text:
Land and Buildings Issues "Must Own" Real Estate Stocks for 2014
Land and Buildings, an investment firm specializing in publicly traded real estate and real estate related securities, today issued its "Must Own" real estate stocks for 2014 with expected returns of 25% or more.
2014 Must Own Stocks are: BRE Properties (NYSE: BRE) (Essex Property Trust (NYSE: ESS)), DiamondRock Hospitality (NYSE: DRH), First Industrial (NYSE: FR), Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL), Kilroy Realty (NYSE: KRC), Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) and SBA Communications (Nasdaq: SBAC).
A full copy of Land and Buildings "Must Own" real estate stocks for 2014, including a review of the performance of the 2013 "Must Own" stocks, can be found at www.landandbuildings.com
Highlights of the 2014 Must Own list include:
- Land and Buildings' 2013 "must own" stocks returned 20% since our initial report last January, significantly outperforming the 2% total return for REITs.
- Two of the companies Land and Buildings actively highlighted as undervalued performed well, with Las Vegas Sands generating a 55% return while BRE Properties generated a 15% return, outperforming apartments by 20% since the 2013 "must own" list was published a year ago.
- REITs appear well positioned to generate total returns in 2014 of 10-14% as valuations are attractive and underlying supply/demand dynamics remain supportive of high single digit cash flow growth.
- Historically, REIT stocks have delivered double digit returns, after an initial decline, as interest rates rise. REITs are trading at one of the sector's largest discounts to net asset value over the past 15 years following the 16% pull back in share prices since late May combined with little to no movement in private market values of real estate.
About Land and Buildings:
Land and Buildings is a long/short investment firm that actively invests in securities of global real estate and real estate related companies.
Phil Denning or Brian Ruby


text:
1/3 cup GF oat flour, or millet flour, or white rice flour
1/3 cup brown rice flour, or sorghum flour, or white rice flour
1/3 cup tapioca starch, or potato starch
2 tablespoons cane sugar, or light brown sugar
1 tablespoon DariFree powder (Vance's), or powdered milk of choice
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup water
2 tablespoons pure olive oil
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- In airtight container, combine GF oat flour, brown rice flour, tapioca starch, cane sugar, DariFree powder, baking powder, xanthan gum, and sea salt; place on lid; shake vigorously to combine; pour into mixing bowl.
- Stir water, pure olive oil, and vanilla extract into dry ingredients, leaving batter slightly lumpy; set batter aside until skillet is ready.
- Place dry cast iron skillet over medium heat; once heated, add 1 tablespoon pure olive oil or rendered bacon fat.
- Using a tablespoon measure, dry dollops of batter, evenly-spaced, into prepared skillet; cook until bubbles rise to surface of batter; flip; cook until nicely browned on both sides; remove to wire cooling rack; serve immediately; repeat process with remaining batter until all batter is used.
- Serve with butter of choice (soy-free vegan Earth Balance), and pure Grade B Maple syrup.
Servings: 12 - 16 small pancakes
Preheat: skillet over medium heat; electric skillet to 325 degrees F
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: about 8 minutes per batch
Add up to 1/2 cup fresh (washed well then dried off) fruit of choice, such as blueberries; or 1/2 cup vegan soy-free chocolate chips (Enjoy Life).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
By Slim Randles
I was one of the half-dozen guys holding Isaac Okleasik's sled down while his dozen-plus sled dogs were screaming and lunging. It was the first Saturday in March back in 1973, and Isaac was one of the first mushers to leave on the first Iditarod Sled Dog Race. I was wearing bib number 37, and since we let a team go every two minutes, I had plenty of time to help others before it was my turn.
The announcer was counting down the seconds for Isaac, hundreds of cold people were standing around in Anchorage's semi-pro baseball stadium, cheering and clapping. And then Isaac, a legendary dog driver as well as a legendary member of the elite Eskimo Scouts during World War II, looked at me and said, "Where we go?"
"Nome, Isaac."
Then while the world was going insane, Isaac walked up the long string of dogs and knelt down and talked to his lead dog. Then he started back toward the sled.
"30 seconds," said the p.a. system.
Isaac got back to the sled and stood on the runners. He was ready. I had to ask.
"Why did you go up to the lead dog, Isaac?"
"He don't know where we go, so I tell him."
"Zero!" said the announcer.
Dog and sled holders pulled away from the team just like a gantry releases a rocket, and Isaac Okleasik shot out of sight down the trail. He must have given his leader good directions, because 1,100 miles later, Isaac was in Nome.
And on the first Saturday of every March since then, I say a little prayer for the dogs and the men and women on trail on that long, cold camping trip. It's lonely and quiet out there ... and it's a very long way to Nome.
Brought to you by Dogsled, A True Tale of the North. Now a Kindle ebook.


