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by ANDY DURSIN
Twitter - @theaisleseatcom
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These days it seems as if every new studio movie is a $100 million+ plus blockbuster starring a super-hero, CGI creature, or cartoon character in some type of "franchise" picture. Whatever happened to the family comedy – the one where the laid-back star brings his clan on a vacation gone awry? Whether it was Chevy Chase, or John Candy, or Jimmy Stewart long before them in MR. HOBBS TAKES A VACATION, it seems Hollywood has lost interest in producing the kinds of genial, star-driven comedies that once entertained audiences of generations past.
Kicking off Twilight Time's April releases, at least, is MR. HOBBS (***, 118 mins., 1962), a lengthy but likeable lark for Stewart, playing the bewildered father of the Hobbs clan, which sets out on a beach vacation where – of course – things don't pan out as planned. Instead of enjoying a trip alone with "old smoothie" Maureen O'Hara (as Hobbs' loving wife), Hobbs brings along his crazy kids – TV-addicted Danny (Michael Burns), teenager Katey (Lauri Peters), and two older daughters with their own respective husbands and children to boot. The house is a mess, the flirty nextdoor neighbor poses (minor) problems, and even worse, a father-son sailing sojourn turns dangerous when the duo become lost in the fog.
"Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" is close to the very definition of "old school" – leisurely paced, laid back and just as likeable as its veteran star, it's a film that's sure to appeal to nostalgic viewers desiring a trip back to a simpler time of entertainment. It's also a picture that might win over a few new fans as well, seeing as the wide Cinemascope frame isn't filled with explosions or monsters or super-heroes, but rather one of Hollywood's most lovable leading men in a movie that's about people and the gentle humor of everyday predicaments. Regrettably, it's impossible to imagine a major studio funding a film like this today, much less with A-list talent like director Henry Koster and a script from the prolific Nunnally Johnson. Backed by a breezy Henry Mancini score that's as inviting as a warm summer day, "Mr. Hobbs" is a perfect viewing tonic for most of the junk we see in the multiplexes every week.
Twilight Time's Blu-Ray offers one of the nicest Fox transfers the label has released to date: warm colors, fine detail, and scant signs of DNR make for a splendid AVC encoded Blu-Ray presentation. The mono DTS MA 1.0 audio is perfectly fine, and extras include a Fox Movietone Newsreel, the trailer, and, of course, an isolated score track of Mancini's infectious work.
Although they were years away from their breakthrough hits ("Romancing the Stone" and "Back to the Future"), Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale made an immediate impression on a young Steven Spielberg back in the '70s. The wunderkind had enough faith in the duo to not only hire them to pen his "1941," but also produce their first two features.
Neither picture was a hit: 1978′s "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" disappeared from theaters quickly, and the marginally more successful USED CARS (***, 113 mins., 1980, R) became a movie that few outside its cult following would ever talk about. That said, it's also an often uproarious comedy that's ripe for rediscovery on Blu-Ray.
Kurt Russell essays a young used car salesman who works for one half of the Fuchs brothers – a pair of polar opposite siblings, both portrayed in vastly different comic stylings by the great Jack Warden. Russell's boss, Luke Fuchs, dies early in the picture, forcing the would-be senatorial candidate to try and keep the dealership afloat – both away from Fuchs' arrogant brother Ray, who runs a rival lot across the street, and with increasingly wild advertising techniques. Some of the latter involve renegade broadcast transmissions that interrupt, among other things, local Arizona St. football games and even a Presidential address from then-POTUS Jimmy Carter.
"Used Cars" has some notably funny moments – especially during its first hour – all of which are punctuated by memorable performances. In addition to Russell's energetic starring turn, Zemeckis and Gale pepper the film with zany roles written for Gerrit Graham, Deborah Harmon and Al Lewis, plus recruited a number of familiar faces from "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" and "1941″ (Joe Flaherty, Frank McRae, Dub Taylor, Wendie Jo Sperber, Marc McClure) to round out a highly capable comedic ensemble. As Julie Kirgo points out in her booklet notes, Zemeckis and Gale's original script connects all the dots so that seemingly random plot elements come together in a satisfying conclusion – even if the final 20 minutes run on a good deal longer than they should have.
A cult film that's sure to sell some Blu-Rays for Twilight Time, "Used Cars" is anything but a digital lemon: Sony's 1080p AVC encoded transfer is filled with detail, and the 5.1 DTS MA audio is surprisingly robust. Interestingly, both the movie's score by Patrick Williams and an "Unused Score" track – which doesn't mention composer Ernest Gold by name – are included, giving film score fans the rare opportunity to choose between the two on the fly. After just a few minutes it's easy to hear why Williams was brought into re-score the picture – Gold's score is overly serious and lacks the swagger of Williams' more "contemporary" outing, missing the self-parody that Elmer Bernstein brought to his score for "Airplane!" that same year.
Other extras include goodies carried over from the DVD: commentary from Zemeckis, Gale and Russell, a gag reel and outtakes, radio interviews, and the original trailer.
TT's other April releases include films from Woody Allen and David Lynch, as well as a British import that stirred up a bit of controversy in the '80s.
BROADWAY DANNY ROSE (***, 86 mins., 1984, PG) hails from one of Allen's most prolific – and enduring – filmmaking periods, and holds up well today as one of the director's warmer pictures. Allen stars as a talent agent who represents a series of show-biz underdogs including Nick Apollo Forte's lounge singer Lou Canova. Mia Farrow is terrific as Canova's mistress, with Gordon Willis' B&W cinematography adding appreciable texture to a short but sweet Allen vehicle. Twilight Time's 1080p transfer is crystal clear from the MGM vaults, with a DTS MA 1.0 mono soundtrack, the trailer and an isolated music and effects track comprising the supplemental end of things.
RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO (**½, 93 mins., 1987, R) generated some buzz when it opened in a limited U.S. theatrical run in 1987. Alan Clarke's low-budget, world-weary film, written by Andrea Dunbar, tells the story of two lower-class Yorkshire teens (Siobhan Finneran, Michelle Holmes) who become sexually involved with a married man (George Costigan) from a better part of town. Capable performances make "Rita, Sue and Bob Too" involving, though this fairly depressing story ends on a somewhat sour final shot. TT's 1080p transfer is derived from Film Four's vaults and is solid overall, with extras including a fresh commentary from Nick Redman and Julie Kirgo and an isolated music/effects track sporting an unobtrusive outing from Michael Kamen.
Finally, David Lynch devotees are certain to appreciate Twilight Time's WILD AT HEART (**, 127 mins., 1990, R), the director's highly stylized adaptation of Barry Gifford's novel that features a few allusions to "The Wizard of Oz." I have to confess that I'm not a particular fan of this movie – or Lynch for that matter – but aficionados of the picture are sure to appreciate the top-notch 1080p AVC encoded transfer on-hand here along with featurettes and other materials from the original DVD, an isolated music track, the trailer and four TV spots.
Coming From CBS
Blu-Ray owners who've hungered for more classic-TV releases ought to come out in full force for three sensational packages from CBS that arrive in stores next week.
The label, which has been consistently turning out a number of high-quality DVD releases of late, returns to the high-definition format on May 6th with deluxe packages of the first seasons of I LOVE LUCY (aprx. 15 hours, 1951-52) and THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW (aprx. 14 hours, 1960-61), along with a 39-episode THE HONEYMOONERS CLASSIC EPISODES anthology (1017 mins.).
These classic, long running situation comedies have already been released on DVD, but one hopes that viewers with Blu-Ray capability and HDTVs that will take advantage of their increased detail will give these releases a fair shake. Since the programs were shot on film, CBS' remastered editions – culled from the best surviving elements – boast an appreciable enhancement in contrast and clarity over any prior transfer of the shows seen before.
"I Love Lucy" defined the television sitcom format and immediately became a phenomenon upon its debut in the fall of 1951. All 35 first-season episodes are included here in CBS' six-disc Blu-Ray set, many in multiple versions as well – viewers can choose between the more commonly seen edits of the program (with the "heart on satin" opening and closing credits) as well as unexpurgated, original broadcast-length shows, complete with Philip Morris cigarette commercials, Lucy & Desi animated caricatures and occasionally extended dialogue snippets. When Lucy went out on a maternity leave, additional footage was shot for over a dozen episodes – material that's also included here on those respective shows. As you might expect, the elements for certain sequences are in rougher shape than others, with a loss of detail evident at times, though in general, the 1080p B&W transfers are more than satisfactory.
Special features are marvelous: costume and make-up tests, presented by TCM's Robert Osborne, are shown here for the first time anywhere; the original 35-minute "I Love Lucy" pilot has been remastered from the 35mm negative and is also presented in its Kinescope version, as well as a 1990 CBS special "I Love Lucy: The Very First Show"; on-set home movies include candid color production footage; commentaries boast material that hasn't been heard since Criterion's early '90s laserdisc release; radio programs; flubs, production notes and other goodies make for a fantastic, must-have package for "Lucy" fans that justifies its price tag.
ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW fans are going to feel the same about CBS' four-disc Blu-Ray package, which includes the entire first season of the series in even more impressive high-def transfers. Though the occasional nicks and scratches are visible, the B&W presentation boasts exceptional clarity – so much that you can see the occasional shadow from a boom microphone lightly dance around in the background at times.
The classic series is a charmer, populated by warm stories, lovable characters and indelible performances, and CBS has sweetened the pot by including the "backdoor pilot" of the series, as originally broadcast as part of "The Danny Thomas Show." Several minutes of Ron Howard's family home movies are presented in color, along with original sponsor shots on select episodes ("drink Sanka!") and a '50s "Person to Person" brief interview with Griffith. Perhaps the nicest surprise is the hugely-successful '80s TV movie, "Return to Mayberry," which reunited Griffith, Howard, Don Knotts and other cast members in one of the top-rated shows of its respective season. Not only has it been included here, it's also – as with the other extras – been transferred in full high-definition as well.
THE HONEYMOONERS: The Classic 39 Episodes offers a high-def treatment of a previously available DVD package, enhanced here by new HD transfers of the quintessential American TV sitcom. One of the episodes that fans have long considered one of the show's best, the 1966 musical special "The Adoption," is presented here, along with original sponsor openings and closings for most shows, plus the 35th and 50th network TV specials saluting the classic Jackie Gleason comedy, a 1984 Gleason profile from "60 Minutes" (and assorted outtakes from the latter), a 1956 "Person to Person" interview with Gleason and other goodies. Like the Lucy and Andy Griffith sets, the package comes highly recommended – and hopefully will sell well enough to generate more releases in each respective series.
Also New on Blu-Ray & DVD
VERONICA MARS Blu-Ray (***, 108 mins., 2014, PG-13; Warner): Rob Thomas' cult-favorite WB/UPN/CW (I can't recall what designation the network carried when the program originally aired!) series returns in the form of a smart, compelling two-hour feature. Made in large part because of a Kickstarter campaign that went above and well beyond its target fundraising goal, "Veronica" picks up in the present with our sassy ex-high school P.I. (Kristen Bell) pulled back into the fray when former flame Logan (Jason Dohring) is accused of murdering his girlfriend. Veronica reunites with many of her past cohorts in a film that pays full fan service with cameos and quick references to the original series, though is also accessible to newcomers with its fast-moving "modern noir" mystery and witty dialogue. Warner's Blu-Ray offers a Making Of, deleted scenes, a 1080p transfer, DTS MA audio and a digital copy.
MR. JONES Blu-Ray (**½, 84 mins., 2013, PG-13; Anchor Bay): Jon Foster and Sarah Jones play an artist couple who decide to chuck it all and move to the sticks. Something eventually happens (is there ever a movie when it doesn't?) when the duo – trying to film a nature documentary – instead come across figures designed by an elusive artist. Yes, it's yet another "found-footage" movie – albeit a much-better one than most, with a faux-PBS type of tone brought to its early portions wherein "experts" discuss the work of the mysterious Mr. Jones. Although things become weirder and less effective in the movie's second half, this is still a superior genre outing from writer-director Karl Mueller that hits Blu-Ray on May 6th from Anchor Bay in a no-frills (1080p, 5.1 Dolby TrueHD) presentation. Nothing groundbreaking but nevertheless a decent viewing choice for horror buffs.
Coming from Anchor Bay on May 13th is GENERATION IRON (107 mins., 2014, PG-13), a spiritual sequel to "Pumping Iron" from writer-director Vlad Yudin, profiling seven present-day bodybuilders (Phil Heath, Kai Greene, Branch Warren, Dennis Wolf, Victor Martinez, Ben Pakulski, Hidetada Yamagishi and Roelly Winklaar) and their battles in and out of competition. Anchor Bay's DVD, narrated by Mickey Rourke, includes a commentary, featurette, extended interview with Lou Ferrigno (one of the stars of the original "Pumping Iron"), a 16:9 transfer, and 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack.
CALL ME CRAZY: A FIVE FILM DVD (89 mins., 2014, Not Rated; Sony): Actresses Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sharon Maguire, Bonnie Hunt and Ashley Judd directed this five-story anthology film about mental illness. Stars from Jennifer Hudson to Melissa Leo, Brittany Snow, Lea Thompson and Melanie Griffith appear in "Call Me Crazy," which was spearheaded by co-executive producer Jennifer Aniston and comes to DVD on May 6th from Sony. The disc includes a 16:9 (1.78) transfer with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio.
ADVENTURE TIME: THE SUITOR DVD (176 mins., 2014; Warner): The sixth DVD volume of the popular Cartoon Network series includes 16 wacky episodes: The Suitor, James Baxter: The Horse, Shh!, Another Five More Short Graybles, Wizards Only Fools, be More, Sky Witch, The Vault, Red Starved, Hug Wolf, Beyond this Earthly Realm, King Worm, Mituri Te Salutamus, Heat Signature, Blood Under the Skin, and Henchman, plus the special feature "Little Did You Know." 16:9 transfers and 2.0 stereo soundtracks comprise this single-disc Warner release, which hits stores May 6th.
CHINA BEACH Season 3 DVD (aprx. 17 hours; Starvista/Time Life): Following last year's deluxe Complete Series box-set and separate Season 1 and 2 releases, Starvista brings the penultimate season of "China Beach" to DVD in a standalone release May 6th.
"China Beach," which aired on Wednesday nights at 10pm basically for the duration of its run, was one of several attempts at bringing the Vietnam War to television in the form of a serialized drama. CBS had tried but failed to muster a consistent audience with their more battlefield-oriented "Tour of Duty," but ABC and Warner Bros. TV fared better in the ratings with "China Beach." This multiple Emmy-winner starred Dana Delaney as Colleen McMurphy, a nurse at an EVAC hospital and USO entertainment center populated with both hard-working medical personnel (Robert Picardo's Dr. Dick; Marg Helgenberger's K.C., Colleen's assistant and a former addict; Concetta Tomei's hard-nosed Major Lila Garreau) and singers and entertainers who passed through the facility (Chloe Webb's Laurette Barber, Nan Woods' Cherry White among them).
Season 3 introduces viewers to Ricki Lake's Holly Pelegrino and Brian Wimmer's Boonie Lanier, and hits DVD with the same transfers and remastered audio soundtracks present in the complete box. Interviews with Dana Delany, Nancy Giles and John Wells are included here along with episode commentaries, deleted scenes, a gag reel, 4:3 transfers and stereo soundtracks.
THE SELFISH GIANT DVD (91 mins., 2013; MPI): Clio Barnard's unflinching portrait of working class England chronicles the misadventures of two 13-year-olds who try and make the most of their miserable lives by stealing power cables to a scrap dealer, only to have the man send them off on increasingly dangerous missions. Tough and raw, "The Selfish Giant" garners a DVD release this week from MPI offering cast/crew interviews, a behind the scenes featurette, the trailer, a 16:9 transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack.
NEXT TIME: More of the latest new releases! Until then, don't forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers everyone!


