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Hi Carmen,
Are you still active? If so, I'd love to get together to hit over the upcoming holiday. Pretty flexible on locales (i.e.- Saratoga, Los Gatos, San Jose)...
Carmen, this is going out only to my friends on Tennisopolis. I'm trying to build some buzz on facebook for Tennisopolis. I couldn't think of anything extremely clever, so I figured giving away cool stuff always works! I need your help today; To enter, just LIKE the post our our fb page. And stay tuned, we're going to be having more giveways on fb in the near future.
Here's the link to the Verdasco autograph:
Thanks, Mark
Hi Carmen! If you're looking for a tennis partner, you should try clicking our "Local Groups" tab. Find a group that plays in your area and post a discussion about your availability. You can post other discussions in our various forums as well. Play around with it, and you should be able to get the hang of it pretty quickly. Hope that helps!
Welcome to the world's largest and most active tennis network. Please share Tennisopolis with your friends by supporting our Facebook page. Click here for a Guide to Meet Tennis Partners. Have a look at our introduction page which will help you navigate the massive network which now has over 37,000 members and 500 local tennis groups.
Joe B., Moderator
© 2020 Created by Mark / The Mayor. Powered by


text: Vector Monster – This cute yet angry vector monster is looking for a home, and a friend. He has kindly named all of his layered body parts and has made himself ready for easy customisation for you to edit him to suit your needs. Any problems or issues please contact me.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi Everyone,
It's been a while since I've posted here. That is primarily because our #EdTechBridge transcripts are now being seamlessly archived thanks to @nurph!
This week I was asked a question from an administrator....
I heard that you run a twitter chat weekly. I am presenting a workshop at the K-5 meetings next week on using Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram as professional development tools. If you have any info you would like me to share regarding your chat or the benefits you have found regarding the use of these tools I would love to hear it.
Well, Ask and ye shall receive! First, let me say that I am so pleased that this particular administrator is bringing this topic to her department meeting. It is so important for administrators to be connected and sharing the value with their teachers. Bravo.
Here's my reply:
Hi Kathy,
Finally came up for air and wanted to make sure I got some information and hopefully insight your way.
I'll start with my views on twitter and social media as professional development and the value of cultivating a PLN (Professional/Personal Learning Network). Twitter has been a tremendous tool for professional growth for me for the past 3 years. That may even be understated as it has been amazing beyond words. I have developed relationships with amazing educators and other stakeholders around the world. Generally speaking, the relationships begin on twitter but the relationship that develops beyond twitter is where the real value lies. My participation and sharing of what I do, resources, etc. has led to amazing opportunities for me including presenting at National Conferences, collaborating with EdTech developers, educators, etc. and being invited to events by organizations like the Gates Foundation. In fact, this past weekend I was at a convening in New Orleans for a Gates Foundation organization called ECET2 (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers). The Gates foundation took care of everything including transportation, lodging, food, etc while engaging incredible teachers from around the country in inspiring PD all weekend. It doesn't take much to become a connected educator and once started there's truly no turning back! The community continues to be refreshing and encouraging as we all continue to grow.
So, that was a little context.
The weekly chat that I co-founded and co-moderate is called EdTechBridge. Our mission is to help foster collaborative relationships among educational stakeholders (EdTech developers, Teachers, Researchers, Parents, and Students) in order to develop better EdTech products to ultimately enhance learning opportunities for the Students we serve. My part in the collaboration started based on work I've been doing in terms of collaboration with companies like E-Line Media, YoYoGames, and GameMaker. A developer from E-line media (and now brainpop) asked if I would like to co-present a problem solving session on bridging the divide between Entrepreneurs (Developers) and Teachers at South by Southwest EDU in Austin this past March. Our commitment was to work with the attendees to break down the issues and develop a community that would live beyond the conference. Our primary vehicle has been the twitter chat which takes place on Wednesday nights at 7pm EST. The community is awesome and is made up of a nice mix of people from edtech companies as well as teachers, researchers, parents and students. Each week we have a different topic and generally invite the person who's topic idea it is to co-moderate with us. It's been truly amazing and I have met a number of our chat participants on my trips to various conferences. That's the best part. Outside of the chat we are continually hearing stories of the relationships that are forming and the collaboration that is coming from them. You can see the past chat transcripts and stats by visiting http://nurph.com/EdTechBridge/chats/past and the #EdTechBridge blog (http://edtechbridge.blogspot.com). Tonight's chat can be accessed through @nurph by visiting http://nurph.com/EdTechBridge/chats/930. Nurph is nice for people new (and old) to twitter chats because it puts you in a chat room environment for the chat making it far less distracting compared to trying to follow the chat through twitter or other twitter apps. Generally speaking, people can always access the chat by visiting http://nurph.com/EdTechBridge.
While I'm at it, I'll also throw out a plug for my new twitter chat addiction, #BFC530. This 'spark' chat is held at 5:30 am EST and 5:30 am MST (7:30 EST). It's only a 15 minute chat with one question and a different moderator each day. It's a great community of people. The chat happens to have been started by another fine NJ educator (@ScottCapro) and it is a truly inspiring way to start the day. I get up close to then anyway and find that lately I am popping out of bed instead of hitting snooze several times as the chat really starts the day off right.
Please feel free to reach out for any more information or support with regard to bringing more Bernards Township Educators on board. I can no longer imagine being a teacher without a PLN.
Have a great session this afternoon!!
P.S. Hope to see you tonight at 7pm EST for our weekly chat! http://nurph.com/EdTechBridge/chats/930


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Well, we were impressed by Corsair's 240/170MB/s read/write speeds, but the new Crucial line tops it with a 250MB/s read and 200MB/s write. Even better, the Crucial SSDs are available right now.
The Crucial SSDs are available in the current standard of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities at price points of $US170, $US330 and $US600, respectively. Those prices may seem outlandish if you've never browsed SSDs before, but they're actually pretty fair; Crucial is a respectable company and those prices are even a little below average prices at each capacity, regardless of the fact that they're among the fastest on the market. If you're looking to pump some speed into your netbook, and you've got enough money to do something silly like spend twice the price of your computer on one component, they're probably worth a look. [Press Release, Crucial Store]


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Lyrics:First verseDear Liza I've a dang'rous reputation, And a desp'rate diserposition when I start, So don't talk of divorce or separation, For if you leave me gal, you'll break my heart, The coons all say you've hypnotized me, And hold me by some strange and magic spell, Why I loves you I don't know, You're homlier than an old black crow And why I linger 'round you Lize, I'm blessed if I can tell. ChorusYou're not good looking, You're a big fat ugly coon, You're not so stylish for your clothes am out of tune, You are de blackest wench dat ever crossed de pike, Yet dar's somethin' about yer I like. like.Second verseYou yaller half-breed you're an imitation, Don't you make no bluffs 'bout what yer gwine to do, You're far beneath my dignity and station, There's icy coldness in my heart for you, Beware of my angel face I warn you, I'm a good friend but a very bitter foe, You can't scare a little bit, I'll cut your wings so you can't flit you unsophisticated wench, What makes me love you so?
Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.


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The emphasis is returning to outsourcing, both in terms of manufacturing and R&D. Karcanias said: "The supply chain is quite under pressure today."
He added there was pressure to innovate in the development of drive trains. He also commented on the comparisons with the auto industry and the ability to bring in the same economies of scale.


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echochrome Ad Blurbs (PSP)
Published by
Developed by
Also For
ESRB Rating
Advertising Blurbswww.playstation.com:
Give your mind a spin!
- Solve dozens of baffling puzzles
- Download new user generated levels each time echochrome is loaded
- Compare best times with an online ranking system
Fancy giving your brain a spin like it's never had? Look no further than echochrome, a fiendish puzzle game which has you guiding a mannequin through a series of confounding 3D mazes. Rather than turning the mannequin, you turn the maze itself, altering the viewpoint on-screen and changing sudden drops and dead ends into pathways to your goal.
Optical illusion is the key here, as altering the perspective of the screen means you solve the puzzles of the game - and once you've tested your skills and imagination on the increasingly difficult mazes, you can put your experience to good use making your own brain-busting levels. When you're happy with your topsy-turvy creations, you can share them with friends on PlayStation Network (PS3), so there's always a fresh challenge just around the corner.
Whether it's by yourself or with friends, the fun of echochrome is all about how you look at things...
Contributed by havoc of smeg (22261) on May 20, 2010.


