text:
I'm doing a series on the taiso, or activity-specific warm-ups that we do in aikido class (and occasionally in judo too.) Above is another film of a nicely-done variant of this exercise. None of these videos will look exactly like I do them or teach them - and that's because The Walk is a very auto-didactic thing - it is a thing that you experiment with over time to teach yourself about movement. Not only does everyone do The walk differently from me, but everyone draws different lessons from it.
Regarding the second set of movements - Wakiashi...
- Here, as in the entire taiso (and all of aikido), we are practicing drop step again. This time the drop-step is directly to the side.
- In any of these drop-step exercises, it may be helpful to get the feel of the drop by taking larger-than-usual steps so that you get a larger-than-usual drop. But after you get a handle on the concept of drop step, you will probably want to dial your steps back down to small, conservative steps - and you may even want to experiment with smaller-than-usual drop steps.
- Wakiashi illustrates a thing that also occurs throughout these taiso. That is, working most, if not all possible combinations. For instance, by doing the sidesteps in the pattern given to us - left-right-right-left-right-left-left-right, we get too practice single sidesteps in either direction, double sidesteps in either direction, and switching directions left-to-right and right-to-left. This sort of repetition covering most conceivable combinations is found throughout The Walk.
- We usually think of this as an evasion, but wakiashi is useful for other purposes - namely power transfer. Try thinking about it as dropping your weight into uke, driving with the side seam (the waki) of your jacket as in gedanate or perhaps iriminage. One of my instructors even showed me a strange and wonderful sumiotoshi using wakiashi as the power mechanism.
- This sidestep is also useful in spending momentum when switching from moving from one direction to the opposite direction. For instance, if you are moving forward and you stop to move backward, you will have to take some time to control your momentum and get back to neutral before you can move backward. On the other hand, you can move forward, then make a sidestep and move backward immediately - the sidestep spends some of your momentum while keeping you in motion so you're not a sitting duck.
Want to discuss this blog post?
Come find me on Facebook at my Mokuren Dojo FB group
Patrick Parker


text:
Region – As a solemn reminder of the difference between Veterans' Day and Memorial Day, the group Fallen Heroes made a presentation for sophomores and juniors at Assabet Valley Regional Technical School in Marlborough. Michael Devin, retired Marine Corps captain, listened as a student correctly explained that Veterans' Day recognizes all of our veterans, while Memorial Day is reserved to honor those that have fallen in the line of duty. In particular, Fallen Heroes focuses on those lost since 9-11. It is their mission to honor fallen veterans, assist the Gold Star families (those who have lost a family member), and empower returning veterans.
This weekend marked the first anniversary of the dedication of a new memorial in the Seaport district in Boston to recognize and honor those veterans who were killed in the line of duty. It is the first of its kind in America.
"We ask that it be a reminder to think about those who never came home, because their families are remembering that every single day. For the Gold Star families, every day is Memorial Day," explained Devin.
A very moving video was shown, interviewing some Gold Star family members, and other veterans, recounting how protecting our freedom comes at a cost. Steven Xiarhos, father of an infantryman who was killed, reiterated how we must all keep the spirit alive for these fallen heroes, that they did not die in vain.
"Try to do what's right, even when no one is watching," he urged.
As the video continued, the high school students were completely silent, caught up in the solemnity of the event.
Lindsey Arsenault lost her brother, Brian, Sept. 9, 2014, in Afghanistan. She recalled how Memorial Day in 2015 affected her family.
"I saw how commercialized this day has become, with mattress sales and car sales, and realized that so many have missed that point that this is a day to remember the fallen. It is a day for honor, respect and remembrance," she said. "So have your picnics and barbecues, but pause for a moment and think about the ultimate sacrifices that have been made just so that the rest of us can enjoy our freedoms."
Fallen Heroes was organized in Massachusetts in 2010 by Boston firefighters, local Veterans, Gold Star families, and police officers. The initial goal was to raise funds to erect a memorial to those who have been lost in the Global War on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. That goal has been realized, but now the scope has increased to serve as liaisons in support of local veterans, their families and Gold Star families. For more information, visit www.massfallenheroes.org.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Anne Arundel County police are investigating the death of a retired teacher found in a Glen Burnie, Md., parking lot Friday morning.
Police responded to a call for a sick or injured person in the parking lot of the Pep Boys and Gavigan's Furniture in the 7300 block of Ritchie Highway at 10:51 a.m. They found a woman who'd been shot inside a vehicle, authorities said.
The woman was identified as 62-year-old Myra Cason, a former teacher in the county. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Earlier Friday, Cason was seen leaving Maryland Primary Care Physicians at about 7:50 p.m. She pulled into the parking lot where her body was found at about 8:30 a.m., authorities said.
Police are investigating Cason's death as a homicide and said it appears to be robbery-related.
Anyone with information about this case should call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP or text "MCS" plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).


text:
…And It's Proving To Be A Modern Home Favourite.
You may have noticed a couple of our ranges have been discontinued to make way for new furniture ranges, both in store and online. LPC Furniture have not only added a beautiful children's range and a quirky Urban Chic range, we've now added a NEW solid oak range – meet 'Atlas'.
We're pretty confident this will be a very popular range among oak fans. Simple yet stunning, modern and fashionable this collection is full of character and will complement any space. The Atlas solid oak furniture range has a chunky and contemporary style suitable for the dining room, living room, home office & bedroom.
The Atlas solid oak collection captures the popularity of oak furniture, featuring chunky oak construction complemented with contemporary lines and a soft satin lacquer finish emphasising the character of the oak grain.
Not just for the living and dining room, this solid oak collection feature plenty of contemporary bedroom furniture.
No veneers, the Atlas range is crafted from the highest grade selected solid oak throughout. And of course, like all our ranges, our timber is environmentally friendly – all our oak is sustainable and sourced from managed plantations.
No solid oak furniture collection would be complete without a dining set! Comes in both a 4/6 seater and a 6/8 seater.
We hope you'll love this solid oak range as much as we do! Shop the Atlas collection online for the best prices or pop into your local store, Morecambe, Lancaster or Kendal, for more information, where our friendly sales staff will be more than happy to help you.


text:
Beautiful, beautiful Jean stuns on her wedding day in our Plum Pretty Sugar for BHLDN robe in Persimmon Hears Her Wish print. Captured beautifully by Katch Studios, we love the blush combination of floral upon floral.
{ More Plum Pretty Sugar real-life brides here: 1, 2, 3 }
Photo by: Katch Studios
Florals by: Boston Pollen


text:
It's that time of week again, where we get to know more of the kickass talent out there! As someone who loves meeting people, particularly creative people, this post has been a joy, and I've found everyone's answers fascinating!
Today let's welcome Paula Millhouse!
What writing quote means the most to you?
Via the awesome Chuck Wendig: "Finish your shit." While at first his words may sound crass, the truth is in the quote for writers. You started that story. Finish it. That's the only way through. Writers write. End of discussion.
Ha, I love that! Couldn't agree more. What about inspiration? Where do you draw it from?
Writing is my therapy, my way back to myself, a sort-of Zen meditation if you will. This crazy old world can challenge the best and the worst in us, and writing helps me diffuse. Temperance is a value I hold dear – the philosophy that we should take it for granted that people act for good despite their circumstances.
Out of all the characters you've written, are there any you're so attached to that you could write stories about them forever?
My dragonlet Magnus is my favorite character. He's young, and full of whimsy, and adventure with so much to learn about the world. He's got this huge destiny, but he's just this intelligent youngling thrown into an impossible situation. I think I could write about him discovering his world forever.
For those curious, we have a picture!
For many of us, we travel through our writing, but when it comes to real life vacations, do you have a dream one?
A cruise on the Mediterranean Sea to visit the Greek Isles. The landscape there, and the history fascinates me. Not to mention the food, and the Ouzo! Second choice – Scotland.
Any projects you're really excited to share with us?
Chalvaren Rising, my first professionally edited and produced Fantasy Romance novel with Boroughs Publishing Group. I blended the genres, and while traditional bookstores might have a hard time shelving the novel, it seems like the perfect marriage of story to me. Most fantasy books don't have enough romance for me, and I find magic lacking in most straight romances. Hey, all those Hobbits and Elves and Dragons had to come from somewhere, right?
That sounds fantastic! Not going to lie, I'm intrigued–I feel the same way about blending fantasy and romance. When you're taking a break from writing, what TV shows do you check out?
I gotta go with The Big Bang Theory. Just enough Geek there to make me smile, and the humor is huge – exactly what I need after a hard day at work. I'm a recovering Outlander. Honestly, I still haven't decided if I'll give Starz another chance next season after the last two episodes.
What about in the book-o-sphere?
I'm currently reading The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness. I enjoyed Marilyn Baxter's Direct Deposit, a great contemporary. And I just picked up Solid Ground – the premise sounds perfect for my kind of story.
The Book of Life looked pretty intriguing–let me know how it is! And I hope you enjoy Solid Ground : ) Now to my favorite question–what's your zodiac sign?
Aquarius. It's true, I can never make up my mind, and as a character flaw, I'll admit I can hold a grudge for over a year if you cross me. I'm working on that with respect to my goal of Temperance…
Are there any pet peeves that will make you put a book down?
The heroine who's too stupid to live. I know we've got to showcase internal conflict as writers, but nothing drives me battier than a woman who can't make up her mind. I appreciate kick-ass heroines who harbor dark secrets and aren't afraid to act on good instincts. I love to read about gals who know who/what they want, and go for it despite the odds.
Where can readers find you and your books?
Find the Author here:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Boroughs Publishing Group / Pinterest
The Dragonstone has returned. With the love of Kort, Chalvaren's warrior-prince heir, Mia Ansgar will seize her birthright and become the great dragon-riding wizardess prophesied to free that elven kingdom from her embittered sorceress kin.
Twenty-five years ago, Theo Ansgar abandoned the Kingdom of Chalvaren for a hiding place on another world. Some called him traitor. Some, thief. Now his fully grown daughter Mia must return to the land of her birth…and their war.
It was the elf prince Kort Elias who brought her back. Theirs was an instant connection, an inescapable union of body, soul and sorcery, reminding Mia of what she truly is, and what she must become. There is also Magnus, destined to be more potent than any wyrm Chalvaren has ever seen, a three-day-old dragonlet Mia must nurture and then ride. And then there is the Dragonstone, an artifact of power nonpareil. Joined, they can tip the scales of battle against the wraith-possessed forces of darkness, of Mia's own embittered kin. Redemption will be offered, the protected will become the protector, and an ancient prophecy will come to fruition, but only righteous love can conquer all.
Buy it here: Boroughs Publishing Group


text:
"A modern and incredible
Rodolfo Reyes comes from a famous foot juggling family, this sensational artist presents a balancing act in a new dimension. What most people cannot master with their hands, this artist can perform with his feet and always standing on his head.
His unbelievable body control has enabled him to work sucessfully in the most famous Theaters and Music Halls in the World.


text:
About Us
About Us
To let you know a little more about us, when I "transplanted" my husband, TJ, a few years ago to Cincinnati from Chicago, where he had over 27 years of experience in the industry, he took the job of Parts & Service Manager and Lead Technician for Moe's Outdoor Equipment in Springboro while acclimating himself to the area. He immediately recognized a tremendous lack of quality businesses offering PARTS, SERVICE and REPAIR of TRAILERS and OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT (especially if one wanted to have everything fixed in one place), so we formed D & T Equipment & Trailer Repair to meet those needs throughout the Greater Cincinnati/Dayton area.
As a Veteran-Owned Family Business in Mason, we would be honored to become a vendor for your PARTS, SERVICE and WARRANTY REPAIR on all types of Trailers & Outdoor Equipment, for both Commercial and Residential Accounts. This includes anything from Mowers, Trimmers, Blowers, Tillers, Sprayers, Pressure Washers and Chainsaws, to Chippers, Concrete Equipment, Tampers, Trench Diggers, Stump Grinders and so much more.
We are an AUTHORIZED WARRANTY REPAIR, SERVICE and PARTS DEALER for many brands, to include Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Kohler, Kawasaki, Husqvarna, GNC Industries (Sprayers), QwikChute, American Road Machinery (Terrain Pros/Mat'l Movers), Dosko, Hydro-Gear, Tuff Torq and more, to include being an AUTHORIZED WARRANTY DEALER for Engines on the above listed brands as well.
We maintain a Large Inventory of Parts for All Types of Trailers and Outdoor Equipment; and perform complete inspections on every trailer that comes into the shop and provide an estimate within 24 - 48 hours on recommended and/or necessary repairs. Outdoor Equipment is also diagnosed quickly so that we can review recommended repairs with you and order any parts we do not have in stock while receiving 99% of them next day. This enables us to provide Top-Quality Service and Quick Turn-Around on almost every repair; whether you have an in-house maintenance facility to do the work or want us to do the repairs.
We appreciate the fact that many companies have their own maintenance team to complete the majority of their own repairs. However, as we all know, sometimes special circumstances arise where you need an outside service provider. Maybe you need a Specialist for Major Engine Repairs, Welding, Electrical, Hydraulics, Suspension, Floor/Panel Replacement or even Special Fabrication. Maybe your team is inundated with just too many repairs at one time and you simply need an outside source to help catch everything up. Aside from all the Routine Maintenance, General Service and Warranty Repairs, we can assist with anything from Chain Sharpening, Blade Sharpening & Balancing, Tune-Ups, Lights and Wiring, to Tires, Brakes, Hubs and Bearings, Complete Axle Assemblies and Installation of Mulching Kits, Striping Kits, QwikChutes and so much more.
In addition, we offer Pick-Up & Delivery, After-Hours & Emergency Service. We know that when your equipment is down, so is the profitability, efficiency and productivity of your business, making it vitally important to get that equipment up and running immediately. We look forward to partnering with you in making this happen.
As veterans involved in our community, we offer Active Military, Veteran, EMS, Fire, Police, Teachers, Medical and Senior Citizen Discounts to give back just a small token of our Appreciation for their Service as well.
Thank you, in advance, for your consideration; and please feel free to stop by, call or email any time.
Have a Blessed Day and Make it Amazing!
Dana & TJ Mihal


text:
Xiaomi today announced a small update to its range of televisions in India. The three new models called Mi LED TV 4C Pro, Mi LED TV 4A Pro and Mi LED TV 4 Pro largely bring new software improvements to the previous 32-inch and 55-inch models and bump up the 43-inch model to 49-inch.
The Mi LED TV 4C Pro is the cheapest model. It has a 32-inch, 1368×768 resolution panel, likely a VA panel as with previous Mi LED TV models. For audio you get 20W stereo speaker system with DTS-HD surround sound. Inside is an Amlogic chipset with quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU and Mali-450 GPU, along with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. On the connectivity side are 3x HDMI (1 ARC), 2x USB, 1x Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm audio, Wi-Fi 802.11n, and Bluetooth 4.0. This model is priced at INR 14,999 ($206).
Mi LED TV 4C Pro
The Mi LED TV 4A Pro has a 49-inch, 1920×1080 LCD panel with 20W stereo speaker system with DTS-HD audio and the same chipset as the 4C Pro. You do however get 2GB of RAM but with the same 8GB storage space. Connectivity options are also identical to the 4C Pro. The 4A Pro is priced at INR 29,999 ($413).
Mi LED TV 4A Pro
The Mi LED TV 4 Pro has a 55-inch, 3840×2160 panel with HDR-10 support and 16W speaker system. It's powered by slightly different Amlogic chipset with the same CPU but a Mali-T830 GPU. There's also 2GB RAM and 8GB storage along with dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11n. The rest of the connectivity options are identical to the previous two models. Like the Mi LED TV 4, the new model also has an ultra-thin design that measures just 4.9mm thick at its thinnest point. This model is priced at INR 49,999 ($689).
Mi LED TV 4 Pro
All three models come with a new version of Xiaomi's PatchWall UI based on Android 8.1 Oreo. It also includes Google Play Store support, which allows the users to install some apps. The new UI includes Hotstar, Hungama, Sony Liv, Woot, Eros Now, Zee5 along with Jio Cinema, Hooq, and Epic On. Amazon Prime Video support is also promised and will be coming later. However, Netflix is notably missing from the list and the app isn't available to download from Google Play Store for Android TV.
The Mi LED TV 4C Pro and the Mi LED TV 4A Pro will be available via Amazon India and Mi.com starting October 9, 9 PM IST. The Mi LED TV 4 Pro will be available on Flipkart and Mi.com starting October 10, 12 PM IST.
The previous Mi LED TV 4A 32 and Mi LED TV 4A 43 are still available while the Mi LED TV 4 55 has been discontinued.


text:
Marching Sticks
From $8.95 each
Below you'll find a list of percussion supplies that will be needed for the Westlake High School Percussion Program. I strongly suggest only purchasing the brands and models on this list and I do not encourage substitutions.
If you need to rent a practice marimba or xylophone for the upcoming year, you can visit the Marimba Rentals Page. The rentals are handled separately from the percussion class materials.


text:
About Us
Avalon Precision Metalsmiths was formed in 2014 with the merger of Avalon Precision Castings in Cleveland, Ohio and Precision Metalsmiths Inc., also headquartered in Cleveland. Together these two proud investment casting companies have three locations: Cleveland, OH, Jackson, WI and Markesan, WI. Avalon, founded in 1983 and Precision Metalsmiths, founded in 1945, have enjoyed both technical and commercial success. We have now grown to become one of the finest metal casting companies in the industry. With four fully redundant facilities, we utilize state-of-the-art robotics and automation in all our processes, which helps us produce intricate, high precision, near-net metal parts from a range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
When you work with us, you're working with the best. We offer many competitive advantages, including: rapid turnarounds on quotes, samples, and production work; integrated, flexible, and responsive investment casting capabilities; machining and value-added services; competitive pricing; design assistance; and complete material integrity. We are ISO 9001:2015, PED, NADCAP certified for non-destructive testing, ITAR certified, and recently AS9100 certified. We are members of the Investment Casting Institute
We are a full-service, turnkey investment casting company. With three fully equipped facilities, we have redundant manufacturing capabilities that enable us to produce top quality products for our customers in industry-leading turnaround times. Unlike many of our competitors, we also offer off-shore casting capabilities to give our customers a lower-cost alternative with fast lead times.
We now regularly go beyond the simple supply of parts and are often fully engaged in the total management of our customer's casting supply chain, utilizing continuous flow, modular builds, KanBan and multiple production points.
For single prototype parts and low or high-volume production runs, for parts ranging from a few ounces to one hundred pounds, for parts as large as 36", for simple and complex designs—we are an investment casting company that can do it all. We offer unrivaled quality, precision, and lead times, as well as Just-In-Time production, Kanban programs, and more.
Request a quote today, or contact us to learn more about what makes us one of the industry's leading metal casting companies.


text:
Fullerton Golf Membership
The Benefits of Belonging
At Coyote Hills, we know that outstanding privileges and amenities are just as important as the intangible benefits that come with membership, such as a sense of community, camaraderie, and belonging. We offer exclusive, non-transferrable memberships with attractive finance options that give you access to a championship-quality golf course, along with a variety of amenities and first-rate service.
Member Advantage Plan
Our Member Advantage Plan includes these great deals:
- Advanced Tee Time Privileges – Members may make tee times up to 14 days in advance with no extra charge.
- Merchandise Advantage – Members receive a 10% discount on all merchandise in the Pro Shop, excluding sales items.
- Special Accompanied Guest Reduced Rate – Monday through Thursday for $60 and Friday through Sunday for $75. Limited of three guests per day.
- Interlinks Reciprocal Advantage – The Interlinks Reciprocal Advantage is a unique program that allows Coyote Hill Full & Limited Members to play at selected AGC daily fee courses for only a cart and reservation fee. Members can book tee times up to 60 days in advance by calling the Interlinks Office at (800) 501-7261.
Assessment-Free Advantage – The Assessment-Free Advantage ensures that Members never receive an assessment bill. Coyote Hills assumes full financial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coyote Hills fully private?
No, Coyote Hills is semi-private, offering traditional membership with initiation deposits and monthly membership dues.
What amenities does Coyote Hills offer?
Coyote Hills offers an 18-hole championship course, night-lit practice center complete with 18,000-square feet of bent Poa Annua putting greens, chipping areas, casual full-service dining and meeting & banquet facilities.
Will there be assessments for improvements on the golf course or in the Clubhouse?
As American Golf Corporation operates Coyote Hills, Members are not subject to assessment changes for club improvements or operating losses, as might be the case at equity clubs.
How will monthly dues, initiation deposits, and other membership fees be determined?
Dues are adjusted after careful evaluation, normally on an annual basis. Competition, market trends, quality of product, inflation, and current economic conditions are considered during this evaluation process. It is AGC's policy to institute a fair and reasonable dues structure at all times. Initiation deposits will be set at a level competitive with the country club market in Southern California.
When do I start paying dues?
Monthly dues are prorated according to the day of the month that you join the Club.
Is financing available for the initiation deposit?
Club financing is available for payment of the initiation deposit. Coyote Hills offers several attractive payment plans with a minimum amount down.
Is my initiation deposit ever refunded to me?
The initiation deposit is refundable to you after 30 years.
Will Coyote Hills permit tournaments and golf outings for non-members?
Yes, Coyote Hills will hold non-member tournaments and golf outings. We always strive to accommodate Member play even on tournament days.
May I bring guests to the club?
Yes, Members are allowed to bring guests to the club. Certain guest fees will apply.
What is the Coyote Hill's dress code?
Coyote Hills requires that all Members and their guests wear appropriate golf attire, including collared shirts and golf shoes when on the course. No jeans or denim is permitted on the golf course.
Are there any other Member monthly minimums?
Currently, Coyote Hills does not require a food and beverage or merchandise minimum, nor are there any locker room fees.
For additional information, please contact our Membership Department at (714) 672-6800, ext. 236.
Join GOLFZING.com and Save!
Get the lowest tee time rates available online and earn points toward free tee times! Plus, plug in to a community of golfers like you.
1440 E. Bastanchury Rd.
Fullerton, CA 92835
(714) 672-6800


text:
New Delhi [India], Oct 13 (ANI): World's largest and most experienced flower delivery service Interflora has announced the launch of its exclusive website for India - Interflora.in, which currently operates across the globe in major markets like US, UK, Australia, Europe and select Asian countries.
According to a Forrester Research report for 2017, the Indian market for e-commerce is expected to reach USD 64 billion by 2021, growing at a five-year CAGR of 31.2 percent. The gifting market in India has been pegged at USD 30 billion of which USD 400 million could be attributed to the digital space.
Flowers represent one of the largest category within online gifting contributing over USD 200 million and growing at a CAGR of 45 percent in the last five-years.
Known globally as 'The Flower Experts', Interflora handcrafts every floral arrangement and procures only the freshest flowers from certified international and local sources. Every day, thousands of people trust Interflora to deliver their good wishes and thoughtful sentiments on their behalf. But it's not just about being the largest - Interflora prides itself on being the most premium and personable too. Interflora.in will begin operations in Mumbai and then gradually expand to Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune in the next 12 months.
In keeping with its global standards, Interflora has set up an extensive back-end facility - the Interflora Flower Factory, to ensure seamless procurement, assembly and dispatch. A panel of local experts and international florist comprising of winners from the coveted Chelsea Flower Show have devised a catalogue of over 100 curated arrangements, procuring premium flowers from all over the globe specially for the Indian market.
"We're proud that so many award-winning florists would become a part of the Interflora India family. With all this talent to draw upon, we offer floral gifts that come with guaranteed shelf life and specially curated for every special occasion and every season too," said president and CEO Interflora India, Tarun Joshi.
"The current market landscape in India is a conducive one as consumers are more open to integrating new product categories for an enriched global lifestyle. We believe there is immense latent potential in the market and are excited to bring Interflora.in to India," added Joshi.
"With an almost century-old legacy, Interflora has always maintained quality and creativity at its foundation. India has the youngest population in the world with a growing appetite for new experiences. India is one of the most exciting International markets for us being a sound economy with an increasing preference for branded flowers," said president Interflora, Rhys Hughes. (ANI)


text:
Key Areas of Focus:
- Developing more power, accuracy and release time along with dekes.
- Utilizing your shots in different areas of your game.
- Creating an arsenal- Shooting in stride, shot selection, tips and screens, one timers, deflections & net battling.
- Backhand Shots
- 3 v 3 and small area games so player can use what he/she just learned to gain confidence.
Ages 6-15.
DATE: January 16, 2017 (MLK Holiday)
Group One: (Ages 6-9) 10:00am - 11:20am
Group Two: (Ages 10-15) 11:30am - 12:50pm
LOCATION: New England Sports Village, Attleboro, MA


text:
We don't usually do this kind of thing, but this review of Cams.com is going to contain a whole lot of praise. The reason for it is mostly because the site features a bunch of shit we've never seen before. But it also has to do with our appetite for quality. Put simply: Cams.com is definitely no slouch in terms of "customer satisfaction."
We set out to review Cams.com with no real expectations. After all, we've seen just about everything at this point. Knowing ahead of time that it was one of the more popular live sex cam sites out there, we figured maybe Cams.com would feature tons of A+ models or amazing camera and audio quality. It turns out that neither is true about Cams.com (although their shit is still pretty swank). What made the site worthy of our attention – and ultimately our review – was the combination of all its features together.
What it lacked in one area, it made up for in another. Where there were improvements to be made, innovations were being developed on the other side. It may not be perfect for everyone, but over 10,000 users can't be wrong. The world now has one of the very first live, interactive sex cam websites on the net. Oh, what a time to be alive! But before we get into why this joint is so smokin', let's discuss what the fuck Cams.com even is (and isn't).
Who, What, When, Why, How?
This mecca of debauchery is one of our favorite Fuck-Fest destinations for numerous reasons. Upon arrival, guests are ushered to the main page where hundreds of hot and bothered models are waiting. And while the thumbnail pictures are rather small, it isn't hard to find someone you like. Peruse the inventory using the search tool at the top to find a specific hooker, or browse the categories running down the left side of the page for quick access. From the looks of it, Cams.com is all about the business of getting shit done efficiently and we can appreciate that.
Furthermore, we mentioned that Cams.com was one of the very first interactive live sex cam sites on the web, right? If that's not enough to catch your attention, we don't know what is. There's something to be said about cramming a vibrator up the ass of a slut without using a condom, or having the slut do it to you with no strings attached. The best part about it is that you can use a toy from your inventory or buy one from their affiliate for pretty cheap. As long as the shit is Bluetooth ready, you're good to go. It's a BYOT party and everyone is invited.
Now, there is an admission fee for this site, but only if you think you need to pay it. By that we mean: Registration is free, but you get charged to play hard. You'll notice that the thumbnails on the main page are small and don't enlarge when you scroll over them. That's because the site admins want you to cough up the dough before you snag a hoe, meaning you need to click through and hopefully agree to a private show. There are ways around it, but we're playing by the rules here. Besides, the free shit is for rookies.
How Does This Work?
If you're new to the live sex cams game, we'd like to know where the fuck you've been for last 3 decades. However, if you're new to the interactive sex cams game, we totally understand your predicament. We weren't even sure what we were getting into ourselves, but we went for it anyway. Maybe that's why over half of us have multiple baby mamas and finicky cocks. Listen, we've got to blame it on something. Either way you look at it though, Cams.com is doing something revolutionary here and we want in on it.
As part of the CumTV hosting conglomerate, this site has the ability to pull from multiple web connections in a network of prime porn hubs, providing users with a one-of-a-kind experience that's about as close to the real thing as you can get without buying dinner first. Its interface is fully compatible with all major sex toys with Bluetooth syncing capabilities, and there are very few technical difficulties. For something as new and innovative as this, we expected more annoying issues that we could complain about later. Way to disappoint us, Cams.com.
The main site is pretty self-explanatory. You just search for what you want and let the party start itself. The Interactive side of the site is a bit different. First you have to find a model who has the "Connections" icon on her profile, and if they don't have someone you like then you're shit out of luck for a while. Successful searchers will then have to start a private show and click on the 2-Way button which brings up the "agree to pay" page. After the deal has been done, you can use the sliders on the side of the screen to increase or decrease the speed of the vibrator being used. This is where shit can get expensive, so keep an eye on your wallet and your watch.
Who's on the Site?
There are a lot of different models to choose from on the main page, and a search is always possible if the bitches highlighted don't do it for you. One thing we appreciated about Cams.com is that their categorical lineup is so expertly organized. Search for a hot hoe based on gender, age, size, ethnicity, kinky attribute, or even specialty. The models on this site are not even kidding when they say they'll do just about anything for money or votes. It's easy to get lost in a sea of skanks on Cams.com.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, the following pre-determined categories are up for grabs to your heart's content if you can learn how to swim through the female, male, and tranny sections of the site:
- Ages: 18-19, 20-25, 25-40, or mature
- Ethnicities: Asian, Ebony, Latin, White, Indian, Middle Eastern
- College Students
- Porn Stars
- Couples
- Threesomes
- Hair styles: Black, Blonde, Brunette, Redheads
- Curvy
- Petite
- Tit size: Huge, Big, Small, Flat Chested
- Foot Fetish
- High Heels Fetish
- Tattoos
- Bisexual
- Gay
- Lesbian
That's not a bad selection for a site that offers so many top-notch sluts, and we would know. Sometimes, it's not about quantity but quality. Fortunately for Cams.com, they've got the best of both worlds.
What's in It for Me?
This site has a bunch of user-friendly features that we found awesome. One of the best and most notable features of the Cams.com site is the Interactive option offered on the main page. This allows customers and models to take their "relationship" to the next level. We've mentioned it once before but we've got to say it again, this part of the puzzle is exactly what the industry needs.
Being able to control minute details of a vibrating dildo in real time is about as close as any of us are going to get to nailing a high-class hoe. No intimidation, no expensive dinners. Just you, the model, some Bluetooth sex toys, and hours of disgusting fun. No worries; you won't have to pay for a taxi or even look the bitch in the eye the next morning. While your initial registration won't get you anywhere with this, a paid membership grants you access into places the sun won't shine.
Also, notable: When you sign up you get some free shit immediately, and there is no credit card information required either. That meant we could test out the contents of the site without having to make a huge and potentially embarrassing commitment. After all, that's what these sites were invented for in the first place, right?
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
We try to be as thorough as possible when it comes to divulging the good, the bad, and the ugly of these live sex cam websites. Since many of them are quite similar, we sometimes find it difficult to discern between choices. When it came to Cams.com, however, we noticed glaring differences right away. Now, that's not to say that Cams.com is perfect. Here, we'll show you what we mean:
- Keep It in Your Pants – You won't be asked to whip out your wallet until you've decided Cams.com is worth your money. These bitches don't assume.
- Sort It Out – There's a special category just for the free content. Click on that before you do anything else.
- The Holy Trinity – Here, there are cams featured for all three of the major groups: women, men, and transsexuals. Way to be an equal opportunity host, Cams.com.
- Pay to Play – Although there is some free content, most of the good shit requires payment. Luckily, Cams.com gives away 100 free tokens when you register (for now).
- Conditional Love – They say variety is the spice of life, which might be why Cams.com has so many bitches on different professional levels. New, used, or gently worn, you'll find it.
- Keeping It Real – No guessing games on Cams.com. Each category has a ticker that tells how many models are available at any given time.
- Face Off – The Interactive Mode is killer and well worth the money. That's all we're gonna say.
- Extreme Close-Up – Since the thumbnails are small, you'll be tempted to click for a better look. However, those tiny pictures are all you'll get unless you want to register. End of discussion.
- Tower of Babel – There aren't as many language options on Cams.com as some of the others. For example, we didn't see German on there at all and German hoes are among the best.
- King of the Hill – While Cams.com has a shit ton of fine, professional-looking bitches, the amateur train is chugging along at the speed of light. We see a hostile takeover in the near future.
- Can You Hear Me Now? – The audio quality on the Interactive sector isn't the best, but then again, we have old equipment and the hoes probably do too. Not sure there's anything Cams.com can do about it.
- Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous – Although a lot of the content is free, some of it costs money. And by "costs money" we mean it's a tad more expensive than what we're used to.
- Who Cares? – It seems like the customer service agents in charge at Cams.com have much better things to do than help you with your concerns. Unless it's about the money they're not getting, you'd have more luck complaining to the wall.
When Judgment Day Comes
It took us a while to determine exactly how we felt about Cams.com, despite the fact that we were greatly impressed at first. We always check ourselves at the door, just in case. Luckily, that feeling of "love at first sight" stuck around long enough for us to check out all the site had to offer. About the time we discovered the Interactive section, we were already in love. Although we can't say Cams.com is our number one favorite live sex cam website on the net, we can say that we wouldn't mind visiting again or at the very least bragging about our latest conquests to the boys.
And while friendly customer service agents are very helpful for the most part, a well-designed website and fully trained models can solve a lot of problems before they arise. Maybe that's what Cams.com developers had in mind when creating this thing. We witnessed that ideal firsthand here – on a site that was developed to be extremely user-friendly so that the customer service reps don't have to be "bothered." If we had to rate this site overall (and we do), we'd slap on a nice 9 out of 10 score and move on with our day. It's obvious that Cams.com is a pioneer in the live virtual sex arena, so someone has to give credit where credit is due.


text:
American West
Outer Banks
American West
Sol Duc Falls, Olympic National Park
La Push (WA) Sunset
Mount Rainier from Reflection Lake, Mount Rainier National Park
Moraine Lake, Banff National Park
Sunrise, Reflection Lake, Mount Rainier National Park
Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park
Eroded Rocks, Shore Acres State Park (OR)
Merced River Reflection, Yosemite National Park
Big Sur Coastline (CA)
Hoh Rain Forest, Maple Grove, Olympic National Park
Bandon Beach (OR)
Spring Storm, Yosemite National Park
Half dome in the Fog, Yosemite National Park
Vernal Fall, Yosemite National Park
Fire Wave, Valley of Fire State Park (NV)
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
Elephant Rock, Valley of Fire State Park (NV)
Artist's Palette, death Valley National Park
Badwater Salt Flats, Death Valley National Park
Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park
Mesquite Flats Dunes, Death Valley National Park
Sunset, Joshua Tree National Park
Turret Arch Through North- Window, Arches National Park
Foggy Morning, Arches National Park
Lone Aspen, Boulder Mountain (UT)
Autumn, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Long Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (Utah)
Autumn, Zion National Park (UT)
Middle Emerald Pool, Zion National Park
Twisted Pine Closeup, Zion National Park
Long Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
The Watchman, Zion National Park
Twisted Pine, Zion National Park
Inspiration Point Sunrise, Bryce Canyon National Park
Sunrise, Bryce Canyon National Park
Starburst sunrise, Bryce Canyon National Park
Mitten Sunrise, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
The Wave, Coyote Buttes, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Coyote Buttes Reflection, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Totem Pole, Monument Valley National Tribal Park
Coyote Buttes, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Escalante Reflection, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Lone Rock Sunset, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Lower Antelope Canyon, Page, AZ
Water Holes Canyon, Page, AZ
Antelope Canyon, Page, AZ
Colorado River at North canyon, Grand Canyon National Park
Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon
Elves Chasm, Grand Canyon National Park
Sunrise from Mather Point, Grand Canyon National Park
Matkatamiba Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park
Nankoweap Sunset, Grand Canyon National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Rug Patterns, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
Street Sign, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
Cathedral Rocks, Sedona, AZ
Downtown Kokopelli, Santa Fe, NM
Canyon Road Still Life, Santa Fe, NM
Cristate Saguaro, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Senita Basin Sunrise, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Quitobaquito, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Crested Butte Rainbow
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park
Shell Spring, Yellowstone National Park
Columbine Cluster, Ouray, Colorado
Morning Fog, Yellowstone National Park
Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone National Park
Oxbow Bend Moonset, Grand Teton National Park
Mormon Row Cabin Reflection, Grand Teton National Park
Hole in the Clouds, Grand Teton National Park
Mount Moran Reflected, Grand Teton National Park
Mormon Row Barn, Grand Teton National Park
Morning at Schwabacher Landing, Grand Teton National Park
Mount Edith Cavell Reflected, Jasper National Park
Swiftcurrent Creek Sunrise, Glacier National Park
Canoes on Lake Louise, Banff National Park
Wildflowers at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
Ordering & Shipping Information
| © 2019 Steve Alterman. All rights reserved. Duplication is prohibited without consent from Steve Alterman.


text: Hvaskjer (Norwegian for "what's happening?") is a hip restaurant in Oslo, Norway. Vintage arcade games, two stages for nightly concerts, cocktail bars, and a rustic menu ensure there is something for everyone. The feature piece is a wood-fire grill imported from Texas and used to roast the exquisite meats you can see aging in the glass case.


text:
- Fee assured
- Verified this account
Specialises in
- Haemato-oncology
About me
Dr Bloor graduated from Cambridge University in 1994 with a degree in Medicine. He undertook General Medical training in Cambridge and Specialist Haematology Training at University College Hospital, London. As part of his training he spent 4 years working in Tony Green's Laboratory in Cambridge, leading to a PhD in Molecular Haemopoiesis. He moved to Manchester in 2006 to take up a Consultant post in Haemato-Oncology. He has an expertise in management of a wide range of haematological malignancies (Lymphoma, Leukaemia and Myeloma) and also consults for general haematology problems..
He has a special interest in the management of Lymphoid Malignancies (CLL and Lymphoma), Stem Cell Transplantation and in Clinical Trials. He is a Director of the Christie Hospital Stem Cell Transplant Program which is one of the few units to offer a fully JACIE accredited facility for private patients. He is Secretary to the UK CLL Forum Executive and a member of the Medical Advisory Panel to the Lymphoma Association and Bloodwise (formerly Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research).
Areas of interest
Leukaemia; Lymphoma; Myeloma; Chronic Lymphoctic Leukaemia; Stem cell transplantation; Bone marrow transplantation; General Haematology
Medical secretaries
- Eamonn Pyke
- BMI The Alexandra Hospital Mill Lane CHEADLE SK8 2PX
- 0161 495 7013
- 0161 495 7014
- firstname.lastname@example.com
- Giselle Far
- The Christie Clinic Wilmslow Road MANCHESTER M20 4BX
- 0161 918 7162
- firstname.lastname@example.com
Current NHS consultant posts held
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (2006-present)
Research interests
Clinical trials and development of novel therapies for treatment of Haematological Malignancies. Clinical Lead for the Christie Haematology Research Team and Clinical Director of the Christie Clinical Trials Coordination Centre. Dr Bloor is Principle or Chief Investigator for a large number of trials in Haemato-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation.
Personal interests
Spending time with my family, running and skiiing
Published in major journals on lymphoid malignancies and stem cell transplantation.
Courses offered to GPs
I have lectured regionally, nationally and internationally on haematological cancers and happy to provide educational sessions.
- BA Cambridge University 1992
- BChir Cambridge University 1994
- MB Cambridge University 1995
- MA Cambridge University 1996
- PhD Cambridge University 2003
- FRCPath Royal College of Pathologists 2005
- FRCP Royal College of Pathologists 2010
GMC registration
Reference number 4152994
Details of entry to specialist register
- Haematology, 2006
Affiliations / memberships
Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Pathologists
NCRI CLL Clinical Trials Subgroup
Executive Committee of the UK CLL Forum
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer (University of Manchester)
European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)
European Research Initiative on CLL (ERIC)
Practice hours
Appt Bookings
- BMI The Alexandra Hospital, SK8 2PX
- Monday
- 17:30 - 19:30
- 0161 495 6806
- The Christie Clinic, M20 4BX
- Tuesday
- 13:00 - 19:00
- 0161 918 7162
Post treatment communication
Following treatment of a Bupa member, I will communicate with GPs in line with Department of Health, GMC and appropriate professional bodies guidelines.


text:
Two teams consisting of the members of Linguistics Club, debated the idea of language as an inborn faculty in the brain that is triggered by meaningful social interactions. The nativist perspective was presented by Nadira Šišić, Enisa Bajić, Kenan Ćatić, and Raid Ćulah. The members who presented the empirical perspective were Nejla Babić, Alessandro Tomić, and Medina Mahmutović. The members of the jury were: Research Assistant Ceylani Akay, Research Assistant Lola Turker, and Student Teaching Assistant Ana Tankosić
The Empiricism team refuted the idea of language as an inborn communicative system, stating that Universal Grammar (an inherent language system in the brain, UG) does not explain properties of many languages in the world, especially poorly documented ones. The main argument that the Empiricism team presented was that the feature of recursivity, one of the cornerstones of UG, is not found consistently in world languages. Furthermore, the team also claimed that a language can be learned even after the expiration of the critical period, which suggests that language is a cognitive skill rather than an inborn faculty.
However, the Nativism team responded well. The team claimed that the nativist perspective does not exclude the fact that we learn a language by experience, but that exposure to social interactions is insufficient for learning a language. Thus, they stated that children learn fast because they only need input to trigger already existing parameters of UG. Furthermore, the fact that human beings have a need to communicate via language, and not via non-verbal symbols, suggests that we possess an inherent predisposition towards language, which supports the idea of Universal Grammar. In the end, the team listed examples of children who did not learn a language in the critical period, which left them linguistically maimed for the rest of their lives, even though they spent many years in trying to master specific language patterns.
In the end, the jury gave a verdict, choosing the Nativism team as the winner of the debate. The members of Linguistics Club admitted that this was a great experience for team, as they had plunged into previously unknown realms of linguistics and also improved their skills in debating and presenting arguments. Finally, the Nativism team got a collection of Thomas Hardy novels, as a reward for their win.
Prepared by Nail Kalač


text:
Date of Submission
Recommended Citation
Way, A. (2004). Lift up your hearts: A musico-liturgical study of the eucharistic prayer of the Roman Rite (Thesis, Australian Catholic University). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4226/66/5a94acef5e49a
It is a well established fact that the practice of the eucharistic prayer in the roman, rite is seriously underdeveloped. This survey of complete or partially through -composed settings of the eucharistic prayer attempts to shed some light on why and how composers have responded to the wide-spread opinion that the eucharistic prayer is rarely experienced as the high point of the eucharistic celebration as it was intended. Divided into two parts, the study initially considers the official aims and norms of the post-conciliar liturgy, both in general and as they pertain to the eucharistic prayer, noting some tension between the aims and their realisation. Three broad themes are identified for the entire work: ritual structure, the role of music and participation. The texts of the eucharistic prayers are then discussed to see how the official expectations are realised. A survey of the theoretical writings on rnusic and the eucharistic prayer concludes the first part. The second part focuses on over 100 musical settings, both published and unpublished d the eucharistic prayer. After offering a general chronological overview of the music, noting its forces and general characteristics, the music is scrutinised to see whether its various parts are celebrated or submerged by music, the broader shape of the compositions is examined and then a discussion concerning participation issues follows. The use of tabulated data aids the discussion. While acknowledging that there are many ways to evaluate the usefulness of such compositions and that this study does not touch on their actual reception and performance, it is hoped the current work will offer some insights into the variety of existing responses to the challenge of the setting the eucharistic prayer and offer some suggestions as to how this important work may continue.
School of Arts and Sciences
Document Type
Access Rights
Open Access
Degree Name
Master of Music (MMus)
Faculty of Arts and Sciences


text:
A Breed hides in the world of man—until a woman arouses the amused and wildly carnal animal within. Once, he was Judd—Bengal Breed and brother to the notorious fugitive Gideon. After Gideon disappeared, Judd was experimented on until his tortured body knew nothing but agony.
Now he is Cullen Maverick, serving as the commander of the Navajo Covert Law Enforcement Agency in the small community of Window Rock, Arizona. Despite his genetics, Cullen is able to pass as human because his Bengal traits are recessed. He lacks the ability to smell the emotions, bonds and fears that other Breeds take for granted. And he remains tormented that he wasn't able to mate the woman he loved—at the cost of her life.
He's no longer a Breed, merely a man. . . or so he thinks. But his tiger is about to be awakened by the one woman destined to be his—Chelsea Martinez. And their world will never be the same.
When Cullen Maverick (aka Judd) arrived in the Navajo Nation at the age of 19, he developed a bond with a 13-year-old girl named Chelsea Martinez. Unbeknownst to both of them, that bond was actually a mate bond. At the time, Cullen's tiger was completely repressed and subdued due to his horrific torture in the laboratories of the Genetics Council. (See my review of Bengal's Quest for more on that family history.) Although Cullen remained good friends with Chelsea over the years and later hired her to work in his office, their mate bond never surfaced.
In fact, just six months after his arrival in New Mexico, Cullen married Chelsea's distant cousin, Lauren. That marriage turned out to be a sham because Lauren knew that she had cancer and believed that if she married Cullen that the mating bond would kill off the cancer cells and keep her alive. When no mating bond formed between them, she blamed Cullen for not loving her enough to save her life. Unfortunately, Lauren kept her cancer—and other dark secrets—hidden from Cullen before their marriage, which resulted in an extremely unhappy relationship. Chelsea, however is certain that Cullen is still grieving for his beloved dead wife—even ten years after her death.
Over the years, Cullen trained Chelsea to be a fierce and competent warrior, but he never allows her to go out on field assignments because he's afraid to put her in danger. As the book opens, she is working as his assistant, and she is fed up. When she quits her job and defiantly turns her back on him, Cullen's tiger begins to stir and his Breed powers begin to kick in (e.g., greater strength, better tracking skills, and strong emotions—mainly jealousy). When Cullen learns that Chelsea is working undercover in some very sketchy bars, his tiger gets even more active. Then, when an unknown Coyote tries to kill Chelsea, Cullen begins building up into full feline alpha mode.
At the center of the plot is the mystery of who wants Chelsea dead, and why. Although Leigh keeps that mystery going for awhile, she gives us too many obvious clues, so you'll be able to figure out that answer well before it appears on the printed page.
In a secondary story thread, Chelsea and Gideon become (separately) involved with a local Cartel family after Chelsea tries to save their daughter from some rogue Coyotes. That family's story line weaves in and out of the main plot, but is never fully resolved. I'm certain that Leigh will return to it in a future book.
In a brilliant, shocking scene at the very end of the novel, a mysterious woman enters the story—one who appears to have a close relationship with Cassandra (Cassie) Sinclair. That means that Leigh must be getting very close to giving us the book that tells Cassie's full story.
If you are a BREEDS fan, you'll enjoy this book for several reasons. First, it doesn't have the meandering sentences and the repetition of the previous few novels. Second, it provides some darkly humorous scenes starring Gideon, who is one of my favorite characters in the entire series. The love story has the usual amount of angst, but not enough to make it unbearable. Chelsea gets a bit whiny at times, but she shows great courage and independence and doesn't have any TSTL moments, so I'll forgive her for her occasional brattiness. Naturally, there are plenty of Leigh's detailed bedroom scenes, more than enough to satisfy even the pickiest reader.
Click HERE to go to this novel's Amazon.com page, where you can read or listen to an excerpt by clicking on the cover art for print or the "Listen" icon for audio.
Soul Mates: Navarro Blaine (Wolf) and Mica Toler
This novel tells the story of Navarro Blaine, a wolf Breed with recessive Breed traits, and Mica Toler, a young human woman who has grown up among the Breeds. (I always love Leigh's characters' names.) The plot is foreshadowed by a vision that Mica's friend, Cassie Sinclair, has in the Prologue:
Cassie sees that Mica will achieve contentment, "but it was a potential contentment. A maybe thing. One of the many paths Mica could take. And beside that path was deceit and rage, to the other side was agony and heartache. The path would depend on too many things. It would depend on Mica and on a Breed....Mica was Navarro's mate, but her friend's happiness would lie in another Breed's hands. A Breed other than her mate." (pp. 18-19)
Although this is the typically steamy soul-mate romance story one expects from this series, I was disturbed by the huge number of typographical and editing errors (particularly in continuity) that turned up again and again. For example, one momentous scene begins with Navarro and Mica, fully clothed, confronting each other in a subterranean hallway and ends with them naked in their bedroom a few paragraphs later, never having left the hallway or cast off their clothing—at least not to the reader's knowledge. Missing pages? Editing error? Careless writing? Whatever it was, something definitely went wrong here.
The plot also has a few holes in it. For example, why were the bad guys so intent on capturing Mica that they sent multiple heavily armed teams of men to search Manhattan for her? Who really knows? (Not the reader, that's for sure.) And why don't Navarro and Mica ever talk through their problems—just once? Never happens—even after they decide that they love each other. The "love thing" just falls into place with absolutely no discussion whatsoever.
Another problem is the unbelievability of the climax. I was reading along, came to that part, and said, "Huh?" (I might have said something a bit stronger.) It was as if Leigh had to wind it up quickly so she threw in...well I can't tell you what she threw in or I'd spoil it for you. Suffice it to say that it's the kind of hokey scene you'd find in a Nancy Drew mystery, like The Hidden Staircase, for instance. Anyhow, Leigh still writes the best erotic sex scenes in paranormal fiction, so if you love that earth-shattering moment when the mating heat takes hold, this one's for you.
BREEDS 25 (story): "An Inconvenient Mate" in Tied with a Bow
Soul Mates: Malachi Morgan (Coyote) and Isabelle Martinez
First Sentence: "She couldn't keep her eyes off him." Ah, yes, lust is definitely in the air, because this is another fiery Breed romance, with the mating heat blazing just as hot as it always does. This time, the lucky lovers are Malachi Morgan, a Coyote Breed, and Isabelle Martinez, daughter of the head of the Navajo Council. The two fall instantly in lust as the Breeds visit to the Navajo Nation in search the elusive Gideon, who is intent on getting his vengeance against the Genetics Council in an up-close and personal manner. The major villain of the story is Isabelle's wannabe suitor, a human who just won't take no for an answer. If you aren't familiar with Leigh's BREEDS series, this is not the place to begin. BREEDS is one of the all-time greatest paranormal romance series on the market today, with a complex mythology and some serious sexual shenanigans, so do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. Click HERE to read my review of all of the stories in Tied with a Bow, the anthology in which this story is included.
BREEDS 26 (novel): Lawe's Justice
Soul Mates: Lawe Justice (Lion) and Diane Broen
The events in Lawe's Justice overlap those in the novella, "An Inconvenient Mate," in Tied with a Bow anthology. Lawe's Justice begins with a prologue that finds Lawe Justice, a Lion Breed, and his brother, Rule Breaker, in the cages of Phillip Brandenmore's "scientific" laboratories, listening to the dying screams of their mother, Morningstar Martinez, as she is being vivisected. Flash forward to the present and we have Lawe and Rule working for Jonas Wyatt and the Bureau of Breed Affairs. Lawe is now second in command to Jonas. He has pulled out of active field work because he has discovered that he has a mate, and mated Breeds generally take behind-the-scenes jobs so that they don't risk death to themselves and their mates.
Lawe's potential mate is Diane Broen, the human niece of Phillip Brandenmore, who died in a previous book after spending many years capturing and experimenting on Breeds. Diane has been working as a mercenary commander for years, lately for Jonas and the Breeds. Neither Lawe nor Diane want to complete the mating bond. Lawe keeps remembering his mother's screams as she died, and he doesn't want to put Diane in danger by becoming her full mate. If he does mate with her, though, he wants her to quite her job and stay at home. Diane, on the other hand, sees herself as a warrior, and she's afraid that Lawe will force her to live in the Sanctuary, barefoot and pregnant, as the saying goes. All through the book, they agonize over this problem in endless interior monologues and argue it out in many verbal battles.
The secondary plot line involves Gideon, and this is the plot that is related to "An Inconvenient Mate." Gideon is the Breed suspected of going feral. He was driven mad by Brandenmore's experiments and has been tracking down Brandenmore's scientists, mutilating each one before he kills them. He is also trying to find three Breeds who escaped from the cages with him, one of whom infected him with her blood when she gave him a transfusion to save his life before leaving him behind. Gideon believes that her blood is the cause of his feral fever, and he's determined to punish her for what she did to him. (I'm thinking that the odds are pretty good that she will turn out to be his bond mate.) As the tension builds, both Gideon and the not-so-happy couple wind up on the Navajo Reservation shortly after the events depicted in "An Inconvenient Mate." At that point, a climactic scene resolves the mate-bond situation between Lawe and Diane, but leaves Gideon's task uncompleted.
Once again, this book is filled with editing errors. Sometimes I actually felt that paragraphs were in the wrong order or that sentences were missing. Other times, the narrative was so jumbled that I found myself going back to re-read a page or two so that I could understand exactly what just happened. In addition, the repetition of information drags down the narrative—and the action. I found myself paging past these scenes, anxious to get on with the action. For example, in one two-page segment of a lengthy internal monologue, Gideon feels the need to tell us three times that he has identified the traitor on Diane's team of mercenaries, including twice stating that he discovered the traitor's identity in the past 24 hours. I truly believe that the average reader understood this after reading it once.
Diane and Lawe are typical SMR protagonists. She is feisty and smart, demanding her independence and fighting against the protected life of a Breed mate, but relatively submissive in the bedroom. Lawe is an über-alpha, refusing to compromise his belief that Diane belongs back at Sanctuary away from the front lines. For awhile, she runs away and he follows, but eventually, they talk it out and come to a détente. The bedroom scenes don't begin until well into the story, but when they do, they're just as steamy and over the top as usual.
BREEDS 27 (novel): Stygian's Honor
Soul Mates: Stygian Black (Wolf) and Liza Johnson
This novel begins the culmination of a plot line that started several books ago. Here is the situation as this book begins: Twenty years ago, four people—two men and two young girls—escaped from Phillip Brandenmore's horrific Council laboratory. One of them—Gideon—was injured, and one of the girls shared her blood with him to save his life. When Gideon went feral, he blamed it on the girl's blood and has vowed to kill all three of his fellow escapees. More recently, the daughter of Jonas Wyatt (head of the Bureau of Breed Affairs) was injected with a deadly concoction developed by Brandenmore. Now that Brandenmore is dead, Jonas needs to find the four escapees because he believes that they have information that can save his daughter's life. At this point, three groups are looking for the escapees: Gideon, the Genetics Council thugs, and Jonas's Breeds. The escapees are being protected by the Navajo Nation, which, for decades, has been running a "witness protection" program for Council victims—either getting them back to their families or providing them with new identities. Jonas is sure that the Navajo leaders know where these people are, but they will not tell him the names of anyone in their database.
The book is set in Window Rock, New Mexico, where Jonas has moved temporarily to be close to the action and where he is becoming more and more frustrated with the Navajo leaders. He is sure that he is close to finding the escapees, but the Navajo won't cooperate or share information. In the meantime, more and more Genetics Council thugs are gathering in Window Rock, and they appear to have their sights set on the daughters of two of the Navajo leaders: Liza Johnson and her friend, Claire.
This book tells Liza's story as she comes to terms with her inner self and falls in love with a Wolf Breed—Stygian Black, who was created in the labs from a combination of DNA from Attila the Hun and a Haitian voodoo priestess. Stygian realizes almost immediately that Liza is his mate, but she has heard stories about the mating heat and is not willing to give up her independence. Their romance is fraught with the usual amount of high drama, graphic sex, and long, anguished interior monologues. By the end of the book, we learn the identities of both of the escaped women (although we guessed their identities several books ago), but the second woman's story is still to be told.
Like other recent books in this series, this one has many copy-proofing and continuity errors. Sometimes a character will ask a question, and another character will give an entirely unrelated answer. For example, at one point Liza asks, "Is Claire okay? Was she hurt?" Jonas answers, "She did." (p. 124) Huh? This kind of disconnect happens over and over again, forcing the reader to go back and reread paragraphs and conversations, desperately trying to make sense of it all. I hate to say it, but perhaps after 27 books, this series has gone on too long. The overworked mating-heat love scenes, which used to be mesmerizing in the early books, are now so mechanical and repetitious that I find myself paging quickly through them to get back to the action. The current plot line (i.e., Gideon and the escapees) is way too thin to have been spread over multiple books, and it still isn't completely resolved. So...we're in for more of the same in the next book, which will probably pair up Claire (aka Fawn) and Gideon.
Devil is the hard-hearted, fierce Breed enforcer whose job is to be an executioner—to go after Breeds marked to die. He has always believed that he would never find his mate, but when he first saw Katie back when she was sixteen, he never forgot her. Now, the two fall immediately into mating heat, and you know what happens next.
There are also appearances by Rule Breaker, who is masquerading as Graeme, the security expert on Lobo's compound. Cassie and Dash Sinclair also turn up in supporting roles.
This is a typical BREEDS romance, with plenty of sex and a side order of dramatic action, although the action part of the plot is rather light. If you're not familiar with the series, you might be confused by some of the references. Click HERE to read my review of all of the novellas in Enthralled, the anthology in which this story is included.
BREEDS 29 (novel): Rule Breaker
Soul Mates: Rule Breaker (Lion) and Gypsy Rum McQuade
To understand what's going on in this novel, you'll need to be familiar with at least the past two novels: Lawe's Justice (#26) and Stygian's Honor (#27). I am not going to summarize the action-plot lines in this review, but you can read my reviews of 26 and 27 (above) for an overview. Without providing any spoilers, I will just say that in Rule Breaker, most of those interconnected story threads are untangled and resolved.
But let's not worry too much about the action plot because in this series, it is always the romance that has center stage. This time around, the soul-mate lovers are über-alpha Rule Breaker (brother of Lawe Justice) and Gypsy McQuade, a 24-year-old human woman who hides her undercover spying activities behind a sexy-party-girl facade. As is almost always the case, our heroine had a horrific experience in her teen years that has emotionally scarred her forever. When Gypsy was 15, she sneaked out of the house to go to a party. When her beloved brother and loyal protector, Mark, followed her, both were captured by a vicious gang of Coyote Breeds. Mark was murdered as Gypsy was forced to watch, and she has blamed herself for Mark's death ever since—and so have her parents. Breed enforcers arrived in the nick of time to save Gypsy's life, and that was the moment that Rule Breaker first saw Gypsy, thus beginning an unspoken and unfulfilled attraction that has continued for the past nine years. Just a side note here: The given names in Gypsy's family are ludicrous: Her parents are Hansel and Greta; then we have Gypsy Rum and her sister, Kandy Sweet. Only Mark somehow got away with a normal name.
Rule has always vowed never to be trapped by the Mating Heat. At the very first sign, he plans to run away from his potential mate—as far and as fast as possible. When they were children, Rule and his brother were imprisoned in the Genetic Council's labs, where they were forced to witness "not just his mother's mate be dissected alive, but also his mother, because of the Mating Heat and the scientists' determination to view the effects of it on the living body." (p. 96) Rule believes that the only way to protect his own potential mate is to avoid the actual Mating process, which would bind them together forever. Although Rule is greatly attracted to Gypsy, neither one of them has the Mating Heat scent, so he believes that he is safe in starting a sexual relationship with her. Oh boy, is he ever wrong about that!
The love affair and the action plot intersect when Gypsy is suspected of being a spy for the Unknown, a mystical—and supposedly mythological—Navajo group. In this novel, there are so many different small groups working for, against, and alongside each other that if you aren't familiar with the origin of the various conflicts and the characters in each group, you'll be completely lost. I have read all of the books and I still got lost sometimes in the convolution of story lines.
On the good side, this is a great, if tortured, love story, with an emotionally scarred heroine, an all-too-arrogant hero, scum-bag parents, and lots of twists and turns near the end (although it's pretty easy to spot the traitorous villain). Everybody gets into the act by the time the epilogue rolls around so—once again—you will need to know who's who.
Rule is just as dominant in the bedroom as all the rest of Leigh's BREEDS heroes are, and Gypsy is just as submissive. This aspect of the series has always bothered me because no matter how intelligent and feisty the heroines are in the action scenes, they melt into little puddles of sexy submission the minute they hit the sheets. The story lines of the BREEDS romances are so familiar after 29 times around the block, that I was actually disheartened about what Leigh had to say about future books in a blog interview (2/5/14) on Literary Cravings: "I have about 35 additional titles and ideas listed in several different notebooks. Sometimes, it feels never-ending, but the ideas keep me excited and keep me writing as fast as my fingers can move across the keyboard to attempt to catch up with all the characters begging for their turn." Personally, even though I enjoyed the earlier books, I'm not looking forward to reading 35 more stories that follow basically the same romantic plot.
In that same interview, Leigh describes the next novel in the series: "Next is Gideon's book, the Bengal that's shadowed Jonas and his step-daughter Amber as Jonas has fought to save the child's life. If you think Jonas is manipulating, I can't wait until you see how manipulating Gideon can be. He's sworn he'd kill the woman-child whose blood forced him to live and, in his mind, drove him insane. What he didn't realize was that it was his Bengal driving him crazy. His mate was far too young to Mate, and the animal inside him knew it. It drove the human side of his psyche slightly crazy to ensure that the man kept the distance needed to keep the animal in check. Breeds are equal parts of human and animal. Always in conflict, fighting for dominance, until they come together once they find their mate and the solace they've sought for so long."
BREEDS 30 (novel): Bengal's Quest
Gideon and his brother Judd (aka Cullen) are original Breeds, genetically engineered with Bengal tiger DNA before conception. Their creator didn't realize that they were twins, so Gideon received all of the Breed power, while Judd's tiger remained dormant (and still does, but that's a story for a future book). Gideon is a scientific genius who survived the Council's agonizing experiments and went on to be trusted by his master (Dr. Foster) to work in the labs. When Gideon was 11 years old, he was given a dying four-day-old infant (Cat) and told to figure out a way to save her life through Breed experimentation. Gideon infused Cat with Bengal tiger DNA and put her through some extremely painful treatments to ensure that she lived. At that point, saving Cat's life was the only thing that kept Gideon sane. Twelve years later, Gideon escaped, planning to go back and rescue Judd and Cat. But during the escape he was shot and badly wounded. No one would tell Cat why her beloved Gideon suddenly disappeared from the labs, so she assumed that he had been killed by the Council, and she grieved for him.
Four months later, Judd and Cat managed to escape, and out of the blue, Gideon showed up to help them. But he was still badly wounded, so Cat insisted on infusing him with her blood. Gideon knew that this transfusion would set off his side of the Mate bond, and that Cat was still too young for Mating. So…he decided that his only course of action was to make her hate him so that she would stay away from him—at least until she is old enough to understand the whole Mating process. Cat was devastated when she heard the hateful words that Gideon screamed at her—that he never loved her and that she was just one of his experiments. Heartbroken, Cat went off with Judd, trying to hide from the Council's hunters who were hot on their trail.
Eventually, they met up with a group of Navajo mystics who transferred the spirit of a dying Navajo girl into Cat's body to protect her from being detected by the hunters. Since then, for the past 13 years, Cat has built up an emotional volcano of anger and hatred, despising Gideon for deserting her in her greatest moment of need. At this point, Gideon (in the guise of Graeme), approaches Cat to get their Mating process started, only to find that although Cat might succumb to his Mate lust, she vows never to trust him and refuses to give up her resentment and rage over the way he has treated her in the past. Whew! I left out a few details, but that's the basic story, which Leigh repeats in bits and pieces throughout this novel. At the very end, Leigh retells the lovers' whole story from beginning to end, adding in some previously unknown details, including facts about Cat's original genetic heritage and how she got to the labs in the first place.
The love story is the heart of the plot, with Cat and Gideon/Graeme alternately hurling invectives at one another and then drowning themselves in lusty thoughts (although their first bedroom scene doesn't come until quite late in the book). The Raymond Martinez story line (which began several books ago) gets resolved in this book after he tries to sell Cat to the Genetics Council. Then there is the resolution of the story of Honor/Liza, who also received the spirit of a dying Navajo girl. (Her love story is told in BREEDS 27, Stygian's Honor.) Simmering in the background is the long-standing enmity between Gideon and Jonas Wyatt, the arrogant and manipulative Breeds Director (whose love story is told in BREEDS 21, Lion's Heat).
Although I enjoyed this book more than the last few, there were (once again) many problems with the narration. Too many lengthy, unpunctuated sentences began with one idea and then meandered around and ended with another, forcing me to re-examine them for their true meanings—often a futile task. Another problem is that Leigh keeps repeating the "historical" details of Cat's life. Time and time again, Leigh revisits the blood transfusion scene, Gideon's "I never loved you" rant, the heartbreaking stolen-teddy-bear incident, and Cat's painful lab treatments. And don't forget, many of these events were covered in some of the earlier books as well.
The aspect of this book that bothers me the most is Leigh's final step in the resolution of the Cat-Gideon romance, in which Cat has a major epiphany and then essentially brushes away 13 years of Gideon's abominable, evasive behavior and goes cheerfully off with him to their HEA. In fact, she even blames herself for Gideon's problems. This scene comes across as a belittlement of Cat's fully justified emotional trauma—a suggestion that the subservient female should have just trusted the big, bad alpha male to do what was best for her and should not have gotten all hysterical and angry at him for abandoning, belittling, disparaging, and demeaning her. At one point, she compares her bitterness to "a corrosive eating through her soul." Remember, the major focus of this entire book is on Cat's horrific emotional state, but then in one brief moment, it's like "Never mind." Not only is this scene perplexing, it is also insulting to Cat, and, by implication, to women in general.
And one last nitpick: When 12-year-old Cat was transformed into the Navajo girl, Claire, she had plastic surgery in order to change her appearance to match the real Claire. But late in the book (under circumstances I can't describe for spoiler reasons), someone tells Cat that she looks exactly like one of her true biological relatives. These two details don't jibe; in fact, they are contradictory.
Leigh hints at several new romances, so I'm guessing that the series is not yet at an end. In particular, Gideon's brother, Cullen, has to find his true Mate so that he can unleash his tiger, and Khileen (Khi) Langer has to decide which of the two wolfy Reever brothers she is going to choose. And then there are the winged Breeds, who have just discovered a female of their species. Who will mate with her? Will it be Cat's friend, Keenan?
If you are a die-hard BREEDS fan, you won't want to miss this novel after watching the Gideon-Cat story play out through so many previous books. Click HERE to read the Prologue and Chapter 1, which include a flashback retelling of Cat and Judd's escape from the labs and an introduction to Cat's current circumstances.


text: Shawmark's Anything Goes! carpet has an incredible Limited 20-Year No Mat/No Crush Warranty, and it's on sale starting at only $3.40 square foot. If you want beautiful carpeting that stands up to everyday wear like a champ, this is it! Check out this video! See Anything Goes! for yourself at the Hilltop Lumber's Home Décor Department in the Alexandria store. (Sale ends 12/11/17)


text:
The important word is MISSION and the belief is that we can achieve more in working together collaboratively. This is the vision we have been working with – you can work with it in your village or change it to meet the needs of your local community.
The area of the two Benefices we are covering aligns with the Methodist Circuit and ranges from Kirkland to Ainstable via Alston!
'Led by our clergy and working with our fellow Christians in the East of Eden Mission Community we will, in a spirit of prayer and fellowship, establish varied and exciting mission projects and patterns of worship which enable people to know more of God's love for them,' so that there is:
• an increase in the awareness of Christian values, personal faith and transformed lives in every community
• an increase in creative, relevant worship opportunities
• a unique blueprint for each church building
• effective lay leadership and team work within each congregation
• a manageable workload for ordained clergy
Some of this is already happening; Here are a few examples:
Messy Church at Langwathby. This happens in the Village Hall at Langwathby every month on a Saturday morning. Families come to explore a Bible story, take part in craft activities and have lunch together.
Godly Play based at Kirkoswald. Godly Play has some amazing materials for story telling. Trained facilitators tell the story and the children interact with questions. There's a chance to express how they feel about the story followed by their 'feast' – drink and a biscuit – mirroring Holy Communion.
Café Church happens four times a year in different venues around KO, Lazonby and Great Salkeld. It provides a different style of Worship.
Lighthouse and Beta groups for 11-18 year olds. Held in homes around Kirkoswald, small groups of young people meet for discussion, snacks and games in the context of the Christian faith.
They can attend an annual summer Christian event called Soul Survivor.
Christmas and Easter Journeys. These events tell the Christmas and Easter stories in a sensory way and, held over two or three days, are visited by primary school children in the Mission Community area.
Culgaith Choir and Little Acorns at Gamblesby. Our young people enhancing worship.
For all our forthcoming events, have a look at our events page


text:
To collect data in real-time, AgCo has developed AgCommand, a device that collects data about a specific piece of equipment and delivers the information via a cellular modem and GPS in the device to the AgCommand website. The website gives reports that track engine hours, fuel consumption, operator efficiency, equipment health info, and field-specific machine information. Reports can be used to monitor and control operating costs and for planning, billing, and maintenance scheduling. This kind of information would be very helpful in making decisions on how to best use your machinery.
|Figure 1. Example map of a farmer's land and an AgCommand report on the working time of a piece of equipment.
Another great feature of the AgCommand system is geofencing. As Farm Industry News describes it, geofencing "allows the user to build a virtual fence around equipment using GPS coordinates. So when equipment leaves the fenced-in area, the telematics system sends a text message or e-mail alert. This can help avert theft, or simply let you know that your planter, sprayer, or combine has finished work in a field and is moving on to the next. Similarly, telematics curfews can alert you when a machine is started after working hours."
As a farm business owner, have you ever heard of or used the AgCommand system or something similar? Are you willing to try this new technology? Of all of the reports and information generated by the system, what is of greatest importance to you? Can you think of any other data not mentioned here that you would like a system like this to collect? Are you ready to embrace this new technology?


text:
If a user account that has been deleted for 30 days or less, you can restore it. The user can be restored to its original name only if that name has not been reused during the period in which the account was deleted. If the name has been reused, it can still be restored, but with a different username.
Restoring user accounts in the Control Panel
1. In the Email section of the Control Panel, click the Email Domains tab and then click the domain that has the deleted user accounts.
2. Click to put a check in the box beside each of the deleted users that you want to restore.
3. Click the Restore Users icon.
4. A window appears that lists the domains that you selected and asks you to confirm that you want to restore all of the listed users.
5. Click Restore.
Restoring user accounts in the MAC
1. Log in to the Mail Administration Console (MAC).
2. In the navigation pane, under the domain name, click Deleted Users.
If a user does not appear in the Deleted Users list, the account cannot be restored.
3. You can narrow your search by entering part or all of the name of the user you want to restore in the User field at the top of the page. You can use wildcard characters to represent part of the name. By default, all user types are displayed, but you can choose to view only certain types. Click in the Type area at the top of the page and remove the checkmarks from one or more of the Type boxes. For example, if you want to see only regular mailbox users, ensure that only Mailbox is checked.
4. Click the checkboxes next to the users that you want to restore. The number on the Restore Selected button changes to reflect the number of users that you selected.
5. Verify that the Restore As field displays the correct user name. If you want to restore the user and rename it, enter the new name in this text field.
6. Click Restore Selected.


text:
Subscribe To GTA 5 Online High Life Update Release Date Announced, New Screenshots Released Updates
I've already subscribed
GTA Online's next major DLC pack, the High Life Update, finally has a release date. Rockstar Games announced today that the add-on will arrive next week.
"Coming next week on Tuesday May 13th, it's time to expand your foothold in Los Santos with The High Life Update for Grand Theft Auto Online, which features new high-end apartments, multi-property ownership, four new vehicles, the powerful Bullpup Rifle and more," the developer said on Rockstar Newswire this morning.
The High Life Update adds several new luxury vehicles to GTA Online. Rockstar provided some extra details on these additions today. The new vehicles are the Enus Huntley S (SUV), Dewbauchee Massacro (sports car), Pegassi Zentorno (super car) and Dinka Thrust (motorcycle). These vehicles can be purchased through Legendary Motorsport. Alternately, you can access them in GTA 5's campaign through any garage property.
GTA Online players will also be able to buy high-end apartments at locations like the Eclipse Towers and Richards Majestic. These apartments will have brand-new interiors. The Update allows you to own two properties at the same time so you won't have to give up your old pad.
The High Life Update also adds the promised "Non Contact" mode for Races. This allows players to compete in more "pure" races. During "Non Contact" races, other players are translucent and you can't collide with them. However, NPC vehicles and other objects will still impede your progress so keep your eyes on the road.
"The new Mental State player stat shows you just how passive or psychotically unhinged fellow players in your session really are – so you'll know if you need to have it at the ready when they approach," Rockstar adds. "The High Life Update also includes new wardrobe options, vehicle horns and player toasts/celebrations as well as 15 new Jobs - including 5 new Contact Missions."
Like the Valentine's Day Massacre and Business Updates for GTA Online, the High Life Update will be free to download. You'll just have to grab it from the in-game store after it's released.
As part of today's announcement, Rockstar released several fresh screenshots from the High Life Update. Check them out in the gallery below.


text:
Scotland is one very concerned country about its own footprint and has tons of initiatives going on around waste. From clothing and books to crops and food, Scotts are dedicated to reduce the amount of waste and also to reuse as much as possible and turn it into new forms of useful materials. Knowing the figures could activate anyone: we're cultivating a land the size of India, Kazakhstan and Mongolia altogether just to throw everything away. For every 2 tons of stuff we buy from the grocery store, 1 ton is wasted. Read more »
Digital Assembly 2016 (Bratislava)
The European Union must adapt to the fast-paced changing environment of the 21st Century digital […]
European Development Days 2016
Europe has never stop being a leader in exposing world issues and searching for solutions to […]
Alexandra PodePartner, Business Model Inc.
We worked together on several conferences and client assignments and we trust Picturise's capacity to distill and visualize the essence of the conversations they are recording.
Liliana BizauSEE Learning and Development Leader, PriceWaterhouseCoopers
The contribution Picturise had to the quality of the program helped the event become more valuable and impactful for the participants.
Elena ComanProject Manager, Techsoup Romania
Their work was deeply appreciated by everyone. They have a capacity for synthetic work and a joyful creativity that is very rare and can help you understand your work from an entirely different perspective.
Livia RadulescuProgram manager, RICAP
The working process was effective and fun, they asked lots of good questions and were careful to gain a thorough understanding of the project before setting out to work, and then included us in the process along the way.
They stood up beautifully to the challenge of capturing our thoughts for the future in a compelling and vivid story. Their graphic canvas is now exhibited in our premises and used as leitmotiv in our project communication.
Andreea BaciuBusiness Manager, Qualians
They have magic dust in their hands! Their drawings are an anchor in people's minds and hearts and this way they manage to make the event memorable!
Eric FaidyHead of Michelin Central & Southeastern Europe
I recommend Picturise if you want a visual representation of your meeting, conference or workshop. They are relaxed, creative and have a positive mind-set.


text:
Extension Education, located in the School of Education, offers K-12 educators the opportunity to earn Drake University graduate credit through online, video correspondence, and face-to-face courses. Students may use these courses for recertification, salary advancement, or as electives in graduate degree programs (with advisor approval).
For information about Extension Education, call 1-800-768-3224, or visit www.drake.edu/edex/.


text:
God, I'm trying, but I don't know if I'm capable of this without You.
Today, a jury somehow found a woman not-guilty of murdering her innocent daughter. I have no idea how this fits into Your Plan, God. I have no idea how Your Justice for this sweet little girl can be appeased, but I am so angry... so filled with disgust and even hatred for what that sorry excuse for a person represents... I don't know if I can extend mercy. I don't know if I can extend love. I don't think I can. I'm too filled with evil thoughts.
Help me, God. I want to extend love and mercy, but I also don't want her to walk away unpunished! I don't want her to be an example to others that this deplorable behavior is not only tolerated, but EXCUSABLE in our court system! Please, God... You are wiser than I. You are holier than I. Your mercy, and Your love are infinitely greater than mine. They are also greater than my anger, hatred and malice. So please... drown out those evil feelings within me. Banish the demons that urge me to neglect my own sins to call her out for hers. Fill me with Your limitless mercy and love, and teach me to pray even for her.
May this twist in the road be part of Your Will, and may she repent while she still has time on Earth. May she turn towards You and live out the rest of her life as an example of Your Great Mercy and Love, and may she someday be united with You and that sweet, innocent little angel in Heaven.


text:
Green screens and donut shop windows under review by Albemarle
By Courtney Beale
Charlottesville Tomorrow
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Green vegetative building screens and windows on a new Dunkin Donuts were among the topics discussed during Monday's Albemarle Architectural Review Board meeting.
Katurah Roell, from the Piedmont Development Group, was given the go-ahead for his company's plans to renovate the Pantops Med Express building. The plan includes a green screen, essentially a vertical plant trellis, which will improve the building's facade.
However, this addition to the Med Express building caused ARB members to discuss the possible need for more regulations concerning green screens. Members noted that other green screens on buildings in the Barracks Road Shopping Center have not been successful.
"My fear is we get these green screens on all these things in places — for example, on Barracks Road — and there are some places that look great and there are other walls that seemingly never get covered," said board member Paul Wright.
Board Chairman Fred Missel said that perhaps the lattices themselves should be regulated in the future, in case plants do not thrive and cover them in a reasonable amount of time.
"We're probably going to see a lot of green screens because it seems to be the Stonefield approach to mitigating blank walls," Missel said, referring to an approach being used on the new Trader Joe's grocery store. "As we entertain more and more of these green screen ideas, we may want to consider what the green screen looks like without the plants, just in case."
Continue reading "Green screens and donut shop windows under review by Albemarle" »


text:
You might not know this, but Korea grows amazing figs. Like super awesome extra delicious figs. They are grown in Mokpo and every summer we love to head south to purchase some of these delicious delights. It's not like they are a secret, Zen Kimchi and others have blogged about them, but it still feels life folks don't give them enough attention. However, we feel Sir-Mix-A-Lot described them best when he sang:
I like big figs and I cannot lie,
you other brothers can't deny,
that when a vender flies past
with an itty-bitty case
and a round fig in your face you get some.
Wanna pull up quick
'cause you noticed that case was stuffed
deep in the back country garden
I'm hooked and I can't stop starin'.
Oh, baby, I wann get wit'cha
and take yo, picture
the expats tried to warn me
but that big fig you got makes m-m-me so hungry.
Breakfast Figs v.1:
Toasted brioche topped with baked figs, butter, and red ginseng with honey.


text:
Capital One's unitranche loan program, ULTra, closed more than $1 billion in commitments to borrowers in the healthcare industry in 2017.
Capital One Launches Unitranche Loan Program for Healthcare
Capital One launched a new program to originate unitranche loans to middle-market healthcare companies, with HPS Investment Partners as its strategic co-investor.
NewStar Launches SingleSource, a New Unitranche Product
NewStar Business Credit announced the launch of a new unitranche loan product called SingleSource.
Franklin Square Provides Unitranche Term Loan to Dent Wizard
Franklin Square Capital Partners announced the origination of a unitranche term loan to finance a dividend recapitalization of Dent Wizard International.
Monroe Capital Provides Incipio $55MM Unitranche Financing
Monroe Capital acted as sole lead arranger and administrative agent on the funding of a $55 million unitranche financing to support the growth of Incipio Technologies.
Navigating the Middle Market: Monroe Capital Gets the Unitranche Bump
In an increasingly complicated lending market, sometimes it pays to keep it simple. In an interview with Tom Aronson and Lee Stern of Monroe Capital, ABF Journal contributor Carol Clouse discusses the growing popularity of unitranche loans, which were first widely used during the height of the financial crisis.
Unitranche Lending: Flourishing as Regulators Loom
According to Forbes, unitranche lending proves to have more staying power than anticipated. Calling unitranche debt the "it" product during the credit crises, Forbes notes that the financing alternative remains popular, despite the revitalized economy.