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Investors are increasingly anxious to see if exploration in subsea geographies known as pre-salt can translate into more big oil discoveries that would make the cost-intensive terrain worth the effort.
Houston-based firms Marathon Oil and Cobalt International Energy announced a deep-water natural gas find Monday in a pre-salt play off the coast of West Africa.
But shares of both companies fell on the news, as investors were hoping for black gold, in big numbers, because of the premium oil brings.
"Instead, they got gas, and not so much of it either," said Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Fadel Gheit.
Sell-off: Marathon Oil sells offshore Angola stake for $1.5 billion
Cobalt also failed to hit pay dirt in a deep-water field in the Gulf of Mexico.
The well operator for the West Africa discovery, French oil and gas firm Total, doesn't break down the amount it has spent on this specific operation off the coast of Gabon, but last year its capital expenses for all of its Gabon operations was $922 million, 22 percent more than a year earlier, while crude oil production from fields operated by Total's Gabon operations fell 2 percent year-over-year.
Marathon holds a 21.25 percent stake in the license associated with the Gabon well, known as Diaman-1B, where the new natural gas discovery was made. Total is the operator and has a 42.5 percent stake. Cobalt International Energy has a 21.25 percent stake and the Gabonese Republic has a 15 percent stake.
The well hit 160-180 net feet of pay, which refers to the vertical thickness of rock that is estimated to contain hydrocarbons, and be capable of contributing to production. The well, in 5,673 feet of water, was drilled to a total depth of 18,323 feet.
South Texas: Marathon Oil pumping 80,000 Eagle Ford barrels per day
The well will be temporarily abandoned pending further analysis of the well data, Marathon said.
Diaman-1B is more than 60 miles from any other commercial pre-salt discovery, the companies said.
Pre-salt refers to oil- or gas-bearing rock that has a salt composition and is located beneath another layer of salt that is often thick.
Pre-salt fields are common off the coasts of Africa and Brazil. The fields can be expensive places to explore and produce oil and gas, but they can also hold a lot of potential for firms to expand their reserves. Advanced seismic imaging and other technology is used to locate and extract the resources.
The potential has led to a number of megaprojects. Among the biggest ones are in Brazil, where state-controlled oil company Petrobras is a major player in the pre-salt space.
Brazilian energy officials visited Houston recently to talk up an upcoming auction of offshore oil leases, hoping to attract foreign investment for a new field estimated to hold as much as 12 billion barrels of hydrocarbons. At the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston in May, Petrobras officials said the company has used horizontal drilling and other techniques to predict success more reliably and increase productivity from pre-salt formations.
Petrobras expects to grow pre-salt production to more than 2 million barrels per day by 2020.
The deep waters off Africa also have opened the doors to pre-salt plays for exploration firms in recent years.
In a statement, Cobalt said the well results are "an excellent start to the exploration of the emerging pre-salt basin in deep-water Gabon."
Takeover target: Cobalt's oil finds could lure oil majors
But investors weren't impressed, and they were especially hard on Cobalt, which had two bits of not-so-good news.
In addition to the news out of West Africa, Cobalt said that its Ardennes #1 exploratory well in the Gulf of Mexico reached a total depth of 36,552 feet, but it was unable to find oil or gas that was commercially viable. Cobalt, as operator, owns a 42 percent stake in Ardennes.
Cobalt said that following operations on the Ardennes #1 well, an Ensco rig will move to drill the Aegean #1 exploratory well in another offshore block. Cobalt, as operator, owns a 60 percent stake in Aegean.
In Monday trading in New York, Marathon shares fell 4.3 percent to $32.61, while Cobalt shares fell 15.2 percent to $24.90.
Also on FuelFix:
Rigs-to-Reefs program making a splash in Texas


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Denver Food Matters: Produce for Pantries gardeners share harvest for hunger relief
For community and backyard gardeners across Denver, it's harvest season, and the pounds of produce are accumulating fast. And increasingly, thanks to a young-but-growing initiative called Produce for Pantries, the vegetable bounty isn't limited to the kitchens of those who do the gardening.
About 40 gardeners in and around the city have registered with Produce for Pantries, which has about 15 official partner organizations, to donate part of their harvest to area food pantries and hunger relief organizations.
Metro CareRing, one of the organizations receiving donated produce, is dedicated to offering a week's worth of food for individuals and families, but perhaps more importantly, to ensuring that a lot of it is fresh produce — fruits and vegetables, which are often more expensive and harder to find in neighborhoods lacking large grocery stores.
Lynne Butler, Metro CareRing's executive director, said that 62 percent of the food they provide is fresh. And people who "shop" here (the food is provided free of charge) notice the abundance of fruits and vegetables.
"I have pictures of kids — you would think it's Christmas," said Butler. "Kids get excited about strawberries — or at the idea that they're going to have a salad. Fresh food is so expensive."
She recalled another client, a senior citizen on fixed income who had to stop buying oranges because prices jumped this season. "He comes to Metro CareRing and he's so excited about the fact that he can get fresh produce here," she said. "He wouldn't otherwise be able to have these items because his income is so limited."
Metro CareRing has reliable sources of produce outside of Produce for Pantries — they get regular donations from supermarkets (of produce that may be too ripe to sell, for example) — but for Metro and other food pantries around Denver and increasingly around the state, Produce for Pantries is proving to be a boon to their ability to supply fresh produce.
"We're relying tremendously on Produce for Pantries and many other famers, local gardeners, and people who understand the importance of fruits and vegetables," said Butler.
According to Dana Miller, co-founder of Produce for Pantries, partnering gardeners have so far reported (reporting is voluntary) donations of about 8,000 pounds of produce this year — a number that's expected to spike before the end of the season, as the harvest is just now starting to peak.
Donna Baker-Breningstall, a gardener in Denver, said she has 18 vegetable beds at her log cabin home, along with a small orchard, perennial beds and berry patches. "Most of the food we grow goes to our local food pantry every Friday morning," she said.
Miller doesn't have any data to illustrate where the bulk of donations are coming from or where they are going — data collection is something they're first working on this year — but it's clear that the collaboration is strong. Community gardens in the Denver Urban Gardens network are participating, as are individual gardeners like Baker-Breningstall.
Miller said, "In the future, we hope that there will be hundreds and hundreds of gardeners from all over the state that sign up to be Produce for Pantries gardeners."