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All curvy women know that wearing an underwired bra is pretty much essential to for the best support, plus clothes hang so much better as well giving you a more flattering look.
Lingerie designers Ultimo this week revealed its new Dreamwire bra, said to provide all the lift of an underwire but with none of the discomfort.
'Sounds great', you may say. But hang on a minute… What discomfort and why should we put up with it? Because in reality we don't need to.
To my mind it's a major myth that underwired bras dig into your rib cage, rub the skin or pinch the breast. If one wears a good fitting quality bra then one shouldn't even be aware of its wire – at all.
For many years I'd opt for a soft bra, one that didn't have an underwire because whenever I tried them they would indeed – as the clique goes – hurt and chafe in the tender areas – Ouch!
I wasn't on my own, either. Friends and colleagues would complain about theirs. One woman I used to work with even cut the wires out of hers while in the office on one occasion because it pained her so much.
I had in it my head that if I wanted a good lift then a painful underwire was a necessary evil – rather like Victorian women who used to squeeze themselves into impossibly tight corsets because that was what everyone else did.
No pain, no gain, I thought; suck it up, woman.
Angry red weals along my ribcage were the price I had to pay for having a good shape. End of.
But I changed my mind when at last I was fitted properly…
In a good bra you should be able to walk, run, sleep, do cartwheels, hop, skip, jump, hand glide, go mountaineering, trek across the Andes (or anything else you see women doing on the tampon adverts) without discomfort caused by your bra. If the wire is digging in then you're wearing the wrong size.
A good bra fitter won't let you out of the changing room wearing an uncomfortable bra that doesn't do the business for you and make you feel great.
Accept no less!


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Corey Dickerson escapes another Rockies injury after sliding near-catch
Corey Dickerson's sliding attempt at picking off a ninth-inning line drive in left field Tuesday against the Padres nearly went for an out — and it nearly broke his wrist.
But neither happened.
It ended up a double for San Diego's Seth Smith. But more importantly, Dickerson got away healthy.


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Stenciled Zebra Hide Rug, Chocolate
Easy, hassle-free returns online and in-store for eligible items.Learn More
Earn 5% Back in rewards4 plus free standard shipping3every day when you shop with your Williams Sonoma credit card at Williams Sonoma.Apply Now Learn More
- Summary
The graphic stripes on wild zebras inspired the exotic pattern on our luxurious rug. Each is fashioned from hand-selected Brazilian cowhide, artfully stenciled with classic zebra stripes in rich chocolate tones. Like all pieces crafted using natural materials, each rug is unique.
- Approx. 6' x 7.5'; due to the handmade nature of our rugs and animal size, the dimensions for each rug will vary.
- Soft, supple hair-on hides are expertly tanned for rich luster and impressive longevity.
- The intricate designs are created using traditional stenciling techniques.
- Premium hides are hand-selected from Brazil's most notable tanneries.
- Brands and other markings add character to the hides – and make each one unique.
- Naturally resistant to stains and spills.
- Colors and patterns will vary from hide to hide.
- Made in Brazil.
- Dimensions & More Info
- Approx. 6' x 7.5' overall.
- Dimensions, coloring and pattern for each rug will vary.
- Made in Brazil.
- Use & Care
- A fine cowhide will offer years of beauty and durability with minimal care. It is important to note that hair on hide is a natural product and will wear under heavy traffic conditions. With light wear you can shake out the hide to remove dust – or simply vacuum as you would any other rug, using suction-only without the vacuum's beater bar.
- The hide's natural oils resist staining – simply wipe up any spills. If a stain should occur, use mild soap, warm water and a soft brush to rub lightly with the grain of the hair.
- We recommend rotating your hide every three months in high traffic areas – and not placing your cowhide in direct sunlight.
- As with any natural product, please note you can expect dye lot, color and pattern variances from hide to hide.
- Use of a rug pad is recommended.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
Please allow 4 to 5 days for delivery. Larger sizes are delivered by our White Glove Delivery Service and should be delivered within 2 to 4 weeks. For White Glove Delivery, items are brought into your home and placed in the room of your choice. Delivery is by appointment, Monday – Saturday; our delivery service will call to arrange a day. Available in the 48 contiguous states. Please call 888.922.4108 for additional assistance
Shipping Rates
With Unlimited Flat Rate Furniture & Freight Delivery, an unlimited number of eligible furniture and select non-furniture items in your order can be delivered for a single flat rate. The exact shipping charges are based on your shipping location and will be applied during checkout.
All items not shipped via unlimited flat-rate delivery fee will incur a shipping surcharge, but no additional delivery fees. All items not flagged by a shipping surcharge, are charged via our standard ship table. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. If, within 30 days, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase for any reason, please return the item for an exchange or refund of the merchandise value. Final Sale items ending in .97 or .99 are not returnable or cancellable. View Full Returns Policy.


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You are here
Set Design: It's Complicated
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Take a serene Santa Barbara setting with to-die-for interiors, add a triangle mixing love, divorce, and renovation, and you have all the elements of an unusual romantic comedy.
In theaters on Christmas Day, the sophisticated yet relaxed California-style interiors in Universal's upcoming film It's Complicated will vie for attention with a star-studded cast--Meryl Streep, Steve Martin (both seen here), and Alec Baldwin. The comedy weaves the tale of a divorced mother of three and bakery owner (Streep, as Jane) involved romantically with both her ex-husband (Baldwin) and the architect (Martin) helping in her kitchen renovation.
By Cathy Whitlock
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures. "Meyreuil" landscape painting by Mitchell Johnson.
Written and directed by Nancy Meyers (who has given us such design-rich films as Something's Gotta Give and The Holiday), It's Complicated is reminiscent of the classic Hepburn-Tracy comedies of the '50s (think Desk Set). In true Meyers fashion, it features a strong female lead, snappy dialogue, a memorable sound track, and trend-setting interiors.
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Besides being a master with pen and camera lens, Meyers is a dedicated design devotee as well. From the Hamptons beach house of Erica Barry (Diane Keaton) in Something's Gotta Give to the Wallace Neff bungalow in The Holiday, with Amanda Wood (Cameron Diaz), Meyers's imprint is seen in every club chair, paint color, and light fixture. Apparently it's in the genes--Meyers's mother was a designer who worked well into her 80s.
As in all her movies, the house as character plays a major role in the latest Meyers film. After a decade as a divorcée and now facing an impending empty nest, Streep's Jane decides to redecorate her 1920s Spanish-style ranch.
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
"Since more than half of the movie takes place in the house, we really get to know the place," says Meyers. "What the characters wear and how they live and decorate really say something about them."
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
The film reunites (for the fourth time) the director with production designer Jon Hutman. "My job is to try to understand and interpret Nancy's vision," says Hutman. "What I do, with strong and special guidance from Nancy, is make the sets real, striking something in people."
Working with set decorator Beth Rubino (who decorated the interiors of the much-admired beach house of Something's Gotta Give), Hutman designed the sets with a key component in mind--storytelling. "I like the sets to look the way they feel to the character," he says.
The overall design direction came directly from Meyers, who wanted a "Belgian look that is reflected in the house's furnishings and a quiet palette with natural linen."
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Hutman's interiors reflect a sophisticated influence mixed with California casual. "Whether in the Hamptons or Santa Barbara, the world of Nancy's movies is one of casual elegance and not just a fancy way of life," he says.
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Meyers also took her design cues from the color of the rooftops of the idyllic coastal town of Santa Barbara. "What I like about Santa Barbara is the rich color that saturates your vision at every turn," she says. From cashmere throws and chair upholstery to a bowl of fruit on the dining table, the color orange (think of the orange/brown color of an Hermès box) is used as an accent throughout the film. The decor had to accent Streep's fair complexion as well, so Meyers used "creams and beiges that would capture the beauty of her skin."
Rubino mixed high-end furnishings--Calvin Fabrics and Dessin Fournir and George Smith furniture--with antiques from 1st Dibs and items from West Elm. "My goal was to capture the essence of Meryl's character as someone who dances to the beat of her own drum, " she explains.
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures. "Meyreuil" landscape painting by Mitchell Johnson.
The open kitchen that receives a makeover in the movie plays a pivotal role. "The kitchen has individual style," notes Hutman. "It's makeshift and funky."
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Hutman and Rubino studied Tuscan, California, and French kitchens to arrive at the finished product--a functional room that reflected Jane's tastes as well as her budget.
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Ever the method actress, Streep inhabits both character and space when making a movie. The Academy Award-winning actress advised Meyers to reduce the size of the kitchen and add water damage to the ceiling for a touch of realism. "Meryl got involved very early in the process," says Hutman. "She had special ideas on who the character was, how she lived, etc."
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
The sets also included a bakery that was influenced by everything from London's Daylesford Organic to New York's City Bakery and Dean & Deluca, among others.
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Even the nuances of bread display became a factor--the design team worked closely with Martha Stewart alum, Julie & Julia food stylist, and cookbook author Susan Spungen on the details.
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Unfortunately, Meyers' next production will never be seen on film. She is building her own house with the help of her long-time interior designer and film collaborator James Radin (whose California design aesthetic can be seen on Meyers's past three films). A true design aficionada (she admits to following the design blogs), Meyers looked at hundreds of images for the film's interiors, and plans to purchase some of the set decor for her own house.
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.
As an independent career woman and mother who is building a house, she appears to have much in common with her main character. (One exception--she is not involved with her architect!)
This designing director clearly writes what she knows.
Photographs courtesy of Universal Pictures.


