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Few know that Astoria was once called Fort George. How did that come to be and what is the fascinating twist to the story? Astoria is known as the oldest settlement on the west coast. It was named after John Jacob Astor in 1911 (even though he never actually visited the area) and was called Fort Astoria. But – it didn't always have that name. [more]
When Astoria Was Called Fort George
Dory Days Celebrates an Unusual Tradition
Standing on the beach one summer day in 2015, just staring out at the ocean and enjoying the rare sunny day on the Oregon coast, suddenly we hear a horn. "Odd," we think. "There's no fog, it can't be a fog horn." Then we see a small boat speed around the giant rock sitting out in the middle of the ocean. We watch in a bit of shock as it races towards us on the shore. "Uhmmm, is that thing going to crash?! It's heading right for the beach!"
We stand there just staring as it keeps racing in. There's nothing we can do. It zooms right up onto the beach and – just stops. No crash, no yelling, no damage. What the heck? We ask someone standing near us, "What is that?" They smile and tell us, "That's a Dory fishing boat. That's how they land. They don't dock. They also just launch from the beach."
We are thrilled and fascinated. Standing there at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City, Oregon, we found out more about this unusual type of basically flat-bottomed fishing boat. While there are different types of dory boats, the beach dory is only used in a few spots around the country where the fishermen launch and land from the beach. According to the Pacific City Dorymen,"There is no other harbor, port, or fishing fleet anywhere in the world exactly like this. It is truly unique how we evolved."
Pacific City celebrates this traditional way of fishing by holding "Dory Days" in July. We decided we need to check that out. Fast forward to July 2016. We pulled into Pacific City on a slightly overcast day, which quickly changed to downright warm. We managed to find a parking place pretty easily, and walked back over the little bridge over the canal to the "four-way stop" as everyone seems to refer to it. There we saw several tents with vendors selling their enticing wares. After checking them out, we went back to the bridge and found ourselves a nice little perch where we could sit and watch the parade. We were worried that since we had forgot to bring chairs that we would be standing the whole time but no worries with the bridge to sit on.
Who doesn't love a small town parade? Everyone hollering out to the people they know on the floats, lots of candy being thrown. Since it's the coast, David was thrilled to find they were throwing salt water taffy, one of his favorites. He ignored all the other candy but swooped in on the taffy like a seagull.
Some of the usual features, like a few politicians, were in attendance. But what was most unique in this parade was the Dory boats. Some were fairly plain, but many were decorated very creatively and were quite entertaining. For such a small town, it was a nice parade lasting about 45 minutes.
As soon as the parade was over we made a beeline for the car. We knew we wanted to hurry down to Cape Kiwanda before the rest of the crowd got there. Again, we quickly found a parking spot right by Pelican Pub and Brewery, a place we have been wanting to try. Luckily we got there when we did because we got in right away and later saw quite the crowd waiting.
After our very tasty meal, we went on out to the beach to watch the Dory boats coming in. We didn't have to wait long before one came ripping in. I was a little nervous we were in its path, not sure how far they come up on the beach.
The customers who were on the boat and had been fishing looked happy and excited. Exactly what you want to see. We think we need to come back again and fish next time!
There were a few other activities that were offered as part of Dory Days, such as the Fish Fry and the Oregon Heritage Traditional Dedication Ceremony. Dory Days was a very fun, small town event that we highly recommend attending. And you have to watch the boats landing!
Adorable Alpacas! Crescent Moon Ranch, Terrebonne, Oregon
On a recent girls' weekend to Central Oregon, we thought visiting the farm looked like fun. Surely they would have a gift shop with tons of goodies made from soft, warm alpaca wool. As we pulled into the parking lot we noticed a baby alpaca, looking totally adorable in the field. It was still wobbly when it walked. We wondered how old it was.
Then we turned our attention to the gift shop, of course. Inside we were treated to multi-colored displays of gorgeous sweaters, hats, gloves, you name it! Yes, most of it was fairly expensive. But we noticed the sock display and had to check them out and ended up with some very soft ones that are making me look forward to the cold weather so I can enjoy them.
We headed out the door to go back to the car but noticed some people over in the barn with several animals. As we walked towards the barn, the alpacas started noticing us and slowly ambled towards us. Knowing that llamas can spit, I wondered if alpacas do the same thing – so I watched them trying to determine if I could tell. Would I see them making that face guys do when they get ready to spit?
My friend asked if we could watch and they were very welcoming, answering all of our questions as they got ready to shear one of the alpacas. It was a little uncomfortable for me to see the alpaca be stretched out for shearing, but it didn't appear to be in any distress and was quite calm. They sheared off some of the wool and brought it over for us to feel. It was surprisingly soft because they said this animal was fairly old, so I guess I expected the wool to feel coarse.
The whole time we were watching this and asking questions, there was one alpaca in particular that was quite interested in watching us as well. Thankfully – it never spit!
The Crescent Moon Alpaca Farm is located just south of Terrebonne, Oregon. It's very easy to find, right on the main highway at 7566 N Hwy 97. You can't miss it – you'll see several adorable alpacas in their field, and signs indicating whether they are open or closed.
For more information, check them out at http://www.crescentmoonranch.com.
Cruising the Columbia River
Is it a river boat? A paddlewheel boat? A paddle steamer? A sternwheeler? A boat operated by paddle wheels appears to be known by all of these names. But on the Columbia River, it's referred to as a sternwheeler. I've always wanted to take a ride on one and finally we had a chance on the Columbia Gorge, based in Cascade Locks, Oregon. My mother-in-law's birthday had been earlier in the month and since we prefer to give experiences rather than "stuff," we wanted to take her on this cruise.
As we drove into town, traffic was bumper to bumper. Then we notice the sign on the side of the road – "Sternwheeler Days." "Oh, no, I hope we're not caught up in a parade!" I quickly pulled out my iPhone and looked up the celebration. Whew! The parade must have just ended. We crawled along for just a few blocks until we spied the well-marked sign to the turn-in for the boat, at the Cascade Locks Marine Park. We easily found a parking spot, and headed into a small building, the Visitor Center and Locks Cafe. Inside was the ticketing desk off to the left, a small food area to the right, and behind that was a gift shop.
The whole building had fascinating old pictures and bookcases with antiques highlighting life years ago.
We already had our tickets but stopped at the ticket desk to ask if we were OK wearing sandals (we were) and if it was OK to take the camera on the boat (yes we were, as a matter of fact it was highly encouraged!) Then we stepped outside on the deck to enjoy the view until the boat came back from its trip upriver. It runs about ½ hour downstream, turns around, comes back to the dock and lets some passenger off and others on, then goes upstream about ½ hour and again returns to the dock. So there are different lengths of cruises you can take, as well as dinner cruises. We were taking the two-hour cruise.
When the boat came back to the dock, it was moving pretty rapidly. David and Josh were debating between themselves if it was truly operated by the paddle wheels or if it had supplemental power. Later we would find out, yes, it was truly operated by the paddle wheels! And its name was – Columbia Gorge!
Before getting on the ship, there was a sign that said for safety reasons everyone had to have their picture taken. We wondered if this was because we would be going close to the dam. Group pictures were allowed so we had ours all taken together. I did have to wonder later if it really was for safety reasons, because later, staff took all the pictures around to the guests and people could choose to buy one if they wanted. We had already planned and pre-paid for two pictures anyway, so we got ours.
Inside the vessel was gorgeous, a combination of antique looking decor with modern amenities such as a restroom and snack bar. There was a lower dining area for the lunch dinner cruises, and seating upstairs where the snack bar was located.
As we pulled away from the dock, looking north we were awestruck to see the scar on the land where a massive landslide happened hundreds of years ago. The captain, Michael Cain, explained how this landslide had completely blocked the river, backing it clear up to Idaho. Eventually the river broke through underneath, creating a natural land bridge, named, "The Bridge of the Gods" by local Native Americans. Crossing under the new steel Bridge of the Gods built to replace the natural bridge that eventually collapsed, we were taken back in time as we thought about how we were re-enacting a trip Native Americans might have taken under the natural bridge.
One fun unusual thing that happened – kayakers and paddleboarders would catch the waves from the boat and ride along on them!
Strong winds blasting up the Columbia River were a welcome relief from the heat of the day, even though the sky was overcast. On both sides of the river were odd-looking docks. The captain explained that Native Americans used to fish the falls in the area before the dam, and now use these docks to fish.
We continued on up near the dam, passing a rock that the captain told us was named, "Hermiston Rock." Apparently rocks are named after the boats that crash on them! Yikes, let's not have one named "Columbia Gorge Rock" OK?
We went as far as we could then turned around and headed back upriver. I overheard someone say, "Anyone can go in the wheelhouse" so of course, we headed in. Inside was the captain and two young men, crew members. The captain was more than happy to answer all of our questions, and then the dream of a lifetime – let Josh steer the boat! He was thrilled! He did it for quite a ways, until we got back closer to the bridge, then the captain took over. We finally left the wheelhouse but Josh just stayed in there, visiting and asking questions until we docked again.
We waited while the other passengers boarded, then headed upriver. By now the sun was coming out, the clouds were disappearing, and it wasn't near as windy going east. The views along this route were more rural with lots of beautiful hills and trees. By the time we turned around and headed back, I think we were all relaxed as Jell-O. I didn't want to get off the boat, I felt like all stress had drained away into the river, and all that was left was thoughts of the here-and-now.
We highly recommend this little cruise. The price is extremely reasonable, with different rates for different lengths of trips. For prices, check out their website at http://portlandspirit.com/sternwheeler.php.
Living Up to Its Name: Great Hall, Sunriver, Oregon
We have a tendency to think of Sunriver Resort in Oregon as being an all newly-constructed development. But did you know that it has an old building with architecture reminiscent of the Old Faithful Inn? You may have attended a wedding, conference or other event in it, perhaps thinking it was simply built to look old and blend in with the rustic surroundings. But the Great Hall was actually built in 1944 by the Army Corps of Engineers on the land there that was once home to Camp Abbott. The hall was only used for about six months, as a cafeteria, then the war ended and the beautiful building constructed from local trees was abandoned and sadly fell into disrepair. At one point it was even used for a cattle barn. Fortunately for all of us, it was saved and has been totally restored and updated into a premier meeting space, while reminding us of the history of the area and the beauty of the natural resources used.