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Skip to comments.The deep roots of catastrophe
Posted on 02/12/2013 5:00:44 AM PST by Errant
"What we may be detecting is the start of one of these large eruptive events that - if it ever happens - could cause very massive destruction on Earth," says seismologist Michael Thorne, the study's principal author and an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah.
(Excerpt) Read more at spacedaily.com ...
I better stock up on bread and milk.
There's a mantel plume comin and I gotta get the bread and milk.
That's worse than somewhat massive destruction on Earth..
thanks, will read
Women and minorities disproportionately affected.
Thanks Errant.
Having experienced a similar situation on a personal level some years ago, I sympathize. However, after successful treatment of the piles, eruptions continued unabated and in fact, increased in frequency. That is to say, I was able to hit some high notes that were previously out of my range. :-)
Yeah, it was a real letdown. But hey, now everything else I ping will seem like good news. ;')
Annnnd, I was pretty danged open-minded, since this is a volcano topic, and those lava-monkeys are a bunch of propeller-beanie losers. ;') Present company excepted, of course.
*Snort* [giggles]
LOL, now that you've brought it up, the image above could actually be construed to diagram such an aliment.
******Whatever LOL******
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

subset: commoncrawl


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MILFORD—Bud's Towing was turned down by county planners in its bid to rezone 1.43 acres to allow for a truck repair and towing operation along U.S. Route 1 near Cool Water Drive.
The rezoning request was taken up by the Caroline County Planning Commission on Wednesday night and it will move on to the Caroline County Board of Supervisors, which will have the final say on the proposal for the property at 21179 Jefferson Davis Highway.
In a memo to the planning commission about Bud's request, the planning staff wrote that the Virginia Department of Transportation "has concerns about having two entrances, neither of which is up to VDOT commercial standards." The Caroline Sheriff's Office also has expressed concerns about the entrances. In addition, the planning staff has told Bud's Towing in the past that one entrance needs to be eliminated and replaced with landscaping.
Bud's Towing is requesting a rezoning of the property from B-1 business to M-1 industrial zoning because B-1 business zoning allows for auto repair, but not truck repair. The planning staff has worked with the applicant on a proffer statement that would prohibit all uses in M-1, except the tow service operation and motor vehicle major repair service, which requires a special exception.
If Bud's Towing does get approval from supervisors, these are the proffers or conditions: all towed vehicles must be within a fenced lot and the vehicles must not remain on the site for more than 30 days. In addition, Bud's Towing would not be allowed to sell motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, scrap metal or other materials at the site.
Mark A. Giles is the applicant for Bud's Towing and his wife, Tammy Giles, told the commission that she and her husband are working with VDOT on turn lanes for the entrance. They are also working with the health department, which had concerns about the existing septic system.
"We're not asking for a junk yard," Ms. Giles said. "We bring trucks off the interstate for a tire change."
Milton Bush, vice chairman of the commission, asked Ms. Giles if she and her husband had talked to residents near the property about the proposal. Ms. Giles answered yes and noted that one resident had expressed an interest in working there.
Bush said a housing development is proposed on nearby property, and Ms. Giles said, "We will keep the property neat. We have no intention of it being like the last folks there. It was the biggest eye sore."
Bush complained about the two Bud's Auto Salvage lots near Bowling Green and said "vehicles are stacked on top of each other."
"We have taken loads of scrap metal to Massaponax—several thousand cars from both locations," Ms. Giles said.
"This is my district," Bush said. "People come to me and say, 'Why would they put that (towing operation) there (along U.S. 1) where we live."
Ms. Giles said the notice of the planning commission meeting had been published two weeks earlier. "Where are those folks?" she asked.
She explained that Bud's Towing's request is not for a standard towing operation. If a car needed a tire change, it would come to the facility, she said. If a car has been wrecked, it would be at the facility just long enough for an insurance adjuster to examine it. Repairs would be made only to Bud's Towing's vehicles.
Commissioner Timothy Thompson made a motion to recommend that the Board of Supervisors deny Bud's Towing's request for rezoning. The motion passed 5-0 in the absence of chairman Pete Davis.
In other action, the planning commission gave the OK for a request to rezone 126.7 acres from rural preservation to B-1 business. The property is on the north side of Route 207 at Welcome Way and between Route 1 and Interstate 95. The request came from W&F Partners Two, LLC, for the property, which has frontage on Route 1. It also has access from Route 207.
The site features a lake with an eroded earthen dam, and the site in years past was host to a campground and transient trailer park.
The property is bordered by I-95 to the east, Union Bankshares Business Park to the south and Jefferson Davis Highway to the west.
A potential buyer showed interest in the property as a location for a recreation vehicle sales and service business. It would be visible to travelers along I-95.
The applicant would like 1 million square feet of commercial space, 450,000 square feet of warehousing, 300,000 square feet of office and 200,000 square feet of retail space within the development, which is proposed in two phases, according to a planning staff memo to the planning commission.
"While the applicant has no specific users at this time, they have had people show an interest in developing the property," a planning staff memo says.
Rezoning the property to B-1 business would bring the property more into conformity with the Caroline County Comprehensive Plan, the planning staff wrote.
Proposed proffers for the project would prohibit these uses: funeral homes, libraries, churches, nurseries and greenhouses, clubs and lodges, public billiard parlors and pool rooms, bowling alleys, dance halls, swimming pools, residences as accessory uses, bed and breakfasts, convents, monasteries, religious retreats, sexually oriented business, crematory, truck stop and truck service and repair facilities.
The Caroline Economic Development staff wrote that the rezoning is "ideal for continued growth of Caroline's economy."
The owners of the property have no specific plans for the property but are requesting rezoning so that the property's potential for commercial development will be recognized.
W&F submitted three general development plans, one of which shows 13 lots with more commercial uses being developed on the southern property. More industrial type uses would be on the northern side.
W&F has proffered a 50-foot natural vegetative buffer along abutting rural and residential property lines. In addition, there would be a screening of outside storage and dumpsters. Impact statements would be necessary to show the impact upon traffic. County water and sewer would be extended by the developer.