text:
November 03, 2012 in ASA, Free Daytrips Chapters, Military Service | Permalink
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Yesterday, May 4, 2012, I attended the opening of a new exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery in New York. "Avedon Murals & Portraits" drew an enormous crowd, with a waiting line extending down West 21st St. Fortunately, I got there early and didn't have to wait. Since the gallery is located practically underneath New York's great High Line elevated park, I decided to arrive by strolling along it from 14th Street, and along the way I encountered this billboard announcing the event:
The show was a massive display of oversized murals in four galleries, depicting Andy Warhol and The Factory, the Chicago Seven, the Mission Council, and Allen Ginsberg's family, plus many related items of smaller size:
There's more on this blog about Avedon. CLICK HERE.
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May 05, 2012 in Art, Avedon Years, Photography | Permalink
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Here's the first online review of my e-Guide Waltzing Through Vienna:
It was posted on March 18, 2011 by 148 apps, the leading reviewer of iPhone apps.
March 20, 2011 | Permalink
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The other day a friend and I became ravenously hungry for a really good Rueben sandwich, a treat that is difficult to find here in the Philadelphia suburbs. Okay, you can get a good one locally, but not a really, really, superlatively good one. One that just oozes Russian dressing, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and plenty of sliced corned beef — all between freshly baked rye bread.
So we headed over to New York City, to its Lower East Side, and thence to Katz's Deli on East Houston Street. Long a favorite of both New Yorkers and in-the-know visitors, Katz's has been at that location since 1888 and is widely considered to be among the city's best sandwich joints. A visit there is a real experience, one that is quite rare in this age of chain eateries whose only interest is the bottom line.
Not that Katz's is especially cheap. It isn't. Nor is it fancy or even comfortable. Upon entering the premises you are handed a ticket, which you present at each food station as you assemble your meal. On this is kept a running total, which you present to the cashier on the way out, making payment there.
During World War II Katz's advertised with the phrase "Send a Salami to Your Boy in the Army," a tradition they still honor with free shipping to overseas U.S. military addresses including Iraq and Afghanistan. Another catch phrase from the 1950s became part of a popular Tom Lehrer song with the words "Remember Mommy, I'm off to get a Commie, so send me a salami, and try to smile somehow."
Well, we didn't get a commie, but we did smile after sharing that delicious Reuben (way too big for one person!) and washing it down with two large beers.
The top photo is by Ernesto Andrade via Wikipedia Creative Commons. The other snaps are by me.
SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2013? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.
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November 14, 2010 in Beer and Wine, Food and Drink, New York City | Permalink
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Oh, happy day! The first copy of my new guidebook just arrived from the printer, and it's all I hoped for. The operative word in the title — and what distinguishes it from my earlier books about England — is "From." This time I've eliminated the walking tours inside London in order to make space for new discoveries within daytrip range of the city. These include a preserved 19th-century canal village where you can ride a canal boat, take a waterside walk, visit the National Waterways Museum, or just watch the activities from a canalside café. Another is to a highly secret World War II military intelligence center where the Nazi codes were cracked and early computers developed. A third features a secluded 14th-century moated manor house, Winston Churchill's country estate, and one of the greatest of England's stately homes, along with the optional opportunity for real country walks. Then there's that Thameside village just west of London long favored by leading artists, and where the Keeper of the Royal Swans pursues his strange and uniquely British ceremonial duties.
CLICK HERE for Free Sample Chapters!
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This book is also available from Amazon Great Britain for £13.50, or Amazon in Europe for €15.50.
November 07, 2010 in Book Publishing, Books, Daytrips, Free Daytrips Chapters, Offbeat Adventures, Travel | Permalink
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My very first "Little Adventure" happened a long, long time before I even thought of starting this blog. In 1936, to be exact. I was all of two years old and already wanting to see the world. That summer my parents took me along to a summer camp, probably run by a church group, at Peck's Pond in Pike County near the northeast corner of Pennsylvania. This "pond" is actually a fair-sized lake, created in 1906 by damming up Bushkill Creek in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, right off Route 402. One night, while they were fast asleep, I decided to go looking for bears. Cute little bears. Sneaking out of the cabin, I wandered by moonlight into the woods alone. Fortunately, no bear had me for a midnight snack. I wouldn't have tasted very good anyway, as I was a skinny little brat.
My parents soon realized I was gone, and sounded the alarm. Moments later the entire camp went looking for me, and found me down by the water's edge. After that they never left me out of their sight.
By the age of four I became fascinated by motor vehicles, as most boys at that time were. So I took "driving lessons" on an old abandoned truck at the farm of my mother's Uncle Sam (photo, above). Somehow the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania did not deem this sufficient for a driver's license, so I had to wait another twelve years.
In the meantime I yearned to fly, so in 1939 my dad took me on a sightseeing flight from the local airport, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton (ABE) (Now Lehigh Valley International, LVI). The aircraft used was already ancient, dating from 1927. It was a Ford Trimotor, commonly known as the "Tin Goose" because it used all-metal construction, and had wicker seats for the 8 passengers. We circled the Allentown area at a low-enough altitude so all could see the sights, such as they were. (photo above).
Another event in 1939 that could qualify as an "adventure," at least to a impressionable five-year-old boy, was the fabulous New York World's Fair, an international extravaganza celebrating the transition of the World of Today into the futuristic World of Tomorrow. My dad took me there, mostly because he wanted to see it himself. We rode a Lehigh Valley Railroad steam train from Allentown, Pennsylvania, to Penn Station in New York City, stopping at Newark to change to an electric locomotive. Once there, it was the subway to Flushing Meadows in Queens. The most memorable sight was the Trylon and Perisphere (stamp picture, left) , but to me the best were the roller coaster rides in the amusement area.
As World War II progressed I became ever more fascinated with aviation. For Christmas 1944 Santa brought me a toy cockpit made of cardboard, complete with working pedals, and a wheel on a movable stick. The instruction book showed me how to take off, bank and turn, level off, and land. Then, our primary school held a contest to see which kid could sell the most war bonds, a government plan for financing the conflict. The first prize was a flying lesson with the Civil Air Patrol. Since my dad sympathized with my desires and considered these bonds to be a good investment, he bought a bunch from me, and I won. The war was not yet over when the day of my lesson arrived. We took a bus out to ABE Airport and I climbed into the front seat of a 1937 Piper T3 trainer (photo, right), commonly called a "Piper Cub." The instructor sat in the seat behind me, with another set of controls. He, of course, did the takeoff and landing, but once at altitude he let me take over for a few minutes. What a thrill as I flew low over our neighborhood!
Thank you, Dad. Thank you for everything.
So those were my earliest real adventures, which prepared me for many more in later years. Some of these now fill the entries on this blog.
Text copyright © 2010 Earl Steinbicker
Interested in photography? Check out my "Assisting Avedon" blog.
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October 11, 2010 in Offbeat Adventures, Personal Tidbits | Permalink
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Frank Finocchio (May 6, 1924 - Sept. 18, 2010)
My mentor and friend joined the Avedon studio in September 1953 as Studio Manager and remained in that position until leaving in early 1962.
Frank's credit line on Avedon's 1959 book Observations reads in part:
"We want to thank Frank Finocchio, a wine-loving Sicilian who sings Puccini as he works at his work of photographic printing, a craft in which he has set new standards of excellence..."
It was Frank who taught me nearly everything I know about studio lighting and darkroom magic. And about the sheer joy he brought to our work.
Thanks, Frank. It was good to know you.
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September 24, 2010 in Avedon Years, Personal Tidbits, Photography | Permalink
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Glamour Daze, a well-designed website of vintage fashion and beauty, has just posted a full page about my beginnings with Avedon. There are five photos of me, and two of Dick, all circa 1953. To visit CLICK HERE.
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September 24, 2010 in Avedon Years, Web Tech & Blogs | Permalink
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Two days after the Ninth Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack, a friend and I traveled to New York to see how reconstruction of the World Trade Center is coming along.
We began by driving from the Philadelphia suburbs to Hamilton, N.J., from where we got a Jersey Transit train to New York's Penn Station — riding upstairs for a good view. Since we both qualify for Senior fares, this was a very inexpensive journey.
Here comes the train!
Then a quick subway ride to Lower Manhattan.
CLICK ON MAP TO MAKE IT MUCH LARGERFrom the subway exit it's only a few steps to the best place to see what's going on, the churchyard of Saint Paul's Chapel. Built in 1766, this is the oldest public building in continuous use in Manhattan. Flanked by a picturesque graveyard, it was modeled after London's Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Inside is the pew from which George Washington worshiped just after becoming our first president, and the wonderful altar attributed to Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the man who basically designed Washington, D.C. Above the pulpit is the symbol of the Prince of Wales, testimony to the fact that this was a royal church back in Colonial days. Inside also are memorials to 9/11 documenting the role that the church played in the recovery, and the support it gave to the rescue workers. The Bell of Hope, outside in the graveyard, is a recent addition, a gift from London, rung every September 11.
The Bell of Hope, St. Paul's graveyard, and Ground Zero in the background.
Visitors can't get any closer than this. The two buildings on the left are part of the World Financial Center, which survived the attack, as did the buildings to the right. The structure topped by two cranes is the rapidly growing 1 World Trade Center, also called the Freedom Tower, scheduled for completion in 2013. With its mast, it will top out at 1,776 feet, a figure of great historical significance.
Nearby, a Memorial Wall (photo, right) erected in 2006 honors the ultimate sacrifices made by heroic New York City Firemen who perished on 9/11 while helping others to survive.
Strolling around, we came across other views of the various buildings under construction and of the workers erecting them, although we could not really get close enough for a good view. The photo below is about the best I could do using my tiny pocket-size digital camera. After this we repaired to a nearby Irish pub for lunch and a Guinness Stout. This was certainly most welcome as neither of us had eaten since early morning back in Pennsylvania, and it was now in the middle of the afternoon.
Getting here from Penn Station is quite easy, just a matter of taking the clean, modern Eighth Avenue E Train to the WTC station at the end of the line.
Here's another photo:
Lastly, we walked north a few blocks to 45-51 Park Place, the highly controversial proposed site of a new Muslim-American Community Center. Since this, if built, will contain a prayer room, it is being referred to as a mosque. There is a substantial Muslim population among the bankers, traders, and other businessmen here in the Financial District, and the existing mosque is simply not large enough for their growing numbers.
That's it above. As you can see, there were precious few protesters there and only a small police presence. The guy to the right of the small tree was showing his rather badly executed painting of a Trojan Horse, while to the left of that a hand-drawn sign listed reasons why not all Muslims are terrorists and in fact most are good citizens.
From there it was back to Penn Station and home.
Copyright © 2010 by Earl Steinbicker
September 18, 2010 in Current Affairs, New York City, Offbeat Adventures, Travel | Permalink
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Not long ago, in 2008, the Borough of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, opened a new park. Now, Lansdale was already awash in parks, but this one is special in that it has a magnificent nature trail meandering through dense woodland. Stony Creek Park, as it is called, is a real treat in such a highly urbanized area. It is, in my opinion, the nearest thing to Heaven that you'll find in Lansdale.
Click on map to enlarge. Numbers on the map correspond to numbers in the text.
The Nature Trail:A good appreciation of this amenity begins with a stroll of about a mile, level all the way. Starting at the parking lot (1) it follows a paved trail parallel to Hancock Street past a large pond (2) with a fountain and a statue (below) of three children fishing. The pond's perimeter features native vegetation, various little wildlife, and geese.
As the trail curves to the right, leave it and follow the sidewalk on Hancock Street to the Nature Trail entrance (3). If it's a hot day you'll immediately notice welcome relief under a golden canopy of moist leaves. I've walked here even in 95º weather and remained comfortable. The dense foliage, at times radiating in arboreal splendor, is especially nice on a sunny day during the Fall Foliage season.
A perfect musical accompaniment to this walk, if you happen to be carrying an audio device, is Forest Murmurs from Wagner's opera Siegfried. Another good choice would be Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.
You'll soon pass over an elevated wooden walkway protecting your feet from a short patch of soggy ground, then a wooden bench beside the crushed-stone trail. Turn left at the intersection (4), where there is another bench, and continue over another elevated walkway. The trail meanders around quite a bit through the Woodland area, then turns right to a second intersection (5).
Whoever designed this trail clearly understood the visual impact of the S-curve, a basic concept in both painting and photography. This place is full of them.
A left turn here leads out of the woods and onto a gravel road with an overhead power line. Just across this, mostly buried in the overgrowth, is an abandoned rail line (6) (photo, right) that was once a freight spur to long-since-vanished factories. To the right, just beyond the end of the gravel road, a nearly hidden path leads back into the woods. There are small clearings there where, I imagine, kids can go to hide and play. I know that we would have, way back when we were all of eight years old. This is exactly the kind of place where we built our "forts."
While again exploring that hidden path today (Sept. 7, 2010) I noticed a large lean-to in the clearing, recently made of fallen branches. Some adventurous kids must have been building their "fort," just as we did 70 years ago! Hooray for them!
The active rail line just ahead now carries freight only, but prior to 1951 was the route of the Liberty Bell Limited, an interurban trolley car that ran from Allentown to Philadelphia.
Return to the intersection (5) and turn left. After curving around quite a bit among mature trees and dense forest, the trail enters its Wetlands stage. At this point it becomes an elevated wooden walkway (photo, above) for quite a distance, wandering around above tiny rivulets that come to life after a heavy rain.
Back on dry land, you'll notice several small clearings between the tall, old trees. This scene just cries out for a gingerbread house, complete with Hänsel und Gretel and the Wicked Witch of Grimm's fairy tale and Humperdinck's opera.
After the second sharp bend to the right following the wooden walkway a well-defined path leads off to the left and deep into the woods. The earth here is quite eroded from heavy rains, with a great many tree roots exposed. Again, this is a great place for kids to hide.
Turn left at the next intersection (7) and enter the treeless Meadows section of the trail. Here you can walk in the sun, soaking up Vitamin D to strengthen your bones. There's both a bench and an explanatory sign along the way, but keep an eye out for bees!
Here the Nature Trail ends as you step into the park proper.
Park Facilities:
An overview of the entire park can be enjoyed from the top of a small rise (8), reached by a curving path to the right. After the exhausting 14-foot climb to the top you'll be happy to see a bench, and for the curious a binocular gadget mounted on a pole.
Click on panoramic photo to make it really, really big
Below this is an enclosed playground (9) for very young kids, with all sorts of safe activities in a naturalistic environment sure to engage children's vivid imaginations.
The Pavilion (10) (photo, above) is a nice, shady place for an alfresco lunch, with both sheltered and open picnic benches provided along with two grills. It may be reserved for private affairs by contacting the Parks Department (link below), but most of the time is open to the general public. There is a convenient drinking fountain just outside the structure.
Finally, a most unusual and enlightening feature. The Labyrinth (11) reflects both the spiritual and philosophical aspects of medieval thought. The original design dates to around 400 BC and became widely used during the Middle Ages. Symbolically, it represents a single path to a deity in a clearly defined center reached from only one entrance, often thought of as birth. As well as spiritual salvation, that center goal can also be enlightenment. Meandering along the twists and turns causes a loss of direction and a sense of the outer world, thus quieting the mind. Or so they say.
Here's a satellite view (above) of the Stony Creek Labyrinth. See if you can follow the route to the rock in its center. It's tricky. And here's a view from inside the labyrinth (below).
One day while walking along the Woodland section of the trail I saw a deer — a fawn, really — standing in the path watching me. As I resumed walking it scampered off into the woods. Encounters like this enhance the experience of being in a natural environment, yet so close to busy urban life. Other wildlife includes rabbits, squirrels, and of course mosquitoes. For the latter it is wise to use a spray deterrent before setting out. Lastly, I once got stung by a bee in the neck, back in the Meadows area next to the sign explaining how bees pollinate the plant life.
A Plea to the Powers-That-Be:
Please leave the Nature Trail as it is. Don't make it pretty. Remove only the fallen trees that actually cross the trail. Let Mother Nature do Her own thing. And please replace the missing shrubs in the labyrinth. That is all. Thank you.
Hancock Street is only two lanes wide and is extremely busy in both directions during rush hours. Exiting the park, those making a left turn may have a long wait for a break in traffic. It may be easier to make a right turn, then a left at Church Road.
Pending construction of proper restroom facilities there is a porta-potty outhouse in the parking lot.
Be sure to use bug spray if you're walking on the Nature Trail during summer. Mosquitoes abound.
There are two free dispensers of plastic dog waste bags, one by the parking lot and the other at the Hancock Street trail entrance.
How the Park Came To Be:
Stony Creek Park is part of the proposed Liberty Bell Trail, a string of parks and trails following the route taken by America's Liberty Bell in 1777 as it was spirited off to a safe hiding place in Allentown during the Revolutionary War. Only a few of these parks have opened as yet, but more are on the way. It also closely follows the route of the former Liberty Bell Limited, an interurban trolley car that connected Allentown with Philadelphia from around 1900 until 1951. As a child, I used to ride this back in the 1930s and '40s. Starting from a depot at 8th and Hamilton streets in Allentown, it crossed a long bridge over the Little Lehigh, then followed old route 309 (now 145) across South Mountain and down into Quakertown, Sellersville, Telford, Souderton, Hatfield, Lansdale (where it stopped across the street from the present SEPTA train station), West Point, East Norriton, Norristown, and down into Philadelphia.
A Living Blog:
My plan is to keep this blog alive with frequent updates and fresh observations as the seasons change and in all kinds of weather — always, of course, with new photos. The latest entries are at the bottom, just before Local Links.So keep coming back by noting this direct link:
These images are/will be copyrighted and available for use by others only with my permission. Non-commercial use will be free as long as attribution or a link to this blog is made; commercial use may require a fee. Nearly all of the photos are/will be available from me in high definition jpeg files suitable for reproduction.
Here's the lean-to I mentioned above.
Current Observations:
Thurs., Sept. 9, 2010, 10:15 am. This morning there were "working on the railroad" sounds coming from the freight line west of the park. I followed these around to the abandoned rail line (6) and turned right. Up there a CSX crew was busy servicing their line with a strange device mounted on a truck that ran on both rails and roads. Returning to the intersection (5) I was startled when what I swear was a coyote (or maybe a fox) darted out from the woods, crossed the trail, and dashed into the dense underbrush to the east.
Fri., Sept. 24, 2010, 1:15 pm. Today I revisited the rock in the center of the magical Labyrinth. To some this represents God, to others Wisdom. To most, however, it's just a rock.
Another thought came to me on the trail. Why not occasionally leave the "beaten path" and just go off into the woods to really commune with nature, maybe becoming more one with the Universe. I tried it, and it works.
Here's what the "Wetlands" part of the trail looked like on this, the day following the Autumnal Equinox:
Here'a a bend in the trail near position 5 on the map, in Autumn:
Click on it to enlarge.
Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, 10:30 a.m. Rain, glorious rain. After months of semi-drought came the downpour. From early yesterday morning until noon today something like 6 to 8 inches fell. Naturally, I had to rush out to see what the "Wetlands" part of the trail looked like. Along the way I had to climb over a fallen branch and wade through a shallow-but-wide puddle at the same spot where two days earlier I had seen a deer crossing the trail. Below is a little bit of it, looking down from the elevated walkway:
Finally, the "Wetlands" is wet! And by the next morning the fallen branches and puddles were gone. Good work, guys!
Tues., Oct 5, 2010, 10:00 a.m. The rain continues, with the "Meadow" area impassable without walking through wide-but-shallow puddles. So I got my feet wet. The elevated walkway through the "Wetlands" area carries walkers above roaring streams of water, a welcome change after a summer of baked, cracked earth. The "Woodlands" is, well, just dripping wet but easy to negotiate. I saw a fawn, leaping like a gazelle across the trail and gracefully bounding off into the woods. Others have seen as many a three young or female deer at a time, but never a buck. Wonder where he hides?
Thursday, Oct 14, 2010, 3:00 p.m. More and more rain. This time I wandered through with my camera, determined to make it look as wet as it actually was. The photo above is of the "Wetland" sign, the elevated trail, and a flowing rivulet. Yesterday I got a fleeting glimpse of a strange animal as it dashed across the trail. It was solid black, looking like a very large cat, but with a huge, bushy tail. Wonder what that was?
Below is a new picture of the pond, taken the other day:
Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, 12:30 p.m. Vandalism! The first act of deliberate vandalism and unlawful behavior that I have ever witnessed at Stony Creek occurred today. Four or five guys in their late teens or early 20s jumped out of a Nissan car with New York plates beginning with the letters FEZ, knocked over the PortaPotty in the parking lot, and ran down the Meadows path, shoving people out of the way while screaming loudly in Spanish. They entered the woods making extremely loud noises and frightening walkers. Fearing a dangerous encounter, I left. If this is allowed to continue there will be no point in having this park.
Thurs., Oct. 28, 2010, 2 pm. Fall has finally done its thing, and all the leaves are down. The trail has a certain beauty in this starkness, as I hope I captured in the photo above. This shows the elevated portion in the "Wetlands" portion. Today the park crew was busy removing the fountain in the pond before the pipes freeze. They are also planning to drop the water level in the pond so that when winter comes it will be safe for skaters.
Sun., Nov. 21, 2010, 10 a.m.
All the leaves are down...and the skies are grey...and the woods are small...but they're still okay,
It's amazing how much smaller the park seems without leaves. Now you can clearly see houses, businesses, and even a hotel through the barren branches. Soon it will snow.
Wed., Dec. 8, 2010, 10 a.m.
Bitter cold, much rain, and heavy winds have made the trail impassable. Much of the "Meadows" area was thin ice with about an inch of water under it. Winds have apparently swept water from the pond into the "Woodland" and "Wetland" areas, eroding the trail and leaving a frozen mess. There was also a large fallen tree trunk laying across the trail. I quickly gave up and went home to dry out my feet. The entire trail area is as dreary as dreary can possibly be dreary. But soon it will snow, bringing new visual pleasure.
Expanding This Blog:
Until now, Life's Little Adventures has focused on rather distant places and exotic happenings, covering periods of time from the mid-1930s until the near past. Now I plan to add more local material, some historical and some contemporary, with an emphasis on Eastern Pennsylvania, especially on Montgomery and Bucks counties. Stay tuned.
Local Links:
Liberty Bell Trail
Lansdale Borough (click on Parks & Recreation)
Labyrinth (a spiritual rather than philosophical approach to understanding its meaning)
More coming as I discover them.
Text, maps, and photos copyright © 2010, 2011 Earl Steinbicker
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Lubin Studios, Valley Forge Movie History near Lansdale
Doylestown, near Lansdale A walking tour
New Adventures in Lansdale & Beyond
Interested in photography? Check out my "Assisting Avedon" blog.
August 28, 2010 in Hiking, Local History, Personal Tidbits | Permalink
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text:
ROCHESTER — For Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, Tuesday morning was all about veterans.
At her Rochester headquarters on North Main Street, dozens of veterans attended a session to address their concerns on their health care and eligibility for assistance.
Tuesday's session was also an open house, in which local veterans could speak one-on-one with Shea-Porter's veteran liaisons, who helped address any questions or concerns.
Several veterans on Tuesday morning brought up the parking issues at Manchester VA Medical Center. A couple veterans stated the Manchester center has been having trouble getting medical records from other hospitals in which they have been treated.
Rochester resident Toby Weir, a Vietnam veteran who has served in both the Army and the Air Force, said he agreed with several issues brought up by other veterans. He said he, too, has had experience with the Manchester VA Medical Center having communication issues with other hospitals that have treated him.
"I think the VA needs a lot of help," said Weir who came to Tuesday's session after being told the VA would not cover his medical emergency bill.
District 1 state Rep. Linda Massimilla, of Littleton, noted that New Hampshire is one of the few states without a full-service VA hospital. She suggested the state start a pilot program, in which veterans would be given cards that would be used to access hospitals anywhere in the state.
Shea-Porter said that idea has been a part of the conversation for a number of years.
She said she has been addressing New Hampshire's need for a full-service veterans' hospital for the past several years. According to a January press release from her office, she has introduced the Veterans Health Equity Act in 2008, and has reintroduced it again earlier this year. The legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure every state has a full-service veterans' hospital, or that similar services are available through contracts with other hospitals in the state.
"I have not let go of this," said Shea-Porter. "There is this wonderful team who really, really wants to work on this."
Tammy Krueger, acting director of the Manchester VA Medical Center, said that changes have been made over the past years to address veterans' access to health care.
She said that currently, 75 percent of veterans who get acute treatment at the Manchester center get transferred to an in-state hospital in Concord, rather than out of state.
"It used to be much less," said Krueger.
Massimilla, who serves on the House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee, said that while bureaucracy can make it difficult to make beneficial changes in the Legislature, "When it comes to veterans' issues we are on the same page almost 100 percent of the time."
"When you ask whether the state government and the federal government is committed to you, I can say 'absolutely,'" said Shea-Porter to the veterans.


