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Hidden in the heart of Valdichiana, in the surroundings of Cortona, one of the most beautiful art towns in Tuscany, lies a real treasure.
The delicate hospitality of the old farmhouses, where farming tradition and familiar atmospheres surround the guest, makes this oasis of peace an enchanting place for those who love genuine flavours, intense fragrances and feelings.
Surrounded by golden sunflower- and cornfields, in placid and panoramic position, this evoking farmhouse was recently renovated and now can host up to 30 people.
Tuscan hills, all around, with their gentle curves and their bright colours, offer their landscapes for us to contemplate. Country fragrances and the slow rhythms, far from the frenzy of the city, will win your love. The surroundings are tipically rural, framed by towns rich in history, wine, food and culture, such as the Etruscan town of Cortona, the Mediaval hamlets of Castiglion F.no and Lucignano, the Castle of Montecchio Vesponi.
From here one can organise one-day trips to Florence, Pisa, Arezzo, Siena, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, San Gimignano, Volterra, Chianti and also Umbria with Assisi (San Francesco birthplace), Spello, Orvieto and Perugia.
These art cities, Medieval villages, museums, parishes, catherdals, monasteries, wineries, festivals, costume parades, antique markets, jazz festivals, the Strade del Vino, are common destinations for the numerous tourists all the year long, thanks to their traditional Tuscan hospitality.
The old farmhouse has been turned into several apartments and dependances furnished respecting the Tuscan tradition and provided with all the comforts, ideal for families, couples and groups of friends.
The outer space is composed of a large garden and a wide swimming pool equipped with sunbeds, beach chairs and sun umbrellas at guests' exclusive disposal and of a big wooden gazebo that offers cool and shady areas.
On the ground floor there is a big dining hall usually shared, ideal for parties, with big fireplace and long table.
Ping pong, mountain bikes, trekking equipment, volleyball and five-a-side football field at guests' disposal.
Bedrooms: 14Sleeps: 24KitchenDining roomLiving roomBathrooms: 14Property surface: 500 m2Swimming poolNot suitable For the disabled
Outdoor swimming pool
Organized activities
Minimum stay: 7 nightsArrival day: SaturdayArrival after: 4:00 PMDeparture before: 9:30 AMPets Not allowedSecurity deposit: € 700.00 cash payable to key-holder on arrival. The deposit will be fully refunded after inspection on check-out day.
Rates (Euro)
High season: € 7,000.00 (~US$ 8,050.00) per weekMid season: € 5,600.00 (~US$ 6,440.00) per weekLow season: € 4,500.00 (~US$ 5,175.00) per weekAll rates are inclusive of taxes, power and water consumption, bed and bath linens.Tourist tax not included, if applied by the Municipality where the facility lies.
Additional expensesHeating: according to consumptionAir-conditioning: according to consumptionAir-conditioning: € 500.00 per weekFinal cleaning: € 300.00
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Atmistique Billetip Billet Box Drip tip
Holding angles and lines of our favorite BilletBox we designed the Billetip. Atmistique Billetip Billet Box Drip tip made from stainless steel AISI 316L. Like in all drip-tips, we have created a cone-like entrance of air in order to reduce the phenomenon of vapor creation at the lower base of the drip-tip.
AISI 316L Stainless steel's characteristics:
- Are less chromium (Cr) and carbon (C), compared with the steel type 303, which makes it more biocompatible and more suitable for use in hygienic applications and systems
- Resistance to corrosion and rust
- Self-protective when it reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere, thus creating a protective film
- No surface coating that appears on the surface of all sectors of the mass of material
- 100% recyclable
Atmistique Series
In order to satisfy our customers' particular needs, we have designed and manufactured exceptional products which have captured the attention of the global vaping community and are exported from Greece to all over the world. This, however, is not the end of our journey. We continuously listen to your requests and we come up with new ideas for groundbreaking products which make vaping more enjoyable and your life easier. The Atmistique Series has been created with emphasis on original design, high quality, and operational detail.


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Friday, January 10, 2014
FNWF ~ January 10
Been working on quite a bit this week...Kona EPP needlekeep, my socks, a new lace scarf, my cross-stitch mini for Smalls 2014.
You can see my progress on my socks in my previous entry, as well as the picture of the scarf I'm doing.
This was a really fun project, and I just finished the last bit of backstitching this morning. Phew!
Was fun sewing with y'all. Looking forward to joining you again next month.
Linked up with Cheryll at Gone Stitchin I'll do my visiting tomorrow morning after I finish work. Have a great weekend!
Labels: cross stitching, Dr. Who, FNWF, hand stitching, SAL, Smalls 2014, socks
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Hi there Ben, I'm a brain cavxer survivor, the surgery to remove the tumor created epilepsy, the medicsl system gave ne first dikabtin to cope/control epilepsy, my gums were bleeding and I was walking/bumping all the time with tjings in my way as if I would be very drunk plus a nsdty flavor of netal in my mouth always. I asjed tje Beurolohist to find snother option then Tegretol came into my life abd gsve me Osteoporosis, I need your help and wisfom/knowkedge in the use of CBD, I am tired of taking Tegretol abd my greater throcantis is starting to feel pain my job is to be on my feet/walk more than 10,000 steps a day, is fine need to walk is houd for my bones but I wantbyl stop the seizure abd getvridevof the epilepsy; can you ir soneone in your staff advice/suggest which CVD shoukd I buy/take in wgat dosage and for how long??
Pkeade I'd appreciate your kind help my mother stsrted to due dlowly asfet dhe broje her major trocantis and had to endvup in a wheelchair she list her independence abdbintetaction with tje world she was very commited to help other seniors tobstsy healthy and excersice, pleade I need your help, lrt me know hiw can I get in touch ti hear a suggestion in my question. I will be cery grateful to you!!
To yiyr excellebt health abd indestructible happiness:
Juan Ibarra


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Saturday, December 31, 2011
Defying Gravity…
A song in the play "Wicked" is entitled "Defying Gravity." A couple of weeks ago The Nancy and I were traveling back to The Farm from a foray into Winchester, Virginia and enjoyed listening to the soundtrack from the play. The song "Defying Gravity" resonated and got me to thinking about my own gravity defying life.
I am not into self-aggrandizement and am really not comfortable in settings where people say nice things about me – it's not my style. I am just a guy who knows the Universal Presence some of us refer to as God has smiled upon me all of my life, and I haven't a clue as to why. Bloviating is not my style, so what I am about to write is not a boast but moreover a point of fact.
I recently retired from a job that provided me with six-figure income for many years, and now a handsome pension that will allow me to live a comfortably yet conservative life. This is truly amazing to me in so many ways. I have to be honest and own up to being a not-so-bright kid from a blue-collar neighborhood in Baltimore with a mere twenty-two disjointed college credits, and one who quite frankly made it through life with an innate ability for bullshit. I know I didn't make it on my looks, but nonetheless I made it.
This begs the question, why? I said earlier I haven't a clue as to why, but I do know exactly why. In my rapidly atrophying medulla oblongata I inadvertently created my life without ever realizing it. I knew early on I would never make it in this world using my hands – frankly, I have no mechanical ability at all: well, maybe a tad, but a small tad at that. Being the lazy ass that I am, I knew I would never make it via an education. I hated school and was determined to do as little as I needed to get through it. The only reason I have twenty-two college credits is because I needed to take some courses to get my GI Bill money ($325.00 a month) at a time when I needed the mulla.
I have written many times before about being the consummate underachiever. If awards were given in this category I would have received top honors. I mastered the art of it, but somewhere deep within me there was a plan, a course, a path that led me to a management position and a rewarding 28-year career. I defied gravity while so many others of my ilk did not.
My granddaughter coined the phrase "The Best Day Ever." It is one The Nancy and I have adopted and declare every morning. This is going to be The Best Day Ever! This has been The Best Life Ever!
I think deep within my soul I have always thought of each day this way, though never voiced it, never realized I was declaring it. It took a four-year old to put it in perspective for me. I was successful in life because of my attitude toward it. My glass has always been full to the brim, and never just halfway of anything.
And that is all I have to say about that…
Friday, December 30, 2011
Five Weeks of Retirement Bliss…
Consider this a status update on my retirement. Retirement ain't cracked up to be what everyone has told me it is to be. I am not complaining, and no "buts" are included in this statement.
You may have heard this before elsewhere or read it here at one time or another. Someone once said if the word "but" is used in a sentence, everything prior to the "but" is a lie. Example: "I hate to bother you, but…" Admit it, we have all done it. But in this retirement thing, I am not complaining.
Now here come my non-complaints. Firstly, I have remained busy these five weeks, though at times I sit and wonder what to do next. There seems always to be something to be done – little chores, little projects, much of what I have put off forever. But, there are times when I feel I am not doing anything constructive. Make work is more like what I am up to these days. I do not have any plans to change what I am doing or how I am going about my present life.
I do not have a Bucket List and don't plan on developing one. There are things I want to do and am delighting myself in my rampant procrastination. I suppose the greatest thing about retirement is the mere fact I do not have to do anything at all…ever. Life is still full of possibilities and choices, and I have complete control over the choices I make.
If there is any real disappointment at all it is the issue I am having with sleeping beyond 5:30. I would really like to be able to sleep and wake up bathed in sunlight. In the past ten years I bet I could almost count on my fingers the number of days I have awakened to daylight. Believe me, it sucks, but I ain't complaining, just saying.
Okay, okay! I am complaining, so sue me! Some years back I made the decision to accept full responsibility for what happens to me in my life. This is the bed I have created for myself, and though I may not be able to sleep until sunrise I am loving life and loving the fact I have reached an age wherein I can bullshit to my heart's desire and it simply does not matter.
Bullshit is not complaining and bullshit isn't lying. It's just bullshit, and if I must say so myself I am getting better at it every day.
And that is all I have to say about that…
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
An Odd Christmas…
My 68th Christmas was truly a tad odd, certainly not the typical holiday it has always been for the first 67 years of my utterly fantastic life, but I might have to add this definitely was The Best Christmas Ever.
Early last week I received a call from The Nancy's dad telling me her mother had fallen and broken the femur in her right leg. Thus began our Christmas odyssey. We came to Bridgeport, WV on Thursday where Nancy has spent most of her waking hours the past five days in a hospital room with her mother. I put in more than a few hours myself, at least six on Christmas Eve, and I hate hospitals.
Christmas Day I dropped The Nancy off at the hospital and drove to Richmond, VA to share a little Christmas with two of our three daughters and two of our six grandchildren. So far we have been away from home for five nights…yuck!
The good news is that today The Mother-in-law will be discharged and moved to a rehab facility close to her home. The second part of the good news bubble is we, too, will be heading home. I know our cat is missing us after being cooped up in the house all this time.
The Mother-in-law had a rough time of it the first few days. Older people can get a little confused in hospital surroundings. This particular old person was way off her nut for a while, but has bounced back to being her old ornery self – a welcomed sight, for sure. Had someone told me the woman we saw last Thursday as we first entered this hospital is the same one I just saw, I would have doubted it top to bottom. Amazing transformation! Who says drugs are bad?
I have not had the "pleasure" of being in a hospital for an overnight stay in a long, long time. This place is just a year old and very state-of-the-art. They have a room on this floor where someone sits and monitors all the beeps and blips coming from patients' rooms. Technology has taken over hospitals as it has everything else. The nurses all carry a little gizmo that turns a light on outside the room they are in to alert others a nurse is in attendance. The Nancy and I guessed the beds in this place must have cost several thousand each. It is quite the place I sincerely hope I never have to spend a night in. The only thing I can think of about the place that reminds me of hospitals of old is the food. It still sucks.
The M-I-L is to be released in just a few minutes. Once we get her settled in a new room in a new place we are off to our habitual abode in good old Downtown Berkeley Springs, WV, population 711. It will be good to get home to my own bed, my own bathroom (I hate using public ones) and my own beer supply.
This, too, is The Best Day Ever.
And that is all I have to say about that…
Saturday, December 24, 2011
A Holly Jolly Christmas…
What exactly is a "Holly Jolly Christmas? What is a "Holly Jolly" anything, for that matter?
I know the record of a "Holly Jolly Christmas was recorded in 1965. The song, which makes little sense, since there I no definition of what a Holly Jolly Christmas, get stuck in my head at this time of the year. The song was written by a Jewish guy named Johnny Marks, the same guy that wrote the lyrics for "Rudolph the Red-Nosed," "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and that classic Christmas song everyone knows and loves (?), "Run, Rudolph, Run." All kidding aside, they do add to the joy of the season.
That said, The Nancy and I have spent the last couple of days with The Nancy's mother in a hospital room. My favorite mother-in-law of 2011 took a bad fall and broke her right femur and is on the mend, albeit, not without a little confusion of her part. We are pleased, given the severity of the break, and even with the confusion she is encountering, she does not seem to be in a lot of pain and appears to be content.
We hate for The Nancy's mom to be in this state at this particular time of the year, but such is a part of life, and this too will pass. Even with this going on we got to spend this morning with the grandchildren as they had their Christmas today since their nurse mother has to work tomorrow.
Life goes on, life is good and we are looking for this to be The Best Day Ever, The Best Christmas Ever.
Still, the question at hand goes unanswered. It is one of life's little mysteries. What the hell is a Holly Jolly Christmas?
And that is all I have to say about that…


