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"it was a very special experience for her and for me"
We really enjoyed Mr Bottle's magic show in RWS on 27 Dec. It was the first time that I saw my daughter who usually is a very shy person raised her hand to go up to the stage to be the magician's helper, so it was a very special experience for her and for me. Thanks again for that. – Seung Hee
"You held the children mesmerized with your wonderful presentation."
As an international traveler, I have had the opportunity to witness many children entertainer/performers and never have I seen one quite like you. You held the children mesmerized with your wonderful presentation. The thing that impressed me was how you made each child feel special, especially the child that was being honored. It even appeared that some of the parents were taken back to their childhood as well with the magical performance. It gives me great pleasure to recommend you, (Mr. Bottle) to those who want excellent entertainment for their children. Thanks again for your magic and keeping us forever young. – Kenrick "ICE" McDonald, Master Entertainer/Speaker, Entertainer of the Year.
"He was very entertaining and very good with the kids"
"Mr Bottle's show was open to the public and it was a big success. All that attended had a GREAT time. He was very entertaining and very good with the kids. The parents and the kids all walk out with a smile on their faces." — Mike Miller, The Society of American Magicians, Past National President
"Your magic show was very funny and thoroughly enjoyed by the kids and adults."
Just a note to thank and compliment you on the excellent delivery of your act. Your magic show was very funny and thoroughly enjoyed by the kids and adults (love the bird). Your assistants (balloon sculptor and face painter) were very professional and did their best. I would thoroughly recommend to to all my friends and wish you all the very best in all your endeavours. – Chuen Li Bell (Tara's mum), Birthday at Tanglin Club
"Mr. Bottle's Kids Party entertainment was perfect for our small Christmas Eve party."
Mr. Bottle's Kids Party entertainment was perfect for our small Christmas Eve party. We only had six children here, but Mr Bottle kept them all thoroughly entertained with his wonderful balloon designs and the kids were thrilled. Even some of the parents got caught up in the crazy balloon requests. Lots of fun was had by all. – Anna-Carin Hart, Christmas Party at Draycott Park
"they were pleasantly surprised the magic show was really good!"
I must say I totally have NO regrets engaging the professional services of Mr Bottles' Kids Party. I found the entertainment to be of high quality, particularly the magic show. Based on my personal observation as well as my guests' comments, the children seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Even the parents themselves were delightfully entertained. Some even remarked to me that they were pleasantly surprised the magic show was really good!
I am also pleased with the games segment that Mr Bottle handled for the kids. I noticed that the kids (and some parents) were also spontaneously participating and having a ball. All in all, I am really glad that the magic show and games were a success! I really don't know how else things can be improved. Please keep up the good work! Mr Bottle really made Aaron's party a wonderful success! – Sylvia Raharja (Aaron's mum), Clementi Park
"You are really cool!"
"Mr Bottle, You are really cool!" – Kym Ng, Mediacorp Artiste
"kids had a fantastic time and enjoyed Prof Messy's science show a lot…. Something different!"
The kids had a fantastic time and enjoyed Prof Messy's science show a lot…. Something different!
It was also great that the kids were allowed to have a bit of "hands on" after the show since not all could participate during the show. – Samantha Yap
"interactiveness of your show seems to be very impressive around her age."
"Maho is extremely delighted with your performance especially your magic for sweets. As she is rather shy girl, your program to invite Maho to the stage was quite appropriate for her. Such interactiveness of your show seems to be very impressive around her age." – Kyoto Igarashi, Birthday Party at Valley Park
"there is nothing to improve, it's already very good"
Both kids and adults enjoyed your magic show on Jared's birthday. They had looked forward to it before that and they were not disappointed. They said "there is nothing to improve, it's already very good" – Hwee Ming, 8-year-old Birthday Party at Hillington Green
"He was very imaginative and patient"
We were thrilled with Mr bottle who came to a birthday fun fair for Jack Robson and Ella Mclean. He was very imaginative and patient and the kids were lined up eagerly for one of his balloon creations. We would definitely recommend his services. – Linda Robson, Birthday Party
"I will highly recommend you to my friends"
The entertainers were wonderful. N2 the balloon guy was such a hit and he was very good with the kids. He was patient, caring and fun. The face painter was good too but I think Singaporean parents are a bit reserved about having their kids faces painted.
Thank you for everything and I will highly recommend you to my friends and have you come again for future parties. – Lena Elizabeth, 1-year-old Birthday Party at The Atria
"lively and dynamic and allowed the kids to participate in fun and respectful manner"
The show you put together was very age appropriate. It was lively and dynamic and allowed the kids to participate in fun and respectful manner. Very well done. – Stephanie Besse, 4-year-old Birthday Party
"Prof Messy who is not only funny but very patient and obliging with the kids"
Just to drop a note off to you about how wonderful the party has been for the kids today. Everyone enjoyed themselves, including the adults. It was very entertaining.
I would like to commend especially for Prof Messy who is not only funny but very patient and obliging with the kids. I have no doubt that you will be on my mind when my friends calls and ask for party entertainer referrals. – Amelia, 40-year-old Birthday Party at Haig Court (with lots of kids)
"the best balloonist she has ever seen in a party"
The children loved the balloonist. In fact, one of the parents commented he is the best balloonist she has ever seen in a party, as she was totally impressed by the sheer number of different cartoon characters he can come out with (and even improvise) on the spot! The magic show was appealing to the children too, and Augustine enjoyed himself tremendously. Thank you for making him so happy on his birthday party! – Eliza,1 & 3-year-old Birthday Party


