text:
This review assessed the efficacy and safety of medical therapies in adults with chronic constipation. The authors concluded that there was good evidence for polyethylene glycol, tegaserod, lactulose and psyllium, but few trials assessed other commonly used agents. The limited search and incomplete reporting of the review methods make it difficult to assess the strength of the authors' conclusions.
To assess the efficacy and safety of medical therapies in adults with chronic constipation.
MEDLINE and PubMed were searched from 1966 to 2004 for studies published in English as full manuscripts; the search terms were reported. The bibliographies of identified studies and reviews were screened.
Parallel group and crossover randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible for inclusion.
Studies that compared medical treatments with placebo or other agents were eligible for inclusion. The included studies used polyethylene glycol (PEG), lactulose, irritant and stimulant laxatives, bulk laxatives, cisapride, colchicines, misoprostol, stool softeners and tegaserod. Most of the studies were of short duration (2 weeks or less).
Studies of adult patients with chronic constipation were eligible for inclusion. The studies used different definitions for constipation. The included studies were conducted in a variety of participants, including nursing home or long stay geriatric patients, patients on opiates and postpartum patients.
The most commonly used outcomes measures in the included studies were stool frequency and stool consistency. Other outcomes included ease of defecation, use of additional laxatives, stool weight, stool water content and transit times.
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.
The studies were assessed and scored using the Jadad scale, which considers the reporting and handling of randomisation, blinding and handling of withdrawals. The maximum possible score was 5 points. Two reviewers independently assessed validity and resolved any disagreements through discussion. The final quality scores were determined by consensus.
The authors stated that the data were extracted into standard forms. It was unclear how many reviewers performed the data extraction. The extracted data included safety data and results expressed as the percentage improvement, or other measure of change, in individuals and differences between treatment groups.
The studies were grouped by medication and graded on their level of evidence, as used by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force:
good evidence (level I) is provided by consistent results from well-designed, well-conducted studies;
fair evidence (level II) relates to when there is benefit, but strength is limited by the number, quality or consistency of individual studies;
poor evidence (level III) relates to insufficient evidence because of the limited number or power of studies, flaws in design or conduct.
The recommendations were classified as Grade A for good evidence, Grade B for moderate evidence and Grade C for poor evidence.
Study quality was taken into account when assessing the strength of evidence for treatments.
There were 8 RCTs (number of patients enrolled, n=777) of PEG, 11 RCTs (n=717) of lactulose, 10 RCTs (n=849) of irritant and stimulant laxatives, 17 RCTs (n=1,217) of bulk laxatives, 3 RCTs (n=293) of cisapride, 1 RCT (n=12) of colchicine, 1 RCT (n=9) of misoprostol, 4 RCTs (n=296) of stool softeners and 1 RCT (n=1,116) of tegaserod. Some studies compared more than two treatments.
Grade A recommendations.
There was good evidence for the use of PEG (an osmotic laxative) from 5 placebo-controlled RCTs (quality scores ranged from 3 to 5).
There was good evidence that PEG was superior to lactulose from 2 RCTs (quality scores 4 and 5).
There was good evidence for the use of tegaserod from 1 large RCT (quality score 5).
Grade B recommendations.
There was moderate evidence for the use of lactulose (an osmotic laxative) from 3 placebo-controlled RCTs (quality scores 3 or 4).
There was moderate evidence for the use of psyllium (a bulk laxative) from 3 placebo-controlled RCTs (quality scores 3 or 4).
Grade C recommendations.
There was limited evidence for other bulk laxatives (calcium polycarbophil, bran and methylcellulose), the wetting agent dioctyl sulfosuccinate, and some stimulant laxatives (senna, bisacodyl and one unnamed irritant laxative).
There was good evidence for the use of PEG, tegaserod, lactulose and psyllium, but a lack of trials assessing many other agents in common use.
The review question was clear in terms of the study design, intervention and participants. Limiting the search to studies published in full in English, listed in one database, might have resulted in the omission of other relevant studies and raises the possibility of publication and language bias. The methods used to select studies and extract the data were not described, so it is not known whether any efforts were made to reduce errors and bias. Methods were used to minimise bias in the assessment of validity. Validity was assessed using established specified criteria, and adequate information was presented on the included studies.
A narrative synthesis, with evidence graded according to the number and quality of studies, was appropriate given the differences among studies. The limited search and lack of reporting of methods used to conduct the review make it difficult to comment on the strength of the evidence underpinning the authors' conclusions.
Practice: The authors did not state any implications for practice.
Research: The authors stated that there is a need for research comparing new agents with traditional therapies.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
These additional published commentaries may also be of interest. Andrews CN, Bharucha AE. Review: good evidence supports polyethylene glycol and tegaserod for constipation. ACP J Club 2005;143:47. Joy JP. Review: good evidence supports use of polyethylene glycol and tegaserod for constipation. Evid Based Nurs 2005;8:109.
This is a critical abstract of a systematic review that meets the criteria for inclusion on DARE. Each critical abstract contains a brief summary of the review methods, results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the review and the conclusions drawn.