The log building features high ceilings with exposed beams. A massive stone fireplace burns a cozy fire, and a balcony of limbs surrounds you like welcoming arms– all of which can't help but make you think of the Old Faithful Inn.
Replica fixtures illuminate the interior in a soft warm glow. Hallways adorned with historical pictures and stories lead the way to modern and comfortable meeting facilities. There is space just to sit and relax where your eyes are drawn out the large windows to an open field and expansive sky. You're sure to see some sort of woodland wildlife if you are patient.
Events can be catered by Sunriver restaurants, as ours was this day at the Northwest Travel Writers Conference. The beauty and ambiance of this grand old building and the creativity of the dishes served and displayed made for a deliciously memorable experience.
If you are ever in the market for an event space, or simply want to stop in and pay respect to the history and architectural skill of the time, don't pass up the chance to check out the Great Hall at Sunriver Resort.
For more information, see Sunriver-Resort.com.
Urbanspoon Scores! Pour House Grill, Bend, Oregon
We were hungry, but didn't want any of the usual chains. But we were in a town (Bend, Oregon) that we didn't know very well. We decided to get brave and I pulled out my i-Phone and tapped the Urbanspoon app hoping for at least a somewhat good idea. Up popped the Pour House Grill – with a 90% "Like" rate. We decided that was good enough to take a chance.
As we pulled up to the restaurant, we were worried we wouldn't find any place to park, it was so busy. Another good sign! But we did find a spot, and headed inside. We were immediately greeted and seated by a very friendly waitress, who was also very helpful in answering our questions about the menu.
They had a nice variety of appetizers, burgers, and beer. They have some wines and even a few of my new love – hard cider.
We ordered appetizers and then our dinners. We were pleased with the portions, the prices, and the service. So much so that when we were looking for a place for dinner again a couple of nights later, we wound up back at the Pour House Grill to try some other menu items. Again, we weren't disappointed with either the food or the service.
Bend's Pour House Grill is definitely a go-back-to spot again next time we are in the area.
Do you use an app or review site to help you choose where to eat?
For more information, menu, and prices check out their website at http://www.thepourhousegrill.com/.
The Astoria Column
It's 125 feet tall. And you can climb up the inside of it on a metal spiral staircase. Your legs will burn, you will be very glad for each landing where you can stop and take a breather and rest your legs. But once at the top – you will have one of the best views on the Oregon coast. "It" is the Astoria Column, built in 1926 as a monument to the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Typically, Astoria is usually a bit cloudy if not down-right rainy, so the view is hit-and-miss. This abnormally beautiful April day, the skies were completely clear, like nothing I have ever seen. We could even see Mt. St. Helens from the Astoria-Megler Bridge as we headed from the Washington side of the Columbia River to Astoria.
It's fairly easy to find the column. You can easily see it and just head towards it and eventually you will see a white column icon on the roads that lead to the column. It's a short winding drive up the hill, then there is plenty of parking, restrooms, and a small gift shop where you pay your $2.00 fee.
Even without going in the column the view is beautiful. To the south you can see Saddle Mountain and it's obvious why it was named that. You can look down and see the area where the replica of Fort Clatsop, Lewis and Clark's home for a short time, is set. You can't help but look at that beautiful river and want to take a kayak on a long, slow cruise.
Before you go into the column, notice the writings and the drawings depicting the expedition, on the outside, going all the way up. Then you enter the column through a door at the bottom and start your climb up. It's a long climb, but there are landings every so many steps where you can step out of the way of others and rest your legs and catch your breath for a minute. Once you come out on top there is a 360 degree walkaround to take in every bit of the view.
Off to the north is the mighty Columbia River. Maybe you'll catch sight of a container ship, so large it dwarfs the houses down below.
To the northwest is the Astoria-Megler Bridge looking so long you think, "I came across that huge thing?!"
To the northwest and west, looking endless, is the magnificent Pacific Ocean. Looking south again is the even better view of Saddle Mountain.
The eastern view will reveal the dense northwest forests that the area is known for.
The Astoria Column puts the beauty of the northwest Oregon coast on display for all who choose to visit. It really is a fitting tribute to the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Getting there (from http://astoriacolumn.org/visit/hours-fees-and-directions/): The Astoria Column is located at 1 Coxcomb Drive. Directional signs can be found on 14th and 16th Streets.
Kells Irish Pub – Portland, Oregon
If you're looking for a cool Irish pub to go to for St. Patrick's Day, you need to check out Kells Irish Pub in Portland.
There are a lot of authentically old establishments in Portland, but Kells is not one of them. However, they did a great job of making it look like it. There are Kells located in Seattle and San Francisco as well and a second Portland brewery.
We were in the area for something else when we noticed the entrance, which simply looked intriguing and inviting. As we entered, our jaws dropped open and we stood there in shock. The first thing you notice is – there's money everywhere on the ceiling! Well, heck, that just made us want to look around even more! Luckily it was early mid-morning so the place wasn't busy. We asked if we could just take our own little tour and it was no problem.
The main floor has an inviting fireplace, warm wood furniture, and cute small chandeliers and exposed brick walls, all giving Kells its character.
When you go downstairs, the ambiance of the dark wood and stuffed chairs are so old-time reminiscent that you expect to see ghosts of mobsters smoking big cigars and beautiful women wearing diamonds and furs lounging off to the side.
How was the food? We have no idea! We didn't have time to try that part of Kells, but maybe you can and let us know. The character and personality alone is enough to make it worth checking out. And if you're there around St. Patrick's Day you're sure have a great time with all the activities and events they have planned. Enjoy!
Kells Irish Pub is located at 112 SW 2nd Avenue in Portland.
Sweet Home Rocks! Part II – Pyrite
Last week we told you about the fabulous petrified wood field open for public digging outside of Sweet Home, Oregon. We also told you this is a great area to find pyrite.
On this same weekend, my little brother, Jerry, his wife Marilyn, and daughter Jessica, headed up to Sweet Home to check out the "pyrite seam" as Jerry called it. Many years ago Jerry and my stepdad used to pan for gold on Quartzville Creek outside of Sweet Home. This is an area set aside by the Forest Service for public, no fee digging. They found out about the pyrite seam from one of our neighbors so many years ago. He had been on the road crew that cut the road through the seam – apparently they all thought for a few minutes that they were rich!
We headed up Quartzville Road east of Sweet Home. It goes past Sunnyside County Park, a park we highly recommend if you want to stay in the area. It's large, roomy, has a couple of boat docks where we launched our kayaks into the river rather than right out into the busy Foster Reservoir.
Keep going several miles and you'll see Green Peter Reservoir. From the pictures, you can see why "green" is in the name. Why it is Green Peter though, I have never found out.
Finally, we turned on a road leading past an obvious dry camping area, and just headed up about 2 miles. We saw a couple of cars parked alongside the road and a couple of people on the small hillside. Suddenly Jerry exclaimed, "That's it!" I think he was worried it would be all overgrown after so many years. Jessica jumped out as excitedly as I did to run over to the hill. You could see sparkles all over the hillside and even down onto the road! They were calling to us! Jerry reached down and picked up a beautifully shaped piece and Jessica and I were nearly giddy with excitement.
Now, the hillside is a little slippery because the rock and dirt is soft. You have to be very careful going up and down it because it's easy to fall and hurt yourself. But does that every really stop a rockhounder?
We gathered pieces we broke out of the rock as well as pieces that I wanted to take home to show the grandsons.
Finally we had to leave and stopped back by the dry camp area for lunch. Thankfully Jerry brought a small BBQ and we replenished our energy with hot dogs, chips and drinks.
Then he decided to try panning for gold in the creek. It was mainly to show Jessica how to do it. Jerry really didn't expect to find anything because that particular spot is heavily panned. But it was a great day to cool off down by the river.
Although Jessica and I would have been happy to go back and spend a lot more time looking for pyrite, we ran out of time this day. But we all meet up every year in Oregon, so I know Jessica and I will definitely make sure we go back again and find more of that beautiful pyrite!
Sweet Home Rocks! Part I – Petrified Wood
The Sweet Home, Oregon area is known for Holley Blue and other agates. But did you know you can also dig petrified wood and gather pyrite? Now I know some people say, "Pyrite?! Who wants Fool's Gold?" Well, this is very pretty, nicely shaped Fool's Gold.
On this day, my little brother, Jerry, his wife Marilyn, and daughter Jessica, headed up to Sweet Home to check it out. We first arrived at Holleywood Ranch just outside of town, to dig for the petrified wood. We saw the sign showing we were at the right place, but no one was in sight. It turns out you should always phone ahead because the owners live on a hill behind the field where the digging takes place, and so they aren't always in the field. There is a white house next to the fields but that is rental property, so please don't bother the renters.
We met up with owner Brad Newport, and he showed us the wagons and probing tools and told us to head on out to see what we could find. The top of the ground was literally littered with pieces of petrified wood. It's tempting to reach down and pick up several pieces but even more tempting to see what we could dig up for ourselves. We saw several trenches where other people had dug so we checked them out and found several pieces nice enough to keep. Most pieces were rather small, but there were some pieces in the field that were simply too big to pick up!
After choosing several pieces we headed back to the gate where there was water available to clean our finds and decide which ones to keep. The details really show up when the rocks are wet! Then we took them up to Brad's house to pay for our keepers.
When we walked into his shop, we were enthralled! Petrified wood everywhere! Limb casts, huge pieces, colorful pieces – it was a rockhounder's heaven. We had some time to talk to Brad, an extremely pleasant gentleman, and he told us how he bought the property not knowing the petrified wood was on it. And when he did find out, he nearly wore himself out digging every day after work. I could completely understand, I would have done the same thing!
He didn't plan to open his property to the public until the Travel Channel Cash and Treasures show called him and wanted to visit. One of their requirements is that the property be opened to the public so he decided to try it. He had a great time telling us the story of the filming of the show, and some of the funny highlights. Holleywood Ranch has also been featured on Grant's Getaways!
Holleywood Ranch is open for digging every day (weather permitting), just make sure to call ahead to 541-401-0899 or 541-409-6047. The digging is easy, the ground is soft and flat so no hiking, just a simple walk out into the field. You only pay $1.50 per pound for the pieces you choose to keep.
You can find Holleywood Ranch online at http://holleywoodranch.com/
The link to the episode on Cash and Treasures, as well as Grant's Getaways can be found here: http://holleywoodranch.com/claim-to-fame/
Come back next week to find out more about how Sweet Home Rocks! Part II – Pyrite.