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Monthly Archives: August 2013
23 People Who Will Make You Care About Poetry in 2013
It isn't far-fetched to say that Patricia Lockwood's poem "Rape Joke," which was published at The Awl this week, was the best thing most people read on the Internet, and quite possibly the brightest moment for poetry, this entire year. Very rarely in this day and age do you see people discussing and sharing a poem the way the Internet has with "Rape Joke," and the sheer number of times this harrowing work has been shared (23,710 times as of this writing, on Facebook alone) lays to waste the ignorant claim that poetry is dead. While Lockwood, who is the author of the poetry collection Balloon Pop Outlaw Black, might be the most talked about poet right now, she certainly isn't the only person keeping poetry relevant in 2013. Here are some more names to know.
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Sorry, I could not resist.
Anyway. Beans are a much loved dish around these parts. There are so many reasons to love beans, not the least of which, they are delicious. Also, cheap, healthy and enjoyed by my whole family. See, I told you they were magical.
I usually make a pot of beans a week. That will last us at least 3 dinners and maybe a lunch too. I used to make a huge pot and freeze most of them, but now I just make a cup and a half, or 2 cups and we reheat from the fridge until they are gone. Then, I make another batch. It works best that way for me, but these beans do freeze really well.
Here's what you do:
First, soak the beans.
I use pinto, but black beans are tasty too and I cook them the same way.
You can do an overnight soak, or a quick soak method, which is described here.
After soaking, I drain beans and set aside. In a heavy bottomed pot, I saute one medium onion and two cloves of garlic. I use olive oil.
When the onion and garlic are soft, I add 2 tablespoons of cumin. You can add more or less according to taste.
Then I add the drained beans into the pot and give everything a good stir.
Next, I add a enough chicken broth to cover the beans. You can use vegetable broth too. I just think a broth of some kind adds a lot more flavor than plain water.
Bring the whole thing to a boil, then turn it down and cook at a very low simmer until soft.
That usually takes at least 4 hours, but I like my beans really soft, so I cook mine for 5, or even 6. Just make sure you keep adding liquid to the beans as they cook down. I keep them covered with liquid the whole time. I use water after the initial addition of broth. If you can't attend to the beans the whole day, put them in the crock pot and cook them the whole day. This will take longer, but is super easy.
When they are done, season with salt and pepper and serve them up for dinner.
I like to eat them like this, with the broth. It is just like a bowl of bean soup. They are so good, they don't even need anything added.
But, you can add cheese, tomatoes, salsa, avocado, and even crumbled up chips. It makes a delicious dinner or lunch.
Of course, my kids like them smashed a bit, and rolled into a tortilla with cheese. You don't have to refry these for burritos. I leave them whole, ranchero style, but like I said, the kiddos like a smoother texture. Either way, they are delicious.
If you have never made your own beans, I urge you to try. That brown paste that comes from a can? It isn't beans. It is gross and I am not even going to say what it reminds me of.
Instead, I am going to tell you to cook up a pot of beans this weekend. You'll be glad you did. I promise.
Oh yeah, and they're good for your heart, too.
Happy weekend!


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I know many of you out there – even most of you! – listen to music as you write, or use it in some facet of the writing process. But just like our taste in music, the way we use music as a writing tool differs from person to person.
This is how I roll. Playlists are one of the most important aspects of my writing routine. I compose a different one for every book, and add to it the whole time I'm drafting. I play it almost every time I sit down to write. The first song is the most important: it launches me inside my story universe. For Like Mandarin, that first song was "Fade into You" by Mazzy Star. For Wanderlove, it was "Let Go" by Frou Frou. For my third book, it's "Siren Song" by Bat for Lashes.
Some authors compose their books' playlists after they write them, which I find interesting. It's a chicken or the egg thing, I suppose – choosing songs to fit an existing book, or letting the music help define the story as it's written.
Songs for Scenes
I've done this a few times. Well, I haven't deliberately searched for scene-appropriate songs, but I've realized a song on my playlist fit a particular scene so perfectly, I played it on repeat the entire time I wrote, and again while I revised.
Songs for Characters
Again, I don't do this on purpose, but songs from my book's playlists have inadvertently come to define particular characters. "World Sick" by Broken Social Scene will always make me think of Rowan from Wanderlove. (Also, it rocks.) And since I wrote it into the book, Prince's "Little Red Corvette" will always make me think of Mandarin from Like Mandarin.
Background Melodies
Perfectly understandable. When I'm battling a scene, the kind of scene that snaps back with curvy teeth and won't let me grab hold of it, sometimes lyrics become a distraction. Then I usually play ambient rock or dream pop, like Explosions in the Sky, The Album Leaf, Sigur Ros (technically, they have lyrics, but they're in Icelandic) and Boards of Canada. Other writers listen to classical music, or heavy instrumental rock.
The Sound of Silence
Also perfectly understandable. I find I often need silence when I'm on my third or fourth draft, since at that stage, revising involves more reading than writing.
How do you use music to help you write?


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When I insert an
InlineCell into a
TextCell that is too long for the whole
InlineCell to fit on the current line,Mathematica pushes the whole
InlineCell to the beginning of the next line. That is, Mathematica seems to prefer dropping the
InlineCell to the next line over inserting a line break within it. Can I force Mathematica to fit as much of an
InlineCell on a line as possible and put as little as possible on the next line?
I have played around with
LinebreakAdjustments for the
InlineCell and the containing cell by setting various values to
0, but have not been able to produce the behavior I would like.
If I do not modify
LinebreakAdjustments for the inline cell or modify any element besides the first (leaving the first element untouched), I get results like this (blue is an
If I set the first element of
LinebreakArguments (of the
InlineCell) to
0 I obtain somewhat predictable behavior:
Below is the behavior I am trying to produce. I've just styled the text rather than use an inline cell:


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The first time I heard LL Cool J was when I was at the movies. There he was …right before my eyes …making his first film debut in Krush Groove and literally performing to the audience for the first time his debut track I Can't Live Without My Radio. It blew me away! By the time the release of his first album Radio made it to Starsounds record store in Toronto, Canada, I was one of the first to get a copy. The LP version of You'll Rock is not as wicked as this remix posted here, but nonetheless it's still good. I considered LL Cool J to be one of my first serious, solid and harder/core rappers in the music scene of 1985, as he was the first rapper/artist to be signed with Def Jam Recordings (hence, the story of Krush Groove movie was somewhat like the real story of how Def Jam got started).
LL Cool J – "You'll Rock" (Remix)…
Artist: LL Cool J
Title: You'll Rock (Remix)
Year: 1985
Label: Def Jam Recordings
LL Cool J – "You'll Rock" (Remix) (mp3)


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The Potions Club Member Badge was an award given by the Potions Club to students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the 1996–1997 school year, regardless of their house. To receive the badge, students had to simply join the Potions Club.[1] The badge was a Potions Silver Badge.
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
- ↑ This student has to have had the badge, because she was a member of the Potions Club.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Bargain hunting is best executed with a large dose of skepticism, particularly when searching for deals online. Craigslist is a prime example of this.
The Better Business Bureau posted a Craigslist scam alert recently urging consumers to exercise caution when browsing the classifieds website. While the Internet allows people from all over to view Craigslist posts, the site is organized geographically for a reason: If you're going to do business with random people, you should deal locally, if possible.
The Scam
The warning from the BBB focused on hoaxes involving normally expensive items, such as boats, cars or motorcycles. The seller advertises the item at an unbeatable price, and when you email the seller about the details, you're told you can buy it through a company called Easy Yard Sale. The seller says he or she is using the service to make the process easier, and if you look up Easy Yard Sale online, it seems legitimate.
The seller tells you to wire the money for the boat/car/whatever to Easy Yard Sale, and they'll ship it to you. If you go through with it, you won't hear from the seller or Easy Yard Sale again — you've been duped.
Smart Consumers Ask Questions
Call me crazy, but shipping a boat across town sounds a little ridiculous in the first place. You should always request to see an item for sale before buying it. The same goes for rentals: If you're not allowed to tour the place, walk away from the conversation. Even if you're searching from out of town, technology is pretty wonderful, and you can probably arrange a virtual tour via Skype or Google Hangout.
There's more to these scams than someone trying to steal your money. Your privacy and identity could be at risk if you make mistakes when dealing with Craigslist sellers. Avoid a bargain hunt gone bad by following some of these guidelines:
- Never share your financial information with a Craigslist seller.
- Meet the seller and view the item for sale before paying.
- Avoid deals that involve shipping.
- Watch out for fake checks and money orders.
- Don't wire money or transfer funds to someone you don't know. You won't get it back.
If someone gets their hands on your financial information, you could lose money or at least be without it temporarily. Also, giving someone your financial information, combined with other personal identifying information like your name and address could give the scammer the tools he or she needs to steal your identity.
Identity theft is no picnic, so learn how to protect yourself here. If you're worried you may have already become a victim of identity theft, you should pull copies of your credit reports (you can do that for free once a year) and you may want to monitor your credit. You can see two of your credit scores for free every month on Credit.com.
More on Identity Theft:
- 3 Dumb Things You Can Do With Email
- The Risks You Face From Identity Theft
- How Can You Tell If Your Identity Has Been Stolen?
Image: iStock


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New York Museum
of Transportation
The G-Gauge model railroad
Click here for directions to NYMT (map)
Contact Us.
The New York Museum of Transportation is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) institution.
For any Comments or Problems regarding the web site, Please email the
Web services provided by
Technical Services of New York.


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Customer ratings (157)
157 Customer ratings
4.61 of 5 Stars
Sport-Tiedje Expert Review (Info)
Sport-Tiedje puts each fitness equipment through its paces. Then our team of sports scientists, serious athletes, and service technicians of many years of experience evaluate the products of different categories. Compare easily the products using the Sport-Tiedje expert review and find your appropriate equipment.
Variety of exercises
The equipment of a weight bench consists of the construction (i.e., flat bench, incline bench), the quality of upholstery as well as extras like biceps curlpult, transport wheels or lifting handles .
Furthermore, some weight benches are equiped with extended training units like integrated or free weight racks incl. dumbbell/barbell sets. The training comfort of well-equiped weight benches is very high.
Furthermore, some weight benches are equiped with extended training units like integrated or free weight racks incl. dumbbell/barbell sets. The training comfort of well-equiped weight benches is very high.
This criterion considers the options of adaption of single units to the exercising person. The quality of adjusting mechanisms is also taken into consideration for evaluating. The adjustability contributes to a higher variability while exercising. Correct joint angles optimize the course of motion and prevent false postures.
A great variety of exercises is achieved by the number of exercising possibilities for different parts of the body. Adjustable weight benches with extended training units achieve optimum values.
A sturdy construction with high frame thickness provide stability for the weight bench. In addition, own weight, set-up area, and general workmanship are considered. A sturdy weight bench is not just durable - it is also stable for intensive use and has a higher weight loadability.
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Kunst: Federal debt is the real problem
The most crucial issue facing Americans is the bankrupt state of our economy where we currently find ourselves living under a $16 trillion deficit. Post-election, many of my fervent but clear-thinking liberal friends are willing to concede that our primary problem is not revenue, but reducing our debt and they concede that the most reasonable approach to reaching this goal is to substantially reduce government spending.
Nevertheless, our incompetent Congress just passed the Taxpayer Relief Act which also increases spending over revenue by an additional $4 trillion. I wish we would all look at this unchecked spending on a per capita basis. In that way, Americans might be able to understand what our government is doing to us as individuals. Each of us will owe our government $64,000-plus to eradicate this debt. My four grandchildren, ages 4 through 12, collectively owe our government over $256,000 and they won't reach working (taxpayer) age for another 9 to 17 years.
Over the past four years, the impediment to sanity in Washington has been the extreme demagogues at either end of the political spectrum in the House, the Senate and the presidency. Congress realizes that whatever bill the House and Senate can agree to must survive a presidential veto. President Obama campaigned on a platform that insisted on an extension of the Bush tax cuts for the middle class while asking the wealthy to "pay a little bit more for debt reduction." He has said, repeatedly, that he will only support a "balanced" plan between new revenue and debt reduction. Last week, he announced that he was "pleased" with the new legislation that increases the national debt by an additional 25 percent. Pray tell Mr. President, what your definition of "balanced" is?
Three weeks ago, I asked SDN readers who voted for Obama to explain, factually, how their lives would be healthier, wealthier and safer under Obama policies. Alan Ruffel was the only respondent who took exception to my label of Obama policies as "socialistic" and pointed out that those who do not pay federal income taxes are teenagers, children, students, unemployed, retirees and stay-at-home moms who pay state, local and other use taxes. These were points well-made but not persuasive or responsive to the federal deficit dilemma.
I am still befuddled and the fact that the president is "pleased" with the imposition of $4 trillion more in spending/debt suggests that I need to ask the question differently. So, to Obama supporters, what is it about an individual tab of $64,000 that you deem desirable? More importantly, please tell me why Obama is pushing us well beyond bankruptcy while insisting that he wants the sole discretion to determine what our nation's debt ceiling should be? Where is the "balance" when spending exceeds new revenues by $4 trillion? What is the president's motive for bankrupting an entire nation with the complicity of an incompetent Congress? I want to know.
Jon M. Kunst Jr., Fairplay
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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Photo of Harvard celebrating its first goal of the game courtesy of Kevin Burns Photography.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The No. 4 Harvard women's hockey team fell behind early and was not able to mount a comeback, dropping a 6-2 decision to No. 5 Cornell in the NCAA Division I Quarterfinal matchup Friday at Bright Hockey Center. The Crimson concludes its season with a 20-8-5 overall record, while the Big Red (20-8-6) advances to the NCAA Frozen Four.
Cornell notched the game's first goal at 2:34 of the first period, as Amanda Young sent a long pass from the Cornell zone to center ice, finding Catherine White. White skated in alone for a breakaway, sliding a shot behind Harvard's Laura Bellamy. Less than four minutes later, the Big Red extended its lead to 2-0 as Karlee Overguard netted an unassisted shorthanded goal after stealing the puck in the Crimson zone.
The Big Red came out firing in the second, netting three goals within a span of three minutes to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Laura Fortino converted a Chelsea Karpenko pass at the 6:42 mark, Melanie Jue potted her seventh goal of the year off feeds from Laura Danforth and Kendice Ogilvie at 8:06 and Karpenko got one of her own at 9:45 off a Laurian Rougeau assist.
In the second, senior Randi Griffin put Harvard on the scoreboard with her 11th goal of the season. Griffin one-timed a pass from Kate Buesser to the left of Cornell goaltender Amanda Mazzotta, making it a 5-1 game at 13:47. Kathryn Farni was credited with a secondary assist after sending a pass to Buesser, who was camped in the left circle. Cornell extended its lead to 6-1 with less than five minutes to go in the second as Ogilvie bested Harvard goalie Kylie Stephens off a pass from Karpenko. Despite the disadvantage in the score, Harvard led Cornell, 23-13, in shots through two periods.
Harvard collected the lone goal of the third period at the 13:11 mark as Leanna Coskren corralled a pass from Cori Bassett at the blue line and blasted a shot into the upper right corner to push the score to 6-2.
Mazzotta finished the game with 34 saves while Bellamy and Stephens had six saves each in the loss.
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Brown Toy Poodle
Brown Toy Poodle
This fun and whimsical Wagging Tail Clock runs on one AA battery.
The design is created from an original painting that has been printed and attached to wood.
Item Measures Approximately: 12.5" tall
* This item ships in approximately 1-2 weeks
Anything we need to know? Do you need a gift note included in the package - Do you need us to delay shipping - If it is a gift, what is the occasion so we can select the appropriate wrapping paper. Let us know during check out in the notes to seller section.
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English Bulldog
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|Bowie, Md.
|High School:
|Elizabeth Seton
2012 Outdoor: Helped both the 4x100m (46.47) and 4x200m (1:38.04) relay teams break school records... Part of the 4x100m relay team which won the America East Outdoor crown... Finished sixth in the 200m dash and 13th in the 400m dash at the conference meet in Maine... Recorded a season-best time of 57.52 in the 400m at the Duke Invitational.
2011-12 Indoor: Helped the 4x200m relay team break the school record with a time of 1:41.38 at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York... Finished seventh in the 200m dash at the America East Indoor Championships with a season-best time of 25.28... Placed eighth in the 400m dash at the conference meet in Boston with a personal-best time of 57.79 to move into sixth all-time in UMBC's record book.
Background: Named to the All-County FIRst Team for 200m and 300m hurdles in 2011... Named to the All-County Second Team... Team won the WCAC Championships all four years... Received the four-year Varisty award.
Personal: Daughter of Melvin and Yvette Young... Has two sisters, Shannell and Candice... Major is undecided... Born July 16, 1993.