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Topic : Easy resume template download.
Author : Kenn Banks.
Published : Tue, Nov 12th 2019 14:45 PM.
Format : jpg/jpeg.
You just need to fill your details in this format and your resume is ready. There are many different resume templates designed for different jobs. You need to choose the appropriate one for you. Job resume templates will help you in crossing the initial hurdle in your way.
You will discover free template for invoices in a large range of formats, and some of them may already be there in your computer, such as Microsoft Word, HTML, Microsoft Excel and PDF etc. Many free templates come with time-saving features, such as standard logos, along with other options you may like including in your individual logo - automatic insertion of date of invoicing, built-in calculation system and drop down menus - allowing you to choose various items to modify conveniently the template for your needs.
Once you have an idea of what you need, it will be easier to narrow down the options. Most software packages offer templates, but the software can be quite expensive. Templates can be purchased individually online, as well. But as a small business owner, you know that running a business is expensive, and you want to cut costs whenever you can. The Internet is filled with tools to help run your business, including free invoice templates.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This weekend, Karin was a packing superstar, labelling tens of boxes and purging like a rockstar! Thanks to her efforts we have at least 6 fewer carloads worth of stuff that will be coming with us to the new house. That's AMAZING!
Archive for the 'Karin' Category
Packing Superstar!
Lemon Tarts
One of Karin's favourite treats at Farmer's Markets is lemon tarts by Sweet Thea, so for her birthday I decided that I'd make her some lemon tarts. Problem is, I don't like lemons, so not really in my cooking wheelhouse, nor do I really want to taste as I go along, because I won't be able to tell if it's good, because I wouldn't expect to like it.
The tarts Karin likes are 4″ tarts I believe and they go for about $4/each, so the goal was to beat that, and aim for similar quality/taste. We already had a bag of lemons from Costco because Karin was thinking of making lemon cordial but hadn't gotten around to it yet (approx value $6-7 for ~11 lemons). I found this recipe for lemon curd and thought it sounded reasonable, it's an Ina Garten recipe (Barefoot Contessa).
I bought 120 3″ tart shells from Costco (~$11 on coupon), and ended up pre-baking one package of them (30). Used 4 lemons as suggested in the recipe, which resulted in 3/4 cups of juice instead of 1/2 cup (I added it all anyway). Instead of using a food processor, I just added the zest and the sugar to the mixer and let them mix together for a bit.
The end result is that it's the right amount of lemon curd to fill the 30 shells. If you haven't made lemon curd before, it's actually pretty easy, the one thing to be aware of is that after you've finished the mixing but before you've gone through the heating/cooking portion it's going to look like it's been ruined, the slow heating melds everything together again and it turns beautifully smooth.
Now if I need to make Karin some tarts in the future, I'll be able to find the recipe again.
Month 5
Dear Nadia,
You won't be reading these for a few years, so you won't notice that I'm posting this on what is actually your 6 month-eversary, but I wanted to acknowledge your fans who have been awaiting this next installment with bated breath. I'll confess, I've actually had 90% of this written by pretty much a week after your 5 month-eversary but haven't been able to pull the trigger and actually post it. I wonder how much of that is me not quite ready to acknowledge that my little baby isn't quite so little any more.
I should probably get used to it. I'm pretty sure that you aren't going to be getting any smaller. :)
You've been very busy this month! We've been working on our garden out in the front yard, and you like to lie on the grass and watch the clouds and leaves as they move over you. We've gone to watch Dad play Ultimate a few more times, and even gone to two disc golf tournaments. Dad was playing in one of them and he and I were in charge of another one. You were a superstar at both of them and helped me BBQ and sell hotdogs. We've been seeing your cousins and uncles and aunts and grandparents, and going to Galloways, and Toys R Us and Starbucks, and for walks and runs on the trail to the library, and at the track. We even visited your Aunt Jen at her work.
Some of the biggest news happened just after you turned four months…your first tooth appeared! We had about a week of grumpiness, then a night of relief, then your SECOND tooth appeared! Now you've got two teeth on the bottom and you like to chew on people's fingers. You've finally started rolling from your tummy back over onto your back so that you can fix yourself instead of getting mad that you're on your face again. This also means that you can roll over and over so you can move across the floor, and we need to be extra careful when we put you on the bed or couch or change table! You've also learned how to play peek-a-boo. We will put the blanket over your eyes and you'll pull it down and smile at us, but if you feel like it, you'll also hide under the blanket yourself when we ask you if you want to hide your face, then look out at us when we ask "Where's Nadia??"
You're starting to get verrrrry interested in what other people are eating. Some people think that's a sign that you're ready for solid food, but you're also becoming very interested in what people are holding, and you'll try to eat that too. You've become especially enamoured with my iPhone and will swipe at the screen, especially when I'm playing Candy Crush. We play a lot of music through my phone for you as well, and you'll watch as it moves around, even when there's nothing on the screen.
You still like baths, your Douglas duck and your hug bug, as well as your bear mobile, but you're also very interested in other stuffies, like your Tigger and fox (from a box). We also bought you a noisy toy (oh my!), a garden of flowers that light up and chime when you touch them. You like that one a lot, although usually you just watch when we set the flowers off.
Hopefully I'll get your 6 month letter up in a bit more timely manner, but hey! At least I can't be any later with these unless I want to owe you two!
Log Driver's Waltz
Karin played this on her phone (just the audio) earlier tonight. I was pleased to find the official version of it on YouTube as posted by the NFB (National Film Board).
Mother's Day
Technically, this is my second Mother's Day as a mom. I learned I was pregnant with The Passenger in late April and Mother's Day was May 13. I've celebrated Mother's Day from the child's side of things with macaroni art and hanging baskets, and also from the teacher's side, trying frantically to come up with a great craft project for the class. Last year, only Dave and I knew that Nadia would be arriving, so we had a quiet acknowledgement together, including some gift cards and some empty planters for the vegetable garden I was planning for the balcony. At that point, we were only six weeks along, and Nadia was about the size of a cake sprinkle. What a difference a year makes!
The Cowbels hosted a Mother's Day lunch at our place and we had a bunch of cold cuts for people to build their own sandwiches, different types of savoury and sweet salads, veggies, pickles and so on. It went really well, and was a great excuse for us to clean up Stately Cowbels Manor. I even baked some of the bread using my present from David and Nadia…a bright red KitchenAid mixer from Costco. I love it so much. :D
So, thanks to our moms for coming and spending the afternoon with all of us and thanks to Nadia for making me into a mom.
Love you, sweet baby girl,
Edmonton 2013: Day 2 & 3
Thursday April 11: Day 2
Nadia and I slept in a bit, then visited with Oma and Mom upstairs. My Auntie B and cousins I and Z came over and we all visited for a while. I had seen all of them at thanksgiving when David and I went out to visit in October, and we all get along really well, so that was exciting. I and Z follow me on Twitter now, and we've been Facebook friends since October. Good thing they already don't think of me as a good influence, haha. They played with Nadia and she gave them lots of smiles. :)
Mom, Oma and I had KFC for dinner, and after dinner I got to see M, one of David and my close friends who had moved to Edmonton a few years back. She and her boyfriend D came over and we hung out for a while catching up on all things near and far.
Nadia was asleep by 10 ish although she woke up for a couple feeds through the night. Surprising nobody, I didn't sleep well that night, so it was almost as if she slept through the night, since I was awake anyway. Boo, yet again. :p
Friday April 12: Day 3
Super busy day. During the morning and afternoon, we mostly visited with Oma, although we also went grocery shopping I think. Mom and I show Nadia off shamelessly, as we almost always take the long route through the hallways so that Nadia can be admired and cooed over by as many residents as we can find. It's a good thing she doesn't understand all the compliments she's getting or else she would be extremely conceited. :) She absolutely loves people and always gives out lots of smiles to everyone.
Auntie B, and cousins I and Z came over again, as did my Uncle P and Auntie A, and my Uncle R and Auntie L plus cousin G. It was the first time in MANY years that all my Mom's siblings were together, plus a ton of cousins, from four different cities (I'm counting Mom and I as from Vancouver, even though that's not totally accurate). All twelve of us were in Oma's apartment chatting until we all went out for dinner at Ric's Grill. By the name, it sounds like it should be a greasy spoon or a burger joint but it's a very VERY nice restaurant. We were joined by my cousin Z and her husband and 2 year old daughter.
Nadia is a very calm and happy baby. Even when she cries, it's usually fairly quiet and brief, and ALWAYS has a reason, which is usually quickly remedied, which makes the next bit extremely bizarre. At two points in the evening at the restaurant, Nadia went from a full sleep to a terrified shriek for absolutely no reason that I could tell, which then dissolved into hysterical sobbing. :( My best guess is that she was hungry, hot, had a gas pain, had a nightmare or some combination of those. Both times, I scooted out of the restaurant as quickly as I could, hoping that I could walk her out of her discomfort by getting her into fresh air. I mouthed apologies as I walked between tables to get to the door…I was pretty sure some of the people there had gotten babysitters in order to get away from crying children and I felt badly that they were being interrupted.
There was a lovely man at one of the tables near us who came up to me at the hostess station and told me there was no need to apologize for Nadia because that's just what babies do. He said she was "cute as a button" and had done very well for a long while. I was so happy to hear that…I really needed it, and I almost cried. So, thank you, lovely Edmonton man. :)
All 15 of us went back to Oma's again for dessert and socializing, (after a quick return to the restaurant to collect my purse which I'd forgotten in the attempts to calm Nadia) then Oma, Mom and I collapsed when everyone left. Luckily Nadia was tired too, crashing around midnight and sleeping until 0930 with a quick breakfast around 0600.
Of course, I didn't sleep that night…except I did!!!! Yayyyyyyy!!!!
A few weeks ago, I started a challenge that I would start cooking more meals from scratch. So, how am I doing? Not too badly, but not as well as I'd like.
We borrowed a bread machine from David's parents and I've made three loaves of basic white bread, and David has made one. The first three loaves we made were pretty tasty, but very dense, and barely rose. I've been making detailed-ish notes so that I can see what the problems might be. It seems that the dry yeast we had been using was the problem, as the bread I made last night was much lighter in texture (less like a cake) and rose a lot more. I used yeast that needed to be refrigerated that I got from my mother in law and slightly warmer water (the recipe calls for room temperature water, but we have a fairly chilly house). One or both of those things seemed to work…since I'm not practicing strict control over variables, I'll just keep doing both, at least until I run out of refrigerated yeast. (Note to self, and David…we're essentially out of white flour. Costco run this weekend?)
David and I made a trip to Galloways, one of my favourite places, where I took pictures of things that inspired me so that I could check out recipes and how to use them before the ingredients were staring at me from my kitchen counter. Something that has always caught my eye, whether I'm at Costco, Safeway or Galloways, is dried bean mixtures. They're cheap and I've really liked most pea/ bean/ barley/ legume soups I've had. I finally bought some instead of just checking it out, since the recipe was on the back and seemed fairly Karin-proof (1/2 c bean mixture, 2 liters of liquid, simmer together for 90 minutes.) We keep a variety of Better Than Bouillon on hand in the fridge, so I made up 2 L of chicken broth and simmered the beans as instructed. Not exactly from scratch, but I'm taking baby steps. :)
Overall, it was pretty tasty, especially with the bread I'd made. It was even better the day after, although I had to dilute the broth a bit because it concentrated during simmering (I wasn't sure if I was supposed to cover it, and figured it would be easier to add water later. I figure it cost about 30 cents to make the whole pot of soup, and I'd definitely make it again, but with some fresh vegetables and some herbs next time.
I also made brownies, but those were from a mix. They were absolutely delicious though. :D
Month 2 Letter
Dear Nadia,
Happy 2 month-iversary! You've gotten a lot bigger since you were born and you're starting to move out of the baby blob stage and becoming more interactive. This month, you've been smiling like crazy, cooing and gurgling and maybe even laughing a bit. You love snuggling with both Dad and me, but you're becoming more independent as well. You love lying in your bassinet and staring at the bear mobile, even when it ran out of batteries for a few days. You will also go to sleep on your own in your crib or in the bassinet.
One of your favourite things to do is to watch DVDs. I don't mean on the TV though…we have a bookcase full of DVDs and you will stare at the colourful covers of them for hours. I'm pretty sure your favourite is the six seasons of Lost that we bought but haven't watched yet.
You hated tummy time at the beginning of this month, and sometimes you still aren't too fond of it, but other times you love it. At first, you would only lie on your tummy on the floor for 30 seconds to a minute, but in the last little while, you will be happy for up to seven minutes! You love being on your back on the floor, and will hang out for a long time, especially if you get to be warmed up by the heater. You like to stare at the monkey that our friend Jeff brought you, and you're starting to figure out how to chew on Sophie the Giraffe, a gift from my cousin Kristy and your cousin KJ.
We've started almost totally cloth diapering you now and will only put you in disposables when we go out and it would be easier than cloth. I love seeing you with your colourful diaper covers, especially the printed ones. You've got one with ladybugs, one with rockets and two with frogs!
I can't believe how much we lucked out with you. You're such an easy going kid who goes with the flow almost all the time. You're happy to nurse, eat from a bottle, use a soother or suck on your fists and you'll go back and forth between all of those. I haven't had to change anything that I eat because you don't seem to be sensitive to any of it. You'll sleep if it's loud or quiet, whether you're on the couch, in your crib, on the floor, in our bed or in the bassinet. I'm pretty sure you even dozed off in the change table a few times! You love car rides (unless you're hungry or wet, and then you will definitely let us know!) and being in your stroller, although you hate being in the car seat and not moving. You don't seem to mind whether we put you in cloth or disposable diapers, and have only had a tiny bit of diaper rash that cleared up right away. You still aren't a huge fan of baths, and when you want out, you want out NOW!
You and I started watching Doctor Who (2006) and I had to stop watching one of the episodes until you went down for a nap because every time you heard the Dalek's voice, you would start to cry. I wonder if I'd better avoid watching some of the older Doctor Who…I think there's a pretty large Dalek storyline. :) I guess you're not quite old enough to go behind the sofa yet. :)
This month, you got sick for the first time. I'm sorry…I gave it to you, and I'm not sure where I got it because I've never washed my hands as often as I ever have in my entire life since you were born. We're really lucky that Dad didn't get it too because he took extra care of us for a week while we recuperated. It was just a minor cold, but we slept a lot. I got it a lot worse than you. I had a sore throat, cough, sneezing and a stuffy nose. As far as we could tell, you just had a stuffy nose and a bit of a cough when you couldn't figure out how to breathe through your nose. We spritzed saline water up your nose a couple times a day and used a suction tube, and after a few times of that, you didn't even cry, although you were not at all happy when we used the suction tubeto try and clear your nose out.
Things you've learned this month:
- how to find your fist.
- that toys are cool.
- that stuffed up noses suck, but sea water and a suction tube help. (pun intended)
- that you can expand to fill any bed, no matter how much room there should be for Mum and Dad.
- the best time to party is still between midnight and 5 am. (We really need to get your days and nights straightened out!)
- how to charm the pants off random store employees, shoppers and coffee shop customers.
- yoga is pretty fun, especially watching all the moms doing the movements.
- lifting your head a bit during tummy time on the floor, and a lot if you're on our chests.
- shopping malls are a lot of fun, especially when Grandma and Great-Grandma are there.
- you can get our attention by cooing and gurgling, not just yelling at us.
- if you want to get out of the bassinet or crib and it looks like we might turn the mobile on for another couple minutes of sleep, give a big grin and we can't resist you.
To My Daughter: International Women's Day
Dear Nadia,
Today isn't a special "milestone" day for you, so this is kind of a bonus letter. You're now 7 weeks and 3 days, or 52 days old. In a week, you'll be two months old. Those numbers blow my mind. In some ways it feels like you've been with us forever, and in other ways it's like I breathed and suddenly you've grown out of your Sesame Street sleeper. (note to self: get new Sesame Street sleeper in age 3-6 months)
But I actually wanted to talk about other women today, not just us (although I'll definitely get back to us). Today is International Women's Day and that's really important on a lot of levels. It was only a few generations back that women had very, very few choices in our part of the world. Your Urli (my Oma, so your great grandmother) went to university as a girl, but that was very unusual at the time, and once she was married, she didn't work. Your Oma (my mother) had a lot more choices of occupation, but it was a lot more difficult to branch out beyond a certain number of jobs. I had even more choices! I could be anything I wanted, although even today women are significantly under-represented in politics, high level management, science and mathematics jobs. I can't wait to see what you decide you want to do for your career, and hopefully you will find it even easier to find your passion and do what you love. (Although your Dad has already decided that you're going to be an astro-paleontologist and discover/study space dinosaurs. I'm ok with that…just make sure you pack a lunch. And don't push that red button that says "Don't Push".)
In the time it's taken me to write the above, I've changed you, fed you and soothed some of the squawks that have come from your bassinet. I'm so lucky that I get to choose to stay home with you and be your mom. That's something that has only been a choice for women for the last fifty years or so, and in many places, it's still not a choice. I've chosen to nurse you and cloth diaper you, choices that weren't available fifty years ago. That's what is so amazing about this world…I don't have to do what "everyone" does. Instead, we all get to figure out what works for us.
Your Dad and I are trying really hard to keep you out of any society-inflicted, pre-determined destinies. Right now, that's small things. We dress you in orange, pink, blue, green, yellow, red, purple, black, white…all the colours of the rainbow and then some. You own a pink tutu (although it doesn't fit you yet), denim overalls, a rocket ship diaper cover, a dinosaur onsie and a bubble gum pink sleeper with a mouse in a hair bow on it. You also have a purple, sparkly headband with a giant purple daisy on it.
When you get older, you'll have the choice of different activities. If I get my way, you'll be in martial arts, gymnastics, art and music classes and creative writing. (Not all at once though. That's crazy.) Your Dad would probably be thrilled if you were in soccer and skating. We've decided you're taking swimming lessons…sorry, but you don't get a choice there. You'll also have lots of toys, and you'll get to tell us what you like and we'll do our best to get that for you, whether it's a dollhouse or a helmet and sword. (I would have written the same thing to you if you had been a boy.) Maybe you'll decide that you love dance, soccer and building model rockets, and that's fine too (as long as I can launch rockets with you, because seriously? Rockets are AWESOME.)
I have to admit, I was a little bit worried in the hospital when your Dad announced that you were a girl. I still am, but am more confident now. I worry about body image issues, and your future partner(s). Your Dad and I joke about how you aren't allowed to date until you get married, but we both know that's unreasonable, just because you'll probably wind up with his stubbornness and my sense of adventure. With any luck you'll also inherit my complete inability to lie convincingly and we'll be able to keep tabs on you for a little longer at least. I think I'm less worried about your future partner(s) than your Dad is, because I know that children model their relationships after what they see in their own home, and your Dad is a pretty awesome guy who loves both of us very much.
Women in Canada have only been allowed to vote since 1918, less than 100 years from when you were born. That seems like an awfully long time in some ways, but it's such a short time. So much has changed, even from when I was a baby and I can't wait to see the world that you grow up in and how you are going to make it a better place. You've already made our corner of the world a better place, and I know your grandparents and other relatives and friends think so too.
PS. I missed New Years this year, so I'm going to make a Women's Day resolution. I resolve to be a role model of how I want you to be: independent, creative and healthy in body, mind and soul. Thank you for making me a better person.
Birthday Clusters
Dave's family has two pretty significant birthday clusters: late September to early October (which I happen to fall into) and late December to early January (which Dave already is in and The Passenger will be in). There's also a smaller one in May that's starting to build with all of the in-laws.
The thing that I find funny is that with all of the birthdays in December/January, The Passenger has managed to avoid landing on any of them, as s/he is still hanging out comfortably in Chez Karin. The due date I originally calculated was January 7 (Dave's mom's birthday), which changed to the 10th (nobody as far as I know) to the 3rd (Dave's birthday, and one day off from both of our grandmothers) then back to the 10th after the midwives looked at a bunch of factors including two early ultrasounds. If I'm right, and I believe I am, Dave's mom has the latest birthday in the cluster, so by making it past there, we've streeeeeeetched out the birthday cluster by at least two more days. :)