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Charlotte's sister has finally stopped breathing, and the last of the air escapes from her bruised lungs as bubbles that float from between parted lips. She lies face up in the bathtub, fully submerged in soggy clothes. The breezeblock across her chest firmly holds her form beneath the surface of the water. After the sheer frenzy of the scene that has just played out, she looks remarkably peaceful. Her snow-white face is bloated by the refraction of restless water, and her long dark hair billows, defying gravity as it does so. She died with her eyes open, though the fierce passion and anger that had previously burned in them has now subsided and her tears are now indistinguishable from the bathwater. The family resemblance between Charlotte and her is suddenly unmistakable. The puce flows of blood from where I've caved in the side of her head with the concrete block begin to discolour the water around her head. The sheer scarlet is a macabre contrast to the stark white bathroom suite, which is clinical in appearance, though it matches the red hue of her dress rather well.
I catch my reflection in the mirror above the sink. My work clothes are conservative. I'm wearing a tight navy blue sweater over a plain white collared shirt, and khaki chinos. I look incredibly normal. I feel a dull ache on my left side and I see that Charlotte's sister's earlier attempts to stab me weren't entirely in vain. Blood has started to soak across the front of my jumper, though I don't think that the wound acting as its source is especially deep. As the adrenaline in my bloodstream begins to dissipate, an awesome wave overcomes me quite from nowhere and I feel like I'm going to be sick. I stagger and collapse against the side of the bathtub and hold my head in my hands and I notice that my brow is sodden with a mixture of sweat and hair wax and that the white tiled floor is near flooded with the water thrown from the bath as Charlotte's sister frantically struggled against her submergence. Of all the things that I could be feeling right now, it's the cold water presently seeping into my trousers that takes mental precedence. I've never killed anybody before and I quickly decide that I didn't enjoy doing so and that I'm going to do my best to not kill anyone ever again… Had the act have been premeditated, I suppose I may have experienced more of a power rush as I saw the light in her eyes extinguish. Her murder had been far from an act of wanton sadistic pleasure. With any kind of retrospect, however, it's easy to say that I should have seen something like this coming.
I spend an indeterminable period of time sat against the bathtub – somewhere between fifteen minutes and five hours, though I'm not altogether sure. I simply can't make myself stand. I spend most of this time crying, and now I'm thinking about how on earth I'm going to deal with everything that has happened. Deep down I know that the whole situation is completely irreparable, and this makes me cry again. My side really starts to hurt, and I'm suddenly scared that I'm going to bleed out. I stand, and leave Charlotte's sister's body, and walk back into the kitchen, carefully picking my way through the shards of green glass and knives and books and magazines that seem to be everywhere. I hold a tea towel to my side and apply pressure to the wound, because I think that's what I'm supposed to do, even though it hurts like absolute hell to do so. I decide that since I've been through a lot tonight, I'm going to give myself until the morning before tidying the place. I need to get to Charlotte before it's too late. I start to feel incredibly light headed, and I suddenly throw up. My vomit tastes like iron and is dark red in colour. My legs give way and I drop down to the floor and I try to speculate as to how deep the wound on my side actually is. I think I've fallen straight onto a particularly large sliver of glass, and this annoys me. I reach into my pocket for my phone but it's not there and this annoys me even more. I'm in the throes of losing consciousness and I wonder if I'm going to die, and I conclude that I probably shall. I feel guilty because I know that if I don't wake up then Charlotte probably won't make it either and this is all that I can think about as my eyes close and I slip under.
The woman had caught me entirely off-guard, and it takes me longer than it should do to realise that it is indeed Charlotte's sister. Their hair is the same shade of dark brown, and they both possess an innate beauty that I find insatiably attractive, though at this particular moment I'm obviously unable to have anything like a romantic thought towards her, since I'm swelling with vitriolic fury. She's not doing anything. She just stands there at my bedroom door, open-mouthed, her expression vacuous, inhuman. We make eye contact for a split second that seems to protract for hours. I see the fight or flight decision form in her eyes, and she ultimately chooses the latter, bolting from my bedroom's threshold in the direction of an exit, and I'm immediately spurred into action. With subconscious, animalistic instinct, I leap from my knelt position and scramble to my feet, tripping over my king-sized bed as I do so, only just avoiding the bloody knife that lies on my bedroom floor. I yell at her to come back, though somewhat unsurprisingly, she doesn't, because she knows that I'm going to hurt her badly. I don't have much of a chance to think about what my next move is going to be. I don't know how long Charlotte's sister's been in my apartment, and I'm confounded as to how I failed to detect her presence in the ten minutes since I arrived home from work. Although her route along the hallway from my bedroom could have taken her to the front door, she has chosen to run to the open plan kitchen living area, which is brand new and modern and expensive.
Charlotte's sister did not use the ten-second advantage she had over me to any great effect, and as I run after her into the kitchen, she looks as clueless as to her next move as I am. She screams something at me, but through the insanity of the situation that we both find ourselves in, she is either unable to form coherent sentences, or I'm incapable of processing whatever it is that she's saying. I think she shouts the words 'love' and 'go' and 'Charlotte' and 'kill' several times. She is so very scared, though she also looks incredibly angry and we stand some ten feet away from each other as if it's high noon and we're in some Western film and we're about to duel. We stare right into each other's eyes and we both twitch, bluffing action. She eventually makes the first move, and she bids for the unopened bottle of red wine on the veneered oak work surface. She launches it in my direction, and it shatters like a burgundy firework against the wall behind me. She quickly glances around, and sees an armoury – an expensive knife block sat next to where the wine bottle had stood. She wields a blade in a fashion that makes it patently obvious that she still doesn't know what she's doing. Before I have chance to counter, she's thrown the knife straight at me, missing my face by inches, and then she's repeating the action, and there's paring knives and bread knives and meat cleavers flying everywhere, though her aim is reprehensibly bad and I'm able to successfully dodge each of them. She's down to the last knife from the block and I know that she's not stupid enough to throw it. I'm fully prepared when she lunges and I'm able to grab hold of her wrist. She slashes the air in my vicinity repeatedly, wailing, maddened, primal.
I snatch at her throat with my free hand, and catch her off-balance. I feel her larynx crack in my grip. The knife falls from her hand as I throw her against a bookcase on the wall with a force I did not realise I possessed, sending novels and magazines and photo frames crashing to the laminate wood floor. I hold her against the wall and plant the back of my right hand into her cheek with the kind of shatter indicative of a fracture. I've never hit a woman before and I can't say I took a particular pleasure from doing so. Whilst I'm distracted by the moral and social significances of what I've done, Charlotte's sister sinks a fist into my gut and winds me quite thoroughly. She successfully escapes from my hold and I'm quite sure that she's finally going to run free from the apartment. Yet she doesn't. She just stares at me, as she did when she had first found me in my bedroom. As I'm bent double from her punch, I see a new weapon. I force breath back into my lungs, and run to the coffee table stood against the adjacent wall, constructed in a minimalist style from a thick sheet of birch wood, sat atop two concrete breezeblocks.
Charlotte's sister immediately comprehends my intentions. I grab a hold of one of the breezeblocks, sending the table top and whatever sat upon it tumbling to the ground amongst the fallen contents of the bookshelf. She had perhaps been gifted a five second window of opportunity to make a fruitful bid for freedom, yet she somehow contains the urge to run away and she squanders these precious moments rooted to the spot, evidently paralysed by serotonin. By the time I'm approaching her, I know just as well as she does that her only option is to try and wrestle the block from my hands, and that's precisely what she attempts. We shuffle back and forth, muscle to muscle and toe to toe, holding onto either end of the concrete. As she looks into my eyes I see that she's crying profusely and there's a slight red swelling on her cheek where I hit her. She coughs and splutters pistol shots through the flow of tears and I finally wrench the breezeblock from her. She turns and runs but she doesn't know where she's going and I give chase down the hallway and I grab her jacket with my free hand but she wriggles free and we're in the bathroom and I swing the breezeblock from above my head and she falls into the bath and I force her convulsing body under the water by holding the breezeblock against her chest and it takes a much longer time than I expect for her to be still.
My day has been a difficult one, and I don't remember ever being as grateful to arrive home as I am right now. The apartment is incredibly quiet, and at first the sheer serenity of the place fills me with suspicion, though I simply reason that Charlotte is most likely still out on her quest for red wine. Wondering through the apartment, I head straight for the bathroom, since I crave the relaxation that only a bath can presently afford me. I unscrew both the hot and cold taps, and the noise of the gushing water that starts to fill the tub is deafening though the relative silence of the flat. I move back into the kitchen and check my phone. I have no missed calls, and this pleases me more than I can possibly express. I notice that there is a bottle of red wine on the counter, and I am suddenly forced to come up with a new explanation for Charlotte's absence. I ponder it over for a little while but no particularly convincing arguments are forthcoming. I remember that I need to turn off the taps in the bathroom, which is what I do next. I check my phone and confirm that Charlotte had indeed sent me a message saying that she had gone to get wine, but I then realise that she sent the message a couple of hours ago and none of it sheds any light on anything. I quickly put my head around the door of our bedroom, which is the only room that I have yet to be in since arriving home and I see nothing untoward. Paranoia begins to creep into me when I think about the events of recent days, especially after what happened at lunchtime.
Heading back to the kitchen I take the next logical step, and I call Charlotte's mobile phone. I hear the ringtone. It's incredibly muffled and it's coming from the bedroom, so I walk back down the hallway and I open the bedroom door with absolute caution and I still hear ringing. I struggle to decipher its exact location at first and the call goes to answerphone before I have a chance to do so. I ring the number again and it's coming from the wardrobe and I see a roll of silver duct tape on the bed and I run over to the wardrobe dropping my phone to the carpet and I pull the wardrobe door open and I scream out loud. Charlotte is hunched on the floor of the wardrobe and bent double and her wrists and ankles are bound together into a single bunch in front of her with a thick layer of silver duct tape, which is in turn attached to the clothes rail above her with long trails of tape, completely restricting her movement. She had a single rectangle across her mouth. Her tear-soaked eyes are filled with a terror that I've never seen before. I kneel down and try and rip the tape from her wrists and ankles but it's tightly wound and my efforts go unrewarded. Charlotte's trying to scream but she can't. I apologise in advance because I know that what I'm about to do is going to hurt her. With a sickening rip, the tape comes from her mouth in one go, taking skin from her lips with it. She chokes and coughs and splutters and I see blood trickle from her mouth and I suddenly notice that her black dress is wet and glistening and I put my fingers to it and against the pale skin of my fingertips I see that she is bleeding but I don't know where from. The gravity of what I'm seeing is overwhelming and I'm overflowing with venom and rage and helplessness and panic. I scream and demand to know who has done this to her but she's apparently incapable of speech and she just keeps coughing, even though I know that she's trying desperately to answer my question. Her head is suddenly motioning violently over my shoulder. I don't want to look away from my helpless wife, but I turn around through fear. A woman is standing at the bedroom door and she is holding a knife and I can see that it too glistens red with blood. She stares, aghast at the scene before her and she's shaking uncontrollably and she drops the blade onto the floor.
I'm irritated that Charlotte's sister has managed to get hold of my new phone number. I decide, however, that there is only so long that I can ignore her barrage of calls and messages, since I realise that she will not stop of her own accord. She seems surprised when I call her and I tell her to come and meet me outside my office at lunchtime. She states with a sultry confidence that she will be there. Over the course of the morning I consider rescinding my offer and cancelling, though I ultimately stay true to my word and I meet her outside. The day is incredibly fine and she's well made up and her red dress is beautiful and revealing but I'm determined that I'm not going to be distracted and I recite the speech that I have been preparing since our earlier phone conversation. I tell her that what I did with her had been a stupid mistake and that she needs to stop calling me and that she needs to forget any ideas that she has about me leaving Charlotte for her, but she just isn't listening to me. She tells me that she hates Charlotte with a fervent passion for stealing me from her. She tells me that she loves me so, and when I try to turn back inside she grabs my arm and begs me not to go. Having unsuccessfully tried to placate her with firm diplomacy, I start to say vile things to her in a bid to make her hate me. I tell her that I wish she were dead. It cuts me really quite deeply to lie to her in such an odious manner. She's on the cusp of tears, but my plan seems to work. I'm relieved when after a short period of near silent contemplation she tells me that she's finally going to let me go and after today I'll not ever see or hear from her ever again.