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|A scared kitty saying "OMG!" Image source.
Exodus 20:7
Dear Christian Magazine Advice Columnist, my friend told me she thinks Christians are "narrow-minded" for saying Jesus is the only way. What should I tell her?I've heard that line of reasoning a million times. You find it in any apologetics book which addresses the question of Christians being "exclusive" or "intolerant." First, they blame it on God. (Then they go on to give reasons why it's totally fine for God to be like that.)
Answer: A lot of people criticize Christians for supposedly being "narrow-minded" or "intolerant." But the truth is, this isn't our idea. We're just following what God says.
Same thing goes for other beliefs which society (rightly) sees as horrible. Christians say "don't call us bigots, it's not our fault, we're just following the bible." Sometimes this is honest- they really do wish they didn't have to believe those nasty things, but they feel like they have no choice. [Note: You DO have a choice. There are plenty of non-terrible gods out there to choose from. Many of which are named "Jesus" and based on the bible. If you're into that.] But occasionally you see a Christian who seems happy to have an excuse for their hate- they love the idea that they can be super bigoted against certain demographics of people and haha, no one can get mad at them for it, they're just following the bible.
(Isn't it interesting that they never take it a step further and say, if God is really like that, then God is not worthy of worship, and the only moral thing I can do is to oppose this God? The idea that "it's not my fault, I'm just following what God said" fails because YOU CHOSE TO OBEY THAT GOD. And that IS your fault.)
Claiming God agrees with their nasty, dehumanizing beliefs is just one way that Christians take the Lord's name in vain.
Or, here's another example: Two Christians are debating about something they disagree about. Then one says, "well, you can believe that if you want, but I'm going to side with God's word on this." Oh god that makes me angry, that is triggering as hell. In other words, "God agrees with me, so it doesn't matter what you say, you're automatically wrong. I'm not going to listen to any of your reasons." They take the Lord's name in vain.
And then there's all the Christian leaders that are teaching "this is God's way to do xyz" or "this is the biblical way." Here's God's way to raise children. Here are God's rules for dating. Here is God's definition of marriage. Here is God's plan for your life. Here is God's design for sexuality. Here are God's rules for managing your money.
When people teach "here is God's way," they take the Lord's name in vain. What they really mean is "based on my interpretation of the bible and my understanding of who God is, I have come up with these rules and guidlines." Or, if I'm being more cynical, "here is my opinion about topic xyz, I will attach the word 'God' to the front of it so it sells better to a Christian audience."
It's not "God's way." It's people's opinions. And yes, sometimes those opinons are worth listening to- they are based on evidence, research, logic, and common sense. But they are not infallible. They are not "God's." And anyone who claims they have "God's way," anyone who equates their own opinion with God's opinion, anyone who uses God as an excuse to spread bigoted lies about other people ... well, the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses that name.