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Balger Surname Ancestry Results
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A passenger on Unite flight 93, Mark Bingham was one of the brave Americans who fought back against the hijackers, who planned to aim the plane for buildings in Washington, DC. There battle was dramatized in the film United 93, where Bingham was played by out actor Cheyenne Jackson.
Bingham himself was an out man, who played for the San Fransisco Fog in the Gay Rugby League. In honor of the man, the biannual Gay Rugby World Championship carries his name. Here is a trailer for the documentary made about Bingham.
Mark was very close to his mother, who has gone on to be a big supporter of civil rights for all. Since 2002, she attends and often speaks at the Bingham Cup, honoring her son.
For information on the Mark Bingham Foundation, check out their official website here. For more about the documentary, The Mark Bingham Story, check them out here.


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New Delhi, Aug 19:
Pakistan continued its hobnobbing with Kashmiri separatists as its envoy Tuesday met hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and then moderate leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, a day after India called off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan over the issue.
Geelani met Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit for two-and-half hours at the Pakistan High Commission, emerging from the talks at 2.30 p.m.
Later, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Mohammad Yasin Malik and the Mirwaiz also met the Pakistani envoy.
A handful of members of a group called the Hindu Sena raised slogans outside the Pakistan High Commission when Geelani arrived. They were detained by police.
Around 25-30 members of the RSS student wing Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad arrived for a protest but they were not allowed near the high commission's gates. They were also detained by police.
Ahead of meeting the Pakistani high commissioner, Geelani termed the Narendra Modi government's decision to cancel the Aug 25 India-Pakistan foreign secretary level talks as unfortunate.
"We have been visiting Pakistan embassy several times to hold talks. The decision to cancel foreign secretary-level talks is undemocratic," he said.
"The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is an international issue and it should be solved. As long as promises made to us are not fulfilled, this issue will remain unsolved," said Geelani.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Basit, Geelani said that during talks with the Pakistani envoy, both had agreed that "Kashmir is a fundamental issue (buniyadi masla) and without participation of Kashmiris, no lasting solution can be found".
He said he also raised the issue of "sacrifices" of the people of Jammu and Kashmir during talks. He said the "sacrifices of the people should be taken into consideration, and cannot be ignored… houses have been razed, families destroyed, rapes… all this cannot be ignored".
Malik Tuesday claimed that seven past Indian prime ministers had "facilitated" meetings between Kashmiri separatists and visiting Pakistani leaders in India and asked if they were all wrong and the present government of Narendra Modi which called off talks with Pakistan was "Mr Right".
"Does it mean those prime ministers were wrong, that the previous seven were wrong when they facilitated such meetings; and Atal Bihari (Vajpayee) did this.. Does it mean that they were all wrong, and this is Mr Right?"
Mirwaiz Umar said the Indian government has over-reacted.
"New Delhi over-reacted on the issue…There has to be a peaceful, political resolution to the Kashmir issue," Farooq said. "Kashmir is not an economic problem, of incentives, of a package, of change of guard. It is a political problem and can be addressed only by talks."
Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, however, said that Pakistan should stop speaking in different voices. "We hear different voices, let clarity emerge on the level of preparation and understanding on the part of Pakistan to have dialogue at the level of (foreign) secretary," said Prasad, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader.
Congress leader Manish Tewari said the Modi government is "bereft of a Pakistan policy and has boxed itself in a corner".
His party colleague Anand Sharma asked the government whether any understanding had been reached with Pakistan before agreeing to hold the foreign secretaries' meeting.
"The attitude of Pakistan when it comes to bringing to justice the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attack has not been encouraging. We want to know what assurances Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given before the talks and whether those assurances were violated? What kind of understanding was reached," he asked.
Sharma also said the meeting between the separatists and the Pakistani envoy was uncalled for as the former were not the elected representatives of the people of Kashmir.
On Monday, the Modi government called off the Aug 25 foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan terming as unacceptable "the continued efforts to interfere" in its internal affairs.
Pakistan described the decision to cancel the talks as a setback to its efforts to promote good neighbourly relations.
It maintained that it has been a "long standing practice" to meet Kashmiri separatist leaders ahead of bilateral talks in order to "facilitate meaningful discussions on the issue of Kashmir".