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Reviewed By Erik F (Crowley, TX) Reviewed for a 2002 Cadillac Escalade —2/1/2011 8:34 PM
Got rid of the stock ones ,and installed the Magnaflow direct-fit catalytic converters.It took me the whole day to install them due to lack of space under the vehicle.Every piece fitted exactly the way it should. My advice though, take it to your local muffler shop, and they'll have it ready in about an hour. Overall I'm satisfied with the performance of this product. Gave it a little more aggresive deeper sound. I love it!


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|Kudzu Category Sponsors
165 West Wieuca Road Northeast, Suite 310, Atlanta, GA 30342
Reviews: 1
A trip charge, a capacitor, and one pound of freon = $447 - BE WARNED!! Then a discussion in order to obtain their license information which was not contained within the invoice. Yes $447 and it was obvious while it was occurring - their good. Be Warned!
Posted: 5/11/2018 • Link to this review
Reviews: 3
I've used many contractors over the years, and I think my experience with PV was the best I've ever had. We have a condominium that has a very unusual configuration and has been very difficult to heat and cool. David came in, worked out a solution, and then implemented it. It was a huge project, but they managed it very efficiently. The crew was very professional and it was clear throughout that their main goal was to produce the best possible result. Once they finished, they made certain that we were completely satisfied and that even the smallest concerns were addressed. Everything was absolutely first-rate.
Posted: 1/21/2016 • Link to this review
Team was very responsive and did a great job fixing our heater. 4 hr turnaround is fantastic, when given an emergency situation is awesome.. Kudos Dustin.
Posted: 11/25/2015 • Link to this review
Very professional, responsive and always very communicative. Prompt & reliable appointments filled.
Posted: 11/05/2015 • Link to this review
Today, PVHVAC installed a new HVAC system in my 100 yr-old house. From initial consult and design (David) through today's installation (Chris), the whole Peavey crew has been knowledgeable and professional. I look forward to trying out the new system!
Posted: 8/25/2015 • Link to this review
Every aspect of PV is on point: Customer service, products, installation, & maintenance. I've had PV work on my A/C and heating for 5 years now & wouldn't ever consider any other company. All of the technicians are extremely experienced, knowledgeable, professional, & courteous. They have many products for every budget & explain everything in detail. They do whole home assessments & energy audits & they are completely turn key (they also offer plumbing, electrical, insulation, & water quality services...so basically any issue that arises in replacement or repair, they know the solution & can fix it.) Their website is awesome, pvhvac.com
Posted: 7/08/2015 • Link to this review
Prompt, helpful, thorough, knowledgeable, professional, reasonable cost, excellent service from service email request to scheduling to technician to completion. Fantastic organization.
Posted: 6/05/2015 • Link to this review
I had a poor experience with the business recently once my AC went out. I was desperate for it to work on an 80 degree inside day. I called 6 places which were booked a week out. I was happy this place was available. A HVAC guy came out and he thought we should purchase a capacitor for $250. He explains it may be a 300$ to $400 blower motor that we need but he didn't want us to buy it in vain for the capacitor may do the job. We even bought the 14$ a month maintenance plan for 1 year. He left and our AC stopped working 2 hrs later. We immediately called at 7:30 and they said someone would come. At 9:30 another guy comes out and says we need a blower motor which is $442. We refused to pay that and he says he's gonna make a call. He comes back and says he can take the previously spent 250$ from the total and we pay $345. I asked how does that add up?!? He stays until 11:30 pm and still couldn't fix it due to lack of correct parts. We went without for 2 days and Mon the co-owner was who I am able to complain too. He gave me excuses as to why their parts cost more due to the fact they have to pay their workers 25$ an hour and overhead fees. He also says my quote was only off by 100$....I guess that's not a big deal. He didn't compensate anything but 14$ back on my now canceled maintenence plan...
Posted: 4/19/2015 • Link to this review
Thank you for your feedback. I did speak with you and your concerns about your experience with our team. We did have extremely fast response time unlike the other companies that you contacted. When Paul arrived at the call, he found a bad capacitor on the blower motor not allowing the motor to operate. The first step in trouble shooting a system requires a capacitor so we can start the system. Kyra (after the motor eventually failed, not initially) complained that we didn't replace the entire motor initially. Replacing a motor without replacing a capacitor first would be like buying a new remote controller without first replacing the bad batteries on a remote not working. When we replace the capacitor we checked the blower and it was operating properly. We did warn that there is now way to tell the life span of the existing blower motor which Kyra approved on our work order. We did discount our service charge and the part by 10% on the initial call. Unfortunately the motor did fail later in the day. We have an overtime service charge that we didn't even apply even though we came out after hours ($89 value). In addition, we offered to apply to cost of the capacitor (which was $186 not $250) to the replacement of the blower motor which Kyra approved. For both the cost of the capacitor and the cost of the motor we provided an up front cost before doing any of the work, both of which Kyra approved. The motor we had was missing a part that our technician didn't realize until the time of replacement. Kyra then canceled the follow up visit to replace the part. We were up front, polite and transparent on all calls. For our new systems installed, we have a 10 year parts and labor warranty. We did not install this system and can not be responsible for failed parts. By us applying to cost of the capacitor to the cost of the new blower motor (we include new capacitors with all blower motors) the customer did not pay any additional cost for the the blower motor repair. On a technical level, the motor was pulling the proper amps but due the capacitor failing, it caused stress on the motor which is why we pre warned the customer that the blower could fail. We are not the type of company that is going to sell a part that isn't needed and hasn't failed. Most of the time parts will continue to run after a failed component is replaced and we save our homeowners a lot of money. We voided off $15 off the service charge, $21 of the capacitor, $89 off the overtime service charge and $186 off the cost to replace the blower motor for a total savings of $311. Not to mention the added value of our response time, customer service, etc. We know that it can be frustrating not having cool air but in this case we do not feel we could have done anything better. Thank you for your time and opportunity to service you.
Jason Peavey
I have a 15 year old system that I know is living on borrowed time. The first time, the a/c went out on a Friday night in mid-July, no one else would come out on the weekend, and it was approaching 100 degrees. This time, I returned home on Sunday evening to a house that was about 48 degrees. I tried myself to reset the furnace but ended up breaking a condenser pipe and making matters worse. I called Peavey who had someone on the way immediately. Brandon got here within about 30 minutes. After negotiating my cluttered garage and attic to get to the unit, he spent several minutes checking things only to discover that the ignition was bad.He gave me a price that was thousands less than I expected when I placed the call, so I told him to go ahead. Within an hour, the heat was back on and the pvc pipe I broke was fixed. Brandon was kind, professional, and just a pleasure to work with. Too often, as a single woman, I'm always afraid that someone will try to take advantage of my lack of mechanical knowledge. I never feel that way with Peavey. I will be recommending them to everyone I know. They will also be the first call early this spring when I finally bite the bullet and have the HVAC system replaced.
Posted: 1/12/2015 • Link to this review
I called Peavey A/C because our downstairs air conditioning didn't seem to be cooling. They came out to service our unit and determined that we had a leak. They fixed our leak in a timely manner. Their price was fair.
Posted: 10/01/2014 • Link to this review
Reviews: 1
We am sitting in our cool bedroom thanks to the Peavey HVAC team. This is significant considering we use to hate being upstairs during the summer. But thanks to the team at Peavey this is now enjoyable. We found them on Kudzu, and after talking to several other HVAC companies found that the product knowledge, honesty, and service set them apart from the others. Each time we have used them they have been consistent with scheduled time arrival, workers who don't track in dirt and who clean up after themselves. The extent of our work has included a home performance evaluation,insulation, foam, home sealing, A/C service, and more. I love the company's goal of treating every customer as a priority. All this and they are competitively priced. Thanks for everything guys.
Posted: 7/18/2014 • Link to this review
I got quotes from several companies before going with Peavey. I decided to use them because they gave me unique solutions I hadn't heard from anybody else. I received a very in-depth assessment of my living space with the initial quote. I was impressed with their knowledge and inclusion of outlying factors that affect my home's environment beyond the compressor and air-handler like airflow and noise. Inevitable problems were handled professionally. They are problem solvers.
Posted: 5/29/2014 • Link to this review
I live in Decatur, GA, my heater wasn't working back in December, 2014, I called Peavey A/C & Heating they come and advise me to change the furnace, I paid $150 for the inspection then $1,750 for changing the furnace, everything seem working well until we turn on the AC on May, 2014, then we noticed a leak under the furnace, I called Peavey A/C & Heating again to check it out, this time he said there is a leak on the system and we are nor responsible check it the leak will cost $375 and adding Freon will cost $284, I requested a second opinion so I hire another AC Certified tech to check it out , he said that the system is fine but the coil wasn't level when the new furnace was installed, so I paid $425 including adding freon to the system. I spoke with Joe from Peavey A/C & Heating and ask him for a refund, at this time they declined. I will not recommend them may be only to change the filter.
Posted: 5/29/2014 • Link to this review
Hi Abdel,
My name is Danny - thank you for your feedback. I empathize with your situation and am sorry you had a difficult second experience with us after being satisfied with our furnace installation. If you kindly recall the time we originally replaced the furnace, David also recommended either 1.) upgrading the extremely old outdoor AC & indoor Coil (which as you know are separate components we didn't install but work as a team with the indoor furnace) due to age, condition, and efficiency or 2.) at a minimum: maintenancing the old AC & Coil. It's the same thought with a car: if you don't replace a 20+ year old car, you have to at least maintenance it every 3-6 months (spark plugs, changing the oil, etc) so it will run when you turn it on. While appreciative of your business on the furnace only, you declined both of these recommendations on the AC & Coil. When the furnace was installed, we strapped and leveled the coil and checked it with a level.
When you called us back out for the "no AC" service call in the spring, our technician found that while the indoor coil was still evenly set on the indoor furnace, the outdoor AC/indoor coil was 4 pounds low on freon so the coil froze up. When the ice on the coil thawed out, it had symptoms of a water leak because the ice thawed out and the water ran down the side of the furnace because the coil sits on top of the furnace. As recommended, if the old AC & Coil was maintenanced at least twice per year, then this could have been prevented. Similar to the first furnace installation, we advised against a temporary fix of putting 4 pounds of freon into such an old, leaky AC & Coil but instead to put that money towards a new AC & Coil or at least do a leak search to find the leak (long term fixes & best solution). You declined all three options from Peavey and, as you mentioned, hired a 3rd party individual to put freon in but still had leaks after his work was completed. We can't in good conscious speak on the work of that individual or pay you $425 for his work considering Peavey didn't do the $425 job, our consistent AC & coil recommendations, and the fact that they had nothing to do with the original furnace installation. I do thank you for the review because it is a good reminder on why we train our team hundreds of hours each year & continue making company improvements to create better experiences for our customers. Do keep in mind that we have won the Super Service award from Angie's List two years in a row, HomeAdvisor's 2014 top honor for quality/service/value, hundreds of mostly 5 star reviews on other forums, and dozens of referrals. We would welcome the opportunity to serve you again with the hope we can bring you back to a similar positive experience with our company. Please feel free to call me directly at 404-732-6169 if that is indeed a possibility for you. Thank you.
Reviews: 1
The Peavey rep Joe F arrived on time and was very courteous and professional. He wore shoe covers to walk around the house and listened while I explained what was going on. After about 20 min he came back down from the attic and told me why my furnace was not draining. He realized that even though i didnt know to much about my furnace, he knew that I understood technically what was suppose to happen so we went up to the attic and he showed me that the drain pipe was on backwards. Reliable heating and air came out to my house to repipe and this is why it was backwards. After he fixed the issue, he even drained the line and made sure the water was going properly outside. The owner called a week later to follow up. I am happy to say that water no longer stays in my drain pan after using the AC for about 2 weeks.
Posted: 5/01/2014 • Last edited: 5/08/2014 • Link to this review
Have only had my spring/summer service call, but ready for fall/winter call. The first one was great!
Posted: 10/17/2013 • Link to this review
* By Appointment Only