subset: commoncrawl


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A non-profit for Prospect Development professionals.
Our webinar partner Apra-MidSouth is presenting a webinar in December!
This is free for Apra-IL members.
The explosion of wealth in recent decades has given rise to increasingly sophisticated tools and vehicles for managing wealth and making philanthropic gifts. As a result, more and more donors are relying on professionals to advise them on both how and where to make gifts. We will examine the formal roles these advisors play in family offices, wealth management firms, philanthropic organizations, and consulting firms, as well as individuals and organizations such as giving circles that act as more informal advisors. We will also share practical tips that nonprofits of all sizes can use to identify and engage people who are advising prospective donors on their philanthropy and discuss strategies for finding constituents who can serve as powerful connectors for your organization.
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Angie Stapleton, Research Associate, The Helen Brown Group - Angie joined the Helen Brown Group in 2015 and serves as a research associate. She began her professional career at Vanderbilt University in research and prospect development. She has also worked with several community nonprofits in grant-writing and event management. Angie holds an MPA in nonprofit management from Indiana University and an undergraduate degree in journalism from Middle Tennessee State University. She is a former director and past president of Apra MidSouth.
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This beautiful violin is one of my favourite old family treasures. It once belonged to my great, great uncle, William WALLIS, but has been in my possession now for about 35 years.
|William WALLIS
William Stewart WALLIS was born in Riverton, New Zealand in October 1884. He was the eldest of five brothers of my maternal great grandmother, Mary Elizabeth SCHULTZ (nee WALLIS). William, or Uncle Willie as he was known to the family, never married and spent most of his life living with my great grandmother and her family. Like two of his younger brothers, Uncle Willie spent some of his life as a racehorse trainer, and also worked as a labourer. From what I have been told he was a very, very lovely, quiet man who worked hard and loved spending time with his horses and also his nieces and nephews. He died after a short illness in October 1968 at the age of 83 and is buried in the Gore cemetery.
|William WALLIS (1884 - 1968)
I have no idea when or where Uncle Willie got his violin from, all I know is that he could play it beautifully. I never heard him play it as he died before I was born, but I was very fortunate to be given the violin by my great grandmother when I began to take violin lessons at the age of eight or nine. I took lessons for about seven years but you would never really say I was that good at it. Sure, I read the sheet music and played the tunes that were put in front of me, but I never really mastered it and never learnt to play by ear like so many of the wonderful old family violinists did. To listen to someone who can play like that is just beautiful. I doubt that you could ever call my violin playing "beautiful", probably quite the opposite, but I tried and I have been left this beautiful violin as a legacy of that effort. Maybe I should have stuck at it for a bit longer. Maybe someday I might pick it up again and start to play again. Maybe ……. !!!
I was told by my late nana that my great aunt Nora SCHULTZ (Uncle Willie's niece who also lived in the same household) played the violin too, so perhaps this is the violin that she played also.
I have no idea of the value of this violin but to me it's value is immeasurable. It belonged to my great, great uncle Willie and that alone makes it valuable beyond measure. It has writing inside it that says "Antonius Stradiuarius, Cremonenlis, Facebat Anno 17.. Made in Germany". A quick search for this name on the internet reveals that this violin is one of the many fake Stradivarius violins that were made in the early 19th century. It is probably well over 150 years old, maybe even 200 years old, but it is definitely not a genuine Stradivarius. But that's quite alright. I will love it and treasure it for what it is and for whose it was, and that's enough for me. My only wish is that I had been around to have heard my great, great uncle Willie play a tune for me.