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I finally got these photos uploaded. It took about 20 hours of work to parse, select and process 56 out of 538 photos. Snaps were very well received by almost everyone. That said, here's the trip report.
Thursday, Aug 30th: Landing once, landing twice … and landed.
I landed Thursday evening – Aug 30th that is. Rajat picked me up from John Wayne (Santa Ana) Airport in his Mercedes CLK350 – that thing looks sweet. We were home in about 15-20 minutes. Appa-Amma had already arrived the day before. The one person missing was Shanks – can't have it all. Meg and Mohi were already hyper anticipating my arrival and amidst clamoring for my attention, I fished out the gifts I'd gotten for them. Two video games for Meg – Ratatouille on the GameBoy and Animal Crossing on the GameCube. A Barbie makeup kit and a jigsaw puzzle for Mohi. Also, handed her the toy cellphone that Veena picked up on my behalf (I couldn't find the kind that flipped open at the Bellevue Toys'r'Us since it was undergoing renovation). Spent the remainder of the evening just chatting with Appa, Amma, Veena and Rajat with lots of interruptions for attention from the kids.
Friday, Aug 31st: Disney downtown
The following day was a Friday and so Rajat had to head off for work. After lounging about in the morning, we headed out to grab lunch at an Italian restaurant nearby and then to Disney Downtown – it was too hot for Disneyland, which was plan A. Turns out it was too hot for plan B as well. We tried to spend as little time as we could in direct sunlight, but it was hot in the shade as well. After a good 1/2 hour at the Rainforest Cafe store, we headed to the Lego store – nice. Really nice. Face painting for Meg and Mohi followed. A brief stop at the Anne Geddes store and a good hour at the Disney store capped off the trip. During the course of the afternoon, we made several stops for bottled water, ice cream and fruit juice – in that order of frequency. Rajat was home by the time we got back and we had a tasty dinner outdoors.
Saturday, Sept 1st: La Jolla beach house
We had a last minute booking at a beach house in La Jolla (pronounced La Hoya). So, we left late Saturday morning. Seven of us piled into the Infiniti QX56. It's spacious. And almost as soon as we were in the car, the competing screams for Hanna Montana (Meg) and "Vaji song" (from the Rajnikanth hit Sivaji, by Mohi) ensued. Of course, neither was willing to let the other have her way. So, they just ended up taking turns for time slots along w/ the adults. It was a very scenic drive to La Jolla with a stop for lunch at a Mexican restaurant – decent lunch topped off by some cream cheese flan and chocolate mousse (more takers for the flan than the mousse).
We arrived at the beach house with an hour to spare for sunset. The others headed off to the water while I setup for some sunset shots from the balcony of the beach house. Managed a few decent photos – nothing great, nothing to be ashamed of. The dirty half-dozen made their way back and after quick showers, the kids were watching some cartoons while the adults enjoyed a game of cards. I was having quite a bit of fun taking photos before I set the camera down and joined the game. Much fun later, we got some shuteye.
Sunday, Sept 2nd: Point Loma, a boat ride and Embarcadero Marine Park
By the time I was awake, it was well past sunrise and a couple of hours later, we were on our way to San Diego. Point Loma was our first port of call that morning. Nice view of San Diego downtown and some good photos. Don't recall exactly where, but somewhere in San Diego, we stopped to grab some lunch and get a boat. The boat ride was a bit of a novelty for the kids – their second time, but the first where the ride was smooth rather than jerky. We ate lunch on the boat as Rajat mostly manned the steering wheel and after a couple of hours baking in the sun, taking photos and enjoying the sights (and not so much the smells) of the bay, it was back to terra firma. That was not before Meg had a turn at the wheel. We drove around a bit more and then landed up in a local park in the middle of San Diego – Embarcadero Marine Park. Pretty jolly place. Ice cream, coffee, balloons twisted into various cartoon character shaped and some South American live music for the evening.
A bit after sunset and it was time to grab dinner – phone inquiries of friends led to an Indian restaurant recommendation – Monsoon. The ambiance was not bad, but it was hard to have conversations over the excessively harsh sound of heavy rain – they really need to turn down the sound. I suspect we caught them on a bad night. The food arrived out of order w/ the curries and rice served a good 20 minutes before the naan. Food taste was rather average. And I suspect I'm being a bit generous here considering that I have rather low expectations of Indian restaurants in the US. The naan was pretty good when it finally arrived though. On my way out, I heard a few other patrons complain about the poor service, so we weren't the only ones. The drive back home was uneventful.
Monday, Sept 3rd: Heat-stroke headache-fever and a jolly good time at Laksmi's place
My plan was to head out early to Lakshmi's place. The rest were going to arrive later that evening for dinner. But a rather severe headache / fever put a kaibosh in my plan. I wound up sleeping as a result and couldn't even get out to grab lunch with the others. Slept through the entire morning and most of the afternoon. Dragged myself out of bed to eat something mid-afternoon, went back to sleep and dragged myself out again to get ready to leave for dinner after some painkillers. And boy, did those painkillers help once they kicked in. It was great to be at Lakshmi's place – she was looking very well indeed. Ananth was quite shy, but would show signs of willingness to play with me from time to time; more so as the evening wore on. Dinner was a rather sumptuous affair with lots of food and lots of variety at that. Payasam (kheer) for dessert was a fitting finale to the culinary delights of the evening.
Appa-Amma and Veena&co headed back and I spent the night at Lakshmi's place. Kumar had to get some shuteye for an early work day following, so Lax and I spent a few hours chatting about this, that and the other – mostly theology, with Ananth keeping us company through pretty much all of it. Shuteye at around 3 am.
Tuesday, Sept 4th: Back to Veena's and then to Bellevue
I woke up around 9:30 am, by which time Kumar had left for work. After taking some photos of Lax and Ananth, we headed out to Veena's place where I packed and got ready to do a web-checkin. That's when I realized that I'd gotten my flight departure time wrong. It wasn't at 5 pm, it was at 7 pm. Somewhere in my head, I'd mixed up the time I was supposed to leave for the airport as the departure time of the flight. That gave me another 2 hours to chill w/ Appa-Amma and Veena. I suspect the kids were bored of me by then. It was all too soon that I had to leave for the airport. We said our goodbyes and a couple of hours later, I was at Seatac airport. Grabbed a taxi and headed home since my ride didn't show up.
Good trip. I need to do more of these.


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After the disappearance of Srila Svarupa Damodar Goswami, Srila Ramananda Raya and the Six Goswamis, Srila Srinivas Acharya, Srila Narottama Thakur and Srila Shyamananda Prabhu, a dark age descended on the world of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Those unable to understand the transcendental purity of Sree Mahaprabhu's dharm of love started numerous heretical sects or apasampradayas.
Srila Totarama Das Babaji named thirteen such heretical sects:
aul, baul, kartabhaja, neria, daravesha, sain
sahajiya, sakhibheki, smarta, jata-gosaïi
atibarii, curiadhari, gauranga-nagari
tota kahe ei teror sanga nahi kari
Educated upper class Bengali society was shocked and disgusted by the practices of these heretical sects and came to identify Sree Mahaprabhu's religion with the lower classes, the uneducated and immoral. People of the gentle classes thus had no understanding or faith in Sree Mahaprabhu's true religion. The most munificent incarnation Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took pity on these bewildered persons and in order to reclaim them for his path of divine love sent his eternal associate Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur into this world.
Possessed of superhuman prowess, the Thakur wrote more than a hundred books in several different languages with the goal of defeating all the unorthodox views opposed to the true doctrines of Sree Mahaprabhu's religion.
The result was that many members of discerning society and others from all over the world came to recognize the un-equalled value of Sree Mahaprabhu's teachings.
The founder of the Chaitanya Math and the worldwide Gaudiya Maths, Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad, based His mission on the books and teachings given by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur and set into motion the fulfillment of Sree Mahaprabhu's message, found in the Chaitanya Bhagavat:
prithivite paryanta ache jata desha-grama
sarvatra saïcara haibeka mora nama
My name will pervade every village and country in the world. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.4.126)


