very extreme.
Personally I think as some others have perhaps suggested the lighting though of some importance is less so than all of the other core features as mentioned above and well down in the pecking order. Give me core features - the ones I mentioned above any day over any difference between the above screen shots.
If the worst came to the worst I could live easily with the current scene management regarding lighting and not miss the newer one at all. On the other hand not the same for the core features as mentioned : here they are again :
Main core items like stability, performance and gameplay quality and game, dynamics, AI are king.
Multiplayer? who needs that? if you don't have the core features in place to start.
I am a fan of MP and many other what could be said to be important things requested, considered for inclusion, and yet perhaps to come and they fit in the same category - not any priority at all unless the core items are at above acceptable levels and standards for gameplay to start moving forward from now. there would be no point in adding anything else.
I'll be honest, while I value multiplayer as an objective - at the same time it's more important for me to have the following:ReplyDelete
1) a way to build multiple levels
2) a way to do indoor scenes without exterior lighting
3) functional in game lighting (they don't overlap well and there's no dynamic lighting)
4) Your prebake solution :)
5) significantly higher framerate on low-mid/midrange equipment. I'm waiting for 090 to be the magic bullet here.
These are all things that I think far exceed the need for multiplayer. That said, you've already got the groundwork in for basic DM support - might as well finish it up. Just don't get caught up in feature creep when we can't even make multiple levels or have dynamic lighting yet!
Multiplayer work sort of came out of the blue. As of mid-July it wasn't even on the development plate but I understand the desire to get on Steam has accelerated that track of development. The Steam SDK apparently makes the process easier by orders of magnitude. Still, at this stage I'm not sure how multiplayer could possibly integrate efficiently into the main engine given the number of fundamental features still lacking from single player.ReplyDelete
I prefer the second screenshot simply because the first seems so bland and washed out to me, but that style could also serve a purpose depending on the desired game and setting.
i would hope map linking would be here relatively early after the release of multiplayer?!ReplyDelete
even if its just 2 maps that can link only, just to test map transitions ect..
performance could be worked on probably but we havent seen the end results of lees work for 09 so hard to judge right now.. but defo needs to hit the 350fps + mark imo on blank flat maps preferably on medium to high not just lowest with everything on to some degree, maybe not 100% shadows reflections and such but it should be achieveable lol. ;p.. come on lee you can do it !!.
i would like to see the conkit ready enough for betas for 09 also lol am i dreaming i think so but i just really wonna build with it lmao.. cant wait to see how the engine handles a full map creation with it..
I can understand people saying multi player seems frivolous considering the need for improvements in the engines core. Of course there are 3 coders, and only one of them directly works on the main engine. So obviously, development is split according to peoples skill sets and such I imagine.ReplyDelete
Better AI will almost certainly have a speed cost, so we really need the engine to run far better before it is worked on. No point having great AI if the game slows to a crawl with a few running about (5 or more at the same place was enough to slow things for me on a fairly big map). Even on an empty one you can slow things a fair bit with lots of AI. We won't be making scenes as busy as Dead Island anytime soon for instance, never mind the sequel which I assume will better it.
I agree it needs improvement. Quite a bit more really for it to feel at least semi realistic. But speed comes first for me. I also think it is way past time to get multi levels working out of the box. But perhaps they are waiting to get things more finalized before they undertake that task. I'm not sure how they will be handling moving between levels yet, what info will get carried across between levels, if any etc. So it may not be as easy as we think, but obviously more important than multi player still.
I also think speed should be improved across the board, a fairly high end graphics card should run pretty much as fast on highest settings as it does on lowest. They are designed to do this. The lower shader settings really should only be needed on lower end cards. You would think this would be the case already, but high end cards certainly don't seem to perform as they should as yet. Still, the latest work on performance mentioned here sounds like it is headed the right direction.
To keep things short as I have done a few monster posts of late, heres my top 5 list of things needed.
Speed. (may be better already, but we know we will want more)
More Lua script options. (obviously gives more options to get games working)
AI improvements (obviously linked with the above, cover needs improving for one)
ConKit (preferable to AI for me, but it's not vital so I list it here)
Character maker? (I can only assume this has been on hold for some time)
TGC are definitely trying to make this a good release. The amount of time being taken is proof of that. Let us hope the wait doesn't make expectations too high.
The bottom image is obviously the prebaked one and is by far the best of the lot! Very pleased to finally be getting the bright sunlit rocks with dark, sharp shadows. Only, please please turn down the AO on the edges of stuff - waaaay too much at the moment and ruins what would otherwise be a massive step forward in terms of graphics for Reloaded.ReplyDelete
For the record, at first glance the amount of AO is mostly ok on the stack of crates, but one look at the windows of the building and the thick, black lines make it look like a cartoon.
/wordy rant


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Jakarta : Indonesia 's Mount Merapi erupted on Thursday for the second time in a week, blasting vast plumes of ash into the sky, as the death toll from the initial eruption and a tsunami that hit remote western islands reached 377.
