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My Big Fat Gypsy divorce: One year after her brash £150,000 wedding, how Joan Furey's fairytale ended in tears and tantrums
Joan Furey with her son Roman. 'The wedding should not have gone ahead,' she said
The last time the world saw Joan Furey, she looked very different from the way she does today.
Then she was spray-tanned a deep shade of mahogany and swathed in the most enormous, elaborate wedding gown imaginable.
She looked rather like a toffee apple perched on a cloud of candy floss.
As the original star bride of the enormously popular Channel 4 documentary, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, 6.4 million people watched, transfixed, as two burly bystanders sweated with the effort of shoe-horning her into the horse-drawn Cinderella wedding carriage that would take her to church.
They gaped in morbid fascination as Joan smiled bravely despite the agony of a cut-away whalebone corset gouging into her, straining to heave up the aisle seven layers of net skirts sprinkled with hundreds of heart-shaped Swarovski crystals and a 20ft train, the cost of which we can only wonder. Money is never talked about.
The viewing millions listened as Joan faced the camera and gushed that she would never get divorced from her groom, 22-year-old Irish traveller and part-time labourer Patrick Ward. This was it for her. For life. For ever.
Nearly two years later, Joan cuts a very different figure. Sitting on the sofa in her parents' council house in Manchester, her tan is a faded teak and her big blue eyes seem sad and bitter.
Her one-year-old son Roman sits on her lap, and there is a telling absence of rings on the fingers of Joan's left hand.
It took just eight months for her 'Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' in 2009 to turn into a messy, acrimonious Big Fat Gypsy Divorce.
The decree absolute was granted in April last year, on the grounds of Patrick's unreasonable behaviour — controlling, jealous and sometimes with a vicious temper.
He has since been absorbed back into the travelling community in Ireland, and Joan, 25, hasn't heard from him in over a year. She doesn't even know if he's aware of his son's name.
Not one wedding day picture adorns the family mantelpiece. That extraordinary dress has been sold — again for an undisclosed amount — and has since made a second trip down the aisle on the frame of another young traveller bride whose identity Joan doesn't know.
'I just hope it brings her more luck than it brought me,' she says. 'It was my dream dress. It's a shame I didn't feel the same about my husband.'
When documentary researchers first scouted out the newly-engaged Joan in 2009, they were looking to gain a rare insight into the intriguing world of English and Irish gypsy and travelling communities in the UK.
The programmes proved to be at once compelling and controversial, inviting viewers on a surreal journey where scantily-clad, perma-tanned, bling-loving gypsy girls — many as young as 16 — subjected themselves to draconian courtship rituals to fulfil their 'dreams' of getting married.
The gaudy — some might say comical — excesses of the ensuing wedding days made for unmissable television.
'It was my dream dress. It's a shame I didn't feel the same about my husband,' said Joan of her groom Patrick Ward. The marriage lasted just eight months
The series also showed the darker side of gypsy life: a scant regard for formal education combined with the nomadic lifestyle leaves many youngsters barely literate.
This means girls have little option but to enter into an early marriage and a life of servitude, where the needs of the man always come first. Domestic violence is often accepted, but divorce most definitely isn't.
All of which makes Joan's status of traveller divorcee and single mum rather fascinating.
When the third series of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding airs on February 14, Joan may well make an appearance. She has filmed an update with the documentary team, but doesn't know yet if she's made the final edit.
So what went wrong for the series' blingiest bride and her rather rough-around-the-edges beau?
'The wedding should not have gone ahead,' she says with brutal honesty today.
'I didn't love Patrick. I had my doubts during the whole six months of our engagement, and that was evident on the show.
'I thought I loved him, but looking back I just convinced myself because he loved me so obsessively and had pursued me so persistently.
'I thought anyone who loves you that much has to be worth a chance, but he was not the nice boy I thought he was. He turned into something else, something nasty, jealous and controlling.'
Unbeknown to viewers of that first show in February 2010, Joan had called the wedding off five weeks before the day, only to be talked round by Patrick.
Even the night before, she was having serious doubts.
'I'd told my parents and they were very supportive, saying it was my life and my decision,' says Joan.
'I also told the programme producer. She knew what was going on, and didn't try to persuade me one way or the other, but I felt under enormous pressure.
'If I'd broken off the engagement at that point, it would have been a huge scandal. No gypsy woman ever does that.
'Also the whole build-up to the wedding had been filmed and was due to be broadcast. Not only would I be humiliated within my community, but also on national television.
'I'd signed a contract, and although I could ask to be cut out of the show as a favour, the TV company were within their rights to do what they wanted.
'In the end I just didn't have the guts to call it off. It was easier to go ahead with it and hope for the best. I woke the next morning, had my hair and make-up done, pushed all my fears to the back of my mind, and just let it happen.'
Her wedding day, on October 29, 2009 at St Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church, in Manchester, was everything Joan and the other girls in her second-generation Irish travelling community had ever dreamed of.
'Your wedding day is all you talk about as a child,' says Joan. 'You're always dressing up, planning your gown and discussing who your bridesmaids will be.'
Unbeknown to viewers of that first show of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding in February 2010, Joan had called the wedding off five weeks before the day, only to be talked round by Patrick
She describes her upbringing as fairly progressive compared to many other traveller families.
Growing up with older sisters Ellen, 36, and Maureen, 29, brother John, 32, stay-at-home mum Maggie, 56, and dad Jack, 57, a retired labourer, she spent her early childhood living in Ireland and Manchester.
'We spent winter in England and the summer travelling in Ireland. It disrupted my education and it was difficult to catch up back at school, but I got used to it.'
When Joan was 13, her family broke with tradition and settled permanently in Manchester in a council house. Nevertheless, she left school without sitting a single GCSE and then found work, aged 15, in telesales and waitressing.
Clearly, she will have earned very little money. Yet, as the programme revealed in eye-popping detail, lavish gypsy weddings like hers — taking into account the dresses, carriages, multi-tiered wedding cakes and accessories — can cost up to £150,000.
So who paid for Joan's wedding? Was the money honestly earned and taxed?
Joan won't discuss her family's financial arrangements, what benefits they claim or taxes they do — or don't — pay. Money, like divorce, is strictly taboo in the gypsy community. But she vehemently defends herself and other travellers against accusations of scrounging.
'In our community, the woman stays at home and the man goes to work,' she says.
'That's how it is. All the travelling lads I know work incredibly hard. When I worked, I paid taxes and saved for years for my wedding, which didn't cost as much as everyone thinks.'
She was allowed certain freedoms, she says, but nothing like those enjoyed by friends 'on the outside'.
Around 6.4million people watched, transfixed, as two burly bystanders sweated with the effort of shoe-horning Joan into the horse-drawn Cinderella wedding carriage that would take her to church
'I know some families where girls aren't even allowed to walk to the shop without a brother accompanying them.
'My parents were never like that, but having boyfriends was impossible. Travellers simply don't date or live together before marriage. I know a lot of my non-traveller friends find that very difficult to understand.'
Her own mother married at 17, and her sisters at the relatively ripe old ages of 20 and 25. As her 20s loomed, Joan wanted to hear wedding bells of her own.
'It's not like I feared I'd be left on the shelf, but I did start to think I'd better find someone,' she says.
She met Patrick at a funeral in Ireland in 2006.
'He was persistent, following me around all night. I was flattered, thinking it was a good thing, but looking back it wasn't.'
Patrick 'wooed' Joan within the strict boundaries established and patrolled by their families for the next three years. Patrick visited Manchester a number of times, and the couple went out to the cinema or socialised with friends — but always with a chaperone.
Finally, in 2009, Joan accepted Patrick's proposal of marriage over the telephone, and he travelled to the UK to officially ask for her hand in marriage. Joan's father readily agreed.
Like most traveller brides worth their salt, her dress was made by Liverpool-based designer Thelma Madine at her shop, Nico, which became the backdrop for many an entertaining scene in the TV series.
For the next six months, the dress and the wedding became Joan's sole focus — but doubts started to creep in about her choice of groom.
'He was incredibly jealous about what I wore and did, and he hated me having a social networking account. He didn't seem to have much drive and didn't seem to want to work much, which made me lose respect for him. We had numerous, furious rows.'
The arguments grew worse after the wedding, says Joan. The couple moved into a two-bedroom flat, which Joan had secured through the council on her own.
Used to her own life, with friends both within and outside the traveller community, she struggled to adapt to Patrick's more old-fashioned values.
His tea had to be on the table at a certain time and his wife where he wanted her, and he never socialised outside their close-knit, traveller circle.
'I'm an outgoing, fun person but he was always so serious,' she says. 'It was like treading on egg-shells with him.'
Another bone of contention was the fact that Patrick wanted to move back to Ireland to live in a caravan park in County Offaly, near his family.
'It wasn't the thought of living in a caravan that bothered me — I'd done that plenty of times — it was living with him,' she says. 'I said I would go if he changed his behaviour, but he didn't.'
Joan is understandably coy about the private side of their marriage. Having her courtship so closely guarded, one can only assume her marriage was her first and only experience of a physical relationship. The secrets of that side of the marriage, and whether or not it contributed to its failure, will stay forever with Joan and Patrick.
In May 2010, Joan found out she was pregnant.
'I think he saw that as a chance to have more control over me, but I wasn't going to bring my child up around a man like that. The rows were getting more serious.'
The rows intensified, and one huge argument in June resulted in Joan moving out of their council flat and back in with her parents, while Patrick headed back to Ireland.
Less than a year after declaring on national television that her marriage was for ever, Joan initiated divorce proceedings.
'There was no shame — everyone understood what I'd been through,' she says.
'My parents were supportive and I've since found out through various Facebook groups that divorce isn't as unusual and frowned upon as I feared in travelling communities.
'I'm not unique. I feared for a long time that I would be considered "damaged goods" within our community, and I had ruined my life, but that's not the case.
'I did everything I could to make our marriage work and it wasn't my fault that it failed. I am seen now like a single woman.'
Joan gave birth to her son on January 22 last year, two months after a final telephone call from Patrick, who was then living back in Ireland, trying in vain to win her back. He didn't call to find out the sex, or even the name, of his child.
Today, she is still living with her parents, her financial arrangements, as always, shrouded in mystery.
Joan insists she wants to go back to work, however, once she has secured a nursery place for Roman.
Today, although not dating anyone, Joan hasn't given up on love.
'I wouldn't do anything differently,' she says.
'I don't think I knew Patrick well enough before I married him, but I still wouldn't live with a man before marriage.
'The vast majority of traveller marriages work — when you think about it, I'm the only one out of both series of the programme whose marriage failed. You both want the same thing, and come from the same background. I was just unlucky.'
And she insists no blame should be laid at the door of the TV documentary for the demise of her marriage. The cameras, she said, played no part in the debacle.
'If anything, it gives me something to look back on, I can see how unhappy I was, and how wrong it was. Yes, it provided an extra pressure, but it would have gone wrong whether they were there or not.'
Joan is now investigating whether she can get the marriage annulled by the Catholic Church, opening the way for her to marry in church a second time.
There's one thing she is absolutely certain about: her next wedding will be just as Big, Fat and Gypsy as the last.
'In fact I'm going to go even bigger next time,' she says, without a trace of irony.
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President Donald Trump's speech in Phoenix on August 22, in which he threatened a government shutdown and criticized Republican lawmakers, isn't going to help Congress get things done in September.
Lindsey McPherson, who covers the House for Roll Call, explains how Trump complicated matters.
Show Notes:
- 7 Ways Trump's Arizona Speech Complicates Congress' Fall Agenda
- Ryan Doesn't See Trump Debt Ceiling Tweet As Personal Attack
- Ryan: Shutdown Unnecessary but Continuing Resolution Is Needed
- Democrats Warn Trump Against Shutdown, Remain Opposed to Border Wall
Speaker Ryan today was a Trump tweet target for the first time since the campaign; he didn't take it as an attack https://t.co/Ir4B6h5gLk— Lindsey McPherson (@lindsemcpherson) August 24, 2017
Fact Check: What Trump Stretched, Omitted and Ignored in Phoenix @rollcall https://t.co/VVLhlFkrUG— John T. Bennett (@BennettJohnT) August 23, 2017
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.