subset: commoncrawl


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Award-winning bluegrass trailblazer talks about the New Hip, "offshoot" projects and lots more
Exclusive interview with FBPO's Jon Liebman
December 24, 2012
Missy Raines is one of the most popular figures in the bluegrass community, a trailblazer in her field. A former member of the GRAMMY-nominated Claire Lynch Band, the acclaimed Jim Hurst & Missy Raines duo and the rootsy and edgy Brother Boys, Missy has also performed with bluegrass legends Mac Wiseman, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves and Eddie & Martha Adcock and contemporary artists Peter Rowan, Laurie Lewis, Dudley Connell and Don Rigsby. With seven "Bass Player of the Year" awards, Missy Raines is the most decorated bass player in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association.
FBPO: Let's start from the beginning. How would you describe your musical upbringing?
MR: I grew up in northern West Virginia in a household where my parents were big bluegrass fans. Even before I was born, they were going to shows that had a lot of early country and bluegrass. Of course none of it was really called bluegrass or country, it was just called music. They were going to see those shows and my mom fell in love with a band called The Country Gentlemen, which was definitely bluegrass, although kind of a progressive bluegrass band at the time.
Anyway, they just started pursuing more of the bluegrass acts and I remember going to shows as young as 5 or 6 years old. I remember being at festivals. So I was being exposed a lot to live music and music at home on the stereo. Local musicians who played would come to the house too. I was around it a lot, so I got the bug early and started playing piano and guitar. A few years later, my dad bought an acoustic bass, just for fun.
FBPO: For you or for himself?
MR: For himself, just to learn to play it and have fun. That was their recreation, to hear music, to be involved with folks who were playing music. The bass was in the house and I just started playing it. I was already pretty musical at that point and, being that I was kind of consumed with playing music and making music, I just started playing it.
FBPO: How old were you then?
MR: By that point, I was about 11 or 12 years old and, as I became a teenager, my parents realized how much I really was into it and so they did everything they could to expose me to as much music as possible and make it so I could play and be around it. If I had not had their support, I never would have pursued it.
FBPO: How did you learn to play? Did you study the bass formally or did you just teach yourself or learn from those around you?
MR: I didn't teach myself, really. I learned from those around me. I learned by listening and I picked up as much as I could. I did not study formally, though; I just played. I was a teenager and I just played all the time. I played with records and I played with other people. I would go to bluegrass festivals and spend hours and hours jamming with other musicians, mostly people my own age, so it was just that.
After I graduated high school, I moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, and I got a job with a band that was playing full time. Of course we weren't really making a lot of money, but the music was quite interesting and it was quite challenging, really, because all of the other musicians in the band had a lot of musical knowledge. They had a lot of background in theory and all that and I didn't, so I spent some time during my early 20s kind of beefing up a little bit on theory. I just kind of did it on my own. I never had a formal (music) education.
FBPO: When did your career first start to take off? Was there a defining moment you can identify?
MR: I worked with this band that I was just speaking of for three or four years and then I went on the road with one of the second generation bluegrass legends, Eddie Adcock, for about eight years. He had been in David Allan Coe's band for a while. He'd just gotten off the road from that scene, but he was one of the original band members of The Country Gentlemen, which was the band that I grew up listening to, so it felt a little bit like I had come full circle playing with him. That experience definitely gave me an introduction to what it's like traveling as a full-time musician out on the road and playing venues that I had not played before.
Then my husband and I decided to make the move to Nashville and I guess it was probably after that I started getting calls to fill in with bands, a lot of them playing the Grand Ole Opry and various things like that. Through that, I got my next job that I felt was really great, which was to play with Claire Lynch, who I worked with for pretty much the next twelve years. I recorded lots of records with her and GRAMMY-nominated albums and stuff like that.
FBPO: It sounds like things really moved into high gear.
MR: One thing led to another through word of mouth. When we moved to Nashville, we actually did know a few people because many of our musician friends from around the country were living here or were coming here. Now there's just a huge community where many of us that have known each other from other places are all living here. It's a great central place to be located if you do make your living playing music. It's not that we all play so much in Nashville, but it's just a really great place to sort of be centralized and then play from.
FBPO: Were you part of the "Low Notes for Nashville" benefit concert?
MR: I was not, actually. I supported it, but I wasn't part of it.
FBPO: There are a lot of great bass players in Nashville. I hadn't realized until recently they were all in that area: Victor Wooten, Roy Vogt, Lane Baldwin, Adam Nitti and several others.
MR: Yeah, this town has now and has had many really great bass artists. It has great everything. When I go to dinner tonight, I'm probably going to be waited on by some really incredible fiddle player, you know, or the next great songwriter.
FBPO: I hope the food's good, too!
MR: The food will be good. It's a really great town. It's changed a lot. I've been here about twenty years and it's changed a lot—it's evolved and it's a really great community. It's in the South and it's got nice Southern attributes to it, but it's also a very eclectic and artistic community.
FBPO: Tell me about The New Hip. I really like that name, by the way!
MR: Well, I just finished another session for our new record. The New Hip is a band that I started a few years ago, my first time to lead my own band. I consider myself a bluegrass bass player, but I've always really loved and studied and been influenced by many kinds of music—a lot of jazz and a lot of great vocalists, a lot of rock music and just a lot of styles that, to me, are related to bluegrass but aren't necessarily bluegrass. I've always wanted to have a band where I could explore some of the things that I love most about music and create music and do it my way and not worry about the genre, not worry about whether it fit into this mold or that mold or this category or that category. I just want to be able to put together whatever instruments I wanted to and do the songs that I wanted to and just honor the songs with the arrangements and not worry about what mold we might be fitting into.
So that's kind of what this band is about. We're a band with drums, we have electric guitar, we have acoustic guitar and then we have mandolin. Sometimes we're just bass and drums, sometimes we're acoustic guitar, mandolin, drum and bass and all these different variations. Sometimes we're electric guitar and mandolin, which is a really cool sound. Mandolin is very much a part of everything we do. It's obviously a very bluegrass instrument, but I like the juxtaposition of all of these different instruments. A lot of the material that we're doing is definitely not considered bluegrass. To me, it's just that I've hoped to always find and write great songs and just create arrangements that make them work.
FBPO: It's interesting that you say that because that band has been described in so many ways. It's acoustic, it's electric, it's jazz, it's R&B, and—my personal favorite—"Rhythm & Bluegrass." What do you call it? Do you just call it The New Hip and let the people decide for themselves how they want to slot it?
MR: Well, that's what I would love to be able to do, just say it's new hip music, but I recognize the fact that I live in a society that must label things, and so I'm always being kind of pushed to categorize it. I have called it Americana jam jazz, or Indie rocks bluegrass. I've called it all these things, but I think that on this new record I'm definitely doing a whole lot more singing, which has been really exciting for me and really wonderful, an avenue that I've always wanted to go down. Then there's the whole "I don't care what they call it just so long as they call it" kind of thing!
FBPO: Tell me about your experience as a female bassist playing an instrument that's traditionally been played by men. Do you ever think about that?
MR: I have. I used to think about it. I didn't think about it when I first started it because I was a kid and when you're a kid, I don't think you think those things. You're just playing bass and you're not thinking about it. When I went out as a kid, I would hear people say, "Wow, is that a girl playing that?" None of those sentiments had been said to me in my home. That was a really new thing. It was like, "Oh, I guess this is kind of weird or different."
I was never given that mindset by my parents at all, so it never occurred to me much. It's only been from other people that I realize that the thought is there, so I don't think about it much. Almost all, I suppose, of my greatest influences have been men, although there have been some important women too that have played in the early days, even then, but especially now.
FBPO: Like Esperanza Spalding?
MR: Yeah, people like that. There are role models coming in right and left. But for me, early on, I was probably always relating to men as players. It never registered that it was male or female. It was just, "Oh, that's great music. I want to play that!"
As a singer, I will say that it registered even more, especially with bluegrass, because I don't have a bluegrass voice. I feel like I have a much more stylized voice, and it's just sort of my thing. I never could see me singing like some of my favorite male singers, or particularly the female bluegrass singers, who sing high and kind of lonesome. That wasn't me, so it took me longer to try to find my identity. I can relate way more to some singers like Bonnie Raitt, Shelby Lynne and people like that who sort of speak to me a little bit more.
FBPO: What else is keeping you busy these days, Missy?
MR: We're busy right now, just working on this new record and it's going along just great. In addition to touring heavily with my band, I just finished a weekend in Wisconsin with several bluegrass greats—David Grier, Mike Compton, Shad Cobb—where we did a couple sets of pretty traditional bluegrass and old time music. I also did a recent tour with another great guitar player, Jeff Autry, and we did some slightly different stuff. For me, it's just trying to keep a balance and play as much as I can, so I've got that going.
As a matter of fact, David Grier, Mike Compton, Shad Cobb and I have officially become a band now: The Helen Highwater Stringband. We'll all still be focusing on our "main" gigs, but we'll be doing some performing in 2013 as this band and, who knows, maybe a recording. This band has a very traditional slant and it's just awesome to get to play both New Hip music and have an outlet for my traditional bluegrass passion, too!
In addition to working on the new record, I did the IBMAs—the International Bluegrass Music conference—with my band at the end of September, where we stretched that bluegrass boundary yet again. Other than that, I'm just busy getting the tour schedules in line for next year. There's so much to be done!
FBPO: What else is in the future? You've been at this a little while. What else would you like to do that you haven't accomplished yet?
MR: There's a lot more music that I'd like to record and write. I'd like to do a really great bluegrass record one day with a select group of folks. I'm actually planning a Christmas album for next year, too. In terms of really big goals, I've been writing more and more lately than ever, both for the bass and songs, as I say, with actual words! What I'd really love to do is write a whole lot more and record a whole lot more of my own stuff.
FBPO: What would you be if you were not a bass player?
MR: I would work in my yard all day and I would take in every stray animal that I ran across. And I would be still just as broke as I am now! I like to cook, I like to garden and I'd definitely take in strays and foster them.
I would probably do some kind of crazy combination of all that or maybe run some sort of an animal shelter. The trouble is, I've been asked this before, and I can't imagine it. I can't imagine what I would do if I wasn't playing music. I really can't.


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While diesel remains popular as a fuel supply, engineers have several additional fuel options from which to choose.
These are significant concerns in backup power applications. A diesel-fueled generator with a tank sized for 72 hr of full-load operation could easily take about 20 years to burn a single tank of fuel, assuming a 60% typical load level, weekly no-load exercising, and average power outages of only 4 hr per year. However, these issues can be mitigated by instituting an ongoing fuel testing and maintenance plan that regularly removes both water and sediment from the fuel tank. For emergency applications, fuel maintenance is required by code within NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems. This type of maintenance program adds to a genset's total cost of ownership, which also must be considered. Automatic fuel polishers, which consist of a pump and filtration system, add to the upfront cost of a backup power system, but they reduce ongoing fuel maintenance costs. Manual maintenance plans are more costly over the long term.