There were no immediate reports of new casualties after Merapi's second eruption. More than 40,000 people had fled or been evacuated from Merapi's slopes earlier in the week, but many started to return after the volcano appeared to become calmer. Officials said the death toll from a tsunami that hit the remote western Mentawai islands on Monday had reached at least 343. The tsunami was triggered on Monday by a 7.5 magnitude quake.
A day later, Mount Merapi on the outskirts of Yogyakarta city on Java island erupted, killing at least 34. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who had been due to take part in a summit of Asian leaders in Hanoi from Thursday to Saturday, flew back to Indonesia after the twin disasters. "The president was very moved when he met the victims of the tsunami and earthquake," Yudhoyono's spokesman, Julian Pasha, said, adding that the president planned to return to Hanoi before Saturday.
"He has issued instructions for all aid to continue to flow in without disruption." Parts of an early warning system installed after a huge 2004 tsunami killed more than 226,000 people had been stolen but overall the system still worked, said the head of the meteorological agency, Sri Woro Harijono.
"Yes, some of our sensors disappear because they are stolen, such as seismographs and solar cells," she said. "But it is just one or three sensors out of 100. The system works fine." Local media reported that parts of the tsunami early warning system had not worked properly because they had been vandalised or removed, while Metro TV broadcast footage of villagers questioning the effectiveness of the warning system.
"This has also been reported to the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology but we also need to make sure this information is verified properly," said Pasha. "We know that when the quake happened, within 10 minutes this enormous tsunami came. So maybe the speed with which it came meant that the early warning system didn't work."
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Mount Merapi killed 1,300 people in 1930. In December 2004, a tsunami caused by an earthquake of more than 9 magnitude off Sumatra killed more than 226,000 people. It was the deadliest tsunami on record.


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Hello everyone,
I really fancied a change this week so decided to go all masculine and do a card for my uncles birthday.
He really loves everything to do with cars so this lovely stamp from LOTV seemed the obvious choice. He also wears a cap, and loves motor racing so it just all worked out beautifully. To make things even better LOTV have just announced their new challenge and it is sports which means I can put it forward for their competion.
I decided to pair it with some Kraft card to back the papers and to stamp the sentiment and to make the tag. I got out my eyelets and treaded through some garden twine which seemed to fit so well into the theme and the little charm had been in my stash for years just waiting for this card.
Have a lovely week
Best wishes
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
My Mums Craft Shop


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First Financial Bankshares Inc. (FFIN) Jumps 5.18% on February 12Equities Staff Follow |
First Financial Bankshares Inc. (FFIN) was among the biggest gainers on the Russell 2000 for Friday February 12 as the stock popped 5.18% to $27.01, representing a gain of $1.33 per share. Some 228,420 shares traded hands on 2,618 trades, compared with an average daily volume of 302,535 shares out of a total float of 65.97 million. The stock opened at $26.17 and traded with an intraday range of $27.09 to $25.96.
After today's gains, First Financial Bankshares Inc. reached a market cap of $1.78 billion. First Financial Bankshares Inc. has had a trading range between $36.51 and $24.12 over the last year, and it had a 50-day SMA of $28.90 and a 200-day SMA of $31.35.
The stock has a P/E Ratio of 16.7.
First Financial Bankshares Inc. is a financial holding company. Through its subsidiary banks, it provides commercial banking services such as savings and time deposits, loans, internet banking, mobile banking and transmitting funds.
First Financial Bankshares Inc. is based out of Abilene, TX and has some 1,140 employees. Its CEO is F. Scott Dueser.
For a complete fundamental analysis analysis of First Financial Bankshares Inc., check out Equities.com's Stock Valuation Analysis report for FFIN. To see the latest independent stock recommendations from Equities.com's analysts, visit our Research section.
The Russell 2000 is one of the leading indices tracking small-cap companies in the United States. It's maintained by Russell Investments, an industry leader in creating and maintaining indices, and consists of the smallest 2000 stocks from the broader Russell 3000 index.
Russell's indices differ from traditional indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or S&P 500, whose members are selected by committee, because they base membership entirely on an objective, rules based methodology. The 3,000 largest companies by market cap make up the Russell 3000, with the 2,000 smaller companies making up the Russell 2000. It's a simple approach that gives a broad, unbiased look at the small-cap market as a whole.
For more news on the financial markets, go to Equities.com. Also, learn more about our independent proprietary equity research reports and our robust do-it-yourself Stock Valuation Analysis reports in our Research section.
All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer


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Do you have an event that is unique to your group that serves a particular function? These Exclusive Gatherings typically range from forty to one hundred fifty guests and are often categorized as a VIP reception, President's Circle, First Timers, or Hospitality Suite. We offer several ways for you to customize an Exclusive Gathering for distinguished guests, creating an extraordinary environment for extraordinary people. We design intimate settings for guests to connect, inspire, congratulate and appreciate one another.
Want to add a fun theme to your exclusive gathering? Visit our corporate event theme ideas page to see some exciting themes for your next corporate event!


