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LONDON — Less than half an hour into the marathon semifinal between the Netherlands and Argentina, there was a fearful cracking of heads between Georginio Wijnaldum and Javier Mascherano.
Neither was to blame. They went for the ball and did not see the collision coming. The side of Mascherano's head hit the back of Wijnaldum's shaven skull. Mascherano stumbled for a moment, his eyes wide open but apparently seeing nothing around him.
Then he sagged to the turf and a doctor and other medical workers rushed to him. After all that has been said and written about concussions in sports, this was another moment to stop the play and be very, very circumspect about allowing a player to continue, even if he wanted to.
Mascherano did eventually continue. He succeeded not only in persuading the medical staff that he knew what he was doing; he became arguably the most important and impressive player in the hour that followed, in the 30 minutes of extra time, and then in the dreaded shootout that decided the outcome of the most important contest of Mascherano's career.
Argentina's penalty takers kept a clear head and a clear aim for each of their kicks. Sergio Romero — the Argentine goalkeeper who has spent the past 12 months in limbo, loaned out by his Italian club Sampdoria and virtually unused by Monaco in the French league — became the headline hero with two agile penalty stops, low to his left and high to the right.
But for Romero to get those chances, someone had to ensure that Argentina was still in the game after 120-plus minutes. And for once it wasn't Lionel Messi who was his national team's savior. Messi is the captain, but Mascherano is the leader of Argentina on the field.
They play together on the same club, Barcelona. Messi, again, is usually the story there, and rightly so, given that he is so many times not just the game-winner, but an artist and a compelling sight for sore eyes.
Not this time, however. Not during this tight, at times numbing match in the teeming rain of São Paulo. Messi had his moments, but it was a defenders' night, a contest of stubborn resilience and of one team's doing all it could to cancel out the strengths of the other while still playing within the rules of the game.
In that type of contest, Mascherano's warrior-like mentality, his selfless running, covering, tackling and tenacity come to the forefront. For his national team, he plays as a shield to the defense in a midfield role that calls for vision, constant vigilance and the courage at times to put his body (and yes, his head) in the way of opposing attacks.
The block tackle that Mascherano made to deprive Arjen Robben of a scoring chance in the final seconds of the first 90 minutes was arguably the interception of the entire tournament, which, so far, has run to 62 games.
Robben's speed had carried him beyond Argentina's defense on the left. He was about to pull the trigger and shoot from close range. As he lifted his leg to make that shot, Mascherano dashed across from Robben's right, made up the two or three yards and slid in to get his own foot to the ball first, diverting it away from the Dutchman in the nick of time.
Clearly, Mascherano was seeing things well enough. His judgment could not be faltered. His defenders had lost sight of Robben, his goalkeeper was frozen to his line, and everything depended on Mascherano's timing that interception to perfection. A fraction either way, and he risked making contact with the Dutchman, who is known for his, shall we say, unsure footing in the penalty box.
There were times during that long, drawn-out stalemate that concentration was the key to everything. And who was the most concentrated Argentine, who was making sure every colleague was alert and awake to the danger of switching off? Javier Mascherano, the man Argentines know as "El Jefecito," or The Little Chief.
He isn't any longer the designated captain, because Messi, leading by example, is entitled to that honor. Messi, however, is truly a passive example on the field, a player who is tackled rather than the one doing the tackling, a man whose antenna is tuned to producing moments of imagination, beauty and decisive goal scoring.
Argentina depends upon him, perhaps too much so. When the goals dry up, when the opposing team is as concentrated on stopping him as the Netherlands was on Wednesday, he can become as isolated as any other player, almost impotent, which is not something we say about Messi very often.
When that does happen, others are required to step to the plate. A keeper like Romero who guesses right two times out of four in the penalty decider. Defenders like Pablo Zabaleta, another who shook off head injury, though in his case a bloodied mouth. Zabaleta stuck like glue to the Dutch wingers, except in the crucial 90th minute when Robben danced free.
At that moment came the timely intervention of Mascherano. Seeing him at the heart of Argentina's defiance this week takes me back to October 2008, when Diego Maradona began his brief and ultimately failed attempt to manage the national team to victory at the last World Cup.
"My team," Maradona said when he accepted the challenge, "is Mascherano and 10 others."
The 10 included Messi, whom Maradona saw as the individual superstar (in Diego's own image). Whatever else Maradona got right or wrong in his 20 months in charge, his instinct was right about Mascherano. A team can be built around a special player, but there are times when it needs leadership to gut out the contest.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Stitched Rectangle Dies from Gina Marie Designs for the base layers of my card. Next I added the large tag and tucked in a scalloped circle and adhered a heart over the tag. The gold sentiment is also from the Mini Albums stack and was adhered on a hand cut flag. I used some Glue Dots to ensure everything was secure against the acetate background. A few enamel dots and a small bow in Totally Kraft Trendy Twine was the finishing touch on my card.
Here is the card sketch for this month's challenge:


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- Geography of Romania
With an area of 238,391 square kilometers,
Romaniais the twelfth largest country in Europe. Situated in the northeastern portion of the Balkan Peninsula, the country is halfway between the equator and the North Poleand equidistant from the westernmost part of Europe--the Atlantic Coast--and the most easterly--the Ural Mountains. Romania has 3,195 kilometers of border. Republic of Moldovalies to the east, Bulgarialies to the south, Serbiato the southwest, and Hungaryto the west. In the southeast, 245 kilometers of Black Seacoastline provide an important outlet to the Mediterranean Seaand the Atlantic Ocean.
Traditionally Romania is divided into several historic regions that no longer perform any administrative function:
Dobrujais the easternmost region, extending from the northward course of the Danube to the shores of the Black Sea.
Moldaviastretches from the Eastern Carpathiansto the Prut Riveron the Moldovan and Ukrainian border.
Wallachiareaches south from the Transylvanian Alpsto the Bulgarian border and is divided by the Olt Riverinto Olteniaon the west and Munteniaon the east. The Danube forms a natural border between Muntenia and Dobruja.
* The west-central region, known as
Transylvania, is delimited by the arc of the Carpathians, which separates it from the Maramureş regionin the northwest; by the Crişanaarea, which borders Hungary in the west; and by the Banatregion of the southwest, which adjoins both Hungaryand Serbia. It is these areas west of the Carpathians that contain the highest concentrations of the nation's largest ethnic minorities--Hungarians, Germans, and Serbs.
Romania's exterior boundaries are a result of relatively recent events. At the outbreak of
World War I, the country's territory included only the provinces of Walachia, Moldavia, and Dobruja. This area, known as the Regat or the Old Kingdom, came into being with the disintegration of the Ottoman Empirein the mid-nineteenth century. At the end of World War I, Romania acquired Transylvania and the Banat. Some of this territory was lost during World War II, but negotiations returned it to Romania. Although this acquisition united some 85 percent of the Romanian-speaking population of Eastern Europe into one nation, it left a considerable number of ethnic Hungarians under Romanian rule. Disputes between Hungary and Romania regarding this territory would surface regularly, as both considered the region part of their national heritage. Questions were also periodically raised as to the historical validity of the Soviet-Romanian border. Bukovina and Bessarabia, former Romanian provinces where significant percentages of the population are Romanian-speaking, were part of the Soviet Unionfrom the end of World War II to its dissolution, and subsequently part of the (formerly Soviet) states of Ukraineand Moldova. Despite ongoing and potential disputes, however, it was unlikely in 1989 that Romania's borders would be redrawn in the foreseeable future.
Romania's natural landscape is almost evenly divided among mountains (31 percent), hills (33 percent), and plains (36 percent). These varied relief forms spread rather symmetrically from the Carpathian Mountains, which reach elevations of more than 2,500 meters, to the Danube Delta, which is just a few meters above sea level.
The arc of the Carpathians extends over 1,000 kilometers through the center of the country, covering an area of 70,000 square kilometers. These mountains are of low to medium altitude and are no wider than 100 kilometers. They are deeply fragmented by longitudinal and transverse valleys and crossed by several major rivers. These features and the fact that there are many summit passes--some at altitudes up to 2,256 metres--have made the Carpathians less of a barrier to movement than have other European ranges. Another distinguishing feature is the many eroded platforms that provide tableland at relatively high altitudes. There are permanent settlements here at above 1,200 meters.
Romania's Carpathians are differentiated into three ranges: the
Eastern Carpathians, the Southern Carpathiansor Transylvanian Alps, and the Western Carpathians. Each of these ranges has important distinguishing features. The Eastern Carpathiansare composed of three parallel ridges that run from northwest to southeast. The westernmost ridge is an extinct volcanic range with many preserved cones and craters. The range has many large depressions, in the largest of which the city of Braşovis situated. Important mining and industrial centers as well as agricultural areas are found within these depressions. The Eastern Carpathiansare covered with forests--some 32 percent of the country's woodlands are there. They also contain important ore deposits, including gold and silver, and their mineral water springs feed numerous health resorts.
Southern Carpathiansoffer the highest peaks at Moldoveanu Peak(2,544 m) and Negoiu(2,535 m) and more than 150 glacial lakes. They have large grassland areas and some woodlands but few large depressions and subsoil resources. The region was crisscrossed by an ancient network of trans-Carpathian roads, and vestiges of the old Roman Way are still visible. Numerous passes and the valleys of the Olt, Jiu, and Danube rivers provide routes for roads and railways through the mountains.
Western Carpathiansare the lowest of the three ranges and are fragmented by many deep structural depressions. They have historically functioned as "gates," which allow easy passage but can be readily defended. The most famous of these is the Iron Gate on the Danube. The Western Carpathians are the most densely settled, and it is in the northernmost area of this range, the Apuseni Mountains, that permanent settlements can be found at the highest altitudes.
Enclosed within the great arc of the Carpathians lie the undulating plains and low hills of the
Transylvanian Plateau--the largest tableland in the country and the center of Romania. This important agricultural region also contains large deposits of methane gas and salt. To the south and east of the Carpathians, the Sub-Carpathiansform a fringe of rolling terrain ranging from 396 to 1,006 metres in elevation. This terrain is matched in the west by the slightly lower Western Hills. The symmetry of Romania's relief continues with the Getic Tableland to the south of the SubCarpathians , the Moldavian Tablelandin the east between the SubCarpathians and the Prut River, and the Dobrujan Tablelandin the southeast between the Danube and the Black Sea. The Sub-Carpathians and the tableland areas provide good conditions for human settlement and are important areas for fruit growing, viticulture, and other agricultural activity. They also contain large deposits of brown coal and natural gas.
Beyond the Carpathian foothills and tablelands, the plains spread south and west. In the southern parts of the country, the lower Danube Plain is divided by the Olt River; east of the river lies the
Romanian Plain, and to the west is the Oltenian or Western Plain. The land here is rich with chernozemicsoils and forms Romania's most important farming region. Irrigation is widely used, and marshlands in the Danube's floodplain have been diked and drained to provide additional tillable land.
Romania's lowest land is found on the northern edge of the Dobruja region in the
Danube Delta. The delta is a triangular swampy area of marshes, floating reed islands, and sandbanks, where the Danube ends its trek of almost 3,000 kilometers and divides into three frayed branches before emptying into the Black Sea. The Danube Delta provides a large part of the country's fish production, and its reeds are used to manufacture cellulose. The region also serves as a nature preserve for rare species of plant and animal life including migratory birds.
After entering the country in the southwest at Bazias, the Danube travels some 1,075 kilometers (almost 40% of its entire length) through or along Romanian territory, forming the southern frontier with Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Virtually all of the country's rivers are tributaries of the Danube, either directly or indirectly, and by the time the Danube's course ends in the Black Sea, they account for nearly 40 percent of the total discharge. The most important of these rivers are the
Mureş River, the Olt River, the Prut, the Siret River, the Ialomiţa River, the Someş River, and the Argeş River. Romania's rivers primarily flow east, west, and south from the central crown of the Carpathians. They are fed by rainfall and melting snow, which causes considerable fluctuation in discharge and occasionally catastrophic flooding. In the east, river waters are collected by the Siretand the Prut. In the south, the rivers flow directly into the Danube, and in the west, waters are collected by the Tiszaon Hungarian territory.
The Danube is by far Romania's most important river, not only for transportation, but also for the production of hydroelectric power. One of Europe's largest hydroelectric stations is located at the
Iron Gates, where the Danube surges through the Carpathian gorges. The Danube is an important water route for domestic shipping, as well as international trade. It is navigable for river vessels along its entire Romanian course and for seagoing ships as far as the port of Brăila. An obvious problem with the use of the Danube for inland transportation is its remoteness from most of the major industrial centers. Moreover, marshy banks and perennial flooding impede navigation in some areas.
Flora and fauna
Because of its position on the southeastern portion of the European continent, Romania has a climate that is transitional between temperate and continental. Climatic conditions are somewhat modified by the country's varied relief. The Carpathians serve as a barrier to Atlantic air masses, restricting their oceanic influences to the west and center of the country, where they make for milder winters and heavier rainfall. The mountains also block the continental influences of the vast plain to the north in the Ukraine, which bring frosty winters and less rain to the south and southeast. In the extreme southeast, Mediterranean influences offer a milder, maritime climate. The average annual temperature is 11°C (51.8°F) in the south and 8°C (46.4°F) in the north. In Bucharest, the temperature ranges from -29°C (-20.2°F) in January to 29°C (84.2°F) in July, with average temperatures of -3°C (26.6°F) in January and 23°C (73.4°F) in July. Rainfall, although adequate throughout the country, decreases from west to east and from mountains to plains. Some mountainous areas receive more than 1,010 millimeters (about 39.764 inches) of precipitation each year. Annual precipitation averages about 635 millimeters (25 inches) in central Transylvania, 521 millimeters (about 20.512 inches) at Iaşi in Moldavia, and only 381 millimeters (15 inches) at Constanţa on the Black Sea.
Europe, bordering the Black Seaand Danube, with the Carpathian mountains in its center. Controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldovaand Ukraine Geographic coordinates: Extreme points of Romania:
*Northernmost point: Horodiştea, a village in
Botoşani County, on the border with Ukraine, coord|48|15|N|26|42|E|type:landmark_region:RO|name=Horodiştea (North)
*Southernmost point:
Zimnicea, a town in Teleorman County, on the border with Bulgaria, coord|43|37|N|25|23|E|type:landmark_region:RO|name=Zimnicea (South)
*Westernmost point: Beba Veche, a village in
Timiş County, on the border with Hungaryand Serbia, coord|46|07|N|20|15|E|type:landmark_region:RO|name=Beba Veche (West)
*Easternmost point:
Sulina, a town in Tulcea County, on the Danube Delta, coord|45|09|N|29|41|E|type:landmark_region:RO|name=Sulina (East)
*total: 238,391 km²
**"land:" 231,231 km²
**"water:" 7,160 km²
Area - comparative: slightly larger than
Land boundaries
*"total:" 3,149.9 km
* border countries:
Bulgaria631 km, Hungary448 km, Moldova681 km, Serbia546 km, Ukraine(north and east) 649 km.
193.5 km
*"Maritime claims:"
Snake Island
*contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles (44 km)
*continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
*exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
*territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km)
temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Transylvanian Basinis separated from the Plain of Moldaviaon the east by the Carpathian Mountainsand separated from the Wallachian Plainon the south by the Transylvanian Alps
"Elevation extremes:"
*lowest point:
Black Sea0 m
*highest point:
Moldoveanu Peak2,544 m
"Natural resources"
*petroleum (reserves steady to declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydro power
"Land use:"
*arable land: 41%
*permanent crops: 3%
*permanent pastures: 21%
*forests and woodland: 29%
*other: 6% (1993 est.)
"Irrigated land:"
*31,020 km² (1993 est.)
"Natural hazards:"earthquakes most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Environment - current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
*party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
*signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-
Kyoto Protocol
Extreme points
ee also
List of cities in Romania
Reservoirs and dams in Romania
List of mountain peaks in Romania
* [http://www.insse.ro/cms/files/pdf/ro/cap1.pdf 2004 Romanian Statistical Yearbook - Geography, Meteorology and Environment]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
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Romania — This article is about the modern country. For other uses, see Romania (disambiguation). Romania România … Wikipedia
Romania — /roh may nee euh, mayn yeuh/, n. a republic in SE Europe, bordering on the Black Sea. 21,399,114; 91,699 sq. mi. (237,500 sq. km). Cap.: Bucharest. Romanian, România /rddaw mu nyah/. * * * Romania Introduction Romania Background: Soviet… … Universalium
România — /rddaw mu nyah/; Eng. /roh may nee euh, mayn yeuh/, n. Romanian name of ROMANIA. * * * Romania Introduction Romania Background: Soviet occupation following World War II led to the formation of a Communist peoples republic in 1947 and the… … Universalium
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Geography of Switzerland — Continent Europe Region Western/Central Europe Coordinates 47° N 8° E Area Ranked 134 … Wikipedia