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Today I have a wonder post from a very good friend Lucy who blogs over at Lucy's Mad House. I've known Lucy for a few years and she never fails to cheer me up when needed, she is a great person and my BritMums roomie of the past two years! Today Lucy has a different type of post for you, something which is far from her usual style BUT a wonderful post and something I've touched on here before.
So without further ado I pass you over to Lucy:
Gender Stereotyping
Something that has never been much of an issue for me but over the last couple of weeks I have heard and read a few things that make me want to stand on my soap box and say my piece loud and clear and I thank my very good friend and fellow blogger Clare for inviting me over to do just so.
Who has a boy that plays with baby dolls and prams or dresses up in girls clothes or even wears their sisters/mums make up or nail varnish?
Who has a girl that likes Lego, cars and pretty much anything that her big brother likes?
Loads of people probably, all of my children have played freely with gender specific toys and clothes at a young age before society and the media made them feel uncomfortable doing so.
It was only the other week that my 3 year old son found some nail varnish belonging to his sister who coincidentally hates nail varnish and make up and in fact wearing pretty "girly" clothes. He proceeded to paint all of his finger and toe nails, when I asked him if it bothered him that some people think its girly he couldn't care less, he just wanted to wear nail varnish.
So whether you are for or against, your child will naturally want to try new things and why not let them? Women have fought for years about gender equality yet when in the hospital playroom with my youngest daughter and a little boy wanted to play with the pink baby stroller, straight away his mum said, "no you can't play with that, it's for girls!". To me that says she is teaching her son that looking after children is for women.
My son saw a children's sewing machine in a TV advert and says he would like one, despite being a little young, he sees me sewing on mine so wants a go for himself. I went direct to the company and asked if they produce them in neutral colours, the answer was no it only comes in pink with big flowers on it, why is sewing for girls when there are men out there that are tailors and fashion designers?
Toy brands hear this, please please can you start producing more gender neutral toys, in neutral colours that may help society stop stereotyping. It's not going to make any less money being in different colours its going to help society evolve and be more accepting of a boy that wants to play with a doll or a tea set.
I read about a couple today who kept the gender of their child a secret from the world until he started school. There may not have been enough research into the effects but I can't see how it could be harmful at all. He will have had the chance to play and explore, I actually feel sorry for the parents that people couldn't seem to accept it and branded the mum a freak!
We all probably think we are modern and I am sure at some point we have all been guilty of gender stereotyping, I know I have and its because society, brands and the media have all made it that way but we need to change this and all these recent things have made me think about the way I react when my child wants to wear nail varnish or dress up. After all children learn by example and so we need to be setting a good one. I have done a bit of research on this and found some facts that I found to be interesting.
Boys are taught to be tough and not cry about things – this leads to them being unable to open up about their feelings later on in life. Ladies this is also why men find it hard to communicate in a relationship.
Gender Stereotypes associated with Women:
Child rearing
Gender Stereotypes associated with Men:
No Emotions
Math and Science Oriented
Money Maker
So mums, you need to be loud, messy and show more discipline and dads you need to tidy up, play tea parties with your kids and be more submissive 🙂 if you are doing so already then good on you. This sounds good to me, I can be a right messy cow at times!
Stereo typing in the media
In adverts women are used to promote cleaning products, household items and baby products. Men are used to promote beer, lawn mowers, cars, D.I.Y products… What? So women don't drink beer or mow the lawn? And men don't clean or look after babies?
The truth is in our house, my husband does go out to work while I stay at home with the kids but when it comes to manual labour or D.I.Y, if we had a lawn it would be me mowing it, any odd jobs, painting etc, it's me that does it, my husband loves cooking and is amazing at playing with the kids and he makes a lovely cuppa.
Lets try and think of some brands that have been fair and not made their products gender specific, I know there are some toy companies that have specific gender neutral toys, I applaud them.
The ones I can think of are Mr Muscle, I always remember that because the man in the original advert looked like a school teacher that I never got on with and I seem to remember a Shake N Vac advert with a big beefy guy hoovering.
Which brands can you think of? I'm sure there are more out there.I would love to hear about any toy companies who sell gender neutral toys too.
Thanks for reading
PS: Just to make you all chuckle, whilst finishing this article an advert came on the TV where a man was looking after the baby and the woman was working in the phone shop, well done O2!
Well written Lucy – I completely agree. In our house Harry's favourite toys are the shop and the toy kitchen, while Emmy is just as happy wearing an ironman costume as she is a tutu.
If you have enjoyed this post from Lucy you can follow her blog Lucy's Mad House or follow on Facebook and Twitter.


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Muted Tones
Sheer Back Top: Umgee USA
Tribal Leggings: Forever 21 | Cut-out Booties: Forever 21 | Necklace: Eklexic, Crystal Ladder
Rings/Bracelets: Freida Rothman
There is something to be said about a casual understated daytime look. This light blue sheer back top by UMGEE USA goes with just about anything in my closet. I also like how it is a little bit longer in the back (for us curvy girls), it accentuates our best features and is a perfect fit. The 3/4 sleeves are a must for fall, and it's light weight enough to layer. The tribal print leggings are from Forever 21, naturally, I love anything tribal print. I also have to mention this amazing statement "Crystal Ladder" necklace by a fab designer & friend Eklexic. This is such a statement piece and draws attention every time I wear it.
I love finding beauty in odd places, straying away from the typical or ordinary perception.
"People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. -Elisabeth Kulber-Ross


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So today I was able to finish up all the stairs needed for my Dungeon X project. If we remember from last time, Dungeon X is a project for a dungeon I designed that will use WorldWorks Games papercraft dungeon sets Lost Halls of the Dwarven Kings, Treasures and Tombs, and Vault of the Ancients.
During the past week I also had to redesign the dungeon because, well frankly, stairs cannot go thru the floors ;P So this update I present my stairs, fully assembled and edged ready for placement into the soon to be dungeon.
Newest stack of pages that need to be assembled to complete Dungeon X


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Posted May 2, 2018 - Requisition No. 66849
The SamayDB team at Bloomberg develops a high performance time-series database that is uniquely designed and built to be flexible and fast, while still being able to support massive datasets. We provide data storage and retrieval options for high-frequency/high-volume applications handling petabytes of data, across hundreds of millions of instruments from well over 5000 publishers.
Our Storage engine ingests over 80 billion events per day, and our Query engine handles over 30 billion queries daily. We are evolving our system into a data-as-a-service platform to meet the ever-increasing volume, velocity, variety of market data and the computational demands on the data.
When you join our team, you will be working on problems such as data compression, data discoverability, data replication, load balancing, seamless capacity scaling, and more! If you are interested in building the next generation distributed and parallel storage/compute platform for time series market data, join us!
If this sounds like you, apply! It's not every day you have the opportunity to design and build a Data-as-a-Service product for the world's financial market data.


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When clicking on a link to an index.html#something,
this one is not visible in the url, only if I refresh the page.
Is it a way to use it without reloading the page ?
Can you be more specific - possibly provide a code snippet of what you are trying to do? And also what you mean about it being 'visible'?


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Race to Registration Winner #2
Friday, August 26th, 2016 | Dance, Dance and Music, Performing Arts, Preschool | No Comments
………and the North Location Winner of RACE TO REGISTRATION is Addilyn Whaley. Miss Addilyn is in Miss McKenzie's Preschool II Ballet/Tap class and is new to the AFS dance program. We are so happy that she won the giant unicorn! Congrats Addilyn!!!


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I`ve had a Pinterest account for ages but I never had the time to actually Pin stuff till yesterday when I basically spent half of day just looking at inspirational photos. Someone should have warn me how addictive this is!
Alina Anghel.xx
I don´t know pintrest. mayby I should try
I don't have a Pinterest account but I've started paying attention to the fact that many people do. Since I would love to have my own photos shared I've started cropping the photos I post to to 400 x 400 pixels just in case someone wants to "Pin" them. Speaking of photos, Your icon photo is beautiful! Is that perchance the lead photo from your January 21st, 2013 post titled: "Today's Outfit: White Lace Blouse"? You have done a lot of gorgeous outfit posts. I have trouble getting past the legal mumbo-jumbo of the terms of so many sharing sites that I haven't taken advantage of many. I do have some Photobucket and Twitpic photos out there but don't know how shareable they are. Is Pinterest free and do they still try to make ownership claims of some sort or has that been sorted out? I just checked out your Bright pink lips Pinned photo from your "Beauty Inspo" category. Pretty :)
Lovely look! Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog ;)


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Tumi Mbaakanyi
Chair, Women in Business Association, Botswana
Tumi Mbaakanyi is the Chair of the Women in Business Association Botswana. She is also a council member of Business Botswana, a board member and audit committee member of G4S Botswana and a board member and finance committee chair at Tebelopele Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre.
Tumi is the taskforce chair of the 3-year Botswana Women Entrepreneurship Development programme coordinated by the Centre for Development Enterprise, and is a member of the Public Sector Committee at the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants and the SADC Trade Barriers to Trade stakeholders committee on quality and standards.
Tumi is a fellow of both the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants. She is also a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.