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Aviation & Aircraft Maintenance Access Platforms & Ladders
The service and maintenance of aircraft is essential and as part of these regular services you must have good access to all parts of the aircraft. The longer an aircraft stays in the hangar the more money is costs. AliSafe has been at the forefront of design and manufacturing access solutions to help increase productivity and have the aircraft in the air sooner.
Our designs for Maintenance platforms are impressive, and we have built for many aircraft including:
- Agusta AW139
- Kawasaki BK117-B2
- Boeing F/A-18/B Hornet
- Boeing B747-400
- Boeing B737-800
- Airbus A320-200
- Bell 412 EP
The Aircraft Access Platform below was designed for maintenance on three types of helicopters. This new type of design allows the maintenance engineers to remove and add sections of the working deck when they need to access specific parts of the aircraft. The removal of these sections allows for different types of aircraft to be serviced without the requirement for a whole new set of platforms.


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High-Rise Sheraton One Block from Horseshoe Falls
Four Points by Sheraton Niagara Falls Fallsview is located within walking distance of one of North America's most famous natural wonders: the roaring Horseshoe Falls. The hotel also boasts easy access to one of the area's most popular manmade attractions, thanks to an indoor walkway leading to Fallsview Casino Resort. Here you'll find more than 100 gaming tables, 3,000 slots, an array of video-poker machines, and a performance venue that hosts music and comedy acts (this getaway includes a $25 credit for slots).
Back on the ground floor, the onsite Ruth's Chris Steak House serves up signature premium-cut steaks. The hotel also has an IHOP restaurant and East Side Mario's, which offers pizza and Italian dishes. This Getaway includes dining credits for all three eateries, plus two select drinks at Ruth's Chris. Some options also include a dining voucher for Outback Steakhouse and daily WEGO shuttle passes for two.
Niagara Falls, Ontario: Panoramic Views near Vegas-Style Casinos and Water Parks
At Niagara Falls—considered by many to be one of the world's seven natural wonders—water thunders downward from a height of nearly 200 feet, crashing onto craggy boulders below. The falls straddle the border between Canada and the United States, with segments located in both New York and Ontario, but the Canadian side of the Niagara River is universally hailed as the finest vantage point to take in all three of Niagara Falls' photogenic brinks: American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls.
The iconic Maid of the Mist has ferried raincoat-clad passengers around the base of the falls since 1846. The tours run from April through October, depending on the river's ice conditions. Year-round, Journey Behind the Falls grants a glimpse behind the curtain of Horseshoe Falls. Board an elevator that descends 150 feet into the bedrock, then stand at an observation deck steps away from the cascading water.
A 10-minute walk brings you to the neon glow of the Clifton Hill neighborhood. Its Fallsview Boulevard has plenty of Vegas-style kitsch, including glitzy casinos, restaurants, and soggy Elvis impersonators.


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Filed under: Uncategorized
It has been 222 days since my last post: I've got a new job, a new hair color, a new outlook on life, and will shortly be moving to a new city. I've definitely fallen off of the book radar so imagine my surprise while scanning the BBC's website that it was already that time of year: the Man Booker Prize long list announcement. The Man Booker long list consistently promises phenomenal fiction reads from the UK, Ireland, and the Commonwealth and each year I find a new favorite from this list; last year it was Steve Toltz's A Fraction of the Whole. The 2009 long list is:
- AS Byatt's The Children's Book
- JM Coetzee's Summertime
- Adam Foulds' The Quickening Maze
- Sarah Hall's How to Paint a Dead Man
- Samantha Harvey's The Wilderness
- James Lever's Me Cheeta
- Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall
- Simon Mawer's The Glass Room
- Ed O'Loughlin's Not Untrue and Not Unkind
- James Scudamore's Heliopolis
- Colm Toibin's Brooklyn
- William Trevor's Love and Summer
- Sarah Water's The Little Stranger
Filed under: Uncategorized
"I'm sure this could be seen as child abuse," Sabrina groaned as she pulled a pillow over her head. She wondered how many children had grandmothers who woke them up by standing over their beds banging a metal pot with a spoon. She peeked out at the old woman. Granny Relda looked like a member of the world's most annoying marching band." – Michael Buckley's Magic & Other Misdemeanors
I do not often read children's literature, but often wish I spent more time doing so. Particularly books designed for children ages eight through twelve have some particularly charming plots. Authors for this age range tend to stick with simple and meaningful themes such as patience, family, and the importance of younger siblings. Michael Buckley's Sister Grimm series has been my children's literature indulgence over the past year as a result of word of mouth and my own love for all things myth, folklore, and fairy tale related. It is a charming series punctuated by wonderful illustrations by Peter Ferguson, and I must commend Buckley for taking his fifth book in the series – Magic & Other Misdemeanors – to an entirely different place than the proceeding stories.