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Elegant Polkadot Dress with white polkadots in black color of color in this dress. It looks amazing for your formal celebrate at evening. Perfect with slim design to your beauty body
Your bridesmaids will look pretty in polka dots in these cherry red and white satin and tulle dresses.
Trendy Polkadot Dress with white polkadots in black color and red belt combinatio, for your prom party
Funky and quirky Rockabilly Ladies Dress. Hot Pink design, strapless flattering corset top. Eye-catching Black Polka Dots, back zipper fastenning. Fantastic Rockabilly Dress, it looks amazing on!
Trendy Korean Polkadot Dress with white polkadot
Fashion is about you, whatever style you pick up, it is your identity. Experimenting with designs and motives is never be forbidden. Like for example placing polka dots and flowery / floral which is combined together. The result? fresh, young and attractive. Floral print dress has been a fashion alert last year. The key to it all is : fashionable and comfortable. Dresses are supposed to make us feel confident, and comfort. The right occasion, color, lines, cut and design is the best consideration to choose any kinds of dress. For those who loves being feminine, polka dots can be accessorized with ribbon, flat belt, and empire tank top. For a semiformal occasion, a bright flowery fabrics can also be combined with simple accessories like brooch, pendant, and some lace vest to give a more modern touch.
Cute and beautiful with red dress with white polkadots. Perfect with white belt and white rose style
50's Style Rockabilly Polka Dot Halter Dress. Pin-up 50's style polka dot dress with a sexy gathered bust, halter neck and flared skirt. Approximate length: 42". Back center zipper. 95% cotton and 5% spandex.
Simple Polkadot Dress with white color of dress and black polkadot


