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Saturday, March 17, 2012
My Own Organizing: Water and Other Disaster Supplies
I live in earthquake territory, where preparation for a possible quake makes all sorts of sense. But, like anyone else, my preparedness sometimes is a little lacking. However, this past week I took some good steps forward, and I'm so pleased I just had to share.
I know to stock up on water, and I'd actually done that some months ago — and then found I had no good place to put the bottles. I had some of them in my garage cabinets, but I didn't really like that answer; if a bottle sprung a leak, it could do a fair amount of damage.
So this past week I got some shelving, which fits into a little niche in my garage just perfectly. (I didn't even realize that; I had the shelves put up somewhere else, and then my neighbor noticed the better place for them.) I'm not handy at all, but these Plano shelves really were as easy as they claim; the "two minutes to assemble" claim was actually true. So now my water has a good home.
And I did one more thing. I carry an emergency kit in my car, because I may be away from home when a quake hits. But I was overdue to order replacement supplies for that kit, and I just took care of that.
Anyone going to join me in taking at least one baby step toward being better prepared for earthquakes or other natural disasters? If so, please share in the comments!
Update on July 5, 2012: This shelving is now bolted to the wall, and there are restraints to help keep the bottles on the shelves if there's a quake.
9 comments:
- Claire Josefine said...
Good for you, Jeri! I would like to recommend a couple of things I do that aren't usually included in the disaster-preparedness advice. One, i grow as much of my own food as I can (as in am physically able; if I had help, I could be growing for the entire neighborhood...). Two, I have built community with my neighbors. If Peak Oil and others who argue -- and I suspect they are right -- that our industrialized civilization is unsustainable and will, at some point, come crashing down (which is just a larger scale of systems crashing due to earthquakes, etc.), then it seems sensible to become self-sustaining on a smaller, community level. My neighbor has clean drinking water in her creek. I grow food. Another fishes. If we coordinate and build healthy relationships with each other, we are better able to survive if and when we are cut off from socially-provided services.
- March 18, 2012 at 8:53:00 AM PDT
- MarySees said...
I have a bug out bag. It was better organized a couple of years ago. I need to get some more things. I don't have water stored, and I should. I do have a Big Berkey.
I was trying to keep seeds in my bug out bag, but I got bugs. I do have a survival book, a Swiss knife-type tool gizmo, and a small flash light. I also have a large hunting knife with fishing line and matches in the handle. I had a couple of those tiny emergency blanket packets, but I gave them to a young man. (I had the feeling I needed to give them to him. Then I found out he was going to Alaska.) I need to get some more of those.
I had some food stored, and I need to replenish that.
- March 18, 2012 at 8:56:00 AM PDT
- Anonymous said...
One small step: I have some extra hiking boots that I don't use any more, so I keep them in the trunk of the car in case I can't get into the house to get practical clothing, or am stuck somewhere in heels and need to walk a long way.
- March 18, 2012 at 12:12:00 PM PDT
- Jeri Dansky said...
Claire, I think what you're doing with your neighbors is very cool. It reminds me of the Burlingame Neighborhood Network — but on a grander scale.
- March 18, 2012 at 1:43:00 PM PDT
- Jeri Dansky said...
MarySees, I had to Google Big Berkey — but now I know what it is!
Anonymous: That's a good step! I also keep some shoes — in my case, good walking shoes rather than hiking boots — in my car at all times.
- March 18, 2012 at 1:52:00 PM PDT
- Jeri Dansky said...
I just got a helpful comment through Twitter from San Francisco's Neighborhood Emergency Response Team program: Great! Next step: Use a shelf-securing strap to attach the rack to the wall. Then consider elastic cords around bottle area.
I had planned to secure the shelves next — all the bookshelves in my home are bolted to the walls — but the elastic cords in the bottle area is something I hadn't yet thought of.
- March 18, 2012 at 10:33:00 PM PDT
- Cynthia Friedlob said...
Oh, I so need to check the supplies that have been sitting unused (thank Heaven!) and get replacements for things that have expired -- like antibiotic ointment and band-aids that have lost there stickiness. We have emergency backpacks in the cars as well as at home. Old sweatshirts, extra pairs of socks, and gloves are included.
- March 19, 2012 at 10:46:00 PM PDT
- Theresa Finnigin said...
Great post! I too have an ER kit. I make a note on my calendar when items might expire or need replacing as a reminder so it's always up-to-date. Looks like you have plenty of water and a great storage solution. Kudos :)
- March 21, 2012 at 11:01:00 AM PDT
- Margaret Lukens said...
Congratulations, Jeri! I am a big fan of taking baby steps. One little step always seems to inspire another. To keep up to date, I use the change of seasons and the weekends when we change clocks between daylight savings and standard time (that's six times a year) as an opportunity to tweak and improve my emergency preparation. Recently checked my fire extinguisher (ABC-type, for the most common household fires)and the smoke alarm batteries.
- April 2, 2012 at 12:23:00 PM PDT


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Two heartwarming films for when you can't feel your toes
'I tried to get into the role 24 hours a day.'- Ryu Seung-ryong
Dec 28,2012
Left: Human comedy-drama "A Gift from Room 7" tells the story of a mentally challenged man who is wrongfully put in a prison full of notorious criminals. Right: "The Gangster Shaman" centers on a gangster who leads a double life as a shaman after an accident. Provided by NEW/ Showbox
Hollywood blockbusters like "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and "Les Miserables" have recently hit Korean theaters, but there are still a number of Korean flicks that are worth checking out in the new year. Two heart-warming comedies are perfect for a frigid winter night: "A Gift from Room 7" and "The Gangster Shaman."
Lee Hwan-kyung's latest film "A Gift from Room 7," which is readying for a Jan. 24 release, tells the story of a mentally challenged man, Yong-gu (Ryu Seung-ryong), who is wrongly convicted of a crime while purchasing a gift for his beloved daughter Ye-seung (Gal So-won).
He is thrown into a maximum security prison with a number of notorious criminals. The range of crimes they are convicted for vary from fraud and pick-pocketing to adultery.
At first everyone in the prison is bemused by the newcomer with an older man's body who acts like a child, but later they grow attached to Yong-gu and start taking care of him. The father has only one wish: to see his daughter Ye-seung.
The strict prison policy, however, does not allow visitors. So the gang of convicts decides to help him by sneaking in his daughter.
Ryu, who plays Yong-gu, is a master at work in the film, tastefully making the audience laugh as though they had a dose of laughing gas before the start.
"I didn't focus on changing my look to play Yong-gu but tried hard to embrace the susceptibility that young kids have," he said.
"I talked with So-won, who plays my daughter in the movie, all day long and tried to remind myself of childhood."
The actor earned critical acclaim for his roles in box office hits "Masquerade" and "All About My Wife," but playing a mentally challenged man was a new task altogether.
"I developed a deeply rooted habit of thoroughly analyzing scripts since I took on a theatrical role, but Yong-gu was especially challenging. I made a graph outlining the flow of Yong-gu's feelings based on different scenes, locations and timelines.
"I tried to get into the role 24 hours a day," the 42-year-old actor who won best supporting actor for "Masquerade" at this year's Daejong Film Awards.
Ryu also drew on his experience of meeting a mentally handicapped man.
"I've met and talked with the disabled and there was one man who drew my attention. He is very pure and always wears a big smile," the actor said.
"I try to inject his characteristics into Yong-gu. The man tends to speak the same thing over and over and is good at memorizing specific numbers."
In addition to a plethora of hilarious scenes, director Lee infused dramatic moments into the heartfelt comedy.
"I was inspired by a documentary telling the story of a father and his daughter.
"He was arrested by the police but kept saying, 'You should have breakfast before leaving for school' to his daughter, although she has no one to prepare meals for her. The scene was a starting point for this movie," the director said.
Lee proved his exceptional ability to touch people's hearts in his previous work "Lump Sugar"(2006), which explores a friendship between an aspiring jockey and a horse.
The human drama won over critics and moviegoers alike and successfully presented the warm-hearted relationship as reflected in the movie's line: "What makes the horse move is not the whip but the jockey's heart."
"The Gangster Shaman" by Jo Jin-kyu tells an even more bizarre story.
The upcoming movie with its release date set for Jan. 10 presents a veteran gangster, Gwang-ho (Park Shin-yang), who is both incredibly loyal and skilled.
After an accident, Gwang-ho gets possessed by a spirit and then becomes a shaman, beginning a hand-wringing double life as a gangster-shaman.
As strange as the story may sound, director Jo said he was inspired by an online news report that stated that a gangster had indeed become a shaman.
The director holds a strong foothold in the gangster comedy genre with his successful debut feature "My Wife is Gangster" (2001).
By Park Eun-jee [email@example.com]
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subset: commoncrawl