I posted once before about my initial reaction to the first fourteen pages, and in retrospect I hope nothing sounded too harsh or condemning. (One of the downsides of not having home Internet access is that there is little chance I can return to my posts 30-minutes later and be bewildered at what I actually wrote versus what I thought I wrote!) I was pleasantly surprised and quite taken as the previous two stories seemed to drag, but this latest work takes the sister detectives to entirely new places or should I say times. In the prior books, the sisters solved some rather incredible fairy tale cases, but now Sabrina and Daphne have quite the plot of danger and intrigue set before them: what happens when a glimpse into Ferry Port Landing's future promises a frightening world where everything is ran by crazed fairy tale characters?
This glimpse into a tear of time encourages the Grimms to take action and change the present before they are doomed to this future. However, the novel concludes on a rather dastardly point, which perhaps implies that any actions are futile. All I want to know – when is the next book coming out? The usual cliffhanger Buckley ends on is more sensational than ever and I wait in great anticipation to read more of the Sisters Grimm. I have remarked on a few reasons why I like the series, such as having two strong female leads or the fairy tale nature of the stories, and Buckley is one of my favorite recommendations to give at work, but I have discovered my own folly and that is I seldom suggest these books for boys.
There seems to have been a recent spurt in genderizing literature, and while this is absolutely not new it still seems strange in how welcomed the move seems and how unquestioning most people are about it. It seems every other children's book that is coming out is either marketed specifically for boys or specifically for girls, and while The Sisters Grimm may describe the adventures of two sisters there is nothing a boy cannot enjoy from the series. This afternoon I had a woman shopping for her son-in-law and she wanted recommendations for suspense novels, but she turned down every one of my suggestions because the lead in the books (and this was entirely accidental on my part) were women. She confessed that some men were simply a bit chauvinistic, but I find that a poor excuse and will in the future try my best to discourage such behavior.
However, as it seems I am going to have to wait a good deal of time to find out what exactly happens, I plan on turning to some other children's classics that I have never managed to finish. While I usually try not to play too far ahead into my reading future I have put Louisa May Alcott's Little Women and Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows on my must read for January list.
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"We were in class when the head-master came in, followed by a 'new fellow,' not wearing the school uniform, and a school servant carrying a large desk." – Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Between the novel The Heroine and my interest in 19th Century literature, Madame Bovary seemed an excellent book to bite into. In The Heroine there is a brief stop by Emma Bovary and that really spurred me to pick up Flaubert's novel. Madame Bovary is moving, brilliant, and I could not put it down. The story represents the darker side of female struggle in the period and calls into question the stifling atmosphere that women lived/live in. What happens to an ambitious women when her ambitions are limited by her husband's? Granted, as I read it I also realized that the novel could easily be read as a condemnation of the novel and its influence on women. However, Flaubert discusses the darker aspects of this life and the novel concludes with a painfully graphic description of Emma's suicide.
There are unmistakable similarities between Madame Bovary and Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, and I spent a lot of time post-reading wondering how respected both Flaubert and Tolstoy are for slaughtering their female leads. Please do not get me wrong, these are both novels I adore and I cannot wait to read more by Flaubert. However, Austen so often seems written off as romantic pink puffs of fancy (though certainly not by her fans). Even today a supervisor, with an English degree, described Jane Austen as "Snow White" for adults. I never fully realized how such different impressions are developed based on a happy or sad ending. Would Austen be accused of "chick lit" if she had killed off the middle Miss Dashwood or had Jane Bennett kill herself?
Despite this, Madame Bovary has nestled its way into my ever expanding list of favorite novels of all time. The story is beautiful and sincere, and Flaubert does not shy away from dealing with the more serious issues of the period. We watch Emma marry without giving much thought to her future life, and when she quickly becomes bored with it she becomes ill. The quick fix to her unhappiness and boredom is found through affairs, but the mad and passionate love that is produced is no solution. Even when in a love affair, Emma does not seem happy. As with Anna Karenina, Emma's happiness seems to fluctuate based on the men in her life.
Tied in with this overarching idea, we also see Emma utilizing consumerist greed to replace more tangible happiness and growth in her life. Emma quickly accumulates a great deal of debt and her suicide is intimately attached not only to her own self-destructive behavior but to the lust yet another man has for her.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Earlier in the year a popular requested author at work was Michael Buckley, and it seemed everyone was interested in his Sisters Grimm series. Since then I have read the first four books and I have finally gotten around to the latest edition Magic and Other Misdemeanors. While reading the previous four I noticed that the books seemed to grow progressively weaker, but that could also simply be the result of reading too many of one author's books at once.
While I am already only fourteen pages in I am at a point of great indecision with this book. Before I get ahead of myself allow me to explain the basis of the series: two sisters discover they are descended from the brothers Grimm, and along with a zany [1] cast of characters they run a sort of fairy tale detective agency. The idea on the whole is cute and it is also one of the few fantasy books for ages eight and up that offers a primary focus on two heroines.
So what am I indecisive or unsettled about? First, usually Buckley clearly states the folktales, myths, and fairy tales that he is referencing. However, this is the first time I noticed what appears to be references to modern tales of fantasy, but this is not referenced. When discussing "the black, gaping hole" or "What could any of them do to stop themselves, and soon the rest of the world, from being sucked into nothingness?" and I can only assume he is referencing Ende's The Neverending Story where the Great Nothing of nihilism threatens the world.