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I called Pat Bader early in the day and arranged to pick him up at four-thirty, in Kent which was, more or less, on my way to the Reunion at the Chateau Saint Michelle Winery in Woodinville. I hadn't been in the valley since college, and nothing looked familiar. I was detoured, and lost three times before I found his home. Pat's wife, Dee, whom I met in Midland Michigan in about 1968, hugged me and we visited for a few minutes before heading out. She warned us, "They are expecting lots of detours and a massive backup starting tonight around Kent, because of highway construction You guys need to be prepared for some major delays."
As we drove down the hill, I told Pat, "You are my navigator. Your number one job is to get us to the Reunion, back to your house and then plot a course on my iPhone that will skirt the Kent detours and heavy traffic on my journey back to Burien.
I had my doubts regarding the wisdom of that assignment after we missed the Woodinville turnoff, then missed the entrance to the winery and circled around several residential neighborhoods before landing in the winery parking lot.
Jerry Dinndorf, the guy who tirelessly put this thing together, greeted us when we entered the cavernous wine tasting room, nearly an hour late. I scanned the room looking for a familiar face or two without finding one. There were nearly one-hundred guests there, mostly gathered in groups of three or four, sipping wine and chatting.
As Jerry nudged us over to the signup table, we spoke briefly about the construction business in the Northwest and how Roche Harbor was a lot nicer back in the day when it wasn't so popular. Jerry's wife and another pleasant lady, neither of whom I remembered, said hello, then happily registered and name tagged us.
Pat, Mr. Social Butterfly, pasted his name tag to his shirt and disappeared into the crowd. I wasn't expecting that. I guess I unconsciously expected him to point out and identify these characters surrounding me whom I had little recollection of. As I backed away from the signup table, I suddenly felt totally out-of-place among this noisy crowd of silver-haired Prepsters. I knew they were my high school classmates, but I suspected they weren't sure who I was, or why I was there. I felt like an interloper at a stranger's wake.
My survival instincts kicked in, and my eyes darted around the room until I found a safe haven. I quickly made my way over to a quiet corner and sat down with my back to the room. I'm a pretty tough old bird, a hard-nosed industrial contractor, and an Alaska commercial fisherman when time allows. So, I didn't understand my girly, sophomoric reaction to the threat of possibly being rejected by those from my past, whom I respected.
I suspected my fear of being rebuffed flowed from my becoming an author late in life. I, like most authors, are paranoid about being rejected by our readers. It comes with the job.
I took a couple of deep breaths and allowed my Seattle Prep philosophy training to rise to the challenge. I recalled my Jesuit mentors drilling into us: Never give up the pursuit of a worthwhile goal. Question what you see and hear, determine for yourself what's real and what's not. Get into your adversary's head, discover what he's thinking and why; then act upon that knowledge.
I realized that my brothers here, had spent four years at prep, and had been hanging out off and on for the last sixty years. They were just continuing their comfortable, long term friendships. I, on the other hand, spent less than a year at Prep, and then disappeared from their lives. Now, sixty years later, I want to be a part of their inner circles? I thought, What's the matter with me? Get over it, I haven't earned my stripes. They're not ignoring me, they just have no idea of who I am. If I want to make the evening a success, I need to take the lead, and re-introduce myself to my classmates, start a few conversations, and have some fun.
As I got up to join the party, a big guy approached me saying, "Hey Joe, it's me, Charlie Ralls. I loved your book, JAKE THE PRODIGAL SON. Your story grabbed me, and I couldn't put it down. The book paralleled my life in so many ways, I had to read it twice, and I'm about to read it for the third time. Good job, Man."
Boy, was I glad to see him. I was completely taken back and didn't know what to say. We were in a couple of classes together at Prep. We weren't close, but I admired his prowess as a Prep Panther football star. I couldn't believe he remembered and approached me. I wondered, How in the blazes did he find out about my book and what motivated him to buy it?
He asked me lots of questions about my life and we talked about his challenges growing up. We discussed the book for about twenty minutes. Charlies loved the opening sea story, my seminary antics, the chapters dealing with Seattle Prep, and the drama between my father and I over the years. He said, "I had no idea you were such a scoundrel when you were in the seminary."
We laughed, and the conversation turned to some funny antics we both got into trouble for, back at Prep. He reminded me that I had saved his butt more than once in Latin class by slipping him some crib notes minutes before Mr. Brandt, the Jesuit Latin teacher, asked him to recite a passage from Caesar's speech at the Forum. My unexpected encounter with Charlie Ralls, who we just called, "Ralls", broke the ice. We often addressed each other by our last names.
As we headed towards the bar together, my old buddy, Mike Fischer, appeared out of nowhere with a shit-eating grin upon his face and slapped me on the back. We joked for a few minutes until his girlfriend, Linda Lowe, distracted him. He moved on saying, "Let's talk when things settle down."
That did it. Jake Winston was back and ready to live large tonight.
This reunion dinner was more than a social event to me. It was a lot more. It was a celebration of the accomplishments of an extraordinary group of Prepsters who had used their God-given talents to make a difference in the world. The class of '58 delivered to the world: Judges, lawyers, doctors, engineers, filmmakers, authors, teachers, merchants, law enforcement and fire department leaders, financial gurus, Mafia Dons, military leaders, missionaries, builders, and even a high-level IRS auditor. We had traveled the world, sailed our yachts, fished the seven seas, climbed mountains and tended to the ill and homeless. Tonight, was a time for celebrating, laughing, hoisting our glasses and maybe even shedding a private tear for our brothers who were no longer with us.
As Ralls and I entered the dining room and found our separate pre-assigned tables, he poked me, "Let's continue our conversation after dinner". I agreed, and when I spotted Pat Bader three tables away, I grinned and gave him thumbs up. The happy-go-lucky Joe Douglas, AKA Jake Winston, was back.
I took my place at table #2, an embarrassing, eight-top table with only two couples and myself in attendance. The rest of the places were for no-shows, I guessed. Dave McCauley, Joe James, and their wives joined me there. These two guys, along with Pickering, Ralls, and Riggs, were the Prep Panther football heroes. Joe James remembered me, and said, "We had a hell of a good time together at Prep together, I'm glad I met you."
I asked him, "What did you do for a living, and what do you do for kicks, Joe James?"
"I taught high school English for nearly fifty years. We've had a vacation place up in Kingston where we go out in the boat, fish, and go crabbing. We have even been to Barkley Sound a time or two. What have you been up to all these years?'
I replied, "We had a place on Eagle Harbor which we sold when we moved to Hawaii nineteen years ago. I miss the Northwest, and Barkley Sound, but I continue to fish and crab in Hawaii. We have a large species of crab know as Samoan crab or mud crab. It's may be even better eating than Dungeness.
I don't think Dave McCauley remembered me, but the five of us chatted amicably before dinner and listened attentively to the master of ceremonies, Steve Windell.
Just before dinner, Jim Bradley approached the Diaz and solemnly acknowledged those Prepsters, who had left this world since the last reunion five years ago. I said a prayer for Tom Coughlin, my good friend from St. Margaret's grade school and Prep.
We were now down to fifty-some alive and kicking classmates. I hadn't seen Jim since college, and I wouldn't have recognized him if he hadn't been on the program. Like many of us, he was heavier and having a little trouble getting around.
Kelly Pickering took the podium and gave the dinner blessing. He was a tough S.O.B in high school, and the last guy I would expect to be giving the invocation. However, he did a great job and made the point that we were spiritual beings on a human experience, not the other way around. I thought, Good job Kelly.
We marched off to load up our plates at the thirty-foot long buffet table. I cruised the table to see what my choices were, circled back, and selected a Filet Minion, sautéed asparagus and a green salad. I was more than a little disappointed for paying seventy-five bucks for a serve-yourself, limited-selection buffet. I guess I have been spoiled by the many Hawaiian luaus, pig roasts and first birthday parties I have attended. However, it did include complimentary wine.
After dinner, I scooted over to Jim Bradley's table and pulled up a chair. He seemed happy that I had made the trip. He introduced me to Larry and Bobbie McHugh, and the four of us had fun exchanging Prep experiences. Bradley told me, "I retired, after a long career of running my business, Saxton Bradley. Marian and I recently sold our Magnolia home on 42nd street, which was down the street from your brother, Father Gordie's house, and moved to Bellingham. I'm going to miss running into Father Gordie. He was someone special, nothing like his big brother.
Larry was a financial guy, and Jim pointed out he was also an accomplished piano player. When there was a lull in the conversation, Larry said, "I'm reading your book, Jake The Prodigal Son. I'm half-way through it. and enjoying it. I love the photographs. That's as far as I got. Is your pal in the book, called Parker, actually Pat Bader?"
"I thought so,"
Larry played for us as the event came to a close. "He's good, darn good."
I asked Bradley, "What became of my buddy, Jerry Firnstahl? I've been trying to track him down."
"I heard Firnstahl was in a Jesuit seminary for a year or two sometime after prep. He dropped out of sight for years, re-appeared, and bought a farm somewhere around Arlington. I heard that Jerry died in a horrible farm accident a couple of years ago."
I responded, "Holy crap. Firnstahl, Brian Egan and I were best friends back in the Prep and SU days."
"I didn't know that you knew Brian, but I grew up with Firnstahl, Egan and his weird older brother, Ray. We hung out all through grade school and high school."
"What are Brian and Ray up to these days?"
"Brian is living in Eastern Washington. He was a teacher, like his Mom, and Ray died young."
"I always thought Ray was a little odd, but when he traded in his cherry '56 Chevy, Belair for a piece of crap, French Renault. I realized there was something seriously wrong with the guy. How did he die?"
"A serious case of orneriness."
"Do you remember Firnstahl's '39 Plymouth coupe?"
"Of course, it was a baby blue hot rod and a chick magnet."