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Alternative forms[edit]
From Middle English vertual, virtual, from Medieval Latin virtuālis, from virtus ("virtue").
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈvɜːtʃuəl/, /ˈvɜːtʃəl/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈvɝtʃuəl/
- (General New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈvɵːtʃuəl/, /ˈvɵːtʃəl/, [ˈvɵːtʃɯ(l)]
- Hyphenation: vir‧tu‧al, vir‧tual
virtual (not comparable)
- In effect or essence, if not in fact or reality; imitated, simulated.
- In fact a defeat on the battlefield, Tet was a virtual victory for the North, owing to its effect on public opinion.
- Virtual addressing allows applications to believe that there is much more physical memory than actually exists.
- (Can we date this quote?) Fleming
- A thing has a virtual existence when it has all the conditions necessary to its actual existence.
- (Can we date this quote?) De Quincey
- to mask by slight differences in the manners a virtual identity in the substance
- Having the power of acting or of invisible efficacy without the agency of the material or measurable part; potential.
- (Can we date this quote?) Francis Bacon
- Heat and cold have a virtual transition, without communication of substance.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
- Every kind that lives, / Fomented by his virtual power, and warmed.
- (Can we date this quote?) Francis Bacon
- Nearly, almost. (A relatively recent development in meaning)
- The angry peasants were a virtual army as they attacked the castle.
- 2012, Chelsea 6-0 Wolves [1]
- The Chelsea captain was a virtual spectator as he was treated to his side's biggest win for almost two years as Stamford Bridge serenaded him with chants of "there's only one England captain," some 48 hours after he announced his retirement from international football.
- Simulated in a computer or online.
- The virtual world of his computer game allowed character interaction.
- Operating by computer or in cyberspace; not physically present.
- a virtual assistant; a virtual personal trainer
- (computing, object-oriented programming, of a class member) Capable of being overridden with a different implementation in a subclass.
- (physics) Pertaining to particles in temporary existence due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
Derived terms[edit]
in effect; not fact
simulated in a computer
nearly, almost
in object-oriented programming
virtual (plural virtuals)
- (computing, programming) A virtual member function of a class.
virtual (masculine and feminine plural virtuals)
Middle English[edit]
- Alternative form of vertual
virtual m, f (plural virtuais, comparable)
virtual (plural virtuales)
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Medieval Latin
- English 3-syllable words
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- en:Computing
- en:Object-oriented programming
- en:Physics
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Programming
- Catalan lemmas
- Catalan adjectives
- Catalan epicene adjectives
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English adjectives
- Portuguese lemmas
- Portuguese adjectives
- Spanish lemmas
- Spanish adjectives


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Description and Brand Names of Clorazepate (Oral Route)
US Brand Name
- Gen-Xene
- Tranxene
- Tranxene-SD
- Tranxene T-Tab
Clorazepate is used to relieve symptoms of anxiety and alcohol withdrawal. This medicine may also be used to treat partial seizures.
Clorazepate is a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines belong to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which are medicines that slow down the nervous system.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Tablet
- Tablet, Extended Release
- Capsule
Before Using Clorazepate (Oral Route)
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of clorazepate in children younger than 9 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of clorazepate in the elderly. However, severe drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, clumsiness, or unsteadiness are more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of clorazepate. Elderly patients may require a lower dose to help reduce unwanted effects.
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alfentanil
- Amobarbital
- Anileridine
- Aprobarbital
- Butabarbital
- Butalbital
- Carbinoxamine
- Carisoprodol
- Chloral Hydrate
- Chlorzoxazone
- Codeine
- Dantrolene
- Ethchlorvynol
- Fentanyl
- Fospropofol
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Levorphanol
- Meclizine
- Meperidine
- Mephenesin
- Mephobarbital
- Meprobamate
- Metaxalone
- Methocarbamol
- Methohexital
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Omeprazole
- Orlistat
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Pentobarbital
- Phenobarbital
- Primidone
- Propoxyphene
- Remifentanil
- Secobarbital
- Sodium Oxybate
- Sufentanil
- Tapentadol
- Thiopental
- Zolpidem
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amprenavir
- Ginkgo
- Perampanel
- St John's Wort
- Theophylline
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Drug abuse or dependence, or history of – Dependence on clorazepate may develop.
- Glaucoma, narrow angle or
- Mental illness or depression – Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease – Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.
Proper Use of Clorazepate (Oral Route)
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
This medicine may be used with other seizure medicines. Keep using all of your seizure medicines unless your doctor tells you to stop.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets):
For anxiety:
- Adults – 30 milligrams (mg) per day, taken in divided doses. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
- Older adults – At first, 7.5 to 15 mg per day, taken at bedtime or in divided doses. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
- Children – Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For symptoms of alcohol withdrawal:
- Adults – At first, 30 milligrams (mg), followed by 30 to 60 mg in divided doses. Your doctor will set up a schedule that will gradually reduce your dose until your symptoms improve. The dose is usually not more than 90 mg per day.
- Children – Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
For control of seizures:
- Adults and teenagers – At first, 7.5 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 90 mg per day.
- Children 9 to 12 years of age – At first, up to 7.5 mg two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 60 mg per day.
- Children younger than 9 years of age – Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For anxiety:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits to see if the medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for any unwanted effects.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away. Your doctor may want you to join a pregnancy registry for patients taking a seizure medicine.
This medicine may cause some people, especially older persons, to become drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, clumsy or unsteady, or less alert than they are normally. Also, this medicine may cause double vision or other vision problems. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert or able to think or see well.
This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; medicine for seizures or barbiturates; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics (numbing medicines), including some dental anesthetics. Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.
Do not stop taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This may help prevent a worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, such as convulsions (seizures), hallucinations, nausea or vomiting, stomach or muscle cramps, tremors, or unusual behavior.
This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you, your child, or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor or your child's doctor right away.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Side Effects of Clorazepate (Oral Route)
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
- Bladder pain
- bloody or cloudy urine
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- frequent urge to urinate
- lower back or side pain
- shakiness and unsteady walk
- slurred speech
- trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
- unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
- Change in consciousness
- drowsiness
- loss of consciousness
- relaxed and calm
- sleepiness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
- Blurred vision
- diarrhea
- discouragement
- dizziness
- double vision
- dry mouth
- feeling sad or empty
- headache
- indigestion
- irritability
- loss of appetite
- loss of interest or pleasure
- mental confusion
- nausea or vomiting
- nervousness
- passing of gas
- seeing double
- skin rash
- sleeplessness
- stomach pain, fullness, or discomfort
- trouble with concentrating
- trouble with sleeping
- unable to sleep
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.