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I call it the root of relationship evil. Either there is too much or not enough, never a happy medium. You know what I mean, he barely speaks, or in some cases, he talks too much. I know, you're asking, "Where'd I find that guy? How great that would be!" Trust me, it's not.
Picture it...nice restaurant, quiet music, not crowded. You had a bad day at work and you want to share it. You don't want any advice or a fix, just to vent (This is a basic foreign concept for most guys. They have an innate need to fix.). You both sit down, order your meal and WHAM! He gets diarrhea of the mouth. You can't get a word in edge-wise. No, he didn't have a bad day, or a good day, he's just rambling. By the time dinner is over you're feeling like you need to sneak out the back and leave him behind.
Then, there's the other option (and it's just as bad). You've ordered your meal and you start to vent. By the third sentence you realize his eyes have glazed over and he has left the building. You could tell him Big Foot stopped by your office and his comment would be, "That's good". You're feeling like you need to sneak out the back and catch up with your girlfriends for a drink. At least they'd listen.
What about the guy you find that seems like a happy medium, until he has some drama in his life. Whether it's a work or family (his kids) emergency, he forgets to text you and let you know he's not making your date. Nothing like being stood up by someone you've been seeing.
Communication...it's a fine line but somehow you have to learn to walk it. Too much is bad, too little is bad. Of course, you could avoid it all together and spend a lot of time kissing! That's way better!


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Kay Rogers was the Auditor of Butler County Ohio for 13 years. Kay was considered the rising star of the Republican Party. Kay was elected to 4 terms as the Auditor. Kay was President of the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association and Treasurer of the County Auditor Association of the state of Ohio.
Kay was a CPA and CGFM.
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Incoming Iranian Leader's Remarks Stir Fury in Israel
By THOMAS ERDBRINK and JODI RUDOREN
TEHRAN — Two days before he officially took office, Iran's president-elect touched off an international uproar on Friday with disputed comments about its archenemy Israel, engendering a furious rejoinder from the Israeli prime minister that illustrated the wide gap between the two countries, fed by decades of hostility and mutual distrust.
The president-elect, Hassan Rouhani, attending an annual pro-Palestinian holiday in Iran known as Quds Day, a reference to the Arabic name for Jerusalem, said in comments to state television that "a sore has been sitting on the body of the Islamic world for many years," a reference to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.
Although Mr. Rouhani never mentioned Israel in the television clip, nor use the favored Iranian description of Israel as the "Zionist regime," at least three Iranian news agencies appeared to misquote him as saying: the "Zionist regime is a sore which must be removed." Later in the day they posted corrections.
Compared with the anti-Israeli invective often heard from other Iranian leaders, most notably Mr. Rouhani's predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the remarks were mild — a possible indication of Mr. Rouhani's effort to portray himself as a moderate who wants to take steps to ease Iran's tensions with the West.
Nevertheless, the initial translation of Mr. Rouhani's comments infuriated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. He has previously described Mr. Rouhani as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" whose June 14 election victory was unlikely to change Iran's policies, particularly regarding what Israel views as an Iranian determination to become a nuclear weapons power.
"Rouhani's true face has been revealed earlier than expected," Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement. "Even if they will now rush to deny his remarks, this is what the man thinks and this is the plan of the Iranian regime. These remarks by President Rouhani must rouse the world from the illusion that part of it has been caught up in since the Iranian elections.
"The president there has changed but the goal of the regime has not: To achieve nuclear weapons in order to threaten Israel, the Middle East and the peace and security of the entire world. A country that threatens the destruction of the State of Israel must not be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction."
When told later that the original translation had been wrong, and that Mr. Rouhani had in fact not referred directly to Israel or said anything about removing the "sore," Mr. Netanyahu's office was unmoved and seemingly uninterested in nuance. "We stand by what we say," said his spokesman, Mark Regev. "The remarks attributed to him we think, we are sure, that represents his true outlook."
Whether intended or not, the episode represented Mr. Rouhani's first international test over Israel, one of the most vexing subjects for Iranian leaders.
While he has espoused an approach of moderation that would help improve Iran's relations with the outside world — an approach that helped him win the election — he had been expected to say something critical about Israel at the Quds Day celebration, an annual ritual here for Iranian politicians and a reflection of of what they view as Israel's illegitimacy.
Walking among people holding up signs saying "Death to Israel" and pictures of maimed Palestinian children, Mr. Rouhani, who is nicknamed "the diplomatic sheik" for his suave sentences, gave a preplanned statement to waiting television cameras.
"In our region, a sore has been sitting on the body of the Islamic world for many years, in the shadow of the occupation of the holy land of Palestine and the dear Quds," he said. "This day is in fact a reminder of the fact that Muslim people will not forget their historic right and will continue to stand against aggression and tyranny."
As Israel and its supporters often point out, there is a long history in Iran of official insults aimed at Israel and the Jewish religion. In 2005, Mr. Ahmadinejad was famously quoted as saying Israel must be "wiped off the map," during a conference called "A world without Zionism."
While it later became clear from tapes of his remarks that he had actually said "Israel must vanish from the pages of history," it made his international image as a staunch anti-Semitic hard-liner. That image has only been reinforced by Mr. Ahmadinejad's publicly expressed doubts that the Holocaust ever happened.
On Friday, in his final public speech, Mr. Ahmadinejad repeated those doubts.
|The Term 'New World Order' Has Been Used By Secret Societies And The Elite To Represent Their Plan And Goal Of An Illuminati Controlled World Government That Will Be Organized According To Their Secret Society/Luciferian Principles. The Chaotic World And Economic Situation That We Are In Is Directly Related To Their Plans For Us. By Using Occult Secret Societies Along With The Power Of LUCIFER They Will Bring All Of The Nations Of This World Together As One.
running, listening to
music, and traveling.
I live in Seoul S. Korea


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CMTA Source is the home of the CMTA Insurance and Risk Management programs. We offer manufactures access to both a workers' compensation and commercial business insurance program designed to help manufacturers avoid losses, but when a loss or injury occurs they provides superior claims services. The overriding objectives of both programs are cost control and improving manufacturing operations.
To learn more about the cost saving workers' compensation program underwritten through CompWest Insurance Company, click on workers' compensation link below.
Recognizing that California is a challenging workers' compensation environment for manufacturers, CMTA partnered with CompWest to deliver workers' compensation insurance to our members. They have a unique approach that blends concern and care for injured workers and effective cost management practices. The result has been stable premiums for participants in CMTA's Group Workers' Compensation program