"I wanted a car like that so bad, and I did find another '39 Plymouth coupe. It was a junkyard beater with a blown engine. I bought it for twenty-five dollars, rebuilt it with a Dodge truck engine, and equipped it with moon hubcaps, a pair of glass packs, a set of snap-on white walls, and a thirty-nine dollar, 'Earl Scheib' paint job."
Jim asked, "Is that the one you sold to Paul Maffeo?"
"Yes it was."
"Wait a minute, Jake. I remember your daddy gave you a brand-new '58 Ford when you were at Prep. What happened to that?"
I blew the automatic transmission drag racing on Magnolia Boulevard one night, and Daddy took the Fairlane away."
We all laughed, I got up and announced I was going to mingle with my Prep brothers.
The first table I hit had eight folks enjoying desert and coffee. I recognized Jerry Riggs sitting next to his wife Maureen, and introduced myself. He seemed to recognize my name, and then he grinned and said, "Joe, long time, no see. You live in Hawaii, right? You lucky dog. My sales territory years ago was the West Coast and Hawaii. I sold fasteners and other construction products over there out of my store in Mapunapuna." Later that evening, I believe Jerry Dinndorf awarded Maureen a bottle of wine for something.
I introduced myself to Sean Malone, Bill Evans and their wives. We had a strange conversation about our hot rods back in the day. I think he said he had something to do with either Firnstahl's '39 coup or Maffeo's hot rod.
He asked, "Do you remembered selling your '50 Ford convertible, stick shift to our Seattle U classmate, Allen, who lost his right hand in an accident as a kid?"
"I do, but I felt bad about it. I tried to talk him out of it, but he just kept after me until I relented and sold it to him.
I tapped Kelly Pickering on his shoulder. When he turned around, I told him who I was and complimented him on saying grace before dinner, "I was impressed by your spiritual side. I just always thought of you as a tough football player." He told me that grew up in a religious family and he had recently attended a three day 'Spanish inspired retreat,' and it changed his life. The wives around the table seemed to be delighted that I, and a few others, were making the effort to circulate and share a few words with the tables. They mostly wanted to know who I was, and where did I live.
A classmate at one of the tables, I'm not sure who, asked, "Were you with Pat Bader at St. Edward Seminary before you transferred into Prep?"
"Yes, that would be me."
Did you know David Doyle? He was a good friend who left St. Martin's Academy and entered the seminary about the same time you and Pat were there?"
"I didn't know David when we were at the seminary. However, three years ago he contacted me though an internet site called "Classmates". He was living on the Big Island and working at the Volcano National Park as a photographer. Elizabeth and I were living on Oahu.
He confided in me that he had been a heavy smoker, and developed a series of serious cancers, one of which was about to take him out. David wanted to spend some time with me, a fellow seminarian, before he left this world. We were both looking forward to getting together, but he passed away before we had a chance to do that."
. .
I felt a sense of brotherhood among those of us there. I realized that the bond we shared was indeed something extraordinary. For some of us, our minds and bodies were fading, but we were still Prepsters, and damn proud of it.
I returned to Bradley's table when I saw the wait staff serving dessert and coffee. For seventy-six dollars, I was damn sure I wasn't going to miss out on the desert and coffee. Wait, there was coffee, but no decadent chocolate cake at my place. I looked around the room for a caring waiter to correct this unforgivable blunder, but they had all disappeared into that place where waiters go to avoid the beckoning of their charges. I guess it is a power thing. I sipped my coffee and glanced jealously at my table mates, who were enjoying their deserts and smiling about something I wasn't privy to.
Bradley couldn't stand it any longer. He grinned a conspiratorial grin to Larry and Bobbie, reached under the table and presented me with my dessert. We all got a laugh at that.
Before I could dig in, Sid Flor, whom I believe was there with Caryl, stopped by our table to catch up on our news, and talk about his recent trip to Northern Italy. We had all been there at one time or another, and shared notes about our take on the best restaurants and places to stay. We often joked about Sid being the Godfather, but I was never sure if it was a joke or not. His mustache, frequent trips to the old country, his references to his suspicious friend Guido, caused, me to wonder about who he really was.
A few minutes later, Dan Regis, who was there with his wife, pulled up a chair. He regaled the table with a tale about Pat Bader, myself and him being shipwrecked in the San Juan Islands the summer of our freshman year at Seattle U.
Sid asked, "Do you remembered Jake's houseboat party, the night of 1962 Columbus day storm? The wind tore the houseboat loose from its flimsy moorage. Only a few of the guests managed to escape, before the wind blew the houseboat with the rest of us aboard, out into Lake Union. Thank God the Harbor Patrol rescued us and towed us back to shore before we capsized."
I spoke briefly to Mick Flynn and Joni. Mick said, "We will be on Oahu in January for a golf outing. Could we get together for lunch or dinner?"
"Of course, that would be fun. You have my number, call me."
I hadn't seen Mick since our Freshman year at Seattle U. I remember one afternoon when I was over at his parent's house with Bradley, John Howell, his brother Jerry, and a couple of other guys. I don't remember why we were there, or even why I remembered that event.
On my return from the men's room I ran into Paul Maffeo, who was helping himself to a second cup of coffee. "I got to tell you, he looked like he was homeless, standing there in rumpled khakis, an open blue sweater and his shirt tail hanging out. I didn't know what that look was all about."
My kid sister, Terry, who is a senior stockbroker at UBS, told me over lunch at the Metropolitan Grill earlier today, "Paul Maffeo was, and still is one of the movers and shakers in Seattle's financial world. I knew of him when he was a senior VP of both Piper Jaffe and UBS before he moved on."
I remembered that he and his Seattle U girlfriend, were occasional guests at our houseboat parties. We laughed about the '39 Coup, and the houseboat. We reminisced for a few minutes and returned to our tables.
Bryan Saario and I talked briefly about his adventures in Alaska as a boy, and his long-forgotten encounter with a brown bear. I told him, "Alaska is like a powerful drug, It can hook you, and never let go. I too had spent time in Alaska and been chased by a bear or two."
I was involved in building three of the North Slope refineries in the eighties, including Arco's massive facility at Prudhoe Bay. More recently I have been in and out of Dutch Harbor several times on construction projects.
Bryan told me about the time he spent in Palestine on a medical mission, and that he believed the Palestinian People were getting a bad rap.He has authored two books, "Holy Land Conversations," and "SISU," and he is working on his third book. As he left, he handed me a copy of "The Class of 1958 Directory De Biographies". I thumbed through it and wondered, Why I wasn't in it? I had sent in my biography in on time, but I thought, No big deal… At least, not until Steve Windell awarded a bottle of wine to Terry Kearns for having traveled the farthest to attend that night's festivities. I thought, Terry and his wife came from Austin, Texas which is 1,500 miles from Seattle. I, on the other hand, flew 2,700 miles from Honolulu to be here tonight. But then who's counting?
A few weeks after the reunion, Bryan e-mailed me saying he was "impressed by my authorship," and set me a few pages of a draft he was currently writing to look over. I was moved by that gesture.
As the evening was ending, Duke McCauley took the floor and regaled us with Prep Panther Football stories and why you didn't want to mess with Coach Goodman. He reminded us of the horrors of goofing off and having to accompany Father Weissenberg to the boiler room for a beating. I guess that wouldn't happen today.
Larry McHugh and I tried to taunt F. Michael Fischer into leading the room in a chorus of "My Wild Irish Rose," but he wanted nothing to do with it. I told him he was a chicken and Larry pleaded with him, but nothing doing.
I hadn't seen Pat Bader since we arrived at the reunion, but about 10:30 he found me and said, "This I pretty much over, let's go." We passed Ralls on our way out. He told me, "You need to keep writing, and we needed to stay in touch via e-mail. When will your next book be available?"
"My next novel, The Raising of the Ruth Ellen, will be published early next year. When I was young and stupid, I raised this fifty-seven foot fishing vessel off the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. A close family friend, Blake Ryker, was lost at sea when the Ruth Ellen went down off of Cape Mendocino. The insurer wouldn't pay the widow's insurance claims without evidence of the deceased remains. It's a sad, but great story."
As we left the room, I waved and said, "See ya, my brother."
We walked out to the parking lot with Terry Kearns and his wife. When he told us that he was still working for the state of Texas. I asked if he knew Ann Richards, the spunky Ex-Governor of Texas?
He chuckled and said, "I sure do. Remember the speech Ann gave at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. She became an instant celebrity when she referred to George W. Bush as, 'Poor George. He can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.'"
We laughed, and I told him about the night I was in the Little Rock airport cocktail lounge, with a couple of associates, waiting for a plane back to Birmingham. A very tipsy, older woman entered the bar with a name tag on her lapel identifying her as "Arkansas Secretary of State". We thought we would have some fun and asked her to join us for a drink. President Clinton was under fire at the time, for his tryst with Monica Lewinski. I asked, "Was there any truth to the insinuations that President Bubba was a philanderer when he was the governor of Arkansas?"
She giggled, swallowed her martini and said, "Where ya'all from, Mars? Whenever Hillary was out of town, there was a steady stream of State Trooper's cars delivering young women to the back door of the Governor's mansion. That's all I'm going to say about that, until one of you boys buy me another drink."
On the way home, Pat and I discussed our evening's adventure. I admitted after my initial apprehension, I had loosened up and had a ball. I visited with most of our brothers, but there were a few whom I didn't get a chance to talk to; like Phil Perry, Joe Thibodeau, Bill Evans, and Jim Carrol. I would have liked to have caught up with a couple of guys who didn't show up. Mike Cahan; His brother married my cousin Kitty. I would have liked to visit with Gary Merlino. We were both in the construction business, and he was a distant neighbor of my sister who spoke of his permitting issues with the city that occasionally made the paper.
The ride from Kent back to my sister's home in Burien, was a nightmare. I should have been home by 11:15, however, I got caught up in the detour traffic, had trouble seeing the directional signs in the driving rain and glaring headlights. I can't explain how, but I ended up in Tacoma, Federal Way, and God only knows where else before I found my way home at 12:30 am. exhausted from a memorable evening.