text:
The patent-pending MAXLock Door SystemTM enhances security by providing multiple lock points around the perimeter of the dog crate door.
Midwest LifeStages® ACE dog crate sets up in seconds and folds down flat for travel and storage. Detachable handles clip easily onto the folded crate for carrying. The pan stop secures the durable plastic pan, which can be removed for cleaning, and the rubber feet protect surfaces and floors.
MAXLock Door SystemTM
enhances security
Midwest ACE LifeStages 7 Sizes
Dog Crates, Dog Beds, Dog Exercise Pens, Dog Carriers, Dog Feeders & Bowls
Dog Crate Pans, Dog Crate Covers, Dog Kennels, Pet Barriers


text:
Last I checked, not many news organizations or bloggers (with one exception) have covered what for us was one of yesterday's top stories: a statement by a group of prominent lay Catholics calling for a "spirit of civility" in all political discussions, including in the church.
The statement is certain to be controversial because it directly addresses the issue of denying Communion to Catholic politicians who oppose church teachings. It calls fitness to receive Communion a matter of personal responsibility, but it also warns politicians that they risk giving "the appearance of hypocracy" if they "advertise their Catholicism as part of their political appeal, but ignore the church's moral teachings in their political life."
The fact that this is a high-powered, bipartisan group of Catholics makes the story hard for us to ignore, unlike some of the other more predictable statements issued on either side of this debate. As journalists we're not going to tell you what we think of the statement, just that it's another element of the story as we move closer to next year's election season.
If you want to read the full statement, here's a link to a post by one of the participating organizations.