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Shingles Channel
Topics & Medications
Related Channels
Lidoderm Warnings and Precautions
A few of the conditions you should let your healthcare provider know about before using the Lidoderm patch include liver disease, a recent heart surgery, or any allergies. Other warnings and precautions for Lidoderm relate to things such as potential drug interactions with other medications, possible side effects, and the safety of using the medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Using Lidoderm?You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using the Lidoderm® patch (lidocaine patch) if you have:
- Liver disease or liver failure
- Any allergies, including allergies to medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
- Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Are breastfeeding
- Have had recent heart surgery.
You should also make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Lidoderm Precautions and WarningsSome warnings and precautions to be aware of with Lidoderm include:
- Even used patches contain a fairly large dosage of lidocaine, enough to cause serious harm if ingested. Therefore, be sure to keep all Lidoderm patches (including used patches) out of the reach of children or pets.
- Using Lidoderm for more than 12 hours a day and/or using more patches than prescribed can result in serious toxicity. Make sure to follow your healthcare provider's directions closely and do not forget to remove Lidoderm patches.
- People with liver disease have an increased risk for serious side effects of Lidoderm, as they do not effectively metabolize lidocaine (the active ingredient in Lidoderm). Lidoderm may not be a good option for people with liver disease.
- Do not apply Lidoderm to broken or inflamed skin, as increased drug absorption may occur (increasing the risk of serious side effects).
- Do not apply heat (such as from a heating pad or electric blanket) over a Lidoderm patch, as this may increase drug absorption, increasing the risk of serious side effects.
- Avoid contact with the eye, as severe irritation may occur.
- Lidoderm can interact with certain medications (see Lidoderm Drug Interactions).
- Lidoderm is a pregnancy Category B medicine, meaning that it is probably safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are currently unknown (see Lidoderm and Pregnancy for more information).
- Lidocaine passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding a child, check with your healthcare provider (or your child's healthcare provider) before using Lidoderm (see Lidoderm and Breastfeeding).
Lidoderm Medication Information
List of references (click here)
Lidoderm [package insert]. Chadds Ford, PA: Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.;2010 March.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 8th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;2008.
National Library of Medicine (US). Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMED). NLM Web site. Available at: http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT. Accessed April 27, 2010.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD


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Hauganes whale watching
Shortest sail to the whale watching spot in Iceland
Whale watching is our life and joy. We live by the Eyjafjordur bay and are privileged to have all these wonderful creatures swimming in the ocean within reach. We cannot wait for you to meet them. The tours include Whale Watching with whales spotted in over 98% of the tours over the years. Our surroundings is the beautiful Eyjafjörður bay which has in the recent years been a habitat for humpback whales, mink whales, dolphins and more species.
As we set sail to reach the whales, our guides – who are locals and highly experienced, will make an effort to make you feel as comfortable as possible. You'll receive warm overalls and there are blankets on board. To ensure that the animals are not disturbed by our presence, we sail at a constant speed towards the whales' habitat. As a result, a variety of species, from humpback whales to tiny porpoises, often surface within a few feet of the boat. When we reach the whales we'll make sure not to disturb them with loud noises or sharp movements. Respect for the whales is a key to our tour.
Before we head back to shore we offer those who like to try Sea angling and catch some fish, the ocean around us offers gourmet fish, mostly cod or whatever the ocean will bring. Fish is easily caught with our sea angling rods even for the most inexperienced. If we and you have the time, and weather allows, we might put up a BBQ on the pier or it might be more handy for you to take your catch back with you, filleted and packed by our experienced fishermen.
This is a fully guided tour and we offer coffee and homemade pastries. You will also have access to free WiFi on board our boats!
Humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins and porpoises are commonly spotted during these popular tours.


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Cool Stuff
Full list of Cool Stuff results
STI International introduces the HEX Tactical Pistol line– 4
The Hex line comes in 2011 double stack and single stack 1911 models
TFB gun review: Lancer L30 LTR precision rifle–
The Lancer L30 LTR, Long-range Tactical Rifle, is an AR-10 pattern rifle that's made for long range precision type shooting
Sponsored content
5 strategies for getting the tech buy-in you'll need–
CentralSquare Technologies
Here's how to make a pitch for tech tools without a hitch
2015 World Police and Fire Games: Wrist Wrestling–
A look at the Wrist Wrestling competition at this year's World Police and Fire Games, held in Fairfax, Va.
2015 World Police and Fire Games: Opening Ceremony–
A look at this year's opening ceremony for the World Police and Fire Games held in Fairfax, Va.
Saved by an iPhone–
Detective Inspector Gary McIntyre from Cheshire Police said if the victim's phone had not been in his pocket "he would undoubtedly have died."
POTD: A drone, a rifle and most importantly a hot breakfast–
Beau, a reader of TFB from way back when I first started the blog, took this photo recently of the first hot meal he had eaten in two days
Magician David Blaine performs for cops in Baltimore–
Magician David Blaine performed some street magic for Anne Arundel County cops who were assisting Baltimore police during the Freddie Gray protests.
Man defends cops after traffic stop–
22-year-old Will Stack is getting a lot of attention after posting this video shortly after being stopped by a police officer for a traffic violation.
Jay Leno's Garage: Classic CHP cars–
Jay Leno takes a look at some classic cruisers with the California Highway Patrol.
Texas PD detonates 20K pounds of illegal fireworks–
Under the auspice of the ATF's Lubbock bureau, MPD and three other regional PDs received training on proper disposal for the court-ordered destruction.
Use of force: A motiongraphic–
Is there a brutality problem in America? This motiongraphic attempts to break down the numbers.
Nice trick–
A K-9 shows off its ability to get in and out of a cruiser by itself.
Where Will CPOA Take You?–
Learn what the California Peace Officers' Association has to offer.
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HA NOI (VNS)— Nguyen Thi That claimed the Binh Duong International Women's Cycling Open yesterday with a total time of 18:05.16 after eight stages. That, of the Vinh Binh-An Giang Rice team, also won the green jersey as the fastest sprinter.
"I am very happy with the result. I would like to thank my trainers and team for their support over the final stages.
Truong Thi Bich Nhien of Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap 2 had the yellow jersey after stage 2, but we recovered and defended this title successfully," said That.
The white jersey award for the best young rider went to Dong Thap's Nhien.
The winner of the final stage yesterday was Jutatip Manee-phan of Thailand who clocked a time of 2:20.57 in the 93km race from Ba Ria City in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to Thu Dau Mot City in Binh Duong Province.
In the team event, Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap 2 came out on top, followed by the Thai team and Binh Duong Water Supply-Drainage and Environment 1.
The event attracted 70 cyclists from 11 local teams as well as teams from Japan, Thailand and Malaysia.
The annual tournament aimed at providing local cyclists with an opportunity to hone their professional skills and gain experience from foreign competitors in preparation for regional and international competitions. — VNS


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Another music icon from my teens – George Michael – passed away today (in London, aged only 53) and brought the by now predictable chorus of "Fuck you, 2016" from most corners of my social media. Which, inexplicably, sent up its own backlash pointing out how it's not the year's fault.
Well, yes, we know that. A year is a trip around the sun, measurably, with the calendar being sort of weird and arbitrary. 2016 isn't a sentient being hellbent on mayhem, destruction, and the kind of soul sucking grief that turn you into a husk of your former self. *ahem*
Which is a pity, really, because regardless of intent, that's exactly what 2016 has done to me and an inordinate number of my friends and acquaintances, and we'd all really like to hold someone – anyone – accountable. Assigning some order to this chaos goes a surprisingly long way toward making it feel like we had some measure of control over this careening, runaway train that was 2016.
No, it's not the year's fault. Neither is a celebrity death inherently more valuable than anyone else's. But to deny that cultural icons create space in our consciousness – and therefore leave a space when they leave – is to discount most of human history. Art shifts and reinvents; both itself and its audiences. Not every celebrity is an artist (the same may be said in reverse), but there is not a 70s or 80s child that I know whose heart didn't break just a little when America's Mom, Carol Brady, passed away. Of course I mean Florence Henderson, who had a long and productive career playing many different roles, but there is an entire generation for whom she was the mom they came home to after school. That, my darlings, is an intersection of arts/entertainment and culture, and like it or not, its affecting.
Glenn Frey's music is one of the few things my mother and I agree on. Gene Wilder turned up in all the films that made me realize what a weirdo I am. Leonard Cohen was one of the greatest poets of life's essential truths. Morely Safer and Gwen Ifil were part of the old guard of authentic journalism and their influence will be missed. Prince was the soundtrack for and Muhammed Ali was a personal hero to a vast swath of America. What the loss of these people means to their friends and family is private, but the loss of their place in the cultural pantheon is significant, and in many cases symbolic. When David Bowie passed early this year, I was already lost in my own downward spiral of grief. A marriage that had just entered the explosion phase of the slow motion crash and burn that has characterized my life since August of 2015. Losing such a huge cultural icon and influence shocked me into reflection, and forced me to confront grief.
And then there is the political circus that was 2016, and that sadly, marks the start of what promises to be a 4 year shit show of incompetence at best, and WWIII at worst. That's if climate change doesn't get us first. The policies and promises that just under half the voting population managed to get into office promise to make my own life a Sisyphean struggle for the next 3 years, and for many of my friends and family as well. This isn't hyperbole, this is just a simple fact over which I have almost no control.
Taken together, the national cultural tragedies added insult to the injury that was my personal life in 2016. I have wrested what control can be wrought, and am now at least in the engineer's seat in the aforementioned runaway train, but it can still go off the rails at any moment. I could blame the train, or the tracks, but 2016 will pass from this earth and never be seen again. It can take the brunt of our anger and blame. 2017 will bring its own challenges and celebrity deaths, but it will not be the same as 2016 and for me, that's enough.