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Well, I mailed off my sketchbook to Brooklyn for their Sketchbook Project. Glad it is on its way!
Now, I am on to something new -- the Sketchbook Challenge. It is SO MUCH FUN!!! Each month they post a topic (this month's is HIGHLY PRIZED) and you sketch one or more pieces that you can either post on your blog or in the Flickr Group collection. It was fun considering the topic and deciding what to draw/paint. I've only done one sketch so far and am not sure whether I'll submit more or not for this month. But, it's fun to think about!!
I like that it is not a weekly commitment and that there is plenty of time to complete the task. I also like getting back into a regular routine of using the sketchbook. When I signed on, I didn't anticipate the pleasure I'd get looking at all the variety of styles of the submissions of other participants. I think the whole challenge is a great idea!
If this sounds interesting to you, click on the badge at the bottom right of my blog to find out all the details.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Sketchbook Challenge
5 comments:
this is such a great page!ReplyDelete
Nice Prized pie!ReplyDelete
I like the idea of a challenge too. I always liked taking art classes because it gave me a direction. These online challenges are really helpful. Good luck with your assignments! janReplyDelete
i love illustrated recipes! this one looks so yummy!ReplyDelete
What a great prize--pie! I love the sketch, and your blog. D~~~~ReplyDelete
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|Lido Shuffle [Album Version]
|Look What You've Done To Me (Album Version)
|JoJo [Album Version]
|Breakdown Dead Ahead [Album Version]
Jul 2018 • 9 songs
Sep 2017 • 1 song
Mar 2015 • 12 songs
After first finding acclaim as a member of the Steve Miller Band, singer/songwriter Boz Scaggs went on to enjoy considerable solo success in the 1970s. Born William Royce Scaggs in Ohio on June 8, 1944, he was raised in Oklahoma and Texas, and while attending prep school in Dallas met guitarist Steve Miller. Scaggs joined Miller's group the Marksmen as a vocalist in 1959, and the pair later attended the University of Wisconsin together, where they played in blues bands like the ... Read more


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Welcome to a new month of Workshop Wednesday! This month we are going to play with Liquid Pearls… Hey everyone!! How are you doing? We have had an insane month over here!! We have been crazy busy with crafting, work, businesses, oh the children can't forget them! LOL We have had 3 seasons in one month here in Alberta… we had some days if was 20C and then the next day it was snowing and 2 days later it was … Read More
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Graphic Novels On Display
May 23, 2008 // Filed under Uncategorized
For something different to read, why not try graphic novels? They are becoming increasingly popular among all ages (not just teens) and are finding their way onto many best seller lists. Illustrated or graphic novels combine pictures with a small amount of text to create an enhanced reading experience. Anyone who tries a graphic novel will immediately apprehend how easily the images and the words blend together into a powerful new creation. If a picture is worth a thousand words, graphic novels communicate a lot in a very few pages.
Bernardsville Public Library is currently displaying an interesting selection of its graphic novels which can be found in the lobby next to the circulation desk. Look there for the classic Sandman series by Neil Gaiman or the deeply affecting 9/11 memorial, In the Shadow of No Towers, by Art Spiegelman. For those of you interested in other cultures, try Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, an autobiography of her childhood during the Iranian Revolution. Graphic novels for young readers and adults alike are available for check out. Please help yourselves to these items.
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Thursday, July 7, 2011
Penelope {13 months}
So I wasn't gonna do a month by month update after her first birthday, but when I snapped this pic I just couldn't help it. LOVE this baby girl. She has been a tad cranky with some more teeth coming in. I've had to do a lot of cuddling, nursing, and comforting. She is also really showing us her stubborn naughty side. The Lord is gonna have to grant me a little more patience for this little stinker. She has learned to hit... the dog, and her siblings. She also occasionally bites us still. And is determined to use Daddy's laptop no matter what! She has found the toilet and loves to splash around in there. To top it off she likes to try to eat everything still... board books, tissue paper, rocks, dog toys, etc... Then she also has decided that she doesn't want to go to bed at night. I've been nursing her to sleep just like always, but now she realizes she's falling asleep and will throw herself off my lap and just run around being cranky. Tonight was Night 1 of our new bedtime routine. (I know, I should have been doing one all along). We got jammies on, read a book, rocked for a few minutes and then I stood and held her for a few more minutes and then put her in her crib... Hope this will help with our bedtime routine.
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Last year, in September, I came up with the, in retrospect, crazy idea to work through six C++ programming related tomes. Shortly after I had started in Scott Meyers' Effective C++: 55 Specific Ways to Improve Your Programs and Designs I got quite busy with work, Perl programming, and mostly forgot about the relearning C++ project.
Read the rest of The C++ Programming Language: a fantastic read so far.
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Leaving New YorkUS of APosted by Martin 2009-08-02 07:21:31
As planned, I returned to the Staten Island ferry with a bigass tele lens. This time I got some closer-up shots of Lady Liberty, and headed thereafter north to Noho, Soho, Nolita and other acroyms. Unheard of music was shopped at Other Music, whisky and stout were drunk at Whiskey Ward, as was I. Met a lovely Tennessee girl named Micha and her friend, and I stayed at the WW longer than expected. However, I had a prior engagement and sauntered on to meet Cristina for dinner on this my last night in New York. Afterwards, it was time to discover some new local musical talent at Mercury Lounge. The last band on stage called themselves Nightmare of You, and they were so good that I paid the ten bucks for their CD. An hour later I was back in Harlem for my last night on this trip.
As it clearly takes a lot of time to go to JFK, I went up, packed my stuff, checked out and went to the Apple store to buy iPhones for my cousins and/or their husbands. No such deal, though, as they could only be purchased with a two year contract with AT&T.
And then, the three hour subway/train ride to John F Kennedy Airport, and here endeth the journey.


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I have surprised people since I was barely two years old with my mastery of language. Probably because I am tiny, words are my defense against anyone who threatens me. According to friends, my words do disarm antagonists. An attempted rape serves as a dramatic illustration of power of words to protect in a real life crisis.
I had walked home from the university, my arms filled with books and turned to walk towards the house I shared with four other girls. I barely glanced at the pick-up truck parked right in front of our sidewalk. A tall, athletic young man poked his head from under the opened hood and called out.
"Would you mind giving me a hand? I need someone to turn the key while I attach some wires together."
I considered dropping off my books inside and letting my friends know I was home but decided to quickly help this stranger. I climbed into the truck, and he leaned over showing me how to turn the engine over. Suddenly he was sitting on my long maxi coat with one arm restraining me and the other holding a knife to my throat. In a rough voice he ordered,
"Lay down, now'."
I countered,
"I don't want anyone to see you handing over your money."
I angled my head and looked him in the eye,
"No one will think anything. They will simply think that we are boyfriend and girlfriend."
Something jerked in surprise in his eyes. I had upset the cat/ mouse routine but then he took control again,
"Get down or I'll slit your throat."
"Just take my money I have only eleven dollars. Do you want to get life imprisonment for eleven dollars?"
Again, my words startled him, so he pressed the knife against my throat,
"Just do it!"
I could only move my eyes but I glanced down at the knife,
"It's too rusty and dull. Just let me out. Your truck is perpendicular to my sidewalk. I won't even see your license plate."
He was at a loss for words for a moment. Then he sighed,
"I can't take the chance. Stay put, I'll drive into the service lane and let you out where it's dark."
We were at a stalemate.
"Fine'. I retorted
He backed up into the lane. Before I knew what was happening, he started to cover my eyes with thick electrical dust tape but it was only when the tape covered my mouth, my only source of defense, only then did I panic. I kicked, screamed behind the tape and managed to open the door. Then it was his turn to panic with all the racket I was making. In an angry voice he yelled,
"Just get out you bitch."
He pushed me out but instead of running as fast as I could, I peeled back the tape covering my mouth and pleaded,
"My books, please give me my books!"
Completely frustrated, he swiped the books out of the truck, slammed the door and took off.
I always say that only a true geek would think of books in a situation like this.
The seriousness of my situation became clear during the next week. The constable who took my testimony whistled as he read it,
"This is a really good statement. Good memory."
He informed me that the well-known rapist had probably followed me for weeks without my knowledge. Police picked up my coat as evidence. Apparently they found a button in his truck as well as many items of women's undergarments.
"Are you sure your not hiding what really happened?"
I lost one book, The Complete Analysis of Herman Melville's Moby Dick and the police chuckled over my concern over a mere textbook. Then the head detective slapped me on the back as I identified my attacker from a picture line-up. He turned to his partner,
" Did you see that? I didn't even get to put the picture down on the table. Didn't I tell you we could count on this girl!"
As the police surrounded the rapist's house with a warrant for his arrest, based on my statement, he shot and killed himself. Afterwards the constable, who first came to our house to take my testimony, phoned me,
"I really am not suppose to do this. I just want to let you know how lucky you were. His last victim was a sixteen year old girl who is pregnant and in the physic ward. We have been after this young guy for a long time. His dad is wealthy, owning a slew of house all over the city with a Mistress in each one. This was one angry nineteen year old."
I was haunted by my attacker's face and post-traumatic stress for years but I was grateful to the Holy Spirit for supplying courage and peace during the attack as well as,
"The Power of Words to Diffuse Evil and Derail Violence."