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Tag Archives: Mumbai
A trip in Mumbai.
The lights changed against us and I braced myself for stopping, but NO! Our little old taxi driver, white beard flapping in the wind, accelerated as four lanes of traffic started to cross the junction towards our little taxi, all honking their horns in unison. Continue reading
Posted in Cruise-Diary, Humour, Observations, People, Travel Tagged Gateway oof India, Leapold Cafe, Mumbai, Taj Mahal Hotel, Taxi Leave a comment


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Category Archives: Living in the mountains
My Country Club Walmart
Went to doc's up the mountain and country club Walmart on the way down. I call it Country Club Walmart because of the beautiful Elk statue out front and because I've yet to see a buttocks crack or neck hicky in this one. Time to rest with Peanut by the creek as tourists bidding farewell to summer start oozing in.:)
There's a Zucchinni in Your Mailbox!
Old fashioned communication had to be used this morning.
Yesterday I went to the Farmer's Market and bought some zucchinis. I left a big one in my neighbor's mailbox. We often surprise each other with gifts of plants, flowers and baked goods…and yes, vegetables. We share a duplex and I live on top.
This morning I sent my neighbor a picture and a text message telling her, "there is a zucchini in your mailbox." She texted me back that she was not able to download the message on her Droid. Her phone is not working right today.
So I took some practice crochet work and cut and clipped a note on it and lowered it down to my neighbor's favorite chair on her porch by the creek.
She laughed her head off and looked up at me from her porch. She said that another neighbor knocked on her door yesterday and asked,,,"I just have to know, "why is there a zucchini in your mailbox?" haha. Now she knows it's from me….the old fashioned communication way.
If You want to Go Fishing, Better not Say that Again!
I almost choked today. I was taking care of a friends little kiddlings, age 7 and 8 for half day after their morning camp. The choking part. Well picture this: We are in Green Mountain Falls eating sandwiches at a cafe before we fished. These little critters are usually very quiet, however, out of no where, my ears were ringing with Jacob's exclamation, "I'M VOTING FOR MITT ROMNEY!" Everyone turned and looked at us, I pushed the bread down my craw and screeched, "where's the soap?" OMG. It was so funny and mortifying at the same time. As most of you know, I am pretty liberal. I also live in one of the few tiny liberal pockets in Colorado. For the rest of the day Little Jake kept saying that and I finally told him, "It's a free country, but if you want to go fishing, you better not say that again." 🙂
Unusual Day
After playing phone tag for several days with a specialist I'm finally able to see (I say finally because I do not have medical insurance which made seeing this kind of specialist difficult), I was finally connected to his nurse. She used the word "unusual" when quoting the dr. in reference to a test and it's results, I had in the hospital, 10 days previous. Unusual, eh? Hmm. I think I like that word better than another word he could have used. I guess he could have said, positive, or concerning, or deadly, haha. I don't know. What is the word that most drs. use when the results are not so great?
The word unusual was warm and fuzzy compared to the next few words the nurse spewed out of her cute little lips. They were words that I had NEVER googled in my life while researching my symptoms the past year. I'd never googled that kind of specialist to which I was referred and I'd never googled or even had any knowledge of the next test she talked about.
So I hung up a little in shock, made some important calls with a dry cotton mouth, while at the shop and of course the minute the phone would return those calls, the empty shop would fill to the brim with shoppers. So I just told myself to wait. Wait. Wait. One of those shoppers was an eccentric man and his wife. I knew him from my social work career. He was what I would call a spiritual Sage with many professions. He has 9 children and when he walked in the store, like before, he announces, I have 9 children and I want to buy my wife a shirt to match this skirt. I think, oh crap, I don't need this. He is a Sage and has many helping professions, surely he can pick out a solid colored shirt. The conversation with my nurse was still reeling in my head. I was feeling much anxiety. But this man and his stories and wisdom calmed me while his wife was in the back trying things on. It was good he was there.
So the rest of the day brought in more neat people to take my mind of my morning conversation with the nurse. A couple from Minnesota came in and we shared stories of the North Woods and the Twin Cities. I laughed and had fun and I forgot the earlier morning for a few minutes. I was so grateful these people came in. It's like they were lined up outside with a purpose. Make her forget, make her happy until she can get home.
And then the time came to go home to google the medical words I had never googled in my life. I pull up in my drive at home and a woman about my age, clearly a tourist came right up to me as I was getting out of my car. I think,,,oh my, I don't wish to talk, I must go upstairs to my little cave and computer. I need some alone time. But it was not to be for the next 15 minutes. She requested a ride up the hill 3 blocks to her car near the train. She was afraid she might pass out due to the elevation. She was also from Minnesota. So I said, sure, get in and we headed a few feet up the hill towards her parking lot, when a trailer jack-knifed in front of us. I was trapped in the railway and incline traffic just a few feet from my solace, my little home, my computer. She apologized and I told her not to worry I was just going to get on my computer and look up some words related to an illness for which I had just started taking tests. She turned to me and said she was a breast cancer survivor of 4 years and then she started telling me everything I needed to do to stay calm through whatever my illness is and know that there are people out there that will carry me through this. My eyes started to water. I asked her her name because I was sort of getting a feeling that all these people walking into my life during the course of the day were sent to me. Sort of like angels. She told me her name. It was the name of a dearly beloved relative that had passed many years ago and then I knew this was not a coincidental moment. She also said, I'm a prayer warrior, Nancy. I'm so glad we met and she hopped out of her car while we were forced to back the car away from her destination and I told her to have a wonderful year, thinking of how important the 5th year of being in recovery of cancer would be for her and I continued to back up to finally return to my home. After that final unusual visit with someone I knew was sent to me that day, it just didn't seem as important to be alone in my little home with my computer in which to google unusual medical words.


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Drain Relining – Blocked Sewer & Stormwater Drains
Drain Solutions use high pressure water jetters and/or electric drain machinery to clean, clear and unblock stormwater and sewer drains of debris, tree roots, broken or cracked pipes, silt and fats.
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Take the west seat in today's problem from an IMP match and see if you can come up with the right answer.
Contract: 5 C.
Defence so far: West led the S2, lowest from odd. Declarer played the king from dummy and east won the ace. East shifted to the D2 which west won with the ace, declarer following with the king.
You are at the crossroads. What do you return?
Analysis: Declarer certainly has an eight-card suit for jumping to 5 C. Partner's diamond shift indicates declarer has a singleton diamond. His distribution rates to be either 1-3-1-8 or 2-2-1-8. If his clubs are solid, there is nothing you can do about. If declarer has a heart loser, it will be discarded on dummy's winners. While you are wondering whether you have any chance to set the contract, suddenly you see light at the end of the tunnel. There appears to be a glimmer of hope.
Solution: Return a heart; better stilll the HK. Declarer wins the ace in dummy, discards his heart losers on the diamond and spade winners, calls for the CJ from dummy...but puts up the ace. West shows out and he is down one. The full deal is:
In the actual play, west played back a diamond, thinking that a heart shift might cost their side a trick. Declarer won with DQ, pitching a heart from hand. He called for the CJ from dummy and when east played low, put up the ace from hand. When west showed out, he entered dummy by the HA, cashed a spade to pitch yet another heart, and successfully finessed the club to fulfil the contract.
Discussion: There were many interesting points:
Did you notice the difference the heart switch made? You did not give declarer the time to test the clubs. It removed the vital entry to dummy before he got wise of the 3-0 break in trumps!
Having established sufficient winners in dummy for the declarer, it was foolish on the part of west to imagine that a heart shift might cost a trick.
West should have realised that his DA is likely placed in front of the possible K-Q-x-x in dummy. So, he should have led the HK to start with. As you can see, declarer will then be defeated by three tricks.
You may ask 'Why can't declarer have 1-1-3-8 distribution?' Reflect for a moment that declarer has: S x H x D K-x-x C A-K-T-x-x-x-x-x. Don't you think he can explore a slam if partner has good diamonds and an ace on the side?
At the other table, south tried 3NT instead of 5 C. East led a heart from Q-J-x-x. Declarer had no problem whatever and made nine tricks comfortably.
E-mail: email@example.com


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Since 2013, Click&Boat has been revolutionising the yacht charter industry in Europe and globally. Today, the company is the leading platform in p2p yacht charter and the team keeps expanding to sustain its staggering growth. If you wish to wave goodbye to suits and ties and join a startup full of energy and passion, join our team! The sharing economy revolution has already started - help us change the world!


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Progress so far.....
My hexi quilt will never be finished because the cat was sick all over it whilst I was piecing it together and so half of it had to be cut off and thrown away. The few blocks that were left have been made into this cushion and a loose cover for my footstool in the lounge.
Wasn't happy with the centre of the star so decided not to make it into a quilt... a cushion is fine if you don't look too closely!
Katy very kindly lent me her ruler for making kaleidoscope blocks. I had it for ages, long enough to make at least 3 quilts using that block but this was all I came up with.....enough for 2 cushions! I had to give it back to her eventually or she would have thought I had kidnapped it!! Sorry Katy.
This was my attempt at an 'Urban Deco' block. Love it but a quilt made using these blocks is a long way off.
These were made for a mini challenge. My friend Janie sent me a jelly roll and a couple of charm packs of Minick and Simpson fabric (can't remember the range) and these are what I made. I was trying out some foundation piecing and my little 'twister' ruler.
These were blocks left over from the quilt below....
This is a picture of them all on my sofa. They don't match anything in my house but since when has that been a factor in the quilts we make? Maybe 13 cushions is overkill......perhaps I should open a shop!
At least I am sorted for birthday gifts for a while!
Just in case you think I have been too self indulgent this week, I have done some work.
This lovely quilt made using a Material Obsessions pattern was beautifully made by Kris. She modified it slightly as she didn't want to applique the arch onto the background fabric. Instead she made a template and stitched it using curved piecing....so clever. This is one that is going on my quilting bucket list.
It was quilted using a pattern called 'bubbles' using a shocking pink thread.
The following quilt was made by Katy. A variation of the 'scrappy trip' quilts that we are all making at the moment. There are so many ways that the blocks can be set. Love that 'Chicopee' fabric. I still haven't cut into mine but seeing it all made up into a quilt has made me think I should get if off the shelf and into a quilt.
Katy wanted a sort of loopy figure of eight pattern on it so this is what I did. I used a bright green thread called lime splash.
This quilt was made by Jan using some lovely African blue and white fabrics.... so fresh.
Jan also made this storm at sea quilt. I quilted it with a wave pattern, keeping with the 'sea' theme.
Well that just about sums up my week. Hope you all have a good weekend.
Happy Quilting
PS. Have discovered Pinterest this week!! When I have worked out how to get a button on my blog, I will put one on if you want to see how I have been wasting hours of my time!!!!! So much inspiration. Love it.