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You know how we know that the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard is just starting to break the ceiling of NBA stardom? He's hanging out with porn stars. Specifically, amply bosomed former gubernatorial candidate Mary Carey, who tells the story of meeting Howard in a Luke Is Back, apparently a well-read porn blog.
[Mary's] voice is wrecked from too much drinking and not enough sleeping. "I've missed four flights. I'm stuck in Florida. "I went back to Chris Kirkpatrick's house. I got myself in a sticky situation because I mentioned where Chris Kirkpatrick lives. Dwight Howard just showed up at the door [at 4 a.m.]. ...
"Dwight Howard came over with one of his friends. Mary stranded him. She didn't want Chris to be mad at her and didn't want Dwight to be mad at her. She was talking to both. Dwight came over and didn't know anybody but Mary. She left him in the front hallway. 'Amelia, keep him busy while I go see if Chris is mad.' Dwight seemed really shy. He was texting on his cell phone. He definitely wasn't mad. Everybody involved was just confused. She was telling people's secrets. She was telling me to run over and ask Chris this and that."
Howard, who will be 21 next month, ended up not meeting up with Carey, but he did leave her tickets to the Magic game. Sadly, they were only in the ninth row; better luck next time, Mary!
Mary Carey Parties With N'Sync's Chris Kirkpatrick & Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard [Luke Is Back] (third of the way down the page)


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On this day in 1932, thirty-four-year-old William Faulkner began his off-and-on career as a screenwriter, reluctantly (and just barely) reporting for work in Hollywood. Faulkner had already published four of his Yoknapatawpha County novels, including The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying, but he was far from popular success or financial security. Also, he had recently married, and recently bought Rowan Oak, his rundown antebellum mansion in hometown Oxford, Mississippi. MGM's offer of a six-week contract at $500 a week must have looked attractive, given that Faulkner's bank account was so overdrawn that the clerk in the local sporting-goods store had just refused to honor his three dollar check.
As told by biographer Joseph Blotner, Faulkner's first days on the job were not promising. He arrived in Hollywood on a Saturday, not long before quitting time. His boss, Sam Marx, noticed that he had been drinking, and that he had a bleeding cut on his head. Faulkner said he had been hit by a cab while changing trains, but that he was fine and wanted to get right to work:
"We're going to put you on a Wallace Beery picture," Marx told him.
"Who's he?" asked Faulkner. "I've got an idea for Mickey Mouse."
After explaining that Mickey Mouse films were made at Disney Studios, Marx had his office boy take Faulkner to the screening room to see Beery as a prizefighter in The Champ, as the new film, Flesh, was to feature Beery as a wrestler. Faulkner did not want to watch, preferring to talk to the office boy about dogs; soon he walked out, saying that he knew how the story was going to end. When alerted, Marx initiated a search, but Faulkner couldn't be found. When he showed up again, nine days later, he explained that he had been wandering in Death Valley, but that now he really was ready to work.
By autumn Faulkner was back home again, working on his own writing, "eating watermelon on the back porch and watching it rain." His letters contain many good-riddance asides, though one wonders if a squabble over his contract would have MGM "coming down here and taking a tithe of my pigs and chickens and cotton."
Daybook is contributed by Steve King, who teaches in the English Department of Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. His literary daybook began as a radio series syndicated nationally in Canada. He can be found online at todayinliterature.com.


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Student testimonial: Mercedes A.
Total average score:
|Time in Petrozavodsk:
|4 weeks
|Group course (20 lessons/week)
|Student room
Payments to AMBergh were a very comfortable thing as I didn't have to do it by cash on arrival.
Studies: 4/5
Accommodation: 5/5
My family was excellent, they made me feel really fine and they treated me as a real member of their family. I'm very grateful to their amazing hospitality.
What would you like to improve?
The University changed my address in the last minute and when I reached Petrozavodsk I was surprised not to go where the University said. My case was lost by the air company on arriving Helsinki and I noticed I had given Finnair a wrong address to send it to. Fortunately, the case appeared before departuring from Helsinki. Because otherwise, it could have been a much bigger problem.
How did you find out about AMBergh?
I was searching in Internet someone who organised or managed russian courses in Russia and I contacted.
Reason for your studies:
I just wanted to learn another language and I was interested in Russian culture.
Read more about studying Russian in Petrozavodsk »
1 (one) is the lowest and 5 (five) is the highest on the evaluation scale.


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HTC had announced it's strategy to release some low-end and mid-range devices. We had previously seen the launch of HTC Desire 200; a mid-range smartphone and now according to rumors, another mid-range device is going to be launched soon – HTC Zara Mini.
According to some leaks, this smartphone is code-named HTC Z3 and as the name suggests it would be a mini version of the HTC Zara.
Continue reading


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Move in 2019 and get January free, move in before the Spring rush! Plus, ONLY $500 Security Deposit with approved credit when you move in by 12/31/19. Restrictions apply. Call now for details.
*Restrictions apply. Call now for details! | Must move in by 12/31/19.
*Applies to new applicants only | Offer subject to change anytime


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Even with a good performance, however, they were no match for No. 3-ranked Kahuku. Nile Teo drilled nine aces and Elizabeth Blake added five more as the Red Raiders tamed the Tigers 25-22, 25-18, 25-16 last night before 300 fans in sultry McKinley Student Council Gym.
"Now we're playing more like a team," Teo said.
Kahuku is 7-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East after using a bombardment of perfectly placed serves to pull away from the host Tigers.
"I hesitate to say they're serving at the college level, but they're definitely good at the high school level," Kahuku coach Uila Fotu Vendiola said.
Blake, only a sophomore, also dished out 20 assists and had three kills. Kahuku, which hit .329, finished with 17 aces and just six service errors.
Juri Franzen and Angela Sooalo led McKinley (4-3) with seven kills each. The Tigers hit .197 against Kahuku's big block, but were right in the match until the visitors went on big runs at the end of the first two games.
"Kahuku is strong. Even their bench could start for most teams," Giesseman said. "With what I have available, we're 4-3 and I couldn't be happier. When we get some of our starters back, it should be interesting."
In the opening game, McKinley hit .450, had three aces and only one service error. Kahuku's depth, however, proved vital. Jovan Falemalu had a kill and an ace, and Blake landed two more aces as Kahuku went on an 8-2 run for a 17-10 lead.
The Tigers benefited from a rash of Kahuku hitting errors to pull within 21-19, but got no closer.
McKinley had the lead for a good stretch of the Set 2. Teri Loli's kill over the middle kept the Tigers ahead 13-12.
However, Falemalu, a 5-foot-8 middle blocker, put down a kill, and Candace Tufuga hammered one of her five kills to give Kahuku a 14-13 lead.
McKinley tied the game four more times before Tajana Santiago roofed Sooalo and Teo pierced an ace next to the right sideline to give Kahuku a 20-17 lead.
Teo's string of five consecutive aces boosted the Red Raiders to a 24-17 lead and a 2-0 lead in the match.
"I was just trying to pick up the momentum for our team," said Teo, who uses a jump serve and had only two service errors. "We have areas we work on at practice."
Kahuku sent in several reserves in the third set and McKinley took advantage. Aces by Sooalo and Larissa Tawata pushed the Tigers ahead 16-12.
Fotu Vendiola then inserted Blake back in, and it was all Big Red from there. Blake immediately delivered a kill, then another ace as her team went on a 13-0 run to close out the match.
"I'm pleased with our consistency, even after we put in our subs," Fotu Vendiola said. "I'm happy with our ball control. We were able to play defense. Record-wise, I'm happy. We're starting to come together, but as a coach, you're never really satisfied. There's still a lot of things we can work on."
The Red Raiders will host Kalaheo on Tuesday, while McKinley will face Roosevelt.
Giesseman hopes outside hitter Brenda Walker will return within a week or two. Walker suffered a fractured ankle during a basketball tournament in California in the offseason.
"The inexperience shows. We've only got one true starter from last year's team," he said. "I still haven't found someone to be the libero, to play with that mentality, and for my teams, that's always the most important spot."


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You know you live in a music-rich city when not one but two major alfresco music happenings pirouette onto the calendar on the very same night.
At one edge of the city we have the Twilight Concert Series, the every-Thursday-through-the-Thursday-after-Labor-Day tunefest that happens on the Santa Monica Pier. Heard of that particular pier? Yeah. It's only one of the world's most iconic ocean-close settings.
Twilight Concerts open on Thursday, July 5.
And on that same night, across the city, in a certain museum located in a certain park? Sizzling Summer Nights at the Autry National Center. Like the Twilight shows, the Sizzlings happen every Thursday through July and August (though Twilight does extend into one September date).
On tap? Dancing, and we do mean dancing; people come dressed in dresses that sashay and fedoras. Hot acts like Orquesta Tabaco y Ron, Ricardo Lemvo y Makina Loca, and Orquesta Son Mayor.
Price is $10, and that will also get you into the museum throug 8 p.m.
Will there be a taco and drink bar? Oh yes. Will there be a salsa instructor on hand? For sure. Will people wow you with their moves? Definitely. Should you be hesitant about trying out your own hip shakes? Definitely not; there's a spirited and easy feel to the night that is all-encompassing.
Oh, summertime nighttime dance parties. You're just starting and already we don't want you to leave. This is LA, after all; save January and February, couldn't we have outdoorsy shake-it nights all year long? We'll bundle up. Scarves and hats. Just let us be under the sky and having a low-cost good time.
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On yesterday's date one hundred years ago April 6, 1917 the United States entered WW I.
In The Fighting 69th this 1940 Warner Brothers film remembers three real life heroes during the U.S. involvement on the front lines in France: Journalist and Poet Joyce Kilmer, Catholic Priest, Army Chaplain Father Francis Duffy and Major William 'Wild Bill' Donovan.
Jeffrey Lynn played Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) who died on the battlefield in France but before he died wrote some of the more inspirational and poignant poems of the time: Prayer of a Soldier in France; Rouge Bouquet and Trees written in 1914. The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest was dedicated in Kilmer's memory in 1935. It is an old growth forest of centuries old trees near Asheville, North Carolina.
George Brent played Major Willliam 'Wild Bill' Donovan (1883-1959) the only American to receive this nations four top awards: the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, and National Security Medal. Wild Bill Donovan was wounded in action three times in WWI. Donovan also refused the offer of the Croix de Guerre when a Jewish soldier in his unit that had participated with him in a rescue mission was denied the medal. When the French had realized their Faux Pas slight, Donovan gladly received the medal along with all of the men in his unit that had participated. Donovan was also put in charge of intelligence gathering during WWII as Director of the OSS, he is known as 'The Father of American Intelligence. Because of Wild Bill's persistence about intelligence gathering President Truman signed the 'National Security Act of 1947' establishing the Central Intelligence Agency.
Pat O'Brian played Father Francis Duffy. This movie: The Fighting 69th is dedicated to his memory. The real Father Duffy also received many awards for bravery during WWI: the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal from the U.S., the Croix de Guerre and Légion d'honneur decorations from France. Father Duffy received these medals not for his fighting but for his comforting of soldiers at their most vulnerable time in the thick of battle; when they were wounded or dying. In his regiment 640 men died 2,000 were wounded.
James Cagney played Jerry Plunkett a fictional character (or was he?). I must say Cagney played the overbearing, obnoxious, and detestable Jerry Plunkett to the hilt even I wanted to slap him (sorry T). Father Duffy however saw something in Jerry that no one else did and spent the movie trying to get the character to redeem himself using the analogy of, 'What man of you having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after what which is lost until he finds it?' Luke 15:4
Character Actors are being honored on TCM this month and this movie,The Fighting 69th has a plethora of Warner Brother's character actors: Alan Hale, Dick Foran, Frank McHugh, Guinn Williams, Harvey Stephens, Henry O'Neill, John Litel, Sammy Cohen, Tom Dugan and though not a character actor George Reeves has uncredited screen time.