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Support this site! Clicking the links (below) takes you to
Amazon.com. If you buy ANYTHING, they pay for the referral. My books...
Written by and copyright © 2005-2019 by Thomas N. Bulkowski. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: You alone are responsible for your investment decisions.
See Privacy/Disclaimer for more information. Some pattern names are the registered trademarks of their respective owners.
I found out about the 3L-R pattern from an article in Traders.com (a printed magazine, not the website) and according to the author Paolo Pezzutti, it's based on the work
of Michael Harris.
The article suggests using a 7% profit target and 7% stop loss, which I tested. I also tested placing a stop at the other end of the pattern (for an upward breakout, for example,
it would be a penny below the pattern's lowest low). One can infer that 3L-R means three lows and a reversal, which aptly describes the four-bar pattern.
For the following statistics, I used 1,242 stocks, starting from December 1989 to February 2013, but few stocks covered the entire range. All stocks had a minimum price of $5.
Since samples were so numerous, I chose one of every four patterns.
There were two bear markets in the 2000s (as determined by the S&P 500 index), from 3/24/2000 to 10/10/2002 and 10/12/2007 to 3/6/2009.
Everything outside of those dates represents a bull market.
For each 3L-R, I found where the trend started and when it ended. To find the trend peak or valley, I found the lowest valley and highest peak within plus or minus 10 days
(21 days total) each, before the 3L-R and the same peak/valley test after the 3L-R. The closest valley or peak before the 3L-R
is where the trend began. The closest peak or valley after the 3L-R is where the trend ended. I compared the peak or valley to the average of the highest high and lowest low price of the
3L-R pattern.
The 10-bar peak or valley number tends to find major turning points on the daily charts.
I measured performance from the day after the pattern ended to the nearest trend peak or trend valley.
Table 1 lists the failure rates, sorted by market condition along with the average rise. Since the 3L-R is supposed
to act as a reversal of the downward trend, I assumed an upward breakout (upward move).
A failure occurs when the stock fails to climb more than 5%.
The failure rates may appear high, but that's typical for short-term patterns like the 3L-R. The highest failures occur in a bull market: 38% fail
to rise at least 5%. The average rise is just 9%.
Table 2 shows how often the measure rule works. Use the measure rule to find an estimate of how far price is likely to rise.
To do this, measure from the highest high to the lowest low in the pattern to get the height. Add the height to the highest high to get the target.
The best performance of the measure rule occurs in a bull market, with 56% of patterns reaching their target.
Table 3 shows the performance based on 24,613 trades using $10 commissions per trade ($20 round trip), starting with $10,000 per trade. No adjustments were made for interest,
fees, slippage and so on.
The results are sorted by bull or bear market. The trades used the same setup as listed in 3L-R Performance Statistics.
This test bought a stock at the open the day after the pattern completed. If the opening price
was unavailable (many from the 1990s were 0), then I assumed a penny above the top of the pattern as the entry price. If the open was higher than the buy stop, the opening price was used.
A position was sold if the stock climbed at least 7% above the buy price. Again, if the opening price was higher than the target price, I used the open otherwise
I used the target price. A stop was placed 7% below the buy price.
For example, in a bull market, the net gain was $75.93 for all trades. The method won 57% of the time and there were 10,908 winning
trades. The average gain of winning trades was $705.00.
Forty-three percent, or 8,356 trades were losers. They lost an average of $745.26.
The average hold time was 26 calendar days.
Notice how the gains and losses were pegged near 7%, which is how the test was setup.
Table 4 shows the results of 24,753 trades, but this time, a penny below the bottom of the 3L-R pattern was used as a stop instead of a 7% stop.
For example, in a bull market the net gain was $43.76 for all trades. The method won 43% of the time and there were 8,263 winning
trades. The average gain of winning trades was $702.98.
Fifty-seven percent, or 11,127 trades were losers. They lost an average of $445.78.
The average hold time was 15 calendar days.
When compared to the 7% stop method, placing a stop below the bottom of the pattern showed that losses dropped dramatically, especially in a bull market.
However, the win/loss ratio suffered and that impacted the bull market net gain.
The figure shows a 3L-R pattern in 3M (MMM) on the daily scale.
The 3L-R looks like the inset with three lower lows followed by a high above the first high in the 3L-R.
The four bar pattern ends the day before A. Buy at the open at A, which is at a price of $94.34. The target is 7% above this, or $100.94.
The stock rises and hits the sell target as shown in the chart, at C.
A stop is placed 7% below the open, or 87.74 (not shown).
If the pattern stop method were used, the red line at B, which is a penny below the bottom of the 3L-R, would serve as the stop location.
-- Thomas Bulkowski
Below are other short patterns...
Written by and copyright © 2005-2019 by Thomas N. Bulkowski. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: You alone are responsible for your investment decisions.
See Privacy/Disclaimer for more information. Some pattern names are the registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Q: What do you call a man with half a brain? A: Gifted.


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Last week I've spent some time installing a VMWare hosted linux server onto my Windows 7 PC in the office, mostly because our development server is under a heavy load for several things, e.g. a Jenkins CI instance.
After some experimenting with Debian stable (squeeze) and testing (wheezy), I've ended up using Ubuntu Server 10.04 LTS, long story short because of the support from VMWare, and the available 2.6.x kernel (had network issues with the 3.2.x kernel).
It worked as a charm, installing the whole thing together with Apache, PHP5 and the required PHP modules didn't take more than 30 minutes, the testing phpinfo() page jumped into my browser like a squirrel on red bull.
I've checked out the source of one of our projects, stoked to see how it'd work with my VM. Set up virtual host, done. Configure app, done. Let's open it in a browser. Surprise! One page load took about 2 minutes. WTF?!?
OK, let's see CPU load on the VM. None.
OK, it must be HDD load then. None.
OK -I'm not giving up- the network is slow again. No.
OK, the VM apache is waiting for the response from database server. No.
OK, then what the fudge is happening? Let's run some benchmarks. Phpinfo page is loading like in no time.
OK, so it must be something with our stuff, but what? At this point I remembered that back in the old days I had a story with configuring the Exim MTA, and it had a network wait timeout...
OK, let's see what's happening on the network. After starting up iptraf, I've noticed that there's an external IP which is connected to the VM. The IP address is pointing to a w3c.org host, let's google that. And voila! after a few minutes I've learned that the PHP DOM extension is set to load the DTD for loading and parsing XML files... Our app has a setting to disable DTD loading, but I didn't like that idea, and a comment on a PHP documentation page said that the DTD's can be stored locally. At this point - 8.30PM, still in the office, feeling like a zombie - I've asked our lead developer - who was also still in the office :) - how can I have solve this thing. He pointed me to a package called w3c-dtd-xhtml holding the DTD's. After installing it, our app was running like crazy, no waiting, I could even copy the database from the dev server, and run it locally, it's still fast enough.
Today I've installed Apache on the Windows host, and set it up to reverse proxy the VM out for the others in the office, and it runs smoothly.
How could I be that stupid to say Windows when I was asked what OS I'd like to use on my PC, when almost everything I use for development is available on linux now...
... not that I wouldn't have the same issue on a linux desktop tho :)


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So after fumbling around for the first couple weeks, I'm starting to become more comfortable with this whole independent thing. I just needed a kick in the pants and a change of mindset, provided to me quite serendipitously.
This past Thursday, as I wrung my hands in agony, waiting for technical difficulties to be sorted out during the internet install at my apartment, missing meetings I had booked, I was pretty sure I was screwing up not two weeks into the job. Dealing with situations on my own and being responsible for all my actions (or inactions) are definitely key components to making it in the real world. The minute the tech was done, I rushed back to the office, just in time for a Program Manager specification writing 'bootcamp', where I hoped to wash away my time management sins from earlier in the day.
It was during that seminar that the eye-opening line came, "Nobody Knows the Answer."
Alright, so it was in the context of designing a feature area, but I think the lesson holds true for life. Nobody really knows the answer. Guidance is one thing, but looking for someone to hold your hand, while you walk along the path of life, is not the best idea. Those uncertainties I've had? Others have them too. Don't expect others to know what's best. Do the research, and make a decision. That's my advice to myself.
Speaking with some friends, both at work and outside, I'm beginning to realize I'm not the only one mucking my way through.


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Would you like to know how to reduce the worry, stress and anxiety in your life?
Having spoken to and worked with a significant number of women from all over the world, there are a few things that they all have in common.
One of these things is that every single one of them has something in her life that is causing her to worry, stress or have anxiety.
I've yet to find a woman anywhere in the world who has never experienced worry stress or anxiety of some form.
Every woman experiences some kind of worry, stress and anxiety…
Not only have I spoken to many women about this…I also happen to be a woman!
If I had a penny for every time I've worried about something, got stressed or felt anxious…I'd be one very wealthy woman by now!
From a passing thought about an upcoming deadline that interrupts my yoga practice, to a full scale meltdown over the stress of my job when I worked in the corporate world…me and anxiety have become well acquainted.
So I wanted to know how to release this worry, stress and anxiety…
Studies have found that women differ from men not only in their emotional responses to stress, but also that acute and chronic stress may take a greater toll on womens' physical and mental health.
Just some of the symptoms that women suffer from with stress are: Reduced sex drive, irregular periods, acne breakouts, hair loss, poor digestion, depression, insomnia, weight gain and decreased fertility.
So finding ways to reduce and release any worry, stress and anxiety that you're experiencing has got to be a good thing!
So today I share with you one really quick and easy tip to help you to release the stress, let go of the worry and say bye bye to anxiety:
The more you practice releasing the worry, stress and anxiety, the easier it becomes…
When we first begin doing this, it can seem a little challenging…after all we've been in the habit of worry, stress and anxiety for a long time!
So this week I invite you to notice any time that you are experiencing worry, stress and anxiety, and give it a go.
Practice it as often as you can and before you know it, it will be second nature!
…and if you know another woman who experiences worry, stress and anxiety, then I would love for you to share this article with her so that she can begin to practice it too…even better you can support each other along the way.
Find a friend you'd like to do this with and commit to sending each other a text, message, or email whenever you feel worry or stress coming up with what you're focusing on in the moment to let it go. It'll mean you have some support along the way, and you get to share ideas for what to be grateful for in the moment!
Stay Fabulous!
Claire x