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As 2011 is coming to an end (where has all the time gone?) I thought it would be an appropriate time to review and post some of my favourite outfits that I have shown on my blog in the second half of this year. I already covered my favourite outfits from the first half of the year here. 2012 will be a significant and extremely eventful year for me. I am planning to get married in December, move into an apartment with Rydog and our kitten Juliette and finish my law degree. I am both scared and excited at the same time. I believe these are the changes that I have so desperately wanted in my life for a long time now. However, there are some elements of my current lifestyle that I will miss and I am worried about the likelihood of everything falling into place according to plan.
The last photo on the left is the outfit I wore on Christmas day. I will post more photos of it soon.


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London Oriental Escort
Registered massage therapists are trained in the evaluation and diagnosis of injuries of the soft tissue and joints of the body. They utilize a blend of modern-day science and ancient viewpoints to treat many conditions. Massage therapy offered by London oriental escort is ending up being more widely accepted in the medical neighborhood as a trustworthy treatment for numerous types of pain in the back. Studies have actually shown that massage therapy can benefit persistent back pain patients by increasing blood circulation and flow, reducing tension in the muscles, minimizing pain caused by tight muscles and even improving sleep. Massage treatment can offer relief for lots of typical conditions that trigger back pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and various other soft tissue sprains and strains.
Massage is non-invasive and thought about very low threat for the majority of people. In addition to physical advantages, massage offered by London oriental escort is typically relaxing. This can have extensive mentally benefits, especially to somebody suffering from chronic back pain. Anxiety is a sign of persistent discomfort. Massage is believed to release endorphins, natural chemicals in the body that make you feel excellent and function as discomfort suppressors.
It is approximated that 75% of healthcare providers have actually sent their patients to massage therapists. If suitable, you might wish to ask your doctor for a recommendation to a massage treatment professional in your location.
The majority of episodes of severe lower pain in the back are triggered by muscle pressure, such as from raising a heavy object, or a distressing injury like an abrupt movement or a fall. The lower neck and back pain can be serious and last anywhere from several hours to a couple of weeks. When back muscles are strained or torn, they can become irritated.
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It is essential to acquire an appropriate medical diagnosis on the reason for your pain in the back from a medical practitioner before beginning massage therapy provided by www.asianmodelslondon.co.uk. This is to guarantee you get the proper treatments and to rule out possibly serious conditions.


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Student life
At City and Islington College, we believe in enriching our students' lives, both inside and outside the classroom.
We have a range of staff and resources to help you achieve your educational goals. From group tutorials and one-to-ones with your personal tutor to additional learning and disability support, we are here to help.
Support for life
Our advisers and counsellors can provide confidential and unbiased support on practical issues such as financial worries, studying while on benefits, accommodation and immigration issues.
The College also has two nurseries, which provide limited places for students' children aged 2-5.
If you need information and guidance on careers and your next step, there's support for you too, including visits to universities, meeting employers at jobs fairs and developing your employability skills.
Student voice
We are committed to listening to and acting on the views of our students. Why not become a Candi Student Union Class Rep or Centre Rep to represent your peers and take a central role in improving the College for all students?
The College is proud of the richness in diversity of our students. We believe in equality and fairness for all our students and are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all who learn here.
Each of our Centres has an onsite canteen, serving a daily menu of hot and cold food, including healthy options. The canteen offers great value for money, including meals at under £4. The canteens are great social spaces as well, where you can relax with friends between classes.
Supporting others
Develop your teamwork skills and ability to help others by becoming a Beatbullying Peer Mentor or by getting involved in campaigns from 'Quit Smoking Week' to 'Black History Month'.
Celebrate success
We hold an annual Student Awards Ceremony to recognise those who have gone the extra mile in their contribution to College life.
Course search
Search and apply for a course
Extra-curricular activities
There are so many events, talks, trips and opportunities happening at the College every day. Here is a taste of some of them.


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Multnomah County Library Podcasts
Listen to library events, as well as information about books and other library resources.
Tue, 21 June 2011
About 300,000 youths are trafficked for sex each year nationwide, according to the U.S. Justice Department. When Jessica Richardson was 17 years old she became a victim of this illegal industry and was trafficked throughout the west by her pimp. She's since escaped the life and is a Gresham businesswoman, teaching people how to save money on groceries.
Moderated by Emily Harris, host of Think Out Loud, OPB's daily public affairs talk show.
Recorded at Central Library: June 5, 2011
Direct download: 20110605_MCLRichardson.mp3
Category:Interviews -- posted at: 8:34am PST


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A new Platinum bus service is coming to South Birmingham this Sunday (4th December).
The new National Express West Midlands X61 service will replace the current 61 bus, and will run from Birmingham City Centre to Frankley via the Bristol Road.
The luxurious Platinum buses have been running on several routes since 2015.
The introduction of the X61 – which serves Frankley, Northfield and Selly Oak along the A38 route – will allow passengers to travel to and from the city with extra leg room, free wifi, mobile device charging ports, high backed leather seats and next stop announcements, as well as faster journeys.
Services will run up to every 15 minutes at peak times and journey prices will remain the same as all National Express WM services.
View X61 timetable • View details of all Platinum X routes


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Journey to Forbidden Planet: Writing Speculative Fiction Set in Mexico Silvia Moreno-Garcia It's a busy summer for me. I'm fundraising for my first novel, about narco vampires in Mexico City, Young Blood [http://igg.me/at/youngblood/x/166963]. Canadian lit publisher Exiled Editions is also releasing my first collection, This Strange Way of Dying. If there's something that ties both... Continue Reading →
Interview: Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Author Week #6)
Silvia Moreno-Garcia Interview By Charles Tan Hi Silvia! Thanks for agreeing to do the interview. First off, how are things with Innsmouth Free Press? Good! We've got three books we are working on. There's DEMONSTRA, a poetry collection by Bryan Thao Worra. It's Weird poetry with a Laos angle. The sequel to the urban fantasy... Continue Reading →
Tuesday Fiction: "A Puddle of Blood" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Author Week #6)
This week on the World SF Blog and as part of our sixth Author Week, we feature Silvia Moreno-Garcia's story, "A Puddle of Blood", which inspired Silvia's novel-in-progress Young Blood (the fund-raiser for which is currently running!). If you liked the story, do consider donating to the author! The story was first published in the... Continue Reading →
Author Week #6: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
We're back for our sixth special Author Week feature, and this week we have with us Mexican author Silvia Moreno-Garcia! Silvia, who now lives in Canada, is the publisher behind Innsmouth Free Press, co-editor of several highly regarded anthologies including Fungi, Historical Lovecraft, Future Lovecraft, Candle in the Attic Window and is forthcoming sole editor... Continue Reading →
Silvia Moreno-Garcia Fundraiser
Mexican author (and Apex Book of World SF 2 contributor) Silvia Moreno-Garcia is fundraising for her first novel, the YA Young Blood, about vampires in Mexico City: Domingo collects garbage for a living, carefully finding treasures where others see nothing. One night, the teenager meets a vampire in Mexico City's subway. She is Atl, descendant... Continue Reading →
Lavie Tidhar talks World SF 2
Grasping for the wind has just posted a new interview with me about international speculative fiction and editing The Apex Book of World SF 2, with some comments from anthology contributors Rochita Loenen-Ruiz and Silvia Moreno Garcia. The Apex Book of World SF is now out in paperback and on the Kindle! SFFWRTCHT: How long does... Continue Reading →
Monday Original Content: Mexican Science Fiction: The Northern Corridor
Mexican Science Fiction: The Northern Corridor By Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Gabriel Trujillo-Muñoz Latin American science fiction has had a long trajectory, though it is little known beyond its borders. Similarly, Mexican science fiction has steadily developed since its colonial beginning, eventually leading to a state of boom and bust in the 90s. After offering a... Continue Reading →
Silvia Moreno-Garcia on Lovecraft: Racing and Literature
Silvia Moreno-Garcia comments on the topic raised last week by Nnedi Okorafor, discussing Lovecraftian fiction in general. Lovecrat was a racist. That should come as no surprise to anyone who has read about him. He was also a knot of contradictions (not only because he married a Jewish woman after railing against Jewish people), which... Continue Reading →
Historical Lovecraft
Today is the official release of Historical Lovecraft edited by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Paula R. Stiles. Aside from stories that take from places all over the world, it includes an international roster of writers including Meddy Ligner (translated from the French, French author), Nathalie Boisard-Beudin (French), Julio Toro San Martin (Chilean, living in Canada) Nelly Geraldine García-Rosas... Continue Reading →


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After the planned October 10th hike, monthly hikes will be suspended until Spring 2016 at the earliest. The Friends Of Rocky Glen board of directors made this difficult decision after repeated encounters with a Kickapoo Creek Road neighbor who questioned the legality of using right of way for parking and the safety of leading groups along Kickapoo Creek Road. During the monthly hike hiatus, FORG will be working to clarify the legality of parking/drop off along Creek Road, develop formal safety procedures and explore alternatives. For the September 12th and October 10th hikes, a property owner adjacent to the glen entrance has granted us permission to use his driveway to drop off and pick up hikers.
FORG remains committed to partnering with Peoria Park District to open this beautiful park to the public as soon as possible.