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4 x 9 Rack Cards are the best promotional item whether you are related with Hotels, Bars, Clubs or Banks. It can be printed double sided or one side as per your requirment. Full Color 4 x 9 Rack Cards are always proves themselves a point of attention to the customer. For the Best Quality 4 x 9 Rack Cards we are offering you full color printing in price much lesser than one color or two color rack cards, So don't waste money on one or two color Rack Cards.
All printing products are available in Offset Printing, CMYK Printing, Full color Printing, Digital Printing, Spot UV, UV Coating, Lamination, Heat lamination, Gloss lamination, Matte lamination, Die Cutting, Custom Die, Die Shaped, Foiling, Gold Foiling, Silver Foiling, Blue Foiling, Custom Colors Foiling, Heat Stamping, Foil Stamping, Perforation, Perforation Cutting, Raised Ink Specifications. High Quality Embossing, Engraving, and Die Embossing options are also available.


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We have been peddling delicious pizzas made from fresh ingredients in Lapeer since 2012. You will find a variety of specialty pizzas to choose from, or you can create your own pie. Pick between our Chicago Deep Dish, The New York Thin Crust or try our very own spin on a Detroit Traditional Style. Each comes slathered with just the right amount of homemade sauce – like our traditional garlic, zesty tomato or chunky marinara- made specifically to compliment each style. Finally, we top your pizza with our gourmet mozzarella cheese blend and the freshest, local produce, grown right here by Davlinn Farms.
We don't just peddle amazing pizzas, we also peddle delicious salads, subs and grinders! Filled with freshly sliced, high-quality meats, our made to order sandwiches come on your choice of white or wheat. We finish them off with one of our gourmet cheese blends and local produce from Davlinn Farms.
We are conveniently located at 3528 N Lapeer Rd., and we are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Place your order online or call now – 810.245.5515.


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Avoca Chair Black PVC
The Duraseat Avoca Chair Black PVC is an upgrade from its original version and look a-likes with a quality 10MM basswood veneer bentwood shell cover in thick PVC (sewed line edge) and heavy duty DIA22.2 x 1.8MM legs, suitable for indoor commercial use.
This chair has been designed and shaped for maximum comfort. It has been built to withstand the roughest and toughest conditions. It is an extremely popular, versatile and stackable. Looks just right in any commercial venue.
The Duraseat Avoca Chair Black PVC has been tried, tested and proven in the Australian market. It has exceeded all expectations with its long lasting durability. This chair will not disappoint you.
- Brand: Duraseat
- Made in China
- 2 Year Warranty
- Stackable up to 6 high
- Suitable for indoor commercial use only
- Seat: 10MM Basswood veneer bentwood shell with PVC finish – Stitched edge
- Frame: Heavy duty DIA22.2 x 1.8MM tubes chrome legs
- Dimensions: 515W x 550D x 860H x 450 Seat Height
- Unit Weight: 4 kg
- SWL: 120 kg
- Supplied unassembled – easy to assemble
- Stocked In: Black
- Replaceable feet
- Matching Products: Avoca PVC Barstool
Need help? Need further information/images? Call us on 1300 559 965


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- Education
- Handbook
- Almanac
- Publications
- About
- Annual Meeting
- Get Involved
|Click to enlarge.
|Map legend.
Physical Features: Heavily forested East Texas county of hills, between Neches River and Trinity River (Lake Livingston); rich alluvial soils, sandy upland; 67,910 acres in national forest.
Economy: Forestry, cattle, tourism, government/services.
History: Caddo tribes, reduced by disease in the late 1700s. Kickapoo, Alabama, and Coushatta in area when Anglo-Americans settled in the 1840s. Named for river; county created in 1850 out of Houston County, organized the same year.
Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 77.6; Black, 9.3; Hispanic, 10.5; Asian, 0.6; Other, 0.9; Two or more races, 1.9.
Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 151; deaths, 225; marriages, 64; divorces, 35.
Recreation: Lake activities, fishing, hiking, hunting, Alabama Creek Wildlife Management Area, Davy Crockett National Forest, historic site.
Minerals: Limited oil, gas, sand and gravel.
Agriculture: Beef cattle. Market value $8.2 million. Timber sales significant. Hunting leases, fishing.
GROVETON (1,038) county seat; logging, government/services, recreation; museum, library; Bear Chase marathon in April.
TRINITY (2,712) government/services, steel fabrication, forest-industries center, commuters; hospital.
Other towns include: Apple Springs (350); Centralia (190); Pennington (67); Sebastopol (300) historic town; Woodlake (180).


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IMAA Board
Register now for IMAA recreational fall soccer. Organized by grade
levels, IMAA Soccer runs from Munchkin (PreK/K) to Pinelands Div 1
(7th/8th grade) for boys and girls who re...
IMAA will be hosting a summer soccer camp for boys and girls K-8th grade. The camp will run from July 22nd through July 25th in the evenings (6:30pm - 8:30pm) at our Stony Cre...
The IMAA is in search of volunteers for the following open positions.
PLEASE consider volunteering your time to help support our community
sports programs.


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I have been trying to learn some Thai for more than 20 years now. Luckily my efforts have been more or less successfulalready!
I started - the first time I went to Thailand - with a book with the ridiculous title "Easy Thai". This is more than ridiculous, because there is no such thing as Easy Thai! Thai is a really difficult language for westerners.
My first serious attempt to learn the language was with the FSI Basic Thai course. Books with tapes. The material is really


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If you want to write satire essay topics, you need to have a better understanding of what it actually means. Although it may seem like common knowledge, this is an area which most people tend to misunderstand. So basically, satire topics touch on humor as they are more likely to make you laugh. They also look into somebody's flaws and find ways of mocking them.
Now, when you're about to write any satire essay, you need to target a certain person or event common with your audience. A good example here is concentrating on the trends and behaviors of a known celebrity or politician. In any case, to get a better idea of what a satire topic is, here are a few basic examples.
It's important to give yourself the chance of going through enough satirical topics especially if you're a student. Of course, in university or college, you need to know what's happening in your country and across other nations. Look for the most frequent issues and try to look for their best solutions. Here are just some ideas:
Political issues are one of the best sources for satire ideas. It's crucial that you keep yourself fully updated on what's happening in government. Here, you can choose the trendiest topic by reading newspapers and comical strips addressing such issues. Some of the examples that you'll find include:
There's a lot that's happening in the world of sports today. Here are some good satire topics you need to talk about:
With the growth of social media, we all love downloading our best tunes and watching the latest TV episodes of our favorite shows. Apart from that, we also use apps such as Google Maps to catch up on the latest shows or art galleries. Therefore, as a professional writer, reward your audience with the best collection of satirical essays. Below are some useful selections:
The society is something that should always remain 'pure.' However, there are various problems affecting both the young and the old generation that we need to talk about. These are issues touching on our different beliefs and how they affect the people around us. To learn more about them, take a look at these satire essay topics:
Almost all of us are using Smartphones, home computers and even smart cooking tools in the kitchen. Getting the best deals on any of the latest devices is something that brightens the mood of even the worst days. Now, you can talk about some exciting satirical essays and educate your readers on these crucial subjects!
We all have different characters which shape our behaviors. Most importantly, we all have different lives. Therefore as a writer, you need to keep informing your audience on helpful tips of living through satire ideas such as:
As a blogger, you need to keep yourself updated on topics of your interest. For instance, if you love talking about fashion, make sure that you know all the latest trendy designs. Of course, the most effective ways of looking for interesting topics is creating a list of good satire topics. Take a look at some of these examples:
It's quite unfortunate that we have forgotten the importance of taking care of our surroundings. The need for industries to create income is resulting in loss of trees and decrease in water catchment areas. As an environmentalist, the satire essays below will help you understand 'flora' and 'fauna' much better.
Reading is something that's slowly increasing even in the remote parts of the world. You'll find that even teachers and professors are using books written by famous writers to educate their students. At the end of the learning course, he or she should answer simple satire topics such as:
Does your audience know what's happening in the lives of their famous footballers, movie characters or even musicians? Well, you could narrow their search engine time by looking at any of these good satire topics:
Grabbing the attention of your readers is becoming difficult by the day. That's why it's important for all writers to know what their audience wants to read. Fortunately, with the rich variety of satirical essays above, you'll have an easier time in choosing the right one. Good luck!