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A Fruit a Month: Lovely Lychee Kakigori Recipe
When I happened across A Fruit of the Month blog event and discovered that the theme fruit happened to be the lychee (or litchi, ライãƒãƒ¼ã€ãƒ©ã'¤ãƒ, è"æž) fruit, I was beside myself with excitement. The lychee is my latest fruit "crush," and a relative newcomer to my diet, as I only discovered it two summers ago while studying in Japan. I was living in the off the beaten track city of Okazaki, a city in Aichi prefecture that is most noted for being about 35 minutes of the large city Nagoya. I was attending the Yamasa Institute and having a glorious time. I had lived in Japan previously so I was used to navigating the gluten free diet in Japan and was eating a lot of sushi and onigiri (rice balls wrapped in nori seaweed). Lunch time was slightly tricky, as I didn't have that much time between classes and didn't always have time to pack myself a "bento" or packed lunch. Luckily, there was a wonderful Kaiten Zushi restaurant, a sushi joint with cheap (105 yen) sushi on a conveyor belt, called Atom Boy in walking/ biking distance of the school. The sushi was great- but my favorite part was dessert- they had several purin (puddings), yogurt, and best of all, a bowl of freshly chilled bowl of lychee fruit as a summer special. I had never had this sweet, refreshing fruit before, and it was the perfect end to a sushi meal enjoyed in an air conditioned escape from the hot, humid Japanese summer. Lychee has a red to brownish shell (it turns brown when refrigerated) and a small pit similar in size to a date pit. The flesh of the fruit is silky and sweet, with similar texture and flavor to grapes, but yet better. Lychee fruit is high in the antioxidant Vitamin C and the essential mineral Potassium, and, in my opinion is the perfect fruit. Unfortunately it's a delicate fruit, which deteriorates rapidly once picked, and it has a relatively short season.
The lychee has a long and honored history in China. "The Lychee originated over 2000 years ago first in the north tropical rainforests and mountain forests of Southern China, where it is a dominant tree species." (Lychees Online) According to my friend Wikipedia, "A major early Chinese historical reference to lychees was made in the Tang Dynasty, when it was the favorite fruit of Emperor Li Longji (Xuanzong)'s favoured concubine Yang Yuhuan (Yang Guifei). The emperor had the fruit, which was only grown in southern China, delivered by the imperial messenger service's fast horses, whose riders would take shifts day and night in a Pony Express-like manner, to the capital."
Now, you can find lychee being grown "in the native region of China, and also elsewhere in South-East Asia, especially in north of Thailand,Vietnam, Pakistan, India, southern Japan, and more recently in California, Hawaii, and Florida in the United States, the wetter areas of eastern Australia and sub-tropical regions of South Africa, also in the state of Sinaloa in Mexico. They are also grown as an ornamental tree as well as for their fruit." In fact, since the early 1990's, production of lychee in China has doubled thanks to improved farming methods. You can buy fresh lychee in season in Chinese, Vietnamese, and some Asian markets, and you may be able to find them at specialty produce shops or Trader Joes. Asian markets and recently Trader Joes sell the lychee canned in syrup. The pure fruit is also available dried, and there are many products made from lychee available like Lychee ice cream, lychee juice, lychee candy, and even lychee jam. Look for exotic and tasty lychee alcohols like lychee sake, and lychee tea made from dried lychee fruit and tea. Many bubble tea shops like Tapioca Express also often have a black tea lychee drink that I highly recommend. If you can't find any fresh lychee in your area in season, you can order it online from a company in Florida, Lychees Online. They also have a wealth of information about growing, consuming, and enjoying lychee on their site.
When picking out lychee, avoid any batches with white fuzzy dots on the skin, as the entire batch has been contaminated with mold and the mold will spread rapidly. The skin should be consistent in color and either a nice rich red (best) or brown (if it has been refrigerated.) Frozen lychee is tasty, if you can find it. Canned lychee is your last option, and my least favorite source of lychee, but will work for some recipes. Canned lychee tend to be packed in heavy syrup, and they lose most of their fresh crispness and unique flavor in the canning process, but it's better than no lychees at all, especially if you use it in the right recipe!
You can find lychee recipes at Lychees online and Live to Eat's AFAM lychee roundup, NOW AVAILABLE.
For my entry in AFAM, I was inspired by my summer experiences in Japan to create a light, refreshing kakigori recipe. Kakigori is a summery Japanese dessert of shaved ice and flavored syrup similar to a snow cone, but usually consumed with a spoon. Traditionally you use a cranked machine to shave your ice with an ice shaving blade, but electric ice shavers are popular. Because DH loves Japanese kakigori, usually with strawberry or lemon syrup, we brought a manual ice shaving machine home with us from Japan and enjoy it in the hottest summer months. You can use a snow cone machine or try to find an authentic kakigori machine at an asian market. During summer, kakigori is sold at festival stands, convenience stores, coffee shops and restaurants, especially family restaurants. Tourist areas and elsewhere, you can usually find kakigori with elaborate toppings like sweet bean paste (Azuki), green tea, rice mochi balls, and condensed milk. Nothing is better after a long day hiking around temples in Kyoto than sitting down at a bench at an outdoor kakigori shop and enjoying icy, refreshing kakigori with a faint breeze and the sound of glass wind chimes tinkling faintly in the air. If you must, you can call this a lychee snow cone recipe, but to me, it will always be kakigori, because I never really had snow cones in the US before enjoying kakigori in Japan.
My one complaint with kakigori is that many people have a very heavy hand with the sweet, sweet fruity syrups used to top the ice. I prefer light, sweet flavor rather than heavy cloying syrup that congregates in the bottom of the bowl and renders half of the ice sickly sweet. Therefore, when making my kakigori recipe, rather than using plain ice, I decided to use two kinds of liquid for my "ice blocks"- a sweet lychee juice (30% juice), and unsweetened black lychee tea. I thought the dry, acidic flavor of the lychee tea would compliment the sweet, light flavor of the juice. I prowled my local asian market for lychee ice cream and Popsicles (optional) for a creamy dairy element to fill the role of the usual canned milk topping, and then created two variations of kakigori for grown ups; one in a wine goblet, and the other in one of my favorite lotus shaped dishes that I bought in Japan. The results? A summery and elegant light dessert which celebrated the versatility of the yummiest fruit I've encountered- the lychee, or litchi. Why not have your own lychee adventure- see what crazy gluten free lychee products you can find in your local asian market, and come up with your own lychee dish- and tell me about it! I'm sure you will come to love this fruit as much as I do.
My Kakigori Gallery
Lychee Kakigori Shaved Ice Recipe
Kakigori/ Shaved Ice Making machine
1 lychee black tea bag
Dairy toppings, optional:
If you have a shaved ice machine, it may come with trays or containers for freezing ice. My machine only comes with two small containers, so freezing my ingredients took several days. If you have more containers or are making your frozen flavored ice in ice cube trays, freeze it all at once. Otherwise, two days before you want kakigori, make one batch of lychee black tea, medium strength. It is not necessary to add sugar. Freeze your lychee tea in your trays. The next day (as long as the tea has completely frozen into a block), remove your tea blocks and put them in a freezer proof ziploc bag and store them in the freezer until needed. Then wash your freezer containers and fill them with your lychee juice and place them in the freezer. Once you have your 4 blocks of ice ready, prepare your toppings.
Take your fresh or frozen lychee and reserve three with skin on for decorative function. If you like, you can skin and pit your fresh lychee and freeze them overnight so they get slightly chrystallized, or you can just use them, skinned and pitted, fresh. Slice them into halves or fourths.
If using dairy, take your lychee popsicle and cut it into little cubes. As soon as you cut them, put them in the freezer, as they will melt immediately. Take your tablespoon of lychee ice cream and put it in a little dish at room temperature for a few minutes and let it begin to melt. You will be using it as a substitute for condensed milk that is often drizzled over shaved ice deserts as a topping.
To assemble:
This dessert is light and sweet but not overpoweringly so, and not too bad for you, considering. Great on a hot summer day.
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In keeping with the Valentine's Day theme this week, I have decided to find a pin on Pinterest and hack the heck out of it. I know, how original but sometimes I just want to create and not think about what I am creating. Pure DIY joy! This is what I found. A really cute burlap banner made by Thoughts From Alice using jute upholstery webbing, felt
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CEO Council: Protecting Consumer Information
Jon Leibowitz, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, was instrumental in developing the "Do Not Track" legislation that limits the information advertisers can get from online consumers but the deal seems to be faulting. In this interview with Julia Angwin, he says the bill is still moving forward.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... just some people it says the FTC chairman since two thousand nine ... and under his tenure the FTC has been very active as on first May Cincy ... thing after markets ... scans infighting ... pay for delay settlements in the farming industry ... but what editing is actually received how corporate America looks at ... I their data practices ... they've been on the FTC been very aggressive on privacy issues ... and am they've gotten ... twenty year consent agrees with dual Twitter and Facebook ... and am ... John has been a huge advocate for something called do not track ... so I was a mean tons of about your proposal ... for do not track and where it's headed ... up how did eventually I mean ... we we tried to get fairly balanced approach to privacy we should recognize the value ... of the ... value proposition of the Internet ecosystem which is funded on free advertising and no one wants to change that ... but we do think ... that the consumer should have ... some choice about where their data goes particularly when it comes to third party tracking ... and so we have proposed ... the notion of ... self regulatory ... one that that one of the business community has generally embrace ... I've called do not track which would allow consumers to opt out of third party tracking if they want to ... it's a much more moderate approach and say BTU when they're debating ... you know whether to allow any sort of collection of information on this and do not often ... this would be up ... I see use to it that the way has an MBA in half to deal with online advertising community about ... Do Not tack and everyone hope to still be done by the end of the year I aam ... and his wife fears its faltering ... a bit ... I'm a little more optimistic than that we do not track is not called fallen off a fiscal cliff was going to go into ... anyway I was just wondering what is your assessment of whether it'll actually be done but ended the year well I think and you know this is been a process in which we have ... the ... two steps lower than once the facts are out ... aam but we're still making forward progress I mean after all ... the that the advertising community has built something called the and choices network ... in which they now serve ... over a trillion advertisements with an opt out ... of ... every month so I think that's pretty meaningful ... the question is when you do not track is going to allow ... consumers not to have information collected about them ... and we are still assertive working through that process ... is a group called the world wide Web consortium is a standard setting body does involve ... I'm ... I think there is a look ... I think companies ... want to be in you know this better and I didn't ... want to be on the right side of consumers and in it being on the right time to consumers ... is allowing some modest ... opt out ... of four ... for Americans this and that if they don't want information collected ... that doesn't have to happen I think that's in the day that we're seeing more support in his community where you have ... all the browser tummies Micra soft and Google and Mozilla and Apple ... who were supporting it ... we have a lot of online publishers so I think we're making progress I continue to be optimistic ... it's not a certainty the ... break well I mean this one ... one ... thing that emerged during this whole process is that sad that having community is not itself ... come in agreement ... do not separate ... so one thing that seems like it might emerge as my Pursell commitment ... that some advertisers will agree to it and so will not ... and still what I wonder is from a consumer perspective is that actually helpful and if you're ... if you're using something that really doesn't prevent tracking ... isn't a false promise ... well ... look I I think that that that you the answer is in some companies are ... now allowing consumers are contracting ... and others aren't I don't think that's a ... that's a good ten points ... but ... again that he he you know industry ... I think that if it doesn't ... give consumers some modest control over where their data goes ... I will really risk ... um I think a legislative backlash with a much more prescriptive next year ... we have to regulate were not a regulatory agency said in a few areas for example involving children ... and I've been so I think that's the that's the them with the decision for industry to make but I think that that ... the trendlines have been willing to ... because we are seeing ... me when we propose the notion of Do Not Track probably ... two years ago when we finalize our privacy report ... I mean last December so almost a year ago I don't think anyone thought


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About me
I am JeanYves married man and father of three children, living in France and involved in hospitality exchange
I like to walk by the country to discuss about many things.
I spend too much time in front of a computer.
Spoken languages
- French Mother Tongue
- English Fluent
- Spanish Intermediate
- Italian Can only say Welcome!
My interests
- Hobbies:
Role playing game when I was younger, birdwatching, books, linux
- Books:
Lord of the flies, Don Quijotte, A prayer for Owen, Cyrano de Bergerac, Riverwold, Tow sawyer, Animal Farms, Dune, the unbearable lightness of being
- Music:
last thing I was listening to when I fill this area Mark Knopfler, Bach, Teleman, Tri Yann, Mikey 3D, Pink Floyd
- Films:
Bis ende der welte : not because this is a big travel, but because this is a beautiful movie (and the sound track is really great too)
I like many other movies Old one like Pandora, I like the Cohen Brothers, the movies made by Clint Eastwood, of course many French movies maker like Jeunet et Caro, Klapish, Annaud
- Organisations I belong to:
BeVolunteer, Hospitalityclub
Travel experiences
- Past trips:
Italy, Greece, Japan, Tunisia, Germany, Azerbaidjan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Spain, England
- Planned trips:
One day Australia or Argentina
Belongs to the following groups
40+ travellers
I pass 50 recently and I am intersted in meeting people
- Max number of guests:
- 5
- Maximum length of stay:
Generally 2/3 days
- I Live With:
My wife and my three children
- I can offer my guests:
- A guided tour, A dinner.
- I can offer my hosts:
a bottle of wine
- Other information for guests:
I have a big house, not with a lot of comfort but where people are welcome
- Public transport:
Free buses in the city, railway station 100m
- House Rules:
- No drugs.
Please contact us several weeks before visiting us