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Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company Limited
Business Address: Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company Limited, Heartsease, Knighton, Powys LD7 1LU
Country: Wales,
Business Email: Send message
Social Media
About Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company Limited
Radnor Hills Mineral Water Company. Suppliers of mineral and flavoured waters, school compliant soft drinks and own label brands.
The source of Radnor Hills lies in the old county of Radnorshire in Mid Wales. In this very under populated area, the water is able to filter naturally through layers of rock to achieve its exceptional taste and purity. As you enjoy our products you will be consuming one of the natural wonders of Mid Wales.
We bottle a diverse range of mineral water, flavoured spring water, juices and school compliant soft drinks, including the Radnor Hills, Aqua Splash, Radnor Fruits, Radnor Fizz, Radnor Fizz Cola and Heartsease Farm. Our brand support team provides a successful bespoke product development service to our private label customers.


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With the cold weather out in full force, thoughts of gardening are often far from the front burner. Those are the times that I turn to indoor plants. Growing plants indoors gives you a sense of nature all year round and keeps you busy with some light gardening chores until it is warm enough to garden outside again. But not all homes have a great deal of light coming in, especially during the winter months. Is this the situation in your home? Never fear, these 20 Low Light Indoor Plants will come to the rescue with their ease of care and ability to grow in lower light situations.These easy-care low light indoor plants will not only grow, but actually thrive in less than optimal conditions. And they don't have to be boring. Some of the most colorful plants can actually tolerate low-light rooms. Check out my top picks for darker rooms.
Some of these plants like bright diffused light, and others can grow even in darker corners of the room, but none of them like direct sunlight.
All plants do need some light to live, but many are very adaptable when it comes to less than idea sunlight situations. This makes them the perfect choice for light-starved homes and offices. It's nice to know that the dark corner of your room, can actually be a nice spot to place a plant that will tolerate this condition.
My 20 Favorite Low Light Indoor Plants.
1.Split Leaf Philodendron –Philodendron bipinnatifidum.
When this plant is young, the glossy, heart-shaped leaves are quite deeply indented, and as the plant ages, they become more deeply cut as they grow and develop splits in the leaves. Some varieties of split-leaf philodendron have wavy margins and some are smoother. This philodendron likes moderate to bright light but not direct sun, which can cause brown scorch marks on the leaves. It is quite at home indoors in the corner near a window. The plant will grow to 4 feet tall, so it needs a large container.
2. Devil's Ivy – Pothos Epipremnum.
Pothos is one easiest indoor plants to grow in low-light situations. This easy-care vining plant looks great in a hanging basket and can be trained to climb plant poles or looks lovely spilling over the edge of a table or shelf. It likes to be kept slightly on the dry side and is also known as Devil's Ivy. It is related to the heart leaf philodendron which is looks very much like.
3. Prayer Plant – Calathea.
This variegated plant is grown in short containers, since it has a shallow root system. It has several varieties of colors from green and white through to a deep maroon and beige coloring. Prayer plant actually prefers light shade and if you expose it to sunlight, it will fade the colors. They do seem to like humidity and you should try to water less during the winter months.
4. ZZ Plant – Zamioculas Zamiifolia.
This guy thrives on less than ideal conditions, so he is right at home in my list of low light plants. If you are looking for a plant that will tolerate a dark corner and other forms of neglect, the ZZ plant is for you! It is the perfect "brown thumb" plant. This plant will even do fine in an office with just fluorescent lighting! It can take dry conditions. Just water it when the top inch or so of soil dries out. Peasy peasy!
Photo Credit: Wikemedia
5. Parlor Palm –Chamaedorea Elegans.
The parlor palm is the perfect plant to grow indoors, since it is one of the shorter varieties of indoor palm trees. Bright light and light watering will keep it happy. Bright sunlight will cause the fronds to burn. I moved one to a south facing window after it had outgrown its small container on an inner room coffee table and the leaves turned a very pale green. The new fronds that are starting to grow show that it is much happier with lower light situations! When fully grown it will get to about 4 feet tall.
Add some pizazz to your home with more plants that can take a lower light situation.
6. Boston Fern – Nephrolepis exaltata.
Most ferns do well in low light situations and will burn and go brown if they get too much sunlight. Boston fern is a commonly used fern for indoor situations. Keep it evenly moist and it will continue to get bigger and bigger. This plant looks fabulous, indoors, in a corner on a metal plant stand since the new fronds will spread out and hang over the edge of the stand.
Boston ferns also look great in hanging baskets. See my tips for the care of Boston Ferns here.
Photo Credit: Flickr
7. Dumb Cane Plant – Dieffenbachia.
Dieffenbachia can tolerate low light but does best in bright indirect light. (near but not right in a window is best) The darker the room is, the less you will see of the lovely variegations that a really healthy plant will show. See more tips on growing Dieffenbachia here.
Since the plant is poisonous, (thus the common name!) keep pets and small children away from it. All parts of the plant have some toxin in them. Check out this article for information on Dieffenbachia poisoning.
Some low light plants will even flower!
8. Urn Plant Bromeliad- Aechmea Fasciata.
It may seem odd to have a tender tropical in a list of low light indoor plants, but my Aechmea Fasciata bromeliad was indoors and flowering for almost 9 months.When I put it outside, I had to keep it in the shade or the plant leaves would scorch. It sent up pups and is huge now but has not re-flowered yet. This proves that indoor plants in low light spots don't need to be boring.
9. Peace Lily – Spathiphyllum.
Many people mistake a Peace Lily for a similar looking plant – a Calla Lily. The two are different though. Peace Lily is normally grown indoors and can take low light, but Calla Lilies are outdoor plants that grow in very different conditions. Peace lilies generally come in just one color – white, whereas Calla lilies come in many and are more often used in floral arrangements or weddings.
Photo credit: Tahmid Munaz – Flickr
10. Arrowhead Plant – Syngonium Podophyllum.
It's easy to see why this plant gets its common name. The leaves are shaped very much like arrowheads. The plant can take very low light conditions and is ideal for indoor use. See more tips on growing syngonium here.
11. Moth Orchid – Phalaenopsis
Perhaps the prettiest plant in my list of low light indoor plants is the Moth Orchid. Moth Orchids are, by far, one of my favorite plants to grow indoors in less than ideal light conditions. They do not require high light levels and will scorch very easily if exposed to too much sunlight. They will grow in conditions similar to that for African violets – east or west facing windows are ideal. I once grew one in a north facing window and it did just fine. See more tips on growing Moth Orchids here.
12. Spider Plant – Chlorophytum.
Spider plants are a personal favorite of mine. I had them growing in baskets in an outdoor shady atrium when I lived in Australia and found them incredibly easy to grow. They propagate very easily from the babies that the mature plants send out. The plant pictured here grows on a shelf ledge which gets NO direct sunlight but is in a brightly lit room. I grew it from a tiny baby and it has its own baby now, about a year later.
If you can't have flowers, try plants with pretty leaf patterns.
13. Rex Begonia – Begonia rex-cultorum.
The majestic member of my list of low light indoor plants is Rex Begonia. Rex Begonias are an amazing plant for indoor use. They like bright indirect light. The plant has the most amazing leaf colors and shapes. This red kiss rex begonia is only one variety available. This is another indoor lower light plant that says they do not have to be boring!
Rex begonia is not the only low light indoor begonia. Many tuberous begonias do well indoors with only filtered light.
14. Corn Plant – Dracena Fragrans.
Imagine the stalk of a corn plant with striped lines on it and you have a good idea of the Dracena Fragrans plant. The plant does well indoors, but try to get it somewhere near a window. While it will grow in low light conditions indoors, this will cause it to lose its stripes. For more growing tips, see my artifcle on The Corn Plant.
15. Snake Plant – Sansevieria Zeylanica.
Snake plants are very easy to grow indoors, even in very low light. The leaves have the look of snakeskin and this gives it the common name Snake Plant. They are not often bothered by plant diseases and NASA research has also shown that they will help to keep your air cleaner.
16. Mother in Law's Tongue – Sansevieria Trifasciata.
Another version of the sansevieria has striped edges and is a good choice for lower light situations, indoors. This variety has a more striped look. Don't water them too much. They propagate easily from leaf cuttings.
17. Cast Iron Plant – Aspidistra .
The easiest plant to grow in my list of low light indoor plants is the Cast Iron Plant. There is a good reason for the common name of this plant. Aspidistra can take a LOT of neglect. It will grow in extremely low light situations and doesn't mind dust, low humidity, drought and other forms of neglect. It's the perfect plant for those with "brown thumbs."
18. Swiss Cheese Plant – Monstera Deliciosa.
There are no prizes for guessing how this plant got it's common name. The distinctive holes in the leaves look amazingly like Swiss cheese. Keep this plant out of bright sunlight, or the leaves will scorch. The plant likes bright light to low light. It can grow quite tall, so give it plenty of room.
19. Flamingo Flower – Anthurium.
This plant has the most amazing red flowers with a central yellow-white spike. Anthuriums are protected in their natural habitat by being shaded by the canopy of trees, so they can take quite low light situations and still flower. See more tips on growing the Flamingo Flower Plant here.
20. Watermelon Peperomia – Peperomia Argyreia.
There are many varieties of peperomia that will do fine in lower light indoors. This is another plant that often grows under the canopy of trees in the natural habitat. Water as it starts to dry out and give bright indirect light for best results. One of my favorite varieties is the Watermelon peperomia with it's beautifully striped leaves.
21. Braided Money Tree Plant – Pachira aquatica
The braided trunks and glossy green leaves make this stunning indoor plant a real star in the lower light department. This plant does not like direct sunlight. Bright filtered light is fine and it will also grow in darker corners. As an added benefit, the plant is said to bring luck and prosperity to your home. The braided trunk holds in the luck! See how to grow the braided money tree plant here.
22. Fittonia Albivenis
If you love growing low light indoor plants with great foliage, give this plant a try. It's easy to see where it gets the common name Pink Angel Nerve plant. Look at those leaves! I have my plant in a north facing window and it just loves it there in spite of the lower light conditions. See my tips on growing fittonia albivenis here.
23. Gynura Aurantiaca
This pretty houseplant has the common name "purple passion" plant. It is easy to see why. The leaves are a deep purple color and are covered with hairs for a rich velvety look. It can take the light of a north facing window just fine and is very easy to care for. See how to grow purple passion plant here.
The plant is also very easy to grow from stem cuttings. See my tutorial and learn how to do it here.
If you don't have a lot of light in your home, perhaps one of these low light indoor plants will be just the one for you. Have you grown others successfully, as well? Please leave the name of it in the comments below and I may add it to my blog post with a shout out to you!
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."