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Filed under: Spain
Holey moley, I can't believe it's been two weeks already. I also can't believe it's so late here. I should have been in bed an hour ago at least. But hey, what's a few hours' sleep on the weekend? Nothing, that's what.
All spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors in this post are now declared null and void and not available to be commented on.
Sometimes I have a hard time thinking in English, especially after class. And speaking of class, sometimes I exit the classroom after four consecutive hours and think I've really got a handle on things. Sometimes I leave the room and wonder why I'm even here in Spain. Today was the latter.
But, things picked up during the day some, and I remind myself that I now understand my host family a whole lot better than I used to. I also watch the news every day at lunch, and that's helping. I still can't understand a quarter of what's said – newscasters here don't bother to put spaces between the words – but that's better than nothing.
I also realized the other day that one of the reasons I am (usually) able to write and speak well in English is because I enjoy reading. With that in mind I went looking for a Spanish version of an English book I already have read so that I could beat my brain into submission by sheer force of will + dictionary. I found a Stephen King book or part of it anyway – apparently it was too expensive to translate all the short stories so they only did the big one (The Mist) plus two others.
I tell you what – trying to flat-out read Spanish at my current level is a real bear. I'm pleased, though, because it's not the grammar that's confusing any more, just the vocabulary. That's a good start.
TWO WEEKS. Did I mention that? I've been here two weeks so far. It feels like no time at all. I have my first test on Monday to ensure that I am indeed capable of moving up to the next class. I'm sure I'll pass with flying something.
Re: things to have mentioned – did I mention the floor here in my host family's house is little marble slabs? It's ever so delightfully cool to walk on in the mornings, and even in the heat of the day it's nice. Who needs carpet?
bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh it's late
time to review the notebook
– Mullets (the haircut, not the fish) are here and in a big way. It appears to my untrained eye to be the equivalent of a redneck haircut here, but I think I may have seen one or two being worn in some sort of euro-ironic fashion. Also favored: mullethawks and rattails. I kid you negative.
– On the 27th I wrote in my notebook: "Today I walked past a tree that smelled of Tennessee fall and dried hay." I have walked past that tree at least four times since and not smelled it again. I wonder why that moment was chosen as the moment to remind me of home?
– I kind of like showing up to a restaurant at 9:00 PM and wondering if it's still yet too early to eat dinner since there's no one else there and the waitstaff and cooks are standing around idle. Did I make a mistake? Is this place even open yet?
– Also what in the hell do these people do for a living? How can people twice my age stay out 'till 1:00 AM eating dinner and drinking wine and still make it to work on time the next day? Does their job involve sleeping at a desk? That's what it'd take for me to be able to live this lifestyle properly.
– The back of a wine bottle (wherein the winemaker typically describes the product) makes sense to me in Spanish or in English. That's a comforting feeling.
– I know the tourist part of downtown rather well now. I found an alley yesterday that I had not yet traveled and felt a tiny bit elated. Also apprehensive, since it was very long and ran through an area of all delapidated buildings and there were no businesses and it (the alley) was full of stray cats (which have differently-shaped heads than US cats, by the way, apropos of nothing thank you very much) and man was it ever movie. Just seemed like a great place for a bad thing to happen. Fortunately nothing did. Later I saw families and teenagers using that same alley so my fears were all for naught, it would appear.
– But anyway, I know the historic center of downtown very well now. Also, I find myself wanting to use the other verb for 'to know' but we apparently only have one in English. Brain no for to be language able to make switch effective fast, yes? Anyway, I know downtown well enough I am confident that if I were dropped off in the middle I could find my way back to the bus without too many steps in the wrong direction. Go pull up a map of Málaga and look at downtown and you'll understand why this pleases me.
– Thomas from Switzerland looked at the Nalgene bottle which I have in class every day and asked me, with a hint of incredulity, "Do you drink the water here?"
of COURSE I drink the water here. How else am I supposed to get super powers?
– I remember years ago when I was in grade school my grandfather (who lived here in Málaga for many years) sent me a birthday card. It was, to my eyes, a really strange and cheap-looking birthday card, with some out-of-date pop culture reference if I'm not mistaken. His note inside explained that it was hard to find cards in English there (here) and it was the best he'd found. Now that I'm here, going on what, 20 years later? I can't believe he could have found that card at ALL. So what I'm saying is, "Sorry for thinking the card itself was strange or slightly cruddy, Granddad. I had no idea."
– Tomorrow I intend to take a bus trip to the neighborhood where Granddad used to live so I can try and find his old house. No reason. Not like I ever visited there or I expect to see a sign proclaiming, "Former house of Tom O'Mara!" above the door. Just 'cause. 'Cause I'm here and it's here.
– Wow. I actually came to the end of my list. Thank goodness – I'm about to pass out. DANG IT I STILL HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT LUNCH. Okay, real quick – soup was gazpacho (everyone all together now: mmmmmm), the main meal was croquetes (sp?): bits of chicken and flour rolled into little balls, coated with egg and bread batter, and lightly fried. Side items were strips of canned red pepper as well as fried potato strips. Dessert was sorbet over cherries.
– That's it. I ain't got no more. Also, for you, a present. Normally I spell-check and review before posting, but not tonight! Tonight you get this blog post raw. I hope it doesn't give you an upset stomach.
2 Comments so far
Leave a comment
this one was great!
thanks for the update
two weeks already… 4 more to go….
glad you're having such a wonderful time and learning so much
we'll see you soooooon
whoo-hoo! i second this being a great blog-post. and i really like that it was raw from your tired brain.


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Even the Pope is onboard. Time is running out. From 6/18.
Pope Francis called Thursday for a bold cultural revolution to correct what he calls the "structurally perverse" economic system of the rich exploiting the poor that is turning Earth into an "immense pile of filth." In a sweeping manifesto aimed at spurring action in U.N. climate negotiations, domestic politics and everyday life, Francis explains the science of global warming, which he blames on an unfair, fossil fuel-based industrial model that he says harms the poor most. Citing Scripture and past popes' and bishops' appeals, he urges people of all faiths and no faith to undergo an awakening to save God's creation for future generations. It's an indictment of big business and climate doubters alike. Nicole Winfield, Rachel Zoll and Seth Borenstein report. (Associated Press)
Filed under: Puget Sound |


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Was there a AvaTax Service Outage on June 2nd 2015?
I had connectivity issues to Avatax on June 2nd, 2015
Avalara AvaTax
Avalara Admin Console
- Avalara did experience issues related to accessing the Admin Console and calculating tax on June 2nd, 2015
- The issues were found to be caused by one of our internet service providers, Time Warner Cable (TWC), experiencing their own service issues.
- If your connection does not rely on TWC, you would have not experienced any issues.
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Herb Garden
Oregano is the go-to herb for many Italian dishes. Tomato sauces come alive with its distinctive flavor. Sprinkled on pizza and baked in, it is an outstanding accoutrement when fresh from the garden. Oregano grows easily and is a hardy perennial to zone 10, meaning that as far north as Alaska, parts of it in Zone 1, it will come back every year bigger and better. This picture shows a plant on its 2nd year in St. Louis which is in Zone 5.
Ok, Parsley goes with about anything: chicken, beef, fish, pork, sauces and gravies of all kinds and many Mexican dishes when cilantro isn't available. Italian Parsley (pictured) or often called flat-leaf parsley, I find to have the most flavor and fragrance, but the curly kind is pretty as a garnish. They both are actually, with its lacy leaf form. When used fresh you can really taste undertones of licorice. Also known as natures breath freshener.
Rosemary has a strong and unique flavor best with pork dishes, great with salmon, and chicken too. My sister even made butter cookies infused with its green almost piney flavor, and boy were they delicious. It was an unexpected taste for a cookie but turned out to be uniquely delightful.
Though this started as Genovese Basil, I saved seeds to plant the next season. This year it came in with a lighter shade and had a strong lemon flavor. Crazy! I guess plants will go back to what the parent plant's DNA contained when you buy hybrid seeds and attempt to plant a second generation. I still used it in my tomato based dishes, pestos, as garnishing and in salads. Different, but still very lemony good. I wonder what the seeds from this plant might become next season?
Tarragon, I discovered to be a perennial. I was delighted when this plant wintered over. It is a great herb to use in a béarnaise sauce. First you make hollandaise sauce with 1 stick of softened butter, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 3 egg yolks (1,2,3) heat ever so gently in a sauce pan stirring constantly until thick. béarnaise it up with tarragon, fine diced sautéed onion, and a dash of white wine. Tarragon goes with many meat dishes, and is excellent in mushroom gravy.
There is nothing like the freshness herbs from the garden add to your dishes. Growing my own flavors is enjoyable and rewarding. When you have too much of one thing, share. Nothing is more friendly or neighborly. You could also just grab a few hanks, hang them upside down and let them dry for use all year round. Some herbs like this lemon balm just smell good. They can also add a zippy flavor to salads. Sometimes I like to just pick a piece and eat it for no reason other than knowing that it is edible, organic, and tastes interesting.
Though this is not an herb, this plant from the lettuce family, closely related to dandelions, drifted into our garden last year and has spread a bit as it's seeds also grow like the tufts of a dandelion. Most would consider it a weed but I have found it to be a delectable salad leaf. Not at all bitter when you use the young leaves in the rosette. It is a cold loving plant and grows freely. I'm loving the free part. Thank you Mother Nature!
Here are some other pic's from the garden. This lady cardinal was jumping up and grabbing seeds from the stalk to her right…just some wild bird millet I let grow to see what it would do. I'm happy with the results. Click the picture to see her up close. She was the diva of the bird world putting on a show for me.
This beautiful eggplant was delicious in an Asian rice dish. Yum!
4 responses
Great pictures and ideas! Do you have a variety of thyme that you like to grow? I have tried several that had such tiny leaves, it was frustrating using the fresh or dried leaves.
I can't believe how much we have in common with gardening, recycling–except that I am tired of cooking…maybe your blog will give me a spark again!
April 11, 2012 at 8:02 pm
U can Google poor man's lettuce n c it ty
August 2, 2017 at 7:43 pm