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The 2008 growing season presented growers with a wide range of challenges, as the weather conditions swung wildly all year long. By the end of the year, an early and smaller-than-normal crop produced wines that range from good to very good in quality. It is a year to approach a bit cautiously as quality is variable, with the best wineries making exceptional wines and others struggling in the difficult conditions.
The year started out with wild winter storms bringing rain and damaging winds around the first of the year. Spring followed with record dry conditions and an early bud break. Frost became a major problem, taking its toll on yields in many regions, down 20-50% in some vineyards. Days were beautiful, but plunging temperatures at night plagued growers for weeks. Growers used irrigation to insulate and protect the vines and then, within a week, a severe heat spike had them doing a 180-degree turn. Just as vines were entering flowering, growers were irrigating to cool the vines in temperatures that reached triple digits. The result of the wild weather was a reduction in the number of clusters, with smaller berries and a smaller crop forecast. The dry conditions also resulted in less canopy development, but in the coming cool summer, this would not be problematic, and the smaller fruit load would have a better chance of ripening. The dry weather also minimized concerns for rot, disease, and pest issues.
The precocious spring initially had growers thinking early harvest, but summer was cool and dry, and the early gains were given back as ripening proceeded at a much slower pace. Harvest began just a little ahead of normal, with grapes for sparkling wines starting around the second week of August and whites towards the end of the month.
At the end of August, the cool summer came to a halt. A week of hot temperatures that lasted through Labor Day sent grapes into a ripening frenzy and created a rush to get harvest underway as sugars began to surge. Earlier-ripening grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Merlot, whose harvest is usually spread out over several weeks, began to hit their numbers at the same time. That forced many growers to work overtime to get them in all at once, straining work crews and increasing demands on cellar space and fermentation tanks.
After the heat wave, a period of fine, dry, cool weather settled in, allowing a more leisurely pace to harvest, to the relief of vineyard and cellar workers. Grapes could be allowed to slowly ripen and develop, a big factor in the final quality of the vintage. Light rains in early October didn't have any real impact, and growers were able to take advantage of the long hang-times and pick at optimum ripeness. While Paso Robles also had to deal with freezes in October, much of the state was singed by wildfires. Some vineyards suffered smoke damage — the smoky haze that some felt, which impacted available sunlight and ripening, just added to the extremes growers faced in 2008.
The late-season weather during harvest brought this challenging year to a better conclusion than many might have expected at the end of the summer. It was a smaller than normal crop, a bit variable in quality, but the best growers produced some excellent wines with good concentration, depth, and a cool, refined elegance.
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Woman Dumps Her Baby In Delta After Being Told by Pastor That She Is A Snake
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A woman identified as Amara Emeka dumped her baby in Sapele, Delta state, on Sunday after being told by a pastor that her baby was a snake and he needed N52,000 to conduct a deliverance on her.
According to Sapele Oghenek who shared the photos, the baby was found crying by the road side and was taken to a police station by residents before the mother later came to identify her.
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He is extremely motivated, organized and disciplined. Nick has have over 6+ years experience with web content management, administrative duties, Excel, Microsoft software, Quick books, Customer Service, as well as email management, internet research and data entry. He is committed to producing top-notch, quality work, which is his driving force.View More Articles
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
PyCon Speaking
Speaking of speaking: I asked a few popular conference warriors (Martelli & Hettinger) how many talks they had given and when they first felt comfy giving talks. They didn't know. I should have asked Beazely and C.T. Brown but they're professors and get more practice in a year than most people get in a lifetime.
But seriously, those popular conference regulars didn't know. Hettinger estimated he had spoken 30 times. His wife then pointed out he did 15 talks last year and so he upped his estimate to "more than 15 twice." Martelli estimated 50-100 talks but was equally uncertain. Myself, I've only done 7-8 and still get nervous if the room is less than 30 or more than 300 people. Hettinger said something like "I still get nervy when it the audience is 10x what I'm used to." I couldn't coax an admission out of Alex (I had only vague thoughts on the topic when I asked, and no narrative).
Take it all as paraphrased hearsay, but anytime I have to step up to a podium I just say to myself "suck it up, princess." It mostly works.
4 comments:
- Kevin H said...
I hear "Suck it up, Princess" is generally useful advice. :)
- March 17, 2011 at 3:01 PM
- Dave said...
I had a terrible fear of public speaking throughout college and didn't start to conquer it until grad school when I was simply thrown in front of a class of 30 undergraduates and told to teach them algebra my first semester. I can't say it was a pleasant experience, but doing a lot of teaching is definitely one way to pick up a lot of speaking experience.
I'd just like to say that I'm like Hettinger though--I always get nervous before Pycon presentations. The audience is so much larger than what I'm used to and there are rigid time constraints. I can't even begin to describe how nervous I was before my GIL talk in 2010.
If I had to give anyone advice though, I'd just tell them to just go up there and have fun with it.
- March 18, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Thanks for the link, Jack!
Re: fear of public speaking: I had fairly little to begin with, but what little remained was gone after performing in Rocky Horror Picture Show -- after being in fishnets in front of a theater, few things can embarrass me. :)
- March 22, 2011 at 1:10 PM
- price per head call center said...
It is a very informative and useful post thanks it is good material to read this post increases my knowledge
- June 13, 2012 at 9:02 PM


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Federer rolls into third round at French Open
Paris, France – Swiss icon Roger Federer was an easy second- round winner Wednesday at the 2013 French Open.
The second-seeded former world No. 1 superstar dismantled helpless Indian Somdev Devvarman 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in a brisk 82-minute affair on Court Lenglen. Devvarman was a two-time NCAA champion while attending the University of Virginia.
"I tried to finish the match quite quickly, because I was afraid it would rain," Federer said. "So I was very focused, and I'm very happy for that."
Federer boasts a men's-record 254 Grand Slam singles match victories and is now third on the men's Open-Era list with 56 wins at the French.
The 31-year-old veteran is the all-time men's leader with 17 Grand Slam singles titles, including last year's Wimbledon championship and the 2009 French Open crown. The Swiss great is also a four-time Roland Garros runner-up to Rafael Nadal, who also beat his long-time rival Federer in the Rome Masters finale just two weeks ago.
Federer's third-round opponent will be quality Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who upset the Swiss legend in Rotterdam earlier this season.
Meanwhile, fourth-seeded David Ferrer and sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also secured spots in the third round.
Ferrer, a semifinalist at Roland Garros last year, broke serve eight times in routing fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 on the famed red clay in Paris. Montanes was fresh off his clay-court title in Nice.
The gritty Ferrer will next take on another compatriot, Feliciano Lopez, who beat Portuguese Joao Sousa by a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 margin.
The heavy French crowd favorite and former Australian Open runner-up Tsonga discarded veteran Finnish left-hander Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-3, while 10th-seeded Croat Marin Cilic handled promising Aussie Nick Kyrgios 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 on Day 4. Nieminen was a runner-up in Germany last week.
In other second-round play involving top-16 seeds, No. 11 Spaniard Nicolas Almagro drubbed France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-2, 6-4, 6-3, formidable No. 14 Canadian Milos Raonic defeated quality French left-hander Michael Llodra 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, and No. 15 Frenchman Gilles Simon overcame Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.
Also in the second round, 18th-seeded American Sam Querrey erased Czech Jan Hajek 6-4, 7-5, 6-4; 20th-seeded Italian Andreas Seppi (20) outlasted Slovenian Blaz Kavcic 6-0, 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (2-7), 4-6, 6-3; 23rd-seeded South African slugger Kevin Anderson overcame Russian Evgeny Donskoy 6-7 (8-10), 6-1, 7-5, 6-2; 25th-sdeeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy bested Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 7-5, 6-4; a 30th-seeded Benneteau snuck past German Tobias Kamke 7-6 (11-9), 7-5, 5-7, 0-6, 6-4; and 32nd-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo fought back from two-sets-to-love down to beat down Dutchman Igor Sijsling 6-7 (2-7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.
In some first-round action on Wednesday, No. 8 seed Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia topped Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 and 24th-seeded rising Frenchman Benoit Paire defeated former Aussie Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 6-4.
Some other second-round results saw flashy French crowd favorite Gael Monfils dismiss talented Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 and Serb Viktor Troicki outlast Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0, 6-7 (7-9), 6-4. Monfils was last week's runner-up in Nice.
Additional opening-round wins came for Pole Lukasz Kubot and Argentine Horacio Zeballos, who stunned Nadal in a clay-court final in Chile back in February.
On Thursday, second-round matches will come for current world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and the third-seeded former top-ranked Nadal. Djokovic will play rising Argentine Guido Pella, while the seven-time French Open champion Nadal will encounter Slovak Martin Klizan.
Nadal beat the reigning Aussie Open champ Djokovic in last year's marquee French Open finale.
Thursday's schedule will also feature seventh-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet, Tipsarevic and ninth-seeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka.