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Languish: A Haunting Violet novella
Contain Spoilers
I really enjoy Alyxandra Harvey's writing style, so when I saw Languish available for check out at the library, I didn't hesitate to click the Borrow button. This is a fast, entertaining read that follows Violet on her quest to regain her ability to see ghosts. After all of the harrowing action in Haunting Violet, her third eye has remained stubbornly blind, and she's getting tired of waiting for it to open again. Even when Lord Jasper advises patience, and to not force her powers to work again, she still has to try to take charge of her wayward ghost-seeing skills, opening herself up to danger and near disaster.Read more


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The Obama administration's push for a smaller, nimbler military must now face the scrutiny of a Congress that has spent years resisting cuts to the defense budget, often advocating costly programs the Pentagon does not even want.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is proposing to shrink the Army to its smallest size in three-quarters of a century, hoping to reshape the military after more than a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan at a time when the Pentagon is roped in by fiscal constraints set by Congress.
The plan unveiled Monday is already raising red flags among leading Republicans and Democrats.
``What we're trying to do is solve our financial problems on the backs of our military, and that can't be done,'' said Republican Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, the House Armed Services Committee chairman.
``There's going to be a huge challenge,'' Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, conceded.
Having backtracked just this month on cutting veterans benefits by less than 1 percent, lawmakers appear in little mood to weigh difficult, if necessary, decisions on defense reductions, especially as the nation gears up for midterm elections in November.
They have resisted cutting tanks and aircraft the military doesn't even want, or accepting base closings that would be poison in their home districts. They have consistently advocated bigger pay increases for service members than the government has requested.
And although Congress has agreed on an overall figure for the military budget in 2015, at just under $500 billion, there are still major decisions to be made on how that money should be spent.
``We are repositioning to focus on the strategic challenges and opportunities that will define our future: new technologies, new centers of power and a world that is growing more volatile, more unpredictable and in some instances more threatening to the United States,'' Hagel said Monday at the Pentagon.
President Barack Obama will submit his budget to Congress next week.
At its core, the plan foresees the U.S. military as no longer sized to conduct large and protracted ground wars. Instead, more emphasis will be on versatile, agile forces that can project power over great distances, including in Asia.
The active-duty Army would shrink from 522,000 soldiers to between 440,000 and 450,000. That would make it the smallest since just before the U.S. entered World War II.
Other contentious elements include the elimination of the Air Force's A-10 ``Warthog'' tank-killer aircraft and the Cold War-era U-2 spy plane; Army National Guard reductions; and domestic military base closings that Congress has roundly rejected since Obama became president. Military compensation will also decline slightly. Another flashpoint could emerge over the fleet of 11 aircraft carriers that the Pentagon insists it is maintaining.
The last time the active-duty Army was below 500,000 was in 2005, when it stood at 492,000. Its post-World War II low was 480,000 in 2001, according to historical tables provided by the Army. In 1940 the Army had 267,000 active-duty members, and it surged to 1.46 million the following year as the U.S. approached entry into World War II.
In Congress, the issue could come up as early as Tuesday when the Senate Armed Services Committee considers the nominations of six senior Pentagon officials, including a new deputy secretary of defense.
Both parties are divided on defense funding levels. Republican hawks don't see eye-to-eye with some supporters of the small government tea party movement and fiscal conservatives who say all sectors of federal spending must be reined in. For every Democrat supporting the Obama administration, there's another in a military-heavy district or state worried about the fallout. (AP)


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Together with the Office of the Provost, the Penn Social Science and Policy Forum is pleased to announce a competition for up to five Course Development Grants. Grants are to be used to design innovative courses in policy-relevant social science for undergraduates or graduate and professional students. We strongly encourage proposals for courses that bridge disciplines or schools, including courses that may be cross-listed. We also encourage, where appropriate, courses that connect scholarship and policy analysis. Funds, between $2000 and $5000, will be available to successful applicants. These funds can be used for graduate and undergraduate assistants, course operations, and faculty salary.
Faculty at Penn in any of the 12 schools are eligible, and courses may be proposed for any future semester. We look to support innovations in the types of materials assigned, in classroom task design, in the format of graded assignments, as well as new team teaching, especially across schools.
Applications are due April 30. Click here [1] for more information and lists of past recipients.