Secondly, Buckley discusses "God" almost immediately and if my memory is correct this is the first mention of "God" in any of his novels. While there is nothing specifically bad about this, Buckley has for a long time been a favorite author for me to refer to customers at work, and part of my unwavering faith in suggesting him is that I have never had to earnestly consider on a customer to customer basis whether or not this would be appropriate. Not to say that "God" is inappropriate, but not every customer may want to purchase a book for a child that has religious tones in it.
And third, and practically the same as my first qualm, on page 14 the sisters stumble onto a group of chimpanzees and the docile chimpanzees turn on them when the sisters refer to them as "monkeys." If that does not have Terry Pratchett written all over it I do not know what does!
So, are these huge issues? No, not particularly. But it does make me consider how an author treats references to other works of literature (and of course one could make the argument that Buckley is referring to neither Ende or Pratchett), and how do you suggest to customers and specifcally to children?
[1] Yes, zany is the only appropriate word.
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"Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with verylittle to distress or vex her." – Jane Austen's Emma
I was thrilled to earn and receive an A on my Jane Austen Pride & Prejudice stock character paper, and was also encouraged by my instructor to submit it to the school's writing review. Thus, for the next few weeks I will be extra fine tuning my paper. Between the research and writing of the paper I found the few odd moments to conclude Austen's novel Emma too.
In many ways, Emma differs from Austen's previous novels. Our heroine Emma Woodhouse faces no plight of financial or social existence that hinges on a good marriage. However, a theme of women "marrying up" persists in every marriage (and the book is full of them!). In addition, there is no clear cut villain such as Wickham or Willoughby. Instead, the closest Austen comes to a villain are Mr. Churchill and Mr. Elton. These two men are less of villains and more of cowards as a result of social and familial expectations.
While the heroine does marry in the end (to her brother-in-law's brother) it is after much insistence that she will never marry or fall in love, and the resulting marriage has her husband moving into her household rather than the reverse. A special circumstance does exist as Emma does not wish to leave her (amusingly) sick father, which implies that perhaps her insistence was more to do with protecting her pride and heart.
Emma very much is a novel about matchmaking and the million small degrees of social status that exists. In regards to her own Yenta-like habits, Emma reflects that "The first error and the worst lay at her door. It was foolish, it was wrong, to take so active a part in bringing any two people together. It was adventuring too far, assuming too much, making light of what ought to be serious, a trick of what ought to be simple. She was quite concerned and ashamed, and resolved to do such things no more" (763). From decorum books I have read of the period I understand that matchmaking was not a thing to do, and was looked upon poorly.
The social statuses in the novel vary greatly from the Woodhouse home (where Emma is line for a 30,000 pound dowry if I recall correctly), to her ex-governess' new matrimonial abode with Mr. Weston, to the now impoverished but once established Bates family. The novel thoroughly explores issues of marriage and relationship propriety for the people of Highbury. Since concluding Emma I have started on Northanger Abby, which is sensational. If anyone has ever doubted Austen's wit, vivacity, and charm it is because they have not read NA!
Other opinions: Mommy Brain, Good Clean Reads, Deliciously Clean Reads.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , canada, david bezmozgis, domestic, fiction, immigrants, jewish, jewish families, judaism, latvians, natasha, ontario, russian, secret mitzvah of lucio burke, short stories, steven hayward, toronto
"Goldfinch was flapping clothesline, a tenement delirious with striving."
A few posts back I asked how reader's decided which book to read next. I forgot to add that an excellent way to discover new writers and titles is asking at readings. Earlier in the year I heard two Canadian authors read. One was Steven Hayward author of The Secret Mitzvah of Lucio Burke (which I still have not read) and the other man I entirely forget (except that a group of us went back to a friend's house and ate take out sushi). However, both of these authors recommended David Bezmozgis' Natasha and Other Stories, and ever since then the collection has been sitting in the forefront of my mind as a must buy.
And I did. Buy it, that is, and it definitely tops my list as a favorite purchase and read of 2007. Bezmozgis story collection follows the life of a family of Jewish Russian immigrants in Toronto, Ontario. To paraphrase from one of my favorite television shows Black Books: I laughed, I cried, it changed my life. The book does follow the same family in chronological order, so especially if you are not a fan of the short story format this is one to try.
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"Alas, if the heroine of one novel be not patronized by the heroine of another, from whom can she expect protection and regard?" – Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
When I stumbled onto this book last week I could not resist reading it. Eileen Favorite's The Heroines is about a mother, Anne-Marie, and daughter, Penny, running a bed and breakfast, and famous literary heroines show up during some of their most stressful novelized experiences [1]. All of this is punctuated with glimpses of the televised Watergate trial.
