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I'm off to Japan tomorrow morning! My family love travelling and this has been on our list for years, so we are so excited to finally be visiting. I'm quite overwhelmed by it all actually – I just can't wait. I'm fascinated to see what it's like, although a little nervous about the food, as I'm not a sushi fan…
I'm sure a post will follow. But for now I wanted to share my recipe for getting rid of all the leftovers in my fridge! A classic pre-holiday activity.
A few years ago an actor friend of mine came to crash with me for a few days. He was a very healthy man, in body and mind. He was very zen, and we had a lot of big deep and meaningful conversations while he was here. Of all my memories though, the residing image in my brain from his brief stay was the "wet salads" he always made, as he called them. These involved grating up very moist vegetables, to create a very soggy pile of raw goodness. Sound grim? It definitely isn't.
Here is my Avocado and Chilli Wet Salad, as the beautiful and calm Vyelle would have called it. Enjoy your upcoming week, and I'll see you all on the other side…
1 large grated carrot
1/2 grated courgette
1 grated cooked beetroot
1 avocado
1/4 red chilli, chopped
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Black pepper
Mix it all together, and what have you got…? Delicious fridge-emptying goodness, that's what. Happy holidays!


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Bonita House Needs Your Help
Bonita House, Inc. (BHI) provides effective alternatives to psychiatric institutions and facilities. BHI maximizes the resources of the whole community to serve people with serious disabilities most in need, at a fraction of the cost of hospitalization.
To continue our good work, BHI needs your help. Gifts to BHI programs are tax-deductible and are immediately put to work helping troubled individuals establish independent, clean and sober lives. Our programs enrich the lives of those we serve through many activities, including music and art. Gifts to supplement these activities, such as musical instruments and art supplies are appreciated.
In addition to cash gifts, donating stock can be an excellent way to support BHI. Without any expenditure of cash, you can make an important and lasting investment in the health of your community. You can also make contributions as a memorial or in honor of a special occasion.
To make a donation or for more information, call (510) 923-1099, ext. 13 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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One of the most challenging aspects of being creative is finding all the assets that one needs to put together an impressive project. Some are easier than others. If you need a picture of a tree in your project, you probably have a camera, and a tree nearby to get the job done. If you need a sound clip of someone speaking, you might have a microphone and just do it yourself.
But what if you need the sound of a helicopter flying by?
Well, Soundbooth is here to help us out, through it's Resource Central panel. In Resource Central in Soundbooth, hundreds of incidental and strangely specific sound files are available for download for use in your project, with few restrictions. (Read the Terms of Use here)
To get to Resource Central, open Soundbooth, and from the menu bar click Window->Resource Central.
The Resource Central Panel appears (the News section is selected by default)
To preview a sound effect, click the Play button (right pointing arrow), next to the name. To download it to use in Soundbooth click the downward pointing arrow.
Let's look at a few of the types of sounds you can find in Soundbooth Resource Central:
- Ambient Noises – If you need background sound while the main action happens elsewhere, this is the place to be.
- Environmental sounds – Going out into a thunderstorm with lots of electronic sound recording equipment is not a great idea…now you don't have to!
- Sports sounds – Basketball, baseball, golf, football, any sport that makes a sound worth recording is in the Sports category
- Horror Effects – Lots of scary monster noises, including bones crunching, zombie noises, and evil laughs.
- Sci-Fi noises – All of the sounds you need to make your own futuristic technology come to life.
- Vehicle Noises – Helicopters, cars, trains…they're all here.
- Production Effects – Watch any action or horror movie trailer, and pay attention to the transistions between title cards, and you've got a good idea of the sounds that are available in this category.
The list goes on and on and on. With Resource Central Adobe has provided us with a host of these incidental files that make your project seem much more polished and professional. Resource Central also exists in Premiere and Encore, but those offerings aren't anywhere near as impressive as the Soundbooth offerings.
My recommendation is to get into Soundbooth, and see what kind of sounds you didn't even know you needed.


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The Artwork of April Solomon
A Window Into A Visionary World
Monday, February 7, 2011
Still under construction
As far as knowing at what stage I'm at in completion of my first maquette, I have absolutely no idea. Ive just finished applying the spines and a single layer of masking tape to cover the entire body. For the spines I used card stock paper, wire, and masking tape to secure it into place. The next step is to create some "chest plate" scales underneath his neck. Ill be crating them from sculpty, which is what I used for the head. Its coming together nicely so far. All that's left to do is keep going.
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Monday, November 13, 2006
9 comments:
- Beth said...
thanks Belly...I had a great weekend! Totally after a hot Canadian to teach my how to board...
miss you already... Beth :)
- Tue Nov 14, 01:12:00 pm
- trashbags said...
Hot hot hot hot hot!
We all look FAAAAAABULOUS! (hello Jeanie Little!)
And PS - is that a red beret in my lap... or am I just pleased to see you?
Token Tim ;o)
- Wed Nov 15, 11:32:00 am
- Mum said...
Steve, you should have run a napkin around your mouth it looks as if there is something stuck on top of your lip.
- Wed Nov 15, 01:37:00 pm
- Clare O'Connor said...
I agree with Tim, HOT HOT HOT!!!Wow looks like a truely amazing day. PS love the mo!! although I don't really look forward to the rash I could get. Just ask your mum steve, she can give u a lesson on hygiene about not shaving and the consequences. MWAH
- Thu Nov 16, 08:40:00 am
- Steve said...
Clare, are you trying to say that my mum has a mo??
Totally off the Christmas card list this year,,,
- Thu Nov 16, 06:11:00 pm
- angus said...
foul. your moe is foul. perhaps i am just jelous because i could never achieve such an animal on top of my lip. Apparently Im going to hit puberty next week, so we'll see.
- Mon Nov 20, 06:06:00 pm
- Steve said...
Hi Angus - how's the 3pm sunrises? You should try growing a mo - it's kind of like reaching Nirvana.
- Mon Nov 20, 06:22:00 pm
- virgin blogger said...
Belly.... There seems to be a whole lot of photos of you with hot women...
You must really be working that mo!
Love Karla
PS I am going to the official movember partay!
- Fri Nov 24, 09:19:00 am
- J-Steel said...
get my sunnies off you mere peasant dressed as a rockstar!
luff always,
the JMan
- Fri Dec 29, 04:18:00 pm