subset: commoncrawl


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Soundbreaking. This new 8 part PBS series takes an in-depth look at how the recording process has evolved over the last 100 years which led to some of the greatest innovations in music. Episode 1 looks at how the record producer plays a key role in bringing out the best in an artist. Whether its George Martin's work with The Beatles through multi-tracking, to Stevie Wonder's groundbreaking use of synthesizers, to disco's use of drum machines and to how sampling took hip hop to sonic and commercial heights, this series has something for everyone. Featuring more than 180 original interviews with artists classic and current, Soundbreaking is the ultimate insider's look at how some of our greatest records are created. It premieres Monday, November 14th at 10pm Eastern on PBS. You can go to www.pbs.org for more information.
Don't Look Down. As he did with his airline, record label, and numerous business ventures, Richard Branson loves taking risks and above all things, loves challenges. This new documentary from Daniel Gordon chronicles Branson's attempts to break records for flying in a hot air balloon across various spots around the globe. Using previously unseen footage and new interviews with Branson, family members and collaborators, Gordon captures the highs, lows and near misses that Branson encountered during his various journeys. It's easy to see why people have always gravitated to him: His enthusiasm and passion for life is contagious. It's an inspiring and life-affirming look at one of the world's true adventurers. Don't Look Down opens on Friday.
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. The latest from Academy Award winner Ang Lee takes a sharp and biting look at how war is experienced on the battlefield and how its perceived back home. Based on the best-selling novel by Ben Fountain, Joe Alwyn portrays the title character, a soldier who comes home for a victory tour after his squad survives a fierce battle in Iraq – which was also was captured by an embedded news crew. The tour concludes with The Bravo Squad being honored during halftime at the Thanksgiving game at Texas Stadium. As the pomp and circumstance consume him, Billy wrestles with his memories of the battle, a plea from his sister to leave the military, and how his fellow Bravo Squad members are being used to promote a war that is quickly losing favor with the public. Lee, once again affirms his status as one of the best filmmakers balancing the all too real battlefield sequences, the commercialization of war and the simmering anxieties that are felt by the soldiers and their families. Although he is a relative newcomer, Alwyn turns in a star making performance as Billy. He captures the sense of duty, brotherhood, and lingering doubts that all soldiers have and continue to experience. Garrett Hudland, Vin Diesel and Kristen Stewart also turn in strong supporting performances as Lynn's brothers in the field and as Billy's sister. It has all of the makings of being a strong contender in the upcoming awards season. Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk opens on Friday.
Not Dead Yet by Phil Collins. Whether as a member of Genesis or as a solo artist, Phil Collins has been a part of the pop/rock landscape for over 45 years. This incredibly candid and, at times, brutally honest memoir, Collins goes in depth about his life and career: From being an extra in The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night, working in the bars and clubs in the swinging 60s London scene, to becoming the drummer to a fledging young art rock band named Genesis, Collins captures it all with remarkable detail. Collins also talks about he ended up becoming Genesis' lead singer after the departure of Peter Gabriel, launching an equally successful solo career, working with some of the biggest names in music and much more. He also talks about the darker side of success: Failed marriages, various health problems and a battle with depression that led him to retire in 2007. Loaded with great stories and insights, it's pretty hard to find another rock memoirs that cut so close to the bone. Not Dead Yet is available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all major book retailers.
New York City: The Rolling Stones: Exhibitionism. After blowing away crowds in London, The Rolling Stones' exhibit comes to New York for a 3 month stay at Industria in the West Village. The band unlocks its vast archive – 70 original costumes designed by some of the top names in fashion, film clips, interactive technology, and original works of art – to give its fans the ultimate band experience. Whether you are a fan of music, film, fashion or art, this is the must see event of the season. Exhibitionism opens Saturday, November 12th and runs through March 12th. You can also go to www.StonesExhibitionism.com or Ticketmaster.com for tickets and additional information.
New York City: DOCNYC. Since its launch in 2010, DOCNYC has now become America's largest documentary festival. This year stands to be their biggest yet, with over 250 films and events scheduled throughout the week long event. There will also be special guest appearance by such notables as Jonathan Demme, Barbara Kopple, Bill Meyers, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Steve Van Zandt and much more. Chasing Trane, the eagerly awaited documentary on the life and music of John Coltrane, will close out the festival. In addition to getting the heads up on the exciting new docs and the talent behind them, DOCNYC has also become the barometer of what will be talked about during Oscar season. One of the must see events of the fall season. DOCNYC runs November 10th through the 17th. You can also go to www.docnyc.net for a complete rundown of films, events and more information.
Los Angeles: AFI Fest. The 30th Annual AFI Fest is a chance to see films, shorts and indies by new directors while also paying tribute to stars who make their mark through the American Film Institute. This year's honorees included Annette Bening (who will also screening her critically acclaimed new film, 20th Century Women) and Isabelle Huppert, who will be screening her latest, the Paul Verhooven directed film, Elle. In addition, there will be a preview screening of Warren Beatty's latest, Rules Don't Apply and special screening and discussion with director Cameron Bailey on his new doc on James Baldwin, I Am Not Your Negro. Its a great way to honor cinema's past while getting a firm look at its future. AFI Fest runs November 10th through the 17th. You can also go to www.afifest.afi.com for tickets and additional info.


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These vehicles are designed to be as safe as possible, but there are still a few things that you should know about using them. This is especially true if you have never used them before and you are brand new to the UTV scene. These tips will ensure that you have a fun, safe experience each time that you take your UTV out of the garage. If you have a UTV, you have probably looked at a UTV news blog or just read the reviews from people who have used them before, pointing out the fact that safety is very important.
1. Know the local laws.
Are you allowed to drive on the highways, or are UTVs not considered street legal in your area? Even if you cannot ride on the road, can you ride on the shoulder? Learn about local laws like these before going anywhere.
2. Use a flag on the sand dunes.
On sand dunes, you want to have an orange flag. It will be mounted on a tall, flexible pole that extends over your vehicle. This is so that other people can see where you are, even if you are on the other side of a dune.
3. Scout the areas out first.
If you are riding in a new area, you may want to take a look around first. Do a bit of scouting. This way, you understand what sort of obstacles you are going to face and how many other people might be in the same area. You can drive in a safe fashion if you are prepared.
4. Watch for other drivers on trails.
Finally, you have to drive defensively. Even if you do everything correctly, how can you be sure that someone else is not going to make a mistake? Always watch for the other drivers. Keep an eye on what they are doing so that you can react to them of they make an error. This does take constant vigilance at first, but practice will turn it into a habit before long, and you will do it naturally.
These are four of the biggest things that you can do to stay safe on a UTV. You would probably learn them all with time, if you just started driving your UTV often, but knowing about them all up front can keep you safe from the first day that you have your new machine.