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Managing Data and Access in the Cloud
In the old days, before the advent of cloud applications and data storage, life was a bit easier on the IT staff. They could easily manage access to applications and data shares since everything was located on servers in the next room. The number of applications was usually moderate and the number of people that required access to sensitive data was nominal. For more advanced IT operations, simple scripts could be written to take user information from the directory service and automate the processes. In larger organizations, a help desk could easily manage these processes which were a huge improvement over the paper trail that had existed for years.
Once the cloud became pervasive in the corporate environment, the old methodologies of managing user and data access became significantly more complicated. Writing simple scripts was no longer an option because the applications now required complicated web services as an interface, if they provided anything at all. More often, provisioning and setting roles for a user required a time consuming manual process. In some cases an API could handle part of the provisioning but not the entirety. One extremely popular cloud application currently does provide tools to automate the user management process but, it does not automatically select what type of license to apply to the user.
[2015 cloud computing market: The Big Four: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, IBM and Google control well over half of the worldwide cloud infrastructure service market.]
So how do IT departments regain control of the cloud while reducing the amount of time and effort spent to insure users have access only to products and the data they need to perform their jobs and, at the same time, make sure access is terminated in a timely fashion? A wide variety of commercially available identity and access governance (IAG) solutions have expanded their offerings to include managing the cloud as easily as in-house systems.
Using data from an authoritative source, usually human resources, these IAG systems have the built in capabilities of communicating to an ever-increasing number of cloud-based solutions. By using the authoritative source, employment status – active or terminated – can be determined along with the employee's title, department and location. This information can be utilized as part of a role-based access control (RBAC) matrix to determine what applications and data they should be granted rights to. In the case of a terminated status, all access would be revoked.
Using an automated system to create and delete users from the network and cloud-based systems can be a tremendous time saver. It can also increase security and governance by insuring accounts are provisioned correctly from the onset, as well as removed when no longer needed. Another area of concern however is a user getting access to an application or data for a special project, or while filling in for an employee on leave. It is critical that audits be performed on a regular basis to insure rights remain at the levels they should and there are not rogue or long-term access rights that should not be allowed.
As part of most IAM systems, a governance and attestation module comes in to play to address these situations. The network and cloud apps are scanned on a regular basis for the actual moment in time rights and these are compared against the RBAC matrix, which contains the standard or accepted rights. Where discrepancies are found, the attestation module should alert a manager and system owner for review. If the deviation is considered acceptable, an electronic signature should be contained verifying this fact and possibly an expiration date for the rights as well. If the rights are found to be unauthorized, a workflow process can automatically process the removal of the rights with notifications emails to the appropriate parties involved.
To minimize rights being added in an ad hoc fashion, a workflow management system can be utilized to administer all requested changes to the network and cloud applications. A self-service portal is established where all users are directed to make requests for new and enhanced requests. Once the end user processes the request, it is routed to the appropriate manager and systems owner for approval. The penultimate step is a review and approval by the IT department and once this step is completed, an automated process is executed to make the necessary changes across the respective systems.
To lock down rogue access even further, administrative rights to the network, on premise and cloud systems should be highly restricted and granted to a minimal number of individuals. By doing this, all changes can be forced to be completed through the workflow application which will provide detailed logs, with approvals, for any changes made to the standard.
In summary, managing the cloud applications can appear to be very daunting at first pass. However, the commercially available tools that you have been using, or are considering, can easily be extended to manage all of your on premise applications, the network, and those hosted in the cloud.
By Dean Wiech.


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Washington > News > Deputy Prime Minister Schneider awarded "Government leade... >
Deputy Prime Minister Schneider awarded "Government leader of the Year" by SpaceNews
SpaceNews established its "Awards for Excellence & Innovation" to honor "the well-known champions and the unsung heroes" shaping the global space industry.
The winners were recognized during an awards luncheon held on December 19th at the City Club of Washington and organized in partnership with the Washington Space Business Roundtable. Ambassador Sylvie Lucas had the honor to receive the prize on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy Etienne Schneider at that occasion. SpaceNews, who made the selection after an open nomination process that concluded with a reader poll, recognized Minister Schneider in the category of the Civilian Government leader of the year for his commitment to promote the exploration and the utilization of space resources and for his initiative to make Luxembourg a European hub in this field, through the spaceresources.lu initiative.
Other awardees include startup of the year Kymeta, Military Government leader of the Year Gen. John Hyten, USSTRATCOM and Corporate Leader of the Year Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX President and COO.


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Thursday, October 21, 2010
Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour, Coming In November!
Please join me in Quiltmaker Magazine's 100 Blocks Blog Tour!
SuzGuz Designs, along with other quilt pattern designers from across the country, will be participating in an upcoming Blog Tour, hosted by Quiltmaker Magazine, in celebration of their 2nd Volume of "Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks" special publication, out soon!
Tour dates are Monday, November 8 through Friday, November 12, 2010. Click on the button and go directly to Quiltmaker's site for more information.
Looking forward to lots of fun and give-aways!
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The Foam Masters network is supported by BASF - The Chemical Company. With sales of over CAN$68 billion (CAN) and a workforce of about 105,000 people worldwide in 2009, BASF is one of the world's leaders in the chemical industry. You benefit from the financial stability, technical know-how and quality assurance of highly trained professionals whose work and business profile must meet the stringent quality standards of a renowned global corporation.
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Indulge in effective restraint play and learn the art of Shibari with Restrain Me Bondage Rope, a set of two silky bondage ropes, each measuring 5 meters in length to fully entwine you or your lover. Durable and strong, they feel wonderfully soft against your skin and are ideal for beginners and experts alike.
Before play begin, decide which of you will be submissive and who will be Dominant. It goes without saying that the submissive partner will be tied – but roles can alternate as you wish.
Remember! Agree on a safe word together before you start to play. Whatever safe word you decide on it is imperative that both parties should understand that it means Stop.


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Usher Hahn Wealth Advisory
Investment Advisor, Branch Managermore
Toll Free: +1 (888) 801-3335
Fax: (613) 271-1509
Usher Hahn Wealth Advisory
Usher Wealth Management of CIBC Wood Gundy is built around a team of dedicated investment professionals. Our team of specialists seeks to deliver clients two critical requirements: intelligent and prudent investment advice with an unparalleled level of client service.
Our goal is to provide clients with the most comprehensive suite of services available. We have assembled a team of specialists that are committed to consistently delivering our model and are prepared to push beyond clients' expectations to ensure they are fulfilled.
From Financial Planning to Asset Management; Risk Planning to Estate Solutions; Tax Minimization to Business Planning advice, our group has been developed to address every foreseeable concern from an investment standpoint. As well, we work closely with other professionals so any client concern that may fall outside our resident expertise will be referred to the most capable specialist in the necessary field.
Our investment policy is based on a long-term, process driven and disciplined approach. Each client is evaluated in terms of his or her own personal goals and risk tolerances and a portfolio is constructed to meet those specific needs. We strive to offer our clients the greatest rate of return with the lowest level of risk through research, analysis, and diversification.
We recognize that wealth and asset management is only a portion of our clients concerns; however one that is significant enough to interrupt the quality of the rest of their lives. Our mission is to ensure our clients enjoy the most fulfilling life.
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The Great Wellbeing Escape
You're one of the good guys. But when was the last time you did something good just for you?
Be it a birthday, a wedding party or an anniversary celebration, our intimate Clubroom at The Lion Inn, Winchcombe provides the perfect private dining option for your special occasion. With space for up to 20 guests, our friendly and experienced team will wait on you while you dine from one of our many Private Dining menus. Or if you've got something specific in mind, speak to our Head Chef, Richard Hancox who is on hand to discuss and create bespoke menus to suit your event.
For more information and to discuss how we can help you deliver your special occasion contact us on +44 (0)1242 603 300 or email@example.com.
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Here at The Lion Inn we do our very best to help make the co-ordination and planning of your day easier. Our Clubroom offers a relaxed atmosphere and our experienced staff are here to make the organisation stress-free for you.
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text:
Singapore smog2 min read
Singapore said on Saturday that it would pursue local firms found to be involved in starting forest fires in Indonesia, as Greenpeace said the blazes were on palm oil plantations owned by Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean companies.
Smog has engulfed the city-state with fluctuating levels rising to a record high Friday, although they had dropped to "moderate" by Saturday afternoon, giving beleaguered residents relief that was predicted to be temporary.
Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam told a press conference Saturday that Singapore would investigate possible legal action against domestic companies responsible for the fires.
The World Health Organization says air pollution is a significant risk factor for a number of health conditions including respiratory infection, heart disease, and lung cancer – but there are certain groups who are particularly at risk.
Elderly people and those with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, are vulnerable when smog hits because their lungs are less able to deal with the pollution.
They are more likely to be admitted to hospital, and for those who are already sick, the smog is an additional stress factor.
People with asthma may find their condition worsens and they need to take more medication.
Children are thought to be susceptible to the dangers of air pollution because they spend more time outdoors and breathe in more air per unit of body weight.
Singapore's prime minister said that the smoky haze could remain in place for weeks and possibly until September or October, when the dry season ends in Sumatra.
Prolonged exposure to the smog will mean prolonged health risks for elderly and vulnerable people in an urban area where normal pollution levels are quite high.
In the meantime, the advice is to stay indoors when possible, where pollution levels are lower, and limit unnecessary physical activity to reduce breathing in dirty air.
The face masks which are in high demand in Singapore can protect against the worst of the smog.