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The Bridegroom's Widow
O Mother, give birth to sons like Rana Pratap
Whose heat dries the blood of emporers, who wear dangers as their crown
A bell rang high above the silence. In the towers and the ramparts of the fort the watch changed. The captain of the first watch handed over the charge to his peer. Soon however, the commotion died and the night fell asleep again.
And then a black mass crept up to the fort. Undetected, it passed the watch towers and walls in the front and disappeared. Once beyond the main watch, it took the shape of a man. He moved slowly but steadily in the darkness, towards the rearmost tower of the fort.
A low whistle - a signal - that was returned with another whistle from above. Then a rope ladder was let down the tower wall. With practiced hands the man scaled 25 feet of granite.
"Rajkumari" he whispered in the darkness. A woman emerged and immediately clung to him. The couple stood there, locked in passionate embrace, their mouths seeking each other. Lost in passionate love-making, they forgot everything around them. The gong for the third quarters watch brought them back to the present.
The lovers separated and listened intently with bated breath. Noises in the distance. But here on the furthest tower, nothing. No footsteps, no noises. They breathed a sigh of relief.
"Kunwar, it's been three months since I saw you last. These separations are becoming unbearable now. Each day seems a century. And maharanasa is looking for suitors for me. He has taken a liking for Bikram Bhalla. I cannot hold him much longer. You must go and seek my hand from him. "
Kunwar Mangalsingh stood up and walked to the edge of the tower. He stood there staring into the dark expanse before him.
"Rajkumari, I come straight from meeting Maharana Ummed Singhji."
"You met maharana sa!! Where? When? How? Did you ask my hand from him? What did he say?" Rajkumari Nishigandha's voice had both surprise and apprehension.
Kunwar Mangalsingh turned to face her. A wry smile on his lips. "Too many questions Rajkumari." he came and sat close to her, holding her in his arms.
The Rajkumari made a half-hearted effort to push him away, but remained in his arms, "Please Kunwar, this is no time for romance. I cannot bear this separation and secrecy any more."
He let her go this time. The smile faded from his lips. The amorous glitter in his eyes faded into a faraway look.
"I met Maharanasa at the annual fair of the goddess Kali at Chikola. Did you know that your uncle has set a price for your hand? Or should I say a competition - the winner of which shall carry you away." the Kunwar stopped and looked at her questioningly.
"Kunwar, I beg of you. Don't speak in puzzles. The night will soon be gone. Tell me all you know for I know nothing of this, except that Bikram Bhalla has approached my uncle for my hand."
"Yes. And your uncle would have had you married to him. He has his own interests in doing so. The military strength of Bikram Bhalla's mercenaries makes him a lucrative choice as a nephew-in-law. If you had been the Maharana's own daughter, you would have been Bikram's bride by now. Mother Kali be praised you are his neice and he is not as free."
"At the fair of Chikola I upset your uncle's plan by asking for your hand in public. Rajput law ordains that he must now seek your will, for he is your uncle and not your father. If you choose either of us the matter is settled. If you stay silent, there will be a duel." Kunwar Mangalsingh stopped and looked at Rajkumari Nishigandha.
She had been listening silently. Slowly she realized the predicament she was in. In the distance, the first fingers of dawn were visible, peeling off night's black veil. As the light outside grew, she felt darkness within.
"What is the duel?" she asked, without meeting Mangalsingh's eyes.
"On the day of Devi amavasya, the one who wins Devigarh for the Maharana will obtain your hand in return."
Dark despair set on the princess's heart. Her uncle had set an unfair duel. She knew that Mangalsingh would never be able to win.
Devigharh - the mountain fort of Kali. A fort protected not by armies but the blessing of the Goddess. Devi amavasya fell on the fifth night after the fair at Chikola. Legend had it that the crown of Devigarh belonged to the royal head that touched the Devi's feet and sacrificed a life at the altar on this night.
"Rajkumari", the Kunwar's voice broke Nishigandha's reverie. "By Rajput law your uncle cannot give your hand to someone without your consent. Nor can he hold duel if you chose someone first. I am a banished prince with no army. I have just 50 loyal followers. Bikram Bhalla's mercenaries will form a wall that my men will never be able to cross. I cannot go into battle with them for it would mean suicide for my men. They would not stand a single chance and will all be wiped out. I am not a coward. But neither am I heartless. I will not lead my men to death for my personal gain. Tomorrow at court the maharana will ask your wish. Say the word and I shall carry you away as my bride. But if you choose to stay silent, I will have to go into battle to protect my family name. It is not for me that I ask you this. It is for my men."
It took Nishigandha a few minutes to mask the tempest raging inside her heart. When at last she spoke, her voice was ice cold, devoid of any emotion, "Kunwar Mangalsingh, deep is my love for you, but deeper still is my sense of duty for my uncle and his house. After the death of my beloved father, the Maharana has brought me up like his own daughter. It is only right now that I act like a daughter of this house. I will not speak tomorrow at court. I shall choose to die than cause disgrace to my uncle and his house. You must win me in the duel. And, mother Kali forbid, if you lose, Bikram Bhalla shall find a dead bride on his wedding night."
Without waiting for Mangalsingh's reply, without even looking at his face, princess Nishgandha ran into the darkness, towards her quarters.
Kunwar Mangalsingh stood for sometime looking into valley below. Then he climbed down the way he had come and disappeared into the early morning fog.
The fort of Devigarh stood on the eastern edge of the Chikola lake, surrounded by a vast expanse of cultivation. A silent guardian of the point, where the three most powerful provinces of Rajputana converged - Hadot, Mewar and Shekhawati.
It was a small fort, built on a gradual slope that rose to a height of 70 feet at the farthest end. On one side it overlooked the lake. The main entrance faced the cultivated plains of the valley. It had low walls of average thickness that started at the foothill and skirted the entire hill. At the very centre of the fort stood the Kali mandir - the nerve centre of the fort, with the goddess distinctly visible from far outside.
The fort was evidently not made for any military purpose. There were no moats or trenches around. There were no watch-towers, no nail studded, narrow doors, no steep tortuous stairways. Its door had never been shut and its ramparts had never been watched over by sword bearing soldiers. Devigarh's construction had more symbolism than martial tactic or political will.
Devigarh had never seen a siege, nor been transgressed by an army ever. What use was a fort that had no military significance? A fort which was the centre of strong religious beliefs of the entire Rajputana was more of a political liability than a strategic asset. Kings of the province had always let Devigarh be - governed by its head priest - waiting for a royal heir to claim it by fulfilling the legend.
But all that changed that year, on the morning of Devi amavasya. At the break of dawn there came the sound of men and animals outside the fort. When the priests came out after the morning aarti, they were greeted by a sight that none had seen ever. Armed men had surrounded Devigarh from all sides. The siege of Devigarh had begun and Bikram Bhalla waited at the gates, for evening to arrive so that he could enter and perform the sacrifice.
Sometime in the afternoon Maharana Ummed Singh arrived and camped at a distance from the fort. In the camp was also princess Nishigandha, staring at a small vial in her hand, her face as pale as the early morning sky. With supreme fortitude that was characteristic of a Rajpoot woman, she had resigned herself to destiny. As news of the duel spread, hundreds of men from nearby villages, gathered on the plains.
But it seemed like vain siege. Kunwar Mangalsingh was nowhere in sight. The sun traced its trajectory in the sky, and dawn turned to dusk. As the hour of sacrifice approached, the princess heaved a sigh of sad relief. At least the Kunwar had not been foolish to ride to his own death.
Meanwhile Bikram Bhalla, with a smile on his face prepared for the pooja and sacrifice - ready to be crowned king of Devigarh.
As the sun started setting, the priests started preparing for the sandhyaarti. In another hour the duel would be won. Bikram Bhalla's thoughts were about the body of the princess, praises of whose beauty he had heard far and wide.
In the midst of drums and trumpets a goat was prepared for the royal sacrifice - washed in milk and chandan and fed green leaves. Amidst much fanfare and cheering from his men, Bikram Bhalla started walking the fifty metres from the gate of the fort to the temple. His men followed, leaving there posts and breaking the siege.
And at that moment, over the horizon, the silhouette of two riders could be seen against the red glow of the setting sun. They rode fast, one with a naked sword and the other with a raised spear at the tip of which fluttered the standard of the Hada family.
The riders approached at lighting speed towards the fort. And as they came closer, people recognized with a gasp of surprise that it was Kunwar Mnagalsingh and his trusted lieutenant Yudhvir Singh.
Neither Bikram Bhalla nor his men saw the riders approaching. Rapidly the riders covered the ground, past the stupefied villagers, past the camp of the dumbstruck Maharana, closer and closer to the fort. No one knew what was going on. Kunwar Mangalsingh had arrived, but why was he alone? Where were his men? How would he stop Bikram Bhalla from performing the sacrifice and winning the duel?
Princess Nishigandha ran out of her tent, tears streaming down her cheeks. She caught a glimpse of her prince striding by on horseback, 6 feet of shining metal armor, and a resolute face. That fleeting glimpse of the Kunwar's face was sufficient to tell her the entire story. She understood his plan immediately. At that instant she felt a surge of pride and great love for this man who rode to his death. Pain was the last thing on her mind. Like generations of Rajpootanis before her, she bade goodbye to her warrior with a smile on her lips and a glitter in her eyes.
All eyes were now on the two riders. They expected them to dash into Bikram Bhalla's men and be killed in an instant.
Then, something strange happened. Yudhvir singh slowed down and the Kunwar started gaining speed. When the Kunwar was fifty metres from Bhalla and his men, he gave a heart rendering roar that rose above the noise of the drums and trumpet and for a second froze everyone to their spot.
"Bikram Bhalla, I challenge you", the Kunwar raised his sword and came to a grinding halt.
Bikram turned, mockery written all over his face. The game was up. There was no way Mangalsingh could win the duel now. His men formed an impregnable wall between the Kali temple and this man.
"Kunwar Mangalsingh. The duel is over. There is no way that you can cross my men and reach the Devi's temple before me. Don't be foolish. Accept defeat and go back. I spare your life on this happy occasion", Bikram shouted back.
"You fool, you mercenaries will never understand the value of honor. We Hadas care more for our honor than for our lives. The duel is not over yet." and saying so, he raised his sword in the air and shouted "Maa kaali ki jai".
As if at a signal, Yudhvir Singh, who had now fallen about hundred metres behind his prince, gained speed and started down like a lighting towards the prince. As he approached he increased his speed. 75 metres and more speed. 50 metres and more speed. And now Yudhvir Singh raised his spear and leveled it for a throw. Kunwar mangalsingh stood still in his tracks, with sword raised in mid air above him.
What happened next has gone down in the history of Rajputana as one of the bravest acts ever performed by a king to protect his name and his men. It happened in a flash, before anyone could even realize it.
As Yudhvir Singh came close, with another sky-tearing cry of "Jai Maa Kaali" Kunwar Mangalsingh, raised his hand and with one single stroke cut of his own head. The body stood still for a fraction of a second, before beginning to limp. But at that very moment, Yudhvir Singh caught the falling head of his prince in his spear, and sped onward towards the dumbfounded men around the fort.
And then, at the peak of his momentum, when he was just going to crash into the first line of Bhalla's men, Yudhvir lifted his arm and let go of the spear with one mighty heave, Mangalsingh's head impaled upon it.
The projectile flew, over the low walls, past the men, past Bikram Bhalla, and with uncanny accuracy, landed at the temple steps, near the feet of the Goddess Kali. At the impact, the royal head, now mutilated by the spear, came lose and skidded across the floor to touch the feet of the goddess.
Yudhvir Singh crashed and broke through the lines of Bhalla's men and shouting "Maharana Mangal Singh ri Jai", crashed into the walls of Devigarh.
It all happened in five minutes. Like some well rehearsed trapeze act in a circus. The speeding lieutenant with his leveled spear, the prince cutting his head off, the impaled head on the spear and the mammoth throw. To those who saw it happen in front of their eyes, it seemed like a bad dream. But the headless body of the Kunwar on the field and the royal head on the Devi's altar told them all that it was not.
At that very moment, the sound of a conch declared the duel complete and the legend fulfilled. In those five minutes, Devi Amavasya had started and the priests began the aarti of Kali. In the camp of Maharana Ummed Singh, princess Nishigandha emerged from her chamber, clad in white, like a widow. She had a proud look in her eyes as she set off towards Devigarh - to collect the head of her dead husband - late Kunwar Mangalsingh - Maharana of Devigarh.