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2.4 mile swim
Back in Feb 2013, I traveled to Utah with Oakley Women for a product testing trip on the beautiful snowy mountains at Snowbird resort.
As a swimmer all my life, I would consider myself more of a fish than a snow bunny but I am all about trying new things. I have had the opportunity to snowboard several times in my life and I always love the challenge of strapping in my feet and gliding down a mountain. But if I were to race in snowboarding, I wouldn't do very well and probably would be too scared to start. I could probably improve my skills if I snowboarded more often, worked with an experienced instructor and developed a passion for snow more than water, but I will be honest and say that I am not a great snowboarder and I am just happy with my ability to have fun and get down a mountain in one piece (although sometimes with a sore butt afterwards).
In life, we have many opportunities to step outside of our comfort zone but like most people, we often get really comfortable in our comfort zone. Sometimes we have no choice but to step outside of our normal but I am sure that most would agree that doing something that you don't normally do is not the best feeling in the world....at least when you do it for the first time and aren't very good at it.
As most people know, my husband Karel decided to move from Cat 1 cyclist to triathlete this past June (2012).
Karel loves to push like most competitive athletes and for him, running came naturally. Suffering in cycling races transferred really well to running....push hard and suffer and run faster.
But for Karel, he was often very frustrated by swimming. He found it so discouraging that he couldn't just push in the water. He could push on the bike, push on the run but in the water, pushing meant gasping for air, feeling like he was getting no where in the water and experiencing extreme fatigue.
Even if something is hard, uncomfortable, scary or new, the most important thing is that you recognize that everything that you are feeling is normal. For if you only did things in life that were easy, simple and effortless, you likely wouldn't get anywhere in life. You have likely achieved things in life because you were willing to step beyond what is comfortable and embrace something that is not easy. But the defining point is knowing that you are not going to give up until you get to where you want to be. Perhaps you can't define where it is that you want to be and when but the most important thing is making sure that you are having fun along the way and seeing yourself grow. You are moving forward for you and for no one else. If you don't like something at first, don't give up. But you have to have the right motivation, passion and commitment ensure that you are doing things for the right reason.
Every athlete has a a weakness. You can't be good at everything if you want to get better at what you do. There is always a way and reason to be better than you were yesterday but you have to really want it and the work that comes when you get there.
I don't think I'm ever going to race in a snowboarding event but I know that I will never stop the opportunity to snowboard. I will always be a little scared but I will figure out a way to get to the bottom and get back up again when I fall. For now, I will continue to work hard for my triathlon goals and enjoy every journey that my body and mind gives to me during training and racing. I am willing to be patient as I better understand endurance triathlons and the skills required to race strong and consistent and I will always be sure to have fun along the way.
Once I entered the water, I felt good. I felt comfortable, smooth and confident. This was my comfort zone and I knew what I wanted......
1:07, 1:06, 1:04, 1:02, 1:08....I've been chasing that 1 hour swim time for 2.4 miles for the past 8 years. It's something that drives me to push in the pool, even though I have been pushing in the water since I started swimming around the age of 11. I love dreaming big and having goals helps me jump out of bed, get out the door and see what I am capable of achieving for the day.
As I neared buoy #4, I felt good. My plan for the two loop swim was to swim the first loop feeling "good". I never wanted to feel exhausted in the first loop and depending on my perceived effort in relation to my time after 1.2 miles, I would decide if I could take a risk or two in loop two. Realizing that swimming is a strength of mine, I always give myself the opportunity to deviate from my race day plan just a tiny bit if I am feeling good in the water. There's something about chasing a time that excites me and at the end of the day, I am 100% responsible for my actions when I race. I can blame nobody but myself and I am willing for the consequences if I let my ego + dreams get the best to me. But then again, how do I ever know if my thoughts will fail me if I don't give things a risky try.
I was very tempted to look at my Garmin 910XT (outside of my wetsuit) before the right hand turn at buoy #9 but I didn't. I saved that surprise for when I made a slight turn to the right on this very narrow out and back rectangle loop. I took a look at my watch as I started heading back to the start/finish and it said something around 14 minutes. I am pretty sure I smiled in the water not only because I was really excited about my 6th Ironman in Lake Placid (especially since I went from extremely nervous to very calm and relaxed) but I felt like this was the day I could release my inner nemo.
As I swam back to shore I was careful to not go too hard. The water was smooth and I continued to stay to the outside of the buoys to get cleaner water. I still wanted to draft off other swimmers but I was careful to not get too close to the cable under water as I knew that battling flying arms would only get me out of my rhythm with my stroke.
The buoys were going by really quickly and all I could remember was the breakthrough big swim set I did in prep for the IM, alongside putting all those individual workouts together for this one very special day. #4, #5, #6....the first loop was almost complete and as I spotted ahead of me, I could see spectators and the dock. #7, #8....I was so tempted to look at my watch and I gave myself permission after #9.....
But I resisted. Just stay steady, I kept thinking to myself.
I made my way out of the water and ran onto the shore as I cleared my goggles with my fingers. It felt really great to stand up and get some air into my lungs and when I saw 29 minutes on my watch, I got super excited. So excited that I sprinted through the start banner and dove into the water for my 2nd loop.
Did I really just swim 1.2 miles in 29 minutes and I made it feel easy?
The 2nd loop was a bit more congested compared to the first due to the seeded start but I didn't let it get to me because I knew I could still have a good swim to start my journey of 140.6 miles. As much as I wanted to pick up the pace, I kept reminding myself that this was a very long day and I can't win anything in the swim.
I found several pink caps around me which was comforting knowing that I was swimming strong and around similar fitness abilities. As I neared buoy #9, I couldn't believe that I was making my last two right hand turns to finish my 6th IM swim!
I looked at my watch again and I think it was around 46 minutes. I was starting to battle swimmers who were on their first lap but I didn't get frustrated. I coach newbie triathletes, my hubby is competing in his first tri and I know I was not always a great cyclist when I started. We must always respect those who are learning new skills for we have all been there, done that in some way or another.
As I found a few open patches, I looked at my watch one last time. I can't remember what buoy I was at but my watch said 56 minutes. I didn't get frustrated but instead, I gave myself permission to go for it. I picked up the pace, careful to not waste any energy in my legs that I needed for 112 miles of cycling and 26.2 miles of running but I found myself catching the water a little stronger and really focusing on getting to where I wanted to be...as fast as possible.
I started swimming toward the shore and I tried to stand up when I saw others standing....ok, 5 feet tall Marni has a ways to go. I kept on swimming and looked at my watch as I tried to stand again.
1 hour.
YIPPEE!! But of course, there was a few steps to the arch to stop my timing chip and my final time read 1:01:02.
Oh well. I'll take it as I felt amazing and I was super excited to get on my bike and anxiously await Karel zooming past me somewhere on the bike to tell him about my swim and to hear about his swim.
As I ran toward the strippers, I took my arm sleeve over my Garmin and then unzipped my wetsuit and removed the sleeves and pulled it down to my waist. I had my Trimarni kit (cycling shorts and zipper jersey), HR monitor and CEP calf sleeves under my wetsuit and slathered in body glide spray and my timer chip on my ankle (with a safety pin to secure), my body marked body was revealed as I laid on the ground with my feet up for the strippers to pull off my wetsuit.
I said thank you to the volunteers and ran down a long carpeted chute to the transition area.....it didn't seem very long because the spectators were lined along the chute and cheering loudly for all of us swimmers.
I noticed that many people had rain coats on and all of a sudden it occurred to me that it was raining! Oh boy, this is going to be an interesting start to the race....just stay calm and focused.
I ran toward the transition bags and grabbed my T1 bag w/ my cycling gear.
-helmet (not aero helmet but my regular training helmet which I love)
-Oakley Commit sunglasses-Pill container (back up pills, electrolytes, endurance aminos, tums)
-Pill packets (electrolytes and aminos) in a baggie
-Gel flask (300 calories of Hammer heed espresso)
-Socks-Cycling shoes
As I ran to the transition area, there were a few women in the tent (age groupers and pros) and two volunteers dumped out my bag which included separate large zip lock bags for my gear items. As usual, the volunteers were amazing and as I put on my socks and shoes, one volunteer put my nutrition in my pockets (gel flask in right pocket and pills in left - I asked her to do this and she did it perfectly) and the other put my helmet on my head. Done! What a quick transition and it was exactly as I had visualized.
I said thank you and ran out of the tent to the end of the transition area and to my bike.
Transition time: 4:36
A volunteer handed me my bike, I said thank you and powered my Garmin 500 (turned it on) and ran toward the mount line.
I couldn't believe that I was mounting my bike with two professional women around me but I bottled in those thoughts as I felt like this day was going so great....I hadn't even raced more than 2.4 miles and with 112+ 26.2 miles to go, I really didn't want the day to end. As I always say, all that training just for a one day event.
My bike was wet but that was fine. Karel put great bar tape on my bike which made me feel good considering the technical descends and turns heading out of transition.
And before I knew it, I was on my bike and excited to see if all that bike training, sitting on Karel's wheel, had paid off......
112 miles...here I come!
A little about Karel's race, he felt really good and had no major issues in the first loop. He found the 2nd loop to be a bit busy for him but he stayed calm. Karel said his biggest mistake was having trouble getting off his wetsuit, especially the arms over his Garmin. He said he was really frustrated by the wetsuit but he was able to move on quickly and remind himself that his major goal during the swim was to just swim efficient so he could get on the bike and have 5+ hours to be in his comfort zone. Karel's transition was 6:59 due to the added time from the strippers and him struggling with his wetsuit so although a rookie mistake, Karel still had a great swim considering that he just learned to train for swimming just 13 months ago.Karel ended up swimming 1:10.20 which I find so funny considering that I swam 1:01.02!! Crazy to just move around the numbers and we swam the same time!!
Here is a great video of the swim start that I found on the internet:


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The Costa Almería is one of the most unspoiled coastal areas of mainland Spain. Here visitors can quite often enjoy an entire beach all to themselves.
This Costa Almería coastline is a little over 200 kilometres in length. It stretches from Pulpí between the regions of Murcia and Andalusia. To Adra near the border of the Granada Province.
This area of Spain has been home to many different cultures and civilisations. There has been much conflict over this stretch of coastline. This is evident with the large number of castles and fortresses along the coast.
The Moors (Arabs) built the capital city of Almería in the 10th century. They remained the dominant culture on the Costa Almería for almost 800 years.
Almería City
Built around its important shipping and ferry port. Almería is a city made for exploring. Here there are a large number of delightful plazas, monuments and historical buildings. It's past Arab influence is evident by the imposing Moorish castle of Alcazaba. The largest castle in Almería and the top tourist attraction of this city. Alcazaba is also the largest castle in the autonomous community of Andalucia. Second only in size to the Alhambra Castle in Granada.
Although a Spanish commercial city, Almería still has much to offer tourists. There are plenty of shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants around its central area. There are many historical landmarks, monuments and museums among the squares and plazas.
Facing one end of the port is the Paseo de Coches. This runs parallel to Nicolás Salmerón Park. Here visitors can enjoy respite from the midday sun under the trees and palms. At the other end of the port is the city's beach. This boasts good facilities, lively beach bars (Chiringuitos) and the municipal Auditorium. It's the wild and beautiful coves and bays of Cabo de Gato Natural Park that most visitors come to see.


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Today's most prosperous advisors are largely independent and work in ensemble practices and within larger agency settings, according to a study conducted by the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) in conjunction with LIMRA.
The survey was conducted among 400 U.S. members of MDRT, representing a variety of ages, backgrounds and work settings. It analyzed the experience, work environment and client base of respondents, determining success by two measurements – productivity and profitability – with three prominent traits overlapping among respondents that fell within the highest quartile.
Among the most profitable respondents, 40 percent are independents as compared to brokers, PPGAs, exclusives or affiliates, and 43 percent of the most productive operate independently as well. Ensemble practices are another key attribute, as 57 percent of the most profitable and 60 percent of the most productive advisors work in such an environment. Large agency size also plays a role with 60 percent of the most profitable and 82 percent of the most productive respondents being supported by staff.
In addition to identifying key qualities of today's leading advisors, the study also determined what challenges they are anticipating in the upcoming three to five years. Industry regulations ranks as the most pressing challenge, with 97 percent of respondents noting some level of concern, followed by improving efficiency with 92 percent and enhancing client base with 88 percent.


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Last month, Vertigo priced "Air" #7 at one dollar in an effort to bring in new readers; that issue was a decent done-in-one introduction to one of the characters, Zayn, as another, Blythe, lived his life. While not a deviation from the book's set course, it also seemed like a specifically "new reader friendly" story and, in my case, it worked enough for me to pick up the next issue. Sadly, this issue ends that ride.
"Air" #8 isn't a bad comic. It's simply another in a long line of comics that are just sort of there. Some events happen, characters seem to think they're important, but none of that really comes across. Nor does much of a sense of who these people are or why they do what they're doing. Granted, there is a sense that Blythe isn't 100% certain as to what's going on, so that helps, but she comes across here as such a cipher that it's hard to tell.
In this issue, Blythe, Amelia Earhart, and a man named Northfield go in search of a device to prevent others from getting it. And that's about it. Now, you must think that something interesting happens along the way, but not really. The most interesting events are, once again, in Zayn's past as Blythe once again enters his memories to ascertain the location of the device.
The path taken is very straight forward and familiar, but somewhat hollow. In many ways, what happens in this issue feels like filler just so the characters can move from point A to point B, that getting the device is what interests Wilson, not how they get the device. Internal conflicts in the group add a little bit of interest, but not much.
Perker's art is competent, while somewhat generic. His storytelling is strong. It's very easy to follow what's going on simply by looking at the art, and especially what characters are feeling. His figures wear their inner thoughts on their faces, which does come across as a little melodramatic from time to time, but is also a nice change of pace from most artists who can only illustrate three different facial expressions.
As a follow-up to last issue's attempt to bring in new readers, I'm not sure how successful "Air" #8 is, as it attempts to drive home that what's happening is Very Important without accomplishing that goal. It's really a forgettable comic, neither bad nor good, it lies somewhere in the middle.


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Since the first Greens were elected to councils in Oxfordshire more than a decade ago, Green councillors have taken a leadership role on issues ranging from the protection of public services and green spaces to affordable housing, transport, recycling, climate change, economic development and crime prevention. Support for the Greens is continuing to grow.
Below you can find links to our policies, and answers to questions that people ask about the Green Party.
Other Policies
Other policies
From the 2015 General Election:
- Full General Election Manifesto 2015 (redirects to National website)
- General Election Mini Manifesto 2015 (redirects to National website)
From the Green Party of England and Wales
- Green party policies (overview and manifestos)
- Policies for a sustainable society (chapters on each issue)
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Metric @ MozCon 2014
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending Mozcon 2014, a marketing conference held each year by MOZ. With 29 speakers, MozCon was three days jam packed with inspiration. It was an awesome show this year with a ton of actionable takeaways for our team here at Metric.


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Lions' Best could play Sunday, wins monthly award
ALLEN PARK -- Jahvid Best has given the Lions explosion in the running game that no one in these parts has seen for a while.
Imagine what Best could do if he was healthy.
On Thursday the Lions running back was named the NFL's rookie offensive player of the month for September.
Best has been hampered by turf toe all along. First on his left big toe and now on his right big toe.
He's learning to deal with the pain.
"I bet if you asked all the running backs in our league nobody is feeling 100 percent healthy right now, it's just part of the game,'' Best said.
He didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but said there's a good chance he'll be able to play on Sunday in Green Bay.
"I'll give it a go (in practice on Friday) and see how it feels but it's gotten a lot better, better than I thought it was going to get,'' Best said. "It's looking real good (for Sunday) right now.''
In three games he carried 38 times for 124 yards, caught 16 balls for 183 yards and scored the Lions' first five touchdowns of the season (four of them rushing).
(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)
Labels: Detroit Lions, Jahvid Best


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Reports have surfaced that Bill Clinton took a trip to Jeffrey Epstein's "Orgy Island." Now, hackers Anonymous set to release video of Bill Clinton raping 13 year old girl.
Is is now know that Bill Clinton was a frequent flyer on the registered sex offender Jeff Epstein's jet. To be exact, Bill Clinton took at least 26 flights on the "Lolita Express." On at least five of those instances he ditched the Secret Service for these trips.
And now Anonymous makes an incredibly bold claim.
Anonymous Set to Release Video of Bill Clinton Raping a 13 Year Old Girl
We will stay as close to this story as possible, while we wait for Anonymous to release the video.
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Mrs S spends some time reading to us each Monday. The story we are listening to at the moment is The Phantom Tollbooth. It was written in 1961 by Norton Juster. We have been following the adventures of Milo as he set off on his travels in The Lands Beyond.
The auhor uses figurative language devices throughout the story. We watched a podcast that introduced us to the idea that figurative language helps an author to add interest to their story or song. An author does not use the literal or everyday meaning of the words when using similes, metaphors or idioms in their story.
Today we explored only one form of figurative language. We chose to look closely at idioms.
We used some links from our class intranet to find and explore some idioms. When we were reading these it was quite funny to picture the literal meaning in our heads while we puzzled out the figurative meaning. One of our class suggested that we needed to infer the everyday meaning when reading or hearing an idiom. For example when we hear the sentence "She spilled the beans" it does not really mean that a tin of beans has been upended. In everyday conversation we know that this mean that "She talked too much and shared the secret".
We then chose one of our collected idioms to illustrate with the literal meaning. We then used the idiom in a sentence to show its figurative meaning. We could choose to make an ArtRage drawing, draw on a piece of paper, or create an animation to create our final ideas about idioms. We shared our work on a Padlet wall.
We also had some fun visiting another class blog, Miss Jordan's class @ Barwon Heads Primary, where they had also been exploring idioms. They had some great drawings which challenged us to work out the idiom from the inferred and literal meanings of some idioms. There were a couple that stumped us! Whoops – there I go using some figurative language. What does "stumped us" really mean?