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Westlake Village, CA — As the U.S. automotive industry continues to recover, vehicle manufacturers post the strongest improvement in initial quality since 2009 and are producing higher-quality vehicles than ever before, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Initial Quality Study(SM) (IQS) released today.
- Lexus Is the Highest-Ranked Nameplate fora Second Consecutive Year
- Toyota Motor Corporation Receives Five Model-Level Awards
- General Motors Company and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Garner Four Awards Each
Overall initial quality for the industry improves by 5 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) to average 102 PP100 in 2012—an improvement of 5 percent from 2011. There are year-over-year gains in most areas of initial quality, with one notable exception—audio, entertainment, and navigation problems have increased by 8 percent from 2011. This continues a recent trend, as problems in this category have increased by 45 percent since 2006 while other categories have improved by 24 percent, on average.
As manufacturers introduce increasingly sophisticated multimedia systems designed to enhance the ownership experience, owners more frequently cite these systems as a source of quality problems. For the first time in the 26-year history of the study, owners report more problems related to audio, entertainment, and navigation systems than in any other vehicle area. This is driven in part by a rapid increase in the fitment of new technology, such as voice recognition on mainstream models.
"Until recently, this type of sophisticated technology was found primarily on high-end models" said David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates. "However, over the past few years it has rapidly found its way into the automotive mainstream. For example, in 2012, more than 80 percent of owners indicate that their new vehicle has some form of hands-free technology."
Specifically, the number of owner-reported problems with factory-installed hands-free communication devices has increased 137 percent during the past four years. In fact, hands-free devices not recognizing commands has become the most-often-reported problem in the industry.
"As smartphones become ubiquitous in the lives of consumers and are ever-more sophisticated, expectations about the complementary technologies being offered in new models will only get higher," said Sargent. "Automakers and suppliers are working hard to meet those expectations with systems intended to make the driving experience safer, more convenient and more entertaining. However, the most innovative technology in the world will quickly create dissatisfaction if owners can't get it to work."
Other key findings from the study include:
- Of the 34 brands ranked in the 2012 IQS, 26 have improved from 2011, five have declined, one scores the same as in 2011 and two were not included in the 2011 study.
- Of the 185 models ranked in both the 2012 and 2011 IQS, 65 percent have improved.
- The average quality of all-new or redesigned models improves 12 percent compared with 2011, with eleven all-new or redesigned models performing better than their segment average.
The Initial Quality Study, now in its 26th year, serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership. The study is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and build better models and by consumers to help them in their vehicle purchase decisions. Initial quality has been shown throughout the years to be an excellent initial indicator of long-term durability, which directly impacts consumer purchase decisions. The study captures problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories: design-related problems and defects and malfunctions. Full results are on the next page.


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Server Upgrades
Naruto Arena > Main > News >
Server Upgrades
Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 19:07 by oreacharound
As many of you have noticed, arenas 4 and 5 are currently down. We are aware of this issue and I will explain the situation.
Arenas 2 and 3 had server upgrades recently, thus making arenas 4 and 5 no longer necessary for the Naruto Arena ingame function. Meaning, arenas 4 and 5 will not be back up because arenas 2 and 3 are more than capable of handling all games played now.
Thank you to all for your understanding and your continuing support of Naruto Arena. Any questions or concerns can be sent directly to me via private message.
Related subjects:
server upgrades
NARUTO © 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO. All Rights Reserved.


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Tuesday, March 05, 2013 7:02 pm
Chavez's cancer fight: a glance at cancer struggle
The Associated Press
- June 30, 2011: Chavez says on television from Cuba that he had a cancerous tumor removed from his pelvic region. He later says the tumor extracted was the size of a baseball.
- July 4, 2011: Chavez returns to Venezuela, but later travels to Cuba periodically for chemotherapy and medical tests.
- Sept. 23, 2011: Chavez says he completed chemotherapy and calls the treatment successful. Says later that tests show no reappearance of cancer cells.
- Feb. 21, 2012: Chavez says his doctors found a new lesion in the same place where the tumor was previously removed, and announces plans to return to Cuba for surgery.
- Feb. 26, 2012: Chavez undergoes operation that removes the tumor from the same location in his pelvic region. Says later that follow-up tests showed the tumor was "recurrence of the initially diagnosed cancer."
- March 24, 2012: Chavez travels to Cuba to begin radiation therapy.
- April 14, 2012: Chavez travels to Cuba for second round of radiation treatment.
- April 26, 2012: Chavez returns to Venezuela following cancer treatment in Cuba, saying his latest round of therapy was successful.
- July 9, 2012: Chavez says at a news conference that tests show he is "totally free" of cancer.
- Oct. 7, 2012: Chavez wins re-election to another six-year term, beating challenger Henrique Capriles.
- Nov. 27, 2012: Chavez says he will travel to Cuba for more medical treatment. He says doctors have recommended he "begin special treatment consisting of various sessions of hyperbaric oxygenation."
- Dec. 9, 2012: Chavez announces that a cancerous tumor reappeared and that he must travel to Cuba for another operation. He says the surgery could be complicated and that if he is unable to stay on as president, Vice President Nicolas Maduro should run in an election to take his place.
- Dec. 10, 2012: Chavez travels to Cuba and undergoes surgery the next day.
- Jan. 10, 1013: Chavez misses his scheduled swearing-in ceremony, which was indefinitely postponed by lawmakers. Supporters stage symbolic inauguration in the streets of Caracas, swearing themselves in in their leader's place.
- Feb. 13, 2013: Maduro says Chavez is undergoing "extremely complex and tough" treatments.
- Feb. 15, 2013: Government shows first photos of Chavez in more than two months, says he is breathing through a tracheal tube.
- Feb. 18, 2013: Chavez returns from Cuba, tweets, "We will live and we will triumph!!" Supporters celebrate in streets. But Chavez heads immediately to a military hospital, making no public personal appearance.
- Feb. 22, 2013: Foreign Minister Elias Jaua reads long letter from Chavez to summit of African and South American leaders.
- March 1, 2013: Maduro says Chavez is receiving chemotherapy and "continues his battle for life." He describes the treatments as "intense and tough."
- March 4, 2013: Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas says Chavez has "a new and severe infection" and is in a "very delicate" condition.
- March 5, 2013: The government announces that Chavez has died.


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I have been thinking about the relationships between the Montessori materials a lot over the past year or so. I have returned to the notion of an indirect aim as a grounding place for my own abstract thoughts which sometimes take me too far from what is at hand. So, I began mentally pairing materials that seemed to me had physically similarities or required a shared hand movement. These two variables became my mini-criteria for inclusion in a longer paper on this same subject.
Defining the pairs in regards to these two criteria meant having to mentally visualize their use and to remove the labels that so often isolate materials: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math and Cultural Studies. These labels, found on our albums, isolate materials from each other and therefore isolate and separate them in regards to their use by the children.
Once I simply thought about each work, and their individual design, similarities between the materials emerged. In fact, I would refer to this as a harmony which creates a flow in the classroom ultimately serving in normalizing a child. That is a lot to say but I whole heartedly believe that isolating materials fragments the environment and works in opposition to sensorial exploration and the freedom of movement - in the most broad understanding of the phrase. In regards to the term "Flow," I am referring to the writings of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
Here are my initial pairs and some of my reasons for coupling them:
Spooning and the Multiplication board. Spooning is the transference of quantity from one place to another. Working with the Multiplication board, a child transference quantities from a small bowl and distributes them as required.
Similarly, Sorting and the Division board.
Here again sorting is a transference of quantities from one place to another. Sorting also requires that the items be divided into smaller portions and placed in individual containers. This is division. Look at the green beads in the small wooden bowl and think Practical Life instead of division. You should then be able to easily recall which work(s) the child initially did in order to have the eye hand coordination needed to carefully place all of those small beads in their circular placeholders.
Folding cloths and the Constructive Triangles.
The next time you see both of these materials in use by two separate students, look at the triangles and the rectangles made by the fold lines in the cloths and look at the various shapes made when the constructive triangles are placed together on a rug. See the black lines that designate which sides of the constructive triangles are to be matched and imagine each line as a fold. Do this and you will see these two materials have surprising similarities.
Perhaps the two materials most isolated from each other are the Botany Cabinet and the Geometry Cabinet.
When I was trying to think of materials to couple, I simply thought of the word Cabinet which instantly was followed by the question, "As these two materials are so physically familiar, what else do they share that I have not paid attention to?" Immediately I had an answer in my mind: the line. I then began thinking about polygons and non-Euclidean geometry. This was the key to unlocking the mystery of their relationship, of their overlapping values.
And what of that briefly mentioned statement regarding the line. When very young children do scissor work in the Montessori classroom they cut along a simple, straight line drawn on a small piece of paper. Soon, that paper is replaced by others which bear the image of a wavy line or a zig zag line. Eventual these are replaced by ones that resemble a shape, a recognizable shape. This is the same for the progression of sewing activities. The significance, other than learning to use scissors or needle, is the introduction of a line, of a basic element in grasping geometry. To pair this work I looked to the materials in Lower Elementary. Here, I found the geometry sticks.
Instantly I coupled cutting a line/sewing a line to this material.
I think children more readily see the relationships between materials than the adults in the environment. My suggestion for myself and for others is to go back to the albums and pick out a few lessons that have listed for their indirect preparation very specific materials. Get these out and work with them until you see their overlapping variables. And when you get an Ah ha! moment, set out to find other relationships between the materials. This will aid you enormously when you write your lesson plans for individual children.
I read recently that Maria Montessori took time off from her work to "meditate" on the writings of Itard and Sequin. She spent months hand writing the Italian translations of their work so that it would be available to her. She said she then meditated on the intentions of their methodology. That is what we need to do. We need to meditate on the intentions of Maria Montessori's work. It has become my passion.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Flow Theory: Seeing the Relationships Between Materials
Posted by Susan Slocum Dyer at 4:23 AM
Labels: classroom management
3 comments:
- 希望 said...
- December 17, 2009 at 8:59 AM
- montessorimatters said...
That's truly fascinating, and you're so right! I am currently reading "Flow" and it has changed how I approach my more difficult students. The results have been marvelous!
Over the winter holiday I will meditate on the flow of materials... Great food for thought!
- December 17, 2009 at 7:09 PM
- pooja said...
what an insightful post! thank you for sharing .... i find myself looking for patterns at a different level now! :)
- January 1, 2010 at 5:12 AM
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In the episode, Pete (Kristos Andrews) is awakened on a park bench by Michael Donovan (O'Leary), who is flabbergasted that Pete doesn't recognize him as a longtime soap star.
"I thought you were somebody."
"I am somebody."
Watch it unfold below.
LOVED IT! Michael O'Leary is fantastic. Kristos continues to impress. Looking forward to more.ReplyDelete
Wow! The quality of this is incredible! I've loved the Bay so far, and can't wait for more, but this makes me want to watch Steamboat as well. Great idea to crossover!ReplyDelete
This was great! I love Michael O'Leary! Each episode that Kristos appears in gives the fans more insight into his character. I am thoroughly enjoying all this background info for one of the major characters in The Bay. Perhaps another major character could be featured at some point.ReplyDelete
Loved the crossover!! Michael O'Leary is hilarious. :) Glad to see he co-wrote the episode as well.ReplyDelete
THE BAY IS GREAT WANT TO SEE IT ON TV. GREG J MARTAN IS A TOP WRITER.ECT,ECT LOVE THE BAY WANT TO SE MORE EPISODES.! VERY IMPRESSED.KEEP ON ROLLIN...................ReplyDelete
Really enjoyed it. I love Michael O and Steamboat. This is the first time I have seen The Bay--I guess this is a prequel?
I think Steamboat needs to be on TV Land. Seems like the perfect avenue for it now--since they are venturing into the situation comedy area w/ Hot in Cleveland and Happily Divorced. I can see Steamboat as part of that Wed nite line-up--the show would fit in beautifully