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Spain not looking like champions, says Gary Lim
Shock loss to minnows Georgia highlights Spain's woes
(Tornike Okriashvili 40)
Their World Cup disaster in Brazil two years ago is starting to feel like a wound that refuses to heal.
Now, Spain will fear falling headlong into another catastrophe.
At the Coliseum Alfonso Perez in Getafe yesterday morning (Singapore time), they suffered a crushing blow to an already fragile psyche.
They must have thought a morale-boosting victory over lowly Georgia in their final warm-up match was nothing more than a formality, a morale booster that the doctor ordered.
Instead, the defending European champions suffered a humiliating 1-0 home loss to the world's 137th-ranked side.
The lack of a world-class striker continues to haunt them, ever since age and injuries caught up with David Villa after the 2010 World Cup.
A full inquiry into the shock defeat is pointless now.
With just four days to go before their opening Euro 2016 match against the Czech Republic, coach Vicente del Bosque will be feeling like a dodgy contractor trying to patch up his own shoddy work.
It wasn't an experimental side that he played against Georgia.
In fact, the starting formation looked close to the one he is expected to parade in France.
The defence, comprising goalkeeper David de Gea and the back four of Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Juanfran, is his first-choice line-up.
With Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alcantara protecting the backline and the trio of Cesc Fabregas, Lucas Vazquez and Nolito supporting striker Aritz Aduriz, Spain had more than enough firepower to take down Georgia, who had finished fifth out of six teams in Group D of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Yet, despite the clear gulf in standard, the Spaniards choked.
They had gone into the match on the back of an 11-match unbeaten streak, while Georgia's most recent game prior to this was a 5-1 loss to Romania.
Against Georgia, Spain had 76 per cent of ball possession, fired 17 goal attempts compared with Georgia's four, and registered 11 corner-kicks to none for their opponents.
But, in the end, only two statistics stood out.
Spain had 396 touches in the final third of the field, according to ESPN, and Georgia just 31.
In the end, Georgia won 1-0.
A poor error by Alba in the 40th minute allowed the minnows to start a rare attacking move from which they scored, through Tornike Okriashvili.
Spain's response to that was more of the same - plenty of possession but no end product.
The dearth in creativity and sharpness in and around the penalty area don't augur well.
The closest they came to scoring was via an Alcantara effort that struck the inside of the post in the first half.
Aduriz's lacklustre outing means Spain will be operating on a wing and a prayer during the tournament, with the not-so-prolific Alvaro Morata most likely to be the man del Bosque is counting on in their hunt for goals.
Alternatively, he can also turn to Fabregas in a false-striker system that reaped dividends for them in their Euro 2012 conquest, although it is clear the attacking midfielder is some way off the peak of his powers at the moment.
Every option del Bosque has, looks like a stop-gap measure rather than the solution.
"We shouldn't be distressed over the outcome of today's match," del Bosque said.
Brave words indeed.
But it is going to take more than courage for Spain to overcome a problem of this magnitude.
CONTRAST: A crestfallen Gerard Pique walks away after Spain's loss to Georgia, thanks to the lone goal by Tornike Okriashvili (above, left). PHOTOS: AFP, REUTERS
I don't know. We will have to wait until Monday to see what the decision is. It's the coach's decision and it wouldn't be a disappointment (not to start against the Czechs). I always work with the aim of playing.
- Spain goalkeeper David de Gea on whether he will start the opening match
Defiant del Bosque eyes hat-trick
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque insists La Roja must aim for a historic third straight European Championship win despite their embarrassing exit as holders at the World Cup two years ago.
Del Bosque's (above) men became the first side to retain the Euro title in Poland and Ukraine four years ago, but spectacularly crashed out after just two games at the World Cup after thrashings by Holland and Chile.
They also slumped to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat to unfancied Georgia in their final preparatory game yesterday morning (Singapore time).
The former Real Madrid boss resisted calls for his resignation after the World Cup humiliation to continue on for what is expected to be his swansong as coach.
However, he refused to dampen expectations after another season of dominance by Spanish clubs in Europe.
"We shouldn't set any limits," del Bosque said in an interview with AFP.
"We can't say if we get to the semi-finals we will be happy, we need to aspire to win it.
"This is sport and we don't know how far we'll go, but we need to maintain the dream to fight for a third consecutive Euro title."
Del Bosque has sought to learn lessons from the World Cup with 10 new faces among his 23-man squad after critics said he had favoured the those from Spain's glory years over youth.
Yet, five survivors remain from the start of Spain's reign of three consecutive major tournament wins at Euro 2008 in captain Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva.
Del Bosque's biggest call ahead of Spain's opening game against the Czech Republic on Monday is whether to drop 167-cap Casillas in favour of Manchester United's David de Gea.
The two shared goalkeeping duties during qualifying, but de Gea has been in far better form at club level over the past two seasons as he has won United's Player of the Year.
By contrast, Casillas' first season at Porto in Portugal, after finally ending his 19-year career at Real Madrid, has been dominated by high-profile errors.
Casillas was one of those most at fault at the World Cup, but also played a vital role in each of Spain's recent tournament triumphs and del Bosque defended one of his most loyal charges.
"What he has done is extraordinary. Whoever doesn't recognise that is being malicious," he added.
Spain face one of the toughest groups in the tournament in France as they also take on Turkey and Croatia in Group D.
And del Bosque expects an open tournament with more than eight teams capable of winning the title in Paris on July 10.
"There are very good teams, the number of sides that can aspire to the title has grown.
"We can't speak of just six or eight teams, but even more teams that have a chance for sure."
He reserved special praise for France and, in particular, coach Didier Deschamps, who was captain when Les Bleus won the last tournament they hosted at World Cup 1998.
"Naturally in France when you look at the strikers they have, the number of midfielders, they are one of the favourites.
"They have players in midfield with extraordinary potential and a sensible coach. He is doing a great job."
Del Bosque, 65, was more coy over his own future.
Arguably the most decorated coach in the game with two Champions League crowns, a World Cup and a Euro title to his name, speculation has grown in recent months that he will step aside at the end of the tournament.
Yet, the humble nature which has fostered his ability to get the best of Real Madrid's Galacticos in the early 2000s and Spain's stars later shone through as he shrugged off the magnitude of his achievements.
"It is not something we are worried about right now. It is far less important and the most important thing is the European Championship and having a good tournament.
"I am a football coach, if you have better players you are better. If we have good players then normally the coach is better." - AFP.
Watch Euro 2016 opener for free
Eleven Sports Network is offering a free trial on its new digital streaming service for the opening Euro 2016 match between hosts France and Romania on Saturday morning (Singapore time).
Simply follow these steps:
- Go to www.elevensports.sg
- Click on Euro Pass plan
- Key in promo code "ELEVENEURO"
After signing up, you will be able to watch "live" the opening ceremony, opening match, and pre- and post-match shows.
The free trial grants access to the dedicated Eleven Euro channel until noon the same day.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now


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MTL Experiences
Get inspired by our lists built around a theme, and experience Montréal to the hilt.
Bordering the western edge of downtown, Greene Avenue has a typically British aura, with red brick sidewalks adorned with magnificent flowers. Fashionable boutiques, superb art galleries, libraries and antique shops line Greene Avenue. At the corner of Wood Street, discretely nestled among well-preserved historic buildings, three black towers of steel and tinted glass, designed by the celebrated modernist architect Mies van der Rohe, soar up around Westmount Square, the area's most elegant business and shopping centre.


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Study Ranks Wyoming Among the Worst States for Fast Food Options
This might not be a bad thing. According to a new study from the travel website Thrillist, Wyoming is one of the worst states in the country for fast food lovers.
The article "Every State in America, Ranked By Its Fast Food", compared each state based on the concentration of major fast food chains, regional chains, local fast food shops, variety of options and choices.
According to their "research", Wyoming ranks 39th for fast food consumers. Several other states with small populations were ranked even lower. Vermont, Alaska, Maine, Montana and Rhode Island were named the worst states for fast food patrons.
Not surprisingly, Texas was named the best state for fast food options. California, Alabama, Ohio and Georgia rounded out their top five. Check out the full list here.


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If you want to send us a question about this product, simply complete all the fields marked * and click "Send".
|Product no.: PEO100
Prices start from £3.60 / bottle(s)
Delivery weight: 45 g
Pimento Berry essential oil is used by the food industry extensively in frozen foods for flavoring, while in perfumery it is used primarily to create mens fragrances
In stock


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Melissa Erekson
Tulane University
Melissa Erekson is the Executive Director of Corporate, Foundation, and Research Relations at Tulane University. She has over 12 years of experience in university advancement, and leads a staff of nine that serves all of the schools, colleges and institutes at Tulane – including professional schools of medicine, architecture, law, business and social work, in addition to schools of science and engineering, public health, and liberal arts. She has been a member of the Advancement team at Tulane since 2004, serving in a variety of roles including development writer and corporate and foundation relations officer.
Melissa holds a BA in International Relations and Spanish Studies from Tufts University and an MBA in International Marketing from the FW Olin School of Business at Babson College. She began her career in international education, living abroad while teaching English and starting up an exchange program in Madrid. She came back to the US in 1995 to become the founding director of the Boston Academy of English, bringing adults from all over the world to study English in her hometown while managing a staff of over 50 administrators and teachers.