text:
Anime adaptation when? You know it's enviable
>You know it's enviable
Did you mean inevitable?
Why are there so many LN that are exactly the same
Mistakes like that are a diamond dozen.
I thought a sequel of this will be made with a new MC? Where the fuck is it
They must have use a photocopy machine or something.
never,it wouldn't sell.
it will definitely sell, it's just that they'll rush it.
No studio is going to want to adapt what is going to have to be at least a 72+ episode series.
Not to mention that it's very hard to adapt it well. Considering the whole timeline of the series begins from HikiNEET --> Baby --> Adolescent --> Young Adult --> Adult --> Old Man, along with a lot of characters of various relevance, and the different PoV shifts the author sprinkles around.
Not to mention the numerous genre shifts it would undergo: from SoL, to Action/Adventure, to Romance/School-life, to Drama/SoL/Tragedy, etc.
Implying youhave to adapt all the volums.
Greetings from Spice and Wolf.
Just like the new
spiderchapters, in hiatus limbo
Not enough art for my goddess.
Spider has gone LN focus, this is a good thing for the author. It's just most people into WNs are new to it the situation.
J.C staff could do it if they risk putting in some effort, S2 of index, railgun, and the first two seasons of ZnT were balanced well.
Spice and wolf's adaptation was only to promote the books though.
even then they only covered books 1, 2, 4, and 5. They completely skipped 3 and even then it ended on a melancholy cliff hangar
JC needs a big seller, personally I feel Heavy Object is great, but hey, I'm not the one buying BDs it didn't take in Japan.
Not to say Mushoku Tensei won't sell, but there isn't a lot of emotional pay off with far spaced out action.
It's theme of continuous self improvement takes time to be realised, it's a long designed story.
>Kumo still in hiatus
Fuck everything, i just re-read it for the 5th time and still no new chapters.
Anime adaptation when?
You'd think with all this VRMMO craze someone would actually adapt a decent one. Don't tell me shit like SAO has a monopoly on the genre now.
For a moment I thought that was Yun behind Myu.
What the hell, Lucato would basically be the spitting image of Yun if she let her hair down. Even their fucking bangs are styled the same way.
Not really.
Similarities that plague all anime grills aside, Lucato is different enough.
They look like siblings, ironically enough.
The worst part is that there's no new LN release either, so we can't even tide ourselves over with pretty illustrations and minor edits to the plot.
Its only a matter of time till we get Mushoku or Arifureta adaption.
The question is which first? Isnt Arifureta LN practically selling hotcakes? Promotional anime seems super plausible.
I want some Yue!
I want some Yue!
As much as i hate Arifureta i can't deny that this will be the one to get an anime soon, thanks to delicious semen demonsEspecially Yue..
The artist they gave the manga shows that they are expecting a lot from it.
Imouto is just a poor man's Suguha.
She's even voiced by the same VA.
The LN doesn't really sell that well. WNfags must be poor.
well.......personally I think it has a chance of popularity as i remember like 2-4 years back seeing things of one punch man and monster musume on random image board not just /a/. Looking back I thought bother were jokes but look right now as we don't go a day without monster threads
plus we do have a manga out in stores, mushoku tensei does appear on things like 9gag every so often
>his wives become one dimensional stay home doormat moms after he fucked them
Way to ruin their characters Rudius
That's typically what happens when people marry and have kids as obligations for the next 15 years.
I would like to see adventures of a gay craftsman
There's a fuckton of VRMMO novels, but we really didn't get that many anime about it. Nowhere close to the imouto fad from some years ago.
Japan loves fads.
I was going to buy it until I saw the price. Shit's expensive.
Without any background knowledge of this series whatsoever, I can already tell that it's a "NEET dies and is sucked into a fantasy world" story.
That's because MT started the whole fucking fad.
The VRMMO fad is actually more of a normalfag thing, that's why.
Doesn't catch quite as many otakubux as imoutos.
9gag really?
Got any link?
Got boring after he became google's underling.
Actually that was Harry Potter, Zero no Tsukaima was first in Japan.
Probably too hard to adapt, studies probably want to stick to short and cutesy money cows.
Agreed. I know it's a doggy dog world out there, but people really should be a little more relaxed about these things. For all they know, OP might just be a dime in the ruff.
MT with Shield Hero have a hight chance to have a annoucement of anime adaptation this year with all the recents adaptation of LN with another world as a theme (Konosuba, ReZero, Gate)
BTW the 21 of May a Narou Related event, may here they announce something
小説家になろう公式生放送 @narouradio 15 may.
5月21日(土)12時30分開場 13時放送開始
>Shield Hero
Can't wait for the rape scene.
Imagining those fuming anons makes me hard. Those first TL threads was great
I don't even know wtf is this shit, why should I care.
I don't know what would be better, people flipping over Shield Hero's rape scene or shipper fags killing themselves over MT's foursome.
>Sense Online
>tfw I'd rather have picrelated adapted
Who says that the copy can't be better than the original?
Oh man just adapt either, these threads are going to be a blast.
What makes you think the rape scene will stay in the LN?
>coming into the thread just to post this
Alright anons. This is the most important question of the thread. Why do translators do this shit inline with the rest of the translation? Even worse, why do they insert personal comments and other shit irrelevant to the story. Why not use linked super script references like a proper wiki to bulk translator notes below the chapter? Is that so difficult?
>「Obento? ….Yatta!」(TLN: Oh Cheryl, so moe in writing. This basically means "Lunch? ….Yay!")
Source: Bunimi
I hope LN despair and suffering becomes a new fad for adaptation, it's so much having shitstorms
Think we'll get Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari first?
how hipster do you have to be to know what this is?
If you know any shit about LNs, you probably at least heard about it.
>why do they insert personal comments and other shit irrelevant to the story
Because they only do this shit in the first place for the e-peen, and they think they're funny.
>one of the most popular web novels
Maybe you should just lurk more
When you say rape scene you mean THAT Rape Scene
With malty and the pig king? or the fake one that malty declared naofumi did to her?
The pig king, of course.
While reading the manga, I was thinking "this is adaptation bait" the whole time.
MT and Shield hero are the best selling (1st and 2nd respectively) within MFBooks. So it's a no brainer that one or the other get an adaptation
Have they still not finished translating volume 7 of the LN?
rate my edit
>Anime adaptation when? You know it's enviable
I hope never.
The ending was a pile of shit.
The ending was fine. Shilling Sylhpy and making all wives as useless as her after they gave birth on the other hand was undiluted crap
i'd read the manga if it was written by you
The author clearly had no idea what to do with the wives post-marriage. It's unbelievable how fast Eris turned from "Sword King" into "dog walker".
I still hope the labyrinth capture redundancy chapter can fix this
Eris's dream was always to be Rudy's wife though, her sword king job was merely a means to an end that she happens to enjoy.
She didn't get a lot of spot light time, but that's cause all the girls had to share, which was one of the main points of the series. Rudy basically made everyone share, his wives, his kids, everyone not named Orsted basically.
How you think that's unbelievable when he's shown having a very busy and varied routine schedule during his school life is beyond me. Guy was always made out to be someone who excelled at nothing but dabbled in everything, and that applies to his personal relationships as well.
When one forms a family, the persons care more of herself, trying to avoiding unnecessary dangers by prioritizing the family, also all the wives only have two objetives, Sylphy want to be a wife and protect Ariel, Eris only become more stronger to defeat Orsted and stay beside him and Roxy only want to find the love in a dungeon and become a teacher, also after having childs, they cant do careless things and die, leaving his family.
Why are you quoting me? You should be directing it to the post I quoted.
you are fucking stupid and clearly havent finished the novel
I prefer the other rape scene, the one after the drag race.
Bunimi has a retarded translator that's why. And for wordpress users, yes it is that difficult. Wordpress editor was coded by a monkey.
Oversized condoms ruined it.
Stay virgin for the rest of your life anon
I got baited by that pasta once by just skimming it. Still one of the funniest things


text:
- Location:
- Buckingham Gate, Victoria, London, UK
- Year:
- 2014
- Brief:
As an independent cinema chain, Curzon Cinemas had always taken pride in offering a more elevated, sophisticated and comfortable experience, rooted in culturally credible programming and a more personal approach to customer service. When the Curzon team decided it was time to redesign the cinematic experience for the 21st century, whilst staying true to the Curzon brand, Afroditi was their first choice. With Victoria identified as their flagship screen, the vision was to create a beautifully designed hub destination venue and 3rd space, both enhanced by technology but retaining a sense of timeless elegance.
The AfroditiKrassa studio set to work, looking at classic cinema interiors, functional cues, customer journeys and pondering how to create a familiar, yet relaxed and homely space. The iconic cinema marquee was reinterpreted digitally and we brought the cinema curtain to life on different levels, being used as a shop front projection screen for Londoners to enjoy a glimpse of archival movies. Marrying such golden age analogue features with new technology, brought them a new meaning and function. Capturing energy, the ground floor is a fast paced, busy and vibrant area, with a dominant cocktail bar and high stools, and the upper mezzanine has a 'Sound & Vision' library room, where customers can lounge, relax and enjoy archive movies, on demand, via personal LCD screens, as well as access movie magazines and books. The overall aesthetic is dark with sumptuous deep colours and sophisticated materials – a mix of hard surfaces combined with softer finishes such as drapery and leather cladding. With a visual language inspired by the brand's 1930's Bauhaus typography style, Futura, and the resulting pioneering spirit of Modernism, the overall scheme perfectly encapsulates the brand's qualities: classic, timelessly elegant, sophisticated and avant-garde.