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grab happy
After such a heavy post yesterday, I thought I'd share some fun, funny and feel-good stuff I've found around the web lately:
- Yesterday I mentioned developing a daily gratitude practice -- the author of thxthxthx takes it to a whole new level: Leah Dieterich writes thank you notes every day to all the things in her life she's grateful for, from her own laziness to her boarding passes. Take a look.
- I've also fallen deeply in love with the blog Hyperbole and a Half. The blogger is an artist who makes cartoon drawings of .... well, you'll have to just check it out. My favourite post so far is about her Sneaky Hate Spirals, or what I like to call the Evolution of a Really Bad Day. Take a look -- it's really funny, and will probably feel pretty familiar.
- Rue McClanahan, one of the very funny actors of the old TV show Golden Girls, died last week. Yesterday, in her memory, my sister sent me an old TV clip of Rue and Betty White, telling each other dirty jokes on the set of Golden Girls while they waited for taping to begin again. Let me tell you, there's nothing that can get you giggling like watching two famous comics giggling together. (Rest in peace, Rue.)
- And finally, a shameless plug: the website Shutter Sisters, of which I was a contributor, has just released their first book, Expressive Photography -- a book designed to help you capture the emotion behind the images you frame with your camera. Each of the founding Shutter Sisters was invited to write one chapter ... and as a result, I'm thrilled to be one of the named authors and a contributor to the finsl product.
It's a beautiful book, if I do say so myself. If you're looking to help enhance your own photographs, please consider picking up a copy.
And on that note, have a great day, friends.
Image: Photographed last evening in our back yard with my Nikon D300, together with a very sweet Nikkor wide angle 10-24mm lens, lent to me by the exceedingly generous Nikon. Today's photo was just me taking it out for a spin, since I've never shot with a wide-angle lens before. The story of how I came to be in possession of such a lovely lens (together with some hopefully stellar shots) will be told in detail in the next few weeks, I promise.
Song: Happiness by The Weepies


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This is something we always recommend people try. Working with your non-dominant hand is a fascinating world to explore. Before our laptops insinuated themselves onto our kitchen table, Maria and I (both righties) would have Sudoku races at breakfast. We'd print two large copies of the same puzzle and then do it up-side-down and left-handed!
Do a web search on "non-dominant hand" and you will find many interesting links. In one of those articles, the writer refers to one step in a non-dominant hand exercise,
Using a pen, pencil, markers, whatever, and, using your non-dominant hand, scribble, draw, doodle or make marks on a piece of paper.This reminded me of a letter we received from a math teacher in Australia.
"One of my classes had a 2 hour exam today. Two hours for 13 year-olds is a big ask and as expected, they were getting very restless towards the end. One student is notorious for being disruptive and he finished 20 minutes before the end. He started by initially making as many different popping sounds as he could. I gave him a bit of paper and told him to draw. So then he made as much noise as he could by scribbling! So I showed him how to do a Paradox Zentangle. What a transformation! He really went into a zone - and was quiet for the last 20 minutes.Our point is that Zentangle's process of string and predetermined tangles from which to select can contribute significant value to your exploration of non-dominant handed creativity. It's a fascinating field that's worth exploring.
"The Zen stuff really works. Thank you, Rick & Maria!"
Here's Maria's non-dominant handed Zentangle challenge contribution.
Click image for larger view.


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A behind the scenes look at printing our book…
I am bouncing around like Tigger at the moment waiting to take delivery of the paperback version of our book 'A Sticky End'!
You can imagine how I reacted when, last week, our printer said, "Would you like to come and see it on the press?" I was out the door and sitting in the car before poor Richard had even had time to pick up the car keys! My writing partner, Julia Wherrell, was away and sadly couldn't make the trip with us.
Maslands, our book printers, are in Tiverton, about an hour up the M5 motorway and Richard, my daughter Emily, and I were soon standing in the print room, boggle eyed and gazing at all the huge printing presses and computer gubbins. Emily said it was … "Just like being on Come Outside with Pippin the dog," a favourite TV show when she was little!
Watching our lovely colour cover whizzing through the press and stacking up at the end was really gratifying – a dream come true for me to see my novel actually appearing before my eyes.
The work that goes into the print process was really interesting and we were shown around the print works by Andy Jackson, one of the directors, and Ted Moore, who works in the studio, and who laid out the book. Of course, printing today is very different from the old printing press days as everything is generated digitally, but I was still surprised by how 'big' a process it still is. After printing, it goes off to be cut and then bound into the cover before arriving on Monday afternoon when you can buy a copy on the website.
Meanwhile… the Kindle copy has already come out! We had to get it loaded up in advance, but didn't realise people would find it on Amazon quite so quickly. So far, feedback has been very positive and we have sold quite a few copies, so Julia and I are really pleased… if slightly terrified too!


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Come feed the hungry and make new friends.
The Saturday Community Meal provides a nourishing, complete dinner to the homeless, the needy, and the lonely in our neighborhood. Up to 100 are our dinner guests every week. Cooking or serving is a grace-filled way for you to show love.
In the winter, our guests come in from the cold to enjoy a hot, home-cooked meal, along with fellowship, a friendly atmosphere, and often entertainment. Our Community Meals are lovingly served to seated guests, rather than our asking them to file through a serving line with plate outstretched. We often hear how welcome this simple touch makes our guests feel. It does mean your help is needed even more, though.
Volunteers are needed on Saturday afternoons throughout the year to set up (set tables, fold napkins, put out serving pieces, make coffee and iced tea–there's a job to utilize everyone's abilities), or in summer, to help fill bag suppers. Your help is needed, especially in the first set-up shift, beginning about 1:00. To help serve, come at 4:15. Winter clean-up is finished by 6:15pm.
During summer, the Community Meal is a nutritious brown bag supper. Volunteers make sandwiches beginning at 2, then guests are invited in at 4, to eat in the garden or Levy Hall, or to take out.
This program has been a blessing and joy to all volunteers. You decide how you'd like to participate.
Do you find yourself at a loss for ideas when it's time to buy another birthday or Father's Day gift? The cost of one Saturday's meal is between $200 and $250. Wouldn't your mother be proud for you to donate in her name, giving her the opportunity to feed the hungry the way she once lovingly fed you? It's a beautiful way to memorialize someone.
Your names and the reason for your contribution (appreciation, a special commemoration, living memorial, birthday, etc.) will be listed in the Sunday bulletin, and if you like, a letter will be sent to those you are honoring.
Volunteers always welcome!
Volunteers from St. Paul's Memorial Church in Charlottesville Virginia
Volunteers from St. Paul's Memorial Church in Charlottesville Virginia
Volunteers from St. Paul's Memorial Church in Charlottesville Virginia


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Hey all! Pam here with you today to share a Christmas inspiration card- featuring a technique I called Faux Stained Glass.
I have gotten a jump start this year on creating my holiday cards and this one features the Wire Sculpture Deer (side view).
The deer was stamped with Versamark Ink and embossed using Ranger Liquid Platinum to mimic the Wire Sculpture. The background was created using various shades of red Distress Stain Sprays, Dylusions, and Hero Arts Unicorn White. To create the stained glass effect easy deer was painted with the Cherry Red Dylusions spray using a water color brush.
A complimenting bow and some jingle bells were added and the entire piece was matted with a piece of Neenah Solar White card stock- the edges of which were embossed in Liquid Platinum to coordinate with the reindeer.
I plan to make several more of these as holiday cards- using various other holiday colors- green, winter blue etc.
Thanks for stopping by today and please stay tuned to the JFF blog and my blog for more great inspiration using the fab JFF stamps.
Embrace Imperfection,


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Mario is a staple of gaming; an altruistic, plucky, mustachioed plumber more beloved and universally recognized at this point than Mickey Mouse. Surely no one would take the time to besmirch his beloved image with the equivalent of visual sleaze, right? Welcome to the Internet. Please, follow me:
Peach in a Diaper
by butterMYbiscuits12
There are two kinds of people in this world: people who merely have diaper fetishes, and the people who want to attribute these diaper fetishes to fictitious, fungal-based royalty. Although, is the 1-Up mushroom some kind of profound emblem for the gift of life? In that Peach's nether regions are the only things capable of the gift of life and symbolic of the crux of all existence? Only butterMYbiscuits12 knows the true answer.
Female Bowser
by vaginaw4rrior
If an iconic turtle-dinosaur is drawn as a sexy reptilian stripper and no one is around to see it, is it still disturbing? I remember being asked that very same question in philosophy class. Well, okay, it wasn't really philosophy class; it was actually the scary voice in my head who I named "Philosophy Class". Still, he may not have been "real" but, hot damn, did he have some really great ideas.
Also, do reptiles even need massive breasts like that? (Or bob-ombs, as the picture would suggest.) What would be the purpose? It's not like any reptile ever has been nursed by the milk-secreting organ of female mammals for survival's sake, so I guess those voluminous mounds are just purely ornamental. And fantastic. Uh, sorry… did I really type that instead of just think it?
Pregnant Birdo
by Miscarriage Mayhem
This is the obligatory horribly-pregnant-fan-art-that-no-one-wants-to-see entry for this month. Notice the luscious curves of this impregnated Mario character and try not to think about the fact that Birdo was originally supposed to be male. Yes, stare at him intently and do your best not to fall to your knees and weep with the tears of every Native American Chief that ever existed.
Anime Schoolgirl Mario
by tampaxDildos997
I don't know, something tells me Mario's legs'd be a lot more muscular than that — considering all the hopping around he does.
Need a little Mario-related eye bleach to wash the pain away? Read Super Mario Adventures, a collection of comics that originally ran in Nintendo Power magazine in 1992-93.