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"It's funny how when I ride my touring motorcycle people come up to me and chat but as soon I ride my superbike and wear my club colours there is a change. They treat me differently and avoid me. I suddenly become this evil outlaw biker but I'm the same person who rides the tourer."
Street photography South Africa


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The technical bit - contains a moisturising formula that is packed full of vitamins, with a powder finish providing a unique matt look. Powder microspheres hug the creamy colour to your lips to make sure that your pout is perfect all day. It holds up to 8 hours of moisture.
As you can see from the photographs the lip cream lasted for a long time! 3 cups of tea and two meals later you can see the lip cream has nearly faded. But I am really impressed with this product and would recommend it to anyone who doesn't like lip gloss or isn't a usual lipstick wearer like me. The texture is really creamy and the colours are easy to wear.
The colour I am wearing above is called 'Fairy cakes' and the brown one pictured below is a really nice nude colour, it doesn't show up brown on the lips; called 'Angel Delight'. They smell really nice too! I love these two colours & going to get the other two :)
These are 2.99 from Superdrug.
natural lip colour
Angel Delight


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Of course all of this comes only 24 hours after surgery on my toe, meaning I have a completely numb and bandaged left foot. I don't think I've ever been as sensitive to people's feet until now. Though no pain has set in yet, I'm constantly on guard that someone plans to step on one. "Shh, don't touch" echoes through my head as each passing attendee gets close.
And yet, I can't take credit for that expression as it's actually the title and theme of BW's color guard show this year. Taken from an old poem, their show takes a more serious tone than past performances as they tell a modernized version of the old Pandora's box story through choreography, music, and spoken word. It's part of what makes these color guard shows interesting; it's not cheerleading, nor dance, nor musical, nor chorus, nor gymnastics, nor even ballet. They have swords and guns, and flags and flowers. They have costumes and acting, narrative and spectacle. They are simultaneously all of these things and none of them. Even if you're not a self-described winter guard fan, you have to stop and take note at the talent and art in these performances; it's completely unique expression. Not only does Baldwin seem to dominate the Atlantic region (imagine if any of our other sports did) but it's nothing you'll find elsewhere.
Before I make myself appear to be a noble lover of the guard, I should clarify that the real reason I'm here is for the students. I've taught several of these color guard members back in 10th grade, and a couple in 12th grade for the first time. Others I've gotten to know peripherally through community service and other band activities. There are two students, however, who have sat in my classroom everyday for the past 520 school days who, much like the sport of Winter Guard itself, began as quite unknown to me. They spent a year sitting silently in the back of my 10th grade classroom, but over time have become a unique and essential presence each day. This show, their final one as high school students, is a reminder of how quickly the past few years have gone, and how the class of 2015 is soon approaching its end. The Winter Guard 2015 team is prepared to go out with a bang, and as this specific group will disband forever, so will the class of 2015 soon move on to better things. It's a great day for all of them, but bittersweet for those staying behind. Watching students leave is like walking on my post-surgical foot; It's great to be moving, but "'each time it bumps it's really very sore..."
I've included some pictures from the show below, in case you couldn't make it. Great show to Hannah, Maddie, Bethany, and especially Jess and Katie. This chapter ends, though the best is yet to come.


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I was diagnosed a few months after turning 30, which is fairly late (but not uncommon). But I think being diagnosed late has its advantages.
By the time I was diagnosed, I had created dreams and run with a few of them. In your twenties, the world can become anything, and you have the energy to remake it.
Some of the things I wanted became real, and some, well, didn't. And that's the critical thing. At thirty and before being diagnosed, I could look back on my life and think "Well, my life isn't headed exactly where I was expecting, but I've done some of the things I wanted to, and overall, I'm pretty satisfied that I am being successful, that I have done valuable things, that I have worth."
When I was diagnosed as being bipolar the following year, it didn't matter that it turns out that I was bipolar for the previous 15 years. There was a pre-diagnosis life and a post-diagnosis life. Things that happened in my pre-diagnosis life belonged to me. They were my successes and my failures. Things that happened after diagnosis, well, they could have been caused by the mania or the depression. They didn't fully belong to me.
There's a certain illogic about the reasoning above, but that doesn't matter. That's how I felt.
I've since come to accept that my actions while manic or depressed are fully mine. Maybe not what I wanted to do or intended to do, but mine nevertheless. My manic successes are fully my successes – I no longer bother to ask the question "Would I have succeed if I wasn't manic?"
But this is ten years later. At age 31 or 32 I was second guessing everything that I did. It was an ongoing critical analysis of myself. Is it me or is it the mania?
That sort of second guessing is incredibly corrosive. Imagine this situation – you are in a cricket match. There's one more ball to bowl before the game is over and you need three runs to win. The bowler is your best friend and knows you want to win the game more than anything. So he bowls you. You hit it for a six and win in style. Your team wins and you have the trophy in your hands. And in the midst of all the victory shouts and cheering and back slapping, you wonder if your best friend bowled you an easy ball so you would win.
Is the victory still as sweet as it was?
Did you win because you were good, or because you got help?
Was your winning stroke valuable?
You begin to get an idea of how corrosive this second guessing can become.
Imagine doing that analysis to everything that you do. Imagine that for every thing that you finish well – having a fast morning run, cleaning the kitchen for your partner, charming a girl into a date, having a productive day at work, finishing the six little things you'd put off for the last month, giving a great presentation – you wonder if you would have done as well if you weren't manic.
All of your actions become devalued. It's not you that did well, it was the mania in action. You were almost like a puppet.
Eventually you come to terms with the mania / self issues. But it takes time to integrate them, measured in years, not months or weeks.
So what keeps you going during this time? How do you maintain a sense of self-worth and value, how do you maintain the idea that you can be successful while this integration is taking place.
At thirty, I had a crutch – all my years of experience. I could look back to before being diagnosed and, through the haze of self doubt, remember that I had been successful in my late teens and twenties, that I had achieved meaningful goals. And I could hope and trust that I, me, not the mania, would be successful somewhere in the future, that I would be valuable among the people I knew, that I would have worth.
But what happens if you are eighteen when you are diagnosed?
(to be continued)