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Newcastle is a city in North East England, and one of the few that doesn't have a red light district or any significant street prostitution. Most punting is concentrated on incalls to flats on the Quayside and the neighbouring Gateshead Quays on the south bank of the River Tyne, or outcalls to hotels.
Escorts & Reviews
There are a number of escort agencies plus around 250 independent escorts advertising on AdultWork at any one time, the agencies and established independents are linked from the sections below. For a shortcut to all Newcastle escorts on PuntingWiki click here:
Escort Agencies
The biggest agencies in terms of choice, age and nationality of escorts are Amour and Diamonds. But there are many other popular smaller agencies, some specialise in certain areas like incalls only, outcalls only or more mature/MILF escorts. All current agencies in Newcastle are listed below.
Independent Escorts
The are many well reviewed independent escorts, many specialising in specific services such as GFE, PSE or BBW bookings. More established independents are listed here, but it is a work in progress so follow the links to AdultWork for others working in Newcastle.
Massage Parlours
Police in the North East have never tolerated brothels so there are no parlours or saunas like in Manchester or Edinburgh which are really brothels. Parlours in Newcastle only offer massage but some will offer a 'Happy Ending' with hand or oral relief. There is an extensive discussion thread on UKPunting listing those that offer 'extras' - be warned it is more than 40 pages long but hopefully someone will break this down into a guide at some point.
- Best genuine massage with a happy ending discussion on UKP
- UKP thread about Lavenders and other parlours
- Massage parlours & masseurs listing with reviews
Services on Offer
For UKPunting advice and discussions about what services girls offer - from Anal to Watersports - look in the North East section under Services Guide.
Punting Locations
Newcastle Quayside
Most agencies and independent escorts use flats based on the Newcastle Quayside on the North bank of the Tyne. The area was heavily regenerated in the 1990s and 2000s, with thousands of flats built in new blocks or renovated warehouses. These give a ready supply of modern, decent quality punting flats for agencies, indies and touring girls as many are available as holiday lets. The area is safe, with plenty of secure parking nearby, but if on foot check the postcode to see if it is the Eastern or Western end of the Quayside as it stretches more than a mile along the riverbank and it can be a 15 minute walk if you get the wrong location.
Gateshead Quays
On the south bank of the river this area was regenerated later in the 2000s, with large blocks of flats near the BALTIC art gallery, accessible from the Newcastle side over the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. At the other end of the Gateshead side there are also blocks of popular punting flats around the High Level Bridge. Modern, with secure access, and a fair amount of parking nearby.
The are two parts to Jesmond, the posh residential suburb and the student flats part - most escorts operate from the student area. It makes for anonymous punting as there is quick turnover and not many nosey neighbours, but not all the flats are great quality. A short five minute drive North East from the city centre or two stops on the Metro underground system. Parking is usually on street and safe but watch out for the many residents only parking restrictions - read the signs to avoid a ticket.
West End and Fenham
Not the best part of the city and visitors should be careful especially with parking, poor quality flats and Fenham is noted as having a group of Romanian girls, probably pimped, who advertise on Vivastreet and operate bait and switch.
Often described by some agencies as Newcastle, but it is a ten minute drive south of the River Tyne in a residential part of Gateshead. Not a great area in terms of the quality of the flats on offer, and again watch out where you park and be aware of nosey neighbours.
Hotels for Outcalls
If you are staying in one of the Quayside hotels like the Copthorne, Vermont or Malmaison, or on the Gateshead side the Hilton or Jury's Inn, then you are just a few minutes walk from the Quayside flats used by most agencies and many Independent Escorts. On the weekends some hotels put on doormen in the evenings to avoid problems from stag and hen parties, some also use key cards for lifts - for these and other issues see these UKPunting discussion threads for recommendations.


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A Sashiko Stitched Noragi: Stitching over Shibori
Written on June 5, 2010
Today I'm showing another beautifully sashiko stitched, indigo dyed cotton noragi, similar in spirit to the noragi shown in the previous post, below this one.
The sashiko stitching, which is arranged in a pattern of a radiating cross-like forms, is stitched over a base of indigo dyed shibori.Like the sashiko stitched noragi in the previous post, this jacket, too, comes from the Tohoku, or north east region of Japan. The asymmetry of the shibori dyed cloth on the back of this work coat is a wonderful design detail–the stark, broken arcs of the shibori design is just beautiful. Most likely this jacket dates to the mid-twentieth century.


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Access My Account
eStatementsCredit Card
Online Banking & Bill Pay
Long gone are the days you had to run to the bank every time you wanted to make a transaction. These days, managing your bank account is as easy as logging on.
Conduct a number of transactions via online banking. Check your account balances, review transactions, sign up for E-Statements and much more! Enroll today!
- Features
- Manage accounts from your own computer
- Log on to view account balances
- Review transaction history
- Sign up for E-Statements
- Transfer funds between accounts
- Make loan payments
- Electronic Bill Pay saves time and money
- Set up options for efficiency
- Alerts and reminders
- Recurring payments
- Encrypted software to keep financial information secure


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Well, I'm a day late for Show and Tell Tuesday but it's been one of those weeks, or two...
I do have some KCW trousers (nearly finished) to show you but today I'm jumping on the Casual Lady bangwagon with a photo of me looking half asleep at 7.30 this morning. Apologies.
I have had this jersey for years, waiting for just this sort of dress, and it turned out pretty much exactly as I hoped.
I made a few changes to the pattern, though. I lengthened the back by 3cm, and added 10cm + 7" (you'll have to forgive the mixed measurements, it made sense at the time) to the length, and I deepened the neckline by7cm and widened it by 3cm at each shoulder. I also didn't bother with the facing; I just turned a 1cm hem and top stitched it with a twin needle which worked out fine. So it might not even qualify as being a Casual Lady any more!
Anyway, I will definately use this pattern again, it's so quick and simple.


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Instagram Map
Below is a map of all my Instagram photos. For those who know me already will be aware that I love Instagram as much as I love to travel. I find Instagram a great tool not only for sharing my photos but also for finding interesting places and experiences to explore. Go on – have a look, you can even see my pictures from North Korea.


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Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Sharpie Pro Street Camaro Part 12
I've lost count of how many times I've been told this can't be done- clear coating over Sharpie I mean.
Today I unmasked the car and we rolled it out of the booth. The little drop shadow around the borders really made a difference. This was the first time we could really step back and look at the whole car- turns out it's kinda big. With eh car out of the booth I was able to get the chin spoiler and hood scoop on stands, cleaned, airbrushed, and cleared. So now all the parts are at the same stage. Next the panels will be wet sanded down and the rest of the car gone over to get the entire car ready for re-clear. But before it gets re-cleared I'll be pulling long lines by hand a round each panel to finish it out and clean up the edges.
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Cool design. Beautiful widescreen. Solid performance.
Pricey. No Blu-ray drive.
Bottom Line
The Sony VAIO VGN-NW120J is a bit more expensive than similarly configured 15-inch notebooks, but its snazzy design is sure to turn a few heads.
Sony's VAIO notebooks have long been at the cutting edge of style, and the VGN-NW120J continues the trend. This sleek mainstream laptop features a cool textured finish and a nice, colorful 15.5-inch widescreen display, but at $799.98 (list), it is a bit more expensive than competing systems that offer similar components and features.
Similar Products
The NW120J's Silver Rattan design has a textured weave pattern that looks like a brushed aluminum weave, but is actually just ABS plastic. There's no mistaking what brand of notebook you're using thanks to the big, highly polished VAIO logo and the smaller SONY badge etched into the lid. The keyboard deck, also done up in Silver Rattan, is spacious and contains a lightly textured touchpad and two mouse buttons. The white full sized keyboard resembles a MacBook keyboard; it features isolated keys and offers lots of room for easy typing. Because the keys are widely spaced there's no room for a dedicated number pad such as those found on the comparably sized HP G60 and Compaq Presario CQ60 models.
At the top of the deck are three function buttons and a power switch. One button is a Web browser quick launch key, one turns the display on and off, and the third is a speaker mute button. The speakers are low powered and lack volume, which is just as well as they are tinny sounding.
Framed by a silver bezel, the 1366-by-768 display is unusual because uses a 15.5-inch panel, rather than the 15.4 or 15.6-inch sizes that are currently all the rage. It delivers a 16:9 aspect ratio and features Sony's XBRITE-ECO technology, which uses a glossy coating to deliver rich colors and deep black levels. Image quality is superb, although the shiny screen can be distracting if you're working in a brightly lit room. At only 5.5 pounds, the slim (1.2-inches at its highest point) NW-120J is as easy on the shoulder as it is on the eyes.
You get a decent selection of features with the NW-120J, and considering its lofty price it would be unreasonable to expect that Sony would include a Blu-ray drive. Sadly, that's not the case. Instead, you'll have to settle for a standard DVD multi-drive. In addition to three USB ports, there is an S400 i.LINK (FireWire) port as well as HDMI and VGA video ports and a gigabit Ethernet jack. Wireless networking comes by way of an 802.11 A/G/N adapter, and there's a 1.3-megapixel webcam embedded in the upper screen bezel. Expansion slots include Sony Memory Stick PRO with MagicGate encryption technology, ExpressCard 34, and SD memory card slots. The use of color-coded headphone and microphone jacks is a nice touch.
The 320GB hard drive comes with Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit) as well as a couple of Sony-branded applications, including Movie Story, MusicBox, and Multimedia Streaming software. Unfortunately the drive is cluttered with third party trialware offers, including QuickBooks Simple Start, Norton Internet Security, MS Office, and a few others.
The use of a 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 processor and 4GB of RAM gave the NW-120J the necessary horsepower to manage a PCMark Vantage score of 3,225, which beat the HP G60 (2,844) and the HP Pavilion dv6t (1030us) (2,924) systems but couldn't touch the Editors' Choice Dell Studio XPS 16 (3,995). It's Cinebench R10 and Windows Media Encoder scores of 4,285 and 1:16, respectively, were also impressive, but the more powerful Dell system retained the top scores for both tests.
The battery life time 3 hours 5 minutes on MobileMark 2007 was about average for a 15-inch notebook.
The Sony VAIO VGN-NW120J may cost a bit more than the HP G60, but it offers slightly better performance and has much nicer lines and a slick finish. Including a Blu-ray drive would have gone a long way toward justifying the higher price, however. If high definition capabilities are a priority, there's always the well-appointed Dell Studio XPS 16, which offers a full 1080p display and a Blu-ray drive, but you'll have to part with an additional grand for the extra features.
BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS: Check out the test scores for Sony VAIO VGN-NW120J (Staples)
More Desktop Reviews:
Asus ROG Mothership GZ700
HP Spectre x360 13 (Late 2019)
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX502
Asus ROG Strix Scar III