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Saturday, January 19, 2013
Success !!!!
This past week was fabulous. It was very successful from a stitching perspective; I also managed to complete my canvas work project, "Treasured Beginnings" by Carolyn Mitchell, but I also had a lot of other fun. Thursday I spent shopping with my sister, we spent the afternoon visiting antique and consignment shops both in Oakville and in Hamilton, and last night I spent at the Boat Show with my husband. We didn't buy the 1.9 million dollar yacht that everyone had to view, but who goes to a show & doesn't get carried away? We did find some nice hanging Air chairs. It's a recliner that hangs from a tree or joist. I can't wait 'til summer. It will be fabulous to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon reading (or snoozing) in one of these.
shop for February & March 2013. This and many of her models will be on display and for sale (discounted during these two months). This particular design I will also run as a beginner canvas workshop on either February 16th or March 2nd (if interested let me know which day would be best). The class will cover reading a canvas work chart, padded gobelin stitch, rice stitch, two-way flat stitch, four way mosaic stitch, double straight cross stitch, hungarian stitch, and basketweave. I will also cover laying multiple strands, and working with perle cotton and metallic threads.
3 comments:
The biscornu is gorgeous and I love the colours you used in the Treasured Beginnings!!!!ReplyDelete
Love the biscornu.ReplyDelete
We got a pair of Air Chairs many years ago. Hang them every summer on our front porch. They are really comfortable. Hope you enjoy yours.
I am interested in the treasured beginnings class. Either day works for me so keep me posted. Thanks! Looks great in your colours!ReplyDelete
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ESPN X Games L.A. 2012
Gear up for the X Games L.A. 2012!
The all new ESPN X Games L.A. 2012 app puts the worlds' most exciting action sports competition right at your fingertips with blazing video highlights, instant results, personalized schedules, an interactive dashboard and the ability to watch the telecast LIVE on your mobile device via the WatchESPN app.
ESPN X Games L.A. 2012, gives you a Live Timeline your one-stop shop for everything X Games. There's no better place for news, results videos, tweets, Facebook updates, editorial messages and more.
Stay ahead of the action, so you don't miss anything with the personalized schedules, of detailed calendars and reminders for every X Games event, whether you're viewing in person or watching from home.
X Cast is Sweet!
ESPN X Games L.A. 2012, has X Cast for you to watch live streaming webcasts, athlete chats and more throughout X Games.
Or you can always watch the telecast Live on your mobile device via the WatchESPN app.
Your favorite social media has been use to keep up with the chatter around the X Games with Facebook, Twitter and GroupMe integration.
Going to L.A. for the X Games!
If you are going to make it to L.A. for the games use ESPN X Games L.A. 2012 for purchasing your tickets with the built-in Ticketmaster integration.
You can also use this amazing app, to get around the venue, find parking take advantage of X Fest, and learn about other X Games services.
Look at these features:
• Video Highlights
• Instant Results
• Personalized Schedules
• Live Timeline
• Real Street
• WatchESPN
• News
• Athlete Bios
• X Cast
• Social Media integration
• Quest Info
• Ticketing
Keep the action in front of you with ESPN X Games L.A. 2012.
Real Street is great to watch and compare videos from every round of the Real Street video contest. Don't forget to vote for your favorite.
You can also watch all the Video Highlights of the best runs, tricks, crashes and clips from X Games.
News gives you the inside scoop on X Games happenings while keeping up with breaking news from around the world of action sports.
ESPN X Games L.A. 2012 also offers you Live Timeline for news, results, videos, tweets, Facebook updates, editorial messages and more.
Check out the Athlete Bios, and find all the info for your favorite athletes of X Games, including their competition history and tune-in information.
Install ESPN X Games L.A. 2012, today and gear up for the excitement!
Android – Check out Google Play


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Friday, June 25, 2010
Just Dance 2 - E3 Gameplay Videos
Straight from last week's E3, here are some gameplay videos of Just Dance 2 to get you excited and off the couch. The song list appears to be as diverse as ever, which is great, and the streamlined graphics are better than ever. Does it also seem that the dance moves are more involved than before? I don't think we're going to be seeing the same arm motions used over and over.
Have you also noticed the background graphics? Everything is brilliantly and stylishly animated. Even the dancers appear more detailed and colorful, all while retaining their iconic look. Kudos to Ubisoft for keeping the "iPod Commercial" look, instead of cartoon polygon models. The filmed actors have a subtle degree of realism - and spontaneity - that rival dancing games cannot match. Not that I mean to bash the competition. I'm eager to see dancing video games become the Next Big Thing.
Just Dance 2 is going to be a sensational hit. I'm buying copies for every Nintendo Wii owner I know. Heck, I may just buy a couple Wii consoles for the family this Christmas, just for this game.
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Grade: D+
Doing it at: 11%
Catnip: One Night Stand; Alpha; Motorcycles; Stepsiblings: Not Quite Incest; Mexico; Road Trip; Not Really That Forbidden To Be Honest; Dual Narrative; Men in Uniform; But it was 99 cents
Shame Scale: The cover is maybe less shameful than the actual writing in this one.
Fantasy Cast: Jeremy Renner and Lindsay Lohan
What do we taste like: She tasted sweet and spicy, like cinnamon and chocolate
Book Description:
I f**ked a SEAL—the human kind, the kind who shoots terrorists, sports rock hard abs and tattooed biceps, and scores an easy lay with every girl he ever wants.
I should've known better. I should be studying harbor seals' native habits, not conducting my own research into mating rituals of the Navy variety.
He's a jackass. A bad boy. An arrogant, womanizing, patronizing, Harley-riding jerk.
A one-night stand. One night of the most incredible sex I've ever had. Shane is trained to kill with his bare hands in 300 different ways—and he knows 300 ways to f**k me, too.
Now my father is engaged to his mother. And we're heading to Mexico for the wedding. He's threatening to ruin their big day if I don't surrender to his demands.
Quit is not in his vocabulary. I hate him, but I know he'll never give up until he gets everything he wants.
Screw that! I won't give up—I'll never submit to America's cockiest badass.
I had just read three books in a row that gave me serious feels (About Last Night, Beautiful Secret, and a joint Ugly Love reread with Mary) and I wanted something light and trashy and strictly fun. You might have noticed that the Shame Girls like Stepbrother romances and when this one popped up for 99 cents, I added it to the library with the message to Mary and Paperback Purist that we DESERVE this. Maybe my hopes were too high, but this book let me down.
Cassie is down on the beach, admiring sea lions in their natural habitats, because she's a marine biology student (she has a brain, guys, don't forget it) and admiring the cocky guy who is about to do a night dive on his lonesome. She sees a baby sea lion who appears to be in distress and after realizing he has a piece of plastic wrapped around his neck wades in to save him. Shane sees her messing around with the baby and notices that a very angry mama sea lion is headed towards her. He rushes in, throws her over his shoulder and spirits her to shore. We've switched to his perspective and he's immediately in cave man speak over Cassie, he wants to plow her plump ass and watch her red hair spill around his dick while she sucks it. So, in a not at all douche move, he tells her that he won't report her to the marine animal police or what have you as long as she fucks him. And Cassie agrees to this with very very little outrage because he's hot and he told her to, I guess.
I'd seen marine animals go into a mating frenzy — sharks went nuts sometimes– violent fucking that left blood in the water. If he– what did he say his name was, Shane? — if Shane was a shark, then I was a goner, because I needed that fat, hard dick inside me in the worst way.
Shane and Cassie go back to his apartment and have a lot of sex. With a break between rounds two and three for a burger at the local dive bar. Cassie leaves before morning, and Shane goes off to the Middle East with his SEAL squad (I don't know if squad is the right term, but go with it) for nine months.
Cassie had left him her number, hopefully, and is pissed that he never called. She wished she could forget him , but the sex was so hot that she can not get him out her head. And her dating life isn't so hopping since she's so busy in school learning about whales and coral reefs and such. But her Dad's love life is on point and he asks her to come to fancy dinner with him, his new girlfriend, and her son who is just back from a tour in the Middle East. Cassie had no clue he was a SEAL and was pretty shocked when Shane shows up to dinner. With a shitty attitude towards their parents and some heavy innuendo towards her.
Why Shane has this giant chip on his shoulder and thinks that everyone looks down on him, I could not figure out. Are elite military servicemen considered to be bad guys? Do fathers really not want their daughters marrying the patriotic gents fighting for our country? This is 'Murica! When Cassie's dad and Shane's mom announce they're getting married in Baja it doesn't go over well and Cassie tells Shane they can never have sex again because they're going to be stepsiblings. Again, I do not get this line of thinking. They're in their twenties, they weren't raised together, this isn't incestuous. But, whatever she's striving to be unanimous in this, and he's all "the only way I will play nice and go to this wedding is if we go together and you be my sex slave the whole way down." And Cassie is all "SIGH. YOLO. PUT IT IN ME."
The actual trip to Baja took some seriously unexpected turns. I was imagining it would just be lots of sex, tenderness turning into love, and their parents accepting that their kids had also found true love. Maybe even a double wedding on a Mexican beach for good measure. Way crazier stuff than that happened. There's a lot of action and if stepsibling romances are your thing I don't want to spoil it for you, because this may not be the best book ever but its trashy and fun with plenty of sex. And that might be just your bag, baby. However, I do want to share two amazing (non ruining) quotes out of this one:
If I ran out I could hold my breath for five minutes – a useful skill for stalking pirates. Also came in handy when eating pussy.
Swoon. Our Real American Hero.
I had an idea for a present for Cassie – my dick in a box.
And a Lonely Island fan! What's not to like?