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Schedule a Free Attorney Consultation
To schedule a consultation with a lawyer at Geringer, McNamara & Horowitz about your legal issue, call 212-682-7050 or fill out the contact form below. We serve clients in New York and New Jersey as well as other states through arrangements with local counsel.
Geringer, McNamara & Horowitz LLP
125 Broad Street, 4th Floor
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Phone: 212-682-7050
Fax: 212-867-5987


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Don't piss off mama! Tyler Treasure is a Washington state mother who's not happy with her fitness center ... at all. In fact, the new mom is fighting mad that gym employees gave her son some stranger's breast milk -- and she's concerned about the potential dangers that come with it.
In a case of the oops, staff at the daycare inside Tyler's gym accidentally gave her 4-month-old son Hunter a bottle. Unfortunately, Tyler didn't send a bottle for Hunter.
And while you might think it's no big deal, Tyler -- and probably a few other moms -- would beg to differ. Tyler told KATU News:
I felt really hurt and betrayed. I work at a daycare, so I know the laws about that, especially breast milk. It's supposed to be labeled, and it wasn't.
I'll admit, the concept of one of my boys drinking someone else's breast milk likely wouldn't put a smile on my face. So I can understand most of Tyler's emotions as she likely had a WTF moment after a sweat session in a group class or maneuvering gym equipment. Seeing your kid being fed with a bottle -- especially when you never supplied one in the first place -- would make a mom do a double take.
Would you be able to forgive and move on, or do you think an accident like this deserves additional measures, for the sake of safety?
More from The Stir: 11 Breastfeeding 'Side Effects' No One Told You About
According to Tyler, she wants to be extra cautious that her baby boy Hunter wasn't exposed to anything dangerous.
As Mom says:
I want my son to be tested. I want them to test the mother and make sure my son doesn't have any diseases and that she's not on drugs or alcohol, because any of that would have been transferred to my son
Personally, I'm not sure if I would go that far -- but I'm not saying I don't understand Tyler's worries, or the worries of any other mother faced with this situation. Thankfully, the CDC states there's an "extremely small" chance for babies to contract infectious diseases from a single bottle of milk. (Hopefully this bit of info will relax some of Tyler's worries.)
Unfortunately, accidents can and will happen. I don't think the gym employees involved did anything malicious, and they are probably very sorry about the matter. Still, I won't take away a mother's feelings or her desire to be safe rather than sorry.
Little Hunter appears to be okay, so hopefully it stays that way!
Image via wsantina/Shutterstock


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There is a woman I know I'll call "Sandy". She's a fascinating case study.
Sandy is young, very smart, and very pretty. While she's a little skinny for my tastes, if I put a completely untouched photo of her up on this blog, I think most men would consider her at least an eight or nine. Some would consider her a ten. She's someone who could get a job in Hollywood and fit right in. I've known her since she was 19, she's now in her mid-20s.
If you looked up "serial monogamist" in the dictionary, you would see a picture of Sandy. Her Facebook page is a fascinating model of this. She never dates. Ever. She simply goes from boyfriend to boyfriend.
She'll have a boyfriend, always a good-looking young beta male, who will make lovey-dovey comments on everything she says, and vice versa. She will cover her page with cute pictures of both of them doing fun things together. She will Facebook-friend all of the boyfriend's friends and family members, including his parents, and he will do the same to her social circle. The boyfriend will say things like "Baby, I'm so glad our moms are now Facebook friends. That makes me feel really special." Lots of I love yous and I can't wait to be with yous and I can't wait for our long future togethers.
It will go like this for about six to eight months on average and then instantly the the guy will be gone. Then just as instantly, there's a new starry-eyed boyfriend in his place. I'm not exaggerating. The transition happens almost instantly.
The entire pattern then repeats. Lovey comments, cute couples photos, all kinds of befriending new boyfriend's friends and family, lots of NRE and Disney. Then in six months, maybe a little more, boyfriend is gone, and there's another new boyfriend. Rinse and repeat. Forever.
In the few short years I've known Sandy, she's done this six times that I remember. Her current boyfriend has gone almost a year and I'm shocked it's lasted that long.
I've talked to her a few times about her hardcore serial monogamy behavior, and she never wants to talk about it other than joking around and making some general (though honest) statements about how she "gets bored easily". Yeah, no shit Sandy. I once told her that the trail of dead beta male bodies she's leaving in her swath of destruction is a little sad. Her response was just a cute titter laugh and a "I know, right?".
Sandy is not alone. There are millions of women like her, most under the age of 45, all over the western world. The vast majority of the time, serial monogamy is a system initiated by women, not men. About three-fourths of all monogamous boyfriend/girlfriend relationships are terminated by the female.
Moreover, while I have no statistics to prove this, I'm confident that on average, women re-acquire a new serious lover after a failed relationship faster than a man does. Sure, a guy eventually gets a new girlfriend after being dumped, but usually it's many months after his ex has a new boyfriend.
Serial monogamy is overwhelmingly a female system.
I have mentioned in the glossary that serial monogamy is the biological default method of pair-bonding for females under the age of 50. It's what (most) women prefer. Be monogamous to this guy, and just this guy, until I get bored, which will be in under three years, then move on to the next monogamous guy (maybe after playing around a little) and repeating the entire process.
Of course women cheat, but usually a woman cheats well into the relationship, often after the three-year mark, when she would have left him already had she followed her biological wiring.
When they "have to" be monogamous for longer than three years (because they want kids or because they surrender to Societal Programming), they'll clench their teeth and do it for a while, but they hate it (and often cheat in longer relationships or marriages). Women do want monogamy, but temporary, serial monogamy, not long-term monogamy. Long term monogamy is boring, and women hate being bored. As one of my recurring FBs recently sent me in a text, "Relationships are so boring". (She's been living with her monogamous boyfriend for two years.)
I promise you when Sandy finally surrenders to Societal Programming some day and stupidly marries a guy, after about two years when the marriage/baby NRE wears off, she's going to be miserable. Then eventually, after a lot of drama, she'll divorce his ass, he'll have no idea why, and she'll go back to her serial monogamy patterns. Sandy, and young women like her, have lots of divorces and big breakups to look forward to. (And when she's a 43 year-old divorced single mother angrily trolling Match.com for a provider, she'll blame her condition on men, and ask where "all the real men have gone". But that's another topic.)
What People Forget About Serial Monogamy
What is usually not considered by women or men, is that at the end of most relationships (not all, but most), the girl saunters off into the sunset (or the dance club) singing a happy tune with her girlfriends giving her high-fives while the guy is home alone crying like a little bitch, sending her 27 texts to "give him another chance" and making whiny posts on PUA forums.
Men who defend serial monogamy (what few there are) always seem to forget this. They forget that the girlfriend/boyfriend relationship ends when she wants it to end, not when you want it to end. The end will come when you aren't expecting it and don't want it, just about every time.
Another interesting characteristic of serial monogamists (who again are usually women) is that they hate dating just as much as they hate long-term monogamy. Sandy, and women like her, never "date" and is virtually never single. She always has a boyfriend. I think the longest I've ever seen Sandy single is about a month (and I remember being surprised it was that long). Similar to women over age 33, serial monogamists feel extremely uncomfortable "dating" guys without having a "committed" boyfriend. Dating, to them, is stressful and icky.
Serial monogamist women will strongly defend their behavior. Once on the forums I saw a woman pronounce in 100% seriousness that she had experienced "12 successful monogamous relationships" in her life. She was completely unaware of the irony, because to her it was not an ironic statement. In each relationship, she had a monogamous boyfriend, then kicked the boyfriend out on his ass when she got bored with him, and then replaced with with a new sucker (I mean guy). To her, that's a successful relationship. I doubt the 12 guys she dumped think the relationship they had with her was successful. But do you think she cares?
Several times I've had a serial monogamist woman or two brag to me that she has never cheated on a guy. My response: "Darling, you've never had a relationship that's lasted longer than three years in your entire life. You keep dumping these poor bastards before your strong desire to cheat ever comes up. (Check the glossary for the term 'CTF'.) Come back after you've had a relationship that's lasted 10 or 20 years, then we'll see how faithful you are."
The response I usually get is either an insult or blank stare, not a refutation. (Unlike beta males, female serial monogamists know exactly what they are. They just keep it quiet, and think you should too.)
Questions, Questions, So Many Questions
Unlike long-term Disney monogamy, which everyone knows in their heart really doesn't work, serial monogamy is much more complicated, and is as fascinating as it is sad. It's a pity Sandy and women like her don't want to have a serious discussion about serial monogamy, though it's not surprising.
Here are a few questions I would like to ask female serial monogamists like Sandy:
1. At the beginning of the relationship, when these innocent beta males fall in love with you after having sex with you two or three times, do you explain to them that you'll be dumping them in a few months (or a year or two at the most)?
2. When these men talk about getting married and having kids and stuff (and they usually do, because we're talking about betas here), do you correct these men, telling them that this is never going to happen? Or do you go along with the Big Lie, and give them an "Oh yeah, it will be great!"?
3. Do you continue to have sex with your old boyfriend after getting a new boyfriend? (I already know the answer to this, which is usually "no", but I still want to see how a serial monogamist woman answers this question.)
4. Do you feel at all bad when you dump all these men? Most of whom not only loved you (or at least had strong oneitis for you) but also wanted a long future with you with marriage and kids and stuff?
5. Does it strike you as just a little odd when you're introducing these men as your boyfriend to your parents and closest friends within the first six months knowing them that in another few months you'll be doing the exact same thing with a new and completely different boyfriend? Do you ever have the thought, "I'd better hold off on introducing this guy to everyone in my life until he survives at least a year with me, that way I won't look stupid to everyone when I dump the guy and then bring a new boyfriend over to the house."?
6. What about just dating for six months? Or a year? No boyfriend. Just dating around, hanging out with and/or fucking guys as you please. Not a lot of guys, just more than one. You know, enjoying life and putting in some numbers instead of being locked-down to just one needy guy. No drama, no rules, no big breakups, no hurt feelings, just sex, fun, 100% honesty with everyone, and enjoying yourself. And maybe, after playing around with a bunch of guys, you might even find one who will make a quality boyfriend you'll actually want to stay with for longer than a year or two. Does doing this have any appeal to you at all? If not, why not?
7. I know that because you're a woman you automatically want to get monogamously married someday (even though it makes zero sense for you to do so, since you'll hate it). So I'm not even going to argue with you on that. But when you want to settle down and have kids, do you seriously think you're never going to get bored with him for the next 45 years straight? Even though you have a very steady and reliable pattern getting bored with men quickly? Or do you just plan on getting divorced a lot? What exactly is your long-term game plan and how do you plan on executing it with high odds of success? (Humorously, I could pose this exact same question to the typical player/PUA/manosphere guy too. But that's another topic.)
8. Do you have the same memorized speech you give these guys when you dump them? You've done it so many times I would assume it's gotten pretty routine by now.
9. How regimented are you about this? Do you actually have a serial monogamy "system" you could show other women the same way I have a system for nonmonogamy that I show men? Or are you just always flying by the seat of your pants, blowing in whatever direction your biology pushes you?
10. Why do you think you get bored with men so reliably and regularly? Any theories on why you're like this? (I already know the answer to this question, because sexual boredom is a biological trait built into women. But again, I would love to hear her answer anyway.)
11. Have you actually been in love with any of these guys? If the answer is yes, why did you still dump him so fast like all the other dudes? If the answer is no, why do you keep getting into serious relationships with men you don't love?
I don't do monogamy of course, serial or otherwise, so thank goodness none of this insanity ever affects me. I just see a hell of a lot of it with normal guys (and player/PUAs/Alphas too) and observe it from afar like watching a football game. Regardless, I seriously would like to interview a hardcore, female serial monogamist who is wiling to answer these questions, plus a few more.