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Written on Apr 3, 2014
I began 2014 by wanting to read a famous book called The Happiness Project. It is a book by Gretchen Rubin in which she talks about the year she dedicated to making herself happier. Not because she was depressed but because she wasn't exactly as happy as she'd like to be. At first, I found it extremely overwhelming and frustrating to be reminded of what I have been trying to do for years and wasn't able to. It was very useful but boring. After having read 2 chapters, I was completely done. After all, a book can only give you a direction, not hold your hand.
One of the things I found most useful was the topic of de-cluttering your surroundings of things you no longer need. While having too many useless things definitely bothers me, I applied this principle to my mind. De-clutter your mind. The reason I chose to put a lot of emphasis on this was because I find mind to be the major source of happiness or unhappiness. That is why, on some days we can make ourselves feel extremely crappy, and on others, amazingly awesome. What we keep in our mind and what we tell ourselves everyday greatly impacts how we feel.
Eventually, my geeky mind did come up with a list of things that I do which brings all this clutter into my head, making it almost unbearable and even resulting in loss of sleep at times. I found that I often trap myself in my own thoughts which prevents me from doing things I need to do. A very long time ago, a friend had told me not to question life too much and just live. Because time will give me all the answers I need. But it's been a long-term habit of mine, to sit still in silence – anywhere, anytime. You could find me anywhere: in front of the closet, on the stairs, on the kitchen floor, just anywhere. Anytime I feel I can no longer walk, I just sit … and think (although I don't know about what). Sometimes life is long, sometimes it's short. However, always carrying a circle of thoughts, I am sometimes still in silence. Unable to move.
Surprisingly, I found that it's not just procrastination that builds up all the clutter in my mind, but also stress, fear and concentration. Here's my list:
- Not being able to speak my mind in the moment I need to, and then having it circle around in my head until I can eventually say it, or worse, build a tower of other misunderstandings on top of it (Just be yourself, say what you feel and get rid of that thought right away).
- Preferring to return a message rather than picking up the phone and taking care of the conversation right then (Seriously, why make yourself carry more to-dos in your head than you need to especially when you can get it over with it right now???? There's no reason to frustrate your mind without any reason).
- Talking to same people over and over about the same kind of things (Find different friends for different things, whether it be study, work, sports, art, anything you like. Not everyone will like the same things as you so it's best to find different people to share different things with, preferably the ones they are also interested in).
- Stressing too much about job hunting (Yes, money and career are important, but not important enough to impact my mental health in a negative way).
- Working, and only working (I work in a stressful environment where I deal with customer troubles daily. Being too focused on something has always been my habit. It works great when I am studying, but not so much in living daily life. No matter what, if you focus too much on one thing only, it will cause unhappiness. You have to find a variety of distractions to rip yourself off the floor- whether it be picking up a hobby, going for a walk in -20, watching a movie or learning a new skill…something that'll make you feel happy by forgetting everything else in your life).
- Being afraid of uncertainty (Don't be afraid of taking risks. That's what youth is for :P).
The title, "A Blank Piece of Paper," was inspired by the loss of words in life. How could a person's mind be a blank piece of paper when so much goes through it every single day? Like passengers on a train, some thoughts are temporary, some come back regularly, some just hang on for a while, and some leave at an unexpected destination and never come back again. So if you, like me, have also lost your words, find out what bag of clutter is making you feel so empty.


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In other words, should such a simple question be answered or closed (and answering deserves downvotes):
Are nested queries standard in the SQL language?
Perhaps the title of this question is not appropriate. What I meant was that after answering, I felt like I should be downvoted.
A question that can simply be answered by a Google search (searching "SQL standard" gives all the info one wants), should be deleted or answered?


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18th Birthday Card - Boy's Bedroom
Product Description
Cover Message:
- You're eighteen
- 18
- Happy Birthday
Inside Message:
- Hope all the cool things that this special wish brings will be with you wherever you go...
- ...As you've reached an age where the world is your stage and today...
- ...You're the star of the show!
- Happy 18th Birthday
Insert Colour:
- White
Envelope Colour:
- Light blue
- Foil
- Embossed
- H25cm x W17cm
- Large-letter postage
This card is not a toy and is unsuitable for children under 36 months. Contains small parts.
Read full description
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews


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Many struggle throughout life and try to change their lives trying different methods for many years without success or with only little improvement, why is that?
What is the secret to true change or transformation?
Over the years working with many people first as a hypnotherapist and later as a holistic health healer I found out that change and healing happens when there is a shift in the mind set or better yet in the consciousness.
What does that mean?
As you might have heard that we are creatures of habit therefore we create a pattern that we repeat throughout our life unconsciously and changing that requires revamping the mind set and shifting the way we think better known as consciousness.
No matter what the issues are from health to wealth and all in between when that shift happens there is a major change in the person's life, the way we look at things to the way we behave and live our lives.
How does this work?
This system was created by Ben Raffi through many years of experience utilizing many different tools and modalities, and working with countless people. Ultimately combining different strategies along side with spirituality to achieve the optimum result in a very short period of time where as some had worked on those issues for years and years with no success. Even though this system is very powerful its rate of success depends on the willingness and openness of the person. The quote explains it very well that "The mind is like a parachute it works best if it is open".
For more info please visit www.breakthroughissues.com


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Posted: August 11th, 2016.
The wedding guest book is an old tradition that acts as a beautiful keepsake for after the wedding. But just because it's traditional, doesn't mean you can't shake it up! Nowadays there are plenty of ways to add a modern twist to the guest book, so we figured we'd round up a couple of our favourite ideas:
Original images and their credits available on Pinterest


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[Comments ]
This item is the result of a quest.
Crafted: This item is crafted by players.
Class: BRD ENC MAG NEC WIZ
Yield: 1 x Song: Aria of Va'Ker Rk. II
Zone(s) Found In:
Rain of Fear Rk. II spells are obtained through Tomekeeper Kerkaz in Shard's Landing (Dreadmote turn-ins).
|Send a correction