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Business Event Rentals
Allow us, the professionals at Festival Tent & Party Rentals, to do our magic and transform your space, or any space into a professionally decorated business area.
Whether hosting a sales meetings, a VIP welcoming, an awards presentation, a staff party, a customer appreciation event, staff training or seminars; we can customize your event for ease and convenience with great business rental options from Festival Tent.
Is your business or organization participating in an Expo, convention or trade show?
Save time and money; Festival Tent is your one-stop-shop for everything you need for your professional display and discounts are available for quantity orders.
From the smallest details such as water glasses and coffee carafes to essential elements such as tables, skirting, chairs, lecterns and microphone & speaker systems, trust us to help cover all the needs for your business event.
Looking for a specific item to rent? For food service? For fun? Need a tent or tables and chairs? We have an enormous stock of rental items, please reach out to us – describe your event and we can offer recommendations tailored to suit you.
Business Event Rentals – Price List
Special Order (over 30 colours)Please call for pricing
|Staging (4'x4' sections – adjustable height)
|$32.50 per section at 8" to 12" high
|$35.00 per section at 24" to 30" high
|$38.00 per section at 32" to 40" high
|Portable Bar
|Red Carpet (Indoor use only)
|Pipe & Drape Exhibit Booths – 8' x 10' or 10′ x 10′
|Please call for pricing
|Room Dividing Drape (per running ft.)
|3 foot
|8 foot
|12 foot
|16 foot
|Seasonal Themed Backdrop
|Skirted Display Tables from
|Crowd Control Stanchions
|With Coloured Velvet Rope
|Retractable 8' length
|Tripod Easels
|Pre-pleated Table Skirting
|9 Colours In Stock from
|Portable Speaker with Microphone
|Megaphone (batteries not included)
|Raffle Drum – 16″ diameter
|Promotional Prize Wheel
Business Event Rentals – Frequently asked questions
What does the promotional wheels look like?
We have white wheels with clips for attaching your own promotional material or blank chalkboard wheels for you to design yourself.
What colour is the draping?
The 3' and 8' drape comes in white, black, blue, rose or gold. The 12' drape comes in black or blue, while the 16' drape is black only.
Can you help me figure out how much drape I need?
Absolutely! If you provide us with a floor plan we can customize a quote for you based on your unique requirements.


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Without going into too much detail, here's a crash course in the file sharing protocol that is BitTorrent
What is BitTorrent ?
BitTorrent is not a program. [1] It's a method of downloading files using a distributed peer-to-peer file sharing system. The programs that you use to download files via the BitTorrent protocol are called BitTorrent clients.
BitTorrent is not like Limewire/Kazaa/Napster/other P2P programs you've used in the past. This is often the biggest source of confusion for people new to BitTorrent. It's not difficult to use, it's just different. As soon as you forget about your old file-sharing program (and you will once you start using BT), the easier it will be to start using BitTorrent.
How does it work?
What makes the BitTorrent protocol unique is that it distributes the sharing of files across all users who have downloaded or are in the process of downloading a file. Because BitTorrent breaks up and distributes files in hundreds of small chunks, you don't even need to have downloaded the whole file before you start sharing. As soon as you have even a piece of the file, you can start sharing that piece with other users. That's what makes BitTorrent so fast; your BitTorrent client starts sharing as soon as it downloads one chunk of the file (instead of waiting until the entire download has been completed).
In order to download a file like the educational public domain video we mentioned above, you have to find and download a torrent file (which uses the .torrent file extension) and then open it with your BitTorrent client. The torrent file does not contain your files. Instead, it contains information which tells your BitTorrent client where it can find peers who are also sharing and downloading the file.
How to find and download a file with BitTorrent?
Now that you've got a better idea of the terminology and process behind BitTorrent, let's jump right into using BitTorrent.
First you need to download a BitTorrent client (the program that manages your BitTorrent downloads). I'd recommend:
uTorrent for Windows/Mac
Transmission for Mac
Vuze or KTorrent for Linux (Actually, Vuze is cross platform, meaning it will work on Windows and Mac, but on those platforms we still prefer the alternatives listed above.)
But on top of them all my personal favorite is Free download Manager.
Search for a good torrent.
There are a handful of really good web sites for downloading torrents
Just search with your subject and torrent name in google for example if you are looking for space ship studies torrents search like "Space ship studies torrents".
Try out whichever one you like. One might fit your tastes better than another, but I've had good experiences with all of these. From this point, search the site using their search box like you're using Google—just type in the name of what you're looking for. You'll likely get several results, but you want to choose the torrent with the highest number of seeders (indicated in most BitTorrent search results under a field labeled 'S'). Seeders are people who have already downloaded and are sharing the entire file. The more seeders, the faster your download will be. Some sites also provide you with a health meter, which is generally a measure of seeders vs. active downloaders.
Download the torrent.
Once you've found a good and healthy torrent, find the download link and download the torrent. Your browser will ask you what you want to do with the file, so be sure to tell it to open the torrent in the BitTorrent client you downloaded above.
Your BitTorrent client will open and (possibly) ask you where you want to save the file(s). Pick your save location, hit OK, and that's it; your file will begin downloading. If you're not impressed with the speed at first, be patient. It can sometimes take a minute or two before the download ramps up to full speed. If you're still not happy, try searching for another torrent with more seeders.
That's it?
Yep, that's it. That, in a nutshell, is how to download files using BitTorrent. There can be more to it, of course, if you want to dive in a bit deeper. For example, you can run through the Speed Guide in uTorrent to improve your download speeds (the guide is fairly self explanatory—just go to Options -> Speed Guide to get started), download select files from the torrent rather than every file, throttle your bandwidth, and so on, but this basic guide should get you started.
Also, to ensure you stay in good standing in the BitTorrent community (and aren't labeled a leecher), you should always try to upload as much as you download. Most BitTorrent clients keep track of your upload/download ratio, and you should generally continue sharing a file until your ratio reaches 1, after which you can feel free to remove it from your client (the file will remain on your computer—you just stop sharing it).


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For our first test of direct Word docx to ebook conversion via Calibre and of publishing in the iBooks marketplace, we have been working with a tiny little novella called Runaway.
Everything about the process went pretty smoothly until we tried to upload the book for sale via Apple's iTunes Producer. The book popped into review and then out again with a validation error:
This was particularly odd to us because Apple's validator is said to be based on a public validation tool that had already ok'd the same file:
The interwebs came through for us once we got our search terms right:
iTunes Producer ERROR ITMS-9000 calibre_bookmarks.txt
The search above did a nice job, bringing up several threads on the mobileread.com site that serves as the Calibre support forum. The discussions are old, though, and it took quite a while to piece together the whole story. Let me just cut to the chase for you here.
After we first used Calibre to convert our manuscript file from a docx to an epub, we opened up the ebook in the Calibre Ebook Viewer (aka 'the reader'). Who wouldn't want to make sure everything looks good before publishing?
But, by default, the reader supports user-added bookmarks. It does this by inserting an extra file, calibre_bookmarks.txt, into the epub file set* the first time it opens the ebook. But it does NOT add that file to the epub's internal manifest file. Apple's version of the validator considers the un-manifested file to be a stowaway and potential malware. It rejects the epub accordingly.
*If you've never looked under the hood of an epub file, the paragraph above may make no sense to you. An epub is a single file, after all, not a set of files. In reality, though, it is both. The single epub file is actually a zipped archive of files. You can unzip it and look inside using any standard zip utility. Here's what the inside of the Calibre Quick Start Guide looks like when unzipped (and after that pesky bookmarks file has been added):
You can avoid the ITMS-9000 error forevermore by simply turning off the bookmarking feature of the reader.
But don't go looking for a button or checkbox labeled "Turn off bookmarks" or "Disable bookmarking" or anything like that. Nope, that would be a bit too simple. What you have to do, from the reader screen, is poke the Preferences jig on the left hand side.
On Configure Ebook Viewer screen, open the Miscellaneous options on the General tab, and uncheck Remember the current page when quitting. Then, click OK, to save the new setting.
Unfortunately, changing this setting does not remove the bookmarks file from any epub that has already been contaminated.
So, how do you fix an epub that has already failed validation?
If you're adventurous and the sort who likes to tinker around inside your file system, you can actually unzip* the epub, delete the stowaway file, and rezip the fileset. That's what I did, just to see what would happen. I expected to get slammed for it by the iBooks validator. After all, this time the fileset really had been tampered with, right? But the resulting epub sailed through validation.
* Your mileage may vary with this trick. I've seen my Windows machines consistently be able to unzip and rezip epubs successfully. And Bret and I have seen it work on our Macs. But we've also seen the Mac unzip utility take the zip file and spit out a cpzg file, which then unpacks, very unhelpfully, back to a zip. This indicates the utility believes the archive is corrupted. If this happens to you, see this post at OsXDaily for the workaround.
If farbling with zip innards is not your idea of a good time, then, after you've disabled the bookmarking as described above, just:
- remove your converted ebook from the Calibre library
- add your original file — mine was a docx — back in
- reconvert using the same conversion options as before
The old book and the new are not associated by Calibre in any way, despite having the same name. Bob's your uncle, the new epub will be clean and ready for upload. And do, by all means, feel free to preview it first!