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UAE. Growth momentum in the non-oil private sector continued to ease at the end of the first quarter, with the latest data signalling the most muted expansion seen since May last year. Easing new order, output and employment improvements, alongside stagnant foreign demand for goods and services contributed to the softer growth registered in March.
That said, the expansion remained above the historical average. In terms of costs, firms took advantage of easing price pressures by reducing output charges in an attempt to stimulate client demand.
The survey, sponsored by Emirates NBD and produced by IHS Markit, contains original data collected from a monthly survey of business conditions in the UAE non-oil private sector.
Commenting on the UAE PMI® survey, Daniel Richards, MENA Economist at Emirates NBD, said: "Although the UAE's PMI score continues to moderate from the pre-VAT boost enjoyed at the end of 2017, it remains firmly in expansionary territory, and continued discounting by firms should help stimulate demand. Firms are more positive towards future output than they were last month, reflecting new orders that remain strong at 60.2."
Key Findings
- Headline PMI falls to 54.8 in March, from 55.1 in February
- Easing output, new order and employment growth
- Input cost pressures continue to soften
The headline seasonally adjusted Emirates NBD UAE Purchasing Managers' Index™ (PMI®) – a composite indicator designed to give an accurate overview of operating conditions in the non-oil private sector economy – eased to 54.8 in March, down from 55.1 in February. The figure indicated a marked expansion overall, and one that was fractionally above the long-run average. That said, the rate of growth eased for the third month running, reaching a ten-month low in March's survey.
Output growth softened to a 23-month low during the latest survey. That said, the rate of expansion remained marked overall. Some clients linked the rise to new project wins.
Incoming new business remained in sharp growth territory, posting above the long-run average in March. The rate of expansion was at a four-month low, however.
Despite domestic new business growth remaining strong, orders from abroad deteriorated in the latest survey, thereby ending a three-month sequence of growth. That said, the rate of contraction was only fractional overall. According to anecdotal evidence, firms experienced challenging competitive pressures in foreign markets.
Private sector firms in the UAE's non-oil private sector reported easing job creation during March. Moreover, the rate of employment growth slipped to a 17-month low.
In terms of inflation, price pressures eased further since the recent peak at the start of 2018. The rate of input cost inflation was marginal overall, and the weakest registered since May 2017. In line with easing cost pressures, businesses offered price discounting to stimulate client demand for the second month running. The rate of output charge deflation was modest overall in March.
Confidence in the non-oil private sector improved since February, and was strongly positive overall. New project wins alongside an expected global economic upturn underpinned positive sentiment in March.
About The Emirates NBD UAE Purchasing Managers' Index
The Emirates NBD UAE Purchasing Managers' Index is based on data compiled from monthly replies to questionnaires sent to purchasing executives in approximately 400 private sector companies, which have been carefully selected to accurately represent the true structure of the United Arab Emirates non-oil economy, including manufacturing, services, construction and retail.
The panel is stratified by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) group, based on industry contribution to GDP. Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month based on data collected mid-month. For each of the indicators the 'Report' shows the percentage reporting each response, the net difference between the number of higher/better responses and lower/worse responses, and the 'diffusion' index. This index is the sum of the positive responses plus a half of those responding 'the same'.
The Purchasing Managers' Index™ (PMI®) is a composite index based on five of the individual indexes with the following weights: New Orders - 0.3, Output - 0.25, Employment - 0.2, Suppliers' Delivery Times - 0.15, Stock of Items Purchased - 0.1, with the Delivery Times index inverted so that it moves in a comparable direction.
Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of change. An index reading above 50 indicates an overall increase in that variable, below 50 an overall decrease. IHS Markit do not revise underlying survey data after first publication, but seasonal adjustment factors may be revised from time to time as appropriate which will affect the seasonally adjusted data series.
Photo Captions:
1. (above) Daniel Richards, MENA Economist at Emirates NBD
2. (inset) For illustrative purposes only (File photo)
About Emirates NBD
Emirates NBD is a leading banking Group in the region. As at 31st December 2017, total assets were AED 470.4 Billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 128 Billion). The Group has a significant retail banking franchise in the UAE and is a key participant in the global digital banking industry, with over 90 per cent of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The bank was declared the Most Innovative Financial Services Organization of the Year at the 2017 BAI Global Innovation Awards.
The bank currently has 230 branches and 1040 ATMs and SDMs in the UAE and overseas and a large social media following, being the only bank in the Middle East ranked among the top 20 in the 'Power 100 Social Media Rankings', compiled by The Financial Brand. It is a major player in the UAE corporate and retail banking arena and has strong Islamic Banking, Global Markets & Treasury, Investment Banking, Private Banking, Asset Management and Brokerage operations.
The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and representative offices in China and Indonesia.
The Group is an active participant and supporter of the UAE's main development and community initiatives, in close alignment with the UAE government's strategies, including financial literacy and advocacy for inclusion of People with Disabilities under its #Together Limitless platform. Emirates NBD Group is an official premier partner of EXPO 2020.
For more information, please visit: www.emiratesnbd.com
About IHS Markit (www.ihsmarkit.com)
IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and expertise to forge solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions.
IHS Markit has more than 50,000 key business and government customers, including 85 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world's leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.
IHS Markit is a registered trademark of IHS Markit Ltd. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners © 2018 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights reserved.