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So my sister is getting married this Saturday and there are loads of things needed to be done. I took leave from work since Tuesday and only will be returning work on Wednesday, the 17th. Basically I'm her "driver" for the entire week till the wedding day itself. I brought her to do her make-up trial, pick her Australian friends up from the airport and brought them sight-seeing; send them back to the hotel, run some errands for my mom and many more.
Attended my sister's registration and have to wake up at 5 in the morning to get ready because my sister and I are sharing the room and there's only one bathroom for us to share. My house is currently being occupied by my grandmother and godparents, they are here to help up with all the preparations that's needed for the wedding.
Soon my entire relatives including nephews and nieces will be arriving and the entire house will be filled with noise and laughter. Once the wedding is over, the house will be quiet once again and my sister will officially "move" out of the house to stay with her husband. For the first time in years my sister will be able to celebrate Chinese New Year with the entire family though my dad and my youngest brother will be leaving to Australia on the 3rd day of Chinese New Year because my youngest brother will be studying there.
Then my sister and my other brother only be leaving on the 4th day of Chinese New Year and the house will only have my mom and I. It will be tough for my mom to endure the "loneliness" for a few months because she's used to have my youngest brother around accompanying her everywhere. Hopefully my mom will finally find some hobbies to keep her occupied while I'm at work or meeting up with some friends and the boyfriend once in a while.
Till then, I will write a new post, probably slightly more detailed about the things that happened during the week of preparation to the wedding day itself.
Who knew that there are so many things needed to be done? My dad said that it's better to elope than to do all these preparations. He told me, "Ting, the next time when you want to get married, just elope. I will even provide the money for you. Less troublesome and I will save more!" You know, I actually thought it was a pretty decent idea, but would love to wear a wedding dress at least if I'm eloping or something. Just kidding, I will never elope..............right?


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Birchwood Price Tools charity walk
Published: 28 May, 2012
NORTHAMPTON: A team of walkers from Birchwood Price Tools (BPT) are aiming to complete the Lyke Wake Walk, crossing the North Yorkshire Moors in aid of Cancer Research UK and Together for Short Lives.
The 30 strong team will start their challenge at 10pm on Friday 15th June and complete the 42 mile route within 24 hours.
Many of the team at BPT, a part of the BSS Group, have had family and friends affected by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, so these charities mean a great deal to them. The team are aiming to raise as much money as possible so every donation received, no matter how small, will help to ensure that these noble charities continue to support thousands of families.
Paul Nieduszynski, managing director at BPT said that "it's going to be a huge challenge both physically and mentally. But with the help and support of the team, along with the generosity of our sponsors, we're determined to raise awareness and money for these commendable charities".


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As I watched this beautifully hand died thread pass through my fingers to somehow become what is now the most adorable newborn hat I have ever seen…I imagined its fate: it's cozy elegance hugging your perfect newborn head as we take you home from the hospital. Oh how I hope my dream for this beanie comes true.
Knitting a newborn sized item is risky. What if the baby is bigger than average? Is 5 hours of knitting worth the 3 times the baby will actually wear the item? Because, Crew, if it doesn't fit then that means that your head grew much larger than I anticipate pushing out- and this little beanie will have to be packed away in your baby box…unworn…until the day you have an average head-sized newborn of your own.
May God bless your little noggin. And may God be gracious to me in allowing your head to be no bigger than the bounds of this hat.


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Most of Sunnyside's $3.8 million in new building valuation for the month of March originated from one project, Hillcrest Manor's new physical therapy wing.
The 16,000 square-foot addition, which will include 20 beds in addition to rehab areas, is valued at $3.5 million. Sunnyside city coffers garnered $24,315 in permit fees from the project.
Also in March, Sunnyside officials approved a new housing start in the 1400 block of West Madison Avenue. The single-family home is valued at $135,455 and generated $1,976 in permit fees for Sunnyside.
Other notable new starts last month included commercial tenant improvements in the 1100 block of East Yakima Valley Highway, valued at $195,000.
Also in March, Lower Valley Hospice received a thumbs up to convert a garage into office space at a valuation of $5,000.
Nearly a third of the 28 building permits approved by Sunnyside staff last month were for re-roofing projects.
Led by a $75,000 re-roofing for Bank of America, the nine projects had a combined valuation of a little more than $100,000.
For the month of March, Sunnyside received $32,158 in building permit fees.
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News broke last night that unfortunately Frankie Bridge has reluctantly had to step down from performing in the 2015 Strictly Come Dancing UK tour...but don't fear, the Strictly Come Dancing producers have confirmed her replacement - RACHEL STEVENS!
The Saturday's star is pregnant with her second child, but has a condition called Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which can effect the early months of pregnancy...but don't fear, the Strictly Come Dancing producers have confirmed her replacement - RACHEL STEVENS!
The former S Club 7 star is no stranger to Strictly. She was runner-up in the 2008 BBC1 series and went on to dance around the country in the 2009 Strictly Tour and more recently appeared in the 2014 Christmas Special. She will perform on the 2015 tour with pro dancer, Kevin Clifton.
Rachel said: "I'm really happy for Frankie and Wayne - it's great news to start the New Year with! I know she's disappointed not to be doing the tour - I was supporting Team Frankie during the show and she was fantastic, but I'm happy to be able to step in for her. It's no secret that I loved my time in Strictly and that I'm a big fan of the dances so I'm excited to be back and to get my dancing shoes on again. Today, I'm straight into rehearsals learning the routines and meeting the guys and next week we'll be on tour seeing fans across the country - I can't wait!"
If you fancy seeing Ms Stevens do her thing here at the Barclaycard Arena, you can still buy tickets to the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour right here.
We're over the moon for Frankie Bridge and her husband Wayne and wish them the best of luck.
Frankie has sent this message to her fans and supporters: "Wayne and I are delighted to announce that we are expecting our second baby. It is very early days, but we couldn't be happier and Parker will make a wonderful big brother. Although this is such an incredible time for us as a family, due to health reasons I am sadly unable to go on the Strictly tour as planned. I'm devastated that I'm missing out, as I loved Strictly so much and was so looking forward to joining everyone again in all those fabulous arenas. Thanks for the warm messages I've already received, they are really appreciated."