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The AGA 110cm Traditional Hood is the perfect partner to your AGA Masterchef XL. The hood is finished in Gloss Black, it includes an AGA-Style chrome rail on the front and the AGA badge to match the cooker. The hood has 3 speed settings for gentle or rapid extraction and a build in light.
The hood can be used in Recirculation Mode if there is no outside wall available or as an extraction fan ducting to the outside. A Ducting Kit is included if you are venting to the external.
We are able to deliver all of our products nationwide however additional delivery charges may apply on certain products. Please call a member of our sales staff on 01568-611124 or email email@example.com for more information.
Although we do our best to make sure that the colours printed on our website are accurate, actual colours will vary. In addition, subtle colour differences and textures may not be fully appreciated on some systems due to differences in computer monitors and / or display cards.
We aim to dispatch goods within 7 days of your order where items are currently in stock. If you wish to check stock availability don't hesitate to call us on 01568 611124 or email firstname.lastname@example.com and we will be happy to advise you.
On the occasion that items are out of stock we will call you back and advise on an expected delivery date or recommend alternative in stock products.
We have every confidence in our products; however if you are in any way dissatisfied with your purchase you may return it to us within 7 days, in its original condition, for a full refund or replacement. In the event of goods arriving damaged or not as ordered, please inform us within 24 hours and we will be happy to replace them.
Our Payment Service Provider is Sage Pay (formerly Protx) – the largest independent payment service provider (PSP) in the UK and Ireland. Sage Pay provides a secure payment gateway (Level 1 PCI DSS), processing payments for thousands of online businesses, including ours. It is Sage Pay's utmost priority to ensure that transaction data is handled in a safe and secure way.
Sage Pay uses a range secure methods such as fraud screening, I.P address blocking and 3D secure. Once on the Sage Pay systems, all sensitive data is secured using the same internationally recognised 256-bit encryption standards.
Sage Pay is PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant to the highest level and maintains regular security audits. They are also regularly audited by the banks and banking authorities to ensure that their systems are impenetrable.
Sage Pay is an active member of the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) that defines card industry global regulation.
In addition, you know that your session is in a secure encrypted environment when you see https:// in the web address, and/or when you see the locked padlock symbol alongside the URL.
So when buying through our site, you can be sure that you are completely protected.
More information about shopping securely with Sage Pay can be found at www.sagepay.com/shoppers


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Estates IT® Ltd is a multi-award winning company that specialises in the Estate Agency & Lettings Agency sector. We offer Software, Websites, Hosting, Email, Portal uploads, IT Consultancy, Support and much more.
PCHomes is fully featured Sales, Lettings & Property Management Software. It is available in Desktop or Cloud configurations and you can use as much - or as little - as you wish e.g. Sales or Lettings with or without Management.
From Single Users to Multi-Branch International operations, there is a PCHomes solution available with no long-term tie-in or any capital cost.
We offer Website Design, SEO advice and can arrange Adwords Campaigns on your behalf.
If you are looking for a one-stop multi-award-winning solution for your business please just call 020 8859 1700 or visit our website and we will be only too pleased to help you.


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Printshop Union - The Greater Good
· Apx. 100€
· 71 x 51 cm
· 4 color screenprint on 300 g heavyweight paper
· Edition of 50
. Handprinted, signed and numbered by the artist
The Printshop Union is a Berlin based collaborative project founded in 2011 by the artist duo Monkey & Aargh.
Monkey has a background in graffiti and used to be a member of the legendary Berliner crew "CBS".
Aargh has played a variety of movie monsters. In an attempt to escape this cliché he worked several jobs, including as a zookeeper in the Berlin Zoo.
Their collaboration started by painting canvases together but over the years their field of work got wider and now includes objects, installations, performance and video art. Their works often relate to their roles in society, pop culture phenomena, and famous characters. They strongly believe in high quality handmade limited editions, produced in a fair and eco-friendly way.


