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AMERICUS - The Georgia Southwestern softball team was swept (5-2, 4-0) in a Wednesday afternoon non-conference doubleheader by Columbus State at Lady 'Canes Field.
Nichole Griffin finished the day 2-for-6 to lead Southwestern at the plate. Gabby Buck and Heather Hodge hit solo home runs in Game 1.
Columbus State scored three runs in the first two innings and added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning to defeat Georgia Southwestern 5-2 Wednesday afternoon at Lady 'Canes Field.
Both sides smashed a pair of solo home runs to account for four of the combined five runs over the opening three innings.
Gabby Buck hit a two-out home run down the left-field line in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1.
CSU hit the next two home runs as Kristi Bullard helped her own cause as the pitcher began the top half of the second inning with a solo home run. The Lady Cougars hit their second home run of the inning when Morgan Staffins hit another solo home run giving the visitors a 3-1 lead after an inning and a half.
The Lady Hurricanes hit the final home run of the contest in the bottom of the third inning which came off the bat of leadoff hitter Heather Hodge. That brought GSW within one, 3-2 after three innings of play.
GSW threatened in the fifth inning which began with Hodge hitting a double down the leftfield line and moved up to third on a wild pitch. Mason Moreland then grounded out to third base and Hodge tried to score after the throw to first but was gunned down at the plate for the double play.
Knight hit an RBI triple to left-center field in the seventh for CSU. She would later score on a wild pitch.
Hodge led the Lady Hurricanes going 2-for-3 as she was the only GSW player to have a multi-hit game in the doubleheader. Buck, Nichole Griffin and Katie Maddox also had one hit on the afternoon.
Christie Shankle suffered the loss in her first collegiate start working all seven innings. The righty surrendered five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three.
Bullard picked up the complete game victory for CSU. She allowed two runs on five hits and walked just one hitter in the Lady Cougars' season-opener. She struck out 12 in the contest.
Knight paced the offense going 2-for-4 scoring a pair of runs and adding an RBI.
Southwestern was held to three hits in the nightcap and fell to 1-3 this spring.
The Lady Cougars pushed a run across in the first and third innings before knocking GSW starting pitcher Tiffany Milstid out of the game in the fourth with two more scores.
Columbus State turned three double plays in the game to squash any threat the Lady Hurricanes could pose.
CSU (2-0) starter Kelsey Gilliam earned the complete-game win, walking three and striking out two.
Milstid went 3 1/3 innings in her first appearance of the spring, allowing the four runs on five hits. She hit three batters, walked two and struck out one.
The Lady Hurricanes (1-3) travel to Brewton-Parker on Friday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.


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Global Temperatures
- This activity has been selected for inclusion in the CLEAN collection.
This activity has been extensively reviewed for inclusion in the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network's collection of educational resources. For information the process and the collection, see http://cleanet.org/clean/about/selected_by_CLEAN.
This resource received a gold-star rating from a Panel Peer Review
These materials were reviewed using face-to-face NSF-style review panel of geoscience and geoscience education experts to review groups of resources addressing a single theme. Panelists wrote reviews that addressed the criteria:
- scientific accuracy and currency
- usability and
- pedagogical effectiveness
- Accept
- Accept with minor revisions
- Accept with major revisions, or
- Reject.
Following the panel meetings, the conveners wrote summaries of the panel discussion for each resource; these were transmitted to the creator, along with anonymous versions of the reviews. Relatively few resources were accepted as is. In most cases, the majority of the resources were either designated as 1) Reject or 2) Accept with major revisions. Resources were most often rejected for their lack of completeness to be used in a classroom or they contained scientific inaccuracies.
This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Teaching Collection
Resources in this top level collection a) must have scored Exemplary or Very Good in all five review categories, and must also rate as "Exemplary" in at least three of the five categories. The five categories included in the peer review process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html.
This page first made public: Apr 12, 2006
This material is replicated on a number of sites as part of the SERC Pedagogic Service Project
Learning Goals
- Natural climate variability (volcanoes, El Nino);
- Climate trends;
- Climate predictability;
- Regional climate variations.
- Teach students how to describe and interpret graphical information.
- Explore the significance of global climate change patterns to a student's local region.
- Introduce students to the difficulties encountered in trying to extrapolate recent temperature trends into the future, and the need for models to make reasoned predictions of temperature change.
Context for Use
Teaching Materials
- Data in tab delimited format;
- Lab instructions and questions;
- Link to how to describe graphs;
- Link to how to write-up lab reports of this type;
- Images of:
- 2001 annual temperature anomaly relative to 1951 to 1980 mean;
- 1991 annual temperature anomaly relative to 1951 to 1980 mean;
- Regional trends in temperature for 1910-1945, 1946-1975, 1976-2000, and 1901-2000.
Teaching Notes and Tips
References and Resources
- The Globally-Averaged Temperature Lab provides good documentation for references and additional reading.
Other relevant links include:
The graph below created by Robert MacKay can be useful when discussing global temperatures and global change.

subset: commoncrawl


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Caterpillar 287 MTL
Caterpillar™ - 287 Multi-Terrain Loader
Are parts for your Caterpillar 287 either unavailable in your area or only available through the dealership at their outrageous prices?
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Free Shipping anywhere in NZ on all purchases over $150
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Want to help with a great cause and have fun swim at the same time? Then check out our Swim 4 Plunket event to see how you can do both!
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Restoration Services: Water, Fire, Mold, Wind, Storm & Hurricane Damage at Nassau County Florida State
JD Restorations has coverage at Nassau County Florida State
JD Restorations of Nassau County Florida State can respond immediately to your Water, Fire, Mold, Wind, Storm & Hurricane Damage emergency regardless of the size or scope of the damage.
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Our Restoration company can get your business up and running in case of an emergency. Our specialists are ready 24/7.
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There are many things that cause water damage. When water attacks it is destructive not only in the physical aspect, but it will continue to cause damage if not attended to and corrected properly. Water causes damages such as: rotting of wood, rusting of steel, mold growth, and many others that can become ongoing issues. […]


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November 12, 2010 Phone: (757) 220-6197
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Announces Green Business Challenge Honorees
(Williamsburg, VA) – Mayor Clyde Haulman announced today the seventeen businesses who took the
City's First Green Business Challenge and are leaders in making Williamsburg a greener community.
The businesses that participated range from major institutions in the City such as the Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation, the College of William & Mary, and the Greater Williamsburg Chamber &
Tourism Alliance to mid- and small-sized businesses. The announcement was made at the City
Council Meeting November 12, 2010, in order to focus attention as the nation celebrates America
Recycles Day, which falls on November 15.
The 2010 Green Business Honorees are:Business Type of Business
A Williamsburg White House Inn Bed & Breakfast
Aberdeen Barn Restaurant
Aromas Specialty Coffees & Gourmet Bakery Coffeehouse/café
College of William & Mary Higher Education Institution
Read the rest of this page »


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Eden Card
Our unique cards are perfect to give to someone for any occasion. We have over 30 different designs printed on thick high quality card. They come blank ready for you to fill with your own message.
- 300gsm rives paper
- FSC Certified
- Comes with envelope
- Printed in the UK
- 15cm x 15cm


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Maryland high school students posted lower marks last year on the SATs but saw increases in Advanced Placement college exam participation and results, according to data released on Monday by the College Board.
The state's test takers during the 2011-2012 academic year registered a 5-point drop in average SAT scores (1,487 on the 2,400-point scale) from the previous year, said the College Board, which administers the college readiness exams.
Maryland scored 497 in critical reading (down two points), 502 in math (even) and 488 in writing (down three points), said school officials, who added that overall participation for the SAT was about the same over the previous year. Nationally, students scored 496 in critical reading, 514 in math and 488 in writing.
The state posted a 74 percent testing rate for the SAT among its high school seniors, 10th most in the nation. School officials said that 47,467 students took the test in Maryland last year, about the same as in 2010-2011.
The state continued its proficiency with AP exams, for which it has ranked first in the nation in scores over the last four years and first in the nation in participation last year. School officials said that more than 116,000 state students took AP exams in 2011, a 5.4 percent increase over 2010.
Students reaching the exam's high marks (a score of 3 or greater out of 5) increased almost 10 percent in Maryland, officials said. Students who earn an AP score of 3 to 5 qualify for credit at many colleges and universities.
"Advanced Placement offers rigorous courses of study, serving as a cornerstone for future success in college or a career field," said state schools Superintendent Lillian M. Lowery in a statement. "Maryland students are eager to test their mettle in everything from calculus to English literature."
In Howard County, students posted an overall composite SAT score of 1,632, down more than a dozen points from a year ago. Students scored 537 on critical reading, 557 on math and 538 on writing. The county's participation rate, 80.6 percent, was down 1 percentage point.
"We are looking into the factors that may have contributed to the drop," said Linda Wise, Howard's deputy superintendent for curriculum instruction and administration.
But Howard school officials lauded the results and participation percentages, which were well above state and national averages.
"Our 2012 results indicate that many of our students are in fact college- or career-ready," said Howard school Superintendent Renee Foose. "Our goal is to ensure that, not just most, but all HCPSS graduates leave high school prepared."
Of the county's students who took the AP college entrance exam, 82 percent earned a mark of 3 or higher.
In Baltimore County, students posted a 1,476 composite score on the SAT, an increase of 17 points from last year. Baltimore County students scored 489 in critical reading, 499 in math and 488 in writing. Overall participation in the test was 57.5 percent, down 2.6 percent from the previous year.
Baltimore County students tallied a 67.4 percent pass rate on the AP entrance exam, up from 64.4 percent the previous year. The participation rate was 37.8 percent, up about 1 percentage point from last year.
"We're encouraged by the increases we see today in our SAT and AP results, but we cannot be satisfied by them," said Patricia Lawton, chief academic officer of Baltimore County schools. "Superintendent [Dallas] Dance and the whole BCPS team will be looking closely at this data as we move forward in the effort to improve our curriculum and instruction for students."
Baltimore City officials said Monday that they will likely release SAT and AP data in October with graduation data.
Nationally, the College Board said 43 percent of all SAT takers in the class of 2012 met the test's College and Career Readiness Benchmark, similar to the previous class. The SAT benchmark score of 1550 indicates a 65 percent likelihood that a college student will achieve a grade-point average of B-minus or higher during the first year at a four-year college.
Maryland high school students posted lower marks last year on the SATs but saw increases in Advanced Placement college exam participation and results, according to data released on Monday by the College Board.


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Home Departments Finance Gifts and Donations What to give
What to give
Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 September 2013 15:13
You may wish to consider various aspects of the city's operations in your gifting decisions. In most cases, cash contributions are probably the most appropriate. If you want to make a non-cash contribution, please check in advance to ensure that your gift can be used in a meaningful way.
- Downtown hanging flower baskets
- Care-To-Share recreation sponsorships
- Personnel training expenses
- Fire rescue equipment or publications
- Police operations
- Park equipment acquisitions
- Park lighting
- New park or park expansion funds
- Lawson Gardens development
- Books, magazine subscriptions, recorded books, DVDs, or CDs for Neill Public Library
- Senior Center donations
- Recreation equipment
- Cemetery enhancement
- Tree and bulb donations
- Pothole repairs
- Path development and lighting
- Transit shelters
- Public art
Thank you for your support!


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Well, this is something…an ex-jewel thief decides to unretire and rob people with help from his robot butler. I had to look this up on IMDB to make sure it wasn't something from Funny or Die or College Humor.
Best robotic sidekick since Mr. Spock. Now reboot Lethal Weapon with Donald Glover and a robot playing the Mel Gibson role. (Yes, I meant Donald. Danny is clearly too old for that shit.)


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Soda Cocktail
1 Lump of Sugar. (Oh oops, forgot the sugar cube!)
4 Dashes Angostura Bitters. (4 dashes of Ango Bitters)
1 Lump of ice.
Use long tumbler and fill with a bottle of lemon soda, or lemonade (Fever Tree Bitter Lemon).
As a very bitter man, I felt the combination of bitter lemon and angostura bitters to be quite a delightful, complex, multifaceted taste delight. I suppose, if you are a "super taster" you may not agree with me. Well, unless you are a super taster who really, really likes bitter flavors.
A nice stomach settling delight, this would be perfect if you weren't feeling 100%.
To me, however, it always makes me think of the question, "Are small amounts of alcoholic bitters allowed in non-alcoholic cocktails?"
This post is one in a series documenting my ongoing effort to make all of the cocktails in the Savoy Cocktail Book, starting at the first, Abbey, and ending at the last, Zed.


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Industry News for
3031 North Rocky Point Dr. West #300
Tampa, Florida 33607
Laser Spine Institute Recognized As One Of The "Best Places To Work" In Tampa Bay
Local company consistently recognized as preferred employer by staff and community members
April 30, 2012 (TAMPA, FL.) – Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery, is proud to announce it has again been recognized by its employees as one of the best places to work in Tampa Bay. Laser Spine Institute was recently recognized by Tampa Bay Business Journal as one of the "Best Places to Work" in Tampa Bay, and was ranked second in the publication's "Biggest Employer" award category. In addition, the Tampa Bay Times also named Laser Spine Institute as a "Top Workplace" for the third year in a row.
The nomination process included self-employee surveys that were distributed internally to Laser Spine Institute's nearly 350 local employees and measured team effectiveness, trust in senior leadership, employee value, compensation and benefits.
"At Laser Spine Institute, the core of our success is the talent and passion of our remarkable people," said Bill Horne, CEO of Laser Spine Institute. "We will never waver from our commitment to our employees and we strive to ensure they have the necessary resources and support available to come to work every day with a passion to help our patients looking for relief from neck and back pain."
Employees of Laser Spine Institute also touted the company's corporate culture and promoting from within as key differentiators. Insights from the employee surveys show that health and wellness initiatives, team building exercises, tuition reimbursement and ongoing professional development are a few of the many reasons why Laser Spine Institute is a preferred employer. Employees also called out work-life balance and initiatives focused on healthy lifestyles, including an employee running club, annual health fair and free smoking cessation programs.
Laser Spine Institute also prides itself in hiring local talent and promoting from within. In 2011 alone, 70 new jobs were created and 61 employees were promoted to higher positions within the company.
Laser Spine Institute helps patients every day achieve a better quality of life by delivering neck and back pain solutions. Laser Spine Institute surgeons are trained through a Laser Spine Institute fellowship and together they perform more endoscopic spine surgeries each month than any other spine surgery center in the nation.
About Laser Spine Institute
Chiropractic Events


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Special Reports
FBI turns away many applicants who fail lie-detector tests
Thousands of job applicants come to FBI offices all across the country every year, eager to work for the top law enforcement agency in the U.S.
But many of them have their hopes dashed, and it's not because of their work experience or education or criminal records. They're turned down because they've failed their polygraph tests.
The FBI's policy of barring job candidates who fail their polygraph tests clashes with the view of many scientists that government agencies shouldn't be relying on polygraph testing to decide whether to hire or fire someone. Experts say polygraph testing isn't a reliable indicator of whether someone is lying – especially in employment screening.
Further, a little-known technical glitch in one of the leading polygraphs that the bureau and many other government agencies have used could give applicants who fail polygraphs even more reason to assert that they were inaccurately and unfairly labeled liars.
"I was called a lazy, lying, drug dealing junkie by a man who doesn't know me , my stellar background or my societal contributions," wrote one black applicant in Baltimore, who said he was told he qualified for a job except for his polygraph test failure. "Just because I am young and black does not automatically denote that I have ever used any illegal drugs."
Government agencies use polygraph testing not only to weed out job applicants but also to question criminal suspects and to determine whether sex offenders are complying with psychological treatment or probation.
Although all polygraph testing is controversial, many scientists are highly critical of its use in job screening, saying it's especially prone to inaccuracies because the questions are often more vague than they are in criminal investigations and therefore they're more likely to provoke reactions from the innocent that might seem like deception.
Adding to the skepticism, polygraphers have documented problems with the measurement of sweat by the LX4000, a polygraph that the FBI and many other federal agencies and police departments across the country have used, McClatchy found. Polygraphers also interpret measurements of respiration and blood pressure for their decisions on whether someone is lying, but many see the sweat measurement as especially indicative of deception. The manufacturer of the LX4000, Lafayette Instrument Co. Inc., describes the problem as rare but it isn't able to specify what that means. The company also points out that other polygraphs that use the same technology might have the problem as well.
"The potential for occasional differences to be observed was already clearly described in the published literature, not limited to the Lafayette polygraph system, and anecdotal experience confirms it is an occasional occurrence," the company said in a statement to McClatchy.
But Gene Iredale, a San Diego lawyer, said the problem could mean that agencies such as the FBI are "making decisions in criminal cases and are taking away security clearances on the basis of completely inaccurate information. The polygraph is speculative to begin with; that's why it's not admissible in court."
A spokeswoman said the bureau, which has polygraphed applicants since 1994, "continues to find it a relevant and necessary tool in both employment and operational related matters."
The spokeswoman, Kathleen Wright, said the bureau wouldn't respond to questions about the LX4000 nor reveal the number of people who failed each year, although she acknowledged that if an applicant doesn't pass a polygraph "then the applicant is normally not hired."
Records obtained by McClatchy show the FBI polygraphs about13,000 people a year for job screening, criminal investigations and national security inquiries. According to records, the bureau has at least a 30 percent failure rate in its job screening. As many as 40 percent of special agent applicants don't get the job because of their polygraph test results.
The bureau isn't alone in its reliance on polygraph testing. A contractor fired 10 Drug Enforcement Administration court interpreters in San Diego after the DEA said they'd failed their polygraphs or refused to take them , according to a federal lawsuit Iredale filed against the U.S. government over the decision. The Philadelphia Police Department says on its website that it won't hire someone who doesn't pass its polygraph.
Other police departments, such as Kansas City, Mo., Sacramento, Calif., and Raleigh, N.C., say they don't rely entirely on a polygraph test to determine whether they should hire someone.
"If someone shows deception and we're not able to clarify it, then the investigator puts that in their report and that's something we look into," said Kathy Lester, who oversees the Sacramento Police Department's hiring. "It's not just based on the polygraph, but we'll have other corroborating information."
However, even those who say they don't have a strict policy of barring failing applicants were hard-pressed to say what they'd do if they were faced with a failure without a confession of wrongdoing.
"We have to feel comfortable hiring someone," said Lester, who estimated that her department would polygraph about 200 people this year for positions ranging from police officers to firefighters to clerks. "If we feel somebody is deceptive based on the totality of the circumstances, then we can't hire them."
Despite its strict policy, the FBI gives some applicants the opportunity to take another test, but it doesn't disclose the number.
James Wedick, a retired FBI agent of 34 years who's now a private investigator in Sacramento, called the bureau one of the "worst culprits" in its reliance on polygraph testing. He said he'd repeatedly seen highly qualified people turned away who'd be excellent law enforcement officers. The stigma follows them even if they try to apply elsewhere, because police departments and federal agencies often weigh whether someone previously failed a polygraph, even if they haven't tested the person themselves.
"Many of these people work their entire adult lives to get a job with the bureau," he said. "These are people who haven't done anything wrong and they've got stellar resumes and they're told, 'Sorry. You can't get a job because of the polygraph.' It's ludicrous."
Documents obtained by McClatchy demonstrate that the bureau is rejecting people even as the applicants insist they've never done anything wrong. The documents, which were given to McClatchy by polygraph researcher Katelyn Sack, also show that some applicants view the rejection as illegal discrimination. In fact, half of a dozen applicants who filed the complaints McClatchy obtained thought they were discriminated against because they're African-American.
"I believe I was discriminated against as a black female," wrote one woman who applied to the Memphis, Tenn., FBI office and was told she'd failed two polygraphs.
The first polygrapher said the woman seemed to be lying about drug use. After she was granted another test, the second polygrapher said she passed. A supervisor overturned that conclusion.
In all the cases reviewed, the bureau countered that the polygraph tests revealed the applicants were hiding some sort of wrongdoing that wasn't discovered during the usual background investigation.
In Dallas, for instance, one applicant accused a polygrapher of asking whether he was an Israeli spy because he's Jewish and of Iranian descent. The polygrapher, however, said the polygraph results showed him to be deceptive in response to questions about spying. "Other FBI officials confirmed the accuracy of the polygraph reading," the records say.
The FBI acknowledged that the polygrapher did mention an Israeli spy agency, "as he typically discusses foreign intelligence services with applicants."
In response to another complaint filed by a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent, the bureau said "the outcome of the polygraph examination was based solely on (complainant's) reaction to the questions posed him."
The polygrapher who first tested the man concluded that he passed. Her supervisor, however, said the bureau couldn't determine whether he was lying, calling him "inconclusive."
When he was tested again, said the applicant, who applied in Albany, N.Y., he was accused of trying to beat the polygraph test and told he was lying about links to terrorists.
The FBI denied discriminating against the applicants, who filed the complaints from 2006 to 2010. The bureau said supervisors who reviewed the polygraphers' determinations didn't know the characteristics of job applicants and therefore couldn't be biased.
Government agencies often successfully assert that national security and law enforcement interests trump an applicant's right to sue over a polygraph test. They persuade courts of polygraph testing's usefulness by pointing to confessions of wrongdoing they elicit during the tests.
However, Sacramento attorney David P. Mastagni called the technical glitch of the LX4000 a "real, significant legal issue" that could give people who have been denied jobs because of polygraph tests a legitimate reason to sue. Mastagni, who represents law enforcement officers in employment disputes and criminal cases, said manufacturers could be accused of not disclosing a product defect if they were aware of such a flaw and didn't do enough to fix it.
"If someone inaccurately got labeled a liar, that's a big deal. This is not a crybaby issue," he said. "It could be lots of people lost out on a job."
Tish Wells contributed to this article.


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American Airlines has canceled another 296 flights as it works to replace or repair dozens of planes grounded in North Texas because of hail damage.
Spokeswoman Andrea Huguely says the cancellations on Friday affect flights in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
The planes were caught in storms Tuesday that pounded the airport with hail, damaging 108 aircraft. The storms also spawned about a dozen tornadoes in North Texas.
Since the storms hit, American and its American Eagle affiliate have canceled about 1,600 flights, but with fewer cancellations each day. Huguely says only 27 cancellations are planned for Saturday as American gradually returns to normal operations. American and Eagle are owned by Fort Worth-based AMR Corp.
IN PICTURES: Extreme Weather 2012
Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday toured a town ravaged by storms that set off more than a dozen twisters in North Texas, and he lauded local first responders for preventing more serious damage.
Ten people were injured in Lancaster, south of Dallas, and hundreds of homes and other buildings were damaged when a tornado hit the town Tuesday. But no one was reported killed in the storms that blanketed the Dallas-Fort Worth area with twisters, thunderstorms and hail.
"Witnessing this type of disaster always brings just starkly to your mind how quickly these events can occur," said Perry, flanked by local officials in front of a nearly destroyed home in Lancaster.
While many people lost their homes and belongings that might never be replaced, "we do need to thank the Lord that it could have been worse," Perry said.
"The reason it wasn't worse, I will suggest to you, is because of these local first responders," he said.
The governor toured Lancaster first by helicopter and later met with local officials.
Perry issued a disaster declaration for Dallas, Tarrant and Kaufman counties and suggested the state would ask for federal help. Spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said a damage assessment still was under way and would determine what state officials would request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or other federal agencies. Nashed said she didn't know when the assessment would be completed. A FEMA spokesman said the agency had not yet received any requests for assistance.
Perry and state emergency management chief Nim Kidd both said the quick response in Lancaster prevented a much larger disaster.
"This response was flawless," Kidd said. "I can't think of another thing we should ask them to do next time."
About 150 homes in the city are considered uninhabitable, according to Jose Luis Torres, a Dallas city spokesman assisting Lancaster. Authorities are still going through neighborhoods to check for damage and don't have an estimate yet on the total cost of the storm, Torres said. Officials have re-opened city streets to residents looking to gather belongings from their homes.
Authorities also continue to assess damage in Arlington, west of Dallas, where a tornado bore down on a nursing home and damaged hundreds of homes, city spokeswoman Rebecca Rodriguez said.
The National Weather Service has confirmed 14 tornadoes in Dallas-Fort Worth. Twisters that hit Arlington and Lancaster each caused damage that suggested they were EF2 tornadoes, with wind speeds up to 135 mph. A tornado that leveled homes in Forney is believed to have been an EF3, with wind speeds as high as 165 mph.
Tornadoes can range from EF0, the weakest, to EF5, the strongest. An EF2 or higher is considered a significant tornado.


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Graham MacAree tried to shock the SABR world with his screed "The Problem with Sabermetrics" but I'm not buying it. After wasting a few paragraphs pointing out that baseball analysts can't conduct controlled experiments (gee whiz!), he drops a few thinly-veiled insults.
Data analysis methods are being misapplied and sold to readers as the next big thing.
Articles are being written for the sake of sharing irrelevant changes in irrelevant metrics.
Certain personalities are so revered that their word is taken as gospel when fighting dogma was what brought them the respect they're now given in the first place.
Maybe he's just stealing my material. Anyway, MacAree at least has a way to fix the sorry state of sabermetrics.
Sabermetrics shouldn't be so incomprehensible so as not to call up the smell of fresh mown grass in midsummer, or the crack of the ball off the bat, the blur of seams as an outfielder whips a throw in towards his cutoff man. Statistics shouldn't be sterile and clean and shiny and soulless. They shouldn't just be about baseball; they should invoke it. Otherwise, they run the risk of losing the language which makes them so special.
I'm happy someone has finally made this point. What I love most about good sabermetrics is that when I look at
I see a hit-and-run executed to perfection; I smell the hot dogs and popcorn, chewing tobacco and sweat; I hear the umpire calling "Steeee-rike three!" That's what makes tRA maybe not the best ERA estimator, but my favorite ERA estimator. And that's what sabermetrics is all about.


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Katy Perry vs. Ed Sheeran – Pop Clashby Maggie Malach | PopCrush
This week's Pop Clash pairing promises a very close competition! Katy Perry's saucy 'This Is How We Do' faces off against Ed Sheeran's tell-off 'Don't.' Who should win the Pop Clash?
Katy's 'This Is How We Do' is the perfect summer jam. From its peppy verses to the ultra-catchy chorus (and have you seen that colorful music video?), this song is perfect for the warm weather! Like all of the singles from 'Prism,' 'This Is How We Do' has a unique sound that makes it stand out, while retaining that confidence that is undeniably Katy.
Ed's 'Don't,' on the other hand, is a bitter reminder of what happens when you stray in a relationship. While the singer could have taken the tell-all route, he doesn't identify the lady who wronged him — but he still gets the point across! Hearing Ed scoff "don't" makes us wonder how anyone could break his heart.
Who should win this week's Pop Clash? You can vote for Katy Perry's 'This Is How We Do' or Ed Sheeran's 'Don't' once an hour until the polls close at 3PM ET on Aug. 25.
Watch Katy Perry's 'This Is How We Do' Video
Watch Ed Sheeran's 'Don't'


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We started with SaleForce, but it is just way too much capability for us at this time. We're looking to make a one-time sync to pull the SF data down (trying to avoid all to key strokes), and then letting the SF subscription expire.
We'll have two of us running a CRM on both PCs and Android devices (smartphones and tablets) from physically separate locations (8 to 10 miles when we're not on the road), so it appears that we'll want a cloud service to keep all these devices sync'd. How do we run DJO on the PCs - through an Outlook sync?
Looking forward to starting up with DJO!


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Dave's Rating:
Shenanigans successfully deployed.
Time to eat a few words. Not all of them, but a few.
Specifically, I hereby take back everything I've been saying to anyone who was ever within earshot of me while I complained loudly about the posters, billboards, bus ads and trailers for this, the latest Madagascar film. Of course, it's the franchise's fault I felt that way in the first place, shoveling out two earlier movies that were fine technical achievements built on generic, self-esteem-based plotlines and characters that could only be described as The One That's A Lion (Ben Stiller), The One That's A Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), The One That's A Giraffe (David Schwimmer), The Zebra That's Chris Rock and All The Monkeys and Penguins. Watch them, finish them, forget them, wish there'd been more penguins and monkeys. Believing in yourself is fine, but does every single talking animal in every single movie need to learn that lesson in front of a paying public?
And now we come to the moment when the Madagascarites, at long last tired of all that freedom on the African plains, yearn to be re-imprisoned in their former Manhattan zoo cages. Don't ask why they'd prefer that life, they just do. And it doesn't really matter anyway, because along the road to captivity they meet up with a crew of similarly domesticated animals, a traveling circus that's seen better days, and they stow away under false pretenses.
Together, the enlarged menagerie re-brand themselves as a laws-of-physics-defying Cirque du Soleil-style act, performing impossible acrobatic feats while trying to stay one step ahead of a cruel and cruelly funny French animal control official (Frances McDormand, who even stops to sings an Edith Piaf number when she's not flying through the skies on her scooter).
It's still largely about Not Much, the main characters still have a lot of catching up to do if they want to leave the kind of indelible impression of say, Woody or Buzz Lightyear, and you always want more mischief from the penguins and monkeys, but the final product feels like it got a giant energy transfusion. It's fast-paced, visually inventive, occasionally moving and, best of all, really funny on a level both kids and adults will appreciate, probably thanks to the arrival of co-screenwriter Noah Baumbach (The Fantastic Mr. Fox). There's a special kind of moviewatching pleasure that comes from expecting the worst kind of boredom and finding yourself shocked by how much fun you're having. At one point, a penguin yells to the airplane-flying monkeys, "Deploy shenanigans!" and you realize that the entire film feels like it's happily obeying that command.
But really, please, can somebody tell me why they want to go back to animal jail?
Movies.com Critic
The birds are flightless, but the movie soars
Read full review | Comments ()
60 out of 100 Metascore®
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You can fly. Eventually.
Songs about butts.
Death to the patriarchy.
Stay home.
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Masonry Industry Building Up Nationwide
COLUMBIA - The masonry industry is currently the fourth fastest-growing industry in the country right now, behind several industries related to healthcare.
Despite this positive trend nationwide, in local economies such as Columbia the industry is hindered by the lack of overall contracts and the approaching winter season. But thanks to the delayed winter, some local masonry businesses have managed to find a few more contracts than usual.
Dean Hathman, owner of Lake of the Woods Masonry, said that the local economy has slowed down his contracting business even though his masonry shop sales are steady.
"If the university can't get the money from the state to build buildings, they can't go out and build new buildings or put additions onto their buildings. Same way with the schools, if the school can't get their bond issues passed, they can't affodd to build a school or put additions on", Hathman said.
But Scott Cason, owner of Cason the Mason, specializes in brick repair and says that the weather so far has ensured that his business survives.
"For this year, we haven't done too bad. It was slow through the middle of the summertime but once it started... the weather changed just a little bit out of that heat, business started picking up pretty good", Cason said.
National masonry trends seem to tell a different story from local ones. According to America's Career InfoNet, the employment for masonry contracts is expected to rise 221,000 workers in 2020, a 68% increase from 131,900 workers in 2010. And PRWeb reports that the industry's profit, as measured by earnings before interest and taxes, is projected to grow from 2.8% of industry revenue in 2012 to 4.5% in 2017.
But both Hathman and Cason are expecting increased business and contracts next year, and are considering hiring more employees depending on their success.


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He grew so disgusted by the corruption and lies of the Greedy Oil Party that he has left them...and has been writing about his dissatisfaction. From his article on Truth Out.com:
But both parties are not rotten in quite the same way. The Democrats have their share of machine politicians, careerists, corporate bagmen, egomaniacs and kooks. Nothing, however, quite matches the modern GOP.
To those millions of Americans who have finally begun paying attention to politics and watched with exasperation the tragicomedy of the debt ceiling extension, it may have come as a shock that the Republican Party is so full of lunatics. To be sure, the party, like any political party on earth, has always had its share of crackpots, like Robert K. Dornan or William E. Dannemeyer. But the crackpot outliers of two decades ago have become the vital center today: Steve King, Michele Bachman (now a leading presidential candidate as well), Paul Broun, Patrick McHenry, Virginia Foxx, Louie Gohmert, Allen West. The Congressional directory now reads like a casebook of lunacy.
It was this cast of characters and the pernicious ideas they represent that impelled me to end a nearly 30-year career as a professional staff member on Capitol Hill. A couple of months ago, I retired; but I could see as early as last November that the Republican Party would use the debt limit vote, an otherwise routine legislative procedure that has been used 87 times since the end of World War II, in order to concoct an entirely artificial fiscal crisis. Then, they would use that fiscal crisis to get what they wanted, by literally holding the US and global economies as hostages...
It should have been evident to clear-eyed observers that the Republican Party is becoming less and less like a traditional political party in a representative democracy and becoming more like an apocalyptic cult, or one of the intensely ideological authoritarian parties of 20th century Europe.
This comes from a Republican (now former Republican) insider. He saw what was going on from WITHIN the Republican Party and found it disgusting and corrupt. He also directly addresses the destructive and cynical hypocrisy of the modern Greedy Oil Party:
This tactic of inducing public distrust of government is not only cynical, it is schizophrenic. For people who profess to revere the Constitution, it is strange that they so caustically denigrate the very federal government that is the material expression of the principles embodied in that document. This is not to say that there is not some theoretical limit to the size or intrusiveness of government; I would be the first to say there are such limits, both fiscal and Constitutional. But most Republican officeholders seem strangely uninterested in the effective repeal of Fourth Amendment protections by the Patriot Act, the weakening of habeas corpus and self-incrimination protections in the public hysteria following 9/11 or the unpalatable fact that the United States has the largest incarcerated population of any country on earth. If anything, they would probably opt for more incarcerated persons, as imprisonment is a profit center for the prison privatization industry, which is itself a growth center for political contributions to these same politicians.[1] Instead, they prefer to rail against those government programs that actually help people. And when a program is too popular to attack directly, like Medicare or Social Security, they prefer to undermine it by feigning an agonized concern about the deficit. That concern, as we shall see, is largely fictitious...
This legislative assault is moving in a diametrically opposed direction to 200 years of American history, when the arrow of progress pointed toward more political participation by more citizens. Republicans are among the most shrill in self-righteously lecturing other countries about the wonders of democracy; exporting democracy (albeit at the barrel of a gun) to the Middle East was a signature policy of the Bush administration. But domestically, they don't want those people voting.
You can probably guess who those people are. Above all, anyone not likely to vote Republican. As Sarah Palin would imply, the people who are not Real Americans. Racial minorities. Immigrants. Muslims. Gays. Intellectuals. Basically, anyone who doesn't look, think, or talk like the GOP base. This must account, at least to some degree, for their extraordinarily vitriolic hatred of President Obama. I have joked in the past that the main administration policy that Republicans object to is Obama's policy of being black.[2] Among the GOP base, there is constant harping about somebody else, some "other," who is deliberately, assiduously and with malice aforethought subverting the Good, the True and the Beautiful: Subversives. Commies. Socialists. Ragheads. Secular humanists. Blacks. Fags. Feminazis. The list may change with the political needs of the moment, but they always seem to need a scapegoat to hate and fear.
It is not clear to me how many GOP officeholders believe this reactionary and paranoid claptrap. I would bet that most do not. But they cynically feed the worst instincts of their fearful and angry low-information political base with a nod and a wink...
I do not mean to place too much emphasis on racial animus in the GOP. While it surely exists, it is also a fact that Republicans think that no Democratic president could conceivably be legitimate. Republicans also regarded Bill Clinton as somehow, in some manner, twice fraudulently elected (well do I remember the elaborate conspiracy theories that Republicans traded among themselves). Had it been Hillary Clinton, rather than Barack Obama, who had been elected in 2008, I am certain we would now be hearing, in lieu of the birther myths, conspiracy theories about Vince Foster's alleged murder.
There is a lot more...it is a long article and represents the careful unloading of what seems like years of gradual disillusionment in the political party he had previously identified with. I suggest reading the whole thing.
Arianna Huffington is another person who made the transition from Greedy Oil Party cultist to opposing the GOP when she realized they were a bunch of liars who never actually did what they promised. She worked for Newt Gingrich and it was Newt Gingrich's own cynical hypocrisy drove Huffington away. I am no big fan of Arianna Huffington, but I respect the fact that she, like Lofgren, was able to see through the lies and theatrics of the Greedy Oil Party and reject them as one of the most destructive and corrupt forces in American politics. Lufgren is right...there is corruption in the Democratic Party as well, as I have written about frequently in regards to my own home territory of Brooklyn. But the corruption within the Republican Party, measured by comparing the numbers of politicians under investigation, indicted or convicted, FAR outweighs any corruption within the Democratic Party (see also this site for a somewhat less clearly laid out but more up to date analysis). Furthermore, many Democrats, myself included, fight to reform our own Party (to the degree of even endorsing Republican Joseph Cao in Louisiana against a corrupt Democrat). There is hardly a corrupt Republican who isn't embraced by the Greedy Oil Party and often given and maintained in leadership positions.
More interesting is the case of Pete McCloskey who was so disgusted by the behavior of the Republican Party during the Bush years that he left the party. Pete McCloskey had been a life-long Republican and a former candidate for President in a Republican primary. He himself says his family had been Republicans since before Lincoln, suggesting they were among the founders of the party. Yet the corruption and hypocrisy of the modern Greedy Oil Party drove away Pete McCloskey. Here is the letter he wrote explaining his decision:
McCloskeys have been Republicans in California since 1859, the year before Lincoln's election. My great grandfather, John Henry McCloskey, orphaned in the great Irish potato famine of 1843, came to California in 1853 as a boy of 16, and joined the party just before the Civil War.
By 1890 he and my grandfather, both farmers, made up two of the twelve members of the Republican Central Committee of Merced County. My father's most memorable expletive came when I was a boy of 10 or 11: "That damn Roosevelt is trying to pack the Supreme Court!"
I registered Republican in 1948 after reaching the age of 21. We were the party of civil rights, of free choice for women and fiscal responsibility. Since Teddy Roosevelt, we had favored environmental protection, and most of all we stood for fiscal responsibility, honesty, ethics and limited government intrusion into our personal lives and choices. We accepted that one the duties of wealth was to pay a higher rate of income tax, and that the estates of the wealthy should contribute to the national treasury in reasonable measure.
I was proud to serve with Republicans like Gerry Ford, the first George Bush and Bob Dole.
In 1994, however, Newt Gingrich brought a new kind of Republicanism to power, and the election of George W. Bush in 2000 has led to wholly new concept of governance. The bureaucracy has mushroomed in size and power. The budget deficits have become astronomical. Our historical separation of church and state has been blurred. We have seen a succession of ethical scandals, congressmen taking bribes, and abuse of power by both the Republican House leadership and the highest appointees of the White House.
The single cardinal principle of political science, that power corrupts, has come to apply not only to Republican leaders like Tom DeLay, Duke Cunningham, Bob Ney and John Doolittle, but to a succession of White House officials and appointees. The stench of Jack Abramoff has permeated much of the Washington Republican establishment.
The Justice Department, guardian of of our rule of law, has been compromised. It's third ranking official, a graduate of Pat Robertson's dubious law school, has taken the 5th Amendment.
Men who have never felt the fear of combat, and who largely dodged military service in their youth, have led us into grievous wars in far off places with no thought of the diplomacy, grace and respect for other peoples and their cultures which has been an American trademark for at least the last two thirds of a century. We have lost the respect and affection of most of the world outside our borders. My son, Peter, one of the U.S. prosecutors at The Hague of the war crimes in Serbia and elsewhere, tells me that people of other countries no longer look at the country which countenances torture as a beacon for the world and the rule of law.
Earth Day, that bi-partisan concept of Gaylord Nelson in 1970, has become the focus of almost hatred by today's Republican leadership. Many still argue that global warming is a hoax, and that Bush has been right to demean and suppress the arguments of scientists at the E.P.A., Fish & Wildlife and U.S.Geological Survey.
I say a pox on them and their values.
Until the past few weeks, I had hoped that the party could right itself, returning to the values of the Eisenhowers, Fords and George H. W. Bush.
What finally turned me to despair, however, was listening to the reports, or watching on C-Span, a whole series of congressional oversight hearings on C-Span, held by old friends and colleagues like Pat Leahy, Henry Waxman, Norm Dicks, Nick Rahall, Danny Akaka and others, trying to learn the truth on the misdeeds and incompetence of the Bush Administration. Time after time I saw Republican Members of the House and Senate. speak out in scorn or derision about these exercises of Congress oversight responsibility being "witch-hunts" or partisan attempts to distort the actions of people like the head of the General Service Administration and the top political appointees in the Justice and Interior Departments. Disagreement turned into disgust.
I finally concluded that it was a fraud for me to remain a member of this modern Republican Party, that there were only a few like Chuck Hegel, Jack Warner, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins I could respect.
Two of the best, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, and Jim Leach of Iowa, after years of battling for balance and sanity, were defeated last November, and it seems that every Republican presidential candidate is now vying for the support of the Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells rather than talking about a return to the values of the party I joined nearly 59 years ago. My favorite spokesmen have beome Senators Jim Webb and Barack Obama.
And so it was, that while at the Woodland courthouse the other day, passing by the registrar's office, I filled out the form to re-register as a Democrat.
The issues Helen (McCloskey) and I care about most, public financing of elections, a reliable paper ballot trail, independent re-districting to replace gerrymandering, the right of a woman to choose not to bring a child into the world, a reversal of the old Proposition 13 and term limits which have so hurt California's once superb education system and the competence of our Legislature, are now almost universally opposed by California's elected Republicans, and the occasional attempts at reform by our Governor are looked on with grim disdain by most of them.
From Helen's and my standpoint, being farmers in Yolo County gives us the opportunity to work for purposes which were once Republican, but can no longer be found at Republican conventions and discussions.
I hope this answers your questions about the party and a government I have served in either civil or military service under ten presidents, five Republican and five Democrat ... I doubt it will be of much interest other than to our friends, but it has been a decision not easily taken.
Pete McCloskey
The Republican Party has for some time now become a party of extremists where every single reasonable Republican is driven out or silenced and corruption rules the day. It is time America recognized the corrupt Greedy Oil Party for what it is: an anti-American, destructive, greedy and corrupt organization that cares nothing for actual governance but only cares about being able to freely loot the American economy for their own personal power and gain.
Return to I Had a Thought


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* Austria to end bank secrecy for foreigners this year
* Merkel says EU information exchange 'enormous step'
* Luxembourg's Juncker says wants to see Swiss deal first (Adds Juncker, Faymann, Merkel comment, graphic link, detail)
By John O'Donnell and Martin Santa
BRUSSELS, May 22 (Reuters) - Europe edged closer to lifting banking secrecy on Wednesday after Austria said it was ready to share data on foreign depositors but Vienna's support could fade should efforts to strike a similar deal with Switzerland fail.
Austria's dropping of objections allowed EU leaders to commit to an exchange of bank information between countries by the end of the year, as cash-strapped states seek to stop tax evasion and close loopholes highlighted by Apple Inc's use of a base in Ireland.
"It's a bad day for tax cheats," Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann told reporters at a meeting of EU leaders to discuss fighting tax fraud by lifting bank secrecy.
"I believe we will manage the exchange of data by the end of the year," he said, adding later that although he was watching negotiations on a similar deal with Switzerland, Austria was in "full agreement".
Nearly all EU member states exchange information about which bank account holders receive which interest payments - an agreement known as the Savings Directive. Austria had not wanted to reveal the names of account holders to other countries and instead told banks to withhold tax.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the EU deal as an enormous step. "There is no doubt that the exchange of information about all kinds of income will be the rule for the future," she told reporters.
But there are hurdles ahead. Faymann is certain to come under pressure from his outspoken finance minister, Maria Fekter, if Switzerland does not sign up to a similar code.
Luxembourg also underscored the importance of a deal first with Switzerland.
It had previously backed a pan-EU agreement on exchanging bank information but on Wednesday, its prime minister appeared to qualify this support.
"We would like that there are first negotiations with Switzerland," Jean-Claude Juncker said, insisting, however, that this was not a precondition. "In light of these negotiations, we will, I hope, decide before the end of this year."
Most developed countries share information on taxpayers and depositors on demand. But since this requires the authorities in the requesting jurisdiction to suspect wrongdoing, it has only limited impact in uncovering unlawful behaviour.
Automatic exchange of information makes it easier for tax authorities to spot tax evasion.
While it had publicly favoured such a change, officials from Luxembourg have been privately rowing back.
Luxembourg does not want, for example, to back a revised version of the EU savings tax regime that would extend beyond simple interest payments on savings, little used to hide income, to include foundations and trusts.
The tiny but wealthy state has an important banking sector and a lot to lose. Nearby Switzerland is the globe's biggest offshore centre, with $2 trillion of offshore assets.
Were its banks to be subject to laxer rules, they could attract funds from Luxembourg, whose offshore assets are one quarter of Switzerland's.
In Austria, however, nowhere near as much offshore business is conducted. EU citizens other than Austrians have about 35 billion euros in deposits at the country's banks, a tenth of the total deposits there, according to the central bank in Vienna.
As well as negotiating with Switzerland to bring it into the same regime as the EU's 27 member states, the bloc will also negotiate with Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra and San Marino.
Momentum is gathering behind efforts to clamp down on tax evasion as Germany prepares for elections this year.
"The gap between rich and poor has widened dramatically in Germany in the past 10 years, making the issue of tax evasion an important one in the elections," said Jacob Kirkegaard of the Peterson Institute for International Economics think-tank. (Writing by John O'Donnell; Additional reporting By Robert-Jan Bartunek and Ilona Wissenbach; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)


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Inspiration is a journey of life. It changes, grows, learns,adapts and accepts. It is fluid, coping with pain beyond imagining and seeking ways to go on with strenth and grace. It recognizes the profound beauty in the simplest aspects of life, and in honest emotion, and honors the value of love freely given. Sometimes, in life's bleakest moments, it seems inspiration has abandoned us, but - for those who would continue this difficult journey - we find it again, though it may have changed it's song once more.
My journey caregiving for my family(meaning - in this case, parents, sisters and aunt) was long, complex and difficult. I found a forum for caregivers and used a succession of sig lines when I participated there that -looking back - express the journey I took and the way my perspective changed.The inspiration that kept me going changed over time. My initial mantra was as simple as:
"It can only get so bad before it has to get better"
Not exactly uplifting, but it got me through some very stressful times when I could barely keep my head up. Life became less stressful after the deaths of all but one of my family members, but less stressful - when you've lost loved ones - is merely a different kind of ache and ,for awhile, my quote became:
"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose"
Time does heal. I found solace in Debbie, our pets, my niece and friends- and in reaching out to others in need, including fellow caregivers on that forum. I changed my quote to
"Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I"ll be your friend, I'll help you carry on"
I learned a lot about life and death over those years. Like everyone, I"ll continue learning - and changing - all my life. I see both beauty and ugliness in this world , there is still plenty of stress to be had,and I have my days where I'd rather just hide. There are also those moments of great love and joy. I know I can get through the dark times - I have before - and I strive to truly appreciate the good moments and not take them for granted. My saying now?
"Whatever tomorrow brings, I"ll be there - with open arms and open eyes"


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Meireles - Fener as big as Blues
Raul Meireles is adamant Fenerbahce is as big a club as Chelsea and Liverpool after sealing a move to the Turkish giants.
Last Updated: 04/09/12 9:18pm
Raul Meireles is adamant Fenerbahce is as big a club as Chelsea and Liverpool after sealing a move to the Turkish giants.
Meireles became the latest summer departure from Stamford Bridge on Monday night, with the Portugal midfielder signing a four-year deal to ply his trade in Istanbul.
And the former Liverpool star immediately insisted he had not taken a step down in his career.
"I can't wait to get started - Fenerbahce is as big a club as Chelsea, Liverpool and Porto," Meireles told FB TV, revealing former Anfield team-mate Dirk Kuyt had played a part in the pair being reunited in Turkey.
"I had a great season playing at Liverpool with Kuyt. He told me about Fenerbahce and encouraged me to make the move.
"I have friends playing in Turkey. Kuyt has told be on several occasions that Istanbul is a beautiful city, I'm very excited about the prospect of playing here."
The 29-year-old, who reportedly cost £8million just a year after joining Chelsea for £12million, added: "Fenerbahce are a big club, everybody knows what kind of history the club has.
"I'm a team player, I love to win but what's more important is that the team wins.
"I can promise the fans that I will always give it my all and be a professional.
"For me, it's all about work, work, work. My goal is to win trophies here, I will do everything I can to try and make it happen."


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Backyard visitor 9
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I walked out on my back deck Saturday just in time to see this hawk. He was on the ground so I went inside to get my camera. When I came back outside he was in a small tree. Over the next 40 minutes I saw him catch and eat three snakes from my backyard. He is now my friend. He is keeping things under control out back.
1 response
Ma. Dolores Guillén Solís gave props (19 Jan 2013):
Excellent! Beautiful specimen and great series of it!
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Published at Monday, April 29th, 2019 - 17:14:27 PM. Trekking Poles. By Leola Guillet.
And remember that lighter is not always better. For example, I've found that the ultralight (and ultra-thin) shafts of the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles are too fragile for backpacking. The RaidLight Vertical Carbon 3 poles lack versatile extension grips.
This summer, I tested eight pairs of poles representing a range of prices, features, and designs. I had used some of these models in years past, but I gave them all a fresh look while guiding and hiking in California and Colorado. My first pair of trekking poles cost $100 and were nothing fancy. Poles have improved over the past 16 years, and while I really liked some options that push $200, the poles I recommend for most people, Cascade Mountain Tech's Carbon Fiber Quick Lock trekking poles, retail for just $45.
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With a long-standing history of leading the industry in performance, the premier choice for power on the water is the Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 300LX watercraft. Undisputed power, care of the supercharged and intercooled 1,498cc in-line four cylinder engine is backed by cutting edge technology. And with seating for three, there is plenty of room to share the thrills it creates.
|4-stroke, In-Line Four
|Bore and stroke
|83.0 x 69.2 mm
|Inducted water
|Compression ratio
|Valve system
|DOHC, 16 valves
|Fuel system
|Fuel injection: 60 mm x 1
|Forced lubrication
|Intake System
|Supercharger and intercooler
|Overall length
|3,370 mm (132.7 in.)
|Overall width
|1,195 mm (47.0 in.)
|Overall height
|1,255 mm
|Curb mass**
|487 kg
|Fuel capacity
|78 litres (17.2 gal.)
|Storage Capacity
|212 litres (46.6 gal.)
|Oil Capacity
|5 litres (1.1 gal.)
Drive system
|Direct drive from engine
|Axial flow, single stage
|8,407 N {857.3 kg}
|Three-blade, oval-edge stainless steel
|Impeller Diameter
|160 mm (6.3 in.)
|Steerable nozzle
Electrical equipment
|All-digital speedometer, fuel level gauge, tachometer, boost, oil level, trip, hour meter, external air & water temperature
|Smart Learning Operation (SLO)
|Slow Key, Full Power Key
|Maximum Power‡
|228 kW {310 PS} / 8,000 rpm
|Maximum Torque‡
|272 N.m {28 kgf.m} @ 7,250 rpm
|Minimum Turning Radius‡
|4.0 m (13.1 ft.)
|Seating Capacity‡
|17.0 psi peak
Factory Limited Warranty Owner's Warranty Guide
This model comes with 12 months factory limited warranty.
Kawasaki keeps the good times rolling with unlimited kilometers/hours of usage. We have you covered with our nationwide, Kawasaki dealer network. Visit any authorized Kawasaki dealer (for this product line) throughout Canada and continental USA for factory warranty coverage.
Click "Owner's Warranty Guide" for full details regarding Kawasaki's factory limited warranty coverage.
Kawasaki Protection Plus Learn More
Kawasaki's own Kawasaki Protection Plus (KPP) goes the distance with available two, three, and four years of unlimited kilometers/hours additional coverage on top of the original Kawasaki limited warranty. That's up to seven years total coverage depending on the base warranty term!
Feel secure knowing that Kawasaki Protection Plus repairs are performed only at authorized Kawasaki dealers (for this product line) throughout Canada and continental USA using only Kawasaki genuine parts.
Enjoy additional peace of mind with roadside assistance on street legal motorcycles. Buy early - roadside assistance coverage begins when you buy KPP.
No surprises. There's no deductible fees with KPP for covered repairs.
Click "Learn More" for more details regarding Kawasaki Protection Plus.
Special offers
2 Years Kawasaki Protection Plus
3.99% Financing 60 Months
Take advantage of our Special Retail Financing offer for as little as 3.99% for 60 months. Visit your local Kawasaki dealer today for complete details and get moving - for less - right now.
Minimum amount to finance of $2,500 after certain conditions apply.
3.99% Financing up to 84 Months
Take advantage of our Special Retail Financing offer for as little as 3.99% for up to 84 months. Visit your local Kawasaki dealer today for complete details and get moving - for less - right now.
Minimum $15,000 purchase. Certain conditions may apply
Minimum amount to finance of $2,500 after certain conditions apply for 3.99% for 60 months
Electronic Cruise Control
Electronic Cruise Control allows a desired speed (engine rpm) to be maintained with the simple press of a button. Because the rider does not have to constantly control the throttle, this system allows relaxed cruising. This reduces stress on the right hand when travelling long distances, contributing to a high level of riding comfort.
Electronic Cruise Control is featured on Kawasaki's Vulcan 1700 / VN1700 Series cruisers and JET SKI ULTRA 300X and 300LX personal watercraft. These models are equipped with an Electronic Throttle Valve system, meaning the throttle valves are not actuated directly by twisting the throttle grip (or pulling the throttle lever); rather, a position sensor on the throttle grip sends a signal to the ECU, which in determines the ideal throttle position. This is how Electronic Cruise Control is able to automatically adjust engine power to maintain vehicle speed when ascending or descending grades are encountered. Without the detailed control offered by Electronic Throttle Valves, functions like Electronic Cruise Control would not be possible.
Economical Riding Indicator
Using high-precision electronic control for engine management, Kawasaki models can achieve a high level of fuel efficiency. However, fuel consumption is greatly affected by throttle use, gear selection, and other elements under the rider's control. The Economical Riding Indicator is a function that indicates when current riding conditions are consuming a low amount of fuel. The system continuously monitors fuel consumption, regardless of vehicle speed, engine speed, throttle position and other riding conditions. When fuel consumption is low for a given speed (i.e. fuel efficiency is high), an "ECO" mark appears on the instrument panel's LCD screen. By riding so that the "ECO" mark remains on, fuel consumption can be reduced.
While effective vehicle speed and engine speed may vary by model, paying attention to conditions that cause the "ECO" mark to appear can help riders improve their fuel efficiency – a handy way to increase cruising range. Further, keeping fuel consumption low also helps minimise negative impact on the environment.
Fuel Economy Assistance Mode
By pushing the handle switch, riders are able to activate the Fuel Economy Assistance Mode, switching the ECU to a leaner fuel map in which ignition timing and fuel injection prioritise fuel economy. Rather than engine response or power, this mode favours reduced fuel consumption, aiming to increase fuel economy when riding at a constant speed. When riding in areas where gasoline stands are scarce, or when cruising across the continent, being able to make the same amount of fuel last longer is a considerable benefit.
Maximising the effectiveness of the Fuel Economy Assistance Mode requires a gentle use of the throttle. In the case of the 1400GTR / Concours 14, this means keeping engine rpm under 6,000 rpm, throttle under 30%, and speed under 160 km/h. Nevertheless, especially when used in conjunction with the Economical Riding Indicator, this mode can contribute to significant savings in fuel costs over long distances.
Best kept secret
* The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price is shown and does not include freight, pre-delivery inspection or applicable taxes. The final price is at the discretion of the dealer. Prices and Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. The amount indicated as "Your price" may include an optional instant Mega Cash credit that is deducted from the manufacturer's suggested retail price before taxes. This promotion is time limited and certain conditions will apply. See your dealer for complete details. Offer not available on financed purchases and cannot be combined with any other special offers. The final price is at the discretion of the dealer. Prices and Specifications are subject to change without prior notice.
** Includes all necessary materials and fluids to operate correctly, full tank of fuel (more than 90% of capacity) and tool kit (if supplied)
‡ Power / Torque figures measured at the crankshaft.
The specifications mentioned here apply to and have been achieved by production models under standard operating conditions. We intend only to give a fair description of the vehicle and its performance capabilities but these specifications may not apply to every machine supplied for sale. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice. Equipment illustrated and specifications may vary to meet individual markets. Available colours may vary by market.


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Using jewel tones, geometric patterns and sleek, structured furniture, a Laurel & Wolf designer turned Kassidy Gerber's Seattle living room into a comfy space where she can unwind with the family.
Rebecca Raskind and her husband wanted more space in their Los Angeles home, so they worked with a Laurel & Wolf designer to transform their garage into a pool house that blends bohemian textures with Hollywood Regency glamour.
YouTube beauty vlogger, Desi Perkins needed a relaxing yet functional space to film her videos. This blushing pink and gold-splashed lounge perfectly reflects her alluring lifestyle.
A Laurel & Wolf designer created a clean-lined, contemporary look for beauty vlogger Desi Perkins' dual office and lounge. Both functional and stylish, a polished brass desk and a wood tiled sideboard keep the space organized.
Instagram-famous illustrator, The Cartorialist, needed a functional live-work space to make her art. So she worked with a Laurel & Wolf designer to create a bright, gallery-style studio that mixes minimalist design with California desert-chic flair.
This Airbnb in LA's Silverlake neighborhood is now fetching 44% more per night thanks to a space-opening, eclectic redesign.
For Keija Minor, Editor-in-Chief of Brides Magazine, the crisp, classic palette of her Hamptons vacation home makes it her happy place. Awash in indigo and white with sandy textures and gold details, the living room strikes the perfect balance between livable and luxurious.
From a buttery leather sofa to a cowhide upholstered bench, food blogger, Joy the Baker's New Orleans living room was filled with touchable textures and an artful collection of pieces during its redesign.
To create a curated and collected feel in this new, San Francisco living room, a Laurel & Wolf designer used fresh plants, vibrant colors, dynamic accessories, and an eclectic array of patterns.
Starting with a clean and contemporary palette, this urban loft in the Bay Area was given new life through organic woods and pops of greenery.
Kelsea Ballerini's brand new Nashville home needed a touch of character. Rustic accents paired with serene hues and plush textures make this space the perfect place for a country music starlet to relax.
Striking a perfect cross between form and function, country music starlet, Kelsea Ballerini's favorite guitars are displayed against a barn wood backdrop in her music room. Her designer included soft pastels and vintage-chic objects to add a little feminine edge.
Covered in pink floral wallpaper, country music starlet, Kelsea Ballerini's walk-in closet mirrors the sparkly side of her career. She and her designer worked to make the space girly from top to bottom, using rose gold clothing rods and a glittering, crystal chandelier.
In the living room of a swank Tampa apartment home, boho patterns, gold details and rugged metals meet to create a look that's both industrial and beachy.
Using clean-lined, modern furnishings, patterns found in nature, and a calming color palette, a Laurel & Wolf designer infused both organizational elements and sentimental objects into Night + Market Chef Kris Yenbamroong's LA office.
Wanting to bridge the gap between her San Francisco home's traditional architecture and her modern style, Annie Kadavy worked with a Laurel & Wolf designer to bring her living room into the present mixing midcentury silhouettes with classical statement pieces.
E! News host Catt Sadler's California home lacked a living space that felt sophisticated and adult. Catt worked with a Laurel & Wolf designer to bring her minimal glam style to the front living room, creating a luxe space ready for laidback entertaining.
The living room in Dave Arthurs' modernist Palm Springs home mixes playful blue and orange hues with classic mid-century silhouettes. Light streaming in from the outdoor patio illuminates the retro art and accessories, throwing it back with old school style.
Meg Resnikoff worked with a Laurel & Wolf designer to bring a slice of New England into her Los Angeles master bedroom. Navy textiles, gilded hardware, and white-washed, farmhouse-style ceiling beams give the space a nautical spirit.
Rebecca Raskind worked with a Laurel & Wolf designer to create a fashionable nursery for her new baby girl. Filled with soft pink textures and gold accents, the room is both playful and elegant. But the bold, botanical wallpaper is what makes it feel like a fairytale.
Ashley Gensler, co-founder of Loom Decor, worked with a Laurel & Wolf designer to create a whimsical, storybook inspired nursery for her newborn son. The space is filled with poppy, patterned textiles from Loom, modern accents, and vibrant shades of blue and green.
This Airbnb bedroom in LA's Silverlake neighborhood went from cramped and dull to hip and vibrant with the help of a vintage-inspired brass bed, a saturated rug, and floral art accents.
Made cozy with a variety of lush fabrics, this sea-toned bedroom in Tampa pairs metal and wood pieces with boho décor for a look that blends the beach with industrial loft living.
As a new mom, Michelle wanted to create a sweet, gender-neutral nursery for her baby boy Jonah. With a Laurel & Wolf designer, she converted her home office into an airy nursery using soft, gentle textures, French-inspired furniture, and animal accents.
This brand new model bedroom in Lennar's San Francisco Shipyard building merges contemporary design with comfort. Layered in a curated collection of decor, the room boasts a lived-in feel.
In this transitional-style, Bay Area bedroom, a nubby duvet and a tartan rug provide casual counterpoints to the more formal elements in the room, like the lacquered nightstands and nailhead upholstered headboard.
In the bedroom of Annie Kadavy's San Francisco home, classic style meets contemporary flair through structured sconces, geometric patterns, and timeless silhouettes.
In country star Kelsea Ballerini's new Nashville town house, her bedroom is filled with soothing blue hues and relaxing textures. It's the perfect space to catch some zzz's after time on the road.
A range of geometric patterned textiles add a sense of style to this plain college dorm room. Framed wall art and ambient lighting make the space feel like more like home than school.
Located in the old San Francisco shipyard, this bedroom references the area's nautical past with blushing sunset hues and pops of blue. Clean lines and modern furnishings fit its urban locale.
Filled with deep, romantic hues, light, airy textures, and eclectic decor touches, this inviting bedroom is a perfect escape after a long day.
Small but stylish, this contemporary bedroom uses soft, neutral tones as a tool for expanding the space. Marble accents and structured, geometric side tables add an eclectic edge.
In a San Francisco crash pad, the master bedroom mixes cool neutrals with clean-lined, modern shapes for a laidback contemporary look.
After a flood ravaged her kitchen floors, actress Christina Applegate decided it was time to start fresh. She worked with a Laurel & Wolf designer to rehabilitate the space with all white cabinetry and countertops, metallic fixtures, and a cozy breakfast nook.
In Brides Magazine editor, Keija Minor's Hamptons home, the dining room is a bright, open area, ideal for entertaining. Her designer paired a rustic farmhouse table with a set of European bistro chairs to create an elegant, seaside setting.
The first thing you see when you enter Kassidy Gerber's Seattle home, are a set of Danish teak chairs and an elegant marble table. Once a space Kassidy and her family rarely used, the dining room is now the heart of the house.
Fashion blogger Chriselle Lim worked with a Laurel & Wolf designer to bring her glam aesthetic to life in her dining room. From the glossy black built-in to the brass pendant chandelier, dark pieces are paired with gold accents to create an elevated, dramatic mood.
Antique accents and French-heritage pieces meet in Joy the Baker's eclectically styled dining room. Her designer highlighted the gallery wall of art collected on her travels by hanging farmhouse-style pendant lights above a live-edge wood table.
In country music starlet, Kelsea Ballerini's open-concept dining room, traditional elements, like an Oriental rug and a set of Louis XVI chairs set the scene. Her designer added some edge with industrial pendants and a row of black guitars that hang in the kitchen.
Keeping the vintage charm of her 1900s Craftsman home intact, Laurel & Wolf designer Brett Foken modernized her kitchen and dining room with a minimalist aesthetic and clean, Cali-boho style.
This modernist Palm Springs home cooks up a fresh twist on classic mid-century style. In the kitchen and dining room, owner Dave Arthurs worked with a designer to open the space and add a playful spirit using hexagon tiles and authentic mid-century bar stools.
Designer Gwendolyn Gibbish's dining room mixes a little bit of glam and a little bit of boho with a taste for tropical flair. The beachy tones, rattan materials, and eclectic accessories nod to the home's LA locale.


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Silversea Presents Culinary Cruisesby Paul Motter | April 8, 2009
Silversea presents 11 culinary cruises featuring world-renowned chefs preparing regionally inspired dishes on special itineraries.
Luxury cruise line Silversea loves the chefs of world-renowned culinary artists Relais & Châteaux, established in France in 1954. An exclusive collection of 480 hotels and restaurants in 56 countries, Relais & Châteaux only extends its name to the best and most creative properties in the world. The organization boasts "a personal commitment to ensuring their guests are privy to moments of exceptional harmony."
In keeping with spreading culinary happiness, Silversea is presenting a "movable feast" of cruises where the itinerary and its ports of call are paired with the meals prepared onboard. These 11 Culinary Arts theme cruises are scheduled to showcase award-winning chefs from top dining establishments around the world.
Included are Rick Tramonto, partner and executive chef of Chicago's Tru. Eyvind Hellstr�m is the owner and chef of Bagatelle in Oslo. Anne Desjardins is the chef and co-owner of L'Eau à La Bouche in Ste-Adèle, Québec. Tru is a Mobil Four Star and AAA Five Diamond restaurant. Bagatelle is a Michelin Two Star establishment and of L'Eau à La Bouche is a CAA Four Diamond winner.
These Culinary Arts voyages feature escorted trips to international markets when the itinerary permits. The idea is to buy provisions with food and wine pairings in mind. The chef will then prepare creative regional dishes and at least one five-course grand gourmet dinner. Throughout these special voyages, the featured guest chef and Silversea's executive chef are on hand to share their culinary expertise and answer any questions.
Culinary Arts Voyages
Voyage 3912: Silver Shadow, May 28 - June 7, Seward to Vancouver, 10 days. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $7,050. Jonathan Lindenauer -- Bon Appétit magazine's chef de cuisine will be in residence to bring the Bon Appétit Supper Club to life and offer guests a taste of his signature recipes. This avant-garde concept of a stylish, limited-time dining experience will transform La Terrazza into a New York-inspired restaurant.
Voyage 3917: Silver Shadow, July 20 - August 1, San Francisco (roundtrip), 12 days. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,747. Gregory Short -- Executive chef of Masas, San Francisco.
Voyage 1926: Silver Cloud, October 19 - 29, New York to Barbados, 10 days. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,397. Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef Anne Desjardins -- Co-owner of L'Eau à La Bouche Ste-Adèle, Québec, Canada.
Voyage 3929: Silver Shadow, November 13 - 22, Barbados to Fort Lauderdale, 9 days. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,047. Relais & Châteaux Chef Stéphane Mazières -- Executive chef of Le Ga�ac restaurant at Hôtel Le Toiny, St. Bart's.
Voyage 3909: Silver Shadow, April 11 - 29, Sydney to Singapore, 18 days. Silver Sailing fares start at $10,496. Relais & Chateaux Chef Mathew Macartney -- Executive chef of Chateau Yering, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Voyage 2915: Silver Wind, May 14 - 21, Barcelona to Nice, 7 days. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,197. Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef Rick Tramonto -- Executive chef/partner of Tru, Chicago.
Voyage 2922: Silver Wind, July 18 - 28, Monte Carlo (roundtrip), 10 days. Silver Sailing fares start at $6,177. Relais & Châteaux Chef Vincent Nattress -- Executive chef of Meadowood Resort, St. Helena, California.
Voyage 4931: Silver Whisper, October 3 - 10, Venice to Rome, 7 days. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,616. Lidia Bastianich -- Author, TV chef and co-owner of Felidia and Becco restaurants, New York City.
Voyage 4933: Silver Whisper, October 17 - 24, Monte Carlo to Athens, 7 days. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,297. "World of Relais & Châteaux" -- Over seven days, these five Relais & Châteaux chefs are set to take part in what is sure to be the ultimate culinary festival at sea:
- Jacques Thorel, Auberge Bretonne (La Roche-Bernard, Britanny, France)
- Eyvind Hellstrøm, Bagatelle (Oslo, Norway)
- Julien Lahire, Auberge du Moulin Hideux (Noirefontaine, Belgium)
- Christian Gölles, Gasthof Post (Lech am Arlberg, Vorarlberg, Austria)
- Erwan Louaisil, El Castell de Ciutat (La Seu d'Urgell, Lleida, Spain)
Voyage 2933: Silver Wind, October 18 - 30, Istanbul to Rome, 12 days. Silver Sailing fares start at $5,847. Anton Mosimann -- Chef/owner of Mosimann's, London.
Voyage 1916: Silver Cloud, July 11 - 26, Copenhagen (roundtrip), 15 days. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $11,396. Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef Eyvind Hellstr�m -- Chef/owner of Bagatelle, Oslo.
Fares listed are per person based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite and do not include port charges and handling fees that range from $100 to $500 per person, depending on the itinerary.


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Reviewed By David V (MANLIUS, NY) Reviewed for a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee —4/17/2018 2:37 AM
Flowmaster mufflers have always been quality, but most often more than I wanted to spend. When I finally bit the bullet and bought one, it exceeded my expectations. It has a nice deep rumble that is not overly loud or offensive but about as loud as I want it to be. Sounds perfect for my straight 6 cylinder jeep.


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The world's biggest twerking party hit New York on Wednesday, as hundreds of avid twerkers danced their way into the record books.
More than 250 people in Herald Square twerked their way to a Guinness World Record of dizzying proportions: Most People Twerking Simultaneously.
Participants bounced and gyrated non-stop for two straight minutes as representatives from Guinness World Records walked around to ensure dancers adhered to the guidelines for "proper form."
The rules: Use your hips only, and use your hands on your knees or hips for support.
Big Freedia — the self-professed "Queen of Bounce," a New Orleans rap subgenre — hosted the event along with music outlet Fuse.
Freedia attracted some media attention last month after criticizing Miley Cyrus after her VMA performance, saying she has been given undue credit for a dance that has been around for decades.
The dance phenomenon known as twerking gained mainstream attention earlier this year after Cyrus' video of her dancing in a unicorn onesie went viral.
Twerking originated in New Orleans' bounce music scene back in 1993, with DJ Jubilee's song "Do the Jubilee All."