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Talk of the week. August 25, 2014
Hello, my dear friends and family,
Another week has passed in beautiful Peru. Transfers are the August 26th and I am still going to be in Caraz with my dear companion from Argentina. We have been together for almost 6 weeks and she is a joy to be with. I have learned a lot from each of my companions and I feel I am learning more from her than she is from me. She is the third hermana I have had the privilege of training, and I will treasure her friendship forever. She is already a strength and blessing to the mission, and the people of Peru, and to me.
Here is the talk of the week.. Another great one sent to us from the President of the mission. He has taught us to not only read them, but to pray, asking Heavenly Father to teach us the eternal lessons that He wants us to learn from these men He has chosen to lead us. We, as we study these weekly talks sent to us, look up the scriptural references and then we discuss it as a companionship which helps us to see it thru another's eyes. I hope it strengthens and helps you as much as it does us. I am grateful for the peace that has been given me in knowing that I am where I am supposed to be; that I am doing and teaching the truth; and that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and He loves us. The Savior lives and this is Their work. Please read and pray about this talk. It contains truths that will help each of us in our daily lives. Remember I love you and the gospel is true.
Until next week, con mucho amor,
Hermana Mardi Hyer
Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior's Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.
Recent experiences have caused me to reflect on the doctrine of peace and especially the role of Jesus Christ in helping each of us obtain lasting personal peace.
Two events in the past few months have touched me deeply. First, I spoke at the funeral for Emilie Parker, a precious six-year-old who lost her life along with 25 others, including 19 young children, in a tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. I mourned with her family and recognized that many had been deprived of peace. I found strength and faith in her parents, Robert and Alissa Parker.
Second, I met with thousands of faithful members of the Church in the Ivory Coast city of Abidjan.1 This French-speaking, West-African country has endured economic hardship, a military coup, and two recent civil wars concluding in 2011. Yet I felt a special peace in their presence.
Events often occur that rob us of peace and heighten our sense of vulnerability.
Who can forget the evil attacks of September 11, 2001, on various U.S. locations? Such events remind us how quickly our feelings of peace and safety can be destroyed.
Our oldest son and his wife, who were expecting their first child, lived three blocks from the World Trade Center in New York City when the first plane crashed into the North Tower. They went to the roof of their apartment building and were horrified as they watched what they thought was some kind of terrible accident. Then they witnessed the second plane crash into the South Tower. They immediately realized that this was no accident and believed lower Manhattan was under attack. When the South Tower collapsed, their apartment building was engulfed in the dust cloud that rained down over lower Manhattan.
Confused about what they had witnessed and concerned about further attacks, they made their way to a safer area and then to the Manhattan stake Church building at Lincoln Center. When they arrived, they found that dozens of other members in lower Manhattan had made the same decision to gather at the stake center. They called to let us know where they were. I was relieved that they were safe but not surprised at their location. Modern revelation teaches that the stakes of Zion are a defense and "a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."2
They could not return to their apartment for over a week and were devastated by the loss of innocent lives, but they suffered no permanent damage.
In contemplating these events, I have been impressed with the doctrinal difference between universal or world peace and personal peace.3
At the birth of the Savior, a multitude of the heavenly host praised God and proclaimed, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."4
However, it has been poignantly noted that even in this eternally significant period following the birth of the Son of God, Herod the king carried out the slaughter of innocent infants in Bethlehem.5
Agency is essential to the plan of happiness. It allows for the love, sacrifice, personal growth, and experience necessary for our eternal progression. This agency also allows for all the pain and suffering we experience in mortality, even when caused by things we do not understand and the devastating evil choices of others. The very War in Heaven was waged over our moral agency and is essential to understanding the Savior's earthly ministry.
As recited in the 10th chapter of Matthew, the Savior instructed the Twelve and acknowledged that His mission would not achieve universal peace in this mortal life. The Apostles were told to leave peace upon the worthy houses they visited but warned that they would be "in the midst of wolves … [and] hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."6 A significant pronouncement is made in verse 34: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth."7 It is clear that universal peace did not exist on the earth during Christ's mortal ministry, and it does not now.
In the Lord's preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, a number of very important principles are taught. With respect to those who do not repent, His Spirit (the Spirit of Christ), which is given to every person who comes into the world,8 "shall not always strive with man."9 Also, "peace shall be taken from the earth."10 Prophets have declared that peace has indeed been taken from the earth.11 Lucifer has not yet been bound and exercises power in this dominion.12
The heavenly aspiration of good people everywhere has and always will be for peace in the world. We must never give up on achieving this goal. But, President Joseph F. Smith taught, "There never can come to the world that spirit of peace and love … until mankind will receive God's truth and God's message … , and acknowledge his power and authority which is divine."13
We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior's mission and atoning sacrifice.
This principle is succinctly captured in the Doctrine and Covenants: "But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come."14
President John Taylor taught that peace is not only desirable, but "it is the gift of God."15
The peace to which I am referring is not just a temporary tranquility. It is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.16
President Heber J. Grant described the Savior's peace this way: "His peace will ease our suffering, bind up our broken hearts, blot out our hates, engender in our breasts a love of fellow men that will suffuse our souls with calm and happiness."17 In my meetings with Emilie Parker's parents, I saw that the Savior's peace has eased their suffering and is helping to bind up their broken hearts. It is notable that immediately after the shooting, Brother Parker expressed forgiveness to the perpetrator. As President Grant said, the Savior's peace can "blot out our hates." Judgment is the Lord's.
The Ivory Coast Saints, during the period of civil war in their country, found peace by focusing on living the gospel of Jesus Christ, with particular emphasis on family history and temple work for their ancestors.18
We all long for peace. Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life's devastating trials and tragedies. The Lord's answer to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail brings solace to the heart:
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
"And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high."19
Remember, "God is not the author of confusion, but [the author] of peace."20 For those who reject God, there is no peace. We all participated in the councils of heaven that provided for moral agency, knowing that there would be mortal pain and even unspeakable tragedy because of the abuse of agency. We understood that this could leave us angry, bewildered, defenseless, and vulnerable. But we also knew that the Savior's Atonement would overcome and compensate for all of the unfairness of mortal life and bring us peace. Elder Marion D. Hanks had a framed statement on his wall by Ugo Betti: "To believe in God is to know that all the rules will be fair, and that there will be wonderful surprises."21
What are the sources of peace? Many search for peace in worldly ways, which never have and never will succeed. Peace is not found by attaining great wealth, power, or prominence.22 Peace is not found in the pursuit of pleasure, entertainment, or leisure. None of these can, even when attained in abundance, create any lasting happiness or peace.
Emma Lou Thayne's beloved hymn asks the appropriate questions: "Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace when other sources cease to make me whole?"23 The answer is the Savior, who is the source and author of peace. He is the "Prince of Peace."24
How do we stay close to the Savior? Humbling ourselves before God, praying always, repenting of sins, entering the waters of baptism with a broken heart and contrite spirit, and becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ are profound examples of the righteousness that is rewarded by abiding peace.25 After King Benjamin delivered his stirring message concerning the Atonement of Christ, the multitude fell to the earth. "The Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ."26Repentance and living righteously allow for peace of conscience, which is essential for contentment.27 When there has been a major transgression, confession is required to bring peace.28 Perhaps there is nothing to compare with the peace that comes from a sin-wracked soul unloading his or her burdens on the Lord and claiming the blessings of the Atonement. As another favorite Church hymn puts it, "I'll drop my burden at his feet and bear a song away."29
My heart rejoices when I realize that in our day tens of thousands of young men, young women, and senior missionaries have accepted the call to be emissaries of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They are taking the restored gospel of peace to the world, one person and one family at a time—a work of righteousness to bring this peace to Heavenly Father's children.
The Church is a refuge where followers of Christ attain peace. Some young people in the world say they are spiritual but not religious. Feeling spiritual is a good first step. However, it is in the Church that we are fellowshipped, taught, and nourished by the good word of God. More importantly, it is priesthood authority in the Church that provides for sacred ordinances and covenants that bind families together and qualify each of us to return to God the Father and Jesus Christ in the celestial kingdom. These ordinances bring peace because they are covenants with the Lord.
Temples are where many of these sacred ordinances occur and are also a source of peaceful refuge from the world. Those who visit temple grounds or participate in temple open houses also feel this peace. One experience preeminent in my mind is the Suva Fiji Temple open house and dedication. There had been political upheaval resulting in rebels burning and looting downtown Suva, occupying the houses of Parliament and holding legislators hostage. The country was under martial law. The Fiji military gave the Church limited permission to assemble people for the open house and a very small group for the dedication. The members as a whole were uninvited due to concerns for their safety. It was the only temple dedication since the original Nauvoo Temple that was held under very difficult circumstances.
One person invited to the open house was a lovely Hindu woman of Indian descent, a member of Parliament who was initially held hostage but was released because she was female.
In the celestial room, free from the turmoil of the world, she dissolved in tears as she expressed feelings of peace that overwhelmed her. She felt the Holy Ghost comforting and bearing witness of the sacred nature of the temple.
The Savior is the source of true peace. Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior's Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace. In the intimate setting of the Passover chamber, the Savior promised His Apostles that they would be blessed with the "Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost" and then uttered these important words: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you."30 Then just before His Intercessory Prayer: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."31
Eliza R. Snow penned this concept beautifully:
Lift up your hearts in praise to God;
Let your rejoicings never cease.
Though tribulations rage abroad,
Christ says, "In me ye shall have peace."32
I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
1. Two conferences were held in Abidjan on Sunday, February 10, 2013; 9,693 were in attendance—619 of whom were not yet members of the Church. Total Church membership in the Ivory Coast is approximately 19,000.
2. Doctrine and Covenants 115:6.
3. The word peace has different meanings. In classical Greek it refers to cessation, discontinuance, or absence of hostilities between rival forces. In Hebrew the word has a more comprehensive meaning and sometimes is just a form of greeting. Peace is also a "state of existence that comes to man only upon the terms and conditions set by God" (Howard W. Hunter, in Conference Report, Oct. 1966, 14–17).
4. Luke 2:14; emphasis added.
5. See Matthew 2:16; see also Ross Douthat, "The Loss of the Innocents," New York Times, Dec. 16, 2012, 12.
6. Matthew 10:16, 22.
7. Matthew 10:34.
8. See Doctrine and Covenants 84:46.
9. Doctrine and Covenants 1:33.
10. Doctrine and Covenants 1:35.
11. President Woodruff declared this in 1894 and again in 1896. See The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, ed. G. Homer Durham (1946), 251–52; see also Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 79–82.
12. See Joseph Fielding Smith, The Predicted Judgments, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year (Mar. 21, 1967), 5–6. However, as Elder Neal A. Maxwell stated, "We can have inner peace even though peace has been taken from the earth … [and] 'all things [are] in commotion'" ("Behold, the Enemy Is Combined," Ensign, May 1993, 79).
13. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith (1998), 400.
14. Doctrine and Covenants 59:23.
15. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor (2001), 151.
16. From the ancient Greeks to our own day, these words—happiness and contentment—have been parsed, dissected, and grappled with not only as to their meaning but also the guidance they give to our lives. See David Malouf, The Happy Life: The Search for Contentment in the Modern World (2011). See also a review of Mr. Malouf's book, in R. Jay Magill Jr., "How to Live Well," Wall Street Journal, Jan. 26–27, 2013, C6.
17. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant (2002), 226.
18. "Three of the five Ivory Coast stakes are among the top 25 in the Church in the percentage of adults [submitting] family names for temple ordinances," and the Cocody Cote d'Ivoire Stake is the highest (C. Terry Warner and Susan Warner, "Apostle Visits Ivory Coast, Is 'Impressed with Exceptional Spirit,'" Church News, Mar. 3, 2013, 4, 14). In the wake of the civil war and the closest temple being 12 hours away by bus in Accra, Ghana, this is marvelous evidence of faith and has resulted in personal and family peace.
19. Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8. President Harold B. Lee taught, "So, we must be refined; we must be tested in order to prove the strength and power that are in us" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 208).
20. 1 Corinthians 14:33.
21. In Marion D. Hanks, "A Loving, Communicating God," Ensign, Nov. 1992, 63.
22. See Jeffrey R. Holland, For Times of Trouble (2012), 79. Elder Holland teaches that "true poverty may do more to destroy the human spirit than any other condition except sin itself." But the righteous use of money can enhance peace.
23. "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" Hymns, no. 129.
24. Isaiah 9:6.
25. John Greenleaf Whittier put it simply: "Heed how thou livest. Do not act by day which from the night shall drive thy peace away" ("Conduct [From the Mahabharata]," in The Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier [1802], 484).
26. Mosiah 4:3; emphasis added; see also Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 79–82
27. Conscience is a moral compass pointing us toward peace. It is activated by at least two sources: the Light of Christ, a glorious birthright from our Heavenly Father (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:6–13;93:2), and the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Doctrine and Covenants 39:6)
28. "Two sets of forgiveness are required to bring peace to the transgressor—one from the proper authorities of the Lord's Church, and one from the Lord himself. [See Mosiah 26:29.]" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 41).
29. "How Gentle God's Commands," Hymns, no. 125.
30. John 14:26–
31. John 16:33.
32. "Though Deepening Trials," Hymns, no. 122.
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IN CRIME-RIDDEN northern Mexico, a lower-middle-class girl (Stephanie Sigman) yearns to become a beauty queen.
Unluckily, on the day of try-outs for the Miss Baja California pageant she crosses paths with a gang of drug traffickers who plot to use her for their own ends.
Though the collision of glamour and crime could be played for black comedy, Gerardo Naranjo's thriller has few if any laughs. Still, it's too flashy to be truly grim: the kind of stylistic display where the camera performs as much or more than the actors do.
The story carries us through a series of concrete, three-dimensional spaces, most of them fairly mundane: corridors, hotel rooms, highways (a good portion of the running time is taken up by driving sequences).
Tension builds gradually in muscle-flexing tracking shots, where threats lurk in the background or just offscreen.
Propelled from one horrendous situation to another, the heroine rarely shows much will of her own, nor a personality that would make her more than a visual reference point for the camera to pivot around.
By regularly filming Sigman with her back to the viewer, Naranjo makes clear this is a deliberate choice - presumably a political statement about a society that treats women as objects.
Ultimately, even if these good intentions are taken at face value, the schematic approach leads to a certain monotony.
Miss Bala is impressive and exciting for its first hour, but once its message has been delivered there is little left to add.