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by Tom Utescher
With the resignation of the last official "Springside School" athletic director late in the spring, the new Springside Chestnut Hill Academy had to act quickly to fill the vacancy.
The school surprised many people with what was undoubtedly a hiring coup, announcing that longtime Academy of Notre Dame A.D. Tina O'Malley would be crossing the Schuylkill to become the Director of Athletics for Girls at Springside CHA.
O'Malley presided over a highly successful sports program at Notre Dame. The Irish have always been a basketball power within the Girls Inter-Ac League, and during the 2010-2011 academic year the school won Inter-Ac championships in cross country, field hockey, golf, and track and field.
"A lot of it was timing; I think I was ready for a change," said the new arrival. "I wasn't actively looking for a new position, but someone at Springside asked me if it was something I might consider, and asked me to just hear what the people at the school had to say. I had a great meeting with Priscilla Sands (the Head of School), and with Mike DelGrande (the former Chestnut Hill Academy A.D. who will now be the head athletic administrator at both schools).
"Notre Dame is a great school," she continued. "The kids are wonderful and the teams do very well. The opportunity for new challenges appealed to me, though, and I felt that it was an exciting time to come here and
get in on the ground floor of this merger between Springside and CHA."
Before heading up the athletic department at Notre Dame, O'Malley had been a teacher and coach in the Philadelphia school system for many years. She actually embarked on that career at a Northwest Philly institution, the Ada H. Lewis Middle School (now designated "Junior High") at Ardleigh and Tulpehocken Sts.
"I always liked this area, and a lot of my friends at Ada Lewis lived in Mount Airy," she related.
O'Malley grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, attending Little Flower Catholic High School and going on to join the track team at Temple University, where she graduated in 1975. A high jump specialist in college, she had also been a swimmer during her high school years.
She would coach both sports when she went to work in the Philadelphia public school system as a health and physical education teacher (her area of concentration at Temple).
Briefly, she was also a swimming instructor at the Baldwin School, a member of the Girls Inter-Ac League.
After teaching for 10 years, she took the next decade off to raise her two daughters, who went on to become accomplished athletes at Notre Dame.
O'Malley returned to teach in Philly for another seven years, but also began to do some coaching at Notre Dame. A position on the faculty opened up at the Villanova school in the summer of 2000, and she started there on a full-time basis, becoming the A.D. four years later.
One of the adjustments O'Malley will have to make coming from Notre Dame is coping with the fact that the Lions' sports teams draw upon a significantly smaller pool of girls. She noted that the number of girls playing fall sports at Notre Dame is equivalent to the entire female enrollment in the upper school at Springside CHA.
"With the smaller student body here, I know that a lot of kids are multi-sport athletes," the new A.D. observed. "There are also athletic and activity requirements that we didn't have at Notre Dame."
There are no immediate changes on the horizon for the Springside athletic program, she said.
"I need to learn the lay of the land, get to know the school, the kids, and the coaches," O'Malley explained. "The facilities are great, and the administration is supportive. Talking with Priscilla, you can tell that she's very enthusiastic about the sports teams and wants them to do well. It seems to be a great administration to work with."


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Different times of year bring different types of paparazzi photos. Summer is high time for beach shots, of course, and big film festivals each have their own genre. (Cannes? Yachts. Sundance? Celebrity ski bunnies.) What I always forget about every year, though, is the Halloween paparazzi encampment at Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch in West Hollywood. For the last three days, it seems as though nary a photo from the pap agency we use has failed to include a pumpkin. Some of the people who show up to have their pictures taken at Mr. Bones don't even have kids to ostensibly take pumpkin-shopping. It's very much a scene.
Victoria's Secret supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, on the other hand, totally has kids to take to the pony rides and face-painting booths that accompany the pumpkins at Mr. Bones. In these photos, she's doing just that, along with her grey embossed croc Givenchy Pandora Satchel. The Pandora is the rare bag that divides the PurseBlog staff - I don't love it, but Hilary loves it so much she's plotting to purchase her very own. In this kind of outdoor, hands-full situation, the slouch shape and crossbody strap do make total sense, though. Check out a few more pics of Alessandra and her Givenchy bag after the jump or pick up your very own via Barneys for $2180.
P.S. Please consider supporting our small, bag-loving team by clicking our links before shopping or checking out at your favorite online retailers like Amazon, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, or any of the listed partners on our shop page. We truly appreciate your support!


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- Description
The VOVOX Sonorus Direct S Balanced TRS to TRS Cable is the result of long experience and countless tests. An unmatched resolution is achieved thanks to the elaborate design of this sound conductor. The excellence in transmitting subtle details regarding spatial imaging, offset in depth and harmonics is incredibly impressive.
VOVOX Sonorus Direct S is an uncompromising, non-shielded cable. A small risk of interference must be taken into consideration.
- Single solid core conductors for signal and ground
- Conductors made of the purest available copper
- Netting of natural fibers around every single conductor wire
- Pigment and plasticizers-free high purity polymers
- Specs
Additional Information
Condition New Cable Length 11.5 ft Cable Connectors 1/4-in TRS to 1/4-in TRS
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Introducing i-Blason Prime Dual Layer Holster Case with kickstand for Apple iPhone 5C Smart Phone. This case is ONLY for the Apple iPhone 5C smart phone. It will NOT fit iPhone 5, iPhone 4 or any other iPhone product.
Slip your iPhone 5C Active into this custom fit dual layer kickstand case with a belt clip holster by i-Blason and experience the peace of mind of knowing your investment is well protected. Flexible, yet stronger. The inner layer of silicone case offers excellent shock absorption and abrasion resistance while maintaining a thin form factor. During the same time a reinforcing hard shell layer clips the phone and silicone case together with a snug fit. A innovative built-in stand provides ultimate flexibility and convenience allowing you to watch videos and movies with enviable comfort. The raised wrap-around edges help protect the glass screen from damage. Holster shell is very easy to install and remove, and definitely affordable. The belt clip can rotate 180 degrees to provide you with flexibility you would never imagine.
Product Features
- i-Blason (TM) Logo Bearing Dual Layer Kick Stand Armored Hybrid Case
- Designed specifically for Apple iPhone 5C Smart Phone 2013 Release
- Inner enclosure hard shell constructed from impact-resistant polycarbonate and double-enforced with a shock absorbing silicone inner-sleeve. Corners feature double-thick silicone for outstanding protection against drops and other impacts.Features robust silicone--durable and absorbs impact force
- Super sturdy and Easy To Carry = Absolutely Kids Friendly
- Includes 2 pieces - a hard back case that slides into a locking belt clip swivel holster
- A locking swivel belt clip is easily locked into an extended position and provides different viewing angles while watching movies or video calls, also rotatable 180 degrees
- The most secure and stylish way to carry your iPhone 5C while offering protection when it is removed
- Quick and easy installation for a 100% perfect fit
- Multi-color available to show off your own personality