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widefido needed a new button or icon design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 163 designs submitted by 42 freelance designers.
Widefido LLC
I build simple software.
I have a simple todo management application, TodoPaper (http://widefido.com/products/todopaper), which has been very successful. I am about to release version 2 of the application and would like to update the icon to a new look and feel. I want to focus on a new, clean icon. Would really like something clever and stylish.
The next version of the app do have some small design modifications. Basically a general simplification and clean up of the UI. You can see some screenshots and video on my blog: http://blog.widefido.com/
The icon to be designed an application icon for the next version of TodoPaper. I need it designed in the appropriate pixel resolutions of 512x512, 64x64, and a 16x16 favicon. I would like the icons delivered in Photoshop or Illustrator format.
I am open to a number of possibilities of design approach. It can be semi-realistic or abstract or even completely textual. I would like to focus on green as a primary color, however, am open to your interpretation. Checkmarks are fine, but would prefer to move away from that as the primary mark in the icon. I do like a textual approach, using "T" as the mark. Feel free to explore all realms.
I really want to go for the modern application icon approach. Smooth lines, gradients, nice use of color. But overall, I would like it to be simple and reflect the overall feel of TodoPaper. With this, I have included the current icon, as well as a couple of icons that I like, that may help get you inspired.


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Penghu County on Tuesday took a major step toward becoming a "low-carbon island" with the inauguration of a smart micro-power grid in Cimei Township (七美) that identifies the optimal mix of solar, wind and diesel-powered energy and generates electricity accordingly.
Part of the second phase of the Ministry of Science and Technology's and state-run Taiwan Power Co's (Taipower) National Energy Program, the power grid followed a phase-one photovoltaic system — which can generate up to 155 kilowatt-peak (kWp) of power — providing an additional 200kWp of power and an energy storage system that has 300 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of installed capacity.
The green power generation modules run in tandem with diesel generators in the township, forming an integral power grid.
The micro-power grid, based in Cimei Green Energy Park, would serve the goal of maximizing the output of green energy in the township, project director Chen Chao-shun (陳朝順) said, adding that alternating between solar, wind and diesel power enables the facility to overcome the sporadic nature of renewable energy sources.
Taipower expects to complete next year the construction of wind turbines with an installed capacity of 600kWh and expand the capacity of photovoltaics and the energy storage system by 1,200kWp and 2,000kWh respectively, which is expected to increase the yearly amount of renewable energy generated in the township to 3.37 million kilowatt-hours and cut costs from diesel power generation by NT$50 million (US$1.67 million).


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posted on here | lookbook
So, i am pretty much excited because i just bought a ticket to a show to see my queen, Lorde. One more week left and i get to finally see her live. I have been a fan since day one. Seriously, i predicted a while ago when she wasn't famous yet, that she will become this huge artist and look at her now. Just so unique and talented. I just love her. Other than my little rant, this is what i wore today. Hope you like it.
what i am wearing | cap from unif, shades from le specs,
denim by levis stratus, kiss band tee, red flannel shirt from unif,
wax pants from zara, boots by dr. martens.


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Croagh Patrick, County Mayo
Croagh Patrick (nicknamed The Reek) located 8 km (5 miles) from Westport in Mayo is a 764 metres tall mountain, which is has become an important pilgrimage site. On the last Sunday of July every year ("Reek Sunday"), the mountain sees 15,000 pilgrims climb to the top. Saint Patrick is said to have fasted on the summit of the great mountain for forty days in the 5th century. Patrick is reputed to have built a church on the summit of Croagh Patrick, however the church that now stands there was built in 1905. The legend has it that at the end of Patrick's 40 day pilgrimage he threw a silver bell from the mountain peak which knocked the she-demon Corra from the sky, thus banishing all the snakes from Ireland.
Some of the participants in the pilgrimage each year have taken to trekking up the mountain barefoot, however this is now discouraged. The ascent can take its toll on those climbing the mountain, especially under harsh weather conditions.
There is an Information Centre at the foot of the mountains, which was opened in 2000 by Gerry Walsh and his wife Gabrielle. The centre focuses on the many archaeological discoveries on the mountain including: evidence of Christian activity, the discovery of a Celtic hill fort and a dry stone oratory. There is also general information on the South Mayo region and its natural beauty.
The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail (accredited by National Way Marked Way) takes in the heart of rural West May and features many of the outstanding heritage sites in the area. The trail crosses the foothills of Croagh Patrick but does not include a climb to the summit. This trail can be taken at any time of the year and covers a distance of 61km (38 miles) in total.
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I suppose it is my own fault for not understanding Korean enough but I received a phone call from SK broadband yesterday about upgrading my Internet or something. I thought someone was going to come to my house and give me some new hardware.
Instead I got a call the next day. They asked me to turn on my computer and connect to the Internet. So I did. Then she told me to go to this website and download that thingamabob. Open this and click that. Suddenly she had gained control of my computer and wanted me to type in my Alien Registration Number to allow her to "check my hard drive for viruses." I immediately became suspicious and told her that I did not have any viruses and I didn't like that she had access to control my computer.
She said it was a temporary thing and that she was going to only check for viruses and delete any files that are not necessary.
I told her again that I used to work in IT and that I knew that I didn't have viruses.
She replied that I couldn't know that unless she could check.
And that's where I drew the line. I told her thanks but no thanks. I appreciate that SK wants to eliminate the spread of viruses by scrubbing down every computer, but I found the process invasive and somewhat insulting.
Now I'm no expert about computers, spyware, viruses, or any of that, but I have enough knowledge about computers, networking, and troubleshooting to know that I don't have viruses. Even if I did, it wouldn't matter because I have everything important backed up on an external drive and I am pretty sure that if my computer were to be overrun with worms and spyware I could just reformat it and there would be no problem.
The point is, I know more about that than the average person, so telling me that I can't know unless I give her remote access so she can check is like a car mechanic telling the lady who works at Jiffy Lube that she can't know if the car needs an oil change unless she allows the him to check first.
(I know most people working at Jiffy Lube are men. Changing the gender helps make that last sentence more understandable without me having to make names for the two. )
I wonder how many SK customers just blindly follow the instructions? Not that I would suspect the company of anything, but it would be easy for someone to pretend that they are from SK and make a webpage that looks legit. Giving the faker access to your computer would allow them to check your computer for bank account and credit card numbers or nab any file of yours or plant illegal files on your computer.
Be careful everyone.


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I just got back from St. Louis, where I attended the biennial conference of the Association for Research in Personality for the first time. What a great conference! I highly recommend this conference for any graduate student interested in the study of personality. Here's what some of the most prominent personality researchers had to say*:
Rich Lucas (Michigan State): Sample sizes in the Journal of Research in Personality (JRP) have increased since 2010, with a particularly large jump in 2014. Fortunately, this increase does not appear to coincide with less rigorous methods or less diverse samples. JRP welcomes submissions of replications and even has a special issue of replications coming up, in addition to a special issue on intraindividual personality change (YES!).
Simine Vazire (U.C. Davis): Data cleaning involves a lot of seemingly minute decisions (e.g., drop this item, control for that variable), but they can result in over-fitting analyses to data. Some strategies for avoiding this: decide analyses pre-study, pre-register these analyses to keep yourself accountable for deviations from this plan, have one co-author 'play dumb' to ensure the steps taken in analyses make sense, differentiate openly between exploratory and confirmatory research, and follow through and do both (i.e., don't leave it to others to confirm your exploratory finding). Also, forget JRP, publish in SPPS.
David Condon (Northwestern): His talk focused on how junior researchers should approach the topic of reproducibility. Mostly, it's an important topic that we all need to be mindful of as we conduct research. In the name of transparency, the slides from his talk are on his website.
Daniel Mroczek (Northwestern): One way to increase accountability, as well as confidence in our findings, is to conduct coordinated data analysis. That is, conduct the exact same analyses across several data sets (collected independently) to assess the robustness of a finding.
Sanjay Srivastava (University of Oregon): Employment status relates to personality changes. For example, attaining employment relates to increases in conscientiousness.
David Funder (U.C. Riverside): The situation plays an important role in behavior. There are remarkable similarities in what types of situations are experienced at 7pm by people across 20 countries.
John Rauthmann (HU Berlin; 2014 Tanaka Dissertation Award winner): DIAMONDS is a taxonomy of the psychologically important aspects of a situation. The eight dimensions are: Duty, Intellect, Adversity, Mating, pOsitivity, Negativity, Deception, and Sociality. This taxonomy provides a framework for future research regarding the role of the situation in everyday life. (On a personal note, I am very excited about this and plan to implement it in my next projects.)
Ivana Anusic (Michigan State; 2013 Tanaka Dissertation Award winner): Among immigrants to Germany, there is a positive association between life satisfaction and cultural identity (i.e., one's affiliation with the host culture); this relationship is largely explained by stable traits which contribute to both.
Nick Turiano (West Virginia University; 2012 Tanaka Dissertation Award winner): High neuroticism and low conscientiousness are associated with negative health outcomes, but there does not appear to be an interaction between these traits, at least not in predicting the use of drugs, alcohol, or nicotine. Overall, conscientiousness plays a protective role in health outcomes.
…and many, many more.
*My memory and notes are fallible. Let me know if anything I've reported is incorrect and I will gladly update it.
As a side note, St. Louis was a great city to visit, and Phyllis Smith from The Office was on my flight heading back to Detroit!