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The city of Longmont ranked 23rd out of 510 cities analyzed for how they have recovered economically since the Great Recession ended.
This month marked the fifth anniversary of the end of the Great Recession, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. NerdWallet, which describes itself as a "financial literacy" website geared toward consumers, analyzed 2009 to 2012 data compiled by the Census Bureau's American Community Survey to find out which communities had rebounded the strongest.
It ranked the communities' strength of recovery based on change in unemployment rate in the 2009 to 2012 period; change in median household income; and change in median home value. For the No. 23 ranking, the data showed Longmont's unemployment rate declined by more than 27 percent, its median household income went up nearly 13 percent and its median home values increased about 3 ½ percent.
Seven of the top 10 cities were in Texas. The only non-Texas city in the top five was Fargo, N.D. Other Colorado cities were Loveland at No. 30, Boulder at 31 and Denver at 36.


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A man has been arrested after three people were taken to hospital when they took a legal high, a chemical normally used to clean alloy wheels.
Two men, aged 20 and 22, and a 16-year-old girl, all from Liverpool, were believed to have taken a number of substances, including Geebs.
Police were called to student accommodation at Borden Court in Liverpool city centre at about 7.30am on Sunday after the three people had collapsed in a communal area of the building.
All three were rushed to intensive care at Royal Liverpool University hospital but their conditions later improved.
On Monday, Merseyside police arrested a 19-year-old man from Worsley, Manchester, on suspicion of supplying a class-C drug.
Geebs, or GBL, is legal for use in industry as a paint stripper, rust remover or alloy cleaner, but it is illegal to sell it as a drug.
Officers have searched Borden Court and an address in Lawrence Road, Wavertree, where the two men and the teenager had attended a party.
Detective Superintendent Chris Green said: "We have consulted with the Royal Liverpool University hospital and established that if taken this substance can have side effects, but at the end of the day this substance is a chemical used to clean car wheels and even in small doses can kill.
"We have spoken to a number of people who were at the party at Lawrence Road but we know that there were other people who were at the party and we would like them to come forward for two reasons. The first to check that they are safe and well and second to see if they have any information which could help us with our inquiries.
"We will be working with universities in the city in the coming days to warn students about the dangers that drugs and chemicals can have when taken, particularly if mixed with alcohol or other substances.
"We understand that the three people involved may have taken other substances and as a precaution checks are under way to establish what those drugs were and to ensure that they have not taken drugs that are part of a bad batch."


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Recent News
Posted on: 09 April, 2012
To start with, she contracted polio when she was almost 6. She escaped paralysis but it left her weak. Polio also gave Dr. Carol Masheter something else – the determination to be strong plus the dream of doing something extraordinary.
Posted on: 09 April, 2012
Dr. Melody Baggech, associate professor of music at East Central University, will perform a recital at 7:30 p.m. April 19 [THURSDAY] at the Ada Arts and Heritage Center, 14th and Rennie. The performance is free to the public.
Posted on: 09 April, 2012
Learning how to help people resolve conflicts and move on with their lives can be very rewarding, according to a group of volunteers who do just that.
Each year dozens of Oklahomans agree to give their time and energy to become a volunteer mediator through the Early Settlement Mediation Program. Pottawatomie County, however, is a little short on mediators and needs some volunteers to assist with both community- and court-related disputes.
Posted on: 05 April, 2012
A Celtic music group with a passion for hard-driving fiddle and whistle tunes, heart-teasing waltzes and poignant ballads and broadsides will perform April 14 [SATURDAY] at East Central University.
Finnegans Awake, which includes Ada's own Susanne Woolley (fiddle, mandolin, vocals) will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Dorothy Summers Theatre. Admission is $5.
Posted on: 05 April, 2012
Posted on: 29 March, 2012
A sneak preview of the sixth season of "Art in the Twenty-First Century," the only primetime national television series focused exclusively on contemporary art, will be offered April 3 and 4 [TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY] and April 11 and 12 [WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY] at East Central University in Ada.
ECU's Art Department will screen the programs in partnership with Art21 as part of its Access '12 initiative.
Posted on: 29 March, 2012
Students who plan to transfer to East Central University can see what ECU has to offer and enroll for the summer and fall semesters during Transfer Enrollment Day on April 11 [WEDNESDAY].
New students will meet with the Transfer Enrollment Center staff, become familiar with campus policies and enrollment procedures, meet with their faculty advisers and enroll for summer and fall classes. They also will be offered tours of the campus and will be able to purchase textbooks and acquire their student ID cards.
Posted on: 28 March, 2012
A representative from East Central University's Transfer Enrollment Center will visit Seminole State College April 4 [WEDNESDAY] to talk with students thinking about transferring to ECU to complete a bachelor's degree.
Kyle W. Gardner, ECU's transfer enrollment manager, will be in Tanner Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students can talk with him about signing up to enroll for the summer and fall semesters during ECU's Transfer Enrollment Day on April 11.