The story is cute (and hokey) with a smattering of literary criticism, and I greatly enjoyed the premise of the novel. I mean, as fantastical of an idea as it is I am sure any fan of literature has at least one character they would love to get Chinese take out with. The first quarter of the novel amusingly details the mother and daughter tension of the household and gives the reader a glimpse of Franny (from Franny and Zooey) and Emma (from Madame Bovary).
However, Favorite inserted other themes and plots into the book that read more as gashes and interrupt the flow of an otherwise relaxing read. That is, Favorite begins to become very heavy handed about half way through the novel. Penny is abducted by a Hero, and after being found is taken to a hospital where she undergoes a rape test and is checked into the mental unit. (Granted, I suppose if you told a doctor you were abducted by a Celtic king similar things could happen to you.)
This portion of the story seemed a bit daft and I wonder what (if any) editorial conversation occurred. It reads as a mediocre scene of Girl, Interrupted (though with younger girls). Here Favorite seems to be playing up an idea of the psychological treatment of girls/women in this period with the wonder drug Valium. All well and good, and perhaps if Favorite had woven in more psychological tension for the reader – for example, questioning the reader whether or not the heroines are really exist – this could have progressed somewhere worthwhile.
It does not though. It dead ends and from here to the end of the book everything ends randomly and conveniently. I found this most irritating. Favorite had a great idea, but it just is not enough to carry excess themes.
I was also frustrated that only two of the heroines were from female authors. Favorite focuses on Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, and a pre-christian Celtic tale "Deidre of the Sorrows" particularly as she is concluding the stories. (I will not lie – I kept hoping Austen would rear her head at some point!) Three stories written by men that conclude in the suicide of the heroine.
All I could think of was Claudia Johnson's criticism on Austen, and how Austen did not kill off the scorned lover Margaret Dashwood as was/is so common in literature. I recall that Johnson describes it as a "pornographic death" where the heroine is killed under the mentality that if the hero cannot have her then no one will. Granted, Anna's story is a bit different but this was the first thought in my head.
The book still has some cute and hokey moments. If the premise of the book seems thrilling I reservedly suggest you pick it up for some light reading on a cold winter's afternoon. Honestly though, I found it a rather sloppy narrative and I could have read the book jacket and finished reading Austen's Emma instead.
[1] There is a movie/book/short story/play/poem about a man who uses a black box to be transported to (and to transport) Emma Bovary to have an affair with her. Eventually the box breaks and I think he's stuck with Emma in his world. For the life of me I cannot remember what it is though! This will annoy me until I find out.


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Recent Publications
Dickenson, P. (2017). What do we Know and Where Can We Grow?: Teachers Preparation for the Inclusive Classroom. In P. Dickenson, P. Keough, & J. Courduff (Eds.), Preparing Pre-Service Teachers for the Inclusive Classroom (pp. 1-22). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-1753-5.ch001
Dickenson, P., Keough, P., & Courduff, J. (2017). Preparing Pre-Service Teachers for the Inclusive Classroom (pp. 1-300). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-1753-5
Bender, S., & Dickenson, P. (2016) Utilizing Social Media to Engage Students in Online Learning: Building Relationships Outside of the Learning Management System. In Increasing Productivity and Efficiency in Online Teaching. Hershey, PA. IGI Global.
Dickenson, P., Jaurez, J. (2016). Increasing Productivity and Efficiency in Online Teaching. Hershey, PA. IGI Global.
Dickenson, P. (2016, March) The Flipped Classroom in a Hybrid Teacher Education Course: Teachers' Self-Efficacy and Instructors Practices. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching. http://faculty.nu.edu/blogs/jrit/
Dickenson, P. A. (2016). Creating an Online Web Presence for Instructional Use. Retrieved 30 Mar. 2016 from http://www.igi-global.com/video.aspx?ref=creating-online-web-presence-instructional&titleid=137623.
Dickenson, P., & Chandler, C. (2016). Blending Digital Content in Teacher Education Programs. In Active Learning in the Flipped Classroom Model in the Digital Age. Hershey, PA. IGI Global. http://www.igi-global.com/chapter/blending-digital-content-in-teacher-education-programs/141009
Dickenson, P., & Montgomery, J. (2016) The Role of Teacher Leadership for Promoting Professional Development Practices. In Innovative Professional Development Methods and Strategies for STEM Education. Hershey, PA. IGI Global. http://www.igi-global.com/book/innovative-professional-development-methods-strategies/132775#table-of-contents
Dickenson, P., Hall, M., & Courduff, J. (2015) Moving Beyond the Basics: The Evolution of Web 2.0 Tools from Preview to Participate. In Handbook of Research on the Societal Impact of Digital Media. Hershey, PA. IGI Global. http://www.igi-global.com/book/handbook-research-societal-impact-digital/122611#table-of-contents
Dickenson, P. (2014) Redesigning teacher education programs to meet the needs of today's second career pre-service teachers. In Cases on Teacher Identity, Diversity and Cognition in Higher Education. Hershey, PA. IGI Global. http://www.igi-global.com/book/cases-teacher-identity-diversity-cognition/97320
Dickenson, P. (2014) Flipping the Classroom in a Teacher Education Course. In Keengwe, J., Onchwari, G., & Oigara, J. (Eds.), Promoting Active Learning Through the Flipped Classroom Model. Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-4987-3. http://www.igi-global.com/book/promoting-active-learning-through-flipped/84096
Dickenson P. (2010) Motivation First: Latino English Language Learners in the Mathematics Classroom. https://www.academia.edu/12765874/MOTIVATION_FIRST_GOAL_ORIENTATION_OF_LATINO_ENGLISH_LANGUAGE_LEARNERS
Dickenson, P., (2009), Goal orientation of Latino English language learners: The reationship between students' engagement, achievement and teachers instructional practices in mathematics, University of Southern California. http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15799coll127/id/573050
Publications Reviewed by Patricia Dickenson on 9:51 PM Rating:


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James H. Gau
James H. Gau
Aug. 22, 1930 - Jan. 1, 2018
BRAINERD, Minn. - James H. Gau, 87, Brainerd, died Monday, Jan. 1, in his home.