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GT Canada Medical Properties REIT (TSX-V: MOB.UN) Announces First Quarter 2012 Financial Results
May 28, 2012, 12:49 ET
TORONTO, May 28, 2012 /CNW/ - GT Canada Medical Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (the "REIT") is pleased to announce its financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2012.
Financial Results
Net Income
- Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 decreased to $1,537,830 or $0.099 per unit from $4,759,477 or $0.307 per unit for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Net income includes fair value gains for the three months ended 31 March 2012 of $1,686,574 and $4,479,538 for the corresponding period in 2011.
- Net operating income increased to $1,291,973 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 from $863,615 for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The improvement in net operating income reflects the addition of 5 properties from September 2011 through January 2012
Funds From Operations
The REIT's Funds From Operations ("FFO") represents the recurring cash flow generated through the ownership of income producing properties. The primary difference between net income and FFO is the fair value gain on investment properties and other fair value gains.
- For the three months ended March 31, 2012 FFO was negative ($138,606) or ($0.009) per unit compared to FFO of $290,104 or $0.019 per unit for the same period in 2011.
- The improvement in net operating income as a result of the five properties acquired from September 2011 through January 2012 was offset by the Strategic Transaction costs incurred in the period of $373,000 associated with the Offer to acquire the REIT's units described in the Subsequent Events below.
Completed Acquisition
On January 6, 2012, the REIT acquired a portfolio of three medical office buildings located in Lindsay, Hamilton and St. Thomas, Ontario (the "Portfolio). The Portfolio was acquired for approximately $10.6 million subject to customary closing adjustments. Approximately $7.8 million of the purchase price was comprised of a combination of assumed mortgage debt on the Portfolio and coterminous vendor take back financing with a combined average interest rate of 4.09%. The balance of the purchase price was funded with existing resources.
Subsequent Events
Offer to Acquire from NorthWest Value Partners Inc.
On April 16, 2012, the REIT announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with NorthWest Value Partners Inc. ("NorthWest") pursuant to which NorthWest will acquire all of the REIT's outstanding units for $2.05 per unit (the "Offer"). The Offer price is subject to adjustment for dilution that may result from the issuance of additional units pursuant to the Rights Offering noted below. The Offer is subject to a number of conditions, including acceptance of the Offer by the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding units on a fully diluted basis (the "Minimun Tender Condition"). As a result of the issuance of the Rights Offering, NorthWest confirmed that it will adjust the price at which it is offering to acquire all of the REIT's outstanding units from $2.05 per unit to $1.87 per unit.
Rights Offering
On April 24, 2012, the REIT completed its' previously announced offering of rights (the "Rights Offering") to acquire up to 3,880,212 units of the REIT to unitholders of record on March 30, 2012 at a price of $1.15 per unit. Pursuant to the Rights Offering, the REIT issued a total of 3,880,212 units of the REIT for net proceeds of $4,322,244.
Acquisition of additional property
On May 1, 2012, the REIT completed the acquisition of a 25,000 square foot medical office building in Port Hope, Ontario for approximately $7.5 million, subject to customary closing adjustments. The building's tenants are medical practitioners with a pharmacy, lab and x-ray facilities and it is 100% occupied.
NorthWest Extends Offer Period
On May 25, 2012, NorthWest announced (i) that approximately 86% of the issued and outstanding units and approximately 65% of the fully diluted units of the REIT had been tendered to the Offer; (ii) its intention to extend the Offer for 10 days to June 4, 2012; and (iii) it intends to waive the Minimum Tender Condition on or before June 4, 2012 if required, in order to take-up units tendered to the Offer.
2012 First Quarter Financial Results
For the REIT's complete year first quarter 2012 Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"), please visit www.sedar.com
GT Canada Medical Properties REIT
As Canada's only publicly traded issuer focused exclusively on medical office buildings, GT Canada Medical Properties Real Estate Investment Trust is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust established under the laws of the Province of Ontario. The REIT's objectives are to: (i) provide its unitholders with stable and growing cash distributions from investments focused on medical office buildings, on a tax efficient basis; (ii) enhance the value of the REIT's assets and maximize long-term unit value; and (iii) expand the asset base of the REIT.
Some financial measures used in this press release, such as FFO, are used by the real estate industry to measure and compare the operating performance of real estate companies, but they do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. As such, they are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other real estate companies. These non-IFRS measures are more fully defined and discussed in the REIT's MD&A for the first quarter of 2012, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements related to acquisitions; development and capital expenditure activities; future maintenance and leasing expenditures; financing; the availability of financing sources; and income taxes. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the REIT to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market factors, competition, changes in government regulations and the factors described under "Risk Factors" in the REIT's MD&A, which is available on www.sedar.com. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to the REIT and persons acting on its behalf. Unless otherwise stated, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the REIT assumes no obligation to update such statements.
For further information:
Andrew I. Shapack, Chief Executive Officer (416) 572-2170


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Usually, I prefer listening to a song first and checking out any visuals that go along with it after, but I have to say that the video that goes along with Autre Ne Veut's latest is absolutely mandatory viewing. It contextualizes the track in a way that makes it impossible to ignore, and provides an unsettling viewing experience on top of that. The video, which was directed by Allie Avital, features dancer Macy Sullivan wrapped around Arthur Alvin like a weight on his chest that he can't get off. I think it symbolizes hard-to-get-rid-of childhood memories or something like that, but that's beside the point. What matters here is how striking that image is — the closeup of Sullivan's face as her eyes go wide and she screams out the high-pitched vocal sample is burned into your brain, and will forever pop up when you listen to this song. That's how you make a good, effective video.
The song itself is called "World War Pt. 2," and it comes from Autre Ne Veut's third album, Age Of Transparency. It's a sequel in name and theme to the closing track from his last album, Anxiety, and the ascending, sweet-sounding sample that marked the beginning of that track is repurposed and inverted into the howling screech present here. Alvin keeps the smooth R&B edges from his other tracks here, but if that pierce is any indication, this new album is going to be intense. Listen below.
01 "On And On (Reprise)"
02 "Panic Room"
03 "Cold Winds"
04 "Age Of Transparency"
05 "Switch Hitter"
06 "Never Wanted"
07 "World War Pt. 2″
08 "Over Now"
09 "Get Out"
Age Of Transparency is out 10/2 via Downtown Records. Preorder it here on a new site that features a mirror camera and some words from Ashin.


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Above is me with the swarm I helped rescue from a tree. It was the size of a soccer ball! They are now two brood boxes deep, and I'll be looking to add a super soon.
I have had a fun season of bee rescues this year! It all began with a swarm of honeybees early June. These ladies are enjoying their new home, and I am enjoying watching them make "bee lines" to and from the hive.
Above is the first bumblebee colony I rescued. There are currently six young sisters in this colony. It was a very small colony to begin with (2-3″ in diameter).
July brought two bumblebee colony rescues. One colony thought it appropriate to set up shop inside a chicken coop, and the queen paid the price for that choice, but the small colony is happily residing in a small breadbox in my backyard!
Above is the second bumblebee colony I rescued; a much larger colony than the first (14″ long x 6″ wide). The box is the new luxury apartment we built for them the night we rescued them.
The second bumblebee rescue was from the crawlspace of a townhouse! It was dark, and riddled with spiders, some of which had bumblebees entangled in their webs! This colony was often lost trying to find their way to the outdoors to forage, and would end up inside the townhouse, destined to starve to death, very sad. It easily has 100 bumblebees! This colony is now in a luxury apartment in my backyard, surrounded by lots of different types of flowers. They seem quite happy, and I am happy to have them in a safer place! I know I will have tomatoes this year thanks to these buzz pollinating geniuses! Here's a link to the video of the latest bumblebee colony I rescued.
Thank you for joining the movement to learn more about bees!


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Growing Business: Fran Tarkenton's Advice to Entrepreneurs
Former NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton discusses his efforts to help entrepreneurs through education. Photo: Tarkenton.org
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... you working on a program of universes Georgia get to help ... small businesses without DDT was to education in the ghetto better talk about well for small small businesses were really the jobs created this concept about the most jobs are from small business but most people don't go for small businesses ... this is not Silicon Valley ... we have five hundred and twenty fouls and business start ups per month in this country every year ... seventy percent of all of this all that this is ... our sole proprietors ninety percent of all this is a wonder Can employs ... these are people ... I that that that many um don't have a college education some don't have a high school education beyond access to education ... so what I've done ... in your mercy toward to my alma mater Terry College of it wonderful that ... we have built the one hundred ... or ... Internet ... MBA type program for entrepreneur is ... still they can go out and had education good ones with the most education of the best at something and never had before we made very affordable you go to the ... tothe make schools twelve to fifteen thousand dollars to have a stomach LifeCourse ... Wishart eight fifteen we have scholarships ... and so your people go to parking ten ... dot PORT ... given all the information ... you see what we do and how you can roll to the course ... and maybe qualify ... for financing maybe qualify for a scholarship if not you can pay the freight and get this type of education know what's the outcome of that ... the people with the best education ... of the best chance to make ...


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Are you in love with the dream of the perfect wedding event yet overwhelmed with all the details and responsibility for you to prepare your dream day yourself? A trustworthy wedding planner could help make the day you'll constantly remember a remarkable experience as opposed to a memory worthwhile of an anxious breakdown.
Additionally called wedding professionals or coordinators, wedding planners are the bride's right-hand man down to every detail in the event and event. She can be there the minute after the ring is on the finger to the last guest at the event. The new bride has the selection to provide as much or as little responsibility to the coordinator as she wishes.
Yet exactly how do you understand if you should hire a wedding coordinator? Right here are a couple of examples where a wedding planner can aid:
1. The very first as well as most likely crucial intention of a wedding organizer is to eliminate as much tension for the new bride as feasible while still making her feel in control of the occasion.
2. If you are intending on a spending plan, your wedding planner will certainly be delicate and be capable to stabilize the expenditures. A great coordinator will prioritize what requires essentially monetary interest. Also, you will more probable go over your budget if you plan alone. Your wedding organizer will not just make you adhere to your cut-and-dried budget, however additionally knows many suppliers and could discover unique bargains you would otherwise not be able to acquire.
3. A wedding organizer will be versatile sufficient to suit your desires for your perfect wedding, they must have the imagination to both encourage and perform your one-of-a-kind concepts. This is your wedding event. You know what will certainly make it unforgettable, and your coordinator ought to help make this dream come true. However, these specialists understand what is as well as is not acceptable for a wedding. A great wedding event organizer will be straightforward about your not so excellent concepts such as the best man's draft beer channeling contest. She will make sure you have the best limousine for the number of people that will be using it as well.
4. If the ceremony is planned out of state, a coordinator in that location will recognize the geography and will understand the very best vendors for that location.
5. Among one of the most important top qualities of your perfect wedding organizer is a shared taste. Ask her just what sort of wedding celebrations she likes as well as ask to see examples of her previous occasions. The right planner could narrow down choices in a specific category depending on your preference. Rather than countless invitations, a wedding coordinator will remove the unsuitable ones and let you choose from the leading 3.
6. Ultimately, wedding coordinators recognize all the inquiries everyone else neglects to ask. If the ceremony is outdoors, she will remember where the washrooms are or if portable ones have to be rented. It is the wedding planner's work to leave no edge untouched.
There are numerous on the internet resources you could make use of to look for the closest coordinators in your location. Remember to talk to each candidate to see if they are qualified and if you both see eye to eye. As soon as your perfect wedding organizer is employed, relax and understand your wedding remains in good hands.