text: Put the finishing touch on bachelorette celebrations with something that's cute and delightful. These Bar Golf Bachelorette Party Car Kits are sure to render the upcoming occasion unforgettable for all who attend. Every kit contains a car flag, 2 standard sized window clings, a large window cling, and instructions for use. All of the items come with a pre-printed elegant argyle design. Take advantage of the opportunity to personalize with the name of the bride-to-be and make the night out with the girls unforgettable.


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Similar Content
By hamtagger
Canwick Cemetery Chapel
The Explore
One from March last year. This place has been derelict for a number of years and I had been keeping an eye on the place for probably 2 years previous to that as I regularly had to drive past the cemetery. Around once a month I made a point of stopping, pretending to visit some dead-relatives' grave and when no one was looking used to hop the heras and check the doors. About a billion times they were the same as always and I cursed the local kids and drunks for being crap, until finally one day myself and @Urbexbandoned were on a stroll through the cemetery and noticed some fresh beer cans near the heras and the door looking ever so slightly ajar.. winner!. Couldn't have a look that day as a groundsman was busy astro-turfing a rectangle nearby but returned the next day for a solo visit, then a few days later with @Urbexbandoned. I don't think the assumed-drunk had entered as I had to push a layer of pigeon shit about 2 inches thick behind the door. No-one had been in there for a very long time and also it was a shame the wooden staircase up the bell tower had completely rotted away and collapsed at some point. A few people visited in the coming few months, then I noticed the door got boarded up again.
The History
Pair of former chapels, now disused. 1856. By Michael Drury. Coursed and squared rubble with ashlar dressings and plain tile roof. Gothic Revival style with pointed arched windows and Geometrical tracery. EXTERIOR: chamfered and moulded plinth, sill band, moulded eaves, coped gables with crosses and finials. North side has a central gable with an archway and shafts, flanked by single gabled buttresses. Beyond, single blocked 3-light windows. To left, the octagonal east chapel has angle buttresses and 3 gables, each with a 4-light window. Roof gablets. Fleche removed. To right, west chapel with apsidal end and buttresses, 3 bays, with six 2-light windows with hoodmoulds. In the north gable, a 5-light window. Square north-west tower, 3 stages, has to north a gabled doorway with shafts. Above, a trefoiled vescia piscis and to east, a 2-light window. Third stage has a foiled corbel table and to north, a rose window. On the other sides, 3-light windows. Spire removed. INTERIOR: east chapel has an arch braced conical roof with collars forming a corona. West chapel has a moulded stone arch to the apse, and an arch braced double purlin roof. Both chapels have foliage corbels - I have no idea what they are..
The Pictures
Coffin shape on the ceiling..
As always thanks for looking and feedback always appreciated
By hamtagger
Calcott Hall
The Explore
Well, I'm a little behind on posting reports, 13 months behind to be exact. Mojo issues mixed with a busy year but generally can't be arsed with the whole thing. Normally this is where I'd write about the explore and what happened etc but I really can't remember much as it was last April and I've slept approximately 387 times since then. I had a quick squiz at @Urbexbandoned's report to jog my memory, to pinch the history, and to view all the items that I myself failed to photograph due to walking around with my eyes closed as normal. Easy derp to have a wander around and I think we had spent the previous few days sleeping in the car near, and inside of, a large hospital down south in Cardiff, then worked our way up to Shropshire and back to Lincoln on a lengthy road trip of derpy delights..
This was once a Dairy Farm, built in 1725 as a Georgian Farmhouse. It's most recent resident was Ellen Jones who died in the 70's. I believe that some of her family also lived there as there are lots of bits of paperwork for a Francis Jones & a gentleman with the same surname.
This farmhouse has more or less a written / photographic story of the residents who once lived there.
Cupboards littered with bread and cake making supplies and ingredients showed the life of a typical farmhouse wife.
Exterior buildings litter the farmhouse, some still being used today with the farmland scattered with cattle.
Set in a beautiful little countryside, I cant help but think this really would have been beautiful in it's day.
The Pictures
Little bonus car in the garage in the grounds..
As always thanks for looking and feedback always appreciated
By hamtagger
George Barnsley Tools
The Explore
I think it was a Sunday in January with @Urbexbandoned and we decided to make the shortish drive to Sheffield to have a look at this place as it seemed to have died down on the forums for the few months previous. It's now May and i'm just catching up with my shit and cursing Flickr for being a dick every time I get the motivation to post a report. We turned up early and got immediately lucky when a bloke with an early morning Maccies was entering the courtyard gates. Thanks to @Fekneejit for the information on the day, top lad and thank you. The entrance/exit was made considerably easier
The History (stolen from @KarlPhoto365)
George Barnsley and Sons Ltd. (founded 1836) were in Cornish Place on the Don and specialized in forged filing and cutting tools for leather workers and shoe makers. One George Barnsley was Master Cutler in 1883.
George Barnsley and Son is listed in the 1837 Sheffield Directory as a file manufacture situated on Wheeldon Street. The 1849 listing records a move to Cornhill and the 1852 to Cornesh works, Cornesh street. They had by this time also increased there product range to include steel files, shoe and butchers knives.
They are again listed in 1944 as manufactures of files and blades, shoe knives and leather workers tools.
In the 1948 listing the business had become George Barnsley and Son Ltd.
George Barnsley died at his home at No 30 Collegiate Crescent on 30th March 1958. He lived there with his wife Mabel and mother-in-law Elizabeth. He was a partner in the firm which manufactured steel and files. The business was converted into a limited company about 10 years before his death. He had a long army career, joining up in 1896 and serving in the Boer war and two world wars. Colonel Barnsley played a leading part in the development of the Army Cadet Force in Sheffield. He died at the age of 83.
The Pictures
Some nice posters that I walked past about five times before I noticed them up high on a wall..
As always thanks for looking and feedback always appreciated
By hamtagger
Lostock Power Station
The Explore..
Visited with @Urbexbandoned. Left Lincoln early and the car thermometer was reading -4.5C, then when we arrived at Lostock it had only climbed half a degree. We had a bit of prior info from @macc_explore so thanks for that mate. Quite a bit of ducking and diving to hide from various humans travelling to and from the secca checkpoint for the other part of the site and eventually got across the wasteland to where we wanted to be. Nice and peaceful explore once you're inside but it was bloody cold that day so when we were on the brink of hypothermia we exited and went for a traffic jam around liverpool thanks to the X-Factor or some shite. All in all a top day as always.
The History.. (Stolen)
Bowman Thompson & Company originally owned the site but was sold in 1900 to Brunner Mond whom with a seven year closure reconstructed the site producing sixty tonnes of soda ash a day. This figure rose to 800 tonnes a day in 1926 with all of the Brunner Mond assets being turned over to ICI.
Lostock as a coal fired powerstation was decommissioned in 2000 when E.ON built there new Combined Heat & Power plant at Winnington and is due to be flattened for a new Sustainable Energy Plant to be built on the site.
The Pictures..
What's left of the control room..
As always thanks for looking and feedback always appreciated
By hamtagger
RAF West Raynham
The Explore
A bit of a flying visit this one as we had other things to check out deeper into Norfolk that day and I was really only mainly interested in the peely action going on in the foyer to the Junior Ranks Mess and a few other bits and bobs. I might jump on the Errbex bus sometime in the future and mooch around the other bits but mostly likely i won't. Visited with @Urbexbandoned and thanks for the few tips beforehand from @Mikeymutt.
The History (stolen as always)
The airfield opened during May 1939 and was used by RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War with the loss of 86 aircraft. The station closed in 1994, though the Ministry of Defence (MoD) retained it as a strategic reserve. Having laid derelict since closure, the MoD elected in 2004 that it was surplus to requirements, and the site was sold in 2006 to the Welbeck Estate Group who sold the entire site in October 2007.The airfield opened during May 1939 and was used by RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War with the loss of 86 aircraft. The station closed in 1994, though the Ministry of Defence (MoD) retained it as a strategic reserve. Having laid derelict since closure, the MoD elected in 2004 that it was surplus to requirements, and the site was sold in 2006 to the Welbeck Estate Group who sold the entire site in October 2007. Built between 1938 and 1939, RAF West Raynham was an expansion scheme airfield. The grass landing area was aligned roughly north-east to south-west. The main camp, with housing and headquarters, was located immediately west of the landing area. To the south-east were bomb stores. The airfield was originally equipped with a Watch Office with Tower (Fort Type), of pattern 207/36 (made from concrete), although the tower was later removed and new control room built to pattern 4698/43. Later in the war the station was provided with a "Control Tower for Very Heavy Bomber Stations" to pattern 294/45, one of only four such towers to be built.
The Pictures
Small industrial building
Officer's Mess
The Bar..
As always thanks for looking and feedback always appreciated