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 5, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Brainerd. Father Daniel Weiske will officiate. Burial will be in Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by Brainerd American Legion and V.F.W. Color Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Salvation Army.
Arrangements by Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd.


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Hello Kitty Die-Cut Hairbrush: Pink Sparkle Collection
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Bubbie Carts Go At The Speed You Push Them
October 31, 2014
Okay, since I am a TMI Texas girl, I'm sharing something here. Most know me from social media, and know about my journey over the past 14 years (more if you count drama from childhood until this point). It's been a battle, life is a battle at times. Alcoholism, mental health, CHD-heart disease in a child, abuse, and so much more crap I cannot even begin in this post. Poetry in a way has been a way for me to express myself. I also paint, sculpt, complain, yep I said that, and love just as passionate, it's me.
I found out I have diabetes last October and it was a do or die situation with my weight gain. I'm not going to blame anyone else but me. I worked as a chef and binged on alcohol after my daughters death. It's time to move on…(you never move on from grief, just an expression).
So here is my first entry into a new lifestyle, a major one that took me four years to decide, and I'm going to do it November 19, 2014, bypass surgery. I will post once a month until I lose the weight. I'm also doing a workshop, for writers and poets in April 2015, at Classics Rare and Used Bookstore & Gifts (4 Lafayette and Warren Street) as well, so here's to getting in shape!


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Art in the Hallway
Photographs by Valley Art Association member Ron Lytle will be on display and for sale through the gift shop. Concludes today. Artwork is in the hallway near the information desk at Meritus Medical Center, 11116 Medical Campus Road, east of Hagerstown. A portion of the proceeds benefits Meritus Medical Center. Call 301-790-8144 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Winter show
Members of Valley Art Association show new artwork. Concludes Sunday, Jan. 29, at Mansion House Art Center, 501 Highland Way, City Park, Hagerstown. Free. Call 301-797-6813 or go to www.valleyartassoc.com.
Form: function
Art and ceramics by Mary Wunderlich, shown, and Cookie Redding. Continues through Tuesday, Jan. 31. Washington County Arts Council, 14 W. Washington St., downtown Hagerstown. Call 301-791-3132 or go to www.washingtoncountyarts.com.
Student exhibit
Molly Henry, eighth-grade home-schooled student will display her artwork. Continues through Tuesday, Jan. 31. M&M Accounting, 37 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown.
'The fantasmagoric paintings of Peter Shor'
Charles Town, W.Va., artist Peter Shor's watercolors and acrylics will be displayed. Continues through Tuesday, Jan. 31. South Jefferson Public Library, 49 Church St., Summit Point, W.Va. Contact Curt Mason at 304-724-7008 or email@example.com.
'New Year, New Visions'
Twenty African and Black American artists will show works. Exhibit continues through Sunday, Feb. 5. Just Lookin' Gallery, 40 Summit Ave., downtown Hagerstown. Free admission; open to the public. Go to www.justlookin.com.
'Picture This' photo show
Photos by four local photographers will be on display through Friday, Feb. 17. Council for the Arts, 159 S. Main St., Chambersburg, Pa. Free admission. Call 717-264-6883 or go to www.councilforthearts.net.
'The Worlds of Maurice Sendak'
Maurice Sendak is best known as the illustrator of more than 100 picture books, including "Where the Wild Things Are" and "In the Night Kitchen." Exhibit continues through Thursday, Feb. 23. Williamsport Memorial Branch Library, 104 E. Potomac St., Williamsport. Call 301-223-7027 or go to www.washcolibrary.org.
Ceramics, paintings and charcoal drawings are featured in a new show. Through Sunday, Feb. 26. Ice House, corner of Mercer and Independence streets, Berkeley Springs, W.Va. Free admission. Call 304-258-2300 or go to www.macicehouse.org.
Artists Joe Abbott, Ashley Bensel and Erin Gillespie will display drawings and paintings using oil, acrylic and mixed media. Exhibit continues through Saturday, March 10. On What Grounds coffee shop, 162 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, Pa. Call 717-264-4443.