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Apple MacBook revamped - Apple MacBook Pro MD101LL featuring Intel 3rd Generation processor and make your experience better as ever. So next generation Graphics makes display more bright and crisp than before and it is 60 time faster. AppleMacBook Pro MD101LL comes with the fastest I/O which transfer data at 10 GBPS.
Apple MacBook Pro MD101LL features a unibody crafted from single aluminum block and makes it lighter and as mobile phone (less than 1 inch thin and just 4.5 pounds).
When we talk about display – then it is 13.3 inch LED display as well as glass trackpad. Amazing fact about apple MacBook air is, battery backup which is up to 7 hours. MacBook Air includes fastest port and also positioned 3.0 USB port which transfer data at rapid speed , can be accessed through high class accessories and makes system working process faster as much as possible.
When we talk about display – then it is 13.3 inch LED display as well as glass trackpad. Amazing fact about apple MacBook air is, battery backup which is up to 7 hours. MacBook Air includes fastest port and also positioned 3.0 USB port which transfer data at rapid speed , can be accessed through high class accessories and makes system working process faster as much as possible.
MacBook Air 2013 runs on Intel 3rd generation i-5 processor at 2.5Ghz and for handle MAC OS, it has 4GB RAM with 500GB Hard Disk. Additionally, Air Book 8x SuperDrive, ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, an SDXC card slot, and a FireWire 800 port.
Apple MacBook PRO 2013 Key Features:
Intel i-5 Processor Power: MacBook Air is powered by Intel 3rdGen i5 Processor to make performance grade better. It packs vast quality in performance – Fastest processing, Best Gaming Experience into a single chip. Also Intel High Graphics 4000 processor that make it 60 time faster than other laptop.
Thunderbolt I/O Ports:
AppleMacBook Pro MD101LL includes thunderbolt I/O ports and USB 3.0 Version which makes data transfer speed fast and in quick time. With USB 3.0, users would be able to connect or access USB peripherals fastest than before (10 time faster than USB 2.0). It includes thunderbolt display technology which allows it to connect with High definition Display through HDMI Port.
High Definition (720P) Webcam: With Apple MacBook Air, you would be able to connect with your friends, family members and etc with Apple facetime Camera supporting 720P (Fastest 3 time than before). With Video chat, you can also make video chat on iPhone and iPod users.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Reviews
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Reviews
Button less Glass Trackpad:
Apple MacBook Air 2013 features button less glass trackpad which make it beautiful and looks great with faster performance. Users get plenty of room to make larger move. It also support track enhancement - swipe, pinch, rotate, and four-finger swipe.
· 13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
· 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 dual-core processor
· Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated graphics processor
· 500 GB Serial ATA hard drive
· 4 GB installed RAM
· Built-in HD 720p FaceTime HD camera
· Wi-Fi wireless networking
· Gigabit Ethernet wired networking (10/100/1000)
· Bluetooth 4.0 for connecting with peripherals
· Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps)
· Two USB 3 ports
· FireWire 800 port
· SDXC card slot
· Stereo speakers with subwoofers
· Combined audio line in/out (digital/analog)
· Dimensions: 12.78 x 8.94 x 0.95 inches (WxDxH)
· Weight: 4.5 pounds
· Up to 7 hours of battery life
5 Gaming Laptops Under budget
5 Gaming Laptops Under budget
Unboxing Apple MacBook Air Pro MD101LL: Box includes beautiful 13.3 inch Macbook Pro Air, cleaning kit, 60W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, power cord and user manual Guide.
Warranty and Services: Apple supports for 90 days via telephone communication and comes with 1 year warranty which can be extended with Apple Care.
Details Information: Contact Apple Technical Support at 1-800-APL-CARE (1-800-275-2273)
Apple MacBook Air Price: GetPrice Details
How Do You like Apple Macbook Air Pro 2013, Please let us know via holy comments as before !


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What To Do: Drink Champagne
We'll pop the cork on a bottle of champagne to celebrate something big, but why not have a glass every once in a while for no particular reason? It'll change your mood and make even a pizza dinner special. Pick up champagne splits and you won't have to worry about finishing a whole bottle.


text: My gig with the Atsuki Jazz Trio @ Bobby London will be moving to Mon thru Wed. in two weeks. I have been writing music quite a bit recently, formulating ideas in hopes of recording by the end of the year. Maybe it will be a X-mas album... New List: 1) Cecil Taylor - Unit Structures 2) Anthony Braxton - Six Compositions(Quartet)1984 3) The Beatles - Abbey Road 4) Mark Nauseef/Miroslav Tadic - The Snake Music 5) Peter Erskine/Alan Pasqua/Dave Carpenter - Live At Rocco 6) Ronald Shannon Jackson/Decoding Society - Barbeque Dog 7) Sidestepper - 3AM 8) Andre Lafosse - Normalized 9) Wadada Leo Smith - Procession Of The Great Ancestry 10) Bill Frisell/Kermit Driscoll/Joey Baron - Live


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It makes my heart sing when an amazing transformation takes place. A young man who has been struggling with alcohol abuse and mental illness for quite some time met with me yesterday. He has been dry for over 4 months and with courage admitted himself into hospital. He sees this as a failure, I see this as courage and taking action.
I have found that just about everyone has issues and problems, and in some cases that go way back to early childhood. These problems are deeply entrenched in our subconscious and serve to remind us daily pulling us back from moving forward. I started helping my client to unravel the layers to get to the route of the problem. Together we determined a strategy that worked trialling a number of ideas. At the end my client felt motivated and for the first time in a long while in control. For a man who came in flat and lifeless, he left laughing and smiling.
What I know is that one way does not work for everyone and an open mind to trial different techniques and strategies may make the difference even if in a small way.
We all need a coach to help us get where we are going. We are all so good at burying our heads in the sand and making out that everything is fine and avoiding the real issues. The horrible fact is that nothing really goes away and the longer we leave it the harder it is to resolve, come to terms and deal with what is holding us back from achieving what really is possible. Mental health wellness truly matters.


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FRANKFORT FOCUS – A Legislative Perspective on the Kentucky General Assembly with State Representative Rick Rand
FRANKFORT – Most legislation that the General Assembly passes each year falls in one of two categories: It either protects, or it promotes.
That was especially evident this past week in the Kentucky House of Representatives, which voted for bills that range from further limiting abuse of our youngest and oldest citizens to helping more students in the coalfields of Eastern Kentucky get their four-year college degree.
Both bills centering on abuse made it through the chamber unanimously. One would create an adult-abuse registry to ensure that those convicted of harming the elderly do not have the opportunity to work in jobs related to the care of older Kentuckians. Both Governor Beshear and the House recommend that money be set aside in the budget to get this database up and running.
The other bill, meanwhile, would set up an independent review of the state's child protection system in those tragic cases in which a child either died as a result of abuse or was severely injured. Several high-profile cases in recent months showcase the need to see what more the state can do to stop this from ever happening again.Another tragedy affecting the state has been the steady rise of synthetic drugs. The General Assembly has adopted model legislation in recent years to combat these poisons, but the underground chemists have found ways to circumvent many of our efforts.
That would hopefully stop under a bill the House approved on Tuesday. It would extend the definition of these drugs, making it much tougher if not impossible for the chemists to keep up, and it cracks down on those stores that sell them.
In other action last week, the House passed a bill that would use coal severance funds to help students in a 16-county area in Eastern Kentucky complete their bachelor's degree if they already have at least 60 hours of college credit. The goal is to raise the region's college attainment rate closer to the state average.
In other major legislation, the House voted to keep our businesses from paying a potentially steep penalty tied to unemployment insurance.
Two years ago, business and labor leaders and the General Assembly came together to formulate a plan to pay off the nearly $1 billion dollars that the state's unemployment insurance fund had to borrow from the federal government to cover benefits.
There wasn't a deal at the time, though, on how to pay for the interest on that federal loan. If no plan to pay this interest is put in place, our businesses could lose a federal tax credit, which could cost them up to $600 million.
The House plan would keep that from happening if it becomes law. It has the support of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky State Building and Trades Council and several other prominent organizations.
In another dose of good news in this area, we learned this month that Kentucky's unemployment rate has dipped to a level not seen in three years.
A few days later, that was followed up with the news that state revenues were up nearly four percent in February when compared to the same time last year, with most of that due to increased consumer spending. So far, this fiscal year's growth has significantly out-paced what was projected last year, and our Road Fund is doing even better.
If you would like to let me know what you would like to see us accomplish, please don't hesitate to write to me at Room 366B, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601.
You can also leave a message for me or for any legislator at 800-372-7181. For those with a hearing impairment, the number is 800-896-0305.
I hope to hear from you soon.