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ASLA President Mark Focht, FASLA, first deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Parks department, invited the heads of four allied organizations to speak to the ASLA board and chapter leadership last week about what they perceive to be future opportunities and challenges.
Patrick Phillips, CEO of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) — who was trained as a landscape architect but ended up going into real estate economics — said ULI will continue its focus on both the global and the local. They will further expand overseas, "bringing our non-ideological perspective to urban development" to Asia and Africa, while also strengthening their local councils, which focus on the issues of immediate concern to communities. At this scale, Phillips said "education — reaching out to thousands of local high schools — is a priority."
Long-time friend of landscape architects, Paul Farmer, CEO of the American Planning Association (APA), said "our collaboration with ASLA has been excellent." Farmer, who is retiring from APA this summer, said "planning is about outcomes, using a open and transparent process to create what people want: livable neighborhoods and clean air and water." Farmer said APA will increasingly focus on the "social side of sustainability — the equity side. Most organizations are too focused on the environmental or economic side of sustainability."
He said APA is now providing direct assistance to around a third of its chapters to fight anti-planning efforts led by the Tea Party movement. "There are draconian bills coming up in legislatures, but only the one in Alabama passed." Farmer was dismayed by this development, as "just a few years ago, smart growth was an issue both Democrats and Republicans could agree upon. Now everything is totally polarized. So our assistance is defensive. But polls still tell us that there is tremendous public support for planning."
Barbara Tulipane, National Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA) outlined her group's new approach to communications. She said when speaking with public officials, "we have to sell them on the many benefits of parks — how parks save us money or make us money — but when NRPA is focused on reaching the public, we use common language." Parks are about forging "a real emotional connection with nature." As an example, she pulled up a quote from one happy park-goer: "that was the best day of my life!"
With 40,000 members, NRPA will focus on "ensuring 300 million Americans have access to a place to play and connect with nature and each other." Half of members are professionals and the other half are park-lovers. "So we are not about the profession of park management but the parks." Tulipane said "parks are essential to smart growth. Parks are a solution provider, offering benefits in terms of conservation, health and wellness, and social equity."
Randall Over, head of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), said ASCE will ramp up efforts on dealing with climate change as an engineering challenge. "There, I said it, we openly talk about climate change. Climate change has changed our design standards. We need to design more resilient infrastructure. We need to focus on the social side of resilience, too, including who will operate and maintain infrastructure in the case of a serious climatic event."
To encourage more "sustainable horizontal infrastructure," ASCE will soon roll out Envision, a new rating system. "Some two out of every three projects that have been certified are landscapes." Another 25 pilots are in the pipeline.
ASCE will also continue to get a lot of out of its well-known infrastructure report card. The U.S. has gone up from a D to a D+. "We do this to get action." Over also mentioned a $15 million fundraising campaign now underway to finance an IMAX movie about the wonders of engineering.


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Bob and Paula (names changed to protect privacy) are two people who came to our nonprofit agency in search of help. They were referred to us by a local pastor who wasn't sure what else to do with them.
When I first started to write this article I immediately thought of the healthcare takeover that moron Barack Obama and his liberal allies in congress are shoving down America's throat just before Christmas. Drug costs are one thing many people struggle with. I also recall some research that once showed that a drug plan can be better than free healthcare because many problems are caused by people either not taking their prescriptions or not taking them as directed because of cost. One of the main factors that can inhibit people taking their drugs is the cost. Generic drugs can greatly help with the cost.
When you're finally ready to do a little research, check PETCO's site – that's where I found some of the most valuable information on the topic. But your vet's office and your local Humane Society should also be able to offer some information to help you in your quest.
Clinics will also be held at Shoreline Health and fitness at 210 Main Street in Old Saybrook on Oct. 16, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 23, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Oct. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Oct. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Nov. 6, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Nov. 20, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
It can be very rewarding to be a health care professional but it is important that the right medical career must be picked up from the beginning. Everyone has their own fancies, whether you are looking for a job that pays you handsomely or you simply love to help others who are in need. There are a wide range of opportunities out there, but make sure you do your research before you choose your career path.
Parking begins at the festival sites at 3 p.m. There will be a sanctioned Strong Man Competition at the Stampede Site from 3-5 p.m. brought to you by Colorado's Pro Gym. The entertainment will set up from 4-5 and be ready to rock & roll at 5 p.m. at all sites.
Every time an election comes, especially these days, you have people who come out of church and walk into the voting booths and make decisions based upon their religious beliefs. I have relatives who are currently making decisions on the president based upon their own religious moral beliefs. For me, there has, and always will be, a very distinct differentiation between my firm and concrete beliefs in being an American and those I have because I am a Christian.


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Filtern nach: Stichwort Defined benefit pension plans Entfernen Zwang Stichwort: Defined benefit pension plans
Creator: Holmes, Thomas J. and Ohanian, Lee E. Series: Staff report (Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Research Department) Number: 501 Abstract:
As part of compensation, municipal employees typically receive promises of future benefits. Motivated by the recent bankruptcy of Detroit, we develop a model of the equilibrium size of a city and use it to analyze how pay-with-promises schemes interact with city growth. The paper examines the circumstances under which a death spiral arises, where cutbacks of city services and increases in taxes lead to an exodus of residents, compounding financial distress. The model is put to work to analyze issues such as the welfare effects of having cities absorb pension risk and how unions affect the likelihood of a death spiral.
Stichwort: Retiree health benefits, City growth, Detroit, Defined benefit pension plans, Death spiral, and Pay with promises Fach: H75 - State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions, R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics: Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population; Neighborhood Characteristics, R51 - Finance in Urban and Rural Economies, and H20 - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue: General


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Imagery From India's Mars Orbiter MissionOct 13, 2016
India's Mars Orbiter Mission, officially dubbed "Mangalyaan" and affectionately known as MOM, has been circling the red planet since Sept. 24, 2014, returning a trove of data and imagery that has confirmed the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) as a member of the international planetary-science team. This gallery gives a sample of the rich contribution ISRO has made to our knowledge of Mars.
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Star-crossed lovers Cole and Davis may be miles apart, but their goals for the future still follow a similar trajectory—toward each other.
When Davis discovers that the state-of-the-art medical facility she's been sent to is actually a dumping ground for people with hopeless cases of the disease Narxis, she teams up with a new friend, Mercer, to escape and bring the truth back to her family. Meanwhile, her boyfriend, Cole, faces his own demons as he hides from the law and follows an impossible training program with the goal of competing in the Olympiads, a contest usually reserved for the genetically superior Priors. Both Davis and Cole are confronted with temptation—can they resist and find their ways back to each other? This might be unlikely, especially since Davis believes Cole is dead. Hastings returns to the futuristic world of Feuds (2014), in which some people are born with superior genetics and some people aren't, to explore themes of corruption, bigotry, and inequality. Davis and Cole follow paths that hold few surprises and suffer from unlikely epiphanies and conveniences, such as Davis' discovery of a lost family member and Cole's discovery of a pregnant Prior, which is exactly what his friend Worsley needs to search for a cure for Narxis.
The setting never comes to life, and the characters never inspire real caring in this paint-by-numbers second volume. (Dystopian romance. 12-15)


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Securing a Stateless Django Application
Django is a mature web framework for Python. Among it's many uses is creating REST APIs (or a standalong backend for that matter). Django provides an authentication and authorization mechanism out of the box, but if you wish to make your REST API or the backend stateless, you need to roll your own.


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The following are words from "In Touch" by Dr. Stanley - you can order this devotional in paper form and of course you can jump online each day as well.
"I want to challenge you: This week, when something threatens to steal your contentment, choose to draw from God, and decide to stop drawing from other sources or trying to be in control. When you find yourself becoming flustered, anxious, or angry, stop and say, "Lord, You are my source, and I draw from You the capacity to be kind. I draw from You the forgiveness I need to extend right now. I draw from You the love I need to express." This decision is a matter of simple trust.
"Watch and see how God will quiet your spirit and provide confidence when you draw only from Him as your source. You'll be surprised at your own attitude: When you respond from within---rather then from the flesh--Jesus will give you the ability to respond as He would."
"The Bible assures us that as believers, we can distinguish God's voice from all others."
John 10:27 from the Voice Bible
"My sheep respond as they hear My voice; I know them intimately, and they follow me."


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House Majority Leader Eric CantorEric Ivan CantorMeet Trump's most trusted pollsters Embattled Juul seeks allies in Washington GOP faces tough battle to become 'party of health care' MORE (R-Va.) predicted Tuesday the House will pass the 2011 spending bill on Thursday with "strong Republican support."
At a pen-and-pad briefing, Cantor noted his frustration with the accord reached last Friday to cut $39.9 billion in spending from current levels, but characterized it as the "best deal" Speaker John BoehnerJohn Andrew BoehnerFormer Speaker Boehner's official portrait unveiled Key Republicans say Biden can break Washington gridlock From learning on his feet to policy director MORE (R-Ohio) could get.
Some Republicans already have said they will vote against the deal negotiated by BoehnerJohn Andrew BoehnerFormer Speaker Boehner's official portrait unveiled Key Republicans say Biden can break Washington gridlock From learning on his feet to policy director MORE. Among them is Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who, as chairman of the Republican Study Committee, leads a conservative bloc that includes a majority of the conference.
Jordan was a strong proponent of language to bar federal funding for Planned Parenthood, a provision stripped from the bill in a last-minute deal between Boehner and the White House and Senate Democrats.
Jordan also said the $39.9 billion in spending cuts is too small. The House earlier this year approved a bill to cut $61 billion from current spending.
Cantor said that he understood the frustration of Jordan and other conservatives.
"I know that Jim Jordan and others are frustrated; I'm frustrated too," he said.
"The House position was $61 billion. This is the best deal we could have gotten, given the situation we were served up by the Democrats being in charge of the Senate and the White House," Cantor explained to reporters in his Capitol office.
Jordan was among the 54 defectors who opposed a second stopgap spending bill approved in March. The GOP potentially could lose at least that many Republicans in Thursday's vote.
But some conservatives may hold their noses and vote for the bill.
Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), a former RSC chief who is now GOP Conference policy chairman, said he believes he'll support the long-term bill, though he said he hasn't ruled out opposing the measure.
Cantor said that, based on indications from Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the measure will pass.
"From the discussions I've had with him, he's indicated that there's strong Republican support and we're going to pass this bill with Republicans," Cantor said.
Republican defections could force the GOP to depend on Democratic votes, but they won't come easy given cuts in the measure to education, healthcare and other programs traditionally cherished by the party.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Tuesday said he was unsure whether he'll support the deal, which has the backing of the White House.
"Certainly, we'll always ask for them," Cantor said referring to Democratic votes.
This story was initially published at 2:40 p.m.


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Staff Report www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: Dubai Airports, operators of Dubai's two airports, said, transfer desk E at Dubai International Concourse 1 is closed Thursday as the result of damage caused by a faulty light fitting which caught fire late Wednesday night.
The situation was quickly contained with no injuries or health issues reported.
One flight was delayed as result of the desk closure.
"Additional staff have been deployed and connecting passengers are being processed at transfer desk 'F' while Dubai Airports engineering staff work to restore the area to normal operation as soon as possible. No operational disruptions are expected," a statement said.


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Reflections from the pastoral ministry of an Evangelical Catholic Priest.
21 August, 2018
Pope Francis issues new letter on sex abuse: 'We showed no care for the little ones'
Pope Francis issues new letter on sex abuse: 'We showed no care for the little ones' | America Magazine
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text:
Tuesday August, 4th 2009 7:00 - 8:00PM
WebCanDo Webinar
hosted online by http://vyew.com
to start an E Commerce business and succeed in a changing economy."
Speaker - Alex Gil from WebCanDo a 20 year internet and marketing veteran for companies like IBM, WorldCom, Verizon and Sprint will provide
a dynamic presentation on the internet and how it can benefit
your business.
The following
will be covered :
to the Internet, History of the Internet, Basic Internet Terminology,
Internet Growth, Internet Statistics
( 10 Minutes )
How to start an E Commerce business and succeed in a changing
Success Stories, Growth Model, Basics of a Website, Bottom Line,
The Steps, Tips, Internet Marketing overview, Online Credit Cards
and more.
You will learn the most effective ways to increase and promote
online sales.
You will
receive an exclusive Top 500 keyword report for strategic marketing.
You will
find new profitable marketing ideas for your online store or website.
BONUS PRIZES SPONSORED BY WebCanDo.com:
A free raffle for a Complete custom designed website including
domain name, web hosting for one year, a 5 page custom designed
website with flash and more gifts.
will leave with a special gift.
Fourth Quarter Results
March 13, 2009- WebCanDo is pleased to announce the
fourth quarter results for year end 2008 have surpassed expectations. The booked web development revenue was increased by 150%, compared to the third quarter.
The total new web hosting accounts have also grown dramatically since the release of our eight data center and the addition of our new national sales team.
are pleased to provide consistent quarterly results this year in light of the technology downturn. We have added several new sales partners and have adjusted our marketing plan to focus on new ideas to promote e-commerce.
said Tom Browne, Vice President of Marketing.
New Growth
March 14, 2009- WebCanDo a subsiduary of GTS Inc. has added a ninth datacenter at Pipenetworks in Australia to support the purchase of http://webcando.com.au Due to the rapid growth of web hosting accounts, WebCanDo has found it necessary to expand its web hosting offerings with the new servers in Australia. It provides redundancy to the existing network in the US and some provides diversified products such as the addition of the Cpanel / WHM platform.


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Preferred Media will be exhibiting at SMPTE 2017, showcasing our MediaPhile digital media asset management service. Find out how our unique managed service approach to digital asset management can help you. Come visit us at Stand A54.
Whether you're a production house, a broadcaster, an agency or even a brand, MediaPhile puts you in control of your content. So you can make it work harder and deliver more value. You can access your content online through strong search and viewing features. Search, share, clip and transcode without the heavy costs of managing your own in-house DAM/MAM.
The challenges of cloud MAM
Cloud solutions are increasingly popular, but managing media data in the cloud poses unique challenges. High volumes of data place a heavy burden on internet infrastructure and bandwidth. The last thing you need is ingest clogging your internet connection when you've got a deadline. Nor should you forget the added costs and time involved in processing metadata and tagging.
How MediaPhile is different
Using MediaPhile solves these problems. You effectively delegate your management challenges – and overhead costs – to an industry professional with the tools to handle them. We agree some ground rules around how you want to use metadata, but after that, we manage it for you. We manage the entire ingest process – including any failed files. And as technology improves and new formats are introduced, we handle the upgrades required.
You get the MediaPhile managed service, which lets you search, access and share what you need, when you need. We support you with all the expertise, tools and tips we've acquired over more than 30 years in business. We help you get your content under control, then re-use it to maximise value. So you can get back to what you know best – creating content – and leave the bulk of filing, metadata management and content backup and security to Preferred Media.
Are you coming to SMPTE 2017? We'd love to see you at Stand A54. Contact us in advance to book an appointment. Or simply drop by on the day to learn how MediaPhile can get your content working harder. We'll be running demos so you can see it in action.
Plus, one lucky stand visitor will win a GoPro camera. So you can record even more great content in the future.
Competition Details:
NSW Permit No. LTPS/17/15478
Preferred Media Go-Pro Giveaway Terms & Conditions.


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Take a look at the Cascade by Drew! With adjustable straps at the toe, vamp and heel you can guarantee that your feet will be comfortable throughout the entire day! A velcro® brand fastened footbed ensures a stable base or you can remove it to accommodate a prescribed orthotics.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!


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We just published a new video showing how time sheets and expenses are created, managed and approved in our Abak Web module.
The Abak Web module allows anyone with a login and password to the system to gill out their time sheet and expense report, without the need to install anything on their computer. In fact, it's possible to fill out your time sheet from any computer equipped with Internet access.
Watch the video to know more:


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This past week I started "nesting" or so it seems because all of a sudden one afternoon I went into the nursery and started getting it all organized and ready. It is 80% done. All I need are a couple minor details which I hope to finish by the end of this week so I can post the full reveal next week! I can't wait to show you all! It's just as I imagined! To view the design board I created for the nursery click here. I am in LOVE with the mobile! It is my favorite part of the whole nursery. I will be posting sources and more info once I put up the full reveal. Stay Tuned....
November 19, 2012
The Nursery Preview
4 comments:
Kohls owl?!!?! I was gonna get that yesterday :DReplyDelete
I can tell already it's gonna be so cute! Yea! Love the owl :)ReplyDelete
how cute!! i love the little details! :) now i can't help imagining how the rest of the nursery will come together!! :)ReplyDelete
Oh my! These previews look A-dorable! LOVE the color scheme and that mobile is indeed too cute!!! Can't wait to see the rest! :)ReplyDelete
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My other Blog: StellaLou Farm
- A Papermaking Adventure October 9, 2019
Tag Archives: creekside co-op
Roasted vegetables…again?
Excellent! I've invited a brilliant Chiogga to the party! Chiogga beets, sweet potato, onion, celeriac, and rosemary (roasting in the oven as I write.) I purchased my first Chiogga Beet from the Creekside Co-op in Elkins Park and have been … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged beets, Chiogga beet, creekside co-op Leave a comment
Where is he going?
Hey, J! Where are you going on this beautiful sunny morning? Mind if I tag along? Whoa-ho! The new Creekside Food Co-op! I'm with YOU! Lets go shopping! Look! You can buy local. You can buy organic. You can buy … Continue reading
Posted in Community, Elkins Park, Uncategorized Tagged creekside co-op, creekside food co-op, Elkins Park 1 Comment


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Admission requirements
What are the admission requirements to have acces to the University Master Degree Hotel Management?
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Attend one of our information sessions or ask for a personal interview. We accompany you in your decision-making process!
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What do you have to do to start your admission process to the University Master Degree Hotel Management?
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After completing the admission process, book your place. We are waiting for you!
If you want to request information you can fill this form. One of our advisors will contact you in order to solve your doubts and offer you all the information that you need.


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Strategy is the most central issue in management. It has to do with defining the purpose of an organization, understanding the market in which it operates and the capabilities the firm possesses, and putting together a winning plan. There are manyMoreStrategy is the most central issue in management. It has to do with defining the purpose of an organization, understanding the market in which it operates and the capabilities the firm possesses, and putting together a winning plan. There are many influential frameworks to help managers undertake a systematic reflection on this issue.
The most dominant approaches are Michael Porter's Competitive Strategy and the Resource-Based View of the Firm, popularized by Gary Hamel and C.K. Prahalad. Arnoldo Hax argues there are fundamental drawbacks in the underlying hypotheses of these approaches in that they define strategy as a way to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. This line of thinking could be extremely dangerous because it puts the competitor at the center and therefore anchors you in the past, establishes success as a way of beating your competitors, and this obsession often leads toward imitation and congruency.
The result is commoditization - which is the worst outcome that could possibly happen to a business.The Delta Model is an extremely innovative view of strategy. It abandons all of these assumptions and instead puts the customer at the center. By doing that it allows us to be truly creative, separating ourselves from the herd in pursuit of a unique and differentiated customer value proposition. Many years of intense research at MIT, supported by an extensive consulting practice, have resulted in development of powerful new concepts and practical tools to guide organizational leaders into a completely different way of looking at strategy, including a new way of doing customer segmentation and examining the competencies of the firm, with an emphasis on using the extended enterprise as a primary way of serving the customer.
This last concept means that we cannot play the game alone- that we need to establish a network among suppliers, the firm, the customers, and complementors – firms that are in the business of developing products and services that enhance our own offering to the customer.
Illustrated through dozens of examples, and discussion of application to small and medium-sized businesses and not-for-profits, the Delta Model will help readers in all types of organizations break out of old patterns of behavior and achieve strategic flexibility -- an especially timely talent during times of crisis, intense competition, and rapid change.
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"I love the moment when I see something extra hidden in the ordinary of a culture. Usually it is woven so tightly into the fabric of a country that it's impossible to see without removing ones cultural lenses. When something extraordinary emerges, I know creativity has struck."
Jessica Joelle Alexander is a bestselling author, Danish parenting expert, columnist, speaker, and cultural researcher. Her work has been featured in the NY Times, Vanity Fair, NPR, Huffington Post, Mothermag and the Greater Good Science Center Berkley. Her book The Danish Way of Parenting: what the happiest people in the world know about raising confident, capable kids, is coming out in over 19 counties in 15 languages. She writes for The Huffington Post, The Copenhagen Post & The Local Denmark. Jessica speaks four languages and lives with her Danish husband and two children in Europe.
"Jessica has written a number of very successful columns for The Local that have resonated with our Danish and international readers. Her unique insider/outsider perspective on Denmark has given readers valuable and entertaining insight into Danish culture and thanks to the success of her book, she has quickly become a respected expert on Danish parenting. Jessica's columns for The Local have been read widely and have even been cited by influential media from around the world, including the New York Times."
"Engaging and authentic are the words that come to mind when I think about Jessica Joelle Alexander as a public speaker. I had the pleasure of working with Jessica on a talk and Q&A for the promotion of her book, The Danish Way of Parenting. Not only was I impressed by Jessica's ability to connect with the audience through her storytelling, but also inspiring them to adopt principles in her book."
"I had the chance to work with Jessica during the preparation of an internal event @Google where she participated as guest speaker. Not only I appreciate her as a reader of her best-selling book, but also as a highly professional, passionate and charismatic speaker. Her authenticity is truly charming."
"Jessica Alexander is a thought-provoking and very talented author with an amazing ability to observe and to think critically yet constructively and positively. She ably draws from her personal multicultural experiences to shed a new light on any aspect of life. I can't wait to read more from this wonderful author."


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Yes! Every job in JobScore has a unique URL. If you already have inventory, keep posting jobs the way you do now, but instead of routing applications to your e-mail address (i.e. firstname.lastname@example.com), please select the "candidates apply over the web" option and copy and paste the unique URL for the job from your careers site into your job postings. This way your applicants are routed directly into JobScore. If you are having trouble figuring this out please don't hesitate to email email@example.com letting us know which job board is giving you trouble, & we'll be happy to help out.
Unfortunately, if you don't purchase postings through JobScore, you can't get the full source-tracking benefits of one-click posting. We recommend that once you've used up your pre-purchased inventory that you switch over and start purchasing postings through JobScore so you get accurate source tracking reports.


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Of course you already knew that from the last post but it's quite fun to say!
So here's the thing. Anyone out there peruse Martha Stewart Weddings?
My favorite part of each issue is "One Thing I Learned . . . "
It's where real brides and grooms (mostly brides) write in and tell something that they really learned from their weddings. REAL LIFE HERE PEOPLE!
That is valuable, not what some wedding book tells you or all the people out there who want to sell you something and all that.
As I'm entering this wedding planning process I would love input from YOU my readers, lurkers, occasional drop-ins - whatever you'd like to call yourselves.
There will probably be specific topics from time to time or questions but first off I'd just love any comments you care to leave with general wedding planning advice garnered from your own personal experience in planning or attending weddings.
***now for the disclaimer: my dear friend Marla just today told me that what she was sharing with me was her opinion, one opinion, and that I would be getting lots of those so to just remember that it was an opinion and to do what I want. I like that. Please don't get your feelings hurt if you leave a comment and I do something different. Thanks! Kelly


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The Selected Short Fiction of Lisa Moore
Open and Degrees of Nakedness
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Lisa Moore's stories are bright, emotionally engaging, tangible. She marks out the precious moments of her characters' lives against deceptively commonplace backdrops — a St. John's hospital cafeteria lit only by the lights in the snack machines; a half-built house "like a rib cage around a lungful of sky" -- and the results linger long in the memory. The Selected Short Fiction of Lisa Moore shows us that love, alongside desire, can sometimes come as a surprise, sometimes an ambush. She splices moments and images together so adroitly, so vividly, you'll swear you've lived them yourself. This new volume, bringing together Lisa Moore's first two books of stories, Open and Degrees of Nakedness, is the very best way to encounter one of the finest short-story writers in the country. This edition features a brilliant new introduction by Jane Urquhart on the importance of Moore's work.


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This section of our web site is devoted to sharing the live feeds from our emergency calls.? Technology has provided the department with powerful tools that can help us review our actions at the scene and learn from our experiences.? This has proven to be a very valuable training tool as we serve the community.
Viewing on a mobile device – click here.


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LC 3 armchair, by Le...
Price €1,030.00
LC 3 sofa 2-seater is one of the most famous pieces of furniture designed by Le Corbusier in the Bauhaus age. This 2-seater forms with the armchair and the three seater an unforgettable comfort for discerning guests and business partners.
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Hi friends, it's me again, yours truly. Now, I have always been quite open in my blogs, open while being humorous, and while also not being so open in a sense. Although a lot of my writings are honest I mask my feelings with jokes and whatnot. This one will be a little different.
I want to tell you a story about my Mr. Wonderful.
As you all know I have recently been single (2 yrs). I am hitting the dating scene and the one night scene. I am finally enjoying my single-dom. During the summer, I was going at it full force, probably partying more than I should, probably fucking around more than a young lass, like myself should, but ya know….fuck it (literally).
One night, my girlfriends and I went to this hole in the wall place for late night cocktails (yes the same hole in the wall where I met The White Whale). I was scoping out the new crop of servers (all males…..yuuuummmmmmmyyy) when one gentlemen caught my attention. He was tall, dark and handsome. On top of all that he was a white boy! (SCORE!!!! Side note: I am not a racist, I am just honest, I know what I like, white boys with no culture is so my thang!) My curiosity was peaked! How could I have not ran into this man before. Now, I have an in. What I mean is when I see someone I like I stare at them constantly. I stare and stare and stare until they meet my eyes. This gentlemen, turned around immediately looked at me, I smiled, he smiled and there you have it. I'm in.
Now, it wasn't immediate bumping naughty bits. Oh no! I did have to chase the man a bit. Not tapping on his window chasing, but setting up my marks, so that one day he would just fall inside me. We did keep running into each other. Not only because I forced my friends to go to the shitty joint he served at every weekend, but we ended up at the same parties. No real conversation between us ever in these early stages, just looks and my want to mount him. Seriously, every time I saw him, my vagina tingled, my stomach had butterflies and in some regard, I was pissed off. Why? Because, I am supposed to be a confident, young, fierce woman, ready to take any cock on. But he made me feel like a little school girl. (Side note: He's so dreamy.)
One night, while at the hole in the wall, he was off shift hanging out and having drinks with his friends. Already two double scotches in, I finally muster up the courage to invite him over. He sits beside me, I buy us some shots, he thanks me, and goes back to his friends. Fuck me! How did this not work? Usually I buy shots and men thank me by giving me a little finger bang under the table. But he didn't. Instead he did what only a gentlemen would do. He thanked me and carried on with his night.
Another night I was with a larger group of friends. We were all in the back room/the bath house of this place, and I drank and drank. He comes in the back to say hi to us all (at this point in time, we were on a face term basis-meaning we didn't know each others names yet). This time I stepped up my game. I bought this lovely fellow what I was drinking, a Guinness. And behold, one of his favourite bevys to sip on. I had know idea, I swear. He is impressed with my choice, but let's face it, I can be pretty impressive….
So this time I go for the finger bang!! Haha, only kidding. I slyly/notsoslyly, place my hand on his leg and all of a sudden he puts his hand on mine. Romantic right? NOPE! Not even close, he had put his hand on mine only to remove it. How rude! Or at least I thought in the moment. Looking back, he was a gentleman. Furious, I go in for a kiss. And it was like an agressive, whythefuckwontyoufuckmealready kinda kiss. He leans away, and simply says He can't. My thoughts, Sure ya can, just put those sexy lips on my lips and let loose! But, alas, as mentioned before, he was a gentlemen.
Alright, so I conceded. I came to terms with, maybe he just isn't into me. And normally I would be someone to never give up and pull out all the fucking stops for this bloke to like me. But I couldn't. Not with him. As much as I wanted him to be another notch on my belt, I also wanted him to want it too and if he didn't then, it wasn't meant to be.
Now, we did continue to run into each other. We flirted, I mellowed out and stopped trying to throw my beaver at him, and something happened. We were out at a friends place, and I left to take a wiz. On the toilet, tinkling away the door opens. Normally, when someone opens the bathroom door and I am sitting on a porcelain throne, I would be mortified. But he opened it, walked in, closed the door and smiled. I sat, I peed, and peed, and peed, looked at him, wiped…..and man or man, I so wanted to pee in his mouth. Don't ask why, I just wanted to, so deal.
Something had come over us. I stood up and awkwardly wiped the piss dripping down my leg. Buttoned up my pants, he walked over to me and kissed me. HE KISSED ME GUYS! It was absolutely wonderful. We made out for awhile in the bathroom. Our hands slid all over each other, and I slid my hand onto his …..well….you know….and HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, IF THIS DUDE'S DAD AIN'T ZEUS, OR THOR OR DWAYNE THE ROCK JOHNSON….it's a fucking Christmas miracle. It was so beautiful, but extremely intimidating. I can deep throat anything, but this was going to be quite a challenge. I have to strategically plan out my breaths, as to when I could come up for air.
Taking a moment, to daydream about this encounter…….
So, that night we didn't…well I didn't earn my stripes….He had to leave, and alas, once again I was all alone.
Don't worry folks, we did eventually get there. I remember the first time quite vividly, considering I was shit-faced. It was amazing! I came so quickly, and did so over and over again it was whats the word….dare I say wonderful? I had never been with someone who fucked so beautifully. And I fucked a lot of people. Eventually, he woke up bright and early and left, like a ninja. That bastard, pulled my move! That's my move, a little awkward since we were at his place, but nonetheless I was impressed.
So I did it, I finally shaboink him. And although I wanted to again and again and again….I knew it was only going to be a one time deal. Or so I thought. (You can't see it right now, but I am smiling so hard).
We ran into each a few more times, occasionally he would serve me at the hole in the wall. During these times, I would give an extra generous tip as a thank you for his very generous tip. We didn't really flirt during these encounters, we were polite towards one another and that was pretty much it….UNTIL….one night he asked me what I was doing later, and of course with my wry wit, I said him. Sure enough, round 2, then 3, then 4….and THEN!!!
Our fucking, turned into something more. We would wake up next to each other, and neither of up would be running for the hills. I would drive him home, when usually I would call a cab. (Tangent: I really enjoyed the drives back to his place. We had great in-depth conversations. He was insightful, he was funny, he was incredibly intelligent. He had substance to him…I was really starting to like him….MOVING ON!!!!!!!!!)
We started seeing each other more often, and it wasn't just to bang. It was to be in good company. We were just a couple of swells, trying not to be a thang. You see friends, me and Mr. Wonderful were quite similar. We were both sexual devients, we were slags, we had serious commitment issues, enjoyed the same brews, laughed at the same things, we enjoyed reading, even our moves were the same. I remember one time I woke up to him giving me head. THAT'S MY MOVE!
I'm not going to lie it was scary, we were messing up each others game. I would try to fall back, but simply couldn't. I would wake up, he was the first person I thought about. He was constantly in my head. I didn't want this, I didn't want to actually like. But I just couldn't help myself.
One morning, something happened. He said those three words that every girl dreams of. That is every girl dreams of, except me. I loved and lost once my friends, to do that again is just too much. I didn't know what to say. I grabbed my things and left. I remembered the drive home, I was so confused. My emotions were all over the place. This man was just everything I want in a man and I left. Like a coward, ran away.
When I got back to my place, he left one message on my phone,
Yup, just my thoughts exactly. Why? Because I loved him back.
Now, you have to understand folks, this was maybe two months into us knowing each other. Although we had all these similarities, we were really just strangers. Strangers in love I guess. I did however respond with,
I love you, too.
We did continue to see one another. Without a label of course. We knew we loved each other, but we weren't ready for a relationship (odd, I know). Even when we were out in public our PDA went wild. We started being that disgusting couple that can't keep their hands off one another, we even sat on the same side of the table. GROSS! I KNOW!!!
He still fooled around with others as did I. But at some point he confided in me. He wasn't hooking up with anyone else. I wanted to say the same thing, but I couldn't. I did however, tell him I felt guilty and did just fantasize about him anyways. You are probably thinking What the fuck Cait! This guy really likes you, not just likes you but loves you. Not only that he isn't sleeping with anyone else….why the fuck are you fucking this up! You love him too, get your fucking shit together! I know, I thought the same. I always find a way to fuck up a good thing. Mr. Wonderful was so imperfectly perfect. And here I was, being my usually slutty, no feeling self.
He went away for a mini vacay with his best mate. And I finally mustered the courage to say something I never thought I would via text message.
Why can't I be yours, and you just be mine?
He never responded. I finally, put myself out there, I finally opened up about my true feelings for someone, and he didn't respond. I finally, admitted to myself, that I may not being completely ready for a relationship, I was terrfied! But for him, I wanted to try. You see Cait, this is why you don't put yourself out there like that! You don't open up, you take what you need so you don't feel anymore. You avoid any sign of love because you don't want to be hurt. Why the fuck would you do that to yourself!?
Recently, he came back, and I've only seen him once. I sense he is certainly falling back. He has messaged, but seldom. I message him yearning for some sort of comfort, hoping he will want to meet up again, but I always fuck everything up. I have seen him since, but only once.
I still think about our morning drives, waking up next him, us doing terrible impersonations of The Count hah ah ah…., drinking stouts, listening to his stories, going for breakfast, taking my dog for a walk with him, but we aren't at those moments anymore. Either we were strangers in love, or strangers in something we thought was love. Regardless of the game, it has seems I have lost again.
He is really wonderful though. And although it seems we have drifted away, I am very thankful that he was my Mr. Wonderful, even if only for a little while.


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(CBS) Britney Spears and Kevin Federline are still not legally married despite a weekend ceremony that was such a surprise not even the parents and bridesmaids knew they were going to a wedding ... Jess Cagle, People magazine senior editor and contributor to The Early Show, "A lot was complicated because they moved up the date and next week, they're going to file all of the paper work," he said ... So they're not legally married now? "Not yet, although they have sort of followed everything by the book and that is the next bump in the story that you're going to see: The wedding was a fake. It's really not."
Sounds to me like it's a matter of paperwork ... CBS also has the first of the wedding pictures that will be featured in this week's People magazine:
The CBS news article also clears up a lot of misinformation about the wedding itself:
- Absolutely NO ONE who attended the "event" knew it was going to be the wedding.
- Kevin's children were at Disneyland at the time of the wedding and were not in attendance.
- Everyone wore classy, tailored outfits that were fitted weeks ago and secretly brought to the residence where the wedding took place; "All of the groomsmen and the bridesmaids had had their clothes fitted the week before so those clothes were secretly brought to the house," Cagle said. "They said, 'Surprise, we're getting married, here are your clothes. Get in them.'"
- Reports that there was a cash bar are untrue; "I think after they all went out to a club, maybe some people paid for their drinks," Cagle said. "However, they did get a drink free at the house after the reception."
- The CBS report also states that a prenup was signed.


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Often out of drunkenness and/or just plain boredom, my gaggle of friends will gather around my computer as we try to decide which diva gave the best rendition of what song randomly entered our heads. The most common face-off has been over the Star Spangled Banner, but since Whitney died, it has become bittersweet. The other options are almost always Broadway.
This week is inspired by noticing a friend and I both posted the video of Bette Midler's turn as Mama Rose within 24 hours of each other on our Facebook walls without any reason other than some gay spiritual connections. There is a HUGE number of versions out there, so I have included my favorites after the jump. Who do you think does it the best?


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