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Retro D/SMe-LEFTY Guitars
The Breedlove Retro Series D/SM is a prewar style dreadnought model instrument with a solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back, tortoise shell binding with top purfling, BWB rosette and an L.R. Baggs Stage Pro and Element Active pickup system with volume and tone controls.
- Retro D/SMe-LEFTY Specifications
- Nut Width 1 11/16"
- Tuners Hardware Grover StaTite Nickel
- Lower Bout Width 16"
- Waist Width 10 5/8"
- Upper Bout Width 11 5/8"
- Body Length 12"


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BIGGEST WOW of all time?
Posted 09 February 2004 - 10:37 PM
Street Fighter 2
Do I need an explanation? It was the basis of most fighting games from then on and is still enjoyable today
Super mario bros/world
Introduced the first great platform game and is still enjoyable today.
Ninja Gaiden
I still haven't played it myself but it was wow for me
Phantasy Star series and Shining Force series
Both provided excellent story lines and awesome RPG elements/battle
A love/action/comedy story all in one. Probably one of the greatest RPGs out there that changed the face for RPG games today
Max Payne
Provided the Bullet time mod. Now you can see it everywhere which is kinda boring nowadays
Marvel vs Capcom
Team switch feature, proved that 2 companies can make a game toghether using their own characters to face each other
Half life
One of the best FPS out there. It included a extensive, continuing storyline with the notorius Gordon Freeman and G-MAN. Also, many multiplayer mods were made that are ranked the best in some gaming sites
Metal Slug
Chrono Trigger
First Game that actually used the element of time and went extensively into it. Still lotta fun
Sonic the hedgehog
Gee I love this game. What can't you love about a blue hedgehog and YOU CAN'T DIE UNLESS YOU HAVE NO RINGS
Posted 09 February 2004 - 11:18 PM
Maybe my favorite RPG
Chrono series
Great RPG series, great story
Super Mario Bros 3
One of the original greats
Megaman 3-6
Read above possibly first game I ever played
Marvel Vs. Capcom
One of the first fighting games that really caught me eye
Greatest SNK fighting game maybe?
Its KOF....
Phantasy Star Online 1-2
First game I played like it, adventure, action and RPG
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Research suggests that meaningful service perhaps is the most important of the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice
It might be obvious that any valuable service-learning experience should be meaningful — yet it is far from self-evident what the term "meaningful" implies. But the substantial positive impact meaningful service can have on students' academic, civic, and developmental outcomes (Neal, Leeper, and Root 2009) calls for an examination of the ingredients required to reach true meaning.
Though meaningful service implies service that is perceived as beneficial to its recipients and to the larger community, this article will focus on the importance of meaningfulness as defined by the service providers.
A number of factors have to be in place for a service-learning experience to be perceived as meaningful by students, i.e., the providers of the service. The first dimension relates to the way the experience allows for personal growth. Yates (1995) noted that opportunities to take on adult responsibilities and receive respect for doing work well "may lead [students] to think about who they are and who they can be." Furco (2002) found that the students who were most strongly influenced by their service experiences were engaged in meaningful service activities that challenged them to some degree or ones in which they had responsibility and interest. The students' sense of engagement was enhanced when they felt they were treated with respect by members of the community. To reach such outcomes, the service experience must be developmentally-appropriate — that is, it must deal with an issue that can be understood by learners, and they must be reasonably well able to perform the corresponding service activity.
A second dimension relates to how students perceive their relationship with recipients of the service they provide. Root and Billig (2008) affirmed that students found meaning in their service when they interacted with individuals faced with personal difficulties, confronting examples of injustice, or encountering inefficient policies. Direct contact "enabled [students] to connect to larger issues, both in the community and more generally in society.
Reconnecting Youth and Community
A third dimension relates to how the service experience changes the way students see themselves in the community or the wider society. While a number of studies have established that many young people feel disconnected from their community and might have an egocentric way of viewing the world, effective service activities engage students emotionally with their communities (Root and Billig 2008). Catalano and colleagues (2004) showed that participation in communities helped students develop stronger connections to the community norms and values, thereby contributing to community cohesion.
Local Action, Global Meaning
While a meaningful project can have a lasting impact on students as well as recipients, it has the potential to serve an even higher purpose if it is firmly placed in its appropriate wider context. Students should be encouraged to analyze how the need they are addressing is but one step toward a broader vision of tackling the problem on the local, national, and global levels.
Thus service-learning projects that adhere to the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice help develop civic awareness and democratic citizenship (Root and Billig 2008). Through learning and reflection, students are capable of comparing their life situations to those of the people they serve and they place any need or problem in local and global contexts. Once students start to consider the possibility of changing social problems, they realize the importance of the learning component. It takes service to meet needs, but knowledge and skills to end them.
Catalano, R. F., Haggerty, K. P., Oesterle, S., Fleming, C. B., and Hawkins, J.D. (2004). The importance of bonding to school for healthy development: Findings from the Social Development Research Group (pp. 252-261). Journal of School Health, 74(7).
Furco, A. (2002). Is service-learning really better than community service? A study of high school service program outcomes. In A. Furco & S. H. Billig (Eds.), Advances in service-learning research: Vol. 1. Service-learning: The essence of the pedagogy (pp. 23-50). Greenwich, CT: Information AGe.
Neal, M., Leeper, T., and Root, S. (2009). Attributes of quality service-learning in respondents' past service experience: new findings from NYLC's Transitioning to Adulthood Survey. In Growing to Greatness 2009 (in press), St. Paul, MN: NYLC.
Root, S., and Billig, S. H. (2008). Service-learning as a promising approach to high school civic engagement. In J. Bixby & J. Pace (Eds.), Educating democratic citizens in troubled times: Qualitative studies of current efforts (pp. 107-130). Albany, NY: SUNY Press.
Yates, M. (1995). Community service and identity development in adolescence. Dissertation. Catholic University of America. Washington, DC.


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Lounging by the pool has never been this glorious. When you have an infinity pool like this that overlooks gorgeous views of the mountains and mountainside, you can't help but tell yourself that this is the life!
If you have the resources, this might spark an idea to build an infinity pool overlooking beautiful views. But if the views are not available, then you can simply do your best in cozying up the place with the right choices in furniture and accents. You can still end up with something that's as warm and relaxing.


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SEO Digital Marketing Spending Will Surpass $80 Billion
Since 2017 Google has made dramatic changes to their algorithm in an attempt to provide the highest quality search results so it's no secret that many businesses have noticed that their website is not ranking like it used to a few years back. Mobile domination has changed the ways customers search for businesses online. It is not just the large companies but smaller, local businesses that are expected to skyrocket vast amounts on online SEO.
This is why we are looking for highly motivated people who would like to join our fast growing team of professionals.
- SEO Sales Reps
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Email Us Today: email@example.com
SEO Booming 80 Billion – Read Article Here


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Tuesday, March 9
I notice that I've been clamoring a lot for sunshine these days. Well, who doesn't, right?
Like today, it snowed again in Tokyo, and was it like a week ago when I thought spring was just around the corner?
Some highway photos when I went to Chiba some weeks ago.
I was hooked to this song by Matt Costa like 3 years ago, and now my head sings it indefinitely.
Thanks everyone for your nice comments. I'll pick them up when I ain't as busy as I am right now. ^^
Labels: music, photos, travels, winter 2010
5 comments:
- Elisabelle said...
I did not know Matt Costa!
That's nice.
LOve the blurry pictures.
- Tuesday, March 09, 2010
- hiki said...
Yea where the sunshine's gone!? I'm really fed up with this cold weather, it really shouldn't snow in March... Let's hope it will be warm soon!
Love these shots!
- Wednesday, March 10, 2010
- ashley said...
excellent highway shots. i like the colors.
- Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Visiting Chiba is so relaxing.
I got a new apartment in Oimachi. Maybe if you're not busy sometime we could grab a drink sometime :) You live on the Tokyu Ikegami line, right?
- Friday, March 12, 2010
- \@-@/ said...
thanks everyone!
hiki san, its getting warmer and cozy these days, looks like our wishes for spring are bound to happen real soon!
sure. just let me know when you are free! i hope i'd be free too!
- Saturday, March 13, 2010
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Welcome to The Otley Tap House
Traditional Bar, Contemporary Style and Real Ale in Otley
The Otley Tap house is the newest pub in town situated on Boroughgate in the heart of Otley. Our bar serves a traditional selection of cask ales, premium lagers, spirits, ciders and much more in a warm and friendly environment.
We are committed to serving locally brewed, real ale with the occasional showcase of the best beers our other UK regions have to offer.


text: Investments The Board of Trustees has the fiduciary duty of overseeing the Fund's assets and investments. The purpose of the Fund is to accumulate the financial reserves necessary to provide for the retirement or pensioning of eligible members of the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System (COAERS) and their beneficiaries. A primary objective of the investment management of the Fund is to emphasize consistency of growth in a manner intended to protect the Fund from excessive volatility in market value from year to year. The Board, staff, and external investment consultant all work together to ensure that every action taken serves the long-term interests of the members. As of December 31, 2016, the assets of the Fund totaled $2.3 billion. Investment Philosophy The COAERS Board of Trustees, charged with the responsibility for investing the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with fiduciary standards, has adopted the following investment philosophy to guide asset allocation and investment decisions. The Fund is a permanent one. The benefit obligations of the System must be met on a timely and regular basis. There is currently no expectation of need for significant liquidity from the Fund. The Fund shall be considered a total return fund, with appropriate recognition given to both current income and capital appreciation. Taxes shall not be a consideration. As such, market value will be the only relevant basis for measuring investment value. In the long run, ownership (equity investment) is a prudent investment vehicle for preservation of real values. The purpose of fixed income investments is to protect the principal, provide income and provide a measure of stability to the Fund. Diversification is integral to the fund's design and as a result, investments that improve fund diversification will be considered. As a long-term fund with a commitment to funding the full benefits of the participants, cash flow considerations shall take precedence over the liability stream when considering overall asset allocation of fund assets.