text: One of our favorite architectural products to execute in natural stone, fountains offer a unique design opportunity to reflect the direct tastes of the client. We specialize in both free standing fountains (with or without wall basins) and wall fountains. Installation methods are closely considered during the design stage to assure provisions are made for water supply lines and pumps, electrical requirements, etc.


text:
Get a few key points right from the get-go and the rest will flow
Choosing to sell your home and what is probably your biggest asset, is a daunting task. But by making sure you have all the various elements of the selling process aligned, you will be on the right path to achieving a great sale price.
Do your research
Familiarise yourself with the market that you're looking to sell into. How much stock is on the market and how fast is it moving? How much are homes like yours selling for? Attend auctions in your area. Check auction clearance rates and speak to local experts.
Choosing an agent
An agent can make or break any campaign so invest the time in finding the right agent for you. Avoid choosing an agent solely on who charges the least. Rather, choose one who offers the most value and has the required skill set, especially during the negotiation stages. This could boost your final sale price.
Prepare your home for sale
Before making any changes to your property, seek advice from your agent. This could save you a lot of time and money. If budget permits, enlist a stylist to ensure your home is presented in the best possible light.
On the market
Your agent will work as the mediator between you and potential buyers, hosting open homes, liaising with building inspectors, helping to negotiate a private treaty sale or when the time comes, running auction day.
Once your property is exchanged, lawyers and banks will ensure both parties meet their financial requirements before settlement day – the day that you will relinquish your property to the new owners.
Before you do anything to your property, have an agent look through. We've seen copious amounts of money invested in properties that haven't delivered the return on investment. For example, removing a tree may be a waste of money as the tree may be advantageous. Agents are well versed in what features prospective buyers are looking for, so always seek their opinion on how to enhance your property first. Best way to achieve a great outcome on the sale of your home is by selecting the right:
- agent
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- marketing strategy
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Get all four elements right and you'll get a great result. Get one wrong and it can be detrimental to the sale of your property.


text:
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text:
This will not be a very long post today (hooray). This afternoon I visited Ben Tait, a farmer and drilling contractor who lives near the town of Mayfield. He farms 370ha, all arable. 150ha of this is under a pivot irrigator, and here he grows silage maize, wheat, barley, potatoes, and of course ryegrass for seed. The dry land is not vastly different, with a rotation consisting of wheat, ryegrass, radish seed, oats for green animal feed, and various brassicas for dairy cows to graze in the winter.
Ben's contracting business revolves around a twin disc maize planter, and a drill he has designed himself, using Bourgault disc openers imported from Canada. These openers are a fairly conventional single disc design, making use of a compound angle disc. This means that as well as being angled sideways 7 degrees, it is also tilted 10 degrees off the vertical.The double angle allows the disc to bite into the soil, creating a bit more tilth for the seed. I have also heard that it may provide a slight element of self sharpening for the edges, meaning the discs last longer. This drill is used in all situations, from mouldboard ploughed land through to true no-till. Because of potatoes in the rotation, plus some of the oddities of tetraploid ryegrass seed production, Ben does not feel it is possible to have a full no-till regime. Of course, being New Zealand, there are several thousand lambs around during the winter who no doubt compensate for the sins of the potato growers to some degree!
Before the Bourgault was created, Ben used a John Deere 750a. Over the course of 15,000ha he got a fairly good idea of the pros and cons. Overall he seemed to like the concept, and how it worked agronomically, but there were though three main drawbacks.
- No option for placing fertiliser. This is a pretty obvious one, and something that many people have flagged up as an issue in the past.
- Durability. The ground can be pretty stony in some places around here, but even without that Ben found that the openers just did not last long enough. There were several specific problem areas which all added up and meant that he had to replace large portions of the assembly twice a season.
- General usability. Calibrating these drills is not an ergonomic pleasure, and as his was a 6m it had to be done twice on each occasion. Not so bad if you have 100ha to do on your own farm, but if you move around to 3 different farms in a day, and have to empty the seed and recalibrate each time, I can imagine the pleasure wears off pretty soon – probably on about day 2.
I don't know how much of this would be a problem back on our farm, mainly because we do not have the stones. Interesting all the same.How much do you trust your neighbours? The farmers here are members of a fertiliser cooperative that works on an honesty basis. There is yard in the town which contains open sheds divided into different compartments for different fertilisers. When you need some DAP, urea, MOP etc, then drive down here, tare your trailer, jump in the loader, fill the trailer up, complete the docket, and drive out. All done on trust, no cameras, locks or anything.
Mayfield is obviously more of a farming community than any of the villages around us; I cannot imagine this sign on the door of our pub.


text:
Low-tier IEOs are generating ruinous losses for investors. We found out how much it costs to get a listing. The post Revealed: The true cost of running a failed IEO appeared first on Decrypt.
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- Goldman Sachs Is Eying To Launch A Cryptocurrency!In recent French news, Goldman Sachs CEO, David Solomon, revealed that the company is looking into developing its own cryptocurrency, like JP Morgan Chase. Also, the company is researching asset tokenization and stablecoins as such. Recently a Read more
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text:
The fifth session of the Our Whole Lives: Sexuality Education for Adults seven-month course begins with the following activity: attendees bring their two hands together and pay close attention to any and all sensations. They may ask themselves the following questions: Which areas are moist or dry? Calloused or smooth? Hot or cold?
As an experiment, reader, try to do this activity if you are physically able. Take as long as you like.
Now take a few moments to reflect on how this felt to you. Was it pleasurable? Awkward? Did it make you happy? Sad? All of the above? What memories or desires did this bring up for you?
Now take a few moments to connect your reflection to a larger concept about human sexuality. What could your experience indicate about the nature of a sexual being? Of sensuality? Of masturbation? Of skin hunger?
This form of classroom activity is known as experiential learning: A process in which learners may have a concrete experience, make observations and reflections about that experience, distill abstract concepts, and repeat (Kolb, 1999). Whether or not the learner begins with a concrete experience is irrelevant to the theory. But in sexuality education, beginning a lesson with a relevant (and age-appropriate) experiential activity broadens the categories of learning and teaches a skill.
Categories of learning
The above activity combines a physical action with an emotional reflection and a thoughtful extrapolation. This trifecta of learning categories – psychomotor, affective, and cognitive, respectively – corresponds to the three categories of Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains. An experiential activity allows students to absorb information in multiples ways simultaneously.
As a dance teacher, I cannot merely demonstrate a step, describe a step, explain the nuances of a step, or recite the history of the step if the ultimate goal is to get students to dance. I must instead work closely with students on all levels: impart cognitive information, negotiate with their emotional barriers, physically guide them through a new dance move, and repeat over and over until they get it.
So, how does this tie into to human sexuality?
Experiential learning activities challenge students to deeply and thoroughly encode that lesson's focus, discover something about oneself, and acknowledge human sexual diversity. For example, a quiz following a lecture on skin hunger only tests a student's cognitive understanding of skin hunger. An experiential learning activity, like the one above, challenges students to encode "skin hunger" on an affective and psychomotor scale, discover their relationship to skin hunger, and hear about differing relationships to skin hunger in a non-judgemental format. These activities convey more than information: they teach skills that can stick with us for the rest of our lives.
Teaches a skill
Try on the idea that every sex ed class is fundamentally a life-skills class. As human sexuality is an interdisciplinary field, and sexuality informs how people engage in the world, sex education would benefit from addressing the how as well as the what of sex.
For example, the ultimate goal of a sex ed lesson plan on the topic of body language could be to cultivate the student's ability to read body language. The what of the lesson could be the definition of body language and naming the most expressive parts of the body, which could perhaps be useful in a psychology course. In a high-school sex ed course, this information is wasted unless educators incorporate how to read body language effectively. A lesson plan with an appropriate skills-based activity gives students something to apply directly to their lives.
In the world of adult sexuality education, experiential learning is all the rage. From local classes on sexual techniques to major international organizations, adults are signing up to have experiences, not to only absorb cognitive data. The popular Body Electric School markets itself based on the "unique experience" its workshops provide. Adult students want information coupled with practice experience.
When lesson-planning for adults, it may be easier to incorporate experiential learning than when lesson-planning for high-school students or younger. Legal regulations, school policies, and general anxiety about comprehensive sexuality education for young people has stifled mere dialogue about sex, let alone sexuality-related classroom activities. Educators must get creative as to how to incorporate experiential learning into sex ed curricula.
Kolb, D.A., Boyatzis, R.E., & Mainemelis, C. (1999). Experiential learning theory: previous research and new directions. In R.J. Sternberg & L. Zhang (Eds.) Perspectives on thinking, learning, and cognitive styles. The educational psychology series (pp. 227-247). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.