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John Evans left the governorship in 1987 – 27 years ago. Roughly two-thirds of Idaho's current population were either under the age of eighteen or not even born yet when he left office. Given Evans' low public profile after leaving office, it isn't surprising that many Idahoans don't recall his many years of public service. Many of them probably associate him more closely as the face in advertisements for D.L. Evans Bank.
John Evans grew up in Malad. His grandfather David L. Evans served in the territorial legislature and, following statehood was Speaker of the House. Like his grandfather, John Evans was a Democrat and a banker. He was elected to the state senate in 1952, at the age of 27. In 1957, when the Democrats took control of the Senate, he became senate majority leader. He left the senate in 1959 and was elected mayor of Malad.
His years as a small town mayor, rancher and banker provided him with invaluable experience and skills that would serve him well when he returned to state government, again serving as a senator, then lieutenant governor and finally ten years as governor.
When Cecil Andrus resigned as governor to become Secretary of Interior in 1977, Evans became governor. His ten years as governor were during some of the most challenging times that Idaho has ever faced. In 1978 Idaho voters approved the 1% Initiative, which placed substantial restrictions on the ability of local governments to raise operating revenues. Then came the economic collapse. The state's economy had little diversification and was heavily dependent upon natural resource based industries. In a perfect storm, the bottom dropped out of the timber, mining and agricultural industries. As a result, state tax revenues plummeted.
Using his experience as a mayor, Evans understood the need for basic governmental services at the state and local levels. As a mayor, he also understood the need for setting priorities and operating in a fiscally conservative manner. The result was a mixture of reducing non-essential services, cutting operating costs and increasing the flow of state revenues. He also created the Idaho Department of Commerce to help begin Idaho's economic rebuilding. With a legislature heavily dominated by Republicans and led by staunch conservatives such as Tom Stivers in the house and Jim Risch in the senate, Evans had his work cut out for him. But he rose to the occasion, working with a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans, he kept the ship afloat and laid the groundwork for an economic recovery that led to some of the best years that Idaho's economy has ever seen. In many ways, his relationship with a Republican legislature was more productive than that of some Republican governors. (more…)