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The World Bank recently issued its 2016 World Bank Doing Business report. Among its findings, Mexico was pleased to discover it has improved its ranking in the world for best place to do business up four spots to number 38, and up a whopping 11 spots to 92 for the best tax environment.
Each year, the World Bank publishes its World Bank Doing Business report. The project seeks to provide objective measurements and ratings of business regulations, tax environments, and other factors affecting the ease and security of doing business in 189 different nations around the world. A report flowing out of that project, Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency, shows Mexico improving from 42nd to 38th place in the category of easiest countries in which to do business, and from 103 to 92 in national tax regulations.
The report comes from information collected from a number of sources, both internal to Mexico and from outside sources. Much of the data came through surveys of economic and tax professionals, then compiled into a uniform and accurate picture of the regulatory scene in not only Mexico, but also the other 188 nations studied, as well.
According to the Yucatan Times, the new Paying Taxes report underscored the importance of electronic tax filing. According to the report, more than 85 percent of European nations now rely on electronic tax filing (i.e., filing one's taxes across the internet), as opposed to the mere 30 percent that allowed the practice as recently as 2006. Mexico recently joined the ranks of such nations, contributing largely to its surge in the rankings.
Mexico's improvements also relate, in large part, to a great reduction the time businesses have to spend on their tax compliance. Electronic filing and other tax regulation improvements mean that corporations now spend just 286 hours per year preparing their taxes, as opposed to the 334 hours it took last year. Much of the improvement is attributable to the elimination of the Business Flat Tax (IETU) as well as the aforementioned introduction of electronic filing. These systems greatly improved corporations' ease of preparing and filing corporate income tax, employers' social security contributions, payroll, property, vehicle taxes, and VAT, making them all payable online now, as well.
Accounting firm Russell Bedford México's managing partner, Jorge Jiménez, commented on the improvements: "It is gratifying to see Mexico's improved tax environment recognized in this way." He went on to say, "However, while considerably better than the average 361 hours per year recorded in other Latin American countries, Mexico's performance still falls far short of the 176.6 hours recorded in the OECD countries. Further reform is clearly needed if Mexico is to become genuinely competitive worldwide."


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Oh my word, was it hard to find the bits I needed! First of all, small but not boring plant pots. I did eventually find metal ones at Ikea but they only had the one on display left so I had to get a slightly more boring pot for the second one. Then I needed colourful sand to fill the pots with. I still haven't found any of this. I really wanted to get something in a physical shop so that Erin could choose the colour. Anyway I managed to find some brown at Ikea so made do with that.
Then I cut up an egg box to make the centre of the flowers and let Erin paint them. We cut out paper flowers for the petals. I used skewers for the stalks and covered them with Washi tape to make them more colourful.
Then card...seriously, we have drawers full of craft stuff so why did I have no card when I needed it??? I managed to find some compliment slips made from card so cut those up and let Erin write on the things she has been taught this year.
I'm going to add little tags to each one saying "Thank you for teaching me..."
I'll also do some baking as there's a few teaching assistants too. Most likely cupcakes and the kids can add srpinkles.


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이황 (16th century), an authority on neo Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37 latitude, the diagram represents "scholar".
Yi Hwang was a Neo-Confucianist scholar. Neo-Confucianism was more open to other ideas from Taoism and Buddhism. Historically Confucianism and Taoism stood somewhat opposed to each other. Neo-Confucianism tried to merge elements from the three great Oriental philosophies. Still, Neo-Confucianism kept a quite materialistic view of the world and did not believe in such Buddhist concepts as Karma and reincarnation. They did, however, believe in Ki -- the life force. However, they placed ephasis, rather on, I. The latter, according to Neo-Confucianism, is the base form of Ki and permeates everything in the world, while Ki is more specific manifestations of I.
Yi Hwang was a noted scholar, Confucian lecturer, and author of philosophical texts. As an extremely principled high level government official he was even exiled on more than one occasion for stringently sticking to his principles, while working under four different kings during his long career. Apart from his academic achievements, he was also a poet and calligraphy artist.
Yi Hwang's pen name, Toi-Gye 퇴계, translates as "Retreating Creek"; however, the pattern contains no retreating movements. All the movements meet the opponents head on with attentive guarding postures, engaging blocks and forward stepping attacks.
An interesting aspect of the pattern Toi-Gye is the repetition of six mountain blocks. A mountain is a symbol for strength and fortitude, which may refer to Yi Hwang's principled life. The pattern also has an interesting combination and repitition of circular blocks.


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About Carmel (Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA)
Carmel, CA (Carmel-by-the-Sea) is located on the central coast of California just 2 hours south of San Francisco on the southern side of the Monterey Peninsula. Carmel is bordered by Pebble Beach to the northwest, Monterey to the north, Big Sur North Coast and Carmel Highlands to the south, Carmel Valley to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. This page of LiveMontereyPeninsula.com and all of the links associated with it are focused on the City of Carmel, CA 93921.
When you think of Carmel-by-the-Sea you can't help but thinking of a quaint, artsy village with great restaurants, art galleries, whimsical story-book cottages, Monterey pine and cypress trees, fantastic white sandy beaches and spectacular views of the rocky coastline of Pebble Beach and Point Lobos. There are art galleries, shops and small eateries on every street in the downtown area making Carmel-by-the-Sea a favorite destination for people from all over the world.
Carmel is also known for being incredibly dog friendly. Most of the beautiful hotels in Carmel allow dogs to stay, which is a relatively rare feature. Not only that, but many of Carmel's restaurants allow dogs to eat with their owners, some of the restaurants even humorously hosting a "doggie menu." How adorable!
Carmel Things To Do
Carmel-by-the-Sea offers visitors hundreds of activities to take advantage of while visiting this picturesque village. Things to do in Carmel include, eating at delicious Carmel restaurants, visit the Carmel Mission, go surfing, sailing, whale watching, sport fishing, relax in a Carmel coffee shop, walking on the beach, walking your dog, go to the Spa, horseback riding, tennis, hiking Point Lobos State Park or Carmel River State Beach, bird watching, kayaking Carmel Bay, go to the Forest Theater, painting, photography, bicycling, strolling around downtown, check out the art galleries, go on a Carmel historical cottage hunt, etc…Carmel-by-the-Sea is an amazing place to visit and an even more amazing place to live!
A Little Carmel History
Carmel was originally founded by the Native American tribe known as the Ohlones. Though some believe that there were inhabitants prior to the Ohlones, most of the history recorded surrounds this tribe.
Carmel was founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916 the area was originally inhabited by Native Americans. Carmelite friar Sebastian Vizcaino discovered Carmel Valley for Spain in 1602. It was named for his patron saint, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It wasn't until 1770 that the Spaniard Gaspar de Portola, Father Junipero Serra and Father Juan Crespi returned to Carmel to colonize Carmel and Monterey. The Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo was founded in Monterey but was quickly relocated to Carmel just a few hundred yards from the Carmel River and Carmel Bay. Read more…
Carmel Real Estate
When you think of Carmel real estate, you can't help but think of the cute Carmel cottages that are modeled after English and French country villages with thatched roofs, high pointed roof lines, asymmetrical stone fireplaces, rounded doors and wooden inlays. These are highly sought after properties in Carmel-by-the-Sea along with Carmel ocean view real estate. Carmel ocean view homes come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Whether an ocean front contemporary home with exceptional ocean views like the "Butterfly House" or the Frank Lloyd Wright House, or a Carmel cottage on the hill with views of Point Lobos Carmel homes with a view of the blue Pacific Ocean are always in demand.
Carmel real estate can be very expensive…In the tens of millions of dollars each, but there are very affordable homes in Carmel as well. Carmel real estate under $1 Million is alive and well in this town and although you wont find anything along the water in the price range, there are neighborhoods inland with plenty of homes under $1,000,000.
Carmel Representatives
Carmel abides by "general law," which means it is governed by a mayor, four city council members, and a city administrator. Carmel is currently represented by Dave Potter, on the city level. District wide, Carmel is represented by Bill Monning, who is a part of the 27th Assembly. In the State Senate, Sam Blakeslee represents Carmel, and in the United States House of Representatives, Carmel belongs to the 17th congressional district.