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Author's Bio: Sherman Mathis is a Certified Personal Trainer, Competition Prep Coach, and Nutritionist. He is a strength, conditioning, and holistic coach as well. Sherman is a successful National Gym Association, International Fitness Professional Association Pro Body Builder, and a United States Powerlifting Association national record-breaking powerlifter. He is also a book author and motivational speaker. He enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with loved ones. Sherman's goal is to help people all over the world achieve longevity by taking steps to live a healthy lifestyle. His belief is that once you set your mind on a goal, visualize the end result, your results are soon to follow.
What inspired you to write your book?
SM: I guess I can say my inspiration for writing this book came from all the people coming to me needing advice and plans on how to live a healthier lifestyle. I never thought in a million years that the information that I give could and would be in book format.
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
SM: Letters to a Young Brother: Manifest Your Destiny by Hill Harper.
Is this your first book? How long did it take to start and finish your book?
SM: Yes. It took me about a month to get the book flowing the way I needed it to.
Do you write with an outline, or just let it flow organically?
SM: I wrote the book with an outline. I tried to keep it as simple as possible.
Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, is there a theme song for this book?
SM: No, I don't need music. I like to just let my thoughts marinate lol
What are the keys to success in getting your book out to the public?
SM: Marketing, having a good following, being personable, and serving people…I believe in giving before receiving. That being said, most of the information in my book is information that I give freely on a daily basis. My goal is to share this information globally and have a major impact on my community.
What advice would you give to new authors?
SM: My advice to new authors is to be diligent, persistent, never give up, and listen to your conscience. Also, be open and willing to expand your talents and visions through other people.
How about sharing an excerpt from Ways to Stay on Track of a Healthy Lifestyle?
SM: One оf the powerful wауѕ to еnѕurе уоur success іѕ tо vіѕuаlіzе a dау in уоur lіfе whеn уоu hаvе аttаіnеd уоur goal. Imаgіnе yourself on a dау ѕоmеtіmе in the near future whеn you аrе hеаlthіеr and hарріеr bесаuѕе you hаvе сhаngеd your lіfеѕtуlе. Imаgіnе thаt уоu have rеасhеd уоur іdеаl weight, or уоu аrе no lоngеr аѕhаmеd оf уоur bоdу, оr уоu hаvе rеасhеd уоur desired lеvеl оf ѕtrеngth, еnеrgу, and еndurаnсе. Gеt a сlеаr рісturе in уоur mіnd оf уоurѕеlf going аbоut уоur nеw dаіlу rоutіnе. Imagine іt аѕ if іt was hарреnіng rіght аt this mоmеnt. Check іn wіth уоur ѕеnѕеѕ. Hоw does it fееl? How dоеѕ іt smell? Hоw dоеѕ іt lооk аnd ѕоund? Enjоу thе еxреrіеnсе оf a hеаlthіеr lіfеѕtуlе - оf ѕuссеѕѕ. Wаѕ іt wоrth thе соmmіtmеnt уоu mаdе tо уоurѕеlf? Arе уоu happy? Thаt'ѕ what іt'ѕ аll аbоut, isn't іt?
What's next for you?
SM: I will be writing another book in the next month. It's going to be a step by step guide on how to become healthier. I plan on doing public speaking, and mentoring to the younger generation.
Where can readers find out more about you and your book(s)?
o Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShermanMathis82
o Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cordell.mathis/
o Instagram: http://Instagram.com/Sherman.mathis
o Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shermanMathis82/
o Here is the link to my book: https://www.createspace.com/7517178


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Professor Avraham Steinberg published a guide on how to treat patients in an ICU; the protocol was reviewed and approved by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Rabbi Shmuel Vosner:
The following protocols pertain to patients in the ICU that fulfill the following conditions:
(a) Patients who were accepted into the ICU on the assumption that there was hope to save their life.
(b) Patients who received intensive care, including mechanical ventilation, treatment for infections, treatment to sustain blood pressure, treatment to prevent clots and bleeding, blood transfusion, parental feeding and permanent monitoring of blood pressure, pulse, breathing, and oxygen saturation.
(c) Patients who after all that was done above experienced irreversible failure of at least three vital organ systems, and when all the doctors who are caring for them, which includes all the doctors of the ICU, and all the specialist consults for the various medical problems of the patients, have decided that there is no chance to save their lives, and their death from their disease is expected in a short time, and specifically on condition that the patients are suffering, therefore we can assume that they [the patients] would not want to continue with unending suffering. These rules are true for all patients in an ICU, whether they are adults, children, or newborns.
The central halachic principle in relationship to these patients is based on the balance between the requirement to save a life and the prohibition of shortening life actively (with one's own hands), and the need to reduce further unending suffering on the other hand.
Therefore one should act accordingly:
(a) One should not start any new treatment that will lengthen the life of suffering of these patients.
(b) One should stop ordering new tests, such as blood tests that are supposed to asses the status of the patient, since the patient suffers because of them, and there is no purpose in performing these tests.
(c) There is no purpose in checking and guarding the patient in this condition, including checking the blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation (even though these are done automatically with machines that are attached to the patient beforehand), and there is no need to treat the state of the patient based on the values that are shown on the screen, since the patient is suffering, and there is no purpose in these tests.
(d) One should continue treating the patient with pain-killers in order to reduce the amount of pain and suffering the patient experiences.
(e) It is prohibited to do any action that will lead to the immediate death of the patient. If it is questionable whether the given action will lead to the immediate death of the patient, it may not be performed.
(f) Therefore it is prohibited to disconnect a patient from a respirator, if the opinion of the doctors is that it is possible that his breathing is completely dependent on the machine. It is prohibited to immediately and completely stop medications such as dopamine, which are intended to maintain the blood pressure of the patient, if it is the opinion of the doctors that it is possible the blood pressure will fall immediately and the patient will die immediately.
(g) It is permitted to change or end therapy, if the opinion of the doctors is that the patient will not die immediately (even if because of the action the patient will die in a number of hours), as long as the doctors deduce that the patient is suffering, under the condition the changes will be done over a set of stages, with an analysis of the state of the patient after the changes have been made.
(h) Therefore, it is allowed to lower the rate of breathing of the respirator until the rate that the patient still breathes with his own force; it is allowed to lower the oxygen concentration that is flowing to the patient via the machine until it reaches 20 percent, which is the normal room oxygen concentration; one may lower the level of dopamine, as long as there is no serious change in the blood pressure of the patient, or even if there is a change but it will not lead to the immediate death of the patient; one may stop the total parental nutrition of the patient and change it to nasogastric tube or even to give only IV water and glucose; one may stop giving medications that are meant to prevent clots from forming or bleeding, such as heparin and H2 blockers; one may stop the giving of insulin to lower the level of glucose in the blood. All of this is on condition the patient is suffering. Therefore, it is permitted to refrain from refilling medications or restarting treatments that are given in a discrete basis and not on a continuous basis, for example: to stop treatment with dialysis; to stop treatment with dopamine after the bag is done; to refrain from replacing the IV bag of antibiotics after the bag is completed. All of this is if the patient is suffering. These protocols are only applicable on patients who fall into the category of all of the above-mentioned requirements. In any other case a competent rabbinic authority should be asked.
-Steinberg, Avraham, "Rules Governing a Doctor in an ICU," Assia, 1998, nos.63–64, pp.18 ff.


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The P2-billion Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway, which is expected to cut travel time between Metro Manila and Cavite by 45 minutes, is now open to motorists.
MCX had its soft-opening on Tuesday and is expected to be fully operational on Friday.
Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said the four-kilometer, four-lane expressway will cut travel time by an average of 45 minutes from Metro Manila to Cavite and vice versa. It is expected to decongest traffic in Cavite, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa areas.
The MCX is the first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) road project under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III. The Ayala Corporation is the private proponent.
"We are optimistic that the completion of this toll road would improve CALABARZON's competitiveness as an investment destination," the DPWH chief added.
The MCX will provide access to the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) property in Muntinlupa City. The property is being groomed to become a mixed commercial, residential, and institutional estate.
It involves the construction of two (2) Segments namely: Segment 1 which starts at junction Daang Hari – Daang Reyna, Elliptical Road or Rotunda, and Segment 2, which starts from and ends at South Luzon Expressway near Susana Heights Interchange.
Readmore: http://www.gmanetwork.com