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The Beginning
Frieza's Empire
Life of Goku
Red Ribbon Army
Capsule Corporation
Dragonball Episodes
Dragonball Z Episodes
Dragonball GT Episodes
Future Trunks
Frieza's Empire
Frieza is introduced in the series as a powerful galactic overlord who is involved in the
World Trade Organization
in which the Saiyans — the main antagonists prior — were members. He rules a vast empire that has control over what has been said to be over 79 planets up until his death (Vegeta visited
Planet Frieza #79
briefly after his defeat on Earth. At the time, Frieza himself was using that planet as a base, but was absent while making his way to
. Not all Frieza-dominated worlds, such as Planet Vegeta, were numbered). Frieza creates armies from the planets that he conquers, though his most utilized race were the
. Frieza had heard about the legend of the Super Saiyan — a being with unrivaled power and the only single warrior that could pose a threat to him — but dismissed it as simple mythology; however, after several Saiyans emerged with rapidly evolving potential, Frieza began to fear that the legend of the
Super Saiyan
would indeed come true, so as a result, wiped out the Saiyan race by annihilating Planet Vegeta — the home world of the Saiyan race. After analyzing the Saiyans' battle against the Earth, his actions eventually lead him into conflict with the heroes of the series when he tries to take possession of the wish-granting
Dragon Balls on Planet Namek
. Though still no one could possibly contend with his power, Frieza's fears were realized when he caused the emergence of the mythical Super Saiyan and was defeated by him in a terrific, planet-shattering engagement. Goku, who had escaped Frieza's attempt to destroy the Saiyans, had become the Super Saiyan through Frieza's own actions.
Genocide of the Saiyans
Frieza had many races under his thumb in his planetary trade, but none were as prevalent as the
. Gifted with natural fighting ability, strength and the ability to become stronger after every battle, Saiyans became powerful weapons in Frieza's subjugation of planets. However, these very abilities made them a liability to the paranoid Frieza, afraid that, left unchecked, the Saiyans could either unite and overwhelm him, or one day provide a warrior to rival Frieza himself. With the advice of his top henchman
, Frieza plans to wipe out the Saiyan race.
Hearing the accomplishments of the low-level Saiyan
and acting on his own fears of the
Super Saiyan
legend, Frieza resolves to eliminate all possible threats. He sends his henchman
and his elites to assassinate Bardock and his team, while Frieza himself sets a course to the
Saiyan homeworld
. On his arrival,
King Vegeta
and his men attempt an uprising after
is kidnapped, ending in the King and his soldiers being slaughtered by Frieza with a single punch as Zarbon and Dodoria watch.
As Frieza arrived in the planet's orbit he was confronted by a charging Bardock, lunging through the fields of Frieza's men, and in defiance of the tyrant, even goes as far as to fire a
blast at Frieza, to which the tyrant retaliated by laughing maniacally with insane glee as he prepared a
Supernova attack
to annihilate the planet. The attack consumes Bardock, and even some of his men as it buries itself deep beneath the planet's surface resulting in a massive explosion, eradicating nearly every Saiyan.
After the planet's explosion, a story was fabricated to ensure the loyalty of the few remaining Saiyans Frieza had kept in his employ as a convenience,
. According to the myth that was created, the guardian of Planet Vegeta, ashamed at the immorality of the Saiyans, summoned meteors to impact and destroy the planet and the Saiyan race. It is shown in a flashback during the
Frieza Saga
that Frieza's destruction of the Saiyans was a rumor that Vegeta heard before the events of
Dragon Ball Z
, although this is a form of retroactive continuity, as Vegeta is shown to be unaware of this until Dodoria's confession before his death.
Cooler (Frieza's Older Brother)
Cooler is a character and main villain in the
movies of the anime
Dragon Ball Z
. He is the older brother of
, and the oldest son of
King Cold
. He is also shown to be involved in the
World Trade Organization
. Like his brother, he can push his body through
to increase his power. Although only two forms are seen (the last two), it is stated in the fifth film that Cooler possesses the same number of forms Frieza does, as well as a fifth and more powerful form. Like his brother, Cooler also has a bio mechanical final form.
Cooler was designed by
Akira Toriyama
, the original
author, for
theatrical production (and later adapted as needed for future appearances). Toriyama's designs can be seen in
Dragon Ball
Daizenshuu #6
Name Pun
Like his brother and father, Cooler's name is a pun on all things relating to the cold. As both Cooler's and Frieza's names end in a short "a" vowel (rather than the long "
" which usually signifies "er" in
spellings on English words), Frieza's name is typically spelled with an "a" at the end (as opposed to "Freezer"). Logic would follow that the character's name should in turn be spelled in a similar fashion (as opposed to "Cooler"). Note that
Funimation Entertainment
, the company responsible for
Dragon Ball'
s production and distribution in North America and Australia, chooses to spell the name as
(and Freeza as
). Most fans choose the spellings Cooler and Frieza as opposed to the other spellings. It might also be a pun on him being more composed and serious than his brother ergo a "cooler" Frieza
The name of Cooler's species is never revealed in the anime, manga, or movies. Due to their ability to change forms, they are often referred to by fans as "Changelings". However, it should also be noted that there is never any hint given as to whether King Cold was able to transform. If not, then his shown form would be his "true" form (being his only one) which would suggest the transformations are unique to his sons. (The only person who might be able to clear all of this up would be author
Akira Toriyama
Cooler's Revenge
While Frieza destroyed
Planet Vegeta
, the home planet of the
, a newly-born Kakarot (
) was being sent to subjugate
. Seeing that Goku had escaped the explosion, Cooler's henchmen made plans to shoot the capsule down. Cooler belayed that order, lamenting that his brother was still far too soft to allow a child's escape and that Frieza's conceit would delay the annihilation of the Saiyan race and jeopardize his family's absolute control over the galaxy (well, that, and also the fact that he had seven planets to conquer/destroy by the end of the day [Depending on the version], thus making him too busy to carry out the order anyways). Also, as Goku was only an infant at the time, he didn't believe him to be any threat.
Twenty-five years later, Cooler got word that his brother had been killed... by a Saiyan. Initially skeptical, he soon comes to believe it, and heads to Earth to avenge Frieza's death; however, he has no compassion for his brother and only desires to do so to restore his family honor. Upon arriving, he had his henchmen found a Saiyan, who turned out to be Goku. He succeeds in mortally wounding him in a shot intended for
, but loses sight of his quarry after he is washed down a waterfall. Not content to blow up the planet - being too proud and eager to smite the one who injured his family name - Cooler goes to some lengths to have him tracked down. With all three of his henchmen defeated by
, He finally enters the battle himself and easily beats Piccolo before facing Goku. Goku, revived by consuming a Senzu (thus powering him up like always) and Cooler are a fairly even match (
too much
even for Cooler's tastes), so he honors Goku by showing him his ultimate transformation. He increases dramatically in size, speed, and strength; four horns grow to form a crown atop his head as spikes form on his forearms, and he now sports a facemask of sorts, hiding all facial features except his eyes, which are now red and pupils.
Cooler is able to easily overpower Goku in this form, until at length he grows tired of the fight and feels Frieza had further shamed his family by dying at Goku's hand. As he makes plans to destroy the planet, Goku's rage transcends, transforming him into a
Super Saiyan
. Off-guard and arrogant, Cooler is batted around easily, and then he realizes how Frieza lost to Goku. He gathers enough energy to form a large orange sun-like attack (the same attack Frieza used to destroy Planet Vegeta and to try and kill
Future Trunks
) that he hopes will not only be enough to obliterate his opponent, but the Earth along with him. But with a
, Goku is able to offset his attack and send Cooler hurling into the
. It was then that Cooler realized that Goku was the Saiyan he had allowed to escape so many years ago, and that in scolding his brother and not lifting a finger he had been far too soft himself. After this, Cooler incinerates and dies in the sun.
Return of Cooler
Cooler's remains float around in space and eventually fuse with the Big Gete Star. The Big Gete Star revives Cooler and Cooler proceeds to take over it. He set a course for
New Namek
, intent on draining the planet and using the
there as fuel.
called to Earth's warriors for help; Goku, Gohan, and
, as well as
Master Roshi
, and
, traveled there to assist. Upon arriving, they find many
Cyclopian Guards
, as well as the revived Meta-Cooler, now in a wholly metallic and enhanced body. Stronger than ever, he is able to easily repel Goku even as a Super Saiyan, and had it not been for the unlikely appearance of
, Goku might have been killed. Even the two Super Saiyans ran into difficulty handling Meta-Cooler; the nano-machines that made up his body would instantly detect and repair any defect, and make it so that defect would no longer hinder the "new-and-improved" version. Only by working together in a joint attack would Meta-Cooler finally be destroyed.
However, the Big Gete Star housed not one Cooler, but hundreds, if not thousands. Goku and Vegeta had no chance of beating them all, and are absorbed by the Star itself, where they find the brains behind it all, the
Cooler - an obscene and grinning head split with one remaining eye, strung up by wires and sheets of metal. All Meta-Coolers seen previously were under remote control, and the machine itself formed Cooler's true body. He plots to drain Goku and Vegeta of all their energy for his own purposes, saying "Oh, the exquiste agony!" and laughing happily. But their power is too much and begins to overload the capacity of his systems. The Saiyans then flood the Big Gete Star with energy, causing it to crumble and his remote-controlled dolls to self-destruct, while Cooler starts to lose his hold on the planet. Sickened by such "scum" yet again foiling his plans, Cooler fashions a final body from what's left of his organic self, intending to throttle Goku in wires. Even to this end Cooler believes victory is inevitable, and his arrogance costs him his life as Vegeta shears off one of his mech arms, giving Goku time to destroy what's left of his body. With the "brain" gone, the Big Gete Star disintegrates over New Namek, with Vegeta crushing the original chip in his hand, ensuring that Cooler will never come back again.
King Cold (Father of Frieza and Cooler)
King Cold is a character in the second half of the manga Dragon Ball and the anime Dragon Ball Z. He is the father of both
, and apparently runs the
World Trade Organization
Name Pun
, King Cold's name also refers to low temperatures.
Appearance and abilities
King Cold has a rather high-class attitude and stature. His movements and mannerisms are very elegant. He is also very formal and calm. King Cold appears in a form reminiscent of his son's second after initially transforming, but it's unknown whether he too possessed the ability to change shape. Unlike Frieza in his first three forms, King Cold does not display any pink on his arms and legs or the white on his chest and midsection. Instead of dark purple like Frieza's, King Cold's dome is colored dark blue, like Cooler's. He ranks among the tallest villains in the Dragon Ball universe, albeit not being able to do anything to showcase his power. King Cold may be best known for his idle complaints of how long it takes his son to start and finish a fight.
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization or the Planet Trade Organization is the name given to the organization apparently run by
King Cold
, and
. The World Trade Organization employs and enslaves powerful races such as the
, to take over suitable planets so that they can be sold to the highest bidders.
It is never stated when this organization began or any detail of its origins, all that is known is that it is apparently lead by
King Cold
and his sons. Many formidable races are forced into the organization with the threat of their own planets destruction if they do not comply. With their great power, King Cold and his sons apparently held a giant iron fist over the galaxy, controlling almost all planets under one giant dictatorship, and use fear and power to get races of comply.
alone is shown to be in control of at least 79 planets, with no mention of how many his father or brother own. They are also shown destroying planets that they believe are not suitable for sale. No other leaders of this organization are ever shown, if any for that matter. The organization seemed to have officially ended with the deaths of King Cold and Frieza by
Future Trunks
, and
's death by the hands of
thus bringing peace to the galaxy.
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This is your chance to have your say and help shape the Conservative manifesto.
In July 2007
the party launched 'Stand Up Speak Up' and we are asking for your views
on a number of policy documents that will form the foundation of the Conservative programme for Government.
The reports from the Party's policy groups are now available to view and comment upon at www.standupspeakup.conservatives.com providing in-depth analysis of key issues in Britain today.
The reports also include recommendations for policies to address these issues. Anyone and everyone can participate in these debates.
Once signed up, either discuss the Policy Review as a whole or just those aspects of that particularly interest you - and then vote to shape that policy. You can also email your views to Mark at email@example.com.


text:
Couples Counseling
AnnMarie Stankovich MA, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor: LH00008811
A safe environment for you to work through and discuss sensitive issues such as: emotional and sexual intimacy, destructive communication patterns, unrealistic expectations, problems with relatives, jealousy, loss of love, anger and resentment, infidelity, or financial stress.
Learn to listen in ways that enhance your bond, resolve conflict, overcome your anger and guilt, heal and forgive, build a stronger self-esteem, identify and meet each other's needs, and strengthen your intimate connection.
Learn how to communicate more effectively by developing empathic, active listening skills that help you resolve conflict in a way that meets the needs of both you and your partner.
Gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your partner and rekindle your communication, connection, and commitment to one another.
Payment in full is always due at each session (cash or check), or you may pay in advance using your credit card by clicking here.
Back to AMS Counseling and Consultation Services