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New York Yankees Leaks Personal Info of 21,000 Season Ticket Holders
Yikes! Indeed, it has happened again but this time the leak was completely preventable. A season ticket sales representative for the New York Yankees inadvertently emailed a spreadsheet to 2,000 of his contacts. The spreadsheet contained account numbers, names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and other information like their seat numbers and which ticket packages they purchased. .
Part of the notification sent to the victims from the Yankees' office said this:
NO OTHER INFORMATION WAS INCLUDED IN THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS ACCIDENTALLY ATTATCHED (sic) TO THE APRIL 25TH E-MAIL. THE DOCUMENT DID NOT INCLUDE ANY BIRTH DATES, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, CREDIT CARD DATA, BANKING DATA OR ANY OTHER PERSONAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
Apparently, the data contained information only on holders of season tickets for the "non-premium" seats that make up the vast majority of Yankee Stadium; those holding tickets for suites and the first few rows in the infield were not listed. So the high rollers and celebrities aren't in there. That certainly lessens the value of the data somewhat (no big, juicy targets), but It's a good bet that the victims are going to spammed and phished to death at some point.
This is yet another piece of evidence in support of my continual assertion that there is absolutely no such thing as private information. Once you have given anything to a third party, you might as well have advertised it on lighted freeway billboard.
Your information is not safe and probably never will be.


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Homemade Guacamole
Sunday, January 27, 2013
If you know me at all, you know I LOVE me some Mexican food. Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, taquitos... All of it. But there's one thing that really makes a good Mexican meal, and that, mis amigos, is fresh guacamole.
This recipe is so stinking good, you could really just eat it by the spoonful. (I...er... might have.) But it's amazing with cantina thin tortilla chips too. Or scooped onto a chicken taco, or a black bean tostada, or, well, anything, really.
Note: I don't know why, but this stuff spoils very quickly, even refrigerated in a sealed container. It won't last longer than a day or two. But you'll probably eat it all before then anyway.
2 ripe avocados
1 medium roma tomato, chopped
Juice of 2 limes
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
Pinch of garlic powder
Pinch of dried cilantro
Pinch of salt
Pinch of black pepper
Pit and peel the avocados, then place them in a bowl. Add the lime juice, onion, Greek yogurt, garlic, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Mash everything with a potato masher. With a spoon, gently mix in the tomatoes. Refrigerate and enjoy! Makes about 8 servings.
Nutrition Information per serving
Calories: 92
Fat: 8
Fiber: 4
Carbs: 6
Sodium: 20
Protein: 2
Weight Watchers Points: 2
2 comments
- Lacey said...
Hey there! I'm a follower of your sister Jessica's blog and I just had to follow along with you as well :) Your story is so inspiring! I am so motivated now to get back to excersizing. Thanks for the inspiration and I think its so great that you are sharing your journey on here! What an encouragement :)
That said, I LOVE guacamole too! Oh goodness it is so good and this recipe looks amazing. We made some for super bowl and it was gone within ten minutes :p
- February 8, 2013 at 5:39 PM
- Jenny said...
Hey, Lacey! Nice to meet you! Thank you so much for following my blog, and for leaving such a nice comment! Good luck with your fitness goals, and I hope you enjoy this recipe. :)
- February 24, 2013 at 2:48 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Your job will involve working closely with clients to develop, test, and ship software that meets their needs. You will be looking both to contribute to the company and to grow personally.
Your job will include:
• Helping our clients understand what they really need
• Building quality systems to satisfy those needs
• Working collaboratively with colleagues and clients
• Keeping technically sharp
• Getting things done
• Sometimes travelling to other locations in the UK and mainland Europe
Skills & Requirements
We are looking for a strong web software engineer with good leadership and client facing skills. You will be familiar with modern SPA frameworks - React and/or AngularJS, and with microservice architectures based on Node.js or Java and .NET backends.
Our technical environment:
• Is mostly scalable web/cloud and mobile architectures, Java, .NET or node.js back-ends
• Uses Agile approaches, especially Test-Driven Development and Pair Programming
• Relies on strong Continuous Integration skills and automated delivery pipelines
• Also includes specialist skills such as UX, embedded systems and Big Data engineering
• Keeps current with recent trends
You will get:
• A generous allowance for training (9% of your time and a budget)
• An achievement-based career path where you can gain responsibility while remaining technical
• A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
Our work is mainly at or within an hour's travel from our Shoreditch office. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.
Published: 11th July 2019
Deadline: 30 September 2019


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Required Subscription Add-On: Mitel MIVOICE Connect Contact Center (MVCCC) Services
Every organization has unique ways that they'd like to see their team-members' data displayed. Sometimes what seems to be a simple, straightforward call count isn't so simple and straightforward. In fact, some teams want to see data on all the agents' calls, regardless if they are internal (extension to extension) or if they are external (technically: calls placed to or received from outside the Mitel (ShoreTel) system). Some teams really only care about looking at the calls that come in from outside the organization (typically external). And then there are the teams that want to see both, but they want to be able to break them out. The complexity increases when you look at breaking the perspectives out by Incoming, Outgoing, ACD, Non-ACD, etc. Brightmetrics has added the Internal/External dimension to empower your team to do what you like... its pretty simple:
- Just like editing all of our other reports (see here for a refresher), slip into "Edit Mode"
- If you want to break out your perspective by this dimension, simply drag and drop it from the available down into rows or columns:
- Or if you'd prefer to use this dimension to filter out either Internal or External, click the green plus cylinder next the dimension name to add it to your filter set on the report and then define how you'd like it filtered up top:
Just another way to increase your flexibility as you slice and dice the perspectives in your reports!
If you have any other questions regarding Brightmetrics' Mitel (ShoreTel) Reporting and Data Analytics Services, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Visual Branding Services That Will Improve
Your Business
Images on your website either increase or decrease the brand value
of your company. Our photos will supercharge it.
We will discuss the corporate style of your company with you and will create headshots to match it.
Event Photography
Showing how many people attended your event, as well as displaying both candid and group photos will help to promote your company on social media.
Advertising/Product Photography
We will create imagery to sell your product in the best way possible. Through lighting, concept creation and consulting with you we will come up with the strongest visual ideas.
The sky is the limit: Customer Stories, Explainer Videos, Social Content, Web Series, Event Shooting, Sizzle Reels and Motion Graphics.
"Professional photos with a creative approach will help your company build instant trust and credibility with your customers and will ultimately increase your sales"- Slava Blazer, CEO of Blazer Photo Branding Agency
Price & Availability
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I am beyond satisfied with Slava's work and would definitely recommend him if you are looking for an amazing photographer with experience and an eye for detail. I'm so happy that I got the opportunity to work with him.
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I really can't say enough about what a great experience it is to work with Slava and how truly grateful I am to him for caring about his customers with his heart and not just his camera lens.
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Slava was a great photographer to work with. Extremely responsive,easy to communicate with, and provides a lot of direction and helpful suggestions during the shoot especially for someone like me who is not experienced in front of the camera.


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No one can resist a sugary treat, so why not sweeten up your home with bonbon bright accessories this season? Pick 'n' mix from a selection of bakeware, kitchen accessories and soft furnishings, all at up to 60% less than the RRP, to turn your home into a delectable delight.
Instantly add a modern 50s vibe to your home with some ceramic pastels, and with daily deliveries of kitchenware, cushions and accessories available in a range of sherbet shades, there are always new treats to discover in store.
More details on their website click here.
Home Sense, The Brewery, Romford. RM1 1AU Call 01708 775184
Remember 'Never Drink & Drive', enjoy your drink responsibly then use a MiniCab to get home.