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CITCON 09 @ Paris : summaryPosted on September 27th, 2009 1 comment
Some days ago was held the 2009 edition of the CITCON (Continuous Integration & Testing Conference) at Paris. As my colleages and I are working on a project using the eXtreme Programming methodology, we are always eager to share our experience and learn from others. Below is given a summary of this edition.
The principle of organization
For those who never went there, here's an introduction about the principle : the first day, from 6pm to 9pm, everybody introduces himself and then everyone who wants to be speaker has to "sell" his topic to the public. A post-it is for each topic put on a shedule board and people vote for the ones they like. The day after, only the topics with most votes remain (similar subjects are often merged) and then people can choose which session that want to attend. A session is about 1 hour long and is very interactive : everybody can talk and share his experience. In total, 5 sessions are organized : 2 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon.
Session #1 : Testing & "done"
The purpose of this session, animated by our architect Pierre-Emmanuel Dautreppe, is to discuss about what to test and how (database, UI, everything) and when you consider your testing done. Here are some key elements of the discussion :
- Cannot test everything
- Test to limit the risks of the application
- Ask the customer how he expects his application to behave. Then, write user stories accordingly (test cases)
Done ?
- Tested every user story in the app (at least the main ones)
- For some people, it's only about code coverage (ex : 80%)
- Having generated enough information reflecting the quality of the product (test results as a control panel)
- Tested every part of the API
- When confident on the product quality (= ready to be shipped)
Session #2 : Mock objects
When to mock ? (cf VISUG session about Mocking)
- External object (web service, DB)
- Non deterministic objects (temperature, …)
- Hard to reproduce situations (network error, HDD out of space, …)
- Slow down execution (simulate long calculations)
- When some objects are not implemented
Other advices :
- Try to mock the minimum possible
- Some mocking frameworks allow to mock without coding interfaces (less need to code the application following the testing framework behind it)
Session #3
Developers & business people collaboration
- Too often, business people are too far away from the implementation
- A close contact should be kept with the customer. In the context of acceptance testing, it's useful to define user stories
- Important to make the project beneficiate from the knowledge of business people
Top 5 reasons why teams fail with acceptance testing
- No collaboration
- Focusing on how and not on what
- Tests unusable as live documentation
- Expecting tests to be a full regression suite
- Focusing on tools
Session #4 : putting Selenium in its place
Selenium is a web application testing system that enables you to record operations (while you manipulate the browser) and generate code in multiple languages (C#, Java, Ruby, …). You can watch a quick demonstration on the official website.
After this introduction, one of the big cons of this approach (and also code-based approaches) was underlined : when the front-end changes, a lot of acceptance tests fail. Indeed, suppose that you have many tests for a single page (to cover different scenarios for example), if you change one thing, everything might fail. The point here was to propose a solution to this problem, abstracting common operations into activities.
Activities are blocks of code, enabling top abstractions of recurrent actions on a web page. Thus, if something changes on your front-end, you modify one activity and not a whole bunch of tests. Unfortunately, no examples were given but you should get the idea anyway.
Session #5 : 100 agile learning ideas
This fifth and last session was more than a discussion, it was actually a little workshop where everyone had to imagine new learning ideas about the agile methodology. The approach was the following : we have products :
- Coding dojo
- Meetings
- Pair programming
- …
And dimensions (characteristics of the products) :
- Audience
- Format
- Involvment
- Required material
- Inspired on
- …
In fact, the audience was split in 2 teams. The first one had to find products and the second one dimensions. A matrix such as this one was then built :
Audience Format Involvment Required material Inspired on … Coding dojo Developers Numeric ++ Computers Martial arts Meetings Developers and business people Open discussion + None None …
After that, everybody was assigned a random value in each column and had to imagine what product could be created from that. For example, I got :
- Audience : developers
- Format : team
- Inspired on : martial arts
- Involvment : +++
- Support : computers
And created Best Pair, a situation where 2 developers are given conflicting instructions (such as opposing implementation alternatives) and must develop accordingly. The informations given are related to the same goal, but developers are not informed about that. They must communicate, keep their self-control (martial-arts inspired) to face the conflict and reach an agreement. The point here is to learn to work towards the same goal without staying blocked too long on concerns such implementation details. If the developers success in developing the application and resolve the conflict in a limited, pre-defined amount of time (ex : 1 hour), the exercise will be a success.
This was my first CITCON and found it interesting and original at the same time. The fact that participants are speakers at the same time enable rich discussions and return of experiences. Definitely not an event to miss if you're working with (or interested in) agile methodologies !
BESUG Silverlight WorkshopPosted on September 27th, 2009 2 comments
The last BESUG edition consisted in a Silverlight workshop where a Twitter client was built using Visual Studio 2008 and Expression Blend 3.
For those who couldn't attend the workshop and are interested in that, you can download related ressources here :
Enjoy !
In bulk #4Posted on September 9th, 2009 No comments
- The Rise of jQuery, an article explaining why jQuery is so popular
- The jQuery Reference API, a must-have bookmark !
- One single page bringing all jQuery plugins together, sorted by category
- The New York Public Library Style Guide, a collection of acticles about XHTML/CSS best practices
- XHTML 2/HTML 5 Comic Strip
- A collection of Silverlight tutorials
- Hard Rock Cafe Memorabilia, a nice application using the DeepZoom technology of Silverlight
- The CodePlex Silverlight Toolkit, a collection of Silverlight controls with source code and unit tests
- Kaxaml, a lightweight XAML editor
- An impressive article about fluild dynamics in Silverlight
- NerdDinner, a free ASP.NET MVC book
- An implementation of Wolfenstein 3D in Javascript
- JavascriptGaming, a website dedicated to games written in Javascript
- Webdeveloper extensions for Firefox (french article)
- Ubiquity, a Mozilla Labs experiment using natural language and mashups enabling a faster use of the web
The importance of functional aspect in codePosted on September 7th, 2009 1 comment
Maintenance cost is a huge part of a software life-cycle (about 70%, according to many sources)
Thus, keeping that in mind when developing is an important thing : it's your today's work that greatly influences the future maintenance costs. A lot of good practices have been defined about writing better, cleaner code, with comments, separation of concerns, a right choice of architecture and patterns, etc. The point of this post is not to cover all these points, which are already extensively discussed by many articles on the web but to talk about one less-known but surely not less important aspect : the functional aspect.
The functional aspect, a point our architect Pierre-Emmanuel Dautreppe justifiedly insisted on, consists of writing code that, when read, is just like reading the functional rules that are behind it. Let's take a simple example :
if (state.Code == 4)
This is the kind of thing we see too often, where developers code to make things work but where other ones (and even themselves some months later) will wonder "what does that mean ?". One thing you could do is to comment that :
// If we are at the final state, call method "DoSomething()"
if (state.Code == 4)
Obviously, this is not the preferred solution. Even with a less verbose comment, the problem would remain the same. Comments can be handy to explain a bunch of tricky lines of code, but when possible, write good code that is self-descriptive. Indeed, your code would quickly become messy if you need to comment every single line or condition (like the example shown above). Secondly, code is always up to date (because it's always reflecting the application in its current state) but that's not the case of comments, which developers sometimes (often ?) forget to keep up to date. And these comment updates have a cost too, needed everytime the code is modified. Let's look now at our final example :
if (state.IsFinal)
That's it ! Isn't it much better like this ? Of course, we need to add a boolean property to the State class, which can be considered as redundant because the same information can already be accessed via the Code property, even if it's less clear. We, developers, are used to think about "memory optimization" and such concerns, like thinking twice before adding another variable or property to a given class. But the bigger costs in software development is not the hardware (exceptions kept apart), it's the human cost behind it. And here was shown a very little example, but just imagine if the project you are working on was written like this…


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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
Stir together the prepared fruit, 1/2 cup sugar, flour, and spices and/or seasonings in a large bowl until combined.
On a well-floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a large circle, about 12 to 14 inches. Make sure the rolled dough is chilled. Spoon the fruit mixture onto the center of the dough leaving a 1-inch border. Fold the edges of the dough over the fruit, pleating the dough, then dot the fruit filling with the butter pieces. Lightly brush the dough with egg wash and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar.
Bake the pie until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Cover the crust with foil if the crust browns too quickly. Cool.
Serve the warm galette with ice cream.
Cook's Note: The same recipe can be made in individual serving sizes.
To make pie dough:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour and the salt; cut or work the butter into the flour with your fingers or a pastry blender until you have large pea sized chunks scattered throughout. Alternatively, pulse the dough in a food processor, or mix in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed.
Add the ice water slowly while stirring with a fork, or in the food processor or mixer, until just combined. Be careful not to overwork the dough. Divide the dough into 2 disks, flatten and refrigerate each for at least 15 minutes.
Roll out one chilled pie dough to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Reserve the second pie dough disc for another use. Transfer dough to pie plate, pressing the dough lightly into the plate; trim the edges. Dock the dough with the prongs of a fork evenly over the bottom of the pie plate. Line the docked dough with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
Bake the pie crust until the edges are brown and golden, about 15 minutes Remove from the oven and remove the weights. Return crust to the oven to finish baking for another 5 minutes.
Rustic Pie/Galette Variations:
Almond Apricot: Season the sliced apricots with almond paste or extract.
Spiced-Apple Pear: Season the sliced apples and pears with cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar.
All-Berry: Fill the baked crust with pastry cream and top with sweetened berries.
Caramelized Onion and Walnut: Caramelize 4 Spanish onions; let cool. Top the dough with grated Gruyere cheese and spread the onions and toasted walnuts over the cheese.


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Local 360 Seattle // Going for the Bon Bons!
This is my favorite restaurant @ the moment! The majority of the food is sourced within 360 miles, and it is delicious. Katrina and I went to this place for happy hour the other week, and we were immediately hooked. I have not tried the entire menu yet but I intend to! Their lunch and dinner menu looks equally impressive and no where lacking in things to taste, scarf, and drink. We are headed back here for breakfast this week, a review will follow.
"What is sustainable? To us, it means relying on and investing in our immediate community and geological placement. It means utilizing our resources in an efficient and renewable manner that we find closest to us. It means dedicating ourselves to ensuring the health of our neighbors and loved ones by using the freshest, most naturally grown sources."
* Peanut Butter Bon Bons // me: Gooey in the middle crunchy on the outside…messy but good!
kw: smooth & sticky, sweet…peanut butter is my favorite!
* Mini Mac & Cheese // me: Best Mac & Cheese I've had in a long time…home style.
kw: Delicious and creamy, cheesy…it was okay.
*Pulled Pork sandwich with slaw // me: Smokey with BBQ flavor, slaw adds a crunch to the sandwich…good.
kw: The pork was flavorful and tender…just the way I like it.
Jones Creek Farm: Certified Organic
A day of apple picking and apple eating at the Jones Creek Farm. Located in the Skagit Valley, it is about an hour and a half drive north from Seattle. The Farm allows you to pick, and eat as you pick as many apples as you want. Everything is organic.


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Punk troubadour announces Borderline show set for next February
Frank Turner is set for a Shockwaves NME Awards Show in London next February.
The former Million Dead frontman, currently completing his biggest UK tour to date, will play the Borderline venue on February 18.
A multitude of other acts are playing London venues in the run-up to the Shockwaves NME Awards 2011 as part of the gig series, including Gang Of Four, Carl Barat and Mystery Jets.
The awards ceremony will take place on February 23 at the O2 Academy Brixton.
To check the availability of Frank Turner tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.
The line-ups for the Shockwaves NME Awards Shows 2011 are:
Metronomy, Heaven (February 1)
Gang Of Four, Heaven (2)
Los Campesinos!/Summer Camp, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (2)
The Duke Spirit, Heaven (3)
Mystery Jets, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (9)
White Lies/Crocodiles, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (11)
Sleigh Bells, Heaven (14)
The Naked and Famous, Heaven (15)
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan/Cherry Ghost, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (15)
Edwyn Collins, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (16)
Miles Kane, Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen (17)
Noah And The Whale, KOKO (17)
Frank Turner, Borderline (18)
Yuck/Cults, Bush Hall (18)
Carl Barat/The Heartbreaks/Foreign Office, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (20)
Alex Winston, New Players Theatre (21)
Mona/Neon Trees, The Garage (21)
Warpaint/Twin Shadow, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (21)
Frankie & The Heartstrings/Veronica Falls, Heaven (21)
Caribou/Factory Floor/Walls, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire (22)
Les Savy Fav, Heaven (22)
To check the availability of NME Awards Shows tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.