Paintings by Cindy Haden Baker
Oil paintings by Chambersburg, Pa., artist Cindy Haden Baker will be on display. Exhibit continues through Friday, April 13. Franklin County Area Development Corp., 1900 Wayne Road, Chambersburg, Pa. Call 717-264-6883.
Museum art school show
The works of Caroline Jasper will be exhibited in "Museum Art School Reunion Exhibition: Creating, Inspiring and Educating Artists for 80 Years." Exhibit continues through Saturday, April 14. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, City Park, Hagerstown. Call 301-739-5727 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
American Decorative Arts
Objects from the museum's collection of American decorative arts as well as the importance of the pieces and their utilitarian value will be examined. Exhibit continues through Saturday, July 28. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. Go to www.wcmfa.org.
Children's museum
Museum features an exhibition on Japanese culture, a dinosaur exhibit, a NASA exhibit and a 12-foot-long model of the Titanic. Discovery Station, 101 W. Washington St., Hagerstown. Admission costs $5 to $7; free for ages 3 and younger. Call 301-790-0076.


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Jamie Kelso, Apr. 20, 2011
April 20, 2011
Mark Weber, Director of the Institute for Historical Review, is Jamie Kelso's guest on April 20, 2011. You can help the great work that Mark Weber has been doing for decades by going to his website. Mr. Weber was recently featured as a speaker at an American Third Position event in San Juan Capistrano, California. Kelso, as Membership Coordinator for the American Third Position political party, also talks about the first political candidate who is almost certain to get the American Third Position name on a statewide ballot for the first time, Mr. Harry Bertram, candidate for Governor of West Virginia. We have until May 21st to raise the $1,500 filing fee for the Bertram campaign, which will go on the ballot for an October 4, 2011 special election. Please go to Bertram2011.com to donate and to find out more about this exciting first A3P statewide campaign. Please also phone Jamie Kelso as A3P Membership Coordinator at 561 351-4424 if you can help in the Bertram campaign in any way.
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New York, NY - March 10, 2016 - Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) announced that three executives from IPG agencies have been recognized by Black Enterprise as Top Women in Advertising and Marketing.
Vita Harris, Chief Strategy Officer at FCB; Deidre Smalls-Landau, EVP Managing Director, Identity (IPG Mediabrands); and Adria Ross, VP, Associate Media Director, Identity/UM, were named to this year's list which includes women from across the agency landscape as well as from the client side.
A pioneer in strategy, planning and research, Vita's business acumen, passion and strategic thinking have helped transform many blue-chip companies and brands. She led strategy, planning and research for the 2010 Census campaign, designing a groundbreaking segmentation of the U.S., which yielded highly-effective, diverse audience-targeted strategies and tactics. This work was recognized by The Advertising Research Foundation, winning two David Ogilvy Awards including the Gold Multicultural. Vita was named one of The Network Journal's "25 Influential Black Women in Business," was recognized as a 2010 ADCOLOR Award Legend, was cited in the 2011 Power Issue of Black Enterprise as one of its "Top Executives in Marketing and Advertising," and in 2013 as one of its "Top Women Executives in Marketing and Advertising."
At Identity, IPG Mediabrands' growth segment agency focused on African American/Black, Asian and Hispanic markets, Deidre Smalls-Landau is dedicated to unlocking the power of culture and engineering growth for businesses through cross-cultural media and creative solutions. She has worked to create intelligent proprietary tools that add more rigor to understanding business opportunities and uncover deep, emotional insights about ethnic groups. Deidre has been recognized by Essence Magazine as one of the "Women At The Top of Their Game," and by Ebony as an "Outstanding Woman in Marketing and Communications."
Headquartered in the agency's Detroit office, Adria Ross has worked with Deidre Smalls-Landau and the Identity team since 2012. She has over 17 years of experience that includes traditional, digital, experiential and emerging media. This past year, Adria was recognized by the AHAA, the Voice of Hispanic Marketing, with a 2015 Media Planning Award for "Best Media Plan Using Total Market."
"We are so proud to have three of our folks recognized on such a prestigious list of accomplished women," commented Michael Roth, Chairman and CEO, IPG. "At IPG, we've been committed to D&I for many years and this type of recognition is extremely gratifying. Ours is a talent business, and every day we strive to become the employer of choice for diverse talent so that women like Vita, Deidre and Adria choose IPG to further their careers."
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About Interpublic
Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services companies. Major global brands include BPN, Craft, FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding), FutureBrand, Golin, Huge, Initiative, Jack Morton Worldwide, MAGNA GLOBAL, McCann, Momentum, MRM//McCann, MullenLowe Group, Octagon, R/GA, UM and Weber Shandwick. Other leading brands include Avrett Free Ginsberg, Campbell Ewald, Carmichael Lynch, Deutsch, Hill Holliday, ID Media and The Martin Agency. For more information, please visit www.interpublic.com.
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Contact Information
Jemma Gould
(212) 704-1327
Jerry Leshne
(Analysts, Investors)
(212) 704-1439