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|Theatre of Death
|Tuesday, 09 October 2001
Back when he was making anywhere from two to five movies a year, Christopher Lee seemed to be everywhere; now that he's one of the continuing characters in "Lord of the Rings" and will appear in next year's "Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones," he seems to be everywhere again -- but in bigger, more lavish productions. However, of course, it's because he made so many movies (hardly all horror) back when that directors fondly remember him today, and cast him in these big movies.
His role in the interesting, if peculiar, "Theatre of Death" was a little unusual for Lee at this time, but it's not fair to the story to explain just how. He's quite good as Philippe Darvas, who has just taken over the Grand Guignol-like theatre founded by his late father. Darvas is imperious, dictatorial, pretentious and egotistical, bound to have his way at all times. Dani Gereaux (Lelia Goldoni) has been a headliner at the theater for some time, but he's beginning to brush her off, paying a great deal of attention to the green Nicole Chapel (Jenny Till), whom he occasionally hypnotizes to get a performance.
Dr. Charles Marquis (Julian Glover) is attracted to Dani and irritated with Darvas for his cruel treatment of her. Meanwhile, there's a killer at large; three women have already been murdered, but there was so little bood at the murder scenes that the press -- and others -- are already describing the killer as a vampire. We see a couple of these killings, learning graphically that the murderer is not confined to women.
Eventually, it seems as though there's a connection between the killer and the theatre, and Charles suspects Darvas of the crimes. But then Darvas vanishes, leaving behind a cloak smeared with blood, and Dani still in thrall to him.
Director Samuel Gallu, apparently an American had a short-lived career but did cowrite James Whitmore's one-man movie as President Truman, "Give 'Em Hell, Harry." His movies as a director are undistinguished, but there are enough good moments in "Theatre of Death" to suggest that he had some talent. For example, at a party, our interest is on the scene in the foreground, but we can hear and occasionally see Lee ranting and raving in the background. Late in the movie, he makes good use of sound; while Charles and Dani are in the living room of the vanished Darvas' house and Nicole plays a guitar, we see the killer creeping into the house and using its numerous secret passages. The scene is quite suspenseful; using just the guitar music was an excellent touch.
On the other hand, Gallu pointlessly uses hand-held cameras from time to time in a particularly confusing manner, especially irritating because otherwise Gil Taylor's wide-screen cinematography is elegant and stylish. Also, it really wasn't necessary for screenwriters Ellis Kadison and Roger Marshall to fill Darvas' house with those secret passages, even including the hackneyed device of a portrait with removable eyes, so Darvas can spy on his guests and workers.
Although the movie is set in Paris, it looks like not a frame of film was shot there, and everyone in the cast (except Dani) is a standard British type. There's one scene by the river (the Seine, I suppose) accompanied by accordion music, which I guess is supposed to establish the very Parisianness of it all.
The Anchor Bay DVD is scant on extras -- a trailer, some radio spots, poster and still gallery and a biography of Christopher Lee -- but this is a minor film from more than 30 years ago; justifying the cost of tracking down extras would have been very difficult. There is, however, an 11-minute interview with Christopher Lee; although he rarely refers to "Theatre of Death," he's well-informed and talkative. The print Anchor Bay used is excellent; the film actually looks better on video than it did in American theaters.
For those who like Christopher Lee, the disc is a must purchase; those interested in British mysteries might also like to pick it up.


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Is ME for you?
Do you love public libraries? The ME service allows you to borrow materials in person at any public library in Alberta using your local library card! Please note that electronic content is not available through the ME service due to licensing restrictions. No worries, we have lots of great electronic content in our eLibrary.
Eligibility requirements - your Parkland account must be:
- In good standing
- For a resident of a member municipality of Parkland Regional Library
- For an adult (minors cannot sign up online, but can visit any participating library to sign up in person, accompanied by a parent or guardian)
- An account containing a valid email address, a first and last name, a complete mailing address.
Does your library love extend to academic and government special libraries?
Request a TAL card at your home library to borrow materials in person from any library participating in the TAL card program. Note that certain special collections may not circulate through the ME or TAL services. Loan periods and overdue fines may vary by library. Ask at the library in question for more information. You can return borrowed materials to any participating library and it will be sent back to its home library at no charge.


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Datalogic Predicts Growth in Advanced Data Collection as Business Analytics Systems Drive Need for More Data and Innovation
Bologna (PRWEB) December 03, 2013
Datalogic, a global leader in Automatic Data Capture and Industrial Automation markets and producer of bar code readers, mobile computers, sensors, vision systems and laser marking systems, expects a surge in next generation advanced data collection devices, which will intelligently edit and communicate data and play a critical role in providing improved Business Analytics, termed 'Big Data'.
This vision for future market growth was delivered by Bill Parnell, President and CEO of Datalogic ADC, the division focused on the global Automatic Data Capture market. Speaking during the cornerstone CEO Vision session at ID WORLD Rio de Janeiro, the third Americas summit on traceability, mobility, and security held recently in Brazil, Bill Parnell presented his market insights.
"The objective in analyzing extremely large and diverse types of data is to uncover correlations and patterns, aiding fast decisions and improved business results. Business Analytics focuses on why events are happening, what will happen next, and how to optimize the enterprise's future actions," said Bill Parnell.
In the retail industry, for example, Bill Parnell sees the need for advanced data analytics being driven by a variety of applications which guide decision-making. Example applications include price and promotion optimization, store site selections using census data sets and satellite imagery, or in-store and on-line shopper behavior by tracking shopping patterns and purchases. If relationships between large and unrelated data sets are analyzed, new insights can be used to tune existing and future strategies to yield significant results improvement.
In terms of 'big data', the data volumes are huge. Wal-Mart is one example where data collected and used to drive business analytics exceeds 2.5 petabytes. The data contained in about 1 million customer transactions are being collected every hour. Mr. Parnell stressed the need for new data collection solutions to intelligently collect the large volume and variety of data in these complex transactional environments.
"Automatic Data Capture is no longer just scanning barcodes."
The future of automatic data collection is going far beyond simply scanning barcodes. For instance, advanced high performance imaging technology reads barcodes but also provides images that are the basis for item recognition systems using visual pattern recognition software. He also stated that benefits from business analytics are being seen in many other industries such as government, healthcare, and logistics while also serving as a catalyst to the development of more complex and higher performing data collection systems.
The end goal is to manage 'big data' for better business and improved customer satisfaction. Next generation advanced data collection devices, such as those from Datalogic, are crucial in providing the fuel for these analytical decision-support systems.
Datalogic ADC, the world leader in Automatic Data Capture, offers state of the art solutions with fixed position retail scanners, handheld scanners and mobile computers. Datalogic ADC's range includes in-counter and on-counter point of sale scanners, general purpose and ruggedized handheld scanners, rugged mobile computers, industrial PDAs and vehicle mount computers. Solutions for applications in several sectors include healthcare, hospitality/entertainment, manufacturing, retail, services and transportation & logistics.
Businesses in the retail sector can particularly benefit from Datalogic ADC's vision-based technology solutions, analytical tools, self-shopping solutions and consumer relationship technologies.
A division of the Datalogic Group, Datalogic ADC is headquartered in the US with a presence in over 120 countries.
For more news and information on Datalogic ADC, please visit http://www.datalogic.com[1].
Datalogic Group is a global leader in Automatic Data Capture and Industrial Automation markets. As a world-class producer of bar code readers, mobile computers, sensors, vision systems and laser marking systems, Datalogic offers innovative solutions for a full range of applications in the retail, transportation & logistics, manufacturing and healthcare industries. With products used in over a third of world's supermarkets and points of sale, airports, shipping and postal services, Datalogic is in a unique position to deliver solutions that can make life easier and more efficient for people. Datalogic S.p.A., listed on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001 as DAL.MI, is headquartered in Lippo di Calderara di Reno (Bologna). Datalogic Group as of today employs about 2,400 members of staff worldwide distributed in 30 countries. In 2012 Datalogic Group achieved revenues for 462,3 million Euro and invested over 32 million Euro in Research and Development with a portfolio of over 1,000 patents across the world. For more news and information on Datalogic, please visit http://www.datalogic.com[2].
Datalogic and the Datalogic logo are registered trademarks of Datalogic S.p.A. in many countries, including the U.S.A. and the E.U.
Pam McQueen
- ^http://www.datalogic.com (www.datalogic.com)
- ^http://www.datalogic.com (www.datalogic.com)
Source http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/12/prweb11388458.htm


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- Insurance Claim
- Amazing Daily Deals
- Certified by Recycling Association
- Professional and friendly staff
Awareness of the process
You have to be well informed regarding Home Care Assistances in Okaloosa County, FL. You shouldn't go into it without knowing it properly, and you want to learn what to prepare for. That's the reason we try to make every effort to be sure that you understand the strategy and aren't faced with any sort of unexpected surprises. Start off by calling 888-304-2244 to discuss your venture. Within this phone call, you get all your questions resolved, and we're going to schedule a time to start services. Our team is going to show up at the appointed time with the appropriate equipment, and will work together with you during the entire project.
Home Care Assistance Guys will be there for all of your needs involving Home Care Assistances in Okaloosa County, Florida
You have plenty of good reasons to consider Home Care Assistance Guys to meet your needs involving Home Care Assistances in Okaloosa County, FL. We've got the highest customer service scores, the best products, and the most effective and successful cash saving techniques. We have the expertise that you need to meet all of your goals and objectives. Call 888-304-2244 when you need Home Care Assistances in Okaloosa County, and we'll work closely with you to systematically carry out your project.