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Milton Democratic Caucus Elects Convention Delegates
The Milton Democratic Caucus elected 28 members and four alternates to represent them as delegates at the Massachusetts State Democratic Convention in June.
In all, 14 women and 14 men were elected at the meeting held in the Keyes Community Room at the Milton Public Library on Feb. 8. The elected members will attend the convention to be held in Worchester on Saturday, June 14.
The women elected are: Jean Eckner, Joan Gancarski, Laurie Macintosh, Mary McNamara, Kathleen Moore, Jackie Morgan, Germaine Riordan, Meredith Sterritt, Maureen Sweeney, and Elizabeth White. The men elected are: Tim Cullen, Darryl Elliot, Christian Flynn, James Joyce, Michael Maholchic, Steve Morash , Bob Perry, Jeff Stone, Bill White, and Michael Zullas.
The alternates elected are: Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, Joanne Stanley, Lee Michael McLean and David Sweeney
In addition to the Democrats elected at Saturday's Caucus, the Milton delegation also includes State Senator Brian Joyce, State Representative Walter Timility, Governor's Council member Robert Jubinville, State Committee member Mike Joyce and Chair of the Milton Town Democratic Committee Judy White Orlando.
Category: News


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5 people to follow for information on publishing and marketing:
- Molly Greene (@mollygreene)
- Joanna Penn (@thecreativepenn)
- Joel Friedlander (@JFBookman)
- Francis Caballo (@CaballoFrances)
- Jane Friedman (@JaneFriedman)
5 groups/businesses/organisations that offer help without being too hard sell:
- Book Marketing Tools (@bkmkting)
- Writers Digest (@WritersDigest)
- Create Space (@CreateSpace)
- Publishing Talk (@publishingtalk)
- Write Track (@Write_Track)
5 people/groups/organisations that offer help for authors with social media:
- Liz Melville (@lizmelv)
- The Social Media Hat (@SocialMediaHats)
- Mashable (@mashable)
- Jeff Bullas (@jeffbullas)
- Pam Dyer (@pamdyer)
All the above 15 twitter accounts are fantastic resources for both readers and writers and they are run by people who genuinely want to help. They assist with all aspects of social media and they also help writers and authors to find each other.
You may also find The Top 10 Resources for Self-Publishing Authors useful for help with writing, publishing and book marketing.


text: Blog New Digital Citizenship Lessons for Your Classroom Introducing the new and improved K–12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum from Common Sense Education. Students need digital citizenship skills to participate fully in their communities and make smart choices online and in life. Common Sense Education's K–12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum prepares students to think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate. Designed and developed in partnership with Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education -- and guided by research with thousands of educators -- each digital citizenship lesson helps students ... Read more Erin Wilkey Oh | January 14, 2019 Share Common Sense Resources, Digital Citizenship


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Dubai, UAE, 07, February 2018: To enable senior managers to foster creative innovation; and develop a growth mindset within their organization, Ashridge Executive Education has invited companies from Saudi Arabia to participate in a five-day program on 'Driving Growth & Innovation'.
Rory Hendrikz, Managing Director of Ashridge Middle East, says: "Saudi Arabia has an ambitious vision for the future; and to ensure the country's continued growth, it is important for organizations to foster a culture of innovation. No business is safe from disruption. To survive in this fast-paced world, innovation and creativity have become critical skills managers must possess. Our programme will help leaders to learn how to assess their growth options; and identify new digitally transformative ways to shape their company's strategic future. They will also learn how to evaluate the potential advantages of new market penetration, expanded product development, and competitor acquisition– among other topics – to grow their business."
The program is led by international Ashridge faculty who bring real-world experience, and is designed so that participants understand innovation in the widest sense. It equips them to define what innovation means for their organization, to think like a disruptor and inspire a culture of agile, dynamic thinking among their teams; generate creative customer-centric ideas and adapt them to their real business needs.
Before starting the program, participants will complete an online psychometric test to explore their personal capabilities for leading innovation and creativity, as well as a short exercise analyzing the growth of their business.
Interested companies can register their leaders at Ashridge Executive Education to attend the program, at the Hult International Business School campus, Dubai Internet City, UAE, from February 18-22, 2018.
Participants can network with other diverse executives on the course, and be inspired by hands-on simulations and experiential innovation labs, thus enabling them to design and test tangible new ideas.


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Thursday, March 15, 2012
Threadsence: Souls of Mischief
All these new Lookbooks are just getting me so excited for Coachella!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this video! I think I might do a little video post for my adventure to and at coachella! I cannot wait any longer. I can barely concentrate on schoool, how can anyone with spring so close and there are all of these amazing outfit posts lately!!
The rain needs to EVACUATE so i can start wearing shorts, cut-outs, florals, fringe, and soo on! Or maybe I just need to go back to Costa Rica!
Don't forget to follow my boards on Pintrest! http://pinterest.com/trendyandtipsy/
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White Fuzzy Mold In Basement or Something Else?
Fuzzy White Mold on Concrete?
Do you have a White Mold Problem?
If you have something similar to the picture on the right, it would be easy to assume that this could be white mold. However this white fuzzy mold in basement concrete is actually something else. I am not saying you don't have a white mold in the basement, I am just saying that chances of this being your mold problem is very slim.
For mold to grow it need a food source and in the case of white mold concrete is not that food. It actually need something organic.
If its not White Mold on Concrete then What is it?
It is very common for water to seep into basements through the wall or concrete floor. As the water seeps through the floor it brings in dissolved minerals like salt, lime, and calcium. As the water drys out it causes these minerals to crystallize. This will look like a white fuzzy mold in basement but its actually called Efflorescence.
Efflorescence is not harmful at all and possess no health risk.
Example of Efflorescence
Does this Mean You Don't Have White Mold In Basement?
No you still can have a white mold problem! If you see white mold growing on the wood floor joist, furniture, carpet or anything else that is organic then chances are it is white mold in Basement.
White Mold on Basement Sofa
Is White Mold Dangerous?
White mold is not a toxic mold. However it still can be harmful to your health and the health of your kids. White mold can cause allergy problems and also cause asthma attacks, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic sinus infections, migraine headaches, chronic sore throats, skin rashes, exhaustion, and general malaise.
So, is white mold dangerous? Yes it can be so take it serious!
White Mold In Attic
Where else can White Mold Grow?
White mold growth is not limited to just the basement. You can have white Mold In Attic, and crawl space, You can also have it growing in the living area of your house like on your carpet, furniture, curtains, shoes, and clothing!
If you have it growing in the living area and on cloths. This may be happening due to high humidity levels in your home and if you get a dehumidifier that should lower the humidity levels and it might solve this problem.
If you have a Mold Problem Should You Clean it Yourself?
If you do have a white mold problem, yes you can clean it yourself and you should if the problem area is less than 9 square feet. If it's a lager area I recommend you call a mold remediation company to remove it properly and safely.
One thing to remember is that mold spores can spread very easily throughout the house. So, if you are unsure about how to clean it properly you can make the problem worse.
When cleaning any mold make sure you wear proper safety gear and this will include respirator or face mask, eye protection, rubber gloves, and possibly coveralls.
What can you use to Clean and Remove the white mold?
Well, I bet you think I am going to tell you to head to the hardware store and buy a bunch of different types of mold killers. Actually you might already have what you need in your home.
- White vinegar - Fill a spray bottle with white distilled vinegar and spay directly on the moldy area and let set for about 1 hour. Then wipe clean with warm water and let fully dry!
- Borax - Mix 1 cup of Borax for every one gallon of water. Next remove any loose mold spores with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filtration system to keep from spreading. Use a scrub brush or scrub sponge or pad and the water borax solution scrub the mold off the affected area. Then clean up any excess mold particles and moisture and debris. Next, wipe off excess moisture again and there is no reason to rinse as the left behind borax solution will help keep mold from returning. Let surface dry completely.
- Hydrogen Peroxide - Hydrogen Peroxide is already at 3% when you buy it at the store so no need to dilute. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray it directly on the moldy area to saturate the moldy area and let set for at-least ten minutes. Then scrub to remove the mold and mold stains. Repeat if you feel its needed. Then wipe clean to remove all the mold spores and then let dry completely.
I know I already said this but please make sure you wear your safety gear!
Where have you seen mold grow in your home?
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text: penciller and inker who was used heavily during the Tenth Doctor's run at IDW Publishing. He provided pencils for issues 4 and 6 of The Forgotten and inked the last issue as well. He drew and inked Ground Control and pencilled Autopia, for which he also co-created the cover. However, the "purest" example of his cover skills can be found on the 2010 IDW annual, for which he was solely responsible.