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|Memorial Stone to the PAGE family
at Founder's Park in Hampton, New Hampshire
Robert Page married his wife, Lucy, in South Walsham, Norfolk, England on 8 October 1629. They were examined in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England before leaving England on 11 April 1637 and he gave his age as thirty three years in the deposition. In their party on board the immigrant ship Rose they had three children: Francis, Margaret and Susannah, and two servants- William Moulton, age twenty, and "Anne Wadd", fifteen years old (sister to Robert's wife Lucy Warde). They deposed that they were "desirous to passe into New England to inhabit." They arrived in Boston on June 8th and first settled in Salem, Massachusetts.
In 1639 Robert Page received ten acres of land for a house lot in Hampton, New Hampshire. This land was owned by his descendants for six generations, abutting the meeting house on the south, and between the house lots of William and Robert Marston. He was made a freeman on 18 May 1642 in Hampton. Robert built the first sawmill in Hampton. Out of 76 taxpayers in Hampton in 1659, his tax was the highest.
This area of New Hampshire was known at this time as the county of Norfolk, Massachusetts. Robert Page was a representative to the General Court, and served as a marshal for Norfolk County. He was also the only deacon of the church from 1671 until his death in 1679 and was succeeded by his son Francis, my 9th great grandfather. See the Essex County, Massachusetts probate files for his will proved on 11 November 1679 and also see the Norfolk County, Massachusetts Deeds, Volume 3, page 28. (This is a case of looking in Massachusetts records for this New Hampshire family!)
I descend from two of Robert Page's children- Francis, mentioned above, and his daughter, Margaret who married John Sanborn, grandson of the Rev. Stephen Bachiler of Hampton. Another daughter, Rebecca, married his servant William Marston. Francis Page was born about 1633 and also resided in Hampton. He was a selectman, juror, and town moderator. He was elected to be a deacon soon after his father's death. Francis had a son, Francis, who was my 8th great grandfather (see below).
For more PAGE information:
History of Hampton, New Hampshire by Joseph Dow
The New England Ancestry of Dana Converse Backus, page 118
The History and Genealogy of the Page Family from the years 1257 to the Present, by Charles Nelson Page, 1911
New England Historic Genealogical Society Register, "The English Ancestry of Robert Page of Hampton, NH", by George Chamberlain, Volume 66, pages 180 – 183.
My PAGE genealogy:
Generation 1: Robert Page, son of Robert Page and Margaret Goodwin, born about 1604 in England, died 22 September 1679 in Hampton, New Hampshire; married on 8 October 1629 in South Walsham, Norfolk, England to Lucy Warde, daughter of Francis Warde and Susanna Brown. Seven children, and I descend from two- Francis and Margaret.
Lineage A:
Generation 2: Margaret Page, born about 1630, died 13 July 1699 in Hampton; married to John Sanborn, son of John Sanborn and Ann Batchelder. He was born about 1620 in England and died 10 October 1692 in Hampton, New Hampshire. Margaret and John Sanborn had one child. She was previously married to William Moulton on 18 April 1663 in Hampton. William Moulton was the stepson of William Estow, who had been her father's servant.
Generation 3: Jonathan Sanborn, born 25 May 1672 in Hampton, died 20 June 1741 in Kingston, New Hampshire; married on 4 February 1692 in Hampton to Elizabeth Sherburne, daughter of Samuel Sherburne and Love Hutchings.
Generation 4: Margaret Sanborn m. Moses Sleeper
Generation 5: Hepzibah Sleeper m. Samuel Lane
Generation 6: Sarah Lane m. Elisha Batchelder
Generation 7: Jonathan Batchelder m. Nancy Thompson
Generation 8: George E. Batchelder m. Abigail M. Locke
Generation 9: George E. Batchelder m. Mary Katharine Emerson
Generation 10: Carrie Maude Batchelder m. Joseph Elmer Allen
Generation 11: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)
Lineage B:
Generation 2: Francis Page, born 1633, died 15 November 1706 in Hampton, New Hampshire; married on 2 December 1669 in Hampton to Meribah Smith, daughter of Robert Smith and Susanna Unknown. Seven children.
Generation 3: Francis Page, born 15 December 1676 in Hampton, died 19 August 1755 in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire; married on 27 January 1698 in Hampton Falls to Hannah Nudd, daughter of Thomas Nudd and Sarah Dearborn. She was born 23 October 1678 in Hampton and died 12 April 1751 in Hampton. Ten children.
Generation 4: Sarah Page, born 18 October 1698 and died May 1781; married on 31 January 1723 to Josiah Batchlder, son of Nathaniel Batchelder and Elizabeth Foss. He was born 1 July 1695 in Hampton and died 9 October 1759 in Hampton Falls. Six children.
Generation 5: David Batchelder m. Elizabeth Swett
Generation 6: Elisha Batchelder m. Sarah Lane (see above)
Published under a Creative Commons License
Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday ~ PAGE of Hampton, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted December 12, 2015, (http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/12/surname-saturday-page-of-hampton-new.html: accessed [access date]).


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The old man ambled quietly down the street. Night had fallen and the streets were dark on this moonless night. The lamp posts had long since ceased lighting up the evenings and the old man kept his head down, mindful of his steps on the sidewalk, guided only by the soft glow of light emanating from the few households that were still awake at this hour.
A stray cat ran in front of him, chasing a rat that was much bigger than it. Hunger made you do the most reckless things. These were difficult times.
The clatter of toppling garbage cans filled the night air, shrill and metallic. The old man stopped and held his breath. He could see a silhouette outlined in a window above, a shadow looking out at shadows. Nothing to see here. The old man caught a pair of feline eyes glowing in the alley ahead. These were dangerous times. He let out a breath and continued walking.
The shop was only a couple blocks away but it took him over a quarter of an hour to get there. He reached out to grab the door knob and noticed his hands were shaking. He was too old for this line of work, too old for this type of life.
The door creaked as it opened and the old man stepped into the store. He looked up and his gaze met that of his oldest friend, Elman. Once known as Elman "the Poet," his friend had "captivated the world with his vast repository of words and his deep understanding of the human heart". He had spent a lifetime collecting sentiments and wrapping them in words that he then gifted freely and generously, satisfying all number of human emotions.
Now he ran a supply shop, satisfying basic human needs.
"You're up late," Elman said, as he stood behind the counter finishing up his books for the day. "And you?" the old man asked. "I have new stock," Elman said without looking up. "That's what I was hoping," the old man replied and he walked towards the back room. Elman briefly glanced up to make sure nobody was looking in through the store window. One had to be extra careful these days.
The back room was actually a hidden closet that Elman had built with the help of a few friends, long before things got out of hand. Every one of those friends – with the exception of the old man – had since died, most of them having been executed for belonging to the Resistance, the rest from broken hearts. Ironically, the old man had survived a similar fate precisely because of this back room and what it had to offer.
Running his fingers over the bricks, the old man found the one brick that was slightly recessed and the button hidden below it. A door on the wall next to him softly opened, a sliver of a crack. He looked over his shoulder before quickly entering the room and pulling the door closed behind him.
He turned on the light and gave his tired eyes a moment to adjust. He let himself breathe, allowing his body to slowly relax as his mind began to unwind. He stood taking it all in. This was his favorite place, a haven from all that had happened and was quickly unfolding before him. He knew he wouldn't live to see the current events through but he hoped his efforts would help bring about an end.
He smiled as he looked at all the bundles lovingly… and his heart skipped for a moment as he heard a sound behind him. "It's ok," he whispered under his breath. "I need to be more careful," he thought to himself. "I'm too old for this life," he added, for the second time that day.
The bundles that Elman had tied together displayed the attention to detail, focus and care that made Elman perfectly suited to this job. The old man smiled, a small pleasure he afforded himself in this sanctuary.
Each bundle was wrapped in brown paper and tied with ribbons of different colors. The colors represented a specific code that the Resistance had set up long ago. The bundles held the Words.
Elman organized the bundles by colors and in increasing level of intensity. The gentlest Words were at the bottom, small, delicate packages clustered together. The strongest, most powerful (most dangerous!) Words were at the top. Those bundles were covered in dust from years of sitting in a dark, dank, closet. It would be many more years before they saw the light.
The old man was a Scribner and a fighter for the Resistance. Words were his weapons and this back room was the heart of the operation.
Every human emotion that you could possibly experience was housed in this room, wrapped in brown paper and tied with a strip of color. Emotions had been banned for many years now and the words that evoked them had become tainted. All words expressing feelings of any kind were to be destroyed and anyone who traded in them was to be immediately executed.
At first, people found this hard to put into practice (in part, they didn't believe this edict could be enforced). Sadly, the first ones to go down were children for it was impossible for them to separate emotions from their life. Mass graves were set up as a message to the people, this was serious business. Parents silenced their children, many cutting out their children's little tongues to protect them. This city was full of maimed children. People learned quickly after that, the sorrow in the children's eyes was hard to ignore. There were some slips here and there but within a month, emotions had been totally eradicated.
Elman was a poet, however, and his life was inexorably tied to the human heart. He preferred a death surrounded by sorrow, agony, and despair than a life devoid of feeling. So he began an underground resistance movement. Unwilling to waste words on a fight, they simply called themselves, the Resistance. Over the years, the Resistance had grown and every day new recruits found their way to Elman's shop. Only a select few knew about the back room but all trafficked in the Words.
These Words were Elman's only surviving legacy (his children had been part of that first massacre) and once a month, he would go into his backroom and wrap new Words, words that captured sentiments unspoken, feelings untold. He would mark the Words: green for anger, blue for sadness, yellow for happiness, orange for arousal, pink for beginnings, black for ends, and red, of course, for love.
There were other, more obscure sentiments, but those hardly ever got used except by Elman. In a box on the floor by the door were sheafs of paper, scraps and strips and notebooks filled with Words. This was Elman's box of poetry. Poems that would never leave this room but that enabled him to get up in the morning and face this new dire existence that he led.
The Scribner was here to pick up a bundle that weighed heavy on his heart. For months he had argued against this, tried to convince the eventual recipient to change her mind. It would do no good to let this bundle see the light of day. What purpose would all of his efforts in the Resistance have if this bundle was allowed to exist? But in the end, he conceded. Deep down, he knew it was the only thing left to do. And now he sought the pacakge.
What he needed was actually a very small bundle and he spotted it instantly, sitting a top of pile directly at his eye level, as if it had been placed there just for him. His heart sank as he put the package under his coat. He took one last look around the room and then turned off the light. After pressing his ear to the door to make sure it was safe to open, he gently pulled down on the handle and opened the door a crack. Listening again for any unusual sounds, certain that nothing was amiss, he quickly exited the room and let the door close behind him.
Elman stood at the counter, looking at him. He lifted his eyebrows ever so slightly and the Scribner gave a quick nod. Elman turned back to his books. "Goodbye," he said. "Thank you," the Scribner said, stopping next to Elman. "Thank you," he repeated. Even this small expression of gratitude could get one in trouble. Elman nodded and watched with a heavy heart as the Scribner walked out of his shop into the dark, silent night.
… to be continued.
All content is copyrighted by Karla Valenti. Unauthorized reproduction of this material is expressly forbidden.