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10 Strange Animal Mating Rituals (Slideshow)
So you think you've had some strange dates? This Valentine's Day, The Nature Conservancy compiled the top 10 most bizarre examples of love in the wild.
"Nature can get pretty wild, especially when procreation is at stake," says Sanjayan, lead scientist of The Nature Conservancy. "While we may find mating habits of some critters bizarre, they just might remind you of someone you know."
Unfortunately, many of these creatures are at risk of disappearing forever because of habitat loss, climate change and other threats.
"Nature is powerful, but for many animals, their future now depends not only on their mating prowess but on what help we give them. If we don't protect their homes that future is in jeopardy," explains Sanjayan.
Do these wild lovers remind you of anyone?
Prairie Chickens: Strut Your Stuff
Male prairie chickens attract females with loud "booming" noises that can be heard miles away. They also perform an elaborate dance — lowering their heads, erecting their neck feathers, inflating orange air sacks, dropping their wings and pointing their tails, all while frantically stamping their feet. Listen to the boom and see a video of their dance.
Next: Anglerfish
(Image: Prairie chickens. Source: Harvey Payne.)
Deep Sea Anglerfish: Losing Yourself in Love
Male anglerfish bite their mates and permanently fuse to their bodies. Over time, the male's brain, eyes and organs dissolve until he turns into a small lump, releasing sperm whenever the female is ready to lay eggs. Scientists first thought the lumps were fins before discovering they were the males.
Next: American Burying Beetle
(Image: Anglerfish. Source: NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory, collection of Brandi Noble/Flickr via a Creative Commons license.)
American Burying Beetle: Family Oriented
These beetles not only are monogamous but also raise their children together. Expectant parents bury dead birds or mice and lay eggs nearby. The parents lie on their backs and use their legs like a conveyor belt to move carcasses up to 200 times their own weight. Once hatched, larvae feed on the carcass or the parents rub their wings together to call the larvae and regurgitate meat into their mouths.
Read about the planned reintroduction of the endangered beetle at Wah'Kon-Tah Prairie in Missouri.
Next: Mussels
(Image: Burying beetles. Source: Brett Cortesi courtesy of Roger Williams Park Zoo.)
Freshwater mussels: The Bait and Switch
Male mussels release sperm into the water, which females capture downstream. Larvae hatch inside the females' shells but must then attach to a fish to grow. To lure fish, mother mussels wave appendages that look like worms, crayfish or other bait. Some emit a smell of rotting flesh to attract scavenger fish. When fish approach, the mussels shoot the larvae onto the fish.
Read more about the Conservancy's work with mussels and watch a video.
Next: Lions
(Image: Mussels. Source: tlindenbaum/Flickr via a Creative Commons license.)
Lions: One Track Mind
When lions mate, the coupling usually lasts only about 20 seconds. But the pair will repeat the act every 20 minutes or so — sometimes up to 40 times a day. This will continue for three to seven days straight, with the male and female neglecting to hunt or eat during the entire time.
Learn more about the African lion.
Next: Prairie Vole
(Image: African lion pair, male and female. Source: WELS.net/Flickr via a Creative Commons license.)
Prairie Vole: Born to be Faithful
Unlike most rodents prairie voles are monogamous. Scientists have discovered that prairie vole faithfulness is caused by hormone receptors located in their brain's reward centers, giving them the sense of pleasure from monogamy.
Read about other animals that mate for life.
Next: Bower Birds
(Image: Prairie vole. Source: Roger W. Barbour.)
Bower Birds: Bachelor Pads
Male bowers of Australia and New Guinea build large and elaborate bachelor pads on forest floors, decorated with flowers, leaves, shells and even stolen coins — anything they think will attract a mate. Some paint the walls with chewed berries, others build lawns of moss. Drab males build the flashiest pads to compensate for their dull colors.
Next: Tree Crickets
(Image: Bower bird, native to Australia. Source: oddsock/Flickr via a Creative Commons license.)
Tree Crickets: Smooth Talker
Male crickets bite holes in leafs to amplify their love songs and attract females. Once they mate, however, male sperm packets don't fit inside the females' bodies so a portion hangs out. The ever-ravenous females try to eat the packet before fertilization can occur. To distract her, the male sings and secretes a tasty goo from his back, feeding her until the eggs are fertilized.
Next: Octopus
(Image: Tree cricket. Source: gbohne/Flickr via a Creative Commons license.)
Day Octopus: Keep Your Distance
Female day octopi are known to eat their partners after mating. When a male finds a female, he extends one arm and waves. If she responds, he uses his arm to place a sperm packet under the female's body covering. The octopi stay at an arm's length, appearing as though they are holding hands.
Read about the Raja Ampat islands where the octopus and other amazing underwater creatures live.
Next: Little Brown Bats
(Image: Day octopus at the Waikiki Aquarium. Source: brxO/Flicker via a Creative Commons license.)
Little Brown Bats: Waiting for the Right Time
Because these bats mate in the autumn but hibernate during winter, females store sperm for seven months to delay pregnancy until springtime. While bats normally hang upside down, females stand upright to give birth and catch their babies in a membrane between their legs. Newborns cling to their mothers even during nighttime flights as they search for food.
Read more about a deadly disease that's killing little brown bats all over the Northeast.
(Image: Little brown bat. Source: Ann Froschauer/UWFWS via a Creative Commons license.)
10 Dating Tips from the Animal World
8 Animals That Mate for Life
Top 10 Animal Lovers