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OHSU is involved in Paulson stadiums deal
When Portlanders get a strong hit of that real estate development scam smell, a number of suspects immediately come to mind. But who would have thought that Oregon Health and Sciences University had an interest in the Paulson soccer-baseball empire?
An alert reader points us to this document -- a disclosure of lobbyist contacts with Portland city officials for the first three months of the year. And there we find that OHSU had someone named Mark Williams have no fewer than five personal meetings with Fireman Randy to discuss "soccer/baseball." In 31 years in Portland, we thought we'd seen everything, but the explanation for this one ought to be a doozy. Williams heads OHSU's planning, development and real estate unit. How is that connected with the Paulson deal?
Vera Katz also showed up a couple of times to twist people's arms on behalf of Little Lord Paulson. She was towed in by a guy named Greg Peden of Gallatin Public Affairs, who saw more of the good Fireman than just about anybody that quarter. Nineteen personal meetings, to be exact. Sheesh.
While we ponder these facts and contemplate how they reflect on our local government, we can't wait for the second quarter reports, which ought to be arriving quite soon. Who knows who else may pop up?


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|VAF-NE Annual Meeting 2017
Pedaling Vacationland: Bicycles, Architecture, and the Leisure Landscape in Maine 1878-1902
Sam Shupe
Building Reform at the Connecticut Industrial School for Girls 1870-1900
'You Will Find it Handy': Researching African-American Automobile Travel Guides and Their Sites
Catherine Zipf
State of the Chapter
|VAF-NE Annual Meeting 2016
Panel: Educating about the Vernacular
Moderator: Zachary Violette with Betsy Cromley, Kim Hoagland, Robert Russell, Myron Stachiw
A Damming Problem: The Relocation and Modern Planning of Hill, NH's New Village
Andrew Cushing
Panel: The Vernacular in Practice
|VAF-NE Annual Meeting 2015
The "Block," a Three-Decker Variant in Berlin, New Hampshire
Laura Driemeyer
The Career of the Double Parlor in Boston, 1800-1850
Jeffrey Klee, Richard E. Greenwood Young Scholar Award
|VAF-NE Annual Meeting 2014
|The Backstory of Planning: The Olmsted Firm and Brookline Landscape
Keith Morgan
Early Suburban Architecture in Newton, MA, 1830-1850
Jonas Mulokas: Architecture Inspired by Lithuanian Vernacular and American Modernism
Milda Richardson
Early African-American Meetinghouses of New England
Aaron Sturgis
Mapping Colonial Newport: The Challenges and Triumphs of Digital Research
|VAF-NE Annual Meeting 2013
VAF-NE meets March 16 at Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA.
"...make it neer the Culler of Chelmsford meeting-house": Painted Surfaces on Early New England Houses of Worship
A Duxbury Joiner's Shop
What can and can't be said: Civil Rights and African-American History in the New New South
Assessing the Cultural Significance of Stone Piles
Defining New England House Types, Part 3
|VAF-NE Annual Meeting 2012
VAF-NE meets March 31, 2012 at Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA.
Chain of Tools: Supply Chains, Lumber, and Vernacular Communities in Northern California, 1850-1930
Interpreting the Shakers: Opening the Villages to the Public, 1955-1965
A New North Shore House Type
'Tenement Canyons': Methods for Managing the Data on a Common Building Type
VAF 2011 - Jamaica Report
Defining New England House Types
|VAF-NE Annual Meeting 2011
VAF-NE meets April 2, 2011 at Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA.
Architectural Remains of the 1607-1608 Popham Colony on the Kennebec River in Maine
Out of the Attic: Inventing Antiques in Twentieth-Century New England
A Study of 18th-19th century Powder Houses and Their Construction on the North Shore
Within the Means of All: American Consumer Culture and the Rise of the Residential Funeral Home, 1915 – 1965
The Food Axis
Understanding Massachusetts House Types
|VAF-NE Winter Meeting 2010
Early New England Buildings: Reflections on the Field
The Framed Houses of Northern New England: An Archaeologist's View
The Broad Chamfer School: Understanding the Client-Craftsman Relationship in Early 18th Century Guilford, Connecticut
Recent Observations of Late First Period Construction Details in the Connecticut River Valley
Sources for Reconstructing the Built Environment in the Connecticut Valley
First Period Buildings in Eastern Massachusetts: Research in Progress
ROUNDTABLE: Framing the Study of Early New England Architecture
|VAF-NE Winter Meeting 2009
Building Order on Beacon Hill
Picturing Freedom: Pedro Tovookan Parris' Autobiographical Landscapes
Marshall Street, Watertown, MA: A Charles Brigham Showroom
Architecture and the Reproduction of Privilege: A Cultural Landscape Approach to the Children's Cottage at the Breakers
Gendered Landscapes in Turn-of-the-Century San Francisco
Invisible Property: the Clothes Closet as Architectural Space
|VAF-NE Winter Meeting 2008
Preservation and Profit: Wallace Nutting and the Chain of Colonial Houses
Norman Isham: Rhode Island's Early Preservation Architect
The Architect as Historian: Restoration Architecture of Joseph Everett Chandler
Displaying American Decorative Arts: George Francis Dow's Period Rooms in International Context
Antiquarians and Economics: The Invention of Cushing's Island
Panel Discussion with Speakers
|VAF-NE Winter Meeting 2007
Finding Meaning in New England Churches: Researching Temples of Grace: The Material Transformation of Connecticut's Churches, 1790-1840
Exhuming Old Ship: New Evidence for Original Features at the Hingham Meetinghouse
Forum: The Orientation of Houses in the Village of Deerfield: Archeological and Documentary Evidence of Change in the Eighteenth Century
Where We Lived: An Experiment in Accessible History
The Building Frame Trade in Coastal New Hampshire
|VAF-NE Winter Meeting 2006
How the English Farmhouse Was Redesigned in British North America
God is in the Details: The Transformation of Ecclesiastical Architecture in Early 19th Century America
Invitation to Vernacular Architecture: Why We Said What We Said
Collaboration in the Packaging of Boston and New England: The Encyclopedia of New England and The Buildings of Massachusetts: Metropolitan Boston
Report from the VAF Annual Meeting: Tucson Overview
Forum: Learning from the Coburn House
|VAF-NE Winter Meeting 2005
A Socioarchitectural Study of Seventeenth-Century Connecticut Valley Probate Inventories
City Architect and Rural Builder: the Collaboration of Richard Upjohn and George Stearns in Brattleboro, Vermont, 1853-55
Report from the VAF Annual Meeting: Pennsylvania Overview
Forum: Protocols for Dendrochronology
|VAF-NE Winter Meeting 2004
Landscape, People, and Architecture of the New England Tobacco Fields
'To Create an Old-Fashioned Garden': Archaeological Perspectives on the Restoration of Newport's Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House
Architecture in Early Maine: The View from the Chadbourne Archaeology Site (ca. 1643-1690)
Report from the VAF Annual Meeting St. Pierre and Michelon: An Overview
Graffiti in the Candia, NH, Schoolhouse at Old Sturbridge Village: The Identification of a Regional Vernacular Symbol


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To dispose of the old furniture, when you are going to makeover the style of your home, is a characteristic drive for many of us. Yet, do you understand that each time you toss out your old furniture; you could likewise be discarding someone's opportunity to lead a superior life? Wouldn't it be all the more satisfying to get the fancied stylistic theme for your home and in the process additionally help somebody in need?
Give your furniture as rather than disposing it. Be that as it may, ensure that it is in a saleable condition. Furniture that is severely harmed or exhausted is not acknowledged by most philanthropy associations. You can get furniture philanthropy pick up facility at the time of donations.
Numerous philanthropy associations welcome gifts as furniture and may even lift it up from your home without charging any expense. In any case, on the off chance that you wish to profit the services of a free pick up, make certain to enquire about the accessibility of this service before you make the donation.
A more favored strategy would be to search for nearby magnanimous associations that acknowledge furniture gifts. It is less demanding for the philanthropy donations that are inside your region to pick the furniture from your home, particularly on the off chance that it is not feasible for you to convey the furniture to the association yourself.