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We are adding new items to the store every day. Visit us often for updates!
Founded in 1944 by Joseph Allen Murphey, Jr., Hoffman's Patterns of the Past is located in Princeton, Illinois on historic Main Street.
Each month, our customers replace broken or missing pieces, or add to their collection.
Please call us with any questions regarding your fine china, flatware and collectibles.
Our Showroom is open from Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm. (CST). We have special Sunday Hours in November and December.
Hoffmans Patterns of the Past (located in historic Princeton, Illinois) is home to the Sea of China. 1944 was the year the J. A. Murphey family bought the business that had existed since the mid 1800s. After World War II, Allen Murphey realized tabletop was changing and started offering the service of finding replacement pieces for the discontinued patterns.
Buying straight from the manufacturer, Patterns of the Past has the largest selection of new store stock patterns. Allen, with his wife Winnie and daughter Jyl, plus staff, help thousands of customers each month replace their broken or missing pieces of china.
Via phone calls, e-mails or customers visiting our 8,000 square foot store, we offer a virtual tour of the past. Open Monday through Saturday, with special holiday hours, Hoffmans Patterns of the Past, is a must see experience. Located southwest of Chicago on Interstate 80 at Exit 56, we welcome groups large or small. Call if you have questions or need information about any of our products.
Patterns of the Past also offers appraisals and has one of the largest gift shops in central Illinois, stocking over 75 of the major collectibles.
Patterns of the Past staff invite you to come visit.


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At grisly DWI death scene, driver tried to blame ex
Moments after drunken wrong-way driver Robert Samuel Stinziano sliced motorist Karla Merrie Viesca's Honda Civic in half, leaving her dead in the middle of Blanco Road, witnesses rushed to his sedan to find him passed out over the steering wheel.
"I'm not driving. I'm not driving. Who put me in this seat?" he repeatedly said after regaining consciousness, multiple witnesses told a jury Tuesday as Stinziano's punishment-only intoxication manslaughter trial began.
Moments later, the same witnesses noticed that Stinziano had moved to his passenger seat. Gurgling noises could be heard underneath him.
"Sir, is somebody in the car with you?" medical assistant Andrea Kaltenbach recalled asking him as she realized passenger Kaylie McCaskill was stuffed under the dashboard, nearly out of sight.
"That's when he tried to scoop her up and put her in the driver's seat," Kaltenbach testified. "She was face-down in the seat of the car and he was sitting on her head."
Stinziano, 25, could face up to 20 years in prison for the intoxication manslaughter of Viesca, 24, and an additional 10 years for the intoxication assault of McCaskill, who was his on-again, off-again girlfriend.
He began the day by standing next to attorneys in 290th state District Court and twice saying, "I plead guilty." He intends to ask the jury for probation.
Stinziano was more than twice the legal limit for intoxication the morning of Oct. 17, 2010, as he T-boned Viesca's car at Blanco and the Loop 1604 access road, prosecutor David Henderson said in an opening statement, ripping a large piece of paper to demonstrate how Viesca's car split in two.
"Her skull was fractured in so many places her bones cut into her brain and killed her instantly," Henderson said of the Eagle Pass resident.
The prosecution's account of that morning is "painfully true," defense attorney Patrick Hancock later conceded as he begged jurors to keep an open mind about the punishment range.
"You're going to hear from (Stinziano) about shameful, shameful, drunken, panicked decisions," he said. "You're going to see exactly what alcohol can do to somebody who's otherwise a very docile person."
Among the bad decisions that night was Stinziano's refusal to identify McCaskill to bystanders or authorities, even as they feared she was going to die and wanted to contact her parents, prosecutors said.
Twitter: @HearsaySA


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Emily Badger
Emily Badger is a former staff writer at CityLab. Her work has previously appeared in Pacific Standard, GOOD, The Christian Science Monitor, and The New York Times. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area.
In a city that's spent years successfully branding itself as the place where people go to keep secrets, Candy Chang's proposal was totally novel. She wanted instead to ask everyone in Vegas – or at least in the Cosmopolitan Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip – what they had to confess.
Chang has made a name for herself as an artist by inviting communities to voice their hopes and ideas (and monthly rent payments) on shared public canvasses. You may know her work from the Post-it-sized "I wish this was…" campaign in New Orleans, or from this massive community blackboard enticing passersby to chalk in the blank "Before I die I want to ______." Her projects, Chang says, are like "self-help in public space."
The Cosmopolitan (its current marketing campaign: "Just the right amount of wrong") happens to have a gallery space and an artist's residency program, run with the help of the Art Production Fund. When Chang was invited to stake out the space there for a month this summer, while living in the hotel, she turned her trademark interactive art toward the famed winking permissiveness of this city.
"When you think about Vegas, you think about 'What happens here, stays here,'" she says. "It made me wonder, what would I want to know from all the people around me in Vegas? Was there a way we could actually share our confessions in a safe way in public space together?"
The resulting live exhibit, which runs through Aug. 12., is frank and cheeky and sincere at the same time. As it turns out, for all our private fears, a lot of us have confessions to make about pretty similar transgressions. More than half of them, Chang says, have so far been about sex, unrequited love, heartbreak, longing, and fears of dying alone.
The plaques are all anonymous. Unsuspecting gamblers and hotel guests who wander into the gallery can peer through the admissions of other strangers. And then they have the chance to duck into voting-booth style confessionals where they can scribble down their own disclosures for Chang to later collect and hang on the wall. It must say something about our default expectations in such public places that Chang is most commonly asked these two questions: It's anonymous, right? And free?
The whole idea was partly inspired by Japanese Shinto shrine walls, where visitors may write prayers and read those of the faithful before them, although Chang has tweaked the concept by highlighting some of the most heartbreaking and humorous sentiments on larger-than-life canvasses.
"Part of it is catharsis, part of it is voyeuristic," Chang says. "But the part I'm particularly interested in is just seeing that we're not alone. We're not alone in the things that we struggle with in our lives."
The experience of being surrounded by so many people, she says, is one of the greatest resources of cities and the public spaces in them. Chang herself penned one of the confessions (hers is anonymous, too). After we spoke, she emailed us this follow-up note, which reads a bit like a confession on her part, too:
I've been circling around a lot of questions about life and death and personal well-being, and I've been yearning for more time to pause and reflect. And then this opportunity came up and I thought well, can you have a Walden Pond experience in Las Vegas? I'm living here for a month, in a room on the 57th floor with a balcony where you can see the entire city of Las Vegas and the desert and mountains beyond. It's both grand and melancholy. This physical perspective has really helped me maintain mental perspective. And then I'm working in this gallery every day, surrounded by some of our most private thoughts and experiences. So much longing and regret and fear and wonder.
If you're not going to be in Vegas yourself at some point in the next week committing sins or confessing them, you can enjoy these images of what people there are privately thinking:
All images courtesy of Candy Chang.
An Apartment List report reveals the cities apartment-hunters are targeting for their next move—and shows that tales of a California exodus may be overstated.
As the city's real estate market heats up, neighborhood groups say that cash investors use building code violations to encourage homeowners to sell.
Livability indexes can obscure the experiences of non-white people. CityLab analyzed the outcomes just for black women, for a different kind of ranking.
The automaker-turned-mobility-company announced last week it wants to build a living, breathing urban laboratory from the ground up in Japan.
The practice of redlining in the 1930s helps explain why poorer U.S. neighborhoods experience more extreme heat.