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Fall entertaining calls for thoughtful gatherings. Make celebrations more memorable by prepping your table for Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving with these inspiring autumn tablescapes.
Step 1: Highlight Your Own Style
Traditional Table Decorations
Decorating with natural elements this fall is not only stylish but also easy and festive! Mini pumpkins, flowers, and candles make this table setting traditionally elegant. The low height of the floral arrangement ensures that diners still see each other during the meal.
Modern Table Decorations
A unique and edgy centerpiece, such as this tree branch candleholder, creates the perfect focal point in a modern dining room. Dried autumn leaves that serve as the runner and apples in a warm copper hue add to the autumnal look.
Eclectic Table Decorations
Fresh, modern matte white pumpkins mixed with chic gold flatware and elegant crystal show seasonality with an eclectic twist. A rustic bird figurine brings interest while subtle patterns in the linens create texture.
Modern Cottage Table Decorations
This modern cottage tablescape foregoes traditional autumn colors but still exudes that familiar warm feeling of fall. Turkey prints, wicker chargers, and silver candlesticks combine to give a fresh take on a Thanksgiving look. A distressed candleholder filled with moss and large acorns for a centerpiece make this table setting extra inviting.
Step 2: Play with Color
Orange Table Decorations
Nothing says autumn like pumpkins in the traditional tones of orange. Showcase the symbol of fall by placing a pumpkin inside a hurricane jar. Add sunflowers to bring in cheer and also candles for a warm glow.
Black & Gold Table Decorations
Go for black and gold if you want a tablescape that's fun but still subtle and elegant. Combine gold pumpkins, chargers, and candlesticks with black and white patterned accents. Use simple white plates and wine glasses to complete the neutral look.
All White Table Decorations
Grace your Thanksgiving table with sophistication by using all white table décor. The white turkey and pumpkins embrace the fall theme in a fresh yet elegant approach. Crystal and fine china complete the formal setting.
Pink, Yellow & Orange Table Decorations
Fresh roses, leaves, and pumpkins decorate this simple tabletop with a treasure of color, texture, and shape. A table runner with vibrant hues of orange and pink provide a bold backdrop.
A beautiful fall table setting is a great way to embrace the season. Showcase the captivating colors and shapes of fall with a stunning tablescape done in two simple steps.


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Posts tagged with Lawrence Parks And Recreation
Just Food director to speak Wednesday at 'Coffee with the Experts' event
Jeremy Farmer, executive director of Just Food, will be the guest speaker during a Lawrence Parks and Recreation program for seniors called "Coffee With the Experts."
The event will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 9, at the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Mass. It is free and open to the public.
Just Food is the food bank for Douglas County. In 2011, it distributed $676,503 worth of food, or about 880,000 meals, for free to 84,699 people, a 21 percent increase from a year earlier.
Farmer has spent 10 years working for churches, nonprofits and being an advocate for the marginalized. Before returning to his hometown of Lawrence, Farmer was director of community awareness at Project Hope Food Bank in Arkansas.
For more information about the program, call Parks and Recreation at 832-7920.


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Incarceron by: Catherine Fisher
Read by: Anna/Copley Teen Room
Incarceron is the book our TBOM group decided to read for March and April. Our final discussion of the book will be today, April 24th at 3pm in the Central Teen Room.
Incarceron is a prison. It is a prison that speaks for itself, feeds its prisoners, takes over the dead bodies, grows new ones, and ensures no one escapes, all from within. There is a Warden, but even he, doesn't have complete control over the prison. Once, there was a prince, Giles. When he was only a child he was killed to allow his half brother to take the throne. And yet… inside Incarceron there is a boy who bears a birthmark that is a match to the one the prince had. This boy, Finn, is the son of Incarceron. He was born there, created by the prison three years ago. And yet… he remembers a birthday cake, the candles, a pretty girl he was set to marry some day. Are they one and the same? Outside, Claudia, the daughter of the Warden, is set to marry Giles' horrible half brother and in the eventual death of the queen, take over. But things are not as they seem. Lies and assassination plots abound, and one can't be sure who to trust any more. It is Finn's goal to escape the prison and find out just who he really is. But no one escapes Incarceron. It is Claudia's goal to free Finn and his friends, to restore him as prince and free the world from the tyrant of a Queen, but no one knows where Incarceron is located or how to get to it.
When I first started reading this book I will admit I was very confused about what was going on inside the prison. It's not a prison like anyone has ever heard of. There's a whole world inside the prison, there's weather, hills, rocks, barren land, whole cities with guards and rock walls surrounding them, forests, roving bands of criminals, mothers, babies, moving vehicles, animals, fake rats who's duty is to clean up the dead bodies and garbage, you name it, it's in Incarceron. Yes, weapons are there too. I didn't understand this at first, and I wish I'd gotten a better handle on it right from the start. And yet, I will also admit that the opening scene is very riveting. It throws you in and scares you half to death. And so I was confused about how the prison worked at first. But the more time I spent there, the more it began to make sense and the more I wanted to know what was going to happen. Right up until the very end. There is a sequel entitled Sapphique, so there are a few things left unanswered. And while I'm anxious to read the next book, I'm also thinking if this one was just a little bit longer, it could have been a standalone novel. But, not having read Sapphique, I could be entirely wrong. We'll have to see.
While I was expecting a bit of romance to color the plot, it doesn't, and that was a relief. Too many YA novels rely on the standard romance trope these days that they ruin what could have been a good story. Not every novel needs to have a romance and I'm glad this one allows the actual story to shine. I like Claudia. She's a tough girl who knows what she wants and is determined to get it. And Finn, who sometimes seems weak, rises to do what's right when others wouldn't. The Warden always leaves you with questions as to his true loyalties, making him an intriguing character. Though the Queen and her son, Jasper, do seem a little flat, the other characters quickly make up for it.
Yes, I do recommend this book. My only issue was in the beginning, as I said. Once I understood the world building, I could see just how fantastic and unique it really was, inside the prison and out. Then I was able to really enjoy this page-turner. Read it if you enjoy fantasy, urban fantasy, and classic fantasy.


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Hospitality and Tourism Management
SPMG3425 - Sport Event Management
Fall 2011
Events are an important segment of the sport, hospitality, and recreation industries. This course will provide the student with a theoretical and applied approach to the planning and organization, management, and evaluation of events. Topics covered include; selecting the event venue, developing and managing the budget, marketing, scheduling and staffing, coordinating food, beverage and entertainment, and working with vendors and governing bodies. As part of the course, students will be involved with the planning and operation of a major athletic event.
Prerequisites: 60 credits and SPMG3401 or MGMT3400
3 Credits
Schedule Book for All Active and Available Future Terms, Course starting with SPMG3425
No Courses Found


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Financial Information: Online with Morningstar and Valueline
May 6, 2013
Program Locations:
┬ĀWe will retrieve important information on individual stocks and mutual funds, including analystsŌĆÖ reports and opinions, and demonstrate the advanced search capabilities of each database. Join us to learn how to turn an investment concept into a short list of potential investments.┬ĀSeating is limited and is on a first come, first seated basis.
More Info
- Audience: Adults, Job Seekers


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I just stopped by here to get some more info on hammocks. Seems like a great place.
I just stopped by here to get some more info on hammocks. Seems like a great place.
welcome! and you came to the right place for hammock info.
"If your not outraged, then your not paying attention"
bumper sticker
"You have to grow old, But you don't have to grow up"
Welcome ... you've found a great place to hang ...
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks". John Muir.
welcome to HF, glad you could stop and hang out with us!
Par Si Vis Pace Para Bellum
Welcome to the forum Fox. This is hammock info central.
" The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it."
The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away. ~Wayne Dyer
Hello and welcome!
A big welcome from Soonerland!
Crazy Hammock Lady


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Appcelerator has announced they will be providing beta support the BlackBerry platform. What does this mean to you and me? Keep reading.
Appcelerator currently provides cross-platform support for multiple devices (think iPhone, iPad and Android) with a huge developer base. The new beta program will allow those developers to create applications much easier and faster for our BlackBerry devices. With that, applications that are exclusive to the dark side (again, think Apple, etc.) may become available to us RIM devotees very soon. According to an internal survey, nearly 50% of the developer pool is interested in the creating applications for the BlackBerry.
A quote from Appcelerator's Press Release sums up the reasoning behind this move:
Appcelerator changes that by allowing the use of web development tools that are standard across all devices to create your application. The ease of development that is being offered is part of the reason the App Store and even the Android Market have had such an explosion of applications.
For those of us waiting desperately for salvation from OS 6.0, this may be another point of salvation. If "next-gen" applications will soon be available WITH an OS that provides support for widgets, etc., we may have the best of both worlds.


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Colts Have Lengthy Injury Report, But Things Don't Look So BadThe Indianapolis Colts are heading into the playoffs with a rather lengthy injury report, and there are indeed a number of big names listed on it. The good news is that most of the names are listed simply as precautionary measures and not for serious reasons.
Chiefs Might Be Getting Healthy Again At Just The Right TimeInjuries slowed down the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half of the NFL season, but now they are much healthier as the playoffs approach.