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Friday, 15 April 2016
Progressive progress, by Stevie systematic Haston.
A little progress was seen today, because my training was a bit more systematic and planned out. You would think that I can sort it all out, but ….it's complicated. I am gunning for a very hard route, and it's all about squeezing a few percent here and there, and it totalling up to a big chunk. The route is hard, and I need every little bit. I got two jokers - I'am still fat, and I still drink a bit, possibly three jokers if you include power, my power is down.
This roof is enormous, and is certainly one of the best crack climbs in the world. There is a big problem now that the humidity is too high. If I am unlucky I,ll have to wait for autumn. This is a real shit, as I dropped the route on the last move, twice!
Great route very excited but I am scared the temps are way too high now, 29° today! I did think my flexibility was off, but the leg lifts and overhead movements don't work, because I am maxing out on my leg abducters in the chimney sections, and some of my core is also giving out cos its Trad! I think there's a little fear thrown in there for good measure. All in all it adds up to not having what it takes. Damn and blast, balls, scrotums etc. On top of this is this weird reaction I get after I try the crack, two weeks ago I had a fever, and the skin was burning real bad. Todays wasn't so bad. Need to get this crack done.
Posted by Stevie Haston at 09:46


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GULF SHORES, Alabama -- It sounds like the premise for a reality show: a troupe of college theatre students spend a month at the beach, getting to explore the charms of the Alabama coast while honing their skills in a nightly performance.
The real reality beats expectations: For nine summers now, the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Alabama has given select students a taste of the real world in Gulf Shores. The longevity of the program suggests that the good kind of drama has dominated, and people on both sides of the SummerTide Theatre partnership say it's been a win-win.
This year, eight UA students are singing their hearts out six nights a week in "Smokey Joe's Café." The production continues through June 29, and sellouts are common at the George C. Meyer Performing Arts Center, the home of South Baldwin Community Theatre.
In return for their use of the facility, the students are working as instructors — again, six days a week — at a drama camp serving area children.
It's a busy schedule. It sounds a lot like work.
"For many of them, this is their very first professional job," said Christopher Montpetit, an assistant professor in the UA Department of Theatre and Dance and business manager for the SummerTide project.
The students go through a competitive audition process to win a spot in the program. They're paid for their work and the university provides housing for the duration, putting the group up in area condos. They must sign a contract, committing their services for the duration of the show.
Students are told, "You don't belong to you anymore, you belong to 'Smokey Joe's Café'," said Edmond Williams, founding chairman of the department and director of the show.
"It's a real transition for these students," he explained. The schedule is unforgiving. Students have to learn the work habits necessary to protect their voices over a run of more than two dozen shows.
Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday through June 29 at the George C. Meyer Performing Arts Center, 2022 W. 2nd St. in Gulf Shores
Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children younger than 12. Groups of 10 or more are $12 each. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.SummerTide.org or by phone or in person at the South Baldwin Community Theatre box office, 251-968-6721, which will be open from noon until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
"They have to take care of their health," Williams said. "We don't have any understudies."
It's a discipline common to the world of theater, he explained, where professional work can mean the rigors of life on the road with a touring show, or productions that put on multiple shows per day.
Despite the level of commitment required, there's competition for the few SummerTide positions available. And some cast members, such as Caroline Schmidt, even come back for more.
Schmidt, who actually just graduated, is the only returning SummerTider in this year's cast of eight. The native of Mandeville, La., came to Gulf Shores two years ago with "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" in 2010.
Schmidt said one of the big attractions is the opportunity it gives actors to explore their roles. Compared to a school production that might run for a week, cast members get much more time to dig into their parts. They learn to adapt to surprises — like the night the power went out — and to experiment.
"As actors we all expect to try different things that don't work," she said. And there are also plenty of opportunities for cast members to learn from each other.
"Every single night it feels fresh and new," she said.
For junior Alyssa Grubbs, coming to Gulf Shores for SummerTide was more appealing that going home to Atlanta — surely a market with plenty of opportunities on both sides of her double major in musical theatre and restaurant management.
"It's more fun to do than the fun things in Atlanta, to me," she said. "It's just what I love."
She said the biggest benefit so far is simply the amount of stage time she's been getting.
"I was not really comfortable about being on-stage at all," she said. (Though it seems counter-intuitive, Williams said that's not an uncommon feeling among students.) Grubbs said she thinks her newfound confidence won't just help her with the remainder of "Smokey Joe's Café," but will be something she'll carry into future auditions.
For junior Adam Vanek who, like Schmidt, hails from Mandeville, appearing in a SummerTide production is an experience that brings him full circle: As an incoming freshman he was invited to see a SummerTide rehearsal, and the intensity of it made an impression on him.
"The rehearsal process is much more grueling than a school production," he said. As for the production itself, "It's been a good sort of testing ground for me as a performer," he said.
The rewards, he said, have matched the challenge.
"Every night there are people who are passionately watching the show and mouthing the words and raving about it afterward."
"I think something that's unique about our show is that we have so much fun on stage," he said.
That sense of fun was very evident on a recent Friday night, as the troupe played to a full house. The biggest part of their job was singing: "Smokey's Joe's Café" is a "jukebox" musical dedicated to the songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and it packs in well over 30 of them.
But even going at a fast clip (17 songs in 40 minutes, in the first set), the production could seem flat if all the performers did was stand and deliver. The challenge is to really embody the songs, to act them out with personality and humor.
The SummerTide cast did this with an abundance of energy. The roles are, literally, anonymous: There are no handy character types to inhabit, such as "the sexy one" or "the dumb one." Instead the performers have to bring to each song whatever personality it calls for.
In this, the cast is vivacious: When in the spotlight they shine, and when sitting back watching their colleagues, they react in ways that add to the overall effect without stealing the scene. You'll never catch one of them looking distracted, let alone bored.
The onstage energy carried over to the audience, which laughed and cheered throughout. Maybe that comes as no surprise, given SummerTide's nine-year run, but it's still gratifying to the performers.
"The community here is so welcoming," said Schmidt.
Montpetit and Williams said that while vacation-season tourists account for many of their ticket sales, the program's longevity is due to lasting local support, from local sponsors to the ongoing partnership with South Baldwin Community Theatre.
Sherri Killam-Williams, vice-president for publicity for SBCT, said arrangements are pretty straightforward: SBCT lets SummerTide take over the theater, and in return, the visitors teach the drama camp. "It's a really well-rounded theater camp," she said, and both her own children benefited from attending it.
Joyce James, a longtime former president of SBCT who was serving in that capacity when SummerTide first came to Gulf Shores, agreed.
"It definitely is, and we have benefited from it as well," she said. "We get training for our upcoming actors."
SummerTide organizers "were more than happy" to strike that deal nine years ago, she said, "and it's been a wonderful partnership ever since."


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Shades of gray. What if everyone viewed the world in shades of gray? What if all the extremists in the United States (or better yet the world), the ones that can only see black or white, suddenly opened their minds and hearts to a different world view? What if there were no more hate? What a world it would be! What a glorious state our country would be in! What if?
Don't get me wrong, if we all agreed on everything the world would probably be in worse shape than it already is, but I can't help but think that if the far right and the far left would actually take their blinders off, open their eyes, and stop spewing hate, something could be done about the state of our country and the world itself.
And what if the far right and the far left actually quit blaming each other, accepted responsibility for their own actions, and looked at the big picture? What if the far right and far left stopped inciting hate and ignorance every time they opened their mouths? What if they stopped looking at the black and white, and looked at the gray? What if?
Call me crazy but a simple conversation that starts something like this could go a long ways in improving our "civilized" country, "Hi, my name is Far Left. I strongly believe that our country should look like this and I understand that you, Far Right, feel strongly that our country should look totally opposite. Maybe if we explain to each other the reasons we feel this way, actually listen to each other, agree to disagree, and find some common ground between us, we can COMPROMISE and make our country a better place."
Maybe it's an Utopian concept to actually believe that our extremist elected officials could compromise based on the good of the people they represent instead of constantly streaming biggotry, criticism, violence, hate, and ignorance.
But, unfortunately it's unfair to place the entire blame of the state of our country solely on our elected officials because, who are they elected by? Us! (and well, whichever side whines the loudest and throws the most money out there, but that's another column for another day).
Maybe all of us that generally see gray should start to speak out? Maybe those of you that only see black and white should actually take your blinders off and realize that there is more to every "ideal" than your own perfect opinions. Maybe you will find out that there are many that actually may agree with you on some level but because you fail to see any possible reason why somebody might think differently, civility and compromise take a backseat to ignorance and hate. The blinders stay on and our country continues in it's downward spiral with nobody really to blame but ourselves.
So I challenge everyone, myself included, to this: next time somebody disagrees with you, instead of insisting that you're right and they are wrong, maybe you can ask them politely why they feel the way they do. Maybe you can politely tell them how you feel. Maybe you will find you have something in common. Maybe we will all begin to see beautiful shades of gray.
What if?


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Nigeria's rep for the 2016 Miss Universe competition, MBGN 2015 Unoaku Anyadike, has arrived Manila in the Philippines for the competition which officially kicked off today.
Her roommate is the gorgeous Miss Namibia.
We can't wait to share updates from the competition with our BNers.
Here's how to vote for Unoaku!
The Fan Vote is incredibly important this year because it will guarantee a spot in the semifinals and throughout the broadcast. There are 4 Ways to Vote this year:
- 1. Miss U app
- 2. Vote.Missuniverse.com
- 3. Twitter – Using #MissUniverse and a contestant specific hashtag.
- 4. Vodi App