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Don't just sit there. Stand up while you read this, for your health.
Expedite Group's main mission is to help you balance work and life, and maintaining your health is crucial to both.
I spend my workday in front of a computer. I bet a lot of you do, too. And while I make a strong effort to exercise regularly, this got my attention.
Earlier this year the Mayo Clinic published a study about how sitting at our desks all day long poses a health risk that cannot be eliminated with a regular gym routine.
According to author Dr. James Levine (in the article linked here), "the muscle activity needed for standing and other movement seems to trigger important processes related to the breakdown of fats and sugars within the body. When you sit, these processes stall — and your health risks increase. When you're standing or actively moving, you kick the processes back into action."
David Worthington of Smart Planet says "you can lose as much as 8 pounds per year standing three more hours per day" in his article on the research. (That gets my attention too. Talk pounds lost to me any day.)
So what can you do about it? Dr. Levine suggests modifying a treadmill to become your new desk. Theoretically a nice idea, but that's not happening in my office. Other ideas:
- Stand up to make phone calls and read emails.
- Set an alarm on your computer, smart phone or clock to go off at ten till every hour. Use those ten minutes to fill your water bottle, head to the restroom, walk a lap around the office (include a flight of stairs if you have them!), and hand-deliver messages to co-workers.
- Modify your desk so that you can stand while you work. Place a few fat books under your monitor and keyboard if you have to. Your body will thank you.
- Do leg exercises once an hour (at twenty past, to maintain the movement effect) while you work. It's not the same as standing, but if you brace your core while stretching out it's better than being idle. Here's plane-travel tip from Dr. Elaine Schattner that you can use at your desk:"While seated, move your feet and legs around as much as circumstances permit, and at least every hour or so. Flex your feet 10 times, and stretch your legs as best you can, bending and extending the knees, one at a time, in any available direction, 10 times each. Another exercise is to raise each foot and swivel it, pivoting the toes from side to side while keeping the ankle relatively still." Read her whole article here.
- Be the gopher, or the Go-Fer. Volunteer to bring co-workers their coffee, carry the files to accounting, or empty the recycling.
- Stretch your abdominals at the end of the day. Lay on your belly and prop yourself on bent elbows, and take some deep belly breaths. Physically stretching out your organs like this will help counteract being crunched up all day. (You can trust me, I have a New York State license in massage therapy. True story.)
The added benefit to moving more is more than physical. It's mental. More oxygen in your body means better brain function. Better brain function means less effort for better results in your work. Everybody wins!
So what are you waiting for? Go get a drink of water–from a cooler on a different floor, of course.


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Securus technologies has become a leader in the provision of various solutions relating to correction facilities. The technology that the company develops has gone a long way in enhancing correction experience of most inmates. Actually, the company has had the opportunity to serve thousands of correction agencies across the country.
The company aims to provide powerful technology solutions for their numerous clients. It is also important to note that the company aims to provide technology that is easy for their clients to use. The company has been operating for a long period of time. This is because it was founded in the year 1986. To make it easier for it to serve numerous clients, the company has offices in different places. For instance, the company has offices in different places including Texas and Atlanta.
With respect to the provision of jobs, the company is in the forefront. For instance, there are more than 1,000 people working for the company. According to their reports, the company currently serves 2,600 facilities across the country. The company aims to provide high quality services for their clients. This is one of the major reasons why it has spent about 600 million dollars on innovations. Some of their money has also been spent on patents and acquiring other companies to enhance their services.
After using the services of the company, there are many clients who have made some testimonials. For instance, the office of the sheriff in New Jersey made a statement that the services of the company has helped them in the apprehension of the criminals involved in bank robbery. The office has been using the services of the company for investigative roles with a lot of success. According to a detention center based in Texas, Securus technologies has helped them to enforce discipline within the facility.


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JOHN PRINE needed to get into his comfort zone to finish a new album, so his wife reserved a room at the Omni Hotel in Nashville for a week. After nearly 50 years on the road, hotel rooms are a familiar enough sight. Following two bellmen to his suite, Prine settled in with four guitars and 10 boxes of legal pads to complete the album that would become The Tree of Forgiveness.
The highly-anticipated album, The Tree of Forgiveness, is Prine's first collection of new material since 2005's Grammy-winning Fair and Square. Rather than going out on a limb, Prine cultivated the themes that have brought international acclaim since the 1970s. For example, he can take a topic like loneliness and make it funny ("Knockin' on Your Screen Door") or heartbreaking ("Summers End"). Perfectly aligned with his quirkiest songs, "The Lonesome Friends of Science" makes its point through the characters he calls "those bastards in the white lab coats who experiment with mountain goats," as well as the discredited planet Pluto and the towering Vulcan statue in Birmingham, Alabama.
Prine teamed with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb to record in Nashville's historic Studio A, enlisting friends like Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, and Amanda Shires to sing along. The songs are new, although some had waited to be finished for decades, like a co-write with Phil Spector called "God Only Knows." Another incomplete song, "I Have Met My Love Today," now celebrates the unexpected spark that leads to lifelong romance — with a dash of youthful innocence. The musical arrangements may be simpler than on past efforts, yet his unique ability to distill complex emotions into everyday language remains fully intact.
Opening for Mr. Prine will be Valerie June.


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Fifteen years later, we're all still wondering what's the deal with Fred Durst. But maybe Limp BIzkit's longevity problem stems from choosing rap-rock over rap-jazz.
A new mashup lays the vocals of the group's 1999 hit "Break Stuff" over the Seinfeld theme song, and it actually kind of works.
Like Us


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By Dustin Rowles | Industry | October 30, 2008 |
When's the last time we featured a trailer of a movie you'd actually want to see? How unexpected, particularly given that I'd never heard a goddamn thing about I Sell the Dead, which is about a graverobber (Dominic Monaghan) facing the guillotine, who reflects over his life of crime with a priest (Ron Perlman) the night before. It's written and directed by a relative unknown, Glenn McQuaid. It's release date is listed only as 2008 on iMDB, and Box Office Mojo doesn't even have a listing for it. So, who knows when it will come out, or if it will ever see a wide release, which is a damn shame.
Corpses, Zombies, Vampires, Oh My! / Dustin Rowles


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2019 Happy Chinese New Year & Vacation Announcement
Posted by Yvon Lei on 22 January 2017 00:05
Dear Valued Customer,
Thecus HQ will be closed for Chinese New Year between 2018 Feb/14 and Feb/20. During which, the technical support team will still be available for basic limited technical inquiries.
For all other matters, we will respond asap upon return to the office on 2018 February 21th. Thank you very much for your understanding. Happy Chinese New Year!
Best Regards!


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If you are soon to be off on your hols and slightly apprehensive about baring all in a bikini, I have just the product for you. I promise you will love it as much as I do!
For beach-body, beautiful skin, that is nourished, smooth and glowing – look to Elemis Spa@Home. More specifically their Skin Nourish body scrub and Frangipani Monoi salt glow. Using them after just a couple of days completely transforms your skin! I have used many different body scrubs and exfoliators from high end brands, as well as the high street, but nothing compares to these guys. A weekly Elemis scrub is now part of my skincare routine. It's a great way to get the circulation moving and beat the cellulite, even more important since having a baby. (N.B good skincare is also essential to beat the dreaded stretchmarks. Prevention is better than cure.)
Tags: beauty, body scrub, cellulite, holiday, maternity beauty, salt scrub, stretchmarks


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Inquiry into Unresolved Recognition Issues for the Battle of Long Tan
- On 14 August 2008 the Australian Government announced its response to the independent review of the Battle of Long Tan recognition. As part of its response, the Government announced that 'any other unresolved concerns regarding individual awards for Long Tan would be referred to the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal'.
- In October 2009 the Government accepted the following recommendations:
- Recommendation 1: Flight Lieutenant Cliff Dohle be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the contemporary equivalent award to the Distinguished Flying Cross, the original award for which he was properly recommended in 1966 by all levels of Australian command in Vietnam.
- Recommendation 2: No other individual awards be made to participants in the Battle of Long Tan.
- Recommendation 3: Delta Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, be awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry for its performance at the Battle of Long Tan in August 1966.
Media Release – Announcement of Inquiry
Terms of Reference
Report: Appendix 4
Media Release – Announcement of the acceptance of the Tribunal's recommendations