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9/18/2007 8:03am, #1
Southend-on-Sea, England: Kung Fu master Tony Anthony and Avanti Ministries
Posted this at shoalinwolf but you guys might be able to help me, I smell some proper BS here.
I work at a youth centre in guildford,surrey,england. And a while ago we had a guest speaker called Tony Anthony, who claims to be 3 times world kung fu champion. He has a book as well called the taming of the tiger (kid version = the cry of the tiger). I was wondering if you guys knew anything abit more about him. Basically he was convincing kids to become christian through his story how he got converted at prison.
But when I approached him asking a general question of the type of competitions he was competing in he answered with contempt, wasnt rude just very short. I felt he really disliked anything to do with kung fu now, even though it was his main "hook". He claims his grandfather is Cheung Ling Soo, a direct descendent of the venerable 5. He was taught because he was the only boy in his family (32 girl cousins!). But as he now seems to see it with such contempt I very much doubt his taught his children and probaly ended a 500 year family tradition it seems.
Ive been around some world champions before and felt reasonably comfortable, but just being near this guy really put me at unease. Very nice guy but I felt something was off. He genuinly seemed to believe kung fu can take people away from god (even though he admits the horrible things he did were against his teachings). He saw Buddhism as being very opposed to christianity as well. Claiming the phrase "there is no god but the one within". Can anyone explain that more clearly?
Anyone got any extra info on this guy to validate or expose or even expand his story other than what he wants people to know in his book?
I gave his book a read but had to stop after he "tiger punched" his way through 5 armed men.
9/18/2007 12:38pm, #2
Originally Posted by Jadonblade
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Having done a quick google I think this guy is a complete nut:
Sent to train Kung Fu at the age of 4 with his grandfather, 3 time world champion, competed in lots of secret asian illegal competetions where people got killed.. until he got bored of it.
9/18/2007 2:14pm, #3
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Puahahha.... he doesnt look chinese at all.
If his grandfather was anything traditional
he'd be a bit xenophobic.
They wouldn't teach a "gwai lo" or a "hapa" as an heir to the system.
Just analyzing his speech off the bat, it feels like he's a typical pathological liar.
It's the only way someone could maintain sanity / feel well within themself
to make up such an elaborate lie and have the gall to use that in "evanglism"
and condemnation of another religion.
Seems like a "Born Again" version of Frank Dux with a British Accent.
Are there any comprehensive(relatively) genealogical databases of asian heritage?
I think one of the churches (LDS Church?) has a pretty thorough database but dont know if it covers minorities very well.
Last edited by variance; 9/18/2007 2:23pm at .
9/18/2007 2:46pm, #4
In the book he says he suffered alot of abuse by being a "round eye". Another odd claim was that after winning these comps he was trained as a bodyguard by IKFF (international kung fu federation - or something similar). Where he went on to work for some very rich people. Then he killed some people, went to jail in cyprus. And went all holy.
9/18/2007 2:52pm, #5
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I don't think they train bodyguards, it is just another club membership organisation, they do organise their own competitions, but 'world champion' is such a loose phrase.. email them if you want to about this man:
9/18/2007 5:02pm, #6
It's a bit odd that his grandfather shares his name (with a slight spelling difference) with a US stage magician who spent his professional life impersonating a Chinese and is most famous for dying when a bullet catch went wrong.
Still Cheung (or Chung) Ling Soo might be a common Chinese name...Failing to become awesome since 1976
9/18/2007 11:42pm, #7
Originally Posted by Yamabushi
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I don't know about chinese names.. I know there are common nicknames though
Cheung is fairly common as a surname
I wonder if they are common like vietnamese names..
I know so many vietnamese with the surname of Nguyen, Tran, Phan, Ngo, Le
9/21/2007 8:55pm, #8
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The guy said that he had a chinese mother and a Italian father. So its possible that he might of learned kung fu from his maternal grandfather. I don't know if he was a bodyguard or that if he went to prison.
The reason is he doesn't like to talk about kung fu is that it brought some bad memories and that martial arts doesn't really help with God. AT least that is what I read.
I might go find this book and check it out. I'll do some more digging and Ill post what I find.
9/25/2007 9:56am, #9
Excellent, as kung fu is the only reason he gets any sort of attention for his talks I would of thought he would acknowledge that factor abit more. He even says he went completely against the principles he was taught.
9/25/2007 1:21pm, #10
Jadonblade, next time you post about this kind of situation,ad some links and sources with it.
Buddhism doesnt oppose christianity at all.
Some hardcore christians would say you must accept Jesus in order to be saved, but it's a way of interpreting things.
Jesus said/explained to people: I am the light, the way to the kingdom of the father etc.
Instead of thinking about what is being said people chant: HE is the light, the way to the kngdom of the father etc. instead of realising it could be them aswell...
Jesus hinted on several occasions you can see the father/god/heaven/nirwana/the devine through introspective behaviour, its just misunderstood by a lot of people.
In short: buddhism says the God is within, but so does Jesus.
As far as the kungfu worldchampion things go, ask him next time in what federation, if he's defensive ask him why or if as a christian he's hiding things,or why it would be a problem for him to mention these things.
He shares that he's killed people,but can't tell you what competitions he won?


text: A traveler walks by a Delta Airlines skycap kiosk at San Francisco International Airport. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Justin Sullivan/Getty Images The Two-Way Delta CEO Pushes For National Airline Policy That Lets 'Free Market Work' June 6, 2012 That's not to say airlines want more regulation, CEO Richard Anderson said. But they do want a policy that does such things as improve and modernize the air traffic control system. Delta CEO Pushes For National Airline Policy That Lets 'Free Market Work' Listen · 6:21 6:21 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154435639/154456793" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript


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Tamworth (England)
Tamworth is a large town in Staffordshire, England.
Get in[edit]
From Birmingham, head north bound on the M42, leave at J10 and take the A5 into town
Get around[edit]
Tamworth's town centre isn't very widespread, so you can easily get around by foot. Heading outside of the town centre, there are regular buses that go out across the area.
See[edit][add listing]
Tamworth castle is within walking distance of the town centre and is well worth a visit.
Do[edit][add listing]
The world famous golf course The Belfry is also located nearby follow signs for Fazeley and Drayton Manor Park and then The Belfry.
Buy[edit][add listing]
The best place in Tamworth for a bit of shopping is Ventura Retail Park not far from the town center. It has a range of good retail outlets such as Woolworths, M&S, WHSmith, Matalan, Toys R Us, Comet, Currys, Focus, Halfords, Hobbycraft, Blacks, Boots, JJB Sports, Boots, Asda Wal Mart.
Eat[edit][add listing]
Tamworth has a few good restaurants in the town center.
Drink[edit][add listing]
Tamworth has many pubs in and around the town center.
Sleep[edit][add listing]
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by Brian DeCandia, sports information graduate assistant
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College softball squad (20-18, 7-7 PBC) fell to the USC Aiken Pacers (17-9, 6-4 PBC) in a doubleheader sweep Sunday afternoon at the Peeler Complex, 3-2 and 5-1.
In game one, the Bobcats trailed early on a throwing error that plated two Pacer runs. The Bobcats would grab one in the fourth to cut the deficit in half and wouldn't answer again until the seventh. After a Shahlisa Shirley (Winter Garden, Fla.) single, sophomore Alex Duvall (Douglasville, Ga.) pinch ran and swiped second base.
Sparks doubled to center to put runners at second and third with only one away, when Caitlin Duvall (Douglasville, Ga.) singled to right field to tie the game at two apiece. The 'Cats wouldn't be able to add any more runs and Aiken scored on an error in the 10th to steal game one.
Sabrina Chandler (Covington, Ga.) pitched another phenomenal game, throwing all 10 innings, surrendering no earned runs and scattering five hits. Shirley had the only multi-hit performance of game one finishing 2-for-5.
In game two, the Bobcats found themselves tied at one after five, aided by a Whitney Okvist (Kennesaw, Ga.) single into centerfield plating one Bobcat. GC would not be able to muster any offense as the Pacers added one in the sixth and three more in the seventh.
Haley Burnett (Columbus, Ga.) pitched five innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits. Okvist finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
Okvist stole two bases on the day, increasing her season total to 43, and her career number at 67. After today's action, she now stands just three stolen bases behind Leigh Jacobs (1995-98) for first place on the all-time steals list at GC.
The Bobcats travel to Young Harris College for a non-conference doubleheader against the Mountain Lions Tuesday, March 27 at 2 p.m.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.