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ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Thursday asked the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) to take notice of mudslinging on politicians on the electronic media.
The committee meeting was held under the chair of Aslam Bodla and reviewed the performance of different departments of the ministry of information.
Member Committee Naeema Kiswar said that the PEMRA only takes notice of the passing of derogatory remarks against the army and the judiciary. She said it should also take notice of those media persons who always remain busy in mud-slinging on politicians in their talk shows.
Replying questions, PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam told the committee that the rules and regulations of authority were very clear in this regard. He said that the PEMRA only takes action under the law after receiving complaints.
He said that the PEMRA was facing difficulties in issuing new TV licences due to the interior ministry's tough criteria of clearance. He said that the interior ministry has not issued clearance to any TV channel in the last several years.
Talking about airing the list of the Intelligence Bureau about Members National Assembly (MNAs) by a private TV, he said that the PEMRA has not received any complaint on the issue so far.
The information secretary said that the ministry has directed the PEMRA to monitor TV programmes.
The committee considered the "The Protection of Journalists Bill, 2014" (moved by MNA Sahibzada Tariq Ullah) and decided that the bill may be deferred due to the non-availability of the mover.
The committee also considered the "The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2017" (moved by MNA Dr Fouzia Hameed) and decided that the bill may be deferred at the request of the Ministry of Information Broadcasting, National History, and Literary Heritage till the next meeting.
The information secretary further briefed the committee that the ministry was working on "The Protection of Journalists Bill, 2014". He said the ministry had taken action against those officers who were involved in the preparation of the new print media ordinance. He said that according to the ministry inquiry, three officers were involved and the ministry has made them as OSDs.
Committee |Member Muhammad Khan Daha said cartoon programmes were being shown in Indian dubbing.
The information secretary replied that the government was launching a new kid TV channel soon.
The Principle Information Officer briefed the committee about the performance of the department as well as the criteria of budgetary allocation of public sector advertisements on electronic and in print media. He said that PID gives advertisements to 17,00 newspapers across the country and even though it has delisted more than 400 newspapers.
The committee members unsatisfied with the briefing of the Principle Information Officer recommended that it will have to take steps for its improvement and best performance.
MNAs Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Muhammad Khan Daha, Mian Muhammad Farooq, Waseem Akhtar Shaikh, Tahir Iqbal, Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, Zeb Jaffar, Parveen Masood Bhatti, Arifa Khalid Parvez, Ch. Muhammad Tufail, Syed Amir Ali Shah Jamote, Imran Zafar Leghari, Belum Hasnain, Naeema Kishwer Khan, Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar and Dr Fouzia Hameed attended the meeting.


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Download This Resource
You can help!
Don't let a change to immigration application standards hurt millions of families
About the proposed rule
The administration has published a proposed rule that would make it much more difficult for immigrants to apply for legal immigration status in the United States. The proposed rule would drastically expand the definition of what it means to be a public charge, which could prevent an immigrant from maintaining or obtaining legal immigration status.
Currently, the government denies immigrants' applications on public charge grounds if it finds they would likely depend on public cash assistance or need long term medical care at the government's expense. Under the proposed new rule, the list of public benefits that could prevent immigrants from acquiring legal immigration status would be expanded. Also, the rule would increase the possibility that applications would be denied based on the various factors to determine public charge, such as age, health, family status, financial status, education, skills and employment history.
Why it matters
This proposed rule will hurt and potentially separate families. As people of faith, we are called to stand with families, for the common good of all and to defend those made vulnerable by unfair policies. This planned expansion of public charge forces parents to choose between needed public assistance to keep their children housed, fed and healthy or leaving their family vulnerable to separation.
What you can do
The proposed rule has been published and is open for public comment for a 60-day period until Dec. 10, 2018. You can write to express your opposition to the rule. In the coming weeks, CLINIC will provide instructions on how to draft and submit a comment. The number and contents of the comments submitted during this period will affect whether the proposed rule will be finalized as-is, or if it will be revised to reduce the negative impact on immigrant families. This is our best chance to make a difference. Learn more at cliniclegal.org/public-charge.


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George Lucas wants to go to Chicago. And the Windy City wants the "Star Wars" creator's $300 million museum -- since San Francisco says, "meh."
Lucas's plans to build the "Lucas Cultural Arts Museum" to house his personal collection of Norman Rockwell paintings and movie memorabilia -- including a "scale model" of Han Solo's legendary Millennium Falcon -- in the Presidio of San Francisco have "stalled," according to the Chicago Tribune.
And leaders in Chicago, from Mayor Rahm Emanuel on down, are getting behind the part-time Chicago resident's thoughts to put the museum there.
Lucas, who is married to a Chicago investment executive, considers Chicago his "second home," he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, other cities are also in the running to nab Lucas's museum -- and San Francisco isn't out of the running, either: the Presidio Trust, which rejected Lucas's proposal for a Crissy Field spot, can still be convinced.


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Two Saturdays ago I shared photos from the Rain Garden Training and Installation day at Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven.
Late this past spring Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven received a grant from the Greater New Haven Green Fund to educate neighborhood activists about ways to reduce stormwater runoff. The original plan was that Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven staff and volunteers would dig and install two rain gardens in their Hudson Street demo lot on Friday, June 13th, with instruction and guidance from Michael Dietz, Director of U Conn College of Agriculture and Natural Resource's NEMO Program.
It rained heavily that day. While the torrential rain did bring home the point that "global weirding" is indeed here to stay, it also posed an extreme challenge to our garden planting schedule.
We dug one of the gardens and planted most of the plants the best we could. The enthusiasm was there, but we had to stop before we added the mulch.
The staff of Neighborhood Housing agreed they would get the second garden dug and take care of the plants until we could get them in the ground.
|Garden 1 before we called it quits.
We set Thursday, June 26, as the date for completing the project.
It was hot. Very hot.
And humid. Very humid.
But it could have been worse. Thunderstorms were predicted, but they passed us by.
Some of the plants may look a little droopy in the photos. But if I had included photos of the hard-working gardeners, believe me, the humans would have looked droopy, too.
Watch for more updates as the gardens fill out.
Now all these gardens need is some rain…
Happy Saturday. The sun's out here.
Why Saturday Short Subjects? Some readers may recall being dropped at the movie theater for the Saturday matinee — two action-packed feature films with a series of short subjects (cartoons or short movies, sometimes a serial cliffhanger) sandwiched in between. Often the short subjects were the most memorable, and enjoyable, part of the morning. That explains the name. The reason behind these particular posts is that we are all short on time. My Short Subject posts should not take me as long to write or you as long to read (or try).


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5 of 5 stars
Aaron Glade is a disgraced cop who is working as a PI to make ends meet when he is recruited by a secret group known as the Gray Spear Society. What Aaron doesn't know is that they are God's warriors whose mission is to destroy God's enemies at all costs. His first mission is to eradicate The Church of One Soul before it wreaks havoc on Earth.
This book grabs you from the opening pages and is non-stop action. The author does a great job of fleshing out the characters and especially Aaron. He's a flawed man, has made mistakes in the past and will do so again while he tries to understand what he's gotten himself into by joining this group. The secondary characters are just as interesting and I was intrigued to learn their stories as well. This was a fast read and definitely piqued my interest to find out what other adventures the author has in store for the Gray Spear Society. Readers of thrillers and action adventure will thoroughly enjoy this book. Recommended.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.


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- Chalet for sole occupancy
- Self Catered or Catered basis
- 6 bedrooms, sleeps 1/18
- Flexible stays
- Ski from door
- Available for summer and winter
- wifi
- parking
- hot tub/jacuzzi
- credit cards accepted
- Ski in & out
Abode Ski Bridge
- Come to Breckenridge & ski a whole new mountain!
- Try your turns on Breckenridge's new Peak 6 with its 2 new chairlifts, 10 new runs & 3 new bowls & incredible USA powder snow.
- This stunning ski in, ski out home is located right on the Snowflake run, you literally walk off the back deck, step into your skis & ski away.
- With log architecture & custom craftsmanship this spacious chalet has all the accommodation you could wish for: beautiful spacious lounge, dining area seating 20, gorgeous views, family room with playstation & big screen TV, kids play room, office & outdoor hot tub.
- It is about 10 minutes drive from Breckenridge town centre.
- Breckenridge, Colorado, USA is 104 miles or approx. 2 hours from Denver International Airport.
- Large spacious lounge with fireplace
- Dining area with tables & bar which seats 20 people
- Fully equipped gourmet kitchen
- Family room with playstation, big screen TV, DVD, shuffleboard
- Kids play room with TV, games & toys
- Office with flatscreen TV, DVD & surround sound, computer, printer
- Outdoor hot tub
- 2 x washer / dryers
- Garage, heated driveway for 5 cars
- Blue River Bungalow - sleeps 2 in one queen bed
- 4 O'Clock Master Retreat Suite - sleeps 2 in one king bed
- Cabell Corner Master Suite - sleeps 2 in one king bed
- Wildflower Bunk - sleeps 4 in two sets of bunks (4 twin beds)
- Angler Bunk - sleeps 4 in two sets of twin bunks (4 twin beds)
- Nordic Nest - sleeps 2 in one queen bed
- Upper level - Sleeps 1 in one twin sofa sleepers in upper level sitting area
- Lower level- sleeps 1 in one twin sofa sleeper in Nordic Nest bedroom
Facilities:bar, barbecue, computer, games console, games room, garden, home cinema, hot tub (outdoor), jacuzzi, laundry facilities, private parking (covered), private parking (open), satellite/cable TV, wifi (free in-room), wifi (free public area)
Catering services can be added to include any combination of the following for any number of days / nights:
- Breakfast, tea & / or dinner
- Housekeeping
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Other services:
•We can help arrange airport transfers, lift passes, ski school & ski hire
•We can help arrange airport transfers, lift passes, ski school & ski hire
Resort & location information:
click +/- to maximise/minimise
Resort name: BreckenridgeSki area: Breckenridge Country: USA Amenities: adventure park, bars and restaurants, beauticians, bowling, bus station, bus stop, cash withdrawal facility, childcare, cinema, climbing wall, cross country skiing, cycling, doctor, dog sled rides, fishing, fitness centre, free shuttle bus, freelance catering, golf, gym, gym classes, hairdressers, half pipe, high altitude restaurants, hiking, horse drawn skiing, horse driven sleigh rides, horse riding, huski dogs, ice climbing wall, ice rink, massage, mini golf, mountain biking, mountaineering, night sledging, nightclub, off piste guiding, pilates classes, rafting, railway station, ski jouring, ski school, ski touring, skidoo safaris, skiing, skiing/snowboarding, sledging pistes, snow mobiling, snow tubing track, snowboard school, snowshoe walking, spa, supermarket, swimming pool (indoor), swimming pool (outdoor), tennis, toboganning, torch lit descents, tourist office
email: email@example.com
tel: UK - 01223 655642
tel: USA - (001) 303 482 1961
fax: +001 720-458-3936
skype: chaletsusa
facebook: Facebook page
twitter: skichaletsusaAdvertiser with Chalets Direct since: July 2006
Guest reviews:
Review sent by email/letter by John Sheerin""Thanks Helen. No issues, we had a fantastic time (Abode Ski Bridge Lodge). Snow conditions were pretty near perfect. Breckenridge is great for families. Thanks for your help and advice, we had a great holiday."
John Sheerin, late March / April 2016, UK." 01 Aug 16


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Gogglebox favourite Sandra Martin has become 'homeless and penniless' just days before Christmas.
Since the 55-year-old quit the popular Channel 4 show, she moved out of her house into a budget hotel before going into temporary accommodation.
Now things have gone from bad to worse for the mum-of-four who is having to charge fans £1 for a selfie being so desperate for cash on the brink of becoming homeless.
Although Sandra is expected to appear in Celebrity Big Brother next year, for now she is having to rely on friends for money as she had to withdraw from an Aladdin panto after going on stage drunk.
Being axed from the show, Sandra claims that she left the panto due to problems with her high blood pressure.
Opening up about her struggles which Sandra admits started with Gogglebox, she told The Daily Star:
I have no money coming in. It's scary.
I'd never had any money. I was a full-time grandmother looking after my grand-daughter, so when I suddenly found myself coming off benefits and earning all this money it freaked me out.
I told them straight, 'that is way too much money for me to handle'.
So to help me out they would use the money to pay my rent, my electric, my gas, council tax, all the bills.
She continued:
Then they'd give me the rest, but even that was more than I'd ever had.
All my friends were on benefits, so when I got Gogglebox it was like I'd won the jackpot.
If one of my friends needed £100 then I'd give it to them. I'd always be getting the drinks in and buying the food.
I didn't mind at first but then people started taking advantage, so I had to get out.
I moved three times while I was on Gogglebox just to get away, which still breaks my heart. There are people who were my friends for more than 30 years who don't speak to me anymore.
Sandra, who was jailed for six months for fraud in 1984, quit the show earlier this year after appearing on it for nearly four years being an original star.
Her partner on the sofa, best friend Sandi, had already left being replaced by Sandra's daughter Chanchez.
Sandra reveals it was at this point that she realised it just wasn't working any more admitting:
Some of the programmes we had to watch were about sex. I felt very uncomfortable – I couldn't talk about sex with my daughter.
I don't have that kind of relationship with my children.
I'd also seen how well Sandi was doing and other people like Steph and Dom and of course Scarlett (Moffatt), so I decided to take the chance and leave.
There was no way I was going back on benefits.
However, things didn't work out the way Sandra expected them to and before long she had moved into a budget hotel unable to afford the monthly bills at her rented house.
Sandra added:
It meant I didn't have to worry about paying all the bills. I thought it was the best thing to do to survive, living out of my suitcase. I've really been trying my best.
She remains optimistic though hoping things will turn around after she follows in the footsteps of Sandi appearing on Celebrity Big Brother.
She said:
I've still got hope that something will come up next year. I've been talking to Sandi. She's always looked out for me, and we'd love to be reunited on TV.
The dream would be to have my own chat show. I never thought I'd find fame in my 50s, so who knows what might happen next year?
I'm a positive person. And I've got my kids and my grandkids, as well as my fans, who keep me smiling.
As long as she keeps her chin up, I am sure Sandra will be fine.


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Oct 23, 2016
i will definitely recommend this course not only to those interested in graphic design but also to those who have to make simple power point presentations. you will find the tips very useful!
Jan 16, 2018
There were a lot of design elements thought were irrelevant, now i know better. This course made graphic design limitless. It also show me how to do more and appreciate everything visible
By Frank B•
Aug 27, 2017
My opinion is divided about this part of the course. I have worked as an editor for 20 years and I was dealing with print design for a decade. Therefor, I am not new to the topic of graphic design.
On the one hand, I have learned a lot about graphic design in this course. I wish I had seen David's explanations at the beginning of my apprenticeship. My worked would have been improved significantly.
Especially, as I haven't usually done the design of the newspapers I have worked for myself. After finishing David's course, I see the faults of "professional" designers. They have build the grid and developed the design of many papers I wrote for and that I did the typesetting for. And they sometimes did a very bad job (somebody should have told them to "design, don't decorate" a couple of times).
On the other hand, even having worked in the business, some parts of the course have been too detailed in my opinion (e.g. different families of typefaces).
Moreover, the introduction is pure ex-cathedra teaching.
After that you dive deep into design and layout. I picture myself being new to the matter, having to learn about the software you need, the usage of photos, colours, negative space etc.
If you are able to see this course as an opportunity to get a lot of information and pick some insights of it yourself, it's worth participating. But if you try to fulfil the tasks in good or excellent quality, it's quite a challenge.
Non the less, I have enjoyed (and finished) the course and learned a lot.
By Norb•
Jun 25, 2017
I love this course. It showed me the basics and fundamentals for graphic design. The professor is great, he knows how to explain each concept. Great experience overall. Thank you!
By Micaa Y•
Dec 11, 2018
I love this course, make me realize a lot of things to get into knowledge, love the teachers, they explains like the best of them and gave you a lot of advises! Super recommended
By Sidra A•
Dec 10, 2018
very satisfying experience
By Hassan A•
Dec 13, 2018
It's Very Nice and useful Course
By Mohamed Y M•
Dec 28, 2018
By Thomas B•
Jan 24, 2019
The course was very inspirational and teached me a lot about the scaffolding of presentations. I already achieved some accomplishments at work while using what I have learned. I also appreciated the recommendation to use different programs like adobe photoshop. I had no experience with it, but got quite comfortable during the process creating the different posters. Keep up with the great work - I enjoyed it a lot!
By Christina Y T•
Jan 27, 2019
I learned a lot of basic design principals that I think will be very helpful.
By Leonardo A E M•
Jan 27, 2019
Bom curso!
By Dario S•
Jan 27, 2019
great videos, great knowledge. It helped me so much of understanding design better and also helped my creative side a lot.
By Karina D S•
Mar 31, 2019
Excellent - learned a lot and am very thankful for the clarity and depth of messages that the teachers transmitted. Well done team!
By Dhananjay S•
Apr 09, 2019
This course helped me to gain a lot of knowledge that I never knew.
By Liliana S•
Apr 12, 2019
By Muhammad H•
Mar 05, 2019
Really Best Course
By Shyam P•
Mar 17, 2019
Great course, to the point and focused on the very basic yet important element of graphic design. I use these skills on a day to day communications.
By Anne-Laure D•
Jul 31, 2017
Just great! It's so simple it seems obvious, yet it's very profound and I will need months of design work before I can start to master everything I learned. Thanks a lot for this great mooc. I will never make slides, documents or websites as I did. Now I will try and design them!
By Ricardo G•
Mar 05, 2018
Excellent course. It was very helpfull!!
By Ya-Wen C•
Apr 03, 2017
Inspiring class!!
By Eduardo M G•
Feb 08, 2017
Great course, i really enjoyed it
By ELINGUI P U•
Sep 19, 2017
Great course
By Elisangela M d C•
Dec 11, 2017
This is an excellent course for those who need to improve their visual communication. The concepts are taught in a simple way and the suggested activities help in learning the content. Very important knowledge for any area of activity.
By Alexandra W•
Dec 04, 2017
Great course! So much fun, so many small projects and discussion prompts. I had a great time doing them and actually getting an opportunity to teach myself photoshop along the way. I very much enjoyed this course. Thank you so much David!!
By Ayo A•
Jan 16, 2017
Lovely course! Increase my knowledge of what graphic Design entails.
By Amine K•
Jan 09, 2017
the best course in coursera ^_^
By Sahana S B•
Feb 14, 2017
The instructions are very clear and specific. Thanks to David for keeping the course matter clear and simple. The assignments are very interesting and motivating the student to complete them even before time.


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You make choices every day. The brand of car you drive is a choice. So are the clothes you choose to wear. The color of your rooms, the music you listen to, and even the art you look at. You select what you want from the choices that are given to you. When you are given the opportunity to select, you feel more confidence in the outcome. You can also eliminate those choices that don't work for you. The choices you make result in the life you live. Shouldn't you be able to select your home insurance from a list of companies who must compete to be your choice?
Many of us are only offered a company chosen by our realtor, or mortgage broker when we first buy our homes. More of us are offered one company from the agent who writes our car insurance. Still more find a company online or via advertising who only can offer us the one home insurance product they sell. And what happens? We receive the renewal bill each year and scratch our heads and send the premium, not sure if we are getting a good deal. Sometimes we may call the agent, who can only offer that product and they talk us into renewing by saying there's no better alternative. Or we call the company directly, who advises us that the only way to reduce the premium is to lower our coverages. It doesn't have to be like that.
Cronin Insurance Agency gives you the choice of companies you that you want and deserve. We represent dozens of Home Insurance Companies. This is so important today as insurance companies stop covering houses located in certain zip codes, or decide they don't want to insure based on the year the home is built or the age of roof, or the electric panel used in the home. We carry great Insurance brands like Universal P&C, Federated National, United P&C, Bankers, AIG, Chubb. Lloyds of London, Avatar, Heritage, GeoVera, Florida Peninsula, Universal NA, Edison, Coastal, Ironshore and more! The old adage is true: when companies compete, you win! Making companies compete allows you to find the right combination of price and coverage that fits your budget and lifestyle. And if one company does not fit your personal circumstances, we can find you another that will.
At Cronin Insurance, we check all our Home Insurance Policy renewals for increases. Our system will automatically flag any renewals that have sharp increases. This triggers our staff to start shopping that policy to see if there is a better deal out there for you. What if a company non-renews your policy because they are reducing their risk exposure, or decides not to cover homes in your zip code, or they pull out of Florida completely? Cronin Insurance Agency will find you another company! You are never left our on a limb because one company has changed their mind about your insurance - Cronin Insurance has got your back!
We've been insuring Florida Homes since 1993. Our agency started after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 when the largest insurance companies (You know who you are!) began massive cancellations of their client's home insurance policies. We've kept our clients covered through Hurricanes Frances, Jean, Charley, Katrina, Wilma and Sandy! We've helped clients whose companies went out of business after these storms. We know how to underwrite homes to get you enough coverage at the right price. We have the markets to insure your home whether you have a small condominium or a $10,000,000 estate.
Here are your choices when choosing a Company to write your Home Insurance:
Trusted Choice® agencies are insurance and financial services firms whose access to multiple companies and commitment to quality service enable us to offer our clients competitive pricing, a broad choice of products and unparalleled advocacy.
As a Trusted Choice® agency, we are dedicated to you and are committed to treating you as a person, not a policy. This commitment means we shall:
We pledge this to you, our clients and ask that you let us know if we fail to meet our commitment, so we may take corrective action.
The choices we make determine the life we live. Choose Cronin Insurance Agency to quote your Home Insurance policy. We'll give you a real choice between Companies today and every time your policy renews.
In a rush and don't want to talk?
Click "Get a Quote" and follow the instructions.
Finding a low price is all about comparative shopping, let us do the work for you.


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At a Glance
Antarctica is the third-smallest continent and is 98% covered in ice. Only about 1,000 people are on Antarctica at any given time and none are permanent residents.
A pact know as the Antarctic Treaty was ratified by 12 countries in 1959 stating that Antarctica can only be used for scientific research.
Within Antarctica exists the exotic prehistoric jungle known as the Savage Land and it's neighboring nation of Pangea. Also nearby, beneath the oceans stands the ruins of what was once the kingdom of Atlantis. Here the Atlanteans lived for many centuries before their realm was destroyed in the mid 20th Century, forcing the Atlanteans to find a new home.
20th Century
During the late 1920s, the youthful Sub-Mariner frequently visited the shores of Antarctica, his explorations to the surface awakening his various mutant abilities one-by-one.[1] It is on the surface he also met the mysterious Ice King who dwelt there in secret.[2]
In the 1940s, Antarctica was visited by scientist Elton Morrow who discovered a mysterious glowing blue diamond. This gem was in reality one of the components of the Lifestone Tree[3]. Ultimately, the diamond was exploded, the fragments embedding themselves into Morrow's body, giving him fantastic powers. He eventually became the hero known as the Blue Diamond.[4] Also this time the ship S.S. Olympus was attacked by 11th century sorcerer Khor while on a voyage to the Antarctic. They were taken to the Savage Land to be Khor's slaves until they were rescued by the Vision.[5]
In 1944, Nazi operatives relocated to the abandoned scientific village of Little America where they began stock piling weapons in anticipating of the next world war. Their plans were ruined by a vengeful Sub-Mariner who tracked down the Nazis for a prior attack on his homeland of Atlantis.[6]
In the 1960s, a joint operation between the USA and the USSR led to the creation of a facility code-named Friendship. The base would become abandoned some time later.[7]
Modern Age
Shortly after his return from their brief time on Counter Earth, the Fantastic Four relocated to Antarctica when Reed Richards revealed to his family and fellow teammates that a few years prior he had a base constructed there. The Fantastic Four used this base as their temporary headquarters before returning to New York. While there Richards (with the help of test pilot Ben Grimm) conducted tests on the Electromagnetic Meson Velocirator, with mixed results.[8]
At some point in the 21st Century, the Friendship facility was upgraded and re-purposed by S.H.I.E.L.D. to become an outpost. Friendship played a big role in maintaining the integrity of the organization, and severed as the ultimate fail-safe in case S.H.I.E.L.D. was overrun.[7]
Points of Interest
See Also
- 379 Appearances of Antarctica
- 28 Minor Appearances of Antarctica
- 25 Media Antarctica was Mentioned in
- 3 Images featuring Antarctica
- Location Gallery: Antarctica
- 45 locations in Antarctica


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|Ashley Eckstein at Star Wars Celebration VI. Photo by Kristen Hoetzel, Sorcerer Radio Network.
Born in Louisville, KY and raised in Orlando, FL, Ashley Eckstein grew up a true blue Disney kid with an extensive Alice in Wonderland collection. She fell in love with acting at an early age and started her career doing theater, before landing a role in a television show for Sea World called Shamu TV.
She moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting full-time, and her first appearance on JAG set the stage for a promising career. Since then, she has starred in Blue Collar TV, Drake and Josh, That's So Raven, Alice Upside Down and Sydney White. Ashley has also enjoyed hosting several TV specials, live shows and videos for Cartoon Network, Xbox Live and Disney. Eckstein is also the voice of Mia the bluebird on Disney's new hit show Sofia The First, but is most well known as the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Recognizing a need and a desire for merchandise created especially for the female fan, Eckstein founded Her Universe, a merchandise line featuring fashionable and feminine apparel and accessories for fangirls. Go to www.HerUniverse.com to check out Ashley's designs for Star Wars, Syfy, Star Trek and Doctor Who!
Jedi Mouseketeer and the Sorcerer Radio Network will be covering C2E2 2013! Read more about our live coverage HERE!
Special thanks to our C2E2 2013 event coverage partners:
Halloween Express - Take 15% off site-wide with NO minimum purchase!
Jedi Mouseketeer - Geeky news from universe of Disney, Marvel and Star Wars!
Kristen Hoetzel of Magical Journeys Travel - Book your Disney vacation or cruise today!
WDW After Dark - Weekly Webcast for Adult Disney Fans!
Sorcerer Radio Network - All Disney Music, All Day Long!
Check out the listing of 2013 Jedi Mouseketeer Events and Convention Coverage!
Follow at Twitter.com/JediMouseketeer
"Like" us on Facebook.com/JediMouseketeer
Book your next Disney vacation or cruise with Kristen Hoetzel of Magical Journeys Travel!


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From Tıme Lord to a cute fairy: David Tennant says becoming a father inspired his latest role
After becoming the father of two children in the space of six months – 'that's got to be something of a record' – it's no surprise David Tennant has a new interest in children's programmes.
The actor, whose first child Olive was born a year ago and who then adopted his new wife Georgia Moffett's ten-year-old son, found fame in family favourite Doctor Who but now he's aiming at an even younger audience on his daughter's favourite channel CBeebies.
David is the voice of a tree sprite – a type of fairy who lives in the woods – in ambitious new animation Tree Fu Tom.
David is the voice of a tree sprite in the ambitious new animation Tree Fu Tom
Each show took nine months to make and as well as providing entertainment and education, its aim is to get children up and active with the hero Tom (voiced by another Doctor Who alumni, Sophie Aldred) teaching viewers a series of exercise moves.
His appearance in the show is part of a trilogy of productions David has made aimed at young children. He also stars alongside Hugh Grant and Salma Hayek in new family movie The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists, and has a role in the upcoming Postman Pat film.
David, 40, admits to a new respect for children's broadcasting – even if the audience won't always remember it. 'I haven't done anything for this age of children before,' he says of Tree Fu Tom's audience of up to six-year-olds.
Georgia Moffett, daughter of former Doctor Who Peter Davison, met David while working on Doctor Who in 2007
'But they are formative years and it's really important we create television of a high quality for that audience. Generally speaking we don't have vivid memories from when we were pre-school age but the programmes you watch when you are that young, when you're still learning about how the world works, are very important.
'Television, more than any other medium, is what influenced me as a child and formed my response to literature, storytelling and, therefore, the world around me.'
Tree Fu Tom is about a boy who can magically transform himself to enter a tree in his garden and become part of the Treetopolis world of butterflies, sprites, bugs and naughty fungi. David plays Tom's best friend, the often over-excited acorn sprite Twigs.
The exercises Tom encourages young viewers to do have been specifically designed to improve the co-ordination of children with dyspraxia (often known as clumsy child syndrome) which is said to effect one in ten of the population.
'I would never have imagined a programme like this could be used in this way to help combat dyspraxia,' says David. 'It will be fascinating to see if it does have a positive effect. The children will certainly have a good time trying.'
David married Georgia, daughter of former Doctor Who Peter Davison, in a New Year's Eve ceremony in London. An actress, who met David while working on Doctor Who in 2007, she gave birth to her son Tyler when she was 17; the father was a waiter at a restaurant near her school.
David is a firm fixture on television for adults as well as children. His new show True Love, a contemporary drama with overlapping love stories, is due to be screened on the BBC next month.
Tree Fu Tom is on CBeebies, weekdays at 5.25pm. The Pirates! In An Adventure with Scientists, is in cinemas now.
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