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For all of my chocolate loving and gluten free friends this recipe is the best I have found but keep in mind they are VERY rich and NOT at all healthy. So if you make them be sure to share with neighbors, friends and family. They also freeze very well.
Gluten-Free Fudgy Pecan Brownies
Skipping wheat flour doesn't have to mean forgoing decadent baked goods. These rich, nutty brownies are irresistible -- and easy to make.
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for pan
- 1/3 cup cornstarch (spooned and leveled)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I prefer them without the cinnamon)
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup chopped toasted pecans (or nut of choice...macadamia was great)
Step 1Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Whisk together cornstarch, cocoa, cinnamon, and salt. In a large microwave-safe bowl, microwave butter and chocolate in 30-second increments, stirring each time, until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Stir in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Add cornstarch mixture and stir vigorously until mixture is smooth and begins to pull away from side of bowl, about 2 minutes. Stir in pecans.
Step 2Pour batter into pan and smooth top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 35 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Using paper overhang, lift cake out of pan and cut into 16 squares.


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Brogan & Elsa
Union Pine | Portland, Oregon
You've never quite felt the passion two people can have for each other until you've met Brogan and Elsa. Everything that's important to them is done and cherished with everything they have to give. Their love for each other, their family, and their friends is no different. You could feel the energy in the room the whole night. All of the memories, stories, and legacies being shared created an atmosphere that was overwhelmingly powerful, electric, and contagious. Couple that with the humor and un-ending hilarity and you've got one of the best weddings I've ever been apart of!

subset: commoncrawl


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Who better to criticise posh white guys who think they're funny than a posh white guy who thinks he's funny? It's great as a piece of peer review as Coogan can't be accused of so many of the things that less similar peers get accused of. If he was a woman he'd be setting himself up for male eye rolling at his sensitivity and told to get back to the kitchen or if he was a nondescript blogger he'd be setting himself up for accusations of jealousy. Coogan is great because he's identikit; he even shares the bad haircut and ugly clothes so favoured by the Top Gear lads.
It's a crap review as it happens. Coogan manages to sound petulant and pompous at the same time and frankly his writing is tedious. Still, I'm judging him on what he says and not his motivation. I judge him on descending to 'frenetic arguments about comedy and taste' because he has now had enough of the defence of things 'just being a laugh.' The fiancé maintains that he will never engage in debate in our local press because then he'll be the kind of person who writes to the local press. It's the adage of never arguing with a fool lest onlookers be unable to tell the difference. No matter how insightful his words, as soon as the fiancé gets involved he will be cast as a cider drinking West Country boy with a strong moral code (the fact he is a cider drinking West Country boy with a strong moral code is rather beside the point).
I've nothing against people who wish to write to their local press (good on them in fact) but it is nevertheless taking a position and Coogan is taking a position here. Coogan is saying his moral code outstrips his ability to let things lie. (Well, either that or he wanted the no doubt juicy pay cheque from the Observer and the notoriety of writing something a bit counter culture yet totally without originality). It's a slip over the slope that begins somewhere around the time you start to appreciate Radio 2.*
Coogan is now officially a grumpy old man and not a funny one. Defending himself in advance by saying he's not a vegan or wears sandals (except the ones he deems acceptable) he actually falls into the same category he accuses the Top Gear boys of as he joins their 'lazy stereotype' as to the definition of people who know little about comedy which he clearly doesn't fit as someone who knows 'something about comedy.' I don't buy this column any more than I would the BNP suddenly announcing plans for their Eid ul-Fitr celebrations. Clarkson's probably outselling him in the non-fiction chart and nothing more.
Still, he's qualified to peer review.
Deeper into the paper, a fantastic piece by the delightful Victoria Coren highlights the absurdity of judging people for copy. It's possibly a little unfair to count Coren in the same breath as a writer for the Mirror but in the grand scheme of things they are industry compatible so I'll continue with this one.
Basically the tabloids are horrified that Kate Middleton's parents who sell party goods will be continuing with their day jobs through 2011. Yes, how very dare they? Must be a conspiracy!
It can only be a good thing when the likes of Coren pull their contemporaries up on such absurdity. Such claims are lazy journalism aimed at consumers who love anything touching upon the sanctity of the royals. As with the qualification of Coogan above, best that one of their own (albeit in a far superior league) be the one to criticise.
She's qualified to peer review.
Now once upon a time this column was quite possibly headed in an entirely different direction but infuriating hoop jumping at the bequest of The Abbey rules that out.
Day One: We see a house we love
Day Two: We go for a second viewing to confirm our first impressions
Day Three: We put in an offer
Day Four: Our offer accepted, we call the broker who pre-approved our mortgage
Today is day 26.
The case is open. Information is requested and then supplied but along the way We've had our finances pulled apart, essentially been accused of money laundering and I've needed to take a HIV test! (Ok so the HIV test relates to the critical life cover I'll be taking out but I'm trying to make a case for being under scrutiny so give me this one).
I'm exhausted and increasingly angry. The fiancé and I are both employed, with good financial records and a large deposit. Our broker has made it clear, it isn't about us. A few years ago and banks were fighting over people like us and there lies the rub.
We're not being judged on who we are but on who others have been.
At least the Top Gear boys got to be insulting and the writers for the tabloids to be stupid. Museum girl and accountant boy with their wildness extending to a few adventures in the Far East and a penchant for Italian motoring are frankly rather dull. The kind of dull where a day spent drinking cider in Gloucester with my brother nevertheless ended with me baking sea bass in salt with fresh bay picked from the garden. If we're going to be scrutinised to such ridiculous degrees why not count the fact that Sunday lunch with the extended family happens on a monthly basis?
I'm not against being judged (per se) but someone is getting it wrong. The fiancé is picking names for kittens and I'm menu planning Easter lunch. He's not mocking Mexican's (although interestingly is cooking fajitas as I write this) and I'm not trying to milk the Royal Wed... *ahem* I'm not writing lazy copy about the Royal Wedding. We're just two people with two part time kids wanting a couple of cats and a house big enough to host family parties.
Judge us on being dull but please let us have a mortgage. Much as money laundering sounds fascinating, we'd rather watch Mad Men and eat Kettle Chips.
* This was in the last few months for yours truly when I heard Graham Norton and realised that old age was when the people you think are funny move to Radio 2 which has the upside of me moving seamlessly into my appreciation of gardening as a relation aid days.


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Kimi Raikkonen has played down speculation that he may be planning to use his spell at Lotus as a springboard to better things, insisting that he is focused solely on getting the Enstone team to the front of the F1 field.
Speaking at the unveiling of the new Lotus E21, Raikkonen said he was looking forward to the second year of his deal at Enstone and, having finished third in the individual standings in 2012, hoped that continuity would play a part in pushing both himself and the team up the order this season.
"It helps," he said of being part of an unchanged line-up for 2013, "It's not a massive thing which will suddenly mean you start winning all the races, but it's nice to be at the same team as you understand how they work, and they understand how you work. We quickly developed a pretty good way of working together last year and there's no reason to think that won't continue this season."
While that 'way of working together' still involved some typically terse comments from the cockpit - notably while Raikkonen was en route to victory in Abu Dhabi, the Finn is looking forward to the coming season, which gets underway with the first of three group tests, in Jerez, on Tuesday (5 February).
"I enjoyed my comeback to F1 last year and there's no reason to say I shouldn't enjoy the 2013 season too," the 2007 world champion, who returned from a two-year exile in the WRC, commented, "I know there will be big changes to the cars and regulations for 2014, so who's to say that won't be exciting?"
While Raikkonen's win at Yas Marina was the only time Lotus reached the top step in 2012, between the Finn and Romain Grosjean, ten pieces of silverware made their way back to Enstone, and Raikkonen has no qualms about lining up alongside the same team-mate in 2013.
"We had a pretty good relationship last year and it's clear he's fast and motivated," was the former Sauber, Ferrari and McLaren driver's take on Grosjean, "On track, we were pretty close to each other at times, but we didn't have any issues. It's good when you have a team-mate who's fast and works hard. I think we should be fine in 2013."
And, should the year go to plan and Raikkonen's form attract the interest elsewhere?
"I'm not really thinking beyond this season at the moment, but I'm sure there will be talk before the end of the year," he shrugged, knowing full well that retirement could be as much an option as moving on.


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Seamless Double-Needle 5/8" Collar
Double-Needle Sleeves And Hem
Taped Neck And Shoulders
Feminine-Inspired Styling
We suggest you to change it or upgrade to a higher version. Please contact us to email@example.com if you are seeing this message with a recent browser version.


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Tour Information
Niagara Falls, Canada
June 14-16, 2019
(no educational credit)
If you are not an au pair, please contact our office to request your tour information form.
Citizens of certain countries are required to purchase a special visa to enter Canada. Visit the Government of Canada website to learn about the visa application process.


text: Anyone interested in a Kaa Khem trip in Tuva? I am an American living in Kazan, and will make this trip in July 2017. I will be flying to Abakan and making the overland trip to the put in from there. I would love to find some ofther people to go with. Please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com if you are interested. Thanks.


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Massage Therapy
Massotherapy (massage) means to move the hands and fingers skillfully on human's skin and muscles. By doing this, tiredness will ease. This skill in China is called massotherapy.
According to history, a famous doctor named Bian Que used this method to treat a prince in Guo - an ancient Chinese nation. It is 2,000 years from Qin Dynasty to the present, so we can say that the massotherapy has a very long history. The earliest massotherapy in China is called Massotherapy Classics of Hunagdi, but unfortunately it had been lost. In the Medical Classics of Huangdi, the massotherapy method was mentioned several times. People in ancient times treated diseases like insensitive limbs, fainting etc by massotherapy.
There are two types of massotherapy. One is active massotherapy. It also called as Self-massaging. And the other type is passive massotherapy where the doctor massages the patients.. There are 8 massaging manners. They are harmonized by the doctor, and do not function in isolation.
Dislocation of joints, strain of lumbar muscles, muscular dystrophy, hemicrania, headache, trigeminal neuralgia, ribs neuralgia, femur neuralgia, sciatica, back and waist neuralgia, limbs joints (include the joints of shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, finger, toe) pains, convulsions of face, convulsion of intestines, muscle pains, arthritis, neurotic vomiting, dyspepsia, gastroptosis, constipation, gastritis, insomnia, dysmenorrheal, neurosis are all can be helped by massotherapy.
All kinds of acute infectious disease, acute myelitis, terbucle arthritis, infectious skin diseases, eczema, scald of hot water or fire, skin ulcer, tumor and so on. What is more, women in (menstrual) woman's period, pregnant above 5 months, acute peritonitis, acute appendicitis, or people who is too weak, too advanced age, or with cardiovascular system diseases can not be massaged.
Foot bath
Foot bath is one method in the foot treating system. Foot bath has very long history of about 3,000 years in the Chinese medical science. This is a combination of wisdom and experiences of Chinese people
For an authentic travel experience, contact one of our travel advisors. Our local experts are always ready to create a hassle-free tour for you.


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Bregenz conference
30-31 May 2008
Friday 30 May
Participants will have free access to MEET exhibitions and demonstrations until 16.00.
12.00 : Registration of Opera Europa Technical & Production forum
12.30 : Saal Bodensee
International Forum Network of Technical Directors
Led by Timo Tuovila (Finnish National Opera), Ivo Kersmaekers (OISTAT) and
Karin Winkelsesser (DTHG)
13.00 : Registration of Opera Europa members / tea & coffee
14.00 : Welcome addresses on Technology and Theatre, with David Pountney, Intendant and Artistic Director of Bregenzer Festspiele, and Michael Ramsaur, President of OISTAT
14.30 : Joint plenary debate
Modern technology - does it stimulate the creative process
Led by Bernard Foccroulle, composer and director of Aix-en-Provence Festival; Graham Sheffield, Artistic director of London's Barbican Centre; and David Staples, Managing director UK of Theatre Projects consultants
16.00 : Coffee break at Parkstudio
17.00 : Main auditorium
Across the frontiers
Composers workshop in Festspielhaus, by Bregenz Festival
Saal Panorama 1
Survey on artistic labour costs and agreements
Preliminary findings of Opera Europa's study of practices in selected opera houses
Saal Panorama 2
Meeting of the Technical & Production forum
Meeting and discussion on current topics
18.00 : End of the day's programme and aperitif at Parkstudio
20.00 : Main auditorium
Reading TOSCA (world premiere)
Performance in Festspielhaus
A dance theatre approach to Puccini's opera
Choreography: Toula Limnaios; Music: Ralf Ollertz
21.30 : Break - soups and beverages at Parkstudio
22.15 : Technical presentation of the Seetribüne
Saturday 31 May
09.30 : Propter Homines The Creative outlook
How can the technology of film, photography and 3-D images contribute tomusic-theatre today? Presentation byJérôme Waquet, video director, with Thomas Lauriot Prévost (Théâtre du Châtelet)
11.00 : Coffee break at Parkstudio
11.30 : Propter Homines Production rentals forum
How to integrate rentals into a balanced season? How does your company manage rentals?
Presentation by Aviel Cahn (Vlaamse Opera) and Mark Duffy (Royal Opera Covent Garden) and discussion in the context of the publication by Operabase of the Rentals Portfolio
Saal Bodensee
RESEO Creative residency
Led by James Redwood, John Barber and Alexandra Vohl
13.00 : Lunch break - meals available for purchase at Bühne 3
13.30 : Departure for the guided tour of the Seebühne
14.30 : Propter Homines The Manager's outlook
How does technology help or hinder the production process and the management of people? Led by Elaine Padmore (Royal Opera Covent Garden) and Achim Thorwald (Badisches Staatstheater), with Eva Kleinitz(La Monnaie Brussels)
Education and technical session (with RESEO)
Good practice in realising the technical potential of education projects and the creative potential of technical departments. WithKatherine Palmer (ENO Baylis) and Ulla Laurio (Finnish National Opera), moderated by Anna Karinsdotter (Royal Swedish Opera)
16.00 : Break at Parkstudio
16.30 : Propter Homines The view from the audience
How does technology enable us to grow audiences? An examination of initiatives in the cinema and on the internet, with contributions from Rachael Castell (English National Opera), Patrick Foll (Théâtre de Caen), andLisa Navach and Barbara Minghetti (AsLiCo)
18.00 : End of the conference
Sunday 1 June
09.00 : Artistic directors' office
Opera Europa Board meeting
11.30 : End


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Wintergreen Resort is such a gorgeous spot! I know many people think of this being an area to visit in the winter for skiing or tubing- but goodness this is such a pretty spot in the summer & fall as well! You can't even compete with their overlook- you feel like you can see the entire world from this one spot!
I was so excited when Chase & Courtney decided they wanted to do their engagement session at Wintergreen! It was perfect with the timing of the leaves changing colors and the stunning fall light! We had so much fun & I loved getting to know these two! They're getting married in 2018 at the Melrose Caverns Lodge in Harrisonburg & I know we're going to have a blast!!
Ashley Eiban is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Central Virginia, serving Lynchburg, Charlottesville, and surrounding areas. Ashley has been photographing families and couples for over 6 years and loves every minute of it!
Ashley considers it a privilege to cultivate genuine relationships built on mutual understanding, trust, and lasting friendship to create memories you will cherish forever. Because of this, Ashley takes on a limited number of weddings and portrait sessions each year. Ashley is currently booking weddings for 2018 and 2019. Contact her today for additional information!


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Thank you to Cricut for sponsoring this post, and thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible. As always all opinions are my own. This post contains also affiliate links.
People often ask me for advice about DIY supplies and crafting tools, and hands down, one of my very favorites is my Cricut electronic cutting machine. My mom bought be the original model Cricut back when I was in law school {more than a decade ago}, and I've been using the heck out of that thing ever since, including for lots and lots of organization projects featured here on the blog.
I've been thinking about getting an updated Cricut machine for a long time, but I was so comfortable with the one I had that I just never got around to buying a new one. But when my friends at Cricut offered to send me the Explore Air to try out, how could I say no?!
|(1) Under Sink Organization; (2) Quote on Guest Bathroom Wall; (3) Organized Coat Closet Makeover;
(4) Bathtub Toy Storage; (5) Original Machine; (6) L-O-V-E Scrabble Tile Coasters;
(7) Champagne Bucket and Ice Bucket; (8) Labeled Trash/Recycling/Compost; (9) DIY Alphabet Magnets
You might notice a couple of things in the projects above... (1) they are all letters/words, and (2) they are all the same font. Yep, a wide variety of projects using the same Cricut font cartridge over, and over, and over. That's not to say that's all my old machine was capable of, I just kept doing the same thing over and over because everything else I really wanted to do was hindered by the size of my old machine, which couldn't cut anything larger than 6" x 12".
When my brand new Cricut Explore Air arrived in the mail, I was over the moon and my mind was reeling with ideas of all the projects I would finally be able to do! First of all, the Explore Air can cut up to 12" x 24" - that's a huge improvement right off the bat. And it can cut a much wider variety of materials than my old machine, over 60 materials in fact - everything from vellum to leather. The Explore Air is more than just a cutting machine - it can write and score as well.
Unlike my old machine that operated using cartridges that each had a limited number of images on them, the Explore Air utilizes Cricut Design Space, which is online software that includes over 60,000 images, fonts, and patterns. Plus I can also use all of the fonts on my own computer as well, which is a huge bonus!
I was crazy excited to use my new machine, but I'll admit that I was also a bit intimidated about needing to learn the software. So I put it off and put it off, until finally I decided to just go for it. I thought the best place to start would be with a project similar to what I would have done with my old machine - but on a bigger scale. I planned to make a 60" long sign to hang above the workbench in my recently renovated garage.
I downloaded the software and sat down to figure out how to size the letters to fit my sign. I immediately realized that I had been putting this off for no reason. In a matter of only five minutes, I was able to figure out this simple first task in the software and I was ready to cut the letters for my sign using the same fonts that I use in my blog logo.
I cut each word out of metallic adhesive foil, and then placed them on a stained wood board.
Start to finish, it took me about half an hour to complete my "DIY with Style" sign, including the time it took me to figure out the software. And look how fabulous it looks! It's one of the pieces that really pulls together the entire look of the garage makeover! {And, as a bonus, the sign also covers up a whole bunch of wires running through the studs, giving the garage a cleaner look.}
Obviously cutting out these letters was a very simple first project, but, because of the size of the letters and fonts matching my logo, it's a project that I would not have been able to do with my old machine. By choosing to start with a project similar to one I would have made with my old Cricut, I was able to quickly see the advantages of my Cricut Explore Air, and now I'm so motivated to experience everything else it can do!
I have a fun project in mind using images from the Cricut Design Space software, and I'll show you how it turns out next week! In the meantime, if you are thinking of giving Cricut as a gift this season {maybe even as a gift to yourself}, you can get 10% off of your purchase plus free shipping from now through the end of the year using code 12DAYS. Be sure to order by Friday, December 16th to get your order in time for Christmas!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut, but as always, all opinions are my own. Read my full disclosure statement here.


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Today is November 15, 2019 -
Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael
Member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
177 Speedwell Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
Phone: 973-538-9292
About Us
Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael is a Conservative Congregation with a rich history of more than 100 years, and a bright and energetic future. Located in the heart of historic Morristown, MJCBY is traditional in style and egalitarian in participation. We are an exciting and engaged community that seeks to instill the joy and love of Judaism in all that we do. We are committed to serving the needs of all of our members, young and old, and we do so with enthusiasm.
See Google Map Location
For more information on the history of MJCBY click on the link(s) below.
Thanks to Lew Stone, MJCBY's Historian.


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Dr. Daryl Prater is a licensed Chiropractor serving the Kalamazoo community.
Dr. Daryl Prater has been freeing people from pain in his clinic in Kalamazoo, MI. As a Chiropractor with experience, Dr. Prater is committed to promoting the health and well being of his patients.
Dr. Prater uses a "whole person" approach. This approach to wellness means looking for underlying causes of any disturbance or disruption (which may or may not be causing symptoms at the time) and make whatever interventions and lifestyle adjustments that would optimize the conditions for normal function. Using this unique approach, Dr. Prater is able to help you to accelerate and/or maintain your journey to good health.
Dr. Daryl Prater, D.C., CCSP
December 2000 Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician
(1yr Post-Grad Diplomat Program, Palmer)
August 1997 Doctor of Chiropractic
(National University of Health Sciences)
Internships: Edgewater Hospital, Chicago, IL
Salvation Army Clinic, Chicago, IL
Chicago General Health Services, Chicago, IL
Bloomingdale Chiropractic Center, Glendale Hts, IL
August 1995 B.S. in Human Biology
(National University of Health Sciences)
May 1993 B.S.
(University of Michigan)
Kalamazoo College team Chiropractic Physician 1998-present.
MMA Conditioning Specialist
Consutant to Gazelle Sports Running Store
Borgess Half Marathon Training Coach
Lectures perfomed at WMU, Kalamazoo College, Borgess, and Bronson Fitness Center, Gazelle Sports Running Store, Kellogg's Corporate Headquarters. Topics include: Biomechanics and causes of low back and neck pain, core strengthening, running injuries, sports nutrition for endurance athletes, weight loss, stretching techniques, cycling biomechanics and bike fit, and Graston Technique (an advanced myofascial release technique)
Professional Designations
Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (C.C.S.P.)
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) and Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES)
Professional Associations
8:00 am-12:00 pm
1:00 pm-5:00 pm
12:00 pm-5:00 pm
8:00 am-12:00 pm
1:00 pm-5:00 pm
12:00 pm-5:00 pm
8:00 am-12:00 pm
1:00 pm-3:00 pm


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Summon Accuser
Conjuration (Summoning) [Evil, Lawful]
Level: Bard 4, Cleric 4, Oracle 4, Sorcerer 4, Summoner 4, Witch 4, Wizard 4
Summons a single accuser devil from Hell to do your bidding.
This spell summons a single accuser devil from Hell to do the spellcaster's bidding, similar to how summon monster spells function. Accuser devils, known to diabolists as zebubs, are hideous flying creatures with the torso of a plump human infant and the body and wings of an enormous fly. They make excellent spies, for they have the ability to grant visions of what they have witnessed to others—the Queen's Hands sometimes use summoned zebubs to observe suspects from afar.
This spell can be made permanent.


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Pet Shop of Horrors
|Pet Shop of Horrors
US Pet Shop of Horrors Special Edition DVD cover
|Horror, mystery
|Written by
|Matsuri Akino
|Published by
|Ohzora Publishing
|English publisher
|Missy Comics DX
|Original run
|1995 – 1998
|Anime television series
|Directed by
|Toshio Hirata
|Written by
|Tatsuhiko Urahata
Yasuhiro Imagawa
Akane Inoue
|Music by
|Kazuhisa Yamaguchi
|Licensed by
|Original network
|Original run
|March 2, 1999 – March 23, 1999
|Shin Petshop of Horrors
|Written by
|Matsuri Akino
|Published by
|Asahi Sonorama
|English publisher
|(defunct at 8 volumes)
|Nemurenu Yoru no Kimyōna Hanashi
|Original run
|2005 – 2013
Pet Shop of Horrors is a Japanese horror manga created by Matsuri Akino. The series focuses on the eccentric Count D, proprietor of a mysterious pet shop located in the heart of Chinatown, and the numerous patrons who visit his shop.
The manga, published by Asahi Sonorama in 10 graphic novels, consists of 41 chapters in total. It has been licensed for distribution in the United States by Tokyopop. Recently, Matsuri has begun a sequel, New Petshop of Horrors (新恐怖寵物店). TOKYOPOP has acquired the rights to this sequel and calls it "Pet Shop of Horrors – Tokyo," and the first volume was released in February 2008.
"Count D" is the mysterious caretaker of a pet shop in Los Angeles Chinatown. Each of D's rare pets, which all have strangely humanoid appearances, comes with a contract with three major points. These points differ for each animal sold (although each animal's contract includes not showing it to anyone), and breaking this contract usually results in dire (and sometimes disturbing) consequences for the buyer, for which the pet shop claims no liability.
Individual chapters of Pet Shop of Horrors are often based on these consequences, and are each written as a stand-alone story, usually introducing one or more new characters in each chapter. With the exception of the main characters and their families, it is rare for a character to carry over to a later chapter, providing the series with a very episodic nature.
The detective Leon Orcot is used to tie the chapters together into an ongoing plot, usually in the form of a subplot within each chapter. Initially he suspects D of malicious criminal activity and using the pet shop as a front for drug trafficking. As the series progresses, he learns more about the pet shop and D himself, entering into a strange friendship of sorts with D as he works to uncover the truth.
Primary characters[edit]
- Count D
- Voiced by: John DeMita (English)
- Though he denies the name is "Count D" – claiming that this title belongs only to his grandfather, the shop's true owner – most humans refer to him by this name, often shortened to "The Count", "Count", or simply "D". He runs a pet shop in Chinatown while the shop's alleged true owner is traveling abroad. His motto suggests he doesn't actually sell pets but rather "love, dreams, and hope" with a three-term contract.
- He appears more fond of animals than humans and displays a love of the natural world. He usually appears calm and soft-spoken (except when he is fighting with Leon), though towards the end of the manga series, his attitude changes. Because he enjoys drinking tea and has a special fondness for confectionery, Leon often bribes him with sweets and pastries in return for information. Although he often expresses disdain for humans and claims to hate human children, he eventually becomes very attached to Chris, and he also seems to hold his brother Leon in affection.
- In Volume 4, Leon suspects that D may be a vampire, but D's father later refutes this (and D is actually a vegetarian). It is revealed in Volume 10 that he is not human, though what he and his family are exactly is left open to interpretation. According to D's father, they are the last of an ancient Chinese civilization that was very close to animals. Because of their wisdom, the people were kept at the imperial palace as wise men and priests. When the prince asked one of the priestesses for her hand in marriage and she refused him, however, he grew angry and ordered a massive genocide of the people. Only one man from the civilization survived, vowing to take revenge on the humans for what they did to his family. D shares a striking resemblance to his father, and to his grandfather, the real Count D. This is because they are imperfect clones ("duplicates") of one another, created to carry on Count D's legacy of revenge. They are almost identical except for the colour of their eyes; D has one purple eye, like his father, and one golden eye, inherited from his grandfather.
- Leon Orcot
- Voiced by: Alex Fernandez (English)
- Leon Orcot is a hot-headed young detective who attempts to connect the pet shop with mysterious deaths in the region. He is convinced D is a criminal and proceeds to investigate him with an iron will, determined to be the one to arrest D. Over time, he forms a close and complicated relationship with D. He has a disdain for the supernatural and therefore refuses to be believe D's explanations for the events of the story, though this attitude is challenged as the series progresses. He is extremely lecherous as displayed though the series, and spends a lot of time chasing girls. Over the course of the series, Leon is given two pets by D (a flowering plant and a butterfly), both of which help him through hard times in his life (as opposed to other pets sold, which are meant to teach their owners a lesson).
Other humans[edit]
- Chris Orcot
- Chris is Leon's much younger brother, whose mother died during childbirth. As a result, Chris was raised by his aunt and uncle, who he grew up calling "Mom" and "Dad". When Chris' younger cousin, Sam, told him that he was responsible for his mother's death, he was so shocked that he lost his ability to speak. Chris was sent to Los Angeles with Leon and spends most of his time in D's pet shop. Although he can't talk, Chris has the ability to telepathically speak to all of D's animals as well as D and Leon. As it turns out, Q-chan is the only "pet" Chris perceives as an animal. Since he initially only ever sees the animals in their human form, he believes that D actually sells human children, although he feels all right with that as long as the children don't mind it.
- In Volume 10, Chris reconciles with his cousin, regains his ability to speak, and moves back to his aunt's house. This comes at the price of his loss of ability to see the animals in their humanoid forms, referred to in the manga as something of a "Departure from Eden". Twenty years later, he is shown as an FBI officer, tracking down the next generation of the Count's family. Rather than trying to arrest "New D" for the mysterious deaths caused by a pet, Chris only wishes to talk about his brother who disappeared 20 years ago. He does not seem to regard "New D" or the pet shop in an adversarial light, the way his brother Leon regarded D or Agent Howell regarded Papa D.
- Jill
- Voiced by: Julia DeMita (English)
- Jill is Leon's fellow police officer. She is far more sensible than he is as well as far more knowledgeable (for example, she learned Chinese and rattled off the life cycle of the butterfly to D). Jill seems to like D a lot and is usually exasperated by Leon's constant claims that D is a criminal.
- Samantha
- Commonly known as "Sam", she was four years old when Chris came to live in her household and disliked him immensely, especially when he ruined her bunny doll. She later regrets her outburst, realizing she misses him, and, with the help of Ten-chan, the two reconcile and she begins to refer to him as her "brother".
- Josie
- Chris' cousin and Sam's older sister. Despite Chris not being her biological brother, she has never thought of him as anything other than her little brother.
- Tetsu
- Often referred to as "T-chan". He is a totetsu, a mystical carnivorous animal that is a distant relative of the goat. He is a somewhat rough friend of Chris, and they are almost always together. T-chan was originally the chef of a popular Chinese restaurant, which D frequented. The two fell into a sort of 'love', D wanting to possess the rare and exotic animal, T-chan wishing to eat the vegetarian D. In the end, Leon and his police cohorts arrest T-chan as he is about to feast on D (a sacrifice D was willing to make). Later, he ripped out his heart and tried to eat it, thereby "becoming" T-Chan.
- To most people, T-chan appears to be a small, primarily goat-like animal though he has the striped paws of a tiger, not hooves. To D and Chris, he takes the appearance of a grumpy young man with long messy hair and large goat horns that protrude out of his head. His fashion sense appears to be Indian or Arabic inspired. He is very quick-tempered, outspoken, and sometimes very childish. He often causes a stir whenever Detective Orcot enters the Pet Shop, often attempting to bite him the moment he enters the room.
- Pon-chan
- Pon-chan is a raccoon[1] who lives at D's pet shop. She is a special friend of Chris and unlike T-chan, is very kind and friendly. To most people, Pon-chan looks like a normal raccoon. To D and Chris, she takes the form of a little girl with curly blond hair and a Victorian inspired dress. She has quite a distinct crush on Chris, and can often be jealous when he is interacting with a girl other than herself. (Due to a translation mistake many fans believe that she is a badger, because Leon refers to Pon-chan as a raccoon and D corrects him, saying that she is a European badger.)
- Ten-chan
- Ten-chan is a shape-shifting nine-tailed fox with a relaxed personality and a crude manner of speech. He has such a potent ability to shape-shift that he can look like several different things at the same time, depending on who's looking at him. He also has the ability to mimic the personality of whatever he's shifted into and seems to have somewhat occult powers as well. It is uncertain how he got the name "Ten-chan", since he said once that it was not his name; it may have been derived from tenko, which is the highest rank a kitsune can achieve.[2] To most people, when he's not transformed, Ten-chan looks like a little white fox with multiple tails. To D and Chris, he takes the appearance of an androgynous, laid-back young man with long, braided hair and a flamboyant fashion sense.
- "Honlon" – Shuko, Kanan and Junrei
- Hatched from an egg in Volume 2, this dragon was born with three heads. In human form she appears as a little girl in traditional Asian clothing with three distinct personalities. The triplets are: Shuko, the responsible one; Kanan, the violent one; and Junrei, the childish one. Each one of them had taken on the personality of the last person to hold them while still in the egg. Shuko was born 60 years ago and since then had been raised by D. Her two other sisters had hatched more recently: Kanan after being held by Leon, and Junrei after being held by a young boy (the grandchild of a Mr. Smith, to whom her egg was accidentally given). Kanan has the tendency to bully Junrei by pulling their hair. After meeting Chris, he made a contract with them, and like Pon-chan, they can get slightly jealous when he notices someone else.
D's family[edit]
- D's father
- Just as no one ever knows what D's true name is, D's father's name is never revealed. He is sometimes referred to in fan circles as "Papa D." He is somewhat manipulative and holds a grudge against humanity for destroying the environment and many species of animals. His own son doesn't trust him very much, even believing him capable of kidnapping Chris at one point. D's father looks almost exactly like his son (even with identical fingerprints), except that his hair is much longer and both of his eyes are purple. Like D, he is not human, but his species is not revealed.
- It is known that he attended university in 1975, passing as an exchange student from Hong Kong and being occupied with research at a genetic engineering laboratory. During this time, he met a human by the name of Vesca Howell, who later abandoned his career as a medical doctor to become an FBI agent. His sole intent was to arrest D's father, as he, like Leon Orcot with the youngest D, believed him to be a criminal. However, Leon shot D's father, and D's father killed Agent Howell. In the end, D's father is reborn as a human and carried off by D's grandfather to be raised as his son.
- Q-chan/D's grandfather
- Voiced by: Sandee Yamamoto (English)
- Q-chan is a little bat-like creature and is D's constant companion. His name seems to be[original research?] derived from the sound he makes – "kyū". He is the only creature in the shop that looks like an animal to everyone (almost all of the other animals look like strange humans to Chris and D).
- After being hinted at through the series, Q-chan's true identity is revealed in the final volume as D's grandfather, and the proper holder of the title "Count" and name "D". He tells Eva Braun at the end of the first volume of the sequel series that the title of Count was received in his own grandfather's time, and is now simply the name of his store. Although we never see the name in the English translation of the series, he is often referred to in fandom as "Sofu D," "sofu" meaning "grandfather" in Japanese. Upon the end of the series, "Q-chan" reverts back to his humanoid form (identical to D apart from his two golden eyes) and takes the reborn D's father to raise.
- New D
- An unnamed, androgynous Chinese man who runs the pet shop appears at the very end of the series. He is most likely the reincarnation of D's father, though he refers to the current Count D as "father" rather than D's grandfather as father and may be yet another duplicate D. It is also possible that this "New D" is the current D's son, as Papa D's reincarnated human form was seen in volume ten of the original series to have blond hair, whereas this D has the same black hair as the other incarnations of D. Since all members of the D family are identical (except for the color of their eyes) and the manga was in black and white, it's impossible to say which D he actually is. He winds up meeting Chris Orcot (now an adult and an FBI agent) 20 years after Papa D's death. In keeping with his family's love of sweets, he invites Chris in to talk when offered some cherry tarts.
Tokyopop licensed Pet Shop of Horrors for an English-language release in North America and published the series from June 17, 2003 to January 11, 2005.[3][4] The series is also distributed in New Zealand and Australia by Madman Entertainment.[5] The series is also licensed in Germany by Tokyopop Germany,[6] in Poland by Taiga[7] and in Russia by Comics Factory.[8]
The sequel, Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo is licensed in English by Tokyopop, who has published eight volumes as of February 2011.[9]
Anime television series[edit]
Madhouse produced a 4-episode anime adaptation of various chapters of the manga in March 1999. The anime first aired as a miniseries on the TBS television network (as part of their now-defunct programming block "Wonderful") before being sold on VHS and LaserDisc.[10]
Urban Vision released the Pet Shop of Horrors anime in North America, initially across two VHS tapes (each available in either subtitled or dubbed format) in February 2000 and May 2000 respectively. It was then re-released on a single DVD video (containing all four episodes and both language options) in February 2001. Sentai Filmworks had acquired the license in October 2008, with distribution by ADV Films.[11] However, in 2009, A.D. Vision announced that it has shut down ADV Films and distribution rights were transferred to Section23 Films, who continues to distribute titles from Sentai.[12] It would eventually be released on DVD as a "Sentai Selects" title in January 5, 2016. In the UK, It get its DVD release via MVM on August 2, 2010.
|Original airdate
|"Episode 1 – Daughter"
|March 2, 1999
|A rich couple has lost their only daughter, Alice. Fortunately, Count D is able to acquire a very rare species of rabbit that looks exactly like Alice. The couple is overjoyed and immediately takes the rabbit home. But their love for Alice makes them breach one of the contract's terms.
|"Episode 2 – Delicious"
|March 9, 1999
|The popular idol singer Evangeline Blue and her manager Jason are about to be wed on a luxury ship when Evangeline "accidentally" falls overboard, her body never to be found. The heartbroken Jason travels to Count D's to pick up a pet that Eva had supposedly ordered. But to his surprise, the pet turns out to be a very large rare species of a fish but looks (to him at least) like a mermaid who looks exactly like Eva.
|"Episode 3 – Despair"
|March 16, 1999
|Actor Robin Hendrix was a one-hit wonder. After the phenomenal success of his debut movie, Robin couldn't get any more acting jobs. It seemed he'd been stereotyped by the very role that made him famous. To top it off, his wife has left him. Robin loves keeping pet reptiles, and so he goes to Count D's to pick up an additional pet to cheer himself up. But Count D has something special for Robin: a very rare species of reptile known as Medusa for its lethal stare, with the face and upper body of a beautiful woman, but the lower half of a large lizard.
|"Episode 4 – Dual"
|March 23, 1999
|Roger Stanford comes from a long line of successful politicians, but is considered the bad apple of the family due to his carefree and womanising ways. His faithful assistant, Kelly Vincent, is determined to make Roger the president of the United States, even if it means making a pact with the legendary animal called the Kirin, who grants the wish of its sovereign through the blood of others. Count D just happens to have one Kirin in stock.
Carlo Santos of Anime News Network described the plot of Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo as "the series' greatest strength but also its weakness: the plot formula makes it easy to dish out just the right amount of human drama, but those familiar with the Pet Shop will see each twist coming—and may even find some of them to be too far-fetched." Santos also felt that the art was "not particularly horrifying," commenting that "it's clear that Akino struggles with any artwork beyond the usual range of attractive young men, fashionable women and the occasional bizarre creature." However, he commended the "well-planned" layout and pacing of the volume.[13] Robin Brenner commented that "Pet Shop of Horrors has always been more about atmosphere than about truly surprising plots... Instead, the pleasure comes from Matsuri Akino's talent for truthful dialogue, attention to detail in the art, and a fine sense of how to portray both laughter and dread."[14]
- ^ Akino Matsuri. Petshop of Horrors. Vol. 3. Oozora Shuppan, 1997. p.11. ISBN 4-87287-110-3
- ^ "Kitsune ~ 狐 (きつね) ~ part of The Obakemono Project: An Online Encyclopedia of Yōkai and Bakemono". Obakemono.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Manga+Comics: Book Catalog". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ "Manga+Comics: Book Catalog". Tokyopop. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ "Pet Shop of Horrors (Manga)". Madman Entertainment. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Bücher: Manga: Pet Shop of Horrors" [Books: Manga: Pet Shop of Horrors] (in German). Tokyopop. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
- ^ moshi_moshi (20 July 2013). "Pet Shop of Horrors tom 1". Tanuki.pl (in Polish). Małgorzata Kaczarowska. 2841. ISSN 1898-8296. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Comic books index" (in Russian). Comics Factory. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
- ^ Marshall, Marc (25 May 2005). "Pet Shop of Horrors Review". Akemi's Anime World. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ ADV Films to Distribute Anime for Sentai Filmworks
- ^ "ADV Films Shuts Down, Parent Transfers Assets to Other Companies (Update 4)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ Carlo Santos (7 February 2008). "Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo GN 1 - Review -". Anime News Network. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
- ^ Robin Brenner. "Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo by Matsuri Akino". The Book Report. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
External links[edit]
- Pet Shop of Horrors (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Pet Shop of Horrors on IMDb
- IGN.com review
- Manga series
- 1995 manga
- 1999 anime television series
- 2005 manga
- 1999 Japanese television series endings
- Anime series based on manga
- Asahi Sonorama manga
- Horror anime and manga
- Josei manga
- Madhouse (company)
- Madman Entertainment manga
- Mystery anime and manga
- Sentai Filmworks
- Shōjo manga
- Supernatural anime and manga
- Tokyo Broadcasting System shows
- Tokyopop titles
- Yōkai in popular culture
- Ohzora Publishing manga


text:
One of James Howe's greatest strength is his effective writing. He writes all styles and for a wide variety of audiences. He's been told he writes like he talks which is a very good thing especially with an emphasis on conversational style these days.
blogging / ARTICLES
- All the posts on the Communicate & Howe blog
- A new era of volunteer recognition that just might get you a job – I ghost wrote this article and arranged for it to be distributed in the Hilborn e-newsletter on behalf of the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network
- Our Princess Culture Seeks Prince Charming (Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region)
News Releases
More writing samples can be found in the ANNUAL REPORTS or PRINT MATERIAL portfolios.


text:
Purchasing Merchandise to Sell for Your eBay Business
To find one-of-a-kind items (remember these are not always new things) at a great price and make a profit selling them for your eBay business, follow these helpful purchasing guidelines:
Try to pay the lowest possible price for your item — buy at wholesale (or in bulk) whenever possible.
If you're the handy fix-it-all type, find items in need of minor repair and repair them. Then put them up for sale "like new."
Search for unique items that may be common in your geographic area but hard to find in other places across the country.
Attend estate sales — many a salable gem is hiding in someone's home or garage.
Visit closeout stores, liquidators, and live auctions regularly.


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Chestnut Hill, Mass. – The Pine Gators started the season with a 5-1 victory over The Daniel Webster Eagles. The day was highlighted by freshman Cassie Cavender (Clarksville, TN) who scored four goals in her first ever collegiate game while senior captain Elizabeth Anderson (Stow, MA) connected from 17 feet for her first goal of the young season leading the gators to 1-0 record. Amanda Dargie (Melbourne, FL) was able to score the lone goal for the visting Eagles as they drop to 0-1 on the season.
The Gators outshot the Eagles 17-10 while Stephanie Evans (Washington, Iowa) saved 6 shots for the visitors while Charley Lutz (Alexander City, AL) also saved six shots for the Gators.
Daniel Webster will look to bounce back while traveling to Mass. Maritime on September 6th to take on the Buccaneers with a 3:30 PM. kickoff. Pine Manor will have a week off as they host the first game of a doubleheader against Bay Path University on September 10th with a 12:00 PM. start.


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FROM THE BOOK JACKET:Dead and Gone is the ninth Sookie Stackhouse mystery and by far the darkest story yet. As the series has matured Sookie has become more immersed in the supe world and in fact gravitated to the centre of it in her community of Bon Temps, Louisiana. On her journey, Sookie has grown from a young woman with limited life experience and innocence tempered by her telepathic awareness of human nature, to a resistant member of the harsher supernatural community, a victim of emotional and physical violence, but also transformed and strengthened by it. But not without a personal cost as reflected in this dialogue between Jason and Sookie midway through the book over his betrayal of Sookie and Calvin about Crystal's infidelity –
For Sookie Stackhouse, the day to day activities of the vampire and were communities in and around Bon Temps, Louisiana, are of vital interest, She's blood-bound to the leader of the vamps, a friend to the local were pack, works for a man who is shifter, and has a brother who is a were-panther…
But for most of the humans in Bon Temps, the vamps are mysterious seductive creatures-and they don't even know about the weres.
Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world.
At first it seems to go well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found in the parking lot of the bar where Sookie works. The victim is someone she knows, so she feels compelled to discover who-human or otherwise-did the deed.
But what she doesn't realize is that there is a far greater danger than the killer threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings--older, more powerful and far more secretive than vampires or werewolves-- is preparing for war. And Sookie will find herself an all-too human pawn in their battle…
"You forgiven me?" he asked before he'd taken a gulp of coffee. His voice sounded hoarse and thick. I thought he'd been crying.Even early on during the big coming out for the Were community, this mental exchange by Sookie as she watches a shifter on TV is telling about her new harsher perspective on life.
"I expect sooner or later I might," I said. "But I'll never feel the same about you again."
"God, you've gotten hard. You're all the family I've got left."
Alcide had made a good choice. Plus, if someone killed her right away, well . . . she was the new girl.Curiously the big Were announcement that launches the opening of the book plays little bearing on the events to come. Just like a mystery writer to throw out a red herring. Instead the biggest mystery of Dead and Gone is what is happening to Sookie. Has she finally reached some vague breaking point or is there some supernatural influence at work. We have never seen Sookie this confused, uncertain and angry.
I felt a moment of disconnect, as if I were standing back from my own life and viewing it from afar. The vampires owed me money and favors for my services to them. The Weres had declared me a friend of the pack for my help during the just-completed war. I was pledged to Eric, which seemed to mean I was engaged or even married. My brother was a werepanther. My great-grandfather was a fairy. It took me a moment to pull myself back into my own skin. My life was too weird. I had that out-of-control feeling again, as if I were spinning too fast to stop.Sookie's blood bond with Eric undoubtedly comes into play but it is not as if Sookie is unaware -
"I don't know if the-comfort-I feel with you is the blood bond exchange or a feeling I would've had naturally," I said, picking each word carefully.But in multiple situations she fails to act on that knowledge –
And thanks to my own dazed affection . . . or warmth . . . or infatuation . . . for the Viking vampire, I had done exactly what he'd asked without consulting my common sense.and
We sat for a while in silence. I felt exhausted but oddly peaceful. I should be giving Eric hell about his high-handed handling of Quinn's request and the knife presentation. I should be asking him all kinds of questions . . . but I couldn't summon up the necessary fire.But she does manage to stir herself and let a little of the no-nonsense, assertive Sookie shine through on one occasion as she responds to Eric-
"I don't doubt that you want what you think is best for me," I said. "And I don't doubt that that marches right along with what you think is good for you."There is an angry and frustrated Sookie that we haven't seen to this degree in the past -
I was mad at almost everybody when I drove home that night.and
Not only was I afraid they'd kill each other, I realized that I was really tired of people popping on and off my property like it was a train station on the supernatural railroad.But as often as the anger appears Sookie also wavers and voices inexplicable feelings -
It was almost impossible for me to feel anxious. I noticed in a distant kind of way. And yet surely I ought to be upset and angry?Dark as Dead and Gone is, there are still excellent moments of humour and levity usually from Sookie -
Also, he picked some unwise words, Saying, " I'll enjoy killing you for my lord," is just not the way to make my acquaintance.and perhaps one of the most unusual sexual expressions I have read that made me laugh when Sookie is with Eric -
He was as deep inside me as he could get without an operation, and he glowed above me, his white skin shining in the darkness of the room.And Eric has his moments too –
"You don't want to know how I feel about you? Eric looked incredulous. " I can't believe you're a human woman. Women always want to know how you feel about them."In Dead and Gone, Charlaine Harris subjects a great many of her principal characters to significant tragedy including Jason, Sam, Amelia, her grandfather Niall, Eric and Bill and not the least of which is Sookie. After eight books most readers will have serious emotional investment in the series which makes this book a turning point. What happens to Sookie as the book draws to conclusion is devastating -
I was completely and utterly lucid for the next hour, which was the longest of my life.And the aftermath leaves Sookie at a low ebb that we have never seen before -
I found it bewildering-and utterly shocking-that I could feel such pain and not die of it.
I would have been glad to die.
But I'd looked at death too closely-close enough to see all the pores in Death's face-and I'd suffered too much. I wouldn't bounce back this time.Charlaine Harris taken some real chances in this book, shown us a flavour of Sookie we are unfamiliar with, changed lives, even killed off characters and it will be incredibly interesting to see what new direction the series will take next time around. I suspect there is some foreshadowing of things to come in this exchange between Eric and Sookie -
"You want to own your own life," Eric said.Dead and Gone is a big departure from the safe and familiar Sookie Stackhouse that we all know and I think one of the best and most challenging books in the series to date. Highly recommended.
"As much as anyone can."
Penguin Group (USA)
Read an excerpt from Chapter 1
Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series:


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The Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RCFL) Program is a partnership between the FBI and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The Program provides forensics resources and advanced techniques that can be brought to bear on cases being worked by participating agencies. The first RCFL was established in 1999 in San Diego, California. This successful partnership between FBI and Southern California law enforcement led to fifteen more centers over the ten years that followed. One of the most recent is in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Supervisory Special Agent Darrin Jones is the Laboratory Director of New Mexico RCFL and was key to it's establishment. I interviewed him recently to find out more about the Program.
Q: When and why did you get involved with the RCFL Program?
A: I've been in Albuquerque for about two years, prior to this assignment


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Inside of perhaps the most enviable career in all of music, two-time Grammy® Award-winner Marcus MIller has been the composer/producer of eight critically acclaimed and genre-defying solo albums. Each project showcases his astounding and singular technique as among the world's most gifted and eclectic electric bassists. On his ninth and latest CD, simply titled Marcus, he continues to work his one-of-a-kind magic - from the ferocious Middle Eastern funk of "Blast" to the cozy Quiet Storm strains of the Deniece Williams classic "Free," featuring special guest Corinne Bailey Rae. As a producer, writer and player, Miller was the last primary collaborator of jazz legend Miles Davis, contributing the composition "Tutu" to the canon of contemporary jazz music. His partnership with Luther Vandross produced dozens of R&B million-sellers, including "Never Too Much," "..Til My Baby Comes Home," and the Grammy-winning "Power of Love/Love Power." Miller produced seven David Sanborn albums, not only leaving an indelible mark on the saxophonist's distinctive sound, but also laying the often-copied blueprint for the coolest of contemporary jazz sounds. Miller's discography as a session and touring sideman reads like a Who's Who of contemporary music, spanning all genres and including work with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Frank Sinatra, LL Cool J and Eric Clapton. To see Marcus Miller and his virtuosic band live is a truly unforgettable experience.
All video content is provided by Youtube, and any questions, comments, or concerns regarding such content should be directed to Youtube


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text:
Our source code is our most prized asset. I would like to have it:
- secured from proliferation by in-house developers but they also need unrestricted access to the code to do their job right. So I'm not sure this is even possible.
- regularly backed up to secure location, but would it be safe to upload it to a cloud storage such as box.net?
Any recommendations on strategies? Or am I paranoid?


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Light of Hope Youth Initiative-International (LOHYI) is a leading national NGO working to serve less privileged communities around Kenya. LOHYI uses the Quadra helix approach in partnership with the government of Kenya, through ministries of health, education, youth/gender affairs and vision 2030 with other stakeholders, civil societies, corporate and institutions to design mechanism to find solutions in different communities.
LOHYII has programs around four thematic areas namely Elimisha dada/ Inua kaka (which translates to educate a sister/ support a brother for Education), Jitegemee (which translates to self-dependence for Economic empowerment), Boresha (which translates to betterment pertaining to Health), Mtaa Yangu (which translates to my community for Leadership and Governance).
The programs are tailored in over 97 learning institutions (Primary, Secondary and tertiary institutions) and the community across 4 counties in Kenya that reach over 30, 000 adolescents, youth, women and People Living with Disabilities (PWD'S) annually. LOHYI vision "A generation of responsible, and active citizens!" and her mission is to ensure inclusive, equitable quality education, enhance healthy lives, promote economic empowerment and build effective and accountable leaders.
Our mentor and counselor for the youth will be mainly involved with two programs namely; Elimisha dada/ Imarisha kaka (which translates to educate a sister/ empower the boy child for Education).
Elimisha Dada (educate a sister)
Elimisha Dada works as a package that observes the principle of inclusivity in all aspects of national development, where it fills the gaps that exist in our society through Education, Transformation, Mentorship and nurturing the young generation to be active citizens for a better future.
Girl Child Empowerment
This project aims at keeping girls in school by proving sanitary towels to vulnerable girls in schools and equipping them with knowledge on how to handle their bodies. With a purpose to make local young girls more aware about their body changes and relevant topics during the provision of sanitary towels, LOHYI International organizes sessions to train them about Health and Personal Hygiene. Elimisha Dada's strategy is not to duplicate the work of teachers in schools, but it strives to compliment it, our aim is to mentor the young generation on education and societal issues.
These findings encouraged the creation of the Elimisha Dada, 'Educate your Sister'. It gives focus and attention to promoting the education of girls in Kenya into positive life opportunities. The initiative targets reach of 10,000 girls by 2020.From recent case studies collected, we have found that many girls have their first period at school and are sent home from their teachers because the teachers cannot provide them with a sanitary pad to allow them to continue their classes for the rest of the day.
As a fore mentioned, Light of Hope supports several schools in the Machakos county and surroundings by providing more than 4000 girls with sanitary pads on a monthly basis. The distribution of sanitary pads is accompanied by educational talks to girls in classes 6, 7 and 8 and students from forms 1-4 on issues such as HIV/AIDS, Gender based violence, drug abuse, nutrition, health, hygiene and sanitation. We recognize lack of knowledge and services around these matters which can lead to driving factors in early marriage, pregnancy, HIV transmissions and school drop-outs. The program responds to the reality that many girls do not attend school during their menstruation cycle. Some young girls are forced to stay at home the whole week because their families do not have the necessary funds to purchase sanitary pads. In Kenya, 850,000 girls miss 6 weeks of school every year because of their periods.
Following Light of Hope's 2014 survey across the first 6 schools they visited in Machakos, it was found that on average 65% of girls missed a week from school per term due to their periods. This amounts to 203 out of 332 girls missing school. The lack of attendance affects their academic performance as many girls cannot reach the best of their ability. Monthly disruptions because of menstruation is also a contributing factor to higher school drop-out rates amongst girls in Kenya - 24% of girls do not complete their primary school education.
The older children will be referred to as "Big Sister" or "Big Brother" by the younger pupils to encourage security and comfort between each pair. The mentoring program will be dedicated to helping children develop a deeper understanding of who they are, while building strong, positive relationships.
The program will encourage mentors to act as role models for the younger children and to teach and support them on important lessons on menstruation, self-esteem and ambition building. By using carefully selected activities which will include a staring competition between pairs, the bomb and shield game and a human knot exercise to name a few, team working and trust skills will be developed between students. The importance of mentoring and what all pupils can achieve from it will also be enforced. Elimisha Dada is to set foundations for long lasting bonds to be created which can make a difference in the lives of young children.
Not only will girls have someone older they can turn to when they begin their menstruation but the older children will benefit from leadership skills.
In an effort to empower the Girl child and the persistent campaign for awareness of girls', the society has ignored the plight of a boy child.
The Imarisha kaka Initiative
This program is initiated to nurture, empower and transform the young generation in the community to take active responsibility as citizens for their destiny. The mentorship program is aimed to at improving the boy's academic performance and hence retains them in school. We focus on encouraging, inspiring, motivating them to be responsible and active citizens in the future.
Extensive research has shown that the boy child is at high risk of dropping out of school than girls. The boy child of the 21st century is faced with tremendous challenges which unless properly guarded the society is losing him.
These challenges include;
Effects of neglecting the Boy child.
Our aim is to provide the boy child with empowerment focussing on every child especially those from humble backgrounds; even those who are not highly educated can be equipped with the following;
Our programs run through the following activities;-
Volunteers will work hand in hand together with the local youth team members who also volunteer with us. We provide a platform for the volunteers to freely exercise their skills and also nurture their skills through actual practical exposure of how the organization runs on a daily basis. We let our volunteers run the organization by assigning specific duties to specific individuals according to daily or monthly targets. Volunteers do not need to carry any special equipment.
A typical day will involve, reporting to the office at 9 am , field visits as from 11 till 3, with a lunch brake ( the visits will be at least thrice a week unless communicated otherwise and with consent) , and checking out of the office at 4 pm.
During their free time, they will be involved in outdoor activities whereby our staff will be involved in taking them around to enjoy their volunteer work with our organization and visit some of the community members to learn more about our culture and many things community members are involved in e.g tourist sites, hiking at some of our amazing mountains, swimming and our famous Park for riding and relaxing over the weekends.But this will depend on the volunteers choice.
The following are expected program expenses: airport pickup and drop off, food and drink, accommodation.
The volunteers pays for his/her air ticket, but we are responsible for the pick up fees of the volunteer from the airport.
Within/inside the Host home with electricity, reliable water supply, privacy and secured compound.
The Host, shall provide a balanced diet of breakfast together with dinner.
Lunch is not provided by the Host as it is in the other daily expenditures fees.
Volunteers may join us at any time of the year, although we do encourage early notification for preparation purposes especially accommodation. We have friends we work closely with and they will act as host homes. Where the volunteer will stay during there tenure. This will be facilitated with us to ensure the safety of the volunteers.
Mentor & Counsellor for the Youth
Light of hope youth initiative runs Motivation and Mentorship programs in our beneficiary schools, where we address issues that affects the children's life in general.
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text:
Mirror Glass
Chapter 4
By Sterling
I paused for a moment to let all this information sink into Helix. I wanted him to really think about this. After I thought it hand been long enough for it to be considered dramatic I continued.
"You know that when someone is turned there is no guarantee that they will live through the change. It all depends on how much of the toxin they are given when bitten. The toxin does something to our bodies and it shuts down everything but the heart. It keeps the heart beating strong forever. When the Elders heard stories of a vampire being cured of the change they went ballistic. The Elders decreed that she be hunted down and brought to them. They say the hunters found her in cave but she wasn't alone. The vampire who had bitten her hadn't left her side but he was different… changed. He was no longer a vampire but a human. The hunters killed the man and took the girl. When she was brought forth to the Elders initially she was to be killed but they couldn't bring themselves to do it. She was the Hope Diamond of all vampires. No one like her has been born into darkness since. All vampires' extras are tools that they can use for their own needs. No one really has a power that benefits others instead of themselves. The Elders knew this girl was a treasure and like all great jewels you just don't dispose of them. You collect them. I'm sure she's not the only vampire with a very unique gift they have locked away somewhere; I thinks she's just the only one we know about."
I glanced at Helix praying for a good reaction but I got the same look everyone always gives me when I tell that story. Utter Disbelief. "So let me get this straight you're chasing a vampire fairytale that is told to new bloods as a cruel joke to give them hope of having their lives back?"
"It's not a fairytale! You have to believe me. At first Jarrod thought so too until he used his underground connections. It turns out the best way to cover something up is to put it right out in the open for everyone to see. After he discovered some truth to the story he used every resource at his disposal. He dug a little too deep and because of me he caught the eye of the Elders. When the first hunter attacked he barely got away and I was hurt in the crossfire. I saved him from being stabbed in the heart by a hunter. One of the powers I acquired allowed me to change my body's density. I jumped in front of the blade but I didn't make my body quite strong enough to completely stop the blow. Luckily it missed my heart. The blade the hunter had was attached to a gauntlet on his wrist. Fortunately his blade coming out of my lung was a great conductor. I gave him a shock so powerful he was unrecognizable afterward. Healing that wound took many sleep cycles, Jarrod never left my side… not once. After that Jarrod promised he wouldn't let anything happen to me again. He said that we need to be apart for a while. He wanted me as far away from this as possible while he chased some leads. I tried to object but he wouldn't hear it. He was afraid he had lost me and said if anything happened to me he could never forgive himself. Jarrod used a secret frequency when he wanted to communicate sensitive materials, he told me to always be listening and he would contact me if anything came up."
It was then that Helix put his hand on my arm. "You dont have to talk about this if you dont want to. I understand."
"No, I want to. I need to say this." This was it… I already had unburied the memory so I might as well open the coffin. It was about time talked about it anyway…
"I only saw Jarrod two more times before he died. The first time he contacted me he told me to meet him at a vampire sanctuary not far from where I was staying. When I got there he was being very secretive, more than usual. He told me that he might have uncovered something that could give us insight to where the princess might be. The information is kept in a collective library called the Nifty Archives. The only way to get to the archive was through the Icezone night club. We had planned to go there together but after the sanctuary was attacked that made it impossible. Jarrod handed me a ticket and told me to meet him there, he would contact me to let me know what night we would meet. Our visit was much too short. It was hard for me to leave him again. I know he wasn't my sire but in a way he kind of became that for me. He was my best friend and before all this investigating we were inseparable."
I don't know what it is about letting out your most personal thoughts that makes someone feel so vulnerable. I was too afraid to look into Helix's eyes. I didn't want him to think I was weak. After Jarrod's death I told myself I wasn't going to be weak ever again. Maybe back then if I had been stronger and more aware I could have protected him and avoided all this unnecessary pain.
"The last time I saw Jarrod alive was at the Icezone. He was always working on multiple projects at once. He said there was another ground breaking story he had to check up on. He told me that there in the Icezone was the Nifty Archive, there collection of vampire literature, scriptures and lore was unparalleled. I made my way through the crowds to the top floor where I found the archives. I remember the archivist Stew being very kind even after I told him I was looking for stories about a fairytale. He didn't laugh or refuse to help me matter of fact he showed me exactly where the privileged piece of information was. He handed me a dusty old book. In it there was only a single passage solely about the lore of the vampire princess. As I read I didn't see one thing that I already didn't know. It wasn't until I practically turned the book upside down did I notice the insignia in gold on the back page. I had seen it before but I couldn't remember where. I was going to look through some other books to see if I couldn't identify it but I didn't have time. Not far from where I was I could hear fighting. From the sounds of it it sounded like they were trying to tear the place down. I figured it was the hunters, they were probably looking for me and Jarrod. I quickly ripped out a page from the book and scribbled the insignia on it using my blood. Another handy extra I had picked up, blood manipulation.
I ran through that club for seemed like forever looking for Jarrod. It was just so huge! There must have been like a million rooms. Just when I was going to stop to back track, he found me. That's when I heard them… the sirens. He kept saying we had to get out because the place was going under lockdown. He was scaring me, I had never seen him like that before. Normally his demeanor is always calm, confident, and focused but not then. That's when I noticed them. Hunters were watching us. Jarrod told me to run, pointing a head of us to an alley. He pulled me close and told me that no matter what that I had to keep running and not look back. I only agreed because he said he would be right behind me. When they attacked we got separated. I searched for him frantically but with so many vampires running scared it was pandemonium. That's when I heard the scream. Someone screamed No and by the time I managed to find where Jarrod was I saw him being stabbed through the heart."
Quite tears streamed down my face as I relived the nightmare. "I SWEAR I tried to go for him, I SWEAR I DID!! You have to Believe ME! The crowd was like a wave it just kept pushing me back… and I tried to break through and reach him… but I couldn't… I… I… was just so scared."
I was in hysterics now. My vision was blurred and all I could hear was someone screaming. I took me a second to realize that person was me. Helix pulled me into a deep embrace. Holding me close as he comforted me while I cried into his shoulder. "He died because I asked for his help! All because I was being selfish and wanted my human life back. Then I got him killed and left him to suffer when he needed me most. I left him to die alone after everything he did for me all because I'm a COWARD." Helix said nothing. He just held me close as I finally faced my darkest secret that I kept hidden from the world. I kept trying to run from it but I could never seem to get far enough. Now that it was staring me in the face I remembered why I buried it in the first place. It hurt too damn much to confront. Helix holding me made it easier to bare, I couldn't even begin to describe how comforting it felt being held in his arms. It had been a long time since I had felt the warm touch of another person. His scent, his heart beating with mine, the way he whispered sweet solace in my ear and the strength his hold seemed to lend me. I may have cried for a good hour straight before I felt okay enough to be released from Helix's arms.
"You said you found an insignia? Was that it? No writings or other clues?" Helix asked.
I wiped my face with the back of my hand. I just finished saying I would cry then what do I do? I fall to pieces. "No, but the insignia is one I've seen before. I've been looking for it but I haven't had any luck tracking it down." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"Here, let me see it." As Helix looked it over his eyes grew wide. "I know this symbol; it is the symbol we have to wear on ourselves at all times."


text:
Liham ng anak:
MY mouth waters just reading of what you bought from Bolinao. Daing here is considered gold....tuyo as platinum and bagoong as diamond...maryoseff. Such commodities are hard to come by. 'Kagutom...'Kainggit....'Kainis.
Winter here is far from over. We built a heater out of spare parts taken from an old air con so as to dump my complaints of cold-as-hell days. I'm already 130 pounds and still gaining. Joy wants me to keep it under 135 lbs so as to maintain my current build. I sent her a half naked picture of me for her to assess if it's pleasing enough for her. OK na pwede!!! Yum yum! It's a good thing my body was already sculpted (due to fetching cow dung and river rocks for our house and garden then), my chest became more prominent and my shoulders broader. My legs are getting stronger as I can do prison squats without pain in my legs when standing up.. Your exercise regimen paid off. But I still need more workouts as I cannot kick as high as I could before.
I'm looking for Doctor Wong's sulfur soap here as remedy for my back acne...(Aaron has the same problem too...) How are my cats...ibinalik na ba si Bonyat? Pusa ko 'yun.... Aaron told me that there were four of them that celebrated New Year, andu'n daw si Raymund ang nobyo ni Angeli. Kumusta naman 'yung dalawa? Have you seen "30 Days of Night," watch it. I recommend it since it's an adaptation of the book pati na rin 'yung "I Am Legend" ni Will Smith....it's a remake of the apocalyptic movie "The Last Man on Earth" and the "Omega Man" which starred Charlton Heston...asteeeg. An H.P Lovecraft based movie will come out soon 'kalimutan ko title eh.....asteeg din.. hinihintay ko mapirata sa Internet site na pinapanooran ko ng movies ha-ha-ha...Ingats and Happy New Year!
Tugon ng amang Kulamnista,
PAST Noel's midnight feast, I asked your mom to fry me some tunsoy, the sun-baked platinum fish you speak of in those Middle Eastern precincts. I just love the sound of that sardine specie—tung hsui or water vessel that pumps up a bit of irony, tuyo nga kasi. I had some allowed wallowing in a puddle of palm sugar vinegar with crushed chilies, re-hydrated flesh pried off tidbit after wee bit and eaten a la instant sushi wrapped in steaming fragrant rice. Divine!
And I had to explain at length to a pair of masseuses over at Bing's Beach Resort in Barangay Patar, Bolinao in Pangasinan that such humble pleasures as rice, fish, and a cornucopia of greens adorning their tables can bless 'em with better health and well-being than a diet of beef, pork, and poultry.
Even bits of bagoong that have been worked over by lactic acid bacteria becomes diamond boon—the fish protein content had turned up pre-digested, the long peptide chains snipped shorter for easier ingestion and assimilation in the body. Juicy steaks, pork chops, and honey-glazed chicken drumsticks proffer too-long protein chains that the guts have a tough time snipping in snippets for easy bio-availability.
Ah, we do a bit of pickling with vinegar and condiments on milkfish flesh with the same alimentary end—to allow a bit of fermentation, nudging zillions of helpful bacteria to unleash their acids and snip peptide chains to bio-available lengths.
True, balaw-balaw or burong isda smells hellish like unwashed nether labia but the protein content in the fish is ready-to-ingest in the gut lining. Mabilis na naisasalin at napapakinabangan sa katawan.
(Parang nakikita mo siguro kung paano ako magbigay ng lecture, he-he-he.)
The masseuses were insisting that they work me over, probably what "Hello Garci" did kneading poll figures to foist up a winning edge. Then I had to explain some more that the nearby pounding sounding surf had kept me awash inside out with negative ions. That had recharged me many times over and I may just return their compliment, kneading their figures thoroughly if that pleases 'em—nah, I'm not charging a cent for that.
Remember: We slept beside streams and flowing water in the Sierra Madre and Makiling to allow our bodies to soak up the negative ions—mystics, hermits, and certain people versed in arcane arts do the same. Charge up and refresh.
Teka, the explosive force in hand and foot blows are generated by iremi or the turning of the entire body as such blows are delivered. Hindi naman kailangan talaga ng mataas na tadyak, kahit pa magandang tingnan. Kailangan: igkas-sa-bilis na tadyak.
Teka uli, pakibigay naman sa 'kin ang URL ng website na 'yan na pinapanooran mo ng pelikula.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
'Kagutom... 'Kainggit... 'Kainis...
Posted by DONG AMPIL DE LOS